What is a Human Person?

A human is a living being with consequent death. Stated briefly, it possesses all the characteristics of having individual, physical,
physiological, social, moral, spiritual, and other similar constitutions. As a human person, he/she does not only exist physically but also
socially (that is, “no man is an island”), with all the accompanying roles and responsibilities, which brings us to the adage: “Easy to be
human, more so to be a humane (person).” (In Filipino: “Madaling maging tao, lalo na ang maging mabuting tao (ang magpakatao).”

What is an Embodied Spirit?

As the majority of people believe, a human being has both body and soul (mind or spirit). The body houses the spirit and the two become
integral (that is, a living soul). Apart from each other, the body is lifeless whereas the spirit lingers on – so to believe. Such a belief is what
most individuals would consider a human body with a spirit – or short for, an embodied spirit. Some philosophers have the notion of spirit
(spiritual body/entity, mind, or consciousness) in a vat or vessel (physical body). The significance of the duality/dichotomy (or oneness, for
some individuals) is somewhat both problematic and unsolvable since the body can be seen while the spirit is invisible. For some religious
philosophies, when the body still breathes, it still has life (that is, spirit). Whatever that may be, some philosophers also claim that since
individuals have embodied spirit, it is thus a “finite person.” Nevertheless, whatever a person claims to be true in the aforesaid statements
may always be suspect and subject to further philosophizing, such as the belief concerning the “inseparability of mind [spirit, italics mine]
and body.”

What is Transcendence?
Transcendence originated from the Latin prefix ”trans” meaning “beyond” plus the term “scandare” meaning “to climb;” hence, “beyond
[what an individual has] to climb (or to achieve or accomplish).” Rephrased similarly, to transcend is to surpass what is ordinary human
experience or overcome obstacles to reach your goal in life. Individually, physically, socially, financially, spiritually, and so forth, a human
person can achieve greater heights, sometimes, unimaginable to mediocre individuals. Albeit, all things being equal, some individuals were
simply born great, talented, entitled, and so on. Nonetheless, by transcendence, a human person may achieve higher standards unlike
those that are common to the majority of other people his/her age, status, abilities, and so forth.

A Human Person’s Limitations and Possibilities

Without a doubt, each human person has its own limitations. The word human person itself entails inherent limits, weaknesses,
disadvantages, and infirmities. Since a human person has a physical body, the physical senses (vision, smell, etc.) themselves, for example,
are evidently their own set limits despite the myriad uses they have for an individual to perceive the world around him/her. In other words,
with a physique comes its accompanying weaknesses. Concretely, you can eat, but not extremely much. You can hear the sound, but not so
much volume that it may immediately and definitely damage your eardrums. Concisely, all human senses impose limits on themselves and
on the individual himself/herself. The same can be said otherwise, that is, no sense means a limitation not to perceive the world.

Individually, a human person is unique and with limitations. Whether you like it or not, without resorting to external technological
breakthroughs and scientific advances, you have to live with your own individuality and uniqueness throughout your life as a human
person. You might hate some of your unique traits for they seem peculiar to other individuals, but you have to learn to love them for the
rest of your life because each person has his/her own limitations.

In relation to the above statements on individuality, uniqueness, and physicality, no matter how you look at things from a holistic
perspective, a human person has to accept, tolerate, or reject outright his/her limitations. However, aspects of being a human person and
its accompanying limitations are matters of utmost consideration and discretion depending on one’s individual choice, preference, and
liking as long as you are also considerate and tolerant of other people’s choices, preferences, likings, and – more importantly, human
limitations, differences, and inabilities, too. In many cases, a person may be his/her worst limiter.

On the other hand, in terms of a human person’s possibilities, to be a human person is to realize your individual possibilities. With human
possibilities, one has to consider what he/she is capable of doing despite his/her obvious limitations. Believing that you can self-harness
your potential into possibilities is a human and humane approach. Realizing that there are simply things people can and can’t do, you have
to stick with what you can accomplish. That way, you become more self-fulfilled and a productive citizen. Hence, what possibilities are, are
simply things you can materialize and even spiritualize to your advantage. Thus, some philosophers are even of the proposition that
although a human person possesses a material body, inside him/her is an immaterial entity able to transcend physical reality and is
therefore divine (that is, more than just the material body is the spiritual dimensional side).

Overcoming Limitations and the Possibilities of Transcendence

Transcendence is a choice, an action, and the future. You can achieve greater heights only if you constantly will and act upon it; in which
case, your future depends, though not entirely, on your past and present accomplishments. Although transcendence may not be just
composed of decisions and actions, it must therefore consist of a vision of a better future. It may not occur at any moment in time to
achieve every goal you have to undertake because of your innate limitations, but it is ever-present and therefore attainable for some
people. Hence, for transcendence to become a possibility, an individual needs a realistic, positive outlook and the will to self-actualize
his/her potential into possibilities. Learning despite your infirmities (committing mistakes) and keeping your focus to reach your goal is the
appropriate thing to do. Learning from your mistakes, letting bygones be bygones, taking advantage of the present, and constantly creating
a clear vision (of your future) is the surefire way to go.

Activity:
Create a POSTER showing your holistic understanding of “overcoming limitations and achieving transcendence.” Use a separate sheet for
this activity.
Rubric: Relevance to the topic = 50 points; Creativity = 40 points; and, Neatness = 10 points (Total = 100 points)