Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Terry Findlay
Beyond Survival
Findlay, Terry
! Beyond Survival
! 1.Developmental Psychology 2. Personal Growth 3. Self
! 4. Consciousness 5. Awareness 6. Instinct
ISBN: 978-0-9812936-0-8
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Dedication
This book is dedicated to my mother, Barbara, who always
encouraged my curiosity.
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Table of Contents
Introduction! 11
Daughters of the Cave ! 12
Underestimated Influences! 25
Irresistible Forces! 27
Overriding Nature! 30
Developmental Liberation! 32
Brain ʻAlchemyʼ! 43
Developmental Stages/Levels! 46
Seeking Solutions! 48
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Can We Change?! 58
Neuroplasticity ! 59
Mindsets! 62
A Progression of Truth! 67
A Picture of Hope! 70
Caveats! 72
What Is Awareness?! 73
Levels of Ignorance! 74
Gaining Wisdom! 75
Getting Acquainted! 79
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Relief In Sight! 87
Section 3: Transitions! 89
Transitions, Transformation, and Transmutation! 90
Progressive Liberation! 91
Transitional Realizations! 99
No Guarantees! 123
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Equilibrium! 199
Transcendence! 200
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Bridging! 227
Bibliography! 258
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Introduction
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Trained by the wisest and most accomplished wizards of the land he was
known in his childhood as a prodigy. By the time he was a man it was
agreed that he was the most powerful wizard in the domain. He lived
bathed in adulation and the glory of his many wonderful accomplishments.
In his twenty-third year Mordran met Alia and the two fell deeply in love.
Alia was a powerful sorceress in her own right and when news spread of
her pregnancy, shortly after she and Mordran were married, there was talk
of a special child. Surely the offspring of such a powerful couple would
possess special gifts. Mordran and Alia were very happy and were looking
forward to arrival of their child, the fruit of their profound love for one
another.
But fate had other plans. When the child was born, although Alia had gone
to full term, it was unusually small. It appeared otherwise to be a healthy
baby. Following the birth of her child Alia was exhausted but happy. Then a
second child was born and while it too was small it now seemed that an
explanation for their diminutive size was obvious; they had shared a single
womb.
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The second birth had taken its toll on Alia. She was left weak from the effort
of birthing the two children in such rapid succession. Then again concern
mounted when, by Aliaʼs screams, it became apparent that a third child was
about to enter the world. Mordran was now gravely worried about his wife.
She could barely speak or raise her head to drink the water he offered her.
But the worst was yet to come. Alia gave birth to two more babies that
night. She, herself, survived only a few minutes after the fifth and final child
was born.
Mordranʼs entire being was filled with inconsolable and aching sorrow at
the loss of his beloved wife. He could not bring himself to face his children
nor even the well intentioned sympathies of those gathered there.
Disconsolate, he made his way alone into the foothills of the mountains that
bounded the town to the north. The people of the town tended to his five
daughters, for they were all five girls. High into the mountains Mordran
climbed. There he contemplated his loss and the longer he ruminated the
deeper he sank into despair. After five days alone with his unrelenting grief
his spirit at last could stand no more. His mind twisted into a dark and
brooding place and bitterness filled his heart. To his troubled soul it seemed
that life had played him for a fool. It had drawn him into a overpowering
love and then had cruelly wrenched his beloved from him at a moment that
should have been their greatest joy. Mordran thought of his daughters and
determined that he would not let life trifle with them as it had with him. He
would protect them from the curse of innocent love that had broken his
innocent heart.
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As he made his solitary way down the mountain a plan was taking shape in
Mordranʼs mind. When he reached the town below he sought out his
children and he took them off into the wilderness. There he raised them
away from the danger of meeting young men and falling into perilous love.
He taught them to fear all others. As his daughters matured each
discovered in themselves a unique ability. One daughter had the power to
bestow good health on others, another could give the gift of safety from
harm, the third had the power to bless others with loyal friendships and
loving families, the fourth had the ability to confer strength of character, and
the fifth could give the gift of a life filled with meaning and purpose.
Upon discovery of his daughtersʼ gifts Mordran was struck with a clever and
terrible idea. In his misery Mordran found it unbearably painful to look upon
anyone, who, in their foolishness, was living a happy life. Now Mordran saw
in his daughtersʼ powers a cunning means of abolishing all happiness from
the world. Never again would he be ruthlessly reminded of his unspeakable
loss by chancing upon others living their mindlessly happy lives.
So that no others would ever learn of his plan or the part his daughtersʼ
powers were to play in it he secreted his children away in a cave in the
mountains. The cave was chosen for its clear view of the town. Mordran
wanted to be able to see the consequences of his plan so as to confirm its
success. In order that they never be discovered the family lived there in the
depths of the cave in darkness. Using his occult knowledge Mordran taught
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his daughters the means to cast their gifts on the unsuspecting people of
the town from the safe distance of the hidden cave. He knew that casting
the girlsʼ powers in this way would transform his daughtersʼ gifts into terrible
and anonymous curses.
Relentlessly, month after month, the torment wore on and it was into such
misery that Tormath unknowingly set foot. Tormath had travelled from a far
distant land where he had been a student of the science and art of
alchemy. But while most of his peers had directed their energies toward the
discovery of a sorcerous formula for transmuting base metals into gold,
Tormath had pursued the more arcane path. Tormath had sought the
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Tormath was not long in the town before he began to realize the depths of
despair to which its people had fallen. As he became increasingly aware of
the nature of the malady that was afflicting the people of the town he came
to understand that this was a situation in which his accumulated knowledge
might be put to the test. He was by no means convinced that his present
understanding of the transmutation of minds would be sufficient but he felt
he could not abandon the townspeople without at least making an attempt
at alleviating their pain.
Through questioning and observing the people of the town Tormath arrived
at a theory concerning the origin of their compulsions. Clearly there were
unknown forces involved. But in Tormathʼs experience forces always had a
source. To move a heavy cart you needed a source of power such as a
horse or a pair of oxen. Tormath reasoned there must be a source
somewhere that was responsible for the irresistible forces driving the
obsessive behaviors of the people of the town. Since there was no obvious
source within the town Tormath determined to search the surrounding
countryside. It seemed to him likely that he would be looking for a
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concealed location due to the fact that no one, not even in their travels to
other towns nor on hunting trips into the hills, had come across anything
unusual. It also occurred to Tormath that whatever might be acting as the
source of the townʼs suffering would probably want to witness the fruits of
its endeavors. How else could it know if it had achieved its desired effects?
This reasoning narrowed the scope of Tormathʼs search to those locations
affording a good line of sight to the town.
Tormath knew that stealth would be essential and the best way to proceed
would be under the cover of night. Fortunately on the night of his foray
there was only a sliver of a moon. Clothed in dark attire with a black cloak
to further obscure his presence Tormath let his eyes adjust to the darkness
then made his way into the hills. His destination was a ledge that he had
picked out during the day. It was high enough in the mountains to be safe
from casual eyes and yet it offered a good view of the town. As he
approached the ledge from below he stopped to let his breathing return to a
more normal rhythm. Slowly he made his way up to one side of the ledge.
Once there he saw an opening to a large and deep cave. He stopped
where he was and remained still. There were voices coming from inside the
cave, soft but unmistakably human. Tormath had found what he expected
to find. Whoever owned those voices must be responsible for what was
happening in the town. They must be the source of the mysterious forces
playing out in the lives of the townʼs people.
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The townspeople moved quickly to get hold of the cave dwellers. There
was a man and five young women. Suddenly a bright flash filled the cave
blinding everyone for a few seconds. When his sight returned Tormath saw
immediately that the man had vanished but each of the five girls were in the
firm grip of one or more townspeople.
Following Tormathʼs orders the young women were gently but firmly led
down the mountain and into the town square. They appeared bewildered
and confused as they blinked into the light of the rising sun. Word of the
womenʼs arrival spread quickly and the townspeople gathered hastily in the
square. There were questions directed at Tormath about what should be
done next. A heated debate soon erupted among the people there as to
what fate the young women deserved. It was obvious that they had
surmised that these five girls were somehow involved in the cause of their
suffering. And judging from the level of rage and vehemence they displayed
they were still under the thrall of the dark forces that had possessed them
of late. This, Tormath knew, was the time to test his learning.
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“Good people,” he began, “as those who were with me today will attest
there is one who was in the cave where we found these women, one who
escaped our clutches. I believe that it is he who should be the object of
your wrath. I believe that he controlled and directed these unfortunate girls.
What say you good women?”
The daughter closest to Tormath answered, “The man you blame is our
father. We willingly obeyed his wishes. He is a broken man and we sought
only to alleviate his suffering. His pain is so great that the only measure of
relief he is able to gain is at the awful expense of the happiness of others.
The more intensely others suffer the less his own misery stands out in relief
against their otherwise contented manner.”
Tormath asked the women, “How is that you and your father have been
able to inflict such suffering on these poor folk?”
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Another of the daughters explained that they were each born with a special
ability and proceeded to enumerate them, “I have the power to give others
a desire for good health, my siblings can endow desires for safety from
harm, for friendship and family loyalty, for self reliance, and for purpose and
meaning. By casting these desires without revealing ourselves as their
sources we were able to confound the townspeople and make them belief
their desires were being driven by dark and uncontrollable forces.”
Raising his voice he addressed the gathered crowd, “Good people of this
town, do not condemn these five women for they have given you priceless
gifts. It is only through ignorance of their sources that these gifts were able
to cause you pain. Now that you have knowledge of their sources the gifts
you have been given can bestow upon you their wisdom. For is it not wise
to have a desire for good health and to care of your physical well-being?
And is it not wise to have a desire for safety from harm and to take
appropriate precautions when necessary? And is it not wise to seek
supportive friendships and loving family relationships? And is it not wise to
learn self reliance and to develop personal strengths? And is it not wise to
pursue a life of purpose and meaning? These five kindly gifts provide you
with the priceless gift of the impetus to live well individually and in harmony
with one another.”
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And the people heard and they knew the truth of Tormathʼs words. One by
one they approached the five daughters where they stood and began
embracing them and thanking them for their gifts.
From his hiding place Mordran heard and saw all that had just taken place.
Something stirred in his heart that had not stirred in many years and he
wept there alone behind the barrels knowing that his long nightmare was
finally over. Shortly, he stood and walked out from the shadows into the
morning sunlight of the square. When his daughters saw him they rejoiced
for it was plain to see that he had awakened from his anguish and was
once again a whole man.
No one there that day realized that Tormath had effected the liberation of
their minds; not the townspeople, not the daughters, not even the great
wizard Mordran. It took them some time to recognize the transformation
that had taken place within them. But Tormath knew and was pleased. His
conjectures concerning the transmutation of minds had been confirmed.
His lessons had been well learned and skillfully applied.
