The Experience of Spiritual Awakening Does NOT Automatically Make You An “Awakened One”!
BySomething that I have noticed lately is how much the concept of spiritual awakening is getting thrown around, like a badge of honor or something, and believe me if that is how you think an awakening feels, like an accomplishment of some sort, you can be sure that it is your ego talking and luring you into thinking you have “awakened”.
An awakening is not the end of the journey, it’s actually the beginning.
An awakening is not about your hard times and struggles, it’s about realizing who you really are, your true nature.
And it usually comes (the realization) after years and years of seeking, learning, meditating and contemplating about life.
Sometimes people write me and share with me that “Oh, I have struggled so much, therefor I am awakened”.
No, you’re not. If you were, you wouldn’t go on sharing your drama with me in the next sentence, or looking for approval from me so that I acknowledge you as being awakened.
If what I write upsets you the slightest, you are not awakened.
If you were, you wouldn’t even care what I think, you would just smile. (You would, not that smug ego of yours who thinks you’re special because you have “awakened”)
The experience of a spiritual awakening doesn’t automatically make you an Enlightened One.
The journey that takes you to the point where you can live from your true nature 24/7 is a PROCESS, often times with a number of awakening-experiences – sometimes with many years between them – but they are all life-altering, you will never (ever!) be who you were before your experience of awakening, and there will be no doubt about if you had an awakening or not.
You will not wonder about it or think “Oh, that must have been an awakening, yeah, I think that was an awakening, lets call it that”, you will absolutely know something profound happened to you, it’s LIFE-ALTERING; YOU will have a huge inner transformation, but usually only a taste of your true nature and life as it really is at first.
We don’t usually stay there permanently after our first experience.
But we will clearly see the silliness of the World and take that with us in our hearts. We will go on, even if the experience itself fades, carrying the Truth with us, knowing it, but we will most probably not be able to live it fully just yet.
It may take you 20 more years before you really ‘get it’ on a deep level after your first taste of your True nature, and it’s not something you control, you can’t decide that you are going to awake.
That’s something life gives you, it’s not up to you. But of course, you can’t sit and wait for it either; you must really want to live authentically and you will want to seek it if you have had a taste of it (you cannot not want it again), there will be no slackness about it at all because you know you don’t belong to the world anymore.
So don’t go and change your name into something Indian-sounding just yet. Which is just another label you put on yourself; “I’m now an Enlightened One so I must change my name to Baba Krishna” or whatever.
Another thing is that being spiritually aware and awake are totally different things!
A lot of people can be aware (I am) but very few are actually awake (I’m not. I have had experiences of awakenings, yes, but I’m not awake yet, I might not even ever become awakened in this lifetime).
The ego can make itself spiritual, it can make you think you are enlightened, but as long as there is some kind of conflict left in your life,you’re just like the rest of us.
If you argue with yourself (and your thoughts), if you resent your situation, are angry with God, or get annoyed by your best friend or mom at times, you are NOT awake, so please stop fooling yourself.
If I were awakened, I would not be irritated by this concept being thrown around and write this post to voice my opinion about the ridiculousness of people thinking they have awakened when they may not even had an experience of a spiritual awakening in the first place!
I hear people think they have had a spiritual awakening, and they don’t actually have a clue.
It’s a very profound thing, and if all you can share with me is about your struggle, then you don’t know what an awakening is at all.
It’s a realization about who you really are, and it’s indescribable, beautiful and it will change your perception of who you think you are forever, but there will be some more work to do before you can become totally de-conditioned, and until then, your ego will try to make you think you have awakened so that you feel content with what is so that you don’t grow, or become more of who you really are.
The awakening is the beginning (not the end, or “arriving”), and you will see that everything you once thought was real, is not.
That’s when life really begins, but it can take years and years before you ‘get there’ so to speak, it’s not a one-time event that suddenly makes you Enlightened, and it’s not about your struggles, it’s not about your pain and bruised ego.
It’s about Self Realization.
And that’s a beautiful thing, and you will not be left wondering about it. You will absolutely Know.
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By knowing who you are.. the now.., bringing presence in your life, knowing about the ego(frozen identity), thinkingconcepts en all worldmechanismes, friendly with your self, creating your life on base of your(reinvented..) believesystem, knowing that the world is how you see it, remebering that nothing has meaning except the meaning that you gave to it, that love is the mainprinciple, go for it and keep on going, with love Frank(student for life)
Hi Frank,
Many thanks for your comment!
I don’t agree with you though on some of the points you made.
When we know who we are, we also know that we (as in “I”) are not “creating” anything and there is no presence to be ‘brought in’ as we are It.
We are the Presence.
What I share on my site is not about new, re-invented belief-systems at all.
All concepts are false: http://mariaerving.com/let-go-of-concepts-and-beliefs/
We are beyond thoughts and beliefs and all beliefs are merely opinions. (Which are not true as opinions change and Truth never does).
I share my own experiences here, and not what I believe is true.
It’s important to look closely at all our beliefs in order to root them up and transcend them altogether; not to replace them with new ones that feels better.
The spiritual path of awakening is not about ‘feeling better’ (that’s the egos’ game), but to look closely and honestly at our darkness and move beyond it.
http://mariaerving.com/stop-dwelling-and-move-on/
My writings are meant to be pointers towards Truth, which can’t be explained through writing or speaking, but has to be experienced. Every individual must experience it for themselves.
The Truth is to be found within – and not through replacing one beliefs system for another.
My intention is to help others think for themselves (and feel with their hearts) and move beyond the false self (ego) which isn’t even real.
It’s a mental attachment (identification), and that identification crumbles in the process of spiritual awakening.
The path of awakening is a demolition-plan, not a ‘re-build/create your self/personal improvement program’ for the false self; or the little “I”.
Feel free to elaborate and share your own personal thoughts and points of views on this as I appreciate comments and making conversation here on my blog.
All the best,
Maria
Maria Erving recently posted..5 (Spiritual) Benefits To Expect From Meditation
Hi there, haven’t you missed the point a bit too? You telling others they haven’t had a SA is a form of judgement… are you being upset that others are getting closer to self realization like you have or aren’t seeing it like you do? That is the EGO too remember, it’s also the reason for pointless religious arguments everywhere…. “No, my view of religion has more truth than yours”. (“My SA is more real than yours, because….).
You have some length to go too if that’s the case, which is no bad thing (you’ll know this as I do. I’m learning everyday still, and you’re right…. IT IS BEAUTIFUL). Like you say, it’s the beggining of the journey, but people MUST find it out for themselves for it to be rewarding and meaningul, it’s nice your pointing them on the right direction, but each proper awakening is personal and to be found on your own.
Don’t get too upset at people using it as a ‘badge of honour’, it shouldn’t cause any offense and does nothing to prevent others from getting their anyway… or themselves. I probably (as did you maybe) do the same at first, even subconciously I thought “Ha, I see the world for what it is, you don’t…. thus I’ve awakened and I’m better than you”. BUT, that doesn’t mean you’ve not had a SA…. it is the “beginning” (As you have mentioned i know), but it’s important that they find this out for themselves for it to be meaningful. Otherwords you’d just be giving them this ‘gift’ instead of allowing them the time to realise they don’t need to be pointed in the right direction, their growth and self will do that for them over time….. days, weeks, years…. dosn’t matter.
I used to get frustrated with my family seeing me as a nut, or religious freak…. but they have been conditioned by a long time of disinformation and negative influnces. That can’t be changed overnight, and is definitely not rtheir fault. So, don’t feel to bad that they “boast” about it. To them it may just be as powerful as what we’ve been feeling.
Peace, hopefully you don’t see this as too judgemental or critical, I’m only pointing out my perception, I’m certain you have the right reasons and am delighted that you have such a positive blog. Thanks for that.
Hello Harry,
Thanks for commenting.
I’m coming from a totally different place than you – I’m not sharing my experiences trying to be oh, so non-judgmental and ego-free; I really don’t care, to be honest – about how your image of me is and what you expect from me and how I should or should not behave.
I’m sharing in my own personal way, and how you perceive it is totally up to you.
There’s a lot of “awakened egos” out there, thinking they are awakened/enlightened just because they have had a spiritual experience, and if this post can get people like yourself a bit upset, then that’s a good thing, it hopefully makes you turn within to see if there’s something that might be not-so-awakened after all, and that leads to an authentic life.
The ego can be very deceiving and cunning and when I see this happening with people, of course I write about it!
To write and express oneself openly and without holding back and having opinions that differ from others is not the same as being frustrated, upset, or “feeling bad”; it’s simply having a voice and using it.
And what’s so wrong with feeling all your feelings anyway? If you feel frustrated, feel that frustration fully, and look deeply into it. Allow yourself to feel.
