World Peace Tour 2005

His Holiness Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda is once more touring the world to spread the message of peace and to inspire people to follow the ethics and moral principles of non-violence, love, the protection of all living creatures, and the tolerance, respect and understanding of all religions, cultures, and nations. 

Swamiji will hold numerous public talks, workshops and satsangs, focusing on the essence of authentic, holistic yoga as a way to achieve optimum health, harmony, spiritual development, and individual and world peace. He will also present his newest book, The Hidden Powers in Humans, in which the different energy centers and the hidden powers within the body are explained. These powers determine our very destiny and Swamiji instructs and shows how to find and awaken them within ourselves.

The two-month tour (mid March - mid May 2005) will take Swamiji through various cities and locations of United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and finally India.

United States

Canada

New Zealand

Australia/Brisbane

March 28
Touchdown

His Holiness Paramahans Swami MaheshwaranandaJi, touched down in Australia on the commencement of an 3 week tour, which will see him visit each state in answer to numerous invitations to give public talks and seminars. His first engagement was a Welcome Satsang at Brisbane’s largest Yoga and Meditation facility, the ‘Yoga in Daily Life Centre’ in Fortitude Valley. He was greeted in the traditional way with a Pada-Puja. Swamiji’s Satsang words this night were on the subject of bhakti and he gave illustrative examples of the lives of two great souls, Meera Bai and Kabir-Das.

March 29
National Book Launch of The Hidden Power in Humans

Two hundred guests - yoga practitioners and spiritual seekers - gathered at Brisbane’s largest Yoga & Meditation Centre, ‘Yoga in Daily Life’ for the official book launch of the latest best-seller authored by His Holiness, Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda. Guest of honour at the evening proceedings was Brisbane’s Deputy Mayor, David Hinchliffe, who commenced his welcome speech to H.H. Swamiji with an acknowledgement of the traditional owners of the land, the Australian aboriginal people who always had a high-affinity with the spirit of nature and the cosmos. He continued: “Swamiji, we are extremely privileged and honoured to have you visit our city of Brisbane and we welcome you with open arms. You will find Australia is a very tolerant and diverse society and once again we are most pleased and happy greet you to our city”.

March 30
Multi Faith Luncheon at Yoga in Daily Life

Today in the heart of the city, Brisbane witnessed a multi-faith gathering of a unique kind. Seventeen representatives from various faiths plus 50 spiritual seekers, met together for the first time in the luscious garden of Queensland’s largest Yoga and Meditation centre, ‘Yoga in Daily Life’. The gathering was inspired by His Holiness, Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda who is in Australia as part of his World Peace Tour. Wherever H.H. Swamiji moves throughout the world, he spreads the message of ‘unity in diversity’. His organisation ‘Yoga in Daily Life’ is deeply committed to the multi faith culture and frequently initiates such events. This afternoon’s program commenced with an Aboriginal Welcome Ceremony performed by the traditional owners of the land. This colourful and vibrant performance was followed by inspiring words of wisdom from the men and women of each representative faith. The similarity of their words echoed each other’s message, further illustrating the innate connection each individual has to each other, that we are not separate nations and separate cultures, but in reality are one Human race. After the formal proceedings, all joined together for an informal luncheon, continuing to mix with each other sharing anecdotes and exchanging life stories. His Holiness Swamiji extended a personal invitation to each representative to join him at his next International World Peace Forum that will be held in Zagreb, Croatia in October, 2005.

Australia/Adelaide

April 10
Tree Planting Ceremony

His Holiness Vishwaguru Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda arrived into Adelaide for a tree-planting ceremony at the invitation of the Premier of South Australia, Mr. Mike Rann. Premier Rann, Monsignor David Cappo, Aboriginal Elder Lewis O’Brien and South Australian Ministers for the Environment and Education participated in this auspicious event the inauguration of a project called, the Sacred Forest. It is the vision of Premier Rann to plant 3 million trees in 90 sites of Urban Forest in an effort to ‘turn Adelaide green’. This vision echoes that of His Holiness Swamiji to ‘green the desert’ in the arid region of Rajasthan where his Ashram is established – Om Vishwa Deep Gurukul Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda Education and Research Centre. Premier Rann said that the establishment of the Sacred Forest in Adelaide creates a richly significant ground, helping to create an equilibrium between soil, plants and animals, whilst at the same time encouraging all human visitors to walk lightly on the earth. Premier Rann is a great supporter of H.H. Swamiji’s humanitarian works in India, and recently sent a delegation of water experts from the South Australian government to view the massive Desert Rainwater Harvesting Initiative at the Ashram of Swamiji. Mr.Rann has promised ongoing technical and advisory support to improve the lives of the people of Rajasthan. He said, “In both Rajasthan and South Australia we recognise water as a precious resource.” His Holiness Swamiji congratulated Premier Rann for his noble idea to turn Adelaide green. He said that in Indian culture, there are 4 things that are greatly revered and respected as Holy: the rain, the lake, the tree and the saint. H.H. Swamiji further explained how trees contribute as an example for world peace: “have you observed how as the tree grows, each branch finds a way to grow without clashing into the other? Each branch, of the same tree, always grows in harmony. Peace begins when we take care of the environment, water and the animals of this world. We humans have forgotten this.” Monsignor David Cappo, Vicar General of Adelaide’s Catholic Archdiocese first introduced Mr. Mike Rann and His Holiness Swamiji 3 years ago. Since that meeting the two have met annually, sharing the same ideals to bring peace to the world through recognition of the indigenous peoples, care for the environment and initiating steps for access to clean, safe drinking water.

April 11
Reception at South Australia’s Parliament House

The Premier of South Australia the Honourable Mr. Mike Rann, held a reception at South Australia’s Parliament House in honour of His Holiness Swamiji. Today’s event follows on from the previous day which saw the Premier invite H.H. Swamiji to plant the first tree in the “Sacred Forest” – an environmental initiative to ‘turn Adelaide green’ by planting 3 million trees. Premier Rann and H.H. Swamiji share the same concerns for conservation of water. The state of South Australia is 3 times the size of Germany, with 70% of its land being desert. The state of Rajasthan from where H.H. Swamiji originates is also an arid desert region where the population suffers greatly from lack of access to clean drinking water. Premier Rann re-dedicated to Swamiji the technical assistance and support of the water experts from South Australian government for the people of Rajasthan. South Australia is renowned worldwide for its leading technologies in the field of water harvesting and water conservation.

Australia/Perth