Summary

This paper introduces a transpersonal approach to conducting phenomenological research with the emphasis on illuminating a first person account of a sudden awakening.  Although within Eastern cultures awakening is typically understood as the purposeful undertaking of spiritual or religious practices toward transcending the ego, liberating the self, contacting the divine, or becoming consciousness itself, the unsuspecting Westerner who suddenly finds himself or herself without a self may not have the reference to ground such a radical shift in identity.  This was the case for the first author in this study.  Through our transpersonal inquiry (i.e, dwelling and beholding, noetic reduction, noumenal parsing, and recognition) we were led to understand that a sudden awakening can involve psychological upheaval, terror, mental collapse, a search for balance and integration, and an understanding of how to trust existence in the absence of a permanent self-orientation.   

Jason Solowoniuk, MEd, after a significant awakening experience while pursuing his Bachelor's degree in addictions counseling, went on to complete his Masters in Counseling Psychology.  He has served as a research associate and academic assistant in counselor education over the last five years and has been co-facilitating nondual groups for three years.

Gary Nixon PhD, has been on the nondual 'pathless' path for over 25 years, is a transpersonal psychologist, and professor in the addiction counseling program at the University of Lethbridge. He has been facilitating nondual groups for the past ten years.