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Very Good Way to Learn

Posted in Service on February 29, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Date: Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:05:42 -0000
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From:
Subject: Very Good Way to Learn

Baba

== VERY GOOD WAY TO LEARN ==

Namaskar,
As sadhakas, our duty is to learn and grow from each and every circumstance. Here Baba has given us the secret how to accomplish this.

BABA’S SPECIAL EXPLANATION

Every Ananda Margii is familiar with Baba’s divine blessing: Sarve bhadra’n’i pashyantu, meaning “See the bright side of everything.” After so many DMC’s and spiritual gatherings, Baba would bestow this blessing upon us, by His grace.

In His 1988 Shra’van’ii Pu’rn’ima’ discourse, Baba has given us one special explanation of what it means to “see the bright side.” So although we may have heard Baba’s blessing – Sarve bhadra’n’i pashyantu – countless times, we may not be fully aware of its inner spirit and practical application in our daily lives. That Baba has beautifully explained on the occasion of Shra’van’ii Pu’rn’ima’ in 1988.

That day, in His elaboration of “see the bright side”, Baba explained that everything in this universe is a mix of the three gun’as: Sentient (sa’ttvika), mutative (ra’jasik), and static (ta’masik). Thus, everyone and everything contains at least some amount of both sentient qualities and static qualities. If sattvagun’a is more dominant then we call that person or thing, “good”; and if tamahgun’a is more dominant then we call that person or thing, “bad”.

Here the chief point is that everyone and everything – no matter how good or bad they are – has at least some good qualities. And seeing the bright side means finding and recognising those good aspects. The great benefit is that this allows us to learn from every situation and every interaction.

For instance, a person may be a thief and a confirmed sinner, but that person may also be an excellent planner and organiser. They may have a great talent to prepare for a given task. In that case, as sadhakas, we should have the flexibility of mind to see that goodness within that thief and emulate their unique talent. By that way we can grow and develop. That can only happen, however, if we are able to see the bright side.

Thus we are always to take brahmabhava (spiritual ideation) and think that all have come from Him, so everyone – even a thief – has some bright spots. As sadhakas, this is our approach. In that way we can learn from everyone. That is Baba’s guideline.

The easiest thing in the world is to look at that same thief and just think he is a useless sinner who has no redeeming qualities. Blinded by this dark and diseased outlook, we will not be able to understand what a great planner and tactician that thief is, in which case we will not be able to learn from him.

Here the point is not whether the thief should be absolved of their crimes. The operative factor is how we view that person. If we see the bright side, then we can find whatever goodness they invariably possess – because after all everyone has at least some good qualities, no one is 100% bad – and then we can learn from those good characteristics.

The basic spirit of “see the bright side” is to be able to learn something from everyone. That is Baba’s special message and explanation from His 1988 Shra’van’ii Pu’rn’ima’ discourse. By that way we will be able to grow a lot, by His grace.

IT IS JUST LIKE

The above situation of seeing the bright side is akin to the work of homeopathic researchers. When they see a poisonous snake they do not just think that it is dangerous and deadly and should therefore be discarded; those researchers see that snake in a benevolent light – i.e. they see the bright side – and by that practical outlook they are able to use that poison from the snake to make a medicine. Because one inherent quality of that poisonous snake is its medicinal properties.

And it is like that with so many people and things. Everyone and everything has its positive aspect and to overlook that good quality is to miss out on an opportunity to learn and grow.

A person may be extremely lazy but side by side they may have great knowledge of computers. In that case we should not just tag them as lazy and walk away; we should also be able to learn from their technical abilities as well. But this can only happen if we see the bright side, i.e. take note of their finer qualities.

Each and every interaction in life presents us with such an opportunity.

Indeed if we think more deeply, we can come up with innumerable examples of how we can learn from those who are seemingly full of unfavourable characteristics. By seeing the bright side we will be able to find and learn from their good qualities.

BE LIKE A HONEY BEE, NOT A FLY

That is why in that same Shra’van’ii Pu’rn’ima’ discourse Baba guides us that we are to be like a honey bee, not a fly. A honey bee will always find the sweet spot. If a person is holding a garland the honey bee will land on that garland. In contrast, if that same person has a wound, then the fly will go straight to the wound. The honey bee always seeks out the nectar and the fly always encircles the sores.

Likewise, as human beings, by seeing the bright side we will come to understand that glorious qualities that a person has just like the honey bee does, and not get caught up in only seeing the negative aspects of a person like the fly.

ONE OTHER GREAT BENEFIT: SERVICE

So the main benefit of seeing the bright side is that it allows us to learn in all situations from all people. In that case we will continually evolve and grow. That is Baba’s special message from the Shra’van’ii Pu’rn’ima’ gathering.

At the the same time, there is a tertiary benefit as well. By seeing the bright side we will be able to serve others. Because we will be able to bring them close and help them transform their lives.

For example, if we only have disdain for a particular thief and view them only with disgust, then we keep them at arm’s distance in which case we will not be able to help them. Whereas if we see them in a sympathetic light and think that certainly that criminal has some good quality, then that creates a bond, in which case we can help them make their life meaningful.

No one is to be tossed aside and called rotten forever. We are to help everyone become moral citizens and enter the path of sadhana. By seeing the bright side, we are able to best serve others.

If we just think that someone is 100% bad, then we can never serve them. And by serving them, we can not only help the individual rectify themselves and make society better, but we also fulfill our human dharma. It makes us better as well.

ONE DANGEROUS PATH

On that 1988 occasion of Shra’van’ii Pu’rn’ima’, Baba’s main emphasis is on finding out one’s good qualities so that we may learn from them, and in that process invariably we will be able to serve others as well. That was His special teaching for us on that day.

However, there is also a distinct danger involved in failing to see that bright side. That too we should be aware of.

If we just see the dirt that others have and make crude jokes or always talk ill of others, then that is a total waste our time on this earth. Yet unfortunately, that is how many pass their days. They just gossip about co-workers, or speak negatively about those whom they do not like, or it plays out in so many ways. But there are two major dangers involved.

First, there is no social benefit and society will not be improved by such derogatory and degrading talk, and secondly, those who indulge in such negative gossip will actually become like those negative things. That is the way mind grows – it becomes like its object of ideation. That is Baba’s distinct warning.

So if one talks about another’s laziness, greed, or dirtiness etc, then that person too will become lazy, greedy, and dirty.

Thus if we are not seeing the bright side, then we are seeing the dark side in which case we will just become diseased, degraded and crude. That is the very clear and inherent danger.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace He has given us this great teaching – “See the bright side” – and by taking brahmabhava and seeing the good within all, we can learn and do so much. By this way of thinking, the mind becomes bigger and bigger which leads to a more elevated stance in life. We should see every occasion an opportunity to learn and grow, then we will truly embody Baba’s grand teaching of “see the bright side.”

Sarve’tra sukhinah bhavantu sarve santu nira’maya’h;
Sarve bhadra’n’i pashyantu na kashcid duhkhama’pnuya’t.

Let everybody be happy
Let everybody be free from all ailments
Let everybody see the bright side of everything
Let nobody be forced to undergo any suffering or exploitation

Namaskar,
Mahesh

Note 1: PROUT & SEE THE BRIGHT SIDE

One other aspect of seeing the bright side is in our Proutistic endeavours. Part and parcel of Prout is to fight against exploitation and injustices. We do that in order to help the downtrodden people. In that case, seeing the bright side means pointing out all the ills in society in order to make it better, more livable for one and all.

By this formula also, we grow as sadhakas because we are taking up the call to help those in need. Thus pointing out the defects, whether inside or outside AM, is also part of the teaching of, “Seeing the bright side”. Here are links to other letters raising this aspect.

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/06/misuse-of-see-bright-side.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/03/sarve-bhadrani-pashyantu.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2008/09/so-many-achievements.html

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“Sa’garebela’y gun’e baluka’y cale gelo mor…” (P.S. 4607)

Purport:

O’ Baba, my entire day has passed on the shore by the sea counting the tiny grains of sand. I see now that the deep, dark night descends. Baba, You did not care to look at me. You did not forbid me from passing my time like this, nor did You tear me from the snares and bondages of my mundane attachments. O’ Parama Purusa, I have spent my life submerged in petty gains and material indulgences and You did not prohibit me or dissuade me from these worldly allurements.

Baba, You are so gracious, You gave me immense wealth and blessed me with the intelligence to destroy my petty ego. Baba, You are so gracious, You gave me sufficient strength to serve the suffering and help those in need, even then my conscience did not awaken. Baba, although You gave everything but because my mind did not develop in a spiritual manner, I have spent all my time counting the grains of sand. Baba, I could not ultise the strength which You have given me. And instead I just wasted my time sunk in my own selfish, petty desires.

O’ my Dearmost, now in the depths of this darkness, I roam this desolate beach in search of You. By Your grace, I am no longer interested in the oysters or the sand. Baba, when will that resplendent, spiritual dawn arrive where I get that very Divine Entity to whom I belong. O’ Parama Purusa, I belong to You, I want only You.

Baba, my whole life has passed – wasted in vain – collecting material, worldly achievements. At the end of the day, by Your grace I realise that I should no longer waste my time. Baba, I want You and only You, the eternal and most loving One…

NOTE FOR PS #4607:

Baba has introduced this song with an ancient vedic shloka. He has done this with a small number of songs in His Prabhat Samgiita collection and on some occasions the singers sing the shloka as well. Here is the shloka presented before PS 4607.

Asu’rya’h na’ma te loka’h andhena tamasa’vrta’h;
Ta’m’ste pretya’bhigacchanti ye ke ca’tmahano jana’h

This shloka has also been explained in some of His discourses as well.

Baba says, “A person who is moving away from Parama Purus’a is heading towards total annihilation, towards mahatii vinas’t’i.” (NKS, Disc: 15)

The meaning or sense is that there is one hell or layer of darkness in the human mind, and if one gets stuck there they cannot understand the spiritual realm. Instead they think that mundane things are great.

Such was the predicament of the bhakta in the above Prabhat Samgiita, until finally, by Baba’s grace, the sadhaka’s mind emerged from that darkness and longed for Him.

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Sitting on Baba’s Lap Means Died?

Posted in Bhakta, Dharma Samiiksa, Human Life, Spiritual on February 28, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Date: Tue 28 Feb 2012 15:46:06 -0400
From: Divyajyoti_Deva
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Sitting on Baba’s Lap Means Died?

Baba

“Ceye gechi toma’re, shato rupe shato ba’re…” (P.S. 2503)

Purport:

Baba You are mine; my everything is depending on You. You are my Ista; You are my Goal. Baba, I long to see You in hundreds of forms, hundreds of times – again and again. But, You only got held in name, song, melody, and tune. I only got You in those few ways. Baba, with my deep yearning, I search for You very near in the depths of my heart; I do not ever want for You to remain far away.

O’ the Devata of Divine Effulgence, please come more close – silently, please smile in my “I-feeling”, in the deep core of my heart. Baba, please fill my whole existence in Your divine effulgence, in Your undying love, with parabhakti.

Baba, by Your grace I have a deep longing and earnest desire to have You close, with the bond of love, in Your rhythmic expression and resonance. Baba, I want You close, in the land of the sweet resonance of the divine flute, in each and every blissful moment, in the world of the divine effulgence and beyond – eternally.

Baba, please shower Your ahetuki krpa’, Your causeless grace, and make my existence successful. O’ my dearmost…

== SITTING ON BABA’S LAP MEANS DIED? ==

Namaskar,
Recently after dharmacakra, a senior margii was recounting his experiences of having dharma samiiksa with Baba.

He said, “After being punished by Baba, then He called me close and placed me on His lap – I remained there for some time soaking up His love – and He blessed me.”

We all enjoyed hearing about his personal account with Baba during dharma samiiksa.
When he finished telling his story, there was a call for questions. Various people posed their queries.

QUESTION BY A NEW MARGII

Towards the end, one new margii raised his hand and asked, “How did Baba bring you back to life?”

Everyone stared at the new margii in amazement. There was a look of astonishment all around – people were really shocked to hear him say this

The new sadhaka sensed that something was awry.

He said very matter-of-factly, “I thought that sitting on Baba’s Lap means that he (the margii) died – that is why I asked that question.”

This was totally eye-opening for those of us in the room: Through our language and expression we had unknowingly taught someone to think that being on Baba’s lap is the equivalent of death. Because it seems that nowadays people on use the phrase “Baba’s lap” when a person has died, such as “Let him rest peacefully in Baba’s lap.” Many emails have been written this way.

MUST NOT ONLY REFER TO DEATH

At that moment I thought that everyone, new and old, should be clear about the real and devotional meaning of this phrase, “being on Baba’s lap.” It should not become stigmatized such that it only means death. Because in its true sense the phrase “being on Baba’s lap” really does carry a highly devotional and sweet feeling.

It is just like how a small child sits on its parent’s lap. In a similar way, a spiritual child (human being) sits on the lap of Parama Purusa. By Baba’s grace this can happen anytime in one sadhana, especially in dhyana. Such a phrase then should not become stigmatized because too many people only use it at the time of death.

We should be careful that we do not relegate “Baba’s lap” only to the point of death. All these following terms and phrases also only refer to death:

bhaotik dehtya’g (leaving physical body),
bhaotik shariir tya’g (leaving physical body)
ve bhagavan ko pya’re ho gaye (he has been loved by God)
ve svarga sidhar gaye (he has gone to heaven )
ve guzar gaye (he passed away)
mahaprayan hoyeche (he died)

We should ensure that the same death connotation does not get attached to, “being on Baba’s lap.” Because the phase “being on Baba’s lap” is a devotional experience that can happen today itself in sadhana, and especially in dhyana. The phrase “being on Baba’s lap” should not lose this quality and only mean death. It should not meet the same dark fate as happened with the term harijan.

MUST NOT MEET SAME FATE AS HARIJAN

As we all know, these days in India nobody uses the term harijan to mean “a devotee”. Whereas 70 years ago it was used in that way. The term harijan did mean bhakta. But ever since the time of Gandhi when he glued the harijan term to the lowest so-called caste, i.e so-called untouchables, nobody uses the the harijan to mean devotee. Never. Because the term harijan has been stigmatized to mean “untouchable”. Nobody uses it to mean “devotee” but that is the original and true meaning of the word.

The phrase, “sitting on Baba’s lap”, should not meet a similar fate. It should not lose its devotional quality and just refer to one’s death. That will be very negative.

A VERY DEVOTIONAL EXPRESSION

There are thousands of recorded stories by sadhakas where they use the phrase, “on Baba’s lap”, when describing their experiences of being with Baba: He used to bless them and bring them on His lap. People should understand the deeply devotional value of this expression and not just think that Baba’s lap means death, i.e. that you can only sit on His lap at the time of death. Still today there are thousands of margiis walking this earth who sat in Baba’s lap. And not only that, there are countless more sadhakas who were blessed by Baba in dreams and dhyana wherein they sat in His lap. And still today this deeply devotional experience is attainable by sadhakas, by His grace.

There are so many ways an aspirant can reach unto Baba’s lap including in sadhana and especially during dhyana. That is the main idea that should be preserved. Sadhana is a devotional practice and one can sit on Baba’s lap in dhyana. We should make it cent-pet-cent clear to one and all that the phrase, “sitting on Baba’s lap”, does not mean death.

Namaskar,
Divyajyoti

Note 1: RECENT EXAMPLES

Here are quoted lines from recently posted emails on various forums, wherein the writer uses “in Baba’s lap” with the occasion of death:

“May her soul rest in Baba’s lap for ever.”

“Let her rest peacefully in Baba’s Lap – which she always desired.”

“now she is in beloved Baba’s lap”

“She is now in BÁBÁ’S loving lap”

The above lines were written in response to the recent passing of a dear margii, Gayattrii Devii. And it is fine to write like this – only the point is that this same phrase “in Baba’s lap” should be used when describing one’s devotional practices and experiences as well.

Note 2: ON BABA’S LAP

We know that one can sit on the lap of Parama Purusa in dhyana and so many of our devotional practices. This is well accepted idea in our Marga.

Baba says, “Now if the same humans address Parama Puruśa with appropriate humility, saying, “Oh Lord, show us the way, take us to Your feet and allow us to sit on Your loving lap” – this is devotion. If this devotion is present, everything else will automatically take care of itself.” (SS-11, What Is the Way?)

Baba says, “Intelligent people who move firmly along the path of dharma and sit on the lap of Iśt́a are destined to be victorious.” (SS-12, Where There Is Dharma There Is Iśt́a, and Where There Is Iśt́a There Is Victory)

Baba says, “One who doesn’t entertain any thought about past, present or future, but simply says, “I have come to take shelter in You,” is sure to get the shelter of Parama Puruśa and will certainly be lifted onto His lap.” (AV-5, Taking Refuge Is the Final Word)

By Baba’s above teaching it is very clear that by surrendering to Him with love and devotion, one is sure to attain His lap. This may happen in dhyana or other spiritual practices. That is Baba’s expressed guideline.

The culminating portion of one’s dhya’na practice is sitting on His lap. Those who practice dhyana regularly understand this. In dhyana there are two parts. The first part is serving Him and the second part is sitting on His Lap and merging in Him.

Furthermore even those who could do proper sadhana during their lifetime, but if they at least attempted to sit twice daily, they too will get mukti and that symbolically means sitting on the lap of Parama Purusa.

If however, this phrase – “sitting on the lap of Parama Purusa” – is only used at the time of death, then new people will come to associate “sitting on Baba’s lap” with death (mahaprayan). This is the way slang (street talk) develops.

If some start thinking they can only attain the lap of Parama Purusa upon death and not in dhyana etc, then if someone reads that by dhyana one can sit on Baba’s lap, then they will think that dhyana means that “one is going to die”, i.e. mahaprayan.

It will be very similar to what happened with the the term harijan, which became exclusively associated with being an untouchable – not a child of God. People forgot the real meaning of the term harijan.

We should not let the phrase “sitting on the lap of Parama Purusa” meet a similar fate. None should mistakenly think that “sitting on the lap of Parama Purusa” can only occur at the time of death. The phrase should not be limited in this way.

Rather, as His disciples we should remember and think that when one is sincere in their devotional approach then anytime Parama Purusa can lift a sadhaka onto His lap. This is Baba’s stated teaching. Veritably, with proper effort and sincerity, during the culmination of dhyana one will always sit on His lap.

The conclusion is that people should use this phrase – “sitting on the lap of Parama Purusa” – on other occasions also. Now it has become the tradition to use it at the time of death (mahaprayan) and not at other times. By this way in the due course this phrase will become untouchable.

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Sitting on Baba’s Lap Means Died?

Posted in Death & Rebirth, Demonstration, Dharma Samiiksa, Spiritual on February 28, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Date: Tue 28 Feb 2012 15:46:06 -0400
From: Divyajyoti_Deva
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Sitting on Baba’s Lap Means Died?

Baba

“Ceye gechi toma’re, shato rupe shato ba’re…” (P.S. 2503)

Purport:

Baba, please shower Your ahetuki krpa’, Your causeless grace, and make my existence successful. O’ my dearmost…

== SITTING ON BABA’S LAP MEANS DIED? ==

Namaskar,
Recently after dharmacakra, a senior margii was recounting his experiences of having dharma samiiksa with Baba.

He said, “After being punished by Baba, then He called me close and placed me on His lap – I remained there for some time soaking up His love – and He blessed me.”

We all enjoyed hearing about his personal account with Baba during dharma samiiksa.
When he finished telling his story, there was a call for questions. Various people posed their queries.

QUESTION BY A NEW MARGII

Towards the end, one new margii raised his hand and asked, “How did Baba bring you back to life?”

Everyone stared at the new margii in amazement. There was a look of astonishment all around – people were really shocked to hear him say this

The new sadhaka sensed that something was awry.

He said very matter-of-factly, “I thought that sitting on Baba’s Lap means that he (the margii) died – that is why I asked that question.”

MUST NOT ONLY REFER TO DEATH

We should be careful that we do not relegate “Baba’s lap” only to the point of death. All these following terms and phrases also only refer to death:

MUST NOT MEET SAME FATE AS HARIJAN

The phrase, “sitting on Baba’s lap”, should not meet a similar fate. It should not lose its devotional quality and just refer to one’s death. That will be very negative.

A VERY DEVOTIONAL EXPRESSION

Namaskar,
Divyajyoti

Note 1: RECENT EXAMPLES

Here are quoted lines from recently posted emails on various forums, wherein the writer uses “in Baba’s lap” with the occasion of death:

“May her soul rest in Baba’s lap for ever.”

“Let her rest peacefully in Baba’s Lap – which she always desired.”

“now she is in beloved Baba’s lap”

“She is now in BÁBÁ’S loving lap”

Note 2: ON BABA’S LAP

We know that one can sit on the lap of Parama Purusa in dhyana and so many of our devotional practices. This is well accepted idea in our Marga.

Read Full Post »

To Become A-Grade Bhakta

Posted in Bhakta, Human Life, Spiritual on February 27, 2012| Leave a Comment »

From: “A. Roy”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: To Become A-Grade Bhakta
Date: Mon, Feb 27 2012, 20:45:32 +0530

Baba

“Toma’kei a’mi bha’loba’siyachi, keno ba’siya’chi ja’ni na’…” (P.S. 304)

Purport:

O’ my Dearmost Baba, I love only You. Why I love You that I do not know – I cannot say. But one thing is sure, from the deepest core of my heart I love You. Baba, by Your grace I have chosen Your path. You are my Polestar and I never have an iota of doubt why I have come on this path. My eyes remain fixed on Your blissful arrival, looking for You day and night.

Baba, my mind always remembers You. In good times and bad, my mind always remains awake thinking about You. Baba please grace me by coming in my mind all the time – during sleep & while awake, all the 24 hrs. Except You I do not believe anything. You alone are the love of my life.

Baba, whatever may be the height of the tidal waves, and whatever may be the severity of the difficulties, always I will march ahead on Your path, by Your grace. Thinking of You, I will continue to overcome all obstacles and reach unto You.

Baba, other than You I have no desire. You are my Goal. You are my Ista. You are the Essence of my existence, my Soul of souls. Baba, You are my Dearmost, I love only You…

== TO BECOME A-GRADE BHAKTA ==

Namaskar,
This entire letter revolves around the spiritual ideal of how one can become an A-Grade bhakta, according to Baba. Being the Sadguru, Baba has graciously provided us with the exact way to reach this pinnacled state.

AIM OF HUMAN LIFE: GETTING HIM

In this ultra-modern, materialistic era, we see how the mass of people thrust their minds in various directions. Their mind gets stained with the mundane colours of this world. This we all understand well and we all witness such events throughout the day.

