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Neeti

A spiritual discourse explaining the traditional concepts of Śruti, Smṛti, and Nīti, and their connection to modern ethics and politics.

"What you are listening to from me now is your Śruti. What comes out from your memory—what you tell them—that becomes Smṛti."

"Politics is not bad. Mahātmā Gāndhī said... that those who think politics and religion cannot go together do not know what politics is and what religion is."

Swami Avatarpuri (Swāmījī) teaches the definitions of Śruti (what is heard) and Smṛti (what is remembered and shared). He explains the origin of Nīti (ethics) from the ancient sages, its delegation to capable leaders who became kings, and its evolution into Rājanīti (statecraft or politics). Citing Mahatma Gandhi, he argues that true politics is a protective force based on knowledge, love, and non-violence, and warns against its corruption into injustice (Anīti) through personal vices like greed and ego.

Recording location: Czech Republic, Strilky, Summer seminar

Śruti is what you hear. What you are listening to from me now is your Śruti. Smṛti is your memory. Later, 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 minutes; some will remember. What comes out from your memory—what you tell them—that becomes Smṛti. Then there is Smṛti and Nīti. Nīti is ethics. It is not Neti, like Jala Neti or Sūtra Neti. So, what is Nīti? Nīti was created by the great saints. These saints then gave the order and instructions to certain people who were a little stronger and capable of fighting against bad things. They could tell two persons who were fighting, "Keep quiet, do not fight; we will solve your problem." These people, who had armed power and a little more intellect, became leaders. Afterwards, they called themselves kings. Thus, this Nīti, created by the ṛṣis, was given to the kings as their duty to look after society, or to look after a group, according to principles of morality and ethics. So Nīti came into the hands of the kings and became Rājanīti. Nīti was from the ṛṣis, the wise men; they gave these rules and instructions to the king, and the king was known as Rājā. The Rājās followed and led with this Nīti, so it became Rājanīti, which you now call politics. Politics is not bad. Mahātmā Gāndhī said at the end of his autobiography, Ātmakathā, that those who think politics and religion cannot go together do not know what politics is and what religion is. You cannot divide religion and politics, because politics needs jñāna and love—the heart, forgiveness, understanding, and support. It does not need the use of force, but a different force: love. Love is a very great force. Gāndhī said we would fight, but without weapons. The English army, which included Indians, had many guns and killed millions of people. Yet Gāndhī said, "Do not worry; we will not take weapons in hand. That is it." So, Nīti. What Nīti says is that Nīti should not become Anīti. When Nīti becomes Anīti, Anīti means injustice. And when this Anīti becomes injustice, then problems begin. Where does this injustice happen? It happens when, in your house, greed, selfishness, ego, duality, jealousy, and greed for power come and knock on your door. You open the door, and that greed appears so beautiful. It comes and 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. Gāndhījī 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, but not the person." That kind of love we must develop in our hearts. So, do not let your confidence be divided. Do not let your faith, your belief, or your decisions be divided. Be good. Be nice. Wherever you see a human being discriminated against, you should be the first one to fight to help. It does not matter who is who. Recording location: Czech Republic, Strilky, Summer seminar

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.

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