Q: Guruji, how can a devotee of God be a devotee of the nation, or be patriotic as well?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If one is devoted to their nation that does not mean that they are enemies of another nation or other nations. We have understood patriotism from a very narrow perspective. Generally, how do we express our patriotism? By opposing or having enmity with another country we express our patriotism towards our own country. During the days of the British rule in India, you were considered patriotic if you stood up against the British. Nowadays, you will be considered a patriot if you speak against Pakistan. This is not right. Your feelings of patriotism need not oppose or put down any other country. If you see in America, those who call themselves patriots are simply patriots devoted towards their country alone. They are not opposed to any other country. So, a patriot, or one who is devoted to his own country, is also devoted to the entire world; to the entire creation. Those who are devoted to the Vishwatma (Universal soul), feel no conflict between their devotion for God, and their devotion towards their country. See, when you look after, and nurture your own family, that does not mean that you are an enemy to the other people around. You care for others around you as well, and love them as you love your own family, is it not? If a mother loves her own children very much, she can also have love for the other children in the neighborhood. It is not that if she has affection for her own children, she cannot have affection for the other children as well. Then that is not love; that is not devotion. Devotion is such that no matter where it is, it spreads its fragrance all around; like a flower. See, if you take this flower, no matter where you keep it, it spreads its fragrance everywhere. Whether you keep a Jasmine flower in the kitchen, or in your bathroom, it will give out its fragrance. A flower will not discriminate saying that I shall spread fragrance here, but not there. In the same way, wherever you place or direct your devotion, it will spread there; it will bear fruits and blossom more and more.