Ambassador Sean Bardoo Attends Gurudev's Boston Gathering- Power, Presence & Peace Day

On September 25, 2026, I had the pleasure of attending a remarkable evening in Boston featuring Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, with the program hosted by Liz Brunner, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, author, and former news anchor at WCVB-TV NewsCenter 5. Having spent more than 35 years in media and communications, Liz has built an impressive career interviewing influential personalities, including former President Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey. Today, she is the founder and CEO of Brunner Communications, where she helps leaders develop their communication skills and public presence. Her experience as a broadcaster and professional host was a wonderful addition to an evening centered on leadership, personal growth, and peace.

Ambassador Sean Bardoo & Emmy Award-winner Liz Brunner 

Held at the Boston Marriott Copley Place, the event, titled An Evening with Gurudev: On Power, Presence & Peace, brought together approximately 1,800 people for an evening of spiritual reflection, live music, meditation, and meaningful conversation. I was particularly interested in the relationship between inner peace and the responsibilities we carry as individuals and leaders. One memorable part of the gathering was a guided meditation led by Gurudev that lasted more than 28 minutes, bringing an entire audience together in a rare moment of collective stillness.

For those unfamiliar with his extraordinary work, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is an Indian spiritual leader, humanitarian, and internationally respected advocate for peace. In 1981, he founded the Art of Living Foundation, which has since grown into a global humanitarian and educational movement operating in more than 180 countries. His initiatives extend beyond meditation and spiritual development into education, conflict resolution, disaster relief, prisoner rehabilitation, and community empowerment. Through decades of service, he has encouraged people of different cultures, faiths, and nationalities to recognize the values that unite humanity.

The significance of the occasion was further recognized by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who issued an official proclamation declaring September 25, 2026, Power, Presence & Peace Day in the City of Boston. The proclamation acknowledged Gurudev's longstanding humanitarian contributions and the work of the Art of Living Foundation. I appreciate Mayor Wu's recognition of a mission that reaches far beyond Boston. Public acknowledgment of humanitarian service helps bring attention to the individuals and organizations working to improve lives, often without expecting recognition.

As someone involved in international humanitarian advocacy and human rights, I found the evening especially relevant to my own work. Much of what we do in humanitarian service involves responding to problems that are already visible: poverty, inequality, displacement, and injustice. Yet the emotional and psychological well-being of individuals also deserves our attention. Gurudev's work offers an interesting perspective on how personal well-being can influence the way we relate to others, make decisions, and serve our communities.

I extend my appreciation to Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for his dedication to humanity, to Liz Brunner for hosting the evening, and to the Art of Living Foundation and its Boston community for bringing this gathering together. It was a pleasure to be part of an occasion that brought people from different backgrounds into one room to consider something we all have a responsibility to protect: peace, both within our communities and in our relationships with one another.

Ambassador Sean Bardoo