Restless Souls: Emerson and Zhuang Zi on the Path to Self-Transcendence Through Silence and Stillness
Why have thinkers like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Zhuang Zi, across different cultures, sought something beyond the self? Whether through God, nature, or abstract ideals, the longing for transcendence has been a recurring theme across philosophical and religious traditions. This impulse reflects what A...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/7/901 |
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| author | Ercan Kaçmaz |
| author_facet | Ercan Kaçmaz |
| author_sort | Ercan Kaçmaz |
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| description | Why have thinkers like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Zhuang Zi, across different cultures, sought something beyond the self? Whether through God, nature, or abstract ideals, the longing for transcendence has been a recurring theme across philosophical and religious traditions. This impulse reflects what Aldous Huxley termed the “perennial philosophy”—the idea that all spiritual traditions share a common metaphysical core. Within this framework, Emerson and Zhuang Zi offer remarkably similar insights into the transformative power of silence and stillness. For Emerson, these quiet states connect the individual with the Over-Soul, a universal spirit that transcends the ego. For Zhuang Zi, they enable alignment with the Dao, the natural flow of the universe. In both philosophies, silence and stillness serve as transformative practices that dissolve the boundaries of the self and open it to a deeper, more unified reality. By comparing Emerson’s Over-Soul and Zhuang Zi’s Dao, this essay shows how both thinkers suggest that true peace arises not from striving but from surrendering to the quiet depths of being. Their shared emphasis on contemplative stillness reveals its enduring value as a spiritual practice across diverse philosophical landscapes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a9082a9c9871486a9e61c3603b51d44a |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj-art-a9082a9c9871486a9e61c3603b51d44a2025-07-25T13:34:56ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442025-07-0116790110.3390/rel16070901Restless Souls: Emerson and Zhuang Zi on the Path to Self-Transcendence Through Silence and StillnessErcan Kaçmaz0Faculty of Science and Letters, Nevsehir Haci Bektas Veli University, Nevsehir 50300, TürkiyeWhy have thinkers like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Zhuang Zi, across different cultures, sought something beyond the self? Whether through God, nature, or abstract ideals, the longing for transcendence has been a recurring theme across philosophical and religious traditions. This impulse reflects what Aldous Huxley termed the “perennial philosophy”—the idea that all spiritual traditions share a common metaphysical core. Within this framework, Emerson and Zhuang Zi offer remarkably similar insights into the transformative power of silence and stillness. For Emerson, these quiet states connect the individual with the Over-Soul, a universal spirit that transcends the ego. For Zhuang Zi, they enable alignment with the Dao, the natural flow of the universe. In both philosophies, silence and stillness serve as transformative practices that dissolve the boundaries of the self and open it to a deeper, more unified reality. By comparing Emerson’s Over-Soul and Zhuang Zi’s Dao, this essay shows how both thinkers suggest that true peace arises not from striving but from surrendering to the quiet depths of being. Their shared emphasis on contemplative stillness reveals its enduring value as a spiritual practice across diverse philosophical landscapes.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/7/901EmersonZhuang ZiOver-SoulDaoself-transcendencesilence |
| spellingShingle | Ercan Kaçmaz Restless Souls: Emerson and Zhuang Zi on the Path to Self-Transcendence Through Silence and Stillness Religions Emerson Zhuang Zi Over-Soul Dao self-transcendence silence |
| title | Restless Souls: Emerson and Zhuang Zi on the Path to Self-Transcendence Through Silence and Stillness |
| title_full | Restless Souls: Emerson and Zhuang Zi on the Path to Self-Transcendence Through Silence and Stillness |
| title_fullStr | Restless Souls: Emerson and Zhuang Zi on the Path to Self-Transcendence Through Silence and Stillness |
| title_full_unstemmed | Restless Souls: Emerson and Zhuang Zi on the Path to Self-Transcendence Through Silence and Stillness |
| title_short | Restless Souls: Emerson and Zhuang Zi on the Path to Self-Transcendence Through Silence and Stillness |
| title_sort | restless souls emerson and zhuang zi on the path to self transcendence through silence and stillness |
| topic | Emerson Zhuang Zi Over-Soul Dao self-transcendence silence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/7/901 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ercankacmaz restlesssoulsemersonandzhuangzionthepathtoselftranscendencethroughsilenceandstillness |