The Supreme Awakening: Experiences of Enlightenment Throughout Time—And How You Can Cultivate Them

In The Supreme Awakening, Craig Pearson, Ph.D., offers readers a profound journey through the highest peaks of human experience — for some rare moments of transcendence, for others a permanent experience in consciousness. The book examines some of humanity’s greatest minds and hearts, from Laozi and Plato to Emily Dickinson, Black Elk, Einstein, and more. Pearson expertly sutures these luminous experiences across time, place, and culture into a coherent and interesting vision: that higher consciousness is a universal potential, not confined to one path, belief system, or technique. He frames the book’s insights around the teachings of the Vedic Master, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The correlations to quantum mechanics with the unfolding of consciousness in the physical realm were fascinating. Insightful and thought provoking. A must read for all interested in human potential.

Craig Pearson has meticulously researched and categorized hundreds of historical and contemporary individuals who have reported powerful spiritual experiences. It is exciting to read of these experiences in the context of the multi-stage model presented by TM founder Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The most powerful to me was an interview in the Appendix of the 2nd Edition revealing the experiences of an individual as he passed through these stages by applying the TM and TM Sidhi techniques taught by Maharishi.

Absolutely amazing book, and expertly written. It shows beyond a doubt that enlightenment, and alternate states of consciousness that feel to waking life the way waking life feels to sleep, do exist - and are the most joyous experience of existence. And there is an encyclopia almost of quotes of people talking about these enlightened states of consciousness, and how they are the best and most meaningful moments or periods of their lives.

Dr. Pearson systematically outlines the four higher states of consciousness described in the ancient Vedic tradition and provides examples of individuals describing their experiences of these states. These beautiful descriptions cover several millennia and come from many cultures, attesting to their universality. For those interested in cultivating such experiences in themselves, the author details techniques drawn from the Vedic tradition by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and now available around the world. This is both an enjoyable read and a useful one, both in terms of understanding consciousness in all its possible manifestations and in terms of practicality for those who want to promote development of such states. These higher states were considered normal in Vedic times and are considered the birthright of everyone.

I bought this book for descriptions of enlightenment from TM practitioners. The reference was in another book about TM. Still, I'd thought it was more about descriptions of people's experience with higher consciousness in a general way, with some of them being from TM people. Thus far, that's what it is. BUT, for all the people who are annoyed about TM - usually the people who think all meditation instruction should be free, this book focuses quite a lot on the wonders of TM. Be warned. It's good for me, because I DO practice TM, and I like books like this to provide encouragement and motivation to continue my practice, twice a day, 20 minutes at a time, EVERY day. But, it might not be for the people annoyed by the TM organization. About that, you CAN find out how to do TM for free, and even find the mantra that the organization would assign to you online. But, you can't get the support that the organization offers people who pay to learn one-on-one from a trained TM instructor. Expecting to get that for free just isn't reasonable, because the people in the non-profit organization need to make a living just as the rest of us do. Some people seem to want their cake, and to eat it, too. EDIT: OK, I've read further into it now. While I don't read the Maharishi saying things that other guru types have said - it basically comes out of Hinduism, the author seems to put COMPLETE TRUST in everything the Maharishi tells us. We would need to trust that he is completely knowledgeable and completely trustworthy about everything he states, because we can't know for ourselves until we've reached a higher state of consciousness. Not everybody is willing to do that.

If you are interested in the topic of enlightenment or higher states of consciousness -this book is a wonderful companion -I was impressed with the level of research the author had done in seeking out famous poets authors and philosophers who had experienced these higher states -the quotes are a study alone -highly recommend this book !

This is a wonderfully assembled book that I continue to go back to and rediscover that which is.

The stories in this book are deeply interesting and inspiring for anyone wanting to live a spiritual life. I like to give it as a gift to friends and they have also passed it on to others.

The book covers a wide spectrum of people that have written about awakenings which are quoted in the book with a commentary that essentially places them into the TM model of awakening: Cosmic consciousness, God consciousness, unity, Brahman and the refinement that follows . I think consciousness liked the book more than I, as it was poking through a lot while I was reading this. I most resonated with the chapter near the end where someone far along the path is interviewed(a TMer) who speaks of a very flat experience for many years with little to no flashy experiences and then one day it happens. May provide some hope/motivation for some long term seekers.

The books fit perfectly my expectations and shed light on being with oneself – for this I'm more than satisfied. I found the numerous references a bit sidetracking, in the sense that I am not interested so much in the history, more on the topic and it's implications (which is well addressed, and I found easy to read and follow).

I felt this book transported me as I read it. It beautifully explains each stage of consciousness with multiple examples throughout history but in relation to TM too. The interview at the back was incredible to read because I'm also going through a post-Sidhi transition and could relate to much of this. This book should be on any meditators essential reading shelf.

I have read sections of this book over and over again. It is very inspiring and invites the reader to explore the boundless stillness that is available to everyone everywhere.