TrueLife - The Legend of the Demon: Myth, Fear, and the Shadow of Human Consciousness

Episode Date: June 29, 2021

One on One Video Call W/George https://tidycal.com/georgepmonty/60-minute-meetingSupport the show:https://www.paypal.me/Truelifepodcast?locale.x=en_US🚨🚨Curious about the future of psychedelics? Imagine if Alan Watts started a secret society with Ram Dass and Hunter S. Thompson… now open the door. Use Promocode TRUELIFE for Get 25% off monthly or 30% off the annual plan For the first yearhttps://www.district216.com/Demons are more than monsters; they are reflections of our inner shadow. In this episode, George Monty delves into the legend of the demon — examining its roots in mythology, religion, and psychology, and revealing what it teaches about humanity, morality, and consciousness.From ancient folklore to modern interpretations, this conversation explores how fear, temptation, and the unknown shape our stories, cultures, and personal journeys.In this episode:The archetypal meaning of demons across culturesPsychological interpretations of fear, desire, and shadowFolklore and mythology as mirrors of human consciousnessLessons from confronting internal and external “demons”How myth shapes morality, culture, and personal growthTranscript:https://app.podscribe.ai/episode/72341445Speaker 0 (0s): Welcome back everybody. So stoked. Anybody is even listening to this. I've got a great story today that I think will help shed light on humanity Speaker 1 (17s): And your life in the world, around you. I know it has Speaker 0 (21s): For me and therefore I am hopeful that it will for you as well, without any further delays. Let me jump right into the story for you. Now, picture a fictional place, a south American tribe, a colony of people in another world. It doesn't really matter how you picture it. I choose to go with a south American tribe. So this myth, this legend is as follows throughout time. The storyteller of this particular tribe has told a story about a man generations ago that wandered out into the forest. It was never seen again, he was on a quest on a mission to find the impossible, to find the secret of immortality, to find the secret of a good life. And he was never seen again, whispers of that same story told of the Mann, finding a demon have becoming a demon of becoming an angel from time to time. People who visited the tribe and sometimes members of the tribe saw glimpses of things. They couldn't understand when they traveled far out past their borders. One day two young men, two young brave men decided to go in and investigate this particular theory, this particular legend. And they had heard the story so many times they thought to themselves, can this even be true? They talked to their parents, they talked to their grandparents' and both the parents and grandparents didn't really know, but they believe part of that must be true. So early one morning, the two boys packed their bags and nothing could carry on their back for a few days. And they left early before the sun camp, they hiked out over some mountains Speaker 2 (2m 23s): Through what could Speaker 0 (2m 25s): Only be described as a small desert and made their way out into the forbidden swamp area where they thought it would be the best place to at least see if this particular legend was true. There must be a reason. This forbidden swamp was called a forbidden swamp, right? So after three days of traveling, they find themselves in the forbidden swamp, they are almost out a rations. They were able to seize in hunt a few small animals, but by day three, it was looking pretty bleak. If they knew they had enough food to get back, they had been searching without a veil for the last three days. So they had boys decided we'll camp here tonight and we'll make our way back. And as they were setting up and establishing a place to camp, they began to smell another fire as if someone was roasting in animal or as if someone was cooking dinner, they followed the smell further down the swampy and Bankman until they found what looks like a gentleman sitting by the side of the water by a little Brook, with a little campfire. And he had a little bag with them. The boys thought this would be a perfect time to investigate. Maybe this gentleman knew of The Legend. Perhaps he knew where they could find the man or maybe he was from a different tribe and had a different idea. Maybe he had some knowledge they didn't have. So they walked over and began investigating. They realized that the man was wearing this white robe, which seemed odd to them because the swamp was so infected with dirt and mud and muck and grime. It was just amazing to them, how it could be so clean. So they approached the man with caution. And as the got closer, the man smiled and waved them over. Two boys sat down and began asking the man questions they asked, have you ever heard the story of the man who left his tribe and found a Daemon? And the man smiled at him. He says, I am that man. I left your tribe generations ago. I live out here with a demon. So many questions began running through the young men's mind. They began thinking of themselves. How was it possible that you can be generations old? How was a possible you as such a clean robe or what is it like to have a demon? They had a really good conversation. And the man told him that he found what it is he was seeking and that the demon provides anything and everything he could ever wish to have. He'll take the boys to see the demon tomorrow. If they wish we'll need this to say, the boys were excited. And they agreed. The old man told and to meet back then in the morning and before the sun comes up and he'll take them to his camp. So the boys walked back to their camp. They made their camp ready for nightfall. But before they fell asleep, they had a nice long talk about the experience they had in both boys decided that they would like to live for generations. They would like to have their wishes fulfilled. They would like to live that the old man they spoke to lived. So they began to hatch a plan. They'd kill the old man and take his Daemon. And that demon would serve them. Live out their life in luxury, without any wants whatsoever. They sharpened some arrows. They packed their bags and fell asleep. Before the sun rose the boys, a bloke packed their bags and they hiked over to where the old man was supposed to meet him. And there he was. And as they got clothes, they told the old man, we have decided we're going to take your Daemon and then kill you. The old man smiled and laughed. He said, nothing would be better for me. You don't even need your weapons. I'll take you to my camp. I'll show you the demon and you can have all of it. And I will walk away. The boys found this perplexing, Speaker 2 (6m 35s): But agreed, no need Speaker 0 (6m 37s): To kill somebody if he didn't need too. So they began walking in as they began walking, the grimy brine filled swampy path began to give way a two a month golden cobblestone pathway. And as they traveled further and further, the golden cobblestones became more intricate. They became filled with design intricate designs that not only made a picture on each block, but it seemed as though each block was part of a bigger picture. And the more you stared at the desig...

