Microblog: Spiritual Experience or Just an Experience?

We all go through many experiences daily, but how do we distinguish a spiritual one from others? Here’s a simple guideline:

A spiritual experience leaves you with a realization, insight, contentment, or fulfillment. It may also strengthen your bond with the divine or help you understand yourself. In general, these bring personal transformation.

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For instance, consider someone hearing a ringing in their ears. If the sound causes distress, it’s likely a medical issue. If it holds no real significance, it’s just an experience. However, if it evokes a sense of divine presence, it becomes a spiritual experience.

Someone once told me skeptically — Many people claim they’ve had divine visions, and so do you. Whatever their intent, I didn’t say much because I see no point in convincing anyone. Nonetheless, this is what I would’ve said:

Suppose someone had a vision of God but remained plagued by anger or despair. Their experience didn’t bring surrender or acceptance of their situation or problems; then they just had a vision, and nothing was divine about it. Worse, if it caused an ego flare-up, it can even be labeled a negative experience.

In my own experience, a vision of God filled me with self-awareness and an understanding of the universe. It brought insights and awe at Her grandeur. The events it triggered led me to contentment, fulfillment, and nonattachment. It also made me feel protected and convinced me I didn’t need a human guru. Because it left me with so much, my experience was spiritual, and my vision can be called divine.

So, the next time you experience something, examine it to see if it left you with a positive transformation. If it did, it was a spiritual experience. Otherwise, it was just an experience.

Love,
Sri Devi Om