NationStates Jolt Archive

Many years ago, when things got a bit tough for me at work or home ( or, God help me, both! ), I would take my backpack and my old dog, and go backpacking in one of the many wilderness areas here in North Carolina or just over the State line in Virginia. It was during one of these trips that I had the most intense spiritual experience of my life.

I was sitting on top of a massive rock outcroppng, not really thinking about anything, just enjoying being somewhere I loved to be. What happened there changed my entire outlook on life. Up to that point, I had been the classic "company man," most of my energy focused on climbing the corporate ladder. I justified this by rationalizing that "it takes a lot of money to raise five children."

After this experience of oneness with all living things, I ceased to struggle so, learning to live more in the moment. I became far more compassionate and kind. This may go a long way toward explaining why little kids and animals seem drawn to me in some way.

I'm telling you all this now because I just read a story very similar to mine. I'm posting the first paragraph below, but if you have any interest in this sort of thing at all, you really should read the entire article. It's not about Jesus or any other sprititual leader, nor any particular religion. It's about one person's spiritual awakening, and their resulting "conectedness to all living things."

In order to read the article in its entireity, you will need to join BeliefNet. This is one of the best sites about spirituality on the Internet and covers all religions and faiths. It's free, and you can sign up here: http://www.beliefnet.com/index.html?rnd=88


Rapture in Missouri (http://www.beliefnet.com/index.html?rnd=88)

"When the fire came to my heart, the spiritual lightning struck. It was like being pierced in some unintelligible way."
By Bradford Keeney

Reprinted with permission from Bushman Shaman by Bradford Keeney, Destiny Books, copyright 2005.

It was a late afternoon in January 1971. I was casually walking along a sidewalk at the University of Missouri, where I was now enrolled.

It was an extraordinarily warm day for winter; the temperature had risen to the midseventies. People were wearing short-sleeved shirts during a time of year when shovels and plows typically were out clearing away snow and ice. I was headed for a record shop, probably humming a jazz tune, when out of the blue I felt the most intense comfort and joy I had ever known. Sheer calm, relaxation, and happiness spread through my whole being. As I went along the way, I began to feel my body getting lighter and lighter until I felt I had no weight at all. I wasn’t concerned; I assumed it was a consequence of feeling so good on a spectacular day.

Read the entire article here: http://www.beliefnet.com/dailyinspiration/1041905.htm

I've felt that sort of thing too. Like you've just been shown a glimpse of the universal plan and you know that everything fits into it nicely, even yourself. You love everything and fear nothing. I don't chalk it up to god though. I think it's probably just a chemical imbalance in the brain. I had a minor episode of that sort yesterday. It happened while reading some poetry by Jorge Luis Borges at my local library. Made the whole afternoon feel a little sweeter.

I've felt that sort of thing too. Like you've just been shown a glimpse of the universal plan and you know that everything fits into it nicely, even yourself. You love everything and fear nothing. I don't chalk it up to god though. I think it's probably just a chemical imbalance in the brain. I had a minor episode of that sort yesterday. It happened while reading some poetry by Jorge Luis Borges at my local library. Made the whole afternoon feel a little sweeter.
There's no doubt that chemical changes in the brain are intertwined with this sort of "mystical experience," but it's a classic "chicken and egg" conundrum. Men and women in all ages and all cultures and all religious traditions have experienced this, so it's no respecter of human categories. I prefer to think that God or the universe, or whatever term you choose, has revealed itself to those willing to listen.

There's no doubt that chemical changes in the brain are intertwined with this sort of "mystical experience," but it's a classic "chicken and egg" conundrum. Men and women in all ages and all cultures and all religious traditions have experienced this, so it's no respecter of human categories. I prefer to think that God or the universe, or whatever term you choose, has revealed itself to those willing to listen.
Everyone's free to interpret it in whatever way they choose. I just don't beleive a god exists, so that colors my interpretation.

There's no doubt that chemical changes in the brain are intertwined with this sort of "mystical experience," but it's a classic "chicken and egg" conundrum. Men and women in all ages and all cultures and all religious traditions have experienced this, so it's no respecter of human categories. I prefer to think that God or the universe, or whatever term you choose, has revealed itself to those willing to listen.
I agree.

While "chemical changes in the brain" may explain what happens from an objective perspective, it is entirely useless to explain what the experience means to an individual, which is what has the significant impact.

Everyone's free to interpret it in whatever way they choose. I just don't beleive a god exists, so that colors my interpretation.
I suppose you could call me an "agnostic," although that doesn't even come close to telling the whole story. I have come to think in terms of a "universal consciousness" of sorts. Perhaps we, as conscious, thinking beings, are part of the universe's efforts to become self-aware? There is really no way of "knowing" in the logical sense at this point in our history, but the experience of "oneness" can be almost overwhelming at times.

I agree.

While "chemical changes in the brain" may explain what happens from an objective perspective, it is entirely useless to explain what the experience means to an individual, which is what has the significant impact.
True. And this sort of experience seems to always change those who have it to change for the better in many ways. I find it fascinating! :)