Ravi Shankar (spiritual leader)

For other people named Ravi Shankar, see Ravi Shankar (disambiguation).
Ravi Shankar

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Born Ravishankar
(1956-05-13) 13 May 1956
Papanasam, Tamil Nadu, India
Nationality Indian
Titles/honours Sri Sri
Founder of Art of Living Foundation, International Association for Human Values,[1] World Forum for Ethics in Business[2]
Guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi[3][4]
Literary works Celebrating Silence, An Intimate Note to the Sincere Seeker, God Loves Fun, Ashtavakra Gita, Patanjali Yoga Sutras, etc.
Quotation My Vision is a violence free, stress free world.[5]

Ravi Shankar, commonly known as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, was born on 13 May 1956 in Tamil Nadu, India. He is also frequently referred to simply as "Sri Sri" (honorific) or as Guruji or Gurudev.[6] He is a spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Foundation created in 1981, which aims to relieve individual stress, societal problems, and violence.[7] In 1997, he established a Geneva-based charity, the International Association for Human Values, an NGO that engages in relief work and rural development and aims to foster shared global values.[8][9] For his service, he has received some of the highest awards of several countries including India, Peru, Colombia, Paraguay, etc. In January 2016, he was awarded the "Padma Vibhushan" by the Government of India.

Life

Ravi Shankar was born in Papanasam, Tamil Nadu to Visalakshi Ratnam and R. S. Venkat Ratnam. He was named "Ravi" (a common Indian name meaning "sun") because his birth was on a Sunday, and "Shankar" after the eighth-century Hindu saint, Adi Shankara, because it was also Shankara's birthday.[10] Ravi Shankar's first teacher was Sudhakar Chaturvedi, an Indian Vedic Scholar and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi.[11][12] He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Bangalore University[13] (St. Joseph's College[14]). After graduation, Shankar travelled with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi[15] giving talks and arranging conferences on Vedic science, and setting up meditation and Ayurveda centres.[16][17]

In the 1980s, Shankar initiated a series of practical and experiential courses in spirituality around the globe. He says that his rhythmic breathing practice, Sudarshan Kriya, came to him in 1982, "like a poem, an inspiration," after a ten-day period of silence on the banks of the Bhadra River in Shimoga, in the state of Karnataka, adding, "I learned it and started teaching it".[18]

Shankar says that every emotion has a corresponding rhythm in the breath and that regulating the breath can help elevate the individual and help relieve personal suffering.[19]

In 1983, Shankar held the first Art of Living course in Europe, in Switzerland. In 1986, he travelled to Apple Valley, California in the US to conduct the first course to be held in North America.[20][21]

Philosophy and teachings

Spirituality

Shankar teaches that spirituality is that which enhances human values such as love, compassion and enthusiasm. It is not limited to any one religion or culture. Hence it is open to all people. He feels the spiritual bond we share as part of the human family is more prominent than nationality, gender, religion, profession, or other identities that separate us.[22]

In Shankar's view, "Violence-free society, disease-free body, quiver-free breath, confusion-free mind, inhibition-free intellect, trauma-free memory, and sorrow-free soul is the birthright of every human being."[23]

According to him, science and spirituality are linked and compatible, both springing from the urge to know. The question, "Who am I?" leads to spirituality; the question, "What is this?" leads to science. Emphasizing that joy is only available in the present moment, his stated vision is to create a world free of stress and violence. His programs are said to offer practical tools to help accomplish this. He sees breath as the link between body and mind, and a tool to relax the mind, emphasising the importance of both meditation/spiritual practice and service to others. In his view, "Truth is spherical rather than linear; so it has to be contradictory."[24]

Sudarshan Kriya

Sudarshan Kriya (Sanskrit: सुदर्शन क्रिया sudarśana-kriyā) is a breathing-based technique[25] that is a core component of the Art of Living courses and "the cornerstone of . . . Art of Living Foundation's trauma relief programs".[25] It involves Ujjayi breathing and bhastrika in vajrasana followed by rhythmic breathing in sukhasana.[26]

