Transcendentalism

Recently, I was reading an article from The Courant, a journal sponsored by the Syracuse University Library Associates Of which I have been a member for years. The article that caught my attention was on a recent acquisition of the first essay ever written on Transcendentalism (Crocker and Ruggles, 1842). This reminded me of a paragraph that I wrote in my autobiography “Worth the Room”. The year that this paragraph refers to is about 1953 when I was a student at the University of Connecticut.

“My dreams began to take on great meaning, so I started a dream journal. Almost nightly for several months at a time I find myself sitting in a Massachusetts living room with Bronson Alcott and his daughter Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson and his brother Charles, and Henry David Thoreau. I traveled from Philadelphia, or near it, and spent time as a visitor with these people. We discussed everything. Nearly always our talks centered on esoteric matters such as reincarna­tion and the Oversoul. I would spend several days at a time with these good folk and then return to my home in Philadelphia where I plied my trade as a writer, mainly poetry. My dreams of these times were so vivid. Years later, I learned that these people were known as Transcendental­ists, and that I profoundly identified with them.”

From The Courant announcement: “on a recent acquisition of the first essay ever written on Transcendentalism (Crocker and Ruggles, 1842), it was written by Charles Mayo Ellis [1818-1878] (it was preciously attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson [1803-1882]). The definition of the term transcendentalism is attempted on page 11: ‘The belief we term Transcendentalism which maintains teat man has ideas, that come not through the five sense, or the powers of reasoning; but are either the result of direct  revelation from God, his immediate inspiration, or his immanent presence in the spiritual world. Strictly speaking, then, Transcendentalism is the recognition of this third attribute of humanity, and the inquiry must be into the history of this—the arguments that support it, its effect upon the world, on literature, philosophy, the arts, criticisms, religion, and on man in his political, social and moral relations.’”

From this study, then, the movement of Transcendental Meditation took root. From the Wikipedia we get a reasonable definition: The Transcendental Meditation technique is a simple, natural, effortless process practiced 15–20 minutes twice daily while sitting comfortably with eyes closed. It is unique among techniques of meditation, distinguished by its effortlessness, naturalness and profound effectiveness. The TM^® technique allows your mind to settle inward, beyond thought, to experience the silent reservoir of energy, creativity and intelligence found within everyone—a natural state of restful alertness. During the practice, your brain functions with significantly greater coherence and your body gains deep rest.

It was a no-brainer for me to take a course in TM many years ago. Getting into “my space” ultimately became the practice of reclining in an easy chair, and taking three deep breaths to this count: Inhale through the nostrils to the count of four; hold to the count of four, and exhale through the mouth to the count of four. At which point whatever information that I needed in my ministry, or psychic practice, would immediately come into view. By view, I mean to say thoughts, feelings, words, and/or at times actions.

This same practice may be used to relax the body and mind of all tension, removing pain from the body, getting to sleep easier at night, and improving human relationships. In other words TM may be used as an ameliorative or palliative for patients and clients.

(More on this subject later.)

© Reverend Paul Lachlan Peck 2010