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Kosmic Consciousness
Before the birth of the universe, there existed your "Original Face," the limitless Self that has been present throughout the unfolding of inert matter into life-and that continues to dwell within us at every level of consciousness. Where is this grand evolution taking us-and how can you participate fully in it? On Kosmic Consciousness, Ken Wilber invites you to find out. In 10 fascinating sessions, he pursues the questions most relevant to today's spiritual seeker. Join one of the most significant thinkers of our time as he shares a feast of ideas to inspire you in your personal evolution.
12 pages, Audio Cassette
First published September 1, 2003
22 people are currently reading
417 people want to read
About the author
Ken Wilber
225 books1,244 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 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 18, 2009
I borrowed these CDs a while ago from a friend, who highly respects this guy. Maybe it's my obstinate rationalism, but I was left very unimpressed. In these recordings, Wilbur sounds like any other pompous-sounding New Age "pay me for self-help" guru. His "integral theory of consciousness" is part common sense (of course we want to all aspects of ourselves developed - mind, body, emotions, etc.) and part non-sense (at least to me). He comes up with all these "levels" of being without giving any reasoning or basis behind them, and since he admits that not many can develop all or even many of them, their existence as universal states doesn't make sense. He also doesn't give very good practical advice on how to "ascend" on each level or to employ any of his other ideas, other than to get better at them (not exactly a profound or helpful answer). I realize many New Age thinkers don't exactly give practical advice, which may not even be the point of their ideas, but there's a big difference between Wilbur's empty cleverness and, say, Ekhart Tolle's philosophy. Although Tolle doesn't always give practical advice, at least his ideas make sense (as they build off older ideas) and I can grasp how to incorporate his philosophy into attitudes that could then affect behavior.
Wilbur's arrogance also put me off. Maybe it's just me, but he seems to lack humility. These recordings are set up as interviews, with the interviewer probing Wilbur about his ideas. But they don't feel like any kind of dialogue, as Wilbur often sidesteps her (sometimes good and challenging) questions to pontificate and show off.
The only good thing I remember is that he doesn't endorse all kinds of ineffectual practices, or at least understands them as more useful symbolically than literally. For example, with astrology, he admits that when subjected to scientific analysis in terms of accuracy of prediction/application to real life, astrologers failed miserably. He recognizes astrology as more useful as a symbolic way of thinking.
In short I would not really recommend this if you are looking for useful guide to self-help or behavior modification or even New Age philosophy. I would only recommend it if you are just curious to know more about Wilbur's ideas - it's probably preferable to reading his books.
Wilbur's arrogance also put me off. Maybe it's just me, but he seems to lack humility. These recordings are set up as interviews, with the interviewer probing Wilbur about his ideas. But they don't feel like any kind of dialogue, as Wilbur often sidesteps her (sometimes good and challenging) questions to pontificate and show off.
The only good thing I remember is that he doesn't endorse all kinds of ineffectual practices, or at least understands them as more useful symbolically than literally. For example, with astrology, he admits that when subjected to scientific analysis in terms of accuracy of prediction/application to real life, astrologers failed miserably. He recognizes astrology as more useful as a symbolic way of thinking.
In short I would not really recommend this if you are looking for useful guide to self-help or behavior modification or even New Age philosophy. I would only recommend it if you are just curious to know more about Wilbur's ideas - it's probably preferable to reading his books.
July 17, 2018
This is an absolutely brilliant audio series. From one of the greatest thinkers of our time. Essential for understanding all aspects of the world and how we grow developed and interact with the world around us. I first listened to this in 2003 and have listened to it many times since, each year getting a different, more comprehensive understanding of the concepts and ideas that are discussed. Worth coming back to many many times as you develop capacity to understand the simple but complex ideas contained in the series.
August 13, 2013
Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Integral vision is the next wave!!! Anyone who fails to see the delight in this comprehensive, big-picture masterpiece is probably a scientistic reductionist; such vision, not only this cd series's but the courses, the books, excellent visionary, which like all the good ones, are ALWAYS under appreciated!!
October 21, 2009
These are great interviews with Ken Wilber, shedding light on all the Integral Theory concepts. As usual, Ken is a greaat talker and able to make complex subjects easy to understand. Great for those who have trouble reading his works, or feel you need to 'kick around' with the concepts a bit more.
January 16, 2026
Fifteen years ago, I picked up Ken Wilber’s work and felt the world shift. Here was someone who finally connected everything—psychology, mysticism, science, evolution, sex, gender, non-dual consciousness—into one breathtaking, all-encompassing map. The AQAL model seemed revolutionary, almost secret knowledge. I wondered why universities weren’t teaching it, why the world hadn’t already changed.
Now, in 2026, I look back with colder eyes and a thermodynamic skepticism. What once dazzled me now feels like an overbuilt cathedral: impressive in scope, but heavy, bloodless, and suspiciously self-protecting.
The conversation with myself (and an unflinching interlocutor) unfolded in layers of disillusionment. Wilber’s “Kosmic consciousness” is too global, too inclusive—almost people-pleasing in its attempt to embrace every partial truth. It flattens lived experience into abstract categories, giving disproportionate weight to morals and beauty as eternal domains. Multiple intelligences are cataloged exhaustively—cognitive, emotional, moral, aesthetic, spiritual—but the sheer comprehensiveness drains meaning from them.
