Climate change: Sri Sri for spiritual approach

Jan. 30: A narrow-minded political system is the major threat to global climate initiatives, said Sri Sri Ravishankar, founder, the Art of Living, here on Sunday.

“Narrow-mindedness and geographical borders prevent initiatives to fight against climate change. The environment policies and approaches have to become more spiritual, understanding the true power of nature. We need to follow the lifestyle of tribal communities as they have better models of consumption and waste-handling methods,” he added, while inaugurating a national summit on simple solutions for inner and outer climate, organised by Sri Sri Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SSIAST) trust, at IIT-Madras on Sunday. Read More

Naadha Vaibhavam - The magnificent Musical Concert of our times.

Here is what The Hindu News paper has to say.


On a pleasant Sunday evening, several thousand people were witness to a heavy downpour of divine rhythm and mellifluous music. ‘Naadha Vaibhavam' presented by The Art of Living and MARG Brindavan lived upto its name.

It was announced that a total of 5,700 artists were on stage.

It included 347 instrumentalists playing the mridangam, violin, ghatam, flute and veena. Among those on stage, nearly 3,000 were from Chennai and the rest from other parts of Tamil Nadu and also from Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and even Maharashtra, according to volunteers. Read More

Country stands up against corruption today

NEW DELHI: As the nation marks the 63 rd death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Sunday, thousands of Indians will participate in a 'march against corruption' and thereby demand effective anti-corruption laws. The protest march will start at 1pm from Ramlila Maidan and conclude at Jantar Mantar.

The rally will be led by eminent people from all walks of life such as Kiran Bedi, RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal, Sri Sri Ravi Shanker, Swami Agnivesh, Maulana Mahmood Madani, and Archbishop of Delhi Rev Vincent M Concessao. The legal fraternity led by advocate Prashant Bhushan, Shanti Bhushan and Fali S Nariman will also join in. Together they will seek the enactment of a law to set up an anti-corruption body at the centre - the Lokpal - and a similar one in the states - Lokayukta.  Read more

Naadha Vaibhavam - Be part of the magnificent concert

Join the March against Corruption

Questions on Karma? Ask Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on January 28th 2011

Bangalore, Jan. 27: Do you ever wonder why certain things are happening to you? Have you wonderered – Why wasn’t I born in a different country? Do I choose my parents? Is karma the same as fate? Is it unavoidable or do we possess the power to change our karma? What are the keys to unlock the secrets of karma and the mind?


Have you been looking for an opportunity to delve deep into the ways of karma? Search no more. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will share with us the mysteries of karma on January 28, 2011. All are invited to tune into the live webcast starting at 7:00 pm (IST) at www.artofliving.org 

Activists to march against corruption - The Times of India

NEW DELHI: This can be your chance to vent your anger against corruption. Civil rights activists, lawyers, spiritual and religious leaders, professionals, students and people from all walks of life will be coming together under the banner of 'India against Corruption' on January 30 to demand effective antigraft laws and the passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill. The protesters will walk from Ramlila grounds to Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Similar protests will be held across the country. 


In Delhi, Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal, Sri Sri Ravi Shanker, Swami Agnivesh, Maulana Mahmood Madani, the Archbishop of Delhi, Rev. Vincent M Concessao, noted lawyers, including Prashant Bhushan, Shanti Bhushan and Fali SNariman, members of the National Advisory Council, Aruna Roy and Harsh Mander, as well college students, professionals from the corporate sector, teachers, RWA members, government employees, lawyers and doctors will participate in the march. Read more

Grand symphony

Music Different genres blend to define ‘Naadham'


‘Naadha Vaibhavam…' the mellifluous strains of music fade slowly after reaching a crescendo, the voices and instruments rising and falling in harmony. The captivating music runs as a thread through the 20-odd minutes during which Sri Sri Ravi Shankar speaks and answers questions on Vijay TV, 7.30 a.m., daily. Is this part of a symphony? Who has created it?  Read more

