== THE GLASS MENAGERIE: RACIST QUOTAS ==
Namaskar,
Currently one faction, albeit a flailing faction, is filling the sky
with their silly menagerie and dreaming that dividing the Marga along
racist lines will lead to the formation of a united AM and one human
society. They think their racist quota system is the ticket to heaven--
the be-all and end-all.
Believe it or not, still 1 or 2 folks-- along with their leader-- are
foolishly clinging onto this hopeless, if not dangerous, agenda: The
racist quota system. All so that one aged factional leader can get some
power. For this reason he dreamed up his quota concoction.
However, the broad-minded teachings of Ananda Marga are something
totally different. Baba guides us that we are to employ the universal
outlook of neo-humanism to form that unified humanity, not a dogmatic
quota.
In that case what is the need to pull the mundane, racist, and outdated
quota system from the general society into our Marga. This will only
create tension and ill-feeling.
BABA'S SYNTHETIC APPROACH IS THE BEST
In our Marga, Baba has brought the feeling of unity between one Ananda
Margii and another by instilling high ideals and sentient practices. In
AM we have one Ista, one ideology, one code of dharma, and one system of
sadhana. These are all part and parcel of Baba's synthetic approach.
And the outcome of this is that everyone in AM is an Ananda Margii.
We do not distinguish between whether one is Korean or Venezuelan or
Haitian or Russian. None of these superficial differences do we
recognise-- none at all. Rather anyone who follows the golden precepts
of AM is an Ananda Margii. This is the practical outcome and sweet
result which we have all experienced first-hand.
By this way all Ananda Margiis share so much in common: From our belief
system to our way of eating, from our bath mantra to our Kiirtan, from
our 16 Points to our Yama & Niyama. By following all Baba's divine
teachings, then naturally a deep sense of unity is formed between all
Ananda Margiis and no one differentiates between one margii and another
on the basis of superficial differences like race or birth. Because we
are all one-- due to the great teachings of Ananda Marga.
And that is why before 1990 there was no such thing as a quota system in
AM.
ONLY THE NIA GROUP OPENLY SUPPORTS THE QUOTA
But now one groupist NIA chieftain is trying to drag that crude quota
system into our Marga. Of course B, H, and EC have their crude agendas
and racial tendencies but none of these factions will openly proclaim
that they actively support a racist quota agenda. This much smartness
they have. What they do behind the curtain is another matter. So it is
only NIA that is so foolish to publicly condone the racist quota policy.
That is why no margiis are attracted to the NIA platform. Before
investigating this fully let us see why and how the quota system is used
among the masses.
THE TOOL OF THE COMMON SOCIETY: QUOTA SYSTEM
Devoid of any higher ideal and without any sentient life practices, the
general society had to grab onto something to make their band-aid type
of "unity". And what did they grab onto?-- The Quota System.
By that way when employing people in an office or when accepting people
into a university the leaders cry out:
"Give me 3 whites, 2 Asians, 4 Blacks, 1 Native American,
2 Hispanics, 4 Arabs, and 3 South Pacific Islanders" etc, etc
Such a quota system is the crude way of bringing people together in the
mundane society.
This is done because the common public does not have any higher ideal.
Just they employ their crude quota system where everyone maintains their
own separate identities-- thus causing all kinds of problems and
difficulties like strained social relations, cultural tension, and
hatred between one race and another. This we see day in and day out in
the general society where race riots, racially motivated killings, and
bigoted name-calling are everyday events.
So the quota system is not something high or rational; rather it is just
one mundane mechanism for mixing people together and creating a false
show of oneness. All done because they do not have any higher ideal in
mind.
BABA'S WARNING AGAINST SEPARATIST POLICIES
LIKE THE QUOTA SYSTEM
From start to finish Baba is totally against the quota system. Because
it completely undermines the fabric of society and inhibits our
abilities to from one human society.
Baba says, "We cannot build a strong society if we discriminate against
a section of humanity by drawing imaginary lines of distinction." (HS-1,
'Social Justice')
So Baba does not at all condone the dividing or naming of people in AM
based on superficial differences like skin color etc. Thus when NIA has
created their own racist dictionary and is dividing the Marga society
along racial lines like H, B, NIA, NBIA, NIM, NITA, etc, then which
rational margii can appreciate such things.
And here again in straightforward and clear-cut language Baba condemns
the idea of separating people on the basis of language etc.
