Vice-President of Argentina Honours Indian Spiritual Leader H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
May 19, 2008, BUENOS AIRES: Tens of thousands of Argentinians, including politicians, business leaders, prison inmates and the general public, warmed to the teachings of Indian spiritual leader and founder of the International Art of Living Foundation, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, during his six-day visit to the nation.
The Vice-President of Argentina and President of the Senate, Mr. Julio Cobos honoured Sri Sri with a citation for the Art of Living Foundation's exceptional social work in Argentina over the last 17 years. The Art of Living Foundation has conducted stress-elimination programmes in 50 new cities since Sri Sri's last visit in 2006. Education for underprivileged children, free medical camps, youth programs and rehabilitation workshops for prisoners, are some of the other service initiatives in Argentina.
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar signed an agreement of mutual cooperation with the Mayor of Buenos Aires, Mr. Mauricio Macri, in the presence of the Ambassador of India to Argentina, Mr. Rengaraj Viswanathan. Both parties pledged to fight violence off streets and schools in Buenos Aires.
In his address to the Senate, Sri Sri said, "Dignity in politics and ethics in business will ensure buying power. Only then can an economy prosper. Decision-makers need to be free from stress in order to come up with great ideas and work well."
Sri Sri also addressed over 1,600 corporate leaders and eminent people in Buenos Aires at a Conference on Corporate Ethics and Human Values, hosted by the Art of Living Foundation and its sister organisation, the International Association of Human Values.
He urged the audience to have a broad, all-encompassing vision: "Society has four pillars - politics, business, academia and religion, each of which are present here. Human values and spirituality form the base of these four pillars. Without human values, there is unrest in politics, greed and lack of trust in business, and knowledge without wisdom in academia. Religion without human values causes strife. So it is important to broaden one's vision." At the conference, the Art of Living Foundation awarded the Prize for Human Values to Rabbi Sergio Bergman and Norma Vicente for promoting human values in Argentina.
Sri Sri later interacted with inmates at the largest prison in Argentina, one of the 26 prisons in which the Art of Living Foundation has been conducting its transformational Prison Program. He explained, "Inside every culprit there is a victim crying for help. If you heal the victim they will not be criminals any more."
In an event celebrating Sri Sri's birthday on May 13, 14,000 Argentinians lit candles for peace and a violence-free society, in a special gesture of solidarity for the families and victims of the recent bomb blast in Jaipur, India.
The International Art of Living Foundation, established by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in 1981, is a unique global service project that formulates and implements lasting solutions to conflicts and issues faced by individuals, communities and nations. One of the largest volunteer-based organisations in the world, the foundation's work has touched the lives of millions of people spanning over 140 countries.
The Art of Living initiatives strive to uphold the dignity of every human being on this planet, offering each individual a stress-free mind, a healthy body and the opportunity to maximize their potential for personal and spiritual growth.
The Art of Living Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organisation that works in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations, participating in a variety of committees and activities relating to health, education, sustainable development and conflict resolution.