Spiritual Tube Riding

experiencing a terrible wipeout while “going over the falls” at Teahupoo. She described being sucked up the face of the most powerful wave on earth and being pitched out with the lip in slow motion and seeing everything around her with perfect clarity. While upside down in the air she said she could see the expressions on the faces of the spectators in the boats, the photographers and other surfers in the water – and she remembered thinking it was going to be bad.

Herein lies the mystery – how this state occurs unconsciously and instantaneously in certain situations. It is an altered form of consciousness that cannot be contrived. In fact, trying to achieve it by concentrating would paradoxically prevent it from happening. Even though many of those who have experienced it become ‘Nirvana’ junkies and seek it constantly, it only occurs naturally when participants become so absorbed that they lose awareness of everything around them except the activity they are engaged in – effectively “becoming one” with the experience and temporarily transcending normal consciousness. They are no longer aware of themselves as a separate entity participating in an activity – they lose their normal consciousness and become immersed, in and a part of, the event.

There are reports of adrenaline “rushes” and “highs’ and subsequent feelings of euphoria and feelings of just plain “feeling good”. Some speak of it as a “connection” with the event. They often describe being invigorated or rejuvenated afterwards. It was like that for Maya. Instead of being afraid after her horrendous wipeout her friends said she was excited to try it again – and she did – and her second attempt was the ride of a lifetime.

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