[p2p-research] Fwd: Towards A New Cultural Paradigm... initial thoughts on completely changing the game ; -)
jsmith at mosquitonet.com
jsmith at mosquitonet.com
Fri Nov 5 20:37:29 CET 2010
Dear Michel and all ~
There is indeed a great deal of confusion about Adi Da and his life. As in most
things, a cursory examination is sufficient to create fear and doubt, but not at
all sufficient to result in understanding.
In my view, the book Not-Two Is Peace is inspired. For those who are concerned
about where we go from here and how we get out of this mess we're in, it is an
essential read.
All best wishes ~
Julie
> some balancing info on adi is here,
> http://www.kheper.net/topics/gurus/Da-criticism.html and also more generally
> via http://delicious.com/mbauwens/Spiritual-Authorianism
>
> the ideas expressed in the book may be valid (or not), but the practice was
> of an entirely different order,
>
> Michel
>
> On Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 4:43 AM, <jsmith at mosquitonet.com> wrote:
>
>> Dear Suresh and all ~
>>
>> By far the most important book I've read on what is now needed related to
>> global
>> systems change is Not-Two Is Peace: The Ordinary People's Way of Global
>> Cooperative
>> Order by Adi Da. The book is available entirely online here:
>> http://www.da-peace.org/.
>>
>> All best wishes ~
>>
>> Julie
>>
>>
>> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> > From: Suresh Fernando <suresh2323 at gmail.com>
>> > Date: Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 1:17 AM
>> > Subject: Towards A New Cultural Paradigm... initial thoughts on
>> completely
>> > changing the game ;-)
>> > To: openkollab at googlegroups.com, envisioning at lists.worklessparty.org,
>> > intention at lists.tribalharmonix.org, movers-shakers at googlegroups.com,
>> > coalition at googlegroups.com, uk-gathering at googlegroups.com
>> >
>> >
>> > **
>> >
>> > Hey Everyone... some stuff I've been thinking about lately... I welcome
>> your
>> > thoughts!! Apologies for the length... I will, in time, do videos to get
>> > this story out in a more digestible fashion. At this point it is
>> important
>> > to me that all that I am closely engaged with understand that everything
>> > that I am working on is a part of a larger fabric...
>> >
>> >
>> > *Note that this is, at least in part, an attempt to place in context the
>> > profound importance of the systematic evolution tribal culture and
>> > alternative institutional and interaction models!*
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > *Objective:* This is a call for us to take seriously the need for massive
>> > global systemic change at multiple levels!
>> >
>> >
>> > *Scope:* The following describes an outline for a book that I am starting
>> to
>> > work on.... nothing more - one that we might be able to co-develop should
>> > there be sufficient interest.
>> >
>> >
>> > * *
>> >
>> > *An Inflection Point In Human History: we are at the Tipping Point*
>> >
>> > *Climate Change: a Rallying Cry:* This generation is unique in all of
>> human
>> > history in that it is faced with the greatest challenge ever presented to
>> > our species; that of the threat of climate change. This is a threat that
>> > places our entire species at risk. In and of itself this is remarkable,
>> but
>> > what makes our current situation unique is that we are faced with this
>> > threat in conjunction both with the knowledge of this threat as well as
>> well
>> > as sufficient communication and technological capacity to do something
>> about
>> > it. Yet we dawdle... why is this so?
>> >
>> >
>> > *What does this tell us about what it is to be human?*
>> >
>> > *
>> > *
>> >
>> > *Advancements in Communications Infrastructure: *Another important
>> > consideration is that simultaneous with being presented with an
>> > unprecedented global challenge (climate change), we are provided with the
>> > accelerated evolution of a communications and mass coordination
>> > infrastructure (the Internet) that makes possible the coordination of
>> ideas,
>> > will and effort in a manner heretofore not possible at any time in the
>> > course of human history!
>> >
>> >
>> > *Values Transformation:* For reasons I outline briefly below, western
>> > culture is in the midst of a massive values transformation; one that
>> > questions the current status quo. It questions the ‘Economics Lens’; that
>> > which frames definitions of social good, human welfare etc in terms of
>> > economic concepts (financial capital, GDP, productivity etc.)
>> >
>> >
>> > *It is the convergence of the above massive shifts in global
>> consciousness
>> > that provides us with an opportunity unprecedented in the course of human
>> > history; an opportunity to reshape everything!*
>> >
>> > * *
>> >
>> > *The Process of Transformation*
>> >
>> > If massive systemic change is to be a possibility, a concerted effort
>> will
>> > be required on three parallel fronts:
>> >
>> > *Across organizations and Boundaries:* Between organizations and across
>> > boundaries of various sorts. We need to stitch together a movement, to
>> > connect organizations, groups, projects, people, ideas etc. in a way that
>> > makes it possible to massively mobilize towards better ends.
>> >
>> > Revolution requires the centralization of focus; the aggregation of many
>> > around a single idea in a single space! Fortunately in the world that we
>> > live in, space can be construed differently. In fact, in virtual space,
>> it
>> > becomes possible for us all to participate in the same space!
>> >
>> > I am working on this with the Coalition of the
>> > Willing<
>> http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Way-Of-The-Warrior/156574347703364>group
>> > that is mobilizing on the
>> > BetterMeans <https://secure.bettermeans.com/projects/163> platform
>> >
>> > *Within Organizations:* We need to build a bridge to mainstream culture
>> by
>> > working with organizations to initiate dialogue and commence engagement.
>> > Since the source of the problem is the Economic Lens, systemic change is
>> > only possible by reframing the value system of those that give voice to
>> the
>> > Economic Lens. I am currently working with some folks to figure out how
>> to
>> > take a systems/network/ecosystem approach into corporate environments.
>> >
>> > *Interpersonal Level:* Since value systems become deeply engrained and
>> are
>> > reinforced by the institutional frameworks of which we are currently a
>> part,
>> > a change in psyche is also necessary; one that provides us with the
>> paradigm
>> > and tools necessary to embrace a culture of cooperation, selflessness,
>> > community and the proliferation of love.
>> > It is for this reason that I am giving voice to the Warrior
>> > Paradigm<
>> http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Way-Of-The-Warrior/156574347703364>.
>> >
>> >
>> > * *
>> >
>> > *The World Today*
>> >
>> > Western culture is pervaded by a deep sense that something has gone
>> wrong.
>> > We are beset with a deep sense of unease...
>> >
>> > This is just an intuition, but finds its basis in the problems and
>> > associated discourse arising from, at the least, the following.
>> >
>> > - Climate change
>> > - Massive economic disparity
>> > - Species extinction
>> > - Financial collapse
>> > - Global conflict, terrorism etc.
>> > - Unhappiness and alienation of western workers
>> > - Lack of confidence in democratic processes as evidenced by little
>> > interest in the political process.
>> > - Many of the problems identified have been present for generations,
>> what
>> > makes the current context unique is that we now realize that some of
>> what we
>> > held as sacrosanct might not be so.
>> > - Capitalism is not the best mechanism to allocate capital if a
>> broader
>> > value set is considered
>> > - Unfettered technological progress is not, in and of itself,
>> something
>> > to be lauded.
>> > - Globalization and the free flow of capital across the globe might
>> not
>> > be the best way to go
>> >
>> > There is a sense that we have been duped.
>> >
>> >
>> > All civilizations come, at some time, to a crashing halt. We can wait for
>> > the implosion or start charting a better course.
>> >
>> >
>> > In the following, I propose to introduce a few ideas for consideration...
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > *The New Paradigm: a techno-cultural reordering*
>> >
>> > There is no doubt that we are in the midst of a radical shift. This shift
>> is
>> > very wide scope and will impact all phases of human life. It finds its
>> roots
>> > and genesis, however, in the emergence of a new communications paradigm.
>> > This change in the communications paradigm has implications for the very
>> > nature of interaction as it modifies the notion of space, the boundaries
>> of
>> > communication, the capacity to communicate, the nature of knowledge, its
>> > structure etc.
>> >
>> > Here are a few areas where I see lots of work being done. They key will
>> be
>> > find ways to piece all of this together.
>> >
>> >
>> > *New Perspectives*
>> >
>> > A systemic approach to the relationship between organizations, projects,
>> > people etc. This is the move away from a perspective rooted in
>> > individualism and fragmentation. It is the explicit realization that we
>> > belong to an interdependent system; that we are fundamentally connected.
>> As
>> > such, why can we not develop our infrastructure and support models to
>> > reflect this reality?
>> >
>> > This is the basis for the notion of an
>> > ecosystem<http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc4gbgsj_1480ns63fcdp>that I
>> > have developed and the Ecosystem
>> > Pooled Funding Model<
>> http://www.slideshare.net/sureshf/ecosystem-social-ventures>
>> > .
>> >
>> >
>> > *New Economic Models*
>> >
>> > - Alternative currencies
>> > - · Local
>> > - · Virtual
>> > - Alternative Financial Models
>> > - · Ecosystem Pooled Fund
>> > - · Chris Cooks work, for example
>> >
>> > *New Interaction Models*
>> >
>> > - Open infrastructures
>> > - Interoperabilithy
>> > - Peer Production
>> > - Collective Intelligence
>> > - High visibility
>> > - Mass collaboration
>> > - Strategic Confluence
>> >
>> > *Values Transformation*
>> >
>> > - Sustainability
>> > - Holism
>> > - Healthy lifestyles
>> > - Return to Nature
>> > - Cooperation
>> > - Collaboration
>> > - Openness
>> > - Transparency
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > *Renewed Spiritual Context*
>> >
>> > Western culture has lost any sense of the sacred or the divine. We have
>> been
>> > consumed by materialism and have lost touch with ourselves, our community
>> > and any deep sense of higher purpose.
>> >
>> >
>> > This, however, is beginning to change. The roots of this change can be
>> found
>> > in a new generation of ‘hippies’ or counter-culture revolutionaries. They
>> > find their roots in a wide range of disciplines. They are artists,
>> > musicians, open source computer programmers, permaculture enthusiasts,
>> > social activists etc.
>> >
>> >
>> > In many ways it is a techno-social revolution that we are seeing emerge.
>> One
>> > that is driven by values transformation as well as sense that much is
>> > possible if we focus on community formation and coming together in
>> different
>> > ways.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > *New Communal Models*
>> >
>> > - · Localization
>> > - · Intentional Community
>> >
>> > *New Organizational Models*
>> >
>> > · Open Organizations
>> >
>> > - Open
>> > - Transparent
>> > - Highly scalable
>> > - Permeable Boundaries
>> >
>> > · Cooperatives: new form of value exchange
>> >
>> > · Tribes: new form of institutional model that accounts for our
>> > ‘humanness’
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > *The Old Paradigm*
>> >
>> > *Misguided Values*
>> >
>> > *Economics is the lens:* Human welfare equivalent to GDP growth
>> >
>> > - Humans are commoditized in the work world: are merely ‘workers’.
>> > - Workers are gauged on ‘productivity’.
>> > - Organizations are evaluated based on ‘efficiency’
>> > - Progress is equivalent to technological advancement and the ability
>> to
>> > control our environment
>> > - Progress is equivalent to the advancement of financial/material
>> > capability
>> > - The result of the Economics Lens is that we have institutionalized
>> the
>> > following values
>> > - Individualism
>> > - Greed
>> > - Competition
>> > - Hierarchy
>> >
>> > *Specialization, personal identity and the fragmentation of Western
>> Culture*
>> >
>> > *
>> > *
>> >
>> > The Economics Lens is the result of a long historical process the result
>> of
>> > which is the transition from hunter-gatherer communities to agrarian
>> society
>> > to industrialization. This process lead to the invention of money. This,
>> in
>> > turn lead to the need for people to specialize; to develop a trade that
>> they
>> > can exchange in return for money.
>> >
>> >
>> > Specialization now becomes a requirement for survival. Specialization
>> thus
>> > results in a change in the nature of the relationship between personal
>> > identity and community.
>> >
>> > Personal identity takes on a greater level of importance; at the expense
>> of
>> > community.
>> >
>> >
>> > The culmination of this process is that Western culture is highly
>> > fragmented. The importance of personal identity in conjunction with
>> > individualism, greed, avarice and the like has lead to the creation of
>> walls
>> > around ourselves. This has been reflected in the very nature of the
>> > communities we develop. We now have much less of an emphasis on living in
>> > community, deeper levels of connection with more people etc.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > *Outdated Institutional Models*
>> >
>> > Corporations, societies, charities etc.
