Robb,

most excellent summary of experiences and insights. I just posted similar thoughts and disvoveries in a comment to the World Economic Forum of Facebook.

Its not about acceleration of core business and maybe some innovations, disruptive or not.

Its about the leap into future and the breakthrough of the full human potential of countlesss global citizens. In all perspectives and hori-zones.

And of all the dynamic flows and aspiring energy of people in developing countries too.

Thats the real cutting edge.

What has integral life-practice or dogma ever accomplished? Nothing.

"how is an integral view relevant in the real world, and how can it be applied to humanity’s most serious challenges?" - No answer, dead silence. It cannot help anyone do anything. The emperor has no clothes.

Platitudes like "profound light can shine on a deeply fragmented world when each of us holds a candle high in the air." - are no help to anyone. Wake up.

Robb Smith. A nice, well meaning CEO. But seriously, who cares! When is Integral Institute going to stop branding their ideas as the latest sexy hot merchandise with a tiny legion of poorly paid dorky white men behind them?

AQAL sounded promising in the beginning but the marketing hype on this product over the past years and reductionism of Ken's ideas to a five step formula isn't where the edge is anymore. Was it ever? Do you see any credible in the world examples of how AQAL is being applied and embraced? Aside from the I-I floozies, this puppy is dead in the water.

I agree the above new age platitudes are absolutely not helpful to anyone. I'd like to hold a candle up the deeply troubled ass of Integral Institute to shine some much needed and long overdue profound light. For this enterprise needs to wake the f*ck up out of its boomer branding, kick ken out of the CEO chair--Ken your getting so predictable now in your work and interviews I play your tapes for my kids when I tuck them into bed at night and I'm thinking about putting together an article for AQAL Journal on the effects of your work on both children and parents. I've often caught myself waking up in their bedroom in the middle of the night, puzzled why I'm still dressed and never made it out of the room only to glance at the stereo and there you are, still on the same monologue you were on several hours before, brilliantly putting this precious world to sleep..

I agree with Sam Artie Pants (the last answer), there is no clarity in the article above.

All change needs to come from within, the truth of your being needs to shine.

When this happens, what happens to all these so-called problems?

Problems can only occur to a small separate person who takes himself and his thoughts seriously.

i am glad to see the critical comments here. things ossify in the absence of agitation, movement, flow. ideals find their value only in action in the world, and there are very few going beyond the philosophical/analytical phase in the integral world, much like editorial writers in newspapers, extolling the readers about how something needs to be done.

WHAT, precisely? Mr. Smith? Metaphors are so rarely solutions to anything

If Integral Life is anything like this thread then it is gonna rock! I can't wait, Robb.

Thank you, Robb, for being a congealing, coalescing, and hopefully balancing force in the still embryonic integral movement. The unknown is truly upon us, and your intention and efforts are beginning to give focus and power to the framework. Knowing the map, we can now all begin to give directions, based on our own unique and individual insight, into where and how to head on the map, and the implications of heading these directions.

Criticisms of Ken are somewhat valid, at this point. He has been singing the same tune for some time, but is this not a form of upaya, or skillful means? In order to bring the framework to the forefront of a global consciousness, the integral perspective needs to embed itself in as many sentient beings as possible. By utilizing a consistent, profound, if often repetitive delivery, Ken is effectively getting the integral framework out there. Those who want to explore his work more in depth, he has plenty of books to unpack. His (over?)emphasis of the main points of the AQAL model are a means to bring people to the path, especially those who have not been exposed to any of these ideas but have that yearning and that calling for something greater.

What is most striking, now, is that integral is bigger than Ken. He has developed an infrastructure, but the future of integral is no longer solely in his hands. It belongs to all of us, and as individuals, it is our responsibility to manifest our own awareness and wisdom via our own means.

Best wishes for the blossoming global integral forum,
A

I'm not always sure what is meant by "integral" other than the writings of KW, which of course are voluminous.
I would say that a "post-objective" stance is necessary to solve the challenges we now face.
Whether that's the same thing as "integral" I don't know.
By post-objective I mean a recognition that "the observation of the universe affects the universe", and that therefore my subjectivity (observation) is, to some extent, built into the perceived environment.
(And not just epistemologically but also otologically -- ie the effects are real, not imaginal.)
This has been known for a century in physics and seems to be gradually filtering up through the other sciences.
It is also filtering down from philosophy, albeit sometimes in a loopy "new age" format.
My guess is the evolutionary biology will be the last stronghold of old-fashioned objectivity / materialism.
As far as I have seen nothing that kW or I-I to date has produced has much significance for attacking this stronghold.
Even Sheldrake is having a hell of a time, although he may recently be gaining a little traction.
Well, it's exiting times we live in, that's for sure!

Well, at long last, Integral Institute appears to be on the cusp of moving from Orange into Green. A new emphasis on interactive community, representative diversity, multiple perspectives and genuine debate are very welcome. This is hard, difficult work, Robb, so congratulations on moving your organization up the scale.

Of course, I know you have your eye on turning the Institute into a true Second Tier organization, and I'm sure you realize that requires far more than hobnobbing with self-styled global leaders. The best way to do that is to ensure that the lower levels have been fully integrated -- and that starts with (1) a more judicious and strategic use of Ken Wilber, (2) a full acceptance and embrace of pluralism, and (3) a modeling of new systems for connecting individuals with global efforts. It's clear you're gesturing toward (3), but it reads as dualistic elitist posturing without (1) and (2).

Green community is the necessary training ground for Turquoise globalism (for an example of what happens when pre-Greens attempt Turquoise-level tasks, please see the Iraq war). For this reason, I recommend you drop the "Boomeritis" critique -- it caricaturizes rather than illuminates, and prevents progress up the scale by demeaning rather than celebrating Green's achievements, which have yet to be fully consolidated in American society (please see the current Democratic presidential primary).

The shadow of the Integral Institute is an unintentionally condescending yet willfully naive attitude towards the value and impact of the lower levels of development -- it would be much better to adopt a truly nondualistic perspective that says that we are all colors at once, not Indigo above all. I'm sure you will agree that skipping steps will not do and that integrating and acknowledging the lessons of each level of development is a necessary prerequisite to achieving nondual consciousness.

Congratulations and good luck!

I'd have you send me out that shadow module Rob, but you didn't seem to hear me the first time round. I've got plenty of ken's tapes to put the kiddies to sleep right now and don't want them resenting me a couple decades down the road in therapy..

Integral Institute hasn't caused me any pain, its more a kind of monumental yawn: the orange marketing meatwheel rhetoric of young unemployed twenty somethings, deep collective denial of integral dogma within the core and affiliated sanghas (you and anyone whole heartedly endorsing AQAL in this historical moment obviously haven't spent enough time outside the AQAL ever loving-ever-saving-the-day-worldspace to realize that its essentially a system of principles authoratively laid down by the established opinions of Ken Wilber and his I-I minions--that is, dogma) high flown promises and projects that are statistically fated not to materialize or emerge funny (Integral University, etc), piss poor leadership (Ken needing to be involved or overseeing EVERY movement is chronic people! The long list of grievances from folks who either tried to work with I-I or formerly worked for I-I or were somehow affiliated with I-I know exactly what I'm talking about here), and the fact that you've obviously spent several of your I-I paid hours saving the world today by responding to people's critiques of your world changing letter is yet another nail in the integral coffin.

Rob, the kids just woke up and the youngest one says she ain't interested in your [DELETED BY MODERATOR] shadow module (the eldest just made a barf face) and that you can take your holier than thou second or is it third-tier now perspectives and stick 'em [DELETED BY MODERATOR].

I've been following the cut and thrust of the Integral Life posts and comments here on Holons for a while now, and I have a short story that may help integrate some of the polarity being expressed with regard to the behaviour of II, Ken, Integral Life, their fans and critics.

