ART OF LIVING’S PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

Art of Living’s Philosophy of Education revolves around the overall development of a child
and not merely academic excellence. The Art of Living Educational Institutions thrives to
provide quality holistic education leading to all round development of a child. The children’s own
lives- processes of playing and learning at home- and their cultural milieu are used. It provides for
all areas of child’s development: physical, social, emotional and cognitive through an integrated
approach to facilitate holistic development of the children. The child-centered curriculum provides
ample opportunity for the children to learn through active exploration. It increases one's
awareness on a range of issues – from healthcare to appropriate social behavior to
understanding one's rights - and in the process evolves as a better citizen. Efforts are directed
towards bringing about changes not only in the amount of knowledge gained but also in abilities
to do, to think and to acquire habits, skills and attitude which characterize an individual who is
socially accepted and adjusted.

Salient Features of Philosophy of Education in SSRVM Schools

->An education system where Awareness is nurtured, Innocence maintained and their Smiles are  blossomed.

->The first and foremost principle of education for children is that it is Child Centered. It
focuses on providing the right environment to children, which is conducive to their growth.
It is crucial to education as a child at an early stage is non - programmed and it’s the very
environment in which education is provided which decides as to how the child gets
programmed.

->Love, Care and Compassion is the essence of the entire education process. There is
no place for fear, punishment & tension in the teaching – learning environment and is
absolutely stress free.

->The teaching process is such that it’s not imposed but related to day-to-day practical
environment in which a child grows up. The process of education is such that it is
Curiosity Driven rather than information based. The process is that of SelfLearning
that Build the Skills and nurtures Leadership.

->The education system Instills Self Esteem and Creativity, where the roots are deep
and the vision is broad, the ancient and the new blend together, to instill freedom in
thought, love in the heart and discipline in action. It creates a sense of belongingness
with the whole world.

->Individual attention is provided to each child based on her / his needs and not
general for all. This is significant as none of us have the same levels of aptitude and
learning speed, thus taking care of individual needs becomes imperative.
The teaching – learning process is not through lecture, blackboard, and chalk mode but is
through Interactive classroom processes.

->Discipline among children is brought about not by force but by making them aware of
the benefits of following certain rules and regulations. This understanding among the
children helps them to know why certain disciplines needs to be adhered to in life and
thus again is not imposed but practiced with consciousness.

->The Teachers are Facilitators in the process of education. They Act as Catalysts
in bringing out the best out of each child. They use processes that bring out the inherent
capabilities and potential of a child. They are Soft, have the Aptitude to listen to
children and have Patience. Sri Sri Ravi shankar Vidya Mandir Trust

->The children are provided with ample opportunities to reveal their Interests, Skills,
likings, etc so that the teachers are better equipped to contribute in their development.

->The children learn various skills. The Skills of dealing with oneself, day to day
situations, fine arts, sports, craft, music, culture, etc. Sensitivity and
learning with nature, spoken and vernacular language and conversational
Sanskrit.

->Major emphasis is laid upon the Teacher Child Relationship. The teacher places
oneself at the level of children and acts as a facilitator in the teaching-learning processes.
The teachers make conscious effort to involve children in the entire process of education,
encourages each child to express his or her views which are respected and taken into
consideration by the teacher, thereby boosting up their self-esteem. Every teacher plans
according to needs of her children. They encourage the spirit of enquiry in a child and
help them make their choices based on nurturing the child's interest and learning. A lot of
importance is given to the child's psychology at an early age so that they loose the
psychological fears or complexes they may have towards learning. This encourages
children to think independently and become more responsible.
Regular Field Trips (Exposure Visits) are conducted for the children to develop
their understanding on different matters. Exposure visits are conducted to Post Offices,
Banks, Tailors, Cobblers, Mechanics etc so that learning happens by experience.

Service Initiatives by Art of Living for Girl Child

"When you train a woman, you help the entire family, community and nation."
- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

The International Women’s Conference (IWC) aims to enhance the global impact of women’s work by arranging a platform for dialogue and information sharing. The Conference also integrated The Art of Living’s individual empowerment program with tailored social initiatives designed by the International Association for Human Values (IAHV).

IWC is designed to complement ongoing Art of Living and IAHV initiatives. Examples of these initiatives are mentioned below. Get more information on the Art of Living’s women’s empowerment initiatives. Art of Living’s Women’s Empowerment Initiatives.

A partial list of service initiatives include:

Girl Child Education

Funds accrued during IWC were dedicated to providing scholarships to 500 girl children who attend VVMVP schools across tribal and rural areas of India. Provided with meals, clothes, books, transportation and value-education, the children participate in a deductive approach to learning and on aggregate perform at the 95 percentile on state board examinations. Nearly half of all the children enrolled in VVMVP schools across India are girls.

