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Ravi Shankar (spiritual leader)

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This article is about the spiritual leader. For the Sitar player, see Ravi Shankar.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Born (1956-05-13) May 13, 1956 (age 68)
Papanasam, Tamil Nadu, India
NationalityIndian
Websitewww.srisri.org

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, (Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) ಶ್ರೀ ಶ್ರೀ ರವಿಶಂಕರ ಸ್ವಾಮೀಜಿ) (Tamil (தமிழ்) ஸ்ரீ ஸ்ரீ ரவி ஷங்கர்) (Template:Lang-hi), born Ravi Shankar Ratnam, on May 13, 1956, in Tamil Nadu, India, is a spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Foundation (founded 1982), which aims at relieving both individual stress and societal problems and violence, and which is an NGO (non-governmental organization) with UNESCO consultative status. Frequently referred to simply as "Sri Sri" (a self-appointed honorific) or as Guruji or Gurudev,[1] he also established in 1997 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.

Life

Born to Venkat Ratnam, a businessman in the automobile industry, and Vishalakshi Ratnam,[2][3] he was given the name Ravi because he was born on a Sunday (Ravi, a common name, means sun) and Shankar after the 8th century CE Hindu saint, Adi Shankara, whose birthday he shares.[1][4] He received a bachelor in science degree at 21 from St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore University.[5]

Formerly a student of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi,[6] Shankar joined Maharishi after graduation, being invited by Maharishi to speak on Vedic Science, arrange conferences on Veda and science, and help train Vedic pundits at Maharishi's charities. He was earlier addressed as "Pandit Ravi Shankar" (or "Punditji"), but in the early 1990s changed his name to "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar" after the renowned sitarist Ravi Shankar objected that the guru was using the name he'd made famous.[1]

Shankar says that his rhythmic breathing exercise सुदर्शन क्रिया (sudarśana-kriyā) 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 Karnataka, India, adding: "I learned it and started teaching it."[2][7] Shankar says that every emotion has a corresponding rhythm in the breath and that regulating breath could help relieve personal suffering.[8]

Philosophy

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (center of the photo)

Spirituality

Spirituality is that which enhances human values like love, compassion and enthusiasm. It is not limited to any one religion or culture, but forms the heart of the world's religions. Hence, it is open to all people.[9]

Shankar emphasizes breath as the link between body and mind and, therefore, as a tool to relax the mind, emphasizing both meditation and service to others. According to him, science and spirituality are linked and consistent. Emphasizing that joy is only available in the present moment, his stated vision is to create a world free of stress and violence, and his programs are said to offer practical tools to help accomplish this. In his view, "Truth is spherical rather than linear; so it has to be contradictory." [10]

Peace and Humanitarian Work

After the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center towers in New York City, the Art of Living Foundation offered free courses in stress reduction to New Yorkers.[8] The group also ran a relief program in Kosovo for the war-ravaged population and for public health, university and UN personnel. The organization also started an operation in occupied Iraq in 2003 aimed at relieving the stress of the Iraqi population, particularly the rising population of traumatized widows.[11] A similar program was implemented in Afghanistan from 2003 to 2006 teaching war victims as well as UN and NGO personnel. In 2007, Shankar visited Iraq at the invitation of Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki and also met with Sunni, Shia and Kurdish leaders.[12] He visited Pakistan in 2004 and met with some political and religious leaders there as a part of his efforts to promote global peace.[13] Many volunteers have assisted the 2004 tsunami victims and Hurricane Katrina victims. There is a prison stress management and rehabilitation techniques program, known as SMART, which assists many prisoners and prison staffs worldwide.

Sudarshan Kriya

Sudarshan Kriya is a breath-oriented process, and a core component of the Art of Living courses. Persons enrolling for the courses sign a non-disclosure agreement promising to keep the course content and techniques confidential.[14]. In some of his talks Sri Sri has described Sudarshan Kriya as a rhythmic breathing exercise that cleanses and harmonizes the physical, mental, and emotional levels [15].

Organizations

Following are the Institutes and Organizations founded by Sri Sri Ravishankar

* Sri Sri Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technology

Awards and honors

Below are some of the awards honoring Sri Sri Ravishankar[16][17]

