The expansion of thought is closely related to existential philosophy, as it pursues true "selfhood". According to existential philosophy, the true meaning of a human being is revealed not in "essence" but in "existence". Unlike essence, human existence can only be attained through free and responsible self-determination at every moment.
So, what exactly do we aim to transcend through the transcendence technique? It is the fixed ideas, concepts, and ideologies that constitute the boundaries of our thinking when we encounter limiting situations, and the attitudes, patterns, and strong forces that emerge from them, which strive to maintain the self.
These elements determine our lives, cause tension, and create problems. In reality, a person's thought system is like a "vessel" accumulated over many years of life. This is specifically shaped by factors such as culture, personality, psychology, and education, forming our unique world.
However, problems arise when the framework of thought that has sustained us no longer functions effectively. This not only causes tension and bewilderment but also pain and suffering. While we may try to resolve this tension and pain by carefully examining the situation or communicating through dialogue, we often encounter insurmountable limitations. At this point, the only path available to us for problem-solving is self-transcendence, which involves moving beyond the boundaries of thought—the dimension of spiritual inquiry.
Just as Jaspers connects true existence to an unconditioned, transcendent being in existential philosophy, the technique of transcendence is based on the experience of self-transcendence through an encounter with that being.
Humans are creative beings who embody freedom and are constantly transcending themselves. The technique of transcendence, rather than relying on the laws of cause and effect in the unconscious or removing external obstacles to solve problems, instead seeks—as the Stoic philosophers did long ago—an "inner freedom" that is not bound by limitations.
Of course, crossing these boundaries is by no means easy. It requires considerable philosophical insight, patience, and courage, and especially the help of a counselor.
The boundaries of thought are the mental dwelling place of our lives, so crossing that threshold is a challenge and a source of fear, a journey into the unknown. Transcending the boundaries of thought is inevitably accompanied by the pain of breaking out of the framework that has protected us until now, much like a bird breaking out of its egg. Without breaking out of this framework, we cannot embrace a new world. In Hermann Hesse's novel "Demian", Sinclair, with Demian's help, finally breaks free from his limitations and enters a new world. The relationship between the searcher and the counselor in philosophical counseling is similar.
