In the mystical experience, for example, we turn our attention away from the reality of everyday life and focus on the reality of the sacred realm. The experience causes us to radically deconstruct our old beliefs, attitudes and positions and construct new frames of reference for how we define and describe reality. With each new frame of reference comes a new view of a "bottom line," that is, of what the ultimate reality is. Nelson argues there is no bottom line or ultimate human reality but an unending series of new views. Realization of this involves a process of "unknowing," in which the individual eventually reaches a point in which "The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me...one vision or seeing, and one knowing and loving" (Eckhart quoted in Nelson, 2000, p. 76).
The sense of spiritual connectedness that ultimately comes from deconstruction and reconstruction brings true morality with it. We cannot "sin" against our neighbor if we truly know he/she is part of our Self.
3. Spiritual inquiry is a quest, an activity that systematically seeks transformation of self into something better, higher and holier. There are practical methods people use to do this. Rothberg (2000) outlines five kinds of spiritual inquiry that he says will lead to greater spirituality: systematic contemplation, radical questioning, metaphysical thinking, critical deconstruction of metaphysical and other views, and the "cultivation of visions and dreams" p. 166). Rothberg sees these methods as complimentary to Western inquiry rather than in conflict with science or religion. For example, the individual is not forced to choose between them. Because spiritual inquiry involves alternative ways of knowing, radical transformation of understanding in realms like medicine, theology, and science is possible. A better world could emerge as the result.
4. Transpersonal knowing is a superior orientation for living because it is conducive to a new paradigm. The old physical science paradigm saw everything in the world as separate things that could be broken apart, analyzed, manipulated, rearranged, changed into something...
For example, we believed we could destroy the insect world to produce better crops, and the result was devastation to the natural world of songbirds, wild flowers, pure water, and fish. The belief of separateness led to fragmentation and alienation from each other, from the earth, and from the universe. The consequent destruction this view brought to relationships brought social and environmental chaos. Now, through transpersonal knowing, we see there is a deeper reality. To meet the challenges we face, we must gain awareness of how interrelated and interconnected everything and everyone really is. A collective change of consciousness is in progress and transformation of self, one person at a time, has to take place. Transpersonal knowing as an orientation is required for the transformation to occur.
Occur it must if we are to survive on this planet because it is only in transpersonal knowing that we truly connect and experience our interconnectedness. There are signs everywhere that this is happening. Just think of all the words and phrases that have entered our vocabulary recently, words like inclusivity, interconnectedness, multicultural sensitivity, mutual empowerment, and transformational change, to name only a few. All these words and phrases point toward the activity of transpersonal knowing and transformation of consciousness that is occurring.
References
Nelson, P.L. (2000). Mystical experience and radical deconstruction: Through the ontological looking glass. In Transpersonal Knowing: Exploring the Horizon of Consciousness. Eds. Hart, Nelson & Puhakka.
New York: State University of New York Press.
Puhakka, K. (2000). An invitation to authentic knowing. In Transpersonal Knowing: Exploring the Horizon of Consciousness. Eds. Hart, Nelson & Puhakka. New York: State University of New York Press.
Rothberg, D. (2000). Spiritual inquiry. In Transpersonal Knowing: Exploring the Horizon of Consciousness. Eds. Hart, Nelson & Puhakka.
New York: State University of New York Press.
