Quarter 1
LESSON 3 THE HUMAN PERSON AS AN EMBODIED SPIRIT
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS: Read the specific directions carefully before answering the exercises and activities. For
online consultations, please refer to the given schedule.
ESSENTIAL LEARNING PURPOSES: At the end of these lesson, I am expected to:
1. A: Recognize how the human body imposes limits and possibilities for
transcendence
What do I
need to 2. M: Evaluate own limitations and the possibilities for transcendence;
know?
Before going further, let us see if you can answer this exercise. I know you can do
it! This will help you to determine your prior knowledge about this topic. Good
luck!
What I know?
REVIEW Hundreds of flies gather
On a piece of rotten meat,
Enjoying, they think, a delicious feast.
This image fits with the song
Of the myriads of foolish living beings
Who seek happiness in superficial pleasures;
In countless ways they try
Yet I have never seen them satisfied
-The 7th Dalai Lama, Songs of Spiritual Change
1-5. Provide an interpretation of the poem above. Explain briefly your answer.
6-10. Provide the message of the poem above. Explain briefly your answer.
TRANSCENDENCE IN THE GLOBAL AGE
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Many people admire Jason for being the youngest director of the biggest conglomerate in
the Philippines. He is also one of the richest bachelors under 30 years old. Little do people know
that he was once a poor boy who dreamed big and worked hard to attain his current status. When
asked about his successes, Jason said that he considers seeing his family happy, imparting his
knowledge to others, and being able to serve others as the successes he is most proud of.
Like Jason, all people have lifelong goals that they want to fulfill. If you were finally able
to meet your life goal, how would you feel?
Do you think your perspective in life will change?
TRANSCENDENCE
In philosophy, the adjective transcendental and the noun transcendence convey the basic
ground concept from the word’s literal meaning (from latin), of climbing or going beyond, with
varying connotations in its different historical cultural stages. Appreciating art has transcendent
experience. Knowledge and law will also require transcendence. Scientific knowledge and laws
are transcending simple, phenomenal, things to abstract. Though there are many aspects of
transcendence, this lesson will cover three main spiritual philosophies, namely, Hinduism,
Buddhism, and Christianity.
In totality, a man is a physical body, a living soul (the inner self; mortal), and a spirit (the life-
force; immortal).
The spirit takes form through the mortal, physical body to represent its qualities in the conscious,
physical world. Each body part has its worldly function that is communicated in an expressive and
understandable form.
HINDUISM
At the heart of Hinduism lies the idea of human beings’ quest
for absolute truth, so that one’s soul and the Brahman or Atman Let us discuss the concept of
(Absolute Soul) might become one. For the Indians, God first transcendence in Buddhism and
created the sound and the universe arose from it. As the most Hinduism.
sacred sound, The Aum (om) is the root of the universe and
everything that exist and it continues
to hold everything together.
According to Hinduism, human beings have a dual manner nature: one is
the spiritual and immortal essence (soul); the other is empirical life and character.
Between the two natures however, it is maintained that it is the soul that is ultimately real.
Hindus generally believe that the soul is eternal but is bound by the law of karma (action) to the world
matter, which it can escape only after spiritual progress through an endless series of births. Go allots
rewards and punishments to all beings according to their karma (Puligandla 1997). Similar to prisoner
enclosed within the wall of his prison, a human being’s soul can be said to be temporarily encased in his
body. For this reason, humanity’s basic goal in life is the liberation (moksha), or spirit (jiva).
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Hinduism holds that humanity’s life is a continuous cycle
(samsara). While it is the spirit is neither born nor does it die,
the body, on the other hand, goes through a transmigratory
series of birth and death. Transmigration or metempsychosis
is a doctrine that adheres to the belief that a person’s soul
passes into some other creature, human, or animal. If the
person has led a good life, the soul goes upward the scale. The
soul of an evil person, on the other hand, may pass into the
body of an animal.
Moksha, thus, is an enlightened state wherein one attains
one’s true selfhood and finds
oneself one with the One, the Ultimate Reality. True knowledge (vidya) consist an understanding and
realization of the individual’s real self (atman).
In sum, Hinduism is one of the oldest Eastern traditions, practiced by hundreds of millions of people for
about 5,000 years. Also common to all Hindu thought are the four primary values. In order of increasing
importance, they may be roughly translated as wealth, pleasure, duty, and enlightenment. Wealth and
pleasures are worldly values, but when kept in perspective they are all good and desirable.
Finally, to understand enlightenment, one must understand the law of karma, the law of sowing and
reaping. All of us, through what we do or not do, supposedly determine our destiny. The wheel of
existence turns until we achieve enlightenment, after which we are released from this series of rebirth.
