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Even a Sannyasin should work in the political field. There is no necessity for a life of seclusion or
the order of Sannyas or Nivritti Marga. We want workers only.

This is a sad mistake. The Census Report is false. Beggars are included in the list of
Sannyasins and Sadhus. Real Sannyasins are rare. They can be counted on the finger-tips. A
real Sannyasin is the only mighty potentate of this earth. He never takes anything. He always
gives. It was Sannyasins only who did glorious sublime work in the past. It is Sannyasins only
who can work wonders in the present and in the future also. Sri Sankara’s name can never be
obliterated as long as the world lasts. It was Swami Dayananda, it was Swami Vivekananda, it
was Swami Rama Tirtha, it was Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, who disseminated the sublime
teachings of the scriptures and preserved the Hindu religion. A Sannyasin alone can do any real
Lokasangraha, because he has divine knowledge, he is a whole-timed man. One real Sannyasin
can change the destiny of the whole world. It was one mighty Sankara who established the
doctrine of Kevala Advaita. He still lives in our hearts.
Paramahamsas lived on a few pieces of bread and in exchange moved from door to door
and spread the sublime teachings of Vedanta, the Upanishads, the Ramayana and the Bhagavata
throughout the length and breadth of India. The world is under a great debt of gratitude to them.
Their writings are still a guide to us. Study a few Slokas or verses of the Avadhuta Gita. You
will at once be raised to magnanimous heights of divine splendour and glory. You will become a
changed man. Depression, weakness, anxieties and tribulations will vanish at once.
Just as there are research scholars or post-graduate students in science, psychology,
biology and philosophy, there should be post-graduate Yogins and Sannyasins who will devote
their time to study and meditation, to research on Atma. These post-graduate Yogins will give to
the world their experiences and realizations in the field of religion. They will train students and
send them into the world for preaching.
It is the duty of householders, Zamindars, Rajas and Maharajas to look after the wants of
these Sannyasins. In turn, these Sannyasins will take care of their souls. Thus the wheel of the
world will revolve smoothly. There will be peace in the land.
Every religion has a band of anchorites who lead the life of seclusion and meditation.
There are Bhikshus in Buddhism, Fakirs in Mohammedanism, Sufistic Fakirs in Sufism, Fathers
and Reverends in Christianity. The glory of a religion will be lost absolutely if you remove these
hermits or Sannyasins or those who lead a life of renunciation and divine contemplation. It is
these people who maintain or preserve the religions of the world. It is these people who give
solace to the householders when the latter are in trouble and distress. They are the harbingers of
divine wisdom and peace. They are the messengers of Atmic knowledge. They are the
disseminators of the Adhyatmic science and the Upanishadic revelations. They heal the sick,
comfort the forlorn, nurse the bedridden. They bring hope to the hopeless, joy to the depressed,
strength to the weak and courage to the timid by imparting the knowledge of the Vedanta and the
significance of the “Tat Tvam Asi” Mahavakya.
Political Svarajya has been achieved; but can it give real lasting peace and freedom to
man? Can this political Svarajya eradicate human sufferings and ignorance in toto? Can this
political Svarajya solve the real problems of life? It can give a little more comfort to man. He
can have more butter, bread and jam. He will be still miserable and unhappy, because he is still
sunk in ignorance; he has no knowledge of the Self. Knowledge of the Self alone can give real
lasting happiness and abiding bliss. Atma Svarajya or realization of Atma or one’s own Self
alone can make a man really independent and immortal. Atma Svarajya alone can give him real
freedom, suzerainty and perfect satisfaction.
Even those who work in the political field should live in the spirit of the Gita and the
Upanishads. They should have ethical training, self-control, self-sacrifice, spiritual discipline
and understanding of their real nature before they enter the political field. They should practice
the three kinds of Tapas - physical, verbal and mental - mentioned in the Gita and the Yama and
Niyama of Patanjali Maharshi. They should clearly have a comprehensive understanding of the
immortality of the soul, the illusory nature of this world, the unity of Atma or oneness of
consciousness, oneness of life. They should understand that the whole world is one family only.
Then only they can really serve the country and their own selves.
From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda