Tag: Spiritual Journey

Stepping Stones That Lead Nowhere

Most of us spend our lives leaping from one stone to another, convinced each step will bring us closer to a final destination. Career advancement, relationships, possessions, recognition—each stone feels like progress, yet the further we go, the more apparent it becomes that there is no solid shore waiting for us. The path itself was the illusion.

The stones do not extend to a grand arrival point because life was never about arriving. The endless hopping is not failure; it is the nature of the game we entered by being born. Each stone exists only for the moment of stepping, dissolving the instant we shift our weight onto the next. What we mistake for continuity is simply a sequence of vanishing points.

Awakening is not about finding the hidden bridge that others missed. It is the recognition that nowhere is exactly where every step has been leading. To realize this is not despair—it is release. When the compulsion to arrive fades, each step becomes luminous. Even stones that seem unstable or purposeless shimmer with a quiet beauty, because they are not a means to an end. They are the end disguised as a beginning.

The stillness that waits beyond stepping does not appear at the finish line. It is here, beneath the very foot that rises and falls. Nowhere is not absence. Nowhere is the unshakable presence that requires no destination.

Morgan O. Smith

Get Your Free Copy of My Book, Bodhi in the Brain!

https://subscribepage.io/oTSZQu

Did I Have a Spiritual Awakening?

If the question lingers, “Did I have a spiritual awakening?” it often points to a deeper truth: perhaps it has not yet happened. Those who have passed through the unmistakable shift into awakened awareness do not wrestle with that doubt. There is a quiet certainty, not born of belief, but of direct experience.

Language can vary. Some may never utter the phrase spiritual awakening or enlightenment. They may frame it through their own culture, symbolism, or personal metaphors. Yet no matter the vocabulary, the essence remains beyond question.

When the event has truly unfolded, it is like rising from sleep. You do not analyze whether you are awake; you simply are. The recognition is immediate, complete, and irreversible. What remains is the unfolding of life through the clarity of that seeing.

Awakening is not a theory to adopt or an idea to flirt with. It is the dismantling of the imagined self, the collapse of boundaries, and the revelation of a reality that was always here, quietly waiting to be noticed.

Morgan O. Smith

Get Your Free Copy of My Book, Bodhi in the Brain!

https://subscribepage.io/oTSZQu

You Are Already Enlightened, Acting as if You Are Not

Most spiritual seekers chase after enlightenment like it’s a distant prize withheld by the universe. The irony is that the essence being sought is precisely what animates the search. Enlightenment is not something to acquire; it is the underlying fact of being itself. The real dilemma lies not in discovering it but in maintaining the performance of ignorance.

Ask yourself: what does it take to pretend you are unenlightened? Notice the strain involved in sustaining identification with fear, ambition, conflict, desire for control. There is an ongoing maintenance of separation. One must continually rehearse the drama of being a self apart from life, a fragment cut from the whole.

This play of forgetting is not accidental. It has its own intelligence. It permits a dance of contrast so that awareness can better know itself. Yet the tragedy for many is forgetting that it is just a dance. They get lost in the mask they designed. The seeker clings to questions of how, when, and why—missing the silent answer that has always been here.

Enlightenment is not an achievement, but a recognition. It is the falling away of the need to be other than what you are. Once seen, it’s impossible to unsee, though one can still pretend, out of habit or fear. The invitation is to drop the effort, even to be enlightened.

No authority can grant it, no ritual can guarantee it, and no teaching can deliver it because it has never been absent. The teacher points. The student imagines the distance. The truth remains.

To realize this is to see that nothing needs fixing. Even the belief that you are not yet free is simply another expression of freedom. This is the cosmic joke: you are already what you are seeking. The only cost of knowing is the willingness to stop pretending otherwise.

Morgan O. Smith

Get Your Free Copy of My Book, Bodhi in the Brain!

https://subscribepage.io/oTSZQu

When the Serpent Stirs

The Sacred Upheaval of a Kundalini Awakening

A force lies dormant at the base of your spine—curled, coiled, and waiting. It isn’t a metaphor. It isn’t symbolic. It is the sacred energy of awakening, and when it stirs, nothing remains untouched. This is not personal growth. This is elemental transformation.

