55 Iraqi youngsters on a month-long spiritual training at ALIC

Bangalore, Aug 27 (UNI) War ravaged Iraq has adopted a slogan ''Combating violence in non-violent ways' and to achieve this in true spirit, the government of Iraq has sent 55 strong group of youth to Art of Living International Centre here founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

''The primary aim of the government of Iraq to send the youngsters for a month-long spiritual training here was to bring peace in the country, which witnessed heavy casualties during bombings,'' Sri Ravi Shankar told newspersons here.

In the aftermath of 2005 bombings, lakhs of women had been widowed and youths, angry over bombing are losing everything, including peace of mind, he added.

Sri Ravi Shankar said after he visited Iraq in May this year, Minister for Sports and Youth of the country proposed to send some youth to the Art of Living Centre here to impart spiritual training to them so that they (youth) could take up the task of spreading the message of spirituality in their country (Iraq).

This was a joint initiative between the Art of Living and the Iraqi government. Many of the youth selected were students, sportspersons and teachers. While the Iraqi government met the travelling expenses, Art of Living is taking care of their stay and sightseeing in Bangalore and surrounding cities. The spiritual course, which commenced on August 10 would conclude on September 9.

Selected persons would be trained to become Art of Living instructors. They would be trained to conduct Trauma Relief Programmes and would be taught some techniques that would facilitate physical, mental, emotional and social well being to the people of the war-ravaged country, Sri Ravi Shankar informed.

''These trained youth would provide a big impetus to the Art of Living's ongoing humanitarian initiatives in Iraq,'' he added.

He said Iraqi Prime Minister Nauri Al Maliki has invited the Art of Living to start its prison reform programme in jails in the country. These youth would commence programmes in the Iraqi jails.

Mr Ali Hummady of Baghdad, Editor of a Magazine, describing the training programme said ''it is like letting out all the stress of war and breathing in a new life. I intend to translate and publish books of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Arabic to spread the knowledge of spirituality.' Along with 16 Israelis, over 150 Arabs, including Iranians, Jordanians, Bahrainis, Lebanese, Omanis and Saudi Arabians are taking part in this special training.

UNI