Is a distorted reality now a necessity to be free?

Question

I think I'll go ask Elliott.

This was a reference to Elliott Smith's song, "A Distorted Reality Is Now A Necessity To Be Free."

It's interesting that most people seem to've jumped to the thought of drugs.

Answer 1

I'm curious about the "now"..

Something changed?

Unless you are assuming that our perception of reality is absolute, then all reality we experience is distorted..

And freedom is part of our perceptions, thus it is distorted in itself..

:-)

Answer 2

Drugs & alcohol are a dead end. The cost of the down is always more than the quick thrill of the high, & the down lasts alot longer.
And even when you are high, way in the back of your mind, you know why you are doing it, and that the pleasant feeling won't last. It's as far from what freedom really is as you can get.

Freedom can be found in the direct engagement of reality, no matter what it is - pleasant, unpleasant or neutral.

Freedom always exists in the stillpoint at your heart, and at the quiet depth where the breath maxes out at each inhalation. In the expansive space of that silence, it's always there.

Easy to miss in our noisy world. No wonder so many people are searching for it.

I practice breathing meditation every morning & most evenings.
During the day I try to look directly at what's happening in front of me, without allowing opinion or the past to cloud my perception or dictate my response. I've found alot of freedom there, right there in the middle of things, at work or wherever. Anyone can learn, because everyone has to breath, and everyone has a reality to look at.

Your life is worth more than pointlessly chasing a "distorted reality."

Wouldn't it piss you off if freedom really was so close, & you never went looking there?

;-)

Answer 3

I just don't think that this is the case. But can see where you might feel this way with all the bad things that are happening in our world.. But try to be happy someway, somehow, and don't do drugs,Don't smoke and Eat healthy, Drink plenty of water. That's it God Bless You! P.S. If you do take medication, then take it right. Take it the way your Doctor prescribes it.

Answer 4

Yes this world has nothing to offer but an altered stae has endless possibilitys. try prescription drugs mixed with alcohol its great!!!, Seroiusly though if you can escape this world go for it. and don't mix drugs its a bad trip.

Answer 5

I would think that a distorted reality is a sure path to slavery.

Answer 6

Only if you are Rosie O'donnell