Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 12:15:43 +0530
To: AM-GLOBAL
From: "Deva_Sudhakar"
Subject: Baba's Guideline: Managing Tough Situations
Baba
BABA'S GUIDELINE:
MANAGING TOUGH SITUATIONS
Namaskar,
Life is full of ups and downs and unexpected situations. We all face
unexpected times and tough situations that make life overwhelming.
However, even then we will not be at a loss for how to proceed.
By Baba's grace, He has given us all the right practices and solutions
and addressed every circumstance.
In one particular English discourse delivered in Patna (1971), Baba
graciously gives us an exact 4-step sequence for what to do when we are
in an extremely difficult moment.
By following His below guideline, we are sure to be successful and
maintain proper adjustment and equipoise even in the most challenging
and unexpected situations.
UNEXPECTED OR EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES
The baby is sick...my father-in-law has fallen...my son got in a car
accident...my best friend was robbed...my deadline at work...my wife is
giving birth...my car broke down...I lost my wallet...my plane was
delayed....grandfather is dying...
So many unexpected and extreme situations arise in life. So many things
occur that are beyond our ability to plan - that take us away from our
daily routine.
Now in this 21st century, life is extremely busy. People are on the go
all the 24hrs. So when one big, unexpected event occurs, then life
becomes beyond our ability to manage. We cannot attend to our regular
duties as we are fully focused on dealing with the task at hand -
whether it be a birth, death, or something critical in between.
It is in that very extreme circumstance that we are to strictly adhere
to Baba's guideline. Then we will be in accordance with dharma and in
the best position to gain success and serve others.
MOST JUST EAT FIRST
When common citizens are overwhelmed with life, sleep deprived, and too
busy to take care of their basic duties such as eating and washing due
to a critical dire circumstance, then when they get a spare moment the
first thing they do is eat.
This is the common way most people proceed - or if they are really crude
they will have a smoke or a drink (i.e. alcohol).
In AM also, when submerged in a crises or tough situation - while none
of us will smoke or drink - some will indeed eat food the first moment
they get.
But this is not the proper approach. Baba's guideline is something
altogether different.
BABA'S SYSTEM: HOW TO PRIORITIZE
In His highly unique discourse from Patna in 1971, Baba gives us the
following formula for how to proceed in such situations.
When totally overwhelmed by a life circumstance and when thrown from our
daily routine, then Baba guides us that the first thing we should do is
sadhana.
So sadhana is #1.
In His divine discourse of 1971 Patna, Baba instructs us that even if we
have not eaten or bathed or done any of our regular duties because of
unforseen circumstances, then as soon as we get even as little as 5
minutes free, then we should do sadhana.
Because we are mental beings, and by doing sadhana even for just 5
minutes our mental equipoise will be restored. So Baba's gives top
priority to doing sadhana.
Then if we have a little more time then we should bathe.
So taking a bath is #2.
With the mental stamina attained from sa'dhana', then we next address
our physical body and attend to basic human hygiene. Taking a bath,
according to the AM system, will allow us to further revitalise ourselves.
Thereafter, when we have done 5 minutes of sadhana and taken a bath,
then Baba says we should take some time to relax.
So relaxation is #3.
Here relaxation does not mean rest or sleep. Actually in the discourse
Baba makes a joke that one should only take rest when they reach the
funeral pyre - not before. Everyone in attendance laughed.
The main point is that rest and relaxation are two different things. By
relaxation, Baba means taking a few minutes to calm the body and settle
the mind. It allows a person come back to their normal flow - reach a
state of balance. This period of relaxation might just be for a few
minutes, but it is very important to do.
Finally, after doing short sadhana, taking bath, and relaxing, then one
should eat.
So eating is #4.
Taking food is the final step of this unique sequence which Baba has
given in this 1971 English discourse in Patna. And by eating Baba of
course means taking sentient food in a calm manner, chewing thoroughly
and keeping the mind in a positive mode.
So these are Baba's step-wise guidelines for how to proceed when
encumbered by difficult life circumstances wherein one is thrown from
their normal routine.
MOST PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE
Of course most of the world's population is totally unaware of Baba's
teachings so when they get embroiled in a difficult situation, then they
do not know how to proceed and their whole life falls into turmoil. In
that case, it is not just a single event, but rather their entire course
of life gets negatively affected. In addition to the problem at hand
like an accident or family death etc, they may get sick, suffer from
exhaustion, or fall prey to depression. Or not knowing what to do they
may even get in a fight, injure someone, or unnecessarily abuse a loved
one. All these things may happen in the heat of the moment.
