Festive Greetings – Dominique Brustlein Bobst

2025, IN THE WAKE

Dominique Brustlein-Bobst — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 16:05:18 +0000

Friends of yesterday, today, and tomorrow,

It is not too late to send you my heartfelt wishes for a New Year,
filled with the small and great joys that make life beautiful!

So much suffering, injustice, and unanswered questions
strike us head-on every day.

And yet… so many generous projects are flourishing around us,
carried by wonderful people for beautiful causes!

And yet, if we take the time to let time unfold…
so many altruistic initiatives allow Life to give to Life!

_________________

The course of my life has suddenly shifted in recent months,
and with greater awareness and a deeper connection to myself,
I am turning a new Page in my existence.

Taking a step back, to develop a new relationship with Time,
and to be even closer to the heart of the Essential—people and things.

This magnificent passage from Ecclesiastes (Chapter 3) resonates
deeply in my heart and soul today… Here are a few excerpts:

For each and every one of you, my heartfelt wishes
that this New Year may offer you Kairos—
the opportune moment according to the Ancient Greeks,
as opposed to Chronos, which only measures the ticking clock.

Kairos—
a time detached from time itself,
a time suspended between heart and reason,
the only time that allows the full measure of things,
to truly anchor oneself in life, in Life!

Yes, Kairos has come for me today.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to Philippe Ungar
for the wonderful gift of his friendship,
his presence by my side, and the touching words he has written for me.

Thank you, Philippe, my Friend!

Dominique

A propos de l’auteur

Philippe Ungar is a writer, sound archivist, and Franco-Swiss documentary filmmaker.
He was first a philosophy professor, then a radio journalist at RTS.
Today, he creates audio and video archives for prestigious art collections, foundations, businesses, and families wishing to preserve their history and values.

He is the creator of Sounds Like Portraits (159 episodes, now in its 9th season),
a podcast dedicated to creative people, available on Spotify and soundslikeportraits.com.

Find the episode featuring Dominique Bobst here.

With deep emotion and his permission,
I share the words of my dear friend Franck Bonneveau,
who sent me his wishes at the dawn of this New Year—
his wishes for Kairos to flourish within the winding path of my Life.

Meaningful Encounters & Special Moments

“What is essential is invisible to the eye,
One sees clearly only with the heart.”
– The Little Prince

The most beautiful memories reside in the heart,
and the soul is enriched by the imprint of meaningful encounters.

I am happy to share with you a collection of upcoming encounters
and some of the wonderful moments I have experienced in recent months.

With gratitude!

With my friends Vincent Perez, Frédéric Lenoir, and Julien Favreau.
Click here to visit the sites of R7aL, of Frédéric, and of Béjart Ballet Lausanne.

R7al

Vibrant with complicity and freedom, this shot is the work of Raymond Cauchetier, the set photographer of the French New Wave. Unjustly overlooked, he nevertheless revolutionized the profession and embodied the rebellious spirit of his filmmaker peers. Indeed, Raymond Cauchetier immersed himself in the films, documented the scenes, had them replayed, and even created new ones—as seen here, shortly before 1960, extending the Cameflex of Breathless with his Rolleiflex, held at arm’s length. He captures a moment of great tenderness between Belmondo and Seberg, a soft kiss balancing between staging and a stolen instant, between fiction and reality.

This image choice reflects the complex and profound emotions that arise from cinema’s greatest love stories—just as these stories, in turn, mirror our shared experiences. Heart-wrenching passions, knowing glances, missed romances, sensual or platonic love—the Rencontres 7e Art Lausanne will celebrate unforgettable love stories in film from March 7 to 16, 2025, honoring the romances that have shaped the history of cinema and continue to captivate and inspire audiences!

We look forward to seeing you for an 8th edition filled with passion and emotions!

SAVE THE DATE: Program & ticket sales open February 22, 2025!

Retrospective des posts Linkedin publiés en 2024

Votre Cercle de Vie

“Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.”
Victor Hugo could not have better summed up the “Votre Cercle de Vie” project by Esther Mottier!

Launched by Esther 15 years ago, this initiative is now on the verge of taking off, thanks to unprecedented public and private mobilization.
Today, more than ever, this crowdfunding campaign needs each and every one of us to succeed!

This ecosystem requires massive citizen support and genuine commitment to gain the energy and funding needed to take root in Pays d’en Haut, the Canton of Vaud, and beyond.

“Votre Cercle de Vie” is a pioneering project in Switzerland and Europe, visionary in its approach as it embraces Life in its entirety—humans, animals, and nature as one whole.

This whole is the cornerstone of all human life and every enterprise!
In our disconnected world, longing for meaning, this project is essential to reconcile Humanity with Mother Nature, reconnecting us to the nurturing earth and animals.

“Votre Cercle de Vie” will be a space for intergenerational exchange, offering a unique, immersive experience engaging all five senses in full awareness.
A laboratory for holistic medicine practitioners, agro-ecology and renewable energy experts, as well as a hub of inspiration for economic and creative leaders.

Just as permaculture fosters harmonious growth, this place will allow people to reconnect with Life and with each other.
It will be a center of resilience and respect, inspiring similar projects here and elsewhere.

Thanks to you and your generosity, “Votre Cercle de Vie” will become a cornerstone of societal innovation.
Every contribution—big or small—plays a vital role in strengthening this solidarity network.

Our world needs seeds of kindness, peace, and hope!
We can all be the roots and branches of this magnificent tree!

The time has come…
It is urgent!
It is now!

With gratitude, alongside Esther and her team,

Dominique Bobst, Philanthropist

March 8 2024:
a day for SHE Changes Climate

Culture: A powerful force to build bridges, restore dignity, amplify hope, and heal our planet!

My commitment is deeply rooted in numerous foundations and associations in Switzerland and abroad, all connected to Life—human rights, humanitarian causes, education, social integration, disability support, medical research, culture and the arts, animal welfare, and environmental protection.

Excerpt from my speech at the ” SHE Builds Bridges for Climate Action ” event, held on March 8 in Geneva.

Click on the image to listen to the interview ⤵

My perspective, my foundation, is this: If we take the example of a tree—its strength comes from its roots. If the roots are powerful and nourished with the right elements, the branches can grow high into the sky and bear fruit.

Culture is the lifeblood of our veins. Cutting a human being off from their culture, their roots, and their origins—
as we see in major migration phenomena, with displaced people severed from their foundations—
is, in some ways, as tragic as depriving them of food and medical care.

Culture, of course, may seem secondary when compared to the great humanitarian emergencies.
But in a comprehensive, holistic vision of development, we must never forget that culture—everything that surrounds us—
is what allows us to connect through emotions, through beauty, music, art, dance, literature, and cinema.

The messages carried through culture have the power to change mindsets—whether we realize it or not, we are deeply influenced by them.
Reclaiming these cultural codes, or realigning our priorities regarding these messages, is just as essential.

So yes, culture is necessary—but like everything that truly grounds us,
it must serve a higher, nobler purpose—one greater than ourselves.

A big thank you to Elise Buckle, who hosted this panel, as well as to MYBLUEPLANET, Daughters for Earth et Alliance Climatique Suisse for the organisation of this event, filled with wisdom and emotion.

Berne, décembre 2023

Soirée Caritative les Ailes du Coeur
en habit de lumières !

The EHC – Ensemble Hospitalier de la Côte is a model ecosystem dedicated not only to hospital care but also to meeting the health needs of the entire La Côte region and the greater western Lausanne area.

A pioneering ecosystem, driven by the energy and humanist vision of its “Premier de Cordée”, Mikael de Rham, General Director of EHC, alongside his dedicated team, all committed to their remarkable mission of Listening and Care.

The Pietro Sarto Medical Center, supporting children with neurodevelopmental disorders, has just been inaugurated, led by Dr. Eliana Koch-Coelho, Director of the Center, and supported by the entire institution under Mikael’s leadership.

Within this circle of luminous individuals, united by shared values, a small volunteer committee—Les Ailes du Cœur (The Wings of the Heart)—has been formed. It is led by my soul sister, Irene Wasserman, Head of External Relations and Philanthropy at EHC, and I have the joy of being a part of it.

An exceptional evening and art auction featuring works by artist Pietro Sarto, drawn from the beautiful collection of EHC engravings, will take place on Tuesday, November 12, at the Institution de Lavigny.

A longtime friend of EHC and deeply committed to supporting children with neurodevelopmental disorders, Pietro Sarto will honor us with his presence and personally sign the auctioned works for their generous buyers.

All proceeds from this evening will go towards establishing a Solidarity Fund to support children undergoing therapy, covering vital, non-reimbursed medical services that are not covered by insurance.

I invite you to join us on November 12, so that this Solidarity Fund, through your generosity, can provide crucial support to countless families in the months and years to come!

I am deeply moved by what an engraving represents, in contrast to a painting or a watercolor.

The imprint it leaves on its surface, formed by light and shadow, is it not the tangible trace, in relief and hollows, of the artist’s hand?

That bold, definitive stroke—is it not proof that the hand of humanity, the heart of humanity, can reshape landscapes, sow seeds of kindness, and simply bring our Humanity back to bloom?

Click on the image to download the press release.

Printemps 2024

Heartfulness Institute et Spirit of humanity Forum

The Heartfulness Institute and the Spirit of Humanity Forum are sowing the seeds of a spirituality that has become essential in shaping both our individual and collective consciousness!

These luminous paths follow in the footsteps of the great initiates of human history, whose teachings have always been those of Love and Peace…

“Lord, make me an instrument of Your Peace!
Where there is hatred, let me sow Love.”

— Saint Francis of Assisi

Venice, November 2023

Mon “best of” des quelques TED Talks les plus impactants de l’année 2024

Lausanne, novembre

A Palestinian and an Israeli, Face to Face
Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon

The Tipping Points of Climate Change — and Where We Stand Johan Rockström

What Is an AI Anyway?
Mustafa Suleyman

My website, www.dominique-bobst.ch, will tell you more about the why and how of my commitment. It will help you understand how an activity can develop within Boards of Directors and businesses, and how, combined with pro bono work in foundation boards and various NGOs, it allows for the harmonization of the best of all these worlds!

As the “red thread” of the encounters that have shaped my life, the Foundations – Advisory page provides a near-exhaustive insight into the path I have traced over the past 30 years.

As for the Projects page, it highlights and brings into focus some of the many causes championed by individuals and NGOs that have crossed my path—causes that I have embraced over time, all sharing a common thread: Life itself—human rights, humanitarian work, education, social integration, disability support, medical research, culture and the arts, animal welfare, and environmental advocacy.

I also share some of my ambassadorial engagements, always tied to the “Greater Good”, aiming to restore dignity, amplify hope, and heal our planet.

The News & Media pages gather all the key moments I have written and published across 25 newsletters, along with various articles, interviews, and podcasts dedicated to my projects, causes, and realized events.

A bouquet of THANK YOUs to all of you, ever-growing in number, who follow me and encourage me with each new update I share!

Dominique

My luminous wishes for BETTER in 2021

Dominique Bobst — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 12:53:00 +0000

Dear all,

Friends from yesterday, today, or tomorrow,

Wishing for more and better at the heart of everything that contributes to making life beautiful…

these are my wishes for you on the eve of the upcoming holidays,

at the dawn of a New Year that already carries the seed of numerous beautiful and necessary changes that each of us must bring to fruition!

As we approach the end of a year 2020 that we will all remember,

as it shifted many of our priorities,

disrupted our certainties,

eroded our confidence in the face of the tidal wave, both official and unofficial discourses of all kinds,

as well as the analyses and predictions of recognized or self-proclaimed scientists and experts,

exacerbated existing flaws in our Western societies in crisis

– socio-economic precarities, psychological vulnerabilities –

and also pricked our consciences

… it is more than ever time to take a PAUSE

by being fully in the HERE and NOW

in the mindfulness that alone allows lucidity and dispels the fear of tomorrow

by aligning ourselves with the powerful teaching of Eckhart Tolle in the

“The Power of Now”

carried by the creative energy that surrounds us!

