The
Shahmai Network is focused on spiritual development and growth,
respect for life and nonviolence. We see these core areas as avenues
towards fulfilling our potential. We believe that spirituality
has a key role in our lives, which helps us to express ourselves
and live positively.
The Shahmai approach
is centred on direct engagement with our state of awareness. Shahmai
is a way of accessing and working with the transformative elements
within us. The Network organises retreats, meetings and training
in exploring states of awareness, health and healing, as
well as meditation and other spiritual disciplines.
Core
Values
We
believe that through the simple yet profound practices
of contemplation, cultivation and compassion we become healthier,
happier and more engaged human beings. We move closer towards fulfilling
our potential. Our particular approach centres on engaging with
each individuals personal life experiences and insights.
Social
involvement
The
network's first public involvement was to become official members
of the Make
Poverty History campaign, an international drive to combat
global poverty. The campaign was focused around the G8 conference,
which took place in July of 2005. The conference did make significant
moves towards ending the immoral debts of the world’s poorest
countries and bringing about fairer trade. A change the network
is very proud to have played a role in. This however is an ongoing
process and there is still much injustice and exploitation that
must be addressed. Towards this end the Shahmai Network will
continue to be involved in positive social change based around
its core spiritual beliefs and practices, which are rooted in
a humanitarian world view. Read
more.
Intentional
Communities
We
believe that small spiritually focused anarchist communities are
the best basis for both a vision of a future society and a way of
life that supports spiritual exploration.
Nonviolence We believe nonviolence is key to creating
true and lasting change within ourselves and society. Violence not
only prevents our communities from finding peace, it can also prevent
us from becoming truly empowered, the very thing that many seek through
acts of violence.
Equality
The
Shahmai Network believes in equality for all,
with no discrimination on the basis of gender, race, class, sexuality
or religion etc. We support human rights as outlined in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights
Veganism
The
Shahmai Network advocates a vegan lifestyle and the philosophy
of animal liberation for many reasons, including: A belief that
it is immoral to exploit or take the life of an animal when
it is clear that we can live without doing so. We believe that
as humans we possess moral understanding and therefore should extend
respect, compassion and protection to other species. We also believe
that there are many positive health and spiritual benefits from
a meat and diary free diet, as well as the likely environmental
benefits of replacing the use of animals in farming. We believe
that veganism is a natural extension of the philosophy of non-violence
and the basis of the development of greater compassion. See also The
Universal Declaration of Animal Rights and 101
Reasons To Go Vegan
Spiritual
Polyamory
Polyamory
means to love more than one person at the same time; but we see it
as far more than this, it is a way to move beyond our society's focus
on ownership and control of another person. We
see polyamory as an avenue to self-development and greater
understanding and communication between people.
The Environment
The environment is also key to
Shahmai philosophy and we take active steps to live in a more
harmonious way. This includes the support of organic low-impact
farming and production wherever possible.
We believe that reducing our use of resources and consumption
is a part of spiritual practice. Nature is the source of every
life on this planet, we believe it to be our most direct and sacred
route to the transcendent.