Anthropology and the development of the Transpersonal Movement: Finding the Transpersonal in Transpersonal Anthropology
Transpersonal Psychology Review January 1, 2007 DOI: 10.53841/bpstran.2007.11.1.59 (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractTranspersonal Anthropology, a growing subfield of Social Anthropology, shares much with Transpersonal Psychology and can offer a broader view of human experience by drawing on non-Western peoples' concepts, philosophies, and ways of life. Social Anthropology's methodological self-critique has produced insights applicable across the social sciences, yet Transpersonal Anthropology may have narrowed its vision. The author proposes that the two disciplines can inform each other and offers an alternative model based on fieldwork studying transpersonal experiences within mild altered states of consciousness, both sacred and secular, as part of ordinary everyday streams of consciousness, along with the therapeutic effects of such states.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Argues that Transpersonal Anthropology has narrowed its vision and proposes an alternative model based on fieldwork studying transpersonal experiences within mild altered states of consciousness in everyday life. |
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.