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How to Improve Sadhana: Part III

From: "Daniel Bromberg" To: am-global@earthlink.net Subject: How to Improve Sadhana: Part III Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2010 07:01:46 +0000 Baba "A'mi toma'r na'me toma'r gane jiivan ka't'a'bo..." (P.S. 2455) Purport: Baba, You are the be-all and end all of my life. You are my everything. I will spend my whole life singing Your song and propagating Your glory, by Your grace. I will satiate my heart, by pleasing You in all the ways: doing Your sadhana and executing the work that You like. Baba, it is the eternal law of this creation that whoever has taken birth will go. Coming and going is the Cosmic rule. Nobody can take anything along with them. Only one thing goes along with -- Your love & Your devotion. That remains always along with-- in this world as well as that. Baba, I will only get You when I move on Your path ceaselessly, by Your grace. Baba, I do not know where You reside. Wherever You are, close or distant, please always keep me next to Your eyes. Baba, by Your grace, with the pull of my longing and love, I will bring You close. And when You are sitting next to me then I will sing the song for You to listen to, up to Your heart's content. Baba, let every moment of my life pass in pleasing You. Baba, please shower Your karuna on me so I can march forward on the path which reaches to You...
== HOW TO IMPROVE SADHANA: PART 3 ==
Namaskar, It is commonly known that Baba has given the Sixteen Points for the health, hygiene, and welfare of the entire society. And by following His natural teachings of Sixteen Points, sadhakas will live longer lives and the entire humanity will flourish. All this is well understood and wholeheartedly accepted by each and every Ananda Margii. In that spirit of forward movement and sharing here following is a short, exploratory look into the second component of our Sixteen Points. Hopefully others will also contribute their reflections and thoughts on this important topic.
WHERE CIRCUMCISION CAME FROM AND HOW IT GO SPREAD AROUND
First off, as a reminder, we should keep in mind that the practice of circumcision is the invention of the Semitic religion(s). And that their common followers became habituated to it. This is the basic history. And Baba Himself says like that. Yet in revolutionary fashion Baba also unveils how this dogmatic practice of circumcision got spread around and absorbed from one religion to the next. Baba says, "Long ago the Jews started practising circumcision. When Moses converted some of his contemporaries to Judaism, and later when Mohammed converted some local people to Islam, neither prophet dared to instruct their new followers to discard the old customs they followed, consequently the old customs continued after their conversion." (PNS-21) Hence in the above quote Baba is revealing the fact how some prophets like Mohammed etc just accepted this unnatural practice of circumcision in order to establish their own teachings amongst the people. Otherwise they could not have converted them. Altogether then, this is one display of how a particular dogma gets transferred from one religious community to the next. It is just like how Shankaracarya incorporated numerous dogmatic Buddhist teachings into Hinduism. (Reference: 'Religious Dogmas', PNS-16) And not only that, here below Baba furthermore exposes the way in which practices like circumcision become the common way in certain communities. Baba says, "Human beings readily accept traditions without seeking the reasons behind them. Since ancient days the semites have been observing the practice of circumcision. Moses and Mohammed accepted this system which today has become tradition." (HS-1) By all this we can begin to think and decide what way Baba is guiding us to move ahead. And we should discuss what should be our approach. Here are some further things for consideration.
THE NATURAL WAY OF CREATION
As sadhakas we should always remember that Parama Purusa Himself has designed the human body and this entire creation in a particular way. Accordingly, all His designs have a special benefit and satisfy an important need. Then why should we disturb His creative process by unnecessarily cutting part of the human body at the time birth-- as is done with the practice of circumcision. Rather cutting goes counter to the natural process. Just like how Baba says that cutting the body as a means of birth control is extremely dangerous as it goes against natural law.
OUR APPROACH IN AM
Thus we should consider whether at the time of birth if there is a need to circumcise male offspring. Or is doing so unnatural. And not just then but right up until adolescence the foreskin can remain attached as is and there will not be any harm. The medical evidence suggests this very idea. So the natural benefit is there that it will protect the glands and the entire region from infection, plus other advantages. And then when one reaches adolescence, then for reasons of hygiene and to protect against germs one can keep the foreskin pulled back. So we should think and consider what is Baba's explicit direction in Sixteen points. One distinct approach is: (1) To allow the foreskin to remain as is from birth up until one reaches puberty; (2) At the start of adolescence the foreskin should be kept away-pulled back.
UNUSUAL CASES
Only in a few, rare cases whereby upon reaching adolescence the foreskin will not pull back properly-- and it will only come up partially-- then in that uncommon instance a small incision can be made to loosen the foreskin and allow it to pick up. So really speaking then only a small cut need be made; there is no need to remove or cut away the entire section. Just a small incision is made, but in common parlance some might say that a circumcision was done. But just for lack of a more precise term they speak like that. But again all this happens only in those rare occasions-- less than 0.01% of the time.
MOST OF THE WORLD FOLLOWS THE NATURAL WAY
And indeed all around the globe countless civilisations and communities follow this natural process of keeping the foreskin. From India to Africa to the South Pacific and around the globe it is like that. Rather only those limited subsections of society which got affected by the dogmatic ways of the Semitic religions adopted this practice of performing circumcisions at the time of birth.
MORE LETTERS ON THIS TOPIC
(A) Read here for more critical facts on the dogma of circumcision. (B) Read here to find out why it is faulty to think circumcision helps prevent AIDS. (C) This letter contains key points from Senior Acary Diary:
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace all Ananda Margiis are now understanding the value and teaching of this point - we know that circumcision is not part of Sixteen Points. The cloud of dogma surrounding this confusion has been lifted. Baba says, "The flame of a lamp lights up countless lamps. The touch of a great personality wakes up innumerable sleeping hearts. In the same way, the eternal glow of the boundless élan vital of Cosmic Consciousness has been illuminating the life-lamp of universal humanism since time immemorial, is illuminating it, and in future will do so even more intensely. That is why I say, the future of the human race is not dark, rather it is strikingly resplendent. So proceed on, ignoring the frowns of darkness." (Ananda Vanii #49) Namaskar, Dharma
Note 1: SOCIETAL TRENDS
Now more and more in the general society people from all walks of life are recognising the inherent value and beauty of keeping the body in its natural state upon birth-- and turning away from the old-fashioned, Semitic practice of circumcision. And in their search for a natural way various communities have begun making recommendations which are remarkably similar to the teachings which Baba has given on this point. Hence, in this time of grand transformation, even this point is not going overlooked. So we should all keep our - sharp eyes, think deeply on Baba's guidelines, and not lag behind. Rather, by Baba's grace, let us always remain a step ahead so that we may guide and help the common masses in their search for a new way of living.
Note 2: UNNATURAL CUTTING OF THE BODY YIELDS A NEGATIVE RESULT
Baba says, "Using birth control methods which deform the bodies of men and women or destroy their reproductive powers forever cannot be supported, because at any moment this may result in a violent mental reaction in them." (AFPS) Similarly cutting the body unnecessarily in order to pursue the dogmatic Semitic practice of circumcision is not supported by natural law.
Note 3: SOMETHING TO CONSIDER
A couple persons may be thinking that this second point is an open and shut case-- i.e. that there is nothing to discuss or ponder. Because either at the time of birth males are circumcised, or, if not, one will have to pull back the foreskin later on. As if both the options are equally fine and good. This might easily be some people's perspective. Or even some may be working under the assumption that circumcision is the favoured manner or ideal course; and that only if this procedure is not done then, in consequence, one will have to manage by pulling the foreskin back. A few may be adhering to this outlook. After all circumcision is such a common practice in various parts of the world. At the time of birth I was also circumcised, as my laokik parents are not margiis. So as Ananda Margiis we should take a look if really the matter is like that and then explore what is the proper and natural way. Kindly write your thoughts.
Note 4: SIXTEEN POINTS IS APTA VAKYA-- ETERNAL TRUTH
It is our moral duty to follow each and every point as sincerely as possible. Baba says, "What comes from Parama Purusa is Apta Vakya (eternal truth)... You should follow only Apta Vakya. You should remember that the Sixteen Points are your Apta Vakya." (AV-2)
*************************************** Difference Between Literate & Educated
Those who have studied the books but did not bring those teachings into practice may be termed literate but they are certainly not educated. Baba says, "Educated are those who have learnt much, remembered much and made use of their learning in practical life." (PNS-18, p.38)
***************************************

