Author: Dr. Jay Forrest

They say it takes more wisdom to receive advice than to give it. This is because we usually do not want advice; what we really want is someone to agree with what we have already decided.

This is especially true in spiritual matters. Spiritual experiences take the shape of the container they are poured into. A Christian interprets a mystical experience in Christian terms; a Muslim interprets a mystical experience in Islamic terms.

It is important to recognize that experiences are never worldview-neutral. They are always interpreted within the intellectual and philosophical framework of the person having them. This is inevitable and unavoidable.

It takes a degree of independence to think outside the social construct we are born into. That is why I write to mystics rather than the general public. You need that independence to think objectively about beliefs that others hold as sacred.

This matters because mystics encounter the same reality but name it differently. By learning across traditions, we begin to see what our own framework obscures, thereby deepening our understanding of Ultimate Reality. In this way, the journey into the spiritual depths becomes less confined by any single lens.

I think one of the most misunderstood words is “spiritual” and “spirituality.” Ask someone to define the words, and they will be at a loss. We have a vague, foggy notion, but no clear concept.

Most people think that spirituality has something to do with heightened emotions or mystical insights. But this is not true. In order to understand spirituality, we must first understand the word spirit.

The word spirit is derived from the Greek word for breath. It is something unseen but can be felt. It’s not visual, but it’s real. In the religious world, it is thought to be the immortal soul, but that is not quite right.

The spirit is consciousness. It is that invisible thing that makes life what it is. It is that awareness of ourselves and the world around us. It is when we lose this consciousness that we die: it is consciousness that leaves.

Now, if spirit refers to consciousness, then spirituality refers to the cultivation of consciousness. It is about the deepening and expanding awareness of reality. That is what spirituality is about.

So when I say that I’m spiritual but not religious, it means that I’m about cultivating an awareness of Ultimate Reality outside the confines of church, mosque, or synagogue. I belong to God, not to any religion.

Enchantment is the spell of pleasure. Sense experience captivates, drawing us into a cycle of pursuit and temporary satisfaction. Pleasure feels compelling, almost hypnotic, but it never lasts.

The hedonist treats pleasure as the highest good, yet every high fades into a low. What is gained is eventually lost. Desire renews itself endlessly, producing a cycle of chasing, acquiring, and disappointment—the hedonistic treadmill.

This pattern appears everywhere: addiction, sexual fixation, and the pursuit of wealth. Each promises fulfillment but delivers only diminishing returns. People come to love things and use people, disordered in both value and aim.

Society reinforces this illusion, equating happiness with beauty, power, and success. Yet meaning, not pleasure, sustains life. As Nietzsche observed, a strong “why” enables one to endure any “how.”

Disenchantment begins when the spell breaks—when one senses something is wrong beneath appearances. Awakening is the recognition of this sleep. It reveals the possibility of a higher calling, where meaning replaces mere pleasure as the guiding force.

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make when they encounter a mystical experience with ultimate reality is thinking that they’re enlightened. This is so common as to be comical. One taste of transcendence and people lose perspective.

Awakening is the initial crack in consciousness that lets the light in. It is just the beginning; you haven’t even gone through the door yet. The door has been cracked, the light shines, and you misunderstand.

Some figures clearly articulate profound insight without fully embodying it. One prominent example described an awakening-like vision and could vividly point to what lies beyond ordinary perception, yet did not seem to complete the deeper transformative path. Despite great brilliance, personal struggles—such as addiction—remained unresolved. He did not claim enlightenment or spiritual authority, instead presenting himself as a philosophical entertainer. Still, his ability to communicate glimpses of a deeper reality proved deeply influential and transformative for many.

So don’t judge your spiritual journey based upon spiritual delights, visions, or mystical experiences. These are actually more suited to beginners than to those more advanced on the way. In fact, the further you go, the less you need them, and they tend to drop off. What remains is clear seeing.

We spend our childhood in dependence. We rely on our mother and father for room, board, and food. We depend on them for love, comfort, and consolation—for countless things. As children, this is appropriate.

The problem is that many people grow older without growing up—that is, without becoming independent. They still depend on others to do things for them. They never fully reach maturity, because we must move beyond dependence and become self-reliant.

Once we gain independence, we realize that we cannot change anyone. When we enter into a relationship, we must accept people as they are. People can only change themselves; they cannot be changed by us. If we cannot accept them as they are, then we should not enter into a relationship with them at all.

So the next time you see something around the house that isn’t done, say to yourself: if it’s going to be, it’s up to me. Apply this to your life as a whole. Don’t depend on the priest, the pastor, the rabbi, or the imam to do what is your responsibility. No one is coming to save you—you have to take responsibility for yourself. This is part of growing up.

There is a big difference between the experience of oneness with Ultimate Reality and the interpretation of that experience. And if you don’t understand the difference, you’re likely to be confused.

The simple fact is that the mystical experience is not limited to any religion or philosophical tradition. It is experienced by people in every religion, philosophy, and walk of life. It is part of the human experience.

We have to understand that interpretations are required in order for us to think about, let alone speak about, this mystical experience. I believe that all mystical experiences are similar, but the minute that we talk about them, we have to talk about them within a conceptual framework, and that framework modifies our understanding of the experience.

There is no such thing as an uninterpreted experience, and unfortunately our interpretation can distort our remembrance and recollection of that experience. I have the distinct advantage of experiencing Ultimate Reality both as a Christian and as a Buddhist. As a Christian, I understood the experience as an encounter with a supreme person; as a Buddhist, I understood it as an encounter with a supreme reality. But I can assure you the experience was the same—only the interpretation changed.