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Today, 30th of July, is The International Day of Friendship.
Sharing the human spirit through friendship
Photo: uniquenewsonline.com
‘Our world faces many challenges, crises and forces of division — such as poverty, violence, and human rights abuses — among many others — that undermine peace, security, development and social harmony among the world's peoples.
To confront those crises and challenges, their root causes must be addressed by promoting and defending a shared spirit of human solidarity that takes many forms — the simplest of which is friendship.
Through friendship — by accumulating bonds of camaraderie and developing strong ties of trust — we can contribute to the fundamental shifts that are urgently needed to achieve lasting stability, weave a safety net that will protect us all, and generate passion for a better world where all are united for the greater good...’- United Nations, International Day of Friendship, 30 July
A Heart-felt Thanks to All Those Who Have Inspired Me
“Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.”- Helen Keller
“Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.”- Aristotle
“The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson
"The circle of friendship is a place of warmth and caring where people come together for listening and sharing. A place of kindness and trust, a place of tears and laughter too. I'm glad to share that circle with a special friend like you."- Beth Stuckwisch
These beautiful and inspiring quotes very much resonate with me and are at the heart of my thanksgiving today.
‘What is Happiness? What is Friendship?
Angels in our life...Our Friends
“Friendship dances around the world announcing to all of us that we must wake up to blessedness.”
- The Vatican Collection of Epicurean Sayings
Photo: Pinterest
For me, one of the main paths to true happiness and joy is to have great friends, to be able to mentor them, to observe them and learn from them, to share stories with them, to be stretched and challenged by them, and above all, through them to reach out towards the ultimate friend, the unconditional one, when and where, healing and the truest life begins.
The world of mystical awareness is awesome indeed, when a human being can become a field of love, compassion, generosity, playfulness and hope. A true friend and a great friendship is the path to this mystical awareness, discovery and journey.
It is in this spirit that I wish to give thanks on this International Day of Friendship to all of those who have inspired, enabled and empowered me to be who I am and what I do. It is an impossible task to acknowledge them all personally. I am, forever, conscious of the debt that I owe them all, most of them went on to join the Advisory Board of the GCGI and/or also act as the GCGI Senior Ambassadors.
Once again, thank you my friends, the sources of my inspiration and strength. I cannot tell you enough how grateful I am to you all.
Friendship for ever,
In gratitude,
Kamran
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A World Guided by Wisdom is the sure path to a Life Full of Meaning.
"Where is the Life we have lost in living?
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?"-T.S. Eliot
'Knowledge Comes But Wisdom Lingers.'
Lack of wisdom is the beginning of all evil and the downfall of all civilisations. We need wisdom in all we do in our entire life endeavors.
Wisdom enables and empowers us to imagine better, a better life, a better world.
Photo: The School of Life
The Key that Unlocks the Path to Enlightenment is Wisdom
‘We can distinguish between two different types of learning: knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is akin to information: facts, figures, dates and theories. Wisdom, meanwhile, is a synthesis of information and experience that helps us understand the meaning and purpose of existence. If knowledge answers questions such as ‘When was the battle of Hastings?’ or ‘How do I make a cheese souffle?’, wisdom tackles those such as ‘What is the meaning of life?’ and ‘What exactly do I need to be happy?’
The key difference between the two comes down to time. It might take us a week to become knowledgeable in a certain subject, but a whole lifetime to become wise. Yet, though we frequently forget the knowledge we have learned, we never forget what we have gained through wisdom. Whereas knowledge is specific - relevant only within a particular context or discipline - wisdom is timeless. The understanding it provides has always been, and will always be, relevant, since it gives us nothing less than the secret of how to live.’- Continue to explore more: What Is Philosophy For?
Photo: Lawrence Lew Flickr
The Greek word ‘philosophy’, literally translated, means love of (philo) wisdom (sofia). This is why philosophy has always been central to all we do at the GCGI: its ethos and insights give us a timeless understanding of human life and how it should be lived.
