== WHAT IS TO BE DONE ==
Namaskar,
Every Ananda Margii is well aware that our AM ideology has the solution for
all the problems in every realm of life. From individual to collective,
from social to psychic, Baba has beautifully given the answer in His
teachings of AM.
RIGHT APPLICATION NEEDED
At the same time to bring about real social welfare, there must be
understanding of the problem at hand as well as the right application of
our AM ideology. Putting a square peg in a round hole will not work.
Rather, careful and deep understanding is needed in order to truly cure any
social ill-- only that will bring about a permanent solution.
CASE STUDY: STARVATION IN US CITIES-- Part 1
CONSTRUCTIVE PROGRAMS WILL NOT WORK
For example, if anyone travels around any major US metropolitan center then
early in the morning one will see long lines of poor and homeless people
waiting to get a free meal from a 'soup kitchen'-- i.e. a place that freely
distributes food to the needy. This is the common sight.
Surveying the scene, one might initially or hastily conclude that more
'Free Food Kitchens' are needed to serve all those starving, homeless
people. And in that case one might spend a whole bunch of energy and money
creating yet another 'Free Kitchen' to prepare & distribute food to the
poor. One might engage in this type of 'constructive work'-- thinking that
this will solve the problem.
But Baba warns us about such type of an approach.
Baba says, "It may not be possible to bring about social welfare through
constructive programmes." (NKS, '97, p.233)
Baba's above guideline is that when a problem is so rampant and deep-seeded
and so misunderstood such as starvation in the materially wealthy US, then
such an approach of making one more 'Soup Kitchen' is not going to address
the issue fully. That 'constructive work' will not get at the root cause.
And that will not bring about a permanent solution. Because in that
exploitative environment where the resources are all gobbled up by a select
few, then forming yet another 'Free Kitchen' will not lead to real social
welfare. Something else is needed.
CASE STUDY: STARVATION IN US CITIES-- Part 2
PREMATURE PROTEST OF INJUSTICE WILL FAIL
Similarly, others upon seeing the huge numbers of hungry people lining the
streets each morning might attempt a different solution. They might become
angry and opt to immediately wage a war against the city mayor and protest
the injustices caused by the ruling vaeshyas. Sure enough, a few activists
may think that by this way they can bring about real social welfare.
But once again, Baba warns us about the pitfalls of this approach.
Baba says, "It may not be possible to bring about social welfare
through...the struggle against injustice alone." (NKS, '97, p.233)
So launching fiery protests will also fall short of the mark, as a
first-step solution. Because a loud afternoon of yelling and raising the
slogan against the leaders will not yield any salt-- it will not bring
about any relief or answers, if the hearts and minds of the public are not
rallying around that protest.
If most people are lazily day-dreaming that one day they will hit the
jackpot and become rich and own a Mercedes Benz and a swimming pool, then
they will not want to wage a war against the present social rule. If in
their heart of hearts they admire the likes of Bill Gates and Donald Trump
type of people etc, then they will never support a protest against the top
capitalist dogs. Rather they will defend those capitalists and think those
waging the protest are crazy.
CASE STUDY: STARVATION IN US CITIES-- Part 3
THE REAL SOLUTION: SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS
Rather, according to Baba, what is needed in such situations like starvation in the US is the rising of social consciousness.
Baba says, "Without arousing social consciousness, it is next to impossible
to bring about social welfare." (PNS-21, p.63)
Once people are educated about the extreme exploitation of capitalism in
the US, and once the public truly understands that the huge material wealth
in the US is concentrated in the hands of a select few-- once they realise
that 60% of all the wealth is controlled by a mere 1% of the population,
then only a just and rational solution can be found. Then people will be
ready to do the needful. So social awareness is the first and foremost step.
Social consciousness about the real terrors of capitalism is needed. And
surely then people will realise that it is the exploitative system itself
that is creating the problem-- that is the root cause. And that is what
must be changed.
RIGHT APPLICATION NEEDED
So the right application and right understanding is needed. Because in the
aforementioned case of starvation in US cities, making one new Free Food
Kitchen will at best give temporary relief and might even create more harm
by causing the starvation problem to continue longer. And prematurely
protesting against that exploitation without the support of the common
public will just give one a hoarse voice and perhaps a few nights in jail
or worse like the spilling of human blood. No real good will result.
In that case, only social awakening-- social consciousness-- will bring
about the proper and final solution. This is Baba's key teaching.
Baba says, "Without arousing social consciousness, it is next to impossible
to bring about social welfare." (PNS-21, p.63)
SITUATION IN OUR MARGA:
PLAN A & PLAN B WILL NOT WORK
Likewise in our Marga, when confronted with any problem then we have to
think carefully.
Some people blindly think that in this era of extreme groupism the best
thing is just simply is to sink oneself in the concrete work. But
tragically this generally comes up short. Because some get frustrated with
the way things are in AMPS these days and they end up forming their own
constructive programs outside the structure. And this just leads to more
division and infighting. While others sincerely engage in seemingly
constructive programs within AM only to see the fruits of their labour &
effort misutilised by one or another groupist leader. This is another
common outcome. So taking a quick look around it becomes increasingly
evident that our first-hand approach to the present crisis is not to just
absorb oneself in any constructive program. This will not bring social
welfare; it will not lead to a healthy AM mission.
Secondly, protesting injustices by the group leaders without there being
full bodied support of the mass of margiis and wts will not bring that
badly needed change. Standing by oneself and tossing stones on the Purodha
Board meeting or yelling at some groupist kingpin with a megaphone will not yield a positive result. Nor will things like taking silent action. The reasons are obvious.
HEIGHTENED SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS IS THE FIRST STEP
In this current crisis in AM society, what is needed is greater and greater
social consciousness. And by Baba's grace step by step that is coming.
Altogether, we can say that the necessary social consciousness is two-fold:
(1) Awareness of extreme groupism and that those leaders are presently
stuck in that defective mentality; (2) Recognition that only Baba's teachings are the ideal solution.
ONLY BABA'S TEACHING IS THE SOLUTION
The awareness about the huge degree of groupism is coming along.
But some in AM think that they have to devise their own plan to solve the
present crisis. And in their foolishness they are sitting at the drawing
board for hours and hours with their little egoistic brain dreaming that
they are outlining some grand-master plan to save the world. This is their
silly method. And surely that is not going to work. Rather they will die in
frustration and embarrassment.
Such is the case for those who think that unity can be formed by merging the various groups. Instead of unity, they will just invite more groupist dogmas and strife.
Only following Baba's teachings will bring the real answer. Baba directs us
we are to understand His guidelines deeply, practice those things in our
individual life, develop our sadhana more and more, and propagate His AM
ideology. By this way we will see first-hand the manifestation of Ananda
Marga mission. This, as we all know, is the type of social consciousness
that is needed.
BABA'S BLESSING
Our Sadguru Baba has graced us with all the solutions to all the problems
and by His great compassion the day is soon to come this dusty earth will
turn into one spiritual haven-- filled with bliss and good feeling for all.
Baba says, "A correct spiritual ideology is the only solution to the
problems confronting the world. From this perspective we can call Ananda
Marga ideology the philosophers' stone. Just as the philosophers' stone is
meant to transform everything into gold, Ananda Marga ideology can, most
definitely, find a just and rational solution whenever it is applied to any
problem." (POD, #36)
Namaskar,
Cinmay
Note 1: CONSTRUCTIVE WORK IS NOT THE ANSWER
Here again Baba give His warning that just directly plunging in 'the
concrete work' without sufficient understanding and the cultivation of
sadhana will not bring about social welfare-- rather it may cause terrible
harm.
Baba says, "It is absolutely meaningless for a person to attempt at any
constructive work, in whom there is a flagrant lack of the thought of the
Great. If one has not learnt to recognize, with sincerity and
unsectarianism, the omnipresent, omniscient God as their sole objective,
there is no denying the fact that they will eventually be compelled to
recede behind the scene, after having dealt the severest damage to their
own self and the society." (HS-1 ,'87, p. 51)
Tragically today many such organisations like the Red Cross and all those
'Katrina-Aid' projects, and 'Tsunami Relief' programs, and rebuilding
efforts in Iraq are just riddled with fraud, cheating, and theft. We should
not let our AM fall into this lot as well.
BABA'S DIVINE GUARANTEE: A NEW ERA HAS COME
By first raising greater and greater consciousness in our Marga, then in
the due course all our plans and programs will be fruitful. This is Baba's
guarantee.
Baba says, "The Supreme Spirit within humanity, neglected for ages, has
awakened today. This awakening will initiate a new chapter in human
history. You will all be the pioneers of the new trend." (A'nanda Va'nii #1)
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Three Dangers
Baba says, "We may say that intoxicants have three distinct
characteristics. Firstly, if one addict does not receive that intoxicant at
their regular, fixed time during the day then they will become anxious and
restless-- even agitated. In addition, when they do get it then their mind
will not like to involve in any work. The second major point is that as
long as one remains under the spell of that intoxicant, his intellect will
be dysfunctional. And if one continues to take intoxicants on a regular,
on-going basis, then their mental stupor will continue on and on. The third
major danger is that intoxicants adversely affect the liver, throat, and
kindney. And in the majority of cases, the user suffers from constipation
also. In conclusion, all intoxicants are bad; opium and ganja (cannabis
indica) extremely harmful." (SC-15)
Note: As A'nanda Ma'rgiis, our duty is to propagate Baba's above teaching
and warn others about the harmful effects of intoxicants.
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