UBUNTU - email from Karalledda

This word was intoduced to me by a dear medical colleague and friend of nearly half a century. Thought of sharing with you as I was ignorant and the concept was very dear to me. Keep well, Lakshman

UBUNTU. I 'd like to introduce you to this word. I'ts a Bantu word meaning--

" I am I because you are you"

Desmond Tutu explains.

A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, based from a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed.

"One of the sayings in our country (Africa) is Ubuntu – the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can't exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can't be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality – Ubuntu – you are known for your generosity. We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole World. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity."

PS By Philip G V -

'Windows' software was having a hey day raking in millions on licensing fees and having a monopoly on the industry. A group of developers in Europe launched a software meant to be distributed and shared free. It was named 'UBUNTU' the name borrowed from Africa. Today Android Software is surging ahead with its philosophy of free distribution, sharing and development. You can see the results of this philosophy.

We are standing on the shoulders of giants who pioneered our paths in science. To take one man's or group of men's achievement and not share it with your fellow beings is simply not done.

I read a book titled 'Psychic discoveries behind the Iron Curtain' by Shiela Ostrander. An experiment by Soviet scientists of that era was cited. A mother of a litter of mice was separated from its offspring. The off spring was well cared for and was sent on a submarine to the Arctic. The mother had biological monitoring of its heart and brain by ECG and EEG. The Captain of the submarine was ordered to kill each member of the litter at unspecified intervals and note the time of death of each member of the litter. The scientists in the Soviet Union were able to match the time of killing of each member of the litter with matching ECG and EEG changes in the mother.

All the life forms in this planet are interconnected. Life on the planet is like a multi-nucleated organism. What affects another life form affects me. This is what the great English poet John Donne wrote more than four centuries ago:-

John Donne (1572 - 1631)

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manner of thine own
Or of thine friend’s were.
Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.