A global salute to a spiritual visionary
India (Commonwealth Union)_ The Boston Global Forum’s annual meeting was filled with reverence as spiritual leader and humanitarian Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was awarded the 2025 World Leader for Peace and Security award. The award, given jointly by the Boston Global Forum (BGF) and the AI World Society (AIWS), honors his professional purpose of bridging divides and promoting peace in some of the world’s most dangerous regions. The honor places Gurudev among a distinguished list of global figures, including Shinzō Abe, Angela Merkel, Ban Ki-moon, Sauli Niinistö, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Emmanuel Macron, who have each been recognized for advancing peace and moral leadership.
The Forum described Gurudev as a “bridge-builder free from agenda or bias,” highlighting his work in Colombia, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Venezuela, and Kashmir. In each of these conflict zones, his quiet diplomacy and compassionate interventions helped restore trust where dialogue had broken down. “This award celebrates a spiritual luminary who brings together the wisdom of the East and the innovation of the West,” said Nguyen Anh Tuan, co-founder and CEO of the Boston Global Forum.
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Peace as action, not words
Accepting the award, Gurudev spoke with the calm conviction that has defined his life’s work. “Peace cannot come by words; it must translate into action,” he said, urging leaders to focus as much on peacebuilding as on security. His message was simple but profound: that true peace requires a moral and spiritual foundation capable of healing division and rebuilding trust in humanity. The ceremony carried a sense of reflection and renewal. Governor Michael Dukakis, co-founder and chair of the forum, remarked, “You have taught peace not as an abstract idea, but as a daily practice rooted in compassion, forgiveness, and understanding.”
The Forum also highlighted Gurudev’s pioneering efforts to align spirituality with emerging technologies. Scientists, ethicists, and spiritual leaders are studying how human consciousness may influence the progress of artificial intelligence at the newly established Institute of Absolute Intelligence in Los Angeles. This effort, inspired by Gurudev’s vision, aims to keep the digital age anchored in human values.
A decade of leadership for global harmony
The 2025 award marks the 10th anniversary of the World Leader for Peace and Security honor. To commemorate the milestone, the BGF–AIWS network announced new global initiatives, the World Leader Spirit Symposium and the World Leader Spirit Concert, both designed to amplify voices of ethical leadership in an era defined by artificial intelligence and rapid change. The timing of the award follows Gurudev’s recent North American tour, during which several cities, including Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland, officially proclaimed “Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Day.” Seattle’s mayor, Bruce Harrell, called him “a globally respected humanitarian and peace ambassador whose work has uplifted more than 800 million people across 180 countries.”
Building peace, one dialogue at a time
From 2015 to 2025, Gurudev’s peacebuilding work has spanned continents. His mediation helped end Colombia’s 52-year conflict between the government and FARC rebels, one of the longest wars in modern history. In Iraq, his team reestablished the connection between split communities amidst catastrophe. In Sri Lanka, his programs aided reconciliation efforts after decades of ethnic conflict. In Myanmar and Venezuela, he bridged political and cultural boundaries to build lines of communication where others could not. These efforts are the tangible result of Gurudev’s philosophy, which holds that peace begins within each individual. At the center of this concept is the Art of Living Foundation (AOLF), which he established in 1981. The Foundation provides millions of people with simple but effective approaches for stress relief and emotional resilience, allowing them to find peace in the midst of chaos.
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The Art of Living: Turning inner peace into global change
What began as a small movement in Bengaluru has grown into one of the world’s largest volunteer-driven organizations, working in 180 countries and touching the lives of more than 300 million people, who are followers of Gurudev. The Boston Global Forum praised Gurudev’s “practical spirituality,” which refers to his ability to translate meditation and compassion into real social change. The humanitarian initiatives of the Art of Living Foundation are multifaceted:
- Mediation in support of peace efforts around the world, primarily in Iraq and Colombia.
- Breathing and meditation practices have been conducted for the rehabilitation of over 800,000 prisoners and to restore their self-respect.
- Environmental restoration initiatives have rejuvenated over 70 rivers and thousands of water bodies across India.
- Over 100,000 poor children benefit from the education and nutrition services offered by 1,300 free schools.
- Sudarshan Kriya (SKY Breath Meditation) is a scientifically proven method of reducing stress, anxiety, and trauma.
- The Foundation’s work is defined by its inclusivity: it reaches out to people of different religions, nations, and social backgrounds, bringing them together around common human values.
The power of dialogue: Lessons from the peace summits
Earlier, Gurudev offered a clear message at the Point of Peace Summit in Stavanger, Norway, which brought together Nobel Peace Prize winners and international mediators. He stated that long-term peace necessitates dialogue. “The role of a mediator is vital,” he said. “A mediator must act as a catalyst without imposing himself.” He shared how stress is often the silent cause behind conflict. “Stress creates barriers in communication,” he explained. “For any dialogue to succeed, we need skilled mediators who can help dissolve that tension.” Gurudev’s ideas, based on decades of experience in conflict zones, resonated with the summit’s leaders and experts. His approach, which combines empathy and practical understanding, adds a human dimension that simple political solutions frequently lack.
