| Revision as of 08:05, 17 July 2010 edit122.172.51.109 (talk) →Life← Previous edit | Revision as of 20:41, 20 July 2010 edit undoAmongdrew (talk | contribs)3 editsNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
| | website = | | website = | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| '''Sri Sri Ravi Shankar''' (Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) ಶ್ರೀ ಶ್ರೀ ರವಿಶಂಕರ ಗುರುಜಿ) (Tamil (தமிழ்) ஸ்ரீ ஸ்ரீ ரவி ஷங்கர்) ({{lang-hi|श्रीश्री रविशङ्कर}}), born '''Ravi Shankar Ratnam''', on ], ], in ], India, is a spiritual leader and founder of the ] (founded 1982), which aims at relieving both individual stress and societal problems and violence, and which is an NGO (non-governmental organization) with ] consultative status. Frequently referred to simply as "Sri Sri" (]) or as Guruji or Gurudev,<ref name= "Salkin">A. Salkin, , ''Yoga Journal'', 2002.</ref> he also established in 1997 a Geneva-based charity, the ], an ] that engages in relief work and rural development and aims to foster shared global values. | '''Sri Sri Ravi Shankar''' (Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) ಶ್ರೀ ಶ್ರೀ ರವಿಶಂಕರ ಗುರುಜಿ) (Tamil (தமிழ்) ஸ்ரீ ஸ்ரீ ரவி ஷங்கர்) ({{lang-hi|श्रीश्री रविशङ्कर}}), born '''Ravi Shankar Ratnam''', on ], ], in ], India, is a spiritual leader and founder of the ] (founded 1982), which aims at relieving both individual stress and societal problems and violence, and which is an NGO (non-governmental organization) with ] consultative status. Frequently referred to simply as "Sri Sri" (]) or as Guruji or Gurudev,<ref name= "Salkin">A. Salkin, , ''Yoga Journal'', 2002.</ref> he also established in 1997 a Geneva-based charity, the ], an ] that engages in relief work and rural development and aims to foster shared global values. He lures young girls who cannot afford food into his monastery and gives them bread in exchange for sex. | ||
| ==Life== | ==Life== | ||
Revision as of 20:41, 20 July 2010
| Sri Sri Ravi Shankar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1956-05-13) May 13, 1956 (age 68) Papanasam, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Website | www.srisri.org |
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) ಶ್ರೀ ಶ್ರೀ ರವಿಶಂಕರ ಗುರುಜಿ) (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" (honorific) or as Guruji or Gurudev, 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. He lures young girls who cannot afford food into his monastery and gives them bread in exchange for sex.
Life
Born to Venkat Ratnam, director of a rural women’s empowerment NGO and a scholar of Indian languages, and Vishalakshi Ratnam, 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. He received a bachelor in science degree at 21 from St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore University.
After graduation, Shankar traveled with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, being invited by Maharishi to give talks on Vedic Science, arrange conferences on the Vedas and science, and set up Ayurveda centers. He was earlier addressed as "Pandit Ravi Shankar" (or "Punditji"), but in the early 1990s changed his name to "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar" (literally "Mister Mister Ravi Shankar") after the renowned sitarist Ravi Shankar objected that the guru was using the name he had made famous.
The 1980s saw Shankar initiate a series of practical, experiential courses in spirituality around the globe. Ravi 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." Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says that every emotion has a corresponding rhythm in the breath and that regulating breath could help relieve personal suffering. After realizing the Sudarshan Kriya, Shankar started sharing it with others through the Art of Living Course, first held in Shimoga.
Shankar inspired his father and several other prominent citizens of Bangalore to found Ved Vignan Maha Vidya Peeth, an educational and charitable trust, in 1981. Under the auspices of this trust, he opened a school south of Bangalore for local rural children, which now provides free education for 2000 such children.
In 1983, he offered the first Art of Living course in Europe in Switerland. He traveled to Apple Valley in the US to conduct the first course to be held in North America in 1986.
Teaching
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.
Sri Sri Ravi 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."
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. 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. A similar program was implemented in Afghanistan from 2003 to 2006 teaching war victims as well as UN and NGO personnel. In 2007, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar visited Iraq at the invitation of Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki and also met with Sunni, Shia and Kurdish leaders. He visited Pakistan in 2004 and met with some political and religious leaders there as a part of his efforts to promote global peace. 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.. 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 .
Organizations
Following are the Institutes and Organizations founded by Sri Sri Ravishankar
- Art of Living Foundation
- International Association for Human Values
- Vyakti Vikas Kendra India
- Ved Vignan Mahavidyapeeth
- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Vidya Mandir
- Sri Sri Center for Media Studies
- Sri Sri College for Ayurvedic Science and Research
- Sri Sri Ayurveda
- Sri Sri Mobile Agricultural Initiatives
- Sri Sri Pre-University College
- The Sri Sri Institute of Management Studies
- The Sri Sri School for Performing Arts and Fine Arts
- Sri Sri Rural Development Trust
- Sri Sri Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technology
Awards and honors
Below are some of the awards honoring Sri Sri Ravishankar
- 1986: Title of Yoga Shiromani (Supreme Jewel of Yoga)
- 1997: Guru Mahatmya Award
- 2002: Phoenix Award, Atlanta, USA
- 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
Sri Sri Ravishankar was nominated for Nobel Prize for his contributions and work for mankind.
Selected works
Shankar's disciples have compiled numerous books transcribed from his various discourses, which are available in a number of languages.
- Patanjali Yoga Sutras
- An Intimate Note to the Sincere Seeker (volumes 1-7)
- Buddha: manifestation of silence ISBN 8189291912
- 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
- Celebrating Love
- 2005 - Narada Bhakti Sutra, 129 pp. ISBN 8178110296
Notes
- ^ A. Salkin, Emperor of Air, Yoga Journal, 2002.
- ^ Mahadevan, Ashok (February 2007). "Face to face". Reader's Digest. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
- Prabhu, Nagesh (2003-01-17). "Vice-President to open 'Vishalakshi Mantap'". Retrieved 2009-06-05.
- WebIndia Biography
- Gautier, Francois. The Guru of Joy. New York: Hay House, 2008. p. 36.
- Verughese, S., Lessons in Living Life Positive
- ^ MacGregor, Hillary E (2004-10-31). "Breathe deeply to relieve stress, depression". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
- http://expressbuzz.com/Cities/Bangalore/dutch-honour-for-sri-sri-ravi-shankar/64181.html
- http://artofliving.eu/index.php?id=205&L=17
- Shankar, Sri Sri Ravi. Bang on the Door. Santa Barbara, CA: Art of Living Foundation. 1995. ISBN 1885289316
- Washington Post interview
- BBC News | Indian stress-busters target Iraq
- Art of Living guru in Iraq to talk peace
- 'There's dignity of religion in Pakistan', The Times of India
- Art Of Living course details
- Sudarshan Kriya Asanas, Tehelka.com
- http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/sri-sri-ravi-shankar-74.php
- http://www.thecolorsofindia.com/ravishankar/index.html
- http://hinduism.about.com/od/gurussaints/p/ravishankar.htm
- http://www.scribd.com/doc/15031501/So-Who-is-Sri-Sri-Ravi-Shankar
- http://www.deccanherald.com/content/29982/sri-sri-ravi-shankar-conferred.html
- http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/aug/15nobel.htm
- http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/sep/28franc.htm
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)