Why So Much Police

Sun, 30 Jun 2013 22:33:08

== Why So Much Police ==

Namaskar,
Here is one teaching from Baba that is highly related with the present-day humanity.

BABA’S SPECIAL TEACHING

“Give each person an aeroplane – very good. “I shall make efforts for each person to have an aeroplane.” Happiness in collective life is very good, but in personal life there should be sacrifice. If there is no sacrifice in personal life, there can never be joy and happiness in collective life. If one person possesses one crore (10 million) rupees and others do not have even sattu (1) there can never be universal well-being in that society or country. One should renounce all luxuries in personal life – all should live happily together. All are the children of the Supreme Father, all should live happily.” (Discourse: Swastika Flag)

(1) Sattu: Flour made from roasted gram (also called chick-pea or garbanzo) or sometimes roasted barley or maize (corn).

“हर मनुष्य को एक-एक aeroplane दे दो–बहुत अच्छा | “हर मनुष्य को ताकि एक-एक aeroplane मिले, मैं उसके लिए मैं चेष्टित रहूँगा”—- ख़ूब ठीक है | सामूहिक-जीवन में भोग, किन्तु वैयष्टिक-जीवन में त्याग | वैयष्टिक-जीवन जीवन में त्याग नहीं रहने से सामूहिक-जीवन में भोग नहीं होता है | एक आदमी के पास अगर एक करोड़ रुपया रह गया, और दूसरी जगह सत्तू-मिर्च नहीं मिलता है; तो उससे समाज का, देश का, राष्ट्र का, कल्याण नहीं है | वह वैयष्टिक-जीवन में वह छोड़ दे सब, त्याग कर दे | सब कोई मिलकर खाए, पिए,—परम पिता के सन्तान हैं, सब मज़े में रहें |” (Discourse: Swastika Jhanda)

APPLYING THIS TO TODAY’S WORLD

In His above guideline, Baba is teaching us that wherever there is great disparity of wealth, wherever there is economic exploitation, wherever there are haves and have-nots, and wherever some are rolling in luxury while others scrounge to get a morsel of food, there will never be peace and harmony in society. Rather there will be rampant thievery, robberies, and a high crime rate.

Nowadays in this era of extreme capitalism, security has increased multi-fold because people have lost trust in one another. There are cameras and surveillance systems on every corner, the police force has become huge, border agents secure all national boundaries, passports and identification are needed to go from place to place, and verily security has been heightened in all levels of society. There is always a camera watching what you are doing. In short, there is a blatant lack of trust in all directions. Everyone thinks the next person may harm them or steal from them.

In the past, perhaps 40 – 60 years ago, such steps were not necessary. Because in those days, the wealth disparity was not so huge.

But now when people think money and material wealth are everything, then they will do anything to accrue more wealth. That brings widespread distrust. What to think of the rich not trusting the poor, people do not trust their neighbors, and parents do not trust their children. Because when material wealth itself is finite and limited, then people become suspicious and fearful: They think that if they do not grab the wealth then someone else will. In this materialistic era, all other human values have become lost; they are but a distant memory. Money reigns supreme.

In such a condition where a privileged few hoard most of the wealth, and money is looked upon as everything, there can never be peace, safety, and security in society. Social harmony and happiness only comes when importance is given to human cardinal values – and only when the rich renounce their wealth and live along side the common people. Only when there is a rational distribution of wealth and the principles of Prout are in place will we have a true human society where all live cooperatively as children of the Supreme Father.

Namaskar,
In Him,
Nataraj

Note: The translation of Baba’s above teaching from the original Hindi to English was done by Dr. T.R. Sukul ji.

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Reflection on How & Why Baba Taught in So Many Ways

Date: 05 Jun 2013 22:47:29 -0000

Baba

This entire posting is composed of 3 parts:
(1) Posting: Reflection on How & Why Baba Taught in So Many Ways;
(2) Closing Thought: Like Swallowing Poison.(3) Prabhat Samgiita #3304

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

== REFLECTION ON HOW & WHY BABA TAUGHT IN SO MANY WAYS ==

Namaskar,
This letter examines Baba’s diverse and psychological manner in guiding sadhakas and non-sadhakas along the path of welfare.

SPEAKS MORE DIRECTLY TO A’NANDA MA’RGIIS

Baba would speak more directly to devotees than others. The closer one was to Him, the more directly He would speak.

For instance, to the general populace, Baba would cite Buddha’s teaching about “Cakuna samvaro sadhu” in order to warn people about the misuse of their indriyas (external organs). From this, people were to infer that Baba was talking about keeping restraint over the motor and sensory organs, bad food etc, whereas many just took it as a general guideline. So Baba was speaking very indirectly and people may or may not understand, depending on the nature of their intellect.

Whereas to Ananda Margiis, Baba would outrightly say, refrain from eating meat or do not go against 16 Points. There was zero scope for misunderstanding. Baba would use direct language because Ananda Margiis are closer to Him. In that case, Baba had more freedom to express Himself. The idea being that where there is more love, then one’s talk can be more direct. There is a great benefit to this as well, then in a shorter span of time He could give more teachings, and we could learn from Him more quickly, by His grace.

So there is great value in direct speech, but Baba could not use this with all. Language is based on the closeness of heart.

Even within Ananda Marga, Baba would employ degrees of directness. With margiis or dadas with whom Baba was closer, either due to their sadhana or His divine grace, He would be even more direct.

To one sadhaka, Baba might say, “So I understand you like chocolate”, and by this way the margii would know that Baba was aware that on ekadashii the margii ate a piece of chocolate.”

Yet to another sadhaka or Dada, Baba might lovingly punish, strongly scold, or embarrass them in front of all in order to guide them and all those present to adhere to all conduct rules, like not eating on fasting day. This latter approach is more direct and swift.

So it all depends on the degree of closeness. Those who were more close would receive His blessing in the form of more direct communication. It is just like how parents do not chastise or scold all the children of the village or community, but certainly they will rebuke and scold their own kids when they do wrong because those parents feel very close with their own children.

Those whom you scold rectify their behaviour more quickly and get the benefit of refining their behaviour. Scolding creates pressure to change the behaviour quickly. Naturally, parents want their own kids to change and rectify their bad behaviour quickly. And those same parent do not feel that same urgency with their neighbors’ children – so they do not scold them. Plus it is also related with the degree of love and affection one has.

Undoubtedly, it was all His liila, Baba loves all, and everything He does and says is filled with His sweet grace and divine compassion, yet in the relative schema of this there were some whom He could communicate with more directly than others.

STYLE OF GUIDING OTHERS

In His public discourses, in order to be psychological and best teach the general populace, Baba would point out the defects of a particular person or group without naming them specifically. That way the general population could get the overall guideline in the most palatable way possible, and those sadhakas with a slightly sharper intellect would always know about whom Baba was speaking. This latter assembly could then benefit most from Baba’s discourse.

Here are a few examples of Baba’s teaching via His indirect voice.

(#1) “Suppose an evil force says, “I, the lord of a certain country, will destroy Ananda Marga from the very root.” A dha’rmika should maintain patience, should be patient. Because the day is soon to come when that evil force is going to be destroyed. Its weapon will serve as a boomerang for its own death. And this happened in the near past, as you all know.” (1)

To innocent people, the above guideline may just be about keeping patience in the face of evil, etc or they may have some other notion. Whereas a proper sadhaka clearly realises that in the above teaching Baba is pointedly referring to the audacious talk and quick demise of Mrs Indira Gandhi. She is the “lord of a certain country” who vowed to “root out” Ananda Marga. So Baba is guiding such sadhakas that just as in the recent past, in the future also no enemy will ever be able to take down Ananda Marga ideology.

And this next guideline is working in a similar manner.

“You have seen with your own eyes that in the past certain powerful persons thought, in their extreme vanity, that they could make or break anything. They perpetrated indescribable tortures and atrocities on Ananda Marga. But even in the face of such torments, Ananda Marga held its head high. There is no power in the universe, in the heaven or in the underworld, which can annihilate Ananda Marga, because Ananda Marga is established on the solid foundation of rationality and righteousness. If those wicked forces engage in fight with Ananda Marga, they will themselves be pulverized: they will be crushed like ants.” (2)

In this above guideline also Baba is indirectly talking about Mrs Indira Gandhi as well as other malevolent forces that attempt to undermine or wipe out Ananda Marga.

(#2) Here is another indirect teaching which Baba has given:

“There are some people who have the opinion that men are especially favoured by Parama Puruśa and that women are not; or that one man is equal to three women. This is dogma. These absurd ideas all originated in dogma. Any intelligent person can easily understand that these propositions are totally hollow and irrational. “The intellect of one man is equal to the intellect of three women” – it is a ridiculous statement. In reality, there may be some cases in which the intellect of one man may be equal only to that of two women. But then there may be other cases where the intellect of one woman may be equal to the intellect of twenty men. Such intelligent women can be found in the world. Or if we speak only of physical weight, then we may find some woman who weighs more than two men. Theoretical statements should not be accepted here.” (3)

In His above teaching Baba is not merely denouncing sexist perspectives but is clearly critiquing the dogmatic ways of Islam. Only in Islam is it thought that three women are equal to one male. So here, without stating it outrightly, Baba is denouncing this point about the Muslim faith. Those in the know clearly understand this, whereas those with a less pointed intellect will not.

(#3) Here is another indirect teaching which Baba has given:

“Yet another religion says, “Know ye, my son, thy God is the only God. All other gods are false gods.” (4)

Without naming the above religion, Baba is making clear-cut reference to the defects of Christianity. If Baba were to mention the name of the religion it would have been more unpsychological, so Baba employed this indirect manner when putting forth His discourse. By this way, His teaching is presented in a very psychological manner.

(#4) Here is another indirect teaching which Baba has given:

“Who are responsible for the distress of these millions of refugees? Those demons in human framework, whom those poor fellows trusted; to give ovations to whom those people rushed to meetings with thousands of garlands; for whose satisfaction people used to don special kinds of [white] caps to cover up their sins.” (5)

By reading the above, some may wonder who are these people in white caps, whereas others may think that Baba is merely talking in general about those who do wrong to the people. But those with greater insight understand that Baba is directly condemning the hypocrisy of the Congress party of India. It was this political group led by Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru which accepted the praises of the people yet divided the country – thereby leading to the displacement and death of millions of innocent citizens. And still today they use white caps.

(#5) Here is another indirect teaching which Baba has given:

“I cannot support the attitude of those who denounce capitalism at every opportunity, because this allows capitalists to become alert and invent more scientific and devious ways to exploit the people. Those who lack a constructive ideology will never be capable of destroying capitalism.” (6)

At first glance, some may just conclude that Baba is against capitalism or the enemies thereof, but that is not the main essence of His guideline. The unnamed ism that Baba is denouncing is socialism / communism. Such leftists always criticise the status quo of capitalism but have no proper teaching of their own. So that is what Baba is clearly teaching in His guideline.

(#6) Here is another indirect teaching which Baba has given:

“Once a certain mahápuruśa who happened to be an orthodox Máyávádin was walking along the road in Kashi [adjacent to Varanasi]…one morning a wild bull suddenly started to charge that mahápuruśa, so he ran away as fast as his legs could carry him. A logician who happened to be standing nearby asked the mahápuruśa, “Well sir, if you say that this world is unreal, then the bull is also unreal, so why are you running in fear?” That mahápuruśa would not accept any defeat in logic and replied, “My running away is also unreal.” This is the way things went on for many centuries.” (7)

In the above story, Baba is talking specifically about a particular philosopher and his teaching. Some may just think this is a humorous tale or some random anecdote. However, here Baba is referring to the Shrii Shankaracarya ji and his teaching of mayavada, or illusion theory. So Baba is clearly telling us, in a psychological and humorous manner, that mayavada is 100% impractical – just a bogus theory that is impossible to follow in day to day life – and that Shankaracayara was incapable of following his own philosophy.

(#7) Here is another indirect teaching which Baba has given:

“When people’s ideas are so fixed that they will not entertain any discussion or argument it is called “fanaticism”. It is said that religion is a question of faith, not logic. In India, there are many religious fanatics. Due to religious fanaticism and bigotry, there have been innumerable violent clashes in the past. How repugnant that thousands of people were killed on the pretext of a single strand of hair! These fanatics never bothered to listen to the beliefs of others, and moreover, for them it is a sin to listen to others. In one sense they are worse than animals, because animals do not harbour any communal feeling. Physical sentiments are predominant in such religious expressions. People should keep aloof from the bondages of religion. Behind all religious dogma, physical considerations are dominant. One community considers it a sin to eat beef but not goats or deer. The custom of wearing a vermilion mark on the head and forehead by Indian women is an expression of religious sentiment. The women of other countries do not follow this practice. It does not matter at all if Indian women stop using vermilion. All religions exploit people by appealing to religious sentiments.” (8)

In His above guideline, Baba is pointing out some of the inherent dogmas of Hinduism like the brahmin caste sentiment and sacred thread, as well as the hypocrisy that only the cow is holy while other animals may be slaughtered. By not stating the name of the religion, Baba resorts solely to logic and reasoning, as well as practical examples to uncover and question these existing dogmas including the vermillion mark etc.

And there are countless other instances in His discourses where Baba is indirectly speaking about a particular person such as Karl Marx, Carvaka, Sigmund Freud, Mahatma Gandhi, Franklin Deleanor Roosevelt, or group such as Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, or any other type of political party or ism.

The main idea is that in His public discourses, Baba would use indirect language so His teachings and guidelines were presented in a very psychological manner.

TELLING PA DADA NOT TO RECORD

It is also important to note that Baba would deliver many of His political or anti-dogma oriented discourses in the company of Ananda Margiis, yet that discourse was going to be printed for all to see. In that case, when Baba just wanted to clarify something about a particular political leader or speak directly about the hypocrisy of a so-called religious prophets, then Baba would tell PA Dada to “turn off the microphone”. Then Baba would candidly speak very directly and openly to those bhaktas present. And then when He wished, He would continue the recording of the discourse using indirect language. This was a common phenomenon.

BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES

There is another angle to this matter as well.

As Ananda Margiis, we must have excellent grasp of Baba’s indirect use of language. That way we can confidently apply His teachings to every issue.

For instance, Baba has said very little directly about some highly controversial issues like abortion etc. In His printed discourses, this term is hardly even mentioned.

Yet Baba’s guideline on this issues is crystal clear. In so many discourses Baba has talked about the importance of yama and niyama and the meaning of ahimsa, ie. not inflicting harm on others. Plus He has placed great emphasis on reverence for life, and told that life starts inside the womb when a human mind is attached with the fertilised egg. From these various teachings, it is quite clear that Baba has given us a pointed approach on this issue of abortion. Any sadhaka can easily infer that Ananda Marga is cent-per-cent against abortion.

Hence, by being more familiar with Baba’s teachings, even seemingly controversial or complex issues become crystal clear. Then we can better understand His indirect language and easily apply His teachings to otherwise tricky topics.

EXAMPLE OF DIRECT TEACHING

In contrast to all of the indirect teachings outlined above, here is an example of one of Baba’s direct teachings where He specifically names Shankaracharya.

“Another example: According to Shankaracharya’s school of philosophy, everything is Máyá – that is, there is illusion in the beginning, illusion in the middle and illusion in the end. This is called pramáda in Sanskrit. But then, that same Shankaracharya composed hymns to the River Ganges: Devii Sureshvarii Bhagavatii Gaunge [“O Divine Gaungá, goddess who has descended from the heavenly abode of the gods”]. According to him, the entire universe is false; so in this false universe, the River Ganges is also false! So what was the necessity of eulogizing such a false river? This is a case of somersaulting to save oneself from a very embarrassing position, just like a harmless snake pretending to be poisonous. This is a very fine example of a metamorphosed sentimental strategy. There may be some people who will consider this change of sentimental strategy to be a natural process of evolution, but in fact it is not evolution but a metamorphosis of strategy. Evolution does not take place so quickly nor so easily.” (9)

So in His above teaching, Baba points out the inherent hypocrisy of Shankaracharya’s illusion theory. Anyone who reads this paragraph will easily understand that Baba is criticizing Shankaracharya’s philosophy and approach. This is unlike His indirect teachings where the name of the person or religion is not given.

WE SHOULD FOLLOW THIS APPROACH

As sadhakas we are to propagate His teachings to one and all. So we have much to learn from Baba’s style of communication. Our approach must be both psychological and palatable. We should perfectly follow Baba’s example.

We should always evaluate with whom we are speaking and then apply the proper voice. With those whom we are more close we can avoid lengthy talks and descriptions and use very direct language such as “Do this…” or “Don’t do that…”.

And with those who are less close, we will have to take a more measured and calculated approach. By this way, step by step, we will be able to share Baba’s teachings with all, in the best way possible.

So understanding Baba’s indirect use of language offers two distinct benefits:

1) We can better understand and apply Ananda Marga ideology to daily life circumstances.
2) We can better present His teachings to the various types of people that live in society.

BABA’S BLESSING

“The potentialities of your intellect are extremely limited. What can a small brain in a small cranium do? Therefore the best thing to do is to request Him for proper guidance.”

Sa no buddhya’ shubhaya’ sam’yunaktu.

“So that He may guide our intellect, and keep our intellect connected with shubha [blessedness].” (10)

Our Beloved Baba has an especially dynamic way of teaching. He changes His language based on His audience.

With those who are more close, i.e. His devotees, He uses direct language, and with those who less close, i.e. the general public, Baba speaks in indirect language.

We should carefully and clearly study Baba’s manner both so that we may better understand His teachings as well as employ this same technique to guide others.

Namaskar,
In Him,
Acintya

REFERENCES
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 6
2. A Few Problems Solved – 4, Forward Movement Is the Essence of Life
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 15
4. Human Society – 1
5. NH-LOI, Disc: 10
6. Problems of the Day, #3
7. Namámi Krśńasundaram, Disc: 10
8. Prout in a Nutshell – 21, How to Unite Human Society
9. Liberation of Intellect: Neo-Humanism, Disc: 10
10. Ananda Vacanamrtam-5

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.

***************************************
Like Swallowing Poison

“Suppose you rear hens, you feed them rice and of course you love them also. If someone takes one of your hens, you will fall out with him, and even come to blows. But it is that out of selfless love? Love must be untarnished and free from the least bit of selfishness. You feed the hens for your benefit; you are motivated by the thought that one day the hen will lay eggs and you will earn money by selling them. “Nija sukha la’gi ye kare pirite se ja’ni garala kha’ye” — One who loves others for self-interest, swallows poison.” (Tattva Koumudi)

Note: Everyone knows that this above teaching from Baba is the idea of 2nd lesson. But whether one follows or not one should ask oneself, and try to perfect it.
***************************************
Prabhat Samgiita #3304

Baba

“(Tumi) ga’ne esecho, pra’n’e chonya’ da’o…” (PS 3304)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, by Your cosmic grace You have come to me in my song. By Your sweet grace You came in my mind while I was singing Prabhat Samgiita. Your blissful arrival has stirred my entire existence. O’ Divine Entity, now please shower me with a wee-bit more of your grace, giving a soothing touch to my aching heart. Please come very close with Your smiling face and blossom Your effulgent Self deep inside my mind. O’ my dearmost, please grace me by coming closer and still more close in my dhyana.

O’ Supreme One, You are so charming and enchanting. The entire day has passed in Your ideation – thinking of You. Now the effulgence of the evening sky is glittering. All the 24hrs are moving in Your sweet flow. O’ Parama Purusa Baba, since You have come to me then why not remain with me forever and make me Yours. Baba, please keep me as Your very own – up to eternity.

O’ Divine Entity, You are bliss personified. By Your august presence this illuminating evening, which thrills my whole being with goosebumps, should remain up to eternity. By Your grace let this blissful occasion of Your divine arrival last forever. O’ Parama Purusa, please be gracious and let all my devotional longing and loving memories float endlessly in Your tune by Your grace. With Your divine compassion You have come and showered me in Your bliss.

Baba, O’ Parama Purusa, Your presence is beyond comparison. Baba, You are mine…

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Can Everyone Become a Billionaire

From:
Subject: Can Everyone Become a Billionaire
To: anandamargauniversal1@yogasamathanam.net
Date: Tue, 07 May 2013 20:33:48

Baba

This entire email is composed of 3 parts:
(1) Posting: Can Everyone Become a Billionaire?;
(2) Trailer Quote: Divine Guideline in Dhyana Process;
(3) Prabhat Samgiita #744;

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

== CAN EVERYONE BECOME A BILLIONAIRE? ==

Namaskar,
Everything in this manifested universe is limited, i.e. counted. That means all the resources such as land, water, air are also limited – as is money. There is no such thing as an infinite supply of money. If there is no number on a given currency note then it is viewed as fake.

In this day and age, with top capitalists becoming billionaires there is an extreme dearth of financial resources for others. Because money is limited and the world’s population is nearly 7 billion. In that case, there is not even enough money for everyone on the planet to have 1000 dollars, let alone become a millionaire or billionaire.

Or think in this way.

If in your house you had 2 dozen bananas and there were four or five people living there, then everyone cannot have 20 bananas. And if even one person grabs 20 bananas, there will be hardly anything left for the others in the household.

HOW THEY BECAME RICH

Nowadays, some are becoming very wealthy economically by all kinds of deceptive schemes: Not paying proper wages, white-collar crime, lobbying and making rules in their own favour, and by making others starve and live half-naked. When even a single person becomes a billionaire, then millions of people lose their money and become beggars. The whole society loses its balance.

Yet that is the way things are going on nowadays. And the media is in the hands of the capitalists whereby various glamourous magazines count and glorify the number of billionaires, while those lacking the basic necessities and starving go unnoticed. There is not any news about those who have lost all that they own and got pushed from their hearth and home. Those nameless, faceless people live in obscurity while the ultra-rich are glorified up to the stars.

Those who hoard money are capitalists; and, the only way to solve the situation at present is to create the pressure of circumstances and forcibly remove the money from their hands.

We should all familiarize ourselves with the Proutistic teachings as given by Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar for resolving this dire situation and dealing with such capitalists.

Here we should know and understand exactly how to deal with both capitalists and capitalism – since this greedy way of life is on its last legs. Prout’s policy about the followers of capitalism is very straightforward.

PROUT IS AGAINST THE HOARDING OF WEALTH

We all know that the hoarding of wealth is the practice of capitalism. And that those who do like that are known as capitalists.

Here following Shrii PR Sarkar directs us to take a strong stand against such capitalist exploiters.

“I have discussed above that each of the crude things that we endure or enjoy is limited and so it is not desirable that any of them should be stockpiled in any of the individuals’ possession…Individual hoarding of mundane resources and wealth must be stopped, even by force if need be.” (1)

Further, it is a known fact – as described above – that material wealth is limited. And nowadays the globe is becoming even smaller. So if anyone is hoarding huge wealth then surely they are depriving others of their due and pushing them towards the brink of starvation etc.

Prout philosophy states, “Human hunger is limitless. If it is channelised in the direction of worldly objects, conflicts between one human being and another are bound to persist because mundane wealth is limited. Excessive hoarding of wealth within one group implies scarcity in another.” (2)

Hence by these above mandates, it is clear that Prout is adamantly against the capitalist practice of hoarding wealth and that those capitalists who do like this must be opposed. Such capitalists are enemies of the society.

CONCLUSIVE IDEA

All cannot become billionaires. The theory of capitalism is itself defective, and the staunch adherents of capitalism must be opposed. People must be educated and taught new values where they think for the welfare of others, just as in ideal family life.

Namaskar,
in Him,
Tarakanath

REFERENCES:
1. Universal Humanism
2. Problems of the Day, #37

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.

******************************************
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.
******************************************

Prabhat Samgiita #744

“Asha’ni ulka’ upeks’a’ kori a’lokatiirthe calo cali…” (P.S. 744)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, by Your grace I will go on marching ahead towards the effulgence, my Goal, by avoiding and overcoming all sorts of obstacles like lightening and thunderbolts & meteors. By Your grace, I will not be afraid of the thorns and difficulties on the path. With Your strength, I will root them out, throw them away, and move on and on. O’ my Lord, all my energy is coming from You.

O’ the Supreme Entity, on the path of my forward movement, there so many insects & nuisances. Plus various types of demons, ghosts, witches, and goblins are trying to create disturbances and fear on my journey. But by Your divine grace when I have fixed the determination in my mind to move towards You, then I will not rest until I reach the Goal.

O’ Parama Purusa, O’ Baba, by Your grace, with my feet I will go on crushing all the obstacles on the path, no matter how insurmountable they may seem. Baba. Your immense blessing is always with me. You are my Source and You are my Savior…

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Baba

This entire posting is composed of 3 parts:
(1) Posting: Can Everyone Become a Billionaire?;
(2) Trailer Quote: Divine Guideline in Dhyana Process;
(3) Prabhat Samgiita #744;

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

== CAN EVERYONE BECOME A BILLIONAIRE? ==

Namaskar,
Everything in this manifested universe is limited, i.e. counted. That means all the resources such as land, water, air are also limited – as is money. There is no such thing as an infinite supply of money. If there is no number on a given currency note then it is viewed as fake.

In this day and age, with top capitalists becoming billionaires there is an extreme dearth of financial resources for others. Because money is limited and the world’s population is nearly 7 billion. In that case, there is not even enough money for everyone on the planet to have 1000 dollars, let alone become a millionaire or billionaire.

Or think in this way.

If in your house you had 2 dozen bananas and there were four or five people living there, then everyone cannot have 20 bananas. And if even one person grabs 20 bananas, there will be hardly anything left for the others in the household.

HOW THEY BECAME RICH

Nowadays, some are becoming very wealthy economically by all kinds of deceptive schemes: Not paying proper wages, white-collar crime, lobbying and making rules in their own favour, and by making others starve and live half-naked. When even a single person becomes a billionaire, then millions of people lose their money and become beggars. The whole society loses its balance.

Yet that is the way things are going on nowadays. And the media is in the hands of the capitalists whereby various glamourous magazines count and glorify the number of billionaires, while those lacking the basic necessities and starving go unnoticed. There is not any news about those who have lost all that they own and got pushed from their hearth and home. Those nameless, faceless people live in obscurity while the ultra-rich are glorified up to the stars.

Those who hoard money are capitalists; and, the only way to solve the situation at present is to create the pressure of circumstances and forcibly remove the money from their hands.

We should all familiarize ourselves with the Proutistic teachings as given by Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar for resolving this dire situation and dealing with such capitalists.

Here we should know and understand exactly how to deal with both capitalists and capitalism – since this greedy way of life is on its last legs. Prout’s policy about the followers of capitalism is very straightforward.

PROUT IS AGAINST THE HOARDING OF WEALTH

We all know that the hoarding of wealth is the practice of capitalism. And that those who do like that are known as capitalists.

Here following Shrii PR Sarkar directs us to take a strong stand against such capitalist exploiters.

“I have discussed above that each of the crude things that we endure or enjoy is limited and so it is not desirable that any of them should be stockpiled in any of the individuals’ possession…Individual hoarding of mundane resources and wealth must be stopped, even by force if need be.” (1)

Further, it is a known fact – as described above – that material wealth is limited. And nowadays the globe is becoming even smaller. So if anyone is hoarding huge wealth then surely they are depriving others of their due and pushing them towards the brink of starvation etc.

Prout philosophy states, “Human hunger is limitless. If it is channelised in the direction of worldly objects, conflicts between one human being and another are bound to persist because mundane wealth is limited. Excessive hoarding of wealth within one group implies scarcity in another.” (2)

Hence by these above mandates, it is clear that Prout is adamantly against the capitalist practice of hoarding wealth and that those capitalists who do like this must be opposed. Such capitalists are enemies of the society.

CONCLUSIVE IDEA

All cannot become billionaires. The theory of capitalism is itself defective, and the staunch adherents of capitalism must be opposed. People must be educated and taught new values where they think for the welfare of others, just as in ideal family life.

Namaskar,
in Him,
Tarakanath

REFERENCES:
1. Universal Humanism
2. Problems of the Day, #37

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.

******************************************
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.
******************************************

Prabhat Samgiita #744
“Asha’ni ulka’ upeks’a’ kori a’lokatiirthe calo cali…” (P.S. 744)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, by Your grace I will go on marching ahead towards the effulgence, my Goal, by avoiding and overcoming all sorts of obstacles like lightening and thunderbolts & meteors. By Your grace, I will not be afraid of the thorns and difficulties on the path. With Your strength, I will root them out, throw them away, and move on and on. O’ my Lord, all my energy is coming from You.

O’ the Supreme Entity, on the path of my forward movement, there so many insects & nuisances. Plus various types of demons, ghosts, witches, and goblins are trying to create disturbances and fear on my journey. But by Your divine grace when I have fixed the determination in my mind to move towards You, then I will not rest until I reach the Goal.

O’ Parama Purusa, O’ Baba, by Your grace, with my feet I will go on crushing all the obstacles on the path, no matter how insurmountable they may seem. Baba. Your immense blessing is always with me. You are my Source and You are my Savior…

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Re: How Shudras Are Brainwashed #3

== RE: HOW SHUDRAS ARE BRAINWASHED ==

~ Part 3 ~

Namaskar,

“During the holidays and weekends, companies organise various types of “fun” gatherings like picnics and seminars etc whereby the employees pass even their leisure time under the “protective care” of the company. They even take family vacations with their company. The whole point being that employees are led to believe that the company is actually their family. Once this idea gets set in the mind, those employees will walk to the ends of the earth to get the job done for their cherished company.”

Lately others have brought the point how big capitalists cast their spell on many of their employees. Certainly there are a growing number of citizens whose eyes are opened wide to capitalist exploitation. Yet, at the same time, those capitalists continue to control and steamroll large sections of the workforce. Their special tactic is to brainwash employees into being loyal to the company – when in reality the “company” is the huge profit-making by a few vaeshyans. All others suffer at the hands of their ruthless exploitation.

In response our approach is two fold. First, create more vikśubdha shúdras, i.e. conscious employees who possess the requisite awareness and fighting spirit to stand up to capitalist exploitation. Second, introduce and implement the workings of Prout’s cooperative system. By this dual approach, we can handily overcome the current vaeshyan rule.

COOPERATIVES ARE A KEY ASSET

Once there is a critical mass of vikśubdha shúdras wherein employees and citizens are critically aware of the capitalist exploitative machinery, the Proutistic system of cooperatives is the only way to organise society so it can permanently slip away from the grips of present day blood sucking capitalists.

Prout says, “Cooperatives, run by moralists, are the only safeguard against capitalistic exploitation.” (Prout in a Nutshell – 13, p.8)

Next we learn more about important aspects & vital components of the cooperative system.

Prout says, “The success of cooperative enterprises depends on three factors: morality, strong administration and the whole-hearted acceptance of the cooperative system by the people.” (Prout in a Nutshell – 13, p.8)

So the Proutist system of cooperatives is the main way to re-build the society in the socio-economic sphere. To achieve this, there must be a widespread movement amongst people to seek out a solution to the vaeshyan rule. Other key factors include an organized approach and strict moralists.

HOW COOPERATIVES OPERATE

“in the cooperative model, the fair-minded earnings of the collective are rationally divided between all participants.

Prout theory states, “The total profit of such co-operatives should be distributed amongst the workers and members of the co-operative according to their individual capital investment in the cooperative and to the service they render to the production and management of the co-operative.” (Prout in a Nutshell – 14, p.46)

Thus, as Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar describes above, in the cooperative system the profits are shared based on the merit system – but all are guaranteed enough funds for the necessities of life. In that way, all members of the cooperative earn a fair portion based on their investment and work ethic. This is one of the revolutionary qualities of the cooperative model.”

The Proutistic model of the cooperative system is quite grand and dynamic. It is a win-win situation. All involved in the cooperative benefit greatly according to the degree of their activity and investment.

Plus there will be cooperatives in all aspects of socio-economic life: Farmers cooperatives, artist cooperatives, banking cooperatives etc. Here below Shrii Prabhat Ranajan Sarkar guides us about how the farming / agricultural cooperative will work:

“Cooperative managers should be elected from among those who have shares in the cooperative. Members of agricultural cooperatives will get dividends in two ways – according to the amount of land they donated to the cooperative, and according to the amount of their productive manual or intellectual labour. To pay this dividend, initially the total produce should be divided on a fifty-fifty basis – fifty percent should be disbursed as wages and fifty percent should be paid to the shareholders in proportion to the land they donated. Local people should get first preference in participating in cooperative enterprises.” (A Few Problems Solved – 9, Some Specialities of Prout’s Economic System)

Similarly, the profits and gains of every cooperative will be rationally and justly shared with all members, according to their level of involvement etc.

NOW VAESHYAN ERA IN FULL SWING:

MANY ARE GETTING EXPLOITED

Currently, however, the vaeshyan era is running at high speed – and that spells disaster for employees.

Here it should be known that employee means all levels of employees from common laborers to high level managers. Some may be thinking that employee only refers to those low paying jobs. But that is not the case. Because in the height of the vaeshyan rule all get exploited – all become shudras.

Prout theory states, “Consciousness should be developed among shúdras in order to protect them from the inhuman greed of the vaeshyas. All non-vaeshyas slip into shúdra-hood on the eve of a shúdra revolution.” (Humans Society – 2, The Kśatriya Age)

The point being that even many fancy white-collar, higher level employees are getting viscously exploited and brainwashed in this current capitalist structure. Because these so-called well-paid employees work day and night to please their executives and in return are left with nothing left in their life but their job, and the mirage that they are great. When in fact they are mere lackeys for their higher ups – carrying cell phones 24 hrs per day and never getting one ounce of time to even consider and reflect upon their own life. But even then they continue on in their toil as they live out their delusion. Certainly not all employees fall in this category, as some are alert to the tendencies and tactics of capitalists. However, a large swath of the labour force are pinned down in this way.

So whether hourly wage earning employees or big-time managers, all are just pawns in the midst of capitalist exploitation. Because those cunning capitalists have convinced everyone to join their team by selling their soul. However, with every passing day, there is a growing rise of vikśubdha shúdras. As this number increases and we spread the name and ideals of Prout, the faster capitalism will meet its end.

THE FALSE FAMILY FEELING STRATEGY

The common theme these days is for companies to not be a mere company but rather to be “a family”. In this way they project themselves – such as the Walmart family, the Microsoft family, the Exxon-Mobil family, the Nike family etc. By this way those top CEO’s suck more of the blood of their employees.

And they get success. One reason being that in our western capitalistic countries the general populace does not have big, extended families. Nor do they maintain a strong connection with their unit family. Devoid of that, the company is able to step-in and brainwash the employees to think that the company is really their main family, and that the employees should sacrifice for the company and think first about the company’s well-being. Like this those company executives train and mold the minds of their employees in order to set the stage for massive, uncontrolled exploitation.

