As the first woman to be appointed Rt. Hon. Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia’s career has been marked by a number of firsts. She is mobilizing the 56 nations of the Commonwealth to tackle climate change, and, through women’s enterprises, to build the resilience of more vulnerable countries.

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Patricia Scotland

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">The Rt. Hon. PATRICIA SCOTLAND, KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth speaks at the Global Spirituality Mahotsav in Kanha Shanti Vanam about the role we all have to play in supporting peace with each other and the environment.</h4>It is a great honor to participate in this significant and seminal moment in our history. It would be easy to underestimate the enormity of this event. For Daaji to have brought together so many sages and faith leaders across the globe to this spirit-filled place is a matter and a moment we should all celebrate.Some have asked me, “Secretary-General, why have you come?” And there is a clear answer. The Commonwealth is made up of 2.5 billion people, 30 percent of whom are under the age of 30, and 1.5 billion who live here in India. As your Secretary-General, I have been entrusted with the sacred task of helping to maintain, foster, nurture, and support peace.Peace today is so endangered, so precious, so needed. And the truth is, if we wish to have a peaceful world, it must start with us, each one of us, because we are the arbiters of that peace. As Daaji said this morning, when we talk of peace, we are not talking about tolerance, but about respect, acceptance, and the word we have avoided today, the most important word, love.We must love one another. The essence of every faith is love. But we have also heard something else; every single person here today is my brother or my sister. And why is that? According to scientists, all of humanity has come from six individuals. So, why get confused about the color of our skin, the size of our girth, our height? Ninety-nine point nine percent of our DNA is the same, which means whether we like it or not, we are truly brothers and sisters.&nbsp;Together we face some real challenges. Our world is tightly bound by a tangled knot of crises spanning global systems. Conflicts confront us—conflicts rooted in political differences, economic disparities, religious divides, social injustices, and our relationship with the natural world. As I look around, I see the Global Spirituality Mahotsav, but how is it expressed with children and youth, with Nature, with health, and the need to deepen it?These conflicts, which are rooted in our political differences, economic disparities, and our relationship with the natural world, manifest themselves in various forms—from armed conflicts that are tearing us apart to societal tensions threatening to divide communities.Whilst the sources of these conflicts are specific to each place, we all see and feel their tragic impact. As religious and political leaders, and as responsible citizens, it is incumbent upon us to seek solutions, to strive for peace, and to build the bridges of understanding and cooperation. And the starting point lies in each of us. True, just, and durable peace cannot be achieved solely through external means; it must emanate from within.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/we_are_all_related2_1049319d47.webp" alt="we-are-all-related2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_we_are_all_related2_1049319d47.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_we_are_all_related2_1049319d47.webp 492w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/we_are_all_related2_1049319d47.webp 492w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;If we do not have peace within ourselves, how can we have peace in our families? How can we have peace in our communities? How can we have peace in our regions? And how can we have peace in our world? Our world is precious; our world is made in accordance with our values.Inner peace is not merely the absence of conflict or turmoil; it is a state characterized by harmony, clarity, and equanimity. It is the foundation upon which we cultivate compassion, empathy, and understanding toward others. When we are at peace with ourselves, we are better equipped to navigate the complexities of the world with wisdom and discernment. This quality of inner peace is powerful and contagious. And when we embody peace in our thoughts, in our words, and our actions, we inspire others to do the same. We create ripples of positivity that have the power to transcend boundaries and unite humanity in a shared vision of harmony and coexistence.Our Commonwealth, of which India is such a precious part, is in essence a powerful instrument to deliver that peace. You are blessed with the ingenuity and imagination of one third of the world. Your complexity, your diversity, is our strength; our shared humanity contains an immensely precious diversity of thought, culture, tradition, and experience. And we know that by listening to each other we will find many of the solutions we seek.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">When we embody peace in our thoughts, in our words, and our actions, we inspire others to do the same. We create ripples of positivity&nbsp; that have the power to transcend boundaries and unite humanity in a shared vision of harmony and coexistence.</h4><hr>From difference and sometimes difficult histories, our nations sit together today as equals—our unique and enduring blend of shared values. So, it is important that as we contemplate our part we understand how precious each of us is; we have the power, if we choose, to change our world by sharing the love and the spirit that binds us.We have talked about the different pathways, and as I was listening to many, I remembered what was said in the Gospel of John. Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. And I go to prepare a place for you.” That place is for every single human being on the planet. We all share one God.So, I leave you with the blessing my mother always gives me when I go on a journey. We all of us are on a journey to bring peace in our world. My mother would say, “May God bless and keep you. May he make his face to shine upon you and be merciful unto you all the days of your life. May your guardian angel walk beside you, and may the Lord, our God, keep you safe in the palm of his hand.”&nbsp;

