This course focuses on the concept of enlightenment in south and central Asian traditions, such as Buddhism and contemplative Hindu beliefs, as well as Western psychological views within transpersonal and humanistic approaches. Themes include theories of consciousness, the distinctions between terms associated with enlightened states, meditation practices, and horizons of ultimate human potential and personal resilience. We also explore these themes in the context of therapeutic well-being and how personal aspirations of transcendence may impact individuals in clinical contexts. Key questions include: how does the understanding of enlightenment provide a view of hope for human flourishing? What practices support such a state? How do the names we give such experiences and their correlate states serve to describe direct experiences of transcendence in meditation? And how might notions of self-realization and higher consciousness impact one's sense of well-being, flourishing, and ultimate purpose?
