Sri Chinmoy:
The Peace Meditation at the United Nations

 The event was held at 7:30  at Aspiration Ground Meditation Garden in Queens

Previous Recipients  present included

• Hon. Dr. Davidson Hepburn O.B.E: President of the 35th General Conference of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO);  Permanent Representative of Bahamas to the United Nations  for a Decade and  Founding Executive Director, Government Public Policy Institute, University of the Bahamas, Nassau
• Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, well recorded singing artist of both India and Bangladesh. A noted authority on songs by Rabindranath Tagore, she is director/founder of Surer Dhara, music academy in Dhaka

                                   Photo at Award Presentation,. From Left:

Previous Recipient: Rezwana Choudhury Bannya;

October 2017 Awardee: Aye Aye Thant ,

Previous Recipient:  Hon. Davidson Hepburn,

Previous recipients of award present were first introduced

Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, well recorded singing artist of both India and Bangladesh. A noted authority on songs by Rabindranath Tagore (Rabindra Sangeet), she is director/founder of Surer Dhara academy in Dhaka. There young people are taught music and the Performing Arts. She also performs the songs of Kazi Nazrul Islam, the national Poet of Bangladesh.  

Bannya has sung  at Aspiration Ground  and charmed us all .

We have presented her this award in the past and we’re very pleased you’re here with us tonight.

Hon. Dr. Davidson Hepburn O.B.E: President of the 35th General Conference of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO);  Permanent Representative of Bahamas to the United Nations  for a Decade and  Founding Executive Director, Government Public Policy Institute, University of the Bahamas, Nassau

Many here heard him speak eloquently at the United Nations and events elsewhere.

He joined us earlier today  and spoke beautifully on the anniversary of the inauguration of the Heart-Garden and Street in Flushing meadow corona park .

Ambassador Hepburn also received this award in April of 2012. During that visit we marked the inauguration on 14^th April 1970 of the  Peace Meditations at the United Nations. He attended those meditations when he was ambassador to the U.N. and first met Sri Chinmoy.  We were also celebrating the 25^th Anniversary of the Oneness-Home World Harmony and Peace Runs  which he supported on many occasions – especially a video message with subtitles in 25 languages when he was President of the General Conference of UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Ambassador Hepburn returned for the 2012 October opening of the Art Exhibit at the Delegates Entrance to the United Nations where he was a keynote speaker and helped us present the Culture-Light Award to Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the UN..  So we’re very very proud and honored that he has joined us tonight

On Presenting the Award:

Sri Chinmoy felt very affectionate towards Aye Aye. Although her life toils kept her in many different places – and Sri Chinmoy similar toils kept him, as we all know, visiting many countries around the world .  But there was an inter connection that was growing.

Sri Chinmoy ‘s had deep regard for U Thant and Aye Aye and would often inquire if Aye Aye had started her own non-profit organization. He felt she would be very gifted a this and that it would further her work in world peace and  bringing equality and education to the women of Myanmar and  other places.  Aye Aye is a tremendous Humanitarian In heart and in deed.

We felt it was particularly meaningful and appropriate to bestow this award on Aye Aye and her father jointly as they shared a vision and have worked together in so many ways.

Intention of the award:

The Sri Chinmoy Culture Light Award – is intended to honor those who bring light to the human Mind through culture using:  

• The written word;
• Photography;
• Cinematography;
• musical performance; or
• any other manner of the Fine Arts.

These expressions symbolize the creative Spark – ignited by the Divine – to help illumine Humanity.

Illumining the mind of humanity is a significant way to bring more peace and harmony to the world.

Experience of culture can increase the light of understanding.

Communicating higher ideals educates – and can clarify perceptions or mental states.

Illumining thoughts can lesson fear of the unknown.

All such efforts help to increase tolerance and a more peaceful co-existence. They potentially reduce friction and tension among individuals and communities.

The Goal is a more compassionate, accepting and understanding Society. One  which is more caring and supportive of  higher ideals and beneficial mores.

About the Recipient:

We give great value to those idealistic members of Society such as Aye Aye Thant.

They focus on higher Ideas and act as a catalyst for society to evolve.

