Which One is First

Date: 29 Nov 2009 16:07:38 -0000
From: “Parashram Laghate”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Which One is First

Baba

“Lukiye path cala’ ekii liila’, lokalocane keno na’hi a’so…” (P.S. 3698)

Purport:

Baba, You are Ajana Pathik, You go on and on moving all about but in
Your journey You always keep Yourself hidden. You move around secretly.
Baba, You do all the things but nobody can see You; You do not like to come
within the field of vision.

To whom You love, they want to search You in their mind; they want to
hold You in their heart by the process of shravan, manan, niddhidhya’san &
dhyana. But You do not care and You do not like to be seen. You go on moving
secretly. Why like this. Why is Your style so jagged? You do not like to
move around following the straight, clear-cut path whereby everyone can see
You. That type of movement You do not like.

The eternal truth of straightforwardness which has been established since
ages, even a wee-bit of that You do not follow in Your movement. Rather
everything You do in hidden fashion; and that is no good.

It may be also possible that my understanding is not complete so that I
do not properly comprehend You. Baba, by the ordinary measuring scale You
are immeasurable. If anyone wants to understand You and get You, then You
escape and never get held. And remaining distant, You just smile.

Baba, what type of liila is this. You go on doing everything while
remaining hidden…

== WHICH ONE IS FIRST ==

Namaskar,
I learned one very good point at a seminar program some time ago in our
bhukti. There were some meaningful things I learned; you may be aware of
these things already. But because it was new for me, I thought I will
write them here.

In the asana teaching class, during the point about do’s and don’ts, one
point had been discussed which is a significant one. Tandava and
kaoshiki should be done before starting asanas. That means after doing
half-bath and other preparations, first kaoshiki should be done
for a sufficient amount of time (a few minutes) until one gets tired.
And then tandava should be done accordingly. Then after a brief rest,
asanas should be started.

This was all quite new to me. In the past, I was doing the opposite.

First I was doing asanas and then after that kaoshiki and then after that,
tandava. And finally, massage and shavasana. And then, waiting minimum
15-20 minutes. Then if I was hungry, then I used to take food.

I want to make it more clear, what my routine was up till now. Before
starting asana, I usually finish sadhana. Whatever time I dedicate for
that. So first of all sadhana, all the lessons. And then asanas according
to the guideline of acaryas. And finally kaoshiki and tandava. This was my
sequence.

So the new point was, that the practice of dances should be done first –
kaoshikii then tandava – and then asanas. This should be the cycle.

I was not practicing in this fashion, so naturally I was curious. What
is the reason why tandava and kaoshiki should not be done after asanas.

Then Dadaji replied, by asking one margii to read this following rule of
asanas from CC-3, rule #18.

Baba says, “It is not prohibited for the practitioner of asanas to practise
free-hand exercise, running or sports, but just after asanas all these are
prohibited.” (CC-3, p.26)

This above asana rule from CC III leads in that direction. The spirit
of this point is that tandava and kaoshiki should not be done after asanas.

Dada continued, “The definition of asana is “Sthir sukham a’sanam”: That
is, ‘The posture by which one gets composure’.

As, Baba says in Caracarya-3, “Asana means ‘a position in which one feels
comfortable – ‘Sthirasukhama’sanam.'” (CC-3, p.23)

Describing about asanas Baba says, that if you do some asana, then
remaining in that very posture is not difficult – rather it is calming.
Such is the nature of our asana practice.

Altogether asanas are a practice when the breathing is normal, not very
fast. The limbs are not moving fast. Everything is done in a very calm and
quiet way. It is not like running or jumping, or fast exercise. So two
divisions are there. One is soft exercise like asana. And one is fast like
running and jumping, and many more.

Whatever glandular effect kaoshiki and tandava has, that is a different
issue. But these dances have a different quality than the peace and
tranquillity and smoothness of asanas. Because when doing kaoshiki and
tandava also, the breathing goes very fast and the body gets tired quickly. Whereas
in asana, the practitioner does not get tired. Especially those who practice
asanas regularly realize this fact.

According to the CC-3 rule #18, kaoshiki and tandava should not be done
after asanas. The best is that kaoshiki and tandava, one should practice
prior to asanas. Dada concluded like this.

After listening to this in-depth discussion, I was convinced. Since then I
am practicing kaoshiki-tandava, and then asanas. This sequence I follow.
You may be practicing asanas since 20, 30, or 40 years or more. What is your
experience – what have you been doing?

Baba’s teaching is timeless. We should read this following one.

Baba says, “Without attaining all-round purification it is impossible for
a sadhaka to experience real spiritual ideation. On the path of spirituality,
bhava (ideation) is the main factor.” (DT-2, p.51)

Namaskar,
Parashram

Note: Dada was also giving the difference between asana and mudra. Asana and
mudra are both soft exercise. But if the posture is difficult, then that
comes in the category of mudra. Just like lotus posture. Padmasana. It is
not mudra. It is an asana. Those who practice can sit for a long time. But,
mudra is completely different. You have to do constant efforts to remain in
mudra. For example, udha’yan mudra. For that you have to constantly pull
your belly inside. It is constant effort. It is not like asana.

***************************************
Sadhana Tips

Baba says, “While doing spiritual practices (meditation) when the aspirant
is required to direct his mind toward Parama Purus’a, then one must not
move, or walk, or practice sit-ups, push-ups etc. One’s physical body
should be motionless.” (APH-5, p. 345)

**************************************

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Carya’carya Opposes Expulsion

Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 07:13:01 -0000
To: AM-GLOBAL
From: J.Young
Subject: Carya’carya Opposes Expulsion

Baba

“A’lor pathe je eseche a’ndha’re se hoy na’ ha’ra’…” (P.S. 996)

Purport:

Baba, those who are treading the divine path never get lost in the
oblivion of darkness and staticity. Those who are smiling sweetly, their
life can never be like hell– surrounded by the agony of suffering and
crying.

Baba, here along with me, You are and I am. And Your love has bound me. In
result I have lost everything else. Those who have ascended onto the path
of hope and optimism never get lost in hopelessness and pessimism.
Baba, by Your grace You have come with Your sweet smile riding Your
chariot of panoramic colors. By getting You, the whole universe is
purified; everyone’s existence has become successful…

Note: We are extremely sorry to hear about the recent tragedy surrounding our
dear elder brother Dada Parmeshvarananda. By Baba’s grace, Dadaji was saved
otherwise he could have been killed. We wish Dadaji and very fast recovery
back to 100% health. – Eds.

== CARYA’CARYA OPPOSES EXPULSION ==

Namaskar,
Each and every Ananda Margii knows well that ours is the path of unity–
where all live together as one human family. This is Baba’s divine decree.
So the entire AM philosophy is moving in this singular, unified direction–
including all of Baba’s teachings of Caryacarya.

Unfortunately a few do not understand and have gone on to wrongly pronounce
that parts of Caryacarya can be used to divide the society by supporting
the dogmatic expulsion theory. They think that taking away someone’s
acaryaship or revoking their certification means that the particular worker
is therefore expelled. But that is not at all the case.

In a nutshell, losing one’s acaryaship or taking away their certificate
only means that the specified worker may no longer– temporarily so– be
allowed to perform initiations or teach various sadhana lessons etc. On the
whole though losing one’s ‘ship’ has no bearing on their existential
standing as a worker. That is: One will continue to hold their usual post
and engage in all kinds of organisational duties and social functions etc.

So there should not be any confusion about this. None should think that
losing one’s certificate means that they are therefore an ex-wt or a
so-called expelled worker etc. It is not at all like that.

In truth 99.9% of the workers do not even have a certificate– nor is it
needed in the true sense.

With our rational minds we should properly understand Baba’s guidelines
about this and set the record straight.

CARYACARYA AIMS TO INCREASE THE STANDARD– NOT EXPEL

In chapter 40 of Caryacarya part 1, Baba has beautifully issued one special
mandate to help maintain the standard of all acaryas. There Baba guides us
that if any tattvika, acarya, or purodha “is unable to discharge his
respective duties” then their ‘ship’ or “certificate” can be taken away.

That means if one is not properly fulfilling their responsibilities as a
tattvika then they may temporarily lose their tattvikaship. And the same is
the case with acaryas and purodhas; they can lose their acaryaships and
purodhaships. That is what the rule states. And this is exclusively done
with the benevolent motive to bring those WT’s’ back up to the proper
standard. It is not designed as a mechanism to “expel” anybody.

All in all, it is just like how medicine is prescribed to cure a problem
and make the patient healthy and normal again. That medicine is not meant
to kill anyone. Same is the case with the taking of a worker’s various
ships. That procedure is done to make that Wt a better worker, not to
permanently terminate their role as a Wt etc. That is not the aim.

So taking away one’s ship’s is not designed to expel that worker. The proof
is that on many occasions Baba Himself with His Supreme Benevolence has
revoked the acaryaship or purodhaship from various workers but that did not
mean they were expelled. Rather over that period those Wts maintained their
usual close link with the organisation– trying hard to fulfill all their
normally assigned social duties etc.

Therefore none should think that any aspect of Caryacarya– such as chapter
40– is meant to go along with the dogmatic and divisive tactic of
expulsion. The two are not at all related.

Following is more about the solid organisational standing of those workers
who lose their various ‘ships’.

SUCH WORKERS KEEP THEIR POSTING

Here it should be clear to all that the concerned individual who has lost
their acaryaship will continue to function as a WT and engage in all their
social work and simultaneously strive to do all their allotted duties.
Indeed they even maintain their same posting.

If they are Regional Secretary they will remain as RS; and if they are a
Sectorial level Prout worker they will keep that very post. So whatever
posting they have, they will keep. This is the system as per Baba.

THOSE WHO LOSE THEIR SHIPS REMAIN PART OF AM LIFE

By this we can understand that such persons who lose their ‘ships’ are
still very much a part of the organisation and are expected to participate
in all types of functions from the weekly dharmacakra to various types of
organisational activities. So they are still very much involved and an
integral part of the collective Marga flow.

LOSING ONE’S ‘SHIPS’ DOES NOT MEAN BEING EXPELLED

So if someone loses their ‘ship’, such as their acaryaship, it does not at
all mean that they are therefore expelled. That is not at all the case.

In fact, 99.9% of the time when one loses their ships then those around
them are not even aware that that individual lost their ships. Because that
concerned worker is still involved in all their normal duties. Actually it
is only evident when one loses their avadhutaship for the simple reason
that the colour of their lungi changes from orange to white. So then
obviously others are aware that the person temporarily lost their
avadhutaship. Because their external dress is different– not because their
way of life is different. That is if one of the other ships is lost then
others do not even know. Because the dress stays the same, as does one’s
regular routine.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOSE ONE’S ‘SHIPS’

Qualitatively, by losing their acaryaship it simply means that during that
period those persons may not do certain things that are the speciality of
an acarya– such as teach the various lessons of sadhana. That is the main
thing one cannot do if they lose their acaryaship. But they can participate
100% in all the collective functions of Ananda Marga and keep the very same
posting which they had earlier. So there is no question of their being
expelled from Ananda Marga. That is not at all the case.

THE TIME WHEN BABA TOOK AWAY THEIR ‘SHIPS’

Many may recall the time in October 1990 when Baba Himself withdrew the
‘ships’ of so many Central Workers– around one dozen or so. He took away
their avadhutaships and acaryaships etc. This is a well known incident
because during that time a large DMC was held and various Central workers
like Keshavananda were moving around on the stage wearing white lungis.

They were wearing their orange shirts but were wearing white from the waist
down. Because their avadhutship was taken. This was the case with around
one dozen Central Workers like Keshavananda, Bhaveshananda, Nigamananda,
Mantreshvarananda, and so many others. They all lost their ‘ships’ and were
moving around in white lungis that time, but keeping their same post etc.
This all goes to show that when one’s ‘ships’ are taken away then they keep
their same posting and discharge their allotted duties.

Per Baba’s practical example this is how it works. Because that time in
October 1990 when Baba took away their avadhutaship etc, then all those
Central Workers kept their very same posts. Keshavananda even remained
as Baba’s PA. And they all participated fully in that DMC as well as all
the related meetings and festivities etc. So there was no question of
their being expelled from the organisation. It was not at all like that.

Only they were temporarily restricted from teaching the various lessons of
sadhana etc. That was the main thing that was affected.

A GOOD RULE BEING MANIPULATED

Hence, all in all, the whole procedure in Caryacarya about taking away
one’s certificate or ‘ships’ is a benevolent rule designed to rectify and
improve a worker– not alienate him.

It is all done with the intention and hope that such deficient workers will
succeed in overcoming their defects and ultimately regain their full status.
In contrast, if for their groupist interests, those in the helm attempt to
use chapter 40 of Caryacarya as a way to expel and marginalise any worker,
then that is a clear-cut case of the misuse and abuse of a good rule. And
that cannot be tolerated.

BABA WANTS ONE HUMAN SOCIETY

ENTIRE AM PHILOSOPHY AND CARYACARYA AIM TOWARD THAT GOAL

As the divine Sadguru Baba has come to form that one, singular human
society where there are no outcastes and all are part of the same
collective flow. And all the teachings of Caryacarya are working in this
same magnifcent direction.

Baba says “The unity of Ananda Margiis should not be allowed to be
jeopardized for any reason. Unity should be maintained even at the risk of
your life.” (Caryacarya-2, ‘Society’, pt#13)

By His above teaching and indeed on numerous occasions in Caryacarya itself
Baba directs us to from that unified humanity where there is no possibility
of expulsion.

Baba says, “The meaning of the sam’gacchadhvam’ mantra should be realized
in life. Always remain united. Solve all problems, big or small, with
unity. Consider misfortune of one as the misfortune of all, an injury to
one as an injury to all.” (Caryacarya-2, ‘Society’, pt#34)

Here is another of Baba’s divine decrees from Carya’carya.

Baba says, “Do not allow distinctions to crop up among Ananda Margiis.
Unity should be maintained even at the risk of one’s life.” (Caryacarya-2,
‘Misc’, pt#3)

And indeed throughout the entire AM philosophy the idea comes again and again that we are to form that one human society where no one is declared an outcast, shunned, or excommunicated etc. Such dogmatic beliefs and dirty terms are the very things which Baba wants to wipe away by creating one
human society. And His divine teachings of Caryacarya echo this same noble endeavour.

EXPULSION IS JUST THE STEP-CHILD OF RELIGIOUS DOGMA

The crude and sinful act of expulsion has no redeeming quality. Expulsion
is fundamentally against the neo-humanistic teachings of AM philosophy.

Thus there is no place for expulsion in our Marga and Carya’carya certainly
does not condone such heinous acts like expulsion. The sooner everyone in
our AM family understands this truth, the better it will be for all.

So those who are having trouble incorporating this point into their outlook
should quickly seek help from others. And if we see that such and such
person is not getting it, then it is our duty to bring them on the right
path.

WE SHOULD TAKE LESSON

By and large we should take an important lesson from the post-1991 AMPS
history. Because Baba has pointedly warned us that expulsion is such a
divisive tool which leads the outcasted party to revolt and consequently
divide the humanity.

Baba says, “Suppose somebody is suspended from his job. In his mind the
seeds of revolt germinate. He files a court case, contacts so many people,
organizes a demonstration, etc. That is the natural reaction to
suspension.” (AV-3)

Unfortunately since 1991 various groupists have issued so many dogmatic
expulsions and this is itself the very cause of the splitting of our Marga
society. So we should learn from this mistake by correcting it and not
repeating it again. We must overcome and rectify those wrongful expulsions
and form one monolithic AMPS society.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s divine grace the whole humanity will embrace the concept that we
are all one. With that neo-humanistic outlook we will all live harmoniously
side by side– together.

Baba says, “So the important thing is that all are the progeny of the
Supreme Progenitor. According to this, there will be unity in the physical
stratum, and so will there be in the psychic and spiritual strata. But to
strengthen this unity yet more, there is one more factor which should be
there, and is there – that factor being the common goal for all the
children of the Supreme Father – the merger of all in Him. All have come
from Him and are in Him; therefore, all people will have to live together.”
(Disc on MHB: ‘Planning for the Mahavishva’)

Namaskar,
Jagatmitra

Note 1: THE RELIGIONS OF OLD EXCOMMUNICATE

AND THE GROUPISTS OF TODAY EXPEL

Here in His below teachings Baba warns us about how the various dogmatic
religions issue crude edicts and decrees which divide humanity.

Baba says “Notions of vice and virtue, codes of justice and scriptural
texts – which are claimed to be the word of God – have been formulated by
different religions to further vested interests. Those who oppose the
scriptures or the system they propound are subject to severe punishment. To
socialize with a person of a different caste is a great sin and those who
commit such sacrilegious acts will be excommunicated. They will have to
make atonement according to scriptural decree, and sometimes the magnitude
of their penance maybe the cause of their death. If they plead for a milder
dose of punishment, the priests express their helplessness: one cannot defy
the scriptures!” (PNS-7, p.52)

Thus what is the difference when one religion self-righteously blasts
someone on the point of caste and when one groupist regime uses their
selfish agenda to oust and expel a Wt or margii. Answer: There is no
difference; both are sinful.

Note 2: IN OUR HUMAN FAMILY ALL SHOULD BE CARED FOR

In Baba’s below teachings He guides us that all are part of the same human
family– and everyone should be made to feel included and part of that
larger humanity.

Baba says, “You should always be vigilant that not a single individual of
our collective body is in the least neglected or ignored. Let not a single
boy or girl feel within them that no one is concerned about them– let not
a single person be allowed to think: ‘No one cares whether I have taken my
food or not’. You must pay special heed to this.” (PNS-14, p.4)

Unfortunately if a worker or margii is expelled then they are just left
alone to rot. They are forgotten about and left to die– psychically if not
physically. That is the hellish result of expulsion and that is why Baba
has declared again and again that there is no place for expulsion in our
Marga. Ours is a neo-humanistic society.

***************************************
One Should Always Remember

Baba says, “However little one’s capacity might be, if one constantly
remembers that Parama Purus’a is always with him, that they are in the
closest contact with Parama Purus’a, they will be able to do everything.
They are not as small as they think themselves to be. And as long as they
remember this closest association with Him, they can do much more than
ordinary human beings. When this idea becomes permanently established in
their minds, they become great. This is why no one should be disappointed
or depressed in any circumstances; let everyone constantly perform great
deeds, remembering that the flow of their capacity is coming from Parama
Purus’a, and thus they can do everything.” (AFPS-3, p.62)

***************************************

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Thanksgiving In Ananda Marga

From: “Karma Rasa”
To: AM-GLOBAL
Subject: Thanksgiving In Ananda Marga
Date: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:11:51 +0000

Baba

“Maneri gahane tumi a’cho, a’cho prabhu sada’ jege a’cho…” (4380)

Purport:

Baba, You are always remaining in the depths of my mind– You never
leave me. You always remain awake. You go on working day and night, beyond
the time. You never stop. Baba, whatever You want to do, You go on doing.

This whole expressed universe is Your eternal game. You are
ever-present: beginningless and endless. You are ever intoxicated in Your
divine flow. You are the Goal of everyone– everyone wants You. You are
remaining with one and all.

Those who are trying to come close to You by their virtuous deeds and
shravan, manan, nididhyasana, & dhyana, only they are able to come to You.
Only they are able to realise You and have Your grace and proximity. Baba,
You are grace-Personified…

== THANKSGIVING IN ANANDA MARGA ==

Namaskar,
One time when Baba was going out for His field walk, many margii
families had gathered round to see Baba as He came out from His house.

At one point Baba lovingly gestured toward one of the margii children
and the young child said, “Thanks.” The child had obviously learned this
from his parents.

Baba smiled and gently said, “See, this young child is telling me ‘thanks’.”

Everyone present clearly understood Baba’s message: As His disciples and
devotees, we are not supposed to offer “thanks” to Baba. This was the
“hint” Baba was giving us that day, by His grace.

That was the first and last time any of us ever heard anyone say “thank
you” to Baba.

OUR WAY IN ANANDA MARGA

In our AM, we surrender to Guru, we offer our minds to Him, we sacrifice
ourselves for Him, but we do not give “thanks” to Baba.

Baba says, “He knows everything that you know, and everything you do not
know. Obviously there is no other way than total surrender to Him.”
(AMIWL-7)

Even during DMC, when so many margiis and acaryas would go on stage to
receive a prize from Baba, then no one would ever say “thank you Baba”.
Instead everyone would lay prostrate to Baba in pranam or sastaunga pranam.

In AM our standard is high, especially with regards to our relation with
Baba. We are to give our everything to Him.

In contrast, merely saying or giving “thanks” is something comparatively
cheap or paltry.

WHY THIS POINT HAS COME UP

This topic of “thanks” has come up because yesterday – the 4th Thursday
of November – was “Thanksgiving Day” in the USA where “giving thanks” is
looked upon as something very noble.

During Thanksgiving in the US, people are giving their thanks in so many
ways: To their Lord, to their faith, to their parents, to their friends
and families, and to their communities. These are some of the ways the
Thanksgiving holiday is expressed – as well as with lots of food and
drink (tamasik).

THANKS IS ONLY FOR DISTANT PEOPLE

 

NEVER SAY THANKS TO CLOSE PEOPLE

However, in Ananda Marga, our approach is entirely different. With
persons close to us, we have a relationship based on love and service.
Due to feelings of closeness we do not say “thanks”. Because we
understand that the person helped us with their heartfelt feeling – not
for any recognition or in hopes that we would say “thanks”.

As bhaktas, we are ready to do each and every thing for our close
relations in service to the Supreme. This is internally understood – in
that case there is no need to say “thanks”, rather that would only
demean the interaction & relation, as if the person helped you only in
order to be “thanked”. When in truth, the feeling and intent runs so
much deeper than that. Of course, by your demeanor your close relation
understands that you have respect and appreciation for their help and
support – which goes far beyond the term “thanks”.

In our Marga, we only verbally offer thanks to those who are far or
distant from us. Saying “thanks” is part of our social norms, but it is
not something we use with those whom we feel a sense of intimacy and
closeness.

If someone whom we revere or if someone close to us does something for
us, we will not say “thanks” – saying so will only brand that person as
being distant. We only say “thanks” or “thank you” in more formal,
business or distant relations. It is not used with close people and
certainly not with Parama Purusa.

Yet in the west, the Thanksgiving holiday and saying “thank you” is
looked upon as quite honourable. This is used even between very close
persons. Perhaps because the concept of service is less understood or
because the relationship between family members is more distant, as
people are more accustomed to living by themselves, not as part of a
collective.

Whatever may be, saying “thank you” is looked upon as something very
gracious in the west whereas in our AM society it is not.

We should all understand the ethic in Ananda Marga and at the same time
keep in mind that many of the pseudo-culture holidays and festivals from
the US – like Halloween & Valentine’s Day etc – are being adopted by the
rest of the world. This is sure to happen with Thanksgiving as well. We
should be sure that we do not get affected; rather with a clear mind and
heart we should be rationally grounded in our sentient manner.

For all these reasons and more, this is a topic of importance for Ananda
Margiis.

SURRENDER TO GURU – NOT GIVE THANKS

We should take Baba’s lesson to heart and strictly follow the ethic in
AM. With regard to Guru we are to offer ourselves, not our thanks.

Baba says, “Remember, you have to offer your own identity – not money,
rice plantains or other crude objects. The give-and-take of crude things
is a business transaction. If you want to attain the bliss of Brahma,
you must offer your own self. If you want to have the Great “I”, you
must give away your own little “I”. You have to give the full sixteen
annas, (the full rupee). Giving fifteen annas and holding back one anna
will not do. You must completely surrender. To attain that Infinite One
with the help of your mental concentration and strength, you have to
surrender yourselves.” (AMIWL-4)

By Baba’s grace in Ananda Marga, we all feel a very close and personal
connection with Parama Purusa. We do not feel any distance or gap. In
that case in sadhana or anytime we ideate throughout the day, the inner
feeling comes, “Oh Baba, I love you so much, I am ready to do anything
and everything for You.”

Thus, when we are ready to give everything with Him, then merely saying
“thanks” is just a tinsel-like expression.

Our link with Him is quite personal and full of the desire to serve Him.
It is His grace.

In stark contrast, in many of the dogmatic religions, there is a much
more distant feeling with their chosen Lord and worshipers commonly give
thanks to the Lord when receiving food, pay raises, and other mundane
things.

So theirs is an entirely different, more external approach, both in the
devotional and social sphere.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace, our link with Him is based on devotion, service, and
the desire to please Him. We do not give thanks to Him, nor to our close
persons. Ultimately all are actions are done in service to Him – as we
try to fulfill our debt to Guru by giving our all.

Tasmae Shrii Gurave namah

“I surrender myself at your altar. Namah means to “surrender”. Namah
refers to the process called “Namo mudra’”. It means that all my
expressions, all my dexterities, which are expressed through my ten
fingers, have been brought to a point. That is, I surrender along with
all my capabilities, all my dexterities.” (AV-3)

Namaskar,
Karma Rasa

Note 1: OUR SOCIAL NORMS

When we are addressing or communicating with our close persons then by
our unspoken behaviour and love we express so much more to them than by
saying “thanks”, but certainly with people whom we do not know very
well, then according to our social norms, saying “thanks” is quite
appropriate.

Baba says, “You should offer thanks to someone from whom you are taking
service (by saying, “Thank you”). (CC-2, ‘Social Norms’, Pt #1)

Baba says, “When someone is inquiring about your health and welfare, you
should offer your cordial thanks to the person.” (CC-2, ‘Social Norms’,
Pt #25)

******************************************
Could Not Work

Baba says, “Spirituality is the summum bonum of life in all its
aspects.” (I & I, ‘Cosmic Brotherhood’)

Note 1: We all know that spiritual sadhana is the ultimate human
activity and the be-all and end-all of human existence. It is the
sweetest expression of life and by the grace of Parama Purusa it is this
sadhana which transforms ordinary humans into divine beings. Thus
sadhana has an extraordinary role in human development and progress.
Unfortunately one or another crude and foolish people proclaim that
sadhana is just like doing nothing. Or they tell that doing sadhana is
not as important as doing crude mundane things etc. By their dull and
obtuse expression, we can easily understand the extent of their
realisation– that it is zero. Indeed their hearts are like a stone in
the river. Even though they are totally surrounded by Parama Purusa, due
to their stone-like heart not even the tiniest amount of devotion can
get inside. Their existence is not something desirable– not at all. So
we should never put any stock in such ridiculous claims made by such dry
people. Instead always may we remember that it is dharma sadhana which
brings one up to the highest point & glorifying stance of human existence.

