Then and Now
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:18:38 -0000
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: V. Rajpurhit
Subject: Then and Now
BABA
"Tava path dhare, tava na'm kare, toma'r pa'nei cale thaki..." (P.S. 2180)
Purport:
Baba, by Your grace I am treading on Your path by singing Your name and
moving towards You. You are my Goal.
By Your grace I am moving closer and closer towards You-- to reach You.
Baba, except You, in this universe who else is mine-- no one. Because of
this I am always calling You for Your shelter.
O' Lord, in this decorated universe of Yours, You have provided me a
special place according to Your liking. You have bestowed everything; and,
You do not desire anything from anyone. Just You go on pouring Your divine
grace eternally.
The demerits such as lethargy only come from my side. Plus all kinds of
lame excuses I give in self-justification. Hence all the lacuna belong to
me; whereas, You Yourself are ever-gracious.
Baba, You have situated my mind in the corner of Your vast cosmic mind.
And from that corner it receives Your divine vibration.
With the attraction and resonance of Your divine vibration, the lotus of
the love, which has blossomed in my heart, is looking towards You with deep
yearning.
Baba, singing Your Name, I am moving on Your path. For me, Your grace is
everything...
== THEN & NOW ==
Namaskar,
India is a religious country. 'Religious' means that it is dogmatic-- not
fully dharmic. Because in the name of dharma, since ages people are
following various types of dogma. In total, some things are alright but
many things are dogma. That is why I did not use the term dharmic country.
So in India since long many dogmas have been preached by various
pseudo-gurus and the common public believes those things.
Here then we should also remember that in the beginning mostly our WTs were
of Indian origin; so in that case when they joined AM they brought that
Indian dogma along with them.
THE SCENE BEFORE 1970
That's why before 1970 a huge clash was going on as various acaryas / Wts
of that time had some gripe with Baba. They were telling that Baba should
remain as a Guru-- there is no problem with that; But they were insisting
that Guru should not involve much in politics-- like running the
organisation and overseeing mundane engagements.
Why were senior Wts were demanding this from Baba?
Because these ideas are very common to Indian soil. The general public
believes that no guru or monk should talk about social reform, nor about
any sort of politics. Rather they should concentrate 100% in god and that
type of teaching.
Everyone knows that this defective outlook was the effect of the dogma sown
by Shankaracarya's illusion theory. He told that the world is an illusion,
false. So no need to pay it any mind. Hence the effect of this is lasting
up to this present era. Still today dogmatic religious monks do not want to
involve in any sorts of social service work. And if they do, then the
Indian public thinks they are fake.
And here is further reasoning why those WTs were placing their demand
before Baba.
In the beginning problem prior to 1970, Baba used to apply physical force
on His disciples. This He did to make everyone's conduct better and better.
But some dogmatic Wts did not like this thing. So on that very point in
both their cunning and dogmatic way they thought in their little tiny brain
that-- 'Baba punishes with the excuse that this or that work was not
completed by certain individuals / Wts. So if Baba will not remain as
President, then He will not have the opportunity to give punishment on the
excuse that 'why you did not finish the work'.'
So those wts thought with their little brains that, 'We should raise the
demand that Baba should remain as a Guru-- that is not the problem. But
that He should give up the job of president. And then we will be saved from
getting beatings'.
Thus those Wts thinking like that were guided by Shankaracarya's theory of
illusion. And that way they were giving the logic that, 'Guru should not
involve in running the organisation and taking the report. Rather He should
guide others spiritually and give discourse-- that's all'.
Here one thing should be remembered that those raising these types of
points-- either they left the organisation or they became defectors.
The main thing operating here is that unfortunately many people do not
understand why Baba punishes. In true sense, devotees know that Baba's
punishment is nothing but His blessing. In this regard I have my own
experience that whenever I got beaten by Baba then instantly I felt mental
relief and then spiritual relief and bliss. Plus then within a very short
time my physical problems and ailments also got cured.
So in my heart I always feel that Baba's punishment is not punishment but
rather blessing. But many were thinking in a similar way or in the opposite
way also.
THE STORY OF THE FIRST GS
Here is another story that how people were differing with Baba. The first
GS Pranay Kumar Chatterjee was working closely with Baba in those Jamalpur
days. Baba's laokika family was dogmatic so they were believing that Pranay
Kumar is their family priest b/c he was brahmin caste. Anyway after getting
initiation Pranay Kumar accepted Baba as Guru. And those days Baba used to
sit on a chair and He used to give a chair to the disciples to sit on. And
then He used to talk. This was the regular way He was doing in His
residential railway quarters room.
And when Baba was visiting the Jamalpur ashram then people were sitting on
the carpet floor and Baba was sitting on the dais. This was the regular way
there-- irrespective of whether it was a small or big gathering.
But this type of treatment Pranay did not like. Because since long time he
had contact with Baba and whenever he was going to Baba's railway
residential quarter then he was getting a chair and was sitting next to Baba.
Then one day what happened was that the rule was changed such that all the
disciples who will come to see Him in railway residence quarter, they will
also have to sit on the ground.
Hearing this Pranay Kumar Chatterjee got completely suffocated with this
idea. And he opposed and he became unhappy with Baba. And he told Baba
that, 'This is unjust. I will choose to remain standing but I will not sit
on the ground.'
We should not forget that Pranay Kumar was our first GS in those Jamalpur
days.
BABA LOVINGLY WORKS WITH EVERYONE
By this way we can see that Baba being a Taraka Brahma, Sadguru, has to
work with very dogmatic type of people. They have hardly any devotion or
surrender.
Some sentimental people may not believe my feeling but on the touchstone of
Baba's teachings if it will be judged then....
This was also one of the causes of Pranay Kumarji's leaving Ananda Marga.
So we can see that the dogma which was coming since thousands of years in
Indian soil, that dogma also got saturated in the minds of so many of our
senior Wts and post-holders etc. And in some or other form still today these
thing are present with our various Wts as well.
THE PRESENT SCENE
Without question one of the main dogmas polluting our Marga nowadays is
that various top Dadas are blatantly involved in groupism. And by so doing,
they are going against neo-humanism-- otherwise if one is truly
neo-humanistic then how can groupism run rampant. As we know another name
for neo-humanism is-- 'liberation of intellect'. But if one is not
following this tenant and if their intellect is not liberated, then in that
case the dogmas like groupism invariably arise.
Unfortunately now senior Dadas are also involved in creating other dogmas
such as building up their dogmatic tiirtha sites-- as is being done in
Tiljala and Jamalpur. And on the point of violence they are doing such harm
as killing some of our own senior Dadas in their groupist battles. So these
but of few of the horrors and dogmas taking form in this present era.
However we should also take heart in Baba's divine teaching that true
devotees do exist all around-- yet such sadhakas who are the real assets
of the society are mostly unknown, not recognised. Whereas those who come
into power and grab the limelight are mostly just greedy for the post.
So we should use our vivek about what is right and what is wrong and not
just rush up and thinking someone is god-like simply because of their
seniority or post.
CONDUCT IS OUR MEASURING ROD
In our AM conduct is the main thing. So we should always make our
evaluations based on the conduct and watch how far it is consistent with
dharma.
Baba says, "Your ideal is represented by your conduct. Your learning, your
social or economic status have got nothing to do with your ideal." (AV #13)
Namaskar,
Vidyasagar
Note 1: MORE ABOUT THIS E-MAIL
In this entire mail, here my point is that since Jamalpur days and up to
1990, Baba's used to give punishment to the disciples and this approach of
punishment is mostly misunderstood among workers. The majority of margiis
believe that punishment given by Baba is really His blessing, but some
Dadas are thinking along different lines.
Note 2: ANOTHER MISNOMER: GURU PURPOSELY PUTS US IN TESTS
In a related scenario for some workers in their dogmatic mind when they are
undergoing any trouble, then they do not believe that they are facing their
negative samskara. And that due to this their problems and sufferings are
coming. Rather when facing any suffering or difficulty, then they accuse
Baba that 'Baba is putting me in test unnecessarily; He is the cause of all
this'.
So such people do not believe that they did anything wrong and that that is
why they are facing consequences. And in that case many disciples get
frustrated and leave. Because they feel that Guru is the main problem
creator in their life. So what a nasty dogma this is-- facing their own
sins and yet accusing others, i.e. Guru, for 'creating problems'. Many
dogmatic persons believe that Guru gives tests to His disciples and He
tortures them. But the fact is something else. Parama Purusa is love
personified. Parama Purusa does not torture or give tests to His devotees.
For their own sins no human being should blame Him.
Baba says, "Human beings are answerable for their fate as it is their
actions alone which create it. They alone will have to bear the
consequences of their actions. No one else can substitute for them."
"People often hold Parama Purusa responsible for calamities that
befall them but in fact they alone are responsible. As the suffering of
fate is only the reaction of their own previous actions. How can Parama
Purusa be responsible." (AMEP)
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Importance of Sadhana
Baba says, "Numerous rich and beautiful cities of the historic past
are now buried under the earth. Many splendid palaces and mansions, many
churches, temples, mosques and synagogues, and many pyramids have been
reduced to rubble. With the constant change in the flow of time, how many
major changes have occurred in the universe? Similarly, with the change in
time and space, people also change. A small two year old child becomes a
smart and active twenty-five year old youth. And the same energetic youth
becomes an infirm, inactive old person in due course. Thus, nothing in this
universe is permanent. Many gigantic animals of the past have become
totally extinct from the surface of the earth. Royal pomp and opulence, the
pride of power, the vast knowledge of mighty scholars have become things of
the past, thrown into the dustbin of history. Many objects emerged in the
past, remained on earth for a short time, and then disappeared according to
the inexorable law of nature."
"The only eternal truth is Parama Purus'a. He is Ana'di,
beginningless, endless, all-pervasive; an entity beyond the scope of time,
place and person. He is the only eternal, undecaying, imperishable,
immutable entity. He is the Supreme Source from which the inanimate, plant
and animal worlds have emerged. He is the starting point and the
culminating point of everything. Hence, wise people should utilise their
physical, psychic and spiritual power to realise that supreme
omnitelepathic entity, to become one with Him." (PNS-18, p.6)
Note: Please read Baba's above teaching again carefully. It explains
everything.
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Neither is Absolutely Good...
From: "Marc Pele" == NEITHER IS ABSOLUTELY GOOD ==
~ DON'T FOLLOW BLINDLY ~
Namaskar,
These days east is becoming more like west and west is becoming more
like east. That is the general trend clearly visible in the daily living
patterns of modern society.
In India, western fashion and corporate life, not to mention fast-food &
cocktails, are becoming highly sought after things, whereas in the west,
more and more are turning to eastern philosophies and even adopting
practices like idol worship etc.
So a "grand melange" or big mix is going on.
However to blindly jump from one side of the spectrum to another is just
to fall into another dogma. So all should pay heed and be astute, lest
one fall into a new pothole.
At the same time we should remember that our AM is entirely new and
quite different from the on-going patterns of east and west.
Baba says, "Ananda Marga is a revolution. It is not only a spiritual
revolution but also an economic, social and mental revolution. The
economic system, the social structure, 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)
Thus while our AM teachings reflect dharma in all respects, totally free
from dogmas and hypocrisy, the ways of the east and west are riddled
with such incongruities.
A FEW EXISTING CONTRADICTIONS
1. WOMEN IN INDIA: In India, for centuries females have been honored and
revered as mother and worshiped as those who grant life to others. Thus
women seemingly enjoy a goddess-like stature in India, yet side by side
those very same females are bared from leaving the home, and not given
even basic human rights. Plus people are willing to pay huge dowries to
marry their daughter bur are then unwilling to spend one rupee on the
education of that female. So from top to bottom females are not treated
as equals in day-to-day life and instead are often forced to live the
life of a subservient being. Clearly, then this is one living
contradiction or incongruity.
