January 31-
February 4 -- New
York, USA
World
Economic Forum:
From
January 31 � February 4, over 3000 of the world�s leaders
� business leaders, political leaders, social leaders and
religious leaders � gathered together in New York City for
the World Economic Forum.
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Pujya Swamiji speaking with Bill
Clinton, former President of America during one of the
sessions
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For
the last 30 years, under the leadership of Mr. Klaus Schwab,
thousands of top business leaders, social leaders and
political leaders have gathered together to see how �
together � they can work towards improving the condition of
the world.
The
Annual Meeting is held each year in Davos, Switzerland.
However, this year, in order to show its solidarity
with the United States, the Forum shifted its location to the
Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan, New York.
The
theme of this year�s forum was �Leadership in Fragile
Times.�
For
several city blocks surrounding the venue, streets were closed
to both vehicles and pedestrians. Only those with official WEF
badges were allowed within the guarded area. With over 3500
officers on special duty to prevent any mishaps � ranging
from vehement protesting to violence � New York City
provided with the Forum with not only protection, but with
matchless opportunities for delegates to enjoy the creme of
American culture and entertainment.
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Top
leaders who attended the Forum included Bill Gates, Bill
Clinton, CEO of Coca Cola Douglas Daft, Secretary of
State Colin Powell, Rock Star and Social Activist Bono,
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo-Macapagal, Jordanian
King Abdullah II, Indian Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha,
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minster Nara Chandrababu Naidu, New
York Senator Hilary Clinton, famous cardiac specialist
and proponent of meditation/yoga, Dr. Dean Ornish, and
so many more.
This
year, as the business and political world are realizing
the important role played by religious leaders, the
Forum included a delegation of approximately 40
religious leaders from across the globe, including, The
Chief Rabbi of Israel, Meir Lau; H.E. Frances Cardinal
Arinze; H.E. Mustafa Ceric, Grand Mufti of Bosnia; H.H.
Patriarch Abuna Paulos, Patriarch of the Ethiopian
Orthodox Tewahido Church, His Grace George L. Carey,
Archbishop of Canterbury; Archbishop Desmond Tutu, |
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top:
His Grace George Carey, the Archbishop of Canterbury,
Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Pujya Swamiji
bottom: Pujya
Swamiji shakes hands with Hamad
Bin Khalifa Al-Thami, Emir of Qatar, at the end
of the Plenary Session |
Hindu
leaders present were H.H. Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji (Muniji)
and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
The religious leaders were brought for the first time in
2001 and with an expanded role this year in 2002, by the
Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual
Leaders. Shri Bawa Jain, the Secretary General of the World
Peace Summit, is committed to bringing religious/spiritual
leaders together as well as uniting them with political and
social leaders in order to achieve peace and harmony
throughout the globe.
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Plenary
Session on Bridging Religious Divides � left to right:
Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thami, Emir of Qatar; Mr. Klaus
Schwab; The Chief Rabbi of Israel, Meir Lau; H.E.
Frances Cardinal Arinze; H.E. Mustafa Ceric, Grand Mufti
of Bosnia; H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji (Muniji);
and His Grace George L. Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury. |
Pujya
Swamiji and the Archbishop Desmond Tutu |
Pujya
Swamiji talks with Chief Rabbi of Britain, Jonathan
Sacks |
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There were
daily working sessions between the religious leaders and other
groups (including the Global Leaders of Tomorrow, the Social
Entrepreneurs and the media). Additionally, there was a
special, large plenary session titled, �Bridging Religious
Divides� at which a top leader of each religion as well as a
scholar on religious texts, discussed issues related to peace,
tolerance, conversion, etc. Pujya
Swamiji was a discussion leader at a session titled "What
is Sacred in Today's World." He was also the Hindu
representative in the main religious plenary session titled
"Bridging Religious Divides."
Click
here to read Pujya Swamiji's speech on Tolerance in the
Plenary Session |
Pujya
Swamiji and Rabbi Meir Lau, Chief Rabbi of Israel
embrace after a plenary session. On the right is Shri
Bawa Jain, Secretary General of the Millennium World
Peace Summit. |
On
February 3, a leader of each religion was taken to Ground Zero
(the site of the World Trade Center devastation), where each
leader offered a two minute prayer.
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Pujya
Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji (Muniji) immediately renamed
Ground Zero as �Ground Hero� on behalf of the fire
department, police department, New York mayor Guiliani
and all the brave souls who gave their lives in the
service of others. He also offered sacred Ganga jal onto
the land. |
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Om
Sahanaa Vavatu Sahanau bhunaktu, saha veeryam,
karavaavahai, tejasvina vadhitamastu, maa vidvishaa
vahai.
