== DIFFERENCE OF GOLD STANDARD ==
Namaskar,
Every land, every era, and every country has their own basic outlook,
view, or way of looking at the world. However much a person knowingly
subscribes to that perspective or not, their way of thinking will
certainly be shaped by that prevailing mentality. That is the way it works.
Because people are immersed in that particular environment-- their very
blood & bones are sunk in that atmosphere, so escaping it is basically
unavoidable, for all practical purposes.
Only true sadhakas can free themselves of the dominant outlook of their
land.
Thus, the vast majority of those growing and living in the western world
will be touched by the 'golden rule' of Christianity and will most
likely deem that to be something great, when in reality it is far below
the golden standard set by Baba's divine teaching.
Even then, some confuse the two rules to be the same, or on par with one
another. So let us take a look at these two golden standards.
Because as Ananda Margiis, we should clearly understand the difference
between Christianity's 'Golden Rule' and that of AM. And we must be
vigilant to follow Baba's golden guideline in our own practical lives
and present it to others as well.
TWO GOLDEN RULES
Christianity's golden rule is commonly expressed as, 'Do unto others as
you would like done to you'.
Whereas our golden rule in AM is, 'Just as my own life is dear to me, so
is the life of others dear to them.'
At first glance, the Christian way may seem like some high philosophical
ideal, resembling that of Ananda Marga. After a reasonably careful
review, however, we can easily see that it is something quite, quite
different.
CHRISTIAN GOLDEN RULE: 'BASED ON SELFISHNESS'
In these times, Christianity and capitalism have become even more
interlinked, and their golden rule is a perfect example of that. Because
the entire subject of this golden rule-- 'Do unto others as you would
like done to you'-- is, 'oneself'. What I want or need or expect for me,
I should do to others; because by that way I will get that.
So it is pure selfishness.
Because if 'I' do not need or want something then I will not do that for
others. Just I will do what I want or desire. That is the way it works.
Whereas, the golden rule of AM is based on selflessness & true service
psychology.
APPLYING THE CHRISTIAN MODEL
Here are some practical applications of how the golden rule of
Christianity works: How it is riddled in selfishness.
For example, if I do not need wood to heat my house, then I will not
help others who need wood to heat their house. Reason being: I do not
get any benefit from that-- I do not need them to do that for me.
Similarly, if I need someone to watch my kids one evening a week, then I
will offer to my neighbor to watch their children for an evening a week.
Not because my neighbors need help in that regard, but because I need
that type of support.
In that case also, the subject is 'my need'. And verily there are
thousands of examples where one can readily see how this golden rule is
governed by one's own egoistic needs.
So although Christianity's Golden Rule may sound divine, in reality it
is rooted in the selfishness of capitalism and materialism.
And, lands like our US are totally submerged in this selfishness. So
much so, that this selfish Christian golden rule is often viewed as the
apex of western morality. Because if anyone quotes, cites, or follows
this so-called golden rule, then they will be viewed as exemplary.
Whereas, if one steps 'out-of-the-box' of western Christian thought,
then it is easily perceived how lowly that so-called golden rule
really is.
A LOOK AT THE GOLDEN RULE OF AM
In stark, contrast, Baba has given the golden rule of AM based on the
pillars of neo-humanism. Thus, our golden rule is based on welfare
motive and selfless service, not selfishness.
Pra'nah...a'dhavah
Baba says, "'Every living being’s own life is the dearest life to that
being. Just as my own life is dear to me, so is the life of others dear
to them. One who knows the truth and looks at others as one’s own, and
has feelings of sympathy and kindness for them, is a sa'dhu.' This type
of person is born on earth in order to render selfless service to
humanity." (DKG)
And in another discourse, Baba explains this same shloka in a very
similar way.
Baba says, "For each and every living entity one’s personal life is the
dearest thing. One loves one’s personal life very much. This is the
rule, this is the characteristic of all living beings. Those people who
understand this sentiment of living beings and love others with the
thought, 'I should not kill, I should not give them any trouble because
they love their life as much as I love my own life', are true sa'dhus
and those who lack this sentiment are not sa'dhus, they are asa'dhu." (AV-2)
A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE
Thus there is a heaven and hell difference between the Christian method
and the golden standard of AM.
