== BABA STORY ABOUT DEGENERATED WT ==
Namaskar,
In the April 1988 ERAWS LFT reporting session in front of Baba, everyone
was in a spirited mood. And as per the custom all the Lfts appeared before
Baba in their saffron gown; and later when only the male Lfts remained,
then we removed that upper garment for the concluding section of the
reporting with Baba. This was the regular way.
In that setting, Baba raised one point to an LFT who was the in-charge of
one block-level school. The matter was brought that why he, the
school-in-charge, had hired a teacher who had the negative habit of smoking
and why was this teacher still being allowed to smoke on the school
premises.
IN REPORTING BABA REVEALS THE SCENE TO ALL
Then in the due course of that memorable reporting session Baba revealed in
front of all that the school-in charge, i.e. the LFT, was suffering from
some misguided sentimental attachment for that teacher whom he had hired.
More than this Baba did not say at that moment. Just Baba told that it was
due to this weakness that the Lft had employed that teacher at his school.
Even though the Lft was fully aware that it is wrong to employ one smoker
as the teacher in our AM schools.
Then in dramatic fashion Baba step by step uncovered the entire history and
secrets. Such that by the end of the reporting session, all these following
points came to the surface.
First Baba revealed that the teacher who smoked was previously an acarya,
an avadhuta specifically. But then unfortunately that avadhuta got terribly
degenerated due to his own poor choices and actions. And he started
involving in all sorts of negative things. He was involved in one scandal
after another. Even then the possibility was there to rectify himself. But
ultimately this worker sealed his own fate by leaving his avadhutaship and
WT-ship. Thus he broke his oaths, and in a very short period he stopped
following 16 points and took on all sorts of disgusting habits like smoking
etc. Baba disclosed these facts in front of all.
Even then there is more to the story...
Because Baba furthermore told that this ex-Wt got involved with a
non-margii female and ultimately he got married after so many nonsense
affairs. This is the black history of that ex-WT. Not surprisingly then in
that degenerated condition this ex-avadhuta could not get any job either
and he was having serious financial problems. So then one day--even though
he had this crude smoking habit and was still engaging in all sorts of
anti-social behaviors-- that degenerated ex-avadhuta shamelessly knocked
on the door of our AM school in hopes of getting employed as a school
teacher.
Now here comes the intriguing part...
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THAT EX-WT & THE LFT
That ex-avadhuta went to that particular school in search of a job because
in those days of old when he was still wearing an avadhuta uniform, then he
was the one who initiated the AM school-in-charge, i.e the LFT. So this
ex-avadhuta was the acarya of the that LFT. And by relying on that outdated
link, he cunningly got himself the position of teacher. How? By taking
advantage of the old, sentimental feelings of that LFT whom he had
initiated years earlier. That is how this whole negative scenario happened.
Because after all, right or wrong, the Lft still felt indebted to that
degenerated avadhuta since he had received his initiation from him. Means
in his own mind, the confused Lft was still holding a lot of respect for
that ex-WT. He felt some allegiance for him. And with his limited
understanding that LFT reasoned that: Good or bad, whatever his conduct may
be, still he is my acarya. This was the way that Lft school-in-charge was
thinking; and with that sentimental attachment he hired that degenerated
ex-WT as a school teacher.
Baba revealed all this in that ERAWS LFT reporting session.
Then Baba definitively told there was only one single cause behind this
entire negative affair. Baba explained that all this happened because the
LFT was wrongly thinking that this degenerated avadhuta was still his
acarya.
At that point, by getting Baba's important guideline, we all understood how
the whole situation went sour. On the one hand the degenerated avadhuta
knew he could get success by capitalising on the Lft's sentimental
attachment for him. And on the other hand, in his naivete, innocence, and
blind attachment, the Lft school-in-charge was living under the delusion
that this ex-wt was his acarya. So he was holding a lot of respect for the
ex-avadhuta and was still doing pranam to him etc. But by Baba's way of
explaining and dealing, we understood how the school-in-charge was off the
mark.
DEGENERATED EX-WTS ARE NOT ACARYAS
The overall point was that we should not think that those degenerated
persons who left their WT ships are still the acaryas of those persons
whom they initiated. No one should think like this. Because those
degenerated ex-Wts have nothing to do with being acarya.
And in that very reporting session, BABA Himself told, "A'ca'ran'a't
pa'thayati yah sah a'ca'ryah", meaning : one who teaches through one's own
conduct is an acarya.
Like this we understood that an acarya is one who lives by an ideal code of
conduct and who has not broken their acarya oaths by leaving their WT ship.
So those persons who left their WT-ship etc and all their practices and got
wrapped up in all sorts of negative dealings, they are not anybody's acarya
anymore. This was one the main thing we all learned in that reporting
session.
BABA'S SPECIAL EDICT: "I AM YOUR ACARYA"
However Baba revealed one other very special point in that reporting
session. He told that for those persons whose acarya got degenerated and
left, then they should think that Guru is their acarya. Means those cases
where an acarya has left the mission, then for his initiates Guru will take
on the role of acarya for those sadhakas. Thus for them, Baba will act both
as Guru and Acarya.
So that was one special benefit or outcome in all of this.
FIRE THAT EX-WT FROM THE SCHOOL
At the end of the LFT reporting session, Baba also gave the immediate order
that the degenerated ex-avadhuta who was smoking & holding the position of
teacher, it was ordered that he should be removed from his job immediately.
Means that degenerated ex-WT was no longer allowed to work at the school.
And not only that, this ex-WT should be taken away from the school premises
as quickly as possible. Because such a degenerated person has no right to
teach in our AM schools. All this Baba told in fiery voice.
NO UNDUE RESPECT GIVEN TO EX-WORKERS
By this entire reporting session with Baba, many points became clear. The
main one being that undue respect and importance should not be given to
degenerated ex-Wts. None should think that these persons are still
something great or that they are still dedicated ones. Because in fact they
are not anybody's acarya. Indeed Baba made this point crystal clear that
day in the reporting session.
Since then most people understand that no one should foolishly hold those
degenerated ex-Wts in high regard. Unfortunately around our Marga there
still seems to be widespread confusion about all this. So step by step we should
ensure that everyone gets clear on this point.
BABA'S BLESSING
With devotion to Baba and understanding who is who and what is what, we are
sure to build that new social order. That is Baba's blessing.
Baba says, "The newly awakened humanity of today is anxious to herald the
advent of one universal society under the vast blue sky." (PNS-7, p.9)
Namaskar,
Priyanath
Note 1: THE SEED OF CONFUSION
Throughout some recently published AM materials certain degenerated acaryas
have gotten top billing and been presented as still being something great
because for one or another reason the margii author etc has failed to
inform the readers that "such & such -ananda" is no longer in uniform and
instead is sunk in various crude activities. One name that comes up time
and again in this regard is the old Vimalananda. Not the current
Vimalananda but the one previous who came flying through NY sector in those
early days and initiated many persons before ultimately getting stuck up in
so many negative affairs and leaving his acaryaship. But still when certain
old margiis recount stories from the early days then with full blown glory
they talk about the greatness of that Vimalananda-- when in reality that
Vimalananda is no more, just one faded figure of the history. This type of
thing has occurred on multiple pages of the book 'I am Yours' written by NY
sector margiis. So that is one instance of confusion. And this occurs with
various persons such as the old Vishokananda who became a traitor to Baba
etc. And there are others…
Then in another common case, some former Wts arrive with their female
partner & offspring or with their "special someone" at various AM retreats
and functions. And on some occasions our present acaryas start giving undue
respect and importance to this fallen person. True enough in all cases it
is not like that-- especially if that ex-WT was imbalanced as an acarya.
But in other cases when those ex-Wts were deemed as someone great when they
were acarya and when after they left their acaryaship then to satisfy their
little ego they got one Ph.D. degree, then it is commonly seen that these
fallen souls are heralded as some type of saviour. And they are presented
as some prize-winning speaker or realised intellectual etc at the retreat.
When the truth is they are just one sorry fellow who broke their oath to
Baba, usually got 'caught' in some unseemly act, and in general could not
manage Sixteen Points etc.
But we see in many cases that even after all this, some fallen ex-Wts
stride around the campus with their new found initials-- Ph.D.-- and
pretend that they are leading personalities. And others in their confusion
or in attachment to the past think of that former WT as some sadvripra etc.
However that is not true. But unfortunately even some WTs and margiis blow
the bugle of that ex-WT, claiming that he is still something fantastic. So
this is their misperception and best will be if those fallen Wts themselves
come to the retreats with folded hands and just act as someone fortunate to
be allowed to attend. Or even better if they explain to one and all that
their example is not ideal, rather something lowly. How far such ex-Wts are
ready to do this is another matter but certainly strutting around the
retreat grounds as if they are some high-born Brahmin is just their delusion
and hypocritical way. Nor should their names appear in golden letters on
the retreat flier as if we are all blessed to hear them speak. On this
point we should all be clear and be firm on Baba's dharmic policy.
Lastly, while there are a few names that can be pointed out about all this,
in general most know who they are so just presenting the overall scene is
sufficient in this instance.
NOTE 2: LIFE OF DEDICATED SERVICE IS EVERYTHING
Living acarya life in true sense is the great work; to live a life of 100%
service to Guru and to the humanity. And if one cannot follow this then
they should humbly accept their fate and not start touting themselves as a
genius in some other type of mundane field since they got a shiny, new
Ph.D. or fancy job title. These types of mundane achievements pale in
comparison to living acarya life and in most circumstances fallen Wts get
these titles in order to cover their bruised egos.
NOTE 3: THE MEANING OF DEGENERATED
In this entire topic, the term 'degenerated' has two meanings. First for
those who leave their WT ships, and second about those still in uniform yet
indulge in negative behaviors. Both cases are degenerated and in neither
instance should one be glorified or thought of as acarya. Those following
groupism etc also come in this second category of degeneration.
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This following example of Baba gives this direction: That we should give
first priority to honoring those whom nobody gives honor.
Baba says, "To those who think for all...
Who offer others seats of honour and respect...
Who venerate others, instead of waiting to be venerated--
To them I dedicate this book with humble esteem, and deepest salutations."
(NH-LOI, Dedication)
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