New Fad in the West

From: George Kourakos  
Subject: New Fad in the West 
Date: Thu 07 Jan 2010 07:53:02 -0000 

Baba 

 "A'lor pathe je eseche a'ndha're se hoy na' ha'ra'..." (P.S. 996) 

 Purport: 

Baba, those who are treading the divine path never get lost in the oblivion of darkness and staticity. Those who are smiling sweetly, their life can never be like hell-- surrounded by the agony of suffering and crying. Baba, here along with me, You are and I am. And Your love has bound me. In result I have lost everything else. Those who have ascended onto the path of hope and optimism never get lost in hopelessness and pessimism. Baba, by Your grace You have come with Your sweet smile riding Your chariot of panoramic colors. By getting You, the whole universe is purified; everyone's existence has become successful... 

== NEW FAD IN THE WEST =

Namaskar,
Watch out! A new fad is lighting up in the west: Marijuana is now being legalised in parts of the the USA in the name of health reasons. In states like Oregon, new marijuana bars and cafes are opening where patients can enter, purchase marijuana and hashish, and smoke as much as they wish. Medical doctors are prescribing and certifying their patients marijuana for pain relief and mental anxiety etc.

This is the new and growing phenomenon. The tricky part is that any new fad that starts in the west then spreads all over the globe. So this is the latest trend - everyone should be careful. Of course as Proutists, our dharmic stand is to oppose as Baba is against the use of such intoxicants (Ref: Prout Nutshell part 21).

BABA'S PERSONAL ACCOUNT

Before further examining the medical marijuana trend going on in the USA, all Ananda Margiis will find Baba's below first-hand account very interesting. In this below reflection, Baba talks how as a young boy he opposed those so-called sadhus who smoked marijuana.

Baba saya, "This story took place very long ago. I was extremely young then, about four or five years old. I had a Shiva linga...In those days ordinary people had a rather excessive amount of devotion towards sannya'siis and holy men. A group of sannya'siis would light a fire and sit around it in one of the neighbourhood’s slightly elevated vacant areas. Countless devotees would encircle them singing devotional songs and kiirtana. I used to see this scene all the time. Stories of Lord Shiva’s white radiance, his magnanimity and detachment had attracted my mind a good deal. But I did not at all like these sannya'siis’ greed for all kinds of delicacies, nor their marijuana pipes and tweezers. And so I would harass them by throwing stones from afar or stealing their sumptuous food and fleeing." (Strange Experiences, Chap 2)

So Baba's dharmic stance against marijuana took expression very early in life

LONG HISTORY OF MARIJUANA IN INDI

Actually there is a long history of marijuana use in India. But mostly it was rejected by the people as being harmful to both mind and body. Only certain dogmatic sadhus with ashen bodies would resort to marijuana smoking. Their fake justification was that they were following the cult of Shiva - but that is wrong.

Baba says, "The developed sa'dhaka [spiritual aspirant] remains submerged in this beatific condition of intoxication. It is said that Shiva remains overwhelmed under the spell of this very type of intoxication, with His eyes fixed upwards. This is not the intoxication produced by bhang [Indian hemp] or ganja [marijuana], or that of opium, nor that of wine, but is a sort of beatific intoxication brought about by sudha'rasa." (YP)

 As Baba points out, it is known in India that the marijuana drug does not lead to an enlightened mind. Every true sadhaka and everyday citizens understand this, either practically or theoretically. But that does not mean that the latest medical marijuana trend in the US will not soon hit the streets in Mumbai and elsewhere. After all, India rejected materialism centuries ago yet now the youth of India are plunged in all kinds of pseudo-culture fashion and materialistic lifestyles - religiously copying the trends in the west. So it may not, nay will not, be long before patients & innocent citizens in India and other countries are also smoking marijuana

MORE ABOUT "MEDICAL MARIJUANA"

A former US Surgeon General has issued the following statement:

"The evidence is overwhelming that marijuana can relieve certain types of pain, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms caused by such illnesses as multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS -- or by the harsh drugs sometimes used to treat them. And it can do so with remarkable safety. Indeed, marijuana is less toxic than many of the drugs that physicians prescribe every day." 

And indeed there are many medical professionals in the west who advocate the use of marijuana for a wide-range of patients. And now there are at least 13 states in the US where patients can legally purchase and smoke marijuana and hashish in cafes. 400,000 patients in Canada smoke marijuana and in the US the number are exponentially growing into the millions. This trend is spreading fast - it has all happened in the last few months.

SHOULD DOCTORS BE TRUSTED

This all begs the question: Should doctors and the US medical industry be trusted. There are many strong lobby groups in the US that have direct influence of medical policies in the US. From dietary recommendations to prescription drug use, billions and billions of dollars are laid down by special interest groups to get their agenda approved by doctors.

Indeed the tobacco industry got away with this for years, and in the last couple decades it is the the prescription drug industry that has most doctors in the pockets. And now today, we see that the marijuana lobby has made its way into the wallets of physicians and the medical establishment. So we have to think a thousand times - and educate the common people about this - how far should doctors be trusted.

Time and again physicians make recommendations that are basically ludicrous: In the 50's and 60's they were advocating that pregnant women smoke cigarettes in order to relax. And more recently medical professionals have advocated the regular consumption of red wine (alcohol) and chocolate for overall health and happiness. So there is no shortage of ridiculous recommendations by the US medical establishment. And now we see that the use of marijuana for patients is just one more scar on this growing list.

PROUT'S STAND

As Ananda Margiis and Proutists, we should quickly come forward on this issue and state our position. It may seem like an obvious point to us, but not so for others. Tragically, the common public and patients all over have been duped into thinking that marijuana is be some kind of magic herb for healing etc. Not only do they think it will help with pain relief etc, but some have even begun advocating that marijuana will enhance one's memory. When in fact, marijuana is quite harmful in many respects - ruining both one's physical and mental constitution. We should strictly pay heed to Baba's below mandates about marijuana.

 Baba says, "It is desirable that people keep themselves free from intoxicants and stimulants and move steadily towards the higher realms of physical, mental and spiritual development through all possible ways." (PNS-21) Baba says, 'Taking hashish, marijuana, opium or wine causes a peculiar change in the mind." (HS-1)

Baba says, "Intoxicated by opium, people sit idle and doze off. Hemp [marijuana] destroys general intelligence and the faculty of understanding. None of these intoxicants are good for human beings." (PNS-21)

Thus it is our duty to oppose this latest trend of marijuana cages advocated by medical professionals and the hemp lobby etc. Because sadly, What they are prescribing for patients today they will be recommending to general citizens tomorrow. That is the unfortunate direction things are headed. It needs a strong push to buck this trend.

BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's grace, He has given us the duty to clean up society in all respects. This recent marijuana campaign is latest issue that we must take to the fore. With proper education, we can prevent it from spreading and set humanity on the proper path.

 Baba says, "For progress in entitative flow, one is to lead a pure life, a moralistic life, a life based on moral principles. Do not do anything bad. What is bad? Bad is that which depraves human existence. Follow a strict code of morality. Live a pure life, a neat and clean life. Be strict in 16 Points. What will happen? Your entitative flow will get purified and will be in parallelism with your psychic wave." (SS-12)

Namaskar,
Gagan

Note: IRONY OF THE HUMAN QUEST FOR PEACE & SATISFACTION
 

Humans have long been on a quest for peace and comfort - and that has led them in all kinds of directions. Check out the irony of this most recent trend. On the one side, wealthy people in the west who have all kinds of luxuries resort to drugs like marijuana in hopes of finding peace and tranquility and all around the globe those in the so-called developing world are chasing after money and wealth thinking that those riches will supply them all the happiness and comfort they need. So those with money are not happy and seeking joy elsewhere, and the rest of the world is thinking that "I need to be like those wealthy people" in order to become happy. Such is the irony unfolding. The marijuana trend just throws one more smoke-screen into the minds of the people.

****************************************** Eternal Source of Energy

Baba says, "Because each and everybody in this universe gets energy from Parama Purusa, He is the Supreme Source of energy." "This earth and all the other planets and satellites of this solar system get their energy from the sun. The sun is the source of their energy. But He is the source of the sun's energy. And that's why He is jvalantam." "And that's why I have said that there won't be any thermal death of this universe. Because He is jvalantam, He is present, and He will be present forever. So there won't be any shortage of energy in this cosmic system, though there may be a shortage of energy in some particular portion of the earth or the cosmos." (AV-3, p. 26-27)

