Integral Spirituality: A Startling New Role for Religion in the Modern and Postmodern World

Description

"Integral Spirituality" answers the question: how can we validate the existence of spiritual realities - specifically, the higher levels of mystical experience claimed by the world's wisdom traditions - in the face of modern and postmodern attacks that deny those realities as unscientific or reduce them to social constructions?Applying his highly acclaimed integral approach, Wilber formulates a theory of spirituality that honours the truths of modernity and postmodernity - including the revolutions in science and culture - while incorporating the legacy of the great religions. He shows why full enlightenment is not possible without combining the enlightenment of the East, which excels at cultivating higher states of consciousness, with the enlightenment of the West, which offers developmental and psychodynamic psychology. Each contributes key components to a more integral spirituality. On the basis of this theoretical framework, Wilber is able to make some timely suggestions. Because the world's religions have such a tremendous influence on the worldview of the majority of the earth's population, they are in a privileged position to address some of the biggest conflicts we face.By adopting a more integral view, and thus effectively responding to contemporary critiques, the great religions can act as facilitators of human development, from mythic belief to rational science to postmodern pluralism - all the way up to enlightenment, and to a global society that honours and includes all the stations of life along the way. This is a vital book for our times.

Ken Wilber is the author of over twenty books. He is the founder of Integral Institute, a think-tank for studying integral theory and practice, with outreach through local and online communities such as Integral Education Network, Integral Training, and Integral Spiritual Center.

"Even the timid first-timer can penetrate and be rewarded by Integral Spirituality."-Shambhala Sun "A satisfying and thought-provoking read."-Elephant "Ken Wilber's Integral Spirituality is possibly the most important spiritual book in postmodern times. Step by step, with luminous clarity, he unites all spiritual traditions without diluting the potency of any one lineage or tradition. I think this book is an antidote to the religious animosity of our times. Anyone serious about raising the level of consciousness on this planet should read this masterpiece."-Dennis Genpo Merzel, Roshi "A work of inspired genius. Integral Spirituality is a seminal text for 21st-century spiritual studies."-Jim Marion, author of Putting on the Mind of Christ "One of the most important books on spirituality written in the postmodern era. The Kabbalah of the future will rest on Ken's work."-Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, coauthor of Jewish with Feeling and Credo of a Modern Kabbalist "Getting acquainted with Wilber's Integral Approach can be as thrilling as seeing the first photograph of Earthrise over the moon's horizon. A crucial task of our time is reconciliation between the wisdom of the world's religious traditions and the best in contemporary thought. Integral Spirituality offers a new and promising framework for tackling this task and renews my hope." -Brother David Steindl-Rast, cofounder of www.gratefulness.org "Integral Spirituality is a book that literally shatters spiritual confusion. Eloquent, compassionate, and deeply helpful, it should be read by every practitioner and lover of Spirit."-Sally Kempton, author of The Heart of Meditation "Vast in scope, profound in depth, and far reaching in its implications, Integral Spirituality is, quite simply, the most encompassing account of religion and spirituality available in our time."-Roger Walsh, PhD, University of California, author of Essential Spirituality