A number of medical studies on its preparatory practices have been published in international peer-reviewed journals.[27] A range of mental and physical benefits are reported in these studies, including reduced levels of stress (reduced cortisol—the "stress" hormone), improved immune system, relief from anxiety and depression (mild, moderate, and severe),[28] increased antioxidant protection, and enhanced brain function (increased mental focus, calmness and recovery from stressful stimuli), among other findings.[29]

Peace and humanitarian work

He visited Pakistan in 2004 on a "goodwill mission"[30] and again in 2012 when he inaugurated Art of Living centers in Islamabad and Karachi.[31] The Islamabad centre was burned down by armed men in March 2014.[32][33]

During his visits to Iraq, at the invitation of Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki, in 2007[34] and again in 2008,[35] he met with political and religious leaders to promote global peace. In November 2014, Ravi Shankar visited the relief camps in Erbil, Iraq. He also hosted a conference to address the dire condition of Yazidis and other non-Muslims in the region.[36][37]

Ravi Shankar is involved in interfaith dialogue and currently sits on the Board of World Religious Leaders for the Elijah Interfaith Institute.[38] Through interfaith summits in 2008 and 2010, he has been engaging faith-based leaders for collective action against HIV.[39] In July 2013 at a meeting in UNAIDS headquarters in Geneva, issues including HIV prevention, gender based violence, stigma and discrimination were discussed.[40]

In 2003, he initiated the Ethics in Business - Corporate Culture & Spirituality dialogue with an aim of strengthening human values and ethics in business. This evolved later on in the formation of the World Forum for Ethics in Business which convenes international conferences on ethics.[41][42][43] World Summit on Ethics in Sports, a one-day event held in September 2014 at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, focused on "morality and openness" in sports.[43]

In 1992, he started a prison programme[44] to rehabilitate prison inmates and help them reintegrate into society.[45] His volunteers assisted the 2004 tsunami victims, Hurricane Katrina victims, in Haiti, and many other regions of conflict and natural disaster.[46]

Ravi Shankar "brokered" the peace deal between the Colombian government and the guerrilla movement FARC during his visit to Cuba in June 2015. The FARC agreed to follow the Gandhian principle of non-violence to attain its political objectives & social justice.[47][48]

Social initiatives

Volunteer For a Better India

VFABI is involved in many activities, including protest against the 2012 Delhi gang rape case,[49] free health camps,[50] and voter awareness and registrations in India.[51][52][53]

"NONVIO" Movement

NONVIO was launched as a nationwide movement by Shankar's foundation in March 2013 with the aim of eliminating violence. It encourages individuals to pledge one act of non-violence through different social and online media[54] and adopt nonviolent principles in government, public health, and media.[55]

He was involved in the movement demanding a strong lokpal bill[56] and was also one of the founders of the "India Against Corruption" movement.[57]

Awards and recognition

In 2009, Shankar was named by Forbes Magazine as the fifth most powerful leader in India.[77]

Criticism

In 2012, Ravi Shankar, while attending a function in Jaipur, claimed that some Indian government schools are breeding grounds for Naxalism, a movement of militant communist groups in India declared to be terrorist organisations. "All government schools and colleges should be privatised. The government should not run any school. It's often found that children from government schools get into Naxalism and violence. Children from private schools don't get into this," he was quoted as saying by media reports. Later, Shankar issued a clarification that he didn't mean that all government schools breed Naxalism. More clarification followed on his Twitter account: "I specifically referred to sick government schools in Naxal affected areas. Many who have turned to Naxalism have come from these schools. I did not say all Govt schools (where lakhs study) breed Naxalism. Great talents have emerged from these schools & I would never generalize."[78][79]

Books

Ravi Shankar has authored the following books:

