Art of living
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The Art of Living Foundation, founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is an international nonprofit spiritual, educational, charitable, and humanitarian organization active in more than 160 countries around the world.
It offers innovative programs that are aimed at eliminating the ill-effects of stress, raising awareness, creating a sense of belonging, restoring human values, and encouraging people from all backgrounds, religions, and cultural traditions to come together in celebration and service.
These programmes and service activities have benefitted over 20 million people across the globe.
The programmes and literature are based on principles of Advaita Vedanta. The members believe that "to live life fully and freely is an art, requiring skill, intuition, creativity, and knowledge".
Art of Living, through its many programs, works to bring these values to our society by strengthening the individual. The most popular offering is the Art of Living Basic course, which is covered over 5-7 days and has two main sections: cultivating spirit of enquiry and heightened awareness, AND a comprehensive breathing exercises and yoga toolkit for complete mind, muscle and breath control, run in tandem. The powerful technique of Sudarshan Kriya is covered in detail in the breathing exercises. There are other offerings for more advanced seekers, the Advanced course (4-10 days), the Sahaj-samadhi course and the DSN. For those inclined to asssisting junior seekers, they conduct the TTC (Teacher's Training Course) courses and 2 (for advanced course instructors).
As a Non-Governmental Organization, Art of Living Foundation works in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, participating in a variety of committees and activities relating to health, education, sustainable development and conflict resolution.
SUDARSHAN KRIYA
Course Fees
A general point of view seems to be that the AOL courses are heavily priced, with admissions to the Basic course requiring a cash/check donation of $220 and the advanced courses are far more expensive. It is worth noting however that the course fee is considerably lower if taken in India (generally about Rs.1500 or $30). Hundreds of potential entrants are often disheartened by the entry fee and many avoid entering the group. Some current AOL members feel that the course is too heavily commercialized of late. Some others believe that you can obtain the full import of the course by reading advaita texts like Yoga Vashishta and Ashtavakra Gita. Quite a few members believe that the breathing technique or Sudarshan Kriya is alone worth the full course fee and that is not to be found on any written/online resource thus far.
Professional Affiliations
The Art of Living Foundation is an international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.
The Foundation has accredited representatives at the United Nations in New York, Geneva and Vienna.
The Foundation works in formal consultation with the World Health Organization (WHO): "Development of a Global Health Policy for the 21st Century".
Memberships
CONGO (Conference of NGO's in Consultative Status with ECOSOC of the United Nations), Geneva and New York
U.N. Mental Health Committee and U.N. Committee on Aging, New York
International Union for Health Promotion and Education, Paris NGO Forum for Health, Geneva
National Association of Women's Organizations, Uganda
ã 2005-2006 SudarshanKriya.Org
Guru & Yoga