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Beyond Mind Iii: Further Steps To A Metatranspersonal Philosophy And Psychology (Continuation Of The Discussion On The Three Best Known Transpersonal Paradigms, With A Focus On Washburn And Grof ), Elías Capriles

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This paper gives continuity to the criticism, undertaken in two papers previously published in this

journal, of transpersonal systems that fail to discriminate between nirvanic, samsaric, and neithernirvanic-

nor-samsaric transpersonal states, and which present the absolute sanity of Awakening

as a dualistic, conceptually-tainted condition. It also gives continuity to the denunciation of the

false disjunction between ontogenically ascending and descending paths, while showing the truly

significant disjunction to be between existentially ascending and metaexistentially descending paths.

However, whereas in the preceding paper the focus was on Wilber’s so-called integral system, in this

paper the focus of the main body is …

Ciis Today, Spring 2009 Issue, Ciis

CIIS Today

This volume is the Spring 2009 issue of CIIS Today, the Magazine of the California Institute of Integral Studies.

Paradigm Shift, Then And Now: The Shakespearean Winter’S Tale And Renewal Through The Feminine, Judy Schavrien

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This paper explores postmodern and Shakespearean-baroque parallels in asking, “Can we

make a New World?” In Shakespeare’s case, paradigm shift was occurring willy-nilly—a New

World hoving into view, geographically, socio-politically, spiritually, and through a science

that shifted views of earth and heaven. This inquiry into The Winter’s Tale, in search of a

new coherence then and now, discovers that Shakespeare envisioned a rebalancing of hypermasculine

internal and external life by way of the Feminine, both youthful and mature.

Portraying the tragic ruler at the center of his tale as part puer and part jealous tyrant, Shakespeare

established what is almost …

Reflections On Transpersonal Psychology’S 40th Anniversary, Ecopsychology, Transpersonal Science, And Psychedelics: A Conversation Forum, Mark A. Schroll, Stanley Krippner, Miles A. Vich, James Fadiman, Valerie Mojeiko

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Recollections of humanistic and transpersonal psychology’s origin’s morph into the

pros and cons of humanistic/transpersonal oriented schools developing APA accredited

clinical programs. This discussion dovetails with the question will ATP ever become an

APA division, raising an interesting alternative for those of us considering a career in

counseling: becoming a spiritual coach. Enter the issue of psychedelic therapy and the

Supreme Courts decision to allow ayahuasca as a sacrament by the Uniao Do Vegetal

Church, and the importance of why humanistic and transpersonal psychology need to

clearly map out the territories and sub-divisions of science and religion. Finally this

conversation …

Reflections On A Silent Meditation Retreat: A Beginner’S Perspective, Chad V. Johnson

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This paper explores the experience of a silent meditation retreat from the perspective of

a novice practitioner. The 7-day Scientist Meditation Retreat was held at the Spirit Rock

Meditation Center in Woodacre, California. It was intended to provide meditation researchers

an intensive silent retreat experience. The author shares his reflections throughout the retreat

and concludes with some of the personal insights he gained.

Xenophilia As A Cultural Trap: Bridging The Gap Between Transpersonal Psychology And Religious/Spiritual Traditions, Harris Friedman

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Xenophilia, seen as a type of romanticism, is proposed as an explanation for the tendency

within transpersonal psychology to privilege so-called exotic religious and spiritual traditions,

as opposed to the xenophobic tendency within mainstream Western psychology of

religion and spirituality to privilege the Judeo-Christian tradition. Claims made in a recent

article published in a major psychology journal that Buddhism does not rest on supernatural

faith and is the most psychological spiritual tradition are challenged as examples of this type

of romanticism. Demographic trends showing conversion rates to Buddhism in the US

are contrasted with conversion rates to Christianity in South …

The Plurality Of Religions And The Spirit Of Pluralism: A Participatory Vision Of The Future Of Religion, Jorge N. Ferrer

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This paper first uncovers the subtle spiritual narcissism that has characterized historical approaches

to religious diversity and discusses the shortcomings of the main forms of religious pluralism that

have been proposed as its antidote: ecumenical, soteriological, postmodern, and metaphysical. It

then argues that a participatory pluralism paves the way for an appreciation of religious diversity that

eschews the dogmatism and competitiveness involved in privileging any particular tradition over the

rest without falling into cultural-linguistic or naturalistic reductionisms. Discussion includes the

question of the validity of spiritual truths and the development of a participatory critical theory of

religion. The essay concludes …

Editors’ Introduction, Harris Friedman, Glenn Hartelius

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

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Towards A Transpersonal Psychology Of Daoism: Definitions, Past Research, And Future Directions, Christopher Cott, Adam Rock

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This paper is aimed at facilitating the study of Daoism, a collection of Chinese philosophical

beliefs and psychospiritual practices with a history of thousands of years and a living

community that stretches throughout East Asia, from a transpersonal psychology perspective.

Transpersonal psychologists who wish to embark upon a study of Daoist phenomena

must first be cognizant of the often nebulous parameters of the Daoist field of inquiry.

Therefore, an overview is offered of the two primary Daoist informational sources: the living

Daoist tradition as represented predominantly by the Quanzhen and Tianshi traditions,

and textual sources in collections such as the …

Holarchical Development: Discovering And Applying Missing Drives From Ken Wilber’S Twenty Tenets, Kevin J. Bowman

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Ken Wilber’s AQAL model offers a way to synthesize the partial truths of many theories

across various fields of knowledge such as evolutionary biology and sociology, developmental

psychology, and perennial and contemporary philosophy to name only a few. Despite its

reconciling power and influence, the model has been validly criticized for its static nature

and its overemphasis on the ascendant, versus descendant, path of development. This

paper points out areas of Wilber’s writing that suggest a way to overcome these criticisms.

Doing so allows for the refinement of AQAL’s Twenty Tenets for an extension of its formal,

dynamic features. This …

Identity And Spirituality: Conventional And Transpersonal Perspectives, Douglas A. Macdonald

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Though the relation of spirituality to self has long been recognized in established spiritual

and religious systems, serious scientific interest in spirituality and its relation to identity has

only started to grow in the past 20 years. This paper overviews the literature on spirituality

and identity. Particular attention is given to describing and critiquing conventional and

transpersonal perspectives with emphasis given to empirically testable theories. Using

MacDonald’s (1997, 2000) five dimensional model of spirituality, a structural model of

spirituality is proposed as is a model of spiritual identity formation.

Perspectives In Spirituality: Introduction To Special Topic Section, Glenn Hartelius, Harris Friedman

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

NA

Ayahuasca–From Dangerous Drug To National Heritage: An Interview With Antonio A. Arantes, Beatriz C. Labate, Ilana Goldstein

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This interview with Antonio A. Arantes, Brazilian anthropology professor and recognized

specialist on the topics of intellectual property and traditional knowledge, addresses the 2008

request by Brazilian ayahuasca groups to be recognized as part of the immaterial cultural

heritage of Brazil. In the first portion of the interview, Arantes reflects on the challenges

of the new conceptions of the Brazilian national immaterial policy program. He discusses

several examples of cultural goods recognized by the Brazilian state, such as the candomblé

and the samba, and analyzes the controversial issues involving authenticity and tradition in

these and other similar cases. In the …

A Viable Model And Self-Report Measure Of Spiritual Intelligence, David B. King, Teresa L. Decicco

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

A four-factor model of spiritual intelligence is first proposed. Supportive evidence is reviewed for the

capacities of critical existential thinking, personal meaning production, transcendental awareness,

and conscious state expansion. Based on this model, a 24-item self-report measure was developed

and modified across two consecutive studies (N = 619 and N = 304, respectively). The final version

of the scale, the Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory (SISRI-24), displayed excellent internal

reliability and good fit to the proposed model. Correlational analyses with additional measures of

meaning, metapersonal self-construal, mysticism, religiosity, and social desirability offer support

for construct and criterion-related validity. According to both …

Reconciling Modern Knowledge With Ancient Wisdom, Papalii F. Avegalio

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This paper is about an academic as well as cultural journey of (re)affirmation. Imbued with

Western knowledge, I was nearly swayed to alter my beliefs and core assumptions towards a

modern world view. I was referred to an article by Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese (hereafter Tui

Atua) which significantly assuaged the tensions of seemingly opposing values rooted in two

different world views. I realized now that in many ways, Tui Atua’s publications on Samoan

wisdom, culture and philosophy had the effect of a gentle wind tapping my shoulder. The

articles reaffirmed my sense of heritage and strengthened my resolve to …

Ciis Today, Fall 2008 Issue, Ciis

CIIS Today

This volume is the Fall 2008 issue of CIIS Today, the Magazine of the California Institute of Integral Studies.

Ciis Today, Summer 2008 Issue, Ciis

CIIS Today

This volume is the Summer 2008 issue of CIIS Today, the Magazine of the California Institute of Integral Studies.

Editors’ Introduction, Glenn Hartelius, Harris Friedman

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

NA

What Does It Mean To Live A Fully Embodied Spiritual Life?, Jorge Ferrer

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This essay discusses the meaning of embodied spirituality—based on the integration of all

human attributes, including the body and sexuality—and contrasts it with the disembodied

spirituality—based on dissociation and/or sublimation—prevailing in human religious

history. It then describes what it means to approach the body as a living partner with which

to co-create one’s spiritual life, and outlines ten features of a fully embodied spirituality.

The article concludes with some reflections about the past, present, and potential future of

embodied spirituality.

The Past And Future Of The International Transpersonal Association, Stanislav Grof, Harris Friedman, David Lukoff, Glenn Hartelius

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

The International Transpersonal Association (ITA) was formed in 1978 for the purposes

of promoting education and research in transpersonal subjects, as well as sponsoring

global conferences for the international transpersonal community. The association was

subsequently dissolved in 2004, but is now in the process of being reactivated and revitalized.

As background for this development, this paper reviews the history of ITA including its

international conferences and noteworthy presenters, the organization’s definition, strategies,

and specific goals, and details of its contemporary revival.

Approaches To Transpersonal Psychotherapy: Introduction To Special Topic Section, Harris Friedman, Glenn Hartelius

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

NA

Dante’S Terza Rima In Th E Divine Comedy: Th E Road Of Th Erapy, Dennis P. Slattery

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Wisdom’s pursuit through symbols, metaphors, poetry, and therapy is a path of indirection,

less available the more one’s pursuit is direct. Wisdom may be gained through particular

processes of knowing, pilgrimages towards the truth of things. Dante’s 14th century poem

engages a new rhyme scheme to further this pursuit of knowing towards wisdom. He called

it terza rima, or third rhyme. Its structure, the essay argues, embodies two movements of the

soul: the journey towards knowing, one which is always bending back in memory, and the

movement of therapy itself, wherein one becomes more conscious by seeing in the present …

The Role Of Spirituality In Mental Health Interventions: A Developmental Perspective, Liora Birnbaum, Atton Birnbaum, Ofra Mayseless

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Th is article presents a four-level developmental description of the extent to which clinicians

apply spirituality in therapy. At the fi rst level, clinicians begin to sense dissonance regarding

their traditional, positivist worldview while conducting conventional psychotherapy, especially

in cases involving life-threatening situations or loss. At the second level, clinicians

open up to the possibility of the existence of a metaphysical reality and to spiritual/transpersonal

beliefs expressed by clients. At the third level, clinicians may cautiously contact this

transcendental reality and seek ways to utilize this dimension to access information relevant

to therapy. At the fourth level, clinicians actively engage …

The Buddhist Notion Of Emptiness And Its Potential Contribution To Psychology And Psychotherapy, José M. Tirado

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

A growing number of psychologists now have their practices and theories informed by Buddhist

meditation practices. Th ese practices, however, are themselves deeply informed by the

Buddhist notion of emptiness (śūnyatā). Th is Buddhist concept off ers a rich vein of possibilities

in informing psychology and psychotherapy. Th e present paper examines the development

and potential of this concept for infl uencing these and other areas.

The Therapeutic Potentials Of A Museum Visit, Andrée Salom

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Museums are safe spaces for the objects they hold and for the persons that visit them, providing environments that can function in therapeutic ways. Within the wide range of objects, there is enough diversity to help guests discover what similarities they have with others as well as what makes them unique as individuals. Within exhibits, individuals can explore themselves through the reactions they have to particular pieces, through the observation of what holds their attention within the environment, and through the awareness and development of their contemplative mind. Museums can introduce transpersonal information, add information to previous transpersonal experiences, and …

Brief History Of Transpersonal Psychology, Stanislav Grof

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

The International Transpersonal Association (ITA) was formed in 1978 for the purposes

of promoting education and research in transpersonal subjects, as well as sponsoring

global conferences for the international transpersonal community. The association was

subsequently dissolved in 2004, but is now in the process of being reactivated and revitalized.

As background for this development, this paper reviews the history of ITA including its

international conferences and noteworthy presenters, the organization’s definition, strategies,

and specific goals, and details of its contemporary revival.

A Peircean Panentheist Scientific Mysticism, Søren Brier

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Peirce’s philosophy can be interpreted as an integration of mysticism and science. In Peirce’s

philosophy mind is feeling on the inside and on the outside, spontaneity, chance and chaos

with a tendency to take habits. Peirce’s philosophy has an emptiness beyond the three worlds

of reality (his Categories), which is the source from where the categories spring. He emphasizes

that God cannot be conscious in the way humans are, because there is no content in

his “mind.” Since there is a transcendental3 nothingness behind and before the categories,

it seems that Peirce had a mystical view on reality with a …

Some Rudimentary Problems Pertaining To The Construction Of An Ontology And Epistemology Of Shamanic Journeying Imagery, Adam J. Rock, Stanley Krippner

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Attempts to elucidate the kinds of “thing” or “things” to which the term shamanic journeying

image is referentially linked must grapple with two related questions: what is the fundamental

nature of shamanic journeying images, and how might the origin of a shamanic

journeying image be found? The first question is ontological, concerned with the nature

and essence of shamanic journeying images. In contrast, the second is epistemological and

methodolgical, concerned with how to acquire knowledge of shamanic journeying images.

We demonstrate how inductive and deductive reasoning, the private language argument,

and reification render problematic the resolution of both. Finally, we …

Integral Approach To Mental Suffering, Laura B. Gilot

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Th is article further develops one section by the same name in another article published in

the International Journal of Transpersonal Studies entitled Integral Approach in Transpersonal

Psychotherapy (Boggio Gilot, 2003) by proposing a model of mental suff ering based on

uniting scientifi c psychology with meditative wisdom (e.g., derived from Yoga Vedanta). Th e

role of spiritual vision underlines a wider understanding of the origins of mental suff ering,

including damage from ontological unawareness and egoism, non-ethical factors usually

ignored in psychology. Th ese give rise to destructive poisons of the mind such as pride,

greed, fear, resentment, envy, …

Ciis Today, Fall 2007 Issue, Ciis

CIIS Today

This volume is the Fall 2007 issue of CIIS Today, the Magazine of the California Institute of Integral Studies.