Notes

  1. ↑ "Sri Sri Ravishankar: Founder". International Association for Human Values. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  2. ↑ "Founders - World Forum for Ethics in Business". World Forum for Ethics in Business. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  3. ↑ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maharishi-Mahesh-Yogi-cremated-in-Allahabad/articleshow/2774934.cms
  4. ↑ http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mahesh-yogi-cremated-with-state-honours/article1-275051.aspx
  5. ↑ The header note of the website
  6. ↑ A. Salkin, Emperor of Air, Yoga Journal, 2002.
  7. ↑ "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar". The Huffington Post.
  8. ↑ "The International Association for Human Values (IAHV)".
  9. ↑ "IAHV Peacebuilding".
  10. ↑ "Seeking Bliss Among the Honks and Hisses". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). April 11, 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the Art of Spreading Awareness Over the World". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  12. ↑ "Pandit gifted wheelchair on birthday". The Times of India (Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd). The Times of India. Mar 15, 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  13. ↑ "Scan of Degree Certificate".
  14. ↑ Distinguished Alumni of St.Joseph's College
  15. ↑ "Maharishi Mahesh Yogi cremated in Allahabad – The Times of India". The Times of India.
  16. ↑ Gautier, Francois. The Guru of Joy. New York: Hay House, 2008. p. 36.
  17. ↑ Fischman, Michael (2010). Stumbling into Infinity: An Ordinary Man in the Sphere of Enlightenment. Morgan James Publishing. ISBN 978-1-60037-648-1.
  18. ↑ Mahadevan, Ashok (February 2007). "Face to face". Reader's Digest. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  19. ↑ MacGregor, Hillary E (31 October 2004). "Breathe deeply to relieve stress, depression". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  20. ↑ "Art of living founder Ravi Shankar - First Indian to receive the Crans Montana Forum Award". 29 June 2011.
  21. ↑ History. artofliving.eu. Retrieved on 7 September 2011.
  22. ↑ Shankar, Sri Sri Ravi. Bang on the Door. Santa Barbara, CA: Art of Living Foundation. 1995. ISBN 1-885289-31-6
  23. ↑ "Wisdom Is The Best Shock Absorber". Artofliving.org. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  24. ↑ Washington Post interview. Washingtonpost.com (5 July 2007). Retrieved on 7 September 2011.
  25. 1 2 Sudarshan Kriya page on Art of Living Foundation's website. Srisri.org. Retrieved on 7 September 2011.
  26. ↑ "Sudarshan Kriya, a stress buster". The Times of India. 9 September 2003.
  27. ↑ List of Art of Living research articles published in international peer reviewed journals Aolresearch.org.
  28. ↑ Janakiramaiah, N; Gangadhar, BN; Naga Venkatesha Murthy, PJ; Harish, MG; Subbakrishna, DK; Vedamurthachar, A (2000). "Antidepressant efficacy of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) in melancholia: A randomized comparison with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and imipramine". Journal of Affective Disorders 57 (1–3): 255–9. doi:10.1016/s0165-0327(99)00079-8. PMID 10708840.
  29. ↑ Gautier, Francois. The Guru of Joy. New York: Hay House, 2008. p. 155-164.
  30. ↑ 'There's dignity of religion in Pakistan', The Times of India
  31. ↑ "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar tells Lahore about his 'Art of Living'". The Express Tribune News Network. March 12, 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  32. ↑ "Police Investigating If Yoga Center Was Targeted Due To Links To India And Founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.". Newsweek (AG Publications). Newsweek. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  33. ↑ "Did Pakistan TV Debate Prompt Burning of Yoga Center?". NBC News. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  34. ↑ Art of Living guru in Iraq to talk peace. Ibnlive.com. Retrieved on 7 September 2011.
  35. ↑ "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar visits Iraq". Rediff.com. December 22, 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  36. ↑ "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Spiritual Leader And Activist, Travels To Iraq To Promote Yazidi Rights". Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  37. ↑ "Indian spiritual leader steps up relief work for refugees in northern Iraq". Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  38. ↑ "Leaders of Religions of India". Elijah Interfaith Institute. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  39. ↑ "Spiritual healing for HIV-infected in Bangalore". DNA. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  40. ↑ "Science, spirituality and health in the AIDS response". UNAIDS. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  41. ↑ "International Leadership Symposium on Ethics in Business begins on July 1 in Geneva". Bennett Coleman & Co. Bennett Coleman & Co. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  42. ↑ "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar". Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  43. 1 2 "FIFA and ethics: It's not an oxymoron". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  44. ↑ Walker, Andrew (24 December 2008). "South African prisoners embrace yoga". BBC News.
