Dear Ones, We have 2 exciting LIVE events in coming 2 days: 1) Talk on Shiva - The Eternal Mystic by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on 26 Feb. from 7 pm IST Register to watch it on www.artofliving.org/shiva 2) Maha Shivaratri 2014 celebrations - 27 Feb from 6 pm IST This will be an open webcast for all on www.artofliving.org/webcast Share with all!                 Note: Unable to see the above images? Please click on 'Display images' in your mail Art of Living Universe: Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus | YouTube | Pinterest

Social media keeps news media in check, says Indian spiritual leader

Social media is an empowering tool of free speech that keeps the media in check, says one of India’s most powerful spiritual leaders Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, ahead of an online forum he will lead on Twitter on Sunday. “I think social media has empowered people who were otherwise heavily dependent on the visual and print media. Real freedom of expression and speech have dawned only through the social media”, said Shankar in an email interview with the South China Morning Post. Shankar described the modern day as “a time of despair and depression” and appealed to people to broaden their outlook. Teacher and founder of non-profit humanitarian organisations The Art of Living Foundation and the International Association for Human Values, Shankar travels the world conducting speaking tours and fundraising for his organisations. Shankar makes heavy use of social media to promote his work and spread his teachings. His accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ have hundreds of thousands of followers each and he contributes a regular blog to the online news portal, The Huffington Post. Social media is becoming more important as a news source, which is improving the quality of journalism, said Shankar. “The news media can no longer totally distort any news with Twitter and Facebook so active”, he said. He championed a new age of citizen journalism using social media, “It has given the chance for everyone to be a journalist and air his or her opinions”, he said. Shankar’s teachings focus on stress management, meditation and nonviolence. His work has become popular among India’s urban elite and his trademarked rhythmic breathing technique has followers in over 150 countries. He is described by The Guardian as having “updated India’s image of the guru for the corporate age”. He was named the fifth most influential person in India by Forbes magazine in 2009. According to his website, he was able to recite parts of the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Sanskrit scripture by the age of four. "I think social media has empowered people who were otherwise heavily dependent on the visual and print media." - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Source: South China Morning Post                 Note: Unable to see the above images? Please click on 'Display images' in your mail Art of Living Universe: Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus | YouTube | Pinterest

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will be on Twitter Townhall on Feb 23

The spiritual guru and founder of Art of Living, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will be addressing a Twitter Townhall this Sunday (Feb 23). He will be available to answer the queries on a wide range of topics including love, politics, relationships, corruption, homosexuality or any other question close to your heart - which might make people see things in a new light. The Twitter Townhall will take place from 10:30 pm - 11.00 pm (IST). People can participate live by tweeting their questions with the #AskSriSri hashtag. For details visit: www.artofliving.org/twittertownhall Source: CIOL                 Note: Unable to see the above images? Please click on 'Display images' in your mail Art of Living Universe: Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus | YouTube | Pinterest

Twitter Townhall with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on 23rd February 2014

Are you confused about life, career, relationship? A concerned youth who wants to do something for the country but doesn’t know how? Need tips on better parenting? Would like to know how spirituality is different from religion? Caught in a rat race when you wanna live life to the fullest but don’t know how? Have an endless list of questions unanswered on homosexuality, politics, corruption and their like? We present you a unique opportunity to be a part of the first ever Twitter Town Hall with His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. You can start posting your questions as tweets from right this moment using the twitter hash tag #AskSriSri and have these answered LIVE on www.artofiving.org/webcast on 23rd February, 2014 from 10:30 pm to 11:00 pm IST. The event will be telecast LIVE on Times Now in India from 10:30 pm to 11:00 pm IST. If you are a web user and do not have a twitter account, sign up right away to join the discussion. For details visit: www.artofliving.org/twittertownhall                 Note: Unable to see the above images? Please click on 'Display images' in your mail Art of Living Universe: Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus | YouTube | Pinterest

Kurukshtera-like War Going on in State (Andhra Pradesh)

