The Unreasonable Nature of Spirit

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1 TheUnreasonableNatureofSpirit DearIntegralesForum, Thankyouforinvitingmeparticipateinyourbraveeffortsatbothopeningupandconveningsuchan importantconversation.thisisaconversationthatmusttakeplaceifwe reallgoingtofindawayto moveforwardtogether awaytomoveforwardthatatleastasignificantnumberofuswillfeel comfortableandgoodabout.thisisobviouslyaverycomplexandchallengingsubject,madethatmuch moredifficultbecauseofthefactthatcultureisevolvingandweareall,asindividuals,strivingtoevolve withinandastheleadingedgeofthatcultureitself.ireadcarefullyyourpositionpaperandfound myselfforthemostpartinagreementwithyourpoints.infact,mostoftherelevantquestionsthatface usallrightnow,youbroughtupandexplainedwiththeuniqueclarityoftheintegralperspective. Therefore,becauseIamfundamentallyinagreementwithyou,Idon tthinkitisnecessaryformeto coverthesameterritorythatyouhave.whatdidoccurtomewastomakesomeadditionalpointsthati feelareimportanttoincludeinthepicture pointsthatwillihopeenrichanddeepenthedialoguethat youhavealreadystarted. Firstofall,Ineedtostateopenlyfromtheverybeginningthatmyperspectiveonthissubjectisentirely biasedbyawholeheartedembraceofanevolutionaryworldview.also,mythoughtsandopinionscome fromanunapologeticpositionthatdeclaresfirstandforemostthatspirit,orthatwhichisabsoluteor non relative,isalwayshigher.anditisfromthatperspectivethattheworldofrelative(butnot unimportant)distinctionsareseen. PartI IntegralSpiritualityandtheAbsolute Theglory,majesty,andincalculablesignificanceofanintegralworldviewisthatitisabletoinclude multipleperspectivesinitsembraceofjustaboutanysubjectwithoutdiminishingimportant distinctions.thisisastunning(andultimatelyworld changing)capacitythatnolesserphilosophyhasso farbeenabletoaccomplish.myowncognitivelifehasbeensoenlightenedbytheintegrallensthatit s nowhardformetorememberwhattheworldlookedlikebeforeibegantoseethroughitsremarkable clarity.itisatrulyvastperspectivethatalwaysinsistsupontheinclusionofthemulti dimensional complexitythattherealworldofself,culture,andcosmosisalwaysmadeupof. ButasourcolleagueandintegralmentorKenWilberhassooftenstated,everygreatleapforwardalso bringswithitawholenewsetofchallengesandproblems.theintegralperspectivenotonlyrequires EnlightenNext2010. Page1

2 butalsodemandsahighlevelofcognitivedevelopmentandacapacitytoembracerationalthinkingwith adegreeofintensityandcommitmentthatiswayaboveaverage.oneofthegreatstrengthsandoneof thetell talesignsoftheenlightenedthinkingofhumanbeingswhoaretrulyintegrallyinformedistheir dazzlingcapacitytoembracemultipleperspectivessimultaneously,whileremaininggroundedtoan unusualdegreeintheirownhigherhumanqualities.andthisisalmostalwaysbecauseoftheiradvanced abilitiesforself reflectionandself reflexivity. Paradoxically,theseevolvedcapacitiesforhighercognitionandrationaldiscernment,whileilluminating somuchoftheinteriorandexteriorofourcosmostous,canalsoobscuresomeofitsdeepestand highestdimensions.obviously,thisisnotanewidea.allthegreatestmysticsthroughouthistoryhave madethissamepointloudlyandclearly:inordertotrulyseeandknowthefaceofgod,onemustbe abletotranscendthecompulsiveandmechanicaldriveofthecognitiveprocessaltogether.but paradoxically,whatonediscoversisthatthedegreetowhichonehasactuallybeenabletotranscend compulsiveidentificationwiththoughtasselfisthedegreethatonewillbeabletousethepowersof