On Wisdom, Meditation, and Joy

An audience of over 1,300 people from all backgrounds was captivated by the joy and wisdom of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, world-renowned humanitarian, spiritual leader, and ambassador of peace, at a public talk held at The Fifth at Rockwell, Powerplant Mall, Makati. Organized by Art of Living Philippines and the International Association for Human Values (IAHV), the event gathered spiritual enthusiasts, government leaders, peacebuilders, influencers, and a diverse mix of people to highlight the importance of finding inner peace and joy during these trying times.

The event was graced by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Gen. Romeo Brawner, Jr., Secretary Benhur Abalos, Jr. of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Secretary Jaime Bautista of the Department of Transportation (DOT), AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations Maj. Gen. Arvin Lagamon, and His Excellency Ahmed Abdallah Ibrahim Hafez, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

During his talk, Gurudev shared how meditation gives people access to their happiness and well-being while finding inner peace. He said, “To access this treasure we need to begin by focusing inwardly, and for this we need some training. Meditation is this training. As we meditate more, we gain confidence in our innate basic goodness and well-being. This unlocks our potential and gives our lives tremendous meaning.”

In the face of adversity, Gurudev also said that meditation not only opens a gateway to compassion but also connects people deeply with themselves and others.

“As a child when we cried it would not take much time before we smiled again. As adults however, when we cry it could take months and sometimes years before we can smile again. We have not learned how to manage our own mind. The secret to managing our mind and emotions lies in the breath,” Gurudev explained. This is what the Art of Living and IAHV teach people to do through their programs and initiatives.

Earlier in the week, upon his arrival in Manila, Gurudev was welcomed by the First Lady Liza Marcos at a dinner reception at the Goldenberg Mansion, Malacañang Palace. They spoke on the benefits of meditation and the need for meditation centers in the metropolis.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also gave a highly impactful keynote address at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) entitled “Mental Health and Well-Being: Strengthening Resilience for Individuals, Societies and Nations”, where he talked about staff physical and mental well-being and how these considerations can be woven into ADB’s development projects.

Later that day, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar held a closed-door meeting with key stakeholders working on peacebuilding and conflict resolution, including key officials from the AFP and the Philippines Government, as mentioned earlier, and representatives from the United Nations, Z Group, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.

Through a myriad of programs and teachings conducted by Art of Living and IAHV, Gurudev has reached and touched the lives of almost 450 million people in 180 countries – including 15,000 Filipinos – empowering and equipping people to tackle challenges at the individual, societal, national, and global levels.

The cornerstone of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s teachings is the Sudarshan Kriya (SKY) – a simple but powerful breathing technique that has been demonstrated in over 100 independent peer-reviewed scientific studies to significantly reduce depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress; boost immunity; improve sleep; and increase life satisfaction; among other benefits.

Recognized for his significant global contributions, Gurudev has to date received 26 honorary doctorates and 55 government honors, including the highest civilian awards of Colombia, Mongolia, Paraguay, and Suriname. Twenty-nine days have been named after him in various cities and states across the USA and Canada.

Gurudev continues to help a growing number of Filipinos foster deep and profound inner peace, happiness, and well-being through numerous educational and self-development programs offered by Art of Living and IAHV.

Platinum sponsors of the event were Standard Insurance and Wings Publication International.