Thinking Activity : Transcendentalism

Hello Readers!

Today I'm going to write about Thinking Activity of Transcendentalism given by MS Vaidehi Hariyani Ma'am.

What is Transcendentalism?

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.

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 notion. Some of the transcendentalist beliefs are:

Humans are inherently good
Society and its institutions such as organized religion and politics are corrupting. Instead of being part of them, humans should strive to be independent and self-reliant
Spirituality should come from the self, not organized religion
Insight and experience are more important than logic
Nature is beautiful, should be deeply appreciated, and shouldn’t be altered by humans

Major Transcendentalist Value

The transcendentalist movement encompassed many beliefs, but these all fit into their three main values of individualism, idealism, and the 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.

Most Important Authors

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson began his adult life as a Unitarian minister. He 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.

Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau 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 a 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.

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

What do i think of nature? Ummm. Well, I am immersed in nature. I am in total awe of nature. I move and act and enjoy my being in nature. I also see ,in,of and through nature. We are part of it. After our ultimate demise we will feed it,therefore renewing nature through our sacrifice..Nature is one of that who gives me a reason to live happily,to live with enthusiasm.Our definition of nature is changing with times.Because when i was child for me nature is like tree,sea,sky,mountain and all these things.But slowly and steadily the definition is changing according to my maturity level.Sometimes i feel that nature for me is myself.

Q.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?

Emerson and his fellow Transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau became the first entry point for Hindu and Buddhist thought in the New World. By the time Swami Vivekananda arrived on America’s shores, both Emerson and Thoreau were dead. But Raja Rammohun Roy’s writings, as well as the Bhagavad Gita had a profound influence on them. Thoreau’s pantheism stemmed from his readings of Hindu philosophy, which did not separate the godhead from the human and natural world. While Thoreau indulged the flute, in reverence to Krishna, he was also a practising yogi.

Conclusion