Photo above: Sri Chinmoy inaugurates the Peace Mile in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1986.

Counting today many dozen locations across the world, the Sri Chinmoy Peace Miles were first inaugurated in 1986. Sri Chinmoy unveiled many of the early Peace Miles in person (as the one pictured above in Geneva, Switzerland). Many of the original Peace Miles continue to be on display and are active today, while newer ones are being established as well.

The first four Peace Miles were inaugurated in 1986 in London, Berlin, Zurich and Geneva in that order. Sri Chinmoy fondly referred to the first four Peace Miles as “the four corners of the globe”, while emphasizing that there is “no east, no west, no north, no south … no division, only oneness, oneness, universal home”. Undoubtedly, a powerful message for today and for the future. As it also happens, it is also a message from which The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, founded just a year later after the first four pioneer Sri Chinmoy Peace Miles were inaugurated, draws not only its almost eponymous name, but also its inspiration, essence and vision.

The Sri Chinmoy Peace Miles worldwide continue therefore to serve as true beacons of hope and light for all of humanity. They also serve as magnets of peace, attracting on a regular basis onto its one-mile measured loop numerous walkers and runners.

“When we have something that is dedicated to the cause of peace, it is very significant in our life. The word 'peace' is very, very important in our life. You can say it is the most important thing in our life. Everything else we have in today's world, but we do not have peace. If we want name and fame, prosperity and so forth, we can get them. But when it comes to peace, we do not easily get it. Peace is a most difficult thing to attain. But when there is a monument that mentions peace and people come and see it, they try to have peace in their own lives.”

– Sri Chinmoy