Transcendentalism : A Brief Study of the Movement with Reference to the Regional & Indian Philosophical Literature

'One impulse from a vernal wood

May teach you more of man,

Of moral evil and of good,

Than all the sages can.'

(From 'The Tables Turned')

- William Wordsworth

Introduction : This blog is a response-cum-topic of interet to the Thinking Activity guven by my professor Vaidehi Hariyani Madam. Let us delve into the abyss of Spirituality with specual reference to the 'Transcendentalism.' The term 'Transcend' is defined as :

¤ Cambridge English Dictionary : 'to go further, rise above, or be important or better than something, especially a limit'

¤ Merriem-Webster Dictionary : 'to rise above or extend notably beyond ordinary limits'

Now, let us see what does 'Transcendentalism' means in contexts of Transcendentalist Movement & in ordinary usage :

As a movement, it refers to the movement started in New England, United States of America from 1820s and 1830s and generally known as 'American Transcendentalism.'

The core of the movement bases its roots somewhat upon the idea of 'Individualism' and 'Spirituality' Nature plays pivotal role in defining the term along with reference to 'Romanticism' or Romantic Movement which was pioneered by the 'Nature's Poet' William Wordsworth and the fellow Samuel Taylor Coleridge when they collaboratively published an anthology named as 'Lyrical Ballads' in 1798 in the history of English Literature. But there is a slight 'Difference' between 'Romanticism' and 'Transcendentalism' :

- The basic idea of Romanticism was 'Back to Nature' as an escapism from the industrialization of early 19th century England; although it seeks to self-realization, divinity in nature, humans' innate and intimate relationship with nature.

- Whereas, the chief aim of 'Transcendentalism' was to identify the inherent goodness ever-present in human beings and surrounding natural forces. It somewhere goes along the line of 'Back to Nature' idea; not to escape like Romantics, but to seek one's innate and the truest self within remaining aloof from the outworldy chaos.

Nature has its own 'Heart' too :

'Nature has its own 'Heart' too' captured by Nirav Amreliya, on 6th December, 2020

The embedded photo was captured by me when I was on a trip. It feels like even Nature does not miss a chance to reveal its heart in a variety of forms. Poorly, the 'Heart' of Nature see6ms tattered down by the voracious acquisitiveness of human beings, though keeps on throbbing as though Nature has pledged to nourish the life on the planet, even being trampled over by greed and evils of humankind.

Empiricism : Contradiction to Transcendentalism : There exists a complete reverals ideology known as 'Empiricism' which contrasts to the Trancendentalist ideology.

So here we see that the empiristic ideology focuses on the rational approach and nullifies the innate wisdom gained through concentrating upon one's self.

Major Transcendentalists :

(Click the images to know about the authors)

(1) Ralph Waldo Emerson :

(2) Henry David Thoreau :

(3) Margaret Fuller :

(4) Walt Whitman :

(5) Timothy Brooks :

☆ The Informative Article : Know Some Curious Historical, Philosophical, and Literary Impact of Transcendentalism.

Discussion of the Questions : In further course of this blog, I would like to discuss the two questions asked to develop keen understanding of the concept :

1.) Transcendentalists talks about Individual’s relation with Nature. What is Nature for you? Share your views.

Answer : The very first thing I would like to clarify here is that regarding the context of the blog and the topic chosen, the word 'Nature' here simply refers to the ecological ambience we see around us. But I have got to tell more on the very word chosen, the word 'Nature' can be taken in a broder sense as belonging to humans' as well apart from the nature we see around us. But keeping in mind the context, I would like to chiefly focus on the nature we see around us in the form of rivers, brooks, birds, trees, breeze, rivulets, and very much vivid shapes including human beings too, for we can never ever deem ourselves aloof from the nature.

'Nature' for me is an unsolved phenomenon of which I can never think to be solved and understood in its truest essence. But, it is the very source of self-upliftment for me; in my humble opinion, if one is little - or better if more than little merely - is sensitive towards the emotional aspect and slightly inclined to the vibes which come in being besieged by the nature, one would be rapturous in each and every breath one takes and exhales. Further I observe that nature has given me the liberty of having my self brought to the point where I can distingusih between what is what hands down.

The aforementioned image carries tint of two connotative meanings into it : (1) Individualism (2) Freeing one's self from the collective corruption of nature by society.

Although there is much to my relation with nature which I think should not better mentioned here, there are many uncanny aspects and experiences which can throw one's self into valley of astonishment, then into perplexity, and eventually, into tranquility.

I have prepared a presentation on the topic : 'Treatment of Nature, Mysticism, and Rustic Life in Wordsworth's Poems' which I suppose may provide the readers with further insight into how 'Nature' is treated by the great masters of literature in the history of English Literature as well as regional literature like Gujarati Literature.

I have explained the aforementioned presentation in the video given below with which I conclude my answer. Thank you! :

2.) Transcendentalism is an American Philosophy that influenced American Literature at length. Can you find any Indian/Regional literature or Philosophy came up with such similar thought?

Answer : As mentioned in the question that Transcendentalism was emerged in American continent which influenced the literature of the nation. But here if I am to attach any similar regional - particularly ancient Indian one - text, I have some references taken from various Vedanta Schools such as Advaitavaada, Kabirvaada, and Modern Gujarati Literature.

(1) In his famous philosophical devotional hymn also known as Shubhashitas named as 'Charpatpanjarikaa Stotram,' the great ancient Indian philosophical giant Shree Adi Shankaracharya propounds the Advaitavaada theory - which seems quite nearer to the concepts of Individualism and Monotheism - in some of the shlokas or verses as follow :

(2) In Dohaa (Couplets) written by medieval Indian Saint and Mystic Poet Shree Kabirdaas contain much of the core of the Transcendentalism ideology of being one with the nature - before taking birth and after falling dead :

'चलती चक्की देख के, दिया कबीरा रोये ।

दो पाटन के बीच में, साबुत बचा न कोए ॥'

(Meaning : Saint Kabir compares the sky to the upper movable round rock of 'Chakki' - the old-fashioned Indian handmill for grinding the cereal - and the land to the lower movable round rock; in between these two cyclical (reference to cyclical nature of Samsara or the Existence wherein everything is of cyclical nature) and ceaseless moving rocks, none of the mortals are immortal and even the tiniest vestige is not found of those who are now dead.)

So, the very idea of coming back to the nature after death is expressed in another of his poetical work named 'Kya Tan Manjhta...' (Why art thou obssessed too much with the body?) I have attached a fine video of the work below :

(3) Culminating to the third reference, I would like to refere to the famous Modern Gujarati Poet and Novelist Dhruva Bhatt, who in his song 'Dhruvgeet' covers up mystical dimension of nature we see, if sensitive, then feel around us.