Shambuka Not Sudroka

Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2010 15:57:11 -0000 Subject: Shambuka Not Sudroka To: am-global@earthlink.net From: Satiish K Bhatia" Baba PS Intro: In this song, Parama Purusa Himself is directly talking with the devotee, however He has appeared in the form of one 'parii'-- (angel). "Rauniir parii elo jiivane, bha'loba'sa' d'hele dilo bhuvane..." (P.S. 2757) Purport: The angel with panoramic colours has taken advent in the life: It has saturated and inundated this whole universe with love. Now nobody is alien; nobody is distant; everyone is close-- my own kith and kin. The new dawn has come. Now the vast and meagre are sitting together on one seat. There is no difference between high and low. The divine angel has captivated everyone's heart. It has coloured everyone with its own divine colour. The angel is showering its smile with boundless affection upon one and all and narrating the tale of divinity. The angel has inundated this entire universe with the flooding of divine effulgence-- wiping away all cimmerian darkness. And it proclaims that, 'I am watching over one and all with love and care. I am eternally along with each and every one through my ota and prota yoga. I will always remain with you.' It also says, 'Bear in mind that humanity will be victorious and the staticity will be destroyed'. The divine angel furthermore proclaims, 'O human beings, keep your mind free from all complexes. Do not consider who is "high" or who is "low". Do not think that any unit entity is lowly. Always remember that the collection of all the units is the Cosmic. No one is outside; everyone is part of the singular divine Entity. O human beings, throw away your heavy load of samskaras, wipe away the stain of the past, and surrender your heart to the Divine Entity-- Parama Purusa. Victory is yours'... Note: In the above Prabhat Samgiita, this parii-- this divine angel-- is none other than Parama Purusa Himself.
== SHAMBUKA NOT SUDROKA ==
Namaskar, There is one very important story from the Ramayana that is recounted in our AM books, but due to human error it has been published incorrectly. We should all take careful note, update our own personal editions, and ensure that next time it is published correctly by contacting our AM Publications Dept. This story is of great significance to many, and non-margiis should not think that we have the facts wrong - that will only lead them to doubt other aspects of our AM teachings.
RAMA KILLS A SO-CALLED SHUDRA
Here is the key story from the mythological epic, the Ramayana, that was wrongly printed in the "Suppression, Repression and Oppression" chapter of Prout in a Nutshell Part 17. In this below paragraph, Baba is giving the teaching that it was wrong for Rama to kill a so-called shudra because he was performing worship. And the name of that so-called shudra is "Shambuka", but those who noted down Baba's discourse wrote "Sudroka". That is the critical error that is made. And that is how it got wrongly printed. Baba says, "In the mythological epic the Ramayana, Ram is the apostle of capitalism and Aryan supremacy while Ravana represents the non-Aryans. Ram is called “Marya'da' Pursus'ottama”. What is Marya'da' Purus'ottama? When Parama Purus'a comes into the world His actions and behaviour will be just like that of Parama Purus'a although He is in human form. This is the meaning of Marya'da' Purus'ottama. However, Ram did not behave like Parama Purus'a – he was not up to this standard. He killed Sudroka, a non-Aryan, when he was performing worship, and he killed him out of a sense of Aryan supremacy. At that time people believed that only Aryans and not non-Aryans should perform worship, but this dogmatic view cannot be supported." (PNS-17) So there are three things going on: 1) Baba is proving that Rama is mythological and that Rama's actions go against dharma. That is quite clear in the above paragraph. 2) Baba is taking a dharmic stand against casteism. The above two points are correctly portrayed in the above quote. It is this third point that is incorrect. And when any scholar, historian, or interested party reads this following point, then they may disregard all of Baba's teachings's therein. 3) Baba is stating that the name of the name of the shudra that Rama killed is Shambuka, but this got wrongly printed as Sudroka. So this is indeed a critical error because in this teaching Baba is condemning the very caste system which the Ramayana advocates. Today, there are many so-called harijans and members of the Dalit community who regularly reference this story as proof that Rama and his teachings about casteism are unjust. Those students and scholars of the Ramayana will question that if the name is wrong, then so many other points are probably wrong as well. In that way they will be suspicious of Baba's dharmic teachings. That is why this story is of such significance and that is why we should have every aspect of the story correct. Unfortunately, the name of the slain so-called shudra was wrongly printed, and that error will naturally cast doubt on the authenticity of the rest of the story.
WHY IT WAS WRONGLY PRINTED
The next question is how or why it got wrongly printed. One potential reason is that Baba gave this discourse in Kolkata on 13 November 1989. And the Ramayana is not well studied in Bengal. So the Dadas noting down Baba's discourse and / or the Dadas in the publication department were not familiar with the name of so-called shudra. Nor did they go back and ask Baba the exact name. Only they knew that the slain person was a "shudra" and with that memory the name "Sudroka" was born. The situation can be likened to if you met someone from France and forgot their name and in trying to remember it you just started calling them Frances. Likewise those Dadas knew he was a shudra so they just printed his name as Sudroka. When the real name of that so-called shudra was Shambuka. And this Shambuka character is well known in and around south India and everywhere that the Ramayana is studied. Hence many scholars will be quite skeptical of our version even though Baba is giving a dharmic teaching.
SUCH A SIGNIFICANT STORY ~ MUST BE CORRECTED
Again, this is a significant story because many believe Rama to be the incarnation of the Lord, yet in this account Baba is proving that Rama is not the Lord but a figure of human imagination, and the proof is that Rama's actions are not befitting that of Taraka Brahma or Marya'da' Pursus'ottama. No God in human form would follow caste dogma and kill a "shudra" simply because that so-called shudra was engaging in worship. No just or noble person can do like that - least of all Parama Purusa. Hence Baba is demonstrating that Rama is not Parama Purusa incarnate. And all those fighting against caste dogma use this story as the critical evidence that Rama's teachings on casteism are unjust and not to be followed. When our Marga upholds dharma and fights dogma in all spheres of life, then this critical story must be printed properly, lest good people become skeptical of all AM teachings. The other side of the coin is that those in the Marga who are not familiar with this story will verily think that the name "Shudroka" is correct, in which case they may wrongly preach the story to others. And learned people will think that we do not know we are talking about. They will doubt us - and rightly so. Finally, this wrong teaching about killing "shudras" in the Ramayana undermines human unity. It totally goes against our movement of ek manava samaj, or one human society. Thus the proper name "Shambuka" must be updated in Prout in a Nutshell Part 17 and all places where this discourse appears.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace all His teachings are pristine and pure and it is our bounden duty to ensure our AM books perfectly reflect Baba's divine gospel. Baba says, "The scriptures containing spiritual injunctions must be totally flawless." (NSS, Disc 14) Namaskar, Satiish
Note 1: HERE IS ONE REFERENCE
Here is one but reference of many on the web wherein they refer to the slain "shudra" as Shambuka.
*************************************** Where We Are
Baba says, "Common domestic animals are individualistic by nature. They are very self-centered. One animal does not usually come to the aid of another. Domestic animals are neither sincere nor devoted to their masters. In fact, they do not have the least sympathy for their masters' interests. Wherever they are, they live only for themselves." (PNS-15, p.42) Note 1: There are some who suffer from this dogma-- thinking that their pets are quite dedicated to them. Hence these persons are not aware of the fact. Because the truth is that wherever pets get their food they become theirs. One can witness this in the practical life if one has eyes to see. Note 2: This above Baba's teaching is related not only with domestic animals but with all animals. Actually, what to say about animals, unfortunately, these days under the negative influence of capitalism, human beings have degenerated to the level of such animals in that they are equally self-centered, living only for themselves, and not caring about others. In (a) capitalist countries and (b) metropolitan cities around the globe, such people are commonly available. They are so self-centered that they never care about others-- not even their own off-spring. Such crude and selfish people are worse than animals in human form. This entire scene is the negative outcome of capitalism-- which itself converts humans into beasts. Capitalist-minded people are the epitome of that; and they may even be regarded as common citizens. Then selfish mentality is the root cause of all the problems.
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How to Improve Sadhana: Part II- ADDENDUM

