Art of Living Foundation

Infobox Organization
name = The Art Of Living Foundation

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caption = "We care for the World, We Care for You" [ [http://artofliving.org Art of Living Foundation ] ]
motto = "Serve Society and Strengthen the Individual" [ [http://artofliving.org/FAQ/tabid/244/Default.aspx FAQ ] ]
headquarters = Kanakapura, Bangalore
leader_name = Sri Sri Ravishankar
website = http://www.artofliving.org

The Art of Living Foundation, is a non-profit, volunteer based organization founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

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. [ [http://us.artofliving.org/art-of-living-course/index.html Art of Living Course Overview ] ]

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. [ [http://us.artofliving.org/locator/international-centers.html International Centers of the Art of Living Foundation ] ] The foundation was founded by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. [ [http://www.srisri.org The Office of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ] ]

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 [ [http://secure.artofliving.org/courses.aspx Art Of Living Online Registrations - Courses ] ] and its main activity is to organize Art of Living courses, [ [http://us.artofliving.org/art-of-living-course/index.html Art of Living Course Overview ] ] yoga and meditation workshops, [ [http://us.artofliving.org/advanced/index.html Advanced Programs ] ] and education and trauma relief in areas of trauma and disaster. [ [http://us.artofliving.org/service-projects/index.html Service Projects ] ] . 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). [ [http://www.iahv.org/ IAHV Socio Economic Devleopment, Human Development, Disaster Relief, Community Driven Development, Women Empowerment, Youth Empowernment, Education ] ] 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. [ [http://us.artofliving.org/locator/international-centers.html International Centers of the Art of Living Foundation ] ]

The term Sudarshan Kriya is registered as a trademark to Art of Living Foundation.

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. [ [http://us.artofliving.org/foundation/index.html About The Art of Living Foundation USA ] ]

AOLF is a member to the following international associations: [ [http://us.artofliving.org/foundation/index.html About The Art of Living Foundation USA ] ]
*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 [ [http://us.artofliving.org/art-of-living-course/index.html Art of Living Course Overview ] ]
*The Art of Living Course Part 2 [ [http://us.artofliving.org/advanced/index.html Advanced Programs ] ]
*DSN - Creating a Divine Society [ [http://us.artofliving.org/advanced/creating-divine-society.html Art of Living Foundation USA ] ]
*Sri Sri Yoga [ [http://us.artofliving.org/advanced/sri-sri-yoga.html Art of Living Foundation USA ] ]
*Wisdom Series [ [http://us.artofliving.org/advanced/wisdom-commentary.html Commentary on Ancient Wisdom ] ]
*Youth Leadership Training Program [ [http://www.artoflivingyouth.org/yltp.htm Art of Living Foundation Youth! ] ]
*ART Excel (All-Round Training In Excellence) ages 8yrs-13yrs [ [http://www.artoflivingyouth.org/kidzone.html Art of Living Foundation Youth! ] ]
*YES! for Teens (Youth Empowerment and Skills Workshop) ages 14yrs-18yrs [ [http://www.artoflivingyouth.org/teenzone.html Art of Living Foundation Youth! ] ]
*YES Plus!(Youth Empowerment and Skills Workshop Plus!) ages 18yrs-30yrs [ [http://www.artoflivingyouth.org/collegezone.html Art of Living Foundation Youth! ] ]
*The Art of Living Prison Program [ [http://us.artofliving.org/prison-program/index.html Prison Smart Program from the Art of Living Foundation ] ]

ilver 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. [cite news |title='Art of Living' celebrates silver jubilee |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1419379.cms |publisher=The Times of India |date=2006-02-18 |accessdate=2007-07-03] 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 , the chief of the Akan tribe of Ghana; and people of many faiths and walks of life. [cite web |url=http://www.silverjubilee.org/ |title=Art of Living silver jubilee celebrations |accessdate=2007-06-21 |publisher= The Art of Living ] The highlight of the third day (19 Feb) , was a public mass meditation, "Maha Sudharshan Kriya". [cite news |first= K.G. |last= Vasuki |coauthors= |title=Art of Living silver jubilee celebrations end in Bangalore |url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/060220/139/62lvc.html |publisher= Yahoo India news|date=2006-02-20 |accessdate=2007-07-03 ]

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" [cite web |url=http://www.bawandinesh.net/AIMSPresentation.ppt |title= AIMS presentation|format=PDF |publisher= The Art of Living ] ) mislead patients with serious physical and mental illness and thus prove dangerous and cause harm.

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." The report concluded:quotation|Scientific research on meditation practices does not appear to have a common theoretical perspective and ischaracterized 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 studyOspina MB, Bond TK, Karkhaneh M, Tjosvold L, Vandermeer B, Liang Y, Bialy L, Hooton N,Buscemi N, Dryden DM, Klassen TP. Meditation Practices for Health: State of the Research.Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 155. (Prepared by the University of AlbertaEvidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-02-0023.) AHRQ Publication No.07-E010. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. June 2007.]

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:

"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." [cite web |url=http://www.rd-india.com/newsite/other/facetoface.asp |title=Face to Face |accessdate=2007-06-21 |author=A. Mahadevan |publisher=Reader's Digest]

Edward Luce in his book Inspite of Gods alludes to Sri Sri's ties to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad.Edward Luce: Review of Inspite of Gods]

Notes

[http://us.artofliving.org/founder/global-service.html Global Service Organisations formed by the founder of The Art of Living]

External links

* [http://www.artofliving.org/ Official website of Art of Living Foundation]
* [http://www.srisri.org Official website of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar]