Congratulations, Ambassador Rossides, Cyprus 1979 May 31

Filed under Tributes and Expressions of appreciation

On 31 May 1979, just before Ambassador Zenon Rossides of Cyprus left for Geneva to chair the United Nations Disarmament Conference, the meditation group congratulated the Ambassador on his new appointment as head of the conference, and for his appointment to the Secretary-General’s group of experts on international security and disarmament.

Shraddha

Mr. Donald Keys, President of Planetary Citizens, spoke about Ambassador Rossides and the meditation group choir performed the song “Congratulation” composed by Sri Chinmoy . Excerpts follow.

PDF format : https://www.srichinmoypeacemeditationatun.org/1980/08/27/meditation-at-un-vo-08-no-08-27-aug-1980-bulletin/

See also: Gallery 2 below for related scanned page-images 35 to 38

Shraddha

Sri Chinmoy: Ambassador Rossides, Heaven’s brother, earth’s friend: Great greatness is your name, good goodness is your life, one oneness is your heart, full fulness is your soul. Cyprus offered you to the United Nations as a climbing, radiating and fast-growing tree.

The United Nations has offered you to the world at large as a huge, fully blossomed all-concern-tree. We, the members of the Meditation Group at the United Nations have discovered in you the source of Himalayan concern, compassion and protection.

If gratitude is more than a mere word, if it really exists as a living reality here on earth in aspiring human hearts, then we the members of the Meditation Group are the living gratitude -reality- all gratitude to you and to your kindness -heart and oneness-soul.

Mr . Donald Keys, President, Planetary Citizens,’

Shraddha

It is always a pleasure for me to have the opportunity to say something about my friend, our friend and a great friend of humanity, Ambassador Rossides, because we so much need his example- an example of honesty and integrity and courage . For great men, greatness is nothing special. For Ambassador Rossides heroism is the norm. This afternoon he said, “Well, I just had a big uphill fight in such and such a commission about such and such a matter. They were going to let it go by, but I insisted and because I insisted they put it in.” By the fact of his being here on this day, one more little incremental step was taken in humanity’s forward march.

Together with Archbishop Makarios, Ambassador Rossides was one of the chief architects of the freedom and independence of Cyprus. He was offered the post of Secretary for Foreign Affairs, which he declined and instead accepted the ambassadorship to the United Nations. He was the Ambassador from the day of Cyprus’ entrance into the United Nations until now. He will be leaving at the week’s end to take part in a group of experts, which is one more effort which he himself originated to try to get the members of the United Nations, the community of Nations, to think in larger terms, to think beyond narrow interests, to think about the conditions under which the community of nations can survive and succeed and thrive. His example for us is something from which we shall benefit and do benefit continuously. He reminds us of our own humanhood and of how no battle is lost unless you give up, which Ambassador Rossides never does. Thank you.

His Excellency Mr. Zenon Rossides, Ambassador of Cyprus to the United Nations:

Dear brother Chinmoy, dear friend and brother , Donald Keys, and collective friends , thank you for your kind words. The ideal of obtaining a certain amount of international security through the Un it ed Nations so that we can stop the arms r ace, is again a matter of struggling, struggling hard with trepidation and with faith.

I always feel tha t if you believe in something , then you will struggle with faith and with determination that arises from that faith. But in this case, the task is tremendous and time is running short. Scientists, by using their intellect, not their spirit, have come to a point where they realise there is something beyond the intellect, beyond science .

We may call it God or whatever we like, but that “beyond” is our link with the universe. Sri Chinmoy is cultivating that link. He is, himself , in direct contact with the universe. That is where he gets his inspiration, and that is why his inspiration is always right. We are trying to save humanity’s physical existence, but to do that, we must get to the spirit of man.

Shraddha

Man cannot save himself now, at this stage, without the spirit coming into play. And that is why I believe what Sri Chinmoy is doing at the United Nations is far more significant than all the discussions in the Disarmanent Committee and everywhere else. The discussions are only in words. But if we can invoke the spirit in man, then there is hope for salvation.

That is why I say I am not worthy of any congratulations, even for trying hard, if we do not reach the point where man will change radically in his approach to life, putting aside his self-gain. My humble work in the United Nations is for a good purpose, but we have not achieved anything in terms of man’s radical change.

There is more hope to achieve these things through Sri Chinmoy and all those who think 30 through the spirit , who are carried by the moral flow of the universe, which is a scientific and a spiritual truth.

I am grateful to you for the inspirational blessing of meditation.

Thank you.