"The day you teach the child the name of the bird, the child will never see that bird again." Krishnamurti

“As soon as you see something, you already start to intellectualise it. As soon as you intellectualise something, it is no longer what you saw.” - Shunryu Suzuki

If I should sum up Leo's latest two videos, I would write this: You - as the true nature of 'you'/self - are the 'awareness' behind all thoughts. You are the awareness that hear the birds sing and see the green leaves of a tree. This 'awareness', that you truly are, is not an object, not a thought, not a thing, not a concept, not an emotion, not a feeling, not an experience, not a form of energy, not a program... it is absolutely nothing. You can call it nothingness, you can call it whatever you want. It is zero, 0, nothing, however, at the same time, you, as this awareness, is actually the only "thing" that truly exist; it's eternal, universal, you are in other words the fabric and structure of existence it self, or to put it in yet another words: you are the whole Universe. Everytime you have a thought, you have the option to just be completely aware of the thought and do NOTHING about it; you're only noticing it. The other option (the opposite option) is to align your self with the thought, that is to _not_ become aware of it, but instead to dive into it and let it affect you and give meaning to you (in other words: more thinking). The act of thinking "oh I must stop thinking this" is not being completely aware of the thought, but rather the oppsite: diving into the thought and giving it meaning. To be completely aware of thoughts takes practice. Most people, including me to a large degree, are very, very unaware and so, so caught up in the game of playing the person they think they are. Meditating is about being completely aware of thoughts and doing nothing about them, but instead just being completely aware of them. At some point you get so good at being aware of the thoughts and not diving into them, that the mind stops 'creating' thoughts (because it's tired of you not caring about them), and you will eventually instead align with the true nature of yourself, that is: nothingness, and you will at that point experience complete ego death, which will knock your socks off, as Leo says.

"I can represent your mum with a fish" roast so deep that it burns away the illusion keeping you from seeing life for what it truly is

Number 1. I really like Actualized.org videos. Content: These videos have changed my life and I think that because of them I understand reality much more. Literally: These videos are just moving pixels on the screen; also some sounds that I interpret in some way; sometimes I feel frustrated and sometimes I feel happy because of them.

That moment when your parting on Saturday night and Leo drops the illusory nature of thought...

Started rewatching this video and at 1:35 had this epiphany/liberating sensation of realizing how profoundly identified I am with my thought and trains of reasoning. Being pure consciousness and taking a completely neutral stance towards all thoughts is true bliss. I have sensed this before, but I think the depth of how far it can be taken is unimaginable for me at this point.

Definitely in your top 5 videos this is. Incredible stuff

Thank you very much Leo. Here´s what makes him outstanding and different from other self-help "helpers/communicators". He explains thoroughly why would x work, how would it work. He does not provide an order o make a recommendation, he clearly understood the mumbling mind that dismisses and mistrusts of what it does not understands. It´s a self made conscious man talking that explains every sentence and does not take for granted the understanding of the audience.

Great video Leo, very thought provoking.

Nature doesn't think, and yet everything is accomplished...

Woah... while doing this exercise a scary realization boiled to the surface. And it is that all distinctions between any object and sensation and emotions are illusions. There is no such thing as separateness in reality. There is no such thing as loneliness. I'm remembering back to your video on "fake versus real solutions to problems" and how I never grasped that real solutions occur when "the problem ceases to be a problem". I think that this practice is the core of actually solving problems. wow

Just wanna let you know how much I appreciate all your content. It's been really insightful this year

LEO! I just had the most amazing experience because of this! I was sitting with this in my meditation, and I began the process of 'flattening' some of my thoughts, when my chin started to itch. So rather than scratching it, I noticed all the thoughts - my chin is itchy, I must scratch it, I notice the image of my hand coming up to my chin to scratch it - then rather than doing any of that, I flattened the thoughts. As I did, I sank into no meaning, no thoughts, no images of the itch, and just went directly into the FEELING - with no labels of what it meant. In that moment, the itch DRAMATICALLY decreased in intensity. Then as I thought about it, it got itchier again, so I flattened back down. Again, it decreased in intensity. Then IT CEASED TO BE UNPLEASANT. The feeling stayed, but it stopped being irritating. It was just a feeling. Then it dissolved completely. As I was doing this, I was also doing some kundalini exercises where I hold my arms in various positions for extended periods of time. Naturally (or so I thought!) my muscles get sore as I do so. So I applied the same technique - flattened the thoughts all the way to just experiencing the sensation. And low and behold, it either became just a feeling - not good or bad or anything really - dramatically reduced in intensity or it stopped all together. Thus, PAIN - not just suffering but pain itself - is a total illusion. We made it up. Crazy!! The moment you realize that your thoughts are AT LEAST 2 layers removed from actual reality. Also side note, do you or did you really like coca cola? I just noticed you mention it in many of your videos ;) Awesome, awesome content Leo. Seriously next level shit.

Great topic. Toward the end, I was remembering a thing that happened when I was about ten years old. I live in Florida, and when I was a child my family and I would go about once or twice a year to different theme parks. I really enjoyed myself because it was quite magical to me when I was a child to even be there. But when I was ten, I started to question "Why is it more fun to be here than to be anywhere else?" I wasn't really into the rides or anything. So, I was asking myself, "Why is it more fun to be here than Walmart?" I decided that it really wasn't but that it was just my thought about the situation that made it fun. It was kind of a bummer. :)

Side Note: Picasso was a skilled, realistic artist before he became the abstract artist that made him famous. (Source: I went to el museo de Picasso in Barcelona and saw his early works.)

Thanks leo, I have been following for a long time and I can hardly imagine where I would be without your videos!

Kinda funny what happened after I started the exercise. The first thougth was "what time is it?" from there i got like 10 more thoughts packed with feelings, going up and down like a rollercoaster. I realized that there were so many auto responses in there and the thoughts were just spit out without any focus. Also the ego extremely often tried to outsmart itself, just to realize this and then being humiliated by itself. Lots of work to do here haha :D

This right here is the key to emotional mastery, thank you Leo.

By the flattening of "myself" i realised that i'm just existence., :O phenomenal video Leo :D

My analogy of this when one watches a movie and reacts emotionally to it. Reacting and acting on every thought without being mindful is like watching Superman, getting excited, and jumping out the window and expecting to fly just like in the movie. That's how I see it.

Leo: Flatten the illusion of the external world. Me: Ok. Leo: Got it? Me: No! Wait Leo: Good.

Amazing. you keep reminding me how grateful I am for all the work you do. I can't even imagine how my life would look without actualized : )

My direct experience is that thoughts are a wave of energy and can be a direct representation of the physical world as perceived by the mind.

I was looking for the source of my ego problem and here it is. However, I accepted the thought it is not easy to control and stop falling back into the trap of old patterns.

23:51 I literally peed myself laughing

Hey Leo, it would be great if you can perform at TED talks

With subtitles on every video you'd be the king of the world!

Hey Leo. I had a very interesting moment in my life, some might call it enlightment, but lets just call it "becoming of aware". It was the obtainment of a certain knowledge, which can't be described in words but which all your recent videos are pointing to. It was the moment, in which I realised how all my problems were just illusions of my mind. But it wasn't just an intellectual knowledge, it was a real new way to feel through life. I can describe it, as if a closed eye inside myself has opened itself. I don't want to get too much into detail, but this of course has freed me from a lot of pain, and most anxieties dissolved themselves. I can't really "live" into my problems anymore, since I expose the mental processes almost instantly, so that no heavy emotional momentum is created. But this is the "scary" part of my evolution: I am so peacefull, that nothing moves me anymore. I became so distant as a observer of my feelings, that i can't dive into them anymore. Everything is so calm now, there is no rage, no shame and no depression... the stillness is almost scary... Yes, i still can laugh. Yes i can still have fun. But sometimes, I look at my past in a nostalgic way, not sad, but thinking about how my heart was broken sometimes and how sad I was. How naive I was. Simultaneously, I realise, that there is no real way back. I don't really want to, or better I don't really care. But I think its important, that people know about the implications of "enlightment". Nothing ever will be the same after it.

