As You Grow Older, You Gain Many Things

Baba

This entire email is composed of 3 parts:

(1) Posting: As You Grow Older, You Gain Many Things;
(2) Trailer Quote: Divine Guideline in Dhyana Process;
(3) Prabhat Samgiita #838;

Each section is demarcated by asterisks (***).

== AS YOU GROW OLDER, YOU GAIN MANY THINGS ==

Namaskar,
Those who are born will one day die, yet in that process of aging, people gain many positive attributions and useful qualities.

Typically speaking, people are very scared of growing old. But one need not be scared or worried. Old age is not just wrought with diminishing abilities and deteriorating faculties etc. Rather, as one gradually ages, they continue to grow and develop – their outlook becomes more mature based on their accumulated life experiences.

So those who think that people become decrepit and useless in old age are naive; such persons are victims of the shallow thinking of materialism.

DROWNED IN THE WAVE OF MATERIALISM

One of the key reasons for addressing this topic – i.e. value of old age – is because so many are living the lie of materialism. In materialism, superficial beauty is everything. With this message being sounded throughout the commercial avenues, the common people have succumbed to this outlook. Knowingly or unknowingly, common citizens want to look young and verily older adults are trying to compete with teenagers in this regard. This has led young adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults to get cosmetic / plastic surgery. They change their shape and form, and use so many cosmetic products to shine their face, paint their nails, and pretty themselves. They are sunk in the notion that their superficial beauty defines whom they are. In that way, they overlook their inherent psychic strengths and life experiences and waste their money and time in cosmetic beauty. Alas, they become depressed realising they will never be 18 again. This is the sad state of affairs wherever materialism has come into play.

Shockingly, this same debased outlook has spilled over into our Ananda Marga as some of our very own wholetimer Dadas and Didis have made the mad dash towards cosmetic charm. Instead of honing their practice and engagement in Sixteen Points, some of our Wts are involved in dyeing their hair, colouring themselves, and participating in all kinds of beauty parlor treatments. Baba clearly guides us to shape the mind in a spiritual manner, yet certain wholetimers are plunged in materialistic beauty pursuits. These workers are supposed to be the guiding light of humanity yet see how they have become trolls of materialism. This gives a sense of the outrageous allurement of materialism and superficial beauty – even our monks and nuns got affected. For more about this WT beauty competition read the letter (link) appended at the bottom of this email.

Even then, many, many Wts remain unscathed by the blows of materialism and are committed to the spiritual ideal. So we should not think that our entire Wt cadre is involved in this way. Rather we should not underestimate the force of materialism that it even had the power to swallow whole a few of our Wts. In that case, how will general members of society withstand the sparkle fo materialism.

That is why it is our clear-cut duty to rise above keeping the mind fixed on Him and be an example to others – otherwise how will they ever be able to esacpe the rough seas of materialism.

THE PRESENT DICHOTOMY

Traditionally in the west and wherever materialism reigns, old-age is looked upon as something bad; whereas in the various eastern traditions, old-age is seen as something venerable.

Even then, the distinction is not so clear-cut. Often we see a stark dichotomy.

For instance, in the western nations, in many fields, the experience that comes with being a senior person is highly valued. Supreme court justices, university presidents, top lawyers, chief engineers, detectives, etc, in all these fields, age and the accompanying life experience are embraced as great qualities and characteristics. In those arenas, the wisdom, experience, decision-making, and contemplative abilities of seasoned veterans and aged professionals are respected.

For the most part, it is primarily the pseudo-culture film and beauty industries that place such a tremendous emphasis on skin, youthfulness, and superficial beauty. In those enterprises, experience and mental capabilities are not valued.

So this is the dichotomy that exists in many places: Some arenas of life value old-age and others not.

In Ananda Marga, we agree with and support the idea that those who have lived into their senior years and old-age have much to offer society. Their values, manner of thinking, and life experiences bring forth a wealth of knowledge and insight. That is why Baba has directed that the senior persons should oversee collective functions and play a leading role in various aspects of our social life.

THE VALUE OF EXPERIENCE

Here we can say that one of the main benefits of having lived on this earth for a longer period is experience. Experience is that great teacher. People learn from their own life interactions as well as from the stories and tales of those around them. This builds a mature and valuable outlook.

In addition, although in old age the body may have started its path of moderate degeneration or worse, one’s brain and thinking capacity can remain extremely sharp and pointed far into the later years. So in those arenas where success depends more upon the psychic realm, then aged persons are better equipped for the job.

That is why we see Supreme Court justices, parliament speakers, heads of state, professional counselors, economic advisors, ministers and so many others taking on huge responsibilities in their later years – and they are respected and honoured for their work and contributions.

DOGMATIC RELIGIONS ALSO FOLLOW THIS MODEL:

VALUE OF EXPERIENCE

The same holds in the field of religion. Catholics always choose an elderly, senior person as their pope. They never choose a dashing, handsome young man; always they select someone in their later years – whose body is weak – but whose brain has accumulated much experience and insight.

And not just Catholicism, but in all the religions and in our Marga also, we place great emphasis and value upon the contributions and guidelines of older people. Because due to their diverse experiences, their mental outlook has become more mature.

So in a word, we can say that experience is one key characteristic that accompanies aging. Such experience is invaluable.

PSYCHOLOGY CHANGES:

SEE WORLD AS TEMPORARY

A second distinct quality that arises within aged people is a more spiritual outlook. That does not mean that all older people are more spiritual than younger ones. Rather, within the context of one’s own life, their spiritual outlook often heightens with age.

As one ages, they realise that this life is transient and that they will not live forever. They see their friends pass, money come and go, and so many changes. By this way, their feeling that this world is impermanent multiplies as they age. Naturally that brings forth a more spiritual vision because the only option left is to seek out that which is permanent.

In their youth, most could not conceive of the idea that they will one day die; they did not consider their own mortality. Rather as youths, one took great risks and did daredevil things, thinking that they are indestructible etc.

But as one ages the psychology changes and people are forced to think about the ephemeral nature of this created world. Everything is temporary. One is forced to more deeply consider what is beyond their own unit existence. So that is another benefit of aging.

And this sort of psycho-spiritual approach is heightened when one is suffering from a grave disease. Then, they are faced with the prospect of their own death in a more direct manner. This leads them to consider and / or strengthen their connection with the divine world.

BENEFITS OF AGING

Nobody looks forward to growing old, and often people think that aging just means futility. But in Ananda Marga – and in various communities where one’s mental prowess is respected – then one’s advanced age brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. By this way, they are in proper position to guide others as well as adopt a holistic spiritual outlook.

IMPORTANCE OF ELDERLY IN ANANDA MARGA

In our Ananda Marga, great importance and tremendous respect is given to senior persons based on their life experiences and long-term endeavour. Here are a few of the many ways in which this occurs:

“In absence of the ácárya the ceremonies can be conducted by the senior man present. The presence of the ácárya is desirable since he enjoys considerable esteem. Ácárya is also more conversant. He combines esteem with efficiency.” (1)

“Plant the tree while mentally reciting guru mantra. Then while pouring some water on the tree, everyone will recite the following with the ácárya/á or a senior person leading.” (2)

“All the social festivities are parts of Brahma sádhaná. It is meaningless to wait in expectation of the ácárya. For this reason alone, it has been laid down that an elderly man can conduct the function in absence of the ácárya. The potentialities of vested interest persist if things are reserved in the hands of a particular group.” (3)

Here following are further important teachings from Sadguru Baba.

#1: LET PEOPLE LIVE FOR A HUNDRED YEARS OR MORE

“Many people are under the wrong impression that perhaps the people in ancient times lived long lives. In my opinion this idea is not very correct. Had it been so, then why is it maintained in the shloka, “you should aspire to live a hundred years”. It is not true that many people lived a hundred years. Then only the lifespan of a hundred years was considered to be something covetable. In fact the people would not lived very long years. Life in those days was full of struggles. A gorilla in a wild environment lives about 22 years. If it is brought to a zoo and provided with good food and if it is kept free from any worries and anxieties then the gorilla may live about 28-29 years. Life in a zoo is comparatively safe – free from worries of wild life. Life in ancient days was not in the least carefree. It was full of struggles and dangers. There were struggles amongst human beings, between human beings and animals, and between animals. So human life was rather short-lived. Now the average longevity of human being is on the increase. People of those days would bless the juniors – “Shata sharadaḿ jiiva” – Live a hundred autumns. That shows that the lifespan of a hundred years was not usually the longevity of an average person. “Shata sharadaḿ jiiva,” “Shatáyurbhava” [“Live a hundred years”].”

“Let people live for a hundred years or more and engage themselves in noble deeds.”

Nányathe tehasti na karma lipyate nare.

“If a person wishes to live a hundred years for the promotion of human welfare his life will really be a meaningful existence. Such a person will never fall into the bondages of reaction, because all of his actions are intended for public welfare.”

“Thus if people continue to perform deeds for public welfare then they will be able to avert the bondages of action. They will not be required to be reborn in a world to reap the consequences of their actions. Good deeds produce good reactions and bad deeds produce bad reactions. To reap the good reaction and bad reaction they will not be required to come to this world, if they perform deeds with the sole intention of public welfare and not any other intention. Then they can avoid being trapped into bondages of actions. Then the welfare of others brought about by his deeds will be considered a reward for his deeds. This is the life of a real person – a righteous person. This is the reason for which human beings have come to this world.” (4)

#2: AS LONG AS I EXIST I WILL LIVE A GLORIOUS LIFE

“There is a common notion that people in ancient times lived longer than the people of today; but this is incorrect. Rather due to scientific progress and advances in medical science, as well as spiritual progress in Tantra Yoga, modern humans are living longer lives than the ancients. People in the olden days hardly lived longer than forty-five years; but today people live much longer. To live a life of one hundred years was a rare accomplishment in those days. And thus the sage said, “Human beings may pray to God for a long life of one hundred years – in order to perform noble deeds” (otherwise why should they drag on their existences unnecessarily?). In the present-day world, there are a few people who have passed the age of one hundred, but not very many…”

“But although the human beings of today may live even longer than that, mere survival is not enough; what is important is to live a dignified life. The excellence of human life lies in action; it is through action that human beings survive. They should aspire to live long while performing noble deeds; it is futile to live just like an earthworm. Indeed, each and every human being should vow, “I do not know how long I will survive; but as long as I exist I will live a glorious life, not an ignominious existence like that of an earthworm.””

“Human beings have to earn their livelihood and perform their assigned duties. The degree of physical labour they have to perform depends on the economic condition of their land. The citizens of those countries which are socio-economically developed have to perform less physical labour; instead their intellectual labour has increased. This is the natural law. The human beings who lived one hundred years ago used to perform much more manual labour than do those of today. Those who washed clothes used to stand in knee-deep water. This type of life for years on end markedly reduced their longevity, and thus washermen and women did not live longer than forty to forty-five years; their excessive physical labour would shatter their health. Due to their lack of knowledge of hygiene and absence of spiritual practice, their life-spans were shortened.”

“Spiritual practice makes the mind calm and quiet, and maintains the nerves in a state of equipoise; and thus spiritual practice increases longevity. Those Vaishnavites who are vegetarians, who regularly sing spiritual songs, do meditation, perform virtuous deeds and think pure thoughts, live longer than ninety years.”

“Now, one may say that some people like Vivekananda did not live long; but the cause of their early death was excessive labour. Extreme physical labour definitely reduces one’s longevity. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu lived [less than fifty] years; he could perhaps have lived longer, but due to excessive labour, he could not survive. He undertook long tours throughout India on foot. Shankaracharya did not live long, either, because he also toured India on foot; he walked from Cape Comorin to the Himalayas. This extreme physical labour told upon his health; otherwise he could perhaps have lived longer.”

“I want you all to live long – but you must live glorious lives, not like those of earthworms. Your lives should be bustling with activity.”

“Human beings always yearn for the destruction of the evil forces, for the removal of darkness and the flooding of effulgent light. Let your dynamic forward movement make your lives ever joyful – see that you never lag behind, or slump down dejected. No human being wants this. Rather let your slogan always be, Caraeveti, caraeveti [“Move on, move on”]. Let the chant of your forward movement be ever on your lips.” (5)

#3: WORK EVEN WHILE DYING

“Why do you want to live for a hundred years? To do more and more work. You want to live long because you hope to do more and more work in this life – being goaded by this desire, you wish to live a long life. So in the psychic sphere one must always remember that one has a mission in life, and just to materialize that life, for proper practication of that mission, one is to remain in this world; otherwise one must not remain here, one should retire from life as early as possible.”

“Once I said, “It is good to die working, but still better to work even while dying.” So one should always bear in mind, “I am alive in this world for the fulfilment of my mission. This is the reason I am eating, dressing, sleeping. Apart from this, I have no worth.” And if one ever lives a life without a mission, then in that case, no endeavour in the psychic sphere will bring success. If you do not want to work, if you do not want to serve the world, you will become a burden on the world. It would be better to leave the world than to live as a burden on it. Human life should be enriched with intense activity….”

