Sunday, May 9, 2010

Chapter 6


Peace in the Planet

 

"My vision is of a world that is crime-free, stress-free and violence-free."
-- H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar





How to achieve World Peace
Let us look at the summary of the book “Peace Within Our Grasp” By Crandall R. Kline Jr., a "How To" manual for achieving world peace is quoted from this book. The reader is strongly encouraged to read Mr. Kline's book to understand the fullness of his explanations. You may not agree with everything, but this is one of the best "How to achieve World Peace' book that I have read. Mr. Kline has done the world a great service by clearly demonstrating that World Peace is achievable, and that a "How To" manual can be written, improved, and followed to significantly reduce violence in the world and its human cost.
World peace is not a utopian dream -- it is within our grasp. Wars are caused by conflicting ideas on what is acceptable national behavior. The urge to exert national will and protect perceived rights, however irrational, ... is a powerful emotion. Wars begin in the minds of men. For world peace, the upper brain must be in control.
Laws are made to determine where one person's rights end and the next person's rights begin. International politics is being played with faulty rules and attitudes.
...a good set of rules and enforcement are needed to get people to live together peacefully. To have world peace, we need some international rules and a means of enforcing them. ...governments should have no more right to kill than the civilians do.
Rules Needed for World Peace:
1. Nonviolence - No one has the right to kill anyone else. Groups of people have no more right to kill than individuals have. Governments have no right to kill anyone.

2. No Aggression - Lives and land are sacred. Nations have no right to invade another, kill the people or take their land.

3. Defense - A nation that has a non-repressive government has a right to defend itself from an invasion or revolution.

4. Guilt - The nation that initiates or supports an invasion, revolution or terrorism is the guilty party. If their army is on another nation's land they are the guilty party. The best system for defense is collective defense -- the United Nations.

In order for the United Nations to be effective, it must give a permanent warning to all nations that the U.N. will come to the aid of any victim of an invasion. As of now, the U.N. is not structured to do this.
Elements of an Effective U.N.
· International laws clearly and explicitly written.
· The Security Council as the governing body.
· An intelligence gathering arm, working with the CIA, KGB, and others.
· An enforcement arm consisting of a command structure, armies and a commando force.
· An International Criminal Court to try individuals.
(a means of incarcerating the guilty).

