Anthropology and the development of the Transpersonal Movement: Finding the Transpersonal in Transpersonal Anthropology

Abstract

Transpersonal Anthropology (hereafter ‘TA’) is a growing field within Social Anthropology. It has many similarities with Transpersonal Psychology and, I believe, can offer useful ideas and approaches to study. In particular, it offers a much wider view of human experience than Western psychology because it is based on non-Western peoples, their concepts, philosophies, ways of life and experiences. Secondly, Social Anthropology as a whole has undergone much soul-searching and analysis of its methods,and many of its findings are appropriate across the Social Sciences. But in my view TA appears to have narrowed its vision, and maybe our two disciplines can fruitfully inform each other. I will begin with a brief history of Social Anthropology and its treatment of the sacred and spiritual. This gives something of an explanation as to how TA has developed in a particular way. I will offer an alternative model based on my Fieldwork: I have been studying the Transpersonal within mild altered states of consciousness (ASCs), both sacred and secular, as part of ordinary everyday ‘streams of consciousness’ (James, 1950), and therapeutic effects of such states.