Programme in Tribute to Former Secretary-General U Thant Nov 1976

Filed under Tributes and Expressions of appreciation

23 November 1976. Programme of the Meditation Group at the UN dedicated to the memory of Secretary-General U Thant

Introduction: In his inner life he remained ever silent and at peace and outwardly assumed many different roles in his capacity as Pilot of the United Nations.

He was an untiring friend and conciliator to member nations; an elder brother and teacher to the Secretariat’s higher echelons; a leader to the large body of the UNs’ staff here at Headquarters and abroad; and lastly, the unconditional servant of humanity as a whole.

The Leader of the Meditation Group at the UN , led the silent meditation and offered brief message

Sri Chinmoy (bowing to a photograph of U Thant on a shrine on the stage) :

“We shall eternally treasure your soul inside the very depths of our gratitude-heart for your unparalleled service to the United Nations and the world-body. I am sure that even now from the soul’s world you are serving and helping us- the United Nations and the entire humanity – so that one day peace, harmony and oneness will reign supreme here on earth.

U Thant’s daughter, Aye Aye,and her husband were present and Speakers Included: Ambassadors Piero Vinci of Italy, Ambassador Ole Algard of Norway; Donald Keys of the World Association of World Federalists, and Robert Muller, Director and Deputy Under- Secretary-General.

for full report see See Page 6- 25 of Periodic Bulletin “Meditation a the UN” Nov 1976

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Excerpt from UN Secretariat News article:

The Group’s programme in honour of U Thant on 23 November

began with a silent meditation led by Sri Chinmoy.
U Thant’s daughter, Aye Aye,and her husband were present, as well as many staff members.
Ambassadors Piero Vinci of Italy and Ole Algard of Norway addressed the gathering.
Mr. Donald Keys of the World Association of World Federalists brought the tape-recorded voice of U Thant to the audience. This recording had been made at a farewell luncheon when U Thant reiterated his fundamental commitment to the moral and spiritual development of mankind as being as necessary, and often more necessary, than the physical and intellectual progress so prevelant in the Western world.
Mr. Robert Muller, Director and Deputy Under- Secretary-General of the Department of Inter Agency Affairs and Co-ordination, also spoke.
Members of the Group acted a scene from “Siddhartha Becomes the Buddha”, a play by Sri Chinmoy which U Thant attended in 1974, and
a short film about U Thant was shown.