What Triggers Peak Experiences?

Why do some meditations lead to peak experiences and others not? What makes these mystical experiences fade? And what holds us back from having them more often?
Rupert says some objects or events in the world have the capacity to trigger these transcendent experiences. It can be a question such as, ‘What is it that never leaves me?’. If the right person ponders that question at the right time, it will take them directly to their changeless nature. It can also be precipitated by works of art that engage our perceptions. Without formulating the question, these artworks ask ‘What is the nature of the perceiver?’. Other experiences, of tremendous grief, for example, have such a profound effect that it just shatters the mind and brings it to an end. And in that space, there can sometimes be this recognition.
But sometimes the separate self in you realises it has been dealt a mortal blow by this experience so it comes back with a vengeance to reassert itself. Just one powerful but brief glimpse of your true nature is not enough to put an end to decades of habitual thinking and feeling on behalf of the separate self. And when the old habits come back again it's as if God says to us, okay, I have revealed myself to you. Now I have disappeared again and it's your job to find me. That's the spiritual path.
This video is taken from one of Rupert's in-person retreats at The Vedanta - 3rd to 10th June, 2022. To view and book for upcoming retreats (many of which can be attended online via livestream) go to:
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Timestamps:
0:00 Why Do Peak Experiences Happen?
0:51 Spiritual Teachings
1:25 Questions That Quiet The Mind
3:44 The True Purpose Of Art
4:43 Awakening Through Loss
5:50 The Separate Self Returns
7:09 Why We Seek Pain
8:18 Awakening Takes Time
10:15 What Prevents Peak Experiences?
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RS22082f

[@madhuridas4745]

I have had this experience during a hot sunny afternoon at Findhorn river 2012, away from the noisy chattering group i was with. On my own, quiet, within an abundance of glorious nature at its most colourful and peaceful. Not a soul in sight. Being alone in Nature is a great catalyst for the Divine. You will get it when you are leaat expecting it. Thats the true beauty

[@JennyRSTeam]

Nature and true nature. Lovely. With love, Rupert's team

[@alisonsalter8352]

I know findhorn well…

[@Janeoffools]

I’ve had many peak experiences, mostly precipitated by the beauty in nature.

[@annemurphy8074]

Peak experiences are a receding of the usual egoic entanglement.

[@Janeoffools]

@@annemurphy8074 yep, that’s true.

[@nicolasutcliffe1406]

I've had two of these experiences, first my heart opened and an amazing amount of love was felt whilst at a Kirtan and the second was during a pranayama sequence, the whole inside of me became part of everything, then everything outside of me was suddenly the whole of my inner world. I basically felt like I became everything and everything became me. It was amazing 💗💗💗

[@markgardens4u]

Can totally relate to what Rupert says between 6mins 20 and 7mins relating to a peak experience ‘moment’ . ‘I’ spent the next few years at retreats with various Gurus/teachers.. Trying to get back there Lol. ‘I’ kept hearing that the ‘I’ was the problem but it took a while before ‘ I’ decided to give up the trying to get ‘it’ back. Love dropping into these type of clips now and again..

[@JennyRSTeam]

Thank you! With love, Rupert's team

[@Misslotusification]

6:23: The separate self returns with a vengeance, and the power of the glimpses of revelation that we cannot forget once tasted...

[@TheDeepening718]

"You'll be instantly free with no attachment to experience at all." -Ashtavakara

[@blissfull8274]

😂

[@christrejbal3787]

I've always been curious why the state of pure awareness isn't our default being. Rupert creates such an interesting analogy. The mind feels ousted by way of pure awareness, and has to quickly revert to its space in the mind. Also too, this might be related to Robert Wright's book Why Buddhism Is True. He makes a case that our mind works as it does due to natural selection's need to put ourselves first for survival. If we're sitting around in pure awareness, then we're open to being manipulated by nature (eaten by a tiger for example) so we revert to the mind for constant analysis of, well, everything. Thank you Rupert ❤

[@wattaura7621]

Just as the true now is uncapturable, it is the noise or chatter that never leaves me.This is why I prefer the friction-less being of flow so I can enjoy the ride. 💫

[@JennyRSTeam]

This is excellent to learn. With love, Rupert's team

[@ravishankarchengalath8971]

How wonderfully explained! Thank you🙏🏻

[@zachwhitehorn7926]

I’m glad I stuck around. Had a similar experience and have been looking for an answer.

