= STORY: THROWING PERSON INTO THE WELL ==
Namaskar,
One Didi's "Commentary" book on Ananda Sutram puts forth one story that we
should deeply consider. In short, we must ask ourselves: Should her story
be followed or not. And, of course, the best way to get the answer is to
look at Baba's divine guidelines.
PART OF OUR BOUNDEN DUTY
Baba has given so many special teachings for the humanity, and as His
disciples our bounden duty is to: (a) Highlight those teachings, (b) expand
upon them, and (c) deliver those very teachings to the people-- in their
true form.
EXPECTATION ABOUT THIS "COMMENTARY" BOOK
So when one Didi has written her "Commentary" book on Ananda Sutram, then
we would expect for that book to be a clear representation of Baba's ideas.
Because after all, perhaps more completely than any other series of
discourses, the eternal and sublime truths which Baba has elucidated in
Ananda Sutram represent the very essence and full gamut of His AM ideology.
It only stands to reason then that any "Commentary" book on Ananda Sutram
should wholly consistent with AM ideals-- short of that we'd be forced to
think of that "Commentary" as a failure, most likely.
So let us come to the point at hand. Didiji has written one story in her
"commentary" of sutra 2-14 and we have to evaluate whether this should be
our approach or not, whether this represents Baba's teachings or not.
HOW TO OVERCOME DOGMA:
CONVINCE THE PEOPLE WITH LOGIC AND RATIONALITY
To begin then, in Neo-Humanism and throughout His vast teachings Baba
pointedly directs us that we are to overcome and eradicate all dogmas with
our logic and rationality. This is Baba's tried and true teaching which we
all know well, as He Himself has emphasized this point dozens and dozens of
times.
Baba says, "What will you do to counteract [dogmas like] geo-sentiment, to
safeguard yourself and also the collective body? (It is more important to
protect the collectivity than to save yourself.) First, you will study. And
what will you do to remove the defects in study? You will have to come to a
logical decision after examining the positive and negative sides. And then,
after reaching a conclusion, you will decide whether that conclusion will
be implemented or not; whether or not you will materialize that conclusion
will be decided on the basis of whether or not it is conducive to human
welfare. When you reach this final decision, this final desiderative point,
that is your conscience. Finally, through your conscience, you can
successfully combat [dogmas like] geo-sentiment." [NH-LOI: Disc 9]
So in His above teaching, Baba guides us that we are to save the humanity
from harmful dogmas through our logic and developed conscience. We are to
benevolently convince the people about the truth using our developed
intellect-- our logic and reasoning.
And here below Baba again emphasizes what our given approach should be to
eradicate dogma.
Baba says, "Many people have come into this world, who by their cunning
have instilled various dogmas in peoples' minds and exploited them in
various ways. Ultimately the greatest necessity to fight against them is
your conscience...You must keep your conscience ever-vigilant...In this way
you will have to fight against [domgas] through study and rationalistic
mentality. Keep your conscience ever-vigilant. Develop a firm rationalistic
mentality, and no one will be able to deceive you by false [dogmas]...You
will not only gain vocal strength, but become strong in all respects."
[NH-LOI: DIsc 9]
So by all this it is clear that we are to benevolently awaken the people
about dogmas through our logic, reasoning, and rationality. And by this way
we can surely bring all unto the path of welfare-- unto the path of Ananda
Marga.
WHAT DIDIJI'S SO-CALLED COMMENTARY SAYS
Unfortunately in her "Commentary" book, Didiji employs one story that gives
a vastly different perspective on the matter. In trying to explain sutra
2-14, Brahma satyam' jagadapi satyama'peks'ikam, Didji goes off the deep
end-- both figuratively and literally.
Because in her story, Didiji writes that when a pundit tried to preach a
false and dogmatic theory, then the people tortured that pundit again and
again by throwing him repeatedly into the bone-chilling, cold water of a
dark, deep well.
This is Didiji's given approach for dealing with dogma-- by physically
torturing a human being. She writes this in her "Commentary" book as if
this is something Baba advocates and that we should also do.
