Since 1970, Sri Chinmoy has offered twice-weekly silent interfaith meditations at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, for diplomats, UNleaders and staff. On October 19th, 1975, he led the first international interfaith conference at the UN in a minute of silence. This was the first time he met with Mother Teresa, who later became a very, very dear friend. On August 28th, 1993, and also on July 7th, 2004 at two of the largest
gatherings of religious and spiritual leaders in history – the Parliament of the World’s Religions – Sri Chinmoy offered in silence the opening meditation at the plenary session of the Parliament. Sri Chinmoy has met with and fostered a dialogue on interfaith peace and harmony with many of the world’s great religious leaders, including Pope John Paul II on six occasions, Pope Paul VI on three occasions, Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the leaders of Buddhism (Supreme Patriarchs) in the countries of Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Myanmar, as well as revered leaders from the Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Protestant, Coptic, Jain, Sufi and other faiths.