Ananda Receives Global Ambassador Peace Award at the United Nations Church Center
Ananda receives Global Ambassador Peace Award from the Institute of International Social Development (IISD), an international non-governmental organization (NGO) in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations.
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The Spiritual Directors of Ananda, Nayaswami Jyotish and Nayaswami Devi, received the award on November 17, 2017 in the Tillman Chapel at the United Nations Church Center in New York City.
“Institute of International Social Development recognizes spiritual leaders and the UN leadership which we believe can transform the world,” said Shomik Chaudhuri, President of IISD. “There are very few leaders like Jyotish and Devi. We are honored to give them the Global Ambassador Peace Award for the inspiring ways Ananda brings Paramhansa Yogananda’s spiritual wisdom to life today.”
Ananda receives Global Ambassador Peace Award from Shomik Chaudhuri, President of IISD
Nayaswami Jyotish (left) and Shomik Chaudhuri (right), President of IISD.
“Yogananda’s mission,” explained Nayaswami Jyotish, “was to spread the teachings of meditation and Kriya Yoga as tools for the evolution of personal and planetary consciousness. He came to show how everyone can use meditation to enhance their daily life.”
“Reading Yogananda’s ‘Prayer for a United World’ at the United Nations today was a great honor,” said Nayaswami Devi.
In response to the great uncertainty people are feeling today, Ananda founded Be the Change. Already close to 2,300 people in 70 countries have pledged their meditation minutes to radiate a million hours of peace and harmony to the world.
“Be the Change gives people a positive action—meditation—to help them transcend their fears and anger about the state of our world,” explained Nayaswami Jyotish.
“We all need to take personal responsibility for the state of our world today. Our challenges are precious spiritual opportunities,” said Nayaswami Devi. “Meditation raises our consciousness,” she added. “Only with an uplifted consciousness will we achieve sustainable living and harmony on our planet. Meditation is how we can be the change we wish to see in the world.”
Nayaswami Jyotish and Nayaswami Devi trained with Ananda’s founder, Swami Kriyananda (a direct disciple of Yogananda), for nearly 50 years. As emissaries of Yogananda today, Jyotish and Devi travel the world sharing the practical and heart-opening path of Kriya Yoga.