Kundalini is not something you believe in—it is something that happens. The moment it rises, it begins its ascent with precision, threading its way through your central channel, shifting the architecture of your being. From the root of your spine to the crown of your head, it dismantles, rewires, and reanimates—not gently, not politely, but necessarily.

Everything once taken for granted—breath, time, self, existence—begins to unravel before your eyes. What seemed obvious collapses. What felt separate merges. What appeared to be you becomes both everything and nothing. You no longer view life from a narrow vantage point defined by fear or habit. Perception stretches beyond the ordinary, and you begin to see not from a body, but through consciousness itself.

This isn’t a philosophical musing. This is Yoga—not the posture, but the primordial union. The word means to yoke, to unify, and Kundalini is the sacred yoking of the individual to the Infinite. It is not ideal. It is not a concept. It is direct experience. It is the breakdown of boundaries until the Divine reveals Itself not as something above or beyond, but as the pulse within.

There is no going back from such a moment. Once touched by that current, life reorganizes itself around a different centre—not a person, not a role, but presence.

And within that presence, the union question vanishes—because you realize there were never two.

Morgan O. Smith

Get Your Free Copy of My Book, Bodhi in the Brain!

https://subscribepage.io/oTSZQu

The Subtle Distinction

Peak Experiences vs. Spiritual Awakening

The landscape of spiritual growth is vast and often misunderstood. Many conflate spiritual peak experiences with spiritual awakening, yet these are distinct phenomena. A spiritual peak experience, whether catalyzed by meditation, psychedelics, or moments of profound awe, is an intense, fleeting encounter with an elevated state of consciousness. While these moments can feel transformative, they are often temporary and lack the enduring shift in perception that characterizes a true awakening.

A spiritual awakening, in contrast, is a fundamental reorientation of one’s inner world. It is not simply about feeling interconnected or glimpsing higher states of being—it is about a deep, unshakeable realization that dissolves the boundaries of self, often leaving the individual profoundly changed. This shift is challenging to articulate and even harder to cultivate intentionally.

When someone describes an extraordinary experience induced by psychedelics, they are often recounting a peak experience. These moments may break through the ordinary, offering glimpses of unity or clarity, yet they seldom transcend into awakening. Psychedelics can open doors, but walking through them—truly integrating the lessons into a lasting transformation—is a rarer and more demanding process.

True awakening can occur with or without external aids, but it is exceedingly rare. It arrives unbidden, often accompanied by profound shifts in understanding and perception. Unlike peak experiences, awakening isn’t just a momentary insight—it is an enduring transformation of consciousness. Moreover, even fewer awakenings culminate in spiritual enlightenment, a state of being that transcends duality entirely.

Enlightenment, often romanticized, is not an experience but the dissolution of the experiencer. It is the culmination of awakening, where the distinction between self and other evaporates, and one rests fully in the infinite. However, reaching this state requires not only grace but profound surrender and integration over time.

The journey between peak experiences, awakening, and enlightenment is a spectrum. Each step has value and serves a purpose, yet conflating these stages can obscure the nuances of spiritual growth. Understanding these distinctions invites us to approach the path with humility and clarity, appreciating the profound while striving for the transcendent.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

To See God’s Face

A Glimpse Beyond the Veil

The desire to see the face of God is often spoken of in spiritual traditions, symbolizing the quest to grasp the ultimate truth, touch the divine essence, and witness the Source from which all arises. Yet, many seekers find that the face of God remains elusive. This is not because God hides but because the totality of His expressions cannot be grasped by the human mind until one reaches a state of enlightenment.