In contrast, as Ananda Margiis we know that we are to spend our human life involved in spiritual pursuits. In innumerable discourses, Baba has told us that human life is something very special– very rare. And the aim of this human life is to come close Parama Purusa. And the only means we have for achieving this is through sadhana. And the chief ingredient for doing proper sadhana is bhakti. This magic formula is known to every Ananda Margii– whether they be wholetimer or family margii or LFT etc.

So now, on the cusp of this spring season (for those in the northern hemisphere), we should take the time to objectively evaluate our own standard of bhakti and also remain aware of the fact that we can always heighten our standard, by His grace. Because Baba has given us the tools to do so.

THREE GRADES OF BHAKTAS

In order to move ahead let us take a look at one of the main ways that Baba has given us for measuring one’s standard of bhakti.

Baba says, “The bhaktas of the lowest category think, “As Parama Purus’a belongs to all, so certainly He belongs to me as well because I am one of the multitude.” Thoughts of this type are not very congenial for one’s spiritual progress. The second category of bhaktas is slightly better than this. They think, “Parama Purus’a is mine, and thus He must belong to others also.” That is, the bhaktas of both categories have no hesitation in sharing Parama Purus’a with others. But the bhaktas of the highest category think, “Parama Purus’a is mine only and He belongs to no one else.” This is the sign of an excellent sa’dhaka, and the spiritual progress of this category is inevitable. “He is mine and mine alone and He does not belong to anyone else” – this assertion is undoubtedly true.” (Subhasita Samgraha-11, 26 February 1971 DMC, Jammu)

So in His above guideline Baba acutely describes to us the three broad categories of bhaktas. And by internalizing Baba’s teachings we can easily do self-analysis and understand where we are.

IMPORTANCE OF SELF-ANALYSIS

And really self-analysis is the key here because our entire relation with Parama Purusa is an internal affair. There is no third party involved. It is between I and God, between I and Baba. I may brag about my greatness to others, but what I am is not hidden in front of Parama Purusa. He sees me for who I am.

So through self-analysis we should become truthful to ourselves about who we are– what type of bhakta we are and what our relation is with Parama Purusa. All this is quite important.

Because with Parama Purusa we should always be natural and straight and not pretend to be something else. That will not work. So self-analysis will help make our relation with Parama Purusa to be sincere and natural, which in turn will help give us the impetus & insight to proceed ahead on the path of bhakti.

Hence, the whole concept of measuring one’s own level of bhakti is not some hazy, baseless affair; rather, it is quite practical and highly scientific and is based on the process of self-analysis.

THE THREE CATEGORIES OF BHAKTAS (REVISITED)

So once again, regarding the three categories or grades of devotees, Baba is quite clear:

(a) The lowest bhaktas think that since Parama Purusa belongs to all then He also belongs to me also since I am part of the all.

But this standard is not very desirable since one is willing to share Parama Purusa with others. That is Baba’s teaching.

(b) The next category of bhaktas falls into a similar problem. They think that since Parama Purusa belongs to me then He must belong to others also. Here again though the sadhaka is willing to share Parama Purusa with others– that is the main weakness of this approach.

Such bhaktas do not feel comfortable sharing Parama Purusa with others. They want Baba all to themselves.

According to Baba, this is the highest standard and such devotees are sure to reach the Goal. Their success is guaranteed.

MORE ABOUT THIS HIGHEST STATE OF BHAKTI

And indeed this type of feeling– of not wanting to share that which is most treasured– is very natural in any kind of worldly attraction as well. All might have had the mundane experience that one does not like to share those things which they are deeply attached with. For example, a mother has very strong attachment for her baby; so, the mother does not like to share that baby with others.

Similarly, that same theory applies with the highest realm of bhakti also. That stage comes where one feels that Parama Purusa is mine and mine alone.

In that realm, one has the feeling in their heart not to share Baba with anyone else. This aspect is completely internal and the heart gets that feeling intrinsically by His grace. It is not something external where one is bragging to others or showing off their greatness in public. It is not like that. Rather, when through bhakti one feels that ‘Baba is mine and mine alone’, then that is just a soft, sweet internal feeling in the core of one’s heart.

So every sadhaka should do self-analysis and understand, ‘If I want to share Baba with others or not’. Because understanding this will enable one to move ahead on the path.

GETTING TO THAT POINT

Ultimately, in order to become that highest standard of bhakta – where we think that Baba is mine and mine alone – then two basic steps are needed.

STEP ONE: SELF ANALYSIS

First, we should openly and honestly evaluate our present status; we should sincerely recognise who we are as sadhakas. In that case we have to ask ourselves again and again, ‘what is the nature of my relation with Baba, to what degree do I consider Him my own’. An honest estimation or self-analysis is needed otherwise we will not be able to rise up to the next level.

Because Baba warns us again and again that there is not an iota of scope for duplicity or hypocrisy in spiritual life. So who we are, we should recognise and act accordingly inside. We should not falsely lie to ourselves if that is not who we are. So we should be true to our nature and at the same time dearly hold onto the vision that through sadhana and by His grace we may increase our standard.

THEORETICAL UNDERSTANDING IS NOT ENOUGH

Theoretically understanding all this is very easy but bringing the feeling that ‘Parama Purusa is mine and mine alone’ is very difficult. Bringing this idea in the domain of one’s internal realisation is a huge endeavour. Just as it is easy to intellectually think that ‘I am Brahma’. Whereas to internally feel and realise that ‘I am Brahma’ is completely different – i.e. it is not easy. It takes sincere effort– it takes sadhana, i.e. Iishvara Pranidhan or first lesson. And by that way one can get there.

Similarly to develop the realisation that ‘Baba is mine and mine alone’, that demands intensive sadhana. Specifically, it means doing prolonged dhyana or sixth lesson.

STEP TWO: SADHANA IS NEEDED

So the second aspect is that we should be sincere in sadhana. All the lessons will pointedly help us to develop our spiritual base. These lessons will clean the mind and with that purified mind we can pointedly rush towards Him in dhyana. Because actually it is sixth lesson, or dhyana, which ultimately enables us become established in that highest grade of devotion.

Why is it that dhyana is necessary? Why is it that dhyana is the secret to becoming an A-Grade bhakta? Because in dhyana one comes in very close proximity with Parama Purusa and one loves Him and serves Him and shares the feeling of their heart with Him. So much internal communication happens that is completely personal.

And as this feeling grows more and more intense through dhyana then one internally starts feeling that ‘I do not want to share Baba with anyone, Baba is mine and mine alone’.

So dhyana is the only lesson which gives us the training and requisite bhakti to develop a more personal and intimate link with Baba. There is no other lesson like this. But to do dhyana or to reach up to that heightened stage of dhyana, other lessons are needed. All the lessons will serve as support pieces for strengthening dhyana. And then with dhyana an intimate feeling for Baba will grow more and more.

So the regular practice of all the lessons and doing dhyana will bring Baba in a very close and intimate way. In which case that will make this highest stance of bhakti attainable.

Of course nothing can come about without His grace. So His blessing is needed. And that He is surely giving. What we have to remember is that from our own side, effort is needed. And proper effort in dhyana will raise one to the highest standard. Because it is only in dhyana that one can nurture and cultivate that intimate relation that ‘Baba is mine and mine alone’. This feeling can only arise in the mind through intense and sincere practice of dhyana. That is Baba’s teaching.

MUST OFFER ALL COLOURS UNTO HIM

As our practice of dhyana grows then one becomes more and more like Parama Purusa. That is, one sheds their colours by offering them unto Him. And in that way, when one is not shackled by so many worldly attachments, then the sadhaka becomes more and more fixed on the Goal. And in a spontaneous way the feeling will arise in the mind that, ‘Baba is mine and mine alone’.

This is the beautiful process that happens through dhyana.

Baba says, “‘By surrendering all the colours of my mind to You, I want to become colourless.’ This surrender to the Supreme Consciousness propels human beings towards Him. So this colour festival is not merely an outward play; it is purely a psycho-spiritual phenomenon. This very psycho-spiritual phenomenon is operating behind the process of varn´a´rghyada´na [offering of colours]. ‘O Lord, make me colourless so that I may move towards You without any hesitation’.” (Neo-Humanism: Liberation of Intellect, ‘Inner Asset’)

BABA’S BLESSING

By His divine grace, we will all feel that sweetest level of bhakti in our lives.

Baba says, “This bhakti is a heavenly attribution, and this heavenly attribution is enjoyed by human beings.” (Subhasita Samgraha-17, 1 June 1986 DMC, Calcutta)

Namaskar,
A. Roy

Note 1: MAKING THE MIND CLEAN AND CONCENTRATED

Ultimately to make dhyana a veritable force in our lives, two distinct qualities are needed. The mind must be both clean and concentrated. Think of it this way. If you look in the water to see your reflection then two things are needed. The water must be clear and the water must be still. Without both those attributions, one cannot see their reflection in the
water.

Likewise, in order to see Baba in dhyana, those same two qualities are needed.

Firstly, that mind must be clear– i.e. pure or clean just like that water. That means the mind must have the earnest desire to move on the spiritual path and not get hung up on mundane allurements. In this regard the other lessons and aspects of sadhana help a lot such as iishvara pranidhana, cakra shodhana (5th lesson), Guru Puja, Kiirtan, etc.

Secondly, that mind must concentrated. That is, it must not move all over the place like a river. Rather it should remain quiet and still in one place. That is the beauty of concentration and that is a requisite of dhyana. Otherwise one will not be able to keep the idea & image of Baba in the mind. And to enhance concentration, then tattva dharana (3rd lesson), pranayama (4th lesson) and so many related spiritual practices are needed.

So if the mind is dirty or fickle then dhyana is nothing but a dream. Whereas if we do all our spiritual practices and as our moral conduct improves then certainly our dhyana will grow more and more.

And by Baba’s grace dhyana is that special tool to bring Baba in one’s close proximity and become an A-Grade bhakta. Certainly by regular dhyana, this sweet and intimate relation will descend in the dry heart, by His grace.

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“Baba Forgot One Thing”

Posted in Lord Krsna, Lord Shiva, Mahabharata era, Taraka Brahma on February 25, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Date: Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:44:02 -0700 (PDT)
From: Pradiip Deva
Subject: “Baba Forgot One Thing”
To: am-global@earthlink.net

Baba

== “BABA FORGOT ONE THING” ==

Namaskar,
Anyone around those days remembers well that each and every year Baba would make an announcement about the birthday of Lord Krsna.

Baba would refer to it as: Janma’s’t’amii.

There is an audio file on our blog where you can listen to Baba’s announcement:

http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com

After bringing recognition to the day, Baba would invariably take some time to talk about the life of Lord Krsna, His dharmic teachings or scenes from the Bhagavad Giita.

This was a regular event.

But never ever once did Baba comment on the exact day, time, or place of Lord Krsna’s passing. Never did Baba highlight this occasion as a point of remembrance or celebration. Rather He carefully avoided the matter.

As His disciples, we should pay heed to Baba’s example and represent His ideals by our own conduct.

Unfortunately, some feel that “Baba forgot one thing” and they have taken it upon themselves to bring the “missing point” forward.

THOSE NOT SUNK IN GEO-SENTIMENT

Indeed all those margiis and wts not attached to any form of geo-sentiment will realise the completeness of Baba’s teachings and that only a few who wish to dogmatically highlight their own land as a pilgrimage etc. For them it is also a money-making venture.

That is why many say that their dogma is just based on selfish gratification or a’tma sukha tattva, and not anything dharmic. More about this point is written below.

Our view is to take Baba Himself as our pole star; He is our dharmic example. What He does we should do. And Baba never highlighted or talked about the exact day or date that Lord Krsna or Lord Shiva passed away. Not even in His books, Namami Krsnasundaram and Namah Shivaya Shantaya, does He mention the day or date. This type of commemoration Baba never did. He never mentioned that today we have to do something because this day is the observation of the passing of Lord Krnsa. This was never Baba’s manner – not once.

Just Baba would highlight the birth of Taraka Brahma – every year He would mention Lord Krsna’s janma’s’t’amii.

BRINGING IN DOGMA JUST LIKE PHALLIC WORSHIP

Even then, some group leaders have worked hard to drag their chosen dogma in through the front door of our Marga. This has been their life’s endeavour since 1990.

In turn, we should be extremely careful because once a dogma arrives, it is not easy to kick out. A perfect case in point is the Shivaliunga or phallic worship with Lord Shiva.

In those prehistoric times, when people were less developed, they brought much attention on phallic worship. They thought therein lied their welfare and victory.

As people progressed, they realised that they should meditate God and not indulge in any type of ritualistic phallic worship.

But by that point it as too late. Already the temples of Lord Shiva had been completely overrun with Shivaliunga and phallic worship. And still today this type of worship and presentation is prevalent in all temples of Lord Shiva.

Here the point is that once a dogma enters the house it is not at all easy to get rid of it. But some feel that “Baba forgot one thing” and hence have taken it upon themselves to drag it into AM. We should be cent per cent ready, lest this become one permanent scar on our AM society, just like phallic worship became totally linked with Lord Shiva.

THOSE WITH GEO-SENTIMENT DRAGGED IT IN

Indeed, in view of the pilgrimages of Haj and Mecca etc, such geo-oriented group leaders wanted some ritualistic event wherein they could dance and brag about their place. Hence they continue to host their annual dogmatic program at their HQ. In this way they derive selfish pleasure and side by side they say, “Baba forgot one thing so we have brought it in”.

It is a dogma, but this is what makes them happy in life.

Baba says, “This dogma in its turn is entirely based on a’tma-sukha tattva. Human beings yield to this dogma with the sole intention of attaining selfish pleasures; even educated people knowingly submit to dogma. They know that they are surrendering their intellect to dogma, and that the outcome will be undesirable; they know and understand everything – why, even then, do they knowingly submit to it? They are all deliberate sinners and intentionally accept dogmas as truth. They observe that these dogmas are based on a’tma-sukha tattva; but they think, “I don’t care whether it does good or harm to others, because at least I have got some pleasure out of it!” Being motivated by this idea, they enslave themselves to dogmas.” (NH-LOI, Disc: 6)

All in AM understand that Baba Himself only highlighted the birth of Taraka Brahma and never the day of Lord Krsna’s passing. All in AM understand that Baba is omniscient and that AM teachings are complete in all respects. All know that Baba is Parama Purusa incarnate and that He can do no wrong.

Even then, one team continues to chant, “Baba forgot one thing.” They say this because they have utterly drowned in their chosen dogma.

A CURIOUS THING

Some think that their chosen Deity will punish them if they do wrong, others think that their God will plunge them into the hell fire for their sins, and still others think that their Parama Purusa “forgot one thing.”

Tell me, do you know which sect or group falls in this later category?

It is the Kolkata sub-faction. They think that Baba forgot to give the mahaprayan ceremony so they decided to create it themselves. This is the grand outlook and justification they give. They think, “Baba forgot to give the teaching of mahaprayan and that therefore it was our job to make it.”

Such is their curious outlook in life.

BABA’S GRACE

By His grace all true Ananda Margiis, understand and realise that Baba is pure and perfect in all respects and that He never forgets anything. He is omniscient and all-merciful. All that was needed was given.

Just as Baba never talked about the actual date of Lord Krsna’s passing – likewise He purposely does not give the program of mahaprayan in AM. It is that simple.

Blinded by their geo-sentiment, some within the Kolkata ranks feel that, “Baba forgot one thing” in the form of mahaprayan. Saving such persons from their own dogma is not easy. We will try, but do not have much hope. All rational margiis however can easily understand the point.

In the end, we should just let the day be forgotten as has happened with Lord Krsna and Lord Shiva. That is Baba’s explicit teaching. Baba only highlighted Lord Krsna’s birth – never the passing. We should do the same.

Namaskar,
Pradiip

Note 1: IMPORTANT LETTER ON THIS TOPIC

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2010/01/carvaka-of-today.html

Note 2: STORY OF HUNTER AND LORD KRSNA

In His book, Discourses on the Mahabharata, Baba does mention how one hunter shot Lord Krsna. This story has been told to give the teaching of forgiveness. And indeed the proof that this is not meant to be a day of commemoration is that Baba never ever mentions or tells us the day of Lord Krsna’s passing. And not even the dogmatic followers of Lord Krsna do not celebrate or observe His passing. They may be ritualistic but at least this much sense they have. So it is a shame that a few in AM have fallen below that standard and given way to mahaprayan. Baba Himself never approves of such things.

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“Jiivane maran’e toma’kei a’mi ja’ni…” (P.S. 3570)

Purport:

Baba, by Your grace this much I know that all the time You are with me – in good times and bad times, in life and death, in each and every situation. Baba, in darkness and in effulgence, all the time, I feel Your proximity. Baba You are everything; You are the quintessence.
Oh my dearmost, You are formless, but You have taken advent before me in form. In this way You have graced me. You are bhavatiita* and divinely effulgent. You are like the vast ocean and I am like a little droplet. Even then You love me. Baba You are ever-gracious.
Baba, by Your grace I have come on this earth by Your thought projection and the only longing I have is to get You. According to Your mental waves I am floating; my life is passing.
With Your rhythm and flow I dance; and, in Your divine effulgence I smile. My coming, remaining, and going is completely depending on You, Your grace. With that dream, by Your grace all types of colorful tales I weave in my mind.
Baba all the time, good and bad, every moment You are my everything….

* Bhavatiita= The Entity which is beyond ideation.

***************************************
Health Guideline: Over-Indulgence and Paralysis

Baba says, “The people who have an over-active Manipura Cakra also show a dominance of the lust and anger vrttis. Such a type of person, though always found to be energetic, generally suffers from constipation owing to excessive anger and over-activity. If these pitta-dominated persons do not find a high ideal in their lives, they become weak in their lower bodies due to over-indulgence in sex and anger. Often the nerve-fibres of their lower bodies degenerate, and paralysis sets in there.” (YT, p.29)
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Dog Analogy is Right One….

Posted in Baba's Analogies, Mahaprayan Dogma on February 24, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Date: 24 Feb 2012 18:23:47 -0000
From: “Subhash Dholakia”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Dog Analogy is Right One….

Baba

DOG CHEWING BONE ANALOGY IS THE RIGHT ONE

FOR CHASING AFTER WORLDLY PLEASURES

Namaskar,
Throughout His teachings Baba has presented us with various analogies that shed light onto our journey on the spiritual path.

These following two analogies – about the musk deer and the dog chewing the bone – contain golden nuggets of guidelines about how we should proceed in our spiritual life as well as how we can avoid the missteps of material cravings.

ANALOGY OF MUSK DEER

Baba tells again and again that we must not seek Him in the external world, rather we are to seek Him within. In His discourses and in Prabhat Samgiita He emphasizes this point repeatedly.

Always He warns us of the danger of looking for Him externally.

Dura’t sudure…

By looking for Him externally, the sadhaka only pushes Parama Purusa further and further away, beyond the grasp. Even then, in their dogmatic worship, so many seekers and religious fanatics fall into this negative cycle.

By worshiping idols, taking pilgrimages, declaring jihad, and following so-called Mahaprayan, various people think they are doing things that will enable them to attain Him. But this is not just not so. He is within and they are going without. Their pitiful plight is just like this analogy about the musk deer.

Baba says, “The other meaning of gandhacelika’ is “sweet scented musk accumulated in and around the navel portion of the musk deer.” The musk deer lives in cold countries and looks ugly, but the hormone secreted from its glands gradually accumulates in the navel. Eventually the liquid portion evaporates and the remainder becomes hard, and the harder it gets, the stronger its fragrance becomes. The female deer does not have this musk scent. The male deer becomes so intoxicated with its own fragrance that it goes berserk searching for the source of the smell. It fails to realize that the source of the smell is its own navel. Ultimately, after much running, the exhausted musk deer falls down dead.” (Microvita Nutshell)

Just as the musk deer falls down tired and ultimately dead after its failed pursuit of trying to find that aromatic smell in the external world, the same is true of those idol worshipers and jihadists who seek their god through external objects and displays. In the end they do not get Him, and instead fall down tired or dead. Then in their next life they get transmuted into rock, iron, or even stone.

So we should be sure that our approach is introversial and psycho-spiritual, where we seek Him within. We must not run around senselessly like the musk deer, as those religious fanatics do, not knowing that that what we ultimately seek lies within. That is Baba’s warning about the musk deer analogy.

ANALOGY OF DOG CHEWING BONE

In this next analogy, Baba shows us how chasing after temporary or worldly enjoyments occurs at the expense of our own self, of our own vital energy.

Baba says, “The situation is likened to that of a dog when it chews a dry bone. The bone contains nothing – no marrow, no flesh, nothing. While chewing that dry bone, its lips get cut and blood oozes out, and when the poor dog tastes the blood, it thinks that it is tasting blood from the bone, and licks even more. If you forcibly snatch the dry bone from the dog, the dog will whimper, because it will feel that its food is being taken away.” (Subhasita Samgraha-21)

In the above analogy the dog is chewing its bone and getting nothing in return. Rather it is depriving itself of its own life force– its own blood– yet thinking that it is getting something very tasty in return.

Such is the fate of so many who chase after material things.

Those who drink liquor think that they are drinking the nectar of life and getting so much happiness. But in fact they are not getting anything, and their drunkenness is coming at the expense of their own liver. That organ is getting destroyed by alcohol, yet the drinker thinks that the alcohol is giving him so much joy.

Such a person is no different from the dog that is merely sucking on its own blood when chewing the dry bone.

Then of course there are those who think that sensual / sexual pleasures are giving them so much happiness in the world. But those escapades are merely depriving a person of their own lymph which is the seed of spiritual knowledge and bliss.

So again it is a losing scenario. The person thinks that in having sex they are getting everything, when in fact nothing is gotten, rather one is losing their own vital force.

And same is the case with so many things including sumptuous food, money, prestige, automobiles etc. People mistakenly think that they are getting an abundance of pleasure from this mundane world when in fact they are getting fleeting joy, i.e. nothing at all, at the expense of their own inner vitality.

The basic idea is that in the mundane sphere we are always spending something to get nothing. That is what dog and the dry bone analogy is all about. That is what Baba is teaching us.

CAN ONLY GAIN FROM SPIRITUAL SPHERE

It is only in the spiritual sphere that we can get something. Only through spiritual practice can we get lasting happiness. When the mind rises up and feels His touch then nectar secretes from the pineal gland and we feel a’nandam, or bliss.

In worldly spheres, our “happiness” comes from depleting our own energies. In the spiritual sphere, our happiness comes by enhancing our energy by receiving spiritual nectar.

