Why we talk so little about the need for transcendence

If we look at the global context, and also at the Latvian context, we can observe quite clearly that in recent years the popularity of various spiritual practices - meditation - has even become very actualised, pranayama, yoga, contemplation, chanting (chanting) mindfulness practices, self-reflection, affirmations, gratitude writing, mandala drawing, gong ceremonies, energy practices, reiki, Cigun... We have a wealth of opportunities to contribute in a targeted way to meeting our spiritual needs. Rituals and ceremonies involving the use of psychoactive substances to induce expanded states of consciousness have also become common. The words "transcendence" and "spirituality" are increasingly used in society. 

This is a kind of signal that the need to fulfil transcendence people is more relevant than ever. However, people are still rather evasive and cautious (myself included) when talking about it. Although the world is gradually becoming more open, transcendence is still a kind of "forbidden" or even "rejected" topic in everyday life, openly discussed only within certain communities and interest groups.

Why is that? This is an extremely interesting question. In the following paragraphs, my very, very subjective, individual and in every other way one-person answer to it.

Why the "forbidden" and "whispered" topic?

Firstly, because of the historical background of Western society (two World Wars in the last century), we as a collective still have a limited capacity to feel, to be aware of our feelings, to talk about our feelings and to "let them out". But experiencing transcendence and expanded states of consciousness involves feeling - deep and true feeling. We would of course like to think that the experience of our parents and grandparents no longer affects us today, but this is quite a misconception: our predecessors lived in a time when feeling and being honest and open about our feelings was actually forbidden. This prohibition has been passed on to us through our upbringing, and it is not so easy to get rid of it, because it is ingrained in the collective consciousness. In everyday life, it can be observed in the form of running away from feelings, repressing feelings, rejecting feelings and even condemning feelings - the defence mechanisms that protect us from historical threats are still active. The good news is that this situation is changing, and the "ban on feeling" is gradually being "undone". 

Secondly, there is a certain "prohibition" due to the influence of Christianity (in its negative form). Transcendence, and in particular entering into expanded states of consciousness, involves an element of the supernatural. From the prism of Christianity, it is often interpreted as something satanic, demonic and otherwise bad and reprehensible (although this is one of the many contradictions of Christianity, since transcendent states of consciousness can also result from religious practices). Moreover, the revelations that people come to as a result of expanded states of consciousness often contradict popular beliefs among Christians. In Christianity it is common to place God above man, whereas in expanded states of consciousness one experiences a sense of integration with God, a sense of oneness with all that exists (God), and essentially an experience of being all that exists (God). The good news is that many religious leaders (including in Latvia) are increasingly integrating an inner spirituality and placing less emphasis on following dogma and external religious traditions. So - the situation is changing.

Third, the experience of transcendent states of consciousness has long been denied by science, and these types of experiences have been considered abnormality, as symptomatology of a mental illness, and, accordingly, associated with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses (and this association is not unreasonable - persons diagnosed with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses also have similar experiences in terms of content and form). Consequently, the public perception is entrenched - experiencing something supernatural, so "yucis". The good news is that this is also rapidly growing in me. The last 20+ years have produced a body of research that supports the opposite view. The view that transcendent states of consciousness have a positive effect on a person's mental health, and that these experiences are a natural part of a person's spiritual growth and maturity, is becoming increasingly prevalent in science. The pace of change in this area is too fast - the only question is whether and how fast society can grow with the new knowledge.

Fourthly, I don't exactly subscribe to conspiracy theories, but... Transcendence brings with it significant changes at the individual level, so the mass attainment of transcendence is inherently threatening to the existing order. "Good", "bad" or otherwise - that is for each individual to decide. 

If I were the current system, I would not be very interested in the participants of the system starting to transcend and experience expanded states of consciousness. As a system, I would be interested in maintaining my status quoand continue to twist the established patterns of the economy, politics, social services, health system, culture, in a certain, established way. I would not be interested in people starting to fill the need for transcendence. Because for me, as a system, it would mean a huge change - exactly the opposite satus quo - a transformation, a fundamental shift in humanity's thinking at both the individual and collective level.

