Synthesis III

The Third Synthesis Dialogues
June 1–7, 2004
Castelgandolfo  Rome. Italy

Participants Biographical Profiles
Synthesis Visioning
Dialogue with HHDL

Synthesis III was a grand experiment in creativity and good faith.  We entered the
laboratory as a diverse collection of leaders, thinkers, and social architects who have spent
years, each in our own way, questioning the mind-set of a civilization that knows, and can
do, better. The human mind, particularly in the West, generally operates from the belief
that progress is achieved by recognizing and choosing between competing objects, ideas,
and forces.  Although some say that this ingrained combination of dualism, dogma, and
discrimination has expedited the development of advanced technology and economic
power, it has also produced social institutions and cultural attitudes that have distorted
the intrinsic human preference for harmony and universal satisfaction.  It became clear in
our early conversations that Synthesis participants had come to give a living voice to at
least one uncompromising assumption: that it is both necessary and possible for
humanity to achieve a prevailing consciousness that holds the welfare of all living beings
as its highest good, that protects the weak while honoring the strong and that will assure
the health of the earth for all future generations.  This sensitivity lies at the center of
religious experience but is also reflected in the noblest expressions of social, artistic, and
scientific insight.

The goal of Synthesis has always been to assist in the emergence and expansion of this
universality of consciousness.  The Synthesis process is, quite simply, a way of setting
the intention to inspire “moments of awakening” -- to the contradictions, as well as the
consonance, in our own  "mind-sets," and to catalyze the growth of a more spacious
awareness that can accommodate opposing ideas and beliefs, reconciles differences, and
tnurtures a creative integration from which new possibilities emerge.  Through our
focused dialogues and exchanges, we were able to identify and suggest ways to address
some of the contradictions and complexities that continue to restrain humanity’s natural
impulse to see the world as one and all beings as deeply interconnected.

The Process of Design

With some of these underlying notions in mind, the Association for Global New Thought
set out to develop a transparent and self-reflective methodology for stimulating synthesis
at the level of consciousness itself.  We needed to consider such questions as the use of
silence, music, and meditation; how to create an ideal setting under limiting physical
conditions; the role of love; the astronomical importance of diversity; the notion of
pilgrimage and preparation; the degree to which participants must be included in the
design process by showing us the importance of what emerged in real time and helping us
to respond accordingly; the extent and nature of preparation by participants in advance of
the meeting; the fine-line between speakers’ giving their full voice, but not “presenting”;
the role of video and recording media; whether to leave the process "open" or have a
design in place throughout or split the difference; how to describe and asses shifts in
consciousness (before and after); how to generate maximum creativity in the exchanges;
the nature of opportunities and materials that could be provided in advance so that we
would become familiar with each other’s life and work; and how best to include His
Holiness in the process.

No big deal...

The Need for Synthesis

All human thinking and, hence, all human behavior, is generated through the apparatus of
what might be called a worldview or mind-set. A mind-set is the interconnected network
of interpretations, assumptions, beliefs, insights and conclusions that is held in place by
investment and attachment.  One of the greatest stimulants to personal creativity is the
encounter with a different mind-set. Though similar we may be in our core ideals in
general, the fact of the matter was that, in Castelgandolfo, universal principles and
practices kept emerging quite specifically in a field of diversity where, in other settings,
the opposite effect has been felt.

This points to a critical clue. The need to work with the energy of our differences has
never been greater.  Therefore, we must create more opportunities to model to ourselves
and to others that, in a practical way, it is at the very edge of our differences that the
greatest possibilities for human evolution emerge. To achieve genuine “breakthrough,” in
contrast to temporary concession, requires the systematic development of a mind-set that
both encompasses and transcends, includes and discerns.  This is a kind of meta-mind--
an intelligence that resides more within a group or holistic experience than in an individual
ego. This is synthesis, and at the same time, it is the empowerment of evolutionary
leadership.

Stages of the Synthesis Project

The first step in this process was to stimulate and facilitate authentic conversation (and
unspoken interactions) among people of great intelligence and sensitivity with the
intention of nurturing synthesis in our respective mind-sets.  From this compassionate
stance we were hoping to identify the conditions in which synthesis could be achieved, to
mark its stages and to determine the obstacles that rose in its path.  We know now that it
requires a progression of gatherings to develop clarity about this model.