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Section 1: The Survival Instinct
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A Populace of Demons
The demons of which I speak are not merely metaphorical. They exist in a
very real way and, like their medieval counterparts, these demons possess
the power to direct our thoughts and behaviors without our permission and
in spite of our intentions. They carry out their hidden agendas without our
knowledge leaving us powerless to resist their influences. Moreover, like
the demons of medieval times our demons are the minions of an all-
powerful overlord who is the source of them all.
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“Survive!” This is the injunction broadcast by the DNA in every cell of our
bodies. Survival is not a choice among other opportunities, it is the only
option. Survive and you get to reproduce. Reproduce over generations and
your species may evolve in ways that allow it to survive more effectively or
in a wider range of conditions. Success tends to breed more success in the
survival sweepstakes. But since evolution functions to perpetuate the
species what happens to individual members within a species is only
relevant is so far as it affects the overall continuance of the species. The
blind mechanism of evolution doesnʼt care whether a particular organism
survives or not. Nor does it care what suffering an organism may go
through in the name of survival. Evolution, being a purely mechanical
process, has no heart. And neither do the instincts shaped by evolution.
Herein lies the crux of the primary problem for all human beings.
Underestimated Influences
Few would argue with the veracity of Ciceroʼs quip. Most of us will nod our
heads and count ourselves among the wise who are “instructed by reason”.
Certainly we are anything but brutes instructed by instinct. Or are we? It is
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the nature of instincts to operate behind the scenes, to exert their not
insignificant influences obscured by a heavy curtain separating their primal
machinations from conscious observance. This being so it is easily
imagined that our apparently reasoned thoughts and behaviors could be
unknowingly driven by deeply hidden instincts. Freud thought this to be the
case and he was not the first nor the last to think so. Evolutionary
psychology is founded on the belief that every aspect of human life,
including cognitive functioning, owes its existence to and can be explained
by the operation of natural selection, which is to say, the process by which
the survival of our species is preserved.
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The thesis of this book is that the primal instinct for survival is at the root of
much human suffering precisely because of our natural blindness to its
workings. But it will also show how such suffering, while commonplace and
seemingly intractable, is not entirely inevitable.
Irresistible Forces
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As a result we are not often aware of their operation or the degree to which
their workings influence our thoughts and behaviors. This lack of
awareness constitutes a kind of ignorance that will be the focus of our
inquiry.
Nature vs Nurture
For decades psychologists have debated the relative influences of innate
traits (nature) and experiential history (nurture) on the development of an
individual. As we mature, do our innate instincts have more or less of an
effect on our development than our experiences? Leda Cosmides and John
Tooby of the University of California, Santa Barbara in an article called
“Evolutionary Psychology: A Primer”, refer to the nature vs nurture debate
as follows:
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The position taken in this book is that the existence of inherent instincts in
no way precludes the idea that developmental outcomes are contingent on
environmental conditions or the idea that learning plays an important role in
development. As Dylan Evans, lecturer in Behavioural Science, School of
Medicine, University of Cork, in Cork, Ireland says in an article on instinct,
“Developmental outcomes are seen as the results of a complex interplay of
innate programs and environmental inputs.”
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Overriding Nature
More than any other organism on the planet human beings are capable of
mitigating the effects of instincts. In spite of the fact that instincts operate at
a subconscious level we have the ability to detect their effects and to
exercise judgement about whether or not to resist their urgings. We cannot
prevent the actions of instincts since they are automatic and irresistible but
if we can gain awareness of their urgings we can make decisions
concerning our acceptance or rejection of these compulsions. The key here
rests on the ability to recognize the workings of instincts as they occur. This
book contends that most of us are sorely lacking in this crucial kind of
awareness and that this shortcoming results in untold suffering.
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mechanisms for survival. All of our hopes and dreams, our fears and
regrets, our capacity to love and hate, our creativity, our curiosity, our
brutality, our sense of identity, consciousness, all are side-effects of the
blind sculpting of our nervous system by natural selection acting in the
interests of the survival of our species. Our physical bodies and the
instincts that inhabit and animate them are both made according to the
proceedings of natural selection.
It is hard to come to terms with the idea that all that makes us human could
be accomplished in such a pedestrian way. We resist the truth of our
genesis because we feel that it diminishes us. It seems that human
capacities like wisdom and love are somehow less significant because they
have been born out of the automatic processes of natural selection. But
why should this be so? Is the experience of love or terror any less real to us
because of its mechanical provenance? In the end our experiences of life
are the same whether they are the consequences of design by a
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In spite of our reluctance to accept our natural heritage even a brief clear-
minded consideration of the incredible phenomenon of human existence
and the cosmos we inhabit cannot help but inspire a sense of awe and
wonder. The fact of human existence in all its limitless breadth and depth is
a manifest miracle in itself regardless of how it came to be.
Developmental Liberation
We will look at how the survival instinct plays itself out over the course of
our lives and how the developmental stages we go through as we mature
reflect various aspects of this imperative. We will see how making
transitions between these developmental stages constitutes a means of
progressive liberation from the suffering inherent in five key aspects of the
survival instinct. Liberation from a particular form of survival instinct-
induced suffering is achieved following each transition from one
developmental stage to the next. For this reason we will be referring to the
process of moving through the developmental stages as Developmental
Liberation. And since each successive development stage involves an
increase in understanding and a broader general awareness, the
developmental stages will be referred to as Levels of Awareness.
1 It seems that natural selection may have instilled in us a preference for narrative over
exposition. If so then there would be a survival advantage in such a bias. It may be that
narratives more easily bestow meaning on circumstances or that they enhance the
formation of long term memories.
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In the pages that follow we will examine six Levels of Awareness and the
transitions between them. We will see how, at each level, a different type of
self-identity is brought into being by one of five aspects of the survival
instinct and we will see how each of these selves is governed by the aspect
responsible for its existence. We will refer to the five aspects of the survival
instinct as survival drives.
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Section 2: Basic Principles
Standing On The Shoulders of Giants
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This causal relationship whereby the need generates the existence of the
stage of self and the stage of moral development is fundamentally a
perspective taken by evolutionary psychology. Evolutionary psychology
attempts to explain not only an organismʼs physical characteristics through
evolutionary mechanisms but, also, an organismʼs behavior, which is to
say, the organismʼs psychological makeup and the behaviors resulting from
this mental makeup. Evolutionary psychologists seek to understand
psychological mechanisms in terms of the survival and reproductive
functions they might have served over the course of our evolutionary
development. While it is a relatively recent branch of psychology
evolutionary psychology is more than just another new school of
psychological thought. To its proponents it is the foundation upon which all
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How then does the Developmental Liberation model stand up under the
harsh light of evolutionary psychology? To answer this question we need to
make clear some fundamental aspects of the mechanisms of evolution and
to dispel some misconceptions about these mechanisms. The theory of
evolution proposes that all life on earth has evolved according to how well
species have adapted to their environments. Those species that are
sufficiently adapted to their environments survive and those that arenʼt
donʼt. This mechanism is commonly known as natural selection. Contrary to
a popular belief, natural selection does not result in the survival of the fittest
but rather the survival of the fit enough. In the end there is only one
requirement that a species must meet in order to continue to evolve. It must
simply survive. We are talking here about the survival of entire species not
the survival of any particular member of a species. In evolutionary terms,
as repeatedly stated in Star Trek, “The needs of the many outweigh the
needs of the few, or the one.”
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Over the course of the rest of this book these principles will be discussed
and supported. In the interest of providing an uninterrupted reading
experience the sources of the supporting research will be identified within
the text itself rather than in footnotes or an appendix.
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Brain ʻAlchemyʼ
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The word 'alchemy' derives from the Old French alkemie and from the
Arabic al-kimia meaning "the art of transformation". It is in the spirit of
transformation that the term is relevant to the subject of this book. In
Beyond Survival we will be examining the power of awareness to
transform our selves and, as a result, our world.
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When we attempt to solve any problem we are limited by the extent of our
awareness. We cannot entertain solutions of which we are unaware. If, in
our search for a solution to a problem, we are somehow able to gain a
wider perspective than that which we had when the problem was created
we would have options available that were not available to us before. A
widening of our field of awareness, a grander perspective, affords us an
increase in possibilities from which to select an appropriate solution. In the
coming pages we will examine what constitutes a level of awareness
(including its scope of awareness), familiarize ourselves with six ascending
Levels of Awareness, and look at how the brain ʻalchemyʼ that occurs
during a transition from one level of awareness to another can result in a
broader and wiser perspective.
Developmental Stages/Levels
Over the years a number of well founded systems have been formulated
that identify stages in personal development. The chart below reviews how
three of the most widely accepted systems align with one another and with
the Levels of Awareness discussed in this book.
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asserted herein that the level of practical wisdom needed to really address
complex modern issues exceeds that of todayʼs average individual. Robert
Kegan maintains, in a book called In Over Our Heads, that many of our
personal and global problems are due to the fact that we have not
developed to a high enough order of consciousness2 to contend with the
complexities of the issues we now face. The purpose of this book is to
address this dangerous and challenging state of affairs.
Seeking Solutions
“... there are no hard problems, only problems that are hard to a
certain level of intelligence. Move the smallest bit upwards [in
level of intelligence], and some problems will suddenly move from
ʻimpossibleʼ to ʻobviousʼ. Move a substantial degree upwards, and
all of them will become obvious.”
Eliezer S, Yudkowsky
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The only catch is that, although we are talking about a natural process,
making the transitions to higher Levels of Awareness is by no means a fait
accompli. We will point out some common factors that can inhibit
movement between levels. We will also look at some important factors that
can encourage and assist individuals to take on the challenges involved in
making a transition.
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The human brain is a truly wonderful thing. Most of what it does happens
without our knowing so we may not stop often to think about what it means
to have a brain. To lay the foundation for our journey through the Levels of
Awareness it will be helpful to review the evolution of the nervous system. It
will be seen from this evolutionary tour that moving through the Levels of
Awareness tends to recapitulate, on a personal level, the evolutionary
development of our own nervous systems.
This timeline is of a 4.6 billion year old Earth, with (very approximately):
! ▪! 4 billion years of simple cells (prokaryotes),
! ▪! 3 billion years of photosynthesis,
! ▪! 2 billion years of complex cells (eukaryotes),
! ▪! 1 billion years of multicellular life,
! ▪! 600 million years of simple animals,
! ▪! 570 million years of arthropods (ancestors of insects, arachnids
and crustaceans)
! ▪! 550 million years of complex animals
! ▪! 500 million years of fish and proto-amphibians,
! ▪! 475 million years of land plants,
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Our brains and nervous systems have been approximately 4 billion years in
the making. This is an unimaginably long time. But then, given the amazing
complexity of our brains, it makes sense that it must have taken eons to
fashion.
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Around 570 million years ago the first arthropods appeared on Earth.
