I Meditate Africa join thousands to Meditate and Pray for Peace in Africa Month

Join over 20 African countries in a global Peace Initiative during which individuals and groups are encouraged to meditate for Peace for Africa during Africa month – culminating with a live Global Peace Meditation led by global humanitarian Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Saturday 28 May at 3pm.

“I Meditate Africa” is a campaign promoting peace across Africa, encouraging the use of meditation as part of mainstream peace building.

In 2016 the month of May is dedicated to peace meditations held across the country at educational institutes, businesses, faith networks, police stations and community gatherings.

“Over 500 studies from more than 200 International Universities, including Princeton and Harvard, have scientifically proven that meditation can improve the quality of life for everyone. At a time where our headlines are dominated by violence, crime, corruption, misunderstanding and lack of human values, one way to begin to address this is to do something proactive and positive, lets unite people on a deeper level through the power of collective consciousness,” explains The Art of Living’s Vani Pavadai.

Joaquim Chissano, the former President of Mozambique, is referred to as the “meditating president”, who encouraged meditation to his army and civilians, he credits meditation as being one of the contributing factors for peace and prosperity in his country. Our own Nelson Mandela has been quoted as saying “Regular meditation, say of about 15 minutes a day, can be fruitful…”

The I Meditate Africa campaign has built up a significant following over the years: in 2013 there were 10 000 participants from 23 African countries and 31 African cities and 54 international countries. In 2014 this increased to 100 000 participants from 24 African Countries and 31 African cities and 52 International countries. Last year numbers further jumped up to 500 000 participants from 25 African countries and 34 African cities and 53 International countries. The organizers are hopeful that the numbers will improve again this year!

The Department of Basic Education and the Kwa Zulu- Natal Department of Education has a sustained partnership with The Art of Living Foundation and over the past three years have seen the continued participation of schools in this Global Peace Initiative. In 2016, the KZN Department of Education has again requested all schools to participate in the I Meditate Africa Peace Campaign during the month of May.

Peace-makers are invited to encourage their friends, families and communities to mediate during the month of May. To be part of the global network and to find a step by step guideline on how to participate and log your efforts:

http://www.artofliving.org/za-en/i-meditate-africa-2016

A special invitation goes out to everyone to join in a Live Global Peace Meditation for Africa, led by Humanitarian Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Sat 28 May 2016 at 3pm.

Click here to join in: http://webcast.artofliving.org / https://www.facebook.com/SriSriRaviShankar/?fref=ts

In KZN, there will be a series of informal meditation sessions to which the public are invited: Confirmed so far are:

Monday 23 May at 7p: Shree Vishnu Temple, 161 Loopwest Crescent, Newlands,

Wednesday 25 May at 10.30am: Rydalvale Primary School, 200 Longbury Drive, Phoenix

Thursday 26 May at 7pm: Kendra Temple, 5 John Zikhali Road, Durban

Saturday 28 May at 3pm: Durban North Methodist Church, in Swapo Road

Should one want to join a group meditation in KZN: contact Amrika from the Art of Living Durban office on 031 409 1442 /durbanoffice@artofliving.org.za

In Gauteng, there will be a series of informal meditation sessions to which the public are invited: Confirmed so far are:

16 May: Ravat’s Persian Carpet Gallery, 278 Lochner Road, Raslouw AH, Centurion, Pretoria

Should one want to join a group mediation in Gauteng: contact Pushpa from the Gauteng Art of Living Gauteng office on 011 781 76 87 / nationaloffice@artofliving.org.za

In Cape Town, there will be a series of informal meditation sessions to which the public are invited: Confirmed so far are:

28 May from 2pm – 4pm at The Amphitheatre, V & A Waterfront, Cape Town. Contact Number: 076 5133050 / Contact Email: Elizabeth.roux@axxess.co.za / Closest Parking: Ulundi

Should one want to join a group meditation in Cape Town: contact Vani Pavadai

za@imeditateafrica.org / 082 641 6049 / Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iMeditateAfrica/ / Twitter: @iMeditateAfrica

Captions:

Photographed at the 2015 Art of Living I Meditate Africa event

Photos: Publicity Matters

The photographs of learners from Rydavale Primary School, KZN taken last year

Photos: CopyDog PR

Media queries: KZN

Illa Thompson

Publicity Matters

illa@pubmat.co.za

031 201 1638 / 083 326 3234