******************************************

Read Full Post »

Devotees of Jamalpur Days

From: “Rambabu Maurya”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Devotees of Jamalpur Days
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2005 09:02:27 +0530

Baba

“Toma’ke cena’ na’hi ja’y…” (P.S. 2089)

Purport:

Baba, You are so loving and close– even then it is not possible to
recognize You. Just when I think that I have recognized You, then my
consciousness gets completely enveloped by the Cimmerian darkness.

Baba, Your divine Presence shifts from one extreme to the next. On the
one side You are so tough and other times You are very soft and sweet.

Baba, sometimes You are vehemently sounding Your sermons by the beating of
the marching drum and blowing of the military trumpets; and on other
occasions You are smiling sweetly and showering Your causeless grace with
the flower pollen. Baba, such is Your beauty.

O’ Baba, in the end, in the lonely, isolated moment, I see that
everything happens by Your grace. What You desire, that is what happens–
that is the final truth.

O’ Parama Purusa Baba, in Your grand Kingdom, everything belongs to You.
I cannot boast that anything is mine; indeed to think that something is
mine is a crime. Because everything is created by You– this whole
expressed universe is Your mental projection. Then how can I say that
anything is mine.

Baba, only You are mine; everyone is Yours. Baba, everyone longs for
Your karuna’– divine compassion.

Baba, to recognize You is not possible without Your grace. Baba only
with the showering of Your grace can one realise You– otherwise not. Baba
please grace me…

== DEVOTESS FROM JAMALPUR DAYS ==

Namaskar,
These days more and more Baba story books are coming whereby various Marga
authors are giving their perspective. And still more publications are in
queue since there are several hundred or even thousands and thousands of
hours worth of recorded Baba stories– a.k.a. Sansmaran– on tape. So from
various directions these stories will be coming into print. Yet for we
Ananda Margiis, Baba’s own guidelines about bhakti and devotion remain as
our gold bar standard– without which some simple persons might take fall
into the current of those new Baba stories.

Here are some excerpts from these various Baba story books; everyone can
read and review these below accounts on their own to see how far they are
running parallel with Baba’s own pristine teachings.

STORY #1: ATTACHMENT TO POST AND PRESTIGE

Naginaji has written in Ananda Katha,

“I have always been attached to the prestige of my status and so was very
anxious to save my prestige. I was not able to get leave and go to Baba,
therefore I wrote a letter about my problems to Him. I also wrote in the
letter that I would prefer death to demotion and was least prepared to face
a downfall in my rank.”

Naginaji posted the letter at the post office, and it reached to Baba. And
then Naginaji tells,

“At first Baba scolded me on my writing about my death. “You consider death
to be a plaything.”

“Then He (Baba) explained how promotion and demotion are part of a service
career and one should not be perturbed at these. He also told that
attachment to the status of a post is wrong. He advised me that it would be
in my interest to accept the demotion that was coming.”
“I (Naginaji) was not at all ready to accept this situation.”

Baba tried to convince Naginaji.

Baba told, “This is a samskara of your past life and it would be best to
suffer it.”

“Even so, I (Naginaji) was not ready to accept it.”

“Baba then began to coax me in the same manner as parents do when a child
begins to insist on something.”

Naginaji did not follow Baba’s suggestion and he (Naginaji) furthermore wrote,

“I thought over Baba’s words for some time and then it came to my mind that
everyone in this world wants to rise. No one ever wants demotion.”

ABOUT JAMALPUR ERA SADHAKAS

As we all know Naginaji, the author of the above story, is one of those
early Jamalpur sadhakas. And here is more background about that.

Some margiis think that those sadhakas of the early Jamalpur days were
great devotees– that they were ideal. So thinking like this, they accept
their fashion of doing as the proper way. As if everything that those
Jamalpur sadhakas did was perfect or dharmic. But we have to watch and
logically assess the situation and see how far their actions were truly ideal.

The sense is a rational approach is always needed because otherwise a wrong
conclusion misleads the entire situation. For example, in various
communities many people blindly believe that everything their ancestors did
was great. So with that feeling they follow all those dogmatic things done
by their fore-fathers. All because they failed to use their own rationality.

The key issue is that a wrong conclusion or following dogma is always
problematic– producing negative results.

Keeping all of the above in view, here following is the next story for
evaluation:

STORY #2:
PAYING HEED TO BABA’S REQUEST– OR NOT

The below topic is related with one commonly known Baba’s story during the
very earlier days in Jamalpur. The scene is that Baba wanted to do an
important demonstration and execute one very needed task for the welfare of
all. Since Baba’s central aim behind performing this demonstration was to
protect humanity from the evil minded strategies of Stalin.

So in gracious mood Baba lovingly expressed His desire to one
sadhaka. Baba requested the sadhaka if he would like to do this. Baba was
seeking his compliance and Baba comforted and reassured that sadhaka that
everything would be okay. But the sadhaka in a very blunt and direct manner
turned down Baba’s suggestion– he told Baba that, ‘No I cannot do this’.

Perhaps it should be made clear that this sadhaka was one important margii
of those early days, who was initiated prior to 1955. In our AM society
that sadhaka receives a lot of respect.

So here follows that fateful part of the story where this sadhaka
outrightly rejects Baba’s important request.

“Baba was sitting in the tiger’s grave in Jamalpur…. Haraprasad Haldar
(commonly known as Hara da, the father-in-law of Kinshuk) was with Him.
There was also another person whose name was not known. Baba was discussing
something with them. Baba then suddenly asked Hara da if he would like to
experience death. Hara da was afraid and refused… Baba said to him that
he had nothing to fear and that he would be brought back to life. Still he
did not agree.”

Thus in gracious mood Baba is giving this sadhaka the extraordinary
opportunity to comply with one great work. And Baba goes so far as to give
full assurance & guarantee that all would be well. That 100% of His grace
would be with him and the outcome would be auspicious. But still that
respected Jamalpur era sadhaka refused Baba.

But because Baba had a strong determination to execute His dharmic task so
He did this work by the following way. The story continues like this.

“Then Baba called a person walking past the tiger’s grave wearing
Territorial Army uniform. He was a Bojpuri speaking person and Baba spoke
to him in that language. Baba asked him to sit near the grave on the
ground. He assumed special mudra (posture) with His hands. Suddenly that
soldier collapsed on the ground. Baba asked Hara da to check his pulse.
Hara da found that he was dead. Baba said that He was bringing a Vidhehi
Atma or a body-less mind into that body…”

Then after the great work of dharma was complete then Baba restored perfect
health and life back into the soldier’s body. The story continues:

“He [Baba] then ordered the soldier to return to his own body. In a while
there was again some movement in that dead body. A while later he woke up
and sat… [And] after a short while he got up and walked away neither
knowing that he was dead for a while or nor anything about all that had
happened through the medium of his body.”

So this is one story which directly or indirectly guides us to always
comply with the Lord’s wishes. No doubt on the one hand when Parama Purusa
desires then He gets work done by any way or any method. And that time Baba
was forced into such a situation because that Jamalpur era sadhaka was not
willing to cooperate.

But we should pay heed to the inner sense and spirit behind all of this–
namely that that devotees should be ever-ready to respond to the Cosmic
call of the Lord.

SOME OF BABA’S RELEVANT TEACHINGS

And these following teachings of Baba lead in that very direction– that
the best devotees are always ready to toss aside their unit desires and do
anything and everything to please Parama Purusa, to satisfy His every
request and comply with His every wish.

Baba says, “What should be the nature of one’s love for Parama Purus’a?….
those who are A-grade devotees will say, “We will establish a loving
relationship with Parama Purus’a not so that we can derive pleasure from
it, but rather so that He will be pleased thereby. Whether I get pleasure
or not is immaterial.” (SS-11)

Then comes the famous story how the devotees of Vrindaban were ready to
sacrifice their everything for the Lord.

Baba continues, “There is a story that once Lord Krs’n’a fell seriously
ill. Various medicines were administered, but the disease could not be
cured. Many physicians were consulted but no one could diagnose the
disease. Finally Lord Krs’n’a Himself was asked, “What is the medicine for
this disease?” He replied, “See here, if any of my true devotees agrees to
give the dust particles of his feet, only that will cure my disease.” Then
the sage Narada made a frantic search throughout the world to find such a
true devotee, but as was expected, nowhere could such a devotee be found.
Whomever Narada approached was shocked to hear such a proposal and
protested, “How can we give the dust particles of our feet to the Lord?
That would be the highest blasphemy, and for that we would be doomed into
the lowest hell!” No such devotee as Lord Krs’n’a had suggested was to be
found anywhere.”

“At long last Narada went to Brajabhu’mi, and there he explained the
situation to the people. No sooner had they heard the news of Lord
Krs’n’a’s illness than they cried out in chorus, “Alright, we are ready to
give our foot-dust for our Lord!” Flabbergasted, Narada asked them, “How
can you say this? If your foot-dust is smeared on the forehead of the
Lord, will you not incur great sin thereby?” The Brajabhu’mi replied
unhesitatingly, “Perhaps we may incur sin thereby, and we are ready to
enter hell for that. But if the dust-particles of our feet can cure our
beloved Lord, that would be wonderful.” This is the epitome of devotion,
and to please Parama Purus’a we must develop this type of exclusive
devotion.” (SS-11)

And here below Baba furthermore guides us that the greatest devotees live
their lives with one goal in mind– to serve and please Parama Purusa.

Baba says, “The devotees with [the highest type of] kevala’ bhakti in their
hearts do not ask Parama Purus’a for anything…the devotee says, “I serve
Him, I worship Him, because I want Him to get bliss from my devotion or
service or worship. I don’t want anything for myself. I want Him to enjoy
the bliss.” This type of devotion is called ra’ga’tmika’ bhakti, and the
type of devotee having this sort of non-attributional devotion is called a
gopa…. ‘A gopa is one who gives pleasure to Parama Purus’a, one whose
very nature is to give pleasure to Parama Purus’a’.”

And there are so many guidelines leading in that direction that one should
be ever- ready to always do anything and everything for Parama Purusa.

STORY #3: SOLDIER STORY REVISITED

But unfortunately the sadhaka from that early Jamalpur era acted in such a
way that runs contrary to the spirit of what a true devotee should do.

Here again is that story where the sadhaka rejected Baba’s request.

“Baba was sitting in the tiger’s grave in Jamalpur…. Haraprasad
Haldar (commonly known as Hara da -father-in-law of Kinshuk) was with Him.
There was also another person whose name was not known. Baba was discussing
something with them. He then suddenly asked Hara da if he would like to
experience death. Hara da was afraid and refused… Baba said to him that
he had nothing to fear and that he would be brought back to life. Still he
did not agree.”

“Then Baba called a person walking past the tiger’s grave wearing
Territorial Army uniform. He was a Bojpuri speaking person and Baba spoke
to him in that language. Baba asked him to sit near the grave on the
ground. He assumed special mudra (posture) with His hands. Suddenly that
soldier collapsed on the ground. Baba asked Hara da to check his pulse.
Hara da found that he was dead. Baba said that He was bringing a Vidhehi
Atma or a body-less mind into that body…”

“He [Baba] then ordered the soldier to return to his own body. In while
there was again some movement in that dead body. A while latter he woke up
and sat… [And] After a short while he got up and walked away neither
knowing that he was dead for a while or nor anything about all that had
happened through the medium of his body.”

A TIME FOR REFLECTION

So these are some incidents from that Jamalpur era which speak about how
some of those sadhakas behaved.

At the same time, we should always remember that those who are fortunate &
blessed, those devotees are always ready to follow the command of Parama
Purusa. They have no personal desire rather they think that the desire of
Parama Purusa is everything.
Parama Pita’ Baba Ki– Jai!!!

Namaskar,
Rambabu

NOTE 1: ABOUT SOCIAL PRESTIGE AND RESPECT

If people receive respect in the social sphere then that is one matter.
But unfortunately often enough common people due to their own innocence and
naïveté, they mix up social status with spiritual or devotional
realisation. They confuse these two things. They think that ‘he or she was
this relation to Baba’, or ‘that way he was close to Him, or ‘during that
time he was GS or PA or xyz, & that is why he is great’. So in their
simplicity people confuse that such social post or position automatically
means that that person is a great devotee also. But this is not the case.

For example, if we look into the history of the Mahabharata days then we
see that the Pandavas had huge social status whereas many devotees of
Vrindaban did not have such social prestige. But those Gopis had more
devotion than the royal Pandavas. Baba reveals this very concept in not one
or two but in several Prabhat Samgiita. In contrast, Baba hardly composed
any songs related with the greatness of the Pandavas in the devotional
sphere.

By all this it is clear that social post has no bearing on the height or
level of one’s devotion.

Note 2: BABA’S ETERNAL TEACHINGS ON BHAKTI

These following quotes all lead in the same direction. That the
highest grade bhaktas base their entire existence on giving pleasure to
Parama Purusa.

Baba says, “The final stage of bhakti develops in a spiritual aspirant. And
what is that bhakti? What is that devotion? It is ra’ga’tmika’ bhakti. “O
God, O Na’ra’yan’a, O Krs’n’a, I love You. Why do I love You? Not for my
own pleasure. I love You because I want to give You pleasure. I want my
love to give You pleasure. That’s why I love You.” (SS-24)

Baba says, “The highest-grade devotees say, “I want all my actions to give
You joy. It’s immaterial whether that brings joy or pain to me, it doesn’t
bother me at all. My only task is to give You joy”. This is called
ra’ga’tmika bhakti and is the devotion of the highest category. One should
possess this type of devotion. “I will do those actions which will make
Parama Purus’a happy, but which may or may not bring joy to me.” Human
beings should act in this way. (DKG)

Baba says, “Only those sa’dhakas are great devotees who do not aim simply
on attaining bliss but work for giving bliss to Para’matma’.” (SS-19)

Baba says, “Bhaktirbhagavato seva’.” “I don’t want anything from You, I
don’t want even to know You, I only want to serve You.” Herein lies the
excellence, as well as the superiority of Bhakti.” (AVM-15)

Baba says, “In the final phase of devotion, the devotee says, “No, no, no.
I love You not because I get pleasure by loving You. I love You because I
want that You should get pleasure by my love. That is, my love is just to
give You pleasure, not to give me pleasure. In order to give You pleasure,
I love You. I want nothing. And I don’t want You — I want that I should be
Yours. I don’t want You — I want that I should be Yours.” (SS-21)

Note 3: STORY #4: ABOUT SOMEONE’S SMOKING HABIT

Naginaji writes,

“In order to prepare the constitution of this Samgha, some disciples
gathered on the 25th December 1954.”

“In the room we spread a blanket on the floor and started deliberating on
the constitution. On one side there was a small wooden bed with cushions on
it. On that bed there was a photograph of Baba in varabhaya mudra, in a
beautiful frame. Shri Pranay Kumar Chatterjee used to stay in this house
and we were under the impression that this was his quarter. Baba had given
demonstrations in the back room of this very same house during the previous
month of November 1954. After some discussion the composition began and
everyone asked me to write. I (Naginaji) started doing so under their
dictation.”

“The writing continued for a long time. At about three in the afternoon I
sought permission to go out for give minutes for a stretch. They sensed my
need and asked whether I (Naginaji) was going out for a smoke. I replied in
the affirmative.”

Naginaji continues,

“As I was about to light my cigarette, Shrii Pranayji who stayed in that
house, took away Baba’s photograph to another room.”

Naginaji furthermore tells,

“I lit the cigarette and after one or two puffs it went out. I tried to
light it again, but meanwhile the last match burned itself out without
lighting the cigarette.”

Naginaji continues,

“Shri Deep Narayanji and myself (Naginaji) started towards Baba’s place.
When we reached there, we found Baba very angry. Just looking at His face
we understood that this was His ‘rudra rupa’ or face of anger. I had never
seen Baba in this mood before. Both of us therefore were frightened.”

“In this state of fear we tried to do pranam, but Baba said in an angry
tone, “Get away”.”

“I was completely abashed.”

Naginaji concluded,

“Baba said in the same angry tone, “Go from here now”.

***************************************
Degraded Acaryas

Baba says, “Unfortunately so many so-called spiritual teachers are
inculcating defective and narrow ideas in the name of spirituality to serve
their own self-interests…These ‘religious merchants’ with their
non-integral outlook– want to divide humanity into different communities.”
(APH-5, p.301-02)

Note: In the above teaching, Baba is indicating and making reference
to those degenerated acaryas who are spreading the poison of groupism in
the minds of margiis.

***************************************

Read Full Post »

Are You Ok Mentally?

Date: 25 Nov 2009 14:34:09 -0000
From: “K Lingappa”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Are You Ok Mentally?

Baba

“A’va’r ki re a’lo elo dhu’lor e dhara’te…” (P.S. #615)

Purport:

O’ human being, behold! Ajana Pathik has come again on this dusty earth.
The flood of effulgence has come. Through the medium of longing, You quench
the thirst of the eyes. Look, the Lord of Effulgence has Himself
come.

All the minds and hearts which were crying in suffering and pain, are
now dancing in joy. Because, He has come. He loves one and all, everyone.
He has come here to remove the suffering, and establish dharma.
Because of His advent, everything changed. The sweet breeze is blowing
full of fragrance. On this dusty earth, Ajana Pathik has come…

== ARE YOU OK MENTALLY? ==

Namaskar,
In this present era, people have so many problems. In the past, the
difficulties confronting humanity were primarily physical in nature, but
now the problems are mostly psychic.

Often innocent people are dealing with matters or circumstances that are
beyond their control – due to the complexity of modern living – and this
invites so many worries and anxieties in the mental stratum. It takes a
heavy toll on the psyche of the common person.

This article deals with this emerging and urgent issue.

BABA’S ASSESSMENT

In His discourse, “The Path of Salvation”, Baba outlines this modern
epidemic of increased psychic problems.

Baba, “If there is no proper adjustment between physical, psychic and
spiritual movements, the psychic side of humans will get unbalanced and
so many new and newer psychic diseases will be created. And this is the
present position of the world. There has been much physical progress,
less spiritual progress, and the psychic structure of humans have lost
their equilibrium – rather their equipoise. And that’s why the modern
society is suffering from so many psychic ailments.” (25 September 1979
DMC, Caracas)

In very straightforward language, Baba states that we are living in an
era where people are burdened by so many psychic diseases due to a
distinct imbalance in their human personality. Materialism has dragged
people into an unhealthy frame of mind wherein spiritual growth is
forgotten and overlooked. In that case the mind falls prey to all kinds
of ailments.

And verily this is what we see when we walk down the street, enter our
schools, look around the workplace, and venture into people’s homes.
Psychic problems abound: Depression, melancholia, anxiety, frustration,
stress and mental tension.

IRONY OF MODERNITY

Here’s the irony of it all: The capitalist methodology has been racing
forward in an attempt to make life easier and the world more livable,
yet the outcome has led to greater psychic stress and mental diseases
than ever before, reports the BBC and other worldwide news agencies.

All the technologies and inventions erased certain physical problems
only to open up a vast net of psychic issues never before imagined. That
is the trouble staring today’s humanity in the face.

Anyone can stand on any street corner in any “modern city” and see that
the populace suffers from mental tension.

Our Ananda Marga has the solution to this most critical problem which
materialists could not foresee.

THE RISE OF MENTAL PROBLEMS

In our modern era of materialism, psychic problems result from so many
everyday experiences and social pitfalls:

1) The economy falls apart, normal citizens lose most of their financial
holdings, maybe even their house, and because in capitalism a person is
judged by their economic wealth – that is their human profile – then
this causes so much psychic doubt, pain, agony and instability. People
did not do anything wrong per se, it was just a meta issue far beyond
their control. To make matters worse, people do not just feel like they
have lost money, they feel as if their entire existence & human
personality has been dealt a severe blow from which they will never
recover. In some cases, financiers have resorted to suicide during this
economic downturn. Such was the magnitude of their psychic pain.

2) Unemployment also creates various psychic ailments, especially
feelings of inferiority and depression. Because a person’s job and
income are so central to “who they are”, when one loses their job they
also lose their mental balance, they suffer from hopelessness and
despair. This is a common and unfortunate phenomenon these days.

So the above represent psychic problems result from societal movements
that are often beyond their control. Then there are everyday issues that
might happen to any individual anytime.

1) If a person’s car breaks down, then this too can create huge mental
tension. In certain modern communities, a car is a person’s only link
with their professional livelihood. Thus when today’s technology is so
complex that most people have no idea how to fix their own car, this can
lead to much stress and anxiety.

2) Likewise if a person accidentally flushes their cell phone down the
toilet or drops it down the steps and it breaks, then their whole
network of social and professional links is finished – gone. They do not
have that info elsewhere nor could they possible memorize all that
information. In that case, a person will feel so much psychic
difficultly. Their entire mental framework will be turned upside-down.

In all these cases and in countless others like them, a person’s psychic
stability is overrun by the materialistic and technological ways of
modernity.

Due to materialism a person’s value is not based on their human quality
but on their material gain, and if that wealth is lost then everything
is lost and the mind spirals downward, out of control.

Due to the capitalistic approach of making this world more manageable
only through material inventions, and when those technological gadgets
like cell phones, twitter, and digital everything can create so much
mental tension, then so many innocent people suffer suffer psychically.

Indeed, in countless ways, the modern social trends are burdening and
blitzing the human mind, resulting in so many psychic diseases,
syndromes and troubles. All are suffering: Young, old, male, female –
everyone who has been gripped by materialism and capitalism in this
modern era.

THE GENDER TOPIC

As bad as materialism and capitalism drain one and all of their psychic
ease, it is even worse for females. In the materialistic schema, females
are objects of enjoyment. That – physical beauty – is their main
stature. In that case, the natural and inevitable process of aging is
not honoured but rather abhorred. No female want to grow old and lose
her beauty. All want to look 20 something forever. But that is an
impossibility. In that case, the natural laws of life themselves lead to
huge angst and tension. A female feels they will be discarded if they
show their age. This is a huge mental burden to carry.

LIFE IS BEYOND ONE’S CONTROL

With so much technology and the increase speed of life, so many small
problems snowball into something so large and so ominous that very
quickly life is out of control.

In the past if someone was angry they might throw a rock into the
ground, but nowadays when someone is angry they may blow up a school or
gun down everyone in their airport. So quickly life spins out of control
and those suffering have no solution other than to feel helpless or
victimised.

In the past if a child was lost, the whole community would search for
the child in their local. Now however, a lost child can get quickly
transferred halfway around the world and be gone forever, dragged into
child pornography or prostitution.

The basic theme is that due to the overall magnitude of life these days,
no one has an easy answer at their finger tips. Technology has allowed a
person to do more – that is true – but that same technology has also
given birth to increased feelings of alienation, helplessness,
frustration, and so many other psychic complexes and mental diseases.
All because people feel life is beyond their control and their minds are
goaded toward the physical sphere in search of answers.

THE ROOT CAUSE

From so many angles and perspectives, we can see that modernity weighs
heavy on the human psyche. We can delineate the root cause in two ways.

A) Selfishness: Due to extreme individuality and selfishness, people
care only for themselves and refrain from helping others. This type of
greed and fear for one’s own survival leads their mind to become so
self-centered. A person earns for themselves, feeds themselves, and
watches only for their own welfare. In that case, everyone else is
looked upon as “other” and overlooked. Someone else’s problem are not
your concern.

B) Materialism: When matter is king and the human mind is overlooked,
then that is a direct hit on one’s mental stability. Because no amount
of material wealth can satisfy the human mind; plus if one loses their
wealth then they feel they have lost everything. Physical beauty, money,
and material possessions cannot themselves maintain the human
personality. Yet that is essentially what capitalism preaches.

THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION

According to Baba and Ananda Marga, the ultimate solution is one:
Spirituality.

If one adopts a spiritual outlook in life and feels that Parama Purus is
doing everything and that He is watching for our welfare, then that
offers huge relief. Plus we should feel that we are doing everything for
Him, not for our petty self-interest. Then there is no loss involved. If
something does not work out then it is just His divine liila and side by
side we always feel that He is doing everything for our welfare. Then
all feelings of psychic tension melt. That is what Baba has declared in
so many DMC discourses.

Spirituality alone is the answer. No one should think they should
abandon modern life and go to the jungle. That does not work – rather
that will invite a whole new slew of problems.

Instead with the pursuit of science and technology, one should engage in
maximum sadhana. With that spiritual zeal then one’s psyche will remain
balanced and science will be used for the welfare of others not for
selfish maneuvers which inevitably lead to psychic tension.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace as we do more sadhana then we naturally gain a greater
spiritual outlook in life. Then we feel life is for Him and by His grace
we escape the net of psychic diseases associated with today’s modern
living.

This following Prabhat Samgiita is a very good way to keep in proper flow:

This life is for Him, This mind is for Him,
This soul is for Him;

His universe we will serve in coordinating team;

Light belongs to Him, night belongs to Him,
Might belongs to Him;

Undaunted in smiling face His grace we will sing.

