I would like to mention — especially to those who have followed my blog for quite some time and who are appreciative of some of the things that i have written about — a bit about what may be (in a limited way) called nirvana. Nirvana being — as i describe it — a visitation to one by that sacred and indefinable timelessness. I am writing about it here as it pertained to me (in the past). I am not trying to impress anyone by writing about it, and i don’t really care if you are impressed or if you think that i am a nutty nut who is totally off of my rocker. It doesn’t matter. I am writing about it to possibly help show that some truly amazing and sacred things are possible if we are very serious and if we keep our minds in great order.
It can occur at different intensities. Words are very inadequate in terms of explaining what occurs when it happens. The most intense form of it occurred many years ago (around 1972 or so). When it occurred, one’s mind was in an empty, meditative state (though in no way was i practicing meditation). Besides the meditative (empty) state of mind, one was also (at times) feeling very compassionate about others. Suddenly, it occurred, and — i kid you not — its energy made me feel thousands of times more alive than i have ever felt before. Words cannot explain the immensity and beauty of what it was. My hands, as it occurred, were contracting and it was a bit difficult to move around fluidly. Additionally, my visual field changed and depth (visually) was replaced by a “nearness of everything.” One continued to smile from ear to ear… as the joy of it was so intoxicating. As it occurred, thought was in abeyance (with what seemed to be some sort of assisted suspension). It seemed so sacred and timeless; it was direct, beautiful, holistic energy (and not mere thinking about energy). After a good while, it left as quickly as it came. A day or so later, deep insights occurred; for instance, one figured out some profound things about how the cosmos functions.
Craving for this nirvana (or whatever you wish to call it) — it really is a nameless, immeasurable thing — never helps to bring it into being. It comes uninvited. What may be prudent is having an orderly mind that often exists beyond fragmentary symbolism (of thought/thinking) and existing as a mind that exists beyond the norm. Maintaining a healthy body, free of drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, and adulterated foods is essential. But being an orderly mind that often exists beyond the fragmentary symbolism of thinking… is a blessing of its own; it is (then) real intelligence, integrity, and holistic, keen perception.
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
You are very blessed to have had this state and it is more than wonderful you had it. Do you know what led up to it? You say you were meditating. What else? I used to have the ability to go to profound peace before I was put on psychiatric meds. That is the price I had to pay for sanity. Steep cost! Interested in hearing what happened to you afterwards.
Probably a lot of things led up to it. For example, being extremely inquisitive, being serious but ready to laugh, caring for others, often looking at things without thought interfering, being independent away from the status quo, looking at the whole and not merely fragmentarily, etc. 🙂
I enjoyed reading this Tom. As I do not fall into any category that is open to this sort of miracle, (“having an orderly mind that often exists beyond fragmentary symbolism”, no, not me and “healthy body, free of drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, and adulterated foods is essential” also no, not me)
So I welcome the opportunity to read about your experience. Thank you for sharing this.
Thanks, Sylvia, but never cut yourself short. Stay open to the possibility and make some adjustments that may help in that area. E.E. Cummings (the great poet and painter), for example, i feel, had been through nirvana. This occurred, although, especially when he was younger, he often drank alcohol and smoked cigarettes. As he aged, he drank only sparingly and often refrained from smoking. We are all human and (apparently) some flexibility is allowed with some of this. Stay open to it and don’t write yourself off, is my advice. 😉
Well Tom I sure don’t think you are crazy – just the opposite – you articulated beautifully an ineffable experience…. uninvited yes – I call they Grace but we have a million inadequate words to describe such wonder – oh and speaking of wonder – that photograph was beyond – just beyond – no words to describe such beauty – and by the way just now I am in need of compassion for others because I am spending time in a hen house ( no disrespect to chickens – these are women) and have been treated so badly that I just finished writing about the necessity of letting go – flow like water – all this stuff is about them not me…. but compassion is missing – the attacks continue and I am too human… so many many thanks on this one!
Oh, Sara, are those cruel female neighbors still giving you trouble? Just ignore them and/or give them a friendly smile.
