2022 Welcome from the International Day of Yoga Committee at the UN by Denise Scotto, Esq., Chair

2022 Welcome Message

Love is the affinity which links and draws together the elements of the world…love, in fact, is the agent of universal syntheses. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Greetings Dear Friends,

My heart is filled with gratitude for each and every reader, author, friend, committee member and person affiliated with bringing the latest issue of the International Day of Yoga Committee at the UN’s Special Edition of Light on Light E-Magazine to life. It’s because of all of you that our yoga journal has become as widespread as it has and that it has gained significant recognition.

2022’s Welcome is somewhat different from my prior messages. I’ve been feeling an urgency which requires a different note. The war in Europe, previously inconceivable, which began in February, combined with our other global challenges demands that we be more serious and persistent in our practice. I ask that we all take action in our daily lives to bring yoga’s values and underlying philosophy with us in our every moment. Start simply with our self then with others.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Light and love will always be the greater power over darkness and hate.”

If we want to have a world that is based on the universal principles we find in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights where there is human dignity, equality, unity, interdependence, cooperation, fairness, justice, social and sustainable development, harmony, a culture of peace and non-violence, then, there is no time like NOW for us to act with good will and have the will to do good as we live our lives. Again, I ask that we step up in a new way to these key challenges, and, as we do, let’s draw the qualities of care, kindness, compassion and love ever more gently into our individual lives and bring it outward into our world.

How to do this ? How about first taking stock and evaluating ? Being centered within, it’s important to recognize if it’s time to change course. Given the impending turn of the year, we have a built-in opportunity to reflect and make shifts. Some of this may seem easier than others. Some of it is quite taxing like ending a relationship where the signs have been there in plain sight for a while. Although not easy, a number of reasons may require this behavior, but, whatever the impetus, by making adjustments, the outcome may bring new opportunity which may enhance our lives in unexpected ways and provide freedom to be more caring and to act more kindly. At the very least, it may provide the space for wisdom to arise and to be recognized. Although, sometimes, it may take a very long time and requires patience. As we know, growth requires that we move on. And, for us to go forward together with those who share the fundamental values that we hold so dear to create a better life for ourselves, for humanity and for our planet and the larger world. I’ve personally found this issue deeply inspiring as it emphasizes collective community action which expands light and peace.

Finally, I pay tribute to our luminaries for their support in being with the IDY Committee as we returned to in-person events. Yoga Day brought us HE NY Assemblyman Dr Nader J Sayegh who, due to his steadfast leadership, was instrumental in having New York State recognize June 21 as Yoga Day Statewide! We also enjoyed a special celebration for Guru Dileep Thankappan’s World Yoga Community’s 35th Anniversary, and, yes, we enjoyed cake! As we commemorated the first Nuclear Prayer Day, we were honored that Sheila Chaman, the renowned Doordarshan News Readers and a past Miss India, joined us as a speaker along with colleagues and friends from Japan. A month later, we observed the International Day of Peace by having the best-selling author Matt Kahn join us as a guest speaker.

At the same time, somewhat befittingly, on Yoga Day on the UN North Lawn, we said a fond farewell to close friend HE Ambassador Nagaraj Naidu who was reposted back to India. A couple of months later, we also said goodbye to HE Ambassador T. S. Tirumurti who had served as Permanent Representative when India was elected to a two-year term to the UN Security Council as he returned to India and retired.

So, dear friends, before we move forward to the year ahead, from my hear to yours, I wish you a beautiful holiday season and leave you with a few quotes.

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning, but, a going on with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” Hal Borland

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Eleanor Roosevelt

“Listen to the wind, it talks. Listen to the silence, it speaks. Listen to your heart, it knows.” Native American Proverb

In unity, healing and peace, Denise Scotto, Esq. Chair, International Day of Yoga Committee at the United Nations