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May 2009 
Integrating evolutionary science and esotericism
Posted on Apr 19th, 2007
by 
M. Alan
M. Alan
I contune to make slow progress on my first book, which may be called Esoteric Ontology or Integral Metaphysics. I'm mostly working on the description of physical consciousness. This involves incorporating science and philosophy along with esotericism. Most esotericists gloss over the physical, not considering it of much importance. It's assumed that the physical reality is the reality described by science blah blah blah and then we can go straight to the various supra-physical realities. I used to take this position as well. But that opens esotericism to criticism from materialists and more recently from Wilberians. So I've decided to mention how modern complexity science and the theory of emergent evolution fits in with process philosophy and non-reductionistic evolutionary cosmology (e.g. Aurobindo, Teilhard, etc). Then there's the "myth of the given" and the nature of physical copnsciousness. Of course all this isn't explained at great length, because I find these over-mental arguments to be tedious. But just a basic mention, so it's acknowledged. Then others can take this discussion further, if they want.
A lot of this - but not everything - has already been covered in my Integral Esotericism essay on Frank Visser's Integral World website. So I'm expanding on what I write there, and also adding some new stuff.
A lot of this - but not everything - has already been covered in my Integral Esotericism essay on Frank Visser's Integral World website. So I'm expanding on what I write there, and also adding some new stuff.
Access: Public
I'm so happy to hear about this dear m. alan.
Given my own physical journey your words are a waterfall of truth to my ears.
My personal choice for title is Integral Metaphysics. My sense is that it is much more 'pick-upable' and will speak to a wider audience.
And for some reason Esoteric Ontology makes me think of some kind of weird medical practise .. ;-
love, Sandra
hi Sandra!
Yes, you are right, “Integral Metaphysics” is a more catchy title
love & light
m.a.
Dear Alan, and Company,
I am afraid Sandra is right. Integral Metaphysics is far better. It would probably be best to call it:-
Towards Integral Metaphysics.
The word “Towards” ofcourse implies that it is in a process of progressive evolution. Integral Metaphysics seems to indicate that the whole thing has been finalised when the reverse is actually the case.
Again, Sandra is right about Esoteric Ontology. To most people this means nothing. It sounds too academic when I presume you are trying to reach out to a wider audience. I could suggest one title for a possible consideration.
Inner Worlds, Inner Visions; (sub-title) Exploring Esoteric Philosophies.
It is important to just concentrate on Towards Integral Metaphysics as I assume that this will be the BASIS for your other proposed books. Try, and get that published first, and see if it sells reasonably well. Remember that even if your publisher happens to be your friend he still has to find a good market for it. He has got to make a profit on it no matter how modest, and he has to cover his costs. Moreover, he may expect you to give talks to the public on Towards Integral Metaphysics to help promote sales. These things have to borne in matter if one is being fair.
If you do a really thorough job with Towards Integral Metaphysics it could become a classic resource guide to the whole subject. This would encourage a wider readership, and could even become a major reference work in the many libraries of the world if it sells well in Australia, and abroad.
I remember a long time ago I used to know John Pyman. I sent him some of my psychic experiences for possible inclusion in his book. He was a Cambridge graduate in philosophy, and had been in an intelligence officer in World War II. He also published a text book on philosophy which sold well in America, and he acted as a reference for my joining the respected Society for Psychical Research. Anyway, I used to on occcassion give him some ideas for the title of his proposed book (which unfortunately did not get published. I think he abandoned the project), and commented on how good I was at cominng up with interesting titles!! With respect ,you need to be more creative on this front but in a way that attracts people to all things esoteric…………………..
.
Robert S.
The ULTIMATE esotericism IS ZEN - an ABSOLUTE understanding of which IS entirely necessary - on our journey in search of - less and less of more and more - & as such points to Integral Metaphysics rather than Esoteric Ontology.
That's right Alan listen to Sandra, you got to sell books. Integral Metaphysics is perfect!
Metaphysics is a good term that people generally associate with spiritual paths and spirituality in general. Of course you could, if you have a good lawyer, call it Integral Spiritual Metaphysics, and if Wilber sues you that will give you more publicity, and thereby sell more books!
Good luck
Do it.
Zak
And I also liked Towards Integral Metaphysics.. and how about Towards Integral Spiritual Metaphysics.. oh no far too much of a mouthful. How about just Towards… ;-)
And I suspect if you asked a 100 people, dear m. alan, you would get 100 different suggestions. Go with your gut feeling, your heart.
Love to all,
Sandra
just write a good book, and you could call it “towards spiritual basketweaving” and if its good, it will sell big.
Havent all you smart people ever heard of
“never judge a book by its cover”
ha ha ha ha ha ha
joker
Well I wish you were right, Joker, and you are, partly - but I've got several family in the 'business' (of selling, writing, editing, publishing & distributing books) and the title/cover does actually make a big difference, not to mention the publisher / agent and how much time they spend on 'selling' it — how much money they decide to give the big bookstores to place the book in a strategic spot etc.etc.
Many great books never get the audience they deserve, many many awful ones become number one best sellers - partly because of above factors. I'll not name names.
And, yes, the main thing is that the book is written.
Keep me posted m. alan :-)
Thank you everyone for your comments and feedback!
Integral Metaphysics it is!
