Summary

Unfolding Images of Life Project
for Co-Evolutionary Exploration and Practice

Ver. 1.0, August, 2003

Unfolding Images of Life is the working title for a new project exploring how an evolutionary progression in our underlying images and concepts of living can “level the playing field,” leading to sustainable abundance and a wiser, more compassionate, just and enlightened society for all.   Ascending Images of Life was the original project title, and we are using a variety of synonyms, such asascending, unfolding, evolving, co-evolving, integrative and other terms as is most convenient.

We are integrating the ancient wisdom of the Perennial Philosophy with contemporary knowledge by means of:

• The precise definition of basic concepts and desiderata for the visualization and achievement of conscious evolution, both personal and societal.
• The development of a Gradient Model of Ascension which brings:
  • New “level-(of consciousness)-specific” understandings for such basic terms as self, good and evil
  • The recognition of similarly level-specific tools and processes for healing, transformation and integral wholeness.
• The identification of an integral “Guide to Right Action,” and a practical “Master Tool Set” for integrative ascension.

Many readers will enjoy reading a non-technical editorial based on this project by Dr. William Gough, Chairman of the Foundation for Mind-Being Research, before looking at the project writings themselves, which are deliberately somewhat technical.

These project writings are structured and organized to conveniently serve as a compendium of resources for subsequent work, and include:

• This Summary—a brief overview of the project intended to help readers decide if they want to see more, and if so, where to go next.
• The Overview Sketch—a more comprehensive overview and summary of progress to date. 
• The Keel— a compendium of precisely defined desiderata and other evolutionary concepts, intended to serve as foundational building blocks for co-evolutionary/co-intelligent/co-productive applications to foster integrative ascension, both individual and social.  The Keel can be used as a lexicon of fundamental concepts; or it can be read straight through, top to bottom as a catalyst for insight.
• The Dialog Highlights—a journal of comments that includes personal statements by the authors why we are doing this study, and our answers to critical feedback from reviewers, and other significant contributions.
• The Applications— a collection of ideas, both proven and speculative, of appropriate and practical ways to foster transformative advancement.
• The Gallery—a collection of items (i.e., pictures, music, sculpture, architecture, fictional and non-fiction stories and articles, and other works of art) that depict project-related themes.
• The Bibliography—reference listings to resources used.
• The Glossary—a lexicon of key terms not covered in the Keel.

We particularly solicit your comments and feedback, especially regarding suggested additions for the Gallery and Applications files.