The Seat of Power: Pride or Service?

Ministership is to serve the people, not to take pleasure in power. When a seat is used for pleasure or prestige rather than as a means to serve, the whole society becomes infested with corruption, lacks growth, and undergoes moral degradation. Fear and insecurity grip the society and paralyze the humanness. It is natural for human beings to want to overcome fear and insecurity and will do almost anything to feel secure. Consequently there is struggle for the seat of power. However those who hanker after power are really powerless. They can accomplish very little even after coming into office. So don’t blame them! The irony is that even after assuming the seat of power, the fear doesn’t leave. In fact, it increases manifold. If you are in fear and tension you can’t come up with creative ideas or do much for society or yourself.

Often you hear ministers threatening to resign if they don’t get their way and their followers threatening to kill themselves. It is foolish to take pride in resigning from one’s post of responsibility as though one is doing a sacrifice. It is sheer irresponsibility to renounce a sacred duty assigned by people. Ministership is not a luxury which you can take pride in renouncing. Similarly, conferring a ministerial post on someone is demanding their best service and not conferring a reward.

If you realize your innate power, you don’t need a seat or position to serve people. You can do better without a formal post just as Mahatma Gandhi did.

Often a ruler is not a reformer and a reformer doesn’t rule.

The main motivating factor for people is their emotions, especially when illiteracy is high. This is misused by political parties and religious leaders for short-term gains. The only way to counter this is by providing broad-based education that is both scientific and spiritual.

Most political leaders lack education in true service. Few rise above the boundaries of race, religion and nationality. The remaining are stuck, with such political leaders who harm themselves and others. Like any other profession we need to have a system for educating politicians. A certain level of social education and maturity is needed to shoulder responsibility. Much effort is needed to bring about the concept of a global family: Vasudeiva Kutumbakam. Every minister must be able to ignore the sycophants around him or her and learn to listen to their own inner voice, their own divine guidance, what they innately know to be right and wrong.

We have to get out of the politics of hate and mistrust. True politics is to care for all people and not to hate a section of the society based on caste, religion, ideology or language. When service for people is the main aim of politics and not power or pleasure, any country will develop much faster as everyone will compete to serve better instead of concentrating on personal gains. Unfortunately, that has not always been the case. Today when parties come together, they do so because of common enemies rather than common goals. Then the basis is hatred and fear, isn’t it? My heart aches when I see the disgust and hatred among people and their leaders. Opposing parties must work together for the progress of the country. The politics of hatred should end.

A landlord employed two gardeners who had their duties on alternate days. They disagreed about how the garden should be. One would till the land and the other would come and undo the other's efforts. This went on for months. They kept undoing the other’s work and doing things their own way. At the end, the land was barren and infertile. All their efforts were in vain.

This is exactly what political parties do. Much time is wasted in mud-slinging and undoing what the other has done. When today’s parties complement and honor one another, Bharat (India) will really shine. Satyuga (golden period) will be when opposing parties work towards one goal - making the poor self confident, the rich a generous giver, the educated not crooked and the innocent not foolish.

By Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Voices of World Leaders

"We need more than ever the contribution of men and women of faith who defend and promote the human values that bind us together.The values you (His Holiness) champion,including non-violence,compassion and the sanctity of all life,go to the heart of what the United Nations stands for."
United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon

"Through its manifold activities, The Art of Living Foundation has made important contributions to transmit Human Values across the globe."
Dr. Manmohan Singh, Hon. Prime Minister of India

"There are big powers who have big might, but they are not able unite the hearts and minds of people. This work can be done only by a spiritual leader."
Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al Maliki

"The Art of Living Foundation is one of India's stars. It has an incredible -- actually incredible -- following that cuts through all religions, cultures and backgrounds, a very, very difficult thing to do in today's world."
Vice-President, United States of America,Joe Biden

"The teachings of His Holiness provide the world with a road-map for love, justice and harmony. His spiritual and humanitarian actions are worthy of praise since it is rare to find people so dedicated to the human cause. His knowledge, service and unwavering commitment to peace, drive thousands of volunteers towards community service."
President, Mauritius,His Excellency Sir Anerood Jugnauth

"His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is seen as an international figure who has been spreading the message of peace and harmony throughout the world."
Former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Hon. Ranil Wickramasinghe

"We welcome the delegation with open arms and hearts. We welcome you as our brother and we are ready to work hand in hand with you."
Shia leader of Iraq, Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Yaqubi

"Where ever The Art of Living Foundation builds- builds the world. With that simple message, if that’s something we can replicate in every community, in every country across the globe, this will be a peaceful and non-violent world to live in, for the benefit of all the future generations."
PA, United States, Congressman Jim Gerlac

"The Art of Living leads with an open mind to education, and that education leads to choice. It opened my eyes to how development could or would occur in the future."
Nobel laureate in Economic Sciences, Dr. Myron S. Scholes

"My NGO, Transparency International, is fighting corruption all over the world, and it has been energized, inspired, and strengthened by H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar."
Founder & Chairman of Advisory Board, Transparency International, Germany, Prof. Dr. Peter Eigen

"It is indeed imperative to initiate programs for re-establishing human values in society and enhancing ideas for global harmony. I extend my deep admiration and appreciation for your work."
Former Prime Minister of Norway, Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland

"I commend Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's emphasis on the inculcation of human values in all walks of life. Mere material progress, in the absence of concomitant development of the basic life-sustaining cultural and spiritual ideals, will not help our society in the long-run. The Art of Living Foundation is both an easy-to-understand philosophy and an easy-to-practice activity. "
Leader of Opposition & former Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee

" I have met many NGOs - representatives of indigenous people - and they have made it clear that economic development alone does not suffice. The common future of our one world family is rooted in the awareness that we have only borrowed mother earth from the generations to come. The Art of Living is not the end, but it is the beginning for everybody and everything. It is the way to harmony."
~ Hon. Ruud Lubbers, Former Prime Minister, The Netherlands

" I am proud to be a part of that group that is helping to create important bonds, and look forward to working with the man of peace, man of vision, man of compassion and a man of action. We certainly need that in the world today. "
Congresswoman, United States, Jan Schowski (IL)

"His Holiness’ initiatives consider human beings in their entirety, and heal the body, mind and spirit. The Art of Living is one of the rare NGOs which works at the grass root level, close to the population and goes to the core of the problem"
Djedje Dano Sebastien, Minister of National Reconciliation, Ivory Coast.

" H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’ projects that are being implemented in prisons in a far away country – my country – Croatia, are making life a little easier for our people there. You have made a mark, made a difference, and that is the greatest thing a human being can contribute in his lifetime"
Her Excellency Dr. Vesna Pusic, Vice-President, Republic of Croatia

International Honors

"I share this award with all those people who stand for a violence-free and stress-free society. This award is not for a person or personality, but for a principle that stands for the ideal of a 'one world family' and cultural plurality." Sri Sri on receiving the 2009 Culture in Balance Award