THE IMPULSE BEHIND ‘THE SOPHIA FOUNDATION’
Sophia is a Greek word which means Wisdom. It refers to divine creative wisdom.
When we look at any aspect of the natural world whether in the mineral, plant or animal realm, we see an unfathomable complexity of penetrated form and exquisite beauty so ordered that no single aspect of it is detrimental to any other aspect – and where every part of it contributes to maintain the balance, harmony and sustainability of the whole. This unbelievable orchestrated order is the work of the Sophia and is referred to as ‘cosmos’ which means order. The wisdom of Sophia is cosmic wisdom and the whole cosmos, including man, is imbued with it.
However, in the extremely short period of time in which mankind has been able to have an effect on this ordered organism of the earth, we have managed to wreck havoc on almost every part of it. Mankind’s flexing of his newfound strengths has introduced huge imbalance and wholesale destruction to the point where the sustainability of the whole is in question.
Why is this?
It is because the human being is not just a created creature like everything else in the natural world, but -uniquely on the earth – a created being which is unfinished and is further more imbued with the possibility of individual, creative thought. We human beings are eternally embryonic – that is – in a process of development and growth with unimaginable potential for either meaningful growth or meaningless destruction. Which one of these potentials we realize in the world will determine the future of both Mankind and the Earth. Whether or not we are able to stem the flow of destruction and turn our efforts towards meaningful development, is dependent on our willingness and ability to embrace Sophia wisdom or not.
In present times, how we think is of paramount importance. The thoughts of thinkers today will create the realities of the world in the future. The Wisdom of Sophia has completed her work in the natural world. Now is the time when she seeks to work with and through the human being.
We have been schooled over the last centuries to narrow our thinking within self-imposed and very restricting parameters which confine reality to physical matter only. And yet the thinking with which we do this is itself not physical and yet very real. We have boxed our thinking so narrowly that there is no possibility within the box for discovering solutions to the problems of the modern world and its’ life.
There are ample solutions – but they are not to be found within the boxed thinking of narrow self-gain at all costs. In our boxed thinking we have completely lost sight of the fact that the whole point of earthly existence is the unfolding and the development of the human being. The accepted measure of all things is no longer the human being but the dollar and the accumulation of material wealth at all costs. In this box there is no space for wisdom – only cold and potentially destructive intellect.
If we are to find solutions to the world’s problems – which are nothing other than a projection of our thinking – then we have to re-unite the human intellect with the creative wisdom of Sophia in the soul of Man and make the development of the individual human being the primary focus of all our endeavors.
Sophia Wisdom is revealed to a thinking that is filled with love and reverence i.e. devoted interest for what wishes to come into being in another individual’s life. This love and reverence is beyond sympathy and antipathy. It is an enabling force which opens up the world of new possibilities, new perspectives and new solutions. The Sophia Impulse is the eternal birthing of such newness in the consciousness of Man. It is the engine of meaningful change in the world.
This is the spiritual impulse which underlies the founding of the Sophia Foundation. It is towards this aim of supporting the creation of situations in which individual human beings can make meaningful steps of development in the interest of themselves, society and the whole of the natural world that all the endeavors of The Sophia Foundation are dedicated.
This is a brief summary of the address given by Richard Goodall at the inauguration of The Sophia Foundation on September 8, 2012 in Kommetjie, Cape Town.
“Glance at the sun. See the moon and the stars. Gaze at the beauty of earth’s greenings.
Now, think. What delight God gives to humankind with all these things. . . .
All nature is at the disposal of humankind. We are to work with it.
For without it we cannot survive.” Hildegard von Bingen
Trustees
Lorraine Forbes
I am a graduate of the University of Cape Town where I completed a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Mathematical Statistics and Numerical Analysis and Computation. But my ”real education” came from the school of life where I sought answers to the questions: Who am I? What is the meaning of human existence? What is my destiny task? I have been particularly influenced by a study of the great religious traditions; the works of Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology; and by Rudolf Steiner according to whose research humanity is in a continual process of transformation and evolution.
I came to believe that it is only with consciousness that human beings begin to take responsibility for the consequences of their actions and the impact of their actions on all that surrounds them. The Sophia Foundation, a non-profit organisation, was inaugurated in September 2012 and is dedicated to raising consciousness amongst people in the interests of themselves, society and the whole of the natural world.
Jessica Chaplin
Jess joined The Sophia Foundation as an advisory committee member in 2014 and through her growing support and connection to the foundation became a trustee and our development consultant. She has worked in the non-profit sector since 2012. Whilst working in both South Africa and Nairobi Jess gained significant exposure to a broad range of areas within the sector which include launching and managing a social entrepreneur project in KZN and responding to all the intricacies therein.
Jess is passionate about working with and supporting people from a variety of cultures, developing her understanding of human nature, promoting conscious living practices and working towards preserving our environment. It was through witnessing the lack of infrastructure for adequate waste management practices in Nairobi that she became more interested in working towards addressing the problem. Jess is currently completing her Masters in Sustainable Development through the University of London.
Johan van Zyl
Johan is a Partner of the Stonehage Fleming Group and Chief Executive Officer of Stonehage Fleming in South Africa. In addition to his duties of managing the South African business he serves as an adviser to a number of ultra high net worth South African families.
Prior to joining the Group in 2010 Johan was an Investment Manager at Fleming Family & Partners in London. Johan is a CFA Charter holder and holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial Electronic) from the University of Stellenbosch.
Koos Roussouw
Koos is a Partner in Stonehage Fleming’s Family Office Division. For over 10 years Koos has acted as Adviser, Trustee and Executor to internationally wealthy families within the Group where he has applied over 30 years of specialist experience in the formation, taxation and administration of South African trusts, estate planning for High Net Worth individuals, drafting of wills, winding up of estates and court appointed curatorships.
Prior to joining the Group in 2008, Koos was the National Head of the Trusts and Estates Department and a Director of Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, one of the largest corporate law firms in South Africa. Koos obtained a B.Comm LLB from the University of Stellenbosch and is an admitted Attorney.