by Dr. Gabriele Schmidle as a representative of Dr. Maria Diefenbach, founder and chairwoman of the Room of Silence in Berlin

Dear Runners!

I am welcoming you on behalf of Dr. Maria Diefenbach, the founder and chairwoman of the foundation of this Room of Silence here in the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin. Your stop here has a long tradition. Since 1996 it is now the 7th time this Room is honoured with your presence. Your desire for harmony and peace fits to the Brandenburg Gate and to the Room of Silence.

For this Brandenburg Gate, built in the end of the 18th century, was designed as a gate of peace. On top of the gate the Quadriga with the Goddess of Peace enteres the town, underneath is an Attic Relievo which shows the Goddess as a messenger of Peace. Also the statue of Mars in the southern part of the gate is engaged to peace, for Mars sheaths his sword.

During it's history - especially under the Nazi regime - the Brandenburg Gate was often used and misused for political ends. For 40 years the Gate symbolised a divided city and a divided world. Through the fall of the wall it became once again a symbol for a united peaceful future in Germany and Europe.

The Room of Silence symbolises the idea of the Brandenburg Gate as a gate of peace - in uniformity with Sri Chinmoy's dictum: "Silence is the mother of world harmony." So, the Room has two purposes:

First it provides an opportunity for everyone, independent of background, colour and religion, to enter and to remain in silence for a while to simply relax, to gain strength for the daily life, to meditate or to pray. As everyone is invited to remain in silence and peace for a while, the Room itself aquires a symbolic meaning, and this is the other purpose: The Room is a symbol, a continuous invitation to tolerance, to brotherhood of man embracing everybody and so it is a little step towards peace and spiritual unity.

So, the purpose of this location and of your Run are the same. It is good and it will strengthen the idea of harmony and peace in the world when a place like this and an action like yours meet. Also, this particular part of Berlin, the capital of Germany had a special meaning during the last few weeks: during the soccer world championship. Here the Fan Mile started. The Fan Mile with thousands and millions of enthusiastic but friendly fans - mostly Germans. They gave a similar message to the world. Here is the place and the time to spread Harmony, Joy and Peace into the world.

Welcome Runners of the World Harmony Run!

Let us finish the day with some moments of silence.

May I repeat the words of the founder of your Run, Sri Chinmoy:

"Silence is the Mother of World Harmony."