Transcendentalism - Thinking Activity

Hello friends, 

This Blog is the part of my classroom thinking activity. This activity given by Vaidehi Mam. In this blog I would like to present one important American theory

Transcendentalism. 

First of all we can discuss some basic information about Transcendentalism .

What is Transcendentalism :

Transcendentalism is an American literary, philosophical, religious, and political movement of the early nineteenth century.

The transcendentalism movement arose as a result of a reaction to Unitarianism as well as the Age of Reason. Both centered on reason as the main source of knowledge, but transcendentalists rejected that

It’s all about spirituality. Transcendentalism is a philosophy that began in the mid-19th century and whose founding members included Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. It centers around the belief that spirituality cannot be achieved through reason and rationalism, but instead through self-reflection and intuition. In other words, transcendentalists believe spirituality isn’t something you can explain; it’s something you feel. A transcendentalist would argue that going for a walk in a beautiful place would be a much more spiritual experience than reading a religious text.

Transcendentalists believe that one's own inner light comes from knowledge; therefore, trascendentalists are constantly seeking to gain a deeper truth about themselves and the world around them. This is where a new idea comes into play.

Transcendentalist Values:

The transcendentalist movement encompassed many beliefs, but these all fit into their three main values of , 

Individualism

Idealism  

Divinity of nature.

 Individualism :

Perhaps the most important transcendentalist value was the importance of the individual. They saw the individual as pure, and they believed that society and its institutions corrupted this purity. Transcendentalists highly valued the concept of thinking for oneself and believed people were best when they were independent and could think for themselves. Only then could individuals come together and form ideal communities.

Idealism:

The focus on idealism comes from Romanticism, a slightly earlier movement. Instead of valuing logic and learned knowledge as many educated people at the time did, transcendentalists placed great importance on imagination, intuition and creativity. They saw the values of the Age of Reason as controlling and confining, and they wanted to bring back a more “ideal” and enjoyable way of living.

Divinity of Nature:

Transcendentalists didn’t believe in organized religion, but they were very spiritual. Instead of believing in the divinity of religious figures, they saw nature as sacred and divine. They believed it was crucial for humans to have a close relationship with nature, the same way religious leaders preach about the importance of having a close relationship with God. Transcendentalists saw nature as perfect as it was; humans shouldn’t try to change or improve it.

 

Two Important Authors :

1.Ralph Waldo Emerson

2.Henry David ThoreauHu

Ralph Waldo Emerson:

He was completed his studies at Harvard. As a child, he was greatly influenced by his aunt who introduced him to concepts such as the ideas of Hinduism. Emerson brought ideas of science, mysticism, and Eastern religions into the transcendentalist movement. 

Emerson's background as a minister greatly helped spread the ideas of transcendentalism. He preached in many churches, so many people were inclined to believe him. Emerson travelled a lot which encouraged the spread of trascendental ideas. One of Emerson's most prominent works was "The American Scholar." In this famous essay, he encouraged Americans to be proud of themselves and to stop looking elsewhere for ideas and inspiration.

2.Henry David Thoreau :

He was  placed great emphasis on the importance of nature in one's life. For two years of his life, Thoreau lived in a hut he built on Walden Pond. He later wrote a book called Walden which described his experiences while living amongst nature. He also wrote an essay called "Civil Disobedience."

 The main purpose of this essay was that one's own conscience should be held at higher priority than the law. These authors, along with others, were part of The Transcendental Club. The group met in Boston at the home of George Ripley. They started a publication known as The Dial which was edited by Margaret Fuller. Fuller was a radical feminist at the time.

Here , I have given my answers on that questions asking in this activity ; 

1. Transcendentalists talks about Individual’s relation with Nature. What is Nature for you? Share your views.

 

In transcendentalism, I believe that what appears to be real is nature. There is a belief in the mind of man that there is only one God who created the whole world. Religion is a spiritual thing. Books of religion, many books of literature tell us that there is only one God who created this world. 

I think it's a religious thing. But many books also say that nature created this world in its own way due to changes in the atmosphere. The idea of ​​transcendence is to believe in what we see. That looking beyond what we see is called romanticism. While transcendentalism is the opposite concept. Or believing in real nature without believing in spirituality. Nature has given us everything. There is a certain kind of system of nature. From which the whole world is going well. In all worlds, the creatures in nature are living their own lives in their own way. Be it man, bird, beast, tree or any natural resource. It works according to its own system. 

Mann is also a part of nature. So man should behave accordingly without interfering with the natural system. Charles should follow Darwin's theory of evolution. That nature has caused the origin of all living beings by changing themselves. Not that there is a spiritual God who is following and regulating this world. He takes care of us. He bears the fruit of good deeds with us. That is a myth. Transcendentalism says that nature is the only true reality. All should follow the law of nature and have faith in nature. Nature never discriminates against anyone. It has equal justice for any poor man or any rich man. 

Happinesss and sorrow are the rules of the world. Sometimes there is happiness, sometimes there is sorrow. There is no role for nature or God. It is a part of life. So nature is everything around us. Man has created the material world for his own happiness and convenience. But nature has given man the freedom to be useful in his own way and to behave in his own way. If man interferes in it, it destroys nature or destroys man.

2) Transcendentalism is an American Philosophy that influenced American Literature at length. Can you find any Indian/Regional literature or Philosophy came up with such similar thought?

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a highly influenced by Bhagvas Gita.Emerson was particularly struck by the teachings of Bhagavad Gita, “the first of books,” as he once called it . He wrote about the Gita that “In England the Understanding rules & materialistic truth, the becoming, the fit, the discreet, the brave, the advantageous But they could not produce such a book as the Bhagavat Geeta”. The Gita is an ancient Sanskrit text comprising of verses embellished with many literary devices such as allegory, metaphor, and allusion. It is a record of conversations between Bhagavan or God, in the form of Krishna, and Arjuna, a human. Arjuna is a ksatriya warrior of the Pandava family and Krishna is his cousin and the driver of his chariot. In the battle field, Arjuna sees many of his relatives in the opposing force and, being overcome by pity, he refuges to fight. Krishna then tries to make him realize the importance of fighting. 

He also reminds him of his obligation to follow his dharma or duty and to ignore his personal feelings. Krishna sends this message to the mankind through Arjuna, as does Christ through his twelve disciples. Krishna says: “Though unborn, for the Atman [soul] is eternal, though Lord of all beings, yet using my own nature, I come into existence using my own maya.” Krishna sends himself through human beings to save people from adharma, ruin of morality and justice. He says, “For whenever there is a decaying of dharma, and a rising up of adharma, then I send Myself forth” . This idea resonates with Emerson’s emphasis on intuition and conscience. In the essay “Over-Soul,” he writes that we, as individual souls, are part the Greater or Over-Soul. 

We do not have to go to church to be united with the Over-Soul because our intuition can illuminate our spiritual world like the flashes of light. Here, Emerson seems to be influenced by the teachings of the Upanisad and the Gita that nirguna [higher] Brahman, or what Emerson calls the Over-Soul, is manifested through human beings. 

In Bhagvad Gita we find this American theory in such good way.It seems to us like an advisor.we also follow many thinking of Bhagvad Gita in our day to day life.

THANKS