Special Privileges: Cause of Disunity

Date: 15 Jun 2013 23:05:16 -0000

Baba

== Special Privileges: Cause of Disunity ==

“A casteless society: Caste is another important factor which disrupts society. The evils of the caste system are nowhere better known than in India. For unity in society, there should not be any small groupings within the society claiming economic and social privileges.” (AFPS-7, Social Psychology)

Note: According to Baba’s above teaching, wherever a section of society gets special privileges and benefits then that will severely threaten unity. Because instead of the entire collective body living arm-in-arm according to the same rules and procedures, there is mounting tension between various human groups because one particular group is getting special advantages. Across history and throughout the present-day society, there are countless examples.

For instance, nowadays in Israel the ultra-orthodox Jews have been receiving special financial benefits in the form of welfare bonuses as well as preferential treatment regarding the military. Specifically, they have been given a special pardon and hence have not been required to participate in Israel’s military draft. The rules for them are different. This has led to resentment, protests, and heated debates within Israeli society – and unity has been hampered – even disabled.

For the reason we need look no further than Sadguru Baba’s guideline.

“For unity in society, there should not be any small groupings within the society claiming economic and social privileges.”

We see similar effects in the Indian caste system where harijains (dalits) are scheduled castes and have been granted special privileges in the form of economic gifts and job quotas, irrespective of financial need. That means if there is a harijan who is millionaire then still that harijan will be given special economic benefits from the central government, whereas a beggar from a higher caste will not receive economic support from the state. That type of preferential treatment leads to strained relations, hatred and even riots between members of society.

In contrast, if on an economic basis, poor people are getting financial support from the central government or state, then that is supported by Prout.

In today’s AMPS, PP dada has special privileges and those in Centre do not like to accept a lower post. It is this very sense of entitlement that causes opportunism and distrust. In result, tensions rise and the lines are drawn. Under such circumstance unity can never be achieved. Because there cannot be special rights based on one’s birth or social status.

Here again is Baba’s guideline:.

“For unity in society, there should not be any small groupings within the society claiming economic and social privileges.”
Namaskar,
in Him,
Rasadeva

************************
“Path ceye bose chinu dhare, ele a’ji ghan varasa’y…” (P.S. 3226)

Purport:

O’ Divine Entity, since ages I was sitting on the path of Your arrival waiting to have Your darshan. All the good days passed by, yet now, in the pouring rain You have taken a lot of trouble come to me. You are so gracious. In this rainy season, the misty pollen fragrance of my ketakii [1] flower is floating all around. Its aroma is permeating all over in this misty rainy season.

O’ Parama Purusa, with deep yearning in my heart, in the effulgence of the day, I have searched for You. I have looked for You also in the pitch dark night in the stars, planets, nebulae, everywhere. O’ my Lord, I have searched You in each and every nook and corner of the deep blue sky – in which unknown place were You hiding. I could not get You anywhere.

My hot days [2] of summer have passed away. In calling and longing of You the tired night passed away and dawn [3] has arisen – and You have come. O’ Parama Purusa Baba, in the course of waiting for You, in that long span, the garland which I prepared for You has become dry and withered away – now only the thread is in my hand.

Baba, O’ my dearmost One, now in this situation how will I receive and honor You. Now in this pouring rain You have advented next to me. Baba, You have showered infinite grace by coming close to me. I surrender at Your lotus feet…

NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #3226:

[1] Ketakii flower: The screw-pine flower or tree is part of the Pandanaceae family or genus Pandanus. This tree has dagger-like leaves and is commonly found throughout SE Asia. This flower is known for its charming fragrance. It flowers especially in the rainy season and the strong aroma permeates the sair for miles around. In addition, the plant contains many thorns.

[2] Tapt divas: Literally meaning hot days and the inner sense is the terrible and difficult days of my life.

[3] Bhor: After a long span of life, when much time has passed then finally the awaited moment arrives. Hence the literal meaning is early morning or dawn, but the poetic idea is having passed a long time in waiting for the time to come.

Making the Unit Vast

Date: 15 Jun 2013 07:43:32 -0000

Baba

== MAKING THE UNIT VAST ==

PRABHAT SAMGIITA #2425

“Vira’t’ toma’r bha’vana’y jato ks’udrata’ bhese ja’y…” (PS 2425)

Purport:

O’ Vira’t*, O’ Parama Purusa, You are so vast and great. By Your ideation, all the lowly feelings of meanness and narrowness get blown away – they vanish entirely.

O’ my Lord, with just a wee-bit of Your divine grace, the tiny, meagre drop of water becomes one with the vast, infinite ocean. By Your grace the unit becomes one with the Cosmic; the individual I-feeling becomes vast and ultimately becomes one with You. Baba, by ideating on You, the unit becomes You; and You are the Goal.

O’ Parama Purusa Baba, by thinking about You and chanting Your name – by involving in Your practices like asana, pranayama, dharana and dhyana – then one ordinary human being can reach unto You.

Baba, Your ideation & Your grace is everything…

NOTE FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #2425:

* Vira’t: This is one of the innumerable names and attributions of Parama Purusa. And according to Ananda Marga philosophy vira’t means something very vast – infinite. Thus the term vira’t reflects His Supreme Greatness and Glory.

“Parama Purus’a is very great, very very great. When the greatness becomes immeasurable, unfathomable, it is called vira’t in Sam’skrta.” (PNS-17, The Significance of Language)

Note: In common spoken Bengali, the use of the term vira’t is improper – they corrupted the word. Because in everyday Bengali speech, they use this term vira’t to represent ordinary, finite, measurable things like trees or buildings. So this is the wrong use of the term vira’t. And Baba condemns this. Thus, the common Bengali use of the term vira’t goes against Ananda Marga ideology.

OTHER LETTERS OF INTEREST

In case you are not on this other network, here are some recent letters that may be of interest:

(1) How one Baba Story book by a family acarya went astray by praising a dogmatic preacher:

http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2013/06/harmful-person-is-praised.html

(2) How Ananda Marga is a unique and special approach that appreciates aspects of east and west:

http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2013/06/some-blindly-running-east-some-west.html

(3) An expose on a tactic employed by certain organisational leaders to gain loyalty:

http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-loyalty-is-bought-sold-in-our.html

Namaskar,
In Him,
Vishnu

You Need Not Go to Tiljala or Jamalpur

Date: 13 Jun 2013 08:16:08 -0000

Baba

YOU NEED NOT GO TO TILJALA OR JAMALPUR

TO MEET PARAMA PURUSA, BABA

LOOK WITHIN – HE IS THERE

Note: A link to the actual sound file of this song has been uploaded here. (Note: This is a clear recording, though there is a “cut” in the middle of the song. If anyone has a more complete or better version, kindly let us know.)

Namaskar,
The review of the below Prabhat Samgiita #1125 is comprised of five distinct sections:

(A) Special Note on Spelling & Pronunciation

(B) Transliteration

(C) Line Meaning

(D) Notes

(E) Purport

Please be sure to read each section carefully and they build upon each other. Please do send your suggestions, comments and thoughts.

SPECIAL NOTE ON SPELLING & PRONUNCIATION

Here is the full song using phonetic spelling. That seems to be the most conducive way for the majority of readers to get the proper pronunciation.

For instance, take the English words “know” or “knowledge”. Without having first memorized the pronunciation, people will pronounce those words as “Ka-now” or “Kay-Now” and “Kay-Now-La-Di-Ge”,respectively. Simply sounding out the letters will not produce the desired result. Because in the English language, spelling and pronunciation must be memorized. Otherwise it is not possible to pronounce words properly.

Same is the case with Bengali.

For example, in the second line of the below song #1125, the actual spelling of the first three words is pa’oya’ ye ya’ya but unless one knows Bangla well, they will mispronounce it. Hence we have given the phonetic spelling, pa’va’ je ja’y. Then even new readers will be able to pronounce the words correctly when listening to and singing the song.

Here is another example. The actual spelling of the word in the last line is bendhecha, but that will not yield the proper pronunciation for non-native speakers; hence, we spelled it as bendhecho. With this phonetic spelling, readers will get the right pronunciation. Indeed there are many such examples.

Only native Bengali speakers – or those extremely fluent in Bangla and familiar with Prabhat Samgiita – will pronounce all the words correctly. Yet everyone wishes to listen to and sing Prabhat Samgiita and enjoy the song. If the lyrics are written in a technical manner then people will not be able to pronounce all the words properly. Hence the decision to write it phonetically.

With regard to the repetition of certain lines when the song is sung, while listening to the song you will just have to be alert and adjust accordingly as all the original lines are present below.

PRABHAT SAMGIITA #1125

Vishva ma’jhe toma’y khunje pa’va’ je dus’kar
Pa’va’ je ja’y hole he krpa’r a’kar

Ajasra shiirs’a tumi je, ajasra buddhi je ra’je
Buddhibale vidya’bale tumii para’tpar

Ajasra caks’ute ajasra mamata’ ra’kho
Otao proto saba’r sa’the bendhecho je ghar

LINE MEANING OF PRABHAT SAMGIITA #1125

O Lord, searching You in the external world is impossible. O’ Treasure of Grace, O’ Divine Entity, You can only be attained when You bestow Your grace.

Baba, You have innumerable heads [1] and are possessed with an infinite intellect. In the realms of intellect and knowledge, You stand above all.

Baba, You see all with innumerable eyes, and have infinite mamata’ [2] for everyone. With the bond of Your ota and prota yoga [3], You have made this entire creation into one universal family. [4]

NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #1125

[1] Innumerable Heads (ajasra shiirs’a): Parama Purusa sees everything in all directions; He watches everything and does everything. His intellect is infinite. That is why it is explained that He has infinite heads. In Subhasita Samgraha it is said:

“This Puruśa is sahasrashiirsá. In Saḿskrta “Sahasra” means one thousand but in Vedic language “sahasra” means “many”. One person works with one brain. He works according to it and his praise and criticism is also done accordingly. But Puruśa is Sahasrashirśa; He works with innumerable brains. So if the unit tries to compete with the Cosmic, he is bound to be defeated. It is quite natural. We work with our brain but Parama Puruśa works with all the brains of the world. He works with this collective brain and He is its master. The portion which has not been converted into brain cells remains as matter, so it also has the potentiality of a brain. That is why He is sahasrashiirśá.” (Subhasita Samgraha, part 18, Microcosm and Macrocosm)

[2] Ajasra Mamata’: Ajasra means unlimited; and, following is the definition of mamata’.

“What is the meaning of “mamatá”? Mama + tá = mamatá. Mama means “mine” and thus mamatá is the inner idea of being mine, the feeling that something is my own.” (Ananda Vacanamrtam, Part 7, The True Nature of Bhakti)

[3] Ota-Prota Yoga: In Subhasita Samgraha part 17, the meaning of ota yoga and prota yoga has been given in English. Ota yoga is “individual tactuality” between Parama Purusa and the unit entity; and, prota yoga is “collective tactuality” between Parama Purusa and all the entities, simultaneously.

The above definition is exclusively describing the intimate relation between Parama Purusa and His jiivas through His ota & prota yoga. This same devotional term has been explained in a slightly different manner in the following discourse.

“What is ota-yoga? He as the Cosmic Father has a direct relationship with each and every entity of this world…All are His affectionate children. This is His ota-yoga. Each and every entity, animate or inanimate, has a direct link with Him. Just as ota yoga means the Cosmic Father’s relationship with each entity individually, prota yoga means His relationship with all collectively.” (AV-6)

[4] Third Stanza Meaning: Parama Purusa has created this entire universe. He is associated with each and every entity through His ota and prota yoga. Nobody is alone, isolated or uncared for. He is related with each and every individual, personally and collectively. His relation is that of a bond of love. He has created this one universal family with the bond of His ota and prota yoga. By this way He loves and cares for all: Collectively and individually.

The gardener loves the entire garden as well as each and every individual flower. He pays attention to each plant and each flower separately and also watches the entire garden in its entirety. Similarly, a mother of four children has an intimate and personal relation with each child individually and cares for all collectively. So she has ota and prota relation with her progeny. The only difference is that the mother’s vision is limited, whereas Parama Purusa sees 24 / 7, across time, space, and person.

Parama Purusa is always linked with His vast creation: Individually He watches, cares for, and loves everyone on an intimate and personal basis; and collectively He watches over all in grand fashion. He operates always through His ota and prota yoga, from the beginning of time up to eternity. In contrast, worldly relations are limited and temporary. So the real expression of ota and prota yoga is with Parama Purusa only. Parama Purusa loves His entire manifested universe as well as each and every unit being across all time and space.

PURPORT OF PRABHAT SAMGIITA #1125

O’ Lord, O’ Parama Purusa, You are grace personified. You are the Treasure of Krpa’. You shower causeless grace. Many move around in search of You in various tiirthas and caves. Others think they can get You by their own efforts in dhyana and sadhana. Alas, it is impossible to attain You those ways. Nobody can have You by their own merits. Only when You are gracious do You appear. There is no other way.

Baba, You see everything; nothing is hidden from You. You go on witnessing everything always. You have infinite eyes and You think about everyone with Your infinite heads. You hear everyone’s tales and You have infinite hands and feet to do everything. Baba, You are unparalleled. Nobody with their limited, meagre intellect can compete with You. You are above all.

Baba, You are the most loving one. You care for everyone with Your infinite mineness. You are so loving. You look upon all with infinite compassion and Your very loving eye. No one is left alone – ever. Nobody is forgotten. With Your ota and prota yoga, You have bonded with all. You have made the entire universe as one family with the bond of Your love. Baba, You are so gracious.

O’ my Lord. I surrender at Your alter. Please shower Your causeless grace on me…

Note: A link to the actual sound file of this song has been uploaded here. (Note: This is a clear recording, though there is a “cut” in the middle of the song. If anyone has a more complete or better version, kindly let us know.)

Namaskar,
Presmashrii

Let Us See Who Can Pass

Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 21:09:45 -0400

Baba

This entire posting is composed of 2 parts:
(1) Posting: Let Us See Who Can Pass;
(2) Prabhat Samgiita #2125

== LET US SEE WHO CAN PASS ==

Namaskar,
Everyone is aware that one of the aspects of Sixteen Points centers exclusively on ista.

“Observe non-compromising strictness and faith regarding the sanctity of Ista.” (1)

However, a few may wonder how it is possible to evaluate this – how can one know if someone is strong on the point of Ista – or not. In response, we can say that there are some key factors that indicate one’s dedication and faith in Ista.

WORSHIPING MULTIPLE DEITIES:

SUCH PERSONS LACK FAITH IN ISTA

There are some sadhakas who perform Ananda Marga sadhana, do Guru Puja, and sing kiirtan etc, but when a problem arises they pray to some other divine entity for help and support.

For instance, some sadhakas from a Hindu background who are struggling to find a suitable husband their daughter may go to the Hindu temple and seek a boon from the mythological elephant god, Lord Ganesh. They think that Ganesh will help solve the problem by granting them a handsome, well-educated, wealthy husband for their daughter.

But this type of appeal to the so-called elephant god itself reveals that they do not have full faith and trust in Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji. They do not have strictness and faith on Ista. Because if they had full faith in Ista then they would automatically feel that Baba is already doing what is best and there is no need to seek outside help from some other so-called divine entity like Ganesh or any other god or goddess.

SADHAKAS FROM VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS

END UP DILUTING THEIR DEVOTIONAL APPROACH

Yet, this is what we see. In various times of trouble and difficulty, certain sadhakas seek out some other entity for help such as Kali, goddess Durga, Lord Hanuman or so many others. And this issue is not just related with those margiis from a Hindu background.

Margiis who grew up in the Catholic faith may go to confession to purge themselves of sin. For them doing Guru Puja is not enough because they do not have the requisite faith in Ista. They do not feel that Baba alone can solve the problem or purify them, so they resort to their Catholic roots and go to confession etc.

And this situation also applies to those sadhakas who come from Islamic, Buddhist, Jewish, and Christian backgrounds etc. Essentially, when anyone appeals to any other entity – for any reason – then it means that they do not feel that Parama Purusa Baba alone can solve their problem or grant them the happiness that they seek. That shows that they lack faith and trust in Ista.

This lack of faith in Ista is not limited to times of problem. There are some who express this lack of faith in their day-to-day living patterns.

THOSE WHO KEEP MULTIPLE PHOTOS OF VARIOUS DEITIES

ON THEIR PUJA TABLE CONTRAVENE THE POINT #10

For example, there are some who normally keep pictures and photos of numerous gods and goddesses on their puja table. Certainly Baba’s photo is there, but in addition there are so many other photos and pictures like that of Ramakrsna, goddess Durga, mother Kali, Mirabai, Shankaracarya, Buddha, Christ etc. In that case who can think that the sadhaka has one-pointed strictness and faith regarding the sanctity of Ista. It is not possible when on their own puja table Baba’s photo is one of many. It means that the sadhaka’s mind is also divided in that way i.e. his faith in Ista is compromised -i.e. marginalised.

Or think in this way. Suppose a husband has a photo of his wife on his desk, along with photos of so many other females whom he desires and loves. In that case who can think that that person is a devoted husband. Never. Rather one will think he is unfaithful and lacks a basic level of commitment for his spouse. And the same is the case if one wife has a collection of photos of the various male loves of her life on her bureau. In that case, who can imagine that she is a faithful and committed wife. It is impossible to think in that way. Rather one will conclude that she fails to hold the requisite loyalty to be a proper spouse.

Same is the case with those sadhakas who pray to multiples gods and goddesses. Their lack of faith and trust in Ista is openly expressed by their keeping so many various deities on their own puja table. In that case, they do not have firm faith and single-minded devotion for Baba.

WORSHIPING MULTIPLE DEITIES

IS JUST LIKE STANDING ON TWO BOATS

Their situation is most precarious – it is just like a person standing with one leg on two different boats. Their base is very sketchy, unreliable. Any moment they can fall and drown. Similarly, those who worship multiple deities are living on a slippery slope because they do not have a strong foundation in Ista.

So this is one point for determining if one is strict in ista. Does that person only rely on Baba or do they pray to all kinds of religious deities etc.

Those who in their heart truly follow the point of Ista, only think of Him. Their mind is one-pointed towards Baba Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji in all circumstances and at all times. Always that sadhaka feels that Baba is along with them, solving their problems, listening to their difficulties, and taking care of everything. Such sadhakas are A-grade disciples. They alone are strict in Ista.

HUMOROUS STORY:

HOW BABA’S DOGMATIC RELATIVE WORSHIPED MANY DEITIES

“A person whom I was very close to, a relative of mine, used to recite the following after taking bath: “Victory to mother Káli, victory, victory to Káli, victory to mother Káli of T́han T́haniá, victory to mother Káli of Dakśińeshvar, victory to Bábá Táraknáth, victory to Bábá Vaidyanath of Deoghar. O, Fathers! None of you should think that I am leaving out someone’s name.” After this he would say, “O, gods and goddesses, please forgive me if I have omitted any name inadvertently. Please assume that I have mentioned your name also.” Does this yield anything at all? One says “victory to mother Káli of Kálighát” and in the same breath one says “victory to mother Káli of T́han T́haniá.” It signifies that the mind is moving both towards Kálighát and T́han T́haniá. Can the mind become concentrated in this way? Certainly not.” (2)

STORY OF MYTHOLOGICAL DEVOTEE HANUMAN:

ISTA MUST BE SINGULAR IN NATURE

In multiple discourses, Baba tells the story of the mythological devotee Hanuman who would only worship Rama – not any other entity. Baba’s teaching from this story is for every sadhaka to be very strict on the point of Ista – Ista should be one.

“Once upon a time some of the devotees asked Hanuman, “Hanuman, you are a great devotee and learned scholar also, and you know that Náráyańa means Shriinátha, (Shrii means, Lakśmii) Shriinátha means Náráyańa. Shriinátha, i.e. Lakśmiinátha, Náráyańa and Jánakiinátha i.e. Ráma are the same entity; but you never take the name of Náráyańa. Why?””

Hanuman said:

“Shriináthe, Jánakiinathe Cábhedah Paramátmani
Tathápi mama Sarvasvah Rámah Kamalalocanah.”

“You know fundamentally there is no difference between Náráyáńa and Ráma. Nára means Prakrti, Ayana means Shelter. Náráyańa means Shelter of Prakrti i.e. Cognitive Puruśa and Ráma, (Ram + Ghaun = Ráma) i.e. the most attractive entity of the entire cosmos is Parama Puruśa. “I also know”, said Hanuman, “that there is no fundamental difference between Ráma and Náráyańa, but you know my goal is a singular entity – singular in name, singular in idea, ideology and ideation. Ráma is my everything, I don’t know any Náráyańa.”” (3)

ISTA IS A SINGULAR ENTITY

THEN SUCCESS IS SURE

“Iśt́a a means the object who loves you the most. Because of this Iśt́a a there is flow in your incantative form or incantative structure. Only under such circumstances can your existential emanation maintain a parallelism with your entitative structure. So, Iśt́a is a must for movement, Iśt́a is a must for all sorts of living beings in all strata of life. You can not do anything concrete in even a single arena of your life without the help of your Iśt́a.a So wherever there is Dharma, there must be Iśt́a. And Iśt́a is the primordial necessity for yoga. Nobody can exist without Iśt́a. The aspirant is a finite entity, but the Iśt́a of that aspirant is an infinite entity. If you practice yoga, then your finite existence will come in contact with that infinite Iśt́a and you will acquire infinity, you will acquire the infinite spiritual stamina and you will become victorious in all the arenas of your existence. So the wise people, the true yogiis should realize it clearly and definitely that their entitative existence along with the entitative force of their Iśt́a, moves towards the Supreme goal. The yogii should know the single name of his or her Iśt́a and not two names or three names. Wherever the Iśt́a is singular entity in name, form, and idea, in ideation and also in ideology, success is sure, success is fully assured.” (4)

MUST HAVE EXCLUSIVE DEVOTION FOR ISTA

“They will have to become dedicated to their Iśt́a; they will have to establish a relationship of exclusive devotion to Iśt́a. If there is not intense attachment to one’s Iśt́a in one’s heart, then one cannot do anything. Thus during sádhaná you should think that as you are thinking of Parama Puruśa, He is also thinking of you. This is the proper devotion to one’s Iśt́a.” (5)

BECOME ENSCONCED IN THE DIVINE ENTITY

“Iśt́a means “loving”, “favourite”, “dear”, “attractive”, “goal”, “terminus”, “desideratum”…or a spiritual aspirant, for a sádhaka, his or her Iśt́a mantra is prańava, because it goads the person towards the Supreme Entity; it guides the person towards the Supreme Entity; it helps the person in coming in contact with, or rather becoming one with, or ensconcing oneself in, that Entity.” (6)

CHANNELIZE EVERYTHING TOWARDS THAT SINGULAR ISTA

“When all the thoughts and propensities of the human mind are exclusively channelized towards one’s Iśt́a [Supreme Goal], this is called bhakti. One should remember that only nirguńá bhakti [non-attributional devotion] is true devotion; that is, a sádhaka will not expect anything more than this from Parama Puruśa. Only by dint of this sort of devotion can a devotee attain Parama Puruśa.” (7)

Namaskar,
Sastaunga Pranam to Baba,
Pradiip

REFERENCES:
1. Pt #10 of Sixteen Points
2. 11 April 1979, Kolkata
3. SS-12, The Spirit of Yoga
4. SS-12, The Spirit of Yoga
5. AMIWL-11, Parama Puruśa and His Creation
6. AV-23, Oṋḿkára and Iśt́a Mantra
7. SS-21, The Liberation of the Devotee

******** Prabhat Samgiita #2125

“Shun’echi tumi dayalu, ka’je keno anya dekhi…” (P.S. 2125)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, I have heard that You are the merciful One – why then by Your work and by Your action do I see something different. For You my eyes are showering; my days are passing in calling and longing for You. O’ Supereme One, You know that I love You. Although I am meagre but even then I am Your atom. The pain of the unit is the pain of the Universal; the pain of the atom is the pain of the Cosmic. Don’t You understand this simple truth.

O’ Dearmost, please go on doing according to Your desire. Only my request is that You keep me along with You. The pain and grief of my heart cannot be covered. The suffering of my heart will not listen to Your various justifications and excuses; it cannot be appeased by the mere jugglery of words. Baba, I want Your proximity and closeness.

Baba, in the scriptures and by seeing Your glory, I heard from other devotees that You are love personified and merciful. And that You are caring for others. So many good attributions You have. But when dealing with me I see something totally different. Here I am crying in longing, and You do not care. Why like this? Please grace me and come close…

Your Preferences Change: They Are Not Permanent

Date: Mon, 10 June 2013 06:22:46

Baba

This entire posting is composed of 2 parts:
(1) Posting: Your Preferences Change: They Are Not Permanent;
(2) Prabhat Samgiita #3114

Baba

== YOUR PREFERENCES CHANGE: THEY ARE NOT PERMANENT ==

Namaskar,
Some people think that their mental tendencies or likings are not related with any philosophy. They think they like something simply because they were born with that liking and that liking is thus permanent. Because of that belief they do not try to change their liking.

They fail to realise that the mind is dynamic and that it can go up or down depending on one’s physical and mental engagement.

Rather non-sadhakas think that whatever they like is fixed and permanent – such as their attachment to meat-eating, pop music, relations etc. They think that these are part of their permanent way of living and that they will like these things forever and ever.

But with just a little reflection anyone can see how their liking changes according to the status of mind. Which is why no grown adult likes to pass their days playing in the sandbox, even though when they were 6 of 7 years of age playing in the sandbox was the greatest thing.

Indeed, one’s liking is so flexible and so changeable: One can even learn to appreciate something that they do not initially like. For instance, one may get transfer orders to a new location and they may not even want to go to that new place. Yet after moving and being there for some time they may come to cherish that new place. And when their their job or posting is again transferred, they may be angry and upset that they have to leave that spot.

Such is the way the mind works. As sadhakas we understand this and should use it to our advantage. And side by side we should teach this idea to non-margiis so they can also grow and develop.

MIND FLOWS IN EITHER DIRECTION – UP OR DOWN

Baba has blessed us with a human mind that has a very special quality. And it is this very quality that allows each and everyone of us to achieve success in sadhana.

And what is that quality? As stated above, the mind will gradually adjust with and develop an affinity for anything in which it is involved.

That means that even if sadhana is difficult – even if sadhana seems impossible – if one tries and perseveres just a little bit, then gradually the mind will become quite adept at doing sadhana. In fact, with just a little effort, the mind will become so immersed in sadhana that it will not wish to do anything else.

The whole process can work in the opposite direction as well if one is constantly submerged in mundane affairs. So one must be careful and pay heed to their mental occupation and daily activities.

Unfortunately, materialists cannot comprehend this philosophy of mind, but in Ananda Marga, our entire approach and philosophy revolves around this practical science.

MIND IS THE CAUSE OF BONDAGE OR LIBERATION

In innumerable discourses and throughout our entire Ananda Marga ideology, Baba is teaching us about the philosophy of mind: That mind is dynamic and it must be channelised towards the spiritual realm.

Mano karoti karma’n’i mano lipyate pa’tako;
Manashca tanmana’ buddhaya’ na pun’yam’ na ca pa’tako

Ananda Marga ideology states, “It is the human mind which is the cause of bondage or liberation. If the mind is in bondage, the person is also in bondage. Similarly, if the mind is liberated the person is also liberated. After all, it is the human mind which engages in auspicious actions. Now, if this mind is kept engrossed in the ideation of Parama Purus’a, then it gets totally merged in Consciousness.” (1)

So the main emphasis of our spiritual philosophy is to goad the mind towards Him and then automatically one will reach the goal. One can find this idea is nearly every Ananda Marga discourse.

Verily the whole of 16 Points and all our life practices are geared towards making the mind more subtle, spiritual, and devotional. Baba has blessed us with this special way of living.

And He furthermore assures us that this plan – this approach of goading the mind towards higher pursuits – will work, cent per cent, with each and every human being, regardless of their background.

Ananda Marga ideology states, “If an ordinary sinner or a confirmed sinner remains absorbed in the thought of Parama Purus’a to the exclusion of all other thoughts, then his mind becomes pointed.” (2)

IMPORTANCE OF THEORETICAL UNDERSTANDING

So it is extremely important for each and every sadhaka to theoretically understand how this science of mind works. Because doing sadhana in this present era is not easy. But if one understands that if the mind is goaded – even a wee-bit – towards the devotional sphere, then little by little the mind will yearn to do sadhana.

That is why if one is having trouble in sadhana, one should not worry. Only one should take this as a sign that they need to goad the mind a little bit more towards that way of life. That means doing a few more minutes of kiirtan, svadhyaya, mantra japa, etc, and then soon the mind will adjust and move in that direction.

And side by side one must also understand that engaging in mundane affairs or debased dealings will obviously divert their mind farther and farther away from sadhana.

To gain success, one must have this theoretical understanding about the philosophy of mind, then one can certainly move ahead.

And again the underlying idea is: The mind will learn to like whatever it is engaged in, whether that thing is good or bad – accordingly the mind will adjust and flow in that direction.

SOME EXAMPLES

Suppose a new margii is immersed in mundane affairs like their job, non-margii social relations, and various other non-spiritual pursuits, but internally he wants to do sadhana. Then all he has to do is follow the precepts of manan (thinking about Him), shravan (singing & listening His name), and niddhidhyasana (ideating on Him) and then certainly in a very short time that new margii will be infused with tremendous speed in sadhana as the mind will like to do more meditation.

And this will not just work with new margiis – but with any Ananda Margii, even one who has been on the path for 50 years.

Because the theory always applies universally that the mind will adjust with whatever it is given to do. If we involve in dhyana, japa, kiirtan, satsaunga, prabhat samgiita, brahmacarya, and so many of our other Ananda Marga practices, then naturally the mind will swiftly move in that direction – towards that sublime ideal.

So there is hope for each and everyone – and we should always be wary not to slip in the opposite direction.

Because let’s say there is an established margii who is involved in sadhana but little by little starts engaging in more mundane affairs like his silly games, or excess gossip, or useless email conversations etc, then the mind will steadily drift away from sadhana until finally that sadhaka will lose their spiritual flow entirely.

This philosophy of mind is so powerful that if even an ideal man starts associating with winos and drunks then over time he himself will start to yearn for their company and begin swigging from the bottle.

Because mind will always run after and learn to like whatever activity in which it is engaged. That is the key theme.

SATSAUNGA IS NEEDED

The mind also changes according to the company one keeps. Many ate onion and garlic or smoked before entering Ananda Marga. Upon being surrounded by sadhakas (i.e. good company or satsaunga) then their mind changed and they gradually gave up those tamasik habits. SO the mind changes according to one’s company as well.

Ananda Marga ideology states,”So while selecting company, you should be careful whether its discourses, its activities, its plans or programmes are to decrease the distance between you and your Lord. This is Satsaunga, good company. Otherwise it is Asatsauṋga.” (3)

SPIRITUALISE THE MIND EACH AND EVERY MOMENT

Thus as sadhakas living in this present era, we should make a strict sadhana routine & devotional program and stick to that. We should make a sadhana quota whereby we do all our lessons two times daily as well as involve in Guru Sakash, proper ideation before sleep, and as much shravan, manan, niddhidhyasana as we can during the day.

Verily we should spiritualise the mind each and every moment of our lives through constant japa and ideation. By this way we can and will expedite our movement on the path – making sadhana an effortless, blissful, and deeply devotional experience.

We should utilise this philosophical aspect and tendency of mind to our maximum advantage.

COME FROM PAST ANIMAL LIVES

Let us never forget that each and every human being has come from past animal lives so those baser propensities are still in effect – to some or more degree. And people are well familiar with those animal enjoyments. That is why it all so easy and quite common for the masses to move in this negative direction – i.e. negative pratisaincara. And the mind will learn to like that making one’s descent very swift and harsh.

As sadhakas we must never fall prey to such degradation – rather we are to keep ourselves moving in the sentient flow and pull others in that current as well.

DOOR OF LIBERATION WILL IMMEDIATELY OPEN

By His grace, as margiis we have the theoretical understanding as well as the practices to get success and reach the goal whereas materialistic-minded people will sadly become one with matter. We should proceed along the path and inspire others as well.

“Human beings should not be anxious under any circumstances, Parama Purus’a is always with everyone. If one has love for Parama Purus’a, the door of liberation or salvation will immediately open.” (4)

And here are more of Baba’s teachings on this subject.

THOSE WHO WANT THE SUPREME ENTITY

WILL HAVE TO IDEATE ON PARAMA PURUS’A

Baba has graciously blessed us with the practical method of how to ideate on Him. We should share this technique with one and all. We should never allow others to settle for any lesser approach. It is everyone’s birthright to get Him – by their thoughts alone, one can attain His eternal shelter, by His grace.

“It is also stated in Tantra that if a person wants only to attain limited progress, one may practise on certain limited ideas. But those who are genuine seekers of Brahma will never agree to worship any finite idea. Those who want the Supreme Entity will have to ideate on Parama Purus’a alone. People may attain limited achievement in terms of occult power through the grace of the gods and goddesses, but they will remain far away from the attainment of the Supreme Entity.” (5)

IF THE MOVEMENT TO THE SUBTLE IS ENCOURAGED

ONE WILL BE CONVERTED INTO COSMIC MIND

“Now, the objectivated [human] mind may move from subtle towards crude or from crude towards subtle, unlike the movements of other entities of this universe. If the movement towards crude is encouraged, the mind – and at the same time the entire existence of the human being – will be converted into crude matter. That is, it will [take] the path of negative pratisaincara. And if the movement towards subtle is encouraged, then one’s entire existence will be converted into either Cosmic Mind or Cosmic Cognitive Faculty. This is the speciality of mind, and that is why it is said:”

[It is the mind that performs good actions and it is the mind that sins. For the mind that is immersed in the thought of God, there is no virtue, no vice.]

[The mind of a person in bondage is attached to his or her objects of enjoyment, whereas the mind of a person who has attained liberation has no mental object.]

““The mind is the cause of bondage, and this mind, this very mind, is the cause of liberation, is the cause of emancipation.” If the movement towards subtle is encouraged, and there is movement with proper acceleration, then what will happen? There will take place one of two different things: either one’s existence will be converted into the Cosmic Mind – that metamorphosis of unit mind into Cosmic Mind is known as the qualified stance – saguńásthiti – or, if the very “I” feeling is surrendered at the altar of Supreme Existence, then the alternative will be that the entire existential factor will become one with the Supreme Cognitive Faculty, with the Cognitive Principle – one will become omniscient, an all-knowing entity.” (6)

MIND IS THE CAUSE OF BONDAGE

MIND IS THE CAUSE OF LIBERATION

““It is the human mind which is the cause of bondage or liberation. If the mind is in bondage, the person is also in bondage. Similarly, if the mind is liberated the person is also liberated. After all, it is the human mind which engages in auspicious actions. Now, if this mind is kept engrossed in the ideation of Parama Puruśa, then it gets totally merged in Consciousness. In that case, where is the scope for virtue or vice for that person?””
“If an ordinary sinner or a confirmed sinner remains absorbed in the thought of Parama Puruśa to the exclusion of all other thoughts, then his or her mind becomes pointed. This is called agryábuddhi [pinnacled intellect] in Sanskrit. In that state of mind the spiritual aspirant gets well established in pinnacled intellect. Unless and until the ordinary human intellect is elevated to the level of pinnacled intellect or apexed intellect, the continuous rise and fall of innumerable vibrations within one’s existence continues. These psychic vibrations are sometimes the vibrations of virtue, sometimes the vibrations of vice, sometimes the vibrations of the reaction of sinful deeds, sometimes of virtuous deeds. Unless the human mind is pointed, this rise and fall of antagonistic psychic vibrations will go on. The moment the mind is centred on Parama Puruśa, then that mind will naturally become pointed. In that state there is no scope for the rise and fall of any wave – neither the wave of virtue nor the wave of vice. Thus it is said that when a spiritual aspirant is established in pinnacled intellect, there cannot be any question of virtue and vice. A person who has taken the Cosmic shelter goes far above the scope of virtue or vice. This is something very natural.” (7)

BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT SELECTING ONE’S GOAL

Mana eva manuśyáńám káránaḿ bandhamokśayoh,
Bandhasya viśayásaungimuktonirviśayaḿ tathá.

““The mind is the cause of bondage or liberation of human beings. A person under bondage is attached to a mental or physical object, whereas the liberated one is free from all objects.” If the mind is confined to something physical or psychic it is bound to be assailed by either pleasure or pain – it is inevitable. However hard you may try you can not avoid it, because you are so inseparably bound to your objects.”

“It is also true that you will not remain associated with your object forever because the speed of movement of both cannot be equal forever. The person with whom you live with all the warmth of your life will ultimately desert you – it is a cruel game. Confronted with this grim reality one should be very cautious about selecting one’s goal. One thing is clear – the Supreme Entity alone should be accepted as one’s goal.” (8)

WITHDRAW YOUR LOVE FROM THE UNIT AND MERGE YOURSELF IN THE WHOLE

Mana eva mauśya nám kárańam bandha mokśayo

“In other words the unit attains salvation only when she/he empties her/his mind of all objects. Just as an iron sword can perform acts of cruelty or merely cut the rope tethering and animal, similarly, according to its objective tendencies, the mind can also be the cause of both bondage and liberation.”
“All unit objects are external. Love for such unit objects can never be lasting, for the mind always keeps hopping from one object to another. That is why I say, withdraw your love from the unit and merge yourself in the whole. Don’t mistake the unit for the soul or God. The attainment of one’s inner self is only possible through love for the Infinite. Dońt pretend to be inferior and as a result become lazy. Fill your heart with love of the Infinite, and your soul will be transformed into the Supreme Soul. No worldly happiness is limitless. Dedicate yourself completely to the blissful ocean of the Supreme Soul. Then alone will you realize what happiness really is. This path to attain happiness, this Sádhaná of self-surrender I call absolute devotion. Carry on performing your worldly duties with sincerity, and at the same time think about the pure self within you. Then alone will your Sádhaná be justified. The constant thought of your pure inner Self will certainly one day establish you in your original source, and this is the ultimate aim of Sádhaná.” (9)

CANNOT SIMULTANEOUSLY BE PLUNGED IN WORLDLY ACTIONS

AND MEDITATE ON BRAHMA

“Thus, the mind is behind all our activities, whether we direct it towards worldly objects or towards Brahma. No action is possible without the mind. The mind has infinite potentialities and controlling these infinite potentialities is sádhaná.”
“Though the mind is very powerful it has one serious shortcoming. It cannot think of two objects concurrently.”
“Whenever it thinks it has one single object. Nevertheless the speed of the mind’s action is baffling. While concentrating on a particular work we may also hear others about us [[talking]]. This is due to the fast acting power of the mind, which leads us to believe that the thought currents of the mind are unbroken. For example, while witnessing the pictures in cinema, we also enjoy the dialogue. The activities of the mind can be understood by diligently applying the mind and we see that the mind can do only one thing at a time. Therefore worldly acts and meditation on Brahma cannot be done simultaneously. It is impossible that on one side humans will remain bound up with passion, anger, avarice etc. and on the other, will worship Brahma. The mind must be sanctified for the worship of Brahma.” (10)

ONE GETS TOTALLY MERGED IN CONSCIOUSNESS

“It is the human mind which performs action…”
““It is the human mind which is the cause of bondage or liberation. If the mind is in bondage, the person is also in bondage. Similarly, if the mind is liberated the person is also liberated. After all, it is the human mind which engages in auspicious actions. Now, if this mind is kept engrossed in the ideation of Parama Puruśa, then it gets totally merged in Consciousness. In that case, where is the scope for virtue or vice for that person?”” (11)

MIND REQUIRES SOME PABULUM

“This human mind is a peculiar entity. It is the cause of all our sorrows and predicaments, and it is the cause of our supreme bliss. It is the cause of bondage, and it is the cause of liberation.” Now this mind, working within human framework, requires some pabulum for its maintenance. In the human mind there are fifty such pabula. And these are the human propensities, vrttis.” (12y)

HOW THE MIND FUNCTIONS

“It is said in Samskrta: Mana eva manuśyánáḿ kárańam bandha-mokśayoh.”
“Now let us analyse how the mind functions. In the physical sphere energy is essential for action. What is energy? Energy is the actional state within a material structure. This energy by itself is a blind force and for its activation intellect must exist: a driver is required to direct this blind force. The support of the intellect is a prime necessity for the operation of energy in this material world. If an useful thing is kept easily accessible to the common people in a country or society, in most cases it is misused or spoiled. Those who are considerate and have the power of judgement should be entrusted with the responsibility of controlling the physical power of common people with their intellectual power, otherwise everything will be spoiled. It is like a bullock which, without a driver, is unable to decide whether to pull its cart towards the right or the left. Only a discriminating driver can control everything efficiently.”
“As people, guided by their intellect, continue to gather practical experiences of the ups and downs of this world, they gradually start to realize that their psychic capacities are too inadequate to accomplish any great task. Then, faced with the stark realities of life, they realize that they have no alternative but to merge with the Supreme Consciousness. At that stage, whatever they do will have a cosmic support and will be genuine. That is why enlightened persons always prefer to remain unified with the Supreme Entity. This is considered the highest attainment of knowledge.” (13)

A STATE OF COSMIC BLISS FAR ABOVE THE DOMAIN OF MUNDANE PLEASURES

“It is the mind which carries the burden of pains and pleasures. In the mind is the gloomy black curtain of sorrow, and through this dark curtain pierces the silver light and golden glow of momentary happiness. As long as there are other entities outside the unit mind, there will continue to be sorrows and afflictions, desires, passions and pains. As a result of various types of physical or psychic clashes with other entities, the feelings of pain and pleasure rise and fall like bubbles in the mind. If, through sádhaná, people can merge their unit minds with the Cosmic Mind of Parama Puruśa, then the unit minds themselves become the Cosmic Mind: their individual identities are merged in that Cosmic “I”. In that condition, there remains nothing outside. Thus, there is no longer any possibility of physical or psychic clash with any external entity or object. All objects, all ideas, arise out of one’s mind. This is the state of liberation – a state of Cosmic bliss far above the domain of mundane pleasures and pains.” (14)

IF THE PABULUM IS INFINITE

THE MIND BECOMES INFINITE

“Mind alone is the cause of the bondage and liberation of human beings. Why is it the cause of bondage and liberation? It is because all the beings below human being are bereft of an independent mind. Their minds are guided by their natural instincts. But human beings have an independent mind. They can act according to their will. They can take the track either of bondage or of liberation. This is the fundamental difference between human beings and animals.”
“The mind must always have an object (viśaya). In scriptures, viśaya is known as “ábhoga.” “Ábhoga” means that object which feeds the mind – that is, mental pabulum. If this pabulum is limited, the mind also becomes limited. If the pabulum is infinite, by making an effort to obtain it, the mind becomes infinite. It depends entirely on the will of human beings which pabulum, limited or unlimited, is made their object. Whether a person becomes great or small completely depends on the person’s wish.”

Bandhastu viśayásaungii mukto nirvisáyaḿstathá.

““When the object of human beings is small and they remain fixed to it, they are in bondage. When the object of the mind is infinite, and we get merged into it, as it is not possible to hold it, we call it liberation.””

Páshabaddho bhavejjiivo páshamukto bhavet Shivah.

““The person whose object of mind is limited, is in bondage. When the object of mind is unlimited, it (the mind) cannot be kept within limitations. Then there is no bondage, but liberation.”” (15)

SUMMARY

By this entire theory & topic, we should understand that the human mind has a unique & special quality: the mind will gradually adjust with and develop an affinity for anything in which it is involved. And we should apply this in our practical lives.

As sadhakas we generally want to do sadhana and reach the Goal. Unfortunately sometimes the mind does not like to cooperate. In that case, one must try and bring the mind in a more spiritual flow by doing svadhaya, japa, kiirtan, and dhyana etc. Whether the mind likes all this or not, gradually the mind will adjust and learn to like it – thereby accelerating one’s movement on the path.

After reading this letter if you still think that liking does not change, then test it. Look back 5 or 10 years and check out what you were doing and who your friends were. Most probably you will see quite a bit of change. All should utlise this for developing more positive likings.

Namaskar,
Sastaunga Pranam to Baba,
Dharmadeva

REFERENCES:
1. NHNS-1
2. Neo-Humanism in a Nutshell – 1
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam -14, Auto-Suggestion and Outer Suggestion
4. 16 May 1980, Varanasi
5. Discourses on Tantra-1
6. Neo-Humanism in a Nutshell – 1, Existential Flow and Its Culminating Point
7. A Few Problems Solved Part 5, What is Dogma
8. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell – 6, Ekendriya – 4
9. The Intuitional Science of the Vedas – 1
10. Subháśita Saḿgraha Part 1, The Form of Sadhana
11. A Few Problems Solved Part 5, What is Dogma
12. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 30, The Subtlest Propensity
13. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life -10, The Cardinal Spirit of Action and the Supreme Stance of Devotion
14. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Disc: 16
15. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 1, Leaving Bondage

****************************Prabhat Samgiit*****************

This following song is a song of melancholic longing. Sometimes devotees in longing want to have Parama Purus’a more close. This very P.S. song composition expresses that deep devotional longing.

“Toma’ya d’aki dine ra’te, Tumi ki pa’ona’ shun’ite…” – PS #3114

O’ my Dearmost Parama Purusa, in Your longing I am crying and calling You day and night. O’ my Lord, can’t Your hear me. I am crying for You all the time in darkness, in light, in my sleep and while awake. All the time I am crying and crying in Your longing. A very Long span of time has passed and still I am in hope that next spring I will have You in my bosom. O’ Parama Purusa Baba, please grace me by coming…

TWO BABA STORIES

Date: Sun, 09 Jun 2013 01:51:57 -0400

Baba
== TWO BABA STORIES ==
Namaskar,
Parama Purusa showers His love and saves all devotees, regardless of whether they are good or bad, a hero or a villain. Always, Baba gives his loving shelter to His bhaktas.

BABA STORY #1:

THE CASE OF ONE SENIOR DADA

We all know that in the 70’s when the mass of Wts were called for reporting and RDS with Baba, then it was so crowded. The rooms were small and everyone had to squeeze into just a few rooms.

During one such occasion, Dada Sharana’nanda arrived and was told that all workers should place their bags and blankets into a particular room. There was hardly any space as hundreds of workers were putting their belongings in that same place.

Anyway, somehow Dada Sharana’nandaji found a tiny space. He spread his blanket halfway and placed his bag on top. Then he went off to attend his various meetings etc.

That evening when Sharana’nandaji returned, he saw that his belongings were not there. So he thought one other Dada had tossed his things aside and taken his spot. When Ac Sharana’nandaji awakened that Dada and told him of the problem, the Dada did not care at all.

Without thinking deeply and without asking others for help, Sharana’nandaji became extremely frustrated. In addition, it was a fasting day and that made his frustration grow even more. Internally he was thinking that many of these other Wts were just like monkeys, i.e. uncultured and uncivilised. He was thinking they were just worthless people and he felt hatred towards them.

He did not complain openly but those were the thoughts floating in his sad state of mind.

The next day Dada Sharana’nandaji was called before Baba for reporting.

Baba looked at him and in His loving liila He abused him openly. Baba feigned anger and strongly rebuked him and said that those who have come in Ananda Marga are not ordinary. They may have bad manners and their conduct may be irregular, but I have specially called them and they have come. So you must adjust with their behaviours. They have a special samskara. Do not superficially judge them by seeing their bad qualities or rude behaviour. Do not hate them.

While pretending to be angry, Baba lovingly scolded Dada Sharana’nandaji in this manner.

Dada was shocked to hear this. First because he had not complained to anyone about the incident; he had not shared his thoughts or feelings with anyone. Just Baba was peering into his mind. Secondly, he realised that he must reconsider his relations with other workers and adjust with their poor dealing.

Certainly in His supremely benevolent manner, Baba pretended to strongly scold the Dada who threw away Sharana’nandaji’s blanket, but Sharana’nandaji was unaware about this. All he knew was that he must have respect and love for all in Ananda Marga because of their link with Baba. That is Baba’s wish and explicit direction.

This above story shows how Baba never judges any of His disciples based on external affairs but rather looks at their inner essence and feeling. And when He Himself says that all in Ananda Marga have come because I have called them and that they have a special samskara, then we must always look favourably on everyone in Ananda Marga – and love them, whether they are playing the role of a hero or a villain.

That does not mean that we cannot point out their wrongdoing. Rather we must address those who contravene the social code; they absolutely must be reprimanded and rectified. So we must take a stand against those wrongdoers, but only with the sweet motive to clean them of their faults. One must not loathe or harbour hatred towards them. In our heart we must not have ill will toward them. Whether they do wrong or right, we must remember that they have come to serve Him in some capacity and they have Baba’s love.

BABA STORY #2:

THE CASE OF ONE YOUNG NEW WT IN GORAKHPUR

This next story leads in the same direction.

One family acarya from Gorakhpur came to Baba to complain about one young Wt. The family acarya was telling about the laziness of one junior worker.

Baba immediately interjected and with His divine countenance began feigning to scold the family acarya and told him to look upon that young worker as his own son. Then Baba pointed out that the family acarya’s own son had not become a WT and was not even a margii. And not only that, all-knowing Baba said that, “While you yourself were eating and enjoying at your house, this young worker was not even able to find any proper food in the jagrti.”

