"There is a mystical dimension that runs through all aspects of life. Eventually every human endeavor directly encounters an impenetrable mystery where knowledge turns into ignorance and control into wonder. Indeed, no matter how much science or technology may advance, the essential mystery of life will never change. The reason why is simple: Reality is always greater than our conceptions of it."--Back cover

The transcendent function is the core of Carl Jung's theory of psychological growth and the heart of what he called individuation, the process by which one is guided in a teleological way toward the person one is meant to be. This book thoroughly reviews the transcendent function, analyzing both the 1958 version of the seminal essay that bears its name and the original version written in 1916. It also provides a word-by-word comparison of the two, along with every reference Jung made to the transcendent function in his written works, his letters, and his public seminars.

When meditation master and author Ken Mellor had a life-changing experience at 13, he had no idea where it would take him. In Urban Mystic: Discovering the transcendent through everyday life, he describes his amazing journey to spiritual awakening. Mellor's story takes you from Melbourne, Australia to the United States, India, England, Switzerland, and Germany. You'll meet psychotherapists, healers, astrologers, and many others. You will participate in fantastic experiences with masters of meditation and spiritual enlightenment-a Siddha Master, Tantric Master, Vedic Master, and a "Divine Mother." Mellor's intriguing and compelling narrative prompts self-discovery, and offers inspiration to dwell in the moment in order to awaken the soul to extraordinary transformations. Your reading will encourage you to embrace living, to cope with life's ups and downs, and to advance your own spiritual awakening. Learn to celebrate how new beginnings, hopes, dreams, successes, mistakes, and challenges are all part of your unique destiny. "An amazing odyssey from the everyday to the spirit - and back again! - that reads like the true adventure it is. I was glad to be part of it and you will be too." -Stephen Karcher, prolific author in the fields of comparative mythology, divination, and religious experience.

DIVDIVMichael Murphy, bestselling author of Golf in the Kingdom, explains the power of athletics to transform the body, mind, and spirit/divDIV /divDIVAthletes and coaches often say they feel “in the zone” while participating in sports or other endeavors, and Esalen Institute cofounder Michael Murphy carefully documents this phenomenon in one of the most comprehensive works of its kind. Murphy and coauthor Rhea A. White categorize twenty types of extraordinary athletic feats, exalted states of consciousness, and altered perceptions that, they say, evoke the richness of a spiritual practice./divDIV /divDIVThis wide-ranging compendium includes insights from amateur, Olympic, and professional athletes, such as Michael Jordan, Mario Andretti, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Schwarzenegger./div /div

Robert Torrance's wide-ranging, innovative study argues that the spiritual quest is rooted in our biological, psychological, linguistic, and social nature. The quest is not, as most have believed, a rare mystical experience, but a frequent expression of our most basic human impulses. Shaman and scientist, medium and poet, prophet and philosopher, all venture forth in quest of visionary truths to transform and renew the world. Yet Torrance is not trying to reduce the quest to an "archetype" or "monomyth." Instead, he presents the full diversity of the quest in the myths and religious practices of tribal peoples throughout the world, from Oceania to India, Africa, Siberia, and especially the Americas. In theorizing about the quest, Torrance draws on thinkers as diverse as Bergson and Piaget, van Gennep and Turner, Pierce and Popper, Freud, Darwin, and Chomsky. This is a book that will expand our knowledge—and awareness—of a fundamental human activity in all its fascinating complexity.

Created for a Purpose" In a world where science and spirituality often seem like distant shores, this captivating exploration bridges the gap, inviting you to contemplate the profound tapestry of purpose that weaves through the fabric of existence. Embark on a multidimensional journey that intertwines historical roots, philosophical musings, and the latest scientific insights. From the cosmic dance of particles to the transcendental realms of spirituality, this book navigates the intersections where empirical inquiry and transcendent wisdom converge. Highlights of the Journey: Historical Roots: Trace the evolution of purpose from the musings of ancient philosophers to the existential reflections of modern thinkers. Scientific Insights: Dive into the neuroscientific, psychological, and evolutionary dimensions of purpose, exploring the adaptive advantages encoded in our biology. Spiritual Dimensions: Embark on a journey through diverse spiritual traditions, contemplating the interconnectedness of all life and the quest for inner transformation. Intersection of Science and Spirituality: Discover the potential for dialogue and integration between science and spirituality, exploring how these realms complement and enrich each other. Personal Reflections: Engage in introspective exercises and real-life narratives that guide you through a process of personal discovery and alignment with your unique purpose. Societal Impact: Consider the transformative potential of purpose-driven living in education, ethics, and environmental stewardship, envisioning a world where collective well-being is guided by shared purpose. Lifelong Journey: Recognize that purpose is not a destination but a continuous journey, evolving across the stages of life and empowering individuals to embrace intentional living. Transcendent Dimensions: Contemplate how personal purpose aligns with broader, transcendent principles, exploring self-transcendence and spiritual dimensions. Interpersonal Connections: Explore the profound interplay between individual and collective purpose, recognising the transformative impact within relationships, families, and societal structures. Purpose in a Multifaceted World: Navigate the complexities of the 21st century, considering cultural perspectives, intersectionality, and the influence of technology on purposeful living. Personal Flourishing: Examine the intricate connections between purpose and holistic well-being, resilience, and positive psychology, encouraging a pathway to a fulfilling and resilient existence. Reflections and Future Pathways: Pause and reflect on the insights gained, issuing a call to action for purposeful living, envisioning a purposeful future, and recognising the ever-unfolding nature of purpose.

This volume consists of several contributions to a refined understanding of religious experience in view of contemporary theological epistemology. Diverse sample studies taken from the extensive field of religion, theology and religious studies reveal that 'religious experience' is today clearly a pivotal issue. More specifically, this is made evident in modern theological hermeneutics and in the anti-modern and/or post-modern reactions thereto, the theology of world religions and inter-religious dialogue, the contemporary resurgence of religiosity in Western society and culture, and the so-called turn to religion in contemporary continental philosophy. It would appear from such studies that the category of 'religious experience' is frequently called upon to clarify or explain the phenomenon of religion and religiosity on the one hand and to support and legitimise religious positions or the critique thereof on the other. Because of the loss of plausibility of tradition-bound religiosity and of foundational, so-called onto-theological schemes, 'religious experience' has come to constitute, for many, the last (or latest) point of departure and anchor for religion and religious thinking. This is certainly the case with respect to tendencies within contemporary Christian traditions and theological reflection. In a multitude of ways and from a variety of different perspectives, 'religious experience' and 'experience of transcendence' or 'of the divine' have gained a prominent place in philosophical and fundamental-theological conceptual schemes. In reaction to this, other authors have denied the very primacy given to religious experience in reflecting upon faith, pointing to the constitutive role of tradition and narrative without which there is no religious experience. From all this follows that the category of religious experience is in great need of reconceptualisation, not least from a theological point of view. On the one hand, religious experience is all too easily called upon to legitimise religious claims (often against 'tradition') and on the other hand, the category has become misleading in so far as it is tainted by the modern scientific understanding of experience - in reaction to which 'tradition' is then easily invoked to protect the core of religion. Both young scholars at the preceding junior conference and senior scholars during the conference's paper sessions presented from diverse perspectives new ways to conceive of religious experience in view of today's challenges of secularisation, religious plurality, the aestheticisation of religion, etc. The selected contributions have been arranged in four thematically oriented parts: 'Approaching Religious Experience in a Postmodern Age', 'Modern (re)Thinking of Religious Experience', 'Liberating Religious Experience', and 'Challenges for Spirituality'.