If we follow Baba's above mandate, however, we will always keep the mind
in proper flow whereby everything will turn out as best as possible. The
situation will not get compounded by other problems due to our own
negligence.
IMPORTANCE OF SADHANA
By His system of prioiritization, it is quite clear that Baba gives
great importance to sadhana. And of course in so many discourses Baba
tells us that sadhana is the main thing in life.
Baba says, "The main purpose of human beings coming here to this earth
is to do spiritual practice...Sa'dhana' is the main theme of life.
Whatever you do in the world, you should do it with a view to promote
your sa'dhana' and help the sa'dhana' of others. Human beings come to
earth to practise sa'dhana', to move closer to Iishvara, the Supreme
Goal – to come closer to Parama Purus'a [Supreme Consciousness]. Thus,
the deeds of human beings will not be like the deeds of animals.
Whatever human beings will do, they will do in such a manner that the
progress in their sa'dhana' will go on accelerating." (YP)
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace our lives are most blessed. He has given us the exact
procedure to deal with every event in life - even unexpected ones. By
this way we can get success in every circumstance and always abide by
the tenets of dharma.
So always remember: First is sadhana, second is bath, third is
relaxation, and fourth is food. If we keep this system in mind and
follow it, then we will be in the best position to handle every and any
situation that comes in life.
Namaskar,
Sudhakar
PS Intro: In the life of a sadhaka sometimes sadhana is good and one
feels very close proximity to Parama Purusa-- Baba. Then everything in
life is pleasing & charming: Blissful. Naturally though, over the course
of their systaltic movement, sadhakas inevitably experiences a phase of
pause in their sadhana. In that time deep, devotional spiritual ideation
and strong sadhana are almost impossible; instead the mind becomes dry.
One's surroundings become tasteless and in the heart the sadhaka starts
to feel that 'something is missing'. Because in the absence of the
Divine Entity-- Baba-- one's surroundings become bland & mundane. Even
then in the hearts of good sadhakas, they still have deep longing for
Parama Purusa-- Baba. And that blissful, devotional yearning is known as
melancholic longing. In the following song, this entire idea has been
expressed through the metaphor of the bakul flower garden etc.
PRABHAT SAMGIITA
"Jabe ei path diye esechile, viithika' pus'pe bhara' chilo..." (PS 2141)
Purport:
Baba, when You came to my home by this path, that time the garden lane
was full of sweet, fragrant flowers. By Your divine presence, my mind
became spiritually intoxicated with the divine aroma of those flowers.
On that occasion also the flow of songs was floating in the air. Baba,
since You did not come, even today that bakul flower lane is just lying
there vacant-- unused. Innumerable flowers have fallen and become one
with the dust. Where has that sweet flower fragrance of the bakul flower
gone. Now all its aroma is completely dried up. O' my dearmost, since
You have not come to this lane for so long, everyone has forgotten how
beautiful and charming that garden was. Because of Your presence.
Baba, anyhow still today the flowers on the trees are surviving, but due
to Your absence, the garden lane has lost all its charm. So those trees
are just weeping thinking how the days of old were so charming and
blissful in Your presence. Because in those days You showered Your grace
by coming down that garden lane. Those days were so magnificent and
blissful. But now You are not coming. So by remembering Your august
visit those trees are very unhappy. Their melancholic tears have totally
drenched the garden lane. And those trees repeat again and again that
despite having everything: The flower, the lane, the atmosphere, and
greenery-- despite all these things, in the absence of the One, i.e. You
Baba, this entire world becomes utterly meaningless and empty.
Baba, please be gracious. Do not remain distant-- always remain inside
my heart. Baba, please grace me so that I always feel Your divine
presence...
***************************************
In Real Sense Everyone's Language is Same
Baba says, "Either from the psycho-physical or theoretical viewpoint, all
the people of the world have the same language. This is because the essence
of language, that is idea, is one and the same for all languages. Phonetics
may differ amongst languages because of differences in geographical
environment, which causes differences in racial and ethnic factors and
results in variations in the biological structure of the vocal chord. Thus
when the idea to drink water appears in the mind, then human beings may
express this idea differently. Some say, A'mi jal kha'ba while others say,
Mu jala pivu, and others say I want to drink water. Behind these different
expressions is the same idea." (AFPS-9)
***************************************
To: AM-GLOBAL
From: "Deva_Sudhakar"
Subject: Baba's Guideline: Managing Tough Situations
Baba
BABA'S GUIDELINE:
MANAGING TOUGH SITUATIONS
Namaskar,
Life is full of ups and downs and unexpected situations. We all face
unexpected times and tough situations that make life overwhelming.
