== DARNED IF YOU DON'T ==
Namaskar,
Today, and all the way since 1990, our various organisational "leaders"
and our various e-mail forum moderators proclaim that 'pointing out' is
not allowed. They moan and groan and whine that 'raising awareness
publicly about wrongdoings is against the social code and sinful'. This
is their knee-jerk reaction and fallacious statement. Because in truth--
by not pointing out wrongs-- it is they who are the sinners on this very
matter. About this Baba is perfectly clear, and indeed adamant.
BABA'S EXPLICIT DIRECTIVE: POINTING OUT IS NEEDED
In His very important chapter 'How to Live in the Society', Baba guides
us that it is our assigned duty to point out the negative actions of
other Ananda Margiis-- whether Wt's or family margiis. This is Baba's
explicit directive. Because it is by this way that we can build up a
monolithic AM society-- free from disease and defect.
Baba says, "All A'nanda Ma'rgis, when they see other Margis acting
against the principles of yama and niyama, must make them shun this
habit either by sweet or harsh words or by dealing even more strictly.
Thus they will have to make the society strong." (GHC, 'How to Live in
the Society')
According to Baba then, pointing out the black spots is part and parcel
of our AM way of life. It is a mandatory duty for every person in our
Marga.
In case there is an iota of doubt in the mind of any of our so-called
leaders or e-mail moderators, here again is Baba's clear-cut mandate
about pointing out.
Baba says, "Henceforth I direct every Ananda Margi to keep strict
vigilance on other Ananda Margiis to make them practise the principles
of yama and niyama." (GHC)
Thus there is no scope for some groupist primadonnas or touchy e-mail
moderators to say that in AM one cannot point out the defects of others.
No one can has the right to say that pointing out should not be done.
Nor can anyone try to argue or justify that pointing out is optional.
That is also incorrect.
Because according to Baba pointing out wrongdoing is an essential
element of our AM way of life and it is everyone's job to do this very
thing: To point out the defects and hence make the society strong. This
each and every Ananda Margii must do.
TO NOT DO WHAT IS TO BE DONE IS PRATAYAVAYA (SIN)
So it is a indisputable fact of life that as Ananda Margiis we are to
point out misconduct and injustices-- both in the greater society and
inside our Marga as well. According to our Sadguru this is our assigned
task; it is one of the things we must do.
At the same time Baba describes what is sin. Because as we all know, in
our AM system sin comes in two forms: (a) Doing destructive deeds and
(b) Not doing our assigned deeds. Here below Baba explains further.
Baba says, "Sin is also of two types. An action of yours that brings
harm to others and brings about your own downfall is called pa´pa [sin].
In this kind of karma, harm to others goes hand in hand with your own
degradation. Humans become far removed from Parama Purus´a by such
actions. I said before that pa´pa is also of two types - pa´taka and
pratyava´ya. An action that should not be done but that is nevertheless
done, is called pa´taka. And an action that should be done but is not
done, is called pratyava´ya. For instance, one should not steal; so if
anybody steals, that will be pa´taka. And if one knows full well that
nursing a patient is good, but refrains from doing so, that will be
pratyava´ya." (DKG, 'Bhajate Ma'mananyabha'k')
By the above we can easily understand that not doing things that ought
to be done is a type of sin-- it is pratyava'ya. And here again Baba
clarifies this crucial matter.
Baba says, "That which is not done but should be done is called
Pratyava'ya." (PNS-12, 'Sin, Crime, & Law')
Thus when Baba has forcefully entrusted us to point out any wrongful
thing in our Marga and if this is not done, then that inaction
(pratyava'ya) is sin. Period. There is no other way to characterise the
situation.
Some may foolishly think that pointing out should not be done or they
make think that pointing out is optional, but that is just their own hot
air-- nonsense. By saying such things they are encouraging sin
(pratyava'ya) and indeed they are sinners themselves, according to Baba.
PRATYAVA'YA IS MORE HARMFUL
Others may tout that 'I have never killed a man or stolen a piece of
bread' and based on that notion they may think that their life is
sin-free. But if they have not come forward to point out wrongs and
injustices, then they have committed bucket loads of sin. And that type
of sin of not doing what ought to be done (pratyava'ya) is worse than
committing a crime (pa'taka). This is Baba's strict assessment.
