Experiencing darshan or vibration.

[Riverwolf]

This guy also suffers from hallucinations:

Quote (forgot exact source so I googled it):

At the first opportunity Narendra (Vivekananda) put him (Ramakrishna) the same question - "Sir, have you seen God?"

But this practically illiterate priest, unlike the erudite Maharshi, replied in rural dialect without mincing words - "Yes, I have seen God. I have seen Him more tangibly than I see you. I have talked with him more intimately than I am talking to you. But my child, who wants to see God! People shed jugs of tears for money, wife and children. But if they weep for God for only one day they would surely see Him."

Uh... "suffers" from hallucinations? If I'm reading the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna right, he was ANYTHING but suffering. He was a fountain of pure bliss, almost to a comedic point.

[NayaSurya]

For me, it happens all the time, even in the most mundane of places. The feeling things are lined up in such a way...you can feel the current tugging at you moving you towards something, someone or some place.

I am always so nervous at the temple...I never can tell what's going on there. The energy is very chaotic to me...so many people and deities. I try to go at off times just to keep it down.

But, I have a special place to pray and it's a very very small room. When others walk into it, the hairs on their body stand on end. It happens to me too.

[Eastern Mind]

Uh... "suffers" from hallucinations? If I'm reading the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna right, he was ANYTHING but suffering. He was a fountain of pure bliss, almost to a comedic point.

Vannakkam Riverwolf: Sorry. Ekanta was following my lead in sarcasm as I pretended to present the logical argument put forth in the dispute between logic and intuition. In other words psychoanalysing all darshan or mystical experiences from a western psychologically trained perspective. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Darn sarcasm.

Aum Namasivaya

[Ekanta]

Riverwolf... I just made a comparison between Eastern Minds use of the word "hallucination" and Ramakrishnas words... It was serious in a joke way.

What I meant was this:
If EM or someone else has some experience of "darshan" or intuition etc and think of it as hallucination only, that might be so.
But I also gave this quote to strengthen their faith in their own experience, since one day that darshan or intuition might grow to Ramakrishnas experience! And thus its not a hallucination, but rather a smaller experience of the same thing (which grows).

[Riverwolf]

Yeah, sorry guys. I'm terrible at catching sarcasm unless it's grossly exaggerated.

[saidevo]

namaste EM and others.

The term logic means reasoning, a process of the mind, which is not physical. So the logicality of something need not conform to physical science.

A Hindu temple is not just a building but a conception of Divinity expressed in the art and science of architecture that attracts, preserves and dispenses spiritual energy. Although sunlight is present everywhere, its concentrated presence is achieved by a lens. In the same way, the ubiquitous presence of divinity is concentrated into the sAnnidhyam of a deity at the sanctum sanctorum, over which rests the temple gopuram with a kalasham. The black stone image of must mUlavars--root deity, enhances this effect, since the stone attracts spiritual energy. Here is a link about the architecture of a Hindu temple:
http://www.svbf.org/journal/vol8no1/2006_9_temple.pdf

Thus, the sAnnidhyam of a deity is well established in a temple built according to Agamic rules, although in centuries-old temples due to regular performance of Agamic and Vedic rituals, the sAnnidhyam is more. Still, only a few people are tuned as suitable vessels to receive the spiritual vibrations in a temple. You and Ekanta are gifted in this regard. As for me, I do get moved spiritually with sometimes a tear or two of bhakti in many temples but it is not the same at all times; whereas I get more spiritual at home, when I read a text or perform a pUja.

Perhaps it is like a class full of students where some students readily pick up more of the teacher's words with less reading at home, while most others don't have the ability, and need to pick up only by reading at home.

[Ekanta]

I get more spiritual at home, when I read a text or perform a pUja.

And then you share it here for our benefit, I'm so glad for that (the sharing)!

I like temples and wish I could access one easier... but I have to sit at home meditating, with hearing protection on since there are so much noise from neighbors and children and my wife snores in the morning/evening. Its kind of ironic but whatever works...

