Today, in many ways political and spiritual leaders are on similar trips across their markets seeking trust, addressing concerns behind human faith and hope, recruiting fresh blood and investments and resurrecting their image. This week Xin Jinping and Pope Francis are in North America, starting a pilgrimage of another kind. Some weeks ago King of Saudi Arabia and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar were on their US trips preaching and smooching.
Here is an extract from NY Times on Pope's visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/22/us/pope-francis-to-find-a-church-in-upheaval.html
"The Catholic Church has lost members of all ages who say they have been alienated by the sexual abuse scandals, the exclusion of women and married men from the priesthood, the rejection of gay relationships and birth control, and the denial of communion to Catholics who have divorced and remarried without an annulment. Where two decades ago, about one of every four Americans identified as Catholic, today it is about one of every five, part of a broader trend toward secularization. If ex-Catholics formed a church of their own, it would be the nation’s second largest, outranked by only the Catholic Church itself."
Here is an extract from NY Times on Xin Jinping's visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/22/world/asia/chinas-xi-jinping-arriving-in-us-at-a-moment-of-vulnerability.html
"China’s economy has slowed more abruptly than policy makers have appeared ready for, alarming investors around the world. The government overestimated its ability to keep stock prices aloft, spending billions to bolster the Chinese markets. Mr. Xi’s ambitious reform agenda, including an effort to revive a bloated state sector, has yielded few concrete results. Mr. Xi and Mr. Obama are expected to discuss their differences on a number of subjects, including cybersecurity, tensions in the South China Sea, the repatriation of Chinese officials accused of corruption and the Chinese government’s harsh treatment of dissidents and lawyers."
Salvation and Swach Desh
Unfortunately, all political and spiritual leaders promise emancipation and heaven both in person and on all digital and social media channels. The former promises to create heaven on earth by cleaning the nation (Swach Desh), while the latter promises to clean individuals and take them to heaven (Salvation).
They secretly nurse hope having a sea of followers and holding on to their seats for eternity without letting go of their egos, insecurities, and failing to lead by example. Also the annals of history has numerous proofs and examples of Church and State trying to establish their superiority over each other.
Unholy nexus
The intelligent ones seek each other's blessings to remain in power and stash away wealth for eternity (trunks of cash and gold were found after death of Sathya Sai Baba). Some active as benamis for each other and reciprocate favors. And when threatened, they throw sex, tax, and terrorism allegations at each other and push each other behind bars (Kanchi Shankaracharya thrown in jail by the current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and Ashram Bapu currently behind bars for sex crimes and tax evasion). Here is list of religious leaders convicted of crimes: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religious_leaders_convicted_of_crimes
Pyramid theory
In the ecological pyramid, species are connected and dependent on each other to keep the ecosystem healthy and population under check. For example: rats feed on insects and grains, snakes feed on rats, while birds of prey and larger animals feed on snakes. Should we slot politicians and spiritual leaders in the same category, who end up preying on human hope and insecurity?
In Bagavad Gita, Lord Krishna concludes his conversation with Arjuna before the battle begins with his famous last words "Sambhavami yuge yuge", does it mean that only a person living outside the pyramid can clean and bring back the equilibrium?
Sadly, religion (fundamentalism) and politics have created more suffering and deaths in this world, something they promised to end. If we go by the pyramid theory, preying on our faith and insecurity is all a part of belonging to the pyramid. Isn't it?
In a week from now India's Prime Minister will take the place of Xin Jinping, and Mata Amritanandamayi will begin her hugging tour in Europe, while their objectives will largely remain the same. So, let's stop complaining and enjoy their pilgrimage and sermons.
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