Meditation at UN – 1992 01 – Jan, Feb, Mar Bulletin
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction..
A Convocation for Peace . 1
Reminiscences by Mr. Robert Muller . 2
Moments of Peace in UNIDTCD , 4
Piano Recital . 5
Award Presentation by the International Association of Educators for World Peace. 6
U Thant Peace Award 10
- Presentation to Ganesh Man Singh . . . . . . . . . . . 10
- Presentation to Pir Vilayat Khan . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
World Peace University Presents Global Citizen
Humanitarian Award 16
Piano Performance by Masanobu Ikemiya , 19
Albert Einstein Medal for Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 20
Peace Run for the United Nations . . . . . . . . . . . .. 22
Indian Songs to Welcome Spring 23
Twenty-First Anniversary Celebration 24
- Manhattan Chamber Artists . . . . . . . .. 24
- Music for Peace 24
Global Peace Run Launched 25
Luncheon for the General Assembly President 28
Tennis Tournaments for the United Nations Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 29
Sports for Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 30
Meeting with the President of Austria 31
Peace Walk for United Nations Charter Day 33
Peace Run Videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 34
Concert for UNDP/OPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 35
Presentation to President Mikhail Gorbachev 36
Meditation for Peace at the New York Games 37
Assignment: The World-A Slide Presentation by John Isaac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 38
A Musical Exchange with the “Little Singers of Tokyo” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Questions and Answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Editor’s Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Expanded Content List
(with some descriptive narrative)
(some introductions and /or links to longer individual articles)
INTRODUCTION
“The United Nations is a cry, a movement, a forward march, a forward adventure,” says Sri Chinmoy. “The United Nations is crying for peace, and this very act of crying is its real capacity.“
Although keeping in touch with an inner cry for peace through twice-weekly silent meditation sessions is fundamental to the members of the Peace Meditation at the United Nations, the Group also participates in the “adventure” of the United Nations through other activities as well. With this issue of Meditation at the United Nations, the Editors are happy to resume publication of the Group’s news bulletin, which details some of these activities, and which originally appeared monthly from 1973 through 1982.
In addition to news, each issue of Meditation at the United Nations will include some of Sri Chinmoy’s answers to questions from UN staff members asked during the Group’s meetings at headquarters.
This issue covers activities in the first part of 1991. Activities for the rest of 1991 will appear in the next issue
A Convocation for Peace 1
On 16 January 1991, shortly after the Security Council deadline for Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait had passed, United Nations staff gathered at New York headquarters for an emergency “Convocation for Peace,” organised by the Staff Council. Staff Committee President Lowell Flanders told the standing-room-only crowd that the convocation had been called to “express our support for peace, and what the Secretary-General has tried to do.” (More)
Reminiscences by Mr. Robert Muller . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
After joining a Peace Meditation on 1 February 1991 while visiting New York, Mr. Robert Muller, currently Chancellor of the University for Peace, was moved to offer some reminiscences about his many years of service at the United Nations. Below is a brief excerpt from the remarks of the former Assistant Secretary-General, who has always been a strong advocate of spiritual ideals and is a long-time friend of the Meditation Group. (More)
Moments of Peace in UNIDTCD 4
On 4 February 1991, staff members of the Development Administration Division of the United Nations Department of Technical Cooperation for Development took a break to enjoy some “moments of peace” during a lunchtime concert by the Peace Meditation choir. The event was organised by a staff member in the Division, who together with her colleagues, participates in a brief meditation on a daily basis.
Piano Recital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 5
Mr. Surashri Paradis of the Programme Planning and Budget Division-and an active member of the Peace Meditation Group-performed piano renditions of Chopin,Debussy, Scarlatti and Bartok for UN staff in the Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium on 14 February 1991. The concert was the first in the new year sponsored by the UNSRC Music Appreciation Club, for which Mr. Paradis serves as Vice-President.
Award Presentation by the International Association of Educators for World Peace. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6
On 22 February 1991, Founder and Executive Vice-President of the International Association of Educators for World Peace, was the guest speaker at a meeting of the Peace Meditation at the United Nations. After explaining the background and philosophy of his organisation – whose more than 20, 000 members are dedicated to the idea of using education as a tool for world peace – Dr. Mercieca presented Sri Chinmoy with (More)
U Thant Peace Award 10
The U Thant Peace Award is a periodic presentation by the Peace Meditation Group to acknowledge and encourage work for peace. The late United Nations Secretary-General U Thant, a life-long practitioner of meditation, encouraged the early efforts of Sri Chinmoy and the Peace Meditation Group to bring forward the spiritual ideals upon which the United Nations was founded. The U Thant Peace Award is given in honour of this contemplative world leader’s exemplary devotion to peace, in both his personal and political life.
Presentation to Ganesh Man Singh . . . . . . . . . . . 10- On 13 March 1991, HE. Mr. Ganesh Man Singh, Nepali Congress Supreme Leader, received the U Thant Peace Award for his Lifetime commitment to democratic government in his country, providing a radiant example to other nations; (More):
Presentation to Pir Vilayat Khan . . . . . . . . . . . . 12- On 5 April 1991, Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, Head of the Sufi Order in the West, received the U Thant Peace Award in recognition of his efforts to bring about peace, harmony and religious understanding among all peoples.
