Afghanistan
Breathing New Life into Afghanistan

More than two decades of war and strife has almost completely destroyed Afghanistan. Sri Sri's programs are being conducted in the country on a regular basis.

The participants are taught some simple, yet powerful breathing techniques and sound meditations, which have a profound impact on reducing trauma levels and stress caused by incessant war scenes. Due to the intense experiences that the Afghans have had, they respond to these techniques immediately and extremely effectively.

Kosovo
Cooperation with the Ministry of Health

The Art of Living Program in Kosovo has been so helpful to Kosovars, where there is an 80% rate of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the general population, high rate of depression and suicide, that the Kosovo Ministry of Health has given a contract to the Art of Living.

Since then, more than 100 nurses, doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, psycho-social advisors and social workers employed in 7 Mental Health Centers all over Kosovo have taken the Art of Living Workshops.

Based on their positive experiences, the Ministry of Health wants all the Mental Health Workers in Kosovo, in all their Mental Health Centers and hospitals, to be given the worksops to deal with their own stress and prevent burnout and also to be trained to teach the Breath, Water, Sound Program so they can teach more people. The Foundation has also started a rehabilitation project for war victims from Kosovo.

Iraq
All the way from Iraq 2003

At a time of extreme uncertainty, the people of war-ravaged Iraq are finding a breath of fresh air in ancient Indian practices such as yoga, meditation and breathing techniques. The people of Iraq are turning to these techniques in a big way to get over their emotional and mental trauma.

The volunteers have set up trauma relief camps in various parts of Iraq, especially in Baghdad. Medicines, food, clothes, breathing and meditation exercises for the mind and soul - the trauma relief camps received a very enthusiastic response from the Iraqi people.

For the first time, people who had not been able to sleep for days together because of constant bombing and killing were able to sleep thanks to breathing and meditation techniques. Many people had relief from depression, anxiety, blood pressure, migraine and other psychosomatic disorders resulting from war-related stress. The combined approach to the well being of body and mind has given spectacular results.

At a time when most other NGOs are evacuating their volunteers from Iraq in the wake of heightened unrest, kidnappings, and violence, the Art of Living, founded by Sri Sri, is determined to stay put.

Israel
Transcending Walls: 2004

In yet another example of unrelenting commitment to build bridges between estranged communities and help people overcome trauma of conflict, Art of Living Programs have commenced in places along the wall that separates between Israel and the Palestinians territories.

The first course was held in June 2004 in the big neighborhood of Mevaseret Zion, located on the border of Jerusalem. Since then, regular courses are been organized in different parts around the wall. More and more people are signing for the courses. People in these areas live under constant fear of becoming victims of missile attacks and are finding the stress elimination techniques taught by Art of Living very effective in combating stress.

People have liked the program so much that it has become very popular in the nearby cities as well. Many have shared their phenomenal experiences with Sudarshan Kriya. Participants are bringing their families and friends to sign up for programs. Regular follow up sessions are being held and local groups are working towards organizing more workshops.

Pakistan
Pakistan visit from July 19th to July 23rd 2004

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had been invited to Pakistan by the Art of Living Foundation, Helpline Trust, Gharib Nawaz Foundation and the Daily Times newspaper on a historic four-day peace mission. He was the first spiritual master from India to visit Pakistan on such a mission.

During his visit, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar held informal meetings with political and business leaders, religious heads and social activists in Karachi and Islamabad. He said that his interaction with people of Pakistan had been heart-to-heart and not intellectual. The subject of his discussions were more in keeping with his goodwill mission - Unity in Diversity and Globalising Wisdom.

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar met with Islamic clerics during which He emphasized the need to "build mutual trust for lasting peace". Sri Sri has extended an invitation for them to visit India in near future. In addition he made a goodwill visit to a Hindu temple in Karachi where he met a delegation of the Sindhi Hindu Panchyat and then visited Panja Sahib the holy site of Guru Nanak in Hasan Abdel.

His message reached millions of Pakistani through his TV interviews shown on prime time by Indus Television, ARY, GEO and City Channel, and a well attended press conference. His message helped bridge the spiritual and cultural divide and conveyed his vision of a united and prosperous south-east Asia.