== STORY: PARTICIPANTS OF DOGMATIC MPD ==
Note: This year again the Tiljala camp is glorifying their dogmatic Mahaprayan\
program. Here is a personal story for us all to consider...
Namaskar,
One time I went back to my village and I learnt that my uncle, Harihara
Dasha (a non-margii) had been to Tiljala to attend our Gurudeva"s shraddha
function.
I asked him how he could attend it. He replied, "What a huge gathering! 24
hours the people were taking delicious food! 24hours kiirtana was going on!
A group of about 200 persons from our village & around our village led by
Bhaskar Jena went to Kolkata by train in a rally in the name of Proutist
Sarva Samaja Sammelan (a badge was given to everyone of them in lieu of
rs.10 only). We were fed nicely. We performed your kiirtana for a few hours
on those days & the rest of the time we spent visiting different sites in &
around Kolkata."
He showed his gratitude to Ananda Marga because of free lodging & boarding
provided by the organisers.
WHAT WE LEARN FROM THIS TRUE STORY
From the facts mentioned above it is quite evident that non-margiis are
brought to the function held in Tiljala from 21st Oct to 26th Oct every
year. They're allured or attracted by either free boarding & lodging for
six days by the organisers to observe such a dogmatic function.
MAHAPRAYAN IS A DOGMATIC CEREMONY
Whatever it is named as Mahaprayana or shraddhanjali or samkalpa divas the
non-margiis will name it "Shraddha", which is called as Dogma by Ananda
Marga philosophy. On such shraddha ceremonies the Hindus feed the people
freely, and donate clothes or valuable articles to their guests and the
public. In such functions "harekrshana hare rama" propagated by Shrii
Chaitanyamahaprabhu is sung by hired professional Kiirtana groups.
A CASE SCENARIO: MORE ABOUT THE DOGMA OF MPD
Now let's suppose someone is traveling by train or flight to Kolkata to
attend Mahaprayan Divas (MPD). If one co-passenger asks him about his
purpose of visit, he will definitely reply that he will attend Mahaprayan.
Then immediately the co-passenger will question 'What is mahaprayan?'
The traveler will explain, "On this particular day our Gurudeva left His
physical body, so we call it Mahaprayana."
Then that co-passenger will conclude by saying "Oh! You are going to attend
Shraddha ceremoney."
Here the point is that no matter what, if instead of Mahaprayana and
Samkalpdivas is named to this day, still then outside the marga it will be
termed as shraddha or death anniversrary.
Yet we know how Baba has condemned this dogmatic shraddha ceremony in
AV-III. Plus in Caryacarya He has clearly mentioned that our AM shraddha
function should be observed on any day within 12 days of the death of
deceased person.
PHYSICAL DISAPPEARANCE ALREADY OBSERVED
IT SHOULD NOT BE REPEATED ANNUALLY AS MPD
One Dada has recently correctly written that "Ba'ba' is Taraka Brahma who
is a personal entity-not impersonal entity." For personal entities shraddha
should be observed within 12 days. It is a fact we've already observed on
29th October,1990. Therefore it shouln't be repeated.
POST 1990 HISTORY OF DOGMATIC SHRADDHA IN OUR MARGA
All are aware that Maha'prayan'a literally means 'Great Departure', but
commonly means 'death' of any mortal being.
Our Revered Sadguru, Lord Shrii Shrii A'nandamurttijii, left His physical
frame on 21st October 1990 & His physical body was cremeted on 26th October
1990.
After this when it was announced by A'c Devashraddha'nanda Avt that
shra'ddha function would be held in Tiljala with all the units around the
globe on 29th Oct'90. The then general secretary A'c.Sarvatmananda shouted,
"Not shraddha, say Shraddhanjali". Then it corrected as Shraddhanjali.
At that time, I thought, 'Baba might have mentioned about the difference
about Shraddha & shraddhanjali in Varna Vicitra or shabda cayanika.
Sarvatmananda must be knowing better because he was very close to Him.'
But still today, till now I am searching for it in Baba's books, and I
couldn't find it.
Every year some followers are observing a get-together in the name of
Mahaprayana along with non-followers of Anandamarga in Tiljala for six days
from 21st October to 26th Oct. The question arises "Whose Great Departure
takes place every year in Tiljala?"
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's divine grace He alone is the infinite, eternal Entity who is the
Goal and by His grace He resides forever in the hearts of His devotees.
Those who celebrate the so-called Mahaprayan programme should give up their
dogmatic habit and instead come onto the path of bliss and realise His
Divine and Eternal Self. Parama Pita Baba Ki-- Jai!!
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. Unit beings must be made to appreciate Its
majesty." (CC-II p.1)
Namaskar,
Panda
Note 1: GROUP INTEREST IN MIND
Certain dogmatic leaders do this dogmatic MPD event because they get
economic benefit etc and they get some followers. This we all know. For
that reason they are willing to propagate the Baba is gone, and along the
way they fool some naive and innocent margiis who participate in their
dogmatic programme. It is Just like how crude Muslim and Christian leaders
have lots of followers. The followers naively follow the dogmatic edicts of
those religious leaders. That is the way those religions work. Same thing
with the dogma Mahaprayan. However, as more and more margiis understand
that Mahaprayan is anti-Baba, then they give up attending this dogmatic
programme. And that is what we see happening nowadays.
Note 2: PARAMA PURUSA RESIDES IN THE HEART
It is Baba's infinite grace that He always remains in the heart of His
devotees. When this eternal fact is known, then what is the question of
going to dogmatic MPD program and think that Baba is gone. Because that is
what MPD says. Rather we should adopt the devotional cult and seek Him
within-- realising that He is always with us.
Baba says, "Parama Purus'a always remains with you, within the very core of
your heart. So search within, O spiritual aspirant, not without, but within,
within your very existence." (AV-12, p.41)
Note 3: HE ALWAYS REMAINS WITHIN US
In Ananda Sutram Sutra 2-10, Baba describes this eternal truth. That
Parama Purusa is living 24 hrs with devotees and one should not search HIM
outside by avoiding His presence inside the mind.
[2-10] Otahprotah yoga'bhya'm' sam'yuktah Purus'ottamah
"Purusottoma, the Nucleus of the universe, is the witness of and is
directly concerned with every unit entity."
And in Karma Yoga book, Baba says:
Madbhakta Yatra Gayanti Tatra Tist'hami Na'radah
Baba explains, "Where My devotees laugh, cry, sing and dance and remain
intoxicated in my name at that place only I love to remain."
It is clear from the above shloka and explanation by Baba, that Parama
Purusa lives in the hearts of devotees. Where they sing kiirtan He remains.
As we know Baba in Prabhat Samgiita number 4425 Baba wrote like this. Baba
says,
"Vrnda'vanam parityajya pa'damekam na gaccha'mi..."
"I am always eternally present in Vrindavan, in the hearts of devotees.
That is Guru cakra. I do not go even a little away from that. I am
eternally present along with the devotees."
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Not Good but Great
Our ideal in life is not to become good, but rather great. That is our
endeavour: We must stand for the ways of dharma and not less than that.
Baba says, "There are many good people in the society-- noble people
engaged in noble deeds-- who are not ready to fight against wrongs and
injustices. This sort of passive benevolence does not promote the cause of
human progress in the world. What is desirable is to acquire virtue by
doing noble deeds and fighting against all sins and crimes. Both are
mandatory, both are an integral part of dharma." (AV-8, p.51)
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