Jan 06, 2025
Dr. Peggy Rowe Ward and host
Elaine Miller-Karas will explore the meaning of friendships, the
joys and sorrows that come from loving relationships, and reflect
on their nearly two decades of friendship.
Recent research indicates that
friends can strengthen our immune system, help us recover from
illness more quickly, sharpen our memory, and help us live
longer.
This knowledge reassures us of
the healing and life-extending benefits of friendships, filling us
with optimism and a sense of security.
Dr. Rowe-Ward, Co-Founder of the
Lotus Institute, will share the elements of an innovative offering
- a soul mentoring program beginning in September 2024 called Anam
Cara. Anam is Gaelic for soul, and Cara means friend, so Anam Cara
signifies a soul friend.
An Anam Cara was a person to
whom you could reveal the hidden depths of your life. This
friendship embodied recognition and belonging, transcending all
conventions and categories.
In Buddhist teachings, the
Buddha was once asked about the importance of friends on our path.
He responded that we benefit from friends who can support and
celebrate with us.
Ananda, a beloved senior student
of the Buddha, knew that having good and encouraging friends was
crucial for the path. He even wondered whether having good friends
was half the path. “No, Ananda,” the Buddha told him, “Having good
friends isn't half the Holy Life. Having good friends is the whole
of the Holy Life.”
This profound statement
underscores the transformative power of good friends in our lives,
inspiring us to seek and cherish such
relationships.
The Bible’s Proverbs also
emphasize the value of friendship: A true friend shows love, no
matter what; gives heartfelt advice, bringing joy to the heart;
rebukes when necessary, but the correction is done with love;
enlivens, influences, and sharpens; and forgives, not holding
grudges.
True friends are loyal and help
in times of need.
Join us for a lively, heartfelt
dialogue as Elaine and Peggy share their friendship
journeys.