pdf, as submitted and approved

405 Pages·2013·3.46 MB·English

by  Mr Beasley

Transcendent Experience, Process, and
Praxis Within the ‘Transcendence
Movement’

Keith Beasley

PhD, 2013

Bangor University, Wales
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Summary
This thesis investigates the nature and dynamics of transcendent experience: phenomena
I have witnessed in many individuals, groups, and organisations. Transcendent
experience is best described as an attitude or way of life that is fundamentally different
to what could be construed as the ‘normal’, conventional, and rationalistic attitudes that
pervade the Western epistemological mind-set today as the most—if not sole—means to
valuable knowledge and experience. This thesis does not seek to explain its features
dogmatically and definitively—after all, such a phenomenon evades the reductive and
totalising effects of rationalisation—but assesses a vast range of supporting literature to
emphasise how it is manifesting itself across an equally vast and eclectic range of
peoples. By examining evidence from contemporary personal accounts, historical case
study, published biographical accounts, scholarly reports and personal anecdotes, a
number of key characteristics and principles of transcendence are identified as
underpinning their experiences.
These principles include a commitment from the individual or group in question to
embrace and practice ‘ways of knowing’ beyond rational cognition. There is a tendency
for the subject to recognise themselves as involved in purposeful ways of knowing. This
is seen as a recognition that the physical self is merged with a nature that is experienced
by the subject as ‘transcendent’ to them; that is to say, a nature that is described as
‘divine’ or ‘spiritual’. A further principle is the subject’s openness to, and assimilation
of, what is reported to be not one but multiple transcendent experiences. The benefits of
these are construed to be a sense of belonging and a feeling of wellbeing—feelings,
which it is claimed, could not be obtained through conventional ‘rational’ ways of
knowing. In short, these people seem to be living according to, or at least intent on
working towards, a transcendent way of ‘being’, one that validates non-rational, possibly
‘divine’ experiences as essentially ‘human’. Other key characteristics of transcendent
experiences are ascertained, including the role of suffering and emptiness.
The aim of this research is to investigate such claims and to assess the importance, for
those involved, of this ‘transcendent’ approach to life. My investigations conclude that
these experiences may be on the increase, and that something akin to a ‘transcendence
movement’ can be traced as operating within society, despite—and perhaps because
of—the overreliance on more rational attitudes to meaning and methods for arriving at
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‘truth’, which are in themselves only relatively useful for life and often detrimental to
feelings of wellbeing. The movement I outline engages with a way or depth of being that
transcends individual beliefs and cultural differences, and brings the person into creative
contact with sources that transcend his or her own limited, individual perspectives.

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Contents

Summary .................................................................................................................. 3
Contents.................................................................................................................... 5
Acknowledgement .................................................................................................... 7
Declaration and Consent ........................................................................................... 9
Part One: Aims, background and introductory sections ................................................ 13
Chapter 1 Introduction, scope, context and approach. .............................................. 13
Chapter 2 Terminology and definitions ................................................................... 86
Chapter 3 The transcendence movement and its common themes .......................... 110
Part Two: The practice of transcendence.................................................................... 144
Chapter 4 Analysis of personal accounts and the values and limitations of the
engaged researcher ................................................................................................ 144
Chapter 5 Accounts from biographies ................................................................... 165
Chapter 6 Collected first-hand accounts ................................................................ 190
Part Three Theories of transcendence and evolution of consciousness ....................... 213
Chapter 7 Models resulting from the experience and practice of transcendence ..... 213
Chapter 8 Being Human: transcendent thought and Heidegger’s Being ................. 243
Part Four Relating theory to practice: Discussions and conclusions ........................... 266
Chapter 9 Evolution of consciousness: its ‘drive’, indicators and effects ............... 266
Chapter 10 Nothingness: Transcendent thought and the empty mind ..................... 289
Chapter 11 Transcendence practice and the present-day mystic ............................. 299
Chapter 12 Transitions, suffering and acceptance .................................................. 314
Chapter 13 Activities and factors that enable transcendence .................................. 323
Chapter 14 Conclusions ........................................................................................ 347
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Appendices ................................................................................................................ 354
Appendix 1 Glossary............................................................................................. 355
Appendix 2 Mental Transcendence ....................................................................... 358
Appendix 3 Summary of, language & modes of thought ....................................... 359
Appendix 4 Conferences within the transcendence movement ............................... 360
Appendix 5 The Transcendence Movement: Summary of organisations ................ 369
Appendix 6 Invitation to Contribute to a Unique Research Project ........................ 372
Appendix 7 Multiple Transcendent Experiences (Questionnaire) .......................... 373
Appendix 8 Summary of contributors via the questionnaire................................... 380
Appendix 9 Questionnaire statistics ...................................................................... 381
Appendix 10 Methods used to contribute, by contributor ...................................... 383
Appendix 11 Locations at which the ‘invitation to contribute’ were posted. .......... 384
Appendix 12 Diagrammatic representations of transcendence related models ........ 385
Appendix 13 Summary: Perspectives within the transcendence movement ............ 391
Bibliography ............................................................................................................. 392