I'm an integral practitioner working in the domain of sustainability, often through the vehicle of permaculture (a system of design for sustainable human habitation with a strong focus on integrated agricultural systems) at a project called Permaforest Trust (See www.permaforesttrust.org.au). As part of the permaculture systems at Permaforest Trust we put in a trial of a number of varieties of olive trees. We prune these olives annually as part of a training program. One year we were lucky enough to have an Italian woman with us who owned a family olive orchard. We were very happy when she volunteered to lead the pruning session. She started off the session by trying to explain the nature of the branches of the olive tree- often with much gesturing of hands and short bursts of Italian as she searched for English words. Finally, after some thought she pulled aside one of the men in the group and pointed to the vigorously growing vertical branches heading for the light at the top of the tree and said: "These branches are like a man. We call them 'chimney’. They bring in energy to the tree (imagine beautiful Italian woman here with equally beautiful accent showing us how energy gets drawn through the roots and pulled up the trunk into the branches of the tree). She then takes hold of some of the drooping more horizontal branches on the outside of the tree. These she says are the 'woman' branches which bear the fruit. She shows how to prune and shape the tree so that among other things the male branches are thinned before fruiting so that the energy they bring into the tree is directed to the fruiting branches.

While I realize there are more dynamics at work in the conversations here, from where I sit, it does appear that a lot of the criticisms expressed in the comments are about aspects of Integral Life/Holons/II and Ken's work that are designed to bring energy to the growth and expression of integral in the world- the 'slick' presentation, savvy marketing and unabashed use of Orange business strategies as part of an integral initiative. Some of this criticism may be valid and serve to balance and integrate the energies in the organization(s). Interestingly the criticisms in these comments act in the same way- sometimes seemingly (depending on one's perspective of course) aggressive and annoying, but no doubt bringing a needed energy to the conversation.

We took on this little example of the masculine/feminine typology at Permaforest Trust as part of our wider integral approach to sustainability education. Skilful balancing of energy and yield allowed us to increase our success. Have a look around our web site for integral at work in our community of practitioners. Students take the framework and the language with them in projects from Tonga to Teranaki and it makes a difference.

So bring on the energy for that big fat barrel of marinated Kalamatas! In next week's class we cover sharpening the pruning shears.

Yes, it is hard to see the effects of an Integral Vision, because after all, what it is is a map. But heing in the possession of such a map has put an end to my furstration and released new energies in me. So much energy get lost in anger and hopelessness and apathy. With a map, I do not waste my time arguing with people who are at a different level of consciousness and | have greater confidence in those who are at global level of consciousness. Who wants to navigate through the present world without a map? Once I started to se which quadrant a certain pieces of information fit in, I was no longer confused by the amount of information that I get every day. I only wish that every person knew about AQAL, about levels and lines and growth hierarchies. It has made my practical path so much clearer

I think we should give Robb and his team a little time to actually roll out what they have been working on before leaping to judgements based on old baggage. I am pleased to see the shift going on ito the focus on the actual usefulness in of the intergal approaches in addressing real world issues. At Renaissance2 we are applying these insights and frameworks together with those we have pioneered in global organisations over the past few decades, and they do add value if applied wisely. I personally steer clear of the boomeritis/shadow side of II, which is apparently still a feature of anything associated with kw- sad to attach this kind of karma to something with great potential to make a difference.

It is clear that if we fail to act now we face a new dark age, and I for one believe that if all the intelligent, well-intentioned people I have met through my own integral journey focused their energies on practical, real world solutions to the challenges we face as a species, that would make a v big difference. So, power to your elbow Robb and team, and lets move on together to create a new Renaissance powered by world-centric, "be the change" consciousness.

Dr Robin Wood
Chateau La Tour Apollinaire, Perpignan France

Hello everybody,

I certainly don't want to add to the marketing hype (ha-ha) but I just wanted to direct some of you (especially those who have expressed skepticism) to a piece of mine that was published in mid-March on Ken Wilber's blog. It's a piece called "Integral economics: A manifesto". OK, it's a bit on the theory side, but it should convince you -- along with quite a few other pieces on that blog (not all of which I personally endorse, but who cares) -- that there are indeed, as Robb has written in one of his replies above, a large number of people honestly attempting to address real-world problems by applying AQAL (in some version, not all of them needing to be officially approved by Ken, who is a normally narcissistic human being but no intellectual tyrant as far as I can tell!!!). I've learned a lot from AQAL as an economist, and from the feedback I get from my students, and from the intensity of some of their interest, I assume I'm not alone. In my teaching on Integral economics -- which I hope to eventually expand into book-length stuff -- I also address the very concrete issue of how a suitably adapted Integral Life Practice might be of help in building a more liberating market economy.

