The "spiritually conscious" I need your help

[Liveformx64]

I am trying to think of how to write this in the most concise manner possible, so please bear with me.

In the past few years my heart has been burdened to take the road less traveled. Even as a child I always knew the common road was not the road for me. It was always unappealing, and foreign. But recently I really started to gain momentum. I have taken what I call a holistic approach to personal development. Learning and reading in all aspects mind, body and spirit. I haven't dove into any one subject too deeply, and in fact the lesser of the 3 would be the spiritual side.

A little background

I have been eating a 75% raw 25% cooked vegetarian diet. (I still eat cheeses moderately.) But I do intend to slough off the remaining animal product as soon as I am ready. I have done the usual becoming aware of my habits exercises, I meditate, and take quiet time to journal each night. I listen to my body, I have a good sleeping pattern. I exercise every morning. Long story short I think I feel I am on the right path to being the person I want to be.

I rarely drink alcohol, I eat and sleep well, and I work hard.

So for the past week or so, I have had these sudden "attacks" of this feeling unlike anything I have ever felt. Usually it is triggered by reading or watching something inspiring. Somebody doing something great for humanity, somebody standing up to whats wrong against all odds etc.. etc...

For instance, I got to thinking about Ghandi, I recently watched the major motion picture that was made about his life. Now the thing is, I didn't just watch the movie it was about a month or so ago.
Then while journaling and reflecting on the day I got to thinking about Ghandi again, about the life he lived, and how he embodied such great attributes, and what he stood up to.

Suddenly, I was hit with this feeling of warmth, at first I would describe it as a sadness, I felt emotion well up within me, I started to sob quite heavily. During all of this, I was thinking to myself "what is going on, I rarely ever cry?" I said to myself laughing silently "is this because I was thinking about Ghandi?" I actually sort of found it humorous and out of my normal character.

This departure lasted for about 15 minutes. During that time I was filled with a warmth, this all encompassing warmth, and the only phrase I can describe it as being is "Unconditional Love". I have never felt a Joy and peace like I have in those few moments. Then suddenly, some words came to me. "There is only Love" or "All there is, is Love." As trite as it sounds, that was it.

That phrase has not left me since that night, in-fact just last night i was watching, of all things Horton Hears a Who. That brave little elephant and his journey triggered another one of these moments. A flood of deep appreciation, and a feeling of love that took over my whole being.

During my journey most of my breakthroughs are slow and gradual, but I have never had anything like this. I could write all night about this, but I will leave it right here, and put this out to the world.

Has anyone experienced anything like this?

[Billy]

Yeah only once truly. I was at work some years ago just talking to people while I did my job when all of a sudden I felt a gradual seperation from my body gradually over about five seconds I left the physical and was just kind of floating above myself. The wierdest thing was as I was above myself I could see my physical self still talking and working as if nothing had changed. Then I experienced what it was to be this entity floating above myself{ I can only think it was my higher self} and what I saw and felt was for me very sad.The physical me was very troubled, I was trying so hard to be liked by others that I had compromised my core self and had become lost in the physical world. The people that my physical self was talking to were also in the same boat maybe even more so. As I watched my physical self talking and interacting with others all I could think of was that it all seemed so fake and to let go of all those trappings was an impossible situation for a man of thirty which is how old I was at the time. But I also felt a very deep compassion and love for those lost in this world, much more deep than we express from day to day, very understanding. This all stayed with me even though after some time I came back to my body but I never forgot what that love and compassion felt like.

[fellowtraveler]

Originally Posted by Liveformx64

Has anyone experienced anything like this?

Yep.

Whenever I go down the road of asking, "what is my life's purpose", or "why am I here", instead of getting back "well, you should be running a bookstore on Willow Street", I get..."love". So, I have concluded that the rest of the little details are up to me.

Unconditional love? I doubt it. You may be offered a glimpse occasionally, but that's something to go toward.

Now, it's undoubtedly true that we must first love ourselves - and it sounds as though you are becoming able to do that. But I think the real action begins when you start loving and doing for others, which is something notably lacking in your account above. And to do it you don't need to work in a food bank or counsel drug addicts. All you need do is be kind - consciously...not the smiley-smile of polite conversation, but true concern when appropriate, and cheerfulness. Now this is not directed at you -perhaps you do these things already - but perhaps others reading it might not.