Wishing for MORE or BETTER after COVID-19? My newsletter from last spring, by posing the question of an impossible choice, highlighted the paradigm shift that we have been experiencing rapidly since the beginning of this pandemic and the importance of a “conversion” for each of us to

MORE coherence between BEING and DOING

MORE sustainability

MORE solidarity

MORE socially responsible

MORE and BETTER are no longer antagonistic but are conjugated both in the present and in the future to

BETTER thinking

BETTER acting

BETTER LIVING!

Take a few precious minutes to listen, or re-listen, to this inspired and inspiring TED Talk by writer Emily Esfahani Smith! Or how to move forward in life by prioritizing the search for meaning and a greater presence with oneself and others, rather than the frenzied pursuit of happiness that has become almost obsessive in our Western culture.

This is the recipe for true fulfillment and personal accomplishment.

And it’s a beautiful message at this blessed time of the year when Jews and Christians turn to the Light in the quiet nights of December!

Hanukkah and Christmas are here to remind us of the importance of sharing, the joy of giving and receiving, and above all, the beauty of Giving, the Gift of oneself!

OF MORE and BETTER … to anchor more deeply meaning and mindfulness in our daily lives, as wonderfully summarized by Sister Emmanuelle, “The Ragpicker of Cairo” (1908-2008), when she wrote:

" Are you looking to give meaning to your life?
Ask yourself whom and how it is possible to love. "

For each and every one of you, my warm wishes for a Merry Christmas in the Light!

Also active on L inkedIn , I would be happy to share ideas and projects with you there!

Dominique Brustlein-Bobst

The Spirit of Humanity Forum (SOH) is a powerful movement born in Iceland 10 years ago, with the mission to prioritize BEING before DOING! Its purpose is to gather leaders and executives from around the world around themes and personalities that embody this coherence, during forums held every two years. In other words, its mission could be defined as “Resetting the compass towards core human values” . To enable them to align their actions with their essential values and to “stay on course” in the context of their profession – whatever it may be – in the service of the Greater Good. I am delighted to be a founding member of SOH Geneva, which will take place for the first time in Switzerland from June 3 to 5, 2021, simultaneously with the Reykjavik Forum! Benefiting from the technological wonders that allow us to connect remotely, everyone will have the chance to benefit from part of what will happen there. I invite you to discover this wonderful project through their latest

I want to salute the wonderful and creative initiative of my friends from the Ladies’ Lunch Lausanne Committee on the occasion of the autumn lunch!

It’s not too late to discover it !

… not too late to treat yourself to a gourmet moment at the Lausanne Palace, the oldest and most loyal sponsor of the LLL for 30 years!

… not too late to support the Boulimie Anorexie ABA Association, which has been doing admirable work for years in Romandy, Switzerland.

… not too late to think about the LLL Solidarity Fund, which helps offset potential decreases in sponsorships and donations, and provides emergency assistance in exceptional cases. We all know how challenging the times ahead will be for both donors and beneficiaries! It is in moments like these that solidarity takes on its full meaning.

www.ladieslunch-lausanne.ch

WIZO is 100 years old!

WIZO is a charitable organization for women that I have been supporting for years, created in 1920 by Lady Rebecca Sieff and her visionary friends.

Apolitical, it works for women and children in Israel, without any discrimination of origin and religion.

It is now the main social partner of the State of Israel in the field of early childhood, education, and the status of women.

52 Federations worldwide ensure a global network and the continuity of its action.

In these times of pandemic, the most vulnerable are, of course, even more impacted and precarious.

WIZO stands by them to cover their needs and anticipate crises. Violence against women is critical.

It is for this reason that a new emergency center for women and children (the 3rd in the country) has recently been opened. WIZO welcomes them with their children to provide them with shelter, comfort, and a future.

In these very difficult times, we need your support even more!

