[1] Sarita' tiire: (Literally sarita' means 'river' & tiire means 'bank'
or 'shore') The river means the river of bhava-- sometimes depicted as
bhava sagar (ocean)-- the bundle of samskaras that one has to cross to
reach Parama Purusa. That is the analogy being made here. The devotee is
sitting by the river bank wondering how he will cross the river of
samskaras and reach to Parama Purusa, Baba. Without His grace, one
cannot cross that river or ocean of samskaras. And without exhausting
all these samskaras one cannot get mukti or moksa. So His grace is
needed. All in all, the devotee is longing to get Him and in that
longing he is making the loving accusation to Parama Purusa-- 'Why have
You left me and gone to some divine land while I sit here by the river
bank surrounded by my samskaras'.
[2] Abhiman: In Sanskrit the term 'abhiman' means 'sentient ego'; where
as in Bengali 'abhiman' not mean 'wounded pride'. Depending on the
song, one has to evaluate the scene and determine which meaning is more
appropriate.
[3] Here in this last portion of the song, the devotee is trying to do
sadhana and bring Parama Purusa in his close proximity. Since it is
difficult, the sadhaka makes this loving accusation towards Parama
Purusa that 'You have gone away'. But it does not mean that really Baba
has gone. Just it means that He is not coming as close as the sadhaka
desires. In his heart of hearts, the bhakta thinks that Parama Purusa is
close by and listening to his complaint. So it is just a loving
accusation by the devotee in order to bring Parama Purusa close. It is
similar to how in our day to day life we use such expressions with our
very close people, with our nearest and dearest relations. One might
say, 'Why did you leave me', 'why did you abandon me', 'why did you
forget about me' etc. All these expressions people use when they are
extremely close with someone. Children say such things to their moms etc.
== CURRENT TREND: NEGLECTED CHILD ==
Namaskar,
All around the globe, people are flocking towards capitalism-- towards
that grand mountain of materialism. While the political reputation of
the USA around the globe may be in decline, the 'Americana' way of
living is at an all-time high. This is what everyone is chasing. Home
Depot this, Wal-Mart that, fast-food here, java there. Not to mention
the outrageous spread of cheap Hollywood values across the seven seas.
However, it is this very Americana way of life that is causing the
degeneration and fragmentation of the society. And perhaps in no sphere
of life is this more evident than with the (mis)treatment of our
children, where the greatest crime against kids these days in the west
is that many parents simply do not care about them. Rather children are
looked upon a 'headaches'. This is the trend in the materialistic west.
And indeed it begs the question, in this grossly self-centered era, 'Are
children merely by-products of sexually indulgent relationships?'.
CHILDREN: ONCE THE JOY OF LIFE
With Lord Shiva and the start of true family life on this earth,
children were always seen as the sparkle and joy of life. Mothers were
dedicated solely to the upbringing of their children and fathers were
providing a supportive home environment where the raising of the
children was foremost. In such conditions, children were welcomed into
the world with abundant love and affection.
And in many countries around the globe this may still be in the case,
especially in our so-called third-world nations where the family bonds
are still in-tact. In those countries, still children are given maximum
attention and care.
However, with every passing moment, the globe is turning towards the
seemingly glamorous ways of the west-- most notably towards Americana
fashions etc. Yet we should keep our eyes open and recognise the harsh
reality of the materialistic way of life, where among other things,
child neglect is rampant & on the rise.
A FEW REAL LIFE SCENARIOS
A wealthy couple enjoying the sensual pleasures of so-called marital
life place their young infant in its own bedroom way down the hallway
and keep a battery operated intercom as the sole link between them and
their child. Every night passes like this with the child all by its
lonesome while the parents pass one passionate night after another. And
then every morning that same wealthy couple dispatches their young one
off to the nearby child-care establishment for ten hours while they go
off to their lucrative jobs. And the cycle goes on-- where there is
hardly any human connection between them and their child.
