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The Atman Project: A Transpersonal View of Human Development
Wilber traces human development from infancy into adulthood and beyond, into those states described by mystics and spiritual adepts. The spiritual evolution of such extraordinary individuals as the Buddha and Jesus hints at the direction human beings will take in their continuing growth toward transcendence.
260 pages, Paperback
First published January 25, 1980
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638 people want to read
About the author
Ken Wilber
225 books1,240 followersKenneth Earl Wilber II is an American philosopher and writer on transpersonal psychology and his own integral theory, a systematic philosophy which suggests the synthesis of all human knowledge and experience.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 3, 2021
Wilber's writing is intellectually dense to an almost unbelievable degree, but it slowly started to sink in on me what a broad, inclusive story of the whole human journey he presents. He spells out an understanding of human development that joins all our best research on psychology with the history of spiritual development in all major religious traditions. It's hard to read but packed with fascinating insights. And it's more like a complicated roadmap than that a source of inspiration.
January 15, 2019
With his usual brilliance and wide-ranging knowledge, Ken Wilber delivers stunning insights in this book regarding the nature of human development. Some readers may find the first third or so of the book to be somewhat laborious, especially if they are not familiar with psychoanalytic theory. Wilber marshals this theory as a jumping off point, reinterpreting it as he goes, to construct a coherent perspective on human development that goes well beyond the "healthy ego", or actualisation of the "autonomous", separate self level, at which conventional psychology stops. Indeed, as Wilber points out, psychology has tended to view any experience that transcends the ego, as with mystics, to be pathological and regressive. Wilber very ably refutes this idea to show that there are stages of human development, potentially available to all, that transcend that of a well functioning and actualised ego, culminating in unity consciousness.
Although the whole spectrum of development is fascinating—and Wilber shows how the same principles of development apply to all levels—at the post-egoic stages things get much more interesting. At this point the text is unencumbered by any attempt to reinterpret psychological theory because there is no such theory applying to these higher levels of development—or there wasn't, at the time of writing.
Basically, Wilber argues that, at every stage of development, from the lowest to the penultimate, everything we do, everything we seek, desire and grasp for, every stage of development we traverse, is part of an "Atman project" in which we are constantly reaching for substitute gratifications to compensate for what we are all actually seeking but missing, that is, the Atman or Real Self or unity consciousness. While we all intuit and implicitly "remember" the existence of this ground of our own being—the only "thing" that could ultimately satisfy us—and yearn for it, we seek it in ways that prevent us from finding it. We desire it and resist it at the same time, because it involves the terror of the death of our current identification, whether that be with the physical, mental or subtle aspects of our being. Only by accepting the death of our present self can we transform to the next stage of identification, with each stage incrementally moving closer to the reunification with, and as, the Atman.
In my view, this perspective gives a meaning, a beauty, and a nobility to all of the otherwise seemingly random, chaotic, foolish, self-defeating behaviour that largely characterises human existence, with all its concomitant frustration and disappointment, as well as the heroic and inspired striving, at this and previous stages of our evolution. Each and every step and misstep is part of an "Atman project" in which we are ineluctably evolving back to the oneness/love that we truly are. At this point, the Atman project is over, because we realise that we are the Atman.
And while this book does give meaning to what may appear to be meaningless, repetitive and perpetually disappointing struggles, as well as transient satisfactions, I also experienced it as a wake-up call to clearly recognise that our substitute gratifications are just that—substitutes, that can never permanently satisfy. Wilber does not adopt a didactic tone in the slightest, but he does provide the insight that the reason we are unhappy is because we are looking for happiness in all the wrong places. There's no shame or blame in that; it's simply the human condition, inherent to development. But contrary to the limited models provided by Western psychology, there *is* a trajectory of evolution beyond "self actualisation" of the egoic self, to which we might want to orient ourselves; to consciously cooperate with rather than resist the inevitable forward motion of development to our true highest potential.
I highly recommend this book. Persistence with it pays off.