higherdiscernmentandrationalityastheinspiredexpressionofspiritinaction. Inconsideringmanyoftheveryimportantquestionsthatyouhavebroughttothetable,wearefaced withanenormouschallenge.ononehand,itisonlyanintegrallensthatwillenableustoaddressthem inanymannerthatwouldbeevenclosetoadequate.andontheotherhand,itmaybesomesubtle biasesofthatintegrallensthatinhibititsabilitytoembracesomeimportantdimensionsofthis challenge. Onlyanintegrallenshasthecapacitytoseethespiritualimpulseinhumanityarisinginitsverydifferent formsandexpressions bothtraditionalandmystical throughoutacomplexprocessofcultural evolutionoveraperiodofabout5,000years.that swhywecannowbegintoaddressthequestionof whatisatrulyappropriateexpressionofthereligiousandmysticalimpulseatouruniquetimeinhistory. Asyou veclearlystated,theemergenceofmodernityduringthewesternenlightenmentfreedthe leadingedgeofhumanityfromthelimitationsofmythicalthinkingandthephilosophicalandreligious dogmaoftheinstitutionofthechurch.modernityfreedourmindstosoartounprecedentedheightson thewingsofreasonandaliberatedpassiontoknowwhat strue.themodernistrevolutionwasa reactiontothepsychiccontrolandmythicabsolutismofanoutdatedreligiousworldviewthatcouldno longerconstrainthehumandrivetoinnovateandtoevolve.whaticalltheevolutionaryimpulsejust couldn tbestoppedandthatgreatrevolution,asallintegrallyinformedindividualsknow,wasan enormousleapforward.anditstillis.thegreatsocialandpersonalfreedomsthatwerethegiftsofthe postmodernrevolutionweremadepossibleonlybytheenormousculturalchangesthatmodernism initiated. Thechallengeathandforintegralthinkers,aswecontemplatetheappropriateroleofSpiritinselfand inculture(andinspiritualteachers),isibelieve,thatinsomesubtleandnotsosubtleways,integral thinkingsuffersfromasimilarmistrustoftheabsolute.thisisaveryinterestingpredicament.why? Becauseofcoursewewanttoembracethegreatenlighteningtruthsofmodernityandpostmodernity, butatthesametimewehavetobesurethatourinspiredrationalitydoesn tinadvertentlyovershadow EnlightenNext2010. Page2

3 andimplicitlydenythetruenatureofspirit,whichinthewaythati mdefiningithereisalways nonrelativeorabsolute. Speakingfrommyownexperience,unlessourdirectaccesstohigherintuitionandenlightened awarenessismorepowerfulthanourabilitytoembracehighercognitionandmultipleperspectives, thenrationalitywillinevitablywinovertheever unreasonablenatureofspirit.( Unreasonable here referstotheinfinite,uncontainable,unimaginablenatureofspirit).infact,it sthedancebetweenthe overwhelmingunreasonablenessofgodasabsoluteandtheongoingcultivationofourhumangiftfor everhigherandmoreinclusiveandmoresubtlecognitivecapacitiesthatistheevolutionofspiritinthe world.butthisdance,ibelieve,mustbeledbythe too muchness ofgodinordertoachievegenuine andsignificantdevelopmentalleapsforwardintheevolutionofourhumanity.whati mpointingtohere istheawakeningtoourowntrueselfasspiritempoweredbyreason andnottheotherwayaround (notourowntrueselfasreasoninspiredbyspirit).butoh,whatadelicateandultimatelychallenging balancingactthisisinreallife. Beinganintegrallyinformedindividualdoesn tnecessarilyadequatelyprepareonetobeableto negotiatethesubtletyofthehigheranddeeperdimensionsoftheself.beingintellectuallyfamiliarwith ourhighercapacitiesisverydifferenttothosecapacitieshavingbecomeouractualcenterofgravity.as KenWilberhaspointedoutoncountlessoccasions, themapisnottheterritory, etc.andthispoint