Meditation Recognized as Pathway to Global Peace at UN Event

As the world faces escalating economic, political, and military challenges, meditation has emerged as a vital skill for fostering global peace and harmony. This sentiment was prominently expressed during a special event at the United Nations headquarters on December 19, 2023, where representatives from various nations gathered to commemorate the second annual World Meditation Day. The event, themed “Meditation for Global Peace and Harmony,” was hosted by the Permanent Missions of India, Andorra, Mexico, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Leading the meditation practice was spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who highlighted the growing body of research supporting the benefits of meditation. He noted that there are approximately 700 research papers detailing over 100 benefits of meditation. “Meditation takes a person to a space of unity that is within all of us,” Ravi Shankar stated, emphasizing its application across diverse settings, including schools, hospitals, and even war zones.

Ravi Shankar shared that around 8,000 soldiers in Ukraine have turned to meditation as a means of coping with the stress and trauma of conflict. “They had to be there as soldiers, and they felt darkness in them. They had no hope. They were depressed. They couldn’t sleep. The meditation helped them to regain their spirit,” he explained.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, addressed the ongoing global strains, pointing out the interconnected nature of today’s challenges. “Meditation becomes a potent tool for diplomacy too, pushing us to focus with greater clarity,” he stated. Harish recalled India’s role in promoting the resolution for World Meditation Day, which the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted, designating December 21, the winter solstice, as the official observance date.

“The adoption of this resolution marks a significant milestone in acknowledging that meditation transcends cultural, religious, and geographical boundaries, offering a universal template of transformation,” Harish remarked. World Meditation Day occurs exactly six months after the International Day of Yoga, celebrated on June 21. India had spearheaded the initiative for this observance in 2014.

As the observance unfolds, Harish reinforced India’s commitment to fostering peace and harmony, rooted in the understanding of oneness. He stated, “At a fundamental level, there is no duality. There is only oneness—within us and in the universe.”

The event also featured insights from Ambassador Lok Bahadur Thapa of Nepal, who stressed the importance of meditation amidst various global crises, including climate emergencies and social inequities. “Meditation offers a pathway toward global peace, harmony, and collaboration,” Thapa declared. He urged the international community to embrace meditation as a transformative tool, rather than merely a ritual, for achieving a more peaceful and prosperous world.

The gathering at the UN highlighted not just the therapeutic benefits of meditation, but also its potential role in diplomacy and conflict resolution. As nations grapple with unprecedented complexities, the call for a collective commitment to meditation as a means of fostering unity and resilience resonates more than ever.