I was thinking about simillar concept few months ago. I was afraid of listenining to the scary music and recordings, but I thought 'wait, it's just sounds that's my mind is interpreting in a wrong way', just symbols. I trained my self to watch my response to the point where I could listen to the most scary recordings with headphones on, in a dark room with my eyes closed with almost no reaction. There was also this binaural beats 'Gates of Hades' which made people hallucinate about hell and all thats stuff, even my friend's mind fell for it. I was always afraid of it, but once I trained my self I thought I'll give it a try. Without overanalyzing, nothing happened to me, it's all illusion you can control. Thoughts and brain are a very interesting topic.

the fuck you part is hilarious :D

You are doing humanity a service, Leo! Great job! 👌👍👍👏👏

Having studied this for years, Sydney Banks was a real eye opener, the missing link was “meaning” . This start to make all sense to me now. So grateful to have found your video. My search came to you. Really happy and thanking you for explaining this so clear! Will practice to flatten everything, becoming more mindful! Expressing my real gratitude! 🙏😃

Okay, I've been listening to a lot of Leo's content over the past few weeks and this one has been one of the most significant (and "hands on ") one's to me. But well, that's just a thought. Basically it comes down to: NOTHING! Nothing at all. Pure space and awareness. .. Thanks for reminding me Leo, you are an awesome teacher ☺👍

I kind of have been doing this flattening for some months or maybe even years but this episode allowed me to see this process even clearly. And I got much more comfortable with this truth about no self so I expect not to be much afraid of future flattening. Thanks Leo :)

Leo, you light up my brain! This is GOLD! (which is an illusion, but..) This is such great value, literally (yes, I said it)!! I made commitments. Gotta stick to it. Thank you!

Leo, I'm having trouble reconciling two concepts that you often talk about here. The idea of thoughts being illusory and the idea of motivation, inner drive, inner fire, whatever else you want to call it. I think I'm starting to grasp and accept the nature of thoughts and emotions, and am disentangling myself from assigning more value to an experience than I ought to. This is a concept I think about a lot when I'm dealing with negative emotions - I recognize that the sadness is a physical experience, and let myself experience it, and attempt to avoid assigning more value and generating more thought than the experience warrants. But what I have trouble with is applying this philosophy to more positive thoughts. The positive thought I'm thinking of here is ambition. Is ambition not just as much of a delusion as any other thought, be it positive or negative? When I'm in the shower, or walking to class, or going to the gym and visualizing the extraordinary life I want to have, am I not assigning tons of value to a concept that could be easily deconstructed with mindfulness? The more I learn about this mindfulness idea and try to live it, the more I feel like I'm losing touch with the fire and angst that demands for more from myself (more work, better focus, less doing stupid shit, etc.). Is it just a matter of being selective with what illusions we buy into?

Leo, you continue to amaze me with your videos. "Flattening the illusion" is mind-blowingly practical. Thank you.

One time many years ago I was suffering from suicidal despair as a result of my ex leaving me. I kept obsessing and obsessing about how much I wanted to utterly annihilate myself and how worthless I was and on and on and at some point I decided that I couldn't handle these thoughts any more and I told myself that I had to find a way to take my mind off of it. It was nighttime and so I decided to walk upstairs to my bedroom and when I entered my room everything changed. Within the blink of an eye I knew everything would be ok. I no longer felt any attachment, any yearning, any desire whatsoever. I was an awareness observing all of those things. I went to sleep and when I woke up the sensation remained but intensified. All of this energy (in the forms of love, fear, compassion, and sadness) erupted out of me until I felt completely empty of everything that was formerly me, and filled to the brim with the energy of the external world. Subject and object virtually disappeared. There was simply awareness of one sublime energy field, and I was that. I've had intimations of this experience on and off since then but never anything quite as intense. Sometimes marijuana intensifies my senses to the extreme and I become aware of the difference between the external world (body and matter) and the internal one (awareness/thought and speech). It's as though I am my speech or my intentions and this body is merely an aspect of the external/material world through which my intentions/speech materialize. Well anyway that's enough for now. I don't have any real point with any of this. I just have an urge to share it.

Sometimes i can hardly believe there is an answer to all my questions. Life starts to run so easily with the open mind you offer to me even for free. Where have all my conflicts gone? This time i am able to handle my thougths like open the window for fresh air and a better smell. I need a bigger word than thank you for all of this.

Thank you for all your work Leo. I have struggled with difficulties for years like everyone, but everyday i'm feeling more mindful and optimistic about life. And you clearly are a part of that work !

when you start speaking russian it was like a shok. wow

"Thoughts" = Imprisonment of the Mind The practice of flattening illusions helps one master the reflexive makings of their own attributions made to the meanings of thoughts. This is a skill to aquire, not a belief in an inherent talent/process. Mastering control over one's conscious leads to freedom from their mind. (paraphrasing Leo Gura) ---------- Freedom from one's mind... Leo, this video probably hit me the hardest yet. Thank you, ArabiaNytes

So, I'm here to learn. I stopped here, sort of a quick stop on my journey to learning about myself. I take it as a message to me personally that what you teach is useful to me. That came through your speaking in Russian. That made me smile. Thank you for that!! Spasibo bolishoe!!

