Recently, I heard that the Kingdom of Heaven was mentioned 80 times in the Bible. It was a key teaching of Jesus, that the Kingdom of Heaven was within. Not in the sky, not “out there”, but right here, now. Once found within, it is then found in the world as well. Thus, he told us to seek it first within.
However, when I began to research the article, I found a better one already done. “The kingdom of God is within you” by Dr. Craig Pearson. It’s replete with several historical examples.
Quite recently, Dr. Pearson released the book The Supreme Awakening, Experiences of Enlightenment Throughout Time — And how to Cultivate Them. This promises to be a rich selection of historical and modern experiences, based on the article above. Also on a draft excerpt I had a chance to read in grad school.
“Throughout history, great men and women have described exalted experiences of extraordinary wakefulness, freedom, and bliss — as different from our ordinary waking experience as waking is from dreaming. Laozi, Plato, Rumi, St. Teresa of Avila, Emerson, Emily Dickinson, Black Elk, Einstein — people of all times and places have described experiences that rank among the most inspiring in all of literature.
The Supreme Awakening offers a rich collection of these experiences — and shows how ordinary men and women today are enjoying the same kinds of sublime experiences celebrated by the Buddha, Wordsworth, Thoreau, Lucy Maud Montgomery, and many others…”
This is also based on his PhD thesis, so is very thoroughly researched.
It should be noted that the author places Transcendental Meditation as the means for this development and thus highlights it in his books, much as he does in the article above.
You also may be interested in my recent article on the word Repent – Metanoia
Davidya
Fantastic and very inspiring book, this, and the connection/thread to TM as a simple and very efficient means for everybody to reach the Kingdom of Heaven within gives great hope for the world. And this is reflected in that so many practicing TM reaches very high states of consciousness and beyond. Thanks, David.
Hi Kjetil
The book is an excellent compilation of experiences and related quotes. A great resource.
However, it doesn’t distinguish between passing experiences and lived being. (Something that can be challenging in any context, especially if the original writer didn’t know the difference themselves.)
It’s also titled “Supreme Awakening” but doesn’t go past Unity stage. Even in a TM context, Brahman could have been explored. But again, it’s much less likely to have been experienced prior to being, so there may well have been too few global quotes available.
Yes, there seems to be nothing that comes close to yours and Lorn and Lucias models, not anywhere near even, neither earlier or now? But still inspiring that so many from all over the world have experiences and maybe advanced states, in all centuries. Having my second retreat with Lorn and Lucia this weekend, it is great to finally be part of it. And wonderful that so many TM-people are there, it shows the effect of our techniques from Maharishi.
Well – the model goes back to Vasishtha, one of history’s greatest sages.
And yes, TM has been a great blessing for me too. One of the few things still in my life. The practice isn’t the same anymore as there is nowhere to transend to. But it continues to soothe the physiology and open things up.