Date: Sat, 26 Jun 2010 14:15:56 -0000 To: am-global@earthlink.net From: NJK Majumdar Subject: How to Improve Sadhana: Part II- ADDENDUM Baba "Bandhu a'ma'r, nikat' a'ma'r, a'mi kii ga'ibo toma'r ga'n..." (P.S. 525) Purport: O' my Bandhu, O' my dearmost, You are my very close and intimate One. What song should I sing to please You. You are aware about my longing. Baba, You are my Love, You are the personification of hope, saturated in sweetness.You are my heart of hearts-- and my everything. Baba, since that very first day when You blessed me by bringing me in Your closeness under Your care, since then by Your grace I have understood that You are my shelter; You are doing everything for me. Also since that very day, with Your divine touch You have blessed me with a new life, O my Bandhu and most intimate one. By Your causeless grace my way of living got transformed from a worldly existence into life divine. Since then everything has become blissful. O' my Lord, on that most blessed day You graciously caressed me with Your soft lotus hand. In that atmosphere of the blissful early morning dawn, the lotus flowers were blossoming in the pond and spreading their aroma all around. Then by Your infinite grace You pulled me very close to You and graciously placed me on Your Lap and loved me; and by placing Your hand on top of my head, You bathed me with divine effulgence. And You granted me ever thing. What You have done is unparalleled. Baba, You are love personified; You are my most dear; You are my everything... Note 1: Usually people think that the term 'Bandhu' means 'friend' but in AM devotional life it is not like that. Bandhu means something much more. Baba says, "'Bandhu' means 'those within the bondage of love'. That is when one can not tolerate the idea of separation it is called 'Bandhu'. Now you see in this world have you got any Bandhu? No. Even your friend, your best friend-- he also did not come at the same time as you and after leaving the cremation ground, there is permanent separation. He will be with you up to the cremation ground. After your cremation he won't be with you. So he is not Bandhu-- he is not friend for he can tolerate the idea of separation." "So who is the real friend? Parama Purusa. When you are in this physical framework-- in this quinquelemental framework, He is with you, with your body, with your mind and with your spirit. After death, He will be with your mind, with your soul. When the body will be lost, the body will become one with the earth but mind and spirit will remain, He will be with you. So He is the real friend, He is the real Bandhu. And there cannot be any mundane friend, mundane Bandhu." (AV-12)
== HOW TO IMPROVE SADHANA: Part II ADDENDUM ==
Namaskar, Recently, two letters were posted on the first point of Sixteen Points: I spoke to one acarya about point #1, "After urination, wash the urinary organ with water", and in addition to agreeing with all points in the above two letters he had some other interesting knowledge to share. It is that which I pass on to you here. In addition he addressed the problem of life adjustment regarding the amount of water after urination. This is also discussed in greater detail below in this mail, however in a nutshell Dadaji stated that while on tour/traveling he may just carry a 100ml bottle of water to use after urination, but quickly added that whenever he is in a domicile or jagrti then he most definitely switches over to a 1 litre container and uses that entire amount after urination, as the benefits are quite clear and readily apparent. Now let's get into the details.
PURPOSE OF POURING LOTS OF WATER
Here are some of the great benefits of pouring one full litre of water or more over the genitals during and after urination. 1. It cools down the genitalia and that keeps the tamasik vrtti in check. By keeping that area cool by using lots of water, then that tamasik vrtti will not dominate the mind. This is one tremendous benefit for any sadhaka, and verily every person. 2. Pouring large amounts of cold water over the pubic region creates an exchange of blood in that area which bring freshness to both body and mind. That circulation of blood nourishes all the glands, organs, nerves and cells of that region. 3. The muscles, nerves and overall biological system get strengthened by the use of adequate amounts (1 litre or more) of cold water. 4. It will prevent and eliminate bladder problems faced by older people who cannot control the flow of urine during the nighttime. That happens because the muscles and nerves weaken over time, but when cold water is regularly used then those bodily systems remain strong and in tact, in which case one will not suffer from that problem in old age. 5. One other great benefit of using 1 litre of water or more over the entire genital area is that it will ensure that all excess urine is removed from the urinary tract, as well as from the bladder. This keep the body clean and disease free.
TRY IT AND SEE FOR YOURSELF
Then acaryaji told the we should all experiment because by doing it once we would see a huge difference. Indeed if anyone just pours one spoonful of water on the pinpoint of the genital then there will be a little benefit and perhaps a touch more urine will release; but then if you pour a minimum of one litre of cold water over the entire pubis region and groin, then very soon all the leftover urine that was in the bladder will easily empty. You will see at minimum 100ml or 200ml of urine release from the bladder. Normally that urine in the bladder will not release, but when a full litre of water is used, then it will. Whereas if just a little water is used then that urine remains in the bladder and even in the urinary tract itself - in which case it will crytallise and block the flow of urine. Everyone is encourage to try and experience this for themselves, and of course many margiis may already be using this amount of water, i.e. 1 litre.
PROBLEMS AFTER 50 OR 60 YEARS OF AGE
If you pour a small mount of water, such as only one spoonful or even just half a cup, then the entire pubic area remains warm. In that case the blood just stagnates; it does not vigorously circulate as when a full litre or more of cold ware is used. Hence the muscles will not get nourished or strengthened. After years of not getting adequate nourishment, those muscles and nerves become weak. That is why when people reach 60 years of age, many lose control over the flow of their urine. On an involuntary basis, urine just releases. That is why older people have to use pads or diapers in their undergarments. It is unfortunate that many have to face this humiliation when it is so preventable by using an adequate amount of water. Of course this happens with kids too because they do not have the requisite strength to control their urination; hence they do "bed wetting" etc. But in later childhood that strength or ability to control develops. Naturally then all adults have that control as well. Just they lose it over time. However, this is not an eventuality or function of age; it is a function of poor life practices. If one pours an adequate amount of water over the entire publis region, then those nerves and muscles will remain strong even into very late age. Then one will have proper control over the flow or urine. Unfortunately, most of the population is unaware about this so it has turned into a serious problem with the elderly - then 99% of the people seem to suffer in this way.
YOUR CHOICE
All in all this is a well proven formula: It is your choice whether you want to use one spoonful or one litre of water during and after urination.
SIMILAR TO NATUROPATHY
In naturopathy, a similar cooling technique is used to heal and cure the body of problems and Baba has given this as a tub bath (Reference CC-3, 'Different Yogic Practices: Vistrta sna'na or vya'paka sna'na). In this practice the corp is soaked, but the limbs remain outside the tub. This water therapy is used to treat various diseases. Here the whole point is that cool or cold water is needed to both maintain and cure the body. If a certain part is weak or diseased then the treatment is to pour cold water over it and by that way the blood will rush all around. Due to this exchange of blood, the diseased area gets properly nourished. If cold water is not used, then there is no exchange of blood and hence no nourishment - it is then that that gland becomes weak and susceptible to disease. So we should all be vigilant to use at least a litre of cold or cool water after and during urination.
HALF BATH & BABA'S INSTRUCTIONS
So the technique of using a full litre or more of cold water after urination has many, many benefits. This pouring of water around the genital area is highly important when doing half-bath too; this is a well-known practice in Ananda Marga. When Baba first introduced the checking of 16 pts then during dharma samiiksa He explained that when doing half bath then one must pour water over the whole area from the low belly to the feet. That is the best way to do half-bath and that is Baba's system. It is not just that water is sprinkled on the toes and the tip of the genital. Rather from the navel all the way down, lots of water is to be poured in order to cool that entire region. Then one will get the true benefits of half-bath. That is Baba's system.
UNIVERSAL APPLICATION OF AM TEACHINGS
Even after understanding all of the above, my acarya said that there are a few wts who simply think that using 100ml of water is the way - since that is how they do it while traveling. But we should understand that the teachings of Ananda Marga are universal in nature - they are for all. On this earth there are some places that are extremely cold and other areas that are totally desert and suffer from a scarcity of water, in that case Baba gave the common solution that using even a little water is acceptable. Likewise when acaryas are traveling by train or plane or bus, they may be carrying just a small shaoca manjusa, in which case using a little water is acceptable. It has some benefit - it is better than nothing. But to get the full benefit, then one must pour one litre or more. Thus, whenever circumstances permit we should use a full pitcher of water after urination, not just that small shaoca manjusa we use when traveling. We must remember that Baba's teachings are to be practiced - they are not merely rituals. And by practicing we get the realisation of what works best. Thus although when traveling we may "adjust" and use a smaller container of water, whenever possible we should use a full litre of water, or more. Try it just once and see the benefit. Like all His guidelines, we should follow Baba's teachings of point #1 of Sixteen Points in a rational manner, and not as a ritual or rigid format. So that is the answer to some who think that since it is not practical to use a lot of water when traveling then it is fine to not use a lot of water when at home or in a jagrti.
BABA'S BLESSING
By His grace He has given us all the teachings for living a healthy life - one which is disease-free. Point #1 of Sixteen Points has much value. By following it and sharing it with others, to margiis and non-margiis alike, then they too can get the benefit. On this matter, as with all His teachings, we should guide and serve as many as we can. Baba says, "...In order to march ahead on the road of human welfare, we will have to strengthen ourselves in all the arena of life. The complete seeds of welfare in all the spheres – physical, mental, moral, social and spiritual – are embedded in the sixteen points. Hence be firm on the sixteen points." (A'nanda Va'nii #45) Namaskar, Nagendra
Note 1: COLD TUB BATH IN ANANDA MARGA
Baba says, "The practices given below are prescribed only for specific diseases. Therefore, they are to be performed only after consultation with an a'ca'rya." "(1) Vistrta sna'na or vya'paka sna'na: A bathtub is most convenient, but if this is not available, an earthen trough will suffice. If this is not available either, a wet towel can be used, soaking it repeatedly in water. Fill the bathtub with cold water, and sit in it undressed so that the area from the navel down remains submerged. Keep your feet dry and out of the tub. The area from the neck to the navel should be kept covered with a shirt or dry cloth. The crown of the head and the back of the head should be kept covered with a wet towel." "Now take another towel and rub the area from the right side of the abdomen to the groin seven or eight times. Do likewise on the left-hand side and horizontally from right to left and left to right. You should make sure that the towel on the head remains wet." "After this, wipe the abdomen, hands and thighs and take a full bath. If this is not possible, then leave the tub wearing a shirt." "This should be practised behind closed doors. In the absence of a bathtub or an earthen trough, a wet towel may be wrapped around the areas to be bathed, but in order to compensate, cold water must be poured constantly over the towel, and the towel which is to be used for the massage must be kept wet. After vya'paka sna'na, the thighs, pubic area and abdomen should be warmed with a dry towel." "Before and after this bath one should not eat, in order to allow the stomach to rest." (CC-3)

