Sri Sri Offers to Help with Reconciliation in Sri Lanka

Posted on: Saturday, May 21, 2016 | Posted by: Art of Living Universe


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Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of Art of Living, has offered to help with reconciliation between Sinhalas and Tamils in Sri Lanka. On a two-day goodwill visit to the island nation, Sri Sri met President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"For reconciliation, you need to drop the past and move ahead. For that, you need inner strength and spirituality can give you that strength. That's what we promise to do," Sri Sri said when asked about repatriation of Tamils at a press conference in Colombo. "Bring the much-needed healing touch to the population, re-instil confidence among each other and among the community. I am ready to do whatever is necessary to achieve this goal," he added.

There was a discussion on the lessons learnt from his peace facilitation efforts between the Colombian government and FARC rebels. Emphasizing on the importance of harmony among people, Sri Sri said, "Everybody must come together - in all ethnic, religious backgrounds. People must see that in unity there is strength, progress and prosperity. No community can grow in isolation and be happy."

In a statement, Art of Living said during the conflict with the LTTE, Art of Living had conducted trauma relief workshops in Sri Lanka, including in Nallur, Manipay, Velanai, Point Pedro, Invunil and Chavakacheri. The foundation, it said "continued to deliver its life-supporting programmes to several hundred ex-LTTE combatants placed at the Boosa Prison and the rehabilitation centres in Omanthai and Maradamadu".

Source: TOI

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Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Visits Sri Lanka

Posted on: Friday, May 20, 2016 | Posted by: Art of Living Universe


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"For reconciliation, you need to drop the past and move ahead. For that, you need inner strength and spirituality can give you that strength. That’s what we promise to do," said Art of Living founder and humanitarian leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar when asked about the repatriation of Tamilians in Sri Lanka at a press conference here. "Bring the much-needed healing touch to the population, re-instill the confidence among each other and among the community. I am ready to do whatever is necessary to achieve this goal."

Gurudev also spoke about working with youth to increase their potential, developing their skills and encouraging the indigenous system of medicine. Gurudev's peace facilitation between the Colombian government and FARC rebels was also discussed, particularly in light of bringing two conflicting parties together. Emphasizing on the importance of harmony amongst people, Gurudev said: "Everybody must come together - in all ethnic, religious backgrounds. People must see that in unity there is strength, progress and prosperity. No community can grow in isolation and be happy.”

Later, the President, His Excellency, Maithripala Sirisena and the former President, Mahinda Rajapaksa called upon Gurudev. He will also be meeting Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe this evening.

He also interacted with children from two orphanages run by The Art of Living.

On a two-day visit to Sri Lanka, Gurudev inaugurated the Seetha Eliya Amman Temple in Nuweralia on May 18.

Gurudev has visited the island nation on numerous occasions - including during the war and visited refugees in the camps. He had called for peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka and had urged the LTTE to give up violence and engage in dialogue with the Sri Lankan government. During this conflict, Art of Living volunteers have organized relief materials for victims of the conflict. Thousands of refugees and victims have benefited from trauma relief workshops conducted in Sri Lanka, including Nallur, Manipay, Velanai, Point Pedro, Invunil, Chavakacheri.

Inspired by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s creative peace-building initiatives for healing and reconciliation, The Art of Living Foundation Sri Lanka continued to deliver its life-supporting programs to several hundred ex-LTTE combatants placed at the Boosa Prison and the rehabilitation centers in Omanthai and Maradamadu.

Sri Sri’s knowledge and the Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique has helped more than 1800 ex-LTTE combatants to meaningfully reintegrate with the mainstream society.

The Art of Living has been conducting stress-elimination programs on the island nation since 2005.

Below are few photographs from the visit:




Source: AOL Global Website

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35 Years of Service | 60 Years of Inspiration!

Posted on: Thursday, May 12, 2016 | Posted by: Art of Living Universe


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Dear one,

Celebrate Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's 60th Birthday at the Art of Living International Center on 13th May 2016.

