I recently watched ‘Breaking Boundaries: The Science of our Planet’ with David Attenborough. The main takeaway is that civilisation as we know it, is on the precipice of collapse if we don’t make significant changes immediately. This decade is the last chance to change our destiny.
What is the difference between having meaning in life, and a meaning for life
Sometimes living on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, it can seem like an insulated bubble, far away from reality. But even living in ‘The Lucky Country’, underneath the relaxed, happy facade there is a darker underbelly. I know this to be true, not from watching the news, but from volunteering at Lifeline. Is the suffering I witnessed just part of the human condition, which should be accepted and not questioned? Obviously there is no quick fix – each and every person has their own unique circumstances and issues and thus a unique pathway forward. However, I did notice that there was often a deficiency in one the below three areas :
1: Lack of personal empowerment (stuck in the victim mentality, blaming the world for their problems) or blaming themselves, low self esteem
2: Loneliness: lack of community/family/meaningful relationships
3: Lack of deeper meaning and purpose in their lives and for their lives.
The pervasive ‘meaningless’ of everything, which people don’t question since it’s been ‘proven’ by mainstream science, is in my opinion largely responsible for many of the problems we are facing. This sense that there is no bigger meaning to our lives, other than to become successful and avoid suffering, is the main reason why we have a looming mental health crisis, but also why we have systems which have destroyed the earth and caused massive inequality. We’ve moved a step in the right direction, in the sense that nowadays many people are aware that true happiness comes from having meaningful things in our lives – stimulating, challenging work, loving relationships, access to nature, enough rest and giving back to name a few, but the down side of stopping here is that it puts a lot of pressure on attaining these things. And if we can’t get them then we feel like we’ve failed – if there’s nothing bigger going on that is.
Having ‘meaning’ in our lives is important, but this is not a replacement for having faith in a meaning for life.
How can we have a unified response to the Earth Crisis in a fractured world?
If we are going to have any chance of bringing our civilizations impact upon the environment back into the ‘safe zone’ and avoid catastrophe then there needs to be a unified response. On a practical level, every country needs to seriously implement things like re-wilding, self-sufficiency, ecological conservation, renewable energy, reducing waste and pollution, and reducing overall consumption to name a few.
In the short-term, the motivation to save our planet – if not for people we’ve never met then at least for our own children – should be enough to spur serious action. But if implementing these changes is all we do, if there isn’t a global acknowledgement and attempt to address the meaning crisis, then I’m dubious as to whether human civilization will be able to really move forward.
We may have reached a dead end but we don’t need to go backwards
Most people can feel that something’s seriously amiss, that we’ve gone off track even if they find it hard to name. It’s confusing when we’re constantly reminded of how far civilization has advanced technologically speaking. There’s always someone to remind us how ‘humans have always been facing a crisis, in each and every age – wars, plagues, natural disasters, whilst listing the statistics on global wealth increase. These might both true, but never before have we risked the possible collapse of our civilization.
Some people don’t seem too concerned about this, as they see humanity more like a parasite, which has become too smart for it’s own good. Despite being one themself, they don’t think too highly of humans so aren’t too bothered about being eliminated. There are others who idolize the hunter-gatherer nomadic stage of human development, seeing everything since the birth of agriculture as a slippery slope downhill. They believe the only answer is a return to an earlier stage.
What these views fail to recognize, is that we’re not static, that our collective story is still unfolding. Humans have potential for greatness, which we’ve seen glimpses of throughout history. Just as molecules become cells, which become living organisms, and complex systems, we too are evolving to become more than the sum of our parts. As with the physical world, this happens through relationship, through the coming together of elements to make something new. This process was in no way linear, but nevertheless, appears to be moving towards wholeness.
Evolution doesn’t end with the formation of the human-being. We are meant to continue evolving in terms of our consciousness. In nature when an organism is faced with an environmental challenge, it evolves and adapts to deal with the problem, or it dies off. In the same way, our current status quo isn’t working. The inequality caused by our capitalist system, and the intense focus on individual ‘success’ has led to a planet on the edge of destruction and a mental health crisis. We need to evolve and adapt or we face dying off.
We’ve still got a way to go
The first step is to recognize that humans are probably still early in the process of evolution (of consciousness). Secondly, rather than seeing what came before as ‘wrong’, in order to move forward we need to recognize that previous stages were necessary and laid the foundations for the subsequent stages of development. It is important to note that at any given point in history, not all of humanity is at the same stage. At times, we may advance in certain areas but go backwards in others. This happens both collectively and at a personal level. It can be helpful to visualize it as a spiral which has an upwards trajectory.
