Vol. 2 No. 2 July 2002Greetings!!
How can we live in a responsible and meaningful way? What actions can we take to contribute to the creation of a better world? What do we need to learn to be the change we wish to see in the world? The answers to these questions are as diverse as are each one of us. The challenge and opportunity is to join efforts, to seek alignment, so that we can make conscious choices that enable healthy people, vibrant communities, and robust ecosystems for present and future generations of all the beings that comprise this earth. That is what syntony is all about: the creative aligning and tuning with the natural processes of which we are a part. Syntony involves listening to the rhythms of change and learning how to play our own melody in harmony with the larger evolutionary piece. It is finding and creating meaning and dynamic harmony, both individually and collectively.
We are very pleased to have Jennifer White as our special guest contributor to this issue of The Path. She is a true syntony quester -- engaged in pro-active learning and action about the relationship between her personal life and her impact on the quality of the communities and ecosystems where she lives. In fact, her piece was written before she knew about Syntony Quest, and we were so struck by the degree to which it fit with the work we do that we chose it for publication in The Path. She is an inspiration to us and we hope that her vision, commitment and leadership inspires you, as well.
In syntony,
Kathia & Alexander Laszlo
Being the change
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We want to hear from you...Being the Change: My learning journey
by Jennifer H. White
wildheart@indra.com"You must be the change that you wish to see in the world."
- Mohandas K. Gandhi
The path that I have traveled in my life, including all of my experiences, triumphs and disappointments, has guided me perfectly into this moment. The inspiration for and direction of this path have their origins in the insatiable curiosity that consumed my childhood. Since I was young I have longed to understand why things and people are the way they are, and how I can as an individual, and as a member of a larger community, contribute to the greater good.
It is ironic to find myself thinking these thoughts as an adult, when as a child I used to roll my eyes as I listened to my father speak, for what seemed like the billionth time, about the importance of what he called "humanics." For him, humanics, (a word I was sure he made up), meant the study of people and our relationships to them; and he believed that obtaining and utilizing those skills was the most honorable of endeavors and all that truly mattered in the world. As the son of Quaker parents he had learned that talking about how to live was not as valuable as embodying those values in the way that George Fox, the Quaker founder, described as "letting your life speak."
When one personifies that statement then every moment, every task, every interaction becomes a prayer and an opportunity to bring one's spirituality into practice. As an adult I am only now beginning to appreciate the magnitude of the lessons of non-judgment, compassion, humility, respect, forgiveness and generosity that my parents offered me simply through the example of their lives. Those foundational teachings will be a great asset to me during this next phase of my learning journey; and I cannot envision a more relevant, fascinating or satisfying course of study for me than learning how to evolve into a better human being.
Parker Palmer, in his book To Know as We are Known: Education as a Spiritual Journey, [1] seems to be describing my own search for understanding, and for a vocation that is in alignment with my deepest truths, when he says, "The goal of knowledge arising from love is the reunification and reconstruction of broken selves and worlds. A knowledge born of compassion aims not at exploiting and manipulating creation but at reconciling the world to itself."
Life is too short to not love what you do. I teach for the love of it and because it comes as easily to me as the beating of my own heart. The more experience I have as a teacher, especially in subjects that invite personal awareness and invoke historical material, the more I come to understand the demanding and delicate nature of that role. As I witness and manage group dynamics and students' projections I am constantly given the opportunity to improve, and do my own personal work. I look forward to the possibility of expanding the scope, depth and applicability of what I can offer as an educator, a psychotherapist and a writer.
I believe that the expansion of those capacities relates directly to my potential for making a contribution and manifesting my vision. In order to supplement my knowledge base I have begun a Ph.D. program in Human Science (humanics!) at Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center where I intend to study systems theory, conscious evolution, sustainability and educational design. In a deep way, I envision my role in this work as that of translator. I have a strong enthusiasm and aptitude for analysis, organization and integration; and the passion I have for teaching is matched only by my enthusiasm and dedication to learning.
I seek immediate opportunities for the application of my learning through my volunteer work with clients at the Boulder County AIDS Project, and also in the Psychology classes that I teach at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy. Since the task of realizing my vision is so large, and because many of the activities I have described involve an output of energy, I need to remember to consciously incorporate into my life specific ways to rejuvenate myself. One thing that creates that sense of renewal in me is to hear stories about individuals of similar heart and on similar paths.
I find it inspiring to continually and synergistically find others who share the same intentions, and I recognize the importance of developing dedicated cooperation, communication and integration between us. Already I have stumbled upon several organizations that I feel will help to keep me enthusiastic and focused. Some of those are: Tikkun, Positive Futures Network, the Foundation for Conscious Evolution, and the International Systems Institute. I have a subscription to the Positive Futures Network bimonthly magazine called Yes! which "supports people's active engagement in creating a more just, sustainable, and compassionate future."
My husband and I attempt to embody sustainable practices in our own lives. Our home is on seven unbelievably beautiful and peaceful acres that allow us to maintain our connection, and gain much nourishment, from the natural world. We have joined the local coop, are members of a community supported organic farm and are growing some of our own food. For my own well being I have started a monthly Women's Gathering at my house in order to expand my own spiritual community and to seek support in living more fully, and with more integrity, in the present moment.
The common denominator of my goals seems to be the development of greater conscience and consciousness. I see learning as a "transformational process where students expand their knowledge and, more importantly, expand themselves and their capacity to make a difference" as Saybrook Graduate School expresses it. My long-term vision is to design a broad curriculum accessible to the general public that supports individuals in making choices that are in alignment with their inner purpose and the health of our communities and the planet. I hope to create a School for Human Development in which such an educational program can be offered. I have considered writing a handbook of sorts for "right living" and sustainable communities and sharing my ideas through conferences and seminars. Beyond that I can envision exploring ways to introduce some of this information to young people through a children's book, or in high schools through developmentally appropriate and experiential classes.
