The Kaurava-Pandava Dogma

Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 22:50:15 -0000 To: am-global@earthlink.net From: "Hariish Dev" Subject: The Kaurava-Pandava Dogma Baba "(Tumi) a'lo jhalmal u's'a'y ele, a'ndha'rer ja'l chinrile..." (PS 3983) Purport: Baba, You have come in my heart when the blissful dawn was glittering in effulgence. By Your grace, You have wiped away the net of staticity and crude darkness from my mind. In a flash You have also removed the dogma which had accumulated since ages. Baba, You are so beautiful. O' my Dearmost, You know how to make such a divine magical display. By Your grace You have created a heavenly panorama-- complete with the beauty and grandeur of colour, by Your divine play. Baba, in the blink of the eye, You bring lowly and depraved persons close to Your bosom, without making any differentiation or disparity about who is virtuous and who is sinful. Baba, You are my beginning as well as my end, my Goal, my everything. Baba, my whereabouts, my name, my place, my address-- everything has become one with You, by Your grace. Baba I offer You my heartfelt surrender and sastaunga pranam thousands, millions, crores, & an infinite number of times-- again & again. Baba, by Your divine grace You have come in my heart and showered me in Your supreme effulgence. You are my own; You are my everything...

== THE KAURAVA-PANDAVA DOGMA ==

Namaskar, These days in our AMPS organization, there is a new dogma which has spread throughout the different narrow groups striving for power. It is the dogma of "Kauravas and Pandavas". In this dogma, each narrow-minded groupist movement inside our AM organization proclaims that, "We are the Pandavas and everyone else are the Kauravas". This slogan resounds in the halls of the main meetings of each of the main cheap narrow-minded factions.

EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNT

In one place I attended a series of gatherings where this cry was chanted again and again. Here I will give my first-hand account of what I personally witnessed. I was in Madhya Pradesh. It was the month of February, which is the time of seminars in our AM. Everywhere seminars were being organized. But this year the seminars have taken a different turn. The Rudrananda-Bihari group has been using the seminars as a tool to propagate their own group's propaganda. We margis have become quite awakened and alert about this point, and we do not like that any group should use Baba's organization as a forum for propagating their narrow views and claims to power. As a result, in AM units throughout India we margis are openly protesting that we do not accept the groupism and will not tolerate it any longer. At several different units, margis organized and refused to allow the groupist WTs to hold seminar in their area. In some areas margis held their own seminar in the jagriti and did not allow groupist dadas to come and hold class there. In other areas, margis held their own seminar in another location and protested the groupism by not attending the seminar held by groupist dadas at the jagriti. All around India, such margi-led movements against groupism are sprouting. As I say, during this seminar season when all this was going on, I was in Madhya Pradesh. In one area, I was present when all the meetings occurred and I will relate here, what I saw.

REGIONAL SEMINAR BEFOOLERY

The regional seminar was soon to be held. Margis there in that place are quite aware of all the negative groupist in-fighting going on in our organization. And like margis in other places, they were fed up. So they met at a local dharmashala (inn), and decided that they would take action to voice their discontent with the crude, groupist behavior our WTs are exhibiting. When the area dadas came to know about this local margi meeting, they organized a meeting at the jagriti.

SIMPLE VILLAGE MARGIS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF

The dadas' meeting was held ostensibly to organize the upcoming seminar. Our dadas gathered very simple margis mostly from the outlying rural villages to attend the meeting. These margis were not involved or much aware about the politicking going on these days in the organization. So they were easily befooled by our dadas, who gave bellowing lectures in which they loudly proclaimed that "You all attending this meeting, you are the Pandavas. And those margis holding their own meetings outside at the dharmashala, they are groupist and anti-organizational. They are nothing but Kauravas. They are doomed; their destiny is to meet with defeat. But all of us here at this meeting, we are the Pandavas and we shall be victorious!" The simple margis there, unaware of the real picture, were befooled by our WTs' cunning words. So these margis really started to think that the margis at the dharmashala were going against AM and were themselves engaging in groupism. When the reality was the opposite: the margis who had held the meeting at the dharmashala were very good margis, who did not want to see Baba's organization destroyed by the factional in-fighting of WTs in the "Rudrananda Bihari group", or the "Bengali group", or the "Chattisgari Effecting Change group". Disturbed by the long-standing and destructive fighting of these three WT groups, the margis at the dharmashala had decided that something had to be done to raise a clarion call against this negative groupism. But the simple margis in the dadas' meeting were unaware of all this, and heard only what the groupist WTs told them at the jagriti meeting. So they agreed to help organize the upcoming seminar, and returning to their rural villages they mobilised all to attend the seminar. The WT-led seminar happened at the jagriti. It was attended by a number of very simple margis from the surrounding villages, who lived on their small farms and had no way to become informed about the truth of what was going on in our beloved AM organization. There in those villages, there is no such thing as e-mail. And in the vast majority of homes, there is no phone. In many homes, the floor is made of compact soil, there may not be electricity, and life is extremely simple.

BOOMING SLOGANS

So these margis from rural areas attended the seminar. And at the seminar, our dadas bellowed into blaring loudspeakers about how "Our AM organization is under seige by anti-organizational elements who want to break our AMPS org. Our organization is under threat of destruction by negative elements inside our own organization. But we margis and WTs attending this seminar, we are the backbone of dharma. We are the Pandavas! And those not attending this seminar, those attending their own groupist meetings in hidden dharmashalas, they are the negative groupist elements. They are the Kauravas. But they will be defeated. Because noone can stand against Shrii Shrii Anandamurti and succeed. They are sure to be defeated. And we who are here today, we are the warriors of dharma. We are the Pandavas--Baba is sure to bless us, and our victory is guaranteed!" For the two days of the seminar, these are the sorts of booming slogans that were heard in almost every so-called "class". In reality, these were not classes at all. They were nothing but political rallies. Underhanded opportunities for the groupist WTs to project their negative mis-guided plans and ideas on innocent, unassuming margis from the countryside.

SEMINAR A SUCCESS FOR CRAFTY WTS

By the end of the seminar, these simple village margis had been befooled by our cunning WTs that this was a meeting of the Pandavas. And that those who did not attend, they were the Kauravas. Meanwhile the reality was, that the well-informed and active margis of the local area had protested the seminar because it was being run by WTs from the Rudrananda-Bihari group. And these margis who stood in protest, wanted that our AMPS should again become united. That there should be no Rudrananada group, no Chattisgari "Effecting Change" group, and no Bengali group. These margis in protest, where standing for dharma. --That groupism must not be tolerated in our AM. And these margis were right. But our crafty groupist WTs painted the picture in their own twisted way. And in the absence of any other source of information, the simple village margis in their innocence, believed our WTs. (It should be added here that not all WT's are groupist. There are many sincer WT's who are dharmic and completely committed to Baba's divine ideals. By the phrases-- crafty Wt's-- I refer to those WT's who are members of particular factions, and try to befool margis about their factional membership.)

STRATEGY HIGHLY EFFECTIVE--AND HIGHLY ADHARMIC

So this was one example of how the Kaurav-Pandav battle cry is being wrongly sounded in our organization. It is a highly misguided battle cry. --But it is an effective one, loaded with the sentiment of the Mahabharat. So that unassuming, innocent people can be easily misled. For this reason it is highly important for all to be alert about this point. Because calling out that "We are the Pandavas, and they are the Kauravas!!!"….-this is not enough to prove anything as to who is wrong and who is right. Rather, the measuring rod is Baba's teachings. Those who act in concordance with Baba's teachings, they are standing on the path of dharma. They--and only they--are dharmic. Merely calling out that "We are the Pandavas" has nothing to do with dharma.

PANDAV-KAURAV CRY GOING ON ALL OVER GLOBE IN AM...

And yet, unfortunately, this very fake "Pandava" cry is being sounded in all corners of our AM organization today, by each groupist faction.

...IN B-GROUP

I have been to Kolkata, and attended the dogmatic mahaprayan function. I was watching carefully, and they were shouting slogans that, "We are all Pandavas here. And those who did not come to this shraddha ceremony of Baba, they are all Kauravas. Their life is doomed." And there in Kolkata at that dogmatic mahaprayan function, our groupist dadas also broadcast over the PA system one Baba's discourse on "Yuga Sandi". In which Baba says that, "You all are the flag bearers of dharma, those who are dharmikas will be victorious…". And after all heard the discourse, our groupist dadas there stood and proclaimed that, "We are the dharmikas and we will be victorious!!". So those who are following B-group dogma, they in their camp think that they are the "Pandavas". And that all others in our AM organization are Kauravas, whose lives are doomed.

