You Are Fortunate & Why

From: "Satiish G.D. Bose"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: You Are Fortunate & Why
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:21:59 +0530

Baba

"A'ndha'ra sa'garatiire base base bha'vachi tumi a'so yadi..." (PS 839)

Purport:

    Baba, I am sitting on the shore of this dark ocean [1] thinking that if You come, rowing the boat of effulgence [2] with Your own hand across this vast ocean, then I will cross back along with You to the world of divinity [3]. Baba, I am waiting anxiously for Your divine arrival - please grace me by coming.
    Baba, I have come onto this earth to do proper work; but, instead of doing righteous work, I have just just wasted my time in useless pursuits. Day after day has passed me by; so many nights have come and gone. All my friends and companions - all those who were close to me - have now left. Baba, I am sitting here by myself, totally helpless. I am waiting by the shore of this dark ocean thinking how You will come. Baba, I want to remain with You always.
    Baba, by Your grace the lamp of my heart [4], which has remained with me all along, is like one shining point of effulgence on a pitch black face [5]. O' Treasure of Nectar, in the hope of Your arrival, I have kept the lamp of my heart burning still today. Baba, I am continuing my sadhana and thinking of You. Baba, I am waiting for Your divine arrival to take me across this vast ocean of darkness.
    Baba, You are Love personified. Please be gracious and take me across this ocean of avidya maya...


NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #839:

[1] Dark Ocean: In the song the terms a'ndhara sagar and mahododhi (i.e. vast ocean) refer to the dark ocean, i.e. the ocean of illusion or avidya maya. Submerged and drowned in this ocean, people cannot see properly. They mistake this crude transitory world as their eternal abode. They accept what is wrong to be right, mistaking the fleeting for the permanent. People act as if they will live forever on this earth, but that is not true. No one stays here forever. But drowned in the ocean of ignorance, i.e. their unfinished samskaras, they live as if this ephemeral world is their permanent shelter. When in fact our eternal abode is with Parama Purusa.

[2] Boat of Effuglence (A'lora Noaka): As we know, Taraka Brahma is the linking point between Sa'guna Brahma and Nirguna Brahma. When He comes onto this earth in form that form is Taraka Brahma or Mahasambhuti. In a related manner, when Baba comes in one's mental plate He also takes form so the bhakta can relate with Him. In this song, the arrival of Parama Purusa in such a form is the 'boat of effulgence'. That is the symbolic meaning of the phrase. Baba's true and eternal identity is Nirguna Brahma, so He graces the bhakta and comes in form so the one can ideate and communicate with Him.

[3] World of Divinity: The various religions preach the concept of heaven. In AM we do not subscribe to this view. Rather, Baba guides us that there are various layers of mind. The higher kosas lead to divinity, and the lower kosas lead to ignorance, darkness or crudity. Indeed the highest kosa - hiranmaya kosa - is the union with Parama Purusa. So this is totally a psycho-spiritual phenomenon. One need not go anywhere physically. Thus, "Take me to the world of divinity" does not refer to one material place or land mass etc. The meaning is that highest stage of mind (turiiya), i.e. the abode of Parama Purusa, which is in your mind. So this is not like the dogmatic religious concepts of resurrection or rapture. Rather, hiranmaya kosa is a universal idea. This is something all margiis must must know as this is recurring them in Prabhat Samgiita.

[4] Lamp of My Heart (Pra'ner Pradiip): The significance or inner meaning of this phrase is one's own personal ista mantra and guru mantra. A sadhaka uses their ista mantra for calling Baba and their guru mantra for remembering the fact that "He is always watching me." Keeping one's inner lamp lit means using these two mantras each and every moment in one's day to day life. So long as one is either calling Him or remembering Him, then one's inner lamp is lit and one's devotional life is alive.

[5] Black Face & Point of Effulgence (Ka'lera kapa'le a'lora je t'ip): In life, people are surrounded by the dark ocean of avidya maya. That is what is meant by "black face" in this song. At the same time, so long as one recites their ista mantra, then they always have one "point of effulgence". And this "point of effulgence", or calling Him in a loving and devotional way with their personal ista mantra, is enough to pierce through the darkness attain the Supreme rank, by His grace.