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...Karmic Reaction

Date: Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:54:38 -0400 To: AM-GLOBAL From: Patrick Russell Subject: ...Karmic Reaction Baba "A'mi toma'y bhule kiser chale ka'l ka't'a'lum dhara'r buke..." (PS 2140) Purport: Baba, remaining forgetful about You, with some or other lame excuse I wasted my time in the bosom of the earth. I became completely captivated by one magical display. And because of that, I did not hear the call of my supreme well-wisher: Parama Purusa. O' Baba, when those dark days descended in my life, then nobody was there to give me hope; I was shelterless. Baba, then I started asking You to please come and save me. In that very terrible situation, I started calling to You, 'Baba, please come, and save me! O' Prabhu, save me from this ghastly danger'. Earlier, when the proper opportune moment was there, then I was intoxicated in the magical display of maya. In those days I was in a deep slumber; I was not able to understand. So I did not call You until the situation became disastrous. Baba, even then, now I know in my heart that, 'O Parama Purusa, You belong to everyone'. Baba, please attract me & make me Your own. Please remain with me always, in my pleasure and my pain-- all the time. Baba, I wasted the long span of my life by indulging in negative deeds and remaining oblivious of You. Remaining distant, I wasted my life. But now in the end, You have lovingly lifted me from the dust and gently placed me on Your divine lap. Baba, You are so gracious. You are love Personified...

== MATERIALISM & ITS KARMIC REACTION ==

Namaskar, Sometimes when looking at the present day world, the crude thought may come into the mind to have what those materialists have- and to do what they do. This type of desire can befall anyone, if they are not careful. As Ananda Margiis though we should be vigilant not to fall into such a trap. Because these materialists have not a clue what type of serious harm & destruction they are inviting for themselves by running senselessly after material allurements. They do not understand how the ways of karma will strike them down. But such is their fate. So no Ananda Margii should become spell-bound by the ways of materialism-- not even temporarily so.

LAW OF KARMA IN A NUTSHELL

Because we all know that there is a great law of cause & effect which governs this vast cosmological order, i.e. the law of karma: Where for every action (karma) there is a reaction (karmaphala). In this principle, good actions beget positive reactions and bad actions bring negative reactions. This is Baba's stated teaching and everyone in AM is well aware about this. Baba says, "Human beings themselves are answerable for their fate as it is their actions alone which create it. They alone will have to bear the consequences of all their actions. No one else can substitute for them. Their good deeds beget good results, while bad ones beget bad results, and they will have to experience both without any exception. This is the law of Prakrti and no one can change this law." (AMEP)

BLIND WAYS OF MATERIALISM

But materialists are utterly clueless about this. They do not know or understand about the workings of karma; nor are they aware that good actions are those deeds which decrease the distance between oneself and Parama Purusa. This entire outlook totally escapes them. Rather they think that material things are the be-all and end-all of life. Their life revolves around material attachment, sexual lust, and crude desires. This is what motivates them. Hence all day long they are running after one or another mundane allurement. And internally they think that this is fine and acceptable. Even they will openly state that making money itself justifies a particular action, no matter what hell it creates in the lives of others. This is their selfish and harmful attitude. And such materialists think that it is all fine and well. However, little do they know what their terrible fate will be.

BABA'S STERN WARNING

Because in countless discourses, Baba warns us that those who blindly chase after crude materials pleasures will become one with the dust. Their future is totally bleak. They will be converted into stone or iron or end up trapped as some kind of negative microvita like prakrtiliina for crores & crores of years. Here following is Baba's very strict warning about what will befall those who rampantly chase after the lustful ways of materialism. Baba says, "If a person continually gloats over crude material things, his entire existence will be converted into crude matter. In mythology the story goes that Ahalya' was converted into a stone due to his constant crude ideation. So people who accept matter as their goal, totally denying the existence of Parama Purus'a, tread the path of degeneration and become prakrtiliina devayonis after death." (APH-6, 'Ekendriya-1')

THERE IS NO ESCAPE

So those materialists have a very grim and dark future. They will not be able to escape the karmic reaction of their selfish and crude desires and their fate is sealed. They are sure to become seriously degenerated in the near future. This is Baba's warning, because no one can escape the cycle of karma. Baba says, "Reactions of actions (karmaphala) have to be experienced. No one is spared from experiencing them; the reactions of all one's actions will have to be borne by oneself alone." (AMEP) Therefore, in the case of materialists who greedily chase after crude allurements and harm others in that process, they will surely have to undergo piles and piles of negative reactions. Because their only so-called ethic is material gain, and they do not care one iota about the welfare of others. Thus each and every day they create mounds & mounds of negative samskaras by indulging in selfish misdeeds and those negative samskaras will certainly take shape in the form of unenviable & harsh reactions. Thus from top to bottom and inside and out the fate of such materialists is sealed.

OUR APPROACH: THE GOLDEN BALANCE

In AM, we follow the path of balance. Baba guides us that neither are we to headlong rush after material objects nor are we to reject the world as mere illusion by adopting the ways of Shankaracarya. Neither of these approaches will bring welfare to oneself nor to the world around them. Rather it will just invite trouble. That is why Baba has given us that pathway of perfect prama. In AM we recognise the existence of this material world yet goad all our mental longings toward Parama Purusa. So ours is the path of perfect balance. Because in AM we realise that we need the material sphere in order to maintain our physical existence and then we goad our psychic yearning toward the spiritual realm. By this way we can utilise this human life to reach up to God. Such is the perfectness of our path of 'Subjective Approach & Objective Ajustment'. In thus dual formula, we keep our mental eye & vision focused toward Parama Purusa and utilise the physical world as a platform for meeting our existential needs or basic living requirements. By this way we can create a healthy human society and ensure the spiritual emancipation of all, by Baba's grace.

BABA'S FINAL WARNING ON MATERIALISM

So none should get allured or attracted by the clutches of materialism. There is no redeeming factor in this crude pathway. Just it will lead one into the depths of despair and degenertion. Here below is Baba's very severe warning about the ills of materialism. Baba says, "This type of crude material knowledge concerned with the crude materialism has done much harm to human society during the last one century. It has misguided the entire human society, it has converted human beings into animals." (AV-2) So those who base their lives solely on material objects will be reborn as pashus (animals) or even spend countless time trapped as negative microvita. In either case it is a hellish fate.

BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's grace we should all remember our internal link with Baba and goad all our thoughts and actions unto Him. Then by living in this material world, our lives will be fruitful. Those who get allured by the ways of materialism will only experience pain and misery-- nothing more. By Baba's grace He was bestowed upon us all the ingredients for a happy and blissful life and a bright future. Baba says, "You should always remember that you do not belong to an ordinary family, to an ordinary lineage. Those who are the sons and daughters of Parama Purus´a certainly cannot belong to an ordinary lineage. You have a personal relationship with Parama Purus´a, and because of that intimate relation you can say to Him, "Oh Parama Purus´a, you know me very well; so if You think it proper, You may bestow Your grace upon me. But it depends on You." Parama Purus´a certainly has great love and affection for His children; He will certainly want His sons and daughters to reach their ultimate goal. And whatever bliss human beings may attain by reaching that Supreme Stance, I know that in Parama Purus´a's mind the happiness will be even more. Victory to you all." (SS-18. 'Propensities and Prama') Namaskar, Parama'tma

Note 1: HORRIBLE FATE OF MATERIALISTS

Each and every day in the world around us or by looking in the newspaper we can practically see the karmic reactions that happen to some many people due to their constant involvement in materailistic ways of living. So many things happen: Either their misdeeds get exposed in front of all, or they lose their psychic balance and have to become hospitalized, or who knows what. Day in and day out everyday people and pop stars undergo such things. It happens to the neighhbor next door as well as to pop-cultures icons like Britney Spears and Anna Nicole Smith. In any event, persons lead a miserable life and experience a terrible fate. All because they got sucked into the dark hole of materialism. This should not befall any Ananda Margii.

Note 2: THE PERFECT PATHWAY OF AM

Here Baba clearly outlines how we are to live in this world-- by maintining perfect balance or adjustment and ultimately reach up to Him. This is His divine formula. Baba says, "Subjective approach through objective adjustment. Movement is towards Parama Purus´a, but at the same time maintaining objective adjustment. You have to move giving proper treatment to the objects of the external world. There must be subjective approach, but at the same time objective adjustment; that is, adjustment with the objective world is essential though one's movement is towards supreme subjectivity." (AV-30)

Note 3: PARADOX

The interesting thing is that in material societies there is a distinct dearth of material things. That is, most do not get what they need to survive due to extreme greed.This is the regular occurance. That is why in places like the US there is a huge number of homeless people as well as tens of millions of people without access to proper health care. So it is not that in materialistic countries people get their physical needs met. It never works out this way and on the top the people are depressed and miserable and suffer from so many psychic afflictions. In contrast in our Proutistic society, everyone will get exactly what they need through the magical formula of subjective approach and objective adjustment. All will have plenty of material goods to live comfortably on this earth and in addition all will get the opportunity to advance in the psycho-spiritual realms of life. So our Proutistic approach is a win-win situation. There is no question of any loss. Whereas in the materialistic model, everyone loses always. There is no winner. By Baba's grace may we create that Proutistic society at the earliest. Parama Pita Baba Ki-Jai!!

*************************************** WT Conduct Rule: Dealings

Baba says, "Supervisory workers will have to take proper care of each of their supervised staff in all respects." (Pt #2 of 'Six Additional Rules') Note: This is a very significant rule but these days supervisory bosses are more focused on emptying the pockets of their subordinates. This is the only "care" they do. In future when standard of devotion in supervisory workers is higher, these rules are likely to be followed in which case the situation will be better.

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