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Baba


Namaskar,


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"Blessing" Business

Date: Sun, 10 Apr 2011 22:46:41 -0000
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: Tapan Prabhu
Subject: "Blessing" Business

Baba

                           == "BLESSING" BUSINESS ==

Namaskar,
Dadaji told us that he could arrange it, but that it would cost us. We were eager and ready. This was the moment in our life we were waiting for. We were not going to miss the opportunity. Dada told us he would be back with the details. We waited anxiously.

After two days he phoned us and told us that it was all set. All that was left to settle was the money. We had to pay him ahead of time. No problem we thought. Our dream was going to come true: We were going to get a marriage blessing by PP Dada.

Here is one look into how those at the helm aim to profit from their "blessing" business. See and decide for yourself if this is proper or not.


                              MARRIAGE IS VERY SENTIMENTAL

We all know that marriage is a very sentimental occasion. All newly married couples wish to have a long and healthy marriage full of joy and happiness. No one wishes to have a marriage wrought with arguments and deception. To ensure a wonderful marriage, that newly married couple often seeks a marriage blessing.

And we all know that before 1990, Baba would graciously bless so many newly married margiis during DMC festivities etc. This was His usual way. And being the Parama Purusa incarnate, Baba would shower His unfathomable grace on those newlyweds.


                                          TURN OF EVENTS

Now however something totally different is going on in our Ananda Marga.

These days certain Dadas have fixed a high price for margiis to get a marriage blessing from PP Dada. The rate is RS 10,000 - the equivalent of 6 months salary for the average Indian citizen working in the village. That is what Dadas demand to get a so-called marriage blessing.

Why so-called blessing? Because these Dadas are just ordinary human beings, or even worse than that as they are submerged in groupism. They are not Parama Purusa nor does PP Dada "channel" Parama Purusa when he gives his so-called blessing. PP is a social post, not a spiritual one.


                                       PP IS NOT A SPIRITUAL POST

To think PP Dada is the spiritual head of Ananda Marga is nothing but an imposed dogma from the other religions that Guru-ship passes down and the successor inherits the spiritual power. Gurus and holy priests are treated as the preceptor or the preceptor's representative. But in AM it is not like that, we do not follow this in AM. Only naive margiis believe this.

For us, the post of PP is only a social position, not a spiritual one. PP cannot bless anyone in the spiritual realm. The marriage blessing of PP is purely social. It is done to show the public that these two people got married and they are ready to carry out the responsibility of society building.

Whoever is PP is not realised soul. Their kundalini may just be totally stuck in the muladahra cakra. They cannot bless others. Only Parama Purusa can bless.


                            EVERYONE HAS A DIRECT LINK WITH BABA

If we think in proper way, of course we know that everyone is a mini-Baba. All are Baba's representative - every disciple. We have a direct link.

Baba says, "What is ota yoga? The Cosmic Father has a direct relationship with each and every entity of this world, animate or inanimate. Not a single grain of sand nor a single blade of grass is neglected by Him. All are his affectionate children. This is His ota yoga.(3) Each and every entity, animate or inanimate, has a direct link with Him." (A'nanda Vacanamrtam, Part 6)

So in Ananda Marga, there is no middle man between the bhakta and God. Purodha Pramukha is not a middle man between you and Baba. The various dogmatic religions believe in an intermediary. But that is not our way so do not get exploited and pay huge sums to get Baba's "blessing". If you want His blessing ask Baba directly, irrespective of where you are.


                                                    JUST A SCAM

Of course we all know that in the pre-1990 era, there was never any charge to get a marriage blessing. Baba would unconditionally bless those newly married couples.

So what a scam is going on these days. Such PP or senior purodhas are not up to the mark yet they are charging for their marriage blessings just like Wall Street Brokers.

And do you know how they are able to command this price? Do you know how they are able to attract more and more customers?