Baba says, "Pratyava'ya is worse than pa'taka." (DKG)
And not just once but in numerous places He repeats the same warning.
Baba says, "Pratyava'ya is more reprimandable than pa'taka." (AV-8)
So those goody-goody types and weak-minded souls who refrain from
pointing out defects in the society are the worse type of sinners. They
are incurring huge mountains of negative samskaras in their life and
they are inviting hoards of negative microvita into their existence.
Because those who fail to point out the problems are themselves the home
of the worse type of sin. Their future is bleak.
So for one's own welfare, pointing out the defects of others has to be
done. Otherwise the one who fails to do this becomes a veritable sinner
and they are thereby inviting all sorts of harmful reactions in their
own life.
And, of course, by not pointing out the problems in the society, then
the society also suffers.
So by committing pratya'vaya-- by not pointing out wrongs and
injustices-- then that is the cause of both one's individual downfall as
well as the collective demise.
None are encouraged to follow this sinful path of inaction or pratyava'ya.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN POINTING OUT IS NOT DONE
While there are any number of cases from the present and past history
that depict what happens to a society when pointing out is not done. And
those we will certainly look at. But at the same time when the example
of our own AMPS is staring us right in the face, we should take a look
at this first.
Since 1990, whether it was the Sarvatmanandas or the Rudranandas or some
other groupist faction, so many piles of injustices have been done. Some
heinous souls threw Baba's original Bhukti Pradhan election rules in the
trash and instead created new fake rules; various group leaders have
wiped away margiis rights; they distorted so many of Baba's discourses
including His historic 'Ananda Marga: A Revolution' discourse; they have
created their own fake Ananda Vaniis; they ruthlessly expelled and
sidelined so many innocent and well-intentioned margiis; they have
harshly victimised good people who wanted to clean up our Marga; they
have created so many dogmatic tiirthas; and the list goes on and on of
negative things which various groupist elements have done. These things
are all sinful (pa'taka).
And side by side various goody-goody email moderators, and various
shoe-shine ACB members, and various boot-licking fake family acaryas
have all along been saying: 'Don't point out'. This is the ludicrous and
crooked mantra which certain opportunists have been repeating in order
to protect their own position.
And the outcome of such type of pratyava'ya-- not pointing out-- is the
mud bath our Marga is presently experiencing. When selfishness, group
interest, and sin all get rolled into one until the whole society is
riddled with strife and bursting into flames, or thereabouts. And that
is what we are all seeing today in our Marga.
All because a few opportunists did not want any wrongdoings pointed out.
Because of that, the whole society is rotting.
PRATYAVA'YA HARMS THE SOCIETY
Here is Baba's strong warning to such persons.
Baba says, "Those who shirk duties and responsibilities do commit a
great harm to society. It is this lack of dutifulness in our country
[India] today that has caused great retardation in different spheres of
life. It has also caused spiritual degeneration. One should perform good
actions regularly, should do sa'dhana' properly - these are the dos
which everyone is expected to perform. Those who do not pay heed to
these responsibilities do indulge in pratyava'ya." (SS-19)
Thus whether one fails to do their sadhana or whether one neglects to
point out the defects in the society, in both cases they fall in that
sinful category of pratyava'ya. This is Baba's unambiguous decree.
MARGIIS WANT TO POINT OUT AND ARE POINTING OUT
Of course the mass of margiis only want to follow Baba and ensure that
Baba's teachings are properly implemented. This every sincere Ananda
Margii feels in their heart. And sure enough more and more we are seeing
margiis and field workers pointing out the defects in our Marga. This
great work is going on little by little-- and will increase all the more
so in the near future. Because with love and benevolence in their heart
every Ananda Margii wants to build up that great neo-humanistic order in
our Marga at the earliest. And for that pointing out the defects is
needed. This everyone now understands.
Only those few email moderators and groupist gorillas who want to hide
their injustices are missing the point. Such persons are ignorant,
selfish opportunists. And their future is no future at all: grim and bleak.
THIS IS OUR WAY TO MAKE OUR AMPS RIGHT & BRIGHT
Here in plain language Baba clearly describes our path of movement.