2. CLEANLINESS IN THE WEST: On the outside, everything in the west looks
neat and clean, i.e. well-organised and taken care of. The roads and
houses are well-maintained and most things are quite orderly. One might
be led to believe then that the standard of shaoca in the west is quite
high. Yet on points of basic hygiene the west suffers quite terribly.
For instance, toilet paper - not water - is used for cleaning the
backside and that is certainly a dirty manner. Then there are other
common problems that are fairly common such as not clearing the bowels
upon awakening, long and dirty finger nails, obesity, and other such
habits and illnesses.
3. PETS IN USA: At present in the US, people's pets (dogs, cats etc) are
treated extremely well. People feed their dog organic dog food, bring
their pets to spas for massages and shampoo, and when they go on
vacation then their bring their dog or cat to a pet resort so their pet
will get treated like a king or queen. All of this costs big bucks too.
And if anyone abuses their dog then they may even be sent to jail. So
from the outside it looks like animals are treated very well in the US.
However, in this very same land, most of the people eat animal flesh on
a daily basis, advocate hunting, and allow millions upon millions of
innocent animals to live in factory farms where they are tortured,
poisoned, debilitated, drugged, and ultimately butchered and killed. So
there is extreme hypocrisy within the US about "animal rights".
4) SPIRITUALITY IN INDIA: As we all know there is a long-standing
tradition of high spiritual values in India where reverence to God and
oneness of the universe are quite pervasive ideals. Yet in the same land
where all are acknowledged as being reflections of the Supreme, the
terrible caste system was put in place which differentiates the value
from one human being to the next. Thus there is the inherent
contradiction of oneness of life and a completely stratified society.
5) RACISM IN AMERICA: In the past year, an African-American was elected
President of the US. It looks like then that the US is a land of
equality and equal opportunity where all races are honored and
respected. But in this same land, racism rages on a daily basis in the
form of hate crimes, murders, cheating, theft, hirings and firings,
violence and hatred. This stands as a clear-cut manifestation of the
duality with regards to race, equality, safety, and opportunity.
6) RELIGION IN THE US: The world over the US is looked upon as the most
technologically developed nation where so many inventions & innovations
have taken place in the material sphere: space travel, cars, planes,
computers, etc. Technology is king, logic is supported, and superstition
is disregarded. That said, within this same land, so many schools are
barred from preaching the scientific theories of Darwin and instead
religious fundamentalists insists that the dogma of creationism be
preached in the classroom, and not scientifically supported studies.
By all of the above, it is quiet clear that neither east nor west has
their stamp on the truth. Both are lopsided in their own ways and both
suffer from serious contradictions, despite their good qualities.
NOW EAST COPYING WEST & VICE-VERSA
However, at present both are in the mode of copying one another.
Copying the good points is fine, such as vegetarianism, women's rights,
human suffrage etc, but it does not stop there. They also copy each
other's dogmas and ways of pseudo-culture.
With the spread of eastern philosophies in the west, so many false ideas
are being adopted in the name of yoga and spirituality. All of a sudden,
dogmatic kiirtans and idol worship are grabbing the attention of
America's youth and young professionals and on the other side of the
planet, anything & everything remotely related with Hollywood and cheap
pseudo-culture fashion like dating and open sex is being gobbled up in
India.
And there are so many other examples from dress to language to food to
you name it.
So by copying one another, it is not just the good things that are
embraced. All too often dogmas are also emulated due to people's blind
attraction for either "anything American" or "anything Indian".
Of course this entire phenomenon is not just limited to the US and
India. Many other places and communites are involved in the sharing of
each other's dogmas. Every country is involved to some or more degree.
This letter focused on the US and India as these two lands historically
represent polar-opposites, or the extreme opposite of one another.
ONLY AM IS PERFECT AND DOGMA-FREE
Here we have to remember that no society is wholly perfect and proper -
goaded by service mentality, high-minded ideals, and rationality.
Rather, both in the east as well as in the west, so many degrading and
backward things are prevalent. And now with more travel and internet
access, those bad things are also getting spread around the globe.
Only, by Baba's grace, is our Ananda Marga way of life totally new and
original and beyond the limitations and distortions of east and west.
Baba says, "Ananda Marga is not a change merely due to the cycle of time
but a revolution, a radical change – in the true sense. Never before in
the entire history of this world or the universe, if it could be known
to mortals, has a system of life fully embracing the economic, social,
mental and spiritual spheres ever been correlated in such closely knit
society as in Ananda Marga." (PNS-11)
By His grace, our Marga ideology is entirely new. It did not merely a
collection of the various things of east and west - both good and bad.
Rather AM is based purely 100% on rationality. What things from the east
and west that were in harmony with AM ideals were adopted. But not just
that - so many new things have been given. Sixteen Points is new - the
idea of having a spiritual path also give socio-economic teachings is
totally new - many of our sadhana lessons are new - and so much more.
When neither east nor west is entirely good, then it demands that
something different, i.e. the teachings of Ananda Marga given by Taraka
Brahma, be placed before the humanity. This is the only way to make
progress and move ahead.
BABA'S BLESSING
No society is wholly perfect, only our AM ideology is perfect so by
Baba's grace we must strive to follow His teachings and not anything
from east and west per se. Doing the latter means only inviting more dogma.
Baba says, "Though the human society is one and indivisible, still there
are certain differences in the attitudes to life and the world between
the East and the West. Both have their distinctly different mentalities.
The East is predominantly subjective in outlook, whereas the West has a
mainly objective bent of mind. The East, throughout its development, has
maintained a subjective approach, whereas western countries put great
stress on objective development. Too much emphasis on either one of
these approaches is not conducive to the all-round growth of the
society. We can build up an ideal society only on the basis of a happy
adjustment between the subjective and the objective approaches. Here is
the greatness of Ananda Marga ideology." (PNS-18)
Namaskar,
Moksa
Note 1: ECONOMIC DOGMA
For years and years in the US, so many people spent money on "extras"
when in fact their basic necessities and needs were not met. Money went
to cigarettes and alcohol as opposed to household needs and clothing for
the children. People spent extravagantly on cars yet overlooked buying
proper, healthy food. People spent huge money on cosmetics to "look
good" rather than affording themselves the opportunity to lead a healthy
life. So money has mostly been misspent, chasing after prestige and
superficial things instead of truly making one's life better. And now,
that same dogma and misunderstanding is spreading across India as they
take the internal vow to become like America.
Plus there are so many issues like this one:
For instance the US government and its citizens draft so many public
policies to help the "poorer nations" yet within their own borders of
the US, there is homelessness and starvation in nearly every city, not
to mention a slew of other social problems.
Note 2: OUR DUTY
Thus none should think that any country is perfect or good. Peace and
unity will only result where AM ideology is followed - nowhere else.
Baba says, "Remember, until every person in the universe accepts the
Ananda Marga ideology, you have no opportunity to rest." (CC-2,
'Miscellaneous', pt#6)
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Sadhana?
"Baba says, "Whatever a man is to do in his spiritual life he is to do--
why? Because he is in love with the Supreme Entity. Love is the first
word, love is the starting point, and love is the last point." (AV-12,
p. 13)
Note: Baba's above guideline is very beneficial for sadhana. However
these days some innocent or simple people just do meditation for "mental
peace". And ever worse some wts do sadhana for show-- to pose themselves
as someone great. Such workers do hardly an ounce of sadhana when they
are alone; but when they go to margiis' houses then in Hollywood style
they sit in meditation for a long time. All done in order to put
themselves on display and create one show that they are highly elevated
sadhakas. Certain margiis do a similar thing when they attend retreats.
But by looking at the on-going conduct of such margiis one can
understand how far they are really doing sadhana or not. It is just like
if you are approaching one animal at night. At first you may think that
it is a tiger or a lion, but when that animal makes its weird 'Huan,
Huan' sound, then you know that it is just a jackal. Same is the case
when being around those types of few margiis and wts who put on a show
of sadhana. By their conduct and dealing they just expose themselves etc.
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