His claim that early civilizations saw “things going wrong” strikes me as subjective moralizing against the blind march of entropy: nothing truly goes wrong; it only increases disorder. Wilber is no nihilist—he is the anti-nihilist, insisting on Eros, purpose, and Spirit’s self-realization. Yet his defense of ESP, siddhis, and transrational states feels circular: “I’m so advanced I transcend logic.” Heroin highs are granted the status of “legitimate states” akin to meditation (though ruinous), delivered in his signature machine-gun style—pew pew pew frameworks flying fast enough to make any skeptic suspicious.
The masculine-feminine polarity in Sex, Ecology, Spirituality reads like fevered metaphysical rambling. Most damning: the model quietly demands guru dependency to reach higher stages, self-selling hierarchical power under the banner of transcendence. His associations with abusive figures (Adi Da, Cohen, Gafni) reveal enabling patterns. No personal scandal touches him, but the enabling is scandal enough.
In the end, Wilber’s rational presentation of the ineffable robs mysticism of its poetry, turning awe into blueprints. What once felt like liberation now appears as sophisticated insulation for questionable authority.
I can’t believe I fell for it once. But falling—and then seeing through it—is, perhaps, its own kind of awakening.
Now, in 2026, I look back with colder eyes and a thermodynamic skepticism. What once dazzled me now feels like an overbuilt cathedral: impressive in scope, but heavy, bloodless, and suspiciously self-protecting.
The conversation with myself (and an unflinching interlocutor) unfolded in layers of disillusionment. Wilber’s “Kosmic consciousness” is too global, too inclusive—almost people-pleasing in its attempt to embrace every partial truth. It flattens lived experience into abstract categories, giving disproportionate weight to morals and beauty as eternal domains. Multiple intelligences are cataloged exhaustively—cognitive, emotional, moral, aesthetic, spiritual—but the sheer comprehensiveness drains meaning from them.
His claim that early civilizations saw “things going wrong” strikes me as subjective moralizing against the blind march of entropy: nothing truly goes wrong; it only increases disorder. Wilber is no nihilist—he is the anti-nihilist, insisting on Eros, purpose, and Spirit’s self-realization. Yet his defense of ESP, siddhis, and transrational states feels circular: “I’m so advanced I transcend logic.” Heroin highs are granted the status of “legitimate states” akin to meditation (though ruinous), delivered in his signature machine-gun style—pew pew pew frameworks flying fast enough to make any skeptic suspicious.
The masculine-feminine polarity in Sex, Ecology, Spirituality reads like fevered metaphysical rambling. Most damning: the model quietly demands guru dependency to reach higher stages, self-selling hierarchical power under the banner of transcendence. His associations with abusive figures (Adi Da, Cohen, Gafni) reveal enabling patterns. No personal scandal touches him, but the enabling is scandal enough.
In the end, Wilber’s rational presentation of the ineffable robs mysticism of its poetry, turning awe into blueprints. What once felt like liberation now appears as sophisticated insulation for questionable authority.
I can’t believe I fell for it once. But falling—and then seeing through it—is, perhaps, its own kind of awakening.
February 2, 2018
Ken Wilber brings together and- er- integrates various theories from spiritual practices, philosophy and psychology. I’d have enjoyed him as a professor. No I don’t think he’s a genius or that groundbreaking. His ideas are a lot simpler than one would believe with all the hype around the integral institute and 7 levels and 4 quadrants etc. They’re really pretty straightforward ideas and I like them, but I’m simultaneously thinking “duh” and “is really 70% of the population so unevolved??” I cant help but worry about the pseudo intellectual young dudes obsessed with Wilber and WHY.
I also wish he wasn’t so dismissive of deconstructionism and I don’t agree that modern gurus and world leaders have to be in top physical shape (maybe it would help but look at Stephen Hawking for Christ’s sake). But much of the time I nodded along thinking “well said” and “I wish I had thought of that”. The format of this audiobook is like a podcast and the interviewer is flirty and annoying, but Ken is, as always, very thoughtful, casual, respectful and charming. I look forward to reading his new book on Trump and the big picture in current social fabric of our sad country. Maybe it will give me some much needed hope.
I also wish he wasn’t so dismissive of deconstructionism and I don’t agree that modern gurus and world leaders have to be in top physical shape (maybe it would help but look at Stephen Hawking for Christ’s sake). But much of the time I nodded along thinking “well said” and “I wish I had thought of that”. The format of this audiobook is like a podcast and the interviewer is flirty and annoying, but Ken is, as always, very thoughtful, casual, respectful and charming. I look forward to reading his new book on Trump and the big picture in current social fabric of our sad country. Maybe it will give me some much needed hope.
May 26, 2020
Stretching my thoughts on how the”kosmic consciousness” evolves life... I am sure I will do this audio book again. My TBR list has grown because of the supporting books mentioned in this book...
August 25, 2020
A brilliant overview of Integral Theory. I would definitely suggest this to anyone that wants to get a preliminary look at what Ken Wilber has been working on since his 20s.
