Spirituality is anything that enhances the spirit! Hence spirituality encompasses the sciences, commerce and arts, technology and development, health, law, culture, sports, entertainment… infact everything, including politics. Just as there is politics in spirituality, why can’t there be spirituality in politics? Politics is about taking care of the welfare and the well being of people. Spirituality is politics in action; it is about caring and sharing, improving people’s standard of life and the standard of living.
India is the largest democracy in the World. Democracy is by the people, of the people and for the people. Our spiritual Gurus are the people of this country, the citizens of free India. To exhort that they should not talk about politics is undemocratic and amounts to violating the fundamental human right of freedom of speech, bestowed on each of its citizens without any bias, by the constitution of India.
India is the largest democracy in the World. Democracy is by the people, of the people and for the people. Our spiritual Gurus are the people of this country, the citizens of free India. To exhort that they should not talk about politics is undemocratic and amounts to violating the fundamental human right of freedom of speech, bestowed on each of its citizens without any bias, by the constitution of India.
Spiritual knowledge and spiritual practices are the essence of India. Then how is it that so many bad things are happening and the whole society and the times get tagged as bad? Do we have a dearth of good, well meaning people in this country? NO. It’s because we, the good people are not loud enough or united enough to make a difference. The sorry state that India is in is not so much because of the small number of bad people’s wrongdoings but because of the silence, the inaction and the disempowered attitude of the vast majority of good people!
By the way, Spiritual people are (also) the ones with values. If you want to silence them further or force them to stay away from social affairs, you are in effect, simply confirming your status as a person or party involved in wrongdoings. A truly pro-nation party will actively encourage spiritual people to take lead and use their influence to wake up the masses towards participatory democracy by voting and thereafter ensuring good governance post-elections.
Chanakya, the celebrated author of Arthashastra, had said.
Sukhasya mulam dharmaha
Dharmasya mulam arthaha
Arthasya mulam raajyam
Raajyasya mulam indriya nigraham ||
The basis of societal happiness (translated as Human Development Index (HDI) in today’s politically correct terminology) is values. Values flourish when economy flourishes. The basis of strong and stable economy is good governance, which in turn depends on the moral fiber of the king or the leader… And to have checks and balances on the moral fiber and fortitude of the leader (on their greed, individual egos, personal desires conflicting with national good etc), we had the spiritual gurus. To say spiritual leaders should shut up, politically amounts to saying no to checks and balances and pave the way for uncontrolled corruption, crime and communalism, short sighted policies and laws, hindrance in quick judgments… leading eventually to the degradation of the socio, political, economic, cultural and moral structure of the nation, as we see transpiring today.
There has been a special law of the land, the tradition and culture of the most ancient civilization in the world. Here, the kings have always had spiritual gurus as their advisors. Sage Vasishta and Valmiki as Gurus of Lord Rama, Chanakya for Chandragupta Maurya, Swami Samarth Ramdas for Shivaji etc. Because the Gurus were wise and learned in the ways of the world, they understood the minds and hearts of individuals and the masses, they knew the laws of Laxmi or wealth, they were up-to-date on education, health, science, statecraft, military and defence, foreign affairs… Their guidance, free from any motive of personal gains, has been invaluable to the Kings that ruled Bharatvarsha since time immemorial.
The spiritual people, as long as they are adhering to the spiritual code of conduct and not indulging in divisive messages on the basis of religion, caste or language (as some religious leaders and many politicians practice), should participate in the affairs of the nations more intimately and proactively.
So, in conclusion, how do religion, politics and spirituality fare in the social landscape of India? Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had once said, “Religious people are supposed to pray and politicians are supposed to take responsibility. I (the spiritual people) pray and take responsibility!”
By the way, Spiritual people are (also) the ones with values. If you want to silence them further or force them to stay away from social affairs, you are in effect, simply confirming your status as a person or party involved in wrongdoings. A truly pro-nation party will actively encourage spiritual people to take lead and use their influence to wake up the masses towards participatory democracy by voting and thereafter ensuring good governance post-elections.
Chanakya, the celebrated author of Arthashastra, had said.
Sukhasya mulam dharmaha
Dharmasya mulam arthaha
Arthasya mulam raajyam
Raajyasya mulam indriya nigraham ||
The basis of societal happiness (translated as Human Development Index (HDI) in today’s politically correct terminology) is values. Values flourish when economy flourishes. The basis of strong and stable economy is good governance, which in turn depends on the moral fiber of the king or the leader… And to have checks and balances on the moral fiber and fortitude of the leader (on their greed, individual egos, personal desires conflicting with national good etc), we had the spiritual gurus. To say spiritual leaders should shut up, politically amounts to saying no to checks and balances and pave the way for uncontrolled corruption, crime and communalism, short sighted policies and laws, hindrance in quick judgments… leading eventually to the degradation of the socio, political, economic, cultural and moral structure of the nation, as we see transpiring today.
There has been a special law of the land, the tradition and culture of the most ancient civilization in the world. Here, the kings have always had spiritual gurus as their advisors. Sage Vasishta and Valmiki as Gurus of Lord Rama, Chanakya for Chandragupta Maurya, Swami Samarth Ramdas for Shivaji etc. Because the Gurus were wise and learned in the ways of the world, they understood the minds and hearts of individuals and the masses, they knew the laws of Laxmi or wealth, they were up-to-date on education, health, science, statecraft, military and defence, foreign affairs… Their guidance, free from any motive of personal gains, has been invaluable to the Kings that ruled Bharatvarsha since time immemorial.
The spiritual people, as long as they are adhering to the spiritual code of conduct and not indulging in divisive messages on the basis of religion, caste or language (as some religious leaders and many politicians practice), should participate in the affairs of the nations more intimately and proactively.
So, in conclusion, how do religion, politics and spirituality fare in the social landscape of India? Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had once said, “Religious people are supposed to pray and politicians are supposed to take responsibility. I (the spiritual people) pray and take responsibility!”