As I have mentioned, the ineffable nature of these
experiences, makes using words difficult, and by the nature of the subject
imprecise. Words can only be “fingers
pointing at the moon.”
Nonetheless, I would like to make a distinction between the stable
higher levels of consciousness (see my blog entry Stranger in a Strange Land
Part 2), sometimes labeled as enlightenment, and the temporary spiritual
experience of All-that-is, also known as a Mystical or Peak experience, Kensho,
Samadhi, Satori, Nirvana, and so forth.
For this we need to discuss the Wilber-Coombs lattice. This lattice outlines how the Mystical or
Peak experience of being “One with the Universe,” can be had at almost any
level of development. But your
interpretation of that experience will be different at each level. Some label the stable levels of consciousness
“Stages,” and the temporary Mystical or Peak experiences as “States” of
consciousness.
Jan Brouwer has very nicely laid out some of the
implications of the Wilber-Coombs lattice here:
Jan has some very excellent observations, which I will leave
to his essay at the above link.
What I want to discuss here concerns the differences between
a temporary Mystical or Peak experience, and the stable higher levels of
consciousness that may allow easy access to this feeling of Oneness. Someone who has “incorporated this into the
bones.” This latter stable stage or
level I will define broadly here as “enlightenment.”
As I have mentioned before, I believe the generation of this
Mystical or Peak experience is the normal state of mind when the ego is
quieted.
Some individuals experience these temporary states briefly under
varied circumstances, during brief religious prayer, the flow of exercise, seeing
a beautiful sunset, or even during sexual orgasm. But, this is not so easy to experience
through “endogenous” methods such as meditative practices by training the brain-body.
In the higher more stable stages of consciousness, such as
enlightenment, the groove is well established in the brain-body. This groove allows the ego to quiet
relatively easily, and, thereby, that brain-body can more easily access these
more temporary Mystical or Peak experiences.
Further, this stable stage enables the ego to be less active
overall, so that one “can keep a toe dipped” into this state at almost all
times. Then this brain-body can shed
the comfortable coat of ego at will, and put back on the ego overcoat when
needed to function optimally in the world.
Entheogens are one of the easy “exogenous” methods of
entering into some level of these temporary experiences. These can be plant derived or synthetic; cannabis,
mescaline, MDA, DMT, ayahuasca, LSD, psilocin, psilocybin, ibogaine, and
salvinorin A. We also know that these
entheogens can have dose-dependent effects, and the doses needed for getting to
certain states of consciousness are not so clear.
Recently a friend of mine had a very beautiful psilocybin
“trip.” But, she had a very disturbing
post-trip disruption of her mental stability.
When she described it, I pictured that she had dropped a rock upon her
raft of “self.” Knocking it
asunder. Now she is knitting it back
together. I also feel she will be at a
higher level of consciousness after this knitting is completed. But, this episode took quite a toll. And will take a lot of work to put her raft
of self into a stable state again.
I had an experience in high school where we went to hear a
Grateful Dead concert, which never materialized. I took the first hit off a bottle of Sangria
into which we dumped multiple hits of LSD.
The LSD floated. I was in a
dissociative state for several hours. It
was like being in a dream. I watched my
actions and external events. But, I was
not in control. Very interesting. Who really was watching?
I learned a lot about my mind. But, I was totally useless when gang members
entered their park to get rid of “the hippies” and started to beat people
up. Luckily my friends took care of
me. (Thanks Randy!)
Another individual I know got involved with a shamanic
group. From what I hear she is
continuing to take ayahuasca on a regular basis. Perhaps a spiritual bypass, perhaps just
continuing to learn.
Being in the presence of a “guru” can be another exogenous
source of entering into a Mystical or Peak experience. Often, there is nothing wrong with using
exogenous methods such as entheogens or your guru. The problem comes up when you continue to be
dependent on an exogenous source for these experiences. That is one way to be addicted. If you don’t use this experience to develop
the brain-body to a stable higher stage of consciousness, you no longer use
this important experience and information to continue your growth.
More individuals than ever before are endorsing that they
are spiritual, but not religious. These
people do not identify with any religious organization or dogma. Their spirituality encompasses a vast panoply
of beliefs and ideas. Many link their
spirituality to the environment, to helping the poor, to mystical experience,
to non-denominational prayer.
Many people are ultimately searching for meaning in their
lives. I see this as evidence that our
society is evolving to ever higher levels.
The higher the consciousness of each of the individuals in our society,
the higher will be the average level of consciousness of our society.
You want enlightenment.
You really do. I applaud you all
for exploring the varied ways of evolving to higher stages of
consciousness. Whatever methods you
choose, remember that each method often is a boat to get you to the next
level. Often, you must then leave that
boat and try a different method of transport for your travel to the next level.
You may have a “dark night of the soul,” when you are transitioning to the next
level. Look carefully, talk to trusted
others. Seek help and guidance, when you
feel stuck.
You are each beautiful sacred manifestations of All-that-is,
Source, Spirit.
Remind yourself again and again, you are not alone, we are
all traveling together.
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