On Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 4:30 PM, people across the globe gathered to participate in the 1st World Meditation Day which Gurudev guided an estimated 8.5 million people in meditation across online platforms, offline gatherings, and TV broadcasts worldwide.
A historic milestone was achieved as the event World Meditates with Gurudev’shattered multiple records, earning a place in the Guinness World Records, the Asia Book of Records, and *World Records Union*. This monumental event, organized by the Art of Living Foundation, united millions across the globe, setting a new benchmark for collective meditation. The inaugural World Meditation Day marked an unparalleled celebration of unity and inner peace, with participants tuning in from over 180 countries. It demonstrated the transformative power of meditation as a global movement.
Beginning with the first event at the United Nations and culminating in a live session led by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar from the World Trade Center in New York, the day saw a wave of meditation sweeping across continents.
List of Records Broken:
- Guinness World Record: The most viewers of a guided meditation live stream on YouTube.
- Asia Book of Records: Maximum participation from all the states of India in guided meditation in a day.
- World Records Union:*
- Most views for an online guided meditation in 24 hours on YouTube.
- Most live viewers of a guided meditation session on YouTube.
- Most nationalities participating in an online meditation session.
The meditation session led by Gurudev was streamed live, with millions joining virtually and in person, meditating for global peace and harmony. Before guiding the meditation, Gurudev shared profound insights on the significance of meditation.
“Meditation is the journey from knowing by thought to feeling what you know. To meditate you need to first go from too much thinking to feeling what is, and then go beyond the feeling towards the inner space. If you want to be sane, sensitive, and sensible, you need to meditate. Meditation is not inactivity. It makes you more dynamic and peaceful. Even to be a revolutionary, you need to meditate.”
The Art of Living’s initiative received widespread praise from global leaders, celebrities, sportspersons, professionals, and people from all walks of life and age groups. The event also garnered significant participation from farmers, educational institutions (including those for visually impaired children), corporates, military members, healthcare workers, researchers, scientists, homemakers, indigenous communities, and even prisons—demonstrating the universal appeal and impact of meditation.
A World United in Peace:
The event’s resounding global participation highlighted the transformative power of collective meditation. With this monumental achievement, the Art of Living has not only united millions in meditation but also sparked a worldwide movement for inner peace and universal harmony.
-Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s U.N. Address Marks First World Meditation Day:
On December 21, 2024, the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations hosted a historic event at the UN Headquarters, marking the first-ever World Meditation Day with the theme 'Meditation for Global Peace and Harmony.’The gathering featured distinguished dignitaries, including:
- Mr. Philémon Yang, President of the United Nations General Assembly
- Mr. Parvathaneni Harish, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations
- Mr. Atul Khare, UN Under-Secretary-General
- Mr. Sugeeshwara Gunaratna, Charge d’Affaires of Sri Lanka's Permanent Mission to the UN
- Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa, Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations
The event concluded with a keynote address and meditation led by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. In his address, Gurudev highlighted meditation’s profound impact as a tool for global peace and unity. He shared, “One calm and serene mind can create a better environment for hundreds of others,” urging individuals and nations to embrace meditation for collective well-being, harmony, and spiritual growth.
He also stressed the importance of integrating meditation into daily life: “Meditation must reach every home, every individual, as a means to combat modern-day challenges such as anxiety, domestic violence, and addiction. It transcends religions, geographical boundaries, and age groups, making it universally relevant.”
This landmark occasion marked the beginning of an annual observance, with *World Meditation Day* set to be celebrated every year on December 21st.
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### **Prominent Public Figures Show Support for World Meditation Day:**
The event received enthusiastic support from numerous prominent figures. Indian film director Rajkumar Hirani remarked, “It is fitting that the UN is recognizing the transformative power of this ancient practice by commemorating 21 December as World Meditation Day, and who better than Gurudev to lead this initiative.” Actress and Member of Parliament Hema Malini expressed her pride in India’s contribution, stating, “It is a matter of great pride for India that the United Nations has declared December 21 as World Meditation Day. Meditation brings me immense peace, and I recommend it to everyone as a daily practice.” British rapper Zuby also emphasized meditation’s relevance in today’s world, saying, “In times of conflict and uncertainty, meditation is a path to mental peace,” and encouraged all his followers to join the celebrations with Gurudev.
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### **Global Participation:**
In celebration of *World Meditation Day*, the world united in meditation, beginning in Australia and spreading across over 100 locations. Following the inaugural event at the United Nations, embassies in Malaysia and Laos hosted Art of Living meditation programs, while educational institutions, corporates, media houses, farmer groups, and even prisons in India participated. The meditation wave reached conflict-ridden regions of the Middle East, culminating in a live session led by Gurudev at 8 PM IST on YouTube from the iconic World Trade Center—once the site of unimaginable tragedy on 9/11, now a beacon of peace and hope.
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### **Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Global Impact – A Peace Envoy:**
Gurudev’s unwavering vision of promoting peace through meditation has touched millions globally. Over the last 43 years, he has blended Vedic wisdom with modern-day relevance, inspiring millions in 182 countries to embrace meditation. His global initiatives have touched over 800 million lives and engaged over one million volunteers in service projects, advancing his mission of creating a compassionate, peaceful world. Gurudev’s vision remains clear: to bring “a smile to every face” and create a stress-free, violence-free world.
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