By the word “community” – a term that is much overused and often taken out of context – we mean aggregations of people who:
recognize a common identity and feel that they belong to an entity greater than the individual; therefore they share the same values of responsibility for themselves, others, and nature;
offer each other support, protection, listening, and help. They share gifts, talents, knowledge, and skills to grow personally and collectively and to enhance the quality of relationships;
embrace individual differences as a value that enhances rather than hinders group unity and encourages the search for it at deeper levels of consciousness;
cultivate a sense of openness and inclusiveness toward people, knowledge, and ways of being consistent with their own values;
seek a balance between individual freedom and respect for the needs of others, between the personal and the group or relational dimensions.
