Founder of the ‘Art of Living’ cum Global Peace Ambassador, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, has taught the over a thousand patrons who throng the Accra International Conference (AICC), to participate in the ‘Happiness 3.0; key to living life’ the act of meditation and relaxation of the mind to gain happiness and leave a healthy life.
Ambassador Gurudev, in a comprehensive practical process, took the patrons through the basic principles underlying happy living in life and the need for everyone to leave at peace with their neighbours for the world to be a better place.
He explained that meditation is simply about relaxation of the mind and body in a way that enables one to feel the existence of nature and its significance to human life. “The emotional body is very important as the physical body and so when you take care of your physical body you need to also take care of the emotional one. Mind you, the human body is inside the mind and not the other way round,” he expressed.
Gurudev led the audience through an intense 27-minute meditation process that ended with great self-satisfaction and happiness for all present in the full-capacity auditorium.
Through an insightful and spirited talk, Gurudev provided the audience with tools to enhance mental health and provided guidance and direction on how to live a stress-free and happy life. He mentioned levels of existence including body, breath, mind, senses, ego, and meditation, and explained the role each plays in human life.
He stated five principles of living happily including keeping a balance of life at all times, accepting people’s situations as they are and giving them time to change, not making life a football for others, not holding onto anger for long, and learning how to forgive and forget.
The ‘Art of Living,’ is an international non-religious and non-profit organisation that focuses on building mental health and ensuring happy living to promote peace and make the world a better place.
Gurudev’s guiding principle, “We cannot attain global peace until we have a stress-free mind and a violence-free society,” serves as the foundation for all of its activities, hence his formation of The Art of Living. Some activities and programs under The Arts of Living include breathing techniques, meditation, yoga, and practical wisdom for daily living.
Dignitaries in attendance included the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Sugandh Rajaram, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Herbert Krapa, Deputy Minister of Health, Alhaji Mahama Asei Saini, Director TPMC- Ministry of Health, Dr. Anastasia Yirenkyi, Deputy Country Representative for UNICEF, Fiachra McAsey, and other royal leaders.
The Art of Living International Awards were presented to three organizations namely, the Rebecca Akufo Foundation, Plastic Punch, and Hacklab.
Other highlights of the evening were the introduction of the Sri Sri Tattva herbal and natural products, the Happiness program, and the SKY Campus Happiness Program. The “I Stand for Peace” pledge was taken collectively by all present.
The Art of Living seeks to establish its presence in Ghana through its various programs in schools, colleges, corporates, and institutions. It aims to open Happiness Centres across Ghana where people will find food for their souls. The Art of Living Ghana also plans to start free courses in Kumasi as well as a free prison smart program soon.