- Excerpts from the award ceremony, which took place at United Nations Headquarters. (More)
World Peace University Presents Global Citizen Humanitarian Award 16
The World Peace University presented Sri Chinmoy with its Global Citizen Humanitarian Award at its second annual banquet and symposium entitled “Peace and the Planet: Our Challenge of the ’90s,” held 15 March 1991 in Eugene, Oregon. Also honoured with other awards were Howard Frederick, the director of PeaceNet; Eulalia Bernard, Costa Rican educator and performer; and Debra Latham, founder and General Manager of Radio for Peace International. (More)
Piano Performance by Masanobu Ikemiya, 19
Japanese pianist Mr. Masanobu Ikemiya, hailed as an ambassador for American music abroad, performed for United Nations staff during a meeting of the Peace Meditation on 19 March 1991.
Albert Einstein Medal for Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 20
On 22 March 1991, Dr. Marcel Dingli-Attard-Inguanez, Founder and President of the Albert Einstein International Academy Foundation, presented Sri Chinmoy with the Albert Einstein Medal for Peace and an Honorary Degree in Literature and Peace Sciences on behalf of the Foundation. Founded in 1965, the Academy conducts research on world peace, the environment and foreign affairs. (More).
Peace Run for the United Nations .
.(From Lake Success to UN headquarters: 18.5 miles) . . . . . . . . . .. 22
On 7 April 1991, United Nations delegates and staff together with local runners participated in the Peace Run for the United Nations,
a group relay run in support of the United Nations work for peace. (More)
Indian Songs to Welcome Spring 23
On 11 April 1991, the Sri Chinmoy Bhajan Singers – a group of women performers accompanying themselves on Indian instruments such as tanpura, harmonium and flute-entertained United Nations staff.
Under the direction of Ms. Ranjana Ghose, the group has given concerts locally as well as in Europe and the Far East.
(More)
Twenty-First Anniversary Celebrations – Music Includes “Peace in 25 Languages” and Peace Concert
- Manhattan Chamber Artists . . . . . . . .. 24
- On 12 April 1991, the Manhattan Chamber Artists, with musical director Mr. Richard Auldon Clark, performed at the United Nations along with members of the St.Bartholomew Choir. Among the pieces premiered were “Peace in 25 Languages” and “Quartet for Peace” by contemporary composer Mr. Jeff Baker. The latter work used the poetry of Sri Chinmoy, narrated by pianist Ms. Maria Cisyk, and was dedicated to the twenty-first anniversary of the Peace Meditation at the United Nations.
- Music for Peace 24
- Two weeks later, o
n 24 April 1991, Sri Chinmoy performed an improvisation on the piano during an anniversary concert in the Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium.
He has played at distinguished concert halls around the world, notably the Royal Albert Hall in London, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York and St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.
- (More)
Global Peace Run Launched 25
An Olympic-style round-the-world relay, the 1991 Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, started on 19 April 1991 at the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza.
This biennial event, which was first run in 1987,
is a series of national and international relays spanning six continents intended to dynamically express humanity’s (More)
Luncheon for the General Assembly President 28
The President of the forty-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly,
Professor Guido de Marco, joined Sri Chinmoy and members of the Peace Meditation
for a luncheon in his honour at Annam Brahma Restaurant on 1 May 1991. (More)
Tennis Tournaments for the United Nations Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 29
Men’s and women’s singles tournaments for the United Nations community
were organised in May 1991 by the Peace Meditation Group.
(More)
Sports for Peace: European Parliament, Brussels; International Olympic Committee, Switzerland. 30
Sri Chinmoy hands the peace torch from Peace Run ’91 to Mr. Enrique Baron Crespo,
President of the European Parliament, on 6 June 1991 in Brussels.
Sri Chinmoy meets with Mr. Juan Aruonio Samaranch, President of the International Olympic Committee,
in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 3 June 1991, to discuss the promotion of peace through athletics.
- (More)
Meeting with the President of Austria 31
Austrian President Kurt Waldheim offered his support for Peace Run ’91 and welcomed Sri Chinmoy to Vienna on 7 June 1991. The former United Nations Secretary-General presented Sri Chinmoy with the medal of the President of the Republic of Austria and a silver plate commemorating the President’s 70th birthday. (More)
Peace Walk for United Nations Charter Day 33
United Nations delegates and staff joined in a Peace Walk for United Nations Charter Day on 26 June 1991.
The event was co-sponsored by a number of Permanent Representatives of United Nations Member States along with the Peace Meditation.
