Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2011 19:01:37 +0530
To: AM-GLOBAL
From: "Deva_Sudhakar"
Subject: Other Side of Sadhana
Baba
Namaskar,
The goal of all sadhana is to reach Parama Purusa. This idea must be the propulsive force in our sadhana.
And we are most fortunate. By Baba's grace, He has blessed us with the untainted spiritual approach of Ananda Marga. He is the Sadguru and He as given us siddha mantra and the path of pure spirituality. The sole goal of AM sadhana is to please and serve Him.
Naturally then, we all think our sadhana is cent-per-cent sentient - perfect.
Of course the teachings and the practices in AM are blemishless. But what many do not realise is that if not done in the right spirit, even AM sadhana can become pramatta, i.e. totally negative.
Tragically, this has become the case for some practitioners of AM sadhana.
To prevent this from happening to us, we should better understand how our AM sadhana can be pramatta - lest we also fall into this trap.
Baba says, "Pramatta means something which is completely bad – bad from beginning to end. Pramatta totally destroys human faculties." (PNS-16)
Generally then, we think of pramatta as being associated only with pseudo-spiritual and dogmatic approaches like idol worship, hatha yoga tapasya, crude tiirthas, religious dogmas, and animal sacrifices etc.
Because all such approaches are based on a faulty premise, offer negative practices, and degrade the mind.
For example in the case of hatha yoga, the practitioner may be told to stand on one leg in a cold river for 6 hours. When doing this form of crude tapasya, that person is only focused on completing the practice. They are thinking, "I hope I am done soon - I hate doing this - I am so cold - I cannot feel my leg, it is totally numb - only 4 more hours and 2 minutes left - I can't wait until this is over."
In that case their hatha yoga tapasya is totally prammatta. There is no place or space in their mind for Parama Purusa. They are not thinking about Him nor are they going to get Him. Their entire goal is something mundane.
The same is the case with those who do idol worship and pray for their daughter's marriage or a job promotion at work. Their mind is not filled with thoughts of Parama Purusa. Rather they have some other agenda in mind.
The situation is the same with those involved in going from one dogmatic tiirtha site to the next or those involved in sacrificing animals to the the gods.
All these are clear-cut instances of misguided or non-spiritual dealings. They are pramatta. Their goal is not Parama Purusa, but something transitory, if not selfish. They will not move ahead - rather theirs is that path of negative pratisaincara.
Pramatta however is not limited to the aforementioned dogmatic practices. Our AM sadhana can also be pramatta, if we are not careful. This may sound surprising but it is true.
Unfortunately, already many have fallen in this way. In fact, you have probably seen others turn their AM sadhana into pramatta - i.e. something totally bad.
Let us again remember that the goal of our sadhana is to attain Parama Purusa. So anytime when that is not front and center in our meditation, then that sadhana turns sour. Then it is pramatta.
For instance, if someone does AM sadhana with the sole intention to go eat dinner, or run to the office, then that sadhana is pramatta. It is bad from beginning to end.
Yet many do that. I do that, on occasion. I fail to plan properly and do not allot sufficient time for sadhana. And then, sadly, I just end up doing sadhana quickly in some ritualistic manner so that I may attend my next appointment - whether that me dinner or my job etc.
Likewise, if someone is doing sadhana with the desire that others will think that he is a great sadhaka, then that sadhana is also pramatta. And you may have seen this happening at our retreats. Or how about this. One Dada hardly does any sadhana when he is alone in the jagrti. But then when he goes to a margii house, then he sits like a stone statue for hours in the pre-dawn hours as if he is some great sadhaka. All done to heighten his prestige.
Have you never heard or seen such things - something similar. Probably you have.
Even then, some may be thinking - "Oh come on, it is really not that bad. Our AM sadhana can never become pramatta."
But Baba is quite clear that performing sadhana in hopes of enhancing one's prestige or for some mundane reward is totally off the mark.
