Yoga and politics might seem like strange bedfellows. In yoga, we embrace vairagya, or non-attachment, often interpreted as detachment from material things, people, and even ideas. In yoga, we also emphasize the importance of tyāga (renunciation) and of seeing everyone with equal vision.
From this perspective, yoga can appear apolitical, and politics can seem a-yogic. We might conclude that yogis should remain detached, even non-participatory in anything remotely political.
But that’s not what yoga wisdom says.
Ignoring political discourse is appropriate for a sannyasi or a monk, people who have renounced involvement in worldly affairs for the sake of fully absorbing themselves in the world of spiritual knowledge.
But for most of us, our path to transcendence takes us through the world, not around or away from it. Fortunately, yoga provides us with tools to guide our engagement in worldly affairs.
Yoga wisdom texts encourage us to step back from political disputes and see the values driving both liberal and conservative positions. For a broad-minded yogi, this is often easier because yoga, as a practice of expanding consciousness, encourages openness to diverse experiences—a fundamentally liberal value.
But yogic values are not always liberal. Some values that arise from yoga philosophy lean conservative, such as responsible control of brahmacarya (sexual energy) and sauca (sobriety).
Other yogic principles, like ahimsa (non-violence), naturally align with liberal ideas about social justice and environmentalism, economic policy, and healthcare.
Some might argue that self-realization and sharing spiritual knowledge should take priority over engaging in everyday politics. I’d argue that it’s not that simple.
Yoga philosophy tells us that the material world exists in a spiritual context. And spiritual movements exist in a political context. As compassionate yogis, we care about every living being on the planet, and would like to see material conditions that are as favorable to everyone’s spiritual life as possible.
To that end, we should understand that our spiritual and material lives are meant to be integrated, not separated into two distinct realms, which means that participating in politics can be part of our practice.
It can be tough to stay detached and maintain equal vision when emotions run high, but if we can do it, it’s rewarding.
Let me know what you think!