This is a piece from the universal-tao site, from mantak chia... its about his latest 'workshops' which are called "dark room retreats". People can sign up for a week in total darkness ... voluntary Apparently DMT significantly builds up in one's body when this technique is used: DAY 1-3 Complete isolation from external light causes the pineal gland to flood the brain with the neurotransmitter melatonin. 3 days of Internal Darkness and Sleep Therapy - During these 3 days one has the chance to catch up on all the lost sleep that has occurred over the last few years. This stage cannot be over emphasized, with regard to its importance in the overall process. Christ spent 3 days in the caves near the Dead Sea, utilizing this metamorphic process, which is conducive to a very gradual death of the ego. DAY 3-5 The pineal gland starts to increase the production of 'pinoline', whereby a greater fluidity of thought and healing of the body starts to occur. This period allows for transition, wherein numerous meditations will be carried out, which will incorporate projection of the energy body and astral travel along with (Iron Shirt) Chi Kung. DAY 6-8 At this stage the pineal gland also starts to produce the neurohormone 5-MeO-DMT. This psychoactive tryptamine is highly luminescent; it is also extremely phosphorescent due to the amount of phosphene that it transmits onto the visual cortex. The neurotransmitter 5-MeO-DMT ('akashon' is normally only active when we are in the womb and in the first months of our lives. It is now reactivated in the darkroom. 5-MeO-DMT switches on 40% more of the cerebral cortex and awakens the nervous system to become aware of itself; 'beingness' results. It is the empathogenic neurotransmitter that expands the emotional body between 'infinity and zero'. It gives rise to telepathy in the emotional and intuitive bodies. It engages the awakening of the 'Flower Of Life', the spine, which begins to glow in a state of beingness and peace. 5-Meo-DMT discharges the darkness from the darkroom. A bright light will be activated. This Great White Light, the manifestation of the astral body, enables the self to project externally. Many exercises will be practiced during this period; compacting Chi, consciousness and awareness into the nervous system, working with the Silent Self and anchoring the Immortal Body. DAY 9-12 There is now enough 'Mono Amine Oxidase Inhibition' triggered by the pinoline, to allow the pineal gland's 'serotonin to melatonin cycle' to be intercepted by adrenaline and ephedrine activity and converted into a 'serotonin - DMT pathway'. When DMT levels reach more than 25mg, one's experience can become very visual. DMT is the visual third eye neurotransmitter. It enables the energy body and spirit to journey into hyperspace, beyond third dimensional realms of time and space. It is intensely energizing. At this stage of the Dark Room Retreat, the required amount of sleep tends to diminish dramatically. Although the day may last 24 hours, 3 hours of sleep can seem like 12. During this period we will engage in further practices; psychic games and interactivity, Taoist Dream Yoga (advanced levels) and Imagination Expansion. http://www.universal-tao.com/dark_room/index.html It does look interesting but ingesting DMT from a plant seems a little more convenient :mrgreen:

here is my idea of a "dark room retreat" .... go outside in a natural setting on a moonless eve ... bring your loaded DMT pipe ... sit down ... then, break ALL the barriers of reality!

Hehe, It would work alot faster that's for sure.

i find the relevance between DMT and Chi-Kung to be very interesting. i knew there was a connection somewhere :idea:

Imagine combining the two. HEhe

That sounds interesting, now if only I could take off a week to do such a thing.

photo-sensitive plants-(plants hormonely reacting to changes in light and shifts in spectrum), like all plants, have growth hormones auxin, cytokinin, and giberelin. Auxin is found through out the plant, but primarily in the growing tips, it accumulates in the areas where light does not touch, the auxin hormone is what causes a plant to streatch for light because as it gathers in a dark areas, the plant grows directly away from the center of the auxin gathering, so the plant grows toward the light only indirectlly because it is growing away from the growth hormone auxin. Auxin accumulates during night hours as well. In fact as the days grow shorter and the nights longer auxin begins to build up in the plant. When auxin levels reach a certain balance (through accumulating during long night hours) with cytokinin and giberelin, the three hormones become one hormone called florogen. This trio of hormones that is actually 1 hormone, is the hormonal force that causes a photosensitive angiosperm to put forth it's flower, weather it is spring blooming, or fall blooming. No point really, I just thought it was an interesting co-relation even if distant.

so then i wonder what will happen to the masses of people when the sun is no more and after the many days of darkness pass by. I wonder what extraordianry event this could be a catalyst for.

Have done Darkroom Retreats from 3-14 Days. They are highly recommended, a Playground for a Lot of interesting Experiences. Sure a DMT Pipe is much easier to access, but imagine 2 Weeks in an Altered State of Reality, thats a Lot of Time to Explore the Unknown.