The spiritual path is not about feeling good all the time, avoiding things that’s a bit uncomfortable, it’s about embracing life as it is and facing what’s in front of you.
It’s really about being AUTHENTIC. Be who you are, come from where you are in your own evolution. Period.
And this is me being who I am, where I am, totally free from trying to please others; I write exactly what I’m inspired to write about and I don’t hold back.
so,..
Not much to add I think.
Readers who know me gets what I mean and where I’m coming from, but you seem to have drawn your own conclusions based on this one post and are basically trying to lecture me which is kind of funny.
I don’t do ‘should’s’ so I’m not here to sugarcoat my writings for anyone.
The thought that came to mind right now, is that you (or your ego) might have found this post for a reason. Maybe looking into that would give you some insights into your own journey in a more deeper way.
Maria
Maria Erving recently posted..The Mind Gets Emptied and Quiet With Spiritual Surrender
At the beginning of May of this year I started to experience strange uncontrollable emotions, I didn’t know what they were, I sat searching on the web – first it was horoscopes, then tarot cards, then self realization sites. I hardly slept, and I lost a tremendous amount of weight.
In the past 4 days, i have uncontrollable emotions, I may laugh the one minute and cry desperately in the next. I have vivid dreams now every single night.
I have been through depression in the past, and I know the difference – this is not it.
This is not a feeling of helplessness – I feel great strength. I am terrified that it will not stay with me.
I have started meditating, reading on everything about awakening and it seems to fit exactly what I am going through. But I am at the beginning and do not know where to go now. So many questions, words that I cannot even begin to phrase.
Hello Elena,
Thanks for sharing with us.
We all experience our spiritual journey in different ways but all those things you mentioned are very normal, and it sounds like you already know that, so that’s really great.
The different experiences of emotional bursts etc are all completely normal, and although some of them are very, very pleasant (who doesn’t like bliss for example?) they will all come and go, like experiences always do.
So I have to disappoint you – they will not stay with you forever!
Spiritual awakening is a deconstruction plan (ego death), and the one who wants to hold on to experiences (or states of blissfulness, great strength/feelings of power etc) is the ego; but everything is in a constant movement and nothing can be held on to.
The experiences will come and go, and what to pay attention to is who is it that witness it all, who is the experiencer, the observer of it all?
Look into that more than the actual experiences.
If I may give any suggestions to you on how to proceed, it would be to go within everyday, meditate and be still. Observe what’s going on with curiosity but not by grasping or seeking any kind of experience.
You are not in control of this so the best thing to do is to relax and surrender to the process.
The mind wants to understand all this, but it never will, because Truth is beyond mind, and when we realize that – that acceptance and realization will bring great relief and from that place of peace true wisdom can emerge.
Simply put; the more you can relax, the better.
Wishing you all the best on your journey Elena,
Maria
Maria Erving recently posted..You Have To Be Willing To Be Alone (Dedicated to Truth)
“If what I write upsets you the slightest, you are not awakened.
then in reply to me…
“I really don’t care, to be honest – about how your image of me is and what you expect from me and how I should or should not behave.”
Sounds upset?!
Hello Harry,
If that is how you perceive it then that’s how you perceive it.
That’s about all I feel like giving you in a reply to your comment.
I’m not into arguing or trying to convince anybody about anything, so if you feel offended somehow then I suggest you go read someone else’s blog.
As I said; I really don’t care what you think, and I also want to add that if you’re planning on dragging that argumentative and negative energy here, then I will just simply ban you from my website, simple as that.
Not everybody is open and into what I share and you seem to be one of them; some are and some are not, no big deal.
That’s the end of our conversation so don’t bother replying to me.
Maria
Maria Erving recently posted..Spiritual Awakening and Knowing Who We Are Not
Hello Maria!!
I was blessed with a heightened sense of awareness a little over a month ago!! I am so thankful for your words because I have been fraught with despair that I wasn’t on any type of path! Always so obvious and in front of my awareness and in my panic, I missed it!! I am just suppose to be enjoying the experience of the experience! I may be new to all this but I know exactly what you mean! When you are ready to be true to yourself you no longer look to the opinions of others to validate you. You begin to realize (and yes, I do have to reassure myself, I have a lot of prior thought processing that has to be let go off, I”m learning to be gentle with myself, and love her, as the Universe does) that you are magnificent of your own right. You are taken over with AWE sometimes by the GLORY and the Beauty of it ALL. But I thank you for reminding me that everything passes and its a good idea to just get still and appreciate! Thank you! <3
Thank you SO much for being just the right Teacher the Universe put in my path today!! Blessings upon you!! I know this is an adventure!! I"m not quite ready for the whole "Enlightenment" Title but I am sure i will appreciate the journey, the lesson, the experience, the messages…. All of it! So much more than I ever did before and you are right, once you have had that taste the water of this world will forever remain stale!!