The next step was to set the intention that demonstrations of synthesis would arise in a
field of safety, love, and spiritual democracy. Very subtly, we began to show ourselves
how to discern the motivations that would lead a person to pursue--or resist-- the
transcendence of his or her own mind-set.

The closing step, and current enterprise, is to attempt to give practical definition to the
synthesis process so that it can be offered into other environments, validated to be of
service, and given other applications in the spiritually ripening global arena.

Possibilities for Future Work of the Synthesis Family

Most of us familiar with conferences and meetings are well aware that temporal forums,
bringing together colleagues (new and known) from diverse locations and with non-
negotiable responsibilities of their own, rarely survive the good intentions in the last
day’s list of “Action Items.” There is no judgment in this; but wouldn’t it be exciting if
there were a way to accomplish a significant goal together, with fresh attitudes toward
participation and without detracting from the existing work of our lives and
organizations?

If the invention of new models for leadership and synergy is one of the overarching goals
of the Synthesis Dialogues, the challenge and freedom to be original is at once daunting
and exhilarating. Like all the meetings that came before us, Synthesis II participants also
achieved a high degree of agreement and strategic resonance in discussing possible actions
to support during our final session together. Some of these are listed below with limited
notation (please contribute your notes for the editing of this DRAFT document).

What would be the basic elements that would allow us to fulfill some of these goals?

Need:

• A dedicated communication system.
Resources:
• synthesis@agnt.cim3.net
• www.synthesis.org
• mail & email directory and bio information booklets
• advanced web tools and tutorials
• electronic communications manager: Ken Fields

Need:

• Coordinating leadership not attached to “owning “ gain or outcome
Resources
• The AGNT office is willing to undertake this role as part of its evolving mission
Need:
• To invite motivation among participants that does not create unrealistic expectations
that  infringe on existing responsibilities
Resources:
• A clear memory of what our time in Castelgandolgo felt like and accomplished.
• Compassion and permission for each of us to give our unique gifts freely, and in a
context that honors our best judgment at any given time and in any circumstance.
• A shared vision that connects pragmatically with many of our existing projects and
activities, therefore optimizing opportunities in which we stand to better achieve success
working in concert, than alone.

Need:

• Administration, funding, and logistical planning that will ensure the efficacy of our time
and energy spent.
Resources:

• Without the need to create another cumbersome organization or entity to serve as a
container, the laboratory of “Synthesis” could proceed with the Work on the strength of
the values we have already so well established as an outcome of our Dialogues—wisdom,
trust, discipline, integrity, compassion, finely tuned intellect, and a yearning to manifest
sooner, rather than later, the profoundly held purposes and values to which we feel called
as the cornerstones of our collective lives. (Let’s face it—we have all implemented and
successfully conducted projects the hard way. Why can’t we do it simply, and in a way
that flows? If it’s time to “stop business as usual,” perhaps this applies as much to the
process in which we engage as to the product achieved in the end!).

On the Map of Synthesis

Proposal #1: A Pilgrimage of the Family of Abraham

(.. taken from Evolving Draft submitted by Bill Ury)

In the Footsteps of Abraham:
A Call for Wisdom

We are inquiring into the potential of a pilgrimage retracing the journey of the patriarch
Abraham for the purposes of remembrance, healing, and reconciliation.  The vision is of a
sacred walk, led by religious leaders from the heart of the three Abrahamic faiths — Islam,
Christianity, and Judaism, accompanied and encouraged by leaders of other religions. A
walk in the spirit of Abraham might lay down a path of permanent pilgrimage for all those
who seek peace and reconciliation in the Middle East and around the world.

Abraham is revered as a common spiritual ancestor by over three billion people —
Christians, Muslims, and Jews — who live in all corners of the earth.  Conflict in the
Middle East among the children of Abraham has become a global symbol of intractable
strife.  Without underestimating the difficulty, a pilgrimage in the footsteps of Abraham,
Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael, and Isaac might have the symbolic power to stir the moral
imagination of people everywhere and to initiate a process of healing ancient wounds.

ABRAHAM PILGRIMAGE MEETINGS IN BARCELONA

We recently sent out a  group communication to those of you working out of the
Pilgrimage research office at Harvard, to Bill Uru and Mark Gerzon in Boulder, to AGNT
and Rome Synthesis Dialogues attendees who will be in Barcelona, and other colleagues to
whom we have spoken in a preliminary way about this project..
We will use the occasion of many of gathering in Barcelona to have a face-to-face
expository meeting about the concept and viability of the  Project under discussion these
past several month-- that a walk in the spirit of Abraham might lay down a path of
permanent pilgrimage for all those who seek peace and reconciliation in the Middle East
and around the world.

When:

Thursday, July 8 from 5-6:30 pm
Friday, July 9 from 5-6:30 pm
Where: We will be meeting in the Multi-use room of the International Conference Center
in Barcelona, hub of the July 7-14 Parliament of the World’s Religions.

Purposes:

• To convene around summary points of Pilgrimage project and Synthesis
• To decide how to talk informally to other potential participants onsite about the
Pilgrimage project and invite principals from faith traditions to July 9th meeting
• To share news about PWR programs and personnel
• Research: Who attends what programming relevant to Pilgrimage at PWR event
throughout the week?
 
Goals:

• To inspire and receive important feedback
• To receive ideas and in context of task force areas mapped previous day
• To collect contact information and plan for further regular communication

- Agenda Points for July 8th mtg

I Questions:
 1. Who is our audience for the Pilgrimage?
 2. How would impact  be felt at the communities level?
 3. Many other questions

II Map task force areas
 1. Steering and admin
 2. Event, meeting and call coordination
 3. Strategy and Design Team for overall project
 4. Strategy and Design of the Walk itself - content and structure of    each day
 5. Religious and interreligious affairs--current and historic; third side religious support
 6. Logistic, regional, and routing
 7. Advisors, spokespersons, endorsements, and organizational networks
 8. Legal; diplomatic; security
 9. Funding
 10. Media, technology, communications
 11. News and press, editorial functions, public relations

III Tri-Tradition Advisory Networks
Need well-connected advisor from each religion to recommend and educate appropriate
key participants and organizational contacts:
 1. Silvio Daneo? (Vatican, Pontifical Council, int'l Christian Councils)
 2. Jim Kenney? (IEP21... International Muslim network and projects)
 Don Mitchell? (diverse Muslim dialogue program Purdue/Notre Dame/ U of Indiana and
the State Dept.)
 3. Judaism? (broad-based as possible)

IV What is role in active solidarity of other religions?

V Communications:

VI Funding

Support from the Synthesis Participants in Castelgandolfo

A few nuggets:

(..taken from Bill’s June 14 email memo to the list with added notes from Barbara)

The Dalai Lama, hearing the idea, said:  "The idea of a joint pilgrimage is a great one."
He said he himself had explored the idea of  interreligious pilgrimages since 1975.  Barbara
is investigating whether we might use a quote of support
 like this from him. (an email was sent to Tenzin Geyche as they travel in remote Ladakh
before proceeding to Parliament of the World’s Religions in Barcelona).

Jawdat Said, a Syrian Muslim of great integrity and a passionate advocate of
nonviolence, offered his strong support and offered to put us in touch with civil society
organizations in Syria that could help.  His niece Afra Jalabi, an Arab-Canadian
journalist of rare talent, also offered her support.

Marwat Khan, a leading Pakistani jurist very active in the World Congress on Religion
and Peace, was strongly supportive of the children of Abraham coming together. He
pointed out that the Kaaba was built by Abraham.

Emran Akhtar, a Pakistani healer, offered his healing talents.

Achok Rinpoche, a leading Tibetan lama, offered to bring some Buddhist Monks well
acquainted with the rigors of pilgrimage.

Yifa, a Chinese Buddhist nun, offered the same.

Lisa Palmieri-Billig, of WCRP in Italy and Vatican Representative for the Anti-
Defamation League, is already working in the area of interreligious pilgrimage. She pointed
out the advisability of including technical experts and civil leadership to help local people
create strength and independence. She recently attended an interreligious conference on
Media and Truth. Her idea about pilgrimage and media involves asking journalists, in
advance,  to help readers, listeners, and viewers understand both sides of the conflict as a
way of facilitating a higher level of dialogue and compromise. Together, journalists could
comprise the Third Side of the conflict.