...IN "EFFECTING CHANGE" GROUP

I have also been to Baalbia Nagar, which is the head office of the "Effecting Change" (EC) group. Kiirtan was going on there, and the same type of slogans and dogmatic excitation was going on. In the booming pracar that our groupist dadas there gave over the microphone after mediation finished, they also said that, "All of us here at this gathering, we are the Pandavas and victory is ours! And others in our AM organization are Kauravas, their lives are doomed."

...IN RUDRANANDA H GROUP

And the Rudrananda groups' headquarters are in Gadaypur, Baba's MG quarters in Delhi. When I attended a function there I heard the same battle cry. -"We are the Pandavas. Our victory is guaranteed. Those who have not attended this function are the Kauravas. Their lives are doomed!! But dharma is with us, we are the dharmikas!"

...OVERSEAS

And in overseas sectors as well this is happening. I have seen the same types of reports on the e-mails that such and such groupist retreat or meeting happened, and those who attended felt that they are in the right and destined for victory, and all others are on the wrong path and doomed to defeat. So this dogma is not limited to India or any single country. This is one far-reaching dogma which has come inside our AM, and it has spread throughout the globe.

GIVING PANDAVA CRY NOT ENOUGH-- MUST APPLY VIVEK, SEE WHAT IS DHARMA

So it has become evident that everyone in all the different groupist camps, they each brag that they are the Pandavas and others are the Kauravas. But the main point here, is that we have to consider what Baba's teachings are. In Baba's teachings, we will find what is right and what is wrong. Whereas devoid of Baba's teachings, living in the dreamland that "We are the Pandavas and all others are the Kauravas", this is nothing but pure dogma.

BABA'S TEACHING

Baba guides that we are to see the cardinal principles in His teachings. And on that base we are to apply our vivek as to what is right and what is wrong. Using Baba's teachings, we are to discriminate what is dharma and what is adharma. On the basis of what Guru says, on that very basis the decisions will be made as to who is dharmic. Just crying out that "We are the Pandavas", proves nothing and is meaningless.

EATING MEAT AND VEGETARIAN ANALOGY

Baba says that dogma should not be followed. So if anyone follows any type of dogma, then that is not good. If anyone is eating meat and drinking alcohol but chanting slogans that, "All should eat vegetarian food and become healthy!"-then that slogan has become meaningless. The person who cries out such slogans but in his house is eating meat and drinking alcohol, will get some mortal illness and die a premature death. So similarly, singing the song that, "We are all Pandavas and the others are Kauravas", that is not going to help one to be dharmic. Rather we need to see what is Baba's teaching, and follow that. Following any type of groupism is against dharma. In that setting of following groupism, calling out that "We are the Pandavas" in no way changes the fact that one is going against dharma.

SAME HYPOCRISY IN MAJOR RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD

So we should remain alert about any such religious cry or priestly chant. Otherwise, we see that in Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and Hinduism--all talk the same talk that "Our tiirtha is best, our system is very good, those who follow our religion are the chosen ones". As if to suggest that those are of that faith are the chosen ones and all others are heathen and their lives are doomed. Similarly in our AM, those who follow B group or EC group or Rudranand group, they all think they are the chosen ones. They are the "Pandavas" destined for victory, and all others are "heathen"-- "Kauravas", who are doomed. So this all became one dogma in our AM organization today, and we should be alert and careful, and expose the preachings and beliefs of such narrow-minded groups. Otherwise the danger is, that under the aegis of being "Pandavas", one will just be getting "taken in" or indoctrinated into one false dogma.

BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's grace, all dogmas-- like that of the "We are the Pandavas, and they are the Kauravas!!!"…-- will get removed from our AM society and our Marga will only reflect pure dharma. Baba says, "You boys, you girls, you the spiritual aspirants, must always remember that you must never surrender at the altar of dogma. In the past, dogma committed so many nuisances, dogma created so many fissiparous tendencies in this human society. Your slogan should be "Dogma - No more! Dogma - No more!" Establish yourselves above the boundaries of dogma, and be established in the excellence of human glory." (AFPS-4) Namaskar, Hariish

Note 1: MUST USE RATIONAL MIND

Baba says we should always apply our vivek. We should not merely accept something without using rational mind, just because someone with official authority has spoken. Because if what we accept is not proper, then it can cause the downfall of dharma. Baba says,

"Yuktiyuktamupa'deyam' vacanam' ba'laka'dapi; Anyam' trn'amiva tya'jyamapyuktam' Padmajanmana'h. Kevalam' sha'strama'shrityam' na karttavyo vinirn'ayah; Yuktihiina vica're tu dharmaha'nih praja'yate.

If a child says something rational, it should be accepted, and if the Supreme Creator says something irrational, it should be totally rejected. It is undesirable to accept something just because it is written in the scriptures, because if irrational sayings are accepted and implemented, the decline of dharma will be the result." (HS-1)

Note 2: THEY LIKE FOLLOWING DOGMA

Here Baba points out how and why various groupists adhere to dogma. Baba says, "[They] yield to this dogma with the sole intention of attaining selfish pleasures; They know that they are surrendering their intellect to dogma, and that the outcome will be undesirable; they know and understand everything why, even then, do they knowingly submit to it? They are all deliberate sinners and intentionally accept dogmas as truth. They observe that these dogmas are based on A'tma-Sukha Tattva; but they think, "I don't care whether it does good or harm to others, because at last I have enjoyed some pleasure!" Being motivated by this idea, they enslave themselves to dogmas. " (NH-LOI) With this intention, with this knowledge, those factional leaders knowingly stick to their crude dogma-- "We are the Pandavas, and they are the Kauravas!!!"… So good margiis and good wts should be aware about this situation and not get caught up in this groupist escapade.

*************************************** One Should Know

Baba says, "It is the duty of every sa'dhaka to propagate dharma so that humans will not make a mistake but will follow the path of spirituality." "Humans are endowed with intellect and the faculty of judgement. So if they do not act properly or fail to follow the path of spirituality, they are no better than animals." "Those who utilize their spiritual potential are intelligent but those who do not, and live like animals, will be born as even more inferior creatures in the next life." (Kolkata, 6th November, 1978)

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Real Commentary on Ananda Sutram? II

Date: 09 May 2007 23:46:28 -0000 From: "Acintya Deva" To: am-global@earthlink.net Subject: Real Commentary on Ananda Sutram? II Baba "A'lote cha'ya'te dukha-sukhate ket'eche janam kato..." (PS 1128) Purport: O' Baba, in search of You I have passed so many lives in pleasure and pain, in effulgence and darkness. My days have passed in good and bad, virtue and vice, bliss and misery. Over and over again, countless times, I have come onto this earth. Baba, in this relative world, whatever I have gained, I have lost. Everything in this material world is transitory: Nothing is stationary; nothing is permanent. Baba, whatever came to me has gone away. Even then by Your grace the lamp of my hope remains lit to get You. Baba, the cyclone of my life has come making a loud, bustling sound and it has turned my existence upside down. Baba, in this difficult situation, I have received Your grace and I want for my mind to be fully satiated in Your divine love. Even then I have lost the path and am moving in a downward direction. I do not understand what is right and what is wrong-- what is virtue and what is vice. Baba, please save me from this miserable situation, from this cyclone of my life. O' my Dearmost, by Your boundless compassion I have regained the path: I am adhering to Your teachings and I am slowly moving towards You. Baba, by Your grace today I understand You. I have learned how to move with Your divine effulgence. Baba, after wiping away the darkness, please grace me with more and more of Your effulgence so that I can become one with You. Baba, without Your grace nothing can happen. Please keep me under Your shelter and accept my total surrender...

== REAL COMMENTARY ON ANANDA SUTRAM? == - PART II -

Namaskar, Everyone knows that one particular person has made one "Commentary" on Ananda Sutram. Once again we should see how far this piece accurately depicts Sadguru's divine teachings or not.

ANANDA MARGA'S SYSTEM IS UNIQUE

In Ananda Marga there is a uniqueness that makes it quite different from the dogmatic religions. The various religions, have their various types of dogmas related with their limited ritualistic worship. Muslims pray to God five times a day; Christians have their special one day on Sunday to go to church; and, Hindus typically go on Sunday and Monday, or some on ekadashi. And still some Hindus have their special festivals. Regardless of which religion, and regardless of on which day they make their religious observation, the main point is that on other days, one need not to bother about their prayer rituals. Because these are dogmatic religions and the follow a rigid approach where one only prays in the church or temple or mosque at only particular times. In contrast, in Ananda Marga, we have our practice 24 hours a day. That's why Baba has given the dharmic guideline: 'Kuru pun'yamahora'tram', meaning, 'Do virtuous deeds day and night'.

