Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar View RSS

‘One Nation, One Election’: A Path to Strengthen Democracy 18 Dec 2024 10:36 PM (4 months ago)

To ensure the effective functioning of governance, election campaigns must be confined within a specific timeframe.

Temples Need to Be Run By Spiritual Leaders And Devotees 22 Sep 2024 9:20 AM (7 months ago)

The Tirupati Laddoo row has inflicted a deep wound, as well as outrage in the Hindu psyche. It brings back memories of the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, a rebellion against the malicious act of the British (of giving cartridges greased with animal fat) that hurt the religious sentiment of the Hindu soldiers, who revered the cow as their mother.

Ayodhya Ram Temple and Goddess Kali Connection 12 Jan 2024 4:34 AM (last year)

As the country prepares for the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, a long-awaited dream is about to become a reality. It’s also time to acknowledge and appreciate the role played by the Supreme Court, Prime Minister and all the stakeholders in bringing it to fruition. The saga around the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is full of interesting anecdotes and mysteries.

This Year, Dream the Impossible. Commit to a Better Planet! 5 Jan 2024 9:25 PM (last year)

We are all born to do something unique and wonderful on this planet. Make sure you don't let this opportunity pass by. Take up something creative in the new year. Not a year should pass without doing something creative.

Together We Can Heal the World 18 Jan 2023 10:31 PM (2 years ago)

A peaceful society is the basis of a prosperous society, and I am happy that world leaders are placing a great deal of importance on recognising and addressing these issues.

Win War with Peace 19 Sep 2022 11:16 PM (2 years ago)

War is the worst act of reason. Wars happen because of some perceived threats or because of the adamancy or arrogance of leaders. Whenever there is a conflict, it indicates a certain chasm between communities or between nations.

Inculcate Mutual Respect and Reverence for All Things Divine 12 Sep 2022 10:36 PM (2 years ago)

For religious harmony to prevail in a multi-faith and multicultural society, we must inculcate mutual respect and reverence for all things divine, irrespective of their religious roots.

Celebrating the True Spirit of Independence 14 Aug 2022 8:44 PM (2 years ago)

Freedom indicates fearlessness. Freedom means being happy, being confident.

Government Schemes and Protests 20 Jun 2022 10:11 PM (2 years ago)

If the right policy education is given, then the type of misinformation and mistrust that we are seeing now will not happen. The government has to make an all-out effort to reach out to people from their side. At the same time, I will appeal to young people not to go on a strike like this. This is not going to help you or the nation.

Gun Culture: It’s Time To Tame Loose Cannons 26 May 2022 11:21 PM (2 years ago)

Appalling to see the violence at Uvalde’s Robb Elementary School. Such heinous acts have no place in a civilized society. Rising sales of firearms is a big concern. Prayers that families of the victims find strength.

The Play of Gods 4 Apr 2022 12:08 AM (3 years ago)

Life is a complex interplay between the seen and the unseen, the subtle and the gross. Nature has her own laws and nothing fructifies before its time.

As we invoke and celebrate the presence of the Divine Mother during Navratri, I am reminded of an…

40 Years of The Art of Living 13 Nov 2021 7:58 AM (3 years ago)

The Art of Living has turned 40 today. The movement that took root as a framework for spreading knowledge & wisdom has today grown into one of the most dynamic, multi-faceted organisations in the world, with a presence in over 155 countries.

Peace: The Greatest Healer 21 Sep 2021 1:33 AM (3 years ago)

Inner peace is the foundation for building peace in communities and families. A peaceful state of mind is essential for the courage and confidence required to act for the greater good of humanity.

India Needs a New Revolution 15 Aug 2021 3:35 AM (3 years ago)

India may have secured political freedom 74 years ago, but the freedom of thought, expression and worship has always been an integral part of her traditions since time immemorial.

The oldest living civilisation of the world, she is young and vibrant in the heart where the eternal wisdom of the Vedas seamlessly coexists with science and technology.

Mind Over Medal 2 Aug 2021 4:48 AM (3 years ago)

Nothing brings people together like sports. Let’s keep the pure flame alive. While playing to win, one should also know how to handle any loss with aplomb.

