It is Not a Joke

To: AM-GLOBAL
Subject: It is Not a Joke
Date: Mon 25 Jul 2011 13:37:49 +0500 (IST)
From: Ram Sahay Deva

Baba

Introduction to Prabhat Samgiita #3007:

In this song, Baba explains how even though some sadhakas are aware
about sadhana, the do's and don'ts of life, and the disciplined system
of practice, they can't follow the cult properly because of the various
pashas [bondages] and ripus [internal enemies]. However, by Baba's
grace, if in the corner of their heart there is devotion, then they will
feel in their heart that the Lord will help them reach the final Goal.

In this song, Baba has come to the sadhaka and the sadhaka is
communicating with Him. During the first few minutes, i.e. the first
stanza, the sadhaka is speaking indirectly to Him and telling: You
promised me in dhyana that You would come, and now You have come so
please grace me.

Prabhat Samgiita #3007:

Ke jeno a'sia' marme pashiya',
Bolilo- madhu ma'se a'sibe-

Mor jata dos'a mane ca'pa' ros'a,
S'amiya'- karun'a'- karibe-,
Bolilo- madhu ma'se a'sibe-

Path dekha'yecho path bujhiya'chi
A'--------------------------------a'
Path dekha'yecho path bujhiya'chi
A'lasye upeks'a' karechi---
Jene shune bhu'l pathe caliya'chi
Bharosa'- holo smita ha'sibe-,
Bolilo- madhu ma'se a'sibe-

Ja'ni mor bolite- kichu na'i,
A'---------------------------------------a'
Ja'ni mor bolite- kichu na'i,
Toma'r jinise mor bole ja'i
E moha chalana' shra'nti ya'tana'
Bolo nirasan karibe- kabe,
Bolilo- madhu ma'se a'sibe-

Ke jeno a'sia' marme pashiya',
Bolilo- madhu ma'se a'sibe-


Purport:

(Note: Here the sadhaka is indirectly addressing Parama Purusa as He,
but the sadhaka is talking to Parama Purusa.)

Someone came, entered my heart, and said He would come in the vernal
month. He also told that He would forgive me for my suppressed
frustration and all my shortcomings, and shower His karuna'.

(Note: Now in their conversation the sadhaka is directly addressing
Parama Purusa as You.)

You showed me the path, and by Your grace I understood Your guideline;
yet because of my lethargy, I neglected to follow that path. Knowingly,
I treaded the wrong path; but because of Your love, I felt in my heart
that You would gently smile [1] when You come.


I know I have nothing to call my own, nothing belongs to me, even then I
think of Your objects as mine. [2] This infatuative deception, this
agony of illusion, O my Lord, please tell me when You will dispel it.

Baba, I do not have strength to follow your path, now You have come by
Your causeless grace pull me towards You on my Lord...


END NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #3007:

[1]: When you have deep, deep love for someone, then you know in your
heart that when you see them, they will not think about your past
mistakes but will instead express their kindness and affection. It is
just like how a small child never thinks: "My mother will only calculate
about my wrongdoings when she sees me after school. Instead, with her
love my mom will warmly embrace me and serve me something sweet to eat."
In stark contrast, in the case of the judge and a convict, that never
happens: The judge will always look upon the convict with consternation.
Whereas in the loving relation between Parama Purusa and the sadhaka,
when they meet He always showers His grace and kindness because at that
time both feel truly happy just by seeing one another.


[2]: Commonly human beings think that the material possessions that they
have are their own and they brag about that to others. People think, "I
have this property and this mansion and this prestige etc." But they do
not know that what they think is theirs does not actually belong to
them. The real owner is Parama Purusa. What to say about one's property,
their first shelter,. i.e. their body, also belongs to Him.

Baba says, "This body, this mind, this wealth has been given to me by
Parama Purus'a...That is, the actual owner of this body, the actual
owner of this mind is He." (Ananda Vacanamrtam-14)

== IT IS NOT A JOKE ==

Namaskar,
By Baba's grace, He has blessed us with all the practices and ways to
build up a healthy human society. One unique facet of this is our baby
naming ceremony, ja'takarma.

None should think then that our AM baby naming ceremony is just a casual
afternoon affair. It is not just a time to eat, drink and be merry.

Rather the occasion of ja'takarma is an integral and revolutionary part
of how we are to create a single universal family based on love,
affection and mutual respect. As we know, it demands our lifelong
commitment and dedication.

As a refresher, let's take a closer look then at this program of
ja'takarma and examine just exactly what it entails.

HOW MANY HAVE YOU ATTENDED

Before beginning, we might ask ourselves: In my life, how many baby
naming ceremonies have I attended - either as a margii, acarya, mother,
father etc? Have I attended 1, 6, 25 or more? How many?

We should take a moment to reflect on each and every one.

After all, in our AM units and at our regional and sectorial retreats,
baby naming ceremonies are commonly held. Over the years, we might have
attended dozens of such programs.

