How to Have a Mystical Experience and Taste Enlightenment
Having a mystical experience or experiencing the mystical state and non-duality is an important part of any spiritual path. It can be a total game changer. And it is ultimately what all this spiritual practice is about when you begin your spiritual journey. So, what causes mystical experiences?
UNDERSTANDING MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES
A mystical experience is like a sneak peek taster of enlightenment. Some would even say it is enlightenment. Because in that moment, you are enlightened. You are offered a profound insight into the nature of reality and a deeper wisdom. If you're not sure what a mystical experience is, check out my comprehensive guide to mystical experiences blog.
In short, they can provide a sense of unity, transcendence, and connection to something greater than oneself. And like all spiritual experiences, it can be extremely beneficial for personal growth, emotional healing, and transformation.
DO YOU HAVE TO BE RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL TO HAVE A MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE?
Mystical experiences are not limited to specific religious traditions, but can be found in various world religions and mystical traditions. However, in my most recent research into mystical experiences, over 70% of participants who reported having a mystical experience identified as spiritual but not religious. In other words, they were not affiliated with any religion.
Even more interesting is that just over 7% were neither spiritual nor religious. This highlights the fact that while most people consider their mystical experience to be a spiritual experience, this altered state of consciousness can occur totally out of the realm of spirituality.
WHAT CAUSES MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES
According to research into mystical experiences, there seem to be four major potential factors that can contribute to having a mystical experience;
Spiritual practices
Psychedelics
Being in nature
Psychological trauma
Of course, the triggers to having a mystical experience are not limited to these factors. Research by Corneille and Luke (2021) found that other common triggers are near-death experiences, sexual intimacy, physical injury, lucid dreaming, sleep deprivation, and athletic activity.
In my own research, as well as that of Corneille and Luke, participants often reported experiencing more than one trigger. For example, people have reported engaging in spiritual practices in nature during times of emotional turmoil in their lives as a significant factor in them experiencing a non-dual, mystical, or spiritual state.
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Spirituality and the mystical state are closely intertwined. Spiritual practices are designed to help us reach this non-dual altered state of consciousness on the spiritual path. The spiritual practices associated with inducing a mystical experience vary widely. However, the most commonly reported practices are meditation and reading spiritual literature or religious scriptures.
Other common spiritual practices associated with inducing mystical experience are yoga, breathwork, and fasting. Prayer and sensory deprivation are also known to potentially cause mystical experiences.
Bear in mind that just because more people report meditation and reading spiritual books as a trigger doesn't mean these practices are more likely to induce a spiritually unitive experience than something like breathwork or fasting. It might simply be that way more people practice meditation and read spiritual books than fast or do breathwork.
PSYCHEDELICS
Much of what we know about mystical experiences and the human brain comes from psychedelic research. In carefully controlled settings, researchers are able to cause a psychedelic mystical experience in participants with reliable success.
I should stress the controlled setting that is used to achieve this. Without this control and expertise, a psychedelic trip can take a very different course. In psychedelic therapy and research, this is known as set and setting and has become the cornerstone of successful psychedelic-assisted therapy.
PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA
Psychological trauma has been reported as a trigger of mystical experience across many research studies. Factors such as stress, depression, loss, bereavement, combat, and addiction fall into this category. For me, this is one of the most interesting aspects of mystical experience triggers.
There are many accounts of people hitting rock bottom with addiction, praying, not out of religious affiliation but out of sheer desperation and having a mystical experience.
There are also many accounts of military personnel being in combat, on the front line, surrounded by death and destruction, and in that moment experiencing the oneness, non-duality and positive emotions associated with mystical experiences.
BEING IN NATURE
Nature has a powerful effect on us in many ways. It has the ability to stop us dead in our tracks, and in a moment of awe, all our worries and thoughts vanish, leaving us feeling at one with everything around us. It is in nature more than anywhere else that we are able to tap into this oneness energy that permeates all of nature and ourselves.
Personally, I find the most powerful places in nature to induce this stillness and expansive altered state of consciousness awareness is close to very old trees. There's something about old trees...
THE NEUROSCIENCE OF MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE
While I hate to reduce the mystical state to neural correlates, it is helpful to understand what happens in the brain so we can mimic and train our brains to have a mystical experience. After all, that is what happens when we engage in spiritual practices.
Research suggests that the underlying neural correlates are the same regardless of the triggers of the mystical state. There seems to be a stilling of the default mode network, or DMN. This is the network within our brain that is responsible for our inner chatter. Once this is quietened down, we seem to have more clarity and greater awareness to tap into the no-thingness or oneness bliss state.