Darkness struck, a gut-punched theft, Sun ripped away, her health bereft. I roar at the void. This ain't just fate, a cosmic scam I spit my hate. The games rigged tight, shadows deal, blood on their hands, I'll never kneel. Yet in the rage, a crack ignites, occulted sparks cut through the nights. The scars my key, hermetic and stark. To see, to rise, I hunt in the dark, fumbling, fear. Hears through ruins maze lights my war cry born from the blaze.

The poem is Angels with Rifles. The track, I Am Sorrow, I Am Lust by Codex Seraphini. Check out the entire song at the end of the cast. Welcome back everybody. So stoked anybody is even listening to this. I've got a great story today that I think will help shed light light on humanity and your life and the world around you. I know it has for me and therefore I am hopeful that it will for you as well. Without any further delays, let me jump right into the story

for you now. Picture a fictional place, a South American tribe, a colony of people on another world, it doesn't really matter how you picture it. I choose to go with a South American tribe. tribe. So this myth, this legend, is as follows. Throughout time, the storyteller of this particular tribe has told a story about a man generations ago that wandered out into the forest and was never seen again. He was on a quest, on a mission to find the impossible, to find the secret of immortality to find the secret of a good life. And he was never seen again. Whispers of that same

story told of the man finding a demon, of becoming a demon, of becoming an angel. From time to time, people who visited the tribe and sometimes members of the tribe saw glimpses of things they couldn't understand when they traveled far out past their borders. One day, Two young men, two young brave men decided to go and investigate this particular theory, this particular legend. And they had heard the story so many times. They thought to themselves, can this even be true? They talked to their parents, they talked to their grandparents.

And both the parents and grandparents didn't really know, but they believed part of it must be true. So early one morning, the two boys packed their bags, enough they could carry on their back for a few days and they left early before the sun came. They hiked out over some mountains through what could only be described as a small desert and made their way out into the forbidden swamp area where they thought would be the best place to at least see if this particular legend was true. There must be a reason this forbidden swamp was called the forbidden swamp, right?