Слушал это видео изрядно дунувши. Уже начал засыпать. И когда Лео на 12:50 весьма чисто заговорил по-русски - это было нечто.

I can't watching porn anymore cuz I flattened the illusion and my "buddy" don't get up. Damn you Leo

Yeah, that is the huge skill. After reading the book "The power of NOW" by Eckhart Tolle I started to practise mindfulness throughout my life. Now It is much easy for me to deal all sorts of depression and negative thoughts. The only sad thing is (but really not, 'cause sadness is an illusion (excluding feelings in your body)) that some positive thoughts are also stripped off their illusory nature (actually it is not sad, you start able to see much deep pleasure). Last time my skill of being aware of the illusion has increased a much. That is the most important skill I have ever learned. It was very interesting to hear Leo talking Russian)

What are thoughts? -Thoughts are the software to your hardware. Your mind driving your body. You have two types of thoughts, involuntary and voluntary, your subconscious and your conscious self. -Everything begins with a thought. -Thoughts are the software to the universe. -Thought is intelligence. Everything that exists has a design and it is governed by the software that created it. -Thought is energy. Your thoughts are you, more so than your body. -Energy solidifies into mater through the design of thoughts. -Thoughts create emotions. Emotions create motivation. Change your thoughts and you change everything.

Thanks for enlightening the world of KZfaq!

how cool is it that we're expanding our understanding of the illusory nature of thought through more thoughts

As I was doing the 'flattening the illusion' exercise with thought, I realize that I have subtle tag-along images connected with them that have nothing to do with anything. I realized that the word "Mom" show a picture of my mom but also a picture of a glass carafe filled with milk. I understand the association there at least. But the word "gravity" brings up an image of a vacuum cleaner with an arrow along with a bunch of other images. I guess the suction makes sense to go along with gravity now that I'm writing it. But there are tons of examples of this where the word and the image are seemingly unrelated. My friend Cecilia and I used to joke about how certain names should mean other things. Like the name "Zeus" was the new car smell, and the name "Peggy" was always elbow macaroni.

thanks Leo, You talk about the things I wished I could have heard from someone when I was a kid. I know you said (in another video) that if people give you compliments for what you do, it doesn't really fulfill you on a deeper level, but that will not stop me thanking you for all you do ;) I will stick around

Amazing! I think I got it. Hopefully , this is the end of my anxiety

Interesting! Albert Korzibski in his book Science and Sanity touches on the subject of Language and effects on thought-behaviour etc... To me, a life changing textbook!! Best.

We need some Vlogs. Day in the life of Leo Gura

good talk going on one year of watching you're videos and I have changed for the good in so many ways thank you for all the time and effort you put in to what u do!!!!

This guy is one of the best philosophers that ever lived

I like to fall asleep listening to your video, Leo. 12:57 НО ТУТ Я РЕЗКО ПРОСНУЛСЯ! У вас не такой уж и сильный акцент, хотя в Штаты вы переехали еще в 6 лет (как я помню из одного вашего видео). It's nice to hear my native language from you and for me it's not gibberish 😀

anyone else finding flattening the illusion of a concept really difficult? as an artist I find it much easier to flatten an image than an idea.

This is how art/craft of cinema/music works

Just a quick note to let you know that I have checked out your content here and there for a few years now, and I appreciate your work. Always insightful. Always intriguing.

Лео, спасибо тебе огромное за то что ты делаешь!!👍🏻

That 's quite surprising hearing you speak Russian! I was just listening (not watching) this video while working and then....VU A LA! Leo speaks my native language! It's just shut my mind up for a few seconds! Didn't even get what exactly you were talking but I liked this blank space in my head

I love you Leo.

I am at 4:01 and it already made me think that do I really need to understand this with a video. While you are already focusing on justifying it for yourself. And I have preconceived belief that you are always right.

As someone who became depressed in late highschool, and struggled with depression and anxiety on and off for a good 10 years, and even did 4years undergrad in Psychology to understand myself better; what I have learnt from your videos in the last 6 months has given me back a life that I'm excited to live. I'm still only at the point where I now notice my self doubts or pessimism for what they are and know what I can do to stop them, but sometimes I do just have to let myself be a baby and wail about it for a few minutes before I can then ask myself 'are you done?' Haha have you ever considered teaching these ideas to kids? Surely people like Ghandi and the Dalai Llama are examples of what humans can become when raised on a diet of mindfulness and awareness! I would love to teach these ideas to my own kids when I start a family.

