Living in the 3rd Bardo Carnival
Walk a Mile Through the Sixties With Me27 total reviews
Comment from BethShelby
This was interesting. I can imagine my son andf maybe one of my daughter being willing to summit themselves to a quest for greater enlilghtment but I'm not made that way. I want my brain or my ego all at my control. It is bad enough to sleep without knowing where dreams may take you, but one sure for sure, they are going to get any help from anything I've ingested before going to bed. I'm glad you survived this fizzled journey into LaLaLand and I'm glad you were smart enough not to warn to repeat the experiment.
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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This was interesting. I can imagine my son andf maybe one of my daughter being willing to summit themselves to a quest for greater enlilghtment but I'm not made that way. I want my brain or my ego all at my control. It is bad enough to sleep without knowing where dreams may take you, but one sure for sure, they are going to get any help from anything I've ingested before going to bed. I'm glad you survived this fizzled journey into LaLaLand and I'm glad you were smart enough not to warn to repeat the experiment.
Comment Written 07-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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Thank you so much, Beth, for reading and understanding my mental set was neither courageous nor worthy of modeling, only that I was trying to be honest in my telling. Thank you for the six stars, Beth.
Comment from Ric Myworld
One of those highly anticipated experiences that was sure to change your life forever, but didn't. And as one of those who never wanted to miss out on anything, and has tried about everything, I comment you on your open-mindedness and sense of adventure. LOL. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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One of those highly anticipated experiences that was sure to change your life forever, but didn't. And as one of those who never wanted to miss out on anything, and has tried about everything, I comment you on your open-mindedness and sense of adventure. LOL. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 07-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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Thank you, Ric. Perhaps there was a tad too much sense of adventure, and too little mindedness, open or otherwise, operational.
Comment from Aiesha Nichole Oliver
I was initially intrigued by the title as I haven't a clue what a Bardo is. I would ask how high were you when you wrote this piece. The dropping of sentences seems disjointed and detracts from the flow of the story. I wondered if you were perhaps trying to capture a 'narcotic high.' You were the subject of something rather scary, I wonder how much of a willing participant since your appeal for help was ignored. Spiritual highs are possible without psychedelics. Patience and time in nature is requisite.
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The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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I was initially intrigued by the title as I haven't a clue what a Bardo is. I would ask how high were you when you wrote this piece. The dropping of sentences seems disjointed and detracts from the flow of the story. I wondered if you were perhaps trying to capture a 'narcotic high.' You were the subject of something rather scary, I wonder how much of a willing participant since your appeal for help was ignored. Spiritual highs are possible without psychedelics. Patience and time in nature is requisite.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 07-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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I gather you are a newbie on Fanstory, right? I know when I started here, some twenty years ago, I was bound and determined to stand at the precipice of life and hold out the lantern of my wisdom and truth to light up an ignorant world below. I would call a spade a spade without regard to the feelings of the writer. Oh, how I wished Tom would allow us a "no-star" rating for some of the stuff I reviewed!
Somehow, I survived. Happily, I decided to use my lantern to watch my own footsteps down from the path from the precipice and I found that once I got to the bottom, I could put my lantern aside and walk amongst my peers and let the wisdom of our combined lights guide us, and allow us to genuinely help each other.
Best wishes to you, Aiesha. I think you'll enjoy working with your friends down here in the real world of Fanstory.
Jay
Comment from Iza Deleanu
Wow, that was quite a storm, and you carried us through different dimensions and situations, like a constant stubborn reminder that we are not the originals, but just a copy of the master key. Thank you for sharing and good luck with your writings.
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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Wow, that was quite a storm, and you carried us through different dimensions and situations, like a constant stubborn reminder that we are not the originals, but just a copy of the master key. Thank you for sharing and good luck with your writings.
Comment Written 07-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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That we are not the originals. Good advice. Wish I had your wisdom to guide me when I was in my mid-twenties!