becomesinfinitelycomplexbecause,asyou vealreadypointedoutinyourpositionpaper,therare attainmentofhigherstatesmayandoftendoesoccurwithinthecontextofalowerculturalstageof developmentand/orwithinapsychethatisinmanywaysstillunconscioustosomeofitsownmotives. Butthisobviouslyproblematicdevelopmentalhurdlemustn tobscurethefundamentalpointi mtrying tomake.unlessthenon relativenatureofspiritleadsthedanceofpsycho social spiritualevolutionat theintegralstage,thenthatdevelopmentwillinevitablybeinhibitedbytheverypowersofreasonthat originallyliberatedourspiritfromthebondageofmythicalthinking. PartII TranslativeVersusTransformativeSpirituality ThereareseveralfurtherpointsthatIthinkareimportanttobringintothisdiscussion.ThefirstisKen s all importantdistinctionbetweenwhathehascalled translativespirituality and transformative spirituality. i Theformerreferstotheall importantroleandfunctionthatreligionhashistoricallyplayed inprovidingacontextforinterpretingthehumanexperienceinrelationshiptocosmosandculture.the latterpointstobreakthroughsofmysticalinsightthatcatalyzetemporaryorlastingtransformationto higherstatesandstages.inmyownteachingofevolutionaryenlightenment,iamactuallytryingto servebothfunctions.myteachingistransformativebecauseawakeningtoenlightenedawarenessisthe bedrockofanyauthentichigherspiritualtransformation.itistranslativebecauseitemphasizesthat unlessweindividuallyandcollectivelytakeresponsibilityforoursharedculturalpredicamentas ourselvesandchangethenatleastatthisparticularmomentinhistoryattheleadingedgewewon tbe goinganywherenew. EnlightenNext2010. Page3

4 Inanycase,thewayinwhichteachersareregardedandjudgedalwaysneedstobeseeninrelationship towhatitistheyareactuallytryingtoaccomplish.istheirteachingtranslative?ortransformative?or both?andinrelationshiptobothtranslationandtransformation,howdeepandprofoundisthechange thattheyarestrivingtocatalyze?aretheyfundamentallyfocuseduponimprovingpeople spersonal livesinimportantwaysforthebetter?oraretheyattemptingtoradicallytransformpeopleatalevelso deepthatoursharedcultureisaffected,atleasttosomemeasure,asaresult?whenconsideringthe valueofanyteacher scontribution(ortheextentoftheirfailure),thequestionofhowfartheyare actuallytryingtotakepeopleandhowimportantitisthattheysucceedhastobetakeninto considerationhere.notallpaths,practices,spiritualteachers,ormastersaretakingpeopletothesame destinations.whenendeavoringtocreateanewmoralcontractuponwhichtobuildabroadagreement abouthowwecanallmoveforwardtogether,wecontinuallyhavetohaveinoursightswherewe re tryingtogo.thereasoni msayingthisisthatifeelthisall importantpoint,moreoftenthannot,seems tobetakenforgrantedbytoomanyofus.wherewe retryingtogoisnotnecessarilythesameplace, andalso,thatdestinationmaybeevolvingevenaswespeak!themeaningofspiritualattainmentor enlightenmentandthegoalofspiritualpracticechangesandevolvesalongwithculture.whereweare goingmaybesignificantlydifferentthanwhereothershavecometo,evenintherecentpast.inorderto grapplewithmanyofthesechallengingandoftenconfusingquestionsmyself,manyyearsago,asa youngteacher,istartedamagazinewiththename, WhatIsEnlightenment? Masters,Teachers,&CoachesandtheComplexityofSpiritualHierarchy Afurtherimportantquestiontoconsideris:whatisthelevelofattainmentoftheteacher?Aretheya spiritualteacheroraretheyaspiritualmaster?thesearenotthesamething.aspiritualteacheror