AM PRACTICES DHARMA 24HRS A DAY

So the dogmatic religions do their rituals once in a week, once in a month, once in a life, or on certain days which are fixed. Each dogmatic religion has their certain way of observation-- whether Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, et. Whereas in Ananda Marga, Baba has given "Kuru pun'yamahora'tram'". The sense is, to practice dharma 24 hours per day.

SAME TEACHING IN ANANDA SUTRAM

And Baba has given this very teaching of practicing dharma 24hrs in Ananda Sutram, sutra 2-7:

Tasma'ddharmah Sada'ka'ryah Meaning: Dharma should always be practiced

So Baba has graciously given this sutra and explained it Himself, with His own purport in Ananda Sutram. And then He has given hundreds and hundreds of discourses, to amplify the point so it will be clear to all. This very sutra--Tasma'ddharmah Sada'ka'ryah-- has a special importance for all Ananda Margiis. And indeed, Baba has explained it in so many discourses. Including the very discourses on "Kuru pun'yam ahoratram"-- Do Virtuous Deeds Day and Night. And the same very idea has been expressed in various ways in other discourses as well. And the proof is that in AM, everyone knows that dharma must always be practiced. There is no time or day that we need not follow dharma. Such a thing does not exist in AM.

SOME OF THE BACKGROUND TO SUTRA 2-7

In order to best understand this sutra 2-7-- Tasma'ddharmah Sada'ka'ryah-- more deeply, one needs to understand what Baba has written in the prior part of Ananda Sutram. So let us all take a look. In Ananda Sutram, the central idea of the prior sutra no. 2-6 is that when human beings are running toward their Goal-- Brahma, Supreme Consciousness-- that special "running", that special type of psycho-spiritual movement is called 'dharma'. This we all know. Or in other words we can say, Sutra no 2-6 reveals that running psycho-spiritually in our mental flow is dharma. Yet Baba's teachings do not end here. Baba further explains that this psycho-spiritual run toward Brahma is not done for only few seconds, minutes or few hours only. It must be done 24 hours and that is our main work in life: To always follow dharma. And if anybody is not running all the 24 hours toward Brahma, then they are not following dharma 100%. And to make this point very clear, Baba has given Sutra number 2-7. The meaning is that we have to follow dharma 24 hours. We should imbibe the meaning of that ideation with every breath. No single breath should be wasted.

THE LIMITED WAYS OF THE DOGMATIC RELIGIONS

We Ananda Margiis are not like the dogmatic Muslim followers who remember God Allah 5 times a day. And in that course, they practice Nama'j or prayer. And one day is a spiritual day for Muslim people. And that is Friday. In Christianity it is also limited. For example, they do their dogmatic prayer once in a week. And the Christian spiritual day is Sunday. And on the other six days, they are not so committed to God. In their language, only Sunday is the day of the Lord. In the Hindu religion also, they adhere to a restricted program. In the morning and evening they attend temple and do bath in Ganges etc, but, during the whole day they are not very mindful about God. So in the Muslim, Christian, and Hindu religions and in all sorts of other religions, it is not taught that dharma should be practiced 24 hours. In no religion is it taught that dharma should be practiced every moment. Only in the spiritual movement of our Anand Marga is it taught that dharma must be practiced every second and fraction of a second, throughout all the 24 hours.

THE SPECIALITY OF AM AND SUTRA 2-7

So Ananda Marga is unique. There is no comparison with any of the dogmatic religions. Our approach is not just to remember God during the morning and evening prayer only etc. By Baba's grace we aim to remember Him all the 24 hours: In each and every breath. And this very special idea Baba has beautifully expressed in Sutra 2-7:

Tasma'ddharmah Sada'ka'ryah.

And the meaning of this Sutra is: Dharma must be practiced always. And surely all Ananda Margiis are aware about this guideline, so this just serves as a reminder.

WHAT THE SO-CALLED COMMENTARY BOOK IS TELLING

Unfortunately one person's "Commentary" on Ananda Sutram has a totally different way of explaining sutra 2-7: Tasma'ddharmah Sada'ka'ryah. If we look at the so-called "A Commentary of Ananda Sutram", on page 97, the 2nd paragraph of the 1998 Edition, there is a dogmatic story used to "explain" the meaning of Baba's dharmic sutra. In that story in the so-called Commentary, it is written that there was one farmer who was remembering God in the morning once for a few seconds while going oiut to his fields. And then again in the evening, the farmer would remember God's name for a few seconds. In total the farmer would remember God twice a day-- each time for a matter of seconds. And by recounting this crude story, the so-called Commentary book is supposedly explaining the meaning of Sutra no. 2-7. But we know this is totally false and crooked, because Baba's explicit guideline is that dharma should always be practiced 24hrs a day. Not just a few seconds twice a day like this farmer is doing.

IT IS NOT A "COMMENTARY" AT ALL

Here then the critical point is that according to Baba's teaching in Ananda Sutram is to follow dharma always-- remember God each and every moment through our Ista mantra, every breath. However the so-called Commentary book has radically confused this point on page number 97 by writing that one only remember God twice a day for a few seconds. That is the teaching of the farmer story and the "Commentary" book employs this farmer story as the main way to elucidate sutra 2-7. Yet the whole explanation is totally wrong. Because in that very sutra (2-7), Baba is clearly teaching us that dharma must be practiced during every breath of all the 24 hours each day. However the so-called Commentary book uses the Hindu dogmatic story of one village farmer to wrongly explain Baba's dharmic guideline.

IT IS JUST LIKE...

This type of so-called analogy is similar to showing one red piece of meat and telling others, "Taste this, it is a tomato." When in reality, only the superficial similarity of color is there between that piece of meat and the tomato. Here the idea is that the two objects are not at all similar as tomato is not at all representative of meat. In the same way, the "Commentary" missed the point completely about Sutra no. 2-7. The fake Commentary books says this is the explanation of sutra 2-7, but their dogmatic explanation has nothing to do with Baba's dharmic teaching. So in reality that two have nothing in common-- just as the piece of meat has nothing in common with the ripe tomato. Similarly the "Commentary" book is basically useless as it has nothing to do with the sutra, 2-7: Tasma'ddharmah Sada'ka'ryah.

AM IDEOLOGY IS UNIQUE

The bottom line here is, that AM ideology is unparalleled. It has no comparison with any dogmatic philosophy or religion. And anybody tries to give any example from a dogmatic religion, then unfortunately they just give a spoiled explanation only that in no way resembles Baba's dharmic guideline. And that is what has happened in the case of Didi Ananda Mitra's book, "Commentary on Ananda Sutram".

A QUICK REVIEW

The so-called "Commentary" book compared AM with the dogmatic Hindu religion, using one Hindu story to try to explain Baba's teaching in Sutra 2-7, "Tasmaddharmah Sadakaryah". As if these were the same thing. But to say like this, is misguided. Because Ananda Marga is unique. It is not at all a religion, but it is dharma itself. Baba says, "Ananda Marga alone is dharma and all the rest are sectisms." (SS-1, p. 63) And that dharma-- the dharma of AM-- is to be practiced all the 24 hours. That is what sutra 2-7 states. But the "Commentary" book by this Didi falters miserably in this regard. And not just on this point but from cover to cover the so-called commentary makes one pitfall after another. Those who have been through her "Commentary" book understand well that it has nothing to do with Ananda Sutram. Innumerable points are wrongly done. In that case, we should seriously consider if this so-called Commentary book should allowed to be circulated around the planet-- spreading its dogma. Rather it should be recalled and evaluated by our AM scholars, or tossed out entirely

BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's divine grace He has blessed us with an incomparable ideology and the heart and soul of that is Ananda Sutram. So we should not let any tainted Commentary book mislead others on this point. Baba says, "Never before in the entire history of this world or the universe, if it could be known to mortals, has a system of life fully embracing the economic, social, mental and spiritual spheres ever been correlated in such closely knit society as in Ananda Marga." (AFPS-7) Namaskar, Acintya

Note 1: HOW TO PRACTICE DHARMA 24HRS A DAY

Some new margiis may wonder how it can be possible. In order to practice dharma all the 24 hours does it mean we have to leave all our worldly and mundane duties? One may well ask, 'How is it possible to practice dharma all 24 hours?' However in truth we Margis know that there is not even a question of what is possible or impossible. Every Ananda Margii is doing this very 24 hour practice. We are doing sadhana 2 times per day-- all the lessons. Plus before each and every work we repeat our Guru Mantra. And it is a common fact that human beings breathe in and out around 20-22,000 times per day. And during each and every respiration we are trying to practice our Ista Mantra. And that is Ardh Iishvara Pranidhan or Half meditation. And by practicing all this during the day then naturally it happens automatically at night. Hence 24hrs.

Note 2: WHAT IS THE REAL COMMENTARY OF ANANDA SUTRAM

The real Commentary of Ananda Sutram is Baba's entire AM ideology. The entire gamut of His divine discourses stand as the real elaboration of His Ananda Sutram. So if one desires to learn Ananda Sutram then the best way is to study Baba's original teachings-- not via some so-called Commentary book by you know who. That will not yield any fruit only confusion. Here the whole point is that Baba has already provided us with the real commentary of Ananda Sutram, and that is His AM ideology in the form of all His recorded and printed discourses. That is the only way to understand Ananda Sutram.

*************************************** Ideal Life

Baba says, "Human beings come onto this earth for a very short period, and within this short period they are required to complete everything. So there is a great deal of work to be done, but the time is very short. Thus intelligent people make the best use of every moment of their time - wasting one's time is the height of foolishness. Why? Because no human being will remain on this earth for long, and the very goal of human life is to attain Parama Purusa, the Supreme Stance. Human beings, while moving forward towards that Goal which is fixed before their minds, will have to perform many worldly duties. That is why it is said, 'Keep one hand on the feet of Parama Purus'a, and with the other hand do your mundane duties'." (AFPS-4)

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GTC: Eye-Witness Report

Date: Sun, 06 May 2007 23:37:21 -0000
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: V. Rajpurhit
Subject: GTC: Eye-Witness Report

Baba

"Esechi toma'ri krpa'ya..." (PS 970)

Baba, I have come on this Earth. It is your grace, it is Your grace. You
have brought me here to utilise me for Your work. I have only desire-- that
my whole life should pass in Your song and in Your meditation and in Your
work. Baba, You brought me on this Earth. I am at Your disposal. Keep me
along...

== GLOBAL TRAINING CENTRE (GTC): EYE-WITNESS REPORT ==

~ WHY INFERIORITY COMPLEX IS BAD ~

Namaskar,
The Varanasi WT Training Centre--a.k.a. GTC-- opens its doors on the second
Sunday of every month for akhand kiirtan. All general Margis are welcome to
attend, and on occasion I go to enjoy the blissful kiirtan and dharmacakra
together with other devotees. Six months ago in October, while there at the
akhand kiirtan I had opportunity to chat with several of the trainees.
One trainee in particular I saw who I've seen there for the past FIVE
years, and I joked to him-- what happened, have you received your WT
posting here at the GTC?!! We laughed together. The trainee didn't say
anything further about it though, and when I later asked if everything was
alright, he quietly reassured me that all was fine.

One of the other trainees though, with whom I have chatted in the past,
overheard our talk together and when we were alone, told me that actually
there is more to the story. Later on that day, this second trainee told me
something more about what was going on.

For everyone's ease, from now I'll refer to the trainee who told me the
story as trainee A, and the trainee about whom the story is told as trainee B.

STORY: AT THE GLOBAL WT TRAINING CENTER

Trainee A related to me that WT trainee B was quite young, and he had come
to the Training Centre with the hope of serving Baba. After arriving, B
held and cherished this feeling of idealism close to his heart. But certain
experiences he had there, challenged his budding vision to the very core.
As the initial months at the GTC went by, the trainee B saw that for most
of the trainees, living at the GTC was a sheer matter of survival. Food was
sparse, and physical work common-- which without proper food, was, for some
very difficult. There were few inspiring things in the typical day or even
typical month, to look forward to. Rather, the trainer spent all his time
teaching at the nearby AM school. So all day long, there were no programs
at the training center. No classes of any kind. Then in the night after
dinner at 9 pm when all were exhausted, occasionally class was held. But
generally not. And due to the difficult life there, bereft of inspiration,
most trainees left the training center.

Trainee A related to me that all these tribulations were going on, and yet
still he said, trainee B stayed. And it is about B's continued experience
at the GTC, that is of concern to all.

A BIG COMPLEX IN INDIAN SOCIETY

These days in India, there is tremendous pressure on children to learn
English. Although Hindi is the national language of India, but virtually
all the schools of quality in cities and towns have converted over to
English medium. Because all are aware that to get a good job in any
company, in any major city in India, one will be expected to carry out
one's work duties in English. Without knowing English, one will be rejected
outright in any such job application.

And it is the perception in India, that outside India English dominates
communication in all spheres of life-- in all other countries. So by not
knowing English, one's stature is downgraded to the lowest of the low, an
uneducated rustic who cannot participate in modern life.

Yet despite this overwhelming social pressure to know English, virtually
all the schools in rural India are government schools, and government
schools are Hindi or local language medium. So children raised in the rural villages of India-- unless they are of the priveleged few to attend a private school--
are Hindi or local language knowing only. They cannot speak English. And due to this national craze in India, i.e. 'that English is a must in life', it is common for
such Hindi-only-knowing children to be looked down upon by the rest of
Indian society. When these children become adults, they continue to feel
the pressure to know English-- but lacking the opportunity to learn it,
they pass their lives with this inferiority complex that, "I could not
learn English".

TRAINEE'S SITUATION

The trainee with whom I spoke that day at the GTC, was the product of such
a rural background. Having come originally from a rural area, he therefore
had not learned English. He was an extremely intelligent fellow and eager
to learn. But growing up in rural India, there was no such opportunity to
learn English.

And for those living in the general society in India today, this matter of
not knowing English is indeed a serious and often crippling problem.

IN OUR ANANDA MARGA

But here in our Ananda Marga, all Margis know we are building a society
free of any complexes-- neither inferiority nor superiority. In our AM way
of life, there is no place for putting others down on the basis of any
limited sentiment. --And language sentiment is just such a sentiment. Baba
has given the teaching in innumerable discourses that crude sentiments
create unnatural divisions in society, on the basis of which certain
sectors of society get exploited.

NARROW LANGUAGE SENTIMENT A REALITY IN INDIAN SOCIETY

And this sentiment about English in India is such a sentiment. Those who
know English feel superior because of it and are sure to make others around
them aware that they know English, by speaking it. --And by including
liberal amounts of English phrases when speaking their native tongue as
well. By this way, those who do not know English are regularly made to feel
inferior because of it. It is a regular feature of life in India today
which all have to face-- on the trains, at meetings of all kinds, and
during social gatherings.

UNIQUE APPROACH TO ENGLISH IN ANANDA MARGA

In Ananda Marga, Baba has given that all should learn English as it is the
lingua franca in the world today. Baba says one should perfect one's
knowledge of one's mother tongue, and in addition one should learn English.
But Baba has given this point in the spirit that all should be encouraged
to learn, and should be helped & supported in their efforts by those who
know English. There is no place for injecting complexes on the basis of who
knows or does not know English. Such complexes are but a symptom of the
diseased society we are trying to heal.

ENGLISH AT THE GTC: SOCIETAL DOGMA COMES TO LIFE

So when trainee A told me about trainee B that, during B's entire stay at
the GTC, the trainer has been mocking him because he does not know English,
then I must say I was shocked and deeply disturbed.

Because Baba Himself has established the GTC curriculum-- and in that
curriculum, "language" is the second of the four principal courses to be
taught. And during this language course, the main work of Indian trainees
in particular, is to learn and be taught English.

Trainee A further told that trainee B had already spent five long years in
the GTC, and had finished all the four GTC courses. B was only awaiting his
final exam. Yet still, B had not learned English. And still, after five
years, the GTC Trainer Dada had made no effort to teach him. Rather, he
regularly slipped underhanded comments and mocking remarks about the fact
that this trainee B did not know English.

So instead of making any effort to teach B English, as was his duty as
trainer, the GTC Trainer Dada instead preferred to make passing cutting
remarks about the fact that this trainee did not know English.

GTC'S TRAINER DADA'S TALK

Once trainee A told me about this, I watched attentively to see how the GTC
trainer--Ac. Ragamayanand Avt.-- spoke after the akhand kiirtan on this
second Sunday of the month.

After the kiirtan, as soon as dada began to give talk, it was immediately
obvious that he was playing the same game of superiority as is played in
the general society. As is the custom in general Indian society, Dada
Ragamayanandji began his talk speaking English to show he knew English, and
then switched over to Hindi as if to show that he were "coming down to the
masses" in order to help them understand his words.

To some naiive people this may not seem to be a big deal, but beneath it
was a calculated and even loathsome display of one of the main
narrow-minded, crude sentiments which divides Indian society and leads to
exploitation. And that crude sentiment is--superiority due to knowing English.

TRAINEE B'S INFERIORITY COMPLEX WORSENED AT GTC

And later, talking again with trainee A, I found that the inferiority
complex about English which B had upon entering the GTC five years prior,
had only been engraved more deeply in his mind over the course of his time
there. It was constantly on B's mind that, "I must learn English"-- and yet
in the absence of any such opportunity to do so, this unsatisfied desire
only led to deeper and deeper feelings of inferiority and frustration.

