Living is An Art

The Art of Living Foundation, created in 1981 by the Indian master Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is dedicated to improving the quality of life of the individual and society.
According to its founder and leader, they aim to achieve a stress-free society, free of violence and propose that health is a necessary good for every being human. It’s a right of every human being.

The Guruyi, as all followers also know him, is the creator founder and spiritual leader of this Foundation, which has no affiliations religious or political, and which was created from the Sudarshan Kriya, the technique that has helped so many human beings eliminate stress and be better people every day.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also founded the International Association for Human Values, which works together with The Art of Living Foundation, and which is a consultant at the UN, through the Economic and Social Forum.

The work of that organization became known in Cuba in 2015, through the Argentine instructor Francisco Moreno Ocampo. Back then courses were delivered for a large crowd of 400 to 500 people.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar himself was in Havana that year, and has now returned.

“How we can learn to improve our quality of life: The Secret of Happiness", was the conference given this Friday at the University of Havana by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Convened by the Embassy of India in Cuba and the NGO The Art of Living the presentation took place in the amphitheater of the Law School in Havana University, attended by representatives of the diplomatic retinue accredited in Cuba, university directors, admirers of Indian culture, religious groups and the general public.

The foundation has benefited more than 300 million people around the world through its various social programs: stress post-traumatic relief, addiction recovery, youth empowerment in risk situation, river recovery and relief in natural disasters.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, holds several Honorary Doctorate degrees, and in this opportunity spoke about how we can strengthen our own happiness, while he dedicated about twenty minutes to meditation, accompanied by all participants.

The teacher specified that during this visit the training of the first instructors in Cuba of the Art of Living foundation. He also offered details of how medical civilization thousands of years ago has developed the means so that all human beings can achieve the  well-being and at the same time help others.

In 2015, Ravi Shankar met the President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, and later traveled to Cuba to hold a three-way meeting days with FARC guerrilla commanders, whom he then urged to follow "the Gandhian principle of 'Nonviolence'".

Translated by Amilkal Labañino / CubaSí Translation Staff