Tom Hamilton
@tomilton
Product Manager in Austin, TX
Tom Hamilton
Your problems aren’t unique. Before trying to solve something from scratch:
Research how others have solved similar challenges
Talk to people who’ve faced the same issues
Look for existing patterns and frameworks
Hire advisors to accelerate learning
Research how others have solved similar challenges
Talk to people who’ve faced the same issues
Look for existing patterns and frameworks
Hire advisors to accelerate learning
Excerpt from Lenny’s Podcast
Find out who you are and do it on purpose.
-Dolly Parton
The use of psychedelics, such as psilocybin, and the practice of yoga share similarities as paths to ego dissolution, though they operate through distinct mechanisms.
Michael Pollan's How to Change Your Mind highlights how psychedelics can suppress the Default Mode Network (DMN) in the brain, which is associated with the ego. This suppression can le
... See moreEveryone is sleeping on the *collective* advantages AIs will have, which have nothing to do with raw IQ: they can be copied, distilled, merged, scaled, and evolved in ways humans simply can't.
DWARKESH PATEL
JAN 31, 2025
DWARKESH PATEL
JAN 31, 2025
The Invitation
It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn’t interest me what planets are squari... See more
It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn’t interest me what planets are squari... See more
Just a moment...
perplexity.aiThe use of psychedelics, such as psilocybin, and the practice of yoga share similarities as paths to ego dissolution, though they operate through distinct mechanisms.
Michael Pollan's How to Change Your Mind highlights how psychedelics can suppress the Default Mode Network (DMN) in the brain, which is associated with the ego. This suppression can lead to a temporary dissolution of the ego, fostering feelings of interconnectedness and breaking rigid mental patterns[1][6]. Similarly, B.K.S. Iyengar’s Light on Life emphasizes yoga and meditation as tools for transcending the ego through disciplined practice and self-awareness. Meditation quiets the mind and fosters a sense of unity, which parallels the effects described in psychedelic experiences[3][11].
Scientific studies also reveal that brain activity during deep meditation resembles that of individuals under psychedelics, suggesting both methods can lead to similar states of ego transcendence[3][6]. However, yoga relies on gradual, intentional self-discipline, while psychedelics often provide a sudden and intense experience. Both can serve as transformative tools for exploring consciousness and dissolving egoic boundaries, depending on individual preferences and contexts.
Sources
[1] Dissolving ego dissolution - MIND Foundation https://www.mind-foundation.org/blog/ego-dissolution
[2] Ego death through meditation - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/Meditation/comments/7vcj98/ego_death_through_meditation/
[3] Book Review: Michael Pollan's How to Change Your Mind https://zerowastechef.com/2018/05/15/book-review-michael-pollans-change-mind/
[4] If you want psychedelic healing, your ego may need to die https://psyche.co/ideas/if-you-want-psychedelic-healing-your-ego-may-need-to-die
[5] 10 Minute Guided Meditation for Dissolving Your Ego - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI4qubLnFJI
[6] A Reflection on Michael Pollan's New Book: How to Change Your ... https://www.designingyourlife.coach/blog/2019/1/9/how-to-change-your-mind
[7] MICHAEL POLLAN Changes His Mind - 032C https://032c.com/magazine/michael-pollan-changes-his-mind
[8] Dissolve the Ego With This Guided Meditation to Reveal the True You https://www.yogapedia.com/2/8626/self/inner-strength/how-to-dissolve-your-ego
[9] It's not just psychedelics that change minds, says Michael Pollan ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEhaD2zfj2E
[10] The New Science of Psychedelics - Michael Pollan https://michaelpollan.com/articles-archive/the-new-science-of-psychedelics/
[11] Mindfulness As A Tool For Ego Reduction | THE MINDFUL STEWARD https://themindfulsteward.com/mindfulness/mindfulness-as-a-tool-for-reducing-ego%EF%BF%BC/
The more you create, the more powerful you become.
The more you consume, the more powerful others become.
Later, you’ll be nostalgic for right now
Nabeel S. Qureshi
From the principles post
It takes great strength to be vulnerable enough to put your ass on the line, in public, and work toward a dream that feels like it’s slipping away. We all have eyeballs on us. Our family and friends are watching, and even if you’re surrounded by positive people, they will have ideas about who you are, what you’re good at, and how you should focus y
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