Bahman Shirazi - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Bahman Shirazi
This article provides a summary of Haridas Chaudhuri’s contributions to the field of integral psy... more This article provides a summary of Haridas Chaudhuri’s contributions to the field of integral psychology. First an outline and a brief discussion of his principal tenets and triadic principle of integral psychology are presented, followed by a review of Chaudhuri’s critical reflections on some aspects of early transpersonal psychology. The article concludes with a reflection on recent trends in the field of transpersonal psychology and its evolution toward a whole person orientation compatible with integral psychology
This special issue of Integral Review features selected publications in connection to the 2014 Fo... more This special issue of Integral Review features selected publications in connection to the 2014 Founders Symposium on Integral Consciousness at CIIS. The articles range form integral education to integral methodology and epistemology, to integral yoga
The articles included in this special issue of Integral Review represent a wide range of integral... more The articles included in this special issue of Integral Review represent a wide range of integral scholarship at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), founded in 1968 in San Francisco by Dr. Haridas and Bina Chaudhuri. Haridas Chaudhuri arrived in the United States in 1951 upon an invitation by professor Frederick Spiegelberg of Stanford University who was charged with directing a newly founded independent graduate school (American Academy of Asian Studies) devoted to introducing Asian studies to American higher education. Spiegelberg had traveled to India in the late 1940s to research the contemporary practices of the ancientspiritual traditions of India. His visit culminated in an encounter with the great spiritual figure of modern India, Sri Aurobindo, whose writings represented a grand synthesis of evolutionary spirituality with ancient Indian spiritual traditions. Haridas Chaudhuri, one of the first to study and write about Sri Aurobindo, brought a creative and d...
Special Issue of Integral Review on Integral Education Issue Editor: Bahman A.K. Shirazi, PhD The... more Special Issue of Integral Review on Integral Education Issue Editor: Bahman A.K. Shirazi, PhD The essays appearing in this special issue of Integral Review are selections from the proceedings of the 2010 California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) Founders Symposium on Integral Consciousness. This annual symposium provides a forum for CIIS community members and friends to exchange and deepen their understanding of integral consciousness, its evolution, and its relationship to the current planetary challenges and transformational processes. Each year the Symposium covers one or two major themes, as well as several other themes pertinent to the integral world view and its interface with academic disciplines. One of the major themes of 2010 was integral education
The articles in this special issue of INTEGRAL REVIEW highlight selected contributions to the 201... more The articles in this special issue of INTEGRAL REVIEW highlight selected contributions to the 2011 Symposium on Integral Consciousness at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) (www.ciis.edu ). This annual symposium provides a forum for CIIS community members and friends to exchange and deepen their understanding of integral consciousness, its evolution, and its relationship to the current planetary challenges and transformational processes. Each year there are several themes covered in a variety of presentation formats: keynote and standard presentations, as well as a number of interactive sessions and workshops
Integral Review, 2012
Interview Introduction. When it comes to religious consciousness, the turn of the 21st century pr... more Interview Introduction. When it comes to religious consciousness, the turn of the 21st century presents an unprecedented and challenging time in human history. On the one hand, the long-standing chasm between premodern theocentric religious traditions, and the modern anthropocentric, scientistic, and materialistic worldviews is widening. On the other hand, unlike what some may have anticipated, not only religion and spirituality are not on the decline, they are as strong as they have ever been. Hundreds of new religions, cults, sects, and spiritual communities have emerged in recent decades. These new religious movements, along with globalization of religion, multiple-religion explorations, ecumenical services, religious syncretism, and secular spiritual orientations are among the many trends that shape today's religious landscape. Despite the widespread materialism in a technology-dominated world, we live in times of rich spiritual diversity, experimentation, and innovation. Ou...
Abstract: Instincts are innate, unconscious means by which Nature operates in all forms of life i... more Abstract: Instincts are innate, unconscious means by which Nature operates in all forms of life including animals and human beings. In humans however, with progressive evolution of consciousness, instincts become increasingly conscious and regulated by egoic functions. Biological instincts associated with the lower-unconscious such as survival, aggressive, and reproductive instincts are well known in general psychology. The higher-unconscious, which is unique to human beings, may be said to have its own instinctual processes referred to here as the ‘metaphysical instincts’. In traditional spiritual practices awakening the metaphysical instincts has often been done at the expense of suppressing the biological instincts—a process referred to as spiritual bypassing. This essay discusses how the metaphysical instincts initially expressed as the religious impulse with associated beliefs and behaviors may be transformed and made fully conscious, and integrated with the biological instinct...
Sufism and Integral Yoga are two spiritual systems who have mastered the art of the transformatio... more Sufism and Integral Yoga are two spiritual systems who have mastered the art of the transformation of egocentric consciousness (Nafs in Sufism and The Vital Ego in Integral Psychology) using heart-centered approaches. This lecture discussed the process of integration of egocentric and psychocentric consciousness in both systems by discussing the process of “psychic transformation” in integral psychology and the stages of psycho-spiritual transformation in Sufi psychology
This introductory article gives a brief account of the founding vision and ontological and episte... more This introductory article gives a brief account of the founding vision and ontological and epistemological principles of the integral framework expounded by Haridas Chaudhuri and some of his original collaborators at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). A brief biographical account of Sri Aurobindo and Mother Mirra Alfassa, originators of integral yoga and education, is provided and some of the principle tenets of an integral worldview that informs the philosophy of integral education are discussed.
Integral Review, 2013
Instincts are innate, unconscious means by which Nature operates in all forms of life including a... more Instincts are innate, unconscious means by which Nature operates in all forms of life including animals and human beings. In humans however, with progressive evolution of consciousness, instincts become increasingly conscious and regulated by egoic functions. Biological instincts associated with the lower-unconscious such as survival, aggressive, and reproductive instincts are well known in general psychology. The higher-unconscious, which is unique to human beings, may be said to have its own instinctual processes referred to here as the 'metaphysical instincts'. In traditional spiritual practices awakening the metaphysical instincts has often been done at the expense of suppressing the biological instincts—a process referred to as spiritual bypassing. This essay discusses how the metaphysical instincts initially expressed as the religious impulse with associated beliefs and behaviors may be transformed and made fully conscious, and integrated with the biological instincts ...
This article provides an introduction to integral epistemology and integrative methodology throug... more This article provides an introduction to integral epistemology and integrative methodology through a discussion of basic ontological principles of integralism and their implications for developing integrative approaches to knowledge. After a review of classification of approaches to research, integration is introduced as a research strategy that can be applied to various modes of scholarship and within specific research methods. It is argued that the current dichotomy between qualitative and quantitative research methods may be reconciled by showing that various research methods belong to a wide spectrum of methodologies that correspond to an integral epistemological gradient. Lastly, three basic strategies for integrative research: Integral Dialectical Synthesis, Unity-in Diversity, and Analytico-Synthetic Integration are discussed.
Integral Review, 2012
I welcome you to this issue of Integral Review. This is our second special issue from the Califor... more I welcome you to this issue of Integral Review. This is our second special issue from the California Institute of Integral Studies and the Symposium on Integral Consciousness. Integral Review is glad to deepen our association with CIIS with the continuation of these special issues. We believe they enrich the range of perspectives and thought available to the growing scholarly community making use of IR. As the value and contribution of integral thought continues to expand into the academic world, we are grateful to be able to continue publishing works like those found in this issue. We are also grateful for and wish to acknowledge the work of Bahman Shirazi in continuing to take on the responsibility for guiding the articles presented here through the editorial process. I will leave you now to take in his introductory remarks, and hope you enjoy reading through this issue.
International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 2018
This article provides a summary of Haridas Chaudhuri’s contributions to the field of integral psy... more This article provides a summary of Haridas Chaudhuri’s contributions to the field of integral psychology. First an outline and a brief discussion of his principal tenets and triadic principle of integral psychology are presented, followed by a review of Chaudhuri’s critical reflections on some aspects of early transpersonal psychology. The article concludes with a reflection on recent trends in the field of transpersonal psychology and its evolution toward a whole person orientation compatible with integral psychology.
This article provides a summary of Haridas Chaudhuri’s contributions to the field of integral psy... more This article provides a summary of Haridas Chaudhuri’s contributions to the field of integral psychology. First an outline and a brief discussion of his principal tenets and triadic principle of integral psychology are presented, followed by a review of Chaudhuri’s critical reflections on some aspects of early transpersonal psychology. The article concludes with a reflection on recent trends in the field of transpersonal psychology and its evolution toward a whole person orientation compatible with integral psychology
This special issue of Integral Review features selected publications in connection to the 2014 Fo... more This special issue of Integral Review features selected publications in connection to the 2014 Founders Symposium on Integral Consciousness at CIIS. The articles range form integral education to integral methodology and epistemology, to integral yoga
The articles included in this special issue of Integral Review represent a wide range of integral... more The articles included in this special issue of Integral Review represent a wide range of integral scholarship at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), founded in 1968 in San Francisco by Dr. Haridas and Bina Chaudhuri. Haridas Chaudhuri arrived in the United States in 1951 upon an invitation by professor Frederick Spiegelberg of Stanford University who was charged with directing a newly founded independent graduate school (American Academy of Asian Studies) devoted to introducing Asian studies to American higher education. Spiegelberg had traveled to India in the late 1940s to research the contemporary practices of the ancientspiritual traditions of India. His visit culminated in an encounter with the great spiritual figure of modern India, Sri Aurobindo, whose writings represented a grand synthesis of evolutionary spirituality with ancient Indian spiritual traditions. Haridas Chaudhuri, one of the first to study and write about Sri Aurobindo, brought a creative and d...
Special Issue of Integral Review on Integral Education Issue Editor: Bahman A.K. Shirazi, PhD The... more Special Issue of Integral Review on Integral Education Issue Editor: Bahman A.K. Shirazi, PhD The essays appearing in this special issue of Integral Review are selections from the proceedings of the 2010 California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) Founders Symposium on Integral Consciousness. This annual symposium provides a forum for CIIS community members and friends to exchange and deepen their understanding of integral consciousness, its evolution, and its relationship to the current planetary challenges and transformational processes. Each year the Symposium covers one or two major themes, as well as several other themes pertinent to the integral world view and its interface with academic disciplines. One of the major themes of 2010 was integral education
The articles in this special issue of INTEGRAL REVIEW highlight selected contributions to the 201... more The articles in this special issue of INTEGRAL REVIEW highlight selected contributions to the 2011 Symposium on Integral Consciousness at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) (www.ciis.edu ). This annual symposium provides a forum for CIIS community members and friends to exchange and deepen their understanding of integral consciousness, its evolution, and its relationship to the current planetary challenges and transformational processes. Each year there are several themes covered in a variety of presentation formats: keynote and standard presentations, as well as a number of interactive sessions and workshops
Integral Review, 2012
Interview Introduction. When it comes to religious consciousness, the turn of the 21st century pr... more Interview Introduction. When it comes to religious consciousness, the turn of the 21st century presents an unprecedented and challenging time in human history. On the one hand, the long-standing chasm between premodern theocentric religious traditions, and the modern anthropocentric, scientistic, and materialistic worldviews is widening. On the other hand, unlike what some may have anticipated, not only religion and spirituality are not on the decline, they are as strong as they have ever been. Hundreds of new religions, cults, sects, and spiritual communities have emerged in recent decades. These new religious movements, along with globalization of religion, multiple-religion explorations, ecumenical services, religious syncretism, and secular spiritual orientations are among the many trends that shape today's religious landscape. Despite the widespread materialism in a technology-dominated world, we live in times of rich spiritual diversity, experimentation, and innovation. Ou...
Abstract: Instincts are innate, unconscious means by which Nature operates in all forms of life i... more Abstract: Instincts are innate, unconscious means by which Nature operates in all forms of life including animals and human beings. In humans however, with progressive evolution of consciousness, instincts become increasingly conscious and regulated by egoic functions. Biological instincts associated with the lower-unconscious such as survival, aggressive, and reproductive instincts are well known in general psychology. The higher-unconscious, which is unique to human beings, may be said to have its own instinctual processes referred to here as the ‘metaphysical instincts’. In traditional spiritual practices awakening the metaphysical instincts has often been done at the expense of suppressing the biological instincts—a process referred to as spiritual bypassing. This essay discusses how the metaphysical instincts initially expressed as the religious impulse with associated beliefs and behaviors may be transformed and made fully conscious, and integrated with the biological instinct...
Sufism and Integral Yoga are two spiritual systems who have mastered the art of the transformatio... more Sufism and Integral Yoga are two spiritual systems who have mastered the art of the transformation of egocentric consciousness (Nafs in Sufism and The Vital Ego in Integral Psychology) using heart-centered approaches. This lecture discussed the process of integration of egocentric and psychocentric consciousness in both systems by discussing the process of “psychic transformation” in integral psychology and the stages of psycho-spiritual transformation in Sufi psychology
This introductory article gives a brief account of the founding vision and ontological and episte... more This introductory article gives a brief account of the founding vision and ontological and epistemological principles of the integral framework expounded by Haridas Chaudhuri and some of his original collaborators at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). A brief biographical account of Sri Aurobindo and Mother Mirra Alfassa, originators of integral yoga and education, is provided and some of the principle tenets of an integral worldview that informs the philosophy of integral education are discussed.
Integral Review, 2013
Instincts are innate, unconscious means by which Nature operates in all forms of life including a... more Instincts are innate, unconscious means by which Nature operates in all forms of life including animals and human beings. In humans however, with progressive evolution of consciousness, instincts become increasingly conscious and regulated by egoic functions. Biological instincts associated with the lower-unconscious such as survival, aggressive, and reproductive instincts are well known in general psychology. The higher-unconscious, which is unique to human beings, may be said to have its own instinctual processes referred to here as the 'metaphysical instincts'. In traditional spiritual practices awakening the metaphysical instincts has often been done at the expense of suppressing the biological instincts—a process referred to as spiritual bypassing. This essay discusses how the metaphysical instincts initially expressed as the religious impulse with associated beliefs and behaviors may be transformed and made fully conscious, and integrated with the biological instincts ...
This article provides an introduction to integral epistemology and integrative methodology throug... more This article provides an introduction to integral epistemology and integrative methodology through a discussion of basic ontological principles of integralism and their implications for developing integrative approaches to knowledge. After a review of classification of approaches to research, integration is introduced as a research strategy that can be applied to various modes of scholarship and within specific research methods. It is argued that the current dichotomy between qualitative and quantitative research methods may be reconciled by showing that various research methods belong to a wide spectrum of methodologies that correspond to an integral epistemological gradient. Lastly, three basic strategies for integrative research: Integral Dialectical Synthesis, Unity-in Diversity, and Analytico-Synthetic Integration are discussed.
Integral Review, 2012
I welcome you to this issue of Integral Review. This is our second special issue from the Califor... more I welcome you to this issue of Integral Review. This is our second special issue from the California Institute of Integral Studies and the Symposium on Integral Consciousness. Integral Review is glad to deepen our association with CIIS with the continuation of these special issues. We believe they enrich the range of perspectives and thought available to the growing scholarly community making use of IR. As the value and contribution of integral thought continues to expand into the academic world, we are grateful to be able to continue publishing works like those found in this issue. We are also grateful for and wish to acknowledge the work of Bahman Shirazi in continuing to take on the responsibility for guiding the articles presented here through the editorial process. I will leave you now to take in his introductory remarks, and hope you enjoy reading through this issue.
International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 2018
This article provides a summary of Haridas Chaudhuri’s contributions to the field of integral psy... more This article provides a summary of Haridas Chaudhuri’s contributions to the field of integral psychology. First an outline and a brief discussion of his principal tenets and triadic principle of integral psychology are presented, followed by a review of Chaudhuri’s critical reflections on some aspects of early transpersonal psychology. The article concludes with a reflection on recent trends in the field of transpersonal psychology and its evolution toward a whole person orientation compatible with integral psychology.