These organisms were the ancestors of modern insects, spiders, and
crustaceans (crabs and lobsters) The nervous systems of modern
arthropods are not much changed from their early ancestors. Arthropod
nervous systems are composed of a series of ganglia (clumps of nerve
tissue) that are connected to one another by a nerve cord. The head
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So, it has taken evolution around 300 million years to develop in animals a
level of awareness that is approximately comparable to Level 1 awareness
where the animal experiences itself as a body within a separate
environment. Obviously, evolution has a long way to go to achieve the likes
of a human brain capable of multiple Levels of Awareness beyond that of a
reptile
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The R-Complex, or reptilian brain, is made up of the brain stem and the
cerebellum. This region of the brain controls instinctive survival behavior
and processing. It is primarily reactive to direct stimuli as are the brains of
reptiles. This structure makes possible Level 1 Awareness.
The Limbic System is the old mammalian brain. It is the source of emotions
and instincts such as feeding, fighting, fleeing, and sexual behavior. The
primary processing of the limbic system comes down to the avoidance of
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In the 400 million years since the early precursors of nervous systems
developed to the present time, nervous systems have evolved to include
the spectacularly successful brains with which we are now endowed; brains
that allow us to experience the world and to reflect on it in ways that no
other living things on Earth can, brains that can imagine and build
wondrous social structures, fascinating civilizations, beautiful works of art,
rich cultures, impressive architectural structures and incredibly complex
machines.
And all of this impressive capacity has evolved due to a single imperative:
Survive!
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Can We Change?
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Neuroplasticity
For most of this century science held to the tenet that, after an initial period
of rapid development, the nervous systems and brains of human beings
remained in a fixed state. Change in “wiring” was thought to be virtually
impossible in the adult brain. Moreover, it was thought that once brain cells
died they were never replaced so that a decline in brain function was an
inevitable consequence of aging. Fortunately, recent developments in the
field of neuroscience have put the lie to these long held assumptions.
The old idea of a rigidly wired brain has been completely overthrown by the
discovery of neuroplasticity; the capacity of the brain to rewire itself in
response to new learning. Old neural patterns fade while new ones are
formed and strengthened. The story of the discovery of neuroplasticity and
its implications is told in The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal
Triumph From the Frontiers of Brain Science by Norman Doidge. As the
highly regarded neurologist, Oliver Sacks, referring to Doigeʼs book, says,
"Only a few decades ago, scientists considered the brain to be fixed or
"hardwired," and considered most forms of brain damage, therefore, to be
incurable. Dr. Doidge, an eminent psychiatrist and researcher, was struck
by how his patients' own transformations belied this, and set out to explore
the new science of neuroplasticity by interviewing both scientific pioneers in
neuroscience, and patients who have benefited from neuro-rehabilitation.
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Here he describes in fascinating personal narratives how the brain, far from
being fixed, has remarkable powers of changing its own structure and
compensating for even the most challenging neurological conditions.
Doidge's book is a remarkable and hopeful portrait of the endless
adaptability of the human brain."
A second myth concerning the aging of brains is that when a brain cell dies
we are down a brain cell for the rest of our lives. Again, recent discoveries
have found this to be just false. There is an area in the brain called the
hippocampus which is capable of generating generic neurons. The process
is known as neurogenesis. These brain cells are produced in response to
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intense neural activity anywhere in the brain. The new cells migrate to the
site of neural activity where they become part of the active neural network.
In laboratories the brain masses of mice have been seen to increase as a
result of the increase in brain cells produced in this way.
Daniel Tammet, author of Embracing the Wide Sky: A Tour Across the
Horizons of the Mind, believes these recent discoveries have tremendous
implications for us all.
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Mindsets
Whether you think you can change or not you are probably right. Your
mindset will determine, to a large extent, the possibilities you are willing to
entertain. Some people believe that we are born with certain talents and
capacities (such as intelligence) and that we should concentrate our efforts
on making the most of the hands we have been dealt rather than beating
our heads against the proverbial wall in the vain hope of outsmarting our
destinies. On the other hand, there are those who like to think that nothing
is preordained and that anything is possible if we just believe we can make
it happen.
The other mindset that Dweck identifies is the “growth” mindset. People
with this mindset see themselves and their lives as amenable to choices
and effort. They are not wishful thinkers like those I described above who
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A growth mindset provides the setting and conscious thinking provides the
tool for personal change but neither provide the means. If we are to truly be
capable of change over the course of our lifetimes there must be some
capacity by which our brains can restructure themselves in ways that allow
our thinking systems, particularly the deliberate thinking system, to improve
with time. In other words, it must be possible to physically change the
structure and composition of our brains if psychological growth is to occur.
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a + b + c = Psychological Growth
As we have seen, it was believed, until quite recently, that brains were
wired early in life and thereafter remained largely unchanged and
unchangeable. In addition, it was held that if a brain cell died it was not
replaced. Brains just slowly decayed over a lifetime. Quite simply, variable
“c” in the above equation was not believed to exist. However, the ideas of
fixed wiring and inevitable brain decay are now known to be mistaken. New
brain cells are produced in response to the flexing of our neural muscles
during focused learning. These cells migrate to areas of elevated brain
activity to strengthen and build neural networks as needed. Not only can
our brains change, they are constantly changing through the mechanism of
neuroplasticity.
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Why is it then that developmental psychologists find that most people reach
a personal peak in their mental development? How is the tendency of the
brain to change itself defeated at some point in our maturation? We know
that the capacity for neuroplasticity does not just die out. Research shows
that this capacity for change endures into old age. According to our formula
for psychological growth there are two other major factors influencing the
process of growth. Perhaps as we age we lose faith in the growth mindset.
This could happen if we are repeatedly thwarted in achieving our goals or if
we lack the energy required to pursue more ambitious plans. If our growth
mindset is diminished so too might our willingness to engage in deliberate
thinking wane. We may slip into reflexive thought habits if we come to
perceive them as a simpler mode of being.
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again since this is typically a time of life with fewer responsibilities. A retired
60 year old woman with a comfortable pension and no children living at
home has considerably more flexibility in her daily life than when she was a
busy career woman with a husband and three energetic children at home
all making demands on her time and energy.
A Progression of Truth
However, we will see that mere intellectual awareness of the Levels of
Awareness is not enough. Each level of awareness requires us to
experience its truth in a sequence of increasingly meaningful ways. First,
we must be aware of a levelʼs properties conceptually (conceptual truth).
We need to know a level intellectually as a logical and coherent possibility.
Second, we must know the truth of the level experientially (experiential
truth). We must live it and feel its consequences. Finally, we must know it
as truth because our experience has taught us to trust in its validity
(existential truth).
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Where the truths that are realized at each level of awareness are
concerned we will not be simply accepting conceptual truths. We will be
relying on existential truths hammered out through persistent and
consistent personal experience. After all, if you do not experience these
truths as being reliably consistent with your own experience they will have
no validity to you and will, therefore, be incapable of contributing to your
quest for practical wisdom.
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A Picture of Hope
If we are to find solutions to problems created out of an ignorance that
exists at one level of awareness we are required to make a transition to a
higher level of awareness. An ability to grow and change is essential to
making such a transition. Without a capacity to truly change we would be
doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past over and over again. Our
ignorance would prevent us from ever moving beyond our problems. But
we have seen that change, the transmutation of ignorance into wisdom, is
possible and that what it requires is available to us. We have the capacities
(awareness of mindset, deliberate thinking, and neuroplasticity) necessary
to move upward through the Levels of Awareness and to achieve
perspectives broad enough to offer us views of possible solutions to the
issues we face both as individuals and as members of a global community.
Herein lies the hope of a better world.
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The Levels of Awareness: An Introduction
“As we live, we grow and our beliefs change. They must change.
So I think we should live with this constant discovery. We should
be open to this adventure in heightened awareness of living.”
Martin Buber
“Everyone takes the limits of his own vision for the limits of the
world.”
Arthur Schopenhauer
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Caveats
In spite of the fact that the Levels of Awareness are chronologically
arranged there is no reason for being overly concerned with the exact ages
corresponding to each level. Individuals develop at different rates and,
across cultures, different stages may occur at different times depending on
social traditions and cultural beliefs. Whenever we attempt to describe any
aspect of human nature things are bound to get a bit messy. We should,
therefore, not attempt to create precise pigeon holes into which we might
then force the wonderfully complex subjects of our investigation: ourselves.
If nothing else, an encounter with Developmental Liberation should
illuminate the incredible depth and breadth of human diversity. The
descriptions of the Levels of Awareness given in this and later chapters are
necessarily stereotypical in that they present the most prominent and
distinctive characteristics of the levels.
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What Is Awareness?
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Levels of Ignorance
A new form of self is created at each level of awareness. This new self has
its own unconscious foundation in the form of a survival drive that is hidden
from awareness. This unconscious foundation of the new self is a form of
ignorance. As awareness and freedom evolve they are accompanied at
each progressive level, by the birth of a new level-specific form of
ignorance. The form of a given levelʼs ignorance is determined by the
survival drive that is predominant at the level and it influences, along with
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Gaining Wisdom
We do not receive wisdom, we must discover it for ourselves, after
a journey through the wilderness, which no one can make for us,
which no one can spare us, for our wisdom is the point of view
from which we come at last to regard the world.
Marcel Proust
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The Wisdom Paradox: How Your Mind Can Grow Stronger as Your Brain
Grows Older by neuropsychologist, Elkhonon Goldberg supports Aristotleʼs
suspicion with a proposal based on recent findings in the mind sciences.
Goldberg asserts that as we mature our brains get better at pattern
recognition. This is due to the fact as we go through life we inevitably build
an increasingly massive store of ʻgeneric memoriesʼ, memories of patterns
related to what we have experienced. This storehouse of generic memories
makes it possible to make better decisions and to know what needs to be
done. Thus the potential for an individual to manifest practical wisdom in
any given situation tends to increase with age.
If Aristotle and Goldberg are correct it may turn out that practical wisdom is
more commonly found in the mature than in the young. Perhaps the
stereotypical wise old man or woman has a basis in fact. There is a
correspondence between this view and the contentions related to the
developmental evolution of practical wisdom in individuals put forth in this
book.
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It is the rarity of practical wisdom, the reasons for this rarity, and what might
be done to encourage an increase in its occurrence that is the subject of
this book. It is my position that such an increase is not only desirable but
that it is necessary to the long term resolution of the most pressing issues
of our times. One has only to look at the acts of terrorism, the examples of
blatant disregard for human rights, increases in violent crimes, and other
instances of intolerance to understand that if ever we were in need of
practical wisdom it is now.
Despite its rarity and despite the obstacles standing in the way of its
realization I believe that it is possible to achieve a level of practical wisdom
sufficient to serve as a basis for dealing with our personal and global
challenges. The quest for practical wisdom is both a personal one and one
that we must share if we are to meet the challenges facing us in todayʼs
world. But while the quest must be a shared initiative it can only be
achieved on a person-by-person basis. Practical wisdom is a individual
responsibility. We must each seek to achieve it as a personal commitment.