On the occasion of the year-end holidays, we have organized a Virtual Gift Market. You can make your purchases safely and at the same time support our cause! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

www.wizo-lausanne.org

I am pleased to highlight my dear friend Philippe Ungar, a French writer, philosopher, and journalist, and sound archivist, living in New York. Philippe created SOUNDS LIKE PORTRAITS three years ago, a weekly podcast dedicated to creativity in all fields.**

The interview he conducted with me last year, with beautiful and profound listening, allowed me to express my “inner creative springs.” (Click here to listen to the portrait.)

Listening to his weekly podcasts, which are available for free subscription, is a real joy!

Philippe makes himself available to individuals and businesses who wish to create podcasts that reveal talents as diverse as human nature can be.

www.philippeungar.com

How not to end on a personal note, in connection with the DNA of my paternal family!

I can’t resist sharing with you an article that was recently written by Olivier Grivat in BILAN, which briefly outlines the history of BOBST, a global leader in the cardboard industry.

An enterprise today pioneering innovation, sustainability, and global social responsibility, of which all Swiss people can be proud!

www.bobst.com

An armful of small and large joys for 2020!

Dominique Bobst — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 07:09:14 +0000

Dear Sir or Madam,

Friends of yesterday, today and tomorrow,

In this time of Advent, all my wishes fly to you at the dawn of a new year that I wish you enamelled with small and big joys which make Life beautiful!

My spring newsletter*, DIGNITY AND HUMANITY, and my fall newsletter, LEVEL UP, put a special emphasis on human rights and on the need to question ourselves and to undergo an inner conversion in a true process of humanisation, which was magnificently expressed by Simone Veil (1909-1943)

… in other words, it is to recognise the same right to happiness!

* To be found on my website under the News Page

One of the joys of this year was meeting Philippe Ungar, a French writer and journalist, sound archivist … and philosopher, living in New York. Two years ago, Philippe created SOUNDS LIKE PORTRAITS, a weekly podcast dedicated to creativity in all fields.

The interview he conducted a few weeks ago, with a beautiful and deep listening, allowed me to express myself on my “creative inner springs”. It is a gift to me! For once, I would like to share it with you simply as I have been doing for the past few years for the beings and causes that I mention in my newsletters, as I regularly do with TED Talks that have inspired me… so many milestones that mark the path of life and fill it with little joys!

(For those who don’t know how to connect to the podcast sites … the easiest way is to go to the philippeungar.com website and then go to the podcast section where it is easy to activate the link. You can also click directly on the image below)

https://www.philippeungar.com/

A great joy that awaits us from June 12th to 17th 2020 in Lausanne will be the Solidarity Partnership between the Béjart Ballet Lausanne and the Antenna Foundation.

It will allow us to attend the sublime performance of The IXth Symphony while supporting the Foundation’s projects!

We are waiting for you to celebrate together the ode to life, to beauty, to dance and to music that transcends borders and differences!

An armful of small and large joys for 2020! 52">

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antenna.ch

A bouquet of THANKS to you, so many, who follow me and encourage me through the news I share with you!

For you,

All my wishes of Serenity, so that these 366 days to live in 2020 allow you to concretize your aspirations and to realize your dreams!

May each day bring you the Happiness of Sharing!

Dominique Brustlein-Bobst

Nice flight to the new year!

Dominique Bobst — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 13:11:45 +0000

Dear Sir or Madam,

Friends of yesterday, today and tomorrow,

In this time of the Forward, towards you fly all my wishes on the eve of the Holidays that are coming, at the dawn of a new Year that I wish you enamelled with the small and big joys that make Life beautiful!

A bouquet of THANKS to you, so many, who follow me and encourage me through the news I share with you!

Nice flight to the new year! 58" srcset="https://www.dominique-bobst.ch/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/img-nl-12.18.png 300w, https://www.dominique-bobst.ch/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/img-nl-12.18-224x300.png 224w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />

A luminous encounter at the end of this year was that of Youssou N’Dour, world famous Senegalese singer, committed man, Goodwill Ambassador for the UN, FAO and UNICEF, who offered a unique concert to the IRP Foundation for paraplegia research during the Evening of Hope on November 20th at the Swiss Tech Convention Center!

“The opposite of poverty is not wealth,

The opposite of poverty is sharing.”

