World Leader for Peace and Security Award 2023

Summary

AMMA HONOURED WITH WORLD LEADER FOR PEACE AND SECURITY AWARD

During her 70th birthday celebrations at Amritapuri, Amma was honoured with the prestigious ‘World Leader for Peace and Security Award,’ jointly presented by the Boston Global Forum and the Michael Dukakis Institute for Leadership and Innovation. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Co-Founder and CEO of Boston Global Forum, presented the award to Amma.

“Amma’s legacy is one of profound compassion and enduring dedication to spiritual and humanitarian values. She has uplifted millions by giving solace, building homes, hospitals, alongside many other projects. Her leadership as the Chair of the Civil 20 Engagement Group for India’s G20 Presidency reflects her unwavering commitment to unity, compassion and collective wellbeing,” said Nguyen Anh Tuan.

“The Boston Global Forum seeks to employ technology through values in service of humanity. We are honoured to be able to include Amma’s spiritual values into our initiatives. This brings a convergence of compassion with technology to address our global challenges. This has been exemplified by Amma’s work to set a brighter future for all. May we be guided by Amma’s principles in that regard.”

Michael Dukakis, the former Governor of Massachusetts, also sent a message saying, “We are profoundly honoured to recognize Amma as a leader for world peace and security. Her tireless efforts to promote love, compassion and global unity are truly exemplary. Amma’s legacy will continue to inspire our collective journey towards a more harmonious world.”

Read the full news from the official website of Amma:

https://amma.org/news/amma-honoured-with-world-leader-for-peace-and-security-award/

Award announcement

REMARKS OF BGF CEO NGUYEN ANH TUAN HONORING SRI MATA AMRITANANDAMAYI DEVI (AMMA) WITH THE 2023 WORLD LEADER FOR PEACE AND SECURITY AWARD

Honoring Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma) with the 2023 World Leader for Peace and Security Award  

Boston Global Forum (BGF) and Michael Dukakis Institute for Leadership and Innovation (MDI)

My Namaste and Pranams to all

Distinguished leaders and esteemed guests.

Today, October 3, 2023, we gather to mark the 70th birthday of Amma, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi. It is a time of celebration and also a time to recognize her for her extraordinary spiritual and charitable contributions. The Boston Global Forum (BGF) and the Michael Dukakis Institute for Leadership and Innovation (MDI) are honored to present to Amma our 2023 World Leader for Peace and Security Award. Past recipients of this award include Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the United Nations’ Ban Ki-moon, and Germany’s Angela Merkel, Japan’s Shinzo Abe, European Commission’s Ursula von der Leyen.

Amma’s legacy is one of profound compassion and unyielding dedication to spiritual and humanitarian values who has uplifted millions by giving solace, building homes, hospitals, pension plans, amongst many other projects. Her leadership as Chair of the Civil 20 Engagement Group of the G20 reflects her unwavering commitment to unity, compassion, and collective well-being. In a world marked by change and disruption, she reminds us that all of us can be a guiding light – a belief reflected in the motto of the C20 Summit India 2023 – “You Are the Light.”

Amma’s tireless efforts to foster a fair and sustainable planet are in perfect alignment with the principles of world peace and security championed by the Boston Global Forum and the Michael Dukakis Institute. Every life is valued, every act of kindness helps, every hug affirms our common humanity.

Michael Dukakis, the Chair of the Boston Global Forum and three-time governor of the State of Massachusetts, aptly expresses our sentiments when he stated, “We are profoundly honored to recognize Amma as a World Leader for Peace and Security. Her tireless efforts to promote love, compassion, and global unity are truly exemplary. Amma’s legacy will continue to inspire our collective journey towards a more harmonious world.”

Through its AI World Society program, the Boston Global Forum seeks to employ technology in the service of humanity. We are honored to be able to integrate Amma’s spiritual and humanitarian values into that initiative. It is a convergence where compassion and enlightenment join forces with technology to address the global challenges that have been at the heart of Amma’s work. As the AI World Society seeks to shape a brighter future for all, we will be guided by Amma’s principles in all that we do. We made that solemn commitment in a communique issued at the C20 Summit in Jaipur, India, on July 31.

With profound respect and gratitude, the Boston Global Forum and Michael Dukakis Institute extend their heartfelt congratulations to Amma on her 70^th birthday and upon her recognition as our 2023 World Leader for Peace and Security Award recipient. She is a guiding light in our troubled world.

On November 2, a special gathering will be held at Harvard University’s Loeb House, where Amma will deliver a Distinguished Global Enlightenment Lecture in conjunction with her World Leader award. The Boston Global Forum has also organized a Global Enlightenment Concert as a tribute to her unwavering commitment to the betterment of humanity.

