Structure

It needs to be remembered by prospective members that Nasalam is a monastic spiritual community founded by the Order of Melchizedek. It may be an unorthodox one in many ways, but it is a spiritual community and the organizing structure is that of the priesthood. It is not a democracy. It does not work by consensus, though the opinions of all members are weighed. All members can, of course, become part of that priesthood should they choose to follow that course of study and growth.

Routine

Despite the fact that this is a spiritual community it is not our goal to force members to accept some particular doctrine or creed. Our primary concern is with how people live together, and an important part of that is our daily <routine>.

Membership

Membership in the community of Nasalam is easier than some other communities and more demanding than some because of the unique work planned for the community.

New residents are automatically on a 90-day trial period during which their fitness for the community will be assessed, just as they will be assessing whether they want to be part of the community. During this time they will be expected to stay at the community as they remove themselves from the outside world and adjust to community life. This time can be utilized to examine past patterns, end habits and addictions, and prepare for a life oriented toward personal and spiritual growth. As part of that assessment they will be given the Rule of the Order that governs how members must act in every aspect of their daily life. At the end of this period they may be accepted as probationary members of the community.

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Nasalam also has Associate Members, who are individuals living outside Nasalam who wish to have some sort of committed relationship to the community. For a minimum contribution of $100 annually they receive Nasalam's journal and may visit the community as a guest for one week. Contributions totaling $1000 makes the individual a Lifetime Associate Member.

And now the bugaboo of all communities......

Finances

Irrespective of the type of political organization and the method of food production, irrespective of whether society is socially stratified or unstratified, democratic or monarchical, or whether the food-economy is that of the food-gatherer, the hunter-fisher, the agriculturist or the pastoral-nomad, all aboriginal peoples accept the theory that every human being has the inalienable right to an irreducible minimum, consisting of adequate food, shelter and clothing. This irreducible minimum is an attribute of life on a par with the biological attributes of life. Being alive signifies not only that blood is coursing through a man's body but that he obtains the wherewithal to keep it coursing. Nowhere, let me repeat, does there exist a surplus of food or goods accumulated either by the community or by an individual with the specific object of disposing of it at a personal profit to himself, and nowhere have the essential and fundamental types of property developed which we, in our civilization, regard is inseparably connected with the concept of personal and individual ownership.

-- Paul Radin "The World of Primitive Man"

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In both traditional monastic communities and egalitarian communities it is the ideal that all property is owned by the community and all income received by members is shared equally with the entire community. That is an ideal that Nasalam has always believed in. Agreement on this must be reached before the individual can become a full member.

Once the trial period has passed new members will be expected to rid themselves of all belongings (except some personal items), either by giving them to the community or making other arrangements for them. We take this very seriously - if you can't part with it, find someplace away from the community to store it. The same principle holds true for any income received while a member of the community - it must be given to the community for the common good.

Now, having said all that, we also recognize that individuals have differing circumstances and we are always willing to work to accommodate individual needs. Each member has their own relationship to the community.

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People bring different things to community - some have substancial monetary resources, others have work skills; some have artistic ability, others are healers. Each individual is unique and brings their own special capabilities to the community. The Order of Melchizedek teaches that we accept them as equals and welcome their diverse gifts to the community.