Join the peace work through
collective solutions and prayers for the Middle East.
Good evening everyone! We extend a warm welcome to all of you to a
special evening of meditation and prayer as we join hands together to
pray for peace and restoration in the Middle East.
The dynamic socio-political conditions in Iraq have displaced close
to 1.5 million lives bringing several ancient communities on the verge
of extinction. Thousands of these are trapped in the Sinjar Mountains in
Iraq without food and water. The living conditions in these camps are
extremely unfavorable with limited access to health and hygiene. The
women and children are exposed to even more vulnerable conditions with a
threat of kidnap and flesh trade.
The Art of Living and The International Association of Human Values
has been working tirelessly in reaching out to the affected populace
and relief efforts are in progress. So far, 2700 Iraqi families from 5
camps have received relief items from our volunteers in Iraq.
The Art of Living and IAHV, along with local NGOs in Iraq have
collected 110 tonnes of food and supplies. 40 tonnes of food, water,
tents, and warm winter clothing and blankets have been already air
dropped by the Iraqi army in the past few days.
We’ll now watch a video on the situation in Iraq.
Background of the Work
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder
of The Art of Living and the International Association for Human Values
has made a commitment to spread the message of peace and non-violence
in Iraq. Since September 2003 when Art of Living and IAHV began trauma
relief initiatives, around 10,000 people from Iraq have found relief and
a new lease of life.
More than 4000 women have been provided vocational training in
computers and tailoring. Advanced career training in finance and
hospitality sectors have been imparted to more than 300 women.
699 women survivors of violence in Baghdad and 240 in Kurdistan
received training to relieve stress and trauma and skills to cope with
life’s challenges under the Al Azhar Program. 224 women have received
vocational training in tailoring and 117 in computers. While fear and
uncertainty loomed over a large part of Iraq, 35 Members of the Kurdish
Parliament participated in a special Art of Living program earlier this
year for leadership training and peace building initiatives in Arbil,
Kurdistan, and Iraq.
Iraq in 2007 with a message of peace and non-violence. He visited
the country again in 2008 to galvanize people to work towards a
stress-free and violence-free Iraq.
Sri Sri will be travelling to Iraq on the 19th and 20th of November
to extend his support towards the on-going restoration activities and
strengthen the efforts for peace and harmony. He will be visiting the
relief camps in Sinjar and addressing a conference on "Protecting Women
and Bringing Stability and Peace."
The work for peace and harmony in the Middle East has been done by ordinary people like all of us.
We all share a common goal: How can we leave a better world for our future generations?
And all of us can make a difference from wherever we are.
Just as an angry person affects other people in a room .
Each of us feeling peace can affect the whole world.
Let’s create that peace right now, for our world, for our children.
Sharing your time and a bit of your consciousness is a big contribution.
Let us all meditate and pray for the betterment of the conditions in the Middle East.
We thank you all to be a part of this peace meditation.
Let us resolve to take this peace to every part of the world.
Sri Sri, government representatives, media persons, social workers,
trainers and volunteers working for peace and non violence have sent us
many questions for your guidance. We would like to take some of them
here:
Sri Sri: Sure. The biggest question is when will peace return to
Middle East. This has been the ongoing question for many generations.
Let us all hope and pray that atleast in our generation, in our
lifetime we will find an answer for this. We should put an end to this
conflict, which has been there for generations now.
Many generations have lived with this question, many are born with
this question, and have died with this question: when will peace return?
We are so privileged to experience the peace. We all meditated now.
We are so privileged to experience this inner peace. When we realize
how lucky we are, how fortunate we are to experience this peace, we feel
all the more for the people in Middle East who are deprived of the
basic needs, basic security. Let alone finding inner peace.
The
question comes when people are starving, when there is so much conflict,
when there is so much fear, how can you find inner peace? I would tell
you the inner peace brings strength to face the challenges.
Each one of us is a source of energy, source of love, source of
peace. If we tap into our true self, our inner self, draw strength from
inside, we will be able to face any challenge, any tough situation. And
this is what is needed today most. The mental, emotional, spiritual
strength for people.
Let us all take a pledge today and let us all be committed to bring
this much needed strength to the people who are undergoing so much
suffering.
This in addition to the material comforts, social protection,
assurances that we would like to bring to them, and make them understand
that there is a political will to support them.
Along with this let us not forget that there is a power, there is a
strength that comes from deep within us that is absolutely essential in
the hour of crisis.
Q: What can be done to bring the hostages back to their family?
From Hatim Ido, a Yazidi activist.
Sri Sri: I would like this question to be kept alive till the last
hostage comes back. There is no one answer. There can be multiple
answers and each answer could be a way to bring the hostages back. By
putting sense into those people who are keeping people hostage, by
invoking compassion into them, or even going to the extent of punishing
them through legal or international laws. We should see that the
hostages are brought back. As I saif, there could be many ways. We can't
have one way for that. We should explore all avenues.
