Baba Story: About Grand Buildings

From: "Vinay Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Baba Story: About Grand Buildings
Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2011 19:50:11 +1000

Baba

== BABA STORY: ABOUT GRAND BUILDINGS ==

About the Storyteller: Tarachand Jain, PU BP, of Jaipur, Rajasthan is a very senior Ananda Margii. Tarachand Dada worked in the Transportation Dept, Rajasthan State Roadways, as an Asst. General Manager. Here following is his story. - Eds

Namaskar,
This is the story of what happened one time when I saw Baba. One question came in my mind about the Vivekananda Memorial (built in 1970) which was under construction those days.

The followers of Vivekananda were collecting huge amounts of money from all around India for the construction of their grand memorial in Kanyakumari in South India.

That time when I was with Baba this matter came in my mind. So I raised the point with Baba.

MY QUESTION TO BABA

I said, "Baba, the followers of Vivekananda are collecting money to make a memorial."

I waited for His reaction.

Baba asked me, "What is your opinion?"

I remained quiet.

BABA'S REPLY

Then Baba explained, "Building such a memorial is a waste of resources. If Swami Vivekananda saw this he would not appreciate this being built. Rather he would condemn it. Such monies should be used for social service. In the world, when so many are without food, medicine, medical care, clothing, housing and education and when hospitals and schools and other social structures are in dire need, then constructing such a memorial is a huge waste. It is a misuse of financial and natural resources, time, and energy. Best would have been used to expend that money to help the suffering humanity."

Hearing His words, I realized how seriously Baba was taking this situation. Baba gave two essential points:

(1) The memorial was a blatant misuse of resources; and,
(2) Vivekananda would not approve of such a memorial.

I remained quiet and contemplated Baba's explanation. I thought that we are fortunate that in our Marga we do not have this type of waste. At that time, back in 1970, I thought like this.

Namaskar,
Tarachand

Note: The total cost of construction of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in 1970 was crores of rupees. That was a huge amount of money those days. Back then India was not like it is today. It was still newly independent and struggling in its early days of nationhood.

REFLECTION

After reading the above story by Tarachand Dada, it is all too clear that we face this very key issue in our Marga as well. What Baba Himself told not to do, top Dadas are doing.

In the post 1990 era, the hard-earned money of so many poor margiis has been wasted in the construction of various Memorials and temples in Ananda Nagar, Tiljala and Jamalpur. This is all just a waste of money and misuse of resources.

At present in AM, we do not have ideal institutions where our kids can come and learn in a neo-humanistic manner and indeed there are so many other social service projects and institutions that demand our attention. There are so many centers, medical care units, and so much more that need to be made. We do not have such facilities right not yet that is the need of the day. So it is shameful that since 1990 some Dadas have diverted huge funds to the construction of memorials when Baba clearly does not support such things.

We must now right our ship and use all our resources - financial and otherwise - for the betterment of society and implementation of the projects Baba outlined for the welfare of humanity.

As Ananda Margiis we should all understand that Baba was not just against the building of the Vivekananda memorial, but verily condemned any such memorial. Here below Baba points out the injustices and waste surrounding the building of the Konark temple in Orissa.

Baba says, "While money has been spent lavishly for the construction of beautiful places of worship, money has never been arranged for food, clothing, housing, education and medical care for the welfare of the poor. While for four full years all the state revenues of Orissa were spent for the construction of the Konark temple, during that period not a penny was spent for human welfare. Needless to say, the history of all countries is replete with such examples." (Ráŕh: The Cradle of Civilization, Ra'r'h - 6)

By all this we can easily understand that the construction of memorials is an anti-Ananda Marga idea. Those doing so are most unfortunate; they could not understand Baba's teaching.

Indeed nowadays in AM there are so many memorials such as the ones in Tiljala, Jamalpur Tiirtha, Ananda Nagar and so many other that they are planning.

It seems some Dadas have begun competing in temple building contest with the Sikhs, Jains, and Hindus. At present the Hindus are wasting 600 crores of rupees a golden temple for the in goddess of wealth Laksmii temple. Yet side by side, countless people in India lack pure drinking water and suffer from severe food shortages. Many are dying of starvation yet this astronomical sum is being spent on this temple / memorial for goddess Laksmii. Those religions are bereft of a lofty ideology so they are wasting their money. But why should Ananda Margiis do like this.

Ananda Margiis should be beacon light and not follow dogma. So these Dadas should give up this habit of constructing memorials.

