To: AM-GLOBAL
From:
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2010 17:41:16 -0000
Subject: News: Before Donating, Think Twice
Baba
== NEWS: BEFORE DONATING, THINK TWICE ==
Namaskar,
This letter is a call to all in AM and contains critical information for
everyone: Family margiis and workers.
When donated funds for social service are misused for selfish dealings,
then that is cause for alarm. Baba's stated mandate is that both (a)
those margiis who donate money and (b) those Wts who collect money are
jointly responsible for ensuring the funds are not misused in any way.
We should all then pay heed as this letter presents the details about
serious misconduct in this regard.
UNIQUE SYSTEM IN ANANDA MARGA
As our aim is not to point out wrongdoing but rather understand what is
right, here are some of Baba's important guidelines for our review.
Our Ananda Marga outlook is unique. Baba has devised the perfect system
where both family people and sannyasis have their alloted social duties.
Baba says, "What does a householder have to do? He has to maintain a
balance between the two families. One invariably has to look after and
expend for the small [unit] family, and, simultaneously, work for the
big [universal] family...Thus the householder has to maintain adjustment
between the two. But the sannya'sin has only one family – the big family
– so there is no question of adjustment." (AV-30)
Hence, householders look after the small and big family while wts are
fully dedicated for the welfare of the greater universal family. That is
Baba's designated system. This we all know.
This means that the sannyasis/wts are not on this earth to chase after
their own personal agenda, and they should not keep black money.
Baba says, "No worker can keep unaccounted money (black money) with
him." ("Six Additional Rules, Pt #1a)
Nowadays, however, there are cases where a few select workers are
grossly transgressing this code. We should all be aware of the following
cases and encourage our workers to again hold onto their social dharma -
i.e. serving society, not their own self-interest.
SPECIAL POINT OF TAPAH
Before we review the names of workers and what wrongs they have
committed, we should take a look at one important point. In His chapter
on tapah, Baba clearly warns us that it is the duty of those who donate
money to ensure it is properly utilized, otherwise they are party to
that negative outcome.
That means if we donate money to a wholetimer for a social service
project and if those funds get used instead for that wt's own business
endeavor or personal indulgence, then we become contributors to that sin
- and the whole spirit of service is lost.
Here is Baba's clear-cut explanation.
Baba says, "The opportunists will misuse your energy by extracting work
[and money] from you to serve their selfish ends, and at the same time
this will deprive the real sufferers of their due services from you. A
rich miser approaches you with a tale of woe and entreats you to give
him relief. Being moved with pity, if you do what is needed to relieve
him of his suffering, the very purpose of tapah will be defeated, as it
is without any knowledge or reasoning." (GHC)
Baba's warning then is that those who donate money must be critically
aware and informed about who is getting that money and how that money
will get used - otherwise their attempt at vaeshyacita seva (financial
service) is not only useless, but negative. So no margii can claim
ignorance or innocence when they give money for a project - it is the
margii's special duty to first investigate the situation before giving
funds. Thereafter it is the margii's duty to follow-up afterwards.
Baba says, "Therefore, while following the principle of tapah you should
ascertain fully well whether the person you are going to serve, really
needs your service. Only then should you engage yourself in service." (GHC)
We should keep the above point in mind while reading the below case
examples, as well as before we donate money in the future.
Please do keep in mind that none should come to the conclusion that all
Wt's are misusing our donations, only a few rotten apples are the real
culprits.
WHO IS INVOLVED
The first case noted below - which is a very recent happening - involves
a few Oriya workers. However as you read on, you will see that Wts from
around the globe are involved in these types of sinful works not just
those from a particular land or region. Any Wt who lost their sadhana
and spirit of selfless service has gotten caught up in this whirlpool of
deception. The root cause then is when a Wt forgets their dedicated
purpose in life.
Baba says, "Those who have the responsibility to show the path to others
should be of superlative character with the most refined conduct. They
and their followers must move constantly towards all-round development
and shreya [ultimate spiritual attainment]. Persons who teach such
well-regulated behaviour to others by their own conduct are called
a'ca'ryas." (AV-31)
We must always recall that the whole concept of being an a'ca'rya is
very noble. Wt's are not on this earth for lowly dealings like black
money scandals etc.
Indeed, Baba's blessing on any new worker is that they are going to
preach the gospel of AM ideology and spread the ideal of neo-humanism
across the universe. That is the way of our wts, in which case there is
no scope for the misuse of donated funds, or private business dealings
etc. Workers are not meant to live like scammers or industrialists. And
they should not get the respect of being a dedicated monk yet in
practice just involve in cheating or business.
THREE CLASSES OF ISSUES
Actually, at present, in this regard, there are three basic groups of
workers who are going against the ideal of being a'ca'rya:
The absolute worst category is those who collect donations and then
misuse those funds for their own gain.
The next group is very bad. They dress up as sannyasis but spend their
entire day doing business like some capitalist or industrialist.
The final category is just plain bad. They create a social service
project and appoint themselves as the top person and live there like a
mahant, i.e. like some dogmatic Hindu sannyasin who remains in one
ashram till their death. No doubt this group of Wts is doing some social
service, but they are not following our AM system of being acarya.
Thus there are three grades: (1) Worst, (2) very bad, and (3) bad.
THE WORST CATEGORY
Now let's take a look at some recent incidents. We will start with those
who are worst.
Here is case #1:
In Orissa, Dada Gunakarananda and his two Didis, Ananda Kaosikii (SWWS
Delhi sector) and Ananda Asisha (Suva SWWS), have been collecting money
and taking donations in the name of the Orissa samaj movement. And they
have used all those funds - which people gave to them in good faith -
for their own business venture and personal comfort. So it was a
complete betray of trust. This Dada and his two Didi followers (all of
whom hail from Orissa) have used all the donated money to construct a
3-story building in Jharsduda, near Dadaji's laokik home. Now they have
rented that building and they are personally earning profit each month
from the rent. And in the future, they will use this building as their
own private home. That is their grand plan. They are selfishly securing
their own future by this scam.
And shamefully, all these hundreds of thousands of rupees were collected
in the name of doing service to the Orissa samaj movemnt. When in fact
they are only constructing their own personal palace for when they
"retire".
These three - Ananda Ashisa, Ananda Kaosikii and Gunakarananda - plus
Didi Anuprabha are from Orissa have the plan to improve their own living
standard in Orissa. So they have decided to go to Suva sector without
the permission of their higher authority. That way they can collect
money etc.
Thereafter the plan is that these workers will settle in Orissa in the
future. They are building now in the name of samaj in order to have
their own personal palace later in life and not have any financial
worries. They will separate themselves from the main cluster of Wts
posted in Orissa.
Just prior to that, Didi Ananda Kaosikii built 5 rooms in Jharsguda on
land purchased by Dada Citkrsananda. There was half an acre for WWD it
was transfered in the name of WWD. But Dada Citkrsananda does not know
these 3 people, i.e. Dada Gunakarananda Ananda Kaosikii and Ananda
Asisha, have their own building and are making money by collecting rent.
This is all being done behind Dada Citkrsnanandaji's back.
Here is case #2:
Dayasheykarananda built a similar house in Bhagalpur - using donated
monies - and started collecting rent with the idea that he will go there
one day to live and retire. At one point Dada was keeping his cousin
there for security purposes.
Here is case #3:
Then there are those like Dada Aksarananda who collected money for
social service projects and then he sent those funds back to his laokik
parents.
Here is case #4:
Then there is the case of the late chief of VSS Shubabuddyananda in the
1990's. He left and retired in luxury after hiding money huge money he
collected in the name of donations for service projects.
REFLECTION ON THIS WORST GROUP
All these four cases come in the category of worst. And there are other
Wts in our Marga doing similar things like this as well.
Tragically, margiis are blindly giving money to these acaryas out of
their devotional feeling and these wts take that money for themselves
and the people who are truly suffering do not get what they need. This
is all sinful.
Such workers are like the demon Ravana who dressed up as a sannyasin and
betrayed the trust of the people by abducting Sita while wearing saffron
dress. Likewise these Wts wearing orange are creating negative
consequences that will have a terrible effect for years to come. Margiis
- and even the public - will think that all are workers just duplicitous
and selfish. So now it is the duty of good Wts to unmask those bad Wts.
That is the only way to save the situation.
VERY BAD CATEGORY
The next group of Wts come in the very bad category.
The unofficial leader of this group is Citkrsnananda. Such workers wear
their sannyasi uniform but they spend cent-per-cent of their day doing
business. Their minds are involved in making money 24/7. When they show
up at dharmackra they are greeted as being great sadhus who dedicated
their life for humanity, but they pass all their waking moments chasing
after the dollar for their own profit.
Everyone knows that Dada Citkrsnananda is a money wizard and spends all
his days doing business.
Pranavatmakananda has a similar background as he has used his financial
assets from his black money and smuggling days to become a modern era
money lender. He makes money by lending money to others. This is not the
way an acarya should live on this earth. Indeed no one should live like
this. Baba has labele money lending as sinful and against the code of
samyak ajiiva (right livelihood).
Then there is the case of Dada Rudradevananda who was working before in
Ands light. And then just 6 months ago he made a 3 story building in
Sambalpur near his laokik house. Now he is staying in that building and
running a school. Actually his case is either worst, very bad or bad. If
he used donated money to build his personal palace (i.e. that building)
then he is worst. If he got that money by doing business then he is very
bad. And if he got that money by doing business and is now doing social
service without any intention of leaving his palace, then he is bad. Let
Dadaji come forward and state his actual position.
THOSE WHO ARE BAD
Then there are the cases of those who are bad. They create service
projects and remain there as the head priest, mahant. No doubt they are
trying to serve others, but mostly they are creating a place for
themselves to live and they give up all other aspects of their acarya
duties.
A few notable wts in this bad category are Ananda Gaorii who is set-up
in Africa, Ananda Mitra in Brazil, and Dharmavedananda in Philippines.
They have permanently settled in their own projects and have abandoned
Baba's system of posting transfers and reporting etc. Many say that Didi
Ananda Mitra has totally changed her uniform to all white.
If every worker were to behave in this way, our entire Ananda Marga WT
system would be non-existent. There would be no reporting, no collective
spirit, no togetherness, no unity. All would their own keeper, like the
dogmatic Hindu sadhu system. All the years Baba guided us about having a
complete and integrated WT cadre and functioning organisation would be
totally lost. So others must not follow in the footsteps of Ananda Mitra
etc. That means the destruction of our AM Wt system and the demise of
our Marga.
WE MUST ALL BE AWARE
We must all be aware about what is going on. Those who are not thinking
that there is anything wrong and they continue to give donations are
part of the problem.
That said one should not stop giving money to good workers. Just we must
be aware about those Wts who are abusing the donation system.
The situation can be likened to those who kidnap small Indian children
and break their limbs and then force them to beg for a living. They then
exploit the sympathy of the public. Since the public is not educated
they give money, thereby perpetuating the cycle of child kidnapping.
Same is the case of those margiis who blindly give money to those
workers involved in sin, whether they be of the worst, very bad, or bad
category. By giving to those workers, the problem is perpetuated.
Those margiis who are aware about this situation should propagate the
truth and warn others. That is the best way otherwise sooner or later
the news will get out in a less savory fashion and things will be worse.
Nothing can be hidden in this internet era,; the news will leak out in
some way. If this situation is not fixed then margiis will not even give
for good causes.
On the top, those culprit Wts involved in this sin will face horrible
consequences. Prakrti will not spare them. Such monks should think and
live like a monk and depend on Parama Purusa, otherwise they should toss
away their dress.
BABA'S TEACHINGS FOR ACARYAS
In a nutshell here are some important rules that all Wts must follow.
Unfortunately those in the worst, very bad, and bad categories are
breaking most of all of these dharmic mandates given by Baba Himself:
1. No Wt should keep black money.
2. Wts are to surrender their everything at the alter of Parama Purusa
and accept Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji as their Father, Mother and
ultimate shelter.
3. Workers are not to think about their own personal wants and instead
watch for the welfare of society.
These basis tenets have been reiterated by Baba in countless rules and
instructions for Wts, thus it is shameful and sinful that a handful of
workers knowingly contravene these guidelines.
This should not be allowed to continue any longer. Either such workers
should mend their ways or no longer be looked at as acaryas.
Baba says, "A'ca'ran'a't pa'thayati yah sah a'ca'ryah-- 'One who teaches
through one's conduct is an acarya'. If you cannot learn anything from
the conduct and behaviour of a certain person, why should you accept that person as an
a'ca'rya." (AV, pt 23 p.150)
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace our Wt cadre should become grand again, and now wallow
in sinful pursuits.
Baba says:
"Mana na' ra'inga'ile ra'inga'ile yogi ka'par'a.
Saffron and red do not a yogi make
With mind undyed he remains a fake."
"Dye your mind with His colour. Those who have not done so cannot attain
Him, for this very coloration is Prema or Divine Love..."
"No external sign of Sa'dhuta' or virtue is necessary. Become sa'dhu
within. Behind the external show of virtuousness of many so-called sa'dhus exists a
pharisaic state of mind. Preserve the true dignity of the word, Sa'dhu."
"Mu'd'ha mu'ra'ye jata' v'ar'aye....
With shaven head or matted locks
And ashen body a Sadhu walks
With the swaggering gait of a well-fed buffalo.
And crude mind filled with thoughts mean and low."
"That is why I say that you must bring about a revolutionary change in
the flow of your judgment and thought, and see how, after overcoming
your fascination with external colour, your mind becomes tinged with the
His glorious colour." (SS-3)
Namaskar,
Parashram
Note: ENDLESS CYCLE
Various Wts are not discharging their duties properly so family people
in turn are also not taking certain responsibilities. This creates a
negative trend. Wts think that margiis are not supporting me so I should
do business and keep money for when I get old, and margiis think that
such workers have more money than I have, what is the need for me to
give them money. And round and round it goes. But this negative cycle
starts with the misconduct of certain wts. That is the root cause.
