14 October 2014 - QA 4

I understand the importance of being at peace internally, despite all hardships and injustice. But as an activist who fights against all forms of oppression, how should one deal with an oppressor who has violence on their side? In other words, how must the weak overcome the powerful?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

If we are disturbed, our actions will not yield fruit. When we are calm, we get intuitive thoughts and with these thoughts you make a plan and take action on it. If you have to deal with an oppressor alone, it is not possible. You have to create awareness and in a group it is possible. At the same time, keep your intention strong and know that there is a power that will guide you and support you.
Remember, sometimes Mahatma Gandhi had to walk alone. Other times he created such a big wave of awareness and moved the whole continent, isn't it? And he always meditated. Every day they did satsang, they would sing bhajans every evening. Morning he would read Bhagavad Gita.
So Mahatma Gandhi had the spiritual force, otherwise he couldn’t have done what he achieved.