[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 17, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





             HONORING OF HIS HOLINESS SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 17, 2018

  Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor his Holiness 
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a Hindu spiritual leader and humanitarian who has 
devoted his life to eliminating violence and spreading compassion 
throughout the world.
   His Holiness's teachings center on the importance of spirituality 
and its ability to enhance personal traits such as enthusiasm, love, 
and compassion. According to his teachings on spirituality, the bond 
that all humans share is stronger than any other characteristic that 
divides us, be it religion, race, or nationality.
   His Holiness has also taken part in extensive humanitarian work 
across the world, from organizing volunteers for many natural disasters 
over the past twenty years, including assistance for victims of the 
2004 tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, to dedicating efforts to promoting 
interfaith dialogue through the Board of World Religious Leaders for 
the Elijah Interfaith Institute.
   In addition, His Holiness has played a large role in the development 
of social initiatives all over the world, and especially in India. He 
is involved in Volunteer For a Better India, an organization which 
promotes voter awareness and registration as well as free health camps 
in India. In 2009, His Holiness established Sri Sri University in 
Odisha; in 2017, the school was awarded a Best Innovative University 
Award at the 2017 Education Excellence Awards.
   In recognition of his contributions to the promotion of global 
values, His Holiness has received the highest awards of many countries, 
including India, Colombia, Peru, and Paraguay. In 2016, the Government 
of India awarded him the ``Padma Vibhushan,'' India's second highest 
civilian award.
   Today, I recognize his Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for all that he 
has done to promote peace, empathy, and acceptance in our world. I 
commend him for the good work he has done through both his teachings 
and his humanitarian service, and I thank him for his continued efforts 
to make the world a better place.

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