NOT JUST A RITUAL

The first and foremost point to keep in mind is that our AM baby naming
ceremony is not just a ritual. It is not just a token celebration.
Everyone who participates - i.e. each and every attendee - is taking an
oath to be an active force in the proper development and growth of that
child.

Baba says, "The mantra of ja'takarma is the first step of human approach
in rousing the sense of responsibility and affection in man. Those, who
will be present on the occasion of the child’s ja'takarma, must also
indirectly have to bear the responsibility of bringing up the child. In
other words it will not do to sit inactive saying that the direct
responsibility in this connection is on its parents." (Tattvika Diipika-4)

Thus all participants - all attendees - of the baby naming ceremony are
bound under oath to take an active role in ensuring the welfare of that
child - from its first feeding up till adulthood and beyond.

We must also remember that oaths are taken extremely seriously in AM and
like all our oaths, the oath taken by every attendee present at the
ja'takarma program is done in the name of Gurudeva. So it is a most
serious commitment and not something to be taken lightly.

So long as we are living on this earth we must consider and fulfill this
responsibility. Indeed, as Baba says, this is part of our sadhana.

Baba says, "The oath taken on the occasion of ja'takarma will reawaken
the sense of that duty again and again. Any grown-up person or any
father shall not forget his duty when he has once looked at the helpless
face of the child. It does not end here. In pursuance of the mantra of
ja'takarma in A'nanda Ma'rga, a child has not simply been regarded as a
child only but also a manifestation of Brahma in the child. So, serving
the child, shall be a part of sa'dhana' (Brahma-Sa'dhana') to him."
(Tattvika Diipika-4)

Hence our oath to watch for the welfare of the newborn is not just a
commitment to a particular person, but an oath to watch over that baby
as a manifestation of Brahma. Thus our oath is to Parama Purusa and
comes within the scope of our dharma sadhana.

WHAT PEOPLE COMMONLY THINK

People in the general society commonly think that when a married couple
has a newborn then that child is the sole responsibility of the parents.
Most of the communities and countries of the world function under this
paradigm. Because of this, some in AM may also be thinking in this manner.

A person, even a new margii, might think that it is solely the duty of
the parents to bathe, clothe, feed, educate and look after the newborn
up to adulthood.

But in AM this is not our approach. Nowadays society is suffering
terribly and one of the reasons is that parents are overwhelmed and
challenged socially, economically, spiritually and in so many ways.
Under such pressure, they cannot raise children by themselves.
Especially those who suffer economic hardship, which is most of the
society these days. To eradicate all such problems and bring relief to
those parents in need, Baba has given this special system of ja'takarma.

Here again is Baba's passage.

Baba says, "It will not do to sit inactive saying that the direct
responsibility in this connection is on its parents." (Tattvika Diipika-4)

Rather in our unique system, that child is society's responsibility and
in particular those in attendance at the ja'takarma ceremony are taking
an oath to care for and ensure the proper growth of that babe.

A few may be thinking: "Oh my, already my life is too busy - I will
never attend a ja'takarma program ever again." But it is not like that.
As we all know, bearing the responsibility and taking oaths are part of
our debt and service to Guru. We are most fortunate to have been graced
with such an opportunity.

Baba says, "...The best you can do is only to serve. Remember, you are
to serve bearing in mind that every creature is verily the living
manifestation of the Supreme Consciousness. Remember also that the
credit of service is not yours; it is due to the Supreme and the Supreme
alone, whose ideation has inspired you to acquire the capability of
rendering service." (A'nanda Va'nii #23)

Thus we should all be eager to attend the baby naming ceremonies in our
Marga and ready to fulfill our moral, social and spiritual duties with
regards to the raising of that child. And by taking an active role and
attending to our oath in a serious manner, then Baba will surely grace
us with the energy, understanding, and ability to be successful.

THE MANTRA OF JA'TAKARMA

Now, let us take a closer look at the baby naming ceremony itself as
well as the oaths involved.

Baba says, "When an infant is six months old (or any time between six
months and one year of age), at least five members of Ananda Marga will
gather together on a convenient day, and the infant will be laid before
them." (Caryacarya-1)

In Caryacarya Baba further guides us about the program and also presents
the oaths to be taken by all attendees - i.e. all A'nanda Margiis
attending the program.

First we are under oath to watch for the physical well being of the child.

“O gracious Brahma, may we unitedly be able to arrange for the upkeep,
medical care and physical growth of this infant who has entered our
society today.”

Thereafter we take an oath to ensure the proper psychic growth of the
newborn.

“O gracious Brahma, may we be able to provide adequate education for the
mental development of this infant who has entered our society today.”

Then we take an oath to care for the spiritual development of the child.

“O gracious Brahma, may we succeed, through proper education, in
effecting the spiritual elevation of this infant who has entered our
society today.”

Finally, we take the oath to always remember that the child is but a
manifestation of the Supreme.

“O gracious Brahma, may we be able to see Your pervasive manifestation
in this infant, in the form of which You have appeared to us today. We
collectively give this baby the name . . . . . . .”

