Be Aware of Killing Innocent

Be Aware of Killing Innocent
Baba

This letter contains two parts:
1. Posting: Be Aware of Killing Innocent
2. Prabhat Samgiita #1278;

== BE AWARE OF KILLING INNOCENT ==

Namaskar,
Back in the Mahabharat era, Karna suffered a life of ignominy and disrepute because of his birth.

According to the Hindu code, Karna’s birth was a sin. In that era of old, giving birth out of wedlock was one of the worst and most unworthy things a lady could do. While in Ananda Marga we also do not appreciate pre-marital relations etc, but we will do not punish or blackball the child. But in that era of old they did like that. Giving birth without having a husband, giving birth to a baby who has no father was a veritable sin. And both mother and baby were ostracized. Such was the social code of the day. Thus Karna was stigmatized his entire life and looked upon as untouchable, or stained.

“Karna also was not permitted to ascend the throne because he was born before marriage, but what wrong did he do?” (1)

So Baba does not give any credence to the idea that the innocent baby should be blamed. Baba wholly rejects the idea that Karna was a black-spot and should therefore have lived a life of disrepute. Rather, on the point of his existential quality, Baba has given maximum respect to Karna. Baba’s viewpoint is that no blame or disrespect is to be attached with the baby who was born out of wedlock.

EVERY CHILD SHOULD BE EMBRACED BY SOCIETY

In Ananda Marga, we have learned this lesson: Regardless of their birth, every child should have equal opportunity to live a reputable life. There is no reason for anyone to suffer due to the circumstances surrounding their birth like Karna had to do. That is Baba’s teaching.

So this is one point about the abortion issue: Namely there is no reason to abort a pregnancy because the baby, born out of wedlock, will not be welcomed by the society. Baba has clearly told that there is no scope for this. All children should be looked upon with love and affection by the whole society and assured a bright future.

MUST NOT OBJECTIFY WOMEN

We should bear in mind that this entire issue is not limited to being a woman’s issue, but a societal one. At present throughout the world, women are commonly looked upon as objects of male gratification. Advertisements, fashion, and the overall social climate point to females as being sexual objects. That makes them targets of attacks by men. When not aptly channelized, the glandular system of men keeps them always under the spell of sexual allurement, whereas a woman’s desire goes in cycles.

If females are consistently displayed in a way that peak men’s interest, they will be more prone to attacks. Hence, great steps need to be taken to protect women. Secondly, men need to be educated and taught from a young age that they are to respect women as dignified members of society. The sooner such societal norms are established, then the whole problem causing females to want to have an abortion will be essentially eliminated.

This is an important aspect of the issue. Let’s now continue with the idea of using abortion as a tool to distance women from emotional scarring.

WHY PEOPLE ABORT:

CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS

Here are some of the common reasons why people opt for abortion in the present-day materialistic society, as well as how these isssues will be solved in a Proutistic social order.

(a) Poverty: Nowadays, some opt for abortions due to financial pressures and economic constraints. The solution is that in a neo-humanistic society, the caring and rearing of child is society’s responsibility.

(b) Career Aims: Nowadays, many involve 50 – 60 hrs per week in their career to gain prestige, status, financial wealth. When both male and female engage in this way, there is no time or desire to have children. The solution is that in a neo-humanistic society, people will not define themselves by their career, and they will not have to work as much. Hence there will be time and mental space for society building, i.e. rearing and raising children.

(c) Sex is for Enjoyment: In materialistic communities, sexual gratification is viewed as the be-all of life and the key to happiness. In that situation, there are bound to be a high number of unwanted pregnancies because people were only maintaining sexual relations for animlaistic pleasure. The solution is that in a neo-humanistic social order where people are encouraged to engage in higher pursuits and realise spiritual bliss, then sex for enjoyment becomes a non-issue.

(d) Gender Bias: In certain countries there is tremendous preference to give birth to boys, not girls. This leads to a certain number of abortions each year. In the neo-humanistic social order, there will be gender equality and hence there will not be a bias for girls of boys. Every child will be welcomed, irrespective of their gender.

(e) Cohabitation: In this materialistic era, males and females co-habitate and mix freely, causing unwanted pregnancies etc. In a neo-humanistic social order, only those who are married will co-habitate.

(f) Autism / Birth Defects: In materialistic societies, there are no restrictions on who can produce children. When unfit couples find their unborn child has a brain problem or deficiency, they may opt to abort the pregnancy. In a neo-humanistic social order, there is a keen watch that only those of a proper standard have the opportunity and right to bear children.

ONLY POSSIBLE WHEN…

The ideals expressed in this letter – i.e. that there not be any abortions – cannot come to fruition in isolation. To achieve this end, so many Proutistic and neo-humanistic principles need to be implemented: Life is not for carnal desires, sex is not a tool for happiness, no use of intoxicants, proper diet and dealing, no free mixing of the sexes, no pseudo-culture / sensual movies etc, and other approaches. Only when these ideals are established, and spirituality is embraced, will the views expressed herein take manifestation on the collective level.

Those who are pessimists say that, “It will never happen.” However, right-minded persons can easily understand that when the seed is planted naturally it will sprout. Who could think that inter-caste marriages will occur in India, or that women will gain the right to vote, or that a woman will become a head of state, or that cigarette smoking in an office will be banned in the US, or so many things that are occurring nowadays. Positive changes are taking firm hold fast. This will naturally occur with abortion as well. Thus, on the collective level it may take some time but it is doing to come.

Those who are sincere Ananda Margiis – i.e. those not drowned in pseudo-culture – can realise this and bring this into their own life practice immediately. This letter is about practicing this point first on the individual level.

There is not question of trying to forcibly impose a no-abortion rule on the entire society. First, a tremendous amount of education is needed. Only then will the grip of pseudo-culture on society be loosened. Invariably, though people will understand the futility of materialism and aim for something higher. Then all the ideals expressed in this letter will surely take shape.

So no pessimistic-minded person should sit back and wonder how this will never happen. It will happen. Just as today, people think how those primitive humans followed so many dogmas because they were not aware, similarly in the next era, people will certainly joke about the materialistic ways of this present era. Changes are happening fast, and we should all be ready to usher in that new era.

To implement the lofty ideals of neo-humanism and create an abortion-free society, we must follow the various do’s and don’ts of Ananda Marga conduct rules. Then abortion will become a thing of the past.

SUMMARY STATEMENT

In today’s world, abortion is an often misunderstood issue, especially among materialistic-minded liberals. As Ananda Margiis we must not be influenced by the various groups arguing one way or another on the issue.

We are to take a step back and see the big picture and apply the golden teachings of Ananda Marga ideology. We should embrace the mother and child as victims and give the child scope to lead an honourable life. The innocent child’s life must not be aborted. In our human family there is no scope for abortions, regardless of the circumstance. Each and every human life is invaluable and sacred and cannot be tossed aside or killed unjustly, as abortions do.

There is only one circumstance wherein abortion is permissible & morally acceptable. If the pregnant mother’s life is in danger – and if a team of doctors fully agree that both the mother and baby cannot survive – then an abortion may be performed to save the mother’s life. That is the only instance when abortion can be condoned: Only to save another life. In all other circumstances, the baby’s life should be saved and cherished and the mother given proper standing in society.

OUR DUTY TO SOCIETY

In Ananda Marga, Baba wants us to be the leaders, on the cutting-edge, of every issue. We should never fall prey to social stigmas or dogmas. We are to be the harbingers in leading the society forward.

That means on all social issues, like abortion, we should guide the society toward a proper and dharmic understanding. We should establish new norms based on neo-humanism that serve the society well.

In Ananda Marga, everyone understands that our motto is ‘live and let live’ and that we do not support abortion. This is the general rule and most follow this.

Yet, there remains certain key circumstances that need clarification. And that is what this letter aimed to address.

Here are some of Baba’s related teachings on this topic.

ACARYA GUIDELINE: LIFE STARTS IN THE WOMB

In the ‘Pranayama’ chapter of our Acarya Diary, Baba describes the process of breathing and how it relates with life and death.

Baba tells how death occurs on the exhale and life begins on an inhale.

Now here comes the critical point: Baba tells that when an old person dies upon their final exhalation, then their next inhalation occurs when their next life begins as an embryo in the mother’s womb. That is Baba’s direct guideline.

The key point then is that Baba is clearly defining that life begins inside the mothers womb. That developing embryo, that unborn babe, is indeed alive. That human embryo is a living, breathing being.

In that case, we have no right to curtail or destroy the life of that unborn child, irregardless of the circumstances.

So every abortion is a direct contravention of Baba’s divine teaching.

ABORTION IS A HEINOUS CRIME, NAY A SIN

No matter what the doctors may say, no matter what the social workers may say, no matter what the judges in the court may say, each and every abortion is a violation of cardinal human values. To abort a baby is to
commit a sin.

“If the violation is in the spiritual code, rather the religious code, it is termed as ‘sin’. If the violation is against the legal code it is known as ‘crime’.” (2)

If one breaks the law, one may be able to hide from the sheriff, the police, and the courts etc, but when one commits a sin, a distinct samskara is formed, and one can never escape. It is impossible.

“You are free to act, but you are bound to undergo the reaction. The moment you do an act you acquire the possibility of its reaction. Simultaneously with the performance of an act is being done, the seed for its reaction is also sown and its consequences have to be undergone. There is no escape from it. It is not within your right to get rid of it or to escape its fruits and consequences.” (3)

So there is no escape for those who are involved in aborting babes. The termination of that human life carries a dark samskara. It is the equivalent of murder and one will have to undergo that reaction. There
is no alternative.

“THEIR FUTURE IS SEALED FOREVER”

Aborting the life of an innocent child is directly contrary to Baba’s below teaching.

“Everybody should be given the chance, or circumstances should be created, such that nobody gets the scope to feel their future is sealed forever, is blocked. So let everyone feel that everybody in this expressed universe belongs to the same big human family.” (4)

Here again Baba reminds us to watch over those in need, like a defenseless child.

“Help the weak and the helpless in all possible ways.” (5)

Baba’s next teaching states that the child in the womb treasures their own life and does not wish to be killed prematurely by an abortion.

“Have mercy on all living beings.”

Pra’n’a’h yatha’tmano…

“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 sa’dhu, or virtuous person.” (6)

Namaskar,
in Him,
Laksmii & Ramakrsna

REFERENCES:
1. Prout in a Nutshell – 17
2. A Few Problems Solved – 6
3. Subhasita Samgraha – 1, ‘Yajina and Karmaphala’
4. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 3
5. Caryacarya-2, ‘Society’, pt #7
6. Yoga Psychology, ‘Instinct & Devotion

Prabhat Samgiita

“Keu a’lokei mishe ja’y, keu ha’ra’y va’ a’ndha’re…” (1278)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa,, O’ Supreme One, Your divine creation is very colorful. All kinds of people are there. Some get human life, do sadhana, and ultimately become one with divinity. And some people do various misdeeds and move along the path of negative pratisaincara until finally they get lost in oblivion – cimmerian darkness. Some want only You; while others do not want You, instead they want some boon or some gift from You. So this world is colorful.

O’ my Lord, some are rushing towards the allurements of glittering objects, shining stars, or superficial worldly attractions. And some are absorbed in crying over their old outdated memories, deserted flower gardens, and skeletons of the past. In that way they waste their time. While those who are great devotees have accepted You as the Supreme quintessence and they want only You.

Baba, O’ Divine Entity, some are busy in intellectualizing about Your karuna and grace – and they never get the real sweetness. Just they are jinanis involved in their own extravaganza. And some are dancing in the joy and happiness. Such devotees cannot be satiated by anything except You. You are everything for them. Those who surrendered at Your lotus feet they are the ones who pass their whole life dancing in the ecstasy of Your divine love.

Baba, Your entire creation has so many types of people and various colours. Only the life of the devotee is filled with happiness and bliss…

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Why Some Marriages Fail in AM

From: Kiran
Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2013 21:53:58
Subject: Why Some Marriages Fail in AM
To: am-global@earthlink.net

Baba

This entire email is composed of 3 parts:
(1) Prabhat Samgiita #2429;
(2) Posting: Why Some Marriages Fail in AM;
(3) Trailer Quote: Structural Defects May Be The Cause
Each section is demarcated by asterisks (*).

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

Note: This Prabhat Samgiita is opening the window for how life society will be after the establishment of neo-humanism.

“Sakal duya’r khule dile prabhu, Va’ta’yan-pathe a’lo elo…” (P.S. 2429)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, O’ Baba, You are so gracious; You have come and opened all the doors and windows, and inundated this world with Your divine effulgence. O’ Baba, You are so gracious; You have taken advent and given the divine teaching of neo-humanism and Your universal philosophy. By this way, You have eradicated all dogma and narrow-mindedness. On the eastern horizon the crimson dawn is visible. The darkness has been dispelled. There is a brilliant new era on the rise. The statictiy of narrow-mindedness and misunderstanding is vanishing, by the propagation of Your neo-humanistic philosophy.

O’ Divine Entity, in the past there was the domination of dogma and groupism all around. Countless superstitions, rituals and dogmas were doing their naked dance. In the past there was a lot of division and narrow-minded people had the upper-hand. Now the era has changed.

Now, with the presence of Your divine effulgence, in the blink of an eye those creatures of darkness along with their dogmas dissolved into thin air. With the arrival of Ananda Marga philosophy and neo-humanism, the demons cannot spread their venom anymore – they have all been destroyed. O’ the Embodiment of effulgence and shelter of all, with Your affection and punishment, scorching heat and cool shade, Your love is vibrant. Irrespective in all these situations – good or bad – tough times or good times – Your grace emanates in various ways. You are always present with Your mood of causeless grace. O’ Parama Purusa, You have only one motive – to help jiivas. In Your divine liila, You create all kinds of events – good and bad – yet everywhere Your well-wishing is present. There is no other motive than the welfare of all. Baba, Your grace is always flowing and showering bliss…

== WHY SOME MARRIAGES FAIL IN AM ==

Namaskar,
Here are more points which I think will be helpful for understanding this entire issue of failed marriages.

BEWARE OF INTEREST GROUPS

1) One should be prudent – even skeptical, about receiving advice from stakeholders – ie sometimes even family margiis also carry a bias. For instance, let’s say that in their unit or bhukti, there is a girl or boy nearing 30 years of age and it is obvious that this person needs to get married soon. Then with the intention of supporting them, such people falsely praise that boy or girl up to the sky in order to attract an interested party. Under the notion of helping to marry that older boy or girl, some such people may say things that are not true. Out of sympathy they may say, “Oh he or she is very good and has always been exemplary in our community.” When in fact that is not at all true. Just they are saying like that in order to get that person married. Actually they want to help but what they are doing is not at all good. Encouraging false perceptions as will lead to a bad marriage – or the marriage may simply implode or break apart.

FINANCE

2) Finances play a big role in any household. So the boy and girl should have in-depth discussions and get to know each other’s lifestyle and views on money. Someone who wishes to live like a king or queen should not marry someone with a sadhu mentality, or vice-versa. There should be clarity on all financial matters including credit, debt, cash allowances etc. The expectations on points of finance should be very clear.

CHILDREN & EDUCATION

3) One of the most defining points of any marriage is child rearing. Ahead of time – before they marry – the boy and girl should discuss how they are going to raise their children. What values will they impose? How far will they goad their child into Ananda Marga way of life? How far will they go to never compromise with dogma? The child must be brought to the path of sadhana at any early age and encouraged in this practice wholeheartedly.