BUDDHISM
Another major tradition is Buddhism, contained in the teachings of its founder, Siddhartha Gautama or the
Buddha. Out of the life experience and teaching of highborn Prince Gautama of the Sakya clan in the
kingdom of Magadha, who lived from 560 to 477B.C., sprang the religious philosophy we know as
Buddhism. Gautama began searching for answers to the riddle of life’s suffering, disease, old age, and
death. Finally, while resting and meditating in a grove of trees, he came to a clear realization that the
solution lays in his own mind.
From here on, Gautama’s life was devoted to sharing his “Dharma” or
Law of Salvation- a simple presentation of the gospel of inner
cultivation of right spiritual attitudes, coupled with a self-imposed
discipline whereby bodily desires would be channeled in the right
directions.
Reduced to its simplest form, the teaching of Buddha has been set
forth traditionally in the “Four Noble Truths” leading to the “eightfold
Path” to perfect character or arhatship, which in turn gave assurance
of entrance to Nirvana at death.
In the Four Noble Truths, Gautama taught:
(1) life us full of suffering;
(2) suffering is caused by passionate desires, lusts, cravings;
(3) only as these are obliterated, will suffering cease;
(4) such eradication of desire may be accomplished only by following the Eightfold Path of
earnest endeavor.
Briefly, these eight steps are:
(1) right belief in acceptance of the “Fourfold Truth”;
(2) right aspiration for one’s self and for others;
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(3) right speech that harms no one;
(4) right conduct, motivated by goodwill toward all human beings;
(5) right means of livelihood, or earning one’s living by honorable means;
(6) right endeavor, or effort to direct one’s energies toward wise ends;
(7) right mindfulness in choosing topics for thought; and (8) right meditation, or concentration to
the point of complete absorption in mystic ecstasy.
The way to salvation, in other words, lies
through self-abnegation, rigid discipline of
mind and body, a consuming love for all
living creatures, and the final achievement of
that state of consciousness which marks an
individual’s full preparation for entering
nirvana (enlightened wisdom) of complete
selflessness. In this state, the effects of the
Law of Cause and Effect (karma) are
overcome; the Cycle of Rebirth is broken;
one may rest in calm assurance of having
attained a heavenly bliss that will stretch into all eternity.
EVALUATE OWN LIMITATIONS AND THE POSSIBILITIES FOR THEIR TRANSCENDENCE
Let us evaluate our human limitations and how we can also transcend them. Many of us experience any of
the following; for emerging from deep within and felt a sense of being in tune with the mystery of our own
being, and the mystery of life that transcend us. Let us consider the following (Edwards 1983):
FORGIVENESS – when we forgive, we are freed from our anger and bitterness because of the
actions and/or words of another. On the other hand, the hardness of our heart is reinforced by
whole series of rational arguments.
THE BEAUTY OF NATURE- there is perfection in every single flower, this is the three
philosophies believed. For a hug, for every sunrise and sunset, to eat together as family, are our
miracles. These kinds of experiences can be truly moments of grace. They touch as deeply and the
human heart is spontaneously lifted.
VULNERABILITY- to be invulnerable is somehow inhuman. To be vulnerable, is to be human.
We need to acknowledge to acknowledge the help of other people in our lives. Such as moments
of poverty and dependence on other people in our lives. Such moments of poverty and dependence
on others are not a sign of weaknesses but being true with ourselves.
FAILURE- our failures confront our weaknesses and limitations. When a relationship fails, when
a student a student fails a subject, when our immediate desire is not met, we are confronted with
the possibility of our plans, yet we are forced to surrender to a mystery or look upon gigger world.
Such acceptance and our failures make us hope and trust that all can be brought into good.
LONELINESS- our loneliness can be rooted from our sense of vulnerability and fear of death.
This I experience is so common. However, it is our choice to live in an impossible world where we
are always ‘happy” or to accept a life where solitude and companionship have a part. With pour
loneliness, we can realize that our dependence on other people or gadgets is a possessiveness that
we can be free from.
LOVE- to love is to experience richness, positivity, and transcendence. Whether in times of
ecstatic moments of struggles, the love for a friend, between family members or a significant
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person, can open us in something in the other which takes us beyond ourselves. In a Buddhist
view, the more we love, the more risks and fears there are on life (Aguillar 2010).
DISTUINGISH THE LIMITATIONS AND POSSIBILITIES FOR TRANSCENDENCE
It is also important to know that transcendence may be applied to present worries by living in the present. This
means that life is lived from moment to moment in a carefree and exuberant manner where concerns for stress are
reserved for the future, and regrets or guilt feelings are kept in the past.
It is the spiritual that endures and is ultimately real.
