Grofians Unauthorized
Discussion Group
Grofian Peyotists
Technologies of the Sacred
The following excerpts are from
THE STORMY SEARCH FOR THE SELF
(Grof, C. & Grof, S. 1990)
http://www.erowid.org/library/books/stormy.shtml
--excerpts from Chapter 1:
What Is Spiritual Emergency?
"In modern society, spiritual values have been, in general, replaced by materialistic considerations and largely ignored. It is now becoming increasingly evident that a craving for transcendence and a need for inner development are basic and normal aspects of human nature. Mystical states can be profoundly healing and can have an important positive impact on the life of the person involved. Moreover, many difficult episodes of nonordinary states of consciousness can be seen as crises of spiritual transformation and opening. Stormy experiences of this kind--or 'spiritual emergencies,' as we call them--have been repeatedly described in sacred literature of all ages as rough passages along the mystical path.
Spiritual emergencies can be defined as critical and experientially difficult stages of a profound psychological transformation that involves one's entire being. They take the form of nonordinary states of consciousness and involve intense emotions, visions and other sensory changes, and unusual thoughts, as well as various physical manifestations. These episodes often revolve around spiritual themes; they include sequences of psychological death and rebirth, experiences that seem to be memories from previous lifetimes, feelings of oneness with the universe, encounters with various mythological beings, and other similar motifs." (p. 31)
What Is Spiritual Emergence?
"To understand the problem of spiritual emergency, one has to see it in a larger context of 'spiritual emergence,' as a complication of an evolutionary process that leads to a more mature and fulfilling way of life. The mystical teachings of all ages revolve around the idea that the exclusive pursuit of material goals and values by no means expresses the full potential of human beings. According to this point of view, humanity is an integral part of the creative cosmic energy and intelligence and is, in a sense, identical to and commensurate with it. Discovery of one's divine nature can lead to a way of being, on both an individual and a collective scale, that is incomparably superior to what is ordinarily considered the norm." (pp. 33-34)
"In the most general terms, spiritual emergence can be defined as the movement of an individual to a more expanded way of being that involves enhanced emotional and psychosomatic health, greater freedom of emotional choices, and a sense of deeper connection with other people, nature, and the cosmos. An important part of this development is an increasing awareness of the spiritual dimension in one's life and in the universal scheme of things.
The potential for spiritual emergence is an innate characteristic of human beings. The capacity for spiritual growth is as natural as the disposition of our bodies toward physical development, and spiritual rebirth is as normal a part of human life as biological birth. Like birth, spiritual emergence has been seen for centuries by many cultures as an intrinsic part of life, and, like birth, it has become pathologized in modern society. The experiences that occur during this process cover a wide spectrum of depth and intensity, from the very gentle to the overwhelming and disturbing." (p. 34)
--excerpt from Chapter 6:
Technologies of the Sacred
"If we look to other cultures and historical periods, we find convincing supportive evidence for the basic assumptions underlying the concept of spiritual emergency. Throughout history, most cultures had a great appreciation for nonordinary states of consciousness. They often possessed extraordinary knowledge of the cartography of the inner journey and developed a variety of technologies of the sacred--methods for inducing spiritual experiences--because they highly valued the positive potential of such states. These mind-altering techniques combined various forms of drumming, chanting, dancing, breathing, fasting, physical pain, social isolation, and ingestion of plants with psychedelic properties.
[The next section] explores several areas of human culture that are particularly relevant to spiritual emergency. The first is shamanism, humanity's most ancient religion and healing art. Closely related to shamanism are the so-called rites of passage, powerful rituals conducted in many cultures at the time of important biological and social transitions.
Another fascinating phenomenon is the initiation into the ancient mysteries of death and rebirth, such as those conducted in Greece, Egypt, Rome, Mesoamerica, and other parts of the world. The most important sources of information about spiritual emergencies are the scriptures of the great religions of the world and their mystical branches.
Among them, books of the dead had a very special position; they were used as guidebooks for the dying, as well as manuals for meditation practices and initiatory procedures." (pp. 115-116)
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