Is one going to let the child play always while the other parent tries to instill a sense of discipline toward spiritual life? Is one going to let the child eat garlic while the other wishes to raise the child on a sentient diet. There are so many points of possible contention.

One must also remember that those children will one day be teenagers. Will you raise a person who will be a slave of pseudo-culture. If so, that teenager may bring meat into your kitchen, alcohol into your study, and harsh, loud music into your sadhana room. If one parent emphasizes spiritual life and the other does not, there are going to be problems – many of them.

So this should be thoroughly discusses beforehand, lest you become a stranger in your own house where your own children have become like non-margiis. In that case, they and your spouse will form a majority vote in your own home. If you do not educate them about our AM way of life from their infancy, this is going to happen.

POINT OF AWARENESS

4) If the groom follows the Indian tradition that females should cook and do all sorts of house chores – if this is his preconceived notion – then it should be be discussed ahead of time.

Here I don’t want to debate the which role is proper or improper for the male and female in a marriage, only this is brought as a point of awareness and that discussion ahead of time is helpful.

Otherwise this might be the cause of a marriage break-up.

NATURE OF TRANSITORY WORLD

5) Here is another critical point that the boy and girl must review. They both must be educated about, as well as discuss, how this world is transitory. The beauty they both possess today will not last forever. At any time, they may lose much of that beauty. One might contract some terrible disease like diabetes or multiple sclerosis, or get involved in a road accident etc. So many things can happen. The boy and girl should be told about how this world is transitory; they must understand the impact of this. If anyone gets married based on external beauty that marriage will fall apart. We have seen this so many times. They should discuss with one another how they will treat and regard each other when they are sick, disabled or helpless. Because, after all, their youthfulness and beauty will not last forever. Hearing and seeing this, do they still want to get married.

ANANDA MARGA IDEOLOGY

6) The teachings of Ananda Marga have to be a central aspect of any margii marriage. Both boy and girl have to be of the mind-set that what Baba says on any given topic is the defining opinion.

It is not enough to renounce one’s caste and get married. Yes, we have to overcome all caste sentiments etc, but our Ananda Marga ideology encompasses all realms of existence.

Both have to be ready to follow Baba in each and every aspect of life. So when there is any disagreement between the husband and spouse, then the answer must be found in Baba’s guideline. And that must be accepted by both as final. This must be discussed ahead of time.

OATH

7) The boy and the girl should be ready to strictly follow the oath of our Ananda Marga marriage: To live like Shiva and Parvatii. This should be formally written down and both the boy and girl should be educated as to what that means and then sign that piece of paper as a veritable contract. This contract must be binding on each and every Ananda Marga marriage. One must be extremely careful and aware if their spouse will Ananda Marga way of life or not.

DO NOT RELY ON WTS FOR MATCH-MAKING

8) It is important to remember that Dadas must NOT act as a mediator for any Ananda Marga marriage. Invariably, Dadas will give preference to the family giving them more money. So if the boy is not interested in AM and drowned in pseudo-culture, that Dada will paint a false picture and say how the boy is spirited and meticulous in 16 pts. This may not happen every time – but certainly there is scope for such issues. It has happened in the past and must be avoided in the future. And the best way to avoid this in the future is not to involve Dadas.

Besides it is not good for our wholetimers to act as matchmakers. In that process some accidentally get themselves matched up and they leave their Wt ship. This also has happened.

Thus for everyone’s well being, no Wt should be actively involved in match-making. Rather Wts should refrain from match-making entirely. That is Baba’s rule.

TREMENDOUS BENEFIT

By making all of the above perfectly clear between the boy and girl before marriage, then so many misnomers, false perceptions, and bogus expectations will be washed away. The mind will be clear and pointed and one can truly decide whether to marry that person or not. Or should they marry someone else. This will have tremendous benefit in both the personal lives of those who wed as well as in the greater society. People will be successful and productive in their marriages and society will not be plagued by mis-matched marriages and divorce. Mis-matched marriages are commonly looked upon as normal to others, but those involved in that marriage suffer internally and feel like an alien in their own house. Children will not be left shelterless but rather empowered by having dedicated parents who live by a spiritual ideal. Then society can truly be done in the real spirit of the term.

POSITIVE OUTCOME

Some may complain that after reading this now no one will want to get married. They will argue that there are to many stipulations and it is an impossible endeavor. But theirs is not a well-reasoned approach.

We have to remember that when drugs were initially given as medicine then the side effects were never listed and patients were getting harmed. Finally the government intervened and demanded that all medical side effects must be stated. After this judgment, some were concerned that no one will take those medicines if companies are forced to list the side effects. Yet here we are years and decades later, and people still take those medicines and they are aware about the side effects so they can protect themselves. The end result is positive.

Similarly, if people are aware ahead of time about the difficulties of married life, they will be better off. Then they can properly prepare for getting married and select the right spouse and create an ideal family.

Finally, the main idea is that the entire institution of marriage cannot be stopped. It has been going on for thousands of years. It satisfies a basic human need. Thus listing the pitfalls of marriage is not going to deter anyone from getting married. Only it will fortify them with the requisite knowledge to make an educated decision.

NEGATIVE INFLUENCE

After all, we are living in a materialistic society, so what is going on all around affects us. Not only that, we live in world that is dominated by gross materialism where “love” marriages are the norm. Two people get attracted – give in to sensual desires – and then divorce when any problem comes or difficulty arises. Or they leave one another when their become infatuated with someone else.

We must not allow this disease to affect our Ananda Marga way of life. Rather we are to positively affect the greater society.

RESULT OF MIS-MATCHED MARRIAGE

Here Baba graphically points out the fate of those who suffer from mismatched marriages.

Baba says, “The spouse of a certain gentleman that I knew was quite ill-mannered. One winter evening I saw this gentleman sitting quietly at the foot of a tree. I asked him: “Why are you sitting under this tree on a winter evening? You’ll freeze.” He replied: “You know, my young friend, if I go in the house I’ll hear only khankhan jhanhan [unpleasant and disturbing sounds]. It’s a lot more peaceful out here.” (1)

VIVAHA

Baba has graciously given the perfect system for building a great human society. Marriage is one of the key elements. Every marriage within the Marga should be done only after thoughtful consideration. All should be very aware of what marriage means and they should know who they are marrying.

Baba says, “[Shiva] declared that women must be kalatra, which means that women must discharge their obligations to their husbands and their children in such a way that the latter will not have the least difficulty. Those who accepted this new arrangement were declared married…The Sanskrit equivalent for marriage is viváha (vi – vaha + ghaiṋ): it means, after the ceremony, the man and women can no longer live as libertines or as irresponsible so-called family people. They have to discharge their full obligations as bharttá and kalatra, responsible husband and responsible spouse…The liberal meaning of the term viváha is “live one’s life in a new way with a special type of responsibility.” This is the underlying significance of the Shaeva system of marriage.” (2)

Namaskar,
In Him,
Kiran

REFERENCES:
1. Varna Vijiana, Disc: 19
2. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Disc: 9. Shivokti 3

Note LINK TO SIMILAR TOPIC:

Here is a link to an earlier letter on this issue

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2013/02/story-of-broken-marriage-infighting.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.
**************************************
Structural Defects May Be The Cause

There are all kinds of reasons why people may succumb to dogma. It may happen due to self-interest, cowardly nature, political gain etc. And here Baba points out how it may be due to defects in their physical structure. That may be why they cannot follow Baba.

Baba says, “If there is under-secretion of the hormones of the testes glands, a youth will develop less kindness, and less hair will grow in the armpits and pubic region. If you see a man with these physical characteristics, then and there you can come to a conclusion about the extent of his kindness. Moreover, such a person will most likely support dogma. He will not have the moral strength to protest against dogma (including scriptural dogma), and he will not support a new idea.” (Yoga Psychology)
**************************************

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The Dogma Started by Cowards & Opportunistic Intellectual

From: “Liila / Leslie”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: The Dogma Started by Cowards & Opportunistic Intellectual
Date: Sun, Feb 10 2013 22:34:56 (00:00)

Baba

This entire email is composed of 3 parts:
(1) Prabhat Samgiita #1272;
(2) Posting: The Dogma Started By Coward And Opportunistic Intellectuals
(3) Trailer Quote: Everyone Is Interdependent.

Each section is demarcated by asterisks (*).

Baba

Intro to PS: In this song the devotee is innocently sharing his inner heart feeling about that most loving Entity, Parama Purusa. Yet, unbeknownst to him, the very Personality whom the devotee is communicating with is none other than Parama Purusa Himself. So that is the unique aspect of this song.

“A’ma’r gopan kathá jene niyeche” (PS 1272)

Purport:

My Parama Purusa is my most close and most dear; He is surrounding me in all the ways; I remain under His eternal shelter. He understands all the vibrations of my mind, all the feelings of my heart – all my secret tales. He knows me inside and out; He is aware about everything. He understands the pain and longing of my heart; He knows what is good for me and what is bad for me; what is for my welfare; and, what I should and should not do. All these things He understands well. Parama Purusa is my everything. My entire existence is within His mind. Everything is at His fingertips. He knows everything about me.

Whatever I try hide to from Him cannot remain hidden – ever; everything gets exposed. He is well aware about my secret tales. Whatever I think, He knows. Nothing can be hidden from Him. Everything is within His reach. He brings everything into the light of His awareness.

He resides in the depths of my heart. He saturates my soul with the sweetness of His mind. By remaining there, my whole being gets saturated by His divine presence. So He is my most dear One. In my inner-heart and inner-mind He whispers sweet, loving words into my ears.

Parama Purusa is living in my heart and He knows everything. Indeed He is more aware about my whole existence than I am myself. And He eternally guides me and keeps me under His loving care and shelter. In that way I am moving – I feel so blessed. I don’t wat anything but Him and Him alone…

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

== THE DOGMA STARTED BY COWARD AND OPPORTUNIST INTELLECTUALS ==

Namaskar,
One dogma has been started by certain individuals and that dogma must be removed from our Ananda Marga society.

NOT PRAISEWORTHY TO USE NON-SANSKRIT NAMES

As we have seen in the past that when Sanskrit names were introduced into our Ananda Marga society, then in the beginning many were feeling uncomfortable or reluctant to use their Sanskrit names in public. And some still today in their day to day worldly dealings do not like to use their Sanskrit name.

I think all this happened because of a weakness of the mind and lack of proper moral strength.

In His DMC discourse, Baba explains that those who suffer from such a weakness of mind due to materialism or other negative philosophies get such psychic complexes.

Baba says, “Those who are reared in the cradle of materialistic ideologies, feel shy or ashamed at first to sit in meditation in the presence of others.” (1)

Likewise, those who do not like to use their own Sanskrit name are not doing something great or praiseworthy etc. Rather their faulty manner is the expression of a weak mind. It is clear by Baba’s above guideline.

Pseudo-culture is such a prevalent thing, and using one’s non-Sanskrit name is a “gift” of pseudo-culture. In current times pseudo-culture permeates nearly every aspect of life, so sometimes it is hard to recognize it.

JUST A LITTLE COURAGE IS NEEDED

Also, 40-50 years ago in various countries, meditation or yoga asanas were looked upon as something very negative, like witchcraft. The general people were scared to practice – or at the very least embarrassed. But with the efforts of courageous people it became common and now yoga is well respected – indeed it is the latest rage; everyone is doing it. And all capitalist companies show people doing meditation in their advertisements. Similarly if we start using ‘Shrii’ before the name, then without any delay, it will become common and well-respected.

Just like we are follow many Sanskrit terms in our general talking style, and we are using those as we have become habituated to them. Such as the term jagrti, we do not call it a temple, mosque or church. Likewise we use the term Dharmacakra; we do not call it prayer or namaj or yajina.

And, we do not call AM a religion, rather we use the word dharma. Also we use ‘namaskar’ and not “Hi” or “hello” or namaste or Salaam Vale Kum. Or Ram Ram. Rather we use namaskar as our salutation–with folded hands not shaking hands.

All these dharmic approaches have been incorporated into our Ananda Marga way of life.

COWARDS FALL PREY TO PSEUDO-CULTURE

Similarly it is our duty as Ananda Margiis to not fall prey to pseudo-culture. The whole society is waiting for our guideline. Baba has given everything. Our duty is to first practice in our life, and then help to guide others and bring them in the proper path. Due to a lack of proper guidelines and due to faulty theories the whole society is moving in a confused state, misguided direction. We should not allow this to continue– nor introduce any negative ways.

Likewise, respect and reverence to Guru is not very common in present crude society. That’s why certain cowardly and opportunistic intellectuals don’t like to give reverence to Guru in their writing. They fail to preface Baba’s name with Shrii etc. Just in casual way, they refer to Baba as “P.R. Sarkar”. That is highly disrespectful.

HOW PSEUDO-CULTURE GETS SPREAD; HOW DOGMAS TAKE ROOT:

RICH PEOPLE IMPOSE THEIR DEGRADED STYLES OF ART AND DANCE ON OTHER SOCIETIES

In His ‘Exploitation and Pseudo-Culture’ chapter of Neo-Humanism, Baba explains that via the medium of theatre & cinema, rich people impose their low and degraded styles of art and dance on other societies. And because of their inferiority complex, innocent people start copying that and fall into pseudo-culture. Unfortunately they adopt it quickly. And even worse is that they feel honored. It is such a pity that they leave their beautiful customs and culture and adopt pseudo-culture and feel glorified by that. This problem is rampant these days.

This very stage is very detrimental. Those whose backbone is broken by the heavy weight of pseudo-culture are a burden and cannot do anything.

Baba says, “If their cultural backbone is broken, then all their struggles will end in nothing–like offering clarified butter to a sacrificial fire which has been reduced to ashes. If one’s spine is shattered, it is impossible to hold one’s head erect. Can those whose necks and backs are crushed under the weight of pseudo-culture, be expected to hold their heads high in any sphere of life?” (2)

Unfortunately some in our Ananda Marga have fallen into this position.

Here we should remember that Baba has taught us that in our Ananda Marga culture we are to use ‘Shrii’ before the name. This is the given system.

Unfortunately, some of are obsessed with various dogma and with that psychic disease they don’t want to leave that tradition which is going on in outdated local social ethics. Because of this, in a growing number of countries, usually a few people don’t understand the value of the term “Shrii” writing before the name.

WE ARE THEN RESPONSIBLE FOR REFERRING TO BABA IN THE PROPER WAY

The divine and auspicious advent of Taraka Brahma onto the planet is one holy and magnificent event. In the entire world population, only Ananda Margiis are aware about His great arrival. As His disciples, we are then responsible for referring to Baba in the proper way – using the proper name according to our Ananda Marga system. And by this approach the entire globe will learn correctly what to do.

When anybody opens the book of our Prout series, they see Baba’s photo. If one looks carefully at that photo, they will notice Baba’s signature is witten in Bengali. In His own writing, it is clearly written: “Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar”. This is Baba’s pristine example. By this way, anyone can understand that Baba is the writer, and His full name is Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar. Not just ‘P.R. Sarkar’.

Unfortunately, some cowards intellectuals do not ahere to Baba’s system.

SHRII IS THE FOURTH ATTRIBUTION OF THE LORD

As we know our Baba – Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji – is not only Bhagawan, but furthermore He is Taraka Brahma.