That is the dramatic difference between mundane pleasures and spiritual bliss.

BABA’S BLESSING

Baba has blessed us with graphic analogies whereby we can clearly understand His important life teachings and progress along the path of Supreme Benevolence by seeking Him within and not wasting our time with chasing after mundane pleasures.

Namaskar,
Subhash

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“Sukhe ele na’ko, shoke sa’ntvana’ dite ele…” (PS 3091)

Purport:

Baba, when I was feeling happy and content that time You did not come. Those days I was so enamoured with myself and I was so involved in my own glory that I did not even think to call You. So You did not come. But when I lost all that happiness and when I become drowned in my sorrows of self pity and when I was suffering and overwhelmed by various problems, then by Your grace You immediately came and consoled me. Baba in that desperate moment You graciously relieved me of my grief. Baba, I did not ever feel that You are mine. In this life I was always suffering from the vanity and ego of my own I-feeling. Those days I was thinking that ‘I am everything’. Due to my ego I did not accept You as the Supreme One– as my Goal. I did not take You as that most loving One who can solve all my problems; I did not surrender at Your feet. Baba, even then by Your grace You came deep inside my heart and became mine. And now I understand that You are ever helpful and that You remain with me always.

Baba, those days when I was overwhelmed by that severe suffering, I did not outrightly tell You about my problems. I did not openly say anything. I did not express my pain to You. But because You are ever-present in my heart and because You are my eternal shelter, with Your infinite compassion You fully understood the desperate state of my mind– You understood my sorrow. You are so gracious You instantly poured Your eternal sweetness and love. You filled my whole existence with Your divine bliss.

Baba, due to my ego and vanity I could not recognise You. You were showering huge grace on me but I could not recognise that. I thought that due to my own qualities everything was happening. In those happy times I could not recognise You. Only did I begin to recognise You in my sorrow. Baba, in my state of terrible suffering, when the mountain of misery started falling on my head, then all my friends left me. I was all alone. When I was happy then they were along with me but when I became sunk in misery all those friends disappeared. Baba, You are the exact opposite. When I was sunk in woe then by Your grace You immediately came and removed all my pains and troubles. Baba You bathed me in Your infinite love. Filling my I-feeling with Your bliss, You surrounded me each and every second. Baba, You showered Your grace and saturated my heart.

Baba, You are so gracious. You are love Personified. You have done everything for me. Baba, I surrender at Your alter…

*************************************************
Allopathic Medicines Not Good

Baba says, “When people take allopathic medicine to cure a disease, the medicine disturbs the ecological balance of the body because more negative microvita get concentrated at the point of the disease. Allopathic medicines do not kill diseases — diseases die by their own natural death. Although the medicine may check the disease, the increased concentration of negative microvita can overcome the effect of the medicine. In fact, the increased concentration of negative microvita caused by allopathic medicines creates many new types of diseases, and due to this, two or three new diseases are presently being created every decade. So what is the solution to this problem? Our approach should be two fold– external and internal. Externally we should take medicines to check diseases, but internally we should perform spiritual practice.” (Microvita Nutshell, p.136)
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Our Samaj Songs

Posted in Asanas - Dances - Mudras, Exploitation, Groupism, Human Life, Lord Krsna, Lord Shiva, Prabhat Samgiita, PROUT, Sadhana, Samaj, Social Welfare on February 23, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Date: 23 Feb 2012 08:43:27 -0000
From: “Subhash Dholakia”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Our Samaj Songs

== OUR SAMAJ SONGS ==

Namaskar,
Time and again the topic comes about Prabhat Samgiita and in particular about His Proutistic samaj songs. Some are misunderstanding the utility of such compositions. Here below is a discussion of this important topic and everyone should write in with their thoughts and suggestions.

THE BEAUTIFUL AND DIVERSE NATURE OF PRABHAT SAMGIITA

All are aware that Baba has graciously given 5018 songs of Prabhat Samgiita.

And these divine songs vary tremendously in style, characteristics, and qualities. In Prabhat Samgiita, the whole Ananda Marga philosophy has been projected through the medium of song– in one or another way.

Starting from the cycle of creation to samskara theory to kosa, vice and virtue, sadhana, shravan, manan, niddidhyasan, the benefits of satsaunga, the value of human life, vidya and avidya maya, saincara and pratisaincara theory, psychic diseases, social and political exploitation and their eradication, samaj movement, Neohumanism, entire Prout philosophy, songs related with Lord Krsna and Shiva, and songs of various seasons, festivals, ceremonies, birth and death, house entrance, and so many more.

Everything is present. Including so many other things which usually we find in the topics of His discourses — everything we find in Prabhat Samgiita.

EVERYTHING HAS ITS SPECIAL USE IN THIS UNIVERSE

INCLUDING PRABHAT SAMGIITA

It is just like how Parama Purusa has created varieties of things in this universe. According to our needs and requirements, we utilise those things for the collective welfare. So in this creation, varieties of things are
there– but everything is not for everyone. According to the need, we utilise them:

(A) Baba has given the system of asanas. But all asanas are not for everyone. Some need certain asanas, and others need different asanas.

(B) In Yogic Treatments, various remedies and guidelines have been given. All are not for everybody. It depends on the disease.

(C) In AM Philosophy and Yoga Psychology discourses, Baba has given significant guidelines about psychic diseases and their treatments. But those are exclusively for those who are suffering those psychic diseases. It is for them only.

(D) Similarly Baba’s sama’j (socio-economic movement) songs are for those local areas whose indigenous people are suffering the psychic disease of inferiority complex about their land and cultural expression.

As with the examples above with asanas and yogic treatments, all the Prabhat Samgiita are not needed in any given single situation. That is, in a random way just taking any Prabhat Samgiita and starting to sing does not have any sense.

For example if you start your dharmacakra with the shra’ddha song (commemoration song) — “O Parama Purusa, Toma’r jinis toma’ke… (P.S. #60) “O Parama Purusa Your things (our departed friend) I am offering You, please accept it.” If this type of song is sung at dharmacakra, then that will be inappropriate.

And in the same fashion, when sitting in one’s own sadhana place, if one starts singing the song related with Lord Krsna “Tum ho mere Krsna jagat pati mae tum he chahata’ hum diva rati”. “O my dearmost Lord Krsna, You are the Controller of the universe. I Yearn for You day and night. And cry for You.” Certainly any devotee of Baba will not like to sing like this. Because of the strictness in ista point. (Sixteen Points, #10)

So the central idea is that, Baba has given varieties of songs for varieties of occasions and varieties of peoples’ needs. In this way, He has written many songs related with sama’j (socio-economic) movement.

MISUNDERSTANDING AND MISUSE OF PRABHAT SAMGIITA

A couple people are completely confused that on the one side Baba is talking about the philosophy of neohumanism, and on the other side He is writing and giving the narrow sentiment about samaj. This usually happens because certain crude intellectuals, for their group interest they are spreading extravaganza all around. Concocted things about sama’j (socio-economic movements).

Certain WT groups are engaged in the misuse of sama’j theory for their crude and selfish interest, i.e. just to gain the power in the organization. This subject is complex, so I am not going to discuss anything on this–which group, etc etc. Here the point is only related with Prabhat Samgiita.

SOME SAMAJ SONGS: A BRIEF ANALYSIS

Let us see what are the songs related with sama’j. And we can analyse the situation. For example, please see below here this one example. The Prabhat Samgiita song which Baba has written for Angika samaj. Song number #4134.

“Aungabhu’mi sundarata’ bhu’mi…” (PS #4134)

Purport:

This land of Angadesh is most beautiful. This type of land you will not get on this earth. My Angika language is more sweet even than honey. My mother tongue is so great. O my friend, come and collectively speak in this glorious language, Angika. This beautiful Angaland is incomparable on this earth…

And also, see the following Prabhat Samgiita #4082.

“He ma’y Aungabhu’mi ma’tribhu’mi tor lelii ja’n kabul karaechiiye…” (#4082)

Purport:

O, my motherland “Angabhumi”. My life is dedicated for You. I am offering my life for Your cause. O my motherland “Angabhumi”, by Your grace and by Your shelter I am surviving on this earth. O my motherland “Angabhumi”, I have only one desire: to serve You I should get bliss and satiation. O my motherland “Angabhumi”, by Your grace I am surviving. I yearn for Your love. And I am ready to sacrifice my life for You.

Baba has written the above songs for the indigenous people of that land. These songs are not for the universal AM family. And this is not an isolated case, in which Baba has written songs related with one sama’j (socio-economic movement) only. But He has written sama’j songs related with many individual sama’jas.

For example, following is the song related with Amra Bengali sama’j (socio-economic unit).

“Ra’r’her e la’l ma’t’i go la’l ma’t’i…” (PS #4245)

Purport:

The red soil of this Ra’r’h is very precious. I feel that this has more value than the pearls, jewels and gold. In this land, people are very sweet. And the language is also very sweet. Everything here is saturated with the sweetness. Everything of this Ra’r’h is most beautiful. Here we get our heart enlightened in divinity. This land is not just a soil, but it is more precious than gold…

So we can see that one side Baba is praising about the land of “Angabhumi” in songs 4134 and 4082. And in another song, song #4245, Baba is telling that the soil of Ra’r’h is most precious. So I have given you only two examples. Yet there are so many examples like this.

Here below is another song related with Amra Bengali sama’j (socio-economic unit)

“Madhur ceyeo a’ro madhur a’ma’r ba’nla’ bha’s’a’…” (PS #4766)

Purport:

Compared with sweetness, it is more sweet this my Bangla language. This is the language of my pra’n’a. In my arteries and veins and blood, the vibration of this language is resonating…

DHARMIC USE OF SAMAJ SONGS

Some innocent or foolish persons can easily get confused. Some may think that this is just one contradictory type of song after another. But the reality behind this is something different. These songs are for indigenous people of those socio-economic units (sama’jas). These songs have been written for them.

If anyone is circulating the cassettes of these songs in other areas, then that will be highly objectionable. That usually threatens the unity of one human society. Because the spirit of socio-economic movements (sama’jas) is regional in approach and universal in spirit.

Rather what should be done is simply to exchange the name of the samaj in the song. That is the key point: All the songs can be used for every samaj by inserting the name of their own samaj. Then everyone can use the same song for the upliftment of their own samaj, when and if that type of song is needed in their area.

HELPING THOSE WHO LAG BEHIND

One more question is raised occasionally. That what was the need to write this type of song which eulogizes one particular area. Why did Baba do like this? The answer is very simple. If a mother has four babies, and one is very meritorious, and the other three are suffering from inferiority complexes, then to remove that inferiority complex, she will praise those other children to give them self-confidence. Without this, their personalities will not grow.

This type of psychology is applied by teachers in the schools also. If they do not praise unenthusiastic students, then the growth of their personality will be affected. That’s why the teacher has to praise even unenthusiastic students. To create the opportunity for them to grow.

We have usually seen in DMC that after distributing the prizes, then Baba says to all the remainder who are seated there (who did not get prizes), that “Yes you all should try. And next time you all will certainly win.” He would say this to inspire and give enthusiasm to all.

THE NEED TO BANISH INFERIORITY COMPLEX

Another example can be given. These days capitalist exploiters are exploiting the society by infusing inferiority complexes. Just like when Britishers came to India and they imposed their language and culture on Indians. And the Portuguese and Spaniards also were imperialist exploiters who imposed their language and created inferiority complex amidst the indigenous population. And with this psychic disease of inferiority complex, the local people accepted everything which the exploiters imposed on them. Thinking that this is something greater than they are.

Until this inferiority complex is not removed, an exploitation-free society cannot be formed. And to remove this, only one way is there. That is socio-economic movements (sama’j movements).

Just as with Yogic Remedies in which so many remedies have been given for various diseases. With the remedies prescribed, meant only for those who have the disease. And in AM Philosophy, guideline about psychic disease is given for those who are suffering from these diseases. Not for all.

Similarly for the common mass who is suffering from an inferiority complex, these songs have been given. So the indigenous people will get rid from the inferiority complex of their local language and cultural expression. That’s why Baba has given these songs in the local language of that area.

Because true Ananda Margiis are not suffering from this sort of complex and psychic disease, so these songs are not for them. As Ananda Margiis, we should only learn such songs in order to teach others. True Margiis need not to sing “O my motherland, Angabhumi, I am sacrificing everything for you” or “O my motherland Bengalistan, I will do and die for you”. But surely, the indigenous population of that area who is suffering from inferiority complex, they will sing.

CONCLUSION

The central idea is that for various sama’jas, various Prabhat Samgiita have been given. And these are a few examples given above. At the time of writing these songs, Baba has also given the instruction that on the basis of these sama’j Prabhat Samgiita songs, similar songs should be composed for all the sama’jas of this earth. By their own indigenous litterateurs and poets. And in that way, inspire the indigenous people to root out exploitation in their local area. So these songs given by Baba should be treated as a specimen and guideline.

There should not be any confusion on this very point. And again it should be noted that these songs related with the socio-economic movements (sama’j) are not for the entire Marga family. They are for indigenous people of that particular sama’j.

Please write your valuable thoughts on this topic.

Namaskar,
Subhash

Note 1: HUMAN CULTURE IS ONE

Baba says in various places that human culture is one. Only the mode of expression is different.

Note 2: FERTILE BRAINS…

The fertile brain of crude intellectuals, they are always creating problem by misguiding society. Such things happened so many times in the past. And Baba has given many examples, which happened in the past. That these crude intellectuals misguided and exploited the common mass, making them believe for example that their poverty is due to their own sinful deeds in the past.

Similarly, everybody knows that some WT groups always distort Baba’s samaj psychology. And so many times they given the false justification that Baba has written Bengalistan samaj songs and that is why A’mara Bengai samaj is the best and should be revered by the entire world; indeed everybody should donate money to this Bengali samaj. Because this is the top-most, special favoured samaj of Baba. This is their dogmatic preaching.

Baba in the following quote is teaching us how dogmatic people polluted the mind of innocent people by preaching false ideas. And establishing their supremacy. Baba says how in the following way these religious parasites spread falsehood. Religious parasites misguided and exploited the common mass by telling them:

“Your God is the only God. You are His blessed sons and daughters, and others will burn in hellfire.” (PNS 14, p.13)

In similar fashion, these days certain WT factions sing their glory about their language and land. That they are most precious, and everyone from the entire globe should salute them and praise their glory. In their group propaganda network, they talk like this. They did not get tired by spreading their own greatness. They never get tired of eulogizing themselves. Nor do they feel shame by doing so.

Note 3: ABOUT SOCIAL ECONOMIC MOVEMENTS

Baba says, “Thus Prout’s approach can be characterised as universal in spirit but regional in approach.” (PNS 13, p.24)

Baba says, “An empirical spiritual base to society will protect it from all fissiparous tendencies and group or clan philosophies which create shackles of narrow-mindedness.” (PNS 13, p.24)

Often we have seen how certain fundamentalist groupists were propagating Amra Bengali songs all around the globe. That was really suffocating for everyone. For example this song, “Rarh e lal mati” was circulated and the cassette was sold in various sectorial retreats of all the sectors. But that song was only meant for the indigenous people of Rarh. So this proves the blindness of certain groupist-minded negative people who do not understand the spirit of sama’j movement (socio-economic movement).
PRABHAT SAMGIITA

Baba

“Jhainjha’ jadi a’se jujhite shakati dio…” (P.S. #1783)

Purport:

Baba, You are my Saviour. If in my life a hurricane or typhoon comes, then You please provide me the strength to fight and face that negative situation. Grant me the strength to struggle and persevere.
Baba, if ever in my life lethargy and frustration comes, then please provide me strength to hold onto Your feet and to go on moving on Your path.
Baba, by Your grace I am treading on Your path. You please color my mind with Your color in all situations. During both pleasure and pain. With Your divine grace, if my mind becomes radiant then it cannot be covered by staticity during times of cimmerian darkness. Please grant me strength to follow Your dictates.
Baba, please grace me and give me the force to go on marching on the path of effulgence, in an undaunted way moving ahead. And please give me strength by Your grace, to jump up and take on ever-new tasks to serve the downtrodden people.
Baba, please bless me by Your Varabhaya mudra so in my life, I never feel fear or cowardice to fight against demonic forces. Baba, in all the circumstances I am completely depending on Your grace. Without Your grace, nothing is possible…

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Serious Matter

Baba says, “The system of education prevailing today was formulated or evolved long ago, mainly with a view to suit the needs of the capitalist class. For the last three to four thousand years, the same type of education is being imparted. The main purpose behind this sort of educational system is to create persons with a slavish mentality to fulfill need of those capitalist exploiters. This sort of education is fundamentally defective. It is certain that this type of education which serves the capitalists’ interests is not at all suitable. This sort of education creates obstacles in the evolution of humanity. We have to thoroughly revamp the entire educational system. A new educational system must evolve to produce sadvipras.” (11/29/70, transcribed from cassette)

Note: Those who are bragging about the standard of their education should know what type & what category of knowledge they have. In this regard, we should ponder Guru’s above guideline.
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Baba’s Guideline on how to Control Sex

Posted in Bhakta, Capitalism, Fear, Guru's Grace on February 21, 2012| Leave a Comment »

To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: wellsley29@cswebmail.com
Subject: Baba’s Guideline on how to Control Sex
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:55:04 -0800 (PST)

Baba

== BABA’S GUIDELINE ON HOW TO CONTROL SEX ==

Namaskar,
One of the most important aspects of spirituality is knowing how to keep the mind moving in a sentient direction– as well as recognising when the mind is starting to degrade.

FOUR BASIC PROPENSITIES

All human beings have four inborn or basic propensities: ahar (hunger), nidra (sleep), bhaya (fear), and maethuna (procreation). These are present within each and every person, and one becomes great by gaining control over these propensities– because then the mind will flow swiftly and smoothly towards the path of dharma and one’s spiritual ideal.

Failing that, the mind will move outwardly towards the mundane world via the indriyas (motor & sensory organs) and express in the form of these 4 cruder propensities. Unfortunately, in today’s materialistic society, nearly the whole population is involved in this degenerated way of life.

Of course for sadhakas, our way is different. We are to direct the mind towards the atman or soul and from there reach to God– never allowing the flow of mind to degrade and blindly run after these four basic propensities.

HOW TO CONTROL THESE PROPENSITIES

The question then is how to control these four basic propensities. And here Baba Himself provides us with the answer.

Baba says, “The peculiar nature of these propensities is this: if they are given indulgence, they increase. And they easily come under control with a slight effort; only in the initial stage, one must struggle a little to control them.” (Namah Shivaya Shantaya: Disc 16)

So the first half of the equation is that if we encourage these propensities– if we act on them– then that particular vrtti or propensity will multiply exponentially and one will become a slave to that propensity.

Baba says, “As with any of the four vrttis, if sleep is encouraged, people can spend twenty-three out of the twenty-four hours of their day in sleep.” (Namah Shivaya Shantaya: Disc 16)

Hence just as one can sleep all day long, one be totally dominated by any of the 4 cruder propensities, if they are encouraged. A man can eat 150 eggs if that is his choosing. A person can become totally fearful of each and every thing in this universe if the fear vrtti encouraged. Likewise, one’s entire existence can be swallowed up by sexual lust if one is not careful. Such is the case with so many so-called superstars of Hollywood etc.

Then what are we to do?

Baba says, “They [the 4 basic propensities] easily come under control with a slight effort.” (Namah Shivaya Shantaya: Disc 16)

In a phrase, the second half of Baba’s formula is that we are to discourage those cruder propensities– we are not to act on them blindly, in which case their effect on the mind will diminish and the mind will be free to move towards a higher ideal.

HOW SEX VRTTI GETS ENCOURAGED

But in this crude era of kali yuga, of extreme materialism, of degenerated capitalism, each and every direction one looks, or nearly so, there is the encouragement of the sex vrtti: In advertisements, on the internet, in movies, by risque dress on the street, and so many ways. Naturally, then the bulk of the population gets pulled in that direction. And the consequence is awful: Sexual diseases, unplanned pregnancies, ruined marriages, and the degeneration of mind such that peace and composure can never be found.

So as sadhakas we are to take proper care, and, if at any time, our minds accidentally get exposed to even remotely sexually oriented things– such as when browsing the internet– then immediately we should close the eyes, take Baba’s name, and see His image in dhyana. In a word, we are to ask His grace. That is the only way. Otherwise that crude picture will flash in the mind again and again. So it must be dissolved and replaced or diverted with something else– namely Baba’s image.

By this way we will always get success because Baba’s grace is far more powerful than those crude vrttis.

DISCOURAGE AND CHANNELISE

So the two step approach in AM for overcoming sexual lust and the domination of any of the four baser propensities is (a) discouragement and (b) channelisation.

Discouragement, as discussed above, means not (over)indulging in that direction whether it be excess sleep, overeating, fear complex, or crude lustful “pleasures”. If one does not mentally or physically swim in that direction, then the mind will not be prone to flowing that way.

In which case the mind will be free to move in a sentient manner, which leads into point (b), channelisation.

As we all know, in our sadhana and dhyana, we are to make a link with Parama Purusa– an inner relation with Him. And as Baba explains in His book, Namami Krsna Sundaram, the sadhaka is to adopt one of the various bhavas– Friend, Father, Slave, Lover, whichever one feels natural. Then through that relation the mind will be able to run towards Parama Purusa. Then one’s crude propensities will be wholly diverted and channelised towards Baba, and the degrading effect of those crude propensities will wane, diminish, or become nil.

In a nutshell this is Baba’s proven and scientific way for overcoming the bondage of the four crude vrttis and inviting bliss into one’s life.

MORE PARTS TO THE PUZZLE

Even then there are many more parts to the puzzle which can be elaborated upon later or raised by someone else. Here are some of those pieces.

* The way to divert sexual energy is by making a relation with Baba in sadhana, that we know. But when the eyes are open and one is walking down the street, then we are to look upon all females as mother. That is the tantric depiction of women. Then the feeling of lust will not arise because one will be involved in the sentient ideal that women are the mothers of men. Likewise, sisters should think that all males are their father, that will also discourage the sex impulse. But far and away, it is brothers who suffer more from this problem as the society exploits females and objectifies females as the tools of male enjoyment.

* In order to overcome crude propensities, Buddhists resort to negative ideation and hatred by thinking of females merely as a combination of biological parts such as the stomach with its undigested food or the bowels with its storage of waste. That is how the Buddhist doctrine advises practitioners to overcome sexual feeling. But this breeds disgust and hatred in the mind, which is why it is far more suitable and appropriate to adopt the tantric ideal that all women are to be looked upon as mother.