Dyani Ywahoo, a Cherokee elder, spoke of how pilgrimages were "profound medicine"
for Native Americans.  They have gone on pilgrimage, tracing the roots of their dispersal,
to return to their original fires.  She spoke of how healing these pilgrimages had been. It
might be good to research these a bit.
Lawrence Carter, dean of the chapel at Morehouse College, offered his support in his
network of the Assembly of Churches, a global organization.

Elisabet Sahtouris mentioned that her friend, Rama Vernon, founder of WOVA (Women
of Vision in Action) would be convening two conferences next year for women in the
Northwestern and Southeastern countries of the Middle East. She suggested we look for
connections.

Silvio Daneo, a member of the Focolare with over thirty years of interfaith organizing,
and who worked hard to organize our meeting, offered his time and assistance in working
with the Vatican, fundraising, traveling to the Middle East etc...  Silvio was present when
the Pope organized a virtual pilgrimage retracing the footsteps of Abraham in the Vatican.
He will be in Barcelona.

David Sluyter a senior program officer of the Fetzer Foundation offered his help.  A
possible fundraising advisor, he will be in Barcelona.

More support from Azim Khamisa, a Muslim American, and from Jim Keen, a
professor at Antioch, and many others present.  Marc and Barbara had other
conversations which they will report on.

The group of convening ministers, from the Association of Global New Thought, were
enthusiastic.  Barbara can tell you more, but from my lunch meeting with AGNT, I came
away with strong sense that they are willing to support the pilgrimage strongly in their
networks and to empower Barbara to spend a portion of her time on this project.  She
will first provide a memo to her Leadership Council for their discussion and approval, as
a basis for proposing AGNT's focal role. AGNT President, Dr. Michael Beckwith, spoke
of a friend of his, Carl Anderson, who before he died had painted a picture of Michael
walking on pilgrimage in the Middle East.  Michael spoke of how his friend Stevie
Wonder would like to come.

(.. continued: taken from Evolving Draft submitted by Bill Ury)

The Abraham Pilgrimage Study, an initiative currently housed at Harvard University,
seeks your wisdom and counsel.

Here are some initial questions on which we respectfully seek your counsel:

• How could such a pilgrimage be designed, as a ritual and symbolic act, so as to nurture
mutual respect and mutual blessing among the children of Abraham
• Where in the ancient narratives of Abraham and his family, as told in Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam, might the seeds of reconciliation be found?
• What kind of inclusive practices could create a spirit of deep listening, respectful
dialogue, and shared prayer among the pilgrims?
• What practical arrangements would you suggest for travel, routes, hospitality, border
crossing, safety, and respect for local communities?
• How could the story of such a pilgrimage be told publicly in ways that people around
the world could feel connected to the pilgrimage process?
• To whom would you suggest we speak?
• What other questions would you suggest?
The Abraham Pilgrimage Study is an inquiry just in its beginnings. In these difficult times,
humanity seems more than ever in need of acts of spiritual imagination.  We are deeply
grateful to you for your guidance and wisdom.

Proposal #2: Human Shields: Intervention of World Leaders to Stop Immanent Warfare

Bro. David Steindl-Rast shared with the group, and in a handwritten summary delivered
to Tenzin Geyche Tethong, an idea that involves asking globally recongnized religious and
political leaders to go to areas of immanent violence and lend their support. Bro. David
pointed out that if in March of 2003 such a body had been in place, we might well have
averted the war in Iraq which was heavily protested in the U.S. and other nations
worldwide. If leaders such as the Dalai Lama. Mrs. Ela Gandhi (who has already agreed..),
Jimmy Carter, and others of formal stature would be ready and equipped to travel to a
“hot spot,” it is probably that violence could be spared. (Although it is chilling to think
that the U.S. government has shown no signs of reversing its current policy of ignoring
world public opinion, even if nonviolent objection issued from such a universally
recognized level of leadership).

Tenzin Geyche responded that the Shield idea, for which a colleague of Bro. David’s
might provide funding, was aligned with a similar proposal to His Holiness by Varclav
Havel of Prague ; he will provide contact information in the hopes that the two could
explore the possibility of collaboration.