Thanks much about the posting. The nirvana “thing” truly was ineffable, and it was — in many ways — not what should be called an experience… because it was beyond the realm of our 5 senses. And there were other aspects of it, that took place, that i refrained from writing about.
Stay close to nature and continue to relish your wonderful place in it! 😊
Well done. And so right. It is a variation on the Buddhist adage “when the student is ready, theteacher appears.”
Much appreciated, Lou. 😊 Keep up with your fine poetry. And, speaking of poetry, i feel that certain poets had gone through nirvana “experiences” also… like E.E. Cummings, T.S. Eliot, and Walt Whitman.
Tom my friend, I applaud you for sharing such an intimate part of your spiritual experience with us. 🤗 I too experienced a similar transcendent state many years ago but I didn’t refer to it as nirvana, albeit I truly get where you’re coming from. I felt my senses were heightened and keener (rather dizzying momentarily), and felt my body transform in a way I never felt before. Such an experience is hard to describe because yes sir, folks who may not understand it or experience something like this will indeed think you are hallucinating, crazy or loopy. 😱
I believe your experience was indeed sacred, timeless, and energized. That speaks volumes, my friend. 😊💖🤗 In today’s society, there is so much noise and too many distractions that can blister this type of spiritual awakening. 🙏🏼
I wouldn’t call it “similar,” Kym because you really don’t know what happened to me (despite my feeble attempt at trying to describe it somewhat; and there were aspects involving it that i refrained from including in this posting). Perhaps something truly spiritual happened to you. I truly hope so! 😉
As far as i can see, it is a type of visitation by that sacredness. But it is a visitation… one, of course, can never become it. I suspect that when it does “visit,” it alters the brain cells somewhat and influences them (such as to help them to be even more orderly), which may allow deep insights to happen.
I hear ya Tom. Yes, your occurrence sounds different. I didn’t reveal nearly half of what I experienced to anyone and I don’t discuss it because there are many who would never get it. But it was an experience, an amazing personal connection that was electrifying, yet peaceful. There were people who were around me after it happened, but they couldn’t physically touch me, because their touch attacked my current state during that time. Long story short, yes it was a spiritual occurrence. Praying that reflections of your visitation truly enlightens your awareness and senses, even years later. Take care my friend. Have a wonderful weekend. 😘💖🥰
Kym, here are a couple of excerpts of a poem by Walt Whitman, whom i suspect was enlightened.
One hour to madness and joy! O furious! O confine me not!
(What is this that frees me so in storms?
What do my shouts amid lightnings and raging winds mean?)
To be lost if it must be so!
To feed the remainder of life with one hour of fullness and
freedom!
With one brief hour of madness and joy!
Wonderful to read about your experience, Tom. You have an open mind and so it comes. I have had one blinding flash in my life, many years ago – when my mother in law was in hospital, dying (though we did not know it then) of kidney failure. Seeing her frail form, I was suddenly visited by the purest compassion, and for some minutes nothing else existed. Although I feel compassion for everything all the time, that ‘being compassion’ has not recurred.
Very interesting! Compassion is wholeness and supreme intelligence because it is beyond mindless conflict, fragmentation, separation, hate, and friction. 🙂
Yes, it’s particularly interesting because we had a fairly rocky relationship. I did not feel that way when many of my loved ones were ill or lost forever.
Well, there you go; compassion without judgment is great intelligence! 🙂
Beautiful post (and image) – a reminder to leave space in my days/nights for receiving (vs. perpetual doing).
Yes, I was so excited but the text of this post that I overlooked the image. It’s lovely, and aptly captioned!
Yes, Jazz, not that incessant perpetual doing! 😉
That was an interesting post about experiencing nirvana … I wonder just how many people reach such a state of bliss? Is the flower gently unfurling or is this all that remains? It certainly is vibrant alongside this Ladybug.
Undoubtedly, Linda, not very many reach such a state; very few occurrences indeed on this rather insane planet! My blog is meant to help people in that regard but i’m not holding my breath.
The flower lost all of its petals — except for one tenacious one — but the flower is still beautiful in its own unique way. 😊
Beautiful picture of the beetle and the flower clinging to its last precious petal.
🤗