A 28year-old single mom with four kids holding a full-time job struggles
desperately to raise her children while the father remains a no-show. In
the struggle for financial survival and in her own personal & dating
endeavours as she herself also hopes to remarry, the children are mostly
left to grow on their own-- with little or no parental supervision,
guidance, or care.
For their ease, a mom and dad leave their new 4x4 pick-up running with
the three kids in the back as they dash in to the store. After scurrying
around the shopping mall to get what they need, the new-age mom and dad
decide to sit back and relax before returning to their rambunctious
children who await them in the back of the pick-up. The parents chew and
chat over baked goods and coffee and then casually return back to their
fancy rig only to find their three children lying unconscious-- totally
asphyxiated-- in the back of the truck.
And indeed there are numerous scenarios where the children are merely
left to their own devices-- growing up in a cold, bleak, and hostile
world where they feel alienated from themselves, their parents, and the
society.
WHAT IS CHILD NEGLECT AND WHAT IS THE CAUSE
In a nutshell child neglect occurs when apathetic parents do not care
for the psychic, physical, emotional, and medical needs of their
children. It may sound ludicrous but it is oh-so-common in the
"developed" nations of the west.
How could it be? What is the cause? While there are many side causes,
the root issue is capitalism itself-- the self-centered way of life
where even grown parents chase after their personal, lustful pleasures
and ignore the needs and care of their children. This is the outcome of
capitalism: Extreme selfishness where even mothers and fathers view
their own children as obstacles and hindrances to their own pursuits of
self-satisfaction and glory.
In the sex-oriented west, the concept of motherhood has been all but
forgotten and instead females are looked upon as objects of pleasure--
and indeed the mass of females in the west have bought into this
paradigm. Due to horrific advertising, male-dominated values, and a
lustful way of living, the female is not looked upon as a mother and
care-giver but rather as an object of lust and desire. And with the
notion of motherhood mostly lost, children come into this world as by
products of sexual relations and grow up neglected due to those same
sexual relations.
This is the way so many "families" are developing in the west.
WORSE THAN ANIMAL LIFE
All in all such conditions are far worse than animal life. Because at
least in animal life, there is a distinct mating season and thereafter
the mother and father follow their natural course in caring for their
offspring. It is not that the parents continue on and on in their
sexually-indulgent ways like depraved humans. No, no, no, rather those
animals pay heed to call of nature and follow their animal dharma of
feeding and nurturing their young.
Whereas in the depraved modern world, many so-called parents neither
follow human dharma nor animal dharma and instead indulge in the heat of
selfishness. In that chase for carnal pleasures, children are forgotten,
brushed aside, and treated as invaders. In that case such so-called
parents are far below the animal standard; theirs is just a debauched
life that only misguided humans could concoct. Even animals do not give
way to such crude ways.
THE RESULT
The result is that each and every day we hear on the street corner or
read on the internet how children suffer due to extreme neglect in their
home lives. This suffering may take place in the emotional sphere, in
the psychic sphere, in the physical realm, or a combination thereof.
Regardless, this type of neglect burns a big hole in the human heart--
it leaves children reeling and spinning for the rest of their lives,
wondering where is there love in this world. With that parched human
heart, they wonder why they have been born and feel disconnected and
alienated from the world around them. This is the "gift" that so many
parents in this modern world give to their children-- and to the society.
Because one day, in 20 or 30 years, these very neglected children will
grow up to be the leaders of the society, in which case what kind of
leaders and parents can they be. How can they be entrusted to steer the
society when they themselves did not receive the requisite love, care,
and guidance needed for a human infant.
And verily, we see the effect of this in their teenage years where kids
engage in gross crimes where they burn schools, murder their teachers,
engage in mean sexual crimes, and the list goes on and on. Yet we expect
them to turn it all around upon reaching adulthood-- never.
Such neglect starts in their childhood and the ill effect never leaves
them. When parents neglect their babies the scar is lifelong.
SOLUTIONS
In such dilemma, what is one to do. How do we start to correct the
matter. Aside from inculcating the habit of spiritual practice and
preaching the values of yama and niyama, in our Marga we also have some
direct intervention techniques.
