Keeping the Faith ...

“Does community exist?” 


I have to say I have not previously given this topic much thought, but my sense is that we have already moved through two phases of community; the first is / was structured along a type of tribal / culturally conceived format that has been pre-determined by inheirited beliefs, initiated by the need to survive and provide mutual support. There was also a type of behaviour that was imposed and considered as acceptable. In this scenario, the position of the individual was subservient to the perceived needs of the whole.

The second format, is one that we are quite possibly (certainly it feels this way to me) in the latter stages of,  in which there is both the opportunity and material desire to be more independent (and selfish), with more loose views about what is or is not acceptable but within which there are still inherited limitations (progressively being breached). The third form of community is much more dynamic, and  in which, aspects of both the former are present, valued and happily co-exist, one alongside the other as intrinsic parts of the whole. The 'whole' - operates in very, very different manner to sum of the the seperate (older but now evoloved) individual parts. In other words, both the original social behaviours / inclinations / reactions will exist, and yet in the process will have undergone a mutation of sorts, that is far more acceptable to communities as a whole, and each will respect the needs of both the individual and the collective or sub-sections of that collective. In this third format, all three versions will co-exist quite happily, and none will suffer as a consequence of the existence of the other - they will be mutally beneficial. Also, as this form of community is really and truly dynamic, each of the three elements will sometimes exist, and at other times they will not. 

I an not sure whether this makes sense, so let me try to be simpler - At times my drive and focus will be with my personal interests at heart - as a priority even over and above that of say my spouse or children. In paying attention to my seemingly selfish need I become much more aligned with who I am, and what I am passionate about. I no longer look to others for leadership, direction or approval. I am aligned, grounded, less fearful and therefore more creative. paradoxically, as a consequence of such self value I am more able to contribute creatively and constructively to community. I am more prepared to step outside cultural limitations and thinking and am an example for others to see. I am happier and both value, understand and benefit from material things but this is no longer at the expense of others - simply because we collectively are moved by those things about which we are passionate and the seemingly impossible becomes possible. (It has, and is happening faster and faster as we speak, and the examples are becoming more abundant). It is impossible for me to become divorced from the collective and both maintain my creativity and balance. I need the dialogue and the issues to exist in order to present the contrasts that enable me to percieve our existence and decide what I like and do not like, what works and what does not and therefore are able to choose to do something about it. As self AND collective are valued the essence of both is intrinsically changed, and when working together the difference is profound and unpredictable.

Does this sound like hot air? 

The underlying structure and principle is congruent with our understanding of modern physics.     

 a question of classification vs. one of knowledge.

As we move into this third phase of community there is a realisation that knowledge is of value and also paradoxically of no value - as it rapidly goes out of date. As our development accelerates, there will arise a real appreciation of the transience of facts.

my intuition is to simply accept that community “is.” This would mean to mean that sustainable extended relationships based on some mutually beneficial ties and possibly interests exist.

Intuiton and wisdom (the practical application of knowledge for the benefit of all) will become a primary factor in the way in which we operate, and be give equal standing within our education, working and cultural systems.

Never heard of the man, but I guess I have now. My family are about to descend so my reading of the inimitable Dr. Graves (sounds like something out of Jekyll and Hyde) will have to wait.

“Does community exist?”

I wonder at what point a community begins to emerge and have a separate existence from the individuals and relationships between them which make one up.  The old metaphor of not being able to see the wood for the trees is relevant here I think.  Looking back at the relationships I've had in my life I can see that I've often existed on the outskirts of a number of communities, but rarely engaged the community as a whole, prefering to invest my energies in usually one or two individuals (trees).  Although I'm aware that the community exists (forest) I wonder in what sense it exists as a cohesive entity in its own right. When I look closer I only see individuals and their private relationships.

Hi,  I'll just jump in quickly and say that social organizations exist in most species as a biological imperative.  Bees to wolves have social organizations that are predominately organized for survival.  Are they communities in the sense of smaller geographically-defined groups like neighborhoods or in the sense of virtual communities that have no physical boundaries?  No.  But I know of many social groups in the bay area that have no survival-based purpose and are pretty much based on a similarity of interests and an identification with the group that provides some psychological satisfaction and security for the individuals who identify with the groups as members.  And they may or may not form social networks that sustain members in times of need. 

Anyway, I know that I need to participate to reproduce interactions that manifest, consistently over time, as a community membership or social group membership, or I'll eventually spin off into individually-based solitariness.  As a note on how geographic relocation impacts community, I'll add that although I have a lot of interactions, many of them are by phone or computer as opposed to face-to-face.  And I think that impacts my perception of my social network.

Well, there's no conclusion for me on this, but I thought I'd add my two cents because, as Joseph notes, if you don't keep up your blog or your comments then …

Hi Dr.Riggio,

I like what I see, love it if we become authentic friends.
Nice to meet you,

Loriann

Hello Joseph,

Community.

Is the Complement of who you are.

And who one is, is The Heart. Is it Pure or Not ?

Because the Mind/Antenna, can be tuned only as high as the Purity of the Heart allows.

There are 2 kinds of rules in this World. Those set by and from humans, that are bound to change/break at some point in time.

And The Inspirations of GOD. The ALLMIghty's. Are Eternal.

Communities Work based on what they share. Starting from the Worlds inside the Chest. Belief systems match, hence most people are happy to share the same dellusional illusions.

Not many go after own Flow, Bliss, Inspiration.

Now here's where it gets interesting. Communities Exist usually based on some interest founded by illusions of humans.

When Interes is set from human. It is short lived.

All a human can notice is what senses can perceive. And most Miss the True Centre of Universes - GOD.

GOD is A L L - Knowing One, Eternal. HE, Never makes any mistake. Thus, organizes people to meet, who share the same Matrix of the Mind. The same Impurities of the Heart.

In short there are 2 kinds of Communities:

1 - Those who serve interest that their self is capable to represent.

2 - Those who serve GOD, by following own bliss/Inspiration and thus doing and being part of GOD's system, in doing what they were Meant to Do, by the Creator.

Praise is Always to GOD. Lord of the Worlds.

Peace,
R.H.-Ustahi