== IMPROVING SADHANA: PART 4 ==
Namaskar,
Only margiis and those sincere field Wts who are following Baba can be
classified as dharmikas. In this regard the number of dharmikas in AM is
growing as more and more are interested in following HIM.
Here is more about the series on Sixteen Points which speaks to Baba's
given code of dharma.
DHARMA IS NATURAL LAW
Baba's teachings are the essence of dharma. This is the common fact known
to all Ananda Margiis. So Baba's guidelines are-- by definition-- in
accordance with natural law. Or, more explicitly, they are the natural law.
Hence Sixteen Points is the pathway for the proper and wholesome
development of human all beings. And by His grace we Ananda Margiis have
experienced this on a first-hand basis.
So step by step each and every guideline of 16 Points is leading in this
positive direction on all the levels: in physical life; in the psychic
sphere; and in the spiritual realm as well.
NATURE'S WAY
Nature has provided the human body with all the basic requirements for
human life. Means it provides neither too little nor too much of anything--
by birth the human design is proper, whether male or female. And this all
occurs with the golden stamp of approval of Parama Purusa Himself.
Thus, with regards to point #2 of Sixteen Points, when all males are born
with an attached foreskin, then Baba's expressed guideline is to simply
pull the foreskin back upon reaching adolescence. Meaning that when born
and up to the age of 12 or so, it is healthy, normal, and natural to keep
the foreskin attached as it offers many inherent benefits; and then later
on males can keep it pulled back as in that position also it has its plus
points. Thus there is no need for any cutting etc.
SIXTEEN POINTS AND CARYACARYA
That is why when Baba first delivered His guidelines of Sixteen Points in
Patna just prior to the jail period, then Baba has simply told all margiis
to pull the foreskin back. No further option has given and the Hindi and
Bengali books of Caryacarya reflect His golden guideline. Meaning: Pulling
the foreskin back is the sole teaching of point #2 of Sixteen points. In
those original Caryacarya books there is no mention of the word circumcision.
Only when certain later English editions of Caryacarya got printed did the
word "circumcision" appear on the scene. Thus, when preparing the book for
overseas sales, it seems those editors in short-sighted way made the
so-called link that being circumcised fulfills the guideline of "keeping
the foreskin pulled back". Yet in actuality, the circumcision term has
nothing to do with Baba's expressed guideline.
However in their naive way of dealing, on their own those editors actually
gave circumcision as an option and printed that word in the English version
of Caryacarya-- when in fact this is not Baba's guideline. And this word
'circumcision' never ever got included in the Hindi or Bengali editions of
Caryacarya. Baba has never included it. And to this very day you will not
find it in those editions of Caryacarya.
A FEW UNNATURAL DEVELOPMENTS
Thus the circumcision term is one of a small collection of words that got
mistakenly added into or misapplied in our present day AM life, when in
fact it really does not belong at all.
It is similar how in our overseas countries the term dharmashastra has been
wrongly used to refer to Dada's talks after dharmacakra. When in fact in
the true sense dharmashastra only refers to Guru's dharmic discourses and
guidelines. No Dada can give dharmashastra. So those talks after
dharmacakra given by Dadas are really part of the practice of svadhyaya or
less than that, depending.
So the overarching purpose here is that those talks have nothing to do with
the dharmashastra term. Yet for years and years in our various sectors from
Berlin to Suva to NY to Hong Kong to GT etc-- in all these sectors various
margiis & WTs were using dharmashastra in that wrong way. But now it seems
that this is slowly getting cleared up or fixed altogether.
But this is just one example of many how terms get added or wrongly used.
And in a related way the circumcision term got wrongly latched up with AM
society.
And here's another example of how such things come to be. Often is that
case in those Muslim countries our Dadas go there to try and do pracara and
invariably during the course of the day they go to practice their own
lessons of dharma sadhana. And then when locals ask about their whereabouts
then one or another response comes that 'Dada is doing is namaz'. Thus in
certain of those Muslim regions the namaz term has slid into our AM
vocabulary. When in fact namaz is really nothing more than dogmatic Muslim
prayer rituals-- and has nothing to do with dharma sadhana. But due to
local misperception etc the namaz term got stapled onto the practice of AM
sadhana.
At the beginning times when new practices arrive then such things happen--
there are numerous example of such occurrences. When terms get misapplied
or wrongly added etc. And it happened in the case of circumcision as well.
Yet invariably in a short time all these things get cleared up via further
reflection and heightened understanding.
A HOLDOVER OF SEMITIC RULES
As we think and use our rational minds it becomes increasingly apparent
that the term and ritual of circumcision is a by product of semetic life--
and not part of our dharmic AM system.
Baba says, "Human beings readily accept traditions without seeking the
reasons behind them. Since ancient days the semites have been observing the
practice of circumcision. Moses and Mohammed accepted this system which
today has become tradition." (HS-1)
And in this following teaching Baba is explaining how dogmatic customs like
circumcision get carried over from one era to the next.
Baba says, "Long ago the Jews started practising circumcision. When Moses
converted some of his contemporaries to Judaism, and later when Mohammed
converted some local people to Islam, neither prophet dared to instruct
their new followers to discard the old customs they followed, consequently
the old customs continued after their conversion." (PNS-21)
By that content, style, and vibration of Baba's above quotes, it is quite
clear that circumcision is really nothing more than on old, outdated ritual
of prior eras and not one of the crisp, new, sterling instructions of
Sixteen Points.
And here is another letter on this topic
HANDLING THE SITUATION NOWADAYS
Perhaps the first step now is to think the situation through, talk with
others, and apply our rational minds. And by this way in our various
overseas sectors where certain margiis are "automatically" circumcising
their male offspring, then little by little this practice will subside--
and ultimately come to a halt entirely. If already this is not happening.
Of course in many sectors and certainly in our Delhi sector, then
circumcision is not at all an issue nor an option. Because no one does it--
nobody. But in those lands that got painted in the colour of those Semitic
faiths then circumcision developed into the mode of the day. Yet as Margiis
we are not to get swept up into rituals of old; rather we readily pickup
Baba's revolutionary new ways. And in this way dharma gets established--
step by step, point by point.
So we should take care with our new-borns & infants by rationally applying
Baba's dharmic code of keeping the foreskin as outlined in Point #2 of
Sixteen Points.
BABA'S BLESSING
Baba says, "You who are genuine spiritualists should practise spiritual
cult thinking that by doing so you will become effective in maintaining the
universal balance. You must think, 'I will personally move towards the
supreme desideratum, and at the same time I will try to assist those who
are suffering from despair, those steeped in blind superstition." (MVNS, p.
146)
Namaskar,
Purusottama
Note 1: COVERING THE BASES
About this entire topic of circumcision, essentially the matter is quite
clear and straightforward. However, there are a few auxiliary points here
and there so if anyone has any thoughts or unanswered questions about any
aspect of this topic then without any shyness that should be raised. Doing
so will invariably help clarify the matter further for us all.
Note 2: KEEPING UP WITH THE TIMES
In our western countries and around the globe there is a fast and growing
movement against the practice of circumcision. And in most cases the
rationale is the same. People are rightly thinking that the human body is
God's creation and that the way it is at birth is the perfect presentation.
It does not need any alterations or tailoring-- no cutting or splicing.
Just it is perfect upon arrival.
And even those less theistic type of movements are doing away with
circumcision by raising the call of nature. Their feeling is that just as
the sun and the moon rise and fall in the sky, and just as the rivers and
the oceans merge together on this earth, in the same natural way the human
baby has it rhyme and reason and no one should interrupt nature's course.
Thus we Ananda Margiis should rationally apply Baba's guideline so as not
to lag behind. Rather that will keep us adequately ahead so that by His
grace we will steer the humanity in right proper direction in all the
spheres of life, from the very outset of one's birth.
Note 3: IMPROVING SADHANA
This letter is part of the series on Sixteen Points. And since 16 Points is
inextricably linked with all the realms and especially spiritual life, by
following them we gain added momentum in our sadhana also.
Here are the other letters in this series:
http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2008/11/improving-sadhana.html
http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2008/11/improving-sadhana-ii.html
http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2008/11/improving-sadhana-iii.html
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Suffering of the Rich is Much More than the Poor
Baba says, "If money or wealth would have been the solution of all the
problems then in that case rich persons would have always enjoyed being in
a state of bliss. But in society it is not like that. The suffering of the
rich is more than the poor." (Allahabad, DMC 1984)
Note: In our western countries nowadays, where money is more free-flowing,
the number of psychic diseases is multiplying day by day. The haves are
coming under the nasty grip of depression, frustration, hopeless, and
overall melancholia. In that state they are always sunk in some degraded
psychic flow. This is rampant. That is why so many westerners like those in
the USA go to psychiatrists and other psychic counselors in order to feel
good. Because otherwise just by following their daily routine they succumb
to depression. So they go see their chosen psychiatrist etc. But those
sessions are often a band-aid approach at best. Because most of the time
those very psychiatrists and psychologists are themselves depressed-- in
that case what kind of guideline are they going to give. The only way out
is to develop a balanced mind through the practice of sadhana. Then alone
one can escape the the terrors of materialism.
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