There is a lot of confusion about spiritual awakening that it takes away suffering completely. Actually, there is still pain, loss, heartbreak and struggle for the awaken. The difference is in the relationship that they have to these experiences. They don’t deny or complain when they suffer, but they are aware of the suffering and accept it. They know that pain is a natural part of being human, but they can also find unnecessary suffering in the way they attach, resist and think.

One of the most profound attributes of spiritual maturity is acceptance. Acceptance is not synonymous with passivity or weakness. It is seeing the truth without continuously resisting that which is. Spiritually awake people learn to abandon the habit of resisting all the uncomfortable moments they experience. Rather, they actively and consciously engage with life’s challenges in a constructive manner.

One of the other big changes that happen when awakening is occurring is an evolution of relationships. Most relationships start off with the idea of validation, dependence, control or fear of loneliness. These unhealthy foundations are revealed in spiritual awakening. When a person is awakened, he or she looks for authenticity, not performance. They prefer that things be done honestly rather than with manipulation, and that they be done in depth rather than superficially.

Thus, some relationships somehow dissolve. People, partners or places that were comfortable may not in line with the awakened person’s values or consciousness. This can be painful because it usually involves releasing. However, being awake brings forth the possibility of healthier and more meaningful relationships that are rooted in mutual respect, vulnerability, and true understanding.

Spiritual awakening alters one’s relationship with time as well. Rushing is the obsession of modern society — rushing for success, goals, productivity, and future attainment. We tend to miss out on the here and now, while hoping for a future that never comes. A spiritually awakened person starts to value being here. They understand that life is happening in the present moment—now— and not in some future time.

This awareness of the present moment is the reason why many spiritual practices are centered on meditation, mindfulness, prayer and contemplation. These practices are not about leaving life, but about being fully alive in it. When people are present, they start to see the wisdom in things that are happening every day, the same things they do every day, words they hear every day, steps they take every day, silence, sunlight, connecting with others, stillness.

The meaning of stillness is very deep in the awakening. In a society that is busy stimulating and distracting, quiet can be unsettling at first. Rumors of the war against the Jedi have grown louder in recent years and, as a result, many people are afraid of being alone with their thoughts because unresolved emotions bubble up from the depths of the mind. But spiritually awake people realize that stillness is not emptiness, it is clarity. They start to hear the deeper voice among the inner sounds — the voice of intuition, wisdom and inner truth that speaks in silence.

During spiritual awakening, intuition is often more potent. This is not to suggest that the supernatural powers are in the “dramatic” sense of fiction. Instead, it is to become more aware of the inner knowing that is so subtle. The awakened person will be able to feel more accurately, identify unhelpful patterns and make choices based on values rather than on impulse.

In the same way, the true awakening of Spirit promotes humility. The awakening does not make the ego bigger, it makes the ego smaller. When people are spiritually conscious, they see that they don’t really know that much about what it is. The more they become aware the more they value mystery. They don’t have to act like they know everything. Instead, they get used to the idea of uncertainty, and open up to further learning.

This attitude is humility, and it distinguishes real spirituality from spiritual egotism. Spiritual ego is when people use spirituality to make themselves feel good about themselves, in comparison to others. They might feel they are more enlightened, more evolved or more moral than others. This mentality serves to strengthen whatever awakening aims to overcome: the Ego. Awakening brings forth compassion, not superiority, openness, not arrogance.

Authenticity is another aspect of spiritual awakening that is important. People often play their roles over the course of many years to fit into the family norm, society or culture. They try to extinguish their inner selves to conform to expectations. Awakening is an assault on the false identity. It inspires people to be authentic, even if it’s not safe.

Pure light and infinite love be with us!