Light and Love,
Jaime
Thank you for your comments Jamie, I’m glad to hear that you found it inspiring
Maria Erving recently posted..Only What Is True Remains (Letting go of the little self)
Hello Maria…i agree with harry that you are being judgemental in evaluating someone’s awakening…your comment that you don’t care is judgemental and you need to use different words to express your inner peace than i don’t care..how about thanks for your thought..peace be with you.
Actually I don’t “have to” use any other words than the ones I feel like writing Larry, so my response is still “I don’t care” because I really don’t.
And that without any emotions or feelings attached to it; I just don’t bother dwelling in what others may disagree with when it comes to what and how I share my writings.
If what I share rattle some cages/ruffle some feathers, fine, I don’t mind if some egos get bruised, and I’m not even going back to evaluate/analyze what I wrote and how I said things as I’m over that and not interested in the past.
I mean that literally, I don’t carry the past with me – I only deal with the present moment and respond to it from where I’m at at Right Now.
Your emotional response is really your own responsibility and not mine.
Which reminds me of this story by Nyogen Senzaki:
“Tanzan and Ekido were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling.
Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection.
“Come on, girl,” said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.
Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he could no longer restrain himself. “We monks don’t go near females,” he told Tanzan, “especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?”
“I left the girl there,” said Tanzan. “Are you still carrying her?”
― Nyogen Senzaki
You might find this post interesting; it’s about putting people into boxes and expect them to behave in ways that are comfortable and cozy to the ego: http://mariaerving.com/im-so-holy-and-pure/
All the best,
Maria
Maria Erving recently posted..How To Respond To Negativity In The World From The Perspective of Spirit
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I stumbled upon this blog as I was searching for information on how becoming spiritually awake can be so difficult at times. Sometimes it can be difficult as we develop ‘new eyes’ that see other peoples pain, motivations, intention and struggle much more clearly. I liked how you mentioned that there can be several ‘awakening’ experiences. I have had three (not counting my childhood, which was very connected to spirit) one when I was 16, one when I was 21 and one when I was 32, two years ago. My daily practice in meditation and yoga ( I am a yoga teacher) enables me to spend a lot of time and energy to continue to stay open and live in clarity, with hopes of Buddha-like enlightenment any day now.
One thing I do want to address, because it was mentioned in a few comments, is the words and tone of some of the blog. It does come across as angry, critical and possibly judgmental. I would consider this kind of violent, actually. Going down the spiritual road ( for me, since 16) can, at times be very scary and downright terrifying for those with a past that includes trauma, abuse or neglect. We should all strive to be toerant and comforting to those who even express an interest in becoming awake, not slamming them down so they run back and hide, becoming more afraid of their own light. Too many times this has happened to me and it was devastating to the spirit. Becoming awake is a gift, but what does matter a great deal is how we get there also.
Hi April,
Thanks for sharing bits from your own life experience.
I want to start out by saying that it really doesn’t matter what and how I said things in the past comments, I still won’t go back to evaluate anything as I’m over that.
It’s very interesting that that gets mentioned even when I have said I’m not going to apologize for anything as I was responding from where I was at that time.
It may have been judgmental (perceived as such by others), and it may not have been judgmental/critical at all, I truly, really don’t care. At all. I don’t think I can say it any clearer.
I don’t strive to be anything but what I am in the moment, I don’t try to be holier than I am.
And if others are so sensitive that they run and hide as you said, then I’m obviously not the person for them. I don’t walk on egg-shells for people and I’m not interested in becoming friends with their sensitive little egos.
The spirit doesn’t get afraid. Only ego is afraid, and that I really don’t care a iota about.
I’m not the slightest interested in speaking with people who run away from the process. (Which can be terrifying, yes, the spiritual path is definitely not for the faint-hearted).
People who gets offended easily or scared easily are obviously not ready for that kind of development.
In all honesty, I really am done with this.