Let the Whole World Be Well and Happy! 7 Apr 2021 7:46 AM (4 years ago)

Health has no origin, but disease does. Health has no cause or reason, but disease does. Diseases occur when the laws of nature are violated.

Yoga and Meditation Are the Need of the Hour 21 Jun 2020 8:25 AM (4 years ago)

Mental health has become one of the biggest issues on the planet today with the COVID-19 pandemic. We all have this responsibility to make sure that the opportunity to do Yoga is available to every citizen. Those who have found peace within must share it with everybody.

Flipping the Boredom with Meditation 3 May 2020 2:43 AM (5 years ago)

A person of sharp intellect gets bored faster than one with a dull intellect. In fact, you should get bored with everything mundane! Then, you are enlightened.

COVID-19: We Can Beat it 22 Mar 2020 4:28 PM (5 years ago)

Beating the virus requires collective action. It’s imperative that everyone follows the rules like staying clean, washing the hands frequently, maintaining social distance etc. Initially, they might appear challenging, but they aren’t hard to practice.

Yoga: Bending it to Infinity! 20 Jun 2018 9:18 PM (6 years ago)

As the world celebrates the fourth International Day of Yoga, it’s time again for this ancient art of inner blossoming to be in the spotlight. Thanks to the global patronage over the last four years, the acceptance and popularity of yoga has broken many barriers. The wide array of applications, expectations and perceptions demonstrates its versatility as the super-cure for the ills of the modern world.



It’s That Time Again 2 Jan 2018 10:25 PM (7 years ago)

Time is one of the great mysteries of life. It is the best storyteller and there is no witness like time. It is an objective truth in the outside world, running uniformly for everyone but depending on one’s state of mind, it can fly or drag on.…

Yoga- the Best App for Life 20 Jun 2017 10:43 PM (7 years ago)

Yoga is the way to realize the ultimate truth referred to in Vedanta and universal energy field in Quantum physics. The sublime and imperceptible truth of Vedanta is made more concrete through Yoga. It is the launching pad for one’s journey into inner space.

Yoga is the key…

Adding ‘value’ to Environment Care 6 Jun 2017 8:39 PM (7 years ago)

Every year as the World Environment Day approaches, a clamor for stricter green laws and regulations is heard across the globe. While laws are important, they are not enough to ensure environmental sustainability. We need to make care for environment a part of our value system.

…

The Wow Factor in Life 24 Apr 2017 11:26 PM (8 years ago)

The fear of the unknown is a very common human tendency. Most people are constantly engaged in making sure that their world plays out just like how their mind would imagine. However, the reality is that there is no possibility for growth without embracing the unknown.

When…

Shivaratri – Enlivening the Shiva Tattva 23 Feb 2017 7:27 PM (8 years ago)

The auspicious night of Shivaratri represents the enlivening of the Shiva tattva – the most beautiful aspect of Consciousness.

Lord Shiva is not a person or a figure. Shiva is the eternal tattva (principle) that is the essence of everything. It is the principle from which…

Jallikattu – Lessons from the Stir 5 Feb 2017 4:38 AM (8 years ago)

It’s unfortunate that a spontaneous and genuine public movement for Jallikattu like the "Marina Springs" ended with individuals and organizations with ulterior motives infiltrating the movement and hijacking it. What happened in Chennai must awaken us and serve as a lesson in constructive management of public sentiments.

Let’s Make Kashmir a Paradise Again 1 Dec 2016 5:49 AM (8 years ago)

A holistic and multi-dimensional approach is imperative to establish peace and stability in Kashmir. Real peace can prevail in Kashmir only with the participation of all the stakeholders. They have to start conversing with each other, among themselves, with a vision based on human values.

…

Being Judicious Judicially 26 Sep 2016 9:50 PM (8 years ago)

There was a time when the Judiciary was a place of solace for the troubled, hope for the despaired, a place of fear for wrongdoers and of respite for the law-abiding, home for the wise and sensible; a refuge where rich or poor equally had easy access…

Could Indian Spirituality Have Helped Mother Teresa? 4 Sep 2016 2:51 AM (8 years ago)

Mother Teresa has done unparalleled service to India. Could she also have benefited from the unparalleled spiritual wealth of India? Yes, definitely!

