just want to say hello to the people here.
I am David from somewhere in the middle-EU, i am a bio and chemistry nerd (currently studying biology) and i love DMT .
My first experience with DMT was in the form of smoked changa some years ago, its was beautiful and good to handle even though i wasn't much prepared for the experience (a friend just said "Its psychedelic, you'll like it" " ).

The idea of extracting DMT spooked around my head since nearly as long as i was first introduced to DMT. I have to admit that - at least for me - the whole extraction process is rewarding in it self, its educational, its makes a lot of fun and it brings you the beautiful experience of DIY chemistry .
My overall experience with DMT is mixed, i have a lot of respect for potent hallucinogens like DMT and dose very carefully.
On the other hand i have a fair amount of experience with the extraction - we currently use a STB from MHIRB with a medical-grade Petroleum ether (Benzinum medicinale) as a solvent + washing and re-crystallization with Na2CO3 and heptan. For storage we normally produce the DMT fumarate and/or Changa from FB.
I never have and wont sell DMT ever! All our extractions are collaborative projects with some good friends together and this will probably stay so.

A personal remark: I am a absolute no-spiritual person, i have a materialistic world view. I respect different positions on this matter but for myself wont except any metaphysical explanations for what-ever (especially and including the DMT experience).

love & best wishes to you all!
David

Welcome David!

WELCOME

I identify strongly with your perspective--but I also think it's wise not to become TOO emphatic about words and boundaries set by words. Acknowledgement of the material, natural, and empirical does not invalidate experience of the numinous. Here are four well-known rationalists discussing their views on the issue (Sam Harris, in particular, is known for his interest in psychedelic and meditative experiences).

Believe Nothing.
Allow for Anything.
Question Everything

Seems you are failing on point 2.
Probably better to be humble and say you don't know.... Because non of us really do.

dogma is dogma no matter what funny hat you put on it.

I'd rather say - believe what you want, but NEVER forget it's just a belief. Never mistake it for truth, and be ready to change it anytime. And if a long time goes by, and the belief doesn't change... I'd suggest you pay a visit to your entheogen of choice.

With all due respect... maybe filling this cat's intro essay thread with this much depth and discussion - that's not really directed at him... might seem a little overwhelming? I dunno... just a thought.

Blessings

Done and done...the debate has been moved to this thread: Musings on Belief, Subjectivity, Materialism, etc.

Welcome to the Nexus nermd, it's good to have you here

Hi all,

thanks for all your thoughtful replies, i really appreciated reading through most of them.
When i've time maybe i will try to formulate a good answer to all the interesting topics you brought up. I really love philosophical and/or political discussion but its somewhat hard to be as precise as i want to be in such discussions as a non-native English speaker. I would like to discuss the topic of objective truth but my english is failing me . But i will try ... later .

I just want to add that it is neither my intention nor have i the ability to invalidate the experience made by others. Those are personal experiences which form our own subjective worldviews (the science guy in me would say "thats how we work". And to acknowledge this fact is imo an integral part of accepting reality. This of course doesn't mean that i have to look at all opinions in the same way!

@joedirt: I really hope i do because "anything goes" never did anything good except as a philosophical metaphor (as famously used by Paul Feyerabend). I also wouldn't necessarily agree with point three, its a nice and heroic idea to "question everything" - and in fact a little bit of "question everything" would do a lot of good in this world - but thought to an end i think its also the end to everything.

@SWIMfriend: Thanks for you answer even though i knew the video already (on a side note,i am not a particular friend of Sam Harris .... but thats another story). Of course from time to time its a good idea to think and reflect on the boundaries one sets out for oneself. On the other hand if the same "challenging idea" comes up and up again in different clothes and still can not get me hooked on (like the idea of a divine power) what should i do other then to dismiss it?

i will end with an image-quote i like:
http://cdn.motinetwork.n...l-posters-1300710598.jpg

best wishes
David