Originally published on Andrew Holecek’s Edge of Mind podcast.
In this fascinating and far-ranging discussion, Ken Wilber and Andrew Holecek explore the frontiers of integral theory and human consciousness. Ken shares some of the key insights from his latest book, Finding Radical Wholeness, offering a novel and deeply insightful perspective on the nature of reality and human development.
Listen as Ken and Andrew discuss Ken’s five-fold model of transformation:
Waking Up: The spiritual path of enlightenment or awakening, involving direct experiences of non-dual awareness or unity consciousness. This path is about recognizing our fundamental nature beyond the ego.
Growing Up: Progressing through stages of psychological and cognitive development, from egocentric to ethnocentric to worldcentric and beyond. This path is about expanding our perspective and capacity for understanding complexity.
Opening Up: Expanding our awareness and capacity across multiple intelligences or ways of perceiving and engaging with the world. This path is about actively cultivating different forms of intelligence, such as aesthetic (recognizing beauty), moral, emotional, and others, broadening our perception and deepening our engagement with life.
Cleaning Up: Working through our psychological shadows and unconscious patterns, integrating repressed or denied aspects of ourselves for greater wholeness. By facing and embracing our hidden fears, traumas, and disowned parts, we free up energy and expand our capacity for authentic self-expression and relationship.
Showing Up: Fully embodying our development in the world, actively engaging with life and manifesting our potential in practical ways. This path involves bringing our inner growth and insights into tangible expression, taking responsible action in our relationships, work, and communities, and living with authenticity and purpose in everyday life.
Each of these five paths leads to a distinct form of wholeness that cannot be found through the other paths. The wholeness of Waking Up is not the same as the wholeness of Growing Up, and the wholeness achieved through Cleaning Up is different from that of Opening Up or Showing Up. These various types of wholeness complement each other, but are not reducible to one another, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive approach to human development and transformation.
Ken and Andrew also discuss:
- Wilber’s latest thinking on these five types of wholeness, with particular emphasis on the often-overlooked “showing up” dimension,
- A nuanced discussion of the pre/trans fallacy and its continued relevance in contemporary spiritual discourse,
- The critical difference between “adual” and “nondual” experiences,
- An expanded view of matter and consciousness, synthesizing panpsychism, autopoiesis, and integral metatheory,
- Insights into the relationship between involution and evolution, and their moment-to-moment relevance in personal experience,
- Wilber’s thoughts on teleology in evolution, balancing fixed and playful aspects of developmental unfolding,
- Practical strategies for embodying integral principles in personal practice and cultural engagement.
This conversation offers a profound glimpse into the cutting edge of integral philosophy and its practical applications. Whether you’re a seasoned integral practitioner or new to these concepts, this discussion promises to expand your understanding of human potential and the nature of reality itself. Join Ken and Andrew as they chart new territories in consciousness and provide a roadmap for personal and collective transformation in our complex world.
INDIVIDUAL
COLLECTIVE
INTERIOR
EXTERIOR
- Satori and Personal Development: Satori, or sudden enlightenment, is a profound mystical experience that unites the individual with the universe. Regular practice and engagement with traditions like Zen can lead to such transformative experiences. However, these spiritual experiences will not being us any closer to the kinds of wholeness offered by Growing Up, Cleaning Up, Opening Up, or Showing Up.
- Aduality vs. Nonduality: Adual experiences are often confused with nondual states. Adual refers to pre-differentiated states of consciousness, while nondual experiences involve a transcended, integrated awareness where subject and object are transcended and included as a seamless whole.
- Opening Up to Multiple Intelligences: Development involves various intelligences such as cognitive, emotional, and moral. Each intelligence goes through similar stages of development, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of personal growth.
- Paninteriorism and Integral Theory: Synthesizing panpsychism (or “paninteriorism”) with integral metatheory reveals that consciousness is a fundamental aspect of all matter. This expanded view fosters a deeper understanding of the nature of reality.
- Autopoiesis and Self-Organization: Autopoiesis, or self-making processes, play a crucial role in the development of consciousness. This concept bridges the gap between biological and spiritual understandings of life.
- The Dance of Involution and Evolution: Involution represents the process of spirit descending into form, embedding itself within matter, while evolution is the return journey of consciousness ascending through increasingly complex forms, remembering and reuniting with its source. This interplay underscores the moment-to-moment relevance of spiritual growth, integrating the descent into physical existence with the ascent towards spiritual realization.
- Mythic Literalism in Religion: Many world religions remain “stuck” at the mythic stage of development, interpreting their myths as literal truths. This stagnation hinders the growth of more advanced, inclusive spiritual understandings.
