{"id":18843,"date":"2023-04-12T08:59:25","date_gmt":"2023-04-12T07:59:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kennethsorensen.dk\/?p=18843"},"modified":"2026-01-17T17:00:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T16:00:10","slug":"a-brief-address-on-the-self","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennethsorensen.dk\/en\/a-brief-address-on-the-self\/","title":{"rendered":"A Brief Address on the Self"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

The \u201cSELF\u201d is not a function, but has functions; it’s not only movement and creation, but he is the origin, the source of all movement and future becoming: he is above all \u201cESSENCE\u201d, \u201cSUBSTANCE \u2013 TRANSCENDENCE<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

By Roberto Assagioli,<\/span><\/span><\/strong> (Date unknown), From the Assagioli Archive Florence<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Generally speaking, people in this world are not often conscious of their \u201cSELF\u201d. However, this does not mean that such consciousness cannot be obtained: on the contrary, it can be by a direct and living experience. Obviously, the explanation of such an experience can only be symbolic, subjective and paradoxical, the “SELF” being the place, the Center, the Principle where all the apparent contradictions are resolved, the synthesis of all opposite poles.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Talking about such an experience, I shall therefore rather speak of witnesses given than of proofs of it. There are differences between expressions and descriptions, although a basic unanimity exists. The experiment of the “SELF” gradually becomes a living reality and the SELF, a living being, an Entity, a living body.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The \u201cSELF\u201d is not a function, but has functions; it’s not only movement and creation, but he is the origin, the source of all movement and future becoming: he is above all \u201cESSENCE\u201d, \u201cSUBSTANCE \u2013 TRANSCENDENCE\u201d, This last world, I know, sounds rather strange to modern ears and it’s even considered with suspicion in present times: lets first try do find out why.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We must, first of all, recall the three fundamental conceptions of the Supreme Reality, of the “Spirit”, of “God”. The first and primitive conception was a rather anthropomorphic one. Facing the frightening mystery men at-first projected an idealized, enlarged image of themselves and created a sort of pattern of a human image of God.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The psychological and human evolution made then little by little men aware of the wrong, childish, psychic aspects of such a conception. By successive eliminations, they then arrived at the conception of pure Transcendence, to affirm the pure “Spirit”, the Universal Spirit, with no individual or psychological elements. This led to dualism, ie to a dualistic attitude towards God and Nature, the Creator and the Creature: outlet of this were some desperate, inhuman theologies and philosophies \u2013 that still now have their representatives among some of the Protestant currents.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

By reaction to this conception, Modern World has emphasized the concept of Immanence: the Spirit was felt in its multiple manifestations, in the exterior nature, in the human being and above all, in the becoming and in the vital and creative element displayed all around us. We could say that a pure concept of Immanence has been reached, and Transcendence was denied and forgotten.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n