To Margii Artists

Date: Wed, 31 Nov 2011 21:04:35 -0400
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: “J Ostrove” Vijaya@financialcorps…
Subject: To Margii Artists

Baba

“Toma’re khunjiya’ gechi vane vane maner kon’e khunjiya’ dekhini…” (2807)

Purport:

Baba I went on searching You in the external world, in the holy lands, in the forest, in the cave of the mountain, but I never tried to search You in the corner of my mind. I never looked there.
I observed many types of penance and took trouble to travel to the various holy lands in search of You and I remained engaged in external worship using the traditional paraphernalia with lots of ostentation. All the while I never understood that You are remaining so close to me– this I never thought. Oh Baba, oh divine Entity, You are always sitting in the mind and You love me very deeply and intimately. And You shower Your love on everyone day and night.
With my little intellect what I understood, I tried to execute that with my full strength and energy. I remained lost in various attachments. I also searched You through the exploration of knowledge– remaining busy with pen, paper and ink. By this way my time got wasted. And I could never catch hold of You. But by Your causeless grace now I understand that You are always hiding in my mind. Your divine flute is always resonating. Baba, You are always gracious…

== TO MARGII ARTISTS ==

Note: At present so many on this earth are looking for a way to connect with spirituality in a way that is meaningful for them. Film can be an excellent media in this regard.

Namaskar,
At the beginning of the film we can show a picture of a baby being born: An infant pure and innocent who comes into this world with no belongings and no possessions. Then the film can immediately flash to a person dying and how they leave this earth with no objects or earnings.

Thereafter graphic disparities of wealth can be depicted wherein some own mansions and airplanes while others have not a morsel of food to eat nor a piece of clothing to wear.

This 25 second sequence will set the stage and give the idea that we come into this world with nothing and leave with nothing, yet in the span in between so much exploitation and corruption occurs. All of which is avoidable if we learn to treat one another as brother and sister, as family members on this earth.

Already many in the world are moving towards this truth– to some or more degree– and our film can take it one step further.

A RADICAL PRACARA IDEA

In a film for AM pracara, we can highlight the idea that all the conflicts that occur on this earth are man-made. And that the singular solution to all these problems is found in a radical shift in thinking.

And what is that shift in thinking: That we all come from one God and that everything on this earth belongs to Him. All are kith and kin and all the objects in this world are meant to sustain one and all, and not be hoarded by a few.

Until that divine realisation occurs, the gross disparities and violent conflicts will not stop. Regardless of one’s religious or social outlook, the only practical way to bring peace in the social sphere is to adopt a spiritual outlook where there is one Parama Purusa and all are our brother and sisters.

To the degree that one falls fails to understand and realise this truth, is the degree to which one will be prone to falling into the trap of materialism, with all its greed and inhumane treatment of others.

In an artistic and visual way, our margiis cinematographers and film-makers can think how to present this in a short pracara film. Around the globe, people are looking for answers and it will not be long before they realise that an Obama presidency or such & such bailout are not the answer. The world is quickly running out of answers and possibilities.

Only the ideals of AM are the solution, and films are a wonderful way to plant the answer in people’s minds, in seed form.

IT IS JUST LIKE…

In one family, where a mother has 5 sons, then all are expected to treat each other in a brotherly way, with love and respect. This is not an unheard of notion. And if one brother is disabled or autistic and needs extra support, it would be looked upon as mean-minded and cruel to let that one brother suffer. No one would appreciate that behaviour. This analogy everyone on this planet can understand.

All that is needed is to project this same sense of caring and family feeling to the greater humanity.

JUST A FEW IDEALS ARE NEEDED

To get this that point, a few basic ideals are needed. An outlook that encompasses one and all as part of our own universal family as well as the idea that the resources on this earth are limited. Only through family feeling and rational distribution can we escape the torment and torture that now pervades this earth. The glue behind it all is a truly
God-centered and universal outlook.

All want happiness yet the present social order does not and will not satisfy that yearning for happiness. And people are looking for answers.

The above may sound basic; it may sound too far out there; this may sound so many things. But if we do not amplify this idea soon, others will beat us to to it. If they haven’t already.

And while we do not need to get the credit per se, the fact remains that only the teachings of AM really are the solution. There are many things that may sound like the solution, when in fact they will fail to give the right answer.

BABA’S BLESSING

Human life is short and if we can help instill the notion that we are all part of the same family then that will be a great boon for humanity. There are many ways to make such a film. Our margii artists will know the best way to proceed. Such films will help bring people together and open their eyes to the great wonder that really can manifest on this earth– if we truly realise we are all one, part of that same human family, living under the sweet shelter of One Supreme Entity. Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Baba says, “None of the movable or immovable property of this universe belongs to any particular individual; everything is the common patrimony of all, and the Father of all is Brahma. All living beings can enjoy their rightful share of this property, like members of a joint family in the Da’yabha’ga system. As members of a joint family, human beings should safeguard this common property in a befitting manner and utilize it properly. They should also make proper arrangements so that everyone can enjoy it with equal rights, ensuring that all have the minimum requirements of life to enable them to live in a healthy body with a sound mind.”

“We must not forget, even for a single moment, that the entire animate world is a vast joint family. Nature has not assigned any portion of this property to any particular individual. Private ownership has been created by selfish opportunists, as the loopholes in this system provide them with ample scope for self-aggrandizement through exploitation.When the entire wealth of the universe is the common patrimony of all living being an the system in which some roll in luxury, while others, deprived of a morsel of food, shrivel up and starve to death bit by bit, be said to have the support of dharma?” (POD #1)

Namaskar,
Vijaya

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Health Guideline: Cause of Cancer

Remaining awake after midnight and sleeping after sunrise comes under the definition of being awake at night and sleeping during the day. And that very condition invites cancer:

Baba says “Persons… [who] sleep during the day and keep late nights are most likely to be attacked by cancer.” (YT, p. 19)

Note: Sleeping during the day does not just mean at taking a nap in the afternoon or in the late morning. Sleeping during the day also means not getting up in the early morning for paincajanya.
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Save Oneself From Bad Memories

To: AM-GLOBAL
From: Cinmay Deva
Subject: Save Oneself From Bad Memories
Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:43:11 -0400

Baba

“Bhul kare du’re thekechi tumi bhul bheunge dio…” (1827)

Purport:

Baba, due to my own defects I am not able to get close to You. Because of not following Your dharmic guidelines, my progress is hindered and I am just keeping myself away from You. Baba, by Your grace, please remove all my shortcomings and weaknesses and bring me in Your closest proximity, take me in Your lap. In my life I have received an abundant amount of love from You; You have graced me so much. Baba, now I am offering my love to You– please grace me by accepting it.

Baba, in the sky there is a deep blueness and my tender heart is full of love for You. Baba, I do not want my love to remain hidden & secluded in my little heart. By Your grace please allow the reddish glow of my heart– i.e. my love– to merge in the vastness of the distant blue sky. Baba, please let my love reach up to the highest realm– reach up to You.

Baba, when I sing the song and ideate on You there is a deep feeling of longing in my heart. By Your grace You have given the tune and in that way I sing for You. Baba, may my heart’s inner longing be goaded & pointed exclusively toward You. Baba by Your grace, I should always contemplate and think of You; my life should revolve and dance around You. My life should be successful, please grace me…

== SAVE ONESELF FROM BAD MEMORIES ==

Namaskar,
Memory plays a huge role in the life of any sadhaka – in the life of any human being. People want to remember things but often are unable to remember all that we wish to recall.

Memory is not just about recalling facts and figures, passwords and PIN’s, but serves as a key aspect of our overall happiness. We should remember those sweet and dharmic points that keep us moving in the right direction, and we should forget those painful moments that weigh us down.

So memory plays a crucial life in the proper growth of every human being.

Unfortunately, the power of memory is often misused as people dwell on things that haunt them from the past and forget to recall those finer ideas that will bring love, momentum, and light into their life.

As sadhakas, we are in better position than the general public. Our sadhana and devotional practices reinforce sentient ideals and keep our psyche buoyant and free – not sunken and bogged down.

Even then, we all have room for growth and improvement; we should better understand memory and the functioning of mind in this regard.

Baba has outlined three distinct ways to enhance our memory and hence enhance the quality of life. We should learn and practice these points and share them with all we know.

#1: BE POINTED IN APPROACH

Baba’s first mandate for developing a strong memory recall is to be pointed and concentrated. If one is studying chemistry, one should not also be talking on the phone and listening to music at the time. Then one will not be able to remember the subject of chemistry. Because the mind cannot simultaneously involve in two things with full concentration. The mind will be bifurcated and the memory will be retarded.

Baba says, “One mental flow is engaged in memorizing the subjects being studied, while another mental flow entertains various other thoughts such as: ‘What will my parents and seniors say if I fail in the examination? The juniors in my locality will cease to respect me, they will say all kinds of unpleasant things…’ and so on. Obviously that boy’s mental power has become bifurcated.” (APH-5, p.357)

So the mind should be completely fixed on what you want to remember. If the mind is in a fickle state or moving from one pabulum to another – from one thing to another – then remembering any point will be quite difficult, if not impossible. So fixed concentration is needed.

At the same time, one should not entertain other types of thoughts – such mental diversions should pushed aside.

Baba says, “What should a wise person do in such circumstances? He should think nothing else except: ‘I will memorize whatever I’m reading now, without bothering about my gains if I succeed or my losses if I fail in the task. I will not allow any portion of my mind to flow in an undesirable direction, and thus I will keep my mind exclusively engrossed in the task of learning’.” (APH-5, p. 357)

Accordingly, we should only think only about that thing that we wish to learn and remember. That is Baba’s teaching.

For instance, if one is walking down the street and remembering their ista mantra, then one should not also think about that when they get home they have to pay their taxes nor should they think about the fact that last year their business sales were low. If one wants to remember their ista mantra, then that sadhaka should think about their mantra – period. No active attention should be paid to any other thought, word or idea. By this process one will develop a stronger and stronger ability to remember their ista mantra.

One other critical component is that one can generally create pointed concentration only if the topic is of interest and value to them. If anyone thinks that something is useless or unimportant, then they will not be able to concentrate properly and hence will not remember that idea or teaching.

For instance, if one goes vegetable shopping then upon their return they will most certainly remember what they purchased and how much it cost, but they will not remember all the faces of the other customers or recall what other people purchased. Because those things are not important to them.

MEMORY CAN BE DISASTROUS

Embedded within this first point of pointed concentration is that we should have both keen awareness and vivek (discrimination) regarding those things that we are trying to remember.

Specifically, we should not remind ourselves again and again about memories that are harmful to us. This much understanding we should have.

Yet all too often, a distraught widow thinks again and again about the death of her spouse, or a man recalls the day his wife left him, or people think again and again about mistakes they made long ago in the past.

In short, people commonly think about the sadder or more shocking moments of their life. They cannot do anything to change those events, yet for months and years they bring those sorrowful memories into their mental plate on a daily basis. This in turn invites much anguish and pain in their life.

If one really cannot rid oneself of a negative or horrifying memory – if they are unable to free oneself of that terrible thought mentally – then changing one’s environment or taking away external reminders of that occasion can help remedy the situation. For instance, do not revisit the scene of a car crash that killed your baby. That physical reminder will immediately trigger that painful memory in the mind.

Side by side, equally detrimental though less painful, people may also spend much time remembering their past glories – such as how they scored three goals in a football match 40 years ago, or how they became class president in high school, or so many other useless things from days bygone. These also do not contribute to their growth as human beings or sadhakas. Yet people churn these events in their mind again and again.

Thus along with proper concentration, we must be careful about the types of things that we are remembering – are they helpful for our development of mind, or not.

#2: REPETITION NEEDED

Baba’s second mandate for developing a strong and proper memory is regular repetition.

For instance, if we want to remember a sutra or shloka or one of Baba’s discourses, then first we must follow point #1: Employ pointed concentration to the subject matter. But that in and of itself will not be enough. The human mind has its limitations and over time we will forget.

In that case, to keep the point alive in the mind regular repetition is needed. In the beginning we may need to review by reading or listening to the topic monthly or even weekly. Thereafter, the span of time between review sessions can increase to 3 months, 6 months or even yearly, until finally we reach a point when those ideas are fully rooted in the mind and we have them for life – they will not be forgotten.

So the above is an excellent way to remember good ideas.

In contrast, if there is a painful memory, then we should take the opposite approach. Above we are using books and cassettes as external stimuli to keep the mind fresh in the mind. Conversely, if there is a place – such as our deceased sons’s bedroom – that reminds of some horrific event etc, then we should be sure not to revisit that place as
it will only reinforce those painful memories in the mind.

So this point of reinforcement or review works in two directions and can be used to remember important things as well as free ourselves from old, painful memories.

#3: DO DHYANA

Baba’s third mandate on enhancing one’s memory is doing dhyana sadhana, i.e. sixth lesson.

Here is one of Baba’s unique teachings where He is indirectly referring to Himself. Some jinanis may not be able to understand Baba’s below teaching, but any devotee will certainly recognise that in the below citation Baba is talking the dhyana of Ananda Marga.

Baba says, “The psycho-spiritual approach which strengthens the memory, and makes the intellect omniscient. A good way to stabilize the memory is to meditate on someone you have seen or heard about who possesses a unique photographic memory. This will increase your own memory.” (Faculty of Knowledge-5)

By keeping Baba’s image in our mind – then our mind becomes like His mind – in which case there is nothing in this universe that we will not be able to remember.

KEEP THE MIND LIGHT

Here Baba reminds us of one important teaching from Lord Buddha. Namely, if one wishes to cross the ocean of samskara then one must make the mind light and free – one cannot cross that ocean if one is weighed down by all kinds of worries from the past of fears about the future. Such memories are an impediment and just shackle us.

So the mind should be pure and focused in the present.

Baba says, “When you are to move fast, your mind should be light; if the mind is heavy it will not be able to move fast. What makes the mind heavy? So many impurities of thought…

Muinca pure muinca pacchata majjhe muinca bhabassa pa’ragu’

[Remove all the water from the boat of your body;
being free from water, it will become very light.]

“You should make your mind light. You should give up all worldly thoughts, all base thoughts, all depraving thoughts, and make yourself light.” To make oneself light means to free oneself from impurities. A magnet can easily attract a piece of iron, but if that piece of iron is full of impurities, that very magnet may not be able to attract that iron. So the Supreme Self, Supreme Lord, is always attracting you, but because of your heaviness due to worldly impurities, you are not being attracted by Him.” (AV-31)

Thus, if one is bogged down by all kinds of crude thoughts then remembering Baba will be extremely difficult.

We are to get rid of those old, worn-out memories and think only about Him.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace, He has blessed us with the realisation that He is the most venerable Entity in this universe and only He should be remembered. At the same time we should systematically remove those thoughts which we do not want to remember. This will help us immensely in life. Finally, when remembering Him becomes our fixed habit (dhruva’smrti) then our success and salvation are assured, by His grace.

Baba says, “Those who have developed a memory capable of retaining information do not forget anything any more. That is, they always mentally remember God. Then what happens in that condition? They get their memory firmly implanted – firmly based in a solid foundation – and they never forget. And that condition of never forgetting anything, is called dhruva’smrti. And memory then stands firm and sure. Then you have full control over your memory according to your wish. Such people are called dhruva’smrti – they can always remember God and thus feel a special kind of a’nanda or bliss in their minds.” (AV-6)

Namaskar,
Cinmay

Note 1: MORE TEACHINGS FROM BABA ON MEMORY

Here are a few more of Baba’s invaluable guidelines on enhancing one’s memory.

Baba says, “One whose mental power is weak, whose nerve-cells are feeble, who has little will-power, who cannot make his mind singularly pointed or concentrate sharply, has a short memory. He is unable to remember what has been seen or thought after a lapse of time.” (AV-6)

Baba says, “At the time of learning something, you should empty your mind of all other thoughts, giving full importance to what is being learnt…As a result, you will develop your thinking capacity.” (APH-5, p. 357)

Baba says, “The exact mental reproduction of what has been previously perceived is called smrti or memory. For instance, you once perceived an elephant by observing a real elephant and seeing its huge body, legs, eyes, ears, nose and trunk. The physical form of the elephant struck the retina of your eyes creating a vibration in your optical fluid, and was ultimately imprinted in your mind as the image of the elephant. Now some time later when you see an animal with the same type of limbs as those of your previously perceived elephant, you immediately conclude that this animal must also be an elephant. Your conclusion is based on your previous perception. This is memory.” (AFPS-7)

Baba says, “When the memory becomes established, unfailing and spontaneous, it is called dhruva’smrti, or constant memory. Dhruva’smrti, or constant memory, is an essential prerequisite for spiritual sama’dhi or bliss.” (AFPS-7)

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Importance of Sadhana

Baba says, “Numerous rich and beautiful cities of the historic past are now buried under the earth. Many splendid palaces and mansions, many churches, temples, mosques and synagogues, and many pyramids have been reduced to rubble. With the constant change in the flow of time, how many major changes have occurred in the universe? Similarly, with the change in time and space, people also change. A small two year old child becomes a smart and active twenty-five year old youth. And the same energetic youth becomes an infirm, inactive old person in due course. Thus, nothing in this universe is permanent. Many gigantic animals of the past have become totally extinct from the surface of the earth. Royal pomp and opulence, the pride of power, the vast knowledge of mighty scholars have become things of the past, thrown into the dustbin of history. Many objects emerged in the past, remained on earth for a short time, and then disappeared according to the inexorable law of nature.”

“The only eternal truth is Parama Purus’a. He is ana’di, beginningless, endless, all-pervasive; an entity beyond the scope of time, place and person. He is the only eternal, undecaying, imperishable, immutable entity. He is the Supreme Source from which the inanimate, plant and animal worlds have emerged. He is the starting point and the culminating point of everything. Hence, wise people should utilise their physical, psychic and spiritual power to realise that supreme omnitelepathic entity, to become one with Him.” (PNS-18, p.6)

Note: Please read Baba’s above teaching again carefully. It explains everything.
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Positive Vibration to the Mind

Date: 27 Aug 2011 14:03:08 -0000
From: “Shivadayal Deva”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Positive Vibration to the Mind

Baba

Intro to PS: In the first line the Bengali pronoun ‘Se’ meaning ‘He’ is used to refer to Parama Purusa. Thus there are two ways this song can be understood. First, it can be that one devotee is talking to another devotee about Parama Purusa; or, it can be that the devotee is talking directly to Baba and just in drama form the sadhaka is indirectly referring to Baba as ‘He’. The below purport is done according to this latter approach.

“Anek diner pare se eseche, bhariya’ diyeche saba’ka’r pra’n’a…” (P.S. 3547)

Purport:

Baba, after so many days He has come. He has filled everyone’s heart. Today, after such a long time He has taken advent so everything is blissful. Indeed the whole creation is dancing in bliss. Today there is no other talk– no other story. Only there will be songs and more and more songs celebrating His grand arrival.

The reddish dancing buds are dancing and telling to the madhavii flower that, ‘O Madhavii flower, get up, your time has come. Do not remain drowsy and sleepy; listen to His call’.

And the bakul flower is telling the same thing to the vela and malatii flowers. And the gentle ocean breeze is also telling the same blissful story of His arrival. Everyone is enjoying His grace. Everyone has understood that He has come. So this is not the time to sit & cry– mourning old miserable days. Rather this is the time to dance and sing and smile and enjoy His cosmic grace…

== POSITIVE VIBRATION TO THE MIND ==

Namaskar,
After each and every dharmacakra, we always repeat the Supreme Command. And one of the very special teachings of our Supreme Command is: “Without yama and niyama sadhana is an impossiblity”.

About this people have their various perspectives. In a quick & superficial way some sadhakas think: “yama and niyama is very easy, I am certainly following that.” Or, in contrast, others think, “yama and niyama is impossible to follow; it is too vast.”

Whatever the case may be, here the main question is why Baba has given so much emphasis and importance to yama and niyama and given the warning that “Without yama and niyama sadhana is an impossibility”.

The question naturally arises, “What does yama and niyama have to do with sadhana?”

HOW YAMA AND NIYAMA ARE LINKED WITH SADHANA

Altogether, as we know, there are many points in yama and niyama, ten in total. But here we are primarily concerned with one central aspect. Namely, how is yama and niyama so deeply interlinked with success in sadhana.

As an experiment, let’s take the point of santos’a. This practice of santos’a (mental contentment) is very important for doing proper sadhana.

Why? Because when one starts their sadhana then the mind must be calm, quiet, and tranquil. The mind should have only one single desire: To reach Parama Purusa. So if prior to sadhana the mind is flickering here and there and the nerve cells and nerve fibres are conveying an unfavourable vibration to the mind and passing feelings of discontentment etc, then the mind will obviously be disturbed.

HOW MUNDANE DESIRES DISTURB THE MIND

For example, suppose the mind receives the message that you need something or that you do not have such and such thing, then in place of yearning for Parama Purusa adn getting Him, one gets stuck with thinking about that mundane object. Ironically, however, these “needs” which distract us from our sadhana are usually just superficial things.