மீன் பாடும் தேன் நாட்டில் தெய்வீக மறுமலர்ச்சி

வாழும் கலை அமைப்பின் நிறுவனர் பூஜ்ய ஸ்ரீ ஸ்ரீ ரவிசங்கர் குருஜி அவர்களால் உலக அமைதிக்காகவும் , ஒற்றுமைக்காகவும் , ஆரோக்கியம், அன்பு , மனித நேயம் மற்றும் தமிழ்  கலாச்சாரம் தழைத்தோங்கவும் இலங்கை திருநாட்டில் கிழக்கு மாகாணத்தின் மீன் பாடும் தேன் நாடாம் மட்டகளப்பு  மாநகரின் வெபர் திறந்த வெளி  வெளியரங்கில்  22 ம் திகதி ஜனவரி 2011 ம்  ஆண்டு சனிக்கிழமை மாலை 3 .30  மணிக்கு நடந்த இந்நிகழ்வில் மகா ருத்ர பூஜையை தொடர்ந்து 21000 இசைக்கலைஞர்கள் ஒன்றிணைந்து வழங்கிய தேவரபரயணம் நடைபெற்றது. இறைவன் அருள் பெற்ற சமயகுரவர்கள் காலத்தில் காணப்பட்ட தெய்வீகக் பொற்காலம் மீண்டும் ஆரம்பமாகும் பொருட்டு அவர்களால் பாடப்பட்ட 12 திருமுறை தேவாரங்களிலிருந்து தேர்ந்து எடுக்கப்பட்ட சில தேவாரங்கள் இத்தேவாரபாராயணத்தில் பாடப்படும். இந்த பிரம்மாண்டமான நிகழ்வில் யாழ்பாணம், மட்டகளப்பு, மன்னார், கண்டி,அட்டன் , வவுனியா, திருகோணமலை, கொழும்பு ,நுவரேலியா போன்ற பல பாகங்களிருந்தும் , கனடா, லண்டன், இந்தியா, துபாய் போன்ற பல வெளிநாடுகளிலிருந்தும் ௫௦௦௦௦ மேற்பட்ட பக்தர்கள் கலந்து கொண்டனர். 

ஸ்ரீ ஸ்ரீ ரவிசங்கர் குருஜியின் தலைமையில் நேற்று முன்தினம் சனிக்கிழமை மட்டக்களப்பு வெபர் மைதானத்தில் நடைபெற்ற தேவார பாராயண நிகழ்வில் சுமார் 21 ஆயிரம் மக்கள் கலந்துகொண்டனர். இதில் கிழக்கு மாகாண முதலமைச்சர் சி.சந்திரகாந்தன்,மீள்குடியேற்ற பிரதியமைச்சர்களான விநாயகமூர்த்தி முரளிதரன், எம்.எல்.ஏ.எம்.ஹிஸ்புல்லாஹ்,மட்டக்களப்பு மாவட்ட பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்களான சீ.யோகேஸ்வரன்,பா.அரியநேந்த்திரன், பொன்.செல்வராசா உட்பட பல பிரமுகர்கள் கலந்துகொண்டனர். பல்லாயிரக்கணக்கான பக்தர்களின் மேள,தாள வாத்தியங்கள் முழங்க ரவிசங்கர் குருஜி வரவேற்கப்பட்டு பூஜைகள் நடைபெற்றன. அதனைத் தொடர்ந்து அங்கு கூடியிருந்த சுமார் 21 ஆயிரம் மக்கள் இணைந்து தேவார பாராயணத்தில் கலந்துகொண்டனர். இந்நிகழ்வில் குருஜி பக்தர்களுக்கு ஆசிர்வாதம் வழங்கிய பின்னர் உரையாற்றியபோது; உங்களிடமுள்ள அனைத்துக் குறைகளையும் இந்த மைதானத்திலேயே விட்டுவிட்டுச் செல்லுங்கள். மனித சமுதாயம் எங்கெல்லாம் உள்ளதோ அங்கெல்லாம் குலம்,கோத்திரம்,சாதி பேதம் என்ற அனைத்தினையும் அகற்றுங்கள். தவறுகளை மன்னித்து விடுங்கள்.நடந்ததெல்லாம் நடந்துவிட்டன. மெஞ்ஞானம் விஞ்ஞானம் என்ற உண்மையைக் கூறுகின்றன. இதனை உணர்த்துவதே வாழும் கலை அமைப்பின் இரகசியமாகும். தற்போதெல்லாம் தமிழ் திரிபடைந்துள்ளது. இனிமேல் இலங்கையில் இருந்துதான் தமிழைக் கற்க வேண்டும் என்றார். இந்நிகழ்வில் பிரதியமைச்சர்களான வி.முரளிதரன், எம்.எல்.ஏ.எம்.ஹிஸ்புல்லாஹ், முதலமைச்சர் சி.சந்திரகாந்தன்,சி.யோகேஸ்வரன் எம்.பி. ஆகியோரும் உரை நிகழ்த்தினர்

-- 

Sri Lankan Cricket Captain meets Guruji

Jan 25,2011 - Sri Lankan cricket team captain Kumar Sangakara thanked Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and The Art of Living for helping the Sri Lankan cricket team to come out of trauma after the Lahore attack. Kumar Sangakara called on Sri Sri in Colombo on January 23. Sri Sri was on a three-visit to Sri Lanka, from January 21-23.


