Alternatives

Three things are necessary to move beyond the current antiquated and destructive socio-economic systems to a spiritually progressive one.

(1) More people must notice the true existential condition of the world; otherwise, "spin" keeps the majority of us slouching on the sofa of apathy. This is understandable. Transnational corporations make a concerted effort — spending billions of dollars — persuading everyone that not only is everything swell, but by staying in the consumer loop and buying more cool stuff, we can become beautiful, appear superior to others, and have lots of fun while we're at it. In economic theory, they creatively imply that if it's good for the billionaires, then it's good for the people. Unfortunately, the opposite is true. Truth can burn through the illusion they've so skillfully weaved.

From there, we need to create new stories — better ones than those that they're making up. For example, we could develop themes like:

"How can we share the wealth more justly and improve social conditions, even if the rich won't get richer?" (They would still have enough money to live comfortably for the next 1,500,000 lifetimes.)

"Life is more about loving than about controlling others and buying more stuff."

"Here's a practical step towards building Heaven on Earth. . . ."

"By capping medical costs, we can offer health care to everyone."

"The New Spirituality is a practical means for a more fulfilling and abundant life for everyone."

"By cutting the military budget in half, we could offer everyone a guaranteed income." (We would still maintain enough firepower to destroy the world dozens of times over.)

These are, of course, simplistic examples. If we developed and carried them out, though, they could work. Radical adjustments to our current institutions would be necessary.

Once people become aware about what's really happening to their money and their lives, then resistance to the anti-spiritual policies of our institutions will be more effective. The desire to seek or create life-enhancing alternatives will intensify too. Successful alternative projects that grow from this often force the mainstream institutions to change. For instance, Firefox, the open-source "better browser," has complacent Microsoft scrambling to improve their security-flawed Internet Explorer. Even the software behemoth responds to the success of others. McDonalds has responded on several occasions to consumer demands, not because of any altruistic urges, but to keep profits up.

These methods are not solutions, but they do slow the damage. They don't change the heart of the beast, just a few of its manners. The new structures that we build can inspire others. They are tangible proof that viable, spiritually based options are available and practical.

We can peacefully challenge those individuals and institutions that promote counter-evolutionary ideals and practices. Raising awareness about them is a spiritual act, especially if we do it without anger. However, righteous anger, directed at injustice and inhumanity, is higher on the energy scale than apathy, and it can help raise awareness. We can point out specifically how greed, aggression, and oppression create trauma throughout the world, and how it affects billions of people, displacing tens of millions of them. Aggression here includes policies and actions that recklessly damage and destroy social structures, entire cultures, and the environment: Contrary to capitalistic philosophy, the Earth is neither indestructible nor infinite in resources. Ray Anderson11, CEO of the world's largest carpet manufacturing firm, challenges other leaders of industry to quit "plundering the earth" and act responsibly. Someone should canonize him for his courage and visionary work!

When any system no longer serves the spiritual or even humanistic needs of the community, then they become devolutionary. This includes institutions, like the mainstream media, that support them. Often, the most corrupt or incompetent people within these institutions are the ones that are promoted.

Historically, Jesus, Mohammed, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Thomas Jefferson, Susan B. Anthony and countless others have realized the suffering that greed and oppression inflict on the world. They have responded courageously. Through their words and deeds, they have challenged and dismantled powerful, rigid systems by presenting — and living — an alternative worldview. By living the dream, you change the world.

(2) We can support companies, organizations, and individuals that are building new structures. We can give them economic, political, and personal support to help them grow. Giving them money is a strong way of saying, "Yes, I support you." Support local companies. Buy their products. Vote for honest people who have the good of humanity at heart. Parallel to this, some activists recommend not giving money to companies known for their anti-spiritual practices. Wal-Mart and Nike are prime examples. Boycotting or shifting financial support to responsible organizations is a small but helpful evolutionary act.

(3) Most importantly, we can share our love and spirituality freely, even in public. The reality is this: society is dying from the lack of love and spirit, not the lack of goods or money. Money isn't life. It has become the tool of capitalism to make capitalists even richer. And just because a person lives in a Western democracy doesn't make him or her a capitalist. Loosely speaking, a capitalist is a wealthy person, someone with capital used in business. Capitalism is more of a radical economic religion than an element that supports and nourishes cultural development. In fact, it consistently degrades the cultures it invades.

