U Thant Peace Award 1991 (d) Background – Previous Recipients - Historical Repository for Sri Chinmoy: The Peace Meditation at the United Nations

U Thant Peace Award 1991 (d) Background – Previous Recipients

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Main post is: U Thant Peace Award, 28 September 1991 – Overview

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About the U Thant Peace Award:

The U Thant Peace Award is a symbolic presentation by Sri Chinmoy: The Peace Meditation at the United Nations to acknowledge, appreciate and admire distinguished accomplishments toward the attainment of world peace.

Recipients of the award must reflect the lofty spiritual ideals of the late Secretary-General of the United Nations, U Thant. Previous recipients of the U Thant Peace Award Include:

Some previous Recipients:

• UN Ambassador Zenon Rossides of Cyprus, for his life-long emphasis on spiritual values as a basis for world peace and his efforts for national security and disarmament. This concern for security and disarmament is echoed in the recent speeches of Professor de Marco;

• Dr. Jorge lIlueca, President of the 38th Session of the UN General Assembly and President of Panama, for his personal example in supporting the ideals of the UN Charter and his long-term service in international relations and International law;

• The United Nations Development Programme, for its sustained practical commitment to world progress through integral development and its dedication to the fulfilment of each nation’s unique potentialities;

• Pir Vilayat Khan, Head of the Sufi Order in the West;

• Ganesh Man Singh, Supreme Leader of Nepal;

• Ambassador Lakhan Mehrotra, Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs of India.

Group offering the award, motivation and respect for U Thant

This humble award is offered periodically by a group whose members work for the international community in various capacities and have made an additional personal commitment to the world-uniting goals of the United Nations.

The award seeks both to inspire and to support the pursuit of the highest ideals of international service. We consider the support which the Meditation Group offers through this award as part of our own contribution to the spreading of these ideals.

The late Secretary-General U Thant, himself a life-long practitioner of meditation, appreciated and encouraged the early efforts of Sri Chinmoy and the Peace Meditation Group to bring to the fore the powerful spiritual ideals upon which the UN was founded.

The U Thant Peace Award was so named in honour of this contemplative world leader’s exemplary devotion to peace in both his personal and his political life.

Sri Chinmoy garlands U Thant on 25 May 1973, when he was guest of honour at the premiere of Sri Chinmoy’s play, Siddhartha Becomes the Buddha.

The cooperation of mind and heart towards an integral life of Oneness

In the present day it is becoming ever more clear that a brilliant mind lacking the guidance of a luminous heart may prove to be a dangerous weapon rather than a constructive tool. On the road to peace, great minds may clash, but when governed by good, wise and magnanimous hearts, they can work tirelessly together in the spirit of oneness.

Many in the General Assembly have commented on Professor de Marco’s wisdom, and we feel here, once again, his magnanimous heart.

In the words of U Thant, “Pure intellectual development unaccompanied by a corresponding moral and spiritual development will lead mankind from one crisis to another. Moral qualities of friendship, humility and the desire to understand the other point of view are as important as intellectual excellence.”

U Thant was, himself, an Ideal exponent of this integral life. He made time every day for silent contemplation in the midst of his pressing duties as Secretary-General. His example continues to remind us that an awakened Inner life Is possible, practical and, Indeed, essential for the peace-builders of today.

It is thus extremely fitting that we invoke his name today in honouring Professor Guido de Marco, who once again proves that a truly practical and effective life dedicated to world-transformation derives boundless power and Inspiration from the luminous spiritual heart.

Former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld and U Thant.