For this role of catalyst in society we would like to bestow upon you the Sri Chinmoy Culture-Light Award.
As Sri Chinmoy was – you too are an educator of people.
Similar to your father,  You  endeavor to bring about Harmony among the people of the world.

Sri Chinmoy said “we are all needed to establish World Harmony here on Earth. We are all needed for peace.”

We thank you for the significant role you played and are playing to bring this about.

Aye, Aye Thant and U Thant You endeavor towards peace and World Harmony Through the light of culture.

Therefore we offer you the Sri Chinmoy Culture Light award.

The Etching on Crystal Award:

The etching on the Crystal award is from a World Harmony painting by Sri Chinmoy. Titled “Unity.” This series of paintings is comprised of the iconic birds of Sri Chinmoy. Sometimes referred to as birds of inspiration. Sometimes referred to as birds of aspiration. Sometimes the soul Birds. The song birds. Birds of beauty, birds of of light,. The bird as an analogy for the soul.

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Sri Chinmoy Culture Light, honoring, encouraging, recognizing the spreading of peace (the flight of the bird) through the Fine Arts, through music, through the written word, through performance, through the message of heightened ideals, manifest in our thought, word and deed  – as a conscious offering to Humanity.

The Sri Chinmoy Culture Light award recognizes your contribution to the betterment of the world’s family and we thank you for doing so.

Remarks at Sri-Chinmoy Culture-Light Award
By Aye Aye Thant   October 10, 2017

“May I thank Ranjana, Ambassador (Hepburn)  and friends from the Sri Chinmoy Center for inviting me here tonight and for presenting me with The Sri Chinmoy Culture-Light Award along with my esteemed beloved Father U Thant.

It is a great honor for me to accept the Award and to be among so many notable individuals. I take great pride in accepting it and do so in my Father’s memory as well.

As I understand it, the Award recognizes those who contribute to the betterment of the world-family. The Award reflects Sri Chinmoy’s life long contribution to peace and harmony in the World.

No questions would be asked about my Father’s contribution to the betterment of the world–family. All throughout his adult life as a journalist, writer, headmaster at the National school in his home town, a government official, an ambassador to the United Nations and as Secretary-General of the United Nations, he had advocated for education to help illuminate the mind of humanity.

He felt so strongly that the aim of our education system should not only be to emphasize the development of the intellect, but should also emphasize

the development of moral and spiritual qualities including tolerance, patience, humility, the philosophy of live and let live and the desire to understand the other person’s point of view.

Those are his words and although it has been almost 43 years since he passed, I can still hear them/him  inside me.

After he passed, I felt so strongly that his vision for peaceful co-existence and the need to make the world safe for diversity was more timely now than ever before. Sadly that need is still overwhelming. I have felt that it is my mission even in a small way to keep the vision of my father’s alive. He had said

“we have to learn to understand each other and to develop a spirit of One World”.

We seem to have failed in understanding the scope of that in  relationship to world peace and individual well-being.

Inspired by his vision, I founded the U Thant Institute to promote the spirit of cooperation, mutual understanding and friendship. Reflecting my father’s values and visions, the U Thant Institute organized events with speakers addressing current issues and problems facing our one world.

When my husband and I went back to Myanmar in 2011, together with our son Thant Myint –U and with the support of the Government we opened the U Thant House Museum. There, we continued the mission to share my father’s vision for world peace with a permanent exhibition of his life and work, spanning from his early life through his later life in New York. The exhibit includes photographs, audio-visual recordings, letters to and from world leaders, books, and other mementos. Lectures and seminars on education, religious and cultural understanding are organized and there is also a small Library where are copies of his writings and papers are displayed as a resource for scholars and students.

I am grateful for this opportunity to help me resurface my mission and to reflect on my father’s vision which has always been my cherished pride.

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to share that with you. If and when I get more opportunities I shall continue to help shine the light of my father in his quest for a peaceful world.

Thank you for the honour.

PDF of 2017-10oct-10-a-a-thant-Remarks at Sri Chinmoy Cultural -Light Award

MC: Now I invite Sri Chinmoy’s Brother-Friend,  Ambassador Davidson Hepburn to make a few comments as previously agreed. We are very honoured to have you come to the podium..

Hon. Dr. Davidson Hepburn O.B.E remarks

after culture light award presented to Aye Aye Thant.

Good evening dear friends.
Unfortunately I did not have the pleasure of meeting the former secretary-general U Thant.
I came to the United Nations I think the year of his passing. (1974). So I did not have the opportunity to personally meet him, but I did attend a memorial service that was held for him at the United Nations.

  I always knew that he was an innovator. I am going to give you three points that I feel will tell you more about him.

First, Secretary General U  Thant:

• supported UN SDGs long before they were called “sustainable development goals”. He was man who was dedicated to Education (and SDG goal 4 is Quality Education) *See Note 
• He had as commitment to all aspects of universal peacebefore it was called “culture of peace”

Secondly, The work of Aye Aye and the U Thant Institute have kept his vision alive.

• With the unique understanding of her father’s expanding vision she has encouraged all.
• Her wonderful dedication and personal example admired by so many is a highlight of the award.
• These  continuing efforts are invoking more culture and more light  — so needed in this world today.

Thirdly, this beautiful Aspiration Ground is a most appropriate setting.

Here: Light is valued and culture is valued. ..

Here: Artists share soul stirring compositions

Here: We observe great attention to the detail that create and maintain a beautiful sacred space atmosphere.

This is always a wonderful place to come for peace, and meditation and relaxation

 On entering this place

one feels culture,

one feels light,

one feels peace and

most of all,    one feels Oneness.

 So Obviously:      

U Thant,   Sri Chinmoy, and   Aye Aye     all share a profound

 love of oneness and spirituality  as a natural part of peace-building”

Thank You

*Note: Ambassador Hepburn has shared that he is using these United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) “to develop policies for the Government Public Policy Institute, University of the Bahamas, Nassau. “.  See more about the UN SDG’s: “17 Goals to Transform Our World” at: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/

can download in (in PDF and ms Doc formats)

• MS Doc format:- Talk Points for D Hepburn comment after culture light award to Aye Aye Thant 2017-oct-10-rev-01
• PDF Format:  Possible Talk Points for D Hepburn comment after culture light award to Aye Aye Thant 2017-oct-10-rev-01

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Note about the case for the award: 

MC: The Box this award comes in was hand embroidered in Myanmar in Mandalay, we had them done there when Sri Chinmoy had brought us there. Now Aye Aye will explain a little bit about the art.

Aye Aye Thant:  this is a very unique piece of Art in Myanmar. Actually it only in city Mandalay that  they make this kind of embroidery. We call it kalaga inn Burmese. So I am so pleased that I receive this along with the prize. With the writings of peace and from Sri Chinmoy . Thank you so much.

MC, the embroidery on this box says peace and Sri Chinmoy , and it is written in Sri Chinmoy’s handwriting. We gave the embroiderers that particular artwork, one of Sri Chinmoy’s Birds. Some of our girls went to Mandalay, and the Artisans there embroider these. They were very touched and moved. The little circle of ladies that worked on it – was a type of joy that we liked. When we were traveling with Sri Chinmoy all those years, we would give local ladies some business when we came to visit a place. Naturally when you travel usually the traveler have more money then some of those in the communities you are visiting. Very often in the east. This business can mean a lot to these woman who are in sewing circles to be able to make this extra money. It is so hard for a woman in many parts of the world to get an income. We found  that local sewing was away to support. One place in Myanmar we actually bought some sewing machines and gave them to some of the ladies in the marketplace.

In this case two of the woman from our group, went to Mandalay and had these particular boxes from the award made. The ladies who did the sewing we’re so proud of their workmanship and we were so thrilled that they really tried so very hard to do a beautiful job. And they certainly did. It may be hard to see if you’re sitting from a distance, but we’ll leave it here for a while so that you can come up if you wish to see and have a glance of it.

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Now we will have two U Thant songs and a peace song.

Sri Chinmoy composed these first two songs dedicated to Aye Aye’s beloved father former secretary-general U Thant.

The first one in 1976..

U Thant, U Thant

We love your silence soul, we loved your compassion heart.

Your world Harmony role challenged ignorance.

Un pilot Supreme. You treasured Perfection dream.

The second one in 1977,

Sri Chinmoy set to the immortal utterance of U Thant

Gone are the days when each Nation

was an island unto itself.