The world is in an awkward place right now – the human and economic burden of the prevailing European war and the ongoing pandemic that continues to disrupt the globe with its so called cycles, variants and waves. Everything has changed – the way we choose to live is different, many personal relationships have either fractured or have been challenged, societies have become fragmented, the way we work has evolved and proliferation of remote communication is everywhere. The global economic outlook and its recovery looks rather uncertain. There are no timelines in the horizon as to when this status-quo will end and we will move forward to what we previously considered to be normal. We are confused as to what should be considered normal now? We question whether we will ever to back to that previous identity of norm? The 2 years of forced pandemic isolation has taught us to embrace solitude and we are starting to contemplate ‘how can we live more meaningful lives? ’
Despite all the doom and gloom the current situation has inspired a new type of man (or woman) -the modern transcendentalist.
People are questioning and re-evaluating the purpose with which they live, what they value and what they live for. We all have been forced to become more introspective, mindful and the search for inner happiness goes on. Such thoughts are at the forefront of all our minds, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, religion, denomination or country one belongs to. The ‘great resignation’ is here and the awakened people are leaving their unhappy jobs to embrace life, family and nature to find some meaning/purpose for their existence. The masses are hearing a call from within the inner depths of their souls, a call which is shouting out ‘freedom, freedom, freedom’.
Thoreau a 19th century transcendentalist states that most people labour under a mistake and in his book ‘Walden’ he writes the following:
The better part of the man is soon ploughed into the soil for compost…. By necessity, they are employed…. laying up treasures which moth and rust will corrupt and thieves break through and steal. It is a fool’s life, as they will find when they get to the end of it, if not before. I see young men, my townsmen, whose misfortune it is to have inherited farms, houses, barns, cattle and farming tools; for these are more easily acquired than got rid of…..Who made them serfs of the soil? Why should they eat their sixty acres, when man is condemned to eat only his peck of dirt? Why should they begin digging their graves as soon as they were born? They havt got live a man’s life, pushing.”
Henry David Thoreau, Walden.
Thoreau is describing what most people are feeling in current times – Do we want to work or be worked? Are we really taking anything with us to the ‘grave’ – why has there been such a desire to possess more and more, yet we are not truly feeling fulfilled? That is the core essence of Thoreau’s teachings. As a reader we should not under any false pretence believe that we as a society are shifting away from materialism in totality. A modern transcendentalist doesn’t believe that all sacrifice is necessary.
A modern Transcendentalist takes a more balanced approach to life – he or she seeks material progress but at that same time understands that material progress alone doesn’t lead to the inner ‘freedom’ one desires. In Sanskrit ‘Para-Vidya’ is classified as higher knowledge and ‘Apara-Vidya’ is classified as lower knowledge. All external knowledge that we gain including knowledge through our education system is classified as the ‘Apara-vidya’ or lower knowledge. Higher knowledge can only be gained by looking inwards through meditation and contemplation. Through that constant inner search we find that the divine that shines in you and me is ultimately the same and we are part of the same consciousness – a ‘non-dualistic’ approach considering all to be part of the same ‘oneness’. This inner search is the only way to experiencing sublime peace.
A modern transcendentalist taking this learnings and lives a meaningful life amidst the everyday chaos of society, but at the same time realises that the knowledge within is the ultimate true knowledge. This is what differentiates a modern transcendentalist from a modern man or woman.This is at the core of Vedantic Philosophy (I will post more articles on this in the coming days).
Do you seek to be a modern transcendentalist? – ‘Tat Tvam Asi’ – you art thou.
The Transcendent 