Interview with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

ayurveda-portal.de: You are well known as a great teacher for yoga and meditation in this German speaking market especially. What is your relation now to Ayurveda and when did you integrate the Ayurveda into your work?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Ayurveda and Yoga have always been together, they are twins. Do you know?

ayurveda-portal.de: But it wasn’t in your work, when I recognised what your work and everything … and Ayurveda …
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: We always had it but we were having it in a small way, wherever we had ashrams we always have an Ayurveda attached to the ashram; because we always believed in quality products not in commercialisation. Just for commercial sake, people don’t get the quality of Ayurvedic medicine because many of the herbs are not available. So we went slowly, we cultivated our herbs and we went into search for proper herbs. We are doing it as for whatever for our domestic need is required.

ayurveda-portal.de: Are you yourself an Ayurvedic doctor or specialist or do you have specialists who are supporting you?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, we have doctors and we have an Ayurvedic college as well in Bangalore. We have an Ayurvedic college on our campus in Bangalore Ashram and we have a Panchakarma training centre, and technicians are trained there.

ayurveda-portal.de: Is it a certain approach in Ayurveda, like Maharishi did, he did a lot with ghee and Panchakarma but in the South of India like Kerala they do a different kind of Ayurveda, is there a certain Ayurvedic treatment you prefer where you say, this is very very important that you do it this way?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: We have experts from different states of India as a committee and so we have seen which type of Ayurveda suits more for the people from Europe or Continent and which will suit more for the tropical climate people there. So they decide on that, based on that, because certain things suit more for the tropical people than for people who are from non-tropical countries, so we have difference in that. Doctors are trained about it with pulse diagnosis, we do pulse diagnosis.

ayurveda-portal.de: Do you think that the ancient texts like Charaka and Sushruta, can be applied in the western world, in Europe?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, Charaka, Sushruta and you know Shalakya tantra... all these texts are universal, definitely. Certain herbs, as  Salbei is used here also and different things are used there. So certain adaptation is always there, even in Ayurveda. It is never a rigid system - it leaves room for adaptation.

ayurveda-portal.de:  …like for the herbs we have here?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:  Yes, definitely.

ayurveda-portal.de: How do you see the development of Ayurveda in the western world and how do you see it in India, as there is probably a difference in the development of it?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Though there is a lot of interest here, still the governments have not yet recognized it as much as they have done for Chinese medicine. Even in America Chinese-medicine is more recognized than the Ayurveda. It is probably lack of education and lack of understanding on that. Also in India they have not aggressively promoted Ayurveda. Chinese medicine has come out really very aggressively throughout the world, it is time that Ayurveda has to be promoted for the benefit of people from India. From India as well as the local government will have to take an interest in it. Ayurveda has always been like a little shy to be promoted, though there is an old tradition in it. One thing is availability. I suppose as the market grows so quickly in the world for Ayurveda, supply is not possible because all those herbs or many of them are not available in a big quantity, so there are several challenges. First we have to grow the herbs so that  organic herbs are available also and then to make people aware of the benefits of Ayurveda.

ayurveda-portal.de: Do you have certain projects here in Europe regarding Ayurveda?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Not yet as such although we welcome people to come to India, take Ayurvedic consultations and massages. Of course Ayurvedic massage we have in Europe.

ayurveda-portal.de: How do Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda relate to each other?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Body, mind and spirit, they all are interconnected belong together because anything you do to the body, mind also gets affected. Mind, body also has a body response to it. In the same way yoga and Ayurveda, they are all very connected. It is the spirituality which connects them both, it is the spirit, mind body medicine what we call in the 21st century mind body medicine, which is exactly what yoga and Ayurveda are with meditation.

ayurveda-portal.de: Do you have any advice or recommendation for our visitors of the portal who are going the path of Ayurveda?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I would say these ancient sciences of Ayurveda and yoga which are very connected; if you are doing Ayurveda, you have to do yoga also along with it for the benefits and the enhancement of your results on Ayurveda. Care for society, care with a smile. I would like everyone to come out and help and put a smile on every face.

ayurveda-portal.de: Thank you very much!

Transcription on Interview with
 
H. H. SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR
ON AYURVEDA
Date: Aug. 11, 2008   in Bad Antogast
Johanna Kriefall, www.ayurveda-portal.de

Transcription done by www.srisriayurveda.de      info@srisriayurveda.de

www.srisriayurveda.de

H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a renowned spiritual leader and multi-faceted humanitarian whose mission of uniting the world into a violence-free family has inspired millions of people worldwide. The icon of non-violence and universal human values, Sri Sri seeks global peace through service and dialogue.

Born in 1956 in southern India, Sri Sri*s appeal transcends class, race, religion and nationality. Millions of people revere him as their spiritual leader, and look up to him for inner peace and promoting ecumenical values.

In 1981, Sri Sri started the Art of Living Foundation, an international nonprofit educational and humanitarian organization. The Foundation, now active in more than 140 countries, offers educational and self-development programs designed to eliminate stress and foster a sense of well-being. In Europe and the United States, the Foundation*s programs are helping inner city youth turn away from gang violence, drugs and alcohol. Sri Sri*s Prison Programs have helped transform the lives of an estimated 150,000 inmates around the world.

In 1997, Sri Sri founded the International Association for Human Values, a humanitarian nonprofit organization that advances human values in political, economic, industrial, and social spheres. In South Asia, South Africa, and Latin America, the Association*s sustainable development programs have reached more than 30,000 rural communities.

While his self development programs have popularized traditionally exclusive ancient techniques, Sri Sri*s social initiatives address an array of issues such as conflict resolution, disaster and trauma relief, prisoner rehabilitation, youth leadership, women*s empowerment, female foeticide, child labor, and access to education. In Kashmir and Sri Lanka, Sri Sri is working to further dialogue between opposing parties to resolve the conflicts peacefully.

Sri Sri travels to more than 40 countries a year to share his message of social responsibility, and that all great spiritual traditions share common goals and values. His teachings of love, practical wisdom, and service promote harmony among people, and encourage individuals to follow their chosen spiritual path, while honoring other paths.

H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Born in 1956 in southern India.

Often found deep in meditation as a child. At the age of four, astonishes his teachers by reciting the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Sanskrit scripture.

Starts lessons with his first teacher, Pandit Sudhakar Chaturvedi, a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi.

Becomes a scholar in Vedic literature and obtains an advanced degree in modern science by the age of 17.

Conferred with:
Doctor of Literature Honoris Causa, Kuvempu University, Karnataka, India, 2004

Doctor of Philosophy (Holistic Medicine) Honoris Causa, Open International University for Complementary Medicine, Sri Lanka, 2006

Doctor of Science Honoris Causa, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India 2007

Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa, Maharaja Sayajirao University, India, 2007