... Having laws without some means of enforcing them is useless”.
HIS HOLINESS SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR
Creating a Stress-Free Mind and a Violence-Free World
Remedy for Terrorism
“A war is merely a magnification of the violent tendency present in all individuals; you will observe that you are in war constantly, either with the people around you or within yourself.”
Terrorism is an act of violence that inflicts pain and suffering, and is destructive to oneself and others. Terrorism induces fear and increases poverty, suffering and loss of life with no apparent gain to anyone. Instead of offering or seeking solutions, terrorism looks to destruction as an answer. In acts of terrorism, human values are lost.
Why do people turn to terrorism? The first factor is frustration and desperation to achieve a goal. When people are desperate to achieve some goal and are unable to do it, the desperation brings up violence in them. The second factor is belief in a nonverifiable concept of merit and heaven: “if I die fighting for God, then I will go to heaven, because God wants this act to happen”. Who knows? No one can verify these statements. The third is a staunch belief that “my way is the only way”. Fourth is ignoring human values in order to achieve a goal and fifth is the lack of respect or honour for life itself. Terrorism is based on a concept of God favouring some and being angry with others.
This notion undermines the omnipresence and omnipotence of God. How can an omnipresent God exclude some people? How can an omnipotent God be angry? Anger and frustration arise when someone is unable to do something or control something. With this limited idea of God, you become the saviour of God rather than the servant of God. Terrorism fails to recognise that God loves variety and diversity; that many different schools of thought exist in this world. Terrorism does not respect or honour life. Terrorism arises when someone identifies himself first and foremost as a member of any particular religion, and then is ready to give up his life for that limited identity. We need to first identify ourselves as part of the Divine and then as human beings.
What is the remedy for terrorism? As long as there is limited understanding, limited wisdom, there is no way we can get rid of terrorism from this world. We have to broaden our vision and educate people in all the different religious and cultural traditions of the world. Religious and spiritual leaders, in particular, should have a broad understanding of cultures and religions. Every mullah, every priest and rabbi should know something about all other religions. If we learn to broaden our vision and deepen our roots, people will not fall into a narrow idea of the will of God. Of course, it’s not just religion that makes people become terrorists; there can be social and political reasons also. Terrorists are completely mistaken; they are mistaken about their religious teachings, they have a mistaken idea of freedom, and they are mistaken in what they want to achieve in life because they are inflicting suffering on others and also on themselves. Directing hatred and anger towards terrorists will not change or improve them. We need to bring transformation in them and for this we need patience, endurance, and compassion. The wrong understanding of the verses from scriptures has caused upheaval in the minds of many people and is used to justify narrow-mindedness. That is why we need to emphasise education of people in all the holy scriptures of the world. When we think that only our own scripture holds truth, then we are nurturing fanaticism. Terrorists have a very narrow vision. What is needed is broader vision and deeper roots.
This could bring about harmony and a non-violent attitude in all people.
“We need to educate people in human values like friendliness, compassion, cooperation,
a sense of belonging and spirituality.”
The only way to get rid of fanaticism in the world is through education that is broadbased,
multi-cultural and multi-religious, so that a child growing up does not think that only the Bible or only the Koran holds the truth. Then, we have to value all human life value, value it more than race, religion and culture. Next, educate people in human values like friendliness, compassion, cooperation, a sense of belonging and spirituality. Spirituality nourishes the human values of compassion, love, caring, sharing and acceptance. Spirituality is also finding the way to calm the mind and go deep in your prayers, irrespective of what prayer you do or what religion you follow. It is honouring the values that are found in all religions. If a person identifies himself with a race, religion, culture or nationality, that’s it! He remains in that position and he will fight for that and die for that and others will die with him. Instead, give him a broader perspective. First and foremost we are part of the Divine. Our second identity is that we are human beings. The third identity we have is that we are male or female. The fourth identity is that we belong to a particular nation. The fifth identity is that we belong to a particular religion. If the right order of identity is understood, then human values are honoured. But if I identify myself with a religion or nationality, forgetting that first I am part of the Divine and that I am a human being, then I bring misery onto myself and onto others also. Learn how to cope with the stress of life. Stress and tension are the root cause of violence.
Have a sense of belonging to this planet and to all people. Cultivate confidence in achieving a noble goal in a peaceful, non-violent manner. And finally, see that only spiritual awakening can weed out the destructive tendency in the human mind.
Copyright © The Art of Living Bureau of Communication
The U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a good description of and a good prescription for the essentials for peaceful coexistence and even universal happiness. These rights are near absolutes and should be treated as reliable aims for all cultures.
Whether we have war or peace depends on the choices made by the control or reasoning centers of the public's brains. Desiring to help everyone in the world, believing that everyone should seek to be a "citizen of the world", is not widespread, and herein lie an impediment to creating support for the United Nations.
Major points of this book:
1. Some men are homicidal; they have an instinctive thought that killing would be fun.
2. Revenge, ethnosuperiority, and competitiveness, mental and physical, are instinctive urges.
3. There are physical and mental needs that are absolutes and universal.
4. "Don't harm others" is a basic, universal rule for peaceful coexistence.
5. Governments need coercion to keep order.
6. Governments need force to capture criminals.
7. Parents need firmness in raising children.
8. "All men (and women) are created equal (politically)" applies to the whole world.
9. We need UN and ICC with the ability to capture criminal leaders.
Some new policies that this book is promoting are:
  • The U.S. should put in writing what international laws it would be willing to support and then allow the United Nations to be the enforcer.
  • U.N. should have an International Criminal Court with the authority to try individuals that violate international laws.
  • The U.S. and other industrial nations should develop nonlethal weapons for use in capturing criminals and controlling riots.
  • The U.N. should have a commando force trained to use nonlethal weapons to capture criminals who violate international laws and bring them to trial.
  • ...wars can be caused by conflicting moral principles.
Summary of Goals and Actions
The religions therefore can have a very important role in teaching the rules that are necessary for peaceful coexistence and peaceful conflict resolution. The word "politics" has two meanings: "the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing policy" and "the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government."
...good government rests on a citizen population that is basically honest. Corruption greatly reduces the quality of government and the quality of life for the citizens.
The moral rules that ... should support:
1. Every nation has a right and a duty to defend the lives of all people within its borders.
2. Every non-repressive nation has a right and a duty to defend itself from an invasion of armed forces.
3. Offensive war of any kind is not morally justified.
4. Nations have a responsibility through an international organization (such as the U.N.) to militarily help other non-repressive nations who are victims of aggression.
5. No one and no government has the right to kill people except as immediately and unavoidably required for the protection of human life or national borders. Capital punishment should be eliminated.
6. Killing is not an internal affair. Nations have a right and a duty to protest killings in other nations. An international organization (the U.N.) has a right to intervene in a repressive nation to protect the citizens and the right to bring to trial the leaders by the use of force if necessary.
7. Citizens should withdraw support from any leader who is repressive in violation of rule number 5. No one should supply money or arms to terrorists, armed rebels, revolutionaries or repressive leaders. Such support is immoral and a violation of ... laws. Suppliers of money or arms should be punished.
8. The revised set of just-war rules should be supported in total. Weapons of mass destruction are not morally justified.
9. All men and women are created equal and have equal rights, with "all" meaning all the people in the world.
The new World ORDER
To bring peace, the new world order should adopt the two main components of the Peace Defense plan; no aggression and no repression. This new world order could be established fairly simply by making some changes in the United Nations. The U.N. would need only to enact two international laws (or make the existing laws more explicit) and provide the means to enforce them:
  • No nation has the right to invade or attack any other nation. Any violation of this rule requires that .. all remaining member nations in the U.N. come to the aid of the victim by sending their assigned military components of the U.N. forces to repel the invader.
  • No government official has the right to kill except where immediately and unavoidably required to protect human life or a national border. In any violation of this rule, an International Criminal Court will try the accused and incarcerate for life those found guilty. The U.N. forces have the right to capture those who violate this rule to bring them to trial. The U.N. forces have the right to come to the aid of the people in any nation where this rule is violated.
We hope the reader will be moved to embrace the moral rules and the peace plan proposed here, will be inspired to persuade others to this point of view, and will be activated to work for the goal of perennial and perpetual peace.


