Prosperity Comes With Peace: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar In New York

BENGALURU-Art of Living founder Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said on September 22 that economic prosperity cannot be separated from peace and inner well-being, stressing that sustainable growth requires societies to address economic inequality alongside human well-being.

Addressing Semafor’s The Next 3 Billion summit in New York, Ravi Shankar said, “Prosperity comes with peace. If there is no peace, there can’t be prosperity.”

The summit brought together heads of state and government, representatives of global institutions and business leaders to discuss how technology and digital inclusion can expand economic opportunities.

In a conversation with Semafor Co-Founder and CEO Justin B. Smith, Ravi Shankar spoke about the gap between the wealthy and disadvantaged, saying the issue existed in almost every country, including the United States.

He said people facing economic difficulties needed to move beyond what he described as “victim consciousness” and take greater responsibility for their progress. At the same time, he said those with greater resources needed to develop empathy and recognize the importance of sharing.

Ravi Shankar also identified corruption as a major factor preventing resources from reaching people at the grassroots level across countries in the Global South.

Recalling an initiative in rural India, he said around 500 unemployed young people living near an Art of Living center had initially rejected 200 projects offered by the government because they believed the projects would not succeed. A two-month programme aimed at developing an entrepreneurial mindset helped change their outlook.

He said the model was subsequently taken to several African countries, including Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Botswana and South Africa.

Discussing workplaces, Ravi Shankar said stress could disrupt communication and affect businesses. He emphasized the importance of creating a sense of belonging and security among employees, particularly during periods of uncertainty.

On artificial intelligence, he offered a lighter observation: “There’s an absence of intelligence, artificial intelligence, and absolute intelligence.”

At the conclusion of the session, Smith said that if given a choice, he would select the third.

Ravi Shankar has also founded the Institute of Absolute Intelligence, which seeks to promote scientific exploration into consciousness. (IANS)