Sex is not the Goal

Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 22:34:55 -0600 To: AM-GLOBAL From: "Paul Paltrow" Subject: Sex is not the Goal Baba "Kato je d'eke gechi toma're, shon'o ni, tumi a'sa ni..." (P.S. #2207) Purport: Baba, I have so much longing for You. With that feeling I go on calling You. But neither do You listen to my call, nor do You come close. Although they say that You listen to the feeling of the mind. That You listen to all the thought waves which sprout in the mind, because You are sitting right there in the mind. Although they say like that, to me it seems like You are not residing in the mind. You are not there. That's why You do not understand the feeling of longing which I have for You. I do not know whether You do not have capacity to listen to my feeling, or whether You listen to my feeling of the mind but knowingly You do not respond. This is Your divine play. But this divine play of Yours is very painful for me. You are giving me pain by not caring about my longing. It may be possible that my cry reaches to Your ears, but it does not touch Your mind. That's why You do not give any response. Baba, please tell me that except You who is mine? You know nobody is mine, that's why I open my heart to You. Many tales which up till now I did not tell You, those feelings of my heart I will tell You. Baba, I have so much longing and yearning for You. Why are You not listening. Please pay heed to my call and come close...

== SEX IS NOT THE GOAL ==

Namaskar, We are living in a world where same sex marriages are gaining momentum. For those who may not be aware, a same sex marriage means a man marrying another man, or a woman marrying another woman. From the US to India, from Germany to Brazil, there is increasing interest and public acceptance of same sex marriages. It has even become legal in some states, provinces, and countries around the globe. At present, more than a few states in the US have made it legal. This has spurred heightened support in other regions of the world. As Ananda Margiis - as Proutists - we should clearly understand AM's position on this sizzling & controversial issue.

AM MARRIAGES & THE GENERAL SOCIETY

As in many spheres of life, the perspective of our Ananda Marga on the issue of marriage is quite different from what goes on in the general society. In our Marga, marriages are strictly for society building - i.e. creating a nurturing and stable environment for birthing and raising children. That is the defining point of marriage in Ananda Marga. In contrast, most of the relationships in the today's materialistic culture are sexually based. People quickly enter into lustful relationships, fall in love (temporarily), and then may or may not produce children - with or without getting married. In that case, children are mere by-products of sensual escapades. Pregnancy often comes when the parents either do not want or are not in a position to properly raise a child. This type of thing is happening everywhere and is only growing as the degrading ways of materialism spread.

SEX-BASED MARRIAGES & HOMOSEXUALITY

The main point then is that AM marriages are for creating a stable family environment and relations in the general society are for the selfish pleasure, i.e. sex. Given the current climate in the general society, it is no wonder then that homosexuality is gaining ground around the globe. Because when materialism preaches that sensual pleasure is everything, then it does not matter who is doing the sex - whether it be a wealthy older man with a 19 year old girl, two lesbians, two gay guys, or whatever. Since it is all sex based - and the goal is lustful fulfillment - then anything goes. Because it is all founded on the lowly principle of selfish, sensual pleasure. With just a bit more degradation in the society, adults may even embark on sexual relations with sheep, and it will be socially acceptable. Because, after all, if sex is the defining point of a relationship, then it does not matter who or what is involved.

AM OPPOSES SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Since the "union" of two men or the "union" of two women are not biologically capable of producing children, then according to the perspective of Ananda Marga, that union or marriage cannot be supported. In that case our aim on this issue is towards education and rectification. We are to teach people that the goal of life is not lustful pleasure but spiritual attainment. The mind's desire is infinite, and that infinite desire cannot be fulfilled by limited carnal pleasures, like sex. Always the mind will want something more. A millionaire wants to become a billionaire, an older man is not satisfied with his aging wife and instead turns toward a new young honey for his sexual satisfaction. Why? Because of looking for supreme fulfillment in the wrong way, in a limited way. Where materialism reigns, such things are the norm. People are even praised and respected for doing this. Such is the height of materialism in our present era. To take it s step further, some even come into fame for making films of themselves having sex with their chosen partner. Thus sex really is placed on some type of holy pedestal. In that environment, it is hardly surprising to witness the rise of viagara, homosexuality, same sex marriages and anything else related with sex. In response our educational goals are two-fold: To introduce people to spiritual ideals so they will not view sex as the main thing in life, and help rectify and counsel those people who practice gay and lesbian relations. After all they should not be shunned or pushed away. Gay and lesbian people should be taught spiritual practices, given a sentient diet, and encouraged to lead a moral life according to yama and niyama. The bottom line then is that in our Ananda Marga, there is no space or place for same sex marriages. That practice cannot be supported, yet the people involved in such a practice should be helped and guided properly.