Is peace elusive? Is perpetual peace possible? If pervasive peace happens can it prevail over time?
In his book, from 1999, Crandall R. Kline Jr, makes it clear that perpetual peace is possible by all means. It is for the first time the global population is waking up to this fact, and His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s program is addressing majority of what he has proposed, especially elevating people all over the world to have more influence of what he refers as the upper brain. This up liftment of mankind will enable a stronger voice for non-violence, for government transparency, peace defense and more.
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has influenced the thinking of millions of individuals worldwide from leaders of nations, to veterans and soldiers, to prisoners and terrorists.
IAHV and AOL’s program for Global Peace
Journey from Turmoil to Peace
Conflict Resolution
What does it take to get two warring factions to see eye to eye?
What does it take to venture deep into war zones, carrying the message of brotherhood and non-violence?
Why is an individual willing to risk his life to see people, with whom he has no apparent bond, live in harmony?
Shifting the focus from just establishing an outer atmosphere for peace to creating inner peace, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has brought peace to people who have never experienced it in their lives. Using powerful breathing and meditation techniques, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has not only calmed the minds of violent aggressors in different parts of the world, but also provided solace and emotional strength to victims of violent conflicts. By practicing and promoting the Gandhian principles of non-violence, he has developed practical and long-lasting solutions to achieving peace. Through dialogue, constructive rehabilitation interventions and stress-elimination programs, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has successfully reintegrated many estranged youth. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar travels frequently to conflict-ridden Naxalite areas in India, Kashmir, Iraq, Kosovo, and Sri Lanka encouraging dialogue and peaceful means of conflict resolution. Lasting peace rests on a foundation of individuals who are at peace with themselves and their surroundings, and have a willingness to serve others. The significance of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s initiatives is that he works with every section of society, from militants and the security forces to the trauma-affected people. The outcome: reintegration of misguided people into society, better methods of addressing security issues and healing the wounds of those affected by conflicts.
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s vision is a world free of violence, united in love and peace. Through his organizations, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is transforming hate, bitterness and violence into joy, camaraderie and peace.
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has initiated conflict resolution and trauma-relief programs in :-
  • Afghanistan
  • Brazil
  • Cameroon
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Iraq
  • Israel
  • Kenya
  • Kosovo
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Morocco
  • Nepal
  • Russia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • United States
Rebuilding a Society Scarred by Strife
Iraq
In a country divided by violence, where fighting between government forces and the militia continues to be a daily affair, the lives of residents are on constant tenterhooks, dependent on the frequency of the attacks. Incidents of residents reporting artillery shelling, mortar rounds and guns outside their homes are common. Schools are shut down during times of severe tension and resume only until the next wave of violence resurfaces. Civil violence, economic breakdown and infrastructural shortages are only some of the issues that Iraq is facing. According to the 2007 Failed States Index, Iraq is the second-most unstable country in the world.
The continuing outbursts of violence, the frequent loss of property, life and loved ones, adds to the trauma of the locals living amidst the ongoing bombing and destruction. External aid like food, clothing, and shelter helps the body, but the minds of Iraqi citizens require internal healing to cope with their immeasurable losses. Since September 2003, the Art of Living Foundation has been actively engaged in providing relief measures in Iraq. Besides offering medicines, clothes and other emergency supplies, the foundation has delivered trauma-relief workshops that he designed to help people come to terms with their losses. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s initiatives faced many challenges borne out of the heightened unrest in the country: kidnapping of foreigners, lack of resources, and regular onslaught of violence. The many roadblocks only served to strengthen the resolve of the Art of Living Foundation. It set up a focal center in Baghdad from where its trauma-relief activities are coordinated.
About 5,000 people have undergone the trauma-relief programs in Baghdad, Basra, Suleymania and Karbala. The breathing and meditation techniques taught at the programs gave many locals relief from depression, anxiety, blood pressure, migraines and psychosomatic disorders. People who were unable to sleep because of the constant nightmares and bombing reported peaceful sleep.
“We knew only death and despair. Now we can smile and that is the greatest gift that His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has given us.” - Shafiqur Rehman, a trauma-relief program participant
Simultaneously, rehabilitation measures have been set up. In 2005, the Women’s Empowerment Program was launched. About 500 Iraqi women have become self-reliant since learning vocational skills such as word processing and tailoring. More and more women are gravitating towards this self-empowerment group .
The Foundation’s trauma-relief programs are helping the Iraqis cope with their problems. Several Iraqi youth expressed a desire to become trainers of the trauma-relief program to help alleviate the suffering of their people. In 2006, 43 people from Baghdad, Basra, Suleymania, and Karbala graduated to become Art of Living teachers. There are now 50 Art of Living teachers in Iraq, along with 150 volunteers.
The good work of the Foundation caught the attention of the government, which extended an invitation to His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ravi Shankar. On May 22, 2007, His Holiness embarked on a three-day visit to Iraq as an ambassador of peace. He was the first spiritual leader from India hosted by Iraq. The Prime Minister of Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki, emphasized that His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Foundation has a key role to play in rebuilding Iraq. The Prime Minister invited His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to expand the Foundation’s reach and initiate the Art of Living Prison Rehabilitation Program in the country’s jails. Subsequent to His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s visit, the Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sports sent 50 Iraqi youth to the Art of Living International Centre in India to acquire a training to deliver trauma relief programs to their people.
