One of the most insightful answers I have found to the question, “What is Ubuntu?” is contained in a reflection by a South African, Barbara Nussbaum, after the carnage of September 11. Her poignant literary style enlivens the concept. “Ubuntu”, she says, “is the capacity in African culture to express compassion, reciprocity, dignity, harmony and humanity in the interests of building and maintaining community with justice and mutual caring.”

Ubuntu is not just an African philosophy but a spirituality and an ethic of African traditional life. In his work, No Future Without Forgiveness, Desmond Tutu, describes a person with Ubuntu as one with self-assurance who is open, available to others and affirms them.

Even though African society has been largely eroded of this primal value, the kernel of its philosophy remains a veritable motif for the forging of global peace platform. In history, the Ubuntu spirit, whatever name it has been given, is the one that has propelled the world towards oneness in the likes of Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa of Calcutta, Oscar Romero, Desmond Tutu, Joseph Stiglitz and Nelson Mandela.

They all embodied the Ubuntu spirit in the different contexts that they lived. It is however not sufficient that the Ubuntu spirit has punctuated history; it needs to be the default consciousness of humanity if there is to be a global culture peace.

Peace is never achieved through peace treaties and agreements because there will always be loopholes to circumvent the treaties, but through a deliberate and consistent commitment to the common good in the spirit of Ubuntu.

The above is an excerpt from Ubuntu, an African culture of Human Solidarity.

http://aefjn.org/en/ubuntu-an-african-culture-of-human-solidarity-

 

Alan Watts on Ubuntu

How Can I be happy if you are Sad?

How to Be Happy: A Surprising Lesson on Happiness From an African Tribe

Inbuilt cooperation, part of the Human condition?

We are all weary Deanne . The world seems to be a hostile alien place, full of different factions fighting for control, of us, of our beautiful planet.

Sometimes in the fight for our freedoms, we may forget our ultimate goal is to be united in peace, harmony, mutual respect and ultimately love.

UBUNTU is a philosophy that may have originated in Southern Africa but it transcends race, color or creed. UBUNTU is about us, about being both totally human and at the same time recognising the spark of divinity to be found in each and every one of us.

To look into the face of your neighbour , whoever they may be and see not only yourself in just another form but also the face of God in that person .

We spend so much time looking at the lives of others whom we may feel are more privileged in some way than we are; not realising that our seemingly small lives have huge value, and in fact our small gestures of kindness and love can make the biggest differences.
We spend so much time pursuing “happiness ” and fulfillment we forget these things are found within ourselves and our unique ability to give of ourselves in love . This is where our true joy is. Loving others.

I found this and thought of” us ”
Everyday Life

Kitty ❤❤❤

Life is beautiful! 

There is more good on this earth than bad.

Remember the things that count, family, friends, a roof over your head, a warm meal shared with friends.

God in your heart