Although Mother Teresa lived in this ancient land of rich spiritual heritage, she stayed away from Indian spirituality and remained an island unto herself. It…

Strange Are the Ways of Karma 25 Apr 2016 1:48 AM (9 years ago)

One of the path-breaking highlights of the recent World Culture Festival in Delhi was the unwavering commitment of the artistes. Usually, artistes would refuse to perform on a wet or unsuitable floor. In this case, they stood committed to their performance despite being fully drenched and having to perform on soaking carpets on the…

A Part of the Whole 25 Apr 2016 1:44 AM (9 years ago)

“Behind every event, there is knowledge.

Behind every person, there is love.

Behind every object, there is infinity.”

Just a month before the World Culture Festival (WCF) while returning from an event in Pune, the young organizer who was driving me said, “Everything went so smooth.” I joked, “I thought I was being driven by a young…

Think Global, Talk Global 25 Apr 2016 12:30 AM (9 years ago)

In a globalised era, Indian leaders are increasingly being called upon to speak at International fora. This makes it imperative for our politicians to orient themselves and articulate their views with a global perspective.

While addressing international fora, it is a good practice to speak on subjects…

Yamuna and the World Culture Festival 6 Mar 2016 6:26 AM (9 years ago)

The Art of Living is an organisation that has been at the forefront of rejuvenating and cleaning rivers. Over the last few years, our volunteers have been working on reviving 16 rivers across India. Before the Commonwealth Games over 5000 volunteers worked everyday for 6 weeks, as…

Same Yet Different 31 Dec 2015 10:35 PM (9 years ago)

There is infinite spontaneity and creativity unfolding every moment in Nature. Every day the sun rises but every sunrise is uniquely beautiful. This is true for our experiences as we go through life as well – everything is the same and yet everything is different. Another year…

La Véritable Coupable Est La Programmation à La Haine Au Nom De L’éducation 15 Nov 2015 3:11 AM (9 years ago)

L’attentat de Paris est choquant et horrifiant pour le monde entier. C’est une agression directe, non seulement pour le mode de vie européen mais aussi pour les valeurs qui sont communes à toutes les sociétés libérales. L’Inde a elle aussi grandement souffert du terrorisme pendant plusieurs années…

Responding to Terror 14 Nov 2015 8:50 PM (9 years ago)

The horrendous attacks in Paris have sent shivers down the spine everywhere in the world. This is a direct assault not only on the European way of life but on values that are common to all liberal societies. India has also suffered greatly due to terrorism over…

Unknown Lessons from the Mahatma 30 Sep 2015 10:09 PM (9 years ago)

Gandhi Jayanti is an occasion to reflect on what we can learn from Gandhiji. Everyone’s life teaches us both what to do and what not to do. The ideals that Gandhiji set are an inspiration for generations – a sense of sacrifice, acceptance for everyone, an unbroken…

Overcoming Challenges to Peace 19 Sep 2015 3:28 AM (9 years ago)

There are usually two sides to a civil conflict and no matter who strikes first, eventually both sides are wounded. Conflict arises in the first place because both sides stick to their stand, yet to resolve the issue, both need to be made to rise above and…

Fanaticism: Rational or Irrational 8 Sep 2015 3:29 AM (9 years ago)

Life is unfathomable but people attempt to fathom it through diverse perspectives. Owing to its broad social, cultural and economic spectrum, nowhere is this diversity of beliefs as pronounced as it is in India.

When everyone is granted freedom of expression by the constitution,…

Nepal Earthquake Relief Efforts 7 May 2015 4:37 AM (10 years ago)

Nepal Earthquake Relief update - Day 11 & 12

A Capital Lesson 19 Feb 2015 8:34 PM (10 years ago)

The Delhi assembly election has shown that nobody can take people for granted in a democracy. It is refreshing to see a record voting turnout and a near unanimous result.

AAP did a commendable job of getting rid of the baggage from last year and reconnecting with…

A Spiritual Angle to the Republic Day 27 Jan 2015 11:38 PM (10 years ago)

You spend 9 months in your mother's womb in privacy. The day you are born you become public. By the time you are 3 years old, you start getting...

