The Guru of Joy: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the Art of Living

Author: François Gautier Category: Biography & Memoir ISBN: 9789385827358 Binding: Paperback with flaps Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 inch Number of Pages: 256

A vibrant and exhilarating narrative that portrays the life and times (and achievements) of a man who is recognized as the messenger of peace and the embodiment of love

This is the definitive biography of one of the most magnetic and unconventional gurus in the world today – a man who has an ever-growing following (which runs into millions) across the globe. From Bengaluru to Bosnia and from Tamil Nadu to Trinidad, his very presence, his grace and his technique have touched and transformed numerous lives. A tireless traveller and a constant seeker of knowledge, he has addressed the United Nations, the World Economic Forum and bright young minds at Harvard University. In a world torn apart by strife and hostility, he has carried the eternal message of love and compassion and has sought to revive basic human values.

Wherever he goes, people from all walks of life – housewives, students, working people, and celebrities – seek his blessings and advice. Amazingly, he makes each one of them feel special and cherished. Each gesture of his exudes love, innocence and joy. At the same time, he comes up with practical solutions for all the problems plaguing us today: terrorism, war, political dysfunction, personal conflicts and psychological complications.

Who is this playfully profound, child-like, ever-smiling guru, with a twinkle in his eyes, whose avowed mission is to ‘put a smile on the face of every person he meets’? He is Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of the Art of Living Foundation, the world’s second largest NGO with centres in over 151 countries.

This timely and insightful volume, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Art of Living Foundation, presents a fascinating look into Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s childhood, adolescence, formative years and his subsequent growth that catapulted him onto the international stage. The author describes in graphic detail how he set up his foundation, how he developed, after meditating deeply, the Sudarshan Kriya (a transformative process that has miraculous healing powers) and how he strives ceaselessly to spread his simple but remarkable philosophy: CELEBRATE LIFE!


François Gautier

François Gautier, born in Paris in 1950, is a French journalist and writer, who, initially, for fifteen years, was the political correspondent in India and South Asia for Le Journal de Genève and, subsequently, for Le Figaro (France’s largest circulated newspaper) for eight years. He is the author of several books: Un autre Regard sur L’Inde, Arise O India, A Western Journist on India, and India’s Self-Denial. He is married to namirita and has lived in India for more than three decades.

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