While explaining the term Bhagawan, Baba has told that the Personality who has bhaga is called Bhagawan. And the term Bhaga means the collection of six attributes. These attributes are: (1) Aeshvara, (2) Viryam, (3) Yasa, (4) Shrii, (5) Jinanam, and (6) Vairagya. In ‘Jaeva Dharma and Bhagavata Dharma’ reveals this fact.

Baba says, “The meaning of the word Bhaga is ‘Aeshvarayamca samagram viiryamca yashasah shriyah Jinana-vaergyamca sanaam bhagaiti smrta’. Bhaga is the collection of six attributes.” (3)

We can see then that bhaga is just the collection of six attributes or qualities. And one of the qualities is ‘Shrii’. Indeed, ‘Shrii’ is the 4th attribution of the Lord. And the meaning of Shrii is “attraction” or “charm”.

That is why we have always seen that Baba uses the term ‘Shrii’ before His name. Two times. While writing His name He writes Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, not just Anandamurtiji or Shrii Anandamurtiji. He prefers Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. Or double ‘Shrii’ before His name.

And it is our duty as disciples to follow His guideline – to follow Baba’s example.

Thus we must emulate His given system and use the preface Baba’s names with ‘Shrii”: Such as Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji or Shrii PR Sarkar, whichever is needed.

BLUNDER DOES A LOT OF DAMAGE

MUST USE “SHRII” OR “SHRII SHRII”

The mention of Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar without putting “Shrii” in front is most disrespect to our Guru Baba, who is Taraka Brahma. And the mention of Anandamurti without using the preface “Shrii Shrii” is equally disrespectful, and an equal blunder.

Some persons may be imagining this is just a “small thing”. For those who may be thinking in this misguided fashion, please consider these following examples:

Suppose, for instance, if one is walking in a dry, dirty area, and gets covered with dust. That may not be bothersome to the person. But if one tiny grain of dust gets in the eye. Then it will be a big problem. So something small may create chaos. Depending upon how critical it is.

Suppose someone puts their shoes on their head instead of on their feet. It may seem like a small mistake, but it will create a big problem.

Suppose a person tries to walk upside down, with their head on the ground. This may seem like a simple thing, but it will create huge difficulties.

Or suppose if someone cuts off their nose. The nose may be something small, but cutting off the nose will derange their entire face.

So by these above examples it becomes clear that “small things” can create huge errors and much harm. And as such one can hardly call those things as small, inconsequential errors. Rather they become serious problems which need to be addressed and corrected.

Now let’s apply this to Baba’s appellation.

Two of the seven ‘Secrets of Success’ are:

(1) Shraddha’ (deep reverence for the Goal (Ista); and
(2) Guru Puja, (respectful offering and surrender to the Guru).

So these are two of the Secrets of Success which Baba Himself highlights in so many discourses. So see then how essential it is to have deep reverence for the Guru. And to express that properly. And in Ananda Marga that is our way – to give maximum regard to BABA, Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, the Granter of salvation.

So consider that something supposedly small like putting “Shrii” before Baba’s name, it has tremendous importance. And not doing so creates huge negativity by its being most extremely disrespectful to that divine Entity.

TRUE FOLLOWERS ALWAYS SHOW RESPECT

BUT NEGATIVE HABIT OF OUR SOME COWARD AND OPPORTUNISTIC INTELLECTUAL “WRITERS” IS OPPOSITE

In all spheres of life people give maximum reverence and high regard to those whom they revere.

For example when the pope or Dalai Lama are introduced then words like “his high holiness”, “revered one”, and “divine being” are used. Their followers will always do like this.

The devotees of Ramakrsna, Yogananda and Vivekananda always use Swamiji or Thakur and then they close with Paramahansa. These titles show great respect and reverence.

Likewise the laukik name of Nima’i is not so impressive sounding that is why followers refer to their saint as Caetanya Mahaprabhu.

Even when worldly leaders are introduced, then always proper due reference is given. They are known as “Mr President”, or “Mrs Prime Minister”, or whatever their respected title may be.

Hence it is quite common to publicly revere leaders – whether they be a leader of a church, state, or mission.

By this way, the rest of the world knows that that person is a respected one. People may or may not be catholic, but because those catholics revere the pope up to the sky, then everyone on this earth feels that the pope is someone of great stature and import. Same is the case with the Dalai Lama, Ramakrsna, and the leaders of various countries.

In contrast, if their own followers do not give them reverence on the public stage, then the rest of the world will automatically think that that so-called leader is not so great – rather he is just a second rate individual, or worse than that.

Hence, it is extremely important for one to give great reverence to those whom they revere.

Unfortunately some of our most “prolific” writers in AM nowadays have fallen into the extremely negative habit of just writing ‘PR Sarkar’– and in some cases they just write ‘Sarkar’. By quickly surveying the books, articles, and emails of “writers” then we can see this unfortunate form of expression.

Not only that, such WT writers and publishers in Ananda Marga who write about Baba refer to themselves as Ac Abc-Ananda Avt, yet when publice refer to Baba they write “PR Sarkar” or just “Sarkar”. Such Wts are shameless. They are keen to honour themselves and quick to dishonour Baba.

And overall this has a negative effect across the entire society.

Because then non-margii writers adopt this same ungainly approach and they just write ‘PR Sarkar’. Whereas if such mundane writers were aware that our “top” writers and margiis always respectfully refer to Revered Baba as ‘Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar’ or ‘Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji’ then they would get a good teaching and follow our example.

It is just like how mundane or non-British reporters always refer to Queen Elizabeth using the title “Queen”, and they always refer to Prince Charles using the reference of ‘Prince’. Never do they just write “Elizabeth” or “Liz”, or “Charles” or “Charlie”. And if they did then the public would object. Because everyone has become taught and trained that “Queen Elizabeth” and ‘Prince Charles’ are the proper ways.

Likewise, Catholics address their leader as His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. The Pope’s worldly name is Joseph Alois Ratzinger, but no Catholic would ever consider calling the Pope, “Joey”. That would be a terrible display of disrespect. No Catholic could ever imagine doing that. Rather, they refer to him as His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. And by this way they teach others to do the same. Lay people, heads of state, newspaper reporters, indeed everyone refers to the Pope in a most respectful way. All because that is the tone and address used by the Pope’s chief followers, i.e. catholics.

Although we are not trying to emulate the British monarchy nor the Catholic Church etc, but this particular point is meaningful. The idea being that if we ourselves are perfectly consistent in always giving proper reference to Baba as ‘Shrii PR Sarkar’ or ‘Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji’ then people of the general society will also follow suit. It will become natural for them. And that will be the proper way to introduce non-sadhakas to Baba as well as the proper way for Ananda Margiis to refer to the social and spiritual names– Shrii PR Sarkar & Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, respectively– of our Revered Guru.

IT COULD BE ANYBODY

One related key point is that PR Sarkar could refer to Pramod Rai Sarkar, Paramatma Ram Sakar, Prabhu Rsi Sarkar or countless other names. So in addition to using Shrii, we should always employ the full form of Baba’s name, i.e. Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar.

Along these lines there is one famous story.

When the police came to arrest Baba, they arrived with an arrest warrant that said “PR Sarkar”. Baba refused to recognise the warrant as being legitmate. He said, “That is not my name; that warrant could be for so many other people whose initials are PR.” On this point, the police accepted defeat so they left without Baba and came back with a new warrant that stated Baba’s complete name.

So we should always employ His full name – Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar – when referencing Him in any way.

DON’T DISPLEASE BABA

Casual and crude way of referring to Sadguru is not only objectionable but absolutely abominable. Nobody should do such sin. In the scripture it is said, “Shive rusto…” The meaning is that if Guru is displeased, then nobody can save that person. Reverence and pleasing Guru is very important. To do this, Baba taught us many things including how to address Parama Purusa, Mahasambhuti, Taraka Brahma.

To teach us Baba has given very clear example while writing the books about Shiva and Krsna. The names of these two books themselves are very honorable and respectful.

For example Lord Shiva’s book is “Namah Shivaya Shantaya”. And the meaning is, “Salutations to Lord Shiva who is the Ever-Tranquil Divine Entity.” And similar way about Lord Krsna Baba has titled the book as “Namami Krsna Sundaram”. That is, “Salutations to Lord Krsna Who is the Ever Beautiful and Charming Divine Entity”.

By this way Baba has given one glorious example. And the motive was only to teach us, how we should address Guru. He does not address Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna in a casual manner.

So when we refer to Baba it should be done in the most reverential and respectful terms.

MUST FOLLOW BABA’S SYSTEM

It is Baba’s system that He prefers that His name should prefixed with Shrii. That’s why He signs in this way. As His disciples we should address Him in the way in which He prefers most.

BABA’S RELATED TEACHINGS

“Shrii: That special quality which attracts everyone in one direction, the “one” of that attractive power, is said to have shrii. It is also called shriipati (tirupati). In other words, shrii means “the power of attraction” or “charm” or “fascination”.” (4)

“Shrii: Sha is the acoustic root of rajoguńa [the mutative principle] and the ra of energy. When people plunge headlong into the field of action with all the rajas [mutative force] at their disposal, and backed by this stored-up energy take to karma yoga, that is, when they take up the challenge with all the inherent force and vigour of their personality, we say that sha and ra are well-blended in them. So sha + ra = shra. The word is in the feminine gender, so it becomes shrii when suffixed by uniiś. Shrii means the power of attraction – a unique combination of mutative lustre and inner vitality. All human beings covet this rare quality, shrii, so even those who are devoid of shrii like to prefix their names with shrii.” (5)

“Next is ra, which is the acoustic root of energy. We have spoken earlier about energy. In Sanskrit, indra means energy – for example, light, sound, electricity. Where sha, that is, the rajoguńii vrtti [propensity], and ra, that is, energy, are both present, success is assured. Many may have a mind to do something, but do not have the requisite capability to do so. The desire is there, but no effective skill. Obviously, ra is absent here. Where both sha and ra are present we get shra, and adding the feminine uniiśa gives shrii.” (6)

“You must have seen objects that instantly draw your attention. That means the particular object has an attractive force within it. There are some people who are not particularly learned or intelligent; nor are they adept at public speaking; but they are very good conversationalists. People gather round them eagerly to enjoy their pleasantries. That too is a kind of shrii. There are people who are not conversant with the intricacies of music, but they sing so melodiously that others rush to listen to them. That is the person’s musical shrii. Hence that singer may be honoured with the title giitáshrii. One who possesses this quality of shrii, this charm, this fascinating faculty, is said to have the fourth quality of bhaga.” (7)

“One of the names of Parama Puruśa is Shriinivása. Here the Saḿskrta word shrii means “the most charming personality.” The word shrii is derived from sha + ra + uniiś. Sha is the acoustic root of the mutative principle and ra is the acoustic root of energy. With the help of these two things, sha plus ra, human beings are moving, dancing, speaking and doing so many things. Obviously they need sha and ra very much. The supreme abode of this shrii is Parama Puruśa: hence He is affectionately called Shriinivása. To Him only all the living beings will return, either today or tomorrow. That is the supreme abode of bliss, the supreme culminating point – ánandadháma…parágati.” (8)

Namaskar,
In Him,
Liila

REFERENCES
1. Subhasita Samgraha- 3, p.86
2. NH-LOI
3. SS part 21
4. Shabda Cayanika – 2, Disc: 8
5. Namámi Krśńasundaram, Disc: 24, Shabda Cayanika – 2, Disc: 8
6. Discourses on Krsna & the Giita, The Significance of the Word “Bhagaván”, Shabda Cayanika – 2, Disc: 8
7. Discourses on Krsna & the Giita, The Significance of the Word “Bhagaván”
8. Subhasita Samgraha – 12, To Whom Do You Belong? Where Do You Come From?

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Everyone Is Interdependent

Only Fools Think Nobody Should Bother About Me

“You will hear many a vain and assuming person say, “I don’t need anyone’s help, I’m doing very well by myself. I don’t want to concern myself with anyone else’s affairs and I don’t expect anyone else to bother about mine.” Nothing could be more foolish than this statement. Medicine and nursing are necessary to cure diseases; the neighbours’ help is needed to cremate a dead body; and for the regular supply of food and cloth the cooperation of farmers and spinners is essential. Remember, no created being in this universe is independent. No one can exist alone, everyone has a supra-cosmic relationship with the whole, at times prominent, at times indistinguishable. In this scheme of mutual relationships, even the slightest mistake or discord will raise a furious furore in the universe. In this mighty creation, the brilliantly luminous sun and the tiny ant have the same existential value, having combined together to make the universal family. Similarly, in human society, the importance of a powerful and eminent person is no less than that of a disabled and dying patient. None can be ignored. The least injustice done to anyone will cause the break down of the entire social framework.”
(A Few Problems Solved Part 6, The Spirit of Society)
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Baba Story: I was Drinking Hard Country Liquor with Villagers

From: “dayamaya”
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2012 22:34:21
Subject: Baba Story: I was Drinking Hard Country Liquor with Villagers
To: AM-GLOBAL

Baba

== BABA STORY: I WAS DRINKING HARD COUNTRY LIQUOR WITH VILLAGERS ==

Namaskar,
This story was recounted in one seminar & was told by one very respected margii of Purnea, Pradumanji.

“When I [Praduman] was a student at Ranchi University, my subject in research was archeology and anthropology. One American professor was my mentor and research supervisor. I was going to Muri – an area near Ananda Nagar – and visiting local people. My professor inspired me to do field research in the native villages of Muri, an area inhabited by dark, brown native people.”

“My research professor gave me some advice: ‘If you eat with them what they eat, and drink what they drink, then they will feel close with you and you can get all the information and answers you need. Your research work will be successful’.”

“So for the sake of my research, I adjusted with all types of tamasika things.”

“Sitting along with local people I started drinking country wine Handiya’. It is twenty times stronger than factory wine. Plus I was eating meat.”

(Note: Due to that wine, sometimes mass poisoning occurred in the village, and many people died. But Baba saved me.)

“Not only was I drinking wine and eating meat, but I was going hunting also. When I was eating with them, sometimes they served three days old sour rice. It had been lying around and became fermented – just tamasik. This also became my habit. All these things I did for the sake of my research.”

“After some time, Baba came to Ranchi. My friends pulled me and I reached there. Actually I did not wish to go; I was content where I was.”

“Those days I was sometimes thinking that what I was doing was alright, i.e. living alongside the native people and adopting their ways in order to study them. But other times I was thinking it is not good.”

“When I reached to Ranchi to see Baba, sure enough Baba condemned me in the presence of all, for living tamasik life and leaving the sentient life of the Ananda Marga on the excuse of research.”

“Baba punished me. Furthermore He told me that it was utterly foolish to think that, ‘If one thinks that in order to treat the blind then one must first become blind themselves’.”

“That means, if you are dealing with non-margiis and you behave like a non-margii, then that is not proper. The point being to win over the dark, one must not bring more darkness. Rather light is needed. And that light is Ananda Marga Ideology.”

Pradumanji concluded, “And after getting punishment directly from Baba on my sin of eating tamasika things, I repented and left all those degenerating and ungainly habits.”

MEANING OF THE STORY

This story teaches us that every margii should be strict in 16 points, regardless of the situation.

The above story is also related with doing proper pracar. Specifically, when we are preaching dharmic ideas, then we must not have an iota of dogma. Otherwise in one sphere we are putting light, and the other sphere we are bringing darkness.

