The relationship between spirituality and politics

From artoflliving.org: “Spirituality should come into politics,” was Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s advice to Indian Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel during a nationally televised dialogue.

“We need to spiritualize politics, socialize business and secularize religion. Devoid of spirituality, politics breeds corruption,” he says.

From the above quote, we can conclude that spirituality and politics are not incompatible. Some may argue that a spiritual seeker cannot participate in politics.

However, if one is living a life of surrender and devotion to God, it is completely possible. If God places one in a political position, then it is Divine Will.

From the perspective of a citizen, a spiritual seeker is perfectly capable of voting in elections or even helping a candidate campaign for a political position. The action does not matter; what matters is where the mind is at.

If one votes or campaigns with non-attachment and indifference to the result, then there is no spiritual conflict. 

The Dalai Lama has participated in political action in Tibet; Mahatma Gandhi obviously did the same in India. The political process is necessary to maintain a region, state, providence, country, etc. 

One who participates in politics must stay true to the yogic principles: non-attachment to action, beliefs, or views. If one governs or participates in such a manner, renouncing the fruit of action, there is no problem.

The danger of "spiritual knowledge"

You want to empty yourself totally, absolutely and completely, of all so called knowledge. You're afraid to do this, for you think you will become a vegetable. It's hard to imagine a person with no mind. But, when you begin to realize that your mind is only an accumulation of thoughts, thoughts from past lives, thoughts from this life, only thoughts, then you begin to see that the mind has to be totally transcended and transmuted. ~ Robert Adams

One of the pitfalls for a spiritual seeker is obsessing over spiritual knowledge and learning. It is true that a beginner may read the Bhagavad Gita, or other books by enlightened beings.
However, at some point the desire for spiritual knowledge can be a barrier. One who thinks that obsessing over topics, such as chakras, will lead to spiritual development is not necessarily right.
Spiritual practice involves living as The Real Self and transcending attachment to the body and mind.
It may be useful for one to gain a basic understanding of certain spiritual topics, but it should not be a daily obsession. In fact, reading too much about spirituality can be more of a hindrance than anything.
One learns all that they need to know from meditation, remaining aware in the present moment, and quieting the mind.

There is no one called 'you'. You don't exist. No thing that you can imagine exists. Realization doesn't exist. Liberation doesn't exist. It doesn't exist because you've got to think about it. And of course everything you think about is false imagination. You can only confirm this truth in the silence. ~ Robert Adams

Karma Yoga: Maximum intensity combined with complete indifference

In order to practice true karma yoga, the yoga of action, one must work with full intensity while caring nothing for the result.
A karma yogi will be the one of the hardest workers in the office, at a construction site, in the kitchen, or wherever one earns their livelihood at. The difference is that although the yogi works with such intensity and dedication, they care nothing for the result; they are simply working because that is what they are supposed to do.
They don't hate work or love it. They do not work because of the money, accomplishments, success, fame, or other things that may result from their action.
For example, if I am working as a chef and the food that I prepare is ready for the customer quickly, that is fine; however, if I burn my rice and have to start over, that is also fine.
The yogi does not care; they are just locked in the present moment doing only what is necessary. A yogi sees that the world is an illusion and nothing is really happening, but may still work as if everything is real and of significance.