== KHICURI UNITY LOOKS GOOD BUT NEVER WORKS ==
Namaskar,
As the New Year DMS approaches still the various groups are struggling
to rise above the other. Each wants to appear better than the rest in the
eyes of the common margiis. We have seen it before and it is bound
to unfold at this DMS again.
Under such circumstances, various people-- especially certain so-called
leaders-- are bound to make the cry for "unity, unity, and still more
unity". Indeed, their mantra japa of "unity" is already being done. And
make no mistake, it can sound enticing, but it is never going to work.
KEY POINT:
TRUE UNITY NEEDED-- BASED ON IDEOLOGY
So here comes the trick. Any unity needs to be established on the point
of ideology-- otherwise it will just lead our Marga deeper into the dark
forest of dogma & groupism.
That means our call for unity must be based on the ideals that: (a)
Baba's teachings must be followed, (b) our AM scripture must be made
proper-- i.e. flawless, free of any distortions, (c) BP rights must be
restored, (d) the weapon of expulsion must be outlawed, (e) Fake Ananda
Vaniis must be stopped, (f) the integrity of the ACB should be
re-instilled, (g) the victimisation of innocent margiis must end, (h)
the dogma of MPD must be eliminated, (i) margii rights must be granted,
(j) and so many other ideological issues must be brought to the fore.
Establishing a movement and rallying around these burning issues-- where
there is not an iota of compromise on the point of ideology-- will
certainly bring the unity that is needed in our Marga.
Baba says, "Human unity is purely an ideological unity." (PNS-15)
Unfortunately that is not what is happening today.
JUST A CASE OF KHICURI UNITY
Instead mostly what happens is that various groupists sing their cheesy
song of unity and try to collect people into their fold. Such groupists
say, 'Come on, let there be unity-- join in, don't delay, march with us
and be unified'. This is their type of hallmark, superficial talk.
Yet through it all, their inner goal is only to advance their crooked
agenda of tossing stones on the opposing camp, proclaiming their own
yes-men as purodhas, grabbing handfuls of power for themselves, and, in
general, ruling over the Marga. The point being that merely collecting a
critical mass under one's own groupist umbrella has nothing to do with
unity. In that case, rather than unity being attained purely on the
point of ideology, their so-called unity is nothing but an eclectic,
dogmatic, and groupist mish-mash of various selfish endeavours. Theirs
is just like one huge pot of boiling khicuri (Indian rice stew) that is
filled with dozens and dozens of assorted ingredients. There is no
purity of purpose, nor even a trace of ideology. The whole thing is one
big disheveled mass-- a melange of low-minded agendas. In that case,
when ideology is totally compromised, how can unity can be achieved--
rather it cannot. Yet this is what the various groupists are doing.
HOW A FEW GET SUCKED IN
No doubt, many good and rational margiis realise this and they
understand what garbage is going on in those groupist headquarters. In
their heart of hearts, sincere margiis know that these raging groupists
are just make a false chant unity-- their unity is nothing but a farce.
Even then-- knowing this-- a few good and kind-hearted margiis may get
'taken for a ride', swindled, or duped.
And here is how it happens.
Those good margiis are standing around contemplating the scene, totally
unimpressed with the groupist call for so-called unity, and in that
moment top Dadas come to them and openly challenge, 'Baba wants that
there must be unity, so join in-- do not isolated yourself or act as an
outcaste, fulfill your debt to Guru'. This is what such groupists say.
And if still that good margii does not join their groupist parade, then
those top Dadas will go one step further. They will say, 'Everyone look,
here we have someone who is going against Baba's will, let this fellow
shed his ego and come walk with us-- arm in arm, and let unity be
attained'. Then, under that extreme pressure and humiliation, some
innocent margiis might join that so-called unity movement.
Or here is another way that it might happen.
A margii might understand perfectly that a particular groupist camp is
making a false band of unity, but within his own mind, that margii may
think that, 'My only option is to join them and then together we can
bring forth a platform based on unity-- because at any cost unity must
be achieved'. In their naivete, a few may be thinking like this. And in
that way they get scooped up into a groupist parade etc. But the result
will not be at all good, because unity cannot be achieved when the very
first step is away from ideology. So none should think that they have no
other option but to join one team or another. Rather we should always
stand on the pillars of AM ideology-- whether we are surrounded by
others or not. Because it is ideology-- not numbers-- that is the key to
attaining unity. That is Baba's clear-cut mandate.
WE MUST BE CAREFUL
So we must be careful. Because in the name of unity, various factional
leaders may try so many ploys, or stunts, and in one way or another this
or that margii might get roped in-- some might fall prey to those
groupist schemes of fake unity. That is why Baba says we must be wary of
such an unwanted scenario.
Baba says, "They will try to unite the people forcibly through the
pressure of governmental [or groupist] machinery....by the steamroller
of governmental [groupist] machinery, but such unity is not at all
desirable." (TTP)
Thus one must never succumb or give way to groupist pressure thinking
that by this way unity will be found.
Secondly, nor should one rationalise in their own mind, 'What is the use
of remaining where I am when so many are rushing to join one or another
team, better I should also join one crew and then think about ideology'.
This type of quick-fix or band-aid solution also has no value.
Verily, neither of these two approaches are going to work. And history
has proven this time and time again.
HISTORICAL PROOF
In the past, during the Indian Independence movement, the various Indian
leaders left any high ideals aside and just opted to make a push to get
the power-- as if afterwards, later on, they would be able to get things
proper and create a united India. But it never happened.
Rather everything just went from bad to worse. Instead of creating a
unified India, they cracked and divided the country into pieces--
causing untold bloodshed, riots, and hatred for years and decades to
come. Still, more than half a century later, still it is going on and it
shows no signs of dissipating.
WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS
Here the point is that for unity to be achieved, one must live by a high
ideal from the very outset, from the very beginning, and never deviate
one inch from that stand. Otherwise one is only inviting trouble.
Baba says, "We will not deviate an inch from our ideology, nor will we
allow others to do so. One cannot promote human welfare if one bothers
too much about public criticism, about the reaction in the papers or
among the voters." (NSS, Disc: 14)
Thus when various groupists try to preach unity by mixing together so
many selfish agendas-- like getting the stage at DMS, or grabbing half
of Ananda Nagar, or giving lip-service to fixing AM Publications, or
half-heartedly sponsoring a peace meeting, or so many things-- then we
must not be lulled, tempted, or duped. That type of khicuri unity has no
redeeming value whatsoever. Rather it is just plain rubbish. Hence, we
should stand firm by our ideological base. Then and only then can true
unity be formed.
BABA'S BLESSING
Unity does not mean throwing a stone on the head of some group
boss and then calling everyone around to join in. Nor does
unity come from so many other groupist ploys.
By Baba's grace real unity is achieved by followings His tenets,
teachings, and guidelines and implementing those in our practical lives.
In these trying times in our Marga, riddled by groupism, keeping our AM
ideology close to heart is the only way to proceed. And verily with this
ideal, unity will be attained-- it is ours, by His grace.
Baba says, "To live in peace and harmony, there must be a supreme
ideology accepted by all, because whenever there are ideological
differences, physical conflicts between individuals and groups are bound
to occur, and peaceful social life becomes impossible." (NSS, Disc: 2)
Namaskar,
Ram Sahay
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Food Problems and Their Solution II
Baba says, "In the event of shortages in the food and accommodation of
the population of the world, people will convert uncultivated land into
new arable land, increase the productivity of the soil by scientific
methods, produce food by chemical processes with earth, water and air,
and if this earth decreases in its productivity, then land seeking human
beings will migrate to different planets and satellites and settle
there." (PNS-13, p.45)
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