The Emergent Self, Book I, The Self

by Adrian van Kaam

Four Volume Set. Vol. 1, The Self; Vol. 2. The Self and Others; Vol. 3. The Self and Community; Vol. 4. The Self and Reality. Self emergence involves becoming aware of who I am, and integrating this awareness into my personal life as a whole. But the question how can this be done? This book shows that self-emergence is a continuous even which starts with our awakening to life as children under the watchful eyes of parents, friends and relatives and continues until death. it presupposes a vibrant and ever-renewed presence to people and events as they actually are in my life situation such presence implies looking again,seeing again, listening again, - involving myself in what is there before me in the world and allowing it to touch me afresh. In this way I am continuously reborn. All moments of life can be rewarding, and the authors insist that we look for our joy and challenge on the level of everyday life. Though the lives of others can be admirable and inspirational, I need to find my own way where I am in the conditions of my own personal existence. My real self will always be a mystery, but I can unveil it partially by participating in an increasingly personal way in the social, cultural and religious roles which are presented to me by society and history. I am not a closed-off, self-contained unit - I need contact with God, man and world to discover and develop my personality. The gracious art of living is to know without effort how to really be myself with others and within the limits of each situation, how to believe in my own plentiful and realize my deepest potential.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

Reviews

[Masha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent blend of philosophy and poetry. I use many statements from these books as affirmations and guided meditation. Quick easy read, highly recommend.

[Jason Kanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a remarkable little book. Not narrative, but short maxims make up its contents and each worthy of careful pondering. I suspect I will revisit it often.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a series of 4 short book(lets) of around 80 pages. They cover all aspects of being a "self" in a short and concise matter. Overall, the work is a conciliatory piece for people struggling to figure out their position as an individual in society. I would recommend this book if you are feeling in a funk, but if not then you will probably find it superficial. It helped me remember the principles of mindfulness and realize the ever-pertinent metaphor of the rider on an elephant which Jonathan Haidt uses to describe ourselves.