“PANAMA HONOURS, SRI CHINMOY BOWS “
Photos by Richard Howard and Lloyd Hart
Copyright © 1981 by Sri Chinmoy
Photos from Original booklet to be added at appropriate places in text below:
See also individual page images and PDF-OCR format of original Booklet at end of this section.
“Sri Chinmoy has shown how much can be done by having faith in the dignity and worth of the human person – in children, in youth, in the elderly, in men and women alike . All of us here have tears and smiles of joy in our hearts in paying a tribute of gratitude to Sri Chinmoy on the occasion of his fiftieth birthday. Sri Chinmoy is a guiding light that leads to the way of oneness and to the supreme Oneness itself. I would say that through his teachings he has given us Heaven-vision and earth-reality.”
With these words Foreign Minister Illueca of Panama presented Sri Chinmoy with his country’s highest decoration, the Order of Vasco Nuiiez de Balboa in the rank of Great Cross, in recognition of his work toward world peace. The occasion was the fiftieth birthday salute to Sri Chinmoy held at the United Nations in New York, where Sri Chinmoy has been leading meditations for delegates and staff for the past eleven years. Dr. Illueca continuously offered his strong support to the ideals and activities of Sri Chinmoy Meditation at the United Nations while he served as his country’s Ambassador to the U.N. After his appointment as Panama’s Foreign Minister in February 1981, Dr. Illueca continued to encourage the group in its efforts to serve the world community.
While in New York attending Security Council meetings, Dr. Illueca participated in the programme honouring Sri Chinmoy on 20 August 1981. As the final speaker in the programme, which was held in the Chapel of the Church Center for the United Nations, Foreign Minister Illueca told the gathering:
“Sri Chinmoy has said that a nation is a drop – a tiny drop or a mighty drop – in the vast ocean of divine, fulfilling and fruitful consciousness. My government and my people want to honour Sri Chinmoy today since he has done so much for all of us. The President of Panama and I , as Foreign Minister, have decided to grant him the National Decoration of the Republic of Panama , the Order of Vasco Nunez de Balboa, the discoverer of the Pacific Ocean. We want Sri Chinmoy to have this decoration because he has in his heart an ocean of the qualities of love, understanding and oneness. We always will keep the image of Sri Chinmoy in our hearts.”
Dr . Illueca then placed a maroon and gold sash around Sri Chinmoy’s shoulders and read out, in Spanish, a proclamation from his Government which he translated as follows :
“The President of the Republic of Panama, Grand Master of the Order of Vasco Nunez de Balboa, confers the decoration of the Order of Vasco Nunez de Balboa in the rank of Great Cross on the honourable Sri Chinmoy in recognition of his eminence. Given in Panama this 7th day of August 1981.”
The presentation of Panama’s highest honour had been a well-kept secret, a “surprise” decoration from the Panamanian Government for the spiritual leader’s fiftieth birthday.
Deeply moved by the presentation – the first national decoration that he had received-and by the Foreign Minister’s gracious tribute, Sri Chinmoy expressed his gratitude to Dr. Illueca and the soul of Panama:
“This is a most remarkable day for us and a most joyous experience that the soul of Panama is giving us in and through its choicest representative, its beloved son, Illueca. In accepting this most blessingful gift from him, I am bowing again and again to the soul of Panama. This is not only an honour but also a most blessingful gift which my life of dedication and my heart of aspiration will treasure until I breathe my last. What I have done for Panama or for the world is next to nothing. But what my Beloved Supreme is doing for me, in and through His creation, is beyond my imagination and far beyond my capacity to express in words. Therefore, in silence I can only offer my constant gratitude to my Beloved Supreme and also to those whom He has chosen, such as my dearest Brother Illueca, as His choicest instruments to love Him and serve Him soulfully and devotedly here on earth .
“I wish to invite the Meditation Group singers to sing the song that I composed in honour of Panama. They are quite unprepared to sing this song, but I am sure that the soul of Panama will forgive them even if they make many mistakes, because the soul of Panama knows that we deeply love her and adore her. Our heart of implicit oneness the soul of Panama will feel.”
(The singers performed the song.)
After the Meditation Group singers sang the song dedicated to Panama, as well as several other songs dedicated to the United Nations, Sri Chinmoy renewed his pledge of unconditional love and service to humanity. Looking back over nearly a half-century of spiritual achievement, he declared:
“My dearest brothers and dearest sisters, to each of you I wish to offer my heart of love, my soul of oneness, my life of concern and my God of Satisfaction.
“When I was an infant, God wanted me to be a God-dreamer. Indeed, it was a sweet experience.
“When I was a little boy, God wanted me to be a God-seeker. Indeed, it was a soulful experience.
“When I was a youth, God wanted me to be a God-lover. Indeed, it was an illumining experience.
“When I became an adult, God wanted me to be a God-server. And now that I am fast approaching my fiftieth birthday, God wants me to remain a God -server .
