Sri Chinmoy:
The Peace Meditation at the United Nations

“Let each religion play the role of a flower. Let us make a garland of these divine flowers…”

– Sri Chinmoy, “The Song Universal,” 26 November1968, Church Center for the United Nations, in The Garland of Nation-Souls.

“The interfaith appreciation that Sri Chinmoy demonstrated by example in the 1970s encouraged many in the UN and interfaith communities. He supported the participation of the Peace Meditation in such observances through the years as expressions of unity and respect for various traditions.

“It was deeply meaningful when religious leaders again stood together in silent, prayerful unity at the front of a large UN conference room in observance of Sri Chinmoy’s passing in 2007, acknowledging his many decades of service to the United Nations and to the goal of world-oneness.” – Excerpt from DH draft message for 50th Anniversary

From time to time the Peace Meditation group at the U.N. offers special programs on various themes, often co-sponsored in cooperation with other UN entities or countries’ missions to the United Nations.

The leader of the Peace Meditation Group, Sri Chinmoy, members and especially the Choir associated with the group have often also been invited to participate in other activities that support the highest goals of the UN, including interfaith cooperation.Below are some examples of past programmes.

 

to include:

Interfaith Harmony & Shared Values (143)

History :

1968 Talk;   1970 weekly meditation invite;    1975 Support for Three Interfaith events (July, Sep, Oct)

• interfaith excerpt or quote (13) begins with 1968 Talk to UN Community “Song Universal”
• Interfaith meeting – conference (44)
  • Oneness – Earth – year end Program (broadcast by CBS) 1977
  •  Inter faith Commemoration Opening UN General Assembly.
    • Open of UN GA 1975, 76, 77 and participate with others 80s, 90s, 2000s
    • Interfaith Service for Work of UN and General Assembly 1997 – 2006
  • Interfaith Prayer Breakfasts for Opening of UN GA (Sept  1990 – 2000 ?)
  • Silent introduction at international interfaith conference at the UN  Spiritual Summit Meeting 1975 Oct 24
  • Seven minutes of Silence around the world on UN Day October 24th
  • ?Interfaith Programme at UN: commemorate Christopher Columbus Quincentenary 1992 Jan 29 begin 1984
  • Interfaith Harmony Week (multiple years Choir GA Hall etc)
• Prayer or silence day – event (43)
  • National and World Day of Prayer observances
    • 1975  “most representative Gathering of Religious Leaders in NY” –  NY times
  • Prayer Breakfast for Opening of UN GA (Sept  year – year)
• Spiritual figure and plays (16)
  • Religious figures plays at un
  • Theatrical Performances: Plays on Lives of Spiritual figures from different religious traditions
• Thanksgiving – Gratitude (39)
  • World Gratitude and Thanksgiving Days and International Year 2000
  • Meeting with Thanksgiving Square and foundation (open Square, Hall Thanksgiving)
  • Meditation Members participate in initial Presentation (outside meditation room 1987?)
  • Emergency prayer meeting – for Iranian Crisis on International Thanksgiving Day 1979 Nov 16.Dr. Muhammad Abdul Raul, .gave talk on “Meditation in Islam, He is  Director of the Islamic Center in Washington, D. C., and author of the article in National Geographic, “Pilgrimage to Mecca,”
  • A moment of silence at Interfaith Ceremony to present 1996 Declaration of World Thanksgiving to Secretary-General: Nov 21 at the Norman Rockwell – Golden rule Mosaic “Do unto others” .
  •  
• Christmas carols events. one programme lead by Mrs King – 1977 Dec 19
• Interfaith Celebration of the Life of Sri Chinmoy (1931 – 2007) at the U.N.
• Example Photos of “Oneness-Home” torch relay Interfaith visits and events 1994 – 2012
  • Torch relay + Interfaith Harmony encouraged by Pres. (2009 – 2011) UNESCO General Conference
• Excerpt or quotes on interfaith harmony and expression of  oneness .