Moving on;
Thanks for sharing from your own experience, it’s always interesting to hear.
I would like to mention that being awake is our natural state of being, our true nature is already wide awake and has always been.
Spiritual awakening means awake from the person (the ego, the person we think we are), it’s not the person who awakens.
And we can’t control it, it’s not something “out there” that needs to be gained or achieved ‘one of these days/any day now’.
It’s already here.
Ask yourself who it is that hopes for a “Buddha-like enlightenment any day now”, as you yourself put it.
And I’m mentioning that in all sincerity.
Maria
Maria Erving recently posted..Enlightenment sales-pitch for the ego: Eternal Bliss, and “Get What You Want”
Maria,
I understand your disdain or dismisal for the ego, but what about your heart? What’s going on there? It sounds like you have some healing to do….this is part of the path, don’t forget! Anger and hatred are VERY important teachers and they are natural for all of us. Aum love to you and wishing you peace on your journey, aprille
Also, awesomely said about spirit not getting afraid. It is solid, steadfast and strong with Love at its core, unwavering. Nicely said, thank you!
I have no more comments on my style of writing and sharing, the whole drama is getting very childish and ridiculous.
From now on I will only reply to comments and questions that has to do with the actual article and it’s message.
Maria Erving recently posted..Lets talk about: | Discernment | Judgmental | Acceptance | What saying Yes to all means | Facts |
So that’s what happens when you turn spiritual into a career! You get all bent out of shape about who is awakened and who isn’t
Hello Rosina,
Thanks for commenting.
I see myself as someone who helps raise awareness about this as I have seen one too many awakened egos that thinks that a spiritual experience is equal to being enlightened.
The ones who are open and willing to be totally honest with themselves are the ones who are not offended – or even care – about what others think of their awakening or not awakening, and thus can appreciate my article and its message.
They simply have their being in Spirit and are staying open and curious without thinking they are somebody special.
The ego very easily takes ownership of a spiritual awakening experience, that’s why I think it’s important to talk about theses things.
So many people have read this article that I have written and to me it shows that people are wondering what their spiritual experience really was, and that to me is good news.
They don’t simply take it as a one-time blissed-out Nirvana-thing that suddenly made them enlightened, as the person who thinks he or she is enlightened is the ego itself! They are willing to look deeper, and I love that, I love speaking with people that are willing to give themselves completely to the process, because it is a process.
To be able to speak up about what I have observed is a privilege that I have as I’m the owner of this website and can write about anything I want. (And you have the option to just keep surfing the net searching for other blogs if what I write is not resonating with you).
Even Jesus himself got pissed of and voiced his opinions and thoughts!
I’m just as dedicated to serve Truth as he was and will not be shushed down by anybody.
And he got crucified for it… I get a few angry peeps that get offended or whatever, but I can live with that
I have moved on since this article was written and I don’t even remember what I wrote as I rarely if ever go back and read my old articles, but I know for sure that I was coming from a place of Spirit.
It’s interesting to hear you say “turn spirituality into a career”; wouldn’t you agree that anyone that does work that comes form the heart is doing spiritual work (whatever career or occupation they have chosen) and that that is why we are here in the first place; to do that which the heart directs us to do and to be at service to one another..?
I like this quote:
“Whatever joy there is in the world
arises from wishing for others’ happiness.
Whatever suffering there is in the world
arises from wishing for your own happiness.”
― Shantideva
I wish you all the best,
Maria
Maria Erving recently posted..What If Life Is Nothing But A Play Of God?
How are you going to judge people for their ego when you yourself are as egotistical as any other human being? No matter how YOU see it, everyone has an ego. It’s part of human nature, that’s the point of being human, to experience human feelings and being. It’s the way you go about it. Your article for example, rains with nothing but negativity as you state nothing but the flaws in what the people think instead of trying to help enlighten them with joy about what they’re trying to do. So what if they come to you asking for advice or opinions about their enlightenment. That’s what your website is for isn’t it?
You can at least try to have some sympathy for people’s feelings instead of saying, quote;
“If what I write upsets you the slightest, you are not awakened.”
I think you yourself need to dig deeper and awaken yourself and get rid of your negative ego before you go telling people what is what and what they should do.
You can’t say what it is to be awaken, because everyone’s their own person, spirit, being, etc. You can’t tell people what it’s like, because you’re going based off of YOUR opinion and YOUR experience. In which results to your egotistic being.
