On 24th March 1984 in the Sportshall in Cologne, Sri Chinmoy offered his first major Peace Concert, with 8,500 people in attendance. The concert began with an opening meditation and then included performances on the flute, cello, esraj and singing with the harmonium.
Sri Chinmoy gave the title of the concert as “Peace: God’s Beauty in His Oneness-Home”. Like other aspects of Sri Chinmoy’s activities, the concert was offered free.
Opening flute performance by Sri Chinmoy
Although Sri Chinmoy had given small concerts before, this was unique in reaching out to so many people. On the day, buses came to Cologne from across Europe as over 8,000 seekers experienced a unique concert of soulful music and silent meditation.
The Peace Concert in Cologne proved to be an auspicious beginning for the first out of approximately 800 Peace Concerts. Sri Chinmoy would later speak of this first concert in Cologne:
"An unprecedented thing took place in Cologne on the 24th. It is the very beginning of something unique. “Peace: God’s Beauty in His Oneness-Home” has started radiating its divinity and immortality all over the world.
The Germans have spent thousands and thousands of dollars. But I tell you it is not their money-power that achieved this tremendous success. It is their heart-power, oneness-power and cooperation-power that has succeeded. Heart-power, oneness-power, money-power: all the powers should go together.
Over eight thousand people came. Needless to say, they did not come to see the musician in me. They came to me to see a God-lover and peace-distributor. The inner peace that I have and that I am is what they felt long before they even came to the concert. So peace-lovers are the ones who have come to our Peace Concert.
God’s fondest child is peace. Whoever needs peace in life, in his entire being, is bound to be the most perfect instrument of God."
— Sri Chinmoy, 29 March 1984 World Experience Tree-Climber, part 3
Full Length Concert Video
Video by Kedar
At the conclusion of the concert, Sri Chimoy offered the following dedication:
“Beloved Germany, breathlessly I am bowing to your soul. Soulfully, I am loving your heart. Devotedly, I am admiring your life. To me, stupendous is your soul. Generous is your heart and precious is your life.... My beloved Germany, to you my aspiration-heart and my dedication-life bow and bow and bow.”
— Sri Chinmoy
Listen to Sri Chinmoy’s Peace Concert address
Further Reading
- Sri Chinmoy's Cologne Concert 1984 at Radio Sri Chinmoy
- Cologne Peace Concert 1984 at Sri Chinmoy TV
- Cologne at Sri Chinmoy Songs - Song composed March 26, 1984. Two days after the concert.
- List of all Peace Concerts.
Original Poster for the Peace Concert
