Special report from Beijing by Amy Gage
"Without showing sanctity toour nature, there will be no sustainable development."
Swami VedaBharati
Swami Rama's legacy lived inBeijing, China, April 13-15, 2005, during theInternational Dialogue:Diving into Harmony,organized by various international institutions. The sponsors of theconference were theChinese InternationalCulture ExchangeCenter, Encounter ofWorldviews Foundation,Chinese Society forFuture Studies,UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, China-Europe Foundationof Dialogue, and theExchange for Sustainable Development. The Conference was inspired byand received support fromThe Honor PowerFoundation which hasbeen established by a remarkable man of vision and spiritualinspiration, MasterChuang for whomSwami VedaBharati has developed aclose personal affection. Sixty dedicated volunteers of the HPFoundation served the guests and the Conference day and night. Theirorganizational acumen, accompanied with utmost humility, was a lessonto all. The interpreters at the Conference all were Foundationmembers.
Swami Veda was received among the dignitaries as acontributor, and Swami Rama's disiciples and Swami Veda's friends,Wolfgang Bischoff and Atem Ramsundersingh served as leading figuresamong the Conference Advisors. The Himalayan Meditation tradition waswell represented.
As the conference took the form of dialogue withno lecturers, Swamiji was also a dialogue participant. The centraltheme and core of his presentations was:
Only the calmest mind will find its inward wayinto the space of integration and harmony. It will become a clearmirror, de-conditioned and de-habituated enough for truth that islove to emerge from any inter-contemplative communication.
Eighty "Captains of Influence"--40% from Asia, 40%from Europe, 20% from the Americas--were invited to attend the event.They included government officials, CEOs of multinational companies,and directors of state-owned enterprises, with non or intergovernmental organizations like the World Bank and United Nations.Also attending were scholars and representatives of diverse worldviews and charitable organizations. The leaders participated in smallgroup sessions using creative and constructive methods to foster theexchange of ideas.
Four primary areas of dialogueincluded:
1. Identifying core values andworldviews in the practice of sustainable development;
2. Determining blocks andbreakthroughs in the practice of sustainabledevelopment;
3. Analyzing partnershipsbetween business and government to optimize chances forsuccess;
4. And, specifically for China,seeing the issues of its socio-economic sustainabledevelopment.
The relationship between nature and development inpractical terms was addressed, including the vital roles of naturalresources, water management, and environmental protection. TheConference also considered how to achieve effective educationalprograms in the practice of sustainable development.
One core concept revolved around a global visionof education for sustainable development. Everyone should benefitfrom quality education to learn the values, behavior, and lifestylesrequired for a sustainable future and positive socio-culturaltransformation. Since the Conference organizers believe that thedeveloped industrialized countries have not provided a modelappropriate or desirable to reach sustainable goals, the Conferencelooked to the new growing countries to develop and model viablealternative approaches to sustainable development. It is felt thatleaders can become empowered to fulfill the visions of developmentand evaluation through creatively working with others. Providingleadership for these potentials represents a very realchallenge.
At the end of the conference a small spiritualmiracle occurred. The general policy adopted in organizing theconference was to avoid overtly 'spiritual' tones or references toMasters and Yogis. The true inspiration behind the conference, asstated above, was Master (as he is known among his worthy team)Chuang, although he makes no claims to being a Master in the sense ofthe word used in the Meditation circles. He stayed behind the scenesthroughout the conference. In the last session he did come but satway in the back row very unobtrusively.
One of the conference participants was Phil Lane,a Dakota chief from Calgary area. He was asked to lead the closing ofthe ceremony. He had never met Swami Rama, although he said he mayhave had heard his name somewhere.
Phil Lane was inspired from within, with nosuggestion on anyone's part: He led all the delegates in chanting OMNAMAH SHIVAYA. Then he followed the Chinese tradition of offeringthanks to the ancestors. He said: we offer thanks to Swami Rama andall the ancestors. All of the disciples present were surprised anddelighted.
Phil Lane said that during the last session SwamiRama visited him--or that his name popped up in his mind. Heapproached Wolfgang and asked: Who is Swami Rama? and was told thathe is the Guru of Wolfgang, Atem, Swami Veda and several others.
And that guided him to let the closing ceremonytake this form.
The Conference led off a three-week invitationalvisit to China for Swami Veda and a group of 11 pilgrims, members andfriends of Swami Rama's Ashrams and the Meditation Center. Commentsabout this inspiring trip will follow as the writer continues toexplore the essence of the powerful experiences, friendships, andshared delights of travel with Maha-Mandaleshwara Shri Swami VedaBharati.
Please visit this web page forSwami Veda's comments to the conference delegates,CONTEMPLATIONANDCOMMUNICATION.
© PROMETHEUS 96/2005