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The spectrum of consciousness

created by artfuldodger

(idea) by artfuldodger (4.8 y) (print)   ?   (I like it!) Mon Feb 14 2000 at 1:55:57

Both a book and a theoretical model by Ken Wilber. In my opinion, a work of genius. An important part of transpersonal psychology. Also a really big book that I don't pretend to understand completely.

The "spectrum" is a synthesis of, and addition to, several models of the various levels of consciousness and spiritual development. It takes many Western models, including Maslow's Heirarchy of needs, Freud's oral and anal phases, and even things like the Cabbalah. It takes eastern models from India, Japan, and China, including Zen.

He breaks it all down into a circle, leading from birth to normality to sanity, from uroboric consciousness to egoic consciousness to unity consciousness. A good explanation of why "enlightenment" should be plural and the ego is not something evil, just a stage.

The whole thing is way too complicated to get into here, but I suggest you read the book if you have some time. More concise explanations are also found in The Atman Project and A Brief History of Everything.


printable version
chaos

eternal consciousness altered state of consciousness How to hypnotize someone Enlightenment
Akashic Records the mind/body problem telepathy Ken Wilber
William Blake Subjective argument for eternal life hypnagogic state birth
The Cybernetic Consciousness Transcendental unity of apperception How physics defines consciousness Consciousness is meta
transpersonal psychology There is a Space Between your Shoulders where your wings used to be atman Cartesian Theater
Pattern Identity Theory Queen of Angels Inverse spectrum argument Chaos theory
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