[@JennyRSTeam]

Good to hear it. With love, Rupert's team

[@listenqt]

So happy and validated to hear this explanation... that we are being given a brief experience of what full awareness is, and then if we wish to know that experience again or permanently, we must find our way back. I was given that message directly during one such intense peak experience of oneness; I had to retreat, it was so overwhelming, as if my very being would shatter from the deep and all consuming energy of light and love. As I backed away, I "heard" the message, "You can return to this any time you choose. It is entirely up to you." A profound moment of learning in this journey to awakening. As ACIM says, it can happen in an instant, but that's not the path we usually choose. We are too committed to this dream of life in bodies. But the eventual outcome is assured because there is ultimately nowhere to go. In our pure awareness, we are already there.

[@MrSpiritmike]

When I had the shift of identity with the body/mind to the awareness itself... Enlightenment happened. The rest of the journey is learning to cut the threads that pull us out of Self recognition. When I get exasperated I try to remember that which is not stable in pure awareness or Self recognition, is not me but the body/mind entity. Needing the peak experience is of misidentification. Not gently progressing forward in dissolving the thread of distraction are too misidentification. We may call it spiritual pride to think, "I am Self Realized. For to say" I am God" is arrogance, the truth is "God is I."

[@JennyRSTeam]

We do appreciate your comments and contribution. With love, Rupert's team

[@Janeoffools]

I pass a church most days on the side is a psalm “be still and know that I am God”. I read it as “be still and know that I am IS God”

[@Aed-Adlan]

It's God is me, not I am God.

[@MrSpiritmike]

@@Aed-Adlan yes, I also like, "God is I"

[@Aed-Adlan]

@@MrSpiritmike God is you and much much more.

[@spiritlightpajic7299]

👁️Yes.. Thank Y🦋u Rupert🪷Contemplation of The Scripture , Heartfelt🤍Expression of Gratitude and Revererence .. Has Always BEEN in my own Spiritual Awakening and Continue to Be of Deepning of and Coming into That INNER Communion and Greater Understanding of That One Eternal Living Reality Which lS our Uni-Versaly Shared Being🌅Namaste🙏

[@db-333]

Beautiful beautiful beautiful! ❤

[@PabitraPadhy]

To the lady sitting next to the gentleman asking the question. My friend and you look alike very much. :)

[@danieleslava115]

Thank you Rupert

[@JennyRSTeam]

You are most welcome. With love, Rupert's team

[@RogerioLupoArteCientifica]

10:15 “what is in the way?” My answer to that is - our lack of attention to what’s subtle. We’re always so engaged in gross matters that the immense subtlety of this recognition is bypassed all the time. After so many years of getting habituated with “entering and exiting” this “space” of perception, I came to realize that it’s ALWAYS available within every tiny aspect and event of our life. All it takes is a refined observation and acute perception. Once we understand that, we have it clear that this is not an experience but a constant presence. There’s the performance of the actors and there’s the scenario behind them. We’re so engaged by the story and the actors, that we bypass the scenario, the background. When we finally realize that, this is not an experience, it’s not something that happens “now”. It has been there all along. It’s just a matter of “correct attention”, as Buddha said.

[@brianlittrell797]

Correct attention to what?

[@RogerioLupoArteCientifica]

@@brianlittrell797 attention to That! You are That. Which is subtle. It’s in my first sentence.

[@brianlittrell797]

@@RogerioLupoArteCientifica So pay attention to myself?

[@RogerioLupoArteCientifica]

@@brianlittrell797 dude, please go read the Tao Te Ching, Buddha's teachings, the Avadhuta Gita, you're looking for intellectual answers, but what you need is insights and deeper understandings.

[@brianlittrell797]

@@RogerioLupoArteCientifica Why don't you share some of your understanding and insight with me?

[@dr.susheelkhemariya8966]

Thanks gretitude Dhanyabad Dhanyabad Dhanyabad ❤❤❤ thanks Rupertspira thanks 🙏 regards

[@JennyRSTeam]

You are most welcome. With love, Rupert's team

[@AlexHop1]

Thank you!

[@paulwalker6907]

When the Self is realised you are always aware of its presence and it is completely effortless.

[@madhavbhattarai2861]

Lots of love from Nepal 💌

[@Noct343]

I’ve followed your teachings for many years and have been reading the Kybalion. Thanks Rupert.

