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“No problem is solved at the level of consciousness at which it was created.”—Albert Einstein

Applying Einstein’s wisdom, we cannot solve the personal and collective problems that are created by our dominant western culture, from the same level of consciousness that engenders them. Coming from a place of mutual empowerment and conscious co-creation those problems will no longer be generated or maintained by us. As we evolve and mature into a new level of human expression, we will naturally bring forth an authentic way of being that is anchored in the heart.

Personal, national, and worldwide experiences are rapidly shifting the way humanity views its role on the planet. As globalization brings us together in commerce, communications, and culture it also makes us aware of planetary needs and challenges. HBLS is addressing the worldwide realization that life as we know it is not meeting the needs of the vast majority of humankind nor nature. We recognize that this challenge is a result of humanity’s disconnection from one another, nature (plants and animals), and essential truths (those life-shaping agreements that span across cultural and religions). This disconnection, simply stated, has occurred due to centuries of hierarchical systems, consumer economies, a lack of communication between haves and have-nots, and an increasing human population met with decreasing resources. These ongoing scenarios have created a sometimes subtle sometimes blatant reality of fear, greed, and an impulse to control – the extreme pattern of this has been modeled most recently by the western, capitalistic world and is now spreading to the far reaches of the planet. These patterns have been with mankind from our beginnings; however it is only now that these patterns are so rampant in every aspect of our lives that their impacts may change our way of life - irreversibly.

In the face of this reality, social pioneers are mapping and modeling new systems across the world. We at HBLS are such people and we have gathered to steward HBLS to address the challenges of this time on earth. It is not our intention to judge this current reality or hierarchical power structure. We see this current structure as a necessary stage of our development as humans. With this understanding however, we move forward and reveal more mutually empowering systems for education, economics, fulfilling lifestyles, cultural expression, and environmental restoration. Specifically, we offer a whole system approach and model to living, working, and being on this earth at this unique time in history. This approach is offered through the HBLS and includes but is not limited to:

~ Curricula and programs that . . .

• Support accessing and relating to essential truths common across all cultural and religious traditions,
• Offer explanations of tools and exploratory space for individuals and groups to recognize their unique gifts,
• Guide in the application of these unique gifts and offerings to participants' personal and professional activities.

~ Immersion in a healthy community setting that . . .

• Models new systems,
• Inspires the re-thinking of social structures allowing participants to consider what their community and/or environment needs are,
• Supports participants in achieving a more healthy and regenerative expression for themselves and their communities

~ Wide open space, literally and figuratively, for participants to experience a deeper sense of connectedness to nature, their highest self, and to humanity.

In the nurturing and authentic environment of HBLS a synthesis of thoughts and methods emerge and address the polarities and dualities of our egoic social systems. This allows our participants, staff, and community to experience shifts and identify solutions to previously unresolved societal conflicts such as rich and poor, competition and cooperation, spiritual and material, the value of growth and development versus health for our environment and the benefit of the whole. Essentially, HBLS invites participants to move from a world-view grounded in fear and separation into a world-view built on love and mutual fulfillment.

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