* Avidya maya wants to keep each and every person in her clutch. That is why when she sees anyone adopt the spiritual path then she hurls thousands of obstacles in that person’s way in hopes of derailing their progress. Indeed maya is just like a female spy that is sent into enemy territory to get information by using her sexual appeal. Those who fall prey do not understand what they are getting themselves into. Same with the sadhaka who falls prey to lust etc. That sadhaka does not realise that it is merely Mahamaya trying to bound them in her clutch.

* The human mind cannot go in two directions. So if the mind adopts a particular bhava and links up with Parama Purusa, then that mind will be less susceptible to degradation. Because the mind can only go in one direction. And when the mind is wholly engaged in its spiritual pursuit, then there is absolutely no chance of degradation. So it all depends on the degree to which one is involved in sadhana.

* The whole path of mysticism is to withdraw the mind from the physical organs (indriyas) and channelise the mind toward the atman or soul, and from the unit soul reach up to God. Unfortunately, now many travel the opposite path and their mind flows towards the indriyas and from there they crudely interact with the mundane world, thereby indulging in those crude propensities.

* Above all, the most important point is that when tempted in any negative direction, then immediately seek out and ask the sweet grace of Parama Purusa and request Him again and again to save you from all sorts of problems and difficulties. Then surely He will respond by showering His grace and you will be saved. Because let us never forget that His grace is more powerful than any force in this universe.

BABA’S GRACE

Baba is so gracious and He has given us all the tools and inherent longing to cultivate more and more anurakti, or more precisely para’nurakti, in life– thereby shedding the effect of the crude, basic propensities like sex etc, and developing greater closeness and love for Him.

Baba says, “When one’s psychic attraction is toward the crude, the mind has a downward tendency, which leads to one’s eventual downfall. But when the mind moves upward it is called anurakti [attraction for the Great]. The consummation of this attraction is devotion.” (Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell-8)

Baba says, “Anurakti is of two kinds. The anurakti for the Supreme Brahma or Infinite Cosmic Consciousness is para’nurakti. The anurakti for Brahma under the sway of prakrti or the anurakti for the crude manifestations is termed apara’nurakti. God is an object for para’nurakti. When the aspirant considers the Supreme Brahma to be his own, it is termed bhajana’ or bhakti.” (Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life – 2)

Namaskar,
Jiivendra

Note: ANOTHER LETTER ON THIS TOPIC

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-to-control-sex.html

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“A’lo tumi tule dharo saba’ri sa’mane…” (PS #2135)

Purport:

Baba, You grace everyone. With Your love, You show the path of effulgence to all. By virtue of one’s little intellect and superficial knowledge, You cannot be realized. When I feel that I have understood You, then and there I realize that I am in the dark. Because of this ignorance, I feel that I am all alone. But when I surrender everything to You, then only I feel that You are residing in my mind.

Baba, when I call You in my days of suffering, when I am burning with the fire of mental tension, dilemma and confusion, and various types of physical, psychic, and spiritual afflictions, when with a crying heart I desperately call You, then I feel that You are secretly residing in my mind– in the core of my heart.

Baba, nobody can know You or realise You by using their crude worldly attributions. By Your grace You shower all with the light of sadhana, and by that way I am able to come close to You. It is Your grace, it is Your grace…

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Substitute for Mother’s Milk

Baba says, “Qualitatively donkey’s milk is almost the same as human
mother’s milk. Because of this, those babies who in their infancy have lost their mothers, as a substitute they can be given donkey’s milk.” (S.C., discourse no. 160)
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Mahaprayan (Death) of Sis Gayatttrii Devi

Posted in Mahaprayan Dogma, Mahaprayan of Margiis on February 20, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Date: Mon 20 Feb 2012 07:25:04 -0000 (GMT)
From: Singh_Manindra
Subject: Mahaprayan (Death) of Sis Gayatttrii Devi
To: AM-GLOBAL

Baba

== MAHAPRAYAN* (Death) OF SIS GAYATTRII DEVII ==

Namaskar,
It is much sadness that we share with you the mahaprayan (death) of respected sister Gayattrii Devii which took place today, Monday 20 Feb 2012, in a hospice home in Germany.

Our respected sister Gayattrii has been suffering from health complications and was recently transported from India to Germany for treatment. But alas, she could not recover and her mahaprayan (death) occurred.

Our heart goes out to her son Taraka as we concerned for his well-being.

Finally, all know Sis Gayattrii’s strong devotion to Baba and assertiveness in living a dharmic life.

It is our loss that Gayattrii Devii has encountered her mahaprayan (death). Her presence on this earth will be greatly missed. May we all take solace in the fact that Gayattrii Devii was practicing sadhana regularly so certainly she will attain mukti. Baba will certainly bestow His grace.

With deepest respects,
Yours brotherly,
Manindra

Note 1: ON BABA’S LAP

We know that one can sit on the lap of Parama Purusa in dhyana and so many of our devotional practices. This is well accepted idea in our Marga.

Note 2: DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REAL MAHAPRAYAN AND FAKE MPD

Here it should be qualified that there is such a thing as both real mahaprayan and fake mahaprayan. Real mahaprayan remarks the death of any ordinary human being. This is the proper use of the term: to note a person’s departure from this earth. That is the way mahaprayan is to be used.

Then there is the fake, or so-called, or dogmatic mahaprayan and that is when certain agents try to apply the mahaprayan term to Parama Purusa Himself. This is totally inappropriate because when Baba is that Divine Entity who is beginningless and endless and resides always in our heart, then it is totally wrong to proclaim that He is gone.

That is why rational margiis are protesting and labeling the Oct 21st program as so-called mahaprayan. So-called means that something is fake. Parama Purusa is eternal, thus for groupists to declare his “mahaprayan” is nothing but so-called mahaprayan.

Mahaprayan only really happens in the case of human beings.

Note 3: ASTERISK NOTE ABOUT MAHAPRAYAN

* 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 related with Baba, 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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To Those Who Came From Semitic Religions

Posted in Casteism, Health / Hygiene, Women's Issues on February 19, 2012| Leave a Comment »

To: AM-GLOBAL
From: Cinmay Deva
Subject: To Those Who Came From Semitic Religions
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:43:58 -0400

Baba

== TO THOSE ANANDA MARGIIS WHO CAME FROM SEMITIC RELIGION ==

Note: This letter is based on one of Baba’s special teachings from the Senior Acarya Diary.

Namaskar,
It is not at all uncommon for people to drug habits, customs, and formalities from their own religious & cultural background into Ananda Marga. It happens regularly.

Priest-class superiority. Caste differences. Female suppression. This or that holy day. Serving & eating food at shraddha (death) ceremonies. At one point or another, all these things & more got dragged into our AMPS society by our own family members due to their own religious & cultural background.

Yet Baba is adamant that such things should not occur. That is why He has logically and systematically disproved and kicked out all such dogmas.

As we know, Baba made it a rule that no one could get initiated into AM without cutting their sacred hair (shikha) and removing their sacred thread (upavita). Plus eating meat & idol worship were forbidden; so many gods and goddesses were eliminated; and heaven and hell were proven to be totally illogical & archaic.

In that way, Baba has eliminated all the dogmas. Those illogical and baseless ideas from the various religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, & Christianity have no place in our Ananda Marga. Indeed the teachings of AM are 100% dogma-free.

Even then, various people, intentionally or not, drag their dogmas into AM, including things like circumcision. Believe it or not, still this is happening to margii children whose parents come from those lands where the Semitic religions (Islam, Judaism & Christianity) are dominant.

So we should clarify this matter and dispel any myths from people’s minds.

POINT FROM SENIOR ACARYA DIARY:

NO CIRCUMCISION IN AM

While there are innumerable reasons why circumcision does not belong in AM, perhaps the clearest wording has been given by Baba in Senior Acarya Diary. In that very Diary, Baba has denoted a special heading or chapter to ‘circumcision’.

In that section, Baba states that health and hygiene is the key point. The male urinary organ must remain clean as well as disease & infection-free, and that the best way to achieve this is to simply pull back the foreskin, upon reaching puberty. That is the main practice in AM as given by Baba.

By this way, those in their tender young years need not be cut; they can avoid that painful experience entirely. Plus the foreskin offers protection from disease. That is one type of protection that nature is providing. So there are multiple beneifts in not cutting or removing the foreskin as is done during circumcision.

Then Baba further stipulates that in those rare cases where the foreskin is too tight and unable to be pulled back, then a very slight incision may be made to enable the foreskin to be pulled back. Yet, Baba clearly states that this type of incision is “not circumcision”.

That is Baba’s clear-cut directive from Senior Acarya Diary. My Dada has been kind enough to have explained this to me on multiple occasions.

In that same chapter, Baba goes on to explain that if that male area gets dirty then (a) diseases arise or (b) the organ becomes irritated, causing the mind to become preoccupied with sexual thoughts etc. That is why it is so important to pull back the foreskin and keep that area clean.

For reasons best known to them, the semitic people started their practice of circumcision, but that this is not our way. Most margiis in the west understand this fact and follow the dharma of AM, but even then a few are not aware.

Suffice to say that in Senior Acarya Diary, Baba pointedly clarifies that circumcision is merely one dogmatic, Semitic tradition that is not meant to be practiced in AM.

MARGIIS FROM THOSE LANDS SHOULD KNOW

Unfortunately, some Ananda Margiis (family margiis & acaryas) around the globe are still living under the Semitic gospel about circumcision.

In those regions where Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are dominant, then the whole society has been saturated in the notion that circumcision is the ‘modern’ or ‘upstanding’ thing to do. There is very little discussion about it. Hence a few or certain margiis from those areas fall into that trap. In my own unit this has also been happening, and most probably in so many other units also.

Thus a concerted effort should be made to clarify the matter. Ananda Margiis everywhere should be made aware that circumcision is not condoned by Baba. Our approach is to simply pull back the foreskin upon reaching puberty, or to make a tiny incision so that the foreskin may be pulled back. There is no third approach.

UNIVERSAL APPROACH OF AM

Baba has graciously given the rational teachings of AM for all to practice– they are beneficial in all regions. It is not that kiirtan need only be done in some areas, or that half-bath is only appropriate for other regions. The whole of AM should be practiced universally in all countries.

Hence Baba’s teaching on male hygiene should be followed by all. In that way, there is no need for any Ananda Margii to be circumcised. Rather by doing so one is going against the dictates of Ananda Marga.

BABA’S BLESSING

By His grace, Baba has given everything for the health and welfare of all. By following His teachings– such as pulling back the foreskin and not being circumcised– then all in our Marga, nay the whole world, will be firmly seated on the path of welfare.

Baba says, “If people have a healthy body and mind their glandular system will remain balanced and they can easily channelise their physical energy into psychic and spiritual activities. This process of channelisation is the only way to check the mental flow towards crude propensities.” (AFPS-9, p.35)

Namaskar,
Cinmay

Note 1: FURTHER PROOF THAT CIRCUMCISION IS AN ARCHAIC DOGMA

In these following quotes, Baba clearly expresses how circumcision is merely a dogmatic idea from long ago that has been held onto by certain religious groups. There is no rational or scientific reason for it.

Baba says, “Human beings readily accept traditions without seeking the reasons behind them. Since ancient days the semitic people have been observing the practice of circumcision. Moses and Mohammed accepted this system which today has become tradition.” (A Few Problems Solved, part 2)

Baba says, “Certain practices were not originally religious rituals, but traditions or customs. Long ago the Jews started practising circumcision. When Moses converted some of his contemporaries to Judaism, and later when Mohammed converted some local people to Islam, neither prophet dared to instruct their new followers to discard the old customs they followed, consequently the old customs continued after their conversion…These are expressions of traditional beliefs which have been passed down from one generation to another.” (PNS-21)

Note 2: CIRCUMCISION GOES AGAINST GOD’S PERFECTION

Everything in this universe has its inherent dharma and natural way. Every being and every object has been made in a perfect and particular way to fulfill its dharma. Birds have wings so they can fly through the sky, and fish have gills so they can breathe under the sea. Every being has been given exactly what they need. Nothing has been created by God in a faulty or imperfect manner. Nature’s order is quite proper. It is not that adjustments need to be made on some beings. It is not that at the time of birth, an operation needs to be performed on male babies in order to make them fit for this world. It is not that they have been wrongly or poorly designed. Parama Purusa has made everything perfectly. Thus, by this reasoning also, the entire premise of circumcision does not make sense as it means that God’s creation is inherently flawed.

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“Maner kon’e samgopane ke go tumi base ekela’…” (P.S. 3529)

Purport:

O’ Divine Entity, by secretly sitting alone in the remote corner of my mind, You are vibrating my mind and heart – my whole existence – in divine ecstasy. Please tell me who are You. You do not share the feelings of Your heart with me so I do not know what is Your desire. And when I ask You what You want, then You tell that You do not want anything. Just with Your charming smile You shower sweet nectar like a garland of pearls.

O’ Supreme Personality, please tell me, are You alone? Have You no companion? Are You searching for someone? Is that the reason why You are always wandering around this entire universe in all the ten directions – because You are searching for some companionship. Is that why You are busy enjoying Your divine liila in this bottomless and endless, mobile and immobile world – i.e. in Your entire creation.

O’ Divine Entity, of all the bhavas You are Mahabhava. You are the quintessence of all thoughts and ideations – the ultimate Goal of all the samadhis. O’ Supreme One You are complete unto Yourself and infinite. You do not have any shortage or dearth of anything; You have everything. You control the unit as well as the vast – everything. You go on creating Your liila in hundreds of ways and flows. Your grandeur is infinite & endless.

O’ Divine One, who is most charming and attractive, please grace me by revealing Your identity. You have captivated me by Your causeless grace and by the infinite bond of Your divine love…

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Fake Devotion

Baba says, “Oh Lord, I am your devotee, help me to pass my examination; Oh Lord, my daughter has attained marriageable age— help me to find a worthy suitor; Let the bridegroom be ideal, let me not spend much on the wedding. This type of showy devotion that simply asks for mundane objects, is no devotion at all. Because such persons always say, “I want
this, I want that.”

“What news can you report to a person who already knows all the intimate details of your life? Is it not ludicrous to retell the stories of your grandfather’s house to your mother, for certainly she knows them better than you!”

“Parama Purus’a knows more than you whether you are a sinner or not, so what is the necessity of telling Him?” (Ananda Marga Ideology Way of Life p.820 & 824)
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To Improve Sadhana

Posted in Capitalism, Establishing PROUT, Exploitation, Sadhana, Yama and Niyama on February 18, 2012| Leave a Comment »

From: “Arisudan Deva”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: To Improve Sadhana
Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 20:07:05 +0000

Baba

== TO IMPROVE SADHANA ==

Namaskar,
If you are sitting in your own older automobile and admiring your neighbor’s fancy, new car – internally wishing that it were yours – are you then going against the code of asteya (non-stealing)?

The answer is: YES.

So says Baba in His historic Patna discourse from 1971. That is the exact example that Baba Himself has given.

In that same discourse Baba raises many other new and unique points related with asteya that apply to our daily life.

As His disciples we should all familiarise ourselves with His expanded teachings on asteya so as to enhance our practical knowledge base gained from His monumental book, “Jiivan Veda” or “A Guide to Human Conduct” (Jamalpur 1957).

By this way, our sadhana will certainly improve.

Baba says, “…Without yama and niyama, sadhana is an impossibility…” (Supreme Command)

ALL WANT EXPANSION

Baba outlines that everyone in this world desires expansion (vistara) – all want to expand. This is the common feeling and inherent tendency of every human being.

But as Baba points out, not all expansion is in accordance with yama and niyama. Certain types of expansion run contrary to the code of asteya. In that case, one will not be able to progress on the path of sadhana, nor be a moral citizen in society.

ABOUT PHYSICAL, PSYCHIC, AND SPIRITUAL EXPANSION

We then need to understand what type of expansion is proper, and what not.

Baba says that expansion in the psychic world is very good. There is no problem with this. Baba furthermore states that by proper expansion in the psychic world the aspirant will become one with Saguna Brahma.

Baba also states that expansion in the spiritual world is also of great value and it has no drawbacks. By the proper approach, through spiritual expansion the sadhaka will become one with Nirguna Brahma.

So in these two planes – psychic and spiritual – expansion will further one along the path of dharma — sadhana.

The tricky aspect is if one chases after expansion in the physical sphere. That is when all the problems occur.

PROBLEMS WITH PHYSICAL EXPANSION

As Ananda Margiis – as sadhakas – we understand that we live in this world for the sake of adjustment only. This is not our permanent abode; this is not our eternal shelter; all the things of this world are transitory. There is no sense in collecting things which will not stay with us. This we all understand.

For that reason, we are (mostly) not allured nor enamoured with accumulating and collecting more and more mundane possessions or wealth. At least we should not be enticed in this direction.

Because we understand in our heart that we have come onto this earth to serve and please Parama Purusa and His creation. He is our Goal, not any mundane item like property, money, cars, women, gold, or prestige.

However, those without a higher goal in life will naturally try to satisfy their desire for expansion by chasing after physical pabulum. This leads to hoarding, greed, corruption, and so many other problems.

Tragically, now this is what most people are doing because capitalism is in vogue – wherein the material world is looked upon as everything, the be-all and end-all of life.

Baba says, “In capitalism the psychology of the acquisition of material wealth, be it land, money, metal or other property, strongly predominates. Such crude psychic urges and psychic pabula remain unchecked and unbridled in capitalism and turn into a hungry profit motive in the market system. As a result, traders, industrialists and business people suffer from the psychic disease of accumulating more and more wealth by any means, even to the point of depriving other human beings of their basic requirements…The inhuman exploitation causes the mass-level deprivation of millions of people. The curse of capitalism engulfs the whole of society. Thus capitalism is anti-human.” (PNS-12)

This entire defective approach of goading one’s inherent desire for expansion toward mundane things is against the code of asteya, as people are constantly desiring to own things that do not belong to them.

From top to bottom, it is a flawed approach to life and those who get stuck in this mode of living suffer from a severe psychic disease, and their future is not at all bright.

All this and more Baba describes in the about quote and in so many of His discourses. By this manner, such persons are going against the code of asteya and ruining their human existence.

WORKS IN TWO DISTINCT DIRECTIONS

To take the matter one step further, chasing after physical expansion leads to steya (stealing) in two ways.

Firstly, as described above, greedy people will always harbor the idea to grab more and more physical wealth. They will try and capture more money or land or whatever to the degree that they deprive others. This is one type of stealing.

The second type is that those who have been exploited up to the bone will then wander this earth in a penniless and hungry condition. In turn, they will resort to stealing in order to merely survive on this earth. They will steal for their next meal.

The first type of stealing – i.e. unbridled over-accumulation of physical wealth – is due to a misguided and greedy intellect. The individual is at fault.

The second type of stealing – i.e. theft out of want – is due to severe exploitation. In that case the society is at fault as those impoverished persons had no other course of action in order to stay alive. They were forced to steal in order to even eat.

Both of these conditions – both of these types of stealing – are not at all befitting of our human society and should be eliminated entirely.

SOLUTIONS

There are two basic solutions to these types of steya (theft).

Firstly, we are to teach sadhana to each and every person and by this way they will get the idea that this human life is not meant for running after mundane things and physical wealth. Rather we are to live in proper adjustment in this world so that all can goad their minds toward psychic and spiritual pursuits.

By teaching sadhana then people will get the idea that in their personal lives they should seek psycho-spiritual expansion. That will eliminate steya in individual life.

If we merely tell people not to steal but fail to give them the practical approach of sadhana, then they will steal secretly. So that will not work.

The second aspect is to propagate the ideals of Prout and thereby make society healthy. Then people will not roam around in halfway starving condition wondering how they are going to get their next meal.

Only Prout guides people that expansion should get aimed toward the field of spirituality. With this idea as the banner of human life, then asteya will certainly be properly practiced in life and all will get right expansion. Everyone’s sadhana will be better as that is what they cherish most in life, not a new swimming pool, Mercedes-Benz, or a large mansion.

Baba says, “PROUT is a socioeconomic philosophy to help take humanity from imperfection to perfection. To move towards the Supreme Entity is a continuous process for one and all. At the end of this process, you will become one with the Supreme Entity.” (PNS-17)

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace He has given us the right teachings in life so that the mind will be goad toward the benevolent Goal. In that case – unhindered by various afflictions – one will flow effortless forward on the path of sadhana.

Baba says, “The easiest way of practising asteya, as in the case of all other principles of Yama and Niyama, is auto-suggestion. If people, right from the childhood, remember these codes and remind themselves what is correct, they will not go astray when they grow up – even in the midst of temptations – and they will be able to maintain the high standard of thoughts and character.” (GHC)

Namaskar,
Arisudan

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“Tumi eso, tumi eso a’ma’r ghare…” – P.S. 3190

Purport:

Baba, please grace me by coming in my abode. I am waiting constantly for You, ceaselessly, after lighting the lamp of hope in my heart.

Baba, You are always so gracious. By Your grace-compassion I receive You in my dreams. By Your grace, I get You there. And when I wake up I continue thinking of Your tales and talks. Baba, You are so gracious, Your love is painted on every pore of my mind and heart.

Baba, I always remember You; even if I try to forget You still I remember You. When I yearn for You strongly then in my heart I feel pain in that longing. It is then that the thought comes that I should forget You– because by that way at least it will be peaceful. But it is impossible for me; I cannot forget you.

Baba, You always reside in the deep core of my heart. The whole universe is saturated with Your divine love. You shower Your causeless grace on everyone. Baba, please come in my mental abode; You are my everything…

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Why Not Baba’s Book

Posted in Baba Stories, Field Walk, Groupism, Jamalpur Era, Leadership in AM, Publications Dept., Samaj, Scriptural Distortion on February 17, 2012| Leave a Comment »

From: “Mohini Ghosh”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Why Not Baba’s Book
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:29:36 +0530

Baba

== WHY NOT ACCEPTED AS BABA’S BOOK ==

Namaskar,
One of the groups has always glorified the words Baba spoke in Bengali and printed them properly whereas what Baba spoke in Hindi they left lying in the dust.

When Baba spoke in Bengali about points of samaj then they always made sure that got published in Baba’s books such as Varna Vicitra and Shabda Cayanika and Prout in A Nutshell etc. But when Baba speaks in Hindi about other samajas and their histories etc, then those discourses they manipulate stating that Ac. Raghunath is the author of those talks.

By having the book appear in Raghunath’s name then people do not even know that this is Baba’s book. And that is what is discussed herein.

I am reminding us all of what was witnessed by thousands of margiis who personally attended those DMC’s during Baba’s northern India tour in the first few months of 1984. And several thousand more margiis are there who did not attend but heard about all of this.