The most well-known and universally observable/accepted model of human development is the spiral dynamics/integral theory, of which Ken Wilber has written extensively about. The problem is it’s a bit too complicated for most of us to get our heads around, let alone apply to ourselves. Yet I believe it is so important for people to understand that each of us is taking part in evolution – that is the point of our lives.
There are some key things to understand about how the process works
In the early stages of development (where most of humanity currently is) people can only see the world from their own perspective. They fail to understand that each stage is necessary for healthy development. This is why we see so much polarization and dis-unity in our world currently. For example, each ‘group’ thinks that they have the right story, and they look down on others who they think have it ‘wrong.’ For example, a committed Christian might look at the ‘secular’ world which focuses on the individual as having gone off path. Whereas the average secular citizen might look upon a Christian fundamentalist as being the brainwashed product of religious dogma, devoid of individual/personal depth.
According to integral theory, neither stage is ‘wrong’. Today, the average citizen has focused on the ‘me’ portion of their evolution, and the religious/tribal person has focused on the ‘we’ portion. For true evolution of consciousness to take place, both sides need to acknowledge the validity of the other, and integrate it. This isn’t saying that everyone needs to believe a set of rules as laid down by a religion, but seeing yourself as part of a wider community with a shared goal is important for us as humans. Equally, inner work is important if we are going to fufil our own authentic potential.
In order for ‘my’ story and ‘our’ story to be effectively integrated, both aspects needs to sit within a larger Universal Story. This is the key to a spiritually healthy person, as it means that the ‘map’ (ie. The Bible, the manifesto, the ‘rules’) are never mistaken for The Story. There’s space for other maps to exist without threatening their own.
Also, on a personal level, having a Universal Story helps us to stay grounded as we are no longer at the mercy of external circumstances having complete power over us. There is something much bigger going on, and our story is not all there is. On a collective level, the Universal Story which says we are all manifestations of Source, equally valuable regardless of our achievements, makes it impossible to continue with the current system, in which there are clear ‘winners’ and ‘losers’. Currently we are seeing a widening gap between the rich and poor, and there is escalating hunger and famine in many developing countries which has been exacerbated by the Covid19 pandemic. As the level of collective consciousness rises, it will become increasingly unacceptable for this to continue.
In summary, there is a universal pattern of evolution, which is applicable at a personal level as well as collectively. Many people don’t realise this, and they stay stuck in the first stage. It is my belief that the purpose of life is to move through the stages, to the point where we are we are freely open to our Source, and so our lives are lived from a place of deep-seated love and unity. I also believe that this evolution isn’t limited to this lifetime alone, but that’s one for another time.
The Earth crisis (which has resulted from the meaning crisis), is a clear sign that we have reached the limits of our current stage of evolution and need to move to the next stage. The collective consciousness of humanity starts with the individual. It has been said that only 5% of the world’s population need to be fully ‘awake’ to tip the balance, and move humanity into the next stage. This is because change can happen non-locally. See https://charleseisenstein.org/video/how-change-happens-in-the-story-of-separation/
To be fully ‘awake’ requires we do our own work, (my story), live in relationship/community with others (our story) and integrate both within a larger, universal story which acts as our North Star (The Story). Love becomes the litmus test as to how we measure ‘success’ at any stage.
What do the stages look like for personal evolution?
1: My Story
This is where we all begin and it’s the stage that the majority of humanity is still in. At the start of this stage it’s about survival. This is where people live their lives as victims and instead of dealing with their own problems, they blame everyone and everything else. Caveat: There are of course valid external problems, but ultimately we can’t let our circumstances have the last word.
Within this stage, people can progress to taking responsibility for themselves, and become empowered. They do the ‘inner work’ to understand their own story – psychotherapy and counselling are key at this stage. Once they understand their own unconscious drives – sometimes referred to as their ‘shadow’ they can be free to begin true self-actualization. This involves discovering and cultivating gifts and passions, honing inter-personal skills, exploring their personality type and values, and improving their health, fitness and prosperity. All this is good and necessary for our evolution.
The problem is if we stay stuck here, then we can only see things from our own limited perspective. This stage is characterized by being easily affected by external events. We are like a pinball being flicked around, bouncing from one thing to the next. We get dragged down by every problem, spending most of our waking life trying to figure things out, and we feel it’s our fault if things don’t pan out.
Left unchecked, living purely from the ‘me’ story, can lead to anxiety and depression as well as narcissism and a sense of entitlement. Social media has further entrenched this trend towards an unhealthy obsession with self. Since this is the stage that the majority of people are at, it’s no surprise that the system in the developed west at least, is predicated on individualism and consumerism, which only makes it harder for people to transcend this stage.
2: Our Story
This stage is characterized by being part of a group. For many of us reading this in capitalist, neo-liberal societies, it can be hard for us to imagine our lives being governed by the group. But for thousands of years this is how humans have lived. The fact that ‘me’ usually comes before ‘we’, doesn’t mean that we’ve gone backwards as a society. Individual empowerment is just as ‘important’. However, we’ve moved on without recognizing the value being part of a tribe brought to our lives.
Back then, the community we were part of was a big part of our identity. Nowadays most of us don’t even know our neighbours. We rely on the state for many of the jobs which family and community members would have done, like caring for the elderly and children. Many people nowadays are suffering from loneliness and a lack of meaning and identity. Most people spend the majority of their lives doing jobs that don’t really matter, and could only exists in such a system as todays. Families move apart from each other, rising house prices mean that communities can’t accommodate new generations, or lack of jobs mean they have to move away. Community is only one form of ‘our story’, it can also come in many forms including religious, cultural or political group membership.
Humans work best when they feel part of something bigger than themselves. Group membership can bring a lot of meaning, support, direction and mentor-ship into our lives. It’s not surprising that there has been a huge rise in mental health issues, and reliance on therapists and self-help books since the traditional support of the ‘group’ has disappeared. In the words of Jesus himself:
‘The branch cut off from the vine is useless.’
In it’s healthy form, ‘Our Story’ is where we find a map for navigating life, where we find opportunity to contribute to something bigger. Left to our own devices, without accountability or support of a group we can sink into narcissism which is where most of us are nowadays. We need structure, a map and a community to help us if we are going to develop to fulfill our potential.
Prior to the last few hundred years, for millennia, religion provided people with a map for life (our story). However, as I came to discover myself, in the Churchfor example ‘our story’ is usually taken to be ‘The Story’. When the structure becomes important to maintain (power, greed, an aversion to admitting error), rules and dogma are often introduced to stop it from integrating ‘my story’ or ‘The Story’. This can be attractive for some people as it prioritises holding certain beliefs over personal growth, and so the difficult task of inner work is never done. In a world which we are told is devoid of universal meaning, people cling to the map provided by religion as it answers a very real need for meaning that we all have.
The problem is, it’s often lacking a strong universal foundation and can end up being more harmful than good. For example, in America, Christianity has become very divisive because of the fact each denomination believes they’re correct and others are wrong. This makes authentic unity very difficult. This is because most religion has become alienated from ‘The Story’ – that which is true for everyone. We can see just how dangerous it can be when people relinquish ‘my story’ and ‘The Story’ in favour of ‘our story’ in the countless wars humanity has been involved in over the last 100 years. People essentially become blinded to anything other than the group’s own dogma, to the point that people outside the group appear inferior.
Religion in it’s healthy form can provide so much of what people are in desperate need of nowadays – community, meaning, purpose, and a map to navigate life. At the beginning of the spiritual journey, having rules and structure is necessary to keep us on the right path. For example an alcoholic who is at rock bottom and stumbles into Alcoholics Anonymous needs to cling tightly to the 12 steps or else he might relapse. Similarly, Christianity can help people who have been stuck in ‘my story’, by providing consistent rituals, practices and guidance. This helps them move beyond their personal problems, through chanelling more grace, love, mercy and forgiveness into their lives, as modeled by Jesus.
If only this had been the defining idea, rather than what it’s become:
‘defining itself as a settled system of beliefs….Christianity became a leash or a locked door impeding ongoing growth instead of a force for liberation and forward movement.” —Brian McLarena
The Mystic side of each religion is evolved religion as it recognizes that it is just the map. It doesn’t claim to know all the answers and it doesn’t erect boundaries to keep people in or out. It sees that ‘The Story’ transcends all religion, rules and dogma. Mysticism places more emphasis on discovering our own experience of God, on finding God within.
3: ‘The Story’
Many people are unable to believe in an overarching story of the universe, seeing it as just another belief. But this is another confusion. The Story transcends mere beliefs, which as we know are important but ultimately quite fickle. The Story is the unfolding of pure consciousness itself, of life itself, which we are all participating in. It’s what we came from and it’s where we’re going. We can open up or close up to this while we’re alive in these bodies. When we move towards love we open up to this Source, although it’s always in us even when we can’t feel it. Every single person is infused with Source. We feel it most keenly when we’re in the flow state, completely engrossed and connected to something we’re challenged by, care about, and are using our skills and gifts. We feel it when we hug a loved one, when we gaze upon a beautiful sunrise, or marvel at a work of art or architecture.
The Source doesn’t care whether or not we believe in it. It’s not a discreet entity either, it’s everywhere, in everything and is accessible to all in this present moment. But it’s not limited to the physical world, it is transcendent too. There are different maps (religions, models etc) showing us how we can experience more of the Source in our lives, and yes some are better than others. Science is another map, which is ultimately leading to the same destination. ‘The Story’ honours and includes diversity, is dynamic and ever-changing, it’s not finished yet. The Story is expansive and large enough to hold everyone’s smaller stories inside of it. It’s true for everyone, regardless of race, sex, age political leaning, or religion. It’s the real ‘Good News’.
