Something rare happened on May 10th in Bengaluru.
More than 100,000 people gathered at the Art of Living International Center. They came from India. They came from around the world. They came to mark 45 years of The Art of Living, and to celebrate Gurudev’s 70th birthday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived to inaugurate the Dhyan Mandir — a new, epic meditation hall on the campus — and to oversee the launch of nine nationwide service initiatives.
May 10, 2026 | Bengaluru, India
In Their Own Words
What follows are selected remarks from both the Prime Minister and Gurudev, drawn from their addresses that day. The speeches covered a great deal. These excerpts get to the heart of it.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- On the 45 years of Art of Living:
“Forty-five years ago, a seed was planted through Art of Living. Today, it has grown into a vast tree whose branches are touching countless lives across the world.”
- On what connects India’s extraordinary diversity:
“What binds together all of India’s many languages, traditions, and forms of worship? The spirit of living not for oneself, but for others. Paropakārāya puṇyāya, pāpāya parapīḍanam — serving others is virtue; hurting others is sin. Service to humanity is the highest dharma of our culture.”
- On inner growth and national growth:
“A developed India will be built by youth who are mentally calm, socially responsible, and sensitive towards society. Spiritual well-being, mental health, yoga, and meditation have a very important role in this journey.”
- On the Dhyan Mandir:
“I am confident that the Dhyan Mandir inaugurated today will become a centre of peace and solace for thousands of people in the coming generations.”
Gurudev
- On India’s transformation:
“When we traveled abroad, people used to say India could never rise like this. You proved them all wrong. In less than ten years, you transformed India from a country that asked into a country that gives.”
- On yoga, spirituality, and their rightful place:
“Millions across the world are practicing yoga today. You elevated yoga, spirituality, and Ayurveda and gave them the place and dignity they truly deserved.”
- On 45 years, and the road ahead:
“38,000 Art of Living teachers and thousands of volunteers share one goal: to create a violence-free, stress-free society, and to bring India’s spiritual wisdom to life.”
- On what this moment represents:
“This is Sanatana: the coming together of the ancient and the modern. India’s spiritual heritage is now reaching every corner of the world.”
What Comes Next
The day was not only a celebration of the past. Nine new service initiatives were launched, covering education, women and youth leadership, reforestation, tribal welfare, digital literacy, healthcare, and prison reform.
And the new meditation hall now stands as a permanent invitation: To pause. To go inward. To experience what 45 years of teaching has always pointed toward: the beauty and joy of the journey within, and its vibrant expression as service in the world around us.