Trainees who do not know English properly, instead of goading and helping
them to learn properly, the GTC trainer only mocks them in front of the
other trainees. And that Baba is strongly against. Because, by directly
criticizing someone for a quality he is aware he does not have (here
English), a serious and often permanent inferiority complex is injected in
his mind. This is how exploiters destroy others' growth-- by capitalizing
on and openly condemning their weaknesses.

And that is just what happened to trainee B. He developed a serious
inferiority complex due to not knowing English. And as a result, he was
extremely susceptible to being exploited.

HOW INFUSING INFERIORITY COMPLEX CEMENTS WEAKNESS IN THE MIND

Here Baba shows how infusing an inferiority complex thwarts the growth of
others.

Baba says, Some people "block the progress of others - they do not want
others to prosper at all. This mentality is shameful, deplorable, and
highly detrimental. Suppose a very dark-complexioned boy is called a
"nigger" by his classmates and even his teachers. This certainly depresses
him and blocks the expression of his capabilities. He thinks, "I am
inferior. I am downtrodden. I am ugly." Similarly, those who are born into
so-called low-caste families are criticized for being of low birth. People
say derogatorily, "Ha! What sort of education can such low-caste people
expect?" As a result, their minds contract and their progress is thwarted."
(NHNS 1, pp.17-18)

So here, Baba is pointing out that showing someone to be low in front of
others, has devastating consequences. It makes the person have a negative
view of themselves, with the result that they feel they can never move ahead.
The same thing happens all over the world-- in Europe, North and South
America, Africa and Asia. When someone comes from a background that was
less developed, then others do not like to allow them to come up into their
group, and so they taunt them. And by that way, they infuse inferiority
complex and the natural growth of the person is crushed.

PUBLIC HUMILIATION DISTURBS ONE'S GROWTH

Baba gives another example of how publically highlighting a lower person's
weakness, destroys them. They get paralysed by this, and can never move
ahead again.

Baba says, "In exactly the same way, poor people are subjected to all sorts
of indignities and harassments because of their financial difficulties.
Suppose a poor but meritorious boy is making excellent progress with his
studies: his envious classmates comment, "Why do you bother to study?
Shouldn't you get a job as a servant?" Because of such attitudes, many
brilliant and gifted people are forced to let their inherent potentialities
go to waste. This is not only a matter of regret and shame, it is an act of
blatant oppression, suppression, repression, and exploitation!
Consequently, the genius in many people gets choked. This is called
"intellectual exploitation" in philosophy. You must oppose it." (NHNS 1, p.18)

Here, a promising and meritorious boy is publically condemned because he is
poor. And due to this, he is shamed into surrendering his hopes of moving
ahead. His talents will go to waste, and his life will be spent in the
"lowly" tasks to which society has condemned him.

INFERIORITY COMPLEX CRUSHES--NO MATTER HOW TALENTED ONE IS

Such devastation of individual lives has happened even in cases where the
person was outstanding and highly talented. Thus demonstrating that the
crude negative social pressure can be insurmountable even for such
unusually gifted persons.

Baba says, "Sometimes, even if people are aware of the right path and are
not at all lethargic - even if one is a genius - they cannot express their
full potentialities as they are subjected to unusual intellectual or social
pressure. Thus, the natural expression of their potentialities is checked.
This socio-intellectual exploitation is highly detrimental. You must oppose
it." (NHNS 1, pp.18-19)

People of all levels and abilities, when faced with such public
condemnation, become psychically crushed and demoralized.

SPREADING INFERIORITY COMPLEX AT THE GTC

So here at the GTC, the trainer is himself infusing inferiority
complex--which is deadly. The sense here is that due to the trainer's
negative and heartless behavior, this young trainee may never recover from
his inferiority complex for his whole life. And due to this very complex,
he will always remain susceptible to getting exploited. And indeed there in
the GTC itself he has been sitting there for five long years in the hope
that he is going to pass. When others were finishing within 1 ½ years.
This dealing itself brought serious inferiority complex in the mind of the
trainee.

THE AM SOLUTION

Baba says that infusing an inferiority complex-- like the Trainer Dada is
doing with B-- is sinful. Rather, one must encourage others to move ahead.
Baba teaches us that indeed, this is the only way to help others overcome
inferiority complex-- by encouraging them. Those who, knowing that a person
has inferiority complex, publically shame them on the very point on which
they feel inferior, such persons are nothing but exploiters. And Baba
explains that the approach to helping the downtrodden is the opposite
approach--encourage them and give them opportunity to move ahead.

About the downtrodden, and how to help them.

Baba says, "Such people start considering themselves to be inferior to
others in all respects - education, social position, etc. Normally such
people become unnecessarily nervous and begin to falter or fumble before
their elders and seniors: they lack both faith and self-confidence in
themselves. This is inferiority complex. The best way to cure such people
is to generate self-confidence in them by frequently advising them not to
feel inferior to anyone. Slowly, gradually, they will free themselves from
their inferiority complex..." (YP, p.46)

So the way, Baba says, to cure this inferiority complex is to help
"generate self-confidence in them", by helping those affected realize they
are not inferior to others.

NO ONE IS INFERIOR: BABA'S PRACTICAL TEACHING

And Baba gave this teaching practically in the way He ran our AMPS
organization. Those who had inferiority complex, Baba gave them very high
posts in the organization. In this way, they realized they were not
inferior-- and their inferiority complex gradually resolved. This everybody
knows.

One very good example of this comes to mind: Dada Mahadevananda had a huge
inferiority complex. Baba says people with such complexes "begin to falter
or fumble before their elders and seniors". And this happened with
Dadaji--to the point where he had a stammer in his speech and often
faltered when speaking. Baba gave him a central posting at the top of the
organization, and with time his complex decreased and gradually resolved.
In this same way, many of the central dadas had inferiority complexes prior
to receiving their posting-- and by receiving this high posting, their
inferiority complex was resolved.

So this is the loving and benevolent way in which Baba helps everyone.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "SCOLDING" AND "INFUSING INFERIORITY COMPLEX"

Here it is important to note that Baba did often "scold" both workers and
margis, and point out their mistakes. But here it should be made very clear
that "scolding" and "infusing inferiority complex" are not the same thing.
Rather, there is a heaven and hell difference.

Baba used to scold a lot-- but he never scolded persons who had inferiority
complex. Especially Baba would never scold on the very point about which
the person feels inferior. Rather, He would scold those who have
superiority complex. For example there was one dada-- dada Cidghanananda
who was doing Hindi translation. He was a Hindi professor in Ananda Nagar,
and had big ego regarding his Hindi abilities in translating Hindi and
Bengali. But he could not translate properly, and so Baba was making jokes
about it.

I remember that in the very beginning of Prabhat Samgiita, it was dada
Cidghananandji's job to do the translating from Bengali to Hindi. I was
attending a DMC in the early days, and Cidghananandji was standing at the
microphone, translating the PS which was in Bengali, into Hindi. Just after
he finished Baba spoke into the mic, saying that there is a fellow who has
a lot of pride that he is expert in Hindi. And he thinks he knows just the
way to translate properly, but he does not. And Baba gave example of how
the fellow is doing it wrong. Baba did not mention Cidghananandji's name,
but all knew Baba was talking about Cidghananandji. Baba was laughing and
speaking indirectly, but the matter was clear. And after that some simple
margis were given the duty of Bangla to Hindi translation of PS at DMC.
> From then on, Cidghananandji was never again given the opportunity to do
the translation.

All these things happened because dada Cidghananandji had a big ego, and
Baba wanted that his superiority complex should be removed so that he could
progress in spiritual life. So after that his superiority complex resolved,
and he became a good devotee.

But in stark contrast, take Dada Mahadevananda who had the speech stammer.
Baba would never have pointed him out for his stammer. Because he already
had inferiority complex linked with that.

BABA'S PROPER USE AND TRAINER'S WRONG USE

So if a person has superiority complex and they make mistakes, then those
mistakes need to be pointed out--which Baba did through His scolding of
workers and margis. And this was highly beneficial. People who were graced
to receive Baba's scolding, they received tremendous benefit in all aspects
of their lives.

But in stark contrast, if a person already feels inferior on a certain
point--and even then one points out the weakness and mocks about it, then
this is not at all helpful but is instead devastating. It represents the
negative, demonic infusion of inferiority complex.

For example, the young trainee in GTC who has inferiority complex since
early childhood about English because he cannot speak it. --All along since
he was a little boy he has felt this way, forced to feel this way by
demonic prejudices in the society. And despite this, instead of teaching
him how to speak English, one instead goes on making a mockery of the
trainee on this very point that he cannot speak English. Then that trainee
will never be able to learn, and he will feel inferior.