“Why do you undertake a mission? Átmamokśarthaḿ jagaddhitáya ca [“For Self-realization and for the welfare of the universe”]. You certainly undertake it in order to promote the welfare of the world. Along with this you have to take up another mission, and that is to bring about your own spiritual salvation. If one does not try for one’s own salvation, if one does not do spiritual practice, one can never serve society. It will be totally impossible. When you take a vow to work for your mission, just remembering that vow will not make it possible for you to win salvation, though through that vow you can serve the world.” (6)

#4: ONLY HERE FOR A VERY SHORT SPAN

“Human life, you know, is a measured one. Human beings come here for a very short span. If during this short span one tries to go through all the scriptures it will take more than one thousand years? And one is only here for approximately one hundred years. So, going along the path of jinána is a mere waste of existence. And karma is infinite and the human structure is a finite one, with limited stamina and limited capacity. So the path of bhakti is not only harmless, but the wisest one and is the approach of the most blessed people. So my advice to you all is to move along the path of bhakti. It is the best route.” (7)

#5: DEATH IS IMMINENT – WORK SINCERELY & VIGOROUSLY

Grhiitvaeva kesheśu mrtyurńá Dharmácaret

“That is, during dharma’caran, i.e. dharmic pursuits [following yama and niyama, service, svadhyaya etc] 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.” (8)

STORY:

“ONLY COBBLERS IN YOUR ASSEMBLY”

MUST SEE DEEPER VALUE NOT JUST SUPERFICIAL IMAGE

Looking to Ashtavakra’s deformed body, the guards of King Janaka were amused.

Ashtavakra retorted, “Do not judge a person by his appearance and age, judge him by what he knows. Inform your king that there is a person ready to challenge the great minister Bandhi.”

The king came and was surprised to see a small deformed boy. He asked a few questions and was greatly impressed by his knowledge. King Janak soon arranged for the debate with Bandhi.

The Pundits and philosophers, all burst into laughter on seeing the queer form of “Ashtavakra”.

The boy (Ashtavakra) too reciprocated with a burst of laughter but in a loud way. Everybody got enraged.

King Janaka asked the boy “Why you are laughing young man?.

To this “Ashta vakra” said, “Oh King! I thought you called Vidwans and Pundits to assemble here but I find only “cobblers” in your assembly. ”

They roared, “How dare you call us ‘cobblers”.

Then the boy Ashtavakra calmly replied, “You all laughed at the twisted form of my body which is akin to leather. Only those who work with leather is conversant and they evaluate leather. Hence, there is nothing wrong in my calling you all as ‘cobblers”.

Janaka saw reason in the argument of the boy. Everybody who assembled there hung their head in shame.

Hence we should never criticise any based on their outer form.

To everyone’s surprise Ashtavakara defeated Bandhi in no time and secured his father and others.

This is the message as i already showed in my answer: ””Do not judge a person by his appearance and age, judge him by what he knows”” (9)

Namaskar,
In Him,
Paramatman

References:
1. Tattvika Diipika, part 5
2. Caryacarya – 1, Tree-Planting Ceremony
3. Tattvika Diipika, part 5
4. Ananda Marga Karma Yoga, “Kurvanneveha Karmmáńi”
5. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 33, You Must Live Glorious Lives
6. Subhasita Samgraha – 24 Incantation and Human Progress
7. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 6, Bhakti Is the Best
8. Subhasita Samgraha, part 11
9. http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120524205446AATo24s

Note 1: LINK TO LETTER ABOUT WT BEAUTY COMPETITION

http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2013/04/wt-beauty-competition-dyeing-hair.html

The section below demarcated by asterisks is an entirely different topic,
completely unrelated to the above material. It stands on its own as a point of interest.

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Divine Guideline in Dhyana Process

“In the fourth phase the relationship is just like a piece of paper; the unit consciousness of the spiritual aspirant is one side of the paper and the Cosmic Consciousness of Parama Purus’a is the other side of the paper; they are inseparable, one cannot be removed from the other. By His effulgence the unit existence, the existential faculty of the aspirant gets lighted, gets illumined. With His illumination the aspirant is to move forward and enjoy the Supreme Beatitude and the Supreme Composure.” (Subhasita Samgraha -18, p. 13)

Note: Here above Baba is indirectly guiding about the last part of the practice of dhyana– which every sincere sadhaka practices regularly.
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************ Prabhat Samgiita

“A’mi a’ro keno kichu bhuli na’, shudhu bhule tha’ki tava na’m…” (P.S. #838)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, it is so unfortunate and painful, that I always forget Your divine name. I cannot remember it constantly, because worldly things always come in my mind. And those mundane things I always remember, only I forget Your name. Baba, please grace me. I want to remember Your name all the time – within each and every breath and respiration – but alas I forget.

O’ Divine Entity, although I don’t chant Your name and remember You, even then I can see that You love me. Baba, by Your grace I always feel Your love, especially when I look towards You. You are very charming and gracious. You are the most magnificent One. When, by Your grace, the stars shower from Your heavenly effulgent bosom, then the effulgence from those particles fills my heart with divine ecstasy.

O’ Parama Purusa Baba, You are the most compassionate One. The divine love which You have poured in my heart always vibrates my being and brings me to the divine world. Baba, by Your grace, today I do sastaunga pranam to You again and again with that tune and melody which You have resonated in my heart & mind.

Baba, please shower Your causeless grace on me so that I always chant Your divine name…

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Re: Widespread Nepotism & Theft in WT Cadre #5

Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2013 23:54:16 -0000
Subject: Re: Widespread Nepotism & Theft in WT Cadre
From:
To: AM-GLOBAL

Baba

== RE: WIDESPREAD NEPOTISM & THEFT IN WT CADRE ==

~ PART 5 ~

(Note: This is the 5th letter in this series; links to the prior 4 letters have been appended below. – Eds)

Namaskar,
Here are some reflections on this topic. First however let us remind ourselves of Baba’s mandate for wholetime workers:

“No relationship should exist with worldly family.” (32 Rules for Avadhutas / Avadhutikas, point #9)

“It is quite evident that Didi Ananda Giita is in the wrong by [keeping relations with and financially supporting her laokik father] and going against the code of discipline. Didiji is not adhering to her Wt dharma. That is bad enough, but the worst part is that if others follow her lead, then what will be left of our WT cadre. It will be in shambles. Every conduct rule will be violated.”

So two things are inherently wrong here. Respected Didi Ananda Giita is contravening Baba’s rules, mandates, and conduct rules by emotionally and financially supporting her laokik family. Baba has declared that no Wt should be in contact with the worldly family – not for any reason. So Didiji is clearly in violation of this rule. In addition, by her poor example, others are also breaking these same rules. Didiji is turning her own weakness and wrongful dealing into a systemic problem amongst our Wt cadre. This is the extreme gravity of the situation.

Even then, the problem does not stop there.

JUST HYPOCRISY:

THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION

When margiis point out – now or in the past – to Ananda Giita: “Why are you so attached with your laokik father. This is having a very harmful, domino effect on the organisation.”

Then always Didi Ananda Giita has her set reply: “I am not involved in all this – some other Didis are caring for my father – what can I do.”

In this way, she always tries to deflect the spotlight away from herself.

I ASK YOU THE READER

Now, however, I ask you the reader, do you think junior didis would have cared for him if he was not the laokik father of a very powerful group leader didi? There are countless people in his situation with poor health or even worse, yet those junior didis selected and cared for Bhalla ji, not anyone else. So I ask again, do you think junior didis or subordinates of Ananda Giita would have cared for him if he was not the laokik father of a very powerful group leader didi?

SONIA GANDHI EXAMPLE:

UNABASHED NEPOTISM

As you may know, there is very high security arrangement at the airports nowadays. Everybody is frisked and checked thoroughly. In Delhi (India), there are around 30 people who are allowed to bypass the check. On this list are the names of Priyanka Gandhi and Robert Wadher. Yet the names of so many very higher officials are not on this list. What is the reason that Priyanka Gandhi and Robert Wadher are allowed to pass through freely? The only reason is that Priyanka and Robert are the daughter and son-in-law of the powerful Sonia Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi states her wish, and then her staff and related agencies carry out the order.

So this is just nepotism. The kith and kin of those in power gain special privileges. That is the way it works. When Gadaffi was alive and leading Libya, then he granted huge “perks” to his close family members. That is the way nepotism works. Those at the helm give unparalleled benefits and access to those whom they favour. Such recipients are not post-holders or in-charges, just they have personal relations with the leader. And for that reason they are gifted countless boons.

ANANDA GIITA DOING THE SAME

Didi Ananda Giita falls in this same category. She is granting special rights and privileges to her laokik father, just because she is partial to him. She favours him.

It is quite evident that whatever arrangement has been done for Giita Didi’s father, it is all done with the clear instruction of Ananda Giita Didi. The workers and didis of her group would not dare to neglect her instruction; rather to score more “points” and secure a special place in the politics of the organisation, they would take it more seriously to please this “most senior” didi.

Didi Ananda Giita knows in her heart that what she is doing is wrong, but she is trying to hide her hypocrisy. She is attached with her laokik father and wants him nearby her – always. Otherwise, why did she never oppose those didis who were helping her laokik father? Why didn’t Ananda Giita tell those junior workers that this is against the avadhutika conduct rules.

If in response to this letter, Didi Ananda Giita or any of her agents try to defend her dealing or minimise it, then I will have no option but to write many more inner details about this entire affair.

THE NEED TO WRITE

I write this with the interests of our respected Ananda Giita Didi, our WWD and our Ananda Marga at heart. By solving such problems she and her team can best grow spiritually – and in all the ways. For this reason I have raised this matter. And ultimately I wish to see Ananda Giita Didi and her supporters grow in a beautiful manner.

Namaskar,
at lotus feet
Nirmala Devii

Note 1: THE FOCUS IS ON DIDI ANANDA GIITA

With respect to this entire issue of Didi keeping relations with her laokik father, the spotlight is on Didi Ananda Giita. She is the one who is a “senior” Wt and responsible for following certain rules. And she is the one who compromised with and broke her Wt oaths.

Even a layman can understand that Ananda Giita Didi provided or arranged care for her laokik father, and even involved personally in those affairs. She was doing everything – directly or indirectly – by instructing junior Didis about her laokik father’s food, medicine, housing, and comfort etc, or involving personally.

Even an ordinary person can evaluate the situation and understand very clearly that Didi Ananda Giita was very deeply involved in the affiars of her laokik father – all of which is against Baba’s order.

“No relation should exist with worldly family.” (32 Rules for Avadhutikas, pt #9)

Certainly I agree that care must be taken for all elderly people, but not at the expense of one’s acarya vows.

A “senior” wt worker is supposed to be a leader, an emblem of ideology, and an example to all junior workers. Becoming WT means leaving the small unit family (laokik) for the big universal family. In Ananda Marga a wt is supposed to follow the rules where it is clearly mentioned that one should not have connection with their laokik family. Even someone is not following this rule, we certainly expect “senior” Wts to follow the rule. We must raise awareness and ultimately oppose, if need be, to all who break this rule, without giving preference to those with whom we have good relation.

Note 2: LINK TO PAST LETTERS ON THIS TOPIC

#1: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/09/widespread-nepotism-theft-in-wt-cadre.html

#2: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/09/re-widespread-nepotism-theft-in-wt.html

#3: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/12/re-widespread-nepotism-theft-in-wt.html

#4: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/12/re-widespread-nepotism-theft-in-wt-cadre.html

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Cuckoo Utilises Its Enemy

Baba says, “It is said that there is a particular species of the cuckoo bird that is incapable of nesting and raising its own offspring. So to protect and save her babies, the mother cukoo gently places her own eggs in the crow’s nest, even though the crow is her dreaded enemy. But since the eggs of both the birds looks the same, the crow carefully cares for those cuckoo eggs which were placed in her nest– thinking them to be her own. At the time of birth, the newborn birds of both species are black; so seeing the baby cuckoos, the mother crow does not initially realise that the baby cuckoos are not her own offspring. It is only when the baby birds become a little bigger and start to call out and cry, that the crow realises those are not her babies. Then and there the mother crow becomes very angry, suddenly understanding that it has gotten duped. But because of having given long-term care and developed sincere love for the baby cuckoo, the mother crow gives up the idea of attacking and killing the cuckoo. And instead the mother crow raises the baby cuckoo as one of her own.” (Shabda Cayanika – 10)

1. Just like the cuckoo utilises even its worst enemy, then we too should use our enemies in an intelligent way. Baba utilised communist enemies to propagate Ananda Marga ideals. If such communists had not created such a negative agenda and if such communists had not spread so much bad news about Ananda Marga, then the general populace would not have become so attracted to read about Ananda Marga. People are not enticed by good news, but certainly they want to know about the dark aspects and controversial topics. By this way Ananda Marga grew a lot. If the communists had not created so much opposition, Ananda Marga would not have become so popular in such a short period.

