Sharif's New Book

Over the years, I have learned a lot from my international work, in Sri Lanka, in Cuba, in Argentina, in Russia, in Venezuela, in many other places in the world.  I have understood what makes societies work, and I’ve learned when and how they fail.   I've learned what it means to be alive in the beginning of the 21st Century, and what it's going to take to create a world for all beings.

I have also been searching through over 100 distinct cultures, looking for the common spiritual threads that unite humanity and connect us with the Divine.  And, I’ve found them.

Based on all this, I have been moved to write a new book.

My working title is: SPIRIT ON EARTH: AN OPERATING SYSTEM FOR A SPIRITUAL SOCIETY.  Our challenge: to practically apply our spiritual values in the world, in a realistic way that we can save humanity and save the Earth.  I am articulating what I call the “Relational Operating System”, as the replacement for (and antidote to) “Breaker” systems such as capitalism, communism/ socialism and any other human system based on separation and exclusivity.  I intend this to be the “skeleton” upon which concepts and movements like ecology, sustainability, empowerment, justice and other aspects find mutual coherence.

What I need from you is three things:  spiritual support, networking support, and financial support.

1. Spiritual Support:  One of the things that I learned from Sarvodaya: focused spiritual activity can shift the “psychosphere,” the field of human thought.  All it takes is focused will.  Through your prayers, affirmations and meditations, you can help me to establish this one thought: “IT IS TIME FOR US TO LIVE OUR VALUES”. That will help prepare the ground for “Spirit on Earth”.

2. Networking Support:  Each of you is part of a network.  Some are obvious, like Facebook or MySpace.  Others are less obvious (and more “human”): your church group, your school groups, your neighbors (including the “crazy” ones).  By seeding the question – “WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR US TO TRULY LIVE OUR VALUES?” – you will be helping me to prepare the ground for what I hope will be a major dialog on our future as humans on this planet.

3. Financial Support:  I have already received a few generous donations, totaling over $1,000 toward my goal of $8,000 to complete “Spirit on Earth” by mid-July.  This money will keep Commonway going, as well as allow me to hire a page editor, cover designer and other behind-the-scenes people who turn a collection of ideas into a BOOK.

For more details and to donate to the book project: click on this link to view my full statement on my blog.  Then, click on this link to donate to the “Spirit on Earth” book project on the Commonway website – donate buttons in left-hand column.  (Please send me an email to let me know you’ve made a donation for the book project.)  Or, you can donate via paper checks made out to “Commonway Institute” and mailed to:

 COMMONWAY INSTITUTE
P.O. BOX 12541
PORTLAND, OR 97212

Please go to the full writing, then donate if you feel moved to do so.  Spiritual energy, networking energy and money energy: everything helps toward the goal.