Baba wants for balanced people who are morally and spiritually developed
to produce more children.
Baba says, "If people of sublime intelligence and brilliance reproduce
more offspring, it will be very beneficial for society." (AFPS-9)
And side by side, Baba states that in certain cases we should take
direct intervention and not allow certain imbalanced people to produce
children.
Baba says, "It will be harmful for society if mentally deficient,
naturally delinquent or insane persons produce many children. In fact,
society will be benefited by the permanent destruction of their
reproductive capacity." (PNS-13)
Thus these are two of the direct intervention measures Baba has given.
And perhaps most importantly, in numerous places Baba states the
children are the collective responsibility of one and all in the
society. It is our collective moral duty to ensure that all children are
given ample love and affection and raised in a nurturing and supportive
environment.
Baba says, "The responsibility for nurturing and bringing up these
children will have to be taken by the society or the government." (PNS-13)
And indeed the whole jatakarma ceremony-- the social functions of giving
recognition to the new-born-- in our Marga is based on this universal
tenet, that all are responsible for the upbringing of every child. This
runs directly counter to the small minded ways of capitalism where
selfish pleasure runs rampant.
With the wholesome outlook of our Marga, we can ensure that none are
ever neglected-- wherein all are given the right and place to grow in a
proper way-- showered in love and affection.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace, He has put forth the premise that all in the universe
are to be cared for as our own. This moral debt and responsibility we
owe to every person-- to every newborn. By this way the society will
grow strong and prosper-- and all will feel part of the whole and loved.
Baba says, "You must remember that the newcomer who comes to your
society for the first time is fraught with every human prospect,
potentiality and possibility. ...You belong to a company of pilgrims.
Why should you then allow anybody among you to starve or to lag behind?
You shall not allow such a circumstances to creep up in any way, as it
will mar the very charm of pilgrimage." (Tattvika Diipika-4)
Namaskar,
Pradiip
Note 1: CHILD NEGLECT: A FEW STATISTICS
Here are but a few of the many alarming statistics regarding the rampant
problem of child neglect in the materialistic west-- in the Americana
way of life.
* "Child neglect is the most prevalent form of child maltreatment in the
United States. According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data
System (NCANDS), of the approximately 903,000 US children who were
victims of abuse and neglect in 2001, 59.2% suffered from neglect alone,
including medical neglect. According to the NCANDS, 35.6% of child
maltreatment fatalities in the United States in 2001 occurred as a
result of neglect"
* "Child neglect, which is 63% of all substantiated cases of child
abuse, is the most common form of child maltreatment reported to child
protective services. It is defined as a "type of maltreatment that
refers to the failure to provide needed age-appropriate care," such as
shelter, food, clothing, education, supervision, medical care and other
basic necessities needed for development of physical, intellectual and
emotional capacities."
* "More children suffer from neglect in the United States than from
physical and sexual abuse combined. During 2003, 60.9 percent of victims
experienced neglect."
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To Solve the Problem
Baba says, "All the urges and longings should be channelised and
directed towards the Supreme. If this is done indomitable psychic force
and invincible spiritual energy will grow from within. This will enable
people to solve all the world's problems--economic, social, cultural,
big and small. Unless one develops oneself in this way, as an ideal
human being, one will not be able to solve any problem, no matter how
madly one beats one's chest or how loudly one shouts slogans." (AMI-10,
p.758)
Note: In the above quote Baba guides us that spirituality is an
indispensable quality to solve the world's social problems, become a
Prout leader. That means only with the great force of true spirituality
and by serving others can one be an ideal Proutist and lead the society
along the golden road of welfare. However on & off again a few persons
start thinking that non-spiritually oriented activists can be ideal
Proutists. They get duped into thinking that any atheistic so-called
social leader who shouts aloud their battle cry for public welfare in
the street has all the requisite qualifications to be a Prout leader.
But Baba gives the reply to those harboring such an imbalanced idea by
guiding us that devoid of spirituality service mentality does not
sprout in the mind.
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