I feel you mate, I relate.
Also want to say that acknowledging what you want to learn, relearn, unlearn is a huge step forward already.
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“The most common state of the human soul is precisely an indistinct phantasizing, an amorphous mental conceptualization, which is haplessly prey to external stimuli and internal impulses, to an attention which is reduced to mere ongoing distraction, a reasoning which is nothing but a rough sketch that swerves away at every moment, heedless of its departure point or any definite final destination; a reasoning which is therefore, closer to a simple axiom than to syllogism. It is, in other words, a form of consciousness which is closer to a state of somnambulism and dream than to what is called “clear and distinct consciousness”. Generally speaking, men do not have an exact realization of what surrounds them; being preys to some vague pleasure or a shapeless boredom, they live in a corpuscular inner atmosphere. Even worse, if we were to observe the most common inner language of the majority of people, the way psychiatrists take note of madmen’s speeches, we would be forced to recognize a form of frequent ideational and emotional paranoia, which is such that surmounting it requires an effort.”
-Dr. Marco Paret
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I’d like to thank all of you for the posts you recently made.
And I would again like to thank Mike for sharing that very good quote from Dr. Marco Paret. To me, this quote is a great intellectual description of the ego mindset and the chaotic thinking that goes with it. As I may have already mentioned - (perhaps a few too many times), – it is important that we understand how the ego thought construct works -and- what it is offering us.
This understanding enables us to become more conscious of it; And along with this awareness of the ego dysfunction within, we instinctively become more vigilant in saying no to it. I mention this simply because: the only impediment between us and the loving sense of community we all yearn for - is: (you guessed it) ~ that pesky ego …
For anyone interested in how the " human ego" factors into this discussion thread involving: intentional community, fellowship, harmony, and conflict resolution; - I’d like to share the following link to a talk that was done by Eckhart Tolle some years ago. This 12 minute talk by Eckhart Tolle is titled: the core of ego. It provides penetrating insight into the underlying cause of human conflict and offers a workable strategy to resolve it. This talk also explains much of the “what”, “why”, and “how” implications of key points that have been made in this Utopian Vision thread.
For background credit info, I would also mention that this short talk is actually Eckhart narrating: “The Core of ego” section of his book titled: A New Earth (see: chapter 3 of said book). My thanks and gratitude go out to Eckhart for providing us all with this most valuable understanding of why the Human Condition entails so much conflict (as well as what we must do to overcome this issue).
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Eckhart Tolle - The Core Of The Ego (12 minutes)
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I would be interested in something like that. Who can host and facilitate?
I already host one weekly book study. Maybe I could do another. Maybe it would be best if one or two shared the responsibility.
I’ve decided to do something different and looking to start a brainstorming group to discuss solutions and find connections.
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Do you have a particular target group in mind? Brainstorming in relation to what? Solutions to what? Find what kind of connections? I am also interested. Do you have a live video meeting in mind or a group in forum format like here?
i actually think that ‘utopia’ is the antithesis of spiritual fellowship and ego reduction. i get your point, but we should call our shared ideal something else. why? because utopia suggests a point at which there is no more progress to be made, everyone is enlightened, everything is perfect. that is unrealistic. humans are animals. we’re always going to be born, even in a perfect environment, with imperfections and that is what makes us human. i don’t want to force anything upon anyone. i don’t want to undo people’s imperfections and quirks and little moments of selfishness. i don’t want to undo humanness. not only that, but if you strive for utopia, you’re isolating yourself. you are setting yourself up as the utopia, the intentional community, the lone bastion of progress in a world that is yet to catch up. but not only do you risk looking down on others with that attitude, progress is subjective. enlightenment is subjective. perfection is subjective. you, an a human individual, cannot become enlightened or perfect alone especially not if enlightenment or perfection alone is your goal and not just a result of you living a full, loving life. you can attempt to live a full life, you can attempt to create the intentional community in which everyone is living their fullest life, but then you also have to live with the understanding that your attempt is just that - an attempt - and will be counted as one among many attempts. a dot on a map. a stop for travelers. and i actually think that is real ego reduction, and real spiritual fellowship, because it’s an almost beautiful demonstration of human solidarity. everyone is just attempting, just trying. trying all the time.
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This would be my suggestion for a practical solution that dispenses with the need for all this talking. (no disrespect Scotty, but in my experience the more discussion there is, the further out the cloud of potential confusion, misunderstanding, opinion [forming & defending] etc. spreads).
I wonder if just one simple thing might just get a community as close as it could possibly get to ego-fettered harmony - AND sustain it there…
(I have no proof that this’ll work, I’ve never been able to be part of such an ‘experiment’ - but, I’d love to be.)