We know that Ananda Marga Ideology is for all around development. And that means the practice of Bhagavata dharma. So on dharmic points a little slackness is not good. Baba says:

‘Dharma raksati raksitah’.

Meaning: Those who protect dharma, dharma saves them.

WHAT SOME DO

Some persons who are not very strict margiis think: ‘Anyway, what to do this is the present society – I should adjust’. And in that way they compromise with various practices of dharma in the name of adjustment. and compromise. In the name of adjustment they indulge in self-cheating tactics by skipping their dharmic practices.

This is not only the case with a few simple margiis – some Wts are also like that. Indeed a few even openly preach about their “adjustments.” And they justify that: ‘This is the material world and if we will not adjust then how will we survive’.

For instance, take the case of food. In their own place they are strict in following Ananda Marga practices, but when they go to a friend’s house or new people’s homes, then they feel shy and they do not say anything. To keep the relation they end up eating certain tamasika items. Indeed this is a common occurrence that I have personally witnessed, from time to time.

SHAOCA

Then there are those who compromise their principles and thereby support various dogmas in this manner.

Some just become very ‘relaxed’ in following various do’s and don’ts. For instance: They may not carry a shaoca manjusa with them when leaving the house. And when out they do not ask for water. They do not give proper care, just like in many ‘developed’ countries where water is not used to clean after bowel movements. So some persons, Wts included, just follow the law of the land and forgo using water. Unfortunately this all gets done in the name of “adjustment”, being lax in following dharma.

But our manner should be to maintain vigilance and strictness in following to dharmic principles always.

There are numerous other ways in which this type of justification, compromise, and adjustment happens.

Take the case of asanas. Some may be strict when in the house. But when out of their own environment, then in the name of adjustment they skip their asana practice. This happens when visiting others’ houses, and even this is quite commonplace at some of our Ananda Marga retreats. Whereby for one reason or another, some persons avoid doing their asanas. And if they see others doing asanas they ridicule and tease them. This is even worse. But they do this to cover up their own defiency. They put down and tease those who are sincere in doing asana and following Sixteen Points.

Unfortunately these are common occurrences by some people. But on points of dharma we should be very strict in all circumstances. And that is what Baba is teaching in the above story about margii Pradumanji. Pradhumanji compromised when living with those villagers by adopting non-sentient life practices. For that, Baba lovingly rebuked him to bring Praduman back to the path of dharma. From that day forward, Pradumanji understood well not to compromise on points of dharma.

BABA’S MANDATE

Here following is Baba’s mandate. One should not wait for that glorious day to follow dharma – rather it should be followed always.

“If one thinks that they will only follow dharma in some big events, and not in small ones, then those big events may not ever come in their entire life. It may be that in their whole life, besides their birth and death, not a single big event happens. Yet at the time of birth how can one protect dharma. At that time one is just a small infant and cannot do anything. That infant is totally unaware about the events going on around them. Then how can they protect dharma. And at the time of death, a person is senseless. In that case also how can they protect dharma. For this reason, dharma should be protected always. In small and big ways– even in jokes and humor dharma should be protected. Those who protect dharma, dharma protects them: Dharma raksati raksitah.” (Ananda Vacanamrtam – 32 (H), p.86-7)

Brotherly yours,
In Him,
Dayamaya

Note 1: MUST BE STRICT IN FOLLOWING DHARMA

(A) Here following are some of Baba’s mandates in following dharma at all times and never compromising on our Ananda Marga ideals.

“We will not deviate an inch from our ideology.” (Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Disc: 14)

(B) Baba’s next teaching is from Ananda Sutram.

Tasmáddharmah sadákáryah.

“Therefore dharma should always be practised.” (Ananda Sutram, 2-7)

(C) Here is another teaching from Baba on this critical topic.

“Dharma is the highest goal of all living beings.” So under no circumstances should one’s own dharma be discarded. Wherever the question of dharma is concerned, no compromise should be made with anything that goes against dharma. To move ahead with undaunted spirit to the final destination, the Supreme Goal, is human dharma.” (Discourses on the Giita, Svadharma and Paradharma – 2)

(D) The following teaching is from Baba’s Ananda Vanii collection.

“…In order to march ahead on the road of human welfare, we will have to strengthen ourselves in all the arena of life. The complete seeds of welfare in all the spheres – physical, mental, moral, social and spiritual – are embedded in the sixteen points. Hence be firm on the sixteen points. (Ananda Vanii #45)

(E) Baba says, “The person will welcome that death rather than compromise with sin and vice. Therefore keep in mind that those who are genuine devotees, sádhakas of high order, loved by Parama Puruśa and closely bound to Parama Puruśa in love and affection, will never compromise with sin and vice. They will cling to their ideal totally, throughout their lives.” (Discourses on Krsna and the Giita, Svadharma and Paradharma – 3)

(F) Baba says, “When the attraction is to something limited, it is called ásakti, and when the attraction is to the Supreme, it is devotion, bhakti. There is no compromise, no meeting point, between ásakti and bhakti, between attraction to the Supreme and attraction to the objects of the world. In ásakti, the feeling is that I get the object. In bhakti, the feeling is that I merge myself in Him. Where there is no desire, there the Lord lives. The Lord and the desire for the world, like the sun and the night, cannot coexist.” (Ananda Vacanamrtam – 23, The Bliss of the Devotee)

(G) Baba says, “Even if the practice of Bhágavata dharma brings pain and sorrow and the practice of paradharma (that is to say, the dharma of animals and plants) brings pleasure, humans will have to stick firmly to their svadharma, their mánava dharma. Humans should never allow themselves to descend to paradharma, the dharma of birds and beasts, of trees and plants. On no account should animal dharma be encouraged. The flag of mánava dharma must always be held high under all circumstances. This is exactly what Shrii Krśńa means when He says: Svadharme nidhanaḿ shreyah paradharmo bhayávahah – “It would be better to die upholding human dharma, upholding the ideal of humanity; one should never allow oneself to fall back into a state of animality.” (Discourses on Krsna & The Giita, “Better to Die . . .” – 2)

(H) Baba says, “Human beings have come onto this earth only to follow Bhágavata dharma, and not for any purpose. You have many tasks to perform: whatever you do, you should always feel that all your actions are part of Bhágavata dharma. Wherever you are, you must do something to remove the poverty and distress of the people in that area, to ameliorate their socio-economic condition. But even while discharging your duties thus, you should always remember that whatever you are doing is not a mundane duty it is an inseparable part of your Bhágavata dharma.” (Subhasita Samgraha – 12, Ádarsha and Iśt́a)

(I) Baba says, “You have learnt a well-ordered system of meditation and other spiritual practices based on dharma. If any individuals or groups, however powerful they may be, try to suppress you or even succeed in suppressing you, they are bound to be destroyed. History has witnessed many such a downfall in the past. No one has ever been victorious or will ever be victorious by opposing dharma. March ahead with your own strength, march with firm steps and your head held high. Always remember that when dharma is with you, whoever will oppose you will be razed to the ground – their destruction is a must.” (Ananda Vacanamrtam – 23, Opposition to Dharma Will Certainly Invite Destruction)

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“Uttal sindhu utkrami tumi, esechilo mor ghare…” PS (1077)

Purport:

Baba, after crossing the wild tidal wave, You have come into my heart – You have come to my home. Baba, You are traveler of the solitary path. Even
after encountering so many negative situations, You did not get overcome with fear. You did not get scared; nothing could terrify You.

According to the basic necessity or protocol, I did not have any of the necessary arrangements, so I could not receive You properly. My grief-stricken mind was full of longing for You, and my heavy heart was saturated with the tears.

Baba, I have not done anything for You. In vain I was just revolving around mirages. With the new sun and strong call, holding my hand You showed me the direction – You graced me by taking me onto the right path.

Baba, You have come into my heart; it is nothing but Your divine mercy & grace…

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Those Who Think They Understand Fully – Don’t

From: “Naval Sinha”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Those Who Think They Understand Fully – Don’t
Date: Wed 10 October 2012 21:49:38

Baba

== THOSE WHO THINK THEY UNDERSTAND FULLY – DON’T ==

Namaskar,
Hindus think that brahamcarya means “celibacy”, when in in our Ananda Marga it means ensconcing oneself in Godhood. That is the dharmic understanding as given by Baba. This type of example is not unique; there are countless such cases.

As we know, Ananda Marga philosophy has its own vocabulary: Words carry a pointed dharmic meaning given by Baba Himself which is different from the general understanding of the common public and the various religions.

THE TERM AVATAR

For example, take the term avatar. Here are three different definitions:

1) The dogmatic Hindus believe that an avatar is a divine being that has descended from heaven onto earth.

2) Next, there is the pseudo-culture / video gaming definition of avatar, wherein an avatar is the creation of a character (as in a computer game) that represents and is manipulated by a computer user.

3) Finally in Ananda Marga, the term avatar refers to every created entity in this universe.

Baba says, “The fundamental stuff of the universe has emerged from Parama Purus’a; hence all objects, big and small, are the sambhu’tis of Parama Purus’a… When Parama Purus’a is manifested in some physical object, that physical object is called the avata’ra of Parama Purus’a.” (Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life – 10)

Thus the Ananda Marga definition of avatara is dramatically different from that of the dogmatic religions and pseudo-culture venues.

ABOUT THE TERM TANDAVA

Now let’s investigate another term: Tandava.

The Hindu community thinks that tandava means destruction. In Indian newspapers, if they are describing some village that caught fire wherein the houses burned to ashes, then they say that it was tandava of fire.

So Hindus commonly use it in this way: “Tandava depicts Shiva’s violent nature as the destroyer of the universe.”

The general Indian society also adheres to this meaning. Hence when destruction comes in the form of fire, the loss of blood, or an earthquake etc, then people use the term tandava, i.e. the tandava dance of destruction was going on.

But we know that this is not the true meaning of tandava.

In Ananda Marga, tandava is the name of one dynamic and tantric dance which Lord Shiva invented. All margiis practice this dance. So we use the term tandava in a very positive way: As one of the great gifts of Lord Shiva.

If in our Ananda Marga magazine or newspaper it is reported that margiis were doing tandava, it does not mean that margiis were killing, destroying or engaging in arson etc. Because for us tandava is something quite beneficial and positive. It is our duty to propagate this ideal to all.

Thus when we use the term tandava we should not use it as dogmatic Hindus do: They think that tandava means obliteration, destruction or disaster. Even in the newspapers, they will say that the dance of tandava of fire – or the first is dancing tandanva – happened if a huge blaze burned down an entire city.

As Ananda Margiis, we are not to be drawn in to such dogmatic ideas.

DADAJI’S BOOK

Unfortunately, in his book, “Mere Rahasyamay Baba” (2010, Hindi) – which translates as “My Mysterious Baba” – Dada Keshavanandji also uses the tandava term to mean destruction. When talking about the Emergency period during the 1970’s, Dadaji uses tandava as a destructive force. He says things like: During the destruction of Emergency period, the dance of tandava was going on and everything was destroyed.

In this manner, Dadaji has drifted and adopted the dogmatic Hindu meaning of the term tandava. To be fair, Dadaji uses the tandava term twice in his book: one time properly (dharmic) and one time improperly (dogmatic). When describing the Emergency period, Dada uses the tandava term in that latter dogmatic way.

OTHER MISTAKES IN DADAJI’S BOOK

Throughout the book, there are numerous small mistakes and some really big errors as well. Perhaps the most problematic story is chapter 41 (p. 46 – 48) titled “Ramchij Do Bar Mara'”, or “Ramchij Dies Twice”. Someone should really come forward and correct this chapter / story. Bacause there Dadaji misunderstood Baba’s view entirely. All in all, this book need to be updated and made proper. Once all the mistakes are corrected, it can be translated into various languages and shared with margiis around the globe. But first, all corrections should made done, checked, and re-checked. To publish a Baba story book that goes astray is not at all good.

BABA’S BLESSING

As His PA (Personal Assistant), Dada Keshavanandji was given so much time with Baba. So Dadaji should recount some of his experiences – just we need to correct his errors and misundertandings so that all the words, terms, and stories properly reflect Baba’s ideals. Each story should be focused, flawless, and not at all haphazard, murky, or misleading. Each story should give neatly reflect Baba’s and teachings.

Namaskar,
Naval

Note 1: ABOUT THE TANDAVA DANCE

Here Baba below Baba talks about the meaning of the tandava dance. By His explanation it is quite clear that the tandava dance is not about destruction but rather life itself.

Baba says, “Now the fundamentality, or rather the primordial phase of Oriental dance, is táńd́ava. It is not a very easy job either. The knees must cross the navel. When they cross the navel it is called Brahma táńd́ava. When they cross the anáhata [mid-point of the chest] it is called Viśńu táńd́ava. When they cross this portion [indicates the throat], it is called Rudra táńd́ava. It is very difficult to dance Rudra táńd́ava. It requires long practice.

That is why Lord Sadáshiva is known as Nat́arája. And when these boys [indicates them] were dancing, it was just like a picture of Nat́arája in táńd́ava mudrá. It is called táńd́ava; táńd́ava is a mudrá.

Why is it called táńd́ava? In Sanskrit tańd́ means “to jump”. Tańd́u means “of jumping habit”. Táńd́ava means “having the use of tańd́u, the use of jumping”. But jumping in the proper style, not in a disorderly manner. You should learn it properly in a disciplined way.

And táńd́ava represents life; you know Tantra is a cult of life, it is not a cult of death. For Tantra you should be strong physically, mentally and spiritually. First in the present tense; Lord Shiva says all your expressions, all your manifestations, must be based on the present tense. So this táńd́ava is the starting phase of Tantra.

This táńd́ava I said represents life, it represents vitality. There are so many forces that want to destroy you, so many forces forces that are inimical to you by nature. Say a snake – a snake is a born enemy. There are many such born enemies. As Tantra represents life, táńd́ava says that one’s spirit should be based on vitality, based on the principle of survival.

This human skull represents death. You are surrounded by death, but you must not be defeated, you must not develop the psychology of fear or defeatism. So the knife is with you to fight against death.(1) Yours is a fight for survival. In the daytime one may also use a snake to represent death – not an ordinary snake, but a venomous snake. In India our boys dance with a snake. But at nighttime neither a skull nor a snake will be visible. Here there is light, they will be visible, but in a burial ground, in a cremation ground, where there is darkness, a snake or skull will not be visible. There you may use fire to represent death.

This is the spirit of Tantra. To fight, to fight for survival. [[It is the normal wont of all living beings to fight for survival.]] It is normal life moving towards the supreme state of abnormality.

Lord Shiva started this táńd́ava dance.” (Ananda Vacanamrtam – part 12)

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“Ga’nera jharn’a’ baye ya’ya, bela’ abela’ na’hi ma’ne…” (P.S.#4868)

Purport:

Baba, O’ my Dearmost, Your divine fountain of Prabhat Samgiita is flowing eternally, completely independent of the normal cycle of time. Your blissful songs flow according to their own schedule, according to their own routine – not caring about day or night, summer or winter. The divine flow and sweet melody of Your Prabhat Samgiita is dancing on the jagged path. They lead one towards that vast Cosmic Ocean – towards the fountain of effulgence, towards You Baba…

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Re: [8] DMS News: Uncultured Dance in Cultural Program

Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2012 07:33:01
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Re: DMS News: Uncultured Dance in Cultural Program
From: Valmiki Deva

Baba

== Re: DMS NEWS: UNCULTURED DANCE IN CULTURAL PROGRAM ==

(Note: This is the ninth letter on this thread. Please find links to the eight earlier letters below. – Eds)

Namaskar,

Brother Arjuna wrote:
Here below Baba warns how crude dance and song totally ruins a program.

