iBAM, A Living Framework for Movement Building and the Movements of Light, Love, and Planetary Dharma

By Shen Tong (Or simply Shen, short for Shenanigans)
14Jul25

Infrastructure, Base-Building, Action, Messaging — a Dharmic compass for collective awakening

iBAM is a distilled, field-tested methodology for building transformative, soul-aligned movements. It emerged from Shen Tong's decades of organizing—from 1980s student uprisings to the crucible of Occupy Wall Street. iBAM stands for infrastructure, Base-building, Action, and Messaging.

1. Base-Building (B)
Every enduring movement begins with the cultivation of community. Base-building is the slow, soulful work of fostering relational trust, shared learning, and aligned vision. It draws from resource mobilization theory (McCarthy & Zald, 1977) and is exemplified by historic spaces like the Highlander Folk School, where political consciousness and community bonds were forged together.

In Shen Tong’s path, the 2020s marked a convergence of spiritual awakening and base-building—where the inner compass of equanimity, joy, and playful purpose became the true orientation of external organizing. This “inside-out” approach grounds movement builders in a quiet strength that is not shaken by the volatility of outer circumstances. In this way, inner stillness becomes not retreat, but root system—anchoring the often turbulent dance of doing.
* Practices: Deep listening, political education, ritual gathering, decentralized organizing
* Examples: Sunrise Movement chapters, Zapatista community councils, Indigenous land-back assemblies

2. Action (A)
Action catalyzes public attention and shifts consciousness. Drawing from Tilly’s repertoire of contention and Piven’s theory of disruptive power, action makes the invisible visible.

* Forms: Direct action, sacred protest, occupation, global meditation
* Examples: Gandhi’s Salt March, Standing Rock, XR’s regenerative rebellion

3. Messaging (M)
Narrative is the membrane of the movement. Messaging weaves emotion, metaphor, and culture. It leverages Lakoff’s framing theory and tools from culture jamming and digital storytelling.

* Approaches: Memes, songs, symbols, mythos, press strategy
* Examples: "We Are the 99%", #MeToo, Water is Life

4. infrastructure (i)
The lowercase “i” signals that infrastructure must emerge organically. It follows BAM. Drawing from Ostrom’s commons theory and adaptive governance models, this phase brings enduring support structures without rigidifying the soul.

* Forms: Trusts, DAOs, community land co-ops, legal scaffolds, media platforms
* Examples: Movement-based co-ops; spiritual tech networks; land sanctuaries

iBAM and the Movements of Light, Love, and Planetary Dharma
iBAM is not just strategy—it is a Dharmic compass for collective awakening. In the era of eco-crisis, AI disruption, and civilizational bifurcation, soul-aligned movements must operate across both the spiritual and political planes.

This is not simply activism—it is sacred world-building.

(DM me for references)