== KURVANNEVEHA KARMA'N'I ==
Namaskar,
From time to time some excitedly proclaim that we need not do anything
to stop the extreme groupism that is presently ravaging our organisation.
In their own way such persons give the false logic that groupism will
go away all by itself-- just with the mere passage of time. This is their
misleading analysis.
So from high to low, the whole scene is quite a spectacle & indeed
peculiar. But by Baba's grace, to untwist it all and bring clarity to the
forefront we need not look any further than His divine guideline.
BABA'S DIRECTIVE: DO ACTION IN THIS WORLD
As we all know, Baba clearly tells us that while on this earth we are to do
something-- we are to be engaged in good works. This is His straightforward
directive.
"Kurvanneveha Karma'n'i..."
Baba says, "Why have we come to this world? Certainly to do some good
work... Human beings have come to work....Therefore work must be
done....Human beings have to do any good and noble work, any constructive
or benevolent work when they are physically alive." (AV-15)
Hence so long as we are breathing, so long as we are alive, we are to
involve ourselves in noble works-- making this world better and better.
That is Baba's clear-cut guideline.
Most assuredly then, as we look around, there are so many positive works to
be done and so many negative things-- such as groupism-- that need
correcting. And on both accounts Baba's resounding mandate is to keep ever
active.
Baba says, "The accumulated distortions of many lifetimes cannot be removed
in the twinkling of an eye. The removal of these distortions requires
prolonged cultivation of knowledge, selfless devotion and untiring action.
The world expects tremendous work from you; so you must not sit idle like a
frog in a well under the spell of inertia. Therefore awake, arise."
(A'nanda Va'nii #5)
Thus according to Baba's above guideline, to remove the distortions-- like
the ravagings of groupism etc-- one must engage in "untiring action" etc.
Merely sitting idle waiting for time to pass by will not do. That will not
solve the problem. To rid the world of the dirt of groupism, one will have to leap intoaction. Per Baba's teaching, that is the only way to clean-up our AMPS.
So Baba's above guidelines are enough to show us that ours is the path of
action and mobility. We are never to rely on "fate" or "the passing of
time" to solve any problem such as groupism. This much is surely clear to
most every Ananda Margii.
PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF PRAPATTI:
UTILISE ONE'S STRENGTH
But even then, some confused philosophers on the email may be thinking that
doing nothing and watching the world go by is part of our surrender theory.
That is, such a pseudo-philosopher might proclaim that 'prapatti vada'--
surrender theory-- means that we are to sit back and relax, waiting for
"Someone Else" to clear up the matter. But that is not at all the case.
According to Baba, the proper application of our surrender theory is to
come forward and work according to our maximum capacity.
Baba says, "Do your duty, your karma. Now, is this karma in conformity
with prapatti or is it antagonistic to prapatti? The teachings of Vraja
Krs'n'a are clearly consistent with prapatti..."
"So in accordance with the spirit of prapatti, that the body is a
machine, we can say that He has been kind enough to provide the body and
mind, to be utilized for work only. Hence I follow the spirit of prapatti
in using them."
"In the beginning, karma seemed to be against prapatti, but karma is not
antithetical to prapatti. It is definitely in conformity with prapatti. So
a boy or a girl who does work is surely following the path of prapatti..."
(NKS, p.39)
So according to Baba's supreme teachings of prapatii vada (surrender
theory), we are to fully utilise whatever strength He has graciously given
us.
Each and every ounce of energy that we have should be expended toward
coming up with a proper and just solution to any problem. That is Baba's
teaching and that is the AM approach to prappati vada.
Thus once again, according to Baba, when our organisation is infested with
disease of groupism, then an outright call for action is the only way to
proceed.
UNDERSTANDING THE WHOLE OF BABA'S TEACHING
By His divine grace Baba has beautifully explained each and every aspect of
this expressed universe. He has graciously given the answer to everything.
There is no problem that lies untouched; nor is there any hazard which He
has not warned us about. By His fathomless grace He has perfectly mapped
out our entire pathway.
Even then a few pseudo-philosophers are prone to get confused. Reason being
they only see a small part or fraction of Baba's teaching-- not the whole.
It is just like one blind person going up to an elephant and after grabbing
just the long, thin, tail the blind person proudly proclaims that 'this is
a rope'.
Or it is just like another blind person approaching that same elephant and
after grabbing just the thick, sturdy, leg the blind person confidently
announces that 'this is a tree trunk' etc.
Here the whole point is that if one cannot see the whole elephant, then
they are sure to come with a faulty analysis of what that elephant is.