2. The crow adopted the cuckoo as its own because it had spent so much time nurturing that baby cuckoo. Here the point is that through interaction all kinds of beings can become close to one another. Baba has given collective social functions for this very purpose. By spending time with one another, people of diverse backgrounds forget their differences and embrace each other as their own.
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You Are Bound?

Date: 23 Oct 2012 21:48:59 -0000
From: “Divyacaksu”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: You Are Bound?

Baba
== YOU ARE BOUND? ==

Namaskar,
In this created universe, everyone wants mukti: Liberation. Nobody wants to remain in bondage, even animals want liberation.

The proof is that if you put an animal in a cage, they will try to open the cage and escape. They do not want to remain in bondage. When that is the case with animals, it is even more so the case with humans. With a more developed intellect and reflective consciousness, certainly no human being wants to remain in bondage.

HUMANS ARE BOUND IN THREE SPHERES

Yet human beings are bound in three spheres of life: Physical, psychic, and spiritual. To eliminate the bondages in the physical realm, humans have invented so many structures and machines to shield them from the trials, tribulations, and hardships, and make life easy and facile on the physical plane. And everyday more and more new discoveries are made, bringing more comfort and ease.

Even then, no matter how much humans advance in the physical stratum, the physical bondages will never be eliminated completely. So long as one has a physical body, they will be held in physical bondage.

Similarly, in the psychic realm also, humans try to overcome all kinds of bondages. But just when one problem is solved, then ten more problems emerge. From fears to anxieties, from despair to temptation, it is not possible to eliminate all problems and bondages in the psychic realm. New problems are constantly manifesting.

For example, nobody wants to grow old, yet it happens to everyone. There is no escape. Verily there are so many things in life that are beyond one’s control. That is what is meant by bondage. People are also bound by their own reactive momenta (samskaras) and they must face the consequences. Without the complete exhaustion of one’s samskaras, liberation is not possible.

MOST DO NOT THINK THEY ARE BOUND

Interestingly, most do not realise that they are in bondage; they think they are free. Yet, they are completely bound by so many limitations and inabilities. But they think they are free, just as a frog in a well does not think it is bound by any bondage. Only when humans develop a little bit in the psycho-spiritual realm, do they come to understand how they are inextricably bound. And at that point one can start to extricate oneself from bondage, by His grace. Without the understanding that one is in bondage, there is absolutely no hope or possibility of becoming free. Just one wallows in the ignorance of that bondage, falsely dreaming that they are free. Such is the liila of Parama Purusa.

MUST PURSUE SPIRITUAL LIFE

Only in the spiritual realm can all obstacles be eliminated, by His grace. Through sadhana the aspirant can achieve oneness with Parama Purusa; then all bondages will be eliminated.

The culminating idea is that the concept of liberation is not some utopian dreamland. It is a practical and attainable end.

Again, both animals and humans want liberation. But animals remain in bondage; and, humans are unsure of how to proceed – thereby leading to more and more bondage. In that way, their whole life passes in vain.

Those who want a real solution to this problem should learn and practice sadhana and get liberation. To remove all bondages, one must get initiated, do sadhana sincerely, and attain mukti (liberation) / moksa (salvation), by His grace. This is the birthright of all humans. Without that, one will never find mental peace – always there will be tension.

MAYA: THE BINDING FORCE

Remember, those who are bound cannot do what they want. And maya itself is that binding force. Humans have to live according to those limitations and bondages imposed by maya. Everyone has to follow those rules, whether they like it or not. Everyone wishes to be healthy, but invariably sickness comes. This is a bondage. Nobody wants to die but invariably they have to leave this earth. Why? Because they are bound by maya. Regardless of their liking they have to go because they are bound.

So no matter how much you like or are attached to your worldly possessions and relations like property and family, one day you too will have to leave here and go. You have to give up your post, power, status, relations, even your physical body etc, and undergo death – and leave this earth. Death itself is one critical bondage. You may want to stay here forever, but one day you must leave. That is the bondage imposed by maya.

YOU MUST REALISE YOU ARE IN BONDAGE

THEN ONE CAN ADVANCE ON THE PATH TO LIBERATION

Until one realises that they are in bondage, how can they break this shackle and attain liberation. A bondage cannot be removed until one understands that they are bound. Only then can one truly embark on the spiritual path. By Guru’s grace alone can one become truly free. Sadhana and surrendering to the sweet will of the Supreme is the only way to become free.

Baba says, “O human beings, you are fortunate. The clarion call of the Universal Entity has reached you. Not only has the call come, but you are hearing it and it is vibrating in every cell of your body. Will you now lie in the corner of your house as an inert being and waste your time by clinging to old skeletons and bemoaning them? The Supreme Being is calling you in the roar of the ocean, in the thunder of the clouds, in the speed of lightning, in the meteor’s flaming fires. Nothing good will come from idleness. Get up and awake the clouded chivalry of your dormant youth. It may be that the path is not strewn with flowers and that inferiority complex will be attempting to hold fast your each advancing step, but even then you have to proceed onwards tearing the shroud of darkness. You will tear the thick darkness of despair as you advance in the racing chariot radiant with the Sun’s brilliance towards the attainment of the Supreme state.” (Subhasita Samgraha – 1, The Call of the Supreme)

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

Namaskar,
Divyacaksu

PRAVBHAT SAMGIITA

“Ke boleche kat’hor tumi, phuler matai komal go, a’mi bhulo bujechi…” (1810)

Purport:

Baba, You are so sweet and beautiful – who is telling that You are harsh and tough. Only those who are ignorant blame You when they face their samskara. They foolishly claim that You are tough and that You make them cry. But they do not understand that everyone has to face their samskaras for their own growth and development. By facing their samskaras and obstacles, their path of progress will be open and free.

Baba, in the true sense, You are soft like the lotus – very loving and sweet inside. You have graciously blessed me to realise this truth. In the past, I too was thinking in a different way; I was also thinking You were harsh. That was my blindness.

Baba, if I see Your external facade from the outside, then it looks like You are hard; but that is not Your true Self. By Your grace, I understand that behind that external harshness there is so much softness inside – hidden within. This situation is like the coconut fruit. Baba, however You may be presenting Yourself externally, but internally You are the most loving, gracious, & charming Entity.

Baba You are my everything…

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Thought of the Day of One Elderly Margii

From: “Ramlal Sharma”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Thought of the Day of One Elderly Margii
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2011 08:00:23

Baba

== THOUGHT OF THE DAY OF ONE ELDERLY MARGII ==

Namaskar,
Is it really true that when people become aged, they lose their common sense? By the looks of one email from an elderly margii, it certainly seems so.

Till today, I had great regard for our seniors. After all, Baba has given the direction that if any acarya is not present to lead a certain function, then an aged or senior margii can take charge.

So I had great respect for my elders – and was looking forward to becoming more senior myself – but now I am scared.

By reading SS Goenka Dada’s recent “Thought of the Day” email, I am thinking differently. It has become more clear to me that when a person ages, one may lose their common sense entirely.

SS Goenka is now aged and it seems that he has no idea what to share with margiis.

Please see his email below and decide for yourself.

As Ananda Margiis, we are interested to read Baba stories and other spiritually uplifting and inspiring ideas, but in his letter SS Goenka is sharing the exact opposite: Dull and ignorant quotes which I have appended below for your own review.

BABA’S GOLD BAR STANDARD

First we should get a taste of the sterling example of our Ananda Marga. The quotes we share with other margiis should be up to this gold-bar standard.

Baba says, “O human beings, build the social structure considering the needs of humanity. Do not try to do anything for your petty personal and group interests, because whatever little you want to do with your limited outlook cannot last. The cruel touch of time will annihilate your aspirations into an oblivion that you cannot comprehend…Through action mixed with devotion and knowledge you will find the meaning of your life, the supreme treasure of your heart. This treasure you have unknowingly kept carefully hidden in the golden casket of your heart.” (Subhasita Samgraha – Part 1, The Evolution of Society, 1 January 1955 DMC)

Namaskar,
Ramlal

Note: WHAT SS GOENKA DADA SHARED PUBLICLY

Here below please see the highlighted quotes which SS Goenka shared in his most recent “Thought of the Day” email. Goenka’s quotes are in purple and our comment is in black.

On 09/24/2011 07:19 AM, Sgoenka wrote:

We’re fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.

– Japanese Proverb

When people are drunk they talk like this. You might have heard someone say something like this after drinking lots of liquor. Or you might have heard those in a lunatic asylum talk like this.

It is childish and ignorant to talk of duality and non-duality; the enlightened ones laugh at all this. However, without such a discussion based on duality and non-duality, it is not possible to clean one’s consciousness of ignorance.

– Yoga Vasishta

This is useless extravaganza – just a waste of time.

I am not the real hero. Anna Hazaare is the real hero.

-Amir Khan, the most popular matinee idol of Bollywood.

The above is proof of his mental bankruptcy. As we know, our hero is Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji.

Those days in Jamalpur, Baba gave a demonstration of the Mahabharata era and He narrated the heroic actions of Arjuna and the Pandavas and He told about the great devotee Sudama as well.

Then Baba asked all those present, “Who is your ideal? To whom do you want to follow”?

Some said “Sudama” and others responded “Arjuna.”

However both of these answers were incorrect. Only Parama Purusa can be your ideal – to ideate on any human being is to invite one’s degeneration. One’s ideal must be perfect.

Baba says, “Now whom should you take to be your ideal? Neither of the two – neither Sudámá nor Arjuna. You do know that neither of the two is perfect – so how to take anything imperfect as the ideal of life? Your ideal has to be perfect – so your ideal is to be the Lord and the Lord alone. No one else should be your ideal.” (Ananda Vacanamrtam – 31, Your Ideal in Life)

I think Baba’s teaching properly addresses the defective quote shared above.

Complete surrender does require that you have no desire of your own. You must be satisfied with whatever God gives you and that means having no desires of your own.

– Ramana Maharshi.

If one does not have any desire as Buddha or these defective yogis like Maharishi preach, they will become videhaliina microvita. They will not have a human body and they will not become one with Parama Purusa. Because Parama Purusa was not the Goal. One must have an innate desire to please Parama Purusa to become one with Parama Purusa. Without longing for Him how can one attain Him? This is the biggest defect of Buddhism and what these fake yogis like Maharishi preach. They try to concentrate the mind but have no goal. All those following this approach are just going to become negative microvita.

Baba says, “A spiritual aspirant attains the state of videhaliina as a result of shunya dhyána or ideation on nothingness. Through such ideation a sádhaka develops a psychic pabulum of nothingness. Yet even in this state there remains the possibility of rebirth. Those who embrace nothingness as their absolute goal develop a void in their citta in the absence of Cognitive Faculty. As a result they are unable to establish themselves in the Supreme Cognitive Stance and attain salvation. The spiritual cult which encourages this practice is certainly defective.” (Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life in a Nutshell – Part 9, Psychic Assimilation in Psycho-Spiritual Practice)

FINAL REFLECTIONS

When I again consider Goenka Dada’s email, all I can think is that this is scary and shocking to see. We will all age and is this what we have to look forward to: We will lose our common sense? Can anyone please reply on this point.

By seeing and reading his recent email, it really looks like SS Goenka has lost his mental balance and equipoise. He has become so self-centered that he cannot understand what people might like or dislike.

What could be the cause of his sharing such things with our AM community. Does it not seem that due to being aged he has lost his grip and mental balance.

Otherwise why would he share these aforementioned quotes which are filled with pseudo-culture, dogma and ignorance.

Our best wishes to SS Goenka Dada. By Baba’s grace may he again recover his faculties.

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Beauty of Old Age & Benefits of Disease

Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 08:09:27 -0500

To: am-global@earthlink.net

Subject: Beauty of Old Age & Benefits of Disease

From: CJ Phillips

 

Baba

 

== BEAUTY OF OLD AGE AND BENEFITS OF DISEASE ==

 

Namaskar,

Sometimes humans may moan and groan and exclaim in frustration, ‘Why did

such & such problem have to happen’.

 

Or in exasperation, one may cry out, ‘Why must this world be riddled with

so many infections & diseases’.

 

These types of queries often plague the human mind.

 

 

THE QUESTION AT HAND

 

Through it all, the question stands: How to explain such events? Why is it

that old age must befall us? What is the need for disease? What should be

our outlook with regards to these inevitabilities.

 

 

ONE REPLY: SAMSKARA THEORY

 

Of course, there is our samskara theory which dictates that one must

undergo the reactions of their actions. This is part and parcel of our

yogic outlook. So that is one way– a logician’s way– to explain the onset

of disease & difficulties in life etc.

 

 

ANOTHER REPLY:

 

DISEASE AWAKENS A LONGING TO SEEK THE DIVINE

 

Side by side there is another way to explain the hardships which make our

human existence seem so fragile.