“There are big powers which have big might, but they are not able to unite the hearts and minds of people. This work can be done only by a spiritual leader.” - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also held dialogue with leaders of three opposing factions – the Shia, Sunni and Kurds – with a message of non-violence, peace and harmonious co-existence of people. “Give non-violence a chance, give peace a chance,” he said.
He also met with the Iraqi Ministers of Youth and Human Rights and several members of the Parliament. Pledging support for His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s call to rebuild Iraq, Youth Minister Jasin Mohammed Jaffer declared that the Iraqi government would send at least three Iraqi youth from each province of Iraq to the Art of Living’s International Headquarters in Bangalore to undergo the youth leadership training program (YLTP). Several leaders expressed appreciation for the work of Art of Living, saying that its initiatives would go a long way in improving the situation in the country.
“We welcome your delegation with open arms and hearts. We welcome you as our brother and we are ready to work hand in hand with you.” - Shia leader Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Yaqubi
Equipping Youth With Tools of Non-Violence
“There is anger and hatred all around Iraq. Iraqis need to learn how to manage anger and reconcile with the present. This requires a shift in the mind and a change of heart. That’s where spirituality has a big role to play. We are working to facilitate this process.” - His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ravi Shankar
Following His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s visit to Iraq in May, the government of Iraq sent 55 Iraqi youth from Baghdad, Basra, Suleymania, Karbala, and Najaf to the Art of Living Foundation’s International Headquarters in Bangalore, India. The youth underwent a month-long training in August on a specialized Youth Leadership Training Program that aided them in fostering a solution in Iraq. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also held extensive dialogue with the Iraqi youth.
Bridging Racial Tensions
Côte d'Ivoire & Cameroon
The beautiful countries of Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon in West Africa have been mired in conflict for decades. In Côte d'Ivoire, discrimination and economic deprivation are key drivers behind the escalation of conflict. A two-year civil war, which began in 2002, saw the division of the country into a rebel-led north and government-led south. There has been a breakdown in public services, the financial sector and infrastructure.
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s volunteers began rehabilitation work in Côte d'Ivoire in 1999. Halted temporarily by the strife and unrest in the region, the Art of Living Foundation resumed its initiatives in 2002. A team of teachers from India and France, working with local teachers, began conducting trauma-relief workshops. While imparting knowledge on coping with stress, the team also promoted health, hygiene and harmony in diversity.
The Deula and Guéré are two warring tribes in Deukoué. Differences over land and economic issues have caused such disharmony that one group cannot walk in the village of the other without being attacked.
Under His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s guidance, the team brought 15 youth from each warring faction for a YLTP. The eight days spent in the course transformed them, building a sense of trust and dissolving their conflicts. “We lived together and discovered our ways were so similar. There is no fear. We are brothers,” said Adama, a member of the Deula tribe.
As a confidence building measure, the members of one tribe are handing over a village, which they had forcibly occupied. But beyond this, they are rebuilding all the homes they had destroyed. Remarking on the success of the program, both tribes said that Foundation was playing the role of a peace-keeping organization. Besides inter-community harmony, the youth started implementing the Art of Living’s 5H Program that focuses on Health, Homes, Hygiene, Human Values and Harmony in Diversity. They have been inspired to take responsibility for their villages and are engaged in cleanliness campaigns and improving infrastructure.
“We lived together and discovered our ways were so similar. There is no fear. We’re brothers.”- Adama, a member of the Deula tribe
Residents were so pleased with the results that another course was arranged in Bouké, which was known as the headquarters of the rebels. After the program, people who were traumatized said they found peace and were committed to building a harmonious community.
Through stress-elimination and a new vision for the community, the locals have been infused with a new spirit of life. Community initiatives have given the people a better quality of life. Young boys and girls who used alcohol to shut out the horrific memories of the civil war were able to sleep peacefully without the aid of any substance.
“How can someone sitting far away in India care so much for us and send somebody to help us?” -- Jean–Claude, a youth in the region (referring to His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar)
In 2005, a YLTP was conducted for 25 youth in Saa, Cameroon. Seven course participants represented Cameroon in the Art of Living Foundation’s Silver Jubilee Celebrations held in Bangalore, India, in February 2006. The youth underwent the first phase of teacher's training and also learned organic farming and biogas production techniques at the Foundation’s International Headquarters in Bangalore. In June 2006, the Mayor of Saa gave a hectare of land to the the Foundation, which is being used to promote organic farming. In places where chemicals have rendered the land infertile and biogas unaffordable, natural methods of production have come as a boon. Motivated by the results, residents from neighboring villages have requested training in the same farming techniques.
In November 2007, another YLTP was conducted for 40 Ivorians in Man, a region bordering Liberia and a corridor of violence between Liberia and Ivory Coast. In a picturesque locale, set between mountains and forests, the participants were taught yoga, trauma-relief techniques and meditation. After these intensive practices and counseling, the participants brainstormed on ways they could work on community development.
Recognizing the effectiveness of the Art of Living projects, the Minister of Reconciliation in Ivory Coast personally lent his support to the work initiated by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. At a meeting between the administration and 60 non-governmental organizations, there was broad interest in forging partnerships with the Foundation. On September 6, 2005, the Cameroon government recognized the work of Art of Living.
On December 1, 2007, a Peace Conference was held in Duékoué. Mr. Djedje Dano Sebastien, Minister of National Reconciliation and his wife Patricia Dano Sebastien lauded the Foundation, saying it is one of the few NGOs working at the grassroots level and goes to the core of the problem to find solutions. Mr. Sebastien also commented that His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s initiatives considered human beings in their entirety, and healed the body, mind, and spirit.
Mr. Tihi Kpao Victor, Mayor of Duékoué, was so impressed with the work done by the local youth leaders trained by the Foundation that he pledged support for future projects. The Police Commissioner of Duékoué, the Iman of Duékoué, youth leaders and village heads also attended the conference. All of them expressed optimism for progress and peace.