So after three days of traveling, they find themselves in the forbidden swamp. They are almost out of rations. They were able to seize and hunt a few small animals. But by day three, it was looking pretty bleak. They knew they had enough food to get back. They had been searching without a veil for the last three days. So they had boys decided, we'll camp here tonight, and we'll make our way back. And as they were setting up and establishing a place to camp,

they began to smell another fire as if someone was roasting an animal or as if someone was cooking dinner. They followed the smell further down the swampy embankment until they found what looked like a gentleman sitting by the side of the water by a little brook with a little campfire

and he had a little bag with him. Du Bois thought this would be a perfect time to investigate maybe this gentleman knew of the legend. Perhaps he knew where they could find the man, or maybe he was from a different tribe and had a different idea. Maybe he had some knowledge they didn't have. So they walked over and began investigating. They realized that the man was wearing this white robe, which seemed odd to them because the swamp was so infected with dirt and mud and muck and grime.

It was just amazing to them how he could be so clean. So they approached the man with caution. and as they got closer, the man smiled and waved him over. Two boys sat down and began asking the man questions. They asked, have you ever heard the story of the man who left his tribe and found a demon? And the man smiled at him. He says, I am that man. I left your tribe generations ago.

I live out here with a demon. So many questions began running through the young men's mind. They began thinking to themselves, how is it possible that you could be generations old? How is it possible you have such a clean robe? What is it like to have a demon? They had a really good conversation and the man told him that he found what it is he was seeking

and that the demon provides anything and everything he could ever wish to have. He'll take the boys to see the demon tomorrow if they wish. We'll need this to say the boys where he's. excited and they agreed. The old man told him to meet back there in the morning before the sun comes up and he'll take him to his camp. So the boys walked back to their camp. They made their camp ready for nightfall. But before they fell asleep, they had a nice long talk about the experience they had. And both boys decided that they would like to live for generations. They would like to have their

wishes fulfilled. They would like to live that the old man they spoke to lived. So they began to hatch a plan. They'd kill the old man and take his demon. And that demon would serve them. Live out their life in luxury without any wants whatsoever. They sharpened some arrows. They packed their bags and fell asleep. Before the sun rose, the boys awoke, packed their bags and they hiked over to where the old man was supposed to meet him and there he was. And as they got close, they told the old man, we have decided we're going to take your demon and then kill you. The old man smiled and laughed. He said, nothing would be better for me. You don't even need your weapons. I'll take you to my camp. I'll show you the demon. And you can have all of it. And I will walk away. The boys found this

perplexing, but agreed. No need to kill somebody if you didn't need to. So they began walking. they began walking the grimy, brine-filled swampy path began to give way to a golden cobblestone pathway. And as they traveled further and further, the golden cobblestones became more intricate. They became filled with design, intricate designs that not only made up pictures on each block, but it seemed as though each block was part of a bigger picture. And the more you stared at the designs, the more intricate they got. It was magical to the boys. Not long after moving down the golden cobblestone pathway,

they came upon a giant crystal palace, decorated by jewels of all kinds of colors. There was a beautiful, melodic sound on the wind like an angel singing. It was beautiful. You guys get it? It was beautiful. It was more than the boys could possibly fathom. They're blown away.

The man takes him into the castle, and they sit down in this amazing throne room, golden thrones, and unbelievable life-like sculptures that were so detailed. It's hard to imagine. And as everybody sits down, the man calls for the demon.

The boys are holding their breath. They're wondering, wow, I wonder what a demon looks like. A small, half-goat, quote, half-man creature makes his way into the throne room. And he only stands two feet tall. In some ways, he's cute, but disturbingly cute. He has an error of maleficence,

like a sort of dangerous beauty. And he comes out, looks at his master, the old man. How can I serve you, master? And the old man says, it's my time these are your new masters and the demon looks at the old man

and he looks at the two boys and he looks back at the old man and he says it is your wish master then it is so the boys are amazed how easy it is how easy it was for the old man to give up ownership of the demon and they ask him

is there anything that we should know before we let you leave and we take control of your demon and your kingdom The old man says, yes, there's so much you should know. But I'll tell you this. You must always keep the demon occupied. Because if you do not keep the demon occupied, he will kill you. The boys think to themselves how easy it will be to keep the demon occupied.

