== WRONG APPROACH ==
Namaskar,
We all want there to be peace and harmony in our Marga - all want unity.
Certainly everyone wishes their local jagrti be a reflection of true unity.
To ensure that our approach towards unity is headed in right direction,
we should all consider the following. Please do respond with your
thoughts and comments.
Note: This letter is related with an earlier posting:
http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/03/ignorance.html
"MORALISTS OF THE WORLD - UNITE"
This letter is about a present-day issue in and around the new Faridabad
jagrti, and this remembrance of being with Baba is deeply linked with
this topic.
Who can forget those blissful times during meetings and reportings in
front of Baba when we would raise the slogan: "Moralists of the world -
Unite!" This was often done - full of dharmic energy, fueled by His
divine vibration.
Those were indeed very inspiring and dynamic occasions.
Embedded within that were two points: (1) Unity is needed, (2) not any
type of unity, but the unity of moralists.
Baba does not want that communists, or politicians, or capitalists
should be "united". Then they will exert their nefarious ways on the
common people and create untold suffering. This we have certainly seen.
Nor does Baba want "unity" to be created amongst groupists. That will
not bode well for our Marga as then all the groupist dogmas will be
imposed and enforced.
The only type of unity Baba wants is the unity of moralists. That is
true unity, and not some type of negative compromise or black pact.
GROUPISM CAN SWALLOW UP A JAGRTI
Unfortunately, since 1990, amongst our Marga leadership, there has been
more groupism than morality. In that case, even new jagrtis become tools
of factional fighting as opposed to places where ideology is preached.
SITUATION #1:
ABODE OF FAKE ANANDA VANII
To better understand that situation, let's review this hypothetical
scenario.
Suppose a jagrti is built with the understanding that all will be
welcome to participate at all programs held in the jagrti. At first
glance, it seems like a harmless and innocent approach. One might even
call it open-minded.
Yet because the various factions (to some or more degree) have
representation in the jagrti, then when New Year's day arrives and it is
time to read the Vanii, some want to read the B group Fake Ananda Vanii,
some want to read the H group Fake Ananda Vanii, some want to read the
EC group Fake Ananda Vanii, and some want to read one of Baba's dharmic
and true Ananda Vaniis.
If there are an equal number of people advocating each, they may come up
with some sort of "black peace" - and all the so-called or Fake Vaniis
might be read.
If there is a dominance of one group, i.e. if there are more B group
oriented persons etc, a fight may erupt, and those in the dominant
faction may take over the scene and have their Fake Vanii read, and
those interested in reading the Fake Vanii from H group may get kicked
out of the jagrti entirely.
Such is the very real outcome if any group interest is allowed to crop
up or take root in any new or old jagrti. And such instances do indeed
arise. It happens.
Of course no one wants to think or admit that they themselves are
groupist - everyone professes to be carrying Baba's teachings. With this
in mind, people move ahead valiantly when they build a jagriti. But
until all the groupist dogmas are exposed and eradicated, true unity
cannot be attained. Passively accepting the existence of groups and
their agendas is totally harmful.
So unless one is outrightly opposing groupist dogmas, then one is
enabling them. We can all ask ourselves to what degree we are doing this.
Hence, Fake Ananda Vaniis must be eliminated as well as all groupist
dogmas. Otherwise those groupists will continue to set our Marga ablaze
with one or another dogma like: The dogma of Mahaprayan, the Fake BP
Manual, scriptural distortions and so many other group-oriented dogmas.
They all must be wholly eliminated.
Otherwise more things will go wrong and someone like B group will take
over and fulfill their prophecy of Bangalistan and only print Bengali
discourses - leaving the Hindi discourses in the dustbin.
That is why it is so urgent to rid our Marga of groupist dogmas.
Till that time, there will always be rifts in and around our jagrtis,
and real unity will not be established.
Waving the saffron flag from the top of the jagrti and allowing all the
various camps to bring their dogma inside is not enough to bring unity.
