Why are awakened people hated and despised?
Why are awakened people hated and despised?
Why does spiritual awakening sometimes attract hatred and contempt from certain social groups? How can we integrate those who have experienced a spiritual awakening without creating tensions in society? What can online therapy do?
In the silent intimacy of one’s being, some people experience an epiphany that transcends mere rational understanding: a spiritual awakening. This experience, often described as a profound awareness of cosmic connection and a rebirth of the soul, can alter the very fabric of their existence. However, this transformation—despite its intrinsic invitation to love and unity—can unexpectedly become a source of ostracism and contempt. But where does this dichotomy between inner enlightenment and outer acceptance come from?
Spiritual awakening is a personal frontier suspended between acceptance and conflict, a terrain that challenges the norm and calls into question existing paradigms. The awakened are often perceived as guides, as beacons for those seeking truth, but at the same time they can be seen as transgressors of an invisible order that governs society. This duality lies at the heart of the contempt and hatred they may experience: they are admired for their courage to explore the unknown, yet also feared and sometimes despised for the very same reasons.
A positive experience of spiritual awakening:
“Within me there had long been a feeling of restlessness, as if a part of me were waiting to be discovered. After years of inner searching and unanswered questions, I experienced a profound spiritual awakening. This revelation allowed me to look at existence with new eyes, to perceive a deeper bond with everything around me, and to reveal the hidden capacities of my being. Although this path put some of my relationships to the test, it ultimately led me to forge more sincere bonds based on love and mutual understanding.”
What happens when you awaken spiritually?
Spiritual awakening manifests in a multitude of ways, being a deeply personal and often transformative experience. We can speak of an awakening when an individual begins to perceive reality with a new awareness, often accompanied by a sense of more intimate connection with the self, with others, and with the universe as a whole. Such awakening can arise from various stimuli: intense life experiences, meditative or religious practices, traumas, or even moments of deep reflection and solitude. The effects of this process are evident both in the inner life and in the outward behavior of an individual.
Internally, those who experience a spiritual awakening may feel a range of new or intensified emotions: a sense of inner peace, a renewed wonder toward nature and existence, or a profound empathy for others. These changes are outwardly manifested through a variety of behaviors, such as the pursuit of more sustainable lifestyles, participation in communities of spiritual support, or choosing mindful life practices. The awakened person may find a new purpose in life, orienting their actions toward service to others, or engaging in activities that promote personal and collective growth.
However, spiritual awakening is not always a linear path free of obstacles. It can also involve periods of confusion, where old beliefs and behavior patterns are called into question, often leading to a “dark night of the soul,” a term used to describe a period of spiritual disorientation and deep renewal. This transitional phase, as difficult as it may be, is considered by many to be a crucial passage toward greater clarity and wisdom.
Finally, the manifestation of spiritual awakening can be a powerful driver of social change. When individuals act on the basis of renewed spiritual awareness, their actions can have positive repercussions in the community, prompting others to reconsider their own values and impact on the world. Thus, spiritual awakening expands beyond the personal sphere, becoming a catalyst for collective transformation toward greater awareness and harmony.
Eckhart Tolle (1999), in The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, describes spiritual awakening not as a single miraculous event, but as a continuous process of realizing how to remain in the present moment. This process leads to a deeper understanding of oneself and one’s connection with Being, or life itself, which lies outside and beyond material reality. According to Tolle, a fundamental feature of spiritual awakening is the release from identification with the mind and compulsive thinking. This awakening brings greater awareness and presence that transcends ego-centered thought. Tolle’s message about the importance of being present can help cultivate empathy and open-mindedness. Presence can allow individuals to meet beyond superficial differences and connect on a deeper level.
The Paradox of Spiritual Awakening: Why is it Often Misunderstood?
While spiritual awakening represents, for many, an ascent toward a more meaningful and profound existence, it is not uncommon for such metamorphosis to elicit negative reactions in the surrounding social fabric. This aversion does not arise from intrinsic malice, but rather from a matrix of deep-seated cultural and psychological misunderstandings. In many cultures, there is an instinctive mistrust toward what departs from the norm, creating a stigma around what is perceived as “different” or “other.” This stigma is particularly pronounced when the change in question concerns spiritual beliefs, which are often intertwined with collective identities and historical traditions.
The psychology of the negative reaction is complex and multifaceted. Fear of the unknown plays a significant role; the uncertainty raised by another’s spiritual awakening can evoke a visceral defensive reaction. There is also the perception of a threat to group identity, as established principles and values are questioned by the existence of an alternative spiritual path. Such threats can catalyze psychological defense mechanisms—including ridicule, derision, and even ostracism—as means to reassert group cohesion and the validity of its paradigms.
These defensive reactions are exacerbated by the human tendency to bolster self-esteem through judging others. Contempt and ostracism toward the awakened can thus be unconsciously motivated by the need to protect one’s sense of identity and worth. The projection of individual and collective insecurities onto spiritually awakened people can become a tool to divert attention from one’s own doubts and uncertainties. In this light, an individual’s spiritual awakening becomes an unintentional catalyst for latent tensions, revealing hidden cracks in the foundations of social relationships and the community.
