BABA STORY: SAMGHE SHAKTI
A BRIEF LOOK AT OUR ORGANISATIONAL CRISIS & WHAT TO DO
Namaskar,
By looking around it is clear that this is the transitional period-- a time
of serious change and struggle in our Marga society. And for all of us--
Margiis and many Wts-- it is not easy to decide what to do and what not to
do. Because nowadays various Wt groups & sub-groups are raising their ugly
head: Declaring new PP's, making claims to power, putting forth their
groupist plan etc. And in response some confused margiis/Wts are thinking
that they will work independently outside the organisational structure etc,
etc. So in various ways groupism and the rush for power are creating a
multi-fold, ripple effect.
Of course here in India there is huge clash going on between H and B, and
the various sub-factions of H group. But even then the division is not
confined to this sector. In Suva, NY, Berlin and in various of our overseas
sectors similar disintegration is going on. Currently there is intense
infighting going on between the overseas WT ranks also. This report came
from the overseas sectors just recently. So this is clearly a delicate time
in our Marga.
SIMILAR TO A TIME IN THE PAST
But what we may or may not realise is that this condition is similar to the
pre-Mahabharata period when all kinds of internal disputes and infighting
was going on. And in the end they could hardly do anything concrete for
serving humanity.
UNITY IS THE KEY WORD
As we all know, without unity and the development of one human society,
nothing will be achieved. At least we can learn from those capitalists &
how they have bonded together-- albeit superficially--to fulfill their negative agenda.
On the other side of the spectrum in a positive spirit Baba has given that
our cooperatives should be formed and also unite. So all around unity is
needed to progress.
So now samghe shakti, unity is needed. And the best way is to follow Baba.
Following Baba, means forming unity; whereas groupism is the opposite. And
of course the Marga which is unified will have more strength & vigour.
Baba says, "Human unity is purely an ideological unity, which means unity
in the psychic sphere. Where there is psychic unity, physical unity will
also occur. In the realm of unity, unity is always psychic – ideological
unity means unity in the subtlest level of the mind. However, psychic or
ideological unity may be affected if we encourage the exploitation of one
group by another. So to avoid this there should not be any scope for
exploitation [groupism] in society." ('Talks on Prout')
Now because of inner clash we have crippled ourselves such that even
the wicked exploiters in society are not feeling threatened by us. Earlier,
in those pre-1990 days, they were thinking that AM is one fireball and
negative persons were very fearful about us. But not now; now they think
that AM is doomed to destroy itself. All due to our present-day
disintegration because of groupism. And such disintegration leads to more
disintegration, splintering and division. That is why the exploiters in the
mainline society are not worried about us any longer.
And regarding the point of disintegration, by seeing the history it is
clear that this has happened to so many organisations and religions in the
past-- where they become one with the dust. This is one negative phase
going on. So in our Marga this is the transitional period.
Because all around there is confusion, attachment, and misinformation. Right &
wrong news and so many things are floating around; it is hard to know what
is correct and what is incorrect. In this condition some people are feeling
angry, depressed, frustrated & confused.
BABA STORY: A SIMILAR THING DURING THE 70'S
BABA'S GRAND ADVICE
Similar was the case in the past in the 1970's when Baba went to jail. That
time the conditions were also chaotic. Our Marga was in a complete dilemma
about what to do and what not to do.
And then Baba graciously gave margiis the opportunity to visit Him and He
guided us about how to proceed. The story goes like this:
When Baba was in jail, in Patna. Then one margii went to see Baba inside
the jail. And Baba asked, 'How is it going on?'
The simple margii replied innocently, 'Baba, there is so much negative
propaganda. Nobody is listening these days to our call. So pracar is not
going on. It is very difficult.'
Then Baba smiled and told the margii, 'Your only duty is to be strict in 16
Points. As much as you will be strict in 16 points, then you will get
direct guideline and inner inspiration and strength to move ahead from
Parama Purusa. If you are loose or lax in 16 points, then you will lose
the inspiration to do pracar. even you will lose the inspiration to do
anything, any type of social service. And you may even decide to leave AM.'
Baba continued, 'So the best thing is to be strict in 16 points. And do not
think or allow any negativity to enter in your mind. Thinking about
negative things, mind will only be more depressed. The duty of sadhakas is
to keep the eyes fixed on the goal. The goal is Parama Purusa.'
So in this way Baba has steered everyone's vision toward the path of dharma--
toward the ultimate Goal.
HOW TO OVERCOME ONE'S DILEMMA OR CONFUSION
SIXTEEN POINTS BRINGS FORCE INTO THE MIND
Usually when there is a dilemma (dhvidha) or confusion (dhvandva) about
what to do and what not to do, initially people get flustered and
frustrated. And most of the time what they do goes in the wrong way.
Because the general tendency of the human mind is to run toward the
external objects or crude ideas such as money, name & fame, or power etc.
This is the natural temptation, because human beings have crossed thousands
and thousands of animal lives in which they were only dominated by basic
propensities-- animal instincts. So those natural values are animalistic
type whereas higher values, in which case veracity and dharmic teachings
usually do not reflect in the mind until the mental plate is cleaned.
So only when Sixteen Points is practiced more and more, only then does
dharma get strengthened and the mind becomes more pinnacled and pointed.
Whatever human beings do in that condition is very meaningful and
valuable-- or at the very least they will not harm anyone. Whereas if one
is not following dharma then they will not only harm others but themselves
also. So following Sixteen Points means following dharma and by that way
all around benefit happens.
FOCUS ON PARAMA PURUSA
AND BE FIRM ON SIXTEEN POINTS
Also in Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Baba guides us that our eyes should be
fixed on Parama Purusa. Inviting unnecessary thoughts and filling the mind
in that manner is very detrimental. If anyone fails to keep their eyes on
the Polestar, then on a dark night that person will certainly lose the
path. So the eyes should be fixed on the Goal. And that goal is Parama
Purusa-- none else.
BABA says: "Now to materialize any principle or ideology, one requires
firmness, especially those who provide leadership to society, those who are
the pioneers, the vanguard of a new movement. "We must keep the goal fixed
before us, and keep moving towards the goal. We shall never deviate from
our goal, whatever the obstacles or hindrances in the way. Once we start
moving, we shall never stop or look back." (NSS, p.16)
So Parama Purusa is our Goal. And the only way to keep the eyes fixed on
the Goal is by following 16 Points. That is the path of our forward
movement. And that is way Baba directs us that we should proceed.
Baba says, "Be firm on sixteen points. Unite all the righteous forces. All
the tall talks of the evil forces will be silenced." (Ananda Vanii #44)
So in this organisational crisis and transitional period which we are
facing today, our duty is to be more and more strict in 16 points. By that
way, inner strength will develop. And according to His desire, Baba will
guide us how to carry out His mission. Means Baba will make us the medium
to execute His work. To materialize His desire and achieve the Goal.
PAUSE BRINGS SPEED IN THE FUTURE
OPTIMISM IS LIFE
So when our organisation is struggling and stuck during a period of pause,
then we should see the situation more again carefully and grab hold of
Baba's teachings.
Baba says, "Pause means the gathering of momentum for speed in the
subsequent phase. If one closely watches the effect of speed on a
particular community or the entire humanity, one sees that generally people
eulogize the period of speed. However we cannot afford to ignore the state
of pause, because by judging what the previous state of pause was like, we
can discern the speed of the next phase." (PNS-7, p.67)
So this pause period does not mean frustration for one and all. Rather big
training is going on and society is preparing to move forward in the proper
direction.
Baba says, "There are some people who are pessimistic. They say that the
society around us is very bleak, that it has no expression of vitality and
that is seems that everyone is in deep slumber. Pessimists say this because
they have never made any detailed study of human history, nor do they care
to. Had they done so, they would certainly be optimistic, because if they
had looked carefully at the symptoms of pause, they would have realise that
significant preparations were being made for the subsequent phase of speed.
So under no circumstances should human beings be pessimistic. That is why I
am always an incorrigible optimist, because I know that optimism is life."
(PNS-7, p.67)
BABA'S BLESSING
And about such transitional periods Baba guides us in the following way:
Baba says, "In the present day also, you can see for yourself how the
social movement is grinding to a halt. When social progress loses its
velocity it is called 'yugasandhi' (transitional period) in Sam'skrta. You
have all been born in such a transitional period and have assembled here
today. In the future, the honest and virtuous people of the society will
respond to Your call and will unite. The same polarization is taking place
now as occurred in the past: the honest people are with you and will remain
with you; the dishonest people will oppose you now and will continue their
efforts to block your progress in future. Whenever there is a war between
dharma and adharma, you are sure to be victorious. You are not alone--
dharma is with you, the benevolent intellect is with you, and I am also
with you." (AV-7, p.63)
Namaskar,
Liiladhar
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The Place of Occult Powers in AM
Baba says, "In spiritual life as well as in ordinary life, if one retains
simplicity it is helpful for the attainment of God; through this one's life
and mind become filled with the effulgence of Parama Purusa. This is the
supreme attainment. Spying out every nook and cranny of the eight occult
powers is another name for stupidity." (SC-2, p.149)
Note: Unfortunately in the general society people think that occult powers
themselves are the essence of spirituality. Indeed, devoid of occult
powers, such persons do not have any concept of spirituality. In AM however
it is different; it is not like that. In our Marga devotion gets utmost
importance.
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