ri Sri Ravi Shankar is a humanitarian leader, spiritual teacher, and an ambassador of peace. His vision of a stress-free, violence-free society has united millions of people around the world through service projects and courses offered by the Art of Living Foundation.
Born in 1956, in Southern India, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was a gifted child. By the age of four, he was able to recite the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Sanskrit text, and was often found in deep meditation. Sri Sri’s first teacher, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, had a long association with Mahatma Gandhi. By the age of seventeen, Sri Sri had graduated with degrees in both Vedic literature and physics.
Sri Sri founded the Art of Living as an international non-profit educational and humanitarian organization. Its educational and self-development programs offer powerful tools to eliminate stress and foster a sense of well-being. These practices, both ancient and modern, have proven effective throughout the world and at all levels of society. Art of Living courses are currently offered in more than 150 countries. In 1997, Sri Sri co-founded the International Association for Human Values (IAHV) to work in association with the Art of Living, and coordinate sustainable-development projects, nurture human values, and facilitate conflict resolution. The Art of Living Foundation and IAHV are now among the largest volunteer-based NGOs in the world.
Beyond reviving ancient wisdom, Sri Sri has created new techniques for personal and social transformation. These include Sudarshan Kriya®, which has helped millions of people find relief from stress and discover inner reservoirs of energy, greater awareness, and inner silence in daily life.
The strength of his message has inspired a wave of service based on spirituality, through a huge body of volunteers driving numerous service projects in critical regions around the globe. Learn more about Sri Sri on his website.