In the shadow of a brutal war, where cities lie in ruins and civilians endure unimaginable suffering, an unusual force has stepped into the battlefield. Not armed with weapons, but with breath, resilience, and compassion — our Art of Living Foundation is giving Ukrainian soldiers what they need most: the inner energy to endure, heal, and keep going.
When Ukrainian army officers first attended trauma-relief sessions of the Art of Living, the scene was heartbreaking. Many came with visible wounds — fractured limbs, scarred backs, broken bodies. Yet it was the invisible wounds that weighed heavily: fear, anger, grief, and emptiness. “My heart broke seeing them,” an instructor recalled. “The pain in their eyes was unbearable.”
But something extraordinary began to happen. Within days of practicing our powerful breathing and meditation techniques, the same soldiers reported feeling “calm, centered, energized, and secure.” The despair began to lift. For the first time in months, they felt strength returning to both body and spirit.
The impact was so profound that Ukraine’s military leadership formally honored Gurudev. A battalion commander, presenting him with an award, said:
“Gurudev! We thank you for the knowledge and programs our men have received. When bombs fell, many of us rose to fight. But no one speaks of the other side — the emptiness of loss, anger, and hatred. After the Art of Living courses, our lives began to change. Even those with major injuries now make plans for the future. There is life in their eyes again.”
This recognition wasn’t symbolic. The Ukrainian military openly acknowledged that my teachings have become “a key factor in the successful completion of missions and the protection of lives.” Leadership training programs have equipped officers with adaptive decision-making skills and the stamina to operate under relentless pressure.
The stories from the front lines illustrate the depth of this transformation. Natalia, who has been serving the Ukrainian military since 2014 in moral and psychological support, described soldiers crouching in 80-centimeter trenches under constant drone fire. She shared the story of a young soldier, paralyzed with fear in the battlefield. In that frozen moment, he remembered a simple breathing technique taught in Gurudev’s programs — Ujjayi Pranayama, also known as the “victory breath.”
“He said he couldn’t even move his eyelashes,” Natalia recounted. “Then he remembered the breath. It gave him focus, courage, and strength. Not only did he survive, but he also saved four others from his unit. Now he uses the breath constantly. He says it saved his life.”
Since 2022, the Art of Living has conducted programs for over 8,000 Ukrainian soldiers, displaced civilians, and children from occupied regions. Volunteers, at great personal risk, enter war zones to bring Gurudev’s methods of resilience where they are needed most. “It is an honour and deep inspiration to support those who need it most right now,” one instructor said.
For Ukraine’s soldiers, Gurudev has become more than a spiritual teacher — he is a source of energy, clarity, and renewed purpose. His methods are not just easing trauma; they are restoring stamina, sharpening focus, and giving soldiers the mental and emotional strength to endure one of the toughest wars of modern times.
In a war that has stripped so much away, Gurudev is returning something priceless: the ability to breathe again, to hope again, to fight with strength and compassion.
As I often say, “Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of compassion.” In Ukraine’s darkest hour, that compassion is fueling a quiet but powerful revolution — turning despair into energy, and fear into courage.