Yoga: Stilling the Mind 23 Nov 2014 7:01 PM (10 years ago)

There is a new icebreaker in the international diplomatic circuit. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call at the UN General Assembly for declaring an International Yoga Day has gained support from several quarters - many representatives from Congress and President Obama as well have shown keen interest in yoga.

From Depression to Deep Happiness 29 Aug 2014 2:11 AM (10 years ago)

Once a gentleman came to a doctor complaining that there was something severely wrong with him. He was hurting all over and was very sad but all the tests came out normal. The doctor said, “There is nothing wrong with you. Go to the circus and watch…

Iraqis Experience Peace Amidst Turmoil 8 Jul 2014 9:34 PM (10 years ago)

It’s hard to imagine the severity of suffering that people of Iraq have gone through over the years. The present uncertainty has only added to it. With current sectarian divides, the future looks precarious. Nobody feels safe in Iraq today.

I am happy that since 2003 Art…

Reflections on Prime Minister Modi’s Swearing in Ceremony 1 Jul 2014 1:20 AM (10 years ago)

Rituals and ceremonies are inevitable in any public function. Man cannot live without ceremonies nor society can survive without one. Whether religious or secular, ceremonies are vital to human society. Having said that, India needs to move past the types of official ceremonies that are simply the lackluster, regimental remnants of the colonial era. One such event was Prime Minister Modi’s oath taking ceremony.

Reviving Rivers, Reviving Life 11 Jun 2014 10:14 PM (10 years ago)

In February 2013, a small group of volunteers from the Art of Living took up a project to revive the Kumudavati river on the outskirts of Bangalore, which had been dry for over four decades. I am very pleased to inform that the Lok Adalat of Karnataka…

Time to Rethink : Saffron Surge and the Secular Debacle 31 May 2014 1:00 AM (10 years ago)

“What appears is not and what does not, is” This ancient saying aptly describes the Indian political scenario. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) claims to be secular but just peel a few layers and you will find that it is steeped deep in communalism. The BJP-led…

My First Meeting with Narendra Modi 12 May 2014 11:43 AM (10 years ago)

As the new millennium approached, the buzz about the end of the world and impending catastrophe raised great panic in the West. People had gone paranoid selling their homes and hoarding groceries and I was travelling from coast to coast assuring them that no such thing would…

Varying Hues Of Human Perception 18 Apr 2014 9:39 PM (11 years ago)

Human race is diverse, so too its cultures and belief systems. Though religion is born in a particular race and nation, today it has cut across boundaries of race and nationality. Although religion has maintained its own identity, it could not remain immune to the…

Layers of Democracy 6 Apr 2014 8:39 PM (11 years ago)

India with Her billion plus people is the largest democracy in the world. We have elections at various levels – village panchayat, zila parishad, block level, then state and finally, the national level elections. Unfortunately, many people have one yardstick for all of them and elect the…

Let the Race Begin… but Early! 5 Apr 2014 10:45 PM (11 years ago)

Every time elections happen in India, the country is thrown into a cauldron of corruption with party-hopping, rebellion, chaos, crime and confusion reigning supreme. Often nominations are announced at the last moment and many voters don’t even get an opportunity to see the faces of their future…

Hope Quashed, Opportunity Missed 3 Apr 2014 9:06 PM (11 years ago)

When the Aaam Admi Party emerged on the Indian political horizon, the country was stirred by the prospect of young and dynamic leaders serious about cleansing the system. Although it began as an apolitical movement, I concurred with Arvind Kejriwal’s view that to cleanse politics, one must…

Telangana – Divide and Rule? 21 Feb 2014 1:04 AM (11 years ago)

India is a phenomenon – the largest democracy on Earth, with a plethora of cultural, religious and linguistic diversity. It is simply a miracle that It still exists united, unlike the former Yugoslavian and Soviet countries. Though our forefathers had wisely divided the nation on linguistic basis…

Looking Back, Looking Ahead 26 Dec 2013 8:44 PM (11 years ago)

Any reason is a good reason to celebrate for celebration is the nature of our Spirit. New year is a time when the spirit of celebration engulfs the whole world. This is also an opportunity to reflect on the year gone by and take stock…

Remembering Mahatma Gandhi 3 Oct 2013 4:48 AM (11 years ago)

Mahatma Gandhi had a significant influence on our family and my childhood. My paternal grandfather stayed at Sabarmati Ashram and served Mahatma Gandhi there for twenty years. My grandmother took her children to her parents’ home and willingly gave away all ten and a half kilos of…

The Deeper Meaning of Janamashtami 30 Aug 2013 9:04 PM (11 years ago)

The beauty in our ancient stories is that they were never made location-specific or time-specific. Ramayana or Mahabharata are not just events that happened a long time ago, they are happening everyday in our lives. The essence of these stories is eternal.

