== LOWLY ==
Namaskar,
As you may have heard, a new book about Baba during the Jamalpur days
has recently been published. I am very happy about the release of this
book. Immediately I went to Amazon.com, and saw this following review by
one of our avadhutas. I share it with you so that we may all be aware
about what is going on.
HERE IS WHAT ONE DADA WROTE
One of our esteemed and senior avadhutas publicly wrote these following
words on Amazon.com in his review of the recently published book:
"...As the story progressed I found myself wondering how it could get
more incredible, and then it did. I lost sleep and cut my meditation
short to find the hours to continue..."
So those are the words of one of our revered Dadas.
As soon as I read this I became somewhat concerned - because as we all
know sadhana is the most important endeavor in human life. That is
Baba's teaching. Yet, Dadaji is telling how he purposely curtailed his
sadhana in order to read the book. Our avadhutas should not be stating
such things in the public forum as it will discourage others from doing
meditation and set a bad example.
No doubt Dadaji is trying to show his exuberance to boost the sales of
the book, but to that end, he contravenes Baba's teaching and undermines
the great emphasis Baba places on sadhana. Certainly there are better
ways to express support of this book. To openly proclaim he curtailed
his sadhana in order to read the book is not the way of our Marga. An
avadhuta of Baba should not be saying this.
BABA'S TEACHING ON SADHANA
As Ananda Margiis, we know well that Baba places huge emphasis on
sadhana. Indeed Baba guides us that this is our main reasons for being
born: To do sadhana.
Baba says, "The main purpose of human beings coming here to this earth
is to do spiritual practice...one is to do anything and everything just
to encourage and accelerate the process of sa'dhana'. Sa'dhana' is the
main theme of life. Whatever you do in the world, you should do it with
a view to promote your sa'dhana' and help the sa'dhana' of others. Human
beings come to earth to practise sa'dhana', to move closer to Iishvara,
the Supreme Goal – to come closer to Parama Purus'a... Whatever human
beings will do, they will do in such a manner that the progress in their
sa'dhana' will go on accelerating." (YP)
Thus sadhana is the top-most endeavour in human life. Nothing takes
precedence over sadhana. That is Baba's dharmic mandate. Strictness in
sadhana is a must.
Thus, when Dada says that he would stop his sadhana in order to read, as
if this book is more important, he is going against Baba and putting
forth a very negative and harmful message. After all, Dada is an
avadhuta and people will look to him for guidance, but in this case his
ways are contrary to Baba and dharma.
EVERYONE MUST DO SADHANA
In our Marga, there is no shortage of examples that show that everyone
must do sadhana properly - no one is exempt from this. One might skip
their food or sleep, but not sadhana.
Even all central workers were always required to do sadhana - no matter
how closely they worked with Baba. If they did not do sadhana, then Baba
would expose and punish them in front of all. Everyone knows about this.
Baba always gives the highest priority to doing sadhana.
Those who have seen Baba physically and witnessed reporting, they know
that again and again Baba would emphasize the importance of spiritual
practice and inquire if all did sadhana or not. If sadhana was curtailed
or skipped, then He would loving give a strong scolding. And never in
those sessions did Baba ask if anyone read a Baba story or not. Baba
emphasized doing sadhana, not reading stories about Him. Thus to quit
sadhana in order to read a storybook is not our way. Dadaji should not
encourage this faulty manner.
Baba wants that everyone should be fully engaged in sadhana. That is why
on the first page of every Ananda Marga book, Baba has printed the
Supreme Command which, as we know, requires sadhana twice daily.
Plus sadhana is one of the main elements of Sixteen Points, but Baba
does not mention reading a storybook in 16 Pts.
MUST NOT HIGHLIGHT WRONGDOING
The main idea here is that one must not highlight their own wrongdoing
or encourage others to fall in those faulty ways.
Baba says, "There are also teachers who, after discussing the abuses and
evils of intoxicants in the classroom, immediately go outside and start
smoking. This sets an extremely bad example. If the teachers would just
use intoxicants, without saying anything about them, it might not be so
bad. But this approach naturally encourages the students to be
undisciplined." (HS-1, 'Education')
Here Baba's points is that a respected teacher should not publicize
their own defects - like curtailing or skipping sadhana - as it will
only give others the wrong idea to do the same.
Under no circumstance then should any senior margii or wt express their
mental weakness of skimping on sadhana etc. This will only discourage
new people and struggling sadhakas from practicing meditation - imposing
the idea that sadhana is impossible or useless. If people hear senior
avadhutas openly telling about curtailing sadhana, new people will think
that sadhana is impractical. This will retard their own spiritual
progress and invite their journey towards negative pratisaincara.
If Dada cannot manage his meditation properly that is unfortunate but by
writing publicly about this he is encouraging others to skip sadhana and
instead read this book.
Baba critically warns that such acaryas must never do like this.
Baba says, "Bear in mind that people may be harmed or misled by even a
small weakness or defect in the conduct of an a'ca'rya. Just as it is
the duty of a father to educate his children properly by his good
conduct, an a'ca'rya should always instruct by his exemplary actions and
words." (AV-31)
Thus when Dada publicly writes that he cut his sadhana short or skipped
it entirely, then he is going against the code of being an acarya.
TRAGEDY OF DADAJI'S DEALING
In total, there are a few faulty tactics in Dadaji's approach.
1. In order to advocate the book he came up with an appalling statement
- about stopping sadhana - to boost sales.
2. If Dadaji really can't manage in sadhana and sadhana holds no charm
for him because his mind is fickle due to a lack of effort and
indiscipline etc, then as an avadhuta and meditation teacher, that is
disgraceful. Dadaji should mend his ways.
3. If point #2 is true, even then Dadaji should not publicly state that
one should curtail their sadhana as this gives the wrong message to
society. For instance, if due to his own mental weakness one avadhuta is
skipping sadhana because he is watching a football match or crude movie,
then the best thing is they should keep mum. It may be true that they
are skipping their sadhana, but they must never openly propagate such
things; that is disservice to humanity. And best will be if they
themselves get help so they can again come onto the path of dharma sadhana.
POINT OF CLOSENESS
Here is another very relevant point.
Every Ananda Margii knows that true love means having extreme closeness
with Parama Purusa. And that closeness comes in sadhana. So if one
really loves Parama Purusa then they will prefer to go close in sadhana
than read His tales.
It is just like if Mr A has fallen in love with the opposite sex and he
has the opportunity to meet Ms L, then he will certainly go and visit
her, not read about her on the internet etc.
Strong love means coming in close proximity - otherwise there is no such
love. Thus if anyone gives up the opportunity of going close to Baba and
instead favors reading a book, we can understand how much love they have.
We have to remember that Parama Purusa is the Goal and sadhana is the
means to attaining that Goal, so one cannot avoid sadhana, otherwise
they cannot reach the goal. Sadhana is the aim of life and mandatory for
all.
FURTHER REFLECTIONS
Here are some more points of consideration.
There are thousands of ways to boost book sales, so it is highly
unfortunate that Dadaji chose this approach. It seems he cannot manage
sadhana and has no clue about AM ideology. He does not know what to
preach and what not to preach. Otherwise what can be the explanation for
his confounding behaviour which is not befitting a senior avadhuta.
It looks like Dadaji did this just for petty gain of a few dollars. For
that reason he compromised and transgressed his entire ideal and told
the things which should not be told.
Dadaji might claim that he was "just joking" but who is going to believe
him. Not long ago a US senator was guilty of making homosexual advances
on someone in the bathroom, and when he was confronted by the senate
panel for his miseeds, he said it was just "a joke". No one believed him.
JUST EXPOSING HIMSELF LIKE FREUD DID
In one discourse, Baba says that Freud's claim that humans are only
motivated by sexual desire exposes Freud's own degraded state.
Baba says, "Some psychologists have maintained that the sexual urge, a
particular expression of ka'ma is the root cause of all types of mundane
attractions and activities. This statement is wrong, for attraction is
the characteristic of all unit entities and such attraction will
certainly not always be sexual. Those psychologists that give undue
importance to sexual lust, betray their own vulgar and licentious
mentality. As I have already said, not each and every attachment or
attraction is born of sexual desire." (SS-3)
Just as Freud exposed his own degraded frame of mind by his public
statements, some say that Dadaji has done a similar thing and revealed
his own lowly mentality. Otherwise what could account for why he proudly
states that he curtailed his sadhana. Without meaning to, Dadaji
revealed much about himself. That is what those reading the review on
Amazon.com are concluding.
WHAT HE COULD HAVE SAID
Dadaji wanted to express his enthusiasm for the book - that is fine. In
that case he he could have written that he felt tired or hungry but kept
on reading anyway because he was so immersed in the book. That would
have been one viable approach - or many other things he could have said.
But telling that he quit his meditation prematurely in order to read the
book is not good. That gives the wrong teaching to others.
Baba says, 'If one is not able to give the people proper guidance, then
at least one should not misguide them." (NSS, Disc: 14)
So it is most unfortunate that he told that he quit his sadhana early.
This is not acceptable. He should go back and edit his review or delete
it entirely and rewrite it.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace, we all have the opportunity to reach unto Him by doing
sadhana. We should utilise this opportunity to the fullest - lest we
degrade. Under no circumstance should we curtail our sadhana. No one
should become lowly in this way.
Baba says, "Human beings should develop themselves as individuals by
expanding their dormant cognitive faculties through intuitional
practice...[those who] have failed to practise sa'dhana' in their
personal lives, generally degenerate later."
Namaskar,
Jitendra
Note 1: WHICH DADA WROTE LIKE THAT
The avadhuta who wrote that comment on Amazon.com about curtailing his
sadhana is Dada Nabhaniilananda. Dadaji unfortunately wrote: "I... cut
my meditation short." His aim seems to have been to promote that book,
but in true sense he misguided others by stating that skipping or
shortening sadhana is ok. Plus, intentionally or not, he gave us a
glimpse of his own way of living, i.e. what he does in his personal
life. Best will be if Dadaji goes back and updates his review; such a
negative message by one of our acaryas should not be on a public forum.
Finally, if Dadaji again starts engaging in longer sadhana, that will be
really great. That will be the best outcome of all of this. Let us all
support Dadaji in this endeavour.
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We Should Know & Correct
Baba says, "In algebra the formula (a+b) squared= a2 + b2 + 2ab. This is
a well known formula and originally it was invented by Mahars'i Kapil."
(SC-8, disc 1, 5 oct 86 kolkata)
Note: It is well known that Mahars'i Kapil was born in India several
thousand years ago. People commonly think the above formula was first
propounded by a western mathematician, but in the above teaching Baba
reveals the real fact. This gives the idea those mathematics was highly
evolved in that early history of India.
Here below Baba tells another important fact regarding Kapil:
Baba says, "The first philosopher was Mahars'i Kapil, who will be
remembered and respected for all time." (AFPS-9, 'Geology & Human
Civilisation')
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