Baba says, "Clubs that are set up on linguistic consideration may not be
supported wholly on moral grounds." (HS-1, '87 Edn, p.39)
Thus Baba has zero tolerance for dividing humanity by making crude
distinctions on the basis of language, skin color, or origin of birth
etc. None of these things are acceptable in our Marga.
NEGATIVE WAYS OF THE NIA
Yet that is exactly what the NIA chieftain is doing. He has one grand
dream of dragging the crude quota system into our Marga and using that
to label and divide our AM society. This is his crude tactic.
Because in black and white language the NIA law-makers proclaim:
"Give me 3 NBIA'S, 5 NIA'S, 3 H's, 6 NITA's, 4 B's, and 2 NIM's..."
This is how the NIA chief wants to make the next batch of Purodhas: By
labeling and differentiating using their racist quota formula. In that
case how is the NIA agenda different from the ways of the crude general
society which has no higher ideal.
Once again here is a sampling of how things work in the crude, general
society:
"Give me 3 whites, 2 Asians, 4 Blacks, 1 Native American,
2 Hispanics, 4 Arabs, and 3 South Pacific Islanders" etc, etc
So NIA's grand master plan is nothing but a re-hash of the low-minded
strategies already in vogue in the general society. As if in AM we have
nothing better to do than to copy racist strategies. This is the NIA
leader's crude machination-- his dream of the quota system
NIA: NO DIFFERENT FROM DEFECTIVE WAYS OF THE PAST
When reviewing the defective philosophies of old, Baba points out their
demerits and failings.
Baba says, "Some of these philosophies pertaining to the physical realm
sounded very fine indeed, but they were not in perfect tune with the
hard realities of the objective world. Those philosophies were quite
satisfactory in the dreamland of theory, but they had no connection
whatsoever with the practicalities of the earth." (NH-LOI: Disc 1)
Thus the NIA's quota system falls into this same defective category.
Because already we know that the quota system is not working well in the
general society. It cannot stand up to the hard crust of the earth.
Rather this quota system is the cause of extreme racial hatred in so
many avenues in the general society. Even then the NIA chief paints the
glories of his quota system and insists on using it to promote his own
NIA agenda.
And here again when talking of the crude philosophies of old Baba points
out how such tinsel types of agendas went against the spirit of humanity.
Baba says, "Sometimes the superficial display of these theories has
dazzled the eyes of the onlooker, but actually they contained no
dynamism...In the end they have only flung humanity into the quagmire of
dogmatism, the breeding ground of innumerable mosquitoes. They did not
contribute to the welfare of any human being." (NH-LOI: Disc 1)
Likewise the quota system advocated by the NIA heads falls into this
same dark abyss of dogma and confusion. On the outside the leader tries
his best to make it sound alluring and he tries to make it sparkle but
the truth remains that the 4-Step plan is just one harmful and racist
approach drowned in the defects of the quota system.
BABA'S NEO-HUMANISTIC PRINCIPLE
By following the same sadhana and the same Ista and seeing one and all
as brother and sister, all Ananda Margiis are naturally drawn together.
Baba says, "People must develop closer and closer links with each other.
One heart must gain a warm and deep understanding of another heart." (HS-1)
Thus Baba's approach to forming unity is completely unique and universal
where there are no superficial distinctions on the basis of race etc.
There are no false groupings based on crude quotas. Rather everyone is
linked together as one.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace the oneness of all will be established in our AM society
and then throughout the entire globe and planetary world.
Baba says, "The newly awakened humanity of today is anxious to herald
the advent of one universal society under the vast blue sky. The noble
and righteous persons of all countries, bound by fraternal ties, are
eager to assert in one voice, with one mind, and in the same tune that
human society is one and indivisible." (AFPS-2)
Namaskar,
Divyajyoti
Note 1: DEFECTS OF THE QUOTA SYSTEM ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES
Perhaps nowhere else in the general society is the quota system used as
much as it is used on university campuses, especially in the US.
See here the recent US Supreme Court decision of June 23, 2003 which
upholds the quota system:
"The Supreme Court (5-4) upholds the University of Michigan Law School's
policy, ruling that race can be one of many factors considered by
colleges when selecting their students."
(www.infoplease.com/spot/affirmativetimeline...)
