Ideas
for the Future & Next Steps (DRAFT):
1) Web-site
-
pass-word protected,
hosted by AGNT
-
place and vehicle for
participants to stay connected overtime
-
forum to develop
ideas into projects
-
infrastructure to
coordinate and leverage shared work
Some of the
functions that could be served by web-based technology include:
- Amplify and
extend the statement by His Holiness, ¡°My nation is dying.¡± Develop the message and image of
Tibet as a resource for all of Asia (especially with regard to water and
other non-renewable natural resources).
Promote the benefits of Tibeten culture, Tibeten Buddhism, and
¡°Inner Tibet¡± as a vital source of inspiration and foundation for the
conscious evolution of the human species and the planet.
b. Cultivate an image and story for the earth 20 ¨C 50 years from
now. Use web-enabled technologies
to depict experientially a positive future¡ªwhat it looks and feels like. Develop this as a source of inspiration
for people¡¯s daily lives. Explore
ways to impregnate these memes into the media.
c. Link and track innovations, to provide
examples, illuminate principles, and lessons learned in order to encourage
experimentation across a broad range of settings:
Ø
Transformation of
Education
Ø
Efforts to
extend/deepen Human Values
- Example: ¡°Act Now¡±¡ªan initiative created by
teens in response to the outbreak of violence perpetrated by disenfranchised
students at Columbine High School, in San Diego and elsewhere. Students carry out innovative acts of
kindness¡ªto improve the atmosphere in schools, and to reach out to those most
at risk of marginalization and oppression.
Ø
¡°Golden
Bridge-Building¡± and the use of the ¡°3rd Side¡± to engage
communities of leader
d. Provide
regular updates/reliable information concerning the status of Tibet to:
Ø
Make it easier for
Synthesis participants and others to inform their own constituencies
Ø
Provide a
clearinghouse for information validated by the office of His Holiness (e.g.,
reduce chances of rumors)
Ø
Provide relevant
links to other sites (e.g., Interfaith Call¡
2) Articulate
and spread a compelling, shared
vision and slogan (similar to the one that galvanized South Africa,
¡°Freedom within Our Lifetimes!).
3) Encourage and sponsor Nawang Khechog to
extend his concerts to Asia, with a continued emphasis on calling for
compassion and spirituality in daily life, plus freedom for Tibet.
4)
As part of the normal
correspondence include timely, accurate and inspiring information concerning
Tibet to
encourage and enable those receiving the mailings to ¡°spread the word.¡±
(e.g., to accompany AGNT¡±s ¡°Awakened World Conference¡±). Use this occasion
to initiate the ongoing collection, review and dispersal of such information and
messages. Download this material on
a regular basis to the website described above
5)
Promote The Interfaith Call for
Human Rights and Religious Freedoms at the end of October, 2001.
A world-wide effort to call attention to instances of oppression and
genocide. Linked to the Season for
Nonviolence.
6) Convene
Synthesis Dialogue III in 2003 in Taiwan.
Diversify the representation, especially to include more Muslims, Hindus,
and Jews. Also draw more people
from Asia, Latin America and Africa. (His
Holiness offered to help enroll key leaders from Turkey and Iran.)
7)
Following Synthesis III, convene
in New Dehli a gathering on spirituality for leaders of the world¡¯s
religions. Contextualize attention
on Tibet since its culture is such an important/critical resource for deep
spirituality.
8)
Nominate His Holiness for high
profile awards and recognitions as a way to further develop
global awareness concerning the urgent situation facing Tibet.
9) Build
on the kind of extraordinary, supportive conversations that occurred among
participants @ Synthesis II. Encourage
Synthesis participants and others to employ proven practices to deepen and
extend the personal and spiritual
transformative power of their social ministries. For example, the use of
¡°conversational partners¡± or ¡°partners in believing¡±:
-
Regularly scheduled
conversations, in person, by phone or email
-
To provide a
¡°mental matrix¡± to support the capacities, ideas and initiatives we wish to
manifest in the world
-
Can include sharing
updates re: projects, lessons learned, roadblocks, requests to be held by others
with intention and love
-
A practical way to
carry out the principle, ¡°we commit out lives, our fortunes, our sacred
trust.¡±
10)
As a community of leaders, embrace the model of the ¡°3rd
Side¡±. Further develop the
story and covenant animated by an active, engaged circle of witnesses,
especially in the face of conflicts impacting societies, regions and religions. The 3 rd Side offers a framework for
several roles and functions embodied by a community of leaders such as those
convened at Synthesis II.
11) Explore and further develop a partnership
with the Focolare Movement. Deepen
and broaden the partnership between AGNT and the Fokolare to encourage the
formation of Tento as a model city for love and community.
12) Engage
in a concerted effort to transform
education. Reframe and refocus
its purposes. Promote the benefits
of human values and moral ethics, especially in modern education. Emphasize the essentiality of teaching
how to be a happy, peaceful person. Refer
to findings in medical science which have demonstrated the links between
personal well-being and health, and sustainable communities.
As part of this
effort, convene leadership to explore the
evolving role of life-long education, for individuals, groups and societies. Redefine its value and explore core
questions such as:
-
Who educates?
-
Who learns?
-
For what purposes?
13) With regard
to higher education, deepen and extend
the Union University model. Endeavor
to loosen the grip of current pedagogical orthodoxies.