Back in the saddle
Now, where was I? Oh, yes.
I've been steeping in Ken Wilber's work for about the last 6 months. Although his work is very wide and deep I find there is something important to me missing: prayer. Although he is very involved with ideas of spiritual practice, the practice of it in his work is missing. In other words, as far as his published work goes, he's not a Guru -- he's a scientist, explorer, story-teller, a teacher, a sherpa even, but his practice is private. He is an integralist. For his very powerful work, check out his Sex Ecology Spirituality, Integral Spirituality, Eye of Spirit (esp. chapter on myth of the given), and Kosmic Consciousness [CD set]. Kosmic Consciousness is VERY accessible and easy to listen to (as these things go) and covers virtually all his foundational work. It could blow your mind, literally.
Alternatively, just recently, I have been very influenced by Robert Thurman's The Jewel Tree of Tibet. And there is plenty of prayer there. I have read one of Thurman's books with great delight, but I have seen him on DVD and also have recordings of lectures -- but the Jewel Tree of Tibet is a recording of a retreat that he led, immersed in spirit, and it is quite personal and personally moving.
I find Wilber's and Thurman's ideas and presentations compatible and complementary. The presentations are different in significant ways: the "Wilber Sessions" are an interview format with SoundsTruepublisher Tami Simon; the Thurman talk is a 12 CD monolog in the format of a retreat (without audible audients), excited and engaging but much like an internal dialog. There are outstanding ideas in both CD sets (I'll skip over the books mentioned above). The stages and lines of development (AQAL) are explained clearly and usefully by Wilber. (He explains Everything.) The motivation for practice and spirit of enlightenment are laid out in compelling and sincere and rational language by Thurman. Both do a special job of pointing out the relationship and taste of form and emptiness.
Both teachers (good companions on this journey) have made it progressively easier for me to recognize my practice in each step and turn. Each step is freer, each turn is fuller now.
Towering over our heads in more ways than one. Goodbye Sandy Allen.
I've been steeping in Ken Wilber's work for about the last 6 months. Although his work is very wide and deep I find there is something important to me missing: prayer. Although he is very involved with ideas of spiritual practice, the practice of it in his work is missing. In other words, as far as his published work goes, he's not a Guru -- he's a scientist, explorer, story-teller, a teacher, a sherpa even, but his practice is private. He is an integralist. For his very powerful work, check out his Sex Ecology Spirituality, Integral Spirituality, Eye of Spirit (esp. chapter on myth of the given), and Kosmic Consciousness [CD set]. Kosmic Consciousness is VERY accessible and easy to listen to (as these things go) and covers virtually all his foundational work. It could blow your mind, literally.
Alternatively, just recently, I have been very influenced by Robert Thurman's The Jewel Tree of Tibet. And there is plenty of prayer there. I have read one of Thurman's books with great delight, but I have seen him on DVD and also have recordings of lectures -- but the Jewel Tree of Tibet is a recording of a retreat that he led, immersed in spirit, and it is quite personal and personally moving.
I find Wilber's and Thurman's ideas and presentations compatible and complementary. The presentations are different in significant ways: the "Wilber Sessions" are an interview format with SoundsTruepublisher Tami Simon; the Thurman talk is a 12 CD monolog in the format of a retreat (without audible audients), excited and engaging but much like an internal dialog. There are outstanding ideas in both CD sets (I'll skip over the books mentioned above). The stages and lines of development (AQAL) are explained clearly and usefully by Wilber. (He explains Everything.) The motivation for practice and spirit of enlightenment are laid out in compelling and sincere and rational language by Thurman. Both do a special job of pointing out the relationship and taste of form and emptiness.
Both teachers (good companions on this journey) have made it progressively easier for me to recognize my practice in each step and turn. Each step is freer, each turn is fuller now.
Towering over our heads in more ways than one. Goodbye Sandy Allen.
posted by Kent at
4:59 PM
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