I originally was going to go with Towards an Integral Metaphysic, since as Robert correctly points out that indicates process and evolution rather than a final end product. But since I have been writing this book I've found that I have been talking strongly about Metaphysics itself, rather than providing suggestions towards what “integral” Esoteric Metaphysics may be. So I think I'll stick with the shorter title. That way I strongly put my cards on the table.. I also from the start set up (by the very title) a dialectical opposition to KW's “post-metaphysics”, thus immediately broadening the Integral Movement beyond just wilberism alone. So the title itself is a call to action, and the next evolutionary growth and development of the modern Integral Movement.
Integral Spiritual metaphysics is a bit too unweildly. Haha, Zak, no I don't think Ken will sue me, no matter what the book is called :-)
Robert your suggestion for a possible alternative title of “Inner Worlds, Inner Visions” sounds evocative, but i also include the outer as well as the inner, and the nondual absolute which is beyond ouer and inner. So while I like the title a lot, it isn't me (but sounds like a great book!). The sub-title “Exploring Esoteric Philosophies” is very good though, so I might use that :-) The only thing i feel a bit uncomfortable about here is that philosophy alone is theory, and for all my theorising I am still interested in practice first and formost. In addition, not all teachings are philosophies. Maybe Exploring Esoteric Realities? But then that is the other extreme, too practical, it sounds a bit like one of those New Age workshops. And i do have a lot of theory in the book. Anyway we'll see how it goes.
So, very tentatively:
Integral Metaphysics - .Exploring Esoteric Realities
as the title and subtitle of the book.
Thanks again everyone for your extremely helpful comments :-) btw I'd be interested in getting people's feedback for the draft manuscript (or even individual chapters) when they are ready, so I know it is not too obscure or whatever. So If anyone would like to review some chapters when they are ready and give me their honest and critical feedback (the more criticism the better, because how else does one learn?) please let me know :-)
Sandra:
I am just poking a little fun at all of us, I am sure your publishing family knows what it is talking about.
Alan:
Sure I would be glad to help you in that regard of reading a chapter.
Also if you want to go over some of the points I made in my unpublished 40 page essay on Wilber's metaphysical errors I enumerated in that essay[that I have no wish to publish at this point] you are welcome to check it out. That's up to you. I may change my mind and publish it, but I doubt it.
I would also like to suggest this: As I am in the process of getting my book published.
It's called: “The Ellipse: The Fall and Rise of the Human Soul”
Briefly
It's about the story of the structural aspects of our inner soul that got out of line at the fall of humans in primordial times as told by the allegory of the Garden of Eden, or how we lost the Buddha nature, and how to gain it back.
In researching publishing alternatives I have found that many publishers will just take a few chapters and accept a work to publish, I myself would copyright my work before I did this though.
The book “Writers Market” 2007 is an excellent reference to all the publishers out there.
And gives great advice on how to deal with publishers and agents.
You might want to buy that if you don't already have it.
zak
Zak, thanks for the offer re your manuscript on the metaphysical critique of KW; i get the feeling that you and I are basically in agreement in all these things. But in my book I want to get away from “Ken-bashing” as much as possible. It's more important to constructively build an alternative, then simply pull down someone else's edifice (which in the case of Wilber is not hard to do, as many others as well as myself have already comprehensively done so e.g. the material on Frank Visser's web site and elsewhere, and as it seems you have also adequately done so from the esotericist perspective in your own essay from the summary you have sent). I'll still include a few criticisms of KW, just enough to show that he doesn't have a monopoly on “integral”, still less on the Truth, along with references to the many comprehensive criticisms on the Web. But for the rest I'd rather positively present my own esoteric metaphysical synthesis.
Good luck with your own book too!
I don't think I'll have any problem getting my work published, as a friend of a friend publishes esoteric books in Germany, and also I could write to people at the CIIS and elsewhere and get their recommendations. The important thing of course is simply to get the material finished. Curerntly I'm incorporating some material from my website and also from the essays Frank published on Integral World. That makes it much easier and less repetitous and time-consuming than writing everything from scratch!
Hi Alan! As you know, I will be the happiest person on earth when you complete this book!
I'm more than available for proofreading/editing. Just drop me a line whenever.
Btw I have to e-mail you details – I got into NYU's psych program! So I'm leaving in August this year for New York City. I'm relieved and grateful.
Ditto to what Ned said re having a look at some chapters. I cannot promise to fully 'know' what you write about, but perhaps this is what I can offer - a 'laypersons' overall feeling - I know you want the work to speak to more than a select group.
And don't let all these comments divert you from writing :-)
Congrats Ned! That's excellent news!
And yeah, I'll have to send you an autographed copy of my book when it finally comes out :-)
In the meantime, I'm more interested in ideas feedback - what have I left out, what is explained poorly, etc. Although of course proofreading is important too, but atm it's just getting the initial draft finished
Dear M. Alan - I've just commented on Mushin's blog Towards an Integral and Pluralistic Spirituality
I'm afraid I tentatively nominated you as a moderator to a similarly named pod (it's only an idea right now, not an actual pod).. I suspect your time is best spent on writing your book, but… maybe there is something possible that would support your and Mushin's vision and many others here?
With love,
Sandra
Hi Sandra. Thanks for pointing me at Mushin's post! Yeah it seems like a number of us are tuning into this larger process of spiritual awakening; each from different perspectives, but each part of the larger whole. I've commented more on Mushin's blog
love & light
m.a.
Thanks m.a.
I've commented more on the Towards an Integral and Pluralistic Spirituality pod issue over there too. My sense is that Pods are very useful for some practical issues - I've just become moderator on a creative writing Pod, for example. I've tended not to do more than an occasional comment here and there on the discussion pods - as you say in your comment on Mushin's blog, much seems to stay in the realm of academic and intellectual.
Much love,
Sandra