Why God Is In the “Transpersonal”

Most of us at some point in our lives have wondered as to what or who God is. Some believe in Jesus Christ, some in Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva, Goddess Saraswati, some in Allah, and so on. Basically, the purpose of all religions is to ferry people to God. No matter what our beliefs are, the unifying factor is that a Supreme Power is the basis for the existence of the Universe. God is within us and outside us. When we try to surpass the “ego”, we will find an intangible space: the transpersonal space.

Transpersonal Psychology, a school of Psychology, also termed “Spiritual Psychology” is a field that integrates the spiritual and transcendent aspects of the human experience with the framework of modern psychology. Transpersonal Psychology helps us explore the farther reaches of human nature. Transpersonal Psychology is a lesser known field in psychology. It found its genesis in the late 1960s, as an attempt to establish a “fourth force” in psychology, after the establishment of the psychodynamic, behaviourist and humanistic approaches.

Over hundred years ago, William James, considered by many as the Father of Psychology expressed the essence of Transpersonal Psychology in the following passage:

Our normal waking consciousness, rational consciousness as we call it, is but one special type of consciousness, whilst all about it, parted from it by the filmiest of screens, there lie potential forms of consciousness entirely different. We may go through life without suspecting their existence; but apply the requisite stimulus, and at a touch they are there in all their completeness, definite types of mentality which probably somewhere have their field of application and adaptation. No account of the universe in its totality can be final which leaves these other forms of consciousness quite disregarded.

Some say God is consciousness and that consciousness is everywhere, just like the omnipresent God. Hence, the states of consciousness induced by the many transpersonal experiences may bring us closer to God. God is usually put on a higher pedestal by humans. He is beyond human comprehension, some may say. Other optimists might opine that if we try harder, we can perhaps uncover the God Phenomenon.

Personally, I staunchly believe that God is transpersonal and transcendental. To reach beyond excellence in one’s area of knowledge is to reach transcendence, which is one step closer to Almighty. Psychiatrist Brian Weiss in his bestselling book titled “Many Lives, Many Masters” says the following about knowledge and God:

Our task is to learn, to become God-like through knowledge… By knowledge we approach God, and then we can rest.

Thus, we must acknowledge and be mindful of those unique, idiosyncratic transpersonal experiences, in order to achieve a higher state of consciousness and attain the stage of inception of understanding God. Close attention must be paid to those experiences which seem ethereal and uncommon, those that don’t seem to match the primary emotional states. Unearthly marvels must be marveled at, for they facilitate our purpose of becoming more divine and spiritual. We all have that divine potential within us, and we only need to tap into it. As the great poet Rumi said:

There is a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.

God cannot be described precisely in words, He can only be experienced. By the same token, transpersonal experiences transcend current linguistic boundaries. Therefore, it is very important for us to listen intently. Listening is the first step, after which we will embark on a very indescribable yet gratifying journey, in the search for pristine truth, divinity and God. The way forward is by seeking out transpersonal experiences, because God is in the “Transpersonal.”

About the Author

Samhita K is a doctoral scholar of Psychology, a published poet, writer, English and French teacher, researcher, and psychologist. She is a musicophile, Francophile and Russophile. She is a seeker of spirituality and is deeply passionate about Transpersonal Psychology. She is the author of the short story “The Russian Manuscript” available on amazon.com. Samhita has been the Featured Poet at a cafe called Urban Solace Cafe for the Soul, which was the 262nd edition of the Longest Running Poetry Event in India. This event is also featured in the Limca Book of World Records. Her hobbies include reading, creative writing, music, sports, motorcycle riding and transcendental meditation.