What does it mean to see God’s face? Is it a literal vision, or does it represent the merging of self with the Divine? To catch a glimpse of God’s face is to touch the Infinite, even if momentarily. However, the expressions of God—the vastness of His being, the unfolding of all possibilities and manifestations—are incomprehensible to a mind still bound by duality. These expressions are ever-changing, reflecting the dynamic play of creation, destruction, and renewal. Only upon reaching enlightenment, where distinctions dissolve and all is seen as one, does the seeker begin to witness these myriad expressions in their fullness.

Until then, we stand at the threshold, experiencing occasional moments of clarity and divine presence. These glimpses pull us toward deeper understanding, but the full vision, the entire spectrum of God’s expressions, remains veiled. Enlightenment is not simply a state where we “see” more clearly; it is where the very notion of seer and seen dissolves. Only then do we realize that every expression, every nuance of the Divine face, is also our own. The act of witnessing merges into being and all of existence is recognized as the radiant outpouring of the One.

What does this mean for the seeker? The yearning to see the face of God should not be dismissed as a futile chase. It is a sacred impulse. It is the soul’s longing for its source. Yet, one must realize that enlightenment is not an end but a process of continuous unveiling. Until we become still enough, free from the limitations of ego and mind, the Divine will remain a distant and ever-moving horizon. And even upon that horizon, we will see not a singular expression but an infinite number of faces, each revealing another aspect of the cosmic dance.

In the face of God, we encounter not just creation but the unfathomable mystery behind all forms. Enlightenment is the point at which the seeking ends, not because we have seen all there is to see, but because we have become the very essence we sought.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Elusive Blind Spot of Enlightenment

A paradox begins to unfold from the moment consciousness takes form and you are born into this world. Enlightenment, often considered the pinnacle of spiritual realization, simultaneously becomes a blind spot. It’s not that enlightenment is absent; rather, it exists so close to you that it evades your direct perception. The act of becoming a being—separate from the whole—creates the veil obscuring what was never lost.

Most people search for this elusive state, hoping to grasp it through teachings, practices, and philosophies. Yet, the search itself can deepen the sense of separation, reinforcing the idea that enlightenment is something external to be found. But what if enlightenment was never something you needed to find? What if it was something you simply needed to stop resisting?

Human existence is an exquisite contradiction. On one hand, the moment you identify as an individual, you begin to experience duality—subject and object, self and other. On the other hand, this identification simultaneously masks the realization that you are already one with everything. Enlightenment is not an external destination; it is the underlying reality that permeates your existence.

The blind spot isn’t due to a lack of spiritual capacity or effort, but the mind’s incessant clinging to the notion of self. The moment you try to achieve enlightenment as a personal goal, it slips further away, like trying to catch a shadow. Perhaps the real journey is not about seeking, but about unlearning. The simplicity of just being, without striving, can often be the most profound realization of all.

What happens when you stop searching? What if you allow yourself to see that enlightenment is not a peak experience to attain, but the constant, ever-present background of awareness that you are, and always have been? This blind spot only remains as long as there is an effort to overcome it. Let go of that effort, and what reveals itself has been present all along—your original nature.

The key lies in the willingness to let go of the need for enlightenment, to surrender the very idea that you are separate from it. Only then does the blind spot dissolve, and the reality of your true self, free from all constructs, comes into clear view.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Depth of Spiritual Comprehension

Beyond the Surface of Enlightenment

The spiritual journey often carries a mystique, with enlightenment perceived as a final, transcendent state reached after years of dedicated practice. However, the true essence of enlightenment lies not in a distant destination but in an ongoing process of deepening comprehension. This spiritual comprehension, the act of truly understanding and embodying spiritual truths, transforms enlightenment from an abstract ideal into a living reality.

Comprehension in this context goes beyond the intellectual grasp of spiritual concepts. Reading texts or engaging in discussions about spirituality provides a foundation, but deeper understanding requires a profound recognition and integration of the truths of existence into one’s being. This type of comprehension changes the way you perceive yourself, others, and the world around you.