Well here is their trick. They share profits with other Dadas. That means each and every Dada in the field is a broker for marriage blessing clients. They get 50% of every marriage blessing referral. So a Dada gets RS 5,000 for convincing, consoling and injecting the fear complex so that newly-wed couples go for marriage blessings.

Needless to say that with the stakes so high, Dadas use all kinds of methods, strategies and psychologies to convince all newly married couples to get PP Dada's bogus blessing. Such Dadas say things like, "Don't you want a long and fruitful marriage?", "Don't you want to have healthy children?", "In this mundane world, all need the grace of Baba - so come and get blessing from PP Dada."

They even impose fear tactics by telling stories of woe: "One couple did not get PP's blessing and their first child tragically died at birth"; or "One family unfortunately missed out on getting a blessing and the horrific situation was that the wife died of cancer at a young age" etc. They tell stories of people far, far away so such tales cannot be verified. If the newlywed couple resides in Rajasthan, then the Dada will tell a "story" about a couple in Bengal. Likewise if the Dada is in south, then they will tell a tale about newly-weds in Bihar.

In this way such captialise on the sentiments of those newly married couples. Indeed they employ all kinds of tactics to generate as many marriage blessing referrals as possible. That is how many Dadas become gold-star brokers and collect a RS 5,000 fee for each case.


                                                   NOT THEIR FAULT

All along those newly married margiis are innocent victims. They are not at fault. For a life full of cherished happiness, 10,000 is a small price to pay. They even go into debt to do so. Troubled by a fear complex they move ahead and follow Dada's suggestions exactly. Due to fear, the mind fails to work properly, so margiis actually proceed with faith and trust.  They feel Baba is directly giving a blessing via PP Dada, or the senior purodha etc.

They do not realise that this is all a total sham. They think that our Dadas are doing so many divine works in this world and helping so many people, then paying the marriage blessing fee supports such service projects. Those newlyweds do not realise that this entire plot is a money-making venture for Dadas so that they can buy fancy watches, new laptops or fuel their groupist crusades.

When this type of environment is created, then that brings heightened social pressure to go and get a blessing.

So no one should think those margiis are at fault. They do this out of their innocence and heart-felt desire to live a full and happy life. Marriage is a very sentimental occasion and those newly married couples are prime targets of exploitation by such Dadas who wish to captialise on the moment.


                                   THE CASE OF ANAND FROM PATNA

Indeed our dear brother Anand of Patna had a revolutionary marriage and he thought it would wonderful to have a marriage blessing as well. When he approached Dadas in hopes of arranging this, they bluntly told him that any marriage blessing costs RS 10,000 minimum.


                                                   SUMMARY

So this is the sad and tragic tale of what some Dadas are doing. They are ruining the entire institution of AM marriages and marriage blessing by their conniving business tactics. And on the top they are taking advantage of margiis' sentiments during this most delicate and sentimental time of marriage.

Everyone should be aware of what is going on and put a stop to such greedy shenanigans by our Dadas. Their so-called blessing business must end.


                         IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT MARRIAGE BLESSING

The lessons from this entire situation are wide-ranging:

1. PP is not the spiritual head of Ananda Marga so there is no need of any "spiritual blessing" after one gets married. A marriage blessing is purely social recognition of the marriage; it does not affect your past, present or future samskaras.

2. Even some who received a marriage blessing by Baba ended in divorce. Why? Because in His marriage blessing Baba says that, "Be like Shiva and Parvatii...serve the society" etc. The point being that Baba's blessing is not a guarantee that the husband and wife will remain together forever. Rather Baba is giving the directive of how to live together. Those who follow this directive will be a shining example for the society. And those who cannot follow this directive will end in divorce or an unhappy marriage.

3. It is dogmatic to think that those couples who receive a marriage blessing will stay together forever etc. The marriage blessing is an oath for taking a responsibility to live like Shiva and Parvati. Baba is telling the way to live.

4.  Dogmatic people started thinking that the blessing will keep the couple together. Many could not follow and they split. The marriage blessing given by PP does does not affect one's samskaras per se. Rather it is a social ceremony honoring the marriage and giving the pathway for how to live on this earth as a married couple.

5. I think now that the point is clear. No one should be paying RS 10,000 for one bogus blessing by PP Dada. It is nothing but highway robbery and one scam. The more people are aware about this, the more pressure can and will be exerted on those Wts to mend their ways. Then they will stop their crude business of marriage blessings.

Marriage blessing should be available and free to all. Plus it should be clear that the AM marriage blessing is a way to socially acknowledge the marriage, as well as the institution of marriage itself. It both directs and inspires that couple to move ahead in a proper way.

Baba says, "Prior to Shiva, there was no system of marriage in human society...Shiva, for the first time, introduced the system of marriage which has continued until this day. The Sanskrit word for marriage, viváha (derived vi – vah + ghaiṋ), literally means “to follow a particular system”. This system of marriage is known as Shaeva viváha. According to this system, the bride and the bridegroom will equally share full responsibility for their marriage, without any consideration of caste or community. Shiva was above all sorts of geo-sentiment and socio-sentiment." (NSS, Disc: 2)

Namaskar,
Tapan


Note 1:        JUST AS BABA BLESSES MARRIAGES HE BLESSES WORKERS

On many occasions Baba would bless Wts and give them the way forward for how to live. Those who could not follow or abide by Baba's directive left their wt-ship. Thus it is the same as those recipients of Baba's marriage blessing. If that couple could not hold dear to Baba's directive, their marriage would end up in turmoil.


                                       PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"Toma'r tare, jiivane bhare, sedhe gechi jato ga'n..." (P.S. 3747)

Purport:

 Baba, by Your grace throughout my entire life I have been singing Your
blissful  songs of divine love-- Prabhat Samgiita-- in order to satisfy
You. O' Prabhu, now, however, I do not know which particular song to sing
in order to please & satiate You.
 Baba, all the time-- from the middle of the night up to the morning
dawn-- I go on practicing and singing those tunes and melodies according to
Your direction with deep longing in my heart, hoping to bring You close.
And I have also sung Prabhat Samgiita in the scorching heat and in the tune
of the evening sunset. All the time I sing for You, with only one motive to
please You and bring You in my close proximity-- O' my dearmost.
 Baba, when I sing for You and repeat Your name in Your divine ideation
then by Your grace a very special feeling comes in my heart, and tears roll
down in love for You. Baba, that intense love I am unable to express in
words, You know. Those blissful feelings cannot be conveyed by language.
Because of that blissful feeling for You, my mind always longs to sing the
song to call You.  And also I have sung the song in the spring season along with the
flowers and sweet breeze of the effulgent purnima night. Baba, with the
strong feeling of yearning in my heart, I have also sung Your songs in the
terrible whirlwind of the hurricane of the pitch dark amavasya night. Baba,
by Your grace You have made me understand that everything is Your divine
blessing and I go on singing Your song, irrespective of the time, season,
hours, and days.
 Baba, by Your grace I have only one longing in life: To satisfy You and
bring You close. Baba, please be gracious on me...


           ***************************************
                      Sign of Devotees

Baba says, "When undergoing any trouble then some human beings think
that they are shelterless. But you should always remember that in this
world at any given moment you are never shelterless. Because when Parama
Purusa is with you then how can you be shelterless. So there is no
reason for any feeling of helplessness or fear in any circumstances.
Because when He is with you the strongest and mightiest force of this
universe is with you. Then what is there to be afraid of? If you
encourage fear complex it means you have the forgotten the fact that
Parama Purusa is with you. So those who are sadhakas, those who are
devotees, those who are adherents of the path of dharma, they will
always be fearless. This is the quality of a sadhaka: That he is
fearless. Why is he fearless? Because he knows that the most powerful
entity, Parama Purusa, is with him. So there is a loving relation
between devotees and Parama Purusa-- their relation is based on love.
Because of this truth the devotee is never afraid. He will never be
afraid of anyone and under no circumstances will he be perturbed.
Becoming paranoid is not the sign of devotees. Parama Purusa always
remains with you and HE always watches over His devotees. He is always
seeing how He can save devotees from any and all difficulties. So when
in this loving way Parama Purusa is concerned about you, then why will
you be disturbed. You should be fearless. There is no reason for any
sort of paranoia in the mind of devotees." [SS-16 (H), p. 83, DMC Agra
19 Feb 84]
              ***************************************