Awesome Video, I feel like I've noticed a subtle but obvious improvement in your speaking, as if you had a breakthrough to a deeper level of transparency, felt like telling you about it.

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn Leo at it again!!

It’s a major jump to say that, because thoughts are symbolic representations, meaning is arbitrary. Gravity is a concept which we experience intellectually, but that doesn’t mean that we won’t fall over if we trip over our own feet. Thoughts are propositions which mediate our relationship with our environment and our relationship with ourselves. To be able to mindfully observe that they are not the things they point to is a crucial skill if we are to assess their usefulness as mediators and, where necessary, replace them with better mediators. But none of this is arbitrary. We don’t get to choose what works and what doesn’t. When he says that we can master our thoughts and thus master our life, is he really mindful of what he is and what we are? Are we not a manifestation of a system which is larger than ourselves? As such we can align ourselves to the meaning implicit in our position in the same way that a cell in an organism attains its highest potential by participating in that system in a way which is useful to other cells and the whole. To pursue some personal end irrespective of its impact on others would be equivalent to being a cancer cell. It may be important for us to be able to deconstruct our conceptual framework, but we can’t live without a conceptual framework. When someone meditates or goes on an LSD trip they may temporarily have no conceptual framework, but you can’t live in some kind of unstructured state all the time. You wouldn’t be able to successfully do your weekly shopping at the supermarket, let alone perform a useful function someone might pay you for. So the point of deconstructing one’s conceptual framework is to clear the path to build up a better one, one which allows us to more successfully mediate our relationship with the world around us. It’s important that mindfulness not simply be an excuse to retreat into a solipsistic world in which it doesn’t matter what terrible things may be happening in the world, because all we will acknowledge is that we have thoughts about such things and thoughts are only symbols. I wanted to see if maybe my book How to Be Free by Joe Blow was on Leo’s Top 200 Self Help Books. It probably isn’t there, but I can’t be sure because he charges $35 to even look at the list. I’m mindful of the fact that my impression of Leo as a greedy bastard is an illusory thought which I should learn to flatten. LOL

"Flatting Out"; is tricky for me and brilliant of you! Thanks.

Totally bummed at myself. I first got "on the path" at 24, and by 26 had fully realized my home "outside" of meaning/thought. After that, neurotic obsessive thinking basically ended, and was defused after just a couple thoughts, basically always. The problem is I had a broken ego - just scrap, wreckage. And for that reason I needed to believe that I hadn't realized all that is about enlightenment. So rather than deepening into it quickly, I've dragged on for years (almost 31 now) telling myself that somehow I'd be special, get enlightenment-plus, because I felt jealous of those who were able to get listeners, or people to like them - like you. It stems from child neglect, not feeling like anyone would notice me, and basically just from not having a self-structure that helped animated my behavior. I'm finally giving that all up and can acknowledge other people woke up too, that it's not "my thing." It's sad to see that vain stubbornness take a few years of my life but it had to happen I guess. Thanks for the video. You should make one on time, the most tricky of all thoughts to see through (by far) in my opinion... still struggling with it!

It 's look that today is a beginning of actualization of my real consciousness of though. Big thank's Leo!

I really dig the trajectory of the latest videos Leo! can only imagine what's instore for the next few weeks, months, years.. just trough your weekly youtube stream you have become an integral part of my self development and healing. I wanted to send you my appreciation thank you so much love you bro! 👥

