I’ve Collected and Categorised Maps of the Human Condition

Summary

The author has collected and categorized various maps of the human condition, reflecting on their personal significance and utility in understanding and navigating human development and consciousness.

Abstract

The author of the web content, who has a history of interest in Buddhism and human potential, presents a personal collection of maps that describe the human condition from diverse perspectives. These maps encompass stages of consciousness, objects of consciousness, states of consciousness, theories of the psyche and physical being, paths, and cosmic evolutionary systems. While acknowledging the value of these maps as guides for personal development, the author admits to a shift in their approach, favoring an intuitive journey over strict adherence to any single map. The author concludes by endorsing a simple four-step framework, "Wake Up, Grow Up, Clean Up, Show Up," as a practical guide for personal evolution and living with purpose.

Opinions

The author values the concept of Enlightenment and views it as both freedom from suffering and the realization of human potential.
They believe that the human condition is an evolving inner landscape, which can be navigated and understood through various maps.
The author recognizes the utility of maps in personal development, likening them to guides for a journey, while also acknowledging their limitations.
Despite an extensive exploration of different maps, the author has transitioned to a more experiential and intuitive approach to personal growth.
The author expresses a preference for a concise and practical framework over complex models, highlighting the "Wake Up, Grow Up, Clean Up, Show Up" model as a preferred guide.

But go your own way I say

Some people collect stamps, some people collect fridge magnets, I seem to have collected maps of the human condition. I’m not sure that anybody else apart from me is interested in maps of the human condition — but heh, that’s the life of a collector.

When I was younger I got into Buddhism and was really turned on by the concept of Enlightenment. What appealed to me then was the promise of freedom from suffering. As I got older, I saw Enlightenment more in terms of human potential. I started to understand that humans don’t need to stop developing when they reach adulthood. We can continue to develop, evolve.

So inside us, there is this inner landscape. And it doesn’t stay still — it moves, it develops. Me at five years old is nothing like me at 18 years old and nothing like me at 35 years old and nothing like me now. There has been a movement, a development, an evolution.

For the sake of this story, let’s call the totality of all this the human condition. That is, the inner landscape plus its evolution.

Through the years, humans have attempted to describe or map this human condition, from many and various angles. Here is a list of some of these maps. I am sure there are many that I have missed. More are coming each year. Also my categorisation might be out. Many overlap.

Why are these maps useful? To paraphrase Ken Wilber. If you are going on a journey it can be useful to have a map. The map isn’t the terrain — but it helps.

Yantra by Ivan Rados: You are born to be you

Cosmic, evolutionary maps and systems

Okay, if you have got this far. I salute you. Namaste even. I can admit to you now that although I find these maps interesting, nowadays I don’t really use them. Yes when I was a Buddhist, I followed the eight-fold path. And I was totally into Ken Wilber for several years. And Ramaji’s 1000 levels of consciousness and map of awakening is fascinating. And I’ve been into all the big Psychologists. But, now, I don’t know — I don’t seem to have a need for them. I still want to continue my evolution, but more by simply living and opening up to what life brings. It’s a more intuitive journey nowadays. More navigating my own way. I am more a light unto myself.

However, there is one map that I quite like. I think Ken Wilber started it, but it looks like others have built on it or even claimed it. It goes:

Wake Up, Grow Up, Clean Up, Show Up

As I see it:

Wake Up is about being here and now, and experiencing life as it is in each moment.

Grow Up is about becoming an emotionally mature human being. And also about learning new skills.

Clean Up is about bringing our shadow parts into conscious awareness.

Show Up is about living our purpose and being of service to others.

Nice and simple. I like that.

I’ve Collected and Categorised Maps of the Human Condition

But go your own way I say

Human development, levels of consciousness

Objects of consciousness (or contents of awareness)

States of consciousness

Theories of the psyche and physical being

Paths

Cosmic, evolutionary maps and systems