Activités définitionnelles

Le caractère unique de la Bolivie et de son peuple a grandement contribué à façonner la compréhension que l'Institut a des peuples indigènes. La Bolivie a accueilli la plus grande de toutes les activités de méditation silencieuse pour la paix dans le monde. Des milliers de personnes ont participé à cette méditation, y compris les plus grands sages de la région de Tiawanaco et du lac Titicaca. Il convient de mentionner les pèlerinages effectués vers l'île du Soleil et l'île de la Lune. Ces missions ont représenté un grand retour vers le passé et ont permis de faire l'expérience de niveaux très subtils de transformation humaine. Ces lieux sont essentiels pour la compréhension et la pratique du silence. L'Institut retournera encore quelques fois au lac Titicaca avant la fin de la décennie 2015. Il est essentiel d'être et de faire l'expérience tout en redonnant vie à d'anciennes ruines, à des temples et à des autels qui sont là depuis des milliers d'années.

L'un des besoins les plus pressants des populations pauvres est la médecine, en particulier le besoin de formes de médication traditionnelles. De nombreuses situations de ce type se sont produites au cours de ces dernières années. Dans ces endroits, il y avait non seulement un besoin de médicaments, mais aussi de médecins traditionnels. À une époque, dans le cas du Tibet, la seule source de médecins et de médicaments était le Népal, et l'Institut a ainsi contribué au financement de billets d'avion et de médicaments. Les médecins et les médicaments ont tous deux été acheminés vers les lieux requis en moins de 24 heures. Les répercussions ont été grandes et de longue portée. La légèreté de l'administration de l'Institut permet à ce type d'opérations d'urgence de bien fonctionner et de manière efficace.

De nombreux groupes spirituels doivent poursuivre leur existence pour le bien de l'humanité. Ils ont quelque chose à apporter à chaque citoyen de la planète. L'Institut n'étant lié à aucun dogme religieux, nous avons été en mesure d'apporter une aide matérielle à des communautés spirituelles du monde entier, chaque fois que nous étions en contact physique. À une occasion, et ce n'est qu'un exemple, l'Institut a apporté une contribution importante au lancement d'une école bouddhiste de moines hautement avancés. L'école fonctionne toujours avec un certain degré de succès. Cela a été fait pour d'autres communautés de foi, y compris des communautés catholiques en Palestine pour aider les enfants touchés par la guerre.

De nombreux groupes spirituels doivent poursuivre leur existence pour le bien de l'humanité. Ils ont quelque chose à apporter à chaque citoyen de la planète. L'Institut n'étant lié à aucun dogme religieux, nous avons été en mesure d'apporter une aide matérielle à des communautés spirituelles du monde entier, chaque fois que nous étions en contact physique. À une occasion, et ce n'est qu'un exemple, l'Institut a apporté une contribution importante au lancement d'une école bouddhiste de moines hautement avancés. L'école fonctionne toujours avec un certain degré de succès. Cela a été fait pour d'autres communautés de foi, y compris des communautés catholiques en Palestine pour aider les enfants touchés par la guerre. 9. ACCOMPLIR UN MÉRITE : UN ANCIEN

L'un des aspects importants de toutes les missions spirituelles est de témoigner du respect aux leaders spirituels locaux. Comme les activités de l'Institut ne visent aucune forme de « conversion » spirituelle ou religieuse, l'objectif principal a été d'élargir et de renforcer la réalité spirituelle des communautés locales. Cela s'effectue en rendant une visite officielle aux chefs, aux chamanes et aux guérisseurs. Un moment est partagé et une forme de contribution matérielle leur est souvent versée. L'aspect le plus important de cette activité est le respect de leur rôle dans la vie et le renforcement de leurs actions pour le bien de tous. Il est fréquent que des cérémonies spirituelles, des conférences, des séminaires et des retraites fassent suite à ces visites. Il s'agit de générer une compréhension mutuelle et d'établir des réseaux d'amitié.

L'Institut a aidé des centaines de jeunes professionnels dans bon nombre de leurs activités et dans leur croissance personnelle. Il s'agit d'une activité majeure menée de manière formelle et informelle. Le besoin d'accompagner de jeunes professionnels, des gestionnaires et des entrepreneurs est grand. Ces activités concernent presque toutes les professions : avocats, médecins, économistes, architectes, artistes, musiciens, etc. Nombreux sont ceux qui recherchent un sens différent à leur pratique professionnelle ou un moyen de combler un immense vide dans leur vie personnelle. Cette démarche est continue et l'Institut continuera d'élargir et d'approfondir ces relations.

Il existe de nombreuses communautés à travers le monde qui ont fait l'expérience intérieure du silence collectif. Bien qu'il ne s'agisse pas seulement d'un chiffre, des milliers de personnes ont été touchées. Presque tous les pays d'Amérique latine ont célébré la paix collective à travers le pouvoir du silence. En outre, de nombreuses méditations silencieuses pour la paix dans le monde ont été organisées dans plusieurs autres pays d'Amérique du Nord et d'Europe. Il s'agit d'une activité permanente de l'Institut.

L'Institut est très conscient du fait que la paix est un événement collectif et insiste donc sur l'aide à toutes sortes de communautés et d'organisations. Dans la région caféière de Colombie, il existe un chœur d'anges composé de très jeunes adolescents qui consacrent beaucoup de temps à la musique sacrée. L'Institut a financé la première étape d'un programme d'établissement afin de fournir la nourriture, le transport et un abri aux membres du chœur et à son directeur musical. Cela permettra au chœur de croître, de se consolider et de commencer à devenir financièrement autosuffisant.

À bien des égards, l'Institut promeut un changement dans le paradigme actuel de la transformation humaine dans tous les aspects de la vie. À cet égard, nous avons un engagement très actif par la rédaction de livres, de brochures et d'affiches de rue pour diffuser les connaissances et les initiatives. En 2008, l'Institut a réalisé une évaluation informelle de l'impact de chaque instrument de diffusion et de communication. Cette évaluation nous a permis d'affiner ces instruments et leur utilisation appropriée.

Il est essentiel que les personnes s'arrêtent et regardent en elles-mêmes chaque jour et à chaque instant, si possible. Néanmoins, pour la grande majorité des gens, cela n'est pas toujours possible et ils recherchent un moyen organisé de développer leur vie intérieure. L'un des moyens d'y parvenir est la retraite. Celles-ci ont rassemblé un petit nombre de personnes ou de grands groupes, et ont pris divers formats. Dans beaucoup de ces retraites, la méditation est enseignée pour une pratique collective et individuelle. En étant proche ou immergé dans la nature, certaines techniques chamaniques (cérémonies du feu) sont enseignées. Certaines retraites sont hautement participatives, en particulier lorsqu'il s'agit de guérison intérieure ou extérieure.

La majeure partie du travail spirituel nécessite un certain nombre de connexions aux niveaux les plus subtils. La spiritualité, telle que l'Institut la pratique, implique un grand nombre d'acteurs, dont beaucoup forment des royaumes au-delà des réalités quotidiennes des êtres humains. Se connecter aux niveaux subtils de l'existence a été réalisé par le biais de la nature et de techniques chamaniques, dont beaucoup proviennent de civilisations anciennes et de peuples indigènes qui vivent sur cette planète. L'idée est de relier les points de nombreuses missions terrestres et d'amplifier le véritable pouvoir de l'interdépendance et de l'interconnexion.