Program details:
  • 11:30 AM - Devi Puja at Yagnashala
  • 04:30 PM - Long Kriya followup
  • 06:00 PM - Satsang and Celebrations
Not able to join in physically? Catch the LIVE Webcast from 6 PM onwards on www.artofliving.org/webcast


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Rejuvenate Yourself with Ancient Hymns LIVE from Bengaluru Ashram

Posted on: Monday, May 9, 2016 | Posted by: Art of Living Universe


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Jai Gurudev Dear Ones,

Immerse yourself in chants from one of the oldest known scriptures to mankind - the Rigveda. Join Vedic pandits as they invoke ancient hymns and pray for a more peaceful, wiser and harmonious world.

As part of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's sixtieth birthday celebrations, these homas will be streamed LIVE from 10th - 16th May 2016.

Time: 8 AM - 1 PM IST & 5 - 6:30 PM IST on www.artofliving.org/webcast

The Rig Veda Mahayagnya is open to all and is free of cost.

You may choose to be a part of the ceremony, by contributing in the following ways:
  1. Offering: I would like to simply make an offering
  2. Sankalpa: I would like to take a sankalpa and physically participate in the ceremony
  3. Veda Samvardhana (Upholding the Vedas): I would like to pledge my support to upholding the vedas and help with building a corpus that sets up veda schools and promotes veda education.
Know more about the Mahayagnyas and how you can participate in them.

Hope you enjoy the yagnyas. Wishing you joy, good health and prosperity.

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Download Sri Sri Sri Calendar for May 2016

Posted on: Sunday, May 8, 2016 | Posted by: Art of Living Universe


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Dear ones,

Download the all new Calendar for May 2016 with beautiful picture of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, by visiting the Art of Living Universe website: www.aoluniverse.org/SriSriCalendars. Available in 3 different screen resolution size.


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Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Visited Latur, Maharashtra on 30th April 2016

Posted on: Saturday, May 7, 2016 | Posted by: Art of Living Universe


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Art of Living founder Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar visited Latur in Maharashtra, India on 30th April 2016 to oversee and inspire the volunteers who are working on the rejuvenation of Manjara River in Latur, Maharashtra. Manjara River is the 6th water body to be revived by Art of Living in the drought-affected area of Latur and 17th such water body to be revived in India. For decades these rivers had not been flowing and now after the rejuvenation farmers are saying they have never seen so much water in their wells before. Abandoned farmlands have been reclaimed and green cover has increased substantially. The rejuvenation work is progressing at a rapid pace with a stretch of 3 km completed in just 20 days.

Below are few photographs from the visit:


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Art of Living's Jal Jagruti Abhiyaan has benefited over 2 lakh people: Sri Sri

Posted on: Monday, May 2, 2016 | Posted by: Art of Living Universe


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Social organisation Art of Living Foundation today [1st May 2016] claimed it's project 'Jal Jagruti Abhiyaan' has benefited over two lakh people in the drought-affected districts of Maharashtra since it's launch in 2013.

The project aims to rejuvenate water sources that have dried up due to erratic monsoons and overuse of groundwater. The major work includes removal of silt on dried up water bodies.

"Over two lakh people have been benefited in the state since launch of the project in 2013. About 28.5 lakh cubic meters of silt have been removed from six rivers in Latur, one of the worst drought-hit districts, due to which 10,150 acres of land have been irrigated," Foundation's founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, told PTI.

Sri Sri visited Latur yesterday [30th April 2016] and took a stock of Manjra river site.

"In the wake of severe drought conditions in several districts of Maharashtra, Art of Living volunteers under the project have been actively working towards reviving, cleaning and rejuvenating water bodies in Latur, Jalgaon, Osmanabad, Jalna, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Sangli, Nashik, Satara," He said.

Under the river rejuvenation project, the foundation has identified 17 rivers in the country, out of which 13 are in Maharashtra.

The project also include revival of 75 canals, 18 lakes and ponds and one dam in Nashik district in the state.

"We have plan to spend Rs 105 crore under the project in Maharashtra and out of which Rs 28 crore have already been spent," he said.

Sri Sri apprised that four water rivers in Latur - Gharni, Tawarja, Rena, Jana - have been deepened, widened and cleaned.

"Rejuvenating Gharni river would ensure water percolation of 180 crore litres of water in the river basin. It will hold 45 lakh litres in the river after rainfall. River Tawarja revival work over stretch of 4500 mtr has happened, benefiting 2,300 people. Work on Rena and Jana rivers has benefited 24,000 people," He added.

Source: Business Standard

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