This is to record a few quesitons arouse when reading "The Theory of Everything". I wonder whehter I will eventually find the answers.
20 Years Later
Integral Theory is great! It provides a broader and deeper view of self, environment, society, culture, and everything. Reading the book “Theory of Everything”which is written almost 20 years ago, I couldn’t help questioning what have been changed in the past 20 years. How Integral Theory has changed the world and our lives? Is the world today better than how it was two decades ago? What to expect and what will be changed in the next decade?
Life and Human Science
Ken Wilber has mentioned “Human Science” in this book. There are not much elaboration on that other than a brief discussion of meditation. Would more instructions of practice in his other books? Similar theory has been discussed by Nan Huai-Chin three decades ago. He said “life itself is science, and life science would be the focus point in both eastern and western cultures”. Nan Huai-Chin provides detailed instructions of Chanting in his book “Tao & Longevity: Mind-Body Transformation” (published in 1984). In that book, Nan explained, step by step, Chi, Pressure Points, and ultimate spiritual experience obtained by chanting. Nan facilitated 7-day chanting events for his students and followers. By practising his knowledge on Chinese herbs, Nan also provided medical cure to himself, family, friends and his followers and students. Nan had a lung disease at the age of 95, and he passed away peacefully during chanting.
Western and Eastern
“A Theory of Everything” is helpful. In the book, Ken Wilber analyzed and summarized theories from all times and all cultures. The book maps out the developmental stages in all levels and realms. Ken Wilber was inspired by Tao De Jing and other eastern literature in 1960s. As indicated in the book, Ken Wilber has reviewed and summarised over one thousand books. That is an impressive amount of time and attention on research and analysis. Similarly, Ge Guo-Long’s theory is also rooted in Tao De Jing and Taoist. Ge Guo-Long also researched and analyzed various cultures and religions. As the dean of Taoist research center at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, in addition to theory analysis, he also devotes considerable amount of time to practice.
As indicated in the book, Ken Wilber mentioned has worked and is working with many other writers and philosopher. On the contrary, eastern writers and philosophers turn to focus on their own research and practice. This is quite interesting. Generally speaking, individual’s success is respected in the western culture, while teamwork is most valued in the eastern culture.
Men and Women
In the book, it is said Men and Women have different paths to self-growth. One is based on Rights and Justice, while the other is rooted in Care and Responsibilities. I felt that I cannot appreciate it totally. Each individual is unique due to so many factors, and gender is only one among the so many. If an individual can be presented as a pie chart, gender is only one piece of the pie. How much impact the one piece can make? It could be case by case.
