The Art of Living Foundation, founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in 1981, has garnered global recognition for its meditation, yoga, and breathing techniques, particularly the Sudarshan Kriya, aimed at fostering personal well-being and societal harmony. With a presence in over 180 countries, the organization relies heavily on its volunteers and teachers to spread its message. However, beneath its spiritual facade, the Art of Living has faced criticism for fostering groupism, exploiting volunteers, adopting a careless approach to genuine practitioners, and prioritizing organizational targets over its altruistic mission. This article explores how these issues create challenges for sincere practitioners and undermine the foundation's stated goal of helping people and society.
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1. Groupism: A Barrier to Genuine Practice
Groupism, or the formation of exclusive cliques within the Art of Living, is a significant issue reported by practitioners and former members on platforms like X and Reddit. While the organization promotes unity and universal spirituality, internal dynamics often lead to factionalism that alienates genuine practitioners.
- Cliques and Favoritism: Within Art of Living communities, certain groups of volunteers or teachers may form close-knit circles based on loyalty to specific leaders, proximity to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, or seniority within the organization. These cliques can create an environment where favoritism thrives, with preferred members receiving better opportunities, such as teaching high-profile courses or attending exclusive retreats. Genuine practitioners, who focus on personal growth and spiritual practice rather than organizational politics, often feel sidelined or undervalued.
- Exclusion of Newcomers: New or less connected practitioners report feeling excluded from decision-making processes or community events. For example, some have shared anecdotes online about being overlooked for volunteer roles or dismissed when offering feedback, as established groups prioritize their own members. This groupism undermines the sense of community that the Art of Living claims to foster, leaving sincere practitioners feeling disconnected.
- Impact on Spiritual Growth: For practitioners seeking authentic spiritual experiences, groupism can be a distraction. The focus on internal hierarchies and social dynamics shifts attention away from meditation and self-reflection, creating a competitive rather than collaborative environment. This can discourage genuine practitioners from fully engaging with the organization's teachings.
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2. Exploitation of Volunteers: Selfless Service or Unfair Burden?
The Art of Living's reliance on unpaid volunteers is central to its operations, with *seva* (selfless service) framed as a spiritual practice. However, many volunteers report experiences that feel more like exploitation than empowerment, particularly when groupism amplifies unequal treatment.
- Excessive Workloads: Volunteers are often tasked with organizing events, teaching introductory sessions, or managing logistics for large-scale programs like the World Culture Festival. Some report working long hours—sometimes 10–12 hours daily—without adequate support or recognition. Former volunteers have shared stories on X about feeling pressured to prioritize Art of Living commitments over personal or professional responsibilities, leading to burnout.
- Financial Strain: While volunteering is unpaid, it can come with hidden costs. Volunteers may be encouraged to attend advanced courses or travel for events, which can cost hundreds of dollars. In some cases, they are asked to contribute to fundraising efforts or promote paid programs, placing financial burdens on those already dedicating their time. This dynamic disproportionately affects genuine practitioners who lack the resources to keep up with these expectations.
- Unequal Treatment Within Groups: Groupism exacerbates exploitation by creating disparities in how volunteers are treated. Members of favored cliques may receive perks, such as access to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar or prominent roles, while others are assigned menial tasks with little acknowledgment. This can lead to disillusionment among volunteers who joined the organization with a sincere desire to serve.
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3. Careless Approach to Genuine Practitioners
The Art of Living's emphasis on expansion and recruitment has led to accusations of a careless approach toward genuine practitioners—those who prioritize the spiritual practices over organizational goals. This issue is particularly evident in how the organization handles feedback and individual needs.
- Neglect of Individual Needs: Practitioners who join the Art of Living for personal growth often report feeling like their needs are secondary to the organization's agenda. For example, some have described courses where instructors focus more on promoting advanced programs than addressing participants' questions about meditation or stress relief. This sales-oriented approach can alienate those seeking authentic spiritual guidance.
- Lack of Support for Struggling Practitioners**: Genuine practitioners, particularly those dealing with mental health challenges or personal crises, may find limited support within the organization. While Sudarshan Kriya is marketed as a tool for stress relief, critics argue that the Art of Living lacks structured mechanisms to support practitioners who need more than group workshops. Former members have shared online that their struggles were dismissed with generic advice to "do more Kriya" rather than receiving personalized guidance.
- Feedback Suppression: Groupism can contribute to a culture where feedback from practitioners is ignored or discouraged. Those who raise concerns about course quality, volunteer treatment, or organizational practices may be labeled as lacking faith or commitment. This stifles open dialogue and leaves genuine practitioners feeling unheard.
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4. Sales-Like Culture: Targets Over Transformation
One of the most pervasive criticisms of the Art of Living is its shift toward a sales-like culture, where volunteers and teachers are pressured to meet recruitment and revenue targets, resembling corporate sales professionals rather than spiritual guides.
- Aggressive Recruitment Tactics: Volunteers and teachers are often tasked with recruiting new participants for courses, which can cost 1200- 2500 or more. Some former members describe being given explicit targets, such as enrolling a certain number of people per month, and facing pressure from group leaders if they fall short. This focus on numbers has led to comparisons with multi-level marketing (MLM) schemes, where personal relationships are leveraged to drive sales rather than foster spiritual growth.