Abbé Pierre

For you, all my wishes of Serenity, so that these 365 days to live in 2019 allow you to realize your aspirations and dreams!

May each day bring you the Joy of Sharing!

Dominique Brustlein-Bobst

My website www.dominique-brustlein-bobst.ch and my LinkedIn page www.linkedin.com/in/dominique-brustlein-bobst list my “official” commitments and many of my projects to date.

The “Red Thread” of the encounters that have woven my life, the Foundations Page sheds light on the path I have traced over the last 20 years.

As for the Projects Page, it will help you discover some of the major issues of solidarity in French-speaking Switzerland … and beyond!

Best wishes for the year 2018

Dominique Bobst — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 13:38:24 +0000

Dear Sir or Madam,

Friends of yesterday, today or tomorrow,

In this month of December, to you fly all my wishes on the eve of the Holidays that are coming, at the dawn of a new Year that I wish you enamelled with the small and great joys that make Life beautiful!

A bouquet of THANKS to you, always more numerous, who follow me and encourage me through the news I share with you!

A new chance for me at the end of this year, I have just joined the Antenna Foundation Board (www.antenna.ch) at the request of my friend Denis von der Weid who is the founder, the inspirer and the driving force!

“A new chance in the Antenna Board!

I am happy to be able to count on the excellent commitment of Dominique, who with her great experience in humanitarian NGOs, will greatly contribute to the successful evolution of Antenna.”

D. Von der Weid

The Antenna Foundation cannot be reduced to a list of actions in 20 different countries and 60 unique projects carried out by 500 collaborators … for more than 25 years, it has been implementing an avant-garde and revolutionary vision of research and dissemination of technologies adapted to the essential needs of the poorest populations, in the fields of water and hygiene as well as nutrition, agriculture, energy, microcredit and medicine!

A few facts and figures…

Over 100 countries benefit from the WATA technology for the purification of drinking water, with the support of the SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation).
Winner of the Swiss Solar Prize 2016, with more than 2’200 OOLUX solar kits distributed to 10’000 beneficiaries.
70’000 children have benefited from a spirulina treatment since 2009.
The Green Elephant Group created in 2012 with the support of Antenna has produced 100’000 tons of Biofertilizers and 120 tons of pure spores (Biopesticides).
In developing countries, 80% of the population relies on traditional medicine. Antenna’s Research & Development has led to major advances in the treatment of diabetes, hypertension, malaria and mental health.
More than 220’000 women have benefited from microcredit in India since 2006!

As impressive as these few milestones are, only the minute dedicated to the short film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZPhflDj09E …

… and the discovery of the 2016 Annual Report (click to open) will allow you to take the full measure of the work undertaken by Denis and his team!

Your INGENIOUS GIFT to Antenna’s projects could be :

CHF50: A 6-week spirulina cure for 25 children in Madagascar
CHF100: An Oolux Kit for a family in Cameroon!
CHF150: A Mini-WATA, a device that makes drinking water available every day for 1000 people!
CHF500: Contribution to the diffusion of a plant-based anti-hypertensive in Senegal!
CHF1000 : Drinking water for 10,000 people!

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BY OFFERING AN INGENIOUS GIFT AS AN END OF YEAR PRESENT, YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR GENEROSITY AT THE SERVICE OF ESSENTIAL NEEDS.

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Water, medicine, nutrition, three areas in which your contribution will make a difference. Make a donation to the Antenna Foundation:

Banque CIC (Switzerland) Ltd. Marktplatz 13 CH 4001 Basel

IBAN: CH39 0871 0038 2249 1200 2

Do not forget to mention the project you would like to support.

Through the altruistic process of giving, made more palpable in this time of GIFT, we allow Life to give to Life…

For you, all my wishes of Serenity, so that these 365 days to live in 2018 allow you to concretize your aspirations and to keep your dreams!

Dominique Brustlein-Bobst

… to be able to continue to support all the causes that have mobilized me until today and to honor this new commitment within Antenna’s Board, I will be, as of 2018, Goodwill Ambassador to the numerous Foundations whose Board I will leave at the end of 2017.