April 5, 2020
2019.03.14–2019.03.18
Contents
Wilber K (2003) (12:03) Kosmic Consciousness
01. The Integral Approach: the Big Three, the Quadrants, and the Lines of Development
1. Introduction
2. Ken Wilber: Kosmic storyteller
3. Integral map-making
4. I, We, and It—the Good, the True, and the Beautiful
5. The Four Quadrants
6. The Lines of Development
7. The special importance of cognitive development
02. Evolution Enfolds: the Stages of Development
1. Introduction
2. The Stage conception
3. What does "spiritual" mean?
4. Levels, structures, stages, waves
5. Are we evolving as a species?
6. The dangers of evolution
7. Reincarnation and human development through the life cycle
03. From Identification with self to Realization of the Self
1. Introduction
2. A simple model of development
3. Divination, astrology, and the pre–trans fallacy
4. From mythic to integral, and beyond
5. What techno-economic base will emerge to support integral consciousness?
6. The widening of identity
7. "Center of gravity" and the developmental line of the self
8. Was Ramana Maharshi an integrally realized world teacher?
04. States of Consciousness
1. Introduction
2. Waking, dreaming, and deep sleep—the gross, subtle, and causal realms
3. Your Original Face—the ever-present Witness
4. How the experience of altered states leads to the acquisition of higher stages of development
5. An integrally informed approach to psychedelics
6. Levels and fields of subtle energy
7. Can you rank evolution by species?
8. The Wilber–Combs Matrix
9. The momentous leap from first tier to second tier consciousness
05. Types
1. Introduction
2. Typology and the Integral Map
3. Gender tendencies and masculine and feminine modes of being
4. Rights and responsibilities, freedom and fullness
5. Making love in the gross, subtle, and causal body
6. Androgyny, bisexuality, and the cultivation of masculine and feminine sexual energy
7. Combining vertical scales with horizontal systems of typology
8. Will new elements be added to the integral map?
06. The Precious Opportunity of Human Birth
1. Introduction
2. Ascending, descending, and non-dual spiritual orientations
3. What is the goal of human development?
4. The realization of One Taste
5. Precious human birth
6. The seven chakras correlated with states and stages
7. What happens when an enlightened being dies?
07. Developing Witness Consciousness
1. Introduction
2. The Inexpressibles
3. EEG evidence of brain states associated with satori
4. How meditation accelerates vertical development
5. Does writing strengthen the witness?
6. Turiya: the fourth state of consciousness
7. Highlights of Ken Wilber's personal experiences with meditation
8. Breakthroughs, downturns, and plateaus in Ken Wilber's process of awakening
08. Integral Transformative Practice
1. Introduction
2. The transmission of non-dual awareness
3. How can we understand the uneven development of spiritual teachers?
4. Have we moved beyond the age of gurus?
5. Guidelines for choosing a spiritual teacher
6. Exercising body, mind, and spirit in self, culture, and nature
7. The world of the dream and the world of waking up—the domains of psychotherapy and spiritual practice
8. The Ego–ego axis
9. Does prayer accelerate human development?
09. The Basic Moral Intuition
1. Introduction
2. The greatest depth for the greatest span
3. Animal rights, abortion, capital punishment—ethical dilemmas that involve evaluating the depth of sentient life
4. What about vegetarianism and the basic moral intuition?
5. When is war justified?
6. Integral peace-making and the vision of a World Federation
7. Diplomatic lying
10. Applying the Integral Model
1. Introduction
2. Speaking AQAL—the language of an all-quadrant, all-level approach
3. Integral art
4. Is there a 3-D visual model for the integral map?
5. Ken Wilber applies his theory of literary criticism to his own work
6. Is understanding the integral model necessary for human development?
7. Should we consider a work of art separate from the ethics of the artist?
8. An all-quadrant, all-level story of the future
Contents
Wilber K (2003) (12:03) Kosmic Consciousness
01. The Integral Approach: the Big Three, the Quadrants, and the Lines of Development
1. Introduction
2. Ken Wilber: Kosmic storyteller
3. Integral map-making
4. I, We, and It—the Good, the True, and the Beautiful
5. The Four Quadrants
6. The Lines of Development
7. The special importance of cognitive development
02. Evolution Enfolds: the Stages of Development
1. Introduction
2. The Stage conception
3. What does "spiritual" mean?
4. Levels, structures, stages, waves
5. Are we evolving as a species?
6. The dangers of evolution
7. Reincarnation and human development through the life cycle
03. From Identification with self to Realization of the Self
1. Introduction
2. A simple model of development
3. Divination, astrology, and the pre–trans fallacy
4. From mythic to integral, and beyond
5. What techno-economic base will emerge to support integral consciousness?
6. The widening of identity
7. "Center of gravity" and the developmental line of the self
8. Was Ramana Maharshi an integrally realized world teacher?
04. States of Consciousness
1. Introduction
2. Waking, dreaming, and deep sleep—the gross, subtle, and causal realms
3. Your Original Face—the ever-present Witness
4. How the experience of altered states leads to the acquisition of higher stages of development
5. An integrally informed approach to psychedelics
6. Levels and fields of subtle energy
7. Can you rank evolution by species?
8. The Wilber–Combs Matrix
9. The momentous leap from first tier to second tier consciousness
05. Types
1. Introduction
2. Typology and the Integral Map
3. Gender tendencies and masculine and feminine modes of being
4. Rights and responsibilities, freedom and fullness
5. Making love in the gross, subtle, and causal body
6. Androgyny, bisexuality, and the cultivation of masculine and feminine sexual energy
7. Combining vertical scales with horizontal systems of typology
8. Will new elements be added to the integral map?
06. The Precious Opportunity of Human Birth
1. Introduction
2. Ascending, descending, and non-dual spiritual orientations
3. What is the goal of human development?
4. The realization of One Taste
5. Precious human birth
6. The seven chakras correlated with states and stages
7. What happens when an enlightened being dies?
07. Developing Witness Consciousness
1. Introduction
2. The Inexpressibles
3. EEG evidence of brain states associated with satori
4. How meditation accelerates vertical development
5. Does writing strengthen the witness?
6. Turiya: the fourth state of consciousness
7. Highlights of Ken Wilber's personal experiences with meditation
8. Breakthroughs, downturns, and plateaus in Ken Wilber's process of awakening
08. Integral Transformative Practice
1. Introduction
2. The transmission of non-dual awareness
3. How can we understand the uneven development of spiritual teachers?
4. Have we moved beyond the age of gurus?
5. Guidelines for choosing a spiritual teacher
6. Exercising body, mind, and spirit in self, culture, and nature
7. The world of the dream and the world of waking up—the domains of psychotherapy and spiritual practice
8. The Ego–ego axis
9. Does prayer accelerate human development?
09. The Basic Moral Intuition
1. Introduction
2. The greatest depth for the greatest span
3. Animal rights, abortion, capital punishment—ethical dilemmas that involve evaluating the depth of sentient life
4. What about vegetarianism and the basic moral intuition?
5. When is war justified?
6. Integral peace-making and the vision of a World Federation
7. Diplomatic lying
10. Applying the Integral Model
1. Introduction
2. Speaking AQAL—the language of an all-quadrant, all-level approach
3. Integral art
4. Is there a 3-D visual model for the integral map?
5. Ken Wilber applies his theory of literary criticism to his own work
6. Is understanding the integral model necessary for human development?
7. Should we consider a work of art separate from the ethics of the artist?
8. An all-quadrant, all-level story of the future
December 24, 2011
An absolutely stellar work and a fantastic compliment for those having difficulties dipping into some of Wilber's more dense texts. Having read "The Integral Vision," "Integral Life Practice," "The Integral Operating System," "The Essential Ken Wilber," listening to many productions on www.integralnaked.org, and miserably failing to read "A Brief History of Everything," my first attempt at a Wilber novel, Kosmic Consciousness tied a lot of knots for me.
It also, however, generated some new paths. I will be adding tibetan dream yoga and transcendental meditation to my daily integral practice.
My favorite tracks:
KC04 - 02 - Waking, dreaming, and deep sleep
KC04 - 03 - Your Original Face - the ever-present Witness
KC04 - 04 - The experience of altered states
KC04 - 06 - Levels and fields of subtle energy
KC07 - 03 - EEG evidence of brain states associated with satori
KC07 - 04 - How meditation accelerates vertical development
KC07 - 06 - Turiy a- the fourth state of consciousness
KC07 - 07 - Highlights of Ken Wilber's personal experiences
KC07 - 08 - Breakthroughs, downturns, and plateaus
It also, however, generated some new paths. I will be adding tibetan dream yoga and transcendental meditation to my daily integral practice.
My favorite tracks:
KC04 - 02 - Waking, dreaming, and deep sleep
KC04 - 03 - Your Original Face - the ever-present Witness
KC04 - 04 - The experience of altered states
KC04 - 06 - Levels and fields of subtle energy
KC07 - 03 - EEG evidence of brain states associated with satori
KC07 - 04 - How meditation accelerates vertical development
KC07 - 06 - Turiy a- the fourth state of consciousness
KC07 - 07 - Highlights of Ken Wilber's personal experiences
KC07 - 08 - Breakthroughs, downturns, and plateaus
January 23, 2025
This set of lectures/discussions/interviews/audio book, I'm not exactly sure how to classify it, took me about a month to get through. It wasn't because I didn't like it, it was very engaging, however it was very dense, not something I could casually fly through.
I didn't have too much of an idea about what this book would be about, but found it very helpful. There were concepts that I'd thought about before but never arranged or articulated like Wilber did in this work. I think what I learned will be helpful to integrate(!) into my life.
I didn't have too much of an idea about what this book would be about, but found it very helpful. There were concepts that I'd thought about before but never arranged or articulated like Wilber did in this work. I think what I learned will be helpful to integrate(!) into my life.
August 4, 2008
Ken Wilber is an incredible intellectual and author. He is a great source for those of us who enjoy exploring the crossroads between philosophy, science, and spirituality.
This is a great audio interview with Wilber. It is a great introduction to WIlber's work.
This is a great audio interview with Wilber. It is a great introduction to WIlber's work.
July 16, 2016
Amazingly deep and thought provoking. I will be listening to this 12+ hour audio book at least once more! Led to many new connections in my brain, I greatly appreciate his life work and will certainly pick up more of his books!
July 22, 2017
I love Ken Wilber! This audiobook is a great refresher or introduction to his main ideas. His storytelling and map-making of reality is truly inspiring. It was nice to listen to him in a conversational and informal setting. 10/10 recommend.
January 31, 2018
These sessions really draw me deeper into the integral theory. Tami Simon is an excellent interviewer, and Ken Wilber does a nice job of explaining an integral world view.
