| Arcosanti, at the geographic epicenter of the State of AZ, has water, arable land and good intention. The mandate of Cosanti Foundation, the 501-3C responsible for it, is to abet its completion. Myriads would like to see its physical structures constructed, habited by a sizable population. But despite such heart-felt wishfulness, for some decades its 'permanent' population has consistently numbered less than one hundred. A number of marriages have taken place there but barely a handful of families live there. To date, no cohesive social infrastructures have been developed to encourage or plan for expansion of its material culture, including any of the support services and sources for supplies one expects to find as concomitants of urban-minded settlement. Support services and access to supplies are available but not within quick or easy walking distance of "the site." Yes, there are doctors, clinics and a hospital, schools, and commercial businesses large and small including health food, grocery and hardware stores, et al; but they are miles away. Why is this? Thousands of people have visited, over the years, many of them potential investors. But to date, the only way they can invest is by purchasing Cosanti Originals products or by making a tax-deductible donation. Why is that? Why are there no other ways to invest? I don't know. What I do know is that we all make choices. We are all subject to the effects of what Buddhism calls "the three poisons," aggression, greed and ignorance, which are scourges that can and do infect all of us. Separately and collectively, they're resilient, infectious pests that easily "go viral" to plague all humanity. Greed is a disease. Aggression is a plague. Ignorance is not bliss. Although I have not borne witness to much greed or aggression at Arcosanti, since I know that I myself am not immune to those infections and not one of those three poisons is any less lethal than the others, I can't help but wonder: What are we not seeing? What are we missing? How can we be more mindful? |
