I’m currently reading the book “Beyond You and Me – Inspirations and Wisdom for Building Community” and feel inspired by the interviews with different people, closely engaged in community life and pioneers in their own way.

Dieter Duhm, co-founder of Tamera in Portugal, writes about Community as a Universal Way of Living and says, “The ability of communities to survive and be future-orientated is closely connected to the self-growth processes of the individuals involved.”

These words resonate with me as I believe the sustainability of the Findhorn Foundation, the community in northern Scotland where I live and work, is strengthened by the focus on personal growth for the benefit of both the individual and the collective.

The book also includes a chapter by Dmitry Morozov, founder of Kitezh Children’s Community in Russia, describing what inspired him to set up a spiritual community dedicated to raising orphaned children. “I felt there is nothing higher for a human being than to see himself as a part of the cosmos, to love and be loved, to do good by learning and making an effort.” [Read more…]