Jay
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
I really enjoyed this article about something I never tried although I did high school, college, and taught school through the sixties. My mother, the nurse director of the psych ward at the hospital told my sister and I enough horror stories about drug users that I was not curious. I'm a bit of a blithe skimmer of the depths of the psyche. Good poem and lovely music.
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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I really enjoyed this article about something I never tried although I did high school, college, and taught school through the sixties. My mother, the nurse director of the psych ward at the hospital told my sister and I enough horror stories about drug users that I was not curious. I'm a bit of a blithe skimmer of the depths of the psyche. Good poem and lovely music.
Comment Written 06-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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I remember those horror stories about permanent blindness when the druggie stared for hours at the sun, or trying to fly out of 10-story windows. I was even aware of it at the time. But my ace-in-the-whole was my immortality. LOL (except that I think I believed it in my mid-twenties. I appreciate the six stars.
Jay
Comment from country ranch writer
I must say those drugs you experienced with you friend intrepid old days could've had some serious effects in years down the road. I pray you came through those days okay
It's even worse in today's society with all the weird ap going on if youtouchitnuou due. Jeepers creepers.
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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I must say those drugs you experienced with you friend intrepid old days could've had some serious effects in years down the road. I pray you came through those days okay
It's even worse in today's society with all the weird ap going on if youtouchitnuou due. Jeepers creepers.
Comment Written 06-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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Thank you, BJ for the kind words and the six stars.
Comment from Jasmine Girl
What a journey to pursue the enlightenment. This piece is well written. I admire your courage but you were 24. Yes. Joe did lead you into it. He was the leader. Was the LSD a bad batch that went into your stomach or just an excuse from Joe. I guess he didn't know either.
I think I'm #3.
Excellent and good luck.
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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What a journey to pursue the enlightenment. This piece is well written. I admire your courage but you were 24. Yes. Joe did lead you into it. He was the leader. Was the LSD a bad batch that went into your stomach or just an excuse from Joe. I guess he didn't know either.
I think I'm #3.
Excellent and good luck.
Comment Written 06-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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Hi, Lisa. Much obliged for the six star rating. I do believe the LSD was "watered down". The cement was real!
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Thank you for sharing this contest entry with us. I'm 69, a few years younger than you. Having grown up with an alcoholic father and in a very small Midwest town, the strong thing I ever tried was a Pepsi. For real. I guess I missed out on life but am honestly glad I did. Good luck with the contest.
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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Thank you for sharing this contest entry with us. I'm 69, a few years younger than you. Having grown up with an alcoholic father and in a very small Midwest town, the strong thing I ever tried was a Pepsi. For real. I guess I missed out on life but am honestly glad I did. Good luck with the contest.
Comment Written 06-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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No, Barbara, you didn't miss out on anything. Although, at 25, I'd have felt differently. I hope I accurately portrayed my feelings at the time. Thanks for the six stars, Barbara.
Comment from Ulla
I commend you, Jay, on this long tale of a youthful experiment which fortunately didn't turn you into an addict, I'm glad to say. Yes, back in those days so many experimented with all kind of substances. The farthest I ever got was to smoke a joint a the grand old age of 15. It did absolutely nothing for me. I walked away, quite disgusted, murmuring, 'oh give me a glass of wine any day!' I've sticked with that ever since never becoming addicted. Oh I love that song. It reminds me so much of Scotland where it's very popular. Ulla:)))
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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I commend you, Jay, on this long tale of a youthful experiment which fortunately didn't turn you into an addict, I'm glad to say. Yes, back in those days so many experimented with all kind of substances. The farthest I ever got was to smoke a joint a the grand old age of 15. It did absolutely nothing for me. I walked away, quite disgusted, murmuring, 'oh give me a glass of wine any day!' I've sticked with that ever since never becoming addicted. Oh I love that song. It reminds me so much of Scotland where it's very popular. Ulla:)))
Comment Written 06-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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Thank you, Ulla. Yes, wine definitely has its uses. Thank you for the six stars, my dear!
