Perez de Cuellar: Immortality's Rainbow-Peace
Part I — Commentaries on quotations by Secretary-General Perez de Cuellar
Humanity's cherished dream
Speech versus action
But the pragmatic realist in our Secretary-General immediately alerts us:
A new age of world peace
The world has ceaselessly struggled, immeasurably suffered and significantly achieved things meaningful and fruitful. Nevertheless, the dream of peace is still a far cry. The supreme Pilot of the United Nations offers us abundant encouragement:
The price of peace
Peace is humanity's sleepless and breathless need. Needless to say, no earthly human sacrifice can ever be too great to make for the Heavenly divine peace. According to the seer-statesman Mr Pérez de Cuéllar:
Peace requires effort
We are badly mistaken if we think that peace will miraculously enter into our lives unconditionally. The Secretary-General's guiding eye tells us that to achieve peace we need both fearless persistence and endless faith:
A humane peace
The absence of war is not and cannot be the real peace. Real peace is the unmistakable establishment of celestial harmony and universal love. The head of the United Nations family graciously tells us:
The Charter
The UN Pilot tells us that the United Nations Charter is humanity's unparalleled friend, confidently leading us towards the supreme destination of immortal satisfaction: world-peace. The Charter embodies the vast dignity of illumining vision and awakens us to the fundamental human needs:
A universal undertaking
The great player of the universal peace-game in the Secretary-General lovingly teaches us that peace is a game to be played by all — a game that needs the conscious and self-giving participation of all human beings and nations, large and small, powerful and week, illumined and unillumined:
The common good of mankind
Division is cast aside, suspicion is buried in oblivion, faith in all human beings is restored when all nations scrupulously, devotedly and untiringly work together. Then only can they proudly invoke and reveal the peace-sun of eternal love and universal oneness. In the words of the universal statesman:
Sustaining momentum towards peace
True, the world's recent achievements are significant encouragements, but these achievements are shockingly insignificant when we measure them against our quenchless thirst for ultimate achievements. "Never give up, never give up" is the birthless and deathless motto of aspiring humanity. Here the great worshipper of the all-embracing and all-illumining temple of the world tells us:
The answer to injustice and despair
At the moment unfortunate humanity has not discovered an effective answer to the untold world-despair, but we do know that self-giving will be the eventual answer, the only answer. And for that we are awaiting God's choice Hour. The momentous utterance of the Secretary-General runs:
The builders of peace
Peace is not the sole monopoly of the elite. Peace is not the sole monopoly of the chosen few. Peace is for all human beings who are walking along the world-path. Peace is nothing other than a spontaneous flow of humanity's life-river. How beautiful and fruitful are the revelations of the UN architect:
Children and peace
A childlike heart is of supreme importance if we sincerely want to fulfil the beautiful dream of the child's world. And who are the ones unmistakably qualified to perform this momentous task? It is the peace-lovers and the truth-servers who are singularly qualified. The Secretary-General says:
A time of opportunities
Individuals and nations alike are receiving powerful glimpses of the peace-fulfilling reality-body, the United Nations. The Secretary-General's confidence-surcharged message is that the United Nations is at once earth's colossal hope and Himalayan promise:
Soldiers of peace
Yes, humanity's heart should be surcharged with aspiration, humanity's eyes with inspiration and humanity's arms with power. What for? Not for destruction, but for the correction of the mind, the perfection of the life and the satisfaction of the heart. It is the bounden duty of each world-citizen to be a soldier of peace. Beautifully, powerfully and convincingly the Secretary-General states:
The Nobel Peace Prize
Each member of the United Nations is a force, and the source of this force is either a human desire or a divine will. The human desire cherishes the love of power. The divine will cherishes the power of love. The Nobel Peace award to the United Nations gloriously declares the victory of the power of soulful love and fruitful oneness. Let us learn from the Secretary-General what the higher will accomplishes in and through us for the world-family:
Military non-violence
The real power does not conquer. The real power illumines. The real power liberates. The real power fulfils. The UN Pilot's glowing revelation:
Every day devoted to peace
Sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice within, sacrifice without-sacrifice, the secret and sacred achievement above all others. To the brave self-givers, the Secretary-General's mind is all appreciation and his heart is all admiration:
Setting a course for the future
