--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Direct experience of that transcending…" description: "\"“Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/john-buehrens-63659_religion_direct-experience-of-that-transcending-m_1543932.jpg" --- # Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder… ![“Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces that create and uphold life.” quote by John Buehrens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/john-buehrens-63659_religion_direct-experience-of-that-transcending-m_1543932.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/john-buehrens-63659_religion_direct-experience-of-that-transcending-m_1543932.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/john-buehrens-63659_religion_direct-experience-of-that-transcending-m_1543932.jpg) > ““Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces that create and uphold life.”” [John Buehrens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buehrens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Experiencing transcendent mystery unites cultures and inspires spiritual renewal and openness to life's forces. **In simple terms:** Mystery unites cultures and renews spirit. Key Takeaway Embrace transcendent experiences. Themes spirituality culture wonder Mood awe inspired Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - rituals - art - nature walks Key Concepts philosophy anthropology Questions to Reflect On - How can you encounter mystery? - What cultural practices inspire you? A Different Perspective Such experiences can be rare or misunderstood. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes consciousness devises an obstacle in order to have the experience of transcending it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mooji/sometimes-consciousness-devises-an-obstacle-in-order-to-have-the/) [Mooji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mooji/) > [When we complain of having to do the same thing over and over, let us remember that God does not send new trees, strange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/when-we-complain-of-having-to-do-the-same-thing-over-and-over-let-us/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [The spirit of jazz is the spirit of openness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/the-spirit-of-jazz-is-the-spirit-of-openness/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [“Sanctification leads to renewal of the spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/sanctification-leads-to-renewal-of-the-spirit/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I remain convinced that most human conflicts can be solved through genuine dialogue conducted with a spirit of openness and reconciliation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-remain-convinced-that-most-human-conflicts-can-be-solved-through/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Everything is discursive opinion instead of direct experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-ammons/everything-is-discursive-opinion-instead-of-direct-experience/) [A. R. Ammons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-ammons/) > [“enthusiasm for Communism in theory was characteristically present in inverse proportion to direct experience of it in practice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/enthusiasm-for-communism-in-theory-was-characteristically-present-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Often I feel I go to some distant region of the world to be reminded of who I really am. There is no mystery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/often-i-feel-i-go-to-some-distant-region-of-the-world-to-be-reminded/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [I think many years ago I got on a bus in L.A. and drove around to see the stars' homes, but that's the extent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cronin/i-think-many-years-ago-i-got-on-a-bus-in-l-a-and-drove-around-to-see/) [Justin Cronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cronin/) > [Don't ask the mind to confirm what is beyond the mind. Direct experience is the only valid confirmation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/don-t-ask-the-mind-to-confirm-what-is-beyond-the-mind-direct/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Direct experience is the evasion, or hiding place of those devoid of imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/direct-experience-is-the-evasion-or-hiding-place-of-those-devoid-of/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [Direct experience is inherently too limited to form an adequate foundation either for theory or for application. At the best it produces an atmosphere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/direct-experience-is-inherently-too-limited-to-form-an-adequate/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [We are so numb we don't even know what a direct experience is. We have an experience, then we think about it and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-levine/we-are-so-numb-we-don-t-even-know-what-a-direct-experience-is-we-have/) [Stephen Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-levine/) > [“Things on a very small scale behave like nothing that you have any direct experience about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/things-on-a-very-small-scale-behave-like-nothing-that-you-have-any/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [No amount of reading and intelligent deduction could supplant the direct experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/no-amount-of-reading-and-intelligent-deduction-could-supplant-the/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) ## More by John Buehrens > [“Parts of the first chapter are adapted from my 1980 lectures, Born Again Unitarian Universalism, which happily this introduction to our faith will now supplant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buehrens/parts-of-the-first-chapter-are-adapted-from-my-1980-lectures-born/) [John Buehrens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buehrens/) > [“This realization is the first of many awakenings that have shaped my understanding of what religion means: Religion is our human response to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buehrens/this-realization-is-the-first-of-many-awakenings-that-have-shaped-my/) [John Buehrens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buehrens/) > [“I can believe a miracle because I can raise my own arm. I can believe a miracle because I can remember. I can believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buehrens/i-can-believe-a-miracle-because-i-can-raise-my-own-arm-i-can-believe/) [John Buehrens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buehrens/) > [“The living tradition we share draws from many sources …”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buehrens/the-living-tradition-we-share-draws-from-many-sources/) [John Buehrens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buehrens/) [Explore all 5 John Buehrens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buehrens/) ## More Religion quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [The love religion is all that is written here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/the-love-religion-is-all-that-is-written-here/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Personal Style comes from within. It's when the woman, her individuality and spirit come through. She uses clothes to express who she is and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/personal-style-comes-from-within-it-s-when-the-woman-her/) [Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [No religion has mandated killing others as a requirement for its sustenance or promotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-religion-has-mandated-killing-others-as-a-requirement-for-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Deepen your existing spiritual commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/deepen-your-existing-spiritual-commitment/) [Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Above Coblentz almost every mountain has a ruin and a legend. One feels everywhere the spirit of the past, and its stirring recollections come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/above-coblentz-almost-every-mountain-has-a-ruin-and-a-legend-one/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) [Browse all 58,737 Religion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces that create and uphold life.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Buehrens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buehrens/direct-experience-of-that-transcending-mystery-and-wonder-affirmed-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Religion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buehrens/direct-experience-of-that-transcending-mystery-and-wonder-affirmed-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/john-buehrens-63659_religion_direct-experience-of-that-transcending-m_1543932.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/john-buehrens-63659_religion_direct-experience-of-that-transcending-m_1543932.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/john-buehrens-63659_religion_direct-experience-of-that-transcending-m_1543932.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a…” — John Buehrens", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Buehrens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buehrens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Direct experience of that transcending mystery...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buehrens/direct-experience-of-that-transcending-mystery-and-wonder-affirmed-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buehrens/direct-experience-of-that-transcending-mystery-and-wonder-affirmed-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```