Essentialist Theory Quotes & Sayings

I call this theory mystical pluralism because of its similarity to John Hick's pluralist interpretation of religion. The theory is essentialist in both the therapeutic and epistemological senses described above. Its thesis is that mystical traditions initiate common transformative processes in the consciousness of mystics. Though mystical doctrines and practices may be quite different across traditions, they nevertheless function in parallel ways - they disrupt the processes of mind that maintain ordinary, egocentric experience and induce a structural transformation of consciousness. The essential characteristic of this transformation is an increasingly sensitized awareness/knowledge of Reality that manifests as (among other things) an enhanced sense of emotional well-being, an expanded locus of concern engendering greater compassion for others, an enhanced capacity to creatively negotiate one's environment, and a greater capacity for aesthetic appreciation. — Randall Studstill

The moon sets and the eastern sky lightens, the hem of night pulling away, taking stars with it one by one until only two are left. — Anthony Doerr

I think there's a very strong Calvinistic bias against a free lunch. The idea that you could achieve a spiritual insight without suffering, soul-searching, flagellation, and that sort of thing, is abhorrent to people because they believe that the vision of these higher dimensions should be vouchsafed to the good, and probably to them only after death. It is alarming to people to think that they could take a substance like psilocybin or DMT and have these kinds of experiences. — Terence McKenna

I'm here because of what I write. Obviously, I must know something. — Fiona Apple

We may mount from this dull Earth; and viewing it from on high, consider whether Nature has laid out all her cost and finery upon this small speck of Dirt. So, like Travellers into other distant countries, we shall be better able to judge of what's done at home, know how to make a true estimate of, and set its own value upon every thing. We shall be less apt to admire what this World calls great, shall nobly despise those Trifles the generality of Men set their Affections on, when we know that there are a multitude of such Earths inhabited and adorn'd as well as our own. — Christiaan Huygens

It is a privilege to join the campaign to support Bradley Manning for his courage and integrity in serving his country by helping make the government accountable to its citizens, and to inform the world of what its people should know. — Noam Chomsky

When it came to explosives and radios, bad things sometimes happened to good engineers. — James Rollins

As a whole, people suck," I replied. "But a person can be extraordinary. — Jim Butcher

Jimmy says he'll never tell a lie. Well, I lie all the time. I have to - to balance the family ticket. — Lillian Gordy Carter

The volcanic bubbling of everything in one pan made it very difficult to hear a crying child on the doorstep. — Ainslie Hogarth

It took many years for me to see that hope doesn't take sadness away," Blue said sincerely. "But hope reminds you there's something good in spite of the sadness. There's joy still ahead, still yours for the taking. — Natalie Lloyd