SO-CALLED OPEN-MINDED PERSPECTIVE

One sticking point in all of this is that some educated liberals around the globe have equated accepting gay and lesbian relations and same sex marriages as being a sign of one's broad-minded outlook. In response, the middle class elite and the intelligentsia think that, "If I do not support same sex marriages then I will be looked upon as being in the dark ages, just like the Catholic church." However, following dharma is the quality of a broad-minded person, not one who latches on to some far out idea just because it is the opposite from what the dogmatic church preaches. For more information on this point of broad-mindedness and homosexuality, please refer to the following link.

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2008/01/gay-marriage-stand-of-ananda-marga.html

FALSE JUSTIFICATION: BABA LOVES ALL, THEN WHY NOT ALLOW GAY MARRIAGES

The logic stands clear: AM marriages are for society building purposes only; same sex marriages are based on lustful desires and cannot produce children; therefore same sex marriages cannot be condoned or supported by AM. That is the whole story in a nutshell. Even then some in our Marga are confused. They say, "Baba loves all, including gay and lesbian people, so we should allow gays and lesbians to involve in same sex marriages. They have that right." However there is an inherent flaw in that justification. For instance, by that logic we can also say that, "Baba loves all, including criminals, so we should allow criminals to involve in their criminal activity. They have that right." Here the main point is that, Yes, Baba loves all, but that does not mean He supports their practice or approach to life. Baba loves all, including meat-eaters and drug addicts, but that does not mean we should therefore place a positive spin on eating meat or doing drugs etc. The main point is that we have to differentiate between the person and their chosen activity. Baba loves all because He has infinite love for all of creation, but that does not mean that He therefore supports their way of living. Rather, all the teachings of AM are given to inspire people to adopt a dharmic way of life. Thus the faulty argument that, "Baba loves all so we should support the legal right of gays and lesbians to marry", can never be considered to be ideological or consonant with the teachings of AM. Just as the legalisation of drugs and prostitution has led to the further degradation of society in those areas, same will be the case if same sex marriages are made legal. With no other ideal in same sex marriage than that of sexual lust, degradation is all that remains.

BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's grace He has given the teachings of neo-humanism. People should be educated and guided to free their mind from dogmas like same sex marriage and taught how to satiate their mental longing in a sentient and spiritual way. Our way is not to shun anyone but rather to rectify those whose life practices are counter-productive or harmful. Today, society is polarising on all kinds of issues, including same sex marriage. By clearly understand AM's stand we will be able to propagate the gospel of neo-humanism.

Satyameva jayate...

Baba says, "It is satya that ultimately wins. I shall call only that satya, behind which there is a sentiment of benevolence for others. Falsehood or untruth never triumphs. It never can. It may succeed for a time but that success is only prognostic of dire defeat. Satya widens and smooths the most difficult and thorny path of salvation. It is through such a path that a desireless sage attains proximity to that most sublime treasure of satya – the Supreme Spirit." (SS-2) Namaskar, Punya'tman

Note 1: MORE ABOUT THE HOMOSEXUAL ISSUE

Here is another article on homosexuality that may be of interest.

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2008/01/why-homosexuality.html

************************************************* Far Reaching Effect

Baba says, "In the world today a handful of people who do no physical work, but live by their wits, have appropriated to themselves most of the wealth of umanity, so they are able to buy comparatively expensive foods, and use them to satisfy their taste buds. As result, they, on the one hand, swell their unnecessary fat, while, on the other hand, those people doing hard manual labour are forced to live in poverty and deprived of the ghee, butter and sweets they need to maintain their bodies; they have nothing to compensate properly the energy they expend, and they become weak, emaciated and broken in health. On account of malnutrition and excessive hard labour, they fall victim to tuberculosis." (YT, p. 82-83)

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