== MARRIAGE TAX: TRYING TO POLLUTE AM ==
Note: Please understand I am an Ananda Margii and dedication to His
mission so when I see something wrong then I feel wounded because AM
ideology is my existence. I feel Baba's point about not tolerating
anything contrary to AM ideology close to my heart. So when the recent
news came about one extraordinary tax on marriages then I feel as is
written below.
Namaskar,
Let's begin by recalling what a totally new and revolutionary approach
our AM marriage system truly is. It is not ordinary, but rather a big
step forward for humanity. That is why it is not an evolutionary
marriage system - rather Baba termed it revolutionary (viplava) because
it is radically different and a great leap forward.
Of course we are all familiar with this, but even then it is helpful to
reflect on His special marriage guidelines. Because when one group is
trying to impose a new dogma that taints the sanctity of our AM marriage
system, we should step back and again remember the greatness of Baba's
teachings. That will give us momentum to root out this new dogma about
paying to receive PP Dada's so-called marriage blessing.
Note: Why so-called blessing? Because when the current PP Dada is just a
creation of groupism and a puppet of factional interest, then his
marriage blessing is just a so-called blessing. Only dharmikas, taking
Baba's name, can offer a blessing. In either though, whether the
blessing be real or fake, there should not be any charge, financial or
otherwise.
GREATNESS OF OUR AM MARRIAGE SYSTEM
Here then are a few points to consider:
Just a short while ago, interracial and intercaste marriages were not at
all common. So when Baba declared the AM marriage system then it went
totally against all traditional thinking. Baba legitimized the idea that
all communities of the world should live together and actively
inter-marry. That is one revolutionary characteristic.
Secondly, Baba declared that family people can perform and oversee
marriage ceremonies. There was no need for a priest. This was also a
totally new and revolutionary idea.
Third is the notion that males and females have equal rights and status
with regards to marriages. That means there is no penalty or barrier to
either gender, especially women. The bride should not be viewed as the
defeated party and the groom should not act as the arrogant victors. Yet
this is the way the ceremony is often carried out - in so many parts of
the globe. Baba totally rooted out any semblance of this as well as the
dogmatic dowry system and demanded that all be treated equally as
children of the Divine. That means no payment of any kind is needed in
our AM marriage system - none at all.
Fourth, our AM marriage system is not a crude-love expose but rather an
avenue for society building where the entire purpose of marriage is to
provide a safe, loving and stable environment for raising children. That
is the whole aim of our AM marriage system. Thus it is radically
different from materialistic, pseudo-culture and new-age relationships
which romanticize courtships & marriages as sexual escapades for couples
wherein children are a mere byproduct and thereafter left by the wayside
to fend for themselves etc. But when a huge tax is being placed on AM
marriages, then naturally people will choose to remain unmarried and
carry out their relations that way, in which case the children will
suffer. This tragic outcome is explored later on in this letter.
All these points about our AM marriage system are new and revolutionary
for society and are radically different from past religious dogma the
existing norms of materialism.
That is why many margii families faced huge opposition from even their
own so-called caste when they engaged in inter-caste marriages. Threats
were made, lines were drawn, property was destroyed, houses were burned
- even then those courageous margiis persevered and implemented Baba's
revolutionary marriage system.
NOW TAINTED
Yet, now, all of that is being jeoparised. Some groupists are polluting
our revolutionary marriage system. It is as if a dirty raccoon has
sneaked into our pristine kitchen and put his grimy paws on everything
and started licking the sweets.
They have created a new dogma wherein newly married margiis must pay a
surcharge or fee if they wish to receive a so-called blessing from PP
Dada during DMS etc. They are implementing the crude rule that money is
needed in order to get a "blessing."
But Baba never did like this. No payment was ever needed for newly
married couples to receive His divine ashirvad (blessing) during DMC.
There was never any tax or fee, just His causeless grace. Rich or poor,
all had equal opportunity.
But now groupists have implemented the rule. They just dragged it in
from the dogmatic religions of old wherein priests levy huge fees on the
common people for their so-called services whether it be marriages,
births, deaths or any other ritualistic gathering. Always the priests
wanted a big payment - and now Dadas in AM are demanding the same.
So such Dadas are trying to exploit common margiis. That is the real
crime that is taking place. We must not sit idle on this point. Already
some dharmic margiis have raised this issue on the public platform and
it is our bounden duty to rally around and save the AM revolutionary
marriage system from the hands of these groupist exploiters.
DANGER: THIS DOGMA WILL TAKE ROOT AND SPREAD
In so many discourses Baba warns us that it is the nature of dogma to
spread and entangle itself in society. That is why the imposition of any
dogma in our AM way of life must be mercilessly rooted out. No one
should get caught in the daydream that our Marga is impervious to dogma.
As we speak some groupists are dragging a new marriage blessing dogma in
AM. So beware.
Of course such top Dadas have their justification. They may think that
as there are so many court cases going on then they have to make money
however they can - including charging a fee for fake marriage blessings.