“Out of His infinite Bounty my Beloved Supreme has taught me how to love Him and how to serve Him unconditionally. Now He has a special Message for me, a special Command which I must needs execute. His Command is that I love and serve unconditionally His entire creation – His children, my brothers and sisters throughout the world-in the same way that I have been able to love and serve Him unconditionally from the day He made me sleeplessly and inseparably one with Him, out of His Compassion infinite and Love immortal, many, many years ago, before I crossed the threshold of teenage-hood. I pray to my Beloved Supreme to grant me this capacity, and I am sure that He has already granted it. For my Beloved Supreme would never ask me to do anything without having first given me the capacity in ample measure to fulfil His Will. I pray to Him to execute His Will in and through me. I pray that from today on I shall love and love and serve and serve His creation vast-my dear and sweet brothers and sisters on this earth -planet – unconditionally.”
* * *
Above: Foreign Minister Illueca of Panama decorates Sri Chinmoy with the Order of Balboa, his country’s highest decoration. Below: Dr. Illueca reads a proclamation from the President of Panama.
(image of proclamation)
The President of the Republic of Panama Grand Master of the Order of Vasco Nlliiez de Balboa confers the decoration of the Order of Vasco Nlliiez de Balboa in the rank of Great Cross on the honourable Sri Chinmoy in recognition of his eminence.
Given in Panama this 7th day of August 1981.
( Signed) lorge E. Illueca (Signed) Aristides Royo
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Grand Chancellor of the Order
Noted on page 6 of the respective book
(Signed) Luis Arrita Aleman
Director of Protocol
Several weeks later Sri Chinmoy had the opportunity to express his sincere gratitude privately when he and several members of the Meditation Group joined DL Illueca and his family at the Panama Mission to celebrate the Foreign Minister’s birthday on 17 September Presenting Dr. Illueca with a bouquet of flowers and a cake with his portrait etched in icing, Sri Chinmoy said:
“My heart of love and my soul of oneness forever and forever are with you. Also, I pray to the Absolute Supreme on this most auspicious day to grant you His infinite Love and His infinite Blessings so that you can fulfil your mission most satisfactorily, as you have been doing all along, not only for your country but also for the entire humanity. To me you are most precious, for you have pleased your Inner Pilot. This is the goal of all human beings_ We are all aiming at the selfsame goal, the goal that you have already reached.
We are all trying to please the Heavenly Father, which is what you have already done so soulfully, powerfully and perfectly.”
Dr. Illueca spontaneously replied, “You are overwhelming me_ When I am with you, I have another personality. I don’t have enough words to express my gratitude and appreciation. In fact , I feel with all humility that I don’t deserve the feelings and kind of friendship and affection that you have given me. I hope that the Supreme Being will give Ille the opportunity to do something really meaningful. ”
Later the Foreign Minister explained the history of the Order of Balboa: “In 1513 Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean after crossing PanaIlla, and the award that we gave Sri ChinIlloy is in honour of the discovery of the Pacific Ocean. The same ocean also borders Japan and China in the Far East. Because of this interesting background we thought that , with his universal view of Panama, it was appropriate to give Sri Chinmoy the award.
The Panama Canal has been in operation since the early part of this century. But it was Vasco Nunez de Balboa who made it very clear to the Spanish kings that this kind of passageway across Panama was the logical way to go from one ocean to another.
“The Order of Balboa was established in the 1940’s. It was granted to Sri Chinmoy with the same degree of Great Cross that is given to heads of diplomatic missions and Ambassadors. We wanted to honour him and we do hope that it will have a special meaning to him .”
Sri Chinmoy assured Dr. Illueca that the decoration indeed held a special meaning for him : “My students and I will always be grateful to Panama. Panama is the pioneer country in giving me this kind of award. We are especially grateful to you because it is you who represent Panama – the soul and the body of Panama. So for us it is your kindness and oneness that have come forward to appreciate us and what little we do for mankind.
This appreciation we take as a blessingful gift, and with this gift we shall try to continue our journey. You have truly considerably helped us in the little effort for peace that we have been making in the world with our prayers and meditations. Your oneness with our aspiration has helped us and will continue to help us beyond your imagination.
“It is our greatest joy and honour that you have appreciated – not only appreciated but also increased – our capacity at the United Nations. Our soulful capacity has been increased enormously by your constant support and guidance in so many ways. In the United Nations you are one of our strongest supporters. In the inner world we feel your strong support, and in the outer world we see it in all the activities that we do for the United Nations. In you we have found a true spiritual brother-a brother of fondness, a brother who has the illumination to guide his other brothers and sisters. My heart’s feeling I am unable to express through mere words. My heart knows, my heart feels and my heart is able to express only in silence how deeply my students and I are grateful to you .”
Dr. Illueca thanked Sri Chinmoy, saying, “You know that perhaps due to the good thoughts of you, Sri Chinmoy, and our dear friends in the Meditation Group, we were successful in getting elected to the vice-presidency of the General Assembly. Panama is one of the three Latin American countries to have the post of Vice- President of the General Assembly during the thirty-sixth session. ”
The Foreign Minister then gave Sri Chinmoy and each member of the Meditation Group a flower, remarking with a smile, “I feel that giving a rose or a flower is like bringing out our inner feelings. This is something I have learned from you.”
