This is the most amazing art book. In the central part of the book, Alex Grey presents the human being layer by layer. Starting with the skeleton, he adds the nervous & circulatory systems, the viscera, the musculature, and finally the skin. Materialist would stop there. But Alex Grey has the eyes of a mystic, and continues to depict the etheric & energetic components of humanity, right up to the Void of pure consciousness. He also includes deities from east & west, showing that they too "mirror" what we are in our depths. Many of the later frames are suitable as objects of meditation. The most talented energy-healer I know seems to know everything about people just by looking at them, and she says what she sees is what Alex Grey paints. This book contains art that can put a person in touch with her deepest and noblest possibilities. This book is nothing less than a gift to the human race!

This book is a masterpiece. The artist, Alex Grey, has created visions of mystical spiritual beauty-- visions captured and inscribed on the pages of this book.

I don't know of any artist whose work is more frequently included in slides shows and books about mind body healing, consciousness and spirituality.

Just this week, Newsweek did a cover story on neurotheology-- the study of the neurology of spiritual experiences, and two of Alex Grey's works of art were prominently featured in the magazine.

Grey paints with the detail and precision of a medical illustrator-- but one on mescaline. The images are both beautiful and shimmering with energies-- the kind of energies which connect human souls and spirits together, which connect the whole universe together.

I met Alex Grey while attending the Omega Arts week. He was teaching a course on visionary art-- expressing the sacred visually. It is to his credit that he is a popular teacher of this unique approach-- expressing the visionary and spiritual through art. It's amazing to see the great work he inspires in his students too.

Once you see this book, you'll probably need to buy more copies-- as gifts. But first, start off by buying one for yourself as a real treat.

There are several sequences of art in here. Plans are under way for the primary sequence's original works to be assembled into a kind of "temple" or special building which will house them. Grey has designed the whole building. You can learn more about it under the web site which is spelled out by his name then dot com.

I'll be the first to admit I had never heard of Alex Grey before. However, I am a fan of the music group Tool. The artwork on their new CD was done by Alex Grey. I never paid this much mind until I was in a book store a couple weeks ago and passed right by "Sacred Mirrors". I stopped, turned around, snatched it up and ran to the counter. Upon further reading I must say it is phenomenal..

The essays presented talk about Alex and his work. They provide an indepth look at his philosophies on transcendence. While enjoyable to read the real reason to buy the book is the art. I have never seen anything quite like Grey's work. It is bold and bright. His use of colors and their correspondence in the human body are simply amazing.

This book is definitely recommended for anyone who wants to view the human body; our physical, mental, and most importantly, our spiritual side, in a whole new light.

In The Mission of Art, Alex Grey shows that his prodigious artistic gifts are moored in intellectual depth. Grey discusses art history, aesthetics, mysticism, religion, postmodernism, and processes of art reception with equal facility. This kind of writing is a rare treat. Only a small number of American artists have articulated their ideas in writing and fewer have done so with as much skill and alacrity. Grey's writing is reminiscent of G. Albert Aurier, the French Symbolist critic who shared Grey's mystical inclinations and his views about the spiritual and moral potential of art. Grey believes that mystically inspired art can in turn inspire its viewers to transcend today's oppressive consensual values of materialism, utilitarianism, and consumerism, and become aware of more authentic spiritual realities. There are a couple of factual inaccuracies, perhaps due to exaggeration or oversight, as where Grey states that mystical art was virtually absent in late nineteenth century Europe (p.37) and that Van Gogh labored in "complete obscurity" (p.90). Many prominent artists of the late nineteenth century French Symbolist movement were deeply inspired by neo-Platonic mysticism. Though Van Gogh never achieved material success, he was well known and respected by some major artists of his time. Aurier praised Van Gogh's art in a published review shortly before the latter's death. As the world seems to plummet ever deeper into eco-devastation and strife, to continue to hold out faith in general processes of human spiritual "evolution" which are aided by art, as Grey does, appears to demand ever more credulity. In my view, one can now realistically expect mystical art only to be a source of some personal inspiration and an exemplar of humanity's highest but tragically failed ideals. Its ideals of spiritual perfection might still be realizable, or approachable, by the minority of persons and minds which are receptive to it, but it has been virtually impotent as a means of producing a generalized social-spiritual transformation. Indeed, our society seems to appropriate such art as a means of a repressive desublimation of mystical idealism. Mystical art might tend to palliate and pacify idealistic urges, lulling some viewers into complacency by its pleasant presentations of images of spiritual self-actualization, images which, as wonderful as they may be, are only shadows of real conditions of actualization. Our society allows access to these images while doing its best to restrict access to the kinds of experiences which might truly facilitate such an actualization, such as the entheogenic experiences which largely inspired Grey, and competent shamanic guidance. Nevertheless, such mystical representations of what might be more realizable in a better world may for some others highlight the differences between what is and what ought to be, inspiring greater efforts to close the gap. Mystical imagery, as a means of Bildung or of the cultivation of consciousness, is capable of helping to "magnetize" the minds of receptive viewers, helping to keep some minds freed from Plato's cave and aimed toward the light.