How does this relate to the development of civilization?
The development of civilization is a little more complex. A summary of the stages can be found here:
https://www.cccr-cob.org/uploads/1/1/8/5/118562646/summaryofthespiraldynamicsmodelbykenwilber.pdf
Tier 1
- Beige: Archaic-Instinctual: The level of basic survival
2: Purple: Magical-Animistic
3: Red: Power Gods
4: Blue: Mythic Order
5: Orange: Scientific Achievement
6: Green: The Sensitive Self
Tier 2
7: Yellow: Integrative
8: Turquoise: Holistic
Currently, civilization as a whole is mainly split between the ‘me’ (orange) and ‘we’ stages (blue). We could make a generalization and say that the ‘me’ portion maps most closely to the developed west, where capitalist individualism reigns. The developing countries are more ‘we’ orientated, and are characterized by group-think and following rules. The Tier 2 stages (yellow and turquoise) we could simplify as ‘The Story’ stage, and have not yet been reached by the vast majority.
The leading edge of where we are currently (green) is the progressive, post-modern movement, characterized by Gaia theory, multiculturalism and egalitarianism. It honours and validates different stories, and is a healthy balance of ‘me’ and ‘we’. Whilst being more ‘advanced’ than the previous stages, it hasn’t yet integrated ‘The Story’. For evolution to succeed, the parts that work from earlier stages need to be retained and integrated in order for growth/adaption to take place. That is why we need to be cautious about leaving this Universal Pattern/Truth behind, because in it’s purest form, it will bring so much healing to the world.
The Risk of doing away with Universal Truth
The problem is that the leading edge of civilization – the ‘Green’, has decided to do away with hierarchy or Universal Truth. This is probably because It got a bad name when it was mixed up with poor ideas like hell. The baby got thrown out with the bathwater so to speak. Many of the ‘progressives’ today, will say that all ideas are valid, that there is no such thing as Universal Truth, that your truth is all that matters. It is a step up from dogmatic group-think, or nihilistic individualism, and once a significant percentage of the world gets here it will undoubtedly help us deal with the earth crisis. But if it fails to bring forward the gems of Universal Wisdom from earlier stages, then we risk progressing no further or breaking into the next tier of evolution.
And there have been gems of wisdom originating from thousands of years ago, which are now even being validated scientifically in quantum theory and neuroscience. Essentially, the wisdom says that Consciousness is primary and we are all somehow channeling that consciousness. Yes, I’m talking about God, but not in the way that religion has often pictured God. This Consciousness is evolving, and there is a fundamental goodness baked into it all. There are subtle differences to what the mystics and sages throughout the ages have reported as being ‘The Story’, but fundamentally they all say the same thing.
At some deeper level, we know that there’s more to us than our body, brain and even ‘our story’. We can experience this knowing during this life, without having to learn it intellectually from books. The ‘meaning’ provided by ‘The Story’ isn’t that there is some pre-determined end-point, but the very fact of evolution itself; the idea that through relationship we can become more than the sum of our parts. It is my (and many others) belief that this coming together, of world-wide unity, is only possible through the adoption of a Universal Truth and it’s integration with different stages/stories.
How does all this relate to my life?
Firstly, it’s important to remember that in order to reach our potential, we need to integrate the three stories. We shouldn’t look down on others, who are still living completely inside of their story and haven’t yet transcended and included it to reach the higher, integrated state of consciousness.
Sometimes in our lives we will need to revert to an earlier stage, for example if we’ve lost our job and are living on the poverty line, then it’s necessary to return to the survival mode (early ‘me’ stage). Or we might need to give ourselves up to the group for a period, for example the British war effort during the 1940’s. The main thing is we don’t stay stuck here. As well as retaining what works, evolving also requires letting go of what doesn’t. We might have passed several years completely absorbed by events in our lives (my story). Sometimes it’s only through crisis that we’re jolted out of this illusion, others, through moments of clarity while in nature or meditation for example. Both are a call to let go, and to return to ‘The Story’ – of knowing who we really are and why we’re here.
It is my belief that the only way we will find unity in our world is if we integrate my story and our story within the context of ‘The Story’. It’s the answer to the Meaning Crisis which is the root cause of all the crisis we are currently facing.
References
If you want to read more about the model of individual spiritual growth, then check out Richard Rohr’s writings on what he calls ‘The Cosmic Egg’
As mentioned, Ken Wilber writes extensively about the collective evolution of consciousness in his book ‘A Theory of Everything’.
