Integral Arrogance

I wonder how easy it really is to use such a system of thinking and conceiving the world, and not find a place for arrogance in it? It makes me wonder if it's really worth it. Might we have all lost something in the charts and "developmental stages," pertaining to the wisdom behind the original texts? 

Has anyone read or tried to conceive of the world without AQAL or SD? I know it kind of overruns your system, literally like a new OS. But to take a step back from that and see the world fresh--isn't that important? I feel like we can get lost in all this.

If you read the original writings, like Gebser or Teilhard or Aurobindo, there is a different quality to their style. One thing that might help is not some over arching conceptual system we all use but a diversity and variety of depth and transformation.

My own frustrations are in the fact that, despite there being a great need for alternative views to Wilber's systemic/intellectual approach, he has popularized Gebser and the evolution of consciousness in general. I guess, I'm hoping we get more authors and thinkers out there who can portray differing views without getting artificial models shoved in their faces.

There is so much missing if we only look through one lens (even if it is an over-arching lens of everything). Here's to the natural flowering of the evolution of consciousness that will find a way to transcend the current conceptual approach's difficulties. :)

I couldn't help myself - or, I could have, but I am hoping you will join in the fun. :-)

here is the question I was left with from your post: Is there a healthy second tier recognition of superiority, or is any such recognition necessarily red ego gratification?

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I also share your concern for the potential for arrogance within our integral community. At step one we are all privileded enough to have some type of access to a working computer with internet access and we are educated enough to be able to read and read in English. This would be enough for our ego to have an excuse to become arrogant. And it snowballs from there.

I do not see much good flowing from aggogance. Combine arrogance with narcissism and things can get very ugly very fast. I think that part of our lifelong practice needs to include actively working towards the opposite of arrogance/narsissism. The best word I can think of is humility without the connotation of any self harm or putdown. If anyone can think of a better word please share it. The basis of this humility is a realization that we are all humans in the same boat (the Earth). If some of us more priviledged than others it just means that we have more responsibility to work for the good of the all.

Rustin, you say, "The minute we find ourselves believing we (being ever so indigo) are superior to others (being so desperately orange or green) – we have reverted whole-heartedly to our red-power-ego level selves, and demoted our focus from Maslow’s self-actualisation to his esteem-chasing."

But it seems you are taking a superior position to those who claim to see more perspectives than Richard Dawkins, Noam Chomsky, or the like. By your definition, you have reverted to your "red-power-ego" self, yes?

Of course, once a person does see that they see more perspectives than Chomsky or Dawkins, narcissism and arrogance can come in, and people can self-inflate and minimize or undervalue the contributions people like that can make, but I don't think there is anything inherently wrong or arrogant in simply noticing that one sees more perspectives than another.

 Hello Rusty, I hope you are smiling too. How nice both of us can come together and be featured with our perspectives under the Integral Umbrella. How are you? It is nice to be back writing and to be connected with everyone on Integral Life.

Addressing arrogance at any stage of growth is important; otherwise it can create a backlash of moving forward for anyone. We must all put on our rador of awareness and be responsible for not allowing this negative aspect to creep in.

Love to you always,

Mary Linda

Talk about arrogance , I believe you wrote that post about me. lol

Good post Rustin and I found what you wrote very usefull. So I thank you for writing it.

I always enjoy the statement I believe came from Adi Da....Spirit is nowhere to be found because its everywhere found.  Given that statement has some validity  Spirit is also found in arrogance. Its when we become unaware of the game that its all an illusion and we make a belief about arrogance that it become bigger than the Self.

Arrogance coming from a level of direct experience is just arrogance. Arrogance coming from a belief about it is reduced to the realm of concept and is either right/wrong  good/bad.

I like posts like these, it makes us start to question parts of the framework and community.  Ken's done a great job outlining and theorizing, but it definitely isn't the ONLY way and believing that can truly lead to arrogance.  I've experienced that myself; in preaching to my family and friends; only to realize afterwards, that the one in the mirror was acting from a lower impulse (and I think you're right Rusty; most likely from a Red-level; posing as 'superior integral').

Much appreciation for all these threads.

- Julius

--JuliusKo.com
"Let's CHANGE the world TOGETHER..."

Too many of the people who really need the wisdom and direction which Integrated life offers will never ever know about it because of manifested narcissism and arrogance of the  practitioners.  It seems that too many have already retired into a self created intellectual world with a new language not available to mere mortals. Orange people, green actions..  ?  And in my 75 years  of research and study seaking the meanings of Divinity and enlightenment I am still amazed at the general reference to people as separate entities persuing Maslows hierachy.    Integrated Living surely requires an understanding that Mankind has only ONE body (born from the interaction of the "Father" in heaven, and the "Mother in earth"), and as individuals we are simply cells in that body. We all attempt to scramble up a hill together and non of us make it until everyone does.  It is incumbant on us to keep stopping and offering a hand to those not so able. To claim that as an individual cell we can not, or should not , stop and give advice and assistance before  s/he has personally "made it" is rather crass.