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Sant Gyaneshvar
Yoga is perfected through Karma Yoga.The Bhagavad Gītā is the best book of yoga, structured by Kṛṣṇa into eighteen chapters. To understand it, you need a good translation; the best comes from the saint Jñāneśvara. He demonstrated true power, unlike false … read more »
The Primacy of Oṃ
Oṃ is the fundamental sound from which all creation emerges.The entire universe is a manifestation of this resonance. It is present in birdsong, wind, flowing water, and the deepest reaches of space as the sound of the divine heart. Every atom and organ within the … read more »
Sri Ganesha
Today is the day of Śrī Gaṇeśa, the remover of obstacles and giver of joy.He is the protector and the lord of intellect, removing ignorance and karmic obstacles. One must remember Gaṇeśa first when beginning any new endeavor, as His presence ensures success. He should be honored first in satsa … read more »
Vikara
Vikāra and Nirvikāra are opposing states of being.Vikāra is impurity, decay, and illness, manifesting as mental pollution through negative thoughts, jealousy, and hatred. This mental pollution is the root cause of all worldly destruction, from environmental harm to wars. It originates in the … read more »
Inner Sadhana
The path requires purifying the inner impurities of desire, anger, pride, greed, and delusion.These are called best friends but lead to suffering. You alone must overcome them; freedom from them is divinity. Replace action with equal love for all. Purify anger through compassion and forgiveness. Purify greed through inner … read more »
Take it as it is
The whole world is unhappy in relationships.Everyone has problems. A great saint once went onto his roof and saw every house had quarreling. Every lady was complaining to her husband about various failings. He concluded the entire world is unhappy. Therefore, you … read more »
The Last Minutes of Life
The body ages, but the mind and feelings do not.Dying is not easy. The psychic state of a person facing death is often terrible, filled with fear and the inner pain of existential questions. Therefore, one should stay with the dying as long as possible … read more »
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity for something to be long-lasting and self-supporting.Modern technology often lacks sustainability, designed for obsolescence to drive endless economic consumption. This creates a "throw-away society" that destroys the environment. Yet, some technological concepts, like telephony, are sustainable in their enduring purpose. True sustainability … read more »
Karmic Purification
The mind is purified through constant remembrance of the Guru, which burns negative karma.Whether the devotee thinks of the Guru or the Guru thinks of the devotee, the result is the same: impurities are cleared. This requires closing the inner distance. Karmic processes manifest as the constant flux of … read more »
Sukhdev Muni and Ved Vyas
The mind creates the world of duality, and its attachments are the greatest obstacle to spiritual realization.Ved Vyāsa's son, Śukadeva Muni, possessed a consciousness free from duality. While passing a lake, bathing ladies felt no disturbance, seeing only Brahman in him. When Ved Vyāsa approached, they covered themselves. He questioned them, and … read more »
Eklavya and Guru Dronacharya
The Guru's glance, whether kind or angry, bestows grace that burns the disciple's karma.Eklavya, refused formal instruction, learned through devotion to a statue, receiving knowledge by grace. The Guru later tested his surrender by asking for his thumb, which Eklavya gave without hesitation. This symbolizes surrendering all attainment to … read more »
Prayer - Beach satsang
Prayer is a universal necessity for human survival and spiritual purification.All holy incarnations and saints across the world engage in prayer, which sustains the world. Prayer transforms a person and purifies the inner instrument—the mind, intellect, consciousness, and ego. Daily prayer keeps this inner instrument clean, … read more »
Declaration about ecology
True poverty is not a lack of material wealth, but a profound absence of inner peace.The nations considered rich and mighty are, in reality, the poorest because they live in constant fear. Their citizens cannot sleep soundly, attend public gatherings, or even travel by bus or visit large markets without anxiety. … read more »
Croatia impressions
The spiritual climate requires guidance, especially for earnest seekers.People here are enthusiastic and motivated to contribute to their country and to world peace. Many young individuals are searching for something more. Through these teachings, they have gained some understanding. The wish is for all … read more »
Think of others
We sit in comfort while millions suffer in fear, hunger, and uncertainty.This suffering is created by humans alone. As individuals, we lack the power to stop it directly. Our recourse is prayer, trusting that divine intervention will eventually respond. "Perhaps our world still lacks that power, that … read more »
Hate the actions not the person
We must address the suffering we witness in the world.I saw a news report of a family in conflict, forced from their home at gunpoint. The children's innocence is destroyed. Countless people are searching amidst ruin. We discuss lofty concepts like peace, but our current … read more »
Entire World is family of One God
We must educate people spiritually with grace, avoiding narrow-mindedness that declares only one religion or tradition is valid.Such narrow thinking trains fanatics, from which terrorism emerges. We uphold that the entire world is one family under one God. Just as people enjoy different fruits, people pray to different divine forms. This diversity is … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Mr. Peter Mullins
