== MYTH ABOUT AM ==
Namaskar,
There is one prevailing myth that floats in and around our AM circles -
this letter addresses it. Please add your own thoughts and experiences.
WHAT THE VARIOUS RELIGIONS DO
Many are aware that the practice of ekadashii and the shloka of
samgacchadhvam have been around for ages and are related with Hinduism.
Plus Buddha's teaching of cakuna samvaro (control over the senses) and
the eight fold path are well known.
Then of course there is the Christian doctrine which preaches service
and doing good to others. And finally, Muslims think of one another as
brother & sister and oppose dogmas like idol worship.
THE MYTH ITSELF
Seeing these elements in the various religions may lead one to conclude
that AM is just a mix of the various religions - as if Baba gathered the
cream of all the religious teachings and combined them to form Ananda
Marga.
Some in AM (& outside AM) may think like that.
However, that conclusion is totally false - it is just one myth.
As Ananda Margiis we should be totally clear on this point and
understand fully how AM is totally new and vastly different from the
existing religions.
ONLY AM HAS GIVEN A SOCIO-ECONOMIC THEORY
Perhaps the most striking point that differentiates AM from every
religion is that only Ananda Marga has given a socio-economic theory.
Only Baba knew that for dharma and spirituality to rise, there must be
economic justice and social equality. For that reason He has given Prout.
In contrast, some of the other religions have slowly become the stooges
of capitalism; while Shankaracarya's Hinduism overlooked the material
world entirely; and in general most religions have no clear-cut teaching
for addressing socio-economic issues.
In contrast, Ananda Marga has Prout: A comprehensive outlook delineating
plans and programs across the entire socio-economic spectrum.
Our overall approach is subjective approach through objective
adjustment. And Prout is the ultimate tool for bridging the divide
between a God-centered spiritual outlook and living in this material world.
If nothing else then, Baba's Prout theory is perfect evidence that AM is
totally new and revolutionary, and not a mix of the various religions.
SOME GET CONFUSED THROUGH SELF-HYPNOSIS
How is it then that some have gotten confused and fallen prey to the
myth that AM is just a mix of the various religions.
Firstly, those who are not fully aware of Baba's teachings may have
taken this myth to heart just out of their ignorance or laziness. That
can happen.
There is also another phenomenon at work.
In order to do AM pracara in any region or place, one must make a link
with the local people. The best way to make that link is through service
- that is Baba's recommendation. Side by side however, often that link
is made by pointing out similarities between AM and the local
traditions, customs and beliefs.
For instance, acaryas or margiis in India, might point to the many
similarities (diet, language, yama & niyama, Shiva & Krsna) and shared
history of yoga and Hinduism in order to convince people that AM is not
something foreign but actually very close to their religion.
Likewise in the Islamic world, an acarya or margii may point to the
shared monotheistic approach. Both Islam and AM believe in the existence
of one God. And by saying this again and again, that margii or acarya
may really begin to believe in their heart that AM's doctrine of a
single God really is just like Islam.
And in every land such techniques are used, whether it be highlighting
the similarities between AM & Christianity in the west or AM and
Buddhism in the far east. In all such places, in order to do pracara,
acaryas and margiis convince the locals that AM is very close to or
nearly identical to their religion.
Unknowingly, through this pracara technique, some of those margiis and
acaryas may end up convincing themselves that really AM did stem from
those religions. It is a type of self-hypnosis. That can happen and
indeed it has happened.
So that is one reason why this myth is alive in AM that really our Marga
is nothing but a mix of the various religions.
When in reality, AM is totally new and absolutely none of the teachings
of the various dogmatic religions were brought into AM. That will become
more clear by reading more of this letter.
THE TRUTH IS ALWAYS ONE
The thing we have to keep in mind is that the truth is always one.
For example 2 + 2 = 4. Just because a math teacher is preaching this
fact does not mean that he borrowed it or stole it from another math
class or teacher. Rather it just happens to be a fact or truthhood. So
it is bound to be taught wherever logic and rationality are in vogue.
Same is the case with Ananda Marga. Ours is the path of truth and
dharma. And we may share certain principles like brotherhood, service,
montheism with the various religions, but that does not mean that AM
borrowed or stole those points from the religions. It just means that
the truth is propagated in many avenues.
Even then we have to be careful in admitting such a statement. Because
the religions have turned the above points of brotherhood, service, and
monotheism etc into veritable dogmatic practices, wheres in AM those
principles take dharmic expression.
MORE DOGMA THAN ANYTHING ELSE
The various religions preach dogma more than anything else. Thus
although they may share certain points with AM - our presentation of
that teaching is dharma whereas theirs is dogmatic.
For instance, both AM and Islam embrace the belief that all are brothers
and sisters. But the word "all" in Islam refers only to other Muslims.
Theirs is a limited application of brotherhood whereas in AM our
approach is totally universal. Every person is our brother and sister
irregardless of race, nationality, and belief etc.
Another example is that of service in Christianity. Although service is
a shared ideal between AM and Christianity, their application of service
can consist of service meat, preaching the gospel of hell,
indoctrinating the dying into Christianity, and all kinds of other
dogmatic things. So although we both appreciate the practice of service,
AM's approach to service is quite different from that of Christianity.
While the Hindus may be aware of the glories of astaunga yoga,
ekadashii, yama and niyama etc, mostly they do not practice those things
and when they do it is often in a very watered down or dogmatic manner.
Thus despite the seemingly shared terminology and practices between AM
and the various religions, our way is unique and quite different from
the dogmatic religions. None then can claim that AM is merely a mix of
the various religions.
THE ORIGINALITY OF SHIVA & KRSNA
Here is another facet of the conversation to keep in mind.
Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna graciously gave many, many teachings and both
these Divine Personalities predate the existence of most of the world's
religions. Often we find that the religious dogma stems from watered
down versions of Lord Shiva's and Lord Krsna's teachings. Thus rather
than say that AM borrowed from Hinduism etc, it is probably far more
correct to say that those Hindu priests, Christ, & Mohammed stole and
distorted Taraka Brahma's earlier teachings.
That also explains why there are remnants or shadows of certain dharmic
teachings in the various dogmatic religions.
And as to the uniqueness of AM, may we also keep in mind that Baba has
given many things not given earlier by either of the Taraka Brahmas.
Among many other points is that AM represents the first time that the
philosophy of yoga has been given.
Baba says, "The yoga philosophy was first propounded by Ananda Marga."
(06 Jan 1979, Patna)
Note for more about this reference:
But with regards to the dogmatic religions, more often than not they
took from Shiva and Krsna - and then watered down and distorted those
teachings - and that is why such religions may superficially look like
they are similar to AM.
Top of all though, the comprehensive body of teachings of Ananda Marga
have never before been given.
That is why Baba Himself has declared.
"Baba says, "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)
ALL KNOWLEDGE COMES FROM HIM
Ultimately, by His grace all knowledge comes from Him.
3-9 Brahmaeva gururekah na'parah.
[Only Brahma is the guru, no one else.]
Purport: Brahma alone is the guru. Brahma alone directs the units to the
path of emancipation through the media of different receptacles or
bodies. No one except Brahma conforms to the real significance of the
word “guru”. (Ananda Sutram)
Thus the eternal teachings of life either come directly from God when He
appears as Taraka Brahma or they come indirectly from God via those
rishis who have linked their unit mind with Cosmic mind, by His grace.
Some great yogis have been able to do this. In that case their words
resonate with neo-humanism and are consistent with Baba's ideals.
In contrast, the religions may claim to also preach the gospel of God,
but when we apply our rational intellect we can easily see that their
teachings are full of loopholes and inconsistencies.
Whereas the teachings of AM are totally dharmic, perfect and pure.
Because our teachings come directly from Him.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace the teachings of AM are entirely new. New in every way
imaginable. So none should get confused into thinking that AM is a mix
of the various religions.
Baba says, "Ananda Marga is radically different from all concepts of
philosophy as well as economic and social thinking. It is not a change
which has evolved as a result of the evolution of the human mind and its
economic and social environments. It is a revolutionary concept of life
altogether different from any of the present or past ideas. It is a
change which is independent of the cyclic changes due to the passage of
time. It does not practise anything which is not new both in approach
and practice. It is a revolution which makes life a reality. It teaches
adjustment to life, rather than giving up the world by leading a life of
useless seclusion. It creates people who are fit for every walk of life,
who do not make any distinction among their fellow beings, and who are
joined together as one world community. In our Ananda Marga all
humanity, nay, all living beings (jiiva matra tare) have combined
together in every walk of life." (AFPS-7)
Namaskar,
Ram
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Practical Aspect of Mysticism
Baba says, "Mysticism is a never-ending endeavour to find a link between
finite and infinite." (AV-23, p.101)
Note: Here Baba is indirectly giving the guideline that in the realm of
devotion one should have a particular personal relation with Parama
Purusa. And these relations are known as "bhava"-- whether they be
sakhya bhava, dasya bhava, madhura bhava etc. So these various bhavas
are that very "link between finite and infinite". Because with the help
of these relations devotees gradually come in closer and closer
proximity with Parama Purusa. Until finally by linking up in this way
the sadhaka becomes one with Him.
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