Sri Sri Ravi Shankar tries to save the world, one deep breath and one smile at a time, but now the spiritual guru is looking to a more powerful body to spread his message of harmony and enlightenment - the United Nations.
Mr Shankar, a 50-year-old Indian who leads what is claimed to be the biggest volunteer non-governmental organisation in the world, has launched a declaration of human values, a menu for global harmony that he believes can change the world, stop wars, curb violence and hopefully rescue the planet from environmental disaster.
It's a tall order for the bearded, ever-smiling, white-garbed founder of the Bangalore-based Art of Living Foundation, but he and his many followers seem to believe it can be done.
Ruth Kuok, who runs Art of Living courses in Hong Kong, says the world has no choice but to adopt the manifesto if it is to survive.
'I think his declaration is very timely,' she said. 'It is what we all know inside. We know that this has to happen. It just took someone like Sri Sri to do it. It's about living in harmony. I think that is why it appeals to people, why it is so universal.'
And it may not all be wishful thinking, because Mr Shankar has some powerful supporters.
Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, Mr Shankar revealed his universal declaration of human values in Washington last month at a gathering to mark the Art of Living Foundation's 25th anniversary in the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts.