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diligence, follow to arrive at our goal. The ʻalchemyʼ of the brain makes
practical wisdom an achievable, though not guaranteed, solution.
The premise of this book is that many of our personal and global problems
have been created out of an insufficient level of awareness. Developmental
psychologists have identified stages of development that individuals go
through as they mature. Research shows that most of us never reach the
upper developmental levels. Beyond Survival contends that in order to
effectively deal with the complex challenges we are now facing
perspectives gained at these higher levels are essential.
Getting Acquainted
Becoming familiar with the Levels of Awareness and their sources in
ignorance (unconscious survival drives) is a useful pursuit in its own right.
As we are exposed to the framework we gain a wider perspective on our
lives and the lives of those with whom we interact. As the following chart
shows each level of awareness is accompanied by a particular form of self
that is created by the survival drive of the level.
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Level 2 - Needy Self: At this level a self separate from its body
and environment emerges. Although this is a psychological
separation the self is soon felt to be physically separated from the
rest of the world giving rise to a plethora of psychological issues
engendered by this seemingly inconsequential assumption.
(Although we continue to think of ourselves as physically
separated from our environment as we progress through the
Levels of Awareness we will eventually discuss the possibility that
this is a significant and fundamental error. However, we will also
come to see that if this is indeed a mistake it is a necessary
mistake with a wisdom of its own that paves the way for us to
proceed to higher Levels of Awareness and increasing liberation
from suffering.)
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You are now compared to others and you are measured by your
status. The driving force at this stage is achieving comparative
advantages over others. Often the real motive is hidden or
disguised, even from the self, but it is, nonetheless, usually in
effect. The Independent Self is driven by a need for personal
power and recognition.
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6 NA oneness oneness NA NA
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Lifeʼs transformations have typically been hard won over extended periods
of time. But this is no longer necessarily the case.
Relief In Sight
From what has been said so far it might be concluded that there will be no
relief from suffering until the final level of awareness is reached and that
this goal is just too high a mountain to climb. While it is true that only with
the acquisition of the highest level of awareness will suffering end
completely (if this is actually possible) simply embarking on the path to
practical wisdom with serious intent can deliver immediate dividends. While
the complete cessation of all suffering is, unquestionably, a desirable
outcome it is more realistic (and less overwhelming) to focus on the
eminently achievable outcome of alleviating suffering gradually and thereby
continuously improving oneʼs quality of life at each step along the way.
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At this point you may want to skip ahead for a first look at the content of
Section 6. The personal growth systems presented there should make
sense on their own. However, familiarity with the rest of the material in this
book will provide valuable context for each of the systems. Having a richer
context within which to understand the systems should enhance the
potential for an individual to find personal relevance within the concepts
and methods of any of the systems and to more fully comprehend the
significance of the information and practices presented.
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Section 3: Transitions
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3 Membership
4 Individuality
6 NA
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Progressive Liberation
The pentagon on the far left represents the self at Level 1 where all 5
drives (represented by the numerals 1 to 5) are unconscious. In the Level 2
pentagon the first of the unconscious survival drives has been made
conscious (the white triangle). As an individual progresses through the
Levels of Awareness more and more of the unconscious foundations of the
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self are brought into awareness until, at Level 6, all unconscious survival
drives have been exposed in awareness. For example, in the diagram
above we see that the drive for membership is unconscious at Level 3 but
is exposed in awareness at Level 4. The drive for membership has gone
from being a form of ignorance, when it was an unconscious survival drive
at level 3, to a possible component of wisdom once it has been brought into
the light of awareness at level 4.
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1 Awareness of body as 1 1
separate from the
environment
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exercise this capacity. There may be forces at work in various areas of his
life that discourage the expression of wisdom.
3This phenomenon is presented and convincingly supported in Robert Keganʼs The Evolving Self:
Problem and Process in Human Development
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Increased Perspective
An important aspect of Developmental Liberation is that the
movement from each level to the next represents a further degree
of separation of the individualʼs self from its original
embeddedness in the environment. The first separation is the
making of a distinction between the body and its environment.
Next the body becomes an object of awareness as a separation is
made between the self and the body of which this self is now
aware. The self is its desires, needs, and interests and it has a
body in an environment. This distancing of the self from its
environment includes a broadening of perspective which, in turn,
allows the individual a more complete view of her place in the
world, an increase in perspective.
Increased Freedom
As we move up through the Levels of Awareness we acquire ever-
increasing levels of freedom. Newborns (Level 0) have no such
freedom. They are completely embedded in and, therefore,
dependent upon the environment. For them there are only
automatic stimulus and response interactions with the
environment in which they are embedded. Infants at Level 1 have
won a level of freedom by virtue of the fact that they no longer
consist entirely of being continuous with their environment but
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Transitional Realizations
Central to each transition from one level of awareness to another is a
specific realization. I am using realization in a very literal way here, in the
sense of “making real”. At each transition individuals realize something that
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a + b + c = Psychological Growth
a + b + c --> w
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In this formula the “w” stands for wisdom and the “-->” refers to the process
of transmutation where transmutation is understood to be the conversion of
ignorance (unconscious survival drive) into wisdom (awareness resulting in
more freedom and greater perspective).
Put into words, the formula would sound something like this:
While our formula for the ʻalchemyʼ of the brain elucidates a process it does
not indicate how that process is set in motion. What is it that initiates the
transmutation of ignorance into wisdom? What is the catalyst for this
process?
There are two major forces that can act separately or in concert to effect a
transition from one level of awareness to another. As we have seen there is
a kind of ignorance at every level of awareness. A levelʼs ignorance
contains within it the seeds of potential problems that can arise out of that
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transient
mild severe
Intensity of Suffering
!
In some cases a relatively low intensity of suffering that persists over an
extended period of time may precipitate a transition from a lower level of
awareness to higher one. Conversely, highly intense suffering may initiate
a transition after persisting over a relatively short period of time. In terms of
inducing a transition from one level of awareness to another the optimum
condition is a state of intense suffering that persists over a long time. This
dynamic serves to give a measure of meaning to suffering. As a catalyst to
the transmutation of ignorance into wisdom, suffering has an important role
to play in our quest for practical wisdom. Metaphorically, it can be said that
the drive of ignorance (unconscious survival drives) force us to seek
greater awareness by driving us to the brink.
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in this book will serve to minimize both the intensity and duration of
suffering required to inspire the onset of the transitional process. In
addition, as we will soon discover, there is another factor that can initiate a
transition that can operate independently of suffering.
The “clinging” link in this chain refers to the clinging attached to the
fulfillment of a desire. Clinging occurs due to a belief that satisfying a need
will bring happiness. For example, if I am at the third level of awareness I
may have a desire to be popular among my peer group. Clinging to the
belief that becoming popular will make me happy may result in suffering if I
fail to achieve this goal. It may even ultimately result in suffering if I
succeed in becoming popular. If popularity is found to be ineffective in
bringing me lasting happiness another kind of suffering could result. If
having achieved a high level of popularity I do not feel the fulfillment I
expected or if there are serious negative aspects to popularity that I hadnʼt
counted on I am likely to experience intense disappointment coupled with a
feeling of hopelessness since I have not, to this point, imagined any other
means of finding success. In the end clinging to any specific outcome is a
potential source of suffering.
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5 Unity
6 None
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But wait. Isnʼt being motivated by inspiration just another form of clinging to
an outcome? Might it not be just a thinly veiled source of suffering? The
answer is that it depends.
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Transition Stages
Although everyone will go through transitions that have been initiated by
suffering in a very unique and personal way, certain typical stages within
transitions can be surmised.
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As she gradually claws her way up through a fog of pain killers and sedatives
Caroline realizes it has happened again. As consciousness returns so do the
aches and pains. She knows where she is now. She is in the hospital and it is not
the first time. “This has got to stop,” she thinks to herself. But she has said this
before, many times. Each time she thinks things will be different. “We will work this
out,” Caroline thinks. “I know Brad really loves me and he will not do this again
when he sees how badly he hurt me this time.” Over the years Caroline has tried
everything she can think of to improve the situation. She has tried especially hard
to avoid making Brad angry. It is only when he is angry that he hits her. If she were
a better wife he would not have any reason to lose his temper with her.
But somewhere in the back of her mind Caroline knows that nothing will ever
change. No matter how perfect she is, no matter how hard she tries, something
always goes wrong. It is all so hopeless. “Iʼm trapped in this marriage,” she tells
herself. “But I canʼt leave. How would I live? And what about the kids? How would
I feed my children?” But she has gone through all this before and it has only ever
made her feel even more helpless. Better to accept her fate and give it one more
try.
The trouble is this time itʼs different. Every time she even thinks about going back
home she begins to shake uncontrollably. Caroline is at the breaking point. She
canʼt go back home and she canʼt leave home either. As she lies in her hospital
bed and weeps a nurse approaches and offers her a tissue. “Thank you,” Caroline
says quietly as she wipes tears from her eyes.
“I remember you,” the nurse says. “You were in here about a year ago.”
“Yes,” answers Caroline, her voice trembling slightly.
Neither woman speaks for a moment and then the nurse asks Caroline, “Is there
anything I can do to help?” Caroline realizes that, although the woman hasnʼt
spoken of it, the nurse must know something of what she is going through.
Fearing Bradʼs terrible retribution, should he ever find out that Caroline had
spoken to anyone, she has always steadfastly refused to talk to anyone about her
situation. Until now. With no where to turn and no one else to turn to she breaks
down and tells the nurse her sad story.
The nurse listens without interrupting as Carolineʼs story comes pouring out as if it
had been dammed up just waiting to be released. When, at last, Caroline finishes
her outpouring the nurse responds, “Iʼm so sorry.” After a few welcome moments
of silence she continues, “Would you be willing to accept help with your problem?”
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Carolineʼs story illustrates a problem that might occur in the life of a person
at the third level of awareness. This is the level of membership and
belonging. Marriage is an institution that can satisfy the drive to belong and
to be accepted. Family life is a powerful means of fulfillment to our drive for
membership. The problem for Caroline occurred when her natural desire
for acceptance and belonging turned out to involve a toxic relationship.
Over the course of her marriage Caroline tried with mounting desperation
to solve her problem. However, her attempted solutions were restricted to
options allowed by her level 3 awareness. Only when she realized that she
had come to the end of her ability to carry on within her existing patterns of
behavior did she finally entertain a course of action that would take her
outside her level 3 perspective. For Caroline, reaching beyond the limits of
her familial relationships constituted a step beyond her level 3 awareness.
At the point in the story where Caroline despairs that she is trapped in her
marriage she is experiencing the first stage of transition: disillusionment.
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When Caroline reflected on all of the things she had done in attempting to
resolve her situation she was going through the second stage of transition:
assessment.
