Ineffable Experiences

The inability to share ineffable experiences is a limitation of our human condition, which makes us feel helpless and sublime at the same time. These moments are by definition impossible to put into words, but their characteristics and circumstances are broadly recognizable. They often attempt to find expression in metaphor – an open sky, an endless void, a pregnant silence, an all-encompassing presence – but they rarely emerge from it with their meanings unaltered. What unites these experiences is they are removed from time, with which they have no relationship, and essentially different from normal sensory perception, with which they can never be confused. They belong to a reality we can’t recognize, one for which we have no emotions or mental structures, and one which engenders awe, but defies expectations. Thus they are never frightening. They are unrepeatable, these ineffable moments, and not informed by one’s life experiences or emotional states at all; they seem to appear from nowhere, unexpectedly. They are life altering. A single instance of genuine awe can elevate one’s priorities, motivations, and outlook beyond decades of dedication and effort. They are often pivotal moments in one’s life. They are deeply personal. Like faith, love, or ecstasy, once experienced, they can’t be dismissed, forgotten, or undone. There is often a feeling of being initiated into a new state of being associated with them. They are unquestionably real. They feel just as real as this current moment, and sometimes more. They often hint at a broader context, a higher level of being, a much larger reality we can’t perceive in our normal lives, but whose existence becomes unquestionable henceforth. In conclusion, what are the points worth remembering? * Ineffable experiences are removed from time and normal sensory perception. They seem to appear from nowhere, unexpectedly. * They inform our normal lives in ways that make them unquestionably real. * They are deeply personal and are often accompanied by an initiatory feeling. * They hint at a larger reality beyond our perception, but are never scary, because we have no frame of reference for them. They engender awe and defy expectations.. * They are life’s pivotal moments. A single interaction with the sublime can elevate a person’s entire outlook on life beyond decades of dedication and effort. * This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theroundyear.substack.com