Baba says, "Sadvipras are those whose all efforts are directed towards
the attainment of Bliss. They are strong in morality and always ready to
wage war against immoral activities. Those who strictly adhere to the
principles of morality, are ensconced in sacrificing service (Tapah) and
are ready to wage war against immoralists are sadvipras. Only those
sadvipras are safe from destruction and extinction who can work for the
welfare of the human society. Therefore, it becomes the prime duty of
everyone to make themselves and others sadvipras." ("The Future of
Civilization," Cosmic Society, 1967)
Thus by pointing out the defects and injustices-- by living the life of
a sadvipra-- our AM society will become that clean pristine house that
is a model of righteousness for the whole society to follow.
So anyone and everyone should give up the nasty habit of pratyava'ya,
i.e of not pointing out the defects, and instead become the living image
of a dharmika-- one who is ready to raise the battle cry against
injustices. This great transformation is now happening in our Marga,
much to the chagrin of certain groupist elements.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's divine grace all are moving ahead according to His wishes and
not falling into the rut of pratyavaya. All are ready to advance
courageously keeping Him ever in mind. This is Baba's grand blessing.
Baba says, "I will therefore only tell you to move forward and Parama
Purus'a is certainly with you. And the evil force, what is it? If Parama
Purus'a is the sun, evil force is a firefly. Then what is there to be
afraid of in a firefly? Is anybody ever afraid of the pebbles on the
track? They move ahead throwing them into the drain with the strokes of
their feet. This indeed is the fact. Move forward, live without fear.
Continue your movement forward. What more should I say? I have nothing
more to say." (SS-19, p.71)
Namaskar,
Parama'tma
Note 1: MORE OF BABA'S TEACHINGS ON SIN
Here are more of Baba's teachings about pratyavaya, or not doing what
one ought to do such as pointing out the defects.
Baba says, "Pa´pa means "to do that which should not be done". For
instance, stealing is pa´pa, telling lies is pa´pa. In addition to
pa´pa, there is another word - pratyava´ya. Pratyava´ya means "not to do
what should be done". For instance, parents should educate their
children. If they do not, they are said to have committed pratyava´ya.
In some countries, parents are responsible for arranging the marriage of
their daughters who are of suitable age . If they do not, they are said
to have committed pratyava´ya. In common parlance, pa´pa means both
pa´pa and pratyava´ya. The common word pa´taka [sin] thus has two
branches - pa´pa and pratyava´ya." (NKS, Disc:18)
Baba says, "Regarding the special meaning of pa´pa: Pa´pas are of two
kinds. In the social order, there are certain vidhis and certain
nis´edhas - certain dos and certain don'ts. "You should do this, you
should do this, you should do this, you should do this" - these are the
dos of society. These dos are called vidhi in Sanskrit. And there are
certain don'ts - "Don't steal, don't do this, don't do this, don't do
this." These don'ts are called nis´edha in Sanskrit."
"What if you go against the vidhis, for example, "feed the poor,"
"serve the ailing humanity" (these are all vidhis - "Do this" - that is,
positive orders)? For example, if you are to serve ailing persons but
you are not serving ailing persons, then you are going against a vidhi.
To go against a vidhi is called pratyava´ya. If you are not serving a
man in distress, then you are committing pratyava´ya." (AV-31)
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To Understand "Yoga Psychology"
Baba says, "According to general belief, psychology is a part of general
science, and should therefore not be included as a part of philosophy.
Thus psychology has been accepted as a branch of science in the West.
But in A'nanda Ma'rga, psychology has been included as a part of
philosophy. Moreover, according to A'nanda Ma'rga the scope of
psychology is wider than what is usually accepted by psychologists.
(APH-4, p. 260)
Note: To understand Yoga Psychology means our AM book- "Yoga Psychology".
Generally people think that psychology means some type of dry subject,
or utopian idea, or something that does not have a link with our higher
Self. This dogma got started because the western so-called philosophy of
psychology is dry. It does not have any link with the Supreme Entity. In
true sense such a crude approach to psychology is nothing but like dry
desert sand. That is why we find with most of the western psychologists
that a screw is loose. Excuse me, but this is the fact. In contrast,
Yoga Psychology is completely different-- it is a high thing. So it is
our duty to remove the confusion in the mind of non-margiis about the
subject of "psychology".
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