== ABORTION AND ACARYA DIARY ==
Namaskar,
In our Ananda Marga, human life is regarded as something sacred and
precious. That is why when, around the globe, unborn babes are aborted
each and every day, then as Ananda Margiis we should have our definite
stance. We should know Baba's viewpoint and follow it, lest we fall into
the pseudo-philosophies & quagmires of the day.
THIS IS NOT MY OPINION
Although this issue of abortion is a hot topic, we should approach it
with equanimity and rationality. Any margii doctor who may have
performed abortions, and any Ananda Margii who may have chosen, directly
or indirectly, to abort an unborn child, should distance themselves from
their own views and actions, and grab onto Baba's lotus feet and adopt
His guideline.
What is expressed in this letter is not my opinion. I am neither part of
the so-called progressive, 'pro-choice' community, nor am I a member of
the dogmatic religious 'right-to-life' constituency. Just I am an Ananda
Margii trying to understand Guru's teaching-- and follow it.
MURDER IS A HEINOUS CRIME, NAY A SIN
In Ananda Marga, murder is looked upon as a most dastardly deed; it is
sinful. Under no conditions are we to murder anyone, especially not an
innocent, defenseless babe. We should never knowingly terminate the life
of any living being. We are to adopt the theorem, 'Live and let live'.
The right to life is a cardinal human value-- the courts or prevailing
governing bodies cannot override this. Regardless of what the laws may
say, to knowingly and intentionally destroy the life of a living being
is nothing short of murder-- and therefore a sin.
The question with abortion then is, when does human life begin: (a) When
a baby is developing in the mother's womb or (b) when a baby emerges
from the birth canal.
Here below in Acarya Diary, Baba directly states the answer.
ACARYA GUIDELINE: LIFE STARTS IN THE WOMB
In the 'Pranayama' chapter of our Acarya Diary, Baba describes the
process of breathing and how it relates with life and death.
Baba tells how death occurs on the exhale and life begins on an inhale.
Now here comes the critical point: Baba tells that when an old person
dies upon their final exhalation, then their next inhalation occurs when
their next life begins as an embryo in the mother's womb. That is Baba's
direct guideline.
The key point then is that Baba is clearly defining that life begins
inside the mothers womb. That developing embryo, that unborn babe, is
indeed alive. That human embryo is a living, breathing being.
In that case, we have no right to curtail or destroy the life of that
unborn child, irregardless of the circumstances.
So every abortion is a direct contravention of Baba's divine teaching.
ABORTION IS A HEINOUS CRIME, NAY A SIN
No matter what the doctors may say, no matter what the social workers
may say, no matter what the judges in the court may say, each and every
abortion is a violation of cardinal human values. To abort a baby is to
commit a sin.
Baba says, "If the violation is in the spiritual code, rather the
religious code, it is termed as 'sin'. If the violation is against the
legal code it is known as 'crime'." (AFPS-6)
If one breaks the law, one may be able to hide from the sheriff, the
police, and the courts etc, but when one commits a sin, a distinct
samskara is formed, and one can never escape. It is impossible.
Baba says, "You are free to act, but you are bound to undergo the
reaction. The moment you do an act you acquire the possibility of its
reaction. Simultaneously with the performance of an act is being done,
the seed for its reaction is also sown and its consequences have to be
undergone. There is no escape from it. It is not within your right to
get rid of it or to escape its fruits and consequences." (SS-1, 'Yajina
and Karmaphala')
So there is no escape for those who are involved in aborting babes. The
termination of that human life carries a dark samskara. It is the
equivalent of murder and one will have to undergo that reaction. There
is no alternative.
WE SHOULD FOLLOW AM
& NOT BE SWAYED BY SO-CALLED PROGRESSIVES
In our modern society, abortions are performed on a daily basis--
everywhere. And so-called progressives have embraced this policy.
Because the church is mostly looked upon as being dogmatic, then one
becomes a "progressive" simply by going against the mandates of the church.
But this fake definition of progressive plays no role in the life of an
Ananda Margii.
Our view of progressive means to follow Baba's teachings of Prout and
Neo-humanism, i.e. to follow AM ideology.
And when AM ideology directly states that human life begins in the
mother's womb, then we should not get confused by or lost in the garble
of so-called progressives who think that following the church is archaic
and therefore the policy of abortion should be embraced.
No Ananda Margii should fall prey to that false logic.
DO NOT DESTROY YOUR FUTURE
Nor should any Ananda Margii destroy their future by involving in the
heinous and deplorable act of abortion. Because, regardless of who you
are, whether a doctor, an expecting mother, or the biological father, in
all cases to choose the dark ways of abortion is to invite a serious
black cloud in the future.
Because every action begets a reaction. Harming and killing an unborn
babe is the equivalent of murder (unpardonable sin) and one will have to
undergo that samskara.
By being aware of Baba's guideline on abortion, we can save ourselves
from such heinous reactions in the future.
So all should be aware-- make the right choices in life-- and stay clear
from abortion. By that way one can ensure that their future remains
bright. That is the policy of Ananda Marga. To go against it by aborting
babies is to invite all kinds of problems and suffering.
BABA'S BLESSING
Here Baba guides that to be a true sadhaka we must respect the rights of
all living beings-- even the those of the unborn child. Everyone want to
survive and live their life; no one should put an end to this inherent
desire by aborting unborn babies.
Baba says, "Have mercy on all living beings."
Pra'n'a'h yatha'tmano...
"Just as your life is extremely dear to you, similarly the lives of
others are equally dear to them. A person who thinks thus and shows
mercy on other creatures is really a sa'dhu, or virtuous person." (Yoga
Psychology, 'Instinct & Devotion)
Namaskar,
Mantreshvar
Note 1: IN NO STAGE OF PREGNANCY IS IT ACCEPTABLE
Doing an abortion is sinful. In many places it is not illegal, but
according to the view of Ananda Marga, it is certainly sinful. Because
each and every human being has the right to live, and to prematurely end
that life, irregardless of the stage of pregnancy, is most definitely a
sin.
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Fish Eating People
Baba says, "Fish eat all kinds of things. Because of this, the positive
qualities of those foods which they eat they may or may not get; but,
certainly they get the negative qualities or defects of those foods
which they eat. In addition, fish quarrel so much among themselves; they
are quarrel mongers. They eat each other; they feel jealous towards one
another; and also they have the tendency to wander around aimlessly in
an indisciplined, disorderly manner. Because of these negative
qualities of fish, since ages there has been the feeling amongst the
general public that those who are fish eaters, they get contaminated by
these same defects." (SC-20, Bangla, Disc #156)
Note: Amongst all of India, the most densely populated fish-eating area
is Bengal. Indeed, Baba says that the main population of Bengal are
kaevarta (fisherman community). In total there are a huge number of
lakes, ponds, rivers, and water sources in Bengal; that is why fish
flourish there. Thus in Bengal fish are known as water fruit.
Except for very strict devoted margiis, most of them like to eat fish.
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