by Gordon Davidson

World Server groups are found in every country, culture and tradition of the world, and can be recognized by their universal, non-dogmatic approach, their love of humanity and their willingness to serve the enlightenment and redemption of humanity at any personal cost, and often in very innovative ways. They may simply be a small group of three or more, quietly meditating and working in their community, or very large national or international groups that encourage exploring and developing the inner life, an appreciation for the deeper principles that govern our world and lives, with a commitment to inspiring others to make a contribution to the upliftment of humanity, based on an experienced Oneness of Spirit within their group, and with those they serve.

However, even with the most enlightened and selfless groups, there is an inevitable tendency to become insular and to stay within the ring-pass-not of their own work. This can happen gradually, due to the separative tendencies of the mind, as groups begin to regard the work of other groups through a lens of separation, and see the work of other groups as somehow not quite right, glamoured, or otherwise flawed.

We might then ask, why is it important to relate to other groups? Why not just let each group go on doing its self-chosen work, knowing that each one is part of the One Work, and all subjectively linked? The Tibetan teacher who worked with Alice Bailey stated that groups serving other groups and working together would be a major characteristic of the Aquarian age. Intergroup work is important because the current degree of crisis/opportunity in humanity and its world today demands new approaches.

Although the fundamental principles and touchstones remain constant, the methods, techniques and requirements of group work are constantly changing, based on the inflow of new energies, the expanding consciousness of humanity and the deepening capacities of servers. Men and women of high spiritual quality, deep compassion and keen intellect, who are dedicated to serving humanity and are impacting world affairs are emerging everywhere. The Dalai Lama, Oscar Arias, Gro Brundtland, Vaclav Havel, Mary Robinson, Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa, Mikhail Gorbachev, Jimmy Carter, are a few examples.

There are many others, working behind the scenes, who are influencing and uplifting human affairs, conditioning human thought and raising the kingdoms of nature. They work through organizations that support the United Nations and through movements for the rights of the abused and oppressed everywhere, for the protection and love of the kingdoms of nature, and for the directing of humanity towards building the new, principled civilization.

Groups also are being asked to take a new stance in relation to the world and to each other. Intergroup cooperation, meeting the spiritual needs of humanity, and fulfilling a bridging function between the sources of spiritual inspiration and the New Group of World Servers (those who love and selflessly serve humanity) are some of the new requirements of groups today. Hence the need for intergroup relationships based on an unshakable Oneness of Spirit, expressed through cooperation and coordinated work, that includes many different groups all over the world.

Due to the new energies of synthesis impacting humanity, the trend in human thinking and planning towards synthesis and amalgamation, is accelerating, although it is sometimes expressed in a distorted manner. The development of the European Monetary Union, with a single European currency is one example among the many new free trade regions and gradual unifications that are emerging in Asia, North and South America, and recently proposed for East Africa. Though these trends are often manipulated for material control and dominance, synthesis can still result if there is a change in the underlying purpose... The emergence of United Religions, an effort to end conflict and wars caused by religious differences by creating an organization similar to the United Nations is another example of the trend towards synthesis.

This keynote of creating a new synthesis of forms which reveals the light within, is reflected in the concept of intergroup work. It seems we are being asked to create a new form for the world - intergroup work, which honors the purpose, integrity and light of existing groups, but also builds active, cooperative relationships between groups, based on an experience of the One Soul and the universality of the work. This results in a synergized form of intergroup work that embodies and releases more light. This form allows each group to carry out its unique and essential purpose, while also choosing to unite and work in coordination with other groups when such collaboration enhances their chosen purposes. There can be a great deal of unity and coordination on the universal essentials that everyone agrees upon.

Thus groups that can adapt to, and utilize new tools and techniques that can reach a humanity in need, while maintaining a sense of higher principle and purpose, become more useful. Many are utilizing modern means such as the internet, email and faxes to increase purposeful communication between groups.

Likewise, groups are functioning as points of synthesis in the world, bringing a range of individuals and groups into contact with each other, promoting unity, cooperation and ultimately, fusion. As these groups come together for intergroup work, they are building a united focus of consciousness. The larger intergroup moves as a unified world body, with a cooperative, coordinated strategy. It then becomes a receiver and distributor of new energies that can inspire and move forward the work of all the participating groups. And it provides what is needed for an integrated, world group vehicle oriented around a higher principle. Once the group has achieved this level of integration, it can then organize itself around projects and programs that all agree to participate in and can benefit from in expanded service.

Many today realize that humanity's need and the current crisis/opportunity is so great that world server group work must increase its power and effectiveness in order to truly meet the needs of the times. It is becoming clear that the crisis that humanity currently faces is unprecedented, and that a battle is underway for the very soul and future of humanity. The forces of materialism are waging an all-out effort to convince unawakened humanity that self-interest, greed and separateness are logical, acceptable and viable means of organizing our world.

Pioneering work along intergroup lines has been done by the Los Angeles Intergroup with several groups working together to co-sponsor the Three Spiritual Festivals. The World Service Intergroup has organized several international gatherings and conferences. This type of approach is being experimented with today by varous intergroup networks, which have been steadily growing.

True intergroup work has the purpose of strengthening active intergroup cooperation, building lighted linkages between different groups, and at the same time strengthening a recognized inner synthesis. This is the true significance of international intergroup work.

Gordon Davidson is co-founder and President of The Center for Visionary Leadership. He co-authored Spiritual Politics and Builders of the Dawn and co-founded Sirius, an educational center and ecological village in Massachusetts in 1978. Gordon is the former Executive Director of the Social Investment Forum and the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies. He is a Fellow of the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland, on the Board of Directors of Meditation Mount in Ojai, CA, and has taught spiritual development and social change for over 20 years in the U.S. and Europe.

Unity, this symbol shows synchronicity and interconnectedness. One heart, one mind, one spirit, in tune with all elements, reaching out and embracing diversity within and outside of ourselves.