| Introduction Learning to Live in Harmony in Communities |
|
xi | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Part I Learning to Live in Harmony with All Creation |
|
|
Towards a New Renaissance |
|
|
3 | (8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hildur presents her vision of a sustainable eco-village as part of a new global culture, and introduces GEN as a Global Eco-village Network to facilitate this aim. She goes on to outline all the possible obstacles to creating eco-villages, while saying that it is nevertheless a fun and meaningful process and one that people should be encouraged to take part in |
|
|
|
Toward an Ecology of the Heart |
|
|
11 | (12) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Will Keepin sketches the outlines of a new world view based on the work of David Bohm and the perennial philosophy which stresses the interconnectedness of all life, and presents a more peaceful world view. The Western world view is one of separation and control in which conflict is inherent, but Will introduces the idea of transformative conflict resolution and presents us with a viable alternative |
|
|
|
Turning to Natural and Spiritual Law |
|
|
23 | (4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hanne Marstrand Strong invited leaders of different spiritual traditions (the Wisdomkeepers) to the Rio conference and to Habitat II. In doing so she reminded us all of the need to acknowledge and learn from the great spiritual traditions. This chapter describes aspects of these traditions and explores their relevance to living peacefully |
|
|
|
Meeting the Land Doing Science (Art and Religion) Goethe's Way |
|
|
27 | (8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Margaret Colquhoun defines the broad outlines of a new science based on Goethe's theories and, together with Christopher Day shows us how this science can be applied when designing and planning houses and communities |
|
|
|
Place, People and Consciousness |
|
|
35 | (12) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peter Dawkins explains the ancient art of sacred geometry in relation to designing buildings and communities within the context of the whole landscape. He has combined sacred architecture, the study of esoteric energy systems and the science of placement to create a new science, Zoence. He demonstrates how this can be used to create harmonious communities |
|
|
|
Reconnecting with the Earth |
|
|
47 | (8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maddy Harland asks how we can live together in peace, whilst we are in conflict with the Earth that sustains us. She describes how permaculture design is a key ingredient in designing harmonious, sustainable communities and describes a process of connecting spiritually with the land to become more whole |
|
|
|
Evolutionary Circles A New Process for Personal and Planetary Transformation |
|
|
55 | (6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This contribution offers ideas for using meditation and other techniques to work creatively in groups, thereby increasing group harmony and resonance |
|
|
|
Evolving Together The Emergence of a New Form of Evolutionary Group |
|
|
61 | (16) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carrying this theme further, Monica describes her experiences with a group called the `Surprise Being' and the transformative effects experienced by all its participating members |
|
|
| Part II Conflict Solving: Lessons From Communities All Over The World |
|
|
This section opens with four contributions from the Third World. Here, many traditional cultures still have valuable indigenous and cohesive communities from which we have much to learn. Now, however, their way of life is being threatened by globalisation and urbanisation creating environmental devastation and mass disaffection with traditional values |
|
|
|
Lessons From the Villages of Ladakh |
|
|
77 | (6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ladakh, a tiny country high up in the Himalayas, has a rich cultural history. Helena Norberg-Hodge has lived there for over 20 years and describes the happy culture she experienced. Helena shows how, for the people of Ladakh, conflict resolution is an integral part of the culture |
|
|
|
Tolerance and Solidarity in Everyday Experience Experiences with Conflict Resolution in the Sarvodaya Movement in Sri Lanka |
|
|
83 | (14) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Sarvodaya Movement and its initiator, Dr A T Ariyaratne, recently received the Gandhi prize for establishing processes for peaceful conflict resolution in 10,000 of the 23,000 villages of Sri Lanka. Under its aegis they have worked over decades amid great racial tensions to prevent life-threatening conflicts. Dr A T Ariyaratne describes some of the methods and techniques that have been used successfully to prevent such conflicts |
|
|
|
|
|
97 | (4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rashmi Mayur chooses poetry as a medium to describe the most basic causes of human conflict, desire and passion |
|
|
|
Living in Auroville Community Conflict Resolution |
|
|
101 | (12) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Marti Mueller describes a unique eco-village, Auroville, in Southern India founded on the inspiration of Sri Aurobindo and the `Mother'. Built on a once treeless plain, Auroville is an international community which combines ecological restoration with a deeply spiritual culture. Here there are many valuable lessons which teach us about harmonious coexistence in community |
