“The Master entered a village where he was met by ten lepers who stood at a distance. They raised their voices, saying, “Master, have mercy on us!” When the Master saw them, he said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were cleansed. Upon realizing that they had been made clean of their leprosy, one returned to thank the great Healer. The Master looked upon the man and asked, “Where are the other nine?” He then said, “Go, for your faith has healed you.”” (Lk 17, 11-19).
In recovery, the notion of a "spiritual experience" or "spiritual awakening" are often used synonymously. But are they really the same thing?Appendix 2 of the book Alcoholics Anonymous explains that a spiritual awakening or experience need not be dramatic like feeling the overwhelming presence of God in your hospital room (Alcoholics Anonymous pg. 14). No, most in recovery describe a gradual unfolding of insights and attitudes that over time marks an unmistakable shift in perception and behavior. Multitudes who have sought the rooms of recovery have found that healing happened not suddenly, but through the accumulation of many small pearls of wisdom linked with a softening of the heart, a new willingness to trust, and the dawning realization that a power greater than oneself is at work.
In the above story, ten lepers encounter the Master Healer. They plead for His help, and he tells them to go and present themselves to the priests. While they are leaving, they discover that they have been miraculously healed. Yet, upon this realization, only one returned to say thank you. Did nine of the lepers have a spiritual experience and one of the lepers had a spiritual awakening?
If so, then what is the difference between a spiritual experience and a spiritual awakening?
Nine lepers experienced a miracle, but they quickly went back to being consumed with their own lives. They didn’t stop in their tracks to give thanks but continued going forward. Although rid of their disease, there was no marked change in their behavior.
How similar is this to the alcoholic who has taken Step Zero and becomes aware for the first time that his problems are of his own making. He is finally aware of the destructive role alcohol plays in his life after years of alcoholic drinking, but he does nothing with this profound insight. He is aware that alcohol is killing him, but there is no change in his behavior. He has been given a miraculous insight into his life and then washes it away with the next drink and the next and the next.
Juxtapose this picture with the alcoholic who takes Step Zero and then asks his Higher Power for help. He has conceded to his innermost self that he is an alcoholic (Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 30) and all his earthly attempts to rid himself of his alcoholism have been in vain. He humbly asks for help and then puts forward footwork to go to AA, or treatment or a 12-Step Immersion program. He finds the rooms of recovery, gets a sponsor and starts working the basic tenets of recovery, i.e., Trust God, Clean House and Help Others. This person is manifesting a spiritual awakening.
So, the difference between a spiritual experience and a spiritual awakening is what we do with the experience after we have encountered the divine. Those who have a marked change in their outward behavior and an inner transformation of their thoughts and attitudes are living the spiritual awakening. A spiritual awakening is a deeper connection with others, and a growing sense of peace. It is a gentle reordering of values and the willingness to act with humility and compassion. As described in Alcoholics Anonymous Appendix 2, such awakenings often happen "slowly over a period of time," as the result of working the steps. The awakening, whether sudden or gradual, is marked by a profound psychic change. This person is now living in the sunlight of the spirit where once there was only despair.