“His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s initiatives consider human beings in their entirety, and heal the body, mind, and spirit. The Art of Living is one of the rare NGOs which works at the grassroot level, close to the population and goes to the core of the problem.” - Djedje Dano Sebastien, Minister of National Reconciliation, Ivory Coast.
Seeds of Peace after Decades of Violence
Jammu and Kashmir
Ever since the partition of India in 1947, the state of Jammu and Kashmir has been in a state of tension, violence and instability. Today, it is one of the regions of the world that continues to witness a prolonged conflict. Large-scale destruction of life and property has devastated the minds of the people living there. The hold of militancy runs deep. Young boys have been turning to militant groups, lured by the promise of revolution. A young boy can disappear suddenly in the middle of the night, perhaps never to return, or to return in the garb of a militant, putting his family immediately under legal scrutiny. This social problem has given birth to many others, including reduced mobility in fear of attacks and destroying a once peaceful Valley.
The Art of Living Foundation’s programs spans four broad areas: trauma-relief courses for all sections of society; bringing a sense of harmony by opening avenues for dialogue between people of diverse viewpoints; working to alleviate the plight of people in migrant camps; and initiating youth leadership programs.
Addressing the problems of youth – caught in the web of militancy or affected by it – has been of prime importance to His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar promotes the Youth Leadership Training Program to reintegrate such youth into mainstream society and help harness their energy for social good. The first YLTP in Kashmir was held in January 2003 in Doda with more than 100 youth participating in it. The program provided youth with tools to help equip them to overcome their suffering. The program instilled self-confidence and provided support for re-building their society. Soon, more and more youth want to undergo this program with numbers reaching 1,200. Special courses have been held in places such as Doda and Baramullah where more than 1,500 youth have given up violence. Many youth have given up their allegiance to violent groups.
“I was a district commander of a military outfit. I used to carry a gun with me all the time. Sleep would come hard, so engulfed was I with worries and guilt. I had to resort to taking sleeping pills. After I underwent The Art of Living Course, I realized the futility of what I was doing and gave up the path of violence. My life has changed.” Mansoor Ahmed, a reformed militant
Regular workshops and counseling are being carried out for the residents. Children, who have been victims of the situation, are soft targets for recruitment into military groups. To take care of them, His Holiness started an orphanage where about 100 children reside. These young victims are given a multi ethnic, multi-cultural education to safeguard their young minds from fanatic elements. These children also undergo The Art of Living program, which helps them overcome their painful past.
“Every morning I used to wake up with a jolt, my whole body used to ache and at night, I used to be very scared of noises. I missed my mother who died in an earthquake. After practicing the techniques learnt at the course, I am feeling very relaxed and no longer afraid of noises.” - Arshad Khan, 14
“I used to think that my brain has stopped working, there was no retention power left. Now, after the course, I am feeling very fresh and I am thinking about the future.” - Ashfaq Ahmed, 15
“I used to be very depressed and I wanted to die. There was severe pain in my knees. Now, the pain is gone and so have the bad thoughts.”- Ishfaq Ahmed, 13
Around 1,000 inmates have undergone the Foundation’s prison program in jails in Baramullah, Poonch, Jammu, and Udanpur districts.
“We supported militancy and suffered a lot. We now really realize that if we had educated them (the militants), we would not have suffered so much. Thanks to His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, we now have the tools to transform Kashmir and bring back peace.”- Asif Bhatt, Jammu and Kashmir
Prison staff work in incredibly stressful conditions. The overcrowding that exists in many institutions adds to the anger and frustration of inmates, which results in more frequent altercations between inmates and increased threats of staff assault. The Foundation’s prison program addresses the problems of stress for both inmates and law enforcement officers.
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has taken his message of unity to members of different political and religious groups in Jammu and Kashmir since 2004. He met with leaders and the youth, urging them to find a common solution. He offered prayers at the Islamic Hazratbal shrine for restoring peace, harmony and unity in the Valley. The Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister, the Army Chief, and the Governor discussed insurgency and militancy related problems with His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
In June 2005, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar visited Srinagar where he was greeted by more than 500 Muslim youth. The Foundation initiated a conference on Human Values and Non-violence for leaders of opposing factions, such as the Hurriyat Conference, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, and Kashmiri Pandits. The historic meeting was the first time that the leaders had come together. The consensus among people who attended the conference was to work towards achieving peace and progress in Kashmir. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also held talks with a number of separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, then-chief of the undivided Hurriyat Conference.
“We are with His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in his efforts to revive and develop human values. We will tread his path, leaving politics aside and extend all our support to his initiatives,” said Zafar Akbar Bhat, Chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement.
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also visited Jammu in 2007. On his three-day visit, he met convicted militants and others under trial in the high-security Kothalwal Jail, which houses more than 300 foreign and local militants. He also visited refugee camps in the city.
Many international organizations and leaders are working toward resolving the conflict in the Valley. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the Foundation work with an understanding of the problems residents face, building trust among different factions through counseling, service projects, and mediation. Their unique approach of reinforcing ties between people has been praised widely by the Indian Army, which invited Art of Living teachers to show them how to gain the trust of residents. One of these training sessions was held in Dhansal Hills for more than 800 youth.
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has planted seeds of peace in the region by providing every individual with the tools to eliminate stress, move beyond the past, and lead a non-violent existence. When people are empowered, they seek solutions to improve their lives and the lives of others. Only a lit candle can light others.

