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 16^th 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.

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 4^th to 22^nd November inclusive, covering both Remembrance Day and Inter Faith Week from 15^th  to 21^st 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 4^th November in the Octagon Room in Orleans House Gallery, Riverside, Twickenham TW1 3DJ.  A selection of work remained in the main building until 22^nd November.

Mindfulness, harmony and peace are the ideals which Buddhism can bring to society. Speaking at the HFOF AGM in July 2015 Ven. Seelawimala gave the interested audience an overview of what Buddhism can offer in multi-faith Britain.  With migration and intermarriage there is now wide religious diversity in the UK and living together with tolerance and understanding is essential.  While Buddhism does not have a sense of a deity, it shares common values and ethics with other faiths.

Ven Seelawimala gave a brief history of the life of the Buddha who lived over 2600 years ago.  Buddhism was introduced to the UK towards the end of the nineteenth century and the London Buddhist Vihara in Chiswick, where he is Head Monk was established in 1926.

To help us to live harmoniously we should work to develop right speech.  We should refrain from lies; use speech in a positive way with kind words and patience.  Even when we disagree, we must not be hurtful.  We must fill our heart with love and compassion whatever the provocation.

People should think carefully before they convert to a different religion, but if they do they must be even more tolerant of their former faith. He quoted the 3^rd century BC Emperor Ashoka ‘Whosoever condemns injures his own religion.  Concord is good’.

During questions the value of mindfulness through meditation was raised.  Mediation is used now in many settings including the NHS.  Walking meditation was also mentioned where the changing process of our steps assists the process.  We were recommended to do one minute of meditation in every 59 of work.

By request the session ended with a short experience of meditation.

Over 100 people took part in a day long walk in Hounslow to encourage friendship between faiths and good community relations, making it the biggest yet. The annual Walk of Peace and Friendship organised by Hounslow Friends of Faith was joined by visitors from across London and beyond as part of Westminster Interfaith’s 30^th Multi-faith Pilgrimage.

Walkers met on Saturday 6^th June 2015 at the Laxmi Narayan Hindu temple in Neville Close at 10am, moving on to Holy Trinity in Hounslow High Street, St Michael and St Martin’s Catholic Church and Hounslow Jamia mosque. The final visit was to the Sikh Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Alice Way at 4pm. Stewarding was provided by HFOF members and volunteers from the gurdwara.

Mayor Councillor Nisar Malik joined the event.  ‘His support for engagement between communities to reduce misunderstanding is very welcome’ said Secretary of HFOF Bessie White. ‘The walk plays its part in this.  It is open to all whether members of a faith or just people interested in getting to know their neighbours.’  MPs Seema Malhotra and Ruth Cadbury also attended and spoke before the walkers set off.

A visit to a Jewish synagogue was well supported by HFOF members on 18^th March.  Hounslow Synagogue closed a few years ago, so limiting the opportunity for making contacts and sharing knowledge of the local Jewish community.

The members of the orthodox synagogue in nearby Ealing met that need and their hospitality was much appreciated.  Visitors saw the refurbished hall and were shown the scrolls of the Torah which are read through regularly throughout the year.  Differences between wording and practices of Jewish communities from different parts of Europe were explained.

The Torah is known to Christians as the first five books of the Old Testament.  Similarities were also noted to aspects of Islam, in the language, the concept and the message.

Yasmin, who is Muslim, commented ‘I was touched by the beginning message in the Torah – again the language is so similar to Arabic.  I hope and pray that we can work together to build bridges and to work towards peace building.’