Moral development and higher states of consciousness

This paper discusses possible relationships between the cognitive-moral dev elopment theory of Lawrence Kohlberg and Charles Alexander's life-span mode l. Central to Alexander's model is the role which levels of mind and higher states of consciousness play throughout the general periods of development . Parallel to Kohlberg's cosmic perspective Stage7-which goes beyond the re presentational logic and reasoning identified by Piaget's highest stage-are the postrepresentational stages of development, described by Vedic psychol ogy and Alexander's model as 'higher states of consciousness'-transcendenta l consciousness, cosmic consciousness, God consciousness, and unity conscio usness. Research indicates that EEG brainwave coherence is associated with the development of higher states of consciousness and Kohlberg's Stage 7. S tudies on the Transcendental Meditation (TM) and TM-Sidhi programs as effec tive technologies for promoting moral development are further discussed.