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti
Oh
God today as we stand upon a ground which bares witness
to hatred, anger and ignorance,
As
we stand upon a ground saturated with the stolen life
force of so many innocents,
As the cold wind whispers memory of terror, pain and
death.
Oh
God, Please bestow upon your planet Earth the blessing
that this sort of insidious, malicious
devastation may never again come to pass.
Please grant us hearts which overflow only with love and
never with hate.
Please grant us minds filled only with peace
and never with anger or violence.
Please grant us hands which strive only to heal and
never to hurt.
We
pray:
Let
us walk together hand in hand.
Let us talk together with love and compassion.
Let our minds understand each other well.
Let us live together in peace through mutual sharing and
acceptance.
Let us lay down our arms so that we may lift up our arms
to the Creator.
Let
us not only pray for peace but let us work for peace.
Let us live for peace. Every moment of every day in
every way we can.
Last
but not least, as I hear everyone calling this place
Ground Zero
it occurs to me that it is not only Ground Zero
but it is also Ground Hero!
For it is here that the great souls of New York
City �Mayor Giuliani,
the police department, the fire department, and
all the citizens �
joined together courageously and selflessly
showing the world the elements of true, human heroes.
Sarve
Bhavantu Sukhina, sarve santunirama, sarve badrani
pashyntu, ma kashchit dukha babhave
May
all be happy. May all be healthy. May all attain peace
and perfection.
May no one bear suffering or pain.
May
all be Healed. May all be fed.
May all be loved.
Om peace, om peace, om peace.
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Pujya
Swamiji holds flowers and Ganga water, overlooking the
site of the tragedy |
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The
presence of the religious leaders was a great asset to the
Forum, and the Forum organizers emphasized that next year
there would be an even larger spiritual delegation and even
more interaction between the spiritual leaders and the leaders
of other spheres of influence.
February 16
-- Agra,
India
In
the sacred, historic land of the Taj Mahal, Pujya Swamiji
travelled with H.H. Sri Shankaracharyaji Maharaj, Bhanpura
Peeth and H.H. Sadhvi Ritambharaji to inaugurate a new library
and hall of the Mathur
Vaish Mahasabha.
February
16 - 25,
Rishikesh
Respected
spiritual leader Eckart Tolle, author of Living in the Now,
came to Parmarth Niketan with 140 of his followers from across
the globe for a 10-day spiritual retreat. While here, he and
his devotees participated in the divine Ganga Yagna and Aarti
as well as spent time with Pujya Swamiji.
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Respected
Eckhart Tolle takes part in Parmarth Niketan's divine
Ganga Yagna and Aarti with Pujya Swamiji |
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During
the retreat, there were also special evening programs,
including a special cultural performance by the children
and women of Sanskar Vidya Mandir and Parmarth Vidya
Mandir.
On his
final day, Respected Eckhart came to sit with Pujya
Swamiji in His garden where they shared special moments
together, engaged in discussions about carrying the
world toward piety, divinity, spirituality and
simplicity.
The week
was a beautiful union between East and West. On
the one hand, the nearly 100 Westerners who came for the
retreat, also had the divine touch of Ganga Aarti,
prayers and the spirit of India. On the other hand,
Respected Eckart, as a teacher from the West, touched
the lives and souls of innumerable Indians who flocked
both to the full retreat and to his public lecture
on the 24 February.
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February 26
- March 3,
Rishikesh
International Yoga Festival
A treasure chest of wisdom, insights, answers, solutions and cures are buried within the art and science of Yoga. However, this rich science is neither esoteric nor only for the spiritual elite. Rather, yoga has something for everyone, and its value is as marked today as it was thousands of years ago when the great, ancient sage Patanjali wrote the yoga sutras.
In the last decade, the science of yoga has gone on an exodus to the West, touching, inspiring and transforming millions of people from every walk of life, every language and every culture. One can now find yoga classes offered in cities across the globe.
Yet, although, one may be able to take a yoga class in any one of a thousand cities worldwide, it is India that is the Mother of this science. It is here, in these ancient Himalayas, that birth was given to the intricacies, the details, and the rich possibilities of transformation inherent in Yoga.
Keeping in view Yoga's universal appeal and applicability, Uttranchal Tourism and Parmarth Niketan Ashram organize International Yoga Festival each year. The Festival this year
ran from February 26 - March 3.