Cultural and Individual Growth: Individual stages of growing up are influenced, mirrored, and reinforced by cultural evolution, indicating that personal and cultural development are deeply interconnected.
Psychedelics and Cultural Change: The resurgence of psychedelics in scientific research underscores their potential to induce genuine mystical experiences and foster cultural and spiritual transformation, challenging traditional materialistic paradigms.
- Information vs. Experience: In the Information Age, there is a tendency to equate the acquisition of information with genuine insight, knowledge, and experience. However, true understanding and transformation come from direct, lived experiences rather than mere consumption of data. This distinction is crucial for cultivating deep personal and spiritual growth amidst the overwhelming influx of information.
The Politics of Consciousness: The government’s decision to make psychedelic experiences illegal in the 1960s halted a significant cultural and spiritual awakening. This prohibition suppressed the widespread potential for personal and collective transformation that psychedelics offered, highlighting the tension between state control and the exploration of expanded states of consciousness.
Core Polarities
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“Reality is not composed of things or processes; it is not composed of atoms or quarks; it is not composed of wholes nor does it have any parts. Rather, it is composed of whole/parts, or holons.” —Ken Wilber, Sex, Ecology, Spirituality
The polarity of Wholeness and Partness is a fundamental concept in integral theory, describing the dual nature of holons. Every holon, or whole/part, exists simultaneously as a whole in itself and as a part of a larger whole. This polarity highlights the tension between a holon’s autonomy and its participation in a broader context, and that balancing and integrating these two aspects is crucial for the healthy development and functioning of any holon. This polarity is not just a feature of physical entities but extends to all forms of existence, emphasizing the dual nature of being both independent and interdependent. It is a universal principle that applies to all levels of reality, from the subatomic to the cosmic, and is essential for understanding the nature of complex systems and the evolution of consciousness.
Wholeness represents a holon’s autonomy, self-preservation, and agency. It is the aspect of a holon that maintains its distinct identity, coherence, and self-organizing capacity. Wholeness allows a holon to preserve its unique pattern and structure over time, even as it interacts with and adapts to its environment. This pole encompasses the holon’s capacity for self-regulation, self-maintenance, and self-transformation, enabling it to evolve and develop without losing its essential nature. Wholeness is the source of a holon’s individuality, creativity, and resilience in the face of change.
“In short, holons are defined, not by the stuff of which they are made (there is no stuff), nor merely by the context in which they live (though they are inseparable from that), but by the relatively autonomous and coherent pattern they display, and the capacity to preserve that pattern is one characteristic of a holon: the wholeness aspect of a holon is displayed in its pattern-preservation.” —Ken Wilber, Sex, Ecology, Spirituality
“There is no place where we can rest and say, ‘The universe’s basic principle is Wholeness’ (nor, of course, can we say, ‘The basic principle is Partness’). This prevents us from ever saying that the principle of the Whole rules the world, for it does not; any whole is a part, indefinitely.
Thus, holons within holons within holons means that the world is without foundation in either wholes or parts (and as for any sort of “absolute reality” in the spiritual sense, we will see that it is neither whole nor part, neither one nor many, but pure groundless Emptiness, or radically nondual Spirit).
This is important because it prevents a totalizing and dominating Wholeness. “Wholeness”—this is a very dangerous concept (a point that will accompany us throughout this book)—dangerous for many reasons, not the least of which is that it is always available to be pushed into ideological ends. Whenever anybody talks of wholeness being the ultimate, then we must be very wary, in my opinion, because they are often telling us that we are merely ‘parts’ of their particular version of ‘wholeness,’ and so we should be subservient to their vision—we are merely strands in their wonderful web.” —Ken Wilber, Sex, Ecology, Spirituality
Partness represents a holon’s participation, communion, and embedding in a larger context. It is the aspect of a holon that allows it to interact with, adapt to, and be a part of something greater than itself. Partness enables a holon to contribute to and be shaped by the larger wholes in which it is embedded. This pole encompasses the holon’s capacity for communication, coordination, and co-evolution with other holons, allowing it to participate in the emergence of higher-order complexities and novel properties. Partness is the source of a holon’s relationality, adaptability, and capacity for transcendence.
“A holon functions not only as a self-preserving whole but also as a part of a larger whole, and in its capacity as a part it must adapt or accommodate itself to other holons (not autopoiesis but allopoiesis; not assimilation but accommodation). The partness aspect of a holon is displayed in its capacity to accommodate, to register other holons, to fit into its existing environment. Even electrons accommodate themselves, for example, to the number of other electrons in an orbital shell; they register, and react to, their environment. This doesn’t imply intentionality on the part of the electron, just a capacity to react to surrounding actions. As a whole, it remains itself; as a part, it must fit in.” —Ken Wilber, Sex, Ecology, Spirituality
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Integrated Polarity
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Holonic Integration represents the harmonious and dynamic balance between the wholeness and partness of a holon. In this state, the holon maintains its distinct identity and autonomy while actively participating in and contributing to the larger wholes of which it is a part. Holonic Integration allows for the seamless flow of information, energy, and resources between different levels of the holarchy, enabling the holon to adapt and evolve in response to changing circumstances. This state of integration is characterized by a recognition of the interdependence and mutual support between the parts and the whole, leading to a sense of coherence, resilience, and purposeful engagement with the world.