1 simple ‘rule’ in the community:
EVERY morning - for the lifetime of the community - ALL the members (NO exceptions - if someone’s ill, they get wheeled in in their chair or their bed) gather in a communal area. You join hands with the persons either side of you (or, if you don’t have hands, snuggle up, but definitely touch) and then you shut up, just shut up - for an hour! - everyone just breathes… together… no dogma, no drama, no opinions, no guru - just ‘HERE YOU ARE!’ (“and here is everyone else. - Deal with it, ego!” < this is implicit, not spoken).
Every single new day - whatever else is going on - here you are… So, are you better than all these people? Are you more of a victim than they are? Will it profit you to manipulate them, given that tomorrow morning you’re back here holding hands with them…? (< this all happens in a silent, perhaps even subconscious thought bubble)
Seems to me, whatever the ego suggests to you in your silent (but communal) hour is not going to get much of a chance (as the days and years pass) to develop to toxic levels. I mean, what’s the opposite of ego? - humility, really… Imagine a toxic ego trying to justify itself as ‘special’ ‘entitled’ etc. when you’ve got to sit down and shut up holding the hands of your family every morning! ha ha.
Humility ‘built-in’ to the foundation of the community - and sustained by the community’s ONE single unbendable rule.
By jove, it just might work!
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i love this idea but i disagree with this specific bit. i have severe trauma from someone who wanted everyone to participate in every activity, wanted no ego; wanted nobody to believe they were special…and from there, he ignored my disabilities, disregarded my protocol, and i nearly died on a trip with him.
(this is why i have slight distrust for people who say they don’t want anyone to think they’re special (even if the intention is to restrict/discard ego); and i’d rather have everyone in my community believe, and know, that not only are they very special, but everyone is, all for special reasons.) i don’t believe it’s morally sound at all to enforce participation. i also know people - other than myself - who need to eat right when they wake. so while i love this idea, there should be exceptions.
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Ego is not the problem. In fact, the demonizing of the ego is one aspect of the problem, rather than accepting ALL of ourselves. Denial of ourselves is mostly what creates all the problems communities have, besides money issues anyway. We cannot connect to each other consciously on the level needed to deal with how we experience ourselves and each other if we deny our ego or emotions. Yes, this is not an easy thing to do, as we don’t want to feel the fear, angers, guilt, etc that holds the experience patterns and judgments we have and keeps us in reaction rather than response mode, but that IS what is necessary. Most people either do not understand this or are simply afraid to begin such a process of connection. But a true intentional community must be a conscious community as well. My 2 cents 
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I think it may come down to two simple similar agreements: 1) an agreement to be part of a loving fellowship. 2) an agreement to strengthen and deepen that commitment.
Basically, I think you need to form something like a polycule that isn’t based on attraction but rather peoples willingness and desire to be in a loving fellowship. With those agreements comes effort, guidelines, plans and agreements that lead towards loving fellowship. I’m interested in what others think about that. Could it be that simple?
I see this post was written nearly a year ago. Any progress on this notion by anyone?
-Dan
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I love that. Holding hands to connect is all what it needs. 
The astral bodies actually merge when we touch, that is why there is so much energetic healing and communication going on during this.
Hi Scotty, spiritual fellowship, LOVE, caring, sharing, harmony … and less ego:
YES, that is also my vision of an intentional community.
I just wrote it down on 9 pages, I uploaded the first page here, please send me a message with your email or WA number if you would like to see the rest.
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Without “getting into the weeds” regarding the causes of our current global predicament, I do still feel I must state one thing that will give this push toward a “Utopian” world… a much better way of being for Us humans, and that is to shun the current socioeconomic paradigm we are all forced to perpetuate. The one thing that we could All use is TIME, which is stolen from Us on the daily. And that is the “million dollar question”, just how do we gain ourselves the time to work on these very valid issues?
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I have really enjoyed this thread. The Utopian world as @mrpieceofwork just stated has been attempted over the years from many people. My personal opinion is, ego which does not exist so to say. It is the image of ones self and the belief that one self has. Which ego is just the building of belief systems from what the person exposes themself to. That is why meditation is so important. Over time doing meditation will change your subconscious which plays a part of ones ego.
Being in line with nature and exploring yourself with meditation can greatly help with what utopian world means to one self.
I really feel the communities that really focus on giving back to the Earth with natural farming and living as much off the land is the right step in the direction of human evolution.
Evolution is not mechanical technologies but mental evolution is much more beneficial to the community. Although I have yet to live in a community but I so desire to and that is my long term 10 year goal that I have set for myself.
I would love to hear ones experience or opinion about my statement. 
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