Spirituality, Politics & Krishna

Let us first understand the difference between Spirituality and religion. Religion is one avenue of life like science, art and politics. Spirituality contains the whole of life. A spiritual person can take part in politics but the politics is difficult for a person of any religion. Any religious person is tethered to certain ideas and ideals which come in conflict with the politics. In case of a spiritual person, who accepts life as it is, can easily participate in politics.

Krishna is a spiritual man, he is not religious. In this particular sense Mahavira and Buddha are religious men. They accepted one particular avenue and for that sake they sacrificed all other avenue. Krishna a spiritual man was not averse of politics nor did he shrink from going head long into it. For him, politics is part of life. It is important to understand that true religious people who kept away from politics in the name of religion have only helped to make politics more irreligious; their non-cooperation has not made it any better. Instead good religious people with good intention have helped to free the tortured people of iron curtain country in this century. 

Krishna accepts life with all its flowers and thorns, its light and shade, sweet and sour, with absolute equanimity. He accepts life with all its choices unconditionally. Because Krishna knows that thorns are as much needed in life as the flowers are. So Krishna not only accepts politics, he lives in the thick of politics without the least difficulty. In politics Krishna uses lies, deception and fraud. In this connection we have to understand the realities of his time. The choice between Krishna was between lesser evil and greater evil. It was not a simple choice between good and evil. The fighting tactics used by him was nothing in comparison to those used by the other side were capable of doing anything. The Kauravas are no ordinary evildoers, they were extraordinary evil doers.

Here we should remember the tactic of non violence against British by Gandhi worked.  At the same period of time it would not have worked against Nazis if it was tried by Jews. So Krishna chose the weapons and methods keeping his enemies in mind. Whatever Krishna did was right, in relative sense, taking his opponents into consideration, Krishna could not have done otherwise. Cont.d

Wishing you all good health & happiness,

Dr. Dwarakanath, Director, MITRAN foundation- the stress management people.