In the early 2000s
… philosopher, Ken Wilber, entered my life. . While I found most of his writing dense and difficult to understand, I thoroughly enjoyed being part of a Cincinnati Meet-Up group consisting of extraordinary Wilber Integralists. Over about eight years and through their patient guidance, presentations, and discussions, I learned the most about Ken’s Integral Philosophy.
Ways of Being: Inner & Outer + Individual & Group
In 2006, Ken published Integral Spirituality: A Startling New Role for Religion in the Modern and Postmodern World. Shortly thereafter, I was invited by a local member of the Cincinnati Meet-Up group to join a Dayton-based discussion group studying this book.
I was introduced to more people curious about Ken’s Integral approach … an approach in the service of moving and growing toward a wholistic way of seeing and being in every sphere of life. This group provided a deeper dive into the Integral framework in the area of my greatest interest … spirituality.
Toward the end of the book, Ken wrote:
“… religion alone, of all of humanities endeavors, can serve as a great conveyor belt for humanity and its stages of growth.”
He went on to describe the reasons why “religion alone” can do this.
As the group discussion drew to a close, I exclaimed, “Of what use is this book?”
The whole group burst into laughter.
Fast Forward to 2024
Ken published, Finding Radical Wholeness: The Integral Path to Unity, Growth, and Delight. How refreshing to find Ken explaining his complex concepts in understandable language for us average folks. How refreshing to understand more deeply his description and analysis of “The Four Quadrants.”
I had already been introduced to the Inner & Outer through Church of the Saviour. Ken adds Individual & Collective dimensions. Almost by accident, he noticed these four dimensions appearing in every field he researched. His research was so extensive that he came to see these four dimensions as fundamental and evident in in the very creation of the Universe itself!
THAT’S HUGE!!!
There are much more complex and extensive versions of these quadrants online. And, for my purposes here, this is the simplest and easiest to illustrate my points.
2025: Where Have All the Interiors Gone?
In Finding Radical Wholeness, Ken gives the cultural history of the rise of our emphasis on the exterior realms of science and technology … realms that can be easily measured and quantified. While their positive contribution to our lives cannot be denied, we are now living with the consequences of our total fascination with them.
To our peril, we are now living with the disappearance of the interior realm … the realm of virtues, values, purpose, the good, and the beautiful … the realm of I’s, you’s, and we’s … realms that cannot be as easily measured.
Richard Rohr is a Franciscan priest who founded The Center for Contemplation and Action … a center honoring both the inner and outer paths. Recently, in a series of daily meditations with the overall theme of “Integrating the Negative,” one of his meditations titled, “Unworthiness is the Ticket,” he says,
…the path to enlightenment, heaven, and salvation takes honest self-knowledge, shadow work, therapy, & tools like the Enneagram.
Rohr is also a great proponent of 12-Step work.
And he goes on to say that these are sometimes dismissed with hostility by many fervent believers … as “mere psychology.” He adds:
If so, then the desert fathers and mothers, the writers of the Philokalia, Thomas Aquinas, and Teresa of Avila were already into “mere psychology, as was Jesus. Without a very clear struggle with our shadow self and some form of humble and honest confession of our imperfections, none of us can or will face our own hypocrisy. ~Richard Rohr
In my experience … for a long time
You may recall that after reading Integral Spirituality (2006), I exclaimed, “Of what use is this book?”
Everyone laughed but I was serious. As I look back on my life, the realm of the interior is what has been foundational for me. And I’ve experienced a lot of loneliness, confusion, and self-doubt on this path.
Spiritual growth and formation has been a central focus (from age 7 or 8) even though I did not grow up in a religious family.
In college (1960-64), philosophy was a required course. I had no idea what philosophy was. Even though I was sure it was meant for smart people and I would surely fail, to my astonishment, I earned an A. I had no idea the significance of that A.
The paths to which I am naturally drawn are both “Eastern,” even though I have not studied Eastern religions and paths. These paths are much more self-reflective (Paths of Contemplation and Self-Mastery). And they are the least understood and accepted in the West.
It’s just the way I am. I look at is as “the way I was created to be.” I think I’ve been in a search for my tribe.
After seminary (1979), when I began my retreat ministry, I envisioned offering opportunities to dive deep into spiritual literature and practices as a way to self-reflect and grow spiritually. A couple of retreats offered to clergy were received well.
But lay participants just weren’t interested. They wanted their time away to be centered on fun activities. The ministry I envisioned that led me to seminary … working with small groups and retreatants on spiritual formation failed.
And so, it distressed me that Ken gave not one clue as to how go about helping people in The Church grow and evolve spiritually.
As I’ve immersed myself in this series, writing and pondering, writing and revising, it seems to me that I’ve been trying to make sense at a deeper level of my clear sense of being called, to understand why my retreat ministry failed … about why The Church has not supported my quest for spiritual growth … why The Church seems oblivious to the need for spiritual formation beyond that for children. I’ve been pondering this subject for a long time.
Eventually, after an intense period of personal and spiritual growth in the Living-in-Process network (1984-1990), I found myself drawn to serve alcoholics/addicts and their families … those experiencing the pain of addiction. My soul spoke to me powerfully, “This is the work you are meant to do.” It was clear to me that this is where I was called to minister.
It was there, with the 12-Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous as our guide, I was able to work with people in depth … mostly in small groups … on their spiritual growth and healing. It was their pain and their seeming failure at the exterior level that opened them to take the journey. Most of them and not all, were committed and serious about exploring their interiors.
The 12-Step Path emerged from a small group of drunks just trying to find a way to stay sober. Drawing on universal spiritual principles they found in Christianity, these steps worked better than anything else they tried. The rest is history.
And so it was that in this ministry (1985-2005), I found my calling being fulfilled as I served as a therapist, healer, and spiritual guide. Thank you, Richard Rohr, for your validation!
Following Wholistic Orders
In 2020, an official in my denomination came to my home to deliver the certificate recognizing the 40th anniversary of my ordination. She said, “Before I came, I looked at your records and we never would have ordained you for what you did.”
My response: “I was just following orders.”
She demonstrated no curiosity about those orders … orders coming from the realm of the interior … virtues, values, purpose, the good, and the beautiful … the realm of I’s, you’s, and we’s … the realm of the still, small voice of wisdom within.
Today, in 2025, cultures around the world are experiencing the consequences of the disappearance of the interior. We in our country are no exception. Those with the loudest voices, those claiming to be the one true religion, focus almost exclusively on the exterior realms of power over, wealth, and status.
Lost in those strident voices is the realm of the interior … the realm of virtues, values, purpose, the good, and the beautiful … the realm of I’s, you’s, and we’s … the realm of “Love one another as I have loved you” … the realm of “all will know you are my disciples if you have love for one another” … the realm of “blessed are the merciful & the pure in heart” … the realm of “judge not that you be not judged” … the realm of “WE, the people …,” the realm of “self-evident truths that all are created equal with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
I just finished watching a conversation between an historian and a journalist. They noted that the word “love” is viewed as disgusting in the culture at-large as are the words “merciful” and “kindness.”
A world lacking the interior is a world turned upside down.
“… religion alone, of all of humanities endeavors, can serve as a great conveyor belt for humanity and its stages of growth.” ~Ken Wilber
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