|
|
|
Auroville A Living Laboratory for Human Unity |
|
|
113 | (2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The rock on which Auroville is built on the spiritual teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the `Mother'. Bhaga Gabriau describes in more detail the essence of these teachings |
|
|
|
Towards Sacred Society The Life of Tui Community, Aotearoa/New Zealand |
|
|
115 | (24) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robena McCurdy has been part of an exciting process taking place in New Zealand's Tui community, where group members have been experimenting with many different ways of resolving conflict and developing community. She tells us the history of this community and the many lessons learnt along the way |
|
|
|
Conflict Resolution in an Eco-Village |
|
|
139 | (8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Margrit and Declan Kennedy tell the story of the Steyerberg community in Germany which combines a concern for the environment with spirituality. They describe the difficulties of setting up an eco-village, but also the rewards and joys of successding |
|
|
|
Ethics as Healing Another Approach to Conflict Resolution |
|
|
147 | (6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Emissaries have 10 communities worldwide and have a long history of transforming a top-down hierarchical structure to a more democratic and inclusive structure. One of the tools developed during this process was ethics of `the right use of power' and the setting up of ethics committees. Cliff Penwell describes how the process unfolded |
|
|
|
Sustainable Economics in Eco-Communities |
|
|
153 | (8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jill Jordan paints a picture of how the community of Maleny, in Queensland, has developed alternative and co-operative trading systems, which are working towards a circulatory sustainable economy not based on competition. She outlines key ingredients for developing similar systems anywhere |
|
|
|
The Wisdom of the Elders Communal Conflict and Conflict Resolution |
|
|
161 | (14) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bill Metcalf brings together life stories and wisdom from people who have lived in intentional communities around the world for more than twenty years. There is no substitute for experience! |
|
|
| Part III Conflict Resolution Techniques |
|
|
Inner Development in Service to Community |
|
|
175 | (10) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patricia Michael writes about techniques for personal development in relationship to serving a larger whole |
|
|
|
Six `Ingredients' for Forming Communities That Help Reduce Conflict Down the Road |
|
|
185 | (10) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diana Christian, editor of Communities journal, lists six ingredients that contribute to the creation of a successful intentional community. She describes from experience a practical and accessible model for designing harmonious communities. Valuable lessons that could save much heartache in the long-term |
|
|
|
Consensus A Tool for Building Harmony |
|
|
195 | (6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Betty Didcoct, a soul burning for community, has organised several big international community meetings, and has extensive experience in teaching techniques for, among other things, decision by consensus. Here she shares the fruits of her experience |
|
|
|
Practicalities of Creative Collaborative Community Living |
|
|
201 | (14) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Catherine Widdicombe has 40 years experience of living in communities. She offers us techniques to enable groups to work together successfully and hold constructive and productive meetings |
|
|
|
Sound A Tool To Bridge Individuals Into Society |
|
|
215 | (10) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dance, song and music are important ways of creating harmony in all human activities. Bolette Schiotz from Denmark describes her experiences using sound for `bridging people into community' |
|
|
|
Humour as a Tool for Conflict Resolution A Glue for Community Life |
|
|
225 | (6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patch Adams has chosen the `funniest' tool for resolving conflict in a community that helps the careers and the cared for: a good laugh |
|
|
|
|
|
231 | (6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
In another quite different contribution, Patch Adams describes his personal methods for maintaining a level of passion and persistence under difficult circumstances |
|
|
|
Betrayal, Revenge and Forgiveness A Life Initiation |
|
|
237 | (10) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ben Fuchs describes how disruptive individuals can upset the mechanism of harmonious community and how we can work to understand these group processes. Giving up revenge as a reaction to feeling hurt, is a powerful tool for conflict resolution and personal growth |
|
|
|
Elemental Help A Guide for Community Living |
|
|
247 | (6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kay Kay gives her personal view of the qualities inherent in the four elements: Air, Water, Fire and Earth and what they can teach us about living in community |
|
|
| Resource List |
|
253 | |
Other versions by this Author
