8. Sri Chinmoy's World Harmony Concert, Ulaanbaatar Palace, 20 May 2007

[Against the striking backdrop of a large, luminous mandala, Sri Chinmoy offered a concert of his musical compositions for an audience of 2,700 attentive listeners. In the centre of the mandala was the Sanskrit AUM symbol, encircled by three concentric rings of Sri Chinmoy's birds. There were also small discs with individual birds mounted on the shimmering blue curtain.

Sri Chinmoy performed on fifteen instruments, beginning with the esraj, and accompanied himself on the harmonium while singing. Sri Chinmoy's Mongolian students, including children, beautifully sang his Bengali song for Mongolia, and an international group offered Sri Chinmoy's song dedicated to President Enkhbayar.]

Deeldar: Good day to all of you who have gathered here today. This concert has been organised as part of Sri Chinmoy's "World-Oneness-Heart-Song in Mongolian Life" programme during his visit to Mongolia. Sri Chinmoy is the leader of Peace Meditations at the United Nations. He is a poet, artist, musician and athlete.

Joining us at this concert is renowned Mongolian composer and state-honoured artist Mr. N. Jantsannorov, who will introduce the music of Sri Chinmoy.

Mr. N.Jantsannorov: Good day, ladies and gentlemen. The events of these days are very important in the life of Mongolia,· spiritually and culturally. Sri Chinmoy is serving the cause of inner peace.

One of the most important of Sri Chinmoy's multi-faceted activities is music. So far, Sri Chinmoy has composed more than 20,000 songs in Bengali and English. In the process of preparing for the visit of Sri Chinmoy, I have had the chance to dedicate some time to becoming acquainted with around 50 of his musical compositions.

Music, in my opinion, can be classified into three main categories. The first is popular music; the second is emotional music; and the third is music of inner peace, deep spiritual music. The music of Sri Chinmoy belongs to the third category of deep spiritual music. Therefore, in Sri Chinmoy's concerts, unlike in those of popular and emotional music, the members of the audience are advised to try to immerse themselves in inner peace together with the musician and his music, and to hold their applause until the very end of the performance.

Sri Chinmoy performs on many instruments, and also sings unaccompanied. An immensely interesting phenomenon is observed when a number of renowned pianists as well as modern rock and pop groups create variations on his musical themes and compositions.

When you listen to Sri Chinmoy's music, you will appreciate the composer's theme that human life, the soul's strength, acceptance, peace and tranquillity are continually eternal, inexhaustibly eternal. That experience, I hope, we all will enjoy tonight.

Long live the music-melody of peace!

Thank you.