Dada Threatens To Commit Suicide

From: “Ramujagar”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Dada Threatens To Commit Suicide
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2013 21:06:55

Baba

This entire email is composed of 3 parts:

(1) Posting: Dada Threatens To Commit Suicide;
(2) Reply: Celibacy: Comparing Ananda Marga & Catholicism:
(3) Prabhat Samgiita #1089.

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

== DADA THREATENS TO COMMIT SUICIDE ==

Namaskar,
In our Ananda Marga, human life is regarded as something invaluable and highly treasured. The gift of human life is not easily gotten; and, once achieved, it should be utilized to follow the path of bhagavata dharma. This every Ananda Margii knows.

So just as our Ananda Marga protects the rights of the baby and is against abortion, similarly we support the idea that one’s life should be properly maintained and do not support any acts of suicide etc.

SUICIDE IS SAME AS HOMICIDE

First and foremost, according to Baba’s guideline, suicide itself is condemnable. Parama Purusa has graciously bestowed one with the human framework, and intentionally killing oneself (suicide) is equally sinful as killing another human being (homicide).

The point is that when Parama Purusa has supplied this human body, nobody has the right to destroy it by demolishing themselves. If anybody kills themselves, in future they will not be graced by getting a new human life.

Consider this: Suppose parents give a pen and paper to their 6 month old infant, and the baby tears up the paper and throws it on the ground, and chews the pen and throws it outside via the window. Then his loving parents will think that this baby is not mature enough to have a pen and paper. They will think, “Let the baby grow up before I give those materials again.”

In the same way, Parama Purusa does not grant new human life to people after they commit suicide. Rather, the suicide victim will have to wait a very, very long period – even as long as millions of years. Because when someone has committed suicide, it may take millions of years to drift along as negative microvita. So killing oneself is an abominable act.

STORY FROM SHABDA CAYANIKA

If any person commits suicide they may not get human life for millions of years. The following story, narrated by Baba in Shabda Cayanika, makes this very clear. In that story, Baba is describing the fate of a British officer “Sahib” who killed himself. So many years passed, and still his disembodied soul was living in that government bungalow.

Here is that excerpt from Shabda Cayanika where the Sahib who committed suicide is describing his terrible fate.

“Today I realize what a horrendous mistake I made…This path of suicide that I have taken to save my honour has crudified me so much that even after such a long time I cannot find any deliverance. These days I am utterly helpless. …Oh, what a painful bondage! Is there no path left open to me to attain peace! Is there no ointment I can apply which will soothe the burning of my bondage!” (1)

Thus the Sahib suffered tremendously by committing suicide – just one torment after another. Even though he was feeling deeply repentant for his crime of suicide, he had to endure a lot of torture and pain. It is only Baba’s causeless grace that He granted him (the Sahib) a better life.

SUICIDE IS EXTREMELY NEGATIVE

All of Baba’s teachings clearly demonstrate that in a weak moment, nobody should invite their own disaster by committing suicide. Not only that, it is our duty as a true devotee of Baba to help and support others when they are feeling depressed or devastated or unsure of themselves.

Thus we should be prepared and warn them that committing suicide invites long-term irreparable damage. Here ‘long-term’ means thousands and thousands of years of punishment. Because the life span of negative microvita is not limited to ten, twenty, or one hundred years, but far longer than that.

So the entire act of committing suicide is meek and cowardly – and ruins one’s future.

Nowadays all around, in the general society, the overall atmosphere is quite negative. People suffer in so many ways: Physically, psychically, emotionally, and spiritually. They do not have a proper ideology to move on in the right direction. Many are prone towards suicide. So in this situation, our duty is to guide them and bring on the proper path.

PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND SUICIDE

In order to help people we must better understand what causes a person to consider killing themselves.

The key point to know is that nobody wants to die. Nobody wants their own destruction. This runs contrary to all human psychology. People do not commit suicide because they wish to invite their own ruination. They commit suicide in the hopes of freeing themselves from the horrors of their present existence and starting afresh by gaining new life. This is the fundamental reason behind each and every act of suicide: The utmost desire to start anew.

They think: “This life is a lost cause. I do not have what I want. I must rid myself of my ghastly problems. Let me kill myself and start anew.” Sadly, their dogmatic, mind-set is riddled with all kinds of worries, fears, delusions, and difficulties. The best way for us to help is to understand and empathize with what they are going through.

Ultimately, because of their deep despair and dogmatic outlook, they think that by committing suicide they will get a better opportunity – a new life.

Such persons fall in two distinct categories.

(a) REBIRTH: Those who believe in reincarnation such as inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent think that by killing themselves they will surely be granted new, better life.

What they fail to understand is that committing suicide and getting new life does not mean escaping from their prior samskaras. Rather, one is accumulating many more negative samskaras by their act of suicide, and they may come back as an animal or a stone. Thus, their desire to start afresh – free from the past burdens is 100% wrong.

(b) HEAVEN: Those from the Semitic religions think that by killing themselves they will get a wonderful, new existence by going to heaven.

Here again, however, as Ananda Margiis we know that there is no place as heaven and that is not one’s destination after death. So there is no question of gaining a clean, pure, new life, rather they will be stuck in the mire of their negative decision of committing suicide for thousands or even millions of years.

(c) ATHEIST: They want to get rid of their present circumstance and think that whatever happens will be “better than this.”

The overall conclusion is that whatever their belief system or religious background, those who commit suicide do so in hopes of attaining a fresh start in life.

So committing suicide is not some type of glorified action. Rather it is a negative act born out of a psychic disease. Acts of suicide are done by very weak, disturbed, tense, and fragile persons. Those who have a strong mind never invite such negative thoughts nor commit such a horrible act.

SOCIETAL IMPOSITIONS

There are another section of people who fall prey to suicidal tendencies due to the defective outlook of the general society.

For instance, suppose when in good health a person reads a news report that praises and glorifies an elderly person or a deformed person for committing suicide so that they will not be a burden to others. In that case, if that healthy person becomes disabled at a young age due to an accident or becomes feeble due to living into their advanced years, then they too might commit suicide. Because the dogmatic outlook of that selfish society preaches that it is “better to die than to get help from others.”

This is indeed a vile outlook born out of selfishness. The authors of such a outlook would rather see another die than lend a hand to help them. This goes against all aspects of a service-oriented mentality and spiritual outlook. Such persons are committing pratyavaya (sin of omission) by not helping the needy person. It is our duty to wholly oppose this type of sinful and diseased mentality.

Then there is another example where societal values lead one to intentionally end their life. In some regions or lands, assisted suicide has come into vogue. Guided by this outlook, people think it is better – i.e. more honourable and respectable – to end their life than to live with a terminal illness. When person thinks that their disease is taboo or that they do not want to face the suffering of their illness, then they opt for assisted suicide. And again, this decision is a direct result of the prevailing norms of society.

So these are cases where societal values led one to the very horrible act of suicide.

CANNOT ESCAPE FROM ONE’S PROBLEMS

Whatever their reasoning, people resort to suicide when they wish to escape from the problems and difficulties of their present circumstance. They think suicide will bring them a better life – somehow.

Ananda Marga philosophy clearly states that one is bound by their samskaras and one cannot escape that bundle of samskaras by committing suicide. Rather suicide itself will lead to the creation of yet another bad samskara.

Best is to courageously face the reactions of their current life. If someone is undergoing terrible suffering they should ask Parama Purusa for the courage and strength to face the problem. Then their samskara will be much less painful. And if sufficient mental strength is aroused that problem will no longer be a problem.

VARIES FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY

In various countries suicide is viewed differently. In Japan committing suicide is not treated as a crime. But in India, it is a crime. Whereas in Romania, suicide itself is not illegal, but encouraging or facilitating another’s suicide is a criminal offense.

From the Ananda Marga perspective, the overriding idea is that whatever the laws and social viewpoints may be, according to cardinal human values suicide is sin.

LEAD OTHERS ONTO THE PATH OF LIFE (DHARMA)

Seeing the very low standard of general society where so many people are mentally imbalanced, we must never encourage this type of cowardice mentality. Rather with a full voice of courage and compassion we should guide them in the proper direction. Suicide is one sinful act that goes against the essence of humanity.

BABA IS AGAINST SUICIDE

In His discourses Baba has clearly warned for people not to commit suicide.

Specifically, in His teachings on microvita, Baba addresses the topic of disembodied souls. And there He has given a graphic explanation about the negativity of suicide:

“People who commit suicide due to humiliation, psychic distortion, frustration or the overpowering influence of excessive attachment, anger, greed, vanity, jealousy, etc. get the status of kabandha yoni after death. Wherever these entities happen to see other human beings under the spell of psychic derangement, they incite them to commit suicide.” (2)

So if one commits suicide they become kabandha microvita, and that is one very negative state.

Here following are more of Baba’s related teachings on this subject.

“THIS IS A HOUSE OF THE DEAD”

The sahib let out a long sigh and said: “The advice of the district magistrate was quite sound, but at that time I was not in the right mind to accept his counsel. Because of my arrogance I had completely lost my common sense. My ruler’s philosophy was prodding me continuously, telling me – What! Will I flee under the cover of darkness out of fear of a few ordinary farmers? Never! It is against my ruler’s philosophy. I will have to do something to save my respect. On and on I went thinking like this until I was at a complete loss. There was no one to give any clear directions or orders. That day my wounded pride told me – the only way to salvage my honour is to tie a noose around my neck and hang myself with this rope. That is the only path to salvation. In this way my honour, my prestige, my reputation, will be saved.

