Toward Truth: A Psychological Guide to Enlightenment

I have chosen to use the word “enlightenment” despite the risk of being
misunderstood and having my point of view rejected out of hand, because I find no better
term to express the psychological state I describe. To be clear, I do not refer to
enlightenment in the religious, New Age, or conventionally “spiritual” sense, and I address
this in depth in later chapters. Instead I use enlightenment as a synonym for self-
actualization, and for concepts such as full psychological maturity, complete honesty with
oneself, deep self-knowledge, pure emotional health, and true adulthood. I also do not
wish to give the impression that I am fully enlightened. Parts of me are enlightened, but I
am not fully there yet. I hope to be someday, and struggle toward it daily, but retain clear
evidence that I have a ways to go. A final note: Part V of this volume offers a glossary of
terms to clarify my unusual or unconventional usages.