== YOU ARE CHAINED - YOU NEED FREEDOM ==
Namaskar,
Every human being understands they are bound; they understand they are
not free.
A few ignorant people may believe they are free but if they think more
deeply then realise that they are not free.
Yatha' laohamayaeh pa'shaeh...
Everyone is bound by samskaras and they have no choice but to face them:
Disease, old age, sickness, loneliness, death. Everyone tries to avoid
these afflictions but ultimately they are chained and shackled by those
samskaras. There is no other recourse - one must face such bondages.
That is what Baba is teaching in the above shloka.
But is there really no escape? Must one return again and again onto this
earth, thousands and millions of times, to face their karmaphala (fruits
of their actions)?
This letter explains both the science of bondage and the solution, as
given by Marga Guru in the Supreme Command. As the gracious Taraka
Brahma Baba has given the way out from this cycle of bondage of life and
death.
SAMSKARAS, SUPREME COMMAND & MORE
So long as one is alive, every sadhaka has samskaras. It is impossible
for a human being to walk this earth and not have any samskaras.
Samskaras and human life go hand in hand - one cannot exist without the
other.
In your life you surely have faced many things which you did not like
and will not like: Humiliation, disease, loss, and so many troubles.
These are all the karmic reactions of past samskaras.
The question then is: If up to the very minute of one's death a person
is still bound by all these samskaras, then how can they achieve
liberation?
Specifically, how does the Supreme Command work? How can one attain
liberation when they are shackled by piles of samskaras waiting to take
expression.
We will explore the above conundrum as well as other critical aspects of
samskara theory & the Supreme Command - all done according to the
teachings and guidelines of Baba.
CREATING MORE & MORE SAMSKARAS
In more than a few discourses, Baba explains how in one life a typical
human being creates such a huge amount of samskaras that they cannot be
exhausted in the next 100 lifetimes. Compounding that by multiple lives
then makes for an enormous bundle of samskaras.
Baba says, "Human beings have been committing numerous crimes and sins
for lives together resulting in a huge pile of sins as high as the
Himalayas." (AV-7)
From that perspective, human beings are creating huge numbers of
samskaras whereby we are totally bound, if not crippled by a mountain of
karmic reactions.
For instance, suppose in one second, a person harms someone and then
they may face the reaction of that misdeed for years or even lifetimes.
Or if a baby was sexually abused once by one adult, then that baby will
be scarred their entire life and the guilty party must undergo a whole
boatload of reactions for this single crime.
Or suppose in a fractions of a minute a person poisoned food and
subsequently killed one hundred people, then that samskara will be
reaped for hundreds of lifetimes.
Or what about those who kill animals for sport or food, and they are
totally oblivious that they are incurring sin. Indeed there are many
examples like that.
It happens in society too according to gender and race, such as with
slave owners etc. People feel they have the right to harrass others
because that is the social norm of the day, but they will face the
reaction for countless future lives.
All in all, the human mind is wrought with so many propensities and
inclinations and in their lifetime people chase after one desire after
another. Name, fame, sex, wealth, prestige, house, property, children,
food, dreams, vanity, fear etc. All day long your average human is fully
engrossed in these dealings. In a single day, a typical person might
create dozens or even hundreds of new samskaras.
Then Baba cites how most are involved in negative works. It is not like
the whole entire humanity is engulfed in benevolence. People are
thieving, looting, raping, grabbing etc. With their vanity ego they
harass others and do injustice and do not even realise how much they are
harming others.
So people acquire samskaras by the truckload day after day - even for
doing good actions.
But that is not all.
Finally, as soon as one creates a new samskara, then that samskara or
unexpressed reaction starts growing. It collects interest just like in
the case of a bank loan. So we have to pay back that samskara with
interest.
That means if a person steals Rs100 then depending on how much time goes
by they will have to lose or payback 200, 1,000, or even 1,000,000
rupees. It all depends how much time goes by before they undergo the
reaction. Sometimes the payback is not for several lifetimes. In that
case, just imagine the interest. What was a simple misdeed can balloon
into a massive debacle.
If you punch someone unjustly just once, then ten years later you may
get get beaten by so many bandits or gang members at the same time,
getting punched again and again. One may think, "I did not do anything
wrong, why is this happening?", but this is samskara from earlier.
In various phases people face either good samskaras and bad samskaras.
Even though one may be facing a good samskara today, in the future one
may face a whole pile of bad samsakras. It all depends on what is more
conducive at a particular time.
A young person may think that "I will never get sick", yet all the while
they have samskara for a terrible sickness and that samskara is waiting
for the right time or conducive moment to take expression. Then in the
bad days of one's old age that disease will manifest. It is all about
having a conducive environment. Just a seeds sprout in the spring and
not in winter, same is the case with both good and bad samskaras. The
right environment is needed.
The whole scenario then is quite serious. Getting bound by samskaras is
an inevitable and involved process. It happens to everyone - period,
whether one is a sadhaka or not.
How then are we to escape this web - this intricate and burdensome
bundle of samskaras.
BABA'S GRACIOUS BOON ON SADHAKAS
LIBERATION IS A SURE GUARANTEE
Enter the Supreme Command.
We all say it each and every week, if not more frequently, "Those who
perform sadhana twice a day regularly, the thought of Parama Purusa will
arise in mind at the time of death; their liberation is a sure guarantee."
Thus, in the Supreme Command, Baba guarantees liberation to all sadhakas
- irrespective of the bundle of samskaras that they are carrying. And
here' s how it works.
At the time of death, one witnesses a movie-like series of images that
flashes across one's citta covering their life's events. Typically that
produces a range of thoughts and the common person will get glued to one
of those worldly thoughts.
Things like: Yelling, thievery, stealing, harassment, killing, as well
as good thoughts like feeding others. But the dominant thought that
comes most strongly is usually something negative - not a benevolent ideal.
Then as soon as their body expires, the person will be in search of a
new body that matches up with their prevailing thought, or samskara. In
that way common people get reborn as dogs, bugs, mice, humans, stones etc.
It does not happen to just humans. In Jamalpur, Baba did a demonstration
where He made Dasrathji a medium to see a margii's past life. There was
a yogi doing meditation who got bit by one wasp. The yogi he killed that
wasp - there was no reaction for the yogi - and the wasp died with the
thought of the yogi in mind and was reborn as that margii sadhaka.
Here the point is that one'e rebirth depends on one's mental colour or
dominant thought.
Baba says, "One acquires a physical body according to the nature of
one’s sam'ska'ras. A human being who behaves like a goat or a dog may be
born as a goat or a dog in the next life, because such an animal body is
the proper base for the congenial expression of the latent sam'ska'ras.
Hence it is not at all impossible for a human being to be reborn as a
hog, a worm, a tree, or even a piece of stone. One’s destiny will be
decided according to the nature of one’s karma – this is an infallible
law." (AMIWL-7)
Plus in so many discourses Baba tells that those who ideate on money
turn into coin or dollars etc.
But with sadhakas, however, the process is entirely different.
Baba guides us that if one is earnest in doing sadhana twice a day, then
they will get liberation. How? Because normally at the time of death the
mind seeks a new body according to karmic law. But if one is involved in
the thought of Parama Purusa at the time of death, then the rules of
karma do not apply. Then one is not bound by their past actions and
potential reactions. Then the movie reel of negative deeds will not
appear in their mind at the time of death - only the thought of Him will
come. That is His grace. Then one will think nothing other than the
thought of Parama Purusa. In that state all samskaras get burned and the
sadhaka becomes one with Parama Purusa.
For that Baba wants that you must fulfill the guidelines of the the
Supreme Command. You do your duty of sadhana and He fulfllls His
guarantee of liberation. If the first half (i.e. sadhana) is not done
then second half (i.e. liberation) does not happen. Then the sadhaka is
bound.
On this aspect margiis are forunate and we should bring others onto the
path so they can save themselves from the horrors of samskaras and get
liberation. That is also part of the supreme command.
By His grace, when we do sadhana twice daily, then liberation is sure.
That is His divine compassion. Human beings alone cannot overcome all
those samskaras by themselves - His grace is needed. So then Baba
graciously dissolves all the remaining samskaras, and the sadhaka merges
in Him.
That is the special formula. And for it to happen, the pre-requisite is
twice a day sadhana.
One must try earnestly to do sadhana for 30 minutes each sitting- it
need not be perfect sadhana - the mind might flicker and one's
concentration on the mantra might waver, but one's sincerity must be
proper. That is the key point: sincerity.
If this type of reverential approach is taken in sadhana twice daily,
then regardless if one's sadhana is "good" or "bad", the bhakta is sure
to attain liberation. That practice is enough to ensure that at the time
of death one will think of Him, by His grace, in which case He will take
away all remaining samskaras and grant liberation. That is Guru's most
gracious promise and boon.
WHY MUKTI IS IMPORTANT
Even then, those in the dark, may think that, "I am not bound - I am
free - I need not seek liberation." Such is a classic case of sheer
ignorance, sometimes even good sadhakas can think like this.
Here we should always remember that everyone on this earth is bound by
samsakras in one way or another. Every jiiva is bound - bound by death,
by old age, by hunger, by so many things. No one is free.
One can only get temporary satisfaction through worldly things like
food, sleep etc. But then soon again one will feel hungry or tired. It
happens.
Baba says, "To live in this physical world, to preserve our existence,
artha or money is essential. However, we also require parama'rtha.
Parama'rtha is that factor which brings about the permanent cessation of
the triple afflictions. Here permanent cessation means cessation of
those afflictions which, once removed, will never return again in the
future. That artha which brings permanent relief from the pangs of
hunger, which is the instrument of permanent cessation, is called
“parama'rtha”. It is important that you understand the true significance
of “parama'rtha”." (AV-4)
Only the spiritual sphere can permanently satisfy all human hunger and
yearning.
Only by following the rules and guidelines in the Supreme Command can
one attain eternal peace. Till that time, one will always be engulfed in
some kind of limitation and ignorance.
When we adhere to the Supreme Command - when we do sadhana twice daily
with sincerity - then by His grace we will be relieved of all bondages
and suffering and be granted liberation.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace every Ananda Margii does sadhana twice daily. In that
case liberation is certain.
So no one should get caught up in worry or despair. Baba is controlling
everything. He can and will save us from each and every predicament.
There is no cause for hopelessness or helplessness.
With sincerity in sadhana, He will grace us with only His thought when
we die, ensuring liberation. That is His guarantee in the Supreme Command.
Baba says, " If one dies while seeking the Supreme, one will surely
attain the Supreme after death. One who is totally absorbed in ideation
on the Supreme becomes one with the Supreme at the time of death. This
is certainly true in the case of devotees." (AMIWL-9)
Namaskar,
Shantatma
Note 1: UNDERGOING SAMSKARAS
Here are two more points about undergoing samskaras.
(A) You may have noticed how people comment that once one gets initiated
then so many problems and difficulties start happening. That is because
the karmic cycle speeds up so one can undergo all their reactions. Even
then by His grace He will ensure that they get totally exhausted in the
end. So that is one phenomenon.
(B) Side by side, if the mind is high and vibrated then the
manifestation of bad samskaras does not cause mental anguish to the
sadhaka. If one is devotionally remembering Him, then one will feel
light and easy.
For instance, if Baba is coming and one sadhaka is rushing to go see
Baba and while running he cuts his foot. That sadhaka may not even know
that his foot is bleeding because his mind is so engrossed in the
thought of Baba.
That is the way it works. Other may think you are suffering a lot but if
the mind is high, then one does not experience any mental trouble while
undergoing those samskaras.
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Who is blessed one?
Baba says, "The man who is intelligent should, from his very childhood,
move along the path of proto-spirituality. The sooner a man starts and
moves along this path of psycho-spirituality, the better it is. He is
the blessed one." (AV-12, p.75)
Note: With the start of this happy new year we should once again reflect
how Baba has graced us by providing us all the tools and teachings for
moving along the path of spirituality. So again with renewed vigor we
should be more firm and more sincere in our adherence to Sixteen Points.
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