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ignorance
desire contact
feeling
As shown above, the process arises out of ignorance. Recall that following
a transition to a new level of awareness a new unconscious survival drive
takes precedence. This unconscious survival drive constitutes the level-
specific ignorance for that level of awareness. Moving clockwise the next
link in the chain is action (mental formations). This is mental activity that is
generated by the unconscious survival drive (ignorance) of the level. Next
is consciousness. In terms of Developmental Liberation terminology this
link corresponds to the awareness at a given level. Each level of
awareness has its own unique brand of consciousness based on the
separate self that exists at that level and that is limited by that selfʼs
perspective and degree of freedom. This level-specific brand of
discriminatory consciousness/awareness in turn determines how we see
objects in our world. Objects are identified (named) by the form of their
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Those objects with high positive value become objects of craving or desire.
We then want to possess these objects and will set about grasping
(clinging to the outcome of possessing the objects) and taking them into
our possession thus forming a personal attachment to the object. At this
point an object comes into existence in the sense that it has acquired
personal significance to its owner and is no longer simply part of the more
neutral background environment. At the same time the owner is born as a
new level-specific self, a self that identifies itself with its possessions and
who has desires for other valued objects and goals commensurate with its
level of awareness.
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It is important to note that the entire twelvefold chain springs into existence
at each level of awareness out of a form of ignorance. Ignorance is the
consequence of a lack of understanding or awareness. It is the position of
Developmental Liberation that it is the existence and/or degree of influence
of unconscious survival instincts that are not understood precisely because
they are not available for consideration in conscious awareness.5 The
particular form of ignorance (unconscious survival drive) at each level
populates the links in the twelvefold chain according to its inherent blind
imperatives. The following illustrates how this might manifest itself at level 3
and level 4 awareness within a particular situation.
Level 3 Level 4
5In Buddhist terms the ignorance in The Twelvefold Chain refers to an ignorance of the
Four Noble Truths. See Appendix II: Buddhism and The “Alchemy” of The Brain
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Level 3 Level 4
The above chart lays out how a particular situation may be experienced by
individuals at level 3 and level 4 awareness. What should be remembered
is that all situations are experienced according the the level of awareness
of the individual. In a very real sense an individual experiencing life through
the lens of level 3 awareness is living in a different world than someone
viewing life through the perspective of level 4 awareness.6 Aspects of a
personʼs life such as beliefs, opinions, motivation, ideas about truth,
morality, meaning, responsibility, success, and personal identity are all
determined to a significant extent by the level of awareness inhabited by
that person. In particular, the survival drive operational at a given level of
6 A possible bridge between the Developmental Liberation model and Buddhist teaching
is that the idea of reincarnation (a repeating cycle of birth and death) can be viewed as
a metaphor for the repeated unfolding of the twelvefold chain of dependent origination
as each new form of self is “born” at each level of awareness.
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awareness is, in effect, running the individualʼs life from the unexplored
depths of the subconscious mind (so long as that survival drive remains
outside of the individualʼs conscious awareness).
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Section 4: The Levels of Awareness
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In this section we will take a closer look at each level of awareness. In the
process we will examine some strengths and weaknesses as well as some
key components of each level. We will also look at several common
examples of levels 3, 4, and 5 found in the world today. Finally, we will
speculate on the possible nature of level 6 awareness.
Melanie lies on a soft knitted blanket on the floor. She waves her arms aimlessly
and kicks her legs sporadically. Little Melanie is only 5 days old. She has no
sense of self. Her experience is one of embedded continuity with her
environment. Her behavior is not intentional. She acts in response to innate
reflexes and intrinsic instincts for survival. However, over time Melanie begins to
make a fundamental distinction, a distinction that will change everything. She
begins to separate her body from the environment in which it exists. Eventually,
those tiny, pink, chubby sausages that come and go in her visual field will
become part of her growing awareness of a body that is somehow separate from
the womb of the world that surrounds her.
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Jordy is having a full-blown tantrum. He is upset because his mother wants him
to put on his new blue jacket but Jordy isnʼt having any of it. He wants to wear
the green one. His mother reflects longingly that when he was an infant (level 1
awareness) Jordy didnʼt fight her on issues of fashion. But those days are gone
forever. Jordy has made the transition from level 1 awareness to level 2
awareness and he is now driven by personal wants and desires as well as his
basic needs. He is now acquiring his own individual set of preferences that
accompany the unconscious survival drive for security and safety found at the
second level of awareness.
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As recently as a year ago it would have repulsed them both but now Daniel and
Jessica are happily holding hands while they wait for the school bus. Feeling
only slightly uncomfortable they laugh and joke with the friends that surround
them, some of whom are similarly paired up. Clearly, a change has recently
come over Jessica and Daniel. Intimate and tight knit relationships with
members of their peer group have taken on an unprecedented importance in
their lives.
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No Guarantees
Most of us reach at least the third Level of Awareness within our lifetimes
and most often do so without ever realizing that we have even made the
necessary transitions between levels. The transitions, while inevitably
uncomfortable, occurred without being recognized for what they were. After
Level 3 things are not so automatic. Whether you ever progress beyond
this level depends on many factors not the least of which is your individual
experiential learning, which in turn is heavily influenced by your family, your
culture, your socioeconomic standards, your educational opportunities; in
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short, the world in which you grow up. If some or all of these environmental
factors inhibit the development of your awareness you may not evolve
beyond the intermediate point of view found at level 3. Whether this is a
problem or not will often be determined by your circumstances. If you live in
a simple or primitive culture the level 3 imperative for connections and
belonging may be very appropriate and sufficient. On the other hand, being
prevented from moving beyond level 3 could be a serious drawback when
living in a modern complex society.
In addition to the social and cultural factors that may inhibit an individualʼs
passage through the Levels of Awareness is the built-in resistance to
change found in all individuals. We all resist change and for very good
reasons. Life would be chaotic and unlivable without a certain degree of
psychological stability. Therefore, our evolution has resulted in the creation
of certain strategies of resilience that allow us to avoid constant and
gratuitous reconfigurations of ourselves. An unfortunate downside of these
very necessary strategies is that they may result in resistance to the
generally healthy changes involved in progressing from one level of
awareness to the next.
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makes all learning and, therefore, all subsequent level specific separations
and transitions between levels possible.
In the chapters that follow we will explore in some detail Levels 3, 4, 5 and
6 (and the transitions between them) as these levels are most pertinent to
issues we are facing in the world today. Also, importantly, the transitions
between them do not necessarily proceed automatically.
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Amir Javid is turning his life around. Until recently Amir was a member of a
gang in Vancouver, British Columbia. Vancouver has become a hotbed of
criminal gang activity. So far this year (2009) there have been reports in the
news of gang violence in Vancouver on a disturbingly regular basis. Law
enforcement agencies and political groups are struggling to come to grips with
this untenable situation. While many facets of gang activities are clouded in
secrecy the appeal of gang membership is well documented by sociologists
and freely admitted to by gang members. Among other considerations such as
gaining recognition and the acquisition of wealth, joining a gang addresses key
aspects of the drive for membership found at level 3 awareness.
When asked what attracted him to the gang lifestyle Amir mentioned, among
other things, brotherhood. Amir wanted to feel like he belonged somewhere.
This resonates with the desire of level 3 individuals to pursue identities defined
by group relationships. A gang provides a structured and relatively
uncomplicated society. According to Amir this society met his needs more
immediately and completely than the larger and vastly more complex society in
which he had been living. In addition to an identity defined by relationships and
values within the gang level 3 individuals can also achieve a sense of
recognition through gang membership. As Amir puts it, “I just wanted to be
heard. Put a gun in my hand and I got some attention.” It is usually very
important to level 3 individuals that they be recognized and respected by their
peers.
Amir Javid is no longer in a gang. He now spends his time working to persuade
others to break with their gang involvements. This undertaking is not without its
own risks. As Katie Mercer says in an article posted on canada.com, “Every
morning Javid wakes up, straps on his vest and hits the streets in the
Downtown Eastside, seeking out gang members who are at their most
vulnerable — guys who have just joined, been charged or done time.”
Fortunately for him and for those he seeks to help, Amir Javid is making a
courageous transition from level 3 to level 4 awareness where the unconscious
survival drives of level 3 are becoming objects in his awareness that he can
now take into consideration in his efforts to liberate other gang members from
their level 3 imperatives. Amir says he now intends to live a life of contribution
to his community. This intention indicates a measure level 5 awareness is also
at work.
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Level 3 Awareness
At level 2 a separate self driven by desires, wants and needs related to
safety and security emerged. At Level 3 no longer is a person simply a
separate self but now she is an individual within a social grouping. The self
comes to be defined by relationships to others. No more is there an
existence for the self that is completely independent of its relationships with
other selves. Even though, in the early stages of this level, the tendency is
often to see others as objects rather than as selves in their own rights,
these others cannot be denied their existence. If nothing else, others are
understood to be resources in the individualʼs ongoing attempts to satisfy
her needs, wants and desires. They must be taken into account when
making choices and decisions. In closer relationships there is usually an
increase in the likelihood that both parties in the relationship will be
understood by the other to be actual selves rather than objects.
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with its related desires are now in awareness and, as such, are available
for consideration by the individual when making choices.
Truth
Truth at Level 3 is determined by consensus within the individualʼs
group. If “everyone” thinks itʼs true then it is. With a deep concern for
belonging comes a tendency to defer to the group so as not to be
ostracized.
Desires
With the onset of puberty that is commensurate with level 3 awareness
the powerful drive for procreation comes into play. In addition, strong
desires for belonging and connection drive the level 3 individual.
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Meaning
Individuals at level 3 find meaning in relationships and in forming
bonds with others. Situations and actions that enhance the formation
and strengthening of relationships and group membership are
meaningful. Situations that are perceived to have the potential to
threaten relationships also are laden with meaning.
Morality
For an individual at level 3 equality based on comparison with others is
an overriding concern. The clarion cry of individuals at this level is, “Itʼs
not fair!” when what they may really mean is that its not equal or the
same. Relevant situational factors may be ignored in favor of focusing
on what individuals believe should be the same.
Success
Success at level 3 awareness is measured in terms of acceptance and
popularity.
Problems
The drive to belong has several possible problem areas. If people at
this level cannot find satisfying membership in mainstream groupings
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The research shows that level 3 awareness is the level where a large
proportion of the population of the world resides. When we look at the world
for evidence of this we find it everywhere.
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Studies have shown that slightly more than one fifth of those who
play MMORPGs prefer socializing online to doing so in real life.
Males in particular reported finding it easier to converse online
than offline. For individuals at level 3 awareness online socializing
can provide much desired opportunities to make connections in
addition to those found in their offline lives. Of course, there is
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and that being a sports fan is a satisfying way of meeting that need.
Also, when faced with the enormous numbers of people worldwide
who regularly come together in this way we see unmistakable
evidence that level 3 awareness is ubiquitous throughout the world.
“We accept the verdict of the past until the need for change cries
out loudly enough to force upon us a choice between the comforts
of further inertia and the irksomeness of action.”