– P.S. 5009

Namaskar,
Karun

Note 1: ABOUT OUR HUMAN PROGRESS

Baba says, “The only true progress for human beings is spiritual
progress. The wise will, therefore, concern themselves only with the
spiritual sphere. The only concern with the physical and intellectual
spheres will be adjusting the base on which spiritual progress will
thrive. While concerning themselves with the adjustment in the physical
and intellectual spheres, the wise should also continue to consume
cruder waves in subtler ones according to the process described above.
The absence of such consumption or transmutation in the physical and
intellectual spheres is bound to lead to retardation. The wise,
remembering that the goal of life is the subtlest goal, will make
efforts to reach supreme blessedness. This is the only way to progress.”
(AFPS-6)

Note 2: MODERNITY AND PSYCHIC DISEASE – FURTHER READING

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/04/not-just-stressed-out.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2008/10/onset-of-disease-human-health.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/06/modernity-spirituality.html

***************************************
Uniqueness of Ta’raka Brahma

Baba says, “A Maha’kaola is one who makes others kaola by his infallible
spiritual guidance. But Ta’raka Brahma is a different Entity, a unique
Entity for He is the spiritual preceptor, social preceptor, Kaola, and
Maha’kaola, all in one. He is also something more: He acts as a compass
in every stratum of society.” (NKS, ’97 Edn, p.50)

***************************************

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How Baba Deals with Hypocrites

Baba teaches us that only those truly great ideas which broaden our minds in 360 degrees should be accepted. Because only then will we understand that we are all one.

Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:23:01 -0000
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: Richard Cross
Subject: How Baba Deals with Hypocrites

Baba

“A’loker ei ja’tra’pathe prabhu tumi saunge theko…” (PS 3396)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, on the path of this journey* of divine effulgence,
please grace me by remaining with me all along. If, while moving ahead on
the path, I stop, then please don’t leave me alone. Baba, keep me along
with You, in Your close proximity.

Baba, since eternity You were with me & You colored me in Your color.
Now, even in these odd hours, please do not forget this very thing: That
You will remain with me all the time.

Baba, at the end of the journey only You are there because You are the
Goal. And according to Your playful liila You go on pulling everyone close
to You by showering Your grace. Baba, due to Your blessing, in sadhana when
my mind becomes ensconced in You and I become drenched in Your divine
nectar then my ‘I-feeling’ gets lost in You, merged in You.**

O’ my dearmost Baba, on this path of forward movement towards You– in
all my duties and practices– please keep me at Your lotus feet. Baba, this
whole entire life is a spiritual journey towards You. Baba, please keep me
in Your divine shelter always…

*Journey= our spiritual way of living such as asana, pranayama, dhyana,
sadhana and all our devotional practices related with Sixteen Points.

**Where one’s unit I-feeling ends then only Parama Purusa is there. Then
one will dissolve or merge into Him. So when a person becomes completely
ensconced in the deepest samadhi, then in the sahasrara cakra one will
taste that divine nectar, and their whole existence will be inundated with
His infinite cosmic grace.

Note: The Bengali line has been written in phonetic spelling, according to
the way in which it is spoken and sung.

== HOW BABA DEALS WITH HYPOCRITES ==

Namaskar,
We are aware that in our Marga, straight, clean conduct has far more values
and importance than any other quality. A classic proof of this is that
during different DMCs, as a Guru Baba graciously treated everyone equally,
whether rich or poor. In the DMC pandal, all margiis irrespective of their
nationality or economic status were sitting on the ground / dusty carpet
inside the pandal. It is not that there was a special air-conditioned
lounge arranged for wealthy people. Never was it like that. Rather all sat
on equal seats before Beloved Baba.

BABA STORY: DEALING WITH ONE HYPOCRITICAL POLITICIAN

When one very important political leader, Guljarilal Nanda’, came to see
Baba, he wanted to desperately to have personal contact. However Baba did
not allow him because his conduct was not at all good. That time that
negative political leader was holding a very important minesterial post in
Central Gov’t of India. And in that capacity he was doing varieties of
nasty activities. But in an attempt to get PC this politician followed Baba
from Delhi to Bombay airport. But Baba refused to give him the time of
day– means he did not get the chance to talk to Baba even. Because Baba
maintains only the strictest standards on dharma based on proper conduct.

BABA STORY: DEALING WITH ONE HYPOCRITICAL CAPITALIST

Another story is coming in my mind. Before ’70, when Ananda Marg was very
small, those days Baba was living in Jamalpur. Then one big capitalist
Hanuman Prasad Poddar came with bundles of millions of rupees to offer to
Baba. He took initiation so he could meet Baba since those days getting
Personal Contact was very easy. In this way this capitalist reached to
Baba’s room. And then and there he offered those bundles of rupees to Baba.
And he was thinking that Baba should give him some blessing so that he
could multiply his crooked business. But by seeing that money, Baba became
furious. And with anger He scolded that capitalist cheater that, ‘Why did
you bring this dirty money?!.

Then in dharmic fashion Baba took the bag and threw it out the window.
Hanuman Prasad Poddar was shocked with astonishment. And he ran outside to
pick up the money from the street, where it had scattered. In the mean time
Baba shut & locked the door from the inside.

SOME REVIEW

So this is the way Baba deals with people– according to their mental
feeling. In other organizations money often plays a significant role. But
in Baba’s personal life, never was it like that. His relation with each and
every margii is totally based on devotion, and devotion alone. And that
devotion is related with the conduct. Without proper conduct, devotion is
not possible.

“UNITY” IN TONGUE ONLY

Similarly we should deal strongly with those who hypocrites who believe in
unity just with the tip of their tongues. Such talk has no value, rather it
belies their low mental colour. But our strong approach we should force the
situation so that their actions– no their tongue– reflect a unified and
dharmic approach.

Therefore those who give high talks about unity but side by side engage in
curtailing margii rights, ruining the Bhukti Pradhan system, distorting
Baba’s discourses, making their groupist tiirthas, infusing the dogma of
Mahaprayan, creating Fake Ananda Vaniis– all such persons are not for
unity, rather they are just groupist exploiters and power mongerers. And
they should be dealt with accordingly.

Of course this hypocrisy is the case with those top-dog leaders of the various
factions and sub-factions who preach high things about oneness but spend all their
24hrs indulged in groupist and dogmatic activities.

We all know who these people are – they are our dear brothers and sisters
who need help. Our duty is to help them and keep our Marga on the straight
path. Falling into groupsim is easy nowadays because “everybody is doing it.”
If one is not in a group it is difficult to survive. That is why unity of
moralists is needed in AM, then all will come forward and work together as
one family, and those few hypocritical group leaders will not have a base of
support. So they will be force to change their ways.

Remember, some think that unity can be achieved by mixing and matching all
the groupist parties together. However, keep such groupist agendas and gluing them
all together is not right. This type of approach has nothing to do with unity. That is
inviting more trouble. It would be the same as trying to from a just government
by picking representatives from various corrupt offices and compiling them all
together. Never will that bring a righteous government. Similarly, pasting
various groupist conspirators together under one roof and having them share
the power is but a mockery of unity. That is why step by step all are abandoning
this idea and instead embracing the view that unity can only be formed by those
sadhakas who practice and preach AM ideology. And that is evident by their conduct.

Thus for real unity, a pure and dharmic mind is essential and that will be
evident by one’s straightforward and righteous actions.

A FEW TEACHINGS ON UNITY

Here following are Baba’s decisive and clear teachings on unity:

Baba says, “All fissiparous tendencies and group or clan philosophies which
tend to create the shackles of narrow-mindedness are in no way connected
with spirituality and should be discouraged.” (PNS-3)

Furthermore Baba teaches us that only those truly great ideas which broaden
our minds in 360 degrees should be accepted. Because only then will we
understand that we are all one.

Baba says, “Spiritual philosophy does not recognize any distinctions and
differentiations unnaturally made between one human being and another, and
stands for universal fraternity.” (APH-2, p. 128)

Unfortunately the actions of groupist is completely contrary to real unity.

Baba says, “One human society is divided into different nations, and one
nation is divided into different religions; religions also have different
castes, and castes also have different sub-castes — what kind of situation
is this? We have only learned how to divide and subdivide humanity, and we
never learned how to unite the people. This is all due to the defective
teachings of dogmas…Dogmas are psycho-physical diseases.” (PNS-9, p.46)

ONE COMMON GOAL

Unity comes only on the point of ideology when mind is moving toward Parama
Purusa– otherwise unity is impossible.

Baba says, “Inner channelisation and one-pointed conversion into
psycho-spiritual pabulum brings about radical changes in individual and
collective life. The psycho-spiritual approach makes a person deeply
introversial, one-directional, strong and dynamic…Such a magnanimous and
devotional mind rises above petty quarrels and inter-personal and
inter-group conflicts.” (PNS-12, p.15)

Baba concludes, “The entire society of A’nanda Ma’rga is founded on a
common ideal, the goal of becoming one with Brahma…the unity in a society
founded on the ideal of Brahma will be everlasting.” (PNS-3)

Namaskar,
Ramendu

*******************************************
WT Conduct Rules

Baba says, “We are all the children of the same Father, we are all the
members of the same family. By fighting against all kinds of evil forces,
we will establish the glory of our Father and the glory of our family.”
(Point #13 of ’14 Points’, WT Conduct Rules)

Note: A few fallen, degenerated, and disgraceful Wts are going astray from
this fundamental rule by spreading the poison of groupism and by creating
division in the society– all of which is completely against neo-humanism.
This is all happening due to greed, lust of power, desire for prestige etc.
Unfortunately such persons are still in the uniform of Wts so we have to
recognise them. As they have tainted the glory of Lord Shrii Shrii
Anandamurtiji by their sinful, power-hungry ways. Indeed by all this they
have destroyed the sanctity & unity of the family.

Note 2: Those who are sincere margiis adhere to this above cited rule since
the spirit of this conduct rule is common to one and all.

*******************************************

Read Full Post »

Unique & Unknown Power of Human Beings

Date: Mon 23 Nov 2009 11:46:24 +0530
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: “Priyanath C Mittra”
Subject: Unique & Unknown Power of Human Beings

Baba

PS Intro: This following song was written in the Urdu language.

“Karata’ra ha’ma’re, tumhare liye yaha’n a’na’…” (P.S. 4165)

Purport:

Baba, O’ my lord, by Your grace I have come on this earth for You.
Baba, whether You love me or not is Your choice, but please do not
play hide and seek with me. Baba, please remain in my close proximity
so I can see and feel Your always. Baba, I also want that You should
love me always. Baba, You are the star of my eye– You are the charm
of my life. Baba, without You my existence is meaningless.

Baba, You are the most attractive and divine Entity– brilliant in Your
divine effulgence. Baba, Your infinite love is expressed in each and
everything of this world: In the flowers’ fragrance, the children’s
smiles, the beauty of the rainbow. All the sweetness comes from You. All
the beauty of the entire expressed world–including the flora and
fauna– everything expresses Your love. Baba, You have saturated this
entire creation with Your grace-compassion. Your love resonates within
each and every thing. The inherent beauty of every entity is the
expression of Your love, the reflection of Your love.

Baba, whether I like it or not, but I am residing in Your heart. I am
within You. Baba, You are the nucleus of this entire creation. My
everything is revolving around You. I do not know which form You are but
the entire universe is within You. Baba, You are surrounding everything.
You are within and without each and every created being. Baba, You are
my Lord; You are my everything. And my only duty is to serve You, to
please You– and do all those things which You like. Baba, You are my
ultimate Goal.

Baba, my Lord, You have brought me on this earth for You– to serve You…

Note: The Urdu language originally started around Delhi when outside or
overseas soldiers were not aware how to speak Hindi. But they were going
to the market and speaking in their broken version of the local
language. In this way they started interacting with the common people.
Subsequently, the Urdu language first sprang up and it became known as
the market language. So when Hindi and Arabic were mixed then this new
language took shape. And since this language was spoken by a group of
soldiers using a military uniform (wardi), that is why the name of the
language became known as ‘wardi’. Over time and due to a similarity in
pronunciation, ‘wardi’ became ‘Urdu’. This historical and linguistic
guideline Baba has given in His grammar book.

== UNIQUE & UNKNOWN POWER OF HUMAN BEINGS ==

Namaskar,
As Baba tells us, human beings are born with a very special capacity,
but most of the time that special capacity goes unnoticed or even misused.

This capacity allows us full control over our future, yet so often
things go awry.

All because this unique and unknown power which we have, we are not
aware about or unable to use properly.

Just imagine, the greatness all human beings can achieve – and how many
pains and troubles can be averted – if we become more aware about this
innate gift.

JUST ANIMALS, NOTHING MORE

In our western hemisphere, what to speak of not being aware of what
human capacity we have, all too often researchers and scientists are
keen on labeling human beings as beings just animals – nothing more than
a cousin of monkeys and chimpanzees. This only further diminishes our
stature and keeps our unknown capacity even more hidden.

WHAT IS OUR UNKNOWN POWER

Of course, in the eyes of Ananda Marga, human beings are completely
distinct from animals and what distinguishes us from animals is: Free will.

Parama Purusa has given us free will – the power to think, choose, and
decide.

Baba says, “Human beings have a fully-reflected consciousness which makes
them capable of independent action and also of distinguishing between good
and bad.” (AMEP)

And indeed it is our capacity of free will which is our unique and
unknown power. With our free will, we can control our destiny entirely.

Yet in one discourse, Baba has famously declared that 99% of human
beings misuse their free will and invite negative samskaras.

But it does not have to be like that. We can avert all these problems.
This free will can also lead us unto His divine lap.

Thus this concept of free will is like a double edged sword – it can
lead us to the heights of bliss or the depths of hell. It all depends
upon how it is used.

HOW IT WORKS

In so many discourses, Baba guides us that human beings get whatever
they desire. Being the Parama Purusa, He merely nods His approval and
grants our wish.

Of course He is goading us onto the path of beatitude, but ultimately He
give us whatever things we wish for. This in turn totally affects not
only our present but our future as well.

Baba says, “Suppose a person is obsessed with the thought of doing this
or that, to harm another person. They will receive the body of a pig or
a dog. One who desires to do something good and noble will receive a
good physical body accordingly. ” (AV-10, p.182)

Thus whatever good or bad things we desire in this life affect our next
birth also. Here below Baba gives even more examples of this phenomenon.

Baba says, “Suppose someone has a desire to eat delicious food. Parama
Purus’a will grant that wish, and the person may be reborn in the next
life as a wolf or wild boar, to eat to his or her heart’s content. A
woman who wishes to adorn herself with ornaments may be reborn as a
colourfully-marked peacock. One day, however, a hunter may shoot the
beautiful peacock with an arrow. As one desires, so one attains…So
before wishing to attain something, one must be extra-cautious. Suppose
a man wants to be a king. In the next life he may be born into the
household of a poor man whose surname is “Raja” [“King”]. He wanted to
be a Raja and he became one! One must be very cautious before wishing
for anything.” (AV-4)

Thus the blessing which Baba has bestowed upon us – i.e. the gift of
free will – is a double edged sword. If we desire Him we will get Him.
But tragically, all too often human beings are not aware how powerful
their desires are nor where those desires will lead them. In our
shortsighted manner, we humans long for so many things – house, car,
money, name, fame, job, prestige, opposite sex – which bind us more and
more to the crust of this earth.

Indeed, we think we want those things but when we undergo the reaction
to get those things, then our fickle minds have already flip-flopped and
we get stuck with something we no longer want. Such is the way it works.

NEGATIVE PRATISAINCARA ONLY HAPPENS TO HUMANS

Animals are animals and follow their nature – they never get degraded
and slowly move along the path of pratisaincara. In contrast, with our
free will, human beings may rocket ahead toward Him by His grace, or
fall back into the depths of animal life or even be reborn as inanimate
objects.

Baba says, “A human being in this life may well be reborn as an animal,
plant or even a rock in the next life.” (AFPS-8)

It is due to free will that we may get caught up in negative
pratisaincara. No other beings falls in this way – only humans. We get a
body according to our psychic tendency. Here below Baba explains that
quite graphically.

Baba says, “Which animal is the greediest among the animals with which
we are all very familiar? It does not like to give up greed in spite of
ill treatment and humiliations. It is the cat. Yes, after moving a few
steps ahead, the cat forgets that it was beaten. So that particular
person is reborn as a cat after death, because that body affords an
opportunity for the satiation of their greed. When the housewife looks
around inattentively, the cat sneaks into the kitchen through the small
opening in order to reach the milk or fish in the kitchen.” (AV-10, p.184)

So the progress of living beings is quite plotted until one attains the
human framework. Then, depending upon one’s use of their free will and
the nature of one’s desires, a person may bounce between human and
animal life hundreds and thousands of times, or more. As Baba tells
above, one may be reborn as a cat in order to fulfill their greed. All
because when in human form one does not exercise their free will
properly. They mental desires revolve around crude things. Yet, most of
the time people are not aware of the ramifications of this, nor are they
aware that they are fully in control of their own fate.

When in fact by their free will they are either (a) making an original
action or (b) undergoing the reaction of their past action. Every event
and incident in life is either one or the other. And both of
inextricably linked to our use of free will. There is no other outside
agency other than our free will that determines our fate in life. We
have our desire and Parama Purusa approves it. That is how it goes.

WHAT SHOULD ONE DO

At this point the whole escapade may seem like unwinable situation.
Human beings have so many desires and at the same time one is not aware
about how powerful free will is, so end over end one somersaults time
and again from one life to the next, suffering all the pains and agonies
of crude worldly life.

One rushes after wealth, sexual satisfaction, revenge, greed and so many
things and accordingly one gets another crude body or even worse
inanimate existence.

However it does not have to be like this.

By Baba’s grace, there is an easy exit. There is an easy escape route
from this harsh cycle of karma and karmaphala. He has blessed us with
human life and given us an aspiration for the divine. With our free will
then we should just think and ask for parama’rtha.

Baba says, “Parama’rtha is that factor which brings about the permanent
cessation of the triple afflictions. Here permanent cessation means
cessation of those afflictions which, once removed, will never return
again in the future. That artha which brings permanent relief from the
pangs of hunger, which is the instrument of permanent cessation, is
called “parama’rtha”.” (AV-4)

By desiring salvation, even a notorious sinner like the robber Valmiki
can become a great saint. So when ordinary human beings seek paramartha
then naturally they will be blessed and escape this horrible cycle of
birth, death, and rebirth, which leads to so much suffering and unrest.
By His grace, one will walk this earth as the divine embodiment of
Parama Purusa.

That is the proper use of free will – that is the proper use of our
unique and unknown power.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace, He has also given us one other remedy. There is one
other escape. Suppose one does not have any concept of parama’rtha or
anything like that. And suppose one does not know how to use their free
will correctly. Even then an ordinary person can achieve the highest
stance. The way is to simply tell Baba to do according to His wish. With
Him being the Sadguru, one should merely request, “Let your desire be
fulfilled.” That is the essence of His below blessing.

Baba says, “Created beings, will have to move according to the Cosmic
will; there is no other way. Learning, intellect and personal status
become meaningless [and will goad one into bondaage] unless they are
directed towards Parama Purus’a. After realizing the Supreme truth
intelligent people start moving according to Parama Purus’a’s desire,
saying, “Oh Parama Purus’a. I have nothing to ask of you. Let thy will
be fulfilled. I want nothing else.”” (AMIWL-10)

Namaskar,
Priyanath

Note 1: MORE POSTINGS ON TOPIC OF FREE WILL

 

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/07/boon-or-curse-depending.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2007/10/one-of-great-characters-of-mahavishva.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2007/06/cowardice-excuse-of-karma-theory.html

**************************************
For Avadhutas/ikas and NE Indian Population

Baba says, “Married ladies may use vermilion in shape of decoration.
This does not constitute a kusam’ska’ra. This forms a part of the dress.
Vermilion, if one so desires may not be used at all. In ancient Shavara
and Kira’ta societies, the bridegroom’s party would first launch an
attack and abduct the bride. The bride also sustained injuries in the
turmoil that would ensue. They would handcuff the bride and snatch her
away. The iron bracelets (noya’) are their remnants and the vermilion
that of the blood. The sha’stras do not anywhere give any place to
vermilion.”

“Lead sindu’r is prepared with a mixture of lead and oxygen. This leaves
room for lead poisoning. Vermilion is mercuric sulphide. It is said that
mercury maintains blackness of the hair. This is incredible. At time
dermatitis of the scalp occurs on the vermilion applied areas. With the
advancement of science the use of vermilion shall gradually come to an
end.” (Tattvika Diipika – 5)

Note: Regarding the use of vermilion, everyone should be aware that it
is dangerous. If one must use that type of colour, then best is to find
a different type of red mark. Some avadhutas / avadhutikas might be
using vermilion in which case they should find some safe substitutes or
alternatives. One good options might be food colouring.

Secondly, for females although vermilion is not a kusamskar, that is not
something one should copntinue. It is better to give it up slowly.
Earlier it was a serious dogma and now it is used primarily for cosmetic
beauty or social needs etc. But according to logic and reasoning the use
of vermilion has lost its value.

**************************************

Read Full Post »

Pran’ipa’ta

To: AM-GLOBAL
From:
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 – 0000
Subject: Pran’ipa’ta

BABA

“Eso tumi a’ma’r ghare, baso hiya’r a’sane…” (P.S. 906)

Purport:

O’ my dearmost Baba, please come to my humble abode and sit in the inner
core of my heart. For ages and ages, I have been longing for You. Baba, in
one lonely place in my mind I have prepared a thousand petal lotus for You
to sit– and I have decorated it with the love of my heart.

Baba, by Your grace for such a long time I have been coming and going
onto this dusty earth. In Your system of brahmacakra there is no leisure
time for taking rest– because those who have come they will have to go,
and those who have gone they will have to come. So there is no period of
rest in Your ongoing cycle of brahmacakra. Always one is either coming or
going.

Baba, by Your grace, in one golden dawn, my spiritual journey started–
in my mind, in my mind. Baba, while moving towards You on this spiritual
path, from time to time I go astray and I lose the way. I am incapable of
walking properly, & that is why I go off the path. Please forgive me; and
please bless me by showering a wee-bit of Your cosmic grace & bring me back
onto the right path.

Baba, please come in my heart. In my Guru cakra I have prepared a
one-thousand petal lotus for You in my mind. Please grace me by coming…

== PRAN’IPA’TA ==

Namaskar,
We all know that spiritual sadhana is the special practice where, by His
grace, we can attain Him. And one key ingredient for successful sadhana is
generating the feeling of self-surrender. Indeed Baba Himself guides us
that this feeling of surrender is the starting point and highly significant
feature for moving along the path of spirituality.

Baba says, “The moment sa’dhakas start spiritual practice they must
surrender…This surrender is the most important aspect of spiritual
practice.” (SS-7)

By this way anyone can see that surrender plays a huge role in spiritual
life. Here following are more of Baba’s special teachings on surrender–
also known as pran’ipa’ta.

MUST SURRENDER EVERYTHING

In His below guideline Baba reveals what exactly we are to surrender.
Specifically Baba directs us that we are to surrender our entire
‘I-feeling’ unto Him. That is what surrender means in the field of
spirituality. And by this way by His grace we can realise that state of
Supreme bliss.

Baba says, “If you want to attain the bliss of Brahma, you must offer your
own self. If you want to have the Great ‘I’, you must give away your own
little ‘I’. You have to give the full sixteen a’nna’s, (the full rupee).
Giving fifteen a’nna’s and holding back one a’nna’ will not do. You must
completely surrender. To attain that Infinite One you have to surrender
yourselves…That is why I say that you will have to dedicate yourselves to
His feet wholly and unreservedly. You will earn godliness in proportion to
the extent that you surrender yourselves, and finally, after merging that
acquired godliness of yours in His Entity, you will attain eternal bliss.”
(SS-3)

So surrendering partially will not do; rather our entire existential
‘I-feeling’ is to be offered at the alter of the Supreme.

SURRENDER IS THE BEST WAY TO GET HIM

Here following Baba explicate tells us that surrender is the most effective
way to become one with Parama Purusa.

Baba says, “And what is the best method of making the mind move towards
Parama Purus’a? Complete surrender to Him is the best method. Hence
surrender yourself completely with all your faculties and propensities
before the Supreme Being; offer your entire self to Him. This is
pran’ipa’ta.” (AV-20)

As Baba highlights above, surrendering to God is pran’ipa’ta and that is
the best way to advance in the spiritual realm.

ONE SPECIAL WAY TO SURRENDER

Here again Baba reveals one of the special practices of pran’ipa’ta or
surrender.

Baba says, “Pran’ipa’ta means surrendering oneself before one’s Goal
[Baba]. The attitude of self-surrender is represented by
sa’s’t’aunga-pran’a’ma, which means to lie flat in a straight line like a
rod.” (SS-18)

So when we do our sastaunga pranam mudra then by His grace that invariably
propels us towards Parama Purusa. Because this mudra helps us cultivate
that special feeling of surrender. So by sincerely doing sastaunga pranam
then by Baba’s grace we feel that strong desire to surrender everything at
His lotus feet.

SASTAUNGA PRANAM:
DONE BEFORE & AFTER MEDITATION

Thus when surrender itself is such an important component of our spiritual
life and when sastaunga pranam is the act of surrendering, then we should
be sure to do sastaunga pranama before and after our meditation. Because
lying in full prostration to Baba helps develop the desire to serve and
please Him in all the realms of life. And in particular it helps generate a
good devotional flow for meditation. So this is one good approach:
Sastaunga pranam should be done before and after meditation. And certainly
most in our Marga follow this system.

NOT DONE HASTILY

To be an effective tool or medium of spiritual life, sastaunga pranam must
be practiced with sincerity and heart-felt feeling. That is essential and
is one boon for our spiritual existence. Unfortunately sometimes we that
that people are just in a rush to conclude their puja etc, and by this way
they just end up doing sastaunga pranam in a quick, superficial manner.
They just mechanically lie down for a few seconds and then get up without
feeling any sense of bhava or inner feeling. So that is not good.

When doing sastaunga pranam we should feel some longing or inner devotional
pull. We should get the distinct desire to dedicate everything at His feet.
And so long as this devotional feeling of surrender does not come, then one
should remain in that position of surrender and ask Baba to grace them.
So the sincere practice of sastaunga pranam is very helpful. Because
surrender is the first step and surrender is that last. And, by His grace,
when one surrenders fully then that devotee becomes one with Parama Purusa.

NOT KNOWN IN THE WEST

Unfortunately in the western philosophy the devotional concept of
pran’ipa’ta does not exist. So for lack of a better term the word
‘surrender’ has been selected– adopted. But that is just an adaptation.
Because the real meaning of surrender in the materialistic west is when one
thief and gets caught by the authorities. In that desperate moment he
“surrenders”. So this crude use of the ‘surrender’ devotional term is not
at all understood by the general western society.