Note: Polarity maps such as this one are themselves an exercise of holonic integration, helping us to appreciate and attend to both whole and part simultaneously.
As you work with the polarity of wholeness and partness, it’s important to recognize the meta-nature of this polarity and how it relates to all other polarities. In a sense, wholeness and partness are the fundamental building blocks of all polarities, as each pole represents a whole in itself, while also being a part of the larger polarity. By understanding this meta-perspective, you can begin to engage with all polarities in a more holistic and integral way.
When working with any polarity, take time to appreciate each pole as a whole in itself, with its own unique qualities, perspectives, and contributions. Then, explore how each pole is also a part of the larger polarity, and how they relate to and complement each other. Finally, consider how the polarity as a whole is a whole/part in itself, nested within larger contexts and systems.
In practical terms, managing this polarity involves an iterative, ongoing process:
- Acknowledging the Individuality (Wholeness): Each pole must be respected and understood as having intrinsic value and unique contributions. This requires us to dive deep into understanding what makes each pole significant—its benefits, risks, and essential qualities.
- Recognizing Interdependence (Partness): Simultaneously, it’s crucial to see how each pole interacts with and influences the other. This isn’t merely about compromise between two opposing forces but about understanding how they can synergistically enhance each other.
- Creating a New Synthesis: The integral challenge is then to synthesize these insights into a new whole that transcends and includes the parts. This new whole — or “Holonic Integration” — becomes a meta-solution that not only solves the initial tension but elevates the system to a higher level of complexity and functionality.
“This primordial polarity runs through all domains of manifest existence, and was archetypally expressed in the Taoist principles of yin (communion) and yang (agency). Koestler: “On different levels of the inorganic and organic hierarchies, the polarisation of ‘particularistic’ [agency] and ‘holistic’ [communion] forces takes different forms, but it is observable on every level.” —Ken Wilber, Sex, Ecology, Spirituality
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Unintegrated Polarity
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Totalization and Fragmentation represent the breakdown of the wholeness-partness polarity, leading to a state of imbalance and dysfunction. With Totalization, the wholeness of the holon is overemphasized to the point of subsuming all parts into a single, undifferentiated totality. This leads to a loss of diversity, creativity, and adaptability, as the unique contributions and needs of the parts are ignored or suppressed. In Fragmentation, the partness of the holon is overemphasized to the point of losing coherence and integration. This leads to a state of disconnection, conflict, and inefficiency, as the parts struggle to function in isolation from the larger whole. The oscillation between Totalization and Fragmentation creates a vicious cycle that undermines the health and development of the holon. |
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Tips for Harmonizing
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To harmonize the polarity of wholeness and partness, cultivate practices that promote both autonomy and integration. When you find yourself leaning too far into wholeness at the expense of your parts (totalization), focus on practices that honor the diversity and uniqueness of the parts, such as encouraging individual expression, fostering open communication, and celebrating differences. When you find yourself leaning too far into partness (and feeling increasing fragmentation), focus on practices that strengthen connections and collaboration, such as building shared vision, establishing clear roles and responsibilities, and creating opportunities for synergy and cooperation.
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Tips for Integrating
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Integrating the wholeness-partness polarity is a multifaceted and ongoing process that requires engaging all dimensions of our being. It involves growing in our capacity to hold complexity, awakening to deeper levels of consciousness, healing our inner divisions, expanding our understanding, and showing up in the world with greater wholeness and integration. The following practices offer a comprehensive approach to realizing the full potential of this fundamental polarity in our lives and in the larger systems we are a part of.
- Waking Up: The path of waking up invites us to recognize the fundamental unity and interdependence of all phenomena. Through contemplative practices like meditation, prayer, and mindfulness, we can access states of consciousness that reveal the nondual nature of reality, where the distinction between whole and part dissolves. As we awaken to this deeper truth, we can begin to see how wholeness and partness arise together in the dynamic unfolding of existence. This recognition can help us to navigate the complexities of the relative world with greater wisdom and compassion.