coach,tovaryingdegrees,isanindividualwhohasalotofexperienceofspiritualpractice,iswell versed intheirownparticularschoolofdharmaorspiritualphilosophy,andmayevenhavehadglimpsesof enlightenedawareness.somearestillinspiredseekers.othersarestillinspiredbutarenolonger seekersbecausetheyhavechosentosettleinsomewhere halfwayupthemountain. Theyare further alongthepath andthereforeareabletobehelpfulandsupportiveandhopefullytrustworthyspiritual guidesandfriends.buttheyhavenotyetcrossedovertotheothersideonceandforallandforever, nevertoreturnagain. Aspiritualmasterisanindividualwhohasunmistakablycrossedover.Whatthatmeansisthatheorshe isnowmoreidentifiedwithspiritasselfthanwiththemindorego,atalevelthatispre cognitive.a spiritualmasterchoicelesslyandspontaneouslyawakensspiritualawarenessinothersandinspires spiritualpassionandcommitmentintheheartsandmindsofsincereseekers.adifficultandadmittedly challengingtruthofmastershipisthatsuchanindividualhasbecomealightuntohimorherself.it snot possibletobeamasterunlessthat sthecase,andonceagain,thereasonforthatisthatmastersare nowmoreidentifiedwiththeinfiniteandunboundnatureofspiritthanwiththemindandtheego (theirownoranyoneelse s).thatiswhyintheendtheironlymastercouldreallybespirititself.thisis justthewayitis. Spiritualcoachesandteacherscanonlybenefitenormouslyfromapplyingthekindsofcriteriayou suggestinyourpositionpaper,suchasbeingpartofacommittedandseriouspeergroup.andthereare EnlightenNext2010. Page4

5 manyreasonswhythisisimportant.firstofall,tofurtherandsupporttheirownongoingdevelopment. Also,becauseoftheenormouspowerandinfluencetheyhaveoverthemindsandlivesofotherhuman beings,the(hopefully)highermindofthecollectivewillhelpreinintheirownlowertendenciesand narcissisticimpulses.butwithrespecttospiritualmasters,well,thispresentsanenormousconundrum indeed.why?becauseinthewayiunderstandit,atwhatevermomentfateandkarmahavecome togethertocreatetheuniqueconditionsthatmakethatprofoundleappossible,amysteriousevent happensatthelevelofthesoulofsuchanindividual.readyornot(whateverthatmeans)thatperson becomesanautonomousexpressionofspiritinaction wartsandall.withinanintegralframework, thatalsomeansincludingwhateverpersonalshadow,culturalprejudice,andnarcissisticimpulsesthat maystillhavebeenactiveandunexaminedatthemomentofthatindividual senlightenment.thelast fortyyearsofeast meets Westspiritualhistorytellsusthatthisseemstobejustthewayitis.Whichto putitinplainenglishmeansthatyes,evenslightlycrazyand/orsomewhatignorantpeoplecanalso actuallybecomeveryenlightenedindividuals.cansuchindividualsovercometheirshortcomingsand evolutionaryblindspots?inaperfectworld,theanswerwouldbeyes,butintherealworld,itseems unlikely.andthesimplereasonforthisisbecausetheyarealreadysofirmlyestablishedontheother sideoftheegothatrightlyorwronglytheywillprobablyneverexperiencetheevolutionaryurgencythat othersappropriatelymayexperienceinrelationshiptotheirownneedtodevelopmorally, psychologically,etc.thisisjustoneofthebigchallengesofthisimportantdiscussion.ofcourse,there alsoareandhavebeenspiritualmasterswhoarehighlyintegratedandmorallydevelopedindividuals withmuchlessshadowandmuchmorelightthanmost,andwhoarestillaspiringtoevolve.so...isit bettertoworkwithaspiritualteacherorcoachwhostillappearstobediligentlyworkingonthemselves orwithaspiritualmasterwhoisfirmlyestablishedontheothersideofego?obviouslyitalldependson somanyfactors... There