WORLD MEDITATION FOUNDATION - World Meditation Day Initiative

World Meditation Day Intiative

Milestones

February–March 2024

On February 24, 2024, Venerable Miao Hai, Jinbeom, and Mugwan submitted the Petition to the UN Secretary-General for Establishing World Meditation Day, with signatures from 45 other co-initiators. (refer to the full list of co-initiators)
On March 22, 2024, received a positive response from the UN Secretary-General's office, suggesting that UN member states should raise an official initiative. (refer to the March 22, 2024 full email response from UN)

April–June 2024

Following their response to the UN Secretary General's Office, Miao Hai and the team launched efforts to submit a UN proposal, sending letters and conducting visits to the Principality of Liechtenstein, UAE, Kingdom of Thailand, Uzbekistan, Korea, and Sri Lanka, while establishing contact with Nepal and Bhutan.
Initiated engagement with UN member states to secure their support as main proponents for the initiative.

July–September 2024

Continued outreach to UN member states to gain additional support as main proponents.
On September 23, completed official registration of the World Meditation Foundation legal entity.

October–December 2024

On October 12, 2024, discussed and agreed on the draft Resolution content.
On November 22, 2024, received positive feedback from UN core sponsor Member States regarding the creation of World Meditation Day, with formal adoption planned for early December, likely December 6.

December 6, 2024

The UN adopted the Resolution for World Meditation Day. Watch the full video from the United Nations (2:44:00 - 2:51:47).

Origination

In November 2023, alumni of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Chinese Classics Program —Lan Lu , Zhaohui Xiang, Tianhong Tang, and their class advisor, Teacher Fang Li — invited Venerable Miao Hai, a monk who has been ordained for nine years and an alumnus of the program, to share insights on meditation during his visit to Shanghai. Returning from Switzerland after visiting his family, Miao Hai also reported progress on meditation practices and academic research in Switzerland. Recognizing the rapid advancements in AI, the group felt the urgent need to promote meditation more extensively.

During the 2023–2024 winter meditation retreat at Bongamsa Temple, under the Korean Jogye Order, Miao Hai continued to prioritize this mission. Together with Chan (Seon, Zen) Master Jinbeom, the abbot of Bongamsa, and Master Mugwan, they discussed appealing to the UN Secretary-General to establish a United Nations World Meditation Day. The initiative gained the support of Miao Hai's Dharma Master, the Abbot of Shaolin Temple, Venerable Yongxin, and his ordination master, the Abbot of Boshan Zhengjue Temple, Venerable Rendan.

Miao Hai organized a working secretariat with alumni Lu Lan, Zhaohui Xiang, Tianhong Tang, and Teacher Fang Li to advance the initiative. The group prepared a petition, advocacy letters, promotional banners, and a World Meditation Day logo. Contributions came from various sources, such as Venerable Kuanlin’s English translations and Ms. Kim Song-joo of Korea’s Jungto Society translating documents into Korean.

On February 24, 2024, during the full moon following the winter retreat, Miao Hai, Jinbeom, and Mugwan signed and sent the petition to the UN Secretary-General in New York, Geneva, and Paris, as well as to the Director-General of UNESCO with content:

- Establish the 24th of December as the World Meditation Day;

- Establish the 21st of June as the World Yoga Day (with meditation as the core);

- Advocate meditation on the full moon day of each month and on the 11 major religious & cultural holidays each year.

In March, the three masters traveled to Switzerland and Liechtenstein to explore establishing meditation centers while expressing their intentions by meditating at the UN headquarters in Geneva.

On March 22, the Office of the UN Secretary-General responded positively via email but reminded them that an official proposal must be submitted by a UN member state. On March 23, the group replied, stating their ongoing efforts to engage UN member states to advocate for the initiative. Meanwhile, they continued to collect signatures of support, committing to report progress to the UN Office on each full moon day of the lunar calendar.

On April 12, 2024, letters were sent to selected UN member states, such as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, UAE, Uzbekistan, Thailand, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Italy Vatican, Croatia, Nepal, Bhutan and Uganda to seek their support for the initiative. Venerable Miao Hai and his colleagues have also had tireless efforts to lobby and communication with intensive travelings.