Baba also needed money when building Ananda Nagar, as well as during the
jail period and when fighting the communists etc, but He never charged
for marriage blessings. This jujiya (crude tax) was not imposed. Why not
- because our is a revolutionary marriage system.
But if we just sit still and keep quiet, then in a few years this dogma
will be established and our grandchildren & great-grandchildren will be
singing the praises of getting PP's marriage blessing, regardless of the
exorbitant cost. Those who can afford it will be cheated and exploited
and those who are unable to pay will feel humiliated and inferior. And
with each and every passing generation the problems will mount more and
more.
The point being that if a dogma is not rooted out in the beginning then
it only grows - it will not stay small or inconsequential.
SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED UP TILL NOW:
THE DOWRY SYSTEM
The key point here is that our AM marriage system is totally free and
anyone trying to make money in our Marga must not try and use our
marriage system as their chosen vehicle for turning a profit.
Indeed that is how the dowry system started of old. In order to get your
daughter married then people had to save money their whole life and
present fancy gifts and big payments to the bridegroom's family. That is
why in India people would kill their unborn girls. Because giving birth
to a daughter was like tying a ball and chain to one's leg.
SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN FUTURE:
PEOPLE IN AM WILL NOT MARRY
When a dogmatic fee or tax is imposed on our AM marriage system, then
naturally people will opt not to get married. This will really lead to
the further demise of society.
Lord Shiva introduced the system of marriage to protect children and put
an end to libertine relations. And Baba further refined and
revolutionized the marriage system.
And now groupists are threatening this sacred system by imposing a tax
or fee to receive a marriage blessing. Those who cannot afford it may
opt to to marry at all. Daughters will even commit suicide etc.
But not only that, the tax that is being imposed today will swell and
multiply into something totally huge, just like as happened with the
dowry system wherein a family had to save their money for an entire
lifetime and curtail basic needs to get their daughter married.
Because when now a fee is being charged by PP Dada to get his "marriage
blessing", that has set the stage for other levels of Dadas to impose
their fee and get a payment in the marriage process. Some will charge
for introducing the couple and others will charge for performing the
ceremony. It is not difficult to see where this is going.
Our marriage system is designed to be free of any and all costs, yet now
with the imposition of a payment to get PP's so-called blessing, things
are heading in the wrong direction.
In the distant past, Shankaracarya started charging people in order to
have his contact, and then that was adopted by his followers and their
followers until finally there was a ripple effect and it became a
multi-tiered layering of Hindu priests ever-ready to charge the public
for each and every little piece or ritualistic worship and dogmatic counsel.
Baba never ever appreciated such things and that is why everything in AM
is always free: initiation, baby naming ceremonies, PC, dharma samiiksa,
house blessings, akhanda kiirtan and all our programs.
But now all that is changing - the tide is turning. Now newly married
couples have to pay to receive PP's "blessing".
Now AM is marching down the road paved by dogmatic Hindu priests. One
group's chosen PP started the process and it will not be long before all
Dadas open up their own marriage stalls at DMS and charge for marital
advice, recommendations, engagements, ceremonies and services. They will
have their fee every step of the way - including initiation into AM.
Such Dadas may even demand a new dress ( from heat to toe including eye
glasses) in exchange for performing the marriage. And if they did 5
marriages in one weekend or one month, then they will sell the extra
clothes for a profit.
The same Hindu dogma which has littered Kashi, Puri, Rameshvaram,
Ayodhya, Bodhgaya and Prayag will infest our AM marriage system. In that
case marriage will become one exorbitant affair that weighs heavy on the
public pocket so people will avoid marriages altogether and pursue
sensual relations outside of marriage, leave children unattended to, and
voila, we will be back to that pre Lord Shiva era or become a mirror
image of today's materialistic culture where having children out of
wedlock is totally common. It will be just like what is happening now in
the materialistic west.
That is why no money should be associated with our AM marriage system.
Otherwise the results will be nothing short of disastrous. We should
stop this madness right now.
BETTER WAY OF DOING
Of course, a marriage blessing should be available to newly married
people. But why should they go to PP Dada for such a "blessing". Firstly
they should not be forced to pay PP and secondly at present PP is just a
groupist figurehead - not a dharmika. So why get the blessing of PP.
That has no value.
The better way is to get the blessing done by any sincere, local senior
margii who has sacrificed for the great cause. There is no need to get
the blessing from various opportunists who are fighting for the post and
dividing the organisation.
Or one can simply depend on Baba - that might be the best approach of
all. Though it certainly is acceptable to seek out the blessing of one
true dharmika in AM.
But to run after the blessing of PP Dada is just nonsense. Especially
when PP is just a puppet of the ruling groupist regime. We must not
allow PP's so-called blessing to become one ritual in AM.
Better to just seek out any genuine margii in your local unit.
HOW BLESSING SHOULD BE DONE
When going for blessing from a senior trusted margii who is devoted to
Baba, then that sadhaka will begin the blessing with the words, "By
Baba's grace...". There is no other way.