So in the case of the treatment of the young trainee at GTC, that trainer's
behavior in mocking the trainee is very bad. Because the trainee does not
know English and already feels bad about it. And in that setting to mock
him about English, it is very, very bad.

This is the very trainer who is supposed to be teaching AM philosophy, but
it appears he does not know AM philosphy. He is going directly against
Baba's teaching, and doing sinful work and injustice with his own trainee.

Because here Baba says, in "The Faculty of Knowledge-3", that "you should
encourage everyone". And that when you see someone suffering from
inferiority complex, you must encourage them and thereby neutralize the
inferiority complex.

BABA'S PRACTICAL TEACHING: PROPER DEALING

Baba gives the example in India of how one can tell someone is suffering
from inferiority complex: a person thus afflicted will, ten times in one
sentence use the word, "sir". And their expression will be very timid. In
such a situation, one must never scold. Instead, one should try to
encourage such persons. And try to uplift them from their inferiority
complex.

Baba always used to help all-- He would bring those with inferiority
complex up, and bring those with superiority complex down. Those with
inferiority complex Baba used to encourage and often give high post to,
while those with superiority complex Baba would often give low post to. In
this way people's complexes would resolve. In this way, Baba would make
people's minds balanced.

Namaskar,
Vidyasagar

Note 1: DEVASTATION AT THE TC IN NAIROBI SECTOR

There is another highly disturbing example of trainee mistreatment in our
own AM organization.

In the WT training center in Africa, our trainer dadas do not treat the
African trainees as proper human beings. Rather they look down on them and
in that way, infuse inferiority complex. Due to this inferiority complex,
these trainees end up getting exploited their entire lives.

In the same way in all the religions of the general society, the priests
treat the family people as inferior and in this way, inject inferiority
complex in the minds of the general people. This also happens in our own
AM. For example, dadas usually sit in the front of dharmacakra. And at
retreats, they all sit at the front of dharmacakra as if a separate social
class.* But in Caryacary there is no such rule. Rather, one can sit
anywhere regardless of whether one is margi or sannyasi.

In all these various situations-- both in the general society as well as in
our AM, those who are in the lower position get infused with inferiority
complex. And those who are higher, are then in position to exploit those
who feel inferior. In order to exploit anyone, one has to first infuse
inferiority complex.

* DMC was a different case altogether. There, Baba gave WTs many jobs to do
such as arranging equipment, ensuring the smoothness of the program, etc.
So by necessity they sat in the front and if any margi was in the way of
their work there, then that was not proper. It is like if there is a fire
in one house and the firefighters have come to put out the fire, then
general citizens should not be in their way otherwise the work will be
impeded. Like this, the reason WTs sat in front at DMC was for work in the
pandal. It had nothing to do with spiritual status. --But in dharmacakr
there is no such work, and Baba writes that the seats there are to be
distributed among all equally.

Note 2: INFUSING INFERIORITY HAS ONLY ONE MOTIVE: TO EXPLOIT

Baba says that those who infuse inferiority complex in others, do so for
only one reason: by thus putting them in a lower position, they will be
able to exploit them. So inferiority complex is infused to order to make
others weak and therefore exploitable. The motive is, to exploit.

And this happened to many dadas. By the time they went to the field,
inferiority complex had been infused in them. And in their weakened state,
they got exploited. Monetarily, or through work, in any of various ways it
happened. And today it is still going on.
So inferiority complex ultimately leads to exploitation.

About this Baba says,

"[They] perpetuate psychic exploitation by injecting inferiority
complexes in others' minds, and this psychic exploitation is the basis of
other types of exploitation." (PNS-8, p. 38)

Furthermore on this point Baba says,

"One social group...exploits another group. First, the exploiters inject
the idea in the minds of the exploited that the latter are degraded while
the former are elevated -- so they are entitled to greater rights, even to
the right to exploit the inferior group. They are the first-class citizens,
and the exploited second-class." (PNS-8)

So here above Baba is explaining that in order to exploit others, one must
first make them feel low. And this is done by injecting inferiority complex.

Indeed, psychic exploitation is the foundation of economic exploitation.

Baba says,
"If you analyse the history of the world, you will find that whenever one
group exploited another in the economic sphere, they first created psychic
exploitation by infusing inferiority complexes in the minds of the
exploited mass. You will find that in each case of economic exploitation,
psychic exploitation was the foundation: if you go deep into the
background, you will discover a continuous and cunning attempt to create
inferiority complexes in the minds of the exploited." (Prout-8)

***************************************
Starvation

Baba says, "In Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Vietnam are poor...Almost all
of China suffers from malnutrition...In Africa, there is much poverty and
suffering amongst large sections of the population. There are hungry people
throughout all of Africa. In a few countries, the staple food is rice, but
these days rice is mostly for the rich...What are you doing for this? You
cannot shirk your responsibility -- the entire globe is waiting for you.
This is our sacred responsibility -- let us shoulder this responsibility. "
(PNS-18, p.47)

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

Baba Story: Baba Blesses All

To: AM-GLOBAL Subject: Baba Story: Baba Blesses All Date: Th 03 May 2007 23:31:46 +0500 (IST) From: Ram Sahay Kulshresth Baba "Áma'ra yata malimtá sariye dáo prabhu ájike..." (1457) Purport: Baba, I do not have any strength of my own-- just by Your grace I am moving ahead on Your path; but it is very difficult because of all the stains, dirt, and blemishes on my mind. O' my Lord, please bless me by removing all the impurities and stains from my mind; today make me pure. Baba, please give me more capacity to do Your work and to do Your dhyana. O' my Lord please be gracious. Baba, You are the Doer of everything. You have created me and brought me on this earth and by Your grace I am moving on Your path. O' Baba, I have nothing to boast about; I have no quality of my own. Just I am the dust of Your feet. I am Yours. Baba, whatever You wish is the way in which my life proceeds. Please grace me by using me for Your work; make me Your machine. Baba, please utilize me in all types of work-- small or big, whichever You wish. Baba, by Your grace, I have come on this earth to do work for You. I have come to obey Your command and follow Your order, and do whatever You wish. Baba, I want to materialize, implement, & manifest Your every plan and program. I want to bring all Your thoughts and ideas into form. O' my Lord, all these things I want to do. Baba, please be gracious on me. On my own I do not have the strength or power to execute Your tasks. O' my Lord, please shower Your varabhaya mudra [1]-- Your divine blessing-- so I can spread your ideas and teachings throughout each and every nook & corner of this universe and make You pleased. O' my Lord...

NOTES ABOUT PS 1457:

[1] Varabhaya Mudra: (vara= blessing; a= no; bhaya= fear. Both palms are open. The left hand rests on the left thigh, i.e. vara mudra', the right hand is raised, i.e. abhaya mudra'.) This is Baba's great blessing of fearlessness that is bound in His eternal love and endless compassion. So by Baba's varabhaya mudra He is removing any & all fear by showering His divine love. This is His special blessing upon each and every sadhaka-- upon the entire humanity. Baba says, "Utilizing the vibrations created for eternal time by Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji through januspharsha and varabhaya mudras, take yourself and the entire universe ahead along the path of welfare. Omn Shanti!" (CC-1, 'Concluding Words') Baba says, "Suppose the Sadguru is saying something, and the deaf or dumb man wants to hear it but cannot. If one concentrates the mind on vara'bhaya mudra', there will be the direct effect of positive microvita on the auricular or other nerve cells and also on the controlling cells, and it may be that all of a sudden he may get back the power of hearing. One should look towards these two mudras [vara & abhaya] and not to anything else." (MVNS)

== BABA STORY: BABA BLESSES ALL ==

Namaskar, Baba has always given importance to sadhana. And as we know in human life there are three spheres: physical, psychic, and the top-most level which is spiritual. Because the spiritual controls the mental sphere and the psychic controls the physical arena. So although all are important still the most important is the spiritual realm. And that is the exact training we have directly received from our Guru. As we drift in the bliss of our recent Ananda Purnima celebrations we should remember this divine truth. In this regard, about the importance of spirituality one story is flashing in my mind.

BABA STORY

When Baba was living in jail, during certain periods and on various occasions He was not surrounded by so many margiis, rather only non-margiis were there. And amongst them, He used to guide some of them on various spiritual points. That time His jail doctor was Dr. Kalwa'rji. Now Dr. Kalwa'r is not the nasty jail doctor who later poisoned Baba. Rather Dr. Kalwa'rji was a simple and innocent man who had deep reverence for Baba. And his mother tongue was Maethillii and he was a non-margii. So when Kalwa'rji would get time then he would go to meet Baba and Baba would invite him to enter into his cell. And Baba would tell him tales and stories of different monks etc. And the unique thing is that in the presence of Dr. Kalwa'rji, Baba would sing some of the devotional songs written by Vidyapati, who of course was one great devotee of Lord Shiva and also an accomplished poet. And as you may be aware Baba has cited Vidyapati on numerous occasions in His Subhasita Samgraha series of discourses. But here the point is that Baba with full heart would sing Vidyapati's devotional songs in order to show how Vidyapati used to long for the Lord. So Baba would demonstrate this in the presence of Dr. Kalwa'rji. And in so doing most of the time He would sing this following song:

Vrtha' janma goina'yaluin hena Prabhu na' bhojaluin Khoya'yalu soha gun'anidhi, Hama'r karama manda na milala eka bunda Premasindhu rasaka abadhi.