Baba says, "What is pramatta? He who has committed mistakes, committed blunders, in the very beginning, and he who is committing mistakes throughout the phase of activity, and he who is committing mistakes even in the last stage, is called pramatta." (AV-34)
We must never forget or fall from the idea that the real aim of sadhana is to serve and please Parama Purusa. He is the only goal of sadhana.
Hence, if one is doing sadhana with an ulterior motive in mind, then it really is pramatta. And that is not some type of joke but rather a serious if not dreadful circumstance. One will fall entirely and degrade themselves. They think they are doing sadhana when in fact they are not.
So just because we are initiated sadhakas on the path of AM, just because Taraka Brahma is our Guru, just because ours is the path of pure spirituality does not mean that our sadhana cannot become pramatta. It most certainly can, if we are not vigilant to keep Parama Purusa as the focus and aim of our sadhana.
Unfortunately, people do AM sadhana for all kinds of reasons: To show themselves to others as being great, to get respect, etc. Some also think that by doing sadhana, then Baba will reward them with a long life or a big bank account. Others think that they may become a great world leader or attain occult powers. Anyone doing sadhana with these types of things in mind has sadly turned their sadhana into pramatta.
And the same thing can happen with kiirtan as well. Some sing to show off their voice or musical abilities. This totally ruins their kiirtan turns it into pramatta.
Then they are not singing to please Him, but rather to glorify themselves.
Have you never heard of or seen such things happen in AM.
Of course most in AM are totally focused on Baba and do their practices with Him in mind. We all know we should do like this and many are quite proper in their approach. Even then we should be vigilant.
Because ego is such a tricky thing. It is always trying to get the upper hand. In any relaxed moment, it can get the better of us and our sadhana may become tainted or become pramatta.
This has definitely happened to some.
That is why Baba warns us that we should be cent-per-cent careful to always keep Him as the goal in all our spiritual endeavours.
Baba says, "What is pramatta? He who has committed mistakes, committed blunders, in the very beginning, and he who is committing mistakes throughout the phase of activity, and he who is committing mistakes even in the last stage, is called pramatta. And a sa'dhaka, a spiritual soldier, should be apramatta. Only in that case will his “I” feeling reach, come in contact with, the Supreme Self. He will attain the stance of salvation." (AV-34)
By Baba's grace, if we immerse our mind in Him then we will certainly reach Him. Then we will not fall prey to vanity and worldly pressures and end up doing AM sadhana for the wrong reasons. Then our sadhana will not become pramatta.
Baba says, "One who has made it a mission to attain Parama'tma' will assuredly attain Him. You are sa'dhakas, and you should always remember this. Your love for God, your devotion for God, should be of non-attributional, or spiritual, nature." (AV_23, Mysticism and Spirituality)
Namaskar,
Sudhakar
To: AM-GLOBAL
From: "Deva_Sudhakar"
Subject: Other Side of Sadhana
Baba
== OTHER SIDE OF SADHANA ==
Namaskar,
The goal of all sadhana is to reach Parama Purusa. This idea must be the propulsive force in our sadhana.
And we are most fortunate. By Baba's grace, He has blessed us with the untainted spiritual approach of Ananda Marga. He is the Sadguru and He as given us siddha mantra and the path of pure spirituality. The sole goal of AM sadhana is to please and serve Him.
Naturally then, we all think our sadhana is cent-per-cent sentient - perfect.
Of course the teachings and the practices in AM are blemishless. But what many do not realise is that if not done in the right spirit, even AM sadhana can become pramatta, i.e. totally negative.
Tragically, this has become the case for some practitioners of AM sadhana.
To prevent this from happening to us, we should better understand how our AM sadhana can be pramatta - lest we also fall into this trap.
PRAMATTA & DOGMATIC WAYS
Baba says, "Pramatta means something which is completely bad – bad from beginning to end. Pramatta totally destroys human faculties." (PNS-16)
Generally then, we think of pramatta as being associated only with pseudo-spiritual and dogmatic approaches like idol worship, hatha yoga tapasya, crude tiirthas, religious dogmas, and animal sacrifices etc.
Because all such approaches are based on a faulty premise, offer negative practices, and degrade the mind.
For example in the case of hatha yoga, the practitioner may be told to stand on one leg in a cold river for 6 hours. When doing this form of crude tapasya, that person is only focused on completing the practice. They are thinking, "I hope I am done soon - I hate doing this - I am so cold - I cannot feel my leg, it is totally numb - only 4 more hours and 2 minutes left - I can't wait until this is over."
In that case their hatha yoga tapasya is totally prammatta. There is no place or space in their mind for Parama Purusa. They are not thinking about Him nor are they going to get Him. Their entire goal is something mundane.
The same is the case with those who do idol worship and pray for their daughter's marriage or a job promotion at work. Their mind is not filled with thoughts of Parama Purusa. Rather they have some other agenda in mind.
The situation is the same with those involved in going from one dogmatic tiirtha site to the next or those involved in sacrificing animals to the the gods.
All these are clear-cut instances of misguided or non-spiritual dealings. They are pramatta. Their goal is not Parama Purusa, but something transitory, if not selfish. They will not move ahead - rather theirs is that path of negative pratisaincara.
HOW AM SADHANA CAN BE PRAMATTA - Part 1
Pramatta however is not limited to the aforementioned dogmatic practices. Our AM sadhana can also be pramatta, if we are not careful. This may sound surprising but it is true.
Unfortunately, already many have fallen in this way. In fact, you have probably seen others turn their AM sadhana into pramatta - i.e. something totally bad.
Let us again remember that the goal of our sadhana is to attain Parama Purusa. So anytime when that is not front and center in our meditation, then that sadhana turns sour. Then it is pramatta.
For instance, if someone does AM sadhana with the sole intention to go eat dinner, or run to the office, then that sadhana is pramatta. It is bad from beginning to end.
Yet many do that. I do that, on occasion. I fail to plan properly and do not allot sufficient time for sadhana. And then, sadly, I just end up doing sadhana quickly in some ritualistic manner so that I may attend my next appointment - whether that me dinner or my job etc.
Likewise, if someone is doing sadhana with the desire that others will think that he is a great sadhaka, then that sadhana is also pramatta. And you may have seen this happening at our retreats. Or how about this. One Dada hardly does any sadhana when he is alone in the jagrti. But then when he goes to a margii house, then he sits like a stone statue for hours in the pre-dawn hours as if he is some great sadhaka. All done to heighten his prestige.
Have you never heard or seen such things - something similar. Probably you have.
Even then, some may be thinking - "Oh come on, it is really not that bad. Our AM sadhana can never become pramatta."
But Baba is quite clear that performing sadhana in hopes of enhancing one's prestige or for some mundane reward is totally off the mark.
Baba says, "What is pramatta? He who has committed mistakes, committed blunders, in the very beginning, and he who is committing mistakes throughout the phase of activity, and he who is committing mistakes even in the last stage, is called pramatta." (AV-34)
HOW AM SADHANA CAN BE PRAMATTA - Part 2
We must never forget or fall from the idea that the real aim of sadhana is to serve and please Parama Purusa. He is the only goal of sadhana.
Hence, if one is doing sadhana with an ulterior motive in mind, then it really is pramatta. And that is not some type of joke but rather a serious if not dreadful circumstance. One will fall entirely and degrade themselves. They think they are doing sadhana when in fact they are not.
So just because we are initiated sadhakas on the path of AM, just because Taraka Brahma is our Guru, just because ours is the path of pure spirituality does not mean that our sadhana cannot become pramatta. It most certainly can, if we are not vigilant to keep Parama Purusa as the focus and aim of our sadhana.
Unfortunately, people do AM sadhana for all kinds of reasons: To show themselves to others as being great, to get respect, etc. Some also think that by doing sadhana, then Baba will reward them with a long life or a big bank account. Others think that they may become a great world leader or attain occult powers. Anyone doing sadhana with these types of things in mind has sadly turned their sadhana into pramatta.
SAME THING HAPPENS WITH KIIRTAN
And the same thing can happen with kiirtan as well. Some sing to show off their voice or musical abilities. This totally ruins their kiirtan turns it into pramatta.
Then they are not singing to please Him, but rather to glorify themselves.
Have you never heard of or seen such things happen in AM.
BABA'S GUIDELINE
Of course most in AM are totally focused on Baba and do their practices with Him in mind. We all know we should do like this and many are quite proper in their approach. Even then we should be vigilant.
Because ego is such a tricky thing. It is always trying to get the upper hand. In any relaxed moment, it can get the better of us and our sadhana may become tainted or become pramatta.
This has definitely happened to some.
That is why Baba warns us that we should be cent-per-cent careful to always keep Him as the goal in all our spiritual endeavours.
Baba says, "What is pramatta? He who has committed mistakes, committed blunders, in the very beginning, and he who is committing mistakes throughout the phase of activity, and he who is committing mistakes even in the last stage, is called pramatta. And a sa'dhaka, a spiritual soldier, should be apramatta. Only in that case will his “I” feeling reach, come in contact with, the Supreme Self. He will attain the stance of salvation." (AV-34)
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace, if we immerse our mind in Him then we will certainly reach Him. Then we will not fall prey to vanity and worldly pressures and end up doing AM sadhana for the wrong reasons. Then our sadhana will not become pramatta.
Baba says, "One who has made it a mission to attain Parama'tma' will assuredly attain Him. You are sa'dhakas, and you should always remember this. Your love for God, your devotion for God, should be of non-attributional, or spiritual, nature." (AV_23, Mysticism and Spirituality)
Namaskar,
Sudhakar
Note 1: EVEN MICROVITA BEINGS DO SADHANA
PS Intro: This below song is related with spring and how the whole entire atmosphere is charged with exuberance for the arrival of Parama Purusa. Here the devotee is talking with Parama Purusa using metaphors and indirect language. The bhakta raises the queries: Why is the wind blowing like this? Why has so much beauty come? What does this spring breeze want to say? O' Parama Purusa all this is going on because You have come. That is why the whole atmosphere is dancing in bliss. That is the scene of this below song.
"Vasante a'nu alute dola' diye gele kisera srote..." (PS #1129)
Purport:
In spring season, You have vibrated each and every atom of this creation. Why? What for? [1] With which divine maya have You filled the inner core of everything with Your tunes and melodies.
On this sweet and loving night the frenzied wind came silently and secretly. With its touch, what yearning does it want to convey? Which loss and which gain does it want to express. [2]
I have forgotten what I have lost, I am satiated with what I have received. I cannot conceal the exuberance of my life. [3]
In spring season, You have vibrated each and every atom of this creation. Why? What for? Because You have come Parama Purusa, O' Parama Purusa...
END NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #1129:
[1] Why? What for?: Here the devotee is posing this rhetorical question to highlight the fact that all these developments of spring season are happening to please You for Your divine arrival. Because Parama Purusa is coming, that is why all this is going on.
[2] Second Stanza: In this second stanza, the wind is telling that Parama Purusa has come. That is the overall meaning of this stanza; that is what the wind wishes to convey. At the same time it is very important to understand that here the devotee is indirectly talking with Parama Purusa and narrating all the changes in the environment.
[3] Third Stanza: When a sadhaka moves ahead on the path of enlightenment then they lose many things on the mundane plane. That might be money, prestige, friends or various other things. But such losses are of no consequence to the aspirant. They are not adversely affected by such losses. On this grand journey of divinity, the sadhaka has gained many deep realisations and experienced tremendous bliss. So they are totally satisfied and content with what they have received and not at all concerned about petty mundane losses, That is the deep satisfaction and contentment that is expressed in this song.
