Unlock Enlightenment Now: Clare Carlisle’s “Transcendence for Beginners” Reviewed

Throughout history, philosophers have drawn inspiration from various elements of nature. For instance, Nietzsche was moved by mountains, while Plato found his muse in caves. Clare Carlisle, however, discovered her philosophical inspiration in a unique setting—a cave situated midway up a mountain.

This transformative encounter occurred two decades ago when Carlisle was hiking along a trail in the Himalayas. There, she met a holy man who resided in a nearby cave. Unlike the typical image of a sadhu, this holy man didn’t sport unkempt hair or scant clothing; instead, he dressed in neat trousers and a synthetic sweater. Over the course of three meetings, although he didn’t offer any profound insights, their final interaction involved sharing a laugh over a cushion with chicken-like patterns that Carlisle had gifted him, all while they were under the influence of marijuana. Despite the light-hearted nature of their meetings, Carlisle left with a deep-seated “yearning” for a more elevated existence, or a glimpse of “transcendence,” providing a new perspective on life.

Carlisle went on to establish herself as a renowned philosophy professor and an esteemed biographer of figures like Søren Kierkegaard and George Eliot. The holy man faded from her immediate thoughts until she was asked to deliver the 2024 Gifford Lectures, which focus on “natural theology.” She chose this pivotal encounter as the foundation for her series of six interconnected essays derived from the lectures.

In the first essay, Carlisle recounts her Himalayan adventure, setting the stage for the subsequent essays that delve deeper into philosophical explorations. The second essay is particularly intriguing, as Carlisle draws on her biographical writing experiences to highlight a stark contrast in viewing human lives.

Living one’s life is akin to being in a constantly flowing river, filled with variety and incompletion, where new experiences pour in continuously. Virginia Woolf described this sensation as a “shower of atoms.” It’s challenging to step out of this temporal flow to view our lives from a higher standpoint. Conversely, a biographer looking at a life that has concluded gains a clearer perspective. Although some vivid details may be lost, the biographer can “float up” to see the life’s trajectory, much like a satellite captures the entire course of a river. From this vantage point, one can view life “under the aspect of eternity,” borrowing a phrase from Spinoza.

Carlisle uses a children’s story from Karen Blixen’s Out of Africa to illustrate this concept. The story involves a man who wanders in the dark, stumbling and changing directions, only to realize by daylight that his random steps have formed a perfect stork. This metaphor suggests that while we live, we unwittingly create meaningful patterns, which may only become apparent through art or mystical experiences.

The concept of manifesting something significant through life is further explored in the subsequent essays. “The Milieu” examines the broader contexts—historical, social—that shape a life. “Incarnations” discusses the spiritual embodiments evident in individuals. “Arunachala” partly focuses on Ramana Maharshi, another cave-dwelling sage who overcame his fear of death to become a mystic and teacher. The concluding chapter, “Transcendence for Beginners,” questions whether it’s possible to access a noble or enlightened state while still engaged in the everyday.

By the book’s conclusion, Carlisle has skillfully guided us through a profound philosophical journey, much like an earlier Gifford lecturer, William James. She blends meticulous text analysis—especially of Spinoza, Eliot, and Proust—with personal anecdotes. Although some references may seem fleeting, her detailed discussions are insightful and moving, particularly her interpretations of Eliot’s Daniel Deronda and artist Celia Paul.

Looking back, the book traverses a landscape that is neither strictly religious nor purely aesthetic, literary, or psychological. Like the protagonist in Blixen’s fable, we perceive a distinct pattern formed by our journey, one that might differ for each reader or even for the same reader under different circumstances. This variability is a testament to Carlisle’s open-ended, non-dogmatic approach, leaving all possibilities vibrant in this nuanced, generous work.