In the Name of Bhakti, People...

Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:19:06 To: am-global@earthlink.net From: Miguel Subject: In the Name of Bhakti, People... Baba "Nabiina Pra'te ei arun' a'lote..." (P.S. #19) Purport: Baba, by You grace the new dawn has come. In this new crimson dawn, with the rhythm of form, You have entered my mind. Baba You are so gracious: You know how to make us laugh and weep, You know how to play hide-and-seek. Baba by Your grace You have filled my life with Your radiant light. You know how to play the lyre, to weave endless melodies, to make the world dance in Your melodies and rhythms. And You know how to love the world with all its pains and pleasures. Baba You are so gracious, You are that most loving One...

== IN THE NAME OF BHAKTI, PEOPLE DO A'SAKTI ==

Namaskar, In our Marga, the term 'bhakti' is well--known and commonly used in our daily talk and interactions. We say things like, 'He has a lot of bhakti', or 'Bhakti is the greatest attribution', or 'I only follow the path of bhakti' etc. Then of course some think, 'I am an acarya so I must have a lot of bhakti', while others contemplate, 'I am the bhukti pradhan so I have a lot of bhakti'. We have all seen and heard how the term bhakti gets used in the above ways, when in fact such things may have little or even nothing to do with true bhakti. So we should take a moment to reflect on what is real bhakti, especially since it is only bhakti that can lead us to our cherished Goal.

PURITY OF BHAKTI

Baba is quite clear that bhakti means having one's mind directed only towards God, and not towards any other object or desire. Baba says, "Bhakti means to withdraw one’s attractions from all objects and channelize them towards Parama Purus'a. When the unit self is associated with the cosmic it is called “bhakti” or “devotion”, but when it is associated with the mundane it is called “attachment”. You must withdraw your mental propensities from all external objects – no matter what they might be – and channelize them only towards Parama Purus'a. Only when you direct them towards Him, can it be called bhakti. If you allow your mind to become fascinated by any other object, it is called “a'sakti” or “attachment”." (AV-7) Thus no external qualification or mundane desire has even one iota to do with bhakti. If anyone thinks, 'I am an acarya so therefore I am a devotee', or if one thinks, 'I organise many service projects so I must be a great devotee', this is all nothing but self-befoolery. Because using external things to build a case for one's internal amount of bhakti is meaningless. The operative phrase in the above quote is, "only towards Parama Purus'a". If the mind is goaded only towards Parama Purusa, then it is bhakti. That is the real meaning of bhakti. If one's mind is only involved in serving and pleasing Parama Purusa. That is not to say we should forgo or abandon all worldly activities, that is not our way. Rather we should ensure we are doing those worldly activities for pleasing him, and not out of our own unit desire for worldly prestige etc. As Baba points out, if the mind is separately or simultaneously involved in any other longing then it is known as a'sakti or attachment, i.e. the path of degradation. Baba says, "When the attraction is for the non-integral entity, for money, for family, for land, it is called ka'ma; when it is for integral entity it is called prema and the mental tendency during ka'ma i.e., the mental tendency during attraction for a non-integral entity is called a'sakti in Sam'skrta and the mental tendency during attraction for that Integral Entity is called bhakti. (SS-18) Hence the degree to which we are attracted by or infatuated with money, name, fame, respect, position, is the degree to which we are off the path of bhakti. Bhakti, then is a very pure and internal desire to attain Parama Purusa. And for this tremendous honesty and love are needed. We may be able to masquerade ourselves in front of others so they think we are great bhaktas; but we cannot fool Parama Purusa in this way. He sees our inner-most desire and knows how far we have pure bhakti or not.

BHAKTI & A'SAKTI CANNOT CO-EXIST

The main thing we should keep in mind is that bhakti (love for God) and a'sakti (mundane longing) cannot co-exist. The degree to which we harbor one is the degree to which we are remiss in the other. Baba says, "The attachment for a finite thing is an expression of extroverted energy, whereas the attraction for the Infinite is an expression of the introverted energy. That is why these two can never co-exist." (SS-1) And Baba points out that even our most worldly intimate dealings can take us away from the path of bhakti. Baba says, "Do you love your son? No, no you don’t love your son. You love Brahma in the form of your son. By loving your son as a son, you cannot love the Lord. Where there is the feeling of son, there is no Lord and where there is the Lord, there is no son." (SS-1) So even harboring seemingly tender feelings for our loved ones drags us on the path of temporality, and away from God-hood.

CANNOT OVERLOOK WORLDLY DUTIES

Neither should one get caught up in the misconception or dogma that to become a true bhakta I should give up my sons, or renounce my parents, or become some type of hermit etc. Rather, we have been given various responsibilities, and they are to be managed. As we know, performing worldly duties is not antithetical to the path of devotion. It is only when we get infatuated by those worldly expressions that it infringes on our devotional experience. So that is what we must be careful about.

MUST SEE ALL AS BRAHMA

The answer given by Baba is that we must view all as the manifestation of Parama Purusa. That is the way to live in this world without sacrificing our devotional longing for Him. Baba says, "The ascription of divinity to objects means the pursuit of the Infinite, leaving the finite behind. Are you feeding your son? No, no, you are feeding the son-like manifestation of Brahma. Are you tilling the field? No, no you are serving the finite manifestation of Brahma with your plough. Really speaking, the ascription of divinity to objects precludes their material enjoyment, as the objects then merge in the non-material Supreme Brahma." (AMIWL-2) To do this we must be very honest and clear. Material Indulgence and bhakti have no place together. Seeing all as Him means seeing all as an opportunity to do service, not satisfy worldly passions such as post, power, lust etc. Thus thinking of making more money, garnering huge respect, or even becoming PP have nothing to do with getting devotion. Only by truly following brahmacaraya, are we perfectly consonant with the path of devotion.

ONLY BHAKTAS CAN SERVE ALL

This all leads to the point that only true bhaktas can serve the humanity. Invariably, non-bhaktas, or degraded bhaktas get attached to one worldly expression or another-- either their wife, or their country, or their job, or their community etc, in which case they will view the rest of the world in a biased manner. There are countless examples of this happening nowadays. That is why only the bhaktas of Parama Purusa can promote the cause of universal welfare on this earth and throughout the universe. See Him in everyone, the sadhaka can them maintain equanimity and serve others without favouring one person or another.

VERY CRUDE APPROACH

We can say that there are three basic approaches. The top most is to love only Parama Purusa all the time. Then one is truly established in bhakti. Second is when one loves Parama Purusa sometimes, and then on other occasions love towards mundane things is dominant. This is quite common. Many of us may find ourselves in this position. In that case, more kiirtan and sadhana are needed. The next lowest phase occurs when in their ritualistic worship of Parama Purusa, one prays for something mundane. That is very crude and must be avoided entirely. Baba says, "If a man wants to become a devotee of the lord but in the mind of his mind, if he thinks that God will make him pass his examination – here the esana (longing) is not one but two...When something is demanded from God the esana becomes two. Hence the time is completely wasted...When the esana (longing) is not [only] for Paramatman but [also] for something else, it is known as asakti (attachment) and not bhakti." (SS-20) There is no scope for this type of approach in AM; we should all keep the mind a thousand miles from such a crude and dogmatic way.

WHY IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW BHAKTI

Lastly, what is the logic or rational for following bhakti. How should we convince ourselves when the mind is down or how can we convince others. Well, we can say that the path of bhakti is the blissful way to live and that only should be followed. even then that might not always do the trick of convincing ourselves. In that case another route is needed. And that route is: Other than the path of bhakti there is no other path. Every other entity in this universe will leave you one day. Every other longing will create a samskara. Every other longing is ephemeral. Baba says, "Under the influence of avidya' people believe that the finite objects created by static Prakrti are their own. They think, “my horse, my son, my daughter, my wealth,” and believe that with these objects they will live eternally. But the fact is, all these limited objects will desert them after sometime. Nothing that can be called one’s own will remain." (AMIWL-8) We have come onto this earth for a very short period; our window of opportunity is small. So we must utilise our time in the right pursuit-- that pursuit which will free us from the suffering and bondage of maya. That is the only way. In that case, only the path of bhakti is the answer. Whether we like it or not, that is the only avenue for advancement.

BABA'S BLESSING

Everyone in AM likes to think they are bhaktas because we know this is something great, but only those who really have internal longing for Him-- and no other desire-- truly qualify as real bhaktas. Thus it is for each and every sadhaka to estimate for themselves how far they are on the path of bhakti. By Baba's grace, by remembering Him we are all sure to attain this most blessed stance. When we think, 'I want only You, then Baba cannot keep us away'. Baba says, "Therefore, O devotees remember the Lord’s name, else all your efforts will be reduced to cipher [zero]. Under all circumstances and during all activities, cling firmly to His name." (SS-1) Namaskar, Mantreshvar

Note 1: BHAKTI VERSUS A'SAKTI

Baba says, "The meaning of the word bhakti is “attraction to the Supreme”. When the attraction is to something limited, it is called a'sakti, and when the attraction is to the Supreme, it is devotion, bhakti. There is no compromise, no meeting point, between a'sakti and bhakti, between attraction to the Supreme and attraction to the objects of the world. In a'sakti, the feeling is that I get the object. In bhakti, the feeling is that I merge myself in Him. Where there is no desire, there the Lord lives. The Lord and the desire for the world, like the sun and the night, cannot coexist." (AV-23) Baba says, "In philosophical terms the attraction for finite objects is called a'sakti and the attraction for the infinite is Bhakti. Ra'ga or rakti means both the attraction for the infinite and attraction for the finite objects." (SS-1) Baba says, "One may have attachment towards physical objects as well as towards Parama Purus'a. The attachment to physicality is called a'sakti or vis'aya'nurakti, while the deep attachment to Parama Purusa is called para'nurakti or bhakti." (AV-33) Baba says, "The meaning of the word “para'nurakti” should be considered. Rakti denotes raga or attachment. Anurakti means maintaining attachment with or being attracted by a particular entity after having understood its meaning. Anurakti is of two kinds. The anurakti for the Supreme Brahma or Infinite Cosmic Consciousness is para'nurakti. The Anurakti for Brahma under the sway of prakrti or the anurakti for the crude manifestations is termed apara'nurakti. God is an object for para'nurakti. When the aspirant considers the Supreme Brahma to be his own, it is termed bhajana' or bhakti." (SS-1)

