As a writer, speaker, teacher, and leader in the areas of health and spirituality, Deepak Chopra has become one of the most popular voices in the dialogue between ancient wisdom and modern science. His books, audios, and videos have sold millions around the world, and he has assisted countless organizations and individuals to set themselves within a deeper, more holistic context.
In this two-part dialogue, Deepak and Ken discuss two very different contexts for approaching the world situation. War, poverty, ecological despoliation—what can we do to curb our self-destructive ways?
From an absolute perspective, nothing needs to be done. Everything manifests as a form of Spirit, an expression of the Great Perfection. On the other hand, from a relative perspective, it is imperative that we act. Our lives depend upon a skillful response to the very real problems we face. This is where stages of consciousness play such an important role.
Any integral approach to change must account for both states and stages. A state of consciousness is a temporary experience; a stage is an enduring capacity. While states are important to give us glimpses of deeper, more compassionate modes of being, we ultimately want to develop to stages where this compassion becomes a trait of who we are. In short: if we want world peace, we have to account for stages of consciousness. Deepak and Ken agree that a stage-conception of human development is a missing ingredient in the work of many conflict-resolution and peace organizations.
AIDS, global warming, terrorism—how do we respond to world suffering in an integral way? Few issues are as crucial as those discussed in this conversation. And almost nothing is more important than meeting the world's problems with truly integral consciousness and action.
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