FDCW Essential Education

The Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW) is a new international organization set up in 2005. Its aim is to take forward the vision of Lama Yeshe, the founder of the FPMT, for 'a new kind of education for the world'.

	In Buddhism we have an incredible arrangement: universal education from beginning at birth up until death, as an old person. I feel these things could be put into a universal language. Give up religion, give up Buddhism. Go beyond the Buddhism. Essential aspect of the philosophy put into the scientific language. This I feel is my aim. Reality changes, if you change your vision of reality. Knowing yourself - your psychology, your physical condition - this is universal education. In my opinion, we can communicate these things in a common, universal language. Every nation, culture, religion, and philosophy already has a heritage of wisdom. We can use this wisdom to create a universal education.
–Lama Thubten Yeshe

FDCW will contribute to peace in the world by introducing and sustaining 'Essential Education' (EE) to help individuals develop their capacity to be kind and wise.

EE consists of tools and programs which can be used by everyone, irrespective of culture, race, religion, gender, age or sexual orientation. In common with science, EE is based on logical reasoning and encourages us all to use our direct experience to check up on reality. It is dynamic and flexible, incorporating creative arts and simple awareness training.

The defining characteristic of EE is that it encourages a more profound understanding of the nature of the mind, and of its power to shape the way we live and relate to others. This understanding naturally leads to ethical values such as kindness, forgiveness, tolerance, respect and joyfulness.

Although the original inspiration for EE comes from Buddhist philosophy and psychology, its ultimate aim is to transcend any single system of thought.

The forerunner of EE was 'Universal Education', originally launched at a conference in Italy in 1982. Since that time, numerous educators and facilitators have been putting Lama Yeshe's work into practice around the world, and are now joining forces in support of FDCW. They include the schools Maitreya Project school in Bodh Gaya, India www.maitreyaeducation.org, Tara Redwood School in California www.tararedwoodschool.org, family camps such as Universal Education Italy www.padmanet.com/ue, leadership programmes such as the Karuna Group www.thekarunagroup.com, and healing projects such as www.thelamponthepath.org.

Current FDCW projects include the development of: the '16 Guidelines for a Happy Life'; a philosophical knowledge base that will underpin all its activities; an EE training and professional development program; and an interactive website for everyone who wants to be part of this exciting initiative. There are now over 600 FDCW network members worldwide and materials are being translated into French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. More information is available at www.essential-education.org

Loving Kindness Peaceful Youth is an international peace organization for young people with a mission to create space for young people to engage in developing peace for themselves, their communities and the world as a whole.