Vision: Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's vision of a violence-free, stress-free society has expressed itself in numerous service initiatives that have inspired volunteers worldwide to carry these forward with his guidance.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of The Art of Living Foundation, inspires thousands of people across the world. He plays many roles for many people – as a humanitarian ambassador, spiritual leader or a meditation teacher, as well as a peace advocate.

For over three decades, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has been engaged in:

• Promoting human values
• Fostering interfaith harmony
• Building communal unity
• Encouraging social responsibility
• Spearheading humanitarian causes

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has designed special programs that teach effective and practical techniques for emotional and physical wellbeing. He has rekindled the traditions of yoga and meditation and offered them in a form that is relevant to the 21st century. Apart from reviving ancient wisdom, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has also created new techniques for personal and social transformation. These include the Sudarshan Kriya which has helped millions of people to find relief from stress and discover inner reservoirs of energy and peace in daily life. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar travels the world teaching people these techniques, and The Art of Living programs have already touched the lives of millions of people.

Gurudev's work sees him addressing audiences of diverse nationalities and backgrounds, including those at the United Nations, prison inmates, corporate management teams, ailing farmers and school children. It is also not an uncommon sight to see people from warring nations sitting side-by-side in one of Gurudev's programmes or addresses.

People say that Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar leads through example, whether it is travelling through floodwaters to inspect rehabilitation efforts in Bihar, urging misguided youth to join mainstream society and work for social development; or meeting people at satsangs (music and meditation gatherings) every evening and answering queries on overcoming life's challenges. His focus is always on fostering human values and building communal unity through his philosophy and ideal of a one world family.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's life is a story of dedicated efforts towards making this ideal a reality.