Who Does Not Want

Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:26:47 -0000 To: am-global@earthlink.net From: "Hariish Dev" Subject: Who Does Not Want Baba "(Tumi) a'lo jhalmal u's'a'y ele, a'ndha'rer ja'l chinrile..." (PS 3983) Purport: Baba, You have come in my heart when the blissful dawn was glittering in effulgence. By Your grace, You have wiped away the net of staticity and crude darkness from my mind. In a flash You have also removed the dogma which had accumulated since ages. Baba, You are so beautiful. O' my dearmost, You know how to make such a divine magical display. By Your grace You have created a heavenly panorama-- complete with the beauty and grandeur of colour, by Your divine play. Baba, in the blink of the eye, You bring lowly and depraved persons close to Your bosom, without making any differentiation or disparity about who is virtuous and who is sinful. Baba, You are my beginning as well as my end, my Goal, my everything. Baba, my whereabouts, my name, my place, my address-- everything has become one with You, by Your grace. Baba I offer You my heartfelt surrender and sastaunga pranam thousands, millions, crores, & an infinite number of times-- again & again. Baba, by Your divine grace You have arrived in my heart and showered me in Your supreme effulgence. You are my own; You are my everything...
== WHO DOES NOT WANT ==
Namaskar, Every human being wants to be successful. Whether in the realm of art, law, medicine, schooling, business, literature, science, or architecture - or any other field or endeavor - everyone wants to be successful. Knowing how to be successful then is an important recipe. By Baba's grace He has given us His special guideline. Because in one Hindi discourse, Baba reveals that the 'Seven Secrets of Success' apply not just to spiritual life, but to worldly life as well. Let's then investigate how these work.
UNIQUE ASPECT OF SHRADDHA'
Of course all the aspects of the Seven Secrets of Success have their own unique utility. So we shall take a look at how they all apply in this special circumstance. At the same time in His Hindi discourse Baba gives marked importance to the point of shraddha'. As He tells us, there is no direct English translation for the term shraddha', yet in its more traditional usage, Baba describes shraddha as the following. Baba says, "When one ascribes everything to one’s goal, or one’s object, or to the Supreme Subjectivity appearing as one’s object, and moves, or rather directs one’s everything towards Him, then that movement is shraddha'." (AV-3) So in the spiritual realm, shraddha' means pointing all one's energy and love towards Parama Purusa, and not toward any number two or number three object. Everything is goaded towards Him. This we all know. The interesting thing becomes, how does this apply to worldly life. In His Hindi discourse, Baba neatly describes how shraddha' manifests in worldly life. Suppose there is a father and a son. The boy wants to study engineering, but the father is pressuring him to study medicine. Yet the boy has little or no interest in becoming a doctor. In that case, if forced to pursue medicine, the boy will not get success. Because Baba's entire point is that to get success in worldly life, one must have inner inspiration or inner motivation for what they are doing. Then and only then can one get success. That is the key point.
TRAGEDY OF TODAY'S MODERN SOCIETY
Unfortunately, in today's materialistic society, where money is the be-all and end-all, so many people in so many lands engage in work or jobs that they do not care about. They have little or no interest in their day-to-day endeavour. But they do it to earn money, for prestige, to please their parents, or to just survive etc. This is the way in so-called first world and various so-called third world nations. There are innumerable cases of this round peg in a square hole phenomenon. That means, there are so many people who have a keen interest in one realm, but spend all their time doing something else - either to earn money, or due to family pressures etc. Haven't we all gone into a shop or office and noticed that the people working there appear to be going through the motions like robots and have no real interest in what they are doing. The same happens in student life as well when children are pushed by their parents in a particular direction. In that case, according to Baba, that worker or that student cannot get success. Because as Baba guides us, one can only be successful if they have inner motivation and inspiration for what they are doing. That is the special point Baba is making in His Hindi discourse about how the Seven Secrets of Success apply to worldly life.
THE OTHER POINTS ARE ALSO MEANINGFUL
Here then are how the other spiritual elements apply to achieving success in the mundane sphere. Vishva's: In spiritual life this means have firm determination for one's Goal. Yet Baba guides us that in worldly life this is also needed. If before studying for an exam, a student thinks that, "I will never be able to pass", then they are doomed. Certainly they will not be able to get success. Similarly, if an adult walks into a job interview thinking that, "I will not be able to get this job - it is beyond my qualifications", then they will have little or no chance of getting that job. So vishva's in worldly life is a big point. It refers to having confidence and a positive outlook before pursuing any endevor. Guru Puja: In spiritual life, Baba guides us that this means surrendering to the will of the Guru. Then one can serve and attain Him. And in worldly life this point of Guru Puja has great importance: It means having respect or reverence for one's teacher. Yet in the modern world, there are so many loopholes and so much rampant hypocrisy that students & citizens alike lose respect for their teachers and leaders. Either their teachers punish them unduly or their teachers preach some ideal such as abstinence or non-smoking, when they themselves are indulged in that. Likewise, various social leaders preach noble values yet they themselves are caught up in scandalous affairs. This is a daily occurrence, and this undermines one's ability to get success. Because one loses faith in their teacher or societal leader, in which case they cannot learn from them. Samitabhava: In spiritual sphere, this means complete mental balance. And this same type of psychic equanimity is needed in worldly life. For instance, if a student or interviewee is very nervous or shy, then they will not be able to perform well. A student may become so nervous that they even get easy questions wrong, because they have lost their mental composure. Likewise, a professional seeking employment or putting on a presentation may be so shy that they are unable to convey their skill-set or knowledge to others in the room. And there are so many other examples. For instance, one's marriage may end in misery, if one constantly gets angry or acts in an erratic manner toward their spouse. So mental balance is highly needed in all aspects of worldly life. Indriyanigraha: We all know how control over the motor and sensory organs is needed for success in spiritual life. And same is the case for worldly life. If a student drinks too much whiskey or beer or wine at a party, then they will be inattentive in class the next day. Or, they may sleep through class entirely. Likewise, if a big business executive indulges in too much gossipy talk, then they will not be prepared for their meeting or they may underestimate their competition. Because loose talk diverts the mind from important obligations. It is also commonly seen how important politicians show sexual weakness and this can undermine if not ruin their entire career. So having proper restraint and control regarding the ten indriyas is highly needed to gain worldly success. Pramitahara: Just as proper attention to diet and food is needed in spiritual life, it is also needed for mundane success. If a student overeats then they will not be mentally sharp for their examination. Similarly, if a person grossly overeats time and time again, they will become obese, in which case they will suffer from all kinds of ailments from shortness of breath to heart disease, and that will keep them from discharging their duties properly. So food and drink must serve to keep one healthy and fit. Then only can one get success in worldly endeavors. No Seventh Factor: The same is true in worldly life as in spiritual life. Baba says, "There is no seventh factor. That is, if you practise these six factors, you require no seventh factor." (AV-3)
LIVING IN TODAY'S ULTRA-COMPETITIVE WORLD
Today's world is more competitive than ever. Getting success is not easy. The standards are high and the competition is tough. Whether it be the global economic market, the political arena, student life, or any other realm, day by day the requirements for getting success get stiffer and stiffer. There is no such thing as an easy victory anymore. There are too many people gunning for the same thing. So if we are slack in any of the above points, then someone with a more pointed vision will come forward. In that case, success will not be ours. Because living in today's world is not a joke.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace He has blessed us all with great teachings which lead us to success. And in His Hindi discourse, Baba has given us the way to utilize the Seven Secrets of Success in our worldly endeavours. So we should pay heed to this doctrine not just in spiritual life but in all our worldly dealings as well. Baba says, "You, boys and girls, should remember the points and do accordingly. It will help you in your all-around success." (AV-14) Namaskar, Hariish
********************************************* Desire For Money is Dangerous
Baba says, "Suppose there is a very elevated person who often ideates on the Supreme Consciousness, but who has some greed for wealth. He does not, however, express it openly to the Supreme, nor does he even think of it directly. He thinks indirectly, "Oh, since I am a devotee of the Supreme Consciousness, He will certainly give me enormous wealth and make me immensely rich." Those who harbour this sort of covert desire are reborn asyaks'as." (YP, p.78) Note: Yaksas are one type of negative microvita. Those unfortunate beings who got degenerated and took on a form less than human, sub-human. Not only that but they got caught up in that bondage of punishment for thousands of years. And only then after their extreme punishment did they again get opportunity for human life.
*********************************************