Note 2: SEEING ALL AS PARAMA PURUSA

Baba says, "Do you love your son? It is perfectly right that you should, however, when the son dies, you will experience great pain. Is it not so? The son is preya, a finite entity. He cannot live till eternity. He will depart and make you weep. But if you treat your son as the expression of Brahma in the form of your son, then you will never fear losing him because Brahma cannot be lost in any span of time. He is present around you in all the ten directions." (AMIWL-2)

Note 3: RELYING ON WORLDLY THINGS INVITES MISERY

Baba says, "Take, for instance, an unstable or transient thing, such as your son. He is constantly progressing through changes, and so you are. Neither of your two entities will remain forever. If you regard him as the only support in your life, it will certainly not be wise, for your son may leave the world any day, and you will moan his loss with bitter tears; or you yourself may leave the world, making him an orphan. This applies in the same way to wealth, power, etc." (Matter & Spirit)

Note 4: WHAT IS DEVOTION

Bhaktirbhagavad bha'vana' na stutirna'rcana'

Baba says, "Being merged in the constant thought of God is devotion. Devotion is not related to the chanting of hymns or ritualistic worship with different paraphernalia. A devotee may perform these, but they are not an indispensable part of devotional sa'dhana'. (AS, 3-12)

********************************************** This Must Be Averted

Baba says, "'Andham tamah pravishanti mudha ye ke catmahano janah.' What happens to the person who runs after the external mundane things instead of the Self within? One day he finds himself surrounded by the blinding darkness (Andhatamasa). All around he finds nothing. When a person whose self has miserably degenerated, whose spiritual progress is altogether stopped, rushes towards matter, his whole existence starts getting crudified, his mind and Self get crudified, he forfeits the right even to be called a human being. This is indeed a miserable condition, an unimaginable circumstance." (Calcutta, 1980)

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NY News: Came Back to Haunt

Date: Sun 28 Mar 2010 17:01:28 -0000 To: am-global@earthlink.net From: P LeTour Subject: NY News: Came Back to Haunt Baba "Tumi je path diye giyechile priyo, se pathe a'jo surabhi rayeche..." 2781 Purport: Baba, even today Your sweet aroma remains lingering on that path-- on the path which You have traveled. Baba, the songs which You sang so beautifully in tune and rhythm, those very songs are ever-present in the deep core of my heart. Their lingering resonance still vibrates my entire being. O' my dearmost Baba, I cannot ever forget Your blissful tales; it is impossible for me to forget. Your divine advent in my mind is far more significant than hundreds of lives of sadhana, & its penance. Baba, You are the most meaningful thing in my life. By Your grace, You have presented Yourself after my hundreds of lives of searching and longing. Baba, even if You do not remain close to me, my mind does not go far from You. By Your grace I always remain ensconced in Your blissful ideation. Baba, keeping all my longings for You in my heart, I will go on singing Your divine songs day and night. Baba, by Your grace You have made me understand this truth: That to do any extraordinary task is impossible for those who have a dry heart. Only those with innate love for You will be able to climb over the insurmountable mountains. Others cannot because in each and every sphere of life Your grace is everything. Without that nothing is possible. Baba, by Your own qualities You have bound me with Your divine love and by Your grace You always keep me under Your shelter. Baba, Your sweet and charming aroma keeps me thinking about You constantly...

== NY NEWS: CAME BACK TO HAUNT ==

Namaskar, It has been four years since one group changed the NY sector by-laws in their own favour, and today their actions have come back to haunt them. They are being bitten by their own deeds, yet hoping that the rest of the sector will bail them out. All the details are clearly outlined below.

BABA'S TEACHING ON UNITY

As we know, Baba's guidelines on unity are sublime. Unity means rallying around a common spiritual ideology and Goal. 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." (Talks on Prout) Our definition of unity then is moving together toward the Supreme, not any worldly or selfish outcome like post, power and prestige. That is what our samgacchadhvam chant is all about: Uniting our minds for the great cause, not any small-minded pursuit. So unity in AM is a high endeavour.

RECAPTURING THE SPIRIT IN AM

Unfortunately, these days in AM, the word unity itself has become misused or misunderstood as all the groups try to rally adherents in the name of unity and one group even tried to call themselves as such. As Ananda Margiis it is our duty to once again ignite the spirit of real unity in our Marga. No group interest should be served, only we are to do according to His wish. To that end, we should clearly understand what is happening now in NY sector, as it is a mere microcosm of what will invariably unfold wherever groupism is in vogue.

WHAT IS GOING DOWN IN NY SECTOR

See here what is happening in NY sector. In a nutshell let's review a bit. Four years ago, in the early monthly of 2006, one Dada and his group X captured the hearts and minds of some of the senior margiis in NY sector. In order to keep his power, that Dada convinced margiis to change the by-laws of NY sector. Why? Because group Z who was controlling Centre wanted to appoint a new SS. But the leader of group X did not want this to happen. He wanted the power for himself. By offering top posts and prestige to certain senior margiis, this Dada and his newly made subordinates (i.e. Board of Directors) changed the by-laws of NY sector to state that group Z could not appoint a new SS without the clear approval of the NY Board of Directors. That was the way things were distorted. Time passed like this. Now, see what is going on... In Feb 2010, group Z had enough and hired a legal team to take action against group X and the Board of Directors of NY. The legal team sent a letter informing the group X and his Board of Directors that they are no longer the legal managers of AMPS in NY sector and that they had to relinquish all AM assets etc, including their cherished posts. Today, in Mar 2010, the Dada leading group X and his Board of Directors find themselves in a jam. They tried to negotiate themselves out of trouble, but it did not work. Now they have no choice but to fight back in the courts, which is both a time consuming and costly affair. So they have written a letter appealing to NY margiis to help out. Of course, in this tainted era, no group is pure - neither X nor Z. But it is ironic, that all along the lead Dada of group X and his Board of Directors acted unilaterally to control NY sector by distorting the established by-laws etc, and now that they are in trouble of losing their grip (as well as a pile of money) they are appealing to the mass of margiis, whom they've been treating all along as second class citizens. Now see here what the margiis have to say about this.

MARGIIS ARE COMING FORWARD

At minimum, two brave and clear-thinking margiis sisters (one in NYC and one in Los Altos, CA) have come forward and made a dharmic stand. The sister in NYC has outlined a number of points of concern about the way things have been been going in NY sector the last few years. Here is what she says: "There is no excuse from SO that margiis are not sent this information" "As a Margii and the rest of us, we have the right to know information about any issue concerning Ananda Marga from the existing Ananda Marga Inc." "How can we truly accept the legality of Ananda Marga Inc Board of Directors when a portion of the original By Laws was changed without informing, consulting the General Body of Ananda Marga that itself is illegal." "The Tenure of Board of Directors must be clear...The General Body must be able to select / elect their officers, board of directors ETC. and there must be an official communication...given to all members of the General Body." "This periodical communication should give accurate report of what is going on..." "Now that there is a lawsuit, WHY is it that only now the Names of the Board of Directors appear in our Screen reaching out for help to handle this lawsuit and LAWSUIT was never officially communicated to ALL by mail or in person thru a meeting with the local unit." "Is it not hypocritical?" That was the pointed letter from one margii in NYC. In addition, the margii sister from Los Altos (who was one of the first to publicly break the story) has given some excellent points. One of the main themes in her letter is that of moral responsbility by those Board Members. See here what this margii sister has written. "I feel strongly that the Board of NYS should shoulder the financial costs of their legal case since it involves them specifically and does not in any way help the sector nor benefit general Margiis. All the members of the Board are well able to pay their legal costs and BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT THEY HAVE CREATED. Let Margiis and simple WTs continue to do their missionary work and support their local units. I hope the Board of Directors do not have plans to have the Margiis pay for their own power games. I consider such, along with that credit card for dharma pracar I keep seeing advertised, exploitation." By their expression it is quite clear that the mood in NY sector is not to support any group in their contest or slug-fest for power. Others have also come forward in this respect. The margiis want to see the ideological expression of Ananda Marga, not the crowing of power of any group through the US court system. Now it is quite apparent how the selfish misdeeds of group X and their Board of Directors has come back to haunt them. They distorted the legal foundation of AMPS in NY sector to gain power, and now that same legal system has come back to bite them.

THE WAY TO COMBAT GROUPISM

Here the main ideological point and Baba's divine teaching is that we should never tolerate division. Group X broke away from group Z to capture NY sector. No doubt group Z is unjust, but breaking away is not the answer. That is a common ailment that plagues humanity. Baba says, "As a result [of the dogma of groupism], one human society is divided into different nations, and one nation is divided into different religions; religions also have different castes, and caste also have different sub-castes – what kind of situation is this? We have only learned how to divide and subdivide humanity, and we never learned how to unite the people. This is all due to the defective teachings of dogmas." (AFPS-9) Then what is to be done. When group Z is in power and if group Z is abusing that power, then a consciousness raising movement must happen within the Marga about the injustices and exploitation done by group Z. And then mass psychic pressure must be applied to group Z until they reform their ways or leave. That is our avenue for fighting groupism and exploitation - applying pressure on the wrongdoers, not creating a parallel group. Once a second group is formed that only compounds the problem and sets the tone for more and more groups to be created. And that is what we see happening today in AMPS. However picking up all the pieces of all these factions is not so easy. Putting the parts back together is a difficult job. That is why the main strategy is to keep the organisation whole and correct the wrongs - not jump ship and create yet another faction. Unfortunately, that is what group X did as well as so many other factions. That only worsens matters. But they do this because it appeals to their selfish interest. They want power and it is easy to grab the power by creating a separate club or group and appointing oneself as the leader etc. Their whole entire outlook is based on material lust and control. They think they will live on this earth forever and the crowing glory is to rule the roost. This is their manner - but it will never bring unity, just groupist strife. Hence an entirely new mind-set is needed. One must think, "My life is short, I have come on this earth only for a short while. I do not want any post or power, just I want to serve Baba and His creation and spread His ideals." When one thinks in this way, then they will never tolerate any exploitation nor will they rush to grab the chair either. They will establish His teachings within the organisation and beyond and bring unity amongst all beings. This is Baba's divine guideline and this is our way. The whole episode in NY sector is moving in a faulty direction because all parties involved are just interested in power and post. Their fight has nothing to do with ideology. Their concern is not the right printing of Baba's discourses, nor margii rights nor proper BP elections nor the elimination of Fake Ananda Vaniis. These factions are only in it for their own power. That was what led group X to change the by-laws and that is why their wrongdoing from 4 years ago has now come back to haunt them.

BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's grace, He has blessed us with all the teachings to resolve the current problems. All we need to do is follow His guidelines - nothing more. Unfortunately, when various groups chase after the post at any and all cost, then unity is but a dream. Knowing this, we should all take concerted efforts to reform the ways of all groupists and bring about that era of peace and happiness into our Marga. Baba says, "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 in society. And to ensure this we have to start a new order to safeguard the interests of the exploited masses. So for a proper social synthesis what we require is a common philosophy of life; that is, ideological unity." (PNS-15) Namaskar, Prakash

Note 1: WHO IS GROUP X AND WHO IS GROUP Z

In the above letter, group X is the EC faction led by Tiirthananda and his chosen Board of Directors and group Z is the Rudrananda/Nigamananda faction and their selected NY SS, Vimalananda. One thing should also be noted. For years and years, Tiirthananda and EC were the right hand cadre of Rudrananda as they thought this would bring them post and power. When it did not yield them any fruit, they split up and went on their own. So their fight is just based on selfishness, not universal welfare or ideological unity. One noted group not mentioned in this letter is the Tiljala faction. Suffice to say here that they too have their stated agenda but they could not capture or compete for power in NY sector.

Note 2: WHO ARE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Here is the list of EC's Board of Directors of Ananda Marga, Inc. (NY Sector). It is these people are who in danger of losing their shirt in NY sector so all of a sudden they are appealing to others for help, when all along they have been quite aloof all these years.

Ac. Tiirthananda Avt. Ac. Rainjitananda Avt. Ac. Vedaprajinananda Avt. Avtk. Ananda Vibha Ac. Ac. Devanistha Valmiki Vishva Deva Vinaya

Note 3: RELATED LETTER FROM FOUR YEARS AGO

These letters were posted four years ago when it became known that some in NY sector had distorted the by-laws. This is the history of what took place.

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2006/03/real-well-wisher.html http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2006/03/like-another-breakaway-faction.html

*************************************** Health Guideline

Baba says, "In order to digest starches and carbohydrates, the saliva of the mouth must help at the preliminary stage. Chewing food brings an adequate quantity of saliva into the mouth. No sooner does the food mixed with saliva enter the stomach than the liver and the pancreas are enabled to start secreting their bile and digestive fluids. So unless food is chewed well, the liver can never function properly." (YT, p.1) Note: In the fast-paced life of this 21st century, people no longer give themselves proper time to attend to their basic life duties, such as eating food. Instead people just rush off from one appointment to another and "grab a bite to eat" along the way at any number of drive-thru, fast-food places. In their hectic pace, instead of chewing their food they just inhale their meal, nearly swallowing it whole. But this way of "eating" is terribly hazardous to the health and invites many diseases. As Ananda Margiis we should spread Baba's above teaching to the members of the general society so that they may be benefited.

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Why You Overeat

Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2010 18:43:52 From: Surya Morales Subject: Why You Overeat To: am-global@earthlink.net Baba "Ta'masii nishir avasa'ne arun' prabha't elo..." (PS 3731) Purport: Baba, You are the Personification of divine effulgence. By Your causeless grace at the end of the dark night the brilliant crimson dawn has come. Your blissful presence is flooding my life with joy and optimism. Baba, because of You each and every tune of the river of my heart has gotten dyed in Your divine colour. O' Baba, O' Tamasu'dan, O' Dispeller of Darkness, by Your grace You have removed all the defects and problems from my life and filled me with the charm of Your dazzling colour. Baba, by Your grace the sun has come in the eastern horizon bringing forth the basket of all my hopes & aspirations. Baba, You are so gracious. Baba, with the flow and beauty of those colours and with the panoramic circle of grandeur, my heart is joyously swaying in the countless magnificent expressions of Your divinity. With Your grand arrival everything has become sweet and blissful. Baba, by Your grace, in Your divine liila my heart has become alive and full of Your sweetness; in this magical way my divine journey has started. Baba, You are my polestar. Please keep my under Your shelter...

== WHY YOU OVEREAT ==

Namaskar, Overeating is a common phenomenon around the globe. People even consciously say to themselves, "Today I am not going to overeat", but still they do it. Many of us do it. It is not an easy habit to overcome. The problem is pervasive. As we know modern medical science and our AM philosophy both state that overeating invites various diseases and decreases the lifespan. That is why in family life and the general society, people try to control their eating. Even then overeating was a problem in the past, is a problem at present and most likely will be a problem in the future also. Let us see why.

HANGING ON TO THE WAYS OF OLD

Those primitive humans had little security in life. They lived moment to moment - captive to the weather and harsh ways of nature - never knowing when they would be able to find food again. Life was unsettled. So when the opportunity came to eat, they would purposely eat extra food and store excess food in the appendix and then regurgitate that food later when they would feel hungry. Indeed nature supplied them with "a second stomach" and with their mental force they could regurgitate that food. Baba says, "Human beings used to have an appendix to their intestines for accumulated or excess food. As it was needed this food would stimulate salivation in the mouth and be fully eaten and digested. The proper eating and digesting of the surplus food in the appendix is called romanthana in Sanskrit and ja'bar ka't'a' in Bengali. In good English we call it "rumination" and in spoken English "chewing the cud"...As the certainty of food supplies gradually increased, the need for a corporal appendix to the intestines lessened. Eventually there was even not the slightest need for it. Today a small vestige of it remains in the human body although it is no longer used in times of distress. Human beings have lost the capacity to ruminate." (Varn'a Vijia'na, p.285) For thousands of years then those primitive humans followed this path: Eat extra (more than what can fit in the stomach) -> store excess food in the appendix -> search for food -> encounter food scarcity -> use mental force -> ultimately regurgitate food in the appendix -> chew and swallow -> fully digest that food in the stomach. That was a central pattern of life. It was how those early human beings survived. Most herbivore animals still do this type of thing. So this manner of overeating is an old human trait. Actually in the days of old, it was out of necessity and the excess food was stored. It was not over-eating per se; it did not all go into the stomach. Today however, all the food we eat does go into the stomach. In that case it most definitely is overeating.

SOME THINGS HAVE CHANGED - SOME NOT

Nowadays, in many lands, people's lives are more settled. This applies to food as well. People have kitchens, a stock of food, and cooking facilities etc. In brief, we are able to plan our meals - we usually know exactly when we are doing to eat next. Because of all these modern developments, we have lost the power of regurgitation. Our bodies can no longer do that. That is what Baba has explained. Baba says, "As the certainty of food supplies gradually increased, the need for a corporal appendix to the intestines lessened. Eventually there was even not the slightest need for it. Today a small vestige of it remains in the human body although it is no longer used in times of distress. Human beings have lost the capacity to ruminate." (VV) Due to a distinct lack of use, slowly over time, the appendix has become very small. And now if food gets in the appendix, it is serious problem. One will be rushed to the hospital for an operation to have it removed. Thus even though our bodies have changed a lot, still there is a prevalent desire to eat to excess; it is common. So we should pay heed to Baba's below mandates.

BABA'S RECIPE FOR HEALTHY EATING

As we all know, in His Yogic Treatments book, so many disease, sicknesses and ailments are due to overeating. Here is Baba's recipe for healthy eating habits. Baba says, "For proper digestion, fill the stomach halfway with food, one quarter with water, and leave one quarter full of air." (CC-3) To do this, one must stop eating when one still feels a little hungry, in the next few minutes a natural feeling of satiation will come. If however, one eats till they are full, then that constitutes overeating and within a short time after completing their meal they will feel bloated, heavy, lethargic, and uncomfortable. It is a very fine line between proper eating and overeating. The best way to get success is to eat slowly, take limited portions, and be mindful to stop eating when one is still a little hungry. If done regularly, this will become your habit. If one is not taking 1/2 belly, then that is overeating. And if one is strict and eats only half-full, then that is proper. They will have overcome the the primitive ways of old - i.e. eating excessively. Even though we have lost the physical ability to ruminate, the psychic tendency is present in the mind to eat more, even when we have had enough. Still humans suffer from this weakness of mind. Not all, of course, but many or most suffer in this way. Overcoming this tendency of mind to eat more and more is not at all easy, that is why many people regularly overeat. It is an age-old human pattern. It particularly haunts those people who are weak-minded or less developed human beings. Another thing to keep in mind is that when eating roti or other dry foods (chips, roasted grains and potatoes) and breads, then it is imperative to drink lots of water in regulated quantities 1/2 hr after eating. Because the body will need a lot of water to digest dry foods. Whereas a soupy meal is comparatively easy to digest. Also be be aware that for good digestion, the right nostril should be dominant. Just before taking food, while eating, and up to an hour after food. This alone will help eliminate so many stomach diseases. If anyone does not know how to change he nostrils then write me back.

PRAMITA'HA'RA

In His discourses on the Seven Secrets of Success, Baba discusses point #6, known has pramita'ha'ra. This is an essential aspect of human health and is directly related with our food intake. Baba says, "Pramita'ha'ra, that is, balanced diet, balanced food. You must not take this much [stretches arms far apart], you should take this much [holds hands closer together]." (AV-12) Baba says, "The sixth factor is pramita'ha'rah. The sixth requisite factor is balanced and substantial, sentient food. A voracious man can’t attain success. A voracious man always suffers from so many stomach diseases. So, you should [never] encourage voracity." (AV-14) As sadhakas, we are to take Baba's teaching to heart. Even though we may have strong psychic inclinations to eat more food than our body can handle - due to our attachment to our primitive manners - we should take proper effort to ensure that we do not fall prey to overeating.

BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's grace He has blessed us with the ability to overcome all kinds of complexes and bad habits. That is the life of a sadhaka - to struggle and surge ahead. We should make the body and mind sound by proper life habits and not fall prey to materials indulgences and excesses. The latter happens primarily when the mind is weak and engrossed in worldly desires. By following the ways of pramita'ha'ra, then we will have succeeded in overcoming one of the most common weaknesses in human life - i.e. overeating. Baba says, "Food should be substantial, though moderate in quantity. This is pramita'ha'ra." (AV-23) Namaskar, Surya

Note 1: BEFORE EATING

The following are Baba's guidelines from Carycarya: Baba says, "Before eating do vya'paka shaoca properly with cold water. In an extremely cold climate use lukewarm water. The system is: Wash the arms, the face, the legs, the neck and the genital organs. Then, keeping the eyes wide open, hold a mouthful of water and gently splash the eyes a minimum of twelve times." "Before sitting down for a meal, invite whatever persons are present around you and share your food with them. If they do not want to share, enquire whether they have enough food with them or not." "At the time of eating find a comfortable sitting position. It is better to eat in company than to eat alone. Do not sit down to eat if you are in an angry mood or in a debased frame of mind." "If several people are eating together from the same plate, make sure that sick persons do not take part. Otherwise healthy persons may become infected. There is no harm, however, in eating together from the same plate if there is no contagious disease among the participants. Rather, this is a nice thing to see." "It is good to take food when the main flow of breath is through the right nostril. Even after meal, it is good if the flow of breath is mainly through the right nostril and continues for some time, because that is the time when the digestive glands start secreting a sufficient quantity of fluids to help digestion." "Eating when one is not hungry or only half-hungry is very harmful to the health. So is eating rich food for days together or over-eating tasty and sumptuous food out of greed, or not taking rest after the meal before running off to the office, or filling the stomach with food. All these habits are harmful to the health." "(For proper digestion, fill the stomach halfway with food, one quarter with water, and leave one quarter full of air.)" "After finishing the evening meal take a short walk. This is very beneficial to health." (CC-3)

Note 2: OTHER OLD HABITS

Overeating is not the only habit we carry over from earlier times. Here are habits that stem from when we were monkeys. Baba says, "Some of the old habits still continue. Humans today fight among themselves in the same manner as monkeys do. While fighting a person cries, “Um, um” – this is a monkeys’ habit. Sometimes people not only cry like this but bite with their teeth. This is also an old habit of monkeys. Monkeys live in trees...while fighting on the branch of a tree monkeys have to catch hold of the branch strongly with their hands, so that they do not fall down and die. Human beings fight in a similar manner. They also grin and grimace. This is an old habit of monkeys." (AV-5)

********************************************* Six Tastes of the Tongue

Baba says, "The six tastes are: tikta – neem (bitter); katu – chilli (hot and spicy); kas'ava – plantain (alkaline); lavan'a (salty); amala (acidic); and madhu (sweet)." (IF) Note: Not only are there six tastes in the human pallet but they should be taken in a distinct order. Bitter taken in the beginning and sweet taken in the end.

*********************************************

Be Aware, You Can't Escape

From: "Amoghasiddhi Ray" To: am-global@earthlink.net Subject: Be Aware, You Can't Escape Date: Fri 26 Mar 2010 15:38:05 +0530 Baba "A'jake sa'njhe madhur sa'jhe ke else go, ke ele..." (P.S. 5006) Purport: In this sweet and intoxicated evening, Who has come, Who has come? Who is that Entity Who has created this new wave in everyone's life and in everyone's heart. Those who are sitting with their doors and windows closed, please come out and forget about the differences of own and other. That divine Entity Who is always sitting in the mind, He has come in front of us. We should enjoy His august arrival all together...

== BE AWARE, YOU CAN'T ESCAPE ==

Namaskar, Baba was charismatically delivering His DMC address in Delhi. Everyone was captivated by His presence. All eyes were on Him; everyone was hanging onto His every word. Baba began beautifully describing how each and every sadhaka wants to sit on the lap of Parama Purusa. Suddenly there was a big commotion. A teenage boy began yelling and screaming wildly and was trying to rush towards Baba. A raucous scene erupted as VSS guards grabbed the strong, young lad. He was 17 or 18 and full of energy. VSS had to forcefully grab and hold him. The outburst interrupted the whole event. Baba then looked in that direction and said, 'Let the boy come forward'. Everyone was shocked to hear this as the boy was totally out of control. VSS guards dutifully, yet warily, let the boy go. Then that wild boy approached the dais in a very calm manner. Baba encouraged the boy to come closer and then said, 'Sit down, sit down'. Very obediently, the boy quietly sat down, just behind some Dadas who were already seated on the stage. Then Baba graciously resumed His discourse, and amazingly, the boy remained totally still and silent throughout. Everyone was in awe of what happened and still today those present at that DMC remember the incident-- they cannot forget it. It was November 1978 in Delhi. Below is the story of that teenage boy and his father, a well-known margii of Delhi.

HERE-TO-FORE KNOWN AS HARIISH & PRADIIP

Just as Baba employs pseudonyms in His stories of Shabda Cayanika in order to safeguard the privacy of the individual, here I am using the same approach. The father of that wild boy is a long-time margii of Delhi. From here on the father shall be referred to as Hariish, and his son will be known as Pradiip. Of course those margiis of Delhi may already be aware of their real names. But the value of this story reaches far beyond the literal name, so everyone will still benefit from reading it.

THEIR ROCKY RELATIONSHIP

At some point in life, things changed for Pradiip, and he became a different sort of boy. How different? Well, he became somewhat odd and wild. He would say peculiar, irrelevant things, and he would be involved in strange activities. He needed the full care of his family in order to manage in life. But the most dramatic aspect was that Pradiip would become totally wild in the presence of his father, Hariish. Pradiip was a strong boy and he would humiliate, and physically harass his father as well as yell and scream in front of him. In return, Hariish was obliged just to care for his son, as his son was mentally imbalanced and could not get a job or do business. Thus Hariish much time and energy in trying to help Pradiip, and some of the money Hariish earned at his job was spent on medicines and care for Pradiip. He had to support him. But the main thing was the overt violent and furious behavior that Pradiip would consistently display in front of his father. That was what was most shocking. In front of others he was basically calm and cooperative; but as soon as his father would enter the room, Pradiip would begin yelling and screaming at him. No one could figure out why. People were wondering why the boy was only so violent and rough towards the father-- and not towards others. The boy would create the situation and force the father to interact, wherein Pradiip would heighten his abusive behavior.

SEEING BABA

As Hariish was a senior margii, he got opportunity to see Baba on numerous occasions, by His grace. And most of the time, he had one troubling thought on his mind, 'Baba, please help my son, the situation is very difficult, please be gracious and do something'. This was the idea that was often haunting him when He would see Baba. And always Baba would give the same reply. For instance, when Hariish went for dharma samiiksa, that same concern about his son was on his mind and Baba spoke: 'Are you not ashamed? Have you no shame, you should be more careful about money, you should not cheat others.' And not just on that occasion, but there were numerous instances where Baba repeated this same statement to Hariish, 'Have you no shame, are you not ashamed by the way you handled that money. Do not cheat anybody.' And even when Hariish was not in Baba's presence, he could hear these very same words reverberating in his mind. 'Have you no shame, are you not ashamed by the way you handled that money. Do not cheat anybody.' By this way, from Baba's response, many understood that in a past life Hariish cheated someone on the point of money, and in this life that someone whom he cheated has been reborn as his son-- to torment him. Many felt that it was obvious that this was the scenario. And Hariish also thought that it must be true that in the past he cheated someone out of money. Otherwise why was Baba saying this to Him again and again.

MANY ALSO CONCLUDED

Many also concluded that Hariish did not have repentance for his misdeed, and that was why Baba was not solving the problem. All in all, Hariish was a good man and in the past also he was a good man, otherwise how could he have become such a strong margii in this life and come in contact with Baba. Of course Baba's grace is everything, yet also Hariish had a good samskara. But he did have that one black spot in his history, from a previous life: He cheated someone on the point of money. And in this life, the person whom he cheated was reborn as Pradiip, Hariish's son. It seems since Hariish was not expressing deep repentance for his past misdeed and had not sought to rectify the matter, that was why he was suffering from the cycle of action and reaction in the form of Pradiip abusing him day after day. In spite of his other good deeds, in spite of becoming a devotee of the Lord and coming in His contact, still Hariish had to undergo his bad actions.

WHAT CAN BE LEARNED FROM THIS

The main teaching from this story is that one can never run away from one's past actions, whether they be good or bad. One might be able to befool the neighbors or the police etc, but always internally one will know the truth, and so will Parama Purusa. In that case, prakrti will not let that person out of her grip. That person must reap the consequences. Baba says, "An original action begets a certain reaction, and simultaneously brings one within the bondage of actions. Unless those bondages are broken, the microcosms will have to keep moving in a cycle of action and reaction – they will have to be reborn again and again on this earth. (SS-12) And here Baba says what happens to those who run after material gain and cheat others out of money. Baba says, "What will be the fate of a person who directs all his psychic propensities towards crude materiality? He will be caught again and again in the serpentine noose of death." (SS-21) So before doing any bad deed or injustice to someone, one must think a thousand times and refrain from that action, otherwise one will be bound to undergo the reaction, either in this life or the next. Because one thing is sure, one cannot escape. Baba says, "Until all the reactions of actions, good or bad, are exhausted a person cannot attain salvation in hundreds of lives. Just as people bound by golden or iron chains feel the pains of bondage, similarly people undergoing good or bad reactions will have to accept them." (AMIWL-9)

WHAT IS THE WAY OUT

Is it then that those who have done something wrong then their future is permanently dark? No, no, no, about this Baba has given His divine assurance. And the magic formula is: Show repentance for one's past misdeeds, do not repeat such mistakes in future knowing or unknowingly, and finally surrender to Baba. Then Baba will save you and everything will be alright. Here is how Baba wants us to live on this earth. Baba says, "If people continue to perform deeds for public welfare then they will be able to avert the bondages of action. They will not be required to be reborn in a world to reap the consequences of their actions. Good deeds produce good reactions and bad deeds produce bad reactions. To reap the good reaction and bad reaction they will not be required to come to this world, if they perform deeds with the sole intention of public welfare and not any other intention. Then they can avoid being trapped into bondages of actions. Then the welfare of others brought about by his deeds will be considered a reward for his deeds. This is the life of a real person – a righteous person. This is the reason for which human beings have come to this world." (AV-15) So we should serve others and not fall into sin. There are two types of sin: patak and pratyavaya. Patak is doing those things that should not be done; pratyavaya is not doing what should be done. So don't do bad and be sure to do good things. Both are needed.

BABA'S BLESSING

Baba says, "During the period of requital of the reactive momenta if one surrenders one’s samska'rik sam'vedana to the Cosmic will, then psychic afflictions will no longer remain as afflictions. One will accept endless torture and humiliation as the severe and fearful expressions of one’s dear Lord. One will feel blessed to have attained Him in that form, albeit a severe and fearful one. Thus, even in His fearful form, He assists microcosms in attaining liberation from the serpentine noose of original deeds. Developed sa'dhakas, instead of feeling agonized by the suffering caused by their reactive momenta, will rather feel delighted that their reactive momenta are now on the wane. (AMIWL-7) So this story of Hariish and Pradiip gives the teaching that nobody can escape the grip of action and reaction, the cycle of samskaras. The only way is not to commit sin and surrender at His alter. Namaskar, Amoghasiddhi

Note 1: MORE PRACTICAL TEACHINGS ON SAMSKARA THEORY

Baba says, "Unless one undergoes the requitals of one’s mental reactive momenta – good requitals to good actions, bad requitals to bad actions – one cannot attain liberation.” Avashyameva bhoktavyam' krtam' karma shubha'shubham – “whether an action is good or bad, the reaction must be experienced." (AFPS-5) Baba says, "Then what is a good man to do to save himself from bad reactions of bad actions and good reactions of good actions? In order to attain salvation, he is to free himself from the reactions of good actions and bad actions. To save oneself from the reactions of bad actions, what may one do? Refrain from doing anything bad. He won’t do anything bad, but he is to do something." (AV-14)

************************************************ Sentiment is Blind Force

Lord says, "For the very existence of speed, a sentimental support, a sentimental propulsion is an indispensable necessity. Now, this sentimental support must be based on rationality. Sentimentality based on rationality is the strongest force in the universe. And sentimentality without rationality takes the form of, or rather the distortion of, dogma."(SS-12, p.15) In above teaching Baba says that sentiment is a very delicate thing. If it is guided by rationality then that is very useful & meaningful. And if it is guided by dogma or any other thing then it is very negative. That is why sentiment is very delicate.

************************************************

Gay Wt's

Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2010 10:01:42 -0400 To: am-global@earthlink.net From: Pradiip Subject: Gay Wt's Baba "Bhulo kare eso priyo a'ma'r ei kut'ire..." P.S. 1808 Purport: Oh my dearmost Baba, it seems that knowingly You do not want to come in my hut. At least You please come once by mistake. It is true that I do not have any quality or attribution-- nor do I have devotion. Then by which force can I call You. Because to call You and request You to come to my home, for this devotion is needed. And that I do not have. That is why I request You to please come by Your causeless grace. Baba, You know that I am not the ocean of knowledge; nor do I have a huge quantity of intellect. I am completely loaded with imperfections and impurities. Nobody likes to look toward me; everyone avoids me thinking that I am most ordinary type of being. Baba please grace me. Baba, upon You alone I have full faith and trust. You are my hope-- of my hopeless heart You are my colourful dream. My entire longing and my entire thirst and whole love is revolving around You. Baba, You are my everything. Please keep me close or away, it is up to You...

== GAY WT'S ==

Namaskar, Recently, one of our Wt's presided over the marriage of two gay women (i.e. lesbians.) This letter looks at why this worker became entangled in this way.

GOAL OF LIFE IN AM

The most essential point to keep in mind in this type of discussion is that in AM the goal of life is to reach Parama Purusa. There is no secondary aim - no carnal desire that takes precedence. Baba says, "Knowing that eternal Entity, that permanent Entity, [is] the only goal of life, one has to propel all one’s mental propensities towards Him. One must not waste one’s potentialities mistaking the transitory for the eternal." (NSS, Disc: 11) Baba says, "To eat, live and somehow survive is the goal of life for sub-human beings. But for human beings the main jiivanavrtti [driving force in life] is to worship Parama Purus'a, to love Him with their entire being." (DKG) Baba says, "In all the strata the only goal of life, the only culminating point of all the marches is the Supreme Entity." (SS-12) Hence our every action is for reaching Him. That means all our motor and sensory organs must be utlized for something great; we must not let them get enmeshed in crude allurements. That is why in our AM way of life, all our practices from Guru Sakash to bath mantra to sadhana to asana to diet to kiirtan etc, everything from morning till night - even our sleep - is done for realising and serving Him. We should never allow ourselves to be allured by the mundane. Marital relations too are only for serving Him in the form of society building. There is no other aim or lustful desire in mind. In AM sex is solely for procreation. Most understand this well - and of course there are some who may not like to hear this but that is the truth. In AM that is our stand - period. The culminating point that we must return to again and again is that human life is for directing the mind unto Him and becoming one with Parama Purusa. To that end, all one's physical, psychic & spiritual longings must be goaded unto Parama Purusa and not any worldly allurement like crude heterosexual or homosexual dealings.

SYMPATHY FOR THEM NOT ACCEPTANCE OF THEIR INDULGENCE

As Ananda Margiis, we are to have sympathy and concern for those people involved in gay and lesbian relations, after all they are our brothers and sisters. But that sexual indulgence cannot be accepted in AM. Rather with love and affection we are to help cure them of their glandular, psychological, and hormonal defects. Unfortunately, one Dada in AM totally forgot our ideal and he recently married two females (i.e. two lesbians) in a so-called AM wedding ceremony.

WHY DADA DID IT

The next question at hand is why Dada did it. A few may give some high sounding theories about Dada's open-mindedness and that we will address further down in this letter, but suffice to say here that there is a deeper reason involved. And here it is. In some level of his physical or psychic being, this Dadaji who presided over the gay marriage is also gay himself. After all, prior to 1990, Baba repeatedly pointed out and exposed certain Wts for their homosexual dealings, so it is not like it has not happened before. And at present in our Marga there are gay and lesbian issues within our Wt cadre, both on the Dada's and Didi's side. They may not openly declare themselves as such but they are doing it, either with other workers or with innocent people in society. It happens. And that too must be addressed - they should be cured. But this is the first time that a Dadaji - and a senior one at that - took it upon himself to openly conduct a gay marriage and the reason why he did it is that he himself is indulged in carnal delights. If his mind was fixed on the true goal of life - attaining Parama Purusa - he would never have done such a thing. But living in this worldly abode his mind has taken a turn downward toward the baser allurements of life, like sexual lust and homosexuality. And in the forefront of his mind, he thinks, "What is wrong - this is fine." Such is the delusion that confronts any Dada when they lose their spiritual ideal. We should take pity on him and help lift him up by his bootstraps so he may one day regain his spiritual flow.

TWO FALSE JUSTIFICATIONS

Of course on the outside, this Dada will never openly admit he is prone to (homo)sexual thoughts and activity. Rather he will try and take the high road when explaining about why he conducted that gay marriage. For instance he might, give the false justification that marriage is a human right that should be extended to all, irregardless of their sexual orientation. But according to the stand of AM, such a justification falls flat on its face. Crude sexual dealing is not a human right, rather it is the utter degradation of one's human existence. The only acceptable reason for sexual activity is child rearing, there is no other justification. So it is not right to say that two males or two females have the right to marry and indulge when it is biologically impossible for them to reproduce. Just as it is not a human right for a person to degrade themselves with drugs or alcohol, similarly it is not a human right for one to degrade themselves with crude sexual acts like homosexuality etc. None then should be befooled by this false claim that gay marriage is a human right. No one has the right to indulge in crude, animalistic behaviour for their selfish interest. Secondly, some mistakenly justify that since the church is dogmatic and since the church opposes homosexuality and gay marriage, then taking a stance opposite to the church is broad-minded. But that is also wrong. Broad-mindedness stems from following the dharma of AM and not giving acceptance to crude acts like homosexuality. We are to align our vision with our Ananda Marga and not fall in the group of such so-called open-minded atheists who automatically battle the church on each and every issue. Our stand has nothing to do with either of those camps - neither the church nor the liberal materialists. Only we are to pay heed to Baba's teachings. Sometimes others may agree with us or disagree, but our polestar is Baba and His teachings, not any camp in today's socio-political arena. Thus no one should think that Dadaji is a superhero because he is championing human rights or being open-minded in the name of gay marriage. His situation is not like that. The only reason he has conducted a gay marriage ceremony is because he himself has fallen into the mud of gay relations and in so doing he has lost the path of AM. That is the sole reasoning. We should all work hard to help Dadaji return to his spiritual roots and bring his sadhana back into proper flow. Then he will be alright.

JOINING AM MEANS FOLLOWING AM IDEALS

One critical point we must bear in mind: Joining AM means adhering to the ideals of Ananda Marga. That means adopting Parama Purusa as the goal of life and not allowing any mundane allurement to distort our vision. In today's current materialistic society, sex is the main theme of life: sexual satisfaction, sexual gratification, sexual this and sexual that. Needless to say this is totally misguided. The cream of life is spiritual bliss and coming into His divine flow, i.e. serving and pleasing Him. That is the path of human dharma and that is the way of life in AM. We harbour no other goal, especially not a crude one like sensual allurement. If anyone tries to bring gay marriage and homosexual relations as part of AM, then we can no longer be called A'nanda Ma'rga; it will have to became Ka'ma Ma'rga. As we all know, ka'ma in Sankrit refer to the chase after crude physical passions. Here the point is that we cannot change the rules or goal of AM. Ananda Marga is what it is - the blissful path to the Divine. Those who wish to indulge in lowly sexual pursuits like homosexuality will either have to reform their ways or go elsewhere. Because AM has its stated purpose and all those in AM must follow accordingly. AM was built for bhagavad dharma - not any other purpose. Consider this: Our jagrtis are for spiritual enlightenment and as soon as one of our jagritis becomes a place where drugs are sold then it has to be called a hashish house, not a jagrti. Because that is not the intended purpose of that jagrti. Likewise, as soon as crude homosexual relations are allowed into AM, then it is no longer Ananda Marga. It will have to be called something else because AM was put in place with a specific purpose in mind. AM is for the attainment of Parama Purusa. That is our goal, not any mundane fancy. Carnal pleasures are not our goal in AM. Yet that is the endpoint of all crude sexual dealings like homosexuality. Suffice to say here that homosexuality and Ananda Marga cannot co-exist under the same roof. Those indulged in homosexuality are our patients not our followers.

BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's grace He has given us a clear-cut vision in life: a direct line to the Supreme. We should not - nay must not - let any intrusion, like gay marriage & lustful sexual dealings, become accepted in our Marga. Even if one Dada - any Dada or Didi, does it, it only means that is their personal inclination. It does not mean that is now part of Ananda Marga. AM is made up of Baba's teachings - not anything else. Not the lustful wanderings of any worker etc. We should keep our mind on the Polestar and move onwards. Baba says, "The only way to attain salvation is through self-knowledge, and for this one requires pure conduct in the external world, pure thought in the mental world, and whole-hearted surrender to the Supreme Entity – the shelter of all, the one who is hidden in each and every entity – as the polestar of one’s life." (NSS, Disc: 16) Namaskar, Pradiip

Note 1: WHO IS THAT DADA

As many of you probably already know. The Dada involved in this gay marriage fiasco in Suva sector is Dada Pranakrsnananda. He is very senior so it is a shame to see him fall in this way and become so confused about his role in life. This is no way for any respected avadhuta to behave.

Note 2: MORE IMPORTANT LETTERS ON THIS TOPIC

These following letters address many other aspects to this issue of homosexuality. In AM our stance is quite clear, but those trying to drag such things into our AM way of life have all kinds of justifications. They are slow to learn due to their attachments, so it then becomes the need of the day to address the issue multiple times in numerous ways. Because such people who have affinity for homosexuality have their own outlook that is different from Baba's teachings.

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2010/03/talking-with-gays.html http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/10/homosexuals-am.html http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/05/sex-is-not-goal.html http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2008/01/gay-marriage-stand-of-ananda-marga.html http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2008/01/why-homosexuality.html http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2009/09/should-prostitution-be-legal.html http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2008/07/even-animals-dont-do.html

************************************************* Allopathic Medicines Not Good

Baba says, "When people take allopathic medicine to cure a disease, the medicine disturbs the ecological balance of the body because more negative microvita get concentrated at the point of the disease. Allopathic medicines do not kill diseases -- diseases die by their own natural death. Although the medicine may check the disease, the increased concentration of negative microvita can overcome the effect of the medicine. In fact, the increased concentration of negative microvita caused by allopathic medicines creates many new types of diseases, and due to this, two or three new diseases are presently being created every decade. So what is the solution to this problem? Our approach should be two fold-- external and internal. Externally we should take medicines to check diseases, but internally we should perform spiritual practice." (MVNS, p.136)

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Difference Between Half & Full Sadhana

Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:46:42 To: am-global@earthlink.net Subject: Difference Between Half & Full Sadhana From: Jiivendra Baba PS Intro: This song describes the feeling of one higher stage of devotional realization. "Prabhu, toma'y kii kahibo a'ro..." P.S. 447 Purport: Baba, oh Prabhu, I love You so much. How can I express the deep love of my heart to You. Words alone fail to describe the feeling. With my vocal chords I cannot express the grace which You have showered on me. Baba, You have permanently drenched me in Your ahetuki krpa'. Since I have gotten You in my life, my life has become meaningful. I do not have any other type of longing in my mind except You. Baba, by Your grace, my mind is running always towards You & You alone. Baba, You have made my life blissful, in all the ways. It is just as if my whole existence is full of nectar. O' my dearmost, the cimmerian darkness has vanished from my life; those black days have gone far, far away. There is no longer any trace of them. This has all happened since the divine effulgence descended in my life by Your grace. Baba, according to Your tune, melody, and rhythm, I am dancing. My days and nights and my entire life has become just like one bouquet of songs. Not even a wee-bit of dilemma or confusion is existing in my life. By Your infinite grace my mind is perfectly straight. This is all because of Your boundless karuna'. Baba, my whole existence-- my body, mind, and prana-- is vibrating with the spiritual waves which You have generated by Your sweet touch. Baba, I have gotten You by Your grace. You have graced me immensely. Baba, I fully surrender myself at Your lotus feet...

== DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HALF & FULL SADHANA ==

Namaskar, In our AM approach, sadhana is looked upon as the cream of all our practices. It is the greatest endeavour of our human existence. And of course per Baba's divine teaching we all practice our meditation lessons twice daily, at minimum. This is His Supreme Command as well as the nectar of our spiritual life. In our daily lives it cannot be denied however that we have innumerable duties to attend to and countless tasks to perform. Sometimes it can seem as though our worldly responsibilities are endless-- or nearly so. Fortunately, while engaging in these occupations we can keep the mind vibrated in His thought by doing half-sadhana. That is another one of our jewels of meditation. So even though we may not be able to close our eyes and sit for meditation each and every minute of each and every day, through the practice of half-sadhana we can keep that sweet spiritual flow in tact, by His grace.

IMPORTANCE OF SADHANA

Of course all acknowledge the great value of sadhana. However still there is a certain trend in AM where some think about doing sadhana without ever really sitting down to do meditation. That is they read about sadhana or talk with others about spirituality etc, but they never seem to get the time to really sit down and immerse the mind in long, silent sadhana sessions. For them it remains just a dream only. This happens to some in our Marga. Here below Baba gives the teaching that just reading and talking about spiritual discourses will not bring one closer to the Goal, to Him. To gain success in spiritual life one must commit themselves to the practice of sadhana.

"Na'yama'tma' balahiinema labhyah..."

Baba says, "The A'tma'n cannot be attained by the immoralist or the materialist.And the one who listens to learned discourses or reads the scriptures in the hope of realizing the A'tma'n with the help of keen intellect will surely be disappointed." "How can one know the A'tma'? The answer is, by performing spiritual practice (sa'dhana') with devotion and sincerity. For human beings spiritual practice in individual life is mandatory. Without sa'dhana' one cannot expect to make any progress. If one learns the secrets of spiritual practice from a learned preceptor and practices regularly one will realize intuitively the existence of the Supreme Cognitive Faculty." (TK-3) So, according to Baba, dedicated & sustained efforts in the discipline of meditation are needed in order to advance along the spiritual path. Without sadhana progress is impossible. And here again in the following passage Baba emphasizes the need to deeply engage in sadhana if one hopes to get Him. Baba says, "To realize Him one must direct all one's sentiments and propensities - in fact the entire psychic flow with its integral outlook - towards one's inner existence. Only on this path of supreme synthesis can human beings attain the Supreme Entity and transcend the bondages of pain and pleasure, old age, death, etc." (APH-5) Thus in so many ways we can see that sadhana is the key aspect for spiritual growth and development. And without doing deep sadhana, one will never really feel His sweet grace. That is Baba's teaching.

OUR APPROACH IN FULL SADHANA

And sure enough, sadhana is the main ingredient of our spiritual lives. Plus it has to be recognised that in our AM sadhana we follow a very systematic approach. In our twice daily meditation, we close the eyes, fold back the tongue, and shut down the external senses through the practice of pratyhara-- by performing the three shuddhis as we embark on our meditation. And ultimately we bring the mind to one particular point, cultivate that great devotional feeling of loving Him, and ensconce the mind in the repetition of our mantra. When doing first lesson then the mind is immersed in the ista cakra and when doing dhyana the mind is absorbed in Guru cakra. This every practitioner of sahaja yoga understands. And in a nutshell this is how we approach our regular sadhana practice.

SOME OF THE BASICS OF HALF-SADHANA

Of course, from morning till night we have so many other worldly plans and programs to attend to. In that case the practice of half-sadhana is invaluable. Because this can be done anytime throughout the day since in half-sadhana the eyes remain open. Exactly when is it that we can do half-sadhana? While walking, cooking, driving, washing clothes, doing errands, commuting, cleaning, and innumerable times throughout the day. So half-meditation is quite a handy approach. And while here we will go through the various aspects of half-meditation, the chief difference between full sadhana and half-sadhana is that in half-meditation we do not keep the mind fixed on a particular cakra. Reason being that in half-meditation we are involved in various worldly works so the eyes must remain open, not closed, in which case keeping the mind introverted at a particular point is not really possible.

HOW HALF-SADHANA CAN BE DONE

As you probably already know, when doing half-sadhana using our ista mantra then we skip over the shuddhis that we normally do in first lesson and go right into the phase of cultivating that devotional longing for Baba. And then with the eyes open we repeat our ista mantra, not necessarily concentrating on any particular cakra. Just however one feels comfortable one should engage in their mantra japa and generate that sweet link with Him-- all the while keeping one's eyes open and attending to their worldly duties. Our approach to doing half-dhyana is similar. Here again we bypass the shuddhis and delve right into the devotional flow, cultivating that yearning and longing for Him. And then we start repeating our dhyana mantra again and again, feeling His divine presence all around us. Since the eyes are open and we are not focused on any particular cakra, then we can think that He is watching all our movements. Or we can think that we are just moving through the day with Him right by our side. The main point being that He is along with us and we are repeating our dhyana mantra-- tangibly feeling His sweet presence.

ONE OTHER DIFFERENCE

One other aspect of half-sadhana that is different from full sadhana is that in half-sadhana the mantra need not be coordinated with the breath. Rather one can just go on repeating the mantra at any pace they like-- fast or slow, irregardless of one's breathing pattern. In this practice, both fast and slow mantra repetition have their distinct benefits. On this point everyone can experiment.

KINDLING THE PRACTICE

So this is our basic approach in half-sadhana. Since we are all sadhakas then most if not all of these points are not new to any of us. Even then perhaps this reminder will help enable us to do this devotional practice more and more throughout the day. For it is the practice that makes it real & blissful. Just knowing about intellectually but not doing it leaves the mind dry & barren. Thus as we engage in our practice of half-meditation then all are encouraged to write in with any new points which they discover-- or just describe the feeling that comes when doing half-meditation. Reflect on what way it changes the day. One other thing that sadhakas often find is that by doing half-sadhana regularly throughout the day then when they sit down for their full meditation then their mind quickly immerses in that flow-- making the shuddhis almost effortless and the practice of mantra japa blissful. So that is another wonderful benefit of half-meditation-- it complements our twice daily full sadhana practice.

ONLY THE BRAVE DO SADHANA

Whether we are talking about half-meditation or full meditation, one thing is certainly proven: That meditation is only for the brave. This is Baba's divine guideline.

"Na'yama'tma' balahiinena labhyo..."

Baba says, "Those who are weak, i.e., who have neither spiritual nor mental force, do not achieve intuitional knowledge. The timid and cowardly remain remote from Brahmabha'va or cosmic ideation." (SS-2, p.46) So it is only the courageous who immerse their minds in the practice of sadhana and get that divine bliss; while those who are meek or wishy-washy types just gossip about doing sadhana. By practicing half-sadhana and by adhering to His supreme command of twice daily meditation, we actively immerse ourselves in His thought and proceed towards that Cosmic Nucleus thereby getting His divine touch, by His grace.

BABA'S BLESSING

In bestowing upon us the practice of dharma sadhana, Baba has truly showered His greatest blessing on us all. May we realise Him fully. Baba says, "When the mind transcends the barriers of intellect the realization dawns in human beings that they cannot reach the abode of the Supreme Entity through material science or philosophy, but through intuition alone. Supreme blessedness lies in the unfoldment of intuition. Those who are graced with intuition, even though they may be totally illiterate, can reach the Supreme rank, thereby establishing themselves in a state of perennial blessedness. The greatest pandits, however, become lost in the labyrinth of logic, and even though they try to find a way out, they finally attain nothing." (AMIWL-9, p.640) Namaskar, Jiivendra

Note 1: SADHANA NOT TALL TALKS

Here below Baba is guiding us that He can only be attained through the practice of sadhana-- not by high-sounding talks etc. Baba says, "You cannot get that Supreme Entity by tall talk. Na medhaya´ - Not by your intellect. Na bahuna´ shrutena - Nor by reading or going through so many books or lectures...Do your sa'dhana', do your sa'dha'na', do your sa'dhana'...Get it by doing sa'dhana'." (AV-23, p.23-4)

Note 2: SYSTEMATIC SADHANA MAKES ONE UNDEFEATABLE

Baba has blessed us with a perfect system of meditation and by doing all the lessons on a regular basis then we are sure to attain success-- never to be defeated. Baba says, "You have learnt a well-ordered system of meditation and other spiritual practices based on dharma. If any individuals or groups, however powerful they may be, try to suppress you or even succeed in suppressing you, they are bound to be destroyed. History has witnessed many such a downfall in the past. No one has ever been victorious or will ever be victorious by opposing dharma. March ahead with your own strength, march with firm steps and your head held high. Always remember that when dharma is with you, whoever will oppose you will be razed to the ground - their destruction is a must." (AV-4)

********************************** Brave Persons

Baba says, "Do not remain worried about your individual problems at all. Be prepared to carry your own burden and be prepared also to carry the burdens of others. Then alone are you brave. Be dagdhabiija. Everyone has their own individual problems. Do not try to pass them on to others. On the contrary, bear the burdens of others. No one is your enemy. Be ready to bear the burdens of others." (AV-30, p.4)

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A'nanda Ma'rga Amar Hae

From: "Alex Hufnagel" To: am-global@earthlink.net Subject: A'nanda Ma'rga Amar Hae Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:44:18 +0000 Baba "E kii prahelika' e kii kuhelika'..." P.S. 1769 Purport: Baba, what is this liila You are making, what is this dilemma. O' my Lord, I know that You are everywhere, but even then my heart is dry. I am surrounded with frustration-- by this fog of hopelessness. No doubt, You are remaining with me, but You did not allow me hold You. Even then, by Your grace, his much I do know-- that You love me. Just I do not feel that in my heart at present. Baba, Your divine effulgence is lost in the oblivion. The resonating melody of the viina is filled with the tears of my life. Baba, please come in my life and remove all my bondages. Please remove all my blackness, impurities, and dogma, whatever I have. Baba I love You. And this much I also know-- That you also love me. O' my Lord, please look towards me. I have offered my everything at Your lotus feet. Please do not leave me remaining crying in darkness. Baba, please come in my heart, in my mind, with Your sweet smile. Baba, only You are my shelter...

== A'NANDA MA'RGA AMAR HAI ==

Namaskar, In this trying, if not difficult, period in our Ananda Marga history, some may be wondering how AM is even going to survive. There is groupism and infighting on every corner, dogmas have been imposed left and right, and so much nonsense is going on. In that view, some may be contemplating, 'Where is the daylight, how is our Marga ever going to make it-- it just does not seem possible'. These murky thoughts might enter the mind. However, we should be fully assured that our path of Ananda Marga is immortal and it is going to flourish on this planet and across the universe, wherever humans go. Because AM satisfies human dharma. That is Baba's special formula, as well as the hidden reason why our Marga will not only survive, but verily thrive.

THE SPECIAL RECIPE

As we know from sutra 2-5 of Ananda Sutram, within each human being is the thirst for limitlessness. Everyone is eager and hungry to find eternal happiness & peace. To that end, humans do so many things and run after so many crude enjoyments: Money, materialism, sex, power, etc. All done in order to find happiness. But just because they are temporarily involved in those things does not mean they are truly satisfied. Rather, they are just like small babies who are hungry-- teething and chewing on anything they can find: Sticks, plastic, cardboard, etc. But that baby will not be satisfied until it gets mother's milk. Likewise, humans are involved in various material pleasures only because they have yet to find something better. And still they are searching, refining their ways. Proof being that now, around the globe, so many have joined up in various styles of yoga and other healthy ways of living. People are flocking in this direction and improving themselves. They are on the move. But even that will not entirely quench their thirst, because only Ananda Marga is the path of eternal bliss. So their quest or search will not stop until they find themselves on the path of AM. Hence Baba's special formula is the ultimate combination: He has instilled within human beings an infinite desire and He has given the path of AM to satiate that innate human yearning for eternal happiness. Thus each and every human being is on a pre-programmed search to try and find the path of bliss, Ananda Marga. There is no other destiny.

GREAT PROGRESS BEING MADE IN AMPS

Now that we are confirmed that every living being has an inborn urge to find AM, the path of bliss, let's redirect our attention to the current scene within AMPS. How is it that we can feel assured that our AMPS will be able to show the path of AM to all who come. Before 1990, our Marga was in a phase of tremendous speed. In a few decades, Baba unveiled the plan and programs for the entire future of humanity. No teaching or secret was left untold. He has given everything. From Master Units to Microvita, each and every day brought a new revolutionary idea or concept as well as a new plan for our Marga to implement-- then and there, at that moment. Our Marga was moving at cosmic speed. That was the need of the day in that pre- 1990 period. As human beings though, we could not keep up. Here's the proof: Those days we were busy printing and preaching the gospel of our AM books like 'Neo-humanism: Liberation of Intellect', and then just a few years later our entire Marga was sunk in groupism, not floating in neo-humanism. Why? Because in that pre-1990 period, we could not digest all of Baba's teachings, like neo-humanism. It was a period of speed to roll out more and more new works, all done at a pace faster than the human mind could assimilate everything. It is just like if someone goes to the university bookstore and purchases all the needed books to get a PhD in quantum physics. Buying those books alone does not make automatically worthy or qualified to have a doctorate degree. Rather it will take years and years of study assimilate the requisite knowledge to earn that PhD. Same then is the case with our Ananda Marga. Just because some Dadas were taking dictation about AM ideals does mean they were established sadvipras. Rather it takes time to instill all those ideas within one's being.

GREAT PROGRESS BEING MADE IN AMPS- Part 2

In our period of speed prior to 1990, it was extremely rare for anyone to be able to assimilate the real essence of what Baba was saying and doing. And there are so many proofs of this. Baba was telling that He was that eternal entity yet then some Dadas created the dogmatic Mahaprayan function saying that Baba is gone. In that case who can claim that those Dadas really understood that Baba is infinite and timeless. And that is the case with so many things. Our acaryas are meant to be sadvipras yet so many of them are involved in tragic, scandalous affairs. Plus Baba has given Prout, yet some in our Marga are selling our MU lands in order to make a personal profit. In various directions, countless nonsense things are going on: All of which points in the direction that in the period of tremendous speed up till 1990, we could not assimilate all of Baba's teachings. Rather our Marga was more involved in propagating Baba's miracles-- but that alone is not enough. The world and its religions are already full of tales of miracles, so people are not enticed by that. Whereas the world is totally bereft of a rational philosophy. Hence, the need of the day is for us to understand and emulate Baba's teachings, then everyone will come running in our direction. But up until 1990 it was not possible for us to do so. Again then we come to the point, 'OK then where is the optimism', where is the proof that our Marga is moving ahead, in the right direction.

GREAT PROGRESS BEING MADE IN AMPS- Part 3

Since 1990, our Marga has been in a period of pause. The phase of speed finished. So since 1990 the learning or the assimilation of AM ideology has been going on-- successfully so. Prior to 1990, we had no real idea of what groupism was nor did we know the harm it could do. But now we know, and verily we are step by step pulling our Marga out of the mire of groupism. We are all studying and doing sadhana in order to rise above any groupist sentiment. And this is the case with so many aspects of Ananda Marga ideology. We are learning what it means to have the eternal Brahma as the Guru, that is why so many have left the dogma of Mahaprayan. And indeed so many dogmas have been left behind: Tiirthas, memorials, false printing of Baba's books, and so many things. In short, everyone in AM is now learning AM ideology. Because now-- since 1990-- we have had the time to think, reflect, and experiment. So it is that with each and every passing day we better adhere to Baba's teachings and spread His ideals via our conduct, discussions, and actions. Everything is getting better-- that is, our Marga is righting itself on the path of ideology.

EVERYTHING POINTING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Thus, it is all going extremely well. Already Baba has instilled within everyone the inherent & infinite desire to become great, i.e. to experience eternal peace. Plus, He has given the path of AM, which is the only real avenue for experiencing infinite bliss. And furthermore, He has put our Marga in a period of pause, so we may best assimilate and understand His teachings. For all these reasons, we can sincerely know, 'Ananda Marga Amar Hae', Ananda Marga is immortal. We are now no longer thinking that just because we came into AM that we are therefore sadvipras. That is how it was prior to 90. Dadas and others thought that simply because they were in AM, then therefore they had the birthright to rule the world. Hence the building of the Prout Palace to entertain the world's leaders. Those days, Dadas were just waiting for their coronation as Kings of this earth. But now that silly dream is over. Now everyone understands that being in AM means that we must personify Baba's teachings in thought, word, and deed. So everyone is studying, learning, and competing to be better informed about our AM way of life. That is what the period of pause is all about and that is what has been going on since 1990. Hence it is with each and every passing day that we are coming more in line with our AM ideology. And by this way humans will carry Baba's teachings of Ananda Marga forever and ever. That is why there is a grand feeling of optimism percolating within our Marga. Not all our problems are solved yet, but one by one they are being eliminated as we hold onto and implement Baba's teachings, by His grace.

BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's grace the whole situation is complete. Human beings have infinite desires; only AM is that path of eternal bliss that can quench the human thirst to achieve limitlessness. And, in this period of pause, we are all becoming the worthy media for bringing AM teachings to the world. Baba says, "This speed and pause will continue. 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." "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 it seems that everyone is in a 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 realized 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." (AFPS_3) Namaskar, Arisudan

Note: WHY THE RELIGIONS CANNOT SATISFY HUMAN THIRST

The religions have a sense of god-hood, which is why they still have followers. Because human beings are not inclined to become atheistic. But the diminished feeling of god-hood that the religions convey is not enough to keep their followers. Because people want more than dogma in their life. They want to realise something Great and be guided by a flawless philosophy based on rationality. Hence, none of the dogmatic religions can keep their followers forever. Over time, all will come into AM.

********************************************* UNKNOWN FACT ABOUT WEALTH

Parama Purusa BABA says, "In the subtle economic sense, the value of wealth is the real wealth. Wealth, if not properly defined, may mean only riches. But the value of wealth is to be measured in terms of its capacity to purchase commodities. That is, the purchasing capacity of wealth is its real value. This real value of wealth has not yet been properly understood in numerical terms by economists." (Proutist Economics, p. 269)

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What Every New Sadhaka Should Know: Part 1

Date: 21 Mar 2010 14:49:01 -0000 From: "Chandramohan Jha" To: AM-GLOBAL Subject: What Every New Sadhaka Should Know: Part 1 Baba "Toma'ri katha' bheve ma'rmika anubhave..." (P.S. 3006) Purport: O' Baba, by thinking of You with all the feelings of my heart, my ba'ndha-bha'unga' mana [1] is ensconced in bliss and floats towards infinity. O' Lord of the divine and mortal worlds, the Soul of the soulless, even a wee-bit of Your great love is enough to fill my heart with spiritual bliss and give me goose bumps, horripilation, throughout my being. Baba, is it You who brings that devotional surge within me. Baba, thinking about You, my mind is ensconced in bliss. Baba, You are incomparable in rhythm and most pleasant in aroma. You have no comparison. In all vibrations, in the quintessence, deep down, You are the Dearest One to all; You are the nucleus of all the vibrations. In the garland You are the flower. In the necklace You are the jewel. In everything You are the best. Remaining in viitara'ga [2], You smile with the beauty of divine love like flowers. Baba, thinking about You, my is mind ensconced in bliss. Baba, in the severe heat, You are those first, cool showers that bring relief and respite. In the space between the monsoon clouds, You are the effulgent pole star. In the darkness, You are the beauty of the moon's enchantment. Under the hot sun, You are cool shade beneath the trees. In each and every circumstance, You are the Saviour. Baba, even staying afar, You stay in my mind’s divine haven. Baba, thinking about You, is my mind ensconced in bliss. O' Parama Purusa, keep me eternally at Your lotus feet... NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #3006: [1] Ba'ndha-bha'unga' mana: This is when the mind is overwhelmed with joy. Such as when one is extremely happy and bursts into tears or when one jumps for joy or exclaims or dances. In actuality though it is more than the joy experienced in worldly circumstances. It is that inexpressible bliss from the spiritual flow. It happens in the spiritual realm when one's mind is totally ensconced in His bliss and one starts crying uncontrollably. This is a state wherein one completely loses their composure. [2] Viitara'ga: This is the state of being beyond any worldly attachment or attraction - i.e. perfect equanimity in all circumstances. One of the qualities of Parama Purus'a is vaera'gya. Baba has demonstrated this on countless occasions. Even when all kinds of serious and critical problems came in the organisation, then He remained totally unaffected, keeping perfect composure. For social reasons He may have showed sympathy or concern, but internally He was totally unaffected. Those bhaktas close to Baba understand this well. For instance, before going to jail & whenever there was serious any catastrophe going on in organisational life, Baba had the divine ability to give discourses of eternal value. That can only happen when one's mind is in viitaraga.If anyone reads that discourse they will not get any hint about the extreme upheaval going on in the organisation. Such composure ise not possible by human beings. Being human means being affected by the bondaage of maya. Whereas in viitraga the mind remains 100% unassailed by any negativity, and is just the embodiment of universal welfare. Viitara'ga does not mean that the Entity in viitara'ga is unpetrubed by the suffering and tears of human beings. Everyone knows that Parama Purusa loves and cares so much.

== WHAT EVERY NEW SADHAKA SHOULD KNOW ==

Namsakar, This letter, the first in a series, focuses on an array of important points for new sadhakas to know. After all. AM pracar is one of our first and foremost duties. Baba says, "...It is the bounden duty of every Ananda Margiis to endeavour to bring all to the path of bliss..." (Supreme Command) To this end, a few senior margiis gathered and came up with a few points - intellectual and devotional - that will be helpful for us to propagate to new people as they come onto the path. These points will be presented in an ongoing series of letters. Please do share your experiences and thoughts as well - because we all have taken the duty and responsibility under Guru to do pracar and everyone has their own particular talents, skills and knowledge in this important arena.

"AS YOU THINK, SO YOU BECOME" Ya'drshii bha'vana' yasya siddhirbhavati ta'drshii

Baba says, "As you think, so you become." (AV-12) Baba has given this seemingly simple guideline in a number of discourses. Some new people may have heard or read this and think they understand. Other new people may not have yet come across it. We should ensure that every new sadhaka understands the full import of this teaching because this is one of the very revolutionary aspects of Ananda Marga. These days, with the great popularity of yoga, most yoga groups solely focus on the physical, or they may include their own interpretation of pranayama as well. Only AM offers the full system for transforming one's person into godhood. And the above guideline, "as you think so you become", is instrumental to our approach.

HOW IT WORKS: Part 1

When Baba says, "as you think so you become", He is telling us that we must have some control or restraint in our thinking. If one thinks of something mundane or crude they will transform into that object - step by step. That is one part of the equation. Baba says, "It is the natural wont of the mind to take the shape of its object of meditation. If the object of worship is crude, say money or any crude thing, the mind takes the shape of that crude thing in the course of time." (Baba in Fiesch) And not just money, in this materialistic era people's minds are riddled by all kinds of thoughts: name, fame, jealousy, stress, anger, sex, fear, enemies, disease and so much more. And by thinking in this way, part, or even all of their mind, gets consumed in that thing. By that way, the problem festers and grows. Wild or uncontrolled thinking is one of the main causes of both psychic and physical diseases in materialistic societies. Those new to the path of sadhana - and even those not yet on the path - should be informed of the adverse effects of this equation, "As you think so you become."

HOW IT WORKS: Part 2

Then there is the other side of the equation: If we refine our thoughts to focus in a spiritual manner we will move towards the Supreme. This also we should preach and teach to every new sadhaka. By this way they can not only free the mind of so many fetters and distractions, but one can truly move ahead on the spiritual path. In AM, that is exactly what our system of sadhana is - a methodical manner of thinking wherein the mind focuses on the Ista. Baba says, "Concentrated thinking is called “meditation”... In spiritual parlance, when the mental flow is directed towards the goal, that is, the Supreme Entity, it is called “concentration”, but in metaphysical terms, it is a concept of dharma. Concentrated thinking leads to the development of positive ideas...in the process of constant mental flow towards the goal. In the process of meditation the following things are involved – brain cells, apexed or pinnacled psychology, concentrated thinking, Guru cakra and ultimate devotion." (YP) Thus concentrated thinking is a integral part of our approach. By this way one can transform their entire existence. Even those who are terribly depressed and anxiety ridden can become stellar sadhakas through this method. And this is unique to AM. No one else other than Baba highlights the sublime importance of thinking. So those new to AM should understand that they will not get this teaching nor this practice on other paths and they should clearly understand and experience the dynamism of this practice. Our mantra japa in first lesson or sixth lesson is the culminating practice of, "as you think so you become." By bringing the mind back again and again to the idea of the mantra and training the mind to maintain that flow, then one's entire physical, psychic and spiritual existence gets transformed. Then one veritably becomes divine. Then one becomes Parama Purusa. That is Baba's teaching for every sadhaka to realise - new or old.

BABA'S MANDATE

Because this principle - as you think so you become - is such an important guideline Baba reminds us of this again and again. Baba says, "I told you, or I have been telling you, that a man takes the form of his psychic object; that is, your very existence will be converted into your psychic object. You should select your psychic object very carefully." (AV-12) Really then, we should share the import of this concept with all new sadhakas. By this way we too may become more aware of the use of our mantra, either during and / or after sadhana. As pracarakas, this equation - as you think so you become - is one important point of our approach. So many in the world nowadays are looking for something new. And our Marga has all the practices they need to transform their life. So those being introduced to na'ma mantra meditation or first lesson or even just kiirtan, should be made aware of the profound effects of this subtle science.

BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's grace He has blessed us with the practical method of how to ideate on Him. We should share this technique with one and all. We should never allow others to settle for any lesser approach. It is everyone's birthright to get Him - by their thoughts alone, one can attain His eternal shelter, by His grace. Baba says, 'It is also stated in Tantra that if a person wants only to attain limited progress, one may practise on certain limited ideas. But those who are genuine seekers of Brahma will never agree to worship any finite idea. Those who want the Supreme Entity will have to ideate on Parama Purus'a alone. People may attain limited achievement in terms of occult power through the grace of the gods and goddesses, but they will remain far away from the attainment of the Supreme Entity." (DT-1) Namaskar, Chandramohan

Note 1: IDOL WORSHIP IS THE WORST

Here Baba points out the very negative effect of dogmatic idol worship. But none should think this adverse reaction is limited to idol worship. Any persistent engagement in crude thoughts (sex, money, greed, jealousy, etc) will turn one into negative microvita. Baba says, "“If idols made of wood, clay, iron or any other metal are accepted as objects of meditation, then what will be the result?” It is said, Ya'drshii bha'vana' yasya siddhirbhavati ta'drshii [“As you think, so you become”]. The aspirants’ own entitative existence will be turned into clay, metal or wood – a state which in the scriptures is called Prakrtiliina [negative microvita]. It is a dreadful state." (SS-11)

Note 2: SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

Please write in with your thoughts regarding what you feel is very important to impart to new people on the path.