thinkArete Manifesto

Here’s a video made by a Zaadzster (member of Zaadz.com, a social networking site for groovy, conscious change agents), based on a manifesto written by Zaadz co-founder, Brian Johnson.

When people think of visionaries, they think of people who seem to be able to see farther into the future than others, such as futurists, inventors, theoretical physicists, social revolutionaries, pioneering entrepreneurs, filmmakers, etc., many of whom seem to have the power to “make the impossible happen.”

Yet there is a fundamental faculty of human consciousness that we could call vision, which all of us posses and can develop. It is possible for each of us to function at the level of vision, creating what seems to others to be impossible. Thus, I say that we as human beings are visionaries, even though in the early 21st century we as individuals tend not to operate as such. I see the day in the not too distant future when all children are raised to develop their visionary capacities.

Such a future at first thought might seem frightening to some, for there are many examples of charismatic leaders and visionaries throughout history who have caused great harm and destruction. Giving all children the power to operate powerfully and independently from their own vision might seem like a dangerous and even grossly irresponsible proposition, but not once one understands more about vision.

Adolf Hitler is an extreme example of the kind of “visionary” we’d fear. A Hitler is quite dangerous among masses of less than visionary people, yet quite impotent among the visionaries of the future. A person with a visionary mind is not inclined to substitute another’s vision for their own and does not hold blind faith as a value. Further, the visionaries of tomorrow are much more evolved than most of the visionaries of yesterday (as enlighten as many of them were), for example, tomorrow’s visionaries are not positionaries, as Hitler was. Tomorrow’s visionaries are much more powerful than the even the Hitlers of yesterday, and their power arises from their expanded consciousness, which brings with it far more compassion and love than even many of the most saintly persons of yesterday. The powerful visionaries of tomorrow are Gandhis and Yunuses, not Hitlers.

So consider that what defined a visionary in past centuries will be far different from what defines a visionary in the years to come. In simple terms, tomorrow’s visionaries will have greater power to look within, to consciously face themselves and evolve across the full spectrum of human potentials, in ways even many of the best thinkers throughout history seldom had the opportunity to do.

Also consider, that while some people are born with great talent for creative thinking or logic, being a powerful visionary is attainable for virtually anyone (excluding those with serious intellectual or psychological challenges). Most individuals can multiply their conscious power by simply removing the conditioned barriers to their vision (or consciousness) and learning visionary thinking methods.

So what is vision? When I refer to vision, I mean something distinctly different from dreams, fantasies, visualization, imagination or paradigms. There has been a lot of buzz about paradigms in business and leadership circles, and how powerful it can be to shift one’s paradigm; and while a paradigm is one’s worldview, viewpoint or metaphorical perspective of reality–it is not vision. Think of vision as what you see in your mind’s eye as you navigate your paradigm from moment to moment. That simplistic description may be useful, but there’s a lot more to be said about vision than that description allows for.

Vision is an ever-present, dynamic and evolving function of human consciousness. When many people today think of improving themselves, they speak of changing or removing their limiting beliefs, self-talk or mental images. The techniques which one finds in the field of “self-help” today say a lot about how little we know of human consciousness. Further, that human beings still act so irrationally on personal, interpersonal, societal and intersocietal levels says much more about our assumptions of how human consciousness functions than it does about human consciousness itself. So many of us today assume that we as human beings are far more limited, irrational and even self-destructive by nature than we actually are, and such assumptions make it possible for us to tolerate and even expect less than visionary thinking, speaking and behavior from ourselves and each other.

The work we do at the Vision Force Boot Camp is, many participants feel, nothing short of revolutionary. In the words of one recent graduate, “My fundamental assumptions and beliefs about what is possible for myself, humanity, and the future of the planet were completely shattered–in the best and most inspiring way possible.” It’s almost unavoidable. While I have not yet written a treatise on the work we do at Vision Force, it is simply not enough to grasp something like this intellectually, if what one seeks is an expansion of one’s consciousness, an experience of greater vision and hands-on training in methods to think, speak and live at the level of vision. Further, while many of us have genius intellects, when it comes to facing our selves, or looking within, we fall far short. Thus, it has been much easier thus far to create an event, where people look within for four days straight while exploring our concepts and methods, than to write a formal, systematic analysis of the model of consciousness, which underlies the methods taught at the boot camp–at least in a way that most people could grasp given our collective conditioned propensity to not fully face our selves.

Are human beings really visionary by nature? Can we each live as visionaries? Is it really possible for us to create a radically different and positive future for our children than the one we’re headed towards now? Is there much more you can really do as one person to bring about such change in the world?

