This year volunteers of the Foundation will celebrate the 56th birthday of Founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, humanitarian leader, spiritual teacher and ambassador of peace.
His vision of a stress-free and violence-free society has united millions of people the world over, through service projects and Art of Living Courses.
Born in 1956 in Papanasam, Tamil Nadu, Sri Ravi Shankar established the Art of Living Foundation in 1981 as an international, non-profit, educational and humanitarian organisation.
The Art of Living Foundation is one of the largest volunteer based organisations functioning in more than 150 countries.
Its programmes are guided by Sri’s philosophy of peace. “Unless we have a stress-free mind and a violence-free society, we cannot achieve world Peace.”
To help individuals get rid of stress and experience inner peace, The Art of Living offers stress-elimination programmes that incorporate breathing techniques, meditation and yoga, appealing to people all over the world.
The Foundation has spread peace across communities through diverse humanitarian projects, including conflict resolution, disaster relief, sustainable rural development, empowerment of women, prisoner rehabilitation, education for all, and environmental sustainability.
As an ambassador of peace, Sri plays a key role in conflict resolution and spreads his vision of non-violence at public forums and gatherings worldwide. Regarded as a neutral figure with a sole agenda of peace, he represents hope to people in conflict.
He received credit for bringing opposing parties to the negotiating table in Iraq, Syria, the Ivory Coast, Kashmir and Bihar.
Through his initiatives and addresses, Sri has consistently emphasised the need for reinforcing human values and recognising humanity as our highest identity.
Rozeena Parikh is a senior member of the Art of Living Foundation in New Zealand. She said the above information was collected from an Art of Living website.
Photo : Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
