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Shalom, Salām, peace in all languages. I have two brief thoughts. The first: my brother Swāmījī and I were once at a meeting in Barcelona. We were seated among 400 people at tables, placed intentionally with strangers. Suddenly, someone fell ill. Doctors were called and administered heart massage for nearly twenty minutes. Fortunately, it became clear the person was not in grave danger and would recover. When we resumed our discussion, a realization struck me, and I said: If, God forbid, that had happened to me and I had died, the last people I would have seen would be you—strangers I had never met before. This means that anyone we happen to see or meet could be the last person we see on Earth. Therefore, everyone we see or meet is not a stranger, but the Spirit of God we encounter in the other. Let us regard every coincidental meeting as a miraculous opportunity. Here, we meet God in each other. Then we are shalem—whole—and then we create peace. Brother Swāmījī, you spoke of being given a seed to plant a tree. There is a teaching in the Jewish tradition: An old man was once planting a fruit tree when a young man passed by and said, "Foolish old man, you plant a fruit tree you will never live long enough to enjoy." The old man replied, "Foolish young man, when I came into this world, there were fortunately old people who had planted fruit trees, so I was not born into a desert. And now, I plant a fruit tree for you." Today, together—thanks to you, thanks to all of us, and thanks to the All-Merciful and All-Peaceful One—we have planted fruit trees for future generations. The resolutions I am privileged to read to you are the water and the soil in which these trees will grow, embracing all of us and our children's children in a world of peace. Statement of Resolution The Yoga in Daily Life World Peace Summit and the Message of Mahātmā Gandhi, in memory of the first anniversary of His Holiness Dharmasamrāṭ Paramahaṁsa Swāmī Mādhavānandajī. 31st of October 2004, Brno, Czech Republic. I ask all of us to listen, and where you agree, to give your applause—your heart's applause—to undersign this declaration. We, the undersigned and those present, declare our commitment and pledge: Tolerance: To take more active responsibility in establishing the peaceful coexistence of all religions and cultures through tolerance, respect, and understanding. (And next time, we will add love). Non-violence: To follow Ahiṁsā, non-violence, as a basic principle of human ethic. You see, words become fire. We are applauding our own intentions and resolve to put these words into practice. Multiculture: To foster awareness among people that we should preserve and cultivate our cultural and religious diversity as the richness and beauty of our existence. Now come statements that the world community and our governments have pledged to execute together with us by the year 2015. Let us be careful with our applause, for it signifies a great deal of work. Safe Drinking Water: To provide access to safe drinking water by setting an example of how to protect our environment and preserve natural resources. Sustainable Development: To promote development goals with an emphasis on issues leading positively toward an environmentally sustainable economy. Animal Protection: To promote and support activities to protect wildlife and take an active part in preventing endless animal torture and suffering. Equality in Education: To foster universal primary education and gender equality as basic human rights, and as powerful instruments for reducing poverty and inequality. Unity in Diversity: To help people of all nations experience their oneness, believing that the only virtues that make lasting world peace possible are tolerance, respect, understanding, and love. United Nations Millennium Goals: To undertake activities to promote and support the realization of the Millennium Development Goals proclaimed by the United Nations in the year 2000. Time is short. The Master of the House urges: we have 11 years to live up to this commitment. Let us not fail. "Be the Change You Want to See": To uphold and apply directly to our own lives the appeal of Mahātmā Gandhi, and be the change we want to see. These wonderful resolutions were prepared by my dear Swāmījī and the organizing team. I thank you for presenting them to us. The final one provides a summary: One in All and All in One: To put into realization the message of His Holiness Dharmasamrāṭ Paramahaṁsa Swāmī Mādhavānandajī for achieving unity and peace. We are one family. We are one body. When one part of the body aches, the whole body aches. Therefore, as one family and one body, we declare: World peace can only become a reality when all people rise above national boundaries, politics, religion, and ideologies. This World Peace Summit has given hope and strengthened our resolve to replace the culture of war with a culture of peace.