Spectrum of Consciousness

This is almost several books in one and it draws the connections between many disciplines/paths both Eastern and Western. It is packed with all kinds of useful information about Mind and Consciousness with lots of footnotes leading you to a variety of excellent sources.

Wilber wrote this book as a young man, but dont think you get less - on the contrary! I read quite a few of Wilber's books but I enjoyed this one as much as any. His "vision" seems already matured and some of his explication are true highlights.

Though Ken Wilber's work has progressed significantly since this book was first written (1973), I believe it still remains a highly significant study and model and anyone interested in transpersonal psychology, or the relation between the human mind, soul and spirit would do well to read this book and absorb it's contents. There are several reasons for this and the first is that it is very clearly and lucidly written from a psychological/spiritual worldview that remains quite widespread and even dominant in the culture of serious spiritual aspirants (as well as sensitive psychologists, ecologists and people from all walks of life). From that standpoint alone, if I had read this book 20 years ago, nearly all of 20 years of confusion over the seemingly conflicting subjects the book deals with would not have occurred. (The confusion being the bridge between modern psychology and traditional spirituality, or if there even was one to be found.) For that reason alone, this book remains highly significant. The second reason is that, as explained in the new (brief) introduction, the model this book presents is from the spiritual standpoint of involution - as opposed to evolution, the direction Wilber's later work would primarily take. Though, yes, indeed, after actually looking deeply into the evidence in later years Wilber (an innovator now for the second time) discovered that there was quite a bit missing (and/or somewhat flawed) to this overall worldview and model, involution still remains an ever present reality and a central tenet of the perennial philosophy of the world's great religions and mystics. (It may also disclose itself to you as such at the right level of spiritual experience either in mediation or a sudden "peak experience.") Once again, for that reason alone, this book is still quite well worth the reading. The third reason this book remains highly significant is that it clearly demonstrates the reality (and relative location) of the buried, psychological, unconscious "shadow." That to me may be THE most important reason to read this book for 1.) Though it comes up often in Wilber's later works, it is not demonstrated and highlighted so clearly and simply (and so could easily be missed) and 2.) The "shadow" is something the Perennial Philosophy of the world's great religions NEVER knew about. No mystical literature or scripture from any of the world's religions (both great and small) even realized human beings could and did hide significant aspects of their being and project them outward so as not to be seen. (This is a uniquely modern Western contribution.) And no amount of meditation, contemplation, higher level realization or prayer of any kind is ever going to adequately uncover or release this hidden and very powerful "shadow." (Quite to the contrary, advanced spiritual adaptation or mastery may actually only STRENGTHEN the shadow. The result, even with advanced spiritual masters and teachers, is that hidden neurosis or patholo

... and for Wilber, this is it. The Spectrum of Consciousness was Wilber's first attempt at outlining an integral model of the human psychological experience, combining Freudian ego-psychology, existentialism, and spiritual transcendence in one neat, elegant package. Although the original conception shown here has not survived the test of time (or Wilber's ever critical mind), it still stands as a masterful beginning to a corpus of work that will make Wilber as famous and influential as Nietzsche and Freud a century from now. For an intellectual treat, read this book in conjunction with Wilber's "No Boundary", and then compare with "Sex, Ecology, Spirituality" and "Integral Psychology" for a fascinating look at the continuing evolution of integral thought. Enjoy!

I was quite fortunate to discover this encyclopedic treatise by Ken Wilber. Wilber, the father of transcendental psychology, with brilliant clarity, depth, and synthesis explores the nature of consciousness through the seeing of the worlds greatest sages. This tour de force of the mapping of transcendental awareness is both brilliantly conceived and delivered by one of the foremost thinkers of our time. Anyone on the path of enlightenment can not afford to miss studying and assimilating the nondual seeing of Ken Wilber.