Date: 12 Sep 2011 21:02:36 -0000
From: "Jawaharlal Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: "This Marga Is Mine"...
Baba
"Jakhani bha'vi kichu cini bujhi, dekhi a'mi kichu ja'ni na'..." (PS 3225)
Purport:
When my little ego dominates then I think that I know and understand everything. It is only later that I realize that I do not know anything-- I know not. When I try to move on the path with my own strength, then it is difficult for me to decide what I want to do and what is my goal. From the origin of which unknown source am I floating and floating, from far to the farthest place, in the search of that unknown divine Entity. Day and night I am searching and wandering; why I wander around I do not understand.
O' karunamaya, what type of divine play do You do with me. What type of liila do You go on playing with this unit entity. How can this divine play between unit and cosmic continue without Your grace. Baba, You are everything, only by Your grace is anything possible...
Namaskar,
It is no secret that our Marga is now going through trying and challenging times.
That is because even though Baba has given us a sublime and perfect ideology, our AMPS is made up of imperfect human beings. Naturally mistakes are going to happen and issues are going to arise.
When those problems do invariably occur, there are three basic responses we will see:
(A) Those who are third-grade people will think that AMPS is not a good place to stay and they will run away.
(B) Second grade people do not get concerned and justify that things should remain as is. Just hide the problem so that others do not find out about it, otherwise everyone will have a bad name.
(C) Those who are top-grade people will recognise the problem, alert others and work to collectively solve the matter.
Let's look at the matter this way:
If there are 5 people and one person gets seriously sick, then we may see an array of reactions. Those who have the least amount of sympathy will leave the scene entirely - not caring at all. Another may not be concerned and will think it is best not to tell others and by that way the problem will go away. Those who are true friends and family members will cry out loudly and bring that person to the hospital. They will not care who knows or does not know, with deep love their only thought is to cure their sick friend of the disease.
This same set of circumstances happens in AM as well.
Those who are third class people run away when they see a problem; second grade persons do not get very concerned - they just try to hide and ignore the problem so they can reap the rewards in the form of high posts etc. They are just in it for their own prestige. In contrast, top grade people get very concerned because they see the organisation as related with their own existence. They will alert everybody and try to fix the problem.
Now look in this way. My acarya told me this story and I found it quite helpful.
A husband and wife were walking down the street. They were young and they had not yet had children. As they were continuing their walk they found a baby in the street. They thought they should look after the baby. So they took it to the doctor and the doctor told them that the baby had a severe case of tuberculosis. They thought that having a baby with TB was inviting too much of a problem, and they left the baby at the hospital and continued on with their lives.
Then just one year later, that same married couple gave birth to their first child. When the child was just a week old the doctor told them that their child suffered from a severe case of autism and that he would never be normal. Even then, the parents felt that this "baby is mine" and they took the firm resolve to care for the baby even though the baby would require huge attention and lots of money.
Thus the same married couple got involved in similar situations but with vastly different outcomes. Since they felt that the baby in the street was not theirs, they did not want to know about or deal with the problems. In contrast, with their natural birth baby they were ready to undergo all kinds of struggle and strife.
Why? Because they felt, "this baby is mine."
The above story speaks well to the situation now in AMPS.
Those who do not feel that AMPS belongs to them are not willing to deal with or hear about the problems whereas those who feel a sense of belonging to AMPS are ready to address all kinds of issues in order to clean-up and repair the organisation.
It is just like if one's own hand is dirty, then that person will not chop off their hand, they will clean it. The point being that when there is a problem that affects one's own life, then they solve the problem. Whereas if you think that problem is not related with you, then you separate yourself from the problem. That is the difference.
The same thing applies to the organisation. Those who are concerned members of AMPS will try and fix the problem because they think AMPS belongs to them. So they will point out the problems, alert others, and rally to solve the difficulties.
Whereas those who look at AMPS from arms-distance will just move further away when problems arise. They will go elsewhere.
Those who are concerned about something always want to know the problem.
