I hope you will read this entire article which is one of the most inspiring writings I have read in a long while. The title is: “Sri Lanka’s untold story of resilience. The sarvodayas pathway can work anywhere,” written by Richard Flyer
I came across Richard Flyer’s work in 2008 when I was working on helping neighborhoods become thriving, self-reliant communities. We communicate on the phone, and I think I may have met him in person. When I think about how he has been working on the same project for 40 years, I feel very inspired. I have been working on either creating an intentional community, or joining one, for the past 49 years. Even though tempted to give up, I am more passionate than ever about creating the Wilberforce Village on the land that a community will eventually have stewardship over, and which I presently own.
I don’t believe that we can own land, just as we can’t own another person. Land ownership is necessary right now, but eventually I foresee a time when all will be happy having stewardship over land without needing to call it “ownership.” And that is food for another article.
This article is worth reading because it describes a movement in Sri Lanka that has evolved over the 40 years into a successful grassroots village network that may be the only, and probably was the first, of its kind. The founder was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi, and is still alive today, although his son is walking in his footsteps as the president of the organization.
One of the most important reasons I want to start a community is so that it can be a hub of activity in our neighborhood and county which will encourage cooperation including food security. I feel fortunate to live in Madison County where the zoning laws in the county are minimal, and there are many people who have moved here from out of state in order to have a simpler life, as well as to grow food and fulfill other good dreams. I’ve met many of these people and I feel encouraged.
I look forward to seeing what kinds of agreements and guidelines that Richard has come up with in order to facilitate healthy connections and cooperation among people of diverse backgrounds. I am glad he is aware of the New World Order and how we are being deceived and exploited by people who care nothing about us. I agree that we need to participate in local politics and elect officials who will support these efforts, including food security.
I am so eager to find people who want to explore living at Wilberforce Village and thus I must get all the details of what it will be like living here written down–including the nuts and bolts agreements of how we must live day to day in order to thrive. For example, decisions about companion animals, where cars are parked, where people can camp, what can be done in the common house, must be made by me. I will be open to changing these rules as people come and we experience life together. Yet as I need to be in charge until that time when at least one person proves themselves to be trustworthy and able to make decisions that are in alignment with our shared values. Giving away power too soon is inviting disaster, and I could lose everything.
If you have read other things I have written, you know that I believe in having a minimal hierarchical system of governance and I have chosen Sociocracy 3.0 as that system.
I may have some things to offer Richard as he is poised to train people about how to create villages that can thrive. I hope so! Already, looking back at some of his work, I saw this agreement which is very beautiful. I am most likely going to revise this with Richard’s permission so it can be the general agreement that people who want to live here need to make. I will follow it up with specifics, including values, beliefs, rules, and practices that people will need to align with in order to join the community. People don’t have to accept everything if they want to visit and become a provisional member. A provisional member is someone who is trying out living in community. This will be a time of much learning and growth, and the provisional member will be contributing much knowledge and valuable insights as well.
Here is the agreement that Richard wrote for people joining his Conscious Communities support groups:
I am here for mutual support to encourage my capacity to demonstrate Conscious Love, live by universal spiritual principles, and practice the Virtues of Love, Integrity, Courage, Service, and Respect. As I deepen my spirituality, I choose to consistently become a catalyst for the emergence of a new society. I connect from my heart towards others in the group, to share my personal stories of inspiration and challenges in transforming my ego and learn from others as they share their stories. We gather to support each others passions to make a better world and weave the good already happening in our communities into a more unified power for social change.
Well, as is often the case, I need to run…but I hope you enjoyed this and I would appreciate your feedback.