I give, you take. You give, I take. It is this reciprocal self-giving that we all immediately and eternally need. As the individuals, even so the nations must play this inevitable, nourishing and fulfilling role. Our Secretary-General is all praise for those who cheerfully give and soulfully receive:
Indispensability of the United Nations
The genuine self-giving of the United Nations has already become a tangible reality in the inner world. Now slowly and steadily it is being manifested in the outer world. Before long there shall come a time when the entire humanity will fully realise the indispensable peace-contribution that the United Nations has been making right from its very birth. No awakened human being will fail to subscribe to the Secretary-General's self-evident utterance:
Fulfilling the United Nations mission
We are not obliged to see eye-to-eye with those cynics who propagate the faulty and absurd idea that the United Nations has not fulfilled its promises. Let us soulfully and powerfully sing in unison with those who feel that the United Nations has been given neither the well-deserved authority nor the adequate opportunity to reveal and manifest its world-embracing, world-illumining and world-fulfilling vision. The Pilot of the UN boat tells the world:
Nations must work together
United we must see the reality. United we must feel the reality. United we must grow into the reality. There is no other way — none. Little brothers and big brothers in strong harmony and perfect peace must live. If not, danger shall threaten and devour the world. The divine words of the Secretary-General are indeed of supreme value:
The United Nations and the future
Division and separation will not and cannot appease the inner hunger of the comity of nations. It is the unity in multiplicity that can and will fulfil this hunger. And our Secretary-General tells us that the hour has struck and the world is ready for a new truth-the truth of world-union:
The necessity of the United Nations
The Secretary-General reminds us that more than ever before, the lovers of world-peace cannot hope to achieve a oneness-life in a oneness-world without the supreme assistance of the world-body:
An instrument of peace
The United Nations as a divine instrument is undoubtedly the embodiment of God's Dream. And we must serve this World-Organisation devotedly and untiringly in order to transform this dream into reality. Let us be illumined by the supreme message of the great instrument of the United Nations:
To search for peace is an honour
To search for peace is a supreme honour. By no manner of means is it abject humiliation. High idealism the United Nations has within. Vast reality it will reveal without. Indeed, this is the glorious vision of the Secretary-General:
The door to peace
Satisfaction we want? Then we needs must have peace. To achieve this peace, the Secretary-General invites the world-citizens to cheerfully and lovingly proceed with a oneness-heart:
Part II — Songs dedicated to the Secretary-General
UN Pilot
O UN Pilot, Javier Pérez de Cuéllar!Yours is the silver journey
To the Oneness-Fulness-Harbour.
Calmness-mind, softness-heart,
Boldness-life and brightness-soul.
Wisdom within, wisdom without:
A splendid role!
291
  — Javier Pérez de Cuéllar
PDC 29. Words by Javier Perez de Cuellar put to music by Sri Chinmoy.↩
30. Peru2
Peru, Peru, Peru, Peru!Pabitar shashi ekatar meru.
Tomar lagiya urdher kripa sopan.
Tumije tomar nimner trisha bagan.
Tomar parane swapanir dak.
Tomar nayane ushashir shankh.
Gaurab shir saurabh nir.
Kulu kulu swane nadi anadir.
Peru, Peru, Peru, Peru!
You are purity-moon and unity-mount.
For you, the compassion-flights
Of the higher worlds.
And you are the quenchless thirst
Of your heart-garden.
The supreme Dreamer is beckoning you.
Your eyes blow the dawn’s victory-conch.
You are your lofty glory’s height.
You are your fragrance-affection-nest.
Murmuring, through you is flowing
The birthless and deathless life-river.
PDC 30. This song is dedicated to Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, the beloved son of Peru. Sri Chinmoy composed it during a visit to the country in January 1987.↩
31. O United Nations
O United Nations, O UN,You are the world-body
Crying for the world-soul.
And you are the earth-life
Longing for oneness-goal.
In the heart of your glowing dream,
Big brothers and brothers small
Shall smile, sing and dance,
O Vision-Perfection in all!
32. O body of the world
O body of the world,O soul of the world,
In you the silence-nest
Of cosmic oneness-rest.
Yours is the nectar-role
To end earth’s sombre dole.
Our souls desire to flow
In your duty’s vision-glow.
33. UNESCO
O UNESCO, needed you areWithin, without, from near and far.
Knowledge, science, culture-light
You bestow on ignorance-night.
You are your heart’s hope-fragrance-flower.
You are your soul’s promise-hour-power.
34. A moment's peace
A moment’s truthCan and shall make the world beautiful.
A moment’s peace
Can and shall save the world.
A moment’s love
Can and shall make the world perfect.
35. UNICEF
UNICEF,O mother and child,
O sweetness-sea,
O beauty-flower and duty-tree!
You are your glowing eyes of light,
You are your loving oneness-height,
You are your soaring fulfilment-dream,
A true triumph of the Lord Supreme.
Part III — A chronology of good will: meetings and correspondence with the Secretaries-General
During the nearly twenty years that Sri Chinmoy and the Peace Meditation group have been offering programmes at United Nations headquarters, many messages of good will and mutual appreciation have been exchanged with the United Nations Secretaries-General and their office. The following selection of quotations and correspondence illustrates this relationship founded on mutual respect for service to the cause of peace.36.3
During a meeting on 29 February 1972, Secretary-General U Thant remarked: “Whoever speaks to me about you is all appreciation and admiration, and I personally feel that you have been doing a most significant task for the United Nations.”
36-38. The first edition of Perez de Cuellar: immortality's rainbow-peace presented these quotes as captions to photographs of those events.↩
37
At a meeting on 16 July 1976, Secretary-General Waldheim presented Sri Chinmoy with a silver medallion in appreciation of his work at the United Nations. The two met again on 7 March 1977 and on 24 October 1978. During their first meeting Mr Waldheim remarked: “You are praying for peace. I know what you are doing for us. I know it. I can feel it.”
38
Secretary-General Pérez de Cuéllar meditated with Sri Chinmoy on 13 January 1983, remarking later in the meeting: “I am indeed touched by your sincere expression of support for my efforts in the cause of peace and international understanding.“In your meditation you see beyond the superficial distinctions of race, sex, language or religion, as the Charter encourages us to do. You concentrate on the truths and ideals which unite all mankind: the longing for peace, the need for compassion, the search for tolerance and understanding among men and women of all nations.
“We must never forget that all our activities are aimed at fulfilling the lofty principles of the Charter. We must not lose sight of these objectives despite the frequent difficulties we encounter along the way. In recalling the fundamental goals which inspire our work, you are helping to re-affirm our commitment to the Organisation and its purposes.”
39. From Giandomenico Picco, 20 January 1982
Dear Sri Chinmoy,On behalf of the Secretary-General, I should like to thank you for your letter of 28 December 1981.
The Secretary-General was indeed grateful for your good wishes for his endeavours in the service of the international community. He also appreciated your kind invitation to participate in a special meditation programme this month, but I am sure you will understand that his many commitments in connexion with his very recent assumption of office will prevent him from joining you on this occasion.
May I also take this opportunity to convey to you the Secretary-General’s sincere appreciation for the kind birthday wishes you expressed at your meeting on 18 January.
Yours sincerely,
— Giandomenico Picco
— First Officer
40. From M'Hamed Essaafi, 3 May 1982
Dear Sri Chinmoy,On behalf of the Secretary-General, I should like to thank you for your letter of 29 April 1982. You may be sure that the kind words you addressed to the Secretary-General with regard to his efforts in the cause of peace and international understanding were indeed appreciated.
With regard to your request for an appointment with the Secretary-General, I am certain you will understand that his very busy schedule will unfortunately
prevent him from meeting with you at present, but I should like to take this opportunity to convey to you our thanks for your prayers on behalf of the work of the United Nations.
Yours sincerely,
— M’Hamed Essaafi
— Chef de Cabinet
41. From Javier Perez de Cuellar, 28 January 1983
Dear Sri Chinmoy,I should like to thank you for your thoughtful letter of 26 January.
It was indeed a pleasure to receive you earlier this month and I warmly appreciated your kind expression of support for my endeavours in the cause of peace and international understanding. Let me also
thank you for the photographs and tape you sent to me, which I shall certainly treasure as a memento of our meeting.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
— Javier Pérez de Cuéllar
42. From J Paul Kavanagh to Mr Davidson, 24 January 1986
Dear Mr Davidson,I have been asked by the Secretary-General to thank you for your letter of 16 January apprising him of your intrepid endeavours in support of the International Year of Peace.
He read with gratification of the admirable commitment, so widely recognised, which you and your colleagues in the Meditation Group share for the principles which underlie both the United Nations Organisation and its International Year of Peace. There could be no more fitting venue than Hiroshima and Nagasaki to make such a demonstration.
He has asked me particularly to send to you and your colleagues in the Group his very good wishes for the year ahead.
Yours sincerely,
— J Paul Kavanagh
— Second Officer
43. From Alvaro de Soto, 3 September 1986
The Secretary-General has learned with interest of Sri Chinmoy’s remarkable accomplishment in raising a 303 lbs weight over-head with one arm. He would be grateful if you could convey to Sri Chinmoy his hearty congratulations.Yours sincerely,
—- Alvaro de Soto
— Special Assistant to the Secretary-General
44. From Alvaro de Soto, 5 November 1986
I write on behalf of the Secretary-General to thank you for your letter of 3 November by which you invite him to the ceremonies for the U Thant Award which will be presented to Dr Russell Barber on 6 November.I am afraid that the Secretary-General is unable at such short notice to envisage the possibility of joining you. He has nonetheless asked me to convey to you and to all the participants in tomorrow’s ceremonies the attached message together with his very good wishes.