I want to understand the historical, political, biopsychosocial and environmental influences on human evolution and behavior, so that I might discover some practical ways to promote and create sustainable values and community for myself and others. I also hope to examine ways that spirituality and a greater consciousness can be integrated into education, employment, relationships and daily life. And as a psychotherapist I am particularly curious about ways that exploring and facilitating our psychological development, (on personal, interpersonal and organizational levels), can support a more compassionate, conscious and accelerated evolution.
It is this path, my learning journey, that enables me to begin to "be the change that I wish to see in the world."
[1] Palmer, P.J. (1993). To Know as We Are Known: Education as a Spiritual Journey. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco. p. 8.
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For learning and dialogue about how each of us can be the change we wish to see in the world, please join us at www.communityzero.com/syntonyquest
Sometimes we learn about problems in the world and wonder, what can I do? Problems like hunger and desertification around the globe are so complex and so overwhelming that it is easy to put them aside and continue living "as usual." However, there are some practical steps that can have big impacts if each of us were to make conscious choices.
One such step relates to our eating habits. We all eat - several meals a day, if possible! Let's look at some environmental and nutritional facts[*] that can guide our choices and support a sustainable world:
- It takes 16 pounds of grain and soy to produce 1 pound of beef, 6 pounds of grain and soy to produce 1 pound of pork, 4 pounds of grain and soy to produce 1 pound of turkey, and 3 pounds of grain and soy to produce 1 pound of chicken or eggs.
- 7 people could be nourish with the nutritional value of the grain and soy required to produce the meat, poultry and dairy products consumed by the average American in a year.
- Half of the world production of grain is consumed by livestock.
- More than 20,000,000 people will die of malnutrition and starvation this year.
- 100,000,000 people could be fed using the land, water and energy that would be freed up if Americans were to reduce their intake of meat by 10%
- In California, it takes 23 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of tomatoes, 25 gallons to produce 1 pound of wheat, 33 gallons to produce 1 pound of carrots, 65 gallons to produce 1 pound of oranges, 544 gallons to produce 1 pound of eggs, 815 gallons to produce 1 pound of chicken, and 5214 gallons to produce 1 pound of beef.
- Livestock production is the activity that counts for more than half of all the water consumed for all purposes in the US.
- 52 million acres annually are rendered unproductive by desertification.
- 29% of Earth's land mass is suffering desertification.
- Cattle production is the leading cause of desertification.
- 68% of all diseases in the US are diet related.
- Arthritis, asthma, breast cancer, colon cancer, constipation, diabetes, diverticulosis, gallstones, heart disease, hypertension, hypoglycemia, impotence, kidney disease, obesity, osteoporosis, peptic ulcers, prostate cancer, salmonellosis, strokes, and trichinosis are among the diseases that can be easily prevented or cured with a low-fat diet FREE from animal products.
- While the risk of death from heart attack for the average American man is 50%
- a man who does not eat meat reduces his risk to 15%.
- 40% of all cancers in the US are diet related.
- Beef is the food most likely to cause cancer from herbicide residue.
So, what are you having for lunch today?
[*] Information taken from Appendix 1: Earth Changes of Thom Hartmann's book "The Prophet's Way: Touching the power of life," Three Rivers Press, 1997.
With special thanks to Thom Hartmann for his wonderful work.
Here are some resources to help you learn more about healthy choices for you and the planet.
Vegetarianism: A Beginner's Guide, a resource offered by the Animal Protection Institute:
http://www.ChooseVeggie.comOrganic fruits and vegetables are more nutritious than conventional produce:
http://www.ccof.org/whatsnews.htm#omnTry to eat locally grown food. If you live in the US, you can buy directly from a community supported farm. To find a farm near you go to:
http://www.csacenter.org/statesfr.htmAnd to learn more about Community Supported Agriculture visit:
http://www.caff.org/farms/csa.htmlEnjoy!
At Syntony Quest we are committed to communicate the possibilities for innovation and sustainability within a systemic and evolutionary vision of the world. Kathia & Alexander Laszlo, co founders of Syntony Quest, are actively engaged in research on new paradigms and approaches for sustainable development and social innovation. On June 8th of this year, they received an Advancement Prize of the Akademischer Klub of the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, for their recent work on "Evolving Knowledge for Development: The role of knowledge management in a changing world." This research paper explores a normative direction in the field of knowledge management, suggesting it contribute to the transformation of the business world, the improvement of the quality of life of communities, and the creation a sustainable future. The article will appear in the Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 6, No. 4, October 2002.
Kathia and Alexander were invited to present their work and received the prize at the University of St. Gallen. As faculty of EGADE, the Graduate School of Business Administration and Leadership of the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM), Mexico, they have formed a research group -- EDGE -- for ongoing research on new perspectives toward development. EDGE is conceived as an international network of researchers committed to generate theory and methodology for ethical business innovation, sustainable development, and social transformation. In collaboration with the people of the University of St. Gallen, EDGE has created a virtual learning community to strengthen our growing network of collaborations that promote a deeper understanding of development - and the ability to act appropriately on that understanding - around the world.
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Syntony Quest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization seeking to
catalyze learning processes that empower individuals and groups to
develop the competencies necessary for the co-creation of sustainable
and evolutionary futures.
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http://www.SyntonyQuest.orgThe Path: Action-sparking ideas of today for tomorrow
is a publication of Syntony Quest © 2001.
The ideas expressed here do not necessarily represent the views of the organization,
but rather of the individuals who contributed to this issue.
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