A few other activities that show additional  public interfaith activities of that Sri Chinmoy had undertaken or supported included:

• Parliament of religions – 1993  in Chicago, USA ;   2004 in Barcelona, Spain.
• Excerpts from inter faith book “My Religion” including poetic appreciation for the inspiring gifts of many faiths: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sufism.
• Peace Concert and Citation from interfaith “Pluralism Project”, Harvard 2000 Sept 10
• Honouring Religious and Spiritual leaders or Communities supports Interfaith Harmony.
  • Interfaith Tennis Tournaments  for Religious and Spiritual Teachers 1987 – 1992?

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Details via photos and quotes – to be inserted:

Interfaith Harmony & Shared Values (143)

History :

1968 Talk;   1970 weekly meditation invite;    1975 Support for Three Interfaith events (July, Sep, Oct)

• interfaith excerpt or quote (13) begins with 1968 Talk to UN Community “Song Universal”
• Interfaith meeting – conference (44)
  • Oneness – Earth – year end Program (broadcast by CBS) 1977
  •  Inter faith Commemoration Opening UN General Assembly.
    • Open of UN GA 1975, 76, 77 and participate with others 80s, 90s, 2000s.
    • Inter faith Commemoration Opening 30th Session UN General Assembly 12 Sep 1975
  • Interfaith Service for Work of UN and General Assembly 1997 – 2006

    • Interfaith Service for Work of UN 1997 Apr 25

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  • Interfaith Prayer Breakfasts for Opening of UN GA (Sept  1990 – 2000 ?)
  • Silent introduction at international interfaith conference at the UN One is Human Spirit – Interfaith Spiritual Summit Meeting 1975 Oct 24. Sri Chinmoy offed a silent introduction to the first international interfaith conference at the United Nations, October 24th, 1975. Several prominent religious leaders attended, including Mother Teresa.
    

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    Sri Chinmoy offers a silent introduction to the first international interfaith conference at the United Nations, October 24th, 1975. Several prominent religious leaders attended, including Mother Teresa.

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Seven minutes of Silence around the world on UN Day October 24th

17. Seven Minutes of World Peace – Initiated in 1984, people around the world shared seven minutes of silence for peace at the exact same moment on United Nations Day, 24 October, at the local time corresponding to 17.00 – 17.07 hours Greenwich Mean Time (1pm New York Time). The event sought to focus the world’s attention on the urgent need for peace in the international and interfaith spirit of the United Nations. It had no political affiliation or purpose other than to work toward and strengthen the universal human aspiration for harmony, peace and oneness among nations and peoples.

The local observances were sponsored by non-governmental organizations, United Nations Associations and others in cooperation with “Sri Chinmoy: The Peace Meditation at the United Nations”. People were invited to join individually or in groups and to register their participation.

Inspiring examples of participation: in Sri Lanka, the United Nations Association organized Seven Minutes observances where over 70,000 people joined in 1986, and millions in subsequent years; in the former Soviet Union, in 1994, extensive radio and newspaper announcements inspired over 20,000 individuals to hold group or personal observances in 47 cities. This programme was held [years] …

Beginning in 2019, Seven Minutes of World Peace is now being held annually, with a revised format, on the UN International Day of Peace*, 21 September…As of 2019 the Seven Minutes for World Peace which ws originally observed since 1984 to coincide with UN Day 24 October was celebrated (for the first time) in various countries on 21 Sept. Seven Minutes of Silence for peace over many years also took place in various Secretariat offices one a week

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  • ?Interfaith Programme at UN: commemorate Christopher Columbus Quincentenary 1992 Jan 29 begin 1984
  • Interfaith Harmony Week (multiple years Choir GA Hall etc)

• Prayer or silence day – event (43)
  • National and World Day of Prayer observances
    

    img156-24-jul-1975-nat-day-prayer-sri-chinmoy-leads-silence

    July 1975  “most representative Gathering of Religious Leaders in NY” –  NY times

