Interviews with leading spiritual teachers and writers about their latest challenges—the "leading edge" of their work.
Ken Wilber: Integral Transformation, Part Two
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Tami Simon speaks with Ken Wilber, in the second of a two-part series. Ken is one of the most influential and widely read American philosophers of our time. He is the founder of the Integral Institute and has published more than 25 books, including A Brief History of Everything and The Simple Feeling of Being, as well as the Sounds True audio learning programs Kosmic Consciousness and The One Two Three of God. Ken discusses “shadow work,” the importance of meditation, and other practices that help us on a path of genuine transformation. (48 minutes)
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[...] full-time. Lately, I’ve been transcribing installments of Sounds True’s weekly podcast, Insights from the Edge, for posting on their web site. In these podcasts, Sounds True Founder and CEO Tami Simon interviews [...]
Pingback by Vicki Robin: Why I Sometimes Love My Job « The Nomad — December 7, 2009 @ 1:45 pm
Thank You! I am fascinated and thrilled by this integrative process, yet come away from it with many unanswered questions.
For example, an individual may have a high anxiety that is his so-called “monster”. Putting Mr. High Anxiety in the chair and taking a look will not result in the dissipation of that anxiety. So where is the transformation?
As you say, introspection isn’t enough. To be conscious of this problem is not enough. Meditation is not enough. A person may be keenly aware and acutely conscious, yet unable to overcome it.
Such practices may bring us to the tipping point of transformation, but what actually effects it in your opinion?
I understand the 1-2-3 process, but it seems to fall short of true transformation. It merely objectifies our shadows, or so it seems.
Thank you Ken and Tami. Hopefully we will hear more from you on this important work.
In deepest appreciation!
Comment by Jo-Ann Triner — December 8, 2009 @ 8:25 pm
Greatly appreciate your question Jo-Ann; it’s one i’ve been intensely focused on for many years as a counselor.
For what it’s worth, my current understanding is that what pushes us past that tipping point into actual transformation (whatever that looks like and wherever it occurs within the person’s body/mind environment) is the cellular recognition, or vague sense, or even subconscious a-ha that the old way doesn’t work anymore, that the familiar path is now boring, that there’s no juice or evolutionary orgasm-potential. “The Divine Juice has left the building.”
Developmentally, I see this as the ego’s prior need to perpetrate its inexhaustible thirst for safety has become 51% or more extinguished, used up. So naturally there will be more space in precisely those places in the body/mind which formerly housed egoic beliefs and systems of reaction.
In my practice with clients, I’ve greatly benefitted from Ken’s emphasis on the need for authentic post-postmodern shadow work. Lots of material available from Ken and others on their sites. Maybe integrallife.com would be where to start?
Just as the shadow in this context is referencing a whole dimension of self (albeit a thoroughly rejected one), there are large numbers of techniques and expressive exercises which are just waiting for each of us to discover, in that harrowing and intensely-refreshing way that only our shadow offers.
Great blessings!
Comment by Adam Gainsburg — December 10, 2009 @ 10:33 am
It takes great energy to protect our shadow and he tends to get us into trouble when he is hidden. We can learn to admit him, include him, and convert his energy to something positive. He might look like aggression.
We are more likely to be able to admit him when we can greet all parts of our self with compassion. Listen to Jack Kornfields talk below on this.
The real self is the witnessing self.
In turiatita Emptiness and form become one.
Join us at http://www.integrallife.com
Always a joy to listen to Ken’s wise voice.
Comment by Stan — December 11, 2009 @ 2:13 pm
Both Ken and Tammy have been hugely influential both personally & professionally in my life.
Nice to hear Tammy interview Ken again. I have read all of Ken’s books many times (just in the last 3 years) and eagerly consume as much as I can on Integral life each and every day.
I hope more Integral leaders are featured by Sounds True in the future to balance out the New Age “translational” material.
Always partial — Already whole.
Comment by Evan — December 13, 2009 @ 1:02 pm
Great interview. Thank you. I am glad a nod was made to other avenues of spiritual development other than meditation. My sense of oneness comes from my immersion with nature. I would like to know why integral consciousness is seen as evolving at this time. Is it not possible that indigenous and ancient cultures were “integral”? Particularly those practicing shamanism? Thanks, Virginia
Comment by Virginia — February 10, 2010 @ 7:32 am