Robert Gale Ongley

Month: January 2022

  • THOUGHTS ON TRANSCENDENT EXPERIENCE

    As you know, we live in a universe that is constantly changing. We’re along for the ride and all too often we might feel like a bronc bustin’ cowboy holding on for dear life, but not all change is traumatic. In fact, it’s a blessing when we can transcend one condition for a better one. A grubby caterpillar metamorphosing into a grand butterfly is magnificently symbolic of how wonderful transcendence can be. In this article, I hope to flutter around and alight on ideas around the concept of transcendence that will inform and inspire.

    Okay, So What is a Transcendent Experience?

    Merriam-Webster states, “A transcendent experience is one that takes you out of yourself and convinces you of a larger life or existence; in this sense, it means something close to “spiritual”.

    In an article written on magellantv.com, Eden Arielle Gordon wrote:

    “ ‘Transcendent experiences’ ” are events that bring us out of our ordinary minds, making us feel connected to the world around us. People report accessing them through use of certain drugs or through spirituality, magic, and the occult. They can also be triggered by nature, meditation, and even near-death experiences. Additionally, new scientific studies are discovering that transcendent experiences – however they’re reached – could be helpful for our mental health.“

    I admit I’m partial to the spiritual aspect being part of a transcendent experience, but I would like to put in a word for the possibility of it being less lofty. For example, a person could be training to do something such as setting tile and after some struggling, the process suddenly clicks and the worker goes from being a tile setting student to a tile setter. When an aspiring dancer fully understands all the steps and nuances of a choreographer’s creation, she transcends to becoming an accomplished dancer. As stated in the Merriam-Webster definition, a larger life or existence is realized.

    Random Thoughts

    Several years ago, I attended quite a few meetings of International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS). People in the group shared some amazing stories of their near-death experiences. As they were losing their grip on their bodies, they found themselves as spirits beholding things they never had when completely body-bound. Most of them transcended to states of peace and love, letting go of any fear of death.

    I believe a transcendent experience will not inflate the ego. It will be humbling in a way, but most importantly there will be raised consciousness on unity with others. Ego inspires separateness. If the tile setter or dancer settle into pride over their accomplishments, they have sacrificed much of their transcendence.

    I wonder if a true transcendent experience is always permanent. First times for many life events are often the best of their kind, never to be equaled. They can’t be recreated and the sweet memories of them don’t reach the heights of the original. Quite possibly, the true transcendent experience is above and beyond the materially-oriented ones. Still, standing on a mountain’s summit and contemplating the interconnectedness of all life may not hold up years later in the face of a bitter divorce and broken family unit. I suspect there are no absolutes here. In the final analysis, a person is forever changed by a transcendent experience whether they fully retain the improvement it brings or if it fades like a dream.

    A Few Techniques

    The transcendent experience can happen spontaneously, but it’s rare. One of the ways it can occur without going much out of your way is to sit with nature for extended periods of time. That’s one of Henry David Thoreau’s suggestions. It’s a meditative exercise.

    Speaking of meditation, this practice can definitely lead us to spiritual transcendence. With persistence and dedication, the meditator can improve concentration and use techniques for deeper and deeper dives.

    Contemplative prayer done with sincerity and single-minded intensity can bring amazing results. By contemplative prayer I mean a passive state in which a person sits silently and contemplates God. It can bring unimaginable love and insights for those willing to wait and listen.

    Although I don’t recommend it, psychedelic drugs can produce transcendent experiences. If a person is so inclined, it would be best to find a professional therapist who can administer the drug and guide them through the “trip.”

    A Final Thought

    There’s more to life than the mundane human existence. Our five senses are limited. When we open ourselves to experiences beyond the ordinary, we can widen our horizons in ways that are enriching and even astounding.

  • THE ARTS IN THE WAKE OF PESTILENCE (REVISITED)

    In April of 2020, I posted an article with a look at the history of pandemics and how the community of artists reacted to them. I wanted to understand and convey the effect these tragic events had on the arts. Now, almost two years later, there’s been enough new art produced to get some perspective. I’d like to share what I’ve found.

    Broad Strokes

    There’s a website out there whose URL address is covid19streetart.omeka.net and their name is Urban Art Mapping. A quote from their home page pays immediate homage to street art. ” Artists and writers producing work in the streets – including tags, graffiti, murals, stickers, and other installations on walls, pavement, and signs – are in a unique position to respond quickly and effectively in a moment of crisis. Street art’s ephemeral nature serves to reveal very immediate and sometimes fleeting responses, often in a manner that can be raw and direct. At the same time, in the context of a crisis, street art also has the potential to transform urban space and foster a sustained political dialogue, reaching a wide audience, particularly when museums and galleries are shuttered. For all of these reasons, it is not surprising to see an explosion of street art around the world created in response to the Covid-19 global pandemic, even as our movement in public spaces is limited due to public health concerns.” Urban Art Mapping displays an archive of Covid-19 street art from around the world that conveys deeply touching images.

    Songs in the Key of Covid

    Aarp.org published an article titled, Pandemic Songs: The New Music Genre. An excerpt gives us an idea of how the pandemic has given painful birth to lots of music.

    “COVID-19 pulled the plug on live music. If there’s a silver lining, it’s how musicians have responded to the pandemic through songs of pain, frustration, anger and hope.

    Spotify data analyst Glenn McDonald maintains a playlist, The Sound of the Virus, that tracks tunes about the pandemic. The tally, updated daily and ranked by popularity, exceeds 8,300 songs and is currently topped by “Stuck With U” by Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber. Every genre, mood and point of view crops up in COVID songs. You’ll find hope and inspiration in “Sing for Life,” a passionate ballad from U2’s Bono and Jennifer Hudson, will.i.am and Yoshiki. Optimism radiates from Beach Boy Mike Love’s “This Too Shall Pass,” featuring John Stamos. Queen + Adam Lambert retooled the uplifting “You Are the Champions.”

    Our Kindred Spirits band leader has composed a few songs while in “retreat,” as he likes to refer to it. I’ve written a couple as well.

    Films and TV

    It was inevitable for the pandemic to show up in movies and television dramas. It reflects our altered culture and to ignore it would have been impossible. One area of fertile ground had to be the plethora of medical shows. We watch a couple of these in our home. The Good Doctor brought the virus front and center for a while upon their return from hiatus. New Amsterdam gave us a close view of possible ramifications for a leading physician to be stricken with Covid-19.

    Early on, I found that every tribute I saw to front line medical workers brought on a wave of emotion within me, often resulting in tears.

    From what I can tell in my limited research, there have been approximately 55 films released which center around the Covid-19 pandemic. All genres are represented, including drama, comedy, romance, science fiction, horror, thriller, documentary and short. They’re domestic and international, live action and animated. Of them all, I’ve seen two and both were streaming at home. One was Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, a hilarious satire in the inimitable style of Sasha Baron Cohen. The other was a French dramedy about seven families who have stayed in their apartment building while many have fled Paris during lockdown. The film is titled Stuck Together. Many stories of this historic time have been told and apparently everyone has a unique way of telling them. There will be ample opportunity for future generations to witness how it was to endure this pandemic.

    Comedy

    The final artistic category I will cover is stand-up comedy. I’ve seen one sample, Jim Gaffigan’s Netflix special, Comedy Monster. Gaffigan spends much of the time joking about the circumstances of the pandemic. His insights are astute and they’re delivered with his usual brilliant blend of deadpan absurdity and timing. It was an entertaining way to have the pestilence put into perspective.

    Of course, there have been numerous other comedy specials that have provided commentary about the pandemic. A few that have made a “15 Best Stand-up Specials” list compiled by the e-zine Paste include Live From the Pandemic by Mary Lynn Rajskub, Inside by Bo Burnham, and # Hashtag by Josh Johnson.

    Write On

    Let this strange time be a time for growth, for learning to live and love in the face of disease and fear. So, yes, write on and paint on and dance on until you lie your head on your pillow in creative exhaustion. Show the world your talent against all odds.