6 January 2015 - QA 9

Dear Gurudev, how is your relationship with other gurus?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

What a question! My relationship with every human being is very good! (Huge laughter and applause) From my side, I have no problem with anybody; if someone has some problem with me, that is their problem.

See, people who are genuine teachers, genuine social workers, genuine gurus, there is no problem; but there are people who are a blot on any field they are in – they have a problem with me and I have a problem with them.

A doctor who is not honest, I have a problem with him. A politician who is corrupt to the core, I have a problem with him. And a guru who is fake, who is not true, I have a problem with him. So, this is the problem. And for me, this is not even a problem – it is a challenge! We need to do something to bring reform in these people, and I am also thinking on it. If you have some great ideas, you give me.

Once, at one of my big programs in India, some corrupt politician came onto the stage, and I welcomed him. So the public asked me, "How can a corrupt person share the stage with you? How could you allow a corrupt man to come up onto the stage?" I told them, "If they cannot get reformed after coming close to me, where will they get reformed?"
I told them, "I welcome all the corrupt people on the stage!"
I am not hesitant to share the stage with them; in fact I want them to come to our Ashram, so that they can broaden their vision. Corruption begins where belongingness ends. I told them, "When they come here, they will automatically feel belongingness with everybody."

So, reform is possible when you hold hands with people whom you think are not good. They need help. So, we cannot make anyone untouchable, 'Oh, I don’t want to have anything to do with you', no! Let's do something together. That's my contention.