- ‘Enlightenment’ manifests in the conscious world, but ‘rebirth’ requires examining the unconscious world and resolving its issues to achieve psychological completeness as a human being.
- Ken Wilber (American psychologist) became engrossed in Eastern and Western philosophies after encountering Lao Tzu’s ‘Tao Te Ching.’ Through decades of residing in East Asian countries, including Korea, and direct experiences of spiritual practices and interactions with high monks and religious leaders, he realized that spiritual experiences do not guarantee psychological completion.
Does enlightenment solve all problems? This is what must be achieved alongside enlightenment! | 휴심정 & 플라톤아카데미 joint project 'Interview with Overseas Spiritual Leaders' Integrative Psychology Expert Ken Wilber Interview 1
Many who claim to have attained enlightenment or experienced spiritual awakening exhibit significant personality problems, particularly concerning issues related to sex and money. How did you come to know that spiritual experiences do not guarantee psychological completion?
I was able to understand this only after spending decades traveling to India, Nepal, China, and Tibet, meeting countless high monks and practitioners in the deep mountains of Korea, as well as numerous monks and religious leaders.
Nicodemus, a Pharisee and leader of the Jews, witnessed the miracles performed by Jesus and regarded him as a teacher sent from God. He sought out the Lord late at night, hoping to gain instruction to further his knowledge. However, Jesus had a central topic he wanted to convey: the fundamental truth of ‘Who can enter the Kingdom of God?’ Who can enter the Kingdom of God? Flesh-born individuals cannot. (John 3: 1-8)
Jesus’ answer was that only those who are reborn can enter.
Only those born of the Spirit can enter. Being reborn as a child of God occurs when a person who has repented of their sins relies on the merits of Jesus Christ, receives baptism in water, and receives the seal of the Holy Spirit. The Bible refers to those transformed by water and the Holy Spirit as ‘new creations’ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians 10:12)
Matthew 7
13. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
14. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Regardless of whether a person practices spiritual disciplines, reads and understands the words of truth, or gains enlightenment through them, the fruits of this will be manifested in their character and actions.
In Christianity and other religions, we often see leaders who initially follow their path with sincerity but, upon reaching a certain point, fall prey to scandals involving fame, power, money, or sex.
Ken Wilber explains the process of enlightenment and rebirth from an integrative psychology perspective. As seen in the scripture mentioned above, even after receiving God’s salvation, bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit is a separate matter. Since the path is so difficult, Jesus calls it the narrow road and warns, ‘If you think you stand, beware lest you fall.’
Ken Wilber’s unique interpretation of the decisive reason why people fail to reach complete human nature, despite claiming to have achieved enlightenment, from an integrated psychological perspective, deserves attention.
Enlightenment manifests in the conscious world and involves continuous effort, but the rebirth of character and behavior in individuals with a healthy human nature is closely related to the unconscious world, making it difficult to readily grasp. If this aspect is overlooked, even those who have attained enlightenment can collapse at any moment.
Sigmund Freud (S. Freud) divided the human mind into conscious, preconscious, and unconscious based on the level of awareness.
The unconscious is the deepest and most important part of the human psyche and provides clues for understanding individual behavior. The unconscious, which lies outside the realm of consciousness, constitutes most of the mental world and governs human behavior, determining the direction of actions (Counseling Psychology Dictionary, 2016). This includes fears, violent impulses, irrational desires, lustful cravings, selfishness, and shameful experiences.
It is astonishing that 95% of human behavioral patterns are driven by our subconscious (emotional brain) and unconscious (survival brain), while only 5% are driven by consciousness (rational brain).
The unconscious has a habit of accepting everything at face value, whether positive or negative. If you continuously tell yourself that you will succeed in a particular endeavor, the likelihood of actual success increases. The unconscious does not think or reason independently. It obeys the commands issued by the conscious mind.
If 95% of human activities are driven by the unconscious, then how the unconscious (unconscious mind) can be utilized in learning becomes a crucial question. Collaboration between the conscious and unconscious minds is essential for making any changes or achieving goals. By connecting (synchronizing) our conscious awareness with the immense power of the unconscious, we can gain control over our lives and achieve what we desire. Understanding how the unconscious truly operates can dramatically transform our learning and lives.
Matthew 7
7. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
2024. 6. 20 durumis Summary
Postscript
Cultivating an integrated psychological perspective on the imperfect state that arises during the maturation process of human beings is crucial. No matter how enlightened someone may be, if they fail to address the greed and wounds that lie dormant in their unconscious, they are susceptible to stumbling at any moment. In this sense, it is important to examine whether there are any unclean aspects within the unconscious of one’s mind and to work on improving them.
This is living a life of worship with ‘truth and Spirit,’ and it will be the foundation for living the ‘sanctified life’ that the Apostle Paul spoke of. We must remember Jesus’ words that we must be reborn through water and the Holy Spirit to enter the ‘Kingdom of God.’
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