Creating a stress-free society and violence-free world
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has fostered peace by way of dialogue and strategic initiatives that engage multiple levels of government, business, and humanitarian organizations.
The Art of Living has initiated conflict resolution and trauma-relief programs in many countries, including Afghanistan, Brazil, Cameroon, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel-Palestine, Kenya, Kosovo, Lebanon, Mauritius, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the United States of America.
A multi-pronged strategy is followed in such programs, typically including a combination of these components:
- Necessities: Immediate help is made available based on the needs, for example, food, shelter, and medicines
- Inner peace: Powerful trauma-relieving interventions to bring peace to disturbed minds and elevate the energy for positive action
- Multi-group dialogue: All factions are brought to the table for constructive conversations with The Art of Living playing a facilitative role
- Community building: Local leaders and change agents are inspired and developed to help people support each other in the process of healing
- Creation of platforms: Conferences, large think-tanks, and external support is garnered through creating awareness of the situation
Service project highlights
Colombian peace process gets a big boost
There was a historic change of heart and strategy that came to pass in Cuba when Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar met with the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia / Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) leaders.
He has worked to broker peace between the Colombian government and the rebels of the FARC. With a strong presence of Art of Living in Colombia, Gurudev was in fact, in June 2015, awarded Colombia’s highest civilian award, the Orden de la Democracia Simon Bolivar. FARC, Latin America’s oldest and largest guerrilla group, at Havana, after a meeting the Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos in Bogota announced a ceasefire and a peace agreement.
Jordan Humanitarian Efforts
The Art of Living has been active in kingdom of Jordan since 2001. The country is facing a period of conflict and violence. The Art of Living has been supporting peace and non-violence with its message of a one-world family.
More than 1.9 million refugees live in Jordan. Through its varied educational and humanitarian programs, the Art of Living Jordan’s mission, is helping the country to be a better place by creating strong leaders and socially responsible individuals who can become flag bearers for the message of peace and non-violence in the region.
Trauma relief workshops for militants
Trauma-relief workshops conducted for hundreds of militants, including ULFA militants from Assam, Manipuri militants, Kashmiri terrorists, and Maoist rebels. Gurudev has also facilitated dialogues in various conflicts like the Assam riots (2012), Amarnath land dispute (2008), Gujjar protests (2008), and the Naxal uprisings of 2001.
Rebuilding Iraq
Since September 2003, The Art of Living has contributed to rebuilding war-torn Iraq. The Iraq peace initiative has a two-pronged mission: providing stress-relief techniques to overcome stress and help strengthen the community through service initiatives.
Breaking the logjam in North-Eastern India
Gurudev has been actively working in the North East of India to sort the long history of conflict and insurgency in the region. His efforts played a big hand in the recent homecoming of 68 militants in Manipur. The Art of Living has carried out several programs to help former militants to reintegrate with the mainstream.
Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka: Erasing the trauma of a prolonged civil war
During this conflict, Art of Living volunteers organized relief efforts for victims. In addition to receiving material supplies, thousands of refugees and victims benefited from trauma relief workshops conducted in Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu.
From the newsroom
FARC thanks Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar as it relaunches itself as a political party, calls it a miracle
The Art of Living is facilitating reconciliation meetings between the victims and the FARC group as part of the post-conflict process in Colombia. Its work is being hailed as a very important step towards consolidating the historic peace process in Latin America.
Art of Living Teacher generating hope in Syrian war survivors
Youssef Majeed, a faculty of The Art of Living, is going to some of the most devastated regions of Syria, teaching them yoga and breathing techniques for trauma management and stress relief.
