The individual and ecstasy, seeking harmonious coexistence

By Athanasios Karmis, writer-philosopher

Ecstasy and individual, a relationship seeking harmonious coexistence, encountering initial contemplation and arising questions. The individual is both a recipient, the underlying entity, and an actor, subject to discussion. It's a unifying factor of abilities, mental powers, aesthetic elements, thought, logic, soul, the very personality of body and spirit - an individual. As such, the person is the self, the individual and real Being, acting as a carrier and simultaneously as a consolidating force and thus as a cause of itself. Ecstasy is a state where the subject seems to transcend itself, shifting from any particular material and sensory reality. It's an opening to a space beyond sensations and associated logical categories. That's why ecstasy is described as a shift to another space, hence as a change or alteration, often accompanied by an enthusiastic state. It's also described as a spiritual experience of detachment from the sensory and direct communion with the Divine. Therefore, at first glance, it seems we have two opposite states, as the subject is the specific, the sensory, its unity, the self in itself, while ecstasy is an opening and shifting beyond the sensory, beyond matter, intellect, and their categories.

Within this context, there is also contemplation on the concept of personhood. Conclusions are drawn, such as that of N. Berdiaev, who argues that ecstasy is a transpersonal transcendence of the world by the person through their relationship with the divine, a relationship of apprehension from the supernatural and enthusiastic rapture with a positive significance. Somewhat analogous to what we encounter in Plato's dialogue Phaedrus. The issue becomes of great importance both for the coherence of the individual and for their experiential evolution towards a higher dimension that will holistically govern their existence as a self, as a subject, and as open to a society and communication of consciousness. Next, we will explore what conclusions could be offered with a brief overview of philosophical perspectives within the history of philosophy.

Image source: painting by Marc Chagall, Double portrait au verre de vin

[1917 - 1918]