This article is useless, it seems like just another judgmental rant formed into an essay.
Hello Yander,
You are obviously entitled to have your own opinions just as much I am entitled to write about my personal observations and experiences on my website.
It’s almost a year ago since I wrote this article and I decided to read it now to see what the fuzz is all about, and I even though I have obviously evolved since the time I wrote this article, the subject is still very much something I stand for.
I sometimes see this in people (the ego taking ownership of spiritual openings and experiences) and I think it’s a great thing if this stirs up something in others, because it is true that if you were so called enlightened, you would not care one iota about what I write.
It invites us to look closer when we are rubbed the wrong way so to speak, and if we allow that to happen we are able to grow from it.
So bruised egos is not intimidating to me at all.
I will still continue to share from my heart and some will like what I do, and some won’t.
That is not an issue for me. It’s more important for me to be who I am and stay true to that.
And sometimes what I share might not be everybody’s cup of tea and that’s perfectly fine, I never dwell on anything, I simply acknowledge the emotions that comes up within myself from the observations I make, express them if I feel it’s necessary and then I move on. Very simple.
And once again; I never go back to re-write/edit articles, and I rarely even read my old articles as I simply share and move on, share and move on,…
So, thank you for sharing your point of view, and I wish you all the best on your journey,
Maria
Maria Erving recently posted..Deep Self Inquiry Is Beyond Mind and Thinking
you are interesting. it sounds as if you are awake. i wonder how far you have come along……i will share my first experience with you maria…….last year, i was talking to a man, we was standing still as i paced back in forth in front of him, as he spoke. than he spoke he, “are you even paying attention to me?”…i stopped pacing and asked, “what did you say”…he said again, “are you paying attention to me?”……..at those words, “pay attention”….everything around me was as if i had seen it for the first time. the trees became brilliant in color, movement seem fluid, i felt incredible. i remember looking at that man after that moment, he asked, “why are you looking at me like that?”…..”like what?”….”like that.”……something about my look offended the man, so he walked off somewhere. i walked off into the woulds, saying, “this is it, this is it”…i was so happy, at that moment i felt as if i could heal something. i remember walking up to a dead tree and touching it, it didn’t work. but it made me laugh…….every since that moment last year i have been growing increasingly fast….perfection is near. last night i realized. i am life. a week before that i realized i am spirit……i am awakened………..i’m only 24 years old
life itself is what i am, life itself is what you are……life itself is unchanging and yet changing…….life is awareness. my awareness is life. i am life. apart from life i don’t exist. apart from life you don’t exist…..the life in me, is the life in you. we are the same. for we share one life, but live different lives. i am like a young spiritual master. I’m actually impressed with my own understanding from just a short amount of time….when i started mediation, i thought it would take forever to awaken. it only took me two months…….I’m am liberated, i don’t mean to speak as if from a ego. i speak as if from love. for love likes to share. i don’t even truly know you, but i can say from a pure heart, “i love you”…..pure water is said to be clean when nothing is in it, a pure heart is said to be pure when its free of ego, ideas of self, and feeling attached to self……what a painful process it is in letting go…..but it is worth it. so many horrible nights of loss. i notice a pattern, when i let go, i find something new….what I’m finding more and more is life. what I’m realizing more and more, is life as it is. life as it is, is free of duality and concept.
You hold a very strong point of view you that defend quite aggressively for a spiritual person, so much so, you have obviously roused my ego as otherwise I wouldn’t have commented on it. I guess neither of us are as ego free as we could be, which is fine
(I noticed you acknowledge that fact yourself already so no jibe intended)
I write this comment as I do agree, and found useful a lot of your points upon the journey of awakening, it provides a good summary of what we all already know. Thank you for those, Not worrying about it and letting go is a beautiful thing, as in reality nothing really matters except the experience. Reading blogs like this leads me to an inner peace as like many other things in live like nature etc. there are pointers in what you say to the stillness within.
Take care x
dewayne, Thank you for your comments and for sharing from your own life.
It’s a beautiful experience you described, it reminded me of a similar experience I had maybe 13-15 years ago or so.
I don’t know if you have followed my sharing or if my website is new to you, but I used to be a drug addict many years ago, and at the time I had a similar experience as you described, I had been clean for some months and started to ‘get back to life’ again so to speak.