  • Prayer Breakfast for Opening of UN GA (Sept  year – year)
• Spiritual figure and plays (16)
  • Religious figures plays at un
  • Theatrical Performances: Plays on Lives of Spiritual figures from different religious traditions
• Thanksgiving – Gratitude (39)
  • World Gratitude and Thanksgiving Days and International Year 2000
  • Meeting with Thanksgiving Square and foundation (open Square, Hall Thanksgiving)
  • Meditation Members participate in initial Presentation (outside meditation room 1987?)

to consolidate:

SPECIAL PRAYER MEETING FOR THE IRANIAN CRISIS

During previously planned International Thanksgiving Day

An emergency prayer and meditation service was held in the Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium on 16 November 1979 on behalf cf the U.S. hostages in Iran and in support of the tireless efforts of the Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly and the Security Council members, all of whom had sent urgent appeals to the Government of Iran seeking immediate release of the captives.

Speakers included representatives of four of the world’s major religions, as well as a representative of the host City of New York.

The programme was originally scheduled as an International Thanksgiving Day celebration, and

• Dr. Julie Loranger represented Canada, which received recognition for its 100th celebration of Thanksgiving this year.

• Dr. Muhammad Abdul Raul, Director of the Islamic Center in Washington, D. C., and author of the article in a recent National Geographic, “Pilgrimage to Mecca,” spoke on meditation in the Islamic religion.

Emergency prayer meeting – for Iranian Crisis on International Thanksgiving Day 1979 Nov 16.Dr. Muhammad Abdul Raul, .gave talk on “Meditation in Islam, He is  Director of the Islamic Center in Washington, D. C., and author of the article in National Geographic, “Pilgrimage to Mecca,”

• Dr. Rauf then presented a letter of appreciation from Thanksgiving Square in Dallas, Texas, to Dr. Julie Loranger of the Canadian Mission, for Canada’s 100th celebration of Thanksgiving this year.

 

 

 

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    A moment of silence at Interfaith Ceremony to present 1996 Declaration of World Thanksgiving to Secretary-General: Nov 21 at the Norman Rockwell – Golden rule Mosaic “Do unto others”

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Interfaith Ceremony – World Thanksgiving

Present 1996 Declaration of World Thanksgiving to Secretary-General: Nov 21 at the Norman Rockwell – Golden rule Mosaic “Do unto others”

 

 

• • • Interfaith Ceremony presents 1996 Declaration of World Thanksgiving to Secretary-General: Nov 21
  •  
• Christmas carols events. one programme lead by Mrs King – 1977 Dec 19
• Interfaith Celebration of the Life of Sri Chinmoy (1931 – 2007) at the U.N.
  

  uthant-sri-chinmoy-photo-used-conf-rm-4-celebration-life-2007-crp.png

  .

• Example Photos of “Oneness-Home” torch relay Interfaith visits and events 1994 – 2012
  • Torch relay + Interfaith Harmony encouraged by Pres. (2009 – 2011) UNESCO General Conference
• Excerpt or quotes on interfaith harmony and expression of  oneness .

A few other activities that show additional  public interfaith activities of that Sri Chinmoy had undertaken or supported included:

• Parliament of religions – 1993  in Chicago, USA ;   2004 in Barcelona, Spain.
  • •  

• 

  1993-08-aug-28-parliament-religions-chicago-ckg-interfaith-meditation-photo.

• Excerpts from inter faith book “My Religion” including poetic appreciation for the inspiring gifts of many faiths: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sufism.
• Peace Concert and Citation from interfaith “Pluralism Project”, Harvard 2000 Sept 10
• Honouring Religious and Spiritual leaders or Communities supports Interfaith Harmony.
  • Interfaith Tennis Tournaments  for Religious and Spiritual Teachers 1987 – 1992?

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Gallery:

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