My dearest wish is to be able to forge new links and partnerships with all of them in the future!

My website www.dominique-brustlein-bobst.ch and my LinkedIn page list all my “official” commitments and many of my projects to date…

Best wishes for the year 2018 70">
… with my friend Vincent Perez, President of Rencontres 7e Art Lausanne

Best wishes for the upcoming holidays…

Dominique Bobst — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 14:54:22 +0000

Madam, Sir,

Friends of yesterday, today and tomorrow,

On this December 6th, Saint Nicholas’s day, I wish you all the best for the upcoming holidays and the dawn of a new year that I hope will be filled with the small and great joys that make life beautiful!

I would like to share with you some excerpts from “The Prophet”, a marvelous book of wisdom written by Khalil Gibran, an enlightened intellectual, a great mystic, one of the pioneers of the revival of Arabic literature at the end of the 19th century

The following lines are simply about GIVING, in this “season of giving” in which we are…

“You give little when you give of your possessions.

It is when you give of yourselves that you really give.

For what are your possessions but things that you jealously guard for fear of needing them tomorrow?

…

And what is the fear of misery but misery itself?

And the fear of thirst before your full well, is it not already the unquenchable thirst?

…

There are those who have little and give it all away.

These believe in life and in the goodness of life, and their chest is never empty.

There are those who give with joy, and this joy is their reward.

There are those who give with pain, and this pain is their baptism.

There are those who give and feel neither pain nor joy and are not aware of their virtue;

They give as in the valley there the myrtle exhales its perfume in the space.

Through the hands of such beings, God speaks, and through their eyes He smiles on the earth.

…

Give now, then, that the season of giving may be yours and not your heirs’.

…

And you who receive – and you all receive – assume no burden of gratitude, lest you yoke yourselves and the giver.

Rather, rise with the giver, taking his gifts as if they were wings…”

Through the altruistic process of Giving, we are enriched with that “extra Soul” that gives wings and allows Life to give to Life… Matthieu Ricard is the inspired and inspiring embodiment of this!

There is only this movement of the Spirit, and of the Soul towards the other, which allows us to surpass ourselves and to often give meaning to what does not have any… So many beautiful projects and good causes, carried by beautiful people!

Best wishes for the upcoming holidays... 75">

I will simply suggest three, close to my heart, in this “season of giving”.

THANK YOU for Syria!

Syria is today torn by two wars: on one side, the war of weapons, and on the other, the war of the media. The first one kills bodies, while the second one distorts or kills consciences.

Life goes on in a large part of Syria, where the situation remains rather calm and normal.

The “hot” areas are Aleppo and the north of the country.

However, the war has had a large economic impact on everyone. This has caused many Syrians to flee the country to be safe and ensure their children’s education, as well as to find work elsewhere. This is the refugee drama that our old Europe is confronted with and that divides our consciences because we feel threatened for reasons that may be understandable!

Moreover, this conflict has provoked a form of closure within the various communities and has thus contributed to dividing the Syrian people.

The Al Sakhra association was created for the Syrian people, who remain alive and persist in living, often surviving, despite all the difficulties.

Al Sakhra – the Rock – is there to support these people who have decided not to abandon their country.

So many children and young people who have lost their bearings are waiting for your help in the form of scholarships so that their future can be meaningful again! You will find all the useful information by going to www.alsakhrasyria.wordpress.com.

THANK YOU to the women and children of the slums of India!

The IFPD Foundation – www.ifpd.org – whose motto is “Strong Women, Strong Communities” has been active for more than 15 years in educational projects in the broadest sense of the term, aiming at a global care within precarious communities, as much in the medical, hygiene, nutrition, birth planning, as in the access to education for children and access for women to income generating activities.

It is active in India – Mumbai, New Delhi and Bodgaya, the holy city of Buddhism – and is currently developing new collaborations with NGOs in Nepal and Brazil.

IFPD is now appealing to your generosity to help finance its Children Activity Centers, a magnificent and indispensable project that you will discover by clicking on the link https://ifpd.org/donate/.

