22nd International Human Unity Conference in San Juan and the Dominican Republic

The opening session of the 22nd International Human Unity Conferences (IHUC) took place on May 14 in San Juan. These conferences have a noble tradition: Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj was the founder president of the first conference in 1974. Since then, they have been held all over the world: in India, Europe, United States, Africa, and South America. In January 2004, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, president of the International Human Unity Conferences, convened the 20th IHUC in Peru followed by the 21st conference in Delhi, India, in September.

The theme of the 22nd IHUC was “Peace and Unity through Spirituality.” This offered people of both countries a chance to experience how peace can be realized through spirituality. The purpose of all IHUCs is to gather religious, civil, and social leaders together in order to explore the efficacy of prayer and meditation as a way of attaining both personal and global peace.

In the opening session, the Honorable Iris Miriam Ruiz, majority leader of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, presented Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj with a proclamation honoring him as a world leader working for education and peace. In his response, he said there isn’t a person in the world who doesn’t want a peaceful life, but to achieve that, we need to focus on our real self through meditation and find inner peace.

The conference continued in Santo Domingo on May 16. The first speaker inaugurating this session was Cesar Mathias, vice-president of the Dominican senate. Recognizing the need for peace in a world where everything seems to be breaking down, Vice-president Mathias emphasized the need for people like Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj and for his message. He added without inner peace we cannot find peace in our outer lives, and growing spiritually is the only way to find peace. He also hoped Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj’s message be spread as widely as possible so there will be harmony, peace, and unity in the world.

Speaking next, Lidio Cadet, deputy of the Chamber of Representatives, a former ordained priest, said he realized there is a divine purpose behind everything and hoped he would leave the conference with a diminished ego and greater capacity to love.

Father Napoleon Brito, rector of the Episcopalian Seminary, said although he is a priest, he recognizes the need for a spiritual Master, and Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj is such a Master.

While in the Dominican Republic, the spiritual leader appeared on live TV. His interviewer recognized Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj’s powerful message of unity and peace and acknowledged the importance of that message for people of all religions and ways of life.

One delegate from North America commented: “I’ve been to these and similar conferences throughout the world, and, outside of India, I’ve never seen such a high level of spiritual receptivity as that among the Spanish-speaking community. I’ve seen strangers, recognizing something of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj’s nature, rush up to him on the street or in airports and ask for his blessing.”

For more information about Science of Spirituality interfaith activities, please email outreach@sos.org.