In The Mission of Art, Alex Grey shows that his prodigious artistic gifts are moored in intellectual depth. Grey discusses art history, aesthetics, mysticism, religion, postmodernism, and processes of art reception with equal facility. This kind of writing is a rare treat. Only a small number of American artists have articulated their ideas in writing and fewer have done so with as much skill and alacrity. Grey's writing is reminiscent of G. Albert Aurier, the French Symbolist critic who shared Grey's mystical inclinations and his views about the spiritual and moral potential of art. Grey believes that mystically inspired art can in turn inspire its viewers to transcend today's oppressive consensual values of materialism, utilitarianism, and consumerism, and become aware of more authentic spiritual realities. There are a couple of factual inaccuracies, perhaps due to exaggeration or oversight, as where Grey states that mystical art was virtually absent in late nineteenth century Europe (p.37) and that Van Gogh labored in "complete obscurity" (p.90). Many prominent artists of the late nineteenth century French Symbolist movement were deeply inspired by neo-Platonic mysticism. Though Van Gogh never achieved material success, he was well known and respected by some major artists of his time. Aurier praised Van Gogh's art in a published review shortly before the latter's death.
As the world seems to plummet ever deeper into eco-devastation and strife, to continue to hold out faith in general processes of human spiritual "evolution" which are aided by art, as Grey does, appears to demand ever more credulity. In my view, one can now realistically expect mystical art only to be a source of some personal inspiration and an exemplar of humanity's highest but tragically failed ideals. Its ideals of spiritual perfection might still be realizable, or approachable, by the minority of persons and minds which are receptive to it, but it has been virtually impotent as a means of producing a generalized social-spiritual transformation. Indeed, our society seems to appropriate such art as a means of a repressive desublimation of mystical idealism. Mystical art might tend to palliate and pacify idealistic urges, lulling some viewers into complacency by its pleasant presentations of images of spiritual self-actualization, images which, as wonderful as they may be, are only shadows of real conditions of actualization. Our society allows access to these images while doing its best to restrict access to the kinds of experiences which might truly facilitate such an actualization, such as the entheogenic experiences which largely inspired Grey, and competent shamanic guidance. Nevertheless, such mystical representations of what might be more realizable in a better world may for some others highlight the differences between what is and what ought to be, inspiring greater efforts to close the gap. Mystical imagery, as a means of Bildung or of the cultivation of consciousness, is capable of helping to "magnetize" the minds of receptive viewers, helping to keep some minds freed from Plato's cave and aimed toward the light.

Since the fin-de-siecle, artists have had a reputation for egoism and perfidy that has been glamorized and often excused for their supposed insight into society. For Grey, merely being an artist is not an excuse to act without regard for human beings in the supposed pursuit of beauty. He details how, initially, his art came from his own dark impulses, self-loathing, and power trips which would have led him to ruin--with the possibility of being remembered in a celebratory light anyway. Through changes in attitude, the love of his muse then colleague then wife Allyson, and respectful experiences with ethnobotanicals, he underwent a profound transformation whose noble fruits are seen in his art. He details these aspects of his life and his thoughts on art as a spiritual practice with practical advice on developing the consciousness that channels energies both dark and light into extraordinary works that benefit all sentient beings. It should be read alongside his portfolio TRANSFIGURATIONS as the two illustrate this process he underwent both visually and in textual form. The drawings in The Mission of Art are just as incredible as any of his spectacular paintings, especially the treatment of Beethoven in the style of a Tibetan thangka and his mindmaps that are throughout the pages. I came out of this with a profound sense of vindication for my own artistic endeavors and I hope it serves the same for any who wonder whether their art can mean something.

I was very enchanted by this book. Lex Hixon had opened my eyes to the different worlds of faith. It guided me through a vast arrys of Eastern and Western walks of religions. The works in this book had brought a whole new prospective from teahers of different walks of life. I, myself, being the son of a preacher was searching for answers from the loopholes of christianity that was taught to me. Lex Hixon had enlightened my world into a spiritually journey I thought I can never find the answers to. This book had helped me on my search. Even though, I still searching this book had helped me on my quest. Coming Home is well craft and very inspirational. This book will always be a keeper!!

I enjoyed this book so much that I wrote to Lex Hixon. To my suprise, he telephoned me and we talked for an hour! His PhD in comparative religion from Columbia University should not make you think that his approach to the world's mystic traditions was the least bit dry or academic. He was an ecstatic lover of God, like Rumi, while remaining an encyclopedic scholar and a wonderful writer, like---well, like Rumi. I've read all of his books. This is one of his best. Lex Hixon died of cancer at age 55, but like a 20th Century version of Ramakrishna (a great mentor of his) he had lived the lives of several devotees rolled into one.

An excellent book - well written and insightful.

At one level the book is a survey of "enlightenment" or the mystic experience/way of life (direct experience of the Divine) in several religious traditions.

At another level - and the more important one from my perspective - the book uses its discussion of the particular nuances of each of these mystic traditions to draw a common definition/description of enlightenment. The clear message here is that the apparent differences among religions are more a matter of the nature of human perception/ways of communicating than any fundamental difference at the real level.

The last chapter of the book contains a valuable set of guided exercises in prayer and meditative practice to equip the reader with the tools to embark on the path of mystic experience.

Hixon was both a scholar (Ph.D. in Comparative Religions from Columbia) and a practicing mystic (Sheikh in the Havleti-Jerrahi Sufi Order) so this book combines the best of scholarship and direct experience. He is the author of several other very valuable books.

Dr Nelson is a total sweety. He gave me a copy of the book free. He also set me up with a therapist that is a personal friend of his outside the HMO that he worked for.
Total sweety!

At last, an enlightened psychiatrist describes a way to distinguish mystical experience and creative inspiration from regressive psychosis. Nelson integrates Eastern Philosophy and Western neuroscience into a unique and practically helpful synthesis that appeals to educated people who see consciousness as more than brain chemistry, but who also discern the flaws in R.D. Laing's and Thomas Szasz's now outdated views on psychotic experience. Highly recommended!

I feel that this book and Kundalini, Evolution and Enlightenment edited by John White are two of the best, well-rounded books on Kundalini. This is due to their holistic input of theories, personal accounts and scientific research. Both books show the individual/social aspects. In addition, this author does a wonderful job of making the distinction between regressive illness and progressive transformation - a much needed view! These two books should always be available as invaluable resources for professionals and/or those with a serious interest in the topic.

This book is too much to explain in a short review. Here is a start: Wilber is best known for his evolutionary model, in which he explains what phases a person goes through during one's life. One can stay stuck somewhere on these evolutionary scales. Most therapeutic appraoches don't have this evolutionary vision. Wilber explains how to make the match: what kind of psychological model will help to solve problems at which evolutionary level?

(a longer review can be found at http://users.pandora.be/merlevede/eqnl0302.htm#BOOKREVIEW)

Volume four of the Collected Works is critical reading material for any serious Ken Wilber student. It contains his contributions to the _Transformations of Consciousness_ book, his introduction to _The Holographic Paradigm_ (but not the ReVision interview found in that book), as well as a new book, _Integral Psychology_, which will be released individually in April 2000. The real meat of the book, however, lies in the voluminous collection of essays, interviews, and book forewords that Wilber has written over the years.

Of special importance is the essay titled "Death, Rebirth, and Meditation," in which Wilber, following the Tibetan Buddhist data, details the process of dying and death in intricate detail. He also clearly defines his use of the word "soul" and shows how even Buddhism is not exempt from the doctrine of an eternal and indestructible soul, despite popular notions to the contrary. He explains how certain Advaita teachers who insist that the Absolute is the only transmigrate are somewhat mistaken, and he also mentions the work of Dr. Ian Stevenson, and says that while some persons _may_ be able to remember past lives, most memories are strictly mental, and therefore they dissolve completely once the present-life mind disappears into the soul during the dying process.

