Spiritual Awakenings And The Light of Enlightenment --by P.M.H. Atwater

Author of Coming Back To Life
--The After-Effects of the Near Death Experience,
Ballantine Books.

Illuminating transformational events, and this includes near-death experiences, revolve around an awakening where the individual's level of consciousness changes. Eventually this can lead to an interest in spiritual matters with the possibility of later enlightenment.

However, long before my near-death experience in 1977, I was bent on learning all I could about the spiritual path, and how the desire for it could be awakened. My impetus was caused by several life-changing illuminations I had undergone previously. Because of this, I studied everything I could get my hands on, then put what I learned to work in daily life. This included group work and the role of teacher/student. There was little I didn't try. My dedication to this pursuit was intense, disciplined, and constant. I learned a few things from such activity, about what works and what doesn't. Then I died.

Later revived, everything I once knew had to be relearned, it had to be reshuffled and turned around. From this process, I came to view things as being more simple, and what drove me before amuses me now. I find myself becoming more practical as each year grows into another. And from this I would like to share some observations that have bearing not only on near-death experience but on the entire issue of transformation and illumination.

To begin, take a broader view of the spiritual quest by remembering that throughout known history, there has always been a steady procession of revelators or avatars, great teachers or messiahs who claimed the authority to reveal higher truth. These great ones often exhibited unusual powers. They healed, taught, preached, and performed "miracles" for the benefit of those in need. They claimed others could do as they did and offered to teach them how. What they offered was invariably a course in self-development that involved discipline, sacrifice, virtue, and a lifetime commitment of service to humanity. None taught short cuts. Although all were products of their prevailing cultures, their messages and methods were similar in principle and can be condensed into two basic themes--Eastern and Western.

Although similar in principle, Eastern and Western versions of awakening are, however, opposite in application, representing mirror reflections of the same goal--the transformation of ordinary consciousness into higher of spiritual consciousness. Here is what I believe to be their essence:

The Eastern version emphasizes ascending energy, originating from within a person's body--usually from the base of the spine, rising up until it burst through the top of the head. It is an inner process that seeks inner guidance and looks for God within. It projects energy from inside out, and the most familiar teaching of this version is Kundalini--Ascension into the Godhead.

The Western version emphasizes descending energy, originating from outside a person's body, passing down through the top of the head, or through the chest area, and spreading throughout the body. It is a process that seeks outside guidance and looks for God On High. It receives outside energy in and the most familiar teaching of this is Christos--Descent of the Logos.

Kundalini is a Sanskrit word meaning "coiled serpent." It symbolically refers to the spiritual energy that is said to be coiled into a ball at the base of a person's spine. When activated, it is said to uncoil and rise up the spine and brainstem, like a serpent stretching full length, until it bursts through the top of the head. While rising, it supposedly ignites or expands seven whirling vortices of energy that are located in or near certain areas of the body trunk, neck, and head. These whirling vortices, called Chakras in Sanskrit--or wheels, are like spinning energy generators and they relate to each of the seven major glandular centers--the endocrine glands. Thus, people are said to have a channel within for spiritual energy to travel the spine, and power generators--the endocrine glands to speed it along its way. Details of how all this works and which Chakra represents which gland depends entirely on what interpretation of which tradition you study. The various versions seldom agree except in principal.

It is claimed that once Kundalini rises full length, after activation and fully developing each of the seven major Chakras and bursting out the head, enlightenment occurs and reunion with God is possible. In actually, however, this bursting is a signal of a shift from one mode of awareness to another, a shift to the spiritual path. Just as the mundane life goes through various phases of development in order to spiritualize, the spiritualized life goes through various phases of development before attainment is reached. A Kundalini breakthrough does not guarantee complete or lasting enlightenment.

Christos (Kristos) is a Greek word from which "Christ" was derived, and comes as close as possible to translating "Messiah" from the ancient phrase that meant "The Anointed One." As near as anyone can tell, Jesus rarely if ever accepted "Messiah" as applicable to him during his lifetime, preferring instead the title, "Son of Man." Long after his crucifixion, it was the Western mind that named Jesus "The Christ" and established his identity as the Son of God. Since then, "Christ" has also come to symbolize Christ Consciousness or Christ Mind, which it is said, anyone can possess. Jesus himself said, "All these things I have done, you can do, and more also," thus indicating a state of consciousness others can achieve.

The entrance of Christ Consciousness is sometimes called Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and is characterized by descriptions such as: being struck as if by lightening or a blinding flash, being consumed as if by fire or great heat, being torn as if by explosion or wind, being immersed as if by rain or floodswells. This spiritual energy seems to enter the individual's body from outside the self, from heaven, God on High, or some saintly emissary or angel. The sudden descent or passage of energy is said to come only when the recipient is ready and worthy, usually entering through the top of the head or through the heart center and filling the entire body. This possession, this entry of divine spirit, energizes and illumines, thus transforming the individual from mundane concerns to spiritual ones. These same traditions also indicate that this event is not the culminating union with God but rather a beginning, a step towards that goal, as various stages or initiations are necessary after illumination before true divinity can be attained.