Rebuilding trust and confidence for lasting peace

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has witnessed conflict and ethnic violence for more than 25 years now. The island nation is locked in a civil war between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL). The LTTE is demanding an independent Tamil homeland -- `Tamil Eelam` in the north, and land east of the island, where Tamils can live with honor and dignity. The clashes between the minority Tamils and the majority ethnic Sinhalese have created immense trauma, and several thousand people have been killed in the violence.
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is committed to facilitating the peace process in Sri Lanka. Disharmony can spread quickly if issues are not addressed in a spirit of trust with free and frank dialogue. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has facilitated dialogue among government officials, members of parliament, the LTTE, social activists, and residents to take concrete steps to establish peace in Sri Lanka.
In 2005, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar sent emissaries to meet with former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Tamil leaders. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar created the Committee for Peace in Sri Lanka, which is comprised of Hindu and Buddhist leaders, including the Dalai Lama, to facilitate dialogue among opposing groups.
Later that year, former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Hon. Ranil Wickramasinghe visited His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at The Art of Living International Center in Bangalore. The prime minister urged His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to help restore peace in Sri Lanka. Despite the frequent flare-ups, tensions and confrontations in the island, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar sent a team of experts to deliver the Art of Living stress and trauma relief programs for decision-makers, youth, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and victims of trauma and depression across Sri Lanka. In fact, Art of Living youth initiatives have made inroads in Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Jaffna and Kandy.
Welcomed as a state guest in April 2006, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was greeted in Jaffna by more than 80,000 people, including 4,000 schoolchildren. He was inundated with thousands of letters from people, requesting him to facilitate the peace process.
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar met with the LTTE chief Mr. Velupillai Prabhakaran. He also visited Colombo, where he delivered a keynote address at an international interfaith conference to combat AIDS.
“The main reason for conflict in Sri Lanka is lack of communication between the two sides, a narrow understanding of issues, some basic mistrust and fear. There is a lack of human values. The Art of Living is about peace. We will train the youth to become role models in removing misconceptions and prejudices among the people of Sri Lanka,” said His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in an address to a public gathering in Jaffna, where he led thousands of people in a guided meditation.
“I have come to take away your problems. I want to see a smile that never fades from your face.” - His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ravi Shankar
A delegation of Sri Lankan members of Parliament attended a Peace and Reconciliation Conference in Bangalore in October 2006. Later that year, several Sri Lankan members of parliament from the Tamil National Alliance requested His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar address the plight of Tamil people in the conflict-ridden nation.
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar first visited Sri Lanka after the devastating South Asian tsunami in December 2004. The first spiritual leader from India to visit the conflict-torn country, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar met with tsunami victims and inspired volunteers to continue relief and rehabilitation efforts. The Art of Living Foundation constructed a children’s home at Wellawaya for orphaned survivors of the tsunami.
Sri Lankan President H. E. Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Prime Minister and opposition leader Hon. Ranil Wickramasinghe and several Sri Lankan Parliamentarians expressed confidence that His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s multi-pronged intervention programs and dialogue will bring peace in the region.
Nursing the scars of conflict
Kosovo
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation has been involved in bringing aid to post-war Kosovo, delivering relief materials and supplies, working for conflict resolution, and assisting victims of post-traumatic stress disorder.
More than 500 nurses, doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors and social workers employed in seven Mental Health Centers across Kosovo have taken Art of Living workshops. Based on their positive experiences, the Ministry of Health has requested that all the Mental Health Workers in Kosovo participate in the workshops to learn how to deal eliminate stress and prevent burnout. The Ministry has also requested that several of these health workers be trained to teach the Breath, Water, Sound Program to reach out to larger numbers of Kosovars.
Since May 2003, the Foundation's volunteers have:
· Provided food and clothing to the needy
· Conducted trauma relief courses for 700 people, including United Nations peacekeepers, torture victims, massacre witnesses and disabled KLA veterans in cooperation with the Ministry of Health
· Conducted trauma relief programs for 120 officers of the Indian Special Police unit
“The participants, many war veterans, experienced great healings from the program. I experienced great relief from anger, irritability, sleep disorders and depression.”
- Vehbi Rafuni, retired director, Association of Disabled Kosovo Liberation Army Veterans