“So thought, so done.

“I tied a noose around my neck with this rope and hung myself. You may call it suicide, cowardliness or sin. But in the state of mind I was in that day I could see no other path open to me. So knowingly, perhaps, I took this sinful path in order to salvage my honour.”

His voice choked. “You know, now I am completely alone in this place – solitary, companionless. No one comes near me. Everyone is afraid; everyone says that this is a house of the dead.”

“Then?” I asked.

“Today I realize what a horrendous mistake I made. Human beings’ benevolent consciousness leads them towards greatness and evil crudifies them. This path of suicide that I have taken to save my honour has crudified me so much that even after such a long time I cannot find any deliverance. These days I am utterly helpless. Please consider my helplessness and give me some direction, some order; tell me what to do. Where is my path of welfare, my road to providence?” (3)

“UNNECESSARILY THINK THAT EVERYONE DELIBERATELY AVOIDS THEM”

“Because of problems in the objectivated mind, people suffer from various psychic complexes. For example, there are those who are inclined to think that no one, neither their friends and relatives nor even their domestic animals, cares to think of them. They unnecessarily think that everyone deliberately avoids them, dislikes them, or ignores them, and therefore they become disappointed, dejected, and dispirited. Life loses all its charm and attraction for them, and they may even commit suicide. This type of mania is called melancholia.” (4)

“DO NOT HAVE THE DIRECT WILL TO SURVIVE”

“Most people who commit suicide do not have the direct will to survive. However, their indirect will remains partially active, sustained by the desire to be free of the untold sorrows, miseries, and humiliations of this life. Deep within they cherish an indirect desire to acquire a new, dignified life in another world after death. This desire is the work of the indirect will. Their indirect will seeks a way to escape the ignominy of humiliation and build a new and better life in the future. Their will did something in the past for which they must undergo their present humiliation.” (5)

“IF SOMEONE’S MIND BECOMES VERY NEGATIVE…”

“Whatever one does in this world, one does in order to get pleasure. A person becomes greedy for tasty food because by eating it that person gets pleasure. Someone has a weakness for earning name and fame because that person gets pleasure through the medium of name and fame. Another person forgets everything in his greed for money because his avarice gives him pleasure. If someone’s mind becomes very negative and he thinks that he will get happiness by not living, then he will commit suicide.” (6)

“I AM DEFEATED IN THE STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE”

“There is a defeatist complex. “Oh, I am defeated in this world,” “Oh, I am defeated in this struggle for existence.” Such a sentiment, such a psychology, sometimes goads a man to commit suicide even. “I am defeated, I am defeated in the struggle for existence.” You must not encourage this type of psychology. When your father is the Supreme Father, your father is the most powerful entity in the entire universe, why should you think that you have been defeated in the struggle for existence? No, a bright future awaits you. Your future is glorious, your future is luminous, your future is effulgent.” (7)

“MANY PEOPLE ARE COMMITTING SUICIDE; MANY PEOPLE ARE BECOMING LUNATICS”

“These days many psychic diseases have appeared as a result of this mental complexity. Many people are committing suicide; many people are becoming lunatics. The reason is that people are unable to adjust with the various types of complexities in life.”
“The human brain is limited, and its nerve cells also have a limited capacity: they cannot tolerate these growing complexities. Kiirtana gives bliss to Parama Puruśa in the mental sphere, and it also brings joy to human beings both individually and collectively; it leads them on the path of welfare and frees them from all these complexities. It removes all the diseases of the intellect and allows people to think easily and in the proper way.”
“So intelligent people should do kiirtana as much as possible. When people, due to psychic complexities, cannot find the solution to their difficulties and they are at a loss what to do, if they sit together at any place and do kiirtana wholeheartedly for a while, their psychic complexities will be removed and they will easily seize upon the solution to their problems.” (8)

Namaskar,
in Him
Ramujagar

Note: HERE IS THAT DADA

Dada Loknathanandji in Varanasi wants more land and has threatened to commit suicide if he does not get his land request met. It is duty of those near or far to fulfill their dharma and not commit pratyavaya – one must intercede before it is too late. Those who know Dadaji must be proactive and assertive. They must protect him, inform him of the consequences, and counsel him. If his mind is not changed, then he might turns toward suicide – as he is threatening to do. We must not let this come to pass.

REFERENCES:
1. Shabda Cayanika-2 p.66
2. Microvita in a Nutshell, p.100
3. Shabda Cayanika-2 p.66
4. A Few Problems Solved – 7, The Faculty of Knowledge – 3
5. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life – 9, The Science of Action
6. Shabda Cayaniká Part 1, Disc: 5
7. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 34, Be Free from All Complexes
8. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 22, Serve the Supreme by Kiirtana

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

From: “Jayashrii”
Subject: Celibacy: Comparing Ananda Marga & Catholicism
Date: Mon, 18 March 2013 14:18:23
To: am-global@earthlink.net

CELIBACY:

COMPARING ANANDA MARGA WITH CATHOLICISM

Namaskar,
I very much appreciate those who are concerned about WT conduct in Ananda Marga.

Indeed, seeing the sex crimes that have stained Christianity is quite disturbing and we should ensure such events to not occure within our wholetimer cadre.

At the same time, we should be keenly aware of certain distinctions between Catholicism / Christianity and Ananda Marga.

In Catholicism, only celibate monks can lead prayer and perform their religious rituals and rites etc; whereas, in Ananda Marga, that is not at all the case. It is very different. Family acaryas and family margiis can lead all kinds of social ceremonies marriages, baby-naming, house entering, and so many types of programs, and they can perform initiations. In Ananda Marga, one need not be a celibate priest to convene these programs.

Plus, in Ananda Marga, in the spiritual realm there is no need of a middle man. Every Ananda Margii has their own direct link with Parama Purusa. In stark contrast, in Catholicism, the lay people cannot communicate directly with God. They must go via a middle man, and that designated middle-man is the priest who is celibate. Without priests, Catholics cannot communicate with their Lord in the religious realm and in the social sphere they cannot conduct any ceremonies. They are wholly dependent upon their celibate priests.

Ananda Marga is vastly different. To review, in Ananda Marga there is no need of a priest to communicate with Parama Purusa, and family people can lead the various rituals and ceremonies etc. Plus family acaryas can do initiations. This is not the case in the Catholic Church.

So comparing the Catholic Church with our Ananda Marga is akin to comparing apples and oranges.

MARRY AND BECOME FAMILY ACARYAS

Here in Ananda Marga, the approach is rational and all have the option to choose: Those who wish to lead and remain celibate should become wholetimers; and those who wish to lead without taking a vow of celibacy should marry and become family acaryas. So all have the power of choice. Our acaryas already have the option to be married.

Thus, in Ananda Marga, we need not make any changes to our current system. Everyone has their ability to choose and they may exercise their options accordingly. On this point, there is complete freedom.

GIVE UP WT-SHIP AND LEAVE THE DRESS

Moreover, anyone who has taken the course of celibacy and become a WT, if they are incapable of maintaining their vow and oaths, then they should give up their Wt-ship and leave the dress. They will not be treated like soldiers who leave their platoon and are then arrested and put in military jail. Those wholetimers who leave to get married will not be imprisoned. It is very simple. If they are unable to maintain the proper code of conduct, they need not remain as a Wt – no one is going to force them to stay. There is no question of any coercion. The main idea is that they should not remain in WT dress and contravene their principles and indulge in poor behaviours. That is sinful.

Here again let me reiterate: To lead sermons & functions in Ananda Marga, there is no need of taking a vow of celibacy. Those who are celibate do so by choice. All have freedom of choice on this matter. Whether one is a family person or monk, they can perform all the rituals etc, and they will have their personal link with Parama Purusa.

Baba has given all the rules and regulations for Ananda Marga in a very thoughtful and careful way. So there is no need to change anything. Baba has given the ideal method.

Remaining in WT dress and contravening wholetimer principles by indulging in lewd dealings is absolutely sinful and unacceptable.

Namaskar,
in Him,
Jayashrii

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

“A’laker saurrathe saba’y nite tumi esecho…” – P.S. 1089

Purport:

Baba, O’ my Parama Purusa, You have come with the shining chariot of divine effulgence. You have come to take everyone to the divine realm. You do not differentiate between who is great, who is meagre, & who is small etc. You listen to everyone’s tales – to everyone’s feeling of the heart.

Baba, O’ Divine Entity, even without seeing You, I have loved You. By Your grace, I am always feeling close & loving towards You. And even when I have not heard about You, I have been attracted by Your divinity. Baba, You are so gracious. You do not make judgments based on one’s merits or demerits. You love all, unconditionally. And I understand that You are always present – across all time and space.

O’ my Dearmost, You have done so much for me, and in return You do not want anything. In spite of knowing about the hundreds of defects in me, You have made me Yours and accepted me as Your own.

Baba, You have showered Your causeless grace on me. You have come here on this dusty earth to bring everyone onto the path of divinity. Baba, You are so gracious…

Read Full Post »

Human Existence Reduced To One Third

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

Baba

== HUMAN EXISTENCE REDUCED TO ONE THIRD ==

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

NO PLAN FOR LIFE

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

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

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

HUMANS ARE MENTAL BEINGS

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEX BECOMES EVERYTHING

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MANIFESTS IN SO MANY WAYS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHEN DOES LIFE START

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

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

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

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

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

ALMOST LIKE ANIMALS – OR WORSE!!

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

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

Baba says, “A human being who behaves like a goat or a dog may be born as a goat or a dog in the next life, because such an animal body is the proper base for the congenial expression of the latent sam’ska’ras. Hence it is not at all impossible for a human being to be reborn as a hog, a worm, a tree, or even a piece of stone. One’s destiny will be decided according to the nature of one’s karma – this is an infallible
law.” (4)

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

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

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

MUST LEARN TO “THROW IT AWAY”

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

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

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

PROPER WAY TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WAY TO VIEW ONESELF

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“O human beings, you are fortunate. The clarion call of the Universal has reached you. Not only has the call come, but you are hearing it and it is vibrating in every cell of your body. Will you now lie in the corner of your house as an inert being and waste your time by clinging to old skeletons and bemoaning them? The Supreme Being is calling you in the roar of the ocean, in the thunder of the clouds, in the speed of lightning, in the meteor’s flaming fires. Nothing good will come from idleness. Get up and awake the clouded chivalry of your dormant youth. It may be that the path is not strewn with flowers and that inferiority complex will be attempting to hold fast your each advancing step, but even then you have to proceed onwards tearing the shroud of darkness. You will tear the thick darkness of despair as you advance in the racing chariot radiant with the Sun’s brilliance towards the attainment of the Supreme state.” (17)

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

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

Namaskar,
in Him,
Liila

Note 1: ABOUT THE TITLE

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

Note 2: REFERENCES

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

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

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

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

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

Note: Please read Baba’s above teaching again carefully. It explains everything.
********************************************

Read Full Post »

Baba Story: Consequence of Committing Suicide

Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2012 22:43:48 -0400
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: Mantreshvar Deva
Subject: Baba Story: Consequence of Committing Suicide

Baba

== BABA STORY: CONSEQUENCE OF COMMITTING SUICIDE ==

Namaskar,
Vimalji was extremely distraught; after all, what was left of his life. There was nothing: No house, no hope, no future. In that bleak and desperate condition, he knew exactly what was to be done. He grabbed his knife, some rope, and was going to do the needful – leaving the miseries of this world behind.

This is one very dramatic Baba story involving a margii some of you may know, Vimal Dutta of Bangurdah Kandra (West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand).

STORM DESTROYS HIS HOUSE

When Vimal Dutta was around 25 years of age, then one big storm came through his village and it destroyed the roof of his grass house. The roof was gone.

Vimalji became very sad. Having lost the few things that he had in this world, he entered a state of deep despair. Indeed he was overcome with grief. He resolved that he should end his life.

One night, with darkness all around, Vimalji tied a rope to one of the remaining wooden pieces from the frame of his house, and started to loop the other part around his neck. His plan was to jump and hang himself. He had everything in place and he had not a single doubt in his mind. He was ready to proceed.

That moment he heard a voice: “What are you doing?!?”

Vimalji was stirred – the voice came from somewhere – he looked all around, from side to side, in search of someone. But no one was there. He could not find anyone at all.

The voice was very deliberate and commanding, yet also quite sweet and charming. The Entity asked that he undo the rope and come down from the rooftop.

A NEW LIFE

Vimalji’s heart was swayed by the caring and sensitive tone of the Caller. He undid the rope and came down to the ground. All the while the query lingered, “Who called me – who was speaking to me.” Vimalji’s mind and spirit felt charged – his entire body was pulsating with a new vibration and energy – at the same time his mind was calm and serene, still wondering, “Who called me.” He felt a deep sense of peace.

In that tranquil state he laid down and took some rest.

Some time later he woke up – feeling blissful. Then and there any further thought of committing suicide vanished from his mind. Rather he decided, “I should not be cowardly; I should rise up and do something.”

From that day forward, he became very regular in sadhana and his whole life took on a new way and form. He felt wonderful.

Time to time, still the thought was coming in his mind, “Who called me in that fateful moment.” In this way, Vimalji would think and wonder.

He had made inquiries to various persons in his village. He asked if they had spoken to him on that night. No one had – not a single person came forward. So the what could have happened – who was that who called me that night. Vimalji thought for hours, days, and weeks about this. Those weeks eventually turned into months and still he had no answer: Who called me?

As more and more months passed, that memory gradually faded from his thoughts – it was no longer in the forefront of his mind. He was moving on with his life. Even then, the memory remained alive; it was just temporarily forgotten, not gone.

PC WITH BABA

One year later Vimalji went to see Baba and (hopefully) get PC, by His grace. The year was 1986, and his entire yearning had been channelised towards Baba. Brother Vimal was also receiving training to become an Ananda Marga school teacher. His life was proceeding in a very positive direction.

On that occasion, Baba blessed Vimalji by calling him for PC.

After he entered the room for PC, at one point Baba inquired, “What were you doing that night with the rope in your hand. Did anyone call you that time?”

Instantly, the whole scene flashed in Vimalji’s mental plate. The darkness, the rope, his plan to jump, and the voice that called him. Vimalji got the answer. Baba Himself had called him. Previously, it was beyond his imagination to think that it was Baba who saved him that night.

Then, step by step, in a very compassionate and detailed manner, Baba recounted the exact scene. Vimalji was surprised and even shocked that Guru really does know everything. A warmth permeated his heart thinking how Baba is always with him. Thinking thus, he felt blissful.

Baba looked towards Vimal sternly and scolded him: “Why were you going to commit suicide – why is it that I Myself had to come and stop you?”

Such were Baba’s strong yet deeply loving words. Vimal felt the inner tenderness and sweet love of Baba’s scolding.

Vimal grabbed his ears as a sign of repentance and promised Baba that he would never again contemplate the sinful notion of committing suicide: “I will never think in this way in the future.”

And indeed, thenceforth Vimal’s life was full of devotional thoughts and social service. Such is Baba’s divine blessing on this bhakta.

WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS STORY

As Ananda Margiis, here are a few things we can all learn from the above story:

1. Committing suicide is a sin. Guru does not at all support this cowardly and destructive action. It is fundamentally against the core beliefs of Ananda Marga philosophy.

2. Everyone should know that by committing suicide, they invite a terrible samskara far into the future – for millions of years. More about this is in note 1 below.

3. Some think that they will commit suicide and leave this world and escape their miseries. But that is just not so. One cannot escape their samskara by suicide; those samskaras must be exhausted at some point or another – they remain with you.

Even worse, the samskara created by committing suicide is so huge that it will take thousands of animal lives for that to be exhausted and then one will have to again gain human form and go through all the trials and tribulations of life and death.

In contrast, regardless of one’s difficulties, if one utilises their current body properly, in a relatively short period of sincere sadhana one can exhaust all their samskaras.

4. Everything you think gets permanently recorded in the Cosmic Mind. No thought happens in a vacuum nor in isolation. Baba is aware of your every thought.

5. Baba is everywhere – in all places – across time and space. You are never alone. So no one is ever helpless. Always He is along with you to care for you and watches for your welfare.

Baba says, “Parama Puruśa will always be with you. That means, neither were you alone in the past nor will you be alone in the future. Always remember that you are not helpless. He who is guiding the stars of the skies, is with you, you are not alone. Under no circumstances should you ever be afraid. Never think that you are alone. Whatever has to happen, will happen, and the One who causes this happening is with you.” (Ananda Vacanamrtam, part 5, Bandhu, Suhrd, Mitram and Sakhá)

Namaskar,
Mantreshvar

Note 1: SINFUL AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF SUICIDE

Everyone should know that by committing suicide, they invite a terrible samskara far into the future – for millions of years. Killing oneself is treated as equally sinful as murdering another human being. By committing suicide one will be bound of as negative microvita for a long, long time.

Baba says, “People who commit suicide due to humiliation, psychic distortion, frustration or the overpowering influence of excessive attachment, anger, greed, vanity, jealousy, etc. get the status of kabandha yoni [negative microvita] after death. Wherever these entities happen to see other human beings under the spell of psychic derangement, they incite them to commit suicide.” (Microvita in a Nutshell, p.100)

There are more than a few sites around the world – like the Golden Gate bridge in California, Mt Fuji in Japan, etc – where people are inclined to commit suicide. Why? Because negative microvita like pishaca gather in those places and influence the mental plate of those in despair. Strong-minded people are not affected, but those in a deep dilemma are goaded toward suicide by this type of negative microvita which cluster in certain areas. That is why we see large numbers of suicides in particular places. Those who are not mentally well should not go to such places.

Finally, by committing suicide, one enters that very negative whirlpool of negative microvita where they themselves try to lure others into committing suicide as well. Such a terrible fate.

Note 2: BABA STORY FROM SHABDA CAYANIKA

Here also is Baba’s teaching from a story in Shabda Cayanika about the fate of one who committed suicide.

“Today I realize what a horrendous mistake I made. …This path of suicide that I have taken to save my honour has crudified me so much that even after such a long time I cannot find any deliverance. These days I am utterly helpless…Oh, what a painful bondage! Is there no path left open to me to attain peace! Is there no ointment I can apply which will soothe the burning of my bondage!” (Shabda Cayanika, part 2, p.66)

When humans destroy their body then nature does not like to give them a human body again. That is why the person, in Baba’s above quote from Shabda Cayanika, is stuck. He committed suicide and now he cannot advance – rather he is bound in his crudified state. All because he ruined the body that nature gave him.

The situation is similar to giving someone something to use like a pen, and instead of using it they break it into 4 pieces and throw it in 4 directions. In that case you will not like to give him a pen again.

The idea is that those who commit suicide and destroy their body, then how can they again get human life.

Note 3: OUR DUTY

As Ananda Margiis, it is our distinct duty to inspire those in despair onto the right path. We are to save that human life and goad them away from any thoughts of suicide or self-destruction. With proper ideation, we are to divert their mind – indeed, just by diverting their mind or delaying their action is enough to save them. By delaying bad actions, invariably a better thought will come in the mind. So helping someone can simply take the form of them rethinking their situation. That is enough to stop them. Then, by Baba’s grace, we can support them in adopting a right course in life.

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“Toma’y kato bha’loba’si, tumi jano na’ tumi…” PS 221

Purport:

Baba, You are the Knower of everything; You are omniscient. Even then You do not know how much I love You. Always, all the time, I am thinking of You. Indeed, I have so many thoughts to share with You– so many feelings which are accumulated in my heart.

Baba, why are You keeping Yourself so busy and involved constantly in Your work, every second– why like this. O’ my Dearmost, when I have so much love for You, why are You not giving me energy and involving me in Your work.

Baba, You are the source of all energy; please provide me with shakti day and night– all the 24 hrs– so that I can go on working non-stop for You. With every iota of grace and mercy I will move ahead in the work. I will do according to Your liking. I will be 100% involved to please You. Baba, please grace me by utilising me.

O’ Baba, I love You so much. You are so beautiful- You are my everything…

Read Full Post »

Main Reason of their Death

From: “Karma Rasa”
To: AM-GLOBAL
Subject: Main Reason of their Death
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:02:46 +0000

Baba

“Vinati ja’i kare tava caran’ dhare…” (P.S. 3687)

Purport:

Baba with folded hands I go on requesting You again and again holding Your lotus feet that: Please come to my home. Please grace me again and again. Baba, You have countless abodes to go visit or stay that may be according to Your liking; even then You should not forget that this little hut of mine is Your creation. Baba I always dance in Your rhythm and sing in Your melody, in Your tune. I feel that You are the tune, melody, and lyrics– everything. I play Your viina.

I am Yours, and everyone is Yours. Your divine play is our world. What way You play Your liila, that is my entire existence. I am always ensconced in Your ideation, in Your dhyan. I always speak and sing Your ideology, Your tales, Your teachings. I move accordingly by Your grace. Baba, when You play Your flute, with that attraction You pull me close
to You. And that is my vital energy for forward movement. Baba You are the base of everything. You are the quintessence. Your glory is unfathomable which cannot be expressed. You are everyone’s soul– everyone’s heart. Baba with my folded hands I do sastaunga pranam that You please come to my little hut. Please grace me…

== MAIN REASON OF THEIR DEATH ==

Namaskar,
With each and every passing day it becomes more and more clear that we are at the height of this vaeshyan era. The situation is almost over the top. But we are not there yet, still tougher times lay ahead.

We are seeing its final series of pulsations as it unsuccessfully tries to rescue itself before its final death.

Unfortunately, this spells trouble for the common people. Not just ordinary trouble, but the deep-seeded type of trouble, or sheer desperation, which leads one to the brink of suicide, or even suicide itself.

Everyone wants happiness, that is what every human being is searching for. And when they lose all hope in getting it, then thoughts of self-destruction arise.

Tragically, this is the phase we witnessing now in this present era. Because of the inherent defects of capitalism people are falling into this chasm.

Every day this or that report comes on the news how such and such billionaire has killed himself or how an ordinary person who lost their home due to foreclosure committed suicide. This is the horrible reality.

As Ananda Margiis it is our duty to understand the deeper nature of the problem, avert that dark whole ourselves, and help others come onto safe and stable ground.

TWO ROOT CAUSES

There are two root causes of the recent rash of suicide cases: (1) Improper goal, and (2) isolation.

Both are part of the inherent defects of capitalism.

In capitalism people get enslaved into materialism and they think that crude objects and money are the goal. Their entire existence gets painted and shaped in that color. They think that is everything: Their job, their prestige, their house, their car, their whole way of life. And when that is jeopardised or lost, then they think everything is gone and there is no reason to live. That is one of the main causes of extreme desperation and suicide these days.

The second cause is also due to capitalism. Selfishness is direct result of capitalism. People are taught to satisfy and indulge themselves, and not worry about the plight of others. This brings isolation such as in the US where the family system has broken down and where people live more and more unto themselves and interact with others less. Computer games and blogging– and the pursuit of owns own selfish desires– have taken the place of friendship and community. In that case, when tough times arise, there is no one to turn to for help and support. Desperation then multiplies and suicides can result.

NOT A QUESTION OF RICH OR POOR

IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE GOAL

Here we should remember that the problem does not only strike those who are rich or those or are poor. The amount of wealth is not the operating factor. There are some poor people who have lost their homes due to a typhoon or unemployment and mentally they are alright; and there are some poor people who have lost their homes due to economic woes and they are totally distraught and stricken with thoughts of suicide.

The same variation can occur with the wealthy. Some may lose their wealth and be able to cope and some lose their wealth and can only think of ending their lives.

So the root cause is not one’s economic status or social status. The main cause is harboring a mundane ideal as the goal of life. If one thinks their house or car or wife is everything– no matter the size, cost, or beauty of that thing– then if and when what disappears from their life, one becomes prone to extreme desperation and even suicide.

That is why a person who lost their house in the US is far more prone to suicide than someone of the same economic means who lost their house in Bhutan or Indonesia. Because the US is far more materialistic and its citizens feel that the value of their life is tied up with material things. That is the common way of thinking.

Hence today, with all the economic woes – i.e. when the carpet has been pulled out from everyone – then there is so much cause for concern, especially in western, materialistic countries like the US.

Because knowingly or unknowingly millions and millions of people have been focusing on material wealth as the goal of their life. And with that gone, a crisis like a rash of suicides can occur– and indeed we are now seeing this horrible trend.

So we should all be aware and sincerely ask ourselves how far materialistic interests have crept into our mental framework.

LIFE IS SYSTALTIC – COMMUNITY HELPS

Let’s revisit the other side of this equation.

As we know life is systaltic: It goes up and down. Sometimes one is happy and sometimes sad. Often, it is friends and family who help us through difficult times.

So in a materialistic era, when people view money and material wealth as the crowning jewel or goal of life, and when economic woes are everywhere, then naturally one will be in a time of trouble and difficulty.

Now here is where the other part of the problem strikes.

In places where extreme materialism is in vogue, like the US, then because of the very self-centered attitude, many of the social conventions and safety nets are gone. Friends and family have been alienated and one may feel alone.

And then when there is an utter dearth of social programs from the government side, then people will really feel helpless, as if there is not a hope in sight. At that point, feelings of suicide will swirl in the mind.

CAPITALISM IS BAD ON SO MANY LEVELS

When the economy is down, as it is now, then we can really see the horrific effects of capitalism. Capitalism is not just a harmful economic approach, it is a way of life that railroad people’s lives into dust. Their minds become saturated in a materialistic outlook and they lose touch with family and friends. In a phrase, materialism and selfishness destroy the whole human personality. In that case, when the tidal wave of economic woes erupt, then people feel that their whole world has come crashing down and they have nowhere to turn. That is why capitalism is an agent of suicide.

And that is why Baba harshly warns us off the ill effects of materialistic philosophies like capitalism.

Baba says, “Materialism is the most dangerous – indeed, suicidal – philosophy.” (NSS)

Tragically, that is the fate many will face, if they do shift their goal away from the material venues like property, cars, retirement accounts, stock options, etc

EVERYONE MUST BE ALERT

We should all be vigilant to ensure that we are not depending on physical or mobile things as our goal. Because when those slip away, one will feel sad, hopeless, and ultimately shelterless and depressed. That is when suicide feelings begin.

Although materialism is everywhere, we must rise above it and keep our spiritual aim in mind. That is the only path of our survival and success. Being a materialist is not based on how much one owns but rather what one values in life.

We should all ensure that the Supreme Goal is what we most treasure and not any fleeting thing of this world like prestige, wealth, etc. Even in AM, we sometimes see how lust of post is a reflection of one’s materialistic bent of mind. For that they can kill others or even themselves. So this disease of materialism is rampant and those who follow it will not be spared.

We should all be alert and help awaken others also.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace only the God-centered approach of Prout can save the people from the poison of materialism. As Ananda Margiis, we have to propagate His ideals and show the people that there is more to life than materialistic pursuits. And by His grace society is already hungry and thirsty for something more. So it is the ideal time to propagate spirituality and Prout and bring relief to the people, lest they fall prey to the illness of capitalism like suicide.

Baba says, “Both capitalism and communism have failed to provide the proper ideological inspiration and desideratum to human beings. In the interests of the welfare of humanity, these systems should be replaced. PROUT is against the exploitation by capitalism and the false dogma of communism as both are detrimental to the all-round progress of human beings…When the crimson sun is reflected on our faces we should understand that the entire day is ours. Victory will be ours.” (PNS-15)

Namaskar,
Karma Rasa

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

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

Read Full Post »

Mystery Behind Suicide

Date: 26 Jul 2011 21:33:18 -0000
From: “Divyacaksu Deva”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Mystery Behind Suicide

BABA

== MYSTERY BEHIND SUICIDE ==

Namaskar,
The main reason why people commit suicide is that they hope to find a better life after their death.