Newberg and Waldman (2006), in Why We Believe What We Believe: Uncovering Our Biological Need for Meaning, Spirituality, and Truth, describe how, in the context of spiritual awakening, people often explore new beliefs and practices that may deviate significantly from cultural norms or family expectations. This can create a gap in understanding between the awakened individual and their social environment, leading to potential conflicts or misunderstandings. New spiritual convictions can be perceived as a threat to group cohesion or identity, which often relies on shared worldviews and values. Our beliefs are rooted in specific neural circuits that evolution has shaped to help us make sense of our environment and existence. When a person undergoes a spiritual awakening, it can influence how their brain processes information, leading to new patterns of thought and behavior. These changes can be difficult to understand for those who have not had similar experiences, especially if the new spiritual practices or beliefs seem to distance the person from previous ways of living and social expectations.
Tensions therefore arise not only because of differences in beliefs, but also because an individual’s spiritual awakening can challenge the sense of security and predictability that interpersonal relationships tend to build. Those around someone who has experienced an awakening may feel disoriented or threatened by new perspectives and behaviors that may seem to reject the previous status quo.
Social impact on the community
The social impact of spiritual awakening is as vast as it is varied, forming a wave that can shake the structures of the collective. Individuals who go through this path often emerge with a renewed perception of their place in the world, which can lead to a reshaping of relational and community dynamics. This phenomenon manifests in different ways, from the reconfiguration of family and friendship bonds to the transformation of professional and social roles. The awakened may find themselves redesigning their priorities, often moving away from materialistic pursuits and orienting toward those that promote inner growth and collective well-being.
However, society does not always welcome these changes with openness. Existing structures, both in the private and public spheres, can be strained by the emergence of new or alternative spiritual values and practices. This is reflected in the resistance that institutions and social groups may show toward the behavioral changes of the awakened, especially when the latter challenge the status quo or propose new paradigms of thought and action.
The incidence of these changes in the social fabric can also reveal underlying tensions within communities. When spiritually awakened people begin to express their new values through social activism or the promotion of alternative lifestyles, they may face opposition, sometimes in the form of discrimination or exclusion. This not only places obstacles in the way of their spiritual expression and practice, but can also contribute to a broader climate of misunderstanding and polarization.
In this context, a critical question emerges: how can a society balance respect for spiritual diversity with the preservation of social cohesion? For the awakened, the goal is not simply tolerance from others, but genuine integration of their spiritual paths into community life. This implies an open and mutual dialogue, where spiritual practices and beliefs are seen not as threats, but as opportunities for cultural and moral enrichment.
What can online therapy do?
Online therapy can be a lifeline for those who feel isolated or misunderstood because of their spiritual awakening, especially if they encounter resistance, hatred, or contempt in their environment. Online therapeutic interventions can include:
- Validation of the Experience: A therapist can provide a safe space where the individual can share experiences without judgment, recognizing and validating their spiritual path.
- Emotional Support: Facing negative feelings such as hatred and contempt can be overwhelming. A therapist can help the person manage associated emotions and develop emotional resilience.
- Coping Strategies: The therapist can teach adaptive coping strategies to manage the stress stemming from social ostracism or contempt, including methods such as meditation, mindfulness, and relaxation techniques.
- Conflict Processing: Online therapy can help the individual explore and process internal or external conflicts that arise from the misalignment between their beliefs and those of society.
- Refining Communication: Online therapy can assist spiritually awakened people in developing more effective ways to communicate their experience to others so as to reduce misunderstandings and prejudice.
- Self-Esteem Development: The therapist can work with the individual to strengthen self-esteem and self-efficacy, which may be eroded by social exclusion and judgment.
- Navigating Relationships: Online therapy can address how to maintain and cultivate healthy interpersonal relationships, even when significant differences in views or spiritual beliefs arise.
- Support for Transition and Change: Online therapy can facilitate adaptation to the life changes that often accompany spiritual awakening, providing support along the path toward new phases of life and identity.
- Community Building: The therapist can help the individual find or create support communities with others who have similar experiences.
- Education: Providing information and resources that can help better understand one’s spiritual path and how to face the social challenges that arise from it.
- Grounding Techniques: For those who feel “disconnected” due to their spiritual experiences, grounding techniques can help them stay rooted in everyday reality.
- Managing Ideological Conflicts: A therapist can help explore and reconcile differences between the individual’s spiritual beliefs and the dominant ideologies or social pressures they encounter.
Online therapy can be particularly helpful for people in less welcoming communities or in geographic areas where there are few professionals with a personal background in spirituality. Moreover, the convenience and discretion of online therapy can encourage more people to seek help when they might otherwise hesitate to do so, offering a space that embraces many realities where significant cultural differences are present.
References:
Newberg, A., & Waldman, M. R. (2006). Why We Believe What We Believe: Uncovering Our Biological Need for Meaning, Spirituality, and Truth. Free Press.
Tolle, E. (1999). The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment. New World Library.
For information, write to Dr. Jessica Zecchini.
Email contact consulenza@jessicazecchini.it, WhatsApp contact 370 32 17 351.
