Hierarchy and Quadrants in Ken Wilber's Work

Ep. 116 (Part 2 of 3) | Brad Reynolds, author of Embracing Reality: The Integral Vision of Ken Wilber and Where’s Wilber At? Ken Wilber’s Integral Vision in the New Millennium, gives us a beautiful distillation of Ken Wilber’s work, starting from the beginning and spanning decades. Not only does Brad elegantly relate the major themes of Ken’s work, he also makes clear the value of Ken’s contributions—the way this knowledge can be understood and applied to literally expand our notion of reality and evolve our consciousness. Brad deftly leads us through the subjects that Ken has developed: the spectrum of consciousness, the integration of science and religion, transcending and including what has come before, the importance of the transpersonal, and much more. We learn why Ken’s teachings are timeless and also so relevant and important today.

Brad’s scholarship, his own spiritual practice and insight, his engaging, easygoing style, and the close working relationship he had with Ken for many years make this podcast a goldmine for learning the essence of Ken’s theories, for deepening our appreciation of the magnitude of Ken’s understanding, and above all, the topics covered here point the way for us to evolve as human beings. We come to understand that integral is much more than a theory: it’s a practice, a call to grow and transcend, to become more inclusive, more responsive—to live our true potential. Brad eloquently brings it home just how much we need integral thinkers and leaders right now, with regressive developmental trends on the rise. Especially pertinent in our polarized society, integral shows us how to take all that is valuable within ostensibly conflicting worldviews and integrate it for the benefit of all. Recorded January 3, 2024.

“Reality encompasses all perspectives.”

(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)

Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2

• How Phase 3 evolved: the importance of practice & the AQAL map (all quadrants, all stages, all lines, all states, all types) (00:49)
• No boundary awareness: the limits of the mind and how the heart becomes the driving force (04:19)
• Hierarchies and the great chain of being—the great nest of spirit—from matter to nature to body, mind, soul & spirit (08:33)
• Rescuing the interior from scientific materialism and the development of the four quadrants: interior elements of reality are just as authentic as exteriors (10:31) 
• The importance of a stable ego and the current emphasis on growing up and showing up to avoid spiritual bypassing (13:16)
• Finding our way in spiritual traditions, cults, and with gurus, and Ken’s map to distinguish spiritual teachers’ legitimacy, authenticity, and authority (17:16)
• The timeless nature of Ken’s teachings and how they point to the evolution of humanity (26:48)
• In a cult (and some religious traditions) we are looking for the leader to play our parent, submerging our autonomy (31:15)
• We are largely at an adolescent stage of development; the difference between adolescent and mature stages of development (33:03)
• Crucial distinctions between problematic spiritual groups and beneficial spiritual groups (35:49)
• Roger’s summary of Ken’s 4 phases, with phase 5 still to come (37:35)

Resources & References – Part 2

• Ken Wilber, Integral Psychology: Consciousness, Spirit, Psychology*
• Ken Wilber, No Boundary: Eastern and Western Approaches to Personal Growth*
• Ken Wilber, A Brief History of Everything*
• Dick Anthony, Bruce Ecker & Ken Wilber, Spiritual Choices: The Problems of Recognizing Authentic Paths to Inner Transformation*
• Brad Reynolds’ website: https://integralartandstudies.com
• Brad Reynolds, Embracing Reality: The Integral Vision of Ken Wilber*
• Brad Reynolds, Where’s Wilber At?: Ken Wilber’s Integral Vision in the New Millennium*
• Brad Reynolds, God’s Great Tradition of Global Wisdom: Guru Yoga-Satsang in the Integral Age*

* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.

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Brad Reynolds did graduate work at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) before leaving to study under Ken Wilber for nearly a decade (1995-2004), and published two books reviewing Wilber’s work: Embracing Reality: The Integral Vision of Ken Wilber (Tarcher, 2004) and Where’s Wilber At?: Ken Wilber’s Integral Vision in the New Millennium (Paragon House, 2006). He recently published a book reviewing the world’s wisdom traditions called God’s Great Tradition of Global Wisdom: Guru Yoga-Satsang in the Integral Age (Bright Alliance, 2021). Brad is also a graphic artist, laying out books and designing a wide variety of graphics for publication as well as continuing his work in Integral Philosophy and the study of world religions.

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Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell