Philip is the Co-Director of Individual Giving from Search for Common Ground, an international organization dedicated to transforming the way the world deals with conflict – away from adversarial approaches and towards collaborative problem solving. Philip has over 18 years of experience in international development and peacebuilding. His own spiritual journey began in the bush of Sierra Leone, West Africa, where he served with the Peace Corps. It is through a daily meditation practice that has helped him deal with the harsh realities of war-torn countries across Africa. He has worked intermittently as a freelance writer, publishing in the Washington Post, several magazines and the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
“Rare is the man who walks in this troubled world, his heart anchored in Divine Consciousness. Storyteller, poet and peace maker, Philip Hellmich celebrates the power of spiritual principles in the quest for global social transformation. His presentation is just superb.”
– Patricia Aburdene, author, Megatrends 2010: The Rise of Conscious Capitalism
Title of UFCSH talk: “The Search for Common Ground: Applying Spiritual Principles to Transform Conflict”
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
In this presentation, Philip Hellmich explores common principles between the world’s great spiritual traditions and the emerging field of conflict transformation. He gives practical examples of how spiritual principles are being applied to transform conflict in difficult places around the world. His stories are both personal and universal, linking inner transformation with the global shift in consciousness needed to address complex issues like global warming and poverty. Our ability to find creative solutions to personal, national and international issues depends on our capacity to handle conflict. He teaches universal principles and practices of responding to conflict based on Search for Common Ground’s practical experience around the world. It is for people who want to examine and transform conflict in their own lives; to understand the parallel between personal and global interactions; to deepen one’s spiritual practice regardless of his or her religious background and, to learn about Search for Common Ground’s role in the world.