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SriLanka | India(Kashmir) | Israel | Pakistan | Afghanistan | Kosovo | Lebanon | India (Bihar)
The Sri Lankan civil war is an ongoing conflict in the island nation between the government and the LTTE. Having begun in 1983, it has left many thousands of people in state of emotional stress and trauma.
 Sri Sri visited Sri Lanka on the 21st of September,2006 for peace talks. He was welcomed by the Tamils and the Sinhalese. It is to note that his visit coincided with the International Peace Day.
His visit in April 2006 at a time of tremendous fear and uncertainty brought a renewed sense of confidence and relief. He was warmly welcomed by the government of Sri Lanka, the Opposition and the people of Jaffna.
In early 2005 Sri Sri sent his emissaries for peace negotiations with the Sri Lankan President and the LTTE leaders. At a time of escalating tension, on the request of the Sri Lankan President, yoga and ayurveda experts from the AOL conducted special programs for decision makers, the President and army personnel to calm the body and mind.
The President of Sri Lanka, Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Former Prime Minister and opposition leader, Mr. Ranil Wikramasinghe, have expressed confidence in Sri Sri’s interventions to bring peace in the region.
Youth Programs were conducted in north-eastern Sri Lanka after which hundreds of Tamil youth in Jaffna are working hand-in-hand with Art of Living volunteers to bring relief to the people of north-eastern Sri Lanka (Jaffna, Trincomalee, Batticaola). traumatized by over two decades of ethnic violence.
In Jaffna, Sri Sri was inundated by thousands of letters from people asking him to facilitate the peace process. In response to this overwhelming public call, His Holiness expressed his willingness to meet wit h the LTTE chief Mr. Velupillai Prabhakaran.
Sri Sri has travelled around the globe to prevail upon Tamil groups to pursue the path of non-violence. He has also been instrumental in the formation of Committee for Peace in Sri Lanka comprising Hindu and Buddhist leaders including the Dalai Lama.
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In a land of conflict and violence, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has helped to pave the road to peace by bringing together all sections – military, militants, prison inmates and Kashmiri youth. Since 2003, Sri Sri’s volunteers have been organising workshops for various sections, especially the youth who are being recruited by militant outfits. As a result, many youth holding allegiance to violent outfits such as Hijbul Mujahedeen, Al Farhan, Muslimeen and Jaish-e-Mohammed have been transformed and become less prone to destructive emotions.
During his visit to the valley in June 2005 leaders of the All Party Hurriyat Conference, and representatives of Kashmiri Pandits came face to face for the first time in history.
Child-Care: Taking a realistic view of the conflict in the Valley, Sri Sri has started an orphanage to house over 30,000 young victims of militancy who have become soft targets for recruitment into militant groups. The orphanage not only provides shelter but also imparts multi ethnic, multi-cultural education to safeguard these young minds from fanatic elements.
Inspired by Sri Sri’s message of peace and compassion, hundreds of militants in Kashmir and naxalites in Bihar have laid down their arms. They have now become catalysts of social change in their communities.
 Israel is the ancestral cradle of many diverse elements. Different religions, customs and traditions exist together on a tiny piece of land. Harmony in diversity is our goal and the Art of Living Foundation in Israel is taking a major part in it.
During the war with Lebanon, when the city of Haifa was under constant bombing, AOL in Israel took care of those residents who could not leave the city and had to stay for weeks in underground bomb shelters delivering drinking water, cooked meals, fresh produce and other basic necessities. AOL volunteers came to play and work with the kids to reduce their fear and anxiety..
 Building bridges between estranged communities and helping people overcome the trauma of conflict, the Art of Living has been carrying special programs in places along the wall that separates Israel and the Palestinian territories
Participants from courses in Sderot held under constant rainfall of missiles shared how they were still calm and relaxed inspite of the circumstances outside their venue. As Dafna, the Art Of Living teacher in Israel says, "Our dream and vision is that one day Israelis and Palestinians will meet in weekly Satsangs and, together, "Breathe for Peace". ..
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The directors of WAYE (World Alliance for Youth Empowerment), the youth body of the Art of Living Foundation, Dinesh Ghodke and Khurshed Batliwala, recently toured Pakistan for 2 weeks. Under Sri Sri’s guidance and inspiration visited Pakistan to bring about a greater understanding among the youth of the two countries. This was a continuation of the message of peace and goodwill that Sri Sri brought to Pakistan as the first Hindu spiritual leader to visit try in July 2004.