We can breath life back into our societies by expressing love — allowing spirit to shine through us — in as many relationships as possible. Sometimes, a simple but heart-felt smile to a stranger is all it takes. The essence of this spirit is what will permeate our new systems and society.

In short, we can support Social Evolution in three ways: We can (1) raise awareness about the damage that our financial and marketing institutions are causing; (2) create and support evolutionary models and structures; and (3) transcend our fear of "being different" and love fearlessly. The reason we feel "different" is because so many others like us are afraid to express that aspect in public. If everyone who felt this way expressed it freely, we would see that we are not so different: the media culture has convinced many that our nature is something other than it is. In reality, those whose hearts are deadened are different.

We do this work because we assume that humanity is not a hopeless, dead-end species: we can advance. And we believe that if we don't act, then it's probable that we will be a dead species (along with thousands of others). We need grounded visionaries to help manifest this reality. Because of the ruinous nature of our present systems, change is inevitable. We probably still have time to act and make a smooth and positive transition. This is better than having to build another by picking up the pieces, assuming some of us are still around to pick them up. The results will depend on us. Does society have enough spiritual awareness, political common sense, and the courage to press for reform in the twelve social sectors?

A spiritually based world culture is the pinnacle of Social Evolution — a human version of Heaven on Earth. Here, we have embodied the true soul of humanity. The arts and sciences would flourish, as production and profit motives would not be pushing them. Love of creation, rather than the need for money, produces the most beautiful things. Love of truth produces the deepest insights. Money cannot create art, beauty, inspiration, truth, or genius.

Although the system would be global and share similar principles, the social forms and customs would differ in each locale. Militaristic nationalism would be a relic of our barbaric past. We would not allow government or business interests to use public money for anti-spiritual activities. Funds would support practical, life-enhancing projects. As relations between nations became spiritually based, borders would necessarily exist but would become more transparent. National and local borders are needed to define social and economic units. Just as everything in nature has borders, at least existentially, so they are necessary in our social structures.

As an analogy, imagine the human race as a human body. Each country would be an organ and the cities its cells. For the body to function properly, the cells and organs must communicate freely with one another. In the body, if there is a selfish organ, the body dies. Cooperation and sharing is what supports life and health. If the heart suddenly says, "I'm keeping this blood for myself," the system dies. Or if too many cells become "selfish" — cancerous — the body dies as well. Conversely, if the body needs energy to fight off an infection, all the cells and subsystems that can help do so freely, without hesitation. They do it because they are part of the whole, and it's the right thing to do. When the whole benefits, the parts benefit; and yet, though they work as a whole, they retain their individuality.

Although technology, information, arts, and the like would circulate throughout the body freely (like "blood" distributing intellectual, emotional, and spiritual nourishment to all parts), trade (that provides other nutrients) would remain as local as possible. Naturally, we would have to address many issues during this transition.

This new society is counter to the homogenized, consumer culture that transnational corporations are building today. The latter is driving humanity to the lowest common denominator of body, mind, emotions, and soul. In sharp contrast, the new society values life. It cares more for health, happiness, diversity, creativity, conservation, and meeting people's basic needs than for chasing money or amassing vast fortunes for a few. We localize government, media, education, and commerce so it is more efficient, responsive, and in touch with the community.

Efficiency in the new context means that production is optimized, but not at the expense of human and ecological needs. For instance, major slaughterhouses in the U.S. strive to become ever more efficient by increasing production demands on its workers. This has multiplied the number of work-related injures ranging from cuts, amputations, chronic disabilities, and death — most of which are preventable. To be even more efficient, many of those companies do not provide health insurance, or they provide care through a company doctor whose job is to keep employees working even when they should be healing. They often under-diagnose injuries, thus saving the company thousands of dollars. From money's standpoint, this is very efficient. From a human standpoint, it's a gross failure.

Three Levels of Heaven of Earth

At least three levels of Heaven on Earth are possible. At the Social level, the first possibility of group nirvana presents itself. Everyone's basic needs are met, and life is generally good. We have greatly reduced crime, addiction, and unnecessary suffering. We deal more maturely with the inevitable changes that life brings. Physically, we retain our current human form.

