"When common people work together, problems get solved. I don't see society as rotten," said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at a press conference on Saturday. "Yet, what India needs most urgently are clean, capable people to shoulder the four pillars of society – politics, media and entertainment, religion and business," he added.
The spiritualist spoke on the eve of the launch of his events in Maharashtra that aim to bring people together in peace. It will start with a mega-chanting event this evening (Sunday, January 11), and is open to all. It is to be held at the MMRDA ground, Bandra-Kurla Complex between 6 and 8 pm. This will be followed by a music event 'Venunaad – Music for Peace' on Monday in Nashik, and will feature 4,000 flautists in ensemble led by Pandit Ronu Majumdar.
At the press conference, he also addressed a variety of topics, and specifically, about his organisation Art of Living's effort to bring people together in peace, both, in India and all over the world.
In a globe that is increasingly plagued by terrorism, Sri Sri highlighted AOL's recent efforts in Paris following the attack on Charlie Hebdo journalists.
He said that in the aftermath of a terrorist massacre, anger and fear are the two most predominant emotions. "We're conducting meditation camps in Paris and elsewhere in France because dealing with post-event trauma is the most important aspect for French citizens now," explained the spiritualist.
Asked to comment on Bollywood films, Sri Sri joked: "I don't take Bollywood films very seriously. Maybe because they usually portray spiritual people as villains."
He went on to say that what India needs now, is education that is broad based and also spiritual in nature; "Education that spreads peace and has breadth of vision," he added.
Regarding the youth whom he regards as a potent force for the future Sri Sri cautioned: "Youth today need to return to family values which they're moving away from, to their own detriment. Also, they tend to live in a virtual world when it is important to have real, living interactions. If they were to undertake 'seva' (social service), many of their problems would get sorted."
Finally, regarding the recent controversies in the media from politics and religion to business, he said that some people had figured that the best way to get some publicity is to stir up some controversy or the other. "Controversy is one way to establish a name, so people come up with controversies," he added.
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