In contrast various groupists might pronounce, "Let there be..." as if
they were capable of authoring such a blessing.
But again, why seek out the so-called blessing of groupists who are
charging money to satisfy their greed. That blessing is impotent.
SOME RAMIFICATIONS
Here are the unfortunate consequences that will result from the new
dogma associated with AM marriage blessing wherein newly married margiis
must pay a fee to get PP's "blessing".
1. This will lead to social exploitation as people will develop a
complex depending on whether they can afford the marriage blessing fee.
Those unable to pay will surely feel inferior. Then they will be prone
to even further exploitation. And girls who are unable to marry may even
commit suicide - it happens.
2. Our AM marriage ceremony is for society building and marriage brings
welfare to the children. So when a fee is imposed to get a marriage
blessing, the people may not like to get married at all - in which case
those who suffer most will be the children who are born out of wedlock.
3. Baba's system of marriage is unique and requires a strong sense of
responsibility and commitment. It is dharmic. But this new system of
paying to get PP's "blessing" is just one ritualistic thing. By this way
they are turning the pure ocean of AM into a pool of dirty, stagnant water.
4. Such Dadas are just greedy priests who are most involved in creating
complexes in the minds of the general people in order to fatten their
own wallets and heighten their own prestige.
5. When such dogmas get imposed on the general populace, then society
loses its vitality. Then people just get riddled by complexes and
burdened by rituals.
These are but a few of the impending results of this unwanted dogma that
is now being filtered into our holy AM marriage system.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, here are Baba's dharmic points that we all must abide by:
1. No money should be associated with our AM marriage system. Dharma is
for all: rich, poor, educated, illiterate, male, female - all. Thus our
AM marriage system must be accessible to everyone and that can only
happen when no money is involved - period.
2. We must remember that none of our AM social ceremonies cost money:
Not initiation, not baby-naming, not cremations, not shraddha ceremonies,
not house blessing - none. Thus no fees of any sort should be linked
with our AM marriage system either - least of all one fake blessing by
one groupist puppet.
3. Baba has declared the the food of religious traders as untouchable.
And now a few of group leaders have turned PP into one religious trader
as he is selling his blessing. This system is totally repulsive and
against the ethic of AM. There is no scope for religious trading in our AM.
4. Our aim is to bring all moralists and good people into AM, but when
our Marga is submerged in groupism and when new dogmas are being issued
day by day - like the tax / jajiya / tithe for getting a marriage
blessing - then such moralists will not be attracted to our Marga.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace we must root out this problem immediately. The religions
became full of dogma so people started running after materialism. If we
are not careful the same with happen with our Marga. If we start
accepting dogmas like this new marriage tax, then people will go
elsewhere. Thus, we must take a firm stand against such groupist
opportunists - we must not tolerate their new marriage fee - it is just
one ugly dogma.
Namaskar,
Madhusudan
Note 1: FURTHER THOUGHTS
Some think that because they are in Ananda Marga, then all they do is
totally 100% dogma-free. But this is just one misnomer.
It is just like how a few of our wts think that they will automatically
reach the Goal simply because they are wearing orange. Or it is just
like certain top Dadas who are confirmed groupists yet internally think
what they are doing is not really groupism.
These are some of the prevailing myths in AM.
Similarly, some think that because they are in AM then all their actions
are approved and pure, or that dogma cannot touch them. No doubt Baba's
teachings are perfect and pure, but dogma creeps into our Marga when
certain people drag it in. Our Marga is not impervious.
One clear-cut example of this is the recent report how those at the helm
have imposed a 1000RS tax/payment on newly-married Indian couples ($1000
for overseas margiis) who wish to receive a so-called marriage blessing
from Purodha Pramukha.
Indeed, this whole unseemly episode of charging to receive PP's marriage
blessing is fraudulent for numerous reasons - as outlined above.
This dogma of imposing a heavy fee or tax (jajiya / tithe) for a
marriage blessing is nothing but a black stain on our holy Ananda Marga
and we should all be aware of the negative consequences associated with
this. Then we can work together to eliminate this dogma completely and
restore sanctity to our AM marriage system.
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How Sadguru is Still Present
Baba says, "The entity by whose grace one comes into contact with
Sat...that entity, or rather, that framework through which Parama Purusa is
working or Ta'raka Brahma is functioning, is the Sadguru." (AV-3, p. 48)
Note 1: And here below Baba defines the meaning of 'Sat'.
Baba says, "Sat, the non-changeable Entity, the non-changeable stance, the
non-changeable Nuclear Entity around which so many electrons move". (AV-3,
p. 48)
Note 2: That Sadguru still exists and one can see Him through our
various spiritual practices. In that way one can have His loving
communication and grace-- everything. So the form upon which each and
every sadhaka ideates upon Him in sadhana, that form is the Sadguru. And
through the medium of that form every disciple gets His blessing. And
that is why still today when an acarya initiates anyone they say that
your Guru is Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji.
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