A higher version of Heaven on Earth appears at the level of Specie Evolution. Life is more heavenly as we suffer even less than in Social version: our bodies transformed into a form suited to compassion and happiness.

The highest version of group nirvana happens at the level of Planetary Evolution. Our bodies and minds have changed radically, putting us beyond duality.

While it's easy to write off this possibility of Heaven on Earth as an idealistic dream, many people are waking up and embracing these principles. We have the technology to make it happen. These dreamers are revising local structures and challenging state and national policies that are detrimental to their health and well being of their local community and the Earth. They are reclaiming the power, which is rightly theirs anyway, to govern themselves in a spiritual way. And this movement — aimed at dismantling undemocratic rule and creating democracy under law — continues to grow. Imagine life pushing upwards: Grasses and flowers spring up through the cracks in the concrete sidewalks, causing more cracks to form. This creates more space for life. The new movement is the flowers and grasses, though the concrete — the systems that favor money over life — may label them "weeds."

Building a spiritually based world culture is a major step in human development and could even transform the race. It represents the final stage of Social Evolution. Bodhisattvan reject nirvana and return to Earth to work towards this.


Specie Evolution:
The Appearance of Homo Unum

The next level of development is Specie Evolution. Here, humanity makes a Darwinian-like change in form and, as form influences awareness, an advance in consciousness as well. The expanded "me" with which we work is still the human race, but the goal is different. At the previous level (Social Evolution), we aimed at creating a global Heaven on Earth. At this level (Specie Evolution), we aim at transforming the race biologically. We would consciously evolve into a new bio-spiritual species. In these new bodies, we express our spiritual aspects naturally. Heaven on Earth is embedded in our DNA.

Our Progress

The bio-spiritual evolution of the human race has been a slow process, crawling unsteadily down the halls of millennia. We refrain from publicly crucifying criminals — a sign of progress — but our tendency for war (mankind's worst habit) is still appallingly clear. Yet, we are witnessing a growing awareness of and resistance to this large-scale homicide. In the 1960's, hippies led the resistance to the Vietnam War. It took years to build the movement, but it eventually restored peace. In 2003, the world mobilized and reacted immediately when the U.S. announced its intent to invade Iraq. This happened even before the war began and had far greater support than the 60's movement. This is progress at the high end of the spectrum. However, the U.S. arrogantly dismissed the protests of the United Nations and millions of people worldwide, including the pleas of the Pope and other religious leaders. This showed that the devolutionary forces had become deeply entrenched and secure in their position. The situation has become highly polarized. This can have positive results, because when things become polarized, it's easier to see things. People awaken.

The Path from Here to There

Several processes could be involved in transforming the species. First, it could be the next logical evolutionary step: the three preceding levels (the Individual, Family, and Social) could reach a point of critical mass and coalesce into a universal, spiritually based culture. From there, we could consciously use our energy and direction (forward, upward, and inward) to spark a bio-spiritual change in our form.

Second, individuals could use methods that "coax" these bio-spiritual changes to take place. One method is to intend that our every act inches us towards evolutionary change. Tantra too can be a powerful avenue for this. Another approach is to call on one's "future self" (or some other entity from the higher planes or dimensions) and ask it to make positive, non-damaging changes in various levels of our physical, mental, and emotional bodies.

Evolutionary Agents

An Evolutionary Agent is someone who dedicates his or her life to the cause of evolution. They serve that Force and value it over all counter-evolutionary activity. In addition, they understand that they may never see the fruits of their labor, because the unfolding of evolutionary stages takes time — usually much longer than a single lifetime. This makes their efforts truly altruistic.

Evolutionary Agents can involve themselves in any of the levels of work (Individual, Family, Social, etc.). They could be yogis; mothers; children; merchants; neighbors; priests; activists, or metaphysicians. Politically and philosophically, they don't believe that people are simply self-centered and are motivated solely by money, power, and greed. Evolutionary Agents believe life is sacred. They understand that while life is about living well, it doesn't have to be at the expense of others and the Earth. This attitude can bring both spiritual and material abundance. And because they act from the heart, they can transcend all superficial divisions.