Although the whole spectrum of development is fascinating—and Wilber shows how the same principles of development apply to all levels—at the post-egoic stages things get much more interesting. At this point the text is unencumbered by any attempt to reinterpret psychological theory because there is no such theory applying to these higher levels of development—or there wasn't, at the time of writing.
Basically, Wilber argues that, at every stage of development, from the lowest to the penultimate, everything we do, everything we seek, desire and grasp for, every stage of development we traverse, is part of an "Atman project" in which we are constantly reaching for substitute gratifications to compensate for what we are all actually seeking but missing, that is, the Atman or Real Self or unity consciousness. While we all intuit and implicitly "remember" the existence of this ground of our own being—the only "thing" that could ultimately satisfy us—and yearn for it, we seek it in ways that prevent us from finding it. We desire it and resist it at the same time, because it involves the terror of the death of our current identification, whether that be with the physical, mental or subtle aspects of our being. Only by accepting the death of our present self can we transform to the next stage of identification, with each stage incrementally moving closer to the reunification with, and as, the Atman.
In my view, this perspective gives a meaning, a beauty, and a nobility to all of the otherwise seemingly random, chaotic, foolish, self-defeating behaviour that largely characterises human existence, with all its concomitant frustration and disappointment, as well as the heroic and inspired striving, at this and previous stages of our evolution. Each and every step and misstep is part of an "Atman project" in which we are ineluctably evolving back to the oneness/love that we truly are. At this point, the Atman project is over, because we realise that we are the Atman.
And while this book does give meaning to what may appear to be meaningless, repetitive and perpetually disappointing struggles, as well as transient satisfactions, I also experienced it as a wake-up call to clearly recognise that our substitute gratifications are just that—substitutes, that can never permanently satisfy. Wilber does not adopt a didactic tone in the slightest, but he does provide the insight that the reason we are unhappy is because we are looking for happiness in all the wrong places. There's no shame or blame in that; it's simply the human condition, inherent to development. But contrary to the limited models provided by Western psychology, there *is* a trajectory of evolution beyond "self actualisation" of the egoic self, to which we might want to orient ourselves; to consciously cooperate with rather than resist the inevitable forward motion of development to our true highest potential.
I highly recommend this book. Persistence with it pays off.
October 30, 2019
For me the great thing about reading Wilber is the way he breaks everything down to the essence - past the cultures, religious terminology, theories, opinions, he not only breaks it down but distills the truth to the essentials. It's not reductionist, more like the kernel as the Sufis might say. The ending of the book on evolution/involution in the path of the human soul is as crystal clear as I've ever seen things described. Again, you'll find all of this elsewhere - that's the idea really - this is all universal stuff. But nowhere is it said for the Western mind quite like this.
August 22, 2010
Great book, a courageous attempt to put the 'old' psychology (i.e. Freud et al) in a new context of developmental thought. Parts of it are a little outdated, as Wilber has since updated his theory of development, however the core is still unique in its endeavour of re-contextualising psychology for the 21st Century.
After re-reading... it is a masterpiece actually. Even though some fundamentals are outdated now - it doesn't matter too much (if you're aware of how Wilber's theory has developed since).
After re-reading... it is a masterpiece actually. Even though some fundamentals are outdated now - it doesn't matter too much (if you're aware of how Wilber's theory has developed since).
June 14, 2020
Integral thinking and development explained in Wilber’s thorough and quirky style.
April 8, 2021
El puente necesario entre la psicología del desarrollo occidental con su concepción formalista y empírico, frente a siglos de desarrollo humano de las grandes tradiciones religiosas, filosóficas y místicas de oriente, Ken Wilber sigue los lineamientos de la evolución humana hacia la trascendencia transformación de la conciencia humana como necesidad ontológica. Su propuesta es una continuación de la epistemología genética de Piaget y del modelo del desarrollo psicosexual de Freud, que aborda pero no se casa necesariamente con estas posturas sino que le sirven de soporte para dar coherencia a su propuesta.