- Growing Up: Growing up through the stages of development is one of the most fundamental paths to integrate this polarity. As the self evolves through increasing stages of wholeness, each stage brings a greater capacity to embrace and include the parts. Practices that support vertical development, such as studying developmental models, engaging in perspective-taking exercises, and participating in communities that encourage growth, can help to foster this integration. By expanding our capacity to hold complexity and to take multiple perspectives, we can develop a more nuanced understanding of the interplay between wholeness and partness.
- Cleaning Up: Integrating wholeness and partness also requires a willingness to face and heal the splits and shadows within our own psyche. Through practices like therapy, shadow work, and mind-body integration, we can bring greater awareness and acceptance to the fragmented or disowned parts of ourselves, and reintegrate them into a greater wholeness. As we do this inner work, we can begin to experience an expanded sense of inner wholeness and coherence, which naturally radiates into our outer relationships and engagements. By cleaning up our own inner landscape, we create the conditions for a more authentic and integrated expression of ourselves in the world.
- Opening Up: Opening up is a pathway to greater wholeness that involves recognizing, exploring, and integrating the full spectrum of human intelligences. While growing up offers a vertical wholeness through the stages of development within a single intelligence, opening up provides a horizontal wholeness by weaving together the many strands of our cognitive, emotional, interpersonal, moral, values, spiritual, and other intelligences. This process of integration allows us to tap into a richer, more nuanced understanding of ourselves and the world, inviting us to move beyond a narrow identification with any single intelligence and instead embrace the fullness of our multifaceted nature. By engaging in diverse experiences, learning from various disciplines, and seeking out multiple perspectives, we can cultivate a more balanced and comprehensive approach to navigating life’s complexities. Ultimately, opening up enables us to show up in the world with greater authenticity, resilience, and effectiveness, as we learn to harmonize and express the unique gifts of our many intelligences.
- Showing Up: Ultimately, the integration of wholeness and partness calls us to show up in the world in a way that honors our unique gifts and serves something greater than ourselves. Through practices like integral activism, conscious leadership, and sacred service, we can bring our whole selves to the challenges and opportunities of our time. By engaging in this way, we can begin to co-create systems and structures that reflect a deeper integration of wholeness and partness. As more individuals and collectives embody this integration, we can give rise to a world that is more whole, more inclusive, and more alive.
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Open Up
| Cognitive intelligence determines how we deeply we can engage with integral concepts such as stages of development, the pre/trans fallacy, and distinctions between various states of consciousness. This involves meta-systemic thinking, critical reasoning, and the cross-paradigmatic capacity to synthesize diverse philosophical and psychological ideas, fostering a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of reality. |
Spiritual intelligence involves how we think about Spirit or ultimate Reality. It encompasses forming spiritual ideas, using words and concepts to describe Spirit, and integrating these into theological, philosophical, or metaphysical frameworks. This contrasts with Waking Up, which involves direct experiences of Spirit or Enlightenment. |
Intrapersonal intelligence involves deep self-awareness and reflection, enabling individuals to recognize and assess their state of wholeness. This intelligence is essential for identifying how one engages with the five kinds of wholeness discussed in this episode. Through self-awareness, individuals can understand where they are whole and where they lack wholeness, fostering personal growth and integration across all dimensions of being. |
Key Questions
Here are some questions you can contemplate while listening to this discussion. We suggest you take some time to use these as journaling prompts.
- In what ways have I been neglecting or overemphasizing certain paths of wholeness? Reflect on your engagement with each of the five paths (waking up, growing up, opening up, cleaning up, showing up) and identify areas for potential growth.
- How have my interpretations of “waking up” experiences evolved as I’ve continued to “grow up”? Reflect on how your understanding and integration of spiritual or non-ordinary states of consciousness have changed as you’ve matured cognitively and emotionally over the years.
- How am I cultivating and integrating multiple forms of intelligence in my life? Examine how you’re developing various capacities such as cognitive, emotional, aesthetic, and moral intelligence, and how they inform each other.
- Where do I see evidence of teleology or directionality in my own growth and in the world around me? Consider instances where you’ve observed a sense of purpose or trajectory in personal and collective evolution.
- How can I more fully embody my spiritual and psychological growth in my daily life? What is holding me back from sharing my gifts with the world? Reflect on concrete ways you can “show up” more authentically in your relationships, work, and community engagements.
Ken Wilber is a preeminent scholar of the Integral stage of human development. He is an internationally acknowledged leader, founder of Integral Institute, and co-founder of Integral Life. Ken is the originator of arguably the first truly comprehensive or integrative world philosophy, aptly named “Integral Theory”.
Andrew Holecek is an author, spiritual teacher, and humanitarian. As a long-time student of Buddhism, he frequently presents this tradition from a contemporary perspective – blending the ancient wisdom of the East with modern knowledge from the West.
Insight Map