And see the effect that such quota policies have. It goes not engender
feelings of unity--rather the opposite:
"A new study shows large numbers of female and minority faculty
experience a particularly challenging and sometimes hostile campus
climate, even as universities across the United States..." (12/18/2003)
And that negative environment does not just exist for faculty but for
students as well.
"Racism that Blacks and other minority students experience are racist
comments, graffiti with racial slurs and different treatment in the
classroom." ("Racism on U.S. college campuses')
So all along the way, we can see that by labeling and separating people
into racial camps does not lead to a wholesome sense of unity-- rather
it creates racial tension and backlash. At the same time in the general
society they may have no other recourse than to adopt the quota system.
Because in the present era they are entirely lacking any type of
neo-humanistic outlook. But in AM we have our higher ideal; then what is
the need to copy the crude quota system from the debased general society.
Note 2: GIFT OF NIA: THE RACIST DICTIONARY
Out of the desire to create a crude quota system and make himself a
Purodha, the NIA chieftain made-up his own racist dictionary that
harshly divides our Marga society. Whose ears can tolerate such
terminology.
NIA= Non-Indian Avadhuta/tika; NITA= Non-Indian Tattvika / Acarya;
NIM= Non-Indian Margii; IO= Indian Office; NI= Non-Indians; NBIO=
Non-Bengali Indian Office;
...And here are more communal terms which the NIA founder created:
IA= Indian avadhutas/ikas; NIB= Non-Indian brahmacariis; BI= Bengali
Indian; NBI= Non-Bengali Indian; B= Bengali; NB= Non-Bengali; BMPS=
Bengali Marga Pracaraka Samgha; HMPS= Hindi Marga Pracaraka Samgha, etc.
NBIA= Non-Bengali Indian Avadhuta
Plus NB-NBIA, NB-NBMPS, NB-NBI/EC, NB-NBI, etc, etc, and on and on he
goes...
All the above divisions came into the gray matter of the NIA founder.
With his own brain he created all this racist terminology. This can only
be due to a lack of sadhana and a lack of neo-humanistic feeling--
otherwise what can be the cause of such racist tendencies.
Note 3: THREE-STEP PLAN BECAME FOUR STEP PLAN
Who can forget the history that when the NIA chieftain first formulated
his racist strategy it was called the "Three-Step Plan". But when he
realised that the "Three-Step Plan" was totally broken and defective
then he invented the "Four-Step Plan". This is their crazy planning and
way of working. They invented their own selfish theories and crooked
policies based on their lust to become Purodhas. And then change their
theories based on their own whim and side by side they hope that no one
will notice.
Better these NIA heads should clean their minds with the force of
sadhana and follow the path of neo-humanism. If they can do that then
that will really be great. Then they will become the real seers of
society. Until that time however, so long as they remain wedded to their
racist polices and divisive Four-Step quota theories, the NIA factional
head will go down in history as just one more dogmatic theorist, like so
many before him. Because with sparkling eyes the new humanity will
easily recognise what is what and who is who.
Note 4: CREATING UNITY IN OUR MARGA
Here Baba has given the key how to create lasting unity in our Marga.
Baba says, "The entire society of A'nanda Ma'rga is founded on a common
ideal, the goal of becoming one with Brahma...the unity in a society
founded on the ideal of Brahma will be everlasting." (PNS-3)
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Right Type of Inspiration
Baba says, "Inspiration comes from inside. [Sometimes] we need
inspiration from outside; but that inspiration is not lasting. It is
momentary. But in order to inspire yourself you have got to know
yourself; by knowing yourself you are inspired always. Inspiration from
inside will stand for all time; it will inspire you for all time. That
alone is going to help you. And by inspiring yourself you are inspiring
others. So be an example. Be a true aspirant by becoming yourself what
you are; [and by becoming what you are,] you show others what they have
to be. So in order to know everything you know one thing. That one thing
is dharma. That one thing is the supreme truth, and that truth is hiding
in your heart. You have got to know that truth inside yourself. That is
why sa'dhana' has to be performed." (AV-31, p.100)
Note: Everyone desires inspiration; this is a universal quality of human
beings. And as Baba is describing above when a sadhaka receives praise
from someone for something they did, then that praise does not produce a
long-lasting effect. Such external inspiration cannot fuel someone for a
long time. Rather it will dry up quickly. In contrast when a strong
vibration comes in sadhana and one is filled with inspiration from
within, then that inspiration is permanent. It goes on and on. Certainly
each and every sadhaka has experienced this. That is why it is commonly
thought that external praise has little or no value in comparison to the
internal inspiration derived from our spiritual practices.
