Addressing Women Leaders, Bangalore, India, Feb. 3-5

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar addressed the 5th International Women’s Conference, titled ‘Women and Technology ‘ hosted at the Art of Living International Center.Women leaders from all walks of life came together to deliberate on the role of technology in women empowerment at the 5th International Women’s Conference at the Art of Living International Center

 The 3-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.

The inaugural ceremony was presided by Art of Living founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Chairperson IWC, Smt. BhanumathiNarasimhan. Hon’bleLulamaXingwana, Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Republic of South Africa; Hon’bleRonitTirosh, Member of Parliament, Israel; Ms. Shiren Ibrahim Fattah, Representative, Kurdish Government, Iraq; Hon’bleShirinSharminChaudhury, State Minister of Women and Children Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; and Ms. OrnaSagiv, HonourableCounsul General of Israel, Israel Consulate, Mumbai were some of the women leaders at the session.

World Economic Fourm, Davos, Switzerland. 25 January 2012

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar spoke at the World Economic Forum on 'Unconventional Leadership" "Leadership: Art or Science? "Both!" he shared, "Science as it requires planning and reasoning, and Art, as leadership is all about the heart."

Inspiring people from diverse walks of life, Poland, July 19-22  

Over the four-day visit to Poland, Sri Sri interacted with people from diverse walks of life.

While spending time with youth over the Yes Plus course and the Youth Festival, Sri Sri encouraged them to take responsibility for society and build a stress-free world. 

Sri Sri also took time out to meet the residents of PiotrkówTrybunalskich, a small town, an hour’s drive from Warsaw. Sri Sri spent time with the residents, healing and blessing, reducing people’s pains and ailments. Most of the people said immediately and spontaneously their pains were gone completely, and everyone said there was a big improvement.

At the International Youth Festival in Taraska, many NGO’s gathered again to finalise their plans to work together on ecological projects together. Sri Sri joined them in the afternoon for a short while – to share some knowledge to help them in their endeavors. One of the organizers shared: “Speaking with Sri Sri has inspired us, given us a great impetus to further develop service projects in Poland – programs like Non-Aggression Program (‘NAP’) dealing with aggression among young people.  

Groups of people from different parts of Europe, (especially small batches from the Baltic republics – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) had traveled to Poland to meet Sri Sri. He intensively interacted with them. 

Remembering Swami Vivekananda, on his 150th Birth Anniversary, Kolkata, India, Jan 7-9, 

Sri Sri, drove down to Swami Vivekananda's house, for his 150th birth anniversary celebrations. He also inaugurated a walk, at the Scottish Church College, to commemorate the event.

He was invited to the event 'Intalgio,' of the Indian Institute of Management, in Joka,where he addressed the students and the faculty, emphasizing the importance of innovating management, to address local needs. Sri Sri's wit, wisdomand creativity, was applauded by everyone present.

Sri Sri visited the Drug de-Addiction centre, run by VedVignanMahaVidyaPeeth, an Art of Living initiation, he met, and blessed the residents who are currently undergoing therapy.

Sri Sri's visit was culminated by a ‘Mahasatsang,’ which saw a huge mass of people, celebrating joy, and love, at the ground in Howrah. The event was attended by Islamic leaders and Swamis from the Ramakrishna Mission.