And here we must remember that this is not Didiji's personal
recommendation-- from her own personal memoir etc. Rather she was written
this crude and defective story in her so-called Commentary book on Ananda
Sutram. So anyone reading this story will be led to believe that this
harmful method is the teaching of Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji.
So the whole episode is a disaster. Because as we all know Baba's teaching
is something sublime and as His disciples we are to spread that eternal
truth, yet donned in her saffron garb and high prestige, Didiji writes
something that is 100% contradictory to Baba and then has the nerve to put
the name "Shrii Shrii Anandamurti" on the front cover of her book. As if
her words are just like Baba's, perfect illustrations of Ananda Sutram.
This is her audacity or what should we call it.
And tragically, because of Didiji's book, two very negative results will
happen: Baba's ideas are totally misrepresented and the people will get a
wrong approach about how to combat dogma.
THE DANGER INVOLVED
Some innocent or lazy people may think, 'Oh what is the harm-- Didiji's
story may be wrong, but at least she has written something so just let it
be etc'. This is what some may be thinking.
But we have to remember that the public is highly impressionable. What they
see, what they watch, what they hear-- they emulate. And the proof is that
is how people have become so absorbed in the defective ways of
pseudo-culture. Bad ideas are put forth in books and movies and the
unknowing public follows those things-- especially kids.
Who can forget the movie in India about the Ramayana where one scene showed
the monkey god Hanuman breaking off part of a mountain and repeating Rama's
name and then jumping and flying across the ocean to Sri Lanka. The scene
was depicted in such a real way that there was a rash of young kids who
started jumping off the 2nd and 3rd floors of their houses. It became so
bad that the public officials had to withdraw the film from the theaters.
Plus in the western cinemas, heroes & bad guys are regularly shown killing
people, robbing banks, and doing drugs etc. This is all highlighted in so
many books, films, and novels. And the impressionable public follows those
things.
Here the point is that people blindly follow whom they trust and whom they
admire and whom they want to be like. And the day is coming fast when the
world is moving towards the ways of Ananda Marga. They will be looking for
the very answers which we have-- which Baba has given.
But when some-- like this Didiji-- have badly misrepresented Baba's
teachings, and when throwing someone in a well or harming them physically
is so much easier than teaching them the proper way through logic and
reasoning, then the naive and unsuspecting public will easily be drawn to
Didi's faulty teaching. And they will think they are following Baba. This
is the hell that could easily happen. This is the very real danger involved.
Because a teenager who becomes attracted to AM will surely be surrounded by
others who are eating meat and mocking him about his meditation etc, and
then instead of keeping a cool mind and convincing his antagonisers about
the truth, that young, impressionable teenage may just give way to anger
and vent his fury and smash those people in the face-- or beat them with
sticks. All because he got that idea from Didiji's so-called Commentary
book. Such a scene will prove disastrous.
WE ARE GUIDES FOR THE HUMANITY
As Ananda Margiis, the public will one day see us as guides. They will not
study Baba's words at first. Rather they will watch our actions and listen
to what we say. We will be the intermediaries between them and Baba's
teachings. This is the way it works. So we have to be vigilant and ensure
our expression and conduct properly represent Baba's ideals. Otherwise the
public will be led astray.
But tragically that is the very problem we are facing with Didiji's
so-called Commentary book on Ananda Sutram. It defaces Baba's teachings.
That is why many call it a 'so-called' Commentary book, because page after
page it veers far, far from Baba's own ideals. Verily, there are dozens and
hundreds of mistakes, misnomers, and false representations in Didiji's book.
Yet still that book is being using in our WT training centres-- as if such
a "Commentary" book will instill Baba's ideal into our trainees.
So the whole thing is a debacle from beginning to end, and the best
approach at this point is to simply remove that fake Commentary book from
our bookshelves and AM libraries and get some qualified thinkers in AM to
either correct it, or if it cannot be corrected, then it should be thrown
into the ocean, never to return.
BABA'S WARNING
Here Baba clearly describes who is capable of properly explaining His
teachings and side by side He also warns us what happens when any pseudo
fellow or Didiji tries to do.
Baba says, "Without proper interpretation, the sha'stras remain difficult
to understand and sometimes unintelligible. Thus the scriptures should
always be interpreted by qualified scholars, competent philosophers, and
penetrating thinkers. If one tries to interpret a profound scripture with
superficial knowledge, the interpreter appears ridiculous and the audience
is confused." (NSS, Disc 14, 'Shivopadesha-4)
So we should not allow such things to happen with Baba's teachings.
Unfortunately, that is the very crude direction things are going with
Didiji's so-called Commentary book. That is why now, and not later, we
should take a definite course of action and not just let this book fester
on our shelves any longer.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace He has given us all the necessary teachings to guide the
humanity so we should be vigilant not to let faulty elaborations like
Didiji's to hound the society. By presenting Baba's ideas in a straight and
clear way, then surely we will bring all unto the path of welfare and the
people will realise the greatness of AM ideology.
Baba says, "A correct spiritual ideology is the only solution to the
problems confronting the world. From this perspective we can call Ananda
Marga ideology the philosophers' stone. Just as the philosophers' stone is
meant to transform everything into gold, Ananda Marga ideology can, most
definitely, find a just and rational solution whenever it is applied to any
problem." (POD #36)
Namaskar,
Mohini
Note 1: DIDIJI'S DEFECTIVE STORY
I was deliberating whether or not to type Didiji's full story here. In the
end I did type it but opted not to include it here-- in its entirety.
Because Didi Ananda Mitra's book is filled with many misguided ideas and
really everyone should grab a copy and see for themselves. And then while
that book is in their hand they should decide whether it should be placed
back on the shelf or tossed in the trash.
For your review, the said story described in this above letter appears in
Didi's "Commentary" book under her description of sutra 2-14. And the
paragraph containing that crude story-- where it says we should harm those
who preach dogmas-- begins and ends with the words:
"Once there was a pandita...finally the villagers became so frustrated with
him that one day they threw him down a well to teach him a lesson. It was
very cold water, and he cried loudly for help. 'Get me out of here'...The
villagers were furious and threw him right back into the well. This time,
half frozen, he begged...'please save me'." (From Didi Ananda Mitra so
called Commentary Book on Ananda Sutram)
This is how Didiji wrongly presents Baba's ideal about how to deal with
those preaching dogmas.
So decide for yourself and then take the proper action with Didi's book--
should it be kept or tossed. Just remember Baba's guideline that we are to
convince the followers of dogma with our logic, reasoning, and benevolent
intellect. And then see how Didiji advocates that we should instead just
torture such a person by throwing them into the depths of a well.
I have firm faith that all Margiis will make the right decision concerning
about what to do with Didiji's so-called Commentary Book.
Note 2: MORE POSTINGS ABOUT THIS SO-CALLED COMMENTARY BOOK
http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2010/04/harmful-book.html
http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2007/05/real-commentary-on-ananda-sutram-ii.html
http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2007/05/real-commentary-on-ananda-sutram.html
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Sadhana Problems and Solutions
Baba says, "After involving in mundane works one is generally plunged in
worldly thoughts. So then if one sits in sadhana, in the mind you will
think that 'Tomorrow I will go to Arariya town. Indeed I have to go in the
morning. I will have to catch the first bus'. You will sit in sadhana and
go on thinking like this. In this situation what should you do? Before
sitting for sadhana you should do kiirtan-- either 2 min, or 5 min, or 10
min. So first one should do kiirtan. Because by doing kiirtan the mind will
get elevated. After that immediately one should sit in sadhana. Then you
will see that there will not be any worldly thoughts. Then sadhana will be
proper...Do not worry you have learned sadhana and I am always ready to
help and serve you." (22 Nov 71 Purnea, Bihar)
Note: Every sincere Ananda Margii wants to do sadhana. Yet most of the time
this aforesaid problem occurs. And our Guru understands this. That is why
He has graciously given such a beautiful solution-- as mentioned above. I
think many may be following His divine guideline; and for those who are
not, they should do so from now onwards, i.e. sing kiirtan before doing
sadhana.
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