Post by petu on Jul 28, 2013 14:15:23 GMT
Spirituality can mean different things to different people. For me, its been a kind of unconscious driving force, motivating me through life.
When I was 5 years old, I had what I now understand was a sudden shift of perception, like a mini-awakening. It was like waking up out of a dream in which I had previously been completely immersed. There was a sudden separation, I saw myself as separate and apart for the first time, I remember the moment and it was a shock, nothing was the same again. After that, I started wondering about the meaning of life, asking the big questions and always wanted to find out the 'real' truth underneath the surfaces of life.
When I was about 12, I started to spontaneously meditate, without actually knowing that's what I was doing, but it gave me a sense of peace and security, connected me with what felt like a deeper reality.
In my early 20's I became interested in Eastern Mysticism, new age philosophy and the writings of Osho and J. Krishnamurti. I've never had a formal meditation practice, but around that time I 'played around' with different kinds of consciousness altering techniques. I had another major awakening experience which lasted for several weeks and actually ended up with me in hospital because I was so energized by the the experience, I wasn't sleeping or eating, and because I didn't have a formal spiritual practice, I had no real context for what was happening to me.
These days, I still don't have a formal meditation practice, but I've learned that the only way I can handle some withdrawal symptoms, when they get very bad is by using them as a focus of meditation. I will lay somewhere as comfortable as I can and just be awareness of the sensations, letting them flow through me with no resistance.
For about a year, I didn't know about protracted antidepressant withdrawal, so I wasn't sure what was going on with me, one theory was that I was experiencing a kundalini awakening, so I was doing the best I could to accept everything, believing it was a good and positive thing. Now I think its probably a combination of both with a 'Dark Night of the Soul' thrown in too. This essay by Sheila Joshi backs up this idea:
neuroscienceandpsi.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/psychotropic-medication-recovery.html
If I had to label my spiritual 'beliefs' I would say they fall into the category of non-duel or Advaita. I try and see all the losses and changes of the last several years as false layers of 'self' falling away, bringing me closer to the natural state of no-self where there is only one.
My favorite spiritual teacher is Adyashanti and I enjoy watching the weekly interviews with 'ordinary' awakened people on batgap.com (Buddha at the Gas Pump)
I'm looking forward to reading about what kinds of spirituality motivates other people and how it has helped with healing and dealing with withdrawal symptoms.
When I was 5 years old, I had what I now understand was a sudden shift of perception, like a mini-awakening. It was like waking up out of a dream in which I had previously been completely immersed. There was a sudden separation, I saw myself as separate and apart for the first time, I remember the moment and it was a shock, nothing was the same again. After that, I started wondering about the meaning of life, asking the big questions and always wanted to find out the 'real' truth underneath the surfaces of life.
When I was about 12, I started to spontaneously meditate, without actually knowing that's what I was doing, but it gave me a sense of peace and security, connected me with what felt like a deeper reality.
In my early 20's I became interested in Eastern Mysticism, new age philosophy and the writings of Osho and J. Krishnamurti. I've never had a formal meditation practice, but around that time I 'played around' with different kinds of consciousness altering techniques. I had another major awakening experience which lasted for several weeks and actually ended up with me in hospital because I was so energized by the the experience, I wasn't sleeping or eating, and because I didn't have a formal spiritual practice, I had no real context for what was happening to me.
These days, I still don't have a formal meditation practice, but I've learned that the only way I can handle some withdrawal symptoms, when they get very bad is by using them as a focus of meditation. I will lay somewhere as comfortable as I can and just be awareness of the sensations, letting them flow through me with no resistance.
For about a year, I didn't know about protracted antidepressant withdrawal, so I wasn't sure what was going on with me, one theory was that I was experiencing a kundalini awakening, so I was doing the best I could to accept everything, believing it was a good and positive thing. Now I think its probably a combination of both with a 'Dark Night of the Soul' thrown in too. This essay by Sheila Joshi backs up this idea:
neuroscienceandpsi.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/psychotropic-medication-recovery.html
If I had to label my spiritual 'beliefs' I would say they fall into the category of non-duel or Advaita. I try and see all the losses and changes of the last several years as false layers of 'self' falling away, bringing me closer to the natural state of no-self where there is only one.
My favorite spiritual teacher is Adyashanti and I enjoy watching the weekly interviews with 'ordinary' awakened people on batgap.com (Buddha at the Gas Pump)
I'm looking forward to reading about what kinds of spirituality motivates other people and how it has helped with healing and dealing with withdrawal symptoms.