Meaning: Fruitless, O Lord, hath been my life That sang not, Oh, of glories Thine; Lost in the worldly rueful strife And Lost Thee, alas, Ye Treasure-Mine. Fate's long portentous hand With compassion, cold and daft, Strayed me out of Thy Love's strand, Deprived, alas of a single draught. (SS-3, p.63)

And then years later Baba included some of these lines in Prabhat Samgiita #340 also: 'Vrtha' janma gama'yalun, heno prabhu na'..." So in the presence of Dr. Kalwa'rji, Baba would sing this above song. And Dr. Kalwa'r had a devotional heart and later he would recount that 'I was so fortunate to hear Baba sing; the melody and sound was just like the pouring of nectar. It was so charming and attractive and it had such a divine vibration.' Then with tears rolling down his cheeks, Kalwarji told that 'Even for someone who has a dry heart like me, this was very beautiful and I never felt such a quivering feeling in my heart.' So on a regular basis he would listen to Baba sing for 20 minutes or half-an-hour. All the while Dr. Kalwa'rji would sit quiet and listen. Then after that he would request to take leave of Baba and Baba would lovingly bless him and permit him to attend to his other duties. And like that this was happening a few times each week in the evening hours. Then on one occasion Dr. Kalwa'r could not reach at the proper time. He arrived a little late and he noticed that the door of Baba's cell was closed. Then after considering the situation for a moment, Kalwa'r thought that, 'Let me enter and see what Baba is doing.' Then upon entering Dr. Kalwa'r saw that Baba was doing sadhana. And suddenly Dr. Kalwa'r saw a huge flood of light emanating from Baba's existence. It was brilliant. And Dr Kalwa'r told that he could not keep his eyes open. And in that strong burst of light, and by feeling overwhelmed by the whole atmosphere, then Dr. Kalwa'r sat down. And his whole body was shaking-- but he was totally unaware of what was happening. And that effulgent light began shining inside his mind as well. Then after 20 minutes or so, he regained his conscious state-- still divinely intoxicated by the experience. Then he did pranam and went away. Then Kalwa'rji told me, 'That day I saw Baba doing sadhana then He showered His great blessing on me and the feeling I had that day continued on and on for six months. Then whenever I used to think about Baba then my whole body used to begin to quiver and goosebumps would come and a deeply soothing feeling would permeate deep into my heart and flood my entire existence. And that light I could never forget. It was a feeling which I had never felt earlier in my heart. And still today these strong feelings come when I think of Baba's sweetness.' So this is one story how Baba blesses non-margiis also. Namaskar, Ram Sahay Note: Baba does not just appreciate Vidyapati but so many great devotees like Surdas, Mirabai and others-- Baba appreciates all. So this gives one picture how with devotion one can bind Him, otherwise not. So devotion is the top-most and if anyone has devotion, whether margii or non-margii, then that is great because devotion is everything. And Baba recognises and blesses all sadhakas who have a devotional heart. Note 2: In a deeply melancholic mood, Vidyapati used to express remorse that, 'My life has become wasted as I did not worship Parama Purusa.' In this way he used to cry for the Lord.

**************************************** Why Have We Come on this Earth

Baba says "This Parama Purus'a is the ultimate goal of existence, and only to attain Him have human beings come onto this earth. If they fail to do so, then they do not deserve to be called human beings. Hence life devoid of dharma is worse than animal life." (SS-11, p.88)

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

Real Commentary on Ananda Sutram?

Date: Wed 02 May 2007 22:57:28 -0000 From: "J_Moore" Subject: Real Commentary on Ananda Sutram? BABA "Tumi a'ndha're esecho, alora enecho va'n..." P.S. 2669 Purport: Baba, You have advented Yourself in the darkness. Because of Your arrival, the darkness has vanished and now a flood of effulgence is all around. Nobody knew or understood or imagined that this was going to happen-- that You are going to advent and everything will be changed into positive. In their dark state of body, mind and heart, human beings were sleeping in cimmerian darkness. But You have showered the divine effulgence on everyone's face, and removed their sleep--their slumber of attachment. By Your grace, from the state of negativity, they became positive. Baba, You have come with Your sweet, attractive, and charming appearance. And You have vibrated everyone's mind and heart with Your divine grace. Baba, You Yourself have come and You have shown the path and have also given the permanent solution of all the problems -- physical, psychic, and spiritual-- whatsoever. Baba, You have graced all with Your divine advent...

== REAL COMMENTARY ON A'NANDA SU'TRAM? ==

Namaskar, All Ananda Margiis are fully aware that Baba's entire social and spiritual philosophy is encapsulated in His historic treatise: Ananda Sutram. So Ananda Sutram holds an extremely imporant place in our Marga. And gaining clarity about this text is of tremendous importance as this will shed light on all aspects of Baba's divine teachings which are the panacea for humanity. Side by side you may be aware that there is one "Commentary" about Ananda Sutram that has been floating around our Marga for years. Naturally, one would expect that this "Commentary" would neatly elaborate the truths embedded in Baba's sacred text, Ananda Sutram. Otherwise what is the use of such a "Commentary". So let us take a moment to review Baba's Ananda Sutram and then see how far this "Commentary" is doing its job-- or not.

BABA'S DIVINE TEACHING ABOUT PRAYER FROM ANANDA SUTRAM

While we could start on any number of sutras, let us start with Guru's dharmic guidelines on the point of prayer. In Ananda Sutram, Baba says:

3-11 Pra'rthana'rcana' ma'traeva bhramamu'lam

And the central idea of this sutra is that prayer is not at all good, rather it is harmful. So in Ananda Sutram Baba is guiding us that prayer must not be done. It is against the fundamental teachings of AM.

BABA'S FURTHER ELABORATION ON PRAYER

And here following Baba has beautifully elaborated on the meaning of the above sutra in His Ananda Marga Philosophy book. Baba says, "Prayer is the act of asking for a favour with earnestness. It also means a solemn petition addressed to the Supreme Being for certain benefits. One prays to God for something which one does not possess or thinks one does not possess. One asks God for these favours with the faith that He alone can bestow everything and by His mere wish all wants can be satisfied. By prayer or by begging one wants to awaken His wish so that one may be granted the things one lacks. Does not one's attempt to rouse the wish of God to fulfil these needs, upon careful and rational thinking, appear to be a reminder to God to give one something of which God has kept one deprived? It would otherwise not be necessary to remind Him in prayer of that thing or to try to arouse His wish to give. For instance, if one is in need of money, one would, with the faith that God alone can give, pray to Him for the favour of giving one money. Does not this request show God's fault in keeping one in want of money, when He alone can give it? God alone is blamed for it, and by praying to Him for money one is precisely pointing out to Him His partiality in not giving one the money one needed. Therefore, prayer or asking for favours from God is only pointing out to the Sole Giver His mistakes in the distribution of His favours." (AMEP) So in the above quote, Baba is clearly explaining that prayer is an extremely negative thing and should not be encouraged. Rather prayer is the illogical act of accusing God that He has made a mistake and that He could not provide what was wanted or needed. Hence in clear-cut language Baba outrightly condemns the dogmatic ritual of prayer. In AM we do not engage in any kind of prayer.