>> >
>> > - · Are not appropriate for networked world where information
>> > flows freely across boundaries
>> > - · Have fixed boundaries. What is needed are organizations
>> that
>> > have more permeable boundaries
>> > - · Clearly demarcate the scope of ‘work’ as being distinct
>> from
>> > ‘play’. This is to say that it is assumed that when one is working, it
>> is
>> > with a co-worker and not with someone you love. The distinction
>> between work
>> > and play is clear.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > *Spirituality*
>> >
>> > Largely missing from Western culture
>> >
>> > * *
>> >
>> > *Tribal Models*
>> >
>> > *I close this piece with a brief discussion of tribal models because I
>> > believe this is the model that that provides the best opportunity to
>> drive
>> > the transformation at the three levels identified above (across
>> > organizations, within organizations, at the personal/spiritual level)*
>> >
>> > *
>> > *
>> >
>> > I am still working through the development of tribal models. As can be
>> > expected this is not something that can be developed in the abstract. It
>> is,
>> > therefore, being developed in the context of my participation in a series
>> of
>> > tribes in my local area. These tribes have slightly different focuses,
>> but
>> > there are common overlapping themes:
>> >
>> >
>> > *Intentionality*: there is some primary focus, be it an event or
>> something
>> > else that binds the group
>> >
>> >
>> > *Intimacy:* those that gravitate to tribal environments see their future
>> as
>> > being secured by the relationships they form not by the amount of money
>> the
>> > accumulate (or at least this is reflective of thie spirit).
>> >
>> > *Bridging Work and Play:* In tribal culture we prefer to work with those
>> > that we have personal relationships with. We see no reason to clearly
>> > demarcate the work and play domains as independent.
>> >
>> > *Group Process:* Tribal decisions are largely made in larger, open, group
>> > contexts. Decisions in this contexts are therefore more a function of
>> > fluidity within that context.
>> >
>> > *Energetic Spaces:* Tribal energy is developed and maintained in
>> different
>> > energetic spaces. This includes meetings, collaborative food preparation,
>> > music, dance etc. Characteristic of each of these spaces is that they
>> have a
>> > different vibrational frequency.
>> >
>> > *Energetic Balance: *Tribes take into account a range of different forms
>> of
>> > diversity and the need to account for balance across such diversity. This
>> > includes; gender, age, culture, skills, interests, emotional types etc.
>> >
>> > *Deep Human Relationships*: We see the need to build deep relationships
>> with
>> > a number of different people of both sexes. These relationships for the
>> > basis for mutual interdependence and support.
>> >
>> > *Interaction Across A Range of Activity Types:* In contrast to the work
>> > environment where patterns of interaction are clearly demarcated, in
>> tribal
>> > culture we understand that it is essentially important to interact with
>> each
>> > other across a range of activity types; to get to know each other in
>> > different contexts, This is what is required to develop a deep sense of
>> > knowledge of each other. This is the basis for the formation of deeply
>> > trusting relationships.
>> >
>> > *
>> > With Love in the Spirit of Community*!
>> >
>> > --
>> > *Suresh Fernando *
>> > BLOG <http://sureshf.posterous.com/>,
>> > YOUTUBE<http://www.youtube.com/my_videos?feature=mhum>,
>> > OK WEBSITE, <http://openkollab.com/>OK FAN PAG
>> > <http://goog_1343289408/>E<
>> http://www.facebook.com/openkollab?ref=ts#%21/openkollab>
>> > , OK GROUP <http://groups.google.ca/group/openkollab>,
>> > OK-WE<http://www.wiserearth.org/group/openkollab>,
>> > PHILOSOPHY, <http://sureshfernando.wordpress.com/> TWITTER,
>> > <http://twitter.com/sureshf> FACEBOOK,
>> > <http://facebook.com/suresh.fernando>WOTW FAN
>> > PAGE<
>> http://www.facebook.com/tedxvancouver?v=wall#%21/pages/The-Way-Of-The-Warrior/156574347703364
>> >
>> > LINKEDIN<
>> http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=412718&authType=name&authToken=GrUl&locale=en_US&pvs=pp&trk=ppro_viewmore
>> >,
>> > SLIDESHARE <http://www.slideshare.net/sureshf>
>> > *
>> > **'The counter cultural revolution was a rhizomatic meshwork of
>> > loosely-coordinated, loosely-affiliated struggles. The goals of these
>> > struggles weren’t always complimentary, but the struggles were aligned
>> and
>> > together they staged a mass offensive to shatter the status quo'*. - from
>> > The Coalition of the Willing
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net -
>> http://blog.p2pfoundation.net
>> >
>> > Connect: http://p2pfoundation.ning.com; Discuss:
>> > http://listcultures.org/mailman/listinfo/p2presearch_listcultures.org
>> >
>> > Updates: http://del.icio.us/mbauwens; http://friendfeed.com/mbauwens;
>> > http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens
>> >
>> > Think tank: http://www.asianforesightinstitute.org/index.php/eng/The-AFI
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> >
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
>
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>
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