Giving Youth a Vision of a Peaceful World

9th of Mar 2009
Bad Antogast, Brandenburg, Germany

“It is up to us to create a time without wars,” said H.H.Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar when speaking with 122 youth at a special Q&A session at the Art of Living Ashram in Germany.

Amidst the continuous snowfall, was the warmth of laughter, and cheer as these youth, from 31 countries, had a heart-to-heart chat with H.H.Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. When asked about leadership, H.H.Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said: “A leader has 12 qualities

  • sets an example
  • cares for those who follow him
  • a good leader creates leaders
  • does not depend on authority
  • does not worry about position
  • alert, and undisturbed by challenges
  • stretches himself beyond comfort zone
  • does not mix head, and heart
  • is multidimensional, appreciates other point of views
  • evaluates both sides of the situation before a decision
  • directly approachable
  • does not judge himself.”

This session is part of the ongoing Yes! We can workshop which envisions the creation of a peaceful society.

H.H.Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar encouraged the group to lead society, citing the challenges of modern living: “In Europe 28 percent of the population are under depression. More and more people are becoming unhappy day by day. We have to change this.”