Emotional Intelligence and Happiness. Where does faith fit in?
filed in Event on 26 Oct 2015
What gives meaning to our lives and brings real happiness? The answer seems to be belonging to and offering service to something bigger than oneself. Being part of a group, particularly one with values such as a faith group can be the solution. This argument formed the basis of a talk given in Hounslow on 16th November during Inter Faith Week by Dr Vijay Rana.
Dr Rana referred to a 2011 Gallup poll in the US which showed that people are most happy and content when they have social connection. Quoting the work of psychologist Professor Seligman, he recommended cultivating positive emotions. Trivial pleasures are only temporary. True happiness will come from our attitude, monitoring our feelings and being in control, of our senses, our minds and our speech – a strong link to Buddhism here. The other inspiration referred to by Dr Rana was the Hindu Bhadavad-Gita. This teaches how much we are driven by our senses. It is good to remember that over our senses is our mind and above that comes our intellect. This can help us regain control and achieve well being.
Dr Rana is editor of the magazine Health and Happiness 4 You and author of ‘Mahatma Gandhi: Images and Ideas for Non-violence’. He worked for the BBC World Service for 25 years and still writes for the Indian English language daily, the Indian Express.
The talk was followed by a social and refreshments. The photograph shows Vijay Rana being thanked by HFOF committee member Basil Mann.
Peace and Remembrance
filed in Event on 26 Oct 2015
Children from three primary schools in Richmond presented artwork for an exhibition on Peace and Remembrance during November.
Coordinated by Hounslow Friends of Faith and Richmond SACRE, (Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education) the children from The Queen’s, Darrell and Archdeacon Cambridge primary schools staged an exhibition using local stories of conflict, remembrance, peace-making and citizenship during the First World War.
The exhibition was based at Orleans House Gallery in Twickenham, thanks to a generous grant from Richmond’s Civic Pride fund. It ran for from 4th to 22nd November inclusive, covering both Remembrance Day and Inter Faith Week from 15th to 21st November.
Charanjit Ajit Singh, Chair of Hounslow Friends of Faith, a member of both Richmond and Hounslow SACRE and also Vice Chair of Richmond Inter Faith Forum, said: “the project helped the children learn about the impact of conflict on families and on refugees and how they can use this understanding to work towards peace in their school and community”.
During WW1 refugees from Belgium lived for a time in East Twickenham.
The exhibition was launched on 4th November in the Octagon Room in Orleans House Gallery, Riverside, Twickenham TW1 3DJ. A selection of work remained in the main building until 22nd November.