Discourse on Politics

1. One who is knowledgeable and detached from the world, yet who likes to be with friends and attend gatherings of the people, should first be able to easily remain in solitude.
2. In solitude, one comes up with new ideas and is able to consider various plans and strategies. It also gives one the opportunity to come to understand the various situations and progress of the people.
3. If one does not spend time in reflection, then nothing can be realized. It is like a businessman who does not keep an eye on his accounts and ends up bankrupt.
4. Some people acquire the rights and titles to their property, while some foolishly lose land that is in their possession. This is similar to the various situations among people who think and reflect, and those who do not.
5. When one takes time to reflect on situations in the mind, one can understand the possible outcomes before they happen. In this way, one can easily avoid being deceived.
6. If one continuously remains in one place in close intimacy with other people, it often happens that there is too much familiarity and people start to feel resentment or contempt towards each other. Therefore, one who is spiritual leader should not spend too much time in one place.
7. If one takes too much rest or begins to neglect work that needs to be done, the entire project begins to fall apart and the inner motivation to gather other people around him is lost.
8. Various types of spiritual practices and other activities should be organized and performed regularly. This will leave little time for people to gossip or get involved in other kinds of mischief.
9. For example, a person who is in the habit of stealing should be put in charge of managing a store. When he makes a mistake due to the force of habit, he should be admonished and corrected so he gradually learns step by step how to leave behind his foolish behavior.
10. These types of things have been going on for a long time. Do not harass anyone or cause them to suffer, instead use political skill to get people everywhere to change their ways.
11. Arrange it so a mean-spirited person is used to comfort another mean-spirited person, and that a disruptive person who causes disputes is confronted by another disruptive person. Meanwhile, remain aloof from the situation yourself so no blame or criticism falls on you.
12. Remove one thorn with another thorn, but do not allow anyone to know. Allow people to remain with the impression that you are not involved in the situation.
13. If some activity is done without anyone's knowledge, it easily gets accomplished immediately. However, if it becomes revealed and known to everyone, then it doesn’t get accomplished even by some miracle.
14. People should become interested in a spiritual leader just by hearing about him. Upon seeing him they will develop a growing affinity towards him, and they will be eager to volunteer to do service for him.
15. If one sets out to do some work, it will get done. However, if one does not set out to do anything, nothing will be accomplished. For this reason, there should be no laxity about carrying out any work.
16. If a person depends on somebody else to do his work, he does not become successful, while the one who does the work himself is wise, and goes on to become successful.
17. If everyone comes to know everything about the project, then the work tends not to get done. Therefore, care should be taken to make sure that this does not happen.
18. Control of the project should be kept in one’s own hands, and efforts should be made to see to it that the work gets completed through others, and that troublemakers are handled tactfully with political skill.
19. There are some people who are overly talkative bullies who instigate arguments and create problems. Such people should be challenged so that good relationships are not ruined and hindrances don't get created because of their mischievous ways.
20. Such bullies should be exposed and their activities should be crushed by taking away their power. However, after their power is taken away, they should be supported and allowed to work without being completely ruined.
21. If, because of fear of the mischief makers and bullies, the leader does not protect the social relationships and maintain the political strategies, then everything will be revealed, both the good and the bad aspects of the situation.
22. If the group is large, then there should be strict codes of conduct. If a leader establishes a temple or ashram, he should be humble, and not harbor any pride.
23. The troublemakers in the group should be identified, but do not expose them as such. Rather, treat them like good and virtuous people, and they should be given some importance in the group.
24. If the troublemakers are openly exposed among the people, they will always be a source of problems. Therefore, their capacity to create problems should be shut down permanently.
25. When seeing the army of an enemy approaching, the warriors of the kingdom should be brave and eager to fight them. Similarly, a king should be equally eager to uphold and support the spirituality of the people.
26. A great leader should be such that upon seeing him, evil-minded men are struck with the fear that he will make them experience the severe blows of admonishment. With such power as this, any plans of rebellion effortlessly get destroyed.
27. These are activities that must be carried out carefully and wisely. Political activity is something that needs to be done routinely. It is important not to give the wrong impression because of negligence.
28. It is not possible for a leader to be seen at all places at all times, but his name and greatness should be known everywhere. The whole world is uplifted by the eloquence of his speech.
29. Let a complainer confront another complainer, let an obstinate person go up against another obstinate person, and let a clever person confront another clever person.
30. Put a strong person in front of another strong person, let an arrogant person be met by another arrogant person, and let a troublemaker be met with another troublemaker.
31. When two people of similar qualities are put together, there is a certain entertainment in the political game. However, when all of this happens, the politician who makes it happen should remain out of sight, not to be seen anywhere.