In honoring Amma, we celebrate the profound impact of her life and work, and we pledge to carry forward her message of love, compassion, and global unity in our shared quest for a brighter and more harmonious world.

Thank you.

Om Namah Shivaya. 

Award Ceremony Video

KEY MESSAGES OF AMMA’S DISTINGUISHED GLOBAL ENLIGHTENMENT LECTURE

On November 2, 2023, Amma delivered the Distinguished Global Enlightenment Lecture as the 2023 World Leader for Peace and Security Award Recipient, at the BGF at Harvard University Loeb House. Here are its key messages:

Amma bows down to all of you, who are embodiments of Pure Love and the Supreme Self.

At the outset, Amma wishes to thank the Boston Global Forum for conferring this prestigious award on her. Amma feels that if she has made a positive impact on the world, it is solely because she has children who have chosen to selflessly love and serve others. Therefore, this acknowledgement and accolade should go to them. Amma’s only wish is to offer solace to the suffering, wipe their tears and comfort them until her last breath.

God has bestowed upon all living beings an exquisite and eternal divine flower. This undying flower is our sole shelter – planet Earth. Our Earth has an amazing power to provide us everything we need to overcome any challenge thrown at us by the changing seasons and weather. But God has also made us responsible for taking care of Earth and ensuring that her beauty, color, vitality and fragrance do not fade. What are we doing instead? Are we protecting this rare boon, or ruining it?

Externally, the gap between man and machine is decreasing. Internally, revenge, hatred and anger are eating away at the human mind. With advancements in science, man has learned to fly like a bird and swim like a fish, but has forgotten how to walk and live like a human.

We end up destroying ourselves when we fail to handle science and technology with proper discernment. Science and technology do not have any awareness or discerning power of their own. We need to have the right values to direct them.

Humans believe that they can conquer the entire universe using science and human intelligence. This is similar to the ignorance of a child who sees the sky through his bedroom window and claims it to be his own. In reality, what man’s intelligence has discovered is nothing but a small speck of this infinite universe.

Human beings are like waves that frolic on the surface of the boundless ocean yet know nothing of its depth or vastness. Waves are born and die in the ocean. All living beings are waves in the infinite ocean that is God. We are born, live, die in this infinite ocean. Just as the wave and the ocean are essentially one, man, nature and God are essentially the same.

We should learn to have gratitude towards everything in life. We are indebted to everything in this world—to all the creatures that helped us grow and made us who we are today. This Earth is our mother. Nature is our mother. We should never forget our debt to our mother. We should not walk away, refusing to pay heed to the cries of our brothers and sisters in pain. We should do what we can to help them. To help those in need, we may not need position or wealth. All we need to do is offer a loving word, a compassionate glance, a helping hand. Just these simple acts can make our life and theirs, bright and meaningful. It is what we give—not what we take—that determines the value of our life. If we can bring a moment of happiness to just one person’s life, it will greatly enrich our own. May all you children be able to achieve this. May divine grace bless you all.

Please watch Amma’s Distinguished Global Enlightenment Lecture here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z_PIweGSDM&t=103s

BGF CEO NGUYEN ANH TUAN PRESENTS THE AWARD AND GIVES SPEECH TO HONOR AMMA AS A WORLD LEADER FOR PEACE AND SECURITY AT THE GRAND CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE HER 70TH BIRTHDAY

On October 3, 2023, at the Grand Ceremony to celebrate 70^th birthday of Amma in Amrita University, BGF CEO Nguyen Anh Tuan presented and gave a speech to honor Amma with the 2023 World Leader for Peace and Security Award.

“Amma’s legacy is one of profound compassion and unyielding dedication to spiritual and humanitarian values who has uplifted millions by giving solace, building homes, hospitals, pension plans, amongst many other projects. Her leadership as Chair of the Civil 20 Engagement Group of the G20 reflects her unwavering commitment to unity, compassion, and collective well-being. In a world marked by change and disruption, she reminds us that all of us can be a guiding light – a belief reflected in the motto of the C20 Summit India 2023 – “You Are the Light.”

“Through its AI World Society program, the Boston Global Forum seeks to employ technology in the service of humanity. We are honored to be able to integrate Amma’s spiritual and humanitarian values into that initiative. It is a convergence where compassion and enlightenment join forces with technology to address the global challenges that have been at the heart of Amma’s work. As the AI World Society seeks to shape a brighter future for all, we will be guided by Amma’s principles in all that we do. We made that solemn commitment in a communique issued at the C20 Summit in Jaipur, India, on July 31.”