“I believe the principles of the Art of Living program are vital for lasting peace in Kosovo, and am taking an active role in integrating it in the society.”
- Dr. Fadil Beka, Executive Director of University of Clinical Center
In September 2007, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar met with the president of the Judicial Parliament Council, Hyadjet Hyesni, and vice-president of the Alliance New Kosovo, Ibrahim Makolli during a two-day visit to Kosovo. He also addressed a gathering of doctors, police officers, war veterans and staff of the United Nations.
“We thank Kosovo for sending Mother Teresa to India. India would reciprocate by bringing the benefits of yoga and its ancient spiritual knowledge, which is much needed in Kosovo today,” His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said at the gathering.
The Art of Living Foundation is promoting dialogue between Albanians and Macedonians through its conflict resolution programs, and helped reintegrate victims of imprisonment, torture and internal exile in Albania.
I often used to jump up in my bed searching for a gun, and afterwards I couldn’t sleep…Now the flashbacks and nightmares have reduced, and I sleep much better. I now use the Art of Living program instead of pain killers.”- Afet Billali, disabled war-veteran
“It feels wonderful to laugh instead of suffering from panic attacks. The Sudarshan Kriya has transformed my life.” - Ferid Billali, war veteran
HIS HOLINESS SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR
Creating a Stress-Free Mind and a Violence-Free World
‘A Sense of Identity with Humanness Should Prevail Among All Other Identities’
(Excerpt of Sri Sri’s talk at the 3rd World Congress of Rabbis and Imams for Peace in Paris on
December 15, 2008)
It is so timely that once again in 2008, we have started the dialogue here between Rabbis and Imams of the world. All of whom have come from different parts of this beautiful planet of ours, because I know you all care for this planet and its people. This Earth belongs to God and we care for our people and we want to see a stressfree, violence-free society. We want a violence free world and we are all striving for it. The wise always see the commonness among all the religions and celebrate the differences. Today this is necessary for us as the world has shrunk into a global village. Communication and technology have improved so much. If there is conflict, it doesn’t remain localised, instead it spreads throughout the globe. We are all aware of what has happened recently in India in the city of Mumbai. It is the most inhuman act that has happened in recent times. India used to be proud that it was the only country in the world, where Jews were always safe, respected, held in regard and had a place. This time we felt pain that we can no longer claim that this is a land where no Jew was ever subject to any form of violence. We cannot be proud of that heritage that we have been very proud of.
Though I represent one of the oldest religious traditions of the world –Hinduism, I am the youngest among all of you here, I sincerely urge that let us all sit together in these coming days and whatever we formulate – that journey from the head to the heart, let us bring to every nook and corner of our planet.
I would urge our Director General of UNESCO to formulate a textbook for children in classrooms,
where they learn a little bit about all the traditions or all religions of the world. A child will then grow up having a broad vision of belongingness to the whole planet. There is an ancient concept of a One World Family which we are all a part of. Multi-cultural and multi-religious education is most essential and UNESCO can take it up and push it to all the countries of the world. I think we will not find any more fanatics or extremists in any part of the world. Even if extremists are found in a tiny part of the world, the world will not be a safe place to live in. So, this education has to happen throughout the world and made available to every child so that the child does not grow up thinking ‘Only I am in the right direction, right religion, right thought and right path. Everybody else is going to go to hell’.
So, we need to safeguard against mental corruption. It is happening in almost every religion in the
world today. The most peaceful of religious people are becoming angry, stressed and extremism is coming out. This is a matter of concern. For this, we need to teach our kids, our youngsters to
Copyright © The Art of Living Bureau of Communication channel their energy, to release their frustration and anger and to manage stress. First and foremost, we are all part of divinity, one life and then we are part of a particular religion, tradition and nation. This sense of identity with humanness should prevail among all other identities. If we can all work towards bringing that one change: that one journey from head to heart, from a limited national or religious identity to a universal identity of human values and a human being, we would have achieved something great in this century. We have made revolution in education and we need a revolution in the spiritual transition of celebrating the diversity and recognising the similarity. I wish you all success. I am sure there are hundreds and thousands of Imams and Rabbis on our beautiful
planet. They will all join us in this sacred venture of bringing peace… peace to the individual,
peace among communities and peace among the nation. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Copyright © The Art of Living Bureau of Communication
Conclusion and Summary
The World is waking up to the possibilities of perpetual peace for the first time in Centuries. With all the Green revolution, Industrial revolution and Technology revolution that took place in the 20th century, the Globe has progressed to a point where everything is connected, from global commerce interlinking economies of nations all over the world, to global communication and global community building.
