The Seductive Allure of Spiritual Awakening

The Seductive Allure of Spiritual Awakening Consider this striking reality: Those who have experienced spiritu- al awakening or self-transcendence invariably regard it as the most captivating and transformative experience of their lives - leaving a lasting impact, changing them forever. Many insist that it was the defining milestone on their path. They assert that who they were before and who they are after is not the same person. Such bold pronouncements are quite telling. They unequivocally reveal that self-transcendence is one of the most compelling experiences our human awareness is capable of. The variety of spiritual experiences is vast. But whether they manifest as a profound state of mystical union, a sense of seamless oneness with nature, an experience of ecstasy or love-bliss, a radiant vision, or simply a state where the mind is completely still - free from the ordinary self and its endless stream of thoughts and emotions - their profundity is such that they feel infinitely more real than anything we have ever known. In its ultimate form, the experience of self-transcendence cata- pults us straight into the Ground of Being. In that state, every trace of thought and feeling, time and world, self and other has vanished; The Power of the Triple Gem and only Consciousness Itself remains – pure radiant Emptiness. For a moment you know for a fact that there is only One Reality. It is ever-present, infinite, bright – and you are That. You know that you are plunged into the actual part of you that is beyond birth and death, and remains untouched by the flow of time. This is irresist- ibly attractive because you intuitively sense that this is actually your own most intimate True Nature. Experiences like this are so awe-inspiring that they shake us to the core and leave no doubt that there exists an Absolute Real- ity beyond time and space. The radical release into the seamless oneness of the Ground of All-Being is the most thoroughly trans- formative shift a human being can go through. And most often, it is a pivotal reference point that redefines the meaning and purpose of our entire existence. For most of us, however, the experience soon fades, leaving us wondering: Would it be possible to remain anchored in such a depth of being - not just briefly touching base with it during fleet- ing moments, but truly live from it in an enduring way? And thus, we often find ourselves in a predicament. Despite having glimpsed our awakened Self beyond ego, we continue to oscillate between states of awakened awareness and forgetfulness. And soon the most fundamental challenge of our spiritual lives becomes: How do we remain continuously aware of our True Self - the Radiant Brightness of Absolute Spirit - that has been revealed to us in our most enlightened moments?