One thing is certain, guys: while the sort of criticism about marketing we are hearing repeatedly is worth pondering on, ultimately it misses an important point. If any sort of Integral thought is going to infuse our leaders' and our intellectuals' thinking, we do need to create not just an academic arena, but also a cultural movement. I know some people disagree and have accused Ken of having replaced argument with marketing. And it's true that not all marketing ventures may be coherent with the ideals of I-I; this deserves to be pondered, but I'm REALLY SURE Robb and his staff have thought about THAT before!... Come on, it's the most immediate question that comes to mind!

Now, for those who really feel they're not at home with Ken's ideas, with his haircut or with I-I's layout, there's really no need to waste so much energy on throwing around abuse. Just get off the train and serenely go your own way, whether you cross I-I's and Ken's path again later on or not. Does it matter? Personally, I'm sort of confident that AQAL and Integral thought will eventually (perhaps soon) get more hearing. I know a few people at the European Commission who are interested -- yeah, I'm living near Brussels -- and I see from the whole history of philosophical ideas that novel approaches take decades or centuries to become self-evident to everybody. The Integral community seems to me a good place to be, with all its normal human defects maybe and all its still untapped potentials. No one is coerced, no one ought to be uselessly angry or waste precious energy. What we need is more and better Integral work and action (whether here or elsewhere), not a generalized "Wilber Watch" or an obsessive monitoring of all of I-I's logos. Integral thinking will change many things in the world if we have the humility and enough egolessness to JUST SIT DOWN (OR GET UP) AND WORK.

Don't you agree? Have a really good day, and keep up the work!

Take care,
Christian

Well, a message from Holland here...
The knowledge of Wilber changed my life completely. The integral approach was something I longed for many years. I consider him a jnana-yogi and I am gratefull for the job he's done and the meaning he's having for thousands around the globe and the millions in the near future.
But a theory needs his proof in real life and in my opinion the path of knowledge is now a days a tiny little road in the middle of highways full with expanding ego's, running after complete fullfillment of their desires. Ha, lets take this new approach and find out what it is able to give ME!
The real high knowledge, including a sincere integral knowledge, is even today just ment for the few.
What I want to share with you is my integral approach in family law, here in Holland. I am one of thousands of fathers who are not allowed to see their children, as is the case in most of the western world. I am telling you that in the near future some major changes are going to happen, thanks to Ken. So in my opinion a great example of something you can achieve, by using the knowledge in a sincere way. And that's got nothing to do with the first-person, but everything with caring and love.
And oké, I-I never answered any mails, but what's the problem? Let us all take our own responsibility and don't wait for a cookie!
Jai Guru Dev

Bronwyn's comment is the best I have ever read here. She speaks for the silent majority. Ever wonder why the vast majority of posts here don't even get a single comment? People are sick of it.
This scene is played out.

Dear Robb,

I have read a lot of your communications to the integral community and I really admire the work you've been doing. In fact, I am grateful. Reading your words(descriptions of enacted perspectives) invokes in me a deep appreciation, respect, and inspiration. I would offer you encouragement to keep it up but if I'm reading you at all clearly then I know that your heart/mind will not allow you to do otherwise.

Thanks,

Jeffrey

Thanks Robb for engaging us in this open fashion. In order for the integral theory to take roots in a broader sense it has to be made accessible in a more simple and straight-forward fashion. Otherwise it will only be available and practiced by a limited elite group of super integral geeks. My hope is that the new Integral Life portal will help in this regard and provide individuals with relevant tools to help make a difference in the world.

JP

...you rock. And so does Integral. Glad to see the blog, the transparency and the dialog. An interesting balance to appease the core audience and their 5,000 essay comments and still attract and retain the n00bz like me...and make us feel welcome. I'm an I-I (Integral Idiot) and proud! Excited to learn more! Be proud Mr. Smith.