* * *
The close friendship between Dr. Illueca and Sri Chinmoy and the Meditation Group has grown over the years since Dr. Illueca and Sri Chinmoy first met in December 1977 at one of the group’s programmes at the U.N., “Oneness-Earth.” Dr. Illueca represented Panama at this “celebration of universal brotherhood and unity evoked in this season of holidays,” which was bmadcast by CBS-TV on Christmas Day. Since then, Dr. Illueca has participated in many of the group’s activties, including programmes for V .N. Charter Day, Human Rights Day and the anniversary of Panama’s joining the V.N. In 1979, which was declared by the U.N . as the International Year of the Child, Dr. Illueca hosted a reception for the diplomatic community commemorating the Year of the Child, held in a gallery which was having an exhibit of Sri Chinmoy’s paintings. In April 1980 Panama and the Meditation Group co-sponsored a free concert for the U.N. community by the world famous jazz guitarist Devadip Carlos Santana. When Dr. Illueca was unexpectedly called out of the country, Mrs. Illueca served as Master of Ceremonies.
* * *
Sri Chinmoy’s friendship with Dr. Illueca, along with his admiration for the Republic of Panama, inspired him to set music to the motto of Panama, “Honour, Justice and Liberty,” and also to write songs dedicated to Dr. Illueca and Panama. The words of the songs dedicated to Panama and Dr. Illueca are as follows :
Panama, Panama, Panama!
o heart-feeding panorama!
The world’s sleepless attention,
Your Panama-beauty’s perfection.
Small in body, large in hear~
To smash the pride of ignorance-dart.
For all, your Panama Canal-soul.
All long for its possession-goal.
(27 June 1979)
Ambassador Illueca!
Professor, Editor Illueca!
Barrister, Mentor Illueca!
Congressman, Chairman, President prominent,
Server, Brother Illueca!
A great illumination-mind
In you we find, in you we find.
A good perfection-heart
Has smashed darkness-dart.
A supreme oneness-life
Beyond ignorance-knife,
A God-satisfaction-soul.
Within your ken, your Goal.
(12 November 1978)
* * *
Sri Chinmoy was also inspired to dedicate a song to the President of the Republic of Panama , Aristides Royo. During his first visit to New York on 29 and 30 September 1981 , President Royo addressed the United Nations General Assembly, and also hosted a reception in honour of SecretaryGeneral Kurt Waldheim at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
It was at this reception that the President and Sri Chinmoy met for the first time. SI1 Chinmoy thanked the President for having given him Panama’s highest honour, and presented him with a copy of the song he had written. Deeply moved. President Royo requested some of the Meditation Group singers accompanying Sri Chinmoy to sing it then and there. After the impromptu performance. the President said to Sri Chinmoy : “Thank you very much for this song. This is the most beautiful gift that I have received here in New York .”
Following are the words of the song dedicated to President Royo:
PRESIDENT ROYO: A VISION-SUN
President Royo, 0 pinnacle-pride of Panama!
A vision-sun in God’s Cosmic Drama.
o swiftest deer-speed, 0 bravest lion-strength!
Yours is the heart of boundless oneness-length.
* * *
Above: Sri Chinmoy expresses his gratitude to Dr. Illueca when members of the Meditation Group joined with Dr. Illueca and his family at the Panama Mission to celebrate the Foreign Minister’s birthday on 17 September 1981 . Below: Mrs. Illueca displays a cake presented by Sri Chinmoy with Dr. Illueca’s portrait etched in icing.
•
Above: President Royo of Panama greets Sri Chinmoy at the Panama State reception on 30 September 1981 .
Below: Sri Chinmoy presents the President with a copy of the song he had written in his honour.
H .E. Dr. Carlos Ozores Typaldos, Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations (left) speaks with Sri Chinmoy at the Panama reception.
For more photos of the 1981 Sep – 3oth programme: https://www.srichinmoypeacemeditationatun.org/1981/09/30/president-of-republic-of-panama-aristides-royo-1st-visit-n-y-29-and-30-sep-1981/
Above: Dr. Illueca joins Sri Chinmoy and members of the diplomatic community in December 1977 in a programme called “Oneness-Earth, ” which was televised over CBS- TV. Brief excerpts from the programme follow:
H.E. Dr. Jorge E. Illueca, Permanent Representative of Panama: On this occasion we do well to meditate on the main purpose of the United Nations, which is to be a centre for harmonising the actions of nations in the peaceful attainment of international cooperation . .. . In their quest for peace, brotherhood and harmony, the peoples of the world share common beliefs, hopes and dreams, and they should come closer to one another at a time when this “Oneness-Earth” 1S approaching the twenty-first century. 16
H.E. Mr. Allard Lowenstein, Alternate Representative of the United States : People must remember, in this season , how much they have to learn from one another, how much they have to give to one another, and how much they lose by despoiling one another.
Mr. Thami Mhlambiso, Representative of the African National Congress : Let us resolve to bring an end to apartheid and to fight the enemies of freedom and justice. Let us remember also all our brothers and sisters who are homeless today, for it must be our task and duty to see that they also have a place in the sun, so that oneness on earth will flourish .
Dr. John Grun, Director of the International Year of the Child Secretariat: If there is one issue on which the world is in agreement, it is surely the child. Men and women everywhere agree with the Declaration of the Rights of the Child when it says that the world owes the child the best it has to give. That world, of course, is us, all of us.
Monsignor G. Chell~ Permanent Observer of the Holy See : The beautiful traditions of Christmas and occasions like this, when we can get together to share our thoughts and feelings at this season, are an inspiration to us to renew our love for our Creator and all of creation. We know that if all would have love for one another and for the universe which has been given to us, then all the problems of the world would be resolved.
