The objectives of this dissertation are (1) to study Ken Wilber’s Integral Theory, (2) to criticize the Therav¤da Buddhist concepts as shown in Ken Wilber’s Integral Theory and (3) to propose the Buddhist Integral Theory for mental and social development.
From the research, it is found that the Integral Theory is a grand theory covering all the aspects and all the disciplines. Another name is called the Four Quadrants or AQAL. The first quadrant is I or intention perspectives. The second one is the behavioral or the outside perspectives. The third one is the cultural and traditional perspectives and the fourth one is the social, ecological and universal perspectives. It has been influenced by many concepts of many disciplines including both eastern and western philosophies and religions such as Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, Zen, Vedanta and Hinduism etc. including the Evolution Theory, the Jean Piaget’s Intellectual Development Theory, the Maslow’s Hierarchical Theory of Motivation, Structuralism, Postmodernism and Spiral Dynamics Theory.
Holon is the unit of analysis that used to explain the reality of any existences. Reality as a whole is not composed of things or processes, but of holons. Holon is the system of the relations. Each holon is a whole/part unit, transcended and included its predecessor. Holons are distributed everywhere and every places both of abstraction and concrete objects. Holons are managed in hierarchy same as any existences.
The consciousness in concept of Ken Wilber and Buddhism is different. In Ken Wilber’s concept, it’s eternal, arising but not falling while in the Buddhist concept, it’s arising and falling. Human’s Consciousness is also holon. Some characteristics of both holon and consciousness have similarities and differences. However, the concept of Aatt¤, Anatt¤, Nibb¤na, and the Enlightenment are different from Therav¤da Buddhism.
Ken Wilber has proposed the practices according to his own theory which called the Integral Life Practice (ILP). These practices will help one to bring each individual’s hidden capacity to fully grow and develop. ILP consists of 4 core modules and 5 auxiliary modules. Main concepts of these practices are also conformed to the practices in the Threefold Training of Therav¤da Buddhism.
Researcher has synthesized the new knowledge and called as the Buddhist Integral Theory. It proposed both the theory itself and its practices. In the theory, it’s applied the doctrines of Buddhism of 5 Niy¤ma-s and Idappaccayat¤. It consists of 3 dimensions i.e. individual, social, and the causal interdependence dimensions. In practices, they are applied the doctrines of Buddhism as the following; the psychological integral Buddhism will propose the way to solve the Shadow problems using the Right View and 4 Brahmavih¤ra-s etc. The behavioral integral Buddhism will propose three concepts of the adjustment methods, S?la, Carita and Sekhiyavatta. The cultural integral Buddhism will propose 7-Sappurisadhamma-s. The social integral Buddhism will propose the social consciousness by Integral Spirituality Engaged, Idappaccayat¤ and 4 Appama¢¢¤-s. Furthermore, the researcher has proposed the Threefold Training for mental and social development by using the concept of the Integral Theory.
The Buddhist Integral Theory is the new knowledge that can be applied for self and social development such as avocations for social activities of children or the promotion of knowledge in causal interdependence to bring about the social consciousness etc. Self development will gain happiness and peace and the highest development is the cessation of suffering, in addition, it will bring peace for society as well. |