== CAN WE CALL IT DHARMASHASTRA ==
Namaskar,
Throughout the course of history, in various religions, dogma has been
injected by selfish people. And in most cases those selfish people were
senior priests of the same religion. Just like with Buddhism, after Buddha
passed away senior priest disciples of Buddha injected various dogmas into
Buddhism--and now it is full of dogma.
And in their own way Catholic Priests, Muslim Maolbis (priest), and Hindu
Pandits (Hindu priests) did the same thing. In order to establish their own
supremacy they manipulated the teachings according to their own view. And
for hundreds of years, religious followers practiced those dogmas.
Indeed even the teachings of Lord Krsna were gradually adulterated by the
priests. And the resulting degeneration that came and was not small but
huge, but rather huge. So many false things got propagated; and various
dogmas took root.
The sense is that dogma most often gets started from within that religion
itself-- by those very people, i.e. priests, who are in charge of preaching
that religion. So that is the tragic irony.
Thus in our Marga we have to be extra-cautious & vigilant on this point.
Because Baba has given countless divine teachings that cover all the
spectrums of life. And it is our duty to carry those things in untainted
manner to all the four corners.
But unfortunately what to speak of spreading Baba's gospel of neo-humanism
and wiping out the existing religious dogmas. Instead of that some Dadas
have infused their own dogma(s) in order put themselves on top and reserve
some special status for themselves. That happened in the way they
manipulated Baba's sacred concept of dharmashastra.
Some do this knowingly and some very innocently.
Most understand that dharmashastra is something very important and
should be followed. Indeed Baba Himself told like this. So to capitalise on
the situation some Dadas have misguided some innocent overseas margiis
to think that their own words are dharmashastra and therefore should be
followed. In that way some Dadas are getting their own talk accepted as
being dharmashastra and unsuspecting margiis are believing that and
following those things. In my sector and in our other overseas sectors this
negative practice is going.
To clarify this matter we should first reference Baba's guideline about
dharmashastra. Certainly most senior Margiis have read the book Ananda
Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell part 4, Chapter 10, "Our Spiritual
Treatise". In that chapter, in first paragraph Baba has beautifully described
about the definition of dharmashastra.
Baba says: "Dharmashastra is to establish the human beings in the stable,
exalted position of spiritual ideation; it must be practical, rational,
infallible, and universal. It must be based on deep eternal truth. It must
be aptavakya. A scripture is a guiding entity. The Subhasita Samgraha
series of books are the scripture of Ananda Marga ideology." (APH-4, 'Our
Spiritual Treatise')
Hence, according to Baba, dharmashastra means aptavakya, eternal truth--
His direct discourses. In particular Baba expresses that our dharmashastra
is His Subhasita Samgraha series of books etc which contain His DMC
discourses. So the English equivalent term of "dharmashastra" is spiritual
scripture.
By this it is clear that dharmashastra is one very high thing of deep
import that is sacred and should be followed. And top of all dharmashastra
is purely related with Guru's teachings only. It is not the direction,
talk, or gossip of any a,b,c,x,y,z human.
But what way certain Dadas have falsely instituted the word 'dharmashastra'
in our day to day life is completely dogma. Because in overseas sectors the
term dharmashastra means a Dadas' lectures or stories etc. Such as a
particular Dada's travel story which he speaks after dharmacakra, that
story session may be 10 minutes, 20 minutes 30 minutes or one hour, where
in our overseas areas this entire session is called as "dharma sha'stra".
Indeed it is the common practice that just after dharmacakra, usually a
Dada comes forward and tells his travel stories/journey, or some simple or
crafty gossip he will do. In this way some Dadas created the false aura
that this is dharmashastra. So this is their thing. And by this way they
infuse all sorts of false tales and reassert their dominance over margiis.
Again, some do this knowingly and some innocently.
Whatever may be, multiple inaccuracies are going on. First thing is that
dharmashastra is not just the regular gossip or travel story of one or two
Dadas. The real meaning of dharmashastra is spiritual scripture, which Baba
has given in 'Our Spiritual Treatise' chapter-- and many other discourses
also. So dharmashastra means Baba's perfect scripture, not just the gossip
of a certain Dada.
And the next thing is that after dharmacakra, then Baba's books must be
read-- otherwise that dharmacakra is treated as incomplete. In place of
reading Baba's books though, a few or one Dada's gossip and travel stories
will not do. Rather with all due respect those Dadas should tell their
tales during some leisure time not during one of our dharma gatherings. But
a couple of Dadas are are doing things in inopportune time-- As if Baba's
dharmic words can be left aside and the vacuum can be filled with any...
Not only that but in the holy name of dharmashastra a few Dadas use that as
a platform to gather funds for their groupist agenda. That recently
happened at our local retreat. So this cannot be tolerated.
The idea being that the dharmashastra term itself carries a sanctified
meaning. As that is the word of Guru. So misues use of the term
dharmashastra and telling travel tale gossip is not appreciable. It is just
like if one persons starts selling alchol and calling it as 'Avadhuta'
brand liquour. That is just degrading to term-- avadhuta. Similar is the
case of dharmashatra when in the name or that just their mundane travel
tales are told. Or if in the name of using the term 'turban', instead we
say pajama. But we cannot then justify by saying that Dada has pajamas on
his head. This cannot be supported.