For instance, if you are going to purchase a house then you will contact all kinds of specialists and inspectors in order to find out what is wrong with the house. You are not paying them to tell you what is good about the house. You want to know where the weaknesses lie. You want all the problems uncovered because this is going to be your house.
The same occurs when you bring your motorcycle, moped, or car to the repair shop. You are incurring expense because you want them to figure out the problem and solve it. You are giving them money to find the defects. And if they do not find any problem, then you are not going to pay them. That is the way it works.
Similar is the case of going to the doctor. We go to get our ailments identified and cured. Not to be told that there is no problem. We want our body to be healed.
Here the point is that when anyone considers something to be theirs, then they want to know what all the problems are and get them fixed.
Thus what steps we take in our personal life we should also take in our organisational life. Just as a car or bike or house or human body is mine, this organisation is also mine. This should be our mentality.
WORKS THIS WAY WITH ALL SYSTEMS
This same formula of identifying the problem and repairing the wrong works in the natural world as well.
The human body has a spectacular immune system. Whenever the body suffers from any problem or disease, then immediately those anti-bodies start attacking that infection or germs. The antibodies do not concern themselves with the parts of the body that are healthy.
In contrast, if the immune system does not respond properly, then the body decays and eventually dies.
In cases of nature, the positive approach is to fix the problems - that is nature's special way. We see this with the various ecosystems, in biology and chemistry, and in so many strata. In all such cases, a red alert is signaled when a problem arises and then all sorts of natural forces come forward to solve the problem.
And if there is no signal then there is no problem.
When we have come into AM and when we know that AM ideology is the panacea then we should have a proper outlook. We should not think that all margiis and avadhutas are divine and free from any defect. Rather we should think that Baba's philosophy is 100% rational and that humans are prone to making mistakes. And if we ignore those mistakes then the
problems will multiply.
We should follow nature's way and Baba's directive to find out the defect and correct the wrong.
Every organisation will have at least one bad apple and if that rotten apple is allowed to fester, then everything will become rotten. So our approach is to be vigilant and keep our organisation clean & totally free from any grime. Overlooking the problems will not do.
To continue, the first needed ingredient is an emotional attachment to AMPS. We should think that: AM ideology is mine and this AMPS organisation is mine. All should feel like this.
Then we will be adamant to fix the problem and find the solution.
Those who run away are cowards and those who do not know AM ideology are blind. Such persons can never solve any problem
All true Ananda Margiis will cultivate a sense of rationality. We know that all religions are dogmatic and that only AM is dharma.
Baba says, "Ananda Marga alone is dharma and all the rest are sectisms." (SS-1, p. 63)
Thus when we know only Baba's AM is a perfect philosophy then we must take the duty to fix the organisation and find others to do the same. In that way we will be able to solve one problem after another and make AMPS shine.
Furthermore, if ever we come across a new margii who became inactive after finding out some dirt in AMPS, then your duty is to try to convince them with the following logic:
They belong to the organisation and it is their duty to help fix it because AM ideology is unparalleled. It is their duty to help; indeed they are needed to help. There is no other way. Because no other organisation in the universes is built on the pillars of neo-humanism and bhagavad dharma. We should convince them in this manner.
As we all know, so many new persons get attracted to AM ideology and find it to be logical and rational, but they hear about the problems and feel suffocation with AMPS and consider leaving. We should convince them to stay with the aforesaid logic.
Finally, the best thing is to think that AM is mine; but only those who have extreme love can say and feel like this. If one mother has 4 children, they will all refer to her as my mother; they never say our mother. Because each child has a high degree of love for their mother. Each and every margii can and should think that this AMPS is mine.
If not, then at least think that it is ours. But those with more love will think AMPS is mine. We should all harbor this feeling.
We must remember that in this relative world there will always be problems. In this dance of creation, avidya maya keeps spinning her web. This is an ongoing matter.
Since AM started there were problems. So many people inside and outside of AMPS created problems for us. And always Baba was there to show us how to solve such problems. Solving problems is essential and always Baba did like this. That is the way of tantra and that is why He is a Tantric Guru.
For this reason He would both lovingly punish and praise; and for this reason He gave dharma samiiksa. His each and every action was aimed at identifying the problems and giving the solution. Because that is what Taraka Brahma does. He comes when society is at its worst and then builds it up in the best way.
So we should follow in Baba's footsteps by solving the problems.
Plus, when we hear about problems in AMPS from someone else, we should always remember the advice of the great saint Kabir. He advised:
"Keep those close to you who are going to point you out, by this way you will be corrected and cleaned."
The sense is we should always embrace those who are pointing out the problems in AMPS, because that is the only way to create a proper organisation to establish dharma.
By Baba's grace we must take a positive approach in life. Just seeking out good news is not the way. We should find out the problems, especially in AMPS. Because whereas we can get another automobile if it breaks down, we cannot find another organisation founded by Taraka Brahma. AMPS is the only one. We should be vigilant to keep it in proper shape by thinking that this AMPS is mine. Then we will find out the problems, alert others, and jointly solve those issues with other good
people.
Those who are weak-minded cannot fathom such an approach.
But by His grace every Ananda Margii has the temperament of a true sadhaka of tantra and is ready to face all kinds of obstacles in order to make life and AMPS brilliant. That is our way. We think: AM ideology is mine and AMPS is mine.
Baba says, "Struggle is the essence of life. Yours should be a pauseless struggle against corruption, hypocrisy and animality." (Ananda Vanii #11)
Namaskar,
Jawaharlal
From: "Jawaharlal Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: "This Marga Is Mine"...
Baba
"Jakhani bha'vi kichu cini bujhi, dekhi a'mi kichu ja'ni na'..." (PS 3225)
Purport:
When my little ego dominates then I think that I know and understand everything. It is only later that I realize that I do not know anything-- I know not. When I try to move on the path with my own strength, then it is difficult for me to decide what I want to do and what is my goal. From the origin of which unknown source am I floating and floating, from far to the farthest place, in the search of that unknown divine Entity. Day and night I am searching and wandering; why I wander around I do not understand.
O' karunamaya, what type of divine play do You do with me. What type of liila do You go on playing with this unit entity. How can this divine play between unit and cosmic continue without Your grace. Baba, You are everything, only by Your grace is anything possible...
"THIS MARGA IS MINE":
THIS SHOULD BE THE MENTALITY OF EVERY ANANDA MARGII
THIS SHOULD BE THE MENTALITY OF EVERY ANANDA MARGII
Namaskar,
It is no secret that our Marga is now going through trying and challenging times.
That is because even though Baba has given us a sublime and perfect ideology, our AMPS is made up of imperfect human beings. Naturally mistakes are going to happen and issues are going to arise.
When those problems do invariably occur, there are three basic responses we will see:
(A) Those who are third-grade people will think that AMPS is not a good place to stay and they will run away.
(B) Second grade people do not get concerned and justify that things should remain as is. Just hide the problem so that others do not find out about it, otherwise everyone will have a bad name.
(C) Those who are top-grade people will recognise the problem, alert others and work to collectively solve the matter.
Let's look at the matter this way:
If there are 5 people and one person gets seriously sick, then we may see an array of reactions. Those who have the least amount of sympathy will leave the scene entirely - not caring at all. Another may not be concerned and will think it is best not to tell others and by that way the problem will go away. Those who are true friends and family members will cry out loudly and bring that person to the hospital. They will not care who knows or does not know, with deep love their only thought is to cure their sick friend of the disease.
This same set of circumstances happens in AM as well.
Those who are third class people run away when they see a problem; second grade persons do not get very concerned - they just try to hide and ignore the problem so they can reap the rewards in the form of high posts etc. They are just in it for their own prestige. In contrast, top grade people get very concerned because they see the organisation as related with their own existence. They will alert everybody and try to fix the problem.
STORY: BABY FOUND IN THE STREET
Now look in this way. My acarya told me this story and I found it quