History of Key Darshan Shastra of AM

Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:51:43 -0000 From: "Motilal Pandey" Subject: History of Key Darshan Shastra of AM To: am-global@earthlink.net Baba "Dakhin'a' va'ta'se malay suba'se mrdu, hese hese esechile..." (PS 358) Purport: Baba, You have graced me by coming in the deep core of my heart with a gentle smile-- in the refreshing fragrance of a sweet, southern breeze. Baba, You are the most divine One; I cannot forget You and I do not want to forget You. By Your grace, by pouring my sweet love, I shall keep Your divine memory ever alive in my mind-- in my heart. O' Supreme Entity, O' my Lord, O' the Beloved of my mind, O' the most adorable One of my mind, I will do puja to You in my inner sanctum of my mind and spread Your nectar of devotion across this vast, expansive universe. Baba, in Your sweet fragrance of Your divine liila, please be merciful and eternally reside in my mind-- graciously intoxicate me with Your divine flow. O' Lord of divinity, please take me to Your great abode-- the land of divinity-- by holding my hand, by holding my mind. Baba, by Your grace after forgetting all fear and shyness and after remembering You and keeping You in my heart I am at Your lotus feet, remembering You. Baba, please do not forget me I am Yours...

== HISTORY OF KEY DARHSAN SHASTRA IN AM ==

Namaskar, Those who love Ananda Marga want to know more and more about our various shastras - including darshan shastra - in order to follow those divine precepts and teach others. Naturally, they want to see our AM shastras printed in their true and original form and gain access to all related discourses. As many know, Ananda Sutram is the key book of our dharshan shastra, i.e. philosophical treatise. Baba says, "The recognized book on Ananda Marga Philosophy is A'nanda Su'tram." (APH-4) Baba says, "A'nanda Su'tram is our philosophical treatise." (CC-1, 'Svadhyaya') What many may not know is that Baba delivered an entire series of DMC discourses across India, primarily in Hindi speaking areas, from 1962 - 1968 that offer further insight and explanation about each and every sutra from Ananda Sutram. Tragically, none of these discourses have been printed, nor are they available on cassette to common margiis and wts. Raising this point of awareness may help us start to recover and reclaim these historic and mostly unknown discourses on Ananda Sutram. Let us also keep in mind that now in this age of science many are leaving or losing interest in the various dogmatic religions and are looking for a more logical path. Our dharshan shastra provides rational explanations that will appeal to such people. Thus another reason for recapturing all those discourses from the 1960's on Ananda Sutram.

MORE OF THAT EARLY HISTORY OF ANANDA SUTRAM

Many in AM are aware about Ananda Sutram. Baba dictated this back in the Jamalpur days, 1961, and bhaktas like PK Chatterjee took down the dictation at the Tiger's Grave. Baba gave the sutras themselves in Sanskrit and the purports in Bengali. The book was first published in 1962. Then over the course of the next six years or so, Baba Himself delivered many DMC discourses wherein He would focus and expound upon 2 or 3 or 4 sutras. These discourses would offer great insight into the subtle meaning of our dharshan shastra, but they are not in print. Nor do those at the helm seem to have much interest in sharing the audio files or publishing the discourses. Rather they say they are gone or ruined during Emergency. But many older margiis say those original DMC discourses explaining Ananda Sutram still exist. I have talked to many senior margiis about the series of DMC discourses about Ananda Sutram and here is a summary of what they have reported. (Note: Certainly some of the below information is cent-per-cent accurate and confirmed, yet some of the below information needs further checking and review.) NUMBER OF DISCOURSES: From the years 1962- 1968, they estimate that Baba delivered somewhere between 25 - 45 DMC discourses focused on specific sutras from Ananda Sutram. We have to remember that in those days, Baba was doing many DMC all over India, perhaps 20 - 50 DMC's annually. LANGUAGE: Hindi (mostly), Bengali (some). It all depends on the area. But more of these DMCs were given in Hindi areas. PLACE: Raipur (MP), Birpur (Bihar), Bhagalpur, Lucknow, Gazipur (UP), Arrah (Bihar), Bettiah, Jabalpur (MP), Patna (Bihar), Munghyr (Bihar), Muzzafarpur, Sambalpur, Tatanagar, Ranchi (Jharkhand), Delhi, Barrakpur (WB), Varanasi, Allahbad, Kolkata, Chaibasa (Jharkhand), and perhaps so many other places. Again, further research is needed so the above is a general picture of when and where Baba delivered those historic DMC discourses in Ananda Sutram. In those discourse Baba would methodically explain a particular sutra from the standpoint of grammar, language, philosophical meaning, and general explanation. It would be most advantageous for our Marga society to have these discourses in their original form.

FOUR WAYS TO MOVE AHEAD

Today, some are making valiant efforts to bring Ananda Sutram to light. Yet, without the aforementioned discourses, the work will have to be considered as incomplete, to some or more degree. In short there are 4 ways to move ahead: Two of which are acceptable and two of which are unacceptable. Unfortunately, thus far only the unacceptable ways have been attempted.

#1 THE BEST WAY

The top and absolute best way is to apply the necessary pressure on those in-charges and have those original discourses from the 1960's on Ananda Sutram printed in their entirety. This approach demands courage and is not for the meek or faint at heart.

#2: REASONABLE APPROACH

If #1 cannot be done right away, then the next best approach is to provide an elaboration of Ananda Sutram using what is available of Baba's printed discourses. However, whatever materials we use must be checked with the original audio recording. Because so many of Baba's discourses have been wrongly printed and we should not, nay must not, continue this wrong pattern. So checking the original audio cassettes is needed in this scenario also.

#3: UNACCEPTABLE APPROACH

The first unacceptable approach is to create a summary or reference of Ananda Sutram using the existing batch of printed discourses without comparing or correcting them with the original audio cassette. This is not good as it only perpetuates the wrongs that have been made and further validates those tainted publications. Unfortunately this is the tactic that has been used in the past as well as the one which some are considering at present. But it is a faulty move, not just incomplete but harmful. Because the more times those distorted or incomplete discourses are reprinted the harder it is to undo all that mess.

#4: UNACCEPTABLE AND TOTALLY DOGMATIC

This is the absolute worst approach. In this way, the writer uses references, stories, and scripture from the dogmatic religions to justify and explain Ananda Sutram. This totally denigrates Baba's historic work. Baba's teachings are totally unique. Baba says, "The trend of thinking and the spiritual practices prescribed in our Ananda Marga are not only new but something quite different from the established ideas and practices in these spheres of life." (PNS-11) So the ideas and concepts are totally new and revolutionary, yet so-called writers like one particular Didi have used all kinds of dogmatic rituals from the defective religions as a means to give commentary on Ananda Sutram. This is a horrible thing to do as it drives the divine teachings of AM directly into the mud. I think we all know which Didi did this. Here are some references for your review.

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2008/06/harmful-book.html http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2007/05/real-commentary-on-ananda-sutram-ii.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2007/05/real-commentary-on-ananda-sutram.html

MUST SELECT PROPER PATH

So we must select the proper path when working on the publication of Baba's dharmic discourses like Ananda Sutram or any other aspect of our AM shastra. Reprinting wrong things over and over again (point #3 from above) creates a scar. Thus we should not scour through AM Publications and reprint those faulty discourses in multiple ways and places. For instance, nearly all the published discourses in the English edition of Ananda Vacanamrtam Part 1 are missing huge chunks of material. 80%- 90% of the discourse is missing entirely. To reprint those discourses again and again would only further validate those wrong things. Thus when reprinting any Baba discourse for any reason, such as for a commentary on Ananda Sutram, then it is an absolute must to get the original cassette. Some courage and sacrifice are needed, but this is the way to go. Because we must must overhaul all existing discourses and ensure they are transcribed and translated properly. Any small or big contribution in this regard is highly commendable. Our approach should be to do good work and not create more dogmas. Many good people want to help make our AM shastras published in a better way, but those with the original cassettes are not helping. Thus more force and pressure is needed. With regards to our dharhsan shastra, i.e. Ananda Sutram, the best approach is to recover those audio files from Baba's DMC discourses from the 1960's. This will be a true gift to humanity.

BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's grace, with a concerted effort we will recover those original DMC discourses that neatly explain Ananda Sutram, sutra by sutra. Then our dharshan shastra will be truly complete. Baba says, "In the scripture of the psychic world, generally called darshana sha'stra, there should not be the least sprinkling of dogmas, because this sort of philosophically-oriented dogma cumulatively increases the distortions in the psychic world. These dogmas enter the human mind like fine needles and come out like iron ploughs. If one tries to cast them out, then the whole psychic structure is demolished. " (NSS, Disc: 14) Baba says, "The scriptures containing spiritual injunctions must be totally flawless." (NSS, Disc: 14) Namaskar, Motilal

Note 1: SPECIALTY OF AM SHASTRA & RELEVANCE TO TODAY'S WORLD

The shastra of Ananda Marga is perfect in all respects. It is logical, rational, practical, and complete. In contrast, most of the religions rely on myth and tales to put forth their theology etc. That is why educated people in this present age are rejecting the dogmatic religious doctrines. Because those stale teachings do not satisfy them. Those those who have given up their dogmatic religions are searching something more. In result, they either become atheists, or nature worshipers, or even worship their Hollywood icons like Michael Jackson. Because people want something or someone to believe in. Thus when the dharshan shastra of AM is 100% logical and can stand up to the scrutiny of people in this age of advanced science, then this is the perfect time to present it to the people. Because they are looking for something - they are thirsty. That is why we should study and know our dharshan shastra and and bring it to the public in proper shape. We cannot just print and reprint poorly done discourses as if this is the way to explain our Ananda Sutram. Some with basically benign intentions wish to do like this. But we should not give in to such tendencies. Rather we should unitedly & courageously stand up and demand that Baba's original DMC discourses from the 1960's that explain the sutras of Ananda Sutram be given to responsible Dadas and margiis for transcription and publication. All should know that those discourses were given, that they exist somewhere, and now it is up to us to create the needed pressure to force those in-charges to release those original audio cassettes. Failing that, we will always be missing much of what Baba had to say about Ananda Sutram - the key publication of our darshan shastra.

******************************************** Sarva'unga'sana and Vipariitakarani Mudra

"Question: What is the difference between sarva'unga'sana and vipariitakarani mudra?" "Answer: In sarva'unga'sana we have to fix the mind at the point of the toes, whereas in vipariitakarani mudra we have to fix the citta or mind stuff at the tip of the nose or at the navel point." (YP, p.117-18) Note: Sarva'unga'sana and vipariitakarani are very similar-- they are almost the same thing. Just a few little differences are there: (1) In sarva'unga'sana the mind and eyes are fixed on the center point between the two big toes while in vipariitakarani mudra the mind focuses on the navel or the tip of the nose. (2) When the body is very straight and it does not have to exert a continuous effort to maintain that position-- rather it is easy and comfortable to hold that posture-- then it is sarva'unga'sana. Whereas mudras, such as vipariitakarani mudra, demand a constant and ongoing effort to maintain the posture. Asanas, on the other hand require a little effort to enter into the position and thereafter it is comfortable and easy to maintain. (3) In sarva'unga'sana and vipariitakarani mudra, although the postures look the same but the effort exerted and way of approach are a little different as explained earlier. And in addition they effect the body in different ways. Sarva'unga'sana affects the glands & cakras, and the secretion of the hormone; while mudras give strength to the muscles and nerves. These ideas have been given by Baba in His various discourses. (4) In WT reporting sessions, Baba used to sometimes give atonement by demanding that some or all do vipariitakaranai for a long time. Sometimes for 1/2 hr, 1 hou, 2 hrs, at a stretch. Naturally that qas quite enjoyable for everyone to do. And the underlying reason behind this was that the majority of WT had acidity problems and this Vipariitakarani mudra was the cure. So in the name of doing atonement it was actually's Baba's blessing.

********************************************