I have not yet read it, but I have been meaning to. I just want to clarify to the readers of this thread that I am not advocating drug use. It is not about getting "high" or "escaping reality", but more about exploring parts of the mind not easily accessible in other ways. Meditation alone will get one far. But I want to say that LSD is non-toxic and does no harm physiologically. There is a danger of psychosis, but that is a rare occurrence. Some may experience flashbacks. It will not kill your brain cells like e.g. alcohol, but it is not something one should venture into unprepared! This is an interesting read on the subject: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ryan-grim/read-the-never-before-pub_b_227887.html And this is definitely worth a watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJrRBWbtJZ0 I have been a student of philosophy since high school, mainly existentialism. I have always been fascinated by the relationship between the conscious and the unconscious mind. What is the real "self"? In his book, The User Illusion, Tor Nørretranders explains that our conscious mind can be thought of having around 16-bits bandwidth, while the unconscious has a bandwidth of millions. Huxley describes a "reducing valve" that funnels the information sent by the unconscious mind. By taking LSD you open the valve and expand the funnel, thus you will receive more unfiltered information. The question remains if the raw data is the real "I" or if it's the filtered information that defines us. Perhaps the answer lies somewhere in-between... Neurology is also a hobby of mine. It has to be, because of my condition. The same techniques of cognitive therapy used for treating OCD, can be applied to bad trading habits, as well. Neuroplasticity is a powerful thing! Jeffrey Schwartz' book on the subject is quite interesting, and definitely worth a read. I would also recommend "The Brain That Changes Itself": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFJYUzsXCSE Again, I am not against hypnosis, but I think one can reach that state of mind by oneself. The deeper you dig, the more you will find.... Good luck! <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060988479/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mark01f-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217153&creative=399349&creativeASIN=0060988479">The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=1&a=0060988479&camp=217153&creative=399349" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0140230122/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mark01f-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217153&creative=399349&creativeASIN=0140230122">The User Illusion: Cutting Consciousness Down to Size (Penguin Press Science)</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=1&a=0140230122&camp=217153&creative=399349" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />
A few months ago I stumbled across "Symphony of Science", I thought "An Ode to the Brain" would be fitting for this thread... <object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JB7jSFeVz1U?version=3&hl=nb_NO&rel=0&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JB7jSFeVz1U?version=3&hl=nb_NO&rel=0&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
Bear, I'm new to it. I've read Real Happiness; The Power of Meditation. I try to do it 3-4 times a week for 15 minutes. Sit in quiet , focus on breathing and try to keep the mind clear of thoughts. Acknowledge thoughts as they come and refocus on breathing. Don't know what kind of meditation that is . There are other meditations in the book but still trying to do this one. Sometimes i fall asleep a little but i guess that's OK. I've considered TM and found a website that sells the program under a different name for cheap. Don't have website here but can get for you if you're interested. Also part way into the book Autobiography of a Yogi but frankly got bored and put it down for now. Not even sure if gets to actual meditation methods. Any recommendations ?
I think everything can be a meditation, in fact, you just need to "setup" your mind for a certain way of perseption, that will fit only for you. Every single person can found his own way to a point of so-called nirvana. I think we should answer the question why we need it first of all
I think it is OK to fall asleep, as long as you wake up and continue! That autobiograpy book is a classic. but you are right. It never does get into the meditation technique. you have to buy a email or mail order based program. one section a month etc yogananda foundation controls it. I actually had a long running thread here on TM, in the psychology section. many good people gave suggestions. I think it would be worth reading. I moved on from buddhist meditation to taoist forms. The qi energy manipulation by the taoist can run circles around any advance zen or indian forms of meditations. http://www.thetaobums.com/ All the best
If you have aspeger's then you should have what it takes to pick this up if it interests you. As far as hypnoses goes, you may want to look in to meditation. I know it sounds very unscientific, but when you look into it a bit more you will see how, by the use of our attention, we can shift our focus off trying to figure things out and focus more on what thoughts pop in our brain. We become observers of our thought rather then participate in them. This in turn, allows thoughts that don't unusually get any attention to pop up. Again we do not entertain these thoughts. Also, we can get a good idea of all the "noise" that goes through our brains. Naturally, after time we find that we are separated from our thoughts! Instead our thoughts and our "us" being all mixed up, there becomes a clear line between them. This phase is so powerful that many people are scared that they will die if they allow them selves to septate from their thoughts. Apparently the rewards are great, but I feel with these rewards there maybe some negatives that aren't really talked about like a dissociation from the world caused by the fact that we can generate any mood we want. So, love and happiness no longer need a 3rd party. Hence the great feeling of happiness people report. Serous meditation is not simply relaxing your mind, It actually restructuring the lay out of your brain... It sounds a bit too crazy for me , but you may want to look into biofeedback. This is a measurement of brain waves (that should be different then most in your case) It involves gradually training to work with a chosen set of brain waves ( no real effort needed), parts that work too much can be calmed down. Its easy, costly (you may be able to it on our own) and effective. As for the benefits, It is my personal belief that all it does is calm down parts of your brains rather then make changes. but what do I know If you are looking in to any of this, I would first go to a bio feedback clinic and actually request to look at your own brainwaves. You should be able to clearly see what waves and what parts are over working and how other parts are being underused. Don't let them just do there regular thing. If you are changing your brain you should see the waves. It a long process, you really don't want someone guiding the training who's best interest is to keep you around for a long time rather then to "fix" you" You will function best in trading and your life being yourself and learning the best way to work around any short comings, but most importantly capitalize on your strengths as it is them that can make you in to a great trader. Forget any shortcomings they are not needed.
