30 May 2015 - QA 1

Gurudev, how will you guide the modern youth who want to join politics for the betterment of our country?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

First, you do your sadhana and broaden you vision.

Second, you need to have enormous patience. You go with a big vision and there are all chances that your vision is squashed and smashed and it may reach a point that you will want to throw it away. But, don’t lose heart.
You may have to face disappointments one hundred times, but the 101th time you will succeed, but for this you need to have patience and perseverance. You should hold onto your vision and your ethics.

Third, never forget your spiritual side. Whatever work you have and however busy you are, take that much needed 4-5 days for a silence program once in a year. Take 20 minutes every day to sit and listen to knowledge and meditate. This will keep your energy up.

As a politician be careful about two things:
1. Money
2. Sex
These are the two things with which people can create scandals about you. You have to be careful not to be maligned. It is very easy to be maligned and then you will waste all your time in proving these false allegations. Better be careful from the very beginning as these are the two areas that can create scandals against you.
In the field of politics, when you are moving ahead, there are a hundred people trying to pull you down. So as a young, enthusiastic aspirant, you have to be very clean on these areas.

Another point is, don’t make politics a profession, it should be your mission. If it is your mission, you get enormous strength, energy and enthusiasm. But if you make it a profession you will have to experience a lot of wear and tear. So, keep these points in mind.