Awards and accolades: Honoring Gurudev’s lifetime of service
Gurudev’s vision of a “violence-free, stress-free world” has earned him acclaim from governments and institutions around the globe. When he accepted Germany’s Culture in Balance Award, he stated modestly, “This award is not for a person, but for a principle—the ideal of one world family.” His numerous awards include India’s Padma Vibhushan (2016), Colombia’s Orden de la Democracia Simón Bolívar (2015), Paraguay’s National Order of Merito de Comuneros (2012), Mongolia’s Order of the Pole Star (2006), etc. He has also earned humanitarian honors from the United States, Peru, and Russia, indicating that his effect is genuinely global. In the academic arena, Gurudev has received 16 honorary doctorates from universities in India, Europe, and America. Additionally, he has also earned the Peace Ambassador Award, International Leadership Award, Bharat Gaurav Award, Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar, Dr. Nagendra Singh International Peace Award, Humanitarian Award, Gandhi, King, Ikeda Community Builders Prize, Culture in Balance Award, National Veterans Foundation Award, Geospatial World Award, Basavashree Award, Maharashtra Gaurav Award, etc., across the world. Each honor underscores his impact as both a philosopher and a practitioner who bridges the spiritual and the scientific.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The man behind the mission
Gurudev, born in 1956 in southern India, had unusual spiritual depth from a young age. By the age of four, he could recite poems from the Bhagavad Gita; by seventeen, he had degrees in both Vedic literature and physics. His first instructor, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, had a close relationship with Mahatma Gandhi, which influenced Gurudev’s own ideology of nonviolent development. In 1981, he established The Art of Living Foundation, which provides programs that integrate timeless knowledge with practical solutions for everyday life.
These techniques have since reached millions, from corporate boardrooms to refugee camps, teaching people how to manage stress, build resilience, and reconnect with their inner peace. In 1997, Gurudev co-founded the International Association for Human Values (IAHV), expanding his vision into areas such as sustainable development and disaster relief. Together, AOLF and IAHV form a powerful network of service, with thousands of volunteers working in some of the world’s most challenging environments.
Gurudev: A humanitarian at heart
Whether aiding victims of natural disasters or rehabilitating war survivors, Gurudev’s work transcends borders. His volunteers have rebuilt homes after earthquakes, conducted trauma relief in conflict zones, and delivered aid to communities recovering from violence. What drives these efforts is a belief that spirituality must lead to service and that compassion becomes meaningful only when it translates into action. His flagship breathing technique, Sudarshan Kriya, has been studied by scientists worldwide for its impact on mental health. The practice has helped millions cope with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress, including frontline workers, soldiers, and displaced communities.
Gurudev: A trusted ambassador of peace
As an ambassador of peace, Gurudev is regarded as a neutral figure who belongs to no single ideology. He has brought conflicting parties to the negotiating table in Iraq, the Ivory Coast, Kashmir, and Bihar, among others. His message, that humanity is one family, resonates deeply in times of division. Gurudev often emphasizes that sustainable peace cannot be achieved through political treaties alone. It must be rooted in human connection, empathy, and shared values. He promotes interfaith harmony and multicultural education as antidotes to extremism, urging societies to look beyond labels of religion or nationality.
Educational initiatives for transformation
Beyond peacebuilding, Gurudev has devoted immense energy to education. His institutions seek to merge ancient wisdom with modern innovation. Sri Sri University in Cuttack, Odisha, stands as a living example of this vision. Offering programs in management, philosophy, science, engineering, yoga, Ayurveda, and liberal arts, the university fosters both intellectual excellence and emotional intelligence. Additionally, the Sri Sri Ravishankar Vidya Mandir Trust, founded in 1999, carries the same spirit into schools across India and abroad. Its mission: to provide value-based, holistic education in a stress-free, student-friendly environment. The network includes more than 90 schools in India, free education centers in underprivileged communities such as Dharavi, and international schools in Nepal and Oman. Together, these institutions aim to create socially conscious global citizens who are innovative, compassionate, and grounded in ethics.
The Ashrams: Sanctuaries of peace
Across continents, The Art of Living ashrams have become havens of rest and rejuvenation. The Sanskrit word “ashram” means “a place without effort,” and these centers embody that meaning. Visitors often describe them as “home away from home,” places where the noise of daily life fades, replaced by stillness and reflection. Over the past four decades, ashrams established by The Art of Living in India, the United States, Canada, and Germany have grown into vibrant communities of learning, meditation, and service. They are not exclusive retreats but inclusive spaces where people from every walk of life gather to reconnect with themselves and with others.
Gurudev’s message to the world: One world, one family
Those who have met Gurudev often describe an unshakable serenity about him, a quiet strength that turns lofty ideals into living reality. His central message remains timeless and simple: “Love and wisdom can prevail over hatred and violence.” In a world often divided by race, religion, and ideology, Gurudev has built bridges where walls once stood. Through his words, teachings, and tireless humanitarian work, he has inspired millions to see themselves as part of one human family. As the Boston Global Forum’s 2025 ceremony came to a close, the applause that followed was not just for a man but for a movement that continues to remind humanity that peace is not an endpoint but a daily choice in your thoughts, actions, and connection with others.