Comprehending Comprehension

Understanding comprehension itself involves stepping into a realm of profound self-awareness. Looking beyond the surface level of experiences and teachings becomes essential, prompting questions about the nature of understanding. What does it mean to truly understand something? How does comprehension differ from mere knowledge? Such inquiries are vital on the spiritual path, pointing to a deeper engagement with the teachings and practices that guide us.

Spiritual comprehension refers to a transformative process where the seeker transitions from knowing about enlightenment to embodying it. This process often involves the dissolution of the egoic self, the release of attachments, and the embrace of a reality both mysterious and deeply intimate.

The Unfolding of Spiritual Comprehension

The unfolding of spiritual comprehension does not follow a linear path. Rather than a straight journey from ignorance to knowledge, from darkness to light, it unfolds as an ever-deepening spiral. Each turn brings us closer to the core of our being. Through this spiral, enlightenment reveals itself not as something to be acquired but as something to be awakened to—a recognition of what has always been present.

Comprehension then becomes an experiential understanding, a lived reality where the boundaries between self and other, subject and object, dissolve. The mind’s incessant chatter quiets, leaving a clear, direct perception of truth—pure, unfiltered awareness, unclouded by concepts or beliefs.

Living Comprehension

Living comprehension means embodying the spiritual truths understood. These truths guide actions, thoughts, and interactions with the world, bringing the light of enlightenment into every aspect of life, from the most mundane tasks to the most profound spiritual practices.

Such embodiment is not about striving for perfection or adhering to an idealized notion of enlightenment. Instead, it means being authentically human, embracing all complexities and contradictions while remaining rooted in the deep understanding of true nature.

Conclusion: The Infinite Depths of Comprehension

Spiritual comprehension represents an infinite journey, a realization that there is always more to understand, integrate, and embody. Enlightenment becomes not a final state but a dynamic process of ongoing revelation. As the depths of spiritual comprehension continue to unfold, the infinite possibilities of being fully alive, fully awake, and fully present in this moment emerge.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Unraveling of the Self

Emotional and Mental Breakdowns During Spiritual Awakening

Introduction

The journey toward spiritual awakening often appears, from the outside, as a serene and enlightened path. Yet, for those who walk it, the experience can be anything but peaceful. Emotional and mental breakdowns are common, and they serve a profound purpose. These breakdowns are not merely unfortunate side effects but are integral to the transformation that takes place during spiritual awakening. Understanding why and how they occur sheds light on the deeply transformative nature of this journey.

The Dissolution of the Ego

At the heart of spiritual awakening lies the dissolution of the ego, the part of us that identifies with our thoughts, emotions, and external identities. The ego forms a protective shell around our innermost being, creating a sense of separation from the world and others. As spiritual awakening progresses, this shell begins to crack and dissolve. The breakdowns that occur during this process are the ego’s desperate attempts to hold onto the illusions it has created.

Emotional turmoil arises as old wounds, suppressed fears, and unresolved traumas surface. These are not new experiences; they are fragments of our psyche that have been buried deep within. The awakening process brings them to the surface, demanding that they be acknowledged, felt, and released. This can manifest as intense sadness, anger, or anxiety, often without a clear trigger. The breakdowns are not a sign of failure but a necessary purging of what no longer serves the soul’s evolution.

Mental Deconstruction

Alongside the emotional upheaval, there is often a mental breakdown that accompanies spiritual awakening. Our minds are accustomed to operating within the framework of duality—right and wrong, good and bad, self and other. As awakening deepens, this framework begins to disintegrate, leading to confusion, disorientation, and a sense of losing touch with reality.

The mind, which has always sought control through understanding and categorizing, now faces the incomprehensible. Concepts that once provided a sense of stability and security—such as time, identity, and purpose—start to unravel. This can feel like madness, as the mind struggles to find footing in a reality that no longer adheres to the rules it once knew.

However, this mental breakdown is a gateway to a higher understanding. It forces the individual to let go of the need to intellectually grasp the vastness of existence and instead invites them to surrender to the mystery of being. What emerges from this surrender is a more expansive awareness that transcends the limitations of the thinking mind.

The Purpose Behind the Breakdown

The emotional and mental breakdowns during spiritual awakening serve a profound purpose. They are not signs of weakness or instability but are essential phases of the journey. These breakdowns break open the rigid structures of the ego and the mind, allowing the true self to emerge. The pain and confusion are catalysts for shedding the old, making way for a new way of being.

In essence, these breakdowns are acts of grace. They strip away the false layers of the self, revealing the underlying essence that is interconnected with all of existence. Through the process of breaking down, one is rebuilt on a foundation of truth, love, and unity.

Navigating the Breakdown

For those experiencing these breakdowns, it’s important to understand that they are temporary and purposeful. Practicing self-compassion and seeking support from others who understand the journey can be invaluable. Meditation, grounding practices, and connecting with nature can also help stabilize the experience. Above all, embracing the breakdown as part of the awakening process allows for a more graceful passage through these intense phases.

When to Seek Extra Support

These breakdowns are not obstacles for most individuals. But there are cases where mental illness could be a factor and needs to be identified and not mistaken for the awakening process. Extra support and seeking professional help in these cases may be needed. They should never be avoided or spiritually bypassed. In some cases, spiritual practices should be avoided altogether, especially if they exacerbate the symptoms or lead to further confusion and distress. Understanding the difference between a spiritual crisis and a mental health issue is crucial, as neglecting the latter can lead to unnecessary suffering and hinder the healing process.

Conclusion

Spiritual awakening is not a gentle process; it is a profound upheaval that shakes the very core of our being. The emotional and mental breakdowns that occur are not obstacles but necessary steps in the dissolution of the old self. By understanding and embracing these breakdowns, one can move through them with greater ease, allowing the transformation they bring to unfold fully. In the end, what emerges from the ashes of the breakdown is a self that is more authentic, whole, and deeply connected to the essence of life itself.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Silence Beyond Words

The Inexpressible Nature of Ultimate Truth

In a world populated by nearly eight billion souls, each one of us carries within the potential to encounter the ultimate truth, the absolute essence of reality that lies beyond the reach of ordinary perception. Yet, even if every individual were to experience this profound truth firsthand and attempt to articulate it through words, symbols, or metaphors, we would still find ourselves standing at the edge of an infinite abyss, gazing into a mystery that language cannot touch.

The challenge lies in the very nature of ultimate truth itself. It is not a concept that can be fully captured by thought, nor a phenomenon that can be neatly packaged into language constructs. Words are tools of the mind, shaped by dualistic thinking, and while they can point towards the truth, they inevitably fall short of embodying its essence. The absolute truth transcends all distinctions, including subject and object, observer and observed. It is a realization that obliterates the boundaries between self and other, time and timelessness, existence and non-existence.

When we attempt to speak of this truth, we find ourselves constrained by the limits of our minds. No matter how profound, each interpretation remains a reflection of the observer’s perspective—an individual prism through which the light of truth is refracted. The truth itself, however, is like pure light, beyond the colours it produces when passed through different lenses. Every articulation of truth, therefore, is not the truth itself, but a facet, a glimmer, a hint of the infinite.

The spiritual journey, then, is not about defining or grasping the ultimate truth in terms of intellectual understanding. Instead, it is about surrendering to the experience of that which cannot be defined. It is about allowing the mind to rest in the silence that follows the realization that no word, no thought, no image can ever encompass the vastness of the ultimate.

In this silence, we encounter the truth directly—not as something to be explained, but as something to be lived. It is the truth that reveals itself in the spaces between thoughts, in the stillness of the heart, and the quietude of being. It is the presence that pervades all things, yet remains unseen, the substratum of reality that gives rise to all forms and yet is untouched by them.

Ultimately, the recognition of this truth calls us to a different way of being in the world. It invites us to dwell in the mystery, to embrace the unknown, and to live from a place of deep humility and reverence for the ungraspable nature of reality. In doing so, we align ourselves with the flow of life itself, moving beyond the need to categorize or control, and instead, opening to the boundless, ineffable reality that is always here, always now.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith