Existential Memoir: AQAL is like Windows

(08/05/2003)

“To enable people and businesses throughout the world to realize their full potential.”
– Microsoft’s misson as of 2003

The first operating system I've used, way back in the 80's, was the now defunct Disk Operating System (DOS). It was a phenomenon during its time. It enabled computer users to encode simple commands, run and write different programs (ahhh, the good old BASIC days, GOTO anyone?), and paved the way for the first round of desktop computer revolution. Enter the 90’s. The birth of Windows created a stir in the technological world, but not until Windows version 3.1 did Microsoft started another round of computer revolution. And as they say, the rest is history.

AQAL (acronym for all quadrants, all levels, all lines, all states, all stages) is similar in a lot of ways to Windows. Like Windows, it created a revolution, not in the digital world, but in the realm of mind, and beyond. It was, and still is arguably the most complete theory of ‘everything.’ And like Windows, it took a lot of hashing and patches to get AQAL up and running. Now in its nth iteration, AQAL is as strong as ever and had invented such cool jargon as Integral Operating System (IOS), Integral Historiography, Tetra-evolution, and more post-metaphysical meta-language that will twist your tongue like Auntie Ann’s pretzel. Like the most successful OS in the world, AQAL is the most successful ‘integral theory’ to date. Those who are ‘in the know’ could not help but marvel at the elegance and simplicity of AQAL. Who wouldn’t?

But is AQAL perfect? Saying AQAL is perfect is like saying that Windows is full proof. And everyone knows the obvious answer to this question (here’s to all you Mac users out there.) However, like it or not, the success of Windows can be attributed to the honesty of its creators in addressing different areas of the IT industry: user-friendliness, affordable price, common standards, accessibility, developer relationships, business savvy orientation, OEM (original equipment manufacturer) relationships, and more. Compared to other operating system manufacturers, the success of Windows is not only because of a robust operating system, but also because of the other areas of endeavor Microsoft acknowledged and ‘integrated’ to create a more successful product. Similar to AQAL—the AQAL model integrated more known avenues of human knowledge than any theories that came before. The sheer beauty of the Four Quadrants remains to be unmatched as of today.

But like the digital world, the theoretical realm has its ‘hackers.’ In the binary universe, the favorite pastime of these playful, but sometimes harmful, creatures is to tear apart, study, and seize control of computer programs. Since Windows is the most popular and readily available playpen, hackers have unlimited time to play around. This is not to say that other operating systems (e.g. unix, linux, mac os x, etc…) are without their share of attacks. It maybe true that their architectures are more secured, but nothing is unbreakable to a determined hacker. Also, by infecting Windows, malicious hackers could do more damage than hacking a Mac used by a Microsoft-bashing artist writing his novel or painting his Photoshop masterpiece in some local Starbucks.

It is the same in the theoretical kingdom. Being the most successful, and practical theory of ‘everything,’ AQAL attracted none other than some of the great hacking theoretical minds—both white hats and black hats—of our time. People within and without the Integral circle who are pitching their two cents, to contribute to the theory, to tear the theory apart, or to just piss the philosopher who started it all. And this is good. Because just like the iterative process of writing software, theories need its own patches and upgrades, making it, not perfect, but just a little more full proof… until one day, some new adventurous hackers come along and break in the system. This is the way software is developed. This is the essence of Integral Theory.

Bill Gates is the evil czar who wants to build his own ‘death star’; Ken Wilber is the arrogant chrome-dome with bald ambitions, who also wants to build a ‘death star’; Boulder, Colorado is Redmond, Washington; Integral Institute (I-I) is the Microsoft Campus; and I am the geeky-new-grad hoping to get a gig in I-I. So I could witness the developers create their magic, and contribute in crafting the Integral Operating System, FREE to be downloaded by ALL.

/XM-coolmel

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Addendum:

11/13/2003 - A few weeks after I've written this memoir I was accepted in the I-I internship program. I don't think it has anything to do with this writing though. But who cares... as long I'm jacked-in to AQAL ground zero :)