Baba says, "If you tell a blind person to describe the parts of an
elephant's body, can he do it? Before describing the elephant, one must
have the vision to see it: so first the blind man's sight must be
restored." (SS-10)
Similarly to understand Baba's divine teaching of AM one must have a
balanced mind and be able to clearly look at the whole body of AM
scripture; otherwise, with their incomplete and faulty understanding of AM
ideology one's helter-skelter interpretation will be foolish and way off
the mark. They will be just like that blind person who makes the ridiculous
proclamation that the elephant's tail is a rope etc.
So if any pseudo-philosopher wants to properly interpret Baba's teachings
then first and foremost they should take the time to make their mind
balanced and rational through sadhana and then step by step cultivate a
facile and holistic understanding of the entire AM ideology. Then by Baba's
grace they will be able to come up with a proper analysis of His teaching.
Whereas, without that, if they again and again resort to their own
incomplete and imbalanced way of dealing yet continue to offer their skewed
interpretations, they will just embarrass themselves in front of all. They
will be just like the laughing stock of one village.
Unfortunately that is what seems to have happened with the e-mailer who is
proclaiming that the poison of groupism can be solved by the mere passage
of time. Otherwise what can be the reason why this fellow is publicly
humiliating himself by offering such a half-baked analysis.
SPIRIT OF HUMAN LIFE
Here again is Baba's dharmic call to action for all Ananda Margiis.
Baba says, "Don't compare life to a pool of muddy, stagnant water. Life
resembles an ever-flowing spring. Pushing aside the stones of obstructions
and difficulties, marching on with vigorous speed is its dharma. Hence it
is clear that those who want to keep away from obstacles have lost the
dharma of life-- verily they are dead. The graveyard, not the society
should be their abode." (A'nanda Va'nii #6)
Thus to solve any difficulty like groupism one should vigrously kick it
aside and build up a neo-humanistic order at the earliest. Any who remain
idle fatefully depending on the mere passage of time are not fit for
society-- "the graveyard, not the society should be their abode". That is
Baba's inspiring teaching and stern warning.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's infinite grace compassion we will jointly march forward and
establish that bright, new era in AMPS.
Baba says, "...One who has lost the very spirit of forward march has lost
the inner vitality of life and reduced oneself to an inert skeleton. You
must not allow such a thing to happen. Keep moving onward, singing the song
of the forward march." (A'nanda Va'nii, #65)
Namaskar,
Punyatman
Note 1: CONFUSION OF ONE E-MAILER
On and off on our various Marga e-forums, a few confused type of souls
excitedly proclaim that time alone will solve all our problems of
groupism-- as if human beings need not do anything. Just one should sit
back, relax, and rest easy and everything will be alright. This is their
crooked analysis-- you may have noticed it.
And they reached to this crazy conclusion by their faulty analysis of
Baba's teachings. They could not understand neither the essence nor the
spirit of Baba's words.
Not only that, they also publicly stated that the passage they are
referring to is the first Ananda Vanii. When in the true sense they were
looking at a paragraph from Baba's discourse, 'The Evolution of Society'
from Subhasita Samgraha part 1. But in their foolishness this person
thought it was the first Ananda Vanii.
So neither they can understand the message of Baba's teaching, nor can they
even perform the simple task of properly identifying Baba's quotations.
Hence from start to finish their whole approach is garbage-- or you
yourself can decide how useful it is.
Note 2: WHO CAN INTERPRET AM SCRIPTURES
Here Baba clearly describes who is capable of properly explaining His
teachings and side by side He also warns us what happens when any pseudo
fellow tries to do.
Baba says, "Without proper interpretation, the sha'stras remain difficult
to understand and sometimes unintelligible. Thus the scriptures should
always be interpreted by qualified scholars, competent philosophers, and
penetrating thinkers. If one tries to interpret a profound scripture with
superficial knowledge, the interpreter appears ridiculous and the audience
is confused." (NSS, Disc 14, 'Shivopadesha-4)
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Sadhana Problems and Solutions
Baba says, "After involving in mundane works one is generally plunged in
worldly thoughts. So then if one sits in sadhana, in the mind you will
think that 'Tomorrow I will go to Arariya town. Indeed I have to go in the
morning. I will have to catch the first bus'. You will sit in sadhana and
go on thinking like this. In this situation what should you do? Before
sitting for sadhana you should do kiirtan-- either 2 min, or 5 min, or 10
min. So first one should do kiirtan. Because by doing kiirtan the mind will
get elevated. After that immediately one should sit in sadhana. Then you
will see that there will not be any worldly thoughts. Then sadhana will be
proper...Do not worry you have learned sadhana and I am always ready to
help and serve you." (22 Nov 71 Purnea, Bihar)
Note: Every sincere Ananda Margii wants to do sadhana. Yet most of the time
this aforesaid problem occurs. And our Guru understands this. That is why
He has graciously given such a beautiful solution-- as mentioned above. I
think many may be following His divine guideline; and for those who are
not, they should do so from now onwards, i.e. sing kiirtan before doing
sadhana.
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