The Tao, Integral Theory, and Consciousness

Joshua Haskell

Definitions

“Integral theory, a philosophy with origins in the work of Sri Aurobindo and Jean Gebser, and promoted by Ken Wilber, seeks a synthesis of the best of pre-modern, modern, and postmodern reality. It is portrayed as a 'theory of everything'[2] and offers an approach 'to draw together an already existing number of separate paradigms into an interrelated network of approaches that are mutually enriching'” (Wikipedia).

“Consciousness is the quality or state of awareness, or, of being aware of an external object or something within oneself. It has been defined as: sentience, awareness, subjectivity, the ability to experience or to feel, wakefulness, having a sense of selfhood, and the executive control system of the mind” (Wikipedia).

Perspectives of Consciousness

Functionalist

Phenomenologist + Reductionist

Mysterian Functionalism: Mental states are a result of different brain functions. The problem

of consciousness can be understood through the observance of functions.

Phenomenology: Emphasis on subjective experience, or “qualia,” in understanding the problem of consciousness.

Reductionism: Emphasis on objective observation and the collection of empirical data on understanding consciousness.

Mysterianism: The problem of consciousness can never be understood—it is unknowable.

(Blackmore, 2003)

Dao De Jing: 29

“Do you think you can take over the universe and improve it?

I do not believe it can be done.

The universe is sacred.

You cannot improve it.

If you try to change it, you will ruin it.

If you try to hold it, you will lose it.

So sometimes things are ahead and sometimes they are behind;

Sometimes breathing is hard, sometimes it comes easily;

Sometimes there is strength and sometimes weakness;

Sometimes one is up and sometimes down.

Therefore the sage avoids extremes, excesses, and complaceny.” - (Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, 1972)

Commentary: DDJ #29

Laozi argues that the universe, including consciousness, cannot be understood accurately by means of trying to observe it in the materialistic manner. His viewpoint comes from a phenomenologistic and mysterian perspective. Because he believes that the universe cannot be changed, he implicitly advocates for humility—he urges people to stop trying to understand.

The concept of Wu Wei, therefore, also strays from the Western materialist view of trying to uncover everything through empiricism.

Introduction to Integral Theory: The Four Quadrants

Ken Wilber founded the idea that everything can be categorized into four basic quadrants:

1. I – Subjective conscious experience. The quality of noticing your own awareness, also known as “I-am-ness.”2. You/We – The connection between two or more separate “I's”; the dynamics of interpersonal or interanimal relationships.3. it – The material thing, the physical body without the person.4. its – Systems. Ecological systems, financial systems, etc. When the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

1. I 3. it

2. You/We 4. its

Introduction to Integral Theory:Natural States of Consciousness

Waking state (gross body): Being awake in the physical world. Complete sense of self and being able to interact with objects.

Dreaming state (subtle body): Objects are more transient and less tangible. In lucid dreaming, one can interact with these objects, but they feel less “in-their-body.”

Formal state (causal body): The state of nothingness—there are no objects; the only thing that exists is awareness.

Introduction to Integral Theory:The “I-am-ness” Mysticism

Ken Wilber's concept of “I-am-ness.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA8tDzK_kPI

I-am-ness is the strong feeling of complete affirmation of one's being. It is the feeling of existing in the present, as well as the feeling of having always existed, even before one's conception.

The I-am-ness mysticism is said to be most profound in the formal state of consciousness, where nothing exists except one's awareness. Long-term mediators are said to be able to experience the feeling in deep meditation and the deepest level of sleep.

Introduction to Integral Theory:The “I-am-ness” Mysticism

Ken Wilber's concept of “I-am-ness.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA8tDzK_kPI

I-am-ness is the strong feeling of complete affirmation of one's being. It is the feeling of existing in the present, as well as the feeling of having always existed, even before one's conception.

The I-am-ness mysticism is said to be most profound in the formal state of consciousness, where nothing exists except one's awareness. Long-term mediators are said to be able to experience the feeling in deep meditation and the deepest level of sleep.

Dao De Jing: 25

“Something mysteriously formed,Born before heaven and earth.In the silence and the void,Standing alone and unchanging,Ever present and in motion,Perhaps it is the mother of ten thousand things.I do not know its nameCall it Tao.For lack of a better word, I call it great.

Being great, it flows.It flows far away.Having gone far, it returns.

Therefore, 'Tao is great; heaven is great; earth is great; the king is also great.'These are the four great powers of the universe,And the king is one of them.

Man follows the earth.Earth follows heaven.Heaven follows the Tao.The Tao follows what is natural.” (Gia-fu Feng and Jane English, 1972)

Commentary: DDJ #25

In this first paragraph of the twenty-fifth verse of the Dao De Jin, Laozi is speaking of the same phenomenon described by Ken Wilber: “I-am-ness.” Perhaps the Tao is I-am-ness, or vice versa. The important thing is that Laozi speaks of that which predates heaven and earth and which came from nothingness. The parallels between these two are too similar.

The part where Laozi refers to a silence and void further connects his philosophy to the natural state of formal consciousness.

Implications:- Are the four quadrants part of the Dao, or even the Dao itself?- Does the Dao equally reference all of the natural states, including dream state?- Are “I-am-ness” and the Dao in fact the same thing?

Sources

Blackmore, S. (2003). Consciousness: An Introduction. 1 edition. Oxford University Press. 376-378.

Consciousness. n.d. Wikipedia. Retrieved Dec. 5, 2014.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consciousness

Feng, Gia-fu & English, J. (1972). Tao Te Ching. (Lao Tzi).

Integral theory. n.d. Wikipedia. Retrieved Dec. 5, 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integral_theory

Wilber, K. (2013). Kosmic Consciousness. Sounds True.