This poem describes them well:

We are here.
We are waking up now, out of the past, to dream a bigger dream.
We are friends and equals, we are diverse and unique, and we're united for something bigger than our differences.
We believe in freedom and cooperation, abundance and harmony.
We are a culture emerging, a renaissance of the essence of humanity.
We find our own guidance, and we discern our own truth.
We go in many directions, and yet we refuse to disperse.

We have many names, we speak many languages.
We are local, we are global.
We are in all regions of the world, we're everywhere in the air.
We are universe being aware of itself, we are the wave of evolution.
We are in every child's eyes, we face the unknown with wonder and excitement.
We are messengers from the future, living in the present.
We come from silence, and we speak our truth.
We cannot be quieted, because our voice is within everyone.
We have no enemies, no boundaries can hold us.
We respect the cycles and expressions of nature, because we are nature.
We don't play to win, we play to live and learn.
We act out of inspiration, love and integrity.
We explore, we discover, we feel, and we laugh.
We are building a world that works for everyone.
We endeavor to live our lives to their fullest potential.
We are independent, self-sufficient and responsible.

We relate to each other in peace, with compassion and respect, we unite in community.
We celebrate the wholeness within and around us all.
We dance to the rhythm of creation.
We weave the threads of the new times.
We are the new civilization."12

Using metaphysical techniques or technologies can put the Evolutionary Agent (see sidebar) through psychological changes. It takes a strong commitment to do this. To practice them consistently requires a radical change in everyday perspective or, conversely, perhaps practicing them triggers a radical change in perspective.

Starbuilders (www.starbuilders.org) is developing a related technology for this project. It will be available free of charge at its website by Summer 2006.

Third, if the main ingredients in our development are non-linear forces ("miracles") or are processes that span millions of years, then our actions may have little effect on the outcome. The transformation of our species would happen at its own pace as a result of Nature (along the lines of Darwin's theory), divine intervention, weird physics, or some combination of these. It would happen despite our bad habits.

If a new species did develop (Homo unum), what would be some of its characteristics? Any number of changes could appear, and here are few possibilities:

Physically: The brain could mutate. Historically, it's done so in the past. It could prevent or eliminate reactionary mammalian and reptilian instincts that we sometimes exhibit. This would bring more peace, and we'd smile more. We'd probably live longer too. Our bio-energy fields would be stronger as they would be aligned with the higher frequencies of multidimensional reality, thus guaranteeing us radiant health. Maybe we could photosynthesize sunlight for energy, but that's a leap.

Psychologically: Everyone would be happier, and we wouldn't see others as threats. Our personalities would be less complicated so our spirit would shine through easily. We would express love steadily in all relationships. We would know without a doubt the Unity of All Being.

Metaphysically: Our auras would be brighter and our psychic abilities would be highly developed. We would instinctively know what others needed from us, and we would respond without hesitation. We would share our spiritual gifts spontaneously.

This vision of bio-spiritual Specie Evolution combines Darwin's theory with spiritual evolution. As Homo unum, we would be happier and healthier than Homo sapiens, but would still resemble humans. It would be like comparing the early human species to modern humans. Arthur C. Clark envisioned something similar in his book, 2001 Space Odyssey. Some claim that the first wave of new-specie children (Indigo Children) is already among us.

The next step after the Specie Level is Planetary Evolution. It is here where we leave the social, psychological, and physical forms of the human race behind. This planetary shift is a quantum transformation of both body and consciousness.

Planetary Evolution:
Beyond Duality — into Immortality

The final stage of development (for the human race as we know it) is Planetary Evolution. The New Age movement calls this Ascension. The "me" that we work on is no longer limited to the human race. It encompasses the entire planet and all of its creatures. In the late 1980s, ET Earth Mission highlighted this possibility. They said that planet Earth and all of its creatures would make a dimensional leap and shift into their respective light bodies. Starbuilders published The Ascension of the Planetary Consciousness13 in the early 90s, which explored different variations of this.

One point to consider is whether we, as a race, can trigger or even influence a dimensional shift. While a few New Agers and avant-garde philosophers might consider that we could consciously direct our own biological change (Specie Evolution), fewer believe that we could somehow orchestrate a dimensional shift. Materialists would reject the idea entirely. In any case, it's reasonable to assume that this feat is beyond us, at least at this stage of our collective consciousness. We need to advance more: theoretically, we should complete the Social Evolution level and live in a group nirvana for a while and then transform into an advanced species (Specie Evolution). From there, maybe we'd have the power to direct our own ascension.