[Eastern Mind]

Vannakkam : There is another factor I forgot to mention. Some people simply get used to it. If you walk from -30 to +30 in temperature, it feels hot, or vice versa. If you go from +29 to +30, you probably don't notice.

I was with a priest once about 10 minutes after a very powerful puja. I asked, "How can you even drive after that?" He replied "We're used to it."

This is why often that first temple experience is so powerful. It's a new energy, a new feeling. So in Saidevo's situation, living in India, maybe it's just more normal, but for people like me, on pilgrimage there, its like "Wow!!"

But what Saidevo says regarding agamic architecture etc. is so true. That is not to belittle or suggest other non-agamic temples have less energy, but they are different when there is less focus on the magnifying lens effect. There energy is more spread out.

Aum Namasivaya

[Sahasranama]

There's a large dichotomy in the atmosphere (vatavaran) of modern culture and that of Hindu spiritual culture. If you get used to it, you become part of it and it becomes a part of you. But sometimes it's good to feel the difference between the two. I have never been in India, but I get those feelings very easily when listening to bhajans, doing puja, reading texts.

[Ganeshprasad]

Pranam EM and all

I am sorry you did not have much response previously, perhaps the timing was not right then, it certainly was not for me. But I am glad you have opened it again. There are some mystical experiences and vibrations one may not want to share, for various reasons, it sure happens but to a logical mind it is all mumbo jumbo.

Vannakkam : but for people like me, on pilgrimage there, its like "Wow!!"

Aum Namasivaya

　
As you know I like to travel on pilgrimage and I have been fortunate in that department, I try and narrate my two beautiful and most wonderful experience which I shell treasure all my life.

My last trip to Kailash in june, we were at Mansarover, I woke up in the middle of night, could not sleep, so I decided to venture out . It was cold night, the sky was clear, you could not but admire the beautiful stars so clearly visible, occasionally I could hear the barking of a dog breaking the silence off the night. I was facing the calm waters of Mansarovar and on my left is Mt. Kailas a sight to behold. My eyes caught a glimpse of what look like a flash in the distance behind the mountains , I did not think twice about it but then I saw some thing never experience ever before, it appeared twice going up and down behind the peak, a circular colourful lights. I would not want to guess what it was, my mind is still wondering.
A few minutes later I was privilege to witness some thing even more beautiful, I saw a peak glowing it became stronger, at this point I did not know what to think, then I saw many more outline of peaks lit up and I became calm as I could relate as to what was happening, guess what it was not a sun rise but a crescent off the moon appeared from behind the peak that I first saw as a glow, slowly the whole crescent lit up the sky and the lake started glistening. Wow.

The other was two months prior, when I went to Haridwar Kumbhmela, as I entered the town, the vibration was electric, I can not describe it, It was a wonderful experience, the shear weight of people congregating for one purpose alone to have a dip in mother Ganga, and millions of sadhus gathering in one place, I am not surprise that the atmosphere was charged up.

　
On the subject of pilgrimage and its affect be it positive or negative, a story,I heard in my childhood, I will recall as best I possible can.

Many may have heard of Sravan, he was once taking his old parents on pilgrimage carrying both on his shoulder in a kavad. After some time they passed a particular point when Sarvan felt agitated and cursing his luck, mum noticed the change in her son behaviour but kept quite. After some time when they passed that spot of land, Sravan started lamenting and wondered how could he think so low, that is when mother said, my dear son please do not blame your self over it, it is not your fault, what do you mean the son said I was cruel how could I possible think and behave in that manner, so she said it was not your fault it was the bhumi(earth) if you don�t believe me here hold this, she gave a piece of earth she was holding in her hand. Immediately the old feelings of hate became to overcome him. Mother explained this the place two (demon)brothers had a quarrel and fought till death (I think).

Jai Shree Krishna