Also important is Chapter 14 of _Integral Psychology_. Here Wilber gives, for the first time, a truly thorough analysis of the mind-body problem (much more than he did in SES or TEOS). The chapter is expanded upon in an endnote that is particularly illuminating, discussing everything from the naivete of most forms of "panpsychism," to the extremely low level of consciousness possessed by quantum particles, to the necessity of all exteriors (matter) as having interiors (consciousness), since, as Wilber explains, "To say that the physical universe is a universe of all exteriors and no interiors is like saying the world has all ups and no downs--it makes no sense at all. Inside and outside arise together wherever they arise. . . ." He insists, however, that the real solution to the mind-body problem is not solved through mental understanding of dualistic interrelations, but rather through the radical transcendence of all dualism in nondual awareness, "whereupon the problem is radically (dis)solved."

Anyway, I highly recommend it to Wilber students, as well as to anyone with a serious interest in psychology, philosophy, or spirituality who finds something profoundly lacking in the position of scientific materialism and seeks a saner, more comprehensive approach to matter, life, mind, soul, and the infinite reality that contains the entire display.

As another reviewer suggests, this is indeed an extremely ambitious work. Wilber's life's work is exceedingly ambitious, and this volume is the most comprehensive and the most demanding single volume he has yet published

First, I will say to the KW book shopper, this is not the best of his works to start with, in my opinion. Even for the serious reader, I would recommend "ramping up" to this book by reading some of his other work first. You'll get more out of this one if you do. At least read "A Brief History of Everything" first, which KW wrote as a more accessible summary of the thought presented in SES. Because KW's work draws on thinkers from so many disparate fields, the terminology alone can be daunting in SES, unless you are already conversant in the languages of developmental psychology, linguistic analysis, sociology, metaphysics, epistemology, eastern religions and so on. Reading ABHE first will at least give you a good overview of the territory before plunging into SES. I had read eight other KW works before I took on this one, and I think my understanding of SES benefitted from that.

That said, this is a stunning work, and if any one volume of KW's work can be said to lay out the core of his thinking, this would be it. The book begins by outlining what KW calls the "Twenty Tenets," which are, as he calls them, "orienting generalizations" that place in context all that comes after. Here he explains his holarchical model, the "spectrum of consciousness," the basic characteristics of the evolution of consciousness, and his Four Quadrants model of wisdom traditions, or approaches to understanding the universe, which may be his most unique contribution to philosophical thought. From there he proceeds to flesh out his integral theory of knowledge, which seeks to establish a way for us to reconcile (and integrate) the valuable contributions of approaches as disparate as neuroscience and mysticism, Freudian analysis and systems theory. And he shows how this affects our approaches to, yes, sex (gender identity, roles of the sexes, feminism, the mens' movements, et al), ecology (what do various worldviews, belief systems, and perpectives along the spectrum of consciousness mean for our approach to ecological issues, and what are their prospects?) and spirituality (what place does spirituality still have in the story of humankind, and how do we make sense of the seemingly limitless and contradictory number of approaches to this oldest and most important of questions?)

The most unique contribution KW has made to world thought is to begin the integration of the many wisdom traditions and modes of inquiry--to set out a methodology for doing so and to begin to do it. Am I having a mystical experience, is God speaking to me, or is it just something my brain chemistry is doing? Or is it just a culturally-conditioned response? Or regression to a prerational state? Any one approach has its answer, but who is right? And what place does each kind of answer have have in an integrated approach to understanding? Wilber says each of the many modes of serious inquiry has part of the truth, but not all of it. He asks how we honor the valuable contributions from each such partial view to begin to develop a comprehensive view of the whole. SES is Wilber's most all-inclusive single attempt to address these questions. His work is essential to any serious thinker or seeker of the truth today. And for any remotely serious student of Ken Wilber's work, you must read this book.

I believe SES is so valuable not only because Ken Wilber has taken the time to master the essential findings of a dozen different academic disciplines, but because he then combines this brilliant scholarship with the insight of a meditation master. In India these rare individuals are called "Pandits" - scholars who have fully opened "the eye of contemplation." Mystics usually do not even attempt to bring the "ineffable" truths they discover in transverbal states of consciousness into the world of conceptual discourse and sensory evidence. Scientists almost always assume that rationality is the highest faculty we have available to understand our world, and ignore the vast areas of human experience that cannot be easily weighed or measured.

