== WORSHIPERS OF STATUS QUO & DOGMA ==
Namaskar,
On Nov 18, 19, & 20, there is a global meeting being held in Alibag,
near Mumbai India. Of course all in our Marga wish for there to be peace
and harmony in our AM family. At the same time, with our rational minds
and good judgment, we have to carefully evaluate the best way to achieve
this.
LONG HISTORY OF REFORMIST PEACE MEETINGS
Our human society has a long history of attempting to bring people
together via reformist type of gatherings.
Gandhiji tried to bring all religions together under one roof in hopes
of creating peace. It did not work.
Various social activists tried to bring the various races together,
under faulty slogans like 'separate but equal' etc, in hopes of creating
peaceful co-habitation, that also did not work.
Why? Because to create peace and harmony one must wipe out dogma and
exploitation, and then people will be able to freely live together.
But neither Gandhi nor social activists did this. Gandhi tried to give a
place to all religious dogmas as if that would bring a proper outcome.
And so many social activists tried to make peaceful cohabitation between
white and black or between brahmins and harijans without wiping out the
unjust laws that led to the existing disparities.
Here the whole point is that to bring peace and tranquility in the
social sphere, dogmas must be abolished. Then there can be a society in
the true sense of the word. Bringing people together in hopes of
creating peace without addressing the ills of the day will not be
fruitful. Rather one will only be supporting the status quo, whether
they realise it or not.
BABA'S WAY
That is why at each and very step, Baba eradicated dogma and put forth a
brilliant ideology. He never compromised with communists, capitalists,
or dogmatic priests etc. He never held meetings or summits with the
so-called leaders of the day. That type of black peace Baba does not
appreciate. Rather He has given a high ideal and called for everyone to
embrace it-- by that way dogmas get smashed to dust and a new universal
feeling can be embraced by humanity.
Up till 1990, this is the way things were moving in AM, and there was a
lot of progress and growth. AM was dharmic.
Unfortunately since 1990, we have moved in the opposite direction by
falling into various sects and groupist regimes where dogmatic factional
agendas govern our Marga, not the dharma of AM ideology.
The way to being our Marga back on its feet is to embrace Baba's dharmic
formula: Aim for a high ideal and eradicate dogma. Never are we to
compromise and try to create some sort of black peace between dogmatic
factions etc.
THE AGENDA OF THE UPCOMING "PEACE" MEETING
Unfortunately, the agenda of the upcoming meeting in Alibag is more of
an all-groups conference, a la Gandhi's all-religions gatherings, and
not a meeting of the minds on dharma.
With all due respect to the organisers, Baba's approach is to wipe out
the dogma of groupism and establish ourselves in universalism. But those
hosting the Alibag meeting have put forth the edict that,
"No group criticism will be permitted".
In other words, the very dogmatic existence of groupism will be tolerated and
honored, and the status quo shall live on. That is their condition and stipulation
for the upcoming conference in Alibag: "No group criticism will be permitted".
Perhaps their inner intention is something else. But according to the
rule of their conference, they are walking the same path of Gandhiji,
wherein extreme social discord is the only possible outcome, not peace.
Maintaining and upholding the ills of the status quo can never bring
relief and equality to society. That is why Baba never adopted such
poorly contrived policies. Instead, Baba was always the first to put a
halt to dogma and then rally everyone around a high ideal. He would
never compromise with other people's lowly agenda of dogma this or dogma
that.
Yet, it appears the conference in Alibag is all about compromising with
and accepting the dogma of groupism. Because when the very institution
of groupism is being upheld by the precepts of this conference, then
that means groupism itself is being sanctioned. In which case, the
entire premise of the conference is to make so-called peace between the
dogmatic and warring factions. Nothing more.
BABA'S WARNINGS
Before we make haste and proceed to Alibag, let us consider Baba's
guidelines. I do not think the these below quotes need any introduction
or explanation.
Baba says, "Keep aloof from...all sorts of groupism." (Fifteen Shiilas,
pt #9)
Baba says, "The more their groupism and numbers increased, the more
conflict developed." (AFPS-4)
Baba says, "we will not be able to move ahead if we compromise with all
the disparities and inequalities of collective life [like the dogma of
groupism etc]. We should eradicate all these inequalities, while at the
same time we move together towards our spiritual goal." (NH-LOI, Disc:6)
BABA'S BLESSING
The organisers and attendees of the upcoming Alibag conference may
indeed desire peace in our Marga, but so long as they willingly accept
the existence of groupism, their aim for peace will never be achieved.
One must not worship the ills of the status quo and honor dogmas like
groupism. Rather we should bravely march to the universalistic ideals of
AM, wiping out dogma at every step.
Baba says, "All dogma must be rooted out. You should start a revolution
against dogma. But to start a revolution you need courage. So gather
that courage and start a revolution against dogma." (PNS-16)
Namaskar,
Pavitra
*****************************************
MISUNDERSTANDING WIPED AWAY
Baba says, "When they [sadhakas] reach a very subtle stage of elevation,
their concentrated mind-stuff speeds towards Him with the
one-pointedness of an arrow. Such a mentality is called Ra'dha'." (NKS,
'97 Edn, p. 53-4)
Note: Some ignorant people think that Radha is a female of Vrindaban.
But that is not true. 'A-grade' devotees are Radha.
*****************************************
