Religious Experiences

[Buttons*]

Last Friday, I went to see some local Whirling Dervishes. They are not all Muslim, which is unique for a group that participates in this practice. It was a three hour ceremony.

In the beginning the dancers came in, bowed towards Mecca, and proceeded to sit along the outside of the circle that had been prepared. They wore large brown hats and black robes. The first thirty minutes were spent with everything very still. Turkish words were played over the loudspeakers, and we all listened. The Dervishes held their heads a little to the right - later I was told that this was to hear their hearts. I did so as well without knowing about this, and felt what I refer to as my "light" turn on.

The music became intense and then dull, intense, dull, repeatedly. The voice continuously sang out of tune - though I'm not sure if this held any significance. It was in the quiet sounds that my light glowed especially bright. It stopped, we all listened. A sound of a pipe played. The sound, after a while, was accompanied by the Turkish voice. I assume this was a prayer. It was sang again in the style that had been done before. The Twirlers were still quiet, still listening. I listened.

Then the music stopped, and the Dervishes stood up and walked around the circle, following the leader. There was a part where, two at a time, they would stop in front of the "alter" and bow while looking deeply into another's eyes. This happened three times. Then, everyone stopped, and one of the Dervishes took the black robes off of the Twirlers. I later found out that this part was meant to experience the source within other humans, knowing that we are all one.

The Dervishes then walked around and lined up in front of the alter on the right. As they passed in front of the leader one at a time, they began spinning. Their arms went down, then slowly were pulled up over their heads. Once this happened the left arm extended, to the side, and their hands pointed towards the ground. The right arm extended to the side and the right palm faced up. I was later told that this was meant to be the connection between an openness to the source, and a reminder that this presence was to be experienced on Earth.

I can't remember if music was played. They would spin and spin. There seemed to be no end to the spinning. My light glowed, but my thoughts were confused. I can't remember what I was thinking. They would spin on one leg, and also travel around the circle. Once one came in front of the leader, that person would stop spinning, pass in front of the alter, and then return to spinning. This happened three times each. (Each taking about 10 minutes... to my estimation). Then all would be quiet. They gathered in pairs, placed their left arms across their body, putting the left hand on the right shoulder, and the right arm over the left in the same fashion. They would sit on the ground and bow periodically. There must have been music, or a prayer said, because they knew when to do it at the same time.

The same thing happened three times. I was transfixed on the dancers. After the third time, they all gathered in two again, and this time, another leader put the black robes back onto the dancers. Each one presented and received with a kiss of the cloth.

I think it ended with a prayer in dialogue. Then They all exited solemnly. Bowing to the alter.

It was truly a moving experience.

[TheKnight]

Originally Posted by GiantHouseKey

So for people that have had a religious experience, can you tell me a little about the event(s), and what convinced you to reach a particular conclusion (Eg. God was speaking to you)?

In the past when I was a Christian I had delusions that God spoke to me. I realize now that they were induced by the power of suggestion. I wanted God to speak to me and therefore I thought I heard Him speaking to me.

Now that I have left Christianity and have also grown older, I must say that the greatest of all my religious experiences would be that of another's gratitude.

When one devotes oneself to the improvement of humanity and declares oneself to be forever against that which ails humanity, the greatest of all religious experiences is when a person who you have helped looks at you smiling and says with utmost sincerity "Thank you for what you have done." It is this kindness that mankind can and does show to his fellow man that keeps me believing in God.

I have realized, throughout my rough and interesting formative period known as adolescence, that God has no need to speak to me personally. There is enough in our world for me to know what He desires. What does God need to tell me when I become aware of children who are hurt and need help? What does God need to tell me when I hear of crimes against humanity committed by those who are ignorant of any other moral way? Does God need to speak to me in some form of flashy revelation?

People have said to me before, "if God would only speak to me, I would believe." To that I respond Why can you not see that He has already spoken? That He speaks continuously through the mouths of the hungry, the oppressed, the naked, and the dying? I don't need a transcendent moment of psychosis to have a religious experience, I merely need to have a proper perspective of the important things of this life.

[Inky]

My most vivid religious / spiritual experience was a vision of being drawn slowly toward the giant black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. I sensed that the black hole was conscious, a sort of concentrated source of emotion and awareness. It was the essence of nothingness, emptiness, and cancellation. It was also pretty angry. I hadn't been drinking at the time and have never done drugs, so it was pretty weird to get something that vivid out of the blue. I chalk it up to my longtime fascination with black holes and discomfort with the fact that my religious beliefs were in fast transition at that time of my life.

[Kathryn]

Yes, sorry I haven't responded earlier - I have been on vacation! FAR away from computers and even my cell phone!

Good question. My heart was open to the moment but at the same time, I am sure I interpreted the experience via my own perspective - as we all do whether we are conscious of it or not.

Yes, it did change my religious beliefs to some extent. It took away a lot of fear of what some people categorize as "pagan." It made me more aware of truths that HUMANS share in spite of their religious affiliations. It made me much more accepting of others' religious beliefs and experiences.

It deepened my faith and helped me tap into a very deep vein of spirituality. It helped me find my place in this universe, if that makes any sense.

It put a lot of spiritual questions and doubts into perspective.

Hmmm, well this is sort of hard to answer but I'll try. Like I said, I was not under the influence of anything - not even a glass of wine. I was (and still am) stubbornly mentally stable. I would say that the feeling was a profound sense of truth, awe, and at the same time, filled with such poignant beauty that for days afterwards, I could close my eyes and remember it and the memory was so beautiful that I could have just cried. Still to this day, I can close my eyes and reach deep and tap into that sense of profound joy that I felt on that hillside.
Thank you for taking the time to share that with me

THANK YOU! It would be my real name if I could choose it - or if I wanted to make my mom really mad and change it!