Peace is the birthright of our planet.Greenpeace operates on the principles of bearing witness and non-violent direct action, rooted in Quaker and Indian ahiṃsā traditions. We confront major threats like climate change, deforestation, and toxic pollution. Our work began opposing nuclear war, … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Monsignor David Cappo
Authentic dialogue is the essential path to peace in a world of conflict and division.We gather to reflect on peace while war causes global anxiety. We must ask if responding to threats with violence repeats history's mistakes. The survival of humanity is at stake. Our role is to unite, pray, … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Jacqueline Furtado
A legacy of peace requires personal change and committed action.We must be peaceful people to create a peaceful world. Hunger, oppression, and unmet rights leave no room for peace. The principle is to think globally but act locally, committing first to oneself, then to others, … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Shin'ichiro Okuyama
We stand at a precipice, tasked with choosing peace over violence through faith and reason.We entered this millennium hopeful for unity but now face widespread violence and exhausted hope. The choice to avoid the plunge belongs to all who desire to move toward wisdom. Countless people suffer from poverty, chaos, … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Closing Address by Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp
We live in a time when speaking of beauty implies silence about horror, yet we must speak.We consume while knowing it deprives others, creating a moral contradiction we live within. Our shared spiritual identity is questioned when our actions create conflict, not peace. We ask why there is no peace, for only … read more »
World Peace Forum - Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda
Human conflict arises from a disbalance with nature and a lack of tolerance.War stems from human selfishness and ego, not from animal nature. Humans have created this disbalance by killing billions of innocent creatures, violating the principle of non-violence. This action creates a karmic reaction, destroying nature. Every … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - His Excellency Rajendra Rathore Indian High Commissioner
Gandhi's principles of truth and non-violence remain a guiding light for peace.His methods, rooted in refusing to cooperate with injustice through civil disobedience, overcame an empire with moral might alone. His appeal is universal; as Martin Luther King noted, we ignore him at our own risk. In … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Senator Aden Ridgeway
Peace is a people's movement built on shared stories and principled leadership, not merely the absence of conflict.My grandmother taught me the need for identity and belonging. Once, I delivered a speech to a single man in a hall, who then became the speaker himself. This illustrates that peace requires turning the room … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp
We stand at a critical time in history when humanity must choose its future.The choice is between forming a global partnership to care for Earth or risking destruction. Every person carries two truths: "You are only dust and ashes" and "For you alone, the whole world has been created." … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Dr Brendan Mackey
The United Nations Charter established that ethical principles and multilateral negotiations must govern international affairs, linking peace to human rights and social justice.For most of human history, ethics were considered irrelevant between nations. The Charter rejected this view. Environmental protection became part of this global security agenda only decades later. The Earth Charter now articulates the shared values … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Imam Sheikh Mansour Leghaei
Islam is uncompromisingly a religion of peace and mercy.The word ‘Islām’ is derived from the root meaning ‘peace’. Its essence is peaceful submission to God, whose name is Peace. The standard greeting means ‘may peace be upon you’. Daily prayers conclude with peace. The … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - His Excellency Most Reverend William Morris
A call to peace is needed in a fearful world facing terrorism, war, and prejudice.We confront global challenges that seem overwhelming, eroding community and hope. Reactions to fear have included security measures threatening civil rights and a rise in race hatred. The question arises: what difference can one make? The … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Mayor M
Peace is built through local action in the face of global conflict.Conflict is part of the human condition; our response defines us. We must start with ourselves, in our communities. Global images of war can feel overwhelming, causing some to withdraw temporarily to reflect, not to abandon … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Fleur Nassery Bonnin
Peace arises from inner harmony, which is humanity's fundamental struggle.All creation exists in harmony except humans, who live in internal disharmony and project it onto the world. Yet humans can reach the highest peace. This is the true inner struggle: to subdue the ego and … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - His Highness, Gaj Singh Ji, Mahraja of Jodhpur
The world faces a crisis of environmental loss, failed reason, and collapsing human dignity.The fundamental right is to a life of meaning, exercised without harming others. This ethical basis governs civilization and enables sustainable development. Celebrations or religious practices become militant when they ignore others' rights to peace, leading … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Bill Mollison
The origin of permaculture stems from a realization that conventional systems are unsustainable.Around 1972, a report revealed an impending collision of food, population, and energy. Teaching at a university, it became clear the curriculum was misguided. A call for change was met with agreement but no action. This … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Father Frank Brennan
