About the Author
This journey began in the early ’70s when I explored brain research and consciousness. That led to meditation, and I started Transcendental Meditation (TM) in ’74. Within the year, I went on a 6-month retreat to broaden my understanding, learn to teach TM, and deepen the practice. After several months of clearing, I began witnessing full time, then cosmic perception began.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi verified the experiences at the end of the course and said there would be much more. But although he taught that witnessing full-time meant Cosmic Consciousness, I had not yet made that shift from ego to Self (Atman). I was Self-aware but still ego-attached. In the ensuing years, much more opened to perception while I continued to meditate. But the focus shifted to being a householder, raising a family, and pursing a career.
In the mid-2000’s, I left my web application company and a great deal else left too. Spirituality returned to the forefront, and I reconnected with several old friends. I was surprised to discover that a few had awoken. Some feedback and darshan (resonance) with Lorn Hoff led to the Self waking up to itself here, too. Probably because of the long witnessing, the next couple of stages came quickly. Dozens of others I knew switched as well, broadening my understanding of the process.
In 2011, I earned an MA in Vedic Science, reflecting the interests of this blog and supporting book projects that have been underway since I woke up.
I shared more of the above story in an interview on Buddha at the Gas Pump in September 2015. We followed up with a second interview in 2018.
In October 2015, I gave a talk on the 7 stages of enlightenment at the Science and Nonduality conference in San Jose, California. You can see this and other talks since on the Media link above.
In 2017, I launched Davidya Publishing as an imprint to publish books. Our Natural Potential was released in October 2017.
In 2020, I completed a dissertation on the stages of enlightenment and was awarded a double major seminary PhD in Vedic Science and Spiritual Development. I then wrote a dissertation on the levels of Divinity for a Doctor of Divinity.
In 2024, I studied trauma and somatic therapy to support a fuller embodiment.
This blog reflects the process here. Various subjects arise from research and life itself. Themes will come and go.
About this Web Site
After the awakening happened, I felt called to share and began a free blog called in2deep. I’ve long found writing a useful exercise for clarifying what I understand and this medium amplified that. I’ve since found the act of writing can draw out understanding too. I migrated to this hosted site in late 2013 with over 1,180 articles. (In 2024, it’s double that.)
When I originally launched the blog, I was active in web development and IT consulting and had a professional on-line presence in the field. My other blog on science and technology, ForNow, reflected this. To separate the two, I wrote here under a nickname that an awake friend had given me, Davidya. I soon included the name inside the body of posts to reduce scripted content theft. Davidya took on a life of its own and became the most searched way of finding the blog and the natural new site’s name.
David-ya turned out to be an old form of the Hebrew David that means beloved of God. Da-vidya also means giver of knowledge in Sanskrit.
On the right sidebar is a blue feather icon. A feather is a symbol for a writer (the original pen) and a blue feather is an ancient symbol for truth because an optical illusion creates the blue colour.
Articles are written based on current understanding and experience. Thus, the content here evolves over time. Older articles don’t become wrong, but you’ll see the perspective shift and broaden. This is particularly true as I’ve shifted stages. The writing here is not correct concepts or “truth” but rather ways of seeing the spiritual journey, ourselves, and the world around us. I share the observations to support your journey, but hold them lightly to avoid becoming bound by them.
To understand the concepts I use on the site, see the Glossary and Key Posts for definitions and explanatory articles. You can also follow the many links in most articles.
The current Home page photo is of dawn over the coastal mountains at the top of the Salish Sea. This is the start of Discovery Passage on the left, and the foot of Quadra Island. It’s taken from my home.
The Isha Upanishad quoted at the very bottom is a short but very potent text, especially when read orally in its native Sanskrit. The quote is not a reference to the gold of wealth but to that of sattva. One must go beyond the three gunas to see the truth of creation.
Podcast music composed and performed by David Berthiaume. Used with permission.
I welcome feedback and questions. You can contact me by making a relevant comment on an article or by using the Contact form linked in the menu above.
David F. Buckland, D.Div, PhD