In this episode I am joined by Ken Wilber, contemporary philosopher, author, and founder of Integral Theory.

Ken recounts his biography and intellectual development including prodigious early reading, major spiritual experiences, and his models of spiritual and psychological development.

Ken reflects on his rise to fame, his deeper motivations for writing, and whether or not his Integral Institute made the impact he had hoped for.

Ken also gives a detailed account of his association with controversial American spiritual teacher Adi Da, weighs the good and bad of Da Free John’s career, considers the source of Adi Da’s shaktipat power, and reveals why he almost joined the guru’s inner circle.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep356-awakening-to-wholeness-ken-wilber

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro

00:51 - Steve’s favourite Ken Wilber book

02:01 - Difficulties writing “One Taste”

05:39 - Adolescent interest in developmental psychology

08:53 - Major spiritual experience at 13 years old

09:55 - Comparing stage models

12:24 - Zen Buddhist practice

13:47 - Ken’s first theoretical discovery

15:57 - Different types of wholeness

17:19 - Waking up

17:55 - Growing up

19:00 - Opening up

21:15 - Cleaning up

23:47 - Showing up

24:43 - 4 perspectives of person

28:51 - Ken’s fiction reading and the types of truth

31:11 - Marquis de Sade

32:45 - Why Ken wrote

39:39 - Why participate in the Great Conversation?

41:29 - Who you really are

43:32 - Universal mysticism

45:00 - Two types of religion

53:15 - Dealing with the audience response

56:22 - Being noticed in public

57:50 - Did Ken have collaborators?

01:00:05 - Integral group gatherings and conferences

01:04:22 - Ken’s assessment of the overall impact of Integral theory and the Integral gatherings

01:07:58 - No regrets

01:09:39 - Ken’s opinion of Steve’s work

01:12:23 - Ken’s history with Adi Da

01:17:10 - Invited to be part of Adi Da’s inner circle

01:19:57 - Meeting Adi Da

01:20:59 - When Ken decided not to join Adidam

01:21:57 - Sadness at Adi Da’s death

01:23:53 - William Tsiknas

01:25:22 - Falling in love with Adi Da

01:28:35 - Source of Adi Da’s power

01:28:41 - Ken on Adi Da’s relationship with his teachers

01:32:59 - Adi Da’s pranic transmission

01:35:38 - Muktananda + why Adi Da was drawn to Rudi

01:40:16 - What is shaktipat?

01:43:15 - Post-death contact and ethical controversies

01:45:04 - Feeling the heart transmission of Adi Da

01:47:17 - Ken’s disappointment in Adi Da’s controversial conduct

01:50:54 - Good vs bad of Adi Da

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To find our more about Ken Wilber, visit:

- https://kenwilber.com/

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- https://www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James