Because Wilber is attempting the extraordinarily difficult feat of integrating these two paths, I think we should keep this "degree of difficulty" in mind as we evaluate his work. He may not always keep his toes perfectly pointed as he enters the water, but how many other theoreticians currently working could include anywhere NEAR this many moves (truths) in a single dive (system of thought?) SES (and Integral Theory as a whole) is far from perfect, and Wilber himself certainly is far from perfect (whatever "perfect" might mean)- but if you care about developing a more compassionate, courageous and effective approach to the daunting challenges facing humanity in the coming decades, you will not want to ignore the tremendous intellectual goldmine he offers in SES.

"Drinking Lightning--Art, Creativity, and Transformation," by Philip Rubinov-Jacobson, published by Shambhala Publications in October, 2000 in the U.S. and Canada, is a powerful, partially autobiographical work, the mere reading of which has the power to transform the consciousness of the reader, if he or she be honest, alert, and thoughtful. Virtually every sentence in this unusual work springs from the domain of abstract mind, borne on metaphoric wings at high levels of intuition and inspired vision. In this seminal and much-needed work, Rubinov-Jacobson has demonstrated a sensitive and mature power to extract from his highly varied and rich life experience, an unusual depth of original, compelling, and fresh insight into the nature of human consciousness. Our author excites in the sensitive reader a greater sense of personal dignity, wisdom, and a larger desire to see creative greatness in all people, everywhere. The Light and Love from which these higher sentiments and ideals spring, fill the work to overflowing throughout. This new work is testament that the author is as accomplished as a writer and intellectual, as he is an artist and painter, for which he is already world-renowned. The reader is humbled by the obvious depth of Rubinov-Jacobson's deep, classical education covering so many fields of knowledge.Yet, there is no pedantry in his presentation of ideas. The reader never gets the feeling that the author is speaking "at" him or her. Rather, by and through the writer's loving spirit and genuine acceptance of the great goodness lying in the the heart of everyone, our author generously invites us aboard his often magical tour of great ideals, passionate sentiments, and the high spiritual potential of the soul in all of us. We are welcomed. We are accepted. By this, we open.We are often enlightened and spellbound by the sheer power of the author's observations on so many subjects. This is an intensely personal, highly spiritual book. Our author proposes as a precondition for all fields of art, education, and civilized living, that everyone open their hearts, minds, and souls to the living Eternal Reality of the spirit, in order to raise all of life beyond the shallow techno-materialism into which, all together, our planet has sunk. The author achieves this objective, I believe, only because of his own fierce self-honesty, his capacity for penetrating sincerity, and the fact that he has lived and practiced a devotional and contemplative lifestyle for several decades. A central theme of this work is the author's thesis that by sincere dedication to the practice of one's chosen art, plus steadily working through the creative cycles entailed, one can indeed become transformed in character and spiritual potential, leading to self-actualization. The sincere practice of any art can, thereby, greatly facilitate whole person-hood, deeper psychological health, and the genuine unfolding of one's spiritual potential. Our author states: "Creativity is a source in all of us, enabling us to cultiviate life in a way that invites transformation, peels away layers of illusion, and therefore brings us ever closer to our true nature. Perhaps the most important gift is its creative self-empowerment. Through it we discover our resilience and our ability to endure, regenerate, and transform anything--even the ugliest, the most terrifying, or the most painful situation--into a creation, an opportunity to experience love, beauty, or truth, and to share that with others through our own unique expression." (Page 14).Philip Rubinov-Jacobson has participated in over 70 art exhibitions nationally and internationally. While still a teenager, he studied in Austria with the world-class artist, Ernst Fuchs, possibly the most diversely accomplished and adept artist in the history of the world. Later, he earned an interdisciplinary Bachelor's Degree and two separate Master's Degrees. While his artistic creations include works in oils, prints, sculpture, and jewelry, he is best known for his "visionary," and often wonderful oil paintings done typically in the "Old Master's" technique--using egg tempera and oils. In summary, this is a remarkable, synthetic work, coming from the Citadel of Creative Lights, within.It also surveys the history of "Visionary Art," from an insider's perspective. The book is full of inspiration, yet it is eminently practical for all who consciously walk the creative path and remain open to self-transformation. I recommend it highly to everyone. [Dr. Wilson G. Wheatcroft, November, 2000].

