On 24 October 1983, Dr. Jorge Illueca, President of the 38th Session of the UN General Assembly, officiates at a ceremony organized by the Peace Meditation Group for UN Day, with a gigantic “Celebration Cake” built on the UN Visitors Plaza. It was inscribed with the poetic phrase “United Nations: The Heart-Home of the World-Body”
Dr. Jorge Illueca, President of the General Assembly, delivered the address at the UN Day ceremony in celebration of the thirty-eighth birthday of the United Nations…
Gigantic cake on UN Visitors Plaza – celebrating the 38th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.
G. A. President Dr. Jorge Illueca and Sri Chinmoy observe UN Day ceremony.
UN DAY ADDRESS
At the UN Day ceremony sponsored by the Meditation Group for 24 October, Dr. Jorge Illueca, President of the General Assembly, delivered the following address, immediately prior to the release of 3,800 helium balloons. “It is a great joy and honour for me to participate today in this celebration of the thirty-eighth birthday of the United Nations.
“It is a festive occasion, and at the same time it is an opportunity to renew our commitment to the goals with which we began our journey. Thirty-eight years ago, with the signing of the Charter of the United Nations in San Francisco, an historical journey was begun: the journey toward a united world.
“Some will say that the United Nations has not kept its promise; our world is still full of division and discord, far from its destination. It is true that the journey ahead of us is long and arduous, but that is no excuse for pessimism. On the contrary, this is the time for us to summon greater dynamism, great tenacity, so that we can together bring the promise of the future into the reality of today.
“I am keenly aware that I have assumed the Presidency of the General Assembly at a critical time in the evolution of the United Nations. Once again I affirm, as I stated “in accepting this challenging task, ‘Our organisation must be maintained. It must grow. it must persist, with the enlightened assistance of Member States. I am firmly convinced and fervently hope that, if we all unite, we will succeed in changing our course and advance along a new path, the path of justice, the rule of law, ethics, and the implacable will for change.’
Let us take this auspicious day as our own birthday, just as we take the United Nations to be the embodiment of our aspirations for justice, peace and progress in the world.
“I would like to express my gratitude to Sri Chinmoy and the members of the Peace Meditation at the United Nations for organising this meaningful celebration today, and for reminding us in so many ways, on so many occasions, of the need to pray for peace, to meditate for peace, to work for peace, to make peace a reality in our daily life. “Now, …, let us rejoice together in our efforts to achieve a world of oneness, peace and understanding.”
The large birthday cake decorated with the flags of all nations, and inscribed with “United Nations: the Heart-Home of the World-Body” was an inspiring backdrop for the days events which included an opening meditation by Sri Chinmoy
Songs by the Meditation Group choir and keynote address by H.E. Dr. Jorge E. Illueca, President of the 38th General Assembly, were part of the ceremony sponsored by “Sri Chinmoy: the Peace Meditation at the United Nations.”
A lunchtime crowd of 1000 people which gathered at the Visitor’s Plaza of the United Nations heard Dr. Illueca say, “ let us rejoice together in our efforts to achieve a world of oneness, peace and understanding.”
The celebration was opened with a brief meditation for peace by Sri Chinmoy, who offered the following soulful message:
“UN Day is the supreme victory of humanity’s colossal oneness-dream. On UN Day the earth-consciousness consciously and soulfully prays to the universal and transcendental Pilot for Eternity’s Peace, Infinity’s Joy and Immortality’s Perfection. UN Day has no earthbound mind, no division, no destruction. UN Day has only a Heaven-free heart, a heart of oneness in a fullness home, where the Lord’s Peace, Light and Delight in infinite measure reign supreme.”
Download PDF:
Click on image below for larger or different resolution Photo – Image:
Gallery 2:
Highlights in : A Moment’s Peace – Newsletter AMP/1983-05 Sep / Dec 1983
Editors Note : Some reports implied event was Monday 24th October 1983. The 24th of October is the official date of UN Day. However some reports suggested Friday 28 October may have been used either for weather or other scheduling considerations. Some photos also indicate they were processed on 28 October. (Anahata-Nada and A Moments Peace), Mohan Peck or Dhurjati Mueller might have memory of background of Weather or other circumstances which may have made the Friday a better day to celebrate on 28th)