== ATTACK ON PRANA DHARMA: TIBET ISSUE ==
Namaskar,
By now we have all heard about it, read about it, and most likely seen
the pictures as well. Once again, China is up to its suppressive tactics
with regards to their continued control and domination of Tibet.
An attack on any land, people, or community is an attack on the whole of
humanity. So says our AM philosophy. Plus, in order to create a society
based on justice, we must clearly identify exploitative tactics in
order to create a strong, liberated society-- free people from any
repressive regime.
For these reasons and more, as Ananda Margiis we have deep concern and
interest in the riots & army crack down now going on in Tibet.
LONG HISTORY OF CHINESE RULE:
ROBBING TIBET OF ITS PRANA DHARMA
This most recent use of force in Tibet by China is only the latest in a
long-string of injustices. And through it all, the Chinese have had one
basic goal: To suppress the people and claim Tibet as their own. In
short, theirs is an attack on the prana dharma of Tibet.
As a quick review, the sum total of a peoples' songs, language,
literature, cultural expressions, history, customs, and mannerisms etc
are its prana dharma.
Baba says, "When the national characteristics are expressed in a
particular vein, we may call it the pra'n'a dharma of the nation." (AFPS-6)
And the Chinese exploiters know well that by robbing a people or nation
of their prana dharma then it is relatively easy to bring them under
subjugation.
Baba says, "The subtle way to undermine an individual or a nation is to
divert them from their original pra'n'a dharma, sometimes by forcibly
snatching away their right to pursue it. This will sap them of their
inherent strength and capabilities causing them to become increasingly
weak. Just as a bird divested of its right to fly freely gradually
becomes reduced to the status of a biped, similarly, human beings when
deprived of their pra'n'a dharma lose their elevated stance." (AFPS-6)
So robbing a people or land of their prana dharma is tantamount to
crippling them and rendering them as disabled. So many western nations
did this in the past by colonizing various lands; the US has done this
by exporting pseudo-culture; and the Chinese have done this through
suppression and harsh army crack-downs in Tibet.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION NEEDED
In all places, from Tibet to Palestine, and from Sao Paulo to Manila,
the people must be empowered to expand their horizons-- must be able to
express their prana dharma. And those who try to supress it are the
enemies of humanity.
Baba says, "It is the characteristic of human beings to expand
themselves mentally, intellectually, and in all other subtler spheres of
life. Inquisitiveness in the subtler spheres of life is the human
course. It can't he suppressed. It can't be sealed. It can't be blocked
forever. In the interest of the healthy progress of humanity, this
intellectual flow must not be suppressed. Human beings can not tolerate
this suppression. And those who try to suppress the gleamings of
humanity and their philosophy come within the scope of dogma. Dogma is
detrimental to human progress." (SS-12)
So like the French in Vietnam, the British in South Africa, the Japanese
in Korea, the Spanish in Central America, etc, the Chinese have adopted
a horrific and dogmatic stance by exploiting and suppressing the people
of Tibet.
Let us remember that here our enemy is not any group or people but
rather a defective and exploitative mentality. After all it was not long
ago that the British started the destruction of the prana dharma of
China by pushing opium on its people and thereafter it was the
communists who completed the eradication of the prana dharma of China by
their suppressive ways. This Baba has described in His discourse, 'Prana
Dharma'.
So it is not that China or any land is inherently bad. Rather, any
regime that adopts of stance of suppression is the problem. And that
happens to be the case nowadays with China.
Thus we must be vigilant not only about the present-day Chinese tactics
but also about any approach in any land that acts to ruin the prana
dharma of the people.
MORE OF BABA'S TEACHINGS ON SUPPRESSION
One of the main guidelines Baba gives is that when the exploitation is
too much then the people will rise up against it-- and that is exactly
what we are seeing now in Lhasa (Tibet).
Baba says, "The psychology of suppression undermines the progress of a
country. People will eventually revolt against it and restore unity. The
sentiments of people cannot be forcibly suppressed for a long time."
(PNS, 'Three Causes of Sin')
So the Buddhist monks and people of Tibet have been pushed down so much
by the Chinese-- for decades and decades-- that they feel there is no
other recourse than to lash out. That is what results due to extreme
suppression. And that is why right now in Lhasa, cars are being burned,
stores are being looted, and there is mayhem in the streets.
Next, Baba teaches us that by taking away the freedom of expression then
invariably the people lose their most fundamental source of strength.
And this is what the Chinese have done again and again.
Baba says, "The most powerful means of expression of a people's
collective psychic power is their language and literature. Hence, to try
and uproot a people from their culture is a special form of psychic
exploitation." (PNS-19)
In this following teaching Baba reminds us that so many exploitative
countries and governments have imposed their will by stripping people of
their own identity and sense of worth.
Baba says, "Whenever the sentimental legacy of a group of people is
undermined, they become easy prey to the economic, political and
psycho-economic exploitation of vested interests. Such a strategy of
cultural suppression was adopted by the English, French, Dutch, Spanish,
American and other colonial powers. If local people develop a sublime
awareness of their cultural heritage they can readily throw off all
psychic inferiority complexes which prevent them from attaining
socio-economic self-reliance." (PNS-9)
Thus it is not just the Chinese of today, but so many powers-- past and
present-- take advantage of other peoples through cultural exploitation
and suppression. And that is what we must always remember. The common
denominator in all such cases is the thievery of a people's sentimental
legacy-- "sentimental legacy includes factors such as language,
historical traditions, literature, common usages and cultural
expressions" (PNS-13).
And tragically, when people have been suppressed age after age then
ultimately they will lose their prana dharma entirely and they will lose
their life.
Baba says, "As a result of this unrelenting suppression, people will
never be able to raise their heads and they will die a premature and
unnatural death." (PNS-9)
Thus, in any land where people face a suppressive regime-- as is
happening now in Lhasa-- then we must denounce that exploitative
rulership and help the people to claim back their sentimental legacy and
restore their prana dharma. Without that, the people do not have a chance.
BABA'S BLESSING
By supporting the people of Tibet and all other local cultures, then and
only then can humanity stand on its own two feet and be ready to move
ahead. By Baba's grace, He has infused the world with this very propulsion.
Baba says, "Society will move along the path of progress with increasing
speed, overcoming all bondages and hindrances. Human society will enjoy
a bright and glorious future." (AFPS-9)
Namaskar,
Pavitra
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Sentient Income
Baba says, "It is clear here too that one's ajiiva or physical
occupation should be sentient...No one should be a trader in religion ,
because in the name of religion, many people are exploited...The
scriptures stipulate that people should not accept food from such
people, because their occupations are despicable." (SS-11, p. 24-25)
Note 1: In the past when Lord Buddha first gave this teaching there were
4 categories of negative occupations; but now the world is so complex
that this group has expanded in multiple despicable directions. Through
it all the central idea is the same: That people should not make their
livelihood by depraved means.
In this present era these following "professions" also fall into this
negative category: crude film-makers, drug dealers, politicians, stock
brokers, pornography dealers, casino owners, lottery makers, religious
traders who are propagators of dogma like Mahaprayan (MPD), and
gangsters etc.
In today's capitalist society, the middle-man is also a negative
occupation. Because such persons do not produce anything of value for
the society. All they do is take what is produced in one place and pass
on that same product to someone else for a sizeable profit. Thus such
middle men are just the leeches of society-- just sucking money from the
common people without doing any constructive work of their own.
Everyone is hereby invited to add more undesirable professions to the
above list.
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