There is a deeper meaning…

The Strange Ways of Gurus 23 Jul 2013 11:58 PM (11 years ago)

Once upon a time, a Guru was giving darshan to a congregation. People were coming and bowing down, seeking blessings. Gurudev was silent most of the time and when somebody would come and share their troubles, looking for a response, he would say only one…

Uttarakhand Relief Work 8 Jul 2013 1:43 AM (11 years ago)

I have been receiving reports of what our volunteers have been doing to bring relief to the tragedy-struck region of Uttarakhand. I wanted to share an overview of the tremendous work being done.

• 100 trucks of relief material from various parts of the country have been…

Keeping the Faith 7 Jul 2013 10:36 AM (11 years ago)

To move towards growth in life, we require faith in three things – in oneself, in the goodness in society and in God. However, looking at the recent incident in Kedarnath, where so many innocent lives were lost, one wonders if God exists. If He does, why…

Leadership: From Mob to Movement 30 Jun 2013 3:03 AM (11 years ago)

Leadership is a manifestation of strong love and compassion for people. It represents a commitment to principles. In that sense, a certain degree of leadership is dormant in every individual. The challenge comes when one has to nurture it.

A true leader—whether political, religious or social—has many…

Five Types of Questions 29 Apr 2013 6:21 AM (12 years ago)

The spark behind every great discovery that has taken place on this planet has been the spirit of inquiry. When that inquiry is directed outwards – “What is this? How does it happen?” it is science and when it is directed inwards – “Who am I? What am I here…

Different Faces of Life 19 Apr 2013 4:25 AM (12 years ago)

The ancient scriptures say that we are all floating like shells in a vast ocean of life. Even though everybody is born out of the same Consciousness, no two lives are the same. As diverse as our lives are, they are inter-dependent on each…

A Ban Doesn’t Always Work 29 Jan 2013 7:22 AM (12 years ago)

A lot is being said about the controversy over Kamal Haasan’s film Vishwaroopam and its ban in Tamil Nadu.

Interestingly, there was another movie a few months ago, that labeled all Hindu customs and symbols as hoaxes and all spiritual leaders as frauds. There were many Hindu…

Social Media for Social Transformation 21 Jan 2013 2:43 AM (12 years ago)

Media has always been a significant pillar of society. Media doesn’t just report happenings, they build public opinion. This puts the media in a powerful position in a democracy and wherever there is power there is a chance of misuse of that power. In some countries, powerful…

The 13th Doctorate 21 Jan 2013 2:17 AM (12 years ago)

Man without education,

Education without skills,

Skills without character,

Character without action,

Action without direction,

are signs of failed nation.

— while being conferred an honorary Doctorate from Gujarat Technological…

A Tune of Harmony 13 Jan 2013 12:48 AM (12 years ago)

There has been a huge uproar about the speech by Akbaruddin Owaisi. The hatred-filled content by itself is shocking enough but what is alarming is the applause that he got from his audience. This shows the danger of isolation of a community in our ever-expanding society. These…

A New Beginning 6 Jan 2013 2:03 AM (12 years ago)

It may appear that we are a part of this world, but actually, this world is a part of us. We carry our world within our mind and our mind cannot be at peace when the world around us is in turmoil. When mid-life crisis…

The New Year! 5 Jan 2013 6:54 PM (12 years ago)

As the clock ticked in the midnight,
Fireworks flashed through the sky.

Explosions heard everywhere,
Not to wake up but to put people into intoxicants.

Drums fell on deaf ears
For the lame to dance on the darkest hour.

The end relished, the beginning perished
Without a…