Month: October 2017

My Keene Project Sight designed to be easily navigated.  Right now, the contract is up as the “home” page when you visit.  This is going to remain on the front of the website until it is finished.  This ensures that if anyone visits the sight that they will understand that it is being built.   The different tabs on the side of the page include About the Authors, History, Home Page, Interviews, Life and Responsibilities, Photo’s, Principles of the Community, and Programs Offered. These are going to be reorganized in a different order (If I can ever figure it out, someone told me and I forgot already!).  I have deleted an “analysis” page that I originally intended on having to extend my thoughts in the community, however, I will integrate this information in with the rest of the website.

I plan on having many links embedded into the website that can take the reader to new places to continue their learning of communities.  Soon we will have pictures and quotes integrated into our website to add to the presentation.

The co-founders of MorningSun community studied under and worked with Thich Nhat Hanh.  He is a peace activist and spiritual leader.  Both the co-founders of MorningSun and Thich Nhat Hanh study Plum Village tradition.  This focuses on peace and mindfullness.  You can hear this tone in the following Plum Village song,  Happiness is Here and Now.

The words to this video are posted below, as found on SoundCloud.

A Plum Village song. Words and music by Eveline Beumkes.

This performance and arrangement © Monica Max West

Happiness is here and now
I have dropped my worries
Nowhere to go, nothing to do
No longer in a hurry

Happiness is here and now
I have dropped my worries
Somewhere to go, something to do
But I don’t need to hurry

The readings by Kanter and Sosis lay an argument that more successful communities require high standards and practices.  I do believe that groups with high requirements and standards are more likely to succeed.  Especially when the group is already well-established.  For example, Sosis mentioned Greek life as a modern day example… The hazing that many individuals go through would not be tolerated if the individual did not believe that it would be worth the pain in the end.  With religion, if you are willing to take up the same beliefs and practices, there is such a strong community waiting for you already.  These high standards may be more difficult in a community that is not as well established.  A member would need to have a level of certainty about what they are involved with in order to put in an adequate amount of effort.

In groups that follow a more communistic approach, I think power lays in numbers.  Too many people and it is easy for individuals to begin to slack off, or not do their fair share.  As soon as this begins, it is nearly impossible for the community to stay together for any extended period of time.  Additionally, as Kanter suggested, the importance of taking people as they are I believe would help many communities.  Paying too much attention to life outside of the community may be harmful in certain situations.