San Marco la Catola, Italy
report by Maria Caterina Putignano and Pina Mancusi
On April 24, the two of us set out from Potenza to San Marco la Catola, to meet Guru Inder, Hariji, and the members of the Yoga Dharma Community in the late afternoon. Our first stop was the Capuchin convent, the reception point. Brother Matthew welcomed us and informed us that they, too, had initially been actively involved in organizing the peace ceremony. Subsequently, they took on the role of reception. We gave them a tabletop Peace Pole.
In the afternoon, we went to the Ducal Palace to participate in the initiatives promoted by the Tibetan Peace Monastery. A sand mandala meditation was underway there, and at the same time, in the adjacent room, monks promoting the events were giving a message, followed by an American Catholic priest who spoke about the importance of meditation.
We appreciated the convergence of different spiritual and religious visions, which was desired by the monks of the Tibetan Peace Monastery. It was their initiative to ask Guru Inder and Hariji to bring the peace ceremony to this celebration for the Dalai Lama’s birthday.
In the evening, Guru Inder, Hariji, and the meditators of the Yoga Dharma Community arrived. Their journey from Rome to San Marco la Catola was a sacred journey, with a van containing all the world’s flags, already arranged and placed on stands by the Yoga Dharma Community in Bracciano (near Rome) the previous week.
The flags were taken to the Tibetan Peace Monastery, where they received further blessings. Upon arrival at San Marco la Catola, Guru Inder and Hariji met the mayor, who took them to view some locations for the peace ceremony. An amphitheater in a park was chosen.
On the morning of April 25th, the Yoga Dharma members set up the microphones and amplification, and the flags in the center. Together with Guru Inder, they developed the Ceremony’s format.
When people began arriving, everything was ready. Guru Inder and Hariji welcomed the representatives of the various spiritual traditions, infinitely grateful for their participation. The mayor offered a welcome message, and a trekking movement joined the celebration—at the end of the ceremony this group walked a path of peace from the village to the monastery.
The presence of so many participants belonging to different spiritual and cultural traditions created a very high energy of unity within diversity. This energy was enhanced by the fact that participation in the peace ceremony was particularly heartfelt.
After presenting all the flags of the world, participants joined in a peace walk inside the amphitheater with all the flags. There was an atmosphere of great emotion and joy.
My infinite gratitude goes out to the Yoga Dharma Community for sharing their great wisdom and lightness. It was a special gift from Guru Inder, Hariji, and the entire Community, because so much light and power radiated from this convergence of human beings who love peace.
