Sri Sri University celebrates Convocation

03 SEPTEMBER, 2014, BHUBHANESHWAR. The Art of Living’s Sri Sri University today celebrated the graduation-day ceremony of the pilot batch of graduates of the MBA Programme 2012-2014 at the Mayfair Convention Centre in Bhubaneswar,  in the presence of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder, Sri Sri University and the Art of Living Foundation, and the chief guest the Honourable Chief Minister, Odisha, Mr. Naveen Patnaik.

Addressing the distinguished invitees and students, Sri Sri said,“One of the main purposes behind setting up this university is to provide the best of the East and the West. But science when clogged with prejudice then science slows down and spirituality when clogged with superstition loses its utility. We need to break spirituality of superstition and science of prejudice. Universities are there to create a vibrant, open mind to respond to questioning and open up to new learning.”  

The chief guest, Mr. Patnaik, delivering the Convocation Address, emphasized and said, “Over the past years of existence Sri Sri University has established itself as a promising and excellent institute,



Some Coverages for the event in various newspapers across the country.

Mental Health Matters : Jamaica

News from Jamaica

 “Past is dead. Future is unknown. Where is life? Life is happening right NOW”.

On August 12th, 2014 the Art of Living Foundation Jamaica and The Ministry of Youth and Culture organised a one day introductory seminar for youth: Mental Health Matters. The seminar was attended by 50 youth leaders from various schools and homes and for the first time were exposed to breathing, yoga and meditation. Their response and experience of this workshop was such that the Ministry of Youth on the same day issued a press release confirming a roll out of Art of Living Youth Empowerment Seminars to more schools. The Student council youth leaders participating on this workshop personally were motivated and geared to become ambassadors of Art of Living and take them to all the schools and universities in Jamaica.

The session was conducted by Mr. Dushyant Savadia, an International Program Director with The Art of Living Foundation.

Mental health is not just an absence of a mental disorder, but also a psychological well being of a person, which largely depends on the state of mind, which in its turn determines the quality of life. That is why it is highly important to teach youngsters how to handle their mind, not letting it to scatter all over the place, to regret or to daydream 24/7. The importance of the present moment was emphasised by Mr. Savadia numerous times: “Past is dead. Future is unknown. Where is life? Life is happening right NOW”.

Seminar attendants got to know powerful breathing techniques, that enabled them to relax and de-stress. Participants also got the experience of Sun Salutations, strengthening exercises to achieve a better co-ordination between mind and body. Moreover, youngsters got an experience of meditation, which is a very powerful yet effortless technique that allows the mind to take a break and relax completely. Highly charged with the wisdom and benefits of breathing techniques and meditation taught in the seminar, students vowed to practice at home and incorporatethese in their daily lives and prolong the benefits of the seminar.

The feedback of the participants was highly positive and many of them said that they were  feeling much calmer and more peaceful, willing to learn more breathing and meditation technique themselves and bring this knowledge to their peers.

Similar event took place in Doctor’s Cave Beach Club House in Montego Bay, where the session was conducted by the local Art of Living Teacher - VandanaChandiramani.

Art of Living Jamaica will continue the collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Culture to bring this valuable knowledge to the youth across the country. Inspired by this event, the Ministry of Youth has issued a press release that they will be engaging Art of Living workshops to more and more youths in schools and universities.

ART OF LIVING ACTIVITIES IN JAMAICA

In Jamaica the AOLF has been active for the past 2 years; and has worked with the Ministry of National Security, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Youth and Culture. Art of Living Jamaica has successfully carried out a series of stress-management and rehabilitation programs for inmates at various prisons in Kingston. Courses have reached out to at-risk youth, teachers, farmers, inner-city communities, corporate and senior management staff of the Ministry of National Security. Our service initiatives and stress-management courses have benefited thousands in Jamaica, bringing a positive change.

A New Hope: Education for the Underprivileged

Sri Sri Seva Mandir Project has been initiated by volunteers in four districts in Andhra Pradesh - Guntur, Vishakhapatnam, Hyderabad and Kurnool.

Why the Project was initiated:

The inspiration to start the project came as a result of wanting to address situations arising in the following four categories

a) Naxals forcing parents to join and get trained for Guerrilla Warfare so once both the parents leave the kids , no one was there to take care of them.

b) Fathers would force children into child labour and use the money so earned to drink alcohol

c) Usually girl child is considered a burden and married of at age of 15 or 16

d) Socio Economic Factors. Education for Kindergarten in Andhra Pradesh is expensive so sending children for education was a huge financial burden for the parents. So they were sent to work to support the family financially from a Young Age

The Free School project was started so that disadvantaged children could get the opportunity to study in an environment which provided both advanced technology and spirituality too. 

Simultaneous Teacher Training happened as teachers were selected as young students and were encouraged to complete their B.Ed. through distance education, later to be absorbed in the same school;

This motivated the teachers to give their best and ensured quality in the education being imparted. Coaches trained at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) come on weekend and also week days to train in games like Carrom, Chess ,Volleyball etc.

The teachers are also encouraged to do Advanced level courses of the Art of Living thereby learning Meditation and breathing techniques. This enables all round growth of the teachers which has a direct impact on the quality of their teaching and values they impart to the children. In Hyderabad school, they have advanced learning concepts

More than 500 kids have benefited from the project in the past 5 years.