HOW TO HAVE A MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE
So far, I've discussed what researchers, including myself, have found about the significant factors thought to induce mystical experiences. But how do we actually have a mystical experience? Sadly, in most cases, it's not an exact science.
In fact, when researchers wanted to study Carmelite Nuns, they suggested that the mystical state could not be accessed at will but only by the grace of God. Nevertheless, there are things we can do to make the ground of our minds fertile for the mystical state.
This is something that religions and mystical traditions have strived for for thousands of years. Consequently, we can find many tips for preparing for a non-dual spiritual experience in the world's religions and spiritual traditions.
PREPARING FOR SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES THROUGH SPIRITUAL PRACTICES AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WORK
There are many things we can do to create fertile ground for a mystical experience to occur. Some of them might seem obvious, while others might not be so obvious. I believe that in order to transcend, we must also descend. And the deeper we delve into our subconscious, the higher we can transcend into the superconsciousness.
That's why this list includes both depth-psychological work and more spiritual practices.
PRACTICES TO CATALYSE A MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE:
Spiritual practices, such as meditation, yoga, and breathwork.
Focusing attention inwardly and cultivating a sense of present moment self-awareness.
Practices such as journaling, reflection, and self-inquiry.
Engaging in spiritual practices regularly and consistently.
Practicing integrity or the yamas and nyamas of yoga.
Regularly engaging in any activity that puts you in a state of flow like sport, athletics, dance and art.
Fasting and sensory deprivation.
Mindfulnes and practicing presence.
Reading spiritual literature and religious scriptures.
Prayer and contemplation.
Shadow work, depth psychological work, and trauma work.
Spending time in nature, just being still.
Spending time in nature regularly with large vistas where you can look to the horizon.
Vigilantly but kindly observing your inner chatter, and becoming the master of your mind.
A NOTE ON PSYCHEDELICS
While psychedelics can be a reliable way of inducing mystical experiences in very specific circumstances, please act responsibly. Taking psychedelics is not a guaranteed way to have a mystical experience.
The overwhelmingly large majority of psychedelic trips do not end in a mystical experience. And being under the influence of psychedelics comes with significant dangers.
Always seek out trustworthy and reliable facilitators and sitters to support you through a psychedelic journey. And don't take this decision lightly, psychedelics are not for everyone.
Some research suggests that psychedelic mystical experiences can be accompagnanied by anxiety. Having an ego death, nothingness or non-dual experience when you're not ready for it can be really challenging to integrate. You need to be mentally prepared.
NAVIGATING AND INTEGRATING SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS
Mystical experiences are powerful altered states of consciousness that can have therapeutic effects and the potential to create lasting transformation within the individual, as well as on a neurological level.
However, they can also be challenging to integrate into our everyday understanding of life. So navigating a mystical experience requires a certain level of emotional maturity and self-awareness. Be patient, your time will come all in good time.
Discovering the illusion of Maya, experiencing yourself as no-thing, and being left with no desire to do anything can leave you somewhat destabilised. Transpersonal psychology can provide a framework for understanding and integrating mystical experiences.
On the flip side, mystical experiences can have an incredibly therapeutic effect. With good timing your experience can lead to profound personal growth, transformation, and healing.
DON'T GO CHASING THE MYSTICAL STATE
While experiencing non-duality or the mystical state is important for spiritual growth and personal development, and evolution, it shouldn't be the goal of your spiritual practice. Too much focus on this element will not produce results.
Do your spiritual practice for the sake of doing your spiritual practice. Be present in the moment, rather than chasing a future experience. And you will give yourself the best chance of tasting enlightenment.
Let every moment of your life be in service of your spiritual growth. Practice mindfulness in every moment. Whether you’re cooking, cleaning the toilet or walking the dog, life is giving you a chance to prepare your mind for a mystical experience.
BEFORE ENLIGHTENMENT CHOP WOOD, AFTER ENLIGHTENMENT CHOP WOOD
Ultimately, a mystical experience is just another experience. While it is a miracle in some way and it is just our true state in another, an experience remains an experience. It is what we do with it that counts. Life does not change.
As the saying goes; Before enlightenment, chop wood; after enlightenment, chop wood. The dishes still need to be done, people around you will still do stupid things, and much of what arises will still be out of your control.
The question is, can we integrate what we have learnt? Can we train our brain to go into the mystical state at will? Can we live with integrity? Can we transcend our egoic tendencies? And can we ultimately become allocentric instead of egocentric?
Explore More About Mystical Experiences
Want to expand your knowledge and understanding? Check out these articles:
