Interpreting Evolution Scientific and Spiritual Perspectives Haverford 2001

1. Interpreting EvolutionScientific and Spiritual PerspectivesHaverford 2001

2. A Global Crisis Resource depletion, biodiversity loss Pollution, global climate change Inequity, poverty, overpopulation Crime, ethnic conflict Social decay Hopelessness & despair

3. A Crisis of Perception Outdated, inadequate worldviews Fragmentation & compartmentalization Error of misplaced concreteness Reductionism g nihilism Scientific materialism g scientism Flatland cosmology Positivism Rampant relativism

4. Interpreting Evolution Science-religion conflict Symptom of �crisis of perception� Interpretation of evolution Foundation of view of the natural world Instrumental in valuing natural systems

5. Limits of Science Study of relations between measurements Gains rigor & precision within limited domain Reveals a �shadow world of symbols� (Eddington) Excludes quality, essence, meaning, purpose. �Not yet in touch with ultimate reality� (Jeans) Phenomena reduced to epiphenomena (Frankl) Leaves out all that is �near and dear (Schroedinger)

6. The Skeleton of Science

7. Lifting the Veil of Symbols

8. Transcending Science

9. The Mystical Experience

10. Science, Religion and Beauty Both science and religion/spirituality: Search for the universal unitary principle Guided by perception of beauty Two definitions of beauty The harmony of proportions (Pythagoras) �The eternal splendor of the One shining through the material phenomena� (Plotinus) - Werner Heisenberg, Science and the Beautiful

11. Integration of Science & Spirit

12. Levels of Significance Every observation can be interpreted at multiple levels of significance. Each level of significance: Internally consistent, factual, logical, objective. Gives no evidence of higher levels. Lower levels of significance: No factual error. Feigns complete understanding. True significance is missed. Impoverished view of reality.

13. Experiential Spirituality Perceptual faculties Eye of flesh Eye of mind Eye of contemplation Each �eye� discloses its own truths in its own realm Spiritual experience Numenous experience of the holy Mystical experience of unity "The data for a religious community consist of the distinctive experiences of individuals" -Ian Barbour

14. Attributes of Spiritual Experience Essentially the same in different cultures Direct, nonconceptual intuition Beyond words, concepts and dualities Transverbal, transrational, and nondual Not shaped by language, concepts, cultural forms "The real transcends, surrounds, and overflows our miserable categories" Fleshes out the skeleton of scientific theory Provides an interpretation (at a higher level of significance) for the �empty symbols� of science.

15. Generalized Empirical Method 3-stage knowledge validation method Injunction Do this Recipe for creating an experience Apprehension Immediate apprehension Experience brought forth by injunction Communal verification Community of reviewers has completed previous stages

16. Perennial Philosophy

17. Perennial Wisdom Universal numenous experience Transcends categories of thought Transcultural core principles Supports an integral spiritual vision Independent of culturally bound theologies Expressed in various religions Culturally conditioned interpretations

18. Dimensions of religious practice Exoteric Emphasis on faith, doctrine Path of salvation through ritual, belief & conduct. Legalistic approach to morality Esoteric Emphasis on direct experience Path of transcendence, spiritual awakening Spiritual practice g intimacy with God.

19. Unity of Core Principles

20. The Perennial Vision All forms of the cosmos emerge from a single source

21. Levels of Being and Knowing Spectrum of consciousness Codification of direct experiential reality Consensually validated Essentially universal

22. Great Nest of Being and Knowing Nested Holarchy Levels = holons Structures Waves

23. Levels of Selfhood and Reality in the Perennial Philosophy

24. Holons Reality is composed of holons Holon properties Self preservation Self-adaptation Self-transcendence Self-dissolution

25. Emergence

26. Evolution Emergent process marked by the progressive subordination of older systems to newer, higher order systems Holons emerge holarchically Higher level holon embraces level holons Adds its own more encompassing pattern. Evolutionary Progression Increasing integration and internalization Deeper identity and wider perspective Expanded sense of self Increasing relative autonomy Decreasing egocentrism Each development discloses a new �worldspace�

27. Inner and Outer Levels

28. Macro and Micro Levels

29. Four Quadrant Evolution

30. A �perennial wisdom tradition� Common core principles of the Nondual philosophies: Plato/Plotinus in the West Nagarjuna in the East Expressed as a dynamic balance: Descent from One to many : manifestation/immanence Ascent from many to One: remembrance/transcendence �This core philosophy has, in one form or another, been the dominant official philosophy of the large part of civilized mankind through most of its history� - Lovejoy.

31. Immanence: The Descending Path Involution of Divine existence in inconscience of matter Many names for the One: Godhead, Brahman, Allah, Tao, Buddha Nature, Sunyata, etc. The manifest world is �a visible sensible God� (Plato) �Wheresoever you look, there is the face of God� (Koran)

32. Transcendence: Ascending Path Developmental path of transcendence Transcends suffering through contemplative absorption in the One The One is universal object of desire Culminates in union with the One Enlightenment, liberation, salvation, spiritual evolution Involves a structural change in consciousness Expansion or transcendence of boundaries of self Transcendence or dissolution of �false self�

33. Conscious Evolution Evolution is the progressive self-manifestation of spirit in the forms and entities of the material universe The divine existence strives toward self-realization through progressively refined forms of material substance Progressive awakening of the involved spiritual essence Universal levels Balance between the creative self-expression of the spiritual reality and the constraints imposed by its manifestation in and envelopment by a nescient material substance Each new level represents a greater potential -a more complete accommodation- for the awakening and expression of the implicate spiritual consciousness Transcendent One is �the universal object of desire, that which draws all souls toward itself�: �the pull of the future�, the evolutionary attractor.

34. Evolution and Human Potential Spiritual awakening is conscious participation in the Divine unfolding Humanity partakes in the �Divine nature�.

35. An awakened vision of the cosmos:

36. Evolutionary Ethics Expansion of sense of self in cognitive development Matter/life gBody Mind g Thoughts, humanity Soul g All sentient beings Spirit g Cosmos Metaphysical ground of ethics: Recognize in another: oneself in own true being Unity with Atman All-pervading radiance of Spirit

37. Deep Ecology

38. Universal Compassion Realization All sentient beings are expression of one true Self, one universal Soul expression of a universal compassion which transcends and outshines all previous egocentric, sociocentric, or anthropocentric forms

39. Integral Studies Vision Statement Integrated epistemology Rational knowledge of scientific empiricism Intuitive knowledge of spiritual experience Complementary schools Integral spirituality Integral science