Maybe it's simpler than it sounds, as Steve Earle puts it (from the liner notes of his Transcendental Blues CD):
"I have spent most of my life (like most people) trying to avoid transcendence at all costs, mainly because that shit hurts. Merely defining transcendence can sometimes be painful. I once heard that 'transcendence is the act of going through something'. Ouch. I see plate glass windows and divorces. Someone else told me that it was 'rising above whatever one encountered in one's path' but at this point in my life that smacks of avoidance as well as an elitism of some sort"
How about this definition of transcendence for dummies: simply, the art of escaping from the constraints of one's emotions and fears to attain happiness, flow and power under all circumstances. Whatever the definition, the idea is to achieve freedom from our physical, mental and emotional limitations in order to surpass ourselves, to achieve durable, effortless, power. Finding this "ordinary transcendence", rather than a Buddha-type enlightenment, enables us to make the impact we desire everyday, requiring only the discipline, curiosity and courage to persist in the search. I think that Mr. Earle has some of the answers in his notes - it is achieved through going through things, and it does allow us to rise above ourselves, or at least to rise above our lizard brains (see: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/01/quieting-the-lizard-brain.html). Some of the milestones en route to this simple transcendence are:
Living an integrated life
Combine everything. Instead of compartmentalizing life into work, family, pastimes, sport, arts, etc. find the fundamental principles that apply across all areas, so that everything you do aligns and contributes to the overall goal.
Finding plenty of plate-glass windows to jump through
Relish the challenges, use them to figure out how to remain happy and on balance, whatever happens. I see people at work feeling stressed and downtrodden; that shouldn't happen, we have to have a "bring it on" attitude, keep smiling and light on our feet in the face of all hardships. Work is about getting results that are mutually beneficial--for us as well as the organizations we work for--and the ability to gracefully transcend everyday pressures is such a benefit, allowing us to be happier and more effective both inside and outside of work.
Knowing how to use every experience, good or bad, to become stronger
The badder the day, the bigger the challenge, the better the chance of taking another step towards transcendence for dummies. Reflect on how to make the best impact under the circumstances, stay calm and work on your strategy, stay happy in each moment and success will come.
As Steve Earle says in another of his songs:
The revolution starts now
When you rise above your fear
And tear the walls around you down
The revolution starts here
Where you work and where you play....
If you haven't started, it's time to re-evolve:
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