It is good that margiis have stopped giving money to Dadas for constructing these dogmatic memorials in AM. That is why such buildings remain unfinished. Now those same unfinished buildings should be used for philanthropic work like schools, medical clinics, food distribution centers etc. That will be the real dharmic use of such buildings.

In no way, shape, or form, does Baba want memorials being built. Rather His desire is that all our energy and resources should be used for the upliftment of humanity. We should all keep the above story in mind and move according to His direction.

Baba says, "We will not deviate an inch from our ideology, nor will we allow others to do so." (Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shiva's Teachings – 2 (continued) (Discourse 14))

Namaskar,
Vinay Deva

 

 

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"Bahire bahiche jhar'a se yakhan elo,
puspa-parasha pra'n'e ye pashityachilo..." (PS #1667)

Purport:

When He came, it was thundering and the strong stormy winds were blowing. The floral touch entered into my heart. When He came, I could not recognise who He was. Why does He come in such a disguised way. With His compassion and help in my days of misery, He made me His own. [1]

The cyclonic wind was blowing with tremendous speed. The lightning appeared amidst the stormy roar. He quietly sang the song of fearlessness in my ear. His voice was saturated with sweetness. [2]

The storm stopped and the sweet ocean breeze of the spring season came. Even today His sweet loving memory resonates in my heart. He went away, yet remains my Beloved. He has stolen my heart. [3]

O' Parama Purusa, O' Baba, Your ways are very difficult to understand, You are Liilamaya...


END NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #1667:

[1] First Stanza: At the outset of this initial stanza, the devotee is undergoing terrible misery. There are so many problems unfolding. In that very dark situation, Baba came, touched his heart and solved all his problems. The bhakta could not recognize Him as the Parama Purusa and wondered why He does like this. He comes in time of misery and helps but does not reveal His identity. The devotee also wonders why He remains hidden. But with His help in this crisis, the devotee becomes emotionally very close to Parama Purusa: "He made me His own." Because He showered so much love, the devotee falls in love with Him.

[2] Second Stanza: Here the bhakta describes the situation that He was caught in: Problems were coming from all directions and there was nobody to help - not family,  nor friends, nor relatives. All were opposing. The devotee was undergoing blow after blow - one problem after another. In that situation Baba comes and saves him. And He reminds the devotee again and again: "Do not be afraid. Parama Purusa is with you." With His tender love and care He assures the bhakta, "You are not alone."

[3] Third Stanza: After that dark situation in the life of devotee - when Parama Purusa comes and rescues him - everything changes. Life becomes beautiful and everything is positive and smooth. This is evidenced by the metaphor, madhura malay, or sweet, spring ocean breeze. Because Parama Purusa helped him in dark times, that is why He became an intimate part of the life of the devotee. Although time has passed, but always that sweet, loving feeling resonates in the mind and heart of the sadhaka. The devotee feels that even though Parama Purusa has gone away, the bhakta cannot forget Him and emotionally remains very close. Their relation became permanent, an eternal devotional link.

Final Note: In bad days when Parama Purusa comes then the bhakta feels more closeness with Him; whereas, in happy days, the sadhaka does not feel that same proximity with Parama Purusa and thinks He has gone far away. That type of mentality develops. In happy days people forget Him. O' Baba, O' Parama Purusa, as You remained close in my bad times, please grace me so that You may remain with me always, during my days of happiness as well.

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Relations with Others

Baba says, "Bear in mind that you have a duty towards-- indeed, you owe a debt to-- every creature of this Universe, but towards you, no one has any duty; from others, nothing is due." (CC-II, 'Sadhana Section, pt #3)

Note: In the various dogmatic religions this idea is taught God has created this whole universe solely for the enjoyment of human beings. That is why religious followers kill animals and exploit downtrodden people up to the bone without any qualms.

Motivated by this dogmatic teaching, selfish people's mind works in that way. Such lowly people think that, 'Others have the duty to take care of my situation and their own situation as well. And they should not bother me about their own problems'. This is the way such selfish persons think.

And if due to some reason that same lowly person helps others then that selfish person thinks that in the near future they should full return plus interest for their so-called service. Thus there is no question of true duty and service; these ideals have no place in their mind.

Because of all this present day society's condition is unfavourable-- bleak. All around the west these things are quite common as well as in the big metropolitan cities of the east. The same problem is there also.

But Baba's teaching leads in a different direction. In His above mandate from Caryacarya, Baba is very beautifully guiding us that our duty is to serve everybody-- without any expectation of anything in return.
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