Murphy and George Leonard at
Integral Naked.com.
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39. KEN WILBER & ITP
1/12/04
“A new era, wrapped in the garment of approaching day, is dawning in the hearts
of men: and soon again will the virgin Spirit of God shine forth from the heart
and the door again will open, by which all who will, may find entrance to a
larger and fuller life. Young, vibrant, with perennial youth and hope and
endeavor, the soul of man stands on the threshold of a new era, more glorious
than any other that has brightened the sky since Creation’s dawn. The Star of
Bethlehem shone brighter at Jesus’ birth than it had before but soon its
brightness will be like a noonday sun, for this new light foretells the day when
the Christ is born in the hearts of all men.”
Life & Teachings of the Masters of the Far East. By Baird T. Spalding. Vol 2,
Pg. 72.
******
This article arose as a
result of listening to an interview with Ken Wilber, Michael
Murphy and George Leonard at
Integral Naked.com.
A discussion about Integral Transformative Practices (ITP), between old friends who have energetically fashioned the ITP that is now being put together at Esalen on the west coast. This basically is focused on contemporary, mind, body and spiritual approaches which currently are accepted as a good fit for developing a more compassionate and transformative realization for us. A cross training, if you will, using both modern and historical practices, based on more empirical evidence, for reaching our highest potential.
“Ken Wilber states; “Some where in the last 3 hundred years evolution became conscious of itself.” That Ken has made this evolutionary potential all the more understandable and workable, to me, is an exciting and positive current in a world searching for meaning.
Michael Murphy points out that with many of the somatical studies that have been made by Herbert Benson and others, we are given more integral approaches to the historical frameworks that embody the many yoga’s, other religious practices and also mystical and somatic practices. A fine example would be the work that Dr. Jon Kabat Zinn is doing with mindfulness, Buddhist practice and hatha yoga, a Hindu practice. Cutting across religious ties to the nitty gritty of what works now to accomplish meaningful results.
Michael Murphy points out that the ITP sits on ‘a four legged stool’ consisting of theory, practice, research and Community. The community being both professional research as well as the many offhanded, unfunded, integral impulses that arise as we ourselves work together in the field of self development and come to our own theoretical conclusions that can be shared. In sharing these theories with others perhaps we can uncover evidence of more verifiable and efficient additions to the current modes of practice. At Esalen under the stewardship of Michael Murphy ITP is taking on this communal form that draws from research currently being done in the human developmental fields.
Interestingly, Ken brings up the fact that through history it was the integral thinkers that were of the greatest influence to both religious forms and their practice. An interesting example, I find, would be the formal practice of mindfulness developed only 100 years ago by Mahasi Sayadaw which draws upon the sutras of Buddhism to shrink what historically has been 40 different meditation subjects to one practice of Formal Mindfulness. Integrally theorizing that this was a more efficient way to accomplishing the same results and it also fits better with the world as it is today.
Ken states; “… any form of practice and any form of knowledge community that relies on evidence as opposed to dogma, relies on research as opposed to opinion is going to constantly change.”
Michael Murphy also points out; “That one advance on one front can synergistically help us advance on another front of human nature.” Today mindfulness for developing a healthy mind and body is done both formally and informally as this practice influences the many forms of activity we engage in. Since the mindfulness practice is a way of placing our awareness on the movement of the breath in the body, we could say, by doing other forms of breathing we are also doing some form of mindfulness. Perhaps, an informal approach depending on the particular somatic discipline we are engaged in for developing awareness.
Ken points out, that not
only is awareness curative but it is also causative. An indication that as we
engage in forms for developing awareness we may also have intuitive insights
that are both creative and then causative based on how the intuitions are
received by the community and the evidence they yield.
For example; one of the major strengths of rebirthing, I feel, is having the
client breathing for a full hour done over ten sessions. This is a nice shift of
awareness for most people which is evident to those involved in the sessions.
However this practice could be more integrative by also embracing other forms to
fit ITP models. This actually seems to be the case in rebirthing as it adapts to
the pressures of the different holistic communities.
Reasoning from what has been presented; I have theorized that working with the body to establish alignment is also an advance that has synergistic implications regarding other transformational practices. Since the use of breathing is very much a part of maintaining physical alignment, this element of breathing becomes a natural tool that we can use without effort and without the notion that we are doing something exotic.
In this fashion our attention is constantly brought to the immediate situation because of the focus on the breath and the body. This then fulfills several elements in the integral package by adding an efficiency that is sought by other more time consuming and perhaps even archaic means. To me this is a fairly straight forward approach to being comfortable with the body.
For practitioners working in the healing arts and sciences alignment knowledge provides another way of appreciating what each individual’s physical structure requires to feel better. By first handling the immediate alignment elements of a client/friend we can be comfortable they will also benefit and enjoy the outer forms that one is being presented with.
I have observed in the professional world an absence of this knowledge of physical alignment other then, some comfortable concepts that satisfy the intellect. Because of this people can come to a class with an assortment of physical problems that can be addressed with alignment principles but are given a redundant set of exercises. Perhaps there is some benefit, but the real physical discomforts still remain in place. An example would be the student that walks in to a karate class with collapsed arches. This can be treated directly before doing the formal dojo routines so the specific problem is handled and their performance can be more precise.
“Changing religions is not like changing professions. Excitement lessens over the years, and soon you are not excited, and then where are you? Homeless inside yourself.” The Dali Lama
Thank You for stopping in.
Posted by harmon January 12, 2004
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