Editor’s preface to first edition

In May of 1993, the centennial year of Swami Vivckananda's address to the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago, Sri Chinmoy was inspired to embark on a special project to honour his Indian countryman, a universal hero-warrior. His vision was to offer thirty-nine Peace Concerts dedicated to Swami Vivekananda. Sri Chinmoy chose this number because Swami Vivekananda lived on earth for only thirty-nine years.

This booklet contains the prayerful words of dedication which Sri Chinmoy spoke during each concert. Sri Chinmoy's profound messages, silent meditations and haunting music together created an atmosphere that was permeated with the spirit of Vivekananda, the ochre-dad monk whose life and teachings contributed so much to humanity and especially to America.