A Synopsis of the Book by Richard Flyer
The world is on the brink — not just of a breakdown, but of a breakthrough. An exciting new book offers practical proof.
Embedded in the many crises we face as a civilization is the seed of opportunity. As obsolete structures collapse, a parallel culture is emerging. We call it Symbiotic Culture — thriving interconnected networks of intentional mutual benefit where millions of people and organizations are learning to empower themselves and bring their communities together.
And it’s already been done and is being done!
In his new book, Birthing the Symbiotic Age: An Ancient Blueprint for a New Creation, Richard Flyer explains that this is no pie-in-the-sky ideal but a feet-on-the-ground real deal. It’s based on more than 40 years of successful practical application in environments as diverse as Sri Lanka, a developing country, and “overdeveloped” western cities like Reno, Nevada.
Richard shows how to implement a grassroots “Symbiotic Society” framework that grounds individuals and communities in the intrinsic, universal principles, values, and virtues that unite us around shared community needs.
The book addresses the spiritual crisis underlying the “Culture of Separation” and offers a pathway for “spiritual climate change” that creates a “Culture of Connection.”
Birthing the Symbiotic Age provides an autobiographical and historical roadmap that outlines how we can emerge from our fragmented and conflicted social networks/silos and create sustainable, interconnected ecosystem networks consisting of local leaders, organizations, businesses, and local government — in parallel to our already established systems.
It’s not fighting, reforming, or replacing the current system. It’s about activating and connecting the healthy and functional forces inside the system to emerge above and beyond their silos to cooperate and collaborate to “Connect the Good” in their community — a new Network Commons. It’s an organic, whole-system approach that builds interwoven ecosystem networks of parallel culture, society, economy, and politics.
Birthing the Symbiotic Age outlines all the components each individual and community needs to implement and build their own Symbiotic Culture and networks. The outcome is a united humanity where local practice transforms us globally.
Richard Flyer
Richard’s journey began over 50 years ago, with 40 years of experimenting in community of one kind or another, to figure out the most relevant form of service he could offer.
At 12 years old, Richard experienced a major “spiritual awakening” that led him to become the person he is today. He met some amazing teachers along the way, including a Vietnam Veteran, a Zen mediator, an Aztec/Christian shaman, a Tibetan Buddhist Rimpoche, and finally Dr A T Ariyaratne, who founded the Sarvodaya Shramadana movement in Sri Lanka, weaving together one of the world’s largest grassroots, mass movement. Marta, his true life-mate and soul-mate has shown him unconditional love.
Richard went through 3 life phases: Formation, from 1971-1991, building inner character and values, guided by teachers; Application, from 1991-2022, putting into action what he learned; and now he is in Activation, being available globally to support local bioregions in their own empowerment, to build a new society as local communities collectively envision them.
He is now launching Symbiotic Culture Lab globally, to support local bioregions who want to learn how to practice symbiotic culture and build symbiotic networks and communities. He continues to write stories and create videos of our emerging new world.