It should also be noted that there are many points of interface between the Human Shields
project and the Pilgrimage. We should seek to collaborate wherever possible to the benefit
of both proposals.

Proposal #3: Conscription, Poverty, and Media

Ela Gandhi shared an account of these three pressing issues as evidenced in the societies
of South Africa. Others noted that these are monumental, international issues; Mrs.
Gandhi would like to work with others who are interested in pursuing any aspect of these
critical themes. Please use the Synthesis list for your communications.

Proposal #4: Participation of Youth in Synthesis Questions

Dr. Vinu Aram suggested that we modify and seek responses from young people in our
various countries to the five essay questions posed to Synthesis participants in
philosophical preparation for the Castelgandolfo Dialogues. It would be fairly easy to
make these questions available, in translation, to those of you who have access to children
and youth groups. Responses could be emailed to the AGNT office for use in future
correspondence, publications, and video/audio tape proceedings.

Proposal #5: Teen Circle Days

Chalanda Sai Ma Lakshmi Devi ‘s idea was to provide, in multiple locations, a means of
calling forth discussion circles for teens in which they could sit for a full day and express
their gifts and insights, as well as hopes, fears and frustrations with the world they are
inheriting. These circles could be taped and shared with teen circles in other nations,
religions and cultures.

Proposal #6: Education from the Heart

Prem Baba discussed, and asked support for a program already underway in his spiritual
community in Brazil that Synthesis could amplify. The program teaches children to learn
based on compassion, character, values and heartfelt ideals as a context to evolve the
information-processing model that is now disseminated to our children in their schools as
knowledge and education.

Proposal #7: Inventory of Our Collective Networks

Rev Howard Caesar, member of the AGNT Leadership Council, reminded us of the very
critical benefit of assessing the “power in numbers” that our collective organizational
networks could provide. Let’s explore this further... communicate with the AGNT office
via our listserve as to the scope of individual and groups with which you are able to
communicate in a quantifiable and reliable way. This inventory, and a way of mobilizing
communications within it, is do-able and would benefit any of our projects and proposals
if it was available for agreed purposes and within an efficient timeframe.

Craig Hamilton, later in the discussion on strategy, encouraged us not to “skip over” this
suggestion of how many networks we could engage to eventually achieve a major shift on
various issues.

Proposal #8: Transforming the Media

Most participants had thoughts about the need to make revolutionary changes in our
local, national, and global media. James O’Dea, President of the Institute of Noetic
Sciences, remarked on the recent conference IONS co-sponsored with La cCsa de Maria
entitled: “Who Is Paying Attention?: Consciousness in the Media,” including
representatives of the new media in the U.S. This growing movement is unfolding in other
similar gatherings, such as a “Media That Matters” conference in Canada.

Janis Claflin, V.P of the Fetzer Institute’s Executive Board, expressed the close alliance
that Fetzer’s broad-based new mission: Love and Forgiveness, might have with a variety
of media initiatives. She noted the idea of Golden Rule stories from all religions and
cultures as a vehicle for reconciliation and understanding.

Proposal #9: Politician School

Prem Baba introduced the idea that there should be a school to train politicians to adopt a
higher level of discourse and more sophisticated principals and practices for leadership.
He felt that the Synthesis group reflected a collective background of expertise and
thinking that could help develop a curriculum, especially in that the ethic of nonviolence
in governance was such a prominent theme in our conversations. This school would be
based on shared human values, and would greatly benefit from support by certain areas of
the media.

Portable Synthesis Models: A related idea from Prem Baba was the notion that the
Synthesis Dialogues could be unfolded as a portable model and carried into multiple
countries. Inside these countries, local and national leaders could be contacted and invited
into meaningful gatherings that would form the basis for new collaborations.

Proposal #10: World Future Council

Sulak Sivaraksa described the progress of an initiative underway called the World Future
Council. The idea is based in His Holiness’ own call for a council of secular leaders from
all fields who could form a global advisory, research and implementation council with
recognized authority for new models in every field. The WFC began to develop, partly
out of discussions at Synthesis II in Trent, Italy, 2001 and now has had several meetings
out of which descriptive documents, flow charts, and strategic and organizational designs
have been published.

