Different Experiences"What are some of the common attributes of these varied experiences? For example, you mentioned the word ecstasy ...." "I think ecstasy is one of those attributes of the experience, or one of the consequences of the experience," Rabbi Stern replied. "I think the heightened awareness of abilities, skills, potentials, that exist within persons is one of the consequences. I think often a new sense of priorities and values is a consequence. Very frequently a person’s life direction is changed from such an experience, and he begins to do things he wasn’t doing previously — or he re-focuses his life. "There is a kind of consciousness of being chosen, of being special in some regard, also. There’s a sense of awe and wonder, too. There’s a sense of purposefulness in terms of the order and harmony of the universe, usually. Perhaps there is also a sense of special relatedness between yourself and other people — and other things. "But, yet, when you begin to tear it apart this way, all of these are but parts of the same experience. However, these are some of the ways a person can try to start talking about spiritual experiences." |
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