NOT EASY TO AWAKEN THOSE EMPLOYEES

Indeed those manipulative vaeshyans have done such a masterful job of brainwashing and winning over their employees that if anyone tries to awaken those exploited employees then those employees become angry and lash out. In roaring fashion, they come to the defense of their company and become hostile toward any who approach.

So those employees do not like to hear any talk about brainwashing or psychic exploitation. Instead they blame that whistle-blower for being a trouble maker, jealous of their job, etc etc.

Thus when dealing with these exploited and brainwashed employees one must behave in a very delicate and psychological way. It is just like dealing with a very sick person who is not in proper health due to some disease. The mental condition of those brainwashed employees is no different from those sickly people.

This is the state of affairs nowadays.

Ananda Margiis are aware how this is all going on, and in society there is a growing number of vikśubdha shúdras who are keen to overturn capitalist exploitation. They may not know how or what to do, but they see the capitalists for who they are.

So our duty is to awaken more and more the extreme exploitation that is going on. Everyone must be made aware and society must advance into the next era.

THE SUFFOCATING GRIP OF CAPITALISTS

Under the vaeshyan rule, the entire society falls into the grips of capitalist exploitation. All levels and grades of employees get exploited from upper-level management all the way on down to the basic laborers. That is what we see going on today.

Prout philosophy says, “Today the whole human society is subjected to ruthless exploitation by capitalists. Capitalist exploitation has brought the very existence of humanity to the brink of extreme catastrophe by spreading its exploitative tentacles into every aspect of human life.” (Prout in a Nutshell – 13)

ABOUT THEIR BRAINWASHING MANEUVER

Next we see how through their brainwashing maneuvers capitalists have gained control of the society.

“Rapacious Vaeshyas or capitalists are taking advantage of this intellectual inertness [i.e. brainwashing] and have spread a subtle web of exploitation into every corner of society, enabling them to suck the vitality out of the collective body. Through this process the Vaeshyas are insidiously perpetuating their reign of exploitation.” (Prout in a Nutshell – 13, ‘Capitalism Three Spheres’)

WHO IS SHUDRA

Throughout His Proutistic teachings, Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar has discussed the mind-set of those who get exploited by capitalist in the height of the vaeshayan era. Those who give way to this mentality are verily shudras. Unfortunately, now in the early part of this 21st century, many fall in this category.

“Shúdras live only for physical enjoyment. They neither bother about ideology nor give any value to rationality. Of the three aspects of time – past, present and future – they think only about the present. They have neither the time nor the inclination to think about the past or the future. Religion, spirituality and a genuine social system have no significance for them…”
“Shúdras are always sleeping. They can perform work only if someone wakes them up. Once the work is done, they go back to sleep. In order to maintain the cáturvarńika (i.e. shudra, ksatriya, vipra, & vaeshya) social system, some work will have to be taken from the shúdras. Consciousness should be developed among shúdras in order to protect them from the inhuman greed of the vaeshyas. (All non-vaeshyas slip into shúdra-hood on the eve of a shúdra revolution.)” (Humans Society – 2, The Kśatriya Age)

CAPITALISTS WANT TO RUIN COOPERATIVE SYSTEM

Here following Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar – the Propounder of Prout – is sounding the call how corrupt capitalists aim to root out the cooperative approach.

“The main reason for the failure of the cooperative system in different countries of the world is rampant immorality which has been perpetrated by capitalist exploiters so that they can maintain their
economic exploitation.” (Prout in a Nutshell – 13, p. 8)

THE SUCCESS OF PROUT IS SURE

More and more are awakened to the extreme degree of exploitation carried out by capitalist leaders. That is enough to spell the demise of capitalism coupled with the rise of the God-centered teachings of Prout.

“We are near the last stage of the Vaeshya Era. If an impact is created, it will help the suffering humanity. It is the most opportune moment for creating an all-round revolution. This is a new sub-theory under Proutistic theory and may be called gati vijina´na – the science of dynamics in PROUT.” (Proutist Economics – Economic Dynamics – 1)

Namaskar,
In Him,
Kalyansundaram

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RE: HOW SHUDRAS ARE BRAINWASHED

== RE: HOW SHUDRAS ARE BRAINWASHED ==

~ Part 2 ~

Namaskar,
Those aware about the teachings of Prout are keenly aware about the avaricious and exploitative approach of big capitalists. In countless discourses, Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar has exposed the blood-sucking ways of those vaeshyan leaders [wealthy businessman]. Here, we are referring to those top-most corporate heads who lead business enterprises and exploit the common people. Through their own greedy mind-set, they resort to psychic exploitation to manipulate the masses.

“In straightforward language it can be said the main goal of capitalists is to draw more and more blood from the common mass, i.e. to make money off of the efforts of others. In this regard, the greed and devouring approach of such capitalists knows no bounds. Their main strategy is to create a group of employees and manipulate them into working night and day. Then those bosses keep all profits for themselves. This is essentially what top vaeshyas aim to do. Hard-working and dutiful employees get virtually nothing for all their sweat and blood. Instead, all the cream goes to those top company executives – i.e. those blood-sucking capitalists. That is the chief characteristic of the vaeshyan era – the top people gain control over most of the money while countless others do all the work.”

Indeed, capitalist psychic exploitation is being carried out at a ghastly pace and the chief underlying factor is that they have molded the minds of the common people. Various labour unions have put up big battles against these capitalist forces, but in the height of this vaeshyan era, the capitalists have won, temporarily. That means for the time being they have brainwashed the majority of the public – i.e. their employees are ready to respond to their every beckon and call. Those top company executives get what they want done with the willing help of their exploited employees, i.e. shudras.

And more about their brainwashing techniques is described below.

AGAINST THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT OF HUMANITY

As Proutists, as Ananda Margiis, and as citizens, we should know that the days of the capitalists reign are numbered. They will not be in power forever. Such capitalists have gone against the fundamental right of humanity. This entire creation is the property of Parama Purusa , and we are all His children; thus the wealth of this universe is the common patrimony of all. By this God-centered, spiritual outlook every human being has equal right to the moveable and immoveable property of this universe. As soon as people become critically aware of this right, the days of capitalist rule will be in peril.

Already, there is a section of the workforce in the capitalist system that is aware of vaeshyan exploitation. These conscious labourers, known as vikśubdha shúdras, try mightily to raise the call and put an end to capitalist exploitation. Now they are too few in number, so the capitalist system carries on. However, soon that will change.

Certainly most Ananda Margiis are acutely aware of the exploitative measures taken by those company leaders. The main approach is that more consciousness raising and awareness is needed in the public sector. And that will come: The people are feeling the squeeze of capitalist exploitation and it will not be long before they search for answers.

THEIR APPROACH OF BRAINWASHING

Unfortunately, as it stands now, a major section of the workforce gets spoon-fed the idea that their company is their well-wisher and friend – that the company is their family. So at first the capitalist enterprise tries to purchase their employees by giving them a small amount of money. Then those capitalist executives inject brainwashing strategies in order maximize employee output and extract tremendous profits from them.

For example, during the holidays and weekends, companies organise various types of “fun” gatherings like picnics and seminars etc whereby the employees pass even their leisure time under the “protective care” of the company. They even take family vacations with their company. The whole point being that employees are led to believe that the company is actually their family. Once this idea gets set in the mind, those employees will walk to the ends of the earth to get the job done for their cherished company.

Company executives get into the mind-set of their employees and by this way drive them to exponentially increase their work. Such employees get so stressed out that they lose their perspective. Those suffering employees get convinced into thinking that their status will be enhanced by making the company more successful. This is another aspect of the brainwashing going on.

In this way, capitalist exploiters exponentially advance their income and increase profits for every employee they hire. They pay the employees 1x amount and from that employee’s work those capitalist make 10x, 50x, 100x or more. When you multiply that by each and every employee, it is quite evident that huge money is going into the bank accounts of those company leaders. All done by psychically exploiting their work-force.

Actually such employees are so brainwashed that they are not shocked or dismayed by this. Rather they glorify their company and pay tribute to and worship the top capitalists of the world. How does this happen? Capitalist opportunists appease and lure their employees by brainwashing them.

To reverse this situation, the activities of labour movements must be supported and more consciousness raising programs are needed to create more vikśubdha shúdras. Actually, with every passing day, more and more a looking for a viable alternative. So the ground is becoming more fertile.

LIKE THE MASTER AND HIS DOG

Altogether, the current situation is just like one master who had a dog. After taking a huge voracious meal the master is fed like a king. If he eats one more morsel he will burp – or worse. In that bloated state, the master feeds a few small leftover scraps to the dog and the dog is forever grateful.

Such is the situation nowadays. Top capitalists garner huge profits while the vast majority of employees in the general society are exploited to the bone. Those employees eat, sleep, & dream about their work. Even on Saturdays and Sundays they get called into work and put in lots of overtime hours that never get clocked. In this way they maintain an arduous work schedule yet earn comparatively nothing in return.

They are so brainwashed that they think the company is their benefactor. So when they get a “bonus” they become thrilled as if that is really something great. When in fact from their efforts their employers make huge profits that are piled to the sky. As an afterthought those big bosses half-heartedly toss a few copper coins in the direction of their employees. By this tactic, those capitalists get renewed vigor, commitment and faith from their employees. All because those employees have become psychically crippled by their bosses.

This is the way the situation is going on these days. All because much of the the general public is unaware and in their ignorance they revere those capitalists and are ready to do anything for them.

However, in this present hour, the number of vikśubdha shúdras is growing as more are becoming aware of the exploitative methods of such capitalists. As soon as the common people become aware of their rights, a critical mass will be reached, and they will not sit and watch capitalists hoard all the wealth. Rather they will be primed to jump into action and pay heed to the calls of “No more capitalist exploitation – All have the right to the wealth of the universe.”

MULTI-STEP APPROACH

To overcome the grip of the current vaeshyan model a few things are needed. People must be made aware of their rights; they must gain a keen awareness of capitalist exploitation; they must become vikśubdha shúdras. Then, there will be the requisite momentum to cohesively advance a Proutistic economic system based on the cooperative model.

COOPERATIVES: THE PROUTISTIC ALTERNATIVE

Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar has given the teachings of Prout, including the cooperative system. In the capitalist structure, the over-accumulation of wealth is the aim of top business executives; they want to hoard all the money. Whereas, in the cooperative model, the fair-minded earnings of the collective are rationally divided between all participants.

Prout theory states, “The total profit of such co-operatives should be distributed amongst the workers and members of the co-operative according to their individual capital investment in the cooperative and to the service they render to the production and management of the co-operative.” (Prout in a Nutshell – 14, p.46)

Thus, as Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar describes above, in the cooperative system the profits are shared based on the merit system – but all are guaranteed enough funds for the necessities of life. In that way, all members of the cooperative earn a fair portion based on their investment and work ethic. This is one of the revolutionary qualities of the cooperative model.

CAPITALISTS ARE ANTI-PROUT

In a nutshell, it can be said that capitalists operate in a manner that is 100% contrary to the ways of Prout because those bosses are driven by their extreme selfish desire to pocket huge amounts of money – all the while manipulating and exploiting those doing the work.

In a phrase the capitalist model is profit-motive. Everything and anything is justified by that bottom line. In contrast, Prout is based on the service motive where the economy is consumption based.

So capitalist appraoch is only fueled by owners making more money – at any cost; and, the Proutistic model is for the service and well-being of society. They are diametrically opposite to one another.

More about this striking difference is discussed in various discourses like: Economic Dynamics, Talks on Prout, Decentralized Economy – 1, Socio-Economic Movements, etc.

COOPERATIVES BASED ON COORDINATED COOPERATION

The Proutistic model is entirely different. By awakening the masses and creating more vikśubdha shúdras, we will soon be able to implement the cooperative model.

MORE TEACHINGS ON THE COOPERATIVE MODEL

Here below Shrii Sarkar is furthermore telling about the special benefits of Proutistic cooperatives.

“Through the co-operative system human society will progress with accelerating speed.” (Proutist Economics)

“Co-operatives will greatly assist in psychic and spiritual advancement.” (Proutist Economics)

“PROUT supports the implementation of the co-operative system. Its inner spirit is one of coordinated co-operation, for only that can ensure the healthy, integrated progress of humanity. The co-operative system is essential to establish complete and everlasting unity amongst the human race. People should work to enjoy sweeter fruits by establishing the co-operative system.” (Prout in a Nutshell – 14, p. 40)

PROUT GUIDELINE:

EVERYTHING IS THE COMMON PATRIMONY OF ALL

Here is Prout’s comprehensive call for all to embrace their rights and put an end to capitalism, and establish the ways of Prout.

“None of the movable or immovable property of this universe belongs to any particular individual; everything is the common patrimony of all, and the Father of all is Brahma. All living beings can enjoy their rightful share of this property, like members of a joint family in the Dáyabhága system. As members of a joint family, human beings should safeguard this common property in a befitting manner and utilize it properly. They should also make proper arrangements so that everyone can enjoy it with equal rights, ensuring that all have the minimum requirements of life to enable them to live in a healthy body with a sound mind.” (Problems of the Day, Point #1)

The following Prout principle from Ananda Sutram highlights how surplus wealth should be distributed.

Atiriktaḿ pradátavyaḿ guńánupátena (5-10)

[The surplus wealth should be distributed among meritorious people according to the degree of their merit.]

“Purport: After meeting the minimum requirements of all in any age, the surplus wealth will have to be distributed among meritorious people according to the degree of their merit. In an age when a bicycle is the minimum requirement for common people, a motor vehicle is necessary for a physician. In recognition of people’s merit, and to provide the meritorious with greater opportunities to serve the society, they have to be provided with motor vehicles. The dictum “Serve according to your capacity and earn according to your necessity” sounds pleasing, but will yield no results in the hard soil of the earth.” (Ananda Sutram)

As members of this universal human family, everyone must abide by the tenet that the wealth of this manifested universe belongs to Parama Purusa, and all are His children, so the wealth should be shared rationally amongst all. There must not be scope for people to get caught up in capitalistic tendencies.

“We must not forget, even for a single moment, that the entire animate world is a vast joint family. Nature has not assigned any portion of this property to any particular individual…When the entire wealth of the universe is the common patrimony of all living beings, can the system in which some roll in luxury, while others, deprived of a morsel of food, shrivel up and starve to death bit by bit, be said to have the support of dharma?”
“In a joint family every member is provided with adequate food, clothing, education and medical treatment, and amenities, as per their individual needs, according to the financial capacity of the entire family. If, however, any member of the family appropriates more grains, clothes, books or medicines than he or she requires, will that person not be the cause of distress to other members of the family? In such circumstances his or her actions will be certainly against dharma – certainly antisocial.”
“Similarly, the capitalists of this modern world are anti-dharma, or antisocial, creatures. To accumulate massive wealth, they reduce others to skin and bones gnawed by hunger and force them to die of starvation; to dazzle people with the glamour of their garments, they compel others to wear rags; and to increase their own vital strength, they suck dry the vital juice of others.”
“A member of a joint family cannot be called a social being if he or she does not possess the sentiment of oneness with the other members, or if he or she does not want to accept the lofty ideal of joint rights and the principle of rationality…” (Problems of the Day, Point #1)

CURING CAPITALISTS OF THEIR DISEASE

“A little while ago I said that all crude objects of enjoyment are limited in nature, and thus their accumulation by any one individual is not desirable. Let everybody enjoy as much of the subtle psychic world as they can – let them accumulate as many psychic and spiritual resources as they want – but there must be provision for the application of force if needed to prevent any one individual from accumulating excessive physical resources. The application of physical force will, no doubt, deprive people of some of the wealth they have accumulated or decrease their opportunities to accumulate physical wealth in the future. But it is certainly not impossible, through proper education, to transform people’s desire for material pleasure into a desire for psychic pabula. (In fact, the desire for physical or psychic pabula “springs from innate psychic longings. The desires of the crude mind are easily satisfied.” However, I object to calling the desires of the crude mind pure psychic longings.) This type of education is essential in society today.”
“Such an approach does not deny the world, as do impractical idealists, nor does it attempt to suppress the higher propensities of the human mind, as do materialists.”
“Unless people’s propensities are directed towards subtle forms of expression, their minds tend to get enmeshed in thoughts of petty enjoyment. People who portray themselves as saviours of humanity and espouse high-sounding philosophies from public platforms at the tops of their voices, while at the same time nourishing within themselves the worms of self-interest, can, in any weak moment, deceive the naive public. This is a perfectly natural thing for them to do. Those who want to build a society based on human welfare without first developing themselves fully through spiritual practices, will not only degrade themselves, they will also cause the degeneration of the whole of society. They will not even be able to trust the people with whom they are working. They may initially try to develop their own capacity in order to attain positions of leadership, but eventually their sole aim will be to dominate others instead of developing themselves. When they realize from bitter experience that it is not possible to utilize the society as a vehicle for establishing their group or party supremacy, or when the suppressed masses rise up and revolt, the evil tendency to suppress the people will certainly awaken in them.” (Human Society – 1, Social Justice)

MORE PROUTISTIC TEACHINGS ABOUT CAPITALISTS

(A) Here below Prout teachings outline the key role that vikśubdha shúdras play and why their presence is so vital.

“In a capitalistic social system or in a democratic structure the situation of middle-class people (the vikśubdha shúdras) is generally miserable. This is because they are the greatest critics of capitalism and the strongest opponents of exploitation. An increase in the number of vikśubdha shúdras in a society is an early omen of a possible shúdra revolution. It is therefore the duty of those who want to create a world free of exploitation to help to increase the number of vikśubdha shúdras. It will be harmful for the revolution if these people die or are transformed into shúdra-minded shúdras. All the sadvipras in the world should be vigilant to make sure that the number of vikśubdha shúdras does not decrease due to unemployment, birth control, or other bad practices or policies.” (Human Society – 2, Shúdra Revolution and Sadvipra Society)

(B) In this next teaching, Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar guides us that capitalists will stay in power for a long, long time – until that key moment arrives when there is a rise in mass awareness. That moment is soon to be upon us – we should ready the soil.

“Vaeshyas [wealthy businessman] believe that only a few people can accumulate material wealth, depriving the rest. Thus there will always be only a few vaeshyas, while those who are the objects and tools of their exploitation form the majority. Like exploited beasts of burden which carry bags of sugar, in their crippled state of mind the majority feel that they do not have the right to taste the sweetness. This feeling is the greatest ally of the vaeshyas, so directly or indirectly they always try to nurture this type of feeling in the minds of the majority. Consequently they propagate various types of isms and ethereal theories with the help of the vipras in their pay whom they have reduced to the level of shúdras. When the majority, unable to tolerate this exploitation any longer or find any other way out, desperately leap into action, the Vaeshya Age comes to an end. But it takes a long time for downtrodden people to understand that the vaeshyas are the parasites of society. Hence thorough preparation is required to end the Vaeshya Age.” (Human Society – 2, The Vaeshya Age)

(C) Here Prout philosophy points out how in the height of the vaeshyan era all others get reduced to the status of shudra – all are exploited.

“The vaeshyas increase their wealth by buying the back-breaking labour of the shúdras, the powerful personalities of the kśatriyas, and the intellect of the vipras, according to their needs. The shúdras, just like beasts, sell their physical labour in exchange for mere subsistence. Because they sell their labour, society survives and moves ahead. The powerful personalities of the kśatriyas build and maintain the social structure with the labour extracted from the shúdras. Through their intellect the vipras utilize the personal force of the kśatriyas, and through their money and capitalistic mentality the vaeshyas utilize the vipras’ intellect to increase their wealth.”
“The vaeshyas do not confront any social problem directly. Just as they buy the labour of the shúdras, the personal force of the kśatriyas and the intellect of the vipras with money, so they endeavour to solve all social problems with money. They do not win victory on the battlefield; they buy it with money. In poverty-stricken democratic countries they buy votes. As they accomplish everything with money, their vital force comes from money. They therefore take all sorts of risks in life to accumulate money. For money they can sacrifice their conscience, their sense of good and bad, right and wrong, at any moment. So in order to save the exploited shúdras, kśatriyas and vipras from the vaeshyas, money, which is the source of all their power, has to be taken out of their hands.” (Human Society – 2, The Vaeshya Age)

WHO IS SHUDRA

Throughout His Proutistic teachings, Baba has discussed the mind-set of those who get exploited by capitalist in the height of the vaeshayan era. Those who give way to this mentality are verily shudras. Unfortunately, now in the early part of this 21st century, many fall in this category.

“Shúdras live only for physical enjoyment. They neither bother about ideology nor give any value to rationality. Of the three aspects of time – past, present and future – they think only about the present. They have neither the time nor the inclination to think about the past or the future. Religion, spirituality and a genuine social system have no significance for them…”
“Shúdras are always sleeping. They can perform work only if someone wakes them up. Once the work is done, they go back to sleep. In order to maintain the cáturvarńika (i.e. shudra, ksatriya, vipra, & vaeshya) social system, some work will have to be taken from the shúdras. Consciousness should be developed among shúdras in order to protect them from the inhuman greed of the vaeshyas. (All non-vaeshyas slip into shúdra-hood on the eve of a shúdra revolution.)” (Humans Society – 2, The Kśatriya Age)

Namaskar,
At His lotus feet,
Pradiip

NOTE 1: SIMPLE DEFINITIONS OF SHUDRA AND VAESHYA

Shudra: Those who are busy thinking about their bread and butter and do not have space to think about anything else – just their material existence.

Vaeshya: Wealthy businessman.

NOTE 2: FOR MORE INFORMATION

This entire letter is based on the teachings of Prout. Those who wish to know more about this topic should reference the various discourses on Proutist economic policies, or write in with your queries.

NOTE 3: SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

Please write-in detailing what you have seen with regards to the psychic exploitation of the masses by those capitalists. What strategies have you seem them do to befool and brainwash their employees.

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How Shudras Are Brainwashed

== HOW SHUDRAS ARE BRAINWAHED ==

Namaskar,
The last few years we have seen the pillars of capitalism soften, decay, and nearly crumble. Now the demerits and defects of capitalism seem “obvious” and “clear” to the common people. Even then many still suffer from the ways and strategies outlined below. Few can conceive that something else can work other than capitalism.

Here is one angle of how capitalism got where it is today.

ANANDA MARGIIS ARE AWARE

Every Ananda Margii knows that Baba has given the teachings of the social cycle and that now in this present era we have reached the height of vaeshyan exploitation. The ill effects of this era are rampant and can be seen everywhere. From commercial billboards to the buying and selling of water, air etc, the extreme capitalist presence is quite palpable. Tomorrow we may even awaken to find that one company is selling gravity itself. The whole point being that the rapacious capitalist exploiters are on the prowl. And to achieve their ends they inject numerous types of complexes upon their employees in order to maximize profits. In short, they want more money for themselves.

CAPITALIST COMPANY OUTLOOK

In straightforward language it can be said the main goal of capitalists is to draw more and more blood from the common mass, i.e. to make money off of the efforts of others. In this regard, the greed and devouring approach of such capitalists knows no bounds. Their main strategy is to create a group of employees and manipulate them into working night and day. Then those bosses keep all profits for themselves. This is essentially what top vaeshyas aim to do. Hard-working and dutiful employees get virtually nothing for their all their sweat and blood. Instead, all the cream goes to those top company executives – i.e. those blood-sucking capitalists. That is the chief characteristic of the vaeshyan era – the top people gain control over most of the money while countless others do all the work.

PROUTISTIC OUTLOOK

In contrast, in our God-centered Prout system, there is no single key person who is the owner. Rather the employees themselves are owners. So however hard they work and to whatever degree they are successful, they themselves reap the benefits of their labour. In turn, they must not exploit others and they must abide by all Proutistic principles. The basic idea is that the “employees”, or, more precisely, the members of the co-op, get the direct benefit of their own output. This is part and parcel of Prout’s cooperative system.

BRAINWASHING TECHNIQUE

But in the present day company system, the employees do not get anything. Instead the owners plot & invent strategies how to give them as little as possible and at the same time get the maximum in return. This is the negative mentality of those capitalist owners. And they achieve their ends by imposing a manipulative outlook upon their employees. Here is how that works.

Even though top capitalists are wreaking havoc in the lives of their employees, those same capitalists have simultaneously convinced, nay brainwashed, many of their laborers to feel obligated and verily committed to the company. This is their cunning way of brainwashing “their people” – their employees. Those bosses reached the conclusion that without completely brainwashing their employees then those “hired hands” will not work 100%.

So at the height of capitalist exploitation, those owners have successfully brainwashed many of their employees. Certainly there are some labourers, especially labour leaders, who are keen to the exploitative methods of capitalist owners. Such conscious employees who possess the requisite awareness and fighting spirit are known as vikśubdha shúdras. They put forth sustained efforts to change the system. But until, there are a critical mass of vikśubdha shúdras, the capitalist modus operendi continues on. That is the state of affairs today.

Thus, when owners use psychological strategies to befool and brainwash their staff, many of those employees become completely committed and conjure up the mistaken idea in their mind that they are only surviving only due to the good graces of their capitalist employers – otherwise they’d be struggling to manage. Such employees feel fortunate to be in the hands of their employers. This is the way it works in this vaeshyan era. This is the main qualitative difference between capitalistic and non-capitalistic labor forces. The labor force in the capitalistic era feels grateful and indebted to their employer, i.e. the same employer that is exploiting them.

So, on the one side, those capitalist bosses are breaking the back of their employees by making them work at such a vicious pace whereby they eat, sleep, and dream about their jobs. And, on the other side, those employees are feeling completely committed to those very employers.

This is the harsh reality of many employees involved in the capitalist schema. In fast-paced, western materialistic nations – and in the east wherever materialism has taken root – and in our so-called developing nations, so many working a 40 hour work week breathe the company air and sing the song of their capitalist employers.

When they return home at night, they often continue to attend to their work duties: Checking email, fielding calls, sending tweets, reviewing reports etc. That is how employers have trained their employees in this digital era. All because they have become numb to their own existence – due to extreme work pressure and stressed out conditions at the hands of their capitalist employers.

Yet those employees feel faithful to their employers. In the end, after being devoured whole by their company boss, their leftover energy is goaded toward sexual desires by the film industry or they gossip, talk, and dream about their company. So the whole affair is rather sickly; for all practical purposes the large majority of employees have sold their souls to their bosses. Only those right-minded vikśubdha shúdras understand the deceptive and manipulative ways of those capitalists. But again, until awareness mounts and more vikśubdha shúdras are created, there is no recourse.

SELF-DENIAL AND JUSTIFICATION

Perhaps the saddest part is that so many of those innocent employees do not even recognise what is going on. And if you try to give them a little hint, those employees will defend the matter and state that they are being paid adequately or even handsomely by their employer. This is the extreme degree of their blindness. This is the level to which they have been brainwashed. It is like the syndrome of a battered wife who is willing to defend her abusive husband to the end of the earth. This is the way most employees operate – whether they are willing to admit it or not. And even the majority of those who “complain” about their jobs fall into this same category. Because when given the opportunity to quit and go elsewhere, they become nervous and hesitant to venture away from their employer. In that circumstance, those complainers say, “Actually, my job is not so bad”. Hence, from top to bottom, these capitalist exploiters have just about everyone under their control. That is why it is not easy to create vikśubdha shúdras.

WHAT IS THE WAY OUT IN THESE PRESENT CONDITIONS

The only way out is to truly recognise that those employers are really bloodsuckers. This is evidenced when employees adamantly maintain the approach of not giving any little extra of themselves to those capitalist exploiters. That means that one must not “buy in” to the tricks and strategies of those big bosses. That means one must not become a tool in their hands. For most, this is nearly impossible as they are brainwashed to the core. As Ananda Margiis, even then we have to be extremely careful. It is not entirely uncommon for some to even stay home from dharmacakra under the excuse they have office work to do or that they are tired and need to rest up for the work week. By that way, one can judge how brainwashed anyone is. And like that there are thousands of ways how the negative qualities of the employer-employee relation sneaks into one’s own psyche.

So we all have to be careful and keep a keen eye on our own situation as well as those margii brothers and sisters around us– to ensure that we not get drawn into the deep waters of capitalist employer-employee relations. On this point I hope others will write and share their experiences.

MORE PROUTISTIC TEACHINGS ABOUT CAPITALISTS

(A) Here below Baba points out the key role that vikśubdha shúdras play and why their presence is so vital.

“In a capitalistic social system or in a democratic structure the situation of middle-class people (the vikśubdha shúdras) is generally miserable. This is because they are the greatest critics of capitalism and the strongest opponents of exploitation. An increase in the number of vikśubdha shúdras in a society is an early omen of a possible shúdra revolution. It is therefore the duty of those who want to create a world free of exploitation to help to increase the number of vikśubdha shúdras. It will be harmful for the revolution if these people die or are transformed into shúdra-minded shúdras. All the sadvipras in the world should be vigilant to make sure that the number of vikśubdha shúdras does not decrease due to unemployment, birth control, or other bad practices or policies.” (Human Society – 2, Shúdra Revolution and Sadvipra Society)

(B) In this next teaching, Baba guides us that capitalists will stay in power for a long, long time – until that key moment arrives when there is a rise in mass awareneness. That momment is soon to be upon us – we should ready the soil.

“Vaeshyas believe that only a few people can accumulate material wealth, depriving the rest. Thus there will always be only a few vaeshyas, while those who are the objects and tools of their exploitation form the majority. Like exploited beasts of burden which carry bags of sugar, in their crippled state of mind the majority feel that they do not have the right to taste the sweetness. This feeling is the greatest ally of the vaeshyas, so directly or indirectly they always try to nurture this type of feeling in the minds of the majority. Consequently they propagate various types of isms and ethereal theories with the help of the vipras in their pay whom they have reduced to the level of shúdras. When the majority, unable to tolerate this exploitation any longer or find any other way out, desperately leap into action, the Vaeshya Age comes to an end. But it takes a long time for downtrodden people to understand that the vaeshyas are the parasites of society. Hence thorough preparation is required to end the Vaeshya Age.”
(Human Society – 2, The Vaeshya Age)

(C) Here Baba points out how in the height of the vaeshyan all others get reduced to the status of shudra – all are exploited.

“The vaeshyas increase their wealth by buying the back-breaking labour of the shúdras, the powerful personalities of the kśatriyas, and the intellect of the vipras, according to their needs. The shúdras, just like beasts, sell their physical labour in exchange for mere subsistence. Because they sell their labour, society survives and moves ahead. The powerful personalities of the kśatriyas build and maintain the social structure with the labour extracted from the shúdras. Through their intellect the vipras utilize the personal force of the kśatriyas, and through their money and capitalistic mentality the vaeshyas utilize the vipras’ intellect to increase their wealth.”
“The vaeshyas do not confront any social problem directly. Just as they buy the labour of the shúdras, the personal force of the kśatriyas and the intellect of the vipras with money, so they endeavour to solve all social problems with money. They do not win victory on the battlefield; they buy it with money. In poverty-stricken democratic countries they buy votes. As they accomplish everything with money, their vital force comes from money. They therefore take all sorts of risks in life to accumulate money. For money they can sacrifice their conscience, their sense of good and bad, right and wrong, at any moment. So in order to save the exploited shúdras, kśatriyas and vipras from the vaeshyas, money, which is the source of all their power, has to be taken out of their hands.” (Human Society – 2, The Vaeshya Age)

PROUT IS THE PANACEA

By propagating the name and ideals of Prout, the day is not far when the cooperative system will come into vogue on this earth where workers will be recognised, respected and honoured for their human qualities and potentialities, and not just be pawns of big bosss capitalists.

“PROUT is the only panacea. The ideas of PROUT are spreading throughout the world. This new day is yours.” (Prout in Nutshell – 18)

Namaskar,
in Him,
Vinay

Note: WHO IS SHUDRA

Throughout His Proutistic teachings, Baba has discussed the mind-set of those who get exploited by capitalist in the height of the vaeshayan era. Those who give way to this mentality are verily shudras. Unfortunately, now in the early part of this 21st century, many fall in this category.

“Shúdras live only for physical enjoyment. They neither bother about ideology nor give any value to rationality. Of the three aspects of time – past, present and future – they think only about the present. They have neither the time nor the inclination to think about the past or the future. Religion, spirituality and a genuine social system have no significance for them…”
“Shúdras are always sleeping. They can perform work only if someone wakes them up. Once the work is done, they go back to sleep. In order to maintain the cáturvarńika (i.e. shudra, ksatriya, vipra, & vaeshya) social system, some work will have to be taken from the shúdras. Consciousness should be developed among shúdras in order to protect them from the inhuman greed of the vaeshyas. (All non-vaeshyas slip into shúdra-hood on the eve of a shúdra revolution.)” (Humans Society – 2, The Kśatriya Age)

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What Senior Acarya Diary Says

Baba

== WHAT SENIOR ACARYA DIARY SAYS ==
Namaskar,
“Baba’s special teachings about ajagarii and madhukarii from Senior Acarya Diary encapsulate the whole entire spirit of being a real sannyasii in our Marga – and for years and years this was prevalent in our WT cadre, but unfortunately in the present era, since 1990, this essence is waning drastically.”

Such were the words of one of our senior avadhutas at a recent Ananda Marga function.

Thereafter, Dadaji went on to tell us all about Baba’s special teaching of ajagarii and madhukarii vrttis from Senior Acarya Diary. Certainly, Dada did not read from the Diary itself, so what is discussed below is a summary of that day’s discussion.

The overall message was that the spirit of renunciation is waning in our Ananda Marga. That does not mean that our entire wt cadre is suffering from this epidemic, because there are countless dedicated workers in Ananda Marga. Nonetheless, it is a trend that is on the rise.

So let us again investigate the ideals and practice of madhukarii and ajagarii vrttis. These qualities will bring balance into our organization, plus Baba furthermore guides us that madhukarii and ajagarii vrttis are the key ingredients of real avadhuta life.

SPIRIT OF MADHUKARII & AJAGARII VRTTIS

The overall idea here is that renunciation, dedication, and sacrifice are the cornerstones of our Ananda Marga way of life. Our saffron flag stands for these ideals – as should our sannyasii order. That is Baba’s design & teaching of madhukarii and ajagarii vrttis from Senior Acarya Diary.

In review, madhukar is that black bee which encircles the flowers and only takes that food which it needs at that very moment – nothing more. That madhukar does not gather and hoard bucketfuls of pollen to eat later.

