Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge

Last updated
Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge
Formation1969
TypeNGO, educational charity, publisher
PurposeHealth and human nature information
HeadquartersLos Altos, California, US
Founder
Robert E. Ornstein
President
David Sasseen
Executive Director
Sally Mallam
Shane DeHaven – Secretary

Jill Barnes – Treasurer Directors: Margaret Caudill Jonathan Russell

Charles Swencionis

Contents

Website Official website

The Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge (ISHK) is a non-profit educational charity [1] [2] and publisher [ citation needed ] established in 1969 [2] by the psychologist and writer Robert E. Ornstein [ citation needed ] and based in Los Altos, California, in the United States. [2] Its aim is to provide public education and information on issues of health and human nature.

Founder

Robert Ornstein, psychologist, writer and professor at Stanford University, founded and chaired ISHK. [3] [ verification needed ] He has also contributed to the London-based Institute for Cultural Research set up by his associate, the writer and Sufi teacher, Idries Shah. [4]

Aims and activities

ISHK's primary aim is public education, by providing new information on health and human nature through its book service, through its children's imprint Hoopoe Books and adult imprint Malor Books, which includes the works of Robert Ornstein. Hoopoe Books focuses on publishing traditional children's stories from Afghanistan, Central Asia and the Middle East, including works by Idries Shah, [5] [6] such as The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water. [7]

The Institute also operates philanthropic projects, including Share Literacy, which provides books for children; support for caregivers; training and support for teachers, and independent program evaluation. Through its Share Literacy Program, Hoopoe Books has partnered with other organizations to give books away to children in low-income areas. [8] It also provides books free of charge to lending libraries. [9]

ISHK has worked with organizations such as The Institute for Cross-cultural Exchange to provide children in Afghanistan with desperately needed books for distribution to schools, orphanages and libraries throughout the country, in order to address the literacy crisis. [10]

Events organized by ISHK include a symposium in 2006 on "The Core of Early Christian Spirituality: Its Relevance to the World Today" which featured presentations by Elaine Pagels, well known for her studies and writing on the Gnostic Gospels (Beyond Belief: A Different View of Christianity); New Testament scholar Bart D. Ehrman (Jesus and the Apocalyptic Vision), and scholar of religion and Professor, Marvin Meyer (Magdalene in the Gnostic Gospels: From the Gospel of Mary to the DaVinci Code, Mary Magdelene in History and Culture). [11] In 1976, Robert Ornstein and Idries Shah presented a seminar, Traditional Esoteric Psychologies in Contemporary Life, in cooperation with The New School, New York City. [12]

In 2010, ISHK set up a web site for a project entitled The Human Journey. It aims to "follow humanity from our origins in Eastern Africa and the Middle East to the present day, with an eye to what comes next." [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idries Shah</span> Afghan writer and Sufi teacher (1924–1996)

Idries Shah, also known as Idris Shah, Indries Shah, né Sayed Idries el-Hashimi and by the pen name Arkon Daraul, was an Afghan author, thinker and teacher in the Sufi tradition. Shah wrote over three dozen books on topics ranging from psychology and spirituality to travelogues and culture studies.

A teaching story is a narrative that has been deliberately created as a vehicle for the transmission of wisdom. The practice has been used in a number of religious and other traditions, though writer Idries Shah's use of it was in the context of Sufi teaching and learning, within which this body of material has been described as the "most valuable of the treasures in the human heritage". The range of teaching stories is enormous, including anecdotes, accounts of meetings between teachers and pupils, biographies, myths, fairy tales, fables and jokes. Such stories frequently have a long life beyond the initial teaching situation and have contributed vastly to the world's store of folklore and literature.

Robert Evan Ornstein was an American psychologist, researcher and author.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tahir Shah</span> British author, journalist and documentary maker

Tahir Shah is a British author, journalist and documentary maker of Afghan-Indian descent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ikbal Ali Shah</span> Indian-Afghan author and diplomat

Sirdar Ikbal Ali Shah was an Indian-Afghan author and diplomat descended from the Sadaat of Paghman. Born and educated in India, he came to Britain as a young man to continue his education in Edinburgh, where he married a young Scotswoman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saira Elizabeth Luiza Shah</span> Scottish writer

Saira Elizabeth Luiza Shah was a Scottish writer who wrote under the pen name Morag Murray Abdullah. She met the Pashtun author, poet, diplomat, scholar, and savant Sirdar Ikbal Ali Shah and wrote about her marriage to this chieftain's son and her travels in the North-West Frontier Province of British India and the mountains of Afghanistan.

Robert Darr, also known as Robert Abdul Hayy Darr, is the author of several books on Sufism.

