The God Light News

Books For Africa

Help To Educate Children

When we heard about the appeal to help raise money to buy books to send to under privileged children in many different countries, we wanted to help. To be able to read, and to have many different books to choose from, to educate and enrich the mind. We believe reading, is not just for the privileged few, but should be available for all. Reading, opens a window into the world, from a child’s desk, he or she can explore far away places, learn about the lives of other people and raise their awareness in so many different ways.

Finally, why is reading important? Reading is important because words, spoken and written, are the building blocks of life. You are, right now, the result of words that you have heard or read AND believed about yourself. What you become in the future will depend on the words you believe about yourself now. People, families, relationships, and even nations are built from words.

We Can Help Together

Those of you who have grown up with easy access to books, cannot understand how precious they are in countries where the people are so poor, that they do not have enough to eat, let alone a decent education, or access to a library. Reading is not just a means of educating ourselves or to enable us to learn new skills and to understand what is happening in the world. It is also a magical world of literature, of poetry, of wisdom of hopes and dreams and gives us a sense of all things being possible. People need to dream and need to know that there is something better out there for them. The countries that will benefit from your help will be: Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Somalia South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine.

We need as much money as you can spare. There are lots of ways of raising money for such a worthwhile cause, fund raising within the community, not only raises awareness of the problem, but it also brings communities together. Nothing is more worthwhile, then doing something for someone else that you can all be a part of. As a group we are passionate about reading, educating the mind and helping others. I am sure that many of you out there feel exactly the same.

Education is needed to make a change, give them the tools to make the change for themselves.

Donate Or Read More: Books For Africa

Dalai Lama In Manchester England

The Dalai Lama and comedian Russell Brand formed an unlikely double act as an audience of youngsters was enlightened and entertained. Brand was master of ceremonies at Manchester Arena where the Dalai Lama addressed several thousands youngsters on the theme Century of Dialogue - Stand up and Be the Change. The funnyman-turned-movie star had said before the event that he presumed he was asked to compere proceedings because they wanted him to be funny. He did not disappoint the crowd of mainly under-25s - who were given free entry - as he also hosted a question and answer session on stage and obviously created a good impression with the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. At one point the Dalai Lama playfully tugged Brand’s beard on stage as the joker responded: “Not really a lot I can do in a situation like this. I just have to go with it.” The Dalai Lama is on a 10-day tour of Britain with a mission to spread his Buddhist teachings of peace and understanding to youngsters. Brand introduced the event by saying he had just met him for the first time and found him “amazing”. “He is intense and sort of mellow, which is what you expect of someone who meditates five times a day,” he said. Renowned for his frankness, Brand then said: “Going from junkie to Shagger of the Year…three times… to now introducing the Dalai Lama. It has been an interesting journey.” The spiritual leader was unperturbed as he revealed that he preferred informality.

Brand told how he had turned to drugs because there was something missing in his life and went on to muse if happiness could be derived from consumerism to Danny Welbeck’s winner for England against Sweden last night in the Euro 2012 tournament. “This person who introduced me is very fit,” the Dalai Lama said, “completely informal! Brand later quipped: “Did you pick up any spiritual tips?” The Dalai Lama replied: “I think your openness transfers wonderfully.” The pair went on to talk about their contrasting sleep times with the Dalai Lama arising early in the mid-morning which Brand thought was still evening. “Day is for work, night is for sleep but you can do what makes you happy,” said the Tibetan leader. “Thank you for sanctioning my lifestyle,” replied the comedian. The Dalai Lama then explained how his sleep patterns were unaffected by whatever time zone he was in, although he could not say the same for his toilet habits. Brand said: “That was more information then I imagined was possible to receive.”

The Dalai Lama said the future was in the hands of the young people who could make change happen. “The 21st century belongs to you,” he said. “My generation belongs to the 20th century, it has already gone so my generation are ready to say bye bye. “You are the main people who really create the better shape of the world so therefore I think quite certain this century can be more pleasant, more peaceful and more equal.” He said vision, warm-heartedness and determination were necessary to attain those goals and that young people were more open-minded. Dialogue was the key to avoid violent conflicts, he said. He continued: “At the age of 16 I lost my freedom. At the age of 24 I lost my own country. During these 50 or 60 years I have faced a lot of problems but I never give up hope. Hope based on truth, hope based on reason.” The Dalai Lama was asked about what message he would give to the youth of Manchester following last summer’s riots in the city. He said he was surprised to learn about the outbreaks of violence in the city and in London and had written to Prime Minister David Cameron to express his sadness.

Demonstration and protests were sometimes warranted but never violence, he said. Brand, who has been a long-term supporter of the Tibetan cause, thanked the Dalai Lama as the two-hour event drew to a close. “I have found it very inspiring and helpful,” he said. “We need to look within ourselves.” The Dalai Lama will also address young audiences at the University of Westminster, the London School of Economics and Political Science, Edinburgh Usher Hall, Caird Hall in Dundee and the Eden Court Theatre in Inverness. He will meet Tibetan, Nepalese and Mongolian Buddhist communities, religious leaders and parliamentarians at Westminster and Holyrood. The Dalai Lama was born in a small village in north-eastern Tibet and at the age of two was recognised as the incarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso, and began his monastic education when he was six. He was called upon to assume full political power over the people of Tibet at the age of 15 but was forced into exile in India after China invaded Tibet in 1949. While in exile, he has worked to restore autonomy for Tibet within the People’s Republic of China and maintained a non-violent approach to his people’s struggle.

Brand appeared to make reference during the proceedings to a spat he had with BBC chat show host Graham Norton earlier in the week. Brand was one of Norton’s guests on his chat show this week, which was aired on BBC1 last night. It emerged today that during filming a row had erupted after Norton made reference to Brand’s failed marriage to pop star Katy Perry - a scene that was axed from last night’s show. Today, during his appearance in Manchester with the Dalai Lama, Brand appeared to refer to the spat. The subject of forgiveness was addressed at one point on stage by the pair when Brand said someone had been rude to him this week.

The Dalai Lama advised forgiveness to the person even though they may have acted wrongly. Brand said: “I think the action was wrong, the person was rude. “I can forgive the human being but still resist the action?” “That is right,” replied the Dalai Lama. A spokeswoman for So Television, which produces The Graham Norton Show, said today the clip in question was axed because it was not one of the better bits of the interview.