How to Improve Sadhana: Part II

Date: Th, 24 Jun 2010 06:27:28 -0500 From: RJ Watkins To: am-global@earthlink.net Subject: How to Improve Sadhana II Baba PS Intro: In this following song Parama Purusa is posing His questions & speaking directly to the devotee. "Kon aja'na'r buk theke ele, korn asiime bhese ja'o..." (PS 2222) Purport: From which unknown bosom have You come and what is your goal. In which direction are you floating. You must know you are not meagre or insignificant. You are the expression of Cosmic Consciousness. He has created you according to His desire; You are within Him. Now tell me what you want; what are your desires and longings. You should know that your Goal is the Parama Purusa. For ages You remained oblivious of your own existence; era after era passed like that. You were seeking the answer to all your worries, anxieties, and problems externally. You were trying to find happiness outside; and, you were trying to quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger from material things. You never tried to look within. Everything is hidden within you. Look within and you will get everything. Just you have to turn your eyes from outside to inside. Divert your vision from external to internal. The Divine Entity-- who is your everything, who is your shelter-- He knows each and everything about you. He knows your past, present, and future-- everything. And He loves you too. Your future is situated in Him up to eternity. Yet forgetting this eternal and divine truth, what are you looking for. Do not waste your time. The Divine Entity has bestowed you with human life. Utililse it to satisfy Him. Do everything according to His wishes. By this way your coming on this earth will be successful...
== HOW TO IMPROVE SADHANA: PART 2 ==
Namaskar, Recently the discussion was raised about Sixteen Points. As a follow-up reply, here are some further thoughts and reflections; and others are requested to also share their insights and experiences. By that way we can all grow in one harmonious manner.
SIXTEEN POINTS BRINGS FORCE IN THE LIFE
As we are all aware, Revered Baba graciously introduced Sixteen Points just prior to the jail period and Emergency, as He wanted everyone to be prepared and ready to deal with the dangers and difficulties to come. Or to say more strongly, by this way we Ananda Margiis will be able to overcome and annihilate the demonic forces. And certainly who cannot recall that if anyone ever visited Baba in jail and if they told Him about the problems and difficulties which sadhakas or the organisation was facing, then always Baba's reply was to be strict in sixteen points-- and by that way everything will be alright and you will be victorious. Baba says, "Be firm on sixteen points. Unite all the righteous forces. All the tall talks of the evil forces will be silenced." (Ananda Vanii #44) This Baba story posting leads in this same direction: So this is the special blessing which Baba has been given. And it applies universally to each and every circumstance in life. Thus 16 Points generates tremendous vitality and force. Hence when 16 Points is such an essential part of our very existence, it is helpful for us to know all the 'ins and outs' of these precious guidelines. In that spirit, here below is some historical, social, and practical aspects of the first point of 16 Points.
RISHIS FIRST INTRODUCED THE 'USE OF WATER'
Long back in India, thousands and thousand of years ago, various rishis and seers of the society introduced the idea that water plays an important role in life-- especially for health, hygiene, and proper maintenance of the human body. And they introduced the idea to the old Indian society that water should be used for washing before and after meals, before cooking, and those rishis also told that one should wash with water after passing stool as well as after urination etc. All these points they told. And we have to remember that this was all given in that pre-historic era in and around the ice-age when the general population around the globe was hardly even aware about hygiene; rather they were more involved in animalistic type of living. Yet in that historical context, those rishis introduced certain sentient habits to the Indian populace. So since long these things were happening in India. Yet over the course of time some degeneration occurred and the general populace lost the idea of using water after urination. But the practice of washing the body with water after defecation did not get lost-- primarily because people understood that it was obviously dirty. So they were conscious about that aspect at least. That was the case in India. Yet in many of our so-called first world countries outside India, that basic awareness of hygiene never developed. In which case water was not even used for cleaning the anus after passing stool. Just dry paper was used. And about this practice more is said down below, but here the point is that still most of our first-world nations continue with this dirty habit of using toilet paper. And even more tragic is that inhabitants of some third world countries have begun emulating everything that the so-called developed world does-- including using toilet paper. Indeed a report has come that certain Didis in India are also resorting to the use of toilet paper. This is the new fad in WWD, some say. Yet this crude habit of using toiler paper is not at all hygienic or healthy. Unfortunately on this point, an imbalance is growing all around. Thus we are left with this following quagmire: Namely that when animals do not wash their backside with water and when humans also are not doing, then from the perspective of hygiene what is the practical difference between the two. Unfortunately, this is the sad state of affairs in the general society.
BABA RE-INTRODUCES THE POINT OF WATER
Thus during His Holy advent Baba has given the dharmic approach in each and every sphere of life. And in that course, He has given the point that how and when water should be used. And as we all know the following stands as the first point of 16 Points:
"After urination, wash the urinary organ with water".
Here below is a further look at the meaning of this simple yet all-important guideline.
TELLING THE NEEDFUL
As we know Guru's teaching is always concise and pointed. What was needed to tell, He has beautifully revealed. And what was not needed, He did not tell. For example the Indian society was prone toward idol worship so Baba was very strict and He has warned everyone that idol worship should not be done. But never once did He warn people not to flap their arms and fly to the sun since no one was ever going to do like that. Secondly, it was obvious that people had the negative tendency to create tiirthas (pilgrimmages). That is why for fourteen long years Baba did not go to Jamalpur. And from 1965 up to 1990 Baba never emphasized the importance of Jamalpur or any such place. Rather on numerous occasions He has guided us that external tiirthas are nothing but one nasty dogma, because Parama Purusa is everywhere. Similarly Baba has guided us to trim our fingernails but never did He tell us to cut the horns on top of our head. Because when we do not have horns then what was the need to tell anything about that. Likewise human beings have the natural tendency to live outside of the water, that is why there was no need for Baba to guide people to live primarily on land. Because human beings are already doing like that. The sense is that when people are naturally following any given point then what is the need for Baba to give that as a rule. Thus when 16 Points itself was first given in India and when at that time the general populace was already using water for washing after defecation then there was no need for Baba to tell that point. But since everyone had lost the notion of washing with water after urination, then there was the practical need for Baba to give that teaching. Hence Guru's instruction is very pointed and precise-- perfect. And He always gives what is needed.
SOME NOT AWARE
Thus Baba has given point #1 of sixteen points as: After urination wash the urinary organ. And by this way anyone can understand that included in this is the idea of washing the backside after passing stool also. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, all around the globe in most of the so-called advanced societies the general people are only using toilet paper or blotting paper as a means to "clean" themselves after defecation. But this is not at all proper. Rather such persons are totally lacking any kind of hygienic sense. Because just see, here is the proof of their foolishness. When they want to clean the stool or excrement out of their toilet bowl, then they use a huge amount of water. And by that way they see & feel satisfied that indeed their toilet bowl has become clean. So they never try to clean their toilet bowl by only using dry papers. Because they know that such paper alone will not rid the toilet of all that excrement. It just will not work. Thus they understand that water is needed to clean the toilet. Yet when the moment of truth comes to cleanse their own backside of fecal matter, then they do not rely on that same fine logic. Rather they revert to their dogmatic mind-set that toilet paper alone is sufficient. As if toilet paper can do the job. But anyone with eyes to see-- or any hygienic sense-- will understand that this is just not so. So see the contradiction and poor hygienic sense of so many of our so-called first world nations.
NOT THEIR FAULT
But actually those common people who are not aware about or not habituated to using water are not to be blamed. It is never anyone's fault for being downtrodden, ignorant, or dirty. Rather it is our fault for not bringing them onto the path of light. Because Baba always guides us we should never blame those innocent people from parts of the globe like our remote African jungles for their "backwardness". Because it is our wrongdoing for not helping them to develop. Similarly our European & western nations that could not develop a proper sense of hygiene should not be blamed. Just we should take care to show everyone the proper way.
CONCENTRATED TEACHING
In all the realms Baba' teachings are crystallized points of dharma-- very concise. So to properly understand any guideline or teaching, it demands a little concentration or mental thought. For example a group of fools may think that by walking together to McDonalds for a hamburger then they are following Samgacchadvam since they are all "moving together". But that is nonsense. Their dealing has nothing to do with samgacchadvam. A literal interpretation of Guru's teachings will never work. Rather more and more explanation is needed to get the proper picture. That is why when Baba has given the pin-pointed sutras of Ananda Sutram, then side by side He also gives a purport so that those distilled teachings, i.e. sutras, can be understood in the proper way. Likewise this should be done with each and every aspect of Sixteen Points. Because Guru's teaching is distilled and given in seed form. I hope everyone will contribute in this regard. Namaskar, Rasa Deva
NOTE 1: NEED I FOLLOW ALL THE POINTS OR JUST A FEW
Now some people may carelessly think that it is not needed to follow all the points. But that is not correct. We should see it in this way: If a boat is otherwise fine but whether there is one hole or 5 holes or 16 holes, under any of these conditions the ship is going to sink. So best is that all the holes should be plugged and sealed. Likewise we should not invite any problem by being loose or slack in any of the Sixteen Points. Baba has graciously given each and every aspect of 16 Points for a particular reason and each one has its own specialty and use. So step by step we should be more and more practiced in all the points.
NOTE 2: ALL THE POINTS HELP IN SADHANA
Each and every point of 16 Points is beneficial for our spiritual development. And all points help a sadhaka do better sadhana. Because a healthy body and a strong mind are needed to do sadhana. Without a well-maintained body then sadhana will be disturbed. While a sentient body will help the mind rush up towards Parama Purusa.
NOTE 3: WASH FULLY AFTER URINATION
As a reminder, for maximum benefit of point #1 it is absolutely necessary to pour a sufficient amount of water over the entire pubic region. That means using a full liter or more of cold water. So no one should cheat themselves by applying a meagre amount and then start wrongly thinking that they are following 16 Points. Because that is not the way.
NOTE 4: SIXTEEN POINTS GIVES TREMENDOUS STRENGTH
Baba says, "The more rigidly you follow the 16 Points, the more your mental strength will increase. It will increase so much that it will be more powerful than the collective mental strength of 100,000 people. In a psychic clash they will have to concede victory to you...The more rigidly you follow the 16 Points, the more psychic strength you will acquire. It will not take you long...Such development will lead to not only 100,000 people surrendering before you, but the entire universe." (AV-7, p. 80-81) Baba says, "The mutative force is a hundred thousand times more powerful than the static force, and the sentient force is a hundred thousand times more powerful than the mutative force; hence you should not be afraid of any force in the universe." (CC-2, '87 Edn, p.18)
****************************************** Not True Society
Baba says, "If going ahead in mutual adjustment only out of narrow self-interest or temporary gain is called society, then in such a society, no provision can be made for the disabled, the diseased or the helpless, because in most cases nobody can benefit from them in any way. Hence it will not suffice to say that all people marching ahead is only a collective form of segregated psychic phenomena; for in that case there always remains the possibility of some people getting isolated from the collective." (AFPS-6, 'The Spirit of Society') Note: Unfortunately what Baba is describing above is the exact picture of today's so-called developed western nations where the entire social fabric is based on people's various self-interests. In the absence of true service mentality, everything is done on a give and take basis-- business relation. So long as one has something valuable to give they will recieve something from others-- otherwise not. And in that setting, in that selfish scenario, those who have strength invariably solidfy their stand by taking advantage of the common people-- BY committing crimes and exploiting them etc. And simultaneously the weak and the helpless suffer a lot and get stepped on by the rest of the society until finally they are completely aliented, depressed, or placed in an insane asylum etc. In that awful circumstance, people lose all hope in life and fall prey to feelings of insanity and suicide etc. Unfortunately this is the lowly standard of today's western materialistic societies. Tragically these elements are increasing day by day in our western so-called developeed nations and the people are suffering terribly. That is why in those places the term 'society' is just a namesake only. Even then all around the globe masses are madly rushing ahead to copy and emulate the west in all regards. So we should be alert because this is not some great ideal to be copied. Rather it will create hell in communities around the globe. That is why Baba says that under such conditions described above where selfishness and exploitation are the theme of the day, then that is not at all a true society.
******************************************

News: Boxing

Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2010 11:55:22 -0000 From: "Motilal Pandey" Subject: News: Boxing To: am-global@earthlink.net Baba
== NEWS: BOXING ==
Namaskar, Since Pranavanandaji's passing three months ago, a battle has been going on here for control of the school, "Himalayan Institute of Integrated Therapy", in Kullu. Ranchi, EC & B group have been trying to gain control of the school. And each faction sent a few of their workers to Kullu just after Pranavananda's passing to take over the school. Around that time, Dr Jitendra Singh of SUVA, representing EC group, also came. But, at that time, there was no resolution of who should get the school, "Himalayan Institute of Integrated Therapy". (Note: Unfortunately the cowardly founders of the school did not use the name of Ananda Marga in the title of the school, due to their ulterior motive.) Then just 2 weeks ago, we got the report that again Dr Singh came to India, just for one week with the sole intention of visiting the Kullu school & to convince local Margiis not to hand over the school to Ranchi group. As some may or may not know, Dr Jitendra Singh has put a lot of money into the school, "Himalayan Institute of Integrated Therapy", at Kullu - as have his other Laukik family members. They all financially supported the Kullu school. Anyone who has come here and visited the school know there is a lot of computer equipment & other other costly items on site. Dr Jitendra Singh came to Kullu primarily because he is worried that he will lose his investment in equipment at the school. He still harbors the bitter taste of what happened with the hospital at Ananda Nagar which got captured during the group clash. To keep the school, Dr Jitendra Singh tried to convince one EC group Dada to go there & take charge but that Dada wasn't interested. In the end, still today there is boxing going on for who will control the school at Kullu. Now is the time the general society needs neo-humanistic teaching of Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, and these people are extremely busy in infighting, wasting their precious time and resources which could have been used for serving suffering humanity. Let Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji give these people viveka and vaeragya so that they can understand the truth that Baba wants samgacchadhvam in true sense. Namaskar, Motilal