We are all related

<h4>On the final morning of the Mahotsav, the Right Honorable PATRICIA SCOTLAND, KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, spoke about the role DAAJI has played in bringing spirituality to the world, unifying people of all faiths and cultures, and nurturing nature. In honor of his work, she bestowed upon him the title of Global Ambassador for Peacebuilding and Faith in the Commonwealth. Below is the speech she made while conferring the honor.</h4>My heartfelt greetings to you all. It is a genuine honor to return to this magnificent place. Vision, ingenuity, and labor have transformed what was once harsh and depleted land into a lush green campus, with rainforest full of thriving, endemic, and endangered species, medicinal and edible plants, and organic farms. This site has become a testament to harmony with nature. Every step one takes through the Yatra Garden and these hallowed halls is an encounter with tranquility and renewal.We stand today in the physical representation of the Heartfulness you have been practicing and sharing for so many years. And as we gather here in the month before the 125th Birth Anniversary of Babuji, it is a fitting monument to his lasting legacy.The imprint of his life of humble service, devotion, and love is unmistakable. It echoes in the demeanor of everyone present here. And it is reflected constantly in the vision and leadership offered by our dear friend and brother, Daaji, who has once again welcomed us so graciously to this wonderful place.The Commonwealth is a family, and we are 56 nations and 2.5 billion people stretched across five continents and six oceans. Our collective heart beats with the shared values of peace, understanding, and mutual respect. Daaji, as the guiding force behind Heartfulness, you embody these values. Your wisdom, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the spiritual well-being of humanity shines through you and through this movement. Your leadership has nurtured the growth of Heartfulness, and in doing so you have touched the lives of countless people across the globe, across 160 countries, and more than 5 million practitioners, with the dedicated support of 16,000 volunteer trainers operating in over 5,000 centers worldwide.&nbsp;Your impact extends far and wide. Heartfulness has become a global force for inner transformation, creating ripples that transcend continents and cultures, sowing seeds of mindfulness, compassion, and spiritual well-being. Your teachings resonate deeply, offering a pathway to peace and self-discovery. And your approach to meditation and spirituality is both profound and accessible, guiding seekers on a journey toward a harmonious existence.&nbsp;This vision has cultivated a Heartfulness community centered around love, unity, and mindfulness, offering solace and spiritual nourishment to seekers from diverse backgrounds in an increasingly chaotic world. Your unwavering commitment to service, coupled with your profound understanding of the human heart creates a legacy of grace, humility, inspiration, and boundless compassion. In our lives, we all try to create and send out our own positive ripples of change. The ripples you have created are vast and lasting. They can build a current that can sweep down even the mightiest walls of resistance and provide us all with constant inspiration.&nbsp;In your honor, and in honor of your vision and leadership, and your unwavering commitment to service, as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations I am proud and honored to bestow on you the title of Global Ambassador for Peacebuilding and Faith in the Commonwealth.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/honour_bestowed2_742483bd56.webp" alt="honour-bestowed2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_honour_bestowed2_742483bd56.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_honour_bestowed2_742483bd56.webp 600w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/honour_bestowed2_742483bd56.webp 600w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">In your honor, and in honor of your vision and leadership,&nbsp; and your unwavering commitment to service,&nbsp; as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations&nbsp; I am proud and honored to bestow on you&nbsp; the title of Global Ambassador for Peacebuilding&nbsp; and Faith in the Commonwealth.</h4><hr>

An Honor Bestowed

<h4 style="text-align:justify;">Her Excellency, PATRICIA SCOTLAND, KC, The Rt. Honorable Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, visited Kanha Shanti Vanam in January 2024. During her visit, she received the inaugural Heartfulness Changemaker Award for outstanding commitment to service through compassionate action in her work. Here, she speaks with students from The Heartfulness Learning Center on climate change, service, dreaming big, and making a difference.