Education in compassion and peace

I am glad to learn that the Federal University of Pampa (UNIPAMPA) in Brazil is organizing two important International Seminars on Compassion and Peace for teacher training, Undergraduate Students and Teachers.

In particular, I am encouraged to learn that you are bringing together school teachers, undergraduate students, professors, school principals, and the general public from the Americas to discuss how to introduce peace education as well as cultivation of compassion in schools. Teaching young people about compassion is one of the most important things we can do for them and for the future of humanity. Real and meaningful change must begin within, in the heart; however, in modern education there is no adequate attention paid to this important matter of educating the heart.

Through bringing awareness and teaching skills to train and apply the mind, and through connecting with our shared humanity, children can appreciate the value of compassion and kindness. In fact research studies demonstrate that compassion — caring for others, and connecting with others through shared humanity — is the key even to one’s own personal wellbeing. Being kind and compassionate also fits well with our human body, whereas anger, fear and distrust are harmful even to our physical health. So just as we learn the importance of physical hygiene for physical health, emotional hygiene is critical for our mental wellbeing.

For some decades now, I have been calling upon modern education systems to take serious note of the need for ‘education of the heart,’ in addition to helping to educate the brain of our younger generation. It is an unfortunate fact that many of the problems and violence we see around us are not only man-made, but created often by educated people. This shows that we also need to urgently take steps to stress for the education of inner values, such as warm heartedness and sense of oneness of humanity. I believe it is through bringing education of the heart in all our schools by teaching core human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. These are the foundation for a happy and peaceful world. I feel that even people who have no religious belief can benefit if they incorporate these human values into their lives.

I hope that the participants in the two conferences will consider these issues and recommend ways on incorporating instruction in compassion and warmheartedness in our education system.

With my prayers and good wishes,

7 April 2025