History of Malur Clash

Baba "Bandhu a'ma'r, nikat' a'ma'r, a'mi kii ga'ibo toma'r ga'n..." (P.S. 525) Purport: O' my Bandhu, O' my dearmost, You are my very close and intimate One. What song should I sing to please You. You know about my deep longing for You. O' Baba, You are my Love, You are the personification of hope, saturated in sweetness. You are my heart of hearts-- and my everything. Baba, since that very first day when You blessed me by bringing me in Your closeness under Your care since then by Your grace I have understood that You are my shelter; You are doing everything for me. Also since that very day, with Your divine touch, You have blessed me with a new life, O' my Bandhu and most intimate one. By Your causeless grace, my way of living has been transformed from a worldly existence into life divine. Since then everything has become blissful. O' my Lord, on that most blessed day You graciously caressed me with Your soft lotus hand. In that atmosphere of the blissful early morning dawn, the lotus flowers were blossoming in the pond and spreading their sweet aroma all around. Then by Your infinite grace You pulled me very close to You and graciously placed me on Your Lap and loved me; and by placing Your hand on top of my head, You bathed me with Your divine effulgence. You granted me everything. What You have done is unparalleled. Baba, You are love personified; You are my most dear; You are my everything...
== HISTORY OF MALUR CLASH ==
Namaskar, Regarding the on-going issue surrounding the AM Polytechnic Institute at Malur, each side involved is giving their own account. But without knowing the history how can anyone really understand the current situation. Please reference this below letter to gain a background of this ongoing clash. Brotherly, Pankaj Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:01:06 +0530 To: am-global@earthlink.net From: Subject: News: Loot & Booty Sharing
== NEWS: LOOT AND BOOTY SHARING ==
Namaskar, Our AM schools and services projects are founded for the welfare of society and to spread the divine gospel of Shrii Shrii Anandamurtijii. This we all know. To see any such project get misused or hijacked by selfish or group interest is a direct front against Guru. Thus Ananda Margiis across the globe should take direct and active interest in the awful financial scandal that has taken place at our AM Polytechnic College (Malur, Karnataka). At present, as we speak, the groups involved are trying to keep everything under the covers so they can continue to loot and keep their booty. For the first time, the entire story is told here within this letter. Please read carefully and act according.
ABOUT THE POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE (KARNATAKA, INDIA)
All may know that we have our Ananda Marga Polytechnic College (Diploma in Engineering) in Malur, near Bengalore, Karnataka. Students get admission in this college on the basis of big capitation fees (donation in lakhs of rupees), and large monthly tuition fees. In this way this institution generates a huge amount of money, more than one million US dollars per year. That's why all groups have their greedy eyes on this college.
SOME OF THE HISTORY
When the Kolkata administration divided AMPS, then they could not capture this institution because all the margiis and the entire staff at the college were against Kolkata. The Rudrananda camp had full control over the college. It should be noted that Parmehsvara'nanda and Vandana'nanda were also hardcore cadre of H group those days. But times change. When the EC group emerged under the leadership of Parmeshvara'nanda and Vandana'nanda, then the situation at this college, also changed. The in-charge of the Polytechnic College was Animesha'nanda, who is originally from Chattisgarah but he has only minimal Chattisgarhii sentiment. He changed his loyalty to Vandana'nanda + Parmeshvara'nanda. Plus margiis of those areas under the leadership of S.S. Goenka also became supporters of this group.
THE COLLEGE GETS DIVIDED INTO TWO GROUPS
Because of this groupism one big tussle started in the college. The college staff divided into two groups. (#1) One group was of Animesha'nadna + Citshiva'nanda (who went there to give muscle support to Animesha'nanda) and some staffs of the college teaching section, who were supporter of EC. (#2) Other group emerged in the leadership of Arun (from Gaya, Bihar) the hostel in-charge who has been living in the college for years. He has group ties with Vishvanath (from Bihar, he lives there to save the college from outside criminals), Ravi (from Gaya), Pankaj (teaching staff from Varanasi, relative of Ravii) and other staffs of the hostel.
WHO CONTROLS WHAT
After some days of tussle, finally both groups captured certain areas of the college and shifted there accordingly. The teaching department of the college came under the control of Animesha'nanda. He receives tuition fees from the students, pays the teaching staff and other college staff, and "manages" the money he gets from tuition fees and capitation fees. The other group captured the hostel. In turn, they collect hostel charges from the students, and basically deal with all monies related with the hostel and living accommodations & services etc. Animesha'nanda never had control over the hostel.
HUGE LOOTING GOING ON: HOW THEY DO IT
For the last 4 years, both of these two groups have been looting the money they were getting, i.e. embezzlement. They've been stuffing their pockets and personal bank accounts with the monies collected when in fact those funds are the rightful property of the AM Polytechnic College, not those greedy groupists. In short, because there was no proper administration, there has been a huge money scandal unfolding at the college. Still it is going on. Animesha'nanda, who gets millions as capitation fees and tuition fees, pays huge shares to his dons like Parmeshvara'nanda and Vandana'nanda, and also to what some margiis call the "hi profile margiis" in the name of margii meetings. In return, all Animesha'nanda does is arrange one sadhana' shivir per year -- that's all, nothing more. Thus, he personally pockets huge piles of money and tuition / capitation fees every year. This literally then is a case of millions of dollars of embezzlement that he steals from our AM Polytechnic College. The other group embezzles a sizable amount from the hostel and they were also happy with that huge amount they were saving per month. Arun is all in all of the hostel. He has been living with his family there since years. Here everyone should be clear that all money (after expenditure of hostel) was being distributed to the members of group. Money was not used for the development of college or organization. Thus, both the parities involved are cheating the AM Polytechnic college by grabbing hoards of monies for their personal and groupist desires.
LONG-STANDING COLD WAR
Since years there has been a cold war at the college. Both groups have had their greedy eyes and insatiable appetites on each others holdings and money. Animesha'nanda and his goon Citshiva'nanda were always trying to capture the hostel while the other group was always trying to capture the teaching side of the college. Because of this fight, there has not been a proper teaching or learning environment at the college. Instead, our AM Polytechnic College has been transformed into a place of cheap sentiments, politics, crookedness, groupism and money looting.
MORE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Finally, Citshiva'nanda has started taking the hostel fees from the Chattisgarhi students. In reply the other group started taking tuition fees from the students of Bihar, Jharkhanda and UP. Then Citshiva'nanda organized Chattisgarhi students living in hostel against the hostel in-charge and his group. With the help of these students and local hired goondas, Citshiva'nanda tried to capture the hostel. Then the other group replied in the same manner. Hostel staffs, Vishvanath, Ravi and students from Bihar, Jharkhanda, UP attacked on Chattisgarhi group. After a physical fight (lathis, hockeysticks, knives, local made guns were shown) Citshiva'nanda had to leave the college. In the end, the police also came to the college to manage the unruly scene.
TEAM RANCHI MOVES IN
The hostel group then called Ranchi administration for help and the Rudrananda camp who has been keeping a greedy eye on the money, did not delay a moment. Svarupa'nanda and Dharmapra'n'a'nanda (Chennai DS) went to the college. They stayed at the college to establish a presence and control the college. The Rudrananda camp has declared Dharmapra'n'a'nanda as in-charge of the college. So Dharmapra'n'a'nanda and Ranchi supporter hero Sushil from Katihar are at the college. Nigama'nanda from Ranchi and Parmeshvara'nanda from Patna have reached Bengalore. They are involved in arm-wrestling match with each other at the bargaining table. Now situation is very tense.
WHY ALL ARE KEEPING MUM
Now we have to investigate why - despite all these antics and commotion - both camps are keeping quiet about all this. Because we have to remember that whenever any member of the Rudrananda camp / H group enters even a small ashram operated by EC or intrudes on any small and useless issue, then the EC personnel colour the whole internet and make it a big issue. All their e-mailers become active. They become totally vocal. So it is very surprising that on this big issue about the AM Polytechnic College, where Rudrananda camp is storming and capturing the college and where a nasty physical fight has occurred, the entire EC team is keeping mum. Why? They are not telling a single word. Why? Animesha'nanda is telling that he will solve the problems and he does not need help of any margii. Why? Is it not a point of intrigue? When H group kicked out Parmehsvara'nanda and Vandana'nanda and others then EC went to all margiis and begged for help and still they are crying for help. But in the case of this Malur Polytechnic College issue, why is it that they do not want margiis to interfere? Why is the EC leadership of Parmeshvara'nanda going to sit with Nigma'nanda directly to solve the problem? Is it not strange and out of character? The answer of all these question is: To keep all the money they have looted and keep the scandal secret. For this single reason, neither group wants to highlight the situation. If margiis are alerted and come forward and look into the matter then all will know that for the last many years millions of dollars money have been looted and embezzled from our AM Polytechnic College by these very groupists. EC does not want to to reveal this multi-million dollar scandal and the Rudrananda camp wants either full control of the college or a maximum share in the looted amount. Hence both group leaders are in contact to solve this problem secretly on a give-and-take basis at the bargaining table. They prefer to make a black pact and keep their millions as opposed to letting the margiis know what hell has happened. That's why Animesha'nadna is telling margiis not to come forward and EC supporters & e-mailers are keeping mum.
MARGIIS MUST COME FORWARD
When our AM Polytechnic College is being ravaged by groupists and when all the projects of AM are meant to be in the service of Gurudev and humanity - not in the hands of greedy groups - then we should be alert, ready to take action and apply pressure. In that case it is the duty of all Ananda Margiis to unitedly rise up and correct the situation. This much we owe our Beloved Baba. We must not sit idle thinking others will do. It is our personal responsibility to stand up and act. As margiis we should not wait for an invitation from any group. Responsible margiis, those who are not puppets of any group, should come forward and critically look into the matter. The account books should be audited by independent auditors and the ongoing looting and money scandal should be stopped. All monies earned by the Polytechnic College in Malur should be used for the development of the college, not sucked up by groupist tycoons for their personal gain.
BABA'S WARNING: SINFUL TO REMAIN IDLE
Now that the news is out, we should be swift to take action. Sitting idle amounts to sin according to Baba - a sin of omission. Baba says, "Those who shirk duties and responsibilities do commit a great harm to society. It is this lack of dutifulness in our country [India] today that has caused great retardation in different spheres of life. It has also caused spiritual degeneration. One should perform good actions regularly, should do sa'dhana' properly – these are the dos which everyone is expected to perform. Those who do not pay heed to these responsibilities do indulge in pratyava'ya. Pa'taka is the collective name of pa'pa and pratyava'ya." (AV-23) Thus we should not remain still a moment longer while such groupists pillage and destroy our Polytechnic College in Malur.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace He has empowered us with the ability to take action and change the course of events - turning bad situations into positive ones. In this way, we must rally round and save our Polytechnic College from the clutches of these groupist forces. Baba says, "The very import of the history of human welfare is the history of struggle and strife. Even the sweet gospels of peace could not be preached in an environment of peace and composure. Devils did not allow the apostle of peace to work peacefully – that is why I say that peace is the outcome of fight. "This endeavour at the well-being of the human race concerns everyone – it is yours, mine and ours. We may afford to ignore our rights, but we must not forget our responsibilities. Forgetting the responsibility implies the humiliation of the human race..." (A'nanda Va'nii #45) Namaskar, Manjit
**************************************** Dangerous Yoga
Baba says, "Suppose, one is a great Yogii but if there is no love for his goal, then those suspended propensities will finally be converted into crude matter. That is, the subtle human existence becomes like iron; it becomes like wood; it becomes like sand. What a deterioration! What a downfall! This particular type of yoga where a yogii does not bear love for the Supreme Entity is called 'Hatha Yoga' in Samskrta. It is dangerous for human elevation." (AV-2, p.18) Note: Nowadays, especially in European countries, in the name of teaching yoga certain pseudo-yoga-businessmen are busy selling their useless and dirty things to the common public by opening various yoga and meditation centres. But in those places citing the God's name is untouchable. And not only that but they teach all kinds of fake lessons such as misguided pranayama and self-invented asanas etc. But when the Goal is not Parama Purusa then that ultimately brings terrible degeneration. Neither is the unassuming public aware nor are these culprits aware what hell they are bringing upon innocent people. It is our duty as far as possible to warn everyone for their welfare.
******************************************