Yours sincerely,
— Alvaro de Soto
— Special Assistant to the Secretary-General
45. Message of the Secretary-General, 1986 U Thant Peace Award Ceremony
My sincere congratulations go to Dr Russell Barber, the 1986 recipient of the U Thant Peace Award.The promotion of mutual human respect across religious, ideological, political and economic boundaries is at the very root of the United Nations and imbued the life’s work of my distinguished predecessor, U Thant. As we remember him therefore we should also bear in mind that the ideals of tolerance and mutual accommodation, which he espoused so dearly, retain to-day all their power and relevance. They should inspire all our endeavours.
My good wishes to you all.
—- Javier Pérez de Cuéllar
46. From Alvaro de Soto, 5 February 1987
Dear Sri Chinmoy,The Secretary-General, who as you know is at present away from headquarters on an official mission, has asked me to thank you on his behalf for the good wishes and lovely flowers which you so kindly sent him on the recent occasion of his birthday.
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
—- Alvaro de Soto
— Special Assistant to the Secretary-General
47. Message of the Secretary-General to the world Peace Run4
It is my pleasure to greet the organisers and participants in this remarkable event.Your aim is to foster harmony and peaceful co-operation among nations through increased human contacts. Your essential message is that we, the members of the human family, despite our many differences, have infinitely much more to unite and bond us together. Nothing could be more in consonance with the essential purpose of the United Nations Organisation.
Accordingly, as United Nations Secretary-General, I wish you every success in this endeavour, for you are all ambassadors in the cause of peace.
—- Javier Pérez de Cuéllar
PDC 47. This message was offered by the Secretary-General on the occasion of the 1987 Oneness-Home Peace Run, a global relay for peace inspired by Sri Chinmoy.↩
48. From Javier Perez de Cuellar
Dear Sri Chinmoy,Your energetic efforts in the cause of peace have again been brought to my attention. The current Peace Run ’89 is a case in point.
This is but a brief note to express appreciation for all your support of the United Nations and its work.
—- Javier Pérez de Cuéllar
49. From Alvaro de Soto, 20 June 1989
I write on behalf of the Secretary-General to thank you for your kind letter of 9 June inviting him to participate in the Peace Walk’s finale on 26 June. I am afraid that the Secretary-General will be prevented by a very full programme from joining you and your colleagues for this important event.The Secretary-General has nonetheless asked me to convey to you his best wishes in your endeavours.
Yours sincerely,
—- Alvaro de Soto
— Executive Assistat to the Secretary-General
A chronology of goodwill: meetings and correspondence with the Secretaries-General5
Sri Chinmoy offers U Thant a bouquet of flowers at a meeting with the Secretary-General on 29 February 1972, when U Thant said: "Whoever speaks to me about you is all appreciation and admiration, and I personally feel that you have been doing a most significant task for the United Nations."At a meeting on 16 July 1976, Secretary-General Waldheim presents Sri Chinmoy with a silver medallion in appreciation of his work at the United Nations. The two met again on 7 March 1977 and on 24 October 1978. During their first meeting Mr. Waldheim remarked: "You are praying for peace. I know what you are doing for us. I know it. I can feel it."
Secretary-General Pérez de Cuéllar meditates with Sri Chinmoy on 13 January 1983, remarking later in the meeting: "I am indeed touched by your sincere expression of support for my efforts in the cause of peace and international understanding.
"In your meditation you see beyond the superficial distinctions of race, sex, language or religion, as the Charter encourages us to do. You concentrate on the truths and ideals which unite all mankind: the longing for peace, the need for compassion, the search for tolerance and understanding among men women of all nations.
"We must never forget that all our activities are aimed at fulfilling the lofty principles of the Charter. We must not lose sight of these objectives despite the frequent difficulties we encounter along the way. In recalling the fundamental goals which inspire our work, you are helping to re-affirm our commitment to the Organisation and its purposes."
PDC 29. During the nearly twenty years that Sri Chinmoy and the Peace Meditation group have been offering programmes at United Nations headquarters, many messages of goodwill and mutual appreciation have been exchanged with the United Nations Secretaries-General and their office. The following selection of quotations and correspondence illustrates this relationship founded on mutual respect for service to the cause of peace.↩