TAMPA: The Church of Scientology of Tampa invites the community to an open house in honor of the United Nations International Day of Happiness on Thursday, March 20th from 10am to 8pm. The Church is located in the historic Ybor Square property at 1300 E 8th Ave, in Ybor City.
In addition to light refreshments and tours of the building, the Church will have a special exhibit on The Way to Happiness, a non-religious moral code written by Church founder L. Ron Hubbard in 1981. The Way to Happiness depicts 21 different precepts which give a roadmap to living a happy life.
Find out what's happening in Tampawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Precepts include “Take Care of Yourself,” “Love and Help Children” and “Set a Good Example.” These precepts have been made into public service announcements, which will be the centerpiece of the exhibit. The book itself has been made in to a full-length feature film.
Find out what's happening in Tampawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“The Way to Happiness is very simple,” said Mimi Kintzel, the spokesperson for the Tampa Church of Scientology, “but it gets the individual to look at why certain behaviors will affect them and those they love and gets them to decide, on their own, that it is better for them treat to others how they would want to be treated, or to not harm a person of goodwill.”
Ms. Kintzel also commented that The Way to Happiness has been distributed all over the world and has helped to curb violence in Columbia, built bridges between Slovakian officials and the Romany (Gypsy) community, and help bring peace to Thailand.
“As an example,” said Ms. Kintzel, “the police in Columbia have used the Way to Happiness as the basis of seminar that has been given to more than 3 million citizens. Twenty percent of all Columbians have a copy of the booklet and the crime rate has dropped by 50 percent.”
“Here in Tampa, the booklet has also been distributed to the community, and it has gotten a very warm reception,” added Ms. Kintzel.
The Open House is one of many events around the world which are celebrating the United Nation’s International Day of Happiness. In advance of the day, celebrants in more than 144 countries have taken a pledge to “…try to create more happiness in the world around me.”
The United Nations adopted a resolution for the International Day of Happiness to encourage nations to recognize that ‘progress’ is not just about growing the economies of the world at all costs, but it is also about increasing human happiness and wellbeing.
For more information about The Way to Happiness, please go to www.thewaytohappiness.org.
