== YOU ARE NOT SADVIPRA IF.... ==
Namaskar,
Everyone knows that in AM, one of our ideals is to become a sadvipra.
Baba says, "Sadvipra leadership is the ideal form of leadership. Such
leaders will be physically fit, mentally developed and spiritually
elevated." (PNS-21)
However, in our Ananda Marga, there is much confusion about who is a
sadvipra. For a while, everyone was thinking that no one was a sadvipra,
and that a sadvipra was just one great god in the sky.
Then others developed the notion that all Wt's are sadvipras - and still
today many workers feel that because they are Wt then by definition they
are sadvipras also.
We should better understand what and who a sadvipra is. Baba's teachings
are not based on some far off fantasy - they are grounded in practical
thought and expression.
By clearly defining our notion of sadvipra, then everyone can evaluate
for themselves how they are doing in this pursuit.
SOME HISTORY
As early as 1959, Baba introduced the concept of sadvipra.
Baba says, "Those spiritual revolutionaries who work to achieve such
progressive changes for human elevation on a well-thought, pre-planned
basis, whether in the physical, metaphysical or spiritual sphere...are
sadvipras." (Idea & Ideology)
So from the very beginning, everyone in AM knew that a sadvipra was
something very great. Over time, many began to conceive of the sadvipra
as being something that they were not. No one in AM really thought they
were a sadvipra.
Then, years later, when Baba introduced the Bhukti Pradhan system, He gave
this following stipulation about who should vote.
Baba says, 'The sadvipras of a bhukti must elect one bhukti pradha'na
from among themselves." (CC-1)
This then opened the doorway for many to begin thinking of themselves as
sadvipras. This was the case especially with family acaryas, tattvikas,
and wholetimers.
In contrast, general margiis were thinking, "Ok I am voting in this BP
election, but it is debatable whether I am a true sadvipra."
But in the case of family acaryas and wholetimers, because of their post
and power, they were thinking, "I am definitely a sadvipra if ordinary
voting margiis are sadvipras."
In this way, the notion of who is a sadvipra became clouded - if not
totally off the mark.
MUST HAVE ALL FOUR QUALITIES
So here we are in 2009, and this point should be clearly marked. One
veritable way of measuring who is a sadvipra is the degree to which one
is skilled and practiced as a shudra, ksattriya, vaeshya, and vipra.
Baba says, "The four classes who have ruled the world at one time or
another are not of recent origin, but have been known ever since the
beginning of humanity as brahmins, ks'atriyas, vaeshyas and
shu'dras...Ananda Marga’s approach is not to call these classes bad but
to make all the members of Ananda Marga practice and develop the good
qualities of them all." (PNS-11)
To properly understand and emulate all these four qualities in life is
to become an ideal Ananda Margii, or sadvipra. That is Baba's distinct
mandate.
Baba says, "Every person who joins Ananda Marga...has to strive to
develop and strengthen the mind. Everyone has to work for a strong and
healthy body. Everyone has to work for a living...Not only earning money
and having a balanced and dependable economic life is important. Even
the lowest of the social classes, which people normally scorn, have been
given equal importance. Every member of the Marga has to physically
serve others. This is normally seen as the work of the so-called
shu'dras, but followers of the Marga cannot develop completely unless
they also do this efficiently." (PNS-11)
In His above teaching, Baba is guiding us that one cannot be a sadvirpa
unless they develop their personalities in all the ways. If one avoids
menial chores, then one cannot be a sadvipra. All the qualities are
needed, no exceptions.
Baba says, "In short, all the characteristics of the four classes have
to be mastered by each individual in our Marga. It is not only mastery
of these characteristics which is necessary, but their regular practice
is an essential duty of every member of Ananda Marga. Every individual
thus becomes universally fit, and any person makes as good a brahmin as
a shu'dra." (PNS-11)
Hence it is clear, to become an ideal Ananda Margii - to be a real
sadvipra - one must possess and practice these four qualities. One must
perform all kinds of physical work, and be courageous, economically
just, and intellectually advanced. Then one is a sadvipra, otherwise not.
APPLYING THESE PRINCIPLES PRACTICALLY
Baba's teaching then is quite clear. One must not be loathe to any
particular type of service or work. One must be mentally ready and
physically capable of engaging in all kinds of deeds.