== YOU ARE FORTUNATE & WHY==

Namaskar,
By Baba's divine grace, we are all extremely fortunate and this letter explains exactly why. We should consider this matter seriously as we together embark on life in this new era.

SOLUTION EMBRACED IN A TIME OF NEED

A person's talents, skills, and qualities are more valuable when they are needed.

Suppose a baker just baked dozens of loaves of bread, and suddenly victims of a famine were brought to town, naturally the baker's bread is going to be highly valued. Because that bread is the solution for the present problem - the bread will help nourish those emaciated by the famine.

In contrast, if the baker is walking around with his breads and the entire populace is well-fed, then no one will seek out that baker. In that case his services and his breads will not be so highly valued.

Same can be said of a doctor. If he lives in a place where all are suffering from an outbreak of a disease, then the doctor's services will be placed at a premium whereas if the doctor resides in a district where all have perfect health, then he will not be needed much.

In essence, if nobody is suffering or in need, then the solution to that particular problem is of little value. Whereas, if a person has the skills to solve an urgent issue, then they will be highly regarded.

Soon we will apply this theory to the life of Ananda Margiis.

YUGA SANDHI

We live in what Baba terms - yuga sandhi.

Baba says, "What does “yugasandhi” mean? “Yuga” means “age” and “sandhi” means “joint”. Therefore yugasandhi means “juncture between ages”...you can see for yourself how the social movement is grinding to a halt. When social progress loses its velocity it is called “yugasandhi” (transitional period) in Sam'skrta." (AV-7)

Ours is the transitional period, marked by a severe lull - wherein society is enmeshed in so many problems. In addition, during the yuga sadhi there is a strict dichotomy: Some very, very good people as well as some very, very bad people. And in between are the masses who are at the mercy of the exploiters. A struggle between the two sides erupts.

Baba says, "You have all been born in such a transitional period and have assembled here today. In the future, the honest and virtuous people of the society will respond to Your call and will unite. The same polarization is taking place now as occurred in the past: the honest people are with you and will remain with you; the dishonest people win oppose you now and will continue their efforts to block your progress in future. Whenever there a war between dharma and adharma, you are sure to be victorious. You are not alone – dharma is with you, the benevolent intellect is with you, and I am also with you." (AV-7)

So in this yuga sandhi, society is devastated and all are looking for a way out. The good people are providing the solutions and the bad people are aiming to maintain their exploitative grip on society.

THE ERA IN WHICH WE LIVE

Ours is the transitional period. Taraka Brahma has taken His advent to lead the society out from the darkness, and now the great drama is going to play out.

At present, we can see the polarization: good and bad on either side. Smart and courageous people are involved in saving the planet from environmental destruction, addressing social issues, leading healthier lives, learning meditation, and serving others, while side by side, the exploiters are entrenched in cheating, butchering, and suppressing the masses. There is extreme good and extreme bad.

In between, the masses are suffering from so many problems: Food shortages, housing issues, wars and destruction, disease, financial upheaval, invasions, terrorism and more.

Problems abound.

We live in a time where we are surrounded by gigantic problems in all directions.

BABA HAS GIVEN ALL THE SOLUTIONS

By His grace Baba has come and given all the solutions.

Baba says, "A correct spiritual ideology is the only solution to the problems confronting the world. From this perspective we can call Ananda Marga ideology the philosophers’ stone. Just as the philosophers’ stone is meant to transform everything into gold, Ananda Marga ideology can, most definitely, find a just and rational solution whenever it is applied to any problem." (POD #36)

So here is the thing:
1) Our human society is suffering terribly;
2) Baba has graced the humanity with the answer to every problem;
3) The exploiters are involved in their evil dance;
4) The masses are looking for the way out - they are seeking solutions;
5) Every Ananda Margii has some, most or all of those solutions in the form of AM ideology and our AM way of life.