In true devotional, very deep relation then surrender comes out of very
deep love. When there is extreme love and trust, then surrender comes– not
with fear. That is true surrender.

SURRENDER MEANS DEVOTION
&
DEVOTION MEANS SURRENDER

Baba says, “Pra — ni — pat + ghain = pran’ipa’ta. Pran’ipa’ta means to
offer oneself at the divine feet of Parama Purus’a. Pran’ipa’ta is also
known as bhakti.” (DKG)

Baba says, “Devotion means unconditional self-surrender. The measure of
devotion is the amount of this self-surrender. One who has more of it, is a
greater devotee than one who has less of it.” (AV-31)

Namaskar,
Parashram

Note 1: WHAT IS OFTEN DONE IN OUR MARGA

Often we hear stories from wts or margiis where they recount how they were
traveling and got into so much trouble or difficulty at the border etc. Or
they might describe another time when they lost all their luggage &
baggage. Or various types of circumstances where it looked like the
situation was totally miserable. Then in that circumstance– when there was
no other recourse– then they call out to Baba to come and save them. In
this way they surrendered themselves unto Him. And by His grace when
normalcy returns they they just return to their old habits etc. So this is
alright, but higher level devotees do not just surrender then in that
difficult period when the odds are against them. That is not the only time
they surrender to Baba. Sincere devotees also surrender unto Him out of
sincere love and devotion for Him. In that loving feeling the flow of
surrender also comes in their lives. So one of the characteristics of
extreme love for Parama Purusa is the feeling of surrender. In that deeply
devotional state they want to give and do everything for their Lord, Shrii
Shrii A’nandamurtiji. Those who realise and experience this are really
fortunate.

Read Full Post »

…Baba is on My Side

Date: Sat 21 Nov 2009 12:15:21 +0530
To: AM-GLOBAL
From: “Pandit_Sudhakar”
Subject: …Baba is on My Side

Baba

“Tumi esechile, mrdu hesechile sudha’ d’ele…” – P.S. 2309

Purport:

Baba, You came and smiled softly and graced me with the showering of
Your divine nectar. Unfortunately, that time I was just engrossed in my
own lustful and crude attachments; I was oblivious of Your divine
presence. Neither did I turn around to look towards You; nor did I talk
with You. That was my pitiful condition.

Baba, keeping my room bolted shut, in that isolated state I was just
secretly involved in thinking about my own greatness. In that crude
state of mind I was constantly hankering for more and more prestige–
for more name and fame. Baba, I was sitting on the shore of the black
river* only involved in my own crude, selfish, and egoistic thoughts.

O’ my dearest One, I did not look towards so You left– but even then
You graced me with Your abundant love. Baba, You are so gracious. In
spite of my not caring about Your arrival because my mind was so crude,
even then You showered so much grace that the whole world is dancing
ceaselessly in Your divine love. Baba, the colorful flowers are
ensconced & swaying in Your loving vibration and they have started
blossoming uncontrollably. It is Your causeless grace.

O’ Baba, You are so magnificent & gracious; You have come and blessed
me with Your divine love– You have saturated my whole existence.
Baba, You are grace personified…

ASTERISK NOTES:

* ‘Shore of the black river’ [krs’n’a’ nadiir ku’le]= This represents
that dark, negative, or degenerated state of mind where one’s mind is
dominated by all kinds of crude thoughts and desires. Thus when the mind
is very low and one is just hankering for prestige, and singing about
their own glory, and they want that others should praise them;– Such
persons are degenerated. Their mind is in the lower kosa. And they do
not want to listen to anything other than the tales of their own
greatness. This is what it means by sitting by the shore of the black
river.

== IN THIS FIGHT, BABA IS ON MY SIDE ==

Note: An important audio file that is highly related with this topic has
been uploaded to the AM-GLOBAL Blog:

(Reference the sound file on the left column titled, “Baba is on my side”.)

Namaskar,
At present, our Marga is gripped in the throes of groupism – huge clash
has been going on for years.

Both parties are thinking that, “Baba is on my side and that I will be
victorious”, and in that way they continue their fight.

Yet in His teaching from Purnea DMC (1971), Baba clearly warns that if
one engages in such crude battles for post and power then it means they
have fallen away from ideology, in which case they will lose Ista also.

That is the very real concern that all in our Marga should consider,
especially those of our brothers and sisters involved in the factional
fighting.

Everyone in AM loves Baba, but in this era of group clash we should all
take a moment to reflect on how far we are truly serving Ista and
adarsha, or giving way to factional interest.

BABA’S EXPLICIT TEACHING

At Purnea DMC in 1971, by His grace, Baba issued a dramatic teaching
that is highly applicable to the state of affairs these days in AMPS.
The original Hindi sound file from that Purnea DMC has been uploaded to
our blog. (Reference the sound file on the left column titled, “Baba is on my side”.)

Baba says, “About thirty-five years ago [in 1936], a war was going on
between two countries, the citizens of which have the same religion
(Buddhist). When the soldiers went to war, their mothers used to pray to
Lord Buddha to save the lives of their respective sons. What will Lord
Buddha do? Save this man or that man? Both have the same “Is’t’a,” but
both parties have totally forgotten their ideology. If they were
established in the ideology, they would not have gone to war.” (SE)

In the above teaching, Baba is clearly stating that both Buddhist groups
lost their ideology. The proof being that the two camps went to war with
each other for their own petty gains – each praying to Buddha to gain
victory over the other. Thus, despite being followers of the same ista,
they began fighting for their own selfish agendas instead of following
the high ideals of Buddha.

Sound familiar?

What Baba has recounted in His above Purnea DMC teaching from 1971is
highly applicable to what is going on in our AMPS these days. All the
various camps in our Marga share the same Ista, but they have gone to
war with one another for their personal gain – thereby losing AM
ideology. That is Baba’s explicit teaching. Because instead of adhering
to the neo-humanistic principles of Ananda Marga adarsha, such groups
have been swallowed up by their own groupist tactics – the race for
name, face, post, power & prestige.

Just as those Buddhist parties were praying to Buddha for their own
victory, nowadays in AMPS the various camps also believe “Baba is on my
side and therefore my camp shall be victorious”. But when any party
strays from AM ideology, then how can such a party gain Baba’s favour.
They cannot. Rather they are doomed to their own destiny.

Toady’s fight is 100% about groupism and has nothing to do with
ideology. They are fighting over land, resources, post, power, money,
jagrtis, buildings. Their fight is cent-per-cent selfish. There is no
higher ideal in mind.

Due to their rigid adherence to their groupist battle plan – and not AM
adarsha – they have also forgotten Ista. Because when one’s mind is
involved in self, self and self in the form of power and prestige, then
it is impossible to think of serving Ista. That is the stark irony of
today’s groupist battles. They justify to themselves and others that,
“Baba is on my side”, yet the tragedy is they have left AM ideology and
drifted from Him entirely.

That is the very sad and unfortunate state of affairs going on now in
our AMPS. I have deep love and respect for all in AM. Everyone has come
out of love for Baba. That is why it is so difficult to watch what is
going on now. Today is not the time to blame, but to awaken, realise,
and march side by side holding the flag of ideology.

What Baba warned us about in 1971 with those two Buddhist camps has now
become a living reality in 2009 in our Marga. The current clash in AM
has nothing to do with ideology and everything to do with factional
power. Indeed this has been the running theme of our AMPS in this post
1990 era. Let us hope that things change soon by His grace.

WAS NOT ALWAYS LIKE THIS

We must recall that life in our Marga was not always like this.

Rather, in the past, all our struggles with outside elements were for
the establishment of AM ideology. By Baba’s grace we fought and were
victorious over communists, Hindu fundamentalists, capitalists, and so
many other negative parties. But our fight with them was not at all
personal, it was for the spread of Baba’s teachings: AM ideology. Thus
each struggle and subsequent victory led to the great establishment of
the Marga – the establishment of universal dharma.

However, there is not a shred of ideology or welfare in today’s group
clash. There is not an ounce of dharma involved. Rather, day by day
ideology is on the wane as the flag of groupism reigns. This terrible
state spells the destruction of AM, if we are not careful and allow it
to continue.

THE MANIFESTATION OF CLASH

Today’s group clash has been marked by killings, beatings, distortions,
thievery and the fight for resources and land. Avadhutas like
Abhipremannda have been killed – others have been maimed – jagritis have
been destroyed – and Ananda Marga has turned into a war zone. So much
destruction has occurred.

Yet all the while, the various group camps think that “Baba is on my
side and soon we will get victory.” This is their contorted outlook. In
their heart they think it is true.

But now, by His grace we know what is true. Just as Baba points out how
the fight between the two Buddhist factions represented the demise of
ideology, we are witnessing the same misfortune nowadays in AM. The
group clash itself means the loss of ideology, and subsequently the loss
of ista as well. In that case the outcome of such groupist fighting is
beyond bleak.

Baba says, “Suppose somebody has no ideology in his life and for a
moment forgets his “Is’t’a”, he will degrade. So the wise man will
always remember that he has to follow the ideology and more important,
the “Is’t’a”.” (SE)

Let us no longer think of such dark outcomes. Now is the day to once
again keep the banner of AM ideology flying high and end all groupist
squabbles.

ALL ARE BROTHERS AND SISTERS

Please understand that this letter is not an attempt to condemn any
person or any party. Ours is a neo-humanistic mission and all are my own
brothers and sisters. I do not want to see either side win or lose – nor
blame anyone. Only the aim is to watch all come back under the banner of
AM ideology and once again become a follower of Ista.

All in our Marga have feeling for Ista and it is a shame that the clouds
of confusion have caused some to drift away. They feel they that they
are doing for Baba, but by the practical expression of their groupist
campaigns, it is plain as day that they have fallen from the path of
neo-humanism. They are thinking of the survival of their group, not
universal welfare.

THIS IS THE MAIN DISEASE

While there are many problems and issues in our Marga, this group clash
is the worst problem. It signifies the loss of ideology. So this is the
biggest issue – the most dangerous disease. For us, this group clash is
cancer. It kills.

In contrast, all those smaller issues and scandals like school
enrollments, press malfunctions, basic money issues etc are
comparatively small things. In comparison to the cancer of group fight
these problems are like cough and cold.

And again it should be repeated: The reason why the present group clash
is cancerous for us is that it represents the loss of ideology. That is
Baba’s clear-cut message. In the face of group power struggles, ideology
is totally forgotten – and along with it Ista as well. Verily, without
adarsha and ista, our Marga is doomed, just inviting destruction.

The most pressing task at the moment then is to end this groupist
conflict. Not by creating a peace proposal and merging the various
camps, but rather by bringing AM ideology to the fore. When that is
done, our Marga will surely survive – and not just that but thrive.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace, the call of dharma is being heard all around. Instead
of getting befooled by group factions that proclaim, “Baba is on my
side”, when in fact their ways are utterly devoid of adarsha and ista,
true Ananda Margiis have set their sight on ideology. By that way, we
will sure to be victorious and build up a bright new Marga, by His grace.

Baba says, ” O human beings! be established in the radiance of divinity
and the splendour of valour and chivalry, because yours is the path of
revolution. Your path is not the path of extra caution and scheduled
movement. You are the traveller of a rugged path. You are travellers of
an impregnable path. You have to march ahead proudly with the flag of
Marga upright. You have no time to stagger or to look behind.” (SS-1)

Namaskar,
Sudhakar

Note: FURTHER READING

For further reading about the nature and root cause of today’s group
clash, please reference these below letters.

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2008/05/belief-baba-is-on-my-side.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2007/06/dreamland-i-follow-dharma-part-ii.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/11/kaurava-pandava-dogma.html

***************************************
Colourful Future

Baba says, “As life becomes increasingly easy, there will be greater
opportunities for intellectual pursuits. A day will come when there will
be hardly any need for human beings to work. This may sound strange
today and perhaps we might not like to hear such a thing, but that day
will surely come. Physicality will be transformed into more and more
intellectuality, and intellectuality will be transformed into the
culminating point of spirituality.” (PNS-17, p.36)

***************************************

Read Full Post »

Its Days Are Numbered

To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: Gaurishankar
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:31:27
Subject: Its Days Are Numbered

BABA

“Ghor timire ruddha ghare ghumucchilum eka’ eka’…” (P.S. 1723)

Purport:

Baba You are so gracious. I was sleeping alone in the pitch dark room
with the doors and windows closed; I was lost in a sea of frustration and
hopelessness. O’ the Divine Entity, who are You who has blessed me by
coming in this isolated place and broken my slumber. O’ Divine One You are
most charming and very sweet.

O’ Effulgence Personified, Divine One, Parama Purusa BABA, my whole
existence has been overcome by drowsiness and sleep since ages & ages. My
life was dominated by staticity. Now with Your infinite compassion in a
flash You have removed that by showering Your cosmic grace. And in place of
that Cimmerian darkness, all around there is Your divine effulgence. Baba,
You have opened the windows of my mind. I can see that You are mine; now
there is no question of frustration in my life.

Baba, now my whole existence is filled with the grace of Your divine
effulgence. There is not even an iota of darkness which remains. My life
has gotten new pra’na– new energy. Baba, by Your grace You have saturated
me with Your unfathomable love and ownness. Baba, You are my everything.
Please accept my surrender…

== ITS DAYS ARE NUMBERED ==

Namaskar,
By now every sadhaka in A’nanda Ma’rga is aware that around this time of
year those in the helm and those leading various groups and sub-groups are
preparing their Fake A’nanda Va’niis. This is the regular phenomenon this
time of year.

TRUE ANANDA VANIIS NOT FROM OTHER DISCOURSES

Many points are there but by reading Centre’s Fake Ananda Vanii one thing
becomes remarkably clear. That Centre’s Fake Ananda Vanii is not an Ananda
Vanii at all. It is a quote. And specifically it is often the concluding
paragraph from a lengthy discourse such as ‘Shivopadesha 8’ (NSS), or
Subhasita Samgraha-1 etc, or another of Baba’s previously given discourses.

But Baba’s true Ananda Vaniis are not quotes from other discourses. They
are unique bullets of inspiration that are discourses unto themselves. Not
particular paragraphs from prior discourses. So for Centre to take a quote
and then apply the title ‘Ananda Vanii’ to it is inappropriate. That is why
what Centre is doing these days is called– Fake Ananda Vaniis. Because
these Fake Ananda Vaniis go against Guru’s guideline and example.

SPECIAL GURU-DISCIPLE RELATION IN TANTRA

And we all know that in Tantra, the Guru-disciple relation is everything.
Of course our beloved Baba Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji is the Sadguru, Taraka
Brahma. So what He has introduced we may or may not understand, but with
our Nistha and Shraddha, with full reverence we should accept His guideline.

Baba says, “Thus highly intelligent sa’dhakas, the greatest realized
persons, all describe the Supreme Entity — Guru Brahma, Ta’raka Brahma —
not as essence but as Sa’ra’tsa’ra, the Quintessence, the Essence of the
essence.

Vandana’ kariba a’mi gurure a’ma’r,
Yini pu’rn’a, yini nitya, yini Sa’ra’tsa’ra.

I shall worship my Guru who is complete in Himself, Who is eternal — the
Essence of all essences.” (NSS p.177)

So in our Ananda Marga when we have such a Guru Who is Brahma Himself, then
His teachings must be safeguarded and preserved.

MUST UPHOLD SANCTITY OF GURU’S TEACHINGS

And as Ananda Margiis we are the ones responsible for maintaining the
sanctity of Guru’s teachings. That means keeping the various things which
Baba has given as they are. Baba’s things should not be disregarded or
changed. And doing so is inappropriate.

For example: Our brahmacariis use a white lungi and a saffron gown and
turban, as given by Baba. So if we were to switch that and have
brahmacariis use a saffron lungi with a white top and a white turban, then
that is not at all good. And I do not think that anyone in our Marga will
appreciate seeing this.

Similarly in our dharmacakra we follow a special system as given by Guru.
But instead, if in dharmacakra we started singing Guru Puja prior to
meditation and then afterwards we sang Samgacchadvam, then that also would
not be good.

Same way everyone is aware that we will not find any discourses in
Subhasita Samgraha that are not DMC discourses. Only Baba’s DMC discourses
are in Subhasita Samgraha, not general darshan discourses. So if the ruling
clan in Centre or one of the groups or sub-groups changes this system of
Baba’s then that is also improper.

Likewise Caryacarya has its own status and Baba has given it that name for
a reason. So if Centre were to change the name of Caryacarya to Ananda
Sutram that could not be accepted.

Nor could it be approved if some persons started celebrating Ananda Purnima
in the month of December instead of the month of May.

FUNDAMENTAL POINT

The sense is this: As Baba had made it, let it be like that.

FAKE VA’NIIS GO AGAINST THE SYSTEM

But tragically, this approach is not being adhered to these days with
respect to the Ananda Vaniis. Baba’s Ananda Vanii system is not being
followed because the various group leaders keeps issuing their Fake Ananda
Vaniis.

The basic point with regard to the issue of Ananda Vanii is that Baba has
given the distinct title “Ananda Vanii” to refer to a certain section of
His teachings. And with love and reverence for Guru, as disciples we should
follow His view and guideline. Therefore we should not issue quotes from
other discourses in the name of Ananda Vanii. Because those quotes belong
in their respective discourses and were never meant to stand alone and be
presented as Ananda Vaniis. That is Baba’s system. So what the various
groups and sub-groups are doing is not correct.

How long these crusty group leaders will try to do like this I do not know;
but in my heart I feel that the days of this Fake Ananda Vanii are surely
limited.

A NEW ERA IS COMING

DOGMA NOT WELCOME ANY MORE

The times have changed. The old days are gone when it was easy to infuse
dogma. Even in the general society dogmas are getting exposed everywhere:
let and right. Church dogmas and social dogmas are getting exposed and
rejected by the people

Similarly now in our Marga sadhakas are alert and are understanding right
and wrong. By following 16 Points and focusing on Baba then uncovering
dogma is an easy job and that is why nearly everyone in our Marga feels in
their heart that the Fake Ananda Vaniis that are created by the various
groups and sub-groups are just something false & improper.

So by adhering to Baba’s guidelines then it becomes easier and easier to
point out various dogmas. Only a few who do not follow lack such courage.
On this point in His chapter on Bio-Psychology, Baba says some very
significant things:

Baba says, “If there is under secretion…such people support dogma and do
not have the courage to speak out against narrow or orthodox beliefs. They
are never able to tolerate or support any new ideas.” (YP p. 93)

But now the situation is changing fast. Those who are regular in doing
asana, pranayama, and dhyan sadhana, their hormonal secretion is getting
balanced and normal.

Result being more and more Margiis and WT’s are firm to not allow any
dogmas to enter into or remain in our AMPS society.

BABA’S TRUE AND BLESSED ANANDA VANII

Here following is one of Baba’s special messages of Ananda Vanii.

Baba says, “Human civilization now faces the final moment of a critical
juncture. The dawn of a glorious new era is on its one side and the
worn-out skeleton of the past on the other. People have to adopt either of
these two. You are the spiritual soldiers, you are the worshipers of Life
Divine, hence I call you to adorn this crimson dawn deluged with glorious
light. Victory is surely yours.” (A’nanda Va’nii #26)
in Him,
Gaurishankar

Note: NEWS: PRACARA GOING ON

In response to the letter, “WHEN HE WAS IN JAIL”:

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/11/baba-story-when-he-was-in-jail.html

we received the following report. Please share your news also.

Namaskar
We all know that news are what we all need to know that the spirit of dharma is moving.
And here is a short and good one:

Tucuman is a province in Argentina. Gaorii’s neigborhood is a little away from downtown, but it doesn’t matter.
In her neighborhod, Gaorii, a female margii who is a trained asanas teacher, began humbly to teach postures in her house with just two attendants. It was a way for prachara, cause she began to hold darmacakras too, though they were for her family plus a couple of friends, only one of them initiated. Her success is as follows: from that only class at her house, she was invited to give classes in another house twice a week, with more practitioners; and she was propounded to open an asanas classroom in one of the shops in the neighborhood. And for the darmacacras there is always at least one teenager, friend of Gaorii’s sons, who is curious about meditation and join the darmacacra, sitting in Gaorii’s living room and repeating the universal mantra with closed eyes. At the end of the session, she reads some Baba’s article about spirituality.
Her paracara is growing, actually. And, in the matter of fact, she is happy, but she does not feel vanity. And she is trying to do more effort, just for the marga to be known in the area.
By His grace, everything will be right and improving..
Namaskar
Devabrata

******************************************
Blow on Human Intellect

Baba says, “They [groupist leaders] concoct various so-called scriptures,
they formulate all kinds of logic. They maintain to the human race that all
the races in this world are not equal. Thus instead of considering the
interest of the entire human society, they give preference to the interest
of a particular community. This loud propaganda in favour of a particular
community, this parading of irrational logic, this sort of fallacious
argument, all combine to stifle the spontaneous growth of human intellect.
This sort of mentality is called dogma.” (AFPS-4, p.61)

Note: Some groupist leaders in our Marga are moving in this same narrow style.

******************************************

Read Full Post »

Mystery in the Field of Devotion

Baba says, "The Cosmological Nave is called Krs'n'a, because He attracts everything. Krs'n'a means "the supreme charmer", "the supreme attracter", who attracts everybody towards Him with the help of His -- what? His supreme flute. That supreme flute is Krs'n'a. He creates universal acoustic waves, and those waves bring people towards Him; that is why He is called Krs'n'a

Date: 19 Nov 2009 06:02:37 -0000
From: “Gregory Hamick”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Mystery in the Field of Devotion

Baba

“A’ka’shabhara’ a’jake ta’ra’…” (P.S. 2523)

Purport:

The sky of this amavasya night is filled with the stars. The sweet
breeze, like nectar, is blowing mildly. The mind is floating from the known
to the unknown world in divine ecstasy– towards its destination. Ensconced
in His ideation, my mind is getting lost.

The lily flower is constantly looking towards the sky; the aroma of
flowers is emanating all around. They have forgotten their awareness about
their own existence. And remain restless in the attraction of one call.

In Your longing I am sitting alone and counting the stars. I understand
that by Your grace I have lost myself in this beautiful atmosphere and the
attraction of Your love. You are ever gracious You are always remaining by
my side and guiding me. Baba, on this amavasya night my heart is yearning
and longing for You…

== MYSTERY IN THE FIELD OF DEVOTION ==

Namaskar,
In His each and every expression and action Baba is goading and guiding our
minds towards a more subtle & deeper understanding– in all the spheres of
life: physical, psychic, & spiritual etc. This every AM sadhaka knows.
Thus when Baba has personally supervised and guided the best artists of
Bengal to create specially hand-crafted, detailed dioramas depicting the
lives of Lord Krsna and Lord Shiva, then we know that those dioramas must
hold great significance and value.

SAME AS THOSE RITUALISTIC SCENES ABOUT LORD KRSNA

One time, however, I was visiting Tiljala and looking at those very
dioramas of Krsna and Shiva in Baba’s special museum room. On that
occasion, some others present were commenting how many of the dioramas
which Baba designed depicting Lord Krsna were of a similar style as those
ritualistic paintings made by dogmatic Hindu communities.

And as we all know, in those ritualistic scenes, the dogmatic Hindus
regularly portray Krsna as a remarkably charming and attractive youth who
lovingly cared for and maintained close and intimate relations with the
young maidens of Vrindaban. Krsna is commonly shown this way in religious
Hindu pictures.

So when Baba’s own approach in His personally designed dioramas about Krsna
is similar in presentation, then that raises some highly intriguing
questions. Please consider the following.

AM SOCIETY: MALES & FEMALES KEEP SEPARATE RELATIONS

In our Ananda Marga, Baba is very strict about male-female relations.
Nearly everything in our Marga is distinguished and divided according to
gender.

First and perhaps foremost is that there is a totally distinct and separate
department in AMPS exclusively for women– i.e. WWD (Women’s Welfare
Department). That stands as one monumental way in which everything on the
organisational plane is done separately between males and females.

Then in our AM education system, all of the instruction imparted after
primary level is done in single-sex classrooms and homogenous learning
institutions. In AM schools, males have other males as their peers and are
taught by male teachers etc. And same is the case for female students.

Plus sadhana instruction in AM is only given from male to male and from
female to female. Dadas handle the initiations of all the brothers; and
Didis teach meditation to all the sisters. Everyone is well aware that Baba
has very carefully instituted this system.

In addition, at our social functions, males and females are not at all
encouraged to intermingle; rather Baba warns us against such practices.
(Ref: CC-1)

Then, at dharmacakra male and females sadhakas sit in different rows and do
their dances separately.

And even in the sphere of Guru-disciple relation, things were carried out
differently with regards to one’s gender. For example, no individual margii
sister or Didi would receive PC (personal contact) by themselves. Rather it
was always done as a small group– with other sisters present. They did not
go into Baba’s room alone for PC. Whereas with brothers that was the
standard program.

So, in general, our entire way of life in AM is divided according to
gender– along male-female lines. That is, each has their special and
distinct role.

And top of all, Baba was extremely strict if that boundary was crossed.
More explicitly, in the unfortunate event that anyone ever engaged in
illicit relations with members of the opposite sex then Baba became
furious. He always dealt very, very seriously with such cases.

So from start to finish, in our Marga males and females each have their own
separate and distinct role. The demarcations between the sexes is very
clear-cut.

POINT OF INTRIGUE

Keeping all of the above in mind it is very curious to think why Baba has
created specially designed dioramas which intricately show Krsna tenderly
communicating with the young maidens of Vrindaban in such an intimate
fashion. That is a point of intrigue. Here is another aspect of the puzzle
to consider.

TRADITIONAL INDIAN SOCIETY: SEPARATE LIVING STYLE

In general, in Indian culture, there is a long history and established
tradition of very dignified and separate relations between males and
females. For hundreds and thousands of years, male-female relations have
been kept quite distinct. The open and free mixing of males and females is
not condoned in traditional Indian society. And if that boundary is
transgressed, then those guilty parties are shunned by the society– until
the matter has been fully rectified.

