India’s Peace Envoy to Pakistan: Art of Living Head Sri Sri Ravishankar; India Wires

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the head of Art of Living Foundations begins his 3 day visit to Pakistan today. This is the second visit by the Indian spiritual leader to Pakistan, the first being in July 2004. He will meet senior leaders of the Paksitan government during his peace mission. The visit begins with Sri. Sri entering Lahore from the Wagah border, form where he will proceed to Islamabad and Karachi. “If we spend one-tenth of what we have spent on conflict, we could create a much more prosperous South Asia, where no one knows the gun, no one suffers from disease, and no one cries for life,” he said as he embarked his journey. The humanitarian Hindu leader underlined a pressing need for a “people-to-people movement”. He urged the youth to carry out activities that will ensure the growth of a non-violent and harmonious South Asia. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will inaugurate a centre for Art of Living, in the presence of advisor to Pakistan Prime Minister, Dr Paul Bhatti. He is scheduled to hold talks with business and spiritual leaders, academicians, student organizations in an effort to strengthen ties between the two countries. He will also visit places of religious importance, which includes Badshahi mosque. “We have spent a lot on conflicts, on escalating conflicts and on destruction of life and environment. Now we have to work towards making peace,” he said. “As an ongoing effort to create a stress-free, violence-free society, The Art of Living’s Pakistani instructors conduct stress-elimination programmes. Eight Art of Living Teachers in Pakistan have trained thousands of people through art of living courses.” said Naeem Zamindar, Chairman, Art of Living Foundation Pakistan. “This will be Sri’s second visit; the first one was in July 2004, when he became the first Hindu spiritual leader from India to visit Pakistan. We are hoping, his visit will contribute a lot to establish people to people contact between the two neighbours,” said Zarmina Durrani, a Lahore based humanitarian and peace activist. The stress removal programmes initiated by Art of Living was inaugurated by Sri Sri Ravishankar during his first visit in 2004. The programme included charitable service schemes as well. The AOL foundation has involved itself in relief activities in the Valley of Swat. This included collection and allocation of relief material, fund raising programmes for rebuilding of schools destroyed in the earthquake of 2008 and other relief programmes. Numerous community service projects were initiated, including programs at SOS Children Villages, programmes for rehabilitation of prisoners, cleaning up of the local areas and planting of trees. Source: India Wires
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