Baba continued, “But you never cared about that and never checked to see if he is alright. And now you are complaining to me about the behaviour and laziness of this young worker. Such is your audacity. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

Baba concluded, “I am His Father and I have to take care of Him. And you also should have love for him.”

Again, here the point is not that wrongful behaviours should be overlooked entirely. We are to point out and seek the rectification of those bad devotees. All wrongdoing must be checked, and those wrongdoers must be taken to task and verily changed. But at the same time we should not harbor any negative feelings in the mind toward such bhaktas. All have come because of His call. We should love them.

MOTHER-BABY ANALOGY

Just as a mother has inherent love for her progeny – regardless of what harm their children might cause, same is the case with Parama Purusa. He has innate and unconditional love for His children.

The mother may abuse and scold her children but she has love. Likewise Parama Purusa also may scold but His quantum of love is more than the amount He rebukes or punishes them.

In the spiritual sphere, love is not unilateral. The bhakta has love for Him and in return Parama Purusa has much more love for His devotees.

In His loving manner, Baba does not look at the qualities or conduct of bad devotees. His love is based on seeing the feeling in their heart. We should do the same.

REFLECTION

Baba graciously loves, cares for, and looks after all His devotees, whether they be good or bad. All have a special place in His heart.

Here we must remember the story of King Gayasura and how Lord Vishnu granted him three boons – keeping His feet always in his heart. And Baba Himself approves this story.

Here Baba describes these boons in full:

“First, the Lord will seat Himself in the heart of the devotee without bothering Himself about the nature of that person, good, or bad. It is enough to be a devotee, in order to have the Lord inside. Second, all those who have the Lord’s feet in their hearts are bound to get liberation – liberation is a sure guarantee for them. Third, since Gaya’sura had been turned to stone by the Lord, and since He would again arise if anyone having the Lord inside failed to be liberated, the Lord would have to grant liberation to all such persons for all time to come.” (1)

Although this is the story of King Gayasura and Lord Vishnu, yet in reporting Baba Himself told and promised that He grants these same boons to all His devotees.

Thus when Lord Vishnu granted the boon that the Lord’s feet will always be in the heart of the devotee, regardless of their good and bad deeds, regardless of whether that person is a hero or a villain, then we must know that Baba has promised and guaranteed the same. That is the first boon.

Secondly, Baba also promises that those who have the Lord’s feet in their heart will get salvation. This is His second guarantee.

Lastly, if anyone with the Lords’ feet in their heart does not get liberation, then the Lord’s prestige is at stake. Thus He is bound to fulfill them.

So Baba guarantees the above boons for all devotees up to eternity and the only prerequisite for these boons is devotion. Then liberation is sure – and the noose of maya will be shattered.

MORE ABOUT THAT SPECIAL REPORTING

& GAYA’SURA STORY

All this Baba has guaranteed and by His grace I was there that time in reporting and by hearing Baba’s loving promise, then tears began flowing from all those present. The room was completely vibrated; Baba’s immense love and grace was emanating. We all felt especially graced by His infinite love and special promise. And this guarantee Baba has granted to every devotee – for all who have love for Him, irrespective of what wrongs and rights one commits in life. Such is the nature of His loving and unconditional boon.

Thus when Baba does not judge bad devotees poorly, neither should we. Certainly their mistakes must be corrected in the social realm. But on the spiritual plane, we must think of every devotee – regardless of whether they are playing the role of a hero or a villain – as our own kith and kin and love them. And we must bear in mind that Baba will take care for their salvation.

We should not judge any bhakta or even ourselves based on past sins. We should think about Him and cultivate love for all.

So the lesson given in the Gaya’sura story of old applies equally well today. That is why Baba has given this story again and again in His discourses. Because all bhaktas – regardless of whether they are good or bad, hero or villain, they have all earned a place in His heart.

ANOTHER VERSION OF THE GAYASURA STORY

(From the discourse: “Even the Greatest Sinners)

The story of Gayasura is one such story. He was a terrible demon. Lord Viśńu had blessed Gayasura with a boon. Strengthened with the boon, he conquered heaven, earth and hell, and established a big empire. Ambitious of expanding his empire, he ultimately started to fight Lord Viśńu himself. The dethroned gods of heaven approached Viśńu and appealed to him plaintively: “O Lord, because of your boon Gayasura has become immeasurably powerful, irresistible. You please stop him.” So Viśńu went to fight Gayasura, but even he was defeated, because through the boon of Viśńu himself Gayasura was invincible.

This morning I said, regarding the question “Who is more intelligent, the devotee or God?” that the devotee is more intelligent. But if you put the question before a devotee, the devotee will reply: “I am; but I got my intelligence from Paramátmá.” Similarly, Gayasura acquired his power as a boon from Paramátmá. Anyway, Viśńu was defeated, and Gayasura bound him tightly to a big tree. A devotee of course has the right to bind his Bhagaván. Bound thus, Viśńu said: “Look, Gayasura! Before I granted you a boon. Now you grant me a boon.”

Gayasura said, “My Lord, I am yours, so whatever you want I will give you.”

Then Viśńu said, “You see, I want you to turn to stone.” Gayasura fell prostrate on the ground. Starting from the lower parts of his body, he began to turn to stone. Gradually Gayasura’s whole body was turning to stone. Then Gayasura said: “I am ready to grant you the boon you are asking for, but on three conditions. The first is that you put your divine feet on my chest – you must put them there.” Viśńu said: “So be it.” The meaning is that Viśńu was installed in Gayasura’s heart. “The second condition is that whoever worships you will certainly attain mukti [liberation] and mokśa [non-qualified liberation]. To anyone in the world – even a sinner or a durácárii – who worships you, you must give mukti and mokśa.” Lord Viśńu agreed to this also: “So be it.” “The third condition is, if anyone worships you and does not attain mukti and mokśa, then Gayasura will rise again.” Viśńu said: “So be it.” Now see the beautiful way Gayasura has been characterized here!

(From the discourse: “Even the Greatest Sinners)

IDEATE ON THE DIVINE

May we all focus not on the the poor behaviour of bad devotees but instead adopt a high spiritual ideal.

“Cherishing a strong desire to know and understand Him, think of Him, ideate on Him, meditate on Him – You will certainly attain Him.” (2)

“Parama Puruśa, Parama Pitá, says that even if you are the worst type of sinner, that is, he whom the sinners hate as a sinner, what will happen? Bhajate mám ananyabhák. If you take the shelter of Parama Puruśa, then what will happen? Parama Puruśa will save you from all those serpentine nooses of sin. (You know “serpentine noose”, a noose which catches a snake like this? It is called a “serpentine noose”.) And for those who take shelter, those who resort to Parama Puruśa, what will happen? Parama Puruśa will save them from this serpentine noose of sin. So a person must not be afraid of sin, he should be free from all worries and anxieties regarding sin. Parama Puruśa will help him. Parama Puruśa is always with him.” (3)

Namaskar,
in Him,
Caetanyadeva

REFERENCES
1. ‘The Lord’s Feet’
2. AMIWL-6
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 12, The Real Value of the Human Entity

Note 1: LINK TO ANOTHER LETTER ON THIS TOPIC

http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/06/devotee-story-good-or-bad-bhakta-1.html

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Prabhat Samghiita

“Bole tha’ko bha’loba’si, ka’je prama’n na’ pa’oya ja’y…” (PS 1984)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, You are Love Personified and You are the Creator of this universe, this I can feel in my heart. But why then are there thorns in the beautiful flower garden. And why are those tender, succulent flower petals withering away into the oblivion. O’ Divine Entity, You keep telling me that You love one and all, but Your actions do not show this.

O, You have made the moonlight so brilliant, enchanting, soothing, and attractive. Why then do You take away that beauty by enveloping it with the deep, black clouds. Its charm does not last long. In the forest there are so many wild deer and You have given them such captivating, attractive, and beautiful eyes, why then do cruel hunters stalk and kill them. On the one side You made this universe so attractive, charming, and wonderful, and on the other side You are destroying it. O’ my Lord, You keep telling me that You love one and all, but Your actions do not show this.

O’ Parama Purusa Baba, You have created such a charming and colorful world. The rainbow which You created is so alluring to the mind and so attractive to the eyes, then why do You make it vanish into the void. O’ my Lord, the expression of everyone’s life is such a grand and sweet experience. The vitality of life is such an incredible gift. Why then is the shadow of death’s dance on the head of every being and threaten their existence. O’ Lord, You keep telling me that You love one and all, but Your actions do not show this.

Baba, Your divine liila is unfathomable. Please love and protect me and shower Your grace on me…

Colourful World: Where to Find Solace

Date: 07 Jun 2013 22:31:02 -0000

Baba

PS Intro: The specialty of this song is that it gives the grand idea how this world is dramatically colourful: Filled with negative and positive things. On the one side there is crudity and on the other side there is divinity. So when the mind is enmeshed in mundane problems & difficulties, one can find solace in the spiritual realm.

“A’lor pare a’ndha’r a’se, a’ndha’r shes’e a’lo a’se…” (PS 2596)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, this creation of Yours is filled with shadow and light. There is goodness and badness everywhere. The darkness comes across from the effulgence, and at the end of the darkness there is again effulgence. It is all mixed. Today the peacock of the mind weeps and tomorrow it smiles and spreads its wings and dances in joy. Life is full of ups and downs. After
sorrow, happiness comes. Such is the ebb and flow of this human existence.

There is effulgence and there is darkness. Sweetness and poison are mixed together. Life is full of joys and sorrows. O’ human beings, keep this eternal truth in mind: Life is not meant to be wasted in frustration, dejection, and hopelessness. One should utilise this human existence to realise life divine.

O’ Parama Purusa Baba, Your liila is beautiful. This earth is surrounded by effulgence; it is engulfed in Your bliss. And it is filled with a colourful panorama of chandeliers. In this world there are so many problems and miseries but above that there is divinity also. When the human heart is tormented by the shadow of crudity, wallowing in troubles and torments, this panorama of effulgence can satiate that heart. So when problems and frustrations arise, fear not, just remember that the spiritual path is the solution.

Baba, You are Liilamaya, Your liila is unfathomable…

Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Nityesha

Pessimists Don’t Like to Understand This

Date: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:35:05

Baba

This entire posting is composed of 3 parts:
(1) Posting: Pessimists Don’t Like to Understand This;
(2) Ending Quote: Eating Style;
(3) Prabhat Samgiita #2214

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

== PESSIMISTS DON’T LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THIS ==

Namaskar,
We all know that during Lord Shiva’s historic advent, Sadashiva Himself fought directly with the demons. He was physically fighting side by side His devotees against any and all negative forces. At that time His devotees were primitive in their understanding so they needed Lord Shiva’s direct involvement and guidance. They were not going to be able to understand or follow anything other than Lord’s direct physical involvement to save them from the hands of demons. So Lord Shiva guided them using His physical force.

During Lord Krsna’s time the situation was different. He did not need to fight physically in the Mahabharata. That is why He gave His word that He will not physically fight for either side – Kauravas or Pandavas. Instead Lord Krsna became the charioteer of Arjuna and psychically He guided everything.

In actuality then, the Mahabharata victory was nothing but Lord Krsna’s blessing. It was not the magic nor ferociousness of Arjuna’s bow and arrow. Otherwise after Mahabharata war, how is it that Arjuna was defeated by those simple village folk, ‘Bhiil’ people.

That is why it is understood that the victory of the Mahabharata came by Lord Krsna’s mere presence. That alone was enough to grant victory.

THIS PRESENT ERA:

HIS GRACE ALONE IS ENOUGH

This time Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji has His own unique approach. He wants to teach His disciples that Guru’s physical presence is not needed to establish dharma. To execute the task, His blessing alone is enough. Sadguru’s blessing is all-powerful.

At time of the Mahabharata era, society was comparatively of a lower standard than today. That is why in the Mahabharata, Mahasambhuti Krsna Himself was present during the battle – to encourage and guide the people. But this time – because the overall standard of sadhakas is higher – Baba is teaching His devotees that His grace alone is enough.

Remember, when Arjuna was confused, then Lord Krsna showed him and gave him proof via His vishvarupa (universal form) that even before the Mahabharata war, all the warriors had been killed. It was all done already in the mental sphere; that was Lord Krsna’s will.

So what Lord Krsna thought in His mind, within a few days it took shape on the physical plane. So after taking physical expression, then everyone saw that dharma was established. But in true sense dharma was established as soon as Lord Krsna conceived the thought.

We all know that the Lord comes here on this earth as Mahasambhuti to establish dharma. And establishing dharma does not mean physically fighting with a bow and arrow against demons. Lord Krsna established dharma by virtue of His samkalpa. Hence human beings could see after the Mahabharata how dharma was already established but they needed Lord Krsna’s presence to guide them.

In His causeless grace Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji has established dharma by His mere wish, but this time His physical presence is not needed to guide. His grace is enough.

Accordingly, He has graciously come and given the path in the form of Ananda Marga ideology. By this way everyone has been given the ingredients for how to conduct themselves in day to day life and move ahead fighting against exploitation. So Baba has given the path as well as the inspiration, stamina and dynamism for moving ahead, and when He has showered His grace, then everything is complete. After getting everything set and done, He left this earth. And in the due course we will see the results manifest physically. All along He is still living in each and everyone’s heart eternally.

The whole idea being that Baba has fulfilled His samkalpa, and for that reason dharma is established.

Now the question is: Why is it not visible?

ANALOGY OF BANYAN TREE

If you show someone a tiny seed – i.e. the size of the tip of a needle – and tell then one day it will become a great big banyan tree, then many people will not believe it. They will wonder how it is so. Yet that banyan seed contains within it the potential to grow to that size. Similarly, if you tell someone that Baba has given all the ideological ingredients and showered His grace so dharma is already established – only we are waiting for it to take manifest form, then they may stand there in disbelief. But any sadhaka will easily understand that it is true.

And that is verily what we see unfolding today. In the general society, every day, we see more and more practices and trends that reflect Ananda Marga ideals – everything from the spread of vegetarianism to the elimination of smoking in public buildings and many more aspect of life as well

So now again when we ask the question – why is it not visible – we all know the answer is very straightforward. First, it will take some time to manifest on the physical plane. Second, whatever energy He has given it is our duty to utilise that in manifesting dharma in the physical sphere.

So He has fulfilled His vow of establishing dharma and now all that is left is for us to adhere to His precepts so that vow will become visible for all to see.

Above all because He took samkalpa that is why dharma is already established.

THE LIILA OF MAHASAMBHUTI

Each and every advent of Mahasambhuti has His own style of functioning and completing His samkalpa.

For example, what Lord Shiva did was wholly unique and He executed His divine tasks differently from Lord Krsna and Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. They all have their own unique style and approach. They do not merely copy one another.

The point is that each Mahasambhuti follows His own pattern and system. As human beings, we may may not know the entire planning of how He operates, but we can see certain trends.

HIS ADVENT IS ENOUGH

So no one should worry unnecessarily that the vision of our Marga will never come to fruition. Because what Baba has promised, He always fulfills. When He says that the Lord comes to establish dharma, then when He came in physical form as Mahasambhuti He established dharma. He did not leave anything undone.

“Such a figure or “Mahásambhúti”, infuses dynamism in the social body and accelerates the speed of movement. All the virtuous people in the world respond to his call and rally around him. He creates a polarization in the society: the virtuous versus the wicked. In the clash between the two groups, the virtuous people emerge victorious by dint of their special efforts coupled with the grace of that great personality. His advent itself signifies victory in the war. The mark of victory is sure to be imprinted on the forehead of the virtuous. The brave companions of this Mahásambhúti accompany him from age to age preferring to work with Him than attain their own liberation. They may or may not have great ambitions, they may or may not suffer from superiority or inferiority complexes, but there is no evil element in this world that can defeat these blessed people. Rather, in the last phase of the conflict, the evil forces are bound to accept total defeat. Therefore, to those of you marching forward on the path of virtue, the path of dharma, I say, “Keep marching on safely and without concern.”” (1)

“No one need harbour any doubt that Parama Purus’a exists to promote the well-being of all created beings. If He was not concerned about the welfare of the living unit beings, He would have remained in His unqualified stance forever and would not have manifested Himself as Ta’raka Brahma or Sagun’a Brahma. But He did manifest Himself in this way and has just showed His intention of promoting the well-being of humanity. That is why He has given the assurance:”

“Paritra’n’a’ya …”

“Now what is the necessity for His repeated advent into this world? To ensure human welfare.” (2)

“Utilizing the vibrations created for eternal time by Shrii Shrii A’nandamurtiji through janusparsha and varabhaya mudras, take yourself and the entire universe ahead along the path of all-round welfare. Omn Shanti.” (3)

Namaskar,
Sastaunga Pranam to Baba,
Satyadeva

REFERENCES
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 7, The Transitional Period
2. PNS-11, p 59-60
3. Caryacarya – 1, ‘Concluding Words’

Note: ABOUT THE BANYAN TREE

For those not aware, the banyan tree is one of the biggest trees on the planet – not in terms of height, but in terms of how much space it consumes. The branches grow out and then back down into the earth. In this way the banyan tree spreads across the land. Thus just a little seed manifests into this enormous tree. That is the potentiality of the banyan seed. Likewise when Baba has given the teachings, shown the path, and showered His grace, that means dharma is established. So we are to fulfill our roles with the energy He has given, and watch dharma take physical manifestation.

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

******************************************
Eating Style

“Follow a system of eating. For example, first eat the bitter items, then the semi-bitter ones, then the sour and finally the sweet things. Sweets come at the end. The entire action of taking the different items is called eating.” (NKS, ’81 Edn, p.157)
******************************************
Prabhat Samgiita #2214

“Toma’r pathe jete kuya’sha’ keno a’se a’nkhite…” (P.S. 2214)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, You have blessed me with everything. Then why is it that while following Your path, sometimes frustration and confusions come, thus making everything foggy. It is not easy to see across. Dilemmas arise in the mind as if the future is dark. O’ Divine Entity, please create more and more effulgence so that all the accumulated darkness will vanish.

O’ effulgence Personified, O’ polestar of my life, those who lost their path, please show them the way. Remove their frustration and ignorance and bring them in the right direction. Please grace me so that in Your ideation and in Your dhyana I merge myself in You, by Your grace. Please allow my entire I-feeling to dissolve into You. Without Your grace all this is not possible.

Baba, with the vibration of Your mantra, Your name, please awaken this entire world. And make me Your tool to execute Your task and fulfill Your desire. By that way with proper ideation I should only think that ‘I am involved in executing Your task, I am just a tool in Your hand’. So please go on executing Your task through me. Baba, please bestow Your grace so that I can serve everyone…

Reflection on How & Why Baba Taught in So Many Ways

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

Baba

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

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

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

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

SPEAKS MORE DIRECTLY TO A’NANDA MA’RGIIS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

STYLE OF GUIDING OTHERS

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

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

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

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

And this next guideline is working in a similar manner.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TELLING PA DADA NOT TO RECORD

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

BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES

There is another angle to this matter as well.

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

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

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

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

EXAMPLE OF DIRECT TEACHING

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

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

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

WE SHOULD FOLLOW THIS APPROACH

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

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

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

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

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

BABA’S BLESSING

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

Sa no buddhya’ shubhaya’ sam’yunaktu.

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

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

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

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

Namaskar,
In Him,
Acintya

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

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

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

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

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

Baba

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

Purport:

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

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

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

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

Here Is Our Measuring Scale #1

Date: Tue, 04 Jun 2013 21:00:55

Baba

This entire posting is composed of 2 parts:
(1) Posting: Here Is Our Measuring Scale #1;
(2) Prabhat Samgiita #2945

HERE IS OUR MEASURING SCALE #1

Namaskar,
As we look around, we see various people conducting themselves in different ways. Some actions are deemed as “civilised”, whereas other actions are looked upon as “uncivilised.”

In addition, there are many who consider themselves to be quite civilised when in fact they routinely engage in uncivilised behaviours.

So we should examine what it means to be civilised, as well as understand that each particular case should be looked upon independently. We should refrain from making sweeping generalisations.

ANANDA MARGA DEFINITION OF CIVILISED

According to Ananda Marga philosophy, a person is civilised if their action and overall conduct is supported by logic, reasoning, and rationality.

“We may call those human acts and behaviour civilized that give evidence of this discriminative judgement, in a great measure.” (1)

Here below Baba furthermore describes what it means to be civilised.

“I would say, the greater the support of judgement in action and behaviour, the better shall be the expression and development of civilization.” (2)

So those actions supported by intellect and a keen sense of discrimination (viveka) are civilised.

PRACTICAL EXAMPLES:

INDIVIDUAL CASES

Here are a few examples for consideration:

1. If instead of attending to their trash in a responsible manner, someone is taking garbage away from their house and dumping it on the road, then that action is uncivilised. In other realms of life that person might be civilised, but he is uncivilised on this point of trash disposal and dropping it on the public road where it will become a hazard. So that action is uncivilized because it is devoid of logic and reasoning. If an entire community adopts this method of throwing trash in the street then we can say that entire community is uncivilised on this specific point.

Here again we should remind ourselves of Baba’s teaching about what it means to act in a civilised manner.

“I would say, the greater the support of judgement in action and behaviour, the better shall be the expression and development of civilization.” (3)

So when any person tosses their trash on the street in a thoughtless manner that action is deemed as uncivilised.

2. Similarly, if a person is passing stool on the road because they are too lazy or apathetic to adhere to a more conscientious approach, then that person is uncivilised. The civilised approach is to dig a small hole in an isolated, forested place and then cover it up accordingly. So civilisation – or being civilised – is not a function of economics, but a matter of conscious and considerate action.

For instance, if a moneyed person has a modern bathroom with a flush toilet and marble tiles, but if after defecating or urination they only use toilet paper (blotting paper) and do not use water to clean themselves, then the person is uncivilised – with regards to that particular action. Because their approach to health and hygiene is of a very low standard. Only using paper will not clean the affected area. So it is an uncivilised approach. Whereas, a person who urinates or defecates in the forest and covers it properly and washes his front and backside with water thoroughly is quite civilised. Thus economics is not the operative factor in determining who is civilized.

“I would say, the greater the support of judgement in action and behaviour, the better shall be the expression and development of civilization.” (4)

The overall principle is that those actions supported by logic, reasoning, and rationality are civilised. To go against these tenets is to indulge in uncivilised dealings.

3. Then there are some people who do not want anyone to harm them. If they are punched, cut, or knifed by anyone they will be very upset and furious. And they certainly do not want anyone to kill them. Yet these very same persons are quite comfortable killing animals in order to eat them. Such persons have access to plenty of sentient food and they are not about to die of starvation, even then they insist on butchering and ingesting animals. On this point, that person is uncivilised. Because they fail to use their intellect and sense of compassion to understand that just as they themselves do not want to be harmed or killed, similarly those poor defenseless animals do not wish to be harmed or killed. That is why this person is uncivilised – at least on this particular point of senselessly killing and eating animals.

4. Then there are some who resort to illegal drugs and banned substances or use alcohol in order to feel “happy” etc, but this approach is not at all supported by rationality and logic. To find happiness the mind must be in a balanced state, yet drugs and alcohol put the mind in a depraved state where one can never find happiness or contentment – rather that person will act like an addicted fiend. That is why we say that on the point of drugs and alcohol, this person is uncivilised. If they use their innate sense of logic and reasoning, they can easily understand that alcohol and drugs are harmful. Since they fail to act in the proper manner we can say that their action is uncivilised.

“We may call those human acts and behaviour civilized that give evidence of this discriminative judgement, in a great measure.” (5)

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Here I wish to close with these thoughts:

(a) There is an existing stereotype that the western, materialistic nations are deemed as civilised, whereas certain so-called developing nations in the east as well as in the southern hemisphere are not civilised. This is an entirely wrong analysis and in Ananda Marga we do not subscribe to such generalisations. As we know being civilised cannot be bought, sold, or traded; being civilised means acting in a way that is supported by logic, reasoning, and rationality. For that one need not live in a particular place or own any particular object. Only one must act with a developed sense of viveka (rational discrimination).

(b) So this point of civilisation is related with conduct and to be evaluated on a case by case basis. A person may be civilised in one sphere but uncivilised in another. Similarly, we cannot say that any particular country is 100% civilised and that another country is 100% uncivilised. Not every person in every country is cent-per-cent the same. There are variations between individuals as well as a range of dynamics within a particular individual. That is why we evaluate who is civilised on a case by case, action by action basis. At best we can say, if there is a prevailing trend, that many or most are inclined in a particular way. But never can we wholly declare any specific place or land as perfectly civilised or uncivilised, always. Rather we must look at each case, each incident, independently.

(c) In our Ananda Marga also we see things unfolding in a similar manner. Margiis know that caste marriages and the dowry system are wrong, so if any are still following those rituals then they are uncivilised – on that point. They may be civilised on points of hygiene etc, but on this point of marriage and dowry they are uncivilised. Likewise every Ananda Margii knows that groupism is bad and against neo-humanistic principles etc, so if they are following groupism then they are uncivilised – in that sphere of life. On other avenues, they may be dharmic i.e. civilised, but on the point of groupism they are dogmatic, i.e. unrefined.

(d) Another key point is that there is a distinct link between science and civilisation. The general flow now is that civilisation is lagging behind. That means that the large majority of scientific advancements are directed toward uncivilised behaviour. And this invites one’s ruination. That is what we see happening nowadays with pop films, music, dance, video, drama etc. So much of what science has to offer is used in ways that degrade the mind. That brings psychic degeneration. That is why we say that civilisation is lagging behind. People are not using scientific achievement and the latest technologies in a rational way. Rather people are using such inventions to plunge the mind deeper into pseudo-culture and degrading activities. That is the sad state of affairs in this present era.

CIVIILISATION IS ON THE WANE DUE TO SCIENCE

“In the present age, civilization is on the wane due to science enjoying the pride of place. But developed as science is today, if civilization is pushed up again to the top, people can reach a greater height than ever before.” (6)

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

UNCIVILISED DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH

“What we see in the market place and railway stations is the exhibition of half-clad street beggars and lepers – all stretching out their begging bowls, the only means of earning their livelihood. They are fortunate if anybody contemptuously flings a copper coin at them. The old blind beggars wait all day long at the bridge and lift their bowls as soon as someone walks past them. Their shrill cries fall on deaf ears only. On the other hand, the affluence of foods kept ready in luxurious houses to entertain the big guns of society ridicules the present human civilization.” (7)

NOT INDICATIVE OF A DEVELOPED CIVILIZATION

“If “a life for a life” is considered an unassailable principle of justice, then there is nothing more to say. But remember that born criminals commit their crimes due to their physical or psychic abnormalities; are not the so-called civilized people who make no effort to cure such born criminals, guilty of the same crime? Does not capital punishment amount to cutting off the head to get rid of a headache? In my opinion to take the life of a born criminal of this type is as much a crime as it would be to pass a death sentence on a patient just because we could not cure the person’s illness. It is the duty of a civilized society to arrange for born criminals to be cured of their ailments. Killing them to lighten the burden caused by their lives is certainly not indicative of a developed civilization.” (8)

SOCIETY OF TODAY IS BEING EXPLOITED BY THE SO-CALLED CIVILIZED PEOPLE

“The vanity expressed by the so-called civilized human beings of today is extremely dangerous. These people hide the cruder propensities of the mind under the cloak of sweet words and decent behaviour. They are more harmful to the well-being of the human race than the so-called uncivilized humans, because they are hypocrites. The defects of the uncivilized humans pale into insignificance before their abominable hypocrisy. The uncivilized humans of the past may have killed twelve people at most in the battles they fought with bows, arrows, sticks and spears, but the so-called civilized human beings of today kill millions of unarmed, innocent people indiscriminately with their dreadful and lethal weapons. Human society of today is being exploited by the so-called civilized people. Such people should not make themselves look ridiculous by claiming otherwise.” (9)

HYPOCRITICAL DEALING, NOT CIVILISED ACTION

“To be civilized means to give a refined form to everything, and it is inseparably connected with education. But if refinement takes second place and hypocritical behaviour becomes the primary means of expression, that cannot be called civilization or education. If a man who is invited to a dinner party only nibbles at the savouries, saying, “I am sorry, I cannot eat any more,” then goes home to devour a hearty meal and later brags that he eats very little, an impression of abstemiousness may be created in the minds of others, but there is a complete lack of straightforwardness in his behaviour. In modern society many aspects of civilization and education are of this sort.” (10)

SO-CALLED EDUCATED ELITE & THEIR IMMORAL WAYS

“However, there is at this time a class of self-styled scholars who want to establish separate clubs for themselves for no particular reason. Is there any altruistic motive behind their demand? None at all. The actual reason is that they feel that if they mix with the illiterate masses their social prestige will be undermined. If you investigate more deeply, you will generally find that in such “gentlemen’s clubs” immorality is rampant and wine flows in abundance. Should we, then, consider the members of these clubs to be civilized, cultured and educated scholars while other people are uncivilized, uncultured and uneducated fools? Such silly nonsense propagated in the name of civilization cannot be allowed to continue.” (11)

THOSE WHO EXPLOIT ARE THE ENEMIES OF THE CULTURED AND CIVILISED WORLD

“As you know, all are the progeny of the same Supreme Progenitor. He created this universe and He created this material world, as well as His living children. Now, when he created the material world, the inanimate world, the plants and the human beings, common sense says that the entire world belongs to His children irrespective of caste, creed, religion, nationality, standard of education, standard of wisdom, or standard of physical, mental or spiritual strength. It is the vested interests, with their mean and base motives, that create disparity among living creatures, especially among human beings. So those who exploit others and want to enjoy this created world by depriving others of their legitimate and paternal rights, are the enemies of society. They are the enemies of humanity, and they are the enemies of the cultured and civilized world.” (12)

SO-CALLED CIVILISED RACES DEPRIVED THEM

“Black people did not lag behind either. True, compared with other races their contribution to human civilization is less impressive, not because of their racial inferiority, but because the so-called civilized races (for their selfish political interests) deprived them of sufficient scope in their development. Furthermore, the hostile natural environment did not allow introversion of their psychic potentialities.” (13)

A CIVILISED COUNTRY WILL CARE FOR THE POOR

“Once I heard about a doctor, standing by the bed of a poor, distressed patient, who said in an authoritarian way, “You must pay my fees at once. I won’t listen to any excuses.” A poor relative of the patient left the house in despair, borrowed money by giving an IOU, and paid the doctor’s bill. I doubt whether a country can be considered civilized if the strictest reform measures are not taken against such human demons.” (14)

Namaskar,
in Him,
Gaotam

REFERENCES:
1. AFPS-6, Civilization, Science and Spiritual Progress
2. AFPS-6, Civilization, Science and Spiritual Progress
3. AFPS-6, Civilization, Science and Spiritual Progress
4. AFPS-6, Civilization, Science and Spiritual Progress
5. AFPS-6, Civilization, Science and Spiritual Progress
6. AFPS-6, Civilization, Science and Spiritual Progress
7. Social Values & Cardinal Principles
8. Human Society – 1, Justice
9. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life – 8, Struggle & Progress
10. HS-1, Social Justice
11. HS-1, Social Justice
12. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 3, The Birthright of the Microcosm
13. Human Society – 2, Human Society Is One and Indivisible – 1
14. Human Society – 1, Various Occupations

******** Prabhat Samgiita #2945

“Saba’re kari a’hva’n saba’i a’ma’r pra’n’…” (P.S. 2945)

Purport:

The clarion call to one and all. Everyone is my own; everyone is my pra’n’a; everyone is close to my heart. We are all collectively singing the song in unison and moving towards the Goal– Parama Purus’a. Nobody should remain left behind. We should carefully see that nobody should cry in the society, remaining as downtrodden or neglected. We are all singing the marching song of life collectively, with one tune and one melody. There is no difference between one human being and another. Everyone’s desires, aspirations, and hopes are the same. We are all moving on one path by the inspiration of the great ideology, which will lead towards greatness…

How Sadhakas Utilise Their Spiritual Potentiality

Baba

This entire posting is composed of 2 parts:
(1) Posting: How Sadhakas Utilise Their Spiritual Potentiality;
(2) Prabhat Samgiita #3323

== HOW SADHAKAS UTILISE THEIR SPIRITUAL POTENTIALITY ==

Namaskar,
Some get confused and think that they should attain occult powers so they can help others. Others contend that the gaining of occult powers is not good.

Some cite this sutra to support their claim that occult powers should be gotten.

5-14 Vyast’isamas’t’isha’riirama’nasa’dhya’tmikasambha’vana’ya’m’ caramo’ payogashca

Purport: “There should be maximum utilization of the physical, metaphysical, and spiritual potentialities of unit and collective bodies of human society.” (1)

They think think that Baba’s above Proutistic teaching is related with the attainment and use of occult powers.

Others stand by the point that occult powers are dangerous and lead to one’s downful.

“Occult powers are just like the dust on the roadside. The attraction for Parama Purus’a is the most valuable object– all else is only the dust of the earth.” (2)

So we should examine the situation and think, “How is it that sadhakas should utilise their spiritual potentiality?”

AS WE KNOW…

When a sadhaka does sadhana and strictly follows 16 Points then they naturally develop in all the ways – in all the spheres. This is the natural process – such that usually most good sadhakas are hardly even aware about their own growth.

It is similar to the case of the step-wise, progressive growth and development that we all experienced as infants and young children. Because all are born as small babies and gradually as we get older and older then huge developmental changes take place. But in one’s own day-to-day, regular existence, often people are not aware about or nor do they even recognise their own growth – how much they change day by day. Yet over a measurable span of time a major shift or growth takes place.

For example, after 15-20 years one infant becomes a strong youth. But that youth himself is unaware of his own drastic development. Just he feels it is his natural growth. But those who have not seen him since 10 years will think that a huge transformation has taken place.

In a similar way when a person practices sadhana sincerely with a pointed mind, and they are regular and strictly following all the do’s and don’ts, conduct rules, asanas, and are graced with devotion for Guru, then certainly the sadhaka’s whole personality gets changed.

NATURAL PROGRESS FOR ALL

Like this, various types of spiritual potentiality come to each and every sadhaka, although they are not aware. Nor do they desire those things because their mind is pointed to Parama Purusa and not towards those occult powers. So neither are they aware, nor is it their desire. It was not their intention to acquire those powers because they were just devotionally linked with Parama Purusa.

And this happens not just with one sadhaka, but with all sincere margiis and Wts – if one is sincere and strict in their spiritual routine and practices. Then surely such things develop by the grace of Parama Purusa.

Naturally then these spiritual strengths manifest in one’s regular conduct, in their daily way of dealing, speech, behaviors etc. In result, non-margii friends may complain about changes in your lifestyle and other acquaintances may leave your company. Verily, so many relationships become altered or broken. Every sincere sadhaka has numerous experiences how this has happened in their own life. And this is all due to the gradual and pointed development in spiritual life.

In that way spiritual strength manifests and projects in a very natural manner. And it happens to varying degrees. If one is very high and very pointed then it expresses more, and if less pointed then not as much. But certainly some change takes place accordingly in everyone.

SADHAKAS FEEL OTHERS’ SUFFERING

Because of this, margiis understand the pains and sufferings of others and with their full heart they are always busy in helping others.

“One should lighten one’s mind and become simple, soft, and kind-hearted; and by this way one can understand the tales of others suffering. In that condition only will you be able to serve the world. In that human mind where pain is hidden and where tears have accumulated, that mind you have to understand, realise, and feel. Then you will be able to remove their sorrow. To understand the feeling of the crying heart of suffering people, in sadhakas this type of supernatural power comes. This is called mahima.” (3)

A sadhaka’s spiritual potentialities get expressed in a very natural way. That is what Baba explains in His above teaching.

LOVE FOR ALL vs SELFISHNESS

All those saints in the past, because of their love for Parama Purusa, understood the feeling of suffering humanity and their love was not limited with a particular tribe or community or color or race.

So these extraordinary human qualities are just the expression of spiritual potentialities in the life of a sadhaka. Those devoid of true spiritual feeling do not have this. (See Footnote 1)

WHY THE NEED FOR SPIRITUAL STRENGTH

If a person is physically sick, then they are quite limited in what they can do. Their body is weak and they will not be able to perform their own designated duties, let alone help others.

Similarly, if a person is suffering psychically from depression, then here again that person will not be in position to help and serve others.

In both the physical and mental spheres, one must have energy and strength in order to reach their potential and serve society.

That is why in their selfish way, big corporations try to tend to the physical and mental well-being of their employees. Why? In order to maximise their productivity and output. When people are physically and psychically well they are more effective in their job. Then they can reach their potential.

Same is the case in the spiritual realm. If a person is spiritually developed then they can overcome all kinds of difficulties and be in position to help and guide others in all the realms of life. They understand other’s pain and can solve their problems. That is what is meant by gaining spiritual strength and utilising one’s spiritual potential.

Having spiritual potentialities does not mean doing all kinds of tricks like fake yogis and magicians who make gold watches appear and disappear etc. Those types of antics have nothing to do with fulfilling one’s spiritual potentiality.

SADHAKAS ARE ALWAYS READY TO SERVE USING THEIR SPIRITUAL POTENTIALITIES

“You will have to provide a soothing touch to the physical, physico-psychic and psycho-physical spheres of life, otherwise human existence will become meaningless…We will have to locate the source of these troubles…we will be removing the miseries…permanently remove those afflictions, which will rectify the sources of troubles in the proper way. (4)

In this above quote Baba says that when one has devotion then they can understand others’ pain and difficulties and thus they are able to help and serve them.

This is the proper explanation of Ananda Sutram, Sutra 5-14. Because it is about spiritual potentialities. And each and every margii has such feelings to varying degrees. Many margiis I know who earlier were meat-eaters, but after doing sadhana then what to say about not killing animals, their higher sense developed and they feel love for everyone. And day and night they are busy serving others. They do not feel that their own problem is any problem, rather just they are busy in relieving others’ suffering. This happens only due to sincerity & devotion – and with that the aforesaid spiritual potentialities came and changed their entire behavior.

Those who do not have such feeling in their dealing and behavior, it proves that they are away from such love of Parama Purusa. And instead they are engaged in self-propaganda, self-prestige, and other worldly longings etc.

In that unfortunate circumstance none can say that Ananda Marga sadhana has some demerits, rather such persons could not practice or follow Baba’s teaching.

SUTRA 5-14 ON PROUT IS ABOUT UTILISING SPIRITUAL POTENTIALITIES

Here Baba is directly explaining that Prout shows that those who are elevated spiritually will have to render service to the society by using their spiritual potentialities.

THOSE SPIRITUALLY STRONG WILL RENDER SPIRITUAL SERVICE FOR THE SOCIETY

“I have told in the Prout philosophy that those who have spiritual strength, from them we will take spiritual service for the society. Such sadhakas who sit in Himalayan caves and go on doing penance but do not teach anybody or guide anybody– that will not be approved. They will have to serve. They will have to do spiritual service. To them I do not say pull a rickshaw, but if they will not do spiritual service, and if they will just sit in Himalayan caves and not come in contact with the world, and instead they will tell that the world is illusion, yet at the same time they will go on eating fruits and roots and accept such service from other human beings of this world– these things will not continue any longer. That has been going on for a long time, but it will not continue any longer; that day has gone.” (5)

CONDUCT IS THE MAIN THING

By the conduct we can see one’s character because Baba says conduct is the main thing– it is the mirror of the mind. By that way we can see who is margii and who is non-margii etc. Because the point is that in our Marga we can see that those who are doing sadhana their conduct will be quite apparent. Whereas if someone’s conduct shows narrow-mindedness, groupism, and mean propensities then we have to think and understand that that person is not doing proper sadhana. So on the basis of one’s conduct we can see who is a senior margii and who is not.

Here it should be understood that seniority is not a matter of years but rather a matter of conduct. So seniority is dependent upon how far someone is pointed and committed to Ananda Marga ideology and to what degree that is reflected in their conduct. Hence conduct is the main distinguishing factor to understand who is who and what is what.

NATURALLY SPIRITUAL STRENGTHS DEVELOP

The delicate point is that if sadhakas are pointed towards the Goal (Ista) then naturally all these spiritual strengths come. And their whole conduct becomes better and better. But those who are asking for occult powers, they are getting that & then they misuse them and get degenerated. So such powers are not to be asked for in sadhana, rather the Goal is Parama Purusa. And on the way such things may come and the conduct will change and generosity will come and true sadvipra qualities will emerge and by that way such sadhakas will be an asset to the society. But no one should ask for getting occult power. That is wrong and it brings ruination.

MISUSE OF OCCULT POWERS BRINGS RUINATION

In Prabhat Samgiita #3333 Baba reveals what happens to those who long for occult powers:

“- Aes’t’ashvaryya tumi cha’r’a’… kare viveka-ha’ra’ -”

Purport: O’ Parama Purusa only You utilise the occult powers in proper way; whereas all those others who use them destroy their conscience. Means they start doing all kinds of negative things. In trying to show their occult powers they end up destroying and killing others and they themselves will be invite negative samskaras such that they will be degenerated into stone, wood or mud. So what to say about serving others, rather those lusting after occult powers destroy themselves.

Here following are some of Baba’s teachings.

USING SPIRITUAL POTENTIALITIES

RENDER STILL BETTER SERVICE TO HUMAN BEINGS

“You will surely attain spiritual progress. And because of your spiritual progress, you will come closer and closer to the Supreme Consciousness, you will come in contact with His psychic waves. And in that state you will be able to render still better service to human beings, animals and plants, by means of Neo-Humanism. May you all be blessed.” (6)

“Sádhaná or intuitional practice means an effort to break through the barrier of this smallness.” (7)

“The unit beings that have been in possession of the Cosmic Mind in part and that have been progressing within It, are also conscious of their smallness and this very sense of smallness is their individuality – unit-hood. Sádhaná or intuitional practice means an effort to break through the barrier of this smallness.” (8)

“How can one shake off the influence of static inertness? How can one get freedom from the bondages of names and forms? Just as the goldsmith uses a hammer and process of melting (in fire) to extract the real gold from the various ornaments, similarly a practical spiritual aspirant will have to break the bondages of names and forms in this expressed world through the cultivation of knowledge (which is mutative), devotion (which is sentient). By virtue of the heat of the fire of sádhaná and the strength derived from sustained intuitional practice, a sádhaka can overcome the static inertness.” (9)

NATURALLY SPIRITUAL STRENGTHS DEVELOP

BE FREE FROM PSYCHIC DISEASE AND ENCOURAGE NATURAL GROWTH

“Most psychic diseases, if not all, grow out of the defective control over the objectivated mind. If one is alert, any trouble can be avoided. Those who regularly practise Iishvara prańidhána or dhyána (meditation) can remain free from these diseases, as their minds will remain in a balanced state. One of the numerous benefits of sádhaná is that it keeps the mind free from psychic disease and encourages the natural growth of the mind. This is of tremendous importance since such problems may arise not only in individual life, but in collective life as well. Individual human beings as well as large communities often suffer from some sort of psychic disease. A subjugated people suffer from an inferiority complex towards the sovereign elite, the ruling class. When India was a dependent colony, many Indians used to describe the members of the ruling community as God’s children, obviously due to their deep-rooted inferiority complex. Most of them wondered: “Will India ever see the light of freedom? When will we ever win the struggle against the ruling class?” This shows that the entire indigenous community was a victim of inferiority complex, the removal of which would require a group of leaders endowed with enormous mental strength and noble character – a group of mighty personalities. India at that time was not fortunate enough to have such great people, and that is why the struggle for Indian freedom had to be prolonged. Otherwise, India could have gained freedom in a much shorter time.” (10)

EVERLASTING FREEDOM ACHIEVED ONLY BY SADHANA

“One thing which helps in getting remission, or nivrtti, is called artha [that which provides temporary liberation from mundane desires]. But artha is purely physical, so it can bring only physical and temporary remission. For everlasting freedom from duhkha, Paramártha [that which provides permanent liberation] is the only remedy. Paramártha does not bring only temporary remission, but everlasting freedom from duhkha. Atyantikii nivrtti can be obtained only by Paramártha which relieves one of all duhkha: physical, mental and spiritual. This Paramártha can only be obtained by sadhana, that is, spiritual practices. For maintaining peace psychic equilibrium is necessary, and for maintaining this equilibrium freedom from all duhkha forever is necessary. Freedom from duhkha or atyantikii nivrtti can be obtained only from Paramártha, and Paramártha can be achieved only by sadhana, or spiritual practices.” (11)

INTUITIONAL PRACTICE HELPS ONE TO OVERCOME

“The attraction towards earthly things born out of lust (káma) and attachment (moha) makes conjugal relations a necessity. Intuitional practice helps one to overcome this need. One becomes indifferent to it.” (12)

PERFORM SADHANA TO TEAR AWAY THE VEIL OF DARKNESS

“A sadhaka, in order to attain spiritual progress, require the help of Vidyámáyá, but at the culminating stage of sádhaná, Vidyámáya has no further value. A sádhaka performs sádhaná to tear away the veil of darkness of the variegated world created by Avidyámáyá and to strive to established himself on the path of pratisaincara.” (13)

TREMENDOUS FORCE ACQUIRED FROM SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

“The endeavour to remove inferiority complexes from the mind leads human beings slowly but surely to the Supreme Entity and establishes them in universal humanism. Hence it will not do for those who are determined to solve the problems of humanity to accept inferior ideals; along with this they must also acquire the strength they need to implement their ideals. The active endeavour to acquire this strength is called sádhaná – the sádhaná of the Supreme. It should be borne in mind that no theory will ever bring people salvation. In fact, it is the inner strength gained from spiritual practices which helps to expand the individual mind. The tremendous force acquired from spiritual practices helps to bridge the gap between the harsh realities of human existence and the supreme desideratum of human life. This is an eternal truth, applicable to all spheres of life – social, economic, psychic and spiritual.” (14)

BY SADHANA YOU ARE TO FREE YOURSELF FROM THIS IGNORANCE

““The jiiva and Shiva are the same” – this idea helps the jiiva to become one with Shiva. And “We are different; we are two entities” – this idea compels the jiiva to move round that Supreme Hub. What is your sádhaná? By sádhaná you are to free yourself from this ignorance, from the slumber of ignorance.” (15)

WITH THE HELP OF SADHANA THE REQUITAL OF SAMSKARAS CEASES

“Those who have tasted even a little of the flowing nectar of Brahma, know that they can never be impure. This constant thought of self-purity greatly helps to exhaust their samskáras or reactive momenta, as a result of which the samskáras held in the sthirabhúmi of their práńa are gradually destroyed. With the help of sádhaná or spiritual practice the spell of pleasurable and painful requitals ceases both internally and externally. Sádhakas call it the combustion of the seed of action in the fire of sádhaná.” (16)

BY SADHANA THE BRAIN AND INTELLECT INCREASES

“When a man, a devotee, a spiritual aspirant moves towards the Supreme Self, his body, that is his brain and intellect increases. And when he moves further, close to the Supreme Being, his spirit, that is his a’tman is also developed. His a’tman becomes more reflecting and more soothing to other existential vibrations because it comes closer to the emanating point of the Supreme Spirit.” (17)

GREATNESS OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

In the following quotes by Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji, He talks about the greatness of spiritual practice.

साधना से मन तो बढ़ता ही है जी | आत्मा की भी प्रगति होती है | आत्मा की प्रगति कैसे होती है, किस तरह की चीज़ है | वह तरक्की कैसी चीज़ है जी | हम कहते हैं कि इससे रुहानी तरक्की होती है | यह रुहानी तरक्की क्या है, जी ? मनुष्य जब साधना की बदौलत परमपुरुष की ओर बढ़ते हैं, तो बौद्धिक विकाश के साथ-साथ मानसिक विकाश भी होता है | तुम लोग देखोगे, दुनिया में बड़े-बड़े काम और बड़े-बड़े अविष्कार, मानव समाज के लिए बड़ी-बड़ी भावनाएँ, चिन्ताएँ, जिन लोगों ने की थी, सब साधक थे सब आध्यात्मिक ख्याल के मनुष्य थे, जड़ बुद्धि के, जड़ोपासक नहीं थे | यही है आध्यात्मिकता की सबसे बड़ी खूबी | आज तक दुनिया में जितने बड़े-बड़े इन्सान आये, और इनसानियत की ख़िदमत के लिए, उन लोगों ने जो कुछ भी किया है, सब काम तुम लोग देखोगे, वही लोग किये जिनके मन में परमपुरुष के लिए मुहब्बत है | जिनके दिल में परमपुरुष के लिए मुहब्बत नहीं है, दिल सूखा है, रेगिस्तान जैसा है, उनसे बड़ा-काम नहीं होता है |
(18)

“साधना से, मानसिक-आध्यात्मिक तरक्की तो होती ही है शारीरिक तरक्की भी होती है | वह तरक्की क्या है ? न, बुद्धि बढ़ जाती है | हाँ! यह बात तो ठीक है कि साधक लोग सीधे-साधे सरल होते हैं | मगर निर्बोध नहीं होते हैं | बुद्धि उनमें रहती है | और मैं भी बार-बार हज़ार बार कहता हूँ कि बुद्धिमान बनो | बुद्धू मत बनो; मगर सीधा-साधा बनो |” (19)

Namaskar,
In Him,
Suresh

Footnote 1: LIMITED BY NARROW-MINDEDNESS

When one is an advance sadhaka and ensconced in the feeling of neo-humanism then they can serve the entire humanity – otherwise not. Then only will one have true love for all.

