Times of India: Come, take charge of the world: Sri Sri tells youth
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Friday, May 27, 2011
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
The seat of power: Pride or Service?
Deccan Herald, 25th January, 2010
H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
A ministership purports to serve the people. However, if it is perceived as a means to derive pleasure or prestige, it will only infest society with corruption, stymie growth, and lead to moral degradation. Then, fear and insecurity will grip society, inhibiting humanity.
It is very natural for human beings to want to feel secure. To overcome this fear and insecurity most people do almost anything. Consequently there is a struggle for the seat of power. However, those who hanker after power are really powerless. They can accomplish very little even after having power. The irony is that even after assuming the seat of power, they remain fearful. In fact, the fear increases manifold. If you are in fear and tension you can’t come up with creative ideas - so you can’t do much, either for society or yourself.
Often you hear ministers threatening to resign if they don’t get their way; but it is irresponsible to take pride in resigning from one’s post. This is not sacrifice; it is the act of renouncing a sacred duty assigned by the people.
Minister ship is not a luxury which you can take pride in renouncing. Most political leaders are ignorant of the concept of true service. Few venture beyond the boundaries of race, religion and nationality. Being confined thus, they do harm to themselves and others. So politicians, too, need to be educated in the conduct of state and social responsibility. Once you realise this, you don’t need a seat or position to serve the people. You can do better without a formal post as did Mahatma Gandhi. Ministers need to cultivate the ability to safeguard against sycophants. In fact, they should listen to the “inner voice”, following their own divine guidance, to sift the right from the wrong.
We have to get out of the politics of hate and mistrust. True politics is to care for all people, regardless of differences in caste, religion, ideology, or language. When service becomes the aim of political power, actions will translate into development. However, often political parties come together because of common enemies rather than common goals.
They unite on the basis of hatred and fear. Diverse parties should work together towards progress for the many. The politics of hatred should end.
A landlord employed two gardeners and each was on duty on alternate days. Both were in disagreement as to how the garden should be. One would till the land and the other would come and undo what the other did. This went on for months. They kept undoing the other’s work. In the end, the land remained unproductive.
This is exactly what political parties do. Much time is wasted in mudslinging and in undoing the work of the others. India will shine truly when political parties complement and honor one another.
H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
A ministership purports to serve the people. However, if it is perceived as a means to derive pleasure or prestige, it will only infest society with corruption, stymie growth, and lead to moral degradation. Then, fear and insecurity will grip society, inhibiting humanity.
It is very natural for human beings to want to feel secure. To overcome this fear and insecurity most people do almost anything. Consequently there is a struggle for the seat of power. However, those who hanker after power are really powerless. They can accomplish very little even after having power. The irony is that even after assuming the seat of power, they remain fearful. In fact, the fear increases manifold. If you are in fear and tension you can’t come up with creative ideas - so you can’t do much, either for society or yourself.
Often you hear ministers threatening to resign if they don’t get their way; but it is irresponsible to take pride in resigning from one’s post. This is not sacrifice; it is the act of renouncing a sacred duty assigned by the people.
Minister ship is not a luxury which you can take pride in renouncing. Most political leaders are ignorant of the concept of true service. Few venture beyond the boundaries of race, religion and nationality. Being confined thus, they do harm to themselves and others. So politicians, too, need to be educated in the conduct of state and social responsibility. Once you realise this, you don’t need a seat or position to serve the people. You can do better without a formal post as did Mahatma Gandhi. Ministers need to cultivate the ability to safeguard against sycophants. In fact, they should listen to the “inner voice”, following their own divine guidance, to sift the right from the wrong.
We have to get out of the politics of hate and mistrust. True politics is to care for all people, regardless of differences in caste, religion, ideology, or language. When service becomes the aim of political power, actions will translate into development. However, often political parties come together because of common enemies rather than common goals.
They unite on the basis of hatred and fear. Diverse parties should work together towards progress for the many. The politics of hatred should end.
A landlord employed two gardeners and each was on duty on alternate days. Both were in disagreement as to how the garden should be. One would till the land and the other would come and undo what the other did. This went on for months. They kept undoing the other’s work. In the end, the land remained unproductive.
This is exactly what political parties do. Much time is wasted in mudslinging and in undoing the work of the others. India will shine truly when political parties complement and honor one another.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Monday, December 7, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Spirituality, politics deal with people by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Both spirituality or religion and politics deal with human beings. A politics devoid of spirituality is infested with corruption and creates an unethical atmosphere of maneuvered situations, circumstances and people. If you do not recognize the individual or universal spirit, there is no reason for you to be ethical. Politics without ethics and human values would result in chaos, crime and corruption. The goal of politics is to bring good governance and
increase material, emotional and physical comfort of people. The aim of spirituality is to boost morality and human values. Both politics and spirituality need to go hand in hand. For good governance, spirituality is necessary. Only spirituality can invoke
commitment, care and confidence. Spiritual people live the values, which are absolutely essential for those in governance. A leader has to be a 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. On the one hand, religion has been the cause of many wars on this planet. On the other hand, religion and spirituality have thrived only because of the patronage of the state. If a society is chaotic and has no spiritual values it is difficult to govern and if there is no official patronage, it is difficult for spirituality to survive. Spirituality makes people honest and committed and this is necessary to create a crime-free society. State patronage makes spirituality spread faster to all sections of society. 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. Many saints, prophets, Sufis and sanyasis have been victimized due to lack of political patronage. For example, many Sikh gurus were persecuted by the state. This affected the morale of society and resulted in bad governance. Religion has created conflict, but irreligious societies have created chaos and corruption. Did not millions suffer in Russia, China and Cambodia in the name of freeing society of religious beliefs? Today, both religion and politics need reform. 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. When spirituality and politics don't coexist, then you have corrupt politicians and pseudo-religious leaders. Spirituality is ingrained in the Indian polity. Since ancient times rajgurus have guided and counseled 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. M K Gandhi appealed to people across the board because of his spiritual approach. Spirituality brought freedom to India. Indian spirituality has given a secular ethos to the world. 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. Politics is mainly 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. The writer is founder, the Art of Living and the International Association for Human Values.
Copyright TimesofIndia.com
Copyright TimesofIndia.com
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