1st World Meditation Day - A World Record

Peace Initiatives | Published: | 4 min read


1st World Meditation Day - A World Record  

On World Meditation Day, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar led more than 8.5 million people across the world both online and offline into meditation.

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‘World Meditates With Gurudev’ Breaks World Record for the Largest Meditation Gathering

On World Meditation Day, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar led more than 8.5 million people across the world both online and offline into meditation.

Bengaluru, India
Saturday, December 21st

A historic milestone was achieved as the event ‘World Meditates with Gurudev’ shattered records, earning a place in the Guinness World Records, the Asia Book of Records and World Records Union. This monumental event, organized by the Art of Living Foundation, brought together millions from across the globe, setting a new benchmark for collective meditation.

Gurudev leading meditation on World Meditation Day at One World Trade Center New York

The first World Meditation Day marked an unparalleled celebration of unity and inner peace. With participants tuning in from over 180 countries, the event showcased the transformative power of meditation as a global movement. Starting with the inaugural event at the United Nations and culminating in a live session led by Gurudev from atop of the World Trade Center (New York), the day witnessed a wave of meditation sweeping across continents.

List of Records Broken:

  • Guinness World Record
  • Asia Book of Records
    • Maximum Participation from all the States of India in Guided Meditation in a Day
    • Maximum nationalities participated in Guided Meditation in a Day
  • World Records Union
    • The record for the most views for an online guided meditation in 24 hours on YouTube
    • The record for the most live viewers of a guided meditation session on YouTube
    • The record for the most nationalities participating in an online meditation session

The meditation session led by Gurudev was streamed live, with over 8.5 million joining virtually and even physically in large groups to meditate for global peace and harmony.

“Meditation is the journey from knowing by thought to feeling what you know. To meditate you need to first go from too much thinking to feeling what is. And then go beyond the feeling towards the inner space. ⁠⁠If you want to be sane, sensitive and sensible, you need to meditate. Meditation is not inactivity. It makes you more dynamic and peaceful. Even to be a revolutionary, you need to meditate.”

Gurudev explained before leading everyone into meditation

The Art of Living’s initiative has been praised by global leaders, celebrities, sportsperson, professionals and people from all walks of life and age groups. The event also garnered significant participation from farmers, educational institutions including those for visually repaired children, corporates, members of the military, health caregivers, researchers and scientists, homemakers, people of indigenous origins and even prisons, demonstrating meditation’s universal appeal and impact. The world united in a shared moment of peace and harmony.

The resounding response and global participation of ‘World Meditates with Gurudev’ highlights the transformative power of collective meditation. With this monumental effort, the Art of Living has not only united millions in meditation but also inspired a global movement for inner peace and universal harmony.

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