It only takes three little words, six measly letters, to put forth one of the most profound question any human being could wish to contemplate. This is the question, though, that will lead us to know our transpersonal identity. This identity is right in front of us all the time but seeing it, describing it, putting it into words seems a formidable task.

Developing a model to explain the workings of a set of interrelated concepts is an excellent way to reduce a vast variety and quantity of ideas, thoughts, and facts into a usable form. I have chosen to present my model of transpersonal identity at the beginning, explain it as best I can, compare it to science and religion, and expound upon the fundamental points. It will be clearly evident to many that my thinking regarding the nature of spirit and the spiritual realm has been greatly influenced by the Edgar Cayce readings and other Cayce material.

The basic form of my model, shown on the next page, is that of a vessel floating in an infinite sea. This vessel contains our universe, a realm of just a few dimensions within the totality of dimensions existing in the infinite sea. The vessel takes its form through the mind of the creator. It is wide open at the top and bulb-shaped at the bottom. All space inside the vessel is freely open to the space of the infinite sea. Free movement between the vessel and the sea is possible but rarely happens for humans prior to physical death. In the bulb-shaped portion is the complete Earth plane that I represent as a closed system of life which completes endless circuits of activity.

These circles of human activity lead nowhere because they are illusion, or perhaps more precise, delusion. In the area of deception and self-deception, mankind seems to occupy a unique position. Animals and plants of all kinds use deceptive behavior to achieve their goals. They change colors to blend with the background and thus fool predators. They

puff themselves up to look more ferocious than they are. They use colorful appendages to lure prey into striking range. They imitate the sounds of the opposite sex to attract their next meal. They excrete odors which disguise their nature. In short, many animal and plant life forms lie. To my knowledge, however, man alone is capable of lying to himself.

We accomplish this delusion by maintaining that the material world is permanent, that it provides us security, that it contains all the worthy goals and answers. We repeat this falseness so much we come to believe it. We experience hunger only to satisfy our need and become hungry again. We desire material things, work hard, earn money and buy them only to find the satisfaction temporary. Then we want something else. We wish for higher position and more power, thinking they will bring happiness. We achieve what we aspire to, but true joy and peace of mind still elude us. We go in endless circles, sure that our next achievement or acquisition will be the ultimate. But we only end at the beginning of a new cycle of self-deception. These endless circuits are represented by closed loops at the bottom of the vessel.

Although it contains much delusion and illusion, the Earth plane is not a bad place. In the activities of this closed system there is much love and compassion. Many acts of kindness are done here. All beings in this plane have a sense, from time to time, that they are part of a grander existence. Some choose to acknowledge this awareness; others ignore it or even suppress it. Nevertheless, we go round and round in the Earth plane, mostly unaware of the true nature and the wonders of our universe.

Living in the Earth plane is a golden opportunity. I am convinced that many spirit beings long for this chance to live in these limited dimensions. Through even the most simple life experiences we learn the wonders of our own nature and are afforded glimpses of even greater things. I believe it is natural for us, while trapped in these circuits of doing and thinking, to sense a connectedness with the higher dimensions of spirit. One of the greatest life experiences is to discover this connectedness.

The top of the vessel is wide open to the infinite sea of life and energy. The sea is a perfect system without boundaries. In the top part of the vessel is an open system of life. Paths from here lead ever upward to merge with the infinite. Here spirit can seek and find, ask and receive, apply itself and find its way. Through these paths, lasting satisfaction is possible and inner peace may be realized. This spiritual realm at the top is the gateway to the infinite. All paths in this spiritual realm lead to the presence of the Creator.

We are welcome here. There are spirits here who may move back and forth between the infinite sea and the upper realms of the vessel. They want us to discover them, to know them, and to love them as fellow children of the Creator. Here is the true home of our spirit. Through exceptional experiences, humans pay visits to this wonderful place and begin to sense its majesty. This realm can seem very alien at times because the physical senses of our bodies and the logical thinking of our brains are severely lacking to understand this world.

There is help and comfort here. I am convinced many of the spiritual beings of this upper realm function as spiritual guides and protective angles. They want us to grow in spirit and constantly find ways to spur us on. They work in many ways, mostly subtle and quiet. They know how to be explicit when they have to. Their motivation is always love. This area is represented by an open spiral, an open system of spirit leading upward to discovery and growth.

The spiritual beings that are, for the time being, restricted to the confines of the vessel are represented by the figure at the center, labeled ÒTHIS BEING.Ó That_s me; this is the way I see myself. As described in the Edgar Cayce readings, I am a spiritual being that is having a physical experience. I am attached to my physical body by strong bonds - bonds which can be stretched and sometimes temporarily severed. I have a physical, a mental, and a spiritual essence. When these are aligned, I am happy, healthy, and peaceful. In this vessel, I am on a journey and feel I have a long way to go to reach my ultimate destination.

