A COSMOLOGY OF COMPASSION FOR NURSING

EXPLICATED VIA DIALOGUE WITH SELF, SCIENCE AND SPIRIT

By

JOYCE BERYL PERKINS

B.S., University of New Hampshire, 1967

M.A., St. Mary’s College Graduate School, 1991

M.S., University of Minnesota 1997

A thesis submitted to the

Faculty of the Graduate School of the

University of Colorado in partial fulfillment

of the requirements for the degree of

Doctor of Philosophy

School of Nursing

2004
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This thesis for the Doctor of Philosophy degree by

Joyce Beryl Perkins

has been approved for the

School of Nursing

by

___________________________________________
Francelyn M. Reeder, Chair

___________________________________________
Margaret Jean Watson, Mentor

___________________________________________
Marlaine Smith

___________________________________________
Susan Hagedorn

___________________________________________
Susan Bauer

Date_________________
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Perkins, Joyce Beryl (Ph.D., Nursing)

A Cosmology of Compassion for Nursing Explicated via Dialogue with Self, Science and

Spirit.

Dissertation directed by Professor M. Jean Watson

The purpose of this dissertation is to explicate a Cosmology of Compassion (CC).

This cosmology uncovers a shift in the consciousness of humanity from ordinary

awareness to an expanded field of information and potential. Compassion/love is the nest

for this expanding possibility. The cosmos is seen as an unbounded, unified, connected

field of energy waves activated by a quantum-like potential. The life force/spirit of

creation is that activating force. Consciousness is its pattern.

Methodology encompasses the use of Bohm’s dialogue. This dialogue among

self-science-spirit is combined with a hermeneutic interpretation of multiple perspectives

on reality. Scientific dialogues arise from nursing and medical science, quantum physics,

complexity science, and wave theory. A focus on the “lived experience” of humanity

grounds the cosmology in an embodied sense.

The voice of nursing theorists Rogers, Newman, Parse, and Watson initiate the

conversation from nursing science.  The reality domains of Chopra, Wilber’s modes of

knowing and Steiner’s simultaneously expanding/contracting field reveals the quantum-

like possibility of spirit/light/love emerging and condensing from this cosmic field. From

this perspective, a generative order, the living expression of the Source of all creation is

evident in the world and universe. This conversation among self-science-spirit involves a

deeply personal experience of divine love. This same love is posited to hold the physical
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world in form. Thus, this multiple dialogue reveals intersecting dynamics between the

physical non-physical world. What has been revealed describes a unified field of creative

emergence and inspiration, held by love, caring, and compassion in shape and form. A

shift in consciousness for humans, individually and collectively, and nursing science in

particular, allows for human imagination, expanding consciousness, and the potential

for humans to be co-creators of an unfolding future.

A Cosmology of Compassion is posited as a transformative influence for a new

science of nursing and related fields, which has the potential for freeing humans and

professionals from limited/restricted pattern dynamics. Of significance,

caring/compassion/cosmic love/spirit guide and inform wisdom practices for

healing/transforming self and systems. Ultimately, creativity expressed through the

expanding consciousness of an awakening humanity shapes a Cosmology of Compassion

(CC), a way of being beyond paradigms.

The form and content of this abstract are approved. I recommend its publication.

Signed___________________________________
Faculty member in charge of thesis
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DEDICATION

A letter to my children’s children as yet unborn.

I write this to you, my dearly beloved ones, and I tell you what my mother told

me…that I was a child of great love…and now I tell you, so are you. Before I could utter

anything verbal, I felt the essence of this love. To my mother and father I send the

greatest thanks for creating the possibility for such love to unfold. I write this now for

the next generation. What has been immensely valuable for me I share with you. My

desire, in this lifetime, was to know the highest form of love. And so I share what I have

discovered.

My children, you have been my greatest delight. I thought I trained as a nurse so

that I could be a better mother. But indeed, I found being a mother has made me a better

nurse. It is you who have trained me in the sharing of yourselves. And so I write this for

you, and for the nurses and mothers of the world, for all those of a gentle nature who find

joy in the service of the greatest love… we begin. I do not wish to ignore your

intelligence or emotional nature so this will be a dialogue that embraces the whole of

present knowledge and experience. Sit with me by the fire and know your own inner fire

that burns brightly yet does not consume. Know of the brilliance from which you came

and are even yet an aspect of… Let us share, and begin this journey. Do I have your

attention?
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. ENTERING THE DIALOGUE…………………………….…….…..……1

Background and Significance………….………………………….………1

Purpose………………………………………………………….………....5

Methodology…………………………………………………….………...9

Organization of the Dissertation...…………………...…………………..13

II. THE CHORUS………………………………………………….……….15

Voice of Self……………………….……………..……….………….…15

Voice of Philosophy……………………………………………………..21

Voices from Science……………………………………………………..27

Nursing Science…………………….……………...……….……28

Paradigms………………………….……………….…….28

Nurse Theorists……………………………….……….…30

Aspects of Medical Science and Other Disciplines Addressing

an Expanded Context for Knowledge Development….……...….37

Eras I, II, and III of Medicine……………………………37

Reality Domains……………………………………….…37

Quantum Consciousness………………………….……...40

Map for Maturing Consciousness..………………………42

Quantum Physics…………….……………………...……...……42

From Fragmentation to Quantum Possibility…..…...……43

Mind Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics..……………46

Time/Space and Dimension…………….………………..47

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Complexity Science……………………………………..……….48

