Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, known as an ambassador of peace, humanitarian leader, psychologist and founder of the Art of Living Foundation, recently imparted valuable insights on transforming stress into useful energy for everyday life.

His expertise in mental management was shared at the “Stress to Strength” event, organised by the Indian embassy in Phnom Penh and held on the evening of March 11 on Phnom Penh’s Koh Pich.

He highlighted the alarming statistic that every 40 seconds, someone in the world commits suicide due to stress. Shankar pointed out that excessive work, overwhelming worries and insufficient time are primary causes of stress, leading to feelings of nervousness and inability to find relief.

Shankar, an expert in inner peace and creativity, suggested several methods to combat stress. These include waking up early, eating healthily and regularly and choosing easily digestible foods.

He emphasised the importance of adequate sleep, learning to control one’s breathing, relaxing, meditating and nurturing good mental health to maintain a stress-free mind.

“A happy, stable mind that receives meditation provides energy throughout the day.

“It does not matter if you are Buddhist or Christian, breathing is for everyone. These techniques are not about conversion; they are about improving breathing quality and increasing everyone’s energy in life,” he said.

Shankar noted that one-third of the world’s population now incorporates activities like yoga, various breathing exercises and regular meditation into their daily routines to energise their bodies. 

He mentioned that 108 universities in India have integrated these methods into their curricula, and many countries in Asia and Europe are also adopting meditation and breathing practices to enhance people’s quality of life.

Samheng Boros, Minister Delegate attached to the Prime Minister, expressed pride in Cambodians’ growing understanding of mental peace.

He shared his personal experience, saying mastering mental management and achieving peace of mind can eliminate all fears.

Boros recounted an experience of visiting a commercial building in the US, where he felt scared and anxious. He was unsure if these feelings stemmed from cultural differences or other factors. However, after learning to manage his mind peacefully, he successfully overcame his restlessness.

“Initially, during the meditation and clear-sightedness courses, as well as the breathing exercises, I was afraid of certain things and affected by external emotions. But by the end of the course, I understood that I had freedom of thought. I realised that I didn’t need to feel pressured, didn’t have to be dishonest and there was no need to present myself in a certain way to others,” he explained.