Peace offering is UN exhibition
By Lyndee Yamshon
One could hear a pin drop as Sri Chinmoy, artist of 70,000 Peace-Bird drawings, voiced several prayers to visitors of the exhibit of thousands of colourful birds unveiled at the United Nations building on 42nd Street and First Avenue last week.
He told the gathering how his idea to draw the birds came from deep prayer and meditation and how he believed that the birds were given to him as a gift from God.
“These birds are a collective repetition of prayers for peace,” he said.
“They are a reminder of harmony, the highest stage of being. I thank God that I can be here today, sharing these birds with you.”
The Indian-born artist who moved to New York in 1964, passed out peace bird cookies to guests, who included Kate Zuma, wife of the Deputy President of South Africa, Conrad Zuma, who spent many years in prison with Nelson Mandela.
A lecturer at several Ivy League schools including Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Columbia, Chinmoy meditated, eyes closed, smiling as he met with people from different nations, religions and cultural backgrounds who attended his opening at the magnificent headquarters. As they gathered around him, he recited a series of prayers and said:
“You may ask why I draw birds in countless numbers. In my case, I can not separate quality and quantity. These birds represent unity and multiplicity — if we have both these components in this world of ours we’ll have peace and bliss in boundless measures.
“The birds represent freedom. This freedom travels far beyond the horizons carrying the message of eternal peace. Freedom, as it is divine, it is boundless and it is bound to carry.
“The birds fly in boundless forms singing a victory of God the creator and God the creation at the same time. Each bird is a prayer from my heart, from my spiritual inner life. Each bird embodies a new hope.
“Peace is the golden bridge of earth tears and heaven smiles.
“Peace is the eagerness of the heart to discover God....
“Peace is the perfect voice of the inner world.”
As well as being an accomplished artist, Chinmoy also performs on several musical instruments, including the esraj, flute, violin and cello.
During his travels, he often offers free music concerts for peace, hoping to awaken the world’s consciousness towards the necessity of a higher existence. His exhibition at the UN building runs until Friday, August 4.
Caption:
MAN OF PEACE — the exhibition by Indian-born artist Sri Chinmoy runs at the UN building until August 4.
TOWN & VILLAGE, VOL. 53, NO. 31, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, JULY 27, 2000