SW: Krishnaji, I have just read an interesting item of news in today’s evening paper. A certain member of the Colombo Municipal Council will be introducing a motion concerning you at the next meeting of the Council. His motion states that you should be accorded a civic reception by the Municipal Council of the city of Colombo.
K: What exactly takes place at a civic reception?
SW: Civic receptions are accorded only to distinguished individuals by the mayor and prominent citizens.
K: Good Lord! I am a poor Mr. Nobody whose individuality has been extinguished! Not distinguished but extinguished! (loud laughter).
SW: At the reception probably the Prime Minister will welcome you and speeches will be made in honour of you. You will be presented with a scroll signed by eminent persons from Sri Lanka.
K: What will the scroll contain?
SW: Surely they will refer to your various achievements and your spirituality.
K: I don’t want a certificate from anybody!
SW: Krishnaji, I think it will be a great pity if you turn down such an invitation. What an opportunity to make a fine speech! At least a few of the politicians who listen to you may become permanently interested in your teachings. Why should you deprive them of the benefit of your message?
K: If those politicians are seriously interested in what I have to say, what prevents them from attending my public talks? Sir, you are so naive that you fail to see through the behaviour of politicians. Can’t you see that they are all politically motivated? I refuse to be used by politicians. I avoid them.
SW: You say that you avoid politicians but you associate with Mrs. Indira Gandhi!
K: That’s different! Indira is an old friend. Her father Pundit Nehru used to visit Amma (Dr. Annie Besant) and me when we were in Benares.
SW: Please reconsider what I have suggested.
K: I am sorry. Please telephone this member of the Municipal Council and ask him to withdraw his motion from the agenda. Will you please telephone him immediately?
SW: Yes, I will. But if they insist on having a ceremony in honour of you, I don’t think you can stop them from doing it.
K: Let them do what they like but I will not be there!
SW: I will be telephoning soon.
K: Whatever you may do in life or wherever you may happen to live, always avoid publicity. Do not crave to be in the limelight. The other day I was telling some people that the desire to see your photograph published in the newspapers is the greatest vulgarity. Shun the vulgar crowds and lead a righteous life that is unbeknown to your friends, relatives and associates. Like a mighty tree that is hidden deep in the forest, remain anonymous all your life.
SW: Why are you against politicians? Surely some of them are genuinely desirous of helping society.
K: Anyone who is driven by ambition and the lust for power simply cannot be good. They are responsible for so much mischief in the world. In India people make a great fuss over their leading politicians. Thousands stand in the burning sun for hours just to see an important politician as though he were some kind of strange animal! Why give them such importance when you know that they aspire after political leadership only because they want to feather their own nests? Politicians reek of corruption. So a good person has to keep away from politicians and all their activities. If you wish to help the poor and improve social conditions, then the first step is to be a good person yourself. That very goodness will have a beneficial impact on society.作者: 李瑞 时间: 2010-3-22 18:47