soneotherveryimportantandcomplexpieceofthispuzzletoconsiderandthatisthequestion ofhierarchy.howdowejudgewhoarethemostintellectuallydiscerning,emotionallydeveloped, morallyevolved,andultimatelyspirituallyenlightenedindividuals,withinanintegrallyinformedand evolutionarilyinspiredhierarchy?asintegralphilosophyhashelpedustoappreciate,humanbeings havedifferentlinesofdevelopmentor naturalintelligences. Whichmeanstosay,thatinsomeor severalofthesehigherhumancapacities,acoachmaybemoreevolvedthanamaster,acoachmaybe moreevolvedthanateacher,ateachermaybemoreevolvedthanamaster,etc. TheEvolutionofEnlightenment Anotherissuehere,whichisobviouslyclosetomyownheart,hastodowiththenatureofmysticism andenlightenmentitself.themajorityofmypublisheddialogueswithkenwilberinthepagesof EnlightenNextoverthelasttenyearshavebeenfocusedinonewayortheotheronasingulartheme:the evolutionofenlightenment.asihavebeenstatingandre statingformanyyears,thegoaloftraditional enlightenmentandmysticalawakeningistheattainment,transcendenceof,andfreedomfromthe worldofmind,time,andform.ifthisisthephilosophicalcontextinwhichonehasrealizedhigher awarenessthentherewillbeanotsosubtlebiaswithintheselftowardswhatthebuddhacalledthe EnlightenNext2010. Page5

6 Unborn,whichinevitabletakesoneawayfromtheworldoftimeandevolutionarybecoming.Inthis context,theurgencytoperfectourselvesisalwaystrumpedbythemysticalknowledgethateverything isalwaysalreadyperfect.thisisoneofthereasonswhyihavebecomesuchanardentadvocatefor evolutionaryspiritualityandanevolutionarilybiasedenlightenment.becauseinthisperspective,the evolutionoftheselfistheevolutionofspiritinform,whichistheprofoundawakeningtotheshocking truththatgodisnomoreorlessevolvedorenlightenedthanyouoriare,intime.thisapproach,inthe mostpositive,philosophicallyprovocative,andmorallyimplicatingway,placesthegreatestemphasison self cultivationatalllevels,includingmoraldevelopment,psychologicalself knowledge,andintegral understanding,nottomentionawakeningtoenlightenedawareness! TheHero sjourneyisfraughtwithrealdangers Ithinkit simportanttosaythatidon tbelievespiritualevolutioneverhasbeenoreverwillbea safe endeavorforstudentsorteachers.anyhumanrelationshipthatinvolvesaseriouscommitmentis fraughtwithdanger.thereisdangerofdisillusionmentanddisappointmentonbothsidesofthe spectrum.howmanytimeshaveibeendisappointedanddisillusionedbymyownteachers?howmany ofmyownstudentshavedisappointedmeandtemptedmyowncynicismwithregardstowhathuman beingsarecapableof?indeed,howmanyofmyownteachershaveidisappointed?andhowmany people,overalltheyearsi vetaught,havefeltletdownorbetrayedbyme?anywayonelooksatthis evolutionaryrazor sedge,itisverytrickyandultimatelychallengingterritoryforanybodywhohasthe couragetoengagewithpsycho spiritualevolutionforreal. Theteacher studentrelationshipissuchacomplexpredicament!afterall,wecanexperiencefrustration anddisillusionmentforvalidreasonsbecausewemayhavebeenlegitimatelydisillusionedand/or betrayed studentbyteacher,orteacherbystudent.andalsowemayexperiencethoseverysame emotionsandcometotheverysameconclusionsforreasonsthatoncloserscrutinyarenotreally legitimate.maybetheteacher,forvariousreasons(psychologicalorcultural),hasunrealistic expectationsofhisorherstudentsormakesdemandsthatareunreasonable,butbecauseofhisorher ownlackofself knowledgeorculturaldevelopmentisunabletoseethisforwhatitis.ontheother hand,astudentmayexperienceoverwhelmingfrustrationandintensedespairduetotheenormityof