In the grand scheme of things, I know I am blessed to have the opportunity to experience this life on Earth. This is a magnificent time to be alive. There is so much to be experienced and learned. Each moment in the eternal present reveals new knowledge and insight. But I am restless. I know I am not complete as I am now. I have longings. I seek the Earth. I seek the Creator. I seek kindred spirits.

My affinity for the things of this earth plane is strong. Like so many of my earthly brothers and sisters I take great comfort in the material and physical pleasures found in this plane. Why shouldn_t I? I have expended a great deal of energy to create them. I enjoy close bonds with many people. I love and am loved. My fundamental needs to survive, which for so long I have associated with life itself, are met in the physical existence. I have only to hold my breath for less than a minute to feel the immediate need for fresh air to fill my lungs. Food delights my senses and quells the hunger pangs. Physical contact is sensual and soothing. I like to be stroked, physically and psychologically.

Comfortable shelter make me feel secure. Having a few months mortgage payments in the bank makes me feel even more secure. Food in the pantry brings a special comfort all its own. Strange as it may seem, paying bills puts me at ease. When the checks are written and the postman picks the up, there is relief, freedom from being hassled, at least for another month. Even a fresh oil change for the car brings a sense of ease, thinking there is a lesser chance that something will go wrong. I have created these illusions for myself and I quite enjoy them.

As rooted as I am in earthly ways, there are those moments of awareness in which a glimpse of the ÒmoreÓ is afforded me. These are the times we experience and know we are one with the infinite life forces. These times are precious. These times are the ÒtransÓ, the moving beyond our ordinary state of existence. These are the times of uncovering what has been there all along.

These periods may be fleeting or prolonged but they are experiential evidence of a connection to an existence beyond the physical self. By experiencing these episodes of transcendence we come to know something of our transpersonal identity. These times may come upon us unexpectedly or, with patience and practice, in a regular, more or less controlled, way. The birth of a child or the death of a parent might fill us with a strange sense of being part of a grander universe than we can imagine. Watching a sunset or smelling a rose can take us to the subtle limits of our known dimensions, ready to reach beyond. We may help induce these transpersonal experiences by recalling the setting and circumstances under which we experienced them. We may prolong them by embracing them with a loving attitude and gently accepting what they bring. We may also develop the connectedness experience through activities such as meditation.

Through meditation, one may actually experience our oneness with all of creation. I follow many of the practices of the Edgar Cayce approach to meditation. Its purpose is the attunement of the physical and mental bodies with their spiritual source. Its practice quiets the mind and brings a stillness which is nothing short of a grand inner adventure.

A few simple exercises at the start promote a relaxed feeling and the unrestricted flow of energy along the spine. Deep breathing relaxes and when particular words or feelings are associated with the in-breath and out breath, the mind is cleansed. As persistent stray thoughts enter the mind, they are gently replaced with words, or better yet feelings, reflecting the Christ consciousness. Soon the connection is made with the golden silence and I am beyond the boundaries of this dimension.

Regular meditation can have profound effects in maintaining a ÒtransÓ lifestyle. Frequent attunement of the physical, mental and spiritual cannot help but create more awareness that my earthly life is in concordance with my spiritual life. Senses of truly belonging come more frequently and last longer. My attention goes more often to thoughts and things of a spiritual nature. I believe I have clearer insights into what is happening around me. My transpersonal identity is revealing itself.

I find group meditation particularly beneficial. I currently meditate in groups two or three times each week. I highly recommend it! The energy of the group is a real and palpable thing. It multiplies your own energy and often quickens and facilitates the attunement process.

My ÒtransÓ experiences are given a special boost when I seek out kindred spirits, those who share similar thinking and practice. They are the members of study groups and co-attendees and lectures and meetings. They are the friends with whom I have long deep discussions. They are the strangers with whom I sense a unique ability to communicate on special levels. They are the folks with whom I have the briefest of encounters and yet feel as though they have touched me in a profound way.

Transpersonal experiences move us beyond the earthly plane in any number of ways. The key realization for me is that these experiences can be cultivated and developed along ways which promote spiritual growth. They establish my transpersonal identity.

Traditional scientific thought grew out of a need to understand how things worked in our physical universe. People wanted and needed to clear up the mysteries. One of the primary goals was to make our world a more predictable place. The scientific method established standards for observing and measuring which ensured repeatability and thus predictability.

