On Aug. 2, millions around the world paused at exactly 2 p.m. local time for two minutes of silence to participate in Global Forgiveness Day, a unique moment of healing, peace and letting go.
Known as the Moment of Calm, this growing global tradition was founded by peace pioneer Dada J.P. Vaswani and observed annually on his birthday. The Moment of Calm is not a religious observance but a universal invitation to reflect, release resentment and rediscover inner calm.
“Forgiveness isn’t forgetting. It’s freedom,” said Dada J.P. Vaswani, whose teachings inspired the event. He believed, “The world will be healed, not by power or politics, but by people who are willing to forgive.”
The event asked participants to consider, “What would the world feel like if we all let go — together?”
At its core was a five-minute forgiveness meditation designed to help people release resentment, emotional heaviness and old pain. Cities worldwide, including New York, officially proclaimed Aug. 2 as Global Forgiveness Day in honor of this practice.
Whether forgiving a stranger, family member or oneself, Global Forgiveness Day offered a global invitation to unburden the heart and experience the peace of letting go.