First of all, it should be understood that ultimately everyone wants to live – nobody wants to die. That is Baba’s teaching in so many discourses. Actually it is only when one feels their current life is not as good as their future life, then they contemplate finishing this life and joining the next. Only then do they consider suicide.

This type of tendency is prevalent both in the dogmatic religions and among atheists.

Followers of the dogmatic religions believe that they will reach heaven and join their family and friends. Atheists think that they will enter into a state of oblivion where they will feel no pain.

By this way we see nobody really wants to die, but rather escape from the problems of this world and live a better life somewhere else. Truly speaking, the main culprit behind suicide is the dogma-centered philosophy that preaches that after this life there is heaven.

MUST FACE YOUR SAMSKARA

According to Ananda Marga philosophy, you must face your consequences (samskaras) as there is no heaven or hell; everything is before you – you to face your reactive momenta. There is no other way. If you kill yourself then you are not going to get human life again very easily because you already destroyed it once. You will instead get the life of a lower creature like a bug, earthworm or some other animal.

Baba furthermore offers the below warning about committing suicide in His teachings on negative microvita.

Baba says, “People who commit suicide due to humiliation, psychic distortion, frustration or the overpowering influence of excessive attachment, anger, greed, vanity, jealousy, etc. get the status of kabandha yoni [negative microvita] after death. Wherever these entities happen to see other human beings under the spell of psychic derangement, they incite them to commit suicide.” (Microvita Nutshell, Disembodied Souls and Microvita)

After living in this state for millions of years they are reborn in animal form. Such is their plight.

NO SCOPE FOR SUICIDE IN AM

Those who understand our samskara theory and AM philosophy do not have any attraction or allurement to get rid of any problem by committing suicide.

Top of all those who are sincere margiis never feel depressed.

The conclusion is that nobody wants to die. It only looks like they want to die. In reality their desire is to find a better place to live. Where those religions preach their dogma, there is a lot of suicide cases.

To resolve this issue, we should wholeheartedly propagate the rational teachings of Ananda Marga.

Namaskar,
Divyacaksu

NOTE 1: SUICIDES PER 100,000 PEOPLE PER YEAR

Position Country Male Female Total Year
1 Lithuania 58.5 8.8 31.5 2009
2 South Korea[4] N/A N/A 31.0 2009
3 Kazakhstan 46.2 9.0 26.9 2007
4 Belarus[5][6] N/A N/A 25.3 2010
5 Japan 35.8 13.7 24.4 2007
6 Russia[7] N/A N/A 23.5 2010
7 Guyana 33.8 11.6 22.9 2005
8 Ukraine[8] 40.9 7.0 22.6 2005
9 Hungary[9] 37.1 8.8 21.8 2009
10 Sri Lanka[10] N/A N/A 21.6 1996

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

“A’gun la’giye dile pha’gune e madhuma’se…” (P.S. 1904)

Purport:

In the grand & stunning beauty of this spring season, You have sparked a
fire deep inside my heart. Baba, I am longing for You and crying in pain,
desperately wondering why You are not coming. Baba, You have suddenly
broken the slumber of my sleeping heart– and I yearn for You all the 24 hrs.

Baba, the thin threads of crudity were keeping me in a state of deep
slumber and drowsiness. But, You broke that staticity with the warmth of
Your divine love. By Your karuna I am awake and I live in the hope of
receiving Your grace.

O’ my dearmost Bandhu*, in this universe You are incomparable. You are
beyond space and time. You are cida’ka’she; You are in my mental plate.
Baba, in this spring season, when the whole atmosphere is drenched in
the sweet aroma of flowers, You are not coming. Baba, please grace by
eternally remaining along with me…

*Bandhu = Baba says, ” ‘Atyago sahano bandhu’. The person with whom you
cannot tolerate separation is known as ‘bandhu’. When the tie of love is so
great that a person cannot tolerate any separation from you, he is called
your bandhu. The tie is called bandhanam in Samskrta. It is so strong that
the person cannot remain away from you, cannot tolerate separation from
you….Thus in this world, only Parama Purusa can be bandhu…He is your
everything. You cannot do without Him.” (AV-4)

********************************************
Where to Spend Money

Baba says, “If by building big temples and large rest houses for pilgrims, they think they are showing their love for God, they are false, vain, and hypocritical.” (Ananda Vacanamrtam-7, p.12)

Note: The best utilisation of money is spent in the service of the downtrodden humanity, the common mass. However these days, a few ignorant people are busy erecting Memorials and Mahasamadhi type of buildings and they think they are doing virtuous work. In true sense though there is hardly any difference between making dogmatic temples for Lord Krsna and erecting Mahasamadhi buildings in AM.
********************************************

Read Full Post »

Examples of Useful & Harmful Emotion

From: “gabriel jans”
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:35:48
Subject: Examples of Useful & Harmful Emotion

Baba

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

Purport:

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

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

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

== EXAMPLES OF USEFUL & HARMFUL EMOTION ==

Namaskar,
Emotion plays a huge part in our human life. Without emotion, human
beings do not take action, no matter how much knowledge they have.

For instance, a mother may have all the facts and figures about the
dangers of war, but she will not actively protest against it until her
own son is drafted into the army. Propelled by that emotional feeling,
she will engage in all kinds of activities in order to stop the war.

If you take a moment to think, I am sure you can come up with many
examples in your own life wherein you had the adequate knowledge but did
not act until you developed an emotional link with that particular issue
or practice.

So emotion has a huge impact in our human activity. And that emotion can
drive us in diametrically opposite directions.

Blind emotion will hasten one into all kinds of degrading vices and
harmful dogmas; whereas emotion supported by rationality will thrust one
forward onto the path of dharma.

There are so many present-day examples of how emotion shapes human
activity: Everything from the recent oil spill tragedy in the Gulf of
Mexico to taking tantric initiation, and everything in between. In all
such circumstances, emotion plays a critical role.

As Ananda Margiis, we should be pointedly aware of this, both in
analysing our own actions and in understanding those of others.

BLIND EMOTION IN THE WEST

Currently in the west, although, much of the population is literate and
educated in the worldly sense, many, many fall into various dogmas due
to their emotional attachment.

For instance, romance is a huge aspect of life in the materialistic
nations. With crude romance comes heartbreak – for any number of
reasons. Today, many of the people who have been heartbroken or hurt in
a romantic relationship are now sharing their woes with Juliet – as if
Juliet can empathize and solve their problems.

Now the first thing you may be thinking is: Who is Juliet?

Well, Juliet is one of the main fictitious characters in Shakespeare’s
tragedy: “Romeo and Juliet”. In that drama, written 450+ years ago, the
young couple in love are embattled by family disputes and ultimately die
a most tragic death, without ever being able to express their love for
one another. It is the quintessential tragedy of western literature. And
it is totally fictional – these characters are 100% imaginary – Mr
Shakespeare merely invented them in his own mind.

Yet today, a Juliet website has been devised, and people from far and
wide write in seeking solace about their romantic woes. Because of their
deep emotional link with the female character Juliet – who never even
existed in real life – people are writing to Juliet and pouring their
heart. If they deem their romance to be similar in any way to that of
Romeo and Juliet – i.e. if they are getting tormented by friends and
family – then they write to Juliet and ask for her grace and promise
that, “Just as you died for your lover, I shall do the same.” Juliet
does not even exist, yet they are taking this fictional character to be
their guide.

It is just like if Indian people started writing to Laela’.

Such is what happens when people are consumed by blind emotion. In this
way the educated elite in the west get caught up in praying to dogma,
revering the fictional icons of pseudo-culture.

It is not just limited to their fascination with Juliet, but also Harry
Potter, Luke Skywalker, Rocky Balboa and all kinds of fictional heroes
from the world of pop pseudo-culture. People are enthralled by such
characters and aim to emulate them in all kinds of ways. They dress,
talk, act, and behave like them; they idolize them. They think that such
characters will grant them strength, or fortune, or love, or whatever it
is that they desire. They even name their children after such fictional
characters.

Such are the ways of emotional attachment. The people have the knowledge
that such characters are purely fictional, but even then they are drawn
to them in such a poignant manner.

Now, we must recall that there are positive ways in which emotion can be
used – namely when it is guided by rationality – and that will be
discussed further down in this mailing.

BLIND EMOTION IN THE EAST

Although the east is quickly moving towards western pseudo-culture, and
even their own form of pseudo-culture, the classic example of blind
emotion in India is idol worship. Due to their blind emotional
attachment to various deities, worshipers pray to a piece of stone,
thinking it to be a god. This is the way it unfolds with so many
deities. People ask and pray to their chosen deity for everything, only
because, devoid of a rational outlook, their emotion draws them to this
dogmatic style of worship.

Then of course there is this example from the Sati temple. The imaginary
mother goddess Sati jumped on the funeral pyre of her husband. So
females pray to this goddess because they think that by this way they
will not lose their husband to an early death – rather due to the boon
of mother goddess Sati, they will love together forever with their spouse.

This, and many other examples like it in India, demonstrate how people
become totally blinded by their emotional fervor.

Here again the point is that if people exercise their sense of
rationality, they will easily understand that such deities are imaginary
and cannot help them, however, members of the public become blinded by
their emotion and will even cry at the feet of such deities.

EMOTION AND ITS ROLE IN ATROCITIES AGAINST HUMANITY

AND THE ENVIRONMENT (Part 1)

The field of emotional attachment is not limited to fictional
pseudo-culture characters and / or dogmatic deities.

In real life events, people are swayed or apathetic due to their
emotional attachment to the topic. That covers up their sense of
rationality.

