Q & A with Steve

In keeping with Amma's instructions, Amma Center continues to hold Q and A discussion groups on Wednesdays in the ashram with Steve Schmidt as moderator. Please call the Amma Center of New Mexico at 982-9801 for the latest schedule.

Question Jan 22, 2006:
Can one be detached and at the same time be passionately active in politics?

Answer:
One certainly can be detached in any action regardless of its nature. This is Krishna's central teaching to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita. Detachment means being surrendered to the fruits of one's actions or in other words accepting the results of your efforts whether they are a success or a failure. The wisdom of this teaching is that one actually will be more effective in accomplishing their desired political goals if the work is performed with detachment. Attachment causes anxiety, stress, and other taxing emotions which decrease concentration and energy. Whereas if one is centered and focused and is not worrying about the outcome of their actions, then he or she will most likely be working at maximum capacity with clarity and energy.

Can one still passionately pursue political objectives with detachment? Of course, there is no better example than Amma. For almost one year after the Tsunami disaster, the devotees around Amma reported that She would only talk about the Tsunami relief efforts and would ignore most all other topics. Amma was passionately concentrated on the victims of the Tsunami and how to help them. Of course we also know that Amma, the divine witness to the lilas (divine plays) of the world, was at the same time detached. So detachment does not mean that we are indifferent or do not care. Who could have harnessed more energy or achieved more than Amma to help the Tsunami victims?

So how does one develop detachment? It is necessary that one understands the true nature of the world: a manifestation of life-times of karma. That is, we must have an abiding belief that the events of the world are all an unfolding of man's past actions, which ultimately creates our destiny or prarabdha karma. Therefore we cannot pin the blame on particular individuals. As I write these words, I certainly have to admit how difficult it is to follow this advice (ie. I naturally have a tendency to blame particular individuals for our current problems). However, once we understand that everything does happen according to the way it is supposed to, then this frees us from judgment, despair, and depressing thoughts. We should feel compassion for those suffering and help such persons in whatever ways we can, but also deeply have faith that there is divine justice. Also we need this type of faith in order to have inner peace.

Armed with detachment- one can be actively involved in politics and assured that they will have maximum energy and consciousness to pursue their goals.