Spiritual Experiences

Spirituality is a science in which knowledge is attained through spiritual practice and the spiritual experiences (anubhutis) resulting thereof. An experience beyond the five senses, mind and intellect is known as a spiritual experience.

Improvement in hearing due to spiritual practice

I was playing with my new mobile phone and in a joking manner, called up my husband, who was in the same room at the time. Since I have a hearing disability, the only way I can understand when people talk is by looking at their lips. When I called up my husband, his lips were not visible to me. Once the phone rang, he responded, and I could hear his voice very clearly. As he continued speaking, instead of my husband's face, I clearly saw a vision of His Holiness (H.H.) Dr. Jayant Athavale's face. Then I recalled H.H. Dr. Athavale's guidance earlier that if I continue my daily spiritual practice in order to grow spiritually, one of the by-products of the spiritual practice would be 30% improvement in my hearing capacity. This was the first time that I truly experienced the truth of this guidance.

I have had this hearing deficit since childhood. Since starting my spiritual practice, I have had experiences in which I have been able to hear things previously inaudible to me.

- A Seeker, May 15, 2000.

[Spiritual practice helps one in overcoming spiritual problems, including mild or moderate destiny, such as the hearing impairment this seeker experienced since childhood.

-Editor.]

Various spiritual experiences following chanting*

I was reading a book on Spirituality and continuously chanting the Lord's Name simultaneously for over two hours. At one point during this time, I had the experience of losing touch with time and felt one with everything around me. Then I had tears and saw a glow around my body. I felt lot of energy, especially in my hands. The centre of my palm was glowing and my fingertips were feeling hot and sensitive. I was in this state for over five hours.

- A Seeker, May 12, 2000.

[Getting tears is a manifestation of spiritual emotion whereas a glow around the body is a subtle shield created by chanting. The fingertips became hot due to energy. This seeker experienced a spiritual trance for over five hours.

--Editor.]

*If one is not currently doing any spiritual practice, or to complement one's current spiritual practice, one can begin with the simple, but powerful spiritual practice of chanting or constantly remembering God's Name according to one's religion. Chanting also acts as a useful complement to any spiritual path one may be already following. It is a practice recommended for the current times by Holy texts and Saints of all religions.

Seekers in the initial stages of spiritual practice (less than one year) can repeat The Name of the Lord as per their religion (refer to Issue 3 Clarification of Doubts section for details).
Seekers who have been doing regular spiritual practice for over a year or so can determine the appropriate chant for them from the experiment given in Issue 124, Message to Seekers section.