Judge Learned Hand
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From the perspective of level 3 awareness there is no way out. The self is
trapped in a membership mindset. What has worked in the past is no
longer providing solutions. What is needed is a liberation of the constraints
inherent in membership; that is, being defined by others and the drive to
belong. A transformation of self is needed whereby the self can see the
components of membership objectively. The unconscious components of
the self as member need to be converted to conscious objects of
awareness. As noted earlier, this requires a the creation of a self with the
wider perspective afforded by a higher level of awareness. The question is
how is the new self formed and how can the process of its formation be
facilitated? The Stages of Transition from Level 3 to Level 4 outline this
process.
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For a time he was the third largest newspaper magnate in the world. In July of
2007 Conrad Black was convicted and sentenced to serve 78 months in a United
States federal prison. A report to the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission by the Hollinger Institute accused Black of running a “corporate
kleptocracy” and there must have been some basis for the accusation because
Black was ordered to pay Hollinger 6.1 million dollars.
Given that Conrad Black was a man of monumental wealth the question is “why”.
Why would a man already rolling in money bother to engage in diverting funds
from the company of which he was the CEO for his personal benefit? What
compelled Black to break the law in the pursuit of even more wealth?
What seems an irrational act may, however, make some sense if we are dealing
with an individual at the fourth level of awareness. Perhaps the level 4 imperative
for status was at work here. Conrad Black was born into a relatively wealthy
family wherein he likely acquired a belief in wealth as the measure of a man. His
ostentatious lifestyle later in life is well documented. To a man in Blackʼs position
status would be measured not against those of moderate means but against
those of substantial means. Status to Black would be relative to his position within
the wealthiest people in the world. Due to the elevated level of competition for
status in this rarefied atmosphere it is unlikely that any amount of money would
ever be enough. It seems reasonable to assume that the dynamic of relative
status may have played a part in Blackʼs decision to appropriate the funds from
Hollinger Institute that led to his downfall.
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Level 4 Awareness
Recall that at Level 3 individuals are driven by powerful drives to connect,
to be included, to be accepted, to experience membership. By virtue of the
transmutation that occurs in the transition from level 3 to level 4 awareness
individuals become conscious of the basic human need to belong and,
consequently, are no longer unconsciously driven by it. Once again,
freedom has evolved by means of a further removal of the self from the
environment. The concern of individuals now becomes their relative status
within the groups to which they belong and within society as a whole. In the
pursuit of status concerns about power come to the fore. Personal ambition
is a hallmark of level 4 awareness.
“The human race is the most stupid and unfair kind of race. A lot
of the runners don't even get decent sneakers or clean drinking
water. Some runners are born with a massive head start, every
possible help along the way and still the referees seem to be on
their side. It's not surprising a lot of people have given up
competing altogether and gone to sit in the grandstand, eat junk
and shout abuse. What the human race needs is more streakers.”
Bansky
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Anxiety, Amanda Smith remarks, “... what other people think of us, and
whether we can be judged a success or a failure in the eyes of the world,
are widespread anxieties that generally go unacknowledged and
unexamined.”
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Apophenia
Our brains are patterning machines and are constantly seeking to
make sense of the world through the discovery of patterns.
Because it is so crucial to survival it has evolved to work at an
amazing speed. In order for the process of pattern recognition to
occur virtually instantaneously, our brains have evolved the ability
to make connections with very little information. This comes at a
price. Quick connections may be inaccurate or unfounded. The
downside of speedy pattern recognition is seeing patterns or
connections where no real basis for them exists. The scientific
term for this is apophenia and it is rampant. Our brains attempt to
“join the dots” or make connections rapidly in order to make sense
out of what is continually occurring in the present moment. We
may not have the luxury of time needed for careful deliberation in
the midst of an emergency situation so we are hardwired to jump
to conclusions. As necessary as this is, if we are not vigilant we
will draw some very dubious conclusions and hold them to be true.
Thus, the very nature of the acquisition of knowledge may serve to
fill our brains with some rather questionable content.
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Truth
At Level 4 relative truth is believed to be absolute. “Gold is
valuable.” is a self-evident truth to an individual with Level 4
Awareness. Social norms and values are absorbed and adopted
without question. Likewise the importance of status is a given. The
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Desires
Status drives individuals with Level 4 Awareness. Level 4
individuals are motivated by the possibility of personal gain
relative to others. This drive stems from their unconscious
conditioning which, in turn, stems from their personal histories.
These personal histories inevitably involve some form of social
conditioning which, by definition, includes the inculcation of the
prevalent cultureʼs dominant mores and norms, not the least of
which is a definition of success.
Behavior
Advantages are sought with a view to improving an individualʼs
ranking within every area of her life. Opportunities are sought for
enhancing the individualʼs relative position in the hierarchies within
the groups to which she belongs. Competition is a natural
behavior for Level 4 individuals. The pursuit of power through
wealth, celebrity, and admiration is common.
Meaning
For the Level 4 individual meaning is determined by the possible
relative personal advantage or disadvantage regarding his status
in a given context. People at this Level Of Awareness are attracted
to situations that hold the potential for personal advancement
within a hierarchy.
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Morality
Questions of right and wrong are resolved by individuals by
applying rules and/or laws to the situation. Judgements are made
using absolute criteria. “Killing is bad.” The absolute criteria often
used are the laws of the land, cultural beliefs, and traditional
practices. While any of these criteria may be challenged they are
usually challenged on the basis of competing absolute criteria
rather than a fundamental questioning of the criteria themselves.
This is a morality that is seen to be equivalent to justice.
Success
Success at level 4 awareness is measured in terms of relative status,
the importance and recognition of the individual self.
Problems
The Flip Side of Ambition
When the drive to achieve status is taken too far blind ambition
enters the picture. Blind ambition can lead people to trample on
the rights of others in the interest of personal advancement.
Behavior may become callus and even ruthless in the obsessive
pursuit of advantage over others. Also, the flip side of ambition,
jealousy, may become problematic when rivalries become too
intense. In addition, when combined with Level 3 membership
imperatives groups may engage in unhealthy practices when the
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Depression
In recent times there has been an huge increase in the incidence
of depression in Western societies. In these societies the
imperatives found at level 4 awareness of status and individual
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The Secret and its message of the Law of Attraction are far from
harmless. Countless good people continue to be duped by this
pipe dream and many will likely suffer because of it. Believing in
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In a book called The Ego Boom: Why the World Really Does
Revolve Around You authors Steve Maich and Lianne George
outline many ways that the drive for individuality has permeated
our Western society. In the bookʼs product description we find:
“The unifying theme has been the same: there is nothing more
vital than the power to choose—and to express oneself through
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- Politics: While at the level 3 level people may join political parties to
connect with others, level 4 drives lead them to seek improved status
within the party power hierarchy.
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“All of the past is but the beginning of the beginning; all that the
human mind has accomplished is but the dream before the
awakening.”
H.G. Wells
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driven away others and alienated yourself. Your intolerance for the beliefs,
values, and opinions of others may prove to be a further source of isolation.
You may have sacrificed meaningful relationships in order to pursue your
status related goals. It may turn out to be true that it is lonely at the top and
that the closer you get to the top the lonelier it gets.
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Notice that only the fourth of these factors is under the direct
control of the individual. If Gladwell is correct it makes sense that
some at the fourth level of awareness may find the quest for
status through wealth or celebrity, the currently prevailing
definitions of success, to be less than satisfying.
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Craig soon felt the need to know more. In the company of a chaperone he set out
on a seven week journey. He visited Bangkok, Calcutta, Karachi, and other cities.
Free the Children is written as a travelogue. It chronicles Craigʼs awakening to
issues of injustice and poverty as well as the incredible diversity and heart rending
beauty of the world. It is an inspiring story of a boyʼs courageous dedication to
make his world a better place.
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Level 5 Awareness
Attainment of Level 5 Awareness is relatively rare. Because of this some of
the research conclusions tend to be tentative in nature. This is the level of a
new order of self-observation. At this level individuals become aware of
their personal conditioning. They are now able to see the relative nature of
beliefs and assumptions that they previously held to be absolute. They can
observe their own conditioning at work as it biases their day-to-day choices
and decisions and thereby mitigate any inappropriate influences.
A Level of Tolerance
Level 5 Awareness facilitates the emergence of tolerance in individuals.
From the level 5 perspective, others are understood to be selves in their
own right with valid thoughts and feelings. This deep-felt respect for others
is the foundation for tolerance, empathy, and compassion. All aspects
(truth, drive, behavior, meaning, morality, and perspective) of level 5
awareness support compassionate tolerance and respect.
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Jumping to Conclusions
My dog, Shelby, always knows when we are going
somewhere. She gets all wiggly and her tail starts
wagging furiously. She sticks very close to my wife and
me lest she be left behind. Like us, dogs learn to
recognize signs. Shelby has learned that when we
pack a suitcase or even turn off the TV there is a very good chance that we
will be going somewhere. She is employing pattern recognition and making
predictions based on the patterns she perceives.
But there is a trade-off for speed. In order for the process of pattern
recognition to occur virtually instantaneously, our brains have evolved the
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ability to make connections with very little information. However, this comes
at a price. Quick connections may be inaccurate or unfounded. Apophenia
is this downside of pattern recognition; seeing patterns or connections
where no real basis for them exists. Our brains attempt to “join the dots” or
make connections as rapidly as possible in order to make sense out of
what is going on at the moment. We may not have the luxury of time
needed for careful deliberation in the midst of an emergency situation so
we are hardwired to jump to conclusions. As necessary as this is, if we are
not vigilant we will draw some very dubious conclusions and hold them to
be true.
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While this may seem to indicate that we are doomed to fall prey to the
ravages of apophenia, “It ainʼt necessarily so”. Level 5 Awareness provides
us with the perspective necessary to mitigate the effects of apophenia. If
we are aware of our inclination to jump to conclusions we can be on the
lookout for the workings of apophenia. We can also use the knowledge of
the existence of apophenia to motivate us to look at our assumptions and
beliefs to see if they might be built on the shaky foundations of imaginary
connections. When we understand the workings and the dangers of
apophenia we need no longer be the unwitting victims of its workings. We
have the means for liberation from its tyranny through the application of
level 5 awareness to the workings and consequences of personal
conditioning. It may take some practice since apophenia is the default
mode of our brains and it works its speedy mischief quietly below the level
of conscious awareness. But, as the I Ching (an excellent example of a
system based on apophenia) says, "Persistence furthers".
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What is the cause of conflict then? The two-way causal chain looks like
this:
! conditioning
! biases
! assumptions
! opinions/beliefs---->CONFLICT<----opinions/beliefs
assumptions
biases
conditioning
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This is, of course, a very brief introduction to Warner's thinking but I hope I
have given it a fair synopsis. He has much more to say in the books
mentioned above.
