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Indian spiritual guru Ravi Shankar in Hong Kong.Photo: May Tse

Indian guru Ravi Shankar, fresh from helping broker peace in Colombia, offers aid to heal schisms in Hong Kong society

An Indian spiritual guru whose mediation was credited with helping to bring about a ceasefire in Colombia has offered his services to post-Occupy Hong Kong.

Ravi Shankar, who negotiated with Colombian guerillas during peace talks in Cuba in June that brought about a unilateral ceasefire last month in a 50-year armed conflict, said communication was vital.

"Frustration doesn't heal schism," Shankar said prior to his talk "Say Yes! To Happiness" at the University of Hong Kong on Thursday. "All that is needed is improving communication and dialogue on every side. I believe nothing cannot be solved."

For his efforts in the Colombian conflict, authorities gave him the country's highest civilian award, an achievement Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recognised when congratulating the 59-year-old spiritual leader for "his noble efforts" in creating "a major impact globally".

"When I first met with the [Colombian] president, the meeting was supposed to be 10 minutes and it ended up being over an hour," Shankar recalled. He added that the president was not hopeful about the peace process.

He said he went to Cuba to meet opposition forces, asking what they had achieved throughout the years. He focused on their desire for social justice and prosperity for the people.

Thereafter the guerilla leaders took up his suggestion of adopting non-violence and declared a ceasefire on July 20. The decision ended a conflict that had claimed more than 200,000 lives and displaced seven million nationwide.

"I think discussion and dialogue are very important, and mediation by someone who has no personal agenda and understands both sides can be a very good catalyst," Shankar said.

Asked if he would be willing to mediate tensions in Hong Kong after last year's Occupy conflicts, he said he would. "I am all for justice, peace and unity among all sectors of society."

At his HKU talk, Shankar shared with a full-house audience the meditation and breathing techniques that he said bring "clarity and purity" to the mind.

As for how to bring about good leadership, the master waxed philosophically. In the same way a good teacher must be a good student and a good businessman a good customer, "a good leader must be a good follower", Shankar said.

"He's not imposing leadership but facilitating."

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Visiting guru preaches peace in city post-Occupy
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