 

We can say that such problems are Parama Purusa’s way of reminding us that

our human life is for something great– something divine. The onset of

old-age & disease forces us to seek a pathway out of this material world

which is otherwise riddled with trouble and torment. Failing that– without

any longing or desire to find something better– then one would be

satisfied to live forever and ever in this crude mundane world. But this is

not our way; this is not our human dharma.

 

So diseases and problems help, nay, force humans to seek something greater.

Because by seeing how this earth is wrought with innumerable difficulties

and tragedies, it awakens within human beings a thirst– a longing– to

find something better, something divine: Permanent peace at His lotus feet.

 

 

ALL WANT A BETTER LIFE

 

Actually all want a better life. Animals are not satisfied with their

animal existence. Some may think that animals are happy and perfectly

content, but this is not at all the case. Animal life is full of fear and

torment and they want something more.

 

In His 1969 DMC discourse, Baba describes how the bull attached to the

bullock cart longs to become a human being. Because all day & night that

bull is pulling human beings from place to place; so that bull internally

thinks that one fine afternoon it should escape its fate and become a human

being. Because that bull is not satisfied with its lowly existence as an

animal; it is not satisfied with its lot in life. It wants something better.

Because as was already stated, animal life is not ‘a basket of roses’.

Proof being that in our very own Supreme Command, Baba warns us that animal

life is torturous and that humans must not plunge themselves into such

horrific suffering.

 

So animal life is not something blissful & wonderful; those animals do not

enjoy their condition. They desire something more.

 

In a similar manner, we humans also long for something higher. We are not

content with our human existence. All are looking for something better. But

even then, the human mind is somewhat fickle. It can be tricked into

thinking that what it has is the best.

 

For example, if one has a fancy car, a big house, a swimming pool, and a

lot of social prestige, then one may think that ‘I need nothing more in

life– I have all there is to get’. Some materialists may think like this,

especially here in the west. Some blind persons may think they are the king

of this mundane world and their desire is to remain here forever.

 

So when disease comes along– or when old age invariably sneaks up on

them– then such materially minded persons are forced to re-evaluate what

is important in life. Because those diseases and that old age factor

undermines their entire existential value. They think their material

existence is no longer something great. In which case, they again embark on

a search to improve their plight.

 

Thus disease and old age pressurises even complacent human beings into

looking beyond this material world for some type of higher existence. The

ups and downs of life invariably forces one to think that this world is not

their final destination.

 

 

AWAKENING THE SEARCH FOR LIFE DIVINE

 

By this entire picture we can realise that disease, difficulties, and old

age help human beings reach up to that sacred stance.

 

Members of the general public pray up to the heavens or to their favoured

god, ‘Please relieve me of my earthly sufferings and allow me to drink from

the pot of divine nectar– let me experience peace’. This is the way some

members of the general society may think when their life is overwrought

with the hard realities of this ephemeral world.

 

And with Ananda Margiis, our standard approach is to request Baba for His

divine blessing, ‘Baba, do with me what You will in this life– I do not

care for it, just please be gracious on me and bring me under Your divine

shelter at lotus feet’.

 

This type of plea is our way of requesting Baba to spare us from the

sufferings of this relative world. Because we understand that although we

have come here to establish His mission, this is not our final resting

grounds. This relative world is not the destination. Rather this mundane

world is just a train station for going to our final abode– unto His

divine Lap.

 

And it is things like difficulties, disease, and old age which stand as a

constant reminder to us that this world is not our permanent domicile. This

is not our eternal home. This human life is limited and our dharma is to

find unlimited bliss in His divine shelter.

 

 

COMMONLY KNOWN IN SOME AREAS

 

And this entire point is well known in those spiritual societies of the

east. They know that old age brings wisdom and those elderly people have

their eyes fixed on the other world. That is why in places like Japan,

India, and various other lands, the elderly people of those societies

command huge respect.

 

In contrast in the US– where materialism runs rampant– then elderly and

diseased persons are pushed aside to the outskirts & fringe of society.

Tragically, wherever materialism spreads it has this same effect. Thus

today, even in parts of India and Japan where materalism is taking root,

in those pockets – little by little – the elderly are marginalised.

 

Because in the materialistic model, old age and disease have no value.

 

Whereas those societies that honor spiritual values, such communities place

tremendous import on age and greatly value the advice and teachings of

their seniors. Because those societies recognise the beauty of old age and

benefits of disease and what wisdom spiritual thirst they bring.

 

 

BABA’S BLESSING

 

By Baba’s grace, He has given us the teachings and pathway to reach unto

Him. We have gotten Him as the Sadguru and the sadhana of AM to lift us up

to that final abode– by His grace. This is His great blessing upon all

Ananda Margiis. So none should think that this material world is their

final resting place.

 

Baba says, “The worship of Brahma should be done scrupulously, or else you

will later regret and bemoan the futility of your life with the last drop

of your tears at your last hour. You should make your life worthwhile

through your Sa´dhana´. How much can your worldly friends and relations do

for you? After your death your relatives may perhaps ask, “How much money

has he left behind?” Your friends may go to the crematorium and indulge in

flattering reminiscences about you. Your husband or wife may cry for you

for about ten or twelve days and then regain their normal composure. Your

lot will be only a profound sigh – a record of the futility and frustration

of your life. So do not waste your time lest you later have to repent.”

(Subhasita Samgraha, part 3)

 

Namaskar,

Cinmay

 

 

Note 1: PART LIFE

 

In numerous discourses Baba guides us how our human life is just a part

life. All the various births we take as we progress through the cycle of

Brahmacakra– through saincara and pratisaincara– are mere part lives.

Each and every birth is but a piece. And the culmination of our journey

arises when we reach unto Him. So none can think that this world is our

permanent residence. No Ananda Margii can think like that. And for those

who do think that this world is our permanent abode, then disease,

struggle, and strife will awaken their yearning to fine something more–

something divine. In that way– one way or another– all will come onto the

path of sadhana to seek that eternal connection with Him.

 

 

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

Special Formula of Tandava

 

Baba says, “Tandava: As long as a dancer remains above the ground, he

derives much benefit; when he touches the ground, then those benefits are

assimilated by the body. That is why in the tandava dance there is much

jumping, because jumping requires the practitioner to remain off the ground

for a fairly long period of time.” (NSS, p. 23)

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

 

 

“A’mi pather hadish pa’i ni, ta’i toma’r pa’ne cali ni…” (PS 1338)

 

Purport:

 

Baba, in the past I could not get the direction of the proper path.

Because ofthat I could not come close to You. Your and my relation was hidden in

dark. I was not aware about You. In that past I could not get Your

introduction. And I could not link up in our close intimate relation which,

in reality, has been going on since a very long time.

In my misunderstanding, I was thinking that nobody is mine, and that

to feel love and affection is not my fate. I was thinking that my life does

not have any value. That I will not get respect in my life, just it will be

filled with disrespect and neglect.

 

Baba, today You have blessed me and changed everything. Now I feel

that my life has become meaningful, because You are mine. My heart is

filled with Your love.

 

Baba, by Your grace I surrender at Your lotus feet, O’ Baba…

 

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Ananda Marga & Aging

Date: 09 Dec 2010 04:17:26 -0000
From: “Ramanuj Deva”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Ananda Marga & Aging

Baba

“A’mi toma’y cinini priyo, tumi a’ma’y sab diyecho…” P.S. 3856

Purport:

Baba, O’ my Dearmost, You have graced me and bestowed everything upon me.
You have showered me in Your divine compassion. There is nothing that You
have not done for me. All the good things in my life are because of You.
Even then up till now I could not recognize how gracious and loving You
are. Baba, today by Your ahetuki krpa’ [1], I understand that You love me
immensely and that You are so gracious. Now I understand that You are love
personified. Baba You have given me infinite grace; I want to surrender my
everything at Your alter. Baba, today, please accept my sastaunga pranam…

NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGITTA #3856:

[1] Ahetuki Krpa: In the Pandal during DMC when one Dada was on stage
reading his purport of Prabhat Samgiita #228, then Sadguru Baba graciously
corrected his definition of ahetuki krpa in front of everybody to make the
matter clear to one and all.

Baba says, “In this universe of ours everything is causal; everything is
hetuki. Everything is causal. Only three entities are non-causal, are of
non-causal character. One is transmutation of non-attributional entity into
attributional faculty. And second is creation of this universe. And the
third one is the krpa of Parama Purusa. Parama Purusa is not to explain for
His conduct when He does his krpa or where He attracts anybody towards Him.
So these three entitities– three items– are of non-causal character. The
ahetuki krpa, that is non-causal blessing or non-causal gratitude.” (4 June
1990 MGD)

== ANANDA MARGA & AGING ==

Namaskar,
It is a fact that with each and every day that passes us by we become
older– our physical bodies age: A wrinkle here, a gray hair there etc.
This is the common phenomenon. Yet no one likes to “grow old.”

At the same time as sadhakas we have various tools and practices which
combat this aging process, thereby keeping the body youthful and vibrant.
That is one thing. Plus in our AM age is a respected characteristic. And of
course one other point is that our intuitional faculty remains timeless–
completely unaffected by the passage of time.

These are but a few of the many themes of this below letter. Kindly also
write in with your own thoughts and suggestions.

COMMON FEELINGS ABOUT “GETTING OLD”

It is the common feeling around the globe that no one likes to be said to
have “become old”. That’s why if anybody calls an old person as “old”, then
that individual may become unhappy or feel inwardly irritated. That’s why
if one wants to give respect to an older person, in a very courteous and
respectful way one has to use such a term as “senior citizens”. All this is
especially true when dealing with members of the general society.

MATERIALISM & AGING VS. OUR AM WAY OF LIFE

There are various attitudes towards the elderly or senior citizens in
different countries. In those places where materialism is more dominating,
then the act of growing old brings a lot of tension and frustration.
Because in such places, often, the family does not like to deal with its
aged members. Consequently the life of those aging individuals becomes
devalued. So older persons do not like to be called “old”– since that is
equivalent of becoming outdated and valueless. This is the tragic and
defective mindset of those common people in materialistic societies.

Plus, in materialisic countries wheres sex is dominant, old age signifies
the loss of sexual appeal, thereby rendering one’s existence as nearly
valueless. Women espeically suffer from this malady in materialistic
communities.

In direct contrast, in our spiritual way of life, the scenario is
completely different. Aging brings respect & dignity.

AGE IS A RESPECTED ATTRIBUTE IN OUR ANANDA MARGA

Looking back at the ancient history of India, we find that “senior
citizens” had a lot of respect– far more than youths. This tradition is a
tantric tradition. And Baba also honors this same trait. That is why
throughout our various ceremonies and programs as outlined in Caryacarya,
Baba gives maximum regard to our senior persons.

WHY THOSE IN AM AGE DIFFERENTLY FROM THE COMMON PEOPLE

According to Baba, when anybody does sadhana and follows 16 points then
their qualities grow and grow. They become greater and greater human
beings. This is the unique equation.

Because with the help of cosmic ideation, the periphery of the mind
expands– making them more perceptive and dynamic. And by this way, senior
citizens do not remain selfishly engaged in their unit “I”. That’s why in
most of the cases, in their old age good sadhakas dedicate more and more
time for serving the society.

But when people are stuck in a crude materialistic bent of mind, then
old-age means being a ‘headache’ to others. That’s why in European & many
western countries, the grown children often do not like to live with their
elderly parents. Because when throughout their entire lives those seniors
were just indulging in their own selfish activity, then surely in their old
age they will not be inclined to think about the welfare of others. Because
their minds are drowned in the self-centered philosophy of materialism.

However, in so many other countries which are not so materialistic, that’s
not the situation. In those community oriented societies, the elderly watch
over the growth and development of one and all. So everyone in that society
reveres the aged members.

And even greater is the life of a sadhaka because after years and years of
training the mind in a spiritual way, then in their advanced years sadhakas
are completely consumed in the thought of the Parama Purusa and the
well-being of all His children. In that case those older sadhakas are
totally selfless and are generous towards one and all. Naturally then
everybody likes to be in their company.

CHECKING THE AGING PROCESS: ASANAS & AM DANCES

As we know, that human existence has three aspects: physical, mental, and
spiritual. After 39 years, the physical body begins to move slowly towards
old age. But this can be controlled or minimized most of the degree, by
doing asanas, kaoshikii, and tandava.

Those who have been practicing their asanas, kaoshikii, and tandava for
many years can go on practicing those things as they progress into their
senior years. And this will keep their bodies supple, flexible, and
energetic. Sadhakas feel and look much younger than their actual age. All
because of their life-long practice of yoga asanas and AM dances.

The same is not the case for those who never did such yogic practices.
Their bodies become stiff & rigid. And even if they have the desire to do
something to counteract this they cannot start tandava at the age of 65 or
75 years of age– and certainly not 95 years. Because their bodies are not
conditioned or practiced in this sphere. Whereas even at the age of 100
sadhakas can do kaoshikii and tandava and maintain their lives.