Rather that will just invite more dogmas. And those who claim not to be
groupist yet maintain relations with all the groups will be branded as triple or
quadruple groupist - as they intrinsically support all factional wrongdoings.
There must be strict adherence to Baba's teaching combined with the
elimination of all groupist dogmas. Those with groupist tendencies must
be keep at arms length-- i.e. out of reach of any jagrti. Only AM
teachings can be embraced inside our walls.
Till that time, no jagrti can be a representation of unity in AM.
SO MANY REASONS FOR FIGHTS AND CLASHES
So long as groupist agendas are allowed to be put on the table, then
there will be strife in our Marga and no matter how beautiful the
jagrti, there will be chaos, clash, and group struggle - and true unity
will be nowhere in sight.
All margiis want to establish and follow Baba's ideals, but all it takes
is a few groupist Dadas to spoil the project of opening a new jagrti.
One group may like to run a school out of the jagrti in order to raise
money. Then when the other group sees that school, they may want some of
those funds because they feel that place is also their jagrti. A fight
ensues and one group ends up locking the other group out of the ground
floor of the jagrti.
This is the unfortunate way things develop when there is even an ounce
of groupism in the neighborhood.
Such groupist agendas abound in the form of court cases, money, rigging
BP elections, and so many ways. And because each group wants to capture
the power, they always hover and swarm around the various jagrtis,
especially around new jagrtis like the beautiful new building created in
Faridabad, where the margiis have worked so hard to create a shining,
new center.
So it would be a real shame to see such things occur there.
JAGRTIS JUST BECOME BATTLEFIELDS OF GROUPISM
Tragically this is the way it happens in jagrtis and AM buildings all
over the globe. As soon as groupist dogmas creep their way inside,
jagrtis become battlefields of factional agendas and not breeding
grounds of dharma.
Here it is not that building or having a jagrti is the problem. The main issue
is allowing groupists inside the jagrti. That must not happen. Because they
will enter with their dirty dogmas and lust for power and create dissension.
Such infighting is notorious in the Prout Bhavan Delhi where two
factions fought for control of the building, tried to evict the other
camp, split the Prout Bhavan in two (EC on the third floor & Ranchi down
below), and finally members of the various groups involved were arrested
by the police.
This is the way groupism rears its head in our AM jagrtis and compounds.
The above case is not an isolated incident. From Denver (USA) to
Jabalpur (India) and in countless places in between, group clash is
dividing and ruining our jagrtis.
But again, constructing a jagrti is quite a good a idea. Only one should be
strict not to allow any groupists inside.
Indeed, just one year ago, in Faridabad itself, during a RAWA event,
when one EC Dada was requested to garland Baba's photo, then a group of
Dadas from the Ranchi camp marched out in protest. Specifically, when
Citkrsnanandaji was invited to present the mala and spoke a few words
into the mic, then the Faridabad BP was planning to invite Sudevanandji
to light the “diip”— but when Sudevanandji and his cohorts saw that
Citkrsnanandji had been invited to come to the mala etc, they were
enraged. Those Dadas all stood up, and marched out of the hall. And in
that way, the war of groupism was ablaze in Faridabad itself.
Irregardless of the fact that the margiis there are very dynamic and
active and do not profess to support any particular camp.
So despite the best of intentions, building a jagrti and allowing all
the groups on board will not bring unity. Unity can only result when all
the groupist dogmas are left by the wayside and AM ideals embraced.
The solution is to build the jagrti and keep the factional leaders and their
cronies outside.
FIGHT OVER TEMPLES & MOSQUES ETC
What we see happening today in our Marga is following a precedent set
long ago.
If a building alone were enough to create unity, then Hinduism itself
would be a united religion, with no sects or squabbles.
