Sri Chinmoy offers UN Secretary-General U Thant a bouquet of flowers at a meeting with the Secretary-General at UN Headquarters in New York on 29 February 1972, when U Thant said, “Whoever speaks to me about you is all appreciation and admiration, and I personally feel that you have been doing a most significant task for the United Nations. Please feel my sincere respect and sincere concern for what you are doing for mankind.”

Sri Chinmoy presents an award to UN Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar in Paris on 26 May 2005, when the Secretary- General said, “I am deeply honoured to receive this Award from Sri Chinmoy, a very distinguished and loved friend for many, many years. What is happening to me now is that I am receiving the inspiration of Sri Chinmoy, who is actually, I would say, the heart of the United Nations – because in all the years I was Secretary- General, and even before I was Secretary-General, he was always with us. Even if he was not present, his message was with us, and we were, as I said before, being inspired by him.”

Sri Chinmoy presents his book dedicated to the United Nations to UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on 21 November 1996 at an Interfaith Ceremony held at UN Headquarters in honour of World Thanksgiving.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan greets Sri Chinmoy at a Solemn Interfaith Service of Commitment to the Work of the UN honouring the Secretary-General, held at St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York City on 25 April 1997.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan joins as Sri Chinmoy gives the silent invocation for the Solemn Interfaith Service of Commitment to the Work of the UN honouring the Secretary-General, held at St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York City on 25 April 1997. On 22 September 2000, Kofi Annan wrote to Sri Chinmoy: “Let me take this opportunity to express my appreciation for your 30 years of dedication to the United Nations. Through your prayers, meditations, concerts and global ‘Peace Run’, your work has linked peace-lovers in more than 100 countries and complemented that of the world Organization.”

At the opening reception of an exhibition at the UN of Sri Chinmoy’s “Paintings for World Harmony” on 3 April 2006, Sri Chinmoy greets Jan Eliasson, President of the 60th session of the UN General Assembly (and later UN Deputy Secretary-General, 2012-2016). After receiving an award from Sri Chinmoy on 17 May 2006, Jan Eliasson said, “You have played an important role already, and you are going to play an important role because the values for which you stand and the message for which you stand are timeless and will go beyond the present….I want to pay my respects to you and assure you that your message is extremely powerful and that it will continue to last in this world. We need this message. We need to work for peace. We need to work for development, and we need to work for a life in dignity for all.”

Pope Paul VI meets with Sri Chinmoy at the Vatican on 22 March 1972, when the Pontiff said, “This meeting of ours has been most essential. Your message and mine are the same. When we both leave this world, you and I, we will meet together.”

Pope John Paul II meets with Sri Chinmoy at the Vatican on 30 November 1988, when the Pontiff said, “I am very grateful for your visit. God bless you and all your contemplative activities.”

President Mikhail Gorbachev and Raisa Maximovna meet with Sri Chinmoy on 16 October 1994 in New York. On 15 August 2001, President Gorbachev wrote to Sri Chinmoy: “Your enormous and significant activities are helping people to live better lives in peace, friendship and love… Everyone knows and highly appreciates your work at the United Nations. Indeed, you are connected with the whole world, and your work is to foster peace-making efforts and the spiritual development of humanity… Whatever you dedicate yourself to – art, music, poetry, drawing – all this is connected with peace, peace amongst people and peace amongst nations.”

President Nelson Mandela and First Lady Graça Machel meet with Sri Chinmoy on 20 September 1998 in New York. On 10 July 2000, President Mandela wrote to Sri Chinmoy: “During the past 30 years, countless numbers of United Nations ambassadors and staff have experienced your Peace Meditation at the United Nations. Your spiritual activities have contributed to raising the standard of humanity to new heights.”

Mother Teresa meets with Sri Chinmoy on 1 October 1994 at the Missionaries of Charity House in Rome, when Mother Teresa told Sri Chinmoy, “I am so pleased with all the good work you are doing for world peace and for people in so many countries. May we continue to work together and to share together all for the glory of God and for the good of man.”

Sri Chinmoy presents an award to Archbishop Desmond Tutu at a meeting in New York on 16 March 2004, when the Archbishop said, “You are part of the spiritual force of love that emanates from God and which will transform the evil of this world into its counterpart. Thank you for persisting and going on, going on. Perhaps the world continues in existence only because of people like your- selves who help to hold it in being.”

Princess Diana meets with Sri Chinmoy at Kensington Palace on 21 May 1997. On 21 July 1997 Princess Diana wrote to Sri Chinmoy: “I know that you too strive to ease unnecessary suffering and indeed, have helped many, many people…I thank you for your generosity of spirit and send to you my heartfelt best wishes.” On 7 August 1997 the Princess wrote: “Your letters are so enormously encouraging. It is through this encouragement that I find the strength to continue with the fight against landmines, which is so vitally important to me…”

Sri Chinmoy presents the U Thant Peace Award to Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 13 January 1999 at a meeting in Bali, Indonesia.

Sri Chinmoy presents to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a song he had composed in her honour, at a reception she was hosting at UN Headquarters in New York on 17 September 1999.

Sri Chinmoy with Vladimir Petrovsky, UN UnderSecretary-General for Political Affairs, and later Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva, and his wife, Mira, at a special function in Jamaica Hills, New York, in 1992. On 27 October 2007, Vladimir Petrovsky wrote: “Sri Chinmoy was convinced that true outer peace had to start with the inner peace of the individual. He has expressed this philosophy of peace in countless books, songs and paintings. His creative works, together with his multifarious peace-initiatives like the humanitarian relief operations, the Peace Concerts and the World Harmony Run represent an immense source of inspiration, wisdom, strength and practical guidance to people of all social, cultural and religious backgrounds. I regard Sri Chinmoy’s work as one of the real treasures of the 20th and 21st centuries; probably the most powerful pillar of a culture of peace that currently exists.”

Sri Chinmoy honours Anwarul Karim Chowdhury and his wife, Mariam, at a special dinner in Jamaica Hills, New York. As keynote speaker at the Celebration of the Life of Sri Chinmoy held at the United Nations on 30 October 2007, Anwarul Chowdhury, former Ambassador of Bangladesh to the UN, and UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative, said: “He is the finest example of a person who has a true vision of peace and one who has untiringly and selflessly inspired peace all over the world. He worked tirelessly to bring the different faiths together, and inspired many to emulate his example. An ardent supporter of the United Nations, Sri Chinmoy reminded all of us time and again not to lose sight of the soul of the United Nations.”

Sri Chinmoy performs his music on fifty instruments from various nations at a Peace Concert held in the UN General Assembly Hall Lobby on 23 May 1995, one of fifty free Concerts that he offered at the UN and other venues around the world throughout 1995 to commemorate the UN’s 50th Anniversary.

Sri Chinmoy stands near the fountain in front of the UN Secretariat building, 8 May 1982.