Is a spiritual awakening a choice?

I know of many people who spend their lives attempting to "be more spiritual" through yoga, meditation, retreats, etc. This is not meant to judge, but I can see that many of them have not made as much progress as they wanted to - or in some cases, as much as they think they have.

In that context, it seems unjust that my spiritual journey has gone on much longer and much deeper than I ever intended. In fact, I have thought at times I wish I could go back to not knowing. I suppose I wish for that about as often as I fear it could happen.

Anyway, I don't take any credit for what triggered my spiritual questioning, I feel like I had innumerable experiences I could not explain and so I was forced to expand my consciousness in order to live in the reality I found myself. Why would these kinds of things happen to me instead of so many others who work hard their whole lives to satisfy a deep longing for this type of knowledge?

It makes me wonder if the awakening process is chosen by the individual or for the individual.

[Falling Star]

I think it's all to do with the evolvement level of the soul Dulce, and not a human choice. We have to grow from human experience first and come to the earthplane to that end.
Many have been going through soul awakenings as conscious levels rise .......it feels like all are being elevated en masse.

I understand where you are coming from when you say you wish you could go back to not knowing, but really we are blessed to have such understanding.

[Perry J]

It's all about identity.
We do not know who we really are, yet we have to have an identity. Then we identify ourselves with something that is not really ourselves. But we are not our life, or our work, carrier... nothing of that.
Awakening is about letting all these false identities go. In order for this to happen, you have to recognize within yourself a real Conscious You, and an ego-self (the false identity).

The awakening is a choice. What complicates matters is that the ego can also 'choose to awaken', without knowing that it would bring its death. And what really complicates it is the fact that every identity - even false ones - have a survival instinct. The ego's survival instinct can be very strong, even ower-powering.

It is not about learning. It's about seeing. Not using thought, because thought is connected to mental structures that builds up the false identity.
Awakening is very simple or very difficult, that is also a choice..

I would recommend having a look at John Sherman. He states also that it's all about identity. And that's what all of them say: Adyashanti, Tolle, Katie... all of them. To me, John Sherman offers the most simple way. He really says only one thing: Look at yourself. And see what happens. This is truly amazing...
http://www.johnsherman.org/2007_retreat_videos/

Ah yes Perry, I am currently facing the survival instinct of at least one of my false "selves." I'm glad you said that. It's funny how even knowing it's a false self and that it's a survival instinct doesn't stop it from interfering! It's like my brain is full of unruly children who think I am trying to take away their favorite toys! Absolute mayhem.

Instinct is incredibly powerful, but not always useful.

[Emmalevine]

It depends. For some people it is because they seek knowledge and spiritual understanding, but for others it comes out after a life trauma or maybe Kundalini. But I believe there is a right time and purpose behind our awakening whether we are conscious or not in this life.

[Perry J]

Originally Posted by Starbuck

It depends. For some people it is because they seek knowledge and spiritual understanding, but for others it comes out after a life trauma or maybe Kundalini. But I believe there is a right time and purpose behind our awakening whether we are conscious or not in this life.

Yes. But people who choose it because they want 'spiritual understanding and knowledge' do not find any awakening. Maybe they can find some structures to cling to, and feel prideful.

Real awakening is about death.

Death is a consequence of false identity. An illusion. An amazing breakthrough to me was realizing that this IS really what Death is! As our true selves we are eternal. The only fear of death is the ego's fear of having its falseness revealed.

The choice to awaken is an "I am" statement on a very deep level, out of reach for the scared ego...

[A19White]

Spiritual awakening is not about knowledge, knowledge is of the mind. When one is no longer identified with the mind they are said to be awakened or enlightened.

[Miss Hepburn]

Well gee, I see it as a natural spark in each soul.
Either one listens to the call back home or they poo-pooh it and
continue on the path of temporary pleasures.

So, I guess it would be a choice ---but in the end we have no choice.
Just as drop of water will always go back to it's source - it's a "law".
Now, that drop that was sucked up into the cloud and dropped
on soil - may have to be in a glass and then in a sewer system
before it makes it back down the pathway back into the ocean - but
it gets there.

[Roselove]

i dont think so.. in astrology chiron the wound brings us to higher cons. i've read our life lessons, purposes are predetermined prior to birth, i was an athiest then i had the spirtual awakening from hell, it wasn't really a choice i was just kinda brought to it, i was never looking for it.. and still want out lol.. like you i am happy with some info i found and wished i never knew some of the other.

[Rah nam]

Originally Posted by DulcePoetica

It makes me wonder if the awakening process is chosen by the individual or for the individual.

A valid question, and I have said somewhere else, in my understanding the trigger to awaken comes from Self.
It can not happen before the body/mind/spirit system is ready.