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The Art of Living Foundation, is a non-profit, volunteer based organization founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... , For other uses, see Bangalore (disambiguation). ... A website (alternatively, web site or Web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or more web servers, usually accessible via the Internet. ... Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (born May 13, 1956, Kannada: ರವ್ಇಷನಕರ) is a spiritual and humanitarian leader, born in India. ...

Mission statement

A non-denominational, educational and humanitarian non-profit organization, The Art of Living Foundation (AOLF)'s stated mission is to uplift society by strengthening the individual through programs that create a sense of belonging, restore human values, develop life to its full potential, and encourage people from all backgrounds, religions, and cultural traditions to come together in celebration and service. According to the Foundation, it has programs in more than 140 countries around the world, and offers several courses to bring individuals knowledge and techniques to unlock their deepest potential and bring fullness to life.^[3]

Organization

The Art of Living Foundation (AOLF) has its international headquarters in Bangalore, India at Veda Vignan Manahvidyapeeth or VVM campus (usually referred to as the Bangalore Ashram)and has regional centers in more than 140 countries.^[4] The foundation was founded by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.^[5] , For other uses, see Bangalore (disambiguation). ...

AOLF has been a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational and humanitarian organization in the U.S. since 1989. Accredited as a United Nations Non-Governmental organization in 1996, it is now one of the UN's largest volunteer-based NGOs. It works in special consultative status with the UN's Economic and Social Council, participating in a variety of committees and activities relating to health, education, sustainable development, conflict resolution, and disaster relief.

The Foundation operates as a social business ^[6] and its main activity is to organize Art of Living courses,^[7] yoga and meditation workshops,^[8] and education and trauma relief in areas of trauma and disaster.^[9]. The majority of the officers of the organization, along with most of its teachers and staff, are volunteers. All humanitarian programs, disaster relief efforts and training programs are conducted through, or in conjunction with its sister organization, the International Association for Human Values (IAHV).^[10] Some of the key world-wide chapters include the Art of Living Foundation (U.S.A.), Vyakti Vikas Kendra (India), Die Kunst des Lebens (Germany), Art of Living Center (Canada), Art of Living South Africa, Art of Living Israel, Art of Living Brazil, and Art of Living Argentina. All told, there are international centres in 140 countries.^[11] Social business is a theory put forward by Nobel Peace Prize 2006 winner economist Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh, which according to him could immensely benefit many of the poor nations in the world. ...

The term Sudarshan Kriya is registered as a trademark to Art of Living Foundation. Sudarshan Kriya (Sanskrit: su = right, darshan = vision, kriya means purifying action)[1] is a unique rhythmical breathing process that is said to have been revealed to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar during a spell of silent meditation that he had gone into for 10 days in 1982. ...

Professional affiliations and memberships

AOLF is an international Non-Governmental Organization in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations, with accredited representatives at the United Nations in New York, Geneva, and Vienna. AOLF has also worked in formal consultation with the World Health Organization (WHO): "Development of a Global Health Policy for the 21st Century". AOLF is also affiliated with the International Association for Human Values.^[12] WHO redirects here. ...

AOLF is a member to the following international associations:^[13]

• CONGO (Conference of NGO's in consultative status with ECOSOC of the United Nations), Geneva and New York
• United Nations NGO Committees: Health, Mental Health, Committee on Aging, New York
• United Nations NGO Values Caucus, New York and Geneva
• International Union for Health Promotion and Education, Paris
• NGO Forum for Health, Geneva
• National Association of Women's Organizations, Uganda

Courses

Courses include:

• The Art of Living Course and Sudarshan Kriya^[14]
• The Art of Living Course Part 2^[15]
• DSN - Creating a Divine Society^[16]
• Sri Sri Yoga^[17]
• Wisdom Series^[18]
• Youth Leadership Training Program^[19]
• ART Excel (All-Round Training In Excellence) ages 8yrs-13yrs^[20]
• YES! for Teens (Youth Empowerment Seminar) ages 14yrs-18yrs^[21]
• YES Plus!(Youth Empowerment Seminar Plus!) ages 18yrs-30yrs^[22]
• The Art of Living Prison Program^[23]

Silver jubilee celebration

The Art of Living's Silver Jubilee was celebrated on 17-19 February, 2006, at the 243-acre Jakkur Airfield. Attendees from more than 100 countries participated in the celebrations.^[24] Among those attending were A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India; Ruud Lubbers, a former prime minister of the Netherlands; Otumfuo Osei Tutu II , King of Ghana; and people of many faiths and walks of life.^[25] The highlight of the third day (19 Feb) , was a public mass meditation, "Maha Sudharshan Kriya".^[26]

Criticism

The Art of Living volunteers have been criticized for making unsubstantiated claims about the effectiveness of Sudarshan Kriya in benefiting patients suffering from not only depression and trauma but also cancer and AIDS.

Critics charge that exaggerated and pseudoscientific claims (for instance, the claim that HIV cannot survive in the oxygen rich environment produced by Sudarshan Kriya^[27]) mislead patients with serious physical and mental illness and thus prove dangerous and cause harm. A pseudoscience is any body of knowledge purported to be scientific or supported by science but which fails to comply with the scientific method. ... Species Human immunodeficiency virus 1 Human immunodeficiency virus 2 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections). ...

A study prepared for the US Department of Health and Human Services, reviewed the quality of research in Sudarshan Kriya and other meditation practices, and said, "Overall, we found the methodological quality of meditation research to be poor, with significant threats to validity in every major category of quality measured, regardless of study design."^[28] The report concluded: The United States Department of Health and Human Services, often abbreviated HHS, is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. ...

Scientific research on meditation practices does not appear to have a common theoretical perspective and is characterized by poor methodological quality. Firm conclusions on the effects of meditation practices in healthcare cannot be drawn based on the available evidence.

– Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality study^[28] The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), formerly known as the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), supports research designed to improve the outcomes and quality of health care, reduce its costs, address patient safety and medical errors, and broaden access to effective services. ...

The AOL foundation makes no official guarantee or promise of any therapeutic effects of Sudarshan Kriya, although research, personal experiences and testimonials of those claiming to have been benefited are highlighted.

According to an article in Reader's Digest: This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

"There is no doubt, however, that some of its claims are exaggerated. For instance, according to an AOL brochure its “Youth Empowerment Seminar” is compulsory at 10 German universities. A random check by Reader’s Digest at five of the universities revealed that not only is the seminar not compulsory, it is not even part of the academic curriculum. It is offered as a leisure activity, alongside tennis and aerobics." ^[29]

Edward Luce in his book Inspite of Gods alludes to Sri Sri's ties to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad.^[30] Edward Luce is the Washington bureau chief of the Financial Times, London. ... The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (Hindi: , English: ), also known as the Sangh or the RSS, is a Hindu terrorist organization in India. ... The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP; World Hindu Council in Hindi), is a Hindu nationalist organisation in Bharat, an offshoot of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. ...

Notes

The Times of India (TOI) is a leading English-language broadsheet daily newspaper in India. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Edward Luce is the Washington bureau chief of the Financial Times, London. ...

External links

Official website

• Official website of Art of Living Foundation
• Official website of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
• Art of Living Community Forum