hisorherownreluctancetomaketheheroicefforttowardsenlightenmentandblameothersforhisor herownlackofcourageandmoralfortitude. Thehardtruthisandalwayswillbethatpermanentandabidinghigherstatesofconsciousnessand higherstagesofdevelopmentarenotgiventousforfree.theattainmentofauthenticvertical developmentrequiresenormouslong termcommitmentandararedegreeofdedicationfromboththe teacherandthestudent acollectivehero sjourney,forsure!sosincereengagementwithspiritual evolutionisnotsafeforanybodyinvolved andwhyshoulditbe?afteralltheevolutionofspiritasself istheleadingedgeofthatepicadventure.ifwetellsomeonewewanttoclimbmt.everest,everyone knowsthatit saboldandexcitingaspirationandthatit salsofraughtwithdangers.ifwewanttotravel tomarsorevenbegintopopulatethenearcornersofourowngalaxy,it sgoingtobeathrillingand EnlightenNext2010. Page6

7 dangerousadventure.thejourneytoinner spaceisthemostthrillingjourneythatthereisbutithas neverbeennorwilliteverbedanger free.weare,afterall,tamperingwithourveryownpsychesinthe processofspiritualevolutionandthat salwaysatrickybusiness.soatleastapartofthisdiscussion needstoacknowledgetheinherentchallengesofthespiritualadventureandtheneedforallinvolved bothteachersandstudents totakeresponsibilityforthatall importantfact. Inmyowncase,I vealwaysbeenforthrightthatiwasateacherwhointendedtogo alltheway whateverthatwasgoingtomean,andinvitedotherstocomewithmeonthatjourneywhereveritwas goingtoleadus.becauseofhowcommittedi vebeentosucceedingandhowhardattimesi vebeen willingtopushtogetthere,somerealbreakthroughshavebeenmadethatotherwisesimplyjust wouldn thaveoccurred.inertiaisnotjustthenatureofmatter,itisalsooneoftheattributesand tendenciesofourownhumanity biologically,psychologically,andevenspiritually.theevolutionary biologistelisabetsahtourishasstatedthat stressistheonlythingthatcreatesevolution. Thisis importantinformationforbothspiritualteachersandstudents.theindividualegohatesstress,forsure. Butevenmoreimportantly,ourculturallyconditionedself(traditional,modern,andeven,yes,also postmodern)rarelyappreciatestheevolutionarynecessityandinevitablestressrequiredtogetustolet goofoldwaysofthinkinginordertomakeroomforthatwhichisnew.psyco,social,spiritualevolution alwaysrequireslettinggoofoutdatedandinmanywaysnolongerrelevantorevenappropriateideas, beliefs,andconventionsaboutwhathumanlifemeansandhowitissupposedtobelived.ifitistrue that,asifirmlybelieve,stressorwhaticall evolutionarytension, notblissorspiritualinsight,isalmost alwaystheactualcatalysttohigherdevelopment,thentheobviousquestionarisesabouttheroleofthe spiritualteacherormasterasthecatalyzerofthatstress.andthisleadstothequestion,howmuchis enough,andhowmuchistoomuch?therearenoeasyanswershere.thesimpleanswer,ofcourse,is thatit senoughwhentangibleevolutionistheresult.butiftheindividualmovescloserandclosertohis orherownevolutionaryedgeandthensuddenlyfindsthemselvesunwillingtocontinuetogofarther,to continuetoconsciouslyparticipateintheirownhigherdevelopment,thisiswhatcouldbecalleda spiritualemergency andtheresultcanattimesbebreakdown.butit salsotruethatthissame thresholdistheveryplacewhereotherindividualsdiscover,inadramaticandinfinitelyinspiring manner,theirowninherentpotentialtoevolveatthelevelofconsciousness,inwaystheyhadnever imaginedpossible.intranslativespirituality,it sunlikelythiskindofstresspointwilleverbereachedor