So here we are not talking about the expression of superficial love which is limited and narrow: Such as when one is loving their own children but hating other children; or when one is dying for one’s own race, country, or community but exploiting other countries etc; or when one is eulogizing their own superiority and belittling others’ good things.

This we see and verily there are many so-called good people in the society who have done many things for their personal family, caste, color or religion. And there are various so-called monks who have completely dedicated themselves to a particular race and encouraged hatred with other races. They don’t hesitate even to engage in mass murder. The religious history is like that.

No doubt in their own particular, narrow community they may be treated as something great, but in truth they are low because they do not have universal feeling. Their “love” is based on selfishness. They did such service works just for the spreading of their own religion and for their own view or narrow cause, not out of any greater feeling of universal compassion.

SINCERITY IN SADHANA BRINGS EXPANSION

The whole point is that when true sadhana is there, then the mind will expand and spiritual strength will develop and those sadhakas will have love for everyone. And they will be able to understand others’ pain.

Otherwise by doing some avidya Tantra practices, then that avidya tantric gets some type of bogus powers that bring their degeneration.

REFERENCES1. Ananda Sutram, p.49
2. Subhasita Samgraha-18, p.46
3. Subhasita Samgraha – 18, Hindi
4.NHNS-2, p. 36
5. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 4, Hindi
6. Neo-Humanism Nutshell-2
7. Subhasita Samgraha – 2, The Intuitional Science of the Vedas – 4
8. Subhasita Samgraha – 2, The Intuitional Science of the Vedas – 4
9. AMIWL-7, Form and Formless
10. AFPS-7, The Faculty of Knowledge – 3
11. AFPS-7, Social Psychology
12. Elementary Philosophy, Why Are People Afraid of Intuitional Practice?
13. APH-4, The Influence of Máyá on the Human Mind
14. HS-1, Social Justice
15. SS-24, The Noumenal Progenitor
16. AMIWL-5, The Chariot and the Charioteer
17. Ananda Nagar, Morning Darshan, 12/30/80
18. Ananda Nagar, Morning Darshan, 12/30/80
19. Ananda Vacanamrtam, Part 21 Hindi Edition, Importance of Sa’dhana’ and its Goal (प्रातःकालीन जनरल दर्शन, 30 दिसम्बर 1980, आनन्दनगर)

******** Prabhat Samgiita #3323
“Ga’ner ma’la’ toma’r tare genthe rekhechi a’j bhore…” (PS #3323)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, since the early dawn, I have been preparing this garland of songs for You. O’ my Lord, please be gracious by coming. With heart-felt love I want to garland You. Those flowers which are not available in the garden have bloomed in the deep inner core of my heart. With the flow of Your sweet divine play, with the resonance of the string of my heart, at the sweet abode, I am waiting for You, my dearest Baba. Please grace me by coming…

Baba

This entire posting is composed of 2 parts:
(1) Posting: Devotee Story: Good or Bad Bhakta #1;
(2) Prabhat Samgiita #1756

== DEVOTEE STORY: GOOD OR BAD BHAKTA ==

~ Part 1 ~

Namaskar,
Devotees have a special characteristic that separates them from ordinary people. That is Baba’s explicit teaching.

Regardless of a bhakta’s behavior, whether he commits a blunder or a small mistake, we must not think that the devotee is therefore useless or worse than common folk. Because still that bhakta has the special quality of devotion. Baba Himself places tremendous importance on this.

Here below is one famous mythological story about a devotee from long ago. The inner meaning of the story lends itself well to life in Ananda Marga.

As we know, Baba vigorously defends the honor of even bad bhaktas after they were condemned by others for their faults. We have all heard of such incidents.

All these stories point in the direction that Parama Purusa holds a special place in His heart for all devotees, even bad ones who commit wrongs.

GAYA’SURA STORY: BAD DEVOTEE GOES ON CRUSADE

Baba tells the story of King Tripasur who was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. After launching a crusade, King Tripasura met his untimely death.

His son, Gaya’sura inherited the throne and followed in his footsteps.

King Gaya’sura too was an ardent worshiper of Lord Vishnu. He prayed endlessly and finally achieved the gift of immortality, granted to him by his chosen Lord Visnu. King Gaya’sura promptly launched a heinous offensive wiping out innocent people in all lands. The wrath of Gaya’sura was terrible. And no one could kill him.

King Gayasura even attacked the devotees of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu Himself came to defend them, but the Lord too was defeated.

Lord Vishu’s followers pleaded with Him to do something.

Lord Vishnu then asked a boon of King Gayasura. The King agreed. Lord Vishnu then asked that Gayasura be turned to stone.

Gaya’sura replied, “So be it”, but then made three pleas:

1) The Lord should put His feet in Gaya’sura’s heart;
2) All those with the Lord’s feet in their heart must be granted liberation;
3) If anyone with the Lord’s feet in their heart does not get liberation, then King Gaya’sura will again be granted life on earth.

Here Baba describes these boons in full:

“First, the Lord will seat Himself in the heart of the devotee without bothering Himself about the nature of that person, good, or bad. It is enough to be a devotee, in order to have the Lord inside. Second, all those who have the Lord’s feet in their hearts are bound to get liberation – liberation is a sure guarantee for them. Third, since Gaya’sura had been turned to stone by the Lord, and since He would again arise if anyone having the Lord inside failed to be liberated, the Lord would have to grant liberation to all such persons for all time to come.” (1)

By the above story – which Baba Himself has recounted on various occasions – we can understand that Parama Purusa places great value on devotion.

“This devotion is a heavenly attribution.” (2)

Even though King Gayasura was a ruthless warrior, due to his devotion he was able to keep the Lord’s feet in his heart. Such is the quality of devotion and such is the grace of the Lord.

Devotion then is enough to gain the favour of the Lord, despite what other bad qualities a bhakta might have.

TRUE TO FORM IN ANANDA MARGA

With all the groupism, difficulties, power mongering and so forth, it is very easy to think that certain people in Ananda Marga are very bad. But we should never harbor any ill will or hatred. Everyone is part of Parama Purusa’s family.

Some may have made mistakes and committed gross sins, yet still all are our brother and sisters. We must develop a relationship of love with them.

We must remember that all have come into Ananda Marga – and they have come for a reason. Some may have come to play the role of a hero; some may have come to play the part of a villain. Regardless, in the the near or distant past, they established an inner link with Parama Purusa, by His grace. They have a place for Him in their heart – so they have come once again to sacrifice in some way for Him – and they are going to be granted salvation.

So all in Ananda Marga are not just our brothers and sisters, but they are devotees of the Lord and that in itself has great meaning. They have a special connection with Him.

Regardless of what faults they do or what hell they create, we must not banish such persons from our minds or think ill of them. Rather we are to love them.

No doubt such persons may have to undergo rectification in the social sphere – they may have to stand before the court of justice – but their spiritual well-being is safe and secure, just as was the case with King Gaya’sura, Ravana, and so many other sinners. Parama Purusa has saved a place in His heart for even bad devotees.

So we must appreciate all who have come to do something for Baba, despite whatever shortcomings they may have. Their arrival onto the path of Ananda Marga has great meaning – that is enough to make one’s life successful.

We should not just think this way about others but about ourselves as well. Baba has graciously blessed us with the special gift of devotion.

THE STORY OF GAYASURA

(From the discourse, “The Lord’s Feet”, December 1971, Patna)

Tripurásura, the father of Gayásura, was a great devotee of Lord Viśńu [a mythological god]. Many devotees of Lord Shiva [a great yogi worshipped as the Lord] wanted him to become a devotee of Shiva instead. But how could Tripurasura go against his Iśt́a [beloved goal of life]? “Though I know that there is no difference between Viśńu and Shiva, for me everything is Lord Viśńu, for He is my Iśt́a. ”

But the devotees of Lord Shiva still put pressure on Tripurásura, in order to see him also become a devotee of Shiva. His conversion might have been possible if the worshippers of Shiva had made a logical appeal to Tripurásura’s understanding that there is actually no difference between Lord Shiva and Lord Viśńu, and that both are only the functional counterparts of Parama Puruśa. But under the pressure put on him by the devotees of Lord Shiva, Tripurásura initiated a crusade against all the devotees of Lord Shiva, until he finally came upon Shiva Himself. But however powerful Tripurásura was, how could he fight against Lord Shiva? He was defeated by Lord Shiva and met his death.

After the death of Tripurásura, his son, Gayásura, became the king. He, too, was a devotee of Lord Viśńu. He worshipped Him with all his heart and devotion, and finally succeeded in attaining a boon of immortality: not to be killed by man, demon or god, in earth, heaven or hell, by day, night, evening or morning. Endowed with such a great power, Gayásura went all over the world conquering people, torturing them and making their lives miserable. None were spared – not even the devotees of Viśńu or Shiva.

But as the saying goes, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Gayásura, who had received his power from Lord Viśńu, thought to defeat the Lord Himself…Gayásura started thinking that the great power he possessed was actually his power. He finally challenged Lord Viśńu, and since Viśńu Himself had granted the boon, how could it fail? Viśńu was defeated by Gayásura. Gayásura bound Viśńu to a tree and then went all over the world with a very bloated ego.

When things had become intolerable for the people, they approached Lord Viśńu, still tied to the tree, and recounted their miseries, requesting Him to do something. Viśńu pleaded helplessness, as He Himself was in a precarious condition! Then the devotees reminded the Lord that He had given the boon of immortality to Gayásura in the physical realm only. The devotees urged Lord Viśńu to use His psychic and spiritual power to defeat Gayásura, and relieve the people of their miseries. Lord Viśńu assured them that He would do something in the matter.

When Gayásura returned to Lord Viśńu to offer his prayers, Viśńu said, “Gayásura! I once gave you what you asked, and you have defeated me. You should now give me a boon.” Gayásura readily agreed to it. Viśńu then asked that Gayásura be turned into stone. Gayásura had no alternative but to say, “So be it.”

Gradually Gayásura’s legs started turning to stone. When he was stone up to his waist, he said, “Wait! I have three conditions!” His first condition was that the Lord put His two feet in Gayásura’s heart. The Lord agreed to it, but asked the reason for such a condition.

Gayásura said, “So that people should know that the feet of the Lord are always in the heart of a devotee, good or bad.”

The second condition was that all those who had the Lord’s feet in their hearts would surely get liberation. The Lord agreed to this also.

The third and last condition of the almost petrified Gayásura was, “If even a single person having the Lord’s feet in his heart fails to get liberation, then this petrified Gayásura will again become a living Gayásura.” Lord Viśńu agreed to it. Very soon Gayásura was turned completely into stone.

This story, from one of the Puráńas [ancient scriptures] has the following three lessons for humanity. First, the Lord will seat Himself in the heart of the devotee without bothering Himself about the nature of that person, good, or bad. It is enough to be a devotee, in order to have the Lord inside. Second, all those who have the Lord’s feet in their hearts are bound to get liberation – liberation is a sure guarantee for them. Third, since Gayásura had been turned to stone by the Lord, and since He would again arise if anyone having the Lord inside failed to be liberated, the Lord would have to grant liberation to all such persons for all time to come; it is a matter of the Lord’s prestige!
(From the discourse, “The Lord’s Feet”, December 1971, Patna)

WORST TYPE OF SINNER

“Now even if a man is that type of sinner whom other sinners may take as a bad man, of whom even sinners may say that he is a bad man – for such a sinner, the worst type of sinner, the future is not dark. The future in his case also is very bright, if he takes shelter in the divine lap of the Supreme Father.” (3)

Namaskar,
in Him,
Deveshvara

REFERENCES1. ‘The Lord’s Feet’
2. 1 June 1986 DMC
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 34, Be Free From All Complexes

******** Prabhat Samgiita #1756

“A’mi toma’r pathei cali go a’r tava sure ga’n ga’i…” (PS 1756)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, by Your grace I move only on Your path: I sing in Your tune and dance to Your rhythm. My whole existence is moving in Your divine flow – ensconced in Your sweet bliss. O’ my Dearmost, You are the most attractive One. I think and ideate only on You and I meditate only on Your glory. O’ my Lord, 24hrs a day I am looking towards You; I want only You. Only You are my Goal; only You are my Desideratum. You are the shining star of my life.

O’ Parama Purusa Baba, we are so close. We are tied up in a bond of love. You are the ray of hope & happiness in my life. I am like the dark evening of the rainy season – my life is full of problems and difficulties; and You are like the soft night-queen flower (rajaniigandha’ [1]) – You are the Personification of all that is sweet. By Your fragrant touch, my whole life becomes fragrant. By Your grace my life is saturated with Your heavenly aroma – my existence is saturated with Your love.

O’ Divine Entity Baba, I am jiiva and You are Shiva. I am wrought with imperfections and defects and You are blemishless and pure. I am like the winter sky that is enveloped by the fog. My life is filled with problems. Baba, You are like the crimson effulgence of the morning’s new dawn. With the brilliance of Your presence all my problems disappear. You bring charm and bliss into my life. You make everything beautiful. O’ Parama Purusa, without You my life is meaningless – unbearable. Baba, by dyeing my mind in Your color, my whole existence rushes towards Your divine land – towards You.

Baba, because of Your grace-compassion, I am marching only towards You. O my Lord, You have done everything for me…

NOTE FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #1756:

[1] Rajaniigandha’: (Night Queen Flower) This is one of the most fragrant and aromatic flowers; it emanates a delicious, sweet smell all around for miles and miles. The wonderful scent of the rajaniigandha’ makes any environment charming. For this reason in the above song the sadhaka is saying that Parama Purusa is like the rajaniigandha – because He emanates unending sweetness all around. In contrast, the sadhaka compares himself to the suffocating, humid evening in the rainy season. Because that humid evening has so many negative characteristics such as heavy air and the onslaught of buzzing mosquitos and pestering insects. Thus the torturous humid evening represents the sadhaka’s problem-filled life. But when the sweet aroma rajaniigandha’ comes in contact with the sticky, humid evening, then everything becomes sweet and charming. Then that humid evening gets transformed into something wonderful. Similarly even though a sadhaka’s life might be filled with countless problems and obstacles, but with the divine arrival of Parama Purusa, everything becomes charming and blissful. All of one’s problems immediately disappear– vanish, because of His sweet presence. That is why in the above song the sadhaka compares Baba with the rajaniigandha’ flower.

In Ananda Marga: 2-Way Communication, Not 3 (Vara’bhaya)

Baba
IN ANANDA MARGA:
2-WAY COMMUNICATION, NOT 3

PS Intro: Prabhat Samgiita is the loving communication between the bhakta and Parama Purusa. In most compositions, the song is sung by the devotee; less frequently Parama Purusa is addressing the devotee, either using direct or indirect language. But always the song is the loving sharing between Parama Purusa and the bhakta. Never is there a third entity in the song.
In contrast, traditional Hindu devotional bhajans and writings might employ 2 characters, i.e. bhakta and Parama Purusa, or 3 characters. In those instances where there are 3 characters, then 2 of the them are devotees who are friends talking about the third character – i.e. Parama Purusa. For example, one devotee might ask, “Why are you crying? Is it because your Lord has not come?” This is a common scenario in melancholic, traditional Indian bhajans.
But in Prabhat Samgiita, the communication is exclusively between the bhakta and Parama Purusa – there is no 3rd party. Sometimes the devotee is talking with Parama Purusa, sometimes Parama Purusa is addressing the devotee. In either case, the style of communication may be direct or indirect. In some rare melancholic compositions, Parama Purusa addresses the bhakta in a very indirect and disguised manner wherein the devotee does not even recognise that it is Parama Purusa.
For example, in a melancholic song, if a devotee is crying in longing for Parama Purusa, then Parama Purusa might come in a disguised way so the bhakta does not even realise it is Parama Purusa. Keeping His identity hidden, Parama Purusa then asks, “Why are you crying? In whose longing are you crying?”
The following song proceeds in this subtle manner. Parama Purusa has come to the devotee in a disguised way and the devotee has no idea that Parama Pursua is the One next to him addressing him and asking these questions. In this way Parama Purusa plays His divine liila.
“A’nkhiro ba’dal mucheche ka’jal, ka’r katha’ mane par’e balo na’…” (PS 3013)

1ST STANZA
Line Meaning: Please tell me whose longing brought the showering of tears in your eyes that washed away the collyrium. Why is sleep not coming in your eyes – I am asking you, please tell me. Why are you so upset? Who has given you so much pain. Why are you crying? Please tell me what is wrong. Tell me what you are feeling.
Purport: O’ devotee, please tell me whose longing brought the showering of tears in your eyes that washed away the collyrium. Why is sleep not coming in your eyes – I am asking you, please tell me. Why are you so upset? Who has given you so much pain. Why are you crying? Please tell me what is wrong. Tell me what you are going through.

Refrain: O’ devotee, please tell me whose longing brought the showering of tears in your eyes that washed away the collyrium.

2ND STANZA
Line Meaning: The sweet, tranquil, pain-relieving, aromatic breeze of this most charming, divinely intoxicating, effulgent full-moon night where everything basks in the light, why are you feeling so distraught? In whose longing are you remaining awake in hopelessness? Putting aside all feelings of shyness and fear, just tell me who has done this to you.
Purport: O’ devotee, the sweet, aromatic breeze of this most charming, full-moon night – where everything in all directions is illumined and basking in the moon’s effulgence – brings tranquility and removes the burden of agony and pain. When the entire scene is so divinely intoxicating, then why are you still so despondent. In whose longing are you remaining awake in hopelessness? Why are you feeling so distraught? Putting aside all feelings of shyness and fear, just tell me who has done this to you. Who has broken your heart.
Refrain: O’ devotee, please tell me whose longing brought the showering of tears in your eyes that washed away the collyrium.

3RD STANZA
Line Meaning: The black clouds of the mind cannot remain for a long time. With the practice of dharana and dhyana, gradually they will go away. You should know that after bad days naturally good days are going to come. Knowing this fact, I tell you not to worry.
Purport: O’ devotee, the dark, black clouds of the mind cannot remain for a long time – this period of suffering and the pain of not getting Parama Purusa pain will not last forever. This despondency, melancholia, and sadness will diminish. With the practice of dharana, dhyana, asana, pranayama, kiirtan and engaging in spiritual life, gradually those dark clouds will go away – your troubles will be over. You should know, after the bad days naturally good days are going to come. That is sure. For whom you are crying, your loved one Parama Purusa will come and fulfill your desire. Blissful days are ahead. Knowing this fact, I assure you not to worry. Everything will be alright. He will come to you.
Refrain: O’ devotee, please tell me whose longing brought the showering of tears in your eyes that washed away the collyrium. Please tell me.

CLOSING
O’ devotee, you must know, after the bad days, good days are bound to come. That is certain. For whom you are crying, your Beloved Parama Purusa will come by your side and satiate your longing to your heart’s content. Blissful times await you. Knowing this fact, I assure you not to worry. Everything will be alright…

Namaskar,
in Him,
Vara’bhaya

Please Pay Attention

Baba

Respected Readers,

Namaskar.

We invite you to follow these two blogs that feature ideological issues and news about Ananda Marga.

1. Ananda Marga Universal

2. Ananda Marga News Bulletin

Should you have any questions please write us or comment below.

Respectfully,
AM-GLOBAL Moderators

Gandhi, Bin Laden, Prout, & Ananda Marga

Baba

This entire posting is composed of 2 parts:
(1) Posting: Gandhi, Bin Laden, Prout, & Ananda Marga;
(2) Prabhat Samgiita #3624.

Baba

== GANDHI, BIN LADEN, PROUT & ANANDA MARGA ==

Namaskar,
What do Gandhism, pirate ships and Bin Laden have in common? How does Prout fit into the equation? Baba’s teachings neatly answers these questions and more.

THREE DEFECTIVE METHODS

In His teachings from Social Justice in Human Society part 1, Baba explains that whenever any society is exploited by vested interests like capitalists then in response the common people adopt one of three main avenues:
1. Appealing to human sentiment like Gandhism;
2. Applying brute force like communism;
3. Stealing and pillaging from the rich like Robin Hoods.

But none of the aforementioned avenues work; none of them are able to prevail against the capitalists.

#1 GANDHISM

Those appealing to Gandhism do not get success because those greedy capitalists are notoriously callous and remain unmoved by those humanistic appeals.

For instance:
(a) When those adherents of Gandhism plead, “Do not collect huge wealth which you cannot use”, then those ruling capitalists simply pay a deaf ear.
(b) Whose those Gandhi enthusiasts proclaim, “Share your wealth and feed the poor”, then those top capitalists merely look the other way.
(c) When those proponents of Gandhism say, “Build housing for the homeless”, then big corporate executives nod their head and then continue counting their net worth.
(d) When the followers of Gandhi demand, “After all are cared for then and only then can you think about your personal luxuries”, then the leading capitalists remain unmoved and continue to hoard huge wealth and extravagant personal amenities.

In short, capitalists simply ignore the humanistic appeals made by Gandhian activists. Such vaeshyas do not mend their ways.

Prout philosophy states, “No matter how much importance was given to the benevolence of the human mind by the Gandhian and Bhudan movements, or how saintly their propounders may have been, selfish and mean-minded people [capitalists] will never accept their principles.” (1)

The Gandhian theory can only be effective in some far-off dreamland, not in the hard realities of the world. Gandhism died while Gandhi was still alive; now only hypocrisy remains.

“The philosophy of Gandhi died before India got independence – it died long before Gandhi died.” (2)

Thus we see that the wealth disparity is only growing.

Poverty and slums are spreading fast across this earth as capitalists exponentially grow their wealth. There are more billionaires now than ever before, yet side by side large populations of people are homeless or living in the slums and shanty towns.

The slums of Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, Manila, Johannesburg, Mumbai, Buenos Aires, and Cairo are filled with hoards of people lacking the basic necessities like running water, toilets, sewage lines, and electricity yet in those very same cities a select slice of the population is living like kings and queens in ritzy apartments with grand luxuries. But it is not even countries like Brazil, China, Philippines, South Africa, India, Argentina & Egypt that suffer from this vast disparity of wealth.

The homeless problem throughout the US is notorious and growing phenomenon: “More than 630,000 Americans, equivalent to a city the size of Boston, are homeless, according the latest national estimate.” (13 April 2013)

Plus the homeless population is burgeoning throughout western Europe and especially in Paris.

Thus in places where capitalism is thriving (China, India etc) as well as in places where capitalism has long been established (USA & Europe), there are serious issues with the disparity of wealth. And in all such areas Gandhian appeals do not even begin to address the problems. Rather, capitalists blatantly disregard their appeals. Recently, billionaires in the US led by Warren Buffet also made appeals for other billionaires to donate money after they die, but but those appeals have mostly “fallen on deaf ears.”

So the ways of Gandhism do not work. The capitalists never give in to such demands.

#2 COMMUNISM

Those resorting to the brute force of communism do not get success with those capitalists either because they are unable to root out the seed of capitalism – they are unable to goad the mind in a proper moral or spiritual manner. Theirs is also a materialistic approach and the result is either the greed of individual or state capitalism.

Prout philosophy states, “Those who aspire to establish communistic systems either through legal methods or at bayonet point without changing the hearts of the people, without implementing development programmes and without introducing moral and ideological education to reform people’s bad habits, are also bound to fail.” (3)

The communist leaders themselves are very wealthy. Actually there is not much difference – from an economic perspective – between communism and capitalism.

Prout philosophy states, “Capitalism and communism are fruits of the same variety.” (4)

Communism is merely state capitalism where the government hoards all the money & the people are very poor; and capitalism means private ownership that creates a huge disparity of wealth between the economically elite and the common people. Thus, both harbor the safe defective mind-set: I.e. materialism.

Nowadays, we see that communism has basically failed. So the former communist nations are are aggressively pursuing capitalism. Some of the top capitalist countries are India, China, and Russia. In such places there is no safety net. There are no governmental programs to help the poor. Those without jobs, food, housing and medical care are basically left to struggle on their own or die. Yet in those same places the number of billionaires is increasing everyday.

In places like the US and Europe there is a bit of a safety net. The laborers fight capitalists, and, in turn, there are governmental services and subsidies for the poor etc. But in China and India where the common people have no such unity or power, capitalism is swallowing all.

Even then, it had to be admitted that the mere pittance given to the poor in the US is not enough to right the wrongs or quell the situation. So that also is not the answer. This just leads to a society of beggars where the poor have barely enough to survive and the rich continue to hoard huge wealth without restrictions. This leads to a static society based on indolence and inertness. What is needed is the development of cooperatives where the wealth is rationally distributed among all members, but this communism fails to do.

Here below is the response to the US and other countries that set-up social programs offer small monies to the poor, thus ensuring they remain impoverished.

“It is true that in Great Britain some of the minimum requirements of life are being provided to the people, but how great the difference is between rich and poor! Clearly their social system is capitalistic. The exploited and disgruntled people are given a small amount of sympathy to appease them. They are given a small taste of the dainties and delicacies, but their stomachs are never full.” (5)

So the safety-net set-up by capitalistic nations does not solve the problem. And with regards to communism, we can conclude that communism failed to change the psychic pablum of the people and leaders. Instead of fighting or correcting capitalism, they themselves became capitalists.

#3 ROBIN HOODS

This bring us to the third and final defective methodology outlined in this letter: Robin Hoods. For those those not aware – in a phrase – Robin Hood is one who loots from the rich and gives to the poor.

Prout philosophy states, “Those that used to think it pious to loot the rich and distribute the spoils among the poor. The Robin Hoods of that era thought that their methods alone could do away with the social disparity.” (6)

Such Robin Hoods think that by looting and pillaging they can bring social equality.

Prout philosophy states, “We have seen the advent of such Robin Hoods more or less in every country of the world. But this does not lead to the solution of the problem…Capitalism cannot be destroyed merely by pillaging the capitalists, for robbery and plunder may deflate the bloated capital of the capitalists, but it cannot kill the potential of the seed of capitalism.” (7)

So these Robin Hoods too fall short of the mark. Capitalists are not swayed or changed by such looting. Rather such capitalists come up with greater ways of protecting their wealth – i.e. increased security.

Some examples of Robin Hoods that we’ve seen in the recent and distant past include:

(A) Inner city riots such as the outbreak in LA in 1992 where the poorer blacks scorched, burned and looted the city in the wake of the Rodney King decision. In that case the judge exonerated the white policeman for beating a black man, Rodney King. In turn, the people destroyed the city. Yet still capitalism thrives in LA.

(B) In centuries past and even as recent as this year, pirate ships around the world would loot passing vessels, especially the boats of the ultra wealthy.

(C) The street warfare of Paris in 2010 featured youths looting and destroying the property of the establishment. The violent youth uprising in London in 2012 led to the destruction of so much public and private property.

(D) In the late 1880’s in the US, horsemen would derail and loot luxury trains as they crossed the vast open spaces of the western US.

(D) And if you investigate, you will come across numerous examples of looters around the world.

With their subterfuge ways such Robin Hoods try hard to knock off the capitalists – as some communists also attempted – but in the end they are met with defeat – even death.

Prout philosophy states, “Violence only invites violence. So these blood sucking [capitalist] cannibals take recourse to yet bigger conspiracy in time to come and the half-witted robbers ultimately meet their destruction at the hands of such capitalists.” (HS-1)

Here again Baba reveals how such Robin Hoods get beat by the ruling capitalists.

Prout philosophy states, “The amount of punishment meted out to the [capitalist] bloodsuckers by the robbers falls far short of the mark when compared to what they themselves [the looters] got at the hands of these [capitalist] blood-suckers.” (8)

Thus in all such cases, the looters invariably meet their demise at the hands of such capitalists.

#3 ROBIN HOODS (Cont):

ENTER BIN LADEN

Now we come to the point of Bin Laden.

Although, the late Bin Laden and his al-Qaeda cells are commonly thought of as terrorists that want to destroy everything, but we have to think in this way.

al-Qaeda wants to attack the nucleus of the capitalist stronghold and destroy them in order to retrieve the wealth and re-distribute it amongst all Muslims. That is their philosophy.

They see that the Middle East gains tremendous petroleum profits and the the kings of those Arab nations maintain close ties with the US. In return the US gives those Arab royal families power, prestige, respect, as well as weapons to suppress the public.

Those close to the royal families are extremely rich while the common people and youths in those Arab nations are very poor – in spite of the huge petroleum wealth. Such terrorists like Bin Laden want to capture the power by killing the enemies (i.e. capitalists), introducing Muslim social law, and redistributing the wealth among all. This is their endeavour.

As a whole then, as per Prout’s definition, they are also a type of Robin Hood. Such Robin Hoods try to destroy capitalists. And in this particular case those capitalists are both (a) the Arab royal families and (b) the US leaders and entrepreneurs. Indeed the Arab royalty controls huge wealth and that contravenes Islamic law which states that the wealthy are wretched.

Extremist groups like al-Qaeda aim to use violence and force to destroy the capitalists and capture their wealth, and the nredistribute those riches among common Muslims.

How far al-Qaeda will get success is yet to be seen, but that is their approach. However, as Prout philosophy points out, ultimately the firepower of those capitalist forces is more than al-Qaeda can handle.

Prout philosophy states, “Violence only invites violence. So these blood sucking [capitalist] cannibals take recourse to yet bigger conspiracy in time to come and the half-witted robbers ultimately meet their destruction at the hands of such capitalists.” (9)

Thus, according to the teachings of Prout, such terrorist cells meet their defeat at the hands of those capitalists, just as happens with all the other kinds of Robin Hoods. And indeed, in the past few years we have all witnessed the killing of so many top al-Qaeda leaders, including assassination of Bin Laden. Plus, just yesterday the #2 al-Qaeda commander in Pakistan was killed by a US drone strike.

So we can see that this Robin Hood technique also fails to end capitalist exploitation.

THE ANSWER IS PROUT

When Gandhism, communism, and the ways of those Robin Hoods all fail, then what is the proper approach to root out capitalism.

Prout philosophy states, “Those who lack a constructive ideology will never be capable of destroying capitalism, even if they speak sweet words, use threats, or create circumstantial pressure.” (10)

The only way to win the war against capitalists is to educate the common people about the ills of capitalist economic exploitation. This brings a collective rise in consciousness where people stand up to such capitalist exploiters. Thus we see the rise of vikśubdha shúdras, or the awakened masses, who are ready to bring revolution forward.

In this case the masses are fortified with the teachings of Prout: They understand they are being exploited and have a rational approach for moving ahead.

In Prout our aim is to bring about the all-round welfare of humanity where through circumstantial pressure people adopt the path of psychic expansion and spirituality. Then all their energy will not be spent on accumulating more and more physical wealth.

Prout philosophy states, “Our approach should be to adopt a constructive ideal, and we should wage a ceaseless and pactless struggle against all anti-human and antisocial factors. We are to fight capitalism and not the capitalists. We are to wipe out this ism from human society because this ism is paralysing humanity. The capitalists are suffering from a sort of mental ailment, and it is our foremost duty to radically cure them by diverting their physical thirst towards psychic and spiritual pursuits.” (11)

One of the key operative lines in the above teaching is: “fight capitalism and not the capitalists.”

Thus the Proutistic method is to combat the diseased mentality of capitalism and not engage in a war with capitalists. Rather those capitalists are to be educated about the ills of capitalism. They are to be taught that the human mind has infinite desires and that finite material wealth can never satisfy human longing. Side by side, while this education is going on, critical pressure and stipulations need to be implemented that keep people from hoarding wealth; rather wealth is to be rationally distributed.

So the Proutistic method aims to defeat the “ism” of capitalism and not the capitalists per se. That is the road to victory.

But this fact is lost upon Gandhism, communism, and Robin Hoods. The proponents of Gandhism simply make gentle appeals to capitalists without addressing the central problem of capitalism; the communists themselves adopt a materialistic, hoarding psychology similar to capitalism; and the Robin Hoods engage in warfare against the capitalists, but not capitalism. And in this fight they will lose as capitalists invest more and more funds into creating weapons for defeating such Robin Hoods. At present, capitalists hire soldiers who sit in the safety of isolated rooms and carry out drone strikes around the globe that systematically destroy those Robin Hoods. That is how the #2 commander of al-Qaeda in Pakistan was eliminated yesterday – and verily such attacks are going on always.

So all three – Gandhism, communism, and Robin Hoods – fail to rise to the challenge. Their defective approaches fail to derail the train of capitalism.

Thus, only Proutistic teachings are the way for eliminating capitalism and bringing forth a new human society. And this is done by rationally monitoring the accumulation of wealth and forcibly goading the minds of those capitalists towards the psychic and spiritual realms.

MORE WHY HUMAN APPEALS DO NOT WORK

Here below Prout philosophy explains very clearly and in more detail why those adopting Gandhian measures can never gain success in fighting the capitalists.

“Nothing would be better, if it were possible, than the eradication of capitalism by friendly persuasion and humanistic appeals. In that case the peace of the greater human family would not be much disturbed. But can it be guaranteed that everyone will respond to this approach? Some people may say that a day will come when, as a result of repeatedly listening to such appeals and gradually imbibing them over a long time, as well as through proper mental and spiritual education, good sense will prevail among the exploiters. This argument is very pleasant to hear. Such attempts are not reprehensible. But is it practicable to wait indefinitely for good sense to prevail among the exploiters? By then the exploited mass will have given up the ghost! Though the humanistic approach works in some cases, in most instances it does not produce any result; and even where it does work, it takes a very long time. So, wherever necessary, capitalism must be forced to abandon its ferocious hunger by taking strong measures.” (12)

ONLY PROUT IS THE SOLUTION

Prout philosophy states, “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.” (13)

Prout philosophy states, “PROUT is the panacea for the integrated progress of human society. It aims to bring about equilibrium and equipoise in all aspects of socio-economic life through totally restructuring economics. Without PROUT, socio-economic emancipation will remain a utopian dream. Only PROUT can save the world.” (14)

Namaskar,
In Him,
Candra Shekhar

REFERENCES:
1. Human Society – 1
2. Proutist Economics
3. Human Society – 1
4. Prout Nutshell-16, Decentralized Economy – 2
5. Human Society, The Vipra Age
6. HS-1, ’87 Edn, p.45
7. HS-1
8. HS-1, p. 45
9. HS-1
10. Problems of the Day, Point #3
11. Discourses on Prout
12. Problems of the Day, Point #2
13. Prout Nutshell – 15, The Existential Value of Ideology
14. AFPS-9, Economic Dynamics

“Toma’ri deoya’ pra’n’e, toma’ri deoya’ mane…” (PS 3624)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, You are the Giver of Life. This very existence of mine has been bestowed upon me by You. This very mind of mine has been given to me by You. Now by Your grace, my whole mind and heart, which have been given to me by You, are focused solely on Your meditation – ideating on You. O’ my Lord, You are my Goal and my sadhana revolves around You. I am thinking only about You. By Your grace I understand that everything belongs to You. Except You, nothing exists. You are everything.

O’ Supreme Entity, I love You so much; I am crying for You; I have so much longing for You. I want that You should come close to me – in my sadhana, in my dhyana. Besides You there is no one who is mine. I do not have anyone. But You are not coming close. Why do You remain far away, O’ Heartless One. Why do You remain forgetful of me. Why are You not coming near and instead going to some far distant place. O’ Parama Purusa, please come close; those things which I have kept in the casket of the inner core of my heart I want to whisper in Your ear. And among them, one of them is the intense desire to get You. I have so many intimate things to tell You. I have so many thoughts to share with You. My only request is that I should get You. Please be gracious.

O’ Parama Purusa Baba, due to my crude mind, for ages and ages I remained oblivious about You. I was not keeping You in my mind. Baba, I do not know how long it has been that I have forgotten You. During that time, I just danced in the rhythm of this crude material world. I was just infatuated, intoxicated, and engrossed with the mundane allurements of the relative sphere. O’ my Dearmost, today You have graced me and made me understand that I am only Yours. By Your infinite compassion, all my thoughts, plans, programs, aspirations, sorrows, happiness, desires – everything revolves only around You. Baba, You are my Polestar; You are my everything, I surrender at Your lotus feet…

Watch Out Your Jagrti, MU, AMPS Land May Be in Process to be Sold #1

Baba

This entire posting is composed of 2 parts:
(1) Posting: Watch Out Your Jagrti, MU, AMPS Land May Be in Process to be Sold #1;
(2) Prabhat Samgiita #2278.

WATCH OUT YOUR JAGRTI, MU, OR AMPS LAND

MAY BE IN PROCESS TO BE SOLD

~ PART 1 ~

Note: You must read this as this contains local news of your area.

Namaskar,
There are many places where our Ananda Marga jagrtis, Baba Quarters, and land holdings are being sold and in queue to be sold. Let us discuss and examine the pros and cons of this approach – and give some news as well.

HOW WE ACQUIRE LAND

In general, our Marga gets new land parcels in these following ways:

a. Donation of land by margiis;
b. Donation of land by non-margiis;
c. Donation of land by government;
d. Financial donation by margiis for purchasing land;
e. Financial donation by non-margiis for purchasing land; and,
f. Land capture, i.e. in certain parts of the world if an organisation starts using unused government land for their social service work, then the government often passes ownership of that land to that organisation. This happens in India and elsewhere too.

GOOD DEED OF RECURRING NATURE

In all these cases, there is a clear-cut goal and allotted purpose for the land; the land was not just meant to be sold.

Irrespective of the way in which the organisation gets that land, donors feel that the land they are donating should be used for social service projects. That is their motive for donating the land.

“Indirect virtue is acquired when one’s service has a recurring effect, such as service to the society, planting trees, etc. If banyan trees are planted beside a hot and dusty road they will
continue to give shelter to weary travellers for one thousand to two thousand years. Virtue acquired in this way is indirect virtue.” (1)

The general feeling is that people want to be involved in a social service project that is of a recurring nature, like land donation – in order to get virtue. Non-margiis often do like this.The person who donated the land cannot continue to get virtue if the land they donated gets sold. Indeed that is betrayal.

So they want pious social service work to be done on that land – on an ongoing basis. By this way they will get virtue.

Indeed even mahapatakiis (great sinners) may get moksa by this way.

Baba has written that if even the worst sinner becomes involved in recurring welfare activities, then all their bad samskaras can be requited. So giving land for social service work falls in that type of good deed of recurring nature.

In contrast, if at the time of donation they think that the land they are donating will be sold as part of a business transaction then they will not donate it in the first place. They are giving the land not for a business transaction but for social service.

MARGIIS FINANCIAL HARDSHIP

Local margiis pay money to register donated land. In India there is a registration fee and in other countries there is a tax. In both cases, local margiis carefully save money from their limited family budget to donate towards this registration cost. In our Marga, it is not the ultra-rich who donate land, but rather it is hard-working common folk who donate land. And they face real hardship in order to get the land registered. In India, the registry fee is 8% of the total cost of the land. That is a high price to pay. But margiis and sympathizers will pay it because they wish to do social service.

However, if they have any doubt that the land will be sold or used as part of a business scheme, then they will never undergo such financial hardship to register and donate land.

DONORS’ SENTIMENTAL ATTACHMENT TO LAND

Land donors, be they margiis or sympathizers, are always very attached to the land which they are giving – it is like a part of their heart. Baba says the following about their deep attachment to land.

“Among all the attachments human beings suffer from, attachment to land is one of the strongest. Out of sympathy farmers can donate large amounts of produce without hesitation, but they will feel tremendous pain if they are asked to donate a few square metres of land. If they have to donate land to somebody, farmers feel that their ribs will break because of the pain in their hearts. Those who donate land do so for three reasons – to save the major part of their land, for a high humanitarian cause or out of spiritual inspiration.” (2)

Thus even when margiis & sympathizers donate land to our Marga they do not do so for someone to sell that land and then misuse the money – like some of our Dadas do. Rather people donate land with a high ideal in mind – to serve humanity. That is what motivates them to give that which they so greatly treasure.

They donate the land because it is for Ba’ba’s mission. They donate their land with the great hope that this will be useful for Ananda Marga social service work and that their offering of land will please Baba.

Where there is no land donor, margiis save money for months & year to buy a piece of land with that same motive and hope.

PROJECT IS SECURED BY LOCAL HELP:

MARGIIS AND NON-MARGIIS

In any place where we have land, jagrti or a social service project then, especially in India, that land or project is secured by local help – margiis & non-margiis. These properties are not constructed or purchased with monetary help from Centre. The local bodies pay everything.

It is not like Christian missionaries where local people pay nothing and their global national or global church headquarters or governing boards pay everything. That is the way the Christian church operates in poorer countries. So, for instance, in Zimbabwe the local people may not mind if their church land is sold because they were not involved in acquiring land in the first place.

But that is not the way it works in Ananda Marga.

In AM, in most circumstances Centre does not give one penny for such locally donated properties, i.e. for smaller projects. Rather margiis and non-margiis are emotionally and financially involved with that property. Those sitting distance have no idea how emotionally attached the local people are to that land.

Indeed, Centre has no role. Local margiis and local posted Wts are the ones who make every effort for the land and development thereof.

All land registration is done in the name of the General Secretary just because of the organizational system; it does not mean that GS Dada has any role in purchasing the land.

SALE RUINS REPUTATION OF ANANDA MARGA

Any place where donated land is sold makes for one negative trend of recurring nature. For instance, if a jagrti is sold as a business maneuver then the surrounding population will always think that margiis are fake and have nothing to do with social service. The locals will think that, “We donated the land and they sold it and misused the money.”

That gives one negative trend where in future no one will want to give land to AM as they will have read in the newspaper or heard stories that we are not really service-minded. People will make jokes and ridicule us that, “They sold donated land and kept the money. Never trust these people.” These types of stories will get published by enemies. This will create harm – not just in that place, but all over. Word will spread how, “I have seen where I donated money and now that land is sold and the money is gone. these are fake people do not trust them.”

Plus future historians will investigate and report how Ananda Margiis wrongly sold donated lands. They will dig up old newspapers and get the facts how a jagrti was donated by Mr So and So and inaugurated on such and such date. But they will see how that jagrti is now gone having been sold to some entrepreneur or capitalist for their business ventures. All this as well as other accounts such historians will publish this in their book.

By seeing all this new persons will not like to join they will think we are preaching and teaching lofty ideals but inside we are hollow. Miscues and shady land dealings will damage the image of AM in a
recurring way for a long time to come. And indeed that is what we see happening right now. This will deter and scare off future philanthropic donors. You will never hear in India how a church, mosque or temple is sold.

That is why Baba warns us against those Dadas involved in selling off AM land as it will have an ongoing, recurring negative effect.

“This maha’pa’taka is also atipa’taka, but the difference is that its effect is of recurring nature. Suppose a corrupt businessman uses papaya seeds [in the black pepper] – he invents a [new kind] of adulteration – papaya seeds. Now other businessmen will learn it from him, and the process will go on in recurring nature. So the particular businessman who invented this art is a maha’pa’takii. That is, its effect will be of recurring nature. It will go on forever.” (3)

So those selling AM land fall in maha’pa’takii group because after them some other Dadas will follow their negative example and sell more land and property etc.

Furthermore, any organisation that thinks it will grow and last into the future then they will keep all their holdings thinking that people will come and join and run those projects etc. Only those organisations that are on their deathbed sell their land and properties. The entire public understands this. It is just like if a monarchy is in disrepair or if a rich business family is losing its stature then they will sell off their assets because they have no other means. And in that way they will ultimately sell off everything.

So selling land has serious repercussions. It is a layered, complex scenario that bleeds in so many ways with unexpected consequences for a long time to come.

What is going on now in AM – this shrinking and destruction – was going on in Prabash Tiirtha, back in the days of the Vrishni house after Lord Krsna left. The drunken Yadava dynasty destroyed themselves. That is what is going on now in AM, unfortunately. We should not watch helplessly.

OUR BOUNDEN DUTY

That is why it is the duty of each and every margii, wt, acarya, and all those who love Baba to not allow AM land, property and jagrtis to be sold. That will create a negative situation for long time to come. Other greedy and manipulative people will learn what certain Dadas are doing and will cheat more.

INCIDENT FROM BETTIAH

In Bettiah, one non-margii donated land near a railway station, and the land was vacant and unused for long time. So the donor filed one court case to get it back because the land was not used for the stated purpose. His grandchildren demanded it back. Attorneys told local margiis and Wts to start something otherwise “you will lose the land.” Immediately they started a children’s home there and ultimately, that became our Didi’s jagrti.

SELLING LAND: BETRAYAL LEADS TO MISTRUST

From the above story we can easily understand that those who donate land keep sharp eyes to ensure that their land is properly used. They write this in their memoirs and family stories. Countless non-margiis have donated land and buildings thinking that their own personal family will get ongoing virtue for the philanthropic work happening on that land.

Selling it then is betrayal and leads to mistrust. And indeed those who gave the land will follow-up and find out what is going on. In turn, local margiis will be shamed; it will be difficult to face the public.

Plus when people find one fault with us then they will blame Baba as well.

For all these reasons and more this is a slippery slope and going in a negative direction. For any reason we should never do such heinous work.

NEGATIVE SAMSKARA

We have seen that if anyone starts selling off their estate they become a beggar. So many times this happens. Likewise if any organisation sells off their assets and properties, they get reduced to zero. That is why any publicly supported organisation will never sell their property. Even if it is unused for long time they will always keep it.

In India there are hundreds of thousands of churches and mosques that are unused but they do not sell them as they think times will change and they will recruit someone to manage those buildings.

Unfortunately, now in AM some Dadas are selling our active jagrtis and schools. They are selling such properties to raise money for their group clash and court cases. This is the sinful injustice that is going on.

Such Dadas try to convince margiis of their fateful logic but they themselves cannot see truth – they cannot see their sins – because their mind is in rasatala.

“The seventh hell is rasa’tala, the very crudest of all stages of existence. Obviously in that state human beings are no longer human beings: their minds, their intellects are reduced to extreme crudity, a stage of no return. Similarly when people start becoming degraded, a stage comes when they can no longer elevate themselves; rasa’tala is such a state.” (4)

THE ROLE OF DEVOTION

With deep devotion and strong emotion, margiis donate land to Baba so in that way AMPS is the worldly custodian of land, but is not the owner. Margiis feel that everything belongs to Parama Purusa.

Indeed, Ba’ba’ is the real owner because devotees gave to Baba.

MORE ARTICLES COMING

In the next we will the name various lands & jagrtis that are in process of getting sold. If you have news about what is happening in your area, please tell. In this atmosphere it is not clear which jagrti will be sold next – anything can happen. Many are in use are under contract to be sold. It is not just that empty or unused buildings are sold. So beware.

Remember we are dealing with groupists who lust after the power and control for their faction. They are veritable politicians; we cannot run away from this situation. We must be vigilant.

“For the selfish and hypocrites, politics is the best instrument to achieve their selfish ends; hence when dealing in politics proceed very cautiously and with sharp eyes all round.” (5)

Namaskar,
In Him,
Devavrata

REFERENCES:
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam, Part 8
2. Prout Nutshell-14, “Cooperative Production”
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam-31, “Sinners and Their Rectification”
4. AMIWL-11
5. Caryacarya-2

Prabhat Samgiita #2278

“Ka’che ese bha’labese more tumi gecho ye bhule…” (P.S. 2278)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, You might have forgotten how in the past You came close to me in an intimate way and showered Your love. That time I did not call You, nor did I do sadhana or any type of penance to get You; just You showered Your grace by coming to me. Only by Your grace You came.

O’ Divine Entity, whether I like or not, whether I care or not, still You go on pulling my heart in Your longing. By Your grace and by Your loving care and by the discipline, You always make me better and better so that I cannot fall onto the wrong path. O’ Parama Purusa Baba, O’ my Lord, please never be vimukh [1] ; and please never be virup [1]. Please do not allow me to crush all my desires and longings.

Baba, in my heart I always feel that my life, my prana, is just Your gift. This also I understand that You love me so much. You have graciously made me understand that externally You are tough. Because when I do something wrong in life I have to suffer the consequences. That is Your way of disciplining me. In that way I get a lesson. And all this You do for my welfare. At the same time I understand that internally You are very soft, incomparable – and always loving. You always arouse the feeling of love in my heart towards You.

O’ Parama Purusa Baba, please always be ever-gracious so that I cannot forget You. You have done so much for me…

END NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #2778:

(1) Vimukh and Virup: In Nama’mi Krsna Sundaram Baba explains the meaning of these two terms. Vimukh means to displease the Lord to such a degree that He completely turns Himself away from you. And virup means to make Him furious with you. Although both are bad, of the two, Virup is comparatively better because then at least one is still receiving Guru’s guideline and attention. Whereas if He is vimukha, then He is no longer even recognising you. So that is a terrible position and one should never behave in such a way as to make Him vimukh. For more about this see Namami Krsnasundarm, discourse #1.

My Notes From Baba’s Museum: Dioramas

Baba

This entire posting is composed of 3 parts:(1) Posting: My Notes From Baba’s Museum: Dioramas;
(2) Point of Information: Mosquito: How Gods And Goddesses Are Created;
(3) Prabhat Samgiita #3287;

== MY NOTES FROM BABA’S MUSEUM: DIORAMAS ==

Namaskar,
Most are aware about the magnificent paintings of Lord Shiva and elaborate dioramas of Lord Krsna which Baba has bestowed upon our Ananda Marga society. In particular, this letter focuses on the making and significance of the dioramas depicting Lord Krsna’s life.

Note: For those who may not be aware, dioramas are miniature sculptures that represent an entire scene and this whole artistic yet life-like creation is set inside a glass encasement and put on display.

VARIOUS VISITS TO BABA’S QUARTERS

Like many margiis, by Baba’s divine grace, I got numerous opportunities to visit Madhu Malainca – i.e. Baba’s Quarters in Lake Gardens. On several occasions I was there for gardening projects and other callings etc. While on site at the Baba’s Quarters, there were many things I saw those days – some I understood and some not.

Generally though I did not like to ask any questions. Mostly I thought that, ‘According to His liking Baba will explain or not explain; and whichever way He chooses that will be perfect.’ So like this many of the visits passed by His grace.

HOW THE DIORAMAS WERE MADE

Those dioramas about Lord Krsna are very special and that Baba Himself ordered them to be hand-crafted.

Baba had called & paid the top, expert sculptors, artists, and craftsmen of Kolkata and described to them in great detail how they were to make these dramatic dioramas. Baba gave them very elaborate instructions and monitored their progress up to the very last detail. In that way, under Baba’s meticulous direction, those dioramas were made by the finest artisans of Kolkata. Altogether it was a massive project as there were numerous casings of dioramas – each specially designed and hand-crafted with tremendous attention to detail.

WHY WERE THEY MADE

In brief, we can say that there are two fundamental reasons why the dioramas were made.

First, Baba has used the dioramas to clarify existing misunderstandings. Specifically, the various religions of the world are filled with dogmas which have led to exploitation, suffering, and stagnation. Not only that, such religions have created a plethora of gods and goddesses – that are numerous and contradictory in nature. The common person does not know what to believe. In His many discourses, especially in His books Namah Shivaya Shantaya and Namami Krsnasundaram, as well as in His dioramas etc, Baba has uncovered these myths and given the real history and dharmic meaning. And verily we see that many of the dioramas clarify half-truths and dogmas propagated by certain religious bodies.

Second, Baba made these dioramas because He wants to get His message and teachings to people through various media. Not everyone reads literary essays; not everyone attends dharmic seminars, especially children & young kids. People learn in different ways. The dioramas are an avenue to present dharmic teachings through a visual display. With a relatively quick look, a person can get the basic meaning of what is going on. But to understand it more deeply, study and critical evaluation is needed. If, however, one is already aware of those related teachings, then the dioramas serve as a quick reference and reminder to the key idea. Thus the dioramas are a way to convey knowledge. Actually, such visual presentations create a deeper imprint in one’s memory as people often organise their thoughts and memories with images, not words.

Nowadays, the various news agencies use diverse media: the written word, television, radio, blogs, videos, podcasts etc. By these avenues, they get their message out to a wide audience. Similarly, one of the medias which Baba has chosen for delivering His message is sculpture in the form of these dioramas.

So these are two fundamental reasons why Baba commissioned artists to create these dioramas.

Following is a description of Diorama #4 for everyone’s knowledge and understanding.

THE ELABORATE SCENE DEPICTED IN DIORAMA #4

Diorama #4 is so very dramatic. The scene takes place inside one hall of Krsna’s uncle’s house. Three female attendants and a male guard are standing around completely shocked. And the lady of the house is also present. And they are all astonished by one tremendous event. Because there sprawled out on the middle of the floor is one gigantic demonic female monster. She has huge fangs, long claws, over-sized arms, wild eye balls, dinosaur-like feet, and so many other nasty qualities. And this female demon is quite enraged – on her death bed. She is lying on her back with her chest exposed and there on one of her breasts is the baby Krsna.

By the entire scene one can understand that this is the famous moment which Baba has recounted numerous times where the evil secret agent Putana put poison on her breast in an attempt to kill the baby Krsna. But Krsna being well aware of Putana’s evil ways had to save Himself so He bit into her breast thus making the poison go into Putana’s blood – thereby killing the female spy Putana.

EVIL SCARY MONSTER

So what is the righteous reason behind Baba’s depiction in Diorama #4 where He presents one woman, Putana, as one evil, scary monster.

In reality, Putana was an intelligence agent (undercover spy) so surely she looked like a motherly lady. Because if really Putana looked like a monster then none of Krsna’s family members would have allowed her to go near the tender young baby Krsna. To be effective, spies always must fit in naturally and be able to perfectly play the needed role. As a top-calibre spy, certainly in real life Putana looked like a caring, loving mother etc. In His diorama, Baba designed the image of Putana in a way that clearly reflects her standard of mind and intent.

In each and every art form or media of creative expression, the artist has a special technique for presenting their subject. In literature, a writer can directly state, “Putana was an evil-minded and demonic lady.” And by this way the reader will understand. Similarly, a painter has their special technique – through the use of colours and facial expressions etc – for expressing that Putana was a bad and nasty lady. In that same manner, Baba ordered the sculptor of this diorama employed visual effects to present the idea that Putana was a demonic creature whose sole intention was to murder Lord Krsna. That is why Putana was sculpted with fangs and claws etc. This was Baba’s artistic way of conveying His dharmic message about the demonic-minded Putana.

SHINING THE SPOTLIGHT ON DHARMA

Here the main point is Baba is teaching everyone where dharma lies. That is the secret behind the presentation of all His dioramas – and certainly diorama #4 as well. Because Baba wants to teach sadhakas the truth that Putana is an evil being and that Krsna was perfectly justified in killing her in self-defense. And the best way to capture this is to present Putana as some demonic character. This art form was used to clearly and graphically portray her mental state and depraved actions.

By this way everyone will understand that Putana is some horrid creature. Otherwise if Putana was displayed in her actual physical appearance, then after seeing the normal figurine of Putana, ordinary people will not be able to understand the nature her deeds. When in fact Putana really was a wretched creature.

“[Putana] took a different path, the negative path – they [Putana and other intelligence personnel] wanted to destroy the very nucleus of the universe, Lord Krs’n’a, the greatest treasure of humanity.” (1)

Thus Putana’s entire character was very black – negative and evil-minded. From start to finish she was dastardly. That was her inner nastiness; she was an enemy of dharma. So to depict her in a befitting way Baba has chosen to apply demoniacal traits to her physical body. And by that way everyone – even children – will reach the dharmic conclusion that Putana was one scary figure who got the negative death that she deserved. By this way no innocent observer will mistakenly sympathize with Putana. Rather all will be pulled forward on the path of dharma; and the enemies of dharma will be exposed naked. That is the beauty of Baba’s dioramas about Lord Krsna. Such clairvoyant depictions put a spotlight on the path of dharma for everyone to follow.

USING CLAWS AND FANGS

By this entire scene Baba is also paving the way for how we are to move ahead. He has created one pathway for us all to follow. Because during His advent He has not at all depicted His own greatness; rather He has explained Lord Krsna and Lord Shiva through His comprehensive books – Namah Shivaya Shantaya & Namami Krsna Sundaram – and by these dioramas etc. But about His own Self and His own life experiences, Baba has not said much. That He has graciously left for us to do. Thus Baba has bestowed that honour on His devotees and He has shown us how to spread the grandeur of Parama Purusa in the right way.

So just as He has done in those dioramas, we should also apply all the artistic, theatrical, and literary talents of the humanity to highlight His greatness and at the same time employ those same talents to reveal the nastiness of those who opposed dharma. So when we present the life history of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji we should honor Him and reveal the sinister intentions those who tried to hurt and defame dharma – such as Indira Gandhi, Jytoi Basu etc. Our writers and artists must depict despotic rulers like Indira Gandhi in the darkest way possible – using claws and fangs etc. By this way it will be perfectly clear to one and all that Indira Gandhi was wretched and negative like Satan. Because those who oppose dharma are enemies of the humanity.

This is the dynamic task which Baba has shown us how to do. And by this way we can glorify dharma and guide the humanity where dharma lies. So on this point – like so many others – we should follow His all-knowing example.

SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE INTELLIGENCE DEPT

Here below is Baba’s dharmic description of this monumental and historical event which ultimately was depicted in Diorama #4. By Baba’s below analysis we can easily understand that Putana was one evil woman.

“Why did the child Krs’n’a kill Putana? She was a member of the intelligence department…Putana was one such female intelligence agent employed by [the demonic] Kansa, king of Mathura… Krs’n’a did not plan to go to them and kill them, but He was obliged to strike back in self-defense when they made an attempt on His life. He could easily have killed Pu’tana’ Ra’ks’asii with his occult powers, but He did not. Putana attempted to suckle Krs’n’a after applying poison to her breast, but Krs’n’a bit her breast sharply, and the poison got into her bloodstream, and she died. Even nucleus of the universe, Lord Krs’n’a, the greatest treasure of humanity. Vraja Krs’n’a had to kill them as a last resort. He did not kill them for the sake of killing, but to counteract their evil tendency to destroy human solidarity.” (2)

Similarly Diorama #4 represents the exact same dharmic idea that the demonic woman Putana who tried to murder the baby Krsna was a completely horrible person. And by depicting her as one enraged demon then everyone can understand that indeed this lady is negative. And that it was needed for Krsna to kill her – because of her bad deeds.

And we A’nanda Ma’rgiis should do the same for Baba by glorifying His divine advent and presenting His nefarious opponents like Indira Gandhi as beastly monsters. Then even simple people can easily recognize the dastardliness of Indira Gandhi as well as understand & appreciate Baba’s greatness and glory.

MERELY THE EXPRESSION OF MEAN PROPENSITIES

“When the movement is towards the sentient force, that is, when the mutative force overpowers the static force and the sentient force overpowers the mutative force, in that case the psychic movement is called psycho-spiritual. This type of movement gives birth to true art and science; whereas that knowledge which creates numerous obstacles and problems for the human society is not at all wisdom, but merely the expression of mean propensities of mind. When nothing great is created, then cheap sentiments emerge for low-grade art, literature, architecture, sculpture.” (3)

PARASITIC WEEDS OF IMMATURE EXPRESSION

“The human mind has two main functions: thinking and recollecting. The human being is predominantly a mental being. So the greatness and excellence of human beings lies in their thinking capacity, intellectual subtlety and brilliance, and wisdom. Human beings, in the process of expressing their creative faculties, externalize the colourful and varied ideas of their psychic world in a variety of ways: on canvas with colours and brushes, in poetry and literature with the strokes of their pens, and in sculpture with the subtle use of hammers and chisels. Their philosophical ideas, their scientific observations and experiments, and the study and analysis of various branches of knowledge are exclusively within the psychic preserve of the human mind, and have been honoured as the golden harvest of the psychic realm. But if there is a lack of pramá in the psychic sphere, then many omissional and commissional mistakes and defects are bound to enter into their art, architecture, literature, philosophy, science and other branches of human knowledge. Dance may lose its rhythm, painting may lack proportion, music may lose the harmony of its melody and rhythm, and in the various branches of literature there may be an overgrowth of the parasitic weeds of immature expression.” (4)

BRINGING THOUGHT OR IDEA INTO THE WORLD OF FORM

IS HIS ARTISTIC SÁDHANÁ

“Sculpture, which are considered to be the subtlest of all the arts, that we find the true expression of the wonderful aesthetic quality of the human mind. In the calm stillness of a painting or sculpture, everything has to be vividly expressed – laughter and tears, hopes and fears, gestures and language. Indeed, painting and sculpture beautifully bridge the gap between the mundane and the supramundane.”
“In painting and sculpture, as in drama, the question of naturalness or unnaturalness arises, and here, too, the same answer holds true: the mode of expression must be chosen to suit the sentiment expressed. In fact, to raise the question of naturalness or unnaturalness in painting is absolutely unfitting. At the time of giving physical expression to his or her mental image, the artist is not bound to reproduce a particular part of the body according to physiological science. Giving form to a thought or idea is what is important; the artist is not a teacher of physiology. Bringing thought or idea into the world of form is his or her artistic sádhaná.” (5)

SCULPTORS SHOULD BE GIVEN FULL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

ARTWORK SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE

“Painting and sculpture, the two subtlest art forms, are the most lacking in popular encouragement and sympathy. It may be argued that in countries where idolatry is prevalent, sculptors have been able to preserve their art due to popular support, and the problem of their subsistence is thus being solved without government aid. Is this not, some say, the most significant sign of popular support? I cannot persuade myself, however, that the people of idolatrous countries are connoisseurs and patrons of sculpture. There is no doubt that the people of such countries buy images from the image-makers, but they do this due to the inspiration of their religion and not out of love for art. If love of art were their motivation, then they would certainly not throw those symbols of art into the water after worship. The situation is different where people buy images of metal, wood or stone to permanently establish a deity in their homes; but there, too, the buyer’s intention is not to encourage art. Although they pay some attention to the beauty and sweetness of the image, they do not give a free hand to the sculptor to create it as he or she wishes and the artists’ work remains confined within the boundaries of the religious eulogies to particular gods; they seldom have any opportunity to display their own original ideas. Hence the observation that the people of idolatrous countries patronize art by buying images is not correct – they only help to preserve a particular class of artists.”
“In order to encourage the art of sculpture, sculptors should be given full freedom as artists, or else their creations will be mere made-to-order, commonplace things. These artists should be free to sculpt images of human beings, animals, natural objects and all natural and unnatural events. Then, freely giving shape to new ideas, they will go on producing new gods every day, and the dhyána mantras of the gods will evolve around the products of their art. Then alone will art find its justification. The artists’ creations will not remain confined within the four walls of the temples, but will rather be in close contact with the common people in all spheres of social life. Statues, deities and other creations will attain a place in every field of life – in homes, drawing rooms, clubs, schools, parks, and indeed, everywhere. Sculpture must also be popularized by occasionally holding exhibitions.” (6)

MOULD THE IMAGE OF THE GODDESS AFTER THE IDEAL OF A HARLOT

“Keeping this refrain in mind, they must continue in their relentless effort to fight against the seemingly indomitable might of hundreds and thousands of obstacles which are deeply rooted in age-old superstitions that are firmly entrenched in petty selfishness. Their pens may break into pieces, their brushes may be compelled to draw only lines of water on the canvas, and their histrionic flows may end in mute protests, yet their efforts must continue unceasingly. Each of their petty defeats shall be strung together as pearls in the garland of victory.”
“When for age after age society spins in the murky eddies of evil and vice, when individual and collective knavery masquerades as intelligence, when hypocrisy, bribery and fraud are the yardsticks for measuring the ability to lead – it is then that the genuine followers of Bháratii [the goddess of learning] must struggle on in spite of constant humiliation. Only taunts and insults will be their fate. Those who are afraid of these insults are incapable of offering anything really lasting to humanity. How can people who lack moral strength, under whose feet the soil is not hard and strong, invite anyone in to a cool, refreshing shelter and impart happiness to them? It may be possible to drag oneself through life by sucking the blood of others like social parasites, but this will not bring fulfilment to either sáhityikas or their readers.”
“The artist or sáhityika who assumes the responsibility of leading humanity along the path to light from the caverns of darkness will have to heed the road signs on that path. It is not possible to guide others with mere cheap, superficial knowledge, like a half-baked pandit who reads a half-a-dozen books and then spouts a few mouthfuls of grandiloquence, and who has obtained a doctorate by plagiarizing others’ works. Rather it is necessary for the sáhityika or artist to have a keen and vigorous insight, without which all their endeavours will prove fruitless. Merely juggling words or depicting defects in society will not satisfy the hunger of the human mind – and such creations of art are indeed valueless for social progress as well. One must know the path, and one must also know how to move on it. If those who have not comprehended what the form of society will be, allow the trends of the past that have shaped the present to proceed unchecked, they can never lead society to the path of perfection. They will in fact thrust society into darkness in the name of social reform; they will encourage license in the name of freedom. Instead of modelling a woman after the ideal of a goddess, they will mould the image of the goddess after the ideal of a harlot.”
“Sáhityikas are epoch-makers and so they are the sages and seers of society. They cannot afford to forget their dignified calling even for a moment. They are the messengers of the mute masses, the guardians of society. Their slightest mistake may result in catastrophe, and even a small amount of caution may open up many new possibilities. So a person whose thought and expression is not restrained had better not meddle with the practice of art.” (7)

Namsakar,
At His lotus feet,
Chandramohan

REFERENCES:
1. Namami Krsnasundaram, Disc 19
2. Namami Krsnasundaram: Disc 19
3. A Few Problems Solved – 5, Heterogeneity in Aesthetics
4. A Few Problems Solved – 8, Pramá – 1 / Dynamic Equilibrium and Equipoise
5. A Few Problems Solved – 1, The Practice of Art and Literature
6. A Few Problems Solved – 1, The Practice of Art and Literature
7. A Few Problems Solved – 1, The Practice of Art and Literature

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

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Mosquito: How Gods And Goddesses Are Created

In India, this is the typical way in which gods and goddesses are created. Wherever the masses are not well-educated then they are prone to superstition. And when superstition sprouts these types of gods and goddesses are created to resolve the issues and problems of the common people. This is the typical formula. All such gods and goddesses were created in this way: Durga, Sarasvata, Vishnu, Laksmii, Ram, Ganesh, Hanuman, Kali, Surya, Jagannath, etc.

“In many cases people are devoted to upadevatás out of fear and sometimes they are worshipped in the hopes of obtaining something. Banabibi [The Lady of the Forest] is there to save one from the grasp of the tiger. Besides her, there is Dakśińa Ráya; out of fear of cholera people worship Olái Cańd́ii; out of fear of smallpox they worship Shiitaládevii; out of fear of snakes, Manasá. These are all upadevatás. The women of a household will sometimes worship Lakśmii year-round to bring happiness in the family; Śet́erá as well as Suvacanii is worshipped in the ritual peace ceremony; Śaśt́hii and Niila are worshipped to bring welfare to one’s children; and out of fear of illness Shmashánkálii and Rakśekálii are worshipped. In Sanskrit they are all classified as upadevatás because they are not Parama Puruśa, the object of meditation in the spiritual world. Besides these, there are many other upadevatás such as Mangalacańd́ii, Áshánbibi, Satyapiira, etc. Upadevatás are also called folk [laokik] gods and goddesses. Some of them have dhyána mantras and some do not; some of them also have dhyána mantras in the local or state language and some do not have that either. In many cases the gods and goddesses of the Buddhist and Jain eras came or are coming to be worshipped as upadevatás in the post-Buddhist and post-Jain eras. Those spiritual aspirants who follow the paths of knowledge, action and devotion, of course, do not bow their heads to upadevatás. They practise the sádhaná of the singular Parama Puruśa.”
“Some people call ghosts upadevatás out of excessive fear, that is, they accept them as minor gods and goddesses lest they be angered by being called ghosts. In Sanskrit, however, the word upadevatá is not used to mean “ghost” – for ghosts the word apadevatá is used. Upa means “near” and apa means “just opposite”. Apadevatá means “one whose nature is just opposite to that of a god”.” (Shabda Cayanika-2, Discourse 9)

Here is an excerpt from a recent news article about what is going on in India. At present, in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district, there is an outbreak of malaria and mosquito-related diseases.

“Hundreds of suspected dengue [& malaria] cases have been reported in the district. The health department is yet to wake up. We have sought a shield from the ‘mosquito god’ and tried to appease it by…” (Times of India)

Here is a link to the full newspaper article…
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Prabhat Samgiita #3287″A’ka’she a’loke bhese ja’y tava mahima’ri katha’…” (PS 3287)

Puport:

O’ Parama Purusa, You are the most magnificent One. The tale of Your glory and grandeur is floating and permeating throughout each and every molecule of the vast, blue sky and in the effulgence – everywhere. O’ my Lord, Your story,
the story of the ever-present, Ancient One, is glittering in all the realms: in both bhuloka and duloka – in the physical and spiritual worlds. Baba, You are so gracious.

O’ Ancient, Divine One, You are eternally, ever-new. You are always, intrinsically with everyone – just like their vital force, just like their pra’na. You always remain present in my feeling, ideation, and intuition. For that reason this eternal longing of my heart is for You and You alone.

O’ Parama Purusa Baba, with the flow of effulgence You color my mind, and You are sitting in the depths of my ideation playing Your divine flute in the deep core of my heart. You are so compassionate: You do not neglect or overlook anyone. You graciously goad everyone towards divinity; You show everyone the path which leads to immortality.

O’ my Lord, O’ Baba, please shower Your causeless grace; I surrender at Your lotus feet…

Why Kevalam

Baba

This entire posting is composed of 2 parts:
(1) Posting: Why Kevalam
(2) Prabhat Samgiita #702;

== WHY KEVALAM ==

Namaskar,
Our kiirtan mantra is highly unique: Each word has its particular and pointed meaning.

Even then, some may wonder about the greater significance of the term ‘kevalam’. Specifically, when Baba has selected only three words to comprise our entire kiirtan mantra, why has the term kevalam been chosen? What value does it have?

As Ananda Margiis, we should have a deep understanding of all Baba has given. Let’s together examine why He has included ‘kevalam’ in our kiirtan mantra, as well as why it is so important.

WHAT THE DOGMATIC RELIGIONS DO

Since their inception, all the dogmatic religions have taken to worshiping multiple personalities. Whether a semitic religion or an eastern one, they all fall prey to this approach.

In Islam, they worship both Allah and the prophet Muhammad. Christianity worships God and their prophet Jesus. And the Jews worship God and their prophet Moses. And then all three recognise the existence of Satan.

So their prayer or worship is not directed toward a single entity. They believe in multiple deities and even recognise the existence an all-powerful evil Satan that operates beyond God’s domain.

Eastern religions like Hinduism have their own set of issues in this regard.

In most Hindu kiirtans, there are at minimum two deities being praised. Those deities may be Radha & Krsna, Laksmii & Visnu, or Siita and Rama. Never is their kiirtan sung for only one god. And in their paintings also, if there is a picture of Krsna then Radha is also depicted.

Plus in typical Hindu puja worship, not just two or three, but dozens of deities are mentioned and worshiped. For instance, in Lord Krsna temples, always a multitude of other deities or idols are present. In Lord Shiva temples, there will always be Ganesh, Karitkeya, Nandi, Bhaerava, Visnu, Laksmii, Kalii, and Parvatii etc. One must offer sweets to all, do sastaunga pranam to all, and / or light incense to honor all.

BABA REJECTS THIS IDEA

However, Baba wholly rejects this notion that one should worship multiple gods or multiple personalities.

In Ananda Vacanamrtam, Baba recounts a humorous story of when He was watching one of His uncles perform puja. His uncle recited a shloka that contained the names of so many gods and goddesses The names were seemingly endless and Baba’s uncle faithfully recited them all. And then at the end of his puja, the uncle said, “If there is any deity whom I have failed to mention, please do not be angry, please accept my humble salutation…”

“A person whom I was very close to, a relative of mine, used to recite the following after taking bath: “Victory to mother Káli, victory, victory to Káli, victory to mother Káli of T́han T́haniá, victory to mother Káli of Dakśińeshvar, victory to Bábá Táraknáth, victory to Bábá Vaidyanath of Deoghar. O, Fathers! None of you should think that I am leaving out someone’s name.” After this he would say, “O, gods and goddesses, please forgive me if I have omitted any name inadvertently. Please assume that I have mentioned your name also.” Does this yield anything at all? One says “victory to mother Káli of Kálighát” and in the same breath one says “victory to mother Káli of T́han T́haniá.” It signifies that the mind is moving both towards Kálighát and T́han T́haniá. Can the mind become concentrated in this way? Certainly not.” (1)

Here Baba is showing us that no one should do puja in this defective manner. Our approach should be singular in nature – not two or three or ten or twenty.

That is why in so many discourses Baba has told the story of the great devotee Hanuman who would only repeat Ram’s name. Others would question Hanuman and ask him why he is not repeating any other name. Then Hanuman replied, “I know Rama and no one else. All other names are meaningless to me.”

Baba uses this story to show us that this is the proper approach. An aspirant should have pointed, singular approach on path of spirituality. The Goal should be singular in nature, otherwise a sadhaka cannot get success.

ONLY ONE…ONLY ONE

That is why in our Ananda Marga there is only one of everything. There is one God, one Guru, one Preceptor. We repeat one Ista Mantra. Sadhakas have one Guru Mantra. In each and every sphere of our practice there is one. That makes our spiritual approach pointed.

Similarly in our Ananda Marga kiirtan there is only one. There is Parama Purusa Baba. And to emphasize this crucial point the term, ‘kevalam’, meaning only, has been used.

Because up till now, every kiirtan and every religious approach has embraced multiple deities. Whether it be god and Jesus or Radha and Krsna, but that bifurcates the mind and leads people astray.

In Ananda Marga, we are blessed with a unique approach that is singular and pointed. To protect the sanctity of our kiirtan, the term ‘kevalam’ has been given to ensure that under no circumstances is there to be more than one. Only the name of Parama Purusa Baba and no other. Only He is our Goal.

PRIESTS HAVE TAINTED TARAKA BRAHMA’S APPROACH IN THE PAST

Lord Krsna graciously told sadhakas to follow Him and on one else. He emphasized that a devotee must not let the mind run in hundreds of directions, nor in even two directions.

“Forgetting all other things, forgetting your desires and aspirations, come to Me.” Ma’mekam’ sharan’am’ vraja – “take shelter in Me.” (2)

But the priests of the day could not manage and it was not long before they instituted the idea of worshiping Radha. And not only that, so many other deities have come alive in the name of worshiping Lord Krsna.

And in Ananda Marga, there were similar problems. Prior to 1970, various so-called devotees were also worshiping Uma Sarkar and crying for her. They were chanting “Maa…Maa” etc.

But this dogma soon got obliterated. In the liila of Parama Purusa, Uma Sarkar took her own route in life and there was no scope for anyone in Ananda Marga to get confused in this regard.

In Ananda Marga, the sanctity and singularity of Ista has been protected and maintained. The term ‘kevalam’ in our kiirtan emphasizes the idea again and again that ours is a singular approach. We only sing, worship, and meditate on His name and no other. Only, Only, Only that is the essence if kevalam, only the name of Baba.

NOT ‘LOVE IS ALL THERE IS’

A final note on this topic is that in certain sectors, some have translated Baba Nam Kevalam as ‘Love is all there is’. But as His disciples we should propagate Baba’s meaning of this mantra.

“And what is Kiirtana? You are teaching your mind, you are teaching your ear, what you are saying with your vocal cord. What is that? To take only His name, and not so many names – London, Liverpool, Birmingham, Santiago… What is the meaning of Kiirtana? “Ba’ba’ Na’ma Kevalam”. “Ba’ba’” means “the Dearest One”. Only the name of the Dearest One, only the name of Parama Purus’a, and not so many names – Helsinki or London or Santiago or Georgetown. (3)

Our kiirtan is unique. It means only the name of Baba. He is the Parama Purusa and we are singing to Him and Him alone. He is the ONLY object of our adoration and ideation.

Whereas the term love has all sorts of vague meanings and mundane insinuations. People commonly say, “I love movies”, “I love ice cream”, “I love my boyfriend”, “I love drinking wine” etc. So when we teach them kiirtan they will use that type of ideation. It happens.

Hence, we should avoid translating Baba Nam Kevalam as ‘Love is all there is’, and instead use Baba’s own description and translation.

THERE IS NO SECOND ENTITY

In our kiirtan we are to take the name of only One Divine Entity, Baba. And that is emphasized by Baba’s special use of the term kevalam, meaning only.

“Within the scope of infinite space, and without the scope of infinite space, He is the Singular entity. So nobody is outside Him. So He is the only goal. He is only Desideratum, and for Him you say, “Ba’ba’ Na’ma Kevalam”. That is, “I am taking the name of that Singular Entity.” (4)

““Kevalam”; only the name of that Noumenal Entity because he is the only Noumenal entity and there is no second Entity. So there is no alternative but to move and dance and sing around Him.” (5)

“The question arises – is the Supreme Entity, the Supreme Faculty, a singular one or a plural one? The question of plurality in the controlling faculty is a knotty one. The rs’i says the important law, the Supreme Controlling Faculty, is a singular one – a singular one. There cannot be any plurality in it. That is, it is singular and shall remain singular forever.” (6)

Namaskar,
Sastaunga Pranam to Baba,
Bharat

***** Prabhat Samgiita #702******

“Tava preran’a’y puspit holo shus’ka marur yato taru…” (PS 702)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, You are the most magnificent One. By Your divine grace, all the trees & vegetation in the dry, dusty maru [1] (desert) have started to bloom and flower. By Your unfathomable grace, the fragrant flower blossoms have transformed the dead and lifeless desert into a golden, colorful, and charming paradise – overflowing with sweetness and full of life. O’ my Lord, You can do anything and everything.

O’ Divine Entiy, You have done the impossible. That which I could never imagine happening and that which still today at this very moment is difficult for me to believe happening, that impossible feat You have done. You have made my broken heart new again – full of love for You. With Your divine compassion You have filled my heart with devotion and propelled me forward on the path of sadhana. It is only Your grace.

O’ Parama Purusa Baba, You are unparalleled. You are the embodiment of everything & You go everywhere. On the one side You are stationary yet at the same time You move very, very fast. Baba, by Your grace with the madhu meru (mountain of sweetness) You stir and vibrate the jyotisamudra (effulgent ocean) [2]. O’ my Lord, You have flooded the spiritual realm with the love and attraction for You.

Baba, by Your grace everything has changed and my sleeping, sunken heart has become full of devotion. Baba, I love You. Your grace is everything…

NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA 702:

[1] Maru: (Literally means desert). In this song the maru or desert metaphorically represents the sadhaka whose heart is completely dry – devoid of any devotion. And the flower blossom represents the sweetness of devotion. So in the above Prabhat Samgiita, the maru or desert has become full of fragrant flowers, i.e. by Baba’s causeless grace the sadhaka’s heart has become full of devotion.

[2] Jyoti Samudra and Madhu Meru: The term ‘jyoti samudra’ liteally means effulgent ocean and the phrase ‘madhu meru’ means the mountain of sweetness. The inner sense is that the jyoti samudra is the spiritual world and the madhu meru is that deep devotional attraction for Him, i.e. madhur bhava (loving relation with Baba in dhyana). Thus in the song when it says that Baba is stirring the jyoti samudra with the madhu meru, it means that Baba has vibrated the entire spiritual sphere to such a height that everything is upsurging with the flow of devotion– by Baba’s divine grace the bhakta is ensconced in madhur bhava, that deeply charming and loving relation with Him.

REFERENCES:
1. 11 April 1979, Kolkata
2. Namami Krsnasundaram, Disc: 6
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam-12
4. Ananda Vacanamrtam-12
5. Ananda Vacanamrtam-12
6. Ananda Vacanamrtam-1

Posting: Human Thinking Power: Boon & Curse

Baba

This entire posting is composed of 2 parts:
(1) Posting: Human Thinking Power: Boon & Curse.
(2) Prabhat Samgiita #2523;

== HUMAN THINKING POWER: BOON & CURSE ==

Namaskar,
This letter offers a vital point that every new sadhaka should know. As we know, Ananda Marga ideology offers a dynamic, unique perspective to anyone coming onto the path. Since pracar is one of our first and foremost duties, we should also be aware of this teaching to best introduce it to others.

“AS YOU THINK, SO YOU BECOME”

Ya’drshii bha’vana’ yasya siddhirbhavati ta’drshii

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “As you think, so you become.” (1)

Baba has given this seemingly simple guideline in a number of discourses. Some new people may have heard or read this and think they understand. Other new people may not have yet come across it.

We should ensure that every new sadhaka understands the full import of this teaching because this is one of the very revolutionary aspects of Ananda Marga.

These days, with the great popularity of yoga, most yoga groups solely focus on the physical, or they may include their own interpretation of pranayama as well.

Only Ananda Marga offers the full system for transforming one’s person into godhood. And the above guideline, “as you think so you become”, is instrumental to our approach.

HOW IT WORKS:

DEGRADATION OF MIND

When Baba says, “as you think so you become”, He is telling us that we must have some control or restraint in our thinking.

If one thinks of something mundane or crude they will transform into that object – step by step. That is one part of the equation.

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “It is the natural wont of the mind to take the shape of its object of meditation. If the object of worship is crude, say money or any crude thing, the mind takes the shape of that crude thing in the course of time.” (2)

And not just money, in this materialistic era people’s minds are riddled by all kinds of thoughts: name, fame, jealousy, stress, anger, fear, enemies, disease etc. By thinking in this way, part, or even all of their mind, gets consumed in that manner. Thus problem festers and grows as the mind gets more degraded.

Wild or uncontrolled thinking is one of the main causes of both psychic and physical diseases in materialistic societies.

Those new to the path of sadhana – and even those not yet on the path – should be informed of the adverse effects of this equation, “As you think so you become.”

HOW IT WORKS:

ELEVATION OF MIND

Then there is the other side of the equation: If we refine our thoughts to focus in a spiritual manner we will move towards the Supreme.

This also we should preach and teach to every new sadhaka. By this way they can not only free the mind of so many fetters and distractions, but one can truly move ahead on the spiritual path.

In Ananda Marga, that is exactly what our system of sadhana is – a methodical manner of thinking wherein the mind focuses on the Ista.

“Concentrated thinking is called “meditation”… In spiritual parlance, when the mental flow is directed towards the goal, that is, the Supreme Entity, it is called “concentration”, but in metaphysical terms, it is a concept of dharma. Concentrated thinking leads to the development of positive ideas…in the process of constant mental flow towards the goal. In the process of meditation the following things are involved – brain cells, apexed or pinnacled psychology, concentrated thinking, Guru cakra and ultimate devotion.” (3)

Thus concentrated thinking is a integral part of our approach. By this way one can transform their entire existence. Even those who are terribly depressed and anxiety ridden can become stellar sadhakas through this method. And this is unique to AM. No one else other than Baba highlights the sublime importance of thinking.

So those new to Ananda Marga should understand that they will not get this teaching nor this practice on other paths and they should clearly understand and experience the dynamism of this practice.

Our mantra japa in first lesson or sixth lesson is the culminating practice of, “as you think so you become.” By bringing the mind back again and again to the idea of the mantra and training the mind to maintain that flow, then one’s entire physical, psychic and spiritual existence gets transformed. Then one veritably becomes divine. Then one becomes Parama Purusa. That is Baba’s teaching for every sadhaka to realise – new or old.

BABA’S MANDATE

Because this principle – as you think so you become – is such an important guideline Baba reminds us of this again and again.

“I told you, or I have been telling you, that a man takes the form of his psychic object; that is, your very existence will be converted into your psychic object. You should select your object very carefully.” (4)

So we should share the import of this concept with all new sadhakas. By this way we too may become more aware of the use of our mantra, either during and / or after sadhana.

As pracarakas, this equation – as you think so you become – is one important point of our approach. So many in the world nowadays are looking for something new. And our Ananda Marga has all the practices they need to transform their life.

So those being introduced to na’ma mantra meditation or first lesson or even just kiirtan, should be made aware of the profound effects of this subtle science.

BABA’S WARNING:

IDOL WORSHIP IS THE WORST

Here Baba points out the very negative effect of dogmatic idol worship. But none should think this adverse reaction is limited to idol worship. Any persistent engagement in crude thoughts (sex, money, greed, jealousy, etc) will turn one into negative microvita.

““If idols made of wood, clay, iron or any other metal are accepted as objects of meditation, then what will be the result?” It is said, Ya’drshii bha’vana’ yasya siddhirbhavati ta’drshii [“As you think, so you become”]. The aspirants’ own entitative existence will be turned into clay, metal or wood – a state which in the scriptures is called Prakrtiliina [negative microvita]. It is a dreadful state.” (5)

The above guideline is a clear warning about what happens to those who fail to understand the real import of Baba’s teaching – “As you think so you become.” In then end they are turned into inanimate objects and negative microvita. It is a frightening outcome.

THEY WILL REMAIN FAR AWAY FROM

THE ATTAINMENT OF THE SUPREME ENTITY

Baba has graciously blessed us with the practical method of how to ideate on Him. We should share this technique with one and all. We should never allow others to settle for any lesser approach. It is everyone’s birthright to get Him – by their thoughts alone, one can attain His eternal shelter, by His grace.

“It is also stated in Tantra that if a person wants only to attain limited progress, one may practise on certain limited ideas. But those who are genuine seekers of Brahma will never agree to worship any finite idea. Those who want the Supreme Entity will have to ideate on Parama Purus’a alone. People may attain limited achievement in terms of occult power through the grace of the gods and goddesses, but they will remain far away from the attainment of the Supreme Entity.” (6)

WILL TAKE THE PATH OF NEGATIVE PRATISAINCARA

“Now, the objectivated [human] mind may move from subtle towards crude or from crude towards subtle, unlike the movements of other entities of this universe. If the movement towards crude is encouraged, the mind – and at the same time the entire existence of the human being – will be converted into crude matter. That is, it will [take] the path of negative pratisaincara. And if the movement towards subtle is encouraged, then one’s entire existence will be converted into either Cosmic Mind or Cosmic Cognitive Faculty. This is the speciality of mind, and that is why it is said:”

[It is the mind that performs good actions and it is the mind that sins. For the mind that is immersed in the thought of God, there is no virtue, no vice.]

[The mind of a person in bondage is attached to his or her objects of enjoyment, whereas the mind of a person who has attained liberation has no mental object.]

““The mind is the cause of bondage, and this mind, this very mind, is the cause of liberation, is the cause of emancipation.” If the movement towards subtle is encouraged, and there is movement with proper acceleration, then what will happen? There will take place one of two different things: either one’s existence will be converted into the Cosmic Mind – that metamorphosis of unit mind into Cosmic Mind is known as the qualified stance – saguńásthiti – or, if the very “I” feeling is surrendered at the altar of Supreme Existence, then the alternative will be that the entire existential factor will become one with the Supreme Cognitive Faculty, with the Cognitive Principle – one will become omniscient, an all-knowing entity.” (7)

THIS RISE AND FALL OF ANTAGONISTIC PSYCHIC VIBRATIONS WILL GO ON

““It is the human mind which is the cause of bondage or liberation. If the mind is in bondage, the person is also in bondage. Similarly, if the mind is liberated the person is also liberated. After all, it is the human mind which engages in auspicious actions. Now, if this mind is kept engrossed in the ideation of Parama Puruśa, then it gets totally merged in Consciousness. In that case, where is the scope for virtue or vice for that person?””
“If an ordinary sinner or a confirmed sinner remains absorbed in the thought of Parama Puruśa to the exclusion of all other thoughts, then his or her mind becomes pointed. This is called agryábuddhi [pinnacled intellect] in Sanskrit. In that state of mind the spiritual aspirant gets well established in pinnacled intellect. Unless and until the ordinary human intellect is elevated to the level of pinnacled intellect or apexed intellect, the continuous rise and fall of innumerable vibrations within one’s existence continues. These psychic vibrations are sometimes the vibrations of virtue, sometimes the vibrations of vice, sometimes the vibrations of the reaction of sinful deeds, sometimes of virtuous deeds. Unless the human mind is pointed, this rise and fall of antagonistic psychic vibrations will go on. The moment the mind is centred on Parama Puruśa, then that mind will naturally become pointed. In that state there is no scope for the rise and fall of any wave – neither the wave of virtue nor the wave of vice. Thus it is said that when a spiritual aspirant is established in pinnacled intellect, there cannot be any question of virtue and vice. A person who has taken the Cosmic shelter goes far above the scope of virtue or vice. This is something very natural.” (8)

CONFRONTED WITH THIS GRIM REALITY ONE SHOULD BE VERY CAUTIOUS

Mana eva manuśyáńám káránaḿ bandhamokśayoh,
Bandhasya viśayásaungimuktonirviśayaḿ tathá.

““The mind is the cause of bondage or liberation of human beings. A person under bondage is attached to a mental or physical object, whereas the liberated one is free from all objects.” If the mind is confined to something physical or psychic it is bound to be assailed by either pleasure or pain – it is inevitable. However hard you may try you can not avoid it, because you are so inseparably bound to your objects.”

“It is also true that you will not remain associated with your object forever because the speed of movement of both cannot be equal forever. The person with whom you live with all the warmth of your life will ultimately desert you – it is a cruel game. Confronted with this grim reality one should be very cautious about selecting one’s goal. One thing is clear – the Supreme Entity alone should be accepted as one’s goal.” (9)

ALWAYS KEEPS HOPPING FROM ONE OBJECT TO ANOTHER

Mana eva mauśya nám kárańam bandha mokśayo”.

“In other words the unit attains salvation only when she/he empties her/his mind of all objects. Just as an iron sword can perform acts of cruelty or merely cut the rope tethering and animal, similarly, according to its objective tendencies, the mind can also be the cause of both bondage and liberation.”
“All unit objects are external. Love for such unit objects can never be lasting, for the mind always keeps hopping from one object to another. That is why I say, withdraw your love from the unit and merge yourself in the whole. Don’t mistake the unit for the soul or God. The attainment of one’s inner self is only possible through love for the Infinite. Dońt pretend to be inferior and as a result become lazy. Fill your heart with love of the Infinite, and your soul will be transformed into the Supreme Soul. No worldly happiness is limitless. Dedicate yourself completely to the blissful ocean of the Supreme Soul. Then alone will you realize what happiness really is. This path to attain happiness, this Sádhaná of self-surrender I call absolute devotion. Carry on performing your worldly duties with sincerity, and at the same time think about the pure self within you. Then alone will your Sádhaná be justified. The constant thought of your pure inner Self will certainly one day establish you in your original source, and this is the ultimate aim of Sádhaná.” (10)

ONE SERIOUS SHORTCOMING

“Thus, the mind is behind all our activities, whether we direct it towards worldly objects or towards Brahma. No action is possible without the mind. The mind has infinite potentialities and controlling these infinite potentialities is sádhaná.”
“Though the mind is very powerful it has one serious shortcoming. It cannot think of two objects concurrently.”
“Whenever it thinks it has one single object. Nevertheless the speed of the mind’s action is baffling. While concentrating on a particular work we may also hear others about us [[talking]]. This is due to the fast acting power of the mind, which leads us to believe that the thought currents of the mind are unbroken. For example, while witnessing the pictures in cinema, we also enjoy the dialogue. The activities of the mind can be understood by diligently applying the mind and we see that the mind can do only one thing at a time. Therefore worldly acts and meditation on Brahma cannot be done simultaneously. It is impossible that on one side humans will remain bound up with passion, anger, avarice etc. and on the other, will worship Brahma. The mind must be sanctified for the worship of Brahma.” (11)

WHERE IS THE SCOPE FOR VIRTUE OR VICE

“It is the human mind which performs action…”
““It is the human mind which is the cause of bondage or liberation. If the mind is in bondage, the person is also in bondage. Similarly, if the mind is liberated the person is also liberated. After all, it is the human mind which engages in auspicious actions. Now, if this mind is kept engrossed in the ideation of Parama Puruśa, then it gets totally merged in Consciousness. In that case, where is the scope for virtue or vice for that person?”” (12)

A PECULIAR ENTITY

“This human mind is a peculiar entity. It is the cause of all our sorrows and predicaments, and it is the cause of our supreme bliss. It is the cause of bondage, and it is the cause of liberation.” Now this mind, working within human framework, requires some pabulum for its maintenance. In the human mind there are fifty such pabula. And these are the human propensities, vrttis.” (13)

LIKE A BULLOCK CART WITHOUT A DRIVER

“It is said in Samskrta: Mana eva manuśyánáḿ kárańam bandha-mokśayoh.”
“Now let us analyse how the mind functions. In the physical sphere energy is essential for action. What is energy? Energy is the actional state within a material structure. This energy by itself is a blind force and for its activation intellect must exist: a driver is required to direct this blind force. The support of the intellect is a prime necessity for the operation of energy in this material world. If an useful thing is kept easily accessible to the common people in a country or society, in most cases it is misused or spoiled. Those who are considerate and have the power of judgement should be entrusted with the responsibility of controlling the physical power of common people with their intellectual power, otherwise everything will be spoiled. It is like a bullock which, without a driver, is unable to decide whether to pull its cart towards the right or the left. Only a discriminating driver can control everything efficiently.”
“As people, guided by their intellect, continue to gather practical experiences of the ups and downs of this world, they gradually start to realize that their psychic capacities are too inadequate to accomplish any great task. Then, faced with the stark realities of life, they realize that they have no alternative but to merge with the Supreme Consciousness. At that stage, whatever they do will have a cosmic support and will be genuine. That is why enlightened persons always prefer to remain unified with the Supreme Entity. This is considered the highest attainment of knowledge.” (14)

THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE SORROWS

“It is the mind which carries the burden of pains and pleasures. In the mind is the gloomy black curtain of sorrow, and through this dark curtain pierces the silver light and golden glow of momentary happiness. As long as there are other entities outside the unit mind, there will continue to be sorrows and afflictions, desires, passions and pains. As a result of various types of physical or psychic clashes with other entities, the feelings of pain and pleasure rise and fall like bubbles in the mind. If, through sádhaná, people can merge their unit minds with the Cosmic Mind of Parama Puruśa, then the unit minds themselves become the Cosmic Mind: their individual identities are merged in that Cosmic “I”. In that condition, there remains nothing outside. Thus, there is no longer any possibility of physical or psychic clash with any external entity or object. All objects, all ideas, arise out of one’s mind. This is the state of liberation – a state of Cosmic bliss far above the domain of mundane pleasures and pains.” (15)

ACT ACCORDING TO THEIR WILL

“Mind alone is the cause of the bondage and liberation of human beings. Why is it the cause of bondage and liberation? It is because all the beings below human being are bereft of an independent mind. Their minds are guided by their natural instincts. But human beings have an independent mind. They can act according to their will. They can take the track either of bondage or of liberation. This is the fundamental difference between human beings and animals.”
“The mind must always have an object (viśaya). In scriptures, viśaya is known as “ábhoga.” “Ábhoga” means that object which feeds the mind – that is, mental pabulum. If this pabulum is limited, the mind also becomes limited. If the pabulum is infinite, by making an effort to obtain it, the mind becomes infinite. It depends entirely on the will of human beings which pabulum, limited or unlimited, is made their object. Whether a person becomes great or small completely depends on the person’s wish.”

Bandhastu viśayásaungii mukto nirvisáyaḿstathá.

““When the object of human beings is small and they remain fixed to it, they are in bondage. When the object of the mind is infinite, and we get merged into it, as it is not possible to hold it, we call it liberation.””

Páshabaddho bhavejjiivo páshamukto bhavet Shivah.

““The person whose object of mind is limited, is in bondage. When the object of mind is unlimited, it (the mind) cannot be kept within limitations. Then there is no bondage, but liberation.”” (16)

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

Purport:

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

REFERENCES:
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 12
2. Baba in Fiesch
3. Yoga Psychology
4. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 12
5. SS-11
6. Discourses on Tantra-1
7. Neo-Humanism in a Nutshell – 1, Existential Flow and Its Culminating Point
8. A Few Problems Solved Part 5, What is Dogma
9. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell – 6, Ekendriya – 4
10. The Intuitional Science of the Vedas – 1
11. Subháśita Saḿgraha Part 1, The Form of Sadhana
12. A Few Problems Solved Part 5, What is Dogma
13. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 30, The Subtlest Propensity
14. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life -10, The Cardinal Spirit of Action and the Supreme Stance of Devotion
15. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Disc: 16
16. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 1, Leaving Bondage

Happy A’nanda Pu’rn’ima’

Baba

== HAPPY A’NANDA PU’RN’IMA’!! ==

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

Namaskar to all on this auspicious and blissful occasion of A’nanda Pu’rn’ima’ – Saturday, 25 May 2013!

Wishing you a very happy and blissful occasion of devotional celebrations & merriment!!

Baba Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji is the Polestar of life: He is the inspiration, He is the sustenance, and He is the Goal. This festival day of A’nanda Pu’rn’ima’ marks Baba’s divine advent onto this earth.

As we know, Parama Purusa is everywhere; He is the Divine Witnessing Entity. But when humanity cannot move ahead properly on its path, when people are bewildered and do not know what to do, when right things are deemed to be wrong and wrong things are glorified up to the sky, when exploitation is rampant and all are suffering, when humanity is desperate for guidance and solutions, then at that critical hour Parama Purusa manifests Himself as Mahasambhuti. The grand occasion of A’nanda Pu’rn’ima’ celebrates this holy advent.

This entire creation is the manifestation of Parama Purusa. Everyone and everything is part of our universal family. By Baba’s grace, we should always keep this sweet realisation ever alive in the heart and mind.

The final fulfillment comes when the sadhaka reaches that highest goal and feels that Baba – the Divine Entity – expresses Himself through each and everything. All are none other than the expression of the Supreme.

Wishing you, and all in your area, blissful A’nanda Pu’rn’ima’ celebrations.

Here is one of Baba’s original A’nanda Va’niis that we wish to share with you – this is the one we are using in our unit.

“The fact that the fortune of every individual, not only of this earth but of the entire cosmos, has been wreathed together, will have to be admitted one day by people. The spiritual aspirant has to hasten that auspicious moment by pauseless effort, service and propagation of the great Ideology. This alone is the Supreme task for the present humanity.” (Ananda Vanii #30)

Namaskar,
Sastaunga Pranam to Baba,
Kalpatru Deva