In a juvenile correctional facility in Chengdu, China, dozens of young residents sat quietly in the morning light, focusing on their breath. The air was calm, filled with a rare stillness.That day was December 21, 2024 — the first World Meditation Day adopted by the United Nations.

This meditation event was organized by the Chengdu Juvenile Correctional Facility itself, independently echoing the global call of World Meditation Day. Without any formal coordination with the World Meditation Day Committee, the initiative reflected a natural response to humanity’s shared longing for peace, awareness, and inner freedom.

 

Over the past year, the facility has systematically integrated mindfulness meditation into its rehabilitation programs. Starting from an introductory phase for newcomers, the practice gradually extends into daily life through structured modules: mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindful cognition, loving-kindness meditation, mindful rehabilitation, and mindful living. This framework allows participants to deepen self-awareness at different stages of their sentence, cultivating non-violent, patient, and compassionate ways of responding to conflict.

Through consistent practice, many have begun to experience genuine inner calm and transformation. Mindfulness meditation not only offers these young people a means of emotional regulation and self-healing—it also demonstrates its potential to foster empathy, stability, and positive behavioral change, contributing to long-term reintegration and reduced recidivism. 

 

This spontaneous resonance with World Meditation Day reflects the deeper mission behind the initiative. On December 6, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly officially proclaimed December 21 as World Meditation Day, reaffirming meditation’s importance in an age of rising global anxiety and mental health crises. 

 

Since then, the World Meditation Day Committee has continued to promote the “15 Minutes of Meditation Every Day” global initiative, encouraging individuals to pause daily—to find stillness amid speed, and clarity amid complexity. From the AI + Mindfulness Global Symposium at the Zurich AI Center to community-based meditations across continents, this movement has grown into a shared awakening—linking technology, humanity, and inner wisdom. 

 

The practice in Chengdu’s correctional facility is a quiet yet powerful reminder: Meditation transcends circumstance. True freedom begins within.

On December 21, 2025, the world will celebrate the first anniversary of World Meditation Day. The Committee will launch a synchronized worldwide meditation, inviting millions across time zones to participate, and will collaborate with research institutions to study the broader impact of meditation on humanity and the planet. 

 

Let us meet again—in breath, in stillness, in the quiet light of awareness. 

 

World Meditation Day — December 21, 2025.

 

For media inquiries, please contact:

Fei Yu

Board Member

World Meditation Foundation

Email: fei@worldmeditationfoundation.org

Website: www.worldmeditationfoundation.org

 

About the World Meditation Foundation

The World Meditation Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the practice and benefits of meditation worldwide. Through advocacy, education, and collaborative initiatives, the Foundation seeks to create a more mindful, compassionate, and sustainable world.