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test
ReplyDeleteIn Ananda Marga (AM) we have seen various groupist attitudes, by a few making some amount of noise, arise. One group are those who promote what is called the four step plan (4SP). It makes all sorts of wild claims, such as leadership wanting to stay in power at all costs.
ReplyDeleteHowever, to assert that there is a leadership in AM that seeks to stay in power at any cost is merely a negative sentimental throw-away line and a form of cheap propaganda. It is a fundamentally false statement because in AM there is an election process at the central level for the Central Committee (CC) and the Central Purodha Board (CPB), and there is an appointment (selection) process for the Central Executive Committee (CEC) whereby the President (usually the Purodha Pramukha) appoints the CEC as per that person’s own choice. Currently, elections are held in a 5 year cycle. After an election, appointments are made to the CEC and there may be revocations and new appointments made subsequently.
A central tenet of 4SP is to promote discriminatory practices. 4SP cherishes discriminatory distinctions based on its notion (a false notion) of so-called ethnicity or groupifications. It should be abundantly clear that its 3 groupifications have nothing to do with any scientific approach to ethnicity. It asserts that there exist Bengali, Non-Bengali Indians and Non-Indians in Ananda Marga culture and the samgha. This is pseudo-science. Of course this has nothing to do with ethnic basis, but is a cheap form of political classification. To say Ananda Marga is based on ‘ethnic’ similarities in 3 such groups is plainly and blatantly false. The cherishment of these distinctions of 4SP while indulging in propaganda about universalism is complete hypocrisy by the proponent(s) of 4SP.
4SP tries to claim its two main goals are unity and universalism. This is slight of hand, as these are common goals of all Ananda Margiis. There is no need for 4SP proponents to try to portray to the margii community that these are the goals of 4SP and its own club of followers. Rather, everyone already knows these are common goals and that no group or groupists can lay claim to them.
Typically you will find in the 4SP propaganda that they will try to give an impression that they represent a broad number of persons. The worst form of indulgence in which they do this is to apply a label called NIM (non-Indian margii) and pretend that there is a movement called NIM that represents every single Ananda Margii outside of India. This is plainly misleading and a deception. And it is this misleading and deceptive style that you will find in the 4SP propaganda. In truth, there is no such movement that can lay claim to representing all those Ananda Margiiis outside India. The use of label NIM is sheer and gross dishonesty. The persons behind this so-called NIM are so miniscule in number, that the dishonesty of the label is abundantly apparent.
What 4SP intends to do is entrench racist and communalist (that is, discriminatory) attitudes in the structure of AM organisations, particularly at the central level. On the one hand it claims the structure of AM is rife with racism and communalism, but on the other hand it wants to entrench it by its formula system. This is called double-standards.
When you look closely at this you can see that 4SP is placing every purodha under blame, because it is all the purodhas who elect from among themselves the members of the Central Committee (CC). Therefore, 4SP vilifies every purodha because it is those purodhas who decide who goes onto the CC. As 4SP claim that the central structure is rife with racism and communalism, we should first analyse how the CC comes into being, and as pointed out by election of all the purodhas. Tracing back, we can see the 4SP implies that all the purodhas deliberately put onto the CC those who promote racism and communalism. We can see how absurd the 4SP theory is now. 4SP propaganda and booming is simply a vilification strategy – that is all. Of course we know that all the purodhas are entitled to decide (by election) this matter of the CC. How can any sensible person think that the electors are all promoting racism and communalism and how can any sensible person fall prey to this vilification strategy that 4SP promotes.
Worse still, in terms of the 4SP propaganda, it effectively says that because the President, usually the Purodha Pramukha (PP), of the Central Committee constitutes the Central Executive Committee (CEC) as per the President’s choice, that the President is responsible for racism and communalism in the structure of this CEC. After all, you see, 4SP asserts that the central structure of AM is rife with racism and communalism, but we know that one part of the structure, the CEC, is appointed by the President and so if 4SP makes its assertion, and also if the appointments rest solely with the President, then the 4SP is clearly targeting, and being completely disrespectful to the President of AMPS and to the Purodha Pramukha. In effect, 4SP asserts that the President is racist, communalist, and so on in making appointment. This is the style of propaganda we get from 4SP. It is a lowly quality and margiis should not tolerate it.