Hindus have long been involved in creating ornate temples. Even if the
land was dry and the region destitute, Hindu followers and priests would
build extravagant temples. But such temples could not bring unity within
the religion. Because those Hindu priests just watered down Lord Krishna's
teachings. So they had lots of beautiful buildings but no dharmic teaching.
Nor could the Hindus build unity with another religion.
For years, if not centuries, there has been struggle and fight over
whether Hindus or Muslims should have control over the Ram temple in
Ayodhya'. This fight and argument goes on day after day, year after
year. These are the types of lengthy feuds that occur between the
dogmatic religions.
And indeed Baba warns that unity can never be achieved by combining the
various dogmatic religions.
Baba says, "How far is the unification of all religions possible?"
"Ans.: – To seek infinite bliss is the only dharma of humanity. Humanity
has but one dharma. Thus, the question of the unification of religions
does not arise. The apparent dissimilarity between various religions
arising due to differences in their ritualistic practices is not a
spiritual difference. Whenever rituals dominate and efforts to attain
bliss are feeble, whatever that may be, it is not spirituality." (TK-1,
'Q & A #49')
Similarly, the unification of groupist factions is also an impossibility.
That is why many are fearing that the wonderful, new Fardibad jagrti
will just turn into the next Ayodhya', just the subject of ongoing clash
between different groups - each seeking control.
Whether in Faridabad jagrti or anywhere on this earth, we will only have
unity in AM when all the groupist dogmas are strongly rejected and put
to rest. The moment anyone enters carrying the least bit of groupism,
trouble will follow.
So when anyone is building a jagrti then they should be strict to ensure
only dharmikas are allowed inside. To proclaim 'I am not groupist' will not
work, if you then allow all the groups inside. Then you will be an accomplice
to all their misdeeds. So decalaring I am not groupist and then making
truces with all the factions is actuall the equivalent of being a 4 or 5-time
group member. One then becomes party to all the groups. Because not
opposing groupist dogmas means to be party to those crimes.
Those in Faridabad did a great job of constructing a fabulous jagrti. Now
their only duty is to keep all the groups out - including EC, which it seems
they have an inclination towards.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace everyone will learn the lesson. No one should think, "I
am not groupist per se and I accept all the groups in my backyard or
jagrti." This approach will create so much infighting in our Marga.
Unity will remain nothing but a far off dream. Only by embracing his
teachings and rejecting all groupist dogmas will unity shine in our Marga.
Baba says, "To establish unity, the society will have to select an
ideology which remains unassailed by any spatial, temporal or personal
differences. That is why only Cosmic ideology will have to be adopted as
the polestar of life." (POD #37)
Namaskar,
Ramanuj
****************************************
Proper Care Needed
Baba says, "Pregnant women and female animals may work half of what they
usually do at other times; but under no circumstances should they be
allowed to do strenuous work, as it may lead to premature delivery or
stillbirth." (SC-20)
Note: Those who are forcing or allowing expecting mothers to do such
things may be developed materially but are not at all developed on
humanitarian grounds-- with regards to understanding others' problems.
That is why nearly everywhere in the western world, in all offices up to
the last stage of pregnancy women are working as they did in when they
were in 100% fit and healthy condition. That is why nowadays the most
affected on this point are females in western countries. In result
serious damage to the babies happens.
One can easily imagine that when mothers do not get resting time before
giving birth, then how will that same mother provide love and affection
to new born infants. Because in one week or so they will again join
their career jobs. This is a very sad state so I invite everyone's
attention to this as this is related with the future of the people in
those affected areas. And indirectly the whole globe is seriously
affected. Because without proper love, their children's development is
severely hampered-- their full psychic growth and the growth of their
brain is severely hampered because of this problem. Baba talks about
this indepthly in His book, Namah Shivaya Shantaya.
Likewise in many third world countries like Indian, the people do not
care about female animals on this same problem. And not just animals but
very poor mothers in third world countries are also suffering from the
same problem of being overworked in the late stage of pregnancy.
****************************************
