UN Meditation – Room of Quiet – Link to History

Filed under Quiet spaces in the working world | Room of Quiet

The Meditation room or the UN “Room of Quiet”, which was redesigned by the second Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold. has an interesting History.

Window Outside "room of Quiet" Meditation Room

 

2011 photo outside Meditation Room

Other Photos:


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The Peace Mediation Group at the UN in 1977 sponsored a number of events during that 20th anniversary year which captured and shared some of  this important history.

Below are the outline and links to the details of two events:

A. 20th Anniversary since redesign of Meditation Room

“The United Nations’ hope for success rests on its thought and action being guided by the spirit that the room symbolises. “

  – Dag Hammarskjold (2nd Secretary-General)

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15 Nov 1977

  • Small gathering in Room of Quiet

  • Programme in Conference room 4,

    • Monsignor Giovanni Cheli, Permanent Observer of the Holy See
    • H.E. Dr. Carlos P. Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippine
    • Dr. Robert Muller, Deputy Under-Secretary General for Inter-Agency Affairs and Coordination
    • Ms . Judith Hollister, Representative of the Wainwright House:
    • Statement received from H. E. Mr. Andrew Young , Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations
    • Excerpt of a statement received from His Eminence, Cardinal Terence I Cooke, Archbishop of New York , entitled “Reflection on Silence”:
    • Statement received from Mr. Peter Stewart, President of the Center for World Thanksgiving at Thanks-Giving Square:

  • Six New songs – music by Sri Chinmoy

    • U.N. MEDITATION – words ~ Sri Chinmoy
    • THE UNITED NATIONS – words by Trygve Lie (1st Secretary-General)
    • MAY I BE OFFERED  ~ words by Dag Hammarskjold (2nd S-G)
    • GONE ARE THE DAYS  – words by U Thant  (3rd S-G)
    • IN THE WAKE OF THE MOST CATASTROPHIC WAR- words by U Thant
    • I KNO’W – words by Kurt Waldheim (4th S-G)

B. Excerpts on History of meditation Room

Program at Wainwright House, 10 Aug 1977

  • Opening – Silent Meditation and Musical Selections by Sri Chinmoy
  • Mr. John Ballard , President of the Laymen’s Movement and Wainwright House
  • Mr. Francis W. Carpenter, Representative of the Laymen‘s Movement
  • Dr. Robert Muller, Deputy Under-Secretary-General
  • Dr. Alfred Sunderwirth, Executive Director of the Laymen‘s Movement and Wainwright House
  • Mr. Weyman Huckabee
  • Mr. Robert McEvoy, City Manager of Rye, NY:
  • Note on Wainwright House by Alfred Sunderwirth:

C. Extended remarks from 10 Aug 1977 – more history on UN meditation room.

  • Mr. Francis W. Carpenter
  • Dr. Robert Muller
  • Presentation of Sculpture on behalf of Meditation Group
  • Mr. Weyman Huckabee

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D. 20th Anniversary – redesigned Meditation Room – SPECIAL PUBLICATION -15 Nov 1977

 

 

 

2 Page Summary of 15 Nov 1977 (below) in jpg format – also available in pdf

These two pages appeared in The Meditation Group report to the Secretary-General 1977

see also:

http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/dag/meditationroom.htm

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See also :

Introduction: UN Meditation – Room of Quiet – Link to History

A. 20th Anniversary since redesign of Meditation Room 15 Nov 1977

B. Excerpts on History of meditation Room – Wainwright House, Aug 10 1977

C. Extended remarks from 10 Aug 1977 – more history on UN Meditation Room

D. 20th Anniversary – redesigned Meditation Room – SPECIAL PUBLICATION -15 Nov 1977

 

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