- Paperback: 336 pages
- Publisher: Shambhala Publications Inc; Reprint edition (2 Jun 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1590303091
- ISBN-13: 978-1590303092
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,377,320 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Drawing on modern research in psychology and psychiatry, as well as the world's great contemplative traditions, this classic presents a model of individual development that embraces both the conventional stages of psychological growth and the higher levels of spiritual development. In nine seminal essays, the authors and three contributors present discussions on the following topics: A full-spectrum model of consciousness, focusing on the self and its journey through the basic structures of matter, body, mind, soul, and spirit Types of psychopathology that emerge at the various levels of spiritual development Misuses and psychiatric complications of meditation practice Pioneering research into the cross-cultural stages of the meditative path A new preface by Ken Wilber, placing this work within his current integral model of consciousness Contributors include the psychiatrist Mark Epstein (author of Thoughts without a Thinker and several other books on Buddhism and psychology), and the Christian theologian John Chirban.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book was originally published in 1986. If you want to read more of Ken Wilber's epicyclic models, then this is twenty year old epicycles (see Andresen and Forman: Cognitive Models and Spiritual Maps for a more recent Wilber piece followed by a sympathetic but trenchant critique by Christian de Quincey).
It is worth the money primarily due to Prof. Daniel Brown's extremely important chapter with its examination of the parallels between the stages of meditation in three authoritative yogic traditions (Yoga Sutras, Vipassana and Mahamudra). Although Brown came to the odd conclusion that all the paths are same but the goals different, others like myself (also Forman in The Problem of Pure Consciousness)disagree as the key stage is Basis Enlightenment (nondual Pure Consciousness) is the stage all 3 describe most similarly. Post-Enlightenment practises differ.
Brown's study discusses the yogic experience of the subtle flow of the Light when mental processes are held in abeyance. The Light is perceived as coming in waves (Hindu) or pulses/moments (Buddhists) which is clearly just a difference in focus. The YS tradition describes the Light as the coordinates of that previous gross mental content or A CONTINUOUSLY VIBRATING ENERGY FIELD IN A STATE OF CONTINUOUS WAVE PROPAGATION.
This information proved critical in my 1994 identification of the physical correlate of the Divine Light/Pure Consciousness or Godhead with the brainwaves from the brainstem Reticular Activating System. These brainwaves continuously underly all other brainwave activity and only cease at death. Numerous other authoritative yogic and mystic facts (the Light at the Centre, the prana/atman identity, Advaita's mutual superimposition of Pure Consciousness and sense percepts, Insight meditation's catching the Light in gaps between percepts, Vajrayana's Clear Light of Death as a continuous series of moments etc.) plus the presence of the Light in NDEs fits this interpretation (see my review of Kapsten's The Presence of Light on Amazon.com) or The Oneness/Otherness Mystery: The Synthesis of Science and Mysticism. Patanjali even begins the Yoga Sutras stating: yogas cittavritti nirodhah (yoga is the cessation of the WAVE-LIKE FLUCTUATIONS of the mindstuff). See also Travis's model of Pure Consciousness as the background state in Dalai Lama and Varela: Sleeping, Dreaming and Dying. The RAS is well known as it arouses the cortex as distinct from specific attention and is a universal human process unaffected by culture and tradition. Cessation of the RAS constitutes brain death.
Sutapas Bhattacharya
It is worth the money primarily due to Prof. Daniel Brown's extremely important chapter with its examination of the parallels between the stages of meditation in three authoritative yogic traditions (Yoga Sutras, Vipassana and Mahamudra). Although Brown came to the odd conclusion that all the paths are same but the goals different, others like myself (also Forman in The Problem of Pure Consciousness)disagree as the key stage is Basis Enlightenment (nondual Pure Consciousness) is the stage all 3 describe most similarly. Post-Enlightenment practises differ.
Brown's study discusses the yogic experience of the subtle flow of the Light when mental processes are held in abeyance. The Light is perceived as coming in waves (Hindu) or pulses/moments (Buddhists) which is clearly just a difference in focus. The YS tradition describes the Light as the coordinates of that previous gross mental content or A CONTINUOUSLY VIBRATING ENERGY FIELD IN A STATE OF CONTINUOUS WAVE PROPAGATION.
