Open governance
Governance
The World Meditation Day Committee serves as the governance layer, overseeing the strategic direction of the observance and ensuring alignment with the vision of making meditation a basic lifestyle for humanity. The Bureau leads the Committee.
Governance structure
The Committee oversees the Secretariat, professional guidance and oversight, and three parallel operational bodies: the Foundation, the Association, and the World Federation of Meditation Centers.
Bureau
Leads the World Meditation Day Committee.
World Meditation Day Committee
Governance · Decision-Making
Secretariat
Execution
Professional Guidance & Oversight
Experts Committee
Scientific Research Committee
Humanities, Arts & Ethics Committee
Foundation
Fundraising & Grant-making
Association
Operations
World Federation of Meditation Centers
Global Network
Bureau & Advisory Group
Bureau
Enrico Somma
Acting Chair (Liechtenstein)
Trustee at Ganten Treuhand AG, representing the core proposing country of Liechtenstein, supporting the global governance and operations of WMDC with financial-legal expertise.
H.H. Shree Shivkrupanand Swamiji
Vice Chair · Core Proposing Country (India)
Indian enlightened master and founder of Himalayan Samarpan Meditation, guiding over 3 million seekers across 70+ countries for over three decades.
Manhwa Sunim
Vice Chair · Core Proposing Country (Mexico)
Mexican-born Korean Jogye Order Zen monk, lineage holder of Master Seung Sahn, dedicated to sharing Zen meditation, community life and temple vegan culture with Western audiences.
Dezhung Chogtrul Rinpoche
Vice Chair · Core Proposing Country (Nepal)
Sakya reincarnate lama born in Nepal in 1991, former throne holder of Tharlam Monastery in Kathmandu, actively promoting mindfulness meditation and organizing a 1,000-monk peace puja.
Ven. Dhammajiva Maha Thero
Vice Chair · Core Proposing Country (Sri Lanka)
Chief Preceptor of Mitirigala forest monastery in Sri Lanka, founder of Sati Pasala mindfulness education, reaching 4.5 million schoolchildren nationwide.
Fr. Cyprian Consiglio
Vice Chair · Religious Representative (Christian)
American Benedictine monk, Secretary General of Monastic Interreligious Dialogue (DIMMID), sharing "Universal Wisdom" through music composition and spiritual writings.
Shaykh Abdalmalik Rajahadayan
Vice Chair · Religious Representative (Islamic)
Swiss-born anthropologist and Sufi teacher, former Theravada monk, integrating Eastern and Western meditation traditions, practicing "meditation as surrender" in the Sahara Desert.
Advisory Group
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim
Advisor (Korea)
Founder of Jungto Society in South Korea, recipient of the 2002 Ramon Magsaysay Peace Award and 2020 Niwano Peace Prize, dedicated to peace and humanitarian aid on the Korean Peninsula.
Prof. Jack Sim
Advisor (Singapore)
Singapore's "Mr. Toilet," Schwab Fellow at the World Economic Forum, founder of the World Toilet Organization, initiated UN World Toilet Day (adopted by 193 countries).
Ven. Miaohai
Advisor (Switzerland)
PhD from ETH Zurich, 40th lineage holder of Caodong (Shaolin Temple) and 78th lineage holder of Korean Jogye Order, former Global VP at Oerlikon and Trinasolar, founder of World Meditation Foundation.
Staff-managed bodies
Secretariat
Execution — coordinates activities and supports partners worldwide.
Expert Committee
Professional guidance and oversight: meditation practice, teaching standards, tradition consensus and philosophy.
Scientific Research Committee
Professional guidance and oversight: research on meditation, neuroscience, psychology and clinical applications; publishes white papers.
Humanities, Arts & Ethics Committee
Professional guidance and oversight: cultural diversity, arts integration and ethical frameworks.
Foundation (WMF Board)
Fundraising & Grant-making.
Association
Operations.
World Federation of Meditation Centers
Global network of meditation centers, retreats and communities.
Governance principles
Integrity
We act with honesty and moral courage in all we do.
Transparency
We open our processes, finances and decisions to scrutiny.
Scientific Rigor
We ground our work in evidence and expert review.
Inclusiveness
We welcome all traditions, perspectives and people.
Global Collaboration
We work across borders and sectors for the common good.
Annual reporting
For a young international foundation, trust matters more than scale. We publish our annual report to share our progress, finances and learning with the community we serve.
White Papers & Reports
World Meditation Foundation Annual Report 2025