An intentional spiritual community
grounded by a principle of interconnectedness,
through unity with diversity
An online spiritual community where each participant intentions to explore and deepen their personal engagement with their spiritual path, alongside companions on the way.
Preamble
Many, many people experience belonging within a current world religious tradition, a religious tradition that offers them a coherent Story of meaning from which they find identity, purpose, and belonging. However, for a growing number of people, this is no longer the case; they no longer find their place of belonging within a particular religious tradition. Even so, they long for an intentional community in which they too may experience belonging. In response, is it now time for a new spiritual community? A new spiritual community where participants find a place of shelter to explore and deepen their spirituality within an environment of interconnectedness, through unity with diversity. In short, is it now time for a new faith community?
Faith is not a belief system. Rather as Benedictine monk, Lawrence Freeman wrote: "Faith is a way of seeing depth and meaning in the ordinary." As such, faith is a human capacity for giving meaning to our living and our dying. Even though faith is not a belief system, it does draw us toward a unified belief system in the form of a sacred narrative that gives meaning to our living and our dying.
While the capacity of faith may remain constant, meaningful belief systems will continue to evolve. Also, there have been times throughout human history when a once meaningful belief system became obsolete.
Note: for the rationale behind a new faith community – see the resource 'A new faith community'.
Religious traditions did not emerge within a vacuum. They emerged within a particular cultural worldview, in response to particular meaning-making questions posed at that time. In a similar vein, a new faith community does not emerge within a vacuum. It emerges in response to the overarching meaning making question of our time: "What does it mean to be human in an emergent universe?"
Founding principles of a new online spiritual community
To engage in the sacred work of being human
Sacred: an ever-deepening experience of connection and belonging in daily life.
Work of being Human: in response to the ever-expanding knowledge of the nature of being human within an emergent universe, we are required to participate in the ongoing transformation of our human identity, purpose, and values. Within such a context transformation takes place within three levels: the individual, the cultural, and the human species within the wider Earth community.
Drawing from an integral framework
An integral framework is one that both "transcends and includes" (Wilber et al) all that has gone before. Therefore, an integral framework breaks through and transcends the limitations of all previous human knowledge and belief systems and also includes that which continues to resonate in our time and place in history. Such knowledge will include the sciences: including medical science, astronomy, anthropology, biology, and neuroscience. Related fields also included are: psychology, philosophical discourse, and the arts in general. Also included are the knowledge and wisdom teachings from past and present religious and spiritual traditions.
Unity with diversity
Unity with diversity is symbolised through the imagery of the holon, i.e., an entity which is both a whole in its own right, as well as being part of a greater whole. Such an understanding of both/and breaks through the either/or boundaries of tribalism and frees us from judgment, fear and prejudice.
Cultivating peaceful relationships through the value of nonviolence
Central to a new faith community is the ongoing transformation of humankind. One transformational shift will be towards cultivating peaceful relationships with self, others, and the wider Earth community. Such an orientation toward living in peace draws from a value of nonviolence and requires of us that we each take responsibility for the way we live and act in our world; "that we be the change we want to see." (Ghandi)
Contemplative in orientation
A contemplative orientation involves the following:
. an "ever-greater surrender to the creative action of love and grace in our hearts"
(Merton) toward compassionate self-knowledge;. listening for the "primordial whisper" (Hillman) of inner wisdom calling forth a new
unified belief system, in the form of a new sacred narrative of being and belonging;. listening for "that deep unfolding that is always happening within” (McEntee,
Bucko);. "inner deep listening and quiet, still awareness . . . recognising the deep spring that
is inside us. We call on it and it calls to us." (Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann).Conversation as a spiritual practice
Because participants may hold divergent views and life experiences, conversation will involve respect for and of each other, and a willingness to metaphorically see and hear each other. In so doing, all will remain open to learn and grow through the practice of being truly seen and heard. For more on this see Conversation as a spiritual practice
With such principles as a foundation, a new faith community will seek to nurture and sustain each participant in their ongoing engagement with their particular spiritual path. (For more on the nature of spirituality see Resources/The nature of spirituality). In so doing, each participant may live their truth (sacred narrative of being and belonging) authentically. Poetic language for such a stance is: each standing in their own ground ~ openheartedly.
Practices for a new community
It takes more than intention to engage in the sacred work of being human. It also takes more than a shift in thinking. As one author wrote: "A philosophy without practice is like reading a menu without ever tasting the food." (Quoted in Hillman)
So, engaging in the sacred work of being human will require practices which sustain, nurture and challenge us to remain open and receptive to transformational shifts in our view if and when they emerge.
Helpful spiritual practices for our time and place in history are:
Meditation: leading us towards the unscripted resting place within.
Contemplative self-inquiry: enabling us to identify where we are entangled within a particular Storyline and allowing us to experience transformational shifts in our sacred narratives. (Read more on the practice of contemplative self-inquiry).
Gathering in community: where there is an environment of trust for respective sacred narratives to be told, heard, and reflected upon.
Dreaming an online spiritual community into form
An online spiritual community has been established. Based on the principle of interconnectedness through unity with diversity, the online community picks up something of Parker Palmer’s phrase: “being alone, together.” Being alone, together here means that the online community recognises that participants engage in their practice of meditation, and contemplative self-enquiry, yet such a vigorous inner venture also requires the support of a trusted community where each participant is seen and heard. Also, a trusted community can offer an environment where:
. open-ended questions regarding each individual’s experience of their spiritual path are respected
. Insights can be gained
. the sharing of resources that have sustained, nurtured, and/or challenged is offered.
To view the online community, go to A Place of Shelter
Resources
Ken Wilber etal, Integral Life Practice
Thomas Merton, www.thomasmertoncenter.org
Anne Hillman, Awakening the Energies of Love
Rory McEntee & Adam Bucko, The New Monasticism: An Interspiritual Manifesto for Contemplative Living
Australian Indigenous understanding of Dadirri by Aboriginal writer Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann