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Ideal Avadhuta

Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2005 21:09:53 -0000 To: AM-GLOBAL From: J. Erikkson Subject: Ideal Avadhuta Baba "Eka' tumi baive keno sab bojha'..." - P.S. 1963 Purport: Baba, You are carrying all the burdens of this entire universe. I want to serve You; please put some of that on my head-- give me something to carry to relieve You. Baba, whatever capacity You have given me, accordingly I am ready to serve You. Baba, by Your grace, I move with Your strength. And I go on marching on the path which You have guided me on. Whatever little intellect I have is because of You. All my hopes, aspirations, desires, longings-- good or bad-- everything is revolving around You. Baba You are my everything. Baba except You there is none to whom I can think is mine. Only You are mine-- no one else. Others are only superficial friends on the good days. But You are eternally my own. Baba, when due to the pain and I cry, then by Your mercy I get you. Baba, You are always there to wipe away my tears and remove my suffering. My everything is because of You. Baba, my life, my death, my entire existence revolves around Your grace...
== IDEAL AVADHUTA ==
Namaskar, As we know, Baba is very strict with regard to the standard of our Wt's and Avadhutas. Because by the formation of a strong cadre, then society can quickly be transformed and guided in the proper direction. The point being that Baba's theory of avadhuta is very lofty as the true ideal avadhuta is treated as 'second god' in AM philosophy:
"Shmsha'ne...avadhutao dvatiya maheshvara"
Thus the color of one's dress alone is not enough. Rather the conduct of our avadhutas must be exemplary in all regards. Then they can be considered as ideal-- 'dvatiya maheshvara' or second gods. Unfortunately, these days on various points a certain slackness has set in.
A CASE IN POINT
We need not consult the history books or look back in the annals of time to find such examples. Since it was just last week that one of our distinguished avadhutas engaged in the public & heralded celebration of his own birthday. All done in a grand way at one of our AM retreats. When in fact the point is commonly known to all that Avadhutas are not to pay heed to such mundane dates like their own worldly birthday. (a) Reason being that for the Avadhutas, Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji is Father, Mother, and Everything. And they have given up everything of their worldly past in His service. In which case where is the scope for an avadhuta to celebrate his own worldly birthday... (b) In addition at each and every juncture or stage of an avadhuta's development and training they are given a new name because each stage itself represents a new birth-- a new beginning. All the while leaving behind their old life. In which case where is the scope for an avadhuta to celebrate his own worldly birthday... (c) Plus for all avadhutas and aspirants Baba has beautifully explained that our present life is not our first life-- rather it is a part life. Because in the cycle of creation and moving ahead via saincara and pratisaincara until finally attaining the human framework and ultimately reaching onto the path of tantra, one has undergone countless lives and one has experienced countless births. This is part and parcel of our spiritual outlook. Thus for these reasons and so many others, the whole notion of one of our avadhutas celebrating their worldly mundane birth has no sense and goes counter to the whole spirit of being avadhuta. Even then NY SOS Dada Rainjitanandaji took it upon himself to celebrate his worldly physical birth at a recent AM function. Not only that it was done with all the glorified 'bells and whistles' of materialistic American life-- following all the traditional ways from the mundane birthday song to the making of a wish. All this was done in Dadaji's honor-- and he jumped right in with full vigor. Thus with full pomp and show and wearing the bright orange of his avadhuta uniform, Dadaji celebrated the whole affair in full grandeur-- with full birthday charm. So how far this is proper and following the spirit or the ideal of an avadhuta as laid down by Baba, everyone can plainly see for themselves-- as it is quite apparent.
SS WAS THERE AT THE SCENE
Plus this entire birthday festivity did not unfold in a vacuum-- without anyone there to see. It was not like that as SS Dada, i.e. the 'eyes of the sector', was on hand at that very retreat to observe the entire event. But SS did not so much as move a muscle to intervene. Rather he let SOS party to the sky in his birthday rituals. Why SS Dada Tiirthanandaji remained frozen is anyone's best guess. But many are telling it was because Tiirthanandaji was already involved in his own muddy dealings. Since it was at that retreat itself that a major portion of Dada's seminar presentation was spent praising & glorifying himself. When every Ananda Margii is fully aware that self-praise is not good. Hence being short on moral courage himself, SS Dada remained passive on the sidelines-- unable to utter a dharmic word to save the situation of SOS's mundane birthday party. Thus a snowball or domino effect happened-- i.e. one poor showing led to another. Otherwise what can be. And talk is further going on that when SS could not properly monitor the party celebrations of SOS which was all done under his own watchful gaze, then how can SS Dada handle administering and governing the expanse of the entire sector. So this concern is also ablaze in peoples' minds. Where to go and how to proceed in the creation of ideal avadhutas we can think further, and at the same time consider Baba's following guidelines. However one thing surely stands clear: That it is blatantly against the standard of an avadhuta to indulge in the worldly celebration of their own birthday.
BABA'S WARNINGS
Taking everything into consideration here following are some of Baba's important guidelines about acarya and avadhuta life. Baba says, "A'ca'ran'a't pa'thayati yah sah a'ca'ryah-- 'One who teaches through one's conduct is an acarya'. If you cannot learn anything from the conduct and behaviour of a certain person, why should you accept that person as an a'ca'rya." (AVM pt 23 p.150) Baba says, "Bear in mind that people may be harmed or misled by even a small weakness or defect in the conduct of an acarya...an acarya should always instruct by his exemplary actions and words." (AVM pt 31 p.18)
A POSITIVE RESOLUTION
So even while such birthday scenes and the like continue to unfold across the sector and beyond. Even then we should not give up hope or 'lose the faith'. Because if we are careful to keep a close watch then quickly ideal avadhutas can be created-- in which case fake ones will disappear from the scene. All it take is a little vigilance. And by that way in no time we will have a sterling cadre of avadhutas in the true spirit of the term. Baba says, "Shmsha'ne...avadhutao dvatiya maheshvara" Namaskar, Jayanta
Note 1: AVADHUTA CONDUCT RULE
Baba says, "Avadhuta shall always keep himself engaged in the service of Gurudeva with sincerity and devotion, in thought, words and deed, in subtle and in crude spheres, in inner and outer expressions of life." (Rule no. 28 of '32 Rules for Avadhutas') By the above teaching it is quite clear that ideal avadhutas will dedicate everything to Revered Baba. In which case the only birthday they will concern themselves with is Ananda Purnima, i.e. Baba's birthday -- and not their own unit birth.
************************************************ Sadhana Point
Baba says, "Padmasana (lotus posture): Place the right foot on the left thigh and the left foot on the right thigh. Clench the jaws and press the tongue against the roof of the mouth. You can maintain this posture as long as you like." (CC-3) Note: Just as sleeping needs to be done in a lying down posture. Similarly for better sadhana one should sit in padmasana. No doubt margiis are aware about this rule but even then review is needed because some are no longer in the habit of sitting in this posture, while still others have become obese which leads to discarding this rule. In addition, by seeing some sit in the wrong way, confusion can come on such basic points as to which leg to bend first or how to place the palms. Or people just plain forget to keep the tongue back, the molar teeth pressed, the eyes closed, or the spine erect. Hence for one or another reasons any or all of these points can get forgotten or missed. Not to mention that at DMS and retreats I have seen how some people keep their hands clasped together and their fingers interlinked, but this of course is also not proper. So about all these aforementioned points Baba has given the guideline in the above noted quote from Caryacarya part 3 and in the Senior Acarya Diary. So it is Baba's mandate that we should be strict in following all these things properly, as they are integral for enhancing one's movement on the path of sadhana.
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Avadhuta's Birthday

Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2005 22:50:30 From: Dharmaviira Subject: Avadhuta's Birthday To: am-global@earthlink.net Baba "Nijer katha' balate gele yug ye cale ya'y..." -P.S. 2610 Purport: Baba, my whole life is getting wasted in propagating my own greatness. Since ages I have been involved in this foolish endeavour. Baba please fill my mind with Your divine tales & by listening them my whole heart and my whole being will be satiated. In order to listen to Your divine gospel, I have remained awake since many lives-- since ages. Baba please grace me with that very smile because by getting a flash of that my life will become successful. Baba today You have graced me and changed my heart; I will no longer waste my time in self-glorification and bragging about my unit 'I', little ego. Because now my mind is running constantly towards You. Baba, I wasted my life in self-propaganda. Now by Your grace only I want to listen to Your glory, Your sweet gospel...
== AVADHUTA'S BIRTHDAY ==
Namaskar, Just a few short days ago one of our esteemed Avadhuta's celebrated his own birthday in grand fashion at one of the regional retreats in our NY sector. So let us all take a peek at the import of such events to see how far Baba is approving this or not.
STORY: BABA'S REPORTING SESSION AND DADA N
Long back in Delhi sector Dada Nirmohananandji also had a favourite passion of indulging in his own birthday parties. So here and there and whenever opportunity knocked he would set-up birthday party celebrations in his own honour. This was his way of doing. Then one day in reporting sesion Baba Himself raised the matter and exposed Nirmohananandji in front of all. And it became well known how Baba lovingly pointed out and made jokes about Nirmohananandji's behaviour. In that way Baba Himself has put forth the dharmic injunction that workers are not to involve in such things as it goes against the entire spirit of being Avadhuta. Since then nobody asked permission from Baba to arrange the birthday celebration of any avadhuta. Nor did any acarya dare to do. Similarly that is also why the birthdays of acaryas and avadhutas are never published in different media, ie e-mail or Central Magazines etc.
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AVADHUTA
As we know the spirit of being Avadhuta is to dedicate everything to Marga Gurudev. So by getting Avadhuta diiksa and by getting their new avadhuta name, then they they no longer have anything of their own. In that blessed state, everything belongs to Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. And Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji is their mother father, & everything. That is why in conduct rules of Avadhuta, there is no such thing as the observance of one's own birthday or any form of celebration or glorification of one's own unit existence. Rather the avadhuta's goal of life and the be-all end-all of their existence is to glorify Baba's image. They are to be fully established in and dedicated to AM ideology and Marga's Guru's glory. Baba says, "Avadhuta shall always keep himself engaged in the service of Gurudeva with sincerity and devotion, in thought, words and deed, in subtle and in crude spheres, in inner and outer expressions of life." (Rule no. 28 of '32 Rules for Avadhutas') Adhering to this principle no true Avadhuta celebrates their own personal mundane birthday.
BIRTHDAY IS WORSE THAN SELF-PRAISE
As we all know Baba warns us to steer away from things like self-publicity & self-praise. Thus when the chief result of indulging in one's own birthday party is drawing attention to oneself, then no avadhuta should indulge in such acts. Baba says, "Why on earth should he indulge in self-publicity? To whom will he publicize himself? Such acts are the antics of common, avaricious people with beggar-like mentality." (SS-2, p. 49) And to go one step further, in the case of one's own birthday party, that is not only praising oneself but even worse-- celebrating and overtly highlighting one's unit cause. Overall it is just like how stealing itself is bad yet the annual celebration of a notorious stealing program is far worse.
PP's and GS's BIRHTDAY NOT CELEBRATED
Who can say they have heard about PP Dada's birthday or GS Dada's birthday. The answer is on one. Because it is not done. Yet If this birthday celebration would have been accepted & approved then certainly first PP Dada's birthday would have been celebrated every year. And then step by step GS Dada's birthday followed by , Purodha Board members and Central Dadas etc. Like this all high posted worker would be doing. But if you examine the history of AM never has such things been done. Because it is understood that this is not approved by Baba.
THE SCENE AT THE BOSTON REGIONAL RETREAT
However, at last week's Boston Regional retreat, Ac. Rainjitananda Avt celebrated his own birthday with full gusto and glory. In grand fashion, everyone present at the retreat sang a hearty round of the traditional American "Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to you" song in Dadaji's honor. And during the singing one sumptuous cake was brought out and served to Dadaji. And like that the whole affair took on the flavor of one mundane Americana birthday party whereby non-margiis make a wish for crude objects as they blow out the candles on the birthday cake and receive presents from one and all etc. So like that Rainjitanandji's celebratory occasion and birthday party was carried out whereby Dada accepted the card and cake and all arrangements in his own honour. Because at that moment Dadaji's birthday was the showcase event going on at the retreat.
THEY WERE ALSO "AVADHUTA"
So how far it is appropriate & befitting for Avadhutas to do like this everyone can surely arrive at the answer. Yet who can forget that at one time Vishokananda and Madhavananda also carried the title of Avadhuta. Thus for those who do not follow the codes and standards of being avadhuta-- their title of avadhuta is meaningless, or thereabouts. Because Baba's guideline is that being Avadhuta in name only is not enough-- one must follow the spirit.
NOT ONLY AVADHUTA BUT PURODHA
And here in the case of Rainjitanandji he is not only avadhuta but also Purodha, i.e. one of the specially chosen, hand-selected avadhutas. So see the standard of some of our Purodhas these days-- they are fake, or what can be. About any such cases Baba has given the following teaching:
"Mana na' ra'inga'ile ra'inga'ile yogi ka'par'a. Saffron and red do not a yogiis make With mind undyed he remains a fake." "Dye your mind with His colour.
Those who have not done so cannot attain Him, for this very coloration is Prema or Divine Love...No external sign of Sa'dhuta' or virtue is necessary. Become sa'dhu within. Behind the external show of virtuousness of many so-called sa'dhus exists apharisaic state of mind. Preserve the true dignity of the word, Sa'dhu."
"Mu'd'ha mu'ra'ye jata' v'ar'aye.... With shaven head or matted locks And ashen body a Sadhu walks With the swaggering gait of a well-fed buffalo. And crude mind filled with thoughts mean and low."
"That is why I say that you must bring about a revolutionary change in the flow of your judgment and thought, and see how, after overcoming your fascination with external colour, your mind becomes tinged with the Hisglorious colour." (SS-3)
BABA'S BLESSING
At all times may we always remember these following divine words of Baba. Baba says, "We are proceeding from darkness towards effulgence, from imperfection along the golden steps to perfection. No obstacle on the way will be able to stop our advancement...the inherent desire to bring well-being to all living beings is our way...Moving ahead is the very wont of life." (AVS, p. 48-9) Namaskar, Dharmaviira
Note 1: INITIATION MEANS REBIRTH
Here it is meaningful to carefully read Baba's teaching that after initiation one gets re-birth. So in this situation we should all consider & rethink this idea of celebrating one's physical birth. Baba says, "With an initiated person the first birth was the physical birth and the second birth was the spiritual birth, during initiation. Such a person is divya, born twice: First, you are simply born as an animal being. But this second time, as a human being. So unless and until one is initiated one is not, one cannot be, treated as a human being." (AVM) So in Baba's above teaching's teaching is that physical birth does not have so much meaning in the life of a spiritual aspirant. Because when they get initiated that is counted as a re-birth. On that very ground the physical birthday of a human being / sadhaka does not have much value. The main value is when the person gets initiated and takes shelter at Rev. Baba's feet.
Note 2: WHY CELEBRATE
Why should anyone should practice or propagate their own birthday? We are raising the slogan Parama Pita Baba Ki Jai! His victory, His glory, that is why the real devotee has only one birthday to celebrate. That is Ananda Purnima-- Baba's birthday. But those who do not have that type of devotion, with faltering steps they usually go away from ideological path. And sometimes they remain on track.
*************************************** Cooking Tips
Baba says, "If the vegetables get a little burnt and [you think] that 'Oh, people can't eat this.' [Then] Quick- pour a lot of water onto them, and add fifteen or twenty betel leaves. That will reduce the burnt effect." (NKS, '97 Edn, p. 105)
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