140 actas del ii congreso internacional de literatura mística experiences on worldview, self-actualization, and tolerance), in that the phenomenological process simulates meditation and requires rigorous and persistent effort, resulting in a radical transformation of thinking. The eidetic reduction process, which assists the researcher in transcending frameworks and assumptions and maintaining ‘awe’ or ‘astonishment’, provides abundant ‘raw material’ for scientific inquiry (Overgaard, 2004; Van Heuveln, 2000). The paradigm, methodology, limitations, and ethical concerns are now addressed and discussed. 2.1 paradigm In the context of the multiple available phenomenological approaches, the question arose as to which method was best suited to this research, and indeed the researcher. Ultimately, the paradigm and methodology choice were narrowed down to: (a) hermeneutic phenomenology, which involves reflective interpretation of an historical text to achieve a meaningful understanding; and (b) transcendental phenomenology, which involves a design for the collection of data that explicates the essences of experience (Moustakas, 1994, pp. 84101; Patton, 1990, p. 71; Van Heuveln, 2000). Moustakas’ (1994) transcendental phenomenological method provides concrete steps in the analysis process and has a more structured approach than that of hermeneutical phenomenology (Creswell, 2007, p. 60). Therefore, transcendental phenomenology, which has as its purpose the understanding of the meanings of experiences, was chosen as the appropriate methodology for this research, as it provides systemic procedures that balance objective and subjective approaches to knowledge, together with detailed and rigorous data analysis steps (Creswell, 2007, p. 61). 2.2 methodology Moustakas (in Moerer-Urdahl & Creswell, 2004) focuses on the totality of experience and the search for essences of experiences; with the subject-object in inseparable relationship. He ‘launches’ (p. 22) his transcendental phenomenological approach with epoché, (i.e., the setting aside of all prejudgments by the researcher), which enables him to see the phenomenon “freshly, as for the first time” (p. 34), and
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