August 26, 2022
Kosmic Consciousness is a mix between a 12 hour podcast and an audiobook. Tami Simon interviews Ken Wilber, trying to bring out a map of the integral "map of the Kosmos (the universe that includes the physical cosmos as well as the realms of consciousness and Spirit)." Given Ken recommends us not to read his books as other media are likely more accessible for the basic ideas, maybe I made the right choice.
I enjoyed the high-level integral orientation far more than I'd expected (as the idea to sort of chart out everything gives me some heebie-jeebies).
The basic idea is "everyone's right" in some sense. One view I am partial to is that "everyone's experience is valid" (and what it means as integrated with everyone else's, well, that varies a bit more 😏.
Looking at developmental stages post-childhood is also pretty cool. The post-rational realms where one realizes that rationality alone doesn't answer all the questions and then aiming to integrate the pluralistic viewpoints into a sort of universality that honors the rest. There may be some handwaving, yet it's interesting.
The "basic moral intuition" pretty eloquently sums up views not too distant from my own, too xD. Utilitarianism also gets at it: the greatest good for the greatest number yet there's also some preference for beings of greater depth (e.g., buddhas over e-coli). Fundamentally, the 'goal' is to cherish every being's values and life. Pragmatically, difficult choices must be made, and there's perhaps not one golden decision procedure to rule them all. Actually, your neighborhood logician will probably gladly give you examples of people with contradictory desires! Yet on the integral or transpersonal level with universal care and universal rights, one wishes not to codify and reify particular choices made in one situation to carry over to future ones. Egads, how sloppy!
Ken claims that a large motive for the integral theories stems from a basic romanticism: there must be some way to reconcile people's diverse ways of life and views!
Maybe people who seem like murderous twats from our point of view are simply at that stage of development in one among many developmental lines and they need to act on this and learn from the consequences in order to develop. Should we protect others from them? Probably, yes, but we should honor where they're at, too. Ken's advice as to whether to try to "jump up developmental stages" is actually to focus on holistically living up one's current niche (and in doing so, one may find one begins growing in the upward spiral 😋.
Curiously, Ken seems to tentatively favor reincarnation-friendly cosmologies. This was 2003, so maybe his confidence levels have changed? The core romanticism, of course, favors multi-incarnational cosmologies where every aspect of every being can continue exploring and growing on its own pace and level to infinity and beyond! Isn't this one facet we wish to create in the coming positive technological Singularity anyway? 😏
The view of ever-deepening states of consciousness by successively objectifying some aspect of experience that wasn't previously objectified is cute. Apparently, it sort of limits in "quasi-ineffable raw experience" yet imperfectly so in that one can go deeper and deeper and deeper and deeper and . . ..
The idea of sociological centers of gravity for development are also interesting. One thought that arises then: what of subcultures with more developed centers of gravity than the culture at large? Seems worth cultivating. 😏
I suppose I will probably be happy to adopt an "integral attitude" or "integral orientation", perhaps sometimes in line with the core spirit than the particular details :- ). And I'd generally recommend checking out at least one of the man's works (book, video, or whatever :- D).
I enjoyed the high-level integral orientation far more than I'd expected (as the idea to sort of chart out everything gives me some heebie-jeebies).
The basic idea is "everyone's right" in some sense. One view I am partial to is that "everyone's experience is valid" (and what it means as integrated with everyone else's, well, that varies a bit more 😏.
Looking at developmental stages post-childhood is also pretty cool. The post-rational realms where one realizes that rationality alone doesn't answer all the questions and then aiming to integrate the pluralistic viewpoints into a sort of universality that honors the rest. There may be some handwaving, yet it's interesting.
The "basic moral intuition" pretty eloquently sums up views not too distant from my own, too xD. Utilitarianism also gets at it: the greatest good for the greatest number yet there's also some preference for beings of greater depth (e.g., buddhas over e-coli). Fundamentally, the 'goal' is to cherish every being's values and life. Pragmatically, difficult choices must be made, and there's perhaps not one golden decision procedure to rule them all. Actually, your neighborhood logician will probably gladly give you examples of people with contradictory desires! Yet on the integral or transpersonal level with universal care and universal rights, one wishes not to codify and reify particular choices made in one situation to carry over to future ones. Egads, how sloppy!
Ken claims that a large motive for the integral theories stems from a basic romanticism: there must be some way to reconcile people's diverse ways of life and views!
Maybe people who seem like murderous twats from our point of view are simply at that stage of development in one among many developmental lines and they need to act on this and learn from the consequences in order to develop. Should we protect others from them? Probably, yes, but we should honor where they're at, too. Ken's advice as to whether to try to "jump up developmental stages" is actually to focus on holistically living up one's current niche (and in doing so, one may find one begins growing in the upward spiral 😋.
Curiously, Ken seems to tentatively favor reincarnation-friendly cosmologies. This was 2003, so maybe his confidence levels have changed? The core romanticism, of course, favors multi-incarnational cosmologies where every aspect of every being can continue exploring and growing on its own pace and level to infinity and beyond! Isn't this one facet we wish to create in the coming positive technological Singularity anyway? 😏
The view of ever-deepening states of consciousness by successively objectifying some aspect of experience that wasn't previously objectified is cute. Apparently, it sort of limits in "quasi-ineffable raw experience" yet imperfectly so in that one can go deeper and deeper and deeper and deeper and . . ..
The idea of sociological centers of gravity for development are also interesting. One thought that arises then: what of subcultures with more developed centers of gravity than the culture at large? Seems worth cultivating. 😏
I suppose I will probably be happy to adopt an "integral attitude" or "integral orientation", perhaps sometimes in line with the core spirit than the particular details :- ). And I'd generally recommend checking out at least one of the man's works (book, video, or whatever :- D).
June 19, 2022
Don’t read the description of this audio, it in no way represents what these interviews were like. It’s a course I guess but more of a conversation. It seems we have finally found someone who has contextualized postmodernism for what it is and knows what’s next! Ken Wilber. Of course he’s a Buddhist. He studies everything. Everything everything. Has done so his whole life.
This was great because it’s an extended interview. Long form interviews are becoming more normalized but back then this was not typical. He has a bunch of graphs that try and organize his ideas but it takes a huge commitment to patiently learning from him. I’m realizing it will take many books to fully get it. He has the issue that everything he says sounds like it has no goal or practical use so he’ll break from the flow of his thoughts a lot to be like alright this is how CEOs will use this. Or how a scientist or therapist would use this.
It’s not really a theory of everything although one of his books is called that. It’s more of an all encompassing framework for all theories as they are used in the brain and for development as a thinking being. It’s a way to contextualize most prominent theories and to use them to find open conscious states of awareness and then to bring others with.
Only the decades of experience at studying all these different facets of intelligence could allow him to put this all together. That and a lot of meditation. He discusses specifically how hierarchies and rankings get misused when it comes to the lack of accountability in moral decisions that inevitably occur when you want to use a rule instead of the fluidity of intuition. One of the phrases he repeats is that the subject at the previous level of development becomes the object of the subject of the next level of development.
Overall this is a framework to new ways of thinking about intellect and moral development. It’s mainly about being open to new perspectives that are productive from one moment to the next. He uses “I” “we” and “it’s” as constructs of explaining different perspectives and how they’re used in different states of mind. He goes into how different traditions use these theories based on what form of truth it is seeking to learn from.
I think he says it’s the “right” the “good” and the “beautiful”, depending on what form of truth it is seeking. He has a bunch of different ways of splitting what he’s studying but it always comes back to which parts of the brain are used when thinking about them and how it applies to biology and physical micro processes. This way he can communicate his results to the objective reductionistic lens.
This was great because it’s an extended interview. Long form interviews are becoming more normalized but back then this was not typical. He has a bunch of graphs that try and organize his ideas but it takes a huge commitment to patiently learning from him. I’m realizing it will take many books to fully get it. He has the issue that everything he says sounds like it has no goal or practical use so he’ll break from the flow of his thoughts a lot to be like alright this is how CEOs will use this. Or how a scientist or therapist would use this.
It’s not really a theory of everything although one of his books is called that. It’s more of an all encompassing framework for all theories as they are used in the brain and for development as a thinking being. It’s a way to contextualize most prominent theories and to use them to find open conscious states of awareness and then to bring others with.
Only the decades of experience at studying all these different facets of intelligence could allow him to put this all together. That and a lot of meditation. He discusses specifically how hierarchies and rankings get misused when it comes to the lack of accountability in moral decisions that inevitably occur when you want to use a rule instead of the fluidity of intuition. One of the phrases he repeats is that the subject at the previous level of development becomes the object of the subject of the next level of development.
Overall this is a framework to new ways of thinking about intellect and moral development. It’s mainly about being open to new perspectives that are productive from one moment to the next. He uses “I” “we” and “it’s” as constructs of explaining different perspectives and how they’re used in different states of mind. He goes into how different traditions use these theories based on what form of truth it is seeking to learn from.
I think he says it’s the “right” the “good” and the “beautiful”, depending on what form of truth it is seeking. He has a bunch of different ways of splitting what he’s studying but it always comes back to which parts of the brain are used when thinking about them and how it applies to biology and physical micro processes. This way he can communicate his results to the objective reductionistic lens.
January 12, 2021
I Loved this audible book. The first few chapters stunned me as Ken Wilber was putting into words a framework for understanding how to experience reality. Something that I had felt but was unable to fully contextualize and his integral model of I, We , Its and how that related to levels and lines seemed to just click with what I have been feeling for years. I resonated a lot with the idea that "everyone is 'right' to some degree i.e. we are all holding some part of the truth ( a little puzzle piece of truth) and its a matter of seeing how it all fits into the grander picture. The progression between magical/mystical to rational/scientific to pluralistic to integral resonated strongly on my own journey through different lenses of viewing life and I liked how Ken managed to deal with the tricky territory of explaining how some persons can be higher or lower on a certain developmental lines (which becomes a hot topic when perceived as ranking people different dimensions) . The idea of persons having a higher or lower consciousness has intrigued me since doing a 6 week Jungian course and Ken Wilber tackled this topic head on but with tact and care as he has obviously seen and taken alot of the criticism that comes with presenting such ideas.
The audible is long at 13 hours , however it is really engaging in the interviewer format and I can see myself listening to it again sometime in the future . For now I feel like reading his primary book ' brief history of everything ' as I would like to get a little more deeper into the theory.
For me Ken is easy to listen to and brings together many different interesting worlds e.g. meditation and Zen Buddhist philosophy with a academic 'heady' approach of structuring lenses to identify the world.
