Understanding the spirituality of politics

DNA, 9th May, 2010

H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Since ancient times rajgurus have counselled rulers and rulers have supported spiritual leaders

Both spirituality and politics deal with human beings. The goal of politics is to bring good governance and increase material and emotional comfort of people. The aim of spirituality is to boost morality and human values. For a country to prosper, both politics and spirituality need to go hand-in-hand.

For good governance, spirituality is very necessary. Only spirituality can invoke commitment, care and confidence. Politics devoid of spirituality creates an unethical atmosphere of situations, leads to corruption and crime, and eventually to chaos.

For example, many sikh gurus were persecuted by the state. This affected the morale of society and resulted in bad governance. And elsewhere, didn't millions suffer in Russia, China and Cambodia in the name of freeing society of religious beliefs?

Indian spirituality has given a secular ethos to the world. In fact, spirituality is ingrained in the Indian politics. Since ancient times rajgurus have guided and counselled rulers and in turn rulers have supported religious and spiritual leaders. Rama's guru was Vasishta and Krishna's guru was Sandipani. Jainism and Buddhism flourished under the patronage of the rulers of their time. Shivaji gave patronage to Samarth Ramdass. Mahatma Gandhi appealed to people across the board because of his spiritual approach. Spirituality brought freedom to India.

When spirituality and politics don't co-exist, then you have corrupt politicians. Spiritual people live the values, which are absolutely essential for those in governance. If leaders do not recognise the individual or universal spirit, they cannot be ethical. A leader has to live out the spiritual values. He has to be samadarshi , one who sees everyone as being equal; satyadarshi, who moves with the truth; paradarshi, who is transparent in action; doordarshi, being broad-minded and a visionary; and priyadarshi, embodying love and compassion.

The need of the hour is a prejudice-free political system. Consensus can emerge only when politicians learn to drop prejudices of religion, caste and gender. To be able to drop prejudices, politicians need to widen their sense of belongingness. This can happen only when they are free from stress and gain a spiritual perspective. If a society has no spiritual values, it is chaotic and difficult to govern. Spirituality makes people honest and committed and this is necessary to create a crime-free society. When there is no official patronage, it is difficult for spirituality to survive. State patronage makes spirituality spread faster to all sections of society.

Today, both religion and politics need reform. While religion creates conflict, non spiritual societies create chaos and corruption. Religion is the banana skin, spirituality is the banana and the reason for conflict, religious and otherwise, is that people have thrown away the banana and are just holding on to the skin.

Religion has to become more spiritual to allow freedom of worship and broader to encompass all the wisdom in the world and politicians have to become more righteous and spiritual. While many wars are fought in the name of religion, spirituality has given courage, confidence and commitment to people even in the toughest of times.

Politics is ALL about caring for people, providing for their welfare. Spirituality gives you a broader vision of life, teaching all to share, care and nurture each other selflessly and with equanimity. When spirituality is meshed and weaved into the polity, the country prospers.