45th Anniversary of The Art of Living: In every effort, the spirit of service is reflected

This morning has brought a very special feeling. The welcome with Vedic chants by children, the darshan of Bhagwan Shri Ganesh, the 70 years of Shri Shri Ravi Shankar ji, and 45 years of The Art of Living-these are moments that will always remain in my memory.

Today the divine and grand Meditation Temple has been inaugurated. When the resolve is clear and work is done with the spirit of service, every effort yields a pleasant result. Whatever else may or may not happen, we are all under the shade of the Lotus. As understanding grows, keep clapping. And with Gurudev’s blessings, the shade of the Lotus will take the nation to new heights. I extend many congratulations to The Art of Living family for this Meditation Temple.

The atmosphere of Bengaluru is always unique. This city is known worldwide for software and services. But this city has also given new heights to Bharat’s cultural identity, spirituality, and spiritual consciousness. Yoga, meditation, pranayama have always been integral parts of Bharat’s traditions. And as Gurudev said, today people all over the world are influenced by these spiritual traditions of Bharat and many institutions of Bharat have drawn inspiration from these ancient traditions.

From this inspiration, Shri Shri Ravi Shankar ji sowed the seed of The Art of Living 45 years ago. Today it stands before us as a huge banyan tree. The thousands of branches of this banyan tree are touching the lives of countless people across the world. And wherever I go abroad for Government work, I always meet someone connected with you.

Bharat is a country full of diversity. So many languages, so many traditions, different customs, different ways of worship-when we see all this, a natural question arises in our minds: what is the fundamental element that unites all these beautiful diversities? The answer is-living not for oneself but for others. Our scriptures say: Ashtadasha Purāṇeṣu Vyāsasya Vacanadvayam. Paropakāraḥ Puṇyāya Pāpāya Parapīḍanam. That is, serving others is virtue, and causing pain is sin. Service is the supreme dharma, this is the natural character of our society. Generation after generation, this stream of values has shaped us, inspired us, energised us. Many spiritual movements of Bharat have ultimately expressed themselves through service to humanity. I am glad that in every effort of Art of Living, this spirit of service is reflected. The video just shown was full of service, full of welfare of people. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to every volunteer associated with the journey of The Art of Living.

Any campaign succeeds only when the power of society joins it. Therefore, for every important mission, it is very necessary to awaken the power of society. I have always believed that society is more powerful than politics and governments. And any Government can succeed only when society itself actively participates in nation-building. Take our Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for example. It is not just a Government programme, it has become a natural part of people’s lives. It is moving forward with the power of society.

When society becomes active, collective solutions can be found even for the biggest challenges of the country. It is very pleasant to see that The Art of Living organisation has always carried the power of society along. You have given great importance to the social approach in development-related programmes. Whether it is tree plantation campaigns, rural smart village centres, programmes to empower women and tribal communities, or campaigns to improve the mental health of prisoners-all these efforts contribute significantly to the country’s and society’s development journey.

I must also praise everyone present here for one more thing, and that is the focus on youth power. In today’s world, big changes are happening very fast. Every day Science is opening new doors of possibilities. New innovations are transforming entire economies. Bharat is not only participating in this change, it is also leading in many fields. Our digital revolution has made Bharat a global leader in digital payments. Today infrastructure is also advancing at unprecedented speed and with a futuristic vision. Bharat has rapidly become the third largest startup ecosystem in the world. Our youth are sending satellites into space. The biggest reason for all these achievements of the country is our youth, and The Art of Living. Gurudev and The Art of Living are greatly helping the youth to find solutions to the challenges of today’s modern age.

Today, because of technology, people sitting far away are connecting with each other in a moment. But it is necessary that whether we connect with the world or not, we must connect with ourselves. And the ability to connect with oneself, whether it is sowing the seed, nurturing it, or empowering it, is possible through this great tradition. A developed India will be built by such youth who are mentally calm, socially responsible, and sensitive towards society. That is why your important activities working on spiritual well-being, mental health, yoga, meditation, and other such institutions are very important. Such institutions strengthen the sense of connection, belonging, and collective responsibility among people. At the same time, such institutions also give people the opportunity to know and understand their culture. I am confident that the Meditation Temple inaugurated today will become a center of peace and healing for thousands of people for generations to come.

For the holistic development of India, collective efforts are needed at many levels. Organisations like The Art of Living can play an important role and become stronger guardians of this transformation. Today, even in illness, people are searching for natural healing, so our Mother Earth also needs natural healing. Chemical fertilisers have devastated our fields, our Mother Earth. Saving our Mother Earth from chemicals is also the Art of Living. You can give great strength to expand the “One Tree for Mother” campaign. Because protecting the environment is also the Art of Living. Ecology and economy cannot be separated. Through “Per Drop More Crop,” farmers are being taught better use of water. With your cooperation, even better results will come. Because saving every drop of water is also the Art of Living. In a few weeks, the monsoon will arrive. This is the right time to spread widespread awareness about water conservation. Similarly, saving electricity, avoiding single-use plastic, promoting local products-all these are also The Art of Living. Today the country is also emphasising Mission LiFE. This is a living campaign to live life with more responsibility and awareness. It calls for adopting a lifestyle that moves in balance with nature. And in my view, Mission LiFE is also a manifestation of The Art of Living. I am confident that in the coming days, you will continue to expand and develop the various aspects of The Art of Living as you have always done. You will give more priority to connecting a larger section of society, and when we celebrate Gurudev’s centenary, we will have fulfilled all these goals. Once again, I extend many congratulations to Shri Shri Ravi Shankar ji, Gurudev. I heartily congratulate every volunteer of The Art of Living family for their spirit of service and dedication. Once again, you have given me the opportunity to come among you, to spend some moments in this sacred atmosphere, to think under the shade of the Lotus.

(Excerpts from PM’s speech during the 45th anniversary celebrations of The Art of Living in Bengaluru on May 10)