transcending

Transcending is the act or process of going beyond a limit, boundary, or ordinary experience. Etymology traces the term to the Latin transcendere, meaning to climb across or go beyond, from trans- “across” and scandere “to climb.” In philosophy and religion, transcendence denotes existence or reality beyond the physical world or ordinary life. It is often contrasted with immanence, which indicates what is present within the world. In theology, divine transcendence describes a deity that is wholly beyond and independent of creation; mystics and theologians frequently discuss experiences of transcendence that alter perception of the self and the world.

In psychology and humanistic thought, self-transcendence refers to turning attention outward toward others, values, or meaning that extend beyond personal interests. Maslow’s later work frames self-transcendence as the motivation to connect with larger purposes, while Viktor Frankl emphasized meaning through values, relationships, and service—even in suffering.

In everyday usage, transcending means overcoming obstacles, limits, or boundaries—physical, cognitive, cultural, or artistic. People may speak of transcending poverty, fear, or language barriers, or of a work of art or a scientific insight that is described as transcendent because it affords a perspective beyond ordinary understanding.

Transcendence remains a contested and diverse concept across disciplines. Some view it as a cognitive or experiential ascent; others anchor it in metaphysical or theological claims about what lies beyond phenomena.