L'Institut travaille avec les peuples indigènes depuis sa fondation en 2005. Il a englobé plusieurs activités en cours et en a développé de nouvelles dans plusieurs pays. L'interaction en Amérique centrale, dans le sud du Mexique, au Panama, en Colombie, en Bolivie, au Pérou et au Chili revêt un intérêt particulier. Beaucoup a été appris et les interactions ont enrichi la vision de l'Institut ainsi que la compréhension de nombreux aspects de la transformation humaine. Toutes les activités ont combiné des aspects matériels de la vie des peuples indigènes et les dimensions les plus subtiles et spirituelles de leurs philosophies et de leurs pratiques. À un moment donné, l'Institut a travaillé pendant plusieurs mois pour créer l'architecture et les fondations d'une Banque mondiale pour les peuples indigènes. Malheureusement, les fonds promis ne se sont jamais concrétisés et le projet a dû être interrompu. Les domaines d'intérêt commun sont : la spiritualité et la nature, le chamanisme et la guérison des personnes et des animaux, la cosmovision et les cycles de vie, le travail avec les cinq éléments (vent, espace, terre, eau et feu), la lutte contre la pauvreté, l'emploi, la culture, la représentation internationale, les droits des peuples indigènes, etc.

Les médias sont essentiels au processus de transformation humaine. Ils sont devenus un moyen puissant d'apprendre, de pratiquer et d'intégrer. À mesure que les médias se perfectionnent et deviennent plus accessibles sous leurs multiples formes, ils se révèlent fondamentaux dans leur essence pour la plupart des fondations et des organisations à but non lucratif. L'Institut y a eu largement recours et des ressources financières importantes y ont été consacrées au fil des ans. En outre, pour optimiser ces ressources rares, l'Institut a réalisé une évaluation informelle de l'efficacité des différents moyens par rapport à la diffusion, à la participation aux réunions et aux séminaires publics, ainsi qu'aux impacts sur les activités liées à la méditation silencieuse pour la paix. L'une des principales conclusions est que les moyens typiques tels que les brochures, les affiches, la publicité à la radio et la distribution de tracts dans les rues ne sont pas si efficaces. Cela a incité l'Institut à faire preuve de plus de discernement dans le choix des instruments et dans leurs applications. L'Institut a bénéficié d'une excellente coopération de la part de nombreux journalistes du monde entier et de nombreux articles ont été publiés à son sujet et sur les activités qu'il parraine. Les stations de télévision et de radio se sont également montrées très coopératives.

La plupart des gens ont l'idée que la spiritualité et les affaires sont des « choses » très distinctes qui ne se mélangent pas. L'Institut a été très explicite et insiste sur le fait qu'il est essentiel d'intégrer la spiritualité dans la prise de décision, tant dans le secteur public que privé. Les entreprises sont constituées de personnes, et à ce titre, elles dépendent du niveau de conscience de ces personnes. Le monde des affaires est diversifié et profondément complexe. La recherche du profit n'est ni le seul objectif ni l'unique force motrice. Il existe un ensemble de formes différentes d'interactions humaines à tous les niveaux et des opportunités surgissent pour veiller à ce que les valeurs humaines et spirituelles viennent au premier plan dans la prise de décision en entreprise ainsi que dans les projets et activités opérationnels. Propriétaires, actionnaires, gestionnaires, travailleurs... sont tous engagés dans les entreprises et de nouvelles formes de responsabilités, de droits et de styles de gestion doivent donc se déployer. L'Institut reste attaché au dialogue sur la gestion, l'entrepreneuriat et la mise en valeur des entreprises. C'est pourquoi l'Institut partage divers aspects et dimensions de ce que nous appelons Vers l'illumination des entreprises. Un autre aspect promu par l'Institut est la spiritualité sur le lieu de travail.

Un principe essentiel du type de spiritualité soutenu par l'Institut est que « la spiritualité doit être là où elle n'est pas et la spiritualité doit aller vers les gens et non les gens vers la spiritualité ». Cela signifie qu'une quantité substantielle de temps est consacrée à l'instauration d'un dialogue sur la spiritualité et la vie quotidienne dans les prisons, les organisations de quartier locales, etc. L'idée est d'apprendre de l'expérience de transformation spirituelle des gens et d'améliorer ce processus de transformation. L'Institut NE procède PAS à des conversions religieuses. Au contraire, l'idée est de renforcer les bases de ce que les gens pratiquent déjà, croient et souhaitent poursuivre. C'est pourquoi un effort majeur a été fait pour connaître et réfléchir à la manière dont les différentes religions conçoivent les processus de transformation humaine, qui sont de nature à la fois matérielle et spirituelle. De nombreux villages et groupes ont été touchés et ce travail se poursuivra. Dans la plupart des cas, l'Institut apprend plus qu'il n'enseigne. Le pouvoir de la spiritualité des peuples est immense.

À partir de 2006, l'Institut s'est engagé activement dans la guérison. La guérison se distingue de la cure (en tant que phénomène physique). La compréhension et les pratiques de la guérison ont progressé à grands pas et de nombreuses personnes ont été touchées positivement par ces activités. Au cours de ce processus, beaucoup a été appris et expérimenté. L'une des leçons fondamentales a été la mise en lumière d'une grande loi spirituelle : il existe une relation dialectique entre la guérison des êtres humains et la guérison de la nature. De nombreuses personnes peuvent être guéries de maladies graves si elles participent à la guérison de la nature. Cette méthode a été utilisée initialement pour guérir les toxicomanes et les personnes souffrant de dépression mentale. Nous savons que les êtres humains et la nature ont besoin de guérison. Le monde souffre en raison de la dévastation de l'environnement naturel, des niveaux excessifs de pauvreté et de misère, du niveau très aigu d'insécurité humaine et des impacts dévastateurs de la guerre et des conflits, pour n'en citer que quelques-uns. Guérir le monde, guérir la nature, c'est nous guérir nous-mêmes, car l'extérieur est semblable à l'intérieur et l'intérieur est semblable à l'extérieur. Un livre a été écrit pour formuler ce nouveau paradigme de la durabilité environnementale : la durabilité intérieure et extérieure. En 2008, pour la première fois, un séminaire majeur a été mené sur les fondements de la guérison de l'humanité à l'Institut pour l'avancement du service. De nombreux instruments ont été partagés avec le public. Guérir notre planète est une activité essentielle de l'Institut. Son deuxième livre traitait des 10 lois spirituelles pour guérir le monde.

Parmi les cinq éléments essentiels de la vie — le vent, l'espace, la terre, l'eau et le feu —, un seul n'est pas encore pollué : le feu. Les quatre autres font l'objet d'une pollution majeure en raison du mode de vie que nous avons choisi d'adopter. Cela pose une menace majeure pour le destin collectif de l'humanité. Dans la plupart des cas, ces éléments sont pollués par des moyens matériels, comme le fait de jeter du papier ou des boîtes de conserve dans un lac ou une rivière, ou de déverser des produits chimiques dans l'air et l'eau, etc. Dans la plupart des cas, le feu ne sera pas pollué par des moyens matériels. C'est à cet égard que l'Institut a appris et fait l'expérience que le feu est pollué par des moyens immatériels, en particulier par des énergies négatives (attitudes et intentions négatives, pensées négatives). La plus grande partie de ce que l'Institut a appris sur le feu provient de la tradition maya du Salvador et du Guatemala. Chaque année, l'Institut célèbre la fête de la Lumière, en allumant plus de 4 000 bougies et en guidant les gens à travers des feux de joie. Cela a été fait dans de nombreux pays selon différentes traditions et dans divers environnements. NOUS devons préserver le pouvoir du feu et éviter sa pollution. Le président de l'Institut a déclaré au Guatemala que dès que nous polluerons l'élément feu, l'humanité cessera d'exister sous la forme qu'elle connaît actuellement.

