| It seems that there is a contradiction | | | | |
| between the psychology of transcendence and | | | | Similarly, the world itself is entirely |
| the spiritual idea of transcendence. | | | | illusory. I don't mean this metaphorically |
| | | | or even psychologically. At the subatomic |
| Psychologists believe that through the proper | | | | level, again there is no substance. There |
| application of intelligence and | | | | are just probability patterns that literally |
| self-cognition one can have a full and | | | | flit in and out of existence! For example, |
| enjoyable life, with wealth, health, and a | | | | an electron can appear under an observing |
| great relationship, as well as a sense of | | | | instrument then disappear, then reappear |
| communal belonging and contribution. | | | | again. There literally is no stuff! This is |
| | | | why the Vedantists say that the world is |
| Those in spiritual groups, in particular of | | | | Maya, or illusory. |
| an eastern orientation, believe that one has | | | | |
| to get rid of the lustful ego that craves | | | | Yet to all purposes, on the macroscopic |
| only fleeting things and to unify with divine | | | | level, both an intelligent being and an |
| consciousness. | | | | intelligible world appear to exist. |
| | | | |
| The most popular compromise to resolve this | | | | On this level, personal growth and |
| seeming paradox is that you have to build up | | | | advancement is necessary, not because it |
| the self and let it go. In Vedic philosophy | | | | means anything on a cosmic scale, but because |
| this is expressed as becoming a householder | | | | there is literally nothing else to do with |
| in the first stages of life then retiring to | | | | this adventure of life. You can either |
| pursue transcendence. | | | | resist evolution and suffer all kinds of lack |
| | | | or you can embrace evolution and the refining |
| Yet most believe, because of cognitive | | | | of mind and enjoy fulfillment of resources |
| dissonance, that they should choose one view | | | | and experiences. |
| or the other. | | | | |
| | | | Thus, when you look at things from the view |
| Thus, there are those who believe that they | | | | of levels of perception, all contradictions |
| should be worldly and experience the world as | | | | disappear, just as the contradiction of day |
| it appears to be. | | | | and night disappears when you understand that |
| | | | the sun and earth are in a cosmic dance. |
| Then there are those who believe that they | | | | |
| should reject the world and dedicate | | | | It is possible to be engaged in the world and |
| themselves to getting out of the misery of | | | | to actually enjoy it and at the same time to |
| the cycle of birth and death. | | | | enjoy meditation and contemplation to |
| | | | experience the inner sky of blissful freedom. |
| Here is another way of understanding this | | | | It is by no means an easy path, but after a |
| paradox. | | | | while, they will support each other. |
| | | | Material success and harmonious relationships |
| The self is a transcendent consciousness. It | | | | will give you the opportunity to retreat to |
| is not limited to a particular body or a | | | | your inner work. Similarly your inner work |
| particular lifetime. Because it is not | | | | will contribute to your increase of abundance |
| anything in particular, the "I" is not an | | | | and maintaining a loving relationship with |
| "it." This is why Buddhists say there is | | | | others. |
| "no-self." | | | | |