Steve McIntosh - The Presence of the Infinite: The Spiritual Experience of Beauty, Truth, and Goodness

T his book is about spiritual experience, which can be understood as an encounter with the presence of the infinite within our finite universe of time and space. While the human experience of spirit takes many forms and can be conceived of in a wide variety of ways, I have found that this idea of spirit as the presence of the infinite sheds a considerable amount of light on this complex subject. Gaining a deeper understanding of spiritual experience is important because as we come to better appreciate what spiritual experience is and how it works, this enhances our ability to have such experiences more abundantly and to use them more effectively for our personal growth and for our service to others.

My foundational premise, based on my own experience and the reported experience of millions of others in both ancient and modern contexts, is that spirit by whatever name is real and that it is possible for humans to make authentic contact with it. The question of what spirit is in itself, of course, is subject to debate. But the idea that spiritual experience isactually and literallyan experience of that which is infinite or transcendent may find agreement among many who are open-minded about the possibility of some kind of spiritual reality.

All humans crave spiritual experience (properly understood), whether they know it or not. Indeed, an encounter with transcendence is an end in itself. Such experiences can be thrilling and delightful; they can be illuminating and inspiring; they can be heartwarming and comforting; and they can even be awesome and terrifying. But as we will explore, what all authentic spiritual experiences have in common is this connection to a qualityof being that is best described as infinite. Within the context of spiritual experience, the idea of the infinite includes not only a mathematical infinity of quantityboundless, endless, unlimited, immeasurable, and eternalbut also a metaphysical infinity of qualityunified, whole, complete, perfect, self-sufficient, and largely beyond definition or conception. Yet even though the infinite is largely transconceptual and elusive, it can be directly experienced by humans.

For those who have experienced spirit personally and directly there can be little doubt about the authenticity of this reality. And even those who claim not to be acquainted with spiritual experience have nonetheless had such experiences, whether they are labeled spiritual or not. Everyone who has felt the power of truth, the kindness of goodness, or the loveliness of beauty has had an experience of spirit. The only reason such common yet profound experiences are not universally identified as spiritual is that our collective understanding of spiritual experience remains underdeveloped. However, recent advances in the philosophy of consciousness are now making it possible to understand this important subject with new depth and clarity.

Spiritual experience is important not only because it is an intrinsically valuable end in itself, bringing joy, happiness, and a greater sense of well-being. Spiritual experience is also important because it causes us to grow. The experience of spirit evolves our consciousness, develops our character, and makes us more real. Our experiences of spirit, however, are not only personally beneficial; they can also benefit others by inspiring us to share our gifts and bring spiritual experience into the lives of our fellows.

In fact, history reveals that increasing the quantity and quality of spiritual experience in a given social context results in cultural evolution. In other words, spiritual experience, broadly understood, is what causes consciousness to evolve. And when consciousness evolves among a critical mass of people, their larger culture also evolves in the process. Our personal encounters with a transcendent or infinite dimension of reality can therefore have indirect political implications. Accordingly, as I will argue, deepening our understanding of what spiritual experience is and how it can be fostered in ourselves and others is one of the most direct ways we can make the world a better place.

Much has been written about spiritual experience in academic, religious, and even popular contexts. But as of the time of this writing the most famous and influential book on spiritual experience remains The Varieties of Religious Experience by American psychologist and philosopher William James. First published in 1902,