[@mikeofheavens]

I am not going to comment about Comments i read for other peak experience, mine was such a blow i literally dropped to my knees while other where clueless, took a last/first breath and afrer that my so "persived self" fought with terth and nails for almost 2 years to get a hold on me, shadow attacking in my dreams, a pair of eyes visiting me in my sleep, i have lost the ability to go on auto pilot ever situation and circumstances i have been cursed to choose on my own free will. I am aware of my emotions reactions fears and even others intentions. For at least 6 to 8 months i was stuck in fight or flight. Literally the worst best thing ever happened to me, honestly i dont know why or even how, probably the weed and how sensitive i am. But since then i realised how sinister people are no one is host just very good at the game, biological impulses have a strong frip on people and how clueless we are is even more impressive. Lastly and most amazing is how ignorant people are and think they can fool other like the kids lie to parents with obvious proof. People are a shitshow

[@preetimaheshwari1329]

Transparent body luminous being ...is the manifestation named Rupert spira❤🙏

[@JennyRSTeam]

❤ With love, Rupert's team

[@chrizles]

good vid

[@user-jb6hn1db8x]

I’ve had several non-dualistic and kundalini type experiences, but they don’t seem to happen any more. I wonder why.

[@malabuha]

Just about anything can trigger a shift in perception. There has to be awareness of it too. A child can experience a shift without ever realising it mentally. It's, i believe, your "higher" consciousness.. The one that just pours in, in other words, awakens

[@stelladonnelly2832]

I experienced this around the age of 10 - but didn't realise the significance of it.

[@malabuha]

@@stelladonnelly2832 significance of what?

[@rikardstevvon3618]

I watched the clip but can’t recalled what he answered. Does anyone know, is there a way to trigger peak experiences?

[@inigoismyfriend3049]

Psychedelics can also take you straight to the source which is also yourself, especially 5meo DMT which is why its called the God molecule. It can take someone with no non dual understanding and twenty minutes later they get it. It seems consciousness has left itself breadcrumbs

[@adonisefits1880]

Does anyone know the artist Rupert refers to at 4:00 ?

[@Janeoffools]

Paul Cezanne

[@williamsummers6438]

Is it not the case that there are 7 (or 8) levels of consciousness. 1. Dreamless sleep. 2. Dreaming sleep. 3. The Waking state in which there is a train of thought. 4. The Meditative state in which there is not a train of thought. 5. Bliss Consciousness in which the ego is lost and replaced by joy/bliss. (The "Rapture" in Christianity.) 6. God Consciousness in which Boundlessness or Infinity is experienced. 7. Nirvana????? remains a puzzle. 8. Death Consciousness from which there are no returnees and therefore no provable or first hand evidence.

[@ThePetibonum66]

My firsts and most intense peak experience i owe it to psychedelics (lsd & shrooms) Also meeting a shaman helped me to deepen and strengthen it I'd like to reach these states easier all by myself and my meditation practice Does anyone relate ?

[@diegovillalba2488]

217k subscribers... today 21.7 my birthday... all is connected!! ;) (???)

[@andyakarudolfhessiansack7936]

Im a little confused with my experiences. When i stand truly clean and in self, i enter a wonderful state. Joy, and bliss flood my being. I can remain in this for 30mins to an hour if i wish, and its truly lovely. I have to completly let go of everything to discover this. Any thought arising clouds this bliss. Its very real. But is this bramen?

[@jkws3724]

Atman ?

[@andyakarudolfhessiansack7936]

@@jkws3724 Sorry... Atman..yes! Is it this? I also get a light vertigo when I hear certain truths. As if my being is responding to its own truth and reality.

[@luismoref]

The confusion I believe is that you let the thoughts cloud this state. When a thought comes where does you go? You stay the same, you think you lost your state of being, but it is still there, it's always there. We don't need to achieve higher states, it's fun to play with it. But the most important thing is to realise that we are always this timeless and peaceful 'thing'.

[@brianlittrell797]

In my opinion it isn't arising thoughts that clouds the bliss. It is unconscious identification or attachment to the thought. The thoughts can't change your true nature which is bliss/peace/joy/love. They can't change you. They arise in you.

[@andyakarudolfhessiansack7936]

@@brianlittrell797 Yes it could well be. So are you saying that subconscious identification with thoughts comes about without our awareness of it? And if true, that it is these sub concious thoughts that block atman, then surely this is part of the primary "I" thought? I felt that awareness watched all things?

[@dennisvvugt]

11:00

[@musicmoments8510]

Bach is honestly overrated. I prefer Nicki Minaj. Rupert, you must hear 'Anaconda'.

[@alisonsalter8352]

I am a lifelong musician and music teacher and also a meditation teacher and I totally agree!

[@brianlittrell797]

I can see Rupert dancing to Anaconda and it is so wrong. Especially when he starts to twerk. I swear my mind is trying to torture me. lol

[@brianlittrell797]

You forgot WAP. Which also features Nicki Minaj. LOL

[@musicmoments8510]

@@brianlittrell797 😂🙈

[@brianlittrell797]

@@musicmoments8510 Thank you. Thank you. I am also a fan of music moments and Rupert Spira.