== WHO IS ANIMAL IN HUMAN FORM...
...WHO IS HUMAN IN HUMAN FORM ==
Namaskar,
In our Ananda Marga, Baba makes a stark differentiation between animals
and humans: Animals are guided by 4 basic instincts (food, sex, sleep,
and fear) whereas humans are mind oriented beings who use logic and
reasoning in determining how to act.
Those beings in human form who live a life based on sensual pleasure -
not rationality - are mere animals in human structure. That is also
Baba's strict mandate.
Thus who is human and who is animal is not based on body type alone.
Having a human face is not the defining point. Those in human form -
goaded by the 4 basic propensities - are also animals.
Baba says, "You know, there are brutes in human structure, and there are
brutes in animal structure." (AV-23)
Whereas those in human form who are goaded by mind and living a life
based on ideology are real human beings.
We all must be vigilant. Each and every moment in life must be a time
for us to quickly reflect whether we are being guided by animalistic
desires or following our human dharma. This type of honesty and
awareness is needed to keep us moving on the proper path, otherwise we
will run into trouble.
Unfortunately, there are no shortages of examples in our Marga where
people have fallen from sadhana and into the mire of worldly lust.
However tragic it may be - it is a common occurrence.
#1: MATERIALISM IS A HAVEN FOR ANIMALITY
Food...dating...materials wants...sensual allurements...fear of the
future...sleeping...intoxication...fear of losing money...immediate
satisfaction...prostitution...infatuation...
...in so many ways materialism promotes the call of animal vices.
In fact, that is all materialism does: Goads one toward animality.
That is why at present we are living in the age of kali yuga, where many
or even most in human form are living life as an animal. It is quite
common. Because anyone whose actions lack rationality and are instead
guided by primal instincts are indeed animals.
That means the CEO who owns three airplanes and cheats on his wife is an
animal in human form - so is the factory worker who has no ideal in life
and just sleeps and eats to pass his days.
Indeed anyone and everyone who is goaded by their motor and sensory
organs are just pashus (animals). And they will certainly be reborn as
such in their next life. To live human life means to be guided by our
rational minds and have our 10 indriyas (motor and sensory organs) in
check.
As Ananda Margiis, we need to be extremely careful because we are
surrounded by this cesspool of materialism. It is seeping everywhere and
if we are not careful it will suck us in as well.
Have we not all seen people disappear from the path of AM? Why is that?
The main reason is because they feel prey to crude desires. Then there
are a few who are in AM in name only, by their actions it is evident
they are living life close to that of an animal. Of course most in our
Marga are bravely marching forward. Even then it demands vigilance.
Are we skipping sadhana? Not doing kiirtan? Falling prey to worldly or
crude desires? How active are we really in leading a moral and spiritual
life?
These are questions we must constantly ask ourselves if we hope to live
up to our human ideal.
#2: SENSUAL PLEASURES ARE THE KNOWN PATH
One reason why following human dharma is difficult is that it is not a
known pathway for us. It can even be uncomfortable or a struggle at
first. The mind wanders in sadhana, we feel too lazy to do asanas, and
are tempted by crude desires like the four basic propensities, the
sadripus (six enemies), and the astapashas (eight fetters).
In contrast, moving towards the path of animality is quite easy. Because
we have all come from animal life and those types of behaviour are well
known to us.
Baba says, "The empirical knowledge of previous animal life that leads
human beings to material enjoyments." (SS-3)
Because we are well acquainted with those baser propensities after
having passed countless lives on the path of saincara (i.e. the first
half of the cycle of brahmacakra), it is very easy for us to fall into
those old habits and vices as a way of life. Sensual lust, desire for
food, sleeping extra hours, being dominated by fear. It does not take
any talent, courage, or mental stamina to live a life based on
animalistic instincts.
Thus we always have to see our conduct - our behaviour in day-to-day
life and ensure that we are not falling prey to past animalistic
desires. If so, we should check those tendencies immediately by singing
kiirtan and asking Baba for help.
LIFE MUST BE BASED ON IDEOLOGY
We are living in a difficult period and living animal life while in
human form is quite common. Because of materialism and the inherent
nature of our past lives, falling prey to animal vrttis is very easy.
Ours though is human life. Ours is the path of ideology. That is the way
we are to proceed.
Baba says, "Human life, unlike animal life, is an ideological flow.
Where there is no ideological flow, in that case, even if the physical
structure is just like a man, he is not a man, but is an animal." (SS-12)
Thus we must be vigilant to live life according to yama and niyama, our
days must be filled with the practices of 16 Points, and our mind must
be colored in His color. We are to fill each and every second of life
with the high ideal of AM. Failing that, one will just be bound to
animal life.
Baba says, "The main difference between an animal and a man is that
animal life is to eat, drink, sleep, and die. There is no goal, no
ideological destiny. But in the case of human beings, they have got the
ideological desideratum, they have got the goal of life." (SS-12)
By adhering to His tenets and keeping Baba as the polestar will ensure
that we are living up to our human ideal.
"BABA IS WATCHING ME"
Even then it is not easy - we need constant care and inspiration. One of
the best ways to keep on the proper path is to think that "Baba is
watching me." If we think this before each and every action, then
invariably we will make the right choice in life.
With His blessing and loving guidance we will live not just a life of a
human, but life divine.
Baba says, "...You are the spiritual soldiers, you are the worshippers
of Life Divine, hence I call upon you to adorn this crimson dawn deluged
with glorious light..." (A'nanda Va'nii #26)
BABA'S WARNING:
YOU MAY BE REBORN AS AN ANIMAL
The degree to which we are guided by ideology is the degree to which we
are human and moving towards the divine. And the degree to which we are
chasing after crude desires is the degree to which we are dominated by
animalistic tendencies and moving towards utter degradation.
That is why Baba warns us to always evaluate our direction in life, lest
we risk being reborn as animals, or worse. It all depends on our quality
of mind and our actions in this life.
Baba says, "A human being in this life may well be reborn as an animal,
plant or even a rock in the next life." (AFPS-8)
Baba says, "The mind of a person following animal dharma will become
degraded – and that person, after death, will be reborn as an animal."
(AV-4)
This is not just some empty threat. That is the way the Cosmic Operative
Principle functions. Those living animal life will be reborn as such.
Period.
We should not fall prey to this horrible outcome.
BABA'S BLESSING
Baba says, "Human life is rare and is very precious.” Even the devata's
if they want to do something good or great, will have to come in human
frame to work." (SS-21)
We have been blessed with human life, we should use it in the proper way
and move towards Him, never falling prey to animalistic propensities.
Baba says, "Parama Purus'a is the ultimate goal of existence, and only
to attain Him have human beings come onto this earth." (AV-31)
Namaskar,
Jawaharlal
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Mystery Unfolded About Acoustic Roots
Baba says, "What is a biija mantra (acoustic root)? Every action and
every existence are characterised by certain particular sounds. While you
sit in one place, you exist, and because of your existence various waves
get buffeted and altered. Light waves, for example, are either reflected or
refracted, after which they go back into the air. The existential acoustic
root is a prerequisite for all the functions of existence. Through
existence, through action, you are always engaged in some type of work."
"Every action has a sound of its own which may or may not be audible
to the human ear. Suppose someone is walking on tiptoe: the sound produced
is so soft that it is inaudible; but some sound is produced nevertheless.
Some people make a lot of noise when they walk. Some people smile silently,
whereas other people laugh loudly. In Sam'skrta, smiling silently is called
'smita', and laughing loudly is called 'ha'sya'. Though it seems that
smiling is a silent action, it does produce a sound. While smiling, one's
mouth and lips move slightly, causing a little stir in the air which
creates a very faint sound."
"Ether is the subtlest factor in this quinquelemental world. It, too,
having existence, produces a certain sound. Mental thoughts create a
vibration in your mind (a sound) which in turn vibrates the nerve cells and
nerve fibres."
"That minute sound of every action is called 'acoustic root' in
English and 'biija mantra' in Sam'skrta." (Jan 11, '79)
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