Hullo Wim,
Back from bushfire country, with no nasty experiences to report, I am
returning to your post of 16.01.02, in which you continue our debate on how
we might integrate Pirsig and Wilber. You conclude your summary of the
debate so far( how do you keep track of all this?), with the following.
WIM: "I am wondering if it wouldn't be better to see Wilber's
level-sequences as sub-divisions of Pirsig's levels. Couldn't the
quadrants be equated with MoQ-levels: upper-right with inorganic,
down-right with biological, down-left with social and upper-left
with intellectual? 3WD's account of these sequences may need some
adaptation, but given the variety in Wilber's level-sequences in
different books it should not be impossible..."
JOHN B: I have a copy of the diagram 3WD produced, which he kindly sent me
some time ago, which I shall find. Your suggestion at first glance seems
almost rediculous to me, given my understanding of the way the levels
function in each scheme, but I intend to try your idea and see if it fits.
I've been working for several months on a long essay which attempts to
reconcile Wilber and Pirsig, and am perhaps too close to the action to be
very objective (Ooops - wrong word!) about them right now.
I think it was you, who, in response to someone's suggestion of what to
read, replied that you were actually more interested in writing right now. I
admired that reply, since it fitted well with where I was at that time. I
actually learn more by refining my ideas in the process of writing than I
normally do from reading, and my reading has declined of late.
I currently am entering what seems to be a new phase for me. It is extremely
difficult for me to describe in conventional terms without it appearing
hopelessly subjective and introverted, but it amounts to the exploration of
what I am calling 'personal truth'. While I am doing this through Hameed
Ali's Diamond Essence work, which is a subtle blend of Sufism and modern
psychology, it is similar to much spiritual development within many other
groups, and I suspect is familiar to at least some Quakers. I wonder if it
is related to David Buchanan's "dramatically intense personal experience"
that he wrote about on 28.01.02?
One result of this development is that I am losing interest in debating at
the intellectual level just now, though no doubt it will return, and I shall
probably limit my involvement in the moq site for a while. (But I could be
wrong.) I do intend to address your idea above, but allow me some more time.
I will have to decide whether to continue with my essay, abandon it, or
publish it at its current stage. It is already long, and the focus continues
to change, as my issues and concerns alter, so it is possible it could act
as a catalyst for what I am interested in now, though I rather doubt that I
am in a position to write much, since what occurred at my retreat near
Sydney was rather an opening up to working on moment to moment experience,
which does not translate well into the realm of ideas and intellect.
With good wishes.
John B
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