Vampire's Charity

Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2010 18:42:48 -0000 To: am-global@earthlink.net From: Subject: Vampire's Charity Baba "Madhur mohan tumi cita-rainjan a'cho sada' sa'the sa'the..." (3580) Purport: Baba, You are very sweet, most attractive. You have coloured my mind in Your colour. That is why You are Cita-Rainjan*. Always You are remaining with me side by side. You have removed the despair and filled my heart with Your love. All the darkness & hopelessness was removed by that light. Baba, You are beyond the scriptures, intellect, logic, and reasoning, You are above all these; You are Alakha-Nirainjain*, beyond description. Infinite and unblemished. Only You can shatter the bondage of avidya maya-- the mirage of negative attraction-- and grant salvation. Baba, You are the most charming, the most sweet, my own... ASTERISK NOTES (*): *Cita-Rainjan: Baba guides us & we all know that devotion is that unique ingredient which allows one to advance in the spiritual field. Without innate love for Parama Purusa one can never succeed. By Baba's divine grace, in His role as Cit-Rainjan, He is that Divine Entity who colours and saturates the mind of sadhakas in the fountain of devotion. Baba says, "'rainjana', which means 'the One who colours' - that which colours the mind." (AV-1) So He is that Cosmic Being who graciously showers devotional love into the heart and mind of the bhakta. And by such overwhelming Cosmic grace, the devotee becomes immersed in Supreme bliss and comes in the closest proximity with that Love Personified Entity: Parama Purusa. *Alakhanirainjan: ('Alakh' means 'invisible'; 'nir' means 'no'; 'ainjan' means 'black spot'.) Of the infinite attributions of Parama Purusa, one of which is that He is invisible and blemishless-- totally pure and perfect. That is why He is known as Alakhanirainjan. Because in this world unit beings are bound by their past actions, by their samskaras; and this creates a black mark in their mind. But being Alakhanirainjan, being both invisible and blemishless, Parama Purusa is totally beyond the realm of sense perception and beyond the realm of samskara. His mind never gets stained. He remains eternally pure and spotless.
== VAMPIRE'S CHARITY ==
Namaskar, Recently a few US capitalists began calling for charitable donations of millions or even billions by their fellow industrialists. In the general society, people are discussing and blogging about this, sharing their view. Most are praising this act while some are more critical about the exploitation perpetrated by such capitalists. This has become an issue of debate. Mostly however, people are confused. This is a very good topic for margiis to raise because Baba talks a lot about capitalism and communism in His teachings on Prout. Communism has almost died out but capitalism is still spreading. As Proutists, we should investigate whether the charity of these capitalists is something noble worthy of praise, or some type of scam that should be pointed out. Or should it just be ignored and left alone. We should review Baba's guidelines about this. Then, based on His teachings, we can can arrive at a conclusion about their approach.
ALL PROPERTY BELONGS TO PARAMA PURUSA
This world is full of riches. Let's see who is real owner as well as who has the right to this property. No doubt, the capitalists are telling that they are giving away their wealth but who is the real owner. One thing we have to remember is that the ultra-rich have merely gathered all the wealth of this universe - they did not create it and it is not theirs per se. Rather they have hoarded it by cheating and exploiting others. Our Proutistic perspective is that all the wealth of the universe is the collective property of one and all because ultimately everything belongs to Parama Purusa. Human beings cannot create anything. Parama Purusa has created everything that is why it belongs to Him. Baba says, "We must not forget, even for a single moment, that the entire animate world is a vast joint family. Nature has not assigned any portion of this property to any particular individual. Private ownership has been created by selfish opportunists, as the loopholes in this system provide them with ample scope for self-aggrandizement through exploitation. When the entire wealth of the universe is the common patrimony of all living beings, can the system in which some roll in luxury, while others, deprived of a morsel of food, shrivel up and starve to death bit by bit, be said to have the support of dharma?" (POD, Point #1) Baba says, "These capitalists are the unworthy sons and daughters of the Cosmic Father because they go against the principle of cosmic inheritance." (PNS-15) Thus when the rich have created all kinds of rules and regulations in the form of tax codes, trade rules, and so much more that enhance their ability to exploit others and gather all the wealth, then they are cheating others out of their due. Because when everything is the property of the Supreme Father and all are His children, it goes against human dharma for some to hoard all the resources and wealth. That is a fundamental point of our Prout philosophy. Hence, each and every billionaire who has wealth to donate got that wealth by their anti-social ways and greedy mentality. In that case who can even think that such people are so generous.
LIMITED RESOURCES
A related point to this discussion is that this crude world is limited - and the money of this world is also limited. So if in their voracious thirst such capitalist accumulate all the wealth and property, then others will not have any. There is limited amount of money, not everyone can become a millionaire - what to say of a billionaire. If even one person becomes a billionaire then that means they have created a few million homeless people living under bridges, and in slums, ghettos, and shanty towns. All billionaires create this social problem because the money and resources of this world are limited. When we think about these billionaires we should analyse with this critical view in mind.
TRYING TO COOL DOWN THE PEOPLE
Right now in the west - especially in the US - there is a heightened awareness about the extreme greed of Wall Street, top CEO's, and big capitalists. The recession, the rise in unemployment, the homeless issue, and so many other social ills have created a growing sense of frustration. The people are becoming keen to the woes of capitalism and they have begun to express their angst. In some cases, the public has gone so far as to protest and petition outside the mansions and gated communities of such tycoons. That's why these executives have begun hiring security teams to protect their property. In the recent past, this was never needed. Considering all of the above, is it any wonder then some of the wealthy are devising ways to quell the masses by calling press conferences about their plans of great charity. How far these vaeshyas fall in this category, we have to think - but certainly this is the motivation for some capitalists. Here Baba has outlined a case from history that neatly parallels the present scene unfolding in the US. After Indian Independence, many of the people demanded economic justice. Thus in 1951, land reform movement was started by Acharya Vinoba Bhave - a disciple of Gandhi's. This movement became known as the Bhudan land movement. In collusion with other leaders, the aim of this movement was to calm the people's anger and quell the frustrations of poor people. Indeed, propaganda set forth in advance of the Bhudan land movement, the public became convinced that they would get their fair share & their economic problems would be solved. But in reality they were duped as the whole plan just a hoax - a sham. The rich people donated useless, barren, dry, rocky land to the landless laborers. In due course the whole plan was exposed and ultimately fell apart. So the poor people got nothing and their call for revolution was smothered. Baba says, "The contemporary Bhu'da'n movement [in India where the rich divided up and gave land to the poor]...As a result of this kind of movement, efforts to fight the exploitation of the vaeshyas decline because people think, "Why fight against rich people when they voluntarily distribute their land and wealth to the poor?" This aversion to fighting will somewhat lengthen the vaeshya age; because as the vaeshyas know full well, most of their donations are not genuine, but exist on paper only – and whenever they make genuine donations, they realize double the amount as profits in some other way. In the vaeshya age this type of rotten philosophy gets widely trumpeted in the newspapers." (HS-2) Today it is well known that the Bhudan land movement gave nothing to the poor - only they were duped. All were promised land, but 99.9% of the people received nothing and the few who did get something just got useless land. The Bhudan land movement proved to be nothing but a show of giving away useless land which the poor could never keep or harvest in order to diffuse their call for economic justice in India decades ago. Now, the same tactic is being employed in the US and other western nations. The common people who were outraged the the wealth and arrogance on Wall Street have become satisfied by seeing the apparent generosity of the rich. Most have gotten duped just like in the Bhudan land movement. Because as Baba points out, those donations by the wealthy are just part of one greater money-making scheme and along the way those vaeshyas gather name and fame and are heralded in the papers. Is that not what some of these top business tycoons are doing today. Here again Baba points out the key point of their strategy: Subsiding the frustration of the people and putting out their fire of revolution and demands for economic justice. Baba says, "These movements [like the Bhudan land movement] very carefully avoid an anti-exploitation campaign. They will only be advantageous to the capitalists because the fighting spirit of the people is tactfully suppressed." (TTP) So here Baba is showing that the ultra-rich make a show of giving away land, property and money in order to cool down the masses and avoid an uprising. This is their favoured strategy. For this reason alone then we should not stand back and say, "Oh these capitalists are giving away billions - what a great idea - that is so wonderful!". Getting dazzled by their display of so-called giving only diverts the minds of the people away from the day to day injustices that are going on. That is Baba's key warning and teaching about the Bhudan land movement analogy. We must carefully evaluate how far the same technique is being employed today.
THEY SUFFER FROM A PSYCHIC DISEASE
One question that has to be asked is this: Why is it that the ultra-rich desire more? How is it those multi-millionaires became multi-billionaires. Here is the answer. In His below teaching, Baba points out how such capitalists suffer from a mental illness which expresses itself in the over-accumulation of wealth. Baba says, "In capitalism the psychology of the acquisition of material wealth, be it land, money, metal or other property, strongly predominates. Such crude psychic urges and psychic pabula remain unchecked and unbridled in capitalism and turn into a hungry profit motive in the market system. As a result, traders, industrialists and business people suffer from the psychic disease of accumulating more and more wealth by any means, even to the point of depriving other human beings of their basic requirements." (AFPS-8) Thus according to Prout, such wealthy moguls have gotten their wealth due to their misguided outlook and unseemly ways.
THEIR GIVING IS NOT WORTH MUCH
Since certain billionaires a making such an expose of their proposed giving. We should see if the rich are really doing any sacrifice and service by their giving or not. Here Baba points out how the value in giving lies not in how much you give, but under what conditions the gift is given. By this way, a few pennies donated by a blue-collar worker is worth far more than tens of millions given by billionaires. Baba says, "If a poor man thinks that he cannot render vaeshyocita type of service because he is devoid of money he is wrong. The charity of a few paise of the poor has the same value as a thousand rupees from a millionaire. Indeed the charity of these few paise is greater. Lord Krs'n'a attached greater importance to a handfuls of grains from Vidura than to the sumptuous royal dishes of Duryodhana." (SS-1) Baba says, "The measure of sacrifice is not its quantity or its grandeur. A sacrifice should always be measured in terms of the circumstances in which it has been rendered." (AV-31)