Baba says, “If someone makes a sound like ‘ra, ra, ra — cha, cha, cha’ or if someone sings, ‘Follow my song. Let us sing and dance our way to hell’, these are sound inferences, but they carry a very crude idea.” (Microvita in a Nutshell, p. 94)

We should not let such scenes unfold in our own Ananda Marga cultural programs. Yet, that is what Mr Pathak and Ac Acintanandji (cultural program in-charge) are doing.

My reply:

Agreed! We should be keen to pay heed to Baba’s warning. And from what I see and hear, the vast majority of workers and margiis have this sincere desire.

Unfortunately, along the way, a few say that these cultural programs at DMS are going fine. Internally such persons (even wholetimers) flash a lustful smile as they think, “let the females sing & dance”, and externally they come up with a much more cunning justification. They utter the words, “See the bright side.”

Those Wts dominated by a metazoic mind or animalistic propensities justify that we should “see the bright side”. How do they do this? Well they say, “Look, this program is using sutras from Ananda Sutram or this program features Prabhat Samgiita – just focus on that – and do not worry about the rest.” Yet such workers themselves are wholly focused on how the women are shaking themselves and dancing.

Such Wts should do self-analysis and seriously consider Baba’s below mandate.

Baba says, “…Avadhuta shall not engage his ears in any obscene language or songs, touch any tamasik articles, see any depraving entity or pictures, go through any story, novel or fiction having even the least bit of sexual importance…” (32 Rules for Avadhuta, Rule #32)

With an honest, open heart all should consider the above. Even then there will be some who do not have the courage on this matter and they hide behind the “bright side” justification.

These are the same type of workers who “see bright side” of eating in a restaurant by picking out the onions and garlic from the meal and then eat the rest of the food as they “see the bright side.” When in truth, that entire meal has become tamasik after being stewed and stirred for hours with onions and garlic – and maybe even meat.

Namaskar,
Valmiki

Note: PREVIOUS LETTERS IN THIS SERIES

#1: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/dms-news-uncultured-dance-in-cultural.html

#2: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in.html

#3: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_17.html

#4: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_18.html

#5: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_20.html

#6: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-6-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in.html

#7: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-6-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_25.html

#8: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-7-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in.html

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Re: #10 DMS News: Uncultured Dance in Cultural Program

Subject: Re: #10 DMS News: Uncultured Dance in Cultural Program
Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2012 13:51:34 +0530
From: Jaykrsna
To: AM-GLOBAL

Baba

== Re: DMS NEWS: UNCULTURED DANCE IN CULTURAL PROGRAM ==

(Note: This is the tenth letter on this thread. Please find links to the nine earlier letters below. – Eds)

Namaskar,

Brother Divyam’shu wrote:

The fact is that Mr Pathak’s dance programs are strongly influenced by Bollywood sensuality [mature girls exposing their bellies etc]. As a performance director, he takes all his cues from the materialistic movie / fashion industry. That is why there is so much pseudo-culture in his dance productions that are done under the banner of Rawa. So how could a highly posted Dada like Acintanandji think that Pathakji is establishing dharma? Dadaji’s analysis is quite disturbing.

My reply:

Exactly- if this happened in May DMS, it should be rectified as early as possible. This is not only the fault of Mr. Pathak. Besuse if Mr. Pathak was using this type of dance pattern then it should be controlled by RAWA incharge Dada – Ac Acintanandji Avt.

Mr.Pathak is a very young chap so maybe he is just confused about RAWA’s system given by BABA; in contrast, in-charge Dada Acintanandji should have full awareness of the platform of RAWA and hence Dada controll any and all programs performed through RAWA.

All programs should be passed and reviewed by the RAWA dept. or advisory committee of RAWA dept. before being presented in the public forum.

Indeed, the in-charge of each & every dept. of AMPS should have proper knowledge of the events and programs of his dept. Otherwise we will have to face this type of blunder on a regular basis.

Namaskar,
Jaykrsna

Note: PREVIOUS LETTERS IN THIS SERIES

#1: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/dms-news-uncultured-dance-in-cultural.html

#2: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in.html

#3: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_17.html

#4: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_18.html

#5: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_20.html

#6: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-6-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in.html

#7: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-6-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_25.html

#8: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-7-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in.html

#9: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-8-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in.html

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Re: [7] DMS News: Uncultured Dance in Cultural Program

Subject: Re: DMS News: Uncultured Dance in Cultural Program
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2012 10:53:23 GMT
From: Arjuna
To: am-global@earthlink.net

Baba

== Re: DMS NEWS: UNCULTURED DANCE IN CULTURAL PROGRAM ==

(Note: This is the eighth letter on this thread. Please find links to the seven earlier letters below. – Eds)

To Acintanandaji and others who supported this issue to promote female adult dancing in our RAWA programs at DMS.

Namaskar,

We all know that before 1990 cultural programs were done regularly. In those performances, the girls were below 8 years of age and all aspects of the program were very sentient. So the programs achieved the goal: The mind was led in proper direction, not a negative one.

WE ATTEND TO SANCTIFY THE MIND

So we should be honest with ourselves. We all go to DMS not for carnal satiation or to satisfy our lower propensities, nor for all kinds of TV channel delights or Holly / Bollywood movie scenes. We go to DMS because we think it to be a dharmic program. Going to a dharmic ceremony should entail strict adherence to a code of discipline and not any negative encouragement of the mind.

Baba says, “You are not merely an animal: simply eating, drinking and sleeping is not everything for a human. A human has a subtler life, a more charming life…Your physico-psychic activities are architecture, literature, dance, music – they are all your physico-psychic movement. And this movement is from crude to subtle, starting from the cruder arena and moving towards the subtler arena. That’s why in Ananda Marga I encourage this physico-psychic movement: because it will help you in moving towards the subtler world, in moving towards the supreme spiritual goal… For physico-psychic movement, I encourage boys and girls to start work in the RAWA [Renaissance Artists’ and Writers’ Association] movement.” (Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 30 ˜ – Human Expressions and Human Movements 31 May 1979 evening, Valencia)

So Baba’s directive is quite clear and pointed: Use RAWA programs bring the mind to a more subtle state.

Unfortunately the RAWA programs directed by Sri Mrinal Pathak and “approved” by Dada Acintanandji are falling far short of Baba’s given standard. Dadaji and Mr Pathak are producing cultural performances that degrade the mind, using ploys like naked belly dancing etc.

This must be stopped and we should proceed on according to Baba’s below guidelines.

BABA’S GUIDELINE:

HOW TO MAKE A SENTIENT PROGRAM

Here are some practical steps we can take to ensure that our cultural programs are in line with Baba’s stated guidelines.

1. Girls below puberty, 8 or 9 years of age, should dance for a co-ed audience; whereas those girls above puberty (aged 10 – 16 etc) can dance to an all female audience.

2. When any drama or dance occurs that requires boys and girls to dance together, then similar aged girls should play the role of boys. And they too should be below puberty.

3. Even then our small girls should not wear revealing or Hollywood type of dress. And the music must be sentient. The music itself also carries a vibration, positive or negative microvita.

Adhering to the above tenets, the program will be devoid of “risque behaviours” and the entire performance will be totally sentient.

BABA’S WARNING

Here below Baba warns how crude dance and song totally ruins a program.

Baba says, “If someone makes a sound like ‘ra, ra, ra — cha, cha, cha’ or if someone sings, ‘Follow my song. Let us sing and dance our way to hell’, these are sound inferences, but they carry a very crude idea.” (Microvita in a Nutshell, p. 94)

We should not let such scenes unfold in our own Ananda Marga cultural programs. Yet, that is what Mr Pathak and Ac Acintanandji (cultural program in-charge) are doing.

Namaskar,
Arjuna

Note: PREVIOUS LETTERS IN THIS SERIES

#1: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/dms-news-uncultured-dance-in-cultural.html

#2: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in.html

#3: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_17.html

#4: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_18.html

#5: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_20.html

#6: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-6-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in.html

#7: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-6-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_25.html

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Re: [6] DMS NEWS: UNCULTURED DANCE IN CULTURAL PROGRAM

Baba

== Re: DMS NEWS: UNCULTURED DANCE IN CULTURAL PROGRAM ==

(Note: This is the seventh letter on this thread. Please find links to the six earlier letters below. – Eds)

Namaskar,

“I was most definitely astonished by the report about degrading activities going on in the name of RAWA at DMS:
All females aged 16-21 danced with their mid-section totally uncovered.

That means the entire region from just above their waist to just below their chest was totally bare.

And indeed there were so many issues of sensuality and pseudo-culture at the RAWA program led by Mrinal Pathak.” (quote 1)

“So today, certain organisers of cultural programs like Acintananda, who are giving the logic that the programs these days are in accordance with the standard in before 1990, are not being truthful with themselves. Because it is quite apparent what is going on these days and how it differs from the pre 1990 programs. It is quite obvious. And we are only left to question Acintananda’s role and integrity in all of this. Why is he allowing Mr Mrinal Pathak to continue to lead degrading cultural programs on our stage.” (quote 2)

It is very sad that such pseudo-cultural program was performed in our Ananda Marga DMS Rawa function.

It is more sad that such program was performed under the guidance of a monk of Ananda Marga.

It is more & more sad that GS or in-charge of GS did not overview such a degrading act.

It is more, more & more sad that such program was not stopped even by the members of top most board (like Purodha Board) of the mission, during performance itself after coming into knowledge of vulgarity of the
program.

If action was not taken against the program in-charge Dada (Acintanandaji) then it is very very sad news of the organisation.

Namaskar,
R.N. Kumar

Note: PREVIOUS LETTERS IN THIS SERIES

#1: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/dms-news-uncultured-dance-in-cultural.html

#2: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in.html

#3: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_17.html

#4: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_18.html

#5: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_20.html

#6: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-6-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in.html

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Re: [5] DMS News: Uncultured Dance in Cultural Program

Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2012 08:58:29
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Re:[5]DMS News: Uncultured Dance in Cultural Program
From: Nirainjan Deva

Baba

== Re: DMS NEWS: UNCULTURED DANCE IN CULTURAL PROGRAM ==

(Note: This is the sixth letter on this thread. Please find links to the five earlier letters below. – Eds)

To Acintanandaji and those others who supported this issue to promote female adult dancing in our RAWA programs at DMS.

Namaskar,

I have been closely watching this Rawa discussion…

Dada Acintanandji spoke:

“Mrinal Pathakji is establishing Ananda Marga bhagavad dharma through these cultural programs. His work is unparalleled. He is a true dharmika. With Rawa, dance dharma will be established gradually. Everyone should follow in his footsteps.”

Brother Divyam’shu replied:

The fact is that Mr Pathak’s dance programs are strongly influenced by Bollywood sensuality. As a performance director, he takes all his cues from the materialistic movie / fashion industry. That is why there is so much pseudo-culture in his dance productions that are done under the banner of Rawa. So how could a highly posted Dada like Acintanandji think that Pathakji is establishing dharma? Dadaji’s analysis is quite disturbing.

My further reply to Acintanandji:

Dadaji, think about the recent cultural program in AM. Undoubtedly you have seen or heard about the program at DMS wherein mature 16 – 21 year old females and males danced together. Then honestly ask yourself if seeing that dance – you can just question yourself, no need to tell anybody – brought your mind towards Parama Purusa or somewhere else.

If it was going somewhere else, then do not impose or support such programs. Otherwise you are merely befooling yourself and hurting the Marga.

Not only that, even if your mind was ensconced in Parama Purusa by His grace, even then you should come forward and join those who oppose such so-called cultural programs. Because right now many are complaining about these so-called cultural programs and how they do not lead the mind towards divinity, but rather push the mind in the other direction. Ok, perhaps you are a truly superior sadhana and you were able to keep the mind pointed on the divine; even then, have a heart for those of us who struggle with this. Give us some sympathetic support.

Namaskar,
Nirainjan

Note: PREVIOUS LETTERS IN THIS SERIES

#1: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/dms-news-uncultured-dance-in-cultural.html

#2: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in.html

#3: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_17.html

#4: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_18.html

#5: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_20.html

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WT Didi’s Blind Attachment with Young Man

From: “Karmeshvar”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Wt Didi’s Blind Attachment with Young Man
Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2012 22:27:39

Baba

== WT DIDI’S BLIND ATTACHMENT WITH YOUNG MAN ==

Namaskar,
One central didi is attached with a young man of 17 years of age. They live together: Sleeping, eating, and going together etc. The name of this young man is Shubham. This central didi and Shubham are totally linked with each other.

This sets a very bad precedent because Baba has given the system that everything is divided along gender lines in our Marga. But, as you can see with this Didi, that is not what is going on these days. They are not following Baba’s mandate, rather doing the exact opposite.

A COMMON OCCURRENCE

Actually many didis get attached with boys from their children’s home. This is all based on their infatuation with the opposite sex. As the children grow older, they too get more and more attached because of having lived with the didi for so long. All of this is put into motion by the didi’s blind attachment & crude desire. In that way, they go against Baba’s mandate.

MUST NOT GO AGAINST BHAGAVAD DHARMA

According to Baba’s guideline of bhagavad dharma, our Wts have one family – the greater universal humanity. Every person of the entire universe is the family member of a Wt; a Wt’s family is not limited to one person, a closed circle of people, nor based on moha (bind attachment). So if any worker is not following this teaching they are a fake.

NOT A GREAT QUALITY

Remember, attachment is not a great quality; it is a degraded and degenerated condition. When any worker has attachment with a particular individual, then it means they are not looking after others, and hence that worker cannot serve the greater society. This type of attachment is a curse to wt life.

Unfortunately, this didi is completely attached with the young man; he lives with her and they sleep in one bed. That is shameful and outrageous.

When Didi attended May DMS, the young man – Shubham – was sitting with her on the women’s side of the pandal. Countless margiis and wts request them and told them not to do like this. But when this type of infatuation and attraction is so strong, then such persons do not care what society says about them not they do not care if people joke about or criticise them. That is the general rule and this applies aptly to Didiji and Shubham.

If someone is doing any type of nonsense activities in individual life then we can ignore the matter; but here there is no option. By Didi’s behaviour the whole of AM is getting blamed.

Please tell what should be done in this case.

BABA’S GUIDELINE

Let us also reflect on Baba’s important guideline.

Baba says, “It should be remembered that a woman’s friend is a woman and a man’s friend is a man.” (Caryacarya, part 1, Social Relationship between Men and Women)

Namaskar,
Karmeshvar Deva

Note 1: WHICH CENTRAL DIDI IS DOING LIKE THIS?

The name of the respected didi who is keeping company with the young man is Avtk Ananda Dyotona Ac, WWS – Global in-charge of Women Dept. Didiji collects money from around the globa and runs a children’s home. Earlier she was attached with Nigamananda Dada & since his death she has shifted her attachment toward this young man – Shubham.

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

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

Purport:

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

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

Baba, now my whole existence is filled with the grace of Your divine effulgence. There is not even an iota of darkness which remains. My life has gotten new pra’n’ a – new energy. Baba, You are so loving; You have saturated me with Your unfathomable love and own-ness.

