When you look at a painting you may see many different parts.
You can look at the painting and see brushstrokes. You can look and see color, and form. You may see objects or persons in the background and foreground. You might see the history or historical context. You may see emotional tension or emotional impressions, or the painters’ intention.
All of these are different levels of seeing.
But to see all of these things, and then to perceive an additional layer of meaning, that is transcendence.
Transcendence is a way of fully seeing the world; seeing beyond the surface level to the deeper connections that are at play. It’s seeing the meaning of the whole beyond the individual parts. Stepping into transcendence can feel like going from two dimensions to three dimensions.
Seeing this way for a single moment can affect every part of your life for a long time afterward; it can affect the choices you make, the actions you take, and the way that you engage with each moment.
The benefit of touching transcendence is that you see the deeper reality and connection between all things. And that holds you because you realize you're just as much a part of that deeper reality as anything else. This can make you interact with life in a much more intentional and present way, more fully aware of the greater arch of your life and its connection with the larger whole.
When you see or even glimpse deeper reality in this way, you come in closer contact with the greater reality beyond you, and all of life becomes much more rich and meaningful, and may even feel more safe.
All the best,
Steven Lawson
“Art is a lie that makes us realize truth”
- Pablo Picasso
GOING DEEPER
Life Is How You See It: Why It's Important to Uncover the 'Big Picture' - HuffPost
One of the things that begin to become more and more evident as one searches for transcendence is just how much control we have over the life we live. Not just in tangible ways such as deciding whether to exercise or not on any given day, but the more abstract concepts that we're often unaware are at play. If you'd like to become more in tune with these aspects to help yourself in your own life you'll likely enjoy this piece by HuffPost. LINK
Understanding the Bigger Picture and Why It's Important - Indeed
Sometimes when we're stuck on a task at work and can't find the best way forward, the step we really have to take is one back so we can see the bigger picture and all of the connections we may have been missing, as explained by Jamie Birt. LINK
How to Develop Big Picture Thinking And Think More Clearly - LifeHack
We like to try and give some actionable steps each month that you can apply each Monk Notes to. For this month, take a look through these four suggestions given by LifeHack, choose at least one, and take some time to actually apply it to your day to day life between now until next month's email. LINK
Featured Art: Autumn Landscape, Falcão Trigoso (1927)