"Drinking Lightening" is an intriguing discussion on the relationship between Art and Spirituality as revealed through three disinict facets- 1)-the story of the artist/authors' artistic/spiritual path and development 2)-an overview of Visionary art as a distinct movement, its roots, historical context, as well as a discussion of selected contemporary artists and their work. 3)-and of course the relationship between God , creativity and the artist. Rubinov-Jacobson gives an insiders view on the creative process by weaving artistic experience, spiritual teachings from various traditions on the relationship between creativity and God, a discussion of the artist as mystic and visionary, and the relationship of the creative worker to society. This reflection resonated so clearly with my personal experience I found it not only inspiring but comforting as well. "Drinking Lightening" is a gift to the creative community and an incredibly informational book for anyone interested in the connection between art and spirituality.

With the world falling to pieces like Twin Towers, these words of resonance, that unite the sciences and supercede seperatist tendancies, offer thinking minds HOPE!

The quantum field necessitates the observor for creating reality, and the thinkers whose words are published in this book are describing the source of reality in modern terms that verify ancient wisdom. The brains functioning in neurotransmitting peptides and frequencies connects us to the underlying source of those frequenceis. The descriptions of the holograph's capacity to have each part contain the whole, and the brains own holographic functioning, lends credence to the "collective unconscious" that Jung introduced. The delineation of ideas and their evolution, by many great minds through the centuries, is informative and inspiring.

From the brain neurosurgeon Karl Pribram to the quantum physist Itzhak Bentov, truth is presented. The contemporary philosopher, Ken Wilber, has compiled a rare and exquisite collection of information that connects all branches of current research in human consciousness.

A truly diverse and informational work, including essays from such important theorists as physicist Bohm and neuroscientist Pribram. About the holographic theory of consciousness: just as a small portion of a hologram will display the characteristics of the whole image, so does individual human consciousness contain information about the "whole" Kosmos (this is actually known as the holomovement, because consciousness isn't like a diagram on a 2D surface as in holo"gram", but more closely resembles a continuous stream/flow of holographic frequencies). Bohm gives excellent explanations of implicate order(the "enfolded" spaceless, timeless "dimension" of extremely subtle frequency that gives rise to all manifestation) vs. explicate order (the "unfolded" reality of form that we experience), challenges popularly accepted theories of localized brain organization (our brains work more like holograms/movements, with each cell/particle storing info about the whole), and addresses the importance of the actual practice of meditation/inner transcendance as a means of inducing world transformation. Extremely useful for becoming acquainted with various scientists/theorists in consciousness studies. Also interesting to see how the various views, after more than 20 yrs. are currently applied in Wilber's own philosophy. Very highly recommended!

just one personal comment: merely reading the definitions of "split life-goals" and "dark night of the soul" by Wilber saved me several months (years?) of struggling - the book provides a novel structure of psychopathology and if you have a structure you have something to hold onto. very therapeutic book for (post)existential-level strugglers!
***
i really like the brief and concrete style of the older books by Wilber (Atman Project is my favourite!), although, according to Wilber himself, they contain slightly outdated ideas. don't start with it, but don't forget it!

Where have the thoughts in this book been for so long??? Transformations of Consciousness thinks critically about issue's in psychology and spirituality that are so important and would seem so obvious, I wonder how they've managed to escape us all so completely. Primarily, this text brings attention and profoundly questions the motives of the psychological as well as contemplative schools in such a fundamental way as to expose unaddressed pervasive issues that ignorence of which can constitute avoidable casualties to mental and spiritual health. Emphasis is placed on recognition of developmental/phase specific aspects of what constitute appropriate therapeutic and spiritual practices. Specifically,when is meditation harmful as opposed to benificial. What are any of the obstacles in selectively transplanting eastern contemplative practices into the western cultural context? What can both eastern and western traditions contribute to and learn from each other? Wilber, Engler and Brown both impressed and stimulated me with the extraordinary depth and far reaching implications of their considerations. Now, I know why my experience in an eastern influenced spiritual community was bound to end in disillusionment and what has unconsciously motivated so much of my frustrating seeking! What better gift could you ask for?? If therapy has been repeatedly ineffectual, costly and disappointing, or if despite your interest in spirituality you've felt something was missing that you have had difficulty articulating; This book will articulate it. What a glorious Gift!! This book is my BIBLE now!

