History

History of World University of America

On January 27, 1974, a group of 17 persons, who had expressed to Dr. Benito F. Reyes their interest in his ideas on education, were invited to meet with him and his wife, Mrs. Dominga L. Reyes, at their residence to explore the possibility of undertaking some active implementation of those ideas. There emerged enthusiasm and confidence in starting a teacher-training program with this end in view. They called the organization, World Institute of Avasthology, from the Sanskrit word Avasthas, which means states of consciousness, and logy, which means science or study; hence, Avasthology, or science of total consciousness.

The opening date of February 16, 1974 was the earliest for which preparations could be made. Dr. Reyes felt that if ten persons came, that would be a satisfactory beginning.

Saturday morning, February 16, 1974, at 9:30 A.M., 67 persons were crowded into the largest classroom available to hear what Dr. Reyes had to say about the new philosophy of education. Some were there to inquire, some curious, most serious. When registration was completed, 36 were formally enrolled students, 31 taking the courses for credit to be granted by the future college when established. During that same six-week period, there were 103 single-occasion visits by persons not able to attend regularly.

The student body during this period was and still is composed of persons of all ages and all walks of life: teenagers through elderly, high school students, school teachers, businessmen and women, counselors, lawyers, workers and retired people. It has drawn persons of widely different religious backgrounds, traditional and current, and from many of the new groups concerned with human consciousness and personal growth. Its effect has been inclusive and expansive, excluding none, moving towards brotherliness.

The Institute, and its proposed future expansion into a full-fledged university, was to fill a need in the widespread search for meaning and hope in the chaos of current life. There was a compelling energy generated by the association of so many generous persons in serious efforts to move towards enlightenment and an improved human condition, both in the individual and in his will and concern for the welfare of others.

The original 17 people who met together to organize the Institute have been joined by a large group of interested workers eager to help when their services could be utilized. All teaching, labor, professional services, and administrative responsibility, were voluntarily undertaken without regular compensation during the initial stages.

THE FOUNDER

Dr. Benito F. Reyes was the founder and first President of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila) in the Philippines. Prior to his inauguration in 1968, he was, for 21 years, a professor at the Far Eastern University in Manila. In 1951 - 52 he taught at Boston University as a Fulbright-Smith-Mundt professor and in 1965 he was a Fulbright-Hays philosophy professor at the State University of New York. He lectured in Harvard, Brown, and other universities. He published a number of works on philosophy, psychology, and the quest for meaning and purpose of life in his poetry of 1000 Sonnets for God. He was a member of the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) that co-sponsored the World Peace University of Costa Rica. He was also with the Institute de la Vie of France, International Institute of Environment in England and in the Institute of Religious Psychology of Japan.

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