Our fractured world demands we rebuild relationships and peace from a place of shared spiritual and collective action.We acknowledge our shared place only through genuine connection with Indigenous peoples. Our relationships lack meaning without this context. Even simple family interactions require a foundation of love to avoid conflict. Today, our individual and collective … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Lama Choedak Rinpoche
Peace is an active inner and outer practice, not merely the absence of conflict.It begins within by freeing the mind from afflictions like greed and hatred, replacing them with love and compassion. Our intrinsic nature is kindness, but we easily become confused by desires for control, breeding tension and … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Sri Sri Sri Sai Baba Das
Peace is a state we must first cultivate within the individual to achieve it in the world.We stand at a critical juncture, yet war has never brought peace. While the world has wealth and technology, it lacks peace. We must ask what peace truly is; it is not merely the absence of … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Dr Shanti Mushawar
Peace requires a conscious decision for light over darkness.We originated from divine union, creating a world divided into masculine and feminine principles. Currently, masculine power dominates while the feminine is diminished. We must let the mother principle grow, allowing women to also hold power. … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Mrs Pearl Wymarra
We must be wise and discerning in our daily spiritual warfare.This battle is fought in our homes, workplaces, and communities. Our weapons often damage spirits and health. We must combat this with love—a smile, a touch, a word. Acknowledge those whose smile is gone, so they … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 - Mr Gulab Kothari
Modern society suffers from a critical imbalance, neglecting the heart and soul for intellect and body.Our education system fails to create balanced individuals concerned with society, focusing only on body and intellect. Media and information technology further isolate individuals, breaking societal bonds. Visual media thrives on action from crime and war, … read more »
World Peace Forum 2003 Message from President Mesic
The present era presents humanity with a unique chance to resolve its persistent antagonisms.The singular answer, distilled from centuries of wisdom, is to follow the path of everlasting peace and tolerance among all people. This peace leads to knowledge, respect for diversity, and ultimate harmony for all living beings. … read more »
Family
A happy family is essential to prevent children from making mistakes.We are divided, separated by work and technology. Even at home, family members are isolated in their rooms with televisions and computers. We must begin to create a happy family. One suggestion is to invite friends … read more »
Nature
True harmony arises from self-awareness and recognizing our fundamental unity with nature and each other.Environmental protection begins with self-awareness, which fosters harmony with nature and a deeper understanding of ourselves and our neighbors. Conflict persists over culture, religion, and nationality, yet the core messages across all faiths originate from the … read more »
Prayer is stronger than guns
The power of prayer and meditation is far stronger than that of guns.The world is in a state of conflict, but the real war is within the human mind. External weapons cannot solve this internal struggle. True peace begins with individual transformation through prayer and meditation. These practices … read more »
Love removes fear
The human body is a vessel for awakening compassion through our inherent qualities.We are fortunate to obtain this form, given to help, protect, and guide others to God through love. Our heart is like an ocean: surface waves of worldly thoughts exist, but profound calm lies within. This … read more »
Cause of suffering
We suffer from a cycle of forgotten causes.We experience suffering as a reaction to a past action we no longer remember. Each reaction then becomes a new action, creating further reactions. We are lost, unable to distinguish if our present state is an … read more »
War within
Spiritual health is founded on universal respect and inner peace.True well-being requires respecting all religions, cultures, and nations, wishing for the happiness of others as for our own. The ancient wisdom declares the whole world is one family. When we see everyone as brothers and … read more »
How to celebrate Shivaratri
Observing Śivarātri involves specific rituals of fasting, prayer, and offering.Fast on the day before the festival. In the evening, perform Śiva āratī and chant His name. If you have a Śivali gam, perform an abhiṣeka by pouring a mixture of milk and water over it. … read more »
Think and know thyself!
A parable illustrates the conflict between intellect and mind, leading to suffering through indulgence.The grandfather represents intellect, and the demanding child represents the mind. Each time the child desires something, like ice cream or chips, it threatens to expose the grandfather's mistake of buying a cheaper half-ticket for a … read more »
Consequences depend on actions
The core mistake is celebrating a master's image while refusing to follow their direct command.A master with back pain ordered his disciple to step on him. The disciple refused, citing the master's holy body and his own sinful impurity, rejecting all practical solutions. The master concluded the disciple would not … read more »
Joint family
The mind creates our reality and our problems, yet we find strength in spiritual community.Coming together in a joint family provides motivation, energy, and protection. Daily exercise and prāṇāyāma are essential for meditation, where concentrating on inner bliss dissolves mental fluctuations. The world is created by your mind. A problem … read more »