Axiom 1

Useful change is likely to come only if it can provide as, equal, obvious and general a benefit as possible

Axiom 2

If proposed solutions don't take the lowest common denominators of human nature reallistically into account, they will not work

Zen is consciousness unstructured by particular form or particular system, a trans-cultural, trans-religious, trans-formed consciousness.

It is therefore in a sense "void".

But it can shine through this or that system,  religious or irreligious,  just as light can shine through glass that is blue, or green, or red, or yellow.

If  Zen has any preference it is for glass that is plain, has no color, and is "just glass."

The mind has first to be attuned to the Unconscious.

He whose soul melteth not away like snow in the hand of religion [that is, the Truth], in his hand religion like snow away doth melt.

Excellence of craftsmanship takes up all his time and so completely absorbs his thoughts that he will even make his choice of subject subordinate to his desire to explore some particular facet or technique

Zen is not a religion, not a dogma, not a creed.  Zen is not even a quest, an inquiry; it is non-philosophical.  The fundemental of the Zen approach is that all is as it should be, nothing is missing,  This very moment everything is perfect.

A seed is a miser, confined to himself, and a flower is a spendthrift.

I believe the ultimate aim of all human beings is to obtain happiness and a sense of fulfillment.  These objectives can be achieved through physical amenities and proper mental development,  but the dominant and ultimate factor is the mental aspect.  In order to achieve these objectives one must have knowledge about both mind and matter.

Scientists may study mainly matter but they cannot ignore the human mind, or consciousness: spiritual practitioners may be engaging mainly in developing the mind but they cannot completely ignore their physical needs.

It is for this reason that I have always stressed the importance of combining both mental and the material approach to achieving happiness for humankind.

Admittedly, the breadth and beauty of Ken Wilber's writings can never be summarized in a fully adequate and comprehensive fashion. However, I have been in the fortunate position to have personally studied under Ken since 1993, after over ten years of studying on my own

Water is clearly vital for life.  What is perhaps more surprising is that water plays a crucial role in lubricating the motion of plates - without it there would be no plate techtonics. So water quickens life and the Earth itself.

The facts and arguments in this book are intended to signpost new directions of thought and action for a better rather than a worse future - but are the goals they point to achieveable ?  Certainly they will involve change,  and pretty radical change at that,  and as past experience shows,  it will not happen without strict observance of the axioms.