![\"Scientology](\"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/images\/21-0729s2p-cos-open-house-696x522.jpg\")
PHOTO CAPTION: Scientology Churches hold open house events and forums featuring \u201cThe Way to Happiness\u201d and its application in society.<\/em><\/p>\n
In observing this UN Day, Scientologists share two precepts from\u00a0\u201cThe Way to Happiness,\u201d the common-sense moral code written by L. Ron Hubbard, that hold the key to lasting friendships:<\/p>\n
- \n
- \u201cTry not to do things to others that you would not like them to do to you<\/a>,\u201d and<\/li>\n
- \u201cTry to treat others as you would want them to treat you<\/a>.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u201cAmong many peoples in many lands for many ages there have been versions of what is called \u2018The Golden Rule,\u2019\u201d wrote Mr. Hubbard. \u201cThe philosophic question concerning\u00a0wrongdoing,\u00a0the argument of what is wrong is answered at once on a personal basis: Would you not like that to happen to you? No? Then it must be a harmful action and, from society\u2019s viewpoint, a wrong action. It can awaken social consciousness. It can then let one work out what one should do and what one should not do.\u201d<\/p>\n
As to the second and\u00a0positive\u00a0version of the rule, \u201cOne can get into a lot of conflicting opinions and confusions about what \u2018good behavior\u2019 might be,\u201d\u00a0Mr. Hubbard wrote.\u00a0\u201cIf one were to think over how he or she would like to be treated by others, one would evolve the human virtues. Just figure out how you would want people to treat\u00a0you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The full text of these precepts, available on the website of\u00a0The Way to Happiness Foundation<\/a>, provide know-how for an individual wishing to implement the guidelines personally or take them up with others to help them salvage or enhance interpersonal relationships.<\/p>\n
Putting these and the other 19 precepts of\u00a0\u201cThe Way to Happiness\u201d\u00a0into action has everything to do with the purpose of International Friendship Day, because, as Mr. Hubbard points out:<\/p>\n
\u201cAside from personal benefit, one can take a hand, no matter how small, in beginning a new era for human relations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pebble, dropped in a pool, can make ripples to the furthest shore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scientology Churches mark International Friendship Day with open house events and forums where they share successful application of\u00a0\u201cThe Way to Happiness\u201d\u00a0in addressing issues of importance to the community. They also reach out with\u00a0\u201cThe Way to Happiness\u201d\u00a0information stands and distribution events to share the booklet and its wealth of knowledge.<\/p>\n
An interactive timeline on the Scientology website documents how the\u00a0Church of Scientology Kansas City<\/a> and local community activists used \u201cThe Way to Happiness\u201d in\u00a0Peace Rides<\/a>, based on the effectiveness of\u00a0Peace Rides in Los Angeles<\/a>. The KC team\u00a0distributed\u00a0\u201cThe Way to Happiness\u201d\u00a0to promote a climate of unity and peace, counter violence and reverse the city\u2019s climbing homicide rate. In honor of the event, Kansas City rapper and recording artist Kodde One wrote the anthem \u201cHold Yo\u2019 Head High<\/a>\u201d to help spread the booklet\u2019s message of brotherhood throughout the city.<\/p>\n
Other examples of the impact of\u00a0\u201cThe Way to Happiness\u201d\u00a0are featured on the Scientology Network in episodes of the\u00a0original series\u00a0Voices for Humanity<\/a>,\u00a0which spotlights the work of humanitarians using the booklet to address societal needs.<\/p>\n
These episodes include the work of:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Father Teddy Sichinga, who uses\u00a0\u201cThe Way to Happiness<\/a>\u201dto empower poverty-stricken farmers and villagers in Zambia;<\/li>\n
- Diana Pedroni<\/a>, who\u00a0in partnership with the director of National Prevention and Citizen Security in the Dominican Republic, distributed the booklet throughout the country resulting in a 21 percent drop in crime;<\/li>\n
- Rosalba and Jos\u00e9 Cordero<\/a>and their Social Development and Recovery of Values Association, who not only educate young people with these precepts in schools, they also bring the program to inmates across Mexico\u2019s entire prison system resulting in 99 percent of their graduates living lives free of crime.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Those using\u00a0\u201cThe Way to Happiness\u201d\u00a0in their communities share rave reviews of its effectiveness:<\/p>\n
\u201cI firmly believe that\u00a0\u201cThe Way to Happiness\u201d\u00a0can change the perspective of many people to life and difficult situations that arise in it,\u201d writes the coordinator of social rehabilitation and rehabilitation center for young offenders.<\/p>\n
\u201cExtremely motivating and inspiring. Moreover, in this world of intolerance and violence, the messages of peace and sharing can bring about a change in the world,\u201d wrote a teacher.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo precepts really took my daughter\u2019s interest,\u201d wrote a parent. \u201c\u2018Be Industrious\u2019 and \u2018Flourish and Prosper.\u2019 She never looked back after that and has since carried a seemingly unkillable momentum and spirit about life. I have no doubt what started her turnaround. It was\u00a0\u2018The Way to Happiness\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information on\u00a0\u201cThe Way to Happiness,\u201d\u00a0contact your local\u00a0Church of Scientology<\/a>\u00a0or visit the website of\u00a0The Way to Happiness Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The Founder of the Scientology religion is\u00a0L. Ron Hubbard<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Mr. David Miscavige<\/a>\u00a0is the religion\u2019s ecclesiastical leader.<\/p>\n
MEDIA CONTACT: mediarelations@churchofscientology.net<\/a><\/p>\n
- Diana Pedroni<\/a>, who\u00a0in partnership with the director of National Prevention and Citizen Security in the Dominican Republic, distributed the booklet throughout the country resulting in a 21 percent drop in crime;<\/li>\n
- \u201cTry to treat others as you would want them to treat you<\/a>.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![https:\/\/www.Send2Press.com\/300dpi\/21-0729s2p-cos-open-house-300dpi.jpg<\/a><\/p>\nCaption: Scientology Churches hold open house events and forums featuring \u201cThe Way to Happiness\u201d and its application in society.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LOS ANGELES, Calif., July 29, 2021 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Church of Scientology International extends an invitation to people of goodwill to join Scientology Churches and Missions in support of International Day of Friendship, a United Nations initiative that promotes “friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals” and seeks to “inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8949,"featured_media":73857,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[608,12804,10,187,56],"tags":[16569,16570],"class_list":["post-73870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-religion-news","category-ap","category-california-news","category-los-angeles-news","category-non-profit-news","tag-international-day-of-friendship","tag-the-way-to-happiness-foundation","has-post-title","has-post-date","no-post-category","no-post-tag","no-post-comment","has-post-author"],"acf":[],"views":3804,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8949"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73870"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73870\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/73857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}](\"https:\/\/www.Send2Press.com\/300dpi\/21-0729s2p-cos-open-house-300dpi.jpg\"){kind=link}