Thursday, September 24, 2009

The Idea of Transcendence

Observing life exemplified through children, groups in discussion, love and nature I am reminded of the infinite capability, the transcendence of Spirit into every day activity. It might be during a conversation while drinking coffee with a friend, or as simple as when I get a thoughtful text message from one of my sons that I experience a sense of awe, greater awareness and / or satisfaction and I don't know how else to describe it. It is as though the infinite swooped in and opened my eyes to witness that which can not be easily described.

In my Christian upbringing no one ever mentioned the idea of transcendence, yet it does exist in the dictionary. Transcendence is a state of being or existence above and beyond the limits of material experience.

I'm teaching a class on 'the realization process',or how things become real or physical. One of the principles in the philosophy is that there is an infinite idea, non personal, that exists only to create. Call it Universe, Spirit, Divine Idea or God. Whatever you choose to call it, there is only one. Thomas Troward,1847-1916, was a judge, artist, writer and speaker who established a framework* on this process. His thoughts go like this. This infinite idea (Universe) makes up all things. Thus the creative power we witness in the Universe is ours. When we nurture our awareness, we can identify our unity with the Universe. Perhaps identification comes through a spiritual practice, a meditation, an experience of nature. Iti s during this time that we can transcend our normal thinking and access this power to create. Now I know that all the ideas don't fit for the totally logic based mind. I know that Troward is articulating a theory built on a set of premises that are subject to challenge...but I can only explain that experience of 'beyond the limits of material existence' as so joyous, so powerful that I then know I can accomplish anything I desire. So, I'm interested to hear about, what are your transcendent experiences? Are you open to see them?

* The Edinburgh Lectures, Thomas Troward, ch 3

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