International Day of Peace

التالى السابق

A Global Journey Toward Inner Peace and Collective Harmony

REPORTS - منذ 13 ساعة

International Day of Meditation

South Eye | Report - 21 Dec 2024

On December 21, 2024, the world observes the inaugural World Meditation Day, a significant milestone in the global recognition of meditation's profound impact on mental and physical well-being. This observance follows the United Nations General Assembly's unanimous adoption of a resolution, co-sponsored by India, designating this date to raise awareness about the benefits of meditation.

The selection of December 21 is symbolically significant, coinciding with the winter solstice—the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. This alignment underscores the day's emphasis on introspection, inner peace, and the journey from darkness to light, themes central to meditative practice.

Meditation, an ancient practice with roots in various cultural and spiritual traditions, has gained widespread recognition for its contributions to mental health—a fundamental human right—and its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasizes health and well-being as central to achieving sustainable development. Goal 3, "Good Health and Well-Being," aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, addressing key challenges such as maternal and child health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, and access to essential medicines and vaccines.

In celebration of World Meditation Day, various events and initiatives are taking place globally. Notably, the Permanent Mission of India is hosting an event at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, featuring a keynote address and meditation session led by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a globally recognized Indian spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Foundation. This event aims to highlight meditation's role in fostering global peace and harmony.

Additionally, organizations like the Heartfulness Institute are dedicating the day to spreading awareness about meditation and its benefits. They are hosting live meditation sessions and encouraging individuals worldwide to incorporate meditation into their daily lives to achieve inner peace and balance.

The establishment of World Meditation Day reflects a growing acknowledgment of meditation's role in promoting mental clarity, emotional stability, and overall health. As individuals and communities around the globe engage in meditative practices today, they contribute to a collective movement towards greater mindfulness, peace, and well-being.

In the words of former UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld, who inaugurated the Meditation Room at the UN Headquarters: "This house, dedicated to work and debate in the service of peace, should have one room dedicated to silence in the outward sense and stillness in the inner sense." World Meditation Day embodies this vision, reminding us of the importance of nurturing human consciousness to address global challenges and create harmony within ourselves and our communities.