Baba, You are my everything. Please accept my surrender…

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Re: DMS News: Uncultured Dance in Cultural Program

Subject: Re: DMS News: Uncultured Dance in Cultural Program
Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2012 19:15:01 +0100
From: g k roy
To: AM-GLOBAL

Baba

(Note: This is the fourth letter on this thread. Please find links to the three earlier letters below. – Eds)

== Re: DMS NEWS: UNCULTURED DANCE IN CULTURAL PROGRAM ==

Namaskar,

I’m just shocked that all this nonsense is happening at DMS during our RAWA programs. It is really embarrassing to all the margiis as well as shameful as it is absolutely against our AM guideline.

If such a program was performed in Baba’s physical presence, then these persons (Mr Mrinal Pathak and Ac Acintanandji) would have been given a good lesson. Baba never tolerates such degrading displays.

Now that we are having this public discussion I am sure all margiis and wts will raise their voice against such programs in the future. Of course best will be if the organisers get their lesson starting today and present RAWA programs that uplift the mind to the spiritual realm.

Finally, it is quite remarkable how Ac Acintanandji became a living advertisement for the Bollywood movie scene. It seems he has lost sight of where dharma lies.

Let us all raise the voice against such degrading programs and instill Baba’s proper system.

Namaskar,
G K Roy

On 06/17/2012 03:31 PM, AM-GLOBAL wrote:
Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2012 14:33:26
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Re: DMS News: Uncultured Dance in Cultural Program
From: Divyam’shu Deva

Baba

== Re: DMS NEWS: UNCULTURED DANCE IN CULTURAL PROGRAM ==

(Note: This is the third letter on this thread. Please find links to the two earlier letters below. – Eds)

Namaskar,
The RAWA programs led by Mr. Mrinal Pathak are indeed appalling. And I also heard Dada Acintananda’s high praise of Mr. Pathak. To my ears that was most telling of how things are shaping up in our Marga these days.

We should not compete with Hollywood to “raise” the standard of our dance and dramas to the level of hell. We should not compete with the Hollywood modus-operendi, or low-level standard.

DADAJI’S STATEMENT SUPPORTING THIS CRUDE DANCE

But see here how our in-charge Dada is openly praising these crude displays.

Dada Acintanandji spoke:

“Mrinal Pathakji is establishing Ananda Marga bhagavad dharma through these cultural programs. His work is unparalleled. He is a true dharmika. With RAWA, dance dharma will be established gradually. Everyone should follow in his footsteps.”

HOW COULD ACINTANANDA SAY SUCH A THING

The fact is that Mr Pathak’s dance programs are strongly influenced by Bollywood sensuality. As a performance director, he takes all his cues from the materialistic movie / fashion industry. That is why there is so much pseudo-culture in his dance productions that are done under the banner of Rawa. So how could a highly posted Dada like Acintanandji think that Pathakji is establishing dharma? Dadaji’s analysis is quite disturbing……

Note 1: EARLIER LETTERS ON THIS TOPIC

#1: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/dms-news-uncultured-dance-in-cultural.html

#2: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in.html

#3: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in_17.html

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Re: DMS News: Uncultured Dance in Cultural Program

Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2012 14:33:26
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Re: DMS News: Uncultured Dance in Cultural Program
From: Divyam’shu Deva

Baba

== Re: DMS NEWS: UNCULTURED DANCE IN CULTURAL PROGRAM ==

(Note: This is the third letter on this thread. Please find links to the two earlier letters below. – Eds)

Namaskar,
The RAWA programs led by Mr. Mrinal Pathak are indeed appalling. And I also heard Dada Acintananda’s high praise of Mr. Pathak. To my ears that was most telling of how things are shaping up in our Marga these days.

We should not compete with Hollywood to “raise” the standard of our dance and dramas to the level of hell. We should not compete with the Hollywood modus-operendi, or low-level standard.

DADAJI’S STATEMENT SUPPORTING THIS CRUDE DANCE

But see here how our in-charge Dada is openly praising these crude displays.

Dada Acintanandji spoke:

“Mrinal Pathakji is establishing Ananda Marga bhagavad dharma through these cultural programs. His work is unparalleled. He is a true dharmika. With Rawa, dance dharma will be established gradually. Everyone should follow in his footsteps.”

HOW COULD ACINTANANDA SAY SUCH A THING

The fact is that Mr Pathak’s dance programs are strongly influenced by Bollywood sensuality. As a performance director, he takes all his cues from the materialistic movie / fashion industry. That is why there is so much pseudo-culture in his dance productions that are done under the banner of Rawa. So how could a highly posted Dada like Acintanandji think that Pathakji is establishing dharma? Dadaji’s analysis is quite disturbing.

MORE ABOUT THESE IN-CHARGE DADAS

Here are further thoughts about those Dadas involved in organising these RAWA programs.

The main in-charge of this RAWA program was Nigamananda; thereafter, Acintananda has taken over the job. So Dadaji could have put a halt to these types of programs long ago, but instead he lets them continue.

Some say Dada Nigamananda had a weakness towards opposite sex; whereas, Acintananda is certainly different from Nigamananda, but he is doing the same same thing. Nigamananda was the first to stand in support of Mrinal Pathak’s programs and now Acintananda is following suit. In that case, where is the difference?

I was thinking that Acintananda was the stronger man but it seems that in his older age he has become weak. One can only wonder what type of sannyasi thinks it good for mature girls to dance for a male audience. This is totally inappropriate and against our Ananda Marga system; yet Acintananda is appreciating this show.

It seems he also likes to carouse around with those baser propensities in an active state, otherwise what could be the reason why he does not exercise his authority to guide the RAWA programs in a proper way. Instead, he openly supports the crude display led by Mrinal Pathak.

Tragically, this is the way our RAWA cultural programs have been shaping up these days. And this is what happened at last month’s May 2012 DMS. It is indeed troubling and unfair to all involved, including those forced to watch these events. Many margiis either closed their eyes or left pandal entirely.

Namaskar,
Divyam’shu Deva

Note 1: EARLIER LETTERS ON THIS TOPIC

#1: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/dms-news-uncultured-dance-in-cultural.html

#2: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/re-dms-news-uncultured-dance-in.html

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Re: DMS News: Uncultured Dance in Cultural Program

Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2012 20:36:43 -0000
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Re: DMS News: Uncultured Dance in Cultural Program
From: Viplava Deva

Baba

== Re: DMS NEWS: UNCULTURED DANCE IN CULTURAL PROGRAM ==

Namaskar,
This letter is related with the May 2012 DMS RAWA program. I was most definitely astonished by the report about degrading activities going on in the name of RAWA at DMS:

“All females aged 16-21 danced with their mid-section totally uncovered. That means the entire region from just above their waist to just below their chest was totally bare.”

And indeed there were so many issues of sensuality and pseudo-culture at the RAWA program led by Mrinal Pathak. I think the only way to undo this poor show and get things back on track is to once again center the mind on Baba’s divine teachings.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RAWA PROGRAMS

The “R” in RAWA stands for “Renaissance.” In the present day general society, so-called cultural activities like song, dance, drama and film have become crude. Life is fast going in the wrong direction – everything is backward. The pseudo-culture dance, drama, movies and novels that dominate the world today push the mind far, far down. “Cultural” life has verily reached its degenerated state. We should not let this same downward momentum strike at our RAWA programs. That is the height of all irony.

Baba has given RAWA because a renaissance is needed in the visual and performing arts. Without this, people cannot easily move on the path of spirituality. So Baba has brought forth a renaissance movement in the spheres of song, dance, drama, literature, and more. This is our RAWA: Renaissance Artist and Writers Association.

According to Baba, our cultural / RAWA programs are to direct the mind from the lower cakras to the higher ones; ultimately, that helps deepen one’s spiritual practices. So if any dance, music or song does not lead the mind toward divinity and instead submerges the mind towards the lower cakras, i.e. carnal and worldly attractions or animal propensities, then that is not at all a cultural program, but something else. That may be called an “uncultural” program, or you can say a “rude” program.

By this definition, who can consider the programs directed by Mr Mrinal Pathak to be true RAWA programs. We cannot. Rather Mr Pathak is forcibly dragging pseudo-culture into RAWA. And this has to stop. Once again we must focus on Baba’s aim and guidelines.

BABA’S GUIDELINES:

MALE – FEMALE RELATIONS

Here is what our Sadguru Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji guide us about RAWA and our cultural programs:

Baba says, “Men and women should not jointly participate in theatrical performances.” (Caryacarya-1)

Baba says, “It should be remembered that a woman’s friend is a woman and a man’s friend is a man. The more distant the relationship between men and women, the greater should be the courtesy maintained in mutual conversation and behaviour between them.” (Caryacarya-1)

According to Baba, our cultural programs must be consistent with Ananda Marga ideals and must be of a requisite standard. Baba Himself has told what constitutes a real RAWA program.

SEE WHAT MRINAL PATHAK IS DOING

Yet, Mr Pathak is taking half-dressed, 16-21 year-old boys and girls, and mixing them together on the big stage where they touch and mingle with one another. Literally, Mr Pathak is pushing Bollywood and Hollywood sensuality on our RAWA programs. Most shocking is that the in-charge Dada Acintananda is giving verbal public support to Mr Pathak’s performances. Clearly there needs to be a change: A change in leadership by our Dadas; a change in directorship by taking the reins out of Pathak’s hands; and a change in the overall mentality so our RAWA programs again reflect Baba’s teachings.

Let’s all take a moment to further reflect on His divine guidelines for our cultural programs, and evaluate if what transpired at the recent Ananda Nagar DMS was up to the proper standard, or not.

BABA’S STATED GUIDELINE

On this point – before calculating things with our own brain – let’s see what our Guru says.

“RAWA by its sentient vibration will create a taste for spirituality in the society.” ERAWS guidebook

Baba’s guideline is that when dance or music channelises the mind to a devotional outlook and the mind starts thinking about Parama Purusa, His divine love, and parabhakti (highest devotion), then that type of display of dance and song and music is called a cultural program. It raises the mind from the ajina cakra to the sahasrara cakra. That defines a true RAWA program according to Baba.

Namaskar,
Viplava Deva

Note 1: LINK TO EARLIER LETTER ON THIS TOPIC

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/06/dms-news-uncultured-dance-in-cultural.html

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“A’mi ha’riye giyechi korn se atiite, tumi ese prabhu path dekha’o…” (P.S. 2686)

Purport:

Baba, I am moving around this lonely forest without any knowledge of the path. Indeed, I have been off the path for such a long time: I have lost the path; I do not know what to do; how to move; or where to go. O’ Prabhu, please come and show me the path. Please give me some awareness. On points of intellect and rationality I am negligible. Please arose my consciousness by showering Your causeless grace on me.

From where I have come and how I reached to my place in this life, and what is my destination and where I have to go, all these things I do not understand. I do not understand the beginning and the end. O’ Baba, O’ Ajana Pathik, please grace me and show me the path – show me how I can reach to You.

In my distant past, since the dawn of my first birth, You have known me. Baba, O’ Divine Entity, You have known me since eternity. In this created world I am floating in Your divine flow. Though I am meagre, but I am Yours. Please do not forget this truth. Please do not remain oblivious of this fact.

Baba, I have lost my path; please grace me and guide me so I can reach unto You…

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DMS News: Uncultured Dance in Cultural Program

From: “LiilaKrsna Deva”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: DMS News: Uncultured Dance in Cultural Program
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2012 16:01:29 +0530

Baba

== DMS NEWS: UNCULTURED DANCE IN CULTURAL PROGRAM ==

Namaskar,
The RAWA cultural program at the May 2012 DMS displayed some things that we should all be aware about.

HOW SRI PATHAK DIRECTS THE PROGRAMS

First off, the program itself was directed and organised, once again, by Sri Mrinal Pathak.

Here it should be understood that Mr Pathak earns his livelihood by directing dance / dramas for the general society. This is how he earns his food; so he is well-accustomed to creating programs that suit the Hollywood taste of the common public. That means he regularly uses 16-21 year-old boys and girls in his programs. And he encourages them to dance and sing together. Mr. Pathak’s shows are designed in the ways of Bollywood and Hollywood. There is an open degree of sensuality in his performances.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE DANCE PROGRAM

For example, at his recently displayed performances at Ananda Nagar in May 2012:

(a) All females aged 16-21 danced with their mid-section totally uncovered. That means the entire region from just above their waist to just below their chest was totally bare.

(b) All males aged 16-21 danced with their entire top exposed, from the waist up. Males were only wearing a dhoti; their upper body was totally naked.

(c) These males and females – or young men and women – were dancing on the stage together, holding and touching one another, according to the role of their characters. In that way they were in each other’s grasp.

We know of course that per the Ananda Marga system, adult males and females should not dance together on the stage; indeed, no females should dance in front of a male audience. That is just one crude scene. And our RAWA stage is not a night-club, where all kinds of sensual acts are put on display

(d) The males also had shaved all the hair from their underarm; this was visible to all. Of course we know this is totally against Baba’s guidelines of 16 points, i.e. “Do not cut the hair of the joints of the body.” This gives the wrong message to the audience.

(e) Amazingly, the theme of the show was how youths prepare their mind to become avadhutas and avadhutikas. Yet, in reality, the entire program only served to goad people’s minds toward sensuality – not towards divinity. Our RAWA programs should goad the mind from muladhara cakra to the sahasara cakra – not sahasrara to muladhara. So see what Mr Pathak’s dance program did – that is the irony.

SENSUALITY AND PSEUDO-CULTURE

IMPOSED ON THE AUDIENCE

Indeed, all of the above sets a tone of extreme sensuality and pseudo-culture. Never was such a degrading performance ever allowed to be done in front of Baba. Yet now this has become a regular feature of DMS where our dadas and didis, males and females, including margiis young and old, are essentially forced to watch these degrading displays again and again. It is completely against the spirit of our RAWA programs.

AC ACINTANANDJI PUBLICLY APPRECIATED MR PATHAK’S WORK

And now, our top Dadas herald such events. It is really quite shocking. See here how Ac Acintanandji – the RAWA in-charge – spoke in such glowing terms about this program.

“Mrinal Pathakji is establishing Ananda Marga bhagavad dharma through these cultural programs. His work is unparalleled. He is a true dharmika. With Rawa, dance dharma will be established gradually. Everyone should follow in his footsteps.” – Dada Acintananda

WHAT DID YOU EXPERIENCE

Those who attended please write what other things you experienced.

Sincerely,
LiilaKrsna Deva

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“Tumi prabhu ele ye rauna d’ha’lile ta’ha’r a’di-anta na’hi pa’i…” (PS 4857)

Purport:

Baba, You came and coloured everything in the divine color of effulgence and ideology. There is no beginning and end of Your magnificent love; You coloured everything. You Yourself ignited the fire of ideology in the sleeping and frustrated hearts of the people. And You filled their sunken, hopeless hearts with divine love. In this entire universe there is no comparison of what You did and of what You have done: How You poured Your loving grace unto one and all.

Baba, You brought a basket full of heavenly blessings along with You to distribute. And You showered and saturated the animate and inanimate worlds with that divine grace. You gave the direction to all: Live and let live. And You gave the teaching how one can grow physically, psychically, and spiritually. You fulfilled all the requirements to the highest capacity, done in such a way that, even in the future, nobody will say that they need anything more.