Of course, this doesn't rule out a dimensional shift happening tomorrow. In fact, many ascension models dismiss both Social Evolution and Specie Evolution altogether. Instead, we leap into our light bodies from where we are now; not a bad idea. For that to happen, it would take a miracle or the intervention of other-dimensional forces. Nonetheless, a few people on the planet are working at this level, though we can only guess whether their efforts have the intended effect on reality.

Some believe that starting with the Baby Boomer generation, large numbers of spiritually advanced beings began incarnating on Earth. These are the star seeds and light workers. Their parents acted as their caretakers, and they too are part of the Plan. The difference is that the parents remained heavily under cover. They were "normal." These teams came to this primitive planet to help it and its species evolve. Most lost their memory of their cosmic origins when they incarnated; all that remained was a soft whisper within their souls. Before they wake up and remember who they are, they feel as if they are living on some alien, barbaric planet, which, in many respects, they are. They note that many earthlings think it's a good idea to insult, degrade, use, and even kill others. But once they awaken, they deal with this situation more easily. At least they have their bearings.

We can find many metaphysical techniques and technologies at this level as well, though many of them are aimed at individual development rather than the planets. Technically, those are better categorized as "advanced techniques" at the Individual Evolution level.

Most religions envision a deity as responsible for creating an eternal Heaven on Earth, not humans. These visions are built mostly on materialistic motifs. They predict immortal yet human bodies, rivers of milk and honey, countless virgins, and the like. Conversely, in a planetary dimensional leap, we are no longer human as we know it. Our reality has radically changed. God or Nature has transformed flesh, bone, mind, and emotion. Our new bodies are woven with a finer fabric of light: our "light bodies" are immortal and consciously at one with God or spirit. Beyond time and suffering, this state represents a transcendental existence — the triumphant end of the human drama. It exalts the species to a new level of play.

Conclusion

Two engines may be at work for our bio-spiritual evolution: the individual will and the will of God (or Nature, as a subset of God). But a split between material and divine forces in the evolutionary picture isn't necessary. We only need to consider the possibility that God or spirit may use material processes as a means to a spiritual end.

No one knows the fate of our species. It could plod along painfully for millennia, forgetting its lessons, suffering in cycles. Or, it could wipe itself out by destroying the ecosystem or with a simple push of a button. Or, a vast number of people could awaken from their socially induced trance — Wake Up: the Time Is Now — and become determined to advance internally. They would raise the awareness of the family, community, and the world, molding their destiny as it shapes them in the co-evolutionary dance. Once the human race became unified, it could create a spiritually based world culture and then perhaps transform into a higher biological form, Homo unum. And after living as advanced humans a while, we could transform again, this time flowering into bodies of immortal light.

Once we've decided to evolve, we find the path that suits us best and grow as we travel. Our choice of path or level isn't that important, because all evolutionary levels are unified: progress on one level improves the others. Perhaps Nez Master Kal Janard summed up the mind-set of the Evolutionary Agent best when he said, "We do our best, spirit does the rest."

Michael Lamas
www.starbuilders.org

1. Information about IROOT:NOT is available here: http://www.starbuilders.org/irootnot/index.html
2. Religion statistics from the CIA World Fact Book.
3. "Power vs Force" by David R. Hawkins.
4. "When Corporations Rule the World," by David Korten. Presents a comprehensive review of the counter-evolutionary process and includes a technologically viable means to Social Global Nirvana. Highest recommendation.
5. Read the National Geographic, September 2003 Issue on slavery.
6. "Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser; NY Times Best Seller.
7. Television (on Dish Satellite): "LINK" and "FreeSpeach TV"; Magazines: "Ad Busters" and "Yes!"
8. "The Post Corporate World," by David Korten.
9. "Gangs of America" by Ted Nace; free e-version.
10. "Power vs Force" by David R. Hawkins.
11. See Ray Anderson in the film, "The Corporation" or rent it.
12. From the New Civilization web site.
13. Read "The Ascension of the Planetary Consciousness." Free e-version.