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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)
****************************************** 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"
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)
****************************************** 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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