CHANAKYA'S VIEW ON THE WEALTHY
A very related view on this is that of Chanakya. Baba cites the early philosopher / economist Chanakya of 2400 years ago. Chanakya warned about the dangers of allowing business people to accumulate too much wealth. Baba says, "Chanakya said that a business person who becomes extremely rich is harmful to the state. If a king finds that somebody has become extremely wealthy, he should reduce the person’s wealth and property by imposing direct and indirect taxes on them. If he does not do this, the vaeshyas may destroy the structure of the government unless they can make it the tool of their exploitation. Chanakya also said that if the imposition of taxes fails to stop or control extremely wealthy vaeshyas, the king should poison them to death through a secret agent. These are indeed strong recommendations, but in that age of social darkness there was no alternative. Vaeshyas received the good advice that their responsibility was to earn money and undertake charity, not to hoard wealth." (HS-1) Thus Chanakya's guideline was to reduce the wealth of rich by either taxing them or by inspiring them to do charitable works - or even by harsher methods. But, with regards to his last suggestion, in our present era we can resort to other measures as there is no need to kill such capitalists. But as Baba Himself says, it was needed in those olden times. One thing note: Keeping billions for oneself and donating millions does not comply with Chanakya's teaching. Still the problem persists wherein some have huge wealth in which case they use their influence to interfere with the running of the state and harm society. For more about Chanakya please read:
TRUE HUMANS OR JUST SCARECROWS
Baba Himself has given even more explicit guidelines about what the wealthy should do. Baba says, "In order to be sadvipras they will have to come down to the level of the middle class (viks'ubdha shu'dras ), because they cannot live in indolent luxury on capital acquired by sinful means. In order to follow the principles of Prout, they will have to fight against sin and injustice, and in order to conduct such a fight properly, they will not be able to keep their wealth – they will have to become middle-class (viks'ubdha shu'dras )." (HS-2) Here, Baba's main point is that righteous persons cannot live far above the standard of the common people and still work for the welfare of humanity. It is not possible. They will have to give up their wealth. In our AM, there are rich people. We have to measure them by Baba's above guideline. That is the scale by which to measure whether they are true margiis or just scarecrows. Those who over-accumulate wealth cannot be considered as dharmikas or sadvipras. Such persons must not be placed on a pedestal.
ROLE OF BUSINESSMEN
In Carycarya, Baba gives fundamental guidelines about the various professions. Here is what He has said about those involved in business. Baba says, "Remember, for you the greatest opportunity lies in vaeshyocita seva' [i.e. financial service]. Specially ensure that the stores of the disaster relief section of the Marga remain full." (CC-2) Here the point is that the dharma of businessmen and industrialists is to use their wealth for the welfare of others - not hoard it for their personal luxuries and show. Specifically they are to actively engage in social service by ensuring the supply shelves of our relief teams are full. That means the dharma of capitalists is to finance all aspects of social relief programs. That is their social duty as given by Baba.
MORE ABOUT THEIR PHILANTHROPY
Here is another aspect to this discussion. Various business executives give to charity for their own gain. For instance, BP (British Petroleum) gave 1 billion dollars to various environmental watch-dog groups, and by this way BP took control of the boards of those non-profit agencies. The point is that when such capitalists give donations, they gain their favour and people develop sympathy for them. And ultimately they get more exploited. This happens everywhere. Baba says, "Among these vicious vaeshyas there are some who project themselves as philanthropic politicians. They also devour the people, but they shed a few false tears. They too have not discovered any real meaning in life. Their only aim is to fool the public in order to prosper in business." (HS-1) There is a classic example in India about this as well. In India, the Birla family has billions and billions of dollars and controls huge enterprises. For their so-called service work, the family builds extravagant temples and calls them Birla temples. They do not name the temples after certain gods or goddesses. Rather the temples are given the name Birla temple or Birla mandir. Such is their audacity. But the ignorant masses think that the the Birla family is quite generous. Now here comes the key point. The Birla family does not give hardly any money for these elaborate temples. Rather they collect the funs from their employees' paychecks. They get the money from their workers' wages. Such as fee or tax is called dharmada'. By this way they befool the public, gain their trust, and earn more money. Can we then claim that they are donating money - rather they are earning money.
OVERALL OUTLOOK
All in all, the idea of such capitalists giving money is nothing but vampire's charity. They are greedy blood-suckers who are giving money away which that got by turning others into helpless beggars. That is all. And by this way the common people continue to be ensnared in their trap - economically destitute and unable to advance beyond the struggle for their basic existence. Baba says, "Capitalists create hindrances on the path of human beings to prevent them from becoming one with the cosmos – to prevent them from becoming great. So capitalism is anti-dharma and the actions of capitalists are also anti-dharma." (PNS-15)
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace, He gives us the key way to solve this matter - proper force is needed to change the ways of such capitalists. Baba says, "Capitalists are immoral and are fighting a fratricidal war. Their internal urge is meagre and does not function properly. We have to apply external force to rectify their conduct. Nicely worded advice will not do the job." (PNS-15) Our Proutistic perspective is not about permanently condemning anyone - not even rapacious capitalists - rather our aim is to apply pressure and give them scope to become proper human beings. Baba says, "Each and every individual, whether they are a criminal or not, can claim a chance to rectify their conduct from the society. So in PROUT’s legal structure everybody should get ample scope for rectifying their character and conduct." (PNS-15) Namaskar, Mukunda
Note 1: MUST AVOID OVER-SIMPLIFICATION
Perhaps the greatest pitfall in this for Ananda Margiis is to rush to judgment and label Gates and Buffet as conniving capitalists who have no true feeling for humanity - just a crooked deceitful agenda in mind. Because we all know that Baba has not an iota of good things to say about these capitalists. Baba says, "The capitalists of this modern world are anti-dharma, or antisocial, creatures. To accumulate massive wealth, they reduce others to skin and bones gnawed by hunger and force them to die of starvation; to dazzle people with the glamour of their garments, they compel others to wear rags; and to increase their own vital strength, they suck dry the vital juice of others." (POD, Point #1) Thus, as Ananda Margiis, we do not hold capitalists in high regard - rather we know what effect they have on society. However, our analysis must not end there because after all Gates and Buffet are choosing to give away lots of money to help others. They themselves may not be willing to sacrifice their own way of life and luxuries, but let's for a moment assume that such capitalists do have some decent feeling for humanity and are donating money to bring relief to the suffering. In that case, their giving may not come within the realm of tapah (sacrificing for others) but it does come within the scope of shaoca, or mental purity. Baba says, "A donation of ten rupees brings no physical discomfort for millionaires. It is, therefore, not tapah for them but this gift helps them in practising mental shaoca." (GHC) Here the "ten rupees" is just symbolic of any amount of money or donation wherein those capitalists need not undergo any sacrifice or hardship. So these big capitalists are not doing tapah. Baba says, "There must be one and only one purpose behind the practice of penance (tapah) and that is to shoulder sorrows and miseries of others to make them happy, to free them from grief and to give them comforts. " (GHC) However, Baba does acknowledge that so long as their giving is not motivated by business interest or greed, and they are giving selflessly out of a true concern for others, then they are practicing shaoca, i.e. mental purity. Baba says, "This gift helps them in practising mental shaoca." (GHC) So to be fair, we must at least keep this point in mind.
THESE PEOPLE ARE THE BAD AMONG THE WORST
Should we now stand back and honor Gates and Buffet as being great adherents of mental shaoca - probably not. Nor however should we vilify them up to the bone. At least they are giving something and trying to champion certain causes. Not all do like this. But the situation does have many angles to it. What we can say is moguls like Gates and Buffet are merely the bad amongst the worst. They are not good vaeshyas but nor are they as bad as those rapacious capitalists who never give one penny.
Note 2: VERY PERTINENT TEACHING
The below teaching is highly related with the entire theme of this letter. Baba says, "The aspiration to become rich by exploiting others is a sort of mental malady. In fact, if the eternal hunger of the human soul does not find the real path leading to mental and spiritual wealth, it becomes engaged in the work of depriving other of their rights; it robs them of their material resources. If any member of a family seizes food from a store by application of mental or physical force, he certainly becomes the cause of misery to others. Similar is the case when a capitalist says, “We have seized wealth by intelligence and labour. If others have mental and physical potentialities they may also do it. Who objects to it?” They do not want to realize that the volume of commodities is limited whereas requirements are common to all. In most spheres, abundance for one individual takes the bread out of the mouths of others. It is a mental ailment not to understand this common necessity." (POD #7)
Note 3: MORE ABOUT THIS LETTER
In other words, this week, two of the richest men - Bill Gates & Warren Buffet - held a press conference and called upon billionaires to give away half of their wealth to charity. There has been a mixed reaction by the general public. Many are clapping their hands and hailing this as a great show of generosity and humanitarianism; some are giving moderate praise and nodding their heads; and others are expressing their doubts, wondering if this is but an act of self-glorification, prestige, and personal benefit in the form of tax breaks etc. For the common person, it is not easy to know what exactly is going on. And indeed the situation is not so simple and straightforward as it may seem; one should not err by just taking it at its superficial face value. As Ananda Margiis, we can best understand this weighty issue by applying our knowledge of Proutistic principles. In His teachings, Baba has talked a lot about such acts by the wealthy. We should understand each and every point of His Proutistic guidelines so we can generate a fair analysis and teach the general populace. Because, when someone says, "What's wrong, I think it is great, let them give away their money - that's a fine solution", and when another says, "These greedy capitalists have no good will at all - they should just be annihilated", then we need to be able to rationally reply to these radically divergent claims, as well as all points in between. However, without a very clear, pointed understanding of Baba's teachings, it is not so easy. We will not be able to to convince people of our Proutistic stand. So we should all take to study and be vigilantly ready on this important point. Not knowing the right answer means being unable to propagate the ideals of Prout, extending the vaeshyan era, and being confused ourselves about what is what and who is who.

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