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The Heartfulness Centre of West Kelowna began as a small grassroots group meeting in living rooms to practice meditation, gradually growing into a vibrant community dedicated to peace and well-being. Over the decades, we have hosted and participated in local, national, and international events, sharing Heartfulness Meditation with all who seek inner calm and balance. Our journey has been one of continual expansion, finding new ways to offer volunteer services and contribute to the greater good. This vision is deeply inspired by Shri Ram Chandra, the founder of Heartfulness, who in 1957 wrote to the United Nations with a call for a peaceful and united world. He suggested that people everywhere meditate daily with the thought that humanity is becoming more peace-loving and harmonious—a simple yet powerful practice to uplift collective consciousness. In recognition of this mission, Heartfulness became an NGO with the United Nations Department of Global Communications in 2005, aligning with the UN’s vision of solidarity, goodwill, and shared responsibility for lasting peace. In June 2021, Heartfulness Centres in the USA and Canada launched a nightly Intention for Peace via Zoom, inviting people to meditate together at 9:00 PM EST. This “Community of Hearts” radiates peace and universal love, creating synergy that touches the planet. Entirely volunteer-run, the Heartfulness Institute continues to help individuals find clarity and inner peace in today’s busy world. For more information, visit www.heartfulness.ca. One World, One Humanity.
As a beacon of peace and well-being, our community nurtures an environment where every individual is empowered to realize their highest potential. Together, we foster harmony in families, schools, workplaces, and civic spaces, dedicated to spreading unity, love, and peace. We envision a world where Heartfulness radiates as a source of peace, inspiring hearts to build flourishing homes, institutions, and communities. Our mission is to cultivate a culture of peace that honors our shared humanity and interconnectedness with all beings. Through partnerships and creativity, we design initiatives that nurture lasting peace and holistic well-being for individuals, society, and the Earth. In arts, education, environment, governance, and interfaith collaboration, we integrate Heartfulness values to uplift society and strengthen communities. Each evening at 9:00 PM ET, we unite in meditation, radiating Peace and Universal Love to the world.
The City of West Kelowna’s peace-building communities initiative is centered on cultivating a culture of unity, compassion, and resilience. The practical goal is to nurture an inclusive environment where every individual is empowered to reach their highest potential while fostering harmony in families, schools, workplaces, and civic spaces. By integrating values of Heartfulness across arts, education, environment, governance, and interfaith collaboration, West Kelowna aspires to be a beacon of peace and well-being. This goal emphasizes collective creativity, shared responsibility, and the strengthening of social bonds to ensure a flourishing, peaceful community. Objectives Foster inclusive dialogue and collaboration across families, schools, workplaces, and civic spaces. Integrate Heartfulness values into community programs in arts, education, environment, and governance. Strengthen interfaith and intercultural partnerships to promote unity and respect. Encourage community-wide practices of mindfulness, meditation, and collective reflection for peace. Support initiatives that enhance holistic well-being and resilience for individuals and society. Promote youth leadership and engagement in peace-building activities. Build sustainable partnerships that honor interconnectedness with people and the Earth. This framework ensures West Kelowna grows as a thriving, peaceful, and compassionate community.
Okanagan Hindu Temple & Cultural Society
Devinder Virk began his journey with Heartfulness in June 2008. His interest in yoga and meditation started during his student years, and he was fortunate to work with a colleague who happened to be a certified Heartfulness trainer at Thapar Deemed University, Punjab, India. He moved to Canada on July 9, 2008, and traveled to India several times to gain further experience from the third and fourth living guides of Heartfulness. Inspired to give back, he was granted permission to serve as a certified Heartfulness meditation trainer on December 13, 2015. He holds a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Engineering from Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India, and currently works as a director in a transportation company. Devinder loves spending time with his wife and children, as well as his extended family. When he is not with his family, he can be found mentoring seekers of spirituality, coordinating events and activities for the Heartfulness community, or enjoying time in nature.
Yes, I approve the guidelines for an International City of Peace and will provide four or more additional approved signatures of community Peace Team members (see next registration field). "A culture of peace is a set of values, attitudes, traditions and modes of behavior and ways of life based on respect for life, ending of violence and promotion and practice of non-violence through education, dialogue and cooperation. Tenets include: Full respect for and promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms; Commitment to peaceful settlement of conflicts; Efforts to meet the developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations; Respect for and promotion of the right to development; Respect for and promotion of equal rights and opportunities for women and men; Respect for and promotion of the right of everyone to freedom of expression, opinion and information; Adherence to the principles of freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, pluralism, cultural diversity, dialogue and understanding at all levels of society and among nations; and fostered by an enabling national and international environment conducive to peace." In addition, the Golden Rule - "Do for others as you would have them do for you" -- provides a unity proposition for personal, local and global peace.
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