Unity is Peace
In 1995, Amma was invited to speak at the United Nations Conference
on Visions for the 21st Century, timed to coincide with the 50th
Anniversary Summit of the United Nations.
The Temple of Understanding and the Council of Religious and Interfaith
Organizations sponsored this conference, a forum for religious leaders,
diplomats, NGO's, and educators to present their visions for the
next century. A conference statement was presented to the UN while
the 50th Anniversary Summit was still in session.
The interfaith assembly was inspired by the acknowledgment of the
need for "the political to be informed by the spiritual."
The UN and UNESCO were urged to provide a new paradigm of thought
which centers on the responsibility for fostering global values
of caring, compassion and tolerance. The thirty-two speakers included
religious leaders from various traditions as well as several heads
of state and scholars. Other religions represented were Buddhism,
Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Shintoism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism,
Baha 'I, and Akuapim Traditional Religion of Ghana.
Excerpts from Amma's address, entitled "Unity is Peace",
given at the Cathedral of St. John The Divine, New York on the occasion
of the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations, 21 October 1995.
"The life force that pulsates in the trees, plants, and animals
is the same life force that pulsates within us. The same life energy
that gives us the power to speak and to sing, is the power behind
the song of the bird and the roar of the lion. The same consciousness
that flows in and through every human being, lends its power to
the movement of the wind, to the flow of the river, and to the light
of the sun.
How can there be any sense of difference once this subtle principle
is understood? When we evaluate our growth and development in the
light of this great Truth, we may wonder whether we human beings
have really developed or grown at all. The progress that we see
today is divided growth. Only some parts are growing-the world as
a whole remains unhealthy. We cannot call this real progress."
"This world is like a flower. Each nation is a petal. If one
petal is infested, does it not affect all the other petals? Does
not the disease destroy the life and beauty of the flower? Is it
not the duty of each one of us to protect and preserve the beauty
and fragrance of this one world flower from being destroyed? This
world of ours is a big, wonderful flower with many petals. Only
when this is understood and becomes deeply ingrained within us,
will there be any real peace and unity. The tug of war between nations
is like a tug of war between the petals of a flower. Competition
between the petals will only result in all the petals withering
away. The entire flower will be destroyed. Division will only dissipate
our energy and vitality; real power is to be found in unity, not
in division."
"Together we are a power, an undefeatable power. When we work
together, hand in hand, with love, it is not just one life force
but the life energy of countless people, of the group, that flows
in harmony, unimpeded. From that constant stream of unity, real
progress will take place, and we will see the birth of peace."
"A drop of water cannot be a river; a river is formed by numerous
water drops. It is the joining together of countless drops that
creates a flow. The real flow of life lies in unity, in the oneness
that arises out of love."
In addition to giving her address, Amma shared a discussion panel
with Nobel Peace Prize winner, Oscar Arias, ex-President of Costa
Rica and Dada Vaswani, head of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission.
Later that evening, Amma and several of her senior disciples walked
together in a procession with other religious leaders inside the
cathedral. Each tradition presented a prayer, song or a dance in
celebration of the divine unity of all.
There was a valedictory peace invocation led by the spiritual leaders
representing each religion, and Amma, representing the Sanatana
Dharma chanted the mantra Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu (Let all
beings in this world and in all the other worlds be peaceful and
happy) as everyone joined in.
Amma's presence during the presentations was dazzling, and her
unique message was refreshing to ears yearning to hear the Truth
which only a Mahatma can give.
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