For instance, a person who has a fully functional motorcycle may dream of getting a fancier motorcycle; and a person with a fully functional computer may long for getting the latest laptop etc. Why? Because in materialistic communities, stature and importance is given to matter and in turn people chase in that direction.

So often we do not really need those things – just they are allurements imposed from the society. People latch onto the desire to accumulate more and more. All this Baba has beautifully described at length in various darshans and discourses.

One other interesting feature is this: Those living in so-called poor countries “need” less than those living in so-called rich counties. Reason being that they are content with what little they have; whereas, people in so-called wealthy have what they need but side by side think they need 20 times more.

BABA’S SPECIAL TEACHING

To teach sadhakas Baba has given the following example of animals and insects.

Day and night bees collect honey, they do not need such a massive amount of honey– as the honey is just oozing out from where it is stored. There is a huge overflow but even then the honey bees are always restless and desperate to collect more and more honey.

In contrast, dogs are easily satisfied with what food they get and become quite happy. They do not spend their life collecting food which they will never use.

HUMAN BEINGS ALWAYS WANT MORE

As human beings, we need actually very few things to survive. After all how much can one eat? But people collect thousands of varieties of food items and those things just sit and get rotten.

Likewise on the point of living, just a small place is needed. The human body is 6 feet long and certainly not more than 7 feet tall. But people are restless to get bigger and bigger houses. For that they are willing to indulge in cheating, deception, and even murder. Or they just waste their whole life hankering for that big house and in the end they die.

The basic theorem is that in such cases the nerves send negative vibrations to the mind. Such as ‘I am hungry, I need more’. This type of unfavourable message gets sent to the mind– thus making the mind restless, uncomfortable, and unhappy.

Those who are not intuitive persons may not understand so easily how this happens. But one can look at those running after worldly objects like a mad dog. And by seeing their mental status one can easily comprehend how restless and uncomfortable their mental state is. In such a wavering & flighty condition, sadhana is completely impossible.

WHAT IS NEEDED TO BEGIN SADHANA

To start sadhana, the mind needs a basic level of tranquility and composure. It needs to be balanced. This is the prerequisite factor. The message from the nerves should be given to the mind: “I do not need anything, I have enough. What material things I have is enough– more than that I do not need. I need only Parama Purusa.”

When the mind gets this type of message from the nerves then the mind feels calm and quiet and it is ready to do sadhana. And in the opposite case, the mind remains restless & disjointed.

So to do proper sadhana the mind should be fed a positive message:

“I do not need anything, I have enough. What material things I have is enough– more than that I do not need. I need only Parama Purusa.”

And that positive message is only possible when one has santos’a.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SANTOS’A & APARIGRAHA

One interesting thing which Baba tells us is that without aparigraha then achieving a state of santosa is just a dream– i.e. it is highly impossible. So we can say that aparigraha and santosa are intimately linked together.

If one wants to follow santos’a then they have to follow aparigraha strictly. And if one is already following aparigraha then maintaining santos’a is easy.

So one has to train their mind that, “I do not need useless things; my needs are limited.” Sadhakas should not blindly copy people from the general society on the point of mundane acquisition. If one keeps the Goal in the mind that we are human beings and that we have come here to reach Parama Purusa then success in sadhana is sure.

And to do that we must remember that (a) life is very short, (b) material possessions are not the aim of life, (c) there are two more fields: psychic and spiritual, (d) spiritual wealth is the most significant attribution, (e) only spiritual wealth remains with you life after life. That is the special nature of spiritual wealth.

If these types of ideas are fed to the mind by auto-suggestion then the practice of aparigraha becomes far easier. And when aparigraha is easy and attained, then that means one does not unnecessarily run to accumulate more and more useless worldly things at the cost of their spiritual practice. In that case naturally the feeling of santosa will arise and when there is santosa, then instantly the mind will receive the favourable message: “I am satisfied I do not need anything, I need only Parama Purusa.”

With this strength and pointedness the mind will then rush towards Parama Purusa and sadhana will be blissful.

UNIQUENESS OF SANTOSA

The conclusion is that to do proper sadhana, then yama and niyama is needed. And although all the points of yama and niyama are very important, santosa has its own special beauty.

Real satisfaction in life comes with the wealth of santosa. Devoid of this wealth even a king becomes like a beggar: Always terribly hungry, desiring more and more material things.

So this is the secret. That is why Baba says, “Who is rich? Those who have santos’a. And who is poor? Those who do not have santosa.” That is the real definition. But those who are confused do not think in this way; rather they calculate this matter based on their bank balance.

But the spiritual manner for determining who is wealthy is based on who needs how much. If you do not need anything then you are the most wealthy person. And if you need more and more things then you are a beggar. That is a beautiful definition. It has nothing to do with how much actual money you have. It depend on one’s psychic outlook and spiritual realisation.

So we should never forget Baba’s special teaching that santosa and aparigraha are inextricably linked together and both are highly needed for doing better sadhana.

Namaskar,
Shivadayal

Note 1: THE EQUATION FOR TRUE SANTOS’A

When one is truly established in santosa, then all mundane things become like the dust of the earth. One must not forget this guideline from Baba. By this way one can really understand if one has a deep sense of santosa or not. If one has true santosa then this idea must come.

Note 2: SOME OF BABA’S TEACHINGS ON SANTOSA

Here Baba says that without santosa – if one is recklessly running after crude desires – then one cannot have a peaceful or balanced mind.

Baba says, “Santos’a, therefore, means a state of proper ease. Contentment is not at all possible if the individual is running after carnal pleasures like a beast. As a result of extroversal analysis, the objects of enjoyments go on increasing both in number and abstraction and that is why one’s mental flow never gets any rest. Under such circumstances how can one attain perfect peace of mind?” (GHC)

In the next quote Baba shows how without aparigraha one cannot achieve a state of mental ease and satisfaction.

Baba says, “Millionaires want to become multimillionaires, because they are not satisfied with their million. Ask the millionaires if they are happy with their money. They will say, ‘Where is the money? I am somehow pulling on’. This answer indicates their ignorance of aparigraha. But such feelings have another adverse effect on body and mind.” (GHC)

And if anyone reads ‘A Guide to Human Conduct”, they will find countless quotes on the importance of both santosa and aparigraha.

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We Should Take Lesson

Baba says, “If one stays away from objects of attraction, one has no chance of using them and they may thus gradually lose their attraction; while if one is near them one may be attracted towards them more.” (AMEP, 98 Edn, p.126)

Note: Reading negative articles, crude books & literature, filthy magazines and watching crude movies invites degeneration.
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Story of Worthless Son

Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2011 20:58:36 +0530
To: AM-GLOBAL
From: “Deva_Sudhakar”
Subject: Story of Worthless Son

Baba

“Tava path dhare, tava na’m kare, toma’r pa’nei cale thaki…” (P.S. 2180)

Purport:

Baba, by Your grace I am treading on Your path by singing Your name and moving towards You. You are my Goal.

By Your grace I am moving closer and closer towards You– to reach You. Baba, except You, in this universe who else is mine– no one. Because of this I am always calling You for Your shelter.

O’ Lord, in this decorated universe of Yours, You have provided me a special place according to Your liking. You have bestowed everything; and, You do not desire anything from anyone. Just You go on pouring Your divine grace eternally.

The demerits such as lethargy only come from my side. Plus all kinds of lame excuses I give in self-justification. Hence all the lacuna belong to me; whereas, You Yourself are ever-gracious.

Baba, You have situated my mind in the corner of Your vast cosmic mind. And from that corner it receives Your divine vibration.

With the attraction and resonance of Your divine vibration, the lotus of the love, which has blossomed in my heart, is looking towards You with deep yearning.

Baba, singing Your Name, I am moving on Your path. For me, Your grace is everything…

== STORY OF WORTHLESS SON ==

Namaskar,
In late 2009, AM Publications released a new book. It is a collection of essays about Baba’s contributions written by members of the academic community. Perhaps by now you have seen it.

However, for any Ananda Margii, reading the cover itself is enough to know that there are serious issues with this publication.

This is an important topic for it reflects how Baba, the Guru of Ananda Marga, is presented to the general public. As His disciples, it is exclusively our duty to safeguard His excellence.

Anyone with basic devotion will understand the proper way to address Baba on the public platform, let us see what was done in this particular book. Any potential errors made should not be repeated in the future – neither in this publication nor any other. That is the key point at hand.

STORY OF WORTHLESS SON

Before discussing the details of the aforementioned book, here is one related story.

There was a village family in Sheohar (Shivahar) district of Bihar and the father – though illiterate himself – had a great desire that his son should be properly educated. The father toiled in the fields night and day in order to send his son to the finest schools. The father sacrificed much and used 100% of his limited financial means to send his son to college. After showering his paternal affection and giving all the family funds to his son’s study for years and years, his son completed his schooling and became a professor.

All along, to ensure his son would have a great opportunity in life, the father labored hard in the hot sun day after day. But to him, it was all worth it to see his son succeed.

On the occasion of one festival, the father made the big excursion and traveled from his remote village to visit his son, the professor, at college. The father was extremely proud and told all his friends and neighbors about the upcoming trip.

The momentous day arrived and his father arrived smiling with gifts in hand for his son. His best clothes and jubilant expression however could not hide his weathered features from his many years of working outside in the fields.

The son greeted his father at the station and brought him to the college to show him around. As it was a festival day, the son was not thinking that any of his colleagues would be there.

Father and son walked and talked from building to building and the father was very impressed by what he saw. It was all that he expected and much, much more. But mostly, he was so pleased to be with his son.

After much walking, they took a seat in the shade. They sat and talked for some time when from behind them a man approached. When they could hear the footsteps directly behind them, the son turned around and much to his surprise saw that it was the chairman from his department. The son was shocked and his whole expression changed.

Immediately he stood up to greet his senior colleague. He took on a serious demeanor and spoke eye to eye with the chairman. The father sat there quietly watching, waiting to be introduced. But the two kept talking.

At one point, in the conversation, the chairman motioned inquisitively towards the father, and the proud father was ready to stand up and meet the chairman. But the son just brushed his hand in a rather brusque manner and attempted to redirect the conversation.

But this did not resolve the situation, he could sense the the department chairman was still curious as to who this person was.

So the the son said, “Yaha mera’ servant hai.” (Yaha means “this”, mera’ means “my”, servant means servant, and hai means “is”.)

The chairman nodded – paid no attention to the father – and continued his dialog with the son.

The father only knew Hindi – not a single word of English – so the father only understood the Hindi words: “Yaha mera’ _______ hai”, meaning, “This is my _______”.

But he heard the sound “servant” and kept it in his memory.

A few minutes later, the chairman and the son finished their conversation and the chairman walked off without even acknowledging the father. The son looked visibly affected – he had not expected to see any colleagues at the college on this festival day. This disappointment was not lost on his father.

The rest of their visit went uneventfully – though the father felt perplexed by his son’s behavior. The father returned back to his village with one burning question in mind. What did the English word “servant” mean.

He immediately asked one of the literary people in his village what the English word “servant” meant. When the father got the answer, he immediately understood the situation.

The father felt saddened that his son was so ashamed of him.

Apparently during his years of study, the son had created his own history and background and told many stories of how he was born into a literate, well-to-do family to all his colleagues. He thought this would boost his prestige.

So when he and his illiterate and simple father unexpectedly met up with the chairman of the department, the son introduced his father as his servant.

That occasion turned out to be one of the last times the father and son ever spoke. The arrogant son had not an iota of gratitude for the father’s sacrifice of putting him through school. The son wanted to disassociate himself from his village roots entirely. In turn, the father was despondent that he had lost his son – the very person to whom he had given so much. He had given everything for the growth of his son and now his son was essentially disowning him. The father lived out his days with a heavy heart.

This very tragic story is highly related with the recently published book noted above.

SHRII SHRII A’NANDAMU’RTIJII

As we know, when speaking about our Sadguru Baba, as His disciples we are always to use words that reflect only the highest respect.

Baba says, “The one formless, beginningless and infinite Parama Brahma (Supreme Consciousness) is the only entity to be attained by living beings – That alone is Jagat Guru (the Supreme preceptor), That alone has revealed Brahmavidya’
(intuitional science) to us through the medium of the name and form of Anandamu’rtijii. Unit beings must be made to appreciate Its majesty.” (CC-2, ‘Sadhana’, pt 1a)

Baba is our spiritual Preceptor, and in that role He is known as Shrii Shrii A’nandamu’rtijii. Thus we are to use this name with the greatest reverence. Every A’nanda Ma’rgii is aware about this.

We should not be like the worthless son in the above story who fails to give proper regard to his father.

Unfortunately, in the recently published book, the situation is not very favourable. See for your yourself how the publishers did.

HOW THEY PUBLISHED THE BOOK

Now, let’s get to the book itself. The title is “He Lived Among Us” and it is 300+ pages long; but one need look no further than the cover to see how the publishers represented Baba.

Remember, this book is a collection of essays written by various intellectuals and researchers. But it was published by Ananda Marga Publications.

The subtitle of the book is printed on the cover: “Contributions of Shrii Shrii A’nandamu’rti in the eyes of his contemporaries”.

PROBLEM #1: “contemporaries”

The first and most glaring problem on the cover is the use of the word “contemporaries” in the subtitle. Using this word – “contemporaries” – puts all those jinani intellectuals on par with Baba. Because as we all know, contemporaries refers to both time and stature. For instance, even though a normal citizen was born during the same time period as Barack Obama or Hugo Chavez, that person is not considered to be their contemporary since he is not a world or country leader. To be a contemporary one must be of a similar social stature etc.

So it is abominable that our publishers used such a word in the subtitle to refer to these jinani authors, thereby placing them on equal footing as Sadguru Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. This book is supposed to glory Baba’s Divine status but unfortunately it merely equates Him with these intellectuals, calling them His “contemporaries”.

Some naive readers may think nothing is wrong with this, but every devotee will take strong exception to what these publishers have done. Indeed every bhakta will be quite alarmed and think that the AMPS publishers of this book have behaved like the worthless son in the above story.

PROBLEM #2: “his contemporaries”

The next major problem on the book’s cover is this: The publishers did not capitalize the letter “h” when they wrote “his contemporaries” in the subtitle. This does two things. It fails to show the we, His followers, believe Him to be Divine; and it further equates those “contemporaries” as being on par with Baba. They are human beings and “he” is also a human being. There is no difference in stature.

Such is the tragedy that occurs by not capitalising the word “his”. And again, this gross negligence was not carried out by some distant jinani writers but rather by our very own AMPS publications team. That is another reason why many are saying that those publishers are no better than the worthless son in the aforementioned story.

PROBLEM #3: Missing “ji”

We are to always the suffix “jii” when using His name. So it should be Shrii Shrii Anandamurtijii. That is how it is written in Caryacarya: “the name and form of Anandamu’rtijii.” (cited above)

Yet, on the very of the cover of the book that is supposed to be in the honour of Baba, the respectful suffix “jii” is conspicuously missing. They merely wrote Shrii Shrii Anandamurti.

So this is yet another gross injustice. We are trying to propagate Baba’s Divine Personality yet the publishers fail to give Him basic measures of respected and neglect to use the suffix “ji”.

How then can we think that this book glorifies Baba when so many basic elements of respect are lacking. Even the followers of the crude dogmatic religions never fail to laud their preceptor of leader in public – i.e. they will always, always, always state “His Holiness the Dalai Lama” and never just “Dalai” or “Lama” etc – but in this AM book, the publishers did not give Baba the level of respect that even human beings get. After all, there are many people in society who are referred to with the suffix “ji”, yet this was not donned upon Baba and He is Divine.

Thus time and again this publication presents Baba in a most lackluster and disrespectful manner, thereby leading good sadhakas to conclude that the publishers of this book are just as bad as the worthless son discussed above.

PROBLEM #4: The Main Title

Finally there is the main title: “HE LIVED AMONG US”. No doubt the capitalised “H” but that has little value since ALL the letters are capitalised.

The main issue is that the title conveys the feeling that the book is about someone who has come and gone from this earth – that he was here and is now gone.

The title, “HE LIVED AMONG US”, carries all kinds of finite and fleeting meanings.

It does not convey the idea that the subject of this book is an Eternal Entity who exists across time and space.

Thus on the cover of the book there are any number of cases of negligence and neglect. And it all speaks to the standard of the publishers. No one else is to blame. Those jinani writers may have written all kinds of nonsense on those 300+ pages, but what has happened on the cover is enough to turn the stomach of any right-thinking devotee.

That is why many sadhakas think that those publishers are just like the worthless son in the above story.

HOW IT WORKS WITH OTHER RELIGIONS

The various religions may be dogmatic and may be corrupt but at least they have the requisite courage and awareness to glorify their chosen Deity. In contrast, the publishers of AM books are either cowards or blind, or both.

Just see: Buddhists around the globe always refer to their leader as “His Holiness the Dalai Lama.” This phrase gets repeated with every action and word of the Dalai Lama. And by this way they effectively promote their perceived greatness of their leader. Plus, they have taught the rest of the world to do the same – ie treat their Buddhist leader with respect.

Here is the proof – see this statement printed in a top western newspaper.

“Statement from the Press Secretary on the President’ s meeting Thursday with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama:”The President met this morning at the White House with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama…” (Washington Post, Feb 18 2010)

This newspaper has emulated the titled that the followers use for the Dalai Lama, ie. His Holiness. If we fail to refer to Baba in a proper way, then we will miss the opportunity to teach the rest of the world about Baba’s Divine stature, and we will be blamed – and rightly so.

Because indeed this is something that all the dogmatic religions and sects do: They treat their leader with utmost respect in the public arena. Whether it be “Lord Jesus Christ”, “The Honourable Elijah Mohammed”, “Maharishi Patanjali Ji”, “Sri or Saint Shankaracarya Ji”, “Saint Francis of Assisi” or any other religious leader, always the followers have the foresight and courage to give their leader respect.

But in AM, when our Guru truly is the Parama Purusa incarnate, the publishers could not live up to the standard that the dogmatic followers of other religions do. That is why many say that the cowardly publishers are just like the worthless son from the above story.

BABA SCOLDED ONE DADA

Who can forget that dramatic reporting session in front of Baba when one Dada mentioned Ramakrsna. Then immediately Baba scolded that Dada and told him not to refer to any great person in such a disrespectful manner. Baba said that one should use “Thakur Ramakrsna Paramahansa” as that gives the proper respect.

Here Baba is teaching us to use proper language and feeling when referencing a revered person. Naturally then, we are to apply the spirit of this teaching when referencing Baba also.

That means we are to say, “Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, or “Revered Baba”, or “Sadguru” or any term that conveys the proper respect. By this way we not only share the feeling of our heart but we show others how they should refer to Him as well.

So we should pay heed to Baba’s guideline from this reporting session.

Tragically, those publishers fell short of the mark, which is why many just call them worthless. About this you can decide for yourself by seeing the quality of their work.

JUST LIKE A PIG LICKING YOU

Here is one analogy that is appropriate to this situation.

If a dog or pig gets close to you then it may lick you out of love and respect. Because that is all that dog or pig knows to do. Likewise when any unqualified person tries to glorify Baba then due to their limited understanding they will create a mess, dripping their saliva all over the place. In trying to love and glorify Him something else will happen. And that is exactly what occurred when the AMPS publishing team made this book, “HE LIVED AMONG US”. In that case are they any different from the local street dog or domesticated pig.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace, He has revealed to us whom He is and it is our duty to share and spread His greatness with one and all. But when certain publishers shy away from this divine truth, either due to their cowardly nature or lack of realisation, then that is nothing but an ugly failure. That is why they and their book become “worthless”, like the useless son in the above story. Baba is our Supreme Father and we must always convey this feeling of love and respect when raising His name, especially when done in public in the form of a book. As His sons and daughters, that is our inherent responsibility. None should fail and become worthless.

Baba says, “The one formless, beginningless and infinite Parama Brahma (Supreme Consciousness) is the only entity to be attained by living beings – That alone is Jagat Guru (the Supreme preceptor), That alone has revealed Brahmavidya’
(intuitional science) to us through the medium of the name and form of Anandamu’rtijii. Unit beings must be made to appreciate Its majesty.” (CC-2, ‘Sadhana’, pt 1a)

Namaskar,
Sudhakar

Note 1: THIS DADA DID THIS

I have great friendship and respect for Dada Sarvatmanandaji, so when it is his name that is listed on the inside cover as the Publications Secretary and when his Publications team is also involved, then I feel great pain as many may lose trust and faith in Dadaji. They may think he and his team are “worthless”.

Here I just want to say I have great feeling for Dadaji and I truly hope he is able to repair this error – and fast, otherwise I fear others may lose respect for Dadaji.

Note 2: WHAT UGLINESS IS ON THE INSIDE

When the cover of the book is such an utter mess, then we can only imagine how many gross errors appear on the 300+ printed pages of this book. When the publishers themselves are unable to properly present Baba and His ideas, then they will be in no position to correct the many wrongs potentially made by these jinani authors. So we should all be ready. At this point, who knows what dirt might lie inside the front cover.