This information proved critical in my 1994 identification of the physical correlate of the Divine Light/Pure Consciousness or Godhead with the brainwaves from the brainstem Reticular Activating System. These brainwaves continuously underly all other brainwave activity and only cease at death. Numerous other authoritative yogic and mystic facts (the Light at the Centre, the prana/atman identity, Advaita's mutual superimposition of Pure Consciousness and sense percepts, Insight meditation's catching the Light in gaps between percepts, Vajrayana's Clear Light of Death as a continuous series of moments etc.) plus the presence of the Light in NDEs fits this interpretation (see my review of Kapsten's The Presence of Light on Amazon.com) or The Oneness/Otherness Mystery: The Synthesis of Science and Mysticism. Patanjali even begins the Yoga Sutras stating: yogas cittavritti nirodhah (yoga is the cessation of the WAVE-LIKE FLUCTUATIONS of the mindstuff). See also Travis's model of Pure Consciousness as the background state in Dalai Lama and Varela: Sleeping, Dreaming and Dying. The RAS is well known as it arouses the cortex as distinct from specific attention and is a universal human process unaffected by culture and tradition. Cessation of the RAS constitutes brain death.
Sutapas Bhattacharya
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book is fine, i e the authors and the text. I had to order a new copy, though it was expensive for my purse,as used ones are not sold to customers abroad. I received, however, a used one with the former owner's signature among other signs of use. Good enough for me, no good advertisement for the sellers'business.
Otherwise, the book is worth its prize!
Otherwise, the book is worth its prize!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
7 reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
dusty, but still therapeutic!
27 May 2003
Format:Paperback
just one personal comment: merely reading the definitions of "split life-goals" and "dark night of the soul" by Wilber saved me several months (years?) of struggling - the book provides a novel structure of psychopathology and if you have a structure you have something to hold onto. very therapeutic book for (post)existential-level strugglers!
***
i really like the brief and concrete style of the older books by Wilber (Atman Project is my favourite!), although, according to Wilber himself, they contain slightly outdated ideas. don't start with it, but don't forget it!
***
i really like the brief and concrete style of the older books by Wilber (Atman Project is my favourite!), although, according to Wilber himself, they contain slightly outdated ideas. don't start with it, but don't forget it!
34 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Finally!!!
12 Nov 1998
Format:Paperback
Where have the thoughts in this book been for so long??? Transformations of Consciousness thinks critically about issue's in psychology and spirituality that are so important and would seem so obvious, I wonder how they've managed to escape us all so completely. Primarily, this text brings attention and profoundly questions the motives of the psychological as well as contemplative schools in such a fundamental way as to expose unaddressed pervasive issues that ignorence of which can constitute avoidable casualties to mental and spiritual health. Emphasis is placed on recognition of developmental/phase specific aspects of what constitute appropriate therapeutic and spiritual practices. Specifically,when is meditation harmful as opposed to benificial. What are any of the obstacles in selectively transplanting eastern contemplative practices into the western cultural context? What can both eastern and western traditions contribute to and learn from each other? Wilber, Engler and Brown both impressed and stimulated me with the extraordinary depth and far reaching implications of their considerations. Now, I know why my experience in an eastern influenced spiritual community was bound to end in disillusionment and what has unconsciously motivated so much of my frustrating seeking! What better gift could you ask for?? If therapy has been repeatedly ineffectual, costly and disappointing, or if despite your interest in spirituality you've felt something was missing that you have had difficulty articulating; This book will articulate it. What a glorious Gift!! This book is my BIBLE now!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Long term meditator? Get this book.
15 Aug 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
An excellent presentation of the stages of mindfulness meditation as well as the spectrum of development and the spectrum of psychopathology. Authors Ken Wilber, Jack Engler and Daniel P. Brown know what they are talking about.
Because levels of meditative development are still not widely known, because so few have ventured deeply into meditation, a book like this isn't understood by many. Someone who hasn't meditated can't believe this is possible, so they dismiss it.
If you are a serious long term meditator this book is great. If you've never meditated, or done much contemplative work, this book may not make much sense.
A very worthwhile book for any interested in meditative or contemplative development.
Because levels of meditative development are still not widely known, because so few have ventured deeply into meditation, a book like this isn't understood by many. Someone who hasn't meditated can't believe this is possible, so they dismiss it.
If you are a serious long term meditator this book is great. If you've never meditated, or done much contemplative work, this book may not make much sense.
A very worthwhile book for any interested in meditative or contemplative development.
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