Asserting that the progress of a state or a nation depends on unity, Art of Living (AOL) founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said that the demand for creating of separate state or nation should be raised only when it serves economical growth of the concerned area. But, when there is no scope for such financial growth, there is no logic in the demand for separate states, as it can not meet the purpose of development, he observed. "Now, Andhra Pradesh has turned into a battle ground and a Kurukshetra like war is going on in the state with politicians flaring up the issue for their selfish political motives," he observed. While addressing an impressive crowd from various walks of life, who attended the ‘Anugraha Yatra’ organised by AOL at Sri Venkateswara University Tarakarama Ground here on Sunday evening, Ravi Shankar said that many of his well wishers suggested him not to take up his yatra in Andhra Pradesh at this juncture, as the state is boiling over the bifurcation issue. "But, I decided to visit the state and today prayed to Lord Venkateswara to give good wisdom to politicians, who are eyeing on political prosperity instead of well-being of the people," he maintained. There is strength in unity, which can head the state or nation towards progress with cooperation, he said. "Those demanding a separate state are not sincere for the cause and internally want an united state. Similarly, those sitting on the demand of united state, too, are not sincere and they desire for the division of the state. Once their demand was solved, there is nothing left for them for taking up their political activities," he said. Describing India as a nation with great culture and heritage and vast wealth, he said the country continues to remain poor due to corruption and black money. We have fuel belts, iron ore and all other resources but we are importing oil, steel and many other products and loosing money due to corrupt leaders, he said and wanted all the people to make use of their vote right for building a corruption-free nation. "Many politicians, suggest me to limit myself only to devotional speeches and not talk on corruption and black money. But, I told them that I will speak on both the issues for satisfying my soul. To me, spiritualism and patriotism should be mixed equally," he said. Not only inside temples, we are being monitored by the divine continuously and we should act more responsibly in all our activities. "We should adopt purity in heart, clarity in thought and sincerity in work for taking our career on good path," he said. On the occasion, he also gave a clarion call to people to devote one hour a day for nation-building. Ravi Shankar later made the people meditate for the well being of their soul and also held religious discourses on the occasion. Source: The New Indian Express                 Note: Unable to see the above images? Please click on 'Display images' in your mail Art of Living Universe: Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus | YouTube | Pinterest

Live Webcast: Shiva - The Eternal Mystic - Talk by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Dear ones, Just one day before Shivratri on (26th Feb 2014), we have a talk by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Shiva - The Eternal Mystic from 7 pm IST! Pre-Register NOW to watch this webcast! The registration amount is 300 INR for India and 10$ for Non India. Details of event: www.artofliving.org/shiva                 Note: Unable to see the above images? Please click on 'Display images' in your mail Art of Living Universe: Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus | YouTube | Pinterest

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Calls for Rethink on Telangana Bill issue

Criticising the move to go ahead with the Telangana Bill disregarding its rejection by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, 'Art of Living' founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Friday said that dividing the state without the support of majority would be a disaster. "I would say if you want division (of Andhra Pradesh state), then it should happen with good understanding and with very good give-and-take on both sides... If more than half of the state is burning, then such a division is a disaster," he told reporters here. "When the Assembly has rejected with majority, then rethink is needed and not to hurry up. Anything done in haste is waste," he said, referring to the Centre going ahead with tabling the Bill in Parliament. "If Andhra Pradesh Assembly has passed a resolution, I am all for respecting that resolution," the spiritual leader said. "The need for division is based on the need for prosperity and the whole idea is to bring prosperity but the way the division is done...prosperity does not come if there is more animosity between the two states...everything collapses...we will be taking the state 50 years backward in such a scenario. Our main focus/purpose for division should be better administration, justice and equal economic growth. "If these things are not available and just to satisfy some leaders' ego if the decisions are taken, it is not fair," he said. "Many divisions (of different states) have happened in the country and let us study in deep how such issues were resolved," the spiritual guru, who is embarking on a six-day train tour of several districts of Andhra Pradesh from Saturday, said. Source: The New Indian Express                 Note: Unable to see the above images? Please click on 'Display images' in your mail Art of Living Universe: Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus | YouTube | Pinterest