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Spiritual Awakening(s)

The Hammer

[REDACTED]
Premium Member
Can anyone explain to me what a "Spiritual Awakening" is? What does it feel like? Has anyone ever experienced it?

Wasn't sure where to post this, as I believe it happens to religious and secular people alike. Mods may move this if it's appropriate elsewhere.
 

beenherebeforeagain

Rogue Animist
Premium Member
Can anyone explain to me what a "Spiritual Awakening" is? What does it feel like? Has anyone ever experienced it?

Wasn't sure where to post this, as I believe it happens to religious and secular people alike. Mods may move this if it's appropriate elsewhere.
I would say that it is an experience. A personal, mainly an emotional and cognitive experience. I'm sure that research could come up with some language that is typically used to describe it; I would use it as a way to describe the 'mystical' experiences I have had. For me it has had to do with awareness of my connection to my environment.
 

TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Can anyone explain to me what a "Spiritual Awakening" is? What does it feel like? Has anyone ever experienced it?

I see for each person it is a different experience and can unfold over many years.

My person awakening to the possibility was by reading a book called 'God Loves Laughter' by William Sears.

That was early 1984 and personally I think the awakening is mot limited to one moment in time. Much like we sleep and awake each day. The spiritual journey is much the same as we awaken to more spiritual truths we find.

I see the journey starts when we consider what it is to be 'born again'. My personal path has been in the Baha'i Faith.

Regards Tony
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
Can anyone explain to me what a "Spiritual Awakening" is? What does it feel like? Has anyone ever experienced it?

It's a complete shift in perception from what one typically experiences in relative reality, not entirely different from waking from an extended dream into a waking consciousness that is foreign but familiar...more familiar than looking at one's reflection in the mirror or being in one's own body and profoundly intimate...like being everything as well as being intimate with everything all at once.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Can anyone explain to me what a "Spiritual Awakening" is? What does it feel like? Has anyone ever experienced it?

Wasn't sure where to post this, as I believe it happens to religious and secular people alike. Mods may move this if it's appropriate elsewhere.

I think the expression is very subjective. One person's 'awakening' is another's delusion.
 

shunyadragon

shunyadragon
Premium Member
Can anyone explain to me what a "Spiritual Awakening" is? What does it feel like? Has anyone ever experienced it?

Wasn't sure where to post this, as I believe it happens to religious and secular people alike. Mods may move this if it's appropriate elsewhere.

I consider 'awakenings' to be of two kinds: The little Satori, and the Great Satori, which is the most illusive. The 'Little Satori' are 'Ah I have discovered something new and surprising.' In my experience the only things I ever experienced that would be considered 'A Great Satori' are; "Regardless of what I believe there is a theme of unity in the nature of all that exists," and "Nothing is necessary from the human perspective." and "Oh sh*t, everything I could ever believe or not believe is likely wrong!" trumps everything.
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
Can anyone explain to me what a "Spiritual Awakening" is? What does it feel like? Has anyone ever experienced it?

The term you are using -- "spiritual awakening" -- strikes me as Christian. In Christianity, the term seems to most commonly refers to an emotional and heart felt commitment to faith in God or Jesus. Or faith that they might save one.

I have noticed, however, that in recent years a few Christians have used the term for what is more traditionally called a "religious experience". That is an experience of God such as -- but not necessarily limited to -- hearing God speak, seeing a vision of Jesus, feeling the Holy Spirit moving powerfully within them, etc.

Religious experiences are to be distinguished from "mystical experiences". A religious experience is an experience of a specific, identifiable deity. A mystical experience transcends any and all religions -- the "deity" of a mystical experience is not specific to any religion.

In fact, the deity of a mystical experience might not even be a deity in any normal or usual sense of the term. We know so very little about it, although the science of mysticism has made leaps and bounds in the past 20 or so years as new brain imaging techniques have come online -- and as comparative religious studies have developed and applied new methods of analysis. Still, it remains a mystery and -- I think -- it always will in some ways.

By the way, where did you hear the term "spiritual awakening"? What was the context? And why does the concept interest you? Please answer only if you feel comfortable doing so.
 

shunyadragon

shunyadragon
Premium Member
The term you are using -- "spiritual awakening" -- strikes me as Christian. In Christianity, the term seems to most commonly refers to an emotional and heart felt commitment to faith in God or Jesus. Or faith that they might save one.

I have noticed, however, that in recent years a few Christians have used the term for what is more traditionally called a "religious experience". That is an experience of God such as -- but not necessarily limited to -- hearing God speak, seeing a vision of Jesus, feeling the Holy Spirit moving powerfully within them, etc.

Religious experiences are to be distinguished from "mystical experiences". A religious experience is an experience of a specific, identifiable deity. A mystical experience transcends any and all religions -- the "deity" of a mystical experience is not specific to any religion.

By the way, where did you hear the term "spiritual awakening"? What was the context? And why does the concept interest you? Please answer only if you feel comfortable doing so.

I did change 'spiritual awakenings' to 'awakenings' which in my view synonymous to a degree with Satori or enlightenment, and could be translated differently from different perspectives. Such experiences are limited to the perspective of the individual who claims such experiences. Though they may be a common thread shared by individuals and groups, and possibly unseen in a greater context of humanity
 
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Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
I did change 'spiritual awakenings' to 'awakenings' which in my view synonymous with Satori or enlightenment, and could be translated differently from different perspectives. Such experiences are limited to the perspective of the individual who claims such experiences. There may be a common thread shared by individuals and groups, and possibly unseen in a greater context of humanity

Could you elaborate please on what you mean by "enlightenment"? Also, in your view, what is the significance and meaning of "satori" to the Zen monks? Do you agree or disagree with the school that says no two experiences of satori are identical, or with the school that says all experiences of satori are alike? I'm just curious to see where you are coming from. My specific questions will give me a much better idea of that, But please don't answer them unless you feel comfortable doing so.
 

The Hammer

[REDACTED]
Premium Member
By the way, where did you hear the term "spiritual awakening"? What was the context? And why does the concept interest you? Please answer only if you feel comfortable doing so.

It was the best way to describe a feeling of both oneness with the universe and an overarching feeling of clarity/awe.
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
It was the best way to describe a feeling of both oneness with the universe and an overarching feeling of clarity/awe.

I see. Sounds to me more like a mystical experience than a religious one. Was their any specific god involved -- such as Thor or Odin? Or Jesus, for that matter? Any way at all to ID that "oneness", or connect it to any set of religious beliefs?
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
Hammer, if you are looking for an overview or introduction to mysticism, then you might want to check out Mysticism is a Whore: Please Allow Me to Introduce You. It's about a 26 minute read, but it covers most of the major points and issues. It's written as humorously as possible in order to keep your interest -- but it's packed with facts. It is still more or less up to date, although it was written two years ago.

I have to run now. If you have any questions and I forget to check this thread again, feel free to PM me.
 

beenherebeforeagain

Rogue Animist
Premium Member
Hammer, if you are looking for an overview or introduction to mysticism, then you might want to check out Mysticism is a Whore: Please Allow Me to Introduce You. It's about a 26 minute read, but it covers most of the major points and issues. It's written as humorously as possible in order to keep your interest -- but it's packed with facts. It is still more or less up to date, although it was written two years ago.

I have to run now. If you have any questions and I forget to check this thread again, feel free to PM me.
How did I not know you had a blog?:cool:
 

shunyadragon

shunyadragon
Premium Member
Could you elaborate please on what you mean by "enlightenment"? Also, in your view, what is the significance and meaning of "satori" to the Zen monks? Do you agree or disagree with the school that says no two experiences of satori are identical, or with the school that says all experiences of satori are alike? I'm just curious to see where you are coming from. My specific questions will give me a much better idea of that, But please don't answer them unless you feel comfortable doing so.

Actually I was broadening the concept of the awakening by removing the necessity of the word 'spiritual,' and introducing the subjective nature of awakenings and enlightenment. In a previous post I said:

"I consider 'awakenings' to be of two kinds: The little Satori, and the Great Satori, which is the most illusive. The 'Little Satori' are 'Ah I have discovered something new and surprising.' In my experience the only things I ever experienced that would be considered 'A Great Satori' are; "Regardless of what I believe there is a theme of unity in the nature of all that exists," and "Nothing is necessary from the human perspective." and "Oh sh*t, everything I could ever believe or not believe is likely wrong!" trumps everything."

Some may consider an 'awakening' the revelation of a necessary Truth, which is unfortunate.

I may use Satori in a somewhat different way than traditional Zen, but nonetheless I am influenced by Buddhist philosophy.
 

George-ananda

Advaita Vedanta, Theosophy, Spiritualism
Premium Member
Can anyone explain to me what a "Spiritual Awakening" is?
To me it just means that the person has found the importance of the spiritual side of life that the person had not felt previously. I see it as a somewhat vague term.
Has anyone ever experienced it?
I have as a gradual process. You may be asking about some sudden EUREKA moment? I believe others have had those too.
 

The Hammer

[REDACTED]
Premium Member
I see. Sounds to me more like a mystical experience than a religious one. Was their any specific god involved -- such as Thor or Odin? Or Jesus, for that matter? Any way at all to ID that "oneness", or connect it to any set of religious beliefs?
I see. Sounds to me more like a mystical experience than a religious one. Was their any specific god involved -- such as Thor or Odin? Or Jesus, for that matter? Any way at all to ID that "oneness", or connect it to any set of religious beliefs?

There are definitely Gods and Symbolism involved. But it feels as if to explain it publicly would lessen it's overall impact. I have taken to journaling instead.
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
Can anyone explain to me what a "Spiritual Awakening" is? What does it feel like? Has anyone ever experienced it?

It was the best way to describe a feeling of both oneness with the universe and an overarching feeling of clarity/awe.

But it feels as if to explain it publicly would lessen it's overall impact.

To me, you answered the questions you asked including the sense that the experience can be dissipated.
 

The Hammer

[REDACTED]
Premium Member
It's a complete shift in perception from what one typically experiences in relative reality, not entirely different from waking from an extended dream into a waking consciousness that is foreign but familiar...more familiar than looking at one's reflection in the mirror or being in one's own body and profoundly intimate...like being everything as well as being intimate with everything all at once.

This seems to be an interesting expression, but feels accurate.
 

Jumi

Well-Known Member
Spiritual awakening is when one becomes convinced of a type of spirituality. I wouldn't add more meaning to it, a lot of religions celebrate people converting to theirs and leaving others. So it's very meaningful for them to think that they are "winning"...
 
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