Dr. Robert Muller, Deputy Under-SecretaryGeneral: Never before has there been such an opportunity for the fulfilment, for the flowering of human life into an unbelievable consciousness, if we work together at it, not only with our minds, with our hands and intelligence, but also with our hearts and with our souls.
Sri Chinmoy: The desire-man demands divisionearth. The aspiration-man yearns for OnenessEarth. Oneness-Earth means God-Satisfaction in its universal Dream-Reality. Dream is the oneness of the earth-family; Reality is the perfection ever transcending of the earth-family.
* * *
Dr. Illueca hosts an International Year of the Child observance in August 1979, attended by Ambassadors and representatives Jrom Costa Rica, India, the Philippines, the Seychelles, the Dominican Rep1tblic and Mexico.
Brief excerpts from the programme follow :
H.E. Dr. Jorge E. Illueca, Permanent Representative of Panama : The purpose which guides us today is to promote, during the International Year of the Child and in years ahead, programmes of action to supply basic services for children on the national , regional and international levels, and to stimulate the world community to renew and reaffirm its determination to meet children’s needs and to secure their fundamental rights.
H .E. Dr. Francisco Cuevas Cancino, Permanent Representative of Mexico: In the beginning the concern about children was in some ways a means of assuring the propogation of the species. We have transcended that. The human species is not in danger. Therefore, we have to care about something beyond this: that the children of today, who are the men of tomorrow, will be able to achieve what we are not able to do; that they should be spiritually better; that they should be educationally more qualified; that their outlook should be more universal ; and that, in spite of our present failings in this organisation, they should be able to go ahead and to do all those things that we are dreaming of.
H .E. Mr. Alejandro D. Yango, Permanent Representative of the Philippines: Children are a great national asset. No one will gainsay that they are also our resource in promoting fellowship , international understanding and cooperation. If our children are raised with love and righteousness , we can look forward to a world of peace and harmony in which their creative energies are wholly devoted to peaceful pursuits.
H.E. Dr. Emmanuel Esquea-GuerreroJ Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic: My country has shown solidarity with the cause of the children of the world, and this year, which has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of the Child, we have not hesitated to incorporate ourselves in the struggle launched by the committee in charge of the activities of this year.
Mrs. Maryanne NsubugaJ Charge d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of the Seychelles : I assure you that my Government and the people of the Seychelles have considered this International Year of the Child very seriously, for we regard this as a building process for the future. Whatever we do today, we are bearing in mind the children’s future development, education and place in society and the international community. Ms. Nina SibalJ First Secretary of the Permanent
Mission of India: The advocacy of the rights of the child has long been a tradition in India, and it is very much a living tradition today. In fact, the needs of children and the duties of adults to children form a part of our Constitution . . . . Keeping that in mind, and inspired also by the United Nations Declaration of the Rights (‘+ the Child in 1974, the Indian Government evolved a national policy for children.
Then came the United Nations proclamation of the International Year vf the Child, and we evolved from our national policy a national plan of action for this year.
* * *
Above: Ambassador Illueca and members of the Panama Mission sing their national anthem at the Panama Day celebration in November 1978.
Below : Mrs. Illueca, shown with her daughter Martha, serving as Master of Ceremonies at the Devadip Carlos Santana concert at the U.N. in April 1980.
Sri Chinmoy offers Dr. Illueca a trophy for his appointment as Foreign Minister on 17 February 1981 at a ceremony in which he was honoured by members of the international community. Mrs. Illueca and Ambassadors Davidson Hepburn of the Bahamas and T.J.X. Muwamba of Malawi look on.
Brief excerpts from the programme follow: Ambassador Zenon Rossides, Permanent Mission of Cyprus to the United Nations: Amb assador Illueca is a distinguished figure, not only for his ability as a diplomat, but above all for his character. What we need today in the United Nations and in the world is character-the ability to stand for what is right and not for what is pleasant to others, the ability to do what is right and to do it with the grace, the good will and the kindness that Ambassador Illueca has shown in his work.
H.E. Mr. Ignatius Benedict Fonseka, Permanent Representatz·ve of Sri Lanka : I need hardly say that it is a recognition of the great qualities, the performance and the acceptability of Foreign Minister Illueca to have been called by his government to head its Foreign Ministry.
H.E. Mr. T. J. X. Muwamba, Permanent Representative of Malawi: If we have had here at the United Nations a man whom you might call a silent diplomat, that man is Ambassador Illueca. We have had several explosive issues to contend with here, and wherever we involved Ambassador Illueca , we were sure of coming up with a compromise of some kind.
SRI CHINMOY MEDITATION
AT THE UNITED NATIONS
United Nations:
the Heart-Home
of the World-Body
WE BELIEVE and we hold that each man has the potentiality of reaching the Ultimate Truth. We also believe that man cannot and will not remain imperfect forever. Each man is an instrument of God. When the hour strikes, each individual soul listens to the inner dictates of God. When man listens to God, his imperfections are turned into perfections, his ignorance into knowledge, his searching mind into revealing light and his uncertain reality into all-fulfilling Divinity.