Baba, since eternity You have been residing in the core of everyone’s heart and mind. And You are living and You will go on living with everyone up to infinite time through Your ota and prota yoga. The serpentine noose of maya will be ripped to shreds with Your divine liila, “dharma moves secretly and does everything”. And it will lead me to the divine Goal, You.

Baba You came and saturated everything with Your infinite grace. You have filled everyone’s heart…

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Refined Form of Hypocrisy

From: “Marc Pele”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Refined Form of Hypocrisy
Date: Mon, 28 May 2012 19:57:32 +0000

Baba

== REFINED FORM OF HYPOCRISY ==

Namaskar,
For Ananda Margiis, spiritual progress is the aim of life. That is the main thing: To reach the Goal – Parama Purusa.

In spirituality, simplicity is the key quality. In Ananda Vanii #54, Baba guides us to keep all our dealings in life straight like sastaunga pranam. There must not be an ounce of duplicity or hypocrisy.

Yet in today’s materialistic era, hypocrisy has become an essential aspect of daily life.

Here are some examples of how hypocrisy works in day to day life in this present era. We should be aware and keep our distance from this dark element of materialism.

HYPOCRISY #1:

“SMILE FOR THE CAMERA”

Nowadays – in the last 5- 6 decades – when advertising etc has increased multi-fold and people in the west began
suffering more on the mental plane, it has become the custom “to smile for the camera” in order to show others that they are really happy, regardless of how they feel internally. This is all one superficial display – sheer hypocrisy. Yet this became the norm.

Not just in front of the camera, but in standard conversations this started happening as well. People feel the need to smile in order to show their happiness, when in fact they are really feeling empty inside. This is the sad state of affairs.

HYPOCRISY #2:

JUST LIKE BUSINESS PEOPLE DO

Here is another example to note.

Those doing business want to promote & masquerade themselves as the well-wishers of society. Toward that end they say they are “serving the community”, when in fact their each and every action is aimed toward satisfying their private business interests – i.e. personal profit. So this is another form of unbridled hypocrisy these days.

Likewise, when you go to the ‘customer service desk’ of any large or small business, then the attendants there always put on a big smile and “promise” to help you. But their smile and their help is limited up to the extent that they feel it is profitable for their business – nothing more than that.

HOW IT ALL GOT STARTED

Straightaway, it can be said that hypocrites started this negative trend. It began when individuals, who want to present themselves as something that they are not, adopted this way of dealing. They were the first ones.

As we know, when any trend gets started then simple, innocent members of the general public get pulled in that same direction. The general people are not malicious or mal-intended; just they become habituated to that tradition or dogma.

So many dogmas get introduced in this way. One person started the matter and then it becomes common.

Regarding the dogma of smiling into the camera, we cannot say that all Europeans / westerners are like that, but most got carried into that flow. Even then, it is not limited up to the Americas and Europe or the USA. As western pseudo-culture spreads more and more, this dogma of smiling in front of the camera is also spreading to various parts of the globe. And not just this trend, but numerous others like it. So alertness and smartness is needed.

HOW BABA DEALS WITH HYPOCRISY

Baba Himself deals very strongly with those following the path of hypocrisy. Everyone surely remembers how during dharma samiiksa hypocrites were pointed out strongly and cured by Baba. In contrast, simple people who committed innocent errors were not dealt with in that way – rather, quite mildly in comparison to those hypocrites.

To ensure that hypocrisy did not take root or thrive in our Marga, from 1955-90, the first thing Baba did in any reporting session was to expose any and all hypocrisy. Those who did wrongs but were not hypocrites were often pardoned mentally, while those who were hypocrites were dealt with more fiercely. This was Baba’s normal mode of doing. This set the tone that no one should resort to hypocrisy in any form as it erodes the entire human personality.

SPREADS LIKE WILDFIRE

The tricky part is that hypocrisy spreads like wildfire. To invent it is one thing – but once invented then invariably others start doing it, consciously or unconsciously. That is why we should all be alert because these habits and trends can easily get latched onto one’s personae. And that destroys the whole personality.

So although this “smile at the camera” epidemic is primarily a disease of our west, this hypocritical approach can and is leap-frogging all around this globe. So everyone should be aware as this is spreading all over. And this is but one of many aspects of pseudo-culture that is getting exported to all corners of this earth.

CHANGES ERA TO ERA

When people become introduced to new fads, right or wrong, quickly they become habituated. They like that new fad. This happens in each and every era. In particular, in this era, people have become habituated with hypocrisy. This has become the norm, unfortunately.

In contrast, a few hundred years ago in the US, it was different. In that era, the slavery was well accepted. People became habituated with slavery. This was a terrible crime against humanity, yet even good people accepted it as a normal part of everyday life.

Also in that era, only males could get top jobs and earn money and only males could vote. Even though that was unjust and wrong, the general society was comfortable with those standards.

Now people think quite differently.

PRESENT AGE

In this present era, people think hypocrisy is a part of life. Hearing this assertion about hypocrisy, some may feel reacted and contend: “What is the need to raise this point – hypocrisy is OK.”

The main concern is that if we embrace hypocrisy then our spiritual life will be hampered. Simplicity will disappear; yet that quality of simplicity is needed in order to lead a proper spiritual life. In its place, hypocrisy will rear its head; but hypocrisy is poison. If hypocrisy makes its nest, our spiritual life will suffer. That is Baba’s teaching.

DEVOTION AND HYPOCRISY CANNOT CO-EXIST

Hypocrisy and true spirituality cannot co-habitat. Where there is one, the other cannot remain. Hypocrisy means being self-engrossed and only thinking about one’s own little existence. This is the well-known fact: Hypocrisy itself entails presenting oneself in a false manner in order to get some “self-glory”. In that case God is distant; because then one’s own unit mind is only absorbed in one’s own selfish thoughts – not Parama Purusa.

MORE OF BABA’S TEACHINGS

Here are more of Baba’s teachings & warnings about hypocrisy.

Baba says, “Some people wear a mask of culture [of civility] in public, but in private pursue personal or class interests. This hypocrisy has no place in the human society.” (A Few Problems Solved – 6, ‘Spirit of Society’)

Baba says, “Hypocrisy in the human mind is also increased as a result of the influence of negative microvita.” (Microvita in a Nutshell)

Baba says, “Such people attempt to cover their harmful or defective sentiments under a veil of hypocrisy. This concealing mentality is one aspect of hypocrisy.” (Neo-Humanism: Liberation of Intellect, ‘Awakened Conscience’)

So indulging in hypocrisy is not at all good – rather harmful and negative.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace, our Ananda Marga society will again get going on the right path – free from all defects and contradictions etc. We will not get caught in the widening net of hypocrisy – like senselessly smiling into the camera – that is spreading around the world.

Baba says, “…This Goal provides inspiration, supplies the means for forward movement and makes the little lamps infinitely effulgent…it will make the earth ever full of sweetness…” (Ananda Vanii #67)

Namaskar,
Mahendra Deva

Note 1: ERA OF HYPOCRISY

Now in this age of blatant capitalism, superficiality and kapat’ata’ [hypocrisy] is a normal aspect of daily living. Indeed such
expression is rampant in society. Here following Baba Himself comments how the problem has become epidemic & an everyday affair in this crude modern era.

Baba says, “Apologizing with ‘Oh, sorry!’, after knowingly or unknowingly bumping into a person, without inquiring to what extent the person is hurt, is considered enough refinement, and this is the Law of so-called Good Manners. But this does not reflect a really sincere expression of heart.” (Human Society-1, ’87, p. 37)

The point being that with the onset of uncontrolled capitalism, it is commonplace for people to hypocritically say something that they do not really mean. And that gets accepted also. Unfortunately this is the way things have “developed”.

Here the situation is not that the entire society is at fault. But step by step a few have sown the seeds of hypocrisy and goaded millions into adopting it. Gradually over time innocent, naive, and well-intentioned people have gotten caught in this web.

By looking around we can easily see that this “oh sorry” expression is not the only case; so many such common phrases exist such as: “excuse me”, “pardon me”, etc and even non-verbal trends like “smiling for the camera”. All these are regularly used in materialistic society.

Note 2: LOSING CAPACITY OF DEEP THINKING

Baba says, “Generally we see that the human thinking capacity becomes somewhat dull in the wake of a major catastrophe. This accounts for the present psychic state of the human race which, as a result of two major wars which took place within a short period of time, is suffering from various miseries and tribulations. Humanity is at present unable to think, read or comprehend anything serious. Even artists and sáhityikas who are capable of thinking or discussing serious matters do not feel any urge to do so, thinking that if they do, they will not get any encouragement or patronage from the public.” (Prout in a Nutshell – 10, Art and Literature)

These days most people cannot think deeply on any given subject. Due to a lack of critical thinking skills, when a fad comes into existence then mindlessly people start following that fad. That is what happened with hypocrisy and other superficial displays in day to day modern life, including smiling in the camera. If you talk with anyone about this they may become irritated and think this is fine. That shows their shallow way of thinking. Because in reality mindlessly smiling into the camera is not fine; no form of hypocrisy should be tolerated.

So some people, who are habituated to smiling superficially, may get overwhelmed by hearing that we should not follow this type of hypocrisy. About this we should be clear. I do not say if anyone is attending a jovial function and they are smiling and someone takes a picture then that is bad. That is not the point. Smiling in and of itself is not the problem. Rather senselessly smiling into the camera is not good as that is a superficial display and undermines one’s real happiness.

This brings up a related matter: In certain geographical areas, people hug and kiss when they see each other. That is fine if they have true affection for one another – such as how a mother kisses her baby; but doing this hypocritically – just for show – is repulsive.

Due to a lack of critical thinking, the general population gets latched on to these types of dogmas. We should be careful.

Note 3: HYPOCRISY: DEFECT IN THE GLANDS / CAKRAS

Here Baba explains how weakness & imbalance in the ana’hata cakra is the cause of hypocrisy.

Baba says, “The ana’hata cakra, situated in the centre of the chest, which controls twelve propensities: [including] kapat’ata’ [hypocrisy].” (Yoga Psychology)

Note 4: MUST NOT TRUST HYPOCRITES

Baba says, “Do not forgive [a hypocrite] till his / her nature is reformed.” (Caryacarya-2, Society, Pt #6)

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

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

Purport:

Baba, 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.

Baba, 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. Baba, You are the focal point of my life; You are my everything.

Baba, by Your divine grace, I feel that You are guiding each and every aspect of my existence. There is not even a single ounce of confusion in my mind. Everything is totally clear. 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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Baba’s Discourse on Moha Vrtti

To: AM-GLOBAL
From: “Phanindra Deva”
Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 21:02:37 -0700
Subject: Baba’s Discourse on Moha Vrtti

Baba

“Keu a’lokei mishe ja’y, keu ha’ra’y va’ a’ndha’re…” (1278)

Purport:

Baba, O’ Supreme One, Your divine creation is very colorful. All kinds of people are there. Some get human life, do sadhana, and ultimately become one with divinity. And some people do various misdeeds and move along the path of negative pratisaincara until finally they get lost in oblivion – cimmerian darkness. Some want only You; while others do not want You, instead they want some boon or some gift from You. So this world is colorful.

Baba, some are rushing towards the allurements of glittering objects, shining stars, or superficial worldly attractions. And some are absorbed in crying over their old outdated memories, deserted flower gardens, and skeletons of the past. In that way they waste their time. While those who are great devotees have accepted You as the Supreme quintessence and they want only You.

Baba, O’ Divine Entity, some are busy in intellectualizing about Your karuna and grace – and they never get the real sweetness. Just they are jinanis involved in their own extravaganza. And some are dancing in the joy and happiness. Such devotees cannot be satiated by anything except You. You are everything for them. Those who surrendered at Your lotus feet they are the ones who pass their whole life dancing in the ecstasy of Your divine love.

Baba, Your entire creation has so many types of people and various colours. Only the life of the devotee is filled with happiness and bliss…

== BABA’S DISCOURSE ON MOHA VRTTI ==

Namaskar,
Here below is Baba’s original passage about blind attachment, or moha vrtti. The below is an excerpt from His discourse, ‘The Acoustic Roots of the Indo-Aryan Alphabet’.

Baba says, “Na is the acoustic root of moha vrtti [blind attachment or infatuation]. This propensity of blind attachment is usually divided into the four categories of time, space, idea and individuality. When one loses one’s rationality out of blind attachment for one’s country, it is called deshagata moha, “geo-sentiment”. People who live in a country where not even a blade of grass grows, where people die of starvation, and which imports huge quantities of food grains from other countries, become so infatuated with their country that they say it has an abundance of water, has a bountiful fruit harvest, and is a net exporter of food to other countries.”

“Ka’lagata moha is blind attachment for a particular period of time. One becomes so attached to a certain period of time that one is unable to discern its positive or negative aspects. Some people complain that the behaviour of the present generation of children is disappointing. They say that when they were young they could easily digest iron pans, but the present generation has trouble digesting even water! They lament the great misfortune that has befallen the present age.”

“When a particular idea has a strong impact on mind, the mind rushes towards it again and again. Thieves, in the shock of the moment, always make a quick getaway from the scene of the crime. Later, however, they brood repeatedly about the place, and often return, straight into the hands of the police! A person who uses an object for a long time develops a fascination for that object. This is called a’dha’ragata moha [fascination for an object]. There are many rich people who have a strange weakness for some old, battered object such as a rickety chair with one arm broken off. I know a story about how a pretty pot made of bell-metal was the cause of a bitter quarrel among the daughters-in-law of a certain family, so bitter that it led to the eventual break-up of the family. Na is the acoustic root of moha vrtti.”

“The only way to free oneself from the clutches of infatuation is to superimpose the ideation of indifference and divert one’s mental thoughts towards Parama Purus’a. It may be possible to control this propensity of wild fascination temporarily by intimidation or by enacting laws, but only temporarily. Those who believe in the equal distribution of the world’s wealth, naively underestimate the power of moha vrtti. The human mind can be sublimated only by spiritual ideation, not by any high-sounding philosophy. This utopian idea has proved ineffective in the past and in the present and will continue to prove so in the future.” (Ananda Marga Philosophy – 8)

Namaskar,
Phanindra Deva

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Money and Peace

Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:33:04 -0000
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: “Deva”
Subject: Money and Peace

Baba

“A’ndha’ra sa’gara pa’re ke go ele…” (PS 1065)

Purport:

O’ the Supreme Entity, who are You who has come to me from the divine world after crossing the dark ocean. You have come and done the impossible: You have made those flowers blossom, which had never blossomed before. Those whose minds were crude, You have made them spiritual. You have showered Your divine effulgence and filled this world with sweetness and love. O’ Divine One, You have graciously come, broken the noose of death [1], taught Your sadhana, and shown the path of liberation. You have released me from the endless cycle of birth and death by granting me salvation. You have removed all my fear by keeping me close and helping me in all circumstances. You have satiated my heart with Your radiant love. You have showered Your causeless grace and filled my mind with divine bliss. O’ Divine Entity after getting You, what is the need to have anything else. By Your grace, in getting You, I have gotten everything. All my longings have been quenched; I desire nothing else. All that I wanted, I got, by Your grace. O’ the Unfathomable Entity, who are You.