However, even then we will not be at a loss for how to proceed.
By Baba's grace, He has given us all the right practices and solutions
and addressed every circumstance.
In one particular English discourse delivered in Patna (1971), Baba
graciously gives us an exact 4-step sequence for what to do when we are
in an extremely difficult moment.
By following His below guideline, we are sure to be successful and
maintain proper adjustment and equipoise even in the most challenging
and unexpected situations.
UNEXPECTED OR EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES
The baby is sick...my father-in-law has fallen...my son got in a car
accident...my best friend was robbed...my deadline at work...my wife is
giving birth...my car broke down...I lost my wallet...my plane was
delayed....grandfather is dying...
So many unexpected and extreme situations arise in life. So many things
occur that are beyond our ability to plan - that take us away from our
daily routine.
Now in this 21st century, life is extremely busy. People are on the go
all the 24hrs. So when one big, unexpected event occurs, then life
becomes beyond our ability to manage. We cannot attend to our regular
duties as we are fully focused on dealing with the task at hand -
whether it be a birth, death, or something critical in between.
It is in that very extreme circumstance that we are to strictly adhere
to Baba's guideline. Then we will be in accordance with dharma and in
the best position to gain success and serve others.
MOST JUST EAT FIRST
When common citizens are overwhelmed with life, sleep deprived, and too
busy to take care of their basic duties such as eating and washing due
to a critical dire circumstance, then when they get a spare moment the
first thing they do is eat.
This is the common way most people proceed - or if they are really crude
they will have a smoke or a drink (i.e. alcohol).
In AM also, when submerged in a crises or tough situation - while none
of us will smoke or drink - some will indeed eat food the first moment
they get.
But this is not the proper approach. Baba's guideline is something
altogether different.
BABA'S SYSTEM: HOW TO PRIORITIZE
In His highly unique discourse from Patna in 1971, Baba gives us the
following formula for how to proceed in such situations.
When totally overwhelmed by a life circumstance and when thrown from our
daily routine, then Baba guides us that the first thing we should do is
sadhana.
So sadhana is #1.
In His divine discourse of 1971 Patna, Baba instructs us that even if we
have not eaten or bathed or done any of our regular duties because of
unforseen circumstances, then as soon as we get even as little as 5
minutes free, then we should do sadhana.
Because we are mental beings, and by doing sadhana even for just 5
minutes our mental equipoise will be restored. So Baba's gives top
priority to doing sadhana.
Then if we have a little more time then we should bathe.
So taking a bath is #2.
With the mental stamina attained from sa'dhana', then we next address
our physical body and attend to basic human hygiene. Taking a bath,
according to the AM system, will allow us to further revitalise ourselves.
Thereafter, when we have done 5 minutes of sadhana and taken a bath,
then Baba says we should take some time to relax.
So relaxation is #3.
Here relaxation does not mean rest or sleep. Actually in the discourse
Baba makes a joke that one should only take rest when they reach the
funeral pyre - not before. Everyone in attendance laughed.
The main point is that rest and relaxation are two different things. By
relaxation, Baba means taking a few minutes to calm the body and settle
the mind. It allows a person come back to their normal flow - reach a
state of balance. This period of relaxation might just be for a few
minutes, but it is very important to do.
Finally, after doing short sadhana, taking bath, and relaxing, then one
should eat.
So eating is #4.
Taking food is the final step of this unique sequence which Baba has
given in this 1971 English discourse in Patna. And by eating Baba of
course means taking sentient food in a calm manner, chewing thoroughly
and keeping the mind in a positive mode.
So these are Baba's step-wise guidelines for how to proceed when
encumbered by difficult life circumstances wherein one is thrown from
their normal routine.
MOST PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE
Of course most of the world's population is totally unaware of Baba's
teachings so when they get embroiled in a difficult situation, then they
do not know how to proceed and their whole life falls into turmoil. In
that case, it is not just a single event, but rather their entire course
of life gets negatively affected. In addition to the problem at hand
like an accident or family death etc, they may get sick, suffer from
exhaustion, or fall prey to depression. Or not knowing what to do they
may even get in a fight, injure someone, or unnecessarily abuse a loved
one. All these things may happen in the heat of the moment.