WHAT THE "COMMENTARY" SAYS

In the book, "The Spiritual Philosophy of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti: A Commentary on Ananda Sutram", they are giving their own depiction on this point of prayer. Because on page 221 of their "Commentary" they take a completely dogmatic approach. Because about the very same sutra 3-11 which was examined above, this "Commentary" book takes its own turn on the matter. Specifically in the book "The Spiritual Philosophy of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti: A Commentary on Ananda Sutram", it is written: "When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathens do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking; be not ye therefore like unto them; for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him. (Lord Christ)." Here ends the quote from that "Commentary" book. So this is the way the so-called Commentary book explains Baba's divine sutra. In short, this fake commentary is telling a few totally wrong and dogmatic things and trying to impose this as being the meaning of Ananda Sutram. The Fake Commentary says: Absolutely do pray - but do not pray like heathens. Reply: Obviously this is totally wrong as in AM we do not believe in any type of prayer - period. Furthermore we do not believe in heathens. The Fake Commentary says: Christ says pray like human beings-- standard Christian followers-- not like heathens. Reply: Our Ananda Marga is not the approach of Christianity. They pray - we do not. It is that simple. Yet this Didi insists on using this dogmatic Biblical reference as a means to explain Baba's philosophical treatise of Ananda Sutram. Remember, the aim of giving commentary on Ananda Sutram is to project the ideas of Ananda Marga - the entire philosophy of Ananda Marga since Ananda Sutram is our entire AM philosophy in seed form. So this is not commentary of one the ideas of one Dada, Didi, Mr X, or Mr Y,etc. A commentary on Ananda Sutram should be according to the principles and philosophy of Ananda Sutram and not project the mistaken ideas of one confused Didi who employs dogma from the Bible to explain Ananda Sutram. Let us emphasize again that Baba says do not pray. In AM there is no prayer. That is the idea we should project. Thus anyone who writes a commentary book that states "When ye pray...", then they are entirely off the track. So on the one side Baba's dharmic teaching of Sutra 3-11 condemns the use of prayer; but the aforementioned "Commentary" book, in their attempt to explain that very sutra, advocates the dogmatic use of prayer by stating, "When ye pray.." and giving a long explanation about how to pray. Hence one big contradiction is going on. Because in Christ's dogmatic statement that is cited in the supposed "Commentary book", Christ openly supports the use of prayer, i.e. that prayer must be done. And that so-called Commentary book is using Christ's statement as though it supports Baba's sutra. But Christ supports prayer. Whereas Baba's sutra is given to explicitly condemn prayer. Hence Christ's negative & dogmatic statement cannot be used to explain Baba's divine sutra 3-11. Yet that is exactly what that "Commentary" book does. In fact in no case can the dogmatic & problematic religious doctrine of Christianity be used as means to explain Baba's pure AM ideology. Yet that is what they are doing in this so-called commentary book. So you decide, is this a real "Commentary" book or not-- when they are using the dogma of Christianity to elaborate on Baba's dharmic teachings of Ananda Sutram

A FEW OF BABA'S VIEWS ON THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE

Actually, we all know that the dogma of Christianity sways far from the truth. Because not just on the point of prayer but on innumerable issues Baba points out the defective ideas of such a dogmatic religion like Christianity: Baba says, "The Day of Judgement or Doomsday argument is illogical. Even the people of old did not really believe the logic of Doomsday. Those who did, did so out of fear and ignorance, but the rational person of today won't accept all this. Those who believe due to tradition do not really accept the idea with their minds and hearts either. They don't have the courage to speak out; that is why they don't say anything." (AV-3, p.68) And here again Baba reveals the truth about Christianity & its dogmatic beliefs. Baba says, "Eternal hell or heaven is a totally defective idea...We should not encourage these approaches. There is no hell or heaven, and no one will go to hell or heaven for eternity after death, or lie in a grave forever; nor will anyone have to wait until any Day of Judgment." (AV-3, p.72) Thus on so many accounts Baba exposes the inherent flaws of the dogmatic Christian doctrine. Yet the book, "A Commentary...", is claiming that what Christ told is ideal. And that book is furthermore proclaiming that Christ's dogmatic statement is equal in meaning and stature to Baba's perfect sutra, 3-11 Pra'rthana'rcana' ma'traeva bhramamu'lam. So this is the confusion, nay contradiction, that this so-called Commentary book is making. Because that book is using Christ's dogma to explain AM Dharma.

MORE ABOUT DOGMA OF PRAYER

To continue then with the point of prayer. As we all know, in Christianity there is nothing but prayer, prayer, and only dogmatic prayers. Yet Baba condemns this idea of prayer itself. Prayer is taken as a very negative thing in Ananda Marga. We never do prayer. We Ananda Margiis do sadhana, Pranayam, kiirtan, bhajans-- and we never engage in dogmatic rituals like prayer. But in the book "The Spiritual Philosophy of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti: A Commentary on Ananda Sutram", in an attempt to explain AM ideology it is written:

"When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathens do. (Lord Christ)"

Here again is that quote from that so-called Commentary book. So overall at minimum there are two basic problems: (1) The Commentary book is telling that we should follow the negative ritual of prayer; (2) And the Commentary book from training centre is relying on Christian dogma to present AM teachings. By this way it become clear that the so-called Commentary book is way off the mark. Because on the one side AM ideology is our polestar star and on the other side the "Commentary books is following the ways of some dogmatic doctrine(s)-- and wrongly using those things to explain AM teachings. We cannot use such dogmatic religions to elucidate Ananda Sutram. Ananda Sutram is the divine philosophy of bhagavad dharma not any dogma like Christianity etc. So just as you cannot find vegetarian food in a meat store, one cannot find dharma in the dogmatic religions. They are two opposite ends of the spectrum. Thus no one should ever use the dogmatic religious texts to explain any facet of Ananda Marga teachings like this Didi did with Ananda Sutram. That will be a bogus approach and will be an injustice to Baba's divine teachings.

IMPORTANCE OF SCRIPTURE

Here Baba gives clear cut guidelines as to who is qualified to interpret and explain His divine teachings. BABA says, "The scriptures should always be interpreted by qualified scholars, competent philosophers, and penetrating thinkers. If one tries to interpret a profound scripture with superficial knowledge, the interpreter appears ridiculous and the audience is confused." "There are some people who are neither scholars, nor philosophers, nor penetrating thinkers, but merely wander about interpreting scriptures as a means of livelihood. They utterly fail to present the proper matter in the correct perspective before the audience...[and] do more harm than good to the society." "[They] interpret the scriptures just to exhibit their intellect--to procure for themselves a certificate of erudition. They remain far from the living spirit of the scriptures." (NSS) So in His above guideline, Baba is issuing a strong warning about who is capable of explaining then divine teachings of Ananda Marga. Indeed, after reading Baba's above teaching, reviewing the point of prayer, then it is quite evident how far this so-called "Commentary" book is proper. Everyone can easily judge for themselves if the person behind this "Commentary" book is up to the proper standard for interpreting Baba's teachings. Because when Baba says in sutra 3-11 that prayer is dogma and when about that very same sutra the "Commentary" book says that prayer is good, then we can all see what is what. That is why many are openly telling that this is just a so-called Commentary book since it strays far from the dharma of AM.

BABA'S BLESSING

Here below Baba is guaranteeing the welfare of all-- in all the spheres. Baba says, "The people of this world must be saved from oppression, suppression and exploitation by any means so that human misery in the mundane sphere will be removed and thus a proper adjustment in the psychic sphere will be reestablished. As far as the spiritual stratum is concerned, there was no defect in the past nor will there be in the future. Human beings need not worry about this." (AV-6) Namaskar, Kalyanika

Note 1: CHRISTIAN LEADERS OPPOSE THE DHARMA OF AM

Who does not know that when pracar of Ananda Marga started, then the degree to which Hindu dogmatic priests were against Ananda Marga, Christians were more against Ananda Marga. History witnesses all these things. Baba was deported or not allowed to visit different countries & behind the was the conspiracy of the Pope. Why did all these things happened? Why was the Pope against? There are many reasons. But main reason is, their prayer system. Those who look superficially may say that Prout is the main cause of opposition. But that is not at all correct. Prout movement started in 1970. And Prout philosophy itself was given in 1959. But since birth of AM in 1955 Christian/Catholic missionaries started opposing AM. In fact they printed one pamphlet to confuse Margiis and public. And the name of pamphlet was, "Ananda Ka' Marga". The English meaning is 'Path of Bliss'. In that, they wrote many concocted filthy stories of Ananda Marga. I do not have time to write here much, but it is quite clear everybody knows that Christian / Catholic missionaries vehemently oppose our spiritual philosophy. Because of our basic philosophical differences. They believe in the prayer and we treat prayer as a dogma.

Note 2: ONE OTHER MISTAKE...

In the 1996 Edition of Ananda Sutram the editors involved translated the literal meaning of sutra 3-11. But one word they forgot to translate and include in their line meaning. And that word is "ma'traeva" which means "only". So the sutra has a particular meaning that is not fully captured by the editors.

Note 3: WHO WROTE THIS "COMMENTARY" BOOK

The author of the book "The Spiritual Philosophy of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti: A Commentary on Ananda Sutram" is Didi Ananda Mitra.

*************************************************** Speciality of Ananda Vanii

Baba says, "I have already told you in many of my Ananda Vanii messages that Parama Purus'a is with you." "No one today is alone; even the small countries of the world cannot live separately. We will all have to move together in unison - this will be the model for the future." "You will surely be victorious because you possess that inherent dynamism. I say this with great joy, and I anticipate with greater joy that your dynamism will increase more and more."

(Kalikata, 12th November, 1978) ***************************************************