The Institute for Cultural Research (ICR) was a London-based, UK-registered educational charity, events organizer and publisher which aimed to stimulate study, debate, education and research into all aspects of human thought, behaviour and culture. It brought together many distinguished speakers, writers and Fellows over the years.

Ishk may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Safia Shah</span> British writer, editor and television news producer

Safia Thomas is a British writer, editor, television news producer and member of the Afghan-Indian Shah family.

<i>Knowing How to Know</i>

Knowing How to Know is a book by the writer Idries Shah published posthumously by Octagon Press in 1998. A paperback edition was published in 2000.

<i>Seeker After Truth</i>

Seeker After Truth: A Handbook was written by Idries Shah, one of the foremost writers on Sufism. It was first published by Octagon Press in 1982, and later republished by The Idries Shah Foundation.

<i>Wisdom of the Idiots</i> 1969 book by Idries Shah

Wisdom of the Idiots is a book of Sufi teaching stories by the writer Idries Shah first published by the Octagon Press in 1969. A paperback edition was published in 1991. ISF Publishing, sponsored by The Idries Shah Foundation, published a paperback edition on 2015, followed by the ebook version and audiobook.

Octagon Press was a cross-cultural publishing house based in London, UK. It was founded in 1960 by Sufi teacher, Idries Shah to establish the historical and cultural context for his ideas. The company ceased trading in 2014.

<i>Caravan of Dreams</i> (book) 1968 Sufi book by Idries Shah

Caravan of Dreams is a book by Idries Shah first published in 1968 by Octagon Press as part of his presentation of traditional Eastern teachings and Sufi ideas for contemporary society. New editions of the book were published in 2015 by The Idries Shah Foundation.

The Idries Shah Foundation (ISF) is an independent educational and cultural charity, set up by the family of the late thinker, writer, and teacher in the Sufi mystical tradition, Idries Shah, who wrote over three dozen books on topics ranging from psychology and spirituality to travelogues and culture studies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Institute for Cross-cultural Exchange</span> Educational and cross-cultural organisation based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

The Institute for Cross-cultural Exchange (ICE) or Institut d'échanges interculturels (IEI) is an educational and cross-cultural non-profit organisation based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Administered and staffed entirely by volunteers, ICE promotes children’s literacy and cross-cultural education at home and abroad. It provides at-risk children with their very first books: illustrated and thought-provoking stories from the Middle East and Central Asia.

<i>Neem the Half-Boy</i> Book by Idries Shah

Neem the Half Boy, first published in 1998, is the first of eleven children's books written by Idries Shah and published by Hoopoe Books.

<i>The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water</i>

The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water, first published in 1998, is the third of eleven children's books written by Idries Shah and published by Hoopoe Books. The book is written for children aged from 3 to 11.

<i>The Silly Chicken</i> Book by Idries Shah

The Silly Chicken, first published in 2005, is the ninth of eleven children's books written by Idries Shah and published by Hoopoe Books. The book is appropriate for children from 3 to 11.

References

  1. ISHK is a 501(c)3 educational corporation, incorporated in the State of California. Federal Tax ID #94-1705600.
  2. 1 2 3 "Charity details for Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge". Office of the Attorney General, State of California. Retrieved 2024-06-05.[ permanent dead link ] FEIN: 941705600. California entity ID: 0586548.
  3. "Hemispherical thinker". Time . Time Inc. 8 July 1974. Archived from the original on 2024-06-05.
  4. "List of Monographs". The Institute for Cultural Research. Archived from the original on 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2010-02-08. See biographical detail under Physiological Studies of Consciousness: Robert Ornstein.
  5. Cole, John Y. (May 2006). "New reading partners, promotions: News from the Center for the Book". Library of Congress Information Bulletin. Vol. 65, no. 5. Library of Congress. ISSN   0041-7904 . Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  6. "About.com: Children's Books: Publishers and Getting Published". About.com. Archived from the original on 2009-10-02. Retrieved 2010-02-08. See entry for Hoopoe Books.
  7. Shah, Idries (1998). The lion who saw himself in the water. Boston: Hoopoe Books. ISBN   978-1-883536-12-1. OCLC   36629874. Republished as The lion who saw himself in the water. Boston: Hoopoe Books. August 2001. ISBN   978-1-883536-25-1. OCLC   99826664.
  8. "About Share Literacy". Share Literacy. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  9. "About ISHK/Mission". The Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  10. "The Institute for Cross-cultural Exchange: Share Literacy Afghanistan". Institute for Cross-cultural Exchange. Archived from the original on 2009-12-23. Retrieved 2010-02-08. In partnership with ISHK.
  11. "ISHK Symposium". Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge. 2006. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  12. "ISHK History East and West Seminar May 1976". Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge. Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2010-02-08. Psychologies – East and West Seminar: May 1976.
  13. "ISHK The Human Journey". Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge. Retrieved 2010-02-08.