THANK YOU for the battered dogs in Thailand cared for by the BanObOun Shelter!

You are invited to come and listen to the Conference given by Sarah Marquis, Godmother of the Refuge – just like Matthieu Ricard is the Godfather! – on Thursday, December 8 at 7:30 pm at the Grande Salle in Epalinges!

In turn, our 150 dogs are waiting to be sponsored, thanks to your generosity – – www.banoboun.org -.

We are grateful to Sarah for offering the benefit of her conference to the Refuge!

Best wishes for the upcoming holidays... 76">

A bouquet of THANKS to you, so many, who follow me and encourage me through the news I share with you!

For you, all my wishes of Serenity, so that these 365 days to live in 2017 allow you to realize your aspirations and keep your dreams!

Good wind to all!

Dominique Brustlein

My best wishes for a sparkling 2016 !

Dominique Bobst — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 07:56:18 +0000

Dear Sir or Madam,

Friends of yesterday, today or tomorrow,

For you, all my wishes at the dawn of this New Year that I wish you enamelled with the small and great joys that make Life beautiful!

For you, all my wishes of Serenity in a world too often disoriented and in search of meaning, so that these 366 days to live in 2016 allow you to concretize your aspirations and to keep your dreams!

Matthieu Ricard, – whom I had the privilege of meeting in early September during a Breakfast I organized for the benefit of the Nepalese projects of his Karuna-Shechen Foundation -, sees only one antidote to not being caught in the trap of empathic stress so often felt in echo to the suffering of the World: the altruistic approach!

There is only this movement of the Spirit, and of the Soul towards the other, which allows us to surpass ourselves and to give meaning to what has none… we are all potential “Near Helpers”, as long as we know how to open our eyes to what surrounds us!

My recent involvement as Special Advisor to the World Organization Against Torture has just given me a concrete example of this, on the occasion of a Conference-Debate that I set up at the beginning of December on the occasion of World Human Rights Day, with the support of the City of Lausanne!

Defenders of freedom and human dignity, coming from countries where they themselves had mostly been tortured, bore witness to their daily struggle, marked by courage and humanity, “spokespersons” for all the thousands of “voiceless” unjustly imprisoned throughout the world.

The time has now come for us to mobilize alongside them, to denounce this scandal of torture which has almost become familiar to us, insofar as it is practiced in many countries close to Europe, and even in friendly democracies!

On a completely different note, I would like to mention a major issue that affects us all – whether we are aware of it or not: mental health.

Who among us realizes that mental illness is the leading cause of disability in Switzerland, and that it is expected to become the leading cause of disability in the world by 2020?

The commitment to mental health represents a major axis of my action, on the one hand, through the recent example of Special Olympics, that of Graap, or through the numerous Ladies’ Lunch that I have chaired, dealing with this subject over the last few years, and on the other hand, in favour of the scientific research that is essential to better prevent and treat people suffering from these illnesses in Switzerland and in the world.

This indispensable support for scientific research is the reason for my role as Ambassador to the newly created FondaMental Switzerland Foundation, chaired by David de Rothschild.

We also need each of you in this fight!

A bouquet of THANKS to you, so many, who follow me and encourage me through the news I share with you!

Thank you to you who relay my Commitment and my commitments through your lines – in particular Nicolette de Joncaire in the AGEFI of November 6, 2015, and Arnaud Dotézac in the Market of Autumn 2015!

Finally, I invite you to take a few minutes to listen to Father Henri Boulad, a Melkite Jesuit priest, born in Syria, a specialist in Islam and a witness to the desperate situation of Christians in the Middle East!

What strikes me most about this man who has given his life for others and who lives in the powder keg that the Middle East has become is this …

There is only a “supplement of Soul” that will save our West, weakened and shaken from all sides. This means entering into the altruistic process without ever losing our identity!

Good wind to all!

Dominique Brustlein

Festive Greetings – Dominique Brustlein Bobst

2025, IN THE WAKE

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Best wishes for the upcoming holidays…

My best wishes for a sparkling 2016 !

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en habit de lumières !

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