Les Sages détiennent un grand nombre de clés fondamentales du destin collectif de l'humanité. Souvent, ils ne sont pas respectés, sont maltraités et laissés dans des états de pauvreté matérielle absolue. Il existe un grand vide au niveau intergénérationnel, ces leaders étant laissés en marge de nos sociétés. Il est évident que cette attitude et cette pratique ne sont pas viables et manquent de sagesse. L'un des objectifs majeurs de l'Institut a été de soulever les questions clés auxquelles font face les sages afin que les autres membres de la société réagissent et trouvent des solutions efficaces. En 2008, l'Institut a été invité à participer activement au rassemblement des grands-mères du monde. Être avec ces femmes sages venues de nombreuses régions du monde a été l'une des expériences les plus puissantes que l'on puisse vivre. L'Institut a aidé au financement des frais de voyage et de séjour pour qu'elles puissent se réunir à Washington D.C., aux États-Unis. Ce n'est pas la première fois que l'Institut coopère à ce genre d'activités. Il l'a également fait pour aider un groupe de femmes sages spirituelles d'une tribu d'Amérique latine. Les dimensions liées à l'énergie féminine de ces activités ont stimulé un certain nombre d'actions de l'Institut avec l'unique objectif d'aider et de faire bénéficier les femmes.

De nombreuses femmes souffrent énormément d'avoir eu recours à un avortement. Dans beaucoup de situations, elles sont blâmées ou discriminées socialement à la suite de cela. La compassion est l'une des règles centrales de l'Institut et l'expérience nous a montré que le jeu du blâme est contre-productif et constitue une source majeure de souffrance. Ainsi, l'Institut a aidé plusieurs femmes qui avaient besoin de se purifier et de guérir de cette expérience, non pas par le biais du pardon, mais dans une démarche de guérison et de réconciliation. Les expériences ont été très fructueuses et l'Institut continuera d'offrir son aide pour apporter sa contribution dans ces situations.

Il existe une relation unique et spéciale entre la nature et la portée de notre spiritualité et la géométrie/forme de notre corps humain. Ce n'est pas une découverte récente, ce phénomène étant étudié depuis des siècles. Il est extrêmement important qu'il fasse partie du programme de l'Institut, car il aide à trouver de nouvelles voies de guérison tout en utilisant le corps humain comme principal véhicule de l'illumination humaine. L'histoire de l'humanité traverse de nombreux cycles différents, selon les dimensions sur lesquelles nous nous concentrons pour définir ce cycle. L'Institut accorde une attention particulière au cycle qui s'est produit et se produit entre l'esprit, le mental et le corps. Il y a quelques milliers d'années, le cycle de l'humanité était dominé par l'esprit. Ensuite, il est passé par la partie dominée par le mental (par exemple, la révolution industrielle et le modèle cartésien). À présent, l'humanité a entamé le cycle où la transformation humaine est dominée par le corps. C'est en ce sens que l'Institut est profondément impliqué dans la découverte et l'importance de la géométrie du corps humain. Des découvertes utiles ont eu lieu, lesquelles ont été appliquées aux pratiques de guérison et aident à expliquer les phénomènes courants observés aujourd'hui.

Dans bon nombre des villes visitées par l'Institut, nous rencontrons des parents qui s'inquiètent extrêmement pour l'avenir de leurs enfants. L'un des aspects les plus menaçants de la parentalité est constitué par les gangs, l'abus de drogues, l'abus d'alcool et tout simplement la violence en général. La formation de gangs semble particulièrement populaire et se propage partout. Il semble que les formes traditionnelles d'interaction humaine ne soient pas satisfaisantes et que les jeunes créent par conséquent d'autres modes d'interaction. L'Institut a aidé les parents ainsi que les jeunes, séparément et ensemble. Ce fut une expérience très enrichissante car, parfois, les résultats positifs sont visibles immédiatement. Le phénomène des gangs est le résultat de causes et de conditions que nous devons éliminer pour réorienter les énergies vers la construction d'un avenir meilleur. L'Institut est pleinement engagé dans cet objectif.

Il s'agit d'une question très délicate. Certains membres de l'Institut ont commencé leurs visites au Moyen-Orient en 1967 et possèdent par conséquent un grand intérêt ainsi qu'une certaine expérience en matière de guerre, de conflits et de la manière d'évoluer délibérément vers la paix. Ce conflit est enraciné dans tant d'aspects qu'il est difficile ne serait-ce de prétendre y porter atteinte, encore moins pour une institution aussi petite que l'Institut. Ce que l'on a appris, c'est que les approches existantes n'ont pas été efficaces et que les fondements de ces approches sont foncièrement erronés. La majeure partie de ce que nous voyons repose sur l'aide militaire ou économique et sur des négociations politiques. Rien n'a fonctionné, car le facteur humain n'est pas inclus. L'Institut est d'avis que la paix collective est le résultat de la paix intérieure. Cependant, la paix intérieure ne se produira pas si nous n'entamons pas un processus de guérison, tant individuel que collectif. Par conséquent, l'attention portée à la paix collective doit se focaliser sur les moyens puissants d'amorcer un processus de guérison. L'Institut s'est concentré sur deux de ces moyens : le silence et la guérison de la nature. Le Moyen-Orient nécessite une approche différente pour que la paix collective puisse voir le jour. Les points de vue de l'Institut ont été exprimés à de nombreux dirigeants nationaux et locaux en Palestine, en Israël et en Jordanie.

L'Institut a eu des contacts avec plusieurs jeunes journalistes palestiniens. Ces contacts initiaux ont eu lieu lors d'une visite dans ce pays, lorsqu'il a été suggéré d'aller à la rencontre de ceux qui s'initient au journalisme dès le plus jeune âge. Nombre d'entre eux ont exprimé les difficultés qu'ils éprouvaient à communiquer avec leurs pairs situés soit en Cisjordanie, soit à Gaza. Après un dialogue très productif et après avoir compris la motivation et l'intention de ces jeunes journalistes, l'Institut a décidé de coopérer à leur formation en finançant l'achat de petites caméras vidéo informatiques afin qu'ils puissent se parler, se voir et nouer au moins une forme d'interactions humaines positives.

Lors de sa visite à Bethlehem, l'Institut a eu l'occasion de partager quelques heures avec une congrégation de sœurs franciscaines qui parrainent une école destinée à aider les enfants touchés par la guerre au Moyen-Orient. En plus d'en apprendre beaucoup sur les tragédies humaines découlant de cette guerre et de constater de visu combien de personnes sont prêtes à sacrifier leur vie pour en aider d'autres, l'Institut a eu l'occasion de comprendre les difficultés qu'implique le rétablissement humain (mental et physique). L'une des contraintes majeures est que le rétablissement humain prend du temps et nécessite une quantité énorme de ressources financières, qui sont investies dans des services professionnels de toutes sortes (médicaux, psychologiques), dans des instruments matériels et bien plus encore. C'est alors que l'Institut a offert une somme d'argent équivalente à une année de coût financier de cette institution. C'était une façon pour l'Institut de soutenir un projet très concret et de dire : Nous nous en soucions !

