There’s no end to the number of ways we can have awakening experiences. It can come as an epiphany, a realization, a side-effect of taking a hallucinogen, a near-death experience, or even just a spontaneous event while sipping a cup of tea. While reports on such experiences vary dramatically, they consistently feature a high level of contrast between these normal and our regular day-to-day experiences, and a longing to have more of the same. Thom explains the mechanics of such events in this episode, and how we can cultivate awakening experiences on a more consistent basis. Importantly, he describes awakenings as the enlivening of something that is dormant within us, making such experiences more accessible than most might think. Episode Highlights: [00:45] Realizations [02:35] Bija Mantra: Gateway to Transcendence [04:25] Awakening the Unified Field [06:39] Breaking Free from the Web of Constant Thought [08:23] Bliss is the Product of Supreme Inner Contentedness [10:19] Stabilizing the Inner Awakening [12:06] Transient Transcendence: Near-Death Experience [13:58] Varieties of Awakening [15:40] Transcendence in the Junction Points [17:29] Transcendence in Consciousness States [19:15] Irregular Transcendent Experiences [21:31] The Role of Vedic Meditation in Systematic Awakening [23:18] The Truth Behind Meditation and Transcendence [26:11] From Awakening to Enlightenment: Vedic Meditation's Promise Useful Links [email protected]  https://thomknoles.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/