Sharif Abdullah’s Blog

Howdy—

Thoughts on awards: Thanks for the outpouring of kind words and thoughts around the “Champion of Peace, Reconciliation and Forgiveness” award I received recently. Such an award is both an honor and an obligation… I must never “rest on my awards”, forgetting that the next challenge for peace and for forgiveness lies ahead of me. I will always have yet another opportunity to either screw up or get it right… the application of our spiritual and moral values in the context of “real world” experiences. What I “did” is the past – what I am doing, right now, is what’s relevant.

Peace,

Sharif

Coming Events for August and September, 2009:

15 August, 2009 – Vancouver, WA: IONS Community Meeting:

For those who are in the Greater Portland area, please come to this event! I will be presenting from the new book, “Seven Seeds for a New Society”.

We have created and we support a way of being, an “operating system”, based on exclusivity and adversarial relationships – a “Breaker” operating system. That entire system has become toxic to our planet and our own lives. Now, for our sake, the sake of our evolving humanity and for our planet, we must create a new “relational” operating system. This talk will describe how we can become real agents of change.

You don’t have to be a member of IONS to attend. Please see organizer Dottie Koontz’ info:

Sharif Abdullah who was our presenter a couple of years ago, has written a new book and is coming to talk about it. Sharif is the founder of the Commonway Institute and has worked in the US and many countries around the world helping to create a world that works for all. He has an affiliation with the Institute of Noetic Sciences as one of the “changemakers”. He has written a study program that has been used all over the country to learn “Engaging the Other”. He has written some brilliant material on how “enemies” see the world and has compiled a People’s Constitution from hundreds of interviews with Sri Lankans of all ethnic backgrounds. I hope you will come and participate in this program

We gather at 6:30pm for connection and munchies. Circle begins at 7pm.

Dottie Koontz

360-397-4472

15917 NE Union Rd #14

Ridgefield, WA 98642

19 August, 2009 – Portland, OR: Commonway Community Gathering at Koru House:

Please join us for a presentation and informal discussion of my newest book, “Seven Seeds for a New Society”. I will talk about the basic concepts in the book, as well as what led me to write it at this time.

We all know the ills of our society… we get bombarded with alarmist information, from the Left and the Right. What we lack is a coherent vision and strategy to attain that vision. “Seven Seeds” is the catalyst for that vision!

What are the “Seven Seeds”?

SEED #1: The Offering

We need a new perspective on seeing our challenges and a vision of our future.

SEED #2: Seeing the Problem

We have created a toxic way of living on this planet. The default option is that we don’t make it. But, there is another way. Our problems are driving us to “Plan B”, a new way of looking at humanity.

SEED #3: The Solution

Humanity is evolving to a new way of being. There are many books and many teachers who advocate a transformation of human consciousness. We are taking the next step: advocating the evolution of humanity, for the purpose of saving ourselves, all beings, and the Earth. For some of us, it will be the “end of the world”. For others, the beginning.

SEED #4: Principles and Values

Our current society is dominated by one primary value: money. Religions that are based on exclusivity have failed to supply the way to a 21st Century that works for all. We must transform to a society based on our universal spiritual/moral principles and values. Our prime value must be enhancing the Web of Life.

SEED #5: The Relational Operating System

ROS is based on inclusivity, abundance and relationships with all beings. Our current operating system is based on fear, adversarial relationships, exclusivity, scarcity and greed. We need a change.

SEED #6: The Relational Agents

We are conscious supporters of a relational operating system. We are moving away from behaviors that support and reinforce the fear-based, adversarial, exclusivist, scarcity-based operating system. We can end the Breaker system by becoming conscious, and behaving accordingly.

SEED #7: Next Steps for Humanity

We are unleashing a centuries-long vision of a world that works for all beings. With this long-range vision, we can then see the steps we must take to co-create our future.

Date: Wednesday 19 August, 2009

Place: Koru House, 1704 SE 22nd Ave, Portland OR

Time: 7:30 to 9:30 SHARP (come at 7:00 for tea and fellowship)

Cost: Come prepared to buy the book!

{NOTE: The Vancouver and Portland events will cover essentially the same ground. Feel free to chose one or the other… or, choose both!}

16-19 September, 2009 – Greater Detroit, MI Area: Multiple activities centering around “International Peace Day”

If you are near the Detroit area, please mark your calendars for “International Peace Day” activities during the week of 16-19 September, with various school visits, evening workshops and seminars, culminating in my keynote address at the “Peace Day” multicultural program on 19 September. For information on the Michigan events, please contact Rev. Matthew E. Long (248) 891-4365 www.peaceunitychurch.org

25-30 September, 2009 – Bay Area, CA: Multiple activities, centering around SF State presentation: “Reinventing the World”

For those who are in the Bay Area: I will be there at the end of September, helping to kick off Kenn Burrows month-long “Reinventing the World” discussion speakers. (Other speakers include friends Bruce Lipton, David Korten, Tom Greco and Joanna Macy.) For more information, contact:

Kenn Burrows
Institute for Holistic Health Studies
San Francisco State University
<http://www.sfsu.edu/~holistic>

Stay tuned for other activities in the Bay Area! (If you want me to present to your group or organization, please contact me at 503-281-1667.)

NON-EVENT: No “Tele-Seminar” for August…

There are some outstanding technical issues with the “Maestro Conference” format that I was planning to use. Rather than try to rush the process, I decided to wait until the techno stuff gets resolved.

I have various plans for the Fall, including:

• A “classic” training series, for those who are new to Commonway.
• A multi-part series that follows the “Seven Seeds” outline.
• A series of informal evenings, where the topics are chosen by the participants.

Stay tuned!

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