Beaucoup de cours d'eau du monde sont totalement pollués. C'est un sujet de grande préoccupation, non seulement pour des raisons de santé, mais aussi parce que la mise à disposition d'eau pure pour les populations absorbe une quantité disproportionnée de ressources matérielles et humaines. De nombreuses régions du monde souffrent de pénuries d'eau, ce qui a affecté leurs habitats ainsi que la productivité de l'agriculture, des industries et des services. La crise mondiale de l'eau doit être traitée, mais l'Institut n'a ni les moyens ni la capacité d'y faire grand-chose, si ce n'est sur deux plans : la sensibilisation et l'enseignement d'instruments spirituels pour se débarrasser de la pollution de l'eau. L'eau est également un élément fondamental de la vie humaine et de toutes les autres formes de vie. Il est de notre responsabilité de veiller à la gérer de la meilleure façon possible. L'expertise en économie et en gestion environnementales, combinée à la spiritualité, a été mise à la disposition du public chaque fois que cela a été demandé. L'Institut a visité de nombreux cours d'eau (le Gange) et chutes d'eau (les chutes d'Iguaçu) et a acquis de nouvelles perspectives sur le rôle qu'ils jouent dans nos transformations matérielles et spirituelles.

Depuis sa création, l'Institut soutient le peuple maya de manière simple mais créative. Le président de l'Institut est reconnu comme prêtre maya et de nombreuses activités ont été organisées autour de cette réalité. L'aide a été dirigée vers des prêtres individuels ou a consisté à créer des espaces institutionnels et politiques pour la reconnaissance de leurs contributions à la société dans son ensemble (par exemple, la reconnaissance de M. Adrian Ines Chavez, à San Francisco del Alto, au Guatemala). Les membres de l'Institut ont visité nombre de sites sacrés mayas en Amérique latine et ont été accompagnés par de nombreux sages lors de ces pèlerinages.

L'un des principaux objectifs de l'Institut est de reconnaître publiquement ceux qui ne le sont pas par les mécanismes institutionnels traditionnels d'éducation et de formation. Il y a dans le monde de nombreuses personnes qui ont étudié à l'école de la vie et qui rendent de grands services à l'humanité, où qu'elles soient. Cependant, comme elles n'ont pas fait partie d'une éducation formelle, par exemple, elles ne bénéficient pas d'un grand nombre d'avantages. L'un de ces avantages est la relation entre le fait d'avoir un diplôme scolaire ou universitaire et les opportunités de travail ou l'accès à l'aide financière publique et des fondations. L'Institut a récompensé un groupe sélectionné de personnes pour leurs grands mérites et leurs contributions à la transformation humaine. Nous avons décerné plusieurs doctorats en transformation humaine. Ce processus de reconnaissance se poursuivra à l'avenir.

Le Kriya Yoga est l'un des instruments les plus efficaces de transformation humaine. Il englobe d'importantes dimensions d'autres formes de yoga et intègre également la pratique d'un grand nombre de techniques de respiration. Les répercussions sur la gestion du stress, le calme, la capacité à travailler sous pression et le bien-être physique sont immenses. L'Institut a participé à l'apprentissage et à la pratique collective de cette forme de yoga. Il a également contribué financièrement à son enseignement et à sa diffusion.

Chaque société a reconnu ses sages et ses êtres illuminés. Ceux-ci ne sont pas nécessairement reconnus par tous ou par les moyens de communication traditionnels (par exemple, les journaux, la télévision). Pourtant, ils jouent un rôle fondamental dans le bien-être de la société, en particulier dans la transformation spirituelle au niveau local. Dans les Andes, certains d'entre eux sont appelés Amautas. Ce sont, en général, des personnes âgées, bien qu'il y ait aussi des jeunes, qui s'immergent dans le travail avec les cinq éléments de la vie (le vent, l'espace, la terre, l'eau et le feu) ainsi qu'avec les pouvoirs divins de la nature et la loi naturelle. Le président de l'Institut a été initié en tant qu'Amauta (en Bolivie), et l'Institut a apporté un soutien à certains d'entre eux afin qu'ils puissent accomplir les guérisons de leur peuple et de la Terre. Ce soutien se poursuivra au fur et à mesure que les opportunités se présenteront.

Il existe sur cette planète plusieurs endroits auxquels les gens font référence en tant qu'espaces sacrés. Il peut s'agir parfois de temples, de cimetières ou simplement d'environnements naturels (rochers, arbres, montagnes, vallées, rivières) où les dévots font l'expérience d'expériences de transformation significatives. L'Institut déploie des efforts considérables pour visiter autant de lieux sacrés que possible et, ce faisant, contribue à leur illumination et à leur renouveau lorsqu'ils ont été abandonnés ou lorsque le site souffre d'autres réalités importantes. Les lieux qui sont pleinement illuminés spirituellement servent de sanctuaires de joie, de contemplation, de méditation et de prière. À travers tous ces processus et rencontres mutuels, l'Institut rend également hommage aux protecteurs de ces lieux, qu'ils se présentent sous forme humaine ou sous d'autres formes. Lorsqu'ils ont une forme humaine, l'Institut a contribué par des ressources matérielles au bien-être du protecteur ou des fonds sont consacrés à l'amélioration du lieu en lui-même. Dans ce contexte, l'expérience spirituelle a montré jusqu'à présent que ces visites ont grandement amélioré les processus de transformation spirituelle de ceux qui y participent. Ce sont des lieux où la nature, le divin et les aspects immatériels de notre existence s'unissent en un Tout.

It is in the nature of the Institute to strengthen and expand the Spiritual Capital of people as individuals or as communities. More recently, the Institute has been involved in offering some special retreats for people who are really interested in a faster pace of spiritual transformation. These retreats have been given for free in all its dimensions, including fees, written materials and books, food, etc. These retreats are opened to everyone independent of their faith, religion, spiritual tendencies, or income. They have become a blend of important souls who, in the end, self-realize that there were important reasons why they were together in the first place. The retreats may last one day or several days depending on the themes and practices to be embraced. The Institute has carried out one retreat for people who are at the higher end of the management scale (corporate world) and another to initiate people in the Power of Silence. These retreat activities will continue.

The Institute has published several books in a rather short period of time. Samples of those books are: Another Meaning of Enlightenment, The 10 Spiritual Laws to Heal The World, Global Warming Inner Warming, The Power of Silence (Spanish), The Power of Light, The Tao of Management, The 200% Society (Spanish, in print), A New Social Policy for Latin America (Spanish, in print), and two more are in the process of being put together; A Pocket Full of Buddhas and A Pocket Full of Christ. Some of these books are in the Internet for everyone to read. All books are being offered for free. In addition, many brochures have been done whereby one teaches a few concepts that are needed to the general public. Examples of these brochures are: How to Address Stress, Depression and Anxiety (accompanied by a deck of cards), The Dimensions of The Spirituality For the 21st Century, and Why are We Out of Focus. It is an essential activity of the Institute to produce these written materials and make them available to the general public for free.

The Institute has tried to reach the youth wherever they are with the view to dialogue, learn and also share some of the Institute’s ideas and programs. The response has always been overwhelmingly positive. The Institute believes that the youth should take much more leadership than the one allowed by the adults. This is the time to pass the baton to those leaders of a new generation. This is a generation of different minds and higher levels of consciousness, in many cases. There have been several lectures in youth centers as well as special invited guests to the retreats sponsored by the Institute. The Institute has also advised and assist other organizations that deal directly with the youth (Youth For Peace, Dhammahaya Foundation, Thailand), so that we do not duplicate efforts and accelerate the rate of expansion and scaling up.

There are many young people who have committed what society classifies as crimes, but who are not in jail because they are defined as minors. These young persons are in very difficult positions as their reintegration within their societies is not really well understood. In some cases, they participate in the normal programs of secondary schools with additional activities related to their recuperation. Sometimes, these schools do not accept them for longer periods of time as parents of other kids complain about their existence and their potential influences on other kids behaviors and values. Thus, great deal of uncertainty in the reintegration process. The Institute has been heavily involved with those young adults and has tried to assist them in their own process of growth and transformation. Through tests and games there has been a lot of interaction and good will created. The most important impacts have been greater self-confidence and self-worth.

