25 Sep 8th global leadership forum – Living Water For All at Parmarth Niketan Rishikesh

This Leadership Forum was held under the aegis of Living Peace Projects Foundation at Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh.

This edition was hosted by H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati and Brigitte Madeleine van Baren Seikô-An at Parmarth Niketan Ashram.

Spiritual leaders, Government officials, politicians, industry professionals and community leaders attended this conference which was based on the theme of “Living Water for All”.

The discussions included insights into the UN perspective on water and the proposals on various solution pathways to deal with this key issue facing the globe, including discussion around credible ways to increase Water Education and build Water Harvesting Structures to make Living Water (water from natural resources) available to all.

Mr. Danilo Turk, Chair of the High Level Panel UN on Water & Peace emphasized the importance of education for water and the important role that the spiritual leaders have to play by leading by example. He stated that living water is indeed essential for lasting peace in the world.

Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati Ji noted that conserving Mother Nature and conserving our culture will conserve our future!

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati commented on the importance of creating awareness about the preciousness of clean water for all and the educational projects that have been initiated at Parmarth Niketan by HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati.

Brigitte Madeleine van Baren, shared that Living Water is something quite different then what we normally think it is. She believes that Living water from natural resources is sacred and alive and has a healing power. The sacredness of water has been acknowledged by all spiritual traditions worldwide. Archbishop Thabo Makgoba also confirmed this line of thought in his video message.

H.H. Pujya Swami Avdheshanand Giriji Maharaj offered a message. ‘The fundamental requirement of life is water. Saving Water is just as vital as protecting life, as water is the primary medium through which life originates, develops and is sustained. The Sanatan Hindu Vedic traditions urges safeguarding water by honoring it like a deity.

H.H. the 12th Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa emphasized the importance of this function. In his blessing message His Holiness expressed his support and prayers for the success of this function and future events.

Dr. A. K. Merchant, the National Trustee cum Secretary, Lotus Temple & Bahá’í Community of India emphasized upon the need for community action and bringing together all willing agents of the government and the public to prevent a situation of a global water-crisis through natural and technological means.

Dr. (CA) Vikas Chaturvedi, CEO of Valuecent Group, Founding Chairman of ICAI Netherlands Chapter and India-Dutch Financial Corridor (IDFC) elaborated on India-Netherlands partnership in the field of water safety, water availability and water quality. He said that the partnership was strong, diverse and mutually beneficial. It covered a wide range of areas including tackling of river water pollution, delta management, and waste water recycling, and integrated water resource management systems.

Sister Jayanti Kripalani, the Spiritual Leader of the Brahma Kumaris send her blessings to the conference from the UK. Sister Valeriane Bernard, a senior spiritual leader of the Brahma Kumaris, represented Sister Jayanti at the Leadership Forum; she emphasized the need for peaceful coexistence among humans and nature in which water found a centre place.

Chief Arvol Looking Horse, the Lakota Native American spiritual leader and Syed Salman Chisty , the 26th Generation Gaddi-Nashin at the Sufi Dargah of Ajmer Sharif also sent in their messages of blessings and support for the Living Peace Projects.

A pragmatic educational water project “Living Cycles”, is initiated by Brigitte Madeleine van Baren. It has been developed in close collaboration with the engineers of IHE Delft Institute Netherlands. This project was launched by Baroruchi Mishra, Board of Directors of Living Peace Projects.

He explained that Living Cycles is a multifunctional modular educational construction which contains five major components, like rain harvesting, natural healthy drinking water, sustainable sanitation, solar energy and education. He emphasized the need for actions by quoting that “wisdom lies in knowing what to do, skill lies in knowing how to do it but the real virtue lies in actually doing it”.

The first construction is realized at the Monastery of Palpung Sherabling Monastic Seat (Himachal Pradesh) and the second building will be constructed at Parmarth Niketan Ashram. With the vision to build 100 of these educational constructions next to educational & spiritual institutes next coming 3 to 5 years. Mrs Brigitte van Baren and her team are developing a detailed plan which will initiate a Public Private Partnership models across the states of India. This vision was shared with Uttarakhand Government during the event.

Living Cycles project received special mention and Mrs Brigitte was applauded for her commitment and work on Living water during the live streaming of Ganga Aarti from Parmarth Niketan by Pujya Swamiji and Sadhviji where Hindi translation of Living Water Springs Book was also launched

Young ambassadors gave their valuable input relating the importance of healthy water and living peace.

The conference concluded with a group heart picture at the banks of Ma Ganga. www.livingpeaceproject.org