I had a teacher-nun years ago who one day told the class she'd never been able to be happy until she stopped thinking of herself and directed her attention outwards. When you have something like that, that sticks with you over 40 years later, you know it's good info.

[Pequod]

I think I know what you mean, Liveform. I had afew experiences like this. The Unconditional Love is the core essence of all of us, but it's covered with (false) beliefs, thoughts, emotions etc so we usually don't experience it.

The experience has a different "taste" every time, but it is still very much recognizable. I'll tell about two of my experiences, perhaps you find them familiar.

1. This summer I was walking down a large lawn when suddenly "I" dropped away, or rather, I noticed that "I" is just a collection of judgements (likes and dislikes) and all these judgements suddenly dropped away. It was then as if God was looking through my eyes, but God was I! And the world was exactly as it was before, but seen in a totally different light. It was pure love that saw the world. And *everything* was beautiful. Flower, dog-poo, or my nose being repelled by the smell of the poo, it was just as it always was and yet, it was all beautiful, because nothing was judged and it was seen in the light of pure love. It felt like God loving his creation without any distinction or preference.

2. Two weeks ago I was in extreme distress. I thought I had screwed up something important and just couldn't forgive myself. I couldn't let it go. The next morning I couldn't take it any more and I cried out to God: "I can't take it any more, I resign this to you". A few minutes later suddenly I wasn't Pequod any more, but pure energy of love. There was so much joy! And at the same time I was still sad and in desperation. But I realized that I am not these emotions. I saw these emotions just like clouds in the air that come and go. The same was true for any thoughts or anything I saw, heard etc. I just knew then that my true nature is pure joy, pure love. Also at that time, my thought were full of wisdom, love, compassion. The usual ego-fear-driven thoughts were just blasted away. It felt like heaven on earth. I also *knew* that I wanted everything that happened in my life and that I would accept anything that would happen, because Gods will is my will. Now I know what is meant by "Thy will be done". This state lasted about 5 minutes, and the next half hour I was still in this state, but it was slowly fading away.

By the way, these experiences are beautiful, but I think it is not wise to chase after them. They are just experiences, like anything else in this world is an experience. The Absolute is i.m.o. even beyond the Love-Presence-Energy that we sometimes encounter in beautiful experiences like these.

Also, the crying that happened is very healing. Often when people experience great joy, they start to cry. It is just old pain that pops up because of the contrast with the joy. It is like an emotional relief, very healing. Let those tears just flow!

[Liveformx64]

I think it is interesting how all of our experience are universal but all in the same, completely unique.

But it looks like the underlying theme is clarity.

These experiences have helped me see what of my decisions are actually based on fear, opposed to love. I couldn't really see that before. We are so stuck in our heads so much of the time, that living from love is almost foreign.

Today, I was sort of stuck in my head a little more than usual, but having those deep experiences gives me a point of reference to work from, and work towards on how to live.

Thanks everyone for sharing, now I don't feel so crazy!

[Anagogy]

Originally Posted by Pequod

1. This summer I was walking down a large lawn when suddenly "I" dropped away, or rather, I noticed that "I" is just a collection of judgements (likes and dislikes) and all these judgements suddenly dropped away. It was then as if God was looking through my eyes, but God was I! And the world was exactly as it was before, but seen in a totally different light. It was pure love that saw the world. And *everything* was beautiful. Flower, dog-poo, or my nose being repelled by the smell of the poo, it was just as it always was and yet, it was all beautiful, because nothing was judged and it was seen in the light of pure love. It felt like God loving his creation without any distinction or preference.

2. Two weeks ago I was in extreme distress. I thought I had screwed up something important and just couldn't forgive myself. I couldn't let it go. The next morning I couldn't take it any more and I cried out to God: "I can't take it any more, I resign this to you". A few minutes later suddenly I wasn't Pequod any more, but pure energy of love. There was so much joy! And at the same time I was still sad and in desperation. But I realized that I am not these emotions. I saw these emotions just like clouds in the air that come and go. The same was true for any thoughts or anything I saw, heard etc. I just knew then that my true nature is pure joy, pure love. Also at that time, my thought were full of wisdom, love, compassion. The usual ego-fear-driven thoughts were just blasted away. It felt like heaven on earth. I also *knew* that I wanted everything that happened in my life and that I would accept anything that would happen, because Gods will is my will. Now I know what is meant by "Thy will be done". This state lasted about 5 minutes, and the next half hour I was still in this state, but it was slowly fading away.