Some members of the Institute are very involved in understanding death as a process and a transition to another form of life. In this context, we have accompanied the process and experiences of terminally ill people. This has been a process of mutual learning that has impacted the life of all of those involved. At times this is a powerfully and painfully received experience, but as one understand the processes involved, this suffering begins to disappear. Meditation, contemplation, prayer and many forms of healing have been shared and applied.

There are many reasons why people destroy the natural environment. We see devastation in front of our very eyes, daily. The Institute is of the opinion that this environmental crisis is just the mirror image of the spiritual crisis humanity experiences now. The Institute has given seminars, lectures and has promoted practices to mainstream and integrate spirituality in sustainable development. Sustainable development is a collection of values and these values are to be selfrealized. The values of solidarity, interdependence, interconnectedness, peace, justice… The Institute’s contributions to the development of a new paradigm for the mutual and selfsustained existence of humans and nature. Many key note lectures have been given in world conferences and universities around the world. 42. THE 200% SOCIETY Most professionals live in duality between the professions and their practices and their spirituality. Some see spirituality and the derivate of it as something that has nothing to do with those professional practices. This duality has created tremendous problems and it is to be eradicated the soonest, and people must realize that their profession and their spirituality must become One. The Institute is committed to continue the training and lecturing about this issue. In particular, we have shared the fact that each profession has a unique spiritual foundation, and that such foundation must be self-realized at the individual and collective levels. In particular, medicine must be practiced by those who have self-realized life. Agronomy has to be practiced by those who have self-realized Natural Law. Law has to be practiced by those who have selfrealized justice. And engineering and architecture must be practiced by those who have self-realized space and time. This principle applies to every profession so that we can attain the aims of a 200% Society: one that is both materially and spiritually rich.

Nearly 80% of the people have access or have been served by traditional forms of medicine. Modern medicine does not serve the large majority of people. The Institute has been supporting the contributions that traditional medicine brings to people and to the processes of human transformation. The President of the Institute was honored as one of the two patrons of the World Foundation for Complimentary Medicine. In addition to have participated in many world congresses, it has been a voice in creating wide awareness about the many economic diseases resulting from the type of economics and finance practiced to date. In addition, ZIHT has intensively promoted a new branch of medicine: spiritual medicine. More and more people practice this form of medicine. 44. DRUG ADDICTS NATURE’S

In a number of experiences with drug addicts we have found that the best vehicle for their cure is to heal nature. And, they will heal themselves as they try to heal nature. Healing nature could be done in many different ways, including tree planting in areas of stress, erosion, and devastation. The results are very encouraging.

Most of the literature on business management is written from the perspective of managers and not from the perspectives of those who are managed. Given the intense environment of most corporations, most people are managed by fear and terror. This is having devastating impacts on workers’ families and on the future of those corporations. The Institute is promoting other forms of management, where trust, humanistic values, and mutual respect are at the core. These approaches have been discussed in training and dialogues with managers and corporate owners at various levels of intervention, including personal coaching.

The notion of nation states is crumbling down as globalization has decreased and erased some of the borders between and among countries. In recent history, we have witnessed how a world without borders is functioning, heightening the intercountry impacts even among countries that are far apart in geographic terms. There is a series of talks that have been given on the implications of living in a world without borders and suggestions have been made on how to cope and expand in such a world. This has benefitted private sector, NGOs, and governments at large. In many instances democracies are suffering, in particular, democracies in small countries.

The Institute has and will continue to impart a comprehensive course to address stress, anxiety and depression. They have been extremely successful as several techniques are combined to maximize the impacts. The series of seminars include also a debate on animal and environmental stress, as other sentient beings are also suffering from high levels of stress. This has been a well received and very popular course.

We live now in a collective environment. Individual actions are important but collective action and collective welfare are at the core of human transformation. But, most people do not really know how to live in a collective way as most values professed these days are individualistic and materialistic. The training and group sharing include situations in which people are the poorest of the poor and try to come up with collective solutions (one dollar a day) — which demonstrate to be the only viable to get out of poverty and attain higher levels, both individual and collective welfare.

Several spiritual retreats have been done, the large majority of them in silence. The audiences vary a great deal from top level managers to other people from all walks of life. The retreats focus on a large number of integrated themes with the view to enter into the ultra-primordial aspects of human transformation. Individualized attention is also given and coaching is often done in a number of cases. This is an activity that the Institute will continue to carry out upon requests.

In many countries, and as a result of the national effort for silent meditation for world peace, several groups have been formed to continue the effect of silence, both over space and time. One of the most interesting attainments is related to the formation of local groups in small towns and villages. These groups are self-managed and spontaneous groups, some focusing on a particular gender (women), while others are totally open. The main idea is to strengthen the social and universal power of silence at all levels of people’s lives.

Foreign policy is an essential ingredient in any aspect of public governance, particularly at the country level. In some cases these policies are dominated by economics and finance, and the whole foreign policy is geared to satisfy only the material needs of a nation. Many countries’ foreign policies are defined by free trade agreements of other forms of commercial agreements. The only form of interdependence is based on this material interdependence. It is clear that this form of interdependence has proven weak and, in many cases, to be the foundation of war and conflict. The diplomacy of oil, water and other primary commodities is the prime example. A new form of foreign policy has to emerge with a heavy emphasis on the promotion and self-realization of core universal and collectively shared values. One of those values is sustainability. Another set of those values would include eco-morality, solidarity, sharing, interdependence, security, freedom…

The armament race in Latin America has reached alarming proportions. Even countries that are small are spending a great deal of their scarce resources into weapons of all sorts. Some countries are even exporting weapons within the region as well as elsewhere. Given the situation in the rest of the world, and the great deal of political instability our citizens live in, it is essential to create the real foundations for peace in that region. This must be the result of a concerted effort to stop this armament race and to bring those expenditures into health, education, nutrition, poverty alleviation women and children and to expand the material and spiritual welfare of the elder person. It is imperative that we disarm. The theory of the Balance of Power does not work, it has not worked, and it will never do. The real strength of Latin America is on its self-identity, inner peace and greatest compassion for the other. To avoid conflicts we need to increase the inner vibration of peace and not increase the volume of the drums for war. The Institute has drafted a peace declaration that is being distributed to every president in Latin America.

Indigenous nations are essential in humanity today and are a central pillar towards the right forms of human transformation. The Institute, from its inceptions has devoted a great deal of its time and resources to connect, share, live and learn from indigenous peoples. The President of the Institute, as a Mayan Priest, has had immense interconnectedness with indigenous peoples from every place on the Planet. The Institute’s understanding of indigenous peoples is not only about their knowledge, culture and spirituality, but also the awareness of the fact that they are in need of great advancements in material welfare. Many of them are poor and lack the resources to satisfy their basic material needs. It is in this context that the first project the institute embarked on was the formulation and creation of a World Bank for Indigenous Peoples. Unfortunately, due to reasons totally outside the responsibility of the Institute, the funds allocated by another foundation for this purpose, were withdrawn and never made available. This World Bank for Indigenous Peoples is a must and the Institute has the expertise and stand ready to assist in these endeavors.

