Sant Rajinder Singh's Talk at the UN

[Guest guest]

Some have been asking lately about Sant Rajinder Singh's recent talk

at the UN.

 

Bhakti,

 

James

 

FOCUS

Newsletter on Tours & Activities of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj

Science of Spirituality

Dedicated to Love, Unity and Peace

Volume 10, Number 6

September 2000

 

In this Issue:

* Summit at the United Nations

* Tour in the New York Area

* Jayanti Celebrations

* Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj's Discourses Televised Worlwide

 

 

May we bury our weapons of war so they can be transformed into flowers

of tranquillity and bliss . . .

 

 

SUMMIT AT THE UNITED NATIONS

 

H.H. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj was in New York City to participate

in the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders.

The summit opened at the General Assembly of the United Nations on

August 28, 2000 with over a thousand religious and spiritual leaders

from all regions of the world and all major faith traditions.

 

Speaking in the UN General Assembly Hall, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji

Maharaj said, "May we bury our weapons of war so they can be transformed

into flowers of tranquillity and bliss, may we lay down our arms to lift

up our arms to the Creator. May our prayers and meditation transform

this world into a garden of everlasting joy and may each of us spread

light and love bringing peace to the whole world."

 

Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj emphasized that unity and peace can

be achieved through meditation: "Inner realization of the divine not

only leads to lasting peace for ourselves, but inspires us to radiate

love, unity, and peace, and be of service to all humanity." The audience

in the huge hall sat in silence as Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj gave

instructions for meditation and then led them in a brief meditation.

 

Some of the other key speakers at the summit were: the UN

Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan; founder and owner of CNN Dr. Ted

Turner; and Ela Gandhi, grand-daughter of Mahatma Gandhi.

 

The goal of the summit was to identify ways that the worldwide

religious and spiritual communities can work together as interfaith

allies with the United Nations. The leaders explored how to harness the

power of religious tolerance and spiritual faith to educate their

communities in paths toward peace.

 

Sant Rajinder Singh Ji was televised worldwide on CNN and other

stations. His participation was also covered by the radio and print

media. The New York Times summarized his message: “Sant Rajinder Singh

Ji Maharaj … said the conference was useful in introducing people

who

would otherwise have been more aware of their differences than what they

might share in common. 'When we sit and talk with them, we realize they

are not much different, he said. The conference, he said, had created

a

beautiful environment. I think if we can take it back to our

communities, that sweetness will filter through.â€

 

It was the first time there was such a gathering of religious and

spiritual leaders from more than 50 countries at the United Nations.

The

summit concluded on August 31, 2000.

 

TOUR IN THE NEW YORK AREA

 

Following the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual

Leaders at the United Nations, held from August 27-31, H.H. Sant

Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj stayed in New York from September 1-4, 2000

for several public programs. This allowed satsangis, from the New York

and New Jersey area as well as those who traveled from other parts of

world, to be with him for a few days.

 

On September 1, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj gave a public talk,

"Inner Peace through Meditation," at St. Bartholomew's Church in

Manhattan. The long, beautiful chapel was filled to capacity. Some

people had come after hearing Sant Rajinder Singh Ji speak on RBC

radio-Manhattan, in which he was interviewed live for half an hour on

August 30. The audience at the public talk looked like a miniature

United Nations congregation with people of diverse multicultural

backgrounds, all sitting together to learn the way to inner peace. After

Sant Rajinder Singh Ji laid out in clear terms how inner peace can be

attained through meditation, an opportunity was given to those who

wished to receive initiation to stay on. Almost half the people in the

audience stayed on for initiation. Almost half were Spanish-speaking

and

required translation of the initiation into Spanish. While many who

received initiation were from the New York and New Jersey area, some

traveled from New England, the Mid-Atlantic states, Florida, Canada,

South America, and the West coast to receive initiation.

 

On September 2, Maharaj Ji gave a meditation seminar at the place

where satsang is usually held in Manhattan. He gave a talk on verses

by

Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj. One of the verses said:

 

"Today the feet of the Cupbearer have graced the tavern;

This is why we have come with our heads bowed down."

 

The hall was filled to overflowing, and many had to stand as he

superbly explained the deeper meaning of each verse. After the talk,

Maharaj Ji left the dais and met with the audience.

 

That same evening, September 2, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji traveled to

Iselin, New Jersey, to give a public talk in Hindi. He gave a satsang

based on the verses of the great saint, Tulsi Sahib of Hathras. The talk

was held at St. Cecilia's church, a well-designed church in which the

sections of seats fanned out in a semi-circular way from the dais, so

that no matter where anyone sat they had a close-up view of Sant

Rajinder Singh Ji. Among the many who came to hear Sant Rajinder Singh

Ji speak was Professor Ephraim Isaac, Professor from Princeton, who had

written books on Judaism in Ethiopia. He had attended the Human Unity

Conference in Delhi as a speaker and fondly remembered his stay with

Sant Rajinder Singh Ji at Kirpal Ashram in Delhi.

 

Later after the talk, initiation was held. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji

gave the initiation instructions in Hindi, as the program was designed

to be for the Hindi-speaking community. Those who did not understand

Hindi had the initiation instructions translated into English and

Spanish.

 

On September 3, a picnic was held in Westchester, New York, at a

park in Croton-on-Hudson. The threatening thunderstorms seemed to hamper

the picnic plans. Group Leader Michael Ravens had asked Maharaj Ji to

keep the rain away from the picnic. Despite repeated weather reports

that heavy rains and flooding would ruin any outdoor activities in New

York that day, plans proceeded for the picnic with the hope that there

would not be rain. The long drive from Manhattan to Croton-on-Hudson

did

not show much promise of sunshine, but suddenly, ten minutes before

reaching the picnic grounds, the gray skies suddenly turned into a clear

sky. The picnic festivities went on without any thunderstorms. Only a

momentary light sprinkle of rain gently fell, as Sant Rajinder Singh

Ji

reminded everyone that Hazur's blessings were upon him or her.

