Originally published on Andrew Holecek’s Edge of Mind podcast.
In this fascinating and far-ranging discussion, Ken Wilber and Andrew Holecek explore the frontiers of integral theory and human consciousness. Ken shares some of the key insights from his latest book, “Finding Radical Wholeness,” offering a novel and deeply insightful perspective on the nature of reality and human development.
Listen as Ken and Andrew discuss Ken’s five-fold model of transformation:
Waking Up: The spiritual path of enlightenment or awakening, involving direct experiences of non-dual awareness or unity consciousness. This path is about recognizing our fundamental nature beyond the ego.
Growing Up: Progressing through stages of psychological and cognitive development, from egocentric to ethnocentric to worldcentric and beyond. This path is about expanding our perspective and capacity for understanding complexity.
Opening Up: Expanding our awareness and capacity across multiple intelligences or ways of perceiving and engaging with the world. This path is about actively cultivating different forms of intelligence, such as aesthetic (recognizing beauty), moral, emotional, and others, broadening our perception and deepening our engagement with life.
Cleaning Up: Working through our psychological shadows and unconscious patterns, integrating repressed or denied aspects of ourselves for greater wholeness. By facing and embracing our hidden fears, traumas, and disowned parts, we free up energy and expand our capacity for authentic self-expression and relationship.
Showing Up: Fully embodying our development in the world, actively engaging with life and manifesting our potential in practical ways. This path involves bringing our inner growth and insights into tangible expression, taking responsible action in our relationships, work, and communities, and living with authenticity and purpose in everyday life.
Each of these five paths leads to a distinct form of wholeness that cannot be found through the other paths. The wholeness of Waking Up is not the same as the wholeness of Growing Up, and the wholeness achieved through Cleaning Up is different from that of Opening Up or Showing Up. These various types of wholeness complement each other, but are not reducible to one another, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive approach to human development and transformation.
Ken and Andrew also discuss:
- Wilber's latest thinking on these five types of wholeness, with particular emphasis on the often-overlooked "showing up" dimension,
- A nuanced discussion of the pre/trans fallacy and its continued relevance in contemporary spiritual discourse,
- The critical difference between “adual” and “nondual” experiences,
- An expanded view of matter and consciousness, synthesizing panpsychism, autopoiesis, and integral metatheory,
- Insights into the relationship between involution and evolution, and their moment-to-moment relevance in personal experience,
- Wilber's thoughts on teleology in evolution, balancing fixed and playful aspects of developmental unfolding,
- Practical strategies for embodying integral principles in personal practice and cultural engagement.
This conversation offers a profound glimpse into the cutting edge of integral philosophy and its practical applications. Whether you’re a seasoned integral practitioner or new to these concepts, this discussion promises to expand your understanding of human potential and the nature of reality itself. Join Ken and Andrew as they chart new territories in consciousness and provide a roadmap for personal and collective transformation in our complex world.