risetothesurface.andthatmakessense.butintransformativespirituality,it sinevitableandeven desirable. Sohowtoavoidthisinevitableevolutionarycrisespointatone sownleadingedge?isupposeitwould betoavoidtransformativespiritualityaltogetherorelsetopracticeitwithextremecaution.inthatlight, italsomustbesaidthatthoseheroicindividualswhomakesignificantbreakthroughstohigherstates andhigherstagesinevitablyhaveanimpactonourlargerculturalevolutioninsubtleandalsoprofound ways.butwhatisthecostofthesebreakthroughs?extremelyhigh,ofcourse.asateacherandadvocate oftranslativeandtransformativespirituality,ihavenodoubtthatwithouttheseindividualand collectiveleapsforward,weallwouldn treallybegoinganywherenew.irecognizethatsomeofmyown breakthroughsandaccomplishmentsasateacherhavenowenteredintotheculturalzeitgeistatthe leadingedge.andthereasonforthisistheirculturalrelevancetosomanyotherforward lookingsouls EnlightenNext2010. Page7

8 atthisparticularpointintime.honestlyspeaking,lookingbackonthealmosttwenty fiveyearsofmy teachingcareer,icansaythatifihadbeenparticipatinginademocraticspiritualculturewhere consensusruled,andwhichexercisedultimatecontrolovermyautonomyasateacher,iwouldnever havebeenpermittedtodowhatineededtodotoensurethatthesebreakthroughsactuallyoccurred. Thatdoesn tmeantheideaofspiritualdemocracyorcollectiveinquiryandstandardsisunworthyorof nouse.quitetheopposite.aspartofanevolutionarilyinspiredintegralembraceofwhatitmeansto takethenextstep,i mallforit.butweneedtosimultaneouslyholdinourawarenessthefactthatfor manyreasons,someofwhichi vealreadymentioned,itwon tnecessarilycreatetheconditionsfor everypossibilityfromwhichweallwillbenefit. AnEvolutionaryWorldviewIsWhatMakestheNextStepPossibleforUsAll WhenKenWilberandIstartedour GuruandPandit dialoguesovertenyearsago,almostnobodywas speakingaboutevolutioninthecontextoftheawakeningtoenlightenedawareness.ibelieveperhaps duetotheinfluenceofourdialoguesabouttheevolutionofenlightenment,aswellasmyownworkand thatofsomeotherswhoareteachingvariousformsofevolutionaryspirituality,it sbecomemoreand morecommonplace.infact,thesedaystheword evolution isoftenputbeforetheword integral wheneveritrelatestospiritualdevelopment.thereasonthisissoimportantisbecauseitisonlythe actualawakeningtoalivingevolutionaryworldviewthatmakesthisdiscussionarealpossibility.only whenwelookatspiritualattainmentandspiritualmentorshipwithinacontextofongoingindividual, cultural,andcosmicevolutioncanwebeinapositiontoputeverythingonthetableforquestion.and that swhythisissuchathrillingmomentforusall. Indeed,thisisanexcitingandimportanttimebecausesomuchispossibleandimminentthatjustwasn t evenafewyearsago.somanyofusarestillevolving,stilldeveloping,stillgrowing.that sthesecret ingredienttoauthenticandsignificantdevelopmentfortheindividualandcollectiveself.iknowi m definitelystillonthisjourney.i mstillintheprocessofgettingthere.andit smysincereaspirationto alwaysbeintheprocessofgettingthereandnotquitebeingthereyet.asthebuddhaseatedfirmlyand serenelyinfulllotuspostureisthemetaphorfortheoldtraditionalenlightenment,for abidingonthe yondershore ;thepostureofthenewevolutionaryenlightenmentisthatoferos,standingtall,archer s bowstretchedtoitsmaximumtension,ever readyforverticallift off. AndrewCohen Lenox,MA May31,2010 EnlightenNext2010. Page8

9 i Wilber,Ken. ASpiritualitythatTransforms, WhatIsEnlightenment?Magazine,Fall Winter,1997. EnlightenNext2010. Page9