MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE
Maintenance
The maintenance of the experience, at its apex, with full intensity, is not possible, by definition (this phase of the experience is transitory), just as it is not possible to stay in a state of intense surprise, or in an orgasmic state, all the time. However, at some level, the effect of the experience, because it has been intense or repeated, is permanent, indelible. Nevertheless, the effect will only be operative, functional, when it is taken into consideration at all levels of the state-of-being, and integrally cultivated; for this, changes must be implemented in daily life, with firm and courageous decisions. Everyone knows that falling on the ground, or crashing into hard and sharp objects, hurts. A little repetition is enough for this to become very clear and inscribed in general physiology. One does not need to feel the pain all the time, nor experience the sensation of falling, to operate according to this knowledge. On the other hand, nothing prevents one from knowing this state of affairs and continuing to be reckless, taking risks, being imprudent in various ways, often suffering contusions: these are behavioral options.
The mystical experience is free; it does not compel. The capacity to change, to implement the effects, the courage to follow an inductive discipline, are not part of the experience: they need to be trained. A discipline in search of unity implies a spiritual work of harmonization and resolution of conflicts between the various aspects of human experience within society, within culture. No one doubts that the experience connects to a cognitive, perceptive, psychic and neural path — a neurophysiology. Once the path has been traveled, the connections established, the natural tendency is to obtain the experience again, by the same path or by similar ones. The experience can be reinduced, following the same procedures, or others, and, with time, tends to become serene; the shock, the initial surprise, disappear. Nothing prevents the practice of induction from improving until the subject is able to provoke mystical experiences at will. It is clear that this is not a repetition, but a 'reinduction'; the state will always be creative, although no longer surprising in the sense of 'shocking'. With practice, the experience can fit into a physiological base compatible with everyday life. If it is possible to listen to music while talking to someone, paying attention to both things at the same time, it should also be possible to feel 'one' and continue operating as if separate (two), at the same time.