THE BRAIN GROWS OLD– INTUITION IS TIMELESS

The aging process affects not only the arms and legs but entire body
including the brain– our psychic center. That is why after crossing 50 or
60 years of age, the intellect of the common people starts to degenerate.
Their nerve cells get weaker and weaker. People lose their memory and
psychic faculty step by step until one day their brains cannot even
function. That happens to many non-sadhakas when they become very old.
However, in the case of devotees, this is not the case. Baba says, in
Varanasi DMC 1984, “You should not depend only on intellect. Because
intellect does not have a strong foothold. If you have devotion, then
intuition will develop. And with that, you will be able to do better and
better service to the society.”

So in the mental sphere, devotees depend more on intuition– and that never
decays. Because intuition is cosmic thought. And when the mind is goaded
and guided towards that subtle approach, then their is no question of it
“getting old”. Rather the mind continues to expand and becomes more sharp
and more pointed.

But those who are depending merely on intellect suffer a lot. Because due
to the onset of old age, their mental faculty will degrade more and more
until finally there is strong possibility to lose all their intellect
entirely.

While those who have devotion in their heart easily are blessed with
intuition by Parama Purusa Himself.

AGING IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM

And in the spiritual field, if in their youth one did proper sadhana and
mind got training in spiritual practices and it’s natural tendency became
to move towards paramartha, then there is no question of any problem in
sadhana up to their last breath. Their mind will easily flow in the cosmic
rhythm and sadhana will be natural and effortless.

However if anyone does not do proper sadhana in youth, then it will be most
difficult to begin when one has become old.

So it is only Baba’s great blessing on us how He has created this Ananda
Marga and infused spiritual ideation into each and every aspect of the day
and given us the mandate to do our practices of sadhana twice a day
invariably.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace by keeping the mind focused on Him, then the great state of
surrender comes in which case we will realise Him in this very life, in
this very body– blissfully going on doing anything and everything for Him.

Baba says, “He will do what is necessary. You just go on observing Him,
just go on doing His work and adhere to what He says with all your
energy…Let that golden day come at the earliest and make your life
effulgent.” (SS-18, p.38)

Namaskar,
Ramanuj

NOTE 1:         MORE TIPS ON KAOSHIKII AND TANDAVA

FOR KEEPING THE BODY AND MIND YOUTHFUL AND VIBRANT

For the physical body, indeed tandava and kaoshikii play a great role. They
prevent old age. So there should be always effort to do proper tandava.
There are three grades of tandava dance. Those who are youths, they should
practice hard. To not only remain in brahma tandava or in vishnu tandava,
but they should try to do rudra tandava.

Baba says, “Now the fundamentality, or rather the primordial phase of
Oriental dance, is ta’n’d’ava. It is not a very easy job either. The knees
must cross the navel. When they cross the navel it is called Brahma
ta’n’d’ava. When they cross the ana’hata [mid-point of the chest] it is
called Vis’n’u ta’n’d’ava. When they cross this portion [indicates the
throat], it is called Rudra ta’n’d’ava. It is very difficult to dance Rudra
ta’n’d’ava. It requires long practice.” (AV-12)

In one discourse in Patna in 1978, Baba also gives the direction that when
the tandava dancer jumps, and his body is in the air– even for a fraction
of a seconds– then that is the most beneficial aspect.

When a person does very good tandava, then the whole body flies in the air
in quick succession. And again drops and again flies into the air. So the
benefit is related with the time for which the dancer remains in the air.
Suppose someone could stay in the air for one second. And another person
could remain for two seconds. So accordingly the longer time one can remain
in the air, comparatively more beneficial it is for the development of
brain and nerve cells.

There is a similar qualification for determining proper kaoshikii dance.
Baba, in a Patna discourse, He revealed the secret. That, in proper
kaoshikii, the body must bend or lean 45 degrees to the left and right as
it moves in the dance. And that kaoshikii will be very beneficial.
Otherwise, just “so-so kaoshikii” is not so helpful.

NOTE 2:         SENIORS RESPECTED IN OUR ANANDA MARGA

In various ceremonies of our Ananda Marga, the senior person present is to
preside over the ceremony. For example:

– In chapter 18 of CC-1 Baba has clearly given the mandate that the
Marriage Ceremony of AM is to be officiated by two acaryas or, in their
absence, the senior-most margii present will officiate.

– In chapter 14 of CC-1 Baba has given that the ceremony for the laying of
the foundation stone of a new house is to be led by the senior-most person.
– In chapter 15 of CC-1, Baba has stated that the house entry ceremony is
to be led by an acarya, or in their absence then it will be led by the
eldest person present.
– In chapter 16, Baba states that the Tree-Planting Ceremony is to be led
by the acarya or the senior person present.

All these examples above prove that in Ananda Marga, senior citizens have
more respect. They are not out-dated, or useless, or worthless. Rather
their qualities grow day by day. And it will go on and on up to their last
breath. The beauty of spirituality is in this.

NOTE 3:      WARNING: IMPOSSIBLE TO START SADHANA IN OLD AGE

Usually people avoid doing sadhana in the prime of their lives, thinking
instead that in old age they will do meditation. But such persons will be
at greatest loss. Many margiis and WTs I know with repentance confess, “Now
that I am old have time, I cannot do sadhana because I neglected my sadhana
earlier. Now in my old age the mind cannot adjust.” This very thing Baba
has written about in detail in the last few chapters of His book, Ananda
Marga Elementary Philosophy.

But for those who have attended dharmacakra and done their regular sadhana
practices, then thinking and ideating in sadhana is easy for them as they
grow old.

******************************************
Baba Loves All

Baba says, “Bihar is rich in natural resources; and its human resources are
also sufficient. Yet poverty is rampant. Without any delay, one healthy
socio-economic planning needs to be prepared urgently for this land. It is
the need to start this work. We cannot push Bihar, the golden crown of
history, into the mouth of darkness.” (Varna Vicitra, Pt-1 (H), p.66-67)

Note: Baba is the universal Father and He loves all. That is why He
encourages each and every local area and land. In the above quotation Baba
is speaking specifically about Bihar– yet Baba has told similar things
about Rarh and numerous other lands. But a few narrow minded people get
caught up in their groupist agenda. Thus when Rarh is mentioned then
certain groupist leaders brag up and down as if Rarh is the top-most place.
And they never get tired of singing the glory of Rarh. As if Baba only
talks about Rarh and that Rahr is the greatest place. And on that account
they propagate only those things which Baba has told about Rahr– as if
Baba did not speak about other places. Hence this is nothing but their
narrow outlook or psychic disease. Because Baba encourages each and every
area and Baba loves all.
******************************************

Read Full Post »

Who Likes this Type of Longevity + News For Wts

Date: Sun 02 May 2010 22:27:55 -0000
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: Richard Cross
Subject: Who Likes this Type of Longevity + News For Wts

Baba

“Toma’re ceyechi a’lo-chay’aya’…” (PS 2373)

Purport:

Baba, I long for You in the light and shade – in good days and bad – in
the dawn as well as in the evening. I long for You always, each and
every moment. Baba, I long for You in the effulgence of the earth – the
beauty of creation. I have untold yearning for You in dormant love and
in the depths of ideation – in my dhya’na. O’ my Beloved, I want You.

Baba, my Dearmost and my eternal companion, You are the great ocean of
churned nectar. You are eternal. Everyone exists because of You in newer
and newer rhythm, names, and forms. Because of You this cycle of
creation keeps moving.

Baba, please come very close and reside in my heart, grace me by
dispelling the last vestige of asmita’ [1]. Along the flow of my life’s
path – through the undulating waves of crest and troughs – the river of
my citta wants Your essence of nectar. Baba in the journey of my life,
in pain and pleasure, loss and gain, happiness and sorrow, my heart
wants only You, O’ my Dearmost…

NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #2373:

[1] Asmita’: Here below Baba gives quite an elaborate and colourful
explanation of the Sanskrit term, asmita’.

Drkdarshanashaktyoreka’tmateva’smita’

Baba says, “As asmita’ is devoid of any discrimination, people with this
mental defect lose their power of discrimination. First, they think that
since they are so great, there is no need for them to learn anything
from others. As a result of this, their further progress comes to a
halt. Secondly, the arrogant attitude of this asmita’ banishes from
their minds the humble psychology of the learner. They lose interest in
learning anything useful; so not only in the world of knowledge, but
also in the world of practicality, they become misfits in life because
of their mountainous accumulated ignorance.”

“It is not that arrogance of this sort simply obstructs their progress.
The human mind, like the human body, is dynamic. No one has come to
remain here; everyone is moving — for movement is a must. Now, the mind
whose further progress is blocked will also have to move this way or
that; so when one must move, but the path of progress is blocked, one is
compelled to move along the path of degradation. Thus the arrogance born
of this asmita’ will lead people towards their downfall.” (NSS,
‘Shivokti-6’)

== WHO LIKES THIS TYPE OF LONGEVITY ==+

NEWS FOR WTS

Note: Be sure to scroll down to the very bottom to read the piece, “News
for Wts”.

Namaskar,
Around the globe, the average citizen is more health conscious than ever
before. People are trying to eat right, exercise regularly, and engage
in health supportive activities. Plus medical science continues to
advance – in all kinds of ways including surgeries to replace organs.
This is all a very positive development for humanity.

Even then, one stark problem has multiplied. The incidence of brain
related diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and dementia is on
the rise in the so-called developed world. Then their are other like
multiple sclerosis etc.

This then presents a seemingly puzzling perspective: People are more
health conscious than ever before yet suffering more from brain related
diseases.

Why is that and what is the solution. Can any of our AM practices
correct this situation?

THE HORROR OF BRAIN-RELATED DISEASES

Brain related diseases are some of the scariest conditions on earth.
Such patients may have strong bones, good teeth, excellent mobility, but
their brain has become diseased. In that case – with people living
longer than ever – they may pass the final 15, 20 or even 30 years of
their life in a desperate and pitiful state.

It happens in two basic ways. Sometimes the brain disease may render
that person as 100% incapacitated in the psychic realm. They do not know
their name nor who they are. And they live like that for decades. They
have a body that works but their brain is defunct. This happens with
Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders.

Then there is a second group of brain diseases which severely compromise
the use and function of one’s motor organs, in which case one quickly
becomes physically incapacitated. One becomes wheelchair bound
(possibly), loses control of their bowel movements, and cannot manage
their life on a day-to-day basis. Is it a really miserable situation.
This is what happens in Parkinson’s disease.

In either case, brain related diseases put one in a terrible predicament
and impose a huge stress on the family.

Because once one gets consumed by a brain related disease like
Alzheimer’s etc, then one loses all kinds of psychic faculties. They
became mere skeletons of who they once were. Those suffering in this way
cannot recognise their own family members, perform basic tasks, nor
recall how they spent their life or who they are. They become totally
handicapped – a burden to their family. Indeed, they have zero control
of their emotion and tempers: the patients torture their family.

No one wants to end up like this. Yet it is occurring more and more:

– Health conscious living is quite high in the US. People run, bike,
swim, take yoga classes, and so much more yet the greatest incidence of
Parkinson’s is in USA.

– The prevalence of Alzheimer’s is expected to increase to 11.3 – 16
million cases in America by 2050

– As we speak, the incidence of dementia in the US is 368,320 per year,
30,693 per month, 7,083 per week, 1,009 per day, 42 per hour, and growing.

Here the point is that despite efforts for people to live in a more
healthy manner – vegan, organic foods, exercise, asanas etc – there has
been an increase in brain related diseases.

Then there is the aspect of non-healthy people. They are living longer
due to all kinds of organ transplants (liver, kidney, heart etc) but
they too are more susceptible to brain diseases. Because while the other
parts of the body can be replaced, the brain cannot.

Everything in this world ages: The brain also gets old and science does
not have any answer. There is no such thing as a brain transplant. That
would change the entire human personality. It cannot be done. The brain
is linked with the mind and is associated with a certain set of
samskaras. Changing the brain means changing the person.

The overall perspective is that brain related diseases are quite
debilitating and awful. They should be averted at all cost.

Can you think of anyone who wants to live a long life wherein one the
entire mid to later years are dominated by brain diseases.

AND THE ANSWER IS…

When this has become such a horrifying and tragic outcome that is only
growing, what is it that we can do to help both ourselves and society.

And the answer is: Ananda Marga dances.

Baba has given dances that will prevent brain ailments for the whole
humanity. Baba has re-introduced the tandava dance and created
kaoshikii. Both serve the brain.

