Awakening to THAT: Discovering a Higher Power Beyond the Judeo-Christian Lens

For many seekers, the idea of a Higher Power is both compelling and frustrating. We sense something greater, something beyond ourselves, yet the frameworks we've inherited—often rooted in Judeo-Christian traditions—can feel too rigid, too personal, or too small for what we intuitively know to be vast and boundless.

What if we feel a pull toward something sacred but cannot name it? What if we are drawn to the mystery rather than the doctrine?

The good news is that awakening to a Higher Power does not require us to believe in a particular deity, subscribe to a particular religion, or accept a specific set of rules. Instead, we can move toward something more open, something that has been described across spiritual traditions in many ways, but which ultimately remains ineffable, beyond form, beyond words—THAT.

Beyond "God"—The Limitations of the Named Divine

For those who grew up with a personalized, anthropomorphic God—a ruler, a judge, a father figure—the idea of surrendering to a Higher Power can feel difficult. It might bring up old wounds, fears of control, or a sense that we are being asked to submit to something external, something separate from ourselves.

But what if the Divine is not a being at all? What if it is not separate from you, from me, from this very moment?

Many spiritual traditions point to an ultimate reality beyond name and form:

In Advaita Vedanta, it is called Brahman—the formless, infinite presence that pervades all things.
In Taoism, it is the Tao—the way, the ungraspable flow of existence.
In Zen Buddhism, it is suchness (Tathata)—the simple, direct experience of what is, before mind, before concept.
The Jewish Kabbalistic tradition speaks of Ain Sof, the infinite and unknowable essence beyond even the concept of "God."

All of these traditions, in their own way, say the same thing: what you are seeking is already here. It cannot be named, because it is too vast to be contained by language. It is not something to believe in—it is something to experience.

This is THAT.

THAT Which Cannot Be Named, Only Known

If you’ve ever sat in deep stillness, feeling a presence without needing to define it, you’ve touched THAT. If you’ve looked up at the sky and felt a sense of immense belonging, or if you’ve stood in nature and felt time disappear, you’ve known THAT.

It is not a deity, not a judge, not an external force watching and waiting. It is the underlying reality itself—the awareness that was here before you were born, and will remain after you are gone.

"Be still and know THAT."

Some call it the Void, but that term can feel cold—THAT is not emptiness in the sense of lacking, but emptiness in the sense of vast potential. It is full, alive, vibrant, but it does not need a name.

Some might wonder, "But if it has no name, how do I pray to it? How do I connect?" The answer: you don’t need to name it to commune with it.

How to Connect with THAT Without Religious Dogma

For those who feel drawn to the mystical, the unknown, the sacred beyond form, there are ways to connect with THAT without forcing yourself into a predefined religious mold.

1. Silence and Stillness

The best way to "hear" THAT is to listen to what is already here.
Many traditions point to silent meditation, contemplation, or simply sitting in presence as the most direct path to experiencing the divine.
You do not need a mantra. You do not need a ritual. You simply need to be present with what is, without resistance.

2. Nature as Scripture

If there is any "holy book" that belongs to all beings, it is the natural world. The way the river flows effortlessly toward the ocean, the way the trees change with the seasons, the way the sun rises without effort—these are divine teachings, always available, always speaking.

Spend time outside. Feel THAT in the wind, in the stillness of the mountains, in the rhythm of the waves.

3. Surrender Without Submission

The idea of surrendering to a Higher Power can feel difficult if we associate it with submission, control, or loss of autonomy. But true surrender is not submitting—it is letting go of the illusion that you were ever in control to begin with.

It is not about bowing to an external authority, but about relaxing into the flow of what is already happening.

Instead of asking, "What should I do?" ask, "What is already unfolding? What happens when I stop resisting?"

4. Trusting the Unknowable

You don’t need to understand THAT to trust it. The tree does not know how it grows, yet it reaches toward the sky. The ocean does not fight the tide, yet it moves in perfect rhythm.

You are already part of THAT. You do not need to grasp it with the mind. Simply trust that what is unfolding is exactly as it should be.

Why THIS Matters—Especially for Seekers in Recovery

For those walking the path of healing, transformation, and recovery, the concept of a Higher Power is often central. But what if the God you were taught to believe in doesn’t fit? What if surrendering feels like betrayal?

The beauty of THAT is that it does not require belief. It does not demand faith. It simply is.

You do not have to pray in a specific way.
You do not have to force yourself to believe in a personal deity.
You do not even have to call it "God."

All you have to do is be open.

THAT is already here, already moving through you, already holding you in ways you cannot yet see.

If you are searching for a Higher Power beyond religion, let it be simple:

It is the awareness behind your thoughts.
It is the presence in stillness.
It is the vastness that does not need to be defined.

You are already part of THAT. You do not need permission to experience it.

You are already home.

Om Tat Sat.

A New Path to Awakening

If this resonates with you, I invite you to explore my upcoming book:
"Awakening to THAT: A Non-Dogmatic Guide to the 12 Steps"

In it, I share deeper insights into how seekers can connect with the divine without rigid beliefs, without fear, and without limitations. Whether you're in recovery, on a spiritual path, or simply seeking a deeper connection to reality, this book is an invitation to experience THAT for yourself.

You do not need to find THAT.
THAT will find you.

And when it does, you will know.

Awakening to THAT