For information please write:
Sri Chinmoy Meditation at the United Nations
GPO 20 – Room 1837
United Nations, New York 10017
Sri Chinmoy Meditation at the United Nations is an association of U.N. delegates, staff, NCO representatives and accredited press correspondents.
This information is presented as a service and does not necessarily represent the official views of the United Nations or its Agencies.
“PANAMA HONOURS, SRI CHINMOY BOWS “
Photos by Richard Howard and Lloyd Hart
Copyright © 1981 by Sri Chinmoy
“Sri Chinmoy has shown how much can be done by having faith in the dignity and worth of the human person – in children, in youth, in the elderly, in men and women alike . All of us here have tears and smiles of joy in our hearts in paying a tribute of gratitude to Sri Chinmoy on the occasion of his fiftieth birthday. Sri Chinmoy is a guiding light that leads to the way of oneness and to the supreme Oneness itself. I would say that through his teachings he has given us Heaven-vision and earth-reality.”
With these words Foreign Minister Illueca of Panama presented Sri Chinmoy with his country’s highest decoration, the Order of Vasco Nuiiez de Balboa in the rank of Great Cross, in recognition of his work toward world peace. The occasion was the fiftieth birthday salute to Sri Chinmoy held at the United Nations in New York, where Sri Chinmoy has been leading meditations for delegates and staff for the past eleven years. Dr. Illueca continuously offered his strong support to the ideals and activities of Sri Chinmoy Meditation at the United Nations while he served as his country’s Ambassador to the U.N. After his appointment as Panama’s Foreign Minister in February 1981, Dr. Illueca continued to encourage the group in its efforts to serve the world community.
While in New York attending Security Council meetings, Dr. Illueca participated in the programme honouring Sri Chinmoy on 20 August 1981. As the final speaker in the programme, which was held in the Chapel of the Church Center for the United Nations, Foreign Minister Illueca told the gathering:
“Sri Chinmoy has said that a nation is a drop – a tiny drop or a mighty drop – in the vast ocean of divine, fulfilling and fruitful consciousness. My government and my people want to honour Sri Chinmoy today since he has done so much for all of us. The President of Panama and I , as Foreign Minister, have decided to grant him the National Decoration of the Republic of Panama , the Order of Vasco Nunez de Balboa, the discoverer of the Pacific Ocean. We want Sri Chinmoy to have this decoration because he has in his heart an ocean of the qualities of love, understanding and oneness. We always will keep the image of Sri Chinmoy in our hearts.”
Dr . Illueca then placed a maroon and gold sash around Sri Chinmoy’s shoulders and read out, in Spanish, a proclamation from his Government which he translated as follows :
“The President of the Republic of Panama, Grand Master of the Order of Vasco Nunez de Balboa, confers the decoration of the Order of Vasco Nunez de Balboa in the rank of Great Cross on the honourable Sri Chinmoy in recognition of his eminence. Given in Panama this 7th day of August 1981.”
The presentation of Panama’s highest honour had been a well-kept secret, a “surprise” decoration from the Panamanian Government for the spiritual leader’s fiftieth birthday.
Deeply moved by the presentation – the first national decoration that he had received-and by the Foreign Minister’s gracious tribute, Sri Chinmoy expressed his gratitude to Dr. Illueca and the soul of Panama:
“This is a most remarkable day for us and a most joyous experience that the soul of Panama is giving us in and through its choicest representative, its beloved son, Illueca. In accepting this most blessingful gift from him, I am bowing again and again to the soul of Panama. This is not only an honour but also a most blessingful gift which my life of dedication and my heart of aspiration will treasure until I breathe my last. What I have done for Panama or for the world is next to nothing. But what my Beloved Supreme is doing for me, in and through His creation, is beyond my imagination and far beyond my capacity to express in words. Therefore, in silence I can only offer my constant gratitude to my Beloved Supreme and also to those whom He has chosen, such as my dearest Brother Illueca, as His choicest instruments to love Him and serve Him soulfully and devotedly here on earth .
“I wish to invite the Meditation Group singers to sing the song that I composed in honour of Panama. They are quite unprepared to sing this song, but I am sure that the soul of Panama will forgive them even if they make many mistakes, because the soul of Panama knows that we deeply love her and adore her. Our heart of implicit oneness the soul of Panama will feel.”
(The singers performed the song.)
After the Meditation Group singers sang the song dedicated to Panama, as well as several other songs dedicated to the United Nations, Sri Chinmoy renewed his pledge of unconditional love and service to humanity. Looking back over nearly a half-century of spiritual achievement, he declared:
“My dearest brothers and dearest sisters, to each of you I wish to offer my heart of love, my soul of oneness, my life of concern and my God of Satisfaction.
“When I was an infant, God wanted me to be a God-dreamer. Indeed, it was a sweet experience.
“When I was a little boy, God wanted me to be a God-seeker. Indeed, it was a soulful experience.
“When I was a youth, God wanted me to be a God-lover. Indeed, it was an illumining experience.
“When I became an adult, God wanted me to be a God-server. And now that I am fast approaching my fiftieth birthday, God wants me to remain a God -server .
