Meditation and Self-transcendence: A Human Need?
Integrative psychological & behavioral science September 1, 2024 Simone Indius 3 citations
Building on previous work that connects Taoist principles and social psychology, this commentary explores how mindfulness, meditation, and self-transcendence fit into Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs. It proposes adding a new layer to the hierarchy: the need for self-transcendence, drawing on Maslow's concept of peak-experiences and William James' notion of mystical experiences. An autoethnographic meditative experience is analyzed as a peak-experience to illustrate how people strive for this state of being.