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Truth
Rather than the universal truths of Level 4, truths at Level 5 are seen
as relative to particular contexts. “Gold may be valuable in some
situations.” Since criteria for evaluation are always biased by personal
conditioning there can be no absolute criteria for truth and, therefore,
no absolute truths. Truth is seen to be situational.
Desires
While personal status was the imperative at Level 4, Level 5
Awareness invokes a drive for meaning and purpose within a context
of meaning. Individuals recognize their personal experiential history
(conditioning) as a resource that provides possibilities for making
unique and valuable contributions to the world.
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Behavior
An essential behavior at Level 5 is compassionate observation. The
individual is able to observe their own decision making processes with
the added information arising from the knowledge of their own
conditioning. This observation takes into account an individualʼs
personal conditioning and biases affording a much wider perspective
on any situation. Actions arising out of level 5 observation and wisdom
tend to be acts of compassionate contribution offered to the well-being
of others and the environment.
Meaning
In contrast to the Level 4 concern with personal advantage, meaning is
now derived where mutual well-being is served through the unique
contributions of individuals to a community.
Morality
Because of their understanding of their own biases, Level 5 individuals
have great empathy for others. Interpersonal actions are engaged in a
compassionate atmosphere where the goal is to be a contribution to
the well-being of others.
Success
Wrapping up a talk on his book, Status Anxiety, Alain de Botton
had this to say, “... the heart of the book is the question of success
and what success is and should be. Iʼm very interested in success
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Problems
Problems can occur when individuals have not fully completed a
transition from level 4 to level 5 awareness. One such problem is
apathy. If there are no absolute criteria for right or wrong then neither
are there any standards for better or worse. Nothing really matters. Itʼs
all just relative. The mistake here is the assumption that relative
difference is without meaning or value. This is only true when viewed
from the Level 4 perspective of personal advantage. It may well be true
that the pursuits of wealth, celebrity, or admiration are ultimately
meaningless since these goals depend on the tacit agreement that
these things are of absolute value in and of themselves. At level 5 this
tacit agreement is exposed in awareness and what was believed to be
absolute standards (status, wealth, celebrity, etc.) are seen to be, in
fact, relative assumptions. When applied to Level 4 goals of personal
advantage the Level 5 Awareness of relative value may result in
apathy. From the perspective of a level 4 individual if, not matter what
she does, no ultimate personal gain is to be had then why should she
bother to do anything?
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Level 5 in Business
Buddhism and Business
All businesses want to do well, but can they also do good? In his
book, Business and the Buddha: Doing Well by Doing Good,
Lloyd Field says yes, they can do good, and moreover, no
business can afford to focus simply on “doing well.” Increasingly,
public assessment of a businessʼs worth must take into account
its consideration of shared human values. That doesnʼt mean a
business canʼt or should not compete; it means that investing in
efforts to build a better society can, on many levels, be an asset.
In this book, Field lays out the guidelines for putting social
responsibility, both corporate and individual, into practice without
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Schindler a gift. When one of the young girls gives him the gift he
kisses her in return. This is against the Race and Resettlement
Act but Oskar is forgiven later when he apologizes.
"I live on Earth at present, and I donʼt know what I am. I know that
I am not a category. I am not a thing — a noun. I seem to be a
verb, an evolutionary process – an integral function of the
universe."
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Buckminster Fuller
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With the transmutation of the last form of ignorance into wisdom no further
unconscious survival drives remain. The transition from level 5 awareness
to level 6 awareness is the final transition.
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Lau Tzu
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For three years Siddhartha and his friend, Govinda have followed a group of ascetic
monks. When they hear about the Buddha they decide to seek him out. Govinda
joins the Buddhist monks but Siddhartha decides to trust in personal experience
instead and re-enters a worldly existence. He meets a woman with whom he
decides to live and eventually becomes a successful businessman and slowly slides
into a life of greed and gambling. After a time he grows depressed and leaves the
town and the woman behind.
One day the ferryman brings a woman, who is dying from a snakebite, along with
her son to their hut. It is the woman with whom Siddhartha lived in the city. As she is
dying the woman tells Siddhartha that the boy is his son. Siddhartha cares for the
spoiled child and tries to teach him to live simply but the boy runs away. The
ferryman explains to Siddhartha that he must let the boy go to experience his own
suffering. Knowledge, he infers, can be taught but wisdom comes from experience.
The ferryman, realizing that Siddhartha is now enlightened goes off into the woods
to die. Soon Govinda comes by. Still searching for enlightenment he asks
Siddhartha about what he has learned. Siddhartha tells Govinda that searching can
inhibit finding, that time is an illusion, that all is one, and that love for all things is the
most important thing in the world.
Level 6 Awareness
The concept that wisdom comes from experience fits well with the ideas we
have been exploring. Each progressive step up the ladder of awareness is
precipitated by the experiences of the individual and brings with it a
corresponding expansion of perspective and freedom. In the story of
Siddhartha the understanding that all is one is presented as the key to
enlightenment. This is the perspective proposed for level 6 awareness.
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What sets level 6 awareness apart from all previous levels is that there
would no longer be any survival-based drive (ignorance) operating
unconsciously. All of the unconscious survival drives will have been
“transmuted” into the realm of conscious awareness. At this level there are
no hidden drives compelling behavior. All of the drives are still operational
but they are now recognized and understood in conscious awareness.
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0 Impulses
Equilibrium
Earlier we identified a possible outcome of the ʻalchemyʼ of the brain as
equilibrium. With the advent of level 6 awareness, equilibrium, the absence
of mental suffering, is achieved. All unconscious survival drives, the
sources of suffering at each previous level of awareness,
have been exorcised by the light of awareness and are
thereby divested of their powers to induce suffering in
our lives.
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This does not imply a state of continual bliss without challenge or hardship.
However, it does imply a totally different context in which challenges and
hardships may arise. At the sixth level of awareness challenges do not
arise in a context in which we are under the thrall of an unconscious
survival drive. When we are being driven by unconscious imperatives our
responses to challenges and hardships are conditioned by those drives.
We have seen how each level of awareness colors and limits the options
we find available to us in seeking solutions to our problems. In contrast, at
level 6 awareness, we are able to see problems in the context of
wholeness allowing us to understand their place in the “big picture”. With
this perspective what seemed to be problems may turn out to be
opportunities for broader awareness.
Transcendence
Upon completing the transition from level 5 awareness to level 6
awareness the separate self, the transparent self that we have been seeing
the world through without awareness of its existence, has been exposed by
virtue of the fact that all of its constituents (previously hidden drives) are
now objects in the light of awareness. This constitutes the transcendence
of the separation of self from other, of the separation of observer from
observed. At this point observer and observed are no longer abstracted
from the process of observing.
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Truth
To a Level 6 individual truth would be absolute: “All is one, one is all.”
All other “truths” would be relative to this truth. Independent entities
would not exist except as psychological concepts. There would be no
independent things, only phenomena consisting of configurations of
other phenomena that persist as spatial and temporal patterns over
time.
Desires
With the transmutation of level five ignorance (the drive for meaning)
into the awareness of this drive (wisdom) at level six the self is no
longer a driven entity. With an awareness of the essential and
universal interconnectedness of all phenomena, no unconscious
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survival drives would remain hidden. All drives would have been
transmuted from unconscious ignorance to conscious wisdom. The
chain of suffering, described earlier, would fall away.
Behavior
Can there be behavior in the usual sense without a driven self? In
Level 6 Awareness action should be regarded as naturally occurring
intra-actions between phenomena within the dynamic totality. The term
“intra-action” refers to an action involving two or more phenomena
within the whole. It is a term borrowed from Karen Barad as defined in
her book Meeting the Universe Halfway (see “One With the Universe”
below). Phenomena are not understood to be independently existing or
acting entities. Rather, all phenomena owe their existence and
behavior to intra-activity within the whole.
Phenomena do not act independently but are part of the activity of the
whole. Phenomena do not move themselves but are moved by virtue
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of their intra-actions within the whole. Does this situation herald the
annihilation of individuality? Is this pure nihilism? Does individuality
melt into a homogenized cosmic soup? Not really. Although there is no
longer a separate self at level 6 awareness, individuality (the sum of all
learning and inherited tendencies) continues to exist as patterns within
the nervous system and, therefore, continues to be a factor in the intra-
actions of the phenomenon of the organism. Agency exists but without
an independently existing agent with a personal agenda.
“... only in the present moment, free from hope and fear, do we receive
the gifts of clarity and resolve. Freed also from anger, aggression, and
urgency, we are able to see the situation clearly, take it all in, and
discover what to do.”
Meaning
Since all meaning is relative to context and the context at this level is
the indivisible and infinite whole, existence would be infinitely
meaningful; not as some have concluded utterly meaningless. Any
thing (phenomenon) that exists has meaning within an arbitrarily
circumscribed context (e.g.. family, community, country, planet, solar
system, cosmos). The larger the context the wider the influence of the
phenomenon will be. Ultimately, all phenomena exist in the context of
the entire cosmos endowing them each with consequence
(significance) throughout the whole of existence.
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Morality
With no real boundaries between phenomena there would be no
exclusion. Where there is no exclusion there remains only
unconditional acceptance/inclusion. Some might be moved to say that
all there is at level 6 awareness is love.
Perspective
Perspective at this level would be all-inclusive. Integration with the
entire web of the phenomenal universe would be an experienced
reality. This total integration would be the exact opposite of the
embeddedness of the newborn. Total integration involves full
awareness while embeddedness is a total absence of awareness.
Problems
Because there are no unconscious survival drives (no ignorance) at
this level there are no problems inherent in level 6 awareness.
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being able to see itself. We are left with a situation where it makes no
sense to speak of a separation between observer and observed. This
distinction is dissolved leaving only the process of observing. From this
perspective, the observer and the observed are simply different aspects of
the same process, the process we call observing.
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If Karen Barad is right, the ultimate nature of reality is oneness, just as the
components of the sixth level of awareness discussed above would
suggest.
Essential Innocence
At each level of awareness the foundation of the self was seen to be an
unconscious survival drive. What, then, becomes of this separate self when
all unconscious survival drives have been exposed to awareness? At level
6 awareness there is no foundation for the separate self and, hence, no
separate self exists. In its place is a new state of being characterized by
innocence. In all previous levels the the self was driven by the agenda of
an unconscious survival drive. An agenda precludes innocence. In
speaking of some of the consequences of operating under the influence of
such an agenda, Phillip Moffit, in Dancing With Life says,
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being, but simply opening our eyes. Rather than weakening the
individual, the understanding of the non-existence of an
independent “self” leads to a deep rooted sense of inner freedom,
strength and openness to others that allows the flourishing of
altruistic love and compassion, rooted in wisdom.”
