Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of The Art of Living along with religious leaders from various faiths at the interfaith meet in Mexico City.
Brings peace to Mexico jails, Brazilian police, drug addicts, Senators, businessmen
Bengaluru: Spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar toured as many as 13 cities across eight nations in Latin America as part of his ongoing efforts to usher peace in world's most violent regions in South and Central America. Some of the world's top publications, including the Paris-based Le Monde, described the effort as "breathtakingly fresh in a region where no one wanted to look forward".
Gurudev was invited to 'Change the Rose of Peace' event in Guatemala City by the Ministry of Culture - an honor accorded previously only to peacemakers like the Pope and Mother Teresa.
From being invited to ‘Change the Rose of Peace’ at the Cultural Palace of Guatemala City by the Ministry of Culture to being given the rarest honor of opening the Miraflores Locks (Panama Canal Gates) in Panama, Gurudev was acknowledged as a leader who can influence mindsets for positive social transformation.
Gurudev was the honored guest at an exclusive tour at the neutral zone of the Panama Canal. Gurudev opened the canal gates with a digital key. This tour is only done for heads of states and this is an excluisve area.
Gurudev and the Pope are the only spiritual leaders to have been given the honor of opening the gates of the Panama Canal. He was also honored as "Distinguished Guest" by Governor of Province of Panama and conferred the highest civilian award in Recife, Brazil.
Gurudev being presented Ambassador of Peace Award, an award that has only been presented to three people by the state of Guerrero, Mexico so far.
At Guerrero, one of Mexico’s most violent states, he was welcomed with a massive public reception by Governor Héctor Astudillo. The Governor also conferred the Ambassador of Peace recognition on him, an honor given to three people so far.
Certificate of Recognition conferred upon Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the citation says: Recognition - As founder of The Art of Living, for being a humanitarian leader, spiritual master and internationally recognized peace ambassador.
Indian ambassadors in many of these countries welcomed Gurudev whose wellness programs have gained credence across India and the world, including strife-torn Iraq and Syria.
In Mexico, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar sought holistic ways for tackling the widespread violence in the country, arising from drug wars and gang fights. He also visited two of Mexico's largest prisons filled with hardened criminals and drug lords - Santa Marta Acatitla and Reclusorio Varonil Norte and a drug rehab center where incidences of violence have reduced drastically after the introduction of Art of Living's prisoner rehabilitation program.
At Guerrero, the governor appealed for his support to end the war of the cartels in this strategic region of drug production and trafficking with an average of six killings per day.
During his 20-day peace mission to 8 nations in the South American continent, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar travelled to Colombia, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica and Brazil. He was warmly welcomed as an ambassador of peace by heads of governments, legislators, decision makers, businessmen, academicians and the masses, demonstrating a deep resonance with holistic approach to peace building.
His public programs in San Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama and Brazil were packed to capacity.
Here are the other highlights of the tour:
- In war-scarred Colombia, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was the keynote speaker at Reconciliation Colombia along with speakers like Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. The spiritual leader also led a mass meditation program outside the Colombian parliament at Bolivar Square, where the famous Latin American band Aterciopelados joined in Sanskrit chanting and meditations.
- In Costa Rica, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar signed an MOU with President Luis Guillermo Solís to work for peace and non-violence in the country.
- In Panama, he had a discussion with the vice president Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado on initiatives to foster peace and combat violence.
- In Brazil, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had discussions with key leaders including Brazilian President Michel Temer, Minister of Education Mendonça Filho and the Health Minister and President of Human Rights Commission Padre João. Sri Sri also signed an important partnership with the government of Bahia in Brazil to bring Art of Living program to all the 32000 personnel of the police force in the state.
- San Salvador honored him for his contribution to peace and humanitarian work.
- The three-week tour of Latin America concluded on an enthusiastic note at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil where over 15000 people turned up for an evening of music and meditation with Gurudev.
From November 29 to December 19, Gurudev also launched volunteer campaigns across many cities and urged people to put in one hour a day in the service of society. The campaigns will take up projects in the areas of improving protection of women, fighting corruption and reducing crime among others.
The Art of Living has been working in the South American continent for 18 years now. During the visit, Gurudev sealed agreements for extending Art of Living programs for prison officials, public schools, rehabilitating slum children and deaddiction programs.