  • 1986: Title of Yoga Shiromani (Supreme Jewel of Yoga)
  • 1997: Guru Mahatmya Award[18]
  • 2002: Phoenix Award, Atlanta, USA[19]
  • 2004: Bharat Shiromani Award (New Delhi, India), The Illustrious Visitors Award (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Honorary Doctorate of Literature (Kuvempu University, Karnataka, India)
  • 2005: Dara Shikoh National Award for Harmony (New Delhi), Mahavir-Mahatma Award for Contribution to Peace (Times Foundation, India), Global Humanitarian Award (Illinois, USA), Membership of Martin Luther Collegium of Scholars
  • 2006: Sant Shri Dnyaneshwara World Peace Prize, Order of the Pole Star (highest state honor by the President of Mongolia).
  • 2006: Fervent Global Love of Life (Cultural and Education Foundation of Human Life, Taiwan), Mongolian Prime Minister's Award, Peter the Great - First Grade Award (Russian Federation), Doctor of Philosophy - Holistic Medicine (Open International University for Complementary Medicine, Sri Lanka)
  • 2007: Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa (Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India), National Veterans Foundation Award (USA)
  • 2007: Honorary Doctorate of Science (Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India)
  • 2007: Varshada Kannadiga (Kannadiga of the Year) (ETV)
  • 2007: Leadership Award for Extraordinary Promotion for World Peace and Harmony (Amity University)
  • 2008: Doctor of Srini Memorial Award (Srini International Organization, Nellore, India)
  • 2010: Culture and Balance Award [20]

Sri Sri Ravishankar was nominated for Nobel Prize for [21][22] his contributions and work for mankind.

Criticism

The AOL foundation makes no official guarantee or promise of any therapeutic effects of Sudarshan Kriya, although research, personal experiences and testimonials of those claiming to have been benefited are highlighted.

According to an article in Reader's Digest: "There is no doubt, however, that some of its claims are exaggerated. For instance, according to an AOL brochure its “Youth Empowerment Seminar” is compulsory at 10 German universities. A random check by Reader’s Digest at five of the universities revealed that not only is the seminar not compulsory, it is not even part of the academic curriculum. It is offered as a leisure activity, alongside tennis and aerobics." [23]

Edward Luce in his book In Spite of the Gods: The Strange Rise of Modern India (2006) alludes to Sri Sri's ties to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

Selected works

Shankar's disciples have compiled numerous books transcribed from his various discourses, and a few have been translated into Russian and Spanish.

  • An Intimate Note to the Sincere Seeker (volumes 1-7)
  • Buddha: manifestation of silence ISBN 8189291912
  • 1995 - Bang on the Door: A Collection of Talks, 101 pp. ISBN 1-885289-31-6
  • 1999 - Be A Witness: The Wisdom of the Upanishads, 106 pp. ISBN 8176210633
  • 2000 - God Loves Fun, 138 pp. ISBN 1-885289-05-7
  • 2001 - Celebrating Silence: Excerpts from Five Years of Weekly Knowledge 1995-2000, 206 pp. ISBN 1-885289-39-1
  • 2001 - Celebrating Love: Excerpts from Five Years of Weekly Knowledge 1995-2000, 206 pp. ISBN 1-885289-39-1
  • 2005 - Narada Bhakti Sutra, 129 pp. ISBN 8178110296

Notes

  1. ^ a b c A. Salkin, Emperor of Air, Yoga Journal, 2002.
  2. ^ a b Mahadevan, Ashok (February 2007). "Face to face". Reader's Digest. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  3. ^ Prabhu, Nagesh (2003-01-17). "Vice-President to open 'Vishalakshi Mantap'". Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  4. ^ WebIndia Biography
  5. ^ [1]
  6. ^ Frankenberg, Ruth (2004). Living spirit, living practice: poetics, politics, epistemology. Durham, N.C: Duke University Press. p. 58. ISBN 0-8223-3295-7.
  7. ^ Verughese, S., Lessons in Living Life Positive
  8. ^ a b MacGregor, Hillary E (2004-10-31). "Breathe deeply to relieve stress, depression". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  9. ^ Shankar, Sri Sri Ravi. Bang on the Door. Santa Barbara, CA: Art of Living Foundation. 1995. ISBN 1885289316
  10. ^ Washington Post interview
  11. ^ BBC News | Indian stress-busters target Iraq
  12. ^ Art of Living guru in Iraq to talk peace
  13. ^ 'There's dignity of religion in Pakistan', The Times of India
  14. ^ Art Of Living course details
  15. ^ Sudarshan Kriya Asanas, Tehelka.com
  16. ^ http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/sri-sri-ravi-shankar-74.php
  17. ^ http://www.thecolorsofindia.com/ravishankar/index.html
  18. ^ http://hinduism.about.com/od/gurussaints/p/ravishankar.htm
  19. ^ http://www.scribd.com/doc/15031501/So-Who-is-Sri-Sri-Ravi-Shankar
  20. ^ http://www.deccanherald.com/content/29982/sri-sri-ravi-shankar-conferred.html
  21. ^ http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/aug/15nobel.htm
  22. ^ http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/sep/28franc.htm
  23. ^ A. Mahadevan. Face to Face: Stress Free with Sri Sri. Reader's Digest. Retrieved on 2007-06-21.

References

  • Gautier, François, The Guru of Joy. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar & the Art of Living, Carlsbad, California, Hay House, Inc., 2008. ISBN 978-1-4019-1761-6 (First edition: India, Books Today, 2002. ISBN 8-187-47842-X)
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