Art of Living Foundation celebrates 25th anniversary

Washington, Mar 29 (UNI) A large number of people, including US Congressmen, attended a function held at the prestigious John F Kennedy Center for Performing Arts here to celebrate 25 years of service to society by the Art of Living Foundation.

Its founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was also present on the occasion last night. The theme of the event was ''Creating a Stress-Free, Violence-Free America.'' The lawmakers who were present included Joseph R Biden, Jr, Joe Wilson, Danny Davis, Joseph Crowley and Luis Gutierrez, D-Illinois.

Senator Biden, in his speech, spoke of the ''incredible following'' of the Foundation which, he said, ''cuts through all religions, cultures and background -- a very, very difficult thing to do in today's world.

''If there's anything we need more of today, it's tolerance.'' the Senator praised the Foundation in particular for ''its important work promoting peace, combating drug addiction, and empowering youth''.

Vijay K Nambiar, Chief of Staff to the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, brought a message on behalf of the Secretary-General.

In his message, Ban Ki-Moon said, ''It is reassuring to know that you -- a diverse assembly of origins and cultures -- have gathered to celebrate your commitment to global harmony and peaceful coexistence. The values you champion, including non-violence, compassion and the sanctity of all life, go to the heart of what the United Nations stands for.'' A highlight of the evening was the formal unveiling of Sri Sri's proposed ''Universal Declaration of Human Values.'' It provides a pragmatic vision for the world community, representing a roadmap to foster understanding and harmonious coexistence among different peoples and cultures.

''We all can work toward a dual goal,'' he said, adding ''One is to protect our environment; the second is to protect human values -- compassion, friendliness, cooperation, and a sense of belonging to each other. This will protect our minds, our hearts -- the soul of the planet. These human values need to be nurtured so we can have a stress-free, violence-free society,'' Sri Ravi Shankar said.

UNI