Even good sadhakas with good intentions, but if
they did sadhana with a crude objective then they became
microvita - devayonis. Why? Because they did not do their
sadhana to please Parama Purusa. So they had to suffer, even
though they were not bad people. After millions of years of
punishment they may get the opportunity to be human beings.
Those who were bad people became pretayonis.
Baba says, "When people with many demerits die, they become pretayonis according to their defective mentality." (MVNS, Disembodied Souls and Microvita – Excerpt A)
Here are a few examples of what happens to those good people who did sadhana with an improper goal in mind.
Baba says, "When people with many demerits die, they become pretayonis according to their defective mentality." (MVNS, Disembodied Souls and Microvita – Excerpt A)
Here are a few examples of what happens to those good people who did sadhana with an improper goal in mind.
Baba says, "Prakrtiliina. Those who want Parama
Puruśa but worship crude matter out of misguided devotion
attain the state of prakrtiliina after they die. These
disembodied minds are transformed into bricks, stone, wood, etc.
Those who pray to the idols made of clay, metal or wood out of
misguided devotion can never attain Parama Puruśa because one
can never attain supreme knowledge through this type of worship.
The state of prakrtiliina is very miserable indeed because human
beings who are endowed with a developed consciousness get
transformed into crude matter like stone, wood, etc." (MVNS,
Disembodied Souls and Microvita – Excerpt B)
Baba says, "Videhaliina. Those who continue
their spiritual practices and at the same time seek liberation
from the bondages of the solid and liquid factors pray, “O God,
I am fed up with all these mundane problems, please grant me
liberation. So many problems come and distract my mind. Why do I
experience so many misfortunes? My son failed his examinations;
my daughter fell seriously ill; the bank where I kept my savings
closed down. How many more misfortunes are waiting for me?
Enough of all this. Please grant me emancipation.” People with
this type of psychology attain the state of videhaliina after
their demise – an unbearable condition." (MVNS, Disembodied
Souls and Microvita – Excerpt B)
PRABHAT SAMGIITA
PS Intro: This below song is related with spring and how the whole entire atmosphere is charged with exuberance for the arrival of Parama Purusa. Here the devotee is talking with Parama Purusa using metaphors and indirect language. The bhakta raises the queries: Why is the wind blowing like this? Why has so much beauty come? What does this spring breeze want to say? O' Parama Purusa all this is going on because You have come. That is why the whole atmosphere is dancing in bliss. That is the scene of this below song.
"Vasante a'nu alute dola' diye gele kisera srote..." (PS #1129)
Purport:
In spring season, You have vibrated each and every atom of this creation. Why? What for? [1] With which divine maya have You filled the inner core of everything with Your tunes and melodies.
On this sweet and loving night the frenzied wind came silently and secretly. With its touch, what yearning does it want to convey? Which loss and which gain does it want to express. [2]
I have forgotten what I have lost, I am satiated with what I have received. I cannot conceal the exuberance of my life. [3]
In spring season, You have vibrated each and every atom of this creation. Why? What for? Because You have come Parama Purusa, O' Parama Purusa...
END NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #1129:
[1] Why? What for?: Here the devotee is posing this rhetorical question to highlight the fact that all these developments of spring season are happening to please You for Your divine arrival. Because Parama Purusa is coming, that is why all this is going on.
[2] Second Stanza: In this second stanza, the wind is telling that Parama Purusa has come. That is the overall meaning of this stanza; that is what the wind wishes to convey. At the same time it is very important to understand that here the devotee is indirectly talking with Parama Purusa and narrating all the changes in the environment.
[3] Third Stanza: When a sadhaka moves ahead on the path of enlightenment then they lose many things on the mundane plane. That might be money, prestige, friends or various other things. But such losses are of no consequence to the aspirant. They are not adversely affected by such losses. On this grand journey of divinity, the sadhaka has gained many deep realisations and experienced tremendous bliss. So they are totally satisfied and content with what they have received and not at all concerned about petty mundane losses, That is the deep satisfaction and contentment that is expressed in this song.
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