Here then in story format I am sharing the details how Baba toured in 1984 but unfortunately the many discourses given on that lengthy tour never got printed in His name. Please read below.

BABA’S HISTORIC 1984 TOUR

Baba made an historic education tour in 1984 when He held more than one dozen DMC’s across northern India & the following is the story of that time.

When Baba did His grand tour and conducted so many DMC’s in Hindi speaking areas in 1984, Baba directly gave important guidelines to all the samaj secretaries from various samajas which He visited. Means it was an education tour and wherever He went all along the way Baba did field walks at so many temples, churches, forts, and old buildings. This was part of His pre-planned tour that during field walks He would visit so many historical and archeological sites. And always local margiis accompanied Baba on these walks and got the blessed opportunity to hear Baba talk about these places and much more.

Sure enough the DMC discourses and general darshans of this same 1984 tour which Baba delivered got printed in Subhasita Samgraha parts 16-17 and Ananda Vacanamrtam part 22, respectively. This was given. One other important point in all of this is that Acarya Raghunathji was assigned the specific duty of taking notes of all Baba’s talks during that 1984 tour.

So this type of program was going on during that historic tour because, after all, this was Baba’s usual way. Not just on this tour but throughout His life wherever Baba lived and wherever He visited always He told all the histories, stories, tales, factual analysis and so many things about the surrounding area wherever He was. And these things Baba told to the local Margiis and attending Acaryas – whoever was present. When living in Jamalpur, when touring Berlin Sector, when touring the Philippines, indeed all the time this was happening. So naturally also then on His grand 1984 tour of Hindi speaking areas Baba gave countless talks about the history and archeology of that area.

And as I say on His tour Baba visited many archeological buildings that were hundreds and even thousands of years old. Baba spent time at places that had a rich history of deep archeological importance such as temples, tombs, mosques, forts, monuments, historical buildings, etc. And Baba revealed a huge, never-before-known history during His tour which was noted down.

THE TRAGEDY

But the tragedy is that all those charming tales and hidden facts which Baba graciously revealed, all those things never got printed in Baba’s name. Never.

In contrast though, in the Prout books so many talks given on field walks related with Bengalistan have been added after 1990. So why did Bangalistan get the upper hand while all the talks from Baba’s tour of Hindi speaking areas get completely neglected. Why didn’t the Hindi area historical research and Baba’s other direct guidelines, why didn’t those get placed in book form in the name of Baba.

Because after all, on this long 1984 tour of 4 months penance, thousands and thousands of pages worth of Baba’s valuable teaching was given. Yet somehow it was deliberately left off the shelf of Baba’s library.

SPECIAL TWIST

Here then is the missing link: the answer why all those talks of Baba never got printed in His name.

For that historic 1984 tour, Baba gave the duty to Ac Raghunathji to collect and manage the note-taking and publication of those talks. So Ac Raghunathji organised all the talks given by Baba during the tour. This he did from 1984 up to 1993 and in his own way Ac Raghunathji was trying to get the Publications Department to print these things.

But Sarvatmananda pushed back and delayed the work. Sarvatmanandaji did not cancel the project completely. He did not throw it into the river; he is more crafty and cunning than that. Instead, he added one of his patented devious twists to the situation. Sarvatmanandaji demanded that the book be published, BUT in the name of Ac Raghunathji– not Baba.

WHY THE TWIST

So that was the nasty point. Reason being Dada Sarvatmanandaji wanted to undermine those things. Means he did not want to highlight anything other than Bengali culture so all Baba’s talks about Hindi speaking areas, he wanted to push them down into the mud. And what better way to effectively do this than to take away Baba’s name from those discourses and instead assign them to someone else– like Raghunathji.

Because whatever words come from Sadguru Baba, those words are treated as divine. Nobody can compare with BABA. So by manipulating the situation and instead crediting Ac Raghunathji and not Baba for giving all those talks, that was one way of undermining Baba’s words about those Hindi speaking samaj areas. And that is exactly what Dada Sarvatmanandji wanted to do. To crush the existence and push down the validity of Hindi speaking areas. And in fact he did like that.

Because the book of history did in fact get printed in Acarya Raghunathji’s name and still today it remains like that. About this book more I will tell below.

RAGHUNATHJI’S POSITION

First though, with regards to Acarya Raghunathji, all we can say is that his position was like one bootlicker that time. That was why he did not adequately oppose Sarvatmanandaji’s fraudulent scheme. And in the end Ac Raghunathji actually thought that this was alright. Because after all the book was put in his name and that way he got the credit and respect for that. So that was Ac Raghunathji’s way in all of this, and even when he was the organisational president still he did not come forward to correct this thing. That is the proof that he approved of the whole situation.

THEY ARE 100% BABA DISCOURSES

PROMOTED IN SOMEONE ELSE’S NAME

But truly speaking those are all Baba’s direct talks. And anyone who is at all familiar with Baba’s style of discourse will easily understand that all those words belong to our Revered Baba, and not to Ac Raghunathji. So it is a terrible wrongdoing that the book was done in a different way. It got titled as ‘P.R. Sarkar on History’ and the author’s name is there in bold print: Acarya Raghunath. That is the tragedy.

Because in this way, who can understand that this is actually Baba’s book? Nobody. Because the title of the book itself makes it look like Ac Raghunathji is writing about Shrii Sarkar’s ideas on history. When in actuality those are all Baba’s discourses.

Altogether Sarvatmanandaji has created a big mess in Baba’s scripture in order to prove Bengali superiority. And all along the present B group spokesman Kalyaneshvarananda was aware about the adulterations and distortions being done to Baba’s sacred discourses yet all the while he kept mum– and just allowed that injustice to pass before his eyes.

OUR DUTY

Now it is the duty of one and all to put forth the demand that all Baba’s discourses should be published in His own name and be included as part of Ananda Marga scripture.

Namaskar,
Mohini

Note 1: DADA KNEW IT WAS A DISTORTION

The discourses Baba gave during His 1984 never got printed in Baba’s own books. Instead Baba’s discourses got published under Ac. Raghunathji name in his book titled ‘Shri P.R. Sarkar on History’ by Ac. Raghunathji. This above email tells this wrongdoing, but here following B group spokesman exposes his own position. Since long he was aware about the distortion done to Baba’s discourses but never did he do anything to correct the matter.

B group spokesman Dada Kalyaneshvarananda once wrote:

“‘In His 1984 tour, he (Baba) spoke about different places and Raghunathjii noted it down and was later published [in Ac Raghunathjii’s own history book] as “Shri P.R. Sarkar on History.”

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“A’lo eseche ghum bheungeche, phuler vane raun legeche…” (P.S. 2253)

Purport:

With the arrival of effulgence, all drowsiness & sleepiness have been vanquished. In the flower garden, new growth has come. The buds of those flowers which were in hibernation have now all bloomed. And they have filled the flowers with nectar; it is overflowing.

Each and everyone’s heart is vibrated with the new color. Each and every movement in life is vibrated in His flow. The air, the water, the earth, and the sky– everything is filled with His vibration and charm. The advent of the new dawn has come; now there will not be any more cries or laments due to the darkness. In everyone’s language and expression there will no longer be any bitterness – rather it will be saturated with sweetness and love. Love will be the source of all inspiration.

This entire transformation has all happened due to the causeless grace of Parama Purusa; He created this momentum and changed the whole vibration of this entire universe. He filled it with His own color. The new dawn has come and the drowsiness of staticity and dogma has disappeared. The sweetness and charm of spirituality has come…

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Best and Worst

Baba says, “Human beings come into this world and attend to so many duties…It is the sense of duty that makes a person great. Of all the bonds, the bond of duty is the strongest and the bond of moha [blind attachment or infatuation] is the worst. Humans will have to break the bonds of moha and increase the bonds of duty.” (NKS,’97 Edn, p.111)
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Power of AM Sadhana: My Own Experience

Posted in Baba Stories, Sadhana on February 16, 2012| Leave a Comment »

From: “narayanpanda”
To: “amglobal”
Subject: Power of AM Sadhana: My Own Experience

Baba

== POWER OF AM MANTRA: MY OWN EXPERIENCE ==

Namaskar,
In Ananda Marga, we all do sadhana. And everyone acquires power or spiritual force from their sadhana. Though we never think or we never should think about such results.

We are blessed to have a Guru who is Mahasambhuti and He has all the power and He controls any power we may acquire from our sadhana– so that we do not misuse it. On some occasions, when confronted by obstacles or avidya tantrics, we can get a glimpse of the force of our AM sadhana. Such an account is written below.

At the same time, we all know that the true measuring rod of our sadhana is our devotional closeness with Baba and the depth of our neo-humanistic love for His creation– as well as how content we feel in the heart and mind. So in review, in AM Baba controls all the powers, otherwise sadhakas will be overwrought with vanity etc; but if one has a lower guru like in avidya tantra, then the followers get and misuse powers because the guru cannot control them. In AM, however, our sadhana is diverted towards Him so He controls everything.

Here then is a personal experience recounted below which reveals the importance of our sa’dhana’ and how His grace is everything.

MY PERSONAL ACCOUNT

I was initiated into our A’nanda Ma’rga sa’dhana’ on 30th Sep’ 1978. Then in the month of Feb ’79, the students of our college went on strike, so I went to Siliguri DMC. There, by His grace, I had personal contact with Ba’ba’.

Since I was charged & inspired by Him to do dharma pracara, after returning from DMC I went to Sundergarh to do praca’ra instead of wasting my time in participating in the strike at the college.

I was at the house of Shrii Narahari Choudhury, a senior margii brother in the village of Shankara’, nearby Sundergarh district headquarter. There I met other margii brothers Shrii Biranchi Narayan Ray (the then bhukti pradhan of Sundergarh district), Shrii Shvetabasanta Pandey from Sambalpur, Shrii Pradhan (originally from Cuttack but working in Sundergarh) etc. And one sannyasi brother, A’carya Vibha’vasu, who was DS of Sambalpur (at that time he was Brahmaca’rii).

All of us started by bicycle along with mrdanga (Indian drum), kubuji etc at 6 am from the house of Choudhury Dada. We crossed a jungle full of Sal trees & reached a village (I forgot the name) where we found a kiirtana mandapam (outdoor kiirtan site that has a roof) that had been recently constructed for the occasion of holi festival.

We immediately started chanting Ba’ba’ Na’ma Kevalam with the help of mrdanga (Indian drum) & karata’la (hand symbols) & moved around the mandapam as we did akhanda kiirtana.

After some time, we found that the villagers had assembled there. We sat for meditation & performed Guru Puja’– and they watched us the whole time. Afterwards, one or two of us started talking to the villagers about Ananda Marga sa’dhana’.

In the meantime, I saw a man dressed in semi-saffron colour blowing his special instrument (a pipe that is tubular at both the ends & in the middle it is swollen– especially used by snake charmers). This man was begging alms. He was moving around about 100 to 200 meters from our gathering.

At some point, while this man was crossing our gathering, a margii brother Narahari Choudhuri Dada called him & asked in front of the whole gathering, “What’s your profession?”.

The man replied, “I’m a snake charmer. I catch snakes in the forest with the help of this instrument.”

Narahari Choudhuri Dada then asked, “What more do you know ?”

The man replied, “I know maran’a (dying), ma’ran’a (killing), ashiikaran’a(hypnotizing), ucca’t’ana…”

Then Chowdhuri Dada asked him, “If you know maran’a (killing), can you kill this person”, pointing towards the then A’carya Vibha’vasu Brahmaca’rii– posted as Diocese secretary of Sambalpur district.

I was surprised to hear from the snake charmer that definitely he can kill him (i.e. A’carya Vibha’vasu). I went on observing to see what was going to happen next.

The snake charmer then picked up some dust & one straw that was on the ground & started murmuring some mantra. Then he started blowing his instrument in order to strike down A’carya Vibha’vasu. But alas, the instrument didn’t make any sound. So the snake charmer applied his full strength & he blew, blew, & blew…, but alas, no sound came!

Everybody was amazed to see what was happening– strangely, somehow, the snake charmer could no longer play his instrument.

In trying, the snake charmer’s face totally became red. Until finally he gave up and stopped trying to play the instrument & instead requested us to rectify it.

Our sannyasi brother asked the snake whether he knows how to withdraw the avidya tantric mantra which he had recited earlier. The snake charmer replied that he knew. Then the snake charmer again picked up some dust & straw and murmured a mantra in order to withdraw the earlier mantra. After this, the snake charmer picked up his instrument and again started blowing into it & surprisingly it made the sound as before.

Our Choudhuri Dada then asked the snake charmer to beg apology & Choudhuri Dada forced the snake charmer to take an oath he shouldn’t apply these avidya tantric mantras to hurt anybody. After agreeing to this, the snake charmer left the place.

Seeing this event, almost all the villagers present there that day took initiation. It went up to 7pm. Then we came back to Sundergarh.

This event shows that no avidya force can affect a sadhaka initiated to Ananda Marga sadhana system introduced by Shrii Shrii Anandamurtijii, who protects His disciples.

Namaskar,
Narayan Panda

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

PS Intro: This song expresses the highest realm of devotion where the bhakta internally feels that the whole universe is dancing in His divine flow, where everything is revolving and rotating around the Supreme Nucleus, Purus’ottama, Parama Purusa.

“Vishvadola’y dol diyecho liila’y bhuvan na’ce…” (PS# 2777)

Purport:

Baba, You are so gracious, You have made this whole universe sway in the swinging of the swing. Everything is dancing in the flow of Your divine liila. Baba, in close and far, and in all the ways, You have inundated this whole universe with various tunes, melodies, and rhythms, and in flow of Your song. Baba, everything is revolving around You and dancing in Your bliss.

In this ra’saliila, by Your grace, that divine flow has made everyone forget all the differences and distinctions between themselves and others. Now everyone feels that everyone is their own– that all are part of this same universal family. Baba, by Your grace the boundaries have been shattered, the doors and windows are open; everyone is mine– ours; all are one. All the dogmas and bondages have been wiped away by the divine swing. Now there is no time for bickering and infighting. Having forgotten, all fear, shyness, jealousy, and hatred, now there is only one flow, moving towards You, rushing headlong towards You. The whole universe is dancing in the divine flow, by Your grace.

Baba, this whole universe is nothing but the display of Your grand liila. Everything is possible in this universe by Your grace. Everything happens according to Your wish. If you desire, the positive can become negative, and the negative can become positive. “No” can become “yes”, and “yes” can become “no”. The impossible becomes possible, and the possible becomes impossible. Your desire is everything. In this divine moment, when everything is blissful and flowing in Your rasa, then there is no question of crying about the problems or requesting a solution. Rather everyone’s heart is satiated in the divine flow. Everyone’s mind is fully content and floating on the waves of the divine bliss. This is the time to go on dancing in the eternal flow of ra’saliila.

Baba, Your divine liila is unparalleled, the whole universe is dancing in ecstasy, I surrender at Your lotus feet…

NOTES & QUOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #2777:

In His diverse and colourful manner, Baba expresses His divine teachings in various ways: Devotionally through song, theoretically through philosophy, and a mix thereof using both devotion and theory. It depends on each and every sadhaka, on each and every human mind to decide which one they prefer at any given point in time.

So in His above Prabhat Samgiita, Baba is explaining His ra’sa liila in a purely devotional manner. And now in this below quote He is explaining His ra’saliila using a mix of devotional expression and theoretical philosophy. So this quote stands as another way of expressing nearly the whole of this Prabhat Samgiita.

Baba says, “When devotees realise that all beings are created from a’nanda, exist in a’nanda and return to a’nanda. This realisation causes a radical change in their outlook – no longer can they differentiate between rich and poor, highborn and low-born. They observe an ocean of a’nanda flowing within and around all created beings. ‘Rasa vae sah’- all are flowing in the same rasa, the same ocean of bliss. In that divine flow the devotees see Parama Purus’a dancing with each entity. In philosophy, this dance is called ‘ra’saliila’ [divine play in the flow of bliss]. It does not mean that someone is actually playing a flute with all the humans and cows dancing around him. Rather, it means that all the entities of this beginningless and endless universe are floating in the ocean of cosmic bliss.” (Ananda Vacanamrtam-7)

Baba’s above guideline is a mix of devotion and philosophy and in this next quote He is explaining the overall concept of this Prabhat Samgiita in a more theoretical manner, in philosophical parlance.

Baba says, “Knowingly or unknowingly everyone is moving around Him. Everyone is bound to move, otherwise they will lose their permanent shelter, they will dissociate from their permanent nucleus. This movement is a natural propensity born out of love for Parama Purus’a. Love for the Supreme is a natural propensity. Intelligent people develop their natural propensities through their sa’dhana’, their constant endeavour. The outlook of such people is called Ra’dha’ bha’va.” (Namami Krsnasundaram, Disc:15)

END NOTE: PERSONAL WAY OF VIEWING THIS PRABHAT SAMGIITA

The above song is related with the life of each and every sadhaka. When sadhana is good then one realises the essence of this song. Then all hatred, fear, and shyness dissipates and people forget about their differences with others and see everything as an expression of His divine flow. On that occasion when their mind is immersed in His bliss then this feeling of ra’saliila is dominant in their mind. So this song is not something beyond the reach of common sadhakas. This song shows how one looks at the world and behaves with others when they are having better sadhana. By His grace, at some point or another, this is something we have all experienced.

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Advent of Mahasambhutis

Baba says, “Lord Krsna came about 3500 years ago, when the war of the Mahabharata took place. People’s individual qualities then had not taken a collective shape. People did not know the art of living collectively…they fought among themselves because they had no collective sense. Lord Krsna thought that if He combined all there would be collective spirit in the true sense of the term. Then alone all human faculties would get expanded. He tried to make people understand, but they did not understand, because there was no collective spirit in them…to synthesize them all Lord Krsna was born.”

“Lord Krsna wanted to bring about a social synthesis, the seed of which was sown by Lord Shiva.” (Discourses on the Mahabharat, p.6-7)

Note: In the same way Baba took advent to form one synthetic human society. But unfortunately, groupist leader in H, B, & NIA are doing just the opposite. They are engaged to balkanize and disintegrate it. But what Baba has planned, i.e. to form one human society, that is going to happen. Because it is His wish.
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They Were Trustless

Posted in AMPS Org / HQ, BP Rights, Establishing PROUT, Groupism, Leadership in AM, Mahaprayan Dogma, Name - Fame, Pointing Out - Giving Solution, Sex Scandels on February 15, 2012| Leave a Comment »

From: “Marc Pele”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: They Were Trustless
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:07:12 +0000

Baba

== THEY WERE TRUSTLESS ==

Note: A sound file has been placed on the AM-GLOBAL blog that serves as an accompaniment to this below letter. That sound file is called, ‘One Oath Taking Ceremony’. Visit: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/

Namaskar,
To prepare oneself for this entire topic, please consider the following.

Suppose there is one guru who knows that some of his disciples suffer from certain flaws. That guru calls those disciples near and says, “From tomorrow onwards, you will be given greater responsibility to run the ashram and its activities; promise me that you will not sell the ashram and destroy all the programs. Can I trust you that you will not ruin the ashram?”
By making this type of statement and posing this sort of query, it is very evident that the guru does not trust his disciples. Such a statement does not at all convey a sense faith in his disciples.

Keep the above idea in mind as you read the remainder of this mail.

THE CURRENT SCENE

The present scenario unfolding now in our organisation did not come out of nowhere. There was every indication that such a splintering could and would take place. Baba certainly knew; and if we all think a little bit, it should not have come as a surprise to us either. Please understand that I have full regard and respect for our dear Dadas, only I wish to bring something to the table for everyone to consider and review.

BABA WAS CALLING THEM TO TAKE OATHS

In 1990, as you may remember, Baba was calling Dadas– groups of Dadas, especially Central Workers and other top Dadas– to Him so that they could take an oath in His presence. There was no secret this was going on, as many have heard about this program.

Those days, Beloved Baba was calling several workers or more at a time and asking them, ‘Do you promise to work for the welfare of the mission? Can I trust you to spread my ideology? Are you committed to serving all peoples? Will you keep this organisation unified? Are you to be trusted?’.

To each of these types of questions, all the Dadas present– ie the top Dadas which Baba had called before Him– were required to take an oath to that they would solemnly swear to fulfill their duty to Baba and the Ananda Marga mission. This was the scene which was unfolding in 1990. And those respected Dadas were quite proud to have been called before Baba to take such an oath. They took this to be an honor and and indication of their high commitment to Baba.

WHAT IS THE INNER MEANING BEHIND SUCH AN OATH

With all due respect, however, we should apply a little bit of our own cognitive abilities– by way of analogy– to understand the real meaning of having to take such an oath in the first place.

Suppose there is one guru who knows that some of his disciples suffer from certain flaws. That calls those disciples near and says, “From tomorrow onwards, you will be given greater responsibility to run the ashram and its activities, promise me that you will not sell the ashram and destroy all the programs. Can I trust you that you will not ruin the ashram?” By making this type of statement and posing this sort of query, it is very evident that the guru does not trust his disciples. Such a statement does at all convey a sense faith in his disciples.

With respect to our dear Dadas, I think all readers are by now getting the idea why Baba requested such top WTs to take an oath before Him. Before discussing this further, let’s take a look at another analogy.

Suppose, one day when a father is about to retire from his business and he is going to pass the torch of ownership of all his entrepreneurial interests and land holdings to his son, and the father says, ‘Son, I have worked hard all my life, please promise me that you will honestly watch over my affairs and take care of the family’, then does this not indicate that the father does not have full faith in his son. Otherwise, what was the need for the father to ask such a thing of his son. Such a statement or oath only comes into play, when a father feels that the son cannot be entirely trusted– or not trusted at all.

Or it is just like if there are two friends, and if one says to the other, ‘Listen, I have to go out for a few minutes, please promise me that you will not steal my belongings while I am gone’, then who is going to really think they have any friendship at all, or that the other person can be trusted. And certainly we can all think of so many other such examples– all of which point to a blatant lack of trust for the other party. In essence one is saying, ‘You are not trustworthy’.

Yet this is the very same type of oath which our All-knowing Baba requested from those top Dadas.

Please excuse me for saying so, but this oath was done because Baba was well aware about their inherent tendencies of groupism, division, and power mongering etc. With such ideas floating in their mental plates, how is it that those top Dadas were going to be able to care for the AM mission. Hence, Baba requested them to take an oath– to help steer them away from their negative desires. Yet we all know what happened, we all know how far those our revered Dadas could live up to the oath or not.

OTHERS WERE HAPPY THAT BABA DID NOT ASK THEM

From another perspective, various other acaryas and senior margiis who were NOT asked to take such an oath in front of Baba were relieved, because they felt that having to take such an oath meant that such persons were not up to the proper standard. And indeed it looks like that is the case. There are so many decent acaryas and margiis who are truly committed to the ideals of AM, and Baba knowingly never asked them to take that oath in front of Him. Whereas those who were requested to take an oath back in 1990 are the very ones who have pillaged our AMPS and cracked it into pieces for their selfish ends.

TOP DADAS SAW IT IN THEIR OWN WAY

But as life would have it, those top Dadas who took the oath– ‘I can be trusted to watch over the mission’– had their own perspective of the matter. With all due respect, those esteemed acaryas felt that it meant that they were the ones who were true to Baba.

Hence, they told everyone they knew that Baba took a special oath from them as they thought this would impress others. Indeed they traveled all over Delhi Sector and the entire globe, describing how Baba had specially called them and asked, ‘Can I trust you’ etc. So through their own eyeglasses, they thought that this was Baba’s way of telling them that they are the great ones to run the organisation. But those with a balanced mind can understand the inner truth: That having to take such an oath means that they had a weakness or mental defect. That Baba was saying, ‘You are not trustworthy’. Otherwise Baba would not have been concerned about them in that way.

And indeed, seeing what these oath-taking Dadas have done to our organisation since 1990, it is quite apparent that the all-knowing Baba did not trust them from the outset. That is why He was again and again asking them, ‘Can I trust you, can I trust you’. Please excuse me for saying so, but that is what rationality says. Many of these Dadas are our friends, but that does not exclude us from taking a proper look at the situation. After all we have come to establish AM ideology and serve the humanity, not any other reason.

Note: In AM oaths are taken when a person gets diiksa of various types. We remember our oaths everyday, but this query – “Can I trust you” – is unusual and displays a lack of trust.

DADAS TOOK IT AS THEIR ENTITLEMENT

BUT IT IS JUST THEIR HYPOCRISY

Regardless, our esteemed top Dadas viewed that oath as their entitlement to running the organisation. And not only that, they thought that they should then take similar oaths from the margiis. And that is the very tradition that they started.

After 1990, thinking of themselves as the great ones, those top Dadas began calling all the margiis to their various dogmatic programs like Mahaprayan, and requested those arrivees to take an oath. Such is the grand hypocrisy that has been going on since 1990. See the irony of it all.

Those top Dadas have ruined Baba scriptures, broken the organisation into pieces, created dogmatic tiirthas, pilfered so much money, expelled so many innocent margiis, destroyed the BP system, and countless harm they have done to our Marga, yet they see themselves as being fit to insist that others be true to Baba’s teachings. As if they are the golden watch-bearers to ensure that everything is proper.

For your review, here is the oath which our revered Dadas have been taking from other general acaryas and margiis since 1990. They do this oath of ‘dedication’ or ‘rededication’ at their dogmatic Mahaprayan ceremonies and at other gatherings. The audio version of the oath has been put on the AM-GLOBAL blog:

http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/

So go to the blog and listen for yourself what they are doing, and for your convenience here below is the transcription of that very oath.

“We, say on oath, in the name of Parama Brahma and Marga Gurudeva, that we shall observe uncompromising strictness and faith regarding the sanctity of Ista, Adarsha, Supreme Command and Conduct Rules. We shall actively endeavour to promote, individual and collective well-being, to perform all sorts of actions as desired by Revered Marga Guru. We shall not allow the unity of Ananda Margiis to be jeopardised for any reason. We shall maintain the unity, even at the risk of our life. We shall not, under any circumstances, allow individual interest to stand in the way of collective interest. We shall protect, in all respects and all costs, the dignity of Margiya treasures: The sublime ideology, universal love, and unshakable unity, and the sanctity of our flag, our symbols, and the pratikrti [photo] of Marga Guru.” (Oath taken at dogmatic Mahaprayan programs)

Again there is nothing wrong with the above oath per se. Just it is painfully amusing that the ones administering this oath have utterly destroyed our Marga. They have made a mockery out of unity, they have tossed AM ideology in the dustbin, they have gone against Ista in countless ways, they have stepped on and torn up our flag, and they have time and again put their own selfish and individual interests ahead of the common good– ahead of collective interest.

Thus it is an absolute mockery for them to be administering this oath to well-intentioned margiis and acaryas. And again, the only reason Baba was asking them in 1990, ‘Can I count on you, can I trust you’ was because He was indirectly saying, ‘You are not trustworthy’. That is what He was telling those top Dadas.

Please excuse me as I know how this sounds. However, do not take my word for it, take a look at what has occurred in our organisation since 1990. All because of the lust, deceit, and selfishness of certain people whose names need not be mentioned here. You know who they are.

BABA’S WARNING

Here is Baba’s clear-cut warning that if the people responsible for implementing an ideology are not up to the mark, then there will be hell to pay– the society will suffer.

Baba says, “Even if there is no defect in the philosophy but the person who takes the responsibility of implementing the philosophy is full of defects, then that high philosophy will remain confined to books only. The society will rush headlong to the depths of degradation, and no one will remain to save it. The people’s copious tears will drench their clothes, and they will die, banging their heads against the closed doors of human liberation. For them there will be no escape.” (NSS, Disc 14)

Because our revered top Dadas could not implement AM ideology in their own lives, our organisation has paid the price and indeed the greater society has suffered needlessly at the hands of so many exploiters– because our Marga could not come forward and save them.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace those true to Him have taken the internal vow to establish His ideology on this dusty earth. Such persons will always be strict in following His teachings. Whereas those who merely brag, that Baba asked them, ‘Can I count on you’, we now know their status. By His grace, a new era of ideology is coming in our Marga.

Baba says, “Where the question of benevolence and malevolence is concerned we will not deviate an inch from our ideology, nor will we allow others to do so.” (NSS, Disc: 14)

Namaskar,
Mahendra

Note: ONE MORE ANALOGY

If anybody is having difficult and still could not understand the essence of this posting then this analogy may help.

Let’s say a husband and wife were at the airport as the husband was about to go away on a business trip. When saying good-bye, just before he was to board the plane, if the concerned husband says to his wife, ‘Please promise that you will be true to me’, who is going to think that their marriage is based on trust and fidelity.

Rather, one gets the distinct idea that the husband knows well that his wife has loose behaviour, or that she has been untrue in the past, or that she has interest in someone else. It gives the distinct feeling that ‘You (i.e. the wife) are not trustworthy’. And it is for this reason, with this doubt and uncertainty in mind, that he is requesting her to promise to be faithful. All because the wife has a distinct tendency to be unfaithful. Otherwise what was the need for the wife to take such an oath when there is a deep & trusting commitment between the two parties, between the husband and wife.

In other words if trust each other and if husband says like that there will be huge disappointment. She will cry out and be angry why he is accusing me, rather than be happy.
PRABHAT SAMGIITA
“Maner ma’jhe kon se ka’je a’cho balo na’…” (P.S. #2033)

Purport:

Baba, You are hiding deep in the recesses of my mind. What You are actually doing there I cannot say. Just You are sitting in the depths of my mind– listening to all my thoughts. Baba You are everywhere: omnipresent. Nothing can remain hidden from You. Baba, it is impossible to hide anything from You — what a torture this is. Your liila, Your divine play, is very vast– verily immeasurable like the infinite ocean. To understand Your divine liila, is very difficult. When I go to measure the depth of Your liila, then my whole existence is lost. Only consciousness remains floating. Mind becomes one with You. And “I feeling” is lost. Baba, if You do not want to be held, please tell me what You want. Your desire is my desire, don’t you know this very fact? Baba, You are eternally hiding in my mind and heart. Nothing remains unknown to You…

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Wealth and Sin Live Side by Side

Here is something to keep in mind when viewing those capitalists who are now ruling this earth.
Baba says, “The person who cannot cheat others cannot become a millionaire overnight. You know as I told many times the goddess of wealth is established in sin. Only the person who is a terrible sinner and knows how to cheat others as quickly as possible, only they can be come a millionaire. The goddess of wealth is the goddess of sin.” (Discourse: ‘Introduction of Various local Gods and Goddesses’, AV-11 [H] pg 7)
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Keep Skull

Posted in Asanas - Dances - Mudras, Bhakta, Death & Rebirth, Exploitation, Human Life, Life is Short, Surrender on February 14, 2012| 1 Comment »

From: “H.Deva”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Keep Skull
Date: Tue 14 Feb 2012 22:46:23

Baba

== KEEP SKULL ==

Namaskar,
When Baba would arrive at any airport then there would be a grand reception by all local margiis and workers and part and parcel of that dramatic and exciting time was dancing tandava with a skull for Baba. That was the rule. Everyone in AM is well aware about this.

In AM, the skull symbolises the constant struggle of life and the fight against death. It is one of our dharmic tools.

Thus the skull has great value in the life of any tantrika and in this short posting we will examine why it is beneficial for every Ananda Margii to keep a skull.

LIFE IS TEMPORARY (Part 1)

Our time on this earth is temporary – yet most people totally remain oblivious of this fact. They think the qualities they have, i.e. their wealth, health, beauty, and power, will last forever. That defective outlook causes so many problems.

People falsely believe that their life and property are permanent and that leads them to become arrogant and hurtful towards others. They think that with their limited power they can do what they want and that their power will never wane. By this way they torture, cheat, abuse, and rule over others – all the while thinking that their position is indestructible and lasting.

When the fact is that human life is temporary and this world is transitory. Even as Ananda Margiis however, we can forget this fact. And in that way we may forget what is most important on this earth. Perhaps we will not cheat and exploit other like materialists are prone to do, yet we may get wrapped up in transitory gains instead of yearning for the Supreme.

To think of this world as a permanent abode is common amongst human beings – this is their illusionary outlook. Yet this mindset is not helpful for our growth and development.

Here is one suggestion; If we all keep a skull in our room or on our desk, then we will be constantly reminded by the transitory nature of this world. By that way, we will always be involved in proper deeds on this earth.

LIFE IS TEMPORARY (Part 2)

Just as when people think their power is permanent then they will abuse others day and night, similarly, when people think that their qualities are temporary, then they will adopt the right psychology and values in life. Then they will think that their life should be utlised for a benevolent cause. Then there is no time to get mixed up in wrongdoing.

Baba says, ‘What is a devotee to do? “Tyaja durjana sam’sargam” – you should give up the company of durjanas. Who is a durjana? I will explain. A man whose company will deteriorate or deprave the standard of others is a durjana for those persons.” (AV-12)

According to Baba, as bhaktas we are to surround ourselves with good people, and give up the company of bad people. The shloka goes on to say that we are to always remember that this world is temporary. That is the recipe for a proper life.

LIFE IS TEMPORARY (Part 3)

When we constantly remember that this world is temporary – and having a skull visible day in and day out can help – then we are bound to set our sights on that which is permanent. In that case we will vigilantly goad our lives unto Him. Only Parama Purusa is eternal (nitya).

Baba says, “Parama’tma’ is nitya. The term nitya means that which is uninfluenced by the time factor i.e., beyond the periphery of past, present and future.” (SS-18)

So when Paramatma is the only eternal Entity then that is the stance we should attain – not any worldly status. By keeping a skull by our bedside we will always remember that this world and this body do not last forever. What to speak of forever, they do not even last long. People get only get a few years when they are in the peak of their life.

LIFE IS TEMPORARY (Part 4)

When we realise that life is indeed temporary then we will fully utilise our existence in the proper way.

The situation can be likened to visiting a new city. If you are going to be there for only one or two days then in a quick hurry you will see all the sights and learn all there is to know about that city, whereas if one lives in that city then they will feel relaxed and they will not go anywhere or see anything. They will think they have loads of time to do that later.

We should think of our time on this earth like the sightseer who is visiting a city for just 1 or 2 days. Then we will be vigilant to live life for the right ideal – and not be lackadaisical or apathetic about doing good deeds.

We will think that now is the time to act and realise Him because we will not be here much longer. Anytime death can come – there is no guarantee at all. We have no time for silly material pursuits and gratification etc.

These two postings lead us in this direction. More posting along this theme are noted below.

ALL SHOULD HAVE A SKULL

2500 years ago when a young prince first left his kingdom and saw people getting sick and dying on the street then he was forced to consider the temporary nature of life and reevaluate what he should do on this earth. It was then that his true quest began and he later became the Buddha, or Enlightened One.

Keeping a skull by our side gives that same stark reminder that our life is temporary and that we should not get caught up in relative luxuries and satisfaction. We are to spend our time striving for the Great.

For this reason every Ananda Margii – regardless of whether one was initiated yesterday or 40 years ago – should keep a skull in their possession. Having a skull should be considered indispensable.

If getting an actual skull is too difficult or illegal then margiis should access Google images and print out a picture of a skull or find a good artist and get a skull printed or painted onto a piece of paper and hang that up on their wall.

That type of ongoing reminder is absolutely necessary otherwise one is bound to forget that we have not come onto this earth for a long time – rather a very short stay.

One other benefit of having a skull is that it is good for one’s daily tandava practice.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace we have come here for a short time and must materialise great works. Keeping a skull reminds us of the fact that just as the skull was one day a breathing, walking human being, soon our head will be in that condition. One day we too will be like that skull – sooner, not later.

Our life is not long nor do we know when it will end. As sadhakas we should live in the present always thinking and doing to please Him and we should never get caught up in long-term plans – nor let the minutes pass away thinking that we will have time in the future.

Grhiitvaeva keshes’u mrtyurn’a’ Dharma’caret

Baba says, “That is, during spiritual practice one should think that the god of death has already started pulling one’s hair – that one’s death is imminent. And accordingly one should work sincerely and vigorously; one will have to do a great many noble deeds within a short period.” (SS-11)

Namaskar,
Hariish

Note 1: MORE POSTINGS ON THIS TOPIC

Human life is short and it must be well-utilised. These below letters are along this theme. We should all read and study them – and yes, keep a skull in our living room.

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/08/slowly-towards-cremation.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2008/06/noose.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/10/why-death.html

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“A’ma’r sakal dukher ma’jhe ele tumi dukhaharan’…” (PS 1421)

Purport:

O’ Baba, You are Dukhaharan’. I was surrounded by sorrows & suffering; I was in big problem; my life was unbearable. I was completely miserable. But now, by Your grace, to save me, You have come with Your gazing eyes, silent footsteps, loving smile, and sweet face. Baba, by Your divine advent You have blessed me and rescued me by wiping away all my troubles and suffering.

Baba, completely depending upon You with full surrender, in that very distressed and helpless condition, I was calling You and looking towards You. Raising both my hands in surrender I told, ‘Baba, please save me; You are my only shelter. If You will not save me then who will.’ Then at that moment You rescued me by showering Your grace.

Baba, when I look around I see that because of Your gracious presence this entire universe has become vibrated & charged. The whole sky is enveloped in Your divine effulgence and my mind and heart is drenched in Your love. Baba, holding Your lotus feet, I sing Your glory in my heart and surrender to You…

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Good Sadhaka

Baba says, “The mind of the man whose consciousness or discriminating judgement is awakened– whose power of judgment is intense, always remains wedded to the ‘Buddhi’. That is to say, his rein (mind) remains constantly under the control of the charioteer (Buddhi or discriminating intellect), and so, quite naturally, his organs remain loyal to the Buddhi. Random rambles of the organ-like horses (organs) will cut no ice with him. But in a case like this if the horses (organs) be bad and untrained, i.e. the organs are faulty, it becomes impossible for the charioteer (discriminating intellect) to get the desired result. Hence for the right functioning of the chariot (body), well-trained horses (organs) are indispensable. A sadhaka (spiritual aspirant) also should train himself likewise. His mind, body, intellect, and organs should be directed towards the Blissful Spirit (Shreya).” (SS-4, p.9)
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Baba Story: Are You Reading Ananda Marga Books?

Posted in Baba Stories, Bhakta, Sadhana, Samskara, Sixteen Points, Surrender, Svarshastra on February 13, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Date: 13 Feb 2012 22:09:48 -0000
From: “Manjit S Deva”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Baba Story: Are You Reading Ananda Marga Books?

Baba

== BABA STORY: ARE YOU READING ANANDA MARGA BOOKS? ==

Note: The following is the first-hand account of Shrii Vrajvasi Lal from Bhopal (MP) whereby he recounts his PC with Baba.

Namaskar,
By Baba’s grace I was initiated in 1963. A few years later in 1966, DMC was held in Nagpur. At the time, due to His devotional pull, I had a very strong desire to have Baba’s personal contact.

Numerous margiis had told me that Baba knows everything but I wanted to have my own first-hand experience about this. So this is what I planned to do: I decided that when Baba asks me anything I will not answer, until He asks me the question in my mother tongue. That was my plan. And I did not tell anybody about this.

By that way I will be confirmed that Baba knows my thoughts and mother tongue.

MY PC WITH BABA

As per the system, I waited in line for PC (personal contact). When my turn came, I entered Baba’s room and immediately did sastaunga pranam. After a short while, I heard Baba say in a soft voice, “Get up, get up.”

I got up and stood before Baba.

Baba asked me, “What is your name?”

I kept quiet because He spoke in English, not my mother tongue. That was my plan so I did not say anything. I just stood there.

Although I understood English, I was waiting for Baba to speak to me in my mother tongue. That is why I was not responding.

Then Baba asked me other questions – all in English. Still I did not respond. I continued to remain quiet.

Baba started smiling. Then in a very gracious and sweet way He began asking me those same questions in my mother tongue (Bundel Khandi). We talked together for a few minutes. I was so happy.

While in His presence, I was thinking, “Yes, Baba indeed knows everything. He spoke in my mother tongue which is not widely known; and, He understood my desire without my saying anything.”

BABA POINTS OUT MY DEFECTS

AND ASKS, “ARE YOU READING AM BOOKS?”

On that same occasion of PC, Baba pointed out many of my mistakes, i.e. times I failed to adhere to 16 Points.

In follow-up, Baba inquired, “Are you reading Ananda Marga books?”

I replied, “No, Baba.”

Then Baba told, “It is very important to read our Ananda Marga books and study the discourses in order to practice those points on a day-to-day basis. Otherwise you will not know about those things, in which case how will you follow them in your practical life.”

Previously, I was thinking just the opposite. I had heard from many sadhakas that devotion is everything. So I had formed a very negative opinion about jinana (knowledge) and thought that there was no need to review and study Ananda Marga books.

Because of this defective mentality, I had no idea about those conduct rules and teachings; thus Baba had to point out my mistakes.

Baba then explained, “It takes a lot of effort to bring these books in printed form. So much time and energy are invested, yet you are not reading them. That is why you do not even know the basic do’s and don’ts of life.”

At that point I realised that reading AM books is highly important and mentally I took the firm determination to study all of the Ananda Marga literature. Due to my lack of knowledge of Ananda Marga ideals and conduct, I was not aware about right and wrong, virtue and vice, as described in 16 Points. I was not following those codes properly and thus committed sin and acquired negative samsakaras.

For the requital of my sins, Baba punished me, and I accepted. I felt completely light and blissful, by His grace.

BABA: “I AM YOUR FATHER”

Baba then asked me, “Who is your father?”

I replied accordingly.

Baba told me, “That is your laokik father. I am your Father – not only for this life but up to eternity.”

Then Baba blessed me and I felt His sweet touch in every cell and pore of my existence.

Still today I cannot forget His proximity, guidance, and love. Even now when I think about this it gives me goosebumps. Since that time I became very regular in studying Baba’s books so I could best adhere to and propagate the principles of Ananda Marga.

I also realised that those things which I knew and no one else knew, Baba also knew. Indeed Baba knows everything and He loves me very much.

Note: That concludes Shrii Vrajvasi Lalji’s first-hand account of his PC with Baba.

REFLECTION

The above story recounted by Shrii Vrajvasi Lalji has three fundamental teachings:

1. The first teaching from the above story is that until one has complete faith one cannot surrender fully. It is just like if one is not sure that a plane can fly then that person is not going to put their life in danger by boarding that airplane. A person first wants confirmation or proof that the plane is safe and operable. Similarly, people do not like to put their life in Guru’s hands unless they think that Guru is very powerful.

People develop faith in various ways. Some realise that Baba is Parama Purusa in their sadhana or dreams. With their inherent devotion, their past life penance, sincere sadhana, or the causeless grace of Parama Purusa, some realise in their heart without any effort that, “Baba is myGuru and He is all-powerful.”

But not all fall in this category.

Thus other sadhakas try to test Baba in their own way in order erase their doubts, get proof of His greatness, and gain more faith. That is what Lalji did in the above story. He tested Baba to see if Baba could understand His desire and speak in his mother tongue. Seeing this, Lalji became fully convinced and could surrender to Guru.

Those who do not have full faith should test Him and Baba will surely respond. By this way they will develop full surrender. Remember this is between you and your Guru. If you have proper determination and a sincere desire then Guru must reply. That happens in 100% of the cases. By this way people develop faith and then surrender comes. This can happen in various ways.

2. The second teaching from the above story is that one must read and study AM books otherwise one may fall into dogma. If an aspirant has devotion but not that very high amount of devotion to become realised, then there is the distinct possibility of falling into dogma.

We see this unfold in regular life. Due to a lack of proper knowledge, some naive Wts and margiis think that they can remain in one group and also follow neo-humanism, as if groupism and neo-humanism can co-exist. Or due to a lack of proper knowledge they think their group is not a group. A few simple, uninformed persons come in this category.

That is why Baba has given His teachings and included svadhyaya in 16 Points. Once one is aware about the dharmic teachings of AM ideology, one will not fall into dogma, but rather fight against it.

3. The third teaching from the above story is that there must be a close and intimate relation between a devotee and Parama Purusa, otherwise one cannot go close nor become one with Him. So having a relation is critical.

Although the Guru-disciple relation is one relation;that is not what I am talking about.

Baba has outlined 4 types of relations which bring feelings of closeness: Father-son, Friend, Master-servant, and Beloved. It depends upon one’s own samskara – some prefer one and some prefer another.

But one thing is certain: A sadhaka can only have one relation at one particular moment. In life that relation may change and progress with sincere sadhana. But at one time one will only have one of the aforesaid relations. So one will select the one that is most suited to their feelings.

This third point then is that devotees must have an intimate relation with Parama Purusa in order to reach penultimate goal of spirituality. In the above story the sadhaka has a Father-son relationship with Parama Purusa. That is what Baba is reminding.

These types of bhavas (relation) are needed for having His proximity. When one is not close then an aspirant cannot express their intimate feeling with Parama Purusa. There will be distance and that is very detrimental for one’s spiritual progress. It is just like how you cannot express the deep inner feelings of your heart with a distant person. An intimate relation is needed.