Over 100 Pakistani youth from various universities underwent a 7-day program in the age group of 18 to 25 years at the Indus School of Arts and Architecture, Karachi. Muslims, Christians, Zoroastrians, Hindus and youngsters of the Sufi faith participated in the Youth Empowerment Seminar.
The aim was to create better channels of understanding and communication between the two countries: an initiative at bringing together people social service, culture, arts and sports and breaking prejudices.
They all agreed to the fact that since we take food, fashion, music and technology from all over the world; it’s time that wisdom too needs to be globalised. The youth have a major role in deepening the roots and broadening the vision of a nation.
The youth were inspired by the social work of the AOL volunteers during the Pakistan earthquake in June 2005.
The WAYE directors conducted programs in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore and were featured in HUM TV, Jiyo Channel and TV1, major Pakistani TV networks and the top 4 radio channels. They also met with the UNICEF, UNDP, UN AIDS representatives and sought to find more avenues to work with the youth. They also met heads of various NGO’s like Insaan and Maqsad Foundation and reached an understanding that youth exchange programs will be held between India and Pakistan for social service and cultural activities.
In a bid to thaw relations between India and Pakistan, Sri Sri undertook a historic four-day peace mission to Pakistan. During his visit, he met with political, business and religious leaders and social activists in Karachi and Islamabad. The people of Pakistan responded resoundingly to his call for peace and harmony, thus becoming the first spiritual leader from India to be welcomed there. 
 He said that his interaction with the people of Pakistan had been heart-to-heart and not intellectual, and emphasized the need to "build mutual trust for lasting peace".
The AOLF has been offering its Art of Living programs to the people in all major Pakistani cities. More than 2000 people have attended these programs and have experienced stress-relief and inner peace. Regular programs incorporating music and meditation are conducted regularly.
"Everyone began to feel that this was such a non-communal and non - commercial embrace from India!" - Naeem Zamindar, Art of Living Teacher, Pakistan
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 The Art Of Living has brought relief and peace to war victims, mine victims, village women, children and others traumatized by over two decades of war and strife.
The first Courses were Breath, Water, Sound Courses (BWS), given to children with chronic illnesses, serious health impairments, or were mine victims.
Afghan counselors, doctors, nurses and administrators took the BWS through the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crimes.
 UNIFEM, MoPH and the Mental Health Dept. organised several courses for their staff and trauma affected villagers.
Afghans have been responding to the techniques with immediate and extremely positive results having a profound impact on reducing trauma levels and stress caused by incessant war scenes
Afghanistan Programs from Feb 2003 to June 2006
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Report - Rebuilding war torn Kosovo
In the aftermath of an armed conflict there is need to promote he aling among the survivors. A Harvard Medical Group assessing the war effects in Kosovo found that 80% of the Kosovars suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The AOLF took the responsibility to bring relief to the region, delivering material aid soon after the end of conflict, and working in areas of trauma relief and conflict resolution since then. The Art of Living Courses have been conducted for people from all walks of life including:
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disabled veterans and war victims
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prison inmates
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civil police
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mental health centers and hospitals
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poor homeless and people of various ethnic groups
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United Nations peace-keepers
 The Ministry of Heath and the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare have contracted AOLF to conduct the programs for the staff in all their Mental Health Centers and hospitals, and also to train them to become teachers of the Breath-Water- Sound course.
AOLF has undertaken a rehabilitation program for the disabled war veterans. To date hundreds of war victims, over one hundred medical health workers, and over six hundred UN peace-keepers have directly benefited from this program.
"I often used to jump up in my bed searching for a gun and afterwards I cannot sleep... Now I sleep much better and flashbacks and nightmares have reduced.. Now I am using the Art of Living program instead of pain killers"
- Afet Billali, Disabled war-veteran
"It was wonderful to have laughter attacks instead of panic attacks during the course, especially during Sudarshan Kriya"
- Ferid Billali, War veteran.
"I personally find the Art of Living program vital for Kosovo, and I am taking an active role in integrating it in the society"
- Dr. Fadil Beka, Executive Director of University of Clinical Center
Being a nurse for 27 years, I cannot recall happier moments at work as when we had the Art of Living Course"
- Zoja, Nurse
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