Welcome to the Auckland Integral Salon
Background
There are many methods available today for understanding our lives and our world. This range and diversity has probably never been matched in human history. It is unsurprising then that many of us experience a mixture of confusion and exhaustion when evaluating the many life practices and theories that exist. In such circumstances, it can be challenging to gain access to our discriminating wisdom and then live according to our insights
Ken Wilber: The Integral Institute and Ken Wilber have developed a framework that encourages the integration of many points of view. His work enables a methodological pluralism (AQAL) that can help to weave related practices and theories into a cohesive fabric. The right framework helps us to pay close attention to the details and remain sensitive to the important strands of commonality that exist in all methods of inquiry, forms of spiritual practice, and models of growth. There is an inherent flexibility and tolerance that arises from such openness.
Our Group: Meeting within an Integral Community we help each other exercise our AQAL perspectives. by bringing our individual perspectives and our willingness to explore other perspectives, we come together in the “we” space where there is greater potential for growth and insight. As the cognitive line is essential in the development of awareness, there is currently within the group a particular emphasis on learning the AQAL model and applying it in our lives.
What do we do: Our meetings usually focus on one aspect of AQAL theory as the “mind” module of an Integral Life Practice (ILP). The discussions then bring the theory “alive” and allow the inclusion of other elements of ILP. This ILP work is the current Integral Operating System (IOS) of the salon where we are in essence exercising body, mind and spirit, in self, culture and nature. We work to utilize and exercise all perspectives that are available to us when operating within the Integral Model.
How we run the group: The group gently facilitates itself with a mix of well-structured focused time as well as a more “free-flow” discussion. Participants are encouraged to bring forth their views and perspectives while allowing for and tolerating different perspectives as an active practice. The spirit of this “practice” also allows us to be mindful of where we sometimes privilege one aspect of awareness and close out others.
Recommended books by Ken Wilber:
- Integral Spirituality
- A Theory of Everything
- One Taste
- A simple Feeling of being
Recommended Websites:
