10 February 2012 BANGALORE —“Smile, don’t stress, see the world through a wider perspective and above all, have compassion. One of the world’s most admired and followed spiritual leaders, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s recipe for a happier world that is more in harmony with each other, is simple and eminently implementable.
A gathering of some 600 women from 55 countries listened in rapt attention as Sri Sri and his sister, Bhanumathi Narasimhan, a much admired meditation teacher who also heads the women and child welfare programmes of the centre, spoke about life, love, harmony, technology and everything in between, at the Art of Living’s world headquarters at Bangalore, India, last week.
It was an extraordinary event in itself — how often can you expect to see leaders from Iraq, Iran, Palestine and a clutch of African and Middle Eastern countries share the same dais for an exchange of ideas? And yet, there they were, dressed in their traditional best, putting their best foot forward, mingling with each other, laughing, back-slapping and sharing their stories, as only women can do. The occasion was a seemingly rather serious event— an international conference on Women and Technology — but the women rendered it an infinitely joyous event with a human face, discussing the way technology touched their lives, sometimes for the better and sometimes, sadly, for the worse.
“As creators and users of technology, women have been greatly empowered. However, we should not forget the mind that created this technology. We are used to charging our phones, laptops etc. What can we do to recharge ourselves? For a human mind to be more effective, it needs to be charged through meditation. A technologically sound woman has a mind that is not lost to machines, but uses them effectively on her path towards her goal. A spiritually sound woman has a say over her mind in all matters ….,” Bhanumathi Didi , as she is affectionately called by her followers said. Read More
BANGALORE, INDIA: Egypt's first woman Presidential candidate. A pioneer in Indian television programming. Anna Hazare's media strategist. A gorgeous film-maker from Jordan.
What could be in common among them?
Apart from the fact that they are of the fairer sex, they have faced several hardships – personal and professional – had determined to break the glass ceiling and are striving to pass on their knowledge to fellow women.
And it is just the tip of the intriguing iceberg.
Bothaina Kamel used to be a television anchor, later turning into a human rights activist, before filing nomination for Presidential candidacy in the erstwhile strife-ridden Egypt.
At the International Women's Conference here on Saturday, she was on the panel discussing Women & Technology – Women & the Social Media, in particular. She narrated how a journalist friend of her was detained by the Hosni Mubarak government in 2008 and how social media came to her friend's rescue.
BANGALORE: She rose against dictatorship and climbed the ladder of democracy to live in a free world. Shireen Ibrahim Fattah, representative of the Kurdish government, Iraq, believes a free world makes for a conducive learning environment, especially for women. She enlists the pros of a democratic world during her recent visit to the Art of Living campus in Bangalore to address delegates at the Women and Technology meet. Excerpts from an interview:
What does it mean to be free from a dictatorial regime?
I have to tell my story to answer this question. My father was in prison for eight years because of the dictatorial regime, as a result of which my entire family suffered. I have seven brothers; they supported me for my education and that is how I am what I am today. To be free is very important so that everybody can get education. Read More
Bangalore: Sri Sri Ravishankar's Art Of Living Ashram looked like a conglomerate of foreign embassies on Friday as representatives from over 55 countries had assembled there to exchange their ideas and experience in various fields at the International Women's Conference.
The discussion eventually boiled down to spiritual approach to the subject since the conference was held at the Ashram.
Sri Sri Ravishankar who inaugurated the session along with other dignitaries laid stress on the conventional approach which the society has towards women Read More
"Trade, Tradition, Truth and Technology need revival and updating," said The Art of Living Founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at the 5th International Women's Conference hosted at the Art of Living International Center.
Titled 'Women and Technology', this three-day conference seeks to understand the role of spirituality in a technologically-driven world. "Spirituality can be called the inner technology. It does not negate technology but it complements it," shared Sri Sri with a 500-strong audience from 55 countries.
The three-day conference is an extension of The Art of Living's women empowerment projects and is a platform for women to come together and create a stronger social transformation. Read More
Women dignitaries from around the world came together on Friday for the fifth International Women’s Conference held at the Art of Living International Centre in the City. The three-day conference focuses on the impact of technology on women and society and the connection (if any) between spirituality and technology. The inaugural programme was presided over by Sri Sri Ravishankar. “It is wise to keep quiet when women are in power,” he joked as he began. “Technology is meant to connect people. But it causes more problems than anything else. There are many health hazards, people spend their lives before a computer without proper sleep, exercise, nutrition or meditation. There's no getting away from it either, we need to find a balance,” the Art of Living founder said.
5th global women’s meet takes off at AoL | Deccan Chronicle