Because the Christian golden rule is based on one's own desire-- i.e.
what one wishes to receive-- while in AM our approach is based
recognising the inherent rights and existential value of others. It is
based on love and compassion.
It is for this very reason that as Ananda Margiis we do not eat meat
while the Christian do. We think that, 'Those animals love their lives
so it is my duty to serve and help them-- not kill them'. Whereas the
Christian rule dictates that, 'Since I like to eat animals I can eat
them and since I am not threatened by being eaten by them, I need not
think about how I should treat them'.
Thus in a fleeting moment the golden rule of Christianity overlooks the
rights of other beings-- whether they be animals or humans.
Because, as noted in the examples up above, those following the
Christian golden rule treat other humans based on their own selfishness
need-- totally overlooking the lives and honor of others:
'If I do not need wood, if I do not need my car fixed, if I am not in
danger of missing my mortgage payment, if I am not bothered by loud
music, if my country is not going to be invaded, then I need not worry
about others in that regard either. But if any of those things I want or
need, or if those things are my concern, then I must do that to my
neighbor so I will get that back from him.'
So the golden rule of Christianity is based on selfishness and nothing
more.
And that rule pervades each and every square inch of our western world.
So even those who are atheists in those lands are coloured by that mentality. Sadly enough.
So it is our duty to help remedy the situation.
BABA'S CRITIQUE OF THAT GOLDEN RULE
Here below Baba, critically condemns Christianity's golden rule as it is
just an expression of ego, nothing more.
Baba says, "But where such a [neo-humanistic mentality] is wanting,
where there is such a mental defect, or defect in the approach, the
approach is not neohumanistic. Where such a mentality is wanting, where
people are guided more by aham'tattva [doer “I”, ego], they say: “I am
doing, I am giving. This was done by me, that was done by me,” and so
on...They do not reach the sweetness of others’ “I” feelings, for they
are too preoccupied with themselves. Their approach is defective; their
path is not the path of neohumanism." (NHNS-1)
So, as Ananda Margiis we should be crystal clear on this defect. Because
the ways of Christianity and capitalism are now looming large on this
earth and we must be able to present a clear-cut distinction between
that egoistic approach and the neo-humanistic ways of AM.
Because people are looking for an alternative view, a better philosophy,
and only more and more will look in future as their lives become ravaged
by the greed and dogma of capitalism and Christianity.
The more prepared we are, the faster we can save the humanity from undue suffering.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace, only the golden ways of AM-- not any other so-called golden rule--
can lift the humanity out of its present plight and bring that balm of peace to the humanity.
Baba says, "Neohumanism is the only way – human beings will have to
accept it today or tomorrow." (NHNS-1)
Namaskar,
Cinmay
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Speciality of Our Marga
Baba says, "Ananda Marga is the path of human beings. The greatest
excellence of this Marga is that, after knowing the needs of human
beings and understanding their feeling, this "marg" (path) has been
propounded. About this, this is the most significant thing. That's all."
(CC-2, just after copyright page)
Note 1: The above was directly translated from Baba's own hand-written
Bengali guideline.
Note 2: This writing of Baba is present in many old editions of Bengali,
Hindi, and English versions of Caryacarya-II.
Note 3: In contrast the various religions are made with the selfish view
and in that way they infuse the dogma and exploit followers and the
common people.
Note 4: If someone is not aware of some of the rules of our Marga such
as why a particular rule has been formulated then the answer is hidden
in seed form in the above guideline of Baba. For example suppose someone
does not know why we always wear our pratik on the body 24 hrs per day
or why we repeat Guru Puja and Samgacchadhvam 3 times and not 2 or 4.
The answer of all these types of questions is also hidden in the above
guideline.
Note 5: In our Marga nothing is a dogma but nowadays a few crude and
dogmatic people are trying hard to establish or implement various dogmas
such as: so-called Mahaprayan, Fake Ananda Vaniis, etc. And other types
of things which do not have any logic to stand upon.
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