Are you AWAKE? Spiritual Crisis/Emergency. Please share.?

Question

I am a regular person, not religious in any real way. I recently had a very real and very traumatic awakening experience, that was shared with several other people, at the exact same time. I am looking for people ONLY who understand what I mean when I say 'The time is now', people that were once asleep and now awake. I need some advice. The experience frightened me, made me close to inert in my every day life. It was laughed off by my psych professor. I find the only way I can function is if I just don't think about 'it', the free will 'problem', etc. If I continue the illusion, so to speak. I want to know if anybody has any advice how to live along with this knowledge in a western world where these experiences are either taboo or seen through the eyes of semi-delusional religious fervor. Again, I'm a reasonable person here, looking for a smart answer from somebody that might have some knowledge about the history of these experiences, using the least amount of new age wording!

Answer 1

A moment of awakening can indeed be a frightening thing. The experience can cast a glaring light on what is perceived as "reality" that makes one question daily life and one's role within the world around them. However, achieving a sense of peace is not only possible, but closer within reach than you might believe now that you have had such an experience.

First of all, does such an experience truly change the fundamental nature of the world around you? No. It has simply altered your understanding and perception of it, not the nature of existence itself. Life simply is. Our perception is just another manifestation of our attempt to bring it into clarity. This doesn't mean that our lives have lost meaning or that daily existence isn't meaningful for those around us.

Secondly; now that you have experienced this insight you can decide what it means to you and how it can bring you a sense of peace and connectedness. After all, without achieving that inner peace, your insight becomes a source of pain and worry. One of your answerers recommended Thich Naht Hahn (sorry if I misspelled it) and I would heartily agree with that. There are so many great teachers who have handed us the tools for allowing this insight to grant us peace and harmony that it would be foolhardy to not explore what they have to say. The Dalai Lama, Lao Tzu, and others offer wisdoms on how to exist with the insight and awakening to the true nature of existence in a way that leads to our continued growth.

Lastly, seek service to others. We can get so wrapped up within ourselves that we begin to think we are alone in the world or that a single awakening moment or insight is the final answer to so many questions. This just isn't true. One insight naturally leads to another and another and so on. We never stop growing in understanding, but if we become absorbed in our personal experience we can experience tension and fear rather than exhiliration and joy. Give to others. It doesn't matter if it is in simple ways or an involved committment; you simply need to get beyond yourself.

Breathe deeply. Meditate in silence. Enjoy the natural world around you as much as possible. Let go of expectations and desires; even those of understanding and growth - let it happen and take joy in the moment. Share your peace with others by being peaceful. Read a lot. Write more. Enjoy.

Best of luck.

Answer 2

These experiences can be hard to deal with. In the first place, while the experiencer has no doubt what happened, most other people can not believe it. The experiencer is often caught by surprise and has no where to turn for answers. In your case you are fortunate that others shared your experience. Due to the fact that most organized religions are merely the outer shell of an esoteric teaching there is usually no previous training or explanations to fall back on when an experience reveals "truth". This can lead to real confusion. For instance, the real meaning of things like heaven and Spirit can not be explained with words. They have been explained with words for our entire lives, though. Hence our understanding is utterly wrong. The experience of truth really can shake us up. My personal belief is that many are reincarnating into Western Cultures from previous lives during which a study of dharma was attempted. They were supposed to get a spiritual introduction in this life that would bring them up to their point of previous enlightenment. Some event, a suicide maybe, prevented this from happening. The Lord then gives them a glimpse at Truth to instantaneously enlighten them to a certain point, as well as force them to explore other paths in order to find some explanation for the experience they were given. While these experiences are eventually of tremedous benefit to the experiencer, they are still subjective experiences, and meant only for the experiencer. Others will not understand the experience. Indeed, the time is now. The kningdom of heaven is at hand. It always has been.

Answer 3

Someone told me that when you question your own sanity, you are probably the most sane you have ever been. Yes, people are waking up. It seems that it has been more frequent now, than in past centuries.

The initial shock of the experience will wear off given the proper time to digest the experience. You should probably talk this over with the people that had the experience with you.

May I suggest reading an Alan Watts' lecture called The Nature of Consciousness. It is a long lecture but I think once you read it you will see why I suggested it. I hope for the best for you.

Answer 4

Being awake or enlightened is not comprehensible to the unenlightened mind. The unawake will ridicule the ideas refered to as "higher knowledge". For example, look how Jesus was treated for attempting to teach higher truths. He was misunderstood in his time and still is.
One thing you say sounds odd. An awakened mind sees the delimna of the unawakened and therefore tends to be sympathetic rather than frustrated as you seem to be. I've not ever heard of "awakening" occuring as a group experience, but on an individual basis. Also your word "traumatic" to explain your experience is interesting.
Just my thoughts.

Answer 5

Put it out of your system.

Don't think about 'it'. It's past.

Try & get some regularity back into life.

Think about / discuss it with people who can understand, with little dust in their eyes.

Your 'companions'.

Try & meet them physically, and somehow bring the conversation around, if it's not too traumatic.

Try & read about Buddhism. Will help take your mind off things.

Try & contact a relevant Buddhist / meditation group for support. The FWBO are good.

"After the ecstacy, the laundry". :-)

Answer 6

Get a book by Thich Nhat Hanh called the Miracle of Mindfullness.

Answer 7

There is a urgentsee in the spiritual realm of God to get closer to him buy all means because some things are fixing to happen spiritually if you know what i mean, it is time for his truely called people to come out from amongst them and seek hard for the anointing of God in there walk and when they do they will find out why.

Answer 8

you have to retrain your ego to serve your true nature- when it's been quite the opposite most of your life, you might feel confused or uncoordinated for a couple of weeks, but you will get used to it over time and be even more alert and capable after a while, just be patient, listen to all who are brought into your path with full attention, this is only the beginning of wisdom. don't worry- you'll get used to it

Answer 9

I want to know if anybody has any advice how to live along with this knowledge in a western world where these ...............
what exactly do you mean by that?

Answer 10

I can't quite make out what you are trying to say. What is "it"? If you describe what you experienced, I might be able to help you. Unless, of course, you are just a silly troll goofing around.