Pathways of Influence…………………………...…….....50

Life Force/Vital Energy……………………….…..……..52

Wave Theory and Multiple Dimensions………….......………….53

Voices of Other Selves…………………………………………….……..71

Near Death Experience……………………………………...…...71

The Nature of Matter as Energy Construct….………..……....….74

Synthesis……………………………………………………………...….76

III. THE DEPTHS AND OVERTONES OF DIALOGUE: FINDING

THE HARMONICS OF A COSMOLOGY OF COMPASSION.….…...81

Dialogue with Nursing Science……………………………………….…81

Convergence of Four Nursing Theories under the U/T Paradigm……….91

Blending Perspectives of Nursing Science with Complexity Science,

Quantum Physics, Wave Theory and an Emerging Cosmology…………94

Rites of Passage and Field Notes from Self……....…………………….110

Synthesis of Dialogue….………………………………………...……..114
IV: KNOWLEDGE VIA TRANSFORMED PERSPECTIVES……………….116

Nursing Paradigms/Reality Revisited………………………………..…116

Qualities of a Cosmically Conscious, Divine/Spiritual Human Being…122

Conceptual Development of A Cosmology of Compassion……...……124

Cosmology……………………………………………….….….126

Virtual Realm…………………………………………...126

Quantum Realm………………...………………………127

Physical Realm……………………………………..…...128

Life as Process………………………………….………………129
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Synthesis………………………………………………………………..134

V: UNDERSTANDING/MEANING……………………………….…………140

Research Question Addressed…………………………………...…..….141

Summary of a Cosmology of Compassion……………………………..142

Key Principles of a Cosmology of Compassion…….………………….148

A Cosmic Perspective……………………………………………….….150

VI: WISDOM……………………………………………….………………..…152

Application of Perennial Insights to Nursing Practice………………….152

Implications………………………………………….…………..…..…160

Exemplars……………………………………………………………...165

Psychiatric Nursing……………………………………………..165

Energetic Transformational/Healing Practices…………………167

Program Development for Expanded Perceptual Awareness…..168

Lifestyle Format for Expanding Consciousness…..……170

Movement/Physical Activity for Experiential

Application………….……………………………..........172

Artistic Expression………………………………………...……177

Integral Synopsis………………………………………………………..182

REFERENCES…………………………….…………………………………..……….186

APPENDIX…………………………………………………………………….…….…193

A. Definitions…………………………………………………….……………..193

B. Program: Towards Integration and Healing………………………….…….220

The Question: Prologue to Ages of Women…………………….……...221

Take Wings My Soul…………………………………….…………..…224

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Take Note of This Day……………………………….……………...….233

Weaver…………………………………………………………...……..236

Coda: The Blessing on the Island…………………………….…..….…237

Ibn ‘Arabi…………………………………………………….…..…..…238

For Percilla……………………………………………………...……....239

C. Exercise Class Descriptions and Formats……………………………….…241

Qigong/Yoga…………………………………………………………....241

Stretch Exercises………………………………….…………………….248

Water Wave and Tone Class……………………………………….…...251

Quantum Leap (E-motion)…...................................................................259

Water “Flow” Class………………………………………………...…..261

D. Epilogue……………………………………………………………….….…266
 LIST OF TABLES

Table

1. Overview of Chopra’s Reality Domains……………………………………..…..38

2. Blend of Theories and Language of Curing/Healing/Transforming in

Nursing and Medicine………………… …………………………………..…… 89

3. Convergence of Four Nursing Theories in the U/T Paradigm……………..…….92

4. Theoretical Information Relating to Energy Fields, Pattern, and

Consciousness…………………………………………………………………...93

5. Qualities of U/T Nursing Theories; Complexity Science, Chaos Theory,

Quantum Physics, Wave Theory and Cosmology of Compassion…………..….95

7. Relationship of UCS and Cosmology of Compassion Explored…….………....108

8. Paradigms I, II, III………………………………………………………………119

9. Portrait of the Emerging Spiritual/Divine Human………….…………………..123

 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure

1. Paradigms in Nursing………………………..………………………………...…29

2. Linear Conceptual Map of Reality……………………………….…………....…40

3. Pathways of Influence…………………………………………...……………….51

4. View from the Top of a Toroidal Energy Donut……………………………...…54

5. Vortex…………………………………………………………………….……...65

6. Dimension and Symmetry……….…………………………………………..…..66

7. Conceptual Maps……………………………………………………..………….86

A. Paradigms I and II: Linear Perspective of Healing…….…………….86

B. Paradigm III: Non-linear Perspective of Transformation……………87

8. Perspectives on Reality in Nursing Science…………………….……………....117

9. Flower-of-Life………………………………………………………..…………127

10. Universal Shape of Spirit/Coherence/Stillpoint ….…………………………….130