Visiting Swami Promotes Peace

7 May 2007

Media release – for immediate release

Visiting Swami Promotes Peace

One of the very few Indian teachers, or swamis, deemed by his peers to be “enlightened” and at the very highest level of spiritual guardianship within the yoga tradition, is visiting Wellington from 9 to 14 May to promote personal spiritual development as a path to world peace.

While here, Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda, known as Swamiji, will meet with the Indian High Commissioner and Indian community, and yoga practitioners.

He will give a series of public lectures on yoga practices, spirituality, and the path to super consciousness at the Yoga in Daily Life Centre in Wellington, and one lecture at the Kapiti Community Centre in Paraparaumu.

Swamiji arrives in New Zealand, having recently visited New York on 25 April, at the invitation of the United Nations, to present his message of how spiritual awakening fosters world peace.

The Swami has devoted nearly 40 years to promoting the cause of world peace, protecting humanity, and environmental causes throughout Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia and, more recently, New Zealand.

His stated aim has been to help people find peace within themselves, to awaken their compassion and kindness, and to have a positive influence on world affairs.

Swamiji is quoted as saying: “Peace begins from your own heart. If you want peace in the world, you must first have peace within.”

Coupled with his dedication to fostering world peace, Swamiji has emphasised the need for ethical and sustainable management of natural resources, saying: “It is humanity’s prime duty to respect and save water. Water is life itself.”

As well as teaching, he has been the inspiration behind some practical initiatives such as the Desert Rainwater Harvesting Initiative in Rajasthan, a hospital development in Jadan, women’s and children’s education, an animal refuge, and the provision of emergency medical and fire-fighting services in rural India.

Swamiji has also established regular conferences on peace and environmental sustainability throughout the world where there are Yoga in Daily Life centres. When in Wellington, he will review plans for a “Sustainable Planet” conference to be held here next Easter.

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