This is a very interesting post. I am actually struggling with that myself. I have done many things on intuition and they are often good choices. It would seem that my learning style is a bit different then most, I wonder if you can relate here. I take in information through reading, I look at the details (not so much now) and instead of remembering all of it, I think about what I have read. From there, i make a set of rules of my own. I basically kind of summarize things. Later, while driving, I take what is in my head and connect it to other sets of rules in my head. This reconfirms some rules while questions other rules. A symphony of thoughts dance in my head and though no new information is coming in, new ideas are being developed. Many times I have a moment of aww while driving. Each idea is given a ranking, how many times has it been confirmed or questioned. Then I selectively decide what facts thought and rules i will take form each to obtain a master set of rules. There may be 1 line that was in a book that stood out and was never again read about, But that one line that made sense to me can throw out a days of study. From there, all details evaporate, as details on there own are less valuable then concepts (maybe not so much with TA). Gradually, more and more can't be recalled. But when faced with a problem that relates to what was once learnt, I get this 6th sense that is more accurate then experienced people in the field. When i started in stocks, not having read a single book, i had a 6th sense that was developed just by listening to people talk about stocks here and there. Theres no reason for you to believe me, as there is no reason for me to lie, I had bought 6 stocks that year. One broke even, the other 5 had gains of a minimum 20%. Again this was pretty much my first look in to stocks. I decided that before learning I would buy some stock and develop my own theories. It is funny you mention probability, for me it is powerful tool. I can base anything and everything on simple probability. I find it's main attractiveness is not only that its highly accurate, but also a rule that can be used in any field. It is kind of a 6th sense on its own. It can skip through all the details and calculations and still be some what accurate. Though not as accurate as calculations (which can also be off by a lot if a certain a factor is overlooked or misrepresented). Also because we are using probability we can use our saved brain power to look in to other things might effect our outcome once again using probability. Now, Im starting to learn more about TA/scalping. I am finding it a bit annoying. I see others have already come up with a concept that looks good. To start form scratch and develop my own theory's may be too time consuming. So I am forced to follow others (I even feel like I have to submit to candle stick chart) . This is not one of my strengths. I know that my sense is not yet developed enough on this topic to pick it up as fast as i pick up most things. It is very detailed, and many people have something to say on each idea. If at any point, a small detail is left not correct it can lead to a loss. It is loosing its art form and turning more and more in to programming. I have developed a theory on TA on my own, previously to learning about scalping. I think though that the theory my be used by some already. It doesn't translate in to a big edge. but it is the type of learning i enjoy. For now I find the best way for me to learn is through correction, I read a lot about TA, but It will only be through correction that things will stick. This means I have to realy on people to correct my work. and the probability of good people helping for the fun of it is small, (though i am surprised at last weeks responce and the caliber of people that responded to my journal. I am left depending on others as my best way to learn most people learn visually or by audio few learn by movment or by doing. I don't fit in to these categories but if i were to choose one i would choose doing. Excuse me for the long post, It's not often that i see similarities in my way of thinking. I was heavily focused on TA the past few days and kinda have to wait a bit to make a next move. so my focus went to other topics of interest in the same forum.