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Baba’s Mudra Photo is a Unique Gift…

Baba says, “The Sadguru is saying something, and the deaf or dumb man wants to hear it but cannot. If one concentrates the mind on Vara’bhaya Mudra’, there will be the direct effect of positive microvita on the auricular or other nerve cells and also on the controlling cells, and it may be that all of a sudden he may get back the power of hearing. One should look towards this mudra’ and not to anything else. Microvita are radiated through this mudra’. This is the inner secret.” (Microvita Nutshell, p.65)
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Save Our Scripture

From: “Karma Rasa Deva”
To: AM-GLOBAL
Subject: Save Our Scripture
Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:04:36 +0000

Baba

“Toma’y a’mi bha’loba’si, Toma’r na’me toma’r dhya’ne…” (1382)

Purport:

Baba, I love You. In the beauty of Your Name and in the sweetness of Your
dhyana, all my mental darkness vanishes. When I sing about Your loving
glory, my mind races high into the distant sky– breaking all my
attachments and bondages. Baba, Your Presence charms my whole life. By Your
auspicious arrival, by Your coming in ever-new form, You go on pouring Your
grace. Baba, I love You…

== SAVE OUR SCRIPTURE ==

Namaskar,
All know the great significance of our AM scripture and the importance of keeping Baba’s divine words “as is”.

Attached please find Baba’s original discourse of 23 October 1978 as transcribed from the tape– as well as delineations how the printed book differs from His actual words.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace His each and every word is apta vakya and certainly soon we will ensure that all our printed AM books ring true to His each and every spoken word. Then they will be scripture in the true sense of the word.

Baba says, “When the sole purpose of scripture, i.e. dharmasha’stra is to establish the human beings in the stable, exalted position of spiritual ideation, it must be practical, rational, infallible and universal. It must be based on deep eternal truths. It must be a’ptava’kya. A scripture is a guided entity.” (TK-2)

Yours in Him,
Karma Rasa

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Misutilisation of Science

Baba says, “The crises faced by society today indicates that humanity is not encouraging the maximum utilization and rational distribution of the mundane, supramundane and spiritual potentialities of the world. Science is being used to develop more deadly weapons for war rather than being channelised for benevolent and constructive purposes.” (PNS-13, p.47)
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Dhobiya’ Pa’t

To: AM-GLOBAL
From: Ramdhan “Ramdhan@Indianet…”
Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:57:21 +0530
Subject: Dhobiya’ Pa’t

BABA

== DHOBIYA’ PA’T ==

Namaskar,
In His AM ideology, Baba scientifically shows what befalls those who chase after name and fame.

STICK TO OLD WAYS

In Brahmacakra, human beings have a special place. Before attaining a human body, one has to cross innumerable steps. Every one of us is blessed by Parama Purusa, in getting a human body. And each if us also crossed similar steps in passing through plant life, to animal life, and finally reaching human life.

When people make one journey, then that part of the journey’s path which they already crossed, they are acquainted with. And even if that part which they crossed was more difficult than the part which is yet to come, still people will not be so enthusiastic about ascending onto the new path. Rather they will like to remain along the old and familiar path.

Two examples can be given:

(1) People don’t like to remove even the difficult dogma which they are used to or adapted to. With this mentality, they go on observing those difficult to follow dogmatic beliefs and rituals because in the past, they did so.

(2) Human beings came from animal life. And there, in animal life only the senses were dominating. Eat, sleep, and sex. By this way, life after life they passed. So all are acquainted with those things. And they do not like to go ahead in following the path of spirituality, which they are not acquainted with. Rather they easily adapt the path of animality.

So the conclusion of these two points is, that the old path is more easy in spite of having big difficulty in that path. People don’t like to ascend and march ahead on a new path. Even if it is more glorious, easy, and charming.

The root cause is, attachment of the previous path. And, fear about the future path.

DEVELOPMENT OF MIND

About the development of human mind and animal and plant mind, Baba is revealing the truth in Ananda Sutram. And there He says, that in the plants, creepers, and shrubs only citta (“done I”) is there. And when living beings develop and progress from plant into animal life, then aham (ego/doer I) is also there. And aham is dominating in their existence. And finally in human beings, the three parts of mind are manifest: mahat, aham, and citta.

So in plant life, citta was dominating. And in animal life, aham or “doer I” was strong. And in human form, i.e. in those who are new to human form — as with animals, “doer I” or ego dominates. And when humans get more advanced, then mind gets more developed, and mahat develops. Which gives the sense of “pure I feeling”. And with the effect of mahat, intuition develops.

So in ordinary human beings, aham or “doer I” is stronger than mahat. And those who are developed human beings, mahat or intuition is developed. If the amount of mahat is more than the amount of aham, then that excess part will be intuition. So when intuition develops, then all great qualities come in that person. Devoid of dominance of mahat, ordinary human beings are easily controlled by their aham (“doer I”).

And with the dominating effect of aham, generally human beings are involved in their name, fame, power, prestige, respect, personal glory, etc. So such type of people’s standard is between elevated humans, and animals. This created world is nothing but the outcome of the divine play of Parama Purusa. So in His cosmic cycle, He made the rule as follows.

Baba says, “Ya’drshii bha’vana’…– As one thinks, so one becomes.” (NKS, Edn.’97, p.195)

CHASE AFTER NAME AND FAME

People give a lot of value of prestige, name, fame, self-glory. And they constantly engage in this. The goal of such persons is their own unit existence, not Parama Purusa. Then in that case what they want, Parama Purusa gives them. In Ananda Vacanamrtam, Baba says, “Ye yatha’ mam pradyante”. What people want, Lord grants them.

HOW IT RELATES WITH THOSE COMING INTO AM

So when Baba blessed the living beings with AM philosophy and created Ananda Margis, then all kinds of people joined. And everyone has their own psychic pabulum. So due to that some of those who joined AM, wanted name and fame. And Baba blessed them.

Those WTs who wanted name and fame, this type of samskara they made for themselves. And Baba blessed them accordingly. A similar thing happened with Margis also, in their worldly life.

But in the journey towards enlightenment/Anandam, one has to move far beyond the dominance of aham (“doer I) — name, fame, self-glory. Because where the dominance of self is there, then cosmic ideation is impossible. That’s why in scripture it is said, “Yahan kam vahan nari ram”. Where there is “I” feeling or worldly thoughts, then ideation on the Supreme is not possible.

So on one side, what disciples want Baba granted. Those who wanted name and fame, they got that. And on the other side, engaging in one’s glory or name and fame, is detrimental for sadhana. So Baba graces also, to remove the attachment from these fetters of name, fame, and self-glory.

Baba says, “Abhima’nam’ sura’pa’nam’…”

“An inflated ego is like drinking wine, self-aggrandizement leads one into the deepest hell, and social status is like the excrement of a pig. Give up all three of these and only sing the glories of the Lord.” (AV-23, p.105)

So Baba says that to engage in one’s own self is not at all good– rather it is negative.

That is why Baba guides us that name, fame, such mundane glory is just like feces of the swine. So those disciples who desired, they got name and fame from Him. And as a Guru, He has to help everyone for their spiritual development. So in due course when such persons make some progress in spirituality, then they get a blow by their self-created samskara of the past. At that moment their prestige, name, and fame pulverizes in front of their own eyes.

THE CASE OF NON-MARGIIS

Whereas in the case of non-Margis, usually the loss of respect happens only in a future life. Just like in the case of Stalin, Gandhi, and present day so-called very respected political leaders, etc. When after their demise people evaluated their work, then their reputation went from heaven to hell. During their own lifetime they had their glory. But later on after their death, people understand who they really were.

DADAS SITUATION

But in the case of Ananda Marg, the panoramic picture is completely different. Because when people start doing sadhana, then the exhaustation of samskaras is quicker than for non-Margis. Those Dadas who have big name, fame, and prestige, when they move one or two steps ahead in their forward movement, then all their prestige smashes and is ground to dust. Countless examples can be given. Every one of us is aware about that.

Most of those Dadas and Didis who got huge honor and respect in AMPS in the past, now in light of the current situation one can see how their prestige became one with the dust. Madhavananda in his own time, was a magnified / glorified personality. Now he is treated as a veritable demon.

Similar is the case of Vishokananda, Prakashananda, Vimuktananda, Tadagatananda, Nirmalananda, Avtk Ananda Maetreyii, and so many such people who once stood in the limelight. But are now part of the blackest history. Many Dadas and Didis names can be found in old AM books, as publications secretary. Most of them now you may not find anywhere in this mortal world. Either they became defectors, or they left and started leading degenerated lives. But those days when their name got printed in Ananda Marga books as the publisher, then they were feeling very great.

Because of all these reasons, sincere Ananda Margis do not give any credence to the post-holding people. Rather, they give more value and respect to those Dadas, Didis, or Margis who have ideal conduct.

Because the situation in our AM is unlike the general society, where post-holders get large respect. Our tantric AM society is unique. Baba has given the scale of character with which one can measure who is who. On the basis of conduct, one should treat others in course to give respect. The concluding idea then, is that, conduct is the ideal scale.

SUMMARY

So this whole history gives a few teachings teachings.

(1) In the spiritual journey, name and fame is not a good thing.
(2) Those who got name and fame, their prestige got smashed to dust in front of their eyes.
(3) Those who have respect today, they should be careful.
(4) Better one should not have yearning for name, fame, and respect in the Ananda Marga tantric system. Otherwise, it will yield the same fate.

Namaskar,
Ramdhan

* THE MEANING OF DHOBIYA’ PA’T:

Dhobiya’ Pa’t: This is the Sanskrt phrase used to describe the process how washermen clean and dry the clothes. First they submerge the clothes in the river water and then lift those clothes out of the water and raise them overhead to quickly air dry. And while in this position the clothes feel as though they are flying high in the sky. And then the next moment, in order to dry them, the washerman sharply smacks those clothes down on the massive hard rocks– whereby a loud cracking noise can be heard. And this entire process culminating in the harsh smacking of the clothes onto the rocks is known as dhobiya’ pa’t. Likewise when self-serving people gain huge public prestige then they feel like they are flying high in the sky; yet invariably the next moment their misdeeds get exposed and their whole public image gets smashed into the dust. In that sense their position or their fate is no different from those clothes which the washerman vigorously whips down onto the hard, unforgiving earth.

Note 1: BABA’S TEACHING FROM NEO-HUMANISM

Certain Dadas/Didis names who are still visible around us on the world map have been mentioned in the below notes & referenced indirectly in this entire letter. Because such Dadas themselves have witnessed their glory reach up to the heaven only in the next moment to find it burning in the hell. And now common Margis are realizing and feeling repentence about the way they were giving honor to those Dadas. So this Baba’s teaching became true:

Baba says, “…People realize, “My God, what a great mistake I made! I worshipped a monkey taking it to be a god! What a great misfortune I have brought upon myself!” (LOI, ed.’87, p.84)

Such Dadas were getting praised by one and all yet later it was discovered that they were the ones who actually ruined the scriptures, took away the Margis’ rights, and so much other nonsense they did. And now they lost all their prestige and all their respect. This is the case with Sarvatmananda & Pranavatmakananda and certainly Rudrananda etc.

Note 2: DEFECTORS OF THE PAST

Tadgatananda and Nirmalananda, Krsnananda, and Prajinananda were treated as great in those days, around the ’70’s. And they used to hold big seminar lectures, and were talking on philosophy etc. They were treated as unparalleled intellectuals. Even today you can see their names in old Seminar Notes. But now people read those names with different feeling. Because, they became defectors.

Note 3: NOT JUST ONE OR TWO CASES

These types of examples are not one, two, or three. There are more than a hundred. But the central idea in each case is the same. That because of their domination of aham tattva – I feeling – they wanted name and fame, and they got it. Everything is changeable in this world. And in sadhakas’ life, change comes quickly. So these dadas’ and didis’ fame turned to infamy. Their saintliness became proved as notoriousness. But by this way, society got benefit and they did too.

Note 4: MORE ABOUT THE PRESENT SCENE

Sarvatmananda and Pranavatmakananda tried to push their names as being the saviours of the archives etc, and especially Pranavatmakananda wanted to bind his name with stories about Baba known as Samsmaran, but all their negative dealings got expoesed how they distorted the scripture and ruined Baba’s various discourses. All these negative deeds these Dadas did so now their name has just sunk.

Note 5: EXPLANATIONS FROM ANANDA SUTRAM

See the following slokas in Ananda Sutram, which explain the evolution of mind as living beings progress from plants to animals to humans.

Here below in sloka 1-14, Baba reveals that as rajogun’a comes to dominate over tamogun’a, the aham or sense of doer-ship, evolves out of the citta.

“1-14. Citta’t gun’a’vaks’aye rajogun’apra’balye aham.” (AS, ed.’96, p.12)

And then in the following sloka, Baba explains that with further evolution towards the subtle, mahat or “pure I feeling” evolves out of the aham, or “doer I”.

“1-15. Su’ks’ma’bhimukhinii gatirudaye aham’tattva’nmahat.” (AS, ed.’96, p.12)

Then in the following three slokas, Baba explains that in plants, citta dominates, in animals, aham or “doer I” dominates, and in highly developed beings, mahat dominates.

“1-18. Mahadaham’varjite anagrasare jiivadehe lata’gulme kevalam’ cittam.”

“[In undeveloped living organisms, creepers and shrubs where aham and mahat have not yet evolved, there is only citta.]”

“1-19. Mahadvarjite anagrasare jiivadehe lata’gulme cittayukta’ham.”

“[In undeveloped organisms, creepers and shrubs where mahat has not yet evolved, there is aham as well as citta.]”

“1-20. Pra’grasare jiive lata’gulme ma’nus’e mahadaham’ citta’ni.”

“[In developed organisms, creepers and shrubs, as well as in humans, there is mahat, aham and citta.]” (AS, ed.’96, pp.13-14)

Note 6: MORE FROM ANANDA SUTRAM

Here in the following sloka, Baba explains that when mahat or “knower I” exceeds aham or “doer I”/ego, then intuition emerges.

1-17 “Aham’tattva mahadpra’balye bodhih.”

“[When the mahat is greater than the aham, the bodhi (intuition) evolves.]”

“Purport: If the dimension of the mahattattva be greater than that of the aham’tattva, the surplus part of the mahat is called the bodhi [intuition].”

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“Maner ma’jhere base gopan kotha’ shon’o, kichui luka’no ja’y na’…” (P.S.
583)

Purport:

Baba You are sitting in the mind. You listen to all the talks & tales and feelings of the heart. Nobody can hide anything from You. What anyone thinks, You know. Baba, You are everywhere– in each and every iota of this entire universe. Indeed You are so vast & You have manifested Yourself in such a grand way, that beyond You there is no existence of anything.

Baba, You even listen to the very small talks of the mind; You take care of even the most meagre and ordinary matters– just like dust particles. You cannot forget or ignore anyone, and You do not remain oblivious of anything. You take care of everyone. You love one and all. The galaxies & stars which are floating in far away distant places, even those objects are not beyond Your touch. For You everything is close by; nothing is far. And You take care of everything.

The spring which has lost its beauty & the flower which has just bloomed, nothing gets forgotten. Everything has equal importance to You. You are everywhere. There is no place where You do not remain. Except You, there is nothing.

Baba, You are sitting inside the mind and listening to all the feelings and longings of the heart. Nobody can hide anything from You. Baba You are infinite; Baba, You are everywhere…

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Future Achievements of Prout

Baba says, “In 100,000 years, human beings will conceive of things which are beyond the conception of the human beings of today. These types of changes will occur within the social and economic jurisdiction of PROUT.” (PNS-17, p. 37)
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Widespread Myth about Jobs

From: “Karma Rasa”
To: AM-GLOBAL
Subject: Widespread Myth about Jobs
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:33:49 +0000

Baba

== WIDESPREAD MYTH ABOUT JOBS ==

Namaskar,
In today’s capitalistic economy, jobs are becoming more and more scarce.

Indeed, in the USA – the most capitalistic nations on the planet – the unemployment rate reached as high as 9.9% in April 2010 and well over a year later it is still hovering around that extremely high rate of over 9%. In Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, the unemployment rate as been around up and down since 2010, while the rest of the European Union truly suffers with Spain’s unemployment at an astounding 21% in June 2011, Portugal at 12.2% in June 2011, and France at 9.7%.

These numbers are way too high to have a productive economy and a healthy society, yet this is what capitalism breeds: A more and more static economy.

HERE’S WHY: IN A NUTSHELL

Most of the population has been reduced to laborers – either physical laborers (blue-collar) or mental laborers (white-collar). Plus with the increase in mechanization and the profit-oriented culture, executives are hiring less and less people and instead resorting to machines and / or cheaper labor markets elsewhere. In short, those with jobs are losing
them; and those without jobs are not finding them.

And this problem is only mounting, even with Obama’s hands-on approach in comparison’s to Bush’s radical laissez-faire manner.

CAPITALISTIC MYTH:

INDIVIDUAL’S RESPONSIBILITY TO GET A JOB

Over the decades, capitalists have successfully brainwashed the public into believing that it is the individual’s responsibility to get and maintain a job. And if one is not getting a job, then, well, that is just too bad– try harder. That is the capitalistic maxim– the myth that capitalists propagate. So that is what everybody thinks, ‘That it
is the duty of each and every person to find their own job, and if they lose their job it is their responsibility to find another one’.

And still that is in vogue. As things continue to tailspin the public is bound to think that they are in a no-win situation. But that extreme disgust with capitalism has not yet come. Most are still thinking that capitalism needs to be fixed, not replaced. Though this is slowly changing.

HUMANS ARE JUST COMMODITIES

For these reasons and more, human beings have just been turned into mere commodities wherein they have to shine and polish themselves – like apples or potatoes – in order be attractive in the marketplace. To that end,common citizens try tirelessly to get more and more qualifications in order to assure themselves of a job. But it is an uphill battle. Because due to increased mechanization, less and less jobs are being done by humans. With the development of more refined computers and fancier machines, a work that used to take 300 people now takes only 5. In that case 295 are suddenly out of a job.

And then, since top capitalists are only interested in increasing their profit, then at any time they can and do move their entire factory or business to another land or country where labor is cheaper. In that case, an entire sector of the workforce may suddenly lose their job.

And in the end, it is the common citizen that gets blamed for not making themselves marketable.

That is the ugly predicament in capitalism.

But it is continuing on since everyone has gotten duped into thinking that every individual is responsible for securing their own job, while the government bears little or no responsibility.

Today, more and more college graduates are in the hunt for a job and it is becoming harder and harder to get one. However, the theme remains the same: Make yourself more marketable. The realisation has not yet come to change the system.

Similarly with older adults who have lost their corporate jobs, one result is that more and more are starting their own businesses. The big protest against the market economy has not entered the people’s psyche just yet. So they suffer and try harder in these desperate times.

Soon the time will come to rise up and we should be ready to feed them the answer as well as hasten that moment by preaching the gospel of Prout.

PROUT’S RESPONSE

To combat this nasty, capitalistic spiral and bleak outlook, Baba has put forth one very special socio-political principle: No one should lose their job without first have been offered and given a different job, of a comparable of higher standard.

Baba says, “Cardinal socio-political principles should never be violated. First, people should not be retrenched from their occupations unless alternative employment has been arranged for them.” (PNS-16)

Unfortunately all around the globe this important principle is not be fulfilled. People are being released from their jobs and are not being replaced. From stock-brokers to shoe salesmen, so many are out of jobs, and every week this is increasing, leading to a totally unhealthy situation in society.

Here Baba describes further about what happens when people lose their jobs and are not given a different job.

Baba says, “There are many instances where these three cardinal principles have been violated, causing much suffering and disturbance in individual and collective life. Let us discuss what happens when people lose their livelihood. Take the example of rickshaw pullers in India. The work of rickshaw pullers is exhausting and poorly paid, but if it is declared illegal, many rickshaw pullers will become unemployed and their lives will become more miserable. Those who cannot find alternative employment will either die of starvation or become criminals in an effort to survive. In either case, society will be adversely affected. So, before this occupation is prohibited, rickshaw pullers should be provided with suitable alternative employment.” (PNS-16)

Because of losing their jobs and not being given other employment, people are suffering from depression, abusing their spouse, developing health problems, dying early, even committing suicide. Such reports are commonplace in the news these days.

Or look at it this way: Since 1964, the U.S. crime rate has increased by as much as 350%.

Unemployment plays a huge role in crime – it is one of the fallouts of job loss.

APPLYING THE SOLUTION

So the myth that the individual is 100% responsible for getting a job and the government need not play any role in this is totally harmful and stands as one of the worst aspects of capitalism.

Even though Obama’s government is getting very involved in economic reform, still being part of the sinking ship of capitalism, they cannot control unemployment which is going through the roof.

Still that is the myth that big vaeshyas have successfully instilled in the minds of the people: People are responsible for finding their own job.

So the whole affair is awful. Everyone is trying to increase their stature and skills in order to get a job, yet those jobs are being sucked up elsewhere or getting totally eliminated.

Hence it is an uphill battle; the cards are stacked against the common person. Jobs are disappearing left and right and there is no replacement in sight – for all kinds of reasons including mechanization>

Baba says, “Such mechanization within a capitalistic structure inevitably brings more misery, in the form of unemployment, to the common people.” (Problems of the Day #9)

When in reality, in the case of jobs being reduced due to mechanization, and then firing 100 or 200 people, instead everyone in the factory or plant should simply work less hours– allowing everyone to keep their job.

That is how it works in family life. If a new stove is purchased which dramatically decreases the amount of cooking time, then the wife or daughter is not kicked out of the house because they are no longer needed. Rather, everyone works less in the kitchen and people get time to spend in other pursuits.

Same should be the case with regards to mechanization in the workforce. All should work less and then devote more time to psychic and spiritual pursuits. Then everyone is benefited because even though people are working less their purchasing capacity remains high. In Prout, it works that way.

Baba says, “The proper use of science under a collective economic system will only bring about human welfare. It may well be possible that due to mechanization no one will have to labour for more than five minutes a week! Being not always engrossed in anxiety about food and clothes, humanity will not misuse its mental and spiritual wealth. People will be able to devote more time to sports, literary discourses and spiritual pursuits.” (Problems of the Day #13)

Now however, many jobs are subject to furlough, because companies and the government do not have the money to pay workers, yet the cost of living is higher. That only leads to more crime, not the upliftment of society.

The capitalist model just creates more and more problems, whereas Prout’s local and cooperative economic model solves the problem.

As for the second problem– i.e. the outsourcing of jobs to cheaper labor markets– the answer is creating a local economy. Capitalists should not be allowed to exploit human labor all over the globe. Rather the cooperative system should be developed wherein all in a locale are guaranteed work as well as a proper purchasing capacity. This can happen if the natural and human resources of an areas stay within that samaj.

So there are lots of Proutistic solutions. And among them all, it has to be fully recognised that governments must be held responsible and they must ensure a job to each and every member of society. There is no other way.

The current capitalistic myth that an individual must find their own job must be eradicated. Then and only then can society progress.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace the myopia of capitalists is being exposed and soon all will be aware of the pitfalls of this vaeshyan age, thereby allowing society to make that step forward into that bright, new era.

By Baba’s grace the overall climate and environment are changing. People will soon awaken to the crude reality of capitalism and they will be looking for answers. The era of Prout will come – we should be ready to do our part

Baba says, “If any group tries to violate any of these three cardinal socio-political principles, you should immediately oppose them with a thundering voice and sufficient force. Victory will be yours, because you are supporting the collective psychology. But before launching any movement, you should make sure that the masses are conscious of their exploitation, otherwise the movement will not be successful. Although it may take some time to raise the consciousness of the masses, ultimately you will be victorious.” (PNS-16)

Namaskar,
Karma Rasa

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“Kenoi va’ ele, dola’ diye gele, na’ bale gele cale, phele a’ma’y…” (PS 1995)

Purport:

Baba, You have been gone so long, why did You come and stir my heart only to then go away without saying a word– thereby leaving me all alone. Baba, neither do You have any love for me nor do You understand the aching pain of my heart. Baba, after coming and reciting one fairy tale, where did You go. Baba, I want You to remain here with me.

Baba, amongst all the dear ones, You are my dearmost. Why then do You not reside eternally in my heart. Baba, You are my dearmost and innermost, then how can You justify going so far away from me. Is it proper to leave me isolated and all alone. Please tell me.

Baba, You are so dear to me, no matter what I will never forget You; Baba, I will never leave You. Not at any cost will I ever wipe You away from my mental plate– from the memories of my mind. That I will never do. Baba, even if You do not desire to remain with me– even if You want to hide– I shall always keep You in the golden casket of my heart.

Baba, You are eternally mine; my everything is surrendered at Your lotus feet…

***********************************************
Deserts Needed

Baba says, “Ecologists claim that some deserts are essential for keeping the global ecology in a balanced state. The high day temperatures and the cold night temperatures that occur in desert regions create a useful effect. The hot, dry desert air rises and creates a vacuum which sucks in cool air, generating a chain reaction. Moist air is sucked in from the sea and formed into clouds which then rain on the land. If deserts vanish entirely, the overall rainfall will be reduced.” (PNS-16, p.37)
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Be Aware of…

Date: Mon Aug 22 2011 15:38:11 -0000
From: P. Deva
Subject: Be Aware of…
To: AM-GLOBAL

Baba

PS Intro: This following Prabhat Samgiita works in two ways. (1) Baba is depicting the idea behind the advent of Parama Purusa as Mahasambhuti in the play of His divine liila. And (2) this song refers to Baba’s divine appearance in dhyana.

“Na’m na’-ja’na’ ma’na’ na’-ma’na’ rauniin parii ese pa’she…” (P.S. 2983)

Purport:

One shining, colorful angel of unknown name has come close to me. This angel was not concerned about getting respect or not. Just it came to me. Its eyes were glowing with golden effulgence, and this divine angel told something to me.

The angel told: ‘My abode is in the divine world yet to accomplish the work & for the welfare of all, I move around this entire universe. And all those who love me, I pull them close.’

‘Without stopping I move continuously around this entire universe.’ And the angel also told that, ‘In the bond of love, I get caught also. And I float in the flow of divine songs.’

From the divine world one angel has come and it graced me and told me all the secrets of its advent…

Note: In this song Baba is using the allegory of an angel, yet in true sense He is talking about Himself. Thus, although the word– parii– literally means ‘angel’, but in Prabhat Samgiita the real meaning of the term parii is: Baba the Parama Purusa.

== BE AWARE OF TWO TYPES OF BEINGS ==

Namaskar,
There are two types of being in society that are the cause of untold harm to humanity in the form of casteism, civil wars, and the persecution of women, among others. We should know who these people are and put a stop to their misdeeds.

Our goal in AM is to bring welfare to our entire human family. To achieve this, we must be fully aware about any and all who try, or have tried, to undermine humanity. So we have to take a careful look back and see what has happened in the past, as well as clearly view what is happening at present– only then can we properly understand the scene.

And again, the whole goal is bring benevolence and peace to all peoples of the globe – verily that is what Baba wants that we should do.

A COMMON HISTORY

Each and every land, country, town, and province has its history. And tragically, in all places certain individuals have done terrible harm to the society. No region is exempt from this.

For example, in Islam, it was decided that three or four women are equal to one man; in India, women were forced to jump to their death on the burning embers if their husband died before them; and in the western world, women neither had the right to work or vote for centuries on end. Thus in all parts of the globe, terrible crimes were done against women.

And indeed, in each and every place, the common people – from women to workers, from blacks to babies, from aborigines to artisans – have suffered and undergone terrible torments and abuse.

Not only that, so much infighting has occurred in countries such as Honduras, Kenya, Pakistan, Morocco, and so on. Such division and destruction has happened in nearly every nation. Is it the fault of the common people in all these places – or is there some other contributing factor.

For us this is a burning question, because in order to deliver a united humanity to the people, we must know who and what has been the cause of so much torment, division, and destruction.

TWO TYPES OF BEINGS RESPONSIBLE

If we look carefully, it is quite evident that there are two types of creatures who are most responsible for all these problems: (1) Politicians & (2) jinanis (intellectuals).

Time and again, these two types of creatures have done tremendous harm to society due to their own narrow selfish interest. Yet oddly enough, these very same creatures– politicians and jinanis– have garnered much respect in society.

And still today, they continue to get such prestige.

But in AM, Baba severely warns us about such type of beings.

Here below Baba clearly states that it was the intellectuals (jinanis) who imposed the horrific caste system on the society.

Baba says, “The caste system is a creation of the cunning intellectuals of the Medieval Age. In the Vipra Era they wanted to perpetuate their privileged position for their descendants. To achieve this end, those cunning intellectuals wrote thousands of books and compiled thousands of God-centred verses only to show that the caste system is a creation of God. This was a psychological way of infusing the illogical idea [of casteism].” (PNS-4)

Indeed in the Hindu religion and in all the religions they use similar tricks. In the name of their god they exploit the masses. It may be that one should accept their fate as being a shudra, or a slave, or a poor man. In all cases they are told to accept their lot in life as this is the edict of god.

And here in the next passage Baba shows how it was the intellectuals who duped the people into following wrongful teachings and cheap religious edicts.

Baba says, “The cunning intellectuals of the past imposed the importance of blind faith on the minds of their gullible followers. They told them to obey the teachings, rational or irrational, otherwise there would be no respite from the endless suffering of human life, no other path to take them to the eternal bliss of heaven.” (AMIWL-7)

With regards to politicians, Baba says that they are the cause of so much infighting and civil war.

Baba says, “Politicians want to accomplish everything through their grandiloquence. By identifying the weaknesses in others and by resorting to bombastic language, they incite one section of people against another so that they can usurp the seat of power and cling to it. Human beings will have to remain vigilant against persons of this type.” (POD #26)

Thus when the big politicians of Washington DC invade this or that land, then most often civil war results. And after WW-2 when the allied powers drew up plans & boundary lines in the Middle East & India, it was they who set the stage for disgruntlement among the masses. And similar things happened during the partition of India. The British leaders incited choas between the Hindus and Musilims who had otherwise been living side by side for centuries.

So there are countless instances where a few crooked politicians created communal riots among the masses.

And here again Baba explicitly warns us about the no-good ways of politicians.

Baba says, “Politicians are of no use to society because they are engaged in the business of mudslinging and nothing else…The motive of the politicians is only to capture power. They befool the public with high-sounding words. Therefore it is necessary that the public should be politically educated, because in that case politicians will not be able
to cheat them.” (PNS-4)

So in order to build up that great human society, we must be careful and pay heed to Baba’s words. Otherwise we will not be able to accomplish our goal.

Here it should be noted that common people are incapable of doing such harm. It takes a certain cunningness to dupe, deceive, trick and exploit. Most people have no such mind to behave in this manner.

THEIR MISGUIDED, FERTILE BRAIN IS THE PROBLEM

Verily in so many ways Baba goes to great lengths to warns us about the dangers and horrors caused by jinanis (intellectuals) and politicians.

Because it is not the simplicity of the common people that leads to the suffering of the masses. Rather is the is fertile brain of these two groups of exploiters– jinanis and politicians– that have meted out untold harm to humanity.

Baba says, “It is a mere interpolation arising out of the fertile brain of an opportunist Vipra or intellectual, it can never bring real knowledge to people, but will sow seeds of disharmony and dissension in the human society. For instance, the scripture of a certain community states that the earth is fixed and the sun in moving around it. This assertion is of course absolutely wrong scientifically. If an erudite scientist points out this mistake, the orthodox followers of the scriptures will brand him or her an atheist. 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.” (TK-2)

JINANIS AND POLITICIANS ARE ALWAYS PRAISED

Yet in the society, these two groups walk and prance around the globe– drawing huge praise and respect from the people. So many politicians and so many intellectuals draw thousands to their halls when they step up to the microphone. From crooked presidents and ministers, to religious priests, to the brains behind corporate exploitation, all these people
get huge respect and prestige in the society. The people essentially fall at their feet, yet these are the very beings who are the cause of so much injustice in the world. That is the irony of it all.

Verily it is not always easy to recognise such cheats. Especially the common people get duped by the tall talks of such opportunists: cunning intellectuals and hypocritical politicians.

And that is why on countless occasions Baba warns us to be careful with these two types of creatures.

GOING ON IN AM ALSO

Unfortunately, we cannot think that all these problems are only going on outside the Marga. In our AMPS there has been so many dogmas imposed on us by such jinanis: From Mahaprayan to Fake Ananda Vaniis, from the distortion of scripture to dogmatic tiirthas. Some have said all Baba’s books are from the “original Bangla”. Indeed so many false ideas have
been thrown around our AM society.

But even then that is not all. The infighting of groupism is nothing but the result of the political shenanigans of a few power hungry souls. The common margiis and field workers have no desire to fight with other margiis. But lines were drawn by top level groupists due to their political greed, and in result avadhutas have been killed, margiis have been arrested, and so much harm has been done.

So just as the common society has suffered at the hands of such intellectuals and politicians – by issuing false edicts about women etc and by pitting one side against another such as what they did in the Middle East after WWII or in India in 1947 – these same poisonous antics have occurred in our Marga as well.

This we have all seen.

Thus to build up a proper Marga and to deliver welfare to the humanity, our eyes must be keen to the the hellish ways of such intellectuals and politicians. That is Baba’s repeated warning. Only then will we be able to accomplish of goal of delivering peace on this dusty earth.

So such types of persons must not be trusted– not one ounce. No outside AM nor inside AM.

HOW TO MEND SUCH POLITICIANS AND JINANIS

Is there any hope for such jinanis and politicians. Can these people with their fertile brains do anything decent for the society.

Basically, after taking power out of their hands and exposing their defects to all so that they cannot hurt the humanity any further, the only way to rectify these two creatures is if they dedicate themselves to Parama Purusa and cultivate a feeling of neo-humanism. Then and only then can they become assets to the society. Failing that, they will always be the source of terrible division and suffering.

So there is hope for such jinanis and politicians, but we must be super careful.

First we must make these troublemakers naked in the eyes of the people so that the common citizens are no longer in awe of and duped by these two creatures. And secondly, ample pressure must be applied to force these politicians and jinanis to follow the codes of dharma– and nothing but.

That is Baba’s warning and only by this way can we build a bright new humanity.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace, we will be able to undo all the horror and harm committed by these jinanis and politicians and create that bright new humanity.

Baba says, “Renaissance people will have to raise their voices against this, and they will have to do it now – they will have to do it immediately. And I also desire that you all should move on the path of Renaissance, which is fully supported by rationality, from today – from this very moment. Let victory be yours.” (PNS-9)

Namaskar,
Prakash

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To Become Great

Baba says, “If your longing for money, and your longing for name or fame is converted into longing for Parama Purusa, then even ordinary mortals can get transformed into great souls.” SS-17 (H) 1 January 1986
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You Are Not Sadvipra If…

Date: 21 Aug 2011 07:10:22 -0000
From: “Priyanath C Deva”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: You Are Not Sadvipra If…

Baba

“Tumi saba’r bha’loba’sa’ peyecho…” (P.S. 1383)

Purport:

Baba, everyone loves You. And You receive everyone’s heartfelt love. You look upon all with the same eyes– with no differentiation. You always think about everyone’s all-round welfare. You are concerned with one and all; everyone is Yours. In the burning heat when life is becoming unbearable, then You shower us with Your grace. And You take away all our pains and sufferings. Baba, You are ever-gracious.
When the heart starts bleeding due to the blow of different negative samskaras from the present, past, and future, then You saturate those suffering hearts with the divine nectar of Your love. In that way You graciously take away all their problems in the showering of Your divine compassion. On the dark amavasya night when it is pouring rain all around, even that time You bring effulgence through the medium of firefly.
Like this You provide the solution to each and every situation. It is Your grace. Baba, You love all and You know how to love. You give utmost importance to human life. And everyone is looking towards the path of Your arrival. Those who are crying and suffering, You have given them shelter at Your lotus feet. Baba, You are granting boons and blessings to everyone. You are grace personified…

== YOU ARE NOT SADVIPRA IF…. ==

Namaskar,
Everyone knows that in AM, one of our ideals is to become a sadvipra.

Baba says, “Sadvipra leadership is the ideal form of leadership. Such leaders will be physically fit, mentally developed and spiritually elevated.” (PNS-21)

However, in our Ananda Marga, there is much confusion about who is a sadvipra. For a while, everyone was thinking that no one was a sadvipra and that a sadvipra was just one great god in the sky.

Then others developed the notion that all Wt’s are sadvipras – and still today many workers feel that because they are Wt then by definition they are sadvipras also.

We should better understand what and who a sadvipra is. Baba’s teachings are not based on some far off fantasy – they are grounded in practical thought and expression.

By clearly defining our notion of sadvipra, then everyone can evaluate for themselves how they are doing in this pursuit and develop in the proper way, by Baba’s grace.

SOME HISTORY

As early as 1959, Baba introduced the concept of sadvipra.

Baba says, “Those spiritual revolutionaries who work to achieve such progressive changes for human elevation on a well-thought, pre-planned basis, whether in the physical, metaphysical or spiritual sphere…are sadvipras.” (Idea & Ideology)

So from the very beginning, everyone in AM knew that a sadvipra was something very great. Over time, many began to conceive of the sadvipra as being something that they were not. No one in AM really thought they were a sadvipra.

Then, years later, when Baba introduced the bhukti pradahan system, He gave this following stipulation about who should vote.

Baba says, ‘The sadvipras of a bhukti must elect one bhukti pradha’na from among themselves.” (CC-1)

This then opened the doorway for many to begin thinking of themselves as sadvipras. This was the case especially with family acaryas, tattvikas, and wholetimers.

In contrast, general margiis were thinking, “Ok I am voting in this BP election, but it is debatable where I am a true sadvipra.”

But in the case of family acaryas and wholetimers, because of their post and power, they were thinking, “I am definitely a sadvipra if ordinary voting margiis are sadvipras.”

In this way, the notion of who is a sadvipra became clouded – if not totally off the mark.

MUST HAVE ALL FOUR QUALITIES

So here we are in 2011, and this point should be clearly marked. One veritable way of measuring who is a sadvipra is the degree to which one is skilled and practiced as as shudra, ksattriya, vaeshya, and vipra.

Baba says, “The four classes who have ruled the world at one time or another are not of recent origin, but have been known ever since the beginning of humanity as brahmins, ks’atriyas, vaeshyas and shu’dras…Ananda Marga’s approach is not to call these classes bad but to make all the members of Ananda Marga practice and develop the good qualities of them all.” (PNS-11)

To properly understand and emulate these four qualities in life is to become an ideal Ananda Margii, or sadvipra. That is Baba’s distinct mandate.

Baba says, “Every person who joins Ananda Marga…has to strive to develop and strengthen the mind. Everyone has to work for a strong and healthy body. Everyone has to work for a living…Not only earning money and having a balanced and dependable economic life is important. Even the lowest of the social classes, which people normally scorn, have been given equal importance. Every member of the Marga has to physically serve others. This is normally seen as the work of the so-called shu’dras, but followers of the Marga cannot develop completely unless they also do this efficiently.” (PNS-11)

In His above teaching, Baba is guiding us that one cannot be a sadvirpa unless they develop their personalities in all the ways. If one avoids menial chores, then one cannot be a sadvirpa. All the qualities are needed, no exceptions.

Baba says, “In short, all the characteristics of the four classes have to be mastered by each individual in our Marga. It is not only mastery of these characteristics which is necessary, but their regular practice is an essential duty of every member of Ananda Marga. Every individual thus becomes universally fit, and any person makes as good a brahmin as a shu’dra.” (PNS-11)

Hence it is clear, to become an ideal Ananda Margii – to be a real sadvipra – one must possess and practice these four qualities. One must perform all kinds of physical work, and be courageous, economically just, and intellectually advanced. Then one is a sadvipra, otherwise not.

APPLYING THESE PRINCIPLES PRACTICALLY

Baba’s teaching then is quite clear. One must not be loathe to any particular type of service or work. One must be mentally ready and physically capable of engaging in all kinds of deeds.

Unfortunately, many who think of themselves as sadvipras fall far short of the mark.

For instance, those Dadas leading WT training centers and visiting those TC’s often think that, “As I am training these people or coming to give a guest lecture, then I am most certainly a sadvipra.”

Yet these same trainers, and avadhutas who visit TC, use those trainees as their slaves to perform their menials tasks. Such top Dadas do not like to cook their own food, or wash their own plate, or clean their own laungotas, or scrub their own room. To do such things would be beneath them, so they designate trainees to do all of this for them.

But in so doing, such top Dadas expose themselves as being totally deficient in having the quality of a shudra. Thus, by definition, they are not sadvipras.

Baba says, “In short, all the characteristics of the four classes have to be mastered by each individual in our Marga. It is not only mastery of these characteristics which is necessary, but their regular practice is an essential duty of every member of Ananda Marga. Every individual thus becomes universally fit, and any person makes as good a brahmin as a shu’dra.” (PNS-11)

SO MANY MORE CASES OF FALLING SHORT

Clearly then, to be a sadvipra one must posses all the four characteristics: shudra, ksattriya, vaeshya, and vipra.

Here again though we see so many family acaryas and Wt’s falling short of this characteristic. Because one of the needed qualities is to have the courage to fight against dogmas.

But what to say about fighting against dogmas and immorality, some of our acaryas have become habituated to compromising with injustice.

Do not get me wrong, I have deep respect for our Wt cadre and certainly there are many unsung & unknown workers who are walking that path of being sadvipra.

Yet, on the other side, we see so many workers who due to a lack of courage are unwilling to point out the injustices of various group leaders. Without this ksattriyan quality they cannot be sadvipras. We see other wts who have fallen prone to following various dogmas like Fake Ananda Vaniis, mahaprayan, tiirthas, and scriptural distortions. Either they do not have the necessary mental insight to recognise such things as dogmas – hence they lack the quality of a vipra; or they do
not have the courage to oppose those dogmas and lack the quality of a ksattriya.

In all such cases, they fall far short of being sadvipra, regardless of what they say or claim.

Then there are other workers who totally misappropriate funds and finances. In that case how can we consider those Wts to be good vaeshyas.

It is not that all workers are inept and deficient – many are good. But to determine who are good we have to see how far they are talented and practiced in these four qualities. Being deficient in one means that one cannot be considered to be a sadvipra.

THE CASE WITH FAMILY ACARYAS

These days to be a family acarya, one must have an “in” with at least one of the groups, otherwise how can they be selected. In that case, such family acaryas must follow all the groupist dogmas and agendas. They must not oppose in any way. To oppose means to lose out on their opportunity to be a family acarya, at least in this group-riddled era.

That is why in the present climate, to be family acarya means to compromise. That is a fact in nearly cent-per-cent cases.

Without saying anything further, we can easily see how far they are really sadvipras.

DO NOT BE A CHEATER

More than anything else, understanding who and what is a sadvipra is a way for us to gauge our own development. It is for our own introspection and demands honesty and integrity.

We may be able to convince others that we are a great sadvipra and a God-realised person, but inside we know how far this is really true or not. One should not get caught up in cheating oneself. That is the worst outcome.

Being a sadvipra is not for show, nor for bragging rights, nor for any other external perk or benefit. It is about being true to oneself and true to Baba. That is what counts.

Wearing a particular uniform or having a particular titles has absolutely zero to do with being a sadvipra. Rather, sadvipraship is based the on the all-round development of one’s human personality.

This is a big topic – so this letter is just the beginning – others should also give their thoughts.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s, grace, we should be sincere and adhere to Baba’s following guideline when assessing our status or that of someone else. By His grace, if we follow His guidelines of proper conduct, we will certainly become a sadvipra – so that we can best serve Him and creation.

Baba says, “Your ideal is represented by your conduct….” (Ananda Vanii #13)

Namaskar,
Priyanath

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Physical Food and Future

Baba says, “Future generations will spend more of their time and energy on subtle psychic and psycho-spiritual activities, so their demand for physical food will decrease.” (PNS-13, p.47)
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My Story About Our Tiirtha to Tiljala

Date: 20 Aug 2011 15:41:10 -0000
From: “Gurucharan Deva”
To: AM-GLOBAL
Subject: My Story About Our Tiirtha to Tiljala

Baba

== MY STORY ABOUT OUR TIIRTHA TO TILJALA ==

Namaskar,
This past year or so my family & I took the several day journey from our home in Rajasthan to the Tiljala compound. The reason for this tour was multi-fold. During that stay an interesting conversation took place between my son and a senior dadaji.

While I was attending to some other duties, acaryaji inquired to my son, “You know, each year we hold the mahaprayan celebrations from 21 Oct to 26 Oct, and each year you miss this great gathering.”

My son replied, “There are no guidelines given by Baba about this “ceremony” in the Festivals chapter of Caryacarya.”

My son furthermore added, “By celebrating this type of shraddha ceremony or anniversary – year after year – then new and innocent margiis may begin to think they should celebrate the death anniversaries of their relatives as well.”

Dadaji replied, “At mahaprayan the shraddha ceremony is not observed – just it is a time to do kiirtan.”

My son replied, “If that is the case – if really it is just an occasion for doing kiirtan – then why make the long journey to Tiljala for doing kiirtan specifically in October. We can do kiirtan anytime in our local unit. We need not do it in a particular place during a particular week – every year at the same time and same the place. If anyone wants to organise a kiirtan gathering, then those events should be held in various places throughout the year so everyone may be benefited.”

At this point dada did not say anything further – rather the topic was changed.

This is one clear-cut proof how the minds of the new generation are not going to accept the dogma of mahaprayan.

Baba remains in the heart of His devotees always – celebrating a dogmatic program like mahaprayan which states that “Baba is gone” – is not palatable by true Ananda Margiis.

It is a totally contradictory to think that (a) Baba is Parama Purusa, and (b) Baba passed away. Only one of these two statements is correct. Parama Purusa never leaves – and if He did leave then He is not Parama Purusa. In our Ananda Marga all have the realisation that Baba is with them always – in that case how can there be mahaprayan.

Respectfully,
Gurucharan

Note: RECENT LETTERS ON THIS TOPIC

Here are two recent letters on this topic of so-called mahaprayan.

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2011/08/dogma-threatening-longevity-of-am.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2011/08/three-stories.html

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What Word to Use

From: “Vinay Deva”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: What Word to Use
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2011 21:41:05 +1000

BABA

“Tumi saba’r bha’loba’sa’ peyecho…” (P.S. 1383)

Purport:

Baba, everyone loves You. And You receive everyone’s heartfelt love. You look upon all with the same eyes– with no differentiation. You always think about everyone’s all-round welfare. You are concerned with one and
all; everyone is Yours.

In the burning heat when life is becoming unbearable, then You shower us with Your grace. And You take away all our pains and sufferings. Baba, You are ever-gracious.

When the heart starts bleeding due to the blow of different negative samskaras from the present, past, and future, then You saturate those suffering hearts with the divine nectar of Your love. In that way You graciously take away all their problems in the showering of Your divine compassion.

On the dark amavasya night when it is pouring rain all around, even that time You bring effulgence through the medium of firefly. Like this You provide the solution to each and every situation. It is Your grace.

Baba, You love all and You know how to love. You give utmost importance to human life. And everyone is looking towards the path of Your arrival. Those who are crying and suffering, You have given them shelter at Your lotus feet.

Baba, You are granting boons and blessings to everyone. You are grace personified…

== WHAT WORD TO USE ==

Namaskar,
We all know that Baba’s pristine & perfect teachings of Ananda Marga are 100% dogma-free. So everything Baba has given is itself dharma. And that includes all our various practices and forms of salutations including doing namaskar.

However there are some who have their own view and are involved in mixing ‘namaskar’ with other things– like ‘giving thanks’, ‘giving salute’ etc. That is what happens: People confuse our dharmic AM teachings with local dogmas.

To gain perfect clarity of the matter we need only to consult Baba’s divine guidelines.

OUR SALUTATIONS

Specifically, in one special chapter of Caryacarya, Baba Himself outlines the beauty and uniqueness of the various salutations used in AM– including doing namaskar.

Baba says, “There are three methods of salutation: (1) sa’s’t’aunga pran’a’ma [prostration], (2) ca’rana sparsha pran’a’ma [touching the feet], (3) namaska’ra.” (CC-1, ’95 Edn, p.16)

Thus in our AM there are three different grades or levels of salutation. And each has its own speciality and use. Yet one common feature among them all is that they all involve doing something– they all incorporate mudras (postures).

DOING NAMASKAR

For example, as we all know our namaskar salutation is one special type of performance or action where ‘doing’ is involved.

Baba says, “Namaska’ra is done by bringing the palms together and touching the a’jina’ cakra [the midpoint of the eyebrows] with the thumbs, without bowing. It can be done to all regardless of age, because this mode of salutation is used with the ideation that everyone is the manifestation of the Supreme Being’. (CC-1, ’95 Edn, p.16-17)

So, as we have all experienced in our daily life, with full heart and mind we follow various actions and mudras (postures) in order to do the namsakar salutation.

First we have to fold our hands and raise them to the ajina cakra, close our eyes, touch the trikuti (spot between the eyebrows), take our ideation, and then bring the hands down to the level of the heart (anahata cakra), and finally we say, ‘namaskar’.

So as per Baba’s system, namsakar is something that is done using certain specific mudras and movements.

Whereas in the common society the mere passive expression of ‘giving thanks’ etc is not like that. Because ‘giving thanks’ does not incorporate any sort of doing or action. It is basically static in nature.

Whereas namaskar is a distinctly active salutation wherein the sadhaka has to do something because the active science of mudra (posture) is involved.

CARAN’A SPARSHA PRAN’A’M

And similar is the case with caran’a sparsha pran’a’ma. As is commonly understood, caran’a means ‘feet’ and sparsha means ‘touch’. So this salutation also involves doing something. Means it is not just the passing of words like when one gives thanks.

Rather in this special mudra or posture known as pranam one has to bend down, extend the hands and touch the respected person’s feet, and bring the hands up to the ajina cakra and touch the trikuti, and then and with full feeling and admiration bring the folded hands to the heart and say, ‘pranam’.

So just like in the namaskar salutation, also when doing caran’a sparsha pran’a’ma various mudras are involved. Here below Baba specifically describes the process.

Baba says, “Caran’a sparsha pran’a’ma means to touch the feet of a revered person with one’s hands and then to touch one’s forehead with those same hands. This pranam should only be done to those who command high regard from the worldly or spiritual viewpoint. As far as possible, do not do caran’a sparsha pran’a’ma except to persons such as these. Never to caran’a sparsha pran’a’ma to people whom you do not regard, whoever they may be.” (CC-1, ’95 Edn, p.16)

SASTAUNGA PRAN’A’M

The third system of salutation in the AM system is sa’s’t’aunga pran’a’ma. And in this mudra or posture one also has do many things.

With full reverence first one has to lie down, then extend the hands in full prostration, touch all the eight limbs, and arouse the feeling of surrender, and after surrendering then rise up half-way from the ground and shift the body to the kneeling position, and while kneeling then fold the hands and bring them up to the ajina cakra and touch the trikuti and then bring the hands to the level of the heart (anahata cakra)– all the while mentally surrendering to Baba.

So the whole process of doing sastaunga pran’a’m is one big thing; and while doing it one is deeply involved. In comparison ‘giving thanks’ is one paltry vocal expression whereas doing sastaunga pranam incorporates all the limbs, indeed the entire body is involved, and on the top the sadhaka mentally surrenders to Marga Gurudev.

Here following is Baba’s pointed guideline:

Baba says, “Sa’s’t’aunga pran’a’ma is a symbol of simplicity. It is to be done only to Ma’rga Guru. It signifies surrender to ideology. Women can do salutation by touching the ground with the forehead instead of full prostration.” (CC-1, ’95 Edn, p.16)

CONCLUSION & BABA’S BLESSING

Hence our dharmic AM salutation system is three tiered: Namaskar, Pran’a’m, and Sa’s’t’aunga Pran’a’m. And they are all linked together in that all the salutations involve doing various mudras etc. So it is *not* that we “do sa’s’t’aunga pran’a’ma” and we “do caran’a sparsha pran’am” but that we just “give namaskar”. No, this is not our way.

Rather just as we “do sa’s’t’aunga pran’a’ma” and we “do caran’a sparsha pran’am” in the same way we “do namaskar”.

Hence all the three salutations are done in a complementary spirit of using specific ideations and their own particular mudras etc. And each is based in dharma. So we should be vigilant about not allowing dogmas like ‘giving thanks’ or “giving salute’ to sneak into our practices. About this more is told in notes 1-5 below.

Here following is Baba’s gracious blessing on one and all.

Baba says, “You are all sadhakas; you are all spiritual aspirants…I certainly know you will be successful in your mission. Kalya’n’amastu– [May you all be blessed]. (AV-33, p. 11)

Namaskar,
Vinay

Note 1: COPY OF LOCAL DOGMA

Because certain Wts and Margiis are accustomed to using the expression ‘give thanks’ then in their habitual or narrow way of thinking they applied this ‘give’ term to our namaskar practice also. Thus they established the dogma of ‘give namaskar’. And they themselves got mentally habituated with that. Their minds got stuck in that dogma. But not only that, if they would have had a little more opportunity they would have instituted other dogmas such as referring to our AM sadhana practice as ‘prayer’ or ‘namaz’. This type of dogma they also would have created. And furthermore they would have labeled our Guru Puja practice as ‘kneeling down posture for prayer worship’. In this way when given a little scope people end up creating all sorts of dogmas and that is what has happened in the case of ‘give namaskar’. So we should all be conscious and alert about this and we should be strict in following Baba’s system.

Note 2: WRONGLY ATTRIBUTING IT TO BABA

Not only that but this ‘giving namaskar’ dogma degenerated even one step further. Because some confused type of persons have even started writing in their books and articles that, ‘Baba came on the dais and gave namaskar’. But this is just their terrible misunderstanding because we all know that Baba never gives namaskar– rather He blesses us with folded hands. So those who have an iota of common sense will never say or write that Baba gave namaskar. Devotees only can understand this, others not.

Note 3: WORLDS APART

Everyone is aware that when Muslims perform their namaz then it is their normal practice to ask for things from the god. They ask for money, good jobs, husbands for their daughters, and other types of worldly things. One time a very new person from the Muslim tradition was taught our introductory sadhana lesson then he had not yet learned Guru Puja. So when he saw various margiis doing Guru Puja for the first time he immediately became very happy. Because the Muslim namaz posture looks identical to our Guru puja pose. From the outside both look the same. So when he saw margiis doing Guru Puja then he approached them and said, ‘Oh when you do that type of namaz then what boons and gifts do you ask for from the god?’. Then the margiis told that, ‘Actually, in our Guru Puja we offer ourselves– we do not ask for anything.’. Hence although from superficial view namaz and Guru Puja are looking similar but actually they are completely different– worlds apart. Same is the case with ‘giving thanks’ and ‘doing namaskar’. One has nothing to do with the other. In all these cases we have to remember that Ananda Marga is the only dharma and all those religions etc are grounded in dogma.

In this regard we should never forget Baba’s eternal guideline:

Baba says, “A’nanda Marga alone is dharma and all the rest are sectisms.” (SS-1 p. 63)

Note 4: BABA’S GUIDELINE: DO NAMASKAR

Here Baba gives us one special guideline for doing namaskar.

Baba says, “You should always make an effort to do namaskar to others first.” (AMIWL, p.827)

Note 5: UNQIUE POINT OF SASTAUNGA PRANAM

Here Baba reveals what happens – i.e. the unique effect – when we do sastaunga pranam to Sadguru.

Baba says, “When you do sastaunga pranam to a Great Personality…the blessing will have a positive effect on your whole being.” (YP)

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Health Guideline

BABA says, “Mu’lashodhana: After defecating, insert the middle finger of the left hand as far up the rectum as possible and clean that area.” (CC-3, Point #3 of ‘Different Yoga Practices’)

Note: Those who are not doing this may suffer from digestive tract disorders and rectum diseases like piles.
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AM Monks Using Underwear

From: “Satiish G.D. Deva”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: AM Monks Using Underwear
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2011 22:27:12 +0530

Baba

“Toma’ya a’mi bhla’loba’si, a’mi toma’ra a’jina’ka’ri…” P.S. 4589

Purport:

Baba, I love You. By Your grace always I feel blessed to obey or carry
out Your divine order. By Your endless compassion, I spend all my days
involved in shravan, manan, and nidhidhyasana. All my time is spent
chanting and hearing Your blissful name and thinking of You. By Your
unfathomable grace I am always engaged in Your ideation.

Baba, in true sense I do not know whether I love You or not. I do not
even want to know whether I am loving You or not. All I know is that my
heart is yearning for You. Baba, please be gracious and compassionate
and bless me with more and more devotion. This is my only thing I want–
to remain close at Your lotus feet.

Baba, with my whole existence– my body, heart, & mind, I do sastaunga
pranam at Your lotus feet. Baba, please grant me ragatmika devotion so I
may serve and love You and remain in Your closest proximity.

Baba, You are the most gracious One…

== AM MONKS USING UNDERWEAR ==

Namaskar,
Monks of Ananda Marga are using underwear.

This statement is not some joke. Nor is this some type of hidden ordeal.
This is what certain group leaders are actively propagating. Anyone who
has seen the recent version of Caryacarya will easily understand.

BABA’S SCIENTIFIC SYSTEM

Of course, Baba’s designated system is that all males must wear a laungota.

Baba says, “Immediately upon reaching adolescence (in India, one reaches
adolescence in between the ages of twelve and fourteen), males should
start using kaopiina (laungot’a’) and should pull back the foreskin of
the penis.” (CC-3)

The laungota is our scientific system as it promotes health and
restraint by providing proper support and keeping the penis in a upward
facing direction. No other type of undergarment does this.

Baba further directs us that one must wear a laungota when performing
yoga asanas.

Baba says, “Males must wear a kaopiina (laungot’a’), and there should be
no other clothing on the body.” (CC-3, chapter 8, ‘Rules for a’sanas)

So Baba’s explicit direct is that all males in the Marga must wear a
laungota at all times and certainly when practicing yoga asanas – there
is no other alternative. Western style underwear or briefs is not an
acceptable option. Because western briefs do not provide adequate
support nor keep the organ upward facing.

FALSE SHOWING:

THE COVER OF CARYACARYA

Unfortunately, on the cover of the most recent Hindi edition of
Caryacarya part 3, there are glossy, color diagrams of an AM monk doing
yoga asanas. And the monk is depicted wearing western style underwear or
briefs. He is not wearing a laungota.

Even worse, as there is no opening or seam on the front side of that
western underwear, it becomes quite evident that the AM monk on the
cover of Caryacarya III is wearing female underwear.

So the whole situation is quite messy and embarrassing. Not only that,
one of the asanas that the monk is performing is NOT one of our specific
AM asanas.

Thus there are multiple issues involved.

That is why many are saying that this latest Hindi version of CC-3
should be banned or at least taken off the shelf and reprinted. Because
the term Caryacarya itself means “do’s & don’ts”: Our Caryacarya books
are explicit guidelines for the code of conduct in AM. And in this very
book, i.e. CC-3, Baba says in multiple places that all males must wear a
laungota – not western style underwear – and that, in particular, a
laungota must be worn when doing yoga asanas. Yet the very cover of this
latest Hindi edition contravenes Baba’s guidelines in this regard. The
AM monk is wearing western-style underwear – and that is not our AM
system. Then on the top, one of the asanas shown is not part of Baba’s
system.

Thus, the latest Hindi edition of Caryacarya-3 is quite problematic and
gives a false showing of our AM way of life.

DEFINITELY NOT A LAUNGOTA

It should be clarified that the monk on the cover of Caryacarya part 3
is definitely not wearing a laungota. There is no mistaking the drawing.

By contrast, the black and white sketches on the inside pages of the
book showing a monk doing yoga postures are totally different. Those are
older sketches done before 1990 and in those drawings it is very
evident and noticeable that the male practitioner is most definitely
wearing a laungota. While the drawings on the high-gloss cover of the
Hindi edition do not at all resemble those sketches on the inside pages.
On the cover, the AM monk is absolutely, positively wearing crude,
western underwear, just like they wear in Hollywood movies etc.

So it is not like they did not know how to draw a laungota. That is the
the problem. Rather someone in Publications made the distinct decision
not to use a laungota on the cover drawings, or it was an office
blunder. In any case the problem needs to be resolved.

WHY THEY DID LIKE THIS (Part 1)

The natural question that arises is why did those in Publications do
like this. What was the need to misrepresent our AM teachings on the
very cover of Caryacarya.

Here is what many are concluding:

Those at the helm wanted to make AM (more) appealing to the masses so
they used western style underwear. Thus for public appeal, they
compromised on our AM ideals. That is one reason.

For this same reason, those in publications depicted tree pose
(vrksasana) on the cover of this book even when this is not one of
Baba’s specified poses. This is just one of the many thousands of poses
which Baba has rejected for our AM practice. Yet they put this pose on
the over because it is very popular with the masses, especially these
days as the fake yoga movement is growing exponentially.

So for the sake of public opinion all kinds of things are being done –
all sorts of compromises are being made.

One can only ask, what are they going to do next? Show someone eating
meat on the cover because that is also popular in certain areas, or will
they show someone drinking beer / alcohol on the cover because the
common people like that. Where will it end. This policy of compromise is
not at all good.

Some in the general society also do like this.

Baba says, “Playwrights and directors, too, are obliged to adjust
themselves to the public demand, adopting the policy of compromise.”
(PNS-10)

But this is not at all good. We should not fall into such a rut. By
displaying western underwear and fake yoga asanas on the cover or
Caryacarya, the dharma of AM can never be established.

Baba says, “We will not deviate an inch from our ideology, nor will we
allow others to do so. One cannot promote human welfare if one bothers
too much about public criticism, about the reaction in the papers or
among the voters.” (NSS, Disc: 14)

Tragically the problems on the cover of the recent Caryacarya-3 are all
part of one downward spiral where the essence of AM is lost due to the
fact that some are willing to compromise our AM mandates in order to
appeal to the general populace.

WHY THEY DID LIKE THIS (Part 2)

Here are further reasons which may have contributed to the present
situation.

Next, many acaryas in overseas sectors are now leading their own yoga
programs where they teach asana classes and they do not want to have to
introduce the system of wearing a laungota. Either due to shyness or
fear they neglect this point. Thus it is quite convenient for them if
the cover of our AM book shows a monk doing yoga asanas in western
fitting underwear.

Then there are various other reasons or moods behind this false display:
indifference, sloppiness, convenience, disinterest, embarrassment, lack
of understanding, & more. Whatever may be, the outcome is the same: Our
AM ideals have been compromised and instead dogma reigns. All this on
the cover of our very own AM book.