So male-female relations in traditional Indian village life are very well
delineated. Indeed, even after marrying, all the males of the household
sleep in one separate structure together. And all the females of the house
stay in an entirely different area. So from this view it is clear that the
Indian subcontinent follows a Tantric oriented life– where males and
females honourably live their lives in a separate fashion. Of course all
these rules and guidelines were originally given by Lord Shiva and Lord
Krsna. And in that way the Indian sub-continent grew up according to the
Tantric code.

NOT LIKE IN THE SEX DOMINATED WEST

So traditional Indian life is not at all like in some other places around
the globe such as in certain western areas like GT sector etc where males
and females are openly seen kissing & touching one another on the streets
and gallivanting around town together. In India none of this is at all
acceptable.

POINT OF INTRIGUE #2

All this raises the very interesting question: Why is it that the Divine
Personality whom religious Hindus reverently worship and adore as the
Supreme God incarnate is, time and time again, depicted in such a way–
Where He, i.e. Krsna, is being extremely friendly with and compassionately
attending to the personal needs of the maidens of Vrindaban. And why are
Baba’s own diorama moving along this similar theme. This is a very curious
phenomenon. Especially when in the Indian society and in AM such strict
mandates about the sanctity of male-female relations are in vogue– ie the
separation of the sexes.

ONE DIORAMA: AN IN-DEPTH LOOK

For a more detailed view of this entire situation and discussion, here is a
brief description of but one of Baba’s beautifully designed dioramas about
Lord Krsna’s days in Vrindaban.

In one particular diorama, the young Krsna with his long flowing hair is
shown sitting under a tree in the forest with one leg delicately crossed
over the other knee. The flowers of the forest are in full bloom and Krsna
is elegantly dressed in colourful gowns. He is also wearing a flower
garland around his neck; in His hand He is preparing to play His divine
flute. And His gaze is very intent and focused. In the background there is
a picturesque flowing river and overhead the brilliant sun is shining
brightly. And in that romantic scene, the young Krsna is surrounded by no
less than 10 young, attractive maidens of Vrindaban– all dress in
beautiful saris. They all look as though they are completely enamoured with
the handsome Krsna. Some of the young maidens are standing very close by
looking at Him directly, while others have their eyes closed and just seem
to be treasuring the moment. Two of the maidens are sitting in line with
Krsna, both playing the sitar. And by looking at the whole scene, one thing
seems sure: They all look like they are totally captivated and enamoured by
Krsna’s beauty and charm.

ANOTHER OF BABA’S SPECIALLY DESIGNED DIORAMAS

Then there is another diorama that shows an even more intimate scene. In
this next diorama, there are huge, majestic mountains in the background and
in the foreground the forest is full of flower blossoms. The whole spring
scene is alive: two deer are moving along the forested riverbank; beautiful
swans are swimming about; lotii flowers are in full boom. And right there
in the front & center, at the confluence of two deeply blue rivers, Krsna
and one young maiden, are standing upon one grand floating lotus flower.

Surely the special maiden along with Krsna is none other than Radha. And
the enchanting Krsna is standing in a beautiful pose– with some toes
pointed toward the ground– and He is playing His divine flute. And beside
Him, one young maiden is intimately holding on to Krsna. Her tender cheek
is up against his broad shoulder, and her arms are around his waist and
torso. And her half-closed eyes are looking up towards Krsna. And Krsna
Himself is adorned with flower garlands and He seems to be ‘lost in the
moment’ as He is casting a far away gaze. Altogether the scene is brimming
with love.

So the above representations are but a couple of Baba’s many magnificently
made dioramas about the days of Lord Krsna in Vrindaban. And as is quite
apparent, Baba is openly showing the beautiful Krsna accompanied by the
close companionship of the young maidens of Vrindaban.

BABA HIGHLIGHTED THESE DIORAMAS IN HIS SPECIAL MUSEUM

Here again it should be emphasized that the above described dioramas are
not something which were brought to Baba as a gift. Rather with His own
precious time, Baba imparted explicit and detailed instructions to the most
talented artisans available to specially craft these dioramas. And
throughout the 1980’s, over the course of many months and years, these
remarkable dioramas were made. And each one is beautifully set in a wooden
case and enclosed with glass. And all are displayed in Baba’s specially
allotted museum room– just outside His own personal bedroom. Plus we can
say that the dioramas are the only pieces in Baba’s entire museum which
were made by Him personally. Everything else in the museum is a gift or
requested item from a near or far distant land. Whereas the dioramas He
personally designed. Clearly then Baba has given great importance to this
project. These dioramas are meant to be specially treasured.

POINT OF INTRIGUE #3

Evaluating the entire subject, it becomes more and more interesting why
then Baba has given such tremendous value to these hand-crafted dioramas
when many of the dioramas strikingly present the young Krsna intimately
engaged in the company of the fair maidens. Because we all know that in AM
Baba emphasizes over and over again that there must not be the free mixing
between males and females.

BRINGING THE MATTER TO LIGHT

After leaving Tiljala that time I stayed with various family acaryas who
shared their thoughts with me about this.

They told me that the field of spirituality is something very high and
quite a mystical thing for the common people. Everyone is certainly aware
that sadhana and spiritual life are extremely important– this is well
accepted. But how the height of that spirituality is expressed and what is
the magnitude of sadhana is not commonly known.

TASTING CHOCOLATE: TEACHING FROM KNOWN TO UNKNOWN

Then they said: Suppose you wanted to tell an ordinary citizen from the
west about the sweetness of a particular item such as ghur (molasses). Then
in that case one cannot use rasagolla as a comparison or model. Because
people in the west are not commonly aware about rasagolla. That rasagolla
will not give them any hint or insight that ghur is also wonderfully sweet.
Because both those items– ghur and rasagolla– are unknown to them.
Whereas if one says to those western citizens that ghur is as sweet as
chocolate, then everyone in the west will easily understand that ghur is
something very delicious and tasty. Because all are aware about the special
sweetness and wonderful taste of chocolate.

In that way, the family acaryas explained, that when teaching any person
about a a new subject, then one must always proceed from what they already
know and then proceed to that point which they are not aware about. Then
that will make the matter clear and the topic at hand will become better
understood.

UNVEILING THE DEEP SECRETS OF DEVOTION

Similarly those family acaryas told, that the inner depths and hidden
meaning of sadhana and spirituality are not commonly known. The greatness
and special longing of sadhana and dhyan is mostly an unknown phenomenon.
Thus to unveil this and bring the realm of devotion into the public domain
and to present the intimate wonders of sadhana to a greater number of
people, Baba had to associate spiritual life something that was commonly
known to all.

And from east to west and from north to south, each and every human being
understands about the great attraction between males and females. This
comes within everyone’s realm of understanding. People commonly think that
the male-female attraction or sexual attraction is one of the strongest
forces on this earth. They see it manifest each and every day of their
lives. It is a common sight in the regular society.

In that case, in order to unveil and display the inner secret meaning of
devotional life and dhyana, in order to explain the tremendous magnetic
attraction between bhakta and Bhagavan, Baba has used the well-known
subject of male-female relations. Because everyone understands that the
attraction towards the opposite sex is something very strong.

This analogy or this comparison creates a link that enables people to begin
to understand that deep sadhana is also like this. By this reference, it
can begin to be understood or contemplated by some that when a devotee has
strong love for their Ista then that type of strong magnetic attraction
comes in dhyan. That is one of the inner manifestations of dhyana.

But this type of realisation is not an ordinary point; many cannot grasp
this idea. It is a very high thing that is only known to a few blessed
sadhakas. It is something very great to aspire to– something which is not
even experience by most margiis etc. So without any type of explanation the
large majority of the population could never imagine the inner joy and deep
attraction of sadhana. But by this type of comparison with human sexuality,
then that opens the gateway for some people’s understanding about the
wonders of devotional life.

So without that type of known reference– i.e. without comparing deep
spiritual sadhana with the attractive force between males and females–
then the inner secrets of sadhana would remain something totally far away
and unknown to the human psyche. Whereas through the analogy of the
attraction of the opposite sex, then some people can begin to understand
that in the practice of deep sadhana there is some special feeling and
force of great attraction. But again this is a very high ideal and cannot
be understood by the entire general public etc– or even by regular sadhakas.

REFLECTING FURTHER ON THOSE DIORAMAS

Considering the whole matter, by thinking deeply on the topic then we can
understand that in those dioramas the depiction of Lord Krsna with the
young maidens of Vrindaban is something totally symbolic. Baba is not
espousing the glories of the free-mixing of the sexes but rather He is so
carefully unveiling the inner secrets of devotional life and dhyana.

BABA’S SPECIAL TEACHING ABOUT KRSNA AND RADHA

This following teaching by Baba sheds more light on this entire subject.
Baba says, “The Cosmological Nave is called Krs’n’a, because He attracts
everything. Krs’n’a means “the supreme charmer”, “the supreme attracter”,
who attracts everybody towards Him with the help of His — what? His
supreme flute. That supreme flute is Krs’n’a. He creates universal acoustic
waves, and those waves bring people towards Him; that is why He is called
Krs’n’a. And microcosms come in contact with Krs’n’a with the help of that
particular expression of sentient vidya’ shakti which is known as Ra’dhika’
shakti. And when with the help of Ra’dhika’ shakti the microcosm comes in
contact with the nave Krs’n’a Purus’ottama, then we say it is the union of
Krs’n’a and Ra’dha’. Krs’n’a is not a male being of Vrindavan, and Ra’dha’
is not a lady. You should understand it properly…it is the divine force,
and it is the devotional principle, it is devotion.” (AV-23, p.21)

SUMMARY

About all this there is much more to be said. Certainly many other sadhakas
have their own special insights to share. Suffice to say here then that in
those dioramas which Baba has specially designed, He is most beautifully
teaching one and all about the deep and inner secrets of devotion and
dhyan. From this perspective, that erases any mystery or ambiguity about
why Baba has depicted Krsna that way in His dioramas. Because based on the
current level of human understanding and awareness, that reference was the
best way to begin to teach people about the great intimacy, love, and
attraction that can be had in sadhana and devotional life.

BABA’S BLESSING

Here is Baba’s gracious assurance that in our own personal sadhana we will
all experience the great heights of true devotional love.

Baba says, “You will certainly achieve that supreme stance and enjoy divine
blessedness. You are sure to enjoy it, my sons and my daughters.” (AV-23,
p.76)

Namaskar,
Gurumurti

Note 1: MUNDANE ATTRACTION VERSUS DIVINE LOVE

Here below Baba makes a clear-cut differentiation between mundane
allurement (ka’ma) and true spiritual love (prema).

Baba says, “If one’s attachment is channelised towards any supra-psychic or
spiritual object it may be called ‘prema’ or love’. But love in the
physical and psychic spheres is called `ka’ma’ and not ‘prema’… Ka’ma
means the endeavour to obtain certain things in the physical and psychic
levels. So bhakti and prema are only applicable in the case of Iishvara.
This ever-flowing mental thought-wave channelised towards Iishvara is the
highest human achievement.” (V-7)

Ananda Marga sadhana is about the cultivation of such devotion or such
prema. And by His grace we will all reach this pinnacled point.

Baba says, “Prema is the attraction for Parama Purus’a overcoming the
attraction for all other finite objects. Those who are endowed with such
divine love are bound to receive the grace of Parama Purus’a — they need
not worry about it. If they practise the spiritual cult regularly…Those
who arouse devotion through action and knowledge are certain to attain the
grace of Parama Purus’a.” (SS-18)

*********************************
Food Problems and Their Solution II

Baba says, “In the event of shortages in the food and accommodation of the
population of the world, people will convert uncultivated land into new
arable land, increase the productivity of the soil by scientific methods,
produce food by chemical processes with earth, water and air, and if this
earth decreases in its productivity, then land seeking human beings will
migrate to different planets and satellites and settle there.” (PNS-13, p.45)

*********************************

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Baba Story: When He was in Jail

From: “Gagan”
To: AM-GLOBAL
Subject: Baba Story: When He was in Jail
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:17:25 -0000

Baba

“A’ma’y cha’r’iya’ kotha’ ja’o e nirajane…” (PS 665)

Purport:

Baba, You are my closest One. O’ my Beloved, where are You going in
this isolated, lonely dark night– leaving me all alone. O’ my dearmost
Baba, please do not go away from me. Baba, why are You making me cry so
profusely & letting me float in the tears of my devotional longing for
You. Baba, please smile always in my mind, constantly radiating Your
sweet, divine love. Baba, by Your grace I have loved You so intimately
in dhyan; You know it well. Baba, You are my dearest One. But if You
were really a good person You would not play this heart-breaking liila
with me each and every moment; You would not leave me in this dark hour.

Baba please be merciful; please remain here along with me. Baba, there
are countless devotees with great qualities & talents who love You very
much. Indeed there are numerous persons with top-notch merits & virtues
who have deep longing for You. Because of this, it seems there is no
place for me in Your mind– neither during daytime nor nighttime,
neither in dream nor in awake state: Never. O’ Baba, please do not
leave me alone. Please shower Your causeless grace on me by keeping me
eternally in Your divine shelter…

== BABA STORY: WHEN HE WAS IN JAIL ==

Namaskar,
We all know that we need to “jumpstart” our AMPS in order to make it
dynamic and vibrant once again.

However, one should not think that this has never happened before. In
the past also our organisation experienced a distinct lull, if not a
full-blown crisis, and by His grace we did bounce back with tremendous
momentum. So the situation we find ourselves in today is not new – there
is a precedent.

This below Baba story offers the perfect strategy for transforming our
AMPS into a sterling, bustling society once again.

Your thoughts and reflections are most welcomed.

BABA STORY:

 

“NEWSLETTERS ARE MY FOOD”

During Emergency, when Baba was in jail, then the mood of our Marga was
a bit sullen. There were court cases, controversies, tales of scandal,
and quite a bit of intrigue. Devotionally margiis were managing alright,
by His grace, but in the social sphere things were a bit gloomy. People
were hesitant to do pracara or go out in public and talk about Ananda
Marga. Our AM train was moving slowly.

Baba, being the Parama Purusa incarnate, knew the perfect remedy.

While fasting in jail, Baba forcefully declared, “I need newsletters,
that will be my food.”

Baba’s dynamic proclamation set the wheels of our Marga in motion.
Immediately, word spread how Baba wanted to hear news about what was
happening in the Marga around the globe and that this would be His food.

Of course, in His mind’s eye, Baba was intuitively aware about each and
every thought, word and deed so His declaration for newsletters was more
of strategy for rejuvenating the Marga. And indeed how well it worked.

VERY POSITIVE EFFECT

The effect of Baba’s call was very dramatic. Ananda Margiis all over
jumped into action.

Each district and locale realised that they needed to create a
newsletter. And to write a newsletter they needed something to write
about. In order to have something to write about they needed to do
something. This was the way it worked.

So margiis began vigorously involving themselves in all kinds of social
service projects and good deeds. Once done, then they could and would
write and print that news and mail it to Baba and that would be His
food. Everyone became quite active; all were feeling blissful.

Plus, everyone was vigilant to write news that was accurate and true.
Nobody wanted to give Baba bad food and we all knew that He knew what
was true or not. So the social service endeavors were done with full
feeling and accurately reported.

Then the various units thought that since we are printing news for Baba,
why not print more copies and send it to other units and regions as
well. This created a whole network of newsletters. No longer were
various margiis or units sitting alone in isolation worried about the
fate of AM. Now the scene was abuzz with news coming in all kinds of
directions. Margiis were more active than ever: Schools, pracara, talks,
mass feeding, clothes distribution, university seminars, and so much
more. And when one unit would read about what another was doing, then
they would implement that program in their area as well. Such
newsletters had a wonderful domino effect.

By all this activity our Marga was growing by leaps and bounds and the
sullen skies in AM cleared and everyone had a bright, positive vision
for moving ahead, despite the difficulties.

Then, when Baba was finally cleared of all charges and released from
prison, our Marga society was in full-swing. It was a driving force.
This was all His grace and His divine planning.

Baba understood perfectly that in order to turn things in the right
direction there needed to be dynamism in the social sphere. And
newsletters were the perfect way to get things going. Then people would
feel that they are part of some larger movement. This made everyone feel
connected, engaged, and hopeful.

What worked so beautifully those days will have an equally beneficial
effect today.

GREAT WAY TO OVERCOME GROUPISM

Now when the mood is a bit down in AMPS due to rampant groupism, there
are various calls for how to bring things back to life. Some are making
organisational handbooks, some are attempting peace meetings, some are
trying to merge the groups, and some are just working independently.

Whatever may be, we should certainly aim for Baba’s approach: newsletters.

“BUT WE ALREADY HAVE NEWSLETTERS”

Some may naively declare, “But we already have newsletters – I get lots
of emails.”

In truth however, we do not have lots of newsletters. There is not a
single organisationally sanctioned newsletter. Only the various groupist
forces are sending out their own biased views and news – most of which
is either tainted by group interest or totally false.

A newsletter – whether it be electronic or otherwise – should be true,
rational and totally unbiased. Yet today, everything coming out of this
or that organisational channel is just one concocted groupist portrayal.
If their group is involved then the event is reported like gold and if
their group is not involved then it is reported like feces. Everything
is drawn along party lines.

Actually this type of thing has been going on since 1990, in one form or
another. So much false news has been reported that people have lost
interest in these reports. And they have lost interest in reporting what
is going on in their area.

This has all had an extremely detrimental effect.

Now then is the time to turn all this around. We should actively support
and adhere to Baba’s newsletter strategy.

WHAT TYPES OF NEWS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED

The first question might be: What type of things are newsworthy. And the
answer is anything that tightens the bonds within our Marga.

That means things like births, baby-naming ceremonies, akhanda kiirtan,
social service, developments in schools, pracar, deaths, retreats – each
and everything can be reported. And there should be organisationally
sanctioned channels, totally free of group interest.

By sharing all these types of news in a fair and truthful manner – on
the regional, sectorial, and global level – then our whole Marga family
will be benefited.

And while this is Baba’s distinct approach, it should not be overlooked
that many organisations and movements do like this as well.

MANY ORGANISATIONS DO LIKE THIS

Every organisation hoping to succeed on this earth keeps their internal
structure strong by keeping their members “in the know” and inspired.
Whether the organisation be Greenpeace, Amnesty International, or any
other, newsletters, grass-roots sharing, and open and truthful lines of
communication are a must. They all do it.

AM WILL ONCE AGAIN BECOME

 

A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH

Now there may be some news clippings moving around our AM society here
and there. But that is not enough, especially when the crude hand of
groupist networks are on the rise.

By implementing Baba’s system of oranisationally sanctioned newsletters
– employing a multi-tier approach – covering local and global events,
all will feel more connected and inspired. It will encourage others to
implement the ways of AM into their own lives and that of their community.

Living alone or in isolation is not at all good. We are social beings.
Having healthy, productive, open newsletters will improve the overall
climate and psychology of the Marga. We will no longer feel like we are
sitting in one seething groupist volcano.

Instead we will realise how many like-minded sadhakas are in our grand
AM family. By Baba’s grace He has brought us together – and with good
reason: To learn and grow with one another as we embark on leading a
life dedicated to Him and serving humanity.

With these newsletters, all will feel closer and part of some greater
whole. No doubt on the spiritual level we all feel linked with Baba by
His grace. But that social connection is very important for building a
strong, cohesive movement. That will give us force.

So at the earliest this program should go on – in all units and in all
areas. One newsletter will lead to the next and inspire everyone to move
ahead. It will create boundless energy and much zeal.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace He has given us a great example to live by. Whatever the
situation, Baba has already provided us with the pathway to move ahead.
Now when we are drowned in the dogma of groupism, one excellent way to
move forward and bring a new charge in the Marga is by creating
newsletters. Baba graciously declared this to be His food and today
such newsletters will be the staple for creating a new AMPS family,
unshackled by groupism and factional interest.

Baba says, “When people hesitate and doubt whether they can accomplish
something, and if they start to work in that hesitant frame of mind,
they can never accomplish that task. But if they plunge into action
thinking of their goal with courage, imbued with spiritual inspiration,
they are sure to be crowned with success. No action is greater than the
human capacity to perform it. Of all the manifold entities in this
expressed world, human beings are the most powerful.” (AMIWL-11)

Namaskar,
Gagan

***************************************
Historical Fact

Baba says, “In the Pharsi language the sweet fruit known as mango is
called ta’mar. But in the early days the people in Iran did not know
what a mango looked like, nor did they know how it tasted. Because they
had only heard about it from travellers passing through. So the first
time a sour type of fruit from India reached Iran the local Pharsi
speaking people mistakenly thought it was a mango. Consequently they
started calling it ‘ta’mar-e-hind’, meaning ‘Mango from India. In
Pharsi, “Ta’mar” means ‘mango’; “e” means ‘of’; “Hind” means ‘India’.
Thus, Ta’mar-e-hind. And later when the Britishers saw those Iranians
calling those sour fruits ‘ta’mar-e-hind’, then the Britishers adopted
their own English pronunciation and started calling it “tamarind”. So
this is how the sour fruit tamarind came to be called in the English
Language.” (MGD & Field Walk, Raipur 18 Oct ’79)

Note: For those who may not be aware, the name for tamarind in Hindi is
“imalii”.

***************************************

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Heaven & Hell Difference…

Baba says, "Bear in mind that you have a duty towards – indeed, you owe a debt to – every creature of this universe, but towards you, no one has any duty; from others, nothing is due." (CC-2)

Date: Nov 17 2009 06:39:21 -0700
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: Reynolds_HT
Subject: Heaven & Hell Difference…

Baba

“Tumi a’ma’r a’hva’ne sa’r’a’ diyecho…” (P.S. 1265)

Purport:

Baba, You are so gracious You have paid heed to my call of longing.
After remaining quiet for a long time, in the end You have finally
listened to the cry of my heart. Such a long span of time has passed.
The tender leaves of spring have become yellow and fallen down. The
green vegetation in the mountains also underwent huge change; I saw they
did not remain the same. Such a long span of time has passed.

In the end, ultimately I received the showering of Your grace.
My heart is inundated with the bliss of having You. You have filled my
life with ecstasy.

Baba, You know so many liilas, divine plays, which I do not understand.
In this situation, I go on only searching You– feeling spellbound, astonished,
& amazed. Only You know the glory of Your divine play. Baba, You have
filled and satiated my heart and mind with the showering of Your causeless
grace. Baba, You have heard the cry of my longing….

HEAVEN AND HELL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

SELF-CENTERED CAPITALISM AND GOD-CENTERED AM

Namaskar,
‘I am happy to be here’, ‘It is my pleasure to do that’, ‘thanks for
inviting me’…

The above are all common sayings in today’s western, capitalistic
society and such expressions are quickly being converted and translated
into languages all around the globe. Such is the spread of capitalism.

FOUR CATEGORIES OF PHILOSOPHY

However, Baba clearly guides us that there is a tremendous difference
between the four basic types of philosophies: Dogma-centered,
matter-centered, self-centered, and God-centered. And in particular the
self-centered philosophy of capitalism is based purely on individual
egoistic desires or selfishness whereas the God-centered philosophy of
Ananda Marga is based totally on service psychology– serving all as
expressions of Brahma.

Baba says, “The followers of self-centred philosophy do everything only
for self-interest, self-pleasure…In self-centred philosophies,
individual selfishness is the motive, as in capitalism…Those who
follow God-centred philosophy serve humanity and the entire living world
with equal love and affection according to Neohumanism.” (PNS-18)

SELFISHNESS OF CAPITALISM vs SERVICE PSYCHOLOGY OF AM

So there is a heaven and hell difference between the selfishness of
capitalism and the service oriented mentality of Ananda Marga. The first
aims towards ego satisfaction and the fulfilling of one’s petty desires;
whereas the latter aims at helping and service others for the cause of
universal welfare.

Unfortunately, at present, it is this selfish psychology of capitalism
that is spreading like wildfire around the globe today. Because already
it is saturated in the west and now the so-called third world nations
want to step up into the ‘greatness of modernity’ so they emulate each
and every aspect of western, materialistic life– including their manner
of speaking. Those very crude phrases get translated into one’s own
local tongue– or people merely adopt the English expression in their
hometown of Bali, Cape Town, or San Juan. That is how this selfishness
is manifesting itself around the globe in all aspects of life: In how
one thinks, lives, walks, and talks.

Here then is a further look at the situation at hand.

COMMON SELFISH EXPRESSIONS OF THE DAY

Today on the radio, on the internet, at governmental summits, on TV
interviews, in business meetings, at family gatherings, on the street,
and in each and every nook and cranny of modernity there are a whole
slew of expressions which reveal the utter selfishness of the prevailing
philosophy of the day.

If one listens to any talk, interview, or speech etc, phrases such as
the following abound: ‘Thanks for giving me opportunity’, ‘it is my
pleasure’, ‘I felt good doing that’, ‘I enjoyed being part of the relief
project’, ‘I am delighted to be here’, ‘It is my privilege’, ‘I will be
happy to do that’, ‘I am honoured to receive this’, and on and on the
list goes.

These are totally I-centered, egoistic ways of speaking– that reflect a
self-centered and narrow way of thinking. In each and every case the ‘I’
is dominating– i.e. one’s own petty happiness, not any welfare or
service motive. They all revolve around selfish, unit pleasures. And
this is the pervasive mentality of capitalism, where #1 is not God,
others, but rather oneself.

So it is not just a linguistic phenomenon, because as we look around it
is quite apparent that nations, peoples, businesses, consumers, and
citizens are acting in a totally selfish manner.

So the poison of selfishness is deeply rooted and prevalent all around.

WHY THEY MAY BE HARD TO DETECT

That is why when hearing expressions like, ‘It gives me great pleasure’
or ‘Thank you for inviting me to participate’, one may wonder: What is
the problem– those are fine expressions.

Because these are so commonly spoken and so commonly heard, people
accept such selfish ways of speaking as being totally normal, fine, and
well. Verily, the selfishness of capitalism has seeped so deep into the
human psyche that selfishness itself becomes hard for some to recognise.

It is just like if one works in a barn all day and has cow dung all over
their shoes, pants, hands, nose then it may be hard for that person to
recognise the very smell of that animal feces as it has become part of
their very being. Not only are they surrounded by that cow dung but they
themselves are immersed in it. In that case that offensive smell is
totally unrecognisable to them.

Same is the case with the selfishness of capitalism in today’s present
day world. Capitalism preaches selfish pleasure and that is what
everybody chases after all day long: In their business life, in their
personal life, in their family life etc.

If their business swallows up another one only to cause massive
unemployment, those top executives does not care so long as it is good
for their own business agenda; likewise if any individual gets their
personal goal met of buying a huge, fancy house, it is of no concern to
them that there are millions who are homeless– because they got their
own selfish desire met; likewise if a husband no longer likes to live a
family way of life, then in a split-second he will leave his wife and
kids and run off with a sensual honey who is 30 years younger. That is
the way society is moving these days. And it is accepted– even people
are praised and admired for doing such crude things.

That is why it is difficult– if not impossible– for many people to
detect selfishness in today’s world, let alone in their speech patterns.
Because for them, selfishness is as totally normal as the air they breathe.

AS MARGIIS WE SHOULD BE VIGILANT

As Ananda Margiis however, our eyes should be open to such selfish ways
of speaking and we should awaken others to it as well. Because the root
cause of such expressions is one’s own mental colour. And possessing a
selfish mentality is ultravarious to our AM ideology, and indeed harmful
to the humanity and to one’s own spiritual growth. For these reasons, it
is important to be vigilant to detect and toss out all kinds of
selfishness– including in one’s manner of speaking.

WHAT SHOULD BE SAID INSTEAD

Thus instead of saying things like, ‘It give me great pleasure’, ‘I am
happy to be here’, or ‘Thank you for the opportunity’, which all reflect
one’s own personal satisfaction, we should speak in a manner that
reflects the service psychology of Ananda Marga.

What should we say then?

How about, ‘I feel blessed to be able to come here and serve you’, or
‘It is Baba’s grace I could participate and help others’, or any other
style of expression that places emphasis on serving others and not on
one’s own happiness.

The English language is constructed in such a way that it may be
impossible to make the statement without using the ‘I’ term. So what
needs to happen then is to direct the importance of the sentence towards
helping and serving other rather than one’s own unit satisfaction.

For that reason it is important that we express ourselves in the follow
manner, ‘I feel blessed to be able to serve you today’– because in AM
our whole outlook is to live a life in service to others.

Baba says, “All human beings are to be served…Remember that your
service does not oblige the Supreme, rather you are obliged because you
have such a chance to serve the Supreme in the form of living beings.”
(Ananda Vanii #28)

Baba says, “Bear in mind that you have a duty towards – indeed, you owe
a debt to – every creature of this universe, but towards you, no one has
any duty; from others, nothing is due.” (CC-2)

Thus our whole way of life in the Marga is based on serving God both in
sadhana as well as in the form of living beings– we have not come here
just to satisfy our own petty unit desires.

That is why there is a heaven and hell difference between the crude
captialistic outlook and all its negative expressions and the glorified
vision of Ananda Marga and our service oriented way of life.

So none should get caught up in the smog of capitalism where life is
merely about satisfying one’s own egoistic inclinations– nor should our
talk reflect such things either.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace He has showered the humanity with the sweetness and
charm of a God-centered way of living that will bring peace and welfare
to one and all.

Baba says, “As long as you exist, you have got to perform yajina
(service). The moment you cease from discharging duties, either due to
incapacity or wrong choice you will fall into an abyss. You should not
let this happen. It is your dharma to move from narrowness to vastness,
from greatness to divinity. To allow yourself to fall into an abyss is
against the characteristic of your existence. You long for eternal bliss
and endeavour for eternal life. You are associated with that unending
vitality in the blood circulation of your arteries and veins and in the
rhythmic throbbing of your heart. You have been listening day and night
the voice of eternal youth. Can you ever imagine remaining inert matter
in an inactive state where there is no yajina (service)? Even in the
state of supreme realization you will be infused with boundless
knowledge. O human beings! be established in the radiance of divinity
and the splendour of valour and chivalry, because yours is the path of
revolution. Your path is not the path of extra caution and scheduled
movement. You are the traveller of a rugged path. You are travellers of
an impregnable path. You have to march ahead proudly with the flag of
Marga upright. You have no time to stagger or to look behind.”

Namaskar,
Harideva

******************************************
Real Wealth

“Ya’jinavalkya asked, ‘What would you like?'”

“Maetreyii replied: ‘Yena’ham’ na’mrtasya’m’ tena’ham’ kim kurya’m'”

“‘What will I do with things which will not remain with me permanently?
Of what use are the objects which will not establish me in
immortality?…’Please give me that thing which will remain with me
permanently, which I’ll be able to preserve forever, which will
establish me in immortality. I don’t want anything else.'”

“Then Ya’jinavalkya gave her a number of instructions, upon which a
major part of Raja Yoga is based’.” (AV-7, p.44)

Note: As described in the above quote: Really, worldly things cannot
remain with us very long. That is why ideal people run towards Parama
Purusa. Being Parama Purusa and Guru, Baba Himself has guided us how to
reach Him. On this point, we are extremely fortunate to at least have
gotten the path. Now our main duty is to follow it.

******************************************

Read Full Post »

Baba’s Special Sadhana Guideline

"I used to go for a walk nearly every day in the mountains east of Jamalpur. I used to sit on the second mountain. One after another, several small and large mountains run parallel to each other. The summit of the second mountain was the highest place among them. I used to arrive there in the middle of the afternoon and stay there until about eight at night." - Baba

From: “Girish Chandra Mitra”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Baba’s Special Sadhana Guideline
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:22:36 +0530

Baba

“Ba’ndhan chinr’e beriye elum kave keno ke ja’ne…” (PS 3526)

Purport:

Baba, by Your grace You have done everything. You have shattered all
my bondages, brought me out of that magical net of maya, and lifted me
up onto Your divine lap. Amazingly, You released me from the otherwise
insurmountable grip of maya. Baba, it is impossible for me to understand
exactly how You did it. But by Your grace, You have smashed all the
bondages and brought me out. You graced me and attracted my entire
mental flow towards You so I did not get pulled towards the magical
allurement of avidya maya. Baba this is Your causeless grace on me. How
it happened I do not know– but now, by Your infinite compassion I am in
Your eternal shelter.

Baba, the moment You brought me under Your shelter and made me deeply
attracted towards You, then from that very time You became my
everything. After that no longer did I did pay heed to any obstacles–
or any crude worldly attraction. Instead by Your grace I moved swiftly
towards You. By seeing this situation, some concluded that I was
imbalanced, mad, and crazy. In their own way they tried to pull me back
into their negative way of living. But by Your divine attraction I did
not pay any heed to their call; nor did I get affected by the useless
comments of those ignorant people. Baba, by Your grace now I am safe
under Your shelter.

Baba, by Your Supreme direction You have taught me what is important
in this life. By Your fathomless grace, You changed my mind: by Your
grace You have made me a member of Hari Pari Mandal*. You graced me and
showed me how to offer my entire unit being at Your alter. In this
magnificent display, You brought me under Your divine shelter and I got
You. Baba, by Your grace, You made all those crude desires drift away
from my mind and by Your grace now I am blissfully floating in the high
tide of Your eternal form of divinity. Baba, each second of my life is
like a divine oblation– giving the flowers of my heart and mind. Each
and every moment I am offering everything to You in the form of Guru
Puja.

Baba, by Your grace my whole existence surrenders at Your lotus feet…

* Hari Pari Mandal= Literally means ‘circle of devotees’. In the deeper
sense it is that highly devotional state of mind where all one’s longing
and desires are racing towards His Supreme Self, towards Baba. When by
His grace one has accepted Parama Purusa as the only Goal of their life
then each and everything they do is done to please Him. In that blissful
atmosphere, the bhakta is just closely revolving around His Cosmic
Nucleus– not at all distracted by anything else in this created
universe. So when one is in that deeply devotional flow of Hari Pari
Mandal by Baba’s grace they are totally ensconced in Him and moving in
His divine flow.

== BABA’S SPECIAL SADHANA GUIDELINE ==

Namaskar,
We all know that ours is the path of true realization and spiritual
attainment. This is Baba’s special grace on us. At the same Baba guides
us that we have to do something– nothing comes without effort.

So Baba specifically tells us about overcoming any type of spiritual
procrastination or laziness in the spiritual realm. On this point He has
given us countless teachings– plus His own golden example.

And one of the main things Baba has done is be ideal model for leading a
perfect spiritual life. And one key practice in all of this is outdoor
sadhana. Because Baba Himself describes in numerous instances how it was
His regular habit to practice dharma sadhana in the tranquility and
solitude of nature.

In the Jamalpur days, throughout His student life, and in other periods
of His life outdoor sadhana was a regular, daily event. And the benefits
of this practice are innumerable.

OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND

Often we may try to do sadhana in the house, but that often only invites
distractions. Because there we are surrounded by books, family members,
computers, phones, food, and numerous daily chores and responsibilities.

So with all these types of pabula around us, then naturally the sensory
organs get attracted to them. Whereas if those pubula are out of sight
and beyond the scope of the senses, then those thing do not drag us down
so much and our minds are much more free to do sadhana.

So just by escaping out of the house is a big boon for our spiritual
practices as this allows us to leave so many distractions behind.

And Baba Himself guides us in this same direction.

Baba says, “It cannot be denied that the noise of the bustling world is
a hindrance to intuitional practice and makes solitude very desirable.”
(AMEP, ’92, p.127)

And if we think a moment, we can see how ‘bustling world’ does not only
mean ‘on the city streets’ but also refers to ‘living in our own home’.
Because when we remain in the house then countless thoughts & mundane
things come in the mind which pull us away from our sadhana. In that
case it is difficult to do long peaceful, serene meditation. How many
times does it happen that on the point of food alone, that we quickly &
hastily conclude our sadhana as meal time approaches etc. And in this
way days, months, and years pass by.

But if we go outside in the natural environment, we have a much better
opportunity to delve into our sadhana practices and do sustained
sadhana. And if this becomes our regular practice then it can transform
our entire spiritual existence.

On this point it can also be said that we need not go so far from the
house. Often times in short walking distance we can find a good place
for sadhana. And by going just a little further we can find a top-notch
place.

WAITING FOR OLD AGE WILL NOT DUE

Yet if we just get routinized into always sacrificing our meditation and
just doing short, interrupted sadhana– constantly getting pulled away
by mundane distractions, then this is not good. Because by this way the
whole life will pass by. In which case it is not easy to concentrate in
sadhana in old age if one did not do proper sadhana their whole life.

Baba says, “There is no value in remembering God in old age, when it is
not possible to concentrate the mind due to the weakness and disease of
the body and its preoccupation with the reactions (sam’ska’ras) of the
deeds of this life. The mind then is caught up in the infirmities of the
body, in the diseases of old age, impending death, and most of all, in
memories of past incidents, and it is impossible to concentrate the
mind. For these reasons one is incapable of intuitional practice. (AMEP,
’92, p.135)

GREEN BAMBOO VS. OLD BAMBOO

Everyone knows that green bamboo bends easily and can be easily used to
make many useful things; but old bamboo is just unbendable, hard, and
stiff– basically useless. Likewise a fresh, supple mind from regular
sadhana practice can do many things; but a dry crusty mind devoid of
sadhana is not good for much. Without proper sadhana the mind becomes
dry & inflexible– static.

REACHING OUR POTENTIAL

Sadhana is important and outdoor sadhana has many benefits like: fresh
air & oxygen, peaceful vibration, less distractions etc. That is why
Baba recommends that this is one practice we should all try.

Because ultimately sadhana awakens our dormant & latent qualities, and
makes the ordinary person extraordinary.
Baba says, “When a person attains an exalted state of spirituality, they
can bring welfare to millions of people.” (SS part 18, p. 14)

Namaskar,
Girish

Note 1: AVADHUTA & MICROVITA SADHANA DONE OUTSIDE

We all know that Baba has made it compulsory for those doing avadhuta
(kapalik) sadhana and microvita sadhana to do their practices under the
open sky– not in an enclosed room. This is the rule.

Note 2: POSITIVE MICROVITA

By being outside then so many positive microvita from the stars,
planets, and distant galaxies can also help us in our sadhana. This fact
Baba reveals in His microvita discourses.

Note 3: A’NANDA MA’RGA IS UNIVERSAL DHARMA

The practices of Ananda Marga are human dharma and meant to be practiced
by all. Thus Baba has not made it mandatory for everyone to do all their
sadhana outside all the time. Because for particular reasons and in
specific cases one might not be able to go outside for sadhana due to
ill health etc. And the overall idea is that the rules should not be so
tough and arduous that not everyone in society cannot follow. Rather AM
is for all. So this is enough reason to think why Baba has not made
outdoor meditation an absolute requirement– always. At the same time
going outside regularly for sadhana is highly beneficial.

Note 4: BABA DOING SADHANA IN THE SOLITUDE OF NATURE

Here Baba describes His own outdoor sadhana practice.

Baba says, “I used to go for a walk nearly every day in the mountains
east of Jamalpur. I used to sit on the second mountain. One after
another, several small and large mountains run parallel to each other.
The summit of the second mountain was the highest place among them. I
used to arrive there in the middle of the afternoon and stay there until
about eight at night.” (SC-1, p. 93)

Here Baba talks more about His experience of doing sadhana outside:

Baba says, “I was sitting on the peak. It was the bright lunar
fortnight…In front of me, that is to the west, on the slope of the
mountain, was a dense ga’b forest…The mountain in front of me was
completely bare…I was probably the only person for several miles,
completely alone…the peak that I was seated on…” (SC-1, p.94)

******************************************
MAMMALS AND LOVE

Baba says, “There are fishes who carry something like a sack inside
their bodies and they carry their children in those sacks. There are
some snakes who also take their children with them. Not only have they
inborn instinct, but they have something more, that is, they have love
and affection for their children. This is also true of some species of
snakes, but love and affection for their children is more prominent in
mammals. Mammals are more developed than non-mammals because in the case
of mammals mothers feed the children with their breast-milk and
certainly they have got affection for their children — that is why they
do so.” (YP ’98, Edn, p.83)

Note: Mothers of financially poorer countries keep their babies along
with them and breast-feed their infants. But the case is different with
so-called advanced mothers from around the globe– especially in the
so-called developed nations. In those so-called developed places,
neither do those mothers want to breast-feed their infants nor do they
want to keep their infants along with them.

So in comparison to those animals we have to see how far the whole
situation is working. Because those mammals and animals do love and care
for their offspring; accordingly, then humans are more advanced so they
should express more love. And mothers of poor countries do like that.
But the strange thing is that mothers from the so-called advanced
countries…

With the scale of Baba’s above teaching, we have to judge whether such
mothers are really developed or moving in the opposite direction.

******************************************

Read Full Post »

News: Loot & Booty Sharing

Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:01:06 +0530
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From:
Subject: News: Loot & Booty Sharing

Baba

“Bandhu a’ma’r, nikat’ a’ma’r, a’mi kii ga’ibo toma’r ga’n…” (P.S. 525)

Purport:

O’ my Bandhu, O’ my dearmost, You are my very close and intimate One.
What song should I sing to please You. You know about my deep longing
for You. O’ Baba, You are my Love, You are the personification of hope,
saturated in sweetness. You are my heart of hearts– and my everything.

Baba, since that very first day when You blessed me by bringing me in
Your closeness under Your care since then by Your grace I have
understood that You are my shelter; You are doing everything for me. Also
since that very day, with Your divine touch, You have blessed me with a new
life, O’ my Bandhu and most intimate one. By Your causeless grace, my
way of living has been transformed from a worldly existence into life divine.
Since then everything has become blissful.

O’ my Lord, on that most blessed day You graciously caressed me with
Your soft lotus hand. In that atmosphere of the blissful early morning
dawn, the lotus flowers were blossoming in the pond and spreading their
sweet aroma all around. Then by Your infinite grace You pulled me very
close to You and graciously placed me on Your Lap and loved me; and by
placing Your hand on top of my head, You bathed me with Your divine
effulgence. You granted me everything. What You have done is unparalleled.

Baba, You are love personified; You are my most dear; You are my
everything…

== NEWS: LOOT AND BOOTY SHARING ==

Namaskar,
Our AM schools and services projects are founded for the welfare of
society and to spread the divine gospel of Shrii Shrii Anandamurtijii.
This we all know.

To see any such project get misused or hijacked by selfish or group
interest is a direct front against Guru.

Thus Ananda Margiis across the globe should take direct and active
interest in the awful financial scandal that has taken place at our AM
Polytechnic College (Malur, Karnataka).

At present, as we speak, the groups involved are trying to keep
everything under the covers so they can continue to loot and keep their
booty. For the first time, the entire story is told here within this
letter.

Please read carefully and act according.

ABOUT THE POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE
(KARNATAKA, INDIA)

All may know that we have our Ananda Marga Polytechnic College (Diploma
in Engineering) in Malur, near Bengalore, Karnataka.

Students get admission in this college on the basis of big capitation
fees (donation in lakhs of rupees), and large monthly tuition fees. In
this way this institution generates a huge amount of money, more than
one million US dollars per year.

That’s why all groups have their greedy eyes on this college.

SOME OF THE HISTORY

When the Kolkata administration divided AMPS, then they could not capture
this institution because all the margiis and the entire staff at the college
were against Kolkata.

The Rudrananda camp had full control over the college. It should be
noted that Parmehsvara’nanda and Vandana’nanda were also hardcore cadre
of H group those days.

But times change. When the EC group emerged under the leadership of
Parmeshvara’nanda and Vandana’nanda, then the situation at this college,
also changed.

The in-charge of the Polytechnic College was Animesha’nanda, who is
originally from Chattisgarah but he has only minimal Chattisgarhii
sentiment. He changed his loyalty to Vandana’nanda + Parmeshvara’nanda.
Plus margiis of those areas under the leadership of S.S. Goenka also
became supporters of this group.

THE COLLEGE GETS DIVIDED INTO TWO GROUPS

Because of this groupism one big tussle started in the college.

The college staff divided into two groups.

(#1) One group was of Animesha’nadna + Citshiva’nanda (who went there to
give muscle support to Animesha’nanda) and some staffs of the college
teaching section, who were supporter of EC.

(#2) Other group emerged in the leadership of Arun (from Gaya, Bihar)
the hostel in-charge who has been living in the college for years. He
has group ties with Vishvanath (from Bihar, he lives there to save the
college from outside criminals), Ravi (from Gaya), Pankaj (teaching staff from
Varanasi, relative of Ravii) and other staffs of the hostel.

WHO CONTROLS WHAT

After some days of tussle, finally both groups captured certain areas of
the college and shifted there accordingly.

The teaching department of the college came under the control of
Animesha’nanda. He receives tuition fees from the students, pays the
teaching staff and other college staff, and “manages” the money he gets
from tuition fees and capitation fees.

The other group captured the hostel. In turn, they collect hostel
charges from the students, and basically deal with all monies related
with the hostel and living accommodations & services etc.

Animesha’nanda never had control over the hostel.

HUGE LOOTING GOING ON:

 

HOW THEY DO IT

For the last 4 years, both of these two groups have been looting the
money they were getting, i.e. embezzlement. They’ve been stuffing their
pockets and personal bank accounts with the monies collected when in
fact those funds are the rightful property of the AM Polytechnic
College, not those greedy groupists.

In short, because there was no proper administration, there has been a
huge money scandal unfolding at the college. Still it is going on.

Animesha’nanda, who gets millions as capitation fees and tuition fees,
pays huge shares to his dons like Parmeshvara’nanda and Vandana’nanda,
and also to what some margiis call the “hi profile margiis” in the name
of margii meetings.

In return, all Animesha’nanda does is arrange one sadhana’ shivir per
year — that’s all, nothing more. Thus, he personally pockets huge piles
of money and tuition / capitation fees every year. This literally then
is a case of millions of dollars of embezzlement that he steals from our
AM Polytechnic College.

The other group embezzles a sizable amount from the hostel and they were
also happy with that huge amount they were saving per month. Arun is all in
all of the hostel. He has been living with his family there since years.

Here everyone should be clear that all money (after expenditure of
hostel) was being distributed to the members of group. Money was not used
for the development of college or organization.

Thus, both the parities involved are cheating the AM Polytechnic college
by grabbing hoards of monies for their personal and groupist desires.

LONG-STANDING COLD WAR

Since years there has been a cold war at the college. Both groups have had
their greedy eyes and insatiable appetites on each others holdings and
money.

Animesha’nanda and his goon Citshiva’nanda were always trying to capture
the hostel while the other group was always trying to capture the
teaching side of the college.

Because of this fight, there has not been a proper teaching or learning
environment at the college. Instead, our AM Polytechnic College has been
transformed into a place of cheap sentiments, politics, crookedness,
groupism and money looting.

MORE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Finally, Citshiva’nanda has started taking the hostel fees from the
Chattisgarhi students. In reply the other group started taking tuition
fees from the students of Bihar, Jharkhanda and UP.

Then Citshiva’nanda organized Chattisgarhi students living in hostel
against the hostel in-charge and his group. With the help of these students
and local hired goondas, Citshiva’nanda tried to capture the hostel.

Then the other group replied in the same manner. Hostel staffs,
Vishvanath, Ravi and students from Bihar, Jharkhanda, UP attacked on
Chattisgarhi group. After a physical fight (lathis, hockeysticks,
knives, local made guns were shown) Citshiva’nanda had to leave the
college.

In the end, the police also came to the college to manage the unruly scene.

TEAM RANCHI MOVES IN

The hostel group then called Ranchi administration for help and the
Rudrananda camp who has been keeping a greedy eye on the money, did not
delay a moment.

Svarupa’nanda and Dharmapra’n’a’nanda (Chennai DS) went to the college.
They stayed at the college to establish a presence and control the college.

The Rudrananda camp has declared Dharmapra’n’a’nanda as in-charge of the
college. So Dharmapra’n’a’nanda and Ranchi supporter hero Sushil from
Katihar are at the college.

Nigama’nanda from Ranchi and Parmeshvara’nanda from Patna have reached
Bengalore. They are involved in arm-wrestling match with each other at
the bargaining table.

Now situation is very tense.

WHY ALL ARE KEEPING MUM

Now we have to investigate why – despite all these antics and commotion
– both camps are keeping quiet about all this.

Because we have to remember that whenever any member of the Rudrananda
camp / H group enters even a small ashram operated by EC or intrudes on
any small and useless issue, then the EC personnel colour the whole
internet and make it a big issue. All their e-mailers become active.
They become totally vocal.

So it is very surprising that on this big issue about the AM Polytechnic
College, where Rudrananda camp is storming and capturing the college and
where a nasty physical fight has occurred, the entire EC team is keeping
mum.

Why? They are not telling a single word. Why?

Animesha’nanda is telling that he will solve the problems and he does
not need help of any margii. Why? Is it not a point of intrigue?

When H group kicked out Parmehsvara’nanda and Vandana’nanda and others
then EC went to all margiis and begged for help and still they are crying
for help.

But in the case of this Malur Polytechnic College issue, why is it that
they do not want margiis to interfere? Why is the EC leadership of
Parmeshvara’nanda going to sit with Nigma’nanda directly to solve the
problem? Is it not strange and out of character?

The answer of all these question is: To keep all the money they have
looted and keep the scandal secret.

For this single reason, neither group wants to highlight the situation.

If margiis are alerted and come forward and look into the matter then
all will know that for the last many years millions of dollars money
have been looted and embezzled from our AM Polytechnic College by these
very groupists.

EC does not want to to reveal this multi-million dollar scandal and the
Rudrananda camp wants either full control of the college or a maximum
share in the looted amount.

Hence both group leaders are in contact to solve this problem secretly
on a give-and-take basis at the bargaining table. They prefer to make a
black pact and keep their millions as opposed to letting the margiis
know what hell has happened.

That’s why Animesha’nadna is telling margiis not to come forward and EC
supporters & e-mailers are keeping mum.

MARGIIS MUST COME FORWARD

When our AM Polytechnic College is being ravaged by groupists and when
all the projects of AM are meant to be in the service of Gurudev and
humanity – not in the hands of greedy groups – then we should be alert,
ready to take action and apply pressure.

In that case it is the duty of all Ananda Margiis to unitedly rise up
and correct the situation. This much we owe our Beloved Baba. We must
not sit idle thinking others will do. It is our personal responsibility
to stand up and act.

As margiis we should not wait for an invitation from any group.

Responsible margiis, those who are not puppets of any group, should come
forward and critically look into the matter. The account books should be
audited by independent auditors and the ongoing looting and money
scandal should be stopped.

All monies earned by the Polytechnic College in Malur should be used for
the development of the college, not sucked up by groupist tycoons for
their personal gain.

BABA’S WARNING:

 

SINFUL TO REMAIN IDLE

Now that the news is out, we should be swift to take action. Sitting
idle amounts to sin according to Baba – a sin of omission.

Baba says, “Those who shirk duties and responsibilities do commit a
great harm to society. It is this lack of dutifulness in our country
[India] today that has caused great retardation in different spheres of
life. It has also caused spiritual degeneration. One should perform good
actions regularly, should do sa’dhana’ properly – these are the dos
which everyone is expected to perform. Those who do not pay heed to
these responsibilities do indulge in pratyava’ya. Pa’taka is the
collective name of pa’pa and pratyava’ya.” (AV-23)

Thus we should not remain still a moment longer while such groupists
pillage and destroy our Polytechnic College in Malur.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace He has empowered us with the ability to take action and
change the course of events – turning bad situations into positive ones.
In this way, we must rally round and save our Polytechnic College from
the clutches of these groupist forces.

Baba says, “The very import of the history of human welfare is the
history of struggle and strife. Even the sweet gospels of peace could
not be preached in an environment of peace and composure. Devils did not
allow the apostle of peace to work peacefully – that is why I say that
peace is the outcome of fight.”

