At Umana Yana gathering…
DURING HIS presentation at the Umana Yana last Friday evening Swami Sukhchaitanya, Director of the Art of Living Centre in Quebec, Canada, and a Chartered Accountant by training, had his audience engrossed, not through a lecture, but by exemplification of the simplicity in the art of living that could transform lives into healthy and contented human beings. The public discourse was held under the theme: ‘The Modern World: Simple answers to complex issues –an Art of Living perspective’.
The learned Swami is taking the “Service is the expression of joy and love…” message of his Guru and founder of the Art of Living Foundation, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to various countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, including Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and the Dominican Republic.
The Art of Living Foundation has been initiated by His Holiness, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to propagate the concept of peaceful conflict resolution in a worldwide movement that transcends nationality, race, religion, creed, class or colour, which has brought joy, peace, love and happiness in the lives of over three hundred people worldwide.
Swami Sukhchaitanya has inspired a wave of service projects in more than 30 countries worldwide, and has been responsible for successful partnerships between governments, the private sector and communities through the Internal Association of Human Values (IAHF), an international charity founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the Dalai Lama.  The organization works in association with the World Bank.
He has guided projects related to the environment, the empowerment of youth, social sector development, including the rehabilitation of prisoners and juvenile delinquents that have transformed thousands of lives worldwide, guiding them to create a violence-free and stress-free society.
During a brief interview with the Chronicle, the learned Swami, graceful in his simplicity, said that he had lived a fairly successful life preceding his spiritual journey, but always felt something missing, until a friend introduced him to the Art of Living Foundation, which he said changed his life forever and provided innate peace and fulfillment.
Stating that the Foundation is established on the principle that the family is the basis of society and that he believes in the concept of self first, families next, and, as a natural progression, communities, societies, countries and the world, which is an ever-expanding force reverberating first from self-awareness, and that a happy consciousness determines the trajectory of one’s contribution to all these dynamics.
Swamiji said that the Art of Living Foundation is focused on bringing peace to the world by mediating between factions at war with each other; but that bringing peace first to the individual is a major prerequisite for this objective to be achieved.
During his brief presentation at the Umana Yana Swamiji said that Sankalpa, which means good intentions, could bring people and love in motion, which is a powerful catalyst for uniting the world. However, through simple demonstrations, he showed how simple actions could help one to focus on achieving good things and promoting health and healing in man and mankind.
Stating that the mind has a propensity for vacillating, the Swamiji said that peace of mind, happiness and contentment could be attained if one recognizes that life is in the present – that the past is gone, the future is a mystery, but that one needs to give their hundred percent focus on their here and now.  This intensified effort, he said, and the intention to never give up in one’s strivings, will serve to clear obstacles and lead to the path of success.
He said that having a strong grip on one’s problems will enforce a lessening of their hold on one’s consciousness, leading to a dissolution of stress and related ills. He expounded on the philosophy that one needs to reach out to their fellow man with love for reciprocation, and that, while it is alright to agree to disagree, even in instances where love is present, an underpinning respect for the other would determine the direction in which the relationship will go, because there is need for ‘prayerful listening’ to the other so that the element of respect is not lost, which is destructive to relationships.
According to Swamiji, everyone has a seed of divinity, which is the compassion and love invested in every human being, and that one strong person who projects that seed of divinity can uplift entire families, communities and nations.
Saying that every situation can happen within one, but it is the attitude that determines the positivity or negativity of one’s reactions. he said that if one looks deep into oneself he can radiate enough love to encompass everyone and eradicate stress and hatred, and that, working together, Mankind can create solutions to the conflict and problems in the world.
The Art of Living Foundation is a strong propagator for breathing techniques and meditation to eliminate stress and negative toxins in one’s mental and physical faculties.
The organization was established by His Holiness, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who is a renowned spiritual leader and multi-faceted humanitarian whose mission of uniting the world into a violence-free family has inspired millions of people worldwide. The icon of non-violence and universal human values, Sri Sri seeks global peace through service and dialogue.
Born in 1956 in southern India, Sri Sri’s appeal transcends class, race, religion and nationality. Millions of people revere him as their spiritual leader, and look up to him for inner peace and promoting ecumenical values.
In 1981, Sri Sri started the Art of Living Foundation, an international nonprofit educational and humanitarian organization. The Foundation, now active in more than 140 countries, offers educational and self-development programmes designed to eliminate stress and foster a sense of wellbeing.
In Europe and the United States, the Foundation’s programmes are helping inner city youth turn away from gang violence, drugs and alcohol. Sri Sri’s prison programmes have helped transform the lives of an estimated 150,000 inmates around the world.
In 1997, Sri Sri founded the International Association for Human Values, a humanitarian nonprofit organization that advances human values in political, economic, industrial, and social spheres.
In South Asia, South Africa, and Latin America, the Association’s sustainable development programmes have reached more than 30,000 rural communities.
While his self development programmes have popularized traditionally exclusive ancient techniques, Sri Sri’s social initiatives address an array of issues such as conflict resolution, disaster and trauma relief, prisoner rehabilitation, youth leadership, women’s empowerment, female foeticide, child labour, and access to education. In Kashmir and Sri Lanka, Sri Sri is working to further dialogue between opposing parties to resolve the conflicts peacefully.
Sri Sri travels to more than 40 countries a year to share his message of social responsibility, and that all great spiritual traditions share common goals and values. His teachings of love, practical wisdom, and service promote harmony among people, and encourage individuals to follow their chosen spiritual path, while honouring other paths.
Along with providing material assistance in disaster-hit areas, the Art of liv
ing Foundation has been reaching out to leaders in conflict-torn nations, such as Iraq, Afghanistan, the Congo, Zimbabwe, the Ivory Coast, Israel, etc, with the message of bridging divides though love and compassion – one for the other, in the family of Mankind.
Swamiji’s four-day schedule in Guyana includes a series of meetings with the media, public discourses, satsangs and blessings.