From: "Will Chaucey"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Just Like Happiness of Drug Addicts
Date: Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:19:17 +1000
Baba
== JUST LIKE HAPPINESS OF DRUG ADDICTS ==
Namaskar,
Right now there are so many vices and intoxicants that cloud the mind
and keep people far from the truth. But the worst drug of all is the one
known as "materialism."
It is the drug of materialism that has bound billions of people on this
earth and kept them from attaining spiritual realisation. It is the drug
of materialism that makes people work night and day to earn a few
pennies or buy a new car. It is the drug of materialism that makes
people so concerned about their prestige and reputation. And the list
goes on and on. People spend so much energy and time in pursuit of their
materialistic longings.
The interesting thing is that materialists are basically happy - in a
cheap sort of way, even though they are not getting the main thing in
life: Parama Purusa.
Such is the power of materialism to intoxicate and dull the mind of the
jiiva. The crowing glory of human life is to realise Him and bask in His
bliss, yet matter-centered people are totally satisfied spending their
days chasing after shiny metal objects, paper money, sensual desires,
and all the many shades of materialism.
As Ananda Margiis we should be extremely aware of this drug and be
vigilant to warn others about it as well.
MATERIALISM IS SO STRONG
The tidal pull and intoxicating allurement of materialism is so strong
that even intelligent people, who employ a strong sense of logic and
reasoning in other aspect of their lives, never ever question the
essence of materialism.
A university professor may question the ethics of the medical world, a
world leader may clearly analyse the cause of poverty, and top-notch
scientist may discover new ways that human cells function, but these
people and so many others never stop and think how materialism dominates
their daily life.
Such persons do backflips - i.e. anything and everything - in order to
get a higher post, receive a better salary, or get an accolade or
praise. Their days vigorously pass in this way - happily so.
Their keen minds never question the ephemeral nature of this world or
how they are swallowed up by materialistic desires.
THIS WORLD IS JAGAT
Baba reminds us in so many discourses that this material world is jagat
- it is a passing show. Everything comes and goes - it is all moving -
nothing is permanent.
Baba says, "As everything in this universe is moving ceaselessly, this
world is called jagat. The root verb gam plus the suffix kvip make up
the word jagat, which literally means “that whose very characteristic is
constant mobility”....As everything in this universe is always in a
state of motion, nothing is dhruva [permanent], everything is adhruva
[fixed].... Whatever you witness in this universe is only that aspect of
the creation which is within the scope of time, place, and person, that
is, within the three strands of relativity. Whichever way we look, we
see only the external dynamism of everything, and as we witness this
external dynamism, we feel pleasure when we get something, we feel pain
when we lose something." (SS-21)
All the various objects and desires of this world are fleeting in
nature. A brand new car gets destroyed in an accident, retirement
savings vanish into nothing, one's mother and father pass into the void
of death, even one's own body gets old and dies.
This phenomenal world is merely a passing show.
Yet, the mass of human beings on this earth spend all their time totally
immersed in chasing after fleeting objects. Because of the intoxicating
allurement of materialism, most of the time they are happy doing this.
What people do not realise or entirely understand is that whatever they
get in this world will one day be gone, or they themselves will be gone.
There is no third option from a materialistic perspective.
Even then people gleefully chase, chase and chase after their materials
desires as if that will grant them lasting happiness.
THEIR STATE OF MIND IS JUST LIKE...
The condition of such jiivas is no different from farm animals.
Those animals are quite happy eating grass all day and rolling around in
the sun. They get all they need: Food, water, grooming, medical care -
in that way they are very satisfied and content. And they remain content
even up to two minutes before the time they are eventually slaughtered.
Similarly, the mass of human beings are delighted and pleased with their
material allurements. They think, "This is great." But in truth, their
state of mind and level of awareness is no different from animals on the
farm.
In both cases, their satisfaction stems from the intoxicating blindness
of materialism.
Thus it is silly for human beings to get caught up in such a state - but
it happens. Haven't we all seen it.
BABA'S WARNING
Here is Baba's strict warning about life in this material sphere.
Smaran'a nitya anityata'm
Baba says, "You should remember always that you have come here for a
short span. You won’t remain in this world for a long period. You may
remain here say for ninety or hundred years or say for one hundred and
fifty years...So you should always remember that you have come here for
a very short span. It is just like a waiting room of a railway station.
You remain there for a short period and when the train comes, you leave
the waiting room. This world is just like that waiting room. You are to
remain here for a very short span." (AV-12)
Due to the force of maya many people think that everything is permanent.
They do not think their eternal abode is somewhere else. They fail to
realise that this world is not their final destination.
They certainly understand that they go on vacation for a short period or
that they go to the office for a limited period of time, but about their
own life they think it will last forever and that they will always
remain here on this earth. This is the prevailing notion and many live
by this dictate.
Such is how maya clouds their powers of perception and reasoning. This
is the root cause of human blindness and why people so easily become
slaves to this material world, drug addicts of this passing show.
As margiis and disciples of Baba, we are to always remember that this
entire external expression is ephemeral, not eternal truth. That is the
meaning of Baba's warning, smaran'a nitya anityata'm.
BABA'S BLESSING
Only by the grace of Parama Purusa can we escape from this intoxication
of materialism and live a life befitting that of a true human being.
We have to be sincere and sadhana and ask for His grace.
In our second verse of Guru Puja, it is said:
“Ajina'natimira'ndhasya jina'na'injana shala'kaya'.”
Baba says, "You know that an eye ointment is applied with a stick
(“Shala'ka'” means stick). Now, all the microcosms are parts of that
Noumenal Entity, all are actually parts and particles of that Supreme
Entity, but due to ignorance, due to the darkness of ignorance, they
cannot see what is what and which is which. That is why they require the
ointment of spiritual knowledge. Guru (with a stick) applies the
ointment of spiritual knowledge to their eyes." (AV-3)
By Guru's then then one can begin to understand what is right and what
is wrong and what is the goal. Then and only then does real human life
begin, by His grace.
Namaskar,
Vinay