A step up is the ajagar, or python, which does not even move to get its food; it merely eats what comes across its path. So not only does it not gather extra, but that ajagar does not even spend time hunting for food.

That is why in the aparigraha section of the Senior Acarya Diary, Baba specifically states that the madhukar and ajagar represent the only two ways for our WTs to exist in this world. (For more about this refer to Note 2 appended below.)

That means that in their personal lives, our Dadas and Didis are to adjust with the minimum necessities of life – and not get caught up in materialistic pursuits like hoarding money etc. Instead Wts are to use their precious time & energy serving and helping others in all realms, including spiritual elevation. That is the spirit of madhukarii and ajagarii vrttis.

At the same time, in their social service endeavours, workers can and should collect money for those projects. In that arena of life – for the service of others – they may seek out and gather donations and build up organisational bank accounts to sustain those projects. The account should be submitted to and overseen by a committee. Then there will be trust and commitment from all involved. In their personal life Wts must desist from doing keeping such accounts. Then they will be in accordance with the teachings of madhukarii and ajagarii vrttis.

Per Baba’s direction in Senior Acarya Diary, that is the only ideal way to live as a WT.

PRESENT DAY STANDARD OF WTS AND GROWTH OF THE MARGA

But tragically a few of our Wts have lost this spirit and are running after transitory allurements. With great idealism, they entered into our Wt cadre but at some point got caught up in the mundane race for material possessions like money, land, property, as well as post and power.

Lost in the wake of that spiritual vacuum, all kinds of negative habits, tendencies, and diseases crop up, and the spirit of renunciation fades. Then those particular workers cannot inspire anyone onto the spiritual path. Thus our numbers in Ananda Marga fail to increase. Whenever any worker loses their spirit of renunciation, then true pracara work cannot be done.

ALL SHOULD EMBRACE THE SPIRIT OF RENUNCIATION

Only through this pathway of renunciation – madhukra and ajagar – can our Ananda Marga sannyasii order really be something great: An order that represents dedication. That is Guru’s teaching.

In Ananda Vacanamrtam (Hindi) part 26 chapter 11 titled “Dhvaj sanket…”, Baba has given one special formula related with this very topic.

“हर मनुष्य को एक-एक aeroplane दे दो बहुत अच्छा | हर मनुष्य को ताकि एक-एक aeroplane मिले, मैं उसके लिए मैं चेष्टित रहूँगा | ख़ूब ठीक है, सामूहिक-जीवन में भोग | किन्तु वैयष्टिक-जीवन में त्याग | वैयष्टिक-जीवन जीवन में त्याग नहीं रहने से सामूहिक-जीवन में भोग नहीं होता है | एक आदमी के पास अगर एक करोड़ रुपया रह गया, और दूसरी जगह सत्तू-मिर्च नहीं मिलता है; तो उससे समाज का, देश का, राष्ट्र कल्याण नहीं है | वह वैयष्टिक-जीवन में वह छोड़ दे सब, त्याग कर दे | सब कोई मिलकर खाए, पिए, परम पिता के सन्तान हैं, सब मज़े में रहें |”

The whole idea of this teaching is that only through dedication and renunciation in the individual sphere can society prosper. For example, if anyone collects bundles of money in their own bank account, that impedes on the welfare of others. This will not bring any relief to the common people, rather it will hinder their ability to grow.

So those with money should not indulge in extravagant luxuries that are beyond the means of ordinary citizens. Until each and every person in the society can afford such amenities, then good people should not use such luxuries. But when those items become accessible and affordable to all, then in good faith it is alright for sadhakas to have those items.

Thus conscientious people use their wealth to raise the living standard of all. If one truly adopts such ideals of renunciation then they can bring smiles and happiness to countless people. So the spirit of sacrifice in one’s own personal life is truly something great and honourable. That is Baba’s guideline from Ananda Vacanamrtam.

BABA’S DIVINE EXAMPLE

And in His own personal life Baba was exemplary in this very approach. For years and years He traveled by railway, bus, or by foot since that was the common standard. And not only that, but the monetary wealth He earned through His railway job He distributed to the various wholetimers etc.

Not only that, before 1970 while He was still working in Jamalpur, Baba traveled to Ranchi and while there saw a newspaper article about a school headmaster’s request for money to fix the leaky roof in his school. The roof was leaking in the students’ classroom and the headmaster requested money for repairs. That very evening Baba went to the school and donated Rs1000 of His own personal money. Today that is roughly equivalent to Rs20,000 or more.

So in all the ways, Baba’s personal way of living stands as the embodiment of renunciation. We should understand and follow Guru’s teaching and adopt the path of renunciation in our individual lives, especially our wts.

A VERY NOBLE ENDEAVOUR

So none should think that ajagarii and madhkarii vrttis are some type of punishment to those wearing saffron. Rather adhering to this ideal code of aparigraha is something quite noble – it allows one to fulfill their mission and command respect in the real sense of the term.

“The dedicated monks and nuns of Ananda Marga have accepted their life of renunciation…to further the cause of human welfare; and through their service, they seek to lead human beings along the path of
righteousness to the abode of Supreme Bliss.” (A Few Problems Solved – 3)

WAY THINGS ARE NOW IN OUR MARGA

Unfortunately now in our Marga, things are developing in an entirely different way. Unfortunately, a more capitalistic mentality has seeped into our sannyasii order as some of our wts have just taken to collecting money, automobiles, big buildings, and registering these things in their own name. Yet all this goes 100% against Baba’s guideline of ajagarii and madhukarii vrttis from Senior Acarya Diary.

The basic formula is that the mind is one; so if one is rushing after money then that same mind does not have inspiration to run after Parama Purusa. Human mind is one, not many.

When the current leaders of AMPS pursue material gain, then there is a ripple effect. Many field workers are idealistic, but when top Dadas shirk their sannyasii vows then that adversely affects others.

In addition, top Dadas force lower posted workers to pay dues. That means they have to pay taxes to higher dadas otherwise they are harassed, threatened, punished, and abused.

Instead of getting respect on points of sadhuhood, restraint, sadhana, helping others, and sacrifice, the culture of our Wts has shifted over to a materialistic or capitalist way of living where prestige is given according to one’s monetary status and post etc.

Certain wealthy Dadas are using their money to garner a lot of respect from some margiis – what to say about non-margiis. However, the real determining factor of a sannyasii is conduct. That is the main measuring rod for determining one’s calibre.

“Those who have the responsibility to show the path to others should be of superlative character with the most refined conduct. They and their followers must move constantly towards all-round development and shreya [ultimate spiritual attainment]. Persons who teach such well-regulated behaviour to others by their own conduct are called ácáryas.” (Ananda Vacanamrtam – 31, Conduct of an Acarya)

Baba’s guideline for being an ideal Wt / acarya is quite clear. Sadly, all those many Wts who are properly leading a life of renunciation by adhering to the codes of madhukar and ajagar are victimised by top Dadas.

At present, the power structure in AMPS is entirely upside-down. Those central Wts with big pockets have all the power, whereas those service-minded wholetimers are looked upon as a liability and pushed aside.

Unfortunately, this is what is practically happening. If one can generate revenue by any means – just or unjust – and give that money to Centre then they get a high post and lots of prestige; and, if one firmly adheres to 16 Points and their vow of renunciation then they are looked upon as being outdated and expendable, and are written off as a liability and a beggar, unfortunately.

WT’S HAVE RENUNCIATION & NOTHING ELSE

This corporate approach where money is king is not the way things are supposed to be in our Ananda Marga sannyasii order. Baba has designed it completely differently – based on the ideals of the madhukar and ajagar. Where renunciation, not individual ownership, is everything.

For example, in the true Ananda Marga system, if a wt has been working in a particular location for a few years, then when a transfer order is given that very WT will automatically hand over all monies, equipment, funds, and property to the incoming worker. And the Wt who got transferred is to leave that area only with his dress and laungota in hand – & nothing else, except possibly a bus ticket to his new posting.

Now, however, all that has changed: When transferred those Wts sell the property, shift the money to their own black account, clean out all other financial resources, and hand over nil (nothing) to the newly posted worker.

According to our ideal, the only thing that a wt truly “owns” in this material world is their vow of renunciation. Beyond that they have nothing. And that is Baba’s divine system of madhukar and ajagar from Senior Acarya Diary. And that is what makes a sannyasii truly great – then they can really serve others and do great things in this world.

MORE ABOUT THE WAY THINGS ARE NOW IN OUR MARGA

Tragically, in today’s Ananda Marga sannyasii culture, selflessness is not the value cherished by top Dadas.

Now when a posting order comes, most often the Wt who got transferred departs with all the money from the bank account, or that Dada might sell the property and keep the profit, or he might send a cash donation to Centre in order to remain at his post. Or so many things might happen, including sending the monetary wealth and possessions of that jagrti to their laokik family.

Due to a lack of sadhana and straying from the path of madhukarii and ajagarii vrttis, some in our WT system have veered off course, where money – not renunciation – is everything.

This severely hinders the ability of workers to serve humanity.

For instance: A Wt is living on an MU with no house and is begging food from villagers as he tries to start various service projects. But then when a senior Dada from Centre arrives with a special, luxury car then the common people think all workers must have a lot of money. They think, “Why is this other Wt begging from me.” When there is a huge incongruity between top Wts and the common people, then there will be feelings of difference. Then our AMPS is unable to serve the local populace.

NOT THE FAULT OF NEW WTS

Some may think that since this problem of money-hoarding within our WT cadre began after 1990 then it is the fault of the new wts. But we cannot blame our younger wts. Rather with pure intention they entered into a system that quickly became ideologically askew due to the greed of the ruling Wts.

When those top factional wts travel around by private jet, chauffeur driven automobiles, keep houses & luxury suites, and deposit millions into their personal bank accounts, then idealistic young workers have hardly a chance of maintaining their vow of renunciation. Rather some get swept up into that, lest they face the consequences of getting pushed aside and receiving one punishment posting after another.

INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL ORGANISATION:
RENUNCIATION AND DEDICATION

However to truly became a force in this world dedication is needed.

There are some organisations and religious groups that “succeed and thrive” on this earth because of their dedication. Often times their aims are awry, but they serve and help each other and eat together as one family and that is enough for them to gain success and spread their teachings from one land to the next.

This very faculty of sacrifice is missing in our Ananda Marga nowadays. That is why despite having the great teachings of dharma in our books, due to this blatant lack of renunciation and dedication to help and serve others, our AMPS is stuck, unfortunately, because of some bad apples.

So the spirit of madhukar and ajagar are deeply needed in our Ananda Marga. Prior to 1990 they were present. All the wts did everything and everything for the welfare of Ananda Marga and nothing for their own self. Now the opposite is happening as some are doing anything and everything for their own self and nothing for the welfare of our Ananda Marga.

One bad apple spoils the bunch. So even if a few Dadas are acting selfishly, hoarding money, indulging in luxuries, and going against the spirit of renunciation, then that taints and undermines our entire WT cadre.

So this is a shame. There is no dearth of dedicated workers and margiis in Ananda Marga. There are so many good people. But those dedicated workers just get pushed aside in one corner by the ruling elite.

By this entire manner, the spirit of renunciation and the sacrifice represented by our saffron flag and saffron coloured sannyasiis dress has been severely compromised.

“BE GREAT BY YOUR SADHANA, SERVICE AND SACRIFICE”

“It is action that makes a person great. Be great by your sádhaná, by your service, by your sacrifice.” (Ananda Vanii #20)

Only by recapturing the ideals of ajagar and madhukar can we once again become that great resurgent body that led to the tremendous growth of Ananda Marga. With those ideals absent from certain sannyasiis, our problems will continue. So let us once again rally around the spirit of our saffron flag and embrace Baba’s guidelines from senior acarya diary and build an AMPS organisation that reflects the cornerstones of sacrifice and renunciation.

“Everyone should render service to the world in accordance with their capacity and work for the welfare of the living beings to the best of their ability…You are travellers of an impregnable path. You have to
march ahead proudly with the flag of Marga upright. You have no time to stagger or to look behind.” (Subhasita Samgraha – 1)

CONDUCT RULES JUST BEING OVERLOOKED

These following WT conduct rules given by Baba go hand-in-hand with His divine teachings about madhukar and ajagar from the aparigraha section of Senior Acarya Diary.

So in various avenues, Baba is preaching this special gospel of renunciation, but tragically within our AM sannyasii culture these things are just being neglected and overlooked by some.

Best is if everyone judges for themselves if these below points are prevalent in our AM sannyasii order or not.

“One should attract other by one’s sacrificing nature.” (’37 Avadhuta / Wt Workers Rules’, point #20)

“One should leave all sorts of luxuries.” (’37 Avadhuta / Wt Workers Rules’, point #6)

“One should adjust with the minimum requirements of life.” (’37 Avadhuta / Wt Workers Rules’, point #17)

Thus when the ruling wts are hoarding wealth, laundering money, and looking down upon others, then how is our WT order going to become that shining example that will inspire confidence, service, and sacrifice to one and all.

BABA’S RELATED TEACHINGS

“The human mind has two contradictory inherent tendencies: one of acquisition, the other of sacrifice. The more one advances along the path of evolution, the more the second tendency, the spirit of sacrifice, becomes prominent.” (Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell – 5, The Faculty of Knowledge – 2)

REAL YOGI THINKS FOR THE UNIVERSE, NOT OWN SELF

“What is the Siddhi, i.e., attainment of Karma Sádhaná? – (Karma Brahmeti Karma Vahu Kurviita). To serve every mundane object thinking it to be the manifestation of Paramátmá is Karma, i.e., the Sádhaná of action. What is the achievement (Siddhi) of Karma Sádhaná? It is generally found that an average person spends more than twelve or fourteen hours in thinking about his or her own self. But the moment one starts thinking about the universe, one becomes a Karma Sádhaka. When one starts spending all one’s time in thinking for the universe, taking one self to be a bubble in the ocean of Karma, one gets Siddhi in Karma Sádhaná. A person is a part of the universe, and when one starts serving the universe, one is also automatically included among the served.” (Subháśita Saḿgraha Part 19, Salvation & Devotion)

“Many people look upon human beings as God Himself and throw themselves into the service of humanity abandoning their families and personal comforts. Defying all obstacles – the dense forests, the towering mountains, the stormy oceans – they travel throughout the world promoting the welfare of all.” (1 January 1964)

Namaskar,
in Him
Kamalkrsna

Note 1: WHAT IS TRUE RENUNCIATION

Here Baba guides us about the pathway of true renunciation.

“When the human mind becomes strong enough not to be affected by any colour, it is called vaera’gya [renunciation].” (10 November 1978, Calcutta)

The essence of the above teaching is that the mind must not be allowed to become tempted and engrossed by material wealth etc. Rather the mind should be kept in a state of balance, whereby one can look upon this world with empathy. Then when can truly serve others.

Unfortunately, when some of our wts with high posts are keen on luxury cars, black money, and other allurements that exist in this mundane world, and collect crores in their personal bank accounts. Then how can we say they truly imbibe the spirit renunciation.

According to Baba, renunciation means developing a high mind through sadhana where one feels that they have come on this earth with a mission to sacrifice for the service and welfare of others. Armed with this true spirit of renunciation our WT cadre will really become a great and benevolent force in this world.

Note 2: APARIGRAHA & THE APPLICATION OF
MADHUKARII VRTTI AND AJAGARII VRTTI

The term ‘ajagar’ refers to that very large snake known as the python. And the sense is that a python never moves anywhere to procure its food. It stays put in one single place, always. And it only eats what comes across its path. It does not spend its entire life traveling all about in search of one’s food.

So in the realm of sannyasiihood, our AM monks are to adopt a similar approach while living on this earth. They are not to indulge in an ongoing quest for more and more wealth and money for their own self. Rather our AM sannyasiis are to adjust with whatever they get for their existential needs and dedicate themselves to infusing energy within others and serve all through our Ananda Marga social service projects etc. They should not waste their energy and time thinking about their own self and self alone etc. According to Baba, this is the real dharma of an Ananda Marga sannyasii.

At the same time, in their social service endeavours, workers can and should collect money for those projects. In that arena of life – for the service of others – they may seek out and gather donations and build up organisational bank accounts to sustain those projects. The account should be submitted to and overseen by a committee. Then there will be trust and commitment from all involved. In their personal life Wts must desist from doing keeping such accounts. Then they will be in accordance with the teachings of madhukarii and ajagarii vrttis.

So we should all accept His teachings with a cool mind and think twice when we see our wts frivolously running headlong after money. Because, by that way, they have lost their dharma – according to Baba’s teaching in Senior Acarya Diary about madhukarii vrtti and ajagarii vrtii.

Those Ananda Marga workers sincerely following madhukarii vrtti and ajagarii vrtti neither run after money nor property for their own luxury, only Parama Purusa. So a true wt will take proper ideation and just have the bare minimum that is needed to survive & execute their work of serving others. Side by side, one is not to harbour the desire of getting more personal wealth.

According to Baba, this is not only the ideal way, but the only way for a true AM sannyasii to live. Anyone going against this system is a fake sannyasii. That is Baba’s pointed stance & strict warning.

So that means our wts are not to stockpile funds in their personal bank accounts, nor are they to keep unaccounted money (i.e. black money), nor anything that is above and beyond what is needed for their basic subsistence.

Here we should not forget this is Baba’s teaching from Senior Acarya Diary and this is not some dogmatic belief from pre-historic Hinduism nor the fantasy of some jinanii, nor some impractical expectation by some day-dreamer which is too lofty to be attained.

Rather the highly practical and ideal teachings of madhukarii vrtti and ajagarii vrtti come from our Guru, the Taraka Brahma Lord Shrii Shrii Ananamurtiji who has graciously given this in Senior Acarya Diary. And indeed those wts adhering to this dharmic code of ajagarii vrtti are truly great. They are the real seers, sadvipras, and well-wishers of humanity. Their minds are crystal-clear and pointed towards Baba’s teachings, and not drifting towards worldly allurements etc.

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Consequences of Earning by Harming Others

Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2013 23:10:49 -0000
From: “Gurumurti”
Subject: Consequences of Earning by Harming Others
To: AM-GLOBAL

Baba

This entire email is composed of 3 parts:
1) Posting: Consequences of Earning by Harming Others
(2) Reader Comment: re: B Group Selling Live Aquatic Animals to Kill & Eat
(3) Trailer Quote: Deceased Can’t Receive Your Offerings
(4) Prabhat Samgiita #3378

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

== CONSEQUENCES OF EARNING BY HARMING OTHERS ==

Namaskar,
When one’s goal is materialism, then people take big steps to move towards that end. And they ultimately reach there because they think matter is everything and that is what they are focusing on. That means for them money is regarded as the cream of life. Money is the most cherished thing. And that brings them to the abode of extreme materialism.

To achieve that, then through positive or negative ways – through right or wrong livelihood, people aim to earn money. Yet, in both cases, for those with good or harmful jobs, their situation is bad. Because in either case, they are accepting money as the goal of their life. And that degenerates their mind.

MORE OF BABA’S WARNINGS

All these following quotes also lead in the same direction. Namely that indiscriminately running after money will ruin one’s present life and destroy one’s future. This is Baba’s explicit warning.

Baba says, “You may know some people whose minds always run after money. You might have asked them to sit down for a while and have a chat, and been surprised by their excusing themselves, saying they were so busy and had to rush off to the stock exchange. If their pursuit of money is hampered in any way, if it eludes their grasp, if they are totally severed from it, their minds will lose their base and they will die.” (1)

Baba says, “Do not be extrovertial, do not go ahead towards your own destruction since once you have fallen into the grip of crudeness it is well-nigh impossible to get released from it. The abyss shall devour you and you shall miss the pole star of your life.” (2)

Baba says, “All crude objects on which people base their hopes and aspirations will certainly disappear one day, for the nature of this relative world is ‘ta agacchati sah gacchati’ – whatever comes goes. When people are deserted by their crude objects of desire they are eaten away by frustration and disappointment, and die a miserable death. (3)

Baba says, “I heard that once, when the currency was devalued, a wealthy jute merchant suddenly died because all the aspirations of his life were based on money. He could not face the prospect of having to part with his cherished object of desire.” (4)

Unfortunately around the globe all are running fast after the supposed glories of American materialism. Little do they know that already, much of the US population has become sunk in soot – in the pool of selfishness, where countless suffer from depression, anxiety, obesity, and so many physical and mental diseases. This is not to discredit the American people. There are many good US citizens leading honest and decent lives. The tragedy is how rampant materialism has led to the degradation and demise of so many. Wherever the seeds of materialism are sown this horrific outcome will manifest, regardless of the country or community.

So one should be critically aware and pay heed to Baba’s aforementioned warnings.

Because this is what we practically see. During the last big economic downturn in the US during 2008, many took their lives after they witnessed the extreme devaluation and melting of their financial wealth. Thus none should get allured by the horrific ways of materialism.

For money, people are willing to do anything and everything. This we see happening day in, day out. And this brings destruction – both on the individual and societal levels.

JUST INVITING THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION

Tragically & typically, common people think that by getting money they are paving their golden future. This is their misguided outlook. In reality they are thrusting themselves onto the path of death and destruction as they sink backwards into negative pratisaincara – converting themselves into beasts and ultimately into stone etc.

Ananda Marga philosophy says, “If a person continually gloats over crude material things, his entire existence will be converted into crude matter. In mythology the story goes that Ahalya’ was converted into a stone due to his constant crude ideation. So people who accept matter as their goal, totally denying the existence of Parama Purus’a, tread the path of degeneration and become prakrtiliina devayonis [negative microvita] after death.”
(5)

Hence by rampantly moving headlong after money, people ruin their human existence and their future is bleak – torturous. Tragically, that is what the bulk of the population is doing nowadays. Even good and kind-hearted people are affected in this way.

THOSE HARMING SOCIETY BY THEIR EARNING WILL FACE THE CONSEQUENCES

And those who indulge is harmful ways of achieving their goal of money will have to suffer even more. They will have to undergo the negative consequences of their harmful deeds. And that is what is discussed below.

INDULGE IN HARMFUL DEALINGS

There are countless legal ways that have been invented where people sell their souls to make money. That means they indulge in harmful and lowly dealings to make money and they think it is ok since it is legal.

Now in so many places gambling has become legal and the latest projection is that in a few years legalised gambling will exceed $200 billion. Now there is legalised gambling on the internet, plus as various states and countries face financial hardship, more governments are turning to gambling to heighten revenue. Across the US, every year more states legalise and expand gambling. This is a growing issues that threatens to truly explode with the onset of increased gambling on the web.

Also in the US, some states have legalised marijuana in hopes of heightening revenue in the form of a big drug tax. In some countries prostitution has also become legal.

In the US, one of the biggest sectors of the economy remains the weapons industry. Agencies sell arms and promote wars in various “third-world” nations in order to make a strong economy. This is one of the favoured tactics of the US.

Then there are the usual array of various commodities such as cigarettes, meat, alcohol, harmful medical drugs etc – all of which are legal but have a very detrimental effect on the society. To turn a profit and increase their capital, businessmen, governments, and investors leave all scruples behind and look only at the bottom line.

“CONVERTED HUMAN BEINGS INTO ANIMALS”

Why has it become such the rage and so easy to make huge amounts of money doing indecent and degenerated things. Primarily because that is the path of least resistance. All have come from animal life and it is easy for people to submerge themselves in satisfying their base propensities. Because that path is familiar to them. Hence, there is a grand mass of consumers interested in satisfying their base propensities. Various businessmen capitalise on this opportunity.

So if someone puts pornography on the web, a huge sector of the population will seek out that site. Because their mind easily runs in that direction. The proliferation of such pornography leads to the further degeneration of the society – thus leading to a more grand industry of pornography.

That is why Baba has unleashed this following statement denouncing the ways of capitalism etc.

“Crude materialism has done much harm to human society during the last one century. It has misguided the entire human society, it has converted human beings into animals.” (6)

WE ANANDA MARGIIS SHOULD BE CAREFUL

MUST FOLLOW PATH OF RIGHT LIVELIHOOD

As Ananda Margiis, we should be extremely careful and conscientious on this matter. We should wholly ensure we do not adopt this same harmful path that is being followed by countless people around the globe.

That is why now more than ever we should pay strict adherence to Baba’s guideline of samyak ajiiva (right livelihood). Gaining money through any type of sinful or anti-social means is not at all good for one’s development.

Baba says, “So one must have a clean occupation, that is, one must not do anything antisocial, one must not encourage anything antisocial, anything that goes against collective interest. That is samyak a’jiiva in physical sphere. One may earn money by selling wine. One may earn money by stealing. These are not samyak a’jiiva. Your occupation should be neat and clean – not going against the interest of the society.” (7)

So Baba wants that we have a healthy and clean way of earning a living – and certainly most margiis are doing that.

Even then, the pressures to go counter to this mount each and every day as all around us people stoop to depraved levels in order to make a buck / dollar. But we should not be tempted or allured.

OUR LIVELIHOOD SHOULD BE PURE

As Ananda Margiis we should keep ourselves neat and clean and guide the society as well. All should earn a clean living and pass their days doing virtuous deeds like serving others, practicing sadhana, and inspiring others along the path of welfare.

By Baba’s grace this is what is going on in our Marga; many are progressing along this benevolent path. And none should step backwards into the mud of materialism – which is surrounding us in all directions.

Baba says, “Unscrupulous people earn a lot of money from actions which are by nature sinful and harmful for the world. Human beings should not earn their livelihood in this way. Their means of livelihood should be pure and sacred and should not harm anyone.” (8)

Here more of Baba’s further teachings of the consequences one must face by earning their living by harming others.

“MISGUIDE NOT ONLY THOUSANDS, BUT MILLIONS”

“Those who are demons in human structure are all in categorical forms [fall into various categories]. Although these structures, these frameworks, look like human beings, they are exceptionally clever and cunning. By inculcating various sentiments, they misguide not only thousands, but millions, of people to the path of malevolence, just for some petty social status or other temptation. Common people never think deeply about this; they have not been taught how to think deeply about it; they do not ponder over it even now. Until today this aspect of knowledge has been generally unknown to the world. That is why common people, not fully understanding these cunning people, are inclined to give them undue importance. They write voluminous books about these clever people and accept their words as authentic, thus bringing about considerable harm to the society, the state and the common masses. Simple ignorant people do not realize that they themselves are being harmed or that they, being misguided by those clever people, are harming others.” (9)

“HAVE TO SUFFER ENDLESSLY FOR THEIR MEAN-MINDEDNESS”

“Even if one does not harm anyone physically, but simply thinks of harming someone, sam’skáras will still be created. Whatever feelings one may have for a person, good or bad, will certainly cause a reaction. That reaction will remain in potential form in the subtle mental sphere until the opportune time arrives for its expression. This is why wise people look upon this universe with an attitude of equanimity and pray for the welfare of all. Sarvesám mauṋgalam káunkśe. People who fail to do this will have to suffer endlessly for their mean-mindedness.” (10)

“A BLACK SPOT ON SOCIETY”

“Who are duśkrtas [the wicked]? Those who cause harm to innocent people either out of self-interest or group-interest are called duśkrtas. Such antisocial people are a burden on a civilized society, a black spot on society. For such people there is only dehátmaváda and dehaparińámaváda [materialistic doctrines of Charvaka philosophy].” (11)

“GORGED THEMSELVES ON THE BLOOD OF MILLIONS”

“What a horror! Such false philosophies have taught, “Well, if we exploit the people with our intellect, what’s the harm? It is also a labour to apply the intellect, and we have the right to do so!” On the basis of this argument a handful of parasites have gorged themselves on the blood of millions of people, while countless people have been reduced to living skeletons. Such fraudulent philosophies have diverted many people from the path of morality and left them devoid of dharma, addicted to carnal pleasures – infernal creatures.” (12)

MUST NOT OVERLOOK SUCH PEOPLE

“If someone is engaged in unrighteous deeds, his neighbours should ignore his dark side, and should not repeatedly condemn him. One should say, “Well, I’m not bothered by what he says or does – that’s his own business.” But this attitude of tolerance can only be accepted to a certain extent. If the person’s sinful or wicked actions harm society and disrupt social life, one can no longer afford to be indifferent.” (13)

SUMMARY STATEMENT

If anyone harms other by their livelihood, they must face the consequences. Nobody can save them from their fate. They will have to undergo those harsh reactions for the hell they caused unto others. Whether their job was legal or not, if they created harm to individuals and the society, they will have to suffer the reactions.

The concluding idea is that one must not take on work that harms others.

Namaskar,
In Him,
Gurumurti

SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO GET $$$

Sadly, for the sake of money, people will give up everything – every shred of decency and integrity that they have and stoop to the depths.

For example, they will make themselves or their spouse naked and sell the pictures; they will kill their wife; they will sue their children; they will sell their daughters; they will cheat anybody, anytime. In sum, in this havoc ridden era of materialism, people will do anything & everything to get money.

From heaven to hell people are willing to go to any extreme for the sake of the dollar: Prostitution, gambling, arms dealing, drug trafficking, junk bond selling etc. There are so many legal and illegal degenerating approaches that people adopt to make money. This is not an exaggeration – this is really going on.

Any day one can open the newspaper, go on the web, or take a look around town and see all these things going on. Some are legal and some are illegal, but much of what people are doing in the name of acquiring money is completely outrageous, ludicrous, and destructive, either to themselves or others. I personally know of many innocent people who pass their days earning big money working for drug companies. Such companies do not want to eliminate disease; rather they want everyone to remain sick so they can increase their profits. Nowadays, there are many reports by investigative journalists who have uncovered how drug companies operate. Yet to “get by and advance “in this materialistic era, many innocent and good people spend their entire lives working in this profession.

Of course, people certainly resort to innumerable illegal concoctions as well in order to make money: Drug trafficking, child pornography, gangs, extortion, stealing, smuggling, etc.

For their own desire to acquire monetary wealth, people resort to all kinds of harmful occupations. And they will have to face the harsh and sever consequences. There is no escape.

REFERENCES
1. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell – 6, ‘Ekendriya-3’
2. Subhasita Samgraha – 1, p.20
3. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell – 6
4. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell – 6
5. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell, ‘Ekendriya-1
6. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 2
7. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 30
8. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 7
9. The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism, Disc: 10
10. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life, The Science of Action
11. Namámi Krśńasundaram, Disc: 16
12. Namah Shiváya Shántáya, Disc: 14
13. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell – 8, The Acoustic Roots of the Indo-Aryan Alphabet

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

Subject: B Group Selling Live Aquatic Animals to Kill & Eat (Candra Deva)
Date: Th, 4 Apr 2013 02:25:09 -0700 (PDT)
From: Nagaraja Rao To: AM-GLOBAL

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2013/04/b-group-selling-live-aquatic-animals-to.html

I enjoyed reading this article. You put it all so well . I am sure you and others know that w/t ‘s are selling lot other things too . Not mentionable here in writing due to legal reasons . Perhaps it is best to not allow w/t’ s to do any sort of business at all . when they change their orangerobes and go do the business in various markets and bring the loot and change the dress it’s no longer same dada etc. Dress has been changed for other purposes also like very personal business etc. On and off of wearing dress … robes has a strong negative impact on the person and other margiis also.
Nagaraja rao USA

The section below this mark is an entirely different topic and not related with the subject matter up above.

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Deceased Can’t Receive Your Offerings

“Haven’t we any social responsibility for dead persons? When the necessity arises, we should offer shraddhá for them, not barley or wheat or woollen clothes or wrappers or ghee or sesame. What can we do? As long as a man is here in our society we have a social responsibility for him. Human beings are social beings, we have a social responsibility for them. And when the leave this world and go to the other world, they go beyond the scope of our responsibility. We cannot render any service to them. Our social responsibility is over as soon as the cremation is done.”
“So what can we do? We can say “O Parama Puruśa, while that man was with us we tried our best to do whatever we could do. But now they are beyond our scope, they are beyond our jurisdiction, so please do take care of them.” This much of a request can be made by us, and nothing more than that. And the Ananda Marga shráddha is just like that. Here we require no edibles, no clothes or anything else. We offer our shraddhá, and we do nothing else, and we can do nothing else.” (Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 3 – Shraddha)

Note: Baba’s above teaching is cent-per-cent clear and straightforward. When a loved one dies, then we do not offer any physical items – neither food, nor clothing, nor anything else – for their good keeping etc. All we can do is offer our reverence and surrender unto the sweet will of Parama Purusa.

Unfortunately, B group has founded their so-called mahaprayan programme and on that occasion they offer a grand array of edibles and clothing to locals. This is their tamasik approach. Firstly, Parama Purusa is that Eternal Divine Entity so there is no question of His mahaprayan (mpd), yet annually they host such a dogmatic event. Secondly, during their mpd observance, the organisers indulge in various dogmatic offerings – food items, clothes, etc. That is why every rationally-minded Ananda Margii says that the so-called mahaprayan function is pramatta – it is “completely bad from beginning to end.” It holds no redeeming quality whatsoever. Unfortunately, they treat Sadguru as a mortal human being.
******************************************

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

Baba

“A’ma’r e kat’hin hiya’y, a’sabe tumi ki na’ ja’ni na’…” (PS 3378)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, You are mine. By Your grace, I am calling Your divine Self again and again – day and night. I want Your close proximity. Whether or not You will grace me by coming to my dry heart, I do not know. If, by mistake, or by any means You come, then that does not matter – that does not count. In that case, You may not stay long. Baba, by Your grace I want You in a more close and intimate way. So that You can remain up to eternity.

O’ Supreme One, by Your grace I have decorated Your divine seat with countless lamps and with a display of light. And by Your grace with all my heart I go on singing Your song of arrival which I have composed in Your ideation, in Your tune, in Your language. Baba, please grace me by coming and taking Your seat in my heart.

O’ my Lord, by Your grace I have so many hopes and aspirations in my mind: I have so many desires and so much love for You. Among all these many desires – whether or not You will grace me and satisfy some of them – that I do not know. Only I request You to please come and satiate my eternal longing for You.

Baba, You are love Personified; I feel in my heart that You will come…

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B GROUP SELLING LIVE AQUATIC ANIMALS TO KILL & EAT

Baba

This entire email is composed of 3 parts:
(1) Posting: B Group Selling Live Aquatic Animals to Kill & Eat
(2) Trailer Quote: Link Between Service & Sadhana
(3) Prabhat Samgiita #2329;

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

== B GROUP SELLING LIVE AQUATIC ANIMALS TO KILL & EAT ==

Namaskar,
You may know that in many Ananda Marga units in Bengal, many Wts maintain various ponds for cultivating and selling fish in order to earn money. West Bengal is a huge fish-eating region; eating fish is such a way of life that they simply refer to fish as “water fruit.” Just as a desert is filled with cactus plants, similarly all across Bengal there are man-made and natural ponds. They are a common phenomenon. The ponds are maintained to store live fish for this community of fish-eating people.