Unfortunately, many who think of themselves as sadvipras fall far short
of the mark.
For instance, those Dadas leading WT training centers and visiting those
TC's often think that, "As I am training these people or coming to give
a guest lecture, then I am most certainly a sadvipra."
Yet these same trainers and avadhutas who visit TC use those trainees as
their slaves to perform their menials tasks. Such top Dadas do not like
to cook their own food, or wash their own plate, or clean their own
laungotas, or scrub their own room. To do such things would be beneath
them, so they designate trainees to do all of this for them.
But in so doing, such top Dadas expose themselves as being totally
deficient in having the quality of a shudra. Thus, by definition, they
are not sadvipras.
Baba says, "In short, all the characteristics of the four classes have
to be mastered by each individual in our Marga. It is not only mastery
of these characteristics which is necessary, but their regular practice
is an essential duty of every member of Ananda Marga. Every individual
thus becomes universally fit, and any person makes as good a brahmin as
a shu'dra." (PNS-11)
SO MANY MORE CASES OF FALLING SHORT
Clearly then, to be a sadvipra one must posses all the four
characteristics: shudra, ksattriya, vaeshya, and vipra.
Here again though we see so many family acaryas and Wt's falling short
of this characteristic. Because one of the needed qualities is to have
the courage to fight against dogmas.
But what to say about fighting against dogmas and immorality, some of
our acaryas have become habituated to compromising with injustice.
Do not get me wrong, I have deep respect for our Wt cadre and certainly
there are many unsung & unknown workers who are walking that path of
being sadvipra.
Yet, on the other side, we see so many workers who due to a lack of
courage are unwilling to point out the injustices of various group
leaders. Without this ksattriyan quality they cannot be sadvipras. We
see other wts who have fallen prone to following various dogmas like
Fake Ananda Vaniis, Mahaprayan, tiirthas, and scriptural distortions.
Either they do not have the necessary mental insight to recognise such
things as dogmas - hence they lack the quality of a vipra; or they do
not have the courage to oppose those dogmas and lack the quality of a
ksattriya.
In all such cases, they fall far short of being sadvipra, irregardless
of what they say or claim.
Then there are other workers who totally misappropriate funds and
finances. In that case how can we consider those Wts to be good vaeshyas.
It is not that all workers are inept and deficient - many are good. But
to determine who are good we have to see how far they are talented and
practiced in these four qualities. Being deficient in one means that one
cannot be considered to be a sadvipra.
THE CASE WITH FAMILY ACARYAS
These days to be a family acarya, one must have an "in" with at least
one of the groups, otherwise how can they be selected. In that case,
such family acaryas must follow all the groupist dogmas and agendas.
They must not oppose in any way. To oppose means to lose out on their
opportunity to be a family acarya, at least in this group-riddled era.
That is why in the present climate, to be family acarya means to
compromise. That is a fact in nearly cent-per-cent cases.
Without saying anything further, we can easily see how far they are
really sadvipras.
DO NOT BE A CHEATER
More than anything else, understanding who and what is a sadvipra is a
way for us to gauge our own development. It is for our own introspection
and demands honesty and integrity.
We may be able to convince others that we are a great sadvipra and a
God-realised person, but inside we know how far this is really true or
not. One should not get caught up in cheating oneself. That is the worst
outcome.
Being a sadvipra is not for show, nor for bragging rights, nor for any
other external perk or benefit. It is about being true to oneself and
true to Baba. That is what counts.
Wearing a particular uniform or having a particular titles has
absolutely zero to do with being a sadvipra. Rather, sadvipraship is
based the on the all-round development of one's human personality.
This is a big topic - so this letter is just the beginning - others
should also give their thoughts.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's, grace, we should be sincere and adhere to Baba's following
guideline when assessing our status or that of someone else. By His
grace, if we follow His guidelines of proper conduct, we will certainly
become a sadvipra - so that we can best serve Him and creation.
Baba says, "Your ideal is represented by your conduct...." (Ananda Vanii
#13)
Namaskar,
Priyanath
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Health Guideline
BABA says, "Mu'lashodhana: After defecating, insert the middle finger of
the left hand as far up the rectum as possible and clean that area." (CC-3,
Point #3 of 'Different Yoga Practices')
Note: Those who are not doing this may suffer from digestive track
disorders and rectum diseases like piles.
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