Thank You Leo ... important and powerful way to help others remember who they really are and how that can happen with some time and effort (actually, most people will require time and effort ... some more than others ... but some can do this quickly and some have always remembered since birth or youth because they managed to always retain a since of true self and they always realized they only used thoughts, (or words or bodies or pictures or drawings or music or complex math equations or pizza or time etc...) as tools and All other things as a means of representation of that which is "behind the curtain" ... which is how we go about in this experience (life here on earth AND all, that is, elsewhere as well). Fact is All is as "real" as real gets, once we understand how it is used and why. No we can not "live in these bodies" without eating "real" food but even the "real" food serves us and, all that only captures some aspect of "real" food ... like the picture of the pizza ... or the thought of a pizza or the thought of what it is to eat ... is an aspect of what is ... in just a more distant removal from that which is "behind the curtain" I was first introduced to this, type of exercise, (similar method he called "pointing out") by Ken Wilber. I well remember how powerful the feeling of realizing I was not what I "thought" I was ... while at the same time I was, mostly acting as if I was, what I thought I was. That is true for all that we perceive. However ... due to the ever evolving nature of realization of what is truth ... or in other words the ever changing experience and interpretation of truth (REAL TRUTH never changes but Our concept of it is ever evolving) ... as well as the fact we our embedded in THIS experience in such a way that it seems fully real (because it is) ... we develop a stable space (and method) to compare an endless variety of Experience. I have said for a long time ... "We manifest as individuals as a means to infinite experience". Those of us who begin to explore our experience in more depth ... will find ... Only, that, which we are able to imagine at that point in our being an individual, (We limit our own ability to see what is ... yes with our own thoughts and more ... but it is part of our design). How we interpret, that, depends on our own unique experiences up to that point and our degree of understanding of, that, will be influenced by All that we are (which includes our physical bodies which can be hindered by damage) and All that we remember (up to that point). So ... does this type of exploration and discovery really ... hum ... Matter to us ... does it make us better able to .... what ??? ... live ??? ... Love ??? Be at Peace within ourselves and more at Peace with others ??? Think of a new born baby ... (although some people say they can remember their birth and first experiences of life ... most of us cannot) ... Us adults look at this "new" earthling and can really only wonder at what this infant sees and thinks and feels ... we have a very instinctive (this instinctive feeling is derived from multiple levels of our being, body (includes brain), thoughts (includes all our experiences) and All of that which we may not be directly aware of (that which is behind the curtain) ... and that instinct guides us to pay close attention to this tiny being who is so helpless in this moment because of it's lack of development ... we pay close attention and we feel (if all is working well) a strong desire to assure it's survival AND to help it not become distressed and if it becomes distressed we want to calm it (often by just holding it close to us) ... we get tremendous feelings of joy and peace from seeing it calm and at peace and we feel light and bubbly when we see it smile and when we hear it's first laugh ... Our experience here ... can be one with more comfort ... more of feeling and sharing in Love and feeling at peace OR it can be one of feeling less Love and little connection and less peace or comfort with those who surround us ... All infants grow into adults over time ... but we need to remember that the need to be seen and Loved as a means to remember connection and remember our inherent value as a part of All that is just as equal in value and worth ... we need to continue the close attention and desire to hold and comfort and remember the strong desire for Every single life form to survive. We Are truly One ... and when we leave out ... when we exclude ... we not only damage the being that is being done to ... we damage and hinder evolution of All. Evolution will happen regardless ... but we can be aware of our own degree of influence ... in All ... and hopefully the awareness helps us to be able to Relax and Be ... without unnecessary suffering (maybe all suffering is necessary???) Once we are better able to Relax and Be we are in better position to help others do the same ... Think of that newborn again ... recall how they can get highly upset and they can cry loud and long ... when they are in need of attention or rest or sleep or food ... they are not yet able to examine their experience in a manner that would allow for comfort without those needs being met. In this human body we cannot forget the human body has it's own needs which will always cry out to be met. In the infant an adult must meet them (or the infant will die) ... we learn to meet those basic needs ourselves in time (considering we are not damaged in a way that hinders or prevents that) BUT the need to feel connected and Loved, that need ... most of us will not be able to meet it on our own ... this is why we need others in our lives to help us feel Loved (and remember our value and connection) ... Love & Peace to All

Ever since I’ve been a child occasionally when I look in the mirror I don’t know who looks back at me. I’ve asked myself, “Who is this?” The answer, “Well that’s me.” I’d ask myself, “Why is this me, how am I here right now?” I can’t describe what the answer is. It’s an out-of-body experience that I’ve had ever since I was conscious. I get separated from myself and I see me as someone else. It’s like I’m literally outside of myself and I’m picking at my own brain. I don’t know what video to watch or who to ask about what it is. I don’t think many would even believe me either.

So simple, yet so profound! So right on! Thanks for sharing this!

Yeah, lets deconstruct (flatten) ideas and thoughts to their components and loose something in the process. I think I am enlightened now!