“This endeavour at the well-being of the human race concerns everyone –
it is yours, mine and ours. We may afford to ignore our rights, but we
must not forget our responsibilities. Forgetting the responsibility
implies the humiliation of the human race…” (A’nanda Va’nii #45)

Namaskar,
Manjit

****************************************
Dangerous Yoga

Baba says, “Suppose, one is a great Yogii but if there is no love for his
goal, then those suspended propensities will finally be converted into
crude matter. That is, the subtle human existence becomes like iron; it
becomes like wood; it becomes like sand. What a deterioration! What a
downfall! This particular type of yoga where a yogii does not bear love for
the Supreme Entity is called ‘Hatha Yoga’ in Samskrta. It is dangerous for
human elevation.” (AV-2, p.18)

Note: Nowadays, especially in European countries, in the name of teaching
yoga certain pseudo-yoga-businessmen are busy selling their useless and
dirty things to the common public by opening various yoga and meditation
centres. But in those places citing the God’s name is untouchable. And not
only that but they teach all kinds of fake lessons such as misguided
pranayama and self-invented asanas etc. But when the Goal is not Parama
Purusa then that ultimately brings terrible degeneration. Neither is the
unassuming public aware nor are these culprits aware what hell they are
bringing upon innocent people. It is our duty as far as possible to warn
everyone for their welfare.
******************************************

Read Full Post »

Current Affairs: Nothing But Display of Tamogun’a

From: “Ramlal Sharma”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Current Affairs: Nothing But Display of Tamogun’a
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:00:57

Baba

“Saba’r tare a’sa’ a’ma’r saba’ri bhare a’mi nob…” (PS 5000)

Purport:

Parama Purusa has sent me here to serve everyone. By His grace I will carry
the burdens of one and all. I will solve the problems of one and all. I
will go on remaining very close with everyone to help them. Nobody is
other, everyone is mine. Everyone’s home is my home. I will spread my love
and affection to one and all. Everyone is mine; no one is alien. Parama
Purusa has sent me here to serve one and all…

== CURRENT AFFAIRS: NOTHING BUT DISPLAY OF TAMOGUN’A ==

Namaskar,
Nowadays someone is claiming to be Parama Purusa – someone is claiming
to be the personality and voice of Baba. This impostor is issuing all
kinds of outrageous claims and static statements.

As disciples and as bhaktas, we should apply our rational minds and
critically examine the situation. Thus far, a very small band of naive
people have been taken in – they have been duped by this “voice” /
impostor.

Of course, no true Ananda Margii will fall in this way.

By applying the principles of Ananda Marga, and by our sadhana, we can
easily see that this so-called voice/person is just sunk in tamogun’a
(crude principle) and not the Supreme Benevolence or Parama Purusa.

BABA LOVES ALL

Once we remind ourselves about Baba’s true divine nature, then the
entire case becomes quite clear. Then there is no scope for confusion –
then even naive people will see this “voice/person” for what it is, i.e.
tamogun’a or static principle.

Here Baba qualifies that Parama Purusa loves everyone – bar none,
irregardless of who they are or what they have done. Baba loves and
cares for all.

Baba says, “There are so many animate and inanimate objects, but they
are all within His mind and not outside. A person may be educated, may
be illiterate, may be of fair complexion, may be of dark complexion, may
be poor or may be rich, but all are within His mind. All are His psychic
creations, all are His loving children, the loving progeny of the loving
Progenitor. So, nobody is unimportant, nobody is insignificant. Nobody
should be suppressed, oppressed or repressed.” (AV-14)

Indeed, Baba’s nature is that of divine love and compassion and He
lovingly cares for all. He never wishes ill on anyone. All true Ananda
Margiis know this and have practically realised Baba’s love. Plus we
know that His divine care extends to all – whether they are followers of
the Marga or not. This below story serves as a perfect example:

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/08/baba-story-mukam-karoti-vacalam.html

In individual life, Baba saves those in need, and as the ultimate and
gracious Guide of society, He has given Prout in order to serve and help
all.

Then of course during DMC Baba blesses everyone. Time and time again He
has graciously declared: “Sarve bhavantu sukhinah… Let everybody be
happy.”

Thus, we know that there is no question that Baba only blesses some or a
few, or that He only blesses His followers and all others can go to
hell. He never overlooks or excludes anyone, and He never makes threats
against humanity or uses fear tactics. There is not a single instance
where Baba resorts to such type of statements.

Yet this is exactly what that so-called voice/person is doing. This
fellow is claiming himself to be Parama Purusa and side by side He is
casting threats on humanity. Below in this letter you will see his
outrageous proclamations.

As Ananda Margiis though, we know in our hearts that Baba can never
curse or harm anyone. It is not within His divine nature to do like this.

Baba says, “He can never hate anyone because all are His loving
children.” (AV-14)

In both His practical day to day life and through His teachings Baba
loves and blesses all. In so many ways, by so many of His assurances and
actions, it is clear that Baba lovingly watches for everyone’s welfare.
None are outside the scope of His care, whether they follow Him or not.

EXPRESSION OF SATTVAGUN’A

So Baba’s Divine Personality is the cent-per-cent expression of
sattvagun’a. He is the personification and embodiment of that purely
sentient principle.

Baba says, “Only that entity in which sattvagun’a predominates can
perform actions for the welfare of all; thus Brahma cannot have any
other quality but sattvagun’a as its predominant quality.” (TP)

Baba says, “The purpose is the welfare of all, which is motivated by
sattvagun’a and not rajogun’a [or tamogun’a].” (TP)

Baba says, “The mind of Parama Purus’a is dominated by sattvagun’a.” (DKG)

Indeed, every Ananda Margii clearly understands that Baba is love
personified and that He can never harm anyone.

Hence when one fake voice or impostor is claiming to be Parama Purusa
and then issuing all kinds of crude threats against humanity, we can
easily discern that such a voice is not at all divine, but rather the
false vanity of crudity. Theirs is not the voice of sattvagun’a but
rather tamogun’a.

FALSE CLAIMS BY IMPOSTOR

Recently, this impostor or “voice” made the following claims and
circulated them around the globe, as if we were going to believe such
things.

First this so-called voice declared itself to be Parama Purusa.

[A] The false voice or impostor wrote: “I declare that I am PARAMATMA
(Supreme Entity). I am BRAHMA (The Creator of the Universe) and I have
already take birth on this earth.”

Thus firstly, this so-called being is claiming to be Parama Purusa. That
is step A, and now see steps B, C, D etc and the ridiculous edicts it is
putting forth.

Here is what it says in an email titled “Final Message”.

[B] The false voice or impostor wrote: “Very soon, I am going to start
Maha Vinash (supreme destruction) and Maha Paralaya.”

So the false voice which claims to be Parama Purusa is also promising to
harm and destroy this world. This of course is impossible as Baba has
come to spread His love and divine compassion. Any voice claiming to be
the messenger of destruction cannot possibly be Parama Purusa.

But that is not all. In an email titled, “Final Warning” this false
voice claiming to be Parama Brahma has issued so many threats.

[C] The false voice or impostor wrote: “Only chanting my maha mantra
with complete acceptance and giving it to others will establish you in
Satya and Dharma. Whoever holds onto Satya, I will protect them in the
coming destruction.”

[D] The false voice or impostor wrote: “I will give you two months time
(November and December 2009) to realise me through your atma.”

[E] The false voice or impostor wrote: “So it is wise to hold onto me
and Satya. After these two months, I am going to declare DHARMA MAHA
YUDH on 01.01.2010 at 00.00Hrs against all negative forces in the world
by initiating MAHAPRAYLAY and VINASHA in the Nature. This will be the
beginning of JUDGEMENT DAY or “QAYAMAT KA DIN” for all.”

Hence the false voice is making so many threats, edicts, and crude
warnings about harming and destroying humanity. And at the same time we
are to believe that this voice is that of Parama Purusa.

No sane or rational Ananda Margii can think such a thing. This voice is
merely the ploy of one very crude impostor drowned in tamogun’a (static
principle).

As the Parama Purusa, Baba helps everyone and never wishes or calls for
anyone’s destruction. He is pure sattvagun’a.

In stark contrast, this crude impostor is totally stuck in crude thought
and vain propositions. Such words can only be the expression of one
degraded unit mind, not that of Divine Mind.

It is just tamogun’a, i.e. the expression of ego, vanity, and all kinds
of baser propensities.

JUST LIKE DOGMATIC RELIGIONS

Actually tamogun’a and dogma go hand in hand. The above proclamations by
that impostor echo the crude edicts uttered by fake prophets from the
dogmatic religions.

Fake prophets in the dogmatic religions declare things like, “My people
will be saved and all others will be destroyed.” The dogmatic religions,
sunk in tamogun’a, rely on threats and fear complexes in order to
recruit followers.

And now one crude impostor is doing the very same thing in AM.

Next, Baba points out the crude and static methods employed by the
dogmatic religions and false prophets. The fake voice claiming to be
Parama’tma is using these very same tactics.

Baba says, ‘The scriptures of other communities proclaim that only the
followers of their religion are the favourite children of God and others
are damned heathens. To kill them is not at all a sin, rather one will
attain a permanent place in heaven after their death. Such scriptures
are very detrimental to human society.” (APH-4)

Just as the dogmatic religions bash non-followers and validate killing
such “heathens”, the impostor resorts to the same state mentality and
issues proclamations of mass destruction to any who are not followers.

Here is the next point by Baba about such fake prophets.

Baba says, ‘The followers of other religions look upon themselves as the
chosen disciples of God, and regard others as heathens or infidels.”
(PNS-21)

The impostor does the same.

Finally, here is one last point by Baba.

Baba says, “Yet another religion says, “Know ye, my son, thy God is the
only God. All other gods are false gods.” Just imagine, all these
religions preach universal fraternity, and yet this universal fraternity
is kept within the confines of their own community. Humanity gasps for
breath at such preposterous claims of universal fraternity.” (HS-1)

Likewise, the impostor claims to be Parama Purusa and the path of satya
yet side by side that crude voice is threatening and strangling humanity.

Thus, in all regards, the impostor claiming to be Parama Purusa is just
a mirror image of crude dogmatic “prophets” from the past.

BABA’S DIVINE ASSURANCE

Now let’s just review one more point.

The false voice or impostor wrote: “After these two months, I am going
to declare DHARMA MAHA YUDH on 01.01.2010 at 00.00Hrs …This will be
the beginning of JUDGEMENT DAY or “QAYAMAT KA DIN” for all.”

Thus the impostor has put for the call of judgment day. Here below Baba
pointedly refutes such false types of claims.

Baba says, “Eternal hell or heaven is a totally defective idea. We
should not encourage these approaches. There is no hell or heaven, and
no one will go to hell or heaven for eternity after death, or lie in a
grave for ever; nor will anyone have to wait until any Day of Judgment.”
(AV-3)

Thus Baba Himself outrightly rejects the false call of judgment day by
the impostor who is trying to cloak himself as being Parama Purusa.

By Baba’s grace He has come on this earth and refuted all such dogmatic
proclamations and given His assurance that we all have a relationship of
love with the Divine Entity. There is no question of any destruction,
annihilation, or judgment day etc.

Baba says, “The meaning of the word ba’ba’ is “dear”. As Parama Purus’a
is the beloved of all, so all are beloved for Parama Purus’a. So when
Parama Purus’a is “Ba’ba’” for units, for Parama Purus’a the units are
also ba’ba’. This is because the relationship is that of love.” (SS-21)

CONCLUSION:

JUST CRUDE FORCE OF TAMOGUN’A

Thus the impostor who has invaded AM is nothing but the crude
manifestation of tamogun’a.

Baba has come to lead all onto the path of liberation and save everyone.

In contrast, this impostor – who goes by the name of Chakradhar – is
just one fake expression sunk in the static principle.

This impostor Chakradhar uses the same scare tactics and threats that
are rampant in all the dogmatic religions. This impostor is a spitting
image of the fake prophets from the past.

It is an outrageous thought that anyone could possibly think that this
impostor fellow is Parama Purusa. Most are not at all confused as the
case is quite obvious.

BABA’S BLESSING

By His grace we know that our Divine Father would never destroy anyone.
He is the personification of loving kindness. Demons like fake prophets
and the impostor Chakradhar can think of destroying others, but not the
loving Divine Entity Parama Purusa. He can never think in such way.

Thus there is a heaven and hell difference between the sattvaguna ways
of Parama Purusa and the tamogun’a methods employed by the impostor
Chakradhar. Baba always loves and watches out for His progeny and would
never threaten, harm, or destroy us .

Baba says, “Spirituality is based on Divine love. You may or may not be
a learned person. You may or may not have a good history. Your only
qualification is that you are the affectionate progeny of the Supreme
Progenitor. You are His object of affection. Even if you forget Him He
won’t forget you. He cannot forget you, because everything in this
Universe is His mental creation. And as long as His mind is there, you
are within His mind.” (AV-12)

Namaskar,
Ramlal

Read Full Post »

Svarshastra II

Date: 13 Nov 23 2003 07:22:17 -0000
From: “Liiladhar Karn”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Svarshastra II

Baba

“Saba’re kari a’hva’n saba’i a’ma’r pra’n’…” – P.S. 2945

Purport:

Here goes the clarion call to one and all. Everyone is my own; everyone is my
pra’n’a; everyone is close to my heart. We are all collectively singing the
song in unison and moving towards the Goal– Parama Purus’a. Nobody should
remain left behind. We should carefully see that nobody should cry in the
society, remaining as downtrodden or as neglected one. We are all singing
the marching song of life collectively, with one tune and one melody. There
is no difference between one human being and another. Everyone’s desires,
hopes, and inspirations are the same. We are all moving on one path with
the inspiration of the great ideology, which will lead towards greatness…

== SVARSHASTRA: PART 2 ==

Namaskar,
Proper breath control and the correct use of nostrils plays a vital role in
our physical well-being, mental health, and spiritual growth. From proper
digestion to the sublime aspect of our spiritual practices, the science of
svarshastra (breath control) has a significant effect. And this follow-up
letter on this important topic explores more about all of this.

THE RIGHT, THE LEFT, AND BOTH TOGETHER

Outside the Marga, little is said about the science of svarshastra. Common
members of society just go on with their days unaware about the flow of the
air in their body. But we know Baba places much importance on this– and He
gives particular instruction as to what types of actions correspond with
each of the nostrils.

In quick review, as a basic rule, we know that when the body is engaged in
physical works– such as running, walking, digging a well, and cooking,
etc– then the right nostril should be the dominant nostril. That means the
air should be flowing predominantly through the right nostril.
Included within this category is the process of eating. Food should also be
taken when the air is flowing freely and predominantly through the right
nostril. And for proper digestion half-an-hour prior to taking food, during
the meal itself, and for the first hour after eating, during all these
times the right nostril should be clear and managing most of the air flow
into and out of the body. Only in this way will the body will be able to
digest the food properly.

Hence, on the whole, all physical works are done using the right nostril.

In contrast during more psychic or mental types of activities like
studying, reading, memorizing, working at the computer, doing svadhyaya
etc, then the left nostril should be dominant. That means the air should be
flowing primarily through the left nostril during these engagements. Plus
included in this is the drinking of fluids. During that time also, i.e.
while drinking, the left nostril should be controlling most or all of the
air flow.

And when both the nostrils are open then this is very good for sadhana and
allowing the kundalini to rise up.

Although it should also be understood that many lessons of meditation can
also be done when the left nostril is dominant.

IT HAPPENS NATURALLY…MOST OF THE TIME

And most of the time this switching over of the nostrils happens quite
naturally– that is to say the body does this automatically…most of the
time. So generally we will find that this is all going on properly. Even
then it is extremely important for us to be aware about what is happening
because due to a change in routine or for any reason it can happen that the
correct nostril is not working. In which case we will have to switch the
nostrils ourselves otherwise that will only invite more problems. And below
this technique will be discussed.

First however is a quick look at the inner science of the functioning of
the nostrils.

THE SCIENCE DEEP WITHIN

Within our bodies there are three nadiis or subtle nerve channels: (1) Ida,
(2) Piungala, and (3) Susumna.

And these three nadiis run through the entire body. And where they all
cross is known as the cakra.

Baba says, “The cakras are situated at the intersecting point of ida,
sus’umna’ and piungala.” (TK-2)

Thus these nadiis are deeply linked with the inner functioning of the body,
the human psyche, and with our spiritual lives.

And, in addition, each nadii is intrinsically related with a particular
type of breath control.

For example when ida nadii is dominant or active then breath flows through
the left nostril; when the piungala is active then the air is flowing
primarily through the right nostril; when both nostrils are open, the
susumna is active.

Thus when one nadii is dominating then that corresponding nostril is open.
So the whole inner science of breath control is based on the dominance of
the nadiis– when one or another or both have an active role.

Thus accordingly– depending on the nadii– that type of work or activity
can be done.

BABA’S GUIDELINES

Here then are some of Baba’S important guidelines about what can be done:

Baba says, “Take solid food when the right nostril (Piungala Na’d’ii) is
predominant.” (CC-2)
So the right nostril is used for taking solid food and doing physical work.

Baba says, “When your left nostril (Ida’ Na’d’ii) is active you should take
liquid food.” (CC-2)
Hence the left nostril is used when drinking and for doing mental work.

Baba says, “When your Id’a’ Na’d’ii is working predominantly, you should
utilize the time for your sadhana.” (CC-2)

And sadhana is to be done when the ida nadii alone is open or when it is
functioning in cooperation with the right nostril.

In that manner Baba specifically guides us that our actions must correspond
with the dominance of a particular nadii.

OUR AWARENESS NEEDED

So our awareness about all this is highly needed and useful in our
practical lives. Because the entire theory svarshastra is one grand science
and not just some dream or menagerie.

When our left nostril is dominating then our thinking will be optimal. And
when the right nostril is open then digestion will be proper and our body
will be ready to do work. And when the left nostril or both nostrils are
open then that is especially advantageous for sadhana.

But if due to a change in routine, sickness, or for whatever reason, if the
proper nadii is not dominating for the appropriate activity, then that will
create serious problems.

If the right nostril is not open while eating food then it is sure that
digestion will not be proper. And that will invite the diseases like
acidity, indigestion (dyspepsia) etc.

And when reading or reflecting, if the left nostril is not dominating, then
one’s whole thinking pattern and mental processes will be sporadic and
imbalanced etc.

Hence our awareness of all this– ie breath control and which nostril is
open– is very important to know about.

Because if ever the wrong nostril is dominating and one realises it, then
that person can do something to switch over to the dominance of the other
nostril. And thus effect positive change in the life– either physically,
psychically, or spiritually.

TECHNIQUES FOR SWITCHING THE NOSTRIL

Basically there are two techniques for switching over the nostril.

First Technique: If one wants to open the right nostril then first lie down
on the left side of your body. Then gently extend the left arm straight
along the floor past the head. And then bend the left elbow such that the
left hand can be used to prop up the head off the ground. By remaining in
this lying position for a few minutes the right nostril will open and
become the dominant nostril. Similarly the left nostril can be activated by
lying down on the right side.

Second Technique: If there is no room on the floor or if one prefers not to
lie down then this next technique is helpful. First sit down on the floor
with the legs extended and bend the left leg such that the left foot is
flat on the ground and the left knee is pointed up toward the sky. Then
lean the upper body forward and place the left armpit on top left knee and
apply pressure by pressing down on the left shoulder with the right hand.
By this technique of touching the left armpit onto the left knee and
applying pressure, then the right nostril will surely open and become the
dominant nostril. One of the keys to this is to remember that by applying
pressure to one of the armpits in this manner will then open up the nostril
of the opposite side of the body.

SVARSHASTRA: DEEP SEEDED EFFECT

Overall then being familiar with the science of svarshastra and following
Baba’s special guidelines in this regard will lead to the all around
development in all the spheres of life. Because this science of breath
control has a deep seeded effect and is one essential factor that is
happening in each and every moment of our lives. So although this science
is basically ignored by the common society, in the life of a sadhaka it is
extremely important and meaningful.

BABA’S BLESSING

Here following is Baba’s special blessing.

Baba says, “Changes are fast coming in the psychic arena and in all realms
of human expression. They are not only coming, they have just come. We have
crossed the threshold of a new era.” (PNS-17, p.56)

Namaskar,
Liiladhar

Note 1: WHICH POSITION IS BEST FOR SLEEPING

In brief it is always best to sleep on the left side because in general
sleep slows down the digestion process, in which case it is important to
keep the right nostril open by lying down on the left side. Doing so will
help with digestion. Hence even our sleep cycle is linked with the system
of nadiis.

To continue then, the second best position for sleeping is by lying down on
the right side. Then the 3rd best way is to lie flat on one’s back. And
here then is the final way. Actually this last way, i.e. sleeping on the
stomach should be completely avoided– as it is unhealthy. All this was
told by Baba Himself in various reporting sessions. But in particular one
time He told all these points concerning sleep when publicly correcting the
way one Didi was sleeping.

Note 2: HOW IT WORKS WITH ASANAS

Some basic asanas can be done irregardless which nadii is dominating or
which nostril is carrying most of the airflow. But there are some more
advanced asanas which must be done with a particular nostril being
dominant. So it is important to refer to Baba’s guidelines in Caryacarya
about this.

Note 3: THE BASIC DESCRIPTION OF SVARSHASTRA

Baba says, “The process of breathing, depending upon whether the breath is
flowing through the right nostril or the left nostril or both nostrils,
influences people in various ways. It was Shiva who determined what kind of
activity should be performed, depending on which nostril the breath was
flowing through, and depending on whether the ida or piungala or susumna
channel was active. He set down specific rules and regulations as to when
one should undertake physical, psychic or spiritual activities. He further
instructed when and in what circumstances one should do asanas, pranayama,
dharana, dhyana, etc. This science, which Shiva invented and developed, was
known as svarashastra or svarodaya (science of breath control).” (NSS)

Note 4: SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND EXPERIENCES

I hope other margiis will also write their personal realisations and
understanding of Baba’s unique teachings on the science of breath control,
or svarshastra.

******************************************
Kiirtan and Gandharva Loka

Baba says, “The following describes how and to what degree human beings are
aware about their own unit consciousness (Shiva’tma). As well as how they
come in contact with their shiva’tma.”

“For example, it is just like when one looks in the mirror then one does
not see their real self, but rather a reflection of that. Or it is similar
to when one awakens from a deep sleep then they can recall only part of
their dream, and some aspects of their dream they cannot remember. Or
perhaps, more precisely, they can only remember a reflection of their
dream– and not the dream itself.”
“In contrast, there are other occasions where one looks at their own
reflection in the water and they can clearly see their reflected image. But
still that is not one’s entire being. It remains but a reflection. Just
like if one sees a reflection of a mango in the water then that is just a
reflection and not the real mango.”

“In reality only we come in contact with our unit consciousness when we
sing kiirtan and some bliss comes. Then we come in contact with our
shiva’tma.”
“So in the spiritual field one comes in contact with their own unit
consciousness after singing spiritually vibrated music like kiirtan or
bhajans. For this reason, such type of devotional chanting or singing is
highly essential in the life of a sadhaka. And when one comes in momentary
contact with their own unit consciousness while singing kiirtan this is
known as Ghandharva loka. One can only feel the bliss of kiirtan when their
mind reaches into Ghandharva loka.” (SC-26)

******************************************

Read Full Post »

Disastrous Effect of Buddhist Meditation

Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:11:05 -0000
To: AM-GLOBAL
From: J. Erikkson
Subject: Disastrous Effect of Buddhist Meditation

Baba

“Toma’r pathe cali a’mi, kon ba’dha’y pechoba na’…” (P.S. 1390)

Purport:

Baba by Your infinite grace I am moving forward on Your divine path. By
Your grace I do not care about any types of obstacles. I will never look
behind in frustrated mood. You are my everything; You are my Goal; You
are my sadhana. Baba, fortified with the strength of Your divine name my
life is moving. Your name is like the lamp on my path of forward
movement. By Your grace You have made me realise that there is no
comparison to the strength which is residing in Your holy name.

Baba, by this way days and months are passing. Our closeness is getting
more and more intimate, by Your grace. In my heart I realise that You are my
everything. Baba because You are and I am. Except this I do not know
anyone. By Your grace I am moving on Your path without bothering about
any sorts of hindrances. It is Your grace…

== DISASTROUS EFFECT OF BUDDHIST MEDITATION ==

Namaskar,
As the title suggests, Buddhist meditation is more than a little
problematic. Here is the underlying logic.

Manaeva manus’ya’n’a’m’

Baba says, “This human mind is a peculiar entity. It is the cause of all
our sorrows and predicaments, and it is the cause of our supreme bliss.
It is the cause of bondage, and it is the cause of liberation.” (AV-30)

So our mind is the determining factor of our movement in life – either
towards liberation or bondage. Here is another way of thinking about it.

Ya’drshii bha’vana’ yasya’ siddhirbhavati ta’drshii
“As you think, so you become.” (DT-1)

In a nutshell, since Buddhist meditation focuses on “nothingness” or
“emptiness” then the practitioner will become one with nothingness. Or
in a phrase, they will get turned into microvita like vidhealiina.

Baba says, “A spiritual aspirant attains the state of videhaliina as a
result of shunya dhya’na or ideation on nothingness. Through such
ideation a sa’dhaka develops a psychic pabulum of nothingness. Yet even
in this state there remains the possibility of rebirth. Those who
embrace nothingness as their absolute goal develop a void in their citta
in the absence of Cognitive Faculty. As a result they are unable to
establish themselves in the Supreme Cognitive Stance and attain
salvation. The spiritual cult which encourages this practice is
certainly defective.” (AMIWL-9)

So the practitioner of Buddhist meditation is marching straight toward
the unfavourable destiny of becoming videhaliina – inviting all kinds of
pain and suffering.

Baba says, “People with this type of psychology attain the state of
videhaliina after their demise – an unbearable condition.” (MVNS)

The entire outcome of Buddhist meditation is not at all good.