Why are so many intelligent, well-schooled, experienced people working as hard as they can only to hear that it's not enough; that they need to attend now to the next 'most important thing'? Can they lead the innovation revolution with a balanced scorecard as they manage ' in one minute ' to increase their emotional intelligence or will causal-loop diagrams help them to empower continuous-quality teams to listen appreciatively in the pursuit of excellent shareholder value? I'm sure you'll recognize some of these 'most important things' and I believe that each of these approaches ' individually and in combinations ' has genuine merit. One or more of them may, in fact, be part of your business's best next strategic move. But the sheer volume of seemingly disparate advice can become overwhelming and you have to do something. You don't have the resources or the time to investigate each and every one of these, but how do you pick and sort through them all faced with decreasing quarterly margins and increasing pressure to perform...is there a platform high enough to see how some ' maybe all ' of these might fit together?

Is there a grand unifying theory of sorts for business?

In the spring of 2000, Ken Wilber gathered an incredible group of people together as the Business branch of his newly founded Integral Institute to find out. Ken's stated intent was to put a group of thoughtful people that he respected together in a room, give them just enough guidance to get underway and then just to see what they would do. Conversations ran the gamut from inspiring to ridiculous with all the brilliance and humility and grandstanding and depth that a roomful of remarkable and very human people can muster. It was at this gathering that I first met Daryl Paulson. Daryl had with him a copy of Ken's magnum opus, 'Sex, Ecology and Spirituality,' and the already massive tome was choked nearly double with yellow Post-it notes that he had covered with comments, questions and references. For the days and nights of meetings that followed, he contributed thoughtfully, respectfully and knowledgeably to the conversations about what an integral approach to business might mean.

You'll get to meet Daryl in the pages of this book and there you'll meet the mind and heart that Ken respected enough to invite into the Institute. But more importantly, you'll encounter some of the powerfully elegant and pragmatic aspects of integral theory and methodology. There's a saying that, like a frog at the bottom of a well, we often think too small ' we think the sky is only as big as the top of the well, but if we surfaced, we would have an entirely different view. This book is a groundbreaking effort to help business leaders and managers to find their way to that larger view, and like all early maps of newly explored territory, what follows will need more people to refine and recalibrate and find new paths to explore. But I think this first map will prove to be more right than wrong.

What you read in this book is based on Daryl's deep knowledge and experience with real-world, profit-and-loss business situations, informed by his rare understanding of the encompassing framework offered by Ken Wilber's integral 'Theory of Everything.' Ken's work has earned the admiration of people ranging from Warren Bennis to Al Gore to Tony Robbins and is the most comprehensive, powerful and inclusive framework currently available for understanding human experience. This evidenced-based body of work provides the foundation for identifying and integrating the most effective combination of business actions to apply in any given situation.

The integral approach that Daryl offers in "Competitive Business, Caring Business" provides a substantive first look at how to go about bringing this powerful view into practical day-to-day decisionmaking and resource allocation. It begins with an orienteer's view of the terrain: a brief but useful introduction to the four dimensions of an individual's reality relative to the organizations of which they are members. Business decision-makers and leaders would be well enough served simply to know how to see these dimensions, for their own organizations and the various environments in which they operate. But there's a great deal more value available if they can also begin to see how these might manifest in the minds and cultures of the people that work in and with the organization. And then to be able to navigate these differences'

Moving from the individual's experiences and perceptions in small team situations, Competitive Business, Caring Business takes us on an integral expedition through the company, the industry and the environments in which industries, companies, teams and individuals operate. On the way, we'll pick up insights from economics, politics, theology, psychology, medicine and physics. We reach the most exciting new territory with the discussion of an 'integral business paradigm.' With the paths laid out, the last chapter presents the challenge to those explorers with the capacity, the willingness and the desire to reach within themselves to find new ways to engage in business profitably, but that also honor the people that work in and with their businesses. And all this performed with deep reverence for the world environment that supports us ' our fragile island home ' in our new post-9/11 context.

As more explorers pick up this first map to join in the fine-tuning of its nuances and its outer regions, more business leaders will begin to see more clearly how and when to consider all the excellent work in management and business theory that has gone on before, and where to push into new thinking, new conversations, new systems and new behaviors. If enough of us can muster the courage that Daryl has exemplified in this pioneering work, we can begin to intentionally influence and co-create the next stage of our businesses' evolution with a far more compelling and fruitful vision, future and legacy.

It's a crucial next move.