Don Beck on Third Tier and Spirit in SDi

In response to some list-serve speculation about non-duality in the Turquoise vMeme, Don Beck made some crucial distinctions that I hope will begin to reshape speculation on some of these issues.

Here are two extended comments Don made that I think every student of SDi should take heed of, both for the theory element and the lived reality of SDi.

I really need to say something here to at least clarify several items from a Gravesian perspective, since the whole notion of "tiers" - although not his language -- is part and parcel of his theory. A "tier" is a set of six systems and he, along with John Calhoun, were observing how rat colonies appeared to cycle through expressions of six on six on six. Of course, we are not "rats" at least not biologically so, but this will be extremely difficult to tack down using "Orange" research methods.

But what you are calling the "esoteric" levels, I guess this means the so-called "Third Tier" stacking, simply do not belong in a conversation about Spiral Dynamics. As you know systems are triggered by life conditions, and I have yet to see anything from the Integral world, even the research that Suzanne is doing, that cannot be simply expressions within Yellow and Turquoise. Until I see hard scientific evidence that connects them to Life Conditions, then I would rather they stay in the "conjecture" category. Rather we focus on what our real Problems of Existence are and, of course, they swarm around First Tier matters. I guess lots of people express RED and ORANGE by always wanting to be on top of everybody else, and will even create new "on top" theories for they can claim superiority. This was not something Clare W. Graves ever did since he was very humble, was a real scholar, and had no need to market, sell, or claim a status he did not have. He only would talk about what he was able to verify in his research. I like that.

Further, I have a sense that few on this list serve have ever encountered authentic versions of BO-Purple. The whole "nonlocal" pattern runs through those world views in powerful and comprehensive displays of spirit-like "fields" that extend far beyond even places, such as shrines, burial grounds, or other such 'locations." And, when one visits the original nature of DQ-Blue "religious" experiences, once again there are transcendent forces at work that flow through people, cathedrals, holy places (as in Jerusalem) and extend from the creation to the end of time, based on what "holy book" one reads. The "nonlocal" is usually called "The Holy Spirit, "comprising the Godhead along with "The Father, and the Son." And, we all have a sense of "nonlocal" in Green, it is so visible in "new age" energetics that perceive angels and other spiritual forces that surround and protect us. Green consensus groups truly believe that if they meet often enough, or late into the night, as in the Theory of the U, then from that union, sharing, and interaction mystical solutions will suddenly appear. Just don't bet the farm on it. No doubt there will be elements on nonlocal in Turquoise, but not in Yellow, and just what they will be is yet to be determined fully. They might combine the Purple, Blue, and Green expressions. Suggest you watch the movie Star Wars again in this regard. "May the force be with you" if you do.

To claim that "nonlocal" is only the property of anything in "Second Tier" or God forbid "Third Tier," seems to be ignoring or minimizing the nature of the collective systems that produce the capacity, wiring, intelligences, and detection equipment to pick up on the diverse color-based manifestations of "nonlocal." If you don't believe me, go out into the "real world" and find out for yourself.

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We are talking about the specific Clare W. Graves "emergent, cyclical, double-helix model of biopsychosocial systems" and their processes and patterns which, in fact, are the manner in which the human species appears to have emerged over time, with the expectation that such a dynamic will continue into the future. There are, of course, all kinds of wild cards and other forces which could disrupt this more "natural" occurence over time so we are describing the present species Homo sapien sapien. No idea what artificial intelligence will do to the individual and collective brain syndicate.

This model connects Life Conditions with the "awakening" of priority codes (value systems, world views, and the gene-meme co evolution. They are, in fact, depending on these Life Conditions rather than being some predetermined Calvinistic script that unfolds on cue, or on its own energy.

I used "non-local" as merely an example that this characteristic does not fit the memetic definition but, in fact, is expressed in different ways along the spiral trajectory and can be seen in varying forms in an array of such manifestations. In short, it does not qualify as a biopsychosocial system. I feel the same way about "non-dual."

According to Graves, and that is the only real source for Spiral Dynamics formation, each new Life Condition will create something new that has yet to appear on the planet, so not only are there constant surprises, but we will be unable to sketch in the contours of the new adaptive intelligences UNTIL Life Conditions begin to generate the codes. There will be, according to Graves (and remember, this is only a theory) good reason to anticipate the I:Me:Mine and We-Us-Our swing in one way or another, although space among them and the time required for them to fully unfold may be altered by our massive communication improvements, something that no one anticipated in the 5th Level system. This is why we are so looking forward to our experience with the brain research lab at the University of Cologne. And, there is absolutely no guarantee that humanity will continue on this journey; we may, as my dad used to warn, grow to big for our own britches and morph into something we would barely recognize as humans. I can see some of these creatures on the streets of Denton every day.

So, I am simply questioning the rush to label new systems, whatever they are called, BEFORE there is any understanding of what the problems/conditions of existence will be that call them forth. I would be more convinced if those doing so would pause to explain clearly what those problems/conditions are/will be. We can all read tea leaves with claims that we are more advanced and enlightened that others not so fortunate, but before we wrap the Graves and Spiral Dynamics language around them to afford them legitimacy within this life time of work for Graves, myself and others, then we should see some evidence. I am happy for anybody to speculate as to whatever their hearts desire about human systems, but perhaps they, in doing so, should frame them within a paradigm or flow of their own making, rather than leverage and exploit the Graves Model. That would please me to no end. Otherwise, they are stacking onions on top of oranges and calling them all fruit.

Graves thought he detected a pattern of 6 on 6; if so, Second Tier is yet to enter fully the initial manifestation of Second Tier (Yellow) and is barely sensing the second within Second tier, and that is Turquoise. I refer to them as "Left brain with feelings" and "Right brain with data," just to make it all confusing. Problems "G" and "H" have barely and only recently emerged on our cultural landscapes, and our understanding of Systems "T" and "U" are actually quite primitive and tentative. I just don't have the crystal ball and I doubt if anybody else does to peer into the next four letter pairs..IV, JW, KX, LY. My son-in-law reads science fiction constantly and plays the most esoteric computer games and tries to keep me informed on the weak signals coming from the future. It is great fun, but I don't take them to the bank, especially now!

Tags: Spiral Dynamics, Spirituality, culture, Don Beck, SDi, third teir, worldviews, life conditions