PORTRAYING THE GURUDEV on screen feels like a blessing. It was also quite challenging, as he is a truly unique personality: someone who cannot be modelled on anyone else. That meant, I had to prepare extensively for the role.
I am a little anxious about how he will respond to White, though I hope he connects with it. He is going to be the first to watch the film. I have given it my all and approached the role with honesty.
Interacting with the Gurudev has influenced me in many ways. It has brought a sense of stability into my life and affected me personally. I feel humbled to portray him. It is rare to come across a selfless soul like the Gurudev, and spending time with him helped me understand myself better.
Through AOL, the Gurudev is making a difference in countless lives across the world. The extent of his positive influence is hard to measure. Yet, despite all this, he remains simple, grounded and ever-smiling.
The Gurudev continues to play an important role in fostering peace globally, while gently encouraging people to look within and seek inner peace: something just as, if not more, important.
Massey will play the Gurudev in the upcoming film White.
He embodies a movement
By Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary
WHEN I FIRST MET the Gurudev in early 2014 at the AOL headquarters, my first impression was of a soft-spoken spiritual leader who had no ego and was deeply trusting. In conversation, he came across as open and perceptive, an attentive listener with a quiet clarity.
I met him on a few more occasions, though more often I engaged with his ideas through his writings and television programmes. Over time, I came to better understand the depth of his concerns and priorities.
His teachings seek to reduce stress, promote inner calm and foster human values through simple yet effective practices—breathing techniques, meditation and service.
The Gurudev is more than an individual—he embodies a movement. His core philosophy, that personal transformation can lead to societal change, has found resonance across the world. His work spans a wide range of humanitarian initiatives, including environmental conservation, river rejuvenation, disaster relief, prisoner rehabilitation and rural development.
At the heart of his efforts lies a sustained commitment to conflict resolution and the promotion of peace. With a deep understanding of the roots of human conflict, he regards peace as the highest good—the foundation of virtue, happiness and collective wellbeing. His work consistently reflects this universal vision: peace for all, everywhere. He is a compelling voice in contemporary transformative discourse. It is, perhaps, time that the Union government considers formally nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Mooshahary, a former IPS officer, is former governor of Meghalaya.
My guide and inspiration
By Juan Carlos Losada Vargas
THE GURUDEV HAS been my guide and inspiration. From him, I learned that service is the path to creating a better world. That understanding became my life’s purpose, helping me to become a teacher with the AOL. In time, this very path of service drew me into politics.
When I was first elected, I felt young and untested. I came to Bengaluru, seeking his guidance. He advised me to remain centred within, like a yogi, while speaking and acting in tune with those around me—without compromising on what is lawful or ethical. This simple, yet profound, guidance has worked like a compass, helping me walk the middle path. Alongside this, my daily practice of Sudarshan Kriya and meditation has kept my spirit elevated—giving me the clarity and strength to serve.
The Gurudev has also played a significant role in my country’s journey towards ending the armed conflict between the FARC and the Colombian government. I had the opportunity to witness this process closely. Just three days after meeting him, FARC leaders announced their intention to adopt the Gandhian principle of nonviolence and declared a unilateral ceasefire.
When the Gurudev later returned to Colombia, 12 of their senior leaders travelled from across the country to meet him. There was no negotiation underway, no formal agenda, yet they came, drawn by a connection that is difficult to explain.
The Gurudev does not seek to change people by telling them what to think; he transforms the very state from which they think. That is why his presence often succeeds where dialogue has faltered and conventional approaches have reached their limits.
In his presence, one feels accepted without judgment and understood without the need for words. In that space, defences soften and something deeper opens within. If there is one truth I have come to understand through these experiences, it is this: peace is not created at the negotiating table—it is first cultivated in the human heart.
Vargas is a member of the house of representatives of Colombia.
Creating waves of transformation
By Jo Leinen
I HAVE LONG admired the way the Gurudev brings people together, inspiring hope in regions marked by conflict and suffering. During the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, I witnessed how he guided volunteers of the AOL in mobilising a coordinated humanitarian response across Europe. Thousands came from multiple countries, setting up support centres in key border regions and providing food, shelter and essential aid to displaced families and vulnerable communities.
Their efforts extended well beyond material relief. Across Europe, trauma-relief workshops, breathing techniques and counselling programmes reached tens of thousands—refugees, civilians and even frontline personnel—helping them regain a sense of calm, dignity, and inner strength.
I first encountered the Gurudev’s teachings over two decades ago, at a time when global tensions and the world’s deteriorating condition weighed heavily on my mind. Through Sudarshan Kriya and meditation, I discovered a depth of peace and steadiness that no policy paper or summit could offer.
I have followed with interest the AOL’s sustained engagement across Europe and beyond. In the aftermath of terror attacks, among refugee communities, and within increasingly polarised societies, these programmes have supported emotional recovery and strengthened social cohesion.
Leinen is former member of the European parliament.