</h4>&nbsp;Q: Good evening your Excellency. It is our pleasure to talk with you. We’d be delighted if you would tell us about your life growing up, and what influenced you to pursue your career?SG: First, I am thrilled to be with you. And the performance you gave was so wonderful I had tears in my eyes.As the Secretary-General, I am responsible for helping 56 countries—that’s 2.5 billion people—and 60% of them are under the age of 30. That’s 1.5 billion young people. All of you young people in the Commonwealth, I believe that you are all mine.So, I was extremely proud to hear from you. And I was touched by what you sang: a million dreams, a million dreams, looking at how the world could be, should be, and can be. All of you are going to make it as beautiful as you would like it to be. I was so thrilled that you’re dreaming. So dream big and don’t let anyone tell you that your dreams cannot come true. Because they can.You have to work hard. You have to love harder. And you have to pray and know that each of you has been given a talent by God. It’s your job to find that talent, hone it, and use it for the benefit of other people. And if what I saw on this stage is even a tiny drop of your talent, you are absolutely amazing.Let me tell you a bit about me, because that was your question. I was born on a small island in the Caribbean, the Commonwealth of Dominica. Dominica has about 72,000 people.I was born in the fishing village of St. Joseph. I have eleven brothers and sisters, and am the tenth of twelve children. My family moved to England when I was really small, and I grew up in the East End, the poorer end of London. At that stage, many people thought the likelihood of me succeeding in anything was small, because there was a pecking order. I was told it was white male, black male, then white female. And then at the bottom of the bottom of the bottom was black female.I had a fantastic family, full of love, care, and great determination. And they told me what I’m going to tell you: You can do anything if you choose. Don’t believe anyone who tells you it’s impossible. Everything looks impossible until it’s done. And you are going to do it. I said to my father, “But Daddy, nobody else has done this before.” To which he said, “Oh, good, that means you can be the first!” So if anyone tells you, “No one has done this before,” what are you going to reply?Q: I’ll be the first.SG: Good.The other thing I learned was that it’s really important to support your friends, and for your friends to support you. All of us need friendship and support. Never underestimate what a wonderful thing a smile can be. When you’re having a really bad day, you think things cannot get any worse, and a friend turns to you and smiles, it makes all the difference.Kindness is an incredible, important part of your survival. I’ve found that being kind to friends means that your friends tend to be kind to you.Q: That’s inspiring and heart-touching. Ma’am, we’re curious to know about your favorite subjects in school.SG: My favorite subject was English. I loved English, I loved language, I loved literature, and I loved History; but I come from a family of scientists, and they wanted me to be a scientist. There’s almost every form of scientist in my family—chemical engineering, pharmacology, agronomy—you name it, they are doing it. They thought I should be a physicist, because we didn’t have one. I had no intention of being a physicist, and my seven brothers thought that maybe the brain had started to run out when it got to me, because I was only a lawyer.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/give_back2_f0eccc6195.webp" alt="give-back2.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_give_back2_f0eccc6195.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_give_back2_f0eccc6195.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/give_back2_f0eccc6195.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">You can do anything if you choose. Don’t believe anyone who tells you it’s impossible. Everything looks impossible until it’s done.</h4><hr>I also loved knowing about people. Whatever you choose, choose a subject you love, not a subject someone else loves. If you choose a subject you love, it will never be work, it will always be joy.How were my subjects related to my career? The most important thing about being a lawyer is understanding language, construct, the love of language. How to communicate, and how to create ideas have been really important. I love law because I can use it as a tool to deliver justice. I always was absorbed by things that were fair and unfair. I hated to see people being bullied, people not having their say, having their rights denigrated, not being cared for. And I always wanted to make a difference so that people would get their rights.Q: Could you please help us understand the Commonwealth? What are its goals, and how can the youth of India be more inclusive and more involved with the Commonwealth?SG: India was pivotal in helping to create the new Commonwealth. Many of the countries had been members of the British Empire. In 1949, when a total of eight countries (including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) became independent, the question was: Were they going to stay within the family of the Commonwealth? India’s Prime Minister made the decision to stay. When they asked him why, he said it was because the Commonwealth brought a touch of healing; the Commonwealth family of nations shared so many things.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/give_back3_446aeecb7e.webp" alt="give-back3.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_give_back3_446aeecb7e.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_give_back3_446aeecb7e.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/give_back3_446aeecb7e.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>We have the same language, we communicate in English, we have the same common law structure, the same parliamentary system, the same institutions. We fought together through two world wars. If you go to the Millennium Gates in London, you will see the names of those who sacrificed their lives. And you will see that India had the highest level of Distinguished Service Orders.In 1953, the Queen of the UK and the Commonwealth said that it was an entirely new concept, built on the fundamental and best elements of humanity, kindness, friendship, and respect. The Commonwealth could be a beacon for the rest of the world. Together, countries coming from five different regions—Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific—with different people, different languages, and with the same heart, looked at the values they shared. And they realized that if humanity needs to survive, we need to work together.