Exploring emotional diversity at AYUDH Europe’s 2019 Youth Summit

Brombachtal, Germany

Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, Vice-Chairman of Mata Amritanandamayi Math, gave the keynote address at AYUDH Europe’s 2019 Youth Summit. AYUDH is Embracing the World’s youth wing. In Brombachtal, Germany, more than 400 people of 27 nationalities attended Swamiji's talk, which took place in the framework of the summit's overall theme of “Celebrating Diversity”.

The week-long gathering focused on finding unity in diversity and fostering fundamental human values such as solidarity and active civic engagement for inclusive societies. In his speech, Swamiji emphasized the need for people to be open to “emotional diversity” across its entire spectrum.

“Emotional diversity believes in embracing the negative along with the positive. Try to allow yourself to experience the full range of emotional experiences,” said Swamiji. “This will allow you to enjoy the benefits of your positive emotions while having less stress around your negative ones. This is our best bet for a healthier emotional ecosystem–and maybe a healthier body as well as a stress-free and happier life.”

Swamiji encouraged the youth to embrace all of their emotions, stressing, “all emotions, good and bad, are tools or skills that can be used to elevate ourselves. They are like rungs of a ladder. Use them intelligently and step-by-step you can increase your level of happiness.”

He continued, “Many people have difficulty accepting their weaknesses and limitations. Only by accepting them will we be able to move forward and free ourselves from that emotion. It is like darkness. You can’t scoop darkness out. The only way is to realize the existence of darkness and then bring it into the light.”

Other speakers and attendees included Dr. Jens Zimmermann, Member of the German Parliament and Niklas Nienaß, Member of the European Parliament, as well as former UN officials and other high-profile personalities from the civic and private sector.

AYUDH’s 15th European Youth Summit was co-funded by the European Union and the German State of Hessen. It was carried out in partnership with Embracing the World, UNESCO MGIEP and the No Hate Speech Movement of the Council of Europe.