To commemorate the National Day of Prayer, on 24 Jul 1975, Sri Chinmoy presided over an Interfaith gathering of representatives from the six major religions.
The New York Times reported: ‘most representative gathering of religious leaders ever held in the city'. - quote to NYT from executive director of the Council of Churches of the city of New York 

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"Spirituality is not merely tolerance. It is not even acceptance. It is the feeling of universal oneness. ... Our spiritual life firmly and securely establishes the basis of unity in diversity. Spirituality is not mere hospitality to others' faith in God. It is the absolute recognition and acceptance of their faith in God as one's own. "

- Sri Chinmoy, Yoga And The Spiritual Life. The Journey of India's Soul., Agni Press, 1971. "

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Between 1975 and 2007 Sri Chinmoy also inspired and participated in many events such as :

-  Interfaith Prayer Breakfasts for Opening of UN General Assembly

-  Parliment of Religions

-  World Days of Prayer

-  International Days of Thanksgiving and Gratitude

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"(Secretary-General) U Thant had wanted the United Nations to be from time to time a place where the world's religions would meet for dialogue. (32)

Sri Chinmoy and U Thant

Sri Chinmoy was a deeply committed supporter of the global interfaith movement and the Peace Meditation (founded by Sri Chinmoy) at the United Nations in the early 1970s sponsored what may be some of the first interfaith programs at the UN. Interfaith prayer services observing the National Day of Prayer were held beginning in 1975.

The Peace Meditation has collaborated with the Center for World Thanksgiving and organized interfaith Peace Walks, as well as observances of the anniversary of the Meditation Room and a well-attended annual Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, hosted each year by one of the Permanent Missions with that country's Ambassador presiding.

Sri Chinmoy on a number of occasions offered an opening silent meditation at such events as the fifth Spiritual Summit Conference of The Temple of Understanding, held in New York and at the UN in 1975,

and the annual Interfaith Service in New York observing the opening of the UN General Assembly, begun in 1997. For the Parliament of the World's Religions, he offered the opening meditation at the centenary Parliament in Chicago in 1993 and again in Barcelona in 2004. Interfaith events and non-sectarian silent meditation can be seen as complementary, the one specifically interreligious and the other transreligious."

 

In the fall of 2007 in a spacious conference chamber at the United Nations Secretariat, representatives of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Indigenous religions, Islam and Judaism stood together without speaking a single word to open Sri Chinmoy's memorial service. This interfaith invocation was perceptibly longer than the usual "moment of silence" and recalled the non-sectarian meditations he had led twice every week year after year.

- Pedersen, Kusumita P., Sri Chinmoy's work at the United Nations: spirituality and the power of silence. 09/01/2010; Cross Currents Publisher: Association for Religion and Intellectual Life ISSN: 0011-1953 

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For more information related to World Interfaith Harmony Week see:

Contents

• A. World Harmony Run Support for Interfaith Harmony encouraged by President of UNESCO General Conference (2009 - 2011)
• B. UN Resolution A/RES/65/5 - World Interfaith Harmony Week
• C. Photos of WHR Support for  Interfaith visits and events
• D. WHR Founder encourgement of Interfaith events
• E. Links, Countries and UN S-G Statement for Interfaith Harmony Week

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