Explaining a spiritual experience print version

Explaining a Spiritual Experience

By Arlene Harder

Picture of red sunset over the ocean

Watching the sun set over the ocean fills your heart with peace.

In this moment of quiet reflection

suddenly

a long-held belief that you are s e p a r a t e from everyone else

is replaced with

a deep sense of c-o-n-n-e-c-t-i-o-n

with all people everywhere.

You intuitively sense this profound shift in awareness

was possible because you were in touch with pure Spirit

radiant

all-encompassing

undivided

luminous

timeless

It is easier to hold a wave upon the sand

than comprehend the essence of your experience.

Nevertheless, you give this source of truth a name:

God

Allah

Yahweh

Great Spirit

Universal Consciousness

Source of All Life

Love

Then in your mind's eye

you see a flower,

a gift from your unconscious.

You are pleased with this symbol

because no matter what their color, size, or where they grow,

all flowers are lovely.

So you buy some potted flowers

and whenever you look at them

you remember to notice beauty in everyone you meet.

To share this opening of your heart,

you tell your friends,

"It was like seeing beauty in every flower."

Your friends think they understand your epiphany.

In the end, however, no words and no metaphors

can explain transcendent, spiritual experiences.

The best any of us can do is to . . .

. . . be open to the radiant, all-encompassing Spirit that speaks quietly to our hearts

. . . pay attention the images and insights that emerge

. . . choose a symbol to remind us of what happened

. . . and be grateful for the experience.