Role of Family People in Ananda Marga

Date: 10 Apr 2011 19:46:13 -0000
From: "G Bhaskaran Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Role of Family People in Ananda Marga

Baba

                      = ROLE OF FAMILY PEOPLE IN ANANDA MARGA ==

Note: An audio file - Role of Family People & Wts in Ananda Marga - has been uploaded to the AM-GLOBAL blogsite in association with this topic.

Namaskar,
The following paragraph is a summary of Baba's special teaching on the roles of both family people and wholetimers in our Ananda Marga.

Baba says, "What is the objective adjustment of sannyasis [AM Wts]? To help family people in their all-round development. And what is the subjective approach of the sannyasis? To do more sadhana [in comparison to ghriis]. Sannyasi means one should immerse oneself only in the thought and service of Parama Purusa. These two have to follow their duties. Sannyasis should follow their duties; and, family people should follow their duties. If you adopt this approach, you will be able to make one ideal human society. I see that the role of family people is very significant in Ananda Marga. There is a great need of LFT's. Because of their family responsibility those who cannot dedicate themselves fully can do part-time service and become LPT. In that case they should dedicate at least 5 minutes every day for service. Only engaging in subjective approach [one's own sadhana] or only  engaging in objective adjustment [one's own family life] is not good." (Summary of Baba's Teaching)

Note: Baba spoke the above originally in Bengali and the original audio file has been posted to the AM-GLOBAL blogsite.


                              IN AM FAMILY PEOPLE HAVE THEIR PLACE

AM society is comprised of both family people and sannyasis, i.e. Wts. And Baba has given a unique role for each to play. These roles are very revolutionary and unlike any of the dogmatic religions. In all of the religions, family people are basically 2nd class citizens. They have hardly any role at all. All the power is with the priest class. Family people just obey the orders of the clergy like sheep or slaves. Our Ananda Marga is totally different. In Ananda Marga, Baba has given family people their rightful place in the running of AM society.


                                       STUNG BY IMPOSED SAMSKARA

The question arises then, when family people have been given a distinct role in our AM way of life, why is it that family people always take a backseat to Wts in running the organisation.

Here is the reply.

In AM philosophy, Baba describes different kinds of samskaras, one of which is an imposed samskara. And it is that type of samskara that is hurting us right now. An imposed samskara is when we get indoctrinated into the dogmas and trends of the greater general society. That is what has happened in AM with regards to the relationship between Wts and family margiis.

Since almost all the religions suffering from priestocracy etc, that same dogma is in AM in most parts of the world. Neither does the priest class want to empower the family people, nor do family people feel comfortable having any role.

It is just like if you ask one so-called Harijan in the remote village to sit on an equal chair, then bound by their inferiority comples they will say that, "I am comfortable on the ground." Here below Baba further describes this type of mentality.

Baba says, "The headmaster of a Harijan school once asked a student to fetch him some drinking water, but the boy did not move. Instead he asked a non-Harijan friend in a low voice to do as the headmaster requested. But the headmaster intervened and asked the boy why he would not comply with the request. The student replied, “Sir, I am an untouchable by caste. How can you drink water touched by me?” This is an example of how repression can bring about a change in the psychic structure." (Prout Nutshell-17)

In a similar manner, some or most of the family people in our Marga suffer from the same type of inferiority complex as those hairjans. Family people feel unworthy of a proper role in AM. That is the dogma or imposed samskara that has been dragged into AM.


                                    BABA HAS GIVEN DISTINCT ROLES

By Baba's grace He has cleared up that situation and everyone should be aware of Baba's stand.