One particular notion I enjoyed is how he separated relative and absolute truths and subjective person "i" experiences with objective scientific analytic truth analysis of "its" and that both of these are valid, however in life these are often viewed as "either or " world views , where you have to believe one or the other and not both.
Highly recommend this audible for anyone who would like a easy to listen to philosophical discussion backed up with some frameworks and theory that helps contextualise this messy world into some logical structure.
Kens self condescending approach , helps him to get across a few otherwise touchy subjects and he does this with humour.
Glad to have discovered his mind
The audible is long at 13 hours , however it is really engaging in the interviewer format and I can see myself listening to it again sometime in the future . For now I feel like reading his primary book ' brief history of everything ' as I would like to get a little more deeper into the theory.
For me Ken is easy to listen to and brings together many different interesting worlds e.g. meditation and Zen Buddhist philosophy with a academic 'heady' approach of structuring lenses to identify the world.
One particular notion I enjoyed is how he separated relative and absolute truths and subjective person "i" experiences with objective scientific analytic truth analysis of "its" and that both of these are valid, however in life these are often viewed as "either or " world views , where you have to believe one or the other and not both.
Highly recommend this audible for anyone who would like a easy to listen to philosophical discussion backed up with some frameworks and theory that helps contextualise this messy world into some logical structure.
Kens self condescending approach , helps him to get across a few otherwise touchy subjects and he does this with humour.
Glad to have discovered his mind
July 17, 2023
I read a bunch of Wilber's books many years ago (around when this series came out) when he was more current and I was more concerned with abstract ideas. At the time I found it helped me feel okay with being interested in different subjects whose proponents mostly violently disagreed, but now I wonder at the value.
This series is a good summary of all I got from those many hours spent reading. Actually, even just the as-of-2023 Wikipedia article is probably 97+% of the value in his entire body of work. TBF Wilber himself admits at the end of this series that you can get the basic idea pretty quickly, 90 minutes, from a video or article and can skip the books. I know some experts in the fields he claims to summarize dispute his summaries, so you're probably better off sort of squinting at his work and taking the big picture quickly rather than assuming his understanding is as encyclopedic as he implies and diving into the footnotes.
The thing I wanted to say here though was that Wilber thinks reincarnation is likely but not certain, and says he hopes it's true because otherwise some person who lived for 20 years 2000 years ago didn't get much of a view of the big picture of where this universe is going, and I kinda had a "hold up" moment, because ... isn't the whole point of his open individualist/Brahmanic/Dharmic/Eastern-spirituality enlightenment philosophy that we're all, as Bill Hicks put it, "One consciousness experiencing itself subjectively"? Eckhart Tolle is also clear that we're all the one Self, capital S, seeing everything through different lenses known as people. Open individualism comes at the issue from a scientific materialist angle and comes to the same conclusion. So who was that ancient "one person" who got crushed making the pyramids or whatever if not the one single being behind me and you and everyone we know, temporarily putting on a VR headset and forgetting Our identity? I dunno, maybe I'm missing his point, but it seems to me that Pyramid Builder #342432532543 was the same "person" Ken is and I am and you are etc.
This series is a good summary of all I got from those many hours spent reading. Actually, even just the as-of-2023 Wikipedia article is probably 97+% of the value in his entire body of work. TBF Wilber himself admits at the end of this series that you can get the basic idea pretty quickly, 90 minutes, from a video or article and can skip the books. I know some experts in the fields he claims to summarize dispute his summaries, so you're probably better off sort of squinting at his work and taking the big picture quickly rather than assuming his understanding is as encyclopedic as he implies and diving into the footnotes.
The thing I wanted to say here though was that Wilber thinks reincarnation is likely but not certain, and says he hopes it's true because otherwise some person who lived for 20 years 2000 years ago didn't get much of a view of the big picture of where this universe is going, and I kinda had a "hold up" moment, because ... isn't the whole point of his open individualist/Brahmanic/Dharmic/Eastern-spirituality enlightenment philosophy that we're all, as Bill Hicks put it, "One consciousness experiencing itself subjectively"? Eckhart Tolle is also clear that we're all the one Self, capital S, seeing everything through different lenses known as people. Open individualism comes at the issue from a scientific materialist angle and comes to the same conclusion. So who was that ancient "one person" who got crushed making the pyramids or whatever if not the one single being behind me and you and everyone we know, temporarily putting on a VR headset and forgetting Our identity? I dunno, maybe I'm missing his point, but it seems to me that Pyramid Builder #342432532543 was the same "person" Ken is and I am and you are etc.
April 25, 2019
So you've heard of this guy "Ken Wilber" and his "Integral (Meta)Theory". You've watched a couple 2-hour long videos of him on Youtube, read a bunch of articles, and find yourself wanting to get deeper into the rabbit hole.
If the above ring true for you, then I wholeheartedly recommend this audio program. The interview format works great - maintains a certain direction and turns the whole thesis into a nice flow of arguments/discussions. It goes into details without coming off as overly-complex or unpalatable and is easy to follow.
The first five chapters are dedicated to the five components of the AQAL model - Quadrants, Levels, Lines, States, and Types, each chapter corresponding to a different component. The explanations are clear, examples abound, and it paints a nice picture of the whole model. The other five chapters go in detail about related topics, such as spiritual practice free of belief, spiritual enlightenment, the difference between holarchies and hierarchies, human development, scientific study of non-ordinary states of consciousness, the pre/trans fallacy. They play around with discussions regarding more ordinary topics as well, such as animal rights, morality, sexuality, war/peace/defense, and even toy around with controversial topics such as reincarnation, although briefly and in a down-to-earth manner (well, as far as radical open-mindedness goes).
