Center Information:

Getting Started

This country, surrounded by mountains and ocean and gazing the silent ice of Antarctica, is blessed with a fertile land and a variety of landscapes and climates.

In June 1996, H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had sent a member of the Lions Club from India to Argentina on the southern tip of South America, to introduce the Art of Living in this area.  At that time, no one in this remote country knew the Art of Living Foundation, nor Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

The first introductory talk was given to a group of friends of the Martinez Meijide, a family of well to do lawyers and parents of a future teacher Alejandro; soon after this talk the first small course took place in a suburb of the capital, Buenos Aires. Only a few participated but the seed was planted for what, not much later, would become Latin America’s fastest growing movement.

Several teachers with their personality, care, love and devotion contributed to this phenomenon in the Pampas, leaving their footprints in this modern society.

Sri Sri’s Visits

H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar chose the year 1998 for his first visit to Argentina.  His main public address was in Teatro San Martin, one of the most prestigious theaters of Buenos Aires - the theater was bursting with people.

Sri Sri asked Eng An, the 22 year-old Taiwanese born in Argentina, to teach in Buenos Aires. She was almost a kid, but extremely bright, intellectual and impulsive - graduated from a prestigious university. She made the Buenos Aires chapter take off with her dedication and perseverance. She traveled to Buenos Aires on a regular basis and formed a group of volunteers who opened their hearts and homes.

Sri Sri made his second trip to Argentina in 2001. At that time, there were barely 20 people managing the organization.  Nevertheless, lectures and meetings had a massive turn out. While making the contract with the owner of Teatro Gran Rex for 3500 people, the owner of the theater also decided to take the course. Many marvelous things like this happened. People would step off buses to write down information when they saw Sri Sri’s face on banners.

Sri Sri gave his first lecture in the prestigious CARI (Consejo Argentino de Relaciones Exteriores, Argentine Council on Foreign Relations). Again it was a complete success.

In 2004, Sri Sri visited Buenos Aires for the third time. This time, about 100 were involved in the organization. Under pressure, and with few resources, everybody worked like in a beehive - volunteers, families, everybody contributed and nature helped in the most unusual way.

A big media campaign was launched - 15 meter high posters decorated the main streets of the city.  A hall, with a capacity for 7000 people, was rented. Well known TV and radio stations started to call, and during 15 days, 5 telephone lines rang incessantly. Once Sri Sri gave his lecture, there was an overflow of interest from people of different walks of life - and more than 2000 emails were received in five days! Today, a few years later, people are still coming to the course from that visit.

During the 2004 visit, Sri Sri was awarded the rare title of “Illustrious Visitor” by Dr. Anibal Ibarra, Head of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires.  

In July 2006, Sri Sri visited Argentina for the fourth time. The country celebrated his presence and thousands received him wherever he was. He received a number of awards and nominations for the work the Art of Living is doing in bringing peace and harmony to society. The Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Alberto Iribarne, received Sri Sri and signed an agreement for AOL courses to be taught in federal prisons. The AOL prison programme has been taught in Argentina in provincial prisons for the past five years.

During the visit, Sri Sri addressed members of the National Senate, and was received by the Head of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, Dr. Jorge Tellerman, as well as by a number of other authorities.

A public lecture, held at the prestigious Grand Rex theater (the largest of the country), was the talk of the town. Over 3500 tickets were sold out a few days before the event.

Part of Sri Sri’s program consisted of teaching the first Spanish Advanced Course in Latin America. 700 people participated in the Advanced Course and people came from as far as Venezuela, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, Panamá, México and Costa Rica. Also part of the schedule was a 3-day workshop entitled "Health and Happiness" which drew over 1000 people who were new to AOL techniques.

Yet another talk was held at the Ambassador Hotel where 300 business leaders and opinion makers meditated with Sri Sri and listened about "Success without Stress". MP Jorge Canevaro from the city of La Plata handed Sri Sri a diploma by which the City Council named Sri Sri's visit of national interest.

To end the busy schedule on the final day, Sri Sri monitored an inter-religious meeting organized by the Secretariat of Culture, the Hebraica Foundation and AOL, at the country's largest and most respected synagogue. Sri Sri addressed over 1000 people, and was part of a panel with representatives from the Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist faiths.

The home of Beatriz and Ludovico turned AOL Center at El Salvador 5778. A sense of belongingness grew, with people from very different backgrounds, from the CEO of a big company to former prisoners, coming together.

During the following years, more than 4000 people took the course in Buenos Aires, and courses also took place in La Plata, Cordoba, Rosario and Bahia Blanca. In Rosario, thanks to the attorney Susana, courses became a must for lawyers, judges and professors, as well as prisoners.  The Secretary of the Supreme Court of Justice, the head of the prison system and many government officials are all part of the AOL group.

The Foundation started growing. Four courses a month… five courses a month… 8 courses a month - in two years, there were more than 10 instructors and 20 TTC I, 30 Breath Water Sound teachers and more than 200 people engaged in volunteer activities. Over 5000 people had taken the course in Buenos Aires.

The AOL center in El Salvador became too small, and the Conesa center was inaugurated - 650 square meters of halls for courses, satsangs, yoga, ayurveda, vegetarian cooking lessons, public meditations, meetings, offices etc. Already this center is too small and other locations are being searched for!

Prison Smart

Prison courses have been very successful. These rehabilitation courses have been taught in many prisons in Argentina, but especially in Unit Number 3 in the city of Rosario, where regular courses and weekly Sudarshan Kriya sessions take place. A number of men, fully rehabilitated, are now back to life and lead a peaceful life. Lawyers from AOL are helping inmates in many ways.  

YLTP

After the YLTP (a course which trains youth from underprivileged areas to become leaders), many youth participants have remained in close contact with AOL by coming to satsangs and living and working in the AOL center - leaving drugs and alcohol behind.

Success of AOL in Argentina

The AOL courses have become popular among journalists, with editors of leading newspapers and TV programs talking about the benefit of the technique. In the business community, some companies have dedicated time for employees, from secretaries to top level management, to practice Sudarshan Kriya.  A number of people, such as Viviana Cuevas and Adela Papier, have reported remission of cancer tumors and drastic improvements in their defence systems.  

Priests and members of the Catholic Church have undergone and recommend the AOL program. Important Jewish leader, Rabbi Sergio Bergam, from Templo lIbertad (the largest and most important synagogue in town), is not only practicing the Sudarshan Kriya but has sent his family and staff to undergo the courses.