Baba says, “Ta’n’d’ava – which was not invented by me, but by Sada’shiva
some seven thousand years ago – is an all-corporal exercise, an exercise
for the entire body, including the brain. (There are intellectual
exercises for the brain, but hardly any physical exercise. In fact,
ta’n’d’ava is the only physical exercise for the brain.) And among all
dances it is the best. But it is not for women.” (AV-6)

Baba says, “I invented kaos’ikii on September 6th [1978]. This dance is
both an exercise, and a medicine for twenty-two diseases. It is a sort
of panacea for almost all female diseases, and for many male diseases in
younger boys. It is a medicine for most liver diseases. It assures safe
deliveries for women, and also checks the advent of old age. It is a
medicine.” (AV-6)

By practicing tandava and kaoshikii, one can minimize the aging of the
brain and increase its stamina and vitality. That means even if humans
are living longer, the brain will maintain its integrity and proper
functioning for one’s entire life. That is the big boon these dances
offer. One will be saved from the nasty effects of brain related diseases.

Here Baba explains more how tandava keeps one mentally sharp.

Baba says, “Now, all dances do not equally exercise all glands, and
there are some glands which are not at all influenced by dances. In the
absence of the proper exercise of those glands, people lose many
capacities at an early age – especially the capacities of deep thinking
and of sustained recollection – and there is no process for restoring
them. Considering all this, Shiva invented a unique and perfect dance:
ta’n’d’ava.” (NSS)

As Baba says, once those mental faculties are lost, “there is no process
for restoring them”. Thus the dances of Ananda Marga serve a special
function.

Here below Baba discuss the all-around benefits of kaoshikii and He
furthermore describes how the dance helps the brain by vibrating the
mind in the psycho-spiritual plane.

Baba says, “It is found that human beings are sometimes affected by
various diseases; and frequently they are faced with various
difficulties with respect to their sa’dhana’. These impediments many or
may not be major. For instance, small diseases like liver trouble may
cause problems from time to time, and to remove these types of
hindrances, I invented the kaoshikii dance on the 6th of September 1978.
This dance serves as an antidote to twenty-two types of diseases. All
these are primarily meant to first of all vibrate the ectoplasmic stuff
(citta’nu) which in turn is concentrated at a certain point touching the
point of the soul, where Parama Purus’a resides.” (AFPS-3)

From top to bottom, our AM dances are a great panacea and a special
practice for preventing brain diseases. By doing these dances daily, one
will have an acute capacity to think and remember throughout their
entire life.

These days many in the general public are practicing yoga to benefit
their health, but only those who know and practices these dances can
truly exercise the brain, thereby preserving its health.

We should propagate these dances to the maximum and save people from the
dreadful defects and debility of brain diseases.

HOW TO PRACTICE

Of course, like everything else in yoga, we can only get the benefits of
AM dances by practicing them. Knowing or reading about them is not enough.

Both kaoshikii and tandava are meant to be done twice daily, vigorously.
That means not just 30 seconds but rather multiple rounds of several
minutes each. The heart should be pumping strong. Kaoshikii can be done
for as long as 15 or even 20 minutes non-stop. Baba Himself created
dance competitions so we would learn to practice for longer periods.
Then we can get the benefit.

If one just does the dances lazily just to say they did it, then they
will not get the benefit and they will not be protected from those
horrifying brain diseases.

Here is one special tip about the practice of tandava.

Baba says, “As long as a dancer remains above the ground, he derives
much benefit; when he touches the ground, then those benefits are
assimilated by the body. That is why in ta’n’d’ava there is much
jumping, because jumping requires the practitioner to remain off the
ground for a fairly long period of time.” (NSS)

BRAIN CANNOT BE REPLACED – OTHER ORGANS CAN

Remember, human life is getting longer and longer. All kinds of
operations can be performed to save the skin, lungs, heart, ankles,
thyroid, liver, pancreas, appendix, teeth, tongue, hips, knees, eyes,
nose etc. The public spends huge money and resources on both cosmetic
and involuntary surgeries. The longer they live the more surgeries are
needed. But one thing is sure: There is no surgery to replace the brain.
Replacing the brain means changing the human persona entirely.

The only way to exercise and strengthen the brain is through our AM
dances. No one should be lazy or remiss in this regard.

Life should not only be long, but it should be healthy with a strong
body and a sound mind. Who wants to live a long life wherein they lose
all their psychic and / or physical faculties due to complications with
the brain. Nobody.

We should all be vigilant to practice our dances and encourage
others to do the same.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace, He has given all the teachings and dances for a
healthy, long, and successful life. We should be ever active in
practicing and propagating them.

Namaskar,
Ramendu

Note 1: MORE ABOUT THESE DANCES

Baba says, “Hands placed at 90° indicate the strength of the arms of the
dancer. Ta’n’d’ava expresses the spirit of strength and vigour. They are
straight, meaning thereby that they are ready to fight death. One hand,
holding a skull or fire or a snake, represents death, while the other
hand is holding a dagger, represent the spirit to fight death.” (May 22
1979, Hannover)

Baba says, “Kaos’ikii: The two hands when upraised and folded together
represent, “Now I am trying to establish a link with Parama Purus’a.”
Both hands bending to the right indicate, “I know the right way to
request You.” The bending of the body should be at a 45° angular
projection. The leftward movement represents, “I know how to fulfill
Your demands.” The movement of bending in front suggests complete
surrender. The backward bending represents, “I am ready to face all
troubles that may come,” The last ta’, ta’ represents, “O Lord, I repeat
Your rhythm.” “(May 22 1979, Hannover)

~ NEWS FOR WTS ~

These days a maximum number of workers have ATM cards and bank accounts.
Many seniors are involved in planing about their financial future and
they encourage junior workers to also keep ATM cards, i.e. black money.
Then there are some workers who are attending college / university
instead of helping society. That is the news in a nutshell. Here is more
about it.

When people first become Wts they are quite idealistic and their
intentions are pure. But very quickly they get negative training from
their elders. They see senior Dadas keeping hoards of black money and
personal houses for their personal retirement.

In that case, those young workers get enticed and that negative endeavor
of gathering black money spreads. This is the terribly unfortunate
trend. More and more are keeping black money (i.e. unaccounted funds).
And they do not inform anyone how much they have. Just they stockpile
their private back accounts.

Then when we see Wts getting degrees from colleges and universities we
know they are preparing a cushion for old age or getting ready to do
work on the side right now. They do not do pracar but instead work in a
call center or computer software firm.

Some crude people will think, “What is wrong, this is alright, everyone
in society does like this.”

The response is, “You do not touch the feet of your non-margii neighbors
but do offer respect to your to our acaryas because they are dedicated
to AM ideals and neo-humanism. Plus they follow WT conduct rules and
sacrifice their lives for the betterment of society. That is why we pay
our respects.

So if any worker does not follow the acarya conduct rules, keeps black
money, and / or finds employment in some mundane company, or joins a
college or university, then what is special about their existence –
rather it is hypocrisy.

Just as the like general public expects their leaders to prove
themselves and follow certain codes, in the same way we Ananda Margiis
want our Wt post holders to follow a certain code of discipline. The
code of conduct as given by Guru.

Those involved in keeping black money are hypocrites and they create the
situation where good wts get looked at suspiciously. If any Wt starts
thinking about money their mind is degenerated and they will lose the
inspiration to do pracar. It means they have forgotten the essence of
being a Wt.

They take their shelter under money, not Baba. In that case how can they
help others. Theirs is the path of self-destruction. They should be
forced to mend their ways or get exposed so others understand what is
their true color.

Why do such workers keep money hidden, i.e. black money? Because they
know that if margiis come to know that they (the worker) has more money
than margiis, then those workers will not get more donations. They will
not be able to increase their acct. They have money but always ask for
more.

They live in hypocrisy and that ruins their sadhana and
straight-thinking. Instead they become crooked, selfish, greedy and
degenerated – and ultimately they leave. Such workers are nothing but a
burden to AM and a disgrace of what it means to be an acarya.

They should be prepared to face the consequences as prakrti will not
tolerate such duplicity from our dedicated workers.

Read Full Post »

What is the News?

Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2010 05:36:11 -0000
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: Mandal.Virendra@bharata.net…
Subject: What is the News?

Baba

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

Purport:

Baba, the sky of this amavasya night is filled with the stars. The
sweet, nectar-like breeze is blowing mildly. The mind is floating in
divine ecstasy from the known to the unknown world– towards its final
destination. Baba, ensconced in Your ideation, my mind is getting lost
in Your divine bliss. Baba, the lily flower is constantly looking
towards the sky; the aroma of flowers is emanating all around. They have
forgotten themselves and lost their awareness about their own unit
existence. They restlessly move in the attraction of one call. Baba in
Your longing I am sitting alone, counting the stars. I understand that
by Your grace I have lost myself in this beautiful atmosphere and the
attraction of Your love. Baba, You are ever-gracious and You are always
remaining by my side and guiding me. Baba, on this amavasya night my
heart is yearning and longing for You. Please grace me by coming closer
and still more close…

== WHAT IS THE NEWS ==

Namaskar,
Generally people live in this world without any definite plan or
program. Most are unaware about the greater meaning and aim of life.
They proceed onwards in a whimsical fashion. This is the common way of
human beings.

It was like this in the past and it is like this today also.

Certainly, people have short term material goals such as getting a job,
finding a spouse, buying a house, producing children, and purchasing a
car etc, but rarely do they think about getting old, and least of all
about death. These latter aspects people do not consider. Rather they
naively think they will remain on this earth forever. They think of this
place as their permanent abode.

Hence they remain basically oblivious of the reality: Just as one day we
have come onto this earth, one day we will also go. This fact no one
likes to consider. No one plans in this way – it is extremely rare.

BABA EMPHASIZES THE AIM OF HUMAN LIFE

Baba, being the Sadguru, has come to enlighten human beings and show us
the right path. And indeed in countless discourses, stories, and
analogies, Baba reminds us – time and again – about “What is the right
path.”

This idea He has given on so many occasions.

Why? Because it is the nature of human beings to get caught up in avidya
maya and take this world as their permanent residence and the entire
reality – when in fact it is just a relative truth. We’ve come here only
for a short while and nothing in this world is lasting. But people
forget about this fact. That is why Baba brings this point – i.e. that
human life is short – to the fore again and again.

He has given this teaching in Caryacarya (CC-II, ‘Sadhana’, point #8),
philosophical discourses, stories, shlokas, analogies, and in all kinds
of ways. Because we human beings constantly forget that this world is
not our permanent reality. People live as if they are going to remain on
this earth forever.

In contrast, Baba does not talk about the theory of gravity in dozens
and dozens of discourses. Why? Because already as a people we are aware
that gravity exists and we do not forget this fact. So there is no need
for Baba to remind us of this.

But about the greater meaning and temporary nature of life, people
regularly forget about this. Always we slip back into ignorance. Hence
Baba brings the point again and again.

Here following is one such unique teaching.

WHAT IS THE NEWS?

One day a yaks’a approached the great king Yudhisthira.

The yaks’a asked: “What is the news?”

(Note: The sense of his question was what is the real situation of this
material world.)

In reply king Yudhithira told: “The material world is like a frying pan.
The sun is the fire; the day and nights are the fuel. The passing
seasons are the stirring ladle and time is cook. All living entities are
being thus fried in this pan. This is the real news of what is happening
in the material world which is a miserable place full of ignorance.”

Such was Yudhisthira’s colourful and insightful reply and this is yet
one more way that Baba has brought this critical matter that we have
only come onto this earth for a short time. (Reference: AV(H)-29 chapter
14)

And certainly in so many ways Baba has discussed this point including
during one famous discourse in Bombay.

WHY THIS IS NEWS

The interesting thing about the Yudhithira’s above analogy is that the
yaks’a is asking “what is the news”. The yaks’a is not asking about
philosophy, ethics, nature of life or anything esoteric like that.

The yaks’a is asking the news, yet such was Yudhisthira’s reply.

Why? Because that really is the news. Whenever people are told something
that they do not know then it is news.

Due to avidya maya people commonly forget that they are moving towards
their death. They do not remember the transient nature of life on earth.
People take money, prestige, beauty, attraction and all their worldly
attachments to be of a permanent nature. All their plans and programs
are based on this idea.

They see new-borns come onto this earth, but they never think that one
day they will go.

So Yudhisthira’s reply that human beings are in a frying pan proceeding
towards death is indeed news.

It is just like if a coup happened years ago but just today more
revelations about the coup were reported then that would be news. Or
when archaeologists find new fossils. This is also news because human
beings were not aware about these events.

Thus the fact that slowly, slowly we are going towards death – that is
also news.

People think this place is their permanent abode. With that as their
reference point, their behavior, values, logic and reasoning becomes
skewed, even polluted. All of their priorities are based on the false
notion that they will remain here forever and ever. And indeed most live
their life in this way.

They collect cars, chase after the opposite sex, seek out fame and
fortune. They talk all these fleeting things to be the essence of life.

If they thought otherwise, people would keep away from useless
activities like harassing others, fighting, looting, and material
pursuits etc. And they would do more sadhana and help others. But this
is not the case. Just look around and see for yourself.

Thus, Yudhisthira’s teaching of thousands of years ago is as relevant
today as it was then. That is why this is the news.

HOW WE SHOULD LIVE OUR LIFE

Baba’s divine guideline is that we are to complete all important works
(sadhana and service) very soon. There is no guarantee how long we will
survive on this earth. That is why Baba says do all good works
immediately because human life is short. No one decides when they will
come and no one decides when they will go.

Baba says, “The scriptures say, Grhiitvaeva keshes’u mrtyurn’a’
Dharma’caret: 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)

Thus we have not a moment to spare. None should get caught up in the
whirlpool of maya and think this world as permanent. None should chase
after frivolous things.

All should bear in mind that we have come here for a limited period and
we have a great many works to do. This is the main outlook of any sadhaka.

One should think: My life is for spiritual practice and serving others,
not carnal pleasures. All Baba’s teachings are my food for moving on the
path divine. I must not get swayed by the glitz and glamour of avidya
maya. I am to remember that I am being cooked in one frying pan and
moving towards my death. I utilise my energies for sadhana, not mundane
allurements, then I will achieve eternal life, by His grace.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace He reminds us again and again that our human life is a
unique opportunity given to us by Parama Purusa. As human beings we are
to take advantage of our free will and do something great – attain Him.
That is what Baba is telling us in Yudhisthira’s analogy.

Most of the scriptures of old are filled with thousands of pages of
dogmatic teachings and one has to swift through all those things in
order to find an ounce of truth. Ananda Marga is not like that.

Baba has given us only the most pertinent guidelines to get success:
Remembering the Goal of life is one such guideline. May we always
following His teachings and never get caught up in the whirlpool of
maya, thinking this world to be our permanent abode and chasing after
fleeting fancies.

If we remember the news of the day, we are bound to move on the right
path, by His grace.

Baba says, “If you are asked by God, “What do you want?”, what should
you say?”

“You must say, “O Lord, I want your blessings so that my intellect may
move along the right path.” You know that the intellect is the cause of
your downfall or evolution. So when your mind gets proper direction,
what else would you require?” (AV-21)

Namaskar,
Virendra

Note: FURTHER READING ON THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC

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/2009/12/keep-skull.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2008/08/beauty-of-old-age-benefits-of-disease.html

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Baba’s Special Sadhana Guideline

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

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

Baba

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

Purport:

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

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

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

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

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

== BABA’S SPECIAL SADHANA GUIDELINE ==

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

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

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

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

OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND

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

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

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

And Baba Himself guides us in this same direction.

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

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

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

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

WAITING FOR OLD AGE WILL NOT DUE

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

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

GREEN BAMBOO VS. OLD BAMBOO

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

REACHING OUR POTENTIAL

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

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

Namaskar,
Girish

Note 1: AVADHUTA & MICROVITA SADHANA DONE OUTSIDE

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

Note 2: POSITIVE MICROVITA

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

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

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

Note 4: BABA DOING SADHANA IN THE SOLITUDE OF NATURE

Here Baba describes His own outdoor sadhana practice.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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You Are Chained – You Need Freedom

If this type of reverential approach is taken in sadhana twice daily, then regardless if one's sadhana is "good" or "bad", the bhakta is sure to attain liberation. That practice is enough to ensure that at the time of death one will think of Him, by His grace, in which case He will take away all remaining samskaras and grant liberation. That is Guru's most gracious promise and boon.

From: “Shantatma Kerketta”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: You Are Chained – You Need Freedom
Date: Mon 09 Nov 2009 11:38:42 +0530

Baba

PS Intro: In this following song the devotee is talking to Baba, all the
while indirectly referring about himself.

“Jeo na’, shon’o katha, bojha vytha’, abujha hoyo na’…” (PS 660)

Purport:

Baba, please be gracious, please do not leave me all alone, please do
not go far away; please keep me in Your shelter. Baba, please listen to
the tale of my aching heart; please understand my pain and suffering–
because of my deep longing for You. Baba, I beg You not to remain aloof
about my yearning and crying for You. Baba, You have graced me and have
made the flower of devotion blossom in my heart. And these flowers are
solely for making one beautiful garland for You– ultimately
surrendering them at Your lotus feet. Baba, please do not mercilessly
crush those flowers. Baba, please be gracious.

Baba, by Your infinite grace please keep me close. Please do not
permanently forget about that person who is under shelter day and night.
Baba, it seems You have removed him from Your memory. Baba, please
recall how in the past You loved him deeply up to his heart’s content.
That time You saturated his mind with bliss and filled his eyes with
Your loving gaze. You were so gracious those days. Baba, You know that
very person was with You in each and every rhythm of the song, he was
also with You in all kinds of works– always remaining by Your side.
Baba, please do not forget him.

Baba, by Your grace I never forget this eternal truth that You are
everything. You are the effulgence of the day as well as the darkness of
the night. Baba, in this life of mine I have loved only You. Baba, You
are the heart of my heart. Please shower Your divine grace on me day and
night, incessantly. Baba, even if You always remain forgetful of me,
that I can tolerate. Only I ask one thing of You. Baba, please do not
push me away from Your holy, lotus feet. Baba, You are my closest &
dearest One. You are my everything. Baba, please keep me in Your shelter…

== YOU ARE CHAINED – YOU NEED FREEDOM ==

Namaskar,
Every human being understands they are bound; they understand they are
not free.

A few ignorant people may believe they are free but if they think more
deeply then realise that they are not free.

Yatha’ laohamayaeh pa’shaeh…

Everyone is bound by samskaras and they have no choice but to face them:
Disease, old age, sickness, loneliness, death. Everyone tries to avoid
these afflictions but ultimately they are chained and shackled by those
samskaras. There is no other recourse – one must face such bondages.
That is what Baba is teaching in the above shloka.

But is there really no escape? Must one return again and again onto this
earth, thousands and millions of times, to face their karmaphala (fruits
of their actions)?

This letter explains both the science of bondage and the solution, as
given by Marga Guru in the Supreme Command. As the gracious Taraka
Brahma Baba has given the way out from this cycle of bondage of life and
death.

SAMSKARAS, SUPREME COMMAND & MORE

So long as one is alive, every sadhaka has samskaras. It is impossible
for a human being to walk this earth and not have any samskaras.
Samskaras and human life go hand in hand – one cannot exist without the
other.

In your life you surely have faced many things which you did not like
and will not like: Humiliation, disease, loss, and so many troubles.
These are all the karmic reactions of past samskaras.

The question then is: If up to the very minute of one’s death a person
is still bound by all these samskaras, then how can they achieve
liberation?

Specifically, how does the Supreme Command work? How can one attain
liberation when they are shackled by piles of samskaras waiting to take
expression.

We will explore the above conundrum as well as other critical aspects of
samskara theory & the Supreme Command – all done according to the
teachings and guidelines of Baba.

CREATING MORE & MORE SAMSKARAS

In more than a few discourses, Baba explains how in one life a typical
human being creates such a huge amount of samskaras that they cannot be
exhausted in the next 100 lifetimes. Compounding that by multiple lives
then makes for an enormous bundle of samskaras.

Baba says, “Human beings have been committing numerous crimes and sins
for lives together resulting in a huge pile of sins as high as the
Himalayas.” (AV-7)

From that perspective, human beings are creating huge numbers of
samskaras whereby we are totally bound, if not crippled by a mountain of
karmic reactions.

For instance, suppose in one second, a person harms someone and then
they may face the reaction of that misdeed for years or even lifetimes.
Or if a baby was sexually abused once by one adult, then that baby will
be scarred their entire life and the guilty party must undergo a whole
boatload of reactions for this single crime.

Or suppose in a fractions of a minute a person poisoned food and
subsequently killed one hundred people, then that samskara will be
reaped for hundreds of lifetimes.

Or what about those who kill animals for sport or food, and they are
totally oblivious that they are incurring sin. Indeed there are many
examples like that.

It happens in society too according to gender and race, such as with
slave owners etc. People feel they have the right to harrass others
because that is the social norm of the day, but they will face the
reaction for countless future lives.

All in all, the human mind is wrought with so many propensities and
inclinations and in their lifetime people chase after one desire after
another. Name, fame, sex, wealth, prestige, house, property, children,
food, dreams, vanity, fear etc. All day long your average human is fully
engrossed in these dealings. In a single day, a typical person might
create dozens or even hundreds of new samskaras.

Then Baba cites how most are involved in negative works. It is not like
the whole entire humanity is engulfed in benevolence. People are
thieving, looting, raping, grabbing etc. With their vanity ego they
harass others and do injustice and do not even realise how much they are
harming others.

So people acquire samskaras by the truckload day after day – even for
doing good actions.

But that is not all.

Finally, as soon as one creates a new samskara, then that samskara or
unexpressed reaction starts growing. It collects interest just like in
the case of a bank loan. So we have to pay back that samskara with
interest.

That means if a person steals Rs100 then depending on how much time goes
by they will have to lose or payback 200, 1,000, or even 1,000,000
rupees. It all depends how much time goes by before they undergo the
reaction. Sometimes the payback is not for several lifetimes. In that
case, just imagine the interest. What was a simple misdeed can balloon
into a massive debacle.

If you punch someone unjustly just once, then ten years later you may
get get beaten by so many bandits or gang members at the same time,
getting punched again and again. One may think, “I did not do anything
wrong, why is this happening?”, but this is samskara from earlier.

In various phases people face either good samskaras and bad samskaras.
Even though one may be facing a good samskara today, in the future one
may face a whole pile of bad samsakras. It all depends on what is more
conducive at a particular time.

A young person may think that “I will never get sick”, yet all the while
they have samskara for a terrible sickness and that samskara is waiting
for the right time or conducive moment to take expression. Then in the
bad days of one’s old age that disease will manifest. It is all about
having a conducive environment. Just a seed sprouts in the spring and
not in winter, same is the case with both good and bad samskaras. The
right environment is needed.

The whole scenario then is quite serious. Getting bound by samskaras is
an inevitable and involved process. It happens to everyone – period,
whether one is a sadhaka or not.

How then are we to escape this web – this intricate and burdensome
bundle of samskaras.

BABA’S GRACIOUS BOON ON SADHAKASLIBERATION IS A SURE GUARANTEE

Enter the Supreme Command.

We all say it each and every week, if not more frequently, “Those who
perform sadhana twice a day regularly, the thought of Parama Purusa will
arise in mind at the time of death; their liberation is a sure guarantee.”

Thus, in the Supreme Command, Baba guarantees liberation to all sadhakas
– irrespective of the bundle of samskaras that they are carrying. And
here’ s how it works.

At the time of death, one witnesses a movie-like series of images that
flashes across one’s citta covering their life’s events. Typically that
produces a range of thoughts and the common person will get glued to one
of those worldly thoughts.

Things like: Yelling, thievery, stealing, harassment, killing, as well
as good thoughts like feeding others. But the dominant thought that
comes most strongly is usually something negative – not a benevolent ideal.

Then as soon as their body expires, the person will be in search of a
new body that matches up with their prevailing thought, or samskara. In
that way common people get reborn as dogs, bugs, mice, humans, stones etc.

It does not happen to just humans. In Jamalpur, Baba did a demonstration
where He made Dasrathji a medium to see a margii’s past life. There was
a yogi doing meditation who got bit by one wasp. The yogi he killed that
wasp – there was no reaction for the yogi – and the wasp died with the
thought of the yogi in mind and was reborn as that margii sadhaka.

Here the point is that one’e rebirth depends on one’s mental colour or
dominant thought.

Baba says, “One acquires a physical body according to the nature of
one’s sam’ska’ras. A human being who behaves like a goat or a dog may be
born as a goat or a dog in the next life, because such an animal body is
the proper base for the congenial expression of the latent sam’ska’ras.
Hence it is not at all impossible for a human being to be reborn as a
hog, a worm, a tree, or even a piece of stone. One’s destiny will be
decided according to the nature of one’s karma – this is an infallible
law.” (AMIWL-7)

Plus in so many discourses Baba tells that those who ideate on money
turn into coin or dollars etc.

But with sadhakas, however, the process is entirely different.

Baba guides us that if one is earnest in doing sadhana twice a day, then
they will get liberation. How? Because normally at the time of death the
mind seeks a new body according to karmic law. But if one is involved in
the thought of Parama Purusa at the time of death, then the rules of
karma do not apply. Then one is not bound by their past actions and
potential reactions. Then the movie reel of negative deeds will not
appear in their mind at the time of death – only the thought of Him will
come. That is His grace. Then one will think nothing other than the
thought of Parama Purusa. In that state all samskaras get burned and the
sadhaka becomes one with Parama Purusa.

For that Baba wants that you must fulfill the guidelines of the the
Supreme Command. You do your duty of sadhana and He fulfllls His
guarantee of liberation. If the first half (i.e. sadhana) is not done
then second half (i.e. liberation) does not happen. Then the sadhaka is
bound.

On this aspect margiis are forunate and we should bring others onto the
path so they can save themselves from the horrors of samskaras and get
liberation. That is also part of the supreme command.

By His grace, when we do sadhana twice daily, then liberation is sure.
That is His divine compassion. Human beings alone cannot overcome all
those samskaras by themselves – His grace is needed. So then Baba
graciously dissolves all the remaining samskaras, and the sadhaka merges
in Him.

That is the special formula. And for it to happen, the pre-requisite is
twice a day sadhana.

One must try earnestly to do sadhana for 30 minutes each sitting- it
need not be perfect sadhana – the mind might flicker and one’s
concentration on the mantra might waver, but one’s sincerity must be
proper. That is the key point: sincerity.

If this type of reverential approach is taken in sadhana twice daily,
then regardless if one’s sadhana is “good” or “bad”, the bhakta is sure
to attain liberation. That practice is enough to ensure that at the time
of death one will think of Him, by His grace, in which case He will take
away all remaining samskaras and grant liberation. That is Guru’s most
gracious promise and boon.

WHY MUKTI IS IMPORTANT

Even then, those in the dark, may think that, “I am not bound – I am
free – I need not seek liberation.” Such is a classic case of sheer
ignorance, sometimes even good sadhakas can think like this.

Here we should always remember that everyone on this earth is bound by
samsakras in one way or another. Every jiiva is bound – bound by death,
by old age, by hunger, by so many things. No one is free.

One can only get temporary satisfaction through worldly things like
food, sleep etc. But then soon again one will feel hungry or tired. It
happens.

Baba says, “To live in this physical world, to preserve our existence,
artha or money is essential. However, we also require parama’rtha.
Parama’rtha is that factor which brings about the permanent cessation of
the triple afflictions. Here permanent cessation means cessation of
those afflictions which, once removed, will never return again in the
future. That artha which brings permanent relief from the pangs of
hunger, which is the instrument of permanent cessation, is called
“parama’rtha”. It is important that you understand the true significance
of “parama’rtha”.” (AV-4)

Only the spiritual sphere can permanently satisfy all human hunger and
yearning.

Only by following the rules and guidelines in the Supreme Command can
one attain eternal peace. Till that time, one will always be engulfed in
some kind of limitation and ignorance.

When we adhere to the Supreme Command – when we do sadhana twice daily
with sincerity – then by His grace we will be relieved of all bondages
and suffering and be granted liberation.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace every Ananda Margii does sadhana twice daily. In that
case liberation is certain.

So no one should get caught up in worry or despair. Baba is controlling
everything. He can and will save us from each and every predicament.
There is no cause for hopelessness or helplessness.

With sincerity in sadhana, He will grace us with only His thought when
we die, ensuring liberation. That is His guarantee in the Supreme Command.

Baba says, ” If one dies while seeking the Supreme, one will surely
attain the Supreme after death. One who is totally absorbed in ideation
on the Supreme becomes one with the Supreme at the time of death. This
is certainly true in the case of devotees.” (AMIWL-9)

Namaskar,
Shantatma

Note 1: UNDERGOING SAMSKARAS

Here are two more points about undergoing samskaras.

(A) You may have noticed how people comment that once one gets initiated
then so many problems and difficulties start happening. That is because
the karmic cycle speeds up so one can undergo all their reactions. Even
then by His grace He will ensure that they get totally exhausted in the
end. So that is one phenomenon.

(B) Side by side, if the mind is high and vibrated then the
manifestation of bad samskaras does not cause mental anguish to the
sadhaka. If one is devotionally remembering Him, then one will feel
light and easy.

For instance, if Baba is coming and one sadhaka is rushing to go see
Baba and while running he cuts his foot. That sadhaka may not even know
that his foot is bleeding because his mind is so engrossed in the
thought of Baba.

That is the way it works. Other may think you are suffering a lot but if
the mind is high, then one does not experience any mental trouble while
undergoing those samskaras.

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Who is blessed one?

Baba says, “The man who is intelligent should, from his very childhood,
move along the path of proto-spirituality. The sooner a man starts and
moves along this path of psycho-spirituality, the better it is. He is
the blessed one.” (AV-12, p.75)

Note: With the start of this happy new year we should once again reflect
how Baba has graced us by providing us all the tools and teachings for
moving along the path of spirituality. So again with renewed vigor we
should be more firm and more sincere in our adherence to Sixteen Points.

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Why Death

Date: Sun 04 Oct 2009 08:57:21 -0000
To: AM-GLOBAL
From: “Jawaharlal Thakur”
Subject: Why Death

Baba

“Toma’r katha’ bheve bheve din ye cale ja’y…” – P.S. 1703

Purport:

Baba, my days are passing thinking about You. In Your ideation, in Your
sadhana, in Your dhyana. In that deep contemplation, my mind goes on
floating towards its origin. But I never reach to the shore– the
terminus. In this vast cosmic creation, my value is just like one tiny
drop in the huge ocean. In spite of this, I have longing for You and I
have the full conviction that I will get You. By Your grace I will
always be ensconced in Your longing. I do not know when the culmination
of my dhyana is going to happen. And when You will accept me; or when
Your divine form will become effulgent in the core of my heart. This
only can happen when You grace me. Baba, in Your longing, my days are
passing– thinking and ideating about You…

== WHY DEATH ==

Namaskar,
In many communities and religions, death is looked upon as one dark,
looming cloud that is hovering over us. For many, death is totally
horrifying.

It is “the end”, “judgment day”, “doomsday”, and so many frightening things.

But in AM, it is not at all like that.

Baba has graciously removed all the fear from the prospect of dying.
Below are His rational and loving explanations about the role of death.

Plus Baba clearly states that in just 15 or 20 years, every sadhaka in
AM can realise Him – thus gaining an eternal place on His Lap.

OUR VIEW OF DEATH

In simple language, Baba clearly explains what is death.

Baba says, “Do you know what death is? Death means a change of form. A
boy of five years became a young man – now, the body of that boy
underwent death. That young man became old – the body of that young man
underwent death. That old man died and he again came here in the form of
a little boy – the body of that old man underwent death. Death means a
change of form.

Va’sa’m’si jiirn’ani yatha’ viha’ya nava’ni grhn’a’ti naro’para’n’i;
Tatha’ shariira’ni viha’ya jiirn’a’nya’ni sam’ya’ti nava’ni dehii.

“Just as you change the old cloth for a new cloth, similarly you change
the old body and you reappear in this world in a new body.” This is what
death is.” (SS-24)

Thus death is nothing but a change in shape or form where one exchanges
their old body for a new one. Death then is not the end, but rather a
bridge to a new beginning. It is a needed avenue for continued growth.

We can also think of it this way.

It is just like if we have a radio that we use for a long time and then
one day it breaks. Then any sensible person will go and purchase a new
radio. That is the way it works.

Similarly, we are His tools – we are His hands and feet. And when our
bodies become too old and broken down to execute their tasks, then He
simply exchanges our physical body for a new one. It is as simple as that.

It is just like if we are operating a bicycle renting business. When one
bicycle can no longer function then we just exchange it for a new one.

In His divine liila, Parama Purusa is doing the same thing. There is no
difference.

DEATH IS JUST CHANGE, NOTHING MORE

Here Baba explains further about the nature of death.

Baba says, “We should explain what maran’a [mortality, death] is.
Maran’a means change. Death is nothing but a change. A five-year-old
child is transformed in due course into a fifteen-year-old boy. In ten
years the child becomes the boy. Thereafter you will never be able to
find the body of the five-year-old child. So the child’s body has
certainly died. So maran’a means change.”

“Because of the physical transformation, the earlier body has become
difficult to trace. Likewise, after another ten years, the boy will be
transformed into a youth; after some time more, the same youth will
become a middle-aged man. And still later he will become an old, infirm
man. The same one entity has moved through a series of transformations,
and in the process every earlier form has undergone change,
metamorphosis, some kind of death. When finally the physical body of the
old man undergoes a still more radical transformation, he will be reborn
as a new baby. This stage of radical transformation we call death.”

“The previous changes we did not consider death, because we could link
the earlier stages to the later stages. We could say that the
fifteen-year-old adolescent had grown up into a twenty-five-year-old
youth. We could find the link. But when an old, infirm gentleman becomes
reborn as a child, we cannot find the link. That is why we give the last
change of the body of the old man the name “death”. The rest of the
changes we do not call death; but in fact all the changes qualify as
death.” (SS-21)

In His above teachings, Baba explains how death happens all the time.
But we do not consider those changes death because we can trace the
continuum of one’s human growth. We only consider it death when one
gives up their physical body entirely. But in the true sense, what we
call death happens all the time. It is only because we lose the link
from one body to the next that people feel so frightened by physical
death and feel it is something permanent.

But in AM, we know it is all His loving liila, so we understand that
death is merely one process that is needed for one’s continued growth
and development. It allows human beings to take new birth and continue
their journey towards Him.

At the same time, as AM sadhakas, for us this one life is enough to
attain Him. More about this is written further down in this letter.

DEATH OCCURS ALL THE TIME

Here again, Baba explains how death is a most ordinary and common
phenomenon.

Baba says, “In every post-exhalation pause, there occurs the death of
the unit being. But after gathering vitality for the second time from
this death or state of pause, the unit being comes alive again during
the next inhalation. If, after the full cycle of inhalation and
exhalation, the physical mechanism is unable to gather vital force from
the state of pause, further inhalation becomes impossible and what we
commonly call death occurs. Actually, the unit structure dies thousands
of times every day, after every exhalation.” (HS-2)

So death is as commonplace as breathing. It is only when one cannot
trace the link from the final exhale in one body to the first inhale in
the next body that makes death so scary for some people.

REACH THE GOAL IN THIS LIFE

So, death is really nothing but a change – from one body to the next.
And in various discourses Baba has revealed that it does not take long
for the body to be reborn. It can happen relatively quickly within just
a few years, or even less. It is His wish.

In the past, the yogis of old would string together two or three
lifetimes to complete their mission. By His grace they would receive the
same mantra in their next birth by one siddha microvita. And their
journey would continue from one life to the next.

No longer is it so difficult.

Baba says, “The people of today do not have to labour quite as hard as
Vaishishta and Vishvamitra had to do in order to discover the way to
move ahead, because modern science and philosophy today are valuable
aids to human progress. The people of today are able to realize the
Supreme Entity in one life, or maybe in 15 to 20 years, for which they
had to practice penance for lives together in the past.” (AFPS-3)

By His grace, every initiated and practicing Ananda Margii can reach the
Supreme Goal in just a short span of time. Thus there is no question of
death and rebirth to complete the journey. By His grace the sadhaka can
bask in eternal bliss in a short period of time, eternally remaining on
His lap.

DEATH IS NEEDED, NOT SCARY

To review, most find death to be a scary phenomenon because they lose
the link from one life to the next. Or they think that death is the end.
Materialists fall in this category.

With our AM spiritual outlook, death is something most ordinary, no
different from breathing or getting older. It is just a point of
transition, where one continues their spiritual journey. It is one
needed element because the body has become too old and a new one is
needed by the sadhaka to fulfill their essential duties. That is all.
Death then is nothing but a special opportunity to gain new form and
complete the journey.

Even then, even more special, is that with AM sadhana, one need not see
death as a change in form. Rather it is a time to remain eternally one
with Baba.

Because with the highly specialized practices of Ananda Marga, one is
sure to reach the Divine Goal in a short span of time. By doing service
and sadhana we can complete the journey. That is Baba’s supreme edict
and divine guarantee.

BABA’S BLESSING

By His grace, Baba has removed all the mystery and fear surrounding
death and at the same time given us the key to reaching Him in this very
life.

Baba says, “So the very purpose of our human creation is to follow the
true dharma; is to maintain spiritual practices in this very life, and
to become one in Him. So dharma sa’dhana’ [means that] by following
dharma we follow our sa’dhana’, we follow our spiritual practices. By
following the spiritual practices we become one with Him. That is the
final victory… Realize that Supreme Being within you. This is your
dharma, this is your path; and let this path be yours, and victory will
surely be yours.” (AV-31)

Namaskar,
Jawaharlal

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Special Creation

Baba says, “There is one defect in jinanis. Two jinanis cannot agree on any
point. Among them, many jinanis believe that agreeing means accepting one’s
defeat. Indeed there are some godly qualities in jinanis. Such as they can
speak in flowery language. Or that with their grandiloguence they can prove
day as night, and night as day. If in daytime one jinani tells to anyone
that it is night, or if during the night they tell that it is day, and if
the next person does not accept what the jinani is telling, then the jinani
will use the their logic and reasoning to prove that person as a top-grade
fool. And he (the jinani) will make it look like this one simple thing the
next person could not understand. Because of this in the sciptures is it
said, ‘Mathitva…’ Meaning, that if an unfathomable amoung of milk is
turned into butter and whey, then jinanis argue and quarel about the whey
and in so doing the butter gets rotten and destroyed.” (Varna Vicitra (H),
p. 49-50)

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