CURRENT MISSION

Teaching, research, writing, exploring, peacemaking, visioning, enlightenments, healing, understanding, loving, uniting

ABOUT ME

BIO PHILO SOPHY FOR THOMAS CLOUGH DAFFERN B.A. (Hons.) D.Sc. (Hon.) Ph.D (Cand.)

Thomas C. Daffern is a philosopher, historian, poet, author, lecturer, musician, thinker, educator, consultant and peace studies specialist. His academic background includes degrees in history and political philosophy and a long period of intense personal study in philosophy, religion and the history of ideas a process of learning which continues to the present day. He has also trained and practised in conflict management within communities, businesses and schools.

He is Director of the International Institute of Peace Studies and Global Philosophy which works across many academic fields to bring together all those with an interest in and a commitment towards the study of peace and philosophy on all levels of the personal and global and to applying the qualities of love and wisdom to the resolution of the problems and tensions of today's world. The I.I.P.S.G.P. arose out of a feasibility study which Thomas undertook for the University of London into the proposed establishment of an Institute of Peace Studies. The I.I.P.S.G.P. now operates as an autonomous Institute. Thomas is also Founder of The Green University, which has arisen from the work of IIPSGP and was launched in 1999 to bring into being a new global higher education intiative whihc can provide space for the deeper kind of learning which we belive is needed at this time of critical transition in the history of planet earth. Thomas has developed long term educational programmes to widen understanding of the causes of conflict and approaches to peace and to assist social and cultural development. He has also created, in association with the Gandhi Foundation, the Multifaith and Multicultural Mediation Service. The M.M.M.S. is the first mediation service to specialise in disputes in which issues of faith and/or culture are present. He has also served as an educational adviser to numerous organisations ranging from the UN and UNESCO to the Wrekin Trust's University for Spirit intiative.

Thomas divides his time between writing, teaching, networking, travel, reflection and nature. He has several current writing projects in hand including a novel, essays on ethics and politics, an auto ethnography, a book detailing the history of peace philosophy and spirituality and a work on revisioning intimate relationships for an age of wisdom.. He has recently published articles on "Peacebuilding" and on the "Ethics and philosophy of Amerindians". IIPSGP itself publishes annually 'Love, Justice and Wisdom' the only academic journal in the world to focus on Love altruism and the positive aspects of human nature. Thomas's writings are available on www.lulu.com/iipsgp.
Some of his lectures have also been filmed for television and one such is available for viewing at www.holisticchannel.org.uk

He lectures on all aspects of philosophy and faith and has convened and co-chaired over 30 seminars in the House of Lords in Westminster on Ethics, Policy and Peace. He values especially the creative energy of like minded people exploring and deepening our common understanding and search for truth through networking and personal interaction and mutual inspiration. Among other new projects in hand are: the establishment of an Interfaith Peace Museum; the production of a Multilingual Dictionary of Peace and Global Philosophy and the inspiration of creative artistic and scientific work which can help give birth to a peaceful world culture based on love and cooperation rather than militarism, fear and greed. He sits on the board of International Philosophers for Peace, is a founder of Historians for Peace in Europe, and is an expert in research techniques and methodologies on all aspects of history, religious studies, the history of world philosophy and transpersonal psychology. As a poet he established the Order of Wandering Peace Poets in Macedonia in 1998. He is active with the Forest Garden and a founder member of the Association of Spiritual Academies International. Thomas is also founder of the Pagan Academic Network which is an intiative to create a network for academics interested in pagansim either theoretically or practically. As Chair of the Stonehenge Truth and Reconciliation Commission, he has chaired and convened over 12 meetings in Wiltshire bringing together all parties involved in the use and management of Stonehenge including English Heritage, the Police, local landowners, Druids, Pagans, Wiccans, Shamans etc. This series of meetings has helped create the conditions which made it possible at the Summer solstice of June 20/21 2000 for over 7000 people to have free and open access to Stonehenge for a millennial celebration. He helped train the team of approx 25 peace stewards who worked alongside other groups to ensure that the celebrations were nonviolent and a success for everyone who attended. In addition, he serves as Peace Officer to the Council of British Druid Orders (COBDO) and has had a long love affair with all aspects of Druidry and an eco centred spirituality affirming nature and Goddess/God equally, and which celebrates the wisdom of primal peoples of all cultures, epochs and geographical regions. He is also Chair of Pagan and Druids Rights and Services (PADRAS) an umbrella group which works to sharpen the awareness of Pagan and Druid rights and responsibilities worldwide. As a practicing Druid he has founded the Order of Peace Poets, Bards and Druids. Thomas has lectured and travelled extensively throughout Europe, the USSR, Scandinavia, North America, India and the Middle East. Father to three beautiful daughters, he now lives alone in a secluded philosophical retreat centre near Welshpool and Montgomery in Powys, just over the border from Shropshire into Wales, surrounded by glorious countryside, close to Mitchells Fold Stone Circle, one of the most exquisitely sited in the British Isles. He has a personal library available to guests of over 10,000 books on all aspects of peace studies and spirituality. He is a broad minded philosopher who loves all faiths and philosophies that seek to understand and manifest the Good.

PHILOSOPHY

As a philosopher, I have studied for about 30 years the sum total of different philosophical and spiritual systems on the planet, working towards a common met-understanding of all faiths, all traditions - I have undertaken spiritual initiations in many different spiritual teaching systems, including Christianity, Druidry, Paganism, Buddhism, Kabbalah, Sufism, Hindusim, Yoga, Tantra, Wicca, Taoism.. I believe there is a universal common denominator underlying them all, which is like the white light underlying the rainbow, and that by exploring and sharing this common reality we can find and uncover the path to peace and healing in a broken and troubled world

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

none as yet

Interests

thinking, reading, dialectical conversation, travel, peacemaking, spirituality, friendship, consciosuness research, parapsychology, history, philosophy, mediation, good food, politeness, kindness, diplomacy, meditation, prayer, thought, wisdom

• arts
• culture
• humanities
• writing
• books
• literature
• poetry
• causes
• education
• ethics
• dining
• yoga
• meditation
• partying
• gardening
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• music
• christian
• muslim
• buddhist
• hinduism
• teaching
• emergency services
• geography
• history
• philosophy
• psychology
• religion
• social science

Music, Movies, and Books

eclectic and omnivorous - love classical, world music, good rock and pop, some jazz, new age, trance, etc. Books - I read constantly, have about 5 on the go at any one time, biographies, history, novels, science, philosophy etc. also am writing about 9 books at present, in various stages of completion

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've travelled to 33 countries so far approx, been to India to teach and study 4 times, always feel like I'm coming home ! Had a past life regression once at an American Indian esoteric teaching centre in Oklahoma, that was pretty amazing ! I see myself as a bridge builder, a kind of wisdom-networker, and have met some extraordinary people in my travels so far, physical and spiritual both... the most amazing thing I have not yet seen is when all the great spiritual and intellectual leaders of the world sign a peace treaty, pledging their respective followers not to harm, attack or hurt one another.. that is what I am working and waiting for... this would have to include Islamic, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Pagan, Humanist, Bahai, Shinto, Taoist, Confucian, Marxist etc. Can it be done ? I've dreamed it IS going to happen...

Teach, Learn, Share

gosh - so much to share, so much to learn, so much to teach ! eclectic interests in all fields of knowledge and spirituality and existential encounters, whatever advances world peace and understanding - also a deep knowledge of the natural and social sciences, classical and world literature, poetry, musicology, fine arts, geography - I guess I am a life-long student and educator both