Right now, you have your own answers to such questions, and while I can tell you what I see, I’d rather have you see what you can see after putting the vision force methods to work for yourself. Our “boot camp” is the best way to do this. As intimidating as the name may sound to some, it’s intended to have people understand that it is not going to be a seminar or conference, where you just walk away with more information without ever venturing courageously inward to question your assumptions. The boot camp is a rigorous inner journey, where you face your self, perhaps like never before–and in a way that naturally calls you to stand for what matters most. As you do, you begin to experience an inner alignment, much like the spine straightening that happens through yoga practice, and you find your vision and consciousness is profoundly expanded–giving you access to levels of courage and compassion that you never had before.

Unlike the name might imply, the boot camp is a fun and some would say “spiritual” journey, where each individual is honored, regardless of background or belief. In fact you could say the work we do is belief-neutral, or to use a software analogy, our “software” will run on virtually any “belief platform.” For some, an event like this seems like dangerous territory, as there are many questionable events teaching people things about life. To be clear, with the Vision Force methods, there is nothing you need to believe or join, and absolutely no one to follow. We think you’ll agree that this is cutting-edge human development work that holds great promise for humanity and our collective future. So come and play!

And if you think you’re not ready, sink your teeth into our delicious Visionary Mind home study program.

Yesterday, I attended this event here in Austin, where we watched the widely acclaimed documentary, Favela Rising, about a young social revolutionary who responds to his brother’s murder, gang warfare and police corruption by starting a drum group, called AfroReggae, for the purpose of uniting everyone in his favela.

FAVELA RISING documents a man and a movement, a city divided and a favela (Brazilian squatter settlement) united. Haunted by the murders of his family and many of his friends, Anderson Sá is a former drug-trafficker who turns social revolutionary in Rio de Janeiro’s most feared slum. Through hip-hop music, the rhythms of the street, and Afro-Brazilian dance he rallies his community to counteract the violent oppression enforced by teenage drug armies and sustained by corrupt police.
At the dawn of liberation, just as collective mobility is overcoming all odds and Anderson’s grassroots Afro Reggae movement is at the height of its success, a tragic accident threatens to silence the movement forever.

After the inspiring film, Anderson Sá answered questions about his life through a translator. Young Austin social revolutionaries listened to this man, and some asked how they might effect change the way Sá has. One was a local, conscious hip hop artist, named Gator, who I’d seen last summer performing at the National Hip Hop Political Convention. I spoke briefly with both Sá and Gator, and left inspired to find more such social revolutionaries. These are people who are working in the trenches to bring about positive change through non-violent, inspiring means. These are the kind of people we’re welcoming to attend our upcoming boot camp, which for the first time ever is a gift to such agents of change.

30 VISIONARIES INVITED TO ATTEND PIONEERING 4-DAY LEADERSHIP INTENSIVE IN AUSTIN, TX – APPLICATION PROCESS NOW OPEN FOR LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEADERS

Austin-based Vision Force Academy to immerse participants in leading-edge human development curriculum for ‘creating a future that works for everyone.’

AUSTIN, TX FEB 1, 2007 — On January 8 at a meeting organized by FLOW, an Austin-based non-profit dedicated to “liberating the entrepreneurial spirit for good,” a small group of local leaders gathered to discuss Austin’s emerging role as a leader in entrepreneurship and social innovation. Leaders of several next-generation entrepreneurship initiatives proposed ways they could individually or collectively foster awareness of entrepreneurship in Austin.

In this spirit, The Vision Force Academy, founded by long-time Austin resident Michael Skye, aims to contribute to entrepreneurial initiative and innovation on March 21-25 when it hosts its semi-annual Vision Force Boot Camp. Local and global leaders committed to making a profound difference in the world are currently submitting their applications to participate in this leading-edge human development curriculum.

One such leader is Audrey Parker, an Austin resident who, when recounting her Vision Force Boot Camp experience, said, “My fundamental assumptions and beliefs about what is possible for myself, humanity, and the future of the planet were completely shattered–in the best and most inspiring way possible.” Since the event, Ms. Parker, like many others, has broken new ground: she was trained recently by Al Gore to deliver Inconvenient Truth presentations in Austin and around the country.

Another, Michael Strong, visionary educator and FLOW co-founder echoes Ms. Parker’s enthusiasm about Vision Force and the Vision Force Boot Camp. “I see Michael Skye’s work as a key to liberating each individual’s unique genius so that we all may fulfill our potential in alignment with our deepest ideals,” Strong says.