WHY THIS IS HARMFUL

The end result is that this is harmful in multiple ways:

1) Good people – ie new people looking for a revolutionary path – will
walk away from AM thinking that we are no different from all the other
fake yogas that are now on the market. They will see that we are
embracing the same western pseudo-culture. That is what will happen when
we shy away from our dharmic teachings.

2) Nowadays, due to Baba’s sublime vibration, people are looking for
something pure and untainted. Many all over, and especially in the west,
are looking towards the ancient traditions of India for new practices in
life. They are not wanting to redo all the same western dogmas. If we
refrain from teaching them about our scientific laungota system, which
is actually new and revolutionary and even better than what the monks of
old were wearing, then we will not be able to attract those good people
into our Marga.

3) Baba’s asana system requires wearing a laungota and He has specially
selected asanas which uplift the practitioner in all the realms:
physical, psychic and spiritual. That is a huge boon for the humanity.
As we know there are thousands and thousands of yoga asanas, yet Baba
has exclusively selected the most beneficial ones for human growth and
development. Yet on the cover of CC-3, those publishers are highlighting
tree pose, which is not even one of our AM asanas. New readers will
think that this is one they should practice and they will think we are
sloppy since although it appeared on the cover it is not described
inside the book. So this is yet another unfortunate and harmful outcome.

4. Finally, if we fail to live up to our AM standards on the points of
wearing a laungota and doing proper asanas, then we are bound to fall
short of our AM ideals in so many other arenas of life. So it only begs
a greater problem.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace, He has given all the teachings for self-realisation and
creating a proper social order. All we need to do is follow them correctly.

The teachings in Caryacarya represent our social scripture and if the
cover of these books run contrary to His guidelines, then that indeed is
an injustice. We can never accept such a thing – on points of dharma we
must never compromise.

It is our bounden to rally around this concerning matter regarding the
latest Hindi edition of Caryacarya-III. That will be a critical step to
restoring prama and setting the tone to keep true to His teachings.

Baba says, “Carya’carya (all parts) is our social treatise.” (CC-1)

Baba says, “Ananda Marga wants to build up an ideal society such as
this. So there should be a congenial environment where people will get
the opportunity to enhance their physical, psychic and spiritual
progress, and advance rhythmically and in unison towards Parama Purus’a.
Hence, Ananda Marga has formulated a social treatise for the
establishment of a congenial social structure.” (TK-2)

Namaskar,
Satiish

Note 1: PRINTED BY…

The most recent version of CC-3 Hindi edition was printed in Tiljala
by the in-charges. At first then it seems that this is yet another
B group scriptural scandal. No doubt that faction has a role to
play. At the same time H group personnel has just been keeping mum.
Either they do not care about the error of they have been too busy
in their groupist escapades to notice that anything was wrong.

******************************************
Sadhana Point

Baba says, “Where there is no love, the mind will not run after Him. So
dhya’na also becomes meaningless.”

“Dhya’na is withdrawing the mental propensities from all extroversive
entities, and then collecting those withdrawn mental forces, mental
propensities, and urging them towards the Supreme Entity. If there is no
love for the Supreme Entity, this movement cannot be done.” (Patna, 31st
August, 1978)
******************************************

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Lazy Yogis Avoid Padma’sana

From:
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Lazy Yogis Avoid Padma’sana
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2010 22:46:17

Baba

“Pita’ ma’ta’ bandhu sakha’ a’ndha’re a’lokavarttika’…” (P.S. 218)

Purport:

Baba, You are my most intimate and loving One; by Your grace You are so
close. Baba, You are my father and You are my mother; You are my friend as
well as my eternal companion. Baba, You are my everything– my One and
only. By Your infinite grace You are that divine lamp of effulgence, always
guiding me along the proper path in life. Baba You are everywhere. By Your
grace no one is ever alone or helpless. You are ever-present carefully
watching over everyone. Baba, by Your grace You are always residing in my
heart.
Baba, with Your infinite compassion, no matter how difficult the
circumstances are, You are always present to provide a gentle touch.
Amongst the thorns & tears You are the soothing balm of the lotus flower
which relieves all pains and sorrows; and in scorching heat of the burning
fire You are that refreshing, calm, cool sandalwood. Baba, You are the
ultimate Savior. When one has lost everything then in that bleak hour You
are the only shelter. You are that divine jewel which makes everything else
into a shining jewel as well. By Your touch, unit beings become divine.
That is Your causeless grace. Baba, You are the best of everything. In the
beautiful rose garden where all the flowers are aromatic and fragrant, You
are the most gorgeous– You are the most beautiful. Baba, You are the most
effulgent Entity in this vast universe.
Baba, You are the Cause of everything. You are the Source and You are
the Origin. Baba, because You are, I am. You are the breath of my very
life. Without You my whole existence is meaningless. Baba, You are my
dearmost, You are my everything. You alone are the eternal lamp of my
heart. Baba, please grace me by keeping me in Your divine shelter…

== LAZY YOGIS AVOID PADMA’SANA ==

Namaskar,
Less and less of our workers are sitting in padmasana during sadhana.
Various Dadas have stated this as well as various Didis. And indeed anyone
who is around wt’s can easily understand this fact. They just are not sitting
in full lotus while meditating.

The reasons behind this growing phenomenon is not entirely clear: Some say it
is due to a growing obesity problem within out wholetimer ranks. After all the
fatter one’s legs, the more difficult or impossible it is to sit in full lotus.
Then others have had their own thought about why less sit in padmasana.

Whatever may be, this posture is very key for successful sadhana.

We all know that yoga is the systematic and mystical endeavour to merge the
unit with the cosmic: jiiva into Shiva. And in this journey by His grace
our movement is not haphazard, but rather methodical & precise. One aspect
of yoga which supports this forward movement is the correct use of our yoga
a’sanas– and in particular padma’sana, the lotus pose.

SYSTEMATIC WAY OF DOING

In life, & in the spiritual science of yoga, each and every thing is done
in a systematic way; there is a particular method for every activity and
action.

For example, if one wishes to drink water then lying down in shava’sana is
not the correct approach. Rather one must sit upright in an erect position
as this will aid in the process of digestion and allow one to drink in an
easy fashion.

Likewise if one wishes to sleep then standing up fully and holding one’s
foot to the nose as in granthimukta’sana is not the proper manner. One will
never be able to sleep in that posture. Instead, to fall asleep comfortably
and quickly one should take rest in a sideways lying position– on one’s
left side.

Similarly if one is hungry and wants to eat then one should not try to eat
while doing kaoshikii or tandava. Those dances are not the proper way for
taking food. As we know the correct approach is to sit quietly in
bhojana’sana, i.e. sitting with one’s legs & ankles crossed in a
comfortable manner.

Hence for each and every activity there is a proper posture– a conducive
pose.

That’s why Baba guides us that when doing sadhana, we should sit in a
particular pose: Padma’sana or lotus posture. Because to do meditation a
calm mind is needed and padma’sana helps one to achieve that special state;
it helps one to progress in the psycho-spiritual realm. For this reason
Baba directly states that padma’asana is one of the top poses, or even “the
best” posture for meditation.

OUR FIRST DUTY: WITHDRAW THE MIND

As we all know our AM system of sadhana adheres to the age-old yogic
theorem: As you think so you become. So in order to achieve that high
spiritual state one must focus and goad the mind towards that supreme
cosmic ideal– after withdrawing the mind from the crude worldly
propensities.

Hence our first duty in sadhana is not to allow our mind to run towards the
external world via the indriyas (organs). Because when the 10 indriyas are
sending signals to the brain and the brain engages in processing and
receiving those messages, then one’s mind becomes totally restless, making
sadhana impossible. So our first and foremost duty in meditation is to
withdraw the mind from these external stimuli. That means gain control over
the motor and sensory organs. The one can begin to see within. And for this
process, Baba specifically directs us that padma’sana is the most effective
posture.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PADMA’SANA

Everyone is aware that the lotus (padma) takes root in the mud and grows up
through that murky pond water until it finally blossoms & flowers on the
water’s surface. Thus despite living in dirty surroundings the lotus flower
maintains its pristine purity.

Likewise we human beings live in this crude world where everything is under
the bondage of maya, yet our duty is to keep the mind above this
quinquelemental world– moving on and on towards our spiritual Goal.
For this grand endeavour, padma’sana helps a lot.

Here below Baba directs us how to sit in lotus posture and at the same time
describes the special import of padma’sana.

Baba says, “Padma’sana is the posture of sitting with the right ankle over
the lift thigh and the left ankle over the right thigh, the tongue pushing
the teeth out. In padma’sana alone, the vision can be fixed on trikuti –
the middle point between the eyebrows. Just as the lotus blossoms forth in
water, so also in this posture the mind tends to evolve. That is why this
posture is termed padma’sana (padma – lotus, a’sana – posture). This is the
best a’sana for meditation.” (Tattvika Diipika)

So by sitting in padma’sana the mind naturally gets goaded toward the higher
cakras, thus helping one to succeed in meditation. That is why after seeing
the situation from all directions, Baba outrightly tells us that padma’sana
is the top posture for sadhana.

STRONG COMMITMENT NEEDED

We all know that progressing in sadhana is not easy– it takes a strong
commitment and a determined effort. Our each and every aspect of meditation
should be proper and pointed. So if when doing meditation one just lazily
sits in bhojana’sana (eating posture in cross-legged position) and one’s
sadhana is hazy and loose because the mind is not concentrated, then surely
one is not going to get success.

Because as Baba reminds us that to do anything great, it demands taking a
strong vow and commitment. Only then can one reach the Goal.

For this reason all great yogis take that special effort to sit for
meditation in padmas’ana since it helps the mind rise up above the crude
worldly propensities and enables one to move towards that spiritual stance.
In order to set a proper example for the people Lord Shiva Himself would
always take to this position.

Baba says, “Usually He [Lord Shiva] would sit in a posture called
padma’sana . It is called padma’sana because it is just like a lotus in
full bloom. Just as the roots and stems of the lotus remain under the water
and only the leaves and flowers float above it — and although it is born
in the mud it sustains its love for the stars — in the same way, people
sitting in this lotus posture and remaining in the world, can keep their
minds above their mundane environment. That is why on the path of sa’dhana’
this posture has tremendous importance. Even though He took upon Himself
all the physical and psychic responsibilities of the entire world, Shiva,
when seated in this posture, was just like a lotus in full bloom,
transcending all the impurities and dirt of the mind.” (NSS, Discourse 20)

So in the above quote Baba tells how this was the special posture used by
Lord Shiva and then Baba again explains the special inner significance of
sitting in padmasana and how it relates with the lotus flower.

Overall, for moving along the spiritual path, Baba is emphasizing that
padmasana is highly essential.

It is most unfortunate the such a percentage of ours Wts is avoiding this
practice of sitting in full lotus.

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IT IS NECESSARY

Here Baba describes how from the very beginning when one takes initiation
in their early childhood they should be taught to sit in padmasana.

Baba says, “When children are five years old and attain some awareness, the
parents, brothers, sisters or any guardian may initiate them in Na’ma
Mantra [the preliminary process of meditation]. They should be taught to
sit in padma’sana [lotus posture], but instead of interlocking the fingers,
they may rest one palm upon the other; and keep the spine erect.” (CC-1,
chapter 2)

WHY CALLED PADMA’SANA

In our AM system, asanas are name for various reasons. For example some
asanas look like a particular thing. For example when one does
bhujaunga’sana, the practitioner looks like a cobra. Hence it is called
bhujaunga’sana or cobra pose.

Likewise when one sits in gomukha’sana, the practitioner looks like or
resembles the head or face of a cow. Thus the name gomukha’sana.

However in padma’sana, the same rule does not apply. When one sits in
padma’sana one does not look like a lotus flower.

Rather there is another process at work. Becaues the special significance
of padma’sana is that one takes on the unique capabilities of the lotus:
Living in a dirty world but keeping a neat and clean existence. Just as the
lotus is not affected by the muddy water the sadhaka sitting in padma’sana
is not affected by the mundane world.

For this reason this physical posture is called padma’sana. Because one
takes on the qualities of a lotus flower.

HOW TO HELP NEW SADHAKAS LEARN PADMASANA

Initially, sitting in padma’sana is not easy for new people. So we should
carefully guide them step by step how to sit in this posture.

But for wts, this should not be much of a problem as over the course of
time they would certainly get habituated – if they practiced.

That means if any Dada and Didi has not sat in padmasana for a few weeks,
months, or even years, then they will feel extremely stiff and uncomfortable
when they try to ge back into the pose. So we should be patience with them
as well – yet also set the expectation that the large majority of our
workers should be easily able to get into full lotus. .

Firstly people new to meditation should get accustomed to sitting on the
bare floor, if it is their general habit to always sit in chairs. Just
sitting on the floor helps prepare them for various yogic asanas.

And then little by little– over the course of days, weeks, and months,
they should try to bring the ankles closer together until after a while
they can bring one of their their ankles onto the opposite thigh. But again
this should not all be done in one sitting.

Rather new persons should try in rounds or one day after another. And in
between they can massage the knee and then again practice. And little by
little, without putting too much stress on the knees, by trying again and
again over the course time they will gain the requisite flexibility to sit
in padma’sana. And by this way the mind becomes better suited for meditation.

When our wt’s go through this same period of struggle, then we should be
equally supportive.

Here Baba tells us more about how to sit in the full lotus posture.

Baba says, “Padma’sana (lotus posture): Place the right foot on the left
thigh and the left foot on the right thigh. Clench the jaws and press the
tongue against the roof of the mouth. You can maintain this posture as long
as you like.” (CC-3)

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace He has blessed us with all the requisite tools to achieve
complete spiritual salvation.

Baba says, “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.92-3)

Namaskar,
Ramlal

NOTE 1: HOW ASANAS ARE NAMED

Here in special fashion in His chapter, ‘Questions and Answers on
Meditation’ in His Yoga Psychology Book, Baba outlines in Q & A #6 how
asanas are named:

“Question: How do we name a’sanas?”

“Answer: We name a’sanas as follows:”

“(1) Some a’sanas are similar to animal movements so they are named
after those animals; for example, matsyamudra’ [fish posture], garud’a’sana
[bird posture], etc.”

“(2) Some a’sanas have the characteristics of animal structures, so they
are also named after those animals; for example, ku’rmaka’sana [tortoise
posture], etc.”

“(3) Some a’sanas are named by the qualities of the a’sana; for example,
sarva’unga’sana [shoulder stand; literally “all-limbs posture”]. The entire
body is benefited by this a’sana.” (YP, ‘Questions & Answers…’, #6)

By His above explanation we can easily understand that padma’sana is named
as such not because the posture looks like a lotus flower but rather
because sitting in that position enables the human mind to emulate the
pristine purity of the lotus by rising above all crude propensities and
reaching one’s spiritual Goal, Baba.

NOTE 2: PADMA’SANA IS DHYA’NA’SANA

Baba says, “Dhya’na’sanas are practised primarily for concentration of mind
and meditation. Dhya’na’sanas include padma’sana [lotus posture].” (YP,
Question #7)

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Mahaprayan of A Margii Boy

Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:18:02 -0000 (GMT)
From: Deva_Manindra
Subject: Mahaprayan of A Margii Boy
To: AM-GLOBAL

Baba

== MAHAPRAYAN OF A MARGII BOY ==

Namaskar,
It is with much sadness that we convey news of the mahaprayan (death) of one dear margii boy who fell off of the roof of his house. He was just 17 years of age, studying in class 12. It is a tragedy that his mahaprayan occurred at this young age – his life was too short.

The boy was the youngest son of Shrii Shivpujanji who has been living in Delhi to work with the radio station. He brought his family to Delhi along with him – that was where the accident happened. Prior to that Shivapujanji and his family were living in Patna.

Yesterday – August 16 – the boy was on the roof of the house when he lost his footing and slipped from the roof. He fell all the way down to the ground. This untimely mahaprayan brings sorrow to all as the boy was a good margii, a learned student, a trusted friend, and a loving son.

His cremation happened today on 17th Aug Wednesday at Nigambodh Ghat, near ISBT, Delhi, India at 2.30 pm.

Once again it is with a heavy heat that I share the news of our young brother’s mahaprayan. As mortals there is little we can do now. May our dear boy find eternal peace and solace on Baba’s divine lap.

Very sincerely,
Manindra

* Mahaprayan (Death): Many are aware that mahaprayan (death) is the common term used in India and especially in Bengal to describe the death of an honoured or even ordinary person. In that way the newspapers of Bengal are regularly citing the mahaprayan (death) of various persons of society who died or passed away.

Some may get confused and wrongly think that the word ‘mahaprayan’ death) is one extraordinarily devotional term to be used in association with Parama Purusa. But that is not at all the case. Rather to do so is only to undermine the eternal presence of Parama Purusa. That is why no devotees ever use the word ‘mahaprayan’ in reference to Lord Shiva or
Lord Krsna. Because Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna exist eternally. Then there is no question of Their mahaprayan (death).

Those who think that Baba is a mortal human being celebrate “mahaprayan” on a particular day of the year, but in the true sense Baba is Parama Purusa so He is eternal and there is no question of His mahaprayan.

And for those who need still more technical proof then all this can be clarified quite readily by referencing the dictionary. Specifically in the Samsad Bengali-English dictionary on page 742. Checking there it will be confirmed that the word ‘mahaprayan’ means death. Which is why it used to refer to the passing away of even common citizens.

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Three Stories

From: “Shanti Devii”
To: AM-GLOBAL
Subject: Three Stories
Date: Tue 16 Aug 2011 17:24:09 +0000

Baba

== THREE STORIES ==

Namaskar,
The posting – The Dogma Threatening Longevity of AM – is a very clear and coherent statement on the mahaprayan issue. When we put the dogma of MPD (mahaprayan divas) in the context of the six spokes of the social cycle, the various points cover the matter succinctly.

Of course the Preceptor point is the most crucial, which has been made again and again: For any society to exist there must be a Preceptor yet the dogmatic mahaprayan program preaches that Baba is gone. That logic is enough to convince any balanced-minded sadhaka that we should not observe the so-called mahaprayan function.

WHAT SOME THINK…

But still there are many who mouth the words: “Baba is Parama Purusa”, and yet they cheerfully promote the mahaprayan dogmatic programmes year after year, saying, “What is the harm in remembering Baba, through a beautiful collective programme of kiirtan and sadhana on the anniversary of His passing away day. What could possibly be wrong with this, when so many get inspiration for Baba’s work by coming to these occasions? If we do not do this, then Baba, sitting in heaven, will be unhappy that His disciples forgot Him.”

This is the type of response I encounter regularly from those people who attend the dogmatic mahaprayan programme.

A CASE IN POINT:

PERSONAL STORY OF ONE DIDI

This next story perfectly embodies what I am talking about.

There is one didi who never saw Baba physically as she came into the Marga from her Islamic background and dedicated her life to Baba’s work after 1990. And for some years she was posted in Brazil.

She is a good didi in many respects: Disciplined, educated, and full of initiative.

When I stayed with her in her jagriti in one of the most dangerous areas of town I admired her strong spirit, discipline, and bravery – living all alone as she does, doing various services for the very poor, and organising the margiis.

This very didi asked me why I don’t go to Kolkata for “mahaprayan”.

I told her I don’t support mahaprayan programmes – neither in Kolkata nor anywhere else – because Baba is with us always, and the dogmatic MPD programme gives the idea that Baba has gone away and left us to carry on without His guidance.

Didi strongly objected and emotionally told me how she felt so so inspired by the MPD programme. She said when she attended in Kolkata she was able to connect with Baba as He looked down upon her from heaven. By this way she gained inspiration.

She told me that when Guru has passed away then why not remember Him once a year on His death-day anniversary and give Him thanks for His teaching. That is what every religions does.

Didiji said all this so ardently, with passion in her voice and tears in her eyes.

I do not doubt her sincerity, yet it is quite delicate to try to remove the dogma from her mind. I tried to explain to her that mahaprayan is wrong because still today Baba is always with us – in our heart. He does not reside in the distant sky – He is inside the heart.

Of course, I told her all this in a devotional and indepth manner, but even then her mind was closed – totally blocked. I felt she could not look at the matter rationally or devotionally because of her extreme emotional attachment with mahaprayan, combined with her narrow understanding of Baba’s teachings and lack of sadhan. This sort of sentimentality is quite difficult to deal with.

I was then thinking what to do and spoke with one senior sadhaka and he told me the following two stories.

THE RESPONSE:

TWO MORE REAL-LIFE STORIES

Here is the first incident that he told me about.

One family was honouring the 5th anniversary of their grandfather’s death day with all kinds of pomp and show such as a public feast and clothing distribution etc. Although they were initiated margiis they were still suffering from this Hindu death-day anniversary dogma. They were so emotionally involved in the programme that they became convinced that by this way they were fulfilling Baba’s mandate of serving the poor and they were thinking that Baba has come before them in the form of a beggar.

