The Art of Living Foundation: We
care. We share.
The Art of Living Foundation (AOLF) is the largest volunteer
based Non-Governmental Organization in the world with a wide
range of social, cultural and spiritual activities. It was
founded in 1982 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar as an international
educational and humanitarian non-profit organization. It is
active in 152 countries today and has reached out to over
20 million people representing all walks of life, religions,
cultures and traditions. The foundation works in special consultative
status with the Economic and Social Council of the United
Nations, participating in a variety of committees and activities
relating to health, education, sustainable development and
conflict resolution.
For more information please visit us at us.artofliving.org
Learn about our sister organization
the International Association for Human Values at www.iahv.org
Youth Mission Statement
The Art of Living Foundation's youth programs integrate powerful
breathing techniques, meditation and yoga to release emotional
and physical stress that can lead to violence and depression,
and to encourage the development of higher human values in
students. Problem-solving strategies, leadership training,
and tools to deal with peer pressure and develop greater confidence
are integrated with team building exercises and service learning
activities in order to make the learning experiential. The
self-empowering techniques foster peace of mind, mental clarity
and focus, physical relaxation, greater emotional stability
and overall well-being. The ideas and techniques are useful
and applicable so students can integrate what they have learned
into their daily lives.
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
 His
Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living
and the International Association
for Human Values, has inspired a global phenomenon of
caring, sharing and service which has spread to over 146 countries
across the globe. The programmes and service activities of
the Art of Living Foundation have benefitted over 20 million
people across the globe.
His Holiness' life and work have been dedicated to reviving
human values and bringing about world peace and development
through an individual commitment to joyful living, selfless
service and self-awareness.
Read Official Biography on www.SriSri.org
A Message from the Founder
The Noise of Non-Violence
Often violence comes with noise. Non-violence happens in silence.
People who are violent make huge noise; they make it known.
People who are non-violent are quiet. But the time has come
for people who are non-violent to make noise so that the violence
will quiet down. The message of non-violence has to come loud
and clear so that it can be heard from a young age.
A sense of shame has to be connected with anger and violence.
The reason for violence in young people is a sense of pride
in anger and violence, not a sense of shame. People feel proud
that they are violent or angry. They think it is prestigious
or a status symbol to be aggressive. Aggression is not thought
to be a quality to be ashamed of. This promotes aggression
and violence in the whole society, and when aggression and
violence are promoted, human values diminish. Some movies
and modern music glorify frustration, anger and revenge and
make these a role model for children.
We need to promote human values especially
love, compassion and a sense of belonging, loud and clear.
Speak to groups or through your local media in the newspaper
and on TV and create as many ART Excel, YES! and Art of Living
courses in your area as possible.
Question: “ If people are ashamed
to be angry, won’t that keep them unnatural and set
up resistance in them that will persist?”
Sri Sri: “ If they are not ashamed,
they will feel a free license to get angry and violent. Sometimes
resistance is a good thing, i.e. resistance to disease or
resistance to bad habits”.
H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
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