Love as Existence: The Philosophy of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the Indian spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Foundation, stands as one of the most influential contemporary spiritual teachers, yet remains relatively unknown to Western audiences compared to figures like the Dalai Lama or Deepak Chopra. Born in 1956 in Karnataka, India, to a highly educated family with strong ties to the Vedic tradition, Ravi Shankar grew up in an atmosphere rich with spiritual inquiry and intellectual rigor. His father, an accomplished scholar of Sanskrit and Indian philosophy, and his mother, a deeply spiritual woman, provided the foundational influences that would shape his later teachings. At age five, according to his biographical accounts, Ravi Shankar reportedly astounded those around him by demonstrating an intuitive understanding of complex philosophical concepts and displaying an unusual calm and wisdom that seemed far beyond his years. This precocious spirituality was not presented as miraculous or superhuman in the Western sense, but rather as a natural flowering of human consciousness that others might cultivate through practice and understanding.
The quote “Love is not an emotion. It is your very existence” emerges from Ravi Shankar’s broader philosophy that seeks to distinguish between fleeting feelings and fundamental truths about human nature. This declaration was likely articulated during one of his many discourses, retreats, or Q&A sessions that have become hallmarks of his teaching method since the 1980s. The context in which such teachings typically arise involves audiences struggling with the conventional Western understanding of love as a romantic feeling dependent on external circumstances—something you fall into or out of based on another person’s behavior or appearance. Ravi Shankar’s intervention into this discussion reflects a fundamental reorientation, asking his listeners to consider that what they call love in its truest form is not something that comes and goes, but rather the essential fabric of consciousness itself. This philosophical repositioning draws heavily from Advaita Vedanta, the non-dualistic school of Hindu philosophy that emphasizes the unity of all existence, though Ravi Shankar translates these ancient concepts into language accessible to modern, globally-diverse audiences.
To fully appreciate this quote, one must understand the trajectory of Ravi Shankar’s spiritual development and the crisis that catalyzed his teaching mission. In 1982, while in deep meditation, Ravi Shankar reportedly experienced a spontaneous spiritual awakening that profoundly transformed his perception of reality. Rather than retreat into monastic isolation, he made the unconventional choice to remain engaged with ordinary people and founded the Art of Living Foundation with the explicit mission of bringing meditation, breathing techniques, and stress-relief practices to the mainstream. What is lesser-known about Ravi Shankar is that he holds formal credentials in both Vedic studies and modern science—he speaks multiple languages fluently and has deliberately studied Western psychology and neuroscience to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom traditions and contemporary understanding. Additionally, before his spiritual teachings gained international prominence, he was an accomplished musician and composer, demonstrating considerable talent in classical Indian music, an aspect of his background that informs the poetic and artistic dimension of his philosophical expression. This combination of scientific literacy, artistic sensibility, and spiritual depth gives his teachings a unique character that resonates with educated professionals and skeptics who might otherwise dismiss spiritual guidance as anti-rational.
The philosophy encapsulated in this quote represents a radical reframing of love that has significant implications for how we understand human relationships and psychological well-being. In Ravi Shankar’s framework, conventional love—attachment to a person based on their external qualities, sexual attractiveness, or reciprocation of our feelings—is what he would classify as emotion rather than genuine love. This distinction is not intended to diminish romantic relationships but to suggest they are most fulfilling when rooted in something deeper and more fundamental. The “existence” he refers to is not merely biological existence but consciousness itself, the awareness that underlies all experience. When he suggests that love is your very existence, he is proposing that love is not something you do or feel but rather something you are—a quality of consciousness that cannot be shaken by external circumstances because it is not dependent on them. This idea challenges the transactional view of love prevalent in consumer culture, where love is portrayed as something to be chased, won, or conquered through the right appearance or behavior.
The cultural impact of Ravi Shankar’s teachings, and specifically quotes like this one, has been substantial though often subtle and dispersed across global networks rather than concentrated in a single movement or institution. The Art of Living Foundation reports engaging millions of people across more than 150 countries through its programs, and many prominent politicians, business leaders, and celebrities have publicly credited his teachings with transforming their lives. What is noteworthy is how his philosophy has permeated popular consciousness through the self-help and wellness industry without always being explicitly attributed to him—the idea that meditation and breath-work can fundamentally alter one’s experience of life, or that happiness comes from within rather than external circumstances, can be traced back through various lineages to teachers like Ravi Shankar. Within spiritual circles, this particular quote has become something of a rallying cry against the sentimentalization and commodification of love in contemporary culture. It appears frequently on social media, in wellness blogs, and in contemporary spiritual literature, often invoked to help people distinguish between obsessive attachment and genuine compassion. The quote’s accessibility—its simplicity and directness—makes it memorable and quotable, yet its depth rewards continued contemplation.