The Eye of Spirit [Paperback]

Ken Wilber (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 3, 1998

In this groundbreaking book, Ken Wilber uses his widely acknowledged "spectrum of consciousness" model to completely rewrite our approach to such important fields as psychology, spirituality, anthropology, cultural studies, art and literary theory, ecology, feminism, and planetary transformation. What would each of those fields look like if we wholeheartedly accepted the existence of not just body and mind but also soul and spirit? In a stunning display of integrative embrace, Wilber weaves these various fragments together into a coherent and compelling vision for the modern and postmodern world.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Wilber (Sex, Ecology, Spirituality, Shambhala, 1995) takes on a tremendous task: attempting to derive from the tenets of the world's wisdom traditions, both religious and nonreligious, and from many academic fields one unifying vision of the modern and postmodern world. He calls his approach the "spectrum of consciousness," i.e., reducing aphorisms from various sources until they "agree" with each other, and using these as building blocks for his conclusions. Unfortunately, the long and difficult road Wilber takes us along leads to no grand religious or philosophical epiphany. The conclusions are a wash of poetic statements about an "ever-present awareness" or "a pure and simple witness," beliefs that are popular with New Age philosophies that require little of the deep discussions that preceded. Of interest mainly to theology students.?Glenn Masuchika, Chaminade Univ. Lib., Honolulu
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

     What would a truly integral culture look like, a culture that included body, mind, soul and spirit? In this new and groundbreaking book, Ken Wilber uses his widely acknowledged "spectrum of consciousness" model to completely rewrite our approach to such important fields as psychology, spirituality, anthropology, cultural studies, art and literary theory, ecology, feminism and planetary transformation. What would each of these fields look like if we wholeheartedly accepted the existence of not just body and mind but also soul and spirit? In a stunning display of integrative embrace, Wilber weaves these fragments together into a coherent and compelling vision for the modern and postmodern world. – East/West Bookshop

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Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 1st Pbk. Ed edition (February 3, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570623457
• ISBN-13: 978-1570623455
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,942,781 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ken Wilber is one of the most widely read and influential American philosophers of our time. His recent books include "A Brief History of Everything", "The Marriage of Sense and Soul" and "Grace and Grit".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very important and helpful book, May 11, 2001

By 

John (Torrance, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Eye of Spirit (Paperback)

Author Ken Wilber irritates some and amazes others. With his increasing popularity and acclaim has come deeper criticisms. Unfortunately, most of the critics misrepresent Wilber's views. As an academic student of sociology and philosophy, I know that Wilber *generally* covers all the bases. He explains why the mechanistic or reductive views of reality are illogical and false. He calls them "flatland" because they limit reality to the data coming from the physical senses - a surface phenomenon. Wilber argues, with a great many philosophers, sages and gurus, that the realms of the mind are equally as "real" as the physical. He describes with authority the basic agreement among all spiritual traditions about the "Great Chain of Being," or the spectrum of reality (physical-mental-spiritual). And he does so without resorting to what logical positivists (e.g., R.Carnap) used to call "metaphysical construction."

In "The Eye of Spirit," Wilber covers all that and adds a beautiful chapter called "Always Already," in which he lucidly and almost poetically affirms what the great non-dual traditions have always taught: that "spirit" and the totality of "God Realization" is already 100% present in your consciousness right now. Meditation and spiritual practices, then, are just ways to help people realize this "always already" fact - which is good news for the many people whose spirituality is spontaneous and without much if any "discipline."

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Body, Mind, and Spirit, March 4, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Eye of Spirit (Hardcover)

In his latest effort, Ken Wilber continues his masterful mapping of the dimensions of human consciousness with The Eye of Spirit. Taking a break from his Kosmos Trilogy --the projected three-volume tour of the universe that has already produced the highly controversial Sex, Ecology, and Spirituality-- Wilber addresses the pressing concerns of the modern mind: Who am I? What is my role in this world? What's in store for us humans?

Calling for an "integral" approach to these questions, The Eye of Spirit blends together a series of poignant essays on such varied subjects as art and literary theory, feminism, modern systems theory, and mysticism, demonstrating not only where their strengths and weaknesses lie, but also situating the various disciplines in relation to each other --how they complement or (attempt to) assassinate one another. (Fans of Wilber's other works be warned: some of these essays rely heavily upon previously published works, so you may want to wait for the paperback version)

As usual, Wilber neatly handles a vast range of material --including some virulent criticism (see the recent issues of ReVision magazine for a taste)-- with characteristic aplomb and good sense. If nothing else, The Eye of Spirit is an excellent introduction to the world of transpersonal psychology and to the world at large. Well worth the price.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chapter 12 is worth the price of the book!, March 21, 2002

By 

Shawn Regan (marietta, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Eye of Spirit (Paperback)

This book was fairly disappointing as mostly it was a rehash of material found in Ken's earlier books (which is still good stuff if you've never read it): The great chain of being, the pre-trans fallacy, the 4 quadrants, etc...The real value of this book lies in Chapter 12 where Ken gives "pointing out" instructions for the non-dual which are really excellent. I would recommend the book for that chapter alone.