 

A beautiful stretch of land bordering the Hudson River was reserved

for the picnic. Large trees shaded an array of picnic tables richly

laden with delicious food and blankets spread out for sitting. It was

a

huge gathering of satsangis from all over the country, along with family

members and friends whom initiates had brought to meet Sant Rajinder

Singh Ji, many for the first time. Many new initiates who had just

received initiation over the weekend also attended.

 

When Sant Rajinder Singh Ji and his family arrived, some of the

satsangis were playing some Latin American songs under the trees. The

first thing Sant Rajinder Singh Ji did after greeting everyone was to

listen to the beautiful Spanish songs that were being performed by the

group. Later he requested Clifford Adams of Kool and the Gang to perform

the song, "Celebrate." When he hesitated, Maharaj Ji said, "Many of them

know the words and can sing it." So a group of satsangis kicked off the

song and Clifford Adams took over the lead singer part. "Celebrate good

times, come on! Let's all celebrate" was soon followed up by Clifford's

new rendition, which said, "Let's all meditate!" A new round of song

continued with everyone singing, "Meditation! Let's all meditate and

have a good time."

 

Later after a picnic lunch with delicious Indian food, Maharaj Ji

sat for a while under towering trees and everyone enjoyed his darshan.

He thanked the New York satsang and all those who had done seva during

the past few days for their hard work.

He blessed many different types of prashad, which were then distributed.

Long lines formed to have his final darshan before he left, as this was

the last public event in New York before he returned to Chicago. When

the organizers returned to New York City, they discovered not only how

hard it had rained in the city, but that trees had been knocked down

by

the storms.

 

On September 4, satsangis went to the airport to see Maharaj Ji off

on his return flight to Chicago. The weekend in New York provided a

wonderful opportunity for many people to be with Maharaj Ji.

 

JAYANTI CELEBRATIONS

 

Sunday, August 7, 2000 marked the Jayanti (anniversary) Celebrations

of

Sant Shiromani Goswami Tulsidas Ji, inaugurated by Shri Atal Bihari

Vajpayee, Hon'ble Prime Minister of India at the FICCI Auditorium, New

Delhi, India. The function, presided over by H.H. Sant Rajinder Singh

Ji

Maharaj, was organized to honor the great poet and writer of the ancient

Hindu epic “Ram Charit Manas,†considered to be most valuable epic

of Hindus.

 

Welcoming the audience, Shri Prem Chand Gupta, convener of Tulsi

Jayanti Samaroh, said that the noble way of life depicted in the

Ramayana was deeply ingrained in the upbringing of Shri Atal Bihari

Vajpayee. He further added that it was only too appropriate for a living

saint like Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, engaged in transforming

people and uplifting humankind worldwide, to preside over the function.

 

In his presidential address, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji praised Sant

Tulsi Das Ji, the person, the poet, the philosopher, and saint. He said

that by organizing such celebrations we get the rare opportunities of

remembering the great saints and we should take advantage of such

occasions to imbibe their teachings in our lives. Elaborating the name

of Ram, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji said that Sant Kabir has aptly explained

its meaning in his writings when he says: "Ek Ram Dashrath Ka Beta, Ek

Ram Ghat Ghat Mein Baitha, Ek Ram Ka Sakal Pasara, Ek Ram Sabhaun Se

Nyara." He said that One Ram (the ideal human) is the son of King

Dashrath, One Ram is the mind. One Ram is the Lord of the Universe, and

one Ram is the very Naamâ or Shabdâ or Word, the very Holy Current of

God, closest to all of us, characterized by Love. By linking with it,

our love not only extends to our family, but to each and every one.

 

Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister of India, dwelled upon

the rich and poetic situations described by Goswami Tulsidas Ji.

Referring to him as the greatest poet of India, he said that his

writings were for all people. Referring to the state of Ram as described

in the Ramayana at the time of transforming Ahilya, he said that it was

almost impossible to write the subtlest of subtle in so simple a

language as Sant Tulsi has done, wherein both the commoner and the

scholar related equally well to the text. He said that the Ramayana

provides directions to apply in life that one should strive to follow.

Pandit Sudhakar Ji Pandey, General Secretary, Nagri Pracharni Sabha and

Shri Vijay Goel, Member of Parliament, also addressed the gathering

offering salutations to Goswami Tulsidas and the role of his works on

creating an ideal family and an ideal society.

 

This function was organized by Sanatan Dharam Mahasabha, Delhi.

Shri Ram Charitra Manas Premi Mandal, Delhi Ramlila Mahasangh, Shri Ram

Manas Mandal, Shriram Satsang Sabha and others.

 

 

SANT RAJINDER SINGH JI MAHARAJ'S DISCOURSES TELEVISED WORLDWIDE

 

Discourses of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj are being broadcast on

Aastha Television Channel every day from August 25 onwards at 9:30 am

and again at 8:30 pm, IST. This channel can be received in 128 countries

worldwide.

 

The technical details are as follows:

Digital Free to Air Satellite Television Channel

Thaicom-3 Satellite - 78.5 E

Extended C-Band Global Beam

Transponder N 5G

Downlink Frequency: 3600 MHZ

Polarization: Horizontal

Symbol Rate: 26.6667 Msy/s

 

 

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FOCUS is sent to you from:

Science of Spirituality Center

4 S 175 Naperville Road, Naperville, IL.

Phone: 630.955.1200; Fax: 630.955.1205

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Public web site: http://www.sos.org

Sangat web site: http://sangat.sos.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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