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The Essence of Transpersonal Psychology Contemporary Views S International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Volume 21 | Issue 1 Article 4 1-1-2002 The Essence of Transpersonal Psychology Contemporary Views S. I. Shapiro University of Hawaii Grace W. Lee University of Hawaii Philippe L. Gross University of Hawaii Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/ijts-transpersonalstudies Part of the Philosophy Commons, Psychology Commons, and the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Shapiro, S. I., Lee, G. W., & Gross, P. L. (2002). Shapiro, S. I., Lee, G. W., & Gross, P. L. (2002). The se sence of transpersonal psychology: Contemporary views. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 21(1), 19–32.. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 21 (1). http://dx.doi.org/10.24972/ijts.2002.21.1.19 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals and Newsletters at Digital Commons @ CIIS. It has been accepted for inclusion in International Journal of Transpersonal Studies by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ CIIS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Essence of Transpersonal Psychology Contemporary Views S. L Shapiro Grace W. Lee Philippe L. Gross Universicy ofHawai'i Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA The authors compiled 80 chronologically ordered passages from the contemporary psychology literature that address the essence of transpersonal psychology. A thematic analysis of these passages revealed that the two most frequent categories, occurring 53 (66.2%) and 49 (61.2%) times respectively, were: (a) Going beyond or transcending the individual, ego, self, the personal, personality, or personal identity; existence of a deeper, true, or authentic Self; and (b) Spirituality, psychospiritual, psychospiritual development, the spiritual, spirit. Other, less frequent, themes included: special states of consciousness; interconnectivity/unity; going beyond other schools of psychology; emphasis on a scientific approach; mysticism; full range of consciousness; greater potential; inclusion of non-Western psychologies; meditation; and existence of a wider reality. A monk asked, "If this is the True Realm of of transpersonal psychology in terms of our Reality, where did it come from?" knowledge of the history and development of the The master said, "Please say that one more time." discipline. As a result, all but a few of the sources - Chao-chou [Joshu] for the entries we selected were recognizable to (In Green, 1998, p. 47) us as having been written by colleagues in the transpersonal psychology movement, as having URING THE course of a larger study of appeared in established journals, as having a developmental trends in transpersonal scholarly or reference nature, oreas coming from D psychology, we took special note of established educational organizations. English-language passages in the literature, from The total number of appropriate entries we 1991 through 2001,1 that characterized the field found for the compilation was 80.8 The citation of transpersonal psychology. From these we sources represent: books (40);journal articles (13); selected those statements which specifically websites (8); brochures (5); newsletters (5); reflected how the authors construed the essence dictionaries4 (4); letters or flyers (4); encyclopedias of transpersonal psychology. In choosing the (3); school catalogs (1); organizational constitutions entries we selected only those that clearly (1); and unpublished convention papers (1).5 addressed the essence of transpersonal Below we present the compilation of psychology per se, and not, for example, statements6 in chronological order followed by a transpersonal studies, transpersonal therapy, or thematic frequency analysis. transpersonalism in general. 1. Transpersonal psychology is a Western We also exercised some selectivity in choosing formulation which transcends and includes all 2 entries, such that in our judgment they did not of the Western behavioural sciences. In exhibit narrow sectarianism and that they encouraging the notion of "going beyond" and credibly reflected viewpoints about the essence "more than," transpersonal psychology The lnternationat]ournal ofTranspersonaL Studies, 2002, Vol. 21, 19-32 19 © 2002 by Panigada Press addresses such concepts as life, breath, soul 5. [. .. ]the new field oftranspersonal psychology and spirit, holism, and perception as (a psychology that deals with all the things communion. Transpersonal psychology is an orthodox psychology deals with, but also studies endeavour in which consciousness and Mind the psychology of spiritual experience). [p. 4) are primary. [p. 30] Wilber, T. K. (1991). In K. Wilber, Grace and grit: Spiritual­ Diespecker, D. (1991). One mind: An introduction to ity and healing in the life and death ofTrey a Killam Wilbe1: transpersonal psychology. Bellingen, NSW, Australia: Boston: Shambhala. Earthrise Press. 6. TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY An offshoot 2. Many transpersonal psychologists believe that of humanistic psychology that encompasses a the ego or self is a useful fiction. For these wide range of self-transcending phenomena, psychologists, ego formation is an important including ecstatic and mystical experiences. Its stage in development, but in later proponents seek to appropriate insights fi'om developmental stages this illusion of the great religious traditions, especially those separateness can be transcended, and more ofthe East, in order to develop a new paradigm globally encompassing modes of consciousness of scientific understanding. [Glossary, p. G-30] are possible. [p. 6) Wulff, D. M. (1991). Psychology of religion: Classic and con­ (Statement of Purpose]. (1991, Fall). Transpersonal temporary views. New York: Wiley. Psychology Interest Group (TPIG) Newsletter, 6. 7. Transpersonal psychology is both an evolving 3. The transpersonal perspective is a view of people clinical and scientific tradition within and their relations to the larger world that is psychology and also an ancient psychospiritual compatible with the new world view that sees lineage. Transpersonal psychology can be the universe and everything in it, including understood to be the study of non-ordinary human beings, as a series of interconnected, states ofconsciousness not traditionally covered interacting, and mutually influencing systems. by the discipline of ego psychology. This includes Transpersonal psychology approaches human states of consciousness such as meditation, beings in the context of the wider world, religious ecstasy, trance and "unitive conscious including the invisible world of spirit. It insists experiences" often described in the esoteric and on recognition by individuals of the breadth of spiritual literature of humankind. This would the context in which they live. But also incorporate the study of the transpersonal psychology does not exclude the psychophysiological techniques and introspective practical world of everyday living, for it is disciplines associated with these states of through our daily lives that we make our consciousness. Finally the field includes both imprint on the wider world; while we, in turn, metaphysical and philosophical paradigms are in the process of being transformed by the often encountered in the contemporary fields of practical world every moment of every day. In theoretical physics, neuroscience and cognitive the transpersonal view, the only way the psychology. The transpersonally oriented spiritual world can manifest is through ordinary clinician's perspective is often inclusive of people in the visible world. [pp. 142-143] anomalous experiences and does not reflexively reduce noetic or spiritual experiences to organic, Singer, J. (1991). Seeing through the visible world: Jung, psychopathological or even unconscious causes gnosis, and chaos. San Francisco: HarperCollins. and dynamics, nor elevate disturbed psychological states to the sublime. Also the 4. The published literatme, my own thinking, and range or spectrum of consciousness is not a number of discussion groups lead me to suggest necessarily localized to one mind or set of body­ the following as core characteristics of the field mind boundary conditions, or for that matter [trans personal psychology]: Constructed to one life-time. [pp. 301-302] Consciousness; Valid Alternate States of Consciousness; Superiority of Some Alternate Bynum, E. B. (1992). A brief overview of transpersonal psy­ States; De-Automatizing for Consciousness chology. Humanistic Psychologist, 20(213), 301-306. Change; Consciousness Disciplines in Religions; Genetic Motive for Consciousness Growth; 8. Following in the path ofhumanistic psychology, Cosmic Unity; Cosmic Flow; Interdisciplinary transpersonal psychology grew as a reaction Study ofPersonality.7 [p. 5] to the limitations of mainstream (first and Tisdale, J. R. (1991, Fall). Characteristics of transpersonal second "force") psychology, specifically in psychology. Transpersonal Psychology Interest Group regard to its failure to address adequately "the (TPIG) Newsletter, 5. farther reaches ofhuman nature." [.. .] 20 The International journal ofTranspersonal Studies, 2002, VoL 21 Transpersonal psychology responded to these guided imagery, and Eastern meditative limitations by developing an expanded view of practices, as well as traditional therapeutic human nature and potential, through which techniques. Unlike other branches ofWestern human identity could be perceived as including psychology, however,
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