So step by step these various dogmas have taken root in the name of
dharmashastra. And in this way some Dadas try to infuse their voice as
being the same as Baba's grand teachings. But this is just their hypocrisy.
So those few Dadas who are doing like this, their lectures should not be
treated and followed as a dharmashastra. Because what they are giving is
something from the complete opposite end of the spectrum. Because the worst
part is that some few Dadas use this as a way to place themselves on the
same scale of Baba. And in that way gain supremacy over the margiis and get
their own selfish agenda implemented, just like those dogmatic religious
priests of old.
But if we all become alert and vigilant about this then surely this dogma
can be smashed because nothing should be permitted to stand in the way of
Guru's sacred and blemishless teachings.
In this regard we should pay heed to Baba's following mandate.
Baba says, "We should also remember that in the realm of dharma there must
be clear-cut injunctions in the form of dharma sha'stra [scriptural
treatises] and simultaneously there must be strict guardians who during
their lifetime guide themselves as well as others according to those
scriptural injunctions." (NSS, 95 Edn, p.200)
Namaskar,
Mukunda
Note 1: In our book Caryacarya, Baba has explained that dharma sha'stra
means 'scripture'. And scripture means Subhasita Samgraha etc. That means,
Baba's discourses on a dharmic stand. Only dharmic discourses of Baba will
be called as "Dharma Sha'stra". So, naming certain Dadas' travel tales or
their own dreams as "Dharma Sha'stra" is not good, rather blasphemous. But
some of those Dadas who are conducting dharmacakra don't like to give up
their negative dogma.
That is to say, this dogma of using the wrong term is going on since
decades. And a few Dadas are thinking that, "Let it be like that, in this
way I can keep the top chair in the eyes of margiis. And what I say they
will follow."
So overall this wrong use of dharmashastra is not good, rather damaging and
unholy. Because Baba's divine & dharmic discourses are incomparable. And
those doing trickery in the name of that are doing...
Unfortunately this is going on in overseas countries where dharma sha'stra
means Dadas' travel stories or whatever else they may tell in that time.
And in that way they push their own agenda and place themselves on the same
pedestal as Baba.
Note 2: This term "dharma sha'stra" refers to Baba's spiritual scriptures
only.
Because in our Marg, there are three types of Sha'stra:
(A) Dharma Sha'stra/Spiritual Treatise (B) Darshan Sha'stra /
Philosophical Treatise (C) Samaj Sha'stra/Social Treatise.'
So Dharmshastra refers to those spiritual, dharmic discourses only. And the
reading out and discussion of those discourses after dharmacakra comes
within the practice of svadhyaya.
Note 3: If any Dada wishes to tell about their travel experiences then that
highly appreciated. After all we are all family members and hearing about
each others exciting and humorous experiences is part and parcel of human
life. This type of sharing is good. The main problem is that it should not
be done directly after sadhana during our dharmacakra program. Means it
should not be done in the name of dharmashastra-- nor in the name of
svadhyaya. Such story telling can be done during or after the collective
meal or perhaps during other times of leisure. Because after collective
meditation a few paragraphs or minimum 1 paragraph from Baba's books should
read aloud to everyone present. This is the minimum system, and this read
and the explanation thereafter is known as svadhyaya.
Note 4: Baba says, "In the realm of dharma the only true guide and
controller and protector of the people is an excellent and comprehensive
ideology which provides definite, clear-cut, and bold directions." (NSS,
'95 Edn, Shivapodesha-4)
Note 5: Here Baba's following lines are infused with a feeling of
upliftment and cosmic fraternity.
Baba says, "No entity in this universe exists individually. Ours is a
universal family. Each and every entity -- living and non-living, moving
and non-moving -- helps others in maintaining not only their equilibrium,
but also the equipoise of the entire universe, not only of this small
planet Earth. We are to move together with all." (SS-18, p. 40)
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Most Noble Work
Baba says, "Soon after Alarka became king, his kingdom was attacked by a
neigboring king. Alarka was defeated in battle and forced to leave his
kingdom...Alarka decided to give up everything and go out in search of
eternal truth...When Alarka's reputation as a great yogi had spread far and
wide, the conquering king requested him to take back his kingdom...'Alarka,
come and take back your throne,' said the king. 'No', replied Alarka, 'I'm
too busy now as I have to propagate dharma in the world. I am bound to
serve the society and thus have no time to look after the affairs of the
royal administration'." (AV-7, p.47-8)
Note: After '90, some power hungry monks of our AM went astray from Baba's
above noble teaching. And instead they made the attainment of power and
post as the be-all and end-all of life. That is why various serious crises
have come; because those hovering around the helm forgot Baba's above
golden guideline and just began chasing after power and post. When in fact
Baba's timeless teaching is that propagating dharma is the greatest and
most noble pursuit in life and the best way for building up a vibrant,
healthy society.
Note 2: We can also see by His practical example that when Mahasambhuti
advents on this earth then He propagates dharma and also goads others in
this same endeavour. Lord Shiva, Lord Krsna, and Sadguru Baba have given
all the dharmic teachings and their each and every moment on this earth was
used in the propagation and teachings of dharma.
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