Spiritual Experience - Council on Spiritual Practices
Posted: 04 Oct 2006From; http://www.csp.org/experience/experience.html
Primary religious experience is found at the heart of all the world's wisdom traditions. Many people who have had such direct perception of spirit appear to lead lives of greater understanding, virtue, and joy as a result. CSP's Primary Religious Experience Project is focused on these phenomena with the hope of understanding practices that can be beneficial to individuals and to their communities. Our studies address the following questions:
How can primary religious experience contribute to an individual's growth?
What conditions (beliefs, preparation, ritual, community, and continuing practice) allow for more helpful primary religious experiences, and how can the benefits be carried into daily life?
What risks are associated with primary religious experience, and how do they vary with circumstances?
How can primary religious experience be made more, and more safely, available?