I think you can see where the situation is headed.

The unfortunate affair is the out of desperation most of the populace is looking in the wrong places for the answers. They are like hungry infants who are picking up paper, pens, sticks and stones and putting them in their mouth - yet that will not satisfy their hunger. Same with the masses. They are looking emphatically in all directions and trying all kinds of things, but they are not getting the right solution.

TIME TO STEP FORWARD

Enter Ananda Margiis.

Baba has blessed us and placed us in a very special position. There are problems in the world and He has given us the answers. Ours is a needed role and never before has the situation been more urgent.

So you are fortunate. Your services are going to be highly regarded - that means you have been blessed with the opportunity to serve. There is no higher or more noble endeavor. All that is needed now is the right and proper action. Start teaching and role-modeling all that you know.

If we had been born 200 years from now, most of today's problems will have been solved and society will be rapidly moving ahead. In that case, one does not have the opportunity to truly help humanity. Because already most are on the proper path.

But instead we have been born in this most ragged and ravaged era where struggle and strife are rampant throughout. And we have all the solutions: spiritual, moral, political, economical, personal, emotional, social, and individual. In every sphere of life Baba has given us the solution.

You have the medicine or cure for the day - in a time when those solutions are highly needed. Things cannot get any worse - we have hit rock bottom.

Thus those who know about AM and practice AM teachings have much to offer, teach and distribute to society. That means you and all Ananda Margiis are a vast wealth of experience for the masses.

That is why you are fortunate. Because you hold the key to the very issues most ailing the society. What could be a more blessed position than that.

BABA'S BLESSING

By His grace He is depending on you to lead the people forward. That is His cherished gift unto you - to lead the society out of the darkness. For this reason you are fortunate.

Baba says, "You boys and you girls, you are to establish yourselves as developed human beings and as blessed with the glory of human excellence at the helm of every affair. Society will recognize you because of your service, because of your sacrifice. And not only that, everybody is expecting that they will get your help, your assistance, your guidance, when there is a dire necessity for the same. You boys and you girls, you should know that I solely depend on you for the translation of our lofty ideology." (AV-34)

Namaskar,
Satiish

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Solution of Nightmares

Baba says, "You may ask, "How can I do pun'yam while sleeping? In the wakeful state, I may do Pun´yam. But while sleeping, how can I do Pun'yam? Can you? Yes, you can. What's the difference between habit and nature? When habit becomes one with your existence, it is called nature...By constant practice or under pressure of circumstances, one becomes habituated, and by encouraging this habituation, it finally becomes nature."

"This is auto-suggestion. "Now it is time for my meditation", what is it? You are trying to habituate yourself. But when you cannot live without puja, then it has become your nature. Try to make it what - habit or nature? Nature. I never take a drop of water without doing puja. Why? It has become my nature. And I want that all of you should
make it your nature also."

"When auto-suggestion will become your nature, what will happen? While sleeping you will be repeating that japa (repetition of mantra) in your unconscious mind. You are sleeping, so conscious mind is not active. You are not having any dream, so your sub-conscious mind is also not active. But unconscious mind is there. Automatically there will be japa. 24 hours you are doing Pun´ya. While you are sleeping, you will be engaged in doing japa and using your incantation. Kuru pun'yam Ahora'tram." (AV-14)

Note: In this materialistic era, people suffer from so many psychic problems such as nightmares etc. Because what difficult things one encounters during the day then the untrained mind will turn those events into nightmares during sleep. For example one might dream that their business went bankrupt, or one might dream of quarreling with a friend, or one might dream of being scared about unknown events in the future. All these types of disturbing ideas may take place in the mind during sleep. And even worse is that when one wakes up then they feel depressed and worried because of such types of crude dreams and nightmares. In His above teaching Baba carefully describes to us that if we train our minds to repeat our Ista mantra during the day time then the same will happen at night. In which case all our dreams will be sweet and blissful-- ever
floating in His divine vibration.

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