“Out of His infinite Bounty my Beloved Supreme has taught me how to love Him and how to serve Him unconditionally. Now He has a special Message for me, a special Command which I must needs execute. His Command is that I love and serve unconditionally His entire creation – His children, my brothers and sisters throughout the world-in the same way that I have been able to love and serve Him unconditionally from the day He made me sleeplessly and inseparably one with Him, out of His Compassion infinite and Love immortal, many, many years ago, before I crossed the threshold of teenage-hood. I pray to my Beloved Supreme to grant me this capacity, and I am sure that He has already granted it. For my Beloved Supreme would never ask me to do anything without having first given me the capacity in ample measure to fulfil His Will. I pray to Him to execute His Will in and through me. I pray that from today on I shall love and love and serve and serve His creation vast-my dear and sweet brothers and sisters on this earth -planet – unconditionally.”
* * *
Above: Foreign Minister Illueca of Panama decorates Sri Chinmoy with the Order of Balboa, his country’s highest decoration. Below: Dr. Illueca reads a proclamation from the President of Panama.
(image of proclamation)
The President of the Republic of Panama Grand Master of the Order of Vasco Nlliiez de Balboa confers the decoration of the Order of Vasco Nlliiez de Balboa in the rank of Great Cross on the honourable Sri Chinmoy in recognition of his eminence.
Given in Panama this 7th day of August 1981.
( Signed) lorge E. Illueca (Signed) Aristides Royo
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Grand Chancellor of the Order
Noted on page 6 of the respective book
(Signed) Luis Arrita Aleman
Director of Protocol
Several weeks later Sri Chinmoy had the opportunity to express his sincere gratitude privately when he and several members of the Meditation Group joined DL Illueca and his family at the Panama Mission to celebrate the Foreign Minister’s birthday on 17 September Presenting Dr. Illueca with a bouquet of flowers and a cake with his portrait etched in icing, Sri Chinmoy said:
“My heart of love and my soul of oneness forever and forever are with you. Also, I pray to the Absolute Supreme on this most auspicious day to grant you His infinite Love and His infinite Blessings so that you can fulfil your mission most satisfactorily, as you have been doing all along, not only for your country but also for the entire humanity. To me you are most precious, for you have pleased your Inner Pilot. This is the goal of all human beings_ We are all aiming at the selfsame goal, the goal that you have already reached.
We are all trying to please the Heavenly Father, which is what you have already done so soulfully, powerfully and perfectly.”
Dr. Illueca spontaneously replied, “You are overwhelming me_ When I am with you, I have another personality. I don’t have enough words to express my gratitude and appreciation. In fact , I feel with all humility that I don’t deserve the feelings and kind of friendship and affection that you have given me. I hope that the Supreme Being will give Ille the opportunity to do something really meaningful. “
Later the Foreign Minister explained the history of the Order of Balboa: “In 1513 Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean after crossing PanaIlla, and the award that we gave Sri ChinIlloy is in honour of the discovery of the Pacific Ocean. The same ocean also borders Japan and China in the Far East. Because of this interesting background we thought that , with his universal view of Panama, it was appropriate to give Sri Chinmoy the award.
The Panama Canal has been in operation since the early part of this century. But it was Vasco Nunez de Balboa who made it very clear to the Spanish kings that this kind of passageway across Panama was the logical way to go from one ocean to another.
“The Order of Balboa was established in the 1940’s. It was granted to Sri Chinmoy with the same degree of Great Cross that is given to heads of diplomatic missions and Ambassadors. We wanted to honour him and we do hope that it will have a special meaning to him .”
Sri Chinmoy assured Dr. Illueca that the decoration indeed held a special meaning for him : “My students and I will always be grateful to Panama. Panama is the pioneer country in giving me this kind of award. We are especially grateful to you because it is you who represent Panama – the soul and the body of Panama. So for us it is your kindness and oneness that have come forward to appreciate us and what little we do for mankind.
This appreciation we take as a blessingful gift, and with this gift we shall try to continue our journey. You have truly considerably helped us in the little effort for peace that we have been making in the world with our prayers and meditations. Your oneness with our aspiration has helped us and will continue to help us beyond your imagination.
“It is our greatest joy and honour that you have appreciated – not only appreciated but also increased – our capacity at the United Nations. Our soulful capacity has been increased enormously by your constant support and guidance in so many ways. In the United Nations you are one of our strongest supporters. In the inner world we feel your strong support, and in the outer world we see it in all the activities that we do for the United Nations. In you we have found a true spiritual brother-a brother of fondness, a brother who has the illumination to guide his other brothers and sisters. My heart’s feeling I am unable to express through mere words. My heart knows, my heart feels and my heart is able to express only in silence how deeply my students and I are grateful to you .”
Dr. Illueca thanked Sri Chinmoy, saying, “You know that perhaps due to the good thoughts of you, Sri Chinmoy, and our dear friends in the Meditation Group, we were successful in getting elected to the vice-presidency of the General Assembly. Panama is one of the three Latin American countries to have the post of Vice- President of the General Assembly during the thirty-sixth session. “
The Foreign Minister then gave Sri Chinmoy and each member of the Meditation Group a flower, remarking with a smile, “I feel that giving a rose or a flower is like bringing out our inner feelings. This is something I have learned from you.”
