Unless we have a stress-free mind and a violence free society, we cannot achieve world peace. We have to create harmony within the individual and harmony in society,” says Sri Sri, Founder of the Art of Living Foundation.  

Following His vision for a stress free mind & violence free society, one of the largest collective meditations in the continent was hosted by the Art of Living
Foundation in over 22 countries in America including Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Buenos Aires, Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Caracas, Bogotá, Montreal, among others.  

With the slogan ‘America Meditates because Peace is Contagious’, thousands of Art of Living members, including politicians, musicians, government officials and journalists gathered together at public places like parks, plazas, schools etc in a simultaneous demonstration of peace and harmony.   

The members of these countries, with a 99 per cent Catholic population, have been enthused by the techniques taught by the Art of Living; inspired by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.   

In Argentina alone, the meditation included celebrities like Gran Rabbi Sergio Bergman, former head of government Jorge Tellerman, renowned TV anchor men Ari Paluch and Pablo Dugan.

As thousands came together, Beatriz, an Art of Living teacher from America, commented that Meditation and Art of Living techniques have transformed the aggression and violence in people into compassion, love and care. “Sri Sri told us about the discovery made by Scientists who discovered that a tiny change in one place, like the flapping of a butterfly’s wings in South America, may produce a large effect in a far away location, like a tornado in Africa, which is called “Butterfly effect”. He said, in the same way, every individual — everyone who is breathing, talking, walking, thinking — influences this planet. Through meditation we can remove the cause of violence, thus bringing peace to the world”, he added.