== BEGINNING OF LIFE ==
Namaskar,
All around the globe, anyone can see that abortion is a burning issue.
Every facet of society-- the people, the state, the medical industry,
and the church-- all have their hardened stand on this confounded issue.
About abortion, there is a hotbed of activity. And there appears to be
no end in sight.
Of course, abortion is not something that has been happening for ages
and ages; in the past this was unknown. So abortion is a product of our
modern era; it is a recent scientific "advancement".
Ultimately, in the middle of all this, since the ideas of AM are to
guide the society, we should know what our stand is on abortion. That
way we can best serve the common people as well as other margiis.
Because it is not just that abortion solely exists in the general
society; this is done in our AM as well. Some of our margii doctors
perform abortions and some or more members of our Marga have had
abortions done on themselves.
So the procedure of abortion is not like one distant island, but is
rather something quite close to our own home.
WHEN DOES HUMAN LIFE BEGIN
Perhaps the best way to enter into this discussion is to ask ourselves,
'When does human life begin?'.
Of course, ultimately we all come from Parama Purusa-- from His divine
emanation. But from a biological perspective, when does human life begin.
This is an important question and is highly related to the issue of
abortion. Because in our AM, Baba says that we do not have right to kill
another human being; it violates our teaching of ahimsa.
Hence, determining when human life starts is a key point to this
important issue of abortion. So when does human life begin?
According to Baba's teachings in "Idea and Ideology", human life begins
when two cells merge and become one. This fusion or this union marks the
beginning of human life.
And from that very moment, that cellular union has its own samskara and
all the makings of its own quality of life. At that immediate
development, when the cellular union takes place, the human being has
been generated.
MUST SAFEGUARD HUMAN LIFE, NOT ABORT
So when this growing cellular structure is the very essence of human
life, then this cell must be protected and nurtured at all cost. Because
it is the seed vessel of human life.
And purposely destroying this cell-- at any stage-- is tantamount to
killing a fellow human being. It is like committing murder. Because
killing that cell marks the senseless destruction of human life. Which
runs counter to our principle of ahimsa.
So according to our view, according to the stand of Ananda Marga, we do
not support abortion in any way, shape, or form. It goes counter to our
neo-humanistic way of thinking.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace, the seed vessel or dharma of one's existence is present
from the very outset-- when that first cell is formed. At that point one
has their dharma.
Baba says, "It is universally true, for all ages and all realms, that
dharma is the main current of human life. It is the impetus of living
beings; it is also their source of wealth and the guidance for their
journey through life." (NSS: Disc 14)
Namaskar,
Ishvara
Note 1: WHY ABORTIONS ARE DONE
In a broad manner, people do due pressure of circumstance: Either social
pressure or economic pressure. Beyond these unjust pressures, there is
no reason for one to have an abortion since it runs counter to human
nature. Every mother has natural love for her child. But they may abort
due to the pressure of circumstance. So natural law does not support the
abortion policy.
One tragedy within all this if that if one does have an abortion, then
later on when they are ready to have a baby they often cannot conceive
due to having harmed their biological organs by getting an abortion.
Note 2: NOT PROGRESSIVE
Some naive persons in feel they must support every "open-minded"
platform that surfaces in pop culture. They somehow feel that supporting
abortion means one is "open-minded" and "progressive". But this is not
our stand. In our AM we follow the path of reason and rationality and
when it is clear that abortion is tantamount to killing another human
being, then our approach is not to support abortion. And what AM stands
for is progressive-- not anything else.
Note 3: OVER-POPULATION NOT A THREAT
Some advocate abortion because they are afraid of overpopulation. But in
AM we do not subscribe to such theories. In numerous Prout discourses,
Baba assures us that overpopulation is not at all threat to our human
existence. So on this point also then one cannot resort to the ghastly
approach of abortion.
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Divine Guideline in Dhyana Process
Baba says, "In the fourth phase the relationship is just like a piece of
paper; the unit consciousness of the spiritual aspirant is one side of
the paper and the Cosmic Consciousness of Parama Purus'a is the other
side of the paper; they are inseparable, one cannot be removed from the
other. By His effulgence the unit existence, the existential faculty of
the aspirant gets lighted, gets illumined. With His illumination the
aspirant is to move forward and enjoy the Supreme Beatitude and the
Supreme Composure." (SS-18, p.13)
Note: Here above Baba is indirectly guiding about the last part of the
practice of dhyana-- which every sincere sadhaka practices regularly.
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