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Neeti

Understanding Śruti, Smṛti, and Nīti.

Śruti is what is heard directly from the teacher. Smṛti is the memory of that teaching, which is then shared with others. Nīti is ethics, the principle of neti, neti—"not this, not this." The great sages established this Nīti and entrusted it to capable leaders, who became kings. Thus, Nīti became Rājanīti, or politics. Politics itself is not bad; it is for protection and must be guided by knowledge, love, and forgiveness, not force. The problem is Anīti, or injustice, which arises from greed, selfishness, and the desire for power. One must fight against discrimination and suffering with love, hating the wrong action but not the person.

"Politics is not bad. At the end of his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi said that those who think politics and religion cannot go together do not know what politics is or what religion is."

"Gandhījī said we do not hate the person; we hate their actions. Even if they shoot us with guns, we will love them. We hate their gun, not the person."

Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic

Śruti is what you have heard. What you are listening from me now is your Śruti. Smṛti is your memory. You will go home or elsewhere and tell your friends, family, or students in your yoga classes. You will give lectures and remember what Swāmījī said. Some may take notes or write reports. You will tell them what comes from your memory, and that becomes Smṛti. Then there is Nīti. This is not the neti of jala neti or sūtra neti. This Nīti is ethics: neti, neti ("not this, not this"). This Nīti was created by the great sages, the Ṛṣis. They gave these orders and instructions to certain people who were strong and capable of fighting against wrongdoings—those who could tell two persons fighting to keep quiet and resolve their problems. These people, who had armed power and greater intellect, became the leaders. Later, they called themselves kings. Thus, the Nīti created by the Ṛṣis was given to the kings as their duty to look after society or a group according to moral and ethical principles. It came into the hands of the kings, and Nīti became Rājanīti. The rules and instructions were given to the king, the Rāja. The Rājas followed and led this Nīti, so it became Rāj Nīti, which you now call politics. Politics is not bad. At the end of his autobiography, Ātmakathā, Mahatma Gandhi said that those who think politics and religion cannot go together do not know what politics is or what religion is. You cannot divide religion and politics because politics needs jñāna, love, heart, forgiveness, understanding, and support. It should not use force but a different force: love. Love is a very great force. Gandhi said we would fight, but without weapons. The English army, which included Indians, had many guns and killed millions of people. Yet Gandhi said, "Don’t worry. We will not take weapons in our hands." So, neti neti. What Nīti says is that it should not become Anīti. When Nīti becomes Anīti—injustice—then problems begin. Where does this injustice happen? It happens when greed, selfishness, ego, duality, jealousy, and the greed for power come and knock on your door. You open the door, and that greed appears so beautiful. It says, "Oh, your highness, your excellency." These words enter your consciousness; greed has entered there. Therefore, politics is not bad. Politics is for protection. We must protect people from bad habits. Gandhījī said we do not hate the person; we hate their actions. Even if they shoot us with guns, we will love them. We hate their gun, not the person. That kind of love we must develop in our hearts. So, do not let it divide your confidence. Do not let it divide your faith, your belief, or your decisions. Be good, be nice. Wherever you see a human being discriminated against, be the first to fight to help. It does not matter who they are. When you see any creature suffering, be the first to dedicate yourself and your time to help them. That makes you a saint. That is the heart of a saint, transparent through and through.

This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.

The text contains hyperlinks in bold to three authoritative books on yoga, written by humans, to clarify the context of the lecture:

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