Inspired in part by the vision that emerged from the January 8th meeting, Mr. Skye has, for the first time ever, decided to offer the Vision Force Boot Camp without the standard $2,500 admittance fee. “I’m inspired to collaborate with other visionary leaders and to join a global movement of people dedicated to serving humanity by pursuing their unique vision. We’ve removed the financial barrier so that all impassioned individuals, regardless of economic status, can attend the Boot Camp,” explains Skye.

Mr. Skye says that the ideal Vision Force Boot Camp participant has “already decided to become ‘part of the solution’–regardless of sector or vocation. The only ‘must’ is a deep commitment to creating a better future.”

Applications are due no later than February 15, 2007. Participants will pay the cost of food and lodging only. To download an application and for more information, please visit http://www.visionforce.com/blog/?page_id=148

Contact: Michael Skye
Phone: 1-877-844-6667 x777
Web: www.VisionForce.com

For the priner version, download the pdf version.

I just watched a video clip of two formerly racist, convicted felons, one black and one white, describe a turning point in their lives.

Both men in this video refer several times to a feeling they are feeling, yet they have no name for it. You might be tempted to call it pride, happiness, love or some combination of these, but those are only approximations to describe this distinct human emotion. In the video, you can see how it has recently become a guiding force in both of these men’s lives. They feel it as a reward for their recent choices, and are then pulled emotionally to continue those choices.

There is a distinct human emotion that we as yet have no name for in the English language, and often relate to as a spiritual feeling. It’s essentially a force of consciousness, which can have us feel pulled to naturally rise above fear and pain to honor our highest values more deeply and more often, and to expand what we currently identify as our values to include everything that forwards and benefits life. The Visionary Mind program explains this emotion in detail and how to have your consciousness be pulled forward and expanded by it, rather than experience the typical shrinking of consciousness in reaction to fear, guilt, shame, overwhelm, frustration, etc. Unlike many of our emotions, this emotion opens or expands consciousness, because it requires consciousness in order to be experienced. The more we open our selves and commit ourselves more authentically and deeply to being responsible for creating a world that really works for all, the more this feeling is available and naturally present.

At Vision Force we refer to this feeling as honor (distinct from current definitions of honor, and distinct from happiness, love, joy, pride, etc.). The more one recognizes this feeling, the more one can naturally be guided by it.

Growing up, most of us have been conditioned by the structures, systems, authorities and peer groups in our lives to be guided by other emotions. What this means is that our consciousness has been conditioned to relate to ourselves and our choices in a way that circumvents the natural experience of honor as a guiding emotion. It has us relating to life from a position, rather than a stand. We’ve begun to distinguish stand from position in many of these blog posts and in the free Visionary Mind Shifts course we offer here, yet it’s not enough to grasp it consceptually. Until it is integrated emotionally into our consciousness and self-guidance processes, we will continue to operate from within the walls of positions, which keep us arrogantly blind to our own blindness.

What does it mean to expand your consciousness? How can you come to see what you cannot see now? How can you open up to a whole new realm of compassion, courage and vision? Those willing to undertake the quest to discover such things and relentlessly engage in the process of consciously evolving their consciousness… are the ones who will lift humanity beyond it’s current limitations and create a world that really works for everyone. If you believe you’re up for the challenge, learn more.

In the summer of 2006, Clovis Ategeka, downloaded our Vision Force 101 program. His story begins here. Fast forward 6 months and Clovis has rented space for his Vision Cafe. Now the workshops and classes he leads can be held indoors, and his students who are learning to be visionaries and entrepreneurs can connect to a global community through the internet… But first, they need to secure internet access. Currently internet service is monopolized by two companies and is quite difficult to come by. It takes a substantial investment to secure internet access for his cafe. $3,400 will do it, and we’ll provide his cost breakdown and business plan upon request. Start helping Clovis get his cafe wired by making a contribution through this secure funding opion: ChipIn:

On behalf of Clovis and all his students, we thank you!

Bootstrapping is a way of bringing a big idea into reality. It’s the method Bill Gates and Michael Dell used when starting their businesses. Tomorrow, I’ll be interviewing visionary Austin entrepreneur, Bijoy Goswami, who is the founder of the Bootstrap Network and who has some fascinating ideas about bootstrapping (Check out this podcast of Bijoy presenting on bootstrapping).

I’ll be posting the audio from tomorrow’s conversation with Bijoy here on the blog. This is the second in a series of conversations with Austin entrepreneurs on the “E Revolution.” E Revolution? It’s how entrepreneurs are creating a radically different future for us–a beneficient, beautiful future that few see. Today, entrepreneurs–and all of us as individuals–have more power to change the world than ever before. Listen to the first podcast in this series here.

Next week, we’ll be talking to a third visionary Austin entrepreneur, Michael Strong of FLOW.