I was in a park, it was in the summer-time where many people gathered in parks and enjoyed the beautiful weather when suddenly my perception of Life changed and I was in complete awe of everything, all the colors, the insects, tree and so on and even now thinking back I can’t describe the beauty, it was soooo beautiful, and I though that “this is how Life is in reality, THIS is how it really is suppose to be!” and I wanted others to see what I saw but they didn’t/couldn’t.
In hindsight I know I must have come across like some kind of lunatic hippie haha:-D
Anyways, it was very nice to read about your experience with seeing the beauty in everything and if I would leave you with something it would be to remember that experiences are simply experiences (however profound they may be) and will come and go, but they are not “it” so to speak, so keep inquiring and go deeper and deeper within yourself asking questions like:
-Who is it that experiences this?
-Who feels theses things, sees this, hears that?
-Who is the listener? Can the listener be seen? Who is the seer..?
-What is the awareness that observes it all? Can you describe it?
And so on. You might also like these posts by me:
http://mariaerving.com/self-awareness-questions/
http://mariaerving.com/who-am-i/
Hope you enjoy the read!
All the best to you on your journey,
Maria
Maria Erving recently posted..The Personality is a Perfume Consciousness Wears
Richard; Thank you for your comment; this is what I mean, now we can talk!
It’s beautiful how openness allows us to discover more deeply about existence and beingness together.
When there’s an acknowledgement within that accepts and sees the apparent ‘upset’ for what it is it opens up for wisdom to seep in and a conversation can take place, or connection to be made, heart-to-heart.
So thank you for letting me know that you saw the deeper meaning in my article, I appreciate that. And I have the same appreciation for the other comments above too from the commentators who were more of the open-minded type.
(In reply to your comment “…that defend quite aggressively for a spiritual person…”, I invite you to read this post> http://mariaerving.com/spiritual-stereotypes/)
Hope you enjoy reading the rest of the content too here on my website, and feel very welcome to comment and share your thoughts further on other articles as well.
I too LOVE nature, there is nothing better than long walks in the forest and spending time around/by water.
This post just came to mind, thought you might like it: http://mariaerving.com/spending-time-in-nature/
Right now we have freezing cold weather here in Norway but still, nature calls me out to play everyday!
Wishing you the most beautiful rest of the day, and a lovely weekend,
Maria
Maria Erving recently posted..Is Your Life a Conditioned State?
everything that happens is now, nothing in the past is real, nothing expected is real……..i use to ask questions like these, “what will happen when i do this? what will happen later? what will happen after that happens?’….now i understand that i can’t answer these questions. the answers are directly experienced….
lets see what happens. whatever happens, i will embrace……..it seems we can’t prevent anything, or in reality cause anything new to happen. it seems as if i have no power to do anything. for everything already is. everything is happening. can anything new happen? in truth nothing is new or old. everything seems to be just the way it is. i am life inside life.
who does this body belong to? who do these words belong to? who is it perception belongs to? what gives birth to thought? what gives birth to feeling? how does love happen? how does a smile happen? how does a feeling happen?…..how is this body happening? how is the mind happening? how is this writing happening? what is guiding these words? what is reading these words? what is there that is not perceived by neither mind nor body? what is perceiving awareness…..how you ever heard the sound of water hitting itself…..awareness of awareness. is the ultimate goal….awareness of life is awareness of now, awareness of god is awareness of life……..
this is understood so far along my path.
life is good, god is good. among all things now, i see life in all. in every direction these eyes look, life is perceived. god is everywhere. ….reality is happening, reality is changing…….but life itself and in itself, doesn’t change. its hard to express what i mean. the life in you is the same as the life in me….its the same life. life is aware of life. the awareness or person writing this is life. awareness to me, i have nicknamed life…..life is looking through these eyes, life is using knowledge of words to express itself. life is what i am, or what i seem to be…..life cannot be described in word, life is only experienced…..i am life. that is what i have realized……god said, “lets make man in our image.”….god is life, me being made in his image i am life to………i am life experiencing life.
i describe awareness as knowing…i know what is thought, i know what is felt, i know what is smelled, i know what is tasted, i know what is happening…..awareness and knowing seem to be one in the same……yet i can’t point to awareness, i can’t physically see awareness. but awareness is perceived by awareness, or in other words i know that i am aware….life recognizes life. awareness recognizes awareness.
love is great. i see everyone with new understanding and new awareness…..when i look at people they all seem preoccupied with everything else accept life itself. its like looking at robots sometimes.
well maria, its nice to find someone who is awake. i look forward to sharing with you if you like.
by all means, lets smile together….. 
two smiles make a greater one. i’m gonna go on a walk and check up on life..anyways….along your path maria you’ll find life in its fullest.
