Customer Reviews

The Ego and the Dynamic Ground: A Transpersonal Theory of Human Development

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This is the best book on transpersonal psychology I've ever read. It does not require huge metaphysical leaps of faith. The explanations of the difficulties on the spiritual path related toreconnecting to the Dynamic Ground are nothing short of brilliant. It puts mystical experiences, Jungian psychology, and spiritual development into a clear, coherent model which makes perfect sense. I've used Washburn's model in a university level course I've taught on transpersonal psychology and have started a Washburn study group with my friends.

Whatever may be said about the technicality of the alternatives offered here to the usual transpersonal paradigms, Washburn does a fine job of recogizing that our vitality as awakening beings isn't only to be found on the heights of spirit; it also lives in the vales, in the lowlands and places of origin. The problem with verticality worship is that "enlightenment" becomes a goal by which one transcends everything, leaps over everything, instead of working through unresolved conflicts and lingering vulnerabilities.

Integrated the work of Jung, Neumann and Grof with extensive noteworthy material from diverse fields of investigation. Developed a concise model which accommodates and extends the prior work. Continued the development of a multidimensional view of psychosocial structures and motifs as elaborations of underlying fundamental properties of consciousness. His explication of the structure and development of consciousness is the clearest and most concise that I am aware of, and fits best with my own experimental data. The best roadmap available for those who choose to stray from the herd. Summaries of his Transpersonal perspective and research interests are available.

This is one of the best books on Transpersonal Psychology/Spirituality on the market. Of the 30 or 40 books on the subject that I have read, this is clearly the best. This work far exceeds the work of Wilber and other authors in this field when it comes to mapping the inner journey.

The book is profoundly authentic as it is obvious that Washburn has actually traveled the journey that he writes about. The author maps out the "Dark Night of the Soul" and does so in a manner that removes the ambiguous mythical and superstitious language of religion.

Washburn maps out the process of right brain/left brain integration or the marriage of the conscious with the unconscious spheres of the human soul. This process is spoken of in veiled language in most of the religious and mythical texts. It is called "Kundalini", "Death and Resurrection", "Night Sea Journey." etc. It is very difficult indeed.

It is not a vertical process of ascent as proposed by other authors in this field, most of whom are mere theorists and have themselves not taken the journey. Most of these types have an experience of Spirit and prop themselves up as gurus or pandits. Only a person who has undertaken this perilous journey can accurately describe it, and Washburn obviously has. This is the most arduous and difficult process that any human being can experience and leads to integration and spiritual wholeness. Other books on "enlightnement" speak the language of "attainment" and of states and levels of consciousness. Anyone can attain higher states of consciousness on a temporary basis, but who has the courage, fortitude, and integrity to go deep into the bowels of their own unconscious and work through every fear and karmic issue?

This is a very in depth preview of the human journey from birth through what many people would call Enlightenment from the perspective of a therapist. The overall energy is one of the highest that I have calibrated (Map of Consciousness from "Power versus Force") making it, what I would consider a Classic. It is a must for all therapists and for those who wish to know who they are.

In my opinion, Washburn is the counter-revolutionary, reacting to the revolution Ken Wilber has brought to the field of transpersonal psychology. Where Wilber has broken with the depth psychological roots of Western psychology, and situated spirituality in the superconscious mind (following Assagioli and others), Washburn is trying to get back to these roots, combining Freud and Jung. Positive about this book is that it makes the fundamental options stand out more clearly.