NEW YORK: The Art of Living Foundation hosted a press conference in Washington, DC, May 8 with its founder and spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in attendance.Sri Sri, as he is known fondly, addressed a plethora of questions from journalists, including the foundation’s upcoming three-day yoga and mediation camp in New Jersey over the July 4th weekend.

The event is expected to be one of its kind with more than 10,000 people in attendance. Special courses on yoga and meditation will be taught at the camp with Sri Sri in attendance on all three days.A special contingent of Indian journalists and media executives traveled from New York to attend the media briefing in Washington, DC. Sri Sri addressed the media on his recent Iraq trip and the foundation’s efforts in alleviating global suffering, especially in war-torn countries.

“Educating the masses on how they can improve their lives by non-violence and meditation is the answer to several problems that no army or government can fix,” he said explaining his global campaign to a “stress-free and disease-free society.”“Since ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) is in our veins and blood, we can’t but act,” he added.

“I think it is quite normal for anyone with a sense of belongingness to just act.”The Art of Living Foundation is one of the largest voluntary organizations operating globally. In the US, its teachers have taught meditation and yoga to inmates, helping them reduce stress and violence in the prison system.

The foundation has also been very active in several school districts targeting violence among youths. Sri Sri, who usually shuns media publicity, interacted with journalists freely in his usual smiling posture, at the foundation’s sprawling headquarters in Washington, DC. Several volunteers of the foundation from New York and New Jersey were present as were local volunteers. Sri Sri modestly admitted that his charm might not work always.

“In regions like Sri Lanka and the Middle-East, which have a long history of religious and cultural strife, more time needs to be invested by voluntary organizations,” he explained. “I do my best in spreading the message that non-violence should be given a chance and that reducing stress through meditation and yoga is critical to our survival and growth.”

“There may be big powers in the world, but they cannot unite the hearts and minds of people. Mahatma Gandhi was a deeply spiritual person. Only because of that he could engineer the freedom movement,” Sri Sri explained, noting how spiritually and peace could prevail where diplomacy failed.