​In the vast landscape of human experience, consciousness remains one of the most profound and debated subjects. This blog post delves into a compelling framework that simplifies the complex subject of consciousness into an accessible taxonomy, inviting readers on a transformative journey of self-discovery.

At the core of this exploration lies the concept of Infinite Awareness, the bedrock of all experience. Unlike the transient states of mind and emotion, Infinite Awareness is constant, unchanging, and ever-present. It is not something we possess but rather what we fundamentally are. This pure consciousness is the backdrop against which the dance of life unfolds, a silent witness to the myriad experiences that constitute our existence.
​

Awareness, in its infinite potential, expresses itself through various forms:

• Thoughts: The cognitive expressions of awareness, where it takes the shape of ideas, concepts, and knowledge.
• Emotions: The affective states of awareness, manifesting as feelings that color our experience of the world.
• Intentions: The volitional currents of awareness, where it moves towards action, choice, and will.

​

The taxonomy further explores how awareness modulates itself in different states:

• Waking State: Awareness interacts with the sensory world, engaging with the external environment through perception.
• Dream State: In dreams, awareness weaves narratives from memories and subconscious material, creating a reality of its own.
• Deep Sleep: A state of potentiality, where awareness rests in itself, free from the objects of experience.
• Meditative State: A conscious return to the essence, where awareness recognizes its own nature, undistracted by the mind's content.

​

The journey through consciousness reveals apparent dualities:

• Subjective Experience: The sense of 'I', the experiencer within awareness.
• Objective Experience: The external objects, thoughts, and sensations that are experienced.
• Subliminal Experience: The subconscious 

​

The pinnacle of this taxonomy is the recognition of non-duality:

• Understanding: A cognitive realization that there is no separation between the experiencer and the experienced, the subject and the object.
• Integration: Living from this understanding, where the artificial boundaries dissolve, revealing the undivided nature of awareness.

​

When the non-dual nature of reality is recognized, it finds expression in:

• Love and Beauty: Seeing oneself in all, leading to unconditional love and an appreciation of beauty as expressions of the same underlying reality.
• Creativity and Action: Actions arise spontaneously, unencumbered by personal motives, as natural expressions of this integrated understanding.

​

​This taxonomy of consciousness is not merely an intellectual framework but a roadmap for spiritual exploration. It guides us from the diversity of experiences back to the singularity of our true nature. In recognizing and abiding as Infinite Awareness, we find peace, love, and freedom at the core of our being, where the journey and the destination merge into one.

Have you ever wondered if life follows a hidden numerical pattern? Today, we're exploring how the lives of renowned individuals align with the Fibonacci sequence, particularly at the ages of 18, 30, and 49. The Fibonacci sequence, a series of numbers where each number is the sum of the two preceding ones, might just be a key to understanding significant spiritual milestones.
​

The Fibonacci Life Chart Method, a concept developed by Sacco (2013), presents an innovative approach that intertwines the progression of the Fibonacci sequence with human developmental patterns. This method offers a fresh perspective on understanding the rhythms of life stages, aging, and spiritual experiences. By aligning the mathematical progression of the Fibonacci sequence with human development, this approach suggests that key aspects of human growth, aging, and spiritual experience may parallel this inherent sequence, characterized by order and predictability.
​

Around Age 18​

• Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha): His profound journey to enlightenment started with existential questions in his late teens.
• Saint Francis of Assisi: Began his profound spiritual transformation in his late teens.
• Malala Yousafzai: Stepped into the global arena as an advocate for peace and education in her late teens.
• Swami Vivekananda: Experienced a spiritual awakening during this period.
• Joan of Arc: Had her first divine visions and guidance in her teenage years.
• Saint Augustine of Hippo: Started his quest for spiritual truth in late adolescence.
• Tenzin Gyatso (14th Dalai Lama): Undertook significant spiritual responsibilities in his teens.
• Jiddu Krishnamurti: Rose as a spiritual teacher in his late teens.
• Mother Teresa: Chose to dedicate her life to nunhood around this age.
• Thomas Merton: Began exploring his beliefs and the meaning of life in his late teens.

Around Age 30:

• Jesus Christ: Embarked on his impactful public ministry.
• Muhammad: Deepened his spiritual reflections, leading up to his prophetic revelations.
• Moses: Began his transformative journey to prophethood.
• Sai Baba of Shirdi: Became a revered figure for his spiritual teachings and miracles.
• Eckhart Tolle: Experienced a life-changing spiritual awakening at 29.
• Rumi: Underwent deeper spiritual transformation in his 30s.
• Saint Paul the Apostle: Had his conversion experience around this age.
• Guru Nanak: Laid the foundations of Sikhism in his early 30s.
• Paramahansa Yogananda: Gained recognition for his spiritual teachings.
• Osho (Rajneesh): Started his journey as a public spiritual guru.

Around Age 49:

• Carl Jung: Underwent a significant personal and spiritual transformation.
• Laozi: Authored the Tao Te Ching, reflecting his profound spiritual insights.
• Kahlil Gibran: Reached the peak of his spiritual and philosophical writing.
• Ramana Maharshi: His spiritual teachings gained broader recognition.
• Pope Francis: Experienced deeper spiritual development and service.
• Thich Nhat Hanh: Stepped up his efforts in promoting peace and spirituality.
• Aurobindo Ghose: His spiritual and philosophical work became more influential.
• Pope John Paul II: His spiritual leadership and influence intensified.
• Rabindranath Tagore: Explored deeper into spiritual and philosophical realms.
• Hazrat Inayat Khan: Solidified his teachings in Sufism.

​

The alignment of these significant spiritual events with the Fibonacci ages is intriguing. It suggests a possible hidden pattern in our spiritual development, a rhythm to our life's journey that resonates with this mystical sequence
​

The mystical experience has been a topic of profound interest and exploration throughout history. William James, a trailblazer in the examination of such experiences, eloquently described the journey as an "organic ripening."

While various scholars have presented nuanced stages of the mystical journey, they converge on key elements that mirror the stages of a psychological crisis. These stages invariably encompass:

- Encountering unforeseen stressful life events,
- A transient decline in one's usual functioning,
- The potential for significant personal and spiritual evolution.

In my work, "Mystical Experience: A Psychological Perspective," I delineated a five-phase crisis model, capturing the essence of this transformative journey: 

1. Pre-crisis
2. Impact
3. Crisis
4. Resolution
5. Post-crisis

In this piece, I shall delve deeper into these quintessential phases.

It's pivotal to understand, though, that no singular model can wholly encapsulate the fluidity and diversity of mystical experiences. The journey may sometimes see phases rapidly transitioning, at times some phases might appear skipped, or occasionally one might find themselves anchored at a specific stage. 

Yet, the inherent strength of this crisis model is its capacity to formulate testable hypotheses, paving the way for rigorous empirical research.

Phase 1: The Equilibrium Phase (Pre-Crisis)

In this phase, individuals find themselves in a balanced state, where stressors are countered effectively by their coping mechanisms. Continuously tackling problems, individuals remain poised as long as they trust their abilities to manage challenges, ensuring stability.

Phase 2: The Disruption Phase (Impact)

This phase marks the onset of a psychological crisis, triggered by sudden interruptions to vital life goals, which elude standard problem-solving techniques. Such disruptions might arise from:

- Strained personal relations
- Job losses
- Financial strains
- Life-altering changes
- Bereavements
- Dire health diagnoses

During the initial 1-3 days, individuals grapple with shock, confusion, and a profound sense of vulnerability amidst tumultuous emotions. It's vital to understand that the external events in themselves aren't the crisis; the individual's emotional and psychological reactions give the event its weight.

Phase 3: The Turmoil Phase (Crisis)

Following the initial shock, a turbulent period ensues, typically lasting 1-3 months. Marked by heightened anxiety, irritability, fatigue, despondency, and sleep disturbances, individuals confront the pressing challenge head-on. As conventional strategies falter, feelings of anxiety, desolation, and hopelessness surge. Gradually, individuals grapple with profound existential dilemmas, wrestling with a quest for elusive "truths" and gravitating towards non-linear guidance.

Phase 4: The Intuitive Response Phase (Resolution)

During this phase, all efforts pivot towards mitigating distress. However, decision-making leans heavily on instinctual reactions over analytical reasoning. Notably, not all resolutions prove beneficial. As William James pointed out, mystical experiences can traverse the spectrum from enlightening to darkly unsettling. A holistic understanding of mystical experiences should recognize the potential for both uplifting and detrimental consequences.

Phase 5: The Rebuilding Phase (Post-Crisis)

Stretching over a span of 2-12 months, this phase signifies a time of renewal, reconstruction, and recalibration. It witnesses profound, occasionally stark, transformations in the individual's being. An equilibrium, albeit altered, is achieved. It may either dip below, match, or exceed the pre-crisis level.

The aftermath of a crisis can be visualized through four distinct trajectories:

1. Succumbing: Overwhelmed by the crisis, individuals might find their capacities diminished, ultimately feeling defeated.
2. Survival with Impairment: Here, individuals pull through, but with noticeable deficits or limitations.
3. Resilience: In this scenario, individuals bounce back, reclaiming their pre-crisis state.
4. Thriving: The most empowering outcome, individuals not only recover but ascend beyond their prior state, embodying traumatic growth.

Mystical experiences frequently usher in profound and enduring positive transformations. These transformative effects can be categorized into four domains: self-awareness, interpersonal relationships, life perspective, and understanding of the mystical experience itself.

1. Self-awareness: While a mystical experience doesn't necessarily alter the foundational personality traits, it powerfully reshapes one's aspirations, emotions, attitudes, behaviors, and overall life purpose. This is akin to a personal metamorphosis, redefining one's essence and direction.

2. Interpersonal Relationships: Post such an experience, individuals tend to exhibit greater openness, authenticity, and tolerance, enhancing their connections with others. Their interactions become more genuine and empathetic.

3. Life Perspective: One of the most profound shifts is in the perception of life itself. Mystical experiences frequently instill a renewed sense of hope, making purpose and meaning more palpable in day-to-day existence. Life is seen through a lens of deeper significance and interconnectedness.

4. Understanding Mystical Experiences: Finally, individuals develop a more profound comprehension of the integral role mystical experiences play in life's grand tapestry. They come to value these moments not as anomalies but as crucial chapters in their life story.

So, should you ever find yourself in the throes of a stressful event, questioning the essence of existence, remember: it might just be the prelude to an illuminating transformation. A journey that might elevate your understanding of life to dimensions beyond your wildest imaginations.

One may say truly, I think, that personal religious experience has its root and center in mystical states of consciousness. 
—William James (1902, p. 379)

​Have you ever had a mystical experience?

What separates a mystical experience from an ordinary one? 

The cornerstone of mystical experiences, as researchers concur, is the profound sensation of unity. 

At the heart of debates surrounding mystical experiences lies the interpretation of this unity. How do we understand or express this overwhelming oneness?

A seminal reference in Western studies of mystical experiences is William James's "Varieties of Religious Experience." James posits that these moments, though infrequent, represent episodes where individual consciousness coalesces in an overwhelming unity with the cosmos.

James delineated four hallmarks of mystical experiences:

1. Ineffability - The indescribable nature of the experience.
2. Noetic Quality - A deep, insightful knowledge or realization.
3. Transiency - The fleeting nature of the experience.
4. Passivity - A feeling of being overtaken or grasped by a force beyond one's control.

James's pioneering work underscores the distinctiveness of mystical experiences, setting them apart from our routine experiences. His insights laid the groundwork, setting an exemplary standard for contemporary explorations into the realm of mystical experiences.

​One of the enduring queries that has followed William James's exploration is: What precisely constitutes the mystical experience of unity?

Stace (1960) proposed that this enigmatic experience of unity manifests in two distinct ways: the "introvertive" and the "extrovertive." 

The introvertive unity is an introspective journey, where the individual delves deep into the mind, reaching a state of "pure consciousness." It's often encountered during meditation with closed eyes and is characterized by a profound sense of emptiness or nothingness.

Conversely, the extrovertive unity is an outward-facing experience. As described by Stace (1960, p. 110), the individual "looks outward through the senses," recognizing the interwoven tapestry of existence, finding unity in the diverse fabric of the natural world. Here, everything, from stones and trees to the vast expanse of the sky, is felt to pulsate with life.

Delving into related phenomena, the term "synchronicity," introduced by renowned psychologist Carl Jung, describes moments where an external event resonates deeply with one's inner state. These synchronistic episodes lack a causal link between the tangible event and the internal experience. This concept aptly encapsulates the extrovertive facet of the mystical experience.