International Day of Yoga celebrations with Vishwaguruji in New York City
Tuesday, 19 June 2018
Yoga: Peace, Unity and Healing - sharing collective meditation in stillness
On Tuesday 19 June, to launch the International Day of Yoga celebrations in New York City, people gathered in the Tillman Chapel of the Church Center for the United Nations, for an inspiring meditation sponsored by the International Day of Yoga Committee at the United Nations.
Three spiritual leaders addressed how we can achieve inner peace and harmony through meditation, creating unity with our inner self and the world in which we live. This inner peace is a path to world peace.
The evening was opened by Denise Scotto, who chairs the UN IDY Committee. She invited the audience to open their hearts to the messages of peace, unity and dignity.
Vishwaguruji shared with us beautiful thoughts about the oneness of individuals with the cosmic consciousness. He chanted sacred Vedic mantras and led a meditation on light and peace.
Gayatri Naraine from the Brahma Kumaris reflected on how meditation can integrate spiritual principles into the secular world. And Jude Currivan, a cosmologist, spoke about the connection between science and spirituality, reinforcing Vishwaguruji’s message about oneness, and emphasizing that it is manifested in many forms.
Young musicians from the TWNY Music Guild accompanied the meditation with classical music on violin, flute and piano.
This event was supported by Yoga in Daily Life and Sri Swami Madhavananda World Peace Council, Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, the International Federation of Woman in Legal Careers and UNSRC Enlightenment Society.
Wednesday, 20 June 2018
Practicing Yoga at the United Nations: International Day of Yoga
On 20 June, under a beautiful blue sky in New York City, hundreds of yoga practitioners gathered on the lawn of the United Nations to celebrate the 4th International Day of Yoga. After a welcome by UN official, Ms Indah Nuria, and a video address from Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, everyone performed asanas in unison under the guidance of local yoga teachers.
Vishwaguruji joined other distinguished spiritual leaders and dignitaries on stage to bestow their blessings on the gathering. Twenty international representatives of Yoga in Daily Life joined the practice. Music was provided by members of the Sri Chinmoy Center and modern interpretations of traditional yoga postures were performed by students who traveled from India for the occasion.
Dr. H. R. Nagendra, leader of the AYUSH Ministry of the Indian Government and a close friend of Vishwaguruji, closed the program with inspiring views on the benefits of yoga as confirmed by scientific research. Dr. Nagendra founded the Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, a university in Bangalore dedicated to the study of yoga.
As dignitaries and participants departed, full of joy and inner peace, they shared further conversation on the UN patio. People were drawn to the presence of Vishwaguruji, whose light and love radiated through the crowd.
Thurstday, 21 June 2018
On the occasion of the 4th International Day of Yoga, at a special event “Conversation on Yoga for Peace” at the United Nations, panelists shared their wisdom and experience of how practicing yoga can foster peace and harmony in society.
This inspiring gathering on June 21 was blessed by the presence of Vishwaguruji, author and founder of Yoga in Daily Life, and other spiritual masters who gathered at the United Nations this week to share their thoughts on the importance of yoga and meditation for social well-being and achievement of inner peace.
Speakers focused on the positive impact of the regular practice of yoga, which improves physical and mental health and contributes to better harmony between people and the planet.
Dr. H. R. Nagendra, Chancellor of S-VYASA University and dear friend of Vishwaguruji, spoke about the process of calming the mind through yoga, which awakes an inner silence and awareness. Dr. Nagendra, who was a panelist at the World Peace Summit organized by Sri Swami Madhavananda World Peace Council in 2015 at the United Nations, Vienna, again emphasized the importance of gaining inner peace and is a path toward world peace.
The audience was especially inspired by the talk of John Bennet, a war veteran, who spoke about the incredible influence of a regular practice of meditation and breathing techniques on post-traumatic stress, and Lila Lolling, the founder of Deaf Yoga Foundation, whose mission is to bring the benefits of yoga practice and philosophy to hearing-impaired people.
The United Nations’ International Day of Yoga celebration once again affirmed the need for yoga schools around the globe to continuously endeavor to promote yoga as a valuable and inseparable part of physical and mental preventive care. As Vishwaguruji regularly stresses, this care begins with the food we produce and take in, the society and people with which we spend time, and with the quality and discipline of our yoga practice.