Proposal #11: Economics/Business/Finance and Spirituality

Alfredo Sfeir-Younis brought up a new topic that establishes the grounding connection
between the institutions and policies that govern the real-time sustainable, mechanical
operations of our planet, and the need for spiritual ethics and practices to be infused
within them.

His second suggestion was that we badly need a substantial proposal to protect the
bodies of ancient and perennial knowledge contained, especially, in the indigenous
traditions. Certain of such archive projects are underway now (Ven. Dhyani Ywahoo
cited an example from the Native Americas and possible ways to collaborate..) and it is
impossible to overstate the importance that such an archive of indigenous knowledge
would have for our next generations.

Strategic Thinking

Taken from our final afternoon of meetings, with His Holiness still present, here are some
thoughts that emerged from the group:

Bill Ury: Synthesis could become a laboratory for large-scale social change. For example,
Pilgrimage would be explored as a conscious symbolic action that could be a media story
evoking powerful positive images of our interconnected origins.

James Keen: Jim endorsed the practical suggestion that we should take advantage of
interactive tutorials offered by Kenneth Fields  to demonstrate the use of electronic media
tools for communications. This is mostly a matter of de-mystifying the technology.

Elisabet Sahtouris: Elisabet pointed out, if we were discouraged, to look at the most
recent example of George Bush’s visit to Rome during which the news reported that
nonviolent demonstrators were able to contain the feared violent demonstrations without
losing the focus of their ideological objections.

His Holiness , the Dalai Lama:  We should not only share among ourselves what we have
discussed here, but use of communication tools to get insight from outside this group.

Also—with regard to a School for Politicians: “Unless they have some kind of emergency,
their interest [in such an idea] would not be so high. Human values are not their top
priority.”

His Holiness also referred to this idea as part of a pamphlet he wrote three decades ago in
which he described a model of conflict resolution at an international level that sought to
develop closer personal relationships among leaders.

Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne: Those in the world who have been struggling so long to make change
have no common place to go to meet, rest, be nourished and supported. He mentioned
that there must be a guilty feeling, even on the part of the Chinese, for what they have
done. How valuable it would be to create a utopia without  borders as a place for
everyone to come. Ari also reiterated how important it was that we all work to help
preserve Tibetan culture.

His Holiness, the Dalai Lama: Brother Wayne has always promoted how important it is
for interspiritual people to take the issue of Tibet seriously, and this has been very
beneficial. There are so many simple things we can do—like holding a weekly prayer for
Tibet in our own religious communities.]

Some excerpted ideas from His Holiness’ final remarks:

We must all make a deliberate effort to cultivate positive intentions. Every day is a Birth
Day—the opportunity to make another day purposeful and meaningful—and we should
celebrate! It is a new chance to create some kind of pleasure or joyfulness, and this feeling
of happiness comes as a result of our purpose. Above all, each day is a chance for a new
intention to do no harm to others.

The new work we have created here—there will be new obstacles to the new work.
Synthesis people must “safeguard your determination.”  The way to do this is to think of
everything holistically (in context; with perspective), because when the problems and the
solutions are so complex, it helps to remember from a wider point of view that, naturally
there WILL BE obstacles. With this in mind, people’s determination will not be shaken
and they will not fall to becoming demoralized.

Finally, His Holiness said that a group of qualified people should go to Tibet and talk to
the people there. Even better, some trusted individual (such as Jimmy Carter? Nelson
Mandela? Ela Gandhi?) should go to Tibet and try to help because this kind of visit
would command attention worldwide.
(In follow-up, Barbara submitted to Tenzin Geyche an email invitation from Bill offering
to assist professionally).

CONCLUSION

Although many of us have heard these words before, in conclusion I would like to share
again this passage that, to me, is a blessing befitting to the time we spent together in
Castelgandolfo, and the times yet ahead of us...

A Hopi Elder Speaks

"You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour,
now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour.
And there are things to be considered.
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader."
Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said,
" This could be a good time! "
June 21, 2004
Barbara Fields Bernstein
Co-founder & Director, Synthesis Dialogues I, II & III
Executive Director, Association for Global New Thought

Visit www.synthesisdialogues.org

June 21, 2004
Barbara Fields Bernstein
Co-founder & Director, Synthesis Dialogues I, II & III
Executive Director, Association for Global New Thought