When flattening the illusion of my self I started laughing hysterically haha

gem of a channel

Oh shit does truth taste sweet! This flattening technique seems to have broken "me" through to the next level. The last few months it seems that relaxing and meditation have become a lot more rewarding than any sort of substance, state of mind, or even sexual experience I've had in the past. All of that said, I still couldn't grasp how to deal with the fictitious thought patterns the mind would spin. Now when I sit... I'm able to let go completely. The seamless, meaningless, distinction-less and childlike reality is accessible any time and anywhere. I was lost in a sea of abstractions, tormented by the illusory interpretations I presumed had tangible substance. With the utmost appreciation and gratitude *thank you* for being the lighthouse of the concrete. Had I not drifted towards your channel a few months back, I'd still think life was a tedious chore.

29:01-30... At last Kant goes therapeutical!!! Great great job you're doing dude!!!

ive come along way in my thinking with this mindfullness stuff ,im starting to be aware of peoples thoughts and societies thoughts that leave you behind and put others in front ,Thanks leo . and this is a great second stage its so amazing how you bring a new topic that is such a surprise and deep Thanks again

thank you for making these videos Leo. They are definitely helping me progress down my own path of waking up

He's speaking of ZEN. The observation of something without applying any words to "it". Experience "it", don't assign it a "way" to it. Don't attach to "it". Simply observe and experience without defining it.

Meaning means care...2 be careless feels more like freedom and peace ...♡

These videos are very insightful but I would like to point out that Leo's way of presenting these insights is only HIS perspective of it, which is very practical and blunt, even intimidating. This tone can be very beneficial and help to guide people toward dissolving the ego. However, If this way of looking at enlightenment does not resonate with you, i suggest viewing from a different approach. A less left brained and more loose way. I suggest looking up Mooji, Teal Swan, and Odyssey of Ascension. Those are my top three. Explore different ways of approaching this because one perspective might perpetuate the ego while a different perspective on the same topic might help dissolve it.

Hi Leo and thank you so much for sharing your knowledge - you are the best teacher that I have ever had. In your videos you have helped me to realize that I´m stuck. I mean seriously stuck in a negative spiral of criticism and perfectionism that influence Every. Aspect. Of. My. Life. I started to watch your videos to learn more about human mind on an intellectual level but what happened was that I got new insights that lead me to a deep crisis, BOOOM I was definitely not prepared for that! The perfectionism and fear of failure leads me to procrastination at an insane level. The habit make me hate to do what I believe that I would have loved to do without these issues. The moment I start up something new I get depressed because it reminds me of the long way I have before I become a pro. That drains me and give me no motivation to do anything. But the most painful insight i have got has to do with my view of human being and criticism. Damn. It´s really hard to face it but now I have to and it makes me sick. And if I would (and could) stop it it would completely change my conception of world. I´m sure that it would be a good thing but what is worth fighting for without high expectations? It takes me back to the lack of motivation. And to be this honest to myself make me see that I often lie to myself and others that is another inconvenient part of this process. I guess I need some more meditation... But again, than you so much for helping me to see this clear. Hugs from Sweden, K

Brilliant! Such a helpful and practical technique! Thank you so much for this!

You are such an encouragement to me, Leo.

I really really think that pain precedes 'meaning' or attributing a 'meaning' to the pain.... there are several neural circuits that manifest meaning (i.e implication for action), before there is any sort of attribution

this guy makes sense man. thoughts ARE ultimately arbitrary in terms of their symbolism. that's the BASIS of abstract thinking , by definition.

Leo, I didn't know you speak Russian, what a surprise! I love your videos, hello from Moscow :)

Every day I ache to see anything out of the ordinary, for anything to change. Everyone else is happy living this boring life.

That's a clever way to put it. Flaten the images. Could possibly help OCD sufferers, thanks for sharing.

Beautiful channel.

This is golden.

Another thing I realized during this exercise was how sensitive we are to pictures of dead bodies. We interpret those images to be 'morbid evil, haunting, and that we must avoid them'. But once you see that there is no meaning to the perceptions themselves, you wonder why you are so emotionally charged by these types of pictures. Inherently what makes the difference between a dead human and a dead fly after all? It seems like meaning is tied to the self concept to the point that any perception that supports the perpetual life of the self concept makes us feel good and anything that doesn't will seem to destroy our emotions. The degree to which one is beyond the self concept is to the same degree one is not emotionally attached to death......

I laughed so damn hard when the fuck you came up on the screen, I didn't expect that XD

Your videos are getting better and better. Thank you!

Leo, thank you for the effort you put into your videos. I appreciate the sharing of wisdom! Ouspensky's book, "The Psychology of Man's Possible Evolution" is a game changer.