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Acknowledgement
This work has received the benefit of much wisdom, encouragement and support of
many individuals, not only in my four years of official study but also over many years
prior to its commencement. I would like to thank everyone who has, whether before or
during this research, been willing to share their experiences and insights on transcendent
topics. Their enthusiasm, openness and sincerity have, on many occasions, provided not
only invaluable material but also the hope and energy to continue my work.
Key to the depth and breadth of evidence presented here has been the first-hand accounts
of transcendent experiences offered by my contributors and interviewees. Their
generous, open and personal support is particularly appreciated.
I am particularly indebted to my supervisor Dr Lucy Huskinson for not only providing
me with the opportunity to undertake such a wide-ranging piece of work but also for
firmly but kindly helping me to remain focussed on the academic job in hand. Last, but
by no means least, I sincerely thank my partner Suan Liu Lee for her understanding and
help, on so many levels, throughout the process.

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Declaration and Consent
Details of the Work
I hereby agree to deposit the following item in the digital repository maintained by
Bangor University and/or in any other repository authorized for use by Bangor
University.
Author Name: Keith Beasley
Title: Transcendent Experience, Process, and Praxis Within the ‘Transcendence
Movement’
Supervisor/Department: Dr. Lucy Huskinson, School of Theology and Religious
Studies
Funding body (if any): Not applicable
Qualification/Degree obtained: PhD.
This item is a product of my own research endeavours and is covered by the
agreement below in which the item is referred to as “the Work”. It is identical in
content to that deposited in the Library, subject to point 4 below.
Non-exclusive Rights
Rights granted to the digital repository through this agreement are entirely non-
exclusive. I am free to publish the Work in its present version or future versions
elsewhere.
I agree that Bangor University may electronically store, copy or translate the Work
to any approved medium or format for the purpose of future preservation and
accessibility. Bangor University is not under any obligation to reproduce or display
the Work in the same formats or resolutions in which it was originally deposited.
Bangor University Digital Repository
I understand that work deposited in the digital repository will be accessible to a
wide variety of people and institutions, including automated agents and search
engines via the World Wide Web.
I understand that once the Work is deposited, the item and its metadata may be
incorporated into public access catalogues or services, national databases of
electronic theses and dissertations such as the British Library’s EThOS or any
service provided by the National Library of Wales.
I understand that the Work may be made available via the National Library of
Wales Online Electronic Theses Service under the declared terms and conditions of
use (http://www.llgc.org.uk/index.php?id=4676). I agree that as part of this
service the National Library of Wales may electronically store, copy or convert the
Work to any approved medium or format for the purpose of future preservation
and accessibility. The National Library of Wales is not under any obligation to
reproduce or display the Work in the same formats or resolutions in which it was
originally deposited.
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Statement 1:
This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not
being concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree unless as agreed by the
University for approved dual awards.

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Statement 2:
This thesis is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated.
Where correction services have been used, the extent and nature of the correction
is clearly marked in a footnote(s).
All other sources are acknowledged by footnotes and/or a bibliography.

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Choose one of the following options
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gained the required permissions for the use of third party material.
b) I agree to deposit an electronic copy of my thesis (the Work) in the Bangor University
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