On Tour with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar  

Offering solace in riot-stricken areas, Assam, India, Aug. 8-9, 2012

Sri Sri was toured the riot-hit districts of Chirang and Kokrajhar in Assam last week. If a youngster was doing his best to make “Guruji” hear the woes of the Busugoan Higher Secondary School relief camp in Chirang district, a 60-year old man was angrily recounting how they came running away from death on that fateful day. “With God’s grace, things would be back to normal soon,” was his reassurance. “Insha Allah,” said the old man.

The energy became contagious as he visited two more Bodo camps. Despite the trauma, only love and faith were palpable among the inmates.  They scrambled to touch his feet and seek his blessings. They cried, they shared their insecurity, they narrated their despair not with remorse, but with the belief that he has come to take them away. He mingled with them, placing a hand of reassurance on their head. Many inmates shared their helplessness with tears in the eyes. Many regretted how long-standing harmony among different communities has been destroyed by the current riot. He reassured them that the Art of Living will work for rebuilding the trust. He listened to their individual sufferings and handed over the items he has brought for them all way from Bangalore.

He reached out to victims taking shelter at the Kajalgoan Higher Secondary school camp in Chirang. Sri Sri personally ensured every child-bearing mother gets her supply of baby-food. He even directed one of the volunteers to hand over a packet to a lady who was shyly sitting in a corner with her baby on her arms. The same intensity of concern and care reigned as he personally distributed clothes and other items to as many inmates he could at the Vidyapeeth High School in Kokrajhar.

Sri Sri effortlessly got both the sides to see reasons and talk in conciliatory tones. With the representatives of Bodoorganisations he discussed ways and means of ending the conflict and finding a long-term solution to the problems of Bodoland without communalising it. And to the representatives of All Bodoland Minority Students Union (ABMSU), his advice was of working for harmonious and peaceful co-existence of all the communities in the Bodoland.

June 15

Sri Sri's address at the 'World Forum for Ethics in Business, Amstelveen, Netherlands

Diversity is not a threat instead it should be celebrated

At the dinner table at home, we all sit with our children and teach them good things. But when it comes to business, actions of greediness and selfishness are explained away so easily with phrases like, ‘It is only business, don’t take it personally.’ Read more

Honorary Doctorate address by Sri Sri

Happiness has nothing to do with the prosperity

You once said the body is in the mind, not the other way around. Please explain what you mean by this....Read more

Read the press release from Nyenrode Business University, Netherlands

Meditation makes you lucky

10 June

You don’t have to choose a Guru. The Guru Tattva is present in every good thing you learn in life, and wherever you learn it from. In each phase of life, the presence of a Guru will be there. Read more

Great strength comes to you when you sacrifice

05 June

If a person has nothing to sacrifice, and says that I have sacrificed everything - that too is not correct. Despite having everything and fulfilling all duties and responsibilities, a person should have the sense of sacrifice in his mind (Tyaag Buddhi). That is the best. Read more (Watch Video)

Very strange are the ways of Karma

04 June

How many of you have had this experience that without doing any harm to anybody, or anything wrong still people became your enemies. (Many raise their hands) So many! And now tell me, you have not done any big favors and still some people have become your friends. Read more (Watch Video)

Three kinds of Devotees

01 June 

A joyful devotee, who gets lost in fun only, somewhere or the other, he is not able to attain depth and depth is also needed. Read more (Watch Video)

Sri Sri was a speaker at the IV Congress of the Leaders of the World & Traditional Religions. This was Sri Sri's first visit to Kazakhstan. 

Mr Nurlan Iskakov, Hon'ble minister of Environment, Govt of Kazakhstan met Sri Sri

Sri Sri also interacted with the public at an evening of spiritualism, music and meditation held at the Raddison Hotel in Astana.

