Renowned peace luminary and freedom fighter, Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu was presented the first Sri Chinmoy Peace Prize during a private meeting in Tacoma for his tireless courage and dedication to fostering the ideals of peace in the hearts and lives of millions worldwide. Archbishop Tutu was in town to deliver a talk entitled “Be the Spark” during which he encouraged 15,000 mostly young people “to be God’s partner” in bettering the world.

World Harmony Run founder Sri Chinmoy meeting Archbishop Tutu in 2004.

Sri Chinmoy presenting the Archbishop, Father Desmond Tutu, with the "Lifting up the World" award in 2004. 

As part of the award presentation, one of his students said, “From his first treasured meeting with you in 1995 while you served as Archbishop of Cape Town, Sri Chinmoy always loved, admired and treasured you. In a book he wrote about you and was so happy to present to you in 2004, he penned, ‘Each drop of your body is made of courage—Fear nowhere! …As God’s Heart specialises in forgiving the word, even so, your life specialises in awakening the world.’ “Father, you are our supreme hero and most fitting person to receive the first Sri Chinmoy Peace Prize for your extraordinary courage, love for humanity and dedication to peace.”

The delighted 79-year-old Father Desmond Tutu replied, “Thank you so much for this very special award which I shall treasure. Please pray for us. I wish to say that world has got very many ugly things—war and poverty and disease. But it also has beautiful things…. Sri Chinmoy was one of God’s very best fellow workers, working for harmony and peace, and we thank God for his tireless service. We pray for God’s Blessings on all who follow his teachings to plant the seeds of peace and harmony throughout the world.”

Archbishop Tutu proudly posed with The Jewels of Happiness, a newly published book by Sri Chinmoy for which Father Tutu wrote the introduction.

The South African peace legend then held aloft the Torch from the World Harmony Run which Sri Chinmoy founded in 1987 dedicated to promoting the cause of world peace. We was also presented Father Tutu with the Torch-Bearer Award.

As a final gift to the peace luminary, Archbishop Tutu was presented a beautiful painting by Sri Chinmoy containing many charming and colourful peace-birds.

The World Harmnoy Run proudly supports the International Year of Youth (IYY) and the International Year of Forests (IYF) proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly.

See also recent Youtube video which illustrates IYY slogan "Our Year Our Voice"  International Year of Youth - Zambia World Harmony

UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage (WH) Centre supports IY of Forests.  ... Convention for conservation of forest biodiversity. (more)

– Agraha Levine

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