See below a selection of the postings from our GCGI website to find out more, and read on philosophical ideas and great thinkers that can help you gain wisdom that can last a lifetime.
Composing a New Life: In Praise of Wisdom
In the World of Spiritual Hunger We Need Philosophy
What did great philosophers Mill, Bentham, Locke and Berkeley have in common?
Theology, Philosophy, Ethics, Spirituality and Economics: A Call to Dialogue
What if Universities Taught KINDNESS?
How Much is Enough? Money and the Good Life
Are You Still Searching for Happiness?
Why Happiness Should be Taught at Our Universities
In this troubled world let the beauty of nature and simple life be our greatest teachers
What is Money? Is it Money Money Money, Must be funny?
In these troubled times let us be ordinary and enjoy the simple pleasures of life
Why a Simple Life Matters: The Path to peace and happiness lies in the simple things in life
Simplicity: it’s our true guide to a better life
Time or Money: Which one is the path to a happier life?
Wouldn’t the world be a better place with a bit more kindness? Harnessing the Economics of Kindness
The beauty of living simply: the forgotten wisdom of William Morris
Finding sanctuary in poetry during lockdown
On the 250th Birthday of William Wordsworth Let Nature be our Wisest Teacher
Nature the Best Teacher: Re-Connecting the World’s Children with Nature
It’s All in The Mind: Focus on Mental Health
A Must Read Book about how Adam Smith can change your life for better
The Sweetness of Being Human: ‘We have all of us one human heart.’
The Damning Impact of a Toxic Philosophy on America: The Tragedy of Ayn Rand
Three Cheers for Moral Philosophy and Down with Economics as a Science
...And finally, lest we forget
This is the Path to Make the World Great Again: A Path Envisioned with Hope, Wisdom and Imagination
Illustration: Nathalie Lees/The Guardian
To reverse the current destructive path of valueless education, which values knowledge over wisdom, we need a different model of education and we need a different economic value and economy. However, these are not possible to achieve so long as The Fraudulent Ideology reins supreme. Full stop. Carpe Diem!
Why Love, Trust, Respect and Gratitude Trumps Economics
Nature the Best Teacher: Re-Connecting the World’s Children with Nature
On the 250th Birthday of William Wordsworth Let Nature be our Wisest Teacher …
And These are My Ten Steps to Make the World Great Again
And this can happen when education is all about knowledge and information and has nothing to do with wisdom!!
Brexit, Trump and the failure of our universities to pursue wisdom …
Britain today and the Bankruptcy of Ideas, Vision and Values-less Education
My recommended book of Wisdom that will change you and your understanding of what Education is or it should be forever.
Wisdom and the Well-Rounded Life: What Is a University?
'Reflecting on the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom in higher education and in life, this thoughtful treatise considers the roots and philosophical underpinnings of university education. Examining such subjects as philosophy, science, nature, art, religion, and finding one's place in the world, Peter Milward shares his sage thoughts on obtaining a well-rounded base of knowledge.'
Read the Foreword and more details about What is a University HERE
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Rethinking Our Approach to Economic, Social and Environmental Justice:
The Time is Now for a Visionary Leadership
“We need urgent action now, to recover better from Covid-19, to confront injustice and inequality, and address climate disruption.
We have seen young people on the front lines of climate action, showing us what bold leadership looks like.”-
UN secretary general, António Guterres.- Photo: UN News
UN calls on youth activists to advise on climate crisis and Covid-19 recovery*
Seven young people will take on roles to “provide perspectives, ideas and solutions”
- Thank you New Zealand for your humanity welcoming Behrouz who had no friends but the mountains
- Dear Mr. Trump This is How to Make America Great Again
- World in Chaos and Despair: The Healing Power of Gardens
- If you want to know the truth about Brexit, Trump, and the rise of Populism, then you must see this!
- The Mother of all Heists: ‘The Neoliberal Looting of America’