As billions of people live on our planet, it becomes ever more essential to understand experience and live many forms of human interdependence. On the other hand, it is important to note that without having rights and responsibilities, many aspects of our lives simply do not work. One of these aspects is economics, the market, commerce, finance, etc. Our material world is based on and functions because of rights and responsibilities. The market system, the prices of different items in the supermarket are in many ways real and concrete manifestations of our rights and responsibilities. The Institute has the expertise and has shared this expertise in relation to the synergies that exist between rights and responsibilities and economics. In several papers the Institute has coined the term Human Rights Capital similar to other forms of capital participating in the economic and social process: physical, financial, human, natural, institutional, and cultural capita. In addition, the Institute has been promoting the idea that we need to self-realize the values embedded in those rights and responsibilities. Otherwise humanity will keep violating those rights and responsibilities. All prices, taxes, subsidies, trade controls, are all forms of rights!

The President of the Institute participated during almost a full decade in the United Nations’ Commission on Human Rights. Many of the key issues on human rights had been discussed for decades with limited progress made. However, a new theme that just developed during that particular decade was the notion of The Right To Development. The right that countries have to develop and progress in the whole concert of world nations. This has been a very controversial topic that has in many ways become the “kitchen sink” as far as topics to address are concerned. All the issues associated with economic and social development in general are all included. The Institute has made important intellectual and practical contributions to that subject matter. In fact, some articles written by the President, not in its present capacity, have been published in books and other magazines.

There are several forms of corporate management. In fact, many universities and institutes of corporate management devote lots of time and material resources to pursue different styles and forms of management. Consulting forms have mushroomed everywhere to follow and modify these processes of management. The Institute has spoken openly about the problems embodied in Management by Terror and Fear, and by the need to worry and assist managers as human beings and not just human having or human doings. The Tao of Management is a book that follows the teachings of Lao Tzu, who wrote the book entitled the Tao Teh Chin. 82 verses about the essence of life and human transformation at both the individual and the collective levels. The Tao of Management has a basic premise: if you do not know how to manage your-self, better not manage others. The book is also an oracle book in that in each page there is a thought for the day. It is full of Sutras for Managers.

Most of the diseases of this century are due to or the result of the negative effects of economics and finance around the world. Material progress results in those diseases as a result of air and water pollution, global warming, ozone layer depletion, excessive uses of agrichemicals, and much more. The economic system is responsible for most diseases and we have to change it. The Institute has presented in Spain, Italy and USA a number of ideas with regards to how to change the economic paradigm so it is not that aggressive to human life and human welfare. Cancer of many sorts is spreading everywhere, the outbreaks of different forms of flu, and similar diseases are to be traced back into the greed that is ingrained in our economic systems.

Spirituality is at the core of creativity, invention, awareness, coherence, memory, and transmission. Spirituality in this case understood as the means, instruments and actions needed to remember and self-realize our mission on this Planet. There have been many forms of entrepreneurship, the most common one known as business entrepreneurship. That person with heightened awareness of the business in all its dimensions. The creativity and invention goes in the direction of advancing the different dimensions of business. However, these days there is a great promotion of the social entrepreneur, not only aware of the business but also the environment surrounding the business: human and natural environment. None of these forms of entrepreneurship will advance if we do not develop rapidly and effectively the spiritual entrepreneur. This is a person who is not only aware of the business and its environments, but also aware of him or herself. This is the true essence of entrepreneurship. Self-identity is essential to capture the identity of business and its environment. The Institute will continue sharing its findings with regards to spiritual entrepreneurship.

The Institute has sought to recognize people who are often not recognized by formal educational institutions, like schools and universities. There are many people whose real school is life. These are people who play a tremendous influence in the lives of others in corners of the world that are not even recognized on official maps. Men and women who have the transformational power and share that power with others. It is in this context that the Institute has awarded some unique beings with the diploma of Doctor in Human Transformation. The Institute also has given such a doctorate to Nature. A national park in Guatemala received the first of those awards.

The Institute has participated many times at the International Peace Prayer Days instituted by the Sikh Community of the Western World, led by Yogi Bhajan. This festivity is celebrated the second weekend of June, every year. The President of the Institute has been invited many times to deliver a statement about collective peace and to assist in the distribution of international awards. The President of the Institute has also been awarded as Lifetime Ambassador of Peace. A unique award that is being treasured as a reminder of our collective responsibility for peace everywhere.

Several interventions on animal rights have been done, sharing a new paradigm that it is not based on moral, ethical, or legal grounds, though it has implications on all those dimensions. The central idea is to enliven our interconnectedness with nature and the animal kingdom and realize that we are all equally intelligent and mutually interconnected to fulfill our missions on this Planet.

Many people are participating in wars and conflicts around the world with a great deal of stress and a huge impact on their health and daily lives. Many people in the military are in no position to reintegrate into their societies after the war. In part because of the concepts of life and death, injustices to innocent peoples, etc. The Institute has participated in two debates on the real meaning of warriorship, in the company of several veterans, some belonging to indigenous tribes. The results of these exchanges have been extremely positive and dialogues on these matters continue.

A major development bank in Latin America commissioned a member of the Institute to develop a proposal for A New Social Policy for that region. The new policy suggested four important pillars: improvements in social competitiveness; gains in social sovereignty; readjustments in social governance; and major restructuring of the architecture of existing social institutions. This document has been presented in several forums and it is now to be published in some easy to read format.

Globalization has been the mark of the last several decades, with positive as well as negative impacts on the life of all people. We literally moved from the local neighborhood to the global neighborhood and this has impacted large as well as small communities. In this process one major ingredient is missing: the global being. It is that person who has the ability to become the other without losing its own identity. The Institute is committed to assist in creating the needed conditions for the creation and nurturing of the Global Being through global thinking and practices. Many of the programs in this report are of a global and collective character.

Many people refer to the notion of “future generations” and the importance to really protect their future by not destroying the environment, demising the culture, destroying informal norms and values, etc. In this context, The Institute strongly believe that future generations are here and now and that we have to open institutional and spiritual spaces for the youth to come in and share leadership and responsibility. The future of the youth is not in the hands of the adults, in spite of the fact that adults are influencing greatly that future. The Institute is promoting the notion that the future of the youth must be in their hands with the assistance of other groups in society. This is why we must open religion, politics, science and many other areas of human transformation and evolution to the youth and young adults. We are to promote youth parliaments and formal assemblies everywhere so that they are involved and coresponsible of everything including poverty alleviation, environmental improvements, human security, peace and stability, technological progress…

One of the former presidents of the United Nations General Assembly invited the Institute to host and lead a silent meditation for world peace. This meditation took place at the conference room located in the UN Library. The meditation was connected via video conference to more than 20 countries. Many ambassadors and UN employees actively participated.

One of the former presidents of the United Nations General Assembly invited the Institute to host and lead a silent meditation for world peace. This meditation took place at the conference room located in the UN Library. The meditation was connected via video conference to more than 20 countries. Many ambassadors and UN employees actively participated.

The 6oth Anniversary of the Universal declaration of Human Rights took place at the UNESCO Building in September 2008. The Institute participated in several forums and debates. But most important, the whole three day event was closed with a silent meditation for world peace. Several hundreds of people of all religions and walks of life participated. The Institute distributed several books and a special pamphlet on human rights, spirituality and economic development.

The first public appearances in Portugal were at a meditation center in Caldas de Rainha, Portugal. It was then in 2006 when a decision was made to give Portuguese people a Christmas gift consisting of 5 consecutive days of lectures and seminars lasting 3 hours each. The title of the series was Spiritual Acupuncture and addressed many themes from human relationships to deep spiritual practices.

