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Welcome, everybody, to the City Centre Garden in Birmingham. Especially on behalf of the people of Birmingham, we have assembled here representatives from the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress of Birmingham, Councillor Elaine Gregory and Mrs. Gillian Gregory. On behalf of the spiritual communities, the public service, the past and the council, and the Indian consulate, we have guests here to welcome Swāmījī to Birmingham. We are offering to plant this peace tree for the sake of all who are in the city and who visit it. Swamiji is renowned as an ambassador of peace. More than 30 peace trees have been planted around the world. The Kaulina Vishwaguru Mahāmaṅgala Karamanswāmī Neheswamanda has been awarded the title of ambassador of peace by the Universal Foundation of Peace. This recognition occurred in the presence of the United Nations chapter of North America in Los Angeles, acknowledging Swāmījī’s work globally—not just in planting peace trees, but in planting whole forests. This work is done in the interest of conserving nature and fostering respect for nature and between people. So, I’d like to welcome you all here. Thank you for coming, and especially to our special guests for welcoming Swamiji. We’d like to ask the Lord Mayor if he would like to say a few words. Lord Mayor: On behalf of the Lady Mayoress and me, may I welcome the Baroness, Her Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen. Birmingham is rightly proud of its rich diversity of culture and is welcoming to all peoples, wherever they come from. Our environment is very important to us; we should protect and encourage it for ourselves and for future generations. If we lose it, we rarely have it restored, and this is why planting this tree is so appropriate. It is to sustain nature, and that is very important to us all. This garden is a haven of tranquility in a very vibrant city, and it’s in use not only by residents but by city workers and tourists. On behalf of the Lady Mayoress and I, we would like to say to everyone and to your holiness: May it grow and thrive for many, many years to come. Thank you for inviting us along. Thank you, Lord Mayor. I think I should say that your coming over here and sending this tree for plantation is really a very noble direction towards peace. I hope that this peace will prevail on this earth. With the efforts of each of the families that you represent, I again extend to you a warm welcome from the Holy Spirit of God. I wish you all the best success in your life. Thank you. Next Speaker: It’s wonderful to be here today. It’s wonderful, given the fact that Journey was the first place that Yoga and Daily Life started in Birmingham, which we’re incredibly proud of. And it’s also absolutely wonderful to see Swamiji back again for a second visit. I just want to say, what a wonderful idea to plant a tree—it is such a wonderful symbol of life and growth and hope. I’m so happy that it symbolizes all of our faiths together. Thank you. Next Speaker (Brahmakumari representative): Thank you for asking us. Our mantra is Oṁ Śānti. Om means "I, the soul," and śānti means peace. We are all peaceful beings, and it’s lovely to come together as spiritual brothers and sisters who belong to the one supreme, the spiritual father, and our home, Nirvāṇa. Thank you very much. It’s lovely to see such a lovely gathering. Park Representative: I’ve not got much to say, but it’s so fantastic to see a gathering in the city centre park. There’s a lot of work going on to keep these places open for members of the public in the city centre. Sometimes it’s a bit of a battle to keep it looking as beautiful as it is. We’ve got a fantastic team, as you can see, gathering around. They work tirelessly to keep the parks in fantastic condition. It’s so nice to get some nice specimens of trees with a little bit more interest than the ordinary trees into the parks, and fingers crossed that it stays and grows. You’re welcome to use the parks, and it’s great to see everyone here today. Swāmījī: With the salutation to the cosmic light, Lord of our hearts, omniscient and omnipresent, in his divine presence, a very good morning, dear brothers and sisters. Indeed, it is a great day today that we are planting a world peace tree here. According to the Vedic religion and culture in Hinduism, trees are compared to saints, as holy saints. The holy saint lives for all, and the tree also lives for all, and only gives and gives and gives to us. May this tree stand here as a symbol of peace. Those who will come under this tree, for this tree, and say the mantra, the peace mantra—it doesn’t matter in which language—and make a wish, the wish will come true. So this is the tree which will fulfill our wish. We know that tree is life. Without trees, there is no life for us. An American Indian said, "When the last tree is chopped off and the last fish dies, oh man, then you will realize that you cannot eat your dollars." And so the environment, the protection of the environment, is crucial. This is not only a peace tree, but it is also a holy tree. I’m very happy that Your Excellency, the Lord Mayor of the city, and the Madam Lord Mayor, and spiritual sisters from Brahmakumari are here—because their mahāmantra, their slogan, is always "Oṁ Śānti," and they are working around the whole world. Also, thank you very much to the park authorities and the presidents of this society here. This park is the lungs of the inhabitants of this area, and its beauty is like a crown, a jewel on the crown. This park looks so beautiful, and I am very happy that God gave me the opportunity to be with you and to plant this peace tree today. Thank you, brothers and sisters, all for your coming. There is a ceremonial mantra for what we call initiation. We are giving a life and spirituality, the spiritual life, the spiritual soul, to this tree. It’s called initiation, abhiṣeka. This abhiṣeka I’m going to do with a very ancient mantra called the Mahāmṛtyuñjaya Mantra, the victory over death. It is said: "Health in the forest, health in the vegetation, in the herbs, in the environment, in the water, and Lord, lead us towards immortality, from the mortal into the immortal." Oṁ tryambhakaṁ yajāmahe sugandhiṁ puṣṭivardhanam, urvārukamiva bandhanān mṛtyormukṣīya māmṛtāt. Oṁ tryambhakaṁ yajāmahe sugandhiṁ puṣṭivardhanam, urvārukamiva bandhanān mṛtyormukṣīya māmṛtāt.... Pūrvāru Kambhyā Vandana Kṛṣyur Mukṣir Vāmṛta Oṁ Śānti, Oṁ Śānti,... Viṣ, Viṣ, Oṁ Śānti.