  45. ↑ "Pravin Mahajan 'n D's brother sing together". The Indian Express. 30 April 2007.
  46. ↑ Nouvelle Vie Haiti Youth Corps Haiti Program
  47. ↑ "WORDS FROM THE PEACE DELEGATION OF THE FARC-EP TO SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR". Official website of the Peace Delegation of the FARC-EP (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army). Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  48. ↑ "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar helps to bring peace to Colombia". Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Times of India. July 10, 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  49. ↑ "Mumbaikars hold public vigils to condemn Delhi horror; seek security for citizens, not VIPs – The Times of India". The Times of India.
  50. ↑ "Free health camps for slum dwellers by Art of Living". Business Standard. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  51. ↑ "Foundation urges citizens to vote". The Times of India. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  52. ↑ "NGO volunteers enrol 35,000 people in voters' list". Sakal Times. 1 November 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  53. ↑ "YCCE Supports "I Vote For Better India" Campaign". Nagpur Today. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  54. ↑ "No Higher Calling: His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Challenges The World To Commit One Billion Acts of Non-Violence". Los Angeles Magazine. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  55. ↑ "Nonviolence brings about change". Los Angeles County. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  56. ↑ "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in UP on anti-graft drive". DNA. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  57. ↑ "IAC founder Sri Sri says asked for BJP's help on Jan Lokpal". The Indian Express. 9 October 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  58. ↑ "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar conferred with Peru's highest award 'Grand Officer'". DNA. July 1, 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  59. ↑ "Sri Sri Conferred With Colombia's Highest Civilian Award". Outlook. June 25, 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  60. ↑ "Spiritual Leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Conferred With Colombia's Highest Civilian Award". NDTV Convergence Limited 2015. Press Trust of India. June 25, 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  61. ↑ "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to Speak at Morehouse's Martin Luther King International Chapel". Atlanta Daily World. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  62. 1 2 "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar gets Paraguay's highest civilian award". The Economic Times. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  63. ↑ http://www.lanacion.com.py/articulo/89279-condecoraran-al-dr-sri-sri-ravi-shankar.html|accessdate=22 March 2013
  64. 1 2 "Sri Sri gets Paraguays Highest Civilian Award". The Times of India. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  65. ↑ "Projeto de Resoluусo". Alerjln1.alerj.rj.gov.br. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  66. ↑ "Sivananda Peace Pillar presented to Ravi Shankar". BLOG of www.sivanandapeacepillars.com. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  67. ↑ Recipients list
  68. ↑ "Ravi Shankar 1st Indian to get Crans Montana award". The Indian Express. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  69. ↑ "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar conferred award by German organisation". Deccan Herald. 11 October 2009.
  70. 1 2 "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar honoured by three US cities". DNA India.
  71. ↑ "Sri Sri teaches Art of Living to New Jersey". rediff.com.
  72. ↑ "Give me your worries". The Times of India. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  73. ↑ "Mongolia's top civilian honour for Sri Sri Ravishankar". Rediff.com. 24 August 2006.
  74. ↑ "Of oneness, spirituality and unity". Times of India. 21 April 2005.
  75. ↑ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar receives Honorary Doctorate from Nyenrode Business Universiteit
  76. ↑ "Gyan Vihar convocation". Gyan Vihar University.
  77. ↑ Editor's Picks: The Seven Most Powerful People In India – No. 5: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Forbes.com (9 November 2009). Retrieved on 21 March 2013.
  78. ↑ "Ravishankar courts controversy on remarks on govt schools". The Economic Times. 21 March 2012.
  79. ↑ "Didn't say all govt schools breed Naxalism: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar". NDTV.

References

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