Q: How can the sunis and the shias work in Iraq together?
From Nirj Deva, a Member of the European Parliament
Sri Sri: They should take example from India. Here Shias, Sunis,
Ahmedias, sufis everyone works together. Hindus, muslims, christians
everyone works together. Sikh, pasris, jain everyone works together. We
need to give them this mutli-culturalism, multi-religious coexistence.
Inter-faith dialogue or intra-religious coexistence has to be taught. In
fact, they were doing this. It is nothing new to them. For centuries
they were together. Only in the recent years this disaster has happened
and that too when it is coupled with political and ulterior motives of a
few people.
Q: What makes the ISIS such extremists?
Sri Sri: Well, I really don't know. I think the Islamist scholars should
answer this question. They should see in what way they have gone wrong,
in what way they have misunderstood their own religion. This they
should come up and say. I would invite all good-hearted and good-minded
people on the planet, especially from the Islamic world who know that
these people are doing wrong. Put sense in the hearts and minds of these
people. The scholars should stand up and say that their interpretation
of the holy scripture is absolutely wrong. This clear message the must
bring to the people. Perhaps that can help in some way.
Q:Guruji,
you are one of the few leaders who have come to Yazidis rescue and for
that we will always be grateful. Yazidis as a religious minority group
in Middle East have faced 74 Genocides. Our dwindling number and history
shows that we must get out of Middle East to preserve our religion and
our people. OR do you think there a possibility of Yazidis staying
alive in their homeland? What does the UN, international community,
Iraq, and India can do to keep this ancient faith alive?
Sri Sri:
Every ancient faith is a world heritage. If Yazidis disappear from the
planet, it is the loss for the entire World and its history, its
culture, and its diversity. It is the responsibility of every nation to
protect the Yazidi minorities.
My heart pains when I think that 74 genocides have happened on this
ancient community. I would say that you should stick on, because today
it is not the middle-ages. And the International community is very well
aware of the existence of Yazidis. The United Nations, India, and all
other countries would definitely be interested in supporting or keeping
alive a world heritage: a community that is world heritage. I am sure.
And apart from this if they feel it is very unsafe for one to live,
there are many countries in the world which would welcome them to live a
free and fair life.
Q: From Sadanand Dhume from the American Enterprise Institute, Washington DC
What can concerned people around the world do to help the beleaguered Yazidi community preserve its ancient spiritual heritage?
Sri Sri: They should digitalize all their ancient scriptures and
video their way of life. Nobody knows what they do when a child is born.
Nobody knows how they get married. And what are the basic precepts of
this religion. No one has even heard about this religion till the recent
genocide. The world community should make a documentary about them,
create more awareness about the existence of the community, and give all
sorts of possible support to the community in manner of education,
safety and security, and help the community grow economically at the
same time preserve their religious identity. Like what has happened with
the Parsis. When the Parsis were thrown out of Iran, they found a home
in India. They have preserved their culture, their tradition, and their
language. Everything they have kept intact. The kings of India in those
days gave full protection for Parsis to practice their religion and to
preserve it. Similarly, today every part of the world should not try to
convert them. In fact they should help them to preserve their culture,
religion, and identity.
Q: Mirza Ismail, Chairman of Yazidi Human
Rights, Organization - International Ontario, Canada asks: The Islamic
sect has committed 74 genocides against the Yazidis just because we are
from a different religion, different faith. Can you help us get
recognized as a ethno-religious group?
Sri Sri: Definitely. As I
said earlier, every minority is a heritage of world culture. If any
culture or minority community is extinguishing from this planet, the
world is at loss. The world has to take cognizance of this. We will do
all that is possible to preserve this ancient tradition or culture.
You
know the main problem is some people think only my religion is greater.
This is the only true way to God. This type of brain washing and wrong
indoctrination has been the cause of violence in the world in the name
of religion. We must wake and see the world has many traditions and each
one of them is precious and we need to maintain them and preserve them.
It is like preserving bio-diversity. We preserve the plants, birds, and
other species on the planet. There is so much attention in preserving
bio-diversity on this planet. We need to preserve the cultural and
religious diversity as well. I am all for it.
Q: Are you willing to have a dialogue with Abu Bakhr Baghdadi, ISIS leader?
Sri Sri: I would very much like to meet Abu Bakhr Baghdadi,
and I would like to talk to him, have some dialogue with him. I am all
ready. I have already sent messages to people there, our organizers that
I very much wish to meet with this gentleman. Definitely. Anyone can
make it possible, I would like to undergo that meeting. Either in person
or even through Skype. However it is. However, he would like to have. I
would like to have a few minutes of dialogue with him.
Q: We hear that people are trying to convert Yazidis to other
religions. What can be done to stop this? And what is your message to
those who are trying to do this?
Sri Sri: I think that I just said this already. We must maintain a
religion which has been there since a long time. The world should know
of such a custom, tradition, religion that existed. Not thinking whether
this is right or wrong, whether this the true religion, not true
religion. We should not go into that. We should preserve the ancient
religion like we preserve the bio-diversity of this planet. I would tell
people please do not venture into converting people and taking them off
from their roots. Let them be who they are, what they are. Let them
enjoy. Let us learn from them.
There is nothing wrong in exchange of knowledge. A Yazidi can learn
something from Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism. There
is nothing wrong in teaching what you know. But do not convert them,
tell them what they are doing is wrong, and rob them of their roots, of
their culture, of their identity.
This is my humble submission to all those who are trying to change
Yazidis. We need to maintain their cultural, religious identity.
Q: How can enemies be taught to treat each other as brothers?
From Luis Moreno Ocampo,
The Former Chief Prosecutor of International Criminal Court
Sri Sri: Yes. This needs a lot of skill.
It needs a lot of patience and perseverance.
First of all, the enemies should be asked to come for a dialogue.
It can happen only through a person who does not take sides. When they
know there is someone who does not take sides, who can mediate. So
(make them) agree to come for mediation, and then it needs a lot of
communication skills in bringing people together (to) sit and talk.
Mistrust and miscommunication can be cleared through dialogue. Dialogue should never be given up or stopped.
Q: Many Yazidis feel they there is no chance of living in peace
while in Iraq. Many have shown interest in migrating elsewhere. Can you
talk to leaders across the world (including European Union) to let
Yazidis immigrate to restart their lives? From Adoul kejjan
Sri Sri: Definitely. We have already sent a letter to our honorable
Prime Minster of India and the Foreign Minister of India too. They are
looking into what type of help we can give to Yazidis.
(Sri Sri,
a few of Yazidi students are part of our audience and would like to ask
a question.) Q: I am a Yazidi student from Iraq and studying in
Bangalore. I would like to thank Guruji for helping our community in
Iraq. Now we are in 21st century, the century of technology and in our
community there have been 74 genocides. Is there somebody against this
community or is this because of our place? Is there a chance to be back
to our life like other people?
Sri Sri: Definitely. First of all, I welcome you all. Please be
assured that we are all with you. The Yazidi community is not alone in
its fight against terrorism, injustice, and violence. We are with you
shoulder to shoulder. As I said, please do not lose hope. There is hope
for humanity.
The age of technology has made it possible for everyone to know
what is happening. Otherwise, we were dependent only on the newspapers.
Many times they publish. It depends on their whims and fancies. Many
times they don't even publish it around the world. But now, it is not
the case.
Through social media, people have become aware of what is happening
with the community and how much atrocities have happened with them. You
have earned the sympathy, goodwill, and kindness of millions of people
around the world. Be assured that you will have a better future because
the world community is with you.
Q: Gurudev what are the factors that brings around war, when all religions talk about peace?
Sri Sri: 1. Religion not for religion's sake but for political
ulterior motives. People use religion, caste, language, and other
identities to further their own cause. Many times it is more political
and more vested interests than purely religion.
2. Other times, it is mistrust or misinterpretation or misunderstanding of religion.
Q: What can people, who cannot contribute financially, do to save the Yazidis?
Sri Sri: Spread the word. Write about it. It is only not financial. You
can create awareness among people. Tell people to shun violence and
write against violence. You can do a million things. Think about it.
Even saying or giving your support or solidarity with the people who are
suffering is itself a very good sign. Each one of you can talk to 100,
200, 1000 people and make them aware that we need to bring peace.
Q: The end of this war will give rise to a lot of trauma-relief work in
Iraq. How do you see India as a country contributing to this need?
Sri Sri: India has a load of wealth and wisdom in yoga, meditation,
ayurveda, cultural roots. So, it can share with the people more and
more. In fact this is something that we have not done well in the past.
If we had spread the fragrance of peace and multi-culturalism that India
has been nurturing, nourishing, and enjoying for the past decades and
centuries to Middle East. If we had gone a little proactive in
instilling and planting this thought of peace and non-violence in the
hearts and minds of people around the world, perhaps, I would say
perhaps, people would not get into the violent rage that they are
getting into today. Not that there is no violence in India. There is
violence in India too, but these are the people who have not had any
sense about India's core values of non-violence. People in India also
who have moved away from the idea of the non-violence, dharma,
knowledge, wisdom, and the technology of experiencing the inner
strength. They are involving. But it is minuscule compared to what is
happening in the world. So we wish that the ISIS ideology does not
filter into the Indian minds and they do not create disturbances here
also. This one has to be watchful. People here who have believed in
non-violence and peaceful coexistence should not remain to themselves.
They should go and plant this knowledge wherever it is needed,
especially in the conflict zones.
Q: What should we do to maintain religious diversity in the world in the context of the current crisis in the Middle East?
Sri Sri: Be more assertive of multiculturalism or pluralism. And
encourage all those schools of thought or philosophy which encourages
this, which say that the whole world is one family. Not those
philosophies which divides people but the philosophies which say we are
all one.
Q: Can you talk to Kurdistan govt on our behalf about ways to bring this trust back?
Sri Sri: Yes. I would like from the Yazidis what exactly are their
needs and their demands. Any particular thing that they want, other than
giving safety and security to the people who are suffering there. I
would definitely do that. Anyway I will be meeting the government of
Kurdistan. I will definitely do all that is in my capacity.
Q: Gurudev, I cannot travel there. Can I save a Yazidi child by adopting them and helping them to maintain their traditions?
Sri Sri: Definitely you can do (that). You can contact our IAHV
office. We have already adopted 550 families. I don't know how many now.
It was a week ago. The numbers are going up very fast. Also we are
airlifting about 110 tonnes of food materials, tents, water, and
supplies to them. We are also bringing toys to the small kids. There are
hundreds of kids. There are many ways that we can be part of it. You
can get in touch with the IAHV organization.
Q: What will be your advise to the Christian community in the Middle East?
Sri Sri: Sri Sri: The Yazidis are not alone. Along with Yazidis,
there are some Christians, Shias, and other minority groups. They are
all at the receiving end. We want safe passage for all of them. We want
them to come back to normalcy; their life to be back on track again. So,
let's pray for them, let's meditate for them. Let's all together see
what we can do to help this community.
Q: What is it in India that allows minority communities to thrive and flourish?
Sri Sri: It is the philosophy of this country which majority of people
have been honoring from ages. Every path leads to the same truth, same
light. So that multiversity or multi-thought process or ideas were
always encouraged here. And perhaps this philosophy has given that
strength of peaceful coexistence.
Q: Sri Sri with your popularity in India and worldwide, can you
please talk to Indian govt on our behalf and help?
Sri Sri: Sri Sri: On behalf of Yazidis? Ofcourse, I do. I would
like you also to write to the government directly. That will also be one
thing you can all do. The community and community leaders can come
together and appeal what exactly is the help you would want from the
Indian government. In fact, India is also a victim of this terror there.
Around 80 Indian citizens are under the captivity of ISIS. Let's pray
for their safe return as well.
Q: Sri Sri, we have a message from the Iraqi ambassador of Oman,
"They thanks Gurudev for taking interest. She asks us to continue our
work in saving the victims, not only Yazidis, but Christians, Turkians,
and other Muslims. As ISIS is targeting all of them.
Sri Sri: Yes. Absolutely. It is not just the Yazidis. There are many
Muslims who are victims of the current, violent conflict there. Let's
pray for all of them to have their life back on track.
Q:
Gurudev, till now people are going to Iraq and Syria to fight the war.
There are many like me who want to go there to spread peace. What can we
do?
Sri Sri: Just be in touch with us. Let's all join hands and do what we can.
Usually Peace conferences are held in big cities where there is law
and order, where everything is safe. People sit in big hotels, 5-star
hotels. Hours together we talk about peace and resolving conflict. I
think we should make a change here. That is why, I said I am going to go
to Iraq and have a peace conference in the midst of conflicts and
invite all the people, stakeholders of conflict and peace in that area.
We are having a conference on 20th November for peace right at the heart
of all the conflicts. I thought for a change we need to do something
like this to give peace a chance, to raise the voice of non-violence in
areas which are bogged down by violence and conflict.
Q: Do you foresee a spill over of the ISIS movement in India?
Sri Sri: Sri Sri: We all must be concerned about it. Let's spread this awareness as fast as we can.
Q: How is the balance of peace linked to a balanced society? Does an imbalance in society lead to war?
Sri Sri: Yes. Demographic changes or financial disparity among people, educational disparity.
There could be many levels of disparity. And the best way to resolve this is bring wisdom. Bring people closer to each other.
The thought of communism is to remove all that which brings
disparity and make them all one. But we have seen the last 45-50 years
that it has failed miserably, it has not worked well.
The way we need to move forward is to bring communities together,
ideas together, technology together. And moving forward with one aim of
bringing happiness to every citizen of this planet. Thank you.
Thank you Sri Sri for your views and guidance on these issues. Your
upcoming visit to Iraq will further the voice of peace for the Middle
east. Your Holiness, people from 2000 locations from 79 countries have
joined us on the webcast to show their support for a peaceful Iraq.
Many have written to us expressing a desire to contribute to
towards the relief efforts in the Middle East. Please visit
www.iahv.org/us-en-yazidi-relief.
