Unfolding Images
of Life Project
for Co-Evolutionary Exploration and
Practice
Dean Brown Oliver Markley
Presentation to the Foundation for Mind- Being Research, May 23, 2003
Project websites currently under construction
www.fmbr/org/life www.omarkley.com/life
Project Mission
Essentially, we seek to reveal and clarify the entelechy of evolutionary unfoldment or ascension, and how it can be more perfectly realized. [Entelechy: a vital force urging an organism toward self-fulfillment; actuality as distinguished from potentiality.]
Gradient Model of Ascension
Levels of Consciousness |
Self |
Good |
Evil |
|
First Story; The Outer Ring or “Zone One” |
Egoic sense of being separate from all that is |
That which is seen as proper and loving; that which is to be and to do |
The contrary (polar opposite or inversion) of that which is seen as good; that which must be tolerated if not feasible to resist, defeat or avoid. |
|
Second Story; The Inner Ring or “Zone Two” |
Transpersonal feeling of being connected to all that is |
That which felt to be integratively harmonizing, especially where opposition is concerned |
Either the negation (absence) or differing expression of that which is seen as good; that which is to be compassionately accepted (as opposed to being “tolerated”). |
|
Third Story; The Bull's Eye/Core or “Zone Three” |
Transcendental awareness of Absolute Beingness as “not-two” |
An intrinsic, value-neutral part of the “arrow” of manifestation or entelechy. |
An intrinsic, value-neutral part of the “arrow” of manifestation or entelechy. |
Guide to Right Action: Center, Pivot, Act
Centering: Alignment with core beingness. Not reactive to external situation. Emotionally neutral.
Pivoting: Resetting of your perception/intention from conformity to ideas, moods, etc. in which you are attached — to alignment with the actuality of how things are, as perceived from a centered space; so that is and ought are integrated into a harmonious view of how things are, rather than being a “gap” that “stands between you and feeling O.K.”
Acting: Following your impulse with trust in the process. Having pivoted one's perception/intention within a centered space, impulse is given to us by the Higher Self/ Holy Spirit/ Dharma, and the goal (entelechy) becomes clear.
A Master Tool Set for Problem Solving, Liberation and Wholeness
Website: www.omarkley.com/inward Email: oliver@omarkley.com Phone: 415-370-9667
The following comprise the most consistently effective and safe processes I have found for handling the main problems in one's life and for liberation of the body, mind, heart and soul to the “higher levels” of love, compassion and joy. All of these processes embody a quality sometimes called “Shakti”—intelligent energy—as an essential working ingredient. They are psychically non-invasive, spiritually non-sectarian, and suitable for use by trained lay persons. These processes combine to form a synergistic “tool set” in that each process not only has its own purposes and results, but also complements the others in the set such that one process can usually take up where another has left off. They are here listed with the author's name and where to get more information so that you can investigate each of these processes for yourself. These processes are very suitable for being learned and practiced by lay people working together in practice partnerships.
Two additional readings important to mention due to their centrality as core concepts embodied by this “tool set:” The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, by Eckhart Tolle, and Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping-Stones for Success, by John C. Maxwell. Ultimately it is my aspiration that all such processes be transcended by direct intuition of Source Guidance (God's will as experienced and given by the depths of one's own Soul). This listing is offered in this light.
1. Integral Transformative Practice – A pioneering program developed by George Leonard and Michael Murphy for transforming body, mind, heart and spirit through balanced and comprehensive long-term practice. It leads to higher-level functioning and often to miraculous advances. For more information: www.itp-life.com.
2. The Work - An inquiry process developed by Byron Katie for being experientially honest about your judgments of others, seeing how they apply to you as self-judgment, then letting them go without attempting to control the outcome. It leads to the release of “lower octave” emotions and motivations such as fear, jealousy, or compulsive domination/submission, and to the emergence of “higher octave” ones such as love, compassion and joy. For more information: www.thework.org.
3. Focusing - A body-based process developed by Eugene Gendlin for tuning into “how things are for me now, especially what stands between me and feeling o.k. “Focusing” frequently leads to a felt-shift and a sense of release as this is accomplished. Used in conjunction with other tools listed here, this process is uniquely useful for accurately targeting what feels ripe to be worked on next. For more information: www.focusing.org.
4. Deep Visioning - A set of depth-intuition processes including Transformative Visioning, Journey Into Source and Visionary Time Travel developed by Oliver Markley, which use Higher Self-based guidance for creative problem solving and visioning of one's “ideal path.” They lead to increased clarity and freedom regarding the future you choose to manifest. For more information: www.omarkley.com/inward.
5. Centering Prayer - An ancient approach to contemplative meditation and the direct experience of the divine Source within, revived and refined by Thomas Keating in his workshops and the book, Open Mind, Open Heart. For more information: www.contemplativeoutreach.org.
6. Spiritual Awakening CDBook - A set of guided meditations and experiential guidebook developed by John Selby for learning to quiet the mind, becoming more heart-centered in twelve weeks of daily practice. This approach worked for the author where other methods for “thinkaholic recovery” failed. For more information or a copy: www.johnselby.com.
Imago Relationship Work - Theory and practical methods developed by Harville Hendrix for cooperative healing of relationship problems, particularly for committed couples. A core skill is a three-part dialogue process that breaks couples out of defensive win/lose communicating, and promotes understanding and compassion for the position of the other. For more information: www.imagotherapy.com.