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Almost everyone who experiences Enlightenment describes it as the most wonderful experience ever. But there is a whole book by a woman who
described it as a nightmare -- she thought she had gone out of her
mind! It makes you wonder: how many other people think this completely different way to see yourself and the universe is actually a BAD
thing? How many are sitting in mental institutions right now,
diagnosed with an illness, but actually are "Enlightened"?
The book is called "Collision With the Infinite: A Life Beyond the
Personal Self" by Suzanne Segal. I haven't read the book but
apparently she got Enlightened spontaneously, hated it, suffered for
10 years, then died a painful death. Now that doesn't sound so great.
Oh, and again we don't know if she got "real" enlightenment, or just
"lost her ego" or whatever!
Here are what a couple of reviewers have to say about her experience,
and "enlightenment" in general: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/1884997279/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_helpful/002-8140000-6531229?ie=UTF8&n=283155#customerReviews
1.
Most accounts of enlightenment deal with it from the perspective of
the blissful, exalted state it represents. Segal has given us a
roadmap of the potential suffering that can arise when such
transformations occur outside the traditional student teacher
relationship.
2.
OK, although I have found that most seekers are actually VERY DENSE
and have very ingrained ideas about what satori, or salvation, or the enlightenment actually is, I am going to hope that my words above have penetrated and you will not pick up and read this book lightly. It is
not interesting, amusing, entertaining, "a jolly good read", funny, intriguing or anything else other than a book that will open your eyes
to the potential of the UNREMITTING HORROR, repeat HORROR that
spiritual awakening can be. Is that how you saw it when you started
your quest? Didn't you hope for deep inner peace and some kind of
personal transcendence? Well you are mistaken. The culmination of all
your meditation and insight and all the rest is this: NOTHING.
Limitless, eternal void.
Although it has different flavours, depending on the author, all of
the books that deal with non-dual consciousness tell you the same
thing, and when you read them you are left with an intellectual
choice. Are they right, and your ego is an illusion, or have they gone insane? There is no middle ground.
Sitting on this side of the "enlightenment" I think that they are
insane.
Here is a guy who was "Enlightened" and nearly turned into a Zombie.
Of course he is HIGHLY REVERED by believers in Advaita. Just look at
how he "got it" so quickly... he is really special! http://www.kktanhp.com/ramana_maharshi.htm

From the above description, one realizes that Ramana Maharshi had

destroyed the ego and from thence onwards was constantly aware of his
Self, the Spirit, which is also the Spirit and Self of every man. In
other words he was enlightened in that half-hour of experience. While
before the event he experienced an intense fear of death, but after
that he had no fear of death for the rest of his life. This is because
he was constantly with his deathless Self even though he was talking,
acting or walking. This awakening would have taken many other yogis
many lifetimes, but he accomplished it in half an hour without
previous spiritual practice. This is unique and truly phenomenal.
His character had changed. He was no more interested in those things
that he previously valued. He felt that conventional life appeared
unreal. This must have been a very difficult time for a boy who had no training in the spiritual path, and suddenly thrown into a realm of
constant awareness of bliss. He also had to remain in the family and
go to school as well. His family noticed this change in him. There was
no more interest in his former relationship with friends and
relatives. He went through his studies mechanically with his book
opened, but the mind far away elsewhere. His dealings with people were
meek and submissive: there was now no complaint or retaliation as
before. He preferred to be alone to meditate and to be absorbed in the
Self or Spirit, rather than to play with friends. Whatever food was
given to him was consumed indifferently.

Oh, and of course when he died "...in many places all over India,
there were independent reports of seeing a bright light rising into
the sky."
Cool! I want to be special like that! Where do I sign up?! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramana_Maharshi

Yes, these riddles of Enlightenment were definitely part of the cult I got inadvertently lead into. The cult leaders were claiming to be 'Enlightened' but when you got to know, their personal lives and their people handling skills were way short of the
average person. I'd say the main drive of the cult leaders was money and one big stroking of their ego. The one I got to know best certainly had many personality traits that overlapped with a cluster B personality disorder. I certainly was trauma bonded
to one of the cult leaders in retrospect but was not to the main cult leaders. The majority of the cult was trauma bonded to the main cult leader who could not do wrong in their eyes. It was rather amazing to watch and in retrospect I am glad I left. Yes,
the gurus were definitely frauds and no more 'enlightened' than the average person. The average person off the street also had their life together more

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