US lawmakers attend meditation session by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Washington: Indian spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has held a rare meditation session at the Capitol Hill here, attended by several US lawmakers many of whom described it as a self-empowering experience.

"We now know as a matter of science that (meditation) produces empirical benefits to our society, to our country, to the world," Congressman Steve Israel said yesterday, adding that there is no better spokesperson than Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for it.

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky termed it a "beautiful and self-empowering experience".

Congressman Tim Ryan, a long time meditator, commended the effectiveness of Ravi Shankar's techniques and his commitment to social causes.

"Sri Sri (Ravi Shankar) has an approach that can solve a lot of problems. He is very much an inspiration," he said.

"It is just wonderful to have Sri Sri come to Congress and remind us of the power and beauty within us," said Congresswoman Katherine Clark.

"The secret of meditation is in letting go," Ravi Shankar said in the presence of war veterans and policy leaders.

"Stress arises when we have too much to do, and not enough energy or time to do it. We can neither change time nor the number of things we need to do. So, the only option is to increase energy levels. And this can be accomplished through breathing techniques and meditation," he added.