Posted by Shezbeth
(here)
The more I read about the Second Home organization, the more concerned/skeptical I become, and it is NOT to do with concern for the organization. My earlier about ninjas still stands, but I am less convinced that suitably skilled ninjas would be so motivated.
In my personal opinion, you might be better suited to dissociation with such an organization. You may be benevolently/harmoniously motivated, but I guarantee that someone in the framework
isn't, else further steps to perpetuate the #3 would have been launched in the years leading up to the current situation.
To many - both participant and visitor - it looks like it would be a magnificent place to live and work. I like that the 'jobs' are skill oriented; The cook is responsible for cooking, the doctor is responsible for medicine, the farmers are responsible for farming, etc. What about the ninja/security individuals? Did no one think that there might be some form of undesirable situation that needed mediation before the authorities might show?
The environment is lush and beautiful, but that is a matter of hard work rather than a testimony as to the veracity of the philosophy/phenomenon. I've seen lush properties owned by rich individuals/groups, but that's because there are landscapers.
My biggest issues (I won't comment the small issues) center around a few bits of observation.
Firstly, the forum is pleasant and easy to navigate. The only problem is that all the different departments and threads and boards and such lead to the exact same list of threads no matter what one clicks on. This strikes me as an attempt by someone to make the community appear more expansive and extensive than it actually is.
Secondly, it is very easy to make exalted claims of idyllicy, of being a utopia dreamed by saints and philosophers, of worry and care being eliminated, et al., but that does not make such claims true. In fact, alot of what is said about the community has to be taken at face value, and there are several (some glaring) claims that strike me as somewhere between a sales-pitch and abjectly false.
Next,
The officers from Public Security Department of Yunnan Province, China (where the community is located) once said after visiting our community, “What you have done is too ideal, and we doubt how you people can keep and develop this life mode”. But I’m very sure that the economic development of the Second Home will not have any problem, and we can definitely become self-sufficient and eventually live in abundance. The reality will prove it after three years.
This paragraph comes right after the one that admits that the main source of income is Celestials (those who give up all their possessions). Sorry, but the author saying they are "Very sure" does not mean
and I find the dismissive - almost condescending - nature of this statement most unsettling. In particular I wonder how many donations/contributions it
will take in order to become self-sufficient, and why individuals in the community are not marketing their trade/skill services to outlaying villages/communities on behalf - and to the benefit of - the organization.
Next,
http://lifechanyuan.org/bbs/forum.ph...extra=page%3D1
We have now total 180 residents living in our community which includes 13 kids. The age of the oldest resident is 87 while the youngest is only 3. [...] More than half of the residents are female; middle-aged are the majority, and the average age in the community is around 40.
This is the part that concerned me most significantly. I find that this dynamic - while representing only the current participation - is a recipe for disaster. Less than 10% of the village are young, and it is admitted that the significant majority is middle aged and female. This strikes me as foolish and unsustainable. How is an organization to appeal to families, professionals, etc. if the organization is one in which conventional marriage is disbanded? I certainly would have nothing to do with an organization that expects myself and my partner to disband. I'm not claiming utopian mindset though.
All this analysis grew from the observation of this -
In the three years time since the Second Home was founded, our community never had any form of attrition and confliction with our neighbors. Actually, we keep a very friendly relationship with the neighbors.
Clearly this statement is inaccurate. I am not suggesting organizational duplicity, but I guarantee there is some on an individual level. This situation with #3 and the surrounding villagers did not appear overnight.
In summary; There are a slew of auspicious claims, descriptions, assertions, and opinions available on the forum, and I recognize that many of them may be true. In all probability however, many of them are
impossible and the situation seems like it may have been
intended to fail after a unspecific amount of time. If I were you, I would get to work figuring out (as per license agreements, contracts, etc)
who stands to benefit from the whole thing collapsing because I guarantee someone is. Mind, when I say benefit I mean 'lawful/legal designated and interested party(s) to whom the proceeds/restitutions are to be remitted in the event of organizational collapse'. Mr. Yang perhaps?
Even simpler -
all con jobs involve pretense; I smell pretense. Is it a con? Maybe not, but who loses if it is, or if it is/was incompetently managed, organized, perpetuated, etc.? Naivete is no excuse.
Do those celestials get all their belongings
back?
"Trust in God, but always lock your door/car" - I read this yesterday and this is the second thread that seems applicable.
Re: A Spiritual Community in China Seeks Urgent International Help
bluefire...I went and checked out the page as well. I'm seeing, pardon the pun, red flags everywhere. (HA!)
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