Constitution of the Federation of Damanhur

Damanhur is a school of thought founded by Oberto Airaudi and inspired by his teachings: it is expressed through the three bodies called Meditation, Game of Life, and Social. They represent respectively ritual tradition; experimentation and dynamics; and the social realization of such teachings.

The aims of Damanhur are: the freedom and re-awakening of the Human Being as a divine, spiritual, and material principle; the creation of a self-sustaining model of life based on ethical principles of good communal living and love; harmonic integration and co-operation with all the Forces linked to the evolution of Humankind.

The Constitution is the fundamental Charter regulating the Social Body, formed by Damanhur’s citizens.

Damanhurian citizens dedicate their life to the application of the principles and aims indicated in the Constitution, and they make a commitment to respect and apply it in all its norms.

The act of becoming a citizen takes different forms, corresponding to the choice and commitment of the individual.

The Communities represent the ideal form of union and communal living. They are inspired by principles of solidarity and sharing. The Communities as a whole are organized as a Federation.

Communities belonging to different schools of thought may affiliate with the Federation, even though they do not originate from Damanhur’s school of thought, as long as they are inspired by the same aims.

Out of the creation of a Tradition, a Culture, a History, and common ethics, the People is born.

1. The citizens are brothers and sisters who help one another through reciprocal trust, respect, clarity, acceptance, solidarity, and continuous inner transformation. Everyone is committed to always giving others opportunities to aim higher.

2. Each citizen makes a commitment to spread positive and harmonious thoughts and to direct every thought and action towards spiritual growth. Each person is socially and spiritually responsible for every action they take, as everybody is aware that each act is multiplied and reflected through the Synchronic Lines all over the world.

3. Through community life, Damanhur aims at developing individuals whose reciprocal relations are regulated by Knowledge and Consciousness. Fundamental rules of life are common sense, thinking well of others, and the welcoming and exaltation of diversity.

4. Work has spiritual value and is understood as a gift of oneself to others. Through it everyone takes part in the material and spiritual progress of the people, carrying out assignments as they become necessary. Each citizen offers a proportion of their work in activities of common interest (Terrazzatura). Every task is precious and carries the same dignity.

5. Those who take on roles of social responsibility carry out their tasks in a spirit of service, without looking for personal advantage or serving the private interests of others. Only Citizens residing in the Communities may be elected or nominated for positions of social responsibility, in the forms and modes provided for by the federal laws.

6. Spirituality, research, and ecology inspire all relationships with the environment, also through the use of appropriate technologies, useful in improving the quality of life. Every Citizen lives in communion with nature and the subtle forces which inhabit it. Everyone is committed to respect and preserve resources and avoid, as far as possible, forms of pollution and waste.

7. Each Citizen respects their own body, takes care of it ,and nourishes it harmoniously, refraining from any form of substance abuse. Citizens put into practice rules of life suitable for harmonious physical, mental, and spiritual development; they ensure the orderliness and cleanliness of their environment. Each individual is expected to be capable of self-control, of making mature choices, and of manifesting purity in thought and action.

8. Damanhur promotes and supports research both in science and art; it fosters and encourages continual experimentation of both the physical and the non-physical, as long as it is expressed in a harmonious form. All Citizens constantly improve their education and widen and deepen their knowledge in the fields of research, art, work, and leisure activities.

9. The People is a single body in constant evolution, the organic sum of all the single individualities; it holds and synthesizes all the experiences, thoughts, and feelings expressed within itself and makes them a common cultural, ethical, and spiritual wealth.

10. Damanhurian citizens contribute with their own resources, their work, and in every way to their own economic maintenance and to that of the whole Federation. Communal funds participate in investments of general interest, in harmony with the principle of solidarity. Individuals who leave the People may not make any financial claims against, and have no right to be reimbursed by the People.

11. Those Citizens, residing in the Communities, who wish to engage in a recognized relationship as a couple, make a public announcement to their fellow Citizens. The couple, by means of a public ceremony, commit themselves to establish a union that is solid and useful to the community. Damanhur’s citizens choose to plan the birth of children.

12. All citizens educate children in order to encourage them to become autonomous and free individuals, giving them all the necessary instruments to express and develop their own characteristics, applying common pedagogical guidelines. All resident citizens participate in the education of children, and in their care and maintenance.

13. Whosoever wishes to become a citizen of Damanhur must present a written request outlining their reasons. If the applicant possesses the basic qualities to become a Citizen, the person will be allowed to begin the probationary period. During this period the applicants agree upon how they will participate in Community life. They are expected to observe this Charter and other Community rules. The request for admission will be accepted only after the applicant has demonstrated a knowledge of the principles and cultural heritage of the People. This is called the ‘Concession of Citizenship’.

14. An individual will cease to belong to the population by withdrawal or by exclusion. If serious cases of misconduct make it impossible to continue the relationship, the decision to exclude can be made only after giving the individual in question the possibility to exercise their defense.

15. The highest authority of Damanhur is represented by the Re Guidas. They guarantee a constant pursuance of the ideal aims and spiritual goals in every manifestation of social life, supervising the three Bodies. They direct and co-ordinate all choices and emanate laws on those subjects of interest to all Damanhurian citizens. They are periodically elected by the members of the body of Meditation according to the rules determined within it. The unanimous opinion of the Guides is binding for every individual, group, or organization of the People. In serious cases of need or emergency, they may adopt any kind of measure or procedure.

16. Within the People, any group of two or more resident Citizens, who have a socially useful function, may obtain recognition. A Group is a new entity formed from the interaction among different and complementary individuals. Therefore it develops a greater ability to confront and propose, in relation to its aims.

17. The functions regarding control of the observance of the regulations are carried out by the College of Justice. Every Citizen has to respect its decisions. The College of Justice may suspend and annul the illegitimate acts issued by other bodies of the People. It instructs and defines disciplinary procedures in cases of violation of Constitutional norms. It carries out functions of appeal in case of disciplinary procedures emanated by other bodies in the modes and forms provided for by the federal laws. Any controversy whatsoever among citizens and between citizens and Damanhur and its bodies will be subject, with the exclusion of any other jurisdiction, to the competence of the College of Justice, which will judge fairly, without formality of procedure and its ruling will be final.

18. Those citizens, who choose to live together, organize themselves into communities. Every community has its own territory, its own population and autonomy within the forms and limits established by the federal laws. Each community aims at reaching complete self-sufficiency, and its population must not exceed 200/220 individuals. The provisions relating to the organization, administration, functioning of each community, and the coordination of its activities, are adopted by the periodically elected local Government. The Community may set up bodies and put forward any rules that it regards necessary to function better, having regard to the Tradition and to the superior interests of the whole population. All citizens of Damanhur commit themselves to respect the laws of each community, when they are present on its territory. The citizens residing in Damanhurian communities, and those who are present in a territory recognized as Damanhurian by an act of the Guides, do not smoke, do not abuse alcohol, and do not use drugs.

19. Communities or groups inspired by principles and aims compatible with those expressed in this Charter can affiliate with the Federation of Damanhur. The modalities of affiliation with the Federation are established by the Re Guidas.

20. The norms of execution of the present Charter must not contain measures that are contrary to it. The discipline of all the matters relating to the whole population is carried out by means of Laws which must be observed by all the citizens. Any revision of rules contained in this Charter is to be approved by those who belong to the body of Meditation, according to rules decided within it. In every case where the interpretation of the existing norms is questioned, the resolution is adopted by the Guides, expressed according to the principles of the Tradition, after having consulted the College of Justice.

~Damanhur 14 December XXIV 1998

reprinted with permission in "Damanhur: The Story of the Extraordinary Italian Artistic and Spiritual Community" by Jeff Merrifield pp. 105-108.

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