Martin Luther King: Humanity’s Aspiration-Hero – SUMMARY 1977 Excerpts

Filed under media coverage Text & Photos | Tributes and Expressions of appreciation

On 29 November 1977, Mrs. Coretta Scott King joined diplomats and staff in a meditation and tribute at U.N. Headquarters honouring her husband, the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Meditation Group Singers sang three songs composed by Group Leader Sri Chinmoy- one song in Dr. King ‘s honour and two using Dr. King’s words. Part of the programme is scheduled to be televised over WPIX-TV on Dr. King’s birthday, 15 January 1978.

Following are brief excerpts from each of the speeches which also appeared in the print version of 1977 Devoted Report to the Secretary-General..

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Sri Chinmoy presents a bouquet to Mrs. Coretta Scott King.

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Sri Chinmoy, Leader of the Meditation Group: Martin Luther King, beloved King of the heart-world, unhorizoned vision of the mind-world, hero-warrior of the vital-world, life-sacrificer of the body-world, to you my aspiration-dedication-life bows.

The Saviour-Son gave humanity the lesson of compassion and forgiveness. India’s Mahatma Gandhi, with his message of non-violence, proved to be an excellent student. In America the Absolute Supreme chose you to be His unparalleled student, to love divinely the soul of His creation and to serve unreservedly the body of His creation.

We, the members of the Meditation Group at the United Nations, bow to you lovingly, devotedly and soulfully .

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Mr. Paul O’Dwyer, President of the City Council of New York City: Friends, Mrs . Coretta King, I am grateful for the opportunity of joining with so many people in this meditation ceremony to be at a place where Sri Chinmoy is. It is altogether appropriate that he conduct the service here that commemorate the life and times of Martin Luther King because he is an apostle of peace and an apostle of non-violence . .. . It is quite easy when one suffers from tyranny and 0ppression for over centuries to resort to violence. I is not easy to attempt to lead such people into an atmosphere of non-violence to bring about  an end of the problems which have caused so much difficulty in the world.

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Ambassador Salim Ahmed Salim of Tanzania; Chairman, Special Committee of 24 on Deccolonization: With all the bitter experiences, humiliation and degradation, it is to the greatest credit of Dr. King that he was not an embittered man seeking revenge and reprisal. His was a life truly dedicated to human equality, understanding and fraternity. In a sense, therefore, in him was symbolized some of the lofty goals of the United Nations.

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Ambassador Leslie O. Harriman of  Nigeria; Chairman, Special Committee against Apartheid : Yesterday, to be black meant to be oppressed, humiliated and despised. Today, to be black has come to mean the burden of leadership, a vanguard role, in the struggle to free the whole of humanity of prejudice and iniquity, and to break down the barriers that segment it.

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Dr. Robert Muller, Deputy Under-SecretaryGeneral: One could quote endlessly thoughts and words of Martin Luther King which make one’s heart vibrate, which inspire, which elevate, which make us feel better, greater and proud to be a human. Everything he did and said bore the stamp of that same great human dream which is also being sought here under this roof. This is why he was described as a first citizen of the world, a man of all ages and of all continents.

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Mr. Donald Keys of Planetary Citizens: Martin Luther King, Jr. sowed the seeds of a mighty transformation in human relations. In the Martin Luther King Center for Social Change which you, Coretta Scott King, founded, you are protecting, nurturing and multiplying those seeds. In world affairs, Andrew Young, chief disciple of Martin Luther King. is sowing the same seeds of harmlessness, non-violence and creative love. Thus the task begun goes on, and this is the greatest possible tribute to a great man and a divinely inspired team.

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H.E. Mr. Allard Lowenstein, Alternate Representative of the United States: Each of us has to, as we meet together, find the applicability of what we know to be essential now, as the priority of our agenda, as human beings, as nations, as representatives . . . . Out of all of the hatreds and festering injustices that have pockmarked the whole of the human experience, this spirituality and this meditation, this quality has to now come through triumphantly, lest the planet itself not survive.

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Mr. left Kamen of WPIX-TV : Twelve years ago I was assigned to radio reports on Dr. King, virtually everywhere he went. And that brought me face to face with him, his philosophy of creative non-violence and the tremendous changes he was helping to bring about in the United States. Dr. King’s charisma , I learned, was drawn not from the love of power, but rather from the power of love. He never forgot for a moment exactly who he was, a humble servant of God.

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Mrs. Coretta Scott King: I want to first express my deep gratitude to the Meditation Group and to all of you in the United Nations and from the City of New York, who have ga thered here in this special tribute to the life and contributions of Martin Luther King, Jr. Your words have been, indeed, an inspiration to me.

And to have heard what has been said by representatives of nations around the world, who have understood Martin Luther King, Jr.’s message and his great life commitment, certainly inspires me personally to continue in the struggle which we are all a part of here, I feel, at the United Nations, to liberate those who are oppressed and to bring about a better quality of life for all people in this world and certainly in our nation.

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Excerpt from a message extended to Mrs. Coretta Scott King by H.E. Ms. Shirley Gbuiama, Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations: As a student in the United States in the
early 60’s, I was deeply moved by the practical demonstration of love and concern for humanity of Martin Luther King, Jr. How can we fail to realise that all he did in life, and is doing in death, ha s been made possible through the tremendous spiritual dimension of his life? We thank almighty God for both of your lives.

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The Meditation Group singers perform original songs by Sri Chinmoy dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , some of which were composed to the civil rights leader’s own words.

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The world is blind; it needs God-Vision.
And the United Nations has God-Vision in abundant measure.

The world is weak ; its needs soul-power.
And the United Nations has soul-power in abundant measure.

The world is suffering ; it needs heart-consolation.
And the United Nations has heart-consolation in abundant measure. [*1]

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The United Nations tells us where truth is.
World union tells us what truth is.

Where is truth?
Truth is in self-giving.

What is truth?
Truth is man’s transformation of his earth-bound nature. [*2]

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Music score:

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Reference Notes:

[*1]  excerpt from talk “The United Nations As An Instrument Of Human Unification“, by Sri Chinmoy in Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium on May 9, 1974. Talk appears  in, The Tears Of Nation-Hearts, Agni Press, 1974.

[*2] excerpt from talk “The United Nations And World Union “, by Sri Chinmoy in Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium on 18 October 1974. Talk appears  in,  Union-Vision, Agni Press, 1975.

 

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