"Existence is the fact, but living is an art"

Life itself is a form of art. We are able to live a proper existence only when we recognize that there is simple yet logical method to all that encompasses humanity. The Art of Living is a worldwide movement which aims to achieve global peace by showing us how to first attain inner peace. The Art of Living involves various courses and breathing exercises and is centered on focusing the mind with positive thoughts.
The movement has millions of practitioners and has recently been introduced to Ethiopia through the efforts of Mrs. Neeru Singh, spouse of the Ambassador of India to Ethiopia.
The Art of Living courses led by Mrs. Singh have made an immediate and positive impact as already, over 150 members of Ethiopia's parliament have attended these enlightening sessions, which aim to bring about lasting peace of mind and harmony to interpersonal relations.
Capital's Addis Mulugeta met with Mrs. Neeru Singh and discussed the Art of Living in detail. Excerpts follow:

Capital: If we can begin by a description of the Art of Living courses you offer?
Mrs. Neeru Singh: We give three or four different courses here in Ethiopia. The first is training for parliamentarians in order to make them become better decision makers; responsibility requires you to have a focused mind. The training we provide shows them techniques that sharpen their minds more, help them become more focused, and have greater peace and harmony. The second course is a youth program that we conduct for unemployed boys and girls to make them catalysts of change in the community by giving them motivational exercises that bring about this necessary social change. To this end, our youth volunteers have been involved in projects in the community, setting up toilets blocks with the biogas facility, and in clean up campaigns to inspire others. The third course is the Art of Living program which focuses on mental peace and harmony, elimination of stress and becoming rejuvenated and full of energy.
Capital: When did the course begin in Addis Ababa and how has it been received?
Neeru Singh: We started two years ago, and it has been received very well. We have conducted the parliamentarian program with more than 150 M.Ps. Another 150 boys and girls; over 1500 people in total have participated in the program.
Capital: Can this program also contribute to achieving better health?
Neeru Singh: Definitely, because when you are eliminating stress from your body, obviously, you will become much healthier as many physical ailments are directly related to stress. For example, when people become less stressed, they feel much more energetic; the immune system in the body is boosted and with a stronger immune system, it can better fight off attacks.
Capital: How were you introduced personally to this unique breathing method?
Neeru Singh: I would say, our program is much more than a breathing system. I was introduced to this program 12 years ago when I was working in Kenya-Nairobi. I heard about it and I decided to learn more about it. After I completed the program I went on to more courses to advance myself and then decided to teach it myself. Of course, you can't just start to lead the sessions. I went through three intensive trainings which took over two and half years in order to become a teacher. So it is not something that you can do overnight because the process that we teach you has to be learned thoroughly. Beginners can learn how to conduct it for themselves only, but they can't teach others.
Capital: How can it be applied to solve social problems?
Neeru Singh: It can help to solve social problems as we have seen in different parts of the world. It has been a method to resolve conflict in Kosovo, Afghanistan and in Iraq. The Art of Living has done a lot of work in the area of peace building by giving the experience of inner peace. We are talking about global peace which can't be achieved by signing more treaties and documents, enacting more laws, etc. The only way you can bring about true peace is when people can really feel it themselves. The Art of Living works with volunteer youth, boys and girls, all over the world to bring change to their communities. So communities decide on how they need to make their respective community better. Here in Addis Ababa, for instance, people decided to set up toilet blocks with the biogas facility, clean up the area and plant more trees.
Capital: To what extent are our mental faculties determined by proper breathing?
Neeru Singh: There is a direct relationship between your emotions and breathing. When ever you are angry, happy, excited or sad, your breathing is totally different. What we are doing is bring the mind back into its natural state and then when it is aligned to the natural reasons of nature; you feel much more energetic and at inner peace with yourself.
Capital: How many people have taken this course globally?
Neeru Singh: Over 20 million people have taken the course all over the world and its popularity is increasing steadily.
Capital: Is the Art of Living similar to a religion?
Neeru Singh: No, it is a worldwide organization founded by H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who believes that "existence is the fact, but living is an art''. Of course, during the meditation, people are expected to take their shoes off, just to keep the area clean, and they are expected to close their eyes in order that they can concentrate better.