Baba has given each a role to play: Family people and sannyasis. The duty of each has been allotted. We do not have any option. What Guru says we should follow.

Sannyasis have only one family (i.e. the greater universal family) they have to do more sadhana and help others in their development / 16 Pts. They should not drown in all kinds of vices including self-indulgence.

And family people have two families (unit and cosmic) and must participate in organisational life and serve the society. That is their dharma.


                                      BEWARE: DO NOT BE LIKE ANIMALS

If either family margiis or Wts do not pay heed to Baba's aforementioned guideline, then they may be no better than animals.

For instance, the status of those family margiis totally indulged in their unit family life is like that of an animal. Why? Because even wild animals, especially mammals, have their own family and attend to their responsibilities. So if one family person does like this and neglects the greater universal family, they are not human.

Likewise if a sannyasi is engrossed in their own luxuries, material wealth, and selfishness, they are also like a beast.


                                          BABA'S BLESSING

Baba has made it very clear what our duties are. We are to follow our allotted duty and fulfill our human dharma.

Namaskar,
Bhaskaran


                                       PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"(A'mi) krpa'-kanika' ceyechiluma, Tumi karun'a'dha'ra' d'helecho... (1355)

Purport:

Baba, You are ever gracious. I was asking for an iota of Your divine grace and You have showered me with the endless flow of Your infinite karuna [1]. Living in this world, in the ocean of sorrow, everything is transitory; it cannot give us eternal happiness. Baba, I wanted You to bless me with a wee-bit of Your divine grace and a'nandam. And You have showered me in the causeless compassion of Your varabhaya mudra. Baba, You have completely flooded my entire being. Your infinite grace is boundless.

With the passage of time, so many jiivas come and go in this srsti (creation). In this panoramic cycle of life and death, so many jiivas come and go. They are unable to remember you constantly. O' Baba, You keep careful watch over one and all - unit and vast. You witness everything. Everything occurs under Your divine witnesship. Baba, You care for everyone via your ota and prota yoga.

O' Parama Puruas, You are the ocean of love. By Your grace You have removed all cimmerian darkness and negative samskaras. You have graciously removed the bondages and showered me with Your effulgence. With the warm, loving touch of Your heart, with the flow of nectar, You have showered Your grace and this whole universe became dhanya [2]. Baba, You blessed all with Your infinite grace.

Baba, I surrender to Your lotus feet...


Notes for Prabhat Samgiita #1355:

[1] Karuna': (Literally: 'Divine Compassion'); When Parama Purus'a sees the suffering of devotees, then He feels pained by how they are unable to move ahead on the spiritual path due to getting caught up in various problems and difficulties. In such circumstances, Parama Purusa cannot bear to watch His bhaktas go through so much struggle and strife. So in their helpless condition, when devotees are trying hard to progress but their pathway is completely obstructed and they cannot advance in their sadhana or spiritual life-- and again and again they are overcome by various complexes, bondages, and obstacles-- then by seeing His devotees beleaguered in this way, Parama Purus'a Himself comes and graces them. With His immense feeling of karuna' (divine compassion), Parama Purusa blesses His devotees and relieves them of their pain and suffering. This special grace is nothing but His divine karuna': Wherein Parama Purus'a graces the devotees and removes their troubles and hindrances so that once again they can move ahead freely on the path of spiritual salvation.

[2] Dhanya: This means successful in the spiritual sphere in the form of reaching your Goal, reaching your Destination, attaining Parama Puruaa. Baba blesses us with this idea at the conclusion of all His devotional discourses. It is His special blessing for spiritual victory and reaching Him.

Baba says, "He is with you – He will give you proper direction so that with His gospels for the salvation of the universal creation, you will reach your goal without much difficulty. He will do what is necessary. You just go on obeying Him, just go on doing His work and adhere to what He says with all your energy. Let the speed of His introversial thinking be accelerated by your noble actions and by your spiritual pursuits. Let that golden day come at the earliest and make your life effulgent." (SS-18)

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