Thanks for sharing this Pequod. My experiences involving this "Absolute" are strikingly similar to yours. It was really interesting to see it described so identically.

Have a great day.

[Maguru]

Originally Posted by Anagogy

Thanks for sharing this Pequod. My experiences involving this "Absolute" are strikingly similar to yours. It was really interesting to see it described so identically.

Have a great day.

I too have experienced heaven on earth or total connectedness. Some of my emotions were of relief, peace, safety and humility. Wonderful, however, my conclusions are different to those in this thread.

I believe when we experience this state, we are bringing it forth/manifesting it into our reality, much as LOA does. It will just take a little longer.

[Liveformx64]

Originally Posted by Maguru

I too have experienced heaven on earth or total connectedness. Some of my emotions were of relief, peace, safety and humility. Wonderful, however, my conclusions are different to those in this thread.

I believe when we experience this state, we are bringing it forth/manifesting it into our reality, much as LOA does. It will just take a little longer.

Interesting point of view. It is definitely worth considering.

[Elfwing]

This is beautiful.

I've experienced very minor, different things, but similar in nature - like, when I get depressed nowadays (I suffered a nasty depression last year), I tend to feel happy afterwards as if to make up for it. Not normal, but happy.

[Pequod]

@ Anagogy: Thanks. It is quite difficult to describe these elusive experiences clearly. Great that you found this essence too (or rather: that this essence found you )!

Originally Posted by Maguru

I too have experienced heaven on earth or total connectedness. Some of my emotions were of relief, peace, safety and humility. Wonderful, however, my conclusions are different to those in this thread.

I believe when we experience this state, we are bringing it forth/manifesting it into our reality, much as LOA does. It will just take a little longer.

I'm not sure LOA can help. It is more about discovering *who* is using LOA. It is not an emotion, thought or physical sensation, but the essence of who you are. The only thing needed is that any identification with any thought, emotion, feeling or sensory perception drops away. Then you'll find out.

On the other hand, using LOA for a strong desire to find out who you really are could be helpful. Of course this doesn't necesarily mean that you'll find immediate bliss. Usually some serious hard times are needed to break your resistance against letting go of everything you think you are.

*added later* I just remembered that I used LOA once to great effect: I was in a dead end in my "spiritual journey" and asked the universe to show me leads to the Truth. This was very effective and new ways opened up to me.

[dali]

I think it becomes very natural to experience love when we open up to that thing greater than ourselves. Certainly tears and wellings up of compassion seem to be part of it all and feelings of inspiration to experiences on all different levels, Its quite wonderful, isnt it! Its like walking in a bigger world and you know there are so many of us doing it!! I love how we find it, some through raw food, some through vegetarianism there are no end of "keys". The thing that gets me though is that its there seemingly just waiting for us to meet it and boy when we do! Theres no going back. Theres nothing to beat falling in love with Love.My guess is that it has always been in love with us and never for a nano second felt anything else but love for us.When I was a child I used to get this feeling in my chest. It was as if my chest was BIG. and filled with a feeling of bliss. It happened a lot for years and always just out of the blue. I remember it mainly happening when I was in bed at night. It wasnt something I thought about at any other time, only when it happened. I would just lie there when it "came" and wonder at it and sense my chest swelling way up full of something so different from anything I had experienced! It is a memory now and it hasnt happened for years in that way but it was just as spontaneous as the tears I sometimes experience now. Sometimes its tremendous sadness too. Its all part of the course now but never seems to lose its freshness.Its grat to hear your stories about it too. Thanks.

[Dandelion]

It usually happens to me when I'm out walking..or close to nature. Maybe it's the stillness, but I feel incredibly close to God and happy. That's when thoughts, impressions or my inner voice speaks to me.

It's interesting that you should post this. Because one of the lines that came to me and ultimately changed my life was, "Follow the road less travelled."

[Maguru]

Originally Posted by Pequod

I'm not sure LOA can help. It is more about discovering *who* is using LOA. It is not an emotion, thought or physical sensation, but the essence of who you are.

I think everything in spirituality is about discovering 'who' we are, as individuals and collectively. I think the problem arises when there are preconceived ideas of 'who' we are. We don't know who we are at essense. We can only know who we are being and who we have become.
There are many paths that lead to full self-awareness and it is the road less travelled but the sign posts are going up.