May 12, 2013
Книга имеет заслуженную и общепризнанную репутацию блестящего исследования полного спектра (вертикального) развития сознания человека. Впечатление от издания портит только несколько трудноватый перевод (по крайней мере, когда я перечитывал книгу в оригинале, она составила впечатление достаточно доступного чтения, чего не скажешь о переводе). Однако текст непростой, поэтому нужно быть благодарными за то, что его всё же издали и, тем самым, дали навигационную карту тысячам людей!
July 29, 2008
The Atman Project denotes the attempt to find Spirit in ways that prevent it and force substitute gratifications in space and time through grasping and despairing. This book describes awareness beginning at the pre-personal level through the transpersonal state.
June 23, 2012
I am tired of psychoanalytic and other psychologists using big words to explain simple concepts. Otherwise this book pairs well with Tuesdays With Morrie.
July 11, 2022
For reference: I read 5 other books by Wilber before this.
But, holy smokes this book is dense and obscure.
Although I like Wilber's humble tone, he does his usual thing with a smorgasbord of invented terms and words, and making it really challenging to follow his meaning when he doesn't give practical/clinical examples.
The overall feel of this book is simply brain-crushing, and sometimes get's repetitive. If you've read some of his other works, you will get the general gist and I sense that that may be why this book was such a tremendous uphill battle.
The actual theme of descent into matter and the evolution through the stages of development is pretty straight forward, but Wilber attempts to describe the processes as well as he can, which results in a lot of obscure terms stacked on top of each other.
This was not a pleasant book to read. I found it gruelling. Please let other books be more pleasant, it will be a horrible tour through his work otherwise.
But, holy smokes this book is dense and obscure.
Although I like Wilber's humble tone, he does his usual thing with a smorgasbord of invented terms and words, and making it really challenging to follow his meaning when he doesn't give practical/clinical examples.
The overall feel of this book is simply brain-crushing, and sometimes get's repetitive. If you've read some of his other works, you will get the general gist and I sense that that may be why this book was such a tremendous uphill battle.
The actual theme of descent into matter and the evolution through the stages of development is pretty straight forward, but Wilber attempts to describe the processes as well as he can, which results in a lot of obscure terms stacked on top of each other.
This was not a pleasant book to read. I found it gruelling. Please let other books be more pleasant, it will be a horrible tour through his work otherwise.
October 26, 2022
This is the companion to Up From Eden, which takes a macro view of human consciousness from the cultural/historical level and brings it down to the individual level of human development. Ken Wilber is always fascinating, and his insights integrate so many disparate theories together in a way that feels like he is seeing the bigger picture that we all are just trying to describe in different ways.
November 6, 2024
Ken Wilber insan gelişiminin aşamaları hem batı psikolojisi hem de doğu felsefesi perspektifi ile oldukça etkili aktarmış. Gestalt ile ilgilenenlerin özellikle beğeneceği bir kaynak. Psikoloji temelli olmayanlar için biraz ağır ilerleyebilir, ancak daha derin ve çok yönlü bilgi almak isteyenler çok sevecektir. Özellikle gelişim süreçlerinin Vedanta ve Hinduizm yaklaşımında nasıl yorumlandığını çok güzel aktarmış. Batı psikolojisinin yetersiz kaldığı alanları bu kaynakta bulmak mümkün.
June 6, 2024
Fumada de la hostia. Denso de cojones y a veces me he sentido más perdido que un huérfano en el día del padre (se habría ahorrado el complejo de Edipo
al menos) pero tan lúcido como esperaba.
Ken Wilber es un maestro
al menos) pero tan lúcido como esperaba.
Ken Wilber es un maestro
May 9, 2023
Un libro un poco complejo y difícil de leer, pero muy interesante, sobre todo para comprender el desarrollo del ser humano desde una perspectiva más integradora.
April 9, 2019
ONE CANNOT LIVE A LIFE WITHOUT READING THIS BOOK. Had to really take my time with it, the realizations i had were REAL. Sometimes shocking even. One of many MAJOR self help and life coaching books in ways you wouldn’t tell from the title. DONT buy this book thinking it’s purely spiritual.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews