Transcendence: Stop my Pain and Suffering!

Maya Angelou's poem "And Still I Rise" is a colorful voice used by the experience of transcendence. This poetry articulates the suffering of life's injustices and demonstrates the will of the soul to be free. Human spirituality is expressed in a person's ability to contribute to the world around him. A person finds the ability to touch their world in many ways: parenting, teaching, working, entrepreneurship, learning, being someones child, spouse, sibling, care taker, provider, activist, musician or writer and the list is endless. These offerings to the world are continually changing as life reveals its requirements of participation. Suffering occurs when a person is forced to make unwanted changes in their roles. Death, terminal illness, job loss, family conflict, abuse and other painful occurrences are the events that cause crisis and the awaking of transcendence.


Transcendence is an available means to spiritual well-being. It happens at the point of acceptance and the person's willful participation in their reorganized life role. Eastern religions such as Buddhism, attain transcendence through the denial of self and meditation. A person is to relinquish himself of feeling emotions and detach from the world. This includes non-attachment in relationships and to material possessions (Hanson 2008). Western traditions such as Christianity find transcendence through morality, worship and prayer. Emotions are not denied in western traditions but they are considered unreliable for making responsible decisions. People practicing western religions have doctrinal responsibilities to their relationships which bring blessings into the lives of the obedient (Yount 2009). These are of course very broad descriptions and insights into Eastern and Western religious ideologies. They are not meant to be exhaustive in this context.  Both religions seek to find meaning in suffering and use certain practices to overcome suffering and acquire transcendence.

Real Life Applications

Making meaning out of the death of a loved one, the pain of broken relationships or being treated unfairly is the beginning of transcending your soul to a more enlightened or mature place.  On your path of meaning making you may experience sadness, anger, guilt, anxiety, loneliness, fatigue, helplessness, shock, yearning, relief, numbness, disbelief, confusion, preoccupation, social withdrawal, dreams, avoidance and crying.  You are not crazy, you are human and we feel these experiences when our sense of well-being is threatened or taken away (Worden 2009).  One of the most effective ways to work through your suffering is artistic self expression.  It is an avenue for your soul's cry.  You can keep a journal of your feelings, scrap booking, singing inspirational music, art, gardening, dancing and other artistic activities.  Set aside some daily time to inventory your thoughts and feelings, you have feelings and accepting them is accepting yourself.  There are not any right or wrong feelings they just exist within you. This daily time limit will help you manage preoccupation. Take care of yourself i.e. get your hair cut, have a massage or a manicure (Rosenberg 2009).  Most importantly be gentle with yourself.  You are not perfect and will make mistakes in this journey called life.  Use some good old fashioned forgiveness and keep going.  Your on your way to transcendence and movement beyond your pain.  God Bless You and Amen.

Here is some additional readings on the subject of transcendence:

Hanson, J. (2008). Searching for the Power-I: Nietzsche and Nirvana. Asian Philosophy, 18(3), 231-244. doi:10.1080/09552360802440017.

Harris, H. (2008). Growing While Going: Spiritual Formation at the End of Life. Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging, 20(3), 227-245. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

Rosenberg, R. (2009). LONERGAN ON THE TRANSCENDENT ORIENTATION OF ART. Renascence, 61(3), 141-152. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

Vis, J., & Boynton, H. (2008). Spirituality and Transcendent Meaning Making: Possibilities for Enhancing Post traumatic Growth. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work, 27(1/2), 69-86. doi:10.1080/15426430802113814.

Worden, William J. (2009). Grief Counseling and Grief Therapy, A Handbook for the Mental Health Practitioner, forth edition. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company, LLC.

Yount, W. (2009). An Evangelical View of Transcendence and Senior Adult Attitudes. Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging, 21(1/2), 88-103. doi:10.1080/15528030802265387.