Have you had an awakening experience?

[aeresearch]

Hello!

I am a student from the U.K looking to hear from or speak to people who believe they have had some kind of 'awakening experience'. I am interested in all experiences, whether they were had through the use of psychoactive substances, through spiritual practice, or even just in nature. I will provide below a set of questions that can be answered in written format, or if anyone wishes to discuss their experiences further I would be happy to do some form of online interview. I am very eager to learn more and explore this topic and any help would be extremely appreciated! I have attached an information sheet that explains the nature of my study if you wish to know more about what your stories will contribute to ( Participant Information Sheet template for UG dissertations 2019-FNupN.docx ). I have also attached a consent form which must be signed if you are to be included in the final study! If you consent to the study please either state this in your reply along with your signature (can be any form e.g. a first name or a singular letter) or email me the form

Awakening Experience Questions

1.     In your own understanding, how would you describe an ‘awakening experience’?

2.     Could you describe the events of your experience? If yes, please answer in detail. 

3.     What were the main feelings you felt during the experience?

4.     What are/were the lasting effects of this experience?

5.     Did your experience have a purpose in your life? If yes/no, please explain why.

6.     How has your experience impacted your life?

7.     Are the impacts still relevant in your present life?

Thanks and happy holidays!

Consent Form 2019 FN.doc

Edited December 18, 2020 by aeresearch
added files

[Persipnei]

42 minutes ago, aeresearch said:

1.     In your own understanding, how would you describe an ‘awakening experience’?

2.     Could you describe the events of your experience? If yes, please answer in detail. 

3.     What were the main feelings you felt during the experience?

4.     What are/were the lasting effects of this experience?

5.     Did your experience have a purpose in your life? If yes/no, please explain why.

6.     How has your experience impacted your life?

7.     Are the impacts still relevant in your present life?

Sure, but please keep in mind my signature. Talking/typing about these things tend to invite superlatives. I'm not in any way claiming any "truth". It's my personal experience.

1. An experience that shatters your present set of baseline rules where your reality is built upon.

It can be as mundane as the girl you are in love with, says she can't stand you and it breaks your heart.

It could be realizing that politicians are not very honest and only in their position for self gain, and it shatters your trust.

It could be understanding that cause and effect happen on every level, when you see that the plant you talk to everyday grows faster than your other plants.

It could be so pervasive that you doubt anything you ever held for truth.

2/3. Preface: I did my share of halucinogens when I was younger, who gave me nice insights and experiences, but the one I mention was sober (haven't done anything else than ganja in more than 10 years).

I have always been a very visual guy, so it's no wonder the experience had a lot of visuals. They weren't the message, though, I think they were just there to bring my attention to the fact something special was about to happen. I have that "6th sense" in life to when something is about to happen.

I was very searching at that moment, and had asked for help to -what I called at that time- my higher self. And a day later, unanounced, without trigger, I just "clicked".

I was aware of the complete connectedness of everything, everywhere, every time, ... I could "see" (in my minds eye, more like a dreamy impression) cause and effect from the "beginning" of times to the "end", but there was no start, no boundary, so the beginning might as well have been in the middle. 

The most important thing for me was a feeling of complete trust. I knew (and still do) that the Grand Plan / Life / Reality is perfect and all my egotictic wants are actually going in against the Grand Plan. I instantly understood I was the reason of my troubles, and for 40 years I have believed I was the victim.

4/6/7. This happened about two months ago, and those months had very nice highs and horrible downs. Ego is a strange beast in that it is able to let you "forget" even the most amazing of experiences if it endangers the existance of the ego. An experience is the start, the hard work has just begun for me. The hard work is integrating the experience in daily life and that is a journey that will take the rest of this, and I guess some other lives 

I did change a lot. I had angry outbursts, was always very nervous, didn't think before I said something... These all are way better now. But for every part that you "fix", you find a few new things to work with. But hey, it's only been 2 months...

Edit: Oh yeah, it made me quit my 22 year old Ganja addiction. That can count!

5. It was a wake up call for me, like a rebirth.

Edited December 18, 2020 by Persipnei

[VeganAwake]

It's the clear recognition by no one that the 'sense of self' or the 'ME' is a product of conditioned thinking...essentially an illusion.

❤