In 2009, immediately after the Lahore attack , the team had undergone breathing sessions and meditation techniques of the Art of Living in Colombo.


On completing the course then, Kumar Sangakara had said that he had felt relaxed and calm after two sessions of the Sudarshan Kriya. It was “a really pleasant experience”, the sports ministry had quoted him. 


"The Sri Lankan cricketers have now found a new direction to be relaxed, calm and still be dynamic and alert," the ministry said.


"Relaxation and recovery is an integral part of a sportsperson's lifestyle, it is techniques like Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique that gives them the energy to bounce back," he said. The eight-hour workshop was conducted by Swami Sadyojatha, International Director, The Art of Living.


On being asked if the cricketers spoke about the trauma, Sri Sri said, “The four days that we spent together, I didn't ask them anything about Lahore and they didn't tell me also. It was like past is past and finished. It was about how to bring your mind to the present and move ahead. They had the belief as well and they wanted to do something as a team.”

Sri Lanka witnesses the largest Tamil music choir ever

Batticaloa. January 22.2010. History was created in Sri Lanka as 21,000 singers gathered together to sing the ‘Thevaram’, the richest Tamil devotional poetry sung over centuries. The event was organized by several hundred youth volunteers of the Art of Living in Sri Lanka. 


The grand event was attended by Art of Living founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who is on a three-day tour of the country. Speaking at the gathering, Sri Sri urged people to drop the past and move ahead. He emphasized the need to apply the human virtue of forgiveness in our daily life. He also called upon the people to unite in a spirit of unity and respect for all religions.


Also present on the occasion was Mr. Chandrakanthan Sivanesathurai , The Chief Minister of the Eastern Province. He thanked Sri Sri and the Art of Living for their wholehearted support in providing relief and assistance in the recent floods that had impaired life in several areas of Batticaloa. 


The event had enthusiastic participation from all sections of society. Students, homemakers, executives and government dignitaries were part of the event. Read More

‘Draw inspiration from Imam Hussain'

Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravishankar said, “People, irrespective of their faiths, should learn to love as the human life is short and there is no time to hate. People should emulate Imam Hussain in fighting corruption and oppression.”
Ravishankar also said that anything can be achieved with love. He noted that Imam Hussain was able to unite both the Sunnis and Shias in an Iraqi village by bringing back 800 Sunni families who were driven away during war. Former M P Moulana Ubaidullah Khan Azmi Saheb asked people to stand up against injustice and those who disturb the secular fabric of this country in the name of religion or kill the people in the name of religion.

Read More

Guruji to visit Sri Lanka

The Art of Living Foundation in Sri Lanka in association with Tharunyata Hetak is to commemorate the upcoming 2,600th Sambuddha Jayanthi (2600 years of Lord Buddha’s enlightenment) in Colombo on January 21 at 10.15 am at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.


The mega event is open to the general public. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar world renowned spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living will grace the occasion this Friday.


The Sri Lanka chapter is organizing Budhu Bhakti Gee by 2600 singers. News Courtesy Daily News

Bail out India from rampant scams, appeals Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has appealed the citizens to bail out the country from rampant scams and reform it by adopting the spiritual path.


Addressing a mammoth gathering on the occasion of Makar Sankranti here last night at the packed Dadoji Konddeo Stadium, he asked the people to become self reliant and reduce dependency on the government.


"Be your own and strive for development... Unless you take matters seriously and in your hand... nothing will work," he said at a function organised jointly by Sanskar and Art of Living to celebrate his first ever visit to the district.



Read More

Happy Pongal

Guruji says Hindu terror wrong term

New Delhi, Jan 14 (TruthDive): Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has denounced the term ‘Hindu terror’. In an interview to a TV channel, spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Foundation (founded 1982) an NGO (non-governmental organization) with UNESCO consultative status, which aims at relieving both individual stress and societal problems and violence said that for centuries Hinduism has been the most tolerant of all religions and  never given sanction to terrorism.


He admitted that there might have been backlash since violence is not just one religion’s trait. He said by giving terrorism the tag of Hinduism was not justified since the religious tag to it was  not needed and “terrorism is terrorism”. Art of Living proponent Sri Sri Ravi Shankar today regretted that the government was not doing anything to propagate yoga, instead it was levying service tax on centers teaching the ancient practice.Read More

Join Yagya for World Peace and Prosperity -

Time for youth to take responsibility of shaping the nation, says Sri Sri -

PUNE: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, spiritual leader and founder of The Art of Livings foundation, has said that the youth ought to come forward and take a resolve to save the country from corruption. "It's the time you take responsibility in shaping the nation," Sri Sri told a mammoth gathering of student council leaders at the first 'Parliament of Student Council Leaders' at the MIT School of Government on Tuesday. He was addressing the interactive sessions on 'India vs Bharat: The urban rural divide and its spiritual contribution.'  Read more

Lack of spirituality causes corruption: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

The lack of spirituality more than religiosity was the root cause of corruption, according to spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.


Ravi Shankar, who is in the city for satsangs, poojas and to meet corporates, spoke with the media at the press club in an interaction organised by them on Wednesday.


“It is lack of spirituality more than religiosity that is leading to corruption and scams in the country. Nobody is corrupt with their own family. Corruption is happening because there is no sense of belonging. We need to create that belonging through satsangs as Gandhi did,” he said.


Addressing a gathering of about 50 correspondents, Ravi Shankar asked questions ranging from slums, terrorism, corruption and corruption in religious and spiritual leaders. Read More

Sri Sri Ravishankar rues service tax on yoga centres

Mumbai, Jan 12 (PTI) Art of Living proponent Sri SriRavishankar today regretted that the government was not doinganything to propagate yoga, instead it was levying service taxon centres teaching the ancient practice.


"We have to own up our heritage and traditions. Whileevery country is making yoga their own as they have found itsmeaning, we are doing nothing to safeguard this valuabletradition of ours. Instead our government has brought yogacentres under the service tax net," the globally acclaimedspiritual guru said during a special interaction with themedia at the Press Club here today.


Speaking on the theme ''From a stress-free mind to a scam-free nation,'' Ravishankar lauded the media for exposing huge scams that the country is beset with.Read More

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar features among inspiring world leaders in Argentina

Sri Sri has been credited for his immense contribution towards bringing inner harmony to the hearts and the minds of people through deep knowledge and breathing techniques.


Argentineans are now getting their dose of inspiration from our own Indian spirituality. The testimony of this fact can be seen from the report carried by the La Nacion, Argentina’s leading daily where spiritual leader, humanitarian and Art of Living founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has been featured amongst the inspirational personalities who have influenced lives of millions in varied spheres of life. Read More

Functions all over world on Art of Living 30th anniversary

Kumbakonam (TN), Jan 10 (PTI) Functions would be held all over the world in 2011 to celebrate the 30th year of the Art of Living (AOL), its founder Sri Sri Ravishankar said here today.
The functions include chanting of slokas by 21,000 persons at Sri Lanka on January 22 and 23 as per Buddhist principles, lectures on war and peace in Germany with support of that government and a ''Nadha Vaibhava'' function at Chennai, in which 5,500 people would participate, he told reporters here.
He was speaking after visiting Swaminathaswamy temple at Swamimalai and the Siva temple at Papanasam.
Sri Sri Ravishankar said he had recently been to Sri Lanka after the war between LTTE and Army and found Tamils are still to come to terms with losses suffered during the conflict.
A function would be held there to rehabilitate and instill self-confidence in them, he said.

Naadha Vaibhavam - Invitation from State President

Dear Ones,


Jai Gurudev


I am very happy to inform you that the Art of Living Foundation is celebrating its  30th Anniversary in Chennai by hosting ‘Naadha Vaibhavam’, an unique program to honour and showcase the rich Carnatic Music tradition. Over 5000 Carnatic Music singers will sing in unison on a single stage in the divine presence of Poojya Gurudev – His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.


The function will be held on 30th Jan’11 at 6 p.m. at Shriram The Gateway, Perungulathur, Chennai. Over 70,000 people are expected to attend.


On behalf of Vyakti Vikas Kendra, Tamil Nadu, we extend an invitation to you and your family and friends to be part of this historic event.


Looking forward to having you with us.


Jai Gurudev








AKHILA SRINIVASAN
STATE PRESIDENT
VYAKTI VIKAS KENDRA, TAMIL NADU
CHENNAI

Guruj's New Year Message