December 11, 2023: The following quote is from a book I’m currently reading named Demystifying Awakening. I wish everyone had the chance to experience Nirvana at least once in their physical lifetime. I think Earth would be a much better place.
Here’s the quote:
“Imagine it as the silence of deep space ... our consciousness begins to merge back into the most significantly profound silence that can possibly be imagined ... we are enveloped into our source.
As we are drawn deeper into our source, consciousness and awareness stop. They cease. Expansive, enveloping absence is the all-inclusive reality in the experience of Cessation. It is the halting of every marker of mental or physical identity. Any way you can know yourself or reference any self ends.
It is only after the experience in Cessation ceases, as our consciousness begins to drift back, that we become cognizant (of what just happened).
When our consciousness and awareness reactivate following this experience, we also discover a grounded, direct, intuitive understanding that our self sense of self — our identity itself — has changed.”
My notes
One thing I would add to that quote is that on the way back from THERE to HERE, there is a sense of “OH MY GOD WHAT JUST HAPPENED” beauty of the experience, which can be overwhelming to the point of tears.
As the author mentions, during this time, the brain is absolutely silent, which is also beautiful. (A lot of times I think my brain is quiet in normal meditation, but it’s nothing like this.)
At some point later during the Coming-Back Process you become aware, “Oh yeah, now I remember, I’m Alvin in this lifetime,” but for quite some time, there is absolutely nothing else in your mind ... you — your awareness — rests in absolute silence.
Another thing to add is that later on there can be immense gratitude for the experience, and also a “longing” sense that you want to spend the rest of your life there.
books by alvin
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