The Art of Living Foundation is a volunteer-based, humanitarian and educational non-governmental organization (NGO). It was founded in 1981 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji. The Art of Living Foundation has centers in more than 156 countries. Art of Living offers several stress-elimination and self-development programs based on breathing techniques, meditation and yoga.
The majority of the officers of the organization, along with most of its teachers and staff, are volunteers. Many humanitarian programs, disaster relief efforts, and training programs are conducted through, or in conjunction with a partner organization, the International Association for Human Values (IAHV). The organization is involved in community service through its centers, and programs are taken by people of many traditions and religious backgrounds. Its underlying principles are compatible with Vedic philosophy.
Its stress-elimination and self-development programs are based on the breathing technique Sudarshan Kriya, meditation and yoga. This technique is a major part of Art of Living courses, which are conducted by instructors, most of whom do voluntary work. These courses have also been conducted for students and faculty, government officials, firemen and prisoners.
About Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji is an Indian spiritual leader . He was born on 13 May1956 in Papanasam, Tamil Nadu, to Visalakshi Ratnam and R. S. Venkat Ratnam. He is the brother of Bhanumathi Narasimhan. He was named “Ravi” (a common Indian name which means “Sun”) because his birth was on a Sunday, and “Shankar” after the eighth-century Hindu saint, Adi Shankara, whose birthday was the same day as Ravi Shankar.
He is frequently referred to as “Sri Sri”, Guruji, or Gurudev. He founded the Art of Living Foundation in 1981, a volunteer-based NGO providing social support to the people. In 1997, he established a Geneva-based charity, the International Association for Human Values, an NGO that engages in relief work and rural development.
For more information on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji visit “Sri Sri Ravi Shankar”
For more information on Art of Living Foundation visit “Art of Living Foundation”
