What Spiritual Politics Is Really All About
At the end of the year 2017 actor Rajnikanth announced his entry into politics in Tamil Nadu aying, "It's time for political change. Ve have to create spiritual politics free f caste and religious barriers. My ornerstones would be honesty, ecularity and spiritual politics. piritual politics, according tome, means fair andjust politics." Spiritual politics is not to be confused with religion in politics. Religion refers one type of belief, one sect and one hilosophy. Those who govern by eligion create a theocratic state. Historically most theocratic states have evolved into narrow confines of human faith and behaviour. Theocraticstates eek conformity to one belief and to meet nis end, individualfreedom of faith and xpression is curbed, thereby creating an is' versus 'them' divide. Spirituality-as opposed to religionis a fundamental shift to bring out the best in an individual and ina government. Spiritual politics refers to a 'spiritual' or finer response, a wiser and more just behaviour, of inclusion and empathy. Spirituality is also discipline of body, mind, response and approach. It is a controlled approach rather than an approach to control others. Spirituali- ty's very foundation is respect for self and others. From this spring a host of virtues-fairness, spirit of service, and the goal of achieving a prosp erous and peaceful world. It would ngender empathy, patience and an acceptance of the different. Rooted in respect for self and tree others, thespiritual approach seeks to unify and harmonise. Anything that disrupts, divides and furthers disharmony is negative and so is not piritual. The motto is 'sarvjan hitaye, sarvjan sukhaye' for spiritual politics is all about working for common good. Spiritual politics is mindful governance-mindful of consequences, impact and mindfulness beyond the immediate result and reward. The spiritual politician is working hard in thisspirit of mindfulness with the right intent and will continue to persist in the face of inevitable obstacles, opposition and criticism. In spiritual politics, the political environment is free from corruption and the desire to amass wealth by any means whatsoever. An important characteristic of this politics is individual freedom even as it seeks to harmonise the diverse and the different. It is not violent in spirit or deed. It allows for dialogue but is fair in metingjustice as appropriate and visible. It is politics free from exploitation of people and of natural resourcThis approach of spiritual governance is not new to India. The leadership of Mahatma Gandhi was based on these lines. Gandhiji's leadership was limited by the times aby the fact that he never got to govern Emperor Akbar's approach was simian its intent, going so far as to bridge divide between existing religions andreduce inter-faith conflicts. Ashoka worked to bring about positive social change. The Indus Vallcivilisation is credited with a similar approach of spiritual politics. Many prayers in India sum up thisspiritual intent with an invocation fopeace and harmony throughout the world; that is, prayers for vishva Shan world peace, and vishva kalian, for thwelfare of all humanity. This thenis spirituality in politics.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Geetanjali Pandit( kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Geetanjali Pandit Speaking Tree,Times of India
What Spiritual Politics Is Really All About
At the end of the year 2017 actor Rajnikanth announced his entry into politics in Tamil Nadu aying, "It's time for political change. Ve have to create spiritual politics free f caste and religious barriers. My ornerstones would be honesty, ecularity and spiritual politics. piritual politics, according tome, means fair andjust politics." Spiritual politics is not to be confused with religion in politics. Religion refers one type of belief, one sect and one hilosophy. Those who govern by eligion create a theocratic state. Historically most theocratic states have evolved into narrow confines of human faith and behaviour. Theocraticstates eek conformity to one belief and to meet nis end, individualfreedom of faith and xpression is curbed, thereby creating an is' versus 'them' divide. Spirituality-as opposed to religionis a fundamental shift to bring out the best in an individual and ina government. Spiritual politics refers to a 'spiritual' or finer response, a wiser and more just behaviour, of inclusion and empathy. Spirituality is also discipline of body, mind, response and approach. It is a controlled approach rather than an approach to control others. Spirituali- ty's very foundation is respect for self and others. From this spring a host of virtues-fairness, spirit of service, and the goal of achieving a prosp erous and peaceful world. It would ngender empathy, patience and an acceptance of the different. Rooted in respect for self and tree others, thespiritual approach seeks to unify and harmonise. Anything that disrupts, divides and furthers disharmony is negative and so is not piritual. The motto is 'sarvjan hitaye, sarvjan sukhaye' for spiritual politics is all about working for common good. Spiritual politics is mindful governance-mindful of consequences, impact and mindfulness beyond the immediate result and reward. The spiritual politician is working hard in thisspirit of mindfulness with the right intent and will continue to persist in the face of inevitable obstacles, opposition and criticism. In spiritual politics, the political environment is free from corruption and the desire to amass wealth by any means whatsoever. An important characteristic of this politics is individual freedom even as it seeks to harmonise the diverse and the different. It is not violent in spirit or deed. It allows for dialogue but is fair in metingjustice as appropriate and visible. It is politics free from exploitation of people and of natural resourcThis approach of spiritual governance is not new to India. The leadership of Mahatma Gandhi was based on these lines. Gandhiji's leadership was limited by the times aby the fact that he never got to govern Emperor Akbar's approach was simian its intent, going so far as to bridge divide between existing religions andreduce inter-faith conflicts. Ashoka worked to bring about positive social change. The Indus Vallcivilisation is credited with a similar approach of spiritual politics. Many prayers in India sum up thisspiritual intent with an invocation fopeace and harmony throughout the world; that is, prayers for vishva Shan world peace, and vishva kalian, for thwelfare of all humanity. This thenis spirituality in politics.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Geetanjali Pandit( kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Geetanjali Pandit Speaking Tree,Times of India