Because - as a result of transcendent experiences - people's values change. Those things that are valued and cultivated in the existing system as a value, as a need, as "criteria for a quality life" to be strived for - all lose their meaning. Other processes, other perspectives (and this change of values is quite universal - people arrive at the same conclusions) become more valuable. As a result of transcendent experiences, a person, as it were, "switches to a mode" that serves the whole more. One realises that this world could (and even should) function differently - in a much higher quality and in the service of the common good of humanity (unfortunately, this can rarely be said of the existing social order).

As a result of experiencing expanded states of consciousness, one often begins to perceive the existing system as a burden and seeks to escape from it. To be honest, sometimes it is simply difficult to continue living within the system as it is (the picture below illustrates this perfectly).

There is a desire to change it to be more ecological, more natural, more equal, more inclusive, more accepting, less divisive. Yes, perhaps this is the kind of change we might even need as a race to get out of the destructive global suicidal direction we are currently heading... [Again, I stress that this is a subjective reflection. However, I might mention that I am not the only one who has come to something like this - I find similar insights in the work of other authors who are researching and interested in this topic.] 

Perhaps this is another reason why this is still a kind of "forbidden" topic - because it is not easy to see and admit to yourself the need for change. The process of transformation is not simple - it sounds profound and changes completely. However, I think it is definitely worth it. Just for me.

To sum up, the topic should be spoken in whispers, as those who are starting to fill the need for transcendence and to achieve expanded states of consciousness, it is relatively difficult to find thought companions. For much of society still reacts to the subject as something threatening and therefore forbidden; as satanic and provoked by the Evil One; as something only for the "confused"; or as something there is simply no time to think about and go into because the needs of the existing social order must be met.

Why now?

But why now? Why is there such a surge of interest in recent decades? In my view, the answer is closely linked to the changes in the above processes.

First, our culture has not experienced such a long period of peace for a long time. If we look at the historical context, in the last century the need for transcendence has not been very active, as people were forced to take care of their own security because of the two World Wars. After the Second World War, 2-3 generations have passed, and on a collective level we are only now starting to "unlearn" what our predecessors - our parents and grandparents - had to go through. Gradually, collective perceptions are changing, collective traumas are healing and being worked out, and people are becoming freer, safer - more alive, more aware. So we start to climb out of just fulfilling security needs, and we start to want to discover, to experience, to feel... The conditions are right for that, to sail the waters of transcendence.

Second, the public now has access to more information than ever before - books, newspapers, audio and video, in print and digital formats. We have the opportunity to learn about the experiences of other people, nations, cultures, religions, to exchange information, to expand our knowledge and understanding. With the availability of information, we are beginning to realise that human expressions are extremely multifaceted. This creates a favourable environment for changing preconceived ideas, reducing the influence of prejudices and stereotypes. We begin to see that there is not only one right way to live and, learning from the experiences and examples of others, we can choose different lines of interest - those that "feel" closer to our inner core, regardless of gender, age, race, nationality, culture, religion, etc.

Thirdly, with the new discoveries of science, the world has become more open to the unknown, including what was previously thought to be supernatural. In the fields of mathematics and physics, the knowledge of quantum physics has opened up new vistas: it has become clear that the order of the world is not limited to Newtonian physics; that everything is far from "proven". This new knowledge has given reason to believe that there is still a great deal that is unknown, and supports the idea that phenomena that have previously been denied may nevertheless have a scientific basis and explanation (transcendent states of consciousness are among these phenomena). Similarly, the science of psychology has entered an era in which the dimension of spirituality, which has previously been excluded from, and even opposed to, psychology and science as a whole, is being integrated.

Fourth, with all these changes, society has become less controllable, more difficult to manage. The influence of positions of power (state, religion, etc.) is diminishing.

To sum up, we are living in a very interesting time, when society's understanding of who we are as individuals and who we are as a collective, as humanity, is changing rapidly. Where this will take us depends on our choice - to stick to the familiar and continue to whisper about the "supernatural", or to be open, to go into the unknown and discover it.

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