[...] http://mariaerving.com/spiritual-awakening-versus-being-awakened [...]
Thanks for all your comments dewayne, thank you for sharing.
You wrote that you enjoy writing and sharing about your experiences; why not start your own blog? That way you can write all you want about what you’re experiencing and share it with others
Here’s a post by me that describes how to create a website:
http://mariaerving.com/how-to-start-a-wordpress-blog/
Regarding sharing with me personally; you are welcome to make an appointment with me to explore and inquire deeper when it comes to your experiences and spiritual journey.
You’ll find information about sessions with me here: http://mariaerving.com/sessions/
All the best to you,
Maria
Maria Erving recently posted..Don’t Stop! Keep Looking!
im experiencing one in my life as i write.. i have been slowly throughout this month. several events occurred causing me to believe i was utterly doomed. all so i thought i feared. im realizin so much about myself to the depth of my raising, situations I’ve endured, relationships i have had, and the foundation of who i am. its like having someone unveil a curtain or lift a midst from foggy views. i am thankful. i was in a very controlling relationship for many years and many have passed but i lost so much of who i was i forgot so needed truths. pieces like a puzzle have gathered through the course of my time, slowly falling into place. its been so long since i knew me as i once was and forever changed, but now i can say i feel happy with who i am. i thank God.
That’s the key to everything Candace, to have the willingness to look deeper and become aware of the processes. I’m glad to hear you have come to realize that in your own path and from your own experiences.
The spiritual discomfort and divine discontent (even spiritual crisis) is all there for our awakening (or the awakening, as it is not ‘our’), and it’s beautiful in it’s ruthlessness; it’s pure, fierce grace.
It’s when we take the spiritual experiences for being The Truth that we go right back into delusion and illusion again. Experiences are beautiful but they are not the whole shebang, far from it.
Thank you for sharing, it’s beautiful to hear that you have come to a place of gratitude and thankfulness from what you have experienced so far on your own spiritual journey.
Blessings to you.
Maria Erving recently posted..A Spiritual Awakening Experience Is Not An Arrival; Life Will Still Go On (Part 2/3)
Adulterated – Render (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance, typically an inferior one. It could also mean the removal or moderation of some valuable content such as Harry’s comments (whom I largely disagree with).
I agree with many of the things that you say about awakening and the difference between thinking you might have had an awakening versus knowing. I also agree that truth doesn’t change, and that awakening is not enlightenment.
I am curious to your self investment in “not caring.” The irony is that the only thing wrong with your writing is that you are defending it. You are completely right that we all have egos including you.
But, I also believe that when you indulgently feed your ego, despite what you are preaching about “self”(as being a false identity). In regards to ego, if you don’t know not to feed it, we could say it you are naive. However, if you know not to feed the ego and you continue to do it anyway, we would have to say you are ignorant.
The reason I share this is because through reading some of your writing I felt a connection. That was until the part where your ego got caught up in a fight with someone who wasn’t seeing things the way you did.
When righteousness rules, the conversation stops;when there is no conversation the ego rules;when the ego rules, we don’t care what others think. We then become the furthest from what we are as truth and honesty-of-heart within.
Thank you for sharing your viewpoints jaime.
I’m personally not interested in elaborating or discussing this any further. (It’s getting really old:-)
I remember I wrote an article in response to the comments so feel very welcome to read it if you feel inclined to: http://mariaerving.com/keep-looking-within/
But as I said, this is not interesting to me anymore so I will not discuss it any further.
But someone else that has commented here before may wish to share their thoughts with you.
All the best,
Maria
Maria Erving recently posted..The Beauty and the Peace (Let Grace Transform You)
*** COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED ON THIS ARTICLE ***
Thank you everyone for your comments and for sharing your viewpoints and thoughts.
And if you’re new to it and were looking to comment on it, please read my previous comments and replies as I have already said everything there is to say regarding this particular post.
I’ll also invite you to read this article:
http://mariaerving.com/keep-looking-within/
You’re very welcome to share your thoughts there and of course on other articles as well.
All the best,
Maria
Maria Erving recently posted..The Sudden Urge To Sleep When Meditating (How the mind creates distractions)