Ralph Waldo Emerson - Enlightened American

by Robert Wilkinson

Ralph Waldo Emerson was one of the earliest and greatest of American philosopher sages. At the core of the Transcendentalist movement, he and other legendary New England writers gave young America intellectual and philosophical credibility and direction. The metaphysics Emerson and others lived and discussed in the early 19th century offered seed ideas that prepared America for the introduction of the Ageless Wisdom of the East by H.P. Blavatsky just a few decades later.

One principle of Transcendentalism is that all of us are able to commune directly with the source of Divine Inspiration, since all of us are parts of a larger Unity of Soul-Spirit. As it was put by W.H. Channing, "Amidst materialists, zealots, and skeptics, the Transcendentalist believed in perpetual inspiration, the miraculous power of will, and a birthright to universal good." Sounds good to me. This from Emerson's "The Over-Soul," courtesy of "The Sage from Concord."

"Thus revering the soul, and learning, as the ancient said, that 'its beauty is immense,' man will come to see that the world is the perennial miracle which the soul worketh, and be less astonished at particular wonders; he will learn that there is no profane history; that all history is sacred; that the universe is represented in an atom, in a moment of time. He will weave no longer a spotted life of shreds and patches, but he will live with a divine unity. He will cease from what is base and frivolous in his life and be content with all places and with any service he can render. He will calmly front the morrow in the negligency of that trust which carried God with it and so hath already the whole future in the bottom of the heart."

There is definitely something to be said for living in the here and now, observing the impermanence of what we perceive with our five senses and our minds. Everything in this world is always in flux, except the love and light we are, whether we or anyone else notices it nor not. Since we are Eternals having human experiences in the physical, emotional, and mental realms, it is useful to be flexible, detach from taking the changes personally, and as positive as possible in cultivating genuine goodwill in the midst of the ignorance, dullness, and violence of our times. "All history is sacred." It's all in your point of view. And anything is possible if you just find the right point of view.

(Originally published 25 January 2005)

Comments

[KH]

Robert:
I loved this. What a wise posting. Thanks again for all you do.
KH

[Robert]

Hi KH - Glad you liked it. Always thought Emerson was one of the best, a true American original!

[Don]

I have "Emerson on Education, Selections" on loan from the Library:
"The Supreme Critic on the errors of the past and the present, and the only prophet of that which must be, is that great nature in which we rest as the earth lies in the soft arms of the atmosphere; that Unity, that Over-Soul, within which every man's particular being is contained and made one with all other; that commom heart of which all sincere conversation is the worship, to which all right action is submission"...."We see the world piece by piece, as the sun, the moon, the animal, the tree; but the whole, of which these are the shining parts, is the soul. Only by the vision of that Wisdom can the horoscope of the ages be read, and by falling back on our better thoughts, by yeilding to the spirit of prophecy which is innate in every man, we can know what it saith."~Emmerson

Robert, thank you for (what I perceive as) your A-papers snippets of "the vision of that Wisdom"

The article today is beautiful, complete, and so the book goes back to the library.

Don-

Don-

[Robert]

Thanks for the great Emerson quote, Don. He was a man of immense wisdom and sensitivity. Would that we had even one like him with the reins of power, as the world would be a so much better place, and all of us better off for it.

[Teresa]

Ralph Waldo Emerson was not only one of the greatest essayist of American history and the “Sage of Concord” . He was also a poet and has an entire collection of poetry. This is one of his poems dealing with transcendentalist movement written during the same era. He is my favorite poet and I felt you all may enjoy this……..

Brahma

If the red slayer think he slays,
Or if the slain think he is slain,
They know not well the subtle ways
I keep, and pass, and turn again.

Far or forgot to me is near,
Shadow and sunlight are the same,
The vanished gods to me appear,
And one to me are shame and fame.

They reckon ill who leave me out;
When me they fly, I am the wings;
I am the doubter and the doubt,
And I the hymn the Brahmin sings.

The strong gods pine for my abode,
And pine in vain the sacred Seven;
But thou, meek lover of the good!
Find me, and turn thy back on heaven.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
1856 [1857]

[Robert]

One of the criticisms of his poetry is that he was hung up on rhyming. I think he's a genius, and a true American master. This poem is magnificent. I also think he had a bit of the imp in him, a la John Lennon, using rhymes within lines to convey textural imagery. ("Please, pleas me" was the original Lennon lyric.)

[Don]

What was it about John Lennon and Emmerson that still effect so many? I was born in 79' just before Lennon died. When I first watched 'Imagine, John Lennon' I cried at the end and said to my parents "why did John have to die?"
Anyone, when John sang 'God'..."God is a concept by which we measure our pain...I don't believe in Iching-Jesus-Buddha-Beatles-etc, I just believe in me, Yoko and Me." Was this song after 'Imagine' or 'Instant Karma'? I have always wondered of his introspective and emotional/spiritual evolution. I would love an answer from my wise, experienced, respected elders on this one.
If the question is digressive- ignore it.
Sincerely,
Don.

[Robert]

Emerson was a major American masterpiece in a still forming country. Lennon was a major global masterpiece in a still forming culture. "God" came after Instant Karma, before Imagine. You may want to read "The Love You Make" to find out more about the inside story of the Beatles. As for Emerson, his works are many places. Read as much of him as you can. Robert Browning too. Also "The Initiate" by Cyril Scott, and The Key To Theosophy by HPB.

[Diane Scholten]

Don, I just have to put out there that I find your questioning, eager, youthful self charming & delightful. And it does my old hippie soul good to see the young ones quoting our heroes & asking after them. Makes me want to call up my own dear Dad and ask after some of his heroes. I think of that line from Mike & the Mechanics "every generation blames the one that went before" ---- that is, until you get past 50 and realize you stand on the shoulders of giants.

[dcu]

Here, here, Diane. I second your comment. It does us old baby boomers good when the young ones ask such questions. Thank you teresa for posting the poen "Brahma." It has been one of my favorites for many years.

My story to add to this stream:
Once when Thoreau was in jail for an act of civil disobedience, Emerson came to visit him. "Henry," Emerson said, "Why are you in jail?" to which Thoreau replied, "Ralph, why are you NOT in jail?"
Here's to Emerson, Thoreau, MLK, Mahatma Gandhi, and John Lennon. Saints they are, every one.

With this Full Moon in Aquarius and the New Moon eclipse approaching, look out status quo. There is something happening here, and you don't know what it is, do you Mr Jones? Blessings be to all.
Aum Nama Shivaya.
dcu

[Robert]

Hi dcu - Great insights and quote! There's definitely something going to be unveiled as a result of this Full Moon which will put some people's "shorts in a bunch," as they say. ;-)