To capitalize on the situation, certain B group Wts thought they should join in and do this as a business. Those Wts thought that selling fish to the people would be a good way to make money. Here is how it works.

Wherever they have ample space, on various Ananda Marga units they maintain large ponds that are stocked with fish. Then those Wts get the word out that the people are welcome to come and fish those ponds for a fee. Essentially, Wts sell “fishing rights” to locals, and in turn those villagers etc can come and catch and eat the fish from the pond.

The rates may vary from pond to pond, and may vary based on how many fish a person catches etc. But all along the basic idea is one: Wts charge locals a particular amount of money to come and kill the fish. You may have heard about this.

Now it is our duty to consider how far this is consistent with our ideals of neo-humanism.

As Ananda Margiis, we know that we are to honour and respect all forms of life and that we do not condone the cruel killing of any being, including fish.

USE OF PISCICULTURE

Baba has given the program of pisciculture, a key system for creating ecological balance and averting and solving the water crisis. Here is how it works.

All kinds of aquatic animals like crabs, oysters, and fish etc should be cultivated in ponds and lakes. By their very presence in those water bodies, that water is cleaned and kept at an optimal level. Trees and other vegetation should be planted around those lakes and ponds. That brings shade to the area, attracts rain clouds, and very importantly, brings birds to the region. Those birds will prevent the over-population of fish, ensuring balance.

The establishment of lakes and ponds is Baba’s system for water conservation. The presence of aquatic animals is key for its success. So that is the right use of fish in the Ananda Marga model of pisciculture.

To kill and eat those fish for human consumption is a direct violation of Baba’s given system.

Prout philosophy says, “Fish should be cultivated in lakes, dams and ponds because they help conserve and purify the water. Small fish can also be cultivated in the paddy fields during the rainy season. Fish are the natural food of birds, so they are an essential part of a balanced ecology.” (1)

Prout philosophy says, “Pisciculture should also be developed in ponds and lakes. The fish help to keep the water clean and the level constant because their breathing creates water and carbon dioxide. The fish inhale oxygen along with water vapour from the atmosphere as well as dissolved oxygen from the water. They synthesize water which is exhaled into the lake. This helps to keep the water in the lake at a constant level. If many fish live in a lake, hundreds and even thousands of gallons of water will be added to the size of the lake in the course of time. Each lake should also have an attached bird sanctuary, because the fish provide food for the birds.” (2)

Thus there is no scope for Wts to sell and kill fish in the name of pisciculture. That is not Baba’s system.

“THOSE THEY HAD TRUSTED AS THEIR FRIENDS ARE ACTUALLY THEIR ENEMIES”

Next Baba points out the hypocritical and bogus way that some humans treat animals. They superficially treat animals as friends one moment and then butcher them the next – often to get a profit. Is this not what B group Wts are doing with their fish.

“Passing through many lives as worms, insects, birds, and animals, they have undergone countless pains, miseries, tortures and humiliations. Take for example the life of a goat. A goat spends its life eating grass, until the day comes when the butcher grabs it, kills it, skins it and sells its flesh piece by piece in the market. That goat at one time had to live such a miserable life. But today it has forgotten all this. Through a process of forward movement, today it may have attained a human life.”
“Human life is more secure than animal life. Many animals live in the jungle where there is something to fear every minute; where the weak are the prey of the strong. To escape this atmosphere of fear and insecurity, many wild animals have sought refuge with human beings. They have been fed grass, leaves and other types of fodder until the right moment came to kill them for their flesh. Even today, this is generally what happens. Animals fully trust human beings; they trust them even up to one minute before their death. But when they see a person approaching them with a weapon in hand, they realize that those they had trusted as their friends are actually their enemies. Although human beings feed their animals, the love or attachment which they have for them is purely external. There is no genuine love in humans. This is how wretched animal life can be.”
“Every human being has had to pass through that sort of painful animal life in the past. But that does not mean we should be the cause of misery for those animals who have taken shelter with us today. On the contrary, we should have a merciful attitude towards them. A woman who has been badly treated or humiliated by her mother-in-law should be careful that she does not treat her daughter-in-law in the same way. Human beings should carry out their duties properly in the external world and should always ensure that no being suffers unnecessarily from any undue mistreatment. In the physical sphere, the rights of all should be protected.” (3)

“I SHOULD NOT KILL, I SHOULD NOT GIVE THEM ANY TROUBLE…”

As responsible human beings and as sadhakas, we should abide by Baba’s following teachings.

“We should live with the policy of “Live and let others live”.” (4)

Ananda Marga philosophy says, “For each and every living entity one’s personal life is the dearest thing. One loves one’s personal life very much. This is the rule, this is the characteristic of all living beings. But those people who understand this sentiment of living beings and love others with the thought, “I should not kill, I should not give them any trouble because they love their life as much as I love my own life”, are true sádhus and those who lack this sentiment are not sádhus, they are asádhu. Preaching the gospels of peace, and at the same time slaughtering chickens, is not a proper thing for a sádhu because the one who kills the chickens loves his life and the chickens also love their own lives. So that man lacks the universal sentiment of love. He is not a sádhu. A sádhu must be vegetarian.” (5)

Thus it is very clear that we should allow other beings to joyously live their lives, and we should not needlessly harm or kill them. That is our ethic in Ananda Marga. And that is Baba’s teaching. Certainly every Ananda Margii understands this.

Even then many of those Wt’s in Bengal have their set justification. They say, “What is wrong; we are not killing the fish; we are just charging the local people to come and catch fish on our land. If they did not fish on our land, they would fish somewhere else.” This is their rationalisation.

By that reasoning then, a villager would be able to invites goondhas (rough criminals) to come to his area and rob the local people, and in return that villager would get a percentage of the looting or booty.

So the justification given by those Wts does not hold any value.

A CASE OF DECEPTION

That is not the only justification they give…

B group workers also give the false justification that by keeping such fish ponds they are following Baba’s system of pisciculture. But this is absolutely wrong. As noted above, Baba’s system of pisciculture is for ecological balance and water conservation – not the wanton killing and selling of fish. Today’s capitalistic fishing industries exploit the fish for profits etc. But that is not our way; and no one should be led to believe that is Baba’s system.

Baba’s given program of pisciculture is for ecological sustainability, animal welfare, and the benefit of all beings – bar none.

NO QUESTION OF OVER-POPULATION

Then there are some who think that the pond will be over-populated by fish, if people do not come and go fishing in those ponds. But at about this, there is no need to worry about that. Before humans were on the planet, there were all kinds of animals all over this earth. To such persons, Baba has given the ultimate reply.

Baba says “Some people argue that animals have been created by Parama Puruśa for our food. I knew a certain person who used to say that if people do not eat goats’ meat, the world would become populated only by goats. And others said that if people don’t eat chickens, there would not be even a single inch of space on this earth – it would be filled with chickens! Now my point is, even though human beings do not eat vultures, is there a crowd of vultures in the world? How foolish such people are! People don’t eat earthworms – has there been an uncontrollable growth of earthworms on earth? Only out of excessive greed, people eat chickens and goats and are simply searching for logic to support their actions and cover up their weakness. This sort of cunning will not do. In the mobility of the psychic world, there are certain defective thoughts prevailing – that we humans are destined to rule this earth, and the creatures are destined to be ruled by us. You will have to fight against this type of psychology with the help of your strong weapon. What is that weapon? Neohumanism. All have the equal right to live here: this universe is for all. It is not the patrimony of human beings only. This is also the duty of Renaissance people.” (6)

NOT SADHU BUT PSEUDO-CULTURE

Clearly, Baba has given the mandate that we are not to allow or encourage fishing as we are to safeguard the well-being of every animal in this creation. We should not exploit, directly or indirectly, any creature in order to make a profit etc. This is not our way.

That is why it is so shocking that our Wts are involved in the selling and killing of fish in various parts of West Bengal. Rather such Wts should stand on the moral principles of Ananda Marga and teach the people the right ideals of life through their own conduct.

But this much many B group Wts do not do. Rather than maintaining the neo-humanistic vision of Ananda Marga, and rather than living the life of a sadhu, many Wts just given in to local, pseudo-culture values, and sell fish in order to make a profit. They think that since the locals are already involved in eating fish then what is wrong.

However, what if the local population was involved in prostitution or harsh drugs like heroin etc. In those cases also, should Wts step into the business ring and try to make a profit? Should we allow or encourage that? Certainly not.

Yet that is the very attitude that is plaguing our Ananda Marga at present.

USING DIRTY MONEY TO PROCURE THEIR OWN FOOD

For all these reasons and more, many are saying that such Wts are using dirty money to procure their own food. They have plunged themselves into a business that is against the ethics of neo-humanism; they have adopted a profession that goes contrary to the ways of right livelihood (samyak ajiiva) since they are making money by harming and killing other beings; yet by that way their are profiting and using that dirty money to purchase their own food. This is veritably a filthy cycle.

Here are more of Baba’s teachings that guide us that no one in Ananda Marga, including our Wts, should be involved in the business of selling and killing fish etc.

“WHY SHOULD I KILL AN INNOCENT CREATURE JUST FOR THE SAKE OF…”

Práńáh yathátmano’bhiiśt́áh bhútánám api te tathá;
Atmaopamyena bhútánám dayáḿ kurvanti sádhavah.

“Just as your life is extremely dear to you, similarly the lives of others are equally dear to them. A person who thinks thus and shows mercy on other creatures is really a sádhu, or virtuous person.” In order to become a virtuous person one need not give up one’s worldly life. When this idea dawns on one’s mind one realizes, “Why should I kill an innocent creature just for the sake of the gratification of my palate.” But then one may suddenly discover a different kind of scriptural injunction – “Oh yes, you may sacrifice animals in a particular way and the sacrificed animal will attain salvation.” People follow the scriptural injunction helplessly but in their heart of hearts they realize that the whole thing is irrational. Yet they cannot gather sufficient courage to go against the “scripture”. This sort of idea which impedes the progress of the mind is called “dogma”. A dogma arises from either a defective philosophy or a “scripture”. This sort of dogma should be rejected forthwith.” (7)

“HUMAN BEINGS ARE MORE CRUEL THAN VULTURES”

Ananda Marga teachings state: “Vultures are carnivorous birds. Yet it is found that they are not cruel or heartless. Usually, like eagles, they do not attack living humans or animals. Their habit is to eat the flesh of dead bodies. There was an incident in my childhood that I can still vividly recall. On the west of our locality there was a large field which bordered on a tributary of the Ganges. As the soil was not fit for cultivation nothing could be grown there. On the upper side of that fallow land was a mound upon which stood a large tamarind tree. A vulture lived in a nest on the tree. Beside the mound was the site for the disposal of carcasses. Cows used to graze in the field as did a few horses and sheep. Once an old cow came there and fell flat on the ground due to utter exhaustion. The veterinary doctor came and said, “The cow has no chance of survival. She is likely to die in a few hours.” The owner of the cow was a very kind-hearted man. He tried to save the cow in various ways but in vain. I noticed that as long as the cow was alive, she gently wagged her tail, even when her eyes were half closed. There was no other symptom of life, at least that is what it seemed to me. I also noticed that while her tail was wagging, the vulture stayed patiently in the tree. It came to eat the cow’s flesh only an hour after her natural death. Human beings are more cruel than vultures. Their hearts don’t melt even at the sight of tears of innocent birds and animals. Just to gratify their sense of greed, they mercilessly slit the throats of animals with sharp knives and swords and thus deprive them of the right to live, even while preaching the hollow dictates of religion.” (8)

“THEY GET CONTAMINATED BY THESE SAME DEFECTS”

Baba says, “Fish eat all kinds of things. Because of this, the positive qualities of those foods which they eat they may or may not get; but, certainly they get the negative qualities or defects of those foods which they eat. In addition, fish quarrel so much among themselves; they are quarrel mongers. They eat each other; they feel jealous towards one another; and also they have the tendency to wander around aimlessly in an indisciplined, disorderly manner. Because of these negative qualities of fish, since ages there has been the feeling amongst the general public that those who are fish eaters, they get contaminated by these same defects.” (9)

Amongst all of India, the most densely populated fish-eating area is Bengal. Indeed, Baba says that the main population of Bengal are kaevarta (fisherman community). There are a huge number of lakes, ponds, rivers, and water sources in Bengal; that is why fish flourish there. Thus in Bengal fish are known as water fruit. Except for very strict devoted margiis, most of them like to eat fish.

SUMMARY

B group’s present-day manner of fishing for profits directly contravenes all Baba’s guidelines on pisciculture. His divine mandates for pisciculture stand as a broad-based ecological approach for balance and sustainability. Fish are needed for the keeping healthy and clean lakes and ponds. Those bodies of water should furthermore be surrounded by trees. Birds will naturally flock to those tress and naturally control the population of fish. This is the keen way and role of our fisheries / pisciculture system. Whereas, B group’s short-sighted, greedy and heartless way of selling and killing fish to make a profit neglects all neo-humanistic values and undermines the spirit and use of Baba’s dharmic guideline on pisciculture.

Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Candra Deva

REFERENCES
1. Ideal Farming, Integrated Farming
2. Ideal Farming, Lakeside and Riverside Plantations
3. 2 January 1979, Patna
4. Discourses on Prout, pt #1
5. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 2, Keep Company with the Virtuous
6. Prout in a Nutshell – 9, Renaissance in All the Strata of Life
7. Yoga Psychology, Instinct and Devotion
8. Neo-Humanism in a Nutshell – 2
9. Shabda Cayanika – 20, Bangla, Disc #156

The section below this mark is an entirely different topic and not related with the subject matter up above.

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Link Between Service and Sadhana

“When you reach the closest proximity to the Supreme Consciousness, your mental waves will come in contact with His mental waves. Then you will understand what is to be done, and what will be the destiny of humanity in the near and distant future. Because of your spiritual progress, you will come closer and closer to the Supreme Consciousness, you will come in contact with His psychic waves. And in that state you will be able to render still better service to human beings, animals and plants.” (Subhasita Samgraha – 16 (H), p. 10-11)

Note: Without good sadhana rendering real social service is impossible.
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Prabhat Samgiita

“Bha’loba’si toma’y a’mi, keno ta’ ja’ni na’…” P.S. 2329

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, O’ Supreme One, I love You; but, I do not know why I love You. You go on pulling my heart – but what is the mystery behind this, how and why You are attracting me, that I cannot say. Baba, all I know is that You are the divine effulgence of my dark heart. By Your grace, I will never allow that effulgence to get extinguished. Baba, I will always keep Your love in my heart. By Your grace, I will always hold Your divine image in my mind.

O’ Divine Entity, all the love I have in the deep core of my heart, and all the hopes and longings I have in my mind, all these desires and aspirations of mine are revolving around You. By Your grace, they get expressed through Your songs, dance, melody, and rhythms. O’ Parama Purusa, You are the focal point of my life; You are my everything.

Baba, by Your divine grace, I feel that You are guiding each and every aspect of my existence. There is not even a single ounce of confusion in my mind. Everything is very clear. Where am I, where will I go, and from where have I come: All these types of useless questions never creep into my mind. Baba, by Your grace, I do not even want to know these things. Just I am fully depending upon You: You know everything and that everything is in Your control. For me that is enough. Baba, You are my shelter, You are my anchor, and You are the Supreme Controller of this vast universe.

Baba, You are always ever gracious on me. I love You with all my heart; my whole existence is Yours…

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HOW TO AVOID WAR

Baba

This entire email is composed of 3 parts:
(1) Posting: How to Avoid War
(2) Trailer Quote: Real Wealth
(3) Prabhat Samgiita #980;
Each section is demarcated by asterisks (***).

== HOW TO AVOID WAR ==

Namaskar,
As we have seen in this modern era, the US has been very aggressive in taking up military action in the Middle East; not coincidentally, the US is the top consumer of oil and that quota is primarily filled from reservoirs around the globe – especially those in the Middle East.

For this reason the US has built up the biggest army in the world. That way the US can secure raw materials in one of two ways. Either the US makes deals with those foreign leaders and easily gains access to raw materials, or the US goes to war. War results when outside rulers are not cooperative and do not give way to US demands. In that case, the US will try to remove that ruler and insert their own hand-picked stooge. This is their long-standing approach.

France adheres to this same tactic, and verily this is the common trend around the globe. Rich countries exploit poor countries to gain control over their natural resources and raw materials. To avoid this, Prout has given a very meaningful and rational formula. By this way, we can bring back peace and tranquility onto this earth.

OF CONCERN TO ALL

The issue of energy is of great concern around the globe. All want to create a renewable, sustainable energy policy. Yet in the practical sphere, for various reasons it has not taken shape on the societal level. The teachings of Prout offer some important solutions, and outline key underlying cause(s). As Ananda Margiis, we should be keenly aware of our Proutistic outlook.

IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM:

RAMPANT EXPLOITATION OF RESOURCES

As with any problem, it is critical to identify the root cause.

“According to PROUT, economic exploitation involves the unrestricted plunder of the physical and psychic labour of a particular community together with the natural resources in their local area.” (1)

So materialistic economic policies and programs have led to the rampant destruction and manipulation of natural resources. This has severely threatened the earth’s ecological balance and led to an environmental crisis.

To date, there has been an unrelenting push to scour the earth’s natural resources for maximum economic gain. With money as the main priority, sound environmental policies have either been absent or overlooked.

Due to this type of economic exploitation and plunder, the globe now finds itself in an energy crisis.

Prout teachings offer numerous solutions to this dire problem.

NATURAL RESOURCES USED LOCALLY

One key principle is that each and every area or district should be developed using their own natural resources. Countries should not depend upon oil etc from other outside regions.

Prout philosophy says, “In a healthy economy raw materials should come from the local area. Industries which are based on imported raw materials are always weak industries, sick industries. A sick economy depends upon raw materials from outside – it depends upon import. For example, the Barauni Oil Refinery in Bihar is a sick industry because it depends upon crude oil from Assam. If there is any disturbance in Assam or if India is balkanized, then the refinery will have to close down. The establishment of this refinery was a foolish act. It does not represent a healthy economic structure. It is a sick industry, a foolish industry, a stupid industry!” (2)

The guiding approach is that raw materials and natural resources should be used locally. They should not be exported. Those economies that depend upon imported raw materials are weak.

Relying on oil from afar is a misguided way to build up one’s economy. Yet that has been the prevailing approach around the world. The US has relied heavily on the Middle East. Russia has become an increasing player in providing oil to countries around the globe. Rare is the case where an economy wholly depends upon their own local resources.

The Proutistic response is that each and every land should be developed using their own natural resources. There are practical solutions for each and every area to create their own fuel. Here following is one such approach.

“Many healthy industries based on local raw materials can be developed. For example, high-quality concentrated alcohol fuel can be produced from sugar beet and sugar cane. Concentrated alcohol can replace fossil fuels, as the stock of crude oil is fast diminishing.” (3)

Further down in this email is a listing of Proutistic solutions for how cities, states, and countries can develop their own energy.

THERE IS PLENTY FOR ALL

First it should be clearly recognised that there are sufficient natural resources for all. By a careful, thought out approach we as a humanity will realise that all that is needed has been provided. To date, human error has been the cause of shortages in resources.

“If there were maximum utilization and rational distribution of all natural resources, pressing socio-economic problems could be easily solved. It is a law of nature that a mother is provided with sufficient breast milk to feed her newly born baby. In the same way nature has generously provided sufficient resources to meet the food and other essential requirements of all human beings. People need to utilize these natural resources in a proper way. Shortages of food or space cannot be blamed on nature. These problems are essentially the results of the mistakes made by human beings.” (4)

So the energy crisis of today is not due to a lack of resources but rather stems from the misutilisation and misappropriation of those resources. Each and every area has the requisite raw materials for building a healthy social order.

Prout philosophy states, “Nature has been kind enough to provide abundant natural resources to every region of this earth.” (5)

As a case in point, even the economically impoverished region of Rarh has all the energy resources it needs.

“In Ra’r’h there are extensive deposits of coal, coal gas and natural gas.” (6)

By all this it is quite clear that one need not live in the Middle East or in Alaska to get the oil they need. If we remember His guidelines and look carefully, then we will find that in each and every land, there are sufficient deposits of natural resources to meet the energy requirements of that area.

ENERGY SHOULD BE A NOT-FOR-PROFIT INDUSTRY

Here Prout teachings give more insight into and significant solutions for the world’s energy crisis.

“The local administration will have to supply locally generated power such as solar energy, thermal energy, bio-gas, hydroelectricity, nuclear energy, pneumatic energy, electromagnetic energy and tidal power, or any other power which is easily available locally. The generation of power is a key industry which should be run on a no profit, no loss basis so that the cost of production is minimized and the purchasing capacity of the people is increased. For example, if batteries are produced through cottage industries, power should be supplied on a no profit, no loss basis, but the battery producers will be able to sell their batteries at a rational profit. Here the power that is used to manufacture the batteries is not an industrial commodity but a raw material. The power for such things as transportation, communication, schools, colleges and hospitals should also be supplied on a no profit, no loss basis to maintain social dynamism.” (7)

So here above Prout guidelines give some key concepts about the generation and distribution of energy.

1. Local governments have to create their own power.
2. Power can be generated from any number of avenues: hydro, nuclear, tidal, solar etc.
3. This industry must run on a no-profit, no loss basis.

Looking around the globe, anyone can easily see that part and parcel of the energy squeeze today is that capitalist multinational corporations are using gas and oil to pull in huge profits. At present, Exxon-Mobil – that massive oil corporation – is the wealthiest company in the world. Indeed, a high percentage of the most profitable companies in the world are oil companies such as: Royal Dutch Shell plc (Netherlands), PetroChina Company Limited (China), Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras (Brazil).

These corporations accumulate huge profits while stripping near and far distant lands of their natural resources. This type of capitalistic plundering and profiteering goes entirely counter to our Proutistic outlook. And that is why the problem is growing today.

Whereas as soon as the above Proutistic methods are followed, then that will ease the energy crisis immediately.

NO NEED FOR CONCERN AND WORRY

Some may now be losing hope and thinking that it will be impossible to institute these types of changes. But actually, due to the current & ongoing energy crises, there are many who are already considering and implementing such type of Proutistic methods. In each and every area this is happening. More about this is discussed below.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

Some may think that alternative energy can only be supplied in certain key areas. For example, a few may be thinking that solar power can only be generated in the sunny desert etc, but this is not at all the case. In these next series of quotes, please find countless solutions and suggestions how alternative energy can be created and found in all the regions of the world. According to Prout teachings, there are innumerable sources of good, useable energy.

“Two types of power can be developed in Bangladesh – power from oceanic tides, and solar energy. Oceanic tides can be harnessed in the Bakargang subdivision of Noakhali district where the Meghana River enters the ocean, and in the Chandpur subdivision of British Tripura district where the Dakatiya River enters the ocean. Many waves and turbulences are created by the impact of these rivers when they enter the Bay of Bengal. Tidal power would be very cheap to harness there. Solar power can also be harnessed, but this source of power is not so developed yet. It will become increasingly important in the future.” (8)

So in the above guideline, it is clear that tidal and solar energy is important and will play a big role in the future. Here below are more ways for how to generate solar energy.

“There is no need to purchase coal from outside as is being done now. Solar power can also be generated in the plain areas where the land is wavy.” (9)

And with His broad based perspective, the Propounder of Prout philosophy has given innumerable ways how to generate energy from a variety of sources.

“Energy and transportation: Until solar energy can be manufactured cheaply, other energy sources can be utilized, like hydroelectricity, coal, thermal power, tidal power, geo-thermal power, wind power and natural gas. All the raw materials necessary for transportation are also available, including rubber, steel, mica, mica chips, mercury, silver, copper, quartz and manganese.” (10)

PETROLEUM ALSO WILL NOT BE IN SHORTAGE

And in those areas where there will be continued use of petroleum, Prout philosophy offers these two important guidelines.

“Petroleum can also be recovered from certain types of river valleys. Where the river bed is broad there is a chance of finding petroleum.” (11)

“There may be a shortage of petroleum but elements for creating petroleum are available in the world. We will be able to produce synthetic petroleum.” (12)

Thus even petroleum will be abundantly available in the near future.

ESTABLISHMENT OF PROUT IS FAST COMING

None should hopelessly ponder that Prout will never be established – already it is getting manifest. And quickly too.

As we all know Baba has graciously given Prout in the year 1955. And in those days the world was not at all willing to move in that direction. For one reason or another the leaders and citizens were quite satisfied with the way things were going. The ideas of Prout seemed like a far-away dream. But now only 54 years later, huge progress has developed towards adopting Prout. Due to extreme social and economic circumstances, many communities and businesses are consciously or unconsciously moving in that direction. People have been forced to think in that way.

The magic wave has been created for all His Proutistic guidelines to be implemented. Some are getting established by right thinking Proutists and other Prout guidelines are taking shape simply because the ways of old are no longer working. And this global transition is occurring at a marked rate, i.e. quickly. The speed will only increase exponentially in the coming months and years.

Thus none should think that they will not see the implementation of Prout. Already the hard part is over: the psychic seeds and awareness has taken root. The conditions are ripe. And very soon, more and more, we will see the sprouting of Prout in each and every land and community around this globe.

As we – as a humanity – continue to search for solutions and alternatives in the escalating energy crisis, more and more will turn to the ideas of Prout.

IDEALS OF PROUT

Here following is the divine assurance and blessing that our human existence will become better and better in all the spheres. Only by implementing the aforementioned Proutistic measures on energy resources will there be joy and peace on this earth.

Prout philosophy says, “The progressive availability of the maximum amenities of life will be guaranteed in PROUT, satisfying physical needs. The satisfied physical needs will lessen the physical obstacles which inhibit human progress, and human beings will experience all-round development, especially in the intellectual stratum. Human beings will get the opportunity to develop in the intellectual stratum without any hindrances. The truth of humanity, the veracity of humanity, will go on increasing in different areas of expression….the whole existence of human beings will become effulgent in the attainment of the Supreme.” (13)

Namaskar,
Vinay

REFERENCES:
1. Prout
2. Proutist Economics
3. Proutist Economics
4. A Few Problems Solved – 9, ‘Population Growth & Control’
5. Prout in a Nutshell – 21
6. Proutist Economics
7. Proutist Economics, ‘Decentralised Economy-1’
8. Proutist Economic
9. Prout in a Nutshell – 19
10. A Few Problems Solve – 7, ‘Parts of the Economy’
11. AFPS-9, ‘Geology and Human Civilisation’
12. AFPS-8, ‘Rule of Rationality’
13. Prout in a Nutshell – 17, ‘Min Req & Max Amen’

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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Real Wealth:

One Should Ponder, Assimilate, and Practice

Parama Purusa BABA says, “Those who seek to attain the permanent cessation of afflictions in their lives, have no other way than to follow this path of sadhana. Imagine that a certain person had accumulated vast wealth due to his life long’s diligent labor. It may be that the person, in the days of his prosperity, was a central figure in the society. But at the end of his life he may suffered a wretched existence, bemoaning his losses in the arid desert of his heart. The reason is that the person had an insatiable thirst for material objects and never tried to identify his individual flow with the cosmic flow. On the other hand, a person living in a thatched hut may not forget Parama Purus’a even in the midst of abject poverty and never deviates from the goal of his life. Such a person’s life can never lose its charm. Every dust particle of this earth will seem to be as sweet as honey to him. Likewise, his existence will acquire the sweetness of honey.” (Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell – 4, pg 290)
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**** Here begins the Prabhat Samgiita ****

“Tumi esecho, bha’lo besecho, bhola’ye sakal vyatha’ sab ha’ha’ka’r…” (PS 980)

Purport:

Baba, O’ Parama Purusa, my heart was sunk in sorrow and woe; I was forlorn and had lost all hope. I was crying, thinking I am all alone and that in this world no one is mine. Baba, You have graced me by coming and blessed me with Your love. You have made my heart and mind overflowing in Your divine bliss. By Your causeless grace, all my pains, lamentations, and tragedies have been wiped away. You have filled my life with bliss.

O’ my Lord, You are so gracious. You have responded and come to me with Your sweet smile. Baba, with Your infinite beauty and charm You have won over everyone’s heart. Baba, my love knows only You. You are everything for me. There is no one else; nothing else can attract me; I only love You. Baba, it is Your grace: I am always ensconced in Your tune, melody, and Your divine attraction – in pleasure, in pain, and also when my pride is wounded. Baba, You belong to everyone, even then in my heart I know that You are only mine. You belong to me and me alone.

Baba, Your presence is everywhere. The mark of Your love is found on the flower and the leaves – on every spot in this panoramic world. Even then the black bee of my mind wants You alone. Baba on my worst days, when all hope was gone, when I had lost everything, in that desperate circumstance when no one else was there to help me, You always came and resolved all my troubles, pains, and problems. Baba, You are the sweetest of the sweet. You are only mine; You are only mine.

Baba, You have graced me by coming. It is Your grace; it is Your grace…

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Story: Incurring Debt Ruins Mental Peace And Friendship

Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:21:56
Subject: Story: Incurring Debt Ruins Mental Peace And Friendship
From: Punya’tman Deva
To: am-global@earthlink.net

Baba

This entire email is composed of 3 parts:
(1) Prabhat Samgiita #3199;
(2) Posting: Story: Incurring Debt Ruins Mental Peace And Friendship
(3) Trailer Quote: Bengalis and Mahasambhuti

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

**** Here begins the Prabhat Samgiita ****

“Jhar’er ra’te a’ndha’rete kendechilum van-ma’jhe…” (P.S. 3199)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, on that very dark night when a big thunderstorm was raging, I was crying alone in the deep forest. Nobody was there to talk to – to console me – to understand the tale of my suffering. Nobody was nearby. Certainly You were there along with me, but I could not feel Your presence.

In the height of that wild storm big branches were breaking off from the trees and crashing down on the ground. And all those tender buds and beautiful flowers were also completely blown off from the limbs of the trees; those buds and flowers were wailing loud lamentations; the trees were crying bitterly. That very dark, horrendous night was so disastrous.

O’ Parama Purusa, after this dark, menacing storm passes, and a soft, gentle breeze is in the air, will You please come in the madhuvan [1] of my mind, in my mental garden, with Your sweet, attractive form?…

NOTE FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #3199:

[1] Madhuvan: Literally meaning “sweet forest”; But it refers to that remote, isolated, garden in the mind that is filled with spring blossoms, sweet fragrance, aromatic flowers, and a gentle & fragrant breeze. It is that tranquil mental abode where nobody is present except the devotee and the Lord. And there the bhakta and Parama Purusa sit together ensconced in that very divinely intoxicated atmosphere and they share the loving feeling of their heart in a very close, intimate, and loving way.

== STORY: INCURRING DEBT RUINS MENTAL PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP ==

Namaskar,
This letter contains an in-depth Baba story with His critical and detailed guidelines about borrowing and lending money. This is very practical knowledge for us all to have as we may find ourselves in this position one day soon.

Do we lend money to those in need, or not?

Read below to get Baba’s pointed guideline and convey His unique message to others in your unit and community.

ANANDA MARGA: OPPOSITE OF CAPITALISM

The present era of materialism preaches “instant gratification”: Enjoy the world by buying happiness. Credit cards and loans are readily available to the common person. Indeed lending agencies and credit card companies are standing by with astronomical interest rates in order to rip off consumers. It is a deadly cycle; already so many have been victimised.

In Ananda Marga, our view is diametrically opposite. We interact with this world for our daily needs and aim our mind towards psychic and psycho-spiritual pursuits. We seek happiness and peace in those upper realms, not in the instant gratification of worldly indulgences. We know this, we practice this, but even then some in our Marga have gotten bound by the noose of capitalism.

But there is no winning in capitalism. Only those top capitalists derive some selfish benefit. The common public just borrows and spends money on material allurements hoping to find happiness; but ultimately they find themselves upset, frustrated and in debt. All the while, the impoverished masses around the globe suffer from an extreme dearth of resources, which have been gobbled up by those capitalists.

So we should not fall prey to the capitalist cycle of borrowing and spending. Please read this following Baba story about this very subject.

BABA STORY:

GUIDELINES ON FINANCIAL DEALING

Baba was against people borrowing or lending money. One day He said, “You must know that lending as well as borrowing is undesirable and detestable.”

I had known Baba’s attitude and so had always tried not to borrow money. But I still had a question, “Was it so bad to lend money to someone in distress?”

Baba answered with an illustration. “Do you know why it isn’t desirable to lend out money? Suppose someone has come to you to borrow some money. Maybe his need is genuine and his appeal is justified. As you listen to his story of distress, you are likely to want to be kind to him. Even if it is beyond your own means to lend a big amount, you become so upset thinking of his dire need that you take pity on him. Your thoughts get interrupted as the gentleman says, ‘You need not worry, dear brother. Please help me wriggle out of my crisis. If your generosity can take me out the present crisis, I’ll repay the loan within a month. Meanwhile I’m likely to get some money soon, so you may rest assured that you’ll get back your money on time.'”

Baba continued, “There may be no reason for you to disbelieve him. Suppose you are soft-hearted, so you collect the money somehow and hand it over to him. And he, too, feels glad and goes away.”

“That man may not have any intention of taking you for a ride, but it may turn out that he can’t get hold of the money as he thought. It is not so unusual. But you go on nursing the hope that he will repay you at the end of the month.”

“A month goes by. He hesitates to see you out of his shame because he has no money to repay to you. Suppose you go to him out of need for the money. In all likelihood he will be ill at ease and may take offense at your uncalled-for-presence. He will think, ‘How disgusting! He has come to me straightaway.’ Understandably, he will tell you a long excuse about why he has failed to repay you. You will give a patient hearing to him and coming back home begin to wait for the deadline as promised. There will be times when you come across him on the street. Immediately, he will think ‘O, my God! Here he is again, he will certainly remind me of my debt!'”

“Of course it’s only natural such thoughts come to mind, interspersed with some inaudible abusive remarks. Maybe you didn’t go to him for money, but what is that to him? Your presence will be unpleasant enough.”

“So whenever you meet him, he will think, ‘I am lost! He has come again to pressure me for that money.’ At the same time he will hurl some unsavory remarks at you, albeit silently. Contrary to what is in his mind, he will say, ‘Welcome, my dear brother. I am glad to meet you. I am so grateful to you,’ and so on and so forth.

“Undoubtedly the moment he sees you, he will heap uncharitable remarks on you, but when you will come within earshot, he will be all praises an parade his respect for you. It goes without saying that you will be put into a dilemma from not getting your money back even at the time of your own dire need. It may happen that your need will drive you to his house and shout from outside, ‘Hello, Mr.—-, are you there?’

“He will think, ‘Oh! he has come again for the money. What will I say to him?’

“Thinking this, he will not only silently curse you, but also try his best to avoid an encounter with you. Instead of coming outside, he will tell his little son to tell you that his father is out. Accordingly, the boy will run to you to inform you that his father is not in.

“Looking askance at him, you will say, ‘Go inside and find out for certain whether or not your father is there.’ The simple-minded child will reply, ‘Why, I don’t need to check because father has himself said that he is out.’ In this way your relationship with that friend will sour and you don’t know where it will end.”

“Well, he certainly would have been offended that first day if you had not lent him money. Not only that, he would possibly have been shocked and have silently heaped some abusive remarks. Nevertheless, the unpleasant situation would not have spilt over onto the rest of your life. If you lend money, you will inevitably invite filthy remarks galore. That is why a person should think many times before lending to others.”

I asked, “Sometimes a really good man may fall into trouble and sincerely need help. In that case, what is to be done?”

Baba said, “Instead of lending him money, you should help him according to your capacity. Suppose he is asking for five thousand rupees. Tell him your attitude about lending money and let him know your financial condition. Then help him with an amount that’s within your means. It may not be as much as he demands, but he will get consolation that you tried to share his difficulties.” (“My Days with Baba”, Sarveshvarananda)

The above story is quite clear on the point of borrowing and lending. According to Baba, we should not borrow money nor should we lend it. If anyone truly needs financial help, then we should give them money according to our capacity, and not expect anything in return.

BABA’S FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

Here are some of His further teachings about this very critical topic.

First Baba warns us that we should seek counsel and permission before (a) spending money on superfluous items and (b) before taking any loan.

Ananda Marga Philosophy says, “I am also giving one more advice in regard to aparigraha. If any Margis have to spend on anything in addition to the fixed expenditure (for example, expensive clothing, ornaments, articles of furniture, marriage, building, etc.), they should, before incurring such expenditure, obtain a clear order from their ácárya, unit secretary or district secretary, or any other person of responsible rank. Similarly, permission is to be obtained before taking loan from any businessman or money-lender. Where one’s own ácárya or any person of responsible rank is not easily available, consultation or rather permission is to be obtained from any other ácárya, táttvika or any right-thinking member of the Marga. Every member should follow this instruction strictly.” (1)

Secondly, Baba warns us how money lending itself is a filthy profession. We should keep such greedy persons at arms-length.

Prout says, “People’s means of liveliood should not depend on the quarrel of individuals, as in the case of lawyers. Lawyers usually set one person against another and in this way they serve their personal interests. Similarly no one should be a trader in religion, because in the name of religion, many people are exploited. Nor should one earn one’s livelihood by dealing with dead bodies because such people want more and more people to die, so that they may thereby increase their income. People should also not earn their livelihood by lending money and taking interest. Such persons want to lend more and more money to gain more and more interest, and they do not want the borrowers to refund the capital. The scriptures stipulate that people should not accept food from such people, because their occupations are despicable.” (2)

Over the course of history – in so many lands – money lenders have exploited people to the bone and taken all they had. This has happened not only with the farmers of Bengal depicted below but in so many regions and eras, including in the present day US where countless innocent families are losing their homes because they are unable to pay the money / mortgage they owe.

“Another group of exploiters emerged who took advantage of the poverty of the farmers. These were the moneylenders, who lent money to the farmers at exorbitant rates of interest. The farmers were forced to take loans which they could never repay, so they mortgaged their lands. Eventually the moneylenders became the owners of the farmers’ lands, and the farmers were thus converted into landless labourers… moneylending by private capitalists should be banned and provisions must be made to pay loans in advance to the farmers through the banks. This will eradicate the exploitation by moneylenders and political cadres.” (3)

SUMMARY

We should all exercise extreme caution in our financial dealings. This era of extreme capitalism has devoured the lives of many – leaving them as desperate beggars unable to regain their footing. We must not let this happen to us or anyone we know. We should remain out of debt and keep our mind free for psycho-spiritual endeavors. That is the only way. Remember, one in debt becomes mentally bound by this financial burden as well.

Thus no one in Ananda Marga should make a living by lending money and no Ananda Margii should go into any sort of debt without first getting clear-cut permission from respected members of our Marga.

By following Baba’s guidelines, we can maintain our psychic equilibrium. Going into debt and digging means losing one’s mental peace and becoming a lifelong tool of those greedy capitalists.

MORE ANANDA MARGA GUIDELINES ON THIS TOPIC

WHO IS REALLY HAPPY

“The person who is able to get some vegetables to eat at least once a day, who incurs no debt and who has no need to leave home to earn a living, is really happy.” (4)

DO NOT BORROW TO HOST FEAST

“A marriage feast is completely optional and depends upon the financial capacity of the people concerned. Arranging the feast by taking a loan or incurring a debt is prohibited.” (5)

“For the celebration of this ceremony the arrangement of a social feast depends entirely on the desire and the financial position of the guardians concerned. Taking a loan or incurring a debt for this purpose is forbidden.” (6)

AGAINST YAMA AND NIYAMA

“It is often noticed that individuals incur debt because of their violating the principles of Yama and Niyama, especially due to their extravagance – and as a result, they approach the society for relief. In this connection I must point out that just as the society is duty-bound to give relief to individuals by combined efforts, so also it must have control over the conduct of individuals, over their practice of the principles of Yama and Niyama, and also over their expenditure. Not to consult anybody at the time of spending money but to ask for help from all when in debt, is not a good practice. Such a mentality cannot be encouraged.”
“To purchase, by incurring debt, serge where tweed will do, or gaberdine where serge will do, is surely against the principle of aparigraha. Similarly, people should take food which is nutritious but not rich. They have to give up the practice of feeding others with money taken on loan. That is why social control over the individual’s conduct and expenditure is indispensably necessary. Hence, all Ananda Margis, when they see other Margis acting against the principles of Yama and Niyama, must make them shun this habit either by sweet or harsh words or by dealing even more strictly. Thus they will have to make the society strong. Henceforth I direct every Ananda Margi to keep strict vigilance on other Ananda Margi to make them practise the principles of Yama and Niyama and also to accept calmly directions of other Margis in this connection.” (7)

“SOMETIMES PEOPLE MISUSE LOANS”

“You might have noticed that there are many countries which suffer from financial stringency, so they take loans from other countries. These loans are then used for ventures like constructing large dams on their rivers.”
“The science of economics teaches that the rolling of money should never be blocked by any sort of non-productive investment. Sometimes people misuse loans to construct an unnecessary building or a new showroom for their business, and thus prevent the possibility of reinvesting the capital and increasing their wealth. Economics teaches that loans taken for business investment should always be utilized for productive purposes, and should never be utilized in any unproductive venture. Foreign loans, for example, should never be invested in constructing large railway stations instead of railway lines.” (8)

INCURRING BIG DEBT TO MARRY DAUGHTER

“Formerly, even poor families had to sell their property to arrange the obsequies of their departed parents. Nowadays normally such things are rare. In such cases, kriyálopa took place under circumstantial pressure. But the custom of incurring heavy debt and selling one’s property to marry off one’s daughters still continues. Of course, when women become a little more socially-aware and men become a little more conscientious, and if women become economically self-reliant by bringing about a change in the economic structure, this custom of kanyádána = [forced social obligations to marry the daughters with dowry and feasts] will die out. And when the caste system will fully die out, the marriage system will develop in a healthy atmosphere. Many unhealthy customs will vanish from society.” (9)

IMPORTANT ACCOUNT

“In the factories and the rural production centres, the capitalist exploitation of India continues unabated, and the landholders, as the last vestiges of a feudalistic social order, perpetrate their exploitation in the villages. The capitalists and landlords carry on their exploitation hand-in-hand. The survival and social security of the landless labourers depends solely on the whims of the landlords, who can expel the labourers at any time on any pretext.”
“The exploitation by capitalists and landlords is accompanied by the exploitation by moneylenders. In the rural economy they lend money to the farmers and rural peasants, and are present in nearly every village and hamlet of West Bengal. Where the landlords are not physically present, their loyal agents are very active. The moneylenders have nothing to do with the land – they merely give loans to the poor farmers at high interest. Sometimes poor farmers cannot afford to procure farming implements, hence they are compelled to take loans from the moneylenders. If a moneylender gives one hundred rupees to a farmer, the farmer will have to repay two hundred rupees with interest, but the moneylender does not take back the loan in cash. Instead he realizes the amount in kind in the form of paddy, potatoes, etc., at cheap rates at the time of the harvest. The poor farmer, under the pressure of circumstances, has to accept this unwelcome system. He is a double loser – first, he has to pay more than double the amount of the original loan, and secondly, this amount is paid in kind at the rate of the harvest price of the crop, which is naturally very cheap. This whole process is conducted through agents, who also take their profit. Thus, the peasants and farmers of India are deprived of all their agricultural produce in four to five months of the year to repay the moneylenders, so for the remaining seven to eight months they have to approach the moneylenders again for fresh loans. At first they mortgage their implements, and then they are forced to part with their land. When the amount of the loans with compound interest increases to the point where the interest and the mortgage is equal to the price of their land, the moneylenders confiscate the land of the farmers. Consequently, the farmers get evicted from their land and move from village to village, living on the streets as beggars.”
“The direct representatives of the capitalist exploiters in the rural economy are the middlemen. They take advantage of the poverty and distress of the farmers and force them to depend on the capitalists for their production. For example, in West Bengal, Calcutta is the main centre of the capitalists, but of course they have subsidiary centres in various parts of the state. For instance, they have centres in Siliguri in North Bengal, Sainthia in Birbhum district, Purulia town in Purulia district and Midnapore town in Midnapore district. From these centres the capitalists, through their agents and middlemen, control the rural economy of West Bengal. The farmers depend on these middlemen not only to procure farm implements, but also to sell their agricultural produce. They also take advantage of the illiteracy of the simple uneducated farmers, collect their signatures or thumb prints for a larger loan, and pay them less than the market value of their produce.”
“Indian society is basically capitalistic, and the administrative system is a capitalist dominated democracy. It is the capitalists who control and direct the social, economic and political systems of India. The problem of how to remain in power is the most important issue for every political party that comes to power in an election. When political interest is of paramount importance, naturally the government will frame laws to safeguard the interests of the capitalist exploiters. The responsibility of upholding the interests of the exploiters in the name of law and order devolves onto the bureaucracy and police. The political leaders merely engage in internal bickering over their share of the ill-gotten gains.” (10)

“MONEY LENDING, CHARGING EXORBITANT INTEREST” = EXPLOITATION

“There are various types of exploitation in society. The form and character of exploitation changes as per changes in time, place and person. In every era of the social cycle, there are various kinds of exploitation. For example, in the economic sphere there is feudal exploitation, colonial exploitation, capitalist exploitation, imperialist exploitation and fascist exploitation. Exploitation may also manifest in such spheres as the physical, psychic, economic, political and cultural spheres. In the past the slave system was prevalent in the Greek and Roman Empires. The rulers sucked the blood of the vanquished to bolster their own interests. In psychic exploitation, the masses are misled with the help of pseudo-philosophies which encourage dogma and narrowmindedness. Democratic socialism and the theory of peaceful coexistence are examples of the hypocrite’s psychology. In economic exploitation, vested interests deprive people of their minimum requirements. Money lending, charging exorbitant interest rates, compelling poor farmers to sell their produce through distress sales, etc., are examples of economic exploitation. Regardless of the type of exploitation used by the exploiters, when society is moving towards revolution, the role of the exploiters is exposed. The exploiters are unable to disguise their exploitation any longer.” (11)

Namaskar,
Sastaunga Pranam to Baba,
Punya’tman

REFERENCES:
1. Guide to Human Conduct
2. Subhasita Samgraha – 11, The Supreme Desideratum of the Microcosms
3. Prout in a Nutshell – 19, Economic Exploitation of Bengal
4. Shabda Cayanika – 1, Discourse 1
5. Caryacarya – 1, Marriage Ceremony
6. Caryacarya – 1, Infant’s Játakarma: The Naming of and First Feeding of Solid Food to an Infant
7. A Guide to Human Conduct
8. Prout in a Nutshell-12, Keep Money Rolling – Excerpt A
9. Shabda Cayanika – 11, Sati and Widowhood – Excerpt C
10. Prout in a Nutshell-19, Economic Exploitation of Bengal
11. Prout in a Nutshell – 21, Nucelar Revolution

Note 1: Predatory Lending

(courtesy of Wikipedia)

“Predatory lending is the unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent practices of some lenders during the loan origination process. While there are no legal definitions in the United States for predatory lending, an audit report on predatory lending from the office of inspector general of the FDIC broadly defines predatory lending as “imposing unfair and abusive loan terms on borrowers.” Though there are laws against many of the specific practices commonly identified as predatory, various federal agencies use the term as a catch-all term for many specific illegal activities in the loan industry. Predatory lending should not be confused with predatory mortgage servicing which is the unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent practices of lenders and servicing agents during the loan or mortgage servicing process, post loan origination.”
“One less contentious definition of the term is “the practice of a lender deceptively convincing borrowers to agree to unfair and abusive loan terms, or systematically violating those terms in ways that make it difficult for the borrower to defend against.” Other types of lending sometimes also referred to as predatory include payday loans, certain types of credit cards, mainly subprime, or other forms of (again, often subprime) consumer debt, and overdraft loans, when the interest rates are considered unreasonably high. Although predatory lenders are most likely to target the less educated, the poor, racial minorities, and the elderly, victims of predatory lending are represented across all demographics.”
“Predatory lending typically occurs on loans backed by some kind of collateral, such as a car or house, so that if the borrower defaults on the loan, the lender can repossess or foreclose and profit by selling the repossessed or foreclosed property. Lenders may be accused of tricking a borrower into believing that an interest rate is lower than it actually is, or that the borrower’s ability to pay is greater than it actually is. The lender, or others as agents of the lender, may well profit from repossession or foreclosure upon the collateral.”

To Read More Visit: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2013/02/more-on-debt-from-wikipedia.html

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

****************************************
Bengalis and Mahasambhuti

Baba says, “During the war between the Kaoravas and the Pan’davas, the kings of Bengal did not take part. They thought there is no benefit in it.” (Bam’la’r Itiha’s, Ananda Vacanamrtam-10 [Bangla’])

The advent of Mahasambhuti on this planet is a grand event. Of course He does everything according to His divine plan. Those whom He graces work according to His direction and follow the command of Mahasambhuti. Those blessed souls who have a good samskara and strong devotion – and ultimately His grace – work unitedly under His shelter. Whereas those whose samskara is not good or are in a different flow keep themselves away. That is what happened in the Mahabharat era. From Afghanistan and Pakistan to Sri Lanka, and each and every nook and corner of south and north India, all the states including Nepal joined in to cooperate with Lord Krsna’s divine plans and programs. While some like Duryodhana did not support. As Baba says in His above teaching, that time the leaders of Bengal did not support Mahasambhuti.

Something similar is going on these days also as some from Bengal are not supporting. They are disobeying Guru Baba: By their own whim they invented the dogma of mahaprayan and observe it annually. This was never given or approved by Baba.
****************************************

Read Full Post »

Baba Story & Many More Things

Baba

This entire email is composed of 4 parts:
(1) Prabhat Samgiita #1389;
(2) Posting: Weapon to Bring Revolution;
(3) Posting: Baba Story – Blissful Days in Piskamor Office;
(4) Trailer Quote: Well Irrigation Is Disastrous.

Each section is demarcated by asterisks (*).

To: AM-GLOBAL
Date: Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:38:04 +0000

Baba

“A’loker va’n baha’ye diyecho, a’ndha’r marute pra’n’ ja’gayecho…” P.S. 1389

Purport:

Baba, O’ Divine Entity, You have brought the flood of divine effulgence; You have given new life to the dark dry desert. Those hearts which could not bloom, now, by Your grace, they are blooming. You have filled those hearts, which were dry and barren, with Your love; they have started thinking & ideating in a devotional way. Baba, victory is Yours, victory is Yours. O’ my Lord, O’ Prabhu, victory is always Yours.

Baba, You have granted the prana of life to the stream that was lost in the burning desert, and to the flower bud which fell down and became one with the dust. That also was given life again by Your causeless grace. You also granted life to those green flower buds green and made them full of fragrance. You have showered them with Your causeless grace. Baba, nobody can understand Your liila.

O’ Supreme Being, You have healed the intellect that was battered by a host of obstacles. The rehearsed melody which was suppressed by the blow of crudeness, You filled that melody with the music of the seven notes, with the sweet soft touch of Your divine hands. In this way, the musical octave came onto this earth. Baba, it is Your grace You have brought music on this earth.

O’ Parama Purusa, O’ Baba, You have brought the flood of divine effulgence; You have given new life. O’ Lord, I surrender at Your lotus feet…

**** End of Prabhat Samgiita and start of the first letter ****

== WEAPON TO BRING REVOLUTION ==

Namaskar,
When Baba gave Prout He also detailed that our own Ananda Marga media outlets must be developed. At first, some margiis felt overwhelmed, even confused, thinking that this was beyond their means and abilities. But soon enough, with Baba’s pressure and grace, we had our own Prout newspapers and soundboards. Via this experience, all got the teaching that to propagate any new idea having mass media outlets is a must.

Whenever Baba would arrive in any unit or locale, then He would often insist on reading our local Prout newspaper or magazine before taking food. Only after reading our own periodicals, He would read the local or national newspaper.

Baba did all this to practically show us how important it was to have our own independent news outlets and be aware about what is happening with the media.

Today, every margii knows that we must have our own Prout journals, websites, films, talk shows, and printed media etc. Only by this way can we get our message out to the common people. This must be our approach in Ananda Marga.

PEOPLE GET DUPED BY CAPITALISTS’ MANIPULATED MEDIA

Baba’s overall guideline about the mass media is quite straightforward.

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Radio, television, films and other media must be free from exploitation and vested interests. (1)

By the talk on the street in democratic states where they tout freedom of the press, one would be led to believe that the press is categorically free – neither purchased nor affected by the ruling vaeshyas. This is what one is “told” & “taught”, but even in places like the US, the media is tightly run by capitalist enterprises. On the outside everything looks glossy and free, but it is not.

Baba says, “In liberal democracies, capitalists manipulate the mass media such as the radio, television and newspapers.” (2)

The sad thing is that the general public is not aware about this. They innocently rely on the media thinking they are getting the truth. They do not realise that the media is in the hands of capitalist interest groups. In that case, the people are bound to be duped and manipulated.

Baba says, “Demons in human framework – are really responsible. They come to the world and leave it in great ruins. During their lifetime, they fully utilize all the mass media. The common people become confused and cannot think beyond that which the mass media tell them. It is a general weakness of common people that they are inclined to believe whatever is printed in books and journals.” (3)

INSTEAD OF WRITING THE TRUTH, JOURNALISTS TURN DAY INTO NIGHT AND NIGHT INTO DAY

ACCORDING TO THE WISHES OF PROFITEERING CAPITALISTS

Here Baba explains how the media just becomes the mouthpiece of top vaeshyaas.

“The economic exploitation of the vaeshyas relegates the vipras to the level of intellectual satans, and the money of the vaeshyas controls the brains of those satans. In the Vaeshya Age intellectual progress occurs on many levels: new inventions are brought forth, new types of deadly weapon are invented, and people learn how to produce many types of commodity to increase comfort. Many people believe that these things are creations of the Vipra Age, but actually they are expressions of the Vaeshya Age. The vipras who sell themselves to the vaeshyas for money produce such items at their behest.”
“A deep analysis reveals that many of those whose creative and inventive ability once commanded the respect of innumerable people, become dependent upon the mercy of the vaeshyas for their food and clothing. Poets and [[authors]] write according to the dictates of their vaeshya publishers or in the hope of winning prizes from the vaeshya-controlled governments. Artists wield their brushes according to the demands of the market, or are compelled to produce commercial art, neglecting more subtle art forms in the process. Instead of writing the truth, journalists turn day into night and night into day according to the wishes of profiteering newspaper publishers because they are afraid of losing their jobs. They go against their own consciences and pervert the truth in order to help unworthy people become leaders. They create spectacular lies with their pens.” (4)

CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING:

ENSURE MASSES ARE CONSCIOUS ABOUT BEING EXPLOITED

Next, Baba poignantly alerts us that without first raising the awareness and standard of the masses, it is useless to try and mobilise into a revolutionary movement. First through our media outlets and pracara programs they should be taught how they are being exploited. Without that, they will never understand how or when to come forward.

“Before launching any movement, you should make sure that the masses are conscious of their exploitation, otherwise the movement will not be successful. Although it may take some time to raise the consciousness of the masses, ultimately you will be victorious.”
“A leader of the Maethilii community in Bihar wanted to start a movement against the exploitation of the Maethilii language, so he organized a massive rally and started to lecture the people about the suppression of Maethilii. Initially, everyone listened to him attentively and supported his ideas. At the end of his address he told the masses: “We will live for Maethilii, we will die for Maethilii.” But one person amongst the crowd shouted out: “Yes, we will live for Maethilii, but why should we die for Maethilii? Rather, I choose to die in Kashi.” According to mythology, if one dies in Kashi one goes to heaven. Immediately all the people started supporting this view, and as a result the meeting was disturbed. This happened because the people were not conscious of the suppression of their mother tongue, and they followed the path of religious dogma instead.” (5)

BABA’S WARNING

Here again is a final warning by Baba about the dangers of letting the media fall into the hands of the exploiters.

Baba says, “Psycho-economic exploitation is the latest form of dangerous and all-devouring capitalist exploitation. It is a special type of exploitation which first weakens and paralyses people psychologically in various ways, and then exploits them economically…placing the control of different mass media, such as newspapers, radio and television, in the hands of capitalists.” (6)

RELATED TEACHINGS

“Create a great social consciousness…In all spheres of human existence…humanity should live collectively. You should live in unison. You should vibrate together to the same music. You should move in a common psychic flow. You should fight collectively against your common enemies. Unitedly you should face all problems, mundane and supra-mundane. In a word, you must reflect the spirit of harmonious collective living in conformity with the spirit of the Vedic mantra Samgacchadhvam sam’vadadhvam.” (7)

“Without arousing social consciousness, it is next to impossible to bring about social welfare.” (8)

“Revolution may not take place unless the exploited masses are psychologically prepared for revolution. If the people do not support revolution, the clarion call for revolution will not be heeded.” (9)

“In order to save humanity from economic exploitation (whether politico-economic or psycho-economic), you must raise the people’s consciousness, otherwise they will never be able to successfully resist psycho-economic or politico-economic exploitation.” (10)

THE DAY IS NOT FAR WHEN…

Baba has given the proper technique for doing AM pracar: Media controlled and run by sadvipras.

As we know, Baba has graciously come on this earth and given Ananda Marga, neo-humanism and Prout and so many dharmic teachings. It is our duty to inform and awaken the people through our own Ananda Marga media outlets. Otherwise the message will not be delivered. To bring revolution the main weapon is the right use of media. Not only that, to do anything in any sphere of life, a proper media channel is needed. Without that, one will never get success.

In democracy, capitalists run the media; in communism the state controls the media, in totalitarian or theocratic regimes, the ruling dogmatic heads control the media. Exploiters know that to keep control having the media in their pocket is a must.

The day is not far when the revolutionary ways of Proutists will deliver the right message to the people. Once educated and mobilised, the people will have the requisite knowledge and courage to stand up and fight for justice in all the spheres of life.

It is our duty to empower the people with the right ideas via our media outlets.

Baba says, We are near the last stage of the Vaeshya Era. If an impact is created, it will help the suffering humanity. It is the most opportune moment for creating an all-round revolution. This is a new sub-theory under Proutistic theory and may be called gati vijina’na – the science of dynamics in PROUT.” (11)

Namaskar,
In Him,
Prakash

REFERENCES:
1. Prout in A Nutshell – 18
2. Prout in a Nutshell – 21
3. Liberation of Intellect: Neo-Humanism, Disc: 10
4. Human Society – 2, The Vipra Age
5. Prout in a Nutshell – 16, Three Cardinal Socio-Political Principles
6. A Few Problems Solved – 9
7. Namami Krsnasundaram, Disc: 26
8. Namami Krsnasundaram, Disc: 26
9. Prout Nutshell – 21
10. Liberation of Intellect: Neo-Humansim, ‘Exploitation & Pseudo-Culture’
11. A Few Problems Solved – 9

**** End of the first letter and start of the Baba story ****

To: AM-GLOBAL
Date: Sat, 09 Feb 2013 23:02:47 +0000

== BABA STORY: BLISSFUL TIMES IN THE PISKAMOR OFFICE ==

Namaskar,
Those days, at the Piskamor Central Office of Ananda Marga, one special type of kiirtan was going on. Kiirtan itself had just recently been introduced and this is the story of those blessed occasions.

Baba’s cot was placed in the lawn of the Central office, especially in the evening hours. This cot was in the middle of a small, grass circle that had a radius of only 3 feet. The outer band of that grass circle was a section of flowers, 1 ft in width.

And then Wts and margiis were dancing around Him singing kiirtan.

The cot itself was placed on the ground directly; there wasn’t any dais. We were also dancing on ground. So we were all on the same level and Baba was sitting in the nucleus – on that cot – just three feet away from the periphery. He was so very close. He was looking so attractive and we were moving closely around Him chanting His holy name.

All the devotees were ecstatically dancing around Baba while He was graciously sitting in lalita mudra. Baba’s cot was in the nucleus and we were all making a circle around the Him, singing Baba Nam Kevalam.

The whole scene was blissful and charged with devotional feeling. It was completely His grace. There was an unparalleled spiritual vibration that Baba created where all were pulled towards Him like small pieces of iron towards one massive, very strong magnet. Those present had very rare and unique devotional experiences. With that vibration, everything in the surrounding atmosphere was blissful. That was because of His divine grace.

So those were really blissful days in Ananda Marga. Even today when I think about that devotional scene then I feel goose bumps all over my body and a strong devotional pull in my heart. The memories bring on one spiritual surge.

SITTING IN LALITA MUDRA

The whole flow of that kiirtan was so charming. Baba was in lalita mudra – sitting with one leg crossed over the other with His one knee just a little bit raised above the other leg. So that one knee was about 2 feet above the cot and Baba had both His hands on His knee. All the time looking so attractive.

Many may also remember how in DMC Baba used to also sit in that mudra. Certainly sometimes He was also sitting in siddhasana and sometimes in easy posture; but many times He was in that lalit mudra. So it was Baba’s style to occasionally sit in like that.

And when sitting in that pose during those kiirtan sessions, then always Baba had a very calm and peaceful look on His face. Just He was sitting there quietly, closing His eyes. Indeed He looked so beautiful in that pose and during those kiirtan sessions the whole environment was saturated with His divine love.

Now when I think about that beauty, then I can feel as if some heaven descended on the Earth. Thinking about this gives a surge of vibration even now.

REPORTING WITH BABA

Side by side, many glorious Ananda Marga reporting sessions were also going on at His Piskamor office those days. And while on the outside in superficial way it was looking like Baba was very angry and being very harsh, but all along everyone present felt His divine sweetness. We felt that everything was going on was just His grace.

Because those days Baba was giving huge pressure for work and He was taking report while sitting on His rotating chair. And the air was electrified with His divine grace. Because even though scolding was going on, but internally everyone was feeling blissful and that their burdens of samskaras had been removed. Full feeling of freshness was there. So it was just His grace.

But on the outside it was looking very strict and serious. Because Baba was giving huge work targets, which were impossible to attain – like doing pracar in several thousand villages in just one week’s time. Yet side by side maximum pressure was given to satisfy those demands. And when Baba was taking report and seeing that all the work was not completed then all sorts of dramas were done and huge punishments were given.

That time Baba Himself was playing His drama and beating us with stick and if that was not enough then He ordered us to do 10,000 tik-tik. And as most know, tik tik is a code word & the full meaning is to catch both your ear lobes (lower part) with your opposite hand and sit down and stand up and sit down and stand up. And Baba would order us to go on doing 10,000 times.

This was all His loving drama. And all the devotees were enjoying and fulfilling their punishment by doing one tik-tik & counting out 50 or 100. And by this was their number would reach to 1000, 2000, and some 3000 etc. And then in grand fashion Baba would call out that everyone who finished 3000, they had fulfilled their quota. Because Baba being the Parama Purusa knew exactly what was going on.

So it was just His divine liila and we always we felt how this punishment was all given with His great compassion. Because at the time while all this was going on, then each then every devotee could feel Baba’s divine love radiating in their heart – even though on the outside His behavior was looking very tough.

And later on, by His grace, we realised that by giving us huge pressure of work, Baba was actually goading our minds unto the path of beatitude. Because this world is full of allurements and it is so easy for the mind to go astray. But when everyone had huge work demands on their head, then their was no scope to get caught up in the negative ways of maya. Rather by paying heed to Baba’s pressure for work, and concentrating in that way,then the mind remained in a completely positive stance. Always thinking and planning to do more and more selfless service for the humanity. So like this those heavy work demands which were impossible to complete, that was Baba’s special way of watching for our welfare and bringing us closer to Him. Because that pressure of forced us to keep our minds focused in His direction. So it is His blessing.

Hence all along, those days in the Piskmor office were ensconced in His blissful flow. Everyone felt cared for and loved. His grace was tangibly felt by one and all– whether by getting scolded or punished and feeling their samskaras peel away such that their whole body was feeling light and energized. Or devotees were feeling His grace by singing His name in kiirtan. So in all the ways being in Baba’s presence meant being ensconced in the blissful showering of His causeless grace.

BABA’S DIVINE MANNER

Here are some Ananda Marga guidelines that are highly related with the special, unique ways of Baba, the Sadguru.

Baba says, “Only to love is not the work of the Guru. One who only loves you is your enemy, and one who only punishes you is also your enemy. But the one who both loves and punishes in a balanced way is the real Guru.”
(Yoga Psychology, 98, p. 174)

Baba says, “Nigraha’nugrahe shakto guruityabhidhiiyate– ‘the guru must possess the capacity both to punish and to love, or bless, his disciples’. Punishment alone without love is not good. Love and punishment should go together, and the degree of punishment should never exceed the degree of love. Then only can one be called a real spiritual guru.” (15 March 1981)

BABA’S BLESSING

Here following are some especially inspiring words that show how He is eternally linked with one and all.

Baba says, “Now, the entity by whose grace one comes into contact with sat (sat, the non-changeable entity, the non-changeable stance, the non-changeable nuclear entity around which so many electrons move) – that entity, or rather, that framework through which Parama Purus’a is working or Ta’raka Brahma is functioning, is the Sadguru, `Sadgurum’ tvam’ nama’mi’ – `I do my namah before You, at Your altar’.” (Ananda Vacnamrtam part 3, p.48)

Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Pramod

Note 1: ABOUT PISKAMOR OFFICE

Baba’s office in Piskamor Ranchi was in one rented house approximately 1/2 kilometer from the old jagrti.

Note 2: IMPLICIT FAITH IN GURU

Those days most everyone was feeling how Baba’s every action was blissful. But a few unfortunate people could never get adjusted. So due to lack of devotion, or poor samskara, or whatever the case, due to these things they ran from the scene. Means some persons like Dada Nirmalanandaji Avt, Ac. Tadgatanandaji Avt, Ac. Prakashanandaji Avt., Ac Prashantanandaji Avt., Ac. Prajinanandaji Avt, they all left. So those who left are in the small, small minority. And their future is mostly dark till they rectify themselves. In contrast, devotees never have such problems because due to strong love for Baba they have implicit faith that what Guru does, that is based in supreme welfare motive.

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

****************************************
Well Irrigation Is Disastrous

“Question – What are the drawbacks of well irrigation?”

“Answer – Well irrigation causes the level of the water table to go down until the subterranean flow of water eventually dries up. Shortages of water due to well irrigation are not easily perceptible.”

“The negative effects of well irrigation include the following:”

“(1) All neighbouring shallow wells dry up creating the problem of the lack of drinking water.”

“(2) Trees, orchards and large plants don’t get sufficient water so they may wither and die. Green countryside will become a desert after 30 to 45 years of intensive well irrigation.”

“(3) In some deep tube wells elements or minerals which are harmful to the soil get mixed with the water, causing salinity, for example. As a result the land becomes unfit for cultivation and eventually becomes infertile.”

“(4) When the flow of well-water stops, irrigation tanks supplied by these wells also dry up.”

“Thus, well irrigation should be used only as a temporary measure because of the devastating effects it can have on the surrounding environment. Alternative methods of irrigation are river irrigation, irrigation from reservoirs, shift irrigation and lift irrigation.”

(Prout in a Nutshell – 14, Questions and Answers [on Society] – 3)

Note: Although some may think that impending water shortages and resultant disaster are fear mongering, but that is not the case. There is a limited supply of underground water. Around the globe, people are using underground water for drinking and irrigation by using pumps etc. Using underground water for drinking is ok, but it is extremely harmful to use underground water for irrigation purposes.

By this way, the water table is rapidly diminishing and a severe water crisis is threatening the earth.

Due to a lack of proper knowledge, serious problems are cropping up around the globe. Our duty is to follow Baba’s guidelines and educate others. To overlook the problem is to invite disaster.

Becuase of deep well irrigation, the water table is dropping. Plants and trees become dry and brittle. Extreme dryness invites fires. The vegetation gets destroyed. Without trees, there is no more rain. This brings drought which then leads to starvation, and ultimately death.

This is the eventual outcome wherever groundwater irrigation is in vogue.

So then what is the answer? How to irrigate? Rain water should be collected in ponds and reservoirs and used locally. That will solve the problem and offer an environmentally sound, renewable resource for our water needs, most critically, irrigation.
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One Must Not Incur Debt

From: ramakrishna@geo-tech…..
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: One Must Not Incur Debt
Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:06:27

Baba

== ONE MUST NOT INCUR DEBT ==

Namaskar,
With finances a key issue nowadays, this below Baba story is very relevant.

Capitalist exploitation has reached such a height that they not only dictate what is sold but also how people purchase. Their concept of consumerism has reached deep into the human psyche. This entire letter contains real life scenarios, personal experiences, and one grand Baba story for how to escape the capitalist strategy of pushing everyone into debt.

