When I saw Isha had published Sadhguru’s views on CAA & NRC, I chuckled. Because a backlash was inevitable. What I didn’t expect was that Modi & BJP would promote that video in such a big way. And hence, the backlash to it would also multiple that many times.

One of the first comments I got on this was,

Why should spiritual leaders comment on these social and political issues?

My short response was,

Age old Buddha and others have always hobnobbed with the kings and influential people of society. It is because these powerful people are the key for social betterment in a huge way. It is their job to influence policy. In fact Krishna is like the epitome of this in many ways. Not only did he influence the politics of his times, he even engineered situations.

Should Celebrities not exercise restraint?

I have personally never been a supporter of excessive importance on judging every sentence from someone. I feel we should speak authentically and honestly from our heart. Our integrity must be maintained. That’s all. People will keep judging anyway. And I apply that to celebrities also actually.

Anyway, there are already laws in place for instigation / slander and such. So as long as that isn’t happening, I think we need to be OK with stuff. What he has done is fair and acceptable in that context.

And anyway, celebs also bear the consequences. It’s not like they don’t. So after that it has to be their choice.

The Indian mix of Spirituality and Mundane

There are a lot of these narratives trying to divide the spiritual from the external – social/politics/work aspects. And they are going around in many circles in the country. On the face of it they seem sensible. But specifically for the Indian fabric these are fairly harmful.

Over the years, as I have delved into my spirituality and the country, I have realised that the most unique thing about our country is the deep amalgamation of religion/spiritual with the every day life. Every thing is mingled.

And that is why attempts to make society ‘secular’ often provokes sentiments like “don’t light the lamp” , “don’t do namaskar” and so on. Because is Namaskar a simple ethnic greeting? Or is it a spiritual exercise or yoga? Or is it religious in nature?

I have written multiple posts looking at these.

The meaning of ‘Hindu’

Religion and Spirituality

And on these lines I think that a lot of deep work has been done by enlightened beings who came before. Krishna can even be considered the symbol of a truly spiritual and yet social being involved in everything. Many others worked towards amalgamating the social fabric with the spiritual process. For a lot of people even today, if we tell them that God exists in every atom , in everything, in every drop of water and every spec of sand – it will resonate with them.

So I have to say, that in India we cannot look to separate the spiritual from the “other”. Because there is no other.

Thus, I have to say that spiritual leaders must in their own capacity and as per their inclinations “poke their nose” in social affairs.

No laws maybe broken obviously. And the people who are conducting law and other duties have to do it as per their rules. Similarly, spiritual leaders may play their roles.

When a devotee asked Sadhguru for clarity on the matter. He may give it. That’s all. Then we may like / dislike or agree / disagree with his views. That is a different matter.

What does this mean for the devotees?

While a lot of people who are negatively affected by his views will harp about it in anger. There is a genuine reason for such a question to crop up – because some of the devotees of the Guru might have an opposing view. And won’t they fall in conflict?

Here’s my experience on that:

I have made my peace with Sadhguru giving his often strong views on everything under the sun. In fact, I truly appreciate how he makes very honest statements on a lot of matters which are controversial. He doesn’t beat around the bush or do a balancing act.

At the same time, over the years with him, I am very clear that we mustn’t believe or disbelieve anything that is not in our own experience. His teachings towards this vairagya is ingrained deeply within me.

I have also developed a respect for his opinions on many things which a lot of times are contrary to my own. But I am very clear that based on his words, I don’t have to change my opinion. I can keep my own counsel. But yes, his views often make me think about many things.

And sure some of these statements will create an uproar in certain groups because it goes against their ideas or actions. And in their own place they may be right also – because after all even I would feel miffed if some body called judgement on me for my life choices. So I have penned down a Question for him on this – how is an Isha meditator to make peace with Sadhguru’s strong opposing views to their own? Wouldn’t an inner conflict be natural for them? Let’s see if it gets answered. 🙂

I understand that not everyone will keep their distinct views the way I am able to. And that even within the organization there will be a lot of parroting of his views as a justification for random stuff. But this is inevitable. In society, varying levels of intelligence are inevitable.

Maybe the organization will already have some cultural aspects to dampen this or they may put some later. How they want to tackle is a different matter.

But for the matter of should he give his views?

Yep. If he chooses to, welcome.

And footnote,

it actually causes a lot of trouble for me at times, cause I am helping the media team with some stuff here and there. And a backlash like this means I need to be a little bit more alert “on duty”. And I have had to actually read through some same old negative views which I earlier would have ignored. But well….

Some times the Guru is known to do stuff just so people start running around. Otherwise, I might get tempted to watch another Chinese period drama on an OTT site.

😉