Comment from Jim Wile
I found this story captivating, Jay, learning about your youthful experiment with LSD in an attempt to explore your spiritual side. I thought the whole discussion was fascinating, especially near the end where you describe the different categories one may fit into and how this can change as we age. It got me really reflecting on my own positions about my spiritual side throughout my life, and I realize that I have pretty much always been the stone who prefers to lightly skim the safer surface of things and never dwell too deeply on the greater meaning of life, if indeed there is one. I have always fit into the first category, perhaps every once in a great while delving into #2.
I have never had a deep spiritual side that seeks to understand the meaning of life or had any kind of interest in mysticism or religion, though I was brought up with religion. Both of my brothers have been more interested in the spiritual side of things, but I'm content to simply live in the here and now with what I can truly see and experience with my 5 senses which I can rely on to accurately tell me what is real most of the time, fully admitting that there are sometimes illusions that can confound them.
I never tried any of the harder drugs or hallucinogens but stuck to pot and hashish in my youth. I don't believe I got any more spiritual or achieved any greater understanding of myself using it, but just liked the way it felt and the reduction of inhibitions it led to. I could experience a much greater appreciation of a freight train speeding by or playing the kid's game jacks with my best friend while high, but deeper insight into my psyche--not!
Perhaps that's why my poetry is almost always on the humorous, not-very-serious side, because I don't really have any deep thoughts to imbue it with.
On the other hand, I admire people who can truly look at things more deeply and achieve understandings that I find myself unable or unwilling to do, even though some of it may seem like self-indulgent bullshit at times.
I went back and read the poem you linked to and really appreciated that too. You always make me think more deeply about things, Jay, and I'm happy to have befriended you here on FanStory. - Jim
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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I found this story captivating, Jay, learning about your youthful experiment with LSD in an attempt to explore your spiritual side. I thought the whole discussion was fascinating, especially near the end where you describe the different categories one may fit into and how this can change as we age. It got me really reflecting on my own positions about my spiritual side throughout my life, and I realize that I have pretty much always been the stone who prefers to lightly skim the safer surface of things and never dwell too deeply on the greater meaning of life, if indeed there is one. I have always fit into the first category, perhaps every once in a great while delving into #2.
I have never had a deep spiritual side that seeks to understand the meaning of life or had any kind of interest in mysticism or religion, though I was brought up with religion. Both of my brothers have been more interested in the spiritual side of things, but I'm content to simply live in the here and now with what I can truly see and experience with my 5 senses which I can rely on to accurately tell me what is real most of the time, fully admitting that there are sometimes illusions that can confound them.
I never tried any of the harder drugs or hallucinogens but stuck to pot and hashish in my youth. I don't believe I got any more spiritual or achieved any greater understanding of myself using it, but just liked the way it felt and the reduction of inhibitions it led to. I could experience a much greater appreciation of a freight train speeding by or playing the kid's game jacks with my best friend while high, but deeper insight into my psyche--not!
Perhaps that's why my poetry is almost always on the humorous, not-very-serious side, because I don't really have any deep thoughts to imbue it with.
On the other hand, I admire people who can truly look at things more deeply and achieve understandings that I find myself unable or unwilling to do, even though some of it may seem like self-indulgent bullshit at times.
I went back and read the poem you linked to and really appreciated that too. You always make me think more deeply about things, Jay, and I'm happy to have befriended you here on FanStory. - Jim
Comment Written 06-Aug-2023
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2023
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Thank you so much for the evidence of such a deep reading and understanding of my intent in writing this, as well as of my mindset (as much as I even understood it, or understand it now). I was incredibly lucky, not at all courageous, and left with the lingering regret that I didn't take spiritual development seriously enough for long enough to be found worthy of its true wealth. Thank you, also, for the six stars. But a five would have done just as well with the huge reward your words gave me.