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">If you choose a subject you love,&nbsp; it will never be work, it will always be joy.&nbsp;</h4><hr>The Commonwealth was about democracy. It was about freedom. It was about human rights. It was about enhancing trade. Fifty years ago, the Commonwealth decided the most important thing was our children. We were the first organization to have a dedicated youth program. In 2022, when we met in Shogun, Kigali, the leaders reinforced that that fifty-year celebration of youth must continue, because the children of our Commonwealth are our future, the leaders of today, not just tomorrow.The Commonwealth has been responsible for some remarkable things. Many of you were not alive when South Africa was divided on the grounds of race under apartheid. Black people had few to no rights, and white people dominated. It was the Commonwealth that said, “You cannot have a system where one citizen doesn’t have the same rights as the other. Everyone in our Commonwealth has to be equal.” The Commonwealth challenged South Africa and said, “You have a choice. If you wish to stay in our family, you cannot have apartheid. And if you want to have apartheid, you cannot be in our family.” South Africa left, but the Commonwealth continued to fight hard to end that system.You talked about climate change. In 1989, in Langkawi, the Commonwealth came out with a Declaration saying that if we do not change, climate change would become an existential threat. We have continued to fight for climate justice ever since. We are pushing for a regenerative approach that will reverse the climate decline. Looking at all the things you’re doing here in Kanha, I believe we can do this.You can join the Commonwealth Youth Network. We need your voice, your passion, your courage, your knowledge, and your innovation, because this Commonwealth is only going to remain wonderful if you make it so. It has to be how you want it to be. Nothing changes unless we change it. It starts with us.<hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">You cannot have a system where&nbsp; one citizen doesn’t have the same rights as the other. Everyone in our Commonwealth has to be equal.</h4><hr><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/give_back4_75d40aa13d.webp" alt="give-back4.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_give_back4_75d40aa13d.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_give_back4_75d40aa13d.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/give_back4_75d40aa13d.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure>&nbsp;Q: I’m sure many of us here are inspired by your answer and want to take up a career in the field and express our opinions to make the world a better place.How can we as students contribute directly to the fields of sustainability and innovation?SG: One of the most important ways is by sharing your ideas. We looked at those who are making the biggest difference in the world, in terms of discovery, innovation, and change. And most of them are below the age of thirty. If you look at the founders of some of the biggest unicorns, many of them started as micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, which were innovative, different, and challenging the norms.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/give_back5_df4ae167f5.webp" alt="give-back5.webp" srcset="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/thumbnail_give_back5_df4ae167f5.webp 145w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/large_give_back5_df4ae167f5.webp 500w,https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/give_back5_df4ae167f5.webp 500w," sizes="100vw"></figure><hr><h4 style="text-align:center;">We each have to start from wherever we are,&nbsp; and someone has to put the first foot forward.&nbsp;</h4><hr>I would invite you to think about a problem you’re passionate about, and then ask yourself this question, “How can I help to solve it?”Remember that you won’t have to solve that problem on your own. But someone has to take the first step. You can do it in school. A group of you can take something, research it, understand it. Then you can ask yourself, “How do I make it better?”Everything you are doing at school can be part of the Commonwealth Year of Youth, because other young people will want to know what you’re doing. You’re learning things, you’re growing, you’re changing, and that knowledge needs to be shared with others. The Commonwealth is great at pooling the knowledge from all different areas.There’s a lot to do. Please join us. Never worry that what you’re doing is too small. It is never too small. We each have to start from wherever we are, and someone has to put the first foot forward.Remember that you won’t have to solve that problem on your own. But someone has to take the first step. You can do it in school. A group of you can take something, research it, understand it. Then you can ask yourself, “How do I make it better?”Everything you are doing at school can be part of the Commonwealth Year of Youth, because other young people will want to know what you’re doing. You’re learning things, you’re growing, you’re changing, and that knowledge needs to be shared with others. The Commonwealth is great at pooling the knowledge from all different areas.There’s a lot to do. Please join us. Never worry that what you’re doing is too small. It is never too small. We each have to start from wherever we are, and someone has to put the first foot forward.To be continued.