Upon the completion of this oath the new born is given its Sanskrit name.

NOT JUST SOME MUNDANE OATH

By all respects then, the oaths administered in the ja'takarma program
are most comprehensive and serious. It is verily a strict commitment by
every Ananda Margii present. To go against any of the oaths is to break
our vow to Guru.

Thus we should all take particular attention as to how we are to fulfill
this oath. We must not sit back and watch the parents struggle to raise
the child on their own. No one should be so slack in their oath to Guru.

Rather by taking the oath seriously, Baba will surely gives us the
courage, ability, insight, and opportunity to properly fulfill that
oath. Certainly He will bless us in this way. First, however, we must
each sincerely consider and internalise the oath, then He will provide
us the way.

Of course, many in our Marga are aware about all this and have taken
(in)direct responsibility for many newborns and babes in our Marga
society. And for others, perhaps there is scope for improvement.

Whatever the case may be, let's us take this as a moment to re-evaluate
the content and responsibility associated with our jata'kjarma ceremony.

In the mundane society, thieves, politicians, lawyers, and all kinds of
people take oaths, only to soon break those oaths in a matter of days or
weeks. Our system - wherein each member of society must strive to become
a sadvipra - is not like that. An oath means a strict commitment to
Guru; it is a lifelong responsibility.

GREAT BENEFIT FOR SOCIETY

Here Baba neatly describes how the ja'takarma program helps create a
human society based on love and fraternity.

Baba says, 'In this occasion no covering of the child has been
prescribed so that such a fine picture of the occasion may be stamped in
the minds of those present in the ceremony, as will not fade even when
the child will be full-grown. In later years, when the child will come
to him dressed as a gentleman, he will look on him as the self-same
child of the past ja'takarma ceremony and not as a gentleman of the
present day and will express signs of tenderness and responsibility in
his dealings. The fact that he had taken oath regarding the child will
rise afresh in his mind. When the child also, thus dressed as a
gentleman, will learn that he is one among those who took part in his
ja'takarma ceremony, he will respect and regard him as a father and this
will result in a sweet social relation." (Tattvika Diipika-4)

Thus we must must carry this forward; by this way so many good results
will occur in the society. Through this unique ja'takarma system, no one
will feel isolated - all will feel cared for - no one will be left
behind. Gradually the whole society will purified. Through these oaths,
all are seen as family members and those elders rightly earn the respect
of the youths. Indeed, when the baby grows then there is a sweet and
blissful relation amongst all. That is Baba's teaching.

BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's grace He has blessed us with a most unique baby-naming
ceremony. Such a system is not present anywhere else.

It is our bounden duty to take this seriously - we must keep our oaths,
otherwise we will just be hypocrites and doing an injustice to Guru.

In our sadvipra led society, we must all aim for that high ideal and
carry out all oaths accordingly. It is not just a joke. By properly
fulfilling the oaths related with ja'takarma, a great new society will
flourish on this earth, by His grace.

Baba says, "Society must ensure that proper care is taken of human
babies who are totally dependent on the care and protection of their
parents for their existence. These helpless children can only convey
their pain and discomfort through tears. To raise children from infancy
to maturity is an immensely important task. I have said before that the
members of society must advance in unison. The newborn babe is another
traveller on the path. To adopt a child as our companion, as one
included in the society, is called the “ja'takarma” of the child."
(A Few Problems Solved-6)

Namaskar,
Ram Sahay

******************************************
To Those Who Can't Concentrate

Baba says, "Most people are well acquainted with the fourth state of
mind (eka'gra). In this state the human mind sometimes becomes exalted
with divine sweetness; and sometimes becomes as debased as an infernal
creature. Sometimes it keeps company with good people and takes a
resolve never to tell lies, accept bribes, get intoxicated, or become
characterless; and sometimes it thinks that honesty and virtue are sheer
folly, for happiness lies in falsehood, taking bribes, stealing,
promiscuity, and the like. The mind is continuously tossed between good
and bad. But when the practice of sa'dhana' inspires one to accept
shreya (path of benevolence) as one’s ideology, one attains the true
state of eka'gra bhu'mi. In this state waves upon waves of citta emerge."

Sha'ntaditao tulyapratyayao cittasyaeka'girata'parin'a'ma

"Every newcomer to the path of sa'dhana' suffers from a lack of
concentration of mind. After repeating the is't'a mantra a couple of
times hundreds of undesirable thoughts flood the mind. The newcomer
thinks, “I am unable to attain the One on whom I meditate, and instead
am pestered by those objects I do not want.” The hand counts the beads,
the lips mutter the name of the is't'a, but the mind roams in the filth
of hell. When all the undesirable waves are removed from the mind, one
blissful wave begins to flow, and the sa'dhaka attains the state of
eka'gra bhu'mi." (AMIWL-9)

Note: If in your sadhana you are not one pointed (eka'gra means "one
pointed") it means you are not repeating your mantra in a proper manner
- it means you are lacking sincerity and regularity of practice.
******************************************