They were thinking: “In that case how can we ignore this yearly shraddha ceremony for our deceased grandfather. By this way at least we do kiirtan and donate money to the needy, and present gifts to the priest and the departed soul. Kiirtan has purified everything: The neighborhood, caste, margiis and Baba. Everyone is pleased it is a win-win situation. The priest got gifts, the people got a feast, and we did kiirtan. Baba is happy. If we neglect this yearly death-day celebration of grandfather we will miss this opportunity.”

In this way the family continued their dogmatic approach by honouring the death day year after year using all the rituals of Hindu dogma.

Isn’t their mentality very similar to that of the didi who has latched herself emotionally with the mahaprayan dogma.

Then there is this second story.

When traveling by train one dada became hungry so he purchased food from one vendor. The food contained big and small pieces of onion and garlic. But dada just repeated guru mantra. He reasoned, “That is what Guru mantra is for – to purify everything. Now there is no more onion vibration or garlic in the food etc.” He was very passionate about the greatness of Guru mantra and he ate his meal.

SUMMARY

Here the whole point is that people – blinded by their personal attachments – do all sorts of wrongs and justify it in all kinds of ways. They create their own logic & justifications to enforce their narrow-minded dogmatic beliefs.

Those living in the dark do not like the light. That is the main problem. Didi’s attachment for the dogma of mahaprayan is no different from the two other incidents mentioned above. All three cases are exactly the same. Someone gets emotionally glued to one dogma and justifies it in various ways.

SOLUTION:

SURRENDER TO GURU AND FOLLOW HIS TEACHING

NOT ONE’S OWN AGENDA

In tantra, surrender is the main ingredient. To progress on the path, surrender is a must. Otherwise all one’s efforts are futile. The top conclusion is surrender to Guru. And surrender means doing what Guru says, not following your own personal or group agenda.

Namaskar,
Shanti

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The Dogma Threatening Longevity of AM

Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2011 22:02:36 -0500
From: John Kanter
Subject: The Dogma Threatening Longevity of AM
To: am-global@earthlink.net

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, You have come with a sweet smile while riding Your chariot of
panoramic colors. By getting You, the whole universe is purified;
everyone’s existence has become successful…

HOW THE DOGMA OF MAHAPRAYAN THREATENS

THE LONGEVITY OF ANANDA MARGA

Namaskar,
There have been so many societies that have come on this earth and all
wanted to survive– nay they all wanted to thrive. But the reality is
that, at some point in time, nearly each and every civilisation meets
its demise and falls into oblivion.

Such civilisations of the past included the Mayan, Incas, Roman,
Confucian, Greeks, Aztecs, Egyptian, Licchaviis, Vikings, Phoenicians–
and the list goes on and on.

Similarly, the societies currently active on this globe also have their
inherent flaws and weak links; they will not last long– let alone forever.

OUR ANANDA MARGA IS DIFFERENT

By His grace Baba has provided us with the key tenets that ensure the
survival of any society. This He has done with the elaboration of the
six spokes of the social cycle, or s’ad’ara’h sama’ja cakra. And by His
grace these six are all present in the of our AM family– so long as we
adhere to His guiding principles.

Baba clearly also points out how the existence of today’s dogmatic
Mahaprayan function severely violates these tenets, as it goes against
the point of ‘Preceptor’. In that case who can support such a groupist
agenda like Mahaprayan– which spells disaster for our Marga.

Thus so long as we adhere to our AM dharma, and reject the infusion of
any dogma like Mahaprayan, then our Ananda Marga will guide the society
up through the ages. Regarding this, there is not an iota of doubt.

Baba says, “A’nanda Ma’rga is that path of progress, and that is why
A’nanda Ma’rga is the only alternative for the preservation of human
existence and civilization.” (TK-1)

We will also examine how and why today’s so-called leading civilizations
will succumb due to their defective ways.

SIX SPOKES OF THE SOCIAL CYCLE

Before advancing any further, we should first identify what the six
spokes are that ensure the preservation and prosperity of any society.

Baba says, “The six factors which guide society, which make it vibrate
in bliss and dance in bliss when its different entities realize the
fullness of existence in every fibre of their existence, are the
s’ad’ara’h sama’ja cakra [six spokes of the social cycle]. The six are:
spiritual practice, spiritual ideology, social outlook, socio-economic
theory, scripture and preceptor.” (NKS, Disc: 26)

For any society to sustain itself, these six factors must be proper. And
Baba has placed all six in our AM society, including that of Preceptor;
thus we should not let any dogma like Mahaprayan– which declares that
the Preceptor (Baba) is gone– ruin our AM civilisation.

Here the point is that when any of the six points becomes weak then it
slowly, slowly causes the disintegration of that society like a cancer.
It has happened in the past and it will happen in the future– if one is
not careful.

A QUICK SURVEY WHY TODAY’S SOCIETY WILL FAIL

Here then also is a quick look around the world to see how today’s
so-called leading civilisations are prone to fall as they lack one or
more of the needed six spokes of society.

(A) Among its many demerits, US capitalism severely lacks a spiritual
ideology. Goaded by its grossly materialistic outlook– which breeds
slogans like ‘Whoever dies with the most toys wins’– is the Achilles
heel of American society. While US capitalism may be weak in other areas
as well, clearly the most threatening gap is that of not having a
spiritual ideology. In that case unhealthy competition, psychic
diseases, misplaced values, and the like are sure to destroy the society.

(B) Arguably the weakest link of Christianity is that it is devoid of a
proper spiritual cult– spiritual practice. They have their supposed
preceptor, and they have the glimpses of a social outlook etc, but the
most glaring weakness of Christianity is that they have no spiritual
practice– just it is based 100% on dogma and baseless rituals. For this
reason, Christianity is sure to meet its end.

(C) Back in the old days of India, the society built up by Shankaracarya
could not last due to the fact that he ignored the world– he failed to
even remotely develop any socio-economic theory by which people could
live on this earth. Devoid of that, Shankaracaryas theory of mayavada
(illusion theory) could not stand the test of time.

(D) The Muslims have a strong social outlook and that is why they were
able to take over and dominate many of the other lands and religions in
the Middle East.

Baba says, “Hazrat Mohammed offered a new way of life to the ignorant
and oppressed who were swirling endlessly round and round in the muddy
whirlpool of superstition. He clearly declared that all the people of
the world belonged to one caste.” (HS-2)

At the same time such Muslims lack a proper spiritual ideology and Islam
is sure to meet its end. Actually, on various occasions Baba has told
that Islam will meet a bloody death due to extreme infighting etc.

(E) When the Muslims arrived in India, even though they ruled for 500
years, they could not wipe out the existing Indian civilisation, because
those Hindus had strong faith in their Preceptors, Lord Shiva and Lord
Krsna. So the fact that those Hindus have strong faith in their
Preceptor they were able to maintain. They never feel that Lord Krsna or
Lord Shiva has died. They never even think to observe the so-called
Mahaprayan of their Preceptor. For that reason Hinduism could survive.

(F) Even then there is not any single society currently on this earth
that is perfect in all six components or all six spokes of the social
cycle. In that case no civilisation– except our Ananda Marga– can last
over the course of time.

AM HAS ALL THE POINTS…

Because for beginning to end our Marga is firmly grounded in all the six
spokes of society: (1) spiritual practice, (2) spiritual ideology, (3)
social outlook, (4) socio-economic theory, (5) scripture, and (6) preceptor.

(1) here below Baba clearly declares that we have a proper spiritual
cult or spiritual practice.

Baba says, “The practice of Ananda Marga has been formulated to enable
spiritual aspirants to search for the Supreme within their minds.” (SS-12)

(2) Here Baba clearly states that we have an proper spiritual ideology.

Baba says, “How can human hunger be satisfied in the subtlest realm? For
this Ananda Marga philosophy is there…Our ideology is a happy blending
of rationality and spirituality.” (PNS-17)

(3) Here below Baba clearly tells that we have a proper social outlook.

Baba says, “Ananda Marga is therefore not merely an organization of
idealists or moralists who preach a classless society, but a method, a
system or a dharma which leads to a classless society.” (PNS-11)

Baba says, “Ananda Marga has formulated a social treatise for the
establishment of a congenial social structure.” (TK-2, ‘Our Social
Treatise’)

(4) Here below Baba clearly guides us that we have a proper
socio-economic theory.

Baba says, “PROUT is the path of socio-economic emancipation for
humanity.” (PNS-17)

(5) Here below Baba states that we have a proper scripture or shastra.

Baba says, “The books in Ananda Marga philosophy are all absolute
knowledge.” (AMPH-4)

(6) And by Baba’s grace we have true Preceptor.

Baba says “Ta’raka Brahma is quite a different Entity, a unique Entity,
for He is spiritual preceptor, social preceptor, kaola and Maha’kaola
all in one.” (NKS, Disc: 7)

So in Ananda Marga, all the six spokes are perfectly met.

…BUT MAHAPRAYAN GOES AGAINST POINT OF PRECEPTOR

And Baba verily states that He– as the Guru, as the Preceptor– is an
eternal Entity who will guide us through the ages.

Baba says, “The one formless, beginningless and infinite Parama Brahma
(Supreme Consciousness) is the only entity to be attained by living
beings – That alone is Jagat Guru (the Supreme preceptor), That alone
has revealed Brahmavidya’ (intuitional science) to us through the medium
of the name and form of Anandamu’rtijii. Unit beings must be made to
appreciate Its majesty.” (CC-2)

Unfortunately, those top leaders who espouse the crude theory of
Mahaprayan go against Baba’s divine mandate by declaring Baba is gone.
For that is the meaning of Mahaprayan– Guru is no more.

Yet that seriously threatens our very existence.

That is why even the ritualistic Hindus never ever practice the
Mahaprayan of Lord Shiva or Lord Krsna– because they know well that
this would spell the end of their religion, of their civilisation.

Those group leaders who advocate Mahaprayan do not have this much sense.
Affected by their group and geo-sentiments, they plainly tell
that Baba is gone forever with the declaration of their dogmatic
Mahaprayan program.

In so doing, such leaders (un)knowingly yank one of the integral six
spokes out of our AM society– all because it satisfies their plan of
action. But by taking away our Preceptor– by declaring that Baba is gone
with their dogmatic Mahaprayan program– they are undermining the very
essence of Ananda Marga and threatening its survival.

But they will not get success. Because there are a large number of
devotional and rational minded margiis and acaryas in AM who will never
ever accept the dogma of Mahaprayan in their heart.

That is why it is sure that our AM will last forever; and that is why
the dogma of Mahaprayan is short-lived. It started in 1990 and has been
waning ever since and soon it will be gone entirely. Because it goes
against the dharma of Ananda Marga.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace, all the six spokes are alive and well in our AM and
that is why our Marga will lead the humanity up to eternity. Our Marga
will live on and on…

Baba says, “There is no power in the universe, in the heaven or in the
underworld, which can annihilate Ananda Marga, because Ananda Marga is
established on the solid foundation of rationality and righteousness.”
(AFPS-4)

Baba says, “A’nanda Ma’rga is that path of progress, and that is why
A’nanda Ma’rga is the only alternative for the preservation of human
existence and civilization.” (TK-1)

Namaskar,
Jitendra

Note 1: WHY BUDDHISM AND JAINISM COULD NOT LAST

Here below Baba points out how societies like Buddhism and Jainism also
could not last as they severely lack a proper social outlook, a proper
society economic theory– nor could they give a proper spiritual
ideology etc.

Baba says, “Why have Buddhism and Jainism not stood the test of time?
Both these religions suffer from two main defects which have undermined
their popularity. Gaotam Buddha failed to propound any clear idea about
God and the ultimate goal of human life, and he did not try to build a
human society based on his teachings. Mahaviira Jain, first of all, gave
too much stress to nirgrantha vada or going about naked. Primitive
people did not wear clothes, but they began to cover their bodies due to
changing climatic conditions. After they grew accustomed to covering
their bodies, they began to feel ashamed if they went about without
clothes. Hence, Mahaviira’s philosophy of nirgrantha vada never gained
mass support. Secondly, he placed too much emphasis on forgiveness and
mercy. He taught people to forgive their worst enemies, even if they
were as deadly as scorpions and snakes. As a result of this teaching,
people lost the will to fight against the enemies of society. So,
although the teachings of Buddha and Mahaviira Jain were not based on
dogma and did not deliberately mislead people, they failed in the course
of time because they were not sufficiently comprehensive and
well-balanced.” (PNS-16, ‘Religious Dogma’)

***************************************
Think on This

Baba says, “You are social beings. One cannot live in isolation. When
you feel thirsty, you can’t manufacture a spade, dig a well, and draw
water yourself. One person will make a spade, another will add the
wooden handle, and another will dig the well — this is how we work
collectively. This is the way for human beings to live. In all spheres
of human existence, in the aesthetic sphere as well, humanity should live
collectively. You should live in unison. You should vibrate together to
the same music. You should move in a common psychic flow. You should fight
collectively against your common enemies. Unitedly you should face all
problems, mundane and supra-mundane. In a word, you must reflect the
spirit of harmonious collective living in conformity with the spirit
of the Vedic mantra Sam’gacchadhvam’ sam’vadadhvam.” (5 April 1981)

Note: This above Baba’s teaching is the special guideline for arousing
social conscious– which is lacking these days in the society. It is
commonly known that some margiis and wts have gone far off from this
above Baba’s teaching.
***************************************

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Baba Story: Eating Sweets

Date: 15 Aug 2011 16:19:57 -0000
From: “Shivadayal Deva”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Baba Story: Eating Sweets

Baba

== BABA STORY: EATING SWEETS ==

Namaskar
After holding DMC in Kullu (HP) in November 1979, Baba returned back to Delhi where He was staying at the time. Many dadas were also in Delhi as Baba was doing reporting and related works.

Upon His return, some margiis offered sweets to Baba. Baba Himself was not eating sweets those days, so He graciously blessed those sweets and ordered that they should be distributed among all His children as prasad.

SES DADA WAS VERY BUSY

SES dada Krpadhiishananda was extremely busy that morning and late in completing his routine. He was not ready yet to eat. So when the cook brought out the tray of sweets / prasad, dadaji thought that they would all be gone by the time he had completed his personal duties. So SES dada took a large handful of prasad and stashed it away for himself.

Later on when he finished his duties etc, Krpadhiishananda ate some of the prasad which he had put away and kept the remainder in a safe place for later.

MIDDAY REPORTING WITH BABA

At midday reporting, Baba inquire to SES dada, “Where are those sweets? Have you had some prasad?”

Dada replied, “Yes Baba, I have eaten some.”

“Is there more?”, Baba inquired.

Dada answered, “Yes.”

Then Baba started talking about the health problems that arise from eating sweets and sugar products. This went on for around 10 minutes.

BABA SAYS: SWEETS ARE HARMFUL

Baba’s main point was that sweets are especially bad for those above the age of 25. No matter how careful one is, Baba explained, sweets are bad for entire system as they invite diseases like diabetes, digestive disorders, brain disease, and so many other serious health problems like boils, acidity etc. Finally sweets make the blood impure and increase mental lethargy and dullness. Indeed, Baba was very adamant about the ill-effects of eating sweets.

BABA MAKES INQUIRY WITH DADAS:

ALL HAD THEIR PRIVATE STOCK OF SWEETS

Then Baba asked all the dadas, “Who is eating sweets on a regular basis?”

It was then found that they were all keeping various amounts of gur (refined molasses) in their personal bags. Some dadas were keeping 1kg, others had 1.5kg, and still others had 2kg. The common thread was that they were eating it regularly. Some even proclaimed that gur was “an instant energy booster” and would eat that first upon breaking fast.

Baba told everyone present that that the various array of sweets like sugar, molasses (gur), and any other type of sweet is not good for the human body, especially if one is over 25 years of age.

Baba warned them, “You are dedicated wholetimer workers. You must keep your body fit and your mind sharp to serve the society. If you are eating negative things like sweets then how are you going to fulfill your duties properly.”

Hearing all this, the dadas present gave their stock of gur to local needy children and vowed to keep away from all kinds of sweets.

Namaskar,
Shivadayal

Note 1: FURTHER READING ON THIS TOPIC

The below letter contains more of Baba’s teachings about reducing or eliminating one’s sugar / sweets intake. Plus it lists 141 health problems related with eating sweets.

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2011/07/healthy-habits.html

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Later On I Will Do…

From: “Praviira Deva”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Later On I Will Do…
Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2011 20:14:28 +0000

Baba

“A’mi toma’r pathei cali go a’r tava sure ga’n ga’i…” (PS 1756)

Purport:

O’ Baba, by Your grace I move only on Your path: I sing in Your tune and
dance to Your rhythm. My whole existence is moving in Your divine flow–
ensconced in Your sweet bliss. Baba, O’ my dearmost, You are the most
attractive One. I think and ideate only on You and I meditate only on Your
glory. Baba, 24hrs a day I am looking towards You; I want only You. Baba,
only You are my Goal; only You are my Desideratum. Baba, You are the
shining star of my life.

Baba, by Your grace we are so close. We are tied up in a bond of love.
Baba, You are the ray of hope & happiness in my life. Baba, I am like the
dark evening of the rainy season– my life is full of problems and
difficulties; and You are like the soft night-queen flower (rajaniigandha’
[1])– You are the Personification of all that is sweet. Baba, by Your
fragrant touch, my whole life becomes fragrant. Baba, by Your grace my life
is saturated with Your heavenly aroma– my existence is saturated with Your
grace.

Baba, I am jiiva and You are Shiva. I am wrought with imperfections and
defects and You are blemishless and pure. Baba, I am like the winter sky
that is enveloped by the fog. My life is filled with problems. Baba, You
are like the crimson effulgence of the morning’s new dawn. With the
brilliance of Your presence all my problems disappear. Baba, You bring
charm and bliss into my life. You make everything beautiful. Baba, without
You my life is meaningless– unbearable. Baba, by dyeing my mind in Your
color, my whole existence rushes towards Your divine land– towards You.

Baba, because of Your grace-compassion, I am marching only towards You.
Baba, You have done everything for me…

NOTE FOR ABOVE PRABHAT SAMGIITA #1756:

[1] Rajaniigandha’: (Night Queen Flower) This is one of the most fragrant
and aromatic flowers; it emanates a delicious, sweet smell all around for
miles and miles. The wonderful scent of the rajaniigandha’ makes any
environment charming. For this reason in the above song the sadhaka is
saying that Parama Purusa is like the rajaniigandha– because He emanates
unending sweetness all around. In contrast, the sadhaka compares himself to
the suffocating, humid evening in the rainy season. Because that humid
evening has so many negative characteristics such as heavy air and the
onslaught of buzzing mosquitos and pestering insects. Thus the torturous
humid evening represents the sadhaka’s problem-filled life. But when the
sweet aroma rajaniigandha’ comes in contact with the sticky, humid evening,
then everything becomes sweet and charming. Then that humid evening gets
transformed into something wonderful. Similarly even though a sadhaka’s
life might be filled with countless problems and obstacles, but with the
divine arrival of Parama Purusa, everything becomes charming and blissful.
All of one’s problems immediately disappear– vanish, because of His sweet
presence. That is why in the above song the sadhaka compares Baba with the
rajaniigandha’ flower.

== LATER ON I WILL DO A LOT OF SA’DHANA’ ==

Namaskar,
It can sometimes happen in the life of a sadhaka that one thinks, ‘although
I do not have time for sadhana today, later on in the future I will have a
lot of time for sadhana’. This type of mentality can develop in one’s mind;
even it is common.

EXAMPLES HOW PEOPLE PLAN TO DO SADHANA

I have one margii friend who was trying hard to arrange the marriage of his
daughter. In that planning, day by day was going by, and all the while he
was neglecting his spiritual duties– he wasn’t doing an ounce of sadhana.
And whenever anyone raised the matter with him then he would immediately
retort, ‘When this is marriage is finalised then I will devote a maximum
amount of time for sadhana’. This was his on-going justification. But in
the end, when the marriage finally got arranged then immediately he became
involved in arranging a place for the newly married couple to live etc etc
— and never did he have time to do sadhana. Just his life became filled
with another type of mundane planning.

On another occasion I was in the presence of one acarya, who for years and
years was planning that when he will become old then he will do lots and
lots of sadhana. So he spent nearly 10 or 12 years of his life planning to
find a place to live later on so that when he gets older he will be able to
do plenty of sadhana. But ultimately his plan did not come to fruition and
in the end he only complained that he was unable to do sadhana because he
could not concentrate his mind.

Then in another situation, there was one margii neighbor who was working 24
hrs a day at his mundane job and side by side building sadhana platforms in
his backyard– planning that ‘in the future when I retire then I will
devote all my time to sadhana’. So at present he was neglecting his kiirtan
and sadhana under the excuse that he had no time as he needed to work to
make money in order to build the sadhana platforms etc. This was his
on-going plan. But when all was said and done, after skipping his sadhana
for so long finally he lost interest entirely in doing meditation. Never
was his dream fulfilled, and he just filled his life instead with more
mundane things.

So like this in various ways and shapes people build glorious plans about
how in future they will do a lot of sadhana– yet neglect their practice in
the present moment. But tragically the end of the story is never good for
such type of planners.

