the personal self, no-self, self continuum

490 Pages·2010·6.19 MB·English

THE PERSONAL SELF, NO-SELF, SELF CONTINUUM: AN INTUITIVE INQUIRY AND
GROUNDED THEORY STUDY OF THE EXPERIENCE OF NO-SELF AS
INTEGRATED STAGES OF CONSCIOUSNESS TOWARD ENLIGHTENMENT

by

Laurel A. McCormick

A dissertation submitted

in partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

in Transpersonal Psychology

Institute of Transpersonal Psychology

Palo Alto, California

November 19, 2009

I certify that I have read and approved the content and presentation of this dissertation:

Genie Palmer, Ph.D., Chairperson Date

Brian L. Lancaster, Ph.D., Committee Member Date

Harry T. Hunt, Ph.D., Committee Member Date
UMI Number: 3397100

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2010
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ii
Abstract
The Personal Self, No-self, Self Continuum: An Intuitive Inquiry and
Grounded Theory Study of the Experience of No-self as
Integrated Stages of Consciousness Toward Enlightenment
by

Laurel A. McCormick
The purpose of this dissertation was to elucidate the experience of no-self at advanced stages of
consciousness toward enlightenment and to discern qualities of the living out of the experience.
Research focused on explicating people‘s genuine perception of the experience of no-self as
dissolution of ego, loss of meaning, and distress, which qualities were apparent in extant
literature. An innovative research method consisted of combining the intuitive inquiry method
with grounded theory as a way of verifying intuitive inquiry information, conclusions, and
procedures in a pragmatic, analytical research process toward theoretical results. Semistructured
interviews of 12 adults (7 women, 5 men; 24 to 70 years of age, average 55; 9 from the United
States, 2 from Canada; 3 were aware of no-self since childhood, 9 became aware of no-self as
adults) from the United States and Canada and from diverse ethnic and spiritual backgrounds
evidenced no-self as a continuing experiential and integrative process of self, no-self, and Self
toward higher stages of consciousness. Participants recounted experiences of no-self related to
witnessing, exceptional human experiences, and living daily life; they also described awareness
of experiences of personal self dis-identification and/or radical personal self dis-identification.
Results pointed toward participants transcending or going beyond current level of ego, and
additionally evidenced the transformational process of postdevelopment toward embodiment of
integrative changes in self in relation to the world. The emptying self of ego allowed higher
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consciousness to come in, and at the same time, there was still functional ego. The process of
embodying no-self experiences was vital to integration of changes in consciousness. This
intuitive inquiry and grounded theory qualitative, exploratory study produced theoretical results,
which may be substantiated by future research. The study of no-self as lived experience may
further understanding of self, ego dissolution, and transformation of self toward higher states of
consciousness, and may contribute to the fields of humanistic and transpersonal psychology.

iv
Acknowledgements
Twelve people graciously stepped forward to participate in my dissertation research
study. The phenomenon of no-self was relevant and outstanding enough in their lives for them to
volunteer to share deeply intimate aspects of their lived spiritual journeys. As these participants
recounted their oral histories, they laid bare aspects of their personal and spiritual development
related to no-self and the living out of no-self. Their narratives are the heart and soul of my
dissertation. I deeply appreciate the generosity of spirit of each of these individuals, and dedicate
this body of work to them.
To my dissertation committee: I am thankful for your belief in and contribution to my
work. Genie, your guiding presence has been a gift to my study.
I would also like to thank all the people, animals, and beings who have touched my life—
with intimate gratitude to my mother, a rare, generous Jewel of a person; and to my father, who
is Evermore in my heart. Most of all: to Jason, the heart and sun of my existence.

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Table of Contents
Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... iii
Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... v
List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. xiii
Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1
No-self in the Enlightenment Process ................................................................................. 1
Defining ―Self‖ and ―Ego‖ ...................................................................................... 2
Defining Enlightenment .......................................................................................... 2
Enlightenment as Spiritual Development ............................................................... 4
The Concept of No-self ........................................................................................... 5
Related Literature and Rationale for the Study of No-self ................................................. 6
Declaration of Research Question ...................................................................................... 9
Overview of Research Method ......................................................................................... 10
Chapter Summary ............................................................................................................. 12
Chapter 2: Literature Review ........................................................................................................ 13
No-self in the Enlightenment Process ............................................................................... 13
Defining No-self and the Experience of No-self .................................................. 14
Psychological, Developmental, and Spiritual Theories of Self ............................ 17
Theories of Self Related to No-self ...................................................................... 18
Empirical Studies of No-self ................................................................................. 20
No-self as Mystical Experience ........................................................................................ 25
Defining Mysticism and Mystical Experience ...................................................... 25
Qualities of Mystical Experience .......................................................................... 26
Mysticism as a Spiritual Process........................................................................... 27
The Experience of No-self as an Advanced Stage of Spiritual Development ...... 33
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Mysticism and Stage Theories of Growth in Consciousness ................................ 34
No-self in Spiritual Traditions .............................................................................. 38
Christian Mysticism .............................................................................................. 40
The Buddhist Doctrine of Non-self....................................................................... 42
Hinduism: Advaita Vedanta .................................................................................. 45
The Experience of No-self ................................................................................................ 46
Three Portrayals of the Experience of No-self ..................................................... 47
Discussion and Final Definition of the Experience of No-self ............................. 53
Transpersonal Psychology in Relation to the Experience and the Living Out
of No-self .............................................................................................................. 55
Chapter Summary ............................................................................................................. 56
Chapter 3: Research Method ......................................................................................................... 58
The Experience of No-Self and the Intuitive Inquiry Method .......................................... 59
Cycle 1: Clarifying the Research Topic ................................................................ 61
Cycle 2: Developing the Preliminary Lenses........................................................ 64
The Preliminary Lenses for the Study of the Experience of No-self .................... 66
Cycle 3: Collecting Data and Preparing Summary Reports .................................. 67
Cycle 4: Transforming and Refining Lenses ........................................................ 82
Cycle 5: Integration of Findings and Literature Review ...................................... 84
Grounded Theory Exploration of the Experience of No-Self ........................................... 84
Constructivist Grounded Theory........................................................................... 85
Pragmatic Groundwork in Data Analysis ............................................................. 86
Chapter Summary ............................................................................................................. 93
Chapter 4: Creating Intuitive Grounded Theory ........................................................................... 96
Cycle 3: Writing the Participant Stories ........................................................................... 98
Grounded Theory Analysis of Participant Transcripts ......................................... 98
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Grounded Theory Procedure Used in Writing the Participant Stories ................ 101
Cycle 4: Transforming the Initial Intuitive Inquiry Lenses to Theory ............................ 103
Grounded Theory Analysis of Participant Stories .............................................. 105
Theorizing Continued as Draft Writing of Results ............................................. 110
Cycle 5: Integration of Findings and Literature Review ................................................ 112
Chapter Summary ........................................................................................................... 113
Chapter 5: Transforming the Preliminary Lenses ....................................................................... 115
Relevance of Participant Stories to Research Results ..................................................... 115
Overview of Participants‘ Demographic and Spiritual Backgrounds ............................. 116
Analysis of Participant Demographic Survey Data ........................................................ 116
Framework for Transformation of the Preliminary Lenses ............................................ 117
Foundational Lenses ........................................................................................... 118
Process Lenses .................................................................................................... 121
Descriptive Lenses .............................................................................................. 124
The Paradoxical Nature of Articulating No-self ................................................. 125
Conditions of Experience Reveal Awareness of No-self .................................... 127
Chapter Summary ........................................................................................................... 129
Chapter 6: Reformation of the Preliminary Lenses Toward Theory .......................................... 130
Experiential Awareness of Self and No-self as Evolution Toward Enlightenment ........ 132
Two Classifications of Participants: Group A and Group B ............................... 132
The Personal Self, No-self, Self Continuing Process ......................................... 136
Awareness of Personal Self and No-self Related to Transformation ................. 138
Evidence of Witnessing as a Stage of Consciousness ........................................ 147
A Radical Personal Self Dis-Identification ......................................................... 150
The Living Out of the Experience of No-self: The Transformative Aspect of No-self .. 154
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Further Transitions Deepen the Experience of No-Self: Loss of the Egoic
Aspect of Personal Self ....................................................................................... 154
Inner Experiential Awareness of No-self: A Range of Distress. ........................ 162
The Living Out of the Experience of No-self: The Process of Integration ..................... 170
Group A: Integration After Radical Personal Self Dis-identification ................. 170
Group B: Integration After Awareness of No-self Experiences and After a
Radical Self Dis-identification ............................................................................ 172
The Mind-Body Aspect of Integrating No-self ................................................... 176
The Process of Embodying a Realization Is Vital to Integration........................ 181
Unification: Further Emptying and Transformation of Personal Self ............................ 183
The Personal Self, No-self, Self Continuum: Transformation as Unification .... 183
Changes in Personal Self in Relation to the World............................................. 184
Loss Related to Changes in Personal Self in Relation to the World ................... 185
Loss Related to Positive Changes in Self in Relation to the World .................... 186
Allowing or Surrendering Leads to Further Transformation .............................. 193
Why Would Anyone Want to Commit to a Path of Enlightenment? .................. 194
Unification: Evolvement of Functional Self Toward Further Enlightenment ................ 196
Experiential Descriptions of Unity or Oneness .................................................. 196
Unification: Evolution of Self Continues ........................................................... 199
The Need for and Value of Research on the Topic of No-self ........................... 202
Chapter Summary ........................................................................................................... 203
Chapter 7: Discussion ................................................................................................................. 206
Overview of Chapter ....................................................................................................... 207
Participants‘ Demographic and Spiritual Backgrounds .................................................. 208
Universality of Spiritual Exploration and Commitment to Spiritual
Exploration as a Process Related to No-self ....................................................... 209
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