Mandala Project: Modern Mysticism or Madness

Abstract

A “conversation with God” inspired the author to delve deeper into what’s beyond the veil of ordinary experience. While researching this type of extreme or altered state experience, she was fortunate to locate and interview those who had had similar experiences of a divine encounter. Prior to their intense spiritual experience, they had been in some sort of existential crisis or under emotional duress. She called this research project the Mandala Project because it symbolized a transformative journey back to self. How do you navigate through the chaos of an ecstatic, spiritual, or altered state and then be able to reintegrate back into your life—in a nutshell, as Jack Kornfield asks, “How do you get back to doing the laundry?”