WHY SUCH A CRITICAL POINT RIGHT NOW

The question then is why raise the point here and now. As Ananda
Margiis, in our sadhana, we channelise the mind toward the Supreme in
which case there is no question of falling into the trappings of
Buddhist meditation or becoming microvita.

However the point hold great relevance for us.

A growing phenomenon seems to be on the move these days. The world over
people are resorting to yoga to stretch and tone their bodies yet they
are turning toward Buddhist meditation to calm and steady their minds.

In the popular culture, many do not seem to equate yoga with meditation
– they see it only as a form of exercise and they then turn to Buddhist
and pseudo-Buddhist principles for their psychic thirst.

One clear cut proof of this is that a famous so-called yoga teacher
wrote a book titled, “Yoga Body – Buddha Mind.”

And indeed all over the contemporary yoga movement or fake yoga movement
that is attracting millions and millions of people around the world,
there is a fascination toward Buddhist meditation and its related themes
like watching the breath and “mindfulness” etc.

Thus, as ineffective and as harmful as it is, Buddhist meditation has
become the fashion these days. As quickly as the population is turning
towards yoga asanas, at a similar rate they are turning toward Buddhist
meditation.

As Ananda Margiis, we should be aware of this trend – have our logic
firmly in mind – and be ready to steer this hungry mass toward AM sadhana.

ONE OTHER POINT OF CONCERN

Here is one other point to keep in mind. Nowadays, so many margiis are
teaching yoga and meditation in the general society. This manifests in
all kinds of ways. Some do it openly under the banner of AM, some not.

Since much of the general population may not be ready for tantric
diiksa, then some may be teaching other techniques of meditation and
relaxation etc. What we’re getting at here is that some in AM, knowingly
or unknowingly, may be using the principles of Buddhist meditation in
their yoga classes with the general public.

Some margiis may be saying, ‘Become one with your breath’, or ‘Empty the
mind of all thoughts’, or ‘Still the mind’, or ‘Be mindful’ etc. These
are all related with the defective approach of Buddhist meditation.

Yet this is what is popular these days and some margiis might be doing
this as well in order to skirt the issue of mantra, or Parama Purusa, or
God.

Here then is just a reminder that no one in our Marga should resort to
the misguided ways of Buddhist meditation in their yoga preachings or
classes with the general public.

FREE WILL: PROS & CONS

We must remember that every human being has the freedom to do what they
will on this earth. All have the power to choose. Most live life in an
ordinary way and are subject to inchworm like progress along the path of
pratisaincara, staying far from the Cosmic hub.

Those who pointedly goad the mind in a particular direction, move in one
of two ways: Toward the Supreme or toward degradation.

As Ananda Margiis we are speeding toward Parama Purusa, but those
practicing Buddhists are not. With their practiced and pointed mind,
they are moving toward nothingness, nihilism, and degradation. They will
become microvita. That is Baba’s exact teaching.

In this regard, having free will becomes a liability if one acutely
guides the mind in the wrong direction. Of course we all know that
thievery is bad and that such bandits & hardened criminals will suffer
the consequences. But what people often fail to realise is that Buddhist
meditation will also lead one in the wrong direction. It is not a joke –
that is the reality.

Yet right now, hoards of people are innocently embarking on this dark
pathway thinking it will bring them into the light.

Once this point is crystal clear in our own minds, we will best be able
to help and serve the general populace. We must not watch idly as they
transform themselves into microvita – suffering endlessly in that way.

BEAUTY OF MANTRA MEDITATION

In Ananda Marga, our approach is to positively goad the mind toward
Parama Purusa and the main technique is the use of mantra.

Baba says, “You cannot call all the sounds of the world mantras. Why?
Because they do not possess the capacity to liberate a person from
bondage. There are so many sounds, so many syllables and so many words
in this universe…but only that sound whose acoustic expressions or
acoustic waves have the stamina to goad the subtlest portion of the
human mind unto the supreme stance can be a mantra.” (SS-24)

We do not subscribe to the theory of nothingness, rather we knowingly
fill the mind with a divine thought in the form of our ista mantra or
dhyana mantra.

And by His grace with that mantra we can become one with Ista. Buddhists
have no Supreme Ista. Their meditation leads to a total void. But in AM
we move towards our Ists with love and sincerity by His grace. That is
our Goal and that is what clearly separates AM sadhana from the
trappings of Buddhist meditation.

Baba says, “You are all spiritual aspirants. You are yogiis and you
should know that the only interpretation of yoga is “Samyoga yoga
Ityukto Jiiva’tma’ Parama’tmanah”. All other interpretations are
baseless. And you should also remember that for your movement toward
your Is’t’a, you have only to practise, your unification with your
Is’t’a is your only goal.” (SS-12)

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace He has given us the correct approach in meditation and
He has also directed that “it is the bounden duty of every Ananda Margii
to being all onto the path of bliss.” Thus we should be cent per cent
involved in not allowing the general people to fall prey to the
nothingness of Buddhist meditation. We should guide and teach them to
move towards the Supreme, lest they become microvita.

Baba says, “As a yogic practice, pratya’ha’ra means “withdrawal of the
mind from external objectivity and goading the withdrawn mind toward
Parama Purus’a”.” (YP)

Namaskar,
Jayanta

*********************************************
Crow and Cuckoo

Baba says, “It is said that there is a particular species of the cuckoo
bird that is incapable of nesting and raising its own offspring. So to
protect and save her babies, the mother cukoo gently places her own eggs
in the crow’s nest, even though the crow is her dreaded enemy. But since
the eggs of both the birds looks the same, the crow carefully cares for
those cuckoo eggs which were placed in her nest– thinking them to be
her own. At the time of birth, the newborn birds of both species are
black; so seeing the baby cuckoos, the mother crow does not initially
realise that the baby cuckoos are not her own offspring. It is only when
the baby birds become a little bigger and start to call out and cry,
that the crow realises those are not her babies. Then and there the
mother crow becomes very angry, suddenly understanding that it has
gotten duped. But because of having given long-term care and developed
sincere love for the baby cuckoo, the mother crow gives up the idea of
attacking and killing the cuckoo. And instead the mother crow raises the
baby cuckoo as one of her own.” (SC-10)

*********************************************

Read Full Post »

What Is the Meaning… + NEWS

Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:26:11 -0000
To: AM-GLOBAL
From: J.Young
Subject: What Is the Meaning… + NEWS

Baba

“Bha’loba’si toma’y a’mi, keno ta’ ja’ni na’…” P.S. 2329

Purport:

Baba, I love You but I do not know why I love You. You go on pulling my
heart– but what is the mystery behind this, how and why You are attracting
me, that I cannot say.

Baba, all I know is that You are the divine effulgence of my dark heart.
By Your grace I will never allow that effulgence to get extinguished. Baba,
I will always keep Your love in my heart. By Your grace I will always hold
Your image in my mind.

Baba, all the love I have in the deep core of my heart, and all the
hopes and longings I have in my mind, all these desires and aspirations of
mine are revolving around You. And by Your grace they get expressed through
Your songs, dance, melody, and rhythms. Baba, You are the focal point of my
life; You are my everything.

Baba, by Your divine grace I feel that You are guiding each and every
aspect of my existence. There is not even a single ounce of confusion in my
mind. Everything is totally clear by Your grace. Where am I, where will I
go, and from where have I come: All these types of useless questions never
creep into my mind. Baba, by Your grace, I do not even want to know these
things. Just I am fully depending upon You– that You know everything and
that everything is in Your control. For me that is enough. Baba, You are my
shelter, You are my anchor. And You are the Supreme Controller of this vast
universe.

Baba, You are always ever gracious on me. I love You with all my heart;
my whole existence is Yours…

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE SUTRA 5-14:

‘OUR SPIRITUAL POTENTIALITY MUST BE MAXIMALLY UTILISED’
+
NEWS: NEW MARGIIS SHOULD BE MORE CAREFUL

Note: At the bottom of this letter is a news piece about the conduct
of one of our vishesh yogis.

Namaskar,
Each and every Ananda Margii understands well in their heart that
spirituality is the summum bonum of life. This idea Baba has infused within
our AM culture– within each and every Margii.

In all His teachings, including in His comprehensive Prout
philosophy & the 5 Fundamental Principles of Prout, Baba has placed a
distinct emphasis on great importance of spirituality.

Among these Proutist directives, Baba guides us that our spiritual
potentiality must be maximally utilised– “harnessed and brought to
fruition”. (Ananda Sutram, chapter 5, 5-14)

Here below Baba describes more how this is to happen.

Baba says, “I have told in the Prout philosophy that those who have been
endowed with spiritual strength will have to render spiritual service to
the society. Such sadhakas must not just sit in their Himalayan caves doing
tapah without ever teaching or guiding anybody. That will not be approved.
They will have to serve. They will have to render spiritual service. I do
not say they have to pull a rickshaw; but if they do not do spiritual
service, and just sit in their Himalayan caves and do not come in contact
with the world, and instead proclaim that the world is an illusion, yet at
the same time go on eating fruits and roots and accepting physical service
from other human beings of this world– this type of approach will not be
allowed to continue any longer. That has been going on for a long time, but
it will not continue any longer; that day has gone.” (AV-4, Hindi)

In His above teaching of Ananda Vacanamrtam, Baba is elaborating on the
idea which He has so beautifully expressed in Ananda Sutram, Sutra 5-14.
Namely that one’s spiritual potentiality must be maximally utilised.

On this very point some of our respected Dadas are confused and think that
in sutra 5-14 Baba is talking about the development and use of occult
powers. But that is not correct.

Instead Baba’s expressed guideline is that one’s spiritual potentialities
should get utilised as described above– that is by teaching and guiding
others.

Hence those endowed with spiritual strength should be engaged in serving
the society by teaching the various aspects of yoga, morality, and sadhana
such as asanas, pranayama, 16 Points, dhyana, etc. In sum, they should be
guiding the society along the path of spirituality. According to Baba, that
is the real manifestion of one’s spiritual potentiality and that is
rendering true service to society– not using occult powers.

So what Baba has written in seed form in Ananda Sutram, He has further
explained that idea in various discourses etc. The above cited guideline
from Ananda Vacanamrtam is but one of the many examples.

Here it should be further clarified that spiritual service does not mean
some type of magical display or the granting of worldly boons etc. Rather
true service in the spiritual realm means guiding the society towards the
path of spirituality and teaching the practical process– imparting the
lessons of sadhana and spreading the ideology etc.

FINAL TEACHING

Here again, Baba warns us that without spiritual values the society will go
astray– off the path. Hence those blessed with spiritual understanding
must teach and guide others along the path of rightesouness. That is the
inner essence of Sutra 5-14.

Baba says, “The absence of spiritual morality and spirituality in
individuals will break the backbone of the collectivity. So for the sake of
collective welfare one will have to awaken spirituality in
individiuals…This potentiality has to be harnessed and brought to
fruition.” (AS, 5-14, ‘Purport’)

Namaskar,
Jagatmitra

Note: NEWS: NEW MARGIIS SHOULD BE MORE CAREFUL

As many may know, Ra’ga’nuga’nanda has been posted in Madhya
Pradesh as DS. Once, when staying at the house of one of
his newly initiated margiis, this dark scene happened.

The new margii had great respect for Ra’ga’nuga’nanda as
this was his acarya. So he brought Dada to his house
and called the entire family to listen to Dada’s Baba stories.

But then later, when the family dispersed, Ra’ga’nuga’nanda made
an advance and tried to force himself on the young teenage
daughter. The girl was strong minded and quickly slapped
Dada and started shouting and yelling for help.

The father and other family members came quickly but already
Ra’ga’nuga’nanda had run from the house.

The margii father wrote a letter to Centre but those at the
helm ignored the complaint. Centre knows that Ra’ga’nuga’nanda
has poor conduct but they do not do anything about it because
he is one of their agents.

So still Ra’ga’nuga’nanda is a “vishesh yogi.”

Here the main point of awareness is that new margiis must be
more alert and not assume anything about our acarya cadre. When
any Dada comes then they should keep sharp eyes. Otherwise
such unfortunate events can happen.

In contrast, if margiis are alert then such things will not happen
and not only the young girl but Dada will also be saved. There is
a dual benefit involved.

Old margiis are well aware about such outcomes. That is why when
any Dada comes to the house they watch that Dada as if they have
a closed-circuit security camera. That means, at least one mature
person in the household always has their eyes on Dada at all times.
Then the visit will go alright.

Note: For the sake of the girl’s honour, we are not sharing her name,
town, family name, age etc. She is a true dharmika and all biographical
data is being withheld.

People should talk to the guilty party directly. If the guilty party
is not willing to accept his crime, then the name and all details
will be released.

******************************************
Eternal Treasure

Baba says, “This japa yoga or dhya’na yoga which elevates human beings
through constant self-analysis, obliterates the very existence of the
non-spiritual, and expedites one’s elevation into the supreme spiritual
stance.” (MVNS, p.92)

Note: Due to the crude influence of materialism, in their hum-drum
approach common people often believe that “progress” can be achieved via
the mundane arenas of their existence: health, occupation, material
possessions, or financial wealth etc. They naively think that through these
activities they will become elevated– and therefore achieve greater
fulfillment, peace, & happiness in their lives. This is their common
misconception.

Of course in Ananda Marga we know that this is not the truth. According
to Baba, material things are bound by time, space, and person. They are
ephemeral, ever-changing, and cannot provide long-term satiation. Instead,
by their very transient nature, depending on such material things only
invites various types of psychic diseases where misguided people try to
quench their infinite desires by chasing after more and more mundane things.

But as much crude wealth as one acquires, the hungrier one gets. Such
limited objects cannot satiate our desire. Indeed all the crude material
wealth of this entire world is incapable of satisfying one human being’s
innate longing for greatness. And in result, these common citizens get more
and more crudified.

Not only that, their degenerate starts in this very life. It is not that
in their next life their degeneration will begin. Rather their horrific
degradation is immediate. All around us we can see this happening such as
in the case of greedy businessmen who walk around the streets like
desperate, ravaged animals. All the sweetness is gone from their lives.
They have just become two-legged beasts. This is the common yet tragic
phenomenon in this materialistic era. And then of course in their next life
such depraved beings will fall further and further into the depths and get
reborn as asses, pigs or stones etc.

That is why Baba reminds us again and again that there cannot be real
progress of one’s individual existence through “mundane achievement”. True
progress can only occur in the spiritual realm– by decreasing one’s radius
with the Cosmic Nucleus. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the population
is totally oblivious of this very fact. Thus it is our duty to bring them
along onto the path of righteousness– onto the path of Ananda Marga.
By Baba’s divine grace in countless discourses, as well as in His above
cited teaching, He tells us that we should always be engaged in higher,
subtler pursuits. And that we must strive to come closer and closer to Him
through our japa or dhya’na yoga.

Being the Sadguru, Baba guides us that this very endeavour to attain
that eternal treasure– i.e. the Supreme Stance– is the cream of the life.
And, by His grace, when a jiiva embarks on the path of sublime
spirituality– ie the path of Ananda Marga, then instantly they begin
receiving the infinite Cosmic Grace of Parama Purusa Baba.

******************************************

Read Full Post »

Baba’s Plan: One Grand Procession

To: AM-GLOBAL
From:
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:38:23 -0000
Subject: Baba’s Plan: One Grand Procession

Baba

“Ei anurodh prabhu tava caran’e, manake a’ma’r shubh pathe calio…” (P.S.
2098)

Purport:

Baba, I place this request at Your lotus feet: Please guide me and goad my
mind towards the path of welfare and divinity. If ever I am surrounded by
hopelessness, then please light my heart with the lamp of hope and lead
me unto the path of effulgence.

Baba, I ask Your grace: Do not allow fear, shyness, hatred, and all these
pashas (bondages) and ripus (enemies) block my path of forward movement
towards You.

Baba, please grace me with Your thundering voice of the samvit shakti–
“awareness”*. If ever my mind gets negatively affected with attachment of
materialism and indulges in crude worldly enjoyments, then that time please
awaken the tender human qualities which are sleeping in my heart.

When in my heart, my human feelings become drowsy and sleepy, that time my
mind degenerates and I get attached towards those mundane, worldly things.
And I get involved and start indulging in those crude affairs. So that
time, please grace me and awaken my human feelings.

Baba, please give me strength so I can march ahead on Your path, in a
very straight direct way. Make it so that I will never lose the track; make
it so taht I wiol never fall onto that negative path. Baba, please remain
along with me, all the time. Always keeping Yourself as my guide on this
journey of forward movement.

Baba at Your lotus feet, this much request I have: Please lead me from the
darkness to the effulgence…

* Samvit= “The popular meaning of sam’vit shakti is “awareness” – awakening
from slumber. With the help of sam’vit shakti, unit beings become aware of
their existence. They realise that they are the crown of creation, the most
evolved beings whose goal is to attain the supreme rank and dispel the
darkness of the avaran’ii shakti of avidyamaya.” (Baba)

== BABA’S PLAN: ONE GRAND PROCESSION ==

Namaskar,
Here is one beautiful memory that many other may also recall. It is related
with our most beloved Sadguru Baba and how He has infused the needed
dynamism to build up a society based on dharma.

THOSE DAYS IN PATNA…

All are aware that Baba used to live in Patna. And during His residence
there, various types of Prout organisations were made active with the
inspiration of His sweet scolding and prodding. This was all going on just
after His Jail period.

That time, under His guidance, the Proutist federations like UPSF, UPYF,
UPLF, UPFF, UPIF all got activated. Then the moment came to activate our
Didis’ side. As we know we have the GP Department.

BABA’S SPECIAL PLAN

So then Baba gave one special program that was really unique. The plan
was that sisters should protest against the exploitation of females. And
the creative part of the program was that the Didis/sisters should organise
one big procession. And that was exactly what was done. So many margii
sisters and Didis made one big public march to uphold the dignity of women.

And it was a huge success. It was a consciousness raising event and
countless people became active on the issue. Some youths were even holding
sticks in their hands and tearing away crude advertisements by the roadside
which had a negative picture of females. All in all many good things came
in result. And when the report of procession was given to Baba then He
became very happy.

Some special details about this program I will also recount further down in
this email. But that time the whole event was held because of the on-going
exploitation against women.

HOW FEMALES ARE EXPLOITED IN TODAY’S DEGENERATED SOCIETY

For instance, in our lives we regularly come across different media,
newspapers, magazines, as well as different posters on the roadside which
depict females in crude way. People are making big, big banners and posters
in this way to sell their articles.

Unnecessarily females photo has been attached to an advertisement when
advertising for many products. Surely we all may have seen such things.
I think around the globe irrespective of any country almost everywhere,
male domination is going on. Of course for males, the opposite sex is
females. And it is a natural instinct to get attracted to the opposite
sex, especially if one’s mind is impure. So then, because all around the
globe male dominated society is there these days, then businessmen paint
the picture of females to attract males and thereby sell their products.

Most likely, if society was dominated by females, then crude business
people would have painted males’ photos and they might have used males to
attract females to sell their products. And empty the pocket of female
customers.

But now things are opposite. Advertisements are based on the exploitation
of females because of the currently male dominated society. Where the
motive is to attract males for purchasing their goods by showing the
picture of elaborately decorated and exposed females. This very cunning and
devious type of exploitation is going on. Some people are aware but most
are oblivious.

…THE STORY OF BABA’S REVOLUTIONARY PLAN CONTINUES

Now, as I told above, I am coming back to the story.

We know our AM and Prout fight against all sorts of exploitation. So that
time in Patna the procession was organised to raise the awareness of the
public against the exploitation of females. And as is seen all around,
female exploitation is going on by businessmen by placing females photos in
their advertisements in ‘negative way’.

So in that grand procession a huge stir was created. Young sister youths and
students were keeping buckets of black paint with so many brushes. And
wherever they saw negative pictures of females, then they were just
destroying those negative advertisements with the black paint. All along
the city streets this was going on. Both on the main road and also on so
many side avenues also. In that was they procession had a huge effect in
that area. And the news got published in the newspapers also. And the
common mass appreciated the work done by our procession. Plus, Baba was
extremely pleased by all this.

VICTORY ACHIEVED

And some very good effect happened also: For some limited time thereafter I
saw that many such negative advertisements got reduced and or eliminated
completely. So that was one point of success. Of course, though, to completely
wipe out any such exploitation then indeed constant hammering is needed.
So this is our ongoing work of both AM and Prout.

And previously in our programs, we were raising the slogans and opposing
the negative societal trends. We were bringing the banner and protesting
that females should not be negaively portrayed in advertisements. Means our
Marg was upholding Baba’s dharmic guideline that as Proutists and Margiis
our duty is to fight against female exploitation and uphold the dignity of
women.

So we should remember that Baba has guided us to build up all the sectors
of society and, in that same spirit, He has warned us to be careful not to
sacrifice the sanctity of women.

A FEW OF BABA’S TEACHINGS ON THE DIGNITY OF WOMEN

Here are a few of the many teachings of Baba that lead in that direction.

Baba says, “Men…should always endeavor to save the prestige of women. As
the mothers of men, women can claim this much as a right.” (CC, ’95, pt 1,
p.49)

Baba says, “Special attention should be paid to the comforts of women
during festivals, at spiritual conferences, and on other occasions.”
(Caryacarya)

And here Baba emphasizes the need to elevate and safeguard women’s place in
society thus ensuring a bright future of humanity.

Baba says, “We stand to create a powerful, dynamic and upsurging social
consciousness, especially among women, so that they are inspired to rise,
abolish dogma and annihilate all symbols of slavery, and usher in a new era
of coordinated cooperation and glorious achievement.” (PNS-13, p.49)
But now what is going on in some public programs is against the word and
spirit of Baba’s mandates. A few people are making public programs these
days that are moving in their own direction, against the dignity of women.
About this further down in this email some examples have been given.

BABA’S BLESSING

These following words of Baba stand as great inspiration for one and all.

Baba says, “The significance of life does not lie only in living. Animals
also live. But life to us means something more — rather something much
more. To us life means living for a great cause.” (AFPS-9)

Namaskar,
Parashram

Note 1: HOW THEY ARE GOING AGAINST THE CODE

The on-going negative trend by B group in their public Prabhat
Samgiita programs is quite apparent and, on the whole, rather degrading.
These days they are using various alluring female dancers who are in the
peak age of their physical attraction– i.e. 20-25 years old. So by seeing
the body, look, and dress of the female dancers it is clear how they are
being negatively projected as tools of allurement. Just so that B group
draw in the public and thus sell their cassettes and gain more profit.

Unfortunately these programs are going on all around and in this way
Prabhat Samgiita is becoming the tool of female exploitation. People are
simple and they may not understand this but this way they get exploited. So
this is B group’s special tactic to use those 22 year old alluring girls to
stockpile profits for their Prabhat Samgiita sales. And this has been going
on in DMS and programs all along since 1990. So this is the common malady.
And recently these things are continuing to occur in these programs.

BABA’S DHARMIC APPROACH

Of course we know that this was never Baba’s approach. And I myself
remember when I personally attended the Shravanii Purnima program in 1990
then that time just a young girl of 5 or 6 years of age was dancing Prabhat
Samgiita. And that was Baba’s strict rule and we all witnessed this. That
only those pre-adolescent girls should be on the public stage dancing
Prabhat Samgiita.

MORE ABOUT THE CURRENT SCENE

But now something completely different is going on. Our Prabhat Samgiita
which is such a devotional and dharmic treasure and now they have polluted
this thing. It is sad. People should understand that Prabhat Samgiita
should not be used to satisfy the crude instincts of certain negative
people. And women should also not get exploited. So these B group Dadas
like to project themselves as being the God-Fathers of Prabhat Samgiita,
but in reality their all plans and programs in this affair is way off the
mark. Because just in order to maximize profits, B group is pushing ahead
in their negative direction: ruining Prabhat Samgiita and exploiting women.

THEY ARE ALSO CULPRIT

Unfortunately, H group is no better because for years now they have buried
Baba’s divine Prabhat Samgiita in the dust and ashes. Just it is lying in
uncared way and instead they used their full resources to propagate PP
Dada’s silly rhymes known as Shraddha Suman. PP Dada wrote more than
10,000 of these things and H group was getting them all recorded and put
into books yet Baba’s beautiful Prabhat Samgiita is not getting propagated
at all.

So both the groups have their negative agendas in this regard and Baba’s
Prabhat Samgiita is getting compromised as a result. But whatever injustice
H group is doing along these lines, that is completely dwarfed by B group’s
massive public campaign that maligns women and places one negative mask on
Prabhat Samgiita. Altogether the whole scene is sad and unfortunate. But I
have full faith that by our collective effort we will not allow such
negative affairs to go on much longer.

ABOUT OUR PROUT FEDERATIONS

Note 2: The Universal Proutist Federations known as UPSF, UPYF, UPLF, UPFF,
and UPIF accordingly refer to the (a) Student, (b) Youth, (c) Laborers,
(d) Farmers, and (e) Intellectuals, Universal Proutist Federations.

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Basic Characteristic

Baba says, “The present world is plagued with numerous problems. To solve
these problems we need ideal men and women who are highly evolved from
within; strong men and women whose lives are based on the solid foundation
of spirituality. In the absence of such people the problems will remain
unsolved.” (AMI-10, p.759)

Note: In this DMC discourse, Baba guides us that the problems troubling
the globe nowadays can only be solved by spiritually minded soldiers– true
sadhakas. Only those whose mind and heart have been dyed in the ocean of
cosmic ideation can lead the society into to the new era of peace and
fulfillment. Such evolved spiritual revolutionaries have the unique
ability, by His grace, to bring forth Prout. Side by side Baba warns us
that without such people at the helm, society will continue in its downward
spiral.

Baba’s teaching is quite obvious so most in our Marga are understanding,
but still of our so-called Prout leaders of NY sector confused. They never
tire of praising atheist Chomsky is savior of entire world. But actually
acc to Bab’s def of NH this person is most probably just one “vocal
revoltionary”. Because time and again they get confused into thinking that this
athesitic type of mundane leaders who can befool thousands of people with
their tall talk can be a leader of Prout.

Baba’s golden guideline is that without spirituality no human being can
solve even meagre problems what to say about grave problems.

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