A moment where you felt risen above common every day life and one with a universal guiding truth or maker. I haven't, but perhaps some of you have. Sort of an epiphany relating to your life and the life of all others.
2006-09-30 14:05:03 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Ok, when you mention Emerson and use the words epiphany and transcendental experience I get a little intimidated. An epiphany can be a moment of sudden intuitive understanding or a flash of insight so I'm going to say yes, although I don't place myself near the same level as Emerson. And I don't call my moments epiphanies. I don't really have a name for them; I just think of them as times when God shows up in a very tangible, life-changing way.
I'm trying to keep this short and yet make sense at the same time. As a teenager I lived in two worlds. At home: hell. Violent alcoholic dad, terror, abusive mom. At school I was Most Likely to Succeed, Class President, cheerleader, very religious, blah, blah. I don't care about any of that stuff now because I was the one who lived with all the pain on the inside while maintaining a front that everyone believed. I almost couldn't hold it together by my senior year and I began reading Emerson and Thoreau- not reading, absorbing. That's how I survived. Self-Reliance. I decided that my sucky life would not win. I could do anything I set my mind to and I would. And ultimately, I'd be happy. Funny, happiness is what I wanted above all. I gave a speech at graduation and that was the essence of it - you can't rely on anyone but yourself. You can do it. Go for it.
Then I went to college. I had achieved all the goals I'd set for myself; externally everything was peachy keen, I was finally away from home. Boyfriend. Top grades. Still religious. Happy? No. Empty. I think I hit that place they call the bottom. I went out on the campus quad late at night and talked to God. I felt cheated. I did everything I knew that was right, everything that was supposed to bring happiness and peace, and it didn't work. Life was just a cruel joke with no meaning. I was disillusioned and tired of trying and so appealed to God: if life has any meaning, I need to know or I quit.
My "epiphany" if you want to call it that, came the next day. That's a longer story. But I'm still here and yes, life has meaning beyond all I ever hoped or imagined. Still sucks sometimes, but I'm not alone anymore. I learned that self-reliance can be good and is often necessary, but asking for help is important, too.
I've had more life-altering moments with God - that was the first. And I love to share them but they are treasures to me. I don't care when people criticize my responses to questions but my soul is worthy of respect. You would respect me because you are a good man, but I've learned to be careful in this forum.
2006-09-30 18:02:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anne Teak 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes I have. A couple of times when I was age 24 and 37. I have had some experiences that frankly, if they didn't happen to me, I am not so sure I would have believed them. I think it is pure ignorance to speak for someone else, like the first comment you received. Keep seeking and I hope you will find.
2006-09-30 14:31:21 · answer #2 · answered by Red! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yea and it's fascinating -but crap- (Just to let you know I'm more of a skeptic) I mean I understand that there is a moment in ones life where people do feel as if they have had an epiphany, but we are not all one and when we die we get buried in the ground. We don't become one with the wind or anything silly like that!!
I just stick to my favorite guiding pricipal, treat others as you would like to be treated!!!
Debbie 16
2006-09-30 14:14:33 · answer #3 · answered by deby r 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes. I have had few Transcendental experiences in my life. Some things are hard to believe unless they happen to you. Once it happens to you, you will never have doubts again.
Good luck
2006-09-30 14:51:57 · answer #4 · answered by Lonelyplanet 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the interior calm of my first meditation adventure decrease than a knowledgeable chief which has not repeated. it rather is defined away as a hurry of endomorphins that my recommendations became into unused to, so i don't anticipate it to teach something to absolutely everyone else.
2016-10-15 09:33:47 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, usually when I am outside experiencing nature. It puts things in perspective.
2006-10-01 03:46:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