Baba, O’ Parama Purusa, in my march from imperfection to perfection, in all the arenas of life, You are always with me. You love me so much, that is why I do not have any fear that You are going to leave me. In all times, day and night, You are always with me – ever willing to help and guide me. Baba, You have removed the dark curtain of avidya maya. You have opened my eyes. After pulling me off the wrong path, You have lovingly brought me onto the right path. That which was unthinkable for me, You have given. I never thought I could get Parama Purusa; I could never even dream of such a thing. But today, You have made this possible and more than fulfilled all my hopes and aspirations. Baba, You are so gracious.

Baba, You have given me everything I need. You have given me all of life’s requirements: Physical, psychic, and spiritual. O’ my Dearmost, in my dhyana, in my sadhana, You always come and smile like the crimson dawn. It is Your grace; it is Your grace. In the past, I was longing for various mundane things. Now, by Your grace, my mind is pointed and I only long for You, the Parama Purusa. You have aroused my desire to attain You. And You have quenched that desire by remaining eternally in my heart. When I am with You, then what else do I need? Nothing. I do not have any other desire.

Baba, no matter how much I may know, in the true sense I do not know. O’ Divine Entity, who is so loving and gracious, please tell me who You are…

NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #1065:

[1] Noose of Death: Generally human beings are caught in the ongoing cycle of birth and death. When one comes in contact with Parama Purusa then that is the death of death, as by this way one escapes the endless cycle of birth and death.

Baba says, ““Mrtyurmrtyuh nama’myaham.” “Mrtyurmrtyuh” means “death of death”…Whenever a man dies, he comes back again in another form. Again he undergoes death, again he comes back. This cyclic order goes on, and on, and on. Birth after death, death after birth – the cyclic order goes on. But what happens when one ensconces oneself in Him, when one becomes one with Him? One will die, no doubt, but after death one won’t come back. So when one is in deep love with Him, and death comes, that death is the final death. After death there will be no rebirth. Along with that death, death dies. So it is mrtyurmrtyuh – the death of death. So He is mrtyurmrtyuh.” (Ananda Vacanamrtam – 3)

Baba says, “Those who take the name of the Lord are really intelligent and clever, because thereby they accelerate the speed of their spiritual progress. Those who do not do so, continue to move in the vicious circle of lives and deaths. This cyclical order of movement from life to death to life again is called the sam’sa’ra cakra. What will be the fate of a person who directs all his psychic propensities towards crude materiality? He will be caught again and again in the serpentine noose of death.” (Subhasita Samgraha -21)

Finally, the only way for one to escape the cycle of birth and death is to do regular sadhana. Then one is sure to get salvation and go beyond the noose of death.

== MONEY AND PEACE ==

Baba says, “With the acquisition of money people still feel that they have nothing; in spite of possessing a huge amount of money they often beat their chests in despair. So it is not money they seek– what they truly desire is peace, not happiness. But it is only rarely that people attain peace in life…The answer [then] is that by attaining Parama Purus’a one no longer has any unsatiated hunger or unqueched thirst.” And that is the stage of perfect peace. (Subhasita Samgraha – 12, p.38)

Namaskar,
M Deva

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Why Children Are Violent

Subject: Why Children Are Violent
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2012 21:58:36 -0000
From:
To: AM-GLOBAL

Baba

== WHY CHILDREN ARE VIOLENT ==

Namaskar,
Each and every day, as never before, we hear the shocking news about our teenagers committing heinous crimes: Murder, rape, bombings, and more. This is most rampant now in the US. Just this week a “normal” high school student in Ohio open fired in the school cafeteria killing and injuring several students.

What has experts and officials concerned is that such type of unruly & ghastly incidents are becoming more and more common. Especially in our so-called advanced nations where youths are engaging in terribly destructive and savage behaviour.

The questions naturally arise: How & why are such horrific tragedies increasing? Why are children in “First-World” countries resorting to such dastardly acts? These are but a couple of the burning questions of the day. Of course, side by side, our Revered Sadguru Baba has already addressed and given the solution to these types of tragic social woes.

BABA’S TEACHING

MISSING INGREDIENT: LOVE AND AFFECTION

Looking back at the history, Baba clearly unveils that an imbalanced or broken family severely adversely affects the children’s growth and thrusts them into “a sea of troubles”.

Baba says, “The male libertines would not take responsibility for their offspring. They used to wander freely, and as a result, the entire responsibility for raising the children in their infancy would devolve on the mothers. But it was not possible for the mothers alone to bear the responsibility of maintaining the children, as a result of which many children died in early infancy. Those who survived felt themselves to be in a sea of troubles after they were weaned from their mother’s breast milk. Then they would be deprived of their mother’s love, since she had to take care of the next baby. Those were the days of the prehistoric humans.” (Namah Shiva Shantaya: Shivokti-2)

In His above guideline, Baba is graphically showing what happens when the mother and father are unable to provide a proper environment for their child. Specifically, when the father abandons the mother and child then the mother is left to carry the full burden of rearing the child(ren) all by herself. As a lone parent, she is unable to secure and provide the food and spend ample time nurturing and loving the children. It is just not possible to work all day and then raise the child as well.

Baba says, “It is extremely inconvenient and difficult for her [the mother] to give her child all-round grooming [and love] and make adequate provision for food, clothes, education and medical care all by herself.” (Human Society – 1, Social Justice)

The key missing ingredient is that when children are not given the heart-felt love and attention that they need, then those kids have little chance of ‘making it’ in the world. They may not physically die, but internally there is a terrible void that casts a dark shadow on their entire existence.

Here following Baba furthermore points out how one of the key aspects needed for the wholesome development of the child is motherly love and affection. And that love cannot be fully provided in a child-care situation. It is just not the same.

And if that is blatantly missing or absent – for whatever reason – then the child’s emotional growth will be severely hampered and stunted. They will lack those “sweeter and finer sensibilities” that are unique to human existence and so very vital for each and every person.

Baba says, “It was not easy to know the fathers of children even in the case of the so-called householders, far less in that of the libertines. Children would know only their mothers. And after they were weaned, they would forget their mothers also. Thus being deprived of motherly love and affection at a very early age, they had no opportunity to develop the sweeter and finer sensibilities of the human mind. The human mind, the human intellect, was nipped in the bud; those people had no opportunity to blossom, to gladden the heart of the world with their sweet joy.” (Namah Shiva Shantaya:
Shivokti-2)

The overall message is that strong, cooperative parental involvement is needed in raising a child. A certain physical and psychic base or stability must be provided by the father and the mother must have ample scope to shower her maternal love and compassion on the child. These are the necessary ingredients and when they are missing then the whole situation turns sour. In that case the child cannot grow properly and often their entire life ends up in disaster.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “DEVELOPED” AND “UNDEVELOPED” NATIONS

Nowadays in our so-called third and first world nations, there is a blatant dichotomy – though admittedly this gap is fast decreasing as materialism continue to spread its web throughout this earth.

In general though, especially in places like India, the mothers keep their children nestled in their arms and under their close care throughout the day. No doubt they may not be able to supply the child with huge material wealth, but the children grow in an in-tact family surrounded by caring parents and concerned grandparents and a number of aunts and uncles. But first and foremost, the mother’s entire focus of life is on the child and that yields a tremendously positive result. Internally, the child feels nurtured and secure.

Of course, sadly this is now slipping away as capitalism and materialism sink deeper into the fabric of Indian society. In this regard, India is actually in a tailspin. So it is not that all of India is perfect in child rearing and all of the west is deficient of child rearing. There are many stellar parents in the US as well as sub-par parents in India. So here we are talking about the overall trends and norms of east and west over the last 40 years or so.

Keeping this in mind, in our developed nations, the general tendency is quite different. Divorce is rampant, often times both parents have full-time jobs, and in some cases the parents just prefer their own privacy away from their children. With these factors having a dominant effect, there is now an entire generation of children coming into the world who lack that most basic and fundamental human need: Love– motherly love.

On the outside it may sometimes look like those children have everything: a fancy house, all the technological games and gadgets, and so many toys and gifts etc. But on the inside their heart is not satisfied. Due to the pressure of circumstances or outright neglect, they did not receive that loving compassion that is so much required for their welfare.

In result these children could not create a loving relationship with others – all due to their own emotional deficiency. Because of years of neglect or partial neglect, they have a disconnct with the greater society. They do not look upon others with love and affection. The results thereof are absolutely disastrous. As kids, this may not be so apparent as those young children are still young. But as they grow and interact with the world they become extremely harmful – they are veritable threats to social well-being. They harass their colleagues, elders, children, and the disabled and infirmed.

Putting such alienated persons in jail is not the proper answer either, not is a juvenile detention center. But because that is what is “easy” to do, the so-called stewards of society ship these troubled persons to such institutions.

So the situation is indeed grave. And it is further compounded by modernity wherein children are surrounded by violence that is glorified in the form of video games, movies, television, novels and more. This leads children to think of human life as negligible; even they lose the demarcations between real and virtual.

Top of all, lack of motherly love is the chief problem for kids in materialistic countries. And as Baba says, that casts them into a “sea of troubles”.

MORE INCIDENTS

That is why today we see – especially in the USA – children getting involved in an unending array of cruel and unsightly behavior. In the recent past such incidents were unheard of. So this is a new and developing phenomenon in the US and other “first-world” nations like Germany, Great Britain, France etc.

For example, just in the recent days, weeks and months, teens across North America have blown up schools, gang-raped young girls, lit innocent classmates on fire causing severe burns, murdered teachers, robbed the elderly, and so much more. These are the common events.

And now today we have the Ohio school cafeteria massacre to add to this tragic list.

Indeed now there is an unending stream of teenage crimes being committed – and they are crimes of the worst nature.

The response that most states are taking is to try these youths as adults and put them in prison for years and years – if not life. Note: In the US, a life sentence means the entire life whereas throughout much of the world a “life sentence means 10 – 20 years.) But that is not the solution. Rectification and reform time may certainly be necessary, but a prolonged jail term is not nipping the problem in the bud.

If we do not address this core issue of a distinct lack of maternal and parental love, the current problems will only escalate.

Overall, the situation of youth is quite awful in many of our first-world countries. But it is not solely limited to those places. Because as Baba points out the problem begins and ends with motherly love.

From a very early age it is absolute imperative for the child to constantly receive love and affection by having close contact with the mother. Then and only then will the child develop properly emotionally. Yet in many western households, the infant sleeps in their own room, separate from their parents. In that case, the alienation starts at a very young age.

Only with an upsurge of love, will the child’s heart be content and they will not become a burden on this earth.

But when the child grows with an empty or rejected feeling inside due to being tossed aside by the parents, then this psychological void is not easily fixed. For instance, when the children return home from primary and middle school to an empty household, then they feel so lonely. And this loneliness or alienation becomes a life-long problem in which case those children can do untold harm to others. Plus if they become parents themselves then they will do the same mistreatment to their children. So that negative cycle continues on and on.

At the present moment, there is a terrible crisis going on, especially in our first-world countries where the conditions are distinctly less favourable for our young. About this much can be written and everyone is encouraged to share their own perceptions and experiences of this problem, as step by step this is turning into an epidemic.

AM FAMILIES AROUND THE GLOBE

On the positive side, around the globe our AM parents are inculcating a greater and greater sense of neo-humanistic values into their children’s lives and this obviously is having a beneficial outcome. Plus with the growth of cooperatives and Master Units parents have a better opportunity to spend more and more time with their children– when their little ones are in the tender stage of infancy. So by Baba’s grace we are seeing that fatherly support and motherly love and affection that is so vital for the welfare of the child. Here again, I hope everyone will describe some of the successes we are seeing in AM.

CONCLUSION

This entire topic is extremely critical to the well-being of any society. Here are some of the key points:

1. Certainly children need food, medical care, clothing and all the minimum requirements, but those alone are not enough. Children also need love and affection from both parents.

2. One parent alone is not enough. A child needs both a father and a mother. In particular, Baba points out in His Yoga Psychology book that females possess a sentimental quality that is not present in males. There Baba says that females are emotionally more developed than males, and this plays a huge role in the development of the child – if and only if the mother is not shackled by all kinds of existential pressures: food, clothing, housing etc. So really both a father and mother are needed – as males bring to the fold a more logical and stern approach that is needed for keeping children in line, as well as financial means for raising the child.

3. Neo-humanistic education is needed wherein children can develop genuine love for the society. If they get all their social skills from Hollywood movies and video games, then that will be a purely negative teaching. All kinds of benevolent human interactions are needed, especially with the parents.

4. Finally, incarceration is not the answer to childhood alienation and their resultant crimes. Rather, all the missing pieces noted above need to be instilled in the mind of that youth or kid. Then they can start to grow and by Baba’s grace overcome the difficulties.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace and with our heart-felt compassion we will bring the entire humanity into one neo-humanistic flow where all feel cared for and loved.

Baba says, “Marching ahead is jiivan dharma (the characteristic wont of life). To march ahead, carrying all, viewing the world humanity as an integral entity, is the principal aspect of jiivan dharma. Resolve courageously to observe this jiivan dharma…” (A’nanda Va’nii, #43)

Namaskar,
Balakrsna Deva

Note 1: WOMEN NOT CONFINED TO THE HOME

Here no one should be left with the idea that women must remain at home always and they are not to interact in the general society. It is not like that. Baba’s clear-cut guideline is that women can and should work outside the home as needed.

Baba says, “I cannot support the “lofty wisdom” of those people who advise women to spend their lives at home cooking with appliances such as ladles, tongs and pots, because this runs counter to reality.” (Human Society – 1, Social Justice)

Baba says, “Generally it is desirable for women to earn an honest livelihood remaining at home. If it is not possible to maintain the family in this way, women may find employment in more physically strenuous work such as government service, business, etc., outside the home. No one should be conservative or superstitious in this regard.” (Caryacarya -1, Livelihood of Women)

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“Ba’hir vishve dhara’ da’o na’ko, marme lukiye tha’ko…” – P.S. 3857

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa You are hiding in everyone’s heart – that is Your hinterland. Baba, You cannot be held in this external world; searching You outside is nothing but a waste of time. O’ my dear One, You always reside in the deep core of my heart. You remain eternally in that golden vessel deep inside my being.

Baba, O’ Divine Entity, You give shelter at Your lotus feet to one and all. Regardless of who is crying for You, and who is longing for You, or who is oblivious about You, You lovingly shower Your compassion on all. You never make any distinctions. Everyone is part of Your creation; You lovingly bring one and all under Your divine shelter. With Your infinite attraction and the resonance of Your flute, You call everyone close. You lovingly draw everyone close by the
pull of the heart. This is Your special call.

Baba, You are eternally present and always smiling in my heart. O’ my Dearmost, You are so gracious…

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Be Careful Who You Follow

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

Baba

== BE CAREFUL WHO YOU FOLLOW ==

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

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

This equation works in both directions – positive and negative.

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

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

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

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

THE EARLY HISTORY

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

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

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

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

THE SPECIFICS OF EACH AGE

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

When the era changed, then people valued something else.

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

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

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

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

WHO ONE SELECTS IS IMPORTANT

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

WHAT IS HAPPENING NOWADAYS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SOME MAY WRONGLY DENY

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

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

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

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

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

YOUTHS ARE MOST AFFECTED

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

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

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

WHO SHOULD GET THE MOST RESPECT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HOW TO KNOW WHO GETS RESPECT

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

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

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

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

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

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

BABA’S BLESSING

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

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

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

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

Namaskar,
Virendra

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

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

Puport:

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

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Definition of “Real Discipline”

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

Hita’rthe sha’sanam ityarthe anusha’sanam

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