During this week, over 5 000 people and 1 500 chidren and teenagers, registered for a variety of Art of Living courses in the presence of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

May 27

A goal is needed in life

My message for the students who have not passed in their exams is that it is not a big thing. Life itself is a learning process, an art. In every stage of life, we learn lessons through success as well as failure. Don't lose your enthusiasm and keep moving ahead. Read more

May 25

Consider your life as sadhana

The sign, by which you identify both the male and female forms, combining them both to form one single symbol to identify the Lord who has no form or identity, who is all pervading in this entire Brahmanda (Creation), is Shiva Lingam. Read more

May 24

Faith is the petrol in the vehicle of life

Sorrow disappears as one progresses on the path of knowledge. The benefit of yoga and meditation is that it removes sorrow from your life. Then you realize the truth, that life is joy and you were unnecessarily worried. Read more

May 23

Enlightenment is present in you as a seed

What we need to understand is that we should know that we already have what we want in life. You start with this intention, ‘I already have what I want’, then what you want will fructify easily. Thinking, ‘I have it’, is like sowing a seed. Read more 

May 22 

Longing is the sign of the ripening of consciousness

Recent research says that we should take more of raw food, raw vegetables, fruits and juices. 80% of our food should be raw and 20% should be cooked. Several people who had brain tumor, cancer, have gotten cured just by having raw food and sun gazing. Read more

May 17

Knowledge turns every nightmare into a sweet dream

Everything that you have – power, beauty, money, appearance, voice, they are all meant to be put to good use, for the service of others. Then, you find life will be so fulfilling. Read more

May 16

Inside a bad person there is a good person hiding

We are in an age of technology. Technology has shrunk the globe into a village. We are in a global village. I would want to see it as a Global Family. This is my dream, to see the world as a One World Family. Read more

May 13 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's 56th Birthday Celebrations

Today’s message is that everyone one of you is a leader. You lead somebody somewhere. Either lead them on the right path or lead them astray. This is for sure that everyone is a leader. And if you have to lead everyone in the right path your life needs to be very pure, spotless. . . Read more

May 11

Devotion is like a diamond

Devotion is a gift, you can’t take mileage out of it, and you shouldn’t. If you take, then that is the way we start slipping out of mediation and out of devotion. Feel grateful for being devoted. Be like a child and let go . . .  Read more

May 10

A criticism should go with compassion and care

Love is something that you can never get rid of. It is your nature. Either it presents itself in its pure form or it presents itself in a distorted form. Either there is pure love, or pure love gets expressed in a distorted form. What are the distortions of love? . . . Read more

May 09

Being useful is the purpose of your life

In life there are two situations: One is when you are comfortable and happy. Another situation is when you are upset and unhappy. So what is needed to maintain this comfort and happiness is a willingness to do service. . . Read more

May 08

You don't need to learn anything

In ancient times, the Kings used to support those who would sit in Samadhi. Their job was to just sit in Samadhi for a few hours every day and create those beautiful vibrations all around. They were called Purohits – those who do good things, beneficial things for the society, for the town. They would chant everyday and sit in Samadhi and create an atmosphere of vibrant positivity. . .  Read more

May 07

Faith comes to play only at time of crisis

This whole creation is made up of one energy. Everything is made up of just one thing. Whenever anything bothers you, if you come back to this one principle - there is only one energy which everything is made up of, so there are a lot of possibilities; that brings great relief . . .   Read more

Buddha Purnima

Today is Buddha Purnima, the day Buddha was born. He got Enlightened, he attained Nirvana and he died also on the same day.

Read more as Sri Sri shares insights into the life of the Buddha

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar visits Ukraine for the first time

3 May

Sri Sri visits Orthodox shrines in Kiev

Sri Sri visited Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra and St. Vladimir's Cathedral. In the Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra, Sri Sri was warmly welcomed by Abbot Hilarion. He showed the various shrines and shared the history going back one thousand years . Abbot took with special interest Guruji’s invitation to come to India, as he studied a variety of philosophical schools of the world. Sri Sri and Abbot Hilarion talked on the best Russian-language edition of Indian philosophy and religion - "Indian philosophy", written by the President of India Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

The first official person who met Sri Sri in Kiev was the deputy of the Verkhovnaya Rada of Ukraine Ivan Zyatc, he welcomed the international guests in Ukraine. During the meeting, deputy noted that human values, which are being revived by Sri Sri are very important both for Ukraine and for the whole world.