- Prioritizing Revenue Over Service: The high cost of courses and retreats has raised concerns that the Art of Living prioritizes revenue over its mission to help people and society. Critics argue that the organization's push to sell advanced programs, merchandise (like Sri Sri Tattva products), and exclusive events diverts attention from its humanitarian goals. Genuine practitioners, who may not have the means to afford these offerings, feel marginalized in a system that seems to value financial contributions over spiritual dedication.
- Impact on Volunteers: The sales-like culture places additional strain on volunteers, who are often encouraged to use personal networks to recruit participants. This can lead to awkward or strained relationships, as friends and family may feel pressured to join. Former volunteers have reported feeling like "salespeople" rather than spiritual practitioners, which conflicts with the organization's ethos of selfless service.
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5. Vested Interests Over Altruism
While the Art of Living promotes itself as a humanitarian organization dedicated to global peace and societal well-being, critics argue that some leaders and groups within the foundation prioritize their own vested interests over helping people and society.
- Power Dynamics and Recognition: Groupism often fuels a culture where certain volunteers or teachers seek recognition, status, or proximity to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. This pursuit of influence can overshadow the organization's altruistic goals, as leaders within cliques may focus on consolidating power rather than supporting practitioners or communities. For example, some former members have shared stories of senior volunteers receiving preferential treatment, such as invitations to exclusive events, while others are left to handle grunt work.
- Commercialization of Spirituality: The Art of Living's commercial ventures, such as its Sri Sri Tattva brand of Ayurvedic products, have led to accusations that the organization is more interested in profit than service. Critics argue that the push to sell products and courses reflects a corporate mindset rather than a commitment to societal good. This commercialization can alienate genuine practitioners who joined the organization for spiritual growth, not to support a business model.
- Neglect of Social Initiatives: While the Art of Living runs programs like rural education and disaster relief, some critics claim that these initiatives are underfunded or used as promotional tools rather than genuine efforts to help society. For instance, funds raised for charitable causes are sometimes perceived as being redirected to events or administrative costs, though no definitive evidence has been presented to support these claims.
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6. Impact on Genuine Practitioners and Society
The issues of groupism, exploitation, and a sales-driven culture have profound implications for genuine practitioners and the Art of Living's broader mission:
- Disillusionment and Departure: Many sincere practitioners, who join the Art of Living seeking spiritual growth or stress relief, become disillusioned by the organization's internal dynamics. The focus on recruitment, revenue, and group loyalty can make them feel that their spiritual journey is secondary to organizational goals, prompting some to leave.
- Undermining Social Good: The Art of Living's stated mission of fostering peace and well-being is undermined when volunteers and teachers prioritize targets or personal interests over helping others. This can weaken the organization's credibility as a humanitarian force, especially when genuine practitioners feel neglected or exploited.
- Erosion of Trust: Groupism and a careless approach to practitioners erode trust within the community. When sincere members feel excluded or unheard, they are less likely to engage with the organization's programs or recommend them to others, hindering its outreach and impact.
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7. The Art of Living's Response
The Art of Living Foundation has consistently defended its practices, emphasizing that volunteering is voluntary and that *seva* is a spiritual practice meant to benefit both the individual and society. The organization highlights its global impact, including disaster relief, education programs, and peace-building initiatives, as evidence of its commitment to helping people. Regarding groupism and recruitment pressures, the foundation maintains that such issues are not systemic and may reflect isolated experiences or misunderstandings. It also denies prioritizing revenue over service, stating that course fees and product sales fund its humanitarian work.
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8. Path Forward: Realigning with Core Values
To address these challenges and better support genuine practitioners, the Art of Living could consider the following steps:
- Reducing Groupism: Foster a more inclusive culture by dismantling cliques and ensuring equal opportunities for all volunteers and practitioners. Transparent criteria for roles and recognition could help mitigate favoritism.
- Supporting Volunteers: Provide clear guidelines on volunteer expectations, limit financial burdens, and offer mental health resources to prevent burnout. Recognizing volunteers' contributions, regardless of group affiliation, could enhance morale.
- Prioritizing Practitioners: Shift the focus back to spiritual growth by offering affordable or free programs for genuine practitioners and creating channels for feedback. Personalized support for those struggling with the practices could strengthen trust.
- Balancing Growth and Altruism: Reassess recruitment practices to ensure they align with spiritual rather than commercial goals. Transparency about how funds are used for social initiatives could counter perceptions of vested interests.
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The Art of Living Foundation has inspired millions with its teachings, but issues like groupism, volunteer exploitation, and a sales-driven culture pose significant challenges for genuine practitioners. These dynamics risk alienating those who seek authentic spiritual growth and undermine the organization's mission to help people and society. By addressing these concerns with transparency, inclusivity, and a renewed focus on its core values, the Art of Living can better support its community and live up to its vision of a stress-free, harmonious world. For now, genuine practitioners must navigate these challenges with discernment, balancing their spiritual aspirations with the realities of the organization's culture.