They have so many dreams and so many wishes and so many wants. They tell the old man, thank you. You've made this easy for us. We didn't want to kill you. And the old man says, Believe me, you have freed me. I will be down by the river for one day if you boys decide

that you no longer want to control the demon. The boys laugh. Thank you, old man. It's very kind of you. But I don't think we're going to need your assistance. So the old man gathers his backpack and he heads back down to the water. And the boys begin telling the demon

of their wants. One boy asks for a palace, a palace that is vastly superior to the one the old man had built. A one of such intricate design. It stretches the limit of the boy's imagination. Gold figurines with ruby eyes. Incredible calligraphy scripture on each block of the crystal castle. The second boy asks for an equally amazing and complex dwelling. to live in. One whose tower reaches the sky. The boys lay out their plans for the demon.

This is our first task we ask of you. The demon says, your wish is my command, and he sets off to go build the structures. The boys are moving around the old man's palace, taking a look. 15, 20 minutes have gone by, and the boys are beginning to get excited about what their new life is going to look like. And within the 20 minutes, before minute 21, the demon comes back. and says to the boys, it is done. Boys are amazed. How can it be?

It's been 20 minutes. And yet, you've built a structure that would take man generations to build? So the boys walk out. They walk down just a few yards from the old man's castle and they see these amazing structures. The demon says,

what is it that I can do for you now? But the boys are so, mesmerized by these unbelievable feet of architecture, they begin wandering around their individual castles. And as they're walking towards their individual castles, the demon begins to grow more angry. I ask you, Master, what is it you wish of me now? The boys become a little alarmed.

And as they turn back towards the demon because they hear the menace in his voice, he's no longer two feet tall. Now the demon is forced. feet tall. The boys are a little unnerved by the growth and the menace in the demon's voice and how he is no longer a sort of, he no longer has the dangerous beauty. It's now becoming a dangerous menace. So the boys ask, now we would like you to add upon the river that flows by us. We would like this river to be filled with the most unbelievable fish so that we can

fish and be in peace and have an area that we can find tranquil. We would like you to reshape the river so that it flows through the middle of our kingdom. The demon nods his head and says, it shall be done. The boys look at each other and begin to think how strange it was that the demon grew and how fast that the demon did the things that they wanted done. But they shake their heads and they again begin walking to one of the boys' castles. And as they walked to the door to begin investigating the first castle the demon built, 10 minutes have gone by and the demon appears in front of them and says, your wish is done, what can I do now?

What is it that you wish of me now, master? The boys begin thinking and talking amongst themselves. and as they begin thinking and talking amongst themselves about what it is they want, the demon grows another two feet. As the boys are talking, they can see the demon becoming irritable, becoming angry,

his eyes growing red. The demon is now taller than the boys. His build is muscular than the boys. And the malice in his eyes is almost overwhelming. He's becoming difficult to look at. And he begins peppering the boys with questions What is it you want me to do?

Are you unable to think of anything to challenge me? If you cannot challenge me Then I must kill you The boys begin getting really worried And they tell the demon Bring us the riches of the world We want to be richer than any man that has gone before us We would like another castle to be filled

With the riches of the world Everything from around the world the world and things we don't understand. And on top of that, we would like you to label these riches, tell us what they are and where they come from and how they got to be. On top of that, we would also like another palace that is filled with the secrets of the universe. We would like an oracle that will tell us what the future will be. The boys begin just trying to think of anything they could ever want.

The demon nods his head and he says, it shall be done. And before the boys can even investigate, the new policies they asked to build. Before they could even investigate the river that the demon made run through their kingdom, the demon appears and says your wish has been granted.

