== SURVIVING IN THESE TIMES ==
Namaskar,
Nowadays in the general society, people's overall condition is like that of
"busy-bodies"-- purposelessly moving here and there attracted by this or
that mundane fancy.
When the world has now fallen into economic turmoil, and the general society
has no easy escape from financial and psychic malaise, we should pay heed to
the following and stick to the ideals of our Marga.
THE QUESTION OF APARIGRAHA
Along those lines then, in dharmacakra the topic was raised that what is
the way to follow aparigraha. How to best implement or follow this teaching
in one's practical life. And what follows are many of the points from this
very discussion.
Then step by step margiis gave all sorts of responses.
One of the chief, proper ways to follow aparigraha is by not taking loans.
Because taking loans is not good. When in fact curtailing should be done of
the mundane desires & redirecting them toward the spiritual and social
fields.
Means people should try to reduce or channelise their mundane desires.
Because things in the mundane sphere are limited and if you try to fulfill
the unlimited human thirst via mundane things then it cannot be fulfilled.
Rather it will create havoc-- extreme materialism. The material things of
this creation or mundane world are limited but the psychic and spiritual
fields are abundant, infinite. So people should run in this direction and
compete to get maximum things in the spiritual field.
And margiis are doing like this so their standard is far higher than the
general public.
But on the whole, in the mundane society, this is really such a sad
situation because after a lot of material achievements, hardly have human
beings achieved anything which can be treated as worthwhile. When their
inside is like a burning desert, no peace.
Of course the margiis condition is far, far better. But in the regular
society the situation looks grim.
Means, people are externally running for peace but peace is not outside; it
is inside. And on this point Baba has given various guidelines in our
scriptures. Some of these things will be very useful to write here which
was discussed in previous dharmacakra at the jagrti.
One brother raised the point that in this material world, money has a
dominating role. When the motivation is not spirituality, then people like
to satisfy their desire with mundane things. As we know, human beings have
infinite desires. So to satisfy all the desires, ignorant people run toward
acquiring material objects. Behind their mind they think that these
material objects will give bliss and satisfaction.
Just see this common situation. When regular citizens did not have a
bicycle, then they were getting around by foot. And they were thinking that
having a bicycle will be very blissful. And they got one bicycle. But then
within no time, their desire switched over to wanting a motorbike. And for
that again they were struggling. And even after getting that, still they
are not satisfied. So it is endless. Now they are thinking to take out a
loan and purchase a car, or an airplane.
So the path of materialism is a deadly spiral of degeneration; never can
one move ahead along the path of dharma by adopting a materialistic way of
life.
"Anando brahmeti vyajanat"
Baba says, "There can be no progress in the realm of physicality as well as in the
realm of intellectuality...To run after progress in the realm of
physicality and intellectuality is utter foolishness--a wastage of time as
there is no progress in these fields." (SS-10)
So by gaining something material, one cannot get satisfaction. Rather,
desire increases more and more. It is just like putting petroleum on the
fire. That's why people always contemplating to take loan.
As Ananda Margiis we should not fall into such a trap. Rather our outlook
should be aimed towards spirituality. Not at all materialistic.
Those who have a materialistic bent of mind, they don't see their pocket.
Just by seeing the things, they like to purchase and have it. And to
fulfill that they take loans. And then the material which is worth 10
dollars, they pay 20 dollars in due course because paying after some time
means interest as well. So the price multiplies.
And if anyone is taking a loan for purchasing a car, then every month they
have to pay extra money as interest. And invariably this invites more and
more psychic tension to pay that bill.
But these were not the only points raised. Also this was discussed.
Now the common public is so much affected by advertisements. Even the small
children when they watch television, by looking towards the advertisements
they demand different materials from their parents.
Baba says, "A'bhoga..." The sense is that people are affected by their
external surroundings and by that way one desires those very things which
they are surrounded by. If surrounded by crude people then crude desires
will come in the mind. That is why satsaunga is such an important thing.
Then we think that these mundane things are not so important.
But those who are not watching TV, they don't demand anything. So there are
two reasons behind the demand. (A) Psychic hunger and (B) That which is
really very essential for the existence.
These days most of the cases are related with psychic hunger. Means, those
who do not have higher values, they look towards the external things and
whatever they see, they like to acquire those things from the external
world. And they don't think deeply that they need or don't need. Or they
can live without that, or not. Without thinking deeply, they take loan and
purchase those things. And in the end it invites more and more trouble,
pain, and misery.
But when the motivation is higher, then people do not fall trapped in this
serpentine noose. For this, Baba has given a beautiful story in
Neo-humanism, "Inner Asset".
Baba says, that we have to make adjustment between the inner and outer
world. Those who are engaged or give too much attention to the external
world, lose the goal. So we should be careful by maintaining balance.
Baba is further telling that true sadhakas should remain satisfied in
limited worldly things. In the course of acquiring materials, we should not
lose our peace and tranquillity. Unfortunately in the present society, this
is a great tragedy these days. The common people what labor and trouble
they take for acquiring money, even a fraction of that they don't like to
expend for their spiritual development. This development can be only
possible when we will satisfy our mind in minimum physical needs. This
Baba's following teaching is giving light on this.
"Ra'ja' hate ... yoga'te."
Baba says, "I do not long to become a monarch -- For this I have not the least desire.
I have a hut of mud and bamboo: I only want enough to thatch its roof." (NH-LOI p.26)
In this teaching Baba is telling that because our goal is Parama Purusa, so
we should try to adjust with minimum worldly things. And there is no need
to take loan. Rather, we should spare more and more time for
psycho-spiritual development.
Because those who take loan and remain in debt, they invite tension and
under pressure of circumstances, they think more and more about money. That
invites all types of tension. And ultimately it causes degeneration.
So we as sadhakas, should divert our desire towards a higher goal, towards
Parama Purusa. Then in natural way, mundane longing will be eliminated, and
surely by moving in this devotional flow we will remains ensconced in His
bliss.
BABA says, "The universe has emerged as a blissful vibration from the
Supreme Entity - Anandadhyeva khlavimanai bhutani jayante. Anandena jatani
jiivanti. Anandam pryantabhi samvishanti. ["Out of bliss all beings were
born, in bliss they are living and into bliss they will ultimately
dissolve."] "This bliss, these blissful entities and the blissful Parama Purusa -
all three are one; they are one in three. And all manifest and unmanifest
entities are glittering with the effulgence of this blissful Parama Purusa.
He is vibrating all entities, substantiating their existence. So he is
ananda [bliss] and amitabha [infinitely radiant.]" (NSS)
When the Yaksa asked the question to Yudisthira, that 'who is happy?'. Then
the first reply Yudisthira told was 'the person who is not in debt is happy.'
And that can only happen when following aparigraha.
Namaskar,
Gagan
Note: In various discourses Baba says that people can only go into debt for
items of production, but not for anything else. Not for items of luxury,
convenience, etc.
Note 1: Everyone's life is so busy; while guiding margiis then in the
discourse 'Art and Literature' Baba mentions that these days true poetry
and proper song have almost disappeared. Because the heart's soft layer has
gotten burned by the fire of capitalism. Means people do not have the mind
to understand song and poetry; all because the mind is so restless and
uncomfortable. And because of that, the story aspect has disappeared from
films also. Now films are basically storyless, plotless.
Note 2: BABA says, "It is also true that the mind should certainly be
directed towards the Supreme Consciousness -- because one's inner assets
are directly nourished by the thought of the Supreme, by running towards
Him with tremendous speed. Rationalistic outlook and study are required to
facilitate this onward movement towards the Supreme." (NH-LOI, '87 p.26)
Note 3: As sadhakas we should not compare themselves to others in only the
physical sphere. Because our human personality is three-fold. And crude
people do not have any other thing than physical comparison. But as a human
being, we know this secret that there are other spheres as well. So we
should gain strength in the psycho-spiritual realm. And we should not
compare ourselves with others on the point of money, material gain, etc.
Because that invites inferiority complex-- if in case you are comparing
yourself with a rich person. To avoid this, one should think that my
competition is not only in the physical sphere, but all around, in
physical, psychic, and spiritual spheres. Then surely, inferiority complex
cannot remain. Because in the spiritual sphere, surely sadhakas are more
developed than common citizens -- those living in the general society.
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About Channelisation
Baba says, "If people have a healthy body and mind their glandular system
will remain balanced and they can easily channelise their physical energy
into psychic and spiritual activities. This process of channelisation is
the only way to check the mental flow towards crude propensities." (AFPS-9,
p.35)
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