Dear Brothers and Sisters of the One Global Family,
As we gently close the chapter of 2025 and step into the dawn of 2026, I extend my warm greetings to you all, along with my sincere prayers for peace in our world, clarity in our minds, compassion in our hearts, and balance in our relationship with one another and with Mother Earth. A New Year invites us to pause, to look honestly at where we stand, and to choose, with awareness, the direction in which we wish to walk together.
At this sacred threshold of time, I humbly invoke the blessings of the enlightened masters of the past, present, and future, in all directions, that they may guide humanity toward wisdom, restraint, and loving-kindness. May the year ahead nurture courage without aggression, strength without cruelty, and progress without the loss of our humanity.
When we reflect on the year gone by, we cannot ignore the deep wounds our world continues to carry. The year 2025 has been marked by several significant tragedies, ranging from terrorist attacks and civil unrest to devastating natural disasters that have claimed countless lives and left millions displaced, grieving, and uncertain about the future. Alongside these events, we have continued to witness armed conflicts, widening social divisions, and the relentless exploitation of people, animals, and the natural environment. These realities compel us to ask, with honesty and urgency, what kind of future we are shaping through our collective thoughts, choices, and actions.
The roots of today’s crises do not lie only in weapons or politics. They lie in the human mind. When minds are ruled by fear, greed, and ego, suffering becomes inevitable. When power is pursued without ethics, and technology without wisdom, progress loses its soul. This truth calls us not merely to reform systems, but to transform human consciousness itself.
Our world stands at a decisive moment. We can continue along a path driven by domination, competition, and endless accumulation, or we can consciously choose cooperation, simplicity, and care for all life. History has shown us again and again that violence never brings lasting peace, and war never resolves the suffering it creates. There are no true victors in war, only generations left to heal its wounds.
True peace is far more than the absence of conflict. It is justice expressed through fairness, compassion lived through action, and understanding born from deep listening. Peace begins when we recognize that the pain of another is not separate from our own, and that the wellbeing of one nation or community cannot be secured at the expense of others.
The time has come for a profound inner and collective awakening. Humanity must rediscover its deeper values: kindness, humility, responsibility, and reverence for life. A new global vision is needed, one that honors diversity while affirming our shared destiny on this single, fragile planet. We must move beyond narrow identities and remember that we are, first and foremost, members of one human family.
Imagine what could become possible if even a fraction of the resources devoted to weapons and warfare were redirected toward healing and education. Imagine hospitals instead of battlefields, schools instead of prisons, forests instead of wastelands. Imagine communities rooted in mindfulness, dialogue, and compassion, where children are taught not only how to compete, but how to care.
As we enter 2026, I invite each of you to make a quiet yet powerful commitment: to become peace in your own life. Speak gently. Listen deeply. Act responsibly. Choose compassion, even when it is difficult. Let us become living examples of the world we wish to see, knowing that every sincere thought and every ethical action matters.
Let us remember, with tenderness and solidarity, all those who have suffered during the past year: the victims of violence and terror, the families torn apart by conflict, and the countless individuals affected by natural disasters, poverty, and injustice. May our prayers be matched by our willingness to act, to support, and to stand firmly on the side of life and dignity.
May 2026 be a year of awakening and healing. A year in which wisdom guides our decisions, compassion shapes our actions, and humanity rediscovers its moral compass. May great compassion shine in our hearts and illuminate our path forward, leading us toward a future where peace is not merely hoped for, but lived.
From the serene heights of the Himalayas, I offer my blessings for your wellbeing and for the wellbeing of all beings everywhere.
With prayers for peace,
Bhikkhu Sanghasena
Gyamsa Retreat Hermitage