20,000 Gather for Peace Concert at Isha Fest Celebration September 22

12 September, 2002

International Day of Peace Meditation Vigil September 21
September 12, 2002
For Immediate Release
Contact: Linda Wright 615-665-1714

[Coimbatore] - Isha Foundation announced today that it’s annual IshaFest celebration on September 22 will be expanded to include celebrations to commemorate International Day of Peace on September 21. Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, founder and spiritual head of the foundation, took this action to support the International Day of Peace Vigil which is being endorsed by The Millennium World Peace Summit/World Council of Religious Leaders. Sadhguru was a delegate to the summit held at the United Nations and has worked tirelessly to impart the goals established there through his programs and speaking engagements around the world.

The International Day of Peace is devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples. The global 24-hour vigil is meant to demonstrate the power of meditation and other spiritual observations in promoting peace and preventing violent conflict. Isha Foundation’s day of meditation and other spiritual vigils will also help raise public awareness of the International Day of Peace and can directly support the establishment of a global ceasefire.

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev is an exemplar proponent for the goals established by the Millennium World Peace Summit because his approach allows all people to enhance their religious experience, and does not address or condemn any belief system. He says, "Peace is not the ultimate attainment of life, but the very foundation of life, the birthright of all human beings." Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev is a realized master, yogi and one of the most profound mystics of modern times. His action for peace is anchored in his establishment of Dhyanalinga Meditation Shrine and Multi-Religious Temple for the transformation of human consciousness - the only way to attain true peace. The pinnacle of three lifetimes of intense spiritual work, Dhyanalinga is an eternal energy center of tremendous proportions that radiates the seeds of enlightenment and liberation for all mankind.

Dhyanalinga will serve as the focal site of the meditation vigil on September 21. The shrine of eternal vibration was dedicated as an offering to the world on November 23, 1999. Housed inside a multi-religious temple complex adjacent to the Isha Yoga Center in the Velliangiri Foothills near Coimbatore, India, the structure is the highest possible manifestation of primordial, formless, divine energy. Anyone who comes into the sphere of the Dhyanalinga cannot escape the sowing of the spiritual seed of liberation. Activities for peace at this sacred multi-religious shrine offers a rare and potent opportunity for all mankind.

IshaFest is an annual festival held at the Isha Yoga Center on September 22 to celebrate the day of enlightenment for Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. The event features a host of cultural programs throughout the day. For additional information on the event, contact the administrative office at 15, Govindasamy Naidu Layout, Singanallur, Coimbatore - 641005 INDIA. Telephone 319655, Telefax: 319654, and Email: yogacentre@Ishafoundation.org.

END

 

Multi-religious Meditation: Dhyanalinga will serve as the focal site for the meditation vigil on September 21. The shrine of eternal vibration was dedicated as an offering to the world on November 23, 1999. Housed inside a multi-religious temple complex adjacent to the Isha Yoga center in the Foothills of the sacred Velliangiri Mountains near Coimbatore, India, the structure is the highest possible manifestation of primordial, formless, divine energy. Anyone who comes into the sphere of the Dhyanalinga cannot escape the sowing of the spiritual seed of liberation. The Peace Mediation and 24-hour vigil at this sacred multi-religious shrine offers a potent opportunity for all mankind to attain peace, prosperity and well-being.

Silent Peace Rally: Dressed in white, thousands of meditators are expected to take part in a Silent Peace Rally in the City of Coimbatore on the evening of the 21st September to commemorate the International day of Peace. The meditators will hold placards containing messages of Peace and pass through the prominent localities of the city and once again draw one’s focus upon global peace and prevention of conflict.

Celebration of the Culture of Africa: Isha Fest is an annual festival held at the Isha Yoga Center on September 22 to celebrate the day of Enlightenment for Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. This year, the day-long events feature a host of cultural programs that celebrate the life and culture of the people of Africa, presented by Isha meditators and their families. This event is aimed at creating greater understanding and appreciation of the diverse indigenous cultures of the world.

World Peace Concert: the concert by Shri P. Unnikrishnan, renown classical vocalist in Carnatic music one of the two ancient music traditions of India, will be dedicated to the International day of Peace in a ceremony by Sadhguru. Over 20,000 people will attend the 2-day events at the Isha Yoga center, Velliangiri Foothills, Coimbatore, India.