International participants from USA, UK, Portugal, Canada, Japan and India, travelled here, to the lap of the Himalayas and the holy banks of Mother Ganga not only to learn yoga, but also to live yoga. The
schedule/program of classes and lectures on yoga, meditation and pranayama
included the following renowned yogic experts, teachers,
spiritual leaders and philosophers:
1. H.H. M.M. Swami Veda Bharatiji Maharaj
2. H.H. Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji (Muniji)
3. Respected Gurmukh, a world famous Kundalini yoga teacher,
4. Shri Swami Sakshatkritanandji
5. Respected Shantimayi
6. Swami Ramanandaji Saraswati
7. Brahmachari Vishwa Pal Jayantiji, a revered Pranayama and Power Yoga Expert.
8. Smt. Pratibha Joshi, the head of Parmarth Niketan's
yoga/meditation department
9. Sadhvi Bhagwati
10. Dr. Anne Glasier
11. Margo Velog a disciple of H.H. M.M. Swami Veda Bharatiji Maharaj
The participants also enjoyed a special cultural program given by young children who have been trained in special Indian dance and song, as well as a special sitar recital.
Additionally, each evening they took part in divine Ganga Aarti on the beautiful ghat at Parmarth Niketan.
Upcoming Events
March 10 - April 6, 2002: Yoga Teachers Training Course
This 4 week course includes: Syllabus:
Yogasanas, Pranayama, Bandha, Mudras, Yoga Philosophy and the
standard texts, Yoga Nidra, Relaxation Techniques, Music, Mantras,
Meditation and Practical aspects including lesson planning and
demonstrations. To
register, please CLICK
HERE:
From June 1 � June 3, at Parmarth Niketan, in
Rishikesh (Himalayas), India, on the banks of the holy
Mother Ganga, there will be a special Sadhana Camp in
honor of
Pujya
Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji (Muniji)�s 50th
birthday.
It
will be a time in which people can come, have His
darshan, offer their respects and love, and participate
in what is sure to be a divinely charged sadhana camp.
We will have special
meditation and yoga programs, as well as a special
Ayushya yagna burning for 5 continuous days.
There will also be continuous chanting of japa,
and daily recitations of the Bhagvad Gita by the young
rishikumars.
Devotees who come will have the opportunity to
partake in any or all of the activities which appeal to
them.
There will also be special
musical programs each evening, including Shri
Anup Jalota and Smt.
Anuradha Paudwal.
Further, as we are celebrating the birthday of
one whose life is dedicated to service of the world,
there will be special daily seva activities including Ganga
Clean-up, plantation
of sacred trees, free
medical camps and children�s programs. All
who come will be encouraged to take part in this divine
seva, the fruits of which we will lay each evening at
the holy feet of He in whose honor it was performed.
This
Sadhana Camp will culminate in a large Sant Sammelan on
the afternoon of June 3.
The
Sant Sammelan will be graced by the presence of
H.H.
Shankaracharyaji, Bhanupura Peeth, Swami
Divyanandji Maharaj
H.H. M.M. Swami Asanganandaji
Maharaj
H.H. Sant Shri Rameshbhai Oza
H.H. M.M. Swami Gurusharananandji Maharaj
H.H. M.M. Swami Veda Bharatiji Maharaj
H.H. Dr. Pranav Pandyaji
H.H. Shri Singh Sahib, Dr. Manjit Singh
H.H. Swami Chinmayanandji, MP
H.H. Swami Harinarayananji
H.H. Swami Pragyananandji Maharaj
H.H. Acharya Kishore Vyasji
H.H. Acharya Shrikant Vyasji
H.H. Maulanna Wahiddudin Khan Sahib
H.H. Sadhvi Ritambharaji
H.H. Brahmachari Brahmaswarupji
H.H. Amrendra Muniji
H.H. Acharya Navneet Priya Shastriji
H.H. Rasayni Baba
Dr. L.M. Singhviji
Shri Anup Jalota
Smt. Anuradha Paudwal
And
many more revered saints and distinguished dignitaries
You are all invited to come and take part in this
special camp, to have the blessings and darshan of so
many pujya saints, and to offer your pranam and
obeisance at Pujya Swamiji�s holy feet.
As June is the busiest month anyway in Rishikesh,
PLEASE write to reserve your place.
We will confirm your place after receipt of your
reservation.
PLEASE RESERVE
YOUR PLACE IN
ONE OF THE FOLLOWING WAYS:
1.
Go to www.parmarth.com/registration/sadhanacamp [CLICK
HERE] and fill out the form
2.
Send
a fax to +91 (135) 434399
3.
Send courier mail to us c/o Sadhvi Bhagwati,
Parmarth Niketan; P.O. Swargashram, Rishikesh
(Himalayas), Uttranchal -- 249304
UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE UNABLE TO
TAKE RESERVATIONS BY PHONE.
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