If we follow Baba's above mandate, however, we will always keep the mind
in proper flow whereby everything will turn out as best as possible. The
situation will not get compounded by other problems due to our own
negligence.
IMPORTANCE OF SADHANA
By His system of prioiritization, it is quite clear that Baba gives
great importance to sadhana. And of course in so many discourses Baba
tells us that sadhana is the main thing in life.
Baba says, "The main purpose of human beings coming here to this earth
is to do spiritual practice...Sa'dhana' is the main theme of life.
Whatever you do in the world, you should do it with a view to promote
your sa'dhana' and help the sa'dhana' of others. Human beings come to
earth to practise sa'dhana', to move closer to Iishvara, the Supreme
Goal – to come closer to Parama Purus'a [Supreme Consciousness]. Thus,
the deeds of human beings will not be like the deeds of animals.
Whatever human beings will do, they will do in such a manner that the
progress in their sa'dhana' will go on accelerating." (YP)
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace our lives are most blessed. He has given us the exact
procedure to deal with every event in life - even unexpected ones. By
this way we can get success in every circumstance and always abide by
the tenets of dharma.
So always remember: First is sadhana, second is bath, third is
relaxation, and fourth is food. If we keep this system in mind and
follow it, then we will be in the best position to handle every and any
situation that comes in life.
Namaskar,
Sudhakar
PS Intro: In the life of a sadhaka sometimes sadhana is good and one
feels very close proximity to Parama Purusa-- Baba. Then everything in
life is pleasing & charming: Blissful. Naturally though, over the course
of their systaltic movement, sadhakas inevitably experiences a phase of
pause in their sadhana. In that time deep, devotional spiritual ideation
and strong sadhana are almost impossible; instead the mind becomes dry.
One's surroundings become tasteless and in the heart the sadhaka starts
to feel that 'something is missing'. Because in the absence of the
Divine Entity-- Baba-- one's surroundings become bland & mundane. Even
then in the hearts of good sadhakas, they still have deep longing for
Parama Purusa-- Baba. And that blissful, devotional yearning is known as
melancholic longing. In the following song, this entire idea has been
expressed through the metaphor of the bakul flower garden etc.
PRABHAT SAMGIITA
"Jabe ei path diye esechile, viithika' pus'pe bhara' chilo..." (PS 2141)
Purport:
Baba, when You came to my home by this path, that time the garden lane
was full of sweet, fragrant flowers. By Your divine presence, my mind
became spiritually intoxicated with the divine aroma of those flowers.
On that occasion also the flow of songs was floating in the air. Baba,
since You did not come, even today that bakul flower lane is just lying
there vacant-- unused. Innumerable flowers have fallen and become one
with the dust. Where has that sweet flower fragrance of the bakul flower
gone. Now all its aroma is completely dried up. O' my dearmost, since
You have not come to this lane for so long, everyone has forgotten how
beautiful and charming that garden was. Because of Your presence.
Baba, anyhow still today the flowers on the trees are surviving, but due
to Your absence, the garden lane has lost all its charm. So those trees
are just weeping thinking how the days of old were so charming and
blissful in Your presence. Because in those days You showered Your grace
by coming down that garden lane. Those days were so magnificent and
blissful. But now You are not coming. So by remembering Your august
visit those trees are very unhappy. Their melancholic tears have totally
drenched the garden lane. And those trees repeat again and again that
despite having everything: The flower, the lane, the atmosphere, and
greenery-- despite all these things, in the absence of the One, i.e. You
Baba, this entire world becomes utterly meaningless and empty.
Baba, please be gracious. Do not remain distant-- always remain inside
my heart. Baba, please grace me so that I always feel Your divine
presence...
***************************************
In Real Sense Everyone's Language is Same
Baba says, "Either from the psycho-physical or theoretical viewpoint, all
the people of the world have the same language. This is because the essence
of language, that is idea, is one and the same for all languages. Phonetics
may differ amongst languages because of differences in geographical
environment, which causes differences in racial and ethnic factors and
results in variations in the biological structure of the vocal chord. Thus
when the idea to drink water appears in the mind, then human beings may
express this idea differently. Some say, A'mi jal kha'ba while others say,
Mu jala pivu, and others say I want to drink water. Behind these different
expressions is the same idea." (AFPS-9)
***************************************
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