== DOGMAS LIKE MPD TAKE ONE LAST RIDE BEFORE THEIR DEATH ==
Namaskar,
All around the globe every member of our A'nanda Ma'rga family has realised
in their heart this unquestionable truth that: Mahaprayan (MPD) is dogma.
There is no counter reply to this statement-- neither in the sphere of
logic nor in the sphere of devotion. Even then in a couple places such as
at the NYSO a few crusty organisers are making last-ditch efforts to
justify their dogma by planning a week-long MPD program.
So on the one side it is well-known that Mahaprayan is an anti-devotional
affair and no one likes it, yet some are still clinging desperately
in hopes of resuscitating their failed Mahaprayan agenda.
THE ODDITY AT HAND
After raising this conundrum / phenomenon with other margiis, some gave a
top-notch reply which is summarised here below.
They basically told that it is a fact that rational margiis do not support
the crude dogmatic idea of Mahaprayan. And it is also the case that some group
leaders are working hard to gather support for their MPD program.
DOGMAS FLARE UP JUST BEFORE DYING
Whenever a dogma is about to die then-- just like the flame of a candle
which rises up one last time before extinguishing-- that dying dogma will
try to flourish one last time before ultimately plunging to its final death.
In our human history tremendous progress has been made in so many realms--
especially with regards to the sanctity of human life. No longer are
innocent people burned in ritualistic sacrifices; instead we now talk of
extending cardinal human rights to one and all. In this way so many
positive changes have occurred.
Yet at each and every level of change there was both (a) the large majority
ready to usher in the new era and (b) a couple of scraggly mongers who
desperately were clutching trying to hold on to their dying dogma.
For example when nasty ways of polygamy were outlawed in various lands,
then those remaining polygamists pushed harder and harder to justify their
immoral position. And similarly the dogma of Fundamental Christians has
gotten totally exposed, and the common people are rejecting it; yet those
Fundamentalist preachers grab more tighty onto their crude beliefs. And
like this there are countless examples how people do not like to leave
their dogma.
So that is the way: Just before the death of any dogmatic idea a few gather
round to defend it-- but in fact its death cannot be averted.
A FEW ANALOGIES FROM THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
Such things happen in the animal kingdom also. The creatures of darkness
make the most amount of noise just before the light of the new dawn is
about to come. Because those creatures are afraid of the coming of the day,
so they rattle their final sounds as the night ends-- desperately trying to
hold on to the darkness that is slipping from their grasp.
Or it is just like those monkey mothers who cling onto their dead infants.
Because whenever one of their offspring dies then they will carry that
lifeless body around with them for days-- or weeks etc. Never wanting to
leave it behind.
SAME WITH MPD
Likewise Mahaprayan is lifeless and totally rotten-- its poplularity is
gone; yet one or two do not like to give up their dogmatic ways of MPD.
BABA'S TEACHING: DEFENDERS OF DOGMA BECOME MORE DOGMATIC
Hence Baba pointedly explains how those defenders of dogma make their last
stand by clutching tightly to their favourite dogma. This is the common way
that it works.
Because when any dogma gets exposed by the freshness of sentient logic,
then static-minded people dig themselves deeper and deeper into their
dogmatic view-- and they invent more fake meanderings (i.e dogma) to defend
their initial dark belief.
Baba says, "When an intellectual doctrine is proven invalid in the battle
of logic, and ultimately shown to be dogmatic, what happens? The
characteristic of dogma is to expand more and more. Do you know what
expands when it is cut? The answer is a pencil, a pond and dogma. If
someone tries to root out a dogma from people's mind they tend to use even
more dogma to justify their present dogma." (APH-6)
HAPPENING WITH THE DOGMA OF MAHAPRAYAN ALSO
So this is what we are witnessing nowadays with regards to Mahaprayan. Each
and every Margii recognises that Baba is that effulgent Divine Entity who
resides eternally in our heart. Yet the dogma of Mahaprayan (MPD) itself
proclaims that Baba has left-- that He is gone. That is the meaning behind
Mahaprayan.
That is why step by step margiis are dharmically opposing and lashing out
against this crude MPD dogma. Thus with no other recourse, a few static and
stubborn defenders of Mahaprayan try harder and harder to justify their
sinking ship. And they invent new dogmas and more illogical ways of
supporting their negative idea: Like extending their celebration of
Mahaprayan etc.
But who is going to be attracted by such a faulty approach when the very
notion of Mahaprayan dictates that Baba is gone. The very dogmatic seed of
Mahaprayan directly contradicts the inherent beauty of our devotional and
spiritual life. Because Baba is that Parama Purusa who remains along with
us all the time, forever. He is our constant companion-- remaining always
in our hearts.
BABA IS ALWAYS WITH US
Baba says, "Vrnda'vanam parityajya pa'damekam na gaccha'mi..." (PS 4425)
"I am always eternally present in Vrindavan, in the hearts of devotees.
That is the Guru cakra. I do not go even a little away from that.