* * *
The close friendship between Dr. Illueca and Sri Chinmoy and the Meditation Group has grown over the years since Dr. Illueca and Sri Chinmoy first met in December 1977 at one of the group’s programmes at the U.N., “Oneness-Earth.” Dr. Illueca represented Panama at this “celebration of universal brotherhood and unity evoked in this season of holidays,” which was bmadcast by CBS-TV on Christmas Day. Since then, Dr. Illueca has participated in many of the group’s activties, including programmes for V .N. Charter Day, Human Rights Day and the anniversary of Panama’s joining the V.N. In 1979, which was declared by the U.N . as the International Year of the Child, Dr. Illueca hosted a reception for the diplomatic community commemorating the Year of the Child, held in a gallery which was having an exhibit of Sri Chinmoy’s paintings. In April 1980 Panama and the Meditation Group co-sponsored a free concert for the U.N. community by the world famous jazz guitarist Devadip Carlos Santana. When Dr. Illueca was unexpectedly called out of the country, Mrs. Illueca served as Master of Ceremonies.
* * *
Sri Chinmoy’s friendship with Dr. Illueca, along with his admiration for the Republic of Panama, inspired him to set music to the motto of Panama, “Honour, Justice and Liberty,” and also to write songs dedicated to Dr. Illueca and Panama. The words of the songs dedicated to Panama and Dr. Illueca are as follows :
Panama, Panama, Panama!
o heart-feeding panorama!
The world’s sleepless attention,
Your Panama-beauty’s perfection.
Small in body, large in hear~
To smash the pride of ignorance-dart.
For all, your Panama Canal-soul.
All long for its possession-goal.
(27 June 1979)
Ambassador Illueca!
Professor, Editor Illueca!
Barrister, Mentor Illueca!
Congressman, Chairman, President prominent,
Server, Brother Illueca!
A great illumination-mind
In you we find, in you we find.
A good perfection-heart
Has smashed darkness-dart.
A supreme oneness-life
Beyond ignorance-knife,
A God-satisfaction-soul.
Within your ken, your Goal.
(12 November 1978)
* * *
Sri Chinmoy was also inspired to dedicate a song to the President of the Republic of Panama , Aristides Royo. During his first visit to New York on 29 and 30 September 1981 , President Royo addressed the United Nations General Assembly, and also hosted a reception in honour of SecretaryGeneral Kurt Waldheim at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
It was at this reception that the President and Sri Chinmoy met for the first time. SI1 Chinmoy thanked the President for having given him Panama’s highest honour, and presented him with a copy of the song he had written. Deeply moved. President Royo requested some of the Meditation Group singers accompanying Sri Chinmoy to sing it then and there. After the impromptu performance. the President said to Sri Chinmoy : “Thank you very much for this song. This is the most beautiful gift that I have received here in New York .”
Following are the words of the song dedicated to President Royo:
PRESIDENT ROYO: A VISION-SUN
President Royo, 0 pinnacle-pride of Panama!
A vision-sun in God’s Cosmic Drama.
o swiftest deer-speed, 0 bravest lion-strength!
Yours is the heart of boundless oneness-length.
* * *
Above: Sri Chinmoy expresses his gratitude to Dr. Illueca when members of the Meditation Group joined with Dr. Illueca and his family at the Panama Mission to celebrate the Foreign Minister’s birthday on 17 September 1981 . Below: Mrs. Illueca displays a cake presented by Sri Chinmoy with Dr. Illueca’s portrait etched in icing.
•
Above: President Royo of Panama greets Sri Chinmoy at the Panama State reception on 30 September 1981 .
Below: Sri Chinmoy presents the President with a copy of the song he had written in his honour.
H .E. Dr. Carlos Ozores Typaldos, Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations (left) speaks with Sri Chinmoy at the Panama reception.
Above: Dr. Illueca joins Sri Chinmoy and members of the diplomatic community in December 1977 in a programme called “Oneness-Earth, ” which was televised over CBS- TV. Brief excerpts from the programme follow:
H.E. Dr. Jorge E. Illueca, Permanent Representative of Panama: On this occasion we do well to meditate on the main purpose of the United Nations, which is to be a centre for harmonising the actions of nations in the peaceful attainment of international cooperation . .. . In their quest for peace, brotherhood and harmony, the peoples of the world share common beliefs, hopes and dreams, and they should come closer to one another at a time when this “Oneness-Earth” 1S approaching the twenty-first century. 16
H.E. Mr. Allard Lowenstein, Alternate Representative of the United States : People must remember, in this season , how much they have to learn from one another, how much they have to give to one another, and how much they lose by despoiling one another.
Mr. Thami Mhlambiso, Representative of the African National Congress : Let us resolve to bring an end to apartheid and to fight the enemies of freedom and justice. Let us remember also all our brothers and sisters who are homeless today, for it must be our task and duty to see that they also have a place in the sun, so that oneness on earth will flourish .
Dr. John Grun, Director of the International Year of the Child Secretariat: If there is one issue on which the world is in agreement, it is surely the child. Men and women everywhere agree with the Declaration of the Rights of the Child when it says that the world owes the child the best it has to give. That world, of course, is us, all of us.
Monsignor G. Chell~ Permanent Observer of the Holy See : The beautiful traditions of Christmas and occasions like this, when we can get together to share our thoughts and feelings at this season, are an inspiration to us to renew our love for our Creator and all of creation. We know that if all would have love for one another and for the universe which has been given to us, then all the problems of the world would be resolved.
Dr. Robert Muller, Deputy Under-SecretaryGeneral: Never before has there been such an opportunity for the fulfilment, for the flowering of human life into an unbelievable consciousness, if we work together at it, not only with our minds, with our hands and intelligence, but also with our hearts and with our souls.
Sri Chinmoy: The desire-man demands divisionearth. The aspiration-man yearns for OnenessEarth. Oneness-Earth means God-Satisfaction in its universal Dream-Reality. Dream is the oneness of the earth-family; Reality is the perfection ever transcending of the earth-family.
* * *
Dr. Illueca hosts an International Year of the Child observance in August 1979, attended by Ambassadors and representatives Jrom Costa Rica, India, the Philippines, the Seychelles, the Dominican Rep1tblic and Mexico.
Brief excerpts from the programme follow :
H.E. Dr. Jorge E. Illueca, Permanent Representative of Panama : The purpose which guides us today is to promote, during the International Year of the Child and in years ahead, programmes of action to supply basic services for children on the national , regional and international levels, and to stimulate the world community to renew and reaffirm its determination to meet children’s needs and to secure their fundamental rights.
H .E. Dr. Francisco Cuevas Cancino, Permanent Representative of Mexico: In the beginning the concern about children was in some ways a means of assuring the propogation of the species. We have transcended that. The human species is not in danger. Therefore, we have to care about something beyond this: that the children of today, who are the men of tomorrow, will be able to achieve what we are not able to do; that they should be spiritually better; that they should be educationally more qualified; that their outlook should be more universal ; and that, in spite of our present failings in this organisation, they should be able to go ahead and to do all those things that we are dreaming of.
H .E. Mr. Alejandro D. Yango, Permanent Representative of the Philippines: Children are a great national asset. No one will gainsay that they are also our resource in promoting fellowship , international understanding and cooperation. If our children are raised with love and righteousness , we can look forward to a world of peace and harmony in which their creative energies are wholly devoted to peaceful pursuits.
H.E. Dr. Emmanuel Esquea-GuerreroJ Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic: My country has shown solidarity with the cause of the children of the world, and this year, which has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of the Child, we have not hesitated to incorporate ourselves in the struggle launched by the committee in charge of the activities of this year.
Mrs. Maryanne NsubugaJ Charge d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of the Seychelles : I assure you that my Government and the people of the Seychelles have considered this International Year of the Child very seriously, for we regard this as a building process for the future. Whatever we do today, we are bearing in mind the children’s future development, education and place in society and the international community. Ms. Nina SibalJ First Secretary of the Permanent
Mission of India: The advocacy of the rights of the child has long been a tradition in India, and it is very much a living tradition today. In fact, the needs of children and the duties of adults to children form a part of our Constitution . . . . Keeping that in mind, and inspired also by the United Nations Declaration of the Rights (‘+ the Child in 1974, the Indian Government evolved a national policy for children.
Then came the United Nations proclamation of the International Year vf the Child, and we evolved from our national policy a national plan of action for this year.
* * *
Above: Ambassador Illueca and members of the Panama Mission sing their national anthem at the Panama Day celebration in November 1978.
Below : Mrs. Illueca, shown with her daughter Martha, serving as Master of Ceremonies at the Devadip Carlos Santana concert at the U.N. in April 1980.
Sri Chinmoy offers Dr. Illueca a trophy for his appointment as Foreign Minister on 17 February 1981 at a ceremony in which he was honoured by members of the international community. Mrs. Illueca and Ambassadors Davidson Hepburn of the Bahamas and T.J.X. Muwamba of Malawi look on.
Brief excerpts from the programme follow: Ambassador Zenon Rossides, Permanent Mission of Cyprus to the United Nations: Amb assador Illueca is a distinguished figure, not only for his ability as a diplomat, but above all for his character. What we need today in the United Nations and in the world is character-the ability to stand for what is right and not for what is pleasant to others, the ability to do what is right and to do it with the grace, the good will and the kindness that Ambassador Illueca has shown in his work.
H.E. Mr. Ignatius Benedict Fonseka, Permanent Representatz·ve of Sri Lanka : I need hardly say that it is a recognition of the great qualities, the performance and the acceptability of Foreign Minister Illueca to have been called by his government to head its Foreign Ministry.
H.E. Mr. T. J. X. Muwamba, Permanent Representative of Malawi: If we have had here at the United Nations a man whom you might call a silent diplomat, that man is Ambassador Illueca. We have had several explosive issues to contend with here, and wherever we involved Ambassador Illueca , we were sure of coming up with a compromise of some kind.
SRI CHINMOY MEDITATION
AT THE UNITED NATIONS
United Nations:
the Heart-Home
of the World-Body
WE BELIEVE and we hold that each man has the potentiality of reaching the Ultimate Truth. We also believe that man cannot and will not remain imperfect forever. Each man is an instrument of God. When the hour strikes, each individual soul listens to the inner dictates of God. When man listens to God, his imperfections are turned into perfections, his ignorance into knowledge, his searching mind into revealing light and his uncertain reality into all-fulfilling Divinity.
Sri Chinmoy Meditation at the United Nations is an association of U.N. delegates, staff, NCO representatives and accredited press correspondents.
This information is presented as a service and does not necessarily represent the official views of the United Nations or its Agencies.
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