Women Welfare VISTA, India

VISTA is an independent non-governmental organization dedicated to fighting poverty and gender related injustice in India, specifically targeting marginalized women to empower them. VISTA India is a grassroots project based on the principle of Value Integrated Services To All (VISTA). The IWC has helped this project establish a strong foothold in rural India. VISTA educates women and provides vocational training in sewing and embroidery to make them self-reliant. Many of these women find work in the local garment industry; others work from home to augment family income. VISTA has also instituted a special program called 'Earn while you Learn,' which helps women-in-training take up tailoring orders from individuals and companies. Over 2000 women from 30 villages in Karnataka, India; have been trained so far under the VISTA ‘Earn while you Learn’ program.

India’s Missing Daughters" - Campaign Against Female Foeticide

The Art of Living and UNFPA partnered to address the imbalance in India’s sex ratio as an outcome of IWC 2005. The Founder of IAHV and The Art of Living, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, joined more than 36 religious and spiritual leaders, representatives from government, civil society and the media to launch a nation-wide campaign that drew thousands against the practice of female selective abortions.


AIDS Awareness - HARA

HARA Program, started in 2009, promotes HIV/AIDS awareness among rural communities, and helps women with HIV/AIDS achieve economic self-sufficiency. To achieve this, HARA educates youth volunteers (“yuvacharyas” ) in villages about HIV transmission, prevention and care. These yuvacharyas are trained for three days by certified doctors. In this training, rural youth are made aware of HIV/AIDS, its causes and prevention methods. The yuvacharyas are also trained to organize awareness workshops and to work with other like-minded, non-profit and government organizations in their area.
To complement the efforts of the yuvacharyas, HARA provides vocational training to affected individuals in skills such as tailoring, pickle making, honey and ghee production and handbags and handicrafts production. HARA also helps participants market and sell their goods. The HARA Program has reached out to 29,196 people between 2009- 2010.


Peanut Butter Project, Zimbabwe

Inspired by IWC 2007, the Zimbabwean delegation worked with local Murewa women to engage in the community-driven development programs offered by The Art of Living. After 797 women participated in leadership and capacity development, 82 formed a group to start a small scale peanut butter production and manufacturing factory. With seed capital and mentorship provided by Art of Living Zimbabwe, the project has provided a sustainable way to build civic engagement and the asset base of women in poverty.

You can read about other service projects of the Art of Living.

Art of Silence

I am just back, rejuvenated and refreshed from my favorite Meditation Retreat at the Art of Living International Center in Bangalore. The experience of deep silence and stillness is not easy to capture in words, and yet not wanting to give up easily, I am trying to share it here. 
As the flute flowed melodiously during the evening satsang, it seemed no different from the human body. Air was being blown through the hollow and empty flute and beautiful music was flowing out. Three things came together to create this music: Knowledge of the music, the mastery over the blowing of air and the knowledge of the apertures to be opened and closed. The manner in which the air is blown, its smoothness, force, transition, intensity, the practice and the knowledge all come together to create the music.
 The human body, made up of the five elements and five senses, is also like a beautiful flute with its five apertures. It is a much more complex system than the flute; however the fundamental principles to create music remain the same. A mastery of the body and mind are needed to bring out the harmonious and melodious music, inherent in us.

Every time I do The of the Art of Living, I find myself acquiring greater skills to gain this mastery. These skills help us to wade through life’s transient events and give us the experience that in its essence Life is indeed Celebration, Joy and Love.

The same message was echoed as I watched Nature and its hollow and emptiness. Hollow and Empty and yet playing the most beautiful music in the chirping of the birds, the distant sound of the children, the chanting of the Vedas, the flow of the water, the sound of the trees swaying… A silent symphony played by sounds of silence and wonder.

As I became one with the swaying of the trees, the blueness of the water, the vastness of the sky, the heat of the Sun, the solidity of the Earth underneath my feet, a silence dawned. The moment stood still and I was alive like never before.

A deep impact has been made. There is a playfulness in me that is enlivened, a calmness and an understanding that does not allow the situations to overwhelm me. There is also a new dawn of creativity and an enthusiasm to live every moment in its fullness. Living has become exhilarating after I heard the Sound of Silence.

The Art of Silence Course provides optimal conditions for going deep within, quieting our mental chatter, and experiencing deep rest and inner peace. The practice of silence – of consciously withdrawing our energy and attention from outer distractions – has been used in different traditions throughout time as a pathway to physical, mental, and spiritual renewal. By participating in various course processes specifically designed to take us beyond our usually active “monkey minds”, we experience an extraordinary sense of peace and renewed energy that we carry home with us. The course features:
Rejuvenating yoga
Two to three days of guided silence practice
Unique guided meditations designed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Advanced breathing techniques which can also be practiced at home after the course
Advanced insight on the laws governing our mind and emotions The course is typically held as a residential retreat in a place of natural beauty and tranquility. It’s no wonder that many course participants refer to it as the ideal vacation for body, mind, and spirit.