By now, I hope I’ve convinced you that conversations hold a magical, spiritual quality. In Chapter 6, I told you that there are certain reality-defying pitfalls that should be avoided in conversation. It’s true that conversational ego death and psychosis should be avoided for the general practitioner of conversation, but what about those individuals who have mastered the arts of conversation I’ve described so far? What about those individuals who can initiate a conversation right away at Level 1, expertly build the momentum into Levels 2 and 3, and leave the conversation elegantly? What about those individuals who have mastered the art of conversational looping and topic surfing, and are able to manipulate the conversation based on their whims?
For these advanced practitioners, pitfalls like ego death and psychosis should be seen as higher levels of the vibe ladder. These are states of conversation that are alarming and possibly even crippling for the conversationalist who has newly broken free of their NPC mode, but ones that are highly desirable for someone who knows what they’re doing.
I’ll allow you a moment to sit with this new information, the knowledge that there are levels beyond Level 3. It’s true.
Conversation, with its magical qualities, can sometimes transcend the expected limits of exchanging words between two individuals.
It’s true that conversation can lead to an overtaking of the self and a merging of the two conversation partners—and, finally, a simultaneous merging and dissolution of the boundaries between self and other.
I will discuss these higher levels of the ladder only briefly; the truths of the higher levels of the vibe ladder cannot be captured in words.
Level 4 on the vibe ladder is represented by conversational ego death, a highly distressing state for someone who is unprepared.
Conversational ego death occurs when the conversation has become more alive than the participant who experiences it.
The moment you witness the true power of conversation, there can be an ego-shattering effect, leading to a death of the ego itself.
Ego death is a phenomenon commonly experienced by psychedelic drug users and individuals who are on a path to spiritual enlightenment. It can also be experienced through conversation. Signs of conversational ego death include the feeling that your words are originating from something outside of your person, as if you’ve lost control over the ability to let the words out in the first place. When this feeling comes, it’s an indication that you are fully outside of the realm of ego. You no longer give any thought to how your words sound or how they might be received. There is only pure transmission of thought into words, words into your partner’s consciousness. This is Level 4.
In rare circumstances, conversational ego death can happen to both conversation partners at once. In these cases, it becomes possible for the conversationalists to ascend to the final level of the vibe ladder, a sort of shared conversational nonduality. It is at this level that the two individuals simultaneously merge and dissolve.
They become the conversation.
What was once two bodies, two brains sharing a conversation is now the conversation itself. There is a feeling that the boundaries between self and other—and self and reality—have transformed into something unnamable.
It bears repeating that these are dangerous ideas. Conversational ego death and nonduality can leave the individual in a state of disrepair, unable to descend from the upper levels of the vibe ladder. This is why it is absolutely imperative that you be aware of the signs of these upper levels, and to know yourself. Self-awareness, as in the lower levels, is key in the upper levels. It’s up to you to know (and you will know when the time is right) whether you’re ready for the transformation that comes with the levels beyond Level 3.
Conversing with advanced practitioners is a good way to stay safe, especially if you’re a newly minted non-NPC. These individuals are easily recognizable once you’re familiar with the techniques described in this book. They may appear as taxi drivers, as in the example made earlier, or teachers, or spiritual leaders, or really anyone. These are people worth talking to, because they can guide you through techniques that you haven’t yet mastered, inspiring you with the confidence to try techniques that feel out of reach.
It is my hope that you will be able to transcend the standard first three levels of the vibe ladder, reaching the heights of Level 4 and 5, but it is my deepest wish that you will not embark on such a mission lightly. The upper levels of the vibe ladder must not be underestimated.
To underestimate the power and magic of conversation is to remain trapped in NPC world forever.
Of course, there is no dishonor in moving through the world as an NPC. But to go on living this kind of life, especially after reading this book, would be to knowingly reject the inherent beauty in reaching the heights of human interaction.
You may wonder if there are any realms of conversation beyond the ladder, even beyond Level 5, beyond the world of ladders. If there is such a place, dear reader, it is for all of us to discover together. If there is such a place, it cannot be described in a book like this. It would need to be found through pure exploration. I hope you will use this book to guide your first steps toward that kind of transcendence.
in sum