For example, people have knowledge about so many atrocities on this
earth. Years ago in the Vietnam war, American forces used “agent orange”
or dioxin as a means of chemical warfare. Some reports estimate 19
millions gallons was airdropped. Decades later still innocent Vietnamese
families are suffering the effects of those past misdeeds, and the land
became barren and dead. See the images for yourself on-line: Babies are
born with two heads and no legs, the landscape has been permanently
damaged- indeed thousands and thousands of gruesome tales can be told
about the ill-effects of agent orange.

Yet the American public is mostly unmoved. They have the knowledge that
this was going on, but they are not emotionally attached with those
events. Hence those tragedies remain mostly ignored. Those sufferers
needed medical attention but the US government did not even consider
that any injustice was done. So there was no question of compensation –
neither in the form of medical care nor money.

Today however, when a huge oil spill has taken place off the southern
shores of the USA, in the gulf of Mexico, the entire American populace
is in an uproar. Because they are emotionally attached with their
beaches, waters and natural wildlife. While far worse environmental
tragedies have happened elsewhere but due to a lack of emotional
attachment those things go quietly.

No doubt it is good that the US populace is taking a stand against the
oil spill, the irony is that had they taken an equally strong stand
against such disasters elsewhere, then this tragedy could verily have
been averted.

The key point to remember in all of this is that: When emotion is moving
in a haphazard manner – i.e. devoid of rationality – then so many
degrading and dogmatic things will occur, and so many good opportunities
will be missed. Whereas when it is supported by rationality then great
works can be done.

EMOTION AND ITS ROLE IN ATROCITIES AGAINST HUMANITY

AND THE ENVIRONMENT (Part 2)

Here are many more examples of how emotion gets misused in society – it
becomes a blind force that allows people to both unleash terror and
overlook horror.

Here it should be noted that, there are positive ways that emotion is
used and that will be outlined further down in this letter.

1. At present, all the terrorists groups rely on blind emotion to
recruit youths and blind supporter to commit all sorts of crimes like
car bombings, machine gun attacks, and other heinous crimes. The youths
lose all sense of rationality and are just stirred up into an emotional
fervor wherein they will do anything, totally blinded by their emotions.

2. In the west, bound by their blind emotion, people spend huge money on
their pets and will even kiss their cat or dog; they talk and share
their feelings with their dog. they are totally emotionally attached.
Yet they will overlook the cries of starving humanity. Devoid of any
rational approach, people can overlook the pain of a suffering child or
fallen man, but they will give their wholehearted love and attention to
their cat.

3. Similarly, people will watch after their pets with extreme care yet
when it comes time to sit down for dinner, they will cut into a steak
(slaughtered cow) without thinking a second thought. Their lack of
rationality and huge emotional attachment allows them to indulge in such
duplicitous behaviour.

4. And of course in our Marga there are numerous ways in which emotion
blinds people – especially in the case of our present group clashes.
People get attached with a particular group or leader and then justify
all the misdeeds of that group. Most recently this happened with SS
Goenka. On the one hand blinded by his own attachment Goenkaji is
calling B group the Pandavas, and side by side this is the same group
that struck down Abhipremanandji to his bloody death. Plus there are
so many instances wherein people express their support for H group
or EC – once again we know that this is just their emotional blindness,
nothing more, since these groups are also guided by selfishness etc.
Ours is the path of rationality and dharma, not any group sentiment.

Thus, emotion by itself is a blind force and is bound to lead humanity
down the wrong road. When emotion is moving in haphazard way – i.e.
devoid of rationality – then so many degrading and dogmatic things will
occur.

EMOTION AS A POSITIVE FORCE

By Baba’s grace, emotion can also be used in a positive manner when in
coordination with rationality.

When a person thinks, “I should do something – I should follow dharma”,
and when this is done with their emotional force, then good things happen.

For instance, many have entered AM and taken diiksa based on this
emotional propulsion guided by rationality. In the same way, others have
served as LFT’s, WT’s, etc. Without that emotional-cum-rational feeling
they would not have been moved into action. They may have had knowledge
of Ananda Marga and dharma, but without that close emotional and
rational link they would not have done anything.

So in these positive cases, one’s emotional flow is not haphazard,
rather it is guided by rationality.

Similarly, with their emotional and rational attachment to Baba, i.e.
devotion to Baba, many have given their lives for the great cause and
others have stood up to fight dogma and oppose injustice. Even they have
given up all their friends and faced all kinds of opposition due to
their emotional-cum-rational attachment to Baba’s teachings.

So emotion need not always be a liability. When linked with rationality
it can lift one onto the field of dharma.

SUMMARY

So long as one’s emotions are not guided by rationality, regardless of
how well educated they are, there are bound to problems – problems of
epic proportions. This is one idea.

Secondly, if people have knowledge, they will not do anything until they
have an emotional link to the situation at hand. If that emotional link
is blind they will fall prey to dogma and misdeeds and if combinded with
rationality that person can do great things for humanity.

Thirdly, emotion should always be guided by a mind open in 360 degrees,
and not be linked with any selfishness or group agenda.

Fourthly, because of emotion, people often do not do what they should
do, or do what they should not do. So it is a tricky force. Even
educated people commonly fall into this trap.

Fifth, the only answer is neo-humanistic education and AM spiritual
practices. Buoyed by these rational and devotional forces, one emotional
feeling will be used in solely for positive endeavours.

Finally, when standing alone the emotional mind moves towards dogma and
when guided by rationality that mind becomes a strong and dharmic force.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace He has blessed us with all the proper teachings to
succeed in life and not be blinded by the haphazard flow of emotion. The
Juliet story – wherein people share their heartfelt feelings due to
their emotional link with a fictitious character – is but an example of
how blind the human personae can become when goaded haphazardly by emotion.

We should all take proper care to ensure we are always moving along the
methodical path of emotion known as devotion. Then great works can and
will be done on this earth and the sadhaka will attain the Supreme stance.

Baba says, “Now, even those who are advocates of devotional or emotional
faculties say that people get propensive propulsion from devotion or
emotion. When the mind moves along a particular track or follows a
particular discipline in a methodical way, this is called “devotion” or
bhakti; but when it does not follow a particular method, when it moves
haphazardly, swept away by whim, it is called “emotion”. This is the
fundamental difference between devotion and emotion. You must know this
clear-cut silver line of demarcation between devotion and emotion.” (YP)

Baba says, “Those who adhere to this cult of pinnacled order know that
there must be a happy blending amongst intellectual-cum-intuitional
faculty, actional faculty and devotional-cum-emotional faculty. None of
these is unimportant, all are of equal importance, but the finality
comes in devotion. That is, the final outcome or resultant of
intellectual-cum-intuitional faculty and actional faculty is devotion,
not emotion.” (YP)

Baba says, “If one wants to realize an entity, does one realize it only
through knowledge? No, certainly not. To realize an entity, one must
possess a loving heart, a sweet intellect, and a free flow of emotion…
I said a little earlier that by merging one’s individual sweetness into
the sweetest entity, the realization, “You exist, only You exist,”
becomes firmly established. One becomes finally ensconced in that
Supreme Entity. There is no other way. And this self-knowledge is the
sweetest essence of the devotional feeling of one’s heart.” (NSS, Disc: 12)

Namaskar,
Gautam

***************************************
Like New Born Baby and Mother

Baba says, “It is a law of nature that nature provides a mother with
sufficient breast milk to feed her newly-born baby. In the same way, nature
provides sufficient resources like food and other essential requirements
for all human beings. Human beings need only utilize these resources in a
proper way. Shortages of food and space cannot be blamed on nature. These
problems have been artificially created by the folly of human beings.”
(PNS-13, p.45)
***************************************

Read Full Post »

Watch Out! This Tragedy Can Happen Anywhere

Date: Fri, 02 Apr 2010 12:04:43 -0000 (GMT)
From: Jayashrii
Subject: Watch Out! This Tragedy Can Happen Anywhere
To: AM-GLOBAL

Baba

“Jeo na’ ogo prabhu, anek katha’ a’che ba’kii…” -P.S. #683

Purport:

Baba, oh Prabhu please do not go away. Please remain with me– I have
many a tale to tell You. Please come to my home. Please understand this
unique opportunity: I am all alone in the house. Nobody is here, so
please come.

Baba, in pleasure and pain, during both negative and positive
situations, all the time I am calling You. And always I am remembering
Your name. During all the 24 hours, whatever I do, my hands are always
busy in work but my mind is at Your lotus feet. I remember You; it is
Your grace. Even if I risk losing everything I want You to my heart’s
content.

Baba, You understand my entire situation but You never console me. I
am surrounded by the darkness these days. I do not have any happiness.
Baba I do not want anything from You, only this much I want: That You
please come close and sit beside me. The doors & windows of my mind are
always open in longing for You, waiting for Your arrival.

Baba my Lord, please do not go away leaving me deserted. Always
remain in my heart…

== WATCH OUT! THIS TRAGEDY CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE ==

Namaskar,
Bullying is a growing problem in schools where bigger, mean-spirited
kids physically assault and/or mentally harass their peers. Whereas it
used to only happen in the hallways of schools, now it happens
throughout cyberspace and the digital world as well as via
person-to-person contact in schools and neighborhoods. That makes life
extremely difficult for victims.

Tragedy struck recently when one victim of bullying, 14 yr old Phoebe
Prince (MA, USA), took her own life by hanging herself in her own house
after undergoing a particularly harsh week of bullying tactics. The news
article is appended below for your review.

