In general, I try to avoid getting involved in politics. I believe in Sri Chinmoy’s philosophy : that if you really want to change the world, then first change yourself by becoming a more loving and more spiritual person. While I was out of the country these last few months, I hardly heard any news about the U.S. presidential race, but now that I’m back, I’m surprised at how heated up things have become.
Over the years, the only politician I’ve ever actively campaigned for is Congressman Gary Ackerman. I’ve known him since he first ran for office and I’ve always been impressed with what a kind, compassionate, funny, and down to earth person he is. Many years ago, Gary phoned me and told me that a little boy had wandered off from his home in Queens. The boy’s home was in the Congressman’s district, and Gary asked if my meditation group could help look for the child. Many of my friends went out in groups scouring the neighborhoods and we dropped off photos of the missing youth to the local newspapers.
Once my friends were mobilized, Gary asked if I would accompany him in his car to search for the missing child. While driving up and down Queens Boulevard, Gary told me that it was his birthday, but that he couldn’t celebrate the occasion until the child was found. It was obvious that this was not a publicity stunt. I was deeply moved that Gary was so sincerely concerned about the welfare of another human being.
As it turned out, we never spotted the boy, but the Daily News printed his photo and a day later the child was recognized at Newark Airport. As soon as the boy was found, an exuberant Gary called to tell me the good news and rushed out of a political function to meet me at Annam Brahma, a vegetarian restaurant in Jamaica, Queens, owned by my friends. It was around the time of Thanksgiving, so we joyously celebrated the return of the child and the Congressman’s birthday with some non-alcoholic champagne and soy turkey!
The only time I ever had contact with a politician while actually breaking a record was in Washington, D.C., back in 1995. I was attempting the record for the fastest somersaulting mile along the Mall, a gravel path that stretches from the U.S. Capitol Building to the Washington Monument. Needless to say, I was hurting. James Carville, the mastermind of Bill Clinton’s election, happened to be jogging by and stopped to see what all the commotion was about. He is definitely a man who can think on his feet. When asked by the Washington Post reporter, who was on the scene, whether he thought I was crazy, Mr. Carville replied, "No he’s not crazy, maybe a half a quart low, but not crazy!" And then he quipped, "However, I can relate to what he’s going through. I know all about pain – after all, I’m President Clinton’s cam paign manager!"