Science provides a rigorous regimen for discovering, measuring, documenting, calculating, and analyzing data to show laws of how the universe operates but rarely addresses the ÒwhyÓ dimension of these laws. If a scientific text does comment on why these laws exist or what may have set them in motion, the strongest commentary to be found is usually a vague reference to a supreme creator tucked neatly out of the way in the preface.

Science would have us believe that what is not measurable, demonstrable, repeatable, and predictable it is not worthy of our consideration. Much of transpersonal experience fails these tests. Much evidence of spiritual growth has only very subjective measures. Elements of spiritual growth may never repeat themselves. And one of the most constant attributes of matters of the spirit seems to be unpredictability. This may lead us to question whether scientific method is appropriate in evaluating transpersonal experiences.

On one hand, the answer to this question is absolutely yes. Even the most carefully gathered data, collected with the finest instruments, has subjective elements. It is subject to error and bias. With an understanding of these drawbacks, it can still be successfully used in scientific inquiry. Personal perception and testimony of experiences is equally valid data. More and more instances are being found where activities of a transpersonal nature are yielding measurable results. When carefully recorded and organized, and with an appreciation for inherent errors, this data can be evaluated for commonalties and similar themes sufficient to draw conclusions. Theories of transpersonal events may also include the uncertainty of outcome as we find today in theories of quantum physics.

On the other hand, we should not be overly concerned with applying strict scientific guidelines to transpersonal phenomena. Reports of transpersonal experiences often take the form of stories. Often it is not just the mere content of the story that is valuable but how the elements come together that shapes the message. I have heard and read accounts of transpersonal experiences which, while otherwise beautiful and meaningful, were weakened and left wanting by Òend of storyÓ attempts to assert that the events met traditional scientific criteria. It seemed as though the authors or tellers felt a need to don a mantle of credibility or respectability by claiming scientific method.

In the meantime, I know my experiences are real and valid from my perspective. Although lacking the attributes of traditional scientific method, my observations lead to theory. My practice and personal testing shoots down some theory and supports other. The result may or may not be scientific truth, but it is my truth.

Up to this point in my life, I have been generally disappointed with religion as I have experienced it. Now I am finding that exploring my transpersonal nature is yielding answers and understanding that the pursuit of religion never gave before. But my views on religion is this short discourse are not meant to be a ÒblastÓ of religion. I_m not qualified for that. I have never really studied the religions of the world and truthfully cannot claim to understand their major tenets. But like so many other things, even things I know nothing about, I have an opinion!

I was raised in the Methodist church. I remember hearing the message that Jesus is our savior, that he gave his life so that we may live. This was good. I remember Sunday school and church being like an extra day of school. This was bad. My early years in the Methodist church did not leave me with any other strong feelings. In later years, my discovery of the vast atrocities committed in the name of religion did not encourage me to embrace any religion.

I believe that many organized religions today stop short of the blessings they could be because they are severely limited in purpose, goals, and intentions. There is a high value placed on conformity. There is a preoccupation with organization and order. Often these seem to be the main focus of activity. A collection of beliefs and practices are put together as a Òpackage dealÓ for worship. A church hierarchy controls organizational matters and interpretation of theological issues. Too much of religion is dedicated to driving the lifestyle of members. Too often the focus is on the Òdon_tsÓ - with oppressive results.

My relationship with God is not defined or necessarily to be found within a religious order. But my quest to know God and know my relationship with God can be supported by a community of like-minded friends. I am fortunate to be experiencing this now.

My transpersonal identity encompasses faith and belief, but not the blind versions. I believe a church or religious order should support this. I look to Unity, my church, to provide encouragement for inquiry and testing in my search for my true identity. I look to my church to provide structure in the right areas and right amounts to meet my present needs - and not to criticize if I don_t feel I need it. I look to my church to support discovery and spiritual growth. It is accomplishing this basically by affirming the oneness of all life, affirming the Christ within each and every one of us, and affirming the message of loving one another. There need be nothing more.

I believe my transpersonal life and my spiritual life are closely linked. At this point in my life the religious activities I choose are supporting my spiritual journey.

In attempting to answer the question posed by those three little words at the beginning of this effort, I have described the universe I live in and what is important to me. This universe I journey through helps to shape my identity. The experiences and feelings I have on my journey help to define who I am. My longings, yearnings, and seekings reveal other dimensions of my nature. All of this shows my identity as being inextricably linked to all of life. Instead of revealing how unique I am, this investigation has shown me how much I am a part of the oneness of creation.

Although I do not understand how everything happens on my journey, I know it is not random. There is order and purpose in everything. Contemplating my transpersonal identity has reinforced my belief that I am on a journey of discovery. This identity I have described is but a glimpse of who and what I really am. I am confident the real me will continue to unfold.