Meditation, long rooted in India’s ancient traditions and now increasingly backed by modern science, took center stage at the two-day Global Conference of Meditation Leaders (GCML), where experts and practitioners highlighted its growing role as a tool for mental health, emotional resilience, and social well-being.
The conference was organized by the Pyramid Spiritual Societies Movement and the Buddha-CEO Quantum Foundation at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital of India.
The sessions on the first day, April 4, of the public event focused on the mind–body connection, meditation’s role in healing, and its ability to shift people from distraction to awareness, while highlighting its potential across schools, hospitals, and AYUSH centers, alongside real-life stories of transformation and conscious leadership.
Bringing together voices from across the spectrum—retired bureaucrats, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, and emerging changemakers—the conference presented meditation as more than a practice: a practical solution to stress, a tool to reconnect with the inner self, and a pathway toward healing, mental peace, and collective harmony.
From distraction to mindfulness
“While the Western world has developed tools to look outward, India, through its ancient scriptures, has given us tools to look within—a science of the mind rooted in consciousness. It has offered a tradition of self-inquiry that turns us inward,” said Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati during the inaugural session.
The International Director of the Parmarth Niketan ashram in Rishikesh, Bhagawati Saraswati, also noted that we are among the most distracted generations—a point hard to dispute. Research suggests that the average human attention span has dropped to just 47 seconds, underscoring the urgent need for practices that restore focus and inner balance.
“Today, the world feels more distracted, depressed, addicted, and disconnected than ever before—yet we are also witnessing a remarkable rise in meditation and inner awakening. Meditation dehypnotizes us; it gives us our mind back and strengthens our physical system,” she said, underlining its importance in maintaining a balanced life.
Scaling meditation: From personal practice to public policy
Echoing the transformative power of focused intent, D.R. Kaarthikeyan, a Padma Shri awardee and former director of the CBI and CRPF, spoke about “the power of a practitioner’s intention.” He noted that while several attempts had been made earlier to establish an International Day of Yoga, it was only after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed it at the UN in 2014 that it was adopted without opposition.
Chandra Pulamarasetti, founder and chief meditation mentor of the Buddha-CEO Quantum Foundation, has created GCML as a global platform for meditation, bringing like-minded people under one roof to take the practice to people worldwide.
V.K. Paul, a member of NITI Aayog (The National Institution for Transforming India—a premier policy think tank of the Government of India), outlined three key approaches to scaling meditation for physical and mental well-being. He said meditation should become the first line of prescription for well-being—a foundational path to health even before medicine. He also emphasized the need to make meditation policy-oriented by integrating it into public health and governance frameworks.
Drawing a parallel with yoga, he noted that if yoga can be scaled nationwide, meditation too can reach every citizen, from childhood to old age. From an institutional perspective, he added that India already has the necessary infrastructure—schools, hospitals, AYUSH centers (a government initiative that provides holistic, affordable healthcare based on traditional systems: Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy)—and community systems to take meditation to scale.
It was evident at the conference that meditation is gaining momentum. The audience included people of all ages—from senior citizens to young participants—and remained engaged throughout the sessions. Short meditation practices were also held, with participants taking part wholeheartedly, reflecting openness and enthusiasm.
Why meditation matters: Explained through real stories
While many people turn to meditation during stress, grief, or loss, the journey of Pia Singh, chairperson of DLF Foundation, was different. As she shared, “I did not turn to meditation seeking spirituality, seeking anything.” Instead, she resonated with the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda—that being drawn to meditation itself is a result of good karma.
Speaking in a conversation with Jagdish S., a former professor at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, she recalled a turning point in 2008 during a trip to the Kumaon Himalayas in Uttarakhand, near the Panchachuli peaks. “I had taken his Autobiography of a Yogi just as an intellectual read,” she said. “But I stayed up all night reading it, and by the time I finished, I knew I had to learn what they were talking about.”
What followed was a simple but decisive step. “There was a phone number at the back of the book. When I returned to Delhi, I called and said I wanted to learn these teachings—and there was no looking back. I am grateful that the moment found me. My time had come, and I was called.”
Her story reflects a broader truth echoed throughout the conference: people come to meditation for different reasons—some in search of relief, others out of curiosity or an inner calling—but the journey, once begun, often becomes deeply transformative.
Young people, too, are increasingly turning to meditation as a way to navigate professional life, emotions, and their relationship with society.
During a panel on holistic living, Dr. Dasaratha Ramaiah, head of pediatrics at RDT Hospitals that serve rural populations in Andhra Pradesh, spoke about meditation as a tool for healing and growth, sharing how it helped him move past a toxic workplace dynamic and cultivate empathy. Echoing this, two young Delhi-based lawyers I spoke to at the conference highlighted how the practice builds emotional awareness and helps navigate life more peacefully.
Avika Jaini, who practices at the Delhi High Court, described meditation as transformative: “It’s a very powerful force… people heal themselves by consciously living.” She added that with practice, “reaction is replaced by action,” and “you stop sympathizing and start empathizing,” enabling a deeper connection with clients and the bench. “There’s a deep sense of acceptance—you see people for who they are and accept it,” she told me.
Kavya Agarwal, another lawyer, shared how meditation eased her anxiety and reshaped her outlook: “I slowly saw all the anxiety melting away.” She explained that it fosters a calmer perspective—” We let go of negative emotions and interact from a more aware mind—changing everyday responses: “If someone bumps my car, I won’t react instantly… I’ll say it’s no big deal.” Emphasizing its wider impact, she added, “the more people meditate, the more it creates a ripple effect,” and ultimately, “it can make the world a happier, more peaceful place.”
More than a conference: A convergence of consciousness
Speakers—from policymakers to young professionals—at the event emphasized the important role of meditation in improving well-being, fostering empathy, and shaping conscious leadership. Discussions on integrating meditation into schools, healthcare systems, and public policy underscored its potential to connect individual inner growth with collective social harmony.
The organizers also released a magazine, Buddha CEO — Excellence Through Meditation, which is dedicated to exploring meditation and conscious leadership.
The conference that concluded on April 5 was not merely a gathering but a thoughtfully curated space where consciousness converged with community.
For report on 2nd day of GCML, go to
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