As we enter this final stretch in the run up to the UN International Day of Peace on 21 September, we wanted to take a moment to share a few words to convey a little about what this journey has meant for us – and what lies ahead.
“Peace held together, night after night, travels further than we know."
A Story of Hope
There is so much that is deeply moving about these 100 days. In addition to hearing the sincere and personal reflections from the contributing voices, what touches the heart deeply is the fact that each evening, people put their lives to one side to come together at 9.00pm. We do not see each other, or speak — and perhaps some of us may never know who the other is — but one pure intention, held in shared silence, on behalf of each other and our world, draws us together. And in those ten minutes, we connect — not through the language of words — but through the authentic language of the heart.
What also moved us this week was the response from the community. When the devastating floods struck Nepal, we put the word out just a couple of hours before the evening meditation and many joined in vigil that night. From Bosnia, Dr Mustafa Cerić, Grand Mufti Emeritus and one of our (upcoming) one hundred voices, wrote that same evening on receiving that last-minute call:
"Dear Friends,My heart joins yours tonight in peace, prayer, and solidarity with the people of Nepal — with the local residents, pilgrims, and visitors whose lives have been touched by this devastating tragedy, and especially with all those who are anxiously searching for their loved ones.May our shared silence become a language of compassion beyond all borders, religions, and nations. May it bring comfort to the grieving, strength to the rescuers, hope to those who wait, and mercy to all who have suffered.In moments such as this, we are reminded that humanity is one family: another person's pain is our pain, and another person's hope is our sacred responsibility."
These are such meaningful words - which cultivate hope, peace and compassion - transcending all borders.
A Peaceful Morning Tea — Parliament House, Canberra
On Thursday 17 September 2026 — the final sitting day of Parliament before UN International Day of Peace — a culminating gathering for the 100 Days of Peace will be at Parliament House, Canberra.
A Peaceful Morning Tea will be hosted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Ms Nicolette Boele MP, in the Speaker's Courtyard, from 10.30-11.30am.
The programme will include brief addresses, a message from the UN Secretary-General, the personal message from His Holiness the Dalai Lama – written in support of the 100 Days of Peace – and ten minutes of shared meditation with gentle music.
However, for those who would like to sit in a collective meditation at the same time (10.30 - 11.30am) and ‘tune in’ with your good wishes for the event, that would be so wonderful - and we will provide details of an online meditation nearer the date.
A Time for Stillness
At the Parliament House gathering, we will also present A Time for Stillness — a proposal to the Australian Parliament.
The proposal is simple: that three times each year, at the opening of the February, May and August sitting periods, Parliament House be the home of a voluntary gathering of gentle music and shared silence — open to all Members of Parliament, Senators, staff and guests, free of charge, and distinct from existing parliamentary practice.
It is motivated by the reflections on peace from our contributing voices and by our shared experience of these evenings — that stillness, held together, is important in the cultivation and sustenance of peace.
Join us for the final three weeks
Each evening at 9pm AEST.
- Where: online via Zoom
- Cost: Free
- Bookings: No registration needed. Close to time 9pm AEST click the link. Meeting ID: 910 0016 1694 · Passcode: peace
This initiative is offered in partnership with Anglican Diocese of Melbourne.
You are always welcome.
In peace and with gratitude,
The 100 Days of Peace team
MORE:
Calm in the City (CitC)
Melbourne: Meditation Centre, Bookshop and Quiet Room, 256 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy Vic
Melbourne: Meditation Centre, Bookshop and Quiet Room, 256 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy Vic
Calm in the City is a not-for-profit venture which listens and engages with the city communities to bring calm into the heart of the city. We respectfully acknowledge that all Calm in the City events in Melbourne take place on the lands of the Kulin nations.