International Day of Peace, September 21-22, 2002 Isha Foundation, Coimbatore, India

At a time when the survival of the planet is threatened on a daily basis and when war, death and destruction looms over several regions of the world, it is very heartening that concerned individuals and dedicated groups of people across the world have come together to observe the International Day of peace. In a global effort coordinated by the United Nations Organization, volunteers of the Isha Foundation, Coimbatore, India, cut across all boundaries and joined hands in creating awareness about the need and commitment for World Peace.

Universality has been the bedrock of Isha Foundation. Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, a realized Master, Mystic and yogi, founded Isha Foundation as a vehicle to offer the highest spiritual possibility to one and all, without any distinction of any sort. The acceptance of Isha Yoga programs world over by all the sections and denominations of the society and the Multi-religious Dhyanalinga temple consecrated by him stand testimony to this.

As a delegate to the United Nations Millennium Peace summit and a member of the would council of Religious Leaders, Sahguru has worked tirelessly to impart the goals established there through his programs and speaking engagements around the world. The two-day celebration of the International Day of Peace is one more step in this direction.

The two-day celebrations included a silent peace rally, two-day meditations at the Dhyanalinga Mutli-relgious temple, a day long cultural presentation on the life and culture of Africa culminating in a classical musical concert by Shri. Unnikrishnan, a renowned exponent of Carnatic Music. Over 20,000 people from all walks of life participated in these celebrations.

Several hundred volunteers of Isha Yoga Center and general public took out a Silent Peace Procession from Gandhipuram to Ramanathapuram on September 21, 2002 as part of the commemorations. Dressed in whites - the symbol of universal peace - volunteers carried banners and placards with symbols of the major religious of the world and calls for peace from World spiritual leaders, marched silently thought the major streets of Coimbatore city.

Daylong interfaith meditations for world peace wore conducted at the Dhyanalinga multi-religious temple that has been exquisitely decorated for this purpose. People form all walks of life cutting across the boundaries of caste, creed religion and nationality participated in this mediation. In the evening a special Nadha Aaradhana - an ethereal blend of vocals, singing bowls and drums amplified within the reverberating dome of the Dhyanalinga was led by Shri Unnikrishana.

The major part of the celebrations took place on the 22september. A large group of mediations researching into the music and dance traditions, costumes and culture f the people of Africa chalked out a daylong program of lively events. It was very apt that the International Day o Peace was the platform to create understanding and appreciation of the ways of the people of a distant land. The program dais, the ambience and decorations had a distinct flavor of the Africans - one of the ancient cultures of the world.

Of all of the rich and diverse musical forms in the world, music traditions of India were developed by saints and seers who perfected them as powerful tools for spiritual development. There fore it was an appropriate choice that the celebrations culminated in a grand classical Music concert dedicated to world peace. Carnatic music is one of the two major ancient music traditions of India that has been passed on form generation to generation throughout the scared Guru Shishya Paramparya - the relationship of the master and disciple. Shri Unnikrishnan, an outcome of this tradition, delivered a music concert in Carnatic music that entranced and enchanted the audience.

In his message on the occasion, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev said, "To be peaceful within and without is the most fundamental need in very human being. To be peaceful is not a great achievement, but he most basic need in every human being. Today, this simple need of the human race seems to have become so unattainable that now we are seeking it like it is the ultimate goal. Unless there is individual transformation there will be no universal transformation.

Now we need a revolution, not for changing someone else, but to change ourselves. ‘I am willing to change’ is the revolution at Isha - the silent revolution of self-realization. This revolution will not happen with slogans or agitation but only with sustained and dedicated work. Peace for the individual and the world - its time has come."

It is hoped that endeavors such as these will multiply manifold and introduce a new dimension of grass-rot level participation from the individuals in an effort to create a better tomorrow for all of mankind.

Peace Banners: Quotes by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev
• A world full of love, light and laughter - its time has come.
• How can you love one and hate the other, when the same divine exists in all.
• As many colors of the rainbow are an outcome of one pure light, many religions of the world are an expression of the same divine source.
• Religions of the world are not bout one man’s belief against another, but an opportunity for all humans to each to their common ultimate source.
• Individual transformation is the way to global transformation.