== ROLE OF MARGIIS BEFORE WTS & AFTER ==
Namaskar,
It is well known that family margiis have played a tremendous role in
the start-up, growth, and development of Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha
(AMPS).
Indeed, the first 7 or 8 years of organisational life, there were no
Wts. It was those dedicated margiis who preached the gospel of AM. And
even thereafter the creation of the wholetimer cadre, Baba continued to
place great responsibility on family margiis.
Unfortunately, after 1990, in a destructive and systematic fashion,
certain group leaders demolished many aspects of the margii side of the
organisation. The Bhukti Pradhan (BP) post has become mostly a farce, as
group leaders fix elections to put their stooges in power; then they
relegate those few good BPs to the dustbin, having no voice at all.
Plus, the PKB post and other top margiis posts have been all but
eliminated. By victimising and abusing those margii postholders, those
positions have become eradicated enitrely, or remain as mere skeletons
of the way things were prior 1990.
Let's take a brief look back and see the grand role margiis have had in
the formation of AMPS. Hopefully, this will help kindle the flame and
again allow margiis to play a prominent role.
SENIOR MARGIIS REQUESTED BY BABA TO TOUR GLOBE
While certainly many family margiis have had leading roles in AMPS, the
story of Bakthavathsalamji of Salem (Tamil Nadu) certainly comes to mind.
Bakthavathsalamji along with senior margi brother, the late Sri B.V.
Rajagopalan of Coimbatore (South India), travelled to Europe upon Baba's
request to do AM pracar and participate in the first AM Global
Conference held in Mainz, Germanay, and in the first Prout Convention in
Paris, France.
Those days, it was no small matter to travel from India to Europe, and
those were inaugural conferences and conventions, yet Baba entrusted the
vital responsibility of AM representative upon two family margiis.
In particular, Bakthavathsalamji and Rajagopalanji focused on pracar
efforts in Germany, France, Italy, and Switzerland.
Then on a separate tour, Bakthavathsalamji was requested by Baba to do
AM pracar in Southeast Asia, in countries and places such as
Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Along with many other duties and responsbilities, Bakthavathsalamji was
chosen as the master translator Whenever Baba visited to South India &
Tamilnadu.
MARGIIS PLAY A HUGE ROLE
So we see that Sadguru Baba placed great trust and faith in margiis. And
certainly the above is not at all an isolated case.
During Baba's time, the PKB designation, Purna Ka'lik Bandhu or 'Whole
Time Friend of the Marga', held great honor, respect, and responsibility.
Indeed there is essentially no practical difference between PKB (Purna
Ka'lika Bandhu) and WT (Purna Ka'lika Karmii). Both are full-time for
the Marga-- the only difference being the first is Bandu and the later
is Karmii.
Who can forget how top margiis like Sri Dharmenrda Rao of Devariya
worked full-time as PKB in India.
Other notable PKBs were Harishankarji who was involved in Society
Building Department, Pratapadityaji who worked in Publications
Department in Tiljala, and Dr Suresh who was the in-charge at clinic in
Tiljala.
All these aforementioned margiis and so many others made great
contributions at the lotus feet of Baba for the development and growth
of AM.
With their full mind and heart, they did whatever was demanded of them
and more, for the welfare of our Marga. Such margiis were eager to serve
Baba and play a great role in the development of AMPS.
Still today, so many margiis have such a strong desire, but due to the
present organisational climate there is little or no scope for margiis
to take on such roles. It is a terrible tragedy that today, that entire
enterprise of the Marga has dried up due to the selfish and exploitative
behaviours of certain top group leaders.
Sadly, we do not see margiis being used in the organisation in a dynamic
way these days.
GREAT BENEFIT TO BE HAD
All in all there is great benefit to be gained by allowing family
margiis to play a dynamic role. And indeed it is not a question of
"allowing margiis", but rather paying heed to Baba's wish: It is the
birthright of margiis to have a prominent role. That is Baba's design
and edict.
By tapping into the great potential of family margiis, our organisation
will increase its resources and capacity many fold. Plus, by these
experiences, family margiis will become more dynamic and capable. And
our wholetimers will have a better support structure and will be able to
focus more on acarya type of programs, not just money-making etc.
So there is lots to be gained in all respects by creative a truly
coordinated cooperative structure as in the days prior to 1990.
BABA'S BLESSING
By remember the great contributions and dynamic role margiis had in
Baba's time, we will create a dynamic AMPS at the earliest.
Baba says, "What I said just now is that now humanity is at the
threshold of a new era. And so many epoch-making events, so many annals
of history, are to be created by you boys and you girls. Be ready to
shoulder that responsibility of ages to come. You boys and you girls,
what do you say? Are you ready for your revised duties and
responsibilities?" (AFPS-5)
Namaskar,
Parashram
Note 1: MORE ABOUT BAKTHAVATHSALAMJI
For everyone's awareness, here is more about the dynamic history of
Bakthavathsalamji's dedicated involvement in the Marga.
By Baba's wish, Bakthavathsalamji got imprisoned during Indian Energency
in the years 1975 to 1977 for 21 months in Chennai Central prison. At
the end of that time, he was in Salem prison along with the then P. A .
Ramanandaji & Shiveshwaranandaji.
And so many other incidents took place in the life of this humble soul
in service to Lord Baba. And he always feels himself only to be a
machine in the hands of Baba, just to inspire others.
In 1964 Bakthavathsalamji got initiated and within 15 days got the
opportunity to hear Baba on one of His finest topic 'THE STANCE OF
SALVATION AND HOW TOATTAIN IT' at Salem itself. And he got his 1st
lession revised by Baba in 1965 on Tiger's Tomb at Jamalpur & much
later on his insistence & by His Grace received microvita sadhana in
1987 at Tiljala.
Bakthavathsalamji was present when the eternal song of Proutists was
sung by Baba with all the melody during a visit to Baba in Bankipur Jail
after his release from the prison.
And top of all it is His grace how Baba loves us through ordeals and
crisis. His grace is causeless and endless.
Note 2: PKBs and WTs ARE THE SAME
Indeed there is essentially no practical difference between PKB (Purna
Ka'lika Bandhu) and WT (Purna Ka'lika Karmii). Both are full-time for
the Marga-- the only difference being the first is Bandu and the later
is Karmii.
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Good Sadhaka
Baba says, "The mind of the man whose consciousness or discriminating
judgement is awakened-- whose power of judgment is intense, always
remains wedded to the 'Buddhi'. That is to say, his rein (mind) remains
constantly under the control of the charioteer (Buddhi or discriminating
intellect), and so, quite naturally, his organs remain loyal to the
Buddhi. Random rambles of the organ-like horses (organs) will cut no ice
with him. But in a case like this if the horses (organs) be bad and
untrained, i.e. the organs are faulty, it becomes impossible for the
charioteer (discriminating intellect) to get the desired result. Hence
for the right functioning of the chariot (body), well-trained horses
(organs) are indispensable. A sadhaka (spiritual aspirant) also should
train himself likewise. His mind, body, intellect, and organs should be
directed towards the Blissful Spirit
(Shreya)." (SS-4, p.9)
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