The Centauric Self

Thomas Jordan (Thomas.Jordan@redcap.econ.gu.se)

Thomas asked the Ken Wilber mailing list to offer what they thought were characteristics of the centauric self (Wilber's term for the stage of development of consciousness above the ego-self, the integration of mind and body) seen on a practical level. This was his summary.

So, a centaur is someone who:

  1. regards the entire humanity as ingroup
  2. can hold a differentiated image of individual group members
  3. can reflect on why people are as they are without forming instant opinions/value judgements on the basis of spontaneous sympathy or dislike
  4. expects that relationships should be built on mutual respect and tolerance
  5. regards learning and growth as central concerns in life
  6. is willing to take spirituality seriously by making personal efforts
  7. has acquired some life wisdom through personal experiences with various ways of handling the existential challenges
Not a bad result, eh? I'd like to add a few considerations. I think important aspects of the centaur are:
  1. open channels between thinking and feeling, so that the products of thinking (world-view, opinions, judgements, beliefs, etc.) are tempered by the reality of feelings, and the expression of emotions and feelings are tempered by conscious reflection
  2. is not exclusively identified with a specific perspective and self-image, and therefore has little need to be defensive in the face of diversity, contradiction and criticism
  3. has a well developed capacity for relating with sympathy and understanding to various perspectives
  4. has a basic attitude of acceptance of the world as it is, and a sense of connectedness and benevolence in relation to the human and natural environment.
PIERS
Clement

17 September1998

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