Mundane relations are very temporary and cannot fulfill all the longings of the mind. That is why one’s relationship with Parama Purusa is very meaningful. For those who lack such a relation with Parama Purusa, devotion is but a theoretical concept.

About all these bhavas and their importance in devotional life, Baba has written beautifully in Namami Krsnasundaram. If you want to know more please write.

Namaskar,
Manjit

Note: BABA IS STILL PRESENT

A few people think that Baba is the subject of history and believe they lost their opportunity to communicate with Him directly or personally. They think that the opportunity to be with Baba has passed. Indeed such persons feel that the privilege is gone and Baba is no longer accessible. They think that they cannot have His proximity and can only talk about His greatness. Thinking thus they feel sad. Those who think in such a manner are completely ignorant about Baba.

Baba is Parama Purusa – His existence is beyond time. Now even in this very moment you can have His grace and serve Him. You can do anything that devotees have done in the past.

So one should not feel and say with a deep sigh that, “Those days are gone and it is now impossible to have His close proximity.” Instead you are to remember that Baba is always with you – now, in the future, always.

Devotees realise this divine truth and others do not. If you want to say something to Him then say it mentally – there is no need even for vocal chords. If you say or ask mentally, He listens. His ears are ready to listen. If you want to offer something, His hand is ready to receive. If you want to do pranam – go ahead. He will receive your pranam.

In all the ways, Baba is present with you. Because Baba is that eternal Divine Entity, Parama Purusa.

Baba says, “Brahma, the author of this vast cosmic imagination moves everywhere within the universe, His vast Macropsychic arena, with His mental feet. He catches all the objects of this universe with His all-pervasive mental hands. He is the intellect, the intuition and the witnessing faculty of the innumerable created objects and hence we can say that He has His all-pervasive mental heads. Similarly, as the witness of all the macropsychic entities, He has innumerable mental eyes; and to hear their words, spoken or secret, and every loud or soft sound, He has His all-pervasive ears. He exists surrounding all objects with His own identity. You can keep nothing secret or private from Him – He knows more about you than you know about yourself. Behind all His pervasive faculties of knowing, understanding and hearing lies His Macropsychic stance.” (Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life – 6, Microcosm and Macrocosm)

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“(Tumi) a’lo jhalmal u’s’a’y ele, a’ndha’rer ja’l chinrile…” (PS #3983)

Purport:

Baba, You have come in my heart while the blissful dawn was glittering in effulgence. By Your grace, You have wiped away the net of staticity and crude darkness from my mind. In a flash You have also removed the dogma which had accumulated since ages. Baba, You are so beautiful.

O’ my Dearmost, You know how to make such a divine magical display. By Your grace You have created a heavenly panorama – complete with the beauty and grandeur of colour, by Your divine play. Baba, in the blink of the eye, You bring lowly and depraved persons close to Your bosom, without making any differentiation or disparity about who is virtuous and who is sinful.

Baba, You are my beginning as well as my end, my Goal, my everything. Baba, my whereabouts, my name, my place, my address – everything has become one with You, by Your grace. Baba I offer You my heartfelt surrender and sastaunga pranam thousands, millions, crores, & an infinite number of times – again & again.

Baba, by Your divine grace You have come in my heart and showered me in Your supreme effulgence. You are my own; You are my everything…

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Be Careful Who You Follow

Posted in Asanas - Dances - Mudras, Capitalism, Children/Parenting, Conduct, Exploitation, Fake Guru, Fake Yoga, Groupism, Habits and Addiction, Human Life, Kaoshikii, Pseudo-culture, Sadhana, Service, Sixteen Points, Taraka Brahma on February 12, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2012 07:11:04 -0000
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: Mandal.Virendra@bharata.net…
Subject: Be Careful Who You Follow

Baba

== BE CAREFUL WHO YOU FOLLOW ==

Namaskar,
When a human being sees someone greater than themselves, then they admire that person, offer respect, and desire to become like that.

Thieves revere great criminals, players honor top athletes, students respect learned classmates, businessmen admire innovative entrepreneurs, and general aspirants respect highly devotional sadhakas.

This equation works in both directions – positive and negative.

The main point is that offering respect comes readily to all. People are eager to follow and emulate those whom they regard. There is a long history behind this as it is related with our fundamental human psychology.

Indeed no one can say that they are not involved in hero worship, in one form or another. Everyone is involved – and therein lies one’s failure or success. It is that critical a component towards a person’s development. Who you follow in life is everything.

Even then some may proudly declare that they do not adhere to any type of hero worship. So we should examine this issue at a deeper level.

Let’s see how hero worship began, how it changed through the ages, as well as what it means today – both for sadhakas and non-sadhakas.

THE EARLY HISTORY

Just as certain developed animals – like cows, horses, elephants, and birds – are gregarious in nature and live collectively in order to care for and protect themselves from predators, since the earliest times human beings have done the same.

When living in the wild, humans would group together in order to face their enemies. Following a particular leader was absolutely vital for survival: Food, safety, protection, shelter etc. People had to pay heed to the call of their chosen leader in order to carry on. Failing that, one was certain to face an early demise.

Thus the trait to follow someone became a basic component of human life. Over the centuries the style of leadership may have gone through changes, but all along people have always been quick to follow a respected person and emulate their characteristics.

This is a built-in human behavior and has a huge effect on one’s growth and development.

THE SPECIFICS OF EACH AGE

During the ksatriyan era, courage, valour and bravery were heralded as the top qualities and people naturally gravitated towards those who most personified such characteristics. In turn, those at the helm gained greater power and exploited others with their might.

When the era changed, then people valued something else.

With the rise of the vipran era, intellect and wisdom were seen as the greatest attributes and those at the helm were embodiments of those qualities. People naturally rallied around them and embraced that status in order to gain respect and be like their leader. To maintain their power, the leading vipras created all kinds of doctrines to keep themselves on top.

Over time, money became king and those at the helm were vaeshyas, i.e. capitalists. In this age people revered those with massive wealth, and overlooked all other qualities. Yet those ruling capitalists gobbled up all the land and material wealth to keep on top.

Now such vaeshyas are in power in most places. But anyone can identify the reigning era of a particular land or country by analysing who gets the most respect. Furthermore, one can assess the quality of the people by seeing who their leaders are. Crude heroes end up leading their followers into hell.

So be careful who you follow as it has a huge effect on the direction of your life.

WHO ONE SELECTS IS IMPORTANT

Who one selects to follow in life is critically important. For instance, if you follow a blind man and he falls into a well, then you too will fall into that same well. Likewise if you follow a dharmika who is moving towards Parama Purusa, then you too will come closer to the Supreme Entity. This is the way it works. Just see.

WHAT IS HAPPENING NOWADAYS

Nowadays in the capitalist era, where material gain and sex is everything and pseudo-culture is rampant, those with the most respect and glamour have huge money.

Pop stars like the late Michael Jackson, athletes like Michael Jordan, movie stars like Angelina Jolie, performers like Madonna, and certain politicians and vaeshyas have scooped up the imagination, hearts and minds of the the people. People run like mad after such stars.

If a pop star gets a certain type of haircut or tattoo, or if a movie icon wears a certain style of dress, then naturally people go chasing in that direction. That is why the big corporations recruit and pay huge money to pseudo-culture stars and icons to model their wares and products as it will boost sales into the millions and billions. In that way they lure and cheat the common people into buying their products. Because the public will do anything and everything to follow their
revered one.

People even become get emotionally attached with certain products and brands like Apple computers. Even intellectual get befooled and misguided thinking that everything that Apple does is great. Many companies have this kind of aura: Google, Nike etc. They have cultish followings.

Plus in this superficial era, even fake yoga stars in the west are gaining clout in the form of sponsorships and hero-worship etc.

According to our human psychology, people like to follow others but due to poor examples they get goaded in the wrong direction – they get herded like sheep.

By this way the general public gets drawn into all kinds of degrading activity. To get wealth, even good people will cheat and steal; to get beauty people resort to plastic surgery and skimpy clothing; to attract the opposite sex, people have literally begun to dress like prostitutes.

All because people blindly chase after the leaders of the day. And when the leaders are degenerated, the common populace will be too.

That is why it is so important to carefully choose who you follow in life.

SOME MAY WRONGLY DENY

Hearing all this, some may strongly claim that they are not prone to hero worship. They will proudly state that they follow no one and are independent thinkers. Many sophisticated and liberal people talk like this.

But truth be known, they are pawns of their chosen leader(s), unknowingly. Just walk into their house and it becomes very clear what they are and whom they revere. Everyone is a fan of someone. Everyone bows down to someone to get respect.

A millionaire prostrates himself to the billionaire; a beauty queen surrenders to some Hollywood goddess; a car enthusiast gives himself to those who own a Mercedes. Everyone in this world is fascinated by something or someone. That is the way of the world. None can claim that they are outside of this dynamic.

By this way, a person sinks or swims. Tragically, most sink as they get lulled into the crude operations and economics of the day. That is why it is critically important to carefully choose with whom you place your respect.

According to their chosen hero, common people will change their habits, tastes, likings – indeed their entire modus operendi is affected. Thus it is absolutely critical that people become aware of who they respect. A person must know who their heroes are – otherwise unknowingly they may fall into a black hole. Especially in this present era when people are fans of characterless individuals.

YOUTHS ARE MOST AFFECTED

Unfortunately, up till now, the masses have most often embraced “goats”, i.e. degraded persons, as leaders. This is especially true these days. And the ones who suffer the most are our impressionable youths. They are most prone to be misguided by crude idols. This even leads to their ruination.

As Ananda Margiis we cannot let the situation remain a standstill, where impressionable people get lulled into false hopes and degrading ways. We are to encourage such youths – and the entire society – to give respect to higher ideals like social service etc. Then things will start moving in the right direction.

Let’s then take a look at the workings in AM, that will give us ideas and inspiration for guiding the general society.

WHO SHOULD GET THE MOST RESPECT

Baba has designed Ananda Marga along a totally different concept. In AM, we do not offer our respect based on materials things, status, or other crude manners. In AM, respect is given based on one’s conduct.

Baba says, “Your ideal is represented by your conduct. Your learning, your social or economic status have nothing to do with your ideal.” (A’nanda Va’nii #13)

Baba says, “Aca’ran’a’t pa’t’hayati yah sah a’ca’ryah – One who teaches through one’s conduct is an a’ca’rya.” (AV-23)

And in AM, good conduct means adhering to dharmic principles: Godhood not crudity, selflessness not selfishness, benevolence not malevolence.

To instill this within all in AM, Baba would publicly honor those involved in doing dharmic works. With this type of healthy competition, Baba guided everyone towards righteous works. By this way we all understood that we would earn the respect and regard of others.

For instance Baba would reward the top bhukti with the title, “Jana Seva’ Sealed”. This bhukti that rendered the most social service won this award. And like that there were all kinds of healthy competitions to get our minds goaded in the right direction.

Competitions like: Sixteen Points, kaoshikii, tandava, dharma mitram (most pracar competition), conduct rules and so many other arenas. Prizes were often based on how much you followed bhagavad dharma and helped the downtrodden masses and the neglected peoples.

Baba says, “You are to purify [yourself] with the help of sa’dhana’ and jana seva’. These two factors, sa’dhana’ and jana seva’, will keep the mental mirror in proper condition, in good condition.” (AV-3)

This was all His entirely unique and revolutionary approach. And because we all followed Baba our minds, desires, and actions got goaded in this totally dharmic direction. It is His grace. By this way the whole society grows and there will not be any exploitation from one group to the next.

In the past vipras exploited ksattriyas and now vaeshyas are exploiting everyone. And in our Marga, because some have fallen away from AM ideals, there is group exploitation. Tragically, groupists revere crude power not jiivan dharma. So some are moving in this direction. But this phase will be short-lived.

By once again following His teachings and ways, prama will be restored and honor will be given to those involved in Sixteen Points etc.

Baba’s is the classic example of how by following someone great, i.e. Taraka Brahma, one will advance on the path towards liberation and salvation.

In a nutshell here is how it works in AM: Our Goal is Parama Purusa so if anyone follows those ideals that lead to Parama Purusa then they earn respect of others. Naturally then, all will move in this direction. It is His wish and hence inevitable.

HOW TO KNOW WHO GETS RESPECT

In the general society it is not like that. People are not familiar with dharma or Taraka Brahma so they get hitched up in another direction. To understand how any society is working, find out what the children want to be when they grow up. Then it will be clear who they follow and what they respect.

Tragically, today most follow a crude example. As Ananda Margiis we are to turn this negative into a positive.

When are are aware that people have a natural tendency to adore those they deem as beings great, then why not utilise this in the proper way and bring all onto the path of salvation. Let all be guided towards parama’rtha and not towards bondage or ruination.

By propagating AM ideals people will follow true sadhakas and start moving in this direction.

Everyone should be fully warned that they need to be careful about who they follow. To achieve greatness one should follow a proper sadhaka, or even better yet, follow Ista. To fall into a mud puddle of crudity, then follow any pseudo-culture icon.

That is why everyone should be extremely careful about who they follow.

BABA’S BLESSING

Baba has blessed us with the ability understand that we are infinite and that we have the capacity to become one with Paramatma. But that can only happen if we are critically aware about whom we follow in life.

If society is misguided then even good people will be diverted to do negative things. – what to say what will happen to bad people.

As humans, ours is the journey from darkness to enlightenment. By following the true Ista and His ideals, heaven will come on this earth.

Baba says, “United you will have to remain, this is your duty. So that the people of the world may remain united, it is your duty to bring the mahavishva as soon as possible. There will be peace and happiness in the universe, and, established in one indivisible ideology, humanity will march ahead toward the Supreme Goal. Victory be with you!” (Disc MHB)

Namaskar,
Virendra

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“A’ma’y keno bha’laba’sile…” (P.S. 2283)

Puport:

Baba, You are so loving and so gracious – why do You love me so much. I do not have any quality, nor do I have any knowledge or learning. What then did You see in me that made You shower Your grace on me. You have saturated my heart with a strong feeling of devotion for You. You have bestowed upon me an intellect to serve the society. Knowing that I am shelterless, You have granted me everything. You have given me all that was needed. It is Your causeless grace. Baba, You brought me on this earth by providing me with a human body. And You filled my mind with devotion. And top of all, You infused a strong longing of paramartha for You. Even then, such is my miserable condition that I always remain forgetful about You and Your grace. Baba, why do You love me so much…

***************************************
Definition of “Real Discipline”

Baba says, “And what is discipline? The Sam’skrta term for ‘discipline’ is ‘anusha’sanam’. And what is anusha’sanam?

Hita’rthe sha’sanam ityarthe anusha’sanam

When the code of discipline is imposed with the spirit of welfare, with the spirit of development, it is called `anusha’sanam’ in Sam’skrta. There is no corresponding English word.” (AV-3 p.30)
***************************************

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Baba Story: Wrong & Negative Comparison

Posted in Baba Stories, Leadership in AM on February 10, 2012| Leave a Comment »

To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Baba Story: Wrong & Negative Comparison
Date: Fri 10 Feb 2012 19:57:25 +0530 (IST)
From: Madhusudan Deva

Baba

== BABA STORY: WRONG AND NEGATIVE COMPARISON ==

Note: The following is a first-hand account by Shrii Ramadhar ji, an important margii from Bihar.

Namaskar,
I had gone to Puri (Orissa) to attend a religious Hindu pilgrimage. While there I stayed at the Ramakrishna Mission ashram. I immediately noticed how neat and clean the ashram was – including the kitchen and dining areas. All the plates and utensils were absolutely spotless. I was very impressed by the cleanliness and how organised it was. I was praising them about their excellent hygiene; and whomever I came across I told how the Ramakrishna Mission keeps a very clean ashram.

MY EXPERIENCE IN TILJALA

Some months later (1989-90), I went to Tiljala for my designated duties and to attend some programs. Certainly, over the years, I had been to Tiljala many, many times, and on this occasion I was really bothered by how dirty it was. When I went to eat in the kitchen, all the plates and the utensils were sticky and oily. This was very unappealing to me and I immediately recalled how everything was pristine and proper at the Ramakrishna Mission ashram in Puri.

While moving around Tiljala that day I told a few people about how beautiful the accommodations were at the Ramakrishna ashram and that their kitchen was spotless. Yet here in Tiljala all the eating utensils and plates were grimy, greasy, and sticky. In this manner I spoke with some around the Tiljala compound.

IN BABA’S PRESENCE

Later that same day I had the opportunity to see Baba. Immediately upon entering and being called in front of Him, I noticed that He seemed quite displeased – I did not know why.

Baba looked at me and said, “You know those monks in the Ramakrishna mission use chewing tobacco (khaeni), plus they eat fish. Not only that, Vivekananda smoked and still today some smoke tobacco. They have many dirty habits. So you see, externally they may appear to be very clean, but internally they are not. Now see my sannyasis. They do fasting 4 times per month and do not eat any tamasik food. Their standard of code and conduct is far higher; there is no comparison. Dharma is measured by the conduct, not by superficial matters.”

Baba then recited one shloka, “Acaranat dharma”. [1]

REPENTANCE

Hearing Baba’s words I immediately realised my mistake. I understood why He was displeased and why He is telling me this now.

Mentally, I begged forgiveness and vowed to never praise the cleanliness of the Ramakrishna Mission ashram ever again. I understood the shallowness of my assessment and gained a deeper appreciation for our way of life in Ananda Marga. This positive feeling has remained with me ever since, by His grace.

Namaskar,
Ramadhar

REFLECTION

The above story recounted by Shrii Ramadhar contains many valuable teachings and some very pratical guidelines as well. One of which is to be keenly aware about comparing our Marga with other service organisations.

Some margiis, in the recent past, have unfortunately equated non-margiis as being sadvipras. And then of course there is Dada Maheshvarananda who has held communist and Marxist leaders like Chavez as being a sadvipra. Still others in our Marga think that Ana Hazare is better than Ananda Margiis. Not only that, they think Hazare is a great Proutist and sadvipra. Yet another margii expressed that we should become great like Swami Ramdevji. These are the types of comments that are circling around. When I hear such things I am appalled and again reflect on Baba’s above teachings: The speciality of our Marga is our ideal and conduct, not any type of social status or mundane wealth etc. We should not fall prey to the fleeting fame and glamour of others and forget our ideal.

Unfortunately, some in AM just complain about the poor monetary standard of our Ananda Marga jagrtis, units, and schools, as well as the situation of our Wts. And they compare our projects less favourably with Christian institutions whose buildings are grand and fancy. But this is not a healthy outlook or approach. Rather we should adopt a distinctly positive and assertive stance.

PROPER APPROACH

For instance if a person sees the poor situation of one of our schools and jagrtis, and if in the course of addressing the problem they discuss some of the negative points with the aim of trying to improve the overall situation, then that is most welcome. That is a very positive, pro-active approach; i.e. constructive criticism.

That would be similar to a mother complaining to the doctor about her baby’s poor health in order to cure her child and fix the problem. The mother’s complaining to the doctor is not just done out of frustration, exasperation, or for the sake of complaining without any intent to resolve the situation. Rahter she is complaing out of love for the welfare of her baby.

Let us take another example: If someone criticises that sick human babe and in comparision praises a healthy pig saying it is better than the human babe, then the mother will not appreicate it. I think we all understand this analogy.

IMPROPER APPROACH

To complain about something just for criticism’s sake with no practical intent to fix the problem is a very bad approach. If somone talks about the deficienicies of our AM projects with this atttitude, that is not at all appreciated. Why? Because there is no interest to make things better. It is similar to how the police complain to the courts about a person in question. The policeman’s aim is to punish not rectify or purify.

Such a negative approach is especially bad with related with AM activities.

UNIQUENESS OF ANANDA MARGA

Why? Because our Ananda Marga has so many positive attributions in comparison to the dealings of other organisations and movements. Thus when something in the mundane sphere, like the cleanliness of the kitchen utensils, is not up to the mark then we cannot outrightly reject everything and label it as being low and useless, because we have so many other plus points that are not found elsewhere.

For example, our schools may not have palatial buildings with air-conditioning. We may even be holding classes underneath a tree. But when our schools are bastions of neo-humanism, then that is far better than a school with a great, big building that is filled with dogmatic preachings and teachings.

Likewise, our wts may have certain shortcomings but they are far superior to monks of other organisations who are paid a salary and indulge in all kinds of degrading and dogmatic behaviours. Other monks may have a good name and gain social recognition but that is not the basis upon which we should calculate who is great and who is not. Rather one must see the qualities of the human being: Whose life more strictly adheres to dharma, i.e. sixteen points.

STORY:

WHEN BABA VISITED ONE VILLAGE

I remember when Baba arrived in Chotijamin village in Bhagalpur. He sat in a small grass hut with a thatched roof that served as our AM jagrti, and He was praising how it was so beautiful to hold dharmacakra in our own jagrti. It was a very blissful occasion and He blessed everybody that day.

By this we can understand that Baba does not place any value on the size of the building or any other superficial quality, rather He appreciates the ideal and conduct.

FINAL REFLECTION

In the story recounted in the main portion of this email, Ramadharji was thinking about the lowly standard of AM jagrtis and how dirty they are; and he was furthermore aiming to criticise without offering any substantial avenues for fixing the situation. This was not his proper approach nor good intention, just criticism. That is why Baba was displeased with him and corrected his mind-set.

Ultimately, this type of defective mind-set should not be encouraged. AM ideology and our AMPS organisation are ours. Whatever shortcomings exist, we should try to fix and collectively address those matters in order to improve the situation, and not just indulge in criticism for criticism’s sake.

Those who are good margiis will set their sight on fixing the situation. That is constructive criticism which is very positive as in their heart of hearts they are working to make things better.

Namaskar,
Madhusudan

[1] MORE ABOUT THE SHLOKA: ACARANAT DHARMAH:

In the above story Baba recites one shloka and here below is more about its meaning.

Baba says, “Ácárańát dharmah, that is, “Dharma is the assemblage of all your conduct” – the way you eat, the way you speak, the way you perform sádhaná. If your conduct is good, dharma is with you; if your conduct is not good, dharma is not with you.” (Subhasita Samgraha-21, Niiti and Dharma)

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

Intro to PS: The below song is a chorus song where devotees reach to Baba to do pranam…

“Esechi sakale a’mara’ dale dale pran’ati ja’na’te nite a’shiirva’d…” (PS #4942)

Purport:

Baba, we all have come to You to do sastaunga pranam and receive Your blessing. We do not want any wealth, prestige, or any boon. Only we want Your prasad. That is nectar for us; that will be everything.

Even before our asking, You have given us everything ahead of time. With my hand extended, I went on receiving all those things that You gave. And whatever my hand came in contact with, I felt those things turn into gold (sentient).

Baba, everything is saturated with Your divine grace. And You have made my whole existence move in the direction of shreya and paramartha.

Baba, You know me better than I know myself. Baba, we have come here collectively in front of You to surrender, to do sastaunga pranam…

****************************************
How Sadguru is Still Present

Baba says, “The entity by whose grace one comes into contact with Sat…that entity, or rather, that framework through which Parama Purusa is working or Ta’raka Brahma is functioning, is the Sadguru.” (AV-3, p. 48)

Note 1: And here below Baba defines the meaning of ‘Sat’.

Baba says, “Sat, the non-changeable Entity, the non-changeable stance, the non-changeable Nuclear Entity around which so many electrons move”. (AV-3, p. 48)

Note 2: That Sadguru still exists and one can see Him through our various spiritual practices. In that way one can have His loving communication and grace– everything. So the form upon which each and every sadhaka ideates upon Him in sadhana, that form is the Sadguru. And through the medium of that form every disciple gets His blessing. And that is why still today when an acarya initiates anyone they say that your Guru is Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji.
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Example of Pig

Posted in Groupism, Leadership in AM, Unity on February 9, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Date: 09 Feb 2012 21:48:26 -0000
From: “Sudhakar Deva”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Example of Pig

Baba

== EXAMPLE OF PIG ==

Namaskar,
In countless discourses Baba stresses the importance of working collectively and remaining united. All margiis know that Baba emphasizes how this is the way great things can be accomplished.

Alone, one may be able to solve small individual problems, but doing great works on a grand scale is far beyond one’s individual capacity. A strong collective effort is needed. That demands a methodical, organised approach and leadership. For this reason, the entire Mahabharata was planned.

Human beings have the intellectual capacity to proceed in this collective manner. And certainly Baba guides us to work unitedly and collectively.

His discourses on samgacchadhavam and so many related topics stress this point of collective movement. In addition, in 1990, Baba Himself took oaths from so many workers and margiis who pledged to Baba that they would work in a coordinated and cooperative manner with unity. Baba obviously sees this as a critical matter.

ONE SPECIAL DARSHAN IN DIIGHA’

In one general darshan on 09 Feb 1989 in Diigha’, Baba makes a unique distinction.

In Bangla, Baba explains how pigs do not have the requisite intellect to work unitedly. When they move, they all run in separate directions. They just wander around on their own. They do not have the capacity to move together. They do not make a leader and follow in an organised way. Pigs never do like this. Instead they all run their own way. That is what happens when any farmer lets a bunch of pigs out of their barn.

Baba then goes on to say that human beings have the required intellect to work collectively in an organised fashion. That is part of being human. Baba then says that those in human framework who fail to work cooperatively and instead engage in acts that go against the collective movement are like pigs. Such people are like pigs, or even worse – i.e. even lower than that. That is the comparison that Baba makes in that unique discourse on 09 Feb 1989 in Diigha.

Baba further emphasizes that humans should never move like pigs, hither and thither.

Tragically, those involved in group oriented feuds, clannish battles, and factional struggles are by definition not working in a collective manner.

NOW IT IS FOR YOU TO DECIDE

Now it is for you the reader decide who is who. We have to take a hard look at those involved in groupist activities and those fighting for their group interest instead of universal well-being. We have to see if they are the cause for why things in AMPS are going against Baba’s directive of unity and working together.

In samgacchadhvam, in His Ananda Vaniis, in Caryacarya, and in the 1990 oaths – as well as so many other occasions, Baba has highlighted that we must work together. That is ideal human activity.

By the various actions of groupists, we all have to evaluate if such persons are following human behavior or something else which Baba has described above.

You the reader must contemplate this on your own.

SANE PEOPLE CAN RECTIFY THEMSELVES

Some reading this may think that, “Oh my, I am involved in groupist and separatist activities and therefore I am a _ _ _, or worse.”

However, it is never too late to change one’s approach and embark on great endeavours.

So those who are sane will realise their mistakes, mend their ways and engage in collective works for the welfare of humanity from this very day forward.

None should think they are permanently tied up in the ways of factionalism. All have the capacity to change and do something which is beyond the narrow boundary of self and group interest. They can do for universal well-being.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace, most margiis and field workers are deeply interested in working collectively for the upliftment of humanity. That is our human dharma. And by Baba’s grace it will not be long before our Marga society is a perfect reflection of samgacchadhvam spirit.

Baba says, “You will have to carry the collectivity with you, because the collectivity is yours. The collectivity is not outside you – your future is inseparably connected with the collective fortune. You must take the entire collectivity with you and move towards the sweetest radiance of the new crimson dawn, beyond the veil of the darkest night.” (PNS-8)

Namaskar,
Sudhakar

Note: HERE ARE SOME POSTINGS ABOUT UNITY

The first posting below is related with the sound file of the oath Baba was taking from various margiis and acaryas about working collectively.

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2008/07/you-are-not-trustworthy.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2008/04/dont-dividekeep-unified.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/06/whatever-they-call-it-it-is-ignorance.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/11/baba-is-on-my-side.html

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“Marmaviin’a’y eki sur a’chi ba’je diva’nishi mor virahii hiya’r ma’jhe…” (P.S. 480)

Purport:

Baba, day and night, only one tune is resonating in the viina of my melancholic heart. O’ my dearmost Baba please come. In the deep core of my mind only one tune is swinging: O’ Baba, You are not far away, You are not far, You are so close, You are with me.

Baba, when I see You in my karmayajina*, then I see You are remaining there also. Baba, You are with me in all the works. O’ Baba, please come, O’ Baba please come.

With the full longing of my heart, in whichever direction I look, there is nothing else that I can see except for Your divine form. O’ my Lord of Formlessness, with the resonance of the ever-new song, dance, & form, please allow Yourself to be held in my heart.

O’ Baba, please come, O’ Baba please come…

*Karmayajina= The work done with cosmic ideation is known as karmayajina; that alone is proper action. Thus karmayajina is any action or service done with the sole motive to please Parama Purus’a. In contrast those things done devoid of cosmic feeling, such selfish activities are called kriya’– and that leads to bondage. So only those works done with spiritual ideation come within the scope of karmayajina.

***************************************************
Motherly Status

Baba says, “We must pay due honour to women as mothers and help them to live long lives.” (SC-20)

Note: Baba teaches us in His great ideology how He has given a very special status to females– motherly status. But in European countries at present the large majority of females do not like to accept this motherly status because of pseudo-culture. In that sense, the situation is totally unlike other countries where motherly status is quite warmly embraced by the female population.

We all know that Baba used to give marriage blessings in three languages: English, Bengali, and Hindi. And when speaking in Hindi or Bengal, then in His marriage blessing Baba would say, ‘O mother take this mala and keep this with you, this is your personal property’.

But when doing the same blessing in the English language then instead of addressing the bride as ‘mother’, Baba would use the term, ‘little girl’.

Why Baba did not address them as mother? Because our females of English speaking communities would not have liked to be addressed as mother. That is why Baba did not use that term.

In other parts of the globe, those adherents of AM ideology are in a totally different situation. They enjoy having motherly status.
***************************************************

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ANIMALS RIGHTS & ANIMAL PETS

Posted in Animal Rights, Cardinal Values / NH, Exploitation on February 8, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Date: Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:07:39 -0000
To: AM-GLOBAL
From: J. Erikkson
Subject: ANIMALS RIGHTS & ANIMAL PETS

Baba

== ANIMALS RIGHTS & ANIMAL PETS ==

Namaskar,
Right now on this planet we see so much suffering– it is pervasive
throughout the globe and not limited to human beings. Animals also undergo
terrible suffering, unnecessarily. We can say that cruelty to animals is
rampant and, tragically, often openly accepted.

This mistreatment and undue harm to animals occurs everywhere: From Hong
Kong to Buenos Aires and from New York to Cape Town. That is well known.
But it also has to be admitted that the mistreatment of animals is much
more prevalent in the west, i.e. in those lands guided by the Semitic
religions.

As our Marga aims to eradicate the suffering of all beings, we should
clearly identify and carefully analyse the root cause behind such animal
suffering. By that way we can quickly bring about a healthy, universalistic
order that ensures the welfare of not only humans, but also plants and
animals.

PHILOSOPHY IS THE CAUSE

Wherever people live and whatever land they call their home, the common
inhabitants become coloured by the philosophy of that place. This happens
to just about everyone. And as we shall see this is the root cause of the
mistreatment of animals in our western nations.

Baba says, “In this universe there are people whose thoughts, character and
behaviour are similar…Characteristics inherent in a particular group get
mixed with the internal thoughts and ideas of other groups within a
society. This leads to the development of national characteristics. In this
way an entire national psychology – its external behaviour, its social
outlook, and its philosophy of life – is developed.” (AFPS-6)

So each and every country has a particular way of living: A certain
mentality that projects a common mode of behaviour. This Baba terms as
prana dharma. And this shared outlook, or prana dharma, touches the very
core of the people of that land, region, or country.

ANIMAL (MIS)TREATMENT IN THE WEST:

HOW IT WORKS WITH THE SEMITIC RELIGIONS ETC

So in the west, where the guiding philosophy or prana dharma is highly
affected by the Semitic religions– Christian thought, Judaic beliefs, and
Muslim customs where animal cruelty is at its unnatural height & unholy peak.
Because the prevailing concept of all the these aforementioned religions is
that all the creatures exist on this planet solely for the exclusive
pleasure of human beings. In the name of their “God”, they think like this.

So according to these dogmatic religions, animals are for human enjoyment
only, and animals have no rights of their own. This is the crusty, age-old
Semitic way of thinking.

And indeed this defective approach has affected the preaching of so many
western thinkers from St Thomas Aquinas to Descartes to Kant, and various
others in between and after. None of these so-called great philosophers
recognise the rights of animals– not in the least.

In turn, the common people living in those nations get deluged by an
onslaught of religious and intellectual thought that teaches them: “Animals
are made for us”; “Animals are to be used for our human enjoyment”. This is
their selfish outlook. So, with this defective mentality sitting in the
forefront of their mental plate, the people use and abuse animals,
senselessly.

This crude and defective approach has done untold harm in the past, as well
as led to the rise of horrific factory farms in this present era– factory
farms that systematically and heartlessly bind & torture animals to keep up
with the ongoing demand of meats, poultry, mutton, and fish for human
consumption. This has been well-documented and anyone can view photos on
the web of the scandalous and cold-blooded treatment of the animals in such
factory farms. Even then that is not all.

Side by side, in those same western countries hunting laws are instituted
to ensure that there is ‘enough game’ so that humans can satisfy their
fancy and legally go out and shoot defenseless animals. And there are
numerous other examples and inhumane displays of animal mistreatment in the
western world that is fed and supported by the faulty Semitic views toward
animals.

All because, in the west, the common people have been flooded with the
religious propaganda that animals are merely a means to an end– and that
‘end’ is human enjoyment. This crude mentality has shaped and molded the
minds of the people.

Verily, this is the mentality of the common populace including the kids.
That is why children– without even thinking– may pull the legs off of
various insects, or pour gasoline on beehives and burn them, or senselessly
kill squirrels, rodents, and even cats etc.

And the root cause behind it all is that selfish and dogmatic belief that
all these animals have been placed on this earth solely for the crude
pleasure & enjoyment of humans. So “we can do what we want to those
animals– they are made for us”. This is what their religious dogma preaches.

Whereas our neohumanism beautifully states that all beings are the divine
expression of Parama Purusa and we humans are to act as guardians and
ensure the right and proper treatment of all– because all beings,
including animals, have their God-given rights and existential value. All
have the right to a healthy and happy life.

DON’T GET BEFOOLED BY THE ‘PET’ PSYCHOLOGY OF THE WEST

Those new to the western world or visiting for the first time may naively
think that animals have a high place in western society. Because in places
like the US, dog owners spare no expense for their pets. There are animal
hospitals which primarily treat dogs, plus there are doggie saloons, doggie
spas, dog groomers, doggie retreats, doggie vacations, doggie massages, and
even doggie yoga classes where pet owners bring their dogs to class and do
asanas with their cherished pets. So there are thousands of ways to pamper
your pet– and it all costs a pretty penny, i.e. lots of money.

Seeing all this one may think that dogs and all animals are revered and
given high-status in the west. But that is just a bunch of nonsense. The
prevailing ‘pet’ psychology in the west all falls in their selfish &
hypocritical perspective– that is all.

Those pet owners derive selfish pleasure from their doggie pets and praise
themselves for the grand way in which they care for their dogs, yet every
night their dinner plate is filled with the remnants of slaughtered animals
that suffered in misery before being sentenced to some painful and
deceitful death. And those same pet owners sport leather shoes & mink coats
that only further testify to the fact that they feel they can do anything
and everything with animals– because those “animals are made for us”. So
says their Christian doctrine and so says their conscience. And their
selfish & hypocritical behaviour perfectly reflects this very idea.
It should also be included that those very same pet owners have started
innumerable capitalist ventures that exploit animals to the bone in order
to maximize profits.

Hence, by seeing the conditions of ‘pets’, no one should hastily conclude
that those in the US people are very kind and sweet to animals. It is not
at all like that.

ECO-GROUPS & ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUPS HAVE THEIR AGENDA

Some might then say, ‘Well what about all those animal rights groups and
eco-groups in the US– doesn’t that show that they care for animal welfare’.
And the quick and pointed reply is that many of those conservation groups
still subscribe to eating meat etc, and with regards to the eco-oriented
animals rights organisations, they also have their limited agendas such as
wanting to secure their home on this earth and for that they got involved
in environmental problems caused by a meat-based diet. Thereby those people
can continue to live on the planet and enjoy, whether it be rock-n-roll
music or other pseudo-culture trends. So theirs is not a wholly benevolent
or conscious approach. Rather it is inherently tainted with some other
motive– whether they realise it or not.

And for those who few who may be internally sincere in their desire to help
animals, unfortunately they are not spiritually awakened enough to
understand that those animals are expressions of Parama Purusa and that we
are to serve Him by helping those animals.

So none of those groups are on par with AM and in 99% of the cases they
have a side-by agenda in mind. Yet they are all our brothers and sisters
and it is our bounden to guide them as best we can. And to guide them
properly, neither should we be in awe of their work nor should we despise
them as people. Rather ours should be a balanced approach where we
recognise their shortcomings so that we may best help them to advance.

Here the main idea is that the overall perspective of such advocacy
organisations is not one of seva. So although such groups may seemingly be
doing good work– they are not “one” with our Marga. Because only our
neo-humanistic philosophy imbibes the belief that all are the expression of
Parama Purusa we have come to this world to serve others– including plants
and animals– and watch for their welfare.

No eco or animal rights group has this God-centered, neo-humanistic ideal
in mind.

SHORT RECAP

So in the nutshell that is the picture of animal mistreatment in the west
and it is all fueled by the selfish, dogmatic outlook of the Semitic
religions which states, “Animals are made for us”.

THE SITUATION OF ANIMALS IN INDIA

The situation with regards to the treatment of animals in India is
comparatively better. No doubt there are some pitfalls, but at the same
time it has to be recognised that those early rishis of 15,000 years ago
preached the spiritual ideal that are all the expressions of Parama Purusa.
And this pure premise has filtered down to the Indian masses for generation
after generation.

Baba says, “The thoughts and ideals of India are quite different from the
other countries in the East. Since ancient times, India has been adhering
to her distinct pra’n’a dharma. Regarding life and the world, the Indian
people are certainly spiritually inclined. They look upon each and every
thought and deed as part of their spiritual practice.” (AFPS-6)

And it is with this prana dharma firmly in mind that so many proper
practices have been implemented in life such as a purely sattvik diet as
well as a long standing belief that animals have a right to live on this
earth. They have this inherent right.

And when things went overboard and the Aryans came from outside and started
doing huge animals sacrifices and turning the rivers into pools of blood,
then great souls like Buddha and Mahaviira Jain echoed the words of those
rishis of old and came forward and opposed those cruel sacrifices.

Here the point is not that our Marga should emulate the Indian standard. We
have our neo-humanistic standard to follow and using that as a guideline it
has to be recognised that the moral and ethical treatment in India is far
higher than in those Semitic oriented countries like the US that are
dominated by the crude belief that “animals are made for us– for human
enjoyment.”

This wasteland of an idea was never present in the Indian mentality. And
one great proof of this is that one of the names of Lord Shiva is
‘Pashupati’– i.e. that Shiva is not just the God of humans but of animals
also. It is not just that Shiva taught sadhana to animalistic humans– that
is not the only reason why He is called Pashupati; also He cared very
sweetly for animals and, being the Mahasambhuti, He preached this ideal as
well.

And since long in India it has been known that through the law of karma,
humans evolved out of animal life, which helps one recognise the value of
animal life. This is commonly understood within the Indian philosophical
tradition.

Here the point is not to glorify the Indian outlook. It has its defects and
has been certainly by infiltrated by the Aryans, Muslims, Britishers, and
Christians etc.

But at the same time we should recognise that those early Himalayan rishis
who preached Samgacchadhvam, the yoga ideal, and other great teachings were
also well aware that humans are to watch for the welfare of animals. And
this message filtered down to the masses.

And still today, the common people in India will readily say, ‘What right
do I have to hurt those animals, they are the expression of God’. How far
they follow this cent per cent in their life may vary– but this idea is
commonly in the mind. And that is a heck of a step higher than the typical
American mentality, where one thinks, “Animals are made for us– for my
enjoyment”.

So comparatively speaking, India’s treatment and regard for animals is
higher than the west has ever known.

CONTEMPORARY TRENDS

But in this ever-changing world, it is quite apparent that now the
unfortunate turn of events is going on where India has begun rushing
headlong after crude western ways. More and more they are slipping into the
capitalistic trap whereby animals are nothing but a means to an end. On
the plus side, however, more and more westerners are trying to leave
materialism and are harbouring a strong desire to fashion their life after
age-old eastern truths. This switchover is going on.

However, the tables have not turned yet– not completely anyway.
So comparatively speaking India’s view towards animals more closely
resembles the gold-bar standard of AM neo-humanism.

AM IS FAR ABOVE

In AM, our vision and perspective towards animals is pure and unblemished.
Baba has given all the ideal teachings and has pointed out the prevailing
dogmas.

Baba says, “Hindus worship cows as something holy, apparently because they
give us milk. But if cows are revered as mothers for giving us milk,
shouldn’t buffaloes be given a similar status? Actually, buffaloes give
more milk than cows. Unfortunately, the blind religious followers refuse to
listed to logic as their religious sentiment for cows has taken root deep
in their minds. People are fed these ideas since childhood, so later on it
becomes impossible for them to discard them.” (AFPS-2)

So our ideal is neither western, nor eastern– neither American, nor
Indian. Our ideal is the neo-humanistic vision which Baba has given. That
alone can save the fate of animals on this earth.

ONLY SOLUTION: NEO-HUMANISM

With Baba’s grand teaching of neo-humanism, then surely the future of
animals is bright and animal cruelty will be reduced, nay eradicated.

Baba says, “All molecules, atoms, electrons, protons, positrons and
neutrons are the veritable expressions of the same Supreme Consciousness.
Those who remember this reality, who keep this realization ever alive in
their hearts, are said to have attained perfection in life. They are the
real devotees, the real bhaktas. When the underlying spirit of humanism is
extended to everything, animate and inanimate, in this universe – I have
designated this as Neohumanism. This Neohumanism will elevate humanism to
universalism, the cult of love for all created beings of this universe.”
(NH-LOI, Disc: 1)

So in Baba’s divine teachings of neo-humanism, we are to immerse our mind
in His cosmic flow and realise the interconnectedness of all– that all are
but expressions of Him. Fueled by the fire of this neo-humanistic ideal,
then naturally one will act as a benevolent guardian– serving one and all
and watching for everyone’s welfare, be they human, animal, plant, brick,
or stone.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace we will personify His teachings and spread the message of
animal welfare to all– thereby eliminating, once and for all, the crude
Semitic belief that “Animals are made for us– for human selfish enjoyment”.

Baba says, “The human race must attain glory by giving due recognition and
justice to all.” (HS-1)

Namaskar,
Jayanta

Note 1: THE EFFECT OF THE MONKEY GOD

The religions have a big effect on the mentality of the people. And in the
traditional Indian outlook, various animals like Hanuman are highly
regarded as being deities or mounts to the attainment of Brahmahood. And
the obvious plus point of such religious beliefs is that they have helped
infuse a certain respect towards the animal kingdom among the followers of
that faith. Because the people thereby truly believed that animals are not
just lowly creatures for human consumption, but rather expressions of
divinity etc. Whereas in the crude Semitic faiths, this type of high regard
for animals never takes expression, rather it is totally absent.

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“Nijer katha’ balate gele yug ye cale ya’y…” (P.S. 2610)

Purport:

Baba, my whole life is getting wasted in propagating my own greatness.
Since ages I have been involved in this foolish endeavour. Baba, please
fill my mind with Your divine tales. By listening them my whole heart, nay
my whole being, will be satiated. In order to listen to Your divine gospel,
I have remained awake since many lives– since ages. Baba, please grace me
with that very smile because by getting a flash of that my life will become
successful.
Baba today You have graced me and changed my heart; I will no longer
waste my time in self-glorification and bragging about my unit ‘I’, little
ego. Because now my mind is running constantly towards You. Baba, I wasted
my life in self-propaganda. Now by Your grace only I want to listen to Your
glory, Your sweet gospel…

***************************************
Cooking Tips

Baba says, “If the vegetables get a little burnt and [you think] that ‘Oh,
people can’t eat this.’ [Then] Quick- pour a lot of water onto them, and
add fifteen or twenty betel leaves. That will reduce the burnt effect.”
(NKS, ’97 Edn, p. 105)
***************************************

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Ananda Marga Ideological Forum

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Archive for February, 2012

Very Good Way to Learn

Sitting on Baba’s Lap Means Died?

Sitting on Baba’s Lap Means Died?

To Become A-Grade Bhakta

“Baba Forgot One Thing”

Dog Analogy is Right One….

Baba’s Guideline on how to Control Sex

Mahaprayan (Death) of Sis Gayatttrii Devi

To Those Who Came From Semitic Religions

To Improve Sadhana

Why Not Baba’s Book

Power of AM Sadhana: My Own Experience

They Were Trustless

Keep Skull

Baba Story: Are You Reading Ananda Marga Books?

Be Careful Who You Follow

Baba Story: Wrong & Negative Comparison

Example of Pig

ANIMALS RIGHTS & ANIMAL PETS

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