IN MY UNIT

A while back, one sincere margii family was short of the needed amount in order to purchase a large and expensive item for the home. Unsure what to do, the margii consulted with one Acarya as to how to proceed. As he was sincere and hoping to become tattvika in the near future so the margii did not want to disobey – rather he abided by Baba’s guideline to seek the permission of an acarya before taking a loan or going into debt.

And when he asked, then straight away Acaryaji turned down the margii’s request – stating that it is not good to take loan unnecessarily on this point because this is not Baba’s system nor our way in Ananda Marga. Because in Prout Baba gives open permission for people to go into debt only on the point of constructive industrial production. In contrast, on superficial business affairs or on personal luxury items, best is to avoid taking a loan. That is Baba’s teaching.

In response, the margii replied with a second proposal: I will not borrow money from any bank or outside institution but perhaps one of our Ananda Marga jagrtis or Ananda Marga cooperatives has the needed capital in which case they can transfer some money to me, temporarily. But this too was denied.

Like this the discussion was going on back and forth in a gentile manner and it culminated with Acaryaji recounting his own personal experiences watching Baba and by telling the ensuing Baba story on this very point of taking loan.

And by hearing these experiences and stories everyone got the pathway as to how to solve the problem.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH BABA

Acaryaji began: ‘According to my understanding and Baba’s teaching that I received in so many reporting sessions which I attended from 1975 to 1990. Taking a loan is completely prohibited, against the rules. Baba is very strict that if anybody is found guilty of taking loan, then the consequences are serious punishment’.

He continued, ‘I do not know any occasion when Baba has appreciated someone going into debt. Or taking loan for any work: Relief, or building construction or jagrti, anything. And, if anybody took a loan then they were scared and they did not reveal anything about their loan / debt because of fear of punishment by Baba.’

BABA STORY ABOUT COURT CASE AND TAKING LOAN

Then he told that this following BABA story will shed more light on this matter. And he read to us the following as recounted by one Dada.

“I received a lesson I will never forget. We were in Ranchi in 1969. It was then our camp headquarters. I was general secretary and attending a never -ending sessions trial in Midnapur, West Bengal, on the horrific murder of five of our monks (at Anandanagar, 5 March 1967) and a huge amount of money was being drained out of our treasury to pay the ongoing legal costs. Much would depend on the verdict of the court; we were fighting the case heart and soul. Our funds were almost exhausted, but we were only halfway through the case. I was at my wit’s end when an idea occurred to me. One of the mission’s departments had deposited about ten thousand rupees in the central treasury. They had planned to buy a car to use for social service. Left with no other way out, I sent a special messenger to Ranchi and fetched that money. We heaved a sigh of relief as we escaped the crisis for the time being.

The case came to a finish at last. The court sentenced eight of the culprits to life imprisonment and others to rigorous imprisonment for different terms. There was no denying it: the verdict vindicated dharma and demoralized those who had masterminded the heart-rending massacre at Anandanagar.

A few days later the workers from that department began to urge me to repay their money. I was on the lookout for resources, but my efforts were taking a long time. Eventually Baba heard of the entire affair.

When He came to know of it, He took exception to it. He came to the office that day and called all the central workers of the different departments. He demanded an explanation from me.

Baba asked, ‘Don’t you know the policy of our mission about lending and borrowing?’.

‘Yes, Baba,’ I said.

‘If that is so’, Baba continued, ‘why didn’t you get permission from the president (that is, Baba Himself) before siphoning the money from one department to another?’.

‘We were in extreme need at the time. I felt we had no other option than taking this loan. It was an emergency’.

‘You ought to have informed the president of that emergency. Moreover, you could have taken the permission of the departmental head before spending the money.’

Baba’s displeasure was extreme, and He scolded (see note 1) me severely for breaking the rules of financial propriety of the organization. My discomfiture was writ large on my face. I admitted my guilt and promised not to do it again in the future.

Decades have passed and much water has passed under the bridge since then, yet even now I can visualize the unrelenting image of that strict administrator – our loving Baba. That scolding is etched into my memory. That lesson has made me stand firmly on my feet and I have never thought again of borrowing money though the mission has scraped through countless difficulties over the years. Want of money was – and is, and always will be – there, but the virtual ban on borrowing has never stalled my work. For that matter I have never had to compromise on principles. His grace has helped me through every time.” (My Days with Baba)

A FEW CONCLUSIONS

After reading this dramatic story Acaryaji shared some further points.

‘Under no conditions then is it justified to take a loan. In this above story one worker was facing an extraordinary situation those days in Ananda Nagar regarding the lawsuit against the communists about those murder charges. And the court case was going on– money was needed to save the situation. So much urgency. Even then Baba strongly objected the action of taking loan and Baba scolded Dadaji.’

‘Given the circumstances what can be more a critical situation for taking loan than this murder case? Yet you see how Baba disapproved. So I think that there should not be any doubt or confusion about Baba’s teaching on this policy of incurring debt or taking loan etc.’

‘If Baba would have allowed or appreciated taking loans then it would have created the biggest problem or hazard all around. Many Wt’s who left would have gotten loans and then the major portion of that money they would have taken with them when they left the organisation. Then the new Dada who was posted to that place would have faced the serious problem of paying back the debt which was incurred by his predecessor Dada who left. So in Ananda Marga Baba did not allow any WT to take loan. This is not limited with Wt’s alone. This the rule is for all.’

Hearing all this the margii got convinced in the core of his heart that he should never unnecessarily incur any loan or debt. And he understood that to make such purchases he should either increase his income or consciously live within his present financial means.

WHAT TO DO IF ONE IS REALLY IN DISTRESS

Here is a very short addendum to this topic where one Dada posed the following query to Baba.

Acaryaji, “Sometimes a really good man may fall into trouble and sincerely need help. In that case, what is to be done?”

Baba said, “Instead of lending him money, you should help him according to your capacity. Suppose he is asking for five thousand rupees. Tell him your attitude about lending money and let him know your financial condition. Then help him with an amount that’s within your means. It may not be as much as he demands, but he will get consolation that you tried to share his difficulties.” (My Days with Baba)

Below is a short review.

If someone is really in a terrible situation – such as their house burned down or became drastically flooded – and the government is not helping, then what is to be done? If one cannot take a loan then what is to be done.

At that point, those who are friends and well-wishers of the victim can offer financial contributions – not loans but gifts. That money is not to be paid back. The victim might be in need of and asking for thousands of dollars etc. Those offering that financial support must not give beyond their means. When offering their economic gift to the victim, explain your financial situation to the victim and he will understand and appreciate whatever amount you are able to offer.

BABA’S GUIDELINE ON FINANCIAL LOANS

Baba says, “Not to consult anybody at the time of spending money but to ask for help from all when in debt, is not a good practice. Such a mentality cannot be encouraged. To purchase, by incurring debt…is surely against the principle of aparigraha.” (1)

“It is often noticed that individuals incur debt because of their violating the principles of Yama and Niyama, especially due to their extravagance – and as a result, they approach the society for relief. In this connection I must point out that just as the society is duty-bound to give relief to individuals by combined efforts, so also it must have control over the conduct of individuals, over their practice of the principles of Yama and Niyama, and also over their expenditure. Not to consult anybody at the time of spending money but to ask for help from all when in debt, is not a good practice. Such a mentality cannot be encouraged.
“To purchase, by incurring debt, serge where tweed will do, or gaberdine where serge will do, is surely against the principle of aparigraha. Similarly, people should take food which is nutritious but not rich. They have to give up the practice of feeding others with money taken on loan. That is why social control over the individual’s conduct and expenditure is indispensably necessary. Hence, all Ananda Margis, when they see other Margis acting against the principles of Yama and Niyama, must make them shun this habit either by sweet or harsh words or by dealing even more strictly. Thus they will have to make the society strong. Henceforth I direct every Ananda Margi to keep strict vigilance on other Ananda Margi to make them practise the principles of Yama and Niyama and also to accept calmly directions of other Margis in this connection.”
“I am also giving one more advice in regard to aparigraha. If any Margis have to spend on anything in addition to the fixed expenditure (for example, expensive clothing, ornaments, articles of furniture, marriage, building, etc.), they should, before incurring such expenditure, obtain a clear order from their ácárya, unit secretary or district secretary, or any other person of responsible rank. Similarly, permission is to be obtained before taking loan from any businessman or money-lender. Where one’s own ácárya or any person of responsible rank is not easily available, consultation or rather permission is to be obtained from any other ácárya, táttvika or any right-thinking member of the Marga. Every member should follow this instruction strictly.” (2)

“Arranging the feast by taking a loan or incurring a debt is prohibited.” (3)

“For the celebration of this ceremony the arrangement of a social feast depends entirely on the desire and the financial position of the guardians concerned. Taking a loan or incurring a debt for this purpose is forbidden.” (4)

MODUS OPERENDI OF MONEYLENDERS

Here below Baba exposed the modus operendi of moneylenders. This type of scenario can happen to anyone who takes a loan – theirs will be a miserabele fate.

“The exploitation by capitalists and landlords is accompanied by the exploitation by moneylenders. In the rural economy they lend money to the farmers and rural peasants, and are present in nearly every village and hamlet of West Bengal. Where the landlords are not physically present, their loyal agents are very active. The moneylenders have nothing to do with the land – they merely give loans to the poor farmers at high interest. Sometimes poor farmers cannot afford to procure farming implements, hence they are compelled to take loans from the moneylenders. If a moneylender gives one hundred rupees to a farmer, the farmer will have to repay two hundred rupees with interest, but the moneylender does not take back the loan in cash. Instead he realizes the amount in kind in the form of paddy, potatoes, etc., at cheap rates at the time of the harvest. The poor farmer, under the pressure of circumstances, has to accept this unwelcome system. He is a double loser – first, he has to pay more than double the amount of the original loan, and secondly, this amount is paid in kind at the rate of the harvest price of the crop, which is naturally very cheap. This whole process is conducted through agents, who also take their profit. Thus, the peasants and farmers of India are deprived of all their agricultural produce in four to five months of the year to repay the moneylenders, so for the remaining seven to eight months they have to approach the moneylenders again for fresh loans. At first they mortgage their implements, and then they are forced to part with their land. When the amount of the loans with compound interest increases to the point where the interest and the mortgage is equal to the price of their land, the moneylenders confiscate the land of the farmers. Consequently, the farmers get evicted from their land and move from village to village, living on the streets as beggars.” (5)

WHO CAN TAKE LOANS

Here Baba guides us that only businesses can take loans.

Baba says, “The science of economics teaches that the rolling of money should never be blocked by any sort of non-productive investment. Sometimes people misuse loans to construct an unnecessary building or a new showroom for their business, and thus prevent the possibility of reinvesting the capital and increasing their wealth. Economics teaches that loans taken for business investment should always be utilized for productive purposes, and should never be utilized in any unproductive venture. Foreign loans, for example, should never be invested in constructing large railway stations instead of railway lines.” (6)

MUST FOLLOW BABA

In this present era, it is critical to follow Baba on this matter of incurring loans. Failing that one will have neither financial stability nor mental peace.

Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Ramakrishna

Note 1 : SATTVIKA KRODHA

Sentient Anger (Sattivka Krodha): The Propounder of Ananda Marga, Baba – Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji is the embodiment of dharma. One of the characteristics of a dharmika is akrodha or non-anger. Baba perfectly embodies this quality. Those close to Baba understood that He never became angry. Only He would feign anger or show as if He was angry in order to teach and impress upon others the severity of a particular situation. By this way He would express sentient anger. So never can one truly say that Baba was ever furious or mad etc. Just He would display anger externally in order to lovingly guide His devotees.

REFERENCES:
1. Guide to Human Conduct, p.29
2. Guide to Human Conduct, How to Live in Society
3. Carycarya – 1
4. Carycarya – 1
5. Proutist Economics, Economic Exploitation of Bengal
6. Proutist Economics, Keep Money Rolling – Excerpt A

****************************************
My Cousin Got Peculiar Samadhi

Baba says, “By the way you should know that samádhi does not only occur as a result of a certain realization; other samádhis can occur on indriyas or the five fundamental factors. When the mind is focused on a particular object and becomes intensely concentrated it is called samádhi. According to spiritual science the samádhi attained when the entire mind is pin-pointed on Parama Puruśa is called prajiṋá samádhi.”
“When a sádhaka focuses his or her mind on the solid factor (solid is one of the five fundamental factors) and thinks “I am the earth” he or she attains kśitibhaetik samádhi, losing all practical intelligence in the process. Those who constantly think about rupees or dollars attain a kind of samádhi, too, for they become completely identified with their crude object of attraction. If such people incur heavy losses due to the collapse of their business or bank, they will die an instant death, for the pillars on which their life was built crumbled beneath them. So, once they lost their wealth, they lost their lives too.” (Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell, Ekendriya – 7)

Note: Tragically, my own cousin experienced this type of negative samadhi. During the economic downturn in 2009, he became very worried about his finances. He had an inheritance of 20 million dollars and he thought he was going to lose it all. He experienced a very strange, deep, dark depression and feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.

Finally, his mind just stopped – and he sat there frozen – completely fixated on the prospect of losing all his money. He sat in a comatose state completely engrossed in thoughts about losing money – everything else in his mind vanished. It was just money, money, money. He skipped his food, ignored natural call, and sat in one spot all day long for almost 1 week. He did not die, but he came very close to death. When at last he emerged from this state, he was totaly unaware about what had happened. It was as if he had been in a vacuum.

Baba’s warning is that mundane things like money or wealth should never be one’s object of ideation. Worldly things are by definition transient. They slip away. And when that happens, people become shocked, even spellbound. This becomes very serious for those who were very attached with those objects. They will fall into a state of terrible misery, and perhaps even death. In state they will become yaksa microvita.

Best is to goad and point the mind to Parama Purusa.
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Human Existence Reduced To One Third

From: “Liila / Leslie”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Human Existence Reduced To One Third
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2013 22:34:56 (00:00)

Baba

== HUMAN EXISTENCE REDUCED TO ONE THIRD ==

Namaskar,
By nature humans are psychic beings, dominated by mind – not physicality. If the mind is light and happy, then one’s whole existence is joyous. In contrast, if one is physically fit and surrounded by comforts and conveniences, yet mentally disturbed and unhappy, then they themselves will feel dejected and sorrowful. Life will lose its lustre and seem meaningless. So mind is the controlling point of human existence.

NO PLAN FOR LIFE

Nowadays, generally people are oblivious of their true self and remain meaninglessly busy in countless materialistic ventures. They have neither the time nor the mental space to think: “Who am I”, “From where have I come”, and “What happens when I die.” Rather if they do think about this they become terrified. They do not want to think about it.

But if you ask for business strategy or travel plans etc, they have an immediate answer. Yet they have not thought about the goal of their life. That is their unfortunate state.

As sadhakas, we know that spiritual life starts when one formulates a true plan of life: “I have come from Parama Purusa, and I am journeying back to Him.” Empowered and inspired by this ideal, one moves ahead on the spiritual path.

HUMANS ARE MENTAL BEINGS

To get back onto the path, one must first recognize that humans are essentially psychic beings. Here is one clear-cut proof.

Baba says, “If you insult a dog, and the next moment call the dog to take food, it will accept that food from your hands. But if you insult a person and ask that person to take food, even a very delicious food, he or she, in order to maintain prestige, or save himself or herself from humiliation, will not accept.” (1)

This shows humans are mind dominated. Since the dawn of civilisation people have been trying to satisfy their mental longing. Everything big or small starts in the mind, and humans act accordingly. The present humanity longs to find psychic comfort and satisfaction but due to the strong pull of materialism landed in a different direction. Today, matter and money are everything. So people give tremendous value to the physical body, not the mental body. The physical body is king.

The faulty ways of materialism have limited and degraded the human mind where people unfortunately believe and think, “I am this human body.” Of all the social complexes and psychic diseases that materialism has brought, this lowly concept of self – “I am this physical body” – is perhaps the most detrimental.

When anyone thinks that this body is everything, then there is no scope for the development of mind; instead, people plunge into sensual pleasures and enjoyments, thinking that bodily satisfaction is the be-all and end-all of life.

Tragically, this is what we see happening in so many places, and it is only spreading more.

SEX BECOMES EVERYTHING

Nowadays, in materialistic societies, people think sex is the greatest thing in life. This degraded outlook is born out of the notion that: “I am this physical body.”

That is why in materialistic nations like the US, European nations, and any place harboring extreme capitalism, sexually alluring images are prevalent throughout the community: Billboards, internet ads, fashion designs etc. Everything has become sexually suggestive; to sell it must be “sexy.” In the west, some have become so engrossed in this that the best thing in a field of life is called sexy. Such as a sexy automobile etc. The term “sexy” is used as a superlative. Even then, one cannot say it is limited to the west. This mentality is in vogue wherever materialism has taken root.

The end result: Females have become objectified for their sexual appeal.

This societal trend leads men to mentally and physically lust after females, and makes women do anything and everything to make themselves alluring. The mass of people have been bound in this way. It is a sad and tragic tale.

In the west, many commonly leave their wife for a young lady half their age. Rarely do marriages last long. Once the sexual appeal is gone, the relationship is over – in many cases. This is rampant with movie stars and sports heroes, and very prevalent in the general society. At the same time, there are many moral, upstanding citizens in the west. But that number is shrinking as the older generations age. Now – more than ever – youths are hooked into materialism all around the globe – east and west.

However, this way of life does not bode well for human beings.

Baba says, “Sensual objects are naturally crude and mean; and those who take these as their goals in life, naturally become crude and mean as well – they gradually turn into brutes.” (2)

MANIFESTS IN SO MANY WAYS

This concept – “I am this physical body” – manifests in so many ways. People work, live, eat, drink, sleep, shop, think, and plan everything in life based on this unfortunate understanding. Their everything has been painted in the color of materialism.

Even the intelligentsia like lawyers, doctors, writers and university professors live a life guided by materialistic enjoyment and security. So through all sectors of society, physical expression becomes everything. In turn, people spend billions on cosmetic surgery, clothing, cosmetics, perfume, jewelry, tattoos, etc. All because they think their physical existence is the epitome of who they are.

In that case their entire human personality is standing on shaky ground. If their boyfriend leaves them then they may commit suicide; if they gain a few pounds they become depressed; if someone calls them “fat” even when they are not fat, they became enraged or even break down and cry. Plus men become consumed by desire and take formulas to heighten their potency while women get augmentations to increase their value. It is a sad and superficial approach to life. Yet it is rampant and spreading to wherever materialism is in vogue.

Indeed on so many levels and so many ways people define themselves by their own physical body. People think that is who they are and that is all they have. They do not realise that the body is a tool or temporary house for the mind. For this reason they fall victim to so many complexes from fear of death to so many personal insecurities. This happens even to people of high regard – governors, businessmen, judges etc. All because their approach to life is defective – defined by materialistic principles.

The point here is that human life needs a proper base and Brahma is that base.

Baba says, “Everything requires a base; if life does not have a strong base, it is disrupted by an ordinary storm. Brahma is the strongest base.” (3)

But when one thinks that “I am this physical body”, then Brahma is not the base, rather one’s body is everything. In that case, their whole personality is standing on shaky ground.

WHEN DOES LIFE START

This entire discussion begs the question: “When does life start.”

As sadhakas in Ananda Marga, we know that our present life is but a part life, chained together with so many past lives as the mind gets one body after another in order to one day merge back into Parama Purusa.

But materialists believe their life began when they emerged from the womb. In turn, they think their life will end when their physical body is no more. Such is the material perspective. They do not acknowledge the existence of the mind.

Followers of the dogmatic religions often fall into this same pattern. They equate life with this physical body and unknowingly follow the principle, “I am this physical body.”

In that way, there is little or no concept of mind, and people lead a life of materialism, devoid of any spiritual value.

ALMOST LIKE ANIMALS – OR WORSE!!

This type of limited concept of self is slightly higher than animal life, and the irony is that it will degrade one into the depths of animal life or worse.

Animals do not know they exist; whereas humans know they exist. But when a human being merely thinks, “I am this physical body” and “my life is a quest to satisfy mundane desires”, then upon losing their physical human framework, they will unfortunately undergo negative pratisaincara.

Baba says, “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.” (4)

Hence, when one leads a life prone to carnal pleasure, forgetting the existence of mind, we cannot call that human life. When one lives for sensual gratification, then that is not a life befitting of a human being.

Baba says, “The unlimited expansion of intellect is the predominant quality of human beings. When they lose this quality and become like beasts drawn to sensual pleasures, then regardless of what they might have achieved, they hardly deserve to be called human beings.” (5)

Yet nowadays, so many people define themselves in this way – “I am this physical body” – they are sure to degrade.

MUST LEARN TO “THROW IT AWAY”

Suppose you have a bicycle, then you will never think that “I am this bicycle”, rather one will think, “This is my bicycle”. And one will be ready to throw the bicycle away when it is no good anymore. We should view our bodies in a similar manner. Our bodies are mere tools or vehicles. They are not the essence of who we are.

Ananda Marga philosophy says, “When the clothes become old and tattered, they are replaced with newer ones. This is the law. Nobody wants to wear old, tattered, and dirty clothes. Similarly, when the body becomes old and worthless, it is changed for a newer one.” (6)

Anyone who sincerely practices sadhana clearly understands the existence of mind and will be mind oriented. In contrast, victims of materialism are unable to learn this point and fall prey to the belief, “I am this physical body.”

PROPER WAY TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN

Baba has given us many ways to properly grow in this world. When we do sadhana then we always think, “I am Brahma, I am Brahma.” That is the essential idea behind our ista mantra.

To make life proper from the very beginning and to teach our children in the right way, we should pay heed to Baba’s below story about the great sadhaka Madalasa. She was a very honorable and spiritual lady who married one king under the condition that she and only she would be in charge of raising the children.

Baba says, “Madalasa started imparting spiritual education to [her son] Vikranta. She would put him in the cradle and sing lullabies in very sweet and rhythmic tunes which were full of the highest spiritual truths. One of her lullabies was:

Shuddho’si buddho’si nirainjano’si sam’sa’rama’ya’ parivarjito’si;
Sam’sa’rasvapnam’ tyajamohanidra’m Mada’lasolla’pamuva’ca putram.

“This means, ‘O my son! You are that [pure] Entity; you are that all-knowing Entity; you are that spotless Entity. This world is a passing show, is ever-changing. It is all like a dream. O my son, awaken from your sleep of ignorance and realize the Reality’.” (7)

Having grown up in this deeply spiritual environment, Vikrant had a strong vision and did not fall prey to the mundane and lustful allurements of this world. He did not think that, “I am this physical body”, but instead understood the existence of mind and the real value of human life. He grew up to become a great sadhaka, as did the other sons.

Baba says, “I have already said that Mada’lasa’s sons were the first sannya’sis to embrace missionary life and serve the common people.” (8)

WAY TO VIEW ONESELF

By Baba’s grace, we should view ourselves as children of Parama Purusa who will one day become one with Him. Never should we fall prey to the lowly concept that, “I am this physical body”. That will only invite our destruction.

“A rational person should always think in this way…’I have also been born into the glorious human family. I am also a blessed child of Parama Purus’a.’ One who has been born a human being will certainly remain a human being if they do glorious deeds and will ultimately become an ideal follower of the Supreme Benevolence. Their life is sure to meet with glorious success.” (9)

“Those entities in whom psychic and intellectual powers are looked upon as more gorgeous than the physical ones are called humans – predominantly mental beings. Hence, to bring about the real well-being of humanity, greater attention has to be paid to the psychic and intellectual expressions of human beings, for that will lead to perfect spiritual composure and all-round fulfilment in human life…” (10)

“Human beings develop a desire to know more about those external objects. They question what they are, where, when and how they originated, and so on. Likewise they seek to discover more about themselves and pose the same fundamental questions. Kasya tvam vá kuta áyatah. “Who am I?” they ask. “Where have I come from? And why? Where shall I go from here?”” (11)

“The subject of today’s discourse is, “To Whom Do You Belong? Where Do You Come From?” These are eternal questions of the human mind. When human beings first came onto this earth, the first questions that confronted them were “To whom do I belong? Where do I come from? Where shall I go?” People have been researching the answers to these questions since time immemorial, but they have not always found the answers. When people ask questions just for the sake of asking, they usually do not find the proper answer. In order to get the correct answer, they have to realize the inner import of the questions – otherwise the questions will remain forever unanswered.” (12)

“I shall return to the source from where I came, in whom I exist, and who is that entity? Unless human beings discover the answer to the question, “To whom do you belong?” they cannot answer the question. “From where do you come?” The answer is that they belong to that supreme indestructible Entity. When He was unmanifest, he was in His eternal stance – His nityabháva. When He becomes manifest, He remains in His liilábháva, His playful stance. And when He is in the latter state, the microcosms come into the world.” (13)

“Those who have fallen today may become evolved people, great personalities in the future – mahápuruśas. This is why no one should ever be disappointed in life. Parama Puruśa is calling everyone and He will continue to call everyone: all shall find a safe shelter on His loving lap. He does not hate or neglect anyone. Hence the only answer to the question, “kasya tvam” – “Whom do you belong to?” – is: “I belong to Parama Puruśa, to Him and Him alone, because I have come from Him and I am in Him, and finally I will return to Him.” And the only answer to the question, “Kuta áyátah” – “From where have you come?” – is: “I have come from Parama Puruśa and I will go back to Him. He is my permanent abode.”” (14)

“Very often people become victims of disappointment for the sole reason that they forget their goal of life. If they look towards their goal, then their disappointments and frustrations will cease. Whenever a human being is created, he or she comes within the Cosmic mind. So when the microcosms move towards Macrocosmic Consciousness, Parama Puruśa is watching: Parama Puruśa is with them holding their hands. It is the humans who do not look towards Him – this is their misfortune, not His. They may sometimes request Him to hold their hands and lead them towards the goal but even this is not necessary, because He is always holding them. The tragedy is that in their foolish effort to walk alone, people often stumble and fall down. This is not the fault of Parama Puruśa, for He is with everyone. This movement of Parama Puruśa with each individual is called His ota yoga: and when he looks upon the entire universe at a time collectively, it is called His prota yoga. Thus He is with the microcosms both in individual and collective association. So the answer to the question, “Whom do you belong to?” is “I belong to Parama Puruśa.” And the answer to the question “From where have you come?” is “I have come from Parama Puruśa, from the nucleus of the universe, and finally I will return to Him, my permanent abode.”” (15)

“All entities, living or non-living, are rotating around Parama Puruśa – some consciously, some unconsciously, – with so many thoughts and idiosyncrasies, so many bodies and structures. When will their movement come to an end? It will end only when they realize that Parama Puruśa and they themselves are one and inseparable; then will they become one with Parama Puruśa. The more sincerely people will follow the spiritual cult, the more their distance from Parama Puruśa will decrease; and when that distance becomes nil, the microcosms will merge in Macrocosmic Consciousness – jiiva will become Shiva. This is the parágati, the supreme culminating point of all microcosmic movement.” (16)

“O human beings, you are fortunate. The clarion call of the Universal 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.” (17)

“O human beings, the path is ready for you, you just come!” Whoever is endowed with a human mind and a human body is entitled to follow this path, and at the end of the journey, one day, one is destined to attain Parama Puruśa. When Parama Puruśa, the Cosmic Cognition, is your goal, success is a must, success will be with you.” (18)

“Human beings came onto this earth about a million years ago. In this universe, our earth is not only the only planet, nor is the sun the only star. There are numerous stars and luminous bodies and planets. Wherever there is a proper balance amongst the five fundamental factors, there life has evolved. Various species of animals have evolved on various planets, are living today, will remain for some time, and in the future will disappear. History shows that so many animals roamed this earth with great prowess, but their strength gradually waned and they have become totally extinct. One day human beings will also be extinct on this planet. But this does not mean that they will become extinct on all other planets also. Before this earth becomes unfit for human habitation or faces a complete thermal death the developed human beings will travel to other planets. Thus they will never become completely extinct in this universe.” (19)

Namaskar,
in Him,
Liila

Note 1: ABOUT THE TITLE

The titled of this letter is – Human Existence Reduced To One Third. Why was this title selected? Because in Ananda Marga we know that human life is trifaroius: spiritual, psychic, and physical. Yet when the mass of people only think of themselves as physical beings, then they disregard the other two realms of life – psychic and spiritual. In that case they have been reduced to one third.

Note 2: REFERENCES

1. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 30, Human Expressions and Human Movements
2. Subhasita Samgraha – 3
3. Caryacarya-2, ‘Sadhana’, point #5
4. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life – 7
5. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Disc: 14
6. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 23
7. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 31
8. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 7
9. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 4
10. Ananda Vanii #73
11. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell Part 6, Ekendriya – 2
12. Subhasita Samgraha – 12, To Whom Do You Belong? Where Do You Come From?
13. Subhasita Samgraha – 12, To Whom Do You Belong? Where Do You Come From?
14. Subhasita Samgraha – 12, To Whom Do You Belong? Where Do You Come From?
15. Subhasita Samgraha – 12, To Whom Do You Belong? Where Do You Come From?
16. Subhasita Samgraha – 12, To Whom Do You Belong? Where Do You Come From?
17. Subhasita Samgraha – 1, The Call of the Supreme
18. Neo-Humanism in a Nutshell – 12, Existential Flow and Its Culminating Point
19. Subhasita Samgraha – 12, To Whom Do You Belong? Where Do You Come From?

********************************************
This Earth is Not Our Permanent Abode

We Do Not Know When, But One Day We Will Go

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

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

Note: Please read Baba’s above teaching again carefully. It explains everything.
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Easy But Some Cannot Get It

From: “Vidyasagar.Deva”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Easy But Some Cannot Get It
Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2013 22:19:53

Baba

== EASY BUT SOME CANNOT GET IT ==

Namaskar,
It is quite clear that Baba’s book – Problems of the Day – addresses many points across the entire gamut of Ananda Marga social philosophy. Yet sometimes this is misunderstood by some.

For instance, some years ago, one respected Dadaji publicly wrote: “the book [Problems of the Day] is focused on just one major problem – capitalism.”

Thus Dadaji claimed that the Problems of the Day book is dealing with just one problem. However, we know that this is simply not true. Problems of the Day examines a wide breadth of social issues. And I think that Dada came to understand this fact.

More recently, one “author” misrepresented Problems of the Day. Throughout his own publication, which was proof-read countless times, this person refers to the book as Problem of the Day – i.e. in singular form, not Problems of the Day. Indeed, he titled chapter 17 of his book, “Problem of the Day” and throughout that 9-page chapter refers to it over and over again on every page as Problem of the Day. Why Devashish (Deva’shiis’a / Devashish / Devashiisa) did like this in his book, The Jamalpur Years (2010), one can only surmise.

Suffice to say here that we should always present “Problems of the Day” to others in a way where they can understand that in this small booklet, Baba has graciously addressed all the major problems plaguing humanity. In seed form, He has addressed everything.

That much should always be conveyed to others – it will generate interest and curiosity – and people will be inclined to learn more. In this manner we can propagate Prout.

So everyone should be perfectly clear that Problems of the Day is not about one issue, rather all of them. Where this has been misrepresented in formal publications it should be corrected.

BEST WAY TO GET AN OVERVIEW OF PROUT

One of the best ways to get an overview of Baba’s teachings on Prout is to read these three short discourses:
(1) Discourses on Prout (initially titled “A Discussion”)
(2) Talks on Prout
(3) Problems of the Day

Each of the above three discourses has been published as a single chapter in the Prout in a Nutshell book series.

QUICK WAY TO KNOW ALMOST ALL POLICIES OF PROUT

Baba inaugurated the Renaissance Universal movement in Shrii Aniruddha Prasad Singh’s house (Trimohan, Bhagalpur) on 26 January 1958 by delivering the famed discourse that was printed in book form as “Problems of the Day”.

So Problems of the Day was given even before “Idea and Ideology”, and just after Baba delivered Tattvika Praveshika. In those early days, Baba had yet to put forth His teaching on social philosophy, so those margiis were unaware about those critical issues.

Today, we see Prout as a vast body of literature which contains around 200 discourses published in 21 volumes and related books. Now we know well that Baba’s Proutistic teachings cover every nook and corner of human experience. Prout is vast in scope and its entirety falls within the realm of the social philosophy of Ananda Marga.

But during those early days when Baba started Ananda Marga Pracarak Samgha, there was not so much written about our social philosophy. So margiis were not aware about Baba’s social viewpoints and perspectives. So it was essential to put forth a brief yet comprehensive overview of Ananda Marga’s social platform, i.e. the ideals and stand of Prout. And that is exactly what Baba did in this very discourse which HE delivered in Bhagalpur on 26 January 1958.

The ‘Problems of the Day’ discourse contains 37 points. All those points are independent issues. And these are not ordinary issues – they are burning issues. The whole globe is suffering from these problems. Baba, being the Taraka Brahma, even addressed points in 1958 that were not dire issues in those days, but were to become critical topics in the years to come. So with perfect knowledge and perfect foresight, Baba told everything on that occasion.

This relatively short discourse gives a pointed and dynamic overview of nearly every Proutistic teaching – in seed form. Those aware about Prout philosophy and the Problems of the Day book cannot deny this fact.

SOME OF THE POINTS ADDRESSED IN “PROBLEMS OF THE DAY”

Here are some critical examples what subjects have been addressed in this single discourse, Problems of the Day.

– Cosmic Fraternity and Ownership of Property vs Communism and Capitalism;
– Communism and Gandhism are not the Answer of Capitalism;
– Communistic approach of Accusing Capitalism is Negative;
– Policy of Distribution of Wealth vs. Capitalism and Communism;
– Spiritual Motivation vs. Communism and Capitalism;

The points do not end here. There are many more issues which Baba has addressed in this book, Problems of the Day:

– Issue of Casteism;
– Policy of Decentralization of Economy;
– Policy of Small and Large Scale Industry vs. Gandhism;
– Public Welfare, Mechanization, and Unemployment;
– Trade Union movement / Communism / Political leaders;

MORE OF THE POINTS ADDRESSED IN “PROBLEMS OF THE DAY”

Here are some more points which Baba has addressed in Problems of the Day:

– Policy of Cooperative Movement;
– Policy of Industry and Trade vs Capitalism and Communism;
– Women’s Rights;
– Dowry Problem;
– Establishment of World Peace;

And still here are other issues from Baba’s Problems of the Day discourse:

– World Citizenship;
– Policy of Forgiveness;
– Geo, Socio, Communal & Religious sentiment, Casteism and Universalism;
– Issue of World Government;
– World Language Issue;

FURTHER POINTS ADDRESSED IN “PROBLEMS OF THE DAY”

Also in the Problems of the Day discourse there are these points:

– World Script Issue;
– Problem of Imposing World Dress;
– Human Culture and Revolutionary Marriages;
– Population Management Issue and Birth Control;
– Control of Science & Laboratory Babes;

Here are some more points which Baba has addressed in Problems of the Day:

– Issue of Unity and Party Politics;
– Social Service and Party Politics and Universalism;
– Importance of Spirituality in Politics / Failure of Communism;
– Party politics and Communism & Capitalism;
– Classless Society and Communism;
– Issue of Education and Party Politics;

THESE POINTS AS WELL ARE PRESENT IN THE PROBLEMS OF THE DAY BOOK

And finally here are other issues from Baba’s Problems of the Day discourse:

– World Government / Social service / Sadvipra leadership;
– Failure of Democracy & Election Reforms; Education Policy & Universalism;
– Social Cycle and Sadvipra Leadership;
– Social Dynamics, Revolution and Counter-Revolution;
– Ananda Marga ideology is the Only Solution;
– Materialism (Capitalism and Communism) / Sadvipra Leadership / Human society is One and Indivisible / Samgacchadhvam Mantra.

