Correlating the Maps of Awakening

Sat, Feb 2, 2008

I’m writing an uber-geeky paper (all of probably 100 people would find it interesting) on the correlation of the stages of awakening in the Theravada tradition with Ken Wilber’s stage-stage framework. Since I haven’t seen this correlation made, and because these are the two maps I’m most familiar with, I figured I’d give a crack at it.

I’ve mapped out (pun intended) the outline of the paper, gathered all my research material, and started gathering the relevant quotes, etc. It’ll probably take a few months to write it and then have it edited, but I think I’ll enjoy the process.

I’ll probably share little bits and pieces as I go along here on Numinous Nonsense, cause almost all of the hundred people who might be interested in this paper, are probably reading this blog!

This post was written by:

Vince Horn - who has written 807 posts on Numinous Nonsense.

Vince Horn lives as a modern monk. He spends part of his year in silence, meditating, introspecting, and developing spiritually. The rest of the time he spends engaged in the world, where he produces and hosts the popular show, Buddhist Geeks, works in the production department of the spiritual publishing company Sounds True, and writes for various publications—including on his personal blog Numinous Nonsense—and enjoys living in Boulder, Colorado with his wife Emily. Read his full bio here.

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5 Comments For This Post

Hokai Says:
February 2nd, 2008 at 1:42 pm

Looking forward to the results of your research. It’s clear that you’ll map various records found in tradition unto state-stages, but will you also map various interpretations and recommendations found in traditional and contemporary sources unto structure-stages, discerning the traditional and the modern and postmodern?

At any rate, I believe I’m also speaking for the other 99, when I say “Go for it!”

Hokai

Vince Says:
February 2nd, 2008 at 3:34 pm

Hi Hokai,

Yeah, I had only planned at this point to map out and correlate the state-stages. That being said, there is still a lot of interpretation (from lower structure-stage levels) that I’ll need to strip before being able to correlate them in a more meaningful way. Fortunately I’m relying a lot on the work that others have already done in that regard (namely Daniel I. and Jack Kornfield).

So, to some degree I’m going to address this issue, but don’t think I really have the intention of taking it to that level. But hey, maybe that could be a future project.

Thanks!

Hokai Says:
February 2nd, 2008 at 6:34 pm

“Transformations of consciousness” by Engler, Brown and Wilber has some great correlations and quite a few charts to go by, as does “Integral Psychology”. I will be eagerly following what you share with us.

All best,

Hokai

Vince Says:
February 2nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm

Yes, both of those are definitely on my reading list (though I’ve read both before). I suspect transformations, in particular, will have some great information to take in.

If you’re down, after I’m done writing, I’d love to get some feedback from you…

-V

eric Says:
February 3rd, 2008 at 8:15 pm

Looking forward to it. =)

Hokai Says:
February 2nd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Looking forward to the results of your research. It’s clear that you’ll map various records found in tradition unto state-stages, but will you also map various interpretations and recommendations found in traditional and contemporary sources unto structure-stages, discerning the traditional and the modern and postmodern?

At any rate, I believe I’m also speaking for the other 99, when I say “Go for it!”

Hokai
Vince Says:
February 2nd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Hi Hokai,

Yeah, I had only planned at this point to map out and correlate the state-stages. That being said, there is still a lot of interpretation (from lower structure-stage levels) that I’ll need to strip before being able to correlate them in a more meaningful way. Fortunately I’m relying a lot on the work that others have already done in that regard (namely Daniel I. and Jack Kornfield).

So, to some degree I’m going to address this issue, but don’t think I really have the intention of taking it to that level. But hey, maybe that could be a future project.

Thanks!
Hokai Says:
February 2nd, 2008 at 6:34 pm
“Transformations of consciousness” by Engler, Brown and Wilber has some great correlations and quite a few charts to go by, as does “Integral Psychology”. I will be eagerly following what you share with us.

All best,

Hokai
Vince Says:
February 2nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Yes, both of those are definitely on my reading list (though I’ve read both before). I suspect transformations, in particular, will have some great information to take in.

If you’re down, after I’m done writing, I’d love to get some feedback from you…

-V
eric Says:
February 3rd, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Looking forward to it. =)

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