South Africa
    Continent
    Africa
    Asia
    Europe
    North America
    Oceania
    South America
Home | Events |  Search|  Contacts | Newsroom | Store | Global
Home › Projects › Peace

Bogotá Meditates

On 09 August 2012, the Art of Living volunteers in Colombia made history and gathered 4000 people to meditate, in an event called Bogotá Meditates. This massive meditation took place in Plaza la Santamaría, the old bullfighting ring where just a few of months ago, animals where sacrificed.

Music, yoga, breathing technics and meditation where some of the activities planned for this magical evening. The rain and the sun where equally protagonists, intercalating through out the event, but the weather was not an impediment for assistants to enjoy a very deep meditation, guided by Teacher Training Course teacher Rakesh Kokkeril.

The forty participants from the teachers training course, replicated a yoga performance routine from the World Culture Festival, creating a magical atmosphere in the plaza that passed on to the crowed. Fabulous musicians as Hector Buitrago and Natalia Bedoya, as well as the Art of Living Satsang Band, brought joy and celebration to the assistants who were in bliss by the end of the event.

Among the assistants were Bogota’s deputies: Maria Victoria Vargas, Venuz Albeiro Silva, Diego Garcia and a representative from the mayor’s office: Luis Hernando Otalvaro. These important personalities decided to take initiative in organizing Art of Living Courses in Colombia.
 
 

Videos

 
 

Testimonials

 
M.,
age 26
“I had decided to go back to my anti-depressants before this (The Art of Living) course, but now I don’t need them. I will practice these techniques every single day for the rest of my life. I only hope other people are lucky enough to take this course. It has given me more help than I could have ever imagined possible. Thank you.”
Course participant

“I’ve been suffering from a loss of concentration, weak memory and extreme anger. Now I feel as if something heavy has been lifted from my back.”
Course Participant

“I found that this training of breathing is so useful and its benefit shows when I do it. I feel that my heart is stronger and younger. When I can’t sleep I just do the breathing and I feel energy in all parts of my body.”
Dr. Venus

“I feel peace with myself and have less stress. I think if I continue with the practice, this feeling of peace will continue to grow.”
M. Ali Bankat

"Before this experience, I was sad, depressed and starting to lose hope because of the situation here in Iraq. Now, after only four days, I feel confident in myself – happier, have hopes and dreams again and I feel that life is so beautiful. I have started to love everyone and physically I have much more energy and am able to do more things. I want to thank you very much for helping all of us feel better.”
 

Focus