Dear Beloved Sangha Members,

Hari Om.

We are delighted to share with you all that the United Nations has declared December 21 as the World Meditation Day. The resolution co-sponsored by India was unanimously accepted by the United Nations General Assembly recently. This unanimous acceptance by 193 nations is a true testament that the world leaders are now finally recognising the importance of meditation practice in holistic wellbeing of individuals, societies, nations, and the entire world. The World Meditation Day, which falls on the day of the winter solstice, will surely bring more awareness to the practice of meditation at a global level.

We are so very happy to hear of this wonderful news and extend our heartfelt invitation to each one of our AHYMSIN family members to come together in spirit and practice for this momentous occasion. At the Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama (SRSG) Ashram in Rishikesh, we will all sit together for 25-hours long akhanda (non-stop; continuous) meditation, beginning at 7 am India time on 21 December until 8 am India time on 22 December, for world peace.

The World Meditation Day shall serve as another opportunity and reminder for us to reconnect with the sacred, ancient yoga meditation tradition of the Himalayan Masters that we are all a part of and that beckon upon us to “practice, practice, practice”, as our Gurudeva Swami Rama has said.

Our beloved Swami Veda Bharati has written:

“The Himalayan Tradition of Yoga Meditation is distinguished in that it:

• is the first meditative tradition,
• is the most comprehensive, integral and all-inclusive,
• has given birth to the major meditative traditions of the world and has continued to enrich them all,
• does not require adherence to a belief system but experientially helps verify metaphysical reality,
• has an unbroken lineage whose continuity is ensured through transmission of shakti in meditative and initiatory states.”

As students and initiates within this ancient meditative tradition, we have received the blessing of walking in the footsteps of the great Himalayan Sages who have very lovingly illuminated the path of meditation for our spiritual upliftment. The illumination of their wisdom continues to light our way forward, and through our practices, we make an attempt to honour their teachings.

You are lovingly invited to sit in meditation, for as long as you comfortable can, multiple times throughout the day, wherever you are, in your home or with friends. Total beginners and longtime practitioners, non-initiates and initiates are all welcome. As Swami Veda has said, “Let the quietness of the mind continue even after you rise…”

Swami Veda has written:

“Yoga Philosophy views the mind as Universal field; its waves passing through us and becoming our individual minds. This Universal mind is a radiant force and is also known as a Universal Guru within.

When all sit together at the same time even in different parts of the world, they connect to the Universal Guru mind and generate a strong field, like so many magnets being joined together and forming a much stronger magnet; the strength of each then equals the combined strength of all.

Thus it is when we join together in meditation, and together enter the Guru-mind’s Field. On certain days of the year the Wave of Beauty and the Wave of Bliss flows very strong. These are the sacred days.”

Come, let us sit together in meditation on this sacred day of winter solstice, even if apart in distance, united in our shared spiritual goal and our shared love for the Tradition. We may take a sankalpa (mental resolve) on this day to reconnect with the Guru Lineage, recommit to our meditation practice, and re-cognise the Self. As we journey inward, with each of our meditation sittings, we move one step closer to our ultimate spiritual goal. Each moment of quietude and silence in meditation is thus a doorway to something profoundly divine and eternal.

On this special day, we bow down in reverence of the Gurus in this ancient Himalayan Lineage who have bestowed upon each of us the greatest blessing that is of inner peace and silence through our practice of meditation.

This first World Meditation Day, would you also be celebrating with us? Do share how you celebrate this day with us, along with some beautiful pictures at ahymsin@gmail.com.

We will be very happy to hear from our family members on this special occasion.

In loving service

Dr Divya Gupta

On behalf of AHYMSIN Office