And so many more points have been addressed in this Problems of the Day (POD) book. If any sincere margii will take efforts to read carefully they may find more issues as well.

“PROBLEMS OF THE DAY” IS COMPREHENSIVE

So in this Problems of the Day discourse, Baba has given one special, comprehensive vision in a compact format. That’s to say Baba has given the points in very small, form – smaller than mustard seeds yet those issues and solutions into gigantic banyan trees. So this single discourse gives pointed solutions to so many problems.

“PROBLEMS OF THE DAY” DISCOURSE ALONE IS ENOUGH FOR GENERAL PHILOSOPHICAL

OF THE VAST PROUT PHILOSOPHY

These points are very significant and of critical importance. For quick reference, this Problems of the Day discourse alone is enough for
general philosophical knowledge of the vast PROUT philosophy. With the help of this book those early margiis began their socio-political
awareness of Ananda Marga ideals and developed an understanding of the key concepts of Prout.

As we know Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji Baba has given Prout as a part of Ananda Marga philosophy, which is why the essentials of Prout stand in the 5th chapter of Ananda Sutram.

Baba has systematically addressed all the problems causing huge catastrophes and creating serious impediments to the formation of one human society. The whole globe is suffering and burning in these various problems. And Baba has given all those solutions.

Until these things are followed, the crisis is not going to finish. Rather it will escalate. So in conclusion we can say that this Problems of the Day discourse is basic and fundamental, yet dynamic and complex.

POINTS WERE ELABORATED UPON IN SUBSEQUENT PROUT DISCOURSES

Because the fact is that in this Problems of the Day discourse, Baba has given the solution to all the burning socio-economico-politico issues. Since then Baba has given one or more discourses and elaborated further upon all these points and given a more detailed solution. Yet, the foundation was all put forth on that occasion when He delivered, “Problems of th Day.”

The ideas Baba has expressed in His Problems of the Day lecture have been magnified in various discourses which are available in
Prout volumes.

Although Problems of the Day is one discourse, or just one booklet or book, whatever we may call it; but its existence is very meaningful. It is like a map which is small in size but represents a vast area. That is the way this Problems of the Day discourse works.

A GREAT WAY TO LEARN THE ESSENTIALS OF PROUT

Those who want to gain a basic understanding of Prout philosophy in seed form should read “Problems of the Day” – again and again. This book touches all the points and hence is an ideal publication to recommend to sympathizers and new persons. By this way they will easily understand our socio-economico-politico stand.

DEFECTIVE SOCIAL ORDER INJECTS AN INFERIORITY COMPLEX

“There cannot be any complex in the spiritual level or existential sphere. In spirituality there is no complex because every person has contact with Parama Puruśa on a purely personal level. There is no third existence between them. There are only two – the spiritualist and the Parama Pitá [Cosmic Father]. Spiritualists move towards the Cosmic Father and sit on His lap. To do this is every one’s birthright. Nobody can be debarred from doing so on the pretext of inferior caste, colour, education or poverty. Since this is everyone’s birthright there cannot be any complex in the arena of spirituality. The defective social order injects an inferiority complex in the mind which often persists even when people enter the spiritual field. They feel that as the Cosmic Father is so great, how can they, being of low caste or poor or uneducated, go to Him? This is called mahimnabodha in the shástras [scriptures]. But one should not forget that the relation of father and child exists. Even if the father is a great scholar, the uneducated child will go to him and ask for whatever he requires because he or she has affection for the father. Just now I said that in the field of spirituality there cannot be any complex, but there are complexes due to social defects. It is our spiritual duty to rectify the social order. If we fail, there may not be good spiritualists. Even those who have the potentiality to become good spiritualists may not progress. They may be like a flower that dies before it blossoms.
I cannot allow this to happen. For this reason the theory of Prout has been given so that every person can progress speedily in the field of spirituality without any complex.” (1)

ENTIRE THEORY OF PROUT STANDS UPON THIS VAEDIKA SERMON

“Suppose you have gathered sufficient money, and there is no dearth of food in your house, but the remaining portion of society, your neighbours, your friends, are suffering from a dearth of money, or food, or clothes. Then it means that you are not following the spirit of “samgacchadhvam”. “Samgacchadhvam” means to build a strong, well-knit society where there shall be no exploitation, no superiority complex or inferiority complex. Just to represent the spirit of “samgacchadhvam”, I propounded the theory of PROUT. So the entire theory of PROUT stands upon this Vaedika sermon of “samgacchadhvam”.” (2)

CREATIONS OF VESTED INTERESTS

“Just see the case of air, light, water, respirations and everything. The need for these things is the same for all individuals. There have been no differentiations. These differentiations that we see in society are creations of vested interests, creations of depraved persons, of degenerated, immoral people. So you should not support these actional defects of immoral persons. You should follow the divine vibrational system, that is, you must not try to find any differentiations among individuals. “Devábhágam yathápúrve saḿjánáná upásate.” It is the wont of divine expressions that there be no differentiations, no class of exploiters and exploited. That is, this wont of not creating any differentiations was not only their duty, it was their upásaná, the desideratum of their existential march.” (3)

BELONGS TO THE SAME BIG HUMAN FAMILY

““Samáni va ákuti”. When everything cometh from the same source, from the same Progenitor, and when finally everything goeth back to the same desideratum, there must be the same aspirations, the same longing, in the heart of each and every individual. But due to the depraving actions of immoral people, those exploited, those downtrodden people are forced to forget their goal. They are drifted away from the desideratum of their life. This should not be done. Everybody should get the chance to develop their natural longings for Him.
“Samánáhrdayánivah”. When everything comes from the same Progenitor and moves along the same path towards the supreme culminating point, then should there be any cordial difference between man and man? No, there must not be. Everybody should be given the scope, or circumstances should be created, such that nobody gets the scope to feel that their future is sealed forever, is blocked. So let everybody feel that everybody in this expressed universe belongs to the same big human family. “Ek caoká, ek culhá, ek hyay mánav samáj”.” (4)

ENEMIES OF THE BIG HUMAN SOCIETY

““Samánamastu vo mano.” All microcosms come from the same Macrocosm, and finally, all microcosms will become one with the same Singular Macrocosm. So, while they are in society, while they are in the phenomenal world, they should remember this Supreme truth: that actually they are one, one Entity expressing itself through so many different corporeal structures. And when this is done – and it is not at all a difficult job to do it – then what will it be? It will be a society in the proper spirit of the term. And this is the loftiest, it is the highest mission of all human beings. Those who do not recognize this fact, or those who want to forget this fact, are actually enemies of human society. Those who support casteism, racialism, provincialism, parochialism, nationalism, even internationalism, are enemies of the big human society. Human society is, rather should be, based on only one ism, and that ism is universalism.” (5)

Namaskar,
in Him
Vidyasagar

Note 1: WHAT IS PROUT

PROUT: Progressive Utilization Theory; Shrii P.R. Sarkar’s socio-economic theory for the all-round development of society. Proutists are adherents of PROUT. To His bhaktas, Shrii P.R. Sarkar is known as Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji, or simply Baba.

Note 2: REFERENCES

1. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 5, The Social Order and Superiority and Inferiority Complexes
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 3, Saḿgacchadhvaḿ
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 3, Saḿgacchadhvaḿ
4. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 3, Saḿgacchadhvaḿ
5. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 3, Saḿgacchadhvaḿ

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Baba Story: Never Think of Participating in Lottery, Gambling Etc

Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2013 22:29:21
To: AM-GLOBAL
From: “Gautam”
Subject: Baba Story: Never Think of Participating in Lottery, Gambling Etc

Baba

BABA STORY:

NEVER THINK OF PARTICIPATING IN LOTTERY, GAMBLING ETC

Namaskar,
The below story was recounted by a margii from Varanasi, Shrii Narendra Vikram. Hence the “I” refers to Shrii Vikramji:

In the 1960’s, Baba was placing a big emphasis on social service work. There was tremendous pressure to increase the number and quality of social service projects. But, as an organisation, we lacked the requisite money to finance all these works. The projects were many and the number of margiis was less. Plus our economic means was quite limited. A distinct lack of money limited what we could do.

IF WE WIN THE LOTTERY, THAT WILL BE GREAT

Around the time, the Indian government started a lottery.

I thought this was a very good way for us to increase our capital. My plan was: We should purchase lottery tickets in the name of Ananda Marga and Baba will shower His grace. By that way we will possess the winning ticket and gain huge money. Then we will be able to perform a lot of social service projects. It seemed like the perfect plan.

I told everyone that this was the perfect opportunity and that I would raise the matter with Baba as soon as possible to gain His approval, i.e. grace.

BABA REJECTS MY IDEA OF LOTTERY:

ANANDA MARGIIS WILL LOSE MONEY

Soon thereafter, I was in Baba’s presence and He gave me opportunity to ask a question.

I said, “Baba, the government of India has started a new lottery game, so I thought we should participate and purchase tickets. With the winnings, we could then do maximum social service.”

Baba’s immediate reply was, “No, this is very bad. Margiis will never win. It is just a waste of money. There will not be any gain. The only outcome is that people’s greed will increase. This is a bad idea – never think of participating in the lottery, or indulge in gambling etc.”

So Baba shot down the idea of playing the lottery. I told everyone of Baba’s decision – some were disappointed, but we were all strict in following Baba’s mandate.

True margiis will not win anything if they buy a lottery ticket.

That concludes the story of Shrii Narendra Vikram. Here are further thoughts on this important topic.

OTHER DEMERITS OF LOTTERIES AND GAMBLING

1. By playing the lottery, he mind becomes stained – degraded. And one’s penchant for greed goes on increasing.

2. Lotteries enable the powerful politicians and wealthy shareholders to further exploit the masses because instead of demanding an end to socio-economic exploitation etc, the common people just bask in the false hope of winning the lottery and joining the ultra-rich. Instead of pushing for social change and justice, the sedated masses avoid revolutionary approaches and sit back and play the lottery. By this maneuver of creating lotteries, political leaders maintain the status quo – they are not pressured to respond to social ills.

3. Some lotteries are worth huge sums of money. This gives the notion that societal systems are not founded on rewarding those who work hard and gain success, i.e. meritocracy, rather it is all just due to luck. People rely on the luck of the lottery to enhance their lot in life. A distinct portion of society operates in this way. When people think chance and not hard work and ingenuity are the case of one’s success or lack thereof, they have fallen into a very dangerous and harmful outlook.

4. Where there is the so-called opportunity to become rich based on “chance” or “luck”, there will be rampant corruption. This happens wherever lotteries are in vogue.

5. With lotteries come internet scams telling users that they won the lottery but first they must pay a particular fee or charge in order to collect their winnings. Dominated by greed, people fall prey to the scam.

6. Another scam related with lotteries is that there are agencies that proclaim to have a system to pick the winning number for you. Here again, due to greed, people fall prey to this.

7. Those who are struggling economically often gamble away money that should have been used to buy food and clothing for the family, or pay rent etc. So state-supported gambling and lotteries often increase the financial woes of economically-poor families.

8. Studies show that gambling also gives way to alcohol and drug abuse.

9. In societies where gambling is legal and lotteries are in vogue, people tend to indulge in get-rich-quick scams and rely less on working hard and proper money management.

10. Studies show that the dollar amount spent by the government to help poor families who lost money in lotteries and gambling is more than the income the state received from gaming (gambling and lotteries).

11. All in all, there are many social woes associated with gambling: Drugs, prostitution, poverty, alcoholism, financial debt, etc. There are two addendums to this posting that highlight the social ills related with lotteries and gambling.

The overall idea is that when people look for material gain but do not achieve and instead lose what they have – as happens with those who gamble – then they become mentally disturbed: Frustrated, angry and depressed. In that imbalanced state of mind, they turn to all kinds of vices (tobacco, alcohol, drug, crime, sexual violence etc) as a means of coping with their gambling problem.

HOW LOTTERY SPROUTS IN THE MIND

Greed is part of avida maya, which is in the mind.

“A temptation such as lobha (avarice) is a principle of avidyámáyá. It can only be overcome by reducing the influence of avidyámáyá through intuitional practice (sádhaná). One will never be able to keep away from temptation without overcoming the influence of avidyámáyá. This is possible only through progress in intuitional practice.” (1)

HOW GREED GETS MULTIPLIED

As Baba has discussed in numerous discourses, when one gives way or indulges in a particular propensity, like greed etc, then that propensity increases. That is the theorem: A propensity gets stronger as it is activated. So if a person indulges in greed or anger, than that propensity or vrtti will gain a greater hold over that person. That is the way it works.

Baba says, “The peculiar nature of these propensities is this: if they are given indulgence, they increase. And they easily come under control with a slight effort; only in the initial stage, one must struggle a little to control them.” (2)

With regards to playing the lottery or gambling, as one thinks about winning money, then their desire increases and their greed multiplies. In turn, one will gamble more or buy more lottery tickets. One’s psychic pabulum focuses more on money and in so doing the mind becomes stained – degraded. And one’s penchant for greed goes on increasing.

So from beginning to end this is not good for sadhakas.

WHO HANKERS AFTER NAME AND FAME

“A person who is greedy for money becomes totally preoccupied with the thought of making money; a person who hankers after name and fame continuously harbours thoughts about becoming famous.” (3)

“The mind becomes so infatuated with its crude objects that ultimately it becomes converted into matter. It follows the path of negative pratisaincara.” (4)

“When the tendency towards acquisition in the physical world is extremely strong, people’s tendency to assimilate spiritual or intellectual things is usually noticeably weaker. In that condition, their thirst for the material world becomes very intense.” (5)

GREED DEGRADES PEOPLE TO THE LEVEL OF ANIMALITY

“The present-day materialism has brought humanity to this predicament. Its consequences are dreadful. The irrational thirst for acquisition of material things is termed “greed”; whereas the endeavour to assimilate things in the spiritual world is harmless and blameless. And the attempt to assimilate something in the psychic world, if it is directed towards the welfare of humanity, is also harmless. Otherwise, it pollutes the minds of people and makes them intolerant: it leads to conflicts between dogmas and theories and degrades people to the level of animality.”
“In the past, the world has witnessed many struggles between dogmas, which have caused much bloodshed; this was a regular occurrence in the Medieval Age. And in the present day also, we witness clashes between one theory and another, which cause no less bloodshed; rather the bloodshed is greater than before. The degree of intolerance has increased immeasurably. People have lost faith in their fellow human beings; one state has lost faith in other states. In all spheres of life these days, people think one thing, say another thing, and do something entirely different. That is, hypocrisy is now at its peak.”
“Now the question is: What is the motivation behind this? It is the tendency to assimilate ideas without the spirit of welfare – and, still more than this, the tendency to acquire the objects of material enjoyment in ever-increasing quantities.”
“So whether in the material world or in the intellectual world, the predominant tendency that makes today’s people, both individually and collectively, rush headlong without control, is the instinct of greed. The propensity of greed, if not controlled by rationality, or benevolent intellect, or spiritual practices, will lead to premature death. Nothing can save human beings from this. This instinct of greed has brought the present humanity to such a state that people no longer consider anything as sinful. Rather, they consider the “sin psychology” as a mental weakness, and the worst of sins are being glorified as the height of intellect, not only indirectly, but also openly…Lobhah pápasya hetubhútah [“Greed is the root cause of all sins”].” (6)

SUMMARY:

CAUSE AND SOLUTION OF GREED, LOTTERY, GAMBLING ETC

As Baba explains, within the human mind there is avidya maya which is composed of two aspects: sadripus (6 internal enemies) , and astapashas (8 external fetters). The sadripus come from within and the astapashas are imposed by society.

For instance, hatred is one of the astapahas, i.e. it comes from society. A young baby has not hatred. It will touch urine and feces and not feel badly. A baby does not hate anything. As it grows however, that child will learn hatred from society. In contrast, anger is one of the sadripus, which come from within. A baby does have anger as that is an in-born quality. This shows how the astapashas are imposed by society, whereas the sadripus are part of one’s inherent mental make-up.

In total there are six internal enemies or sadripus: (1) kama (worldly lust); (2) krodha (anger); (3) lobha (avarice / greed); (4) mada (vanity; (5) moha (blind attachment); (6) matsarya (envy).

So greed / avarice is one of the six internal enemies and part and parcel of avidya maya.

Thus the disease behind the lottery and gambling is found in the sadripus because greed for material wealth is one of the six internal enemies. So this penchant for lottery and gambling is embedded deep within the human psyche. If this tendency or enemy of greed is encouraged it will grow and grow. It can swallow one’s entire existence where a person even destroys their family and commits suicide – all due to greed.

Encouraging people to participate in lotteries and gambling is extremely dangerous – it can easily ruin their entire existence.

Now that we have uncovered the root cause of the problem, we should investigate the treatment as well.

TREATMENT

Here is the way overcome the negative tendencies of mind related with the sadripus, or six internal enemies, like greed:

(1) Do not encourage avarice; do not let the mind indulge in that way. About this one must be strict – do not loosen the reins. These six enemies like greed should be controlled, harnessed, and not allowed to run free.

(2) One cannot treat is by external pressure or by force, otherwise the person will react negatively. For instance, if laws are put in place that do not allow people to have money, then one of two things will result. Those greedy for money will either get it secretly, or if they are truly suppressed by that law then some other negative tendency of mind will crop up, like sexual indulgence, anger etc. So this problem of greed must be addressed from within.

(3) One should channelise or goad the mind in a positive direction. That greedy attraction for money should be directed toward artistic endeavours, scientific studies, literature review, or social service projects etc. By goading the mind away from greed and toward a productive engagement, then little by little one will gain control over that propensity of greed. One will never be able to eliminate the tendency toward greed entirely. So long as one has a physical body, the potential for greed will be present. But by goading the mind in a sentient direction one will gain control over that propensity.

(4) Sadhana and related psycho-spiritual practices are the excellent ways to free the mind from greed.

HOW TO OVERCOME GREED

Ananda Marga Philosophy says, “Those who are fascinated or tempted by an object can gradually rid themselves of the mental pollution arising from their selfish motives by adopting just the reverse course. Those who are very greedy for money should form the habit of charity and serve humanity through that practice.” (7)

FINAL THOUGHTS

Baba has given us all the tool – do’s and don’ts – building a great human society. When He Himself has told us not to engage in lotteries then we should pay heed to His order.

Baba says, “The habit of making wagers is extremely undesirable. You must avoid lotteries and gambling.” (8)

Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Gautama

Note 1: EIGHT REASONS TO OPPOSE LOTTERY

http://www.arragopwing.com/lotteryposition.html

Note 2: ADVERSE EFFECTS OF LOTTERIES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lottery#Side-effects

Note 3: DIFFERENCE OF EAST AND WEST

Here is one interesting side point as this is also related with the sadripus. One of the ripus is mada, meaning pride. In the eastern traditions, pride is not encouraged because how can one think about Parama Purusa if one has pride about oneself. Yet in the west, pride is looked upon as a very positive attribution. People are encouraged to be proud of what they have done. This runs directly contrary to the spiritual approach of tantra.

Note 4: CAUSE BEHIND LUCK

Some think that those who win the jackpot got that money out of nowhere. But that is not the case. There is no such thing as luck in this universe – everything is an incident. If anyone wins money by gambling or in the lottery, it is not due to luck but rather they are reaping their old samskaras. If they did not win the lottery, they would have received that same amount of money some other ways, perhaps in smaller amounts over time. So those who think that they got this money by luck or out of nowhere are incorrect. Past samskaras are the cause. That is Baba’s teaching and this is how this works. That is why Ananda Marga discourages lotteries.

“Some persons wear different stones such as blue sapphires which change the mode of their experiencing the reactions. It is possible that by this one may get a fortune by winning a prize in a lottery or may get a promotion in one’s employment. This makes people believe that all this has happened due to grahashánti, but it is actually not so. Fate, or the quantum of experiencing the consequences of one’s actions, can neither be changed nor evaded. It was explained earlier that one’s actions that give happiness to others will beget happiness to oneself to the same extent in mental measure. This quantum of experiencing happiness and pleasure cannot be changed. Only the time required for experiencing it can be increased or decreased. Taking again the example of the deposit of 150 rupees, we see that the money intended to be spent in a month at the rate of five rupees a day, can be spent in one day by shortening the period of expenditure and leaving nothing for the remaining twenty-nine days of the month. The change in fate brought about by grahashánti is similar to this. For instance, the one thousand rupees that one gets as a prize in a lottery due to the influence of the blue sapphire, is the person’s own money scheduled to be received by him or her in small instalments over a long period of time. This money is received in one instalment, leaving no balance for the rest of the instalments. Yet getting a huge amount at once makes one believe that grahashánti, or the wearing of a blue sapphire, has changed one’s fate.” (Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy, How Should Human Beings Live In This World?) (9)

REFERENCES:
1. Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy, Why Are People Afraid of Intuitional Practice?
2. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shiva’s Teachings – 2 (continued) (Discourse 16)
3. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life – 9, Cognitive Force and Psychic Practice
4. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life – 9, Cognitive Force and Psychic Practice
5. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shivas Teachings – 1 (continued) (Discourse 10)
6. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shivas Teachings – 1 (continued) (Discourse 10)
7. A Guide to Niyama Sadhana, Shaoca
8. Caryacarya part 2, Society, pt #38
9. Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy, How Should Human Beings Live In This World?

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British Divide & Rule Policy – Split India into 3 Pieces – Gandhi was Tool

Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 21:29:47 -0400
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: British Divide & Rule Policy – Split India into 3 Pieces – Gandhi was Tool
From: JULES

Baba

==BRITISH DIVIDE & RULE POLICY – SPLIT INDIA INTO 3 PIECES – GANDHI WAS TOOL

Namaskar,
According to Prout, MK Gandhi committed a major blunder by supporting the partition of India and accepting the communal award in 1932. To break India into pieces, the colonial powers (i.e. the Britishers) introduced the communal award. Specifically this meant that political seats were allocated based on religion and social class etc: Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Dalits, businessmen, kings, etc. Each group was given a limited share of the power. The agenda of the colonial powers was to increase tension and instigate infighting amongst all Indians. Their plan was to incite them to attack each other and break India into countless pieces.

As is well documented, in the 19th century, there was harmony between Hindus and Muslims. For centuries they had lived together in India – side by side. For more about this, reference Baba’s book “To The Patriots”.

But after their united revolt against the British rulers in 19th century, those rulers planned to break the unity between the Hindus and Muslims by increasing communal tension. In a very deliberate and calculated manner, the Britishers started granting favours in the form of higher posts, political power and other perks to one community or the other. The aim was to create tension between Hindus and Muslims – as well as with other groups within India.

“ROUND TABLE” CONFERENCES IN LONDON:

BIRTH OF COMMUNAL TENSION

To achieve their agenda, the British rulers hosted three “Round Table Conferences” in London whereby leaders of India’s various communal groups rallied to get their share. This was actually the start of the communal award wherein all stakeholders were invited to London to discuss the allocation of political power in India.

So it was, that in 1932, the Britishers extended limited autonomy to India with the British leaders still controlling the Central Government and having the final say. So now all the groups – Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Dalits, businessmen, kings – had a vote and political seats were granted on a communal basis. This happened gradually over the course of time. This inevitably led to heated competition between these groups in order to gain power.

Thus the united India which had been characterized by a long era peaceful co-existence between Hindus and Muslims gave way to huge tension in the first half of the 20th century. They were no longer thinking of themselves as Indians but as members of their owns caste, clan or group: Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Dalits, businessmen, kings etc.

MK Gandhi did not oppose this policy as a whole, but he did oppose a small part. He supported all points of this “communal award” i.e. granting of political power on a communal basis. Gandhi’s only objection was that he did not want Harijans (Dalits) to be separated from the Hindus. He fought for that point and some adjustment happened: The Dalits and Hindus remained together in the communal award. But MK Gandhi supported all other parts of this communal awarded. He accepted the division between kings, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, businessmen. All would get political seats based on their caste and religion etc. MK Gandhi accepted this completely. That time he did not get the clue that the British were trying to poison the country by creating communal rifts.

As tensions mounted, all wanted their autonomy – separate from the greater India. Muslims, Sikhs, kings all wanted to break from India and their raised their battle cry.

GANDHIJI’S DECALARATION

From 1932 to 1947, MK Gandhi assured the country that India will not be divided. He specifically declared: “Over my dead body will India be divided.” Many trusted him on this point. But when heated calls came for the division of India, then MK Gandhi passively accepted the partition of country by keeping maon vrat (vow of silence).

Gandhi’s 2 political disciples – Jawaharlal Nehru & Sardar Patel – plus his friend, Mohammad Ali Jinnah wanted separation. They were getting older and all wanted power quickly. Ultimately they got their power by dividing India. Gandhiji did not oppose them.

All along the the mass of Indians trusted Gandhi to keep the country together. But in the end he betrayed their trust and in result, millions & millions died – and countless others lost their homes, property, and families.

Actually MK Gandhi’s big blunder began in 1932 when the communal power was given to India as an “award”. Then from 1932 to 1947 the fire of hatred grew in India and culminated on 15 Aug 1947 when it reached full maturation. That was the day of the partition of India. What ensued was catastrophic destruction and massacres across India wherein millions upon millions were killed.

GANDHI’S MISSTEPS

Gandhi’s blunder can be broken down into three distinct steps:
(1) The initial acceptance of the communal award; i.e. distribution of seats and granting of political power on a communal basis.
(2) The failure to start an economic justice movement for all communities of India against the ruling Britishers;
(3) The final acceptance of a divided India; i.e. hypocrisy of maon vrata, “vow of silence”.

COMMUNAL AWARD

Indeed the communal award was the British technique to divide both the mind and land of India. During the height of the British Empire , they employed this strategy in so many regions across the globe. This was their trademark tactic: Divide and rule. To achieve this in India, they injected the communal award to create social unrest.

In His various discourses, Baba opposes the communal award which caused the division of India. Baba furthermore states that if Gandhi had not accepted the communal award and instead started an economic justice movement for all Indians, then India would not have been divided – neither mentally nor based on land.

Baba says, “In this fight for independence, the Indian leaders committed a blunder. They should have engaged themselves in an economic fight instead of starting a political movement. The British took advantage of this blunder of the Indian leaders. They got the opportunity to divide India into two parts. They infused in the Muslims the idea that the Hindus formed the majority, and that therefore if the British quit India the government would naturally go into the hands of the Hindus, and the Muslims of the whole of India would remain as their subjects.” (To The Patriots)

Baba also points out that an economic-based movement would have certainly brought political sovereignty as well.

Baba says, “The fight for economic independence would have brought political independence also. There might have been some delay in it, but political independence would have surely come.” (To The Patriots)

But the leaders of the day – Nehru, Jinnah, & Patel – did not want to wait. They wanted political power immediately. And Gandhi did not oppose their wish. So they accepted the communal award in order to start ruling and finally they accepted the partition of India to quickly get more power.

WHY TRUTH WAS NOT PUBLICIZED

So why has this side of the story not been told on a mass scale. Because special interest groups – like capitalists and the western powers – did not want the truth about Mahatma Gandhi to be known. MK Gandhiji was their tool as the socio-economico-politico beliefs of Gandhism goes in the favour of capitalists. So such capitalists want to make Gandhi into a hero. That is the main reason why this history about Gandhi and the communal award has not been truthfully told. Rather it got distorted and covered up. In the west Gandhi is treated as a hero and something divine. And in India the same respect and honor towards MK Gandhi is propagated by the government. But the truth is this.

Note: Those interested in learning more about this can read Baba’s book, “To The Patriots” and His discourse, “The Dangers of Communalism”. Since the discourse, “The Dangers of Communalism”, is very condensed, to enhance your understanding of the partition of India, please read excerpts from this below article by noted journalist, Rajinder Puri. Thereafter excerpts of Baba’s discourse is also noted as well as Baba’s full discourse.

EXCERPTS FROM “MAHATMA GANDHI’S ASSASSINATION

by Rajinder Puri

“On June 3 1947 the Congress Working Committee passed the resolution accepting the Partition of India. There was communal tension but no communal riots to speak of in Punjab. Gandhi observed “maun vrat” (day of silence) on that occasion. He was reportedly isolated by Nehru and Patel and was unhappy. Mountbatten visited him and said he hoped that Gandhi would not oppose the Partition under the Mountbatten Plan. Mountbatten also noted that he was surprised that Gandhi should have observed his day of silence on such a crucial occasion. Gandhi wrote on a scrap of paper his reply: “Have I ever opposed you?” Mountbatten preserved that paper as historical evidence and it is still there in the Mountbatten papers.”

“The riots that escalated after Independence brought about the biggest transfer of populations in recorded history. [Those] who opted to stay on in Pakistan, along with millions of Hindus, were forced to flee to India. An estimated million people were slaughtered in the engineered riots while the police and army stood aside. Over ten million were rendered homeless as they fled their homes to uncharted territory to become refugees.”

“Gandhi became restive and realized his blunder in compromising. He started plans to undo his mistake. The intelligence that kept watch on all activities in Birla House, where Gandhi stayed, was aware of his unhappiness. That is why Mountbatten met Gandhi and advised him not to oppose the Partition. By doing so he would harm the future of Nehru and Patel who were his creations and disciples.”

GANDHI’S DESIRE TO SETTLE DOWN IN PAKISTAN

“Gandhi had already written to Jinnah about his desire to settle down in Pakistan. Jinnah said Gandhi was most welcome and invited him to come to Karachi. But Gandhi decided to travel by road to Lahore and settle down there. Plans were finalized for Gandhi and the fifty families to start their journey to Lahore on February 14, 1948. Exactly one fortnight earlier Godse assassinated Gandhi.”

“The demands for truth about Netaji Subhash Bose are still resonating.”

EXCERPT FROM BABA’S DISCOURSE:

“THE DANGERS OF COMMUNALISM”

Baba says, “During the struggle for independence, a great blunder was committed by Mahatma Gandhi. In order to show his innocence, he said that he would not support the communal award, but nor would he vote against it. That is, indirectly he supported it. What happened to the country after this was due to the himalayan blunder committed by Mahatma Gandhi. At that time he should have said, “No. I do not support the communal award.” He did not say this because his party workers and party leaders were eager to become ministers, so they pressed him for provincial autonomy. But Mahatma Gandhi neither supported it nor opposed it. He committed a great blunder. What has happened in the country after this is the result of what Mahatma Gandhi did. At that time he should have said that we can neither split the country nor disintegrate it. As a result of the communal award, the country was trifurcated into Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. This was the result of the blunder of Mahatma Gandhi, and he did it under the pressure of his party leaders. They wanted to become ministers, as there was scope in the government of India at that time for wresting provincial autonomy, attaining ministership, creating two new provinces – Orissa and Sind – and separating Ceylon and Burma from India.” (Dangers of Communalism)

THE ENTIRE ARTICLE OF RAJINDER PURI

http://www.boloji.com/myword/mw139.htm

Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse on January 30, 1948. Godse was accompanied by Narayan Apte. Both were hanged. The two traveled from Bombay to Delhi via Gwalior to perform the murder. Some of the named conspirators in the murder were already under police surveillance because they owned small arms. The authorities therefore must have been aware of the impending danger.

Despite India’s independence the administration remained under British control, run by officers in key posts appointed by the British, with Lord Mountbatten as Governor-General and General Boucher as the Army Commander in Chief. Total British control becomes evident from the Mountbatten Papers in which Home Minister Sardar Patel is quoted repeatedly complaining to Lord Mountbatten that the police and army were abetting the communal riots. Clearly the Sardar was powerless.

After the assassination a leading freedom fighter alleged that the Home Ministry was criminally negligent by allowing the murder to occur. The leader blamed the government and Sardar Patel for allowing the murder to happen. That leader was Jaya Prakash Narayan.

On June 3 1947 the Congress Working Committee passed the resolution accepting the Partition of India. There was communal tension but no communal riots to speak of in Punjab. Gandhi observed “maun vrat” (day of silence) on that occasion. He was reportedly isolated by Nehru and Patel and was unhappy. Mountbatten visited him and said he hoped that Gandhi would not oppose the Partition under the Mountbatten Plan. Mountbatten also noted that he was surprised that Gandhi should have observed his day of silence on such a crucial occasion. Gandhi wrote on a scrap of paper his reply: “Have I ever opposed you?” Mountbatten preserved that paper as historical evidence and it is still there in the Mountbatten papers.

But as India became independent on August 15, 1947 Gandhi became increasingly unhappy. He was sidelined by Nehru and Patel who moved about in ministerial flagged cars. Gandhi was a marginalized figure. The riots that escalated after Independence brought about the biggest transfer of populations in recorded history. Inder Gujral’s father and Bhimsen Sachar, who opted to stay on in Pakistan, along with millions of Hindus, were forced to flee to India. An estimated million people were slaughtered in the engineered riots while the police and army stood aside. Over ten million were rendered homeless as they fled their homes to uncharted territory to become refugees.

Gandhi became restive and realized his blunder in compromising. He started plans to undo his mistake. The intelligence that kept watch on all activities in Birla House, where Gandhi stayed, was aware of his unhappiness. That is why Mountbatten met Gandhi and advised him not to oppose the Partition. By doing so he would harm the future of Nehru and Patel who were his creations and disciples. But Gandhi persevered with his plans. He gathered 50 Punjabi refugee families, most of them housed in Delhi’s Purana Quila camp, and finalized plans to travel to Lahore and settle down there to create peace and harmony between India and Pakistan. Gandhi had already written to Jinnah about his desire to settle down in Pakistan. Jinnah said Gandhi was most welcome and invited him to come to Karachi. But Gandhi decided to travel by road to Lahore and settle down there. Plans were finalized for Gandhi and the fifty families to start their journey to Lahore on February 14, 1948. Exactly one fortnight earlier Godse assassinated Gandhi.