Step by step here are Baba’s replies to those who plan in the future they
will do so much sadhana.

TO THOSE WHO PLAN THAT IN OLD AGE I WILL DO SADHANA

Here below Baba responds to those who think that when they retire or when
the kids grow old then I will do a lot of sadhana.

Baba says, “Some people consider that one should start intuitional practice
in old age when a person has more leisure, after one has spent the prime of
one’s life earning money. People are afraid that they may face insecurity
and difficulties in their old age if they do not accumulate enough wealth
before their bodies weaken with age, rendering them incapable of hard work.
They regard the prime of life as the period intended for earning money, and
old age with its decreased capacity for hard work as the time to remember
God. They are labouring under the misconception that hard work is not
necessary for intuitional practice and that old age is therefore the proper
time for it. Whoever is born is bound to die and one is constantly
approaching death, not knowing when it will come. It is never certain if
one will live to grow old. Yet people reserve the most important work of
practising sa´dhana´ for the time when the body has become completely
enfeebled and the fatuous mind of old age has become entangled in the
reactions of this life to such an extent that it is afraid of starting
anything new. Ordinarily it is fear of one’s approaching death that makes
one think of God in old age. One’s evil deeds begin to haunt one, and one
starts praying and imploring God to save him or her from the consequences
of one’s deeds. 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 it. For these reasons
one is incapable of intuitional practice.” (AMEP, chap 10)

So in His above teaching Baba is guiding us that one cannot suddenly start
doing a lot of sadhana in old age. Because at that point the mind has
already been trained in a different way– it is not accustomed to doing
sadhana. Thus in later age doing sadhana is nothing but a far off dream.
Plus in old age invariably people suffer from various physical ailments
which prevent them from doing meditation.

MORE ABOUT SPIRITUAL LETHARGY

Here below Baba exposes the futile plans of those who promise that in
future I will do a lot of sadhana.

Baba says, “Of all the different types of lethargy, spiritual lethargy is
the worst. Spiritual lethargy means not to sit for meditation regularly.
Those with spiritual lethargy have time for all other actions, but for
spiritual practice there seems to be no time. They say, “It’s already late
today – I’ll do a short meditation right now, and devote more time to
sa’dhana’ tomorrow.” They sit attentively inside the cinema hall, but in
dharma sa’dhana’ they feel sleepy.” (AMIWL-10)

Baba says, “Every human being, from the age of fourteen or fifteen, has an
innate desire to ideate on Parama Purus’a. With cosmic ideation one will
attain vast expansion of mind, one will become great in all respects. No
one can check the all-round growth of such a person. People realize this
and yet ignore it and thus waste their time getting old for nothing. That
is, they waste their time in non-spiritual pursuits. This is called
‘spiritual lethargy’. It causes the greatest harm to human life because it
results in only a very small percentage of the human potentiality – maybe
one or two percent – being utilized by humans. Even those whom we call
great personalities hardly use ten percent of their potentialities. Due to
spiritual lethargy people are unable to grow, and thus remain very
ordinary. They come to the world, live, decay and die as ordinary human
beings.” (AV-8)

So such type of poor planning or laziness in sadhana ruins one’s existence.

SADHANA SHOULD BE DONE IN THIS PRESENT MOMENT

Here below Baba guides us that nothing in this world is permanent and that
even our near and dear ones forget us when we leave this world. Hence while
living on this earth we should pass our time in more and more sadhana–
since our link with Him will alone with us, forever and ever.

Baba says, “When a person dies, what feelings will his mother and father,
his brothers and sisters show? They will cry aloud, but after two or three
days, normalcy will return. They will resume their normal mundane duties.
And after a few days more or a few months they will forget the person. In
societies where a widow’s marriage is accepted by people, the widow will
remarry…So you cannot say that any of your relatives is your bandhu.
Nobody is your bandhu, or friend, in this respect…Jagat Bandhu is the
only real Bandhu. Parama Purus’a is the only real bandhu. He loved you in
the past; He will love you in the future. He alone is Bandhu. His name is
Jagat Bandhu…” (AV-4)

Baba says, “After your death your friends will carry you to the cremation
ground. After being burnt, the body is rendered into ashes. Your friends
will spray some water on the ashes of the funeral pyre, and then go back
home. As long as they are in the cremation ground, they remember you. After
that they forget you. But dharma remains with you even after your death,
and what you did for dharma in this world is never forgotten. Therefore, in
your worldly life, you are to strengthen the hands of dharma, and in the
world, dharma will strengthen you.” (AV-4)

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace as Ananda Margiis we should be pointed in our daily sadhana
practice lest all our time get wasted in other pursuits. So we should
devote more and more energy to sadhana in this present moment.

Baba says, “The worship of Brahma should be done scrupulously, or else you
will later regret and bemoan the futility of your life with the last drop
of your tears at your last hour. You should make your life worthwhile
through your sa’dhana’ How much can your worldly friends and relations do
for you? After your death your relatives may perhaps ask, “How much money
has he left behind?” Your friends may go to the crematorium and indulge in
flattering reminiscences about you. Your husband or wife may cry for you
for about ten or twelve days and then regain their normal composure. Your
lot will be only a profound sigh – a record of the futility and frustration
of your life. So do not waste your time lest you later have to repent.” (SS-3)

Namaskar,
Praviira

Note: If one maintains a strict sadhana & asana practice throughout their
life then in late age also they will be able to carry on with their
spiritual routine. But those who neglect their daily sadhana will never be
able to taste that sweetness in their later years. That is the way it works
according to Baba.

********************************************
The Place of Occult Powers in AM

Baba says, “In spiritual life as well as in ordinary life, if one retains
simplicity it is helpful for the attainment of God; through this one’s life
and mind become filled with the effulgence of Parama Purusa. This is the
supreme attainment. Spying out every nook and cranny of the eight occult
powers is another name for stupidity.” (SC-2, p.149)

Note: Unfortunately in the general society people think that occult powers
themselves are the essence of spirituality. Indeed, devoid of occult
powers, such persons do not have any concept of spirituality. In AM however
it is different; it is not like that. In our Marga devotion gets utmost
importance.
********************************************

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VIEW OF ONE IMPORTANT MARGII ON IDEAL CONDUCT OF ACARYAS

Subject: Please Post
Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2011 14:00:24 +0530
From: tr sukul
To: AM-GLOBAL

Baba

== VIEW OF ONE IMPORTANT MARGII ON IDEAL CONDUCT OF ACARYAS ==

Namaskar.
What I could know so far in the present context is that this all seems to be the fight for might [a.k.a political power] and hence all the groupism and quarreling.

If the established group leaders think that Baba is not watching them and therefore they are free to follow or leave morality, then they are throwing themselves into darkness of crudeness for which they will have to repent. This type of attitude indicates that they have not understood the realities of human life taught by Baba and they have become sannyasis merely due to shmashan vaeragya i.e. like those who when happen to visit shmashan and feel instantaneously that life is like a bubble of air in water which appears for few seconds and then vanishes, but as soon as they come back to their residences they immediately forget these ideas and think they will live forever.

MEANING OF HUMAN LIFE:

MUST NOT MISUSE FOR SELFISH PURPOSE

I am not of that level who can judge the truth of sannyasi/s and his/their wisdom, just I am a follower of my beloved BABA. Whatever I have learnt from Baba’s available literature in the form of His discourses and discussions, it is that human life is for self-realisation. Hence each and every moment should be utilised for attaining the set target of this realisation.

They are blessed ones who have dedicated their lives for the sake of establishing the ideals of their Guru, but if once they have handed over their everything to their Guru they have no right to use it for their own without the permission of Guru, this is simple rule of morality.

Now if such persons act against the directions of the Guru then it is obvious that they do not believe in the ideals of Guru for which they have dedicated themselves.

RAVANA AS MAHAPA’TAKI

While narrating Ravana as mahapa’taki Baba has explained that the act, Ravana performed, was against the morality and yet it was done in the uniform of a sannyasi, so he had done mahapatak not atipatak and the result was his death. Atipatki can get redemption but not the mahapatki, as no one will believe in sannyasis in future, every woman will suspect on sannyasi, etc.

As regards me, I treat all sannyasis to be the representative of my Baba and have full regard but these stories really shake me internally. Even if they are just few bad apples, still whole of the sannyasi samaj is to be blamed as the faith of common people diminishes.

POINT OUT DISEASE AND GIVE MEDICINE

Just as the doctor not only points out the disease but also suggests the medicine to be taken, regardless of how sour it may be, similarly as concerned Ananda Margiis we are to point out the problem and give the solution. And the solution to perpetual groupism is neo-humanism where people shed their groupist identities and mindfully follow Guru’s divine ideals and teachings.

IT IS BELOVED BABA’S ORGANISATION

At last I would like to say that I have blind faith in my Gurudev which no story can decrease it even for a minutest quantity. As regards organisation, the One who has formed it, He has programmed it in His own way; that will only work – nothing else.

Namaskar,
Dr T.R. Shukla

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What to Believe

Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2011 22:34:26 -0700
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: Mahendra Deva
Subject: What to Believe

Baba

Intro to PS: This following song is unique in its own special way. Here Baba, in an indirect manner, is talking to the devotee and consoling him about his situation.

“Jale bhara’ a’nkhi yadio toma’r…” (P.S. 1445)

Purport:

O’ my dear, I can see that Your eyes are filled with tears. Please tell me why you are so sad– such that You could not even manage to attend to your basic duties. Which divine Entity came and stole Your heart. He left, took away Your heart, and He did not return. Who is that who did that to you.

Even then please don’t cry, that very divine Entity will come again. No doubt He left you alone and He went off to some far distant place. And He does not come close these days. But that type of strength He does not have that He can keep Himself away forever. Yes, He keeps Himself distant from You; but your love He has not forgotten nor can He ever forget. He will surely come again.

O’ my dear, please tell me why you are so sad. Who has stolen Your heart; in whose longing are you crying. That Ajana Pathik, that divine Entity loves You very much, you should know…

== WHAT TO BELIEVE ==

Namaskar,
Nowadays, we all receive news nearly every moment from all parts of the globe. The news arrives via internet, discussions, blogs, emails, text messages, television, cell phone conversations, and indeed in all kinds of ways.

A key point in all of this is how to gather, receive, and best understand that news. How are we to know what is true and what is false.

Here I am not just talking about news of the general society, but news from within our Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha as well. Please read the following for tips and guidelines; kindly share your perspective too.

OFTEN THE SOURCE IS NOT CORRECT

If the person or place from where you are gathering your news is faulty, or if that person is getting their news from a weak source, then you may be receiving incorrect news. This especially happens when the person telling you the news does not himself realise that what he is telling you is faulty. So with an earnest mind and sincere voice he conveys news to you, yet the information he is repeating is itself spoiled. This is one common way that wrong ideas get propagated.

For instance, some religions or religious sects preach that the world was created in six days. The priests propagate this notion. In response, their followers carry this message to all whom they meet. Because in their heart they believe this dogmatic and false notion. This is the way it often works.

Indeed, when the source of the news is himself devious, then news may reach your ears via other people yet you may not even realise that those things are incorrect. It happens.

Here are more practical examples to make this perfectly clear.

SCENES FROM THE GENERAL SOCIETY

In communist nations, the leaders would project their false propaganda – booming their message again and again. They repeat their incorrect messages over and over until the common citizens hold those ideas to be true.

Baba says, “Communism has survived long after the death of Marx. It survived only due to the force of arms and constant booming. If constant booming is done for something, then people start thinking that there must be some truth in what is being propagated. For example, if someone continually says that Gopal is a very bad boy, then people will eventually believe what they are being told. Gopal will become a bad boy in their eyes even if in fact Gopal is really a good boy. Communists are doing constant booming about their theory. Due to this people are being brainwashed, and at this stage it is very easy to inject incorrect ideas into their minds. By constant booming of their wrong theory they are creating their supporters.” (Prout Nutshell-15, Defects of Communism – Section C)

And indeed not only did the communist leaders create followers, but those innocent yet brainwashed followers would repeat and discuss those same ideas with others. In this way, the spread of those faulty notions multiplied.

Here is another example.

Around 700 years ago, the political and academic leaders in Europe told everyone that the world was flat. In turn, everyone talked about the earth as if it was really flat. But even though the common people repeated and discussed this faulty concept again and again – they are not to be blamed. The source of their information was not correct.

These are but a few examples from the general society where the common people unknowingly spread false news to others. The root cause is that they are being fed faulty ideas which they hold to be true.

SOME EXAMPLES FROM OUR MARGA

In our Ananda Marga also such things occur.

For instance, there are numerous margiis who think that the observance of mahaprayan is OK and they are telling their friends to participate because it is “consistent with AM philosophy”. In that case, how can one accuse those innocent margiis of spreading dogma. It is not their fault.

Rather some Dada injected this dogma and told them to celebrate mahaprayan and those people did not read AM scriptures to find out the truth. So they got misled by that hearsay. Hence those margiis still participating in the archaic and dogmatic mahaprayan function are not to be blamed. They were given faulty instructions.

Then of course there are margiis who belong to a specific group. Whatever group they join then they are taught certain defective ideas – even dogmas – by those group leaders. This applies to all the groups. They indoctrinate their followers into their own agenda items.

For instance, take the case of the various tiirthas or so-called holy sites. One group says that Jamalpur tiirtha is the “holiest place” and another group says that Tiljala is the “holiest place”. Some think one place is the most important and others think another place is the “holiest”. They each think that Baba is tied to their so-called holy land and resides there. For the margiis then, it all depends upon which group they are most influenced by.

Likewise, various groups spread their own Fake Ananda Vaniis. They each think that theirs is God’s message of that day. But if really that is Baba’s Ananda Vanii, then why are all three different – each group with their own.

THE THEOLOGY OF THE VARIOUS GROUPS DIFFER

In this following teaching, Baba describes the irony of how various religious factions or sects each claim to offer the supreme truth, yet each faction offers a different message.

Baba says, “The supporters of each and every scripture say, “Ours is the message of God, it is the supreme word.” Then if all the scriptures are messages of the same Supreme Being, why do they vary from one another? The Supreme Being is one, and if all the scriptures are messages of that single Supreme Being, then there should not be any variation amongst themselves. This shows that those scriptures are not the messages of that Supreme Being.” (Subhasita Samgraha – 24, Longing for the Great)

Similarly, the theology of various groups differ from one other yet each claims that theirs is the message of Baba. And this leads to serious problems.

Each group promotes their own false propaganda – or their own separate set of “truths” – which gets repeated again and again until all the margiis in their group buy into that propaganda. By this way, margiis of different groups grow very far apart because they are all adhering to a different “truth”. Thus the schism deepens.

In this way there are many examples of how each group does booming about their own false notions to their followers. Each group claims to be the path of truth yet all have distinctly different approaches.

In reality however, the universal truth is always the same, not many. Here are some common examples:
(a) 2 + 2 = 4; it will never be that a 2 + 2 = 3, 6, or 9.
(b) a triangle has 3 sides; it will never be that a triangle has 11, 12, or 14 sides.
(c) a healthy dog has 4 legs; it is not the case that a fit dog has 1 or 7 legs.

These statements are true in all conditions. They are singular in nature not plural. There are not multiple truths. The truth is one.

Same is the case with Ananda Marga ideology. It is one dharmic truth – not many.

BABA’S TEACHING:

MUST USE VIVEK TO GET THE RIGHT UNDERSTANDING

As Ananda Margiis we must be able to discern between truth and falsehood, otherwise we will be misled. According to Baba we must use our viveka or discriminating faculty.

Baba says, “Now, human beings are capable of judging between right and wrong because their minds are somewhat developed, but the minds of creatures other than humans are not so developed. Because of their undeveloped minds, they cannot follow the path of rationality, the path of discrimination, which almost every human being can. Those who say that there is no need of study – “Leave your books aside!” – are incorrect. Study is essential, knowledge is essential, and association with learned and enlightened people is essential. Listening to learned discourses, studying and understanding the scriptures, all have their importance.” (Neo-Humanism: Liberation of Intellect, Disc: 3)

Thus, by educating oneself about Baba’s divine teachings, then that sadhaka will be able to develop the requisite viveka and hold the course of dharma and not be swayed by groupist agendas.

If however anyone fails to adhere to Baba’s tenet and does not study AM ideology, then their plight will be similar to that of the bird in Baba’s below teaching.

Baba says, “But animals less-evolved than humans are incapable of this. They cannot follow the path of rationality or conscience. The more-developed animals merely follow the path of sentiment. When an animal likes something, it runs after it; when it does not like it, it does not run after it. For instance, a dog runs toward a piece of bread without looking to either side. Or, for example, some grains of rice are spread under a net. Suddenly a bird catches sight of the grains and alights on the ground. It thinks: “Let me go down and eat them!” So it is caught in the net. But had it pursued the path of rationality, it would have thought: “Hmmm, rice is strewn in such a remote woodland! This is unnatural. There is neither a village nor rice fields nearby – so this is indeed strange. Let me think this over for a while… Aha! A net has been spread and ropes are laid on all sides. I must not alight there!” This is the way of logic. But if it follows the path of sentiment it will alight and be caught in the net…” (Neo-Humanism: Liberation of Intellect, Disc: 3)

Finally, in His next teaching, Baba warns us about falling prey to any kind of sentiment like groupist sentiment.

Baba says, “If someone moves along the path of sentiment instead of the path of rationality, there is a hundred percent probability of great danger. Those who move along the path of sentiment do not discriminate between the proper and the improper, but merely silently accept all superstitions surrounding the goal towards which they have been running. Even the least question regarding propriety or impropriety does not arise in their minds, because they are moving along the path of sentiment.” (Neo-Humanism: Liberation of Intellect, Disc: 3)

BABA’S SOLUTION

In this critical situation, where all the group’s are fast propagating their own gospel, then the only way to keep firm to the path is to study Baba’s divine teachings. Baba took great pains to give so many discourese. Only when one is cent-per-cent familiar with Baba’s eternal guideline can one keep away from the group agendas. We are not to believe on hearsay. Otherwise, one is to be misled by this or that dada and get lured following a particular group, instead of Baba’s dharmic teachings. Hence, as Baba guides us, study is very important. That is the only way to uphold and protect AM ideology.

Baba says, “Study is essential, knowledge is essential, and association with learned and enlightened people is essential. Listening to learned discourses, studying and understanding the scriptures, all have their importance.” (Neo-Humanism: Liberation of Intellect, Disc: 3)

Namaskar,
Mahendra

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Health Guideline = Food In-take

Baba says, “Dyspepsia originates from unbalanced food habits. Eating when one is not hungry or only half-hungry is harmful in this disease. So is eating rich food for days together, using intoxicants, eating tasty food out of greed alone, not taking rest after the meal before running off to the office, or taking a bellyful of food…” (YT, p.3)

1. In the life it often happens that when one feels hungry food is not ready; and when one is not hungry then one gets food to eat. This is the common problem. Especially in the case of most of Wts because of their traveling routine they depend on others’ or they face various inconveniences. So according to others’ schedule etc so it becomes very difficult to take food in a timely way– at the proper time food. That is why the tragedy is that the major percentage of Wts are suffering from one or more diseases. And unfortunately they end up leaving this world prematurely. Or they end up passing their day in a diseased and crippled condition totally feeble and bed-ridden. These are the common outcomes. So we should take lesson from all this and follow Baba’s teachings and guide others to do the same.

2. Some innocent persons are thinking that since they are not drinking liquor or doing drugs then it means that they are not using intoxicants. But we should remember that tea and coffee are also intoxicants.

3. To properly follow this above rule Baba has given the code that one should not take more than 4 times per day, but the general society is moving in a completely negative way. Many persons have the bad habit of chewing gum all day long etc. Earlier I thought only a few kids were involved in this dirty habit, but now it we can see that the problem has become more general. Because and at retreats and seminars even Dadas and some Didis are also chewing gum like wild goats. But by this dirty habit when all day long one is swallowing saliva then saliva producing glands become dry. Then when the real need is there then those glands cannot secrete saliva. That is why people suffer from various diseases. Because without saliva food cannot be properly digested and undigested food causes so many toxic effects in the body. So we should follow Baba point of maximum 4 times and four items.

4. ‘Rich food’ means the food which one cannot digest such as high fat, oily food– rich in fatty oily contents. Here ‘rich’ does not mean costly or not. it may be that rich foods are very cheap. The point is that eating rich, oily food invites the disease of obesity. This problem is quite common in the general public and also in our vast margii family. Everyone knows that obesity is the root cause of many kinds of diseases and that nowadays it is an epidemic.

5. In this modern era when everyone is feeling a shortage of time and people are just rushing from one work to another work, then they do not care to take rest after food. And that becomes the root cause of various diseases related with indigestion. The first of which is hyper-acidity. Sometimes this causes serious damage when one negative growth or side stomach or side pocket gets created. Then food sits there and rots and then people die from this.

6. When one takes rest after food then they can moderate their right nostril and ensure that it is open. But if after food they are just running to work then they cannot manage to keep the right nostril open in which case digestion is impaired.
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