LOS ANGELES – Mohammed Afroze, an al Qaeda operative accused of plotting to blow up the House of Commons in London, has put down his weapons as a result of taking the Art of Living Course according to the Times of India. Held in a prison cell in Mumbai, India, Afroze refused bail so he could complete the course, says Kedar Desai, course instructor.
Afroze became aware of the Art of Living Course through the Art of Living Foundation’s Prison Program, which is used extensively by prisons and jails throughout India and the United States. For three months, Afroze studied the advanced meditation course while detained in the Byculla jail.
“The course has brought me immense peace,” says Afroze. “I no longer get angry, nor do I have anything against anyone. When I’m out of prison, I want to teach this course to my family and community members.”
Versions of the six-session course have been taught in more than 130 countries to the public, as well as business, government, law enforcement, and rehabilitation organizations. Controlled studies have shown the courses to be more effective than medication for depression, along with a number of other positive mental, emotional, and health benefits, including reduced stress levels and restored normal sleep patterns.
People from all walks of life are feeling the threat and uncertainty of terrorism. Rather than escalating the violence with counter attacks, individuals like Afroze, and any world citizen, can help end the cycle of violence and fear — peacefully.
The Art of Living Foundation founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says: “Today, terrorism is a global social concern. As a long-term remedy, we need to educate the entire world population to value life itself more than religion, race, or culture. We need to honor diversity and appreciate all religious and cultural traditions, and adopt practical methods to release stress and tension in life. Stress is the root cause of all conflict and violence. Have confidence that we can achieve change through peaceful, non-violent means.”
The Art of Living Foundation is a non-profit educational and humanitarian organization, and a Non-Governmental Organization of the United Nations.