For a long time, there was a preoccupation with regard to the creation of public opinion and its dynamic influences in human transformation. We all know the power of the media. As an important experiment the Institute begun to write opinion pieces for several newspapers in Chile on subjects like technology, the role of the Internet, the war in Iraq, the value and impacts of free trade agreements including those with China and other developed countries… This was a great learning experience and one that the Institute feels it was very successful in the end. It is possible that the next stage includes other means of communication, beyond written means like newspapers and newsletters.

From the very beginning, the Institute has been concerned about the management of our planet as a whole. As a clearly identifiable entity. How do we take care of our Global Neighborhood? How do we create wealth and how this wealth affects the quality of our public goods like climate, biodiversity and the ozone layer. What are we to do given that there are no collective organizations in a planetary sense. Most if not all international organizations are not collective as they do not purport a global vision. Or if they do, their actors do not behave in that way. The Institute has been intensively involved to share and promote the view that we are a global entity and that we have to find the instruments, means and policies to arrive at a collective destiny. The concept has been discussed also within the context of catholic theology and the foundations of Buddhism and Hinduism.

Walking the path of the great masters and great holy beings is an essential program of the Institute. It is a form to renew many different aspects of spirituality as well as to have an inner experience of a unique kind. This has been done either in a small group or as an individual person. Advice has been given to those who are prepared to do such a pilgrimage. The path of Jesus was followed to the extent possible given the state of war in Palestine, Jordan and Israel. It was a profound experience as well as an eye opener. Many places are now left aside from spirituality while other places are invaded by commerce and dogmatic activities. At the most subtle levels it was possible to go back to the time of Christ and enjoy the teachings and sacred places.

Moses played a tremendous role in human history. Not only as a person but also as a great and unique leader. Many teachings of fundamental importance including the finding of the Ten Commandments. The path was visited except for that portion of crossing the desert from Egypt to the Promise Land. In some instances, his presence was evident and thus the experiences were really meaningful. One tried to understand the logic, the challenges, and the goals they had in looking for the Promise Land. There are points in that travel that are infinitely rich spiritually.

Both, the path of Christ and the path of Moses were preceded by a visit to the oldest map of the world located in Jordan. Why was this activity important? There are several fundamental reasons: a) to learn about how to map the sacred sites in a given region, in this case the Middle East.; b) to understand the meaning of maps at the most subtle levels of our existence, including at the level of our DNA (geography at the ultra-primordial level); and c) to receive instructions regarding how is this life to be spent in physical/geographic sense. The messages were super clear. We all come with a geographic map in ourselves. This is like a complement to our physical DNA. This map is to be done in one’s lifetime. If not, it accumulates to other lifetimes. Each of these places is to teach us unique things that are central to both our material and our spiritual transformations.

The path of the Buddha was completed in two parts. The first in Lumbini, Nepal, and the second in Northern India. Several weeks of travel and embracing so many places and situations. From his place of birth to the place where he left his body. From the first discourse to the last discourse. In addition, many places where the Buddha taught were visited and felt through deep states of contemplation. Hours and days were spent feeling the places, the stupas, the temples, the five fundamental elements of life (air, space, water, earth and fire), the people who have kept these places, the natural environment including the Bodhi Trees, and the parks and mountains where the Buddha spent so much time. Hundreds of lessons and sharing.

The intent is to walk the paths of Guru Nanak and of Prophet Mohamed. They have been leaders in the spiritual world for millions of people, in addition to represent a very important example of life on this planet. Guru Nanak will take some time as he travelled in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, China… An immense route to cover. In the case of Prophet Mohammad, the pending issue is whether we will be able to visit Mecca. This is a great goal and an important one. Everyone should do this in their own faith or in their own spirituality. This is a way to enlighten the subtle body of those great beings and intensify and deepen into existing knowledge and experiences.

The President of the Institute made a direct contribution to the Kingdom of Bhutan on a debate regarding the notion of GNH. The largest majority of countries adhere to the traditional notion of Gross National Product (GNP). This notion is purely materialistic and much attached to notions of traditional market economics. Contrary to that, The Kingdom of Bhutan decided to shift into new and more relevant notions of human welfare. In particular, those notions of welfare that makes people happier rather than simply materially rich. The concept of GNH has developed and matured during the last decade and many countries are seriously addressing the issues that are at the core of human happiness. The Institute has manifested its interest to continue working in this area and a possible visit to Bhutan may be close to fruition.

The Dhammahaya Foundation of Thailand has pursued in the past the possibility of creating a WMF to address a number of moral issues facing humanity at this very moment. Examples of those issues are poverty and hunger, environmental destruction, war and conflict, and widespread human insecurity. When the nature and scope of this Forum were discussed and defined, the Institute was called to advise and guide in establishing the possible content and scope of such a Forum. This would include actors from every sector of society, including politicians, NGO leaders, private sector entrepreneurs, corporate owners and managers, spiritual and religious leaders, and more. This Forum has yet to unfold.

World decisions, collective decisions, and decisions in general are greatly influenced by a value and belief system. It is these values that determine the decisions we make, and the outcome those decisions imply once implemented. In this sense, and given the very negative situation facing the world these days (2007-2010), it is certain that in order to change those outcomes we must change our value system! It is for this reason that it has become increasingly important to mainstream spiritual and humanistic values into all forms of decision making. Further, these values should create the foundation for the establishment of a Collective Spiritual Forum. This would be an institutional space where the issues facing humanity and the options thereafter will be addressed under the lenses of our spiritual knowledge, practices and experiences. The Institute has played a major advocacy role in the creation of such a Forum. The proposal has been the creation of the Forum within the confines of the United Nations, although it could be created anywhere for that matter. It has also contributed to the definition of its content and scope. This advocacy activity will continue.

The Institute played a very prominent role in the Xian Conference in China, which consisted of a dialogue about the future of China and on how China’s future will affect the rest of the world: the notion of a sustainable society. Key note addresses as well as the presidency of a working group were held during such important event. The principal themes were sustainable development, entrepreneurship and the notion of corporate enlightenment (enlightened corporation). Members of the Institute have been invited to successive dialogues most of them sponsored by the Europe-China Foundation, whose headquarters are in The Hague, Holland. The next Conference will be in Hong Kong in 2010. It is central to debate about the impact of China on the rest of the world, via trade, investments, financing, culture, politics, etc.

The private sector is essential to the process of material wealth creation as well as in everyone’s spiritual transformation. Survey after survey has shown that the work place is more than just a space to work. It represents much more and we need to get involved in ways to improve the existing situation. Notions of social corporate responsibility have unfolded with the view to go beyond profit making and include human and environmental concerns. The Institute is promoting a new form of corporation, under the heading of corporate enlightenment. This idea has been shared in many different forums. Including some in Europe, the USA, Latin America and parts of Asia. Furthermore, with regards to the entrepreneurship dimensions of the business world, The Institute has advanced a new paradigm. This paradigm not only emphasizes the need to move from business entrepreneurship (awareness about business), to social entrepreneurship (awareness about the external impact of business—human and environmental) but also to spiritual entrepreneurship.

Everything is energy, vibration, rhythm, melody, movement, geometry, color, odor … At these subtle levels of our existence we communicate, create, transmit, share, etc. We are born with an ability to tap into these energies and different manifestations of life. There is power, there is motion, and there is consciousness. The Institute has brought about a book illustrating the above-mentioned dimensions of human transformation under the title of “The Power of Light”. The basic premise is that we are light and that our power of light moves us into all possible dimensions of human existence on this planet. With this sharing, the Institute brings about different instruments and means on the road to healing, inner peace and enlightenment. After reading the book, many people have reported major healings, including significant health improvement. This happens as a result of their own increased awareness about the inner power of their light.

For three consecutive years, we have sponsored a Feast of Light where many people in the proximity of the Village of Columbeira, Portugal come to light more than 4000 candles. Once they are light, there is a silent meditation for world peace followed by a shamanic fire of the Mayan Tradition. People share food and lots of quality time.

The Institute has approached communications in a very decided way. In the end, it is these networks of communications that will pass on, and assist in the self-realization of the fundamental messages on human transformation. The Institute has offered more than 270 lectures, seminars and public statements of all sorts. They have been delivered in a large number and diverse groups of organizations in the societies of many countries: universities, neighborhoods associations, religious and spiritual groups, politicians, professors, unions, and the like. This activity of the Institute will continue and perhaps intensify during the second part of the decade 2005-2015.

In each mission, members of the Institute try not only to comply with the set of pre-established programs but also they visit sacred sites as per the local communities traditions and beliefs. Some of the pilgrimages are formally organized such as the one to The Island of the Sun and The Island of the Moon, in Lake Titicaca. Bolivia. This has been done in Peru where we participated in the pilgrimage of the Santo Cristo de Collirity, with 35000 other peoples.

Working with the Media is an essential pillar of the Institute so that many new ideas, paradigms and policy recommendations could be shared with the public at large. We have had access to The National Press Club in Washington D.C., NBC, and many other radio stations and the written media. Efforts with the media at the national and local level will continue, after major successes in Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, and many other countries. Special effort is always made to work with local people and indigenous journalists and writers. Scholarships and Donations. Several scholarships have been given with the view to benefit those who have no access to the traditional systems of money distribution within education. Some have been given in Tibet (English as a foreign language) as well as in Central America (basic and high school education).

The Institute has been called upon to finance emergency medications to assist those who were devastated by a gas explosions and mud floods in Panama. In particular, to assist the Cuna Indigenous peoples who suffered a great deal under emergency situations.

Everywhere members and volunteers go, they try to make donations to those who participate on programs or are in dire need of food and shelter. These are small donations (between $50 and $300) that assist recipients with food and other basic needs (Guatemala, Mexico, India).

Members have been involved in international conferences and forums with the view to bring spirituality into such issues as global warming and ozone layer depletion. One example of such a participation was in Xian, China, where the Europe China Foundation invited to members of the Institute to address a number of salient issues.

The environment is being destroyed daily. Many animal and plant species are disappearing at an alarming rate, unnecessarily! Many systems of environmental protection and management have been launched at great cost to the general public that in the end finances all those environmental actions. What is evident is that those programs have either failed or have had very limited impacts. The main reason why this failure is so evident is because there is no great capacity to selfrealize the values that are embedded in Natural Law and environmental transformation. One of those values is that of “interdependence”. This value is mastered almost in every aspect of environmental transformation and evolution. In fact, Natural Law is also the greatest law of interdependence. The Institute is supporting the enfoldment of a New Eco-Morality, a right and a responsibility over space and time, based on a value system that makes the self-realization of the essence of Natural Law possible and the attainment of a sustainable society a reality.

The Institute is making a great effort to reach the younger generation of people around the world, with the view to share views, realities and discuss possible options and priorities. It is in this context that we carried out a tour of DePaul University and Penn State University, in addition to the University of Michigan (several times) and other groupings of students and faculty. The results have been extremely positive. The themes that have been shared are: spiritual entrepreneurship, the world crises, humanity as a collective entity with one collective destiny, religion and spirituality, spiritual economics, feminine energy and world peace, poverty alleviation and development institutions, new notions of development and progress, the relationships and synergies between material and spiritual transformation, corporate enlightenment, the Tao of Management… This is an Institute activity of great importance and impact.

The Institute has been captured on television several times, including interviews and debates on issues such as sustainable development, entrepreneurship, and world peace. The Biosphera Programme is very famous in Portugal and TV Oeste and has disseminated some of the silent meditations for world peace inside Portugal.

While we are fully aware and living a global life, on one Planet Earth, the mind of many people is far from the realities of a Global Being. Globalization has demonstrated that it is not possible to live with boundaries any longer and that it is essential to see the world as one unified and united reality. However, most of our behavior is influenced by lots of local realities and local value systems and habits. Several recent happenings as world flu (bird and swine flu), the spread of major diseases (HIVAIDS), increased poverty and misery, and the rapid speed of environmental destruction and human insecurity, demonstrate that it is essential to create (via education, practice and self-realization) a Global Being who effectively operates in a world without frontiers. The Institute is promoting the formation of a Global Being: a person who has the capacity to become the other without losing its own identity. Essential to this concept is the caring for the other and one’s own identity. It is the strength of these two dimensions that will preserve a world of diversity and common destiny. The Institute has brought this subject matter to the public domain in debates with government, educators and the public in general, and it will continue to do so.

As humanity has more understanding of the need for attaining the aims and goals of a sustainable society, there is an increased interest to pay attention to important ecological, social and economic issues. During the last decades, several cities of the world have made an attempt to become sustainable in an ecological sense. And, this has brought about to the public domain the creation of “Eco Cities”. This is a city that promotes a new eco morality and establishes instruments and processes to diminish, if not eliminate, environmental degradation at all levels. The Institute has been called to participate in many meetings and public debates in the formation of these type of cities. One example is that of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, The United States of America. The experiences have been very positive and the Institute plans to continue offering its expertise in every situation.

Theology has an important human context. Theology as any other dimension of our lives is subject to evolution. It values and beliefs are also subject to evolution. Human reality several centuries ago is not the same as today’s. Thus, it is relevant to ask ourselves what forms of theology we are to embrace, notwithstanding the importance of traditional dimensions of theological frameworks. The Institute has been discussing with many Christian and other faith communities the importance of what it has called “The Theology of Interdependence”. This is the theology of the other. This is the theology of collective salvation and collective enlightenment. It is the theology of our collective existence, including the existence of all human beings, all living beings and sentient beings.

The Institute has a special strength on environmentally sustainable development. This knowledge comes with those who are permanent staff as well as the many volunteers who are not only professionally able but who have self-realized an immense set of ecological dimensions. The philosophy is that we need inner ecology as well as outer ecology; and both are intimately related and interconnected. Many statements have been given in international organizations, the United Nations, NGOs and the like. The Institute has explicitly stated the importance of spirituality in sustainable development. Natural capital and spiritual capital are essential to attain any level of sustainability.

From its inception, the Institute has been invited to share its views regarding gender equality. Furthermore, it has been asked how to develop the feminine energy in us, as a major powerful and meaningful force in human transformation of all human beings and all living beings. The Institute has spread its knowledge to all sorts of organizations serving women and has collaborated with specific material resources so those organizations succeed. Donations to women in leadership at the local level (including indigenous peoples in central America, China Tibet and other places) and free training and sharing have been implemented during the last several years.

The Impacts of economics and finance and the various impacts of globalization, has left behind many traditional forms of organizations like the family, neighborhood organizations, unions, guilds, etc. From a very practical perspective, society needs to have a coherent growth at the material level and at the organizational/institutional level; otherwise major disequilibrium arises. Organizational theories are to be revised so that effective forms of governance begin to emerge in this matrix of human interactions. The Institute will continue to advocate and disseminate alternative forms of transformation in this realm of human activities.

The Institute has been in collaboration with many international development organizations located in Latin America. Some of these organizations are purely development oriented while others have been crucial in the political development of the region. Recently the Institute was asked to assist in a debate about social policy in Latin America. The Institute identified four main pillars for a new social policy in the region: social competitiveness, institutional reforms, social governance and social sovereignty. These are essential to address the challenges faced by the region.