Addressing nearly a million people on the Mall in the presence of US Senators, Congressmen, Presidents Former Presidents, Prime Minsters of 46 countries, Foreign. Minister of India former Speaker of the Indian Parliament MEPs and European MP, Hon Nirj Deva said to thunderous applause echoing down mile long Washington Mall to of the Art of Living Foundation and it’s Founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar “I met you 25 years ago and it is high time I AGAIN said two words to you. Thank you.
I want to say thank you. We WANT to say thank you. The whole world wants to say thank you Unborn generations want to say thank you Humankind wants to say thank you. Thank you for what you do, are doing and what you will continue to do. Thank you for being YOU.
Day and night every day of the week every week of the month every month of the year, year after year I have witnessed you working and giving, inspiring and uplifting each of us, one by one. You give us hope, you give us peace, you give us happiness, you give us meaning to our lives. You have brought peace to millions in conflicted areas, Kashmir, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Colombia, You have given hope and a future to desperate prisoners turning them from the unwanted into the wanted. You have educated hundreds of thousands of poor children, fed millions of the starving, given livelihoods to thousands and to protect the planet planted millions of trees and saved hundreds of rivers. Your hand blessed by God has touched this fragile planet in a way that no other human alive today has done.
At a time of increasing tension and conflict, a war in Europe and who would believe that 5 years ago, 16 other armed conflicts, a weak supine global leadership, self serving politicians, super power confrontation, you and the members of the Art of Living are our hope… Hope of a peaceful world hope of human kind and hope of a ONE World family. United in endeavor, determined in discipline, open to all the hearts and faithful to our single purpose – A peaceful World. End