In this globalized 21st century we are all waking up to the fact that Perpetual Peace is possible with the Pathway and Programs that His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has put together. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was awarded the title of “Architect for World Peace” in 2008, and the beauty of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is the fact that he is not only a Visionary and Architect for world peace, he has essentially put together an Execution Plan as well and guiding all of us everyday on the Implementation of the Execution Plan for World Peace.
This includes his programs for Eco friendliness, Business Ethics, Sudarshan Kriya, AOL part I and II courses, YES and ART Excel programs, Corporate Programs, the 5H programs, the 3S strategy, motivating volunteers and everyone he meets, his Seminars and Symposiums and many more.
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s exceptional execution capabilities (“also knows as the “Guru of Action”) is best explained when we see the World Peace Summit he organized in 2006 along with AOL’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
The tongue-in-cheek remark from the Honorable Ms. Cresson carried the weight of truth behind it. Who could you have imagined organizing a peace gathering of 2.5 million people from 110 countries? It required the vision of an exceptional spiritual leader, one who looked at all people in the planet as members of a One World Family. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar led a world-wide group of thousands of enthusiastic volunteers in organizing this gigantic event, always confident that the power of love could bring the impossible within reach.
One World Family: The massive crowd reflected the diversity of the One World Family, perhaps the most unique gathering ever - members of tribes from the farthest reaches of India to the King of Ghana, simple folks using bullock carts as means of transport to fast talking New Yorkers on jumbo jets, the President of India to a Pakistani psychiatrist from San Francisco - all had come together for one purpose - to celebrate humanity.
World Stage: Such a fantastic event demanded a magnificent stage and it certainly got one. A 30-foot-tall stage spread across the length of three football fields with a design inspired by Vijayanagara (Hampi) architecture was the jewel that adorned the 243-acre Jakkur airfield on the outskirts of Bangalore. Only half of this beautiful stage was enough to accommodate the 3800 Indian classical musicians who came together in an incredible orchestra and with very little practice performed a memorable musical symphony each of those three nights of celebration in Bangalore. They played 100 Ghatams , 360 Mrudangams (percussion), 60 Tamburas , 770 Veenas , 782 Violins, 150 Guitars, 750 Flutes, and many other instruments. Other harmonious performances by renowned Indian and international musicians reiterated the theme of unity among different peoples and cultures of the world.
Meditation of Millions: The first day was devoted to spirituality with a 1000 saints and religious leaders from all faiths gracing the stage to bless the large gathering. The second day had kings, presidents, and political leaders from all over the world stressing the path of spirituality and service championed by the Art of Living over the last 25 years. While each of the first two days ended with a peaceful meditation it was the third day that was truly spectacular as waves of the primordial sound "Om" swept the massive airfield from one end to the other. On this day H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar led the crowd in an energizing Sudarshan Kriya culminating in the sweet silence of meditation. Never before had millions come together in such deep silence to foster an atmosphere for global peace and harmony. The evening continued with a rousing address from His Excellency, Abdul Kalam, the President of India and culminated with the "One World Family Dance", incorporating dance and music from all parts of the world.
Human Values Conference: On the occasion of the Silver Jubilee, the Foundation hosted a Human Values conference. Political, business and cultural leaders addressed about 500 delegates in the Vishalakshi Mantap meditation hall at the Foundation's international center in Bangalore. Speakers at the conference included United Nations Messenger of Peace, Vijay Amritraj; Dr. Michael Nobel, head of the Nobel Family Society; German musician Peter Maffay; CEO of American satellite company WorldSpace, Noah Samara; and Dr. Myron Scholes, Nobel prize laureate in economics.
The Jubilee celebrations continued a week later with a conference on Science, Consciousness, and Spirituality in New Delhi. Two impressive studies showed that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was relieved after just a few days of Art of Living trauma relief with Sudarshan Kriya-both for tsunami survivors and for a group of Australian War Veterans, some of who had experienced PTSD for more than 30 years.
"The World Council of Religious Leaders, an independent body that works to bring religious resources to support the work of the United Nations in our common quest for peace. WCRL is not an official part of the United Nations, nor does it have any status with the United Nations."

The formation of the World Council of Religious Leaders was one of the stated goals of the Millennium World Peace Summit. The objective of this Council is to serve as a resource to the United Nations and its agencies around the world, nation states and other international organizations, offering the collective wisdom and resources of the faith traditions toward the resolution of critical global problems.

The launching of the World Council took place in Bangkok on June 12th-14th, 2002, at Buddhamonthon and at UNESCAP. Participants adopted a Charter that outlines key areas in which religious leaders can play an active role in reducing conflict and addressing the critical needs of humankind.

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