Collective meditation can strengthen our connection to that quality of our essential human-ness, to human dignity, to acceptance, to peaceful consciousness and to many kinds of healing.
To create an atmosphere that allowed for this experience, three Yoga Masters shared briefly on peace, unity, and dignity. After each presenter, the entire gathering reflected for five minutes, in silence, on the words they heard with the aim of going into an experience of them. Enriching musical performances followed each period of silence. It was amazing how quiet and still the 80 plus people who were present, remained.
BK Gayatri Naraine, UN Representative of the Brahma Kumaris, shared on the virtue of Peace reminding everyone that peace is our innate nature, and that yoga is a wonderful method to access that peace from within. She further explained that yoga means connection and at the UN, the Brahma Kumaris has connected with various tenets integrating the spiritual significance that offers deeper meaning and give a higher purpose. For example, ‘to reaffirm faith in the dignity and worth of the human person’ (Preamble, UN Charter); ‘all human beings are born free and equal endowed with reason and conscience’ (Human Rights Declaration); and ‘since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed. (UNESCO Constitution). When people are able to connect to the spiritual significance of the tenants, it is then possible for the tenets to have relevance on people’s lives and contribute to their well-being in a practical way.
Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda of Yoga in Daily Life, spoke on the aspect of Unity and Yoga, the unifying force, stating that with yoga, every thing comes together because we are all one and belong to One.
Cosmologist, Ms. Jude Currivan, then took yoga to another level by describing yoga as a means to connect with our Dignity or spiritual worth. She stated that this is a pivotal time in history – the ‘aha moment’ where yoga becomes the uniting force within the abundant diversity. This is the time when we either wake up, grow up, clean up, rise up, or not.
This event took place in the beautiful chapel of the United Nations Church Center, NYC, in the late afternoon on a very hot day. Yet, with the wise words of the speakers and the serene and enrapturing music of the violin, flute and piano, no one felt the heat, but instead, were lost in the experience of peace and tranquility. Students of TWNY Music Guild, a non-profit organization, provided music.
As a final touch to this uplifting afternoon, each participant was given a ‘blessing’ card. The program was moderated by Ms. Denise Scotto, Chair of the International Day of Yoga Committee at the United Nations. Many shared how refreshed and energized they felt as they left the chapel.