Participants walked in meditative silence through a portion of the United Nations garden, carrying a copy of the Preamble to the United Nations Charter. (More)
Peace Run Videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 34
- On 21 June, a video of the Soviet segment of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run was shown during a meeting of the Peace Meditation. The Soviet Peace Run was inaugurated with a ceremony on the steps of the Kremlin in Red Square. Some 5,000 runners, including Vladislav Tretiak, Soviet ice hockey goalkeeper and national hero,joined the Run. The peace torch was the focal point at the start of the annual International Moscow Marathon. Soviet Peace Runners carried the torch from Moscow to Brest, a Polish border town. There the torch was passed to the Polish Peace Run team. Two Soviet runners accompanied the torch to its final destination in Vienna, Austria.
- On 9 July 1991, the UNSRC Cine and Video Club organised a showing of a documentary video on the Japanese segment of the Peace Run. Japanese runners passed the peace torch over four different routes, starting from Sapporo,Kyoto, Hiroshima and Okinawa, finishing together in Tokyo on 6 May. Also shown during the programme, which took place in the Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium, was a tape of a broadcast about the Peace Run on Hiroshi Kume’s popular TV news programme.
Concert for UNDP / OPS . – Moments of Peace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 35
About 50 staff members from the Office of Programme Services of the United Nations Development Programme took a lunchtime break on 10 July 1991 to attend a concert of meditative music by the Peace Meditation choir. Ms. Savita Shivaji, the OPS staff member who organised the event, meets together with a number of her colleagues for several minutes of silence for peace before each lunch hour. (More)
Presentation to President Mikhail Gorbachev – Book – “Master-Key of the Universal Heart” 36
Sri Chinmoy presents USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev with a book of poems and aphorisms which he wrote entitled “Gorbachev: The Master-Key of the Universal Heart,” while French President Francois Mitterrand looks on.
The presentation took place on 17 July 1991 in London, where the President was attending the G7 Summit. President Gorbachev and Sri Chinmoy first met at the residence of Canada’s Director-General in Ottawa in May 1990. (More)
Meditation for Peace at the New York Games 37
Sri Chinmoy offers a meditation for world peace at the New York Games – organised by the New York Road Runners Club on 20July 1992-beforepresenting Carl Lewis with the gold medal for 100 meters. (More)
Assignment: The World-A Slide Presentation by John Isaac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 38
United Nations photographer and photo editor Mr. John Isaac offered a presentation of his slides to United Nations staff on 23 July 1991. Mr. Isaac has traveled around the world as an official photographer, capturing the hopes and dreams of people in their everyday life, whether at work or in family gatherings or amid great suffering. He has won wide recognition for his photography, including awards from the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Nikon, Ilford, Kodak, Minolta, the United Nations and Time Magazine.
A Musical Exchange with the “Little Singers of Tokyo” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
On 3 August 1991, the day after their concert at the United Nations which was part of a world tour, the “Little Singers of Tokyo” gave a special performance for Sri Chinmoy and members of the Peace Meditation group .
The Japanese children and their conductor, Mrs. Hasegawa, were in turn serenaded by the Peace Meditation choir with songs composed by Sri Chinmoy honouring Japan.
(More)
Questions and Answers 40
- Question: How does New York or America benefit from the United Nations presence? (Answer)
- Question: Is the United Nations the seed or the fruit of world transformation? (Answer)
- Question: Does any small progressive act anywhere on earth improve the United Nations? (Answer)
- Question: Is it spiritually correct for some countries not to join the United Nations? (Answer)
EDITORS’ NOTE
Sri Chinmoy: The Peace Meditation at the United Nations is an association of UN delegates, staff members and nongovernmental organisation representatives who believe that the quest for world peace must encompass not only political, economic and social issues but also a broader, spiritual dimension. Through its twice-weekly meditations and other programmes for peace, the Group focuses on the spiritual values inherent in the UN Charter and the opportunities, through meditation and inner reflection, for all of us to better serve them.
The Meditation Group regularly sponsors symposia in which ambassadors, UN officials and religious leaders express their own dreams of peace to inspire others in both their personal and professional lives. The Group also holds commemorative programmes, concerts, films, meditation classes and athletic events.
The Group’s leader, Sri Chinmoy, is an internationally respected philosopher, lecturer, author and spiritual teacher with an inter-denominational approach to meditation. In 1970 he was invited by then Secretary-General U Thant and United Nations staff to serve as leader of a meditation group then starting up at UN headquarters.
This bulletin chronicles the Peace Meditation’s programmes at the United Nations, which are often held in cooperation with delegations of Member States and staff associations. The publication also includes some of the peace-related activities of Sri Chinmoy, who also serves as the head of a non-governmental organisation – the Sri Chinmoy Centre – recognised by the United Nations Department of Public Information.
About the Bulletin, Motto, Meditation Group at UN and Sri Chinmoy.
REGULAR WEEKLY SCHEDULE
- TUESDAY (weekly) – HOUR OF SILENT MEDITATION ,
- THURSDAY (monthly) – DAG HAMMARSKJOLD LECTURE SERIES ,
- FRIDAY (weekly)- SHORT MEDITATION, TALK, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
______ 1992 – Upcoming Events Dates and locations
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – Details Below – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
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