Ep356: Awakening to Wholeness - Ken Wilber

In this episode I am joined by Ken Wilber, contemporary philosopher, author, and founder of Integral Theory. Ken recounts his biography and intellectual development including prodigious early reading, major spiritual experiences, and his models of spiritual and psychological development. Ken reflects on his rise to fame, his deeper motivations for writing, and whether or not his Integral Institute made the impact he had hoped for. Ken also gives a detailed account of his association with controversial American spiritual teacher Adi Da, weighs the good and bad of Da Free John’s career, considers the source of Adi Da’s shaktipat power, and reveals why he almost joined the guru’s inner circle. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep356-awakening-to-wholeness-ken-wilber Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:51 - Steve’s favourite Ken Wilber book 02:01 - Difficulties writing “One Taste” 05:39 - Adolescent interest in developmental psychology 08:53 - Major spiritual experience at 13 years old 09:55 - Comparing stage models 12:24 - Zen Buddhist practice 13:47 - Ken’s first theoretical discovery 15:57 - Different types of wholeness 17:19 - Waking up 17:55 - Growing up 19:00 - Opening up 21:15 - Cleaning up 23:47 - Showing up 24:43 - 4 perspectives of person 28:51 - Ken’s fiction reading and the types of truth 31:11 - Marquis de Sade 32:45 - Why Ken wrote 39:39 - Why participate in the Great Conversation? 41:29 - Who you really are 43:32 - Universal mysticism 45:00 - Two types of religion 53:15 - Dealing with the audience response 56:22 - Being noticed in public 57:50 - Did Ken have collaborators? 01:00:05 - Integral group gatherings and conferences 01:04:22 - Ken’s assessment of the overall impact of Integral theory and the Integral gatherings 01:07:58 - No regrets 01:09:39 - Ken’s opinion of Steve’s work 01:12:23 - Ken’s history with Adi Da 01:17:10 - Invited to be part of Adi Da’s inner circle 01:19:57 - Meeting Adi Da 01:20:59 - When Ken decided not to join Adidam 01:21:57 - Sadness at Adi Da’s death 01:23:53 - William Tsiknas 01:25:22 - Falling in love with Adi Da 01:28:35 - Source of Adi Da’s power 01:28:41 - Ken on Adi Da’s relationship with his teachers 01:32:59 - Adi Da’s pranic transmission 01:35:38 - Muktananda + why Adi Da was drawn to Rudi 01:40:16 - What is shaktipat? 01:43:15 - Post-death contact and ethical controversies 01:45:04 - Feeling the heart transmission of Adi Da 01:47:17 - Ken’s disappointment in Adi Da’s controversial conduct 01:50:54 - Good vs bad of Adi Da … To find our more about Ken Wilber, visit: - https://kenwilber.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James