Did Gandhi suspect he would be killed? On the day he was killed he finalized his last will and testament by which he recommended that the Congress Party should be dissolved and converted into a social organization named the Lok Sevak Sangh. Had Gandhi carried out his plan he would have been a nuisance for Mountbatten, Nehru and Patel because he would have worked for Indo-Pakistan reconciliation. He had already been totally marginalized in the Congress thanks to his erstwhile loyalists, Nehru and Patel. But the same Gandhi after death became the global brand image for the Congress Party. Surprisingly there is little or no mention by historians of Gandhiï’s plans to settle down in Lahore. Why? Because his assassination aborted the plan?

For some strange reason Godse’s trial was held in camera. Godse’s defence was not allowed to be publicized by the Indian government. It was whisked away to Britain. One British weekly published it. Years later it was available to those who searched for it. It is now available on the Internet. The demands for truth about Netaji Subhash Bose are still resonating. Should not the truth about Gandhi’s assassination also be reappraised? Godse’s legal defence, which counters several allegations of the prosecution regarding the assassination, could provide a starting point.

ABOUT RAJINDER PURI

For over two decades Rajinder Puri has been a freelance journalist and his work has appeared on regular assignment in all the leading dailies and weeklies of India. He has authored five books on Indian politics.

BABA’S FULL DISCOURSE:

“THE DANGERS OF COMMUNALISM”

20 October 1990, Calcutta

Note: For those who do not have Prout Nutshell Part 18 or do not have access to the Electronic Edition of Baba’s books, here below is the entire discourse.

Is the division of people into castes and communities natural Balkanization or artificial Balkanization? Natural Balkanization is just like one cell becoming two. Artificial fissiparous tendencies are unnatural. So is the division of people into castes and communities a process of natural Balkanization or artificial fissiparous tendencies?

Amongst the inimical forces, there are certain parties which are goaded by certain forces, by the spirit of certain fissiparous tendencies, and there are also some persons goaded by these fissiparous forces. How can this problem be solved? How can we check these belligerent parties from implementing their outdated ideas, which may cause the physical disintegration of the country? What should be done? What should be our short term and the long term policy? The approach should be both physical and psychic. Will simply economic theory do or is something more required? Education is a long term programme. What should be done immediately in the physical and psychic realms? The country is passing through a critical juncture, so you should be well educated.

There is a theory of politics called “divide and rule”. Just to undermine the independence of India, the British government started a programme to encourage communal division amongst the people based on caste, scheduled caste, scheduled tribe, Muslim and non-Muslim. They wanted to encourage divisions between Muslims and non-Muslims. General people, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes – these were the divisions. Our leaders should not have accepted such divisions. Rather, at that time they should have said that preference should be given on the basis of socio-economic backwardness, not on the basis of castes or creeds. But certain political parties were based on caste prejudices or communal sentiments, which is why they supported the British government.

During the struggle for independence, a great blunder was committed by Mahatma Gandhi. In order to show his innocence, he said that he would not support the communal award, but nor would he vote against it. That is, indirectly he supported it. What happened to the country after this was due to the himalayan blunder committed by Mahatma Gandhi. At that time he should have said, “No. I do not support the communal award.” He did not say this because his party workers and party leaders were eager to become ministers, so they pressed him for provincial autonomy. But Mahatma Gandhi neither supported it nor opposed it. He committed a great blunder. What has happened in the country after this is the result of what Mahatma Gandhi did. At that time he should have said that we can neither split the country nor disintegrate it. As a result of the communal award, the country was trifurcated into Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. This was the result of the blunder of Mahatma Gandhi, and he did it under the pressure of his party leaders. They wanted to become ministers, as there was scope in the government of India at that time for wresting provincial autonomy, attaining ministership, creating two new provinces – Orissa and Sind – and separating Ceylon and Burma from India.

Provincial autonomy was promulgated in the year 1935, but it was implemented in 1937. Sind agreed to provincial autonomy because in Sind a particular party, a minority party of India, was in the majority. Orissa was created out of physical convenience rather than mental necessity. It was very difficult for the people of Orissa to go to the capital town Patna, as they had to go to Patna through Calcutta. This is why they demanded that either Orissa should be included in Bengal, or there should be a sepa rate province. Their demand was that Orissa should not remain in Bihar, because in order to go to Patna the people had to travel through Calcutta. The creation of Orissa was not bad, but the creation of Sind was bad. These were the poisonous effects of the enactment of provincial autonomy by the Government of India in 1935.

As an example of the communal approach of the Government of India, take the case of Bengal. At that time reservation in the Bengal assembly was for 250 seats. 250 seats were created as part of provincial autonomy. Of these 250 seats, 120 were for Muslims, 80 were for non-Muslims, 25 were for British merchants – for the British businessmen of Calcutta to contest elections – a few were for Zaminders, a few were for universities, and a few were for labour leaders. The total: 250. In Bengal at that time, 45% of the population was Muslim and 55% was non-Muslim. That is, the land of Bengal was not only physically divided but also mentally divided, as a result of which Bengal was divided on the basis of communal consciousness, which is unnatural. Communalism is unnat ural. Again today, the foolish leaders, the political leaders, are encouraging this very sentiment. And I fear that if it is not controlled in the proper time – it is the most opportune moment to control it – if it is not controlled in the proper time, the country will face further disintegration.

Factually, as per the Government of India plan at that time, India was trifurcated. Bengal was bifurcated. The Punjab was bifurcated. Assam was bifurcated. Sind and North West Frontier Province went out of India. This was the result of the communal award. The foolish leaders, the stupid leaders, supported the communal award. They had not learnt the lessons of history.

The policy was divide and rule. One party said “Jai Hind” and another party said “Takasime Hind.” One party said “Victory to India;” another party said “Divide India.” These were the slogans of the time. It was not a healthy atmosphere. This sentiment was not even geo-sentiment. It was based on emotion and mean selfishness. Henceforward, healthy politics disappeared from India. Nehru supported partition because his dream was to become Prime Minister of the land – of either undivided India or divided India.

Montague Chelmsford saw that the forces were divided and was not sure whom to give power to. In 1935, provincial autonomy was granted. Ceylon and Burma, which were parts of India, are now inimical to India. During partition – during Montague Chelmsford’s time or during 1935 – the Government of India granted autonomy. A senior Muslim leader of India pronounced Montague Chelmsford as “Montague Chilamford” because he could not pronounce “Chelmsford.” At that time there was no mutual faith, there was want of mutual understanding. That is why the country was divided. Otherwise, the British could not have divided the country. There was both physical disintegration and psychic – psycho-social – disintegration for want of proper education.

Most of the minorities could not rely on the Hindu majority of the country. That is why – out of fear complex – they wanted to divide the country. The Hindu minorities of Bengal and the Punjab could not rely on the Muslim majority. That is why they wanted the partition of those two provinces. The same psychology is prevalent today. At that time there was not even a wee bit of political education or political consciousness in the country.

As per provincial autonomy, the Chief Minister of the provinces were known as the Prime Minister. There was no Prime Minister of India. India was loosely controlled by India House, London.

The Native States were beyond the 1935 award. This is the reason why the communal position of the Native States was better than that of the rest of India. There was hardly any communalism in Kashmir where Muslims lived under the Hindu Raj. Similarly, the Hindu majority state of Hyderabad was under a Muslim leader, and there was hardly any communalism. The reason was that the Native States were free from the communal award. The British communal award was not applied there.

Serpents are exhaling venom everywhere… It is the right moment. It is the proper moment. It is the most opportune moment.

Náginiira cáridike fushiteche bishakta nishvas
Shantir lalit vani shonaibe bartha parihas
Bidáy nebar belá tai d́ák diye jai
Danaver sathe járá samgrámer tare prastut hateche ghare ghare.

“Serpents are exhaling venom everywhere. The sweet gospels of peace sound like empty mockery. That is why on the eve of my departure from this world, I send out a clarion call to those who are preparing in every house to fight against the demons in human form.”

Serpents are exhaling venom everywhere. Now at this critical juncture, should we go on preaching the gospels of peace? No, no, no, no! So, before my departure from the world, said Rabindranath, I have made the necessary preparations for the fight against these demons. Do you all follow? What Rabindranath said 60 years ago is also true in this last portion of the twentieth century.

20 October 1990, Calcutta

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“A’ma’r dukher ra’te ele Prabhu, sukher dine ele na’…” (PS 1563)

Purport:

O’ Prabhu, O’ my dearmost Baba, You have come to me on this most sorrowful night; but, alas You did not ever come to me on my good days. Baba, in this divine liila of Yours You could only be held with my tears – only in those despondent moments did You come within my grasp. Baba, in my darkest hour of pain and misery You came deep inside my heart. In that hopeless moment You did not forget about me and remain out of sight using Your divine play of hide and seek – the befoolery of Your divine liila.

Baba, by Your grace I had so much yearning to serve You. I filled one basket full of spring flowers and I decorated my puja plate to offer You – in the hope of getting You. I wanted to offer those things to You, but that could not be done because You did not come during those joyous occasions. Baba, instead You came and took away my pain.

Baba, in the play of laughter and in the festivity of light, in those blissful times I did not get You. You never came to me on those sweet days of celebration. Baba, by Your grace, in the end, in the cimmerian darkness of this pitch-black amavasya night I got Your divine karuna’ (divine compassion).

Baba, You are everything in my life; please keep me under Your shelter…

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One Should Know This Proutistic Solution

Subject: One Should Know This Proutistic Solution
Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 21:57:36 -0000
From:
To: AM-GLOBAL

Baba

== ONE SHOULD KNOW THIS PROUTISTIC SOLUTION ==

Namaskar,
The ongoing, faltering economy continues to be a point of concern in western Europe and the US. One of the central issues is employment / unemployment. Around the globe, people are very worried about losing their job. And in some countries, where unemployment is 25%, such as in Spain, people wonder how they will ever find a job.

It seems day in and day out big corporations are laying off workers and slashing jobs. Even the big guns like Microsoft, Google, and major steel companies are cutting their workforce by the thousands. Unemployment is rising all across this region.

Despite measures to pull western economies out of its downturn for the past 4 years, still there is much turmoil. This is most evidenced by the scarcity of jobs and speed by which workers are losing their jobs.

MYTH & INDOCTRINATION OF CAPITALISM

What many fail to realise is that they have a lot more power to control the situation than they think.

Right now most people have fallen into the myth that jobs exist because big capitalist enterprises exist. Everyone has become habituated, nay brainwashed, into thinking that the corporate giants give birth to jobs. By that way people can work. This is the prevailing myth around the globe, and certainly so in the west.

This creates an extreme feeling of dependence among the workforce. People feel as if they are powerless to create their own work situation, as if their job is just a product of that capitalist system.

But that is not so.

A GREAT WAY TO KEEP JOBS ALIVE

In the corporate model, it is the workers and managers who know how to do the job and it is the owners / capitalists who exploit them to make a profit. Most often, the owners have less or no ability to do that specific work themselves. This is a key point that everyone must understand.

At present, if a worker wants to keep his job, he has to ensure that the owner is making a sufficient profit, otherwise the worker may lose his job. That is the scary situation.

Here comes the key point. Let’s say one owner feels that he is no longer making enough money, or that his business interests have changed, or moved to China, and therefore he wants to shut down a factory. What workers and managers can do is to keep that factory or business open and make it into a cooperative where they all own part of the business.

After all, by themselves they can do the work. They know what needs to be done and how to do it. They have the know-how and training. All they lack is the ownership. And that can be easily gotten.

There are two ways for this to happen: Either they can organise amongst themselves and buy out the owner. Or the government can intervene and help empower workers and managers to become the owners, by creating a congenial atmosphere wherein cooperatives will grow and not collapse.

There is precedent for such types of turnovers and this is certainly going to be one key ways that we move from a capitalist economy to a cooperative economy. This is Baba’s guideline.

Prout philosophy says, “In the world today different socio-economic systems are in vogue, but none of these systems are based on coordinated cooperation. Rather, in these systems social relationships are mainly based on subordinated cooperation, resulting in the degeneration of society’s moral fabric…PROUT supports the implementation of the cooperative system because its inner spirit is one of coordinated cooperation. Only the cooperative system can ensure the healthy, integrated progress of humanity, and establish complete and everlasting unity among the human race.” (Prout in a Nutshell – 14)

GOVERNMENT MUST INTERVENE

Governments, like the US, have been pumping hundreds of billions of dollars in the form of stimulus packages in order to save or rescue the dying capitalist structure.

If that same money were used to help workers and managers turn their industries into cooperatives, then that would be a boon for the society. As the capitalist system crumbles, politicians and economists will be forced to move in this direction.

Till that time, it is our duty to highlight Prout’s cooperative model. Baba wants that there should be cooperatives in all the spheres of economic life: Agriculture, farming, producers, and consumers etc.

When government gets involved in helping workers and managers create their own cooperatives, then that will certainly help in creating a smoother transition. Government officials will have to nurture cooperatives and bring about a congenial environment for their growth.

This will be one excellent way of fighting unemployment. At present unemployment increases whenever ownership feels dissatisfied with their profit margin. But when people realise that they can organise the business among themselves and all make a reasonable income, then they will no longer be at the mercy of those capitalists.

It will be advantageous for governments to help make this a reality because it goes in their favour to have citizens who work rather than have a large sector of the population that is unemployed.

FORMING COOPERATIVES

Here Baba provides some insight as to how the cooperative model will develop. The following is an example related with agriculture. However, the same principles apply to all fields of economic life.

Prout philosophy says, “Cooperative members should form a board of directors for each cooperative. The board should decide the amount of profit to be divided among the members; that is, the dividend to be paid to each shareholder. However, the total profit should not be distributed in the form of dividends – some should be kept for reinvestment or purchasing items such as tractors, manure, etc.; some should also be used for increasing authorized capital; and some should be deposited in the reserve fund. The reserve fund should be used to increase the value of the dividend in the years when production is low. If this system is followed the authorized capital will not be affected.” (Prout in a Nutshell – 14)

Baba has graciously laid down a very practical and attainable plan. So no one feel overwhelmed; this is not a daunting task. Rather, this is well within reach. After all, the employees already know how execute the work of their company. All they need to learn is how to organise themselves into a functioning cooperative.

Already some visionary companies have begun to form themselves in this way. As the economic downturn continues, cooperatives will be the key way that people can save their jobs. If we spread the ways of Prout, the cooperative system will be a natural resultant due to pressure of circumstances.

DEFECT OF CURRENT CAPITALIST MODEL

The capitalist model is full of loopholes: The middle man, profit-motive above all else, exploitation of workers, exploitation of resources, etc All these are glaring defects of capitalism.

Now corporate ventures may use profits from one business to keep another business afloat, or they may use profits for extravagant merriment for the bosses etc. Or so many selfish things may be done with the profits. Rarely does it go back into the enhancement of the business itself and betterment of the workers. Rather it feeds the greedy owners.

This is a dead end street and the ways that Baba has described above about the cooperative system are far more dynamic and beneficial.

CAPITALISM KILLS ITSELF

In this economic downturn, capitalists complain and justify that because there is not sufficient demand for their products, then “How can I hire anyone.” What they fail to realise however is that they themselves are the cause. Because they swallow up all the profits and do not pay their laborers a decent salary, then those laborers do not have any money to spend. When laborers do not have purchasing capacity, then there will not be demand for the products produced by capitalists. In which case they will not hire anyone. It is a vicious cycle – all a result of capitalist greed.

In contrast, in the cooperative system, the profits get shared among the workers. Their income is thus higher than in the capitalist system. More precisely, they have greater purchasing capacity. In turn, they will spend money on products and services that they need. Money will roll and the economy will not be stagnant. With increased buying power, demand will also rise, and hence there will be plenty of jobs.

So the cooperative system is diametrically opposite to the capitalist system on many levels, including employment / unemployment. The capitalist system creates unemployment whereas the cooperative system heightens employment.

A key example of this is how Apple and other big US corporations have, in total, 2 – 5 trillion dollars in bank accounts, i.e. cash on hand. Those corporations do not want to invest that money because they are not confident that they will get a good return. So they are just sitting on their profits.

Yet, side by side, unemployment stands at nearly 8% in the US. Those companies are not hiring, even though they have stockpiles of cash. Because they do not feel that there will be demand – it will not be profitable.

This is a clear-cut manifestation of how US capitalism is on the pathway to killing itself. The money does not roll but rather stagnates, leading to higher unemployment and decreased purchasing capacity for the populace. The problem of economic stagnation worsens and the economy spirals further downward. That is the tale of capitalism’s death.

MUST THINK OUT OF THE BOX

So then why hasn’t society begun to move on a mass-scale towards the cooperative system? The answer is simple. People are not familiar with it. Certainly they have heard the name, but they remain unfamiliar with how a cooperative functions.

Generally people only think within that paradigm in which they were born. Muslims can only fathom worshiping Allah and no other. Christians think that Christ is the only way. Those who grew up eating meat feel that slaughtering animals is the only way to fill their stomach. People get stuck or trapped in a particular outlook.

That is why in capitalist countries, people think that jobs can only be born from corporate entities. Even the government has fallen for this myth. That is why they are using all the brain-power and financial wealth to stimulate the corporate cycle all over again.

Soon though they will see that this will not work. Capitalism is a dying breed and another system is needed.

So we should get the ball rolling in the direction of Prout. We should be properly educated, ready, and inspired to show the people how cooperative can be used to save themselves from the depths of unemployment. All they need is a little bit of light to see that something else is out there. Then they will come running.

Once people understand and see how the cooperative system can save their livelihood and given them new life, such cooperatives will spring up in each and every corner of this earth.

PROUT IS ON THE HORIZON

The day is not far off – rather it is quite near – when the policies and programs of Prout will be embraced from the people. As people shake themselves free of the current myths of capitalism, they will naturally turn towards the direction of Prout.

“People should work to enjoy sweeter fruits by establishing the cooperative system. PROUT raises the slogans: “We want cooperatives”.” (Prout in a Nutshell – 14)

Namaskar,
in Him,
Balakrsna

Note 1: MORE PROUT TEACHINGS ON THE COOPERATIVE SYSTEM

“In the modern world the cooperative system is the best system of agricultural and industrial production. In the cooperative system members can pressurize the government because of their collective strength and gain financial help and various facilities to increase production. They can pressurize the government to provide better irrigation facilities and high yielding seeds and even make infertile land productive. Land with little fertility can be transformed into fertile farm land with proper care. This will increase total agricultural production and also help a country become self-sufficient in food production and cash crops, freeing it from food shortages. In addition, plots of land on the same level and of the same fertility can be turned into larger single plots by removing all dividing boundaries. However, if the land is undulating and varies in fertility, the division of land may be maintained, otherwise land cannot be properly irrigated.” (Proutist Economics, Cooperative Production)

“Industry, agriculture, trade and commerce – almost everything – needs to be managed, as far as possible, through cooperative organizations. For this, special facilities will have to be provided to cooperative organizations whenever necessary. Adequate safeguards will have to be arranged, and slowly private ownership, or the system of individual management, will have to be eradicated from specific areas of agriculture, industry, trade and commerce. Only those enterprises which are difficult to manage on a cooperative basis because they are either too small, or simultaneously small and complex, can be left to individual management. Similarly, the responsibility for those enterprises which cannot be conveniently managed on a cooperative basis because they are either too large, or simultaneously large and complex, can be undertaken by the immediate state government (in the case of a federation), or by the local body (in the absence of a federation). It is desirable that the management of industrial, agricultural, trade and commercial enterprises not be in the hands of the central government or the world government (after the establishment of the world government). If it is, the common people will not get the direct or even the indirect opportunity to participate in the management of these enterprises. In such cases capitalists, opportunists or self-seeking politicians can easily take control of them and misappropriate public wealth.” (Problems of the Day, pt #11)

“Regarding cooperatives, we must not forget that cooperatives only function properly under a strong government. They cannot function under a weak democratic structure. Before starting cooperatives a psychological environment has to be created. In the Proutistic structure rationalization means less labour, more leisure and more comfort. In order to safeguard the interests of these cooperatives in the field of industry, it has to be emphasised that key industries should be run by the government so that there will not be any occasion for a tool down and the consequent closure of subsidiary industries in the cooperative sector. However, slogans calling for the cooperative movement are untimely in the present system as the psychological background is lacking. If cooperatives are established at the present time, they will simply cause losses to the national wealth. It may be questioned whether it is desirable for a government to engage in commercial concerns, and if so, how can the labour problems in such concerns be solved permanently? In principle governments should not run commercial concerns, but in those cases where it is not possible to run a concern on a cooperative basis, the government should take the lead. However, such concerns should be mostly assembly factories. The manufacture of component parts for these assembly factories should be done through industrial cooperatives. In extreme cases, where industrial cooperatives are unable to manufacture certain components, they should be manufactured by the government. In such concerns there will be no net profit because it is often the question of profit which creates labour problems. The cost of production may be suitably reduced to make it a no-profit, no-loss concern. It is, however, necessary to keep both financial and commercial accounts to ensure that the concern does not run at a loss. If any loss occurs in such a factory it should be converted into an industrial cooperative.” (Talks on Prout)

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“A’ma’r ghare tumi ele, cale gele keno…” – P.S. 778

Purport:

Baba when You have come to my house then why did You leave. If You had the desire & plan to go within such a short period, then why did You bother
to come. It is so unbearable and painful for me.

You ignited and illuminated thousands of stars in this vast sky. And as I look towards them in this dark midnight hour, they are all encircling around me and questioning me that why I allowed You to go. What can I say – I told them that in the future You may be coming again.

Now it is dawn. Look, the night jasmine is lying in the dust, crying in frustration. It cannot speak because of the cold weather; but it is crying in longing for You. The same thing has happened to the lotus flower in the pond. It does not like to bloom anymore; it is still crying in longing.

Baba, O’ my Dearmost, when You Yourself took trouble to come to my house then why did You leave so soon…

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Many Times Milk Is Tamasika

Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2012 21:47:03 +0530
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Many Times Milk Is Tamasika
From: Satyshrayii

Baba

== MANY TIMES MILK IS TAMASIKA ==

(Note: This is the third letter in this series. The first two letters were titled, “Do You Eat Sentient Food”. Links to those letters have been appended below.)

Namaskar,
I have been following this thread about sentient food and wish to raise the issue of milk. As we all know, in Ananda Marga, milk is sentient. It is a sattvika food item.

Yet we must bear in mind that there are some distinct considerations.

TODAY’S MODERN DAIRY INDUSTRY

When the capitalist-minded agro-dairy industry and related corporations use steroids, injections, and other unnatural techniques to get the cows to produce more milk, then that milk cannot be considered sentient. It is full of pollutants, poisonous chemicals, and other harmful agents.

STATUS OF INDIAN COWS

The situation of some Indian cows is also quite compromised. Some of the cows in the Indian cities eat all kinds of things: paper, plastic, garbage, cardboard etc. They eat so much of it that when a cow gets sick and surgery is needed, then invariably doctors find 30 – 65kg of junk / garbage inside the cow. (http://www.karunasociety.org/projects/the-plastic-cow-project)

Such problems are not limited to cows in the city. Some of those cows that roam the countryside often eat night soil.

For those not aware, cow’s milk from the villages is widely-distributed. Those villagers often form a cooperative and keep their milk in a central location. Then an area “milk-man” comes around for pick-ups once or twice a day. That milk is brought to processing plants in larger cities. At those plants, milk from various areas gets mixed, packaged, and shipped for wider delivery. So it is not that the village milk stays in a village. The milk of those cows that eat night soil reaches a wide spectrum of buyers. Many are then exposed to milk produced by (some) cows that eat night soil.

In both conditions, city and country, the sentient quality of the cow in India – and cow’s milk – is greatly disturbed.

Then there is this problem. As you may know, cows that do not have calves do not allow all their milk to taken. So dairy farmers in India farmers inject such cows with chemicals and drugs so those cows will release all their milk. In turn, those chemicals get mixed in with the milk. Anyone can taste and smell the toxins in the milk. This is a large-scale problem.

It all comes to this: Unless you know the history of the cow and how it has lived, purchasing or drinking cow’s milk is risky. The answer lies in enclosed in natural areas or sanctuaries so cows can live in a natural setting and have some freedom without endangering or exposing them to harmful agents, like pollution, garbage, and night soil.

Till that time, drinking cow’s milk in India is tamasika on many occasions.

MILK FROM A NEWLY CALVED COW IS TAMASIKA

Here is another key parameter that we must take into consideration.

Baba also guides us that it is not sentient to drink the milk of a cow that recently gave birth. Essentially, that milk contains colostrum which is harmful to the mind of a sadhaka. Such milk is tamasika.

Baba says, “The milk of a newly-calved cow [is] ta’masika.” (Caryacarya – 3)

Here are further guidelines about this:

(1) In the original Bengali and Hindi editions of Caryacarya, Baba says do not drink the milk of a sandhinii cow. The term sandhinii is consistently used and defined as a cow which has recently given birth. .

(2) Then in the English edition of Caryacarya, the phrase – newly-calved cow – has been used. Here again we are not to drink that milk.

(3) Then in Shabda Cayanika Baba also defines sandhinii as a newly-calved cow.

Baba says, “Given birth to a calf. A cow in that stage is called sandhinii. (Shabda Cayanika – 4, Kálii to Kikhi (Discourse 25))

Furthermore, in Samskrta language literature, the term sandhinii is qualified as being a ten-day period.

“The milk of a female animal [sandhinii] whose offspring is not ten days old.” (Reference)

So this link clarifies that sandhinii refers to a ten-day period for the cow after giving birth.

APPLYING THIS TO TODAY’S MILK MARKET

Now that we have confirmed that our Ananda Marga guideline is that milk from a cow that has given birth less than 10 days ago is tamasika, we should compare this with today’s markets around the world.

In the US, government regulations stipulate that dairy farms / manufacturers cannot sell milk from a newly-calved cow for 4 days. After that 4 day period, it is approved by the FDA for human consumption. That is the standard in the USA.

“By regulation, everything the dairy farmer collects from a cow for the first four days (8 “milkings”) cannot be sold as milk, and is classified as colostrum.” http://www.willardswater.com/information.php?information_num=15

In Ananda Marga our standard is different. Baba guides us that we should not drink milk from a sandhinii cow (a newly-calved cow) i.e. within a 10-day period of delivering her calf. Thus, any milk made in the US during that 6-day window, i.e. day 4 to day 10 after a cow has given birth, is tamasika. Whether it is organic or not, that milk is classified as tamasika according to our Ananda Marga standard.

So the problem is that there is no way of knowing which milk on the shelf in the US was produced during that period. By this standard, it is literally impossible to know if the milk you are buying in the US is tamasika or not.

In the area where you live, you should find out what the laws and regulations are. Because if the standard is less than the specified 10-day period as given in Ananda Marga, then there will be tamasika milk on the shelves in stores.

For instance, let’s say in Italy the rule is not to produce milk from a newly-calved cow for 5 days after giving birth, then there is a remaining 5-day window wherein tamasika milk is being produced, and hence sold in stores. Let’s take another hypothetical example. Let’s say in Argentina the rule is not to produce milk for 12 days after a cow has given birth. In that case, the milk produced in Argentina is sentient (at least on this factor) according to our Ananda Marga guideline. Because our guideline is a 10-day period, at minimum, and Argentina is going beyond that mark. These are all hypothetical examples, but the point is understood.

Any milk produced by a newly-calved cow / sandhinii cow that is less than the mandatory 10-day waiting period is tamasika.

CONCLUSION

Unless we have perfect proof about how the milk is produced, then we have to assume that the milk sold in stores is tamasika. It might contain steroids or other harmful agents; it might be from a newly-calved cow and thus contain colostrum; or it might be a product of commercial factory farming etc. In all such cases that milk is tamasika and must be avoided.

We must reflect again: Unless we have perfect proof about how the milk is produced, then we have to assume that the milk sold in stores is tamasika. That is the only way to approach it; drinking any milk from any store is to walk along a slippery slope – anything is possible. One may fall at any moment. That milk may be tamasika, possibly or even probably so.

Verily there are may do’s and don’ts regarding the sanctity of milk. Best is to just assume that all milk from a regular supermarket etc is tamasika. Remember, when store-bought milk itself is tamasika, then it is also means that those products produced from and using that milk are also tamasika: butter, cream, cheese, sour cream, yogurt etc.

Finally, the key point of waiting 10 days after the birth before milking a cow for human consumption applies to buffaloes and goats as well.

Namaskar,
Satyashrayii

Note 1: NEO-HUMANISTIC REASON

There is also a neo-humanistic reason why as Ananda Margiis we refrain from taking milk from a newly-calved cow:

We are to watch for the well-being of all creatures, including baby calves. We are to ensure those calves get all the food and nutrition they need. One way of ensuring this is to not deprive them of any of their mother’s milk.

Baba Himself has expressed this point in His teachings.

Note 2: IT SPLITS

Milk from newly calved cow – produced within that 10-day period – will split when it is boiled. It will separate into water and solids. That is why those who have cows do not use that milk. Nor will small farmers give that milk to customers. It will give them a bad reputation.

But when that sandhinii milk is added to thousands of gallons of other milk then it may not split. So big companies may be hiding that sadhinii milk in their big vats of milk.

A sadhinii cow produces very thick milk; after that ten-day window the milk produced by the cow becomes thinner and of a more normal consistency.

Note 3: BABA’S TEACHINGS

Baba says, “Those who consume a lot of static food also emit this sort of foul smell…Similarly, an intensely foul smell is emitted from the bodies of tigers because they are carnivorous…A hilsa fish (an Indian herring) is extremely fond of flesh – rotten flesh is its favourite food – hence it produces a kind of repulsive secretion. If a fish bowl or container which held hilsa fish is cleaned with a cloth, and the cloth is used to clean another container, a repulsive smell will be emitted from the second container unless it is properly ventilated. A vegetarian will feel uncomfortable if this container is used for eating, drinking or anything else. Strict vegetarians avoid using any container which has been used to hold non-vegetarian food.” (Microvita in a Nutshell, ‘Some Examples of Microvita in Daily Life – Section C’)

Baba says, “Strict vegetarians avoid using any container which has been used to hold non-vegetarian food.” (Microvita in a Nutshell)

Baba says, “Static food: Food which is harmful for the mind and may or may not be good for the body is static. Onion, garlic, wine, stale and rotten food, meat of large animals such as cows and buffaloes, fish, eggs, etc., are static. Very often people eat food without knowing its intrinsic qualities. For example, the milk of a cow which has just given birth. Or white eggplant, khesárii pulse [horse gram], red puni [Basella rubra Linn.], or mustard leaves, all of which often grew out of rotten matter. In order to have a balanced mind and to progress spiritually, human beings will have to pay attention to the qualities of the food they eat. The idea that “I will just do my sádhaná and eat any food, proper or improper” will not do.” (Ananda Marga Philosophy In A Nutshells, Food, Cells, Physical and Mental Development)

Baba says, “Támasika áhára: All kinds of foods which are harmful to either the body or mind and may or may not be harmful to the other are called támasika. Stale and rotten food, the flesh of large animals such as cows and buffaloes, and all types of intoxicants, are categorized as támasika. Small amounts of tea, cocoa and similar drinks which do not excite a person to the point of losing his/her senses are in the rájasika category. The milk of a newly-calved cow, white brinjals, khesárii dál, green vegetables of the type of red puni or mustard are támasika. Masúr dál cooked for one meal will become támasika by the next meal.” (Caryacarya – 3, Procedure for Eating)

Note 4: LINKS TO EARLIER LETTERS IN THIS SERIES

#1: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/11/do-you-eat-sentient-food.html

#2: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/12/re-do-you-eat-sentient-food.html

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“Ta’i bhavi mane toma’ri smaran’e, path cale ja’i toma’ri sharan’e,
A’ma’ra boliya ya’ bha’vito hiya’, ta’ nahe a’ma’r bujhi ja’garan’e…” (PS 715)

Purport:

Baba, due to my extreme vanity and ignorance, in my heart I was thinking that everything – all my material possessions like money, wealth, post, position, might, and strength – is really mine and that they will remain with me up to eternity. In this way I was deluded. By Your grace You have blessed me with samvit [1] and an awakening has come. Today I have realised that all those worldly things are transitory: They are not mine. They do not belong to me permanently. Rather I have come alone onto this dusty earth, and one day I will depart this earth and will have to leave everything behind. Baba in this universe nothing is mine except You. O’ Lord, You have given me the gift of bhakti and with the devotional mind I can understand that You – and only You – are mine. Because of this I am always singing Your divine glory and I am always engaged in the depths of Your ideation. in my heart I feel that You are everything. Every moment I follow Your path and ultimately by Your grace I surrender at Your alter – O’ my Lord.

Baba, Your liila of Yours is unfathomable: It is full of diversity. On the one side, all the organs of my existence are engaged in negative interactions and crude dealings. The voice is drowned in its own arrogance and makes utterances filled with its own ego and audacity; and the eye is glued to its own feeling of superiority and vanity. With this vain outlook, there is disdain and disgust for others. All these negative features are rampant. And then on the other side these organs do all kinds of positive works and dharmic pursuits. They engage in shravan, manan, niddhidhyasana [2], dhyana, japa, dharana, kiirtan, and puja etc. Baba, in this liila of Yours, all these negative and positive activities are happening right in front of Your very eyes. You can see it all happening before You.

Baba, my mind is wild. I do not have the necessary strength to control it and therefore ask for Your mercy and surrender at Your lotus feet. By the shadow of Your infinite grace, by Your divine compassion, by Your sweet ideation, by doing kiirtan and sadhana etc, I can control that wild mind which is running under the intoxication of maya. Baba, by Your grace I can keep that wild mind cool, calm, and quiet – pointed towards Your divine Self.

Baba, You are my ultimate shelter; I surrender at Your lotus feet…

END NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #715:

[1] Samvit: Baba says, “The popular meaning of sam’vit shakti is “awareness”– awakening from slumber. With the help of sam’vit shakti, unit beings become aware of their existence. They realise that they are the crown of creation, the most evolved beings whose goal is to attain the supreme rank and dispel the darkness of the avaran’ii shakti of avidyamaya.” (Ananda Marga Philosophy in A Nutshell – 4)

[2] Shravan, Manan, & Niddhidhyasana: Here below Baba explains the special import of these three devotional practices.

Baba says, “To attain Him human beings have to take recourse to shravana (constantly hearing His name), manana (constantly ideating on Him) and
nididya’sana (constantly meditating on Him).” (TK-3)

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