In the Vladimir Cathedral, Sri Sri met Boris the Abbe - rector of the Cathedral. Abbe heads the main church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kiev’s Patriarchate.  Abbe Boris met Sri Sri with the words: "It is a great honor to welcome the representative of such ancient culture as India. Not only for Ukraine but for all states of the former Soviet Union, Indian culture is particularly valuable. Back in 60s, 70s every educated person knew and appreciated the culture of India with its dance and music, thanks to an amazing masterpiece of Indian cinema. Ukrainian and Indian culture remarkably similar in spirit. You, as a representative of an ancient culture, of course, have something to share with us". In parting, Abbe Boris warmly embraced and presented Sri Sri with a rare icon and said: "This meeting will remain forever in my heart. I wish you success in whatever you do. You do goodness to people - this is especially important for the modern world."

4 May

Tree planting, Spiritual values in politics and Charge yourself with action

Sri Sri together with volunteers in the Kiev botanical garden, planted the "Pink Magnolia" tree - a symbol of purity, nobility and perseverance. A total of 20 trees were planted. Sri Sri, then interacted with journalists and answered several important questions concerning the ecology of Ukraine and the world: "There are 3 important things we should do: stop pollution of air, of water and of earth. We should switch to organic farming and plant more trees."

In the Chamber of Commerce of Ukraine Sri Sri lead a seminar "Yoga for Health and Happiness." Sri Sri taught more than 800 people the basics of yoga, unique breathing techniques, as well as how the sounds and songs affect on our mind and intellect.

Sri Sri participated in a round table discussion on "Spiritual values in politics, business and charity" with progressive Ukrainian politicians, businessmen, sportsmen and artists. Immediately after the round table discussion he joined a press conference.

In the evening more than 1 500 people gathered for an open conversation with Sri Sri entitled “Charge yourself with action”. All present had the opportunity to ask Sri Sri questions and learn the secrets of happy living. Sri Sri conducted a meditation and the 1500 people in the Chamber of Commerce of Ukraine in the very center of Kiev was in absolute silence.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar visits Ukraine for the first time, May 3-4

Sri Sri visited Kievo-PecherskayaLavra and St. Vladimir's Cathedral. In the Kievo-PecherskayaLavra, Sri Sri was warmly welcomed by Abbot Hilarion. He showed the various shrines and shared the history going back one thousand years. Abbot took with special interest Guruji’s invitation to come to India. Sri Sri and Abbot Hilarion talked on the best Russian-language edition of Indian philosophy and religion - "Indian philosophy", written by the President of India SarvepalliRadhakrishnan.

The first official person who met Sri Sri in Kiev was the deputy of the VerkhovnayaRada of Ukraine Ivan Zyatc. During the meeting, the deputy noted that human values, which are being revived by Sri Sri are very important both for Ukraine and for the whole world.

In the Vladimir Cathedral, Sri Sri met Boris the Abbe - rector of the Cathedral. Abbe heads the main church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kiev’s Patriarchate.  Abbe Boris met Sri Sri with the words: "It is a great honor to welcome the representative of such ancient culture as India. Not only for Ukraine but for all states of the former Soviet Union, Indian culture is particularly valuable. Back in 60s, 70s every educated person knew and appreciated the culture of India with its dance and music, thanks to an amazing masterpiece of Indian cinema. Ukrainian and Indian culture remarkably similar in spirit. You, as a representative of an ancient culture, of course, have something to share with us".

In parting, Abbe Boris warmly embraced and presented Sri Sri with a rare icon and said: "This meeting will remain forever in my heart. I wish you success in whatever you do. You do goodness to people - this is especially important for the modern world."

Sri Sri together with volunteers in the Kiev botanical garden, planted the "Pink Magnolia" tree - a symbol of purity, nobility and perseverance. A total of 20 trees were planted. Sri Sri, then interacted with journalists and answered several important questions concerning the ecology of Ukraine and the world: "There are 3 important things we should do: stop pollution of air, of water and of earth. We should switch to organic farming and plant more trees."

In the Chamber of Commerce of Ukraine Sri Sri lead a seminar "Yoga for Health and Happiness." Sri Sri taught more than 800 people the basics of yoga, unique breathing techniques, as well as how the sounds and songs affect on our mind and intellect.

Sri Sri participated in a round table discussion on "Spiritual values in politics, business and charity" with progressive Ukrainian politicians, businessmen, sportsmen and artists. Immediately after the round table discussion he joined a press conference.

In the evening more than 1 500 people gathered for an open conversation with Sri Sri entitled “Charge yourself with action”. All present had the opportunity to interact with Sri Sri and participated in a meditation.