Zen Master, Brad Warner, author of Hardcore Zen and Sit Down and Shut
Up puts it this way:
“Take a look at that bunch of stuff that you call your personality or
your ʻselfʼ. Is it really anything more than a collection of set
reactions to things that excite your brain cells in one way or
another? We tend to take for granted that something lies behind
all our opinions, beliefs, ideals, memories, and whatnot, some
source from which they spring. We call this thing ʻselfʼ, or ʻsoulʼ or
ʻpersonalityʼ... But is there really any basis for such a belief? Or
might our beliefs be just beliefs, without some entity called ʻselfʼ
behind them and somehow creating them?”
Taoist sage, Lau Tzu, appears to agree about the insubstantial nature of
self.
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Beyond Survival?
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If there are no longer any hidden survival drives in operation at this level it
follows that the individual is no longer motivated to survive. With the
realization that the self is an illusion there is no separately existing self to
be concerned with survival. However, as we have mentioned before,
bringing the survival drives into awareness does not eradicate them nor
does it inhibit them from carrying out their function. Their function never
was to serve the survival of the self but rather to serve the survival of the
organism and its species. This they will continue to do but no longer as
clandestine agents. They will now operate in and with the ongoing
awareness of level 6 awareness.
Is This Enlightenment?
Enlightenment in the Buddhist tradition is typically described as: a
transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of
self.
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which perpetuated the apparent separation of self from other are no longer
operating unconsciously.
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Section 5: Setting the Stage for Growth
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Resistance to Transition
Immunity
The natural dynamic behind transitions between levels is conflict between
an individualʼs challenges and the unconscious survival drives of his
present level of awareness. Periods of transition are often periods of
intense insecurity, even deep psychological distress. A transition may take
years to run its course and high levels of anxiety and/or depression may
come and go during these periods. When the equilibrium established at a
level of awareness is sufficiently disturbed an individual is forced, often
against his will, to re-examine his world view and to look beyond it for a
wider perspective in which the conflict that is disturbing the current
equilibrium may be resolved. As we have discussed, the conflict must be
intense enough to motivate an individual to undertake the often protracted,
painful, and difficult work necessary to make the transition to the next level.
Each level of awareness has a degree of internal resiliency that allows us
to weather minor disruptions to the equilibrium of that level. Robert Kegan
uses the term “immunity” to refer to our natural tendency to withstand and
resist change. This resistance to change can be a factor when a transition
between levels of awareness is being initiated or is in progress.
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Prerequisites to Transition
Disillusionment
If an individual is to make a transition from one level to the next there must
usually be a high level of disenchantment with the current level of
awareness. It must be plainly felt to no longer be working. It has been said
that we donʼt change unless the pain of not changing outweighs than the
pain of making a change.
In The Three Laws of Performance, authors Steve Zaffron and Dave Logan
put it this way:
“... if you want to transform who you are [...] then you need to
create a crisis of identity, one in which the only way out is
transformation.”
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Openness
Also, there is the issue of openness. Openness is a term used in
psychology to refer to a willingness to experience novelty. Research has
shown the this quality typically increases until a person reaches 20 but then
begins to decline. According to an article called “Set In Our Ways” that
appeared in the January 2009 issue of Scientific Americanʼs Mind
magazine, “Personality can continue to change somewhat in middle and
old age, but openness to new experiences tends to decline gradually until
about age 60. After that , some people become more open again.” It is
possible that the midlife years are too full of work and family related
responsibilities to leave sufficient energy for making significant life
changes. This would explain why, after 60, individuals may open up to new
experiences again since this is typically a time of life of fewer
responsibilities. A retired 60 year old with a comfortable pension and no
children living at home has considerably more flexibility in her daily life than
she had when she was a busy career woman with a husband and three
energetic children at home all making demands on her time and energy.
Aids to Transition
Knowledge and Understanding
It is hoped that this book can serve as a supportive resource for individuals
as they proceed on their personal journeys through the Levels of
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Section 6: Moving On
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Making Transitions
If you consider what are called the virtues of mankind, you will find
their growth is assisted by education and cultivation..
Xenophon
Brain Training
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significantly shifted the left-right prefrontal cortical activity ratio toward the
left prefrontal cortex.
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In terms of the language used in this book this six-step system for change
integrates elements of the four transition stages (see Section 3:
“Transitions, Transformations, and Transmutation”: Transition Stages:
Disillusionment, Analysis, Experimentation, and Reconstruction) with
elements of the three levels of truth (see Section 2: “Can We Change”: A
Progression of Truth: Conceptual Truth, Experiential Truth, and Existential
Truth).
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Bridging
As has been discussed suffering can make us all too painfully aware of the
results of these unconscious survival drives. In time, if the discomfort is
severe enough, we may be driven to seek solutions beyond our current
level of awareness which, in turn, can serve to eventually illuminate the
workings of an unconscious drive. But how much better it would be if there
was some more expeditious means of exposing the workings of the
unconscious drive, of enticing the drive out of darkness and into the light of
awareness.
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present what may be just such a system. While we have been discussing a
self that evolves through developmental stages,
the strategies that the Blocks present are
applicable to the self as it exists at any of the
levels of awareness. They use the term “Identity
System” to refer to an individualʼs self. According
to the Blocks the Identity System is activated by
emotionally charged thoughts. Normally, this
activation occurs automatically and without our
realizing it. Sound familiar? Just as we have said
that a person becomes aware of the results of
the activity of an unconscious drive when they experience some form of
suffering, the activity of the Identity System can be recognized in some
form of discomfort such as physical tension or negative emotions. Typically,
the Identity System, once triggered, carries on ruminating and spinning
scenarios that are almost inevitably disturbing.
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the hum of a refrigerator. Next the individual in question names the thought
that triggered the upset. For example, he may say, “Iʼm having the thought
ʻJan shouldnʼt have forgotten my birthdayʼ.” The idea is that this two-step
process helps us see that a thought is just a thought (something cooked up
by the Identity System) and not necessarily a true representation of reality.
The focus on sensory input interrupts the machinations of the Identity
System and brings our attention back to present moment. This, in turn,
allows us to take an objective look at the triggering thought and to
recognize it as just a thought. The final step is to simply go on with
whatever one was doing before the upset occurred. As with any new
learning, practice is required to make bridging a natural part of your life but
the rewards of perseverance may be truly life changing.
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Earlier in this book four transition stages were discussed. The third stage
was identified as “Experimentation” and it was described as being a trial
and error search for problem solving strategies that were more effective
than those that had been tried at an individualʼs current level of awareness.
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It was pointed out the trial and error is a time consuming and generally
inefficient approach. The above strategies and techniques go a long way to
eliminating trial and error from the transitional process. However, I have
some reservations which I feel need to be discussed.
Mind Training (meditation) has stood the test of time as a technique for
bringing overall balance to the mental lives of its practitioners. Its strength
is in its blanket effect on psychological unease as well as providing a basis
for mindful self enquiry. But this generality is also a weakness when a
specific result is desired. The course of meditative practice is not amenable
to conscious direction because it relies heavily on letting go and trusting in
intuition. For example, meditating on a particular life problem such as a
troubling relationship may provide useful insights but penetrating to the
core issue can take considerable time. Moreover, coming to terms with why
you are stuck at a particular level of awareness could be a long drawn-out
process because of the typically meandering path by which meditative
insights progress.
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Section 7: Conclusions
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The Measure of a Theory
The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the
old ones, which ramify, for those brought up as most of us have
been, into every corner of our minds.
John Maynard Keynes
The measure of any theory lies in the difference it makes and the difference
a theory makes lies in its explanatory power along with its potential for
practical applications.
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8. What is the basis for our beliefs about ourselves and the world?
The theory of Developmental Liberation posits that our beliefs
about ourselves and the world are directly related to the level of
development we have achieved. Individuals at different levels of
development have different beliefs about their place in the world
and the nature of the world they inhabit.
These are just some of the important issues that Developmental Liberation
attempts to address. It is a broad theoretical framework and as such
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Putting theory into practice is the whole point of establishing a theory in the
first place. Developmental Liberation has a number of important practical
applications. Three of the most sweeping applications of the theory are:
1.Reduction of Suffering
In the Developmental Liberation framework suffering is given a
measure of meaning. It is seen as a factor with the power to
initiate a transition from one level of development to the next; the
power to initiate liberating transformations in our lives. When seen
in this context suffering may be more easily endured. Progress
through the levels of development exposes an unconscious
survival drive at each transition thus neutralizing that driveʼs ability
to act as an unconscious source of suffering. The degree of an
individualʼs liberation from suffering increases as she moves
upward through the development levels.
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3.Personal Development
The theory not only describes the levels of development but
discusses ways of encouraging movement through these levels.
Developmental Liberation provides a formula (the brain ʻalchemyʼ
formula) for personal development. Also, insights specific to each
developmental level are identified and may facilitate a transition
between any two levels. The benefits of personal development to
both the individual and society are many and varied. In
undertaking the challenge of personal development the individual
is making a contribution not only to his own well-being but to the
well-being of the planet and all the life that it supports.
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Section 8: Appendices
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Awareness:
Primitive Awareness: detection of internal or external properties such as
temperature, color, sound, pressure, etc.
Self: the conceptual entity that is formed at each level of awareness that
gains in its degree of freedom and experiences an increasing degree of
separation from embeddedness in the environment in the process
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There are strong parallels between ancient Tibetan Buddhist practices and
the fundamental principles described in Beyond Survival. To begin with
both Buddhist teachings and Developmental Liberation emphasize a need
to understand how mental states arise. In an article entitled “Buddhist and
Psychological Perspectives on Emotions and Well-Being” co-authored by
notable scholars Paul Ekman, Richard J. Davidson, Matthieu Ricard, and
B. Alan Wallace, we find:
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At the heart of Buddhist practices are The Four Noble Truths. In simplified
form they state:
1.Life is inseparable from suffering
2.There is a cause to suffering
3.Suffering can end
4.There is a way to end suffering
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In 1987 Phillip Moffitt walked away from his highly successful post as chief
executive and editor-in-chief of Esquire magazine to devote himself to exploring the
inner life full time. He subsequently was ordained as a lay priest in the Theravada
Buddhist tradition throughSpirit Rock Meditation Center in Northern California,
where he is now a member of the Teachers Council. He is the author of Dancing
With Life: Buddhist Insights for Finding Meaning and Joy in the Face of Suffering.
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While the two systems may address different aspects of the causal chain of
suffering the end result is the same and the ultimate goal of both systems
is identical. Both systems seek to enable a state of equilibrium wherein
suffering comes to an end.
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The drives found at each level of awareness are inherent in all of us. This is
because they have essential survival value to both individuals and the
species as a whole (as shown in the Purpose column above).
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The bottom line is that so long as there exists any form of unconscious
survival drive suffering is inevitable.
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The Author
These days Terry keeps busy designing and building websites for his
clients (www.simtechcomputerservices.com) as well as writing software for
Macintosh computers (www.ttpsoftware.com). He is also involved in a
number of community organizations in his home town. Terry lives with his
wife, 4 cats, and a dog in Keremeos, B.C., Canada.
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Beyond Survival
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