The Universal Path to Transcendence in Global Spiritual Traditions

As part of our ongoing Global Collective Consciousness project, we find inspiration and connection with many traditions that embrace practices of transcendence as pathways to transformation.
The Cuyamungue Institute’s focus on cultivating presence through expanded states of consciousness connects deeply with the mystical and contemplative traditions across many world religions and spiritual paths. At its core, the Institute emphasizes the use of trance states as a gateway to inner wisdom, a theme reflected in Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sufism, Gnosticism, and various alternative forms of spirituality.

For example, in Buddhism, meditative practices guide practitioners to transcend ordinary perception, reaching states of non-dual awareness and insight into the nature of reality. Christian mysticism employs contemplative prayer to seek union with the divine through inner stillness and transcendence. In Hinduism, especially within Yoga and Tantra, expanded states are cultivated through breathwork (pranayama), meditation, and sacred postures (asanas) to awaken kundalini energy. Sufism uses practices like the whirling dance of the dervishes or dhikr (chanting) to transcend the self and experience divine love and unity. Similarly, Gnosticism focuses on direct, experiential knowledge (gnosis) of spiritual truths, often accessed through visions or altered states.