Guruji, at one time you were associated with the TM movement and then the Art of Living started around the 80s. Why did you feel the need to start the Art of Living?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, TM (Transcendental Meditation) also teaches meditation and they talk about world peace, no doubt!
I was in my teenage when I was giving many lectures there. So, when I was 24 I started Art of Living.
Art of Living is more universal, it is based on the breath and the philosophy is very different from TM’s in some sense.
Of course we have Sahaj Samadi meditation which is very similar to TM.
But the Art of Living is different because we do a lot of social work which TM is not engaged in. We are more engaged in social service activities. And then the music and culture is also different. TM was more towards scientific research.
And this does not contradict any technique or any way of life because Art of Living is like water, whichever bowl you pour it in, it takes that shape.
So it is easily adoptable for any form of meditation.
I was in my teenage when I was giving many lectures there. So, when I was 24 I started Art of Living.
Art of Living is more universal, it is based on the breath and the philosophy is very different from TM’s in some sense.
Of course we have Sahaj Samadi meditation which is very similar to TM.
But the Art of Living is different because we do a lot of social work which TM is not engaged in. We are more engaged in social service activities. And then the music and culture is also different. TM was more towards scientific research.
And this does not contradict any technique or any way of life because Art of Living is like water, whichever bowl you pour it in, it takes that shape.
So it is easily adoptable for any form of meditation.