What is it I can do for you now? And the boys grow silent. And as they grow silent, the demon grows taller. And he becomes violent. He begins grabbing things and throwing them at them. He seizes one boy with his hand He begins squeezing his neck, throws him against the wall. The other boy, in a fit of fear, sprints out of the palace.

And he begins making his way towards the river to find the old man. He is relieved when he finds that the old man has not even made it to the river, yet stands out on the golden cobblestone pathway. He sprints to the old man crying. The demon has grown large. The demon has grown angry. and it's going to kill my friend tonight. Please, help us.

We no longer want this demon. We no longer want these wishes. We no longer want these riches. We no longer want these things that are insignificant if we can't have our own life. The old man and the boy run back to the chamber in which the demon is savagely beating the other boy. The old man tells the boy,

as they're running back to the chamber, when we get there, you must tell the demon that you relinquish him and that I am his master once again. As they enter the chamber room, the demon, 10 feet tall now, is savagely beating the other boy, pummeling with a stone, one knee on his neck and a stone in his hand,

ramming it into the boy's face. The boy screams out, We are no longer your master. It is the old man who is your master again. The demon drops the first. rock and makes his way towards the old man in anger, a violent, menacing walk towards the old man. And as he gets close, the old man plucks a hair from his head and hands it to the demon and says, my wish is for you to split this hair a hundred times.

And he hands it to the demon. And as the demon begins splitting the hairs once, twice, 10 times, 20 times. He begins again shrinking down to a manageable size, six feet, four feet, two feet. Soon enough, the demon is the same size as when the boys encountered him on the first day. That's it.

What do you guys think? What is the moral of that story to you? I'm sure that you can think of many things. Just take a minute to think what it can mean to you. Is that a story of youthful ignorance? Is it a story of human nature? Is it a story of meaning?

Of what's important in life? Is it a story of power? There's so many different ways to look at that story. And I often think about it in my life. And the more I think about it, the more I can equate it to different things. One interesting way to look at it is that mankind, all of us, are this demon. And that people in positions of authority are trying to control the demon.

And the more they ask of the demon, the more they get. However, the more they ask and the more they get, the more they put themselves in danger. because mankind, the crowd, the nation, the working people are a demon. And the people in positions of authority ask so much of these people and they provide it. And when there is nothing left for the demon to do, the demon turns on the people and positions of authority and kills them. and I think that our history is a pretty good representation of that different revolutions around the world the populist uprisings the Arab Spring

the students in Hong Kong the BLM all of them I think what you're seeing is the demon in man rebelling against the greed and selfishness of the people who want to lead them it lends credence to the shit we fight over too.

Right? Like we're splitting hairs. We're talking about is a man, a woman, are all white people, racist? The things we're fighting over are so minimal

when we have so much in common. Gender, race. Yeah, there's a difference. But we are being split. They're splitting humanity so that we do not fight them but we fight each other.

They give us. these menial tasks that have no meaning. Our country has no direction. The world has no direction. We're moving. What the fuck are we moving towards? Does anybody know? What happens when the demon finally splits the hair a hundred times?

Is there anything left for him to do? When will we harness our demon? When will we rise up and do what is right for us? when will we come together will we always be outsmarted by the master is there a master class of people that are trying to manipulate us is COVID splitting hairs

that's just one interpretation but think about it and I would love to know what your guy's interpretation of the story is I think it's a beautiful story and that's just one interpretation that I have I have many other ones As much as I want to share them with you

I don't want you to have only my interpretations I would love to hear yours and I hope the story helps you think about life in a different way yourself your environment

the people around you and the role you play are you the boys are you the old man are you the demon are you someone in the tribe that never went out to find them and who's better

was it smart for the kids to go find them? Was it irresponsible for them to do it? What happens to them afterwards? What about the old man? Has the demon had masters before? Is the demon live inside the old man?

Where does he reside? Think about it, guys. I love you. Let me know what you think. Aloha.