Spiritual leader comes North on world tour

MIRIAM HILL

His holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a spiritual master from Bangalore, India, will be in Iqaluit this month to meet with politicians and members of the public.

Shankar is the founder of the Art of Living Foundation, a non-profit humanitarian organization, and travels around the world as a spiritual teacher. He will make a public appearance at the Anglican Parish Hall at 7:30 p.m. on April 15. The following day he will travel to Pangnirtung.

Marcy Jackson, teacher and regional coordinator for i&I Art of Living Foundation in Vancouver, was in Iqaluit last week preparing for his visit.

“He’s doing a world tour and he’s always wanted to see the North, to see the land and meet the people,” she said.

Woody Woods, an independent producer, is working on a film about Shankar’s visit to the Arctic for Vision TV. It will be called Guru in the Arctic.

“It’s the first time a guru has ever come to the Arctic as far as I know,” he said. “He is considered the biggest spiritual leader in India at the moment, so the fact that he’s coming up to this small community is quite a thing.”

In India, Jackson said, thousands of people come to hear Shankar speak — he is like a pop star, teaching people a path to happiness and the similarities that exist between world religions.

While in Iqaluit, Shankar will lead guided meditations, an element of courses he has rolled out in several countries. His public appearance, Woods said, will focus on something like the state of the world at the moment, and he always makes time to answer questions from the audience.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Woods said. “I have seen many fake gurus; this guy is the genuine article.”

Premier Paul Okalik has agreed to meet with Shankar, Woods said, if his schedule permits. With the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention conference taking place in May, Woods said, the group may come back to show how Shankar’s breathing techniques can transform lives.

Woods hopes Shankar’s trip will inspire interest in the Art of Living workshops, he said, adding that the guru’s teachings are practised in Russia, China, Africa and Poland.