Hear From Others
Nayana Tara Hein, Coordinator, Seven Minutes of World Peace
“Seven Minutes of World Peace is not just a “nice” project, where people get together to honor the International Day of Peace. It is something tangible, powerful, most special and sacred.
In the videos, images and texts below, you will be able to share in how others from around the world have experienced this special pocket of time. Their expressions are rooted in their own faiths, traditions, beliefs, and personal experiences. Some are taken from programs built around the seven minutes of silence, others are reflections about it.
As to my personal experiences, one in particular stands out. Although I have meditated for many years, when I sat down for Seven Minutes of World Peace in 2019, wave upon wave of peace descended upon me in a way that was so highly unusual and extraordinarily out of the ordinary. It felt as if I was receiving a gift from the universe.
I look forward to Seven Minutes of World Peace every year as a special opportunity, for myself, and for the world.”
Aye Aye Thant, during 2020 virtual event
1973 footage of meeting between Sri Chinmoy and U Thant at 3:50.
“To be a peacemaker…one must first be at peace oneself”
— Aye Aye Thant, reading the words of her father, U Thant
“I feel very strongly…that only by a practical application of the teachings of great religious leaders…love, compassion, tolerance, the philosophy of live and let live, modesty, and even humility, only with this approach, only with this method, we all will be able to fashion the kind of society we want.”
— U Thant, Myanmar, Secretary-General, United Nations
Ranjana K. Ghose, President, Board of Directors, Sri Chinmoy Centre
A recitation of Sri Chinmoy’s poem
— Ranjana K. Ghose, President, Board of Directors, Sri Chinmoy Centre
Ganapati J. Coleman, PhD, is an award-winning engineer and scientist.
“It’s amazing when you have thousands of people pulling together in the same direction. It really creates a force that can have real concrete and visible effects in the world around us”
— Ganapati J. Coleman, PhD, USA
Ambassador Toshiya Hoshino, Japan
”I meditated under the moon, wishing world peace and happiness, realizing that we are all connected spiritually beyond time zones and geographic distance. ”
Toshiya Hoshino sent this email report of he and his wife Chikako's experience during the 2021 Seven Minutes of World Peace. Toshi has served as Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations and as Dean and Professor of Public Policy at Osaka University. Chika is an acclaimed yoga instructor.
Shared by the United Nations in India
Nilanjana Kaviraj shares a song by Rabindranath Tagore that she was inspired to sing after her participation in Seven Minutes of World Peace
Experiences from around the world, 2021
Rupantar Larusso, Race Director, Sri Chinmoy 3100 Mile Self-Transcendence Race, reporting from 2021 Race
“Suddenly a quiet came over the Race. It was a real tangible calmness that you could feel. It was quite extraordinary…world peace was very powerful here at the Race.”
— Rupantar Larusso, USA
Lia Cristina Cao - Teacher, Argentina.
“He participado de Los Siete Minutos de paz por el mundo desde hace varios años. Es una experiencia inolvidable, tangible y esperanzadora porque nos sentimos juntos con muchos otros seres cercanos y lejanos por el mismo ideal. Agradezco la iniciativa de Sri Chinmoy para unir a la familia del mundo con este simple y muy valioso evento de siete minutos. Estoy segura que con el correr del tiempo millones de niños, adolescentes, familias, instituciones y organizaciones seguirán aportando su pacífico silencio para hacer más feliz a nuestro mundo.”
“I have participated in The Seven Minutes for World Peace for several years. This is such an unforgettable, tangible and hopeful experience, for we get the feeling of closeness with many other beings who have the same ideal here and there. I am grateful to the initiative by Sri Chinmoy to bring the world family together with this simple and very meaningful seven minutes event. I am sure that as years go by, millions of children, teenagers, families, institutions and organizations will keep on contributing with their peaceful silence for the happiness of our world.”
Ramita Kvirencova, Czech Republic
Music and video inspired by the International Day of Peace and Seven Minutes of World Peace.
Tahereh Ziaian, PhD, Professor in Psychology at the University of South Australia. In this video she shares what peace means to her in her personal and career lives, and as a citizen of the world.
“I have found only when I am happily providing my self-offering service to others who are in need of receiving my service and I am doing it based on the act of goodness, without any expectation in return, it gives me a calm and peaceful feeling. It is very fulfilling, well beyond expression.”
— Tahereh Ziazian, Australia
Aye Aye Thant, Myanmar
“I wish that more love, compassion and understanding guide the management of human affairs.”
— Aye Aye Thant, reading the words of her father, U Thant, from Wishes for Mankind, 1965
The Story of the UN Peace Bell, as told by Japanese students of Professor Harashita Sunaoshi at Gunma Prefectural Women's University
Roberto Carlos Gutierrez, Professor at the Buenos Aires University (UBA) and Consultant, Argentina.
“I got the feeling that we all can do something, we can all make a gesture to help someone, build with those who are around us for the betterment of our world and therefore, together have a world filled with more peace.”
Sumeru Scheucher, Austria
Very inspired by Seven Minutes of World Peace, Sumeru Scheucher has been organizing monthly seven-minute meditations in the main square of Graz, Austria, where she lives.
Sumeru relates, "Why not give people the opportunity to experience and feel peace in their hearts on a monthly basis? There is another force operating in the world besides destruction. And that is the light-and peace-force. We just have to experience it, believe in it and act for it.
"Since April 2017, even during the pandemic, this positive force has flourished on the main square in Graz on the first Wednesday of every month, beginning at 5 p.m. Some people know about it beforehand, and some meet and join us by chance. We begin with a peace-poem written by Sri Chinmoy, followed by seven minutes of silent meditation, and end with participants signing our guestbook with greetings, wishes and their experiences. As a summary, after six years of continuing this endeavor: everyone leaves the event inspired, with more hope and happiness."
See more photos here