That small town never imagined such a horrifying tragedy could take
place in their midst. But it can. And it can happen near you as well. So
beware and take proper precautions.

We should all carefully watch our children and be intimately aware of
what is happening in their lives, especially those in their early teens.
Open communication and loving support are two of the main ways to ensure
school bullying does not affect the life of your children.

Then of course there are pathways of community action and school
involvement.

WHO IS MOST PRONE TO BULLYING

There are two parallel running themes that most endangers youths to the
perils of bullying.

1) Children affected by materialism view school more as a venue for
dating and sexual presentation than anything else. This leads to
jealously, name-calling and fighting.

2) A lack of parental love leaves kids without a base or foundation in
life. In that case their school life is their entire support system.
Hence when school bullying occurs, they have nothing left to fall back on.

Both of the above can be explored more deeply and explained at length.
There are facts, statistics and studies available.

Suffice to say here that capitalism draws most moms out of the house for
full-time work endeavours in which case they are rarely around their
children. Secondly, when the whole pseudo-culture media market revolves
around sexual allurement and body image etc, then naturally young
impressionable kids are deeply molded in this way, especially in this
cell phone, internet era.

Wherever capitalism abounds, all kinds of social issues like school
bullying are bound to crop up. Unfortunately now capitalism is only
spreading more and more.

Everyone should be alert. Below my signature please read the tragic case
of the young Phoebe Prince who took her life. The report is from the
Boston Globe.

Namaskar,
Jayashrii

THE UNTOUCHABLE MEAN GIRLS

By Kevin Cullen
Globe Columnist / January 24, 2010

Like a lot of kids her age, Phoebe Prince was a swan, always beautiful
and sometimes awkward.

Last fall, she moved from Ireland * *into western Massachusetts, a new
town, a new high school, a new country, a new culture. She was 15, when
all that matters is being liked and wearing the right clothes and just
fitting in.

She was a freshman and she had a brief fling with a senior, a football
player, and for this she became the target of the Mean Girls, who
decided then and there that Phoebe didn’t know her place and that Phoebe
would pay.

Kids can be mean, but the Mean Girls took it to another level, according
to students and parents. They followed Phoebe around, calling her a
slut. When they wanted to be more specific, they called her an Irish slut.

The name-calling, the stalking, the intimidation was relentless.

Ten days ago, Phoebe was walking home from school when one of the Mean
Girls drove by in a car. An insult and an energy drink can came flying
out the car window in Phoebe’s direction.

Phoebe kept walking, past the abuse, past the can, past the white picket
fence, into her house. Then she walked into a closet and hanged herself.
Her 12-year-old sister found her.

You would think this would give the bullies who hounded Phoebe some
pause. Instead, they went on Facebook and mocked her in death.

They told State Police detectives they did nothing wrong, had nothing to
do with Phoebe killing herself.

And then they went right back to school and started badmouthing Phoebe.

They had a dance, a cotillion, at the Log Cabin in Holyoke two days
after Phoebe’s sister found her in the closet, and some who were there
say one of the Mean Girls bragged about how she played dumb with the
detectives who questioned her.

Last week, one of the Springfield TV stations sent a crew to South
Hadley High to talk to the kids.

One girl was interviewed on camera, and she said what was common
knowledge: that bullies were stalking the corridors of South Hadley High.

As soon as the TV crew was out of sight, one of the Mean Girls came up
and slammed the girl who had been interviewed against a locker and
punched her in the head.

The Mean Girls are pretty, and popular, and play sports.

So far, they appear to be untouchable, too.

South Hadley is a nice, comfortable middle-class suburb that hugs the
Connecticut River nearby and a certain attitude.

“Things like this aren’t supposed to happen in South Hadley,’’ said
Darby O’Brien, a high school parent, wondering why the bullies who
tormented Phoebe are still in school. “And so instead of confronting the
evil among us, the reality that there are bullies roaming the corridors
at South Hadley High, people are blaming the victim, looking for excuses
why a 15-year-old girl would do this. People are in denial.’’

School officials say there are three investigations going on. They say
these things take time.

That doesn’t explain why the Mean Girls who tortured Phoebe remain in
school, defiant, unscathed.

“What kind of message does this send to the good kids?’’ O’Brien asked.
“How many kids haven’t come forward to tell what they know because they
see the bullies walking around untouched?’’

They were supposed to hold a big meeting on Tuesday to talk about all
this, but now that’s off for a couple of weeks.

O’Brien is thinking about going to that meeting and suggesting that they
have the kids who bullied Phoebe look at the autopsy photos.

“Let them see what a kid who hung herself looks like,’’ he said.

Last week, Phoebe was supposed to visit Ireland, where she grew up, and
she was excited because she was going to see her father for the first
time in months.

She did end up going back to Ireland after all, and when her father saw
her she was in a casket.

Phoebe’s family decided to bury her in County Clare. They wanted an
ocean between her and the people who hounded her to the grave.

—

Phoebe Prince Update:

Nine Teens Charged in Girl’s Suicide

March 29, 2010 5:04 PM

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (CBS/AP) Nine teenagers face charges for allegedly
hounding and harassing 15-year-old Irish immigrant Phoebe Prince,
bullying her to the point where she hanged herself to end her misery.

Out of the nine teens, two boys are charged with statutory rape and they
and a clique of girls are facing charges including stalking, criminal
harassment and violating Phoebe’s civil rights.

School officials are not charged even though authorities say they knew
the girl was being bullied and they didn’t stop the harassment even
after Prince’s mother came to two of them with her concerns.

Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel said the events before
the teen’s death on Jan. 14 were “the culmination of a nearly
three-month campaign of verbally assaultive behavior and threats of
physical harm” widely known among the student body.

The 15-year-old was insulted and threatened almost from her first day at
South Hadley High School, bullying her in the halls, library and through
text messages. Prince was harassed for having a short relationship with
a popular boy in school.

On the day she hung herself, Prince was pelted with a beverage container
and cursed at as she walked home from school.

Scheibel said the harassment began in September, occurring primarily in
school and in person, although some of it surfaced on Facebook and in
other electronic forms. At least four students and two faculty members
intervened to try to stop it or report it to administrators, she said.

Prince’s family has since moved away from the area.

Some students accused of participating in the bullying have been
disciplined by the school and will not be returning to classes.

The teens who face criminal charges under the indictments announced
Monday are:

Sean Mulveyhill, 17, of South Hadley. Charged with statutory rape,
violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury, criminal
harassment and disturbance of a school assembly.

Kayla Narey, 17, of South Hadley. Charged with violation of civil rights
resulting in bodily injury, criminal harassment and disturbance of a
school assembly.

Austin Renaud, 18, of Springfield. Charged with statutory rape.

Ashley Longe, 16, of South Hadley. Charged as a youthful offender with
violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury.

Sharon Chanon Velazquez, 16, of South Hadley. Charged as a youthful
offender with stalking and violation of civil rights resulting in bodily
injury.

Flannery Mullins, 16, of South Hadley. Charged as a youthful offender
with stalking and violation of civil rights resulting in bodily injury.

Three 16-year-old South Hadley girls, whose names were not released,
face delinquency charges that include the civil rights offense, criminal
harassment and disturbance of a school assembly.

—

Note: MORE LETTERS RELATED WITH THIS TOPIC

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2010/02/remain-aware-about-your-childs-problem.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2008/10/current-trend-neglected-child.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/06/pathetic-understanding-about-oneself.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/03/being-raised-in-west.html

********************************************
Love For All

Baba says, “The sense of differentiation and distinction are of no value
to devotees. For them, all become one, all discriminations disappear.
Only human beings can have this type of mentality and that is why they
are superior to all other beings.” (AV-7, p.12)
********************************************

Read Full Post »

Stand of AM: Ending Life Prematurely

Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:36:48 -0000 (GMT)
From: Singh_Manindra
Subject: Stand of AM: Ending Life Prematurely
To: AM-GLOBAL

Baba

“Jamiin a’sama’n tumha’ra’, tumha’ra’ jaha’n sa’ra’…” (P.S. 4335)

Purport:

Baba, this earth & this vast blue sky belongs to You. Not only that, but
this entire universe is Your property. You are the sole owner of
everything. I am Yours; You are mine. I want to move according to Your
direction. You are my everything.

You are the source of all energy. Whatever strength the sun has, it is
coming from You. Similarly whatever fragrance comes from the flower garden,
that is Your fragrance. You are the divine Entity which decorates
everyone’s heart.

Baba, You are always with everyone in sorrow as well as in happiness,
equally. You are always residing in my heart; in Your longing my eyes are
showering tears. Baba, You are the controller of everything. This entire
created world belongs to You. You are mine and I am Yours…

== STAND OF AM: ENDING LIFE PREMATURELY ==

Namaskar,
In our Ananda Marga, human life is regarded as something invaluable and
highly treasured. The gift of human life is not easily gotten and once
achieved it should be used to follow the path of bhagavata dharma. This we
all know and are doing.

So just as our Marga protects the rights of the baby and is against
abortion, similarly we support the idea that one’s life should not be
curtailed prematurely– without an ideal in mind.

Because sometimes human life gets prematurely curtailed due to extreme
circumstances. From time to time this happens and that is what is discussed
here below.

SELF-IMMOLATION VS SUICIDE

It is not uncommon that people get confused between the terms:
self-immolation and suicide. In AM though, self-immolation has a deeper
meaning; self-immolation is not achieved just by lighting oneself on fire.
That alone is not self-immolation according to our spiritual way of thinking.

The reasoning behind this is very simple and clear. The act of
self-immolation is intrinsically linked with one’s ideation and outlook. If
at the time when someone leaves their body they have true cosmic ideation,
then that person becomes one with Brahma. And with that ideation only does
it qualify as self-immolation.

If however that cosmic ideation is not present at the time of leaving the
body– and instead one is following a narrow-minded or dogmatic approach,
then that person will become the object of what they were thinking. Means
they will convert themselves into crudeness. So if one kills themselves
while in that distinctly lower state of mind, such a death is the sinful
act of suicide– not the higher ideal of self-immolation.

EXAMPLE FROM ANANDA MARGA

For example when our Dadas did self-immolation in the past during the
1970s, their mind was infused with Cosmic ideation. They did not have any
group, party, national, or any sectarian religious interest. Rather they
died exclusively for the great cause of Bhagavad Dharma. And because the
ideation of the Great was dominating in their mind, then they became one
with Parama Purusa.

Whereas if the thought of some narrow party or nation is flooding one’s
thought waves at the time of one’s demise, then that person will become
transformed directly into matter etc. Their approach is suicide and they
will become negative microvita. Because that action was devoid of ideation
on Parama Purusa.

CLEAR-CUT DIFFERENCE

Thus there is no question of dilemma or misunderstanding about the
difference between self-immolation and suicide. This point is crystal clear
point. If one’s ideation is supreme then the result is also supreme; and if
one’s way of thinking is narrow then the result is narrow, i.e. negative
microvita.

So it is quite clear that in the ongoing cases of self-destructive bombings
in the name of Islam or Judaism etc, then those dogmatic persons committed
suicide. And they became negative microvita.

Here following are various teachings & explanations which Baba has give
about this topic.

SUICIDE IS SAME AS HOMICIDE

First and foremost, according to Baba’s guideline, suicide itself is
condemnable. Because when Parama Purusa has given a human body, and because
of any reason if someone purposefully kills themself, then they are
inviting the same amount of sin as if they were killing another human being
(homicide).

The point is that when Parama Purusa has supplied this human body, nobody
has the right to destroy it by demolishing themselves. If anybody kills
oneself, it means in future they will not be graced by new human life.

For example, if you give a pen a paper to one very small 6 month old
infant, and then the baby tears up the paper and throws it away on the
ground, and chews the pen and throws it outside the window. Then his loving
parents will think that this baby is not yet ready for those things. Let it
grow more, then I will provide these materials.

Same way, Parama Purusa does not grant new human life to people after they
commit suicide. Rather, the died person will have to wait a very, very long
period. Even as long as millions of years. Because when someone has
committed suicide, it may take millions of years to wander as negative
microvita. So killing oneself is an abominable act.

BABA IS AGAINST SUICIDE

In His discourses Baba has clearly warned for people not to commit suicide.

Specifically in the book Microvita in a Nutshell, Baba addresses the topic of
disembodied souls. And there he has given a graphic explanation about the
negativity of suicide:

Baba says, “People who commit suicide due to humiliation, psychic distortion,
frustration or the overpowering influence of excessive attachment, anger,
greed, vanity, jealousy, etc. get the status of kabandha yoni after death.
Wherever these entities happen to see other human beings under the spell of
psychic derangement, they incite them to commit suicide.” (MVNS p.100)

So this Kabandha is one type of negative microvita. According Baba’s
teaching, such unholy acts like the miner’s suicide in Bolivia was done
under the spell of those ghastly microvita.

Even then some ignorant persons think that by destroying their existence
they will become historical or eternally famous. But I think this is one
type of psychic disease. Nothing more. And it is well known all around the
globe. In general as well as in Ananda Marg society. That, committing
suicide is not some type of glorified action. Rather it is a negative,
psychic disease. It is done by very weak, disturbed, tense, fragile
persons. Those who have strong mind, they never invite such negative
thoughts.

Anyhow, because of any reason if any person commits suicide then surely
they do not get human life again easily. By the story which Baba narrated
in Shabda Cayanika part 2, this picture is very clear. Where Baba is
describing that the British official officer “Sahib” killed himself. And so
many years passed, and his unembodied soul was living in that government
bungalow. And when Baba in his tour visited that bungalow, then because of
His divine compassion Baba blessed the Sahib. Otherwise the Sahib would
have been still under punishment. Even though he was feeling deep
repentance of the crime of suicide which he did.

STORY FROM SHABDA CAYANIKA

Here is that excerpt from Shabda Cayanika where the Sahib who committed
suicide is describing his terrible fate.

“Today I realize what a horrendous mistake I made. …This path of suicide
that I have taken to save my honour has crudified me so much that even
after such a long time I cannot find any deliverance. These days I am
utterly helpless. …Oh, what a painful bondage! Is there no path left open
to me to attain peace! Is there no ointment I can apply which will soothe
the burning of my bondage!” (SC-2 p.66)

Thus it is only Baba’s causeless grace that He granted him (the Sahib) a
better life.

SUICIDE IS TOTALLY NEGATIVE

So all these above Baba’s teachings clearly demonstrates that in a weak
moment, nobody should invite their own disaster by committing suicide. Not
only that, it is our duty as a true devotee of Baba to guide others when
they are feeling depressed or devastated or unsure of themselves. Thus we
hould be prepared and warn them that committing suicide invites long-term
rreparable damage. And that ‘long-term’ means thousands and thousands of
years of punishment. Because the life span of negative microvita is not
limited to ten, twenty, or one hundred years. But far longer than that.

So the entire act of committing suicide is meek and cowardly. Look in this
way. Nowadays all around, in general society, serious negativity is going
on. Their food habits, dogma, and communal rights, and innumerable
problems. And they do not have any proper ideology to move on in the right
direction. So in this situation, our duty is to guide them and bring on the
proper path.

LEAD OTHERS ONTO THE PATH OF LIFE (DHARMA)

So when we are seeing the very low standard of general society where so
many people are mentally imbalanced, then we must never encourage this type
of cowardice mentality. Rather with a full voice of courage and compassion
we should guide them in the proper direction.

Because the duty of sadvipras is to recognise and undergo the problem and
then gain victory. Because, in Ananda Sutram, Baba says “Badha’…laksye”.
Means obstacles are the helping force to reach to the Goal.

So suicide is one sinful act that goes against the essence of humanity and
it should never be confused with the higher ideal of self-immolation. (See
Note 3 and Note 4)

Of course since we have all adopted the sanctified path of AM, then our
success in all the spheres of life is guaranteed.

Baba says, “Ananda Marga is that path of progress, and that is why Ananda
Marga is the only alternative for the preservation of human existence and
civilization.” (PNS-6, p. 62)

Namaskar,
Manindra

Note 1: FOLLOWING STANDARD OF AM

In AM we have our own unique understanding of particular words. And
the surrounding society may have a different way of explaining the same
term. In this way a word can take on multiple definitions and usages. But
we should never indulge in those other interpretations.

For example, general society members may tell that self-immolation
is any form of self-induced death. But in our Marga we will never agree to
such a statement because our understanding of self-immolation is related
with our spiritual outlook. And like this there are many such examples
where words or phrases in the general society take on a vastly different
meaning than how we use the term in AM.

For instance: yajina. In Hindu society yajina means throwing rice
into the sacrificial fire whereas in AM yajina is a complete system of
serving the entire society– from plants to the great rishis. Here is
another example. Take the case of dharma. In AM dharma has the special
meaning of bhagavad dharma, related with vistara, rasa, seva and tadsthiti.

But the surrounding sectors of society have a different understanding where
all day long they are talking about Hindu dharma, or Musselman dharma, or
Christian dharma. So when we say dharma we are talking about a
universalistic approach based on spiritual values whereas the general
society in India uses dharma in accompaniment with any of the dogmatic
religions.

And like this the same type of differences can be pointed out for
so many terms such as shraddha, dharmacakra, puja, and so many others. So
in AM we have our understanding based on the sublime teachings of Taraka
Brahma and in the outside society they use the term according to local
social habits etc. The conclusive point is that when we use any term then
always it is based on the standard of AM. And in this letter that we are
following with respect to the term self-immolation.

Note 2: VARIES FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY

In various countries suicide is viewed differently. In Japan committing
suicide is not treated as a crime. But in India, it is a crime. Although if
the person has died, then that is over. But in Britain, if the person is
alive or dead then the person is responsible and it is a punishable
offense. But the overriding idea is that whatever the laws and social
viewpoints may be, according to cardinal human values suicide is sin.

Note 3: MICROVITA

There are seven types of microvita. Some are positive, some are negative.
But those who are very crude, negative, demonic type of people, those who
are engaged in harming others in their whole life, after their demise they
will become pretayoni. Very negative, nefarious type of microvita. They
inspire others to do very negative and dirty things. So this pretayoni is
one of the lowest categories of very negative microvita, which does not
come in even the ordinary negative type of microvita…Pretayoni means
“most detrimental one”. Kabandha is one of them, which inspires others to
commit suicide in their weak moment. For more information, please read the whole
article “Disembodied Souls and Microvita”.

********************************************
Think On This

Baba says, “Human Society is one and indivisible, don’t try to divide it.
Each and every individual should be looked upon as the manifestation of the
Cosmic Entity.” (Ananda Vanii, #21)

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

Read Full Post »