The call to recognize, as Mr. Smith says, "the partial truths" of other ideologies could not be more welcome. Any that think this is mysticism or esotericism in the worst sense, are obviously missing the key words "critical", and "awareness". Yes, there are large problems to be overcome, but we cannot let their historical stubbornness to be solved result in a repeat of the historical splits and other non-productive disputes. Those that criticize the movement as a whole (those who criticize critically ideas are just being productive thinkers) obviously are too entrenched in the mold that has held us for a millennia to realize the significance of integral thinking. May we all become self-aware and self-critical, and contribute towards progress without creating intellectual inertia.

Thank you very much Rob, that was very good and inspiring.

I want to comment a little on the skeptics.
What always astounds me: most of you(MY INTERPRETATION! SUBJECTIVE!) seem to have had some kind of perfect Image of the I-I or Ken or whatever, then YOUR pictures got broken, and you blame the others for not having pleased you like you wanted it. But its not their fault at all.
It was only your illusion.

F.ex. : greens expecting the I-I to be anti-orange, wondering:" why doesnt Ken speak to ME, against THEM, using the words I wanna hear," and so on....its infantile

ANother one: "why isnt he expressing hes ideas in more philosophical way, I !! have read all this already, and now I !! wanna be pleased with something new and more complicated!(other peop..peop...what?)"

Try to think how you would act in such a complicated situation(pleasing the whole spiral, and not just YOUR EGO), and read the posting of Aaron Manier(in the middle)

If you DONT SEE these things(the decisions based on integral reflection of politics, ecomic constrains, the spiral), it means youre not thinking Integral/didnt do your homework(are not INFORMED ENOUGH to understand how many parties have to be harmonized), so you cannot understand the strategy.

ANyway, cheers, rock on.

It has been an interesting experience reading through these posts on Robb's original comments. I do wonder whether those posting negative comments have actually used the integral model in practice in the world. I work as a coach and with a variety of businesses on their business development. I use an Integral model for both the Coaching (so it is similar in part to the ILP material) and to business development. I can say that the Integral Model works! It is the best model I have come across to support development IN ACTION. It works for individuals and for businesses. Perhaps if you read this and doubt it, put it into practice yourself either for yourself or your own business. Run it, experience it - then see what you feel. That's the only thing that matters. If it doesn't work for you, fine - find another model that works. It seems to me to be a waste of energy trying to make Integral, Ken, whatever, wrong. The only thing that matters is finding something that works for you.

I have pastored a church for the last 45 years which is much invovled in progressive thinking and action. When Integral and Wilber came along I latched onto it because, to be honest, it sounded like Jesus! It works in the spiritual path.

Integral has provided such an amazing framework for us that I use it in my sermons and another pastor and I are currently writing a book on Integral Church.

With gratitude for all of you at Integral lnstitute,

Rev. Paul Smith
www.revpaulsmith.com

Thank you to everyone for such kind words and great comments. They are very heartening to all of us here at Integral Life. They also demonstrate why there is such confidence that this integral community can collectively rise to the pressing global challenges we are beginning to discuss.

As for some of the vitriol, it was pointed out to me recently that at least two of the names who are commenting here - "Bronwyn Smith" and "Luke" - may in fact be the same person using different aliases and playing on my last name (Smith) and the first name of someone previously associated with Integral Institute (Bronwyn). So I can definitely be accused of being slow, probably should have figured that out earlier. In any case, there are those who haven't yet forgiven Integral Institute for its past fumbles. All organizations make mistakes, and we hope people choose to get involved with II and IL with a fresh eye toward what we're doing now.

In my experience there is very little debate amongst critically-minded practitioners about integral having value in application in the world. However, there is very real debate about the best way to do so, and as I have called for we have to create linking language to extend integral ideas and awareness to a broader population while simultaneously engaging complex global problems in a relevant and direct way. This will be a fun challenge as one of the core questions in the Integral Life community.

As for the integral flamer who has joined the conversation ("flamer" is internet vernacular for someone who likes to act obnoxiously on forums to get everyone riled), your participation makes this conversation a practice. We can't ask for anything more than that, so thank you, too.