Overall a very entertaining program and probably the best place to start with Integral Theory other than Youtube videos and internet articles.
If the above ring true for you, then I wholeheartedly recommend this audio program. The interview format works great - maintains a certain direction and turns the whole thesis into a nice flow of arguments/discussions. It goes into details without coming off as overly-complex or unpalatable and is easy to follow.
The first five chapters are dedicated to the five components of the AQAL model - Quadrants, Levels, Lines, States, and Types, each chapter corresponding to a different component. The explanations are clear, examples abound, and it paints a nice picture of the whole model. The other five chapters go in detail about related topics, such as spiritual practice free of belief, spiritual enlightenment, the difference between holarchies and hierarchies, human development, scientific study of non-ordinary states of consciousness, the pre/trans fallacy. They play around with discussions regarding more ordinary topics as well, such as animal rights, morality, sexuality, war/peace/defense, and even toy around with controversial topics such as reincarnation, although briefly and in a down-to-earth manner (well, as far as radical open-mindedness goes).
Overall a very entertaining program and probably the best place to start with Integral Theory other than Youtube videos and internet articles.
January 16, 2022
Ja Visums būtu varde, tad tikko piedzīvoju, kā tā tiek izpreparēta - atklājot sīkāko daļiņu un katras daļiņas saistību vienai ar otru. Turklāt nevar noliegt, ka šis bija viens no erudītākajiem, elegantākajiem un iedvesmojošākajiem vardes preparēšanas paraugdemonstrējumiem.
Pirms grāmatas izlasīšanas man bija sajūta, bet tagad to pastiprina arī doma, kas izlasīta un izklāstīta Ken Wilber grāmatā (gan šajā, gan citās) - visiem ir taisnība, triks ir tikai tajā, lai saprastu, kā tieši tas ir iespējams un kā tieši tas darbojas. Neslēpšu, ka šī ir sajūta un doma, kas dziļi un patiesi rezonēm manī. Un nomierina.
Pirms grāmatas izlasīšanas man bija sajūta, bet tagad to pastiprina arī doma, kas izlasīta un izklāstīta Ken Wilber grāmatā (gan šajā, gan citās) - visiem ir taisnība, triks ir tikai tajā, lai saprastu, kā tieši tas ir iespējams un kā tieši tas darbojas. Neslēpšu, ka šī ir sajūta un doma, kas dziļi un patiesi rezonēm manī. Un nomierina.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2020
Love the theory, don’t love the theorist being interviewed because as he puts it the whole point of being integrally informed is that one can choose to improve all or some of your lines and therefore transcend levels of consciousness. And in my mind if one does, why would they choose to live in a lower level? Seems like a couple lines of Ken Wilber have been perhaps purposely ignored? Specifically the line about jokes involving hookers.
November 29, 2024
It has been a while for this book but of all the Wilber/new era philosophy books this is one of my favorites. Would recommend the audiobook here as the book is written in conversation form where the audiobook is the conversation happening. Wilber goes in depth on some of his more complex theory’s in an incredible comprehensive way throughout the book. This would be a recommendation to anyone who was more than mildly interested in “integral theory” and ready to put their foot in the water
October 4, 2020
Loved this book and theory. Like Ken Wilber, I’ve always felt there was truth in every other theoretical position and perception. I also love that Ken is a spiritualist as well. I align well with these beliefs.
May 1, 2018
Dense and insightful. I appreciate that Ken's framework weaves together other mental frameworks to create a holistic, integrated understanding of realms of consciousness.
June 1, 2021
I love Ken Wilber. I'm not going to attempt to categorize his work, as his work transcends and includes categories. I recommend for everyone, no faith or belief required only pay attention
January 9, 2022
Wilber in conversation is as fascinating (and more charming) than he is on the page.
December 31, 2022
this is a hidden gem, must read if you are into integrating and hoping to keep a expansive consciousness
February 27, 2024
Interviews with Ken Wilber, who tries to integrate current new age thought. Reasonably accessible but listening a few times would surely make sense. Definitely worth the time and effort.
September 20, 2014
Ken Wilber's story of his own journey that led him to his Integral Theory mirrors very much my own, though he went much further. Often I have struggled with disparate spiritual-philosophical theories and concepts wondering how I could possibly make them work together. Discovering that the author had the same struggle only made me more interested in his work. I like how he organizes all these seemingly conflicting belief systems in such a way that makes them actually work together as a natural evolution of each other. He demonstrates how through personal evolution we end up integrate all of the previous belief systems and seeing the truths that each of them hold without having the stubborn self-righteous hostility towards each of them.
I appreciated his comments on the power and importance of meditation as the most effective vehicle for self-evolution. Also enjoyed his ideas about morality especially, which is a very dicey and frustrating subject depending on what belief system on has adopted.
This was my introduction to Ken Wilber and I just might be his newest fan.
I appreciated his comments on the power and importance of meditation as the most effective vehicle for self-evolution. Also enjoyed his ideas about morality especially, which is a very dicey and frustrating subject depending on what belief system on has adopted.
This was my introduction to Ken Wilber and I just might be his newest fan.
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