On A Daily Basis

To: AM-GLOBAL
From: Ram Gopal Deva "RamGopal63@Indianet..."
Date: Wed, 01 June 2011 23:34:08 +0530
Subject: On A Daily Basis

Baba

== ON A DAILY BASIS ==

Namaskar,
Some naive people think that it is too difficult to follow dharma all of the time. Rather they think dharma is something that can and should only be followed on certain grand occasions. Such are the thoughts of a few people.

BABA'S STAND:

UPHOLD IDEOLOGY ALWAYS

Here following is Baba's reply.

Baba says, "If one thinks that they will only follow dharma in some big events, and not in small ones, then those big events may not ever come in their entire life. It may be that in their whole life, besides their birth and death, not a single big event happens. Yet at the time of birth how can one protect dharma. At that time one is just a small infant and cannot do anything. That infant is totally unaware about the events going
on around them. Then how can they protect dharma. And at the time of death, a
person is senseless. In that case also how can they protect dharma. For this reason, dharma should be protected always. In small and big ways-- even in jokes and humor dharma should be protected. Those who protect dharma, dharma protects them: Dharma raksati raksitah." (AV-32 (H), p.86-7)

So Baba's explanation is perfectly clear - one should follow dharma always, in all aspect of life.

HOW SOME GET CONFUSED

Even then, some think that when those in the Marga were physically fighting the communists, then that was the main ideological fight. Since then, they reason, there has been no scope for ideological fight. It is is purely a thing of the past. And it is only when margiis & dadas again start physically fighting with those communists that the ideological fight will recommence. That is one myopic view of one Dada.

BABA DEFINES IDEOLOGICAL FIGHT

However, it is not rocket science. One can easily understand what is AM ideology and what is an ideological fight. It is very simple and straightforward.

In His neo-humanistic philosophy, Baba clearly states that an ideological fight means combatting all kinds of narrow sentiments and groupism.

IDEOLOGICAL FIGHT IS OCCURRING ON A DAILY BASIS

In the life of each and every Ananda Margii then, this ideological fight is going on each and every moment. It is not that an ideological fight only happened in 1967 and 1982 when so many Dadas were killed by communists. Today as we speak, an ideological battle is taking place and sincere margiis are fighting this fight on a daily basis.

These are but some of the major issues of today's ideological fight:
(a) Distortion of scripture
(b) Elimination of bhukti pradhan rights & margii rights
(c) Destruction of the ACB
(d) Expulsion
(e) Gender issues
(f) Dogma of Mahaprayan
(g) So-called holy tiirthas
(h) Fake Ananda Vaniis
(i) Victimisation

These are the main ideological issues of the day that demand our focused attention. The aim is to keep AM philosophy unaltered.

MUST FIGHT AGAINST GROUPISM

As we know some people like to glue themselves to dogma. Our duty is to free them from such dogmas and bring them onto the right path. This is also the ideological fight.

Those who believe in groups are not following AM ideology. Trying to convince them to give up their group affiliation is also the ideological fight. Naturally when selfish  groupists combat each other for power, then such a clash has not an iota of ideological import. But when dharmikas, i.e. sincere Ananda Margiis, oppose groupism by holding onto the gospel of neo-humanism, then that most certainly is an ideological fight.

SUMMARY

Here the point is that our fight for ideology is dynamic and takes places on multiple levels - always. Anyone sincerely involved in following Baba's divine ideal is carrying the flag of ideology each and every moment. They are always involved in this dharmic fight. That is Baba's teaching.

That is why no one can take it seriously when one Dada states that fighting the communists is the only ideological battle in life.

BABA'S BLESSING

As Ananda Margiis, our aim and understanding should be based on Baba's teachings whereby each and every moment we are striving to establish AM ideals on so many different planes of life.

Baba says, "Everywhere in the manifested or unmanifested universe there is a ceaseless fight going on between vidyá [ideology] and avidyá [ignorance]." (PNS-15, Talks on Prout)

Baba says, "Dharma should be protected always. In small and big ways-- even in jokes and humor dharma should be protected. Those who protect dharma, dharma protects them: Dharma raksati raksitah." (AV-32 (H), p.86-7)

Namaskar,
Ram Gopal

Note: WHAT THAT DADA WROTE

Here is the Dada who is telling that only the fight against the communists is the ideological fight.

"The real ideological fight was against communist and against CBI in Baba's physical presence." - Shuddhátmánanda

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"Maner ma'jhere base gopan kotha' shon'o, kichui luka'no ja'y na'..." (P.S. 583)

Purport:

Baba, You are sitting in the mind. You listen to all the talks & tales and feelings of the heart. Nobody can hide anything from You. What anyone thinks, You know. Baba, You are everywhere-- in each and every iota of this entire universe. Indeed You are so vast & You have manifested Yourself in such a grand way, that beyond You there is no existence of anything.  

Baba, You even listen to the very small talks of the mind; You take care of even the most meagre and ordinary matters-- just like dust particles. You cannot forget or ignore anyone, and You do not remain oblivious of anything. You take care of everyone. You love one and all. The galaxies & stars which are floating in far away distant places, even those objects are not beyond Your touch. For You everything is close by; nothing is far. And You take care of everything.

The spring which has lost its beauty & the flower which has just bloomed, nothing gets forgotten. Everything has equal importance to You. You are everywhere. There is no place where You do not remain. Except You, there is nothing.

Baba, You are sitting inside the mind and listening to all the feelings  and longings of the heart. Nobody can hide anything from You. Baba You are infinite; Baba, You are everywhere...

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Where Invented

In the following quote Baba reveals the history of the "ball" which is nowadays commonly used in innumerable games and sports. The ball is originally invented in India.

The following Baba's teaching reveals this fact.

Baba says, "The meaning of the root verb kand is 'to wallow'. We get the word kanduka (ball) by adding 'uk' to 'kand' or adding 'u' + 'ka' to kand. Its etymological meaning is 'that which rolls'; colloquially it refers to 'ball'-- a ball rolls. It should be remembered that the kanduka (ball) originated in this country. Originally, balls used to be made from cloth, but since cloth balls did not last very long people in ancient Bengal started making balls from the shoots of young bamboo." (SC-3, p.70-71)
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Who Can & Cannot Produce...

Date: Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:52:05 -0600
To: AM-GLOBAL
From: "Punya'tman Deva"
Subject: Who Can & Cannot Produce...

Baba

WHO CAN AND CANNOT PRODUCE CHILDREN

FOR A DISEASE FREE SOCIETY

Note: This entire letter is related with an article appended below about a terribly degenerating disease known as Huntington's disease and the ghastly effect it has on families.

Namaskar,
Baba wants that we should create a healthy human society, free from all kinds of problems such as illnesses and diseases.

To that end, we have to follow His designated do's and don'ts in both individual and collective life. In personal life we have to sincerely follow all of Baba's teachings like 16 Pts, conduct rules, and various other guidelines. And in collective life we have to watch for the well-being of society.

In this latter facet, Baba clearly guides us who should produce offspring and who not. Just as the plant and animal kingdoms undergo "natural selection" and "survival of the fittest" in order to keep their breeds strong and healthy, similarly humans also need to adopt such a process.

Baba says, "Good varieties of seed, fertile land, adequate nourishment, light, air and water are all essential for good reproduction in both the plant and animal kingdoms. In this respect human beings are no different from other creatures. In human society the selection of suitable males and females is desirable for reproduction of a high order. Until human beings are produced in scientific laboratories, it will be detrimental to society if this matter is neglected." (AFPS-9, Population Growth and Control)

In His above teachings Baba is guiding us that we must set standards determining who can and should be able to produce children. One way to start implementing this approach is to offer financial support to those people who are mentally sharp and physically healthy. Such bonuses should not be offered to mentally imbalanced and physically diseased people. This would be one way to encourage those with good genes and sound intellect to produce more children.

Here below Baba describes further about this important - yet potentially misunderstood - program.

Baba says, "If people of sublime intelligence and brilliance reproduce more offspring, it will be very beneficial for society. The responsibility for nurturing and bringing up these children will have to be taken by the society or the government. Similarly, it will be harmful for society if mentally deficient, naturally delinquent or insane persons produce many children." (AFPS-9, Population Growth and Control)

Here again Baba is offering that those of good health should be supported by the society and the government in their child producing endeavours. If more children are born to parents of good genes etc, then that will help prevent the spreading of diseases. Thens society will be greatly benefited.

Baba furthermore guides us that those who are shown to be unfit for producing healthy children should be swayed from child bearing.

There is of course no scope for opportunistic people to proclaim that this race or this caste cannot produce children. That is not the methodology. Rather, through medical screening and genetic testing, on a case by case basis, it can be rationally determined who is most appropriate for producing children.

For instance, those who are HIV positive and those with the genes for Huntington's disease (see article below) should refrain from having children. And there are so many others who are predisposed to producing diseased offspring. All such persons should not be permitted to have children - according to Baba. That significantly reduce human suffering.

While those of good health and good genes should be encouraged to produce children. By this way, our new borns will be be healthy and our society strong.

This is one of Baba's key programs for building a bright new humanity. We should all study more about this and propagate Baba's ideas. Failing that, more and more families will undergo the horrors and sorrows as depicted in the below article about Huntington's disease. Please read the following:

A Deadly Disease Destroys Patients and Families
By SARA RIMER

As far as Carol Carr's family knows, Huntington's disease, a fatal genetic disorder that destroys its victims' minds and bodies as it ravages their families, first appeared in her husband's mother.

She passed it to her daughter, Roslyn, who died of it, and to two sons: George Scott, who committed suicide when he learned he had it, and Hoyt Scott, Carol's husband.

By the time Hoyt learned he had the disease, he was in his 30's and he and Carol had already had three sons. Carol, who had a low-level phone company job, devoted most of her adult life to caring for Hoyt, a factory worker, as over the course of more than two decades the disease left him unable to move, swallow, talk or think.

When her husband died, in 1995, her oldest sons, Randy and Andy, who were in their 30's, had the disease. Mrs. Carr turned her life toward their care, doling out medicine, feeding and bathing them, getting them to the bathroom, coping with Randy's violent moods. When she could no longer do those things by herself, she placed her sons, reluctantly, in a nursing home. Relatives say she was consumed by guilt for having brought them into the world.

On June 8, she killed her boys, shooting them as they lay in bed in the room they shared at the nursing home. Family members say she could no longer bear their suffering. Mrs. Carr, 63, has been charged with two counts of murder, but her surviving son, James, 38, who is in the early stages of the disease, says Huntington's had killed Randy, 42, and Andy, 41, long before his mother ever fired the gun.

Mrs. Carr's lawyer, Virgil Brown, said: ''I see no evidence of malice aforethought. I see only love.''

To those who have the disease, or love someone who does, this is not incomprehensible.

Susan Caldwell, for example, felt compelled to attend the Scott brothers' funeral, and afterward to offer comfort to James Scott. In 1985, her mother, Glenda Caldwell, 42, sensed the onset in herself of the disease that had killed her father and did not want to risk her children's developing it. She fatally shot her 19-year-old son, Freeman, and shot at Susan, then 18, but missed.

The violence that tore through the Caldwell and Carr families is unusual. The despair, experts say, is not. Huntington's afflicts about 30,000 people in this country; an additional 150,000 have the gene but not the symptoms. Those numbers do not include the family members who suffer, too, coping not only with the burdens of caregiving but with watching helplessly as the disease erodes its victims' personalities.

''They've changed in so many fundamental ways -- they're no longer themselves physically, emotionally or mentally -- but there are enough remnants left that you're reminded every day of the loss of the person you love,'' said Dr. Steven Hersch, a neurologist who established the Huntington's Disease Society of America's Center for Excellence clinic at Emory University in Atlanta, where he worked with Carol Carr and her family, who live in Hampton, about 35 miles away. Carol Carr and her relatives say she could tell by the look of misery in her sons' eyes that they had had enough. But they were no longer able to speak or communicate, and doctors say it would have been impossible to know what they wanted.

Because Huntington's is a genetic disease, Dr. Hersch said, there is always the fear of who in the family might be struck by it next.

That is the fear that overcame Glenda Caldwell, her daughter said. Over dinner at a restaurant near her home in suburban Roswell, Susan Caldwell, 35, a software engineer, told her mother's story. ''My brother had gone out with friends,'' she said. ''He came home, walked through the door, and she shot him three times.

''I was asleep. I remember hearing my door open. I turned my head. She fired into my bed, close enough for the bullet to graze my cheek, leaving powder burns. I jumped up and turned on the light. She fired again. The gun did not go off, nobody knows why.''

Her mother was sentenced to life in prison. ''I hated her for killing my brother,'' Ms. Caldwell recalled. ''I was the prosecution's star witness. Without me, there would have been sympathy for her.''

But after a severe depression and a couple of suicide attempts, Ms. Caldwell came to understand her mother's suffering. ''My mother and Carol Carr were two women who both felt total despair,'' she said, adding that she could not condone what Mrs. Carr did.

In 1992, Mrs. Caldwell was found to have Huntington's disease. In 1994, this time with her daughter testifying on her behalf, Mrs. Caldwell was retried and found not guilty by reason of insanity. Unable to take care of her mother alone, Mrs. Caldwell spent the final years of her life in a nursing home.

As the disease advanced inexorably, mother and daughter drew close. ''She smoked and she loved Cokes and Little Debbies,'' Ms. Caldwell said. ''I would take her 12 packs of Cokes, boxes of Little Debbies and her cigarettes. I would light cigarettes and put them in her mouth. She pretty much felt that smoking wasn't going to be the thing that killed her.''

Susan Caldwell buried her mother in March. ''It was only the last year that was unbearable,'' she said.

Ms. Caldwell learned eight years ago that she had the gene for the disease. ''I know it's there and now I can focus on all the things it hasn't yet taken,'' she said.

So she has hiked the Appalachian Trail and driven to Alaska by herself. She snorkels, goes in-line skating, meditates and spends time with her friends. She visits her neurologist regularly.

She has only the earliest signs of the disease, occasional memory lapses and clumsiness. She is hopeful about her future. Dr. Hersch, who knows her from the Emory clinic, says she has reason to hope.

Since the discovery of the gene 10 years ago, a number of promising treatments are being tested that could slow the progress of Huntington's, said Dr. Hersch, who now runs the Huntington's clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

While it is too late for those for whom the disease has advanced, Dr. Hersch said, ''Susan Caldwell may well have a different fate.''

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/24/us/a-deadly-disease-destroys-patients-and-families.html