== THOSE WHO LOVE AMPS ==
Namaskar,
By following Baba's example, and even by looking at the general society,
we can clearly understand who really loves and cares for our AMPS.
Recently, one or two people on the email were complaining about and
accusing certain people why they never write about the good things going
on in AMPS. Why aren't those things good deeds - school openings or mass
feeding programs etc - reported about with more consistency. Why are all
the defects - like groupism, scriptural distortion, money scandals, &
dogmas like Mahaprayan and Fake Ananda Vanii - always pointed out. This
was their chief gripe. They were accusing that those who write about the
black spots in AMPS are enemies of the organisation.
Using our rational minds, let's examine the situation.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE GENERAL SOCIETY
Perhaps one of the more telling scenarios about love is this example
with the mother and baby.
If a baby is growing and developing in the right way, then that mother
will not inform all the people in town each and every day about how well
her baby is doing. But if her baby becomes sick or is diagnosed with a
serious disease, then in an instant that mother will tell all her
relatives, inform the school system, and quickly bring her baby to the
hospital and tell the details of her baby's health problems to all the
nurses and doctors. The mother does this not because she hates the baby,
but because she has deep concern and love for the welfare of the baby.
So when the baby falls into problem them immediately she brings the
matter to the attention of one and all.
Here the point is that when things are going well or as expected, then
one does not go all around town talking about those things again and
again. But when a problem comes, then those who care about correcting
the problem will raise the matter with everyone.
Let's take another example.
If in a town, a shoe factory successfully meets its daily quota of
producing 10,000 pairs of shoes, then the local newspaper will not write
a story about that good news. Because that is the expectation - everyday
that factory meets its quota. However, if there is an explosion in that
same factory and 20 workers die, then that newspaper will immediately
send a reporter to the scene and they will print a big article about
that disaster and include photos as well.
One cannot then blame the nespaper for only highlighting negative
things. Rather that newspaper's role is to alert the townspeople about
the calamity and help initiate an investigation so that another
explosion will not happen in the future.
These examples all denote how those people who are responsible and care
about a situation, they will be the first to alert others if there is a
problem.
In contrast, those who do not care will keep mum. They may not even
recognise that there is a problem.
BABA'S DHARMIC WAY - Part 1
Now let's see Baba's dharmic way of leading the society.
In His Prout teachings, Baba points out countless defects in the
society. He talks about the missteps in so many fields: Science,
religion, education, politics, agriculture, and in almost every walk of
life. Baba has so concerned Himself with the society's demerits that He
even wrote an entire series of books titled, "A Few Problems Solved".
Then there is another book titled, "Problems of the Day".
At the same time so many good things have happened in our society:
Excellent hospitals, good roads, a man was sent to the moon, great
inventions etc. But Baba does not spend huge time in His discourses
highlighting and praising all of society's achievements.
Instead He has invested thousands and thousands of pages to talking
about society's ills: Religious dogma, crooked politics, faulty economic
programs, disease, sickness, crimes and war etc.
But who can then accuse Baba of being an enemy of society. Rather He is
the loving Father of all - this is His creation - and it is out of deep
love and caring that He was spoken about the problems in society.
By Baba pointing out the defects, gradually everyone can understand what
needs to be fixed, and then society will grow in the proper way. That is
Baba's dharmic method. And it is all based out out deep, deep love.
BABA'S DHARMIC WAY - Part 2
Another clear-cut example of Baba's dharmic method is dharma samiiksa.
All know that Baba called thousands and thousands of people for dharma
samiiksa. This was one great boon for the society.
And in dharma samiiksa, Baba would apply His psychic magnifying glass to
a person's weaknesses and shortcomings. He would point out a person's
most serious demerits such a lying, hypocrisy, cheating, laziness etc.
Often times, Baba would have never even seen that person before and then
in this 8 - 10 minute interaction, Baba would harshly review that
person's character. Of course that individual also had so many good
qualities, yet Baba would not spend His precious time talking about
those things. Instead He would strongly rebuke that person for their
misdeeds.
And we all know that Baba is our greatest well-wisher. Due to His grace
and kindness we are all moving on the path of benevolence. Hence, no
right-thinking person can accuse Baba of being unjust or negative
because He has pointed out our defects.
Instead, every true sadhaka recognises that out of His great love, Baba
has painstakingly reviewed our conduct so we may grow in the best way
possible.
This all clearly shows that those who love someone or something will
always be the first to point out the errors and problems.
PRESENT SITUATION IN AMPS
We all know our AMPS is filled with so many good people and so many
excellent projects. We know that and we expect it to be that way.
Hence when something is awry - such as when power mongers & cheaters
have grabbed control of the organisation - then the need of the hour is
to first point out that wrong thing. Those who seek the welfare of AMPS
will always do like this.
Likewise, when dogmas like Mahaprayan and Fake Ananda Vaniis abound,
when certain key groupists are ruining AMPS, when certain WT trainers
are creating hell in TC, when those in Publications are misprinting
Baba's books, and when some are intentionally distorting Baba's
discourses as was done with "Ananda Marga: A Revolution", then those who
care about AMPS will raise these issues with one and all.
They will not keep quiet. Rather they will fill the air with reports
about all those problems until those things are known to one and all. By
that way the problems can be fixed - permanently. Thereafter, those
well-wishers will not talk about that situation again.
So here the whole point is that there are indeed so many good things
going on in AMPS. But talking about those things will not help our
society grow. Especially when at present there are numerous grave issues
halting and undermining the progress of our Marga.
In that case the order of the day is to bring those harmful defects to
the fore and get them solved. For this awareness is needed. The problems
need to be brought out in the open, not stay stuffed behind closed doors.
Thus when anyone accuses someone of being an enemy of the Marga for
pointing out the defects, we can understand that those accusations are
totally baseless. Because those pointing out the defects are on that
pathway to rectifying the situation in the Marga. Their heart and mind
are aimed toward helping our Marga Such persons love AMPS.
And most often, those accusing others of pointing out the defects are
themselves the problem creators and they want others to keep quiet so
that they themselves are not exposed in front of all. This is one other
dynamic at play.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace the whole approach of neo-humanism is to look upon all
with love and help them to grow by pointing out their defects. And that
same approach when applied to AMPS will lead to a brilliant and shining
organisation, free from dogma and exploitation. Hence those who love
AMPS will always point out the problems and difficulties. That is our
dharma - there is no other way.
Baba says, "So then, what is Neohumanism? Humanism newly-explained and
newly-sermonized is Neohumanism – the philosophy which will make people
understand that they are not merely ordinary creatures. This philosophy
will liberate them from all inferiority feelings and defects and make
them aware of their own importance; it will inspire them to build a new
world." (NH-LOI: Disc 11)
Namaskar,
Pradiip
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To Improve Sadhana
Baba says, "Abhya'sa is the creation of a particular continuous psychic
vibration. It is the most essential factor in the spiritual sphere. The
continuous endeavour to maintain the state of equilibrium of citta leads
to the attainment of sama'dhi. ...Sama'dhi becomes a natural phenomenon
as a result of continuous spiritual practice. Procrastination is
something undesirable on the spiritual path. If ever spiritual practice
is discontinued endless desirable and undesirable waves of thoughts
occupy the mind. Spiritual practice should be continued uninterruptedly
and with proper sincerity and veneration, otherwise sama'dhi will
forever remain a theoretical subject of philosophy, never entering the
periphery of practical realization. One must not adopt the psychology,
'I'm practising spirituality because my a'ca'rya (spiritual teacher)
told me to'. Rather one should think, 'I want to attain spiritual
realization. My a'ca'rya is merely guiding me along the path'. Only when
one takes full responsibility for one's own spiritual life can one
attain the peak of spiritual progress and become fully established on
the solid ground of spirituality." (AMIWL-9)
Note: By Baba's above significant teaching it is clear that regular and
consistent practice of sadhana is a must-- that is the only way to move
towards the Goal and heighten one's spiritual realisation. And side by
side sadhana must be done with a sincere heart and with the right motive
in mind. By Baba's grace every Ananda Margiis is involved in this grand
endeavour.
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