Meiditation and Politics: July 6th, 2009

My partner rang me this morning and directed me to a passage in a book he reads on the toilet. A copy of Ramana Maharshi’s - the Path to Self Knowledge. As far as I know, the book is out of print.

Briefly:

A congress worker came to the ashram and asked if the desire for political independence was ‘right’?

I take this question to be applicable to other strivings and ambitions such as working towards material survival/animal rights/minority rights etc

The response: Prolonged practical work for the goal widens the outlook so that the individual becomes gradually merged with the country. Such merging is desirable…

The congress worker was elated and said: If political independence is achieved after terrible sacrifice is not the person justified in feeling pleased with the result.

Response: No, in the course of the struggle, he should have surrendered himself to a Higher Power whose Might must be kept in mind and not lost sight of. He should not even care for the result of his actions.

In fact, disinterested activity may be said to be the true bank account.

There is a question and answer session:

Q: Will Maharishi gives his opinion of the future of the World given as we live in such critical times?

A: Why should you worry about the future? You don’t even know the present properly. Take care of the present and the future will take care of itself.