Meditation at UN – Vo 05, No 03; 27 Mar 1977, Bulletin - Historical Repository for Sri Chinmoy: The Peace Meditation at the United Nations

Meditation at UN – Vo 05, No 03; 27 Mar 1977, Bulletin

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Content Highlights:

March 1977 report on events

East and West ….…….. .. .. …… …… ………. … … 6

A Visit to the United Nations Gift Center ………. 12

Question and Answer .…..• on world problems…. . .. . …. 18

BBC Interview ……………………….. . .. …. .. ….. 22

United Nations Meditation-Flowers …………….. 29

To-morrow’s Noon ……… .. … . .. .. …. .. . .. … .. ….. 31

How Would You Change the World? … .• statements for EARTH DA Y ’77. ………. 33

Dinner for International Women’s Day …. .... … .. 38

UNICEF Meditation .…………………………. .. .. 40

Song dedicated to UNICEF

Expanded Content List (with some descriptive narrative)

East and West ….…….. .. .. …… …… ………. … … 6

On 18 March 1977 Mr. Robert Muller, Deputy Under-Secretary-General for Inter-Agency Affairs, wrote Sri Chinmoy asking him about the role of the East and the West in today’s world. Included is Mr. Muller’s question and Sri Chinmoy’s rePly.

A Visit to the United Nations Gift Center ………. 12

On 11 February 1977J Sri Chinmoy visited the United Nations Gift Center which is managed by Ms. June Henneberger, a member of the Meditation Group at the UN. Sri Chinmoy mediated with the staff of the shop before their working day began and then gave a short talk. Included is the transcript of his talk.

Question and Answer .…..• on world problems…. . .. . …. 18

At a meeting of the Meditation Group at the UN on 5 October 1976, Mr. Le Kim Dinh, United Nations Correspondent for the New York Times, asked Sri Chinmoy the following question : “How do you view the problems of the world and how do you
think these problems can be solved?”

BBC Interview ……………………….. . .. …. .. ….. 22

On 11 March 1977, BBC’s United Nations correspondent Mr. Brian Saxton interviewed Sri Chinmoy about spirituality at the United Nations for a European radio broadcast. Mr. Saxton also requested a tape of the songs Sri Chinmoy has composed for the .United Nations and included “O United Nations” in the broadcast. The songs were sung by members of the Meditation
Group at the United Nations. The interview included the following questions:

can you explain the technique used in your Meditation Group?
Is this related to any particular religion?
What kind of people attend your meetings here at the United Nations?
The United Nations is, of course, a very political place. Do politics ever enter into your work?
And this is what you hope people will gain from your work? (bring into politics the light
and the bliss that get from prayer and meditation.)
Do you think diplomats gain anything special that is particularly usefuI to their own work?
Do you some times feel that despite these very high aspirations and targets, that sometimes your work is often overshadowed by politics?

After the formal interview, Mr. Saxton continued to ask Sri Chinmoy about his path and about
peace of mind:

What is your basic philosophy?
How would you characterise real peace of mind? How can someone really come to terms with themselves and be totally peaceful with themselves in their minds?
But how do you reach that state?

United Nations Meditation-Flowers …….- short inspirational talks during the meetings of the Meditation Group………. 29

SPIRITUALITY SPEAKS TO SIMPLICITY (22 March 1977.)

To-morrow’s Noon ……… .. … Sri Chinmoy presents interesting words in brief philosophical, whimsical or spiritual context. Series began in Dec 1976 issue of “Meditation the United Nations”.. .. .. …. .. . .. … .. ….. 31

24 – insidious and unbecoming attitude
25 – insouciance indicates an abrupt end
26 – maudlin sentiments of humanity
27 – appurtenances
28 – pandemonium
29 – panegyric
30 – fraught with teeming dangers
31 – nemesis

How Would You Change the World? … .• statements for EARTH DA Y ’77. ………. 33

As a sponsor of EARTH DA Y ’77, Mr. Robert Muller, Deputy Under-Secretary-General for InterAgency Affairs, received a request Jrom the International Chairperson, anthropologist Margaret Mead, for a brief statement ”giving your perceptions of some facet of man’s present global situation and your proposal for improving it.

Mr. Muller’s secretary, Ms. Lucy Carty, joined him in taking up the challenge, and included is the imaginative and interesting result.

Dinner for International Women’s Day …. .... … .. 38

In continuation of the International Women’s Day activities on 8 March, women delegates were
guests of honour of the Meditation Group at a dinner with entertainment held at Annam Brahma
Restaurant.

Group members open the evening with songs dedicated to the United Nations
Ashrita the Magician surprises and delights guests at the end of the evening.

UNICEF Meditation .…………………………. .. .. 40

On 17 March, UNICEF members of the Meditation Group at the UN gave Teri C. Sanna – Schiffel a birthday party at the Aleoa Building. About sixty UNICEF staff members attended the programme, which included a short meditation led by Sri Chinmoy and a seven-course meal cooked by Teri.

The Group’s singers sang songs about the United Nations and Sri Chinmoy joined a few performers for a song about UNICEF, which he had just composed. The song appears below.