I am eternally present along with the devotees."
So Baba is residing in everyone's heart-- that is where He remains.
"Dura't sudure tadiha'ntike ca..."
Baba says, "Only the one who looks into the inner most recesses of oneself
can realise the Supreme Entity.... the bhaktas or devotees say, 'He is
near, so near that the distance is immeasurable.' Those who have eyes to
see, see that Parama Purus'a is in the core of their hearts; He is within
the very existence of each and every entity, so there is no necessity of
moving about in search of Him. He resides within the very "I- feeling" of
everyone." (AMIWL)
So by Baba's grace each and every devotee-- each and every Ananda Margii--
feels Baba's divine presence in their heart.
UNFORTUNATE STANCE OF THOSE DEFENDING MPD DOGMA
Whereas those who grip onto the dogma of Mahaprayan adopt an opposite
stance-- because their negative doctrine states that Baba is totally gone.
Because "maha" means 'great' or 'final', and "prayan" means 'departure' or
'death'. So Mahaprayan means Baba is gone-- or worse. So knowingly or
unknowingly anyone following this MPD dogma is pushing Baba far, far away.
This is the tragic fate of those unfortunate beings who defend the dogma of
Mahaprayan.
Baba says, "Du'r'a't sudure: if people think that Parama Purus'a is far
from them, then He is very, very far. Du'ra means far and sudu'ra means so
far that the human mind cannot even imagine it." (SS-11, p. 65)
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's Grace, He-- our Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji-- is that infinite
Eternal Entity. This is the special blessing on all Ananda Margiis: To have
Him, the Taraka Brahma, as the Guru. Thus everything we do in life should
be part & parcel of our movement toward His Divine Self-- towards this Goal.
Baba says, "The one formless, beginningless and infinite Parama Brahma
(Supreme Consciousness) is the only entity to be attained by living beings--
That alone is Jagat Guru (the Supreme preceptor), That alone has revealed
Brahmavidya (intuitional science) to us through the medium of the name and
form of Anandamurtijii." (Caryacarya-2, p.1, point #1)
Namaskar,
Karma Rasa
Note 1: WHO ARE THE WELL-WISHERS & WHO ARE THE...
So those spirited people guide who others along the path of devotion are
the well-wishers of society-- they are the sadvipras. Whereas those who
selfishly misguide innocent people onto the path of degeneration and
encourage negative dogmas like Mahaprayan, such persons are the enemies of
humanity.
Baba says, "If people can properly ideate on Parama Purus'a, they will
realise Brahma. On imbibing cosmic ideation all kinds of ailments will be
cured...Those who will assist in this human progress are the sadvipras.
Those who are trying to obstruct human progress are veritable demons in
human form (Ra'ks'asa)."
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Animals Are More Aware About...
Baba says, "A crow has a natural premonitive instinct regarding storms. An
owl and to some extent a dog can sense beforehand the possible occurrence
of an earthquake or some other unforeseen natural calamity of great
magnitude. Such power of apprehending phenomenal vibrations exists not in
ten or twenty but in innumerable species of birds. Such a power is indeed
of paramount necessity in their rigorous struggle for survival. Such a
power did exist, too, to some extent, among the prehistoric people. But
today, in this age of so-called civilization, human beings, having become
extremely ease-loving, have lost that power through misuse and lack of
necessity; just as their tails, their ability to move their ears and their
capacity to hold things with their feet have disappeared. Now the
hairiness of their bodies and the strength of their teeth and nails are
also becoming extinct. The greater the pre-occupation of creatures with
the struggle for existence, the necessarily greater must be their power of
premonition or prescience of impending danger, or else their existence will
be effaced from the surface of the earth -- this is the law of nature." (SS-3)
Note: People often think that animals are lowly & neglected beings but that
is not true. As Baba points out above, animals are far more aware about
naturally occurring phenomena than human beings. On this point animals are
highly instinctual and are always surveying the scene. They can forecast
and predict a wide array of storms and natural calamities. In the above
quote Baba indicates how humans also used to have such abilities, but now
with the onset of modernity and a comfort-oriented lifestyle, humans have
lost this skill. So now modern people are entirely dependent upon science
to forecast the weather etc. But as developed as science is, scientists
(meteorologists and seismologists) are still totally in the dark about
earthquakes. They are unable to predict when and where an earthquake might
occur; whereas various animals like dogs and owls have this unique gift.
That's why the recent earthquake unleashed in Pakistan, many dogs
reportedly started behaving abnormally. They were restless, walking around
whimpering, and going in and out of the house constantly. The dogs knew
about the impending disaster that was about to strike Pakistan, and parts
of India. In contrast, modern scientists did not have a clue than an
earthquake was about to occur. But the dogs know. And those smart people
who understood why the dogs were upset were able to help themselves and
others also. So in future, we should rely upon animals to guide us about
when and where natural disasters will strike. While dogs know about
earthquakes, crows know about cyclones. Similarly there are numerous
animals that are acutely aware about impending storms and natural disasters.
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