There is the preoccupation with the inner life-the road to enlightenment that stretches not outward but
inward.
There is an emphasis on the nonmaterial oneness of creation.
There is the acceptance of direct awareness as the only way to understand what is real.
There is a healthy respect for tradition, but never a slavish commitment to it.
The past can teach but never rule.
Limitations of Transcendence Possibilities for Transcendence
• may not occur to everyone developing a positive outlook in life
• does not come at a specified period working towards reaching a goal
• varies across all people learning from experience
• may coincide with physical
limitations of the body
The Human Body in Imposing Limits and Possibilities
From a biological and physical standpoint, it can be recognized that the human body, although it can perform many
functions, also has limitations. Limits in the environment, demographics, and society may also hinder a person
from reaching transcendence.
Here are some examples:
Bodily Limitations
• mental and emotional disorders (e.g. anxiety, intellectual disability)
• disabilities (e.g. amputated leg, deafness)
• diseases and illnesses (e.g. hypertension, cough)
• failures and experiences (e.g. failing a subject)
Social and Environmental Limitations
• socioeconomic status
• location of neighborhood (e.g. armed, disorganized, or violent neighborhood)
• abusive relationships (e.g. emotional abuse)
• negative influences (e.g. drug use)
Bodily limits can be tested by trying on new experiences and working on challenges with increasing levels of
difficulty. The human body, if given enough exposure to any situation, can attain a goal with efficiency.
However, with a proper mindset, clearly defined goals, and
Social and environmental limitations are more difficult to overcome than bodily limitations because they
motivation to rise above challenges, one may successfully
involve the influence of other people and the external world. overcome his or her limitations.
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MODULE IN INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF HUMAN PERSON | CORE SUBJECT
Now, let us check your progress.
Choose only two (2) items from the choices below and then
provide YOUR experience/s about the words you have chosen.
WHAT I CAN DO?
a. Forgiveness
b. Beauty of Nature
c. Vulnerability
d. Failure
e. Loneliness
f. Love
2 points- The idea is not clear and not 4 points- The idea stands out and supported
supported with necessary information. with minimal information
3 points- The idea is clear but not supported 5 points- The idea stands out and is supported
with necessary information. with detailed information.
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Before going further, let us see if you can answer this exercise. I know you can do it! This will
help you to determine your prior knowledge about this topic. Please be guided with the rubrics.
Good Luck!
Short Quiz
WHAT’S 2 points- The idea is not clear and not 4 points- The idea stands out and supported
MORE? supported with necessary information. with minimal information
3 points- The idea is clear but not supported 5 points- The idea stands out and is supported
with necessary information. with detailed information.
21 – 25. Describe the human person as an embodied spirit in Buddhism? Explain
briefly.
26 – 30. Describe the human person as an embodied spirit in Hinduism? Explain
briefly.
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Explore! Let us now test what you have learned in our adventure! I know you can answer these
questions! Good luck!
Instructions: Read the items below. Provide the correct answer. Write your answers on the
space provided.
31. What is the world’s oldest religion? ________________________________
ASSESSMENT
32. What is the ultimate goal of Buddhism? ___________________________
33. What is the simple presentation of the gospel of inner cultivation?
34. What is an enlightened state wherein one attains one’s true Selfhood and finds oneself
one with the One, the Ultimate Reality? ____________________________________
35. What is the sacred sound of Hinduism? _____________________________
36. What is the core principle of Buddhism?_______________________________________
37. What is the simple presentation of the gospel of inner cultivation of right spiritual
attitudes, coupled with a self-imposed discipline whereby bodily desires would be
channeled in the right directions? __________________________
38. Hinduism is to ___________________________ as Buddhism is to nirvana.
39. St. Augustine is to Love as St. Thomas Aquinas is to _______________________.
40. Hinduism is to Karma as Buddhism is to .
2 points- The idea is not clear and not 4 points- The idea stands out and supported
supported with necessary information. with minimal information
3 points- The idea is clear but not supported 5 points- The idea stands out and is supported
with necessary information. with detailed information.
41 – 45. What are the factors that you cannot unleash your full potential? Explain briefly.
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46 – 50. What should you do to overcome this factors that limit your capability? Explain
briefly.
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ENRICHMENT
Explore! Please take time to look around you. Observe the environment and identify possible
factors that may limit transcendence. You may also put yourself in the position of those who
experience such limitations. Identify ways on how you may overcome those challenges.
Ramos, C. (2016). Textbook on the Introduction to the Philosophy of Human Person. Rex
Bookstore, Inc.
Gonzalvo, R. (2016). Philosophy of Human Person. Mindshapers Co. Inc.
REFERENCES
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