Nepal, India, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Mexico, and Sri Lanka jointly marked the second World Meditation Day with a special commemorative event at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, highlighting meditation as a vital tool for peace, mental health, and global solidarity.
Held in the Trusteeship Council Chamber, the event was titled “Meditation for Global Peace and Harmony.” It was organized by the core group of nations that championed the UN General Assembly resolution proclaiming December 21 as World Meditation Day. The gathering brought together diplomats, spiritual leaders, and experts to reflect on meditation’s role in addressing modern challenges such as stress, conflict, and the global mental health crisis.
The resolution, unanimously adopted on December 6, 2024, designates December 21 (the winter solstice) as an annual observance to promote the universal benefits of meditation for physical and mental well-being. The commemorative event, held two days early since the solstice falls on a weekend, drew nearly 700 participants, underscoring growing global interest in mindfulness practices.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, opened the proceedings by welcoming participants and tracing meditation’s origins to ancient India. “Meditation dates back over 5,000 years to ancient India, where Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra introduced the concept of dhyana—a state of pure consciousness,” he said.
He emphasized the Indian ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (“the world is one family”) and added, “Transformation within brings transformation in the external world; inner peace leads to outer peace.” Harish noted that meditation requires no equipment and transcends barriers, with scientifically proven benefits such as reducing stress, enhancing emotional intelligence, and improving diplomacy and conflict resolution.
Speaking on behalf of the core group, Nepal’s Ambassador Lok Bahadur Thapa described meditation as a “pragmatic way of living” rooted in Lord Buddha’s teachings and essential for mental clarity and ethical conduct amid crises like climate change and conflict. He highlighted Nepal’s Himalayan traditions as sanctuaries of mindfulness, presenting the country as a bridge for spiritual connection.
Andorra’s Ambassador Joan Rovira shared that his nation has incorporated meditation into education to enhance focus, emotional balance, and empathy among students and teachers, fostering calmer classrooms and reducing burnout. “Meditation strengthens the mental and emotional foundations on which learning depends,” he said.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador Jayantha Chandrasiri Jayasooriya spoke of his country’s 2,300-year-old meditative heritage rooted in Buddhist mindfulness and compassion. He advocated for global group meditation with a shared intention for peace, believing it could help reduce crime, enhance harmony, and unite humanity around universal truths—the shared experience of birth, aging, illness, and death.
Mexico’s Counselor Gabriela Madero quoted Buddhist master Geshe Kelsang Gyatso: “Without inner peace, outer peace is impossible.” She described meditation as a universal, secular refuge in an increasingly noisy world and invited attendees to “slow down and embark on an inner adventure” toward compassion, wisdom, and unity.
Spiritual leaders and experts offered deeper insights into meditative practice. Yogamata Keiko Aikawa, founder of the Yogamata Foundation and a Himalayan master, shared her journey to samadhi (enlightenment) and her decades of public demonstrations of deep meditation. At age 80, she reaffirmed her commitment to promoting Himalayan Siddha meditation, emphasizing its role in purifying the mind, awakening compassion, and fostering societal change when practiced collectively.
Sister BK Gayatri Narain of the Brahma Kumaris described Raja Yoga meditation as a “pilgrimage of love and remembrance,” involving awareness of the self as a soul, connection with the Supreme Source, and service to the world. She highlighted its potential to inspire collective transformation and reaffirm human dignity amid global uncertainty.
From Nepal’s Jeevan Vigyan Foundation, L.P. Bhanu Sharma emphasized the awakening of inner energy fields through yoga, pranayama, and meditation to access “unbounded intelligence.” He urged the integration of meditation into education, healthcare, and leadership programs, citing neuroscience-backed evidence of improved emotional regulation and decision-making.
Dr. Lasantha Chandana Gunatillake, a mathematics professor, referenced the Buddha’s Indriyabhāvanā Sutta to explain how meditation cultivates awareness of the senses, reflection on impermanence, and equanimity for enlightened engagement with the world.
Physicist Dr. John Hagelin, president of the Global Union of Scientists for Peace, presented evidence-based research linking group meditation to measurable reductions in societal stress, crime rates, and conflict, showing its potential for enhancing harmony worldwide.
The event concluded with reflections and a guided meditation session led by renowned spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Drawing on Lord Krishna’s teachings of Dhyana Yoga to Arjuna on the battlefield, he illustrated the enduring relevance of meditation in today’s conflict-ridden world.
Launching the Global Awakening Project at the United Nations
After the main event, the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations, in partnership with the Jeevan Vigyan Foundation, organized a special side event titled “Awakening the Mind: Pathways to Peace, Health, and Harmony.” The gathering brought together diplomats, UN officials, spiritual leaders, and members of the Nepali diaspora to emphasize the role of meditation in fostering inner peace amid global challenges.
Facilitated by Shivani Basnet, Counselor at Nepal’s Permanent Mission, the program featured welcome remarks from Nepal’s Permanent Representative and ECOSOC President, Ambassador Lok Bahadur Thapa. He described the world as “more connected than ever, yet deeply fragmented,” underscoring meditation’s power to elevate human consciousness and drive peace. “When the mind awakens, the world heals,” he said, noting Nepal’s ancient heritage as the birthplace of Lord Buddha and a sacred land for spiritual seekers, where the Himalayas provide natural serenity for renewal.
UN Under-Secretary-General Atul Khare highlighted the event’s alignment with UN mental health strategies, praising Nepal’s contributions to peacekeeping and telemedicine support. He also noted innovative tools such as the UN Mind Companion platform, which is now available in Nepali.
A key focus of the event was the Jeevan Vigyan Foundation (also known as Jivan Vigyan), a Nepal-based organization dedicated to the “science of living” through yoga, pranayama, and energy meditation. Co-founders Ramesh Prasad Nepal and L.P. Bhanu Sharma shared insights and led practical sessions.
Speaking in Nepali, Ramesh Prasad Nepal explained meditation as a means of transforming the mind beyond mere calmness—awakening inner energy for joy, health, and peace. He guided participants through breathing exercises and affirmations, such as “I am happy” and “I am healthy,” designed to reprogram the mind positively.
L.P. Bhanu Sharma delivered the keynote address, introducing the foundation’s flagship Global Awakening Project (Swa-Jagran). This initiative aims to awaken inner life energy through a “trinity” of yogasana, pranayama (specifically Namaskar Pranayama), and dynamic energy meditation, leading to chakra awakening, divine realization, and conscious leadership.
Sharma emphasized that the project is inclusive, requiring no change in religion, faith, or attire. “It is a gift from Nepal to the world,” he said, noting its reach to millions across more than 60 countries. The project promotes health and responsibility without requiring conversion. Practitioners report experiencing profound peace and unbounded energy, turning inward for self-discovery rather than focusing solely on external progress.
The event concluded with guided meditation sessions, reinforcing the idea that inner transformation is essential for global harmony. Participants called for the integration of mindfulness into policy, education, and leadership to address stress, conflict, and the global mental health crisis.
Following the UN side event, the Consulate General of Nepal in New York hosted an interaction program with the Nepali diaspora. Consul General Dadhiram Bhandari stressed the need to promote Nepal globally as a premier tourist destination for meditation and yoga. Referencing the ancient Vedic principle that “from fullness, fullness arises, and even after taking fullness from fullness, fullness remains,” he applied it to meditation, stating that the time has come for the world to receive Nepal’s knowledge of meditation.
Ramesh Prasad Nepal and L.P. Bhanu Sharma spoke at the consulate event, reiterating the significance of the Global Awakening Project and describing it as a profound gift from Nepal to the world.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
