Queen's Park: Swami plants peace tree

A GLOBALLY revered yoga teacher joined the Brent Mayor for the UK s first peace tree planting ceremony. Followers of Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda (Swami) and passers-by alike gathered to pray by the band stand in Queen s Park, Kilburn on Thursday last

A GLOBALLY revered yoga teacher joined the Brent Mayor for the UK's first peace tree planting ceremony.

Followers of Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda (Swami) and passers-by alike gathered to pray by the band stand in Queen's Park, Kilburn on Thursday last week.

Mayor Harbhajan Singh of Brent joined the spiritual gathering with representatives from several faiths to show his support for the message of harmony.

Swami, the founder and teacher of charity 'Yoga in Daily Life,' said: "I get a lot of contentment and happiness that I can help someone.

"People get health benefits, happiness and a relationship with themselves."

The mayor said: "I'm very conscious of the need we have for trees and having peace with the environment.

"This is the first environmental thing I've done as mayor. In Brent we need to say no to plastic bags and use recyclable ones."

Sevapuri Alexander, is part of a Swami disciple group in Hamburg of more than 40 members.

He said: "There is a lot of personal gain from Swami's Yoga. I've lost my egotism.

"If you look at maps of Swami's yoga centres the UK is nothing compared to Eastern Europe."

The ceremony attracted faiths including Christianity, Hinduism, and Brent spiritual university, Bramha Kumaris, in Pound Lane.

Swami threw holy water, received a present of a toddler and asked people to make three wishes whenever they visit the tree.

Swami has planted trees globally including in Croatia, New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Austria and Australia, where he planted a three million tree forest.

Swami moved to Vienna under his Indian spiritual teacher's instructions in 1971.

For information visit www.yogaindailylife.org.uk.