Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji addressed the United Nations at the inauguration of the first World Meditation Day on Saturday. He emphasized that today all the meditation teachers are rejoicing since everyone yearns just for one thing which is for the world to be happy. He quoted in Sanskrit ‘Lokah Samstah Sukhino Bhavantu’- everyone be happy”
He provided his insights that meditation is a necessity in today’s world and not a luxury. He called meditation mental hygiene just like dental hygiene. He emphasized meditation to keep a person more centered and keep away aggression and depression. He said, “The mental health crisis has taken a big toll on the population.”
Reflecting on the current scenario of the young population he said on the one part they are undergoing aggression and on the other part it’s depression. He also highlighted two important factors of any civilized society are sensitivity and sensibility.
He said, “Mediation makes us more conscious about the environment, conscious about the feelings of people around us. It helps us to stay away from these anti-social activities which would harm oneself and others.”
He recalled the time when people used to go to the mountains and the seashores in search of meditation and enlightenment. However, he said that meditation has to go to every door and every home. He further recalled October 26, 2022, when the Government of India came up with the idea of ‘Har Ghar Dhyan’- a meditation to every home.
He reminisced about UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s words in 2015 when he said “I wish of this meditation before every negotiation.” Today, Sri Sri Ravishankar believed this to have become a reality.
He emphasised on the importance of Yoga and said, “There are some people who can not do Yoga for whatever physical reasons but meditation is something you can do anywhere, everywhere, by everyone.”
Talking about the untrue interconnectedness between meditation and religion he underscored International Meditation Day to have played an important role in opening the door to those having reservations for it because of its connection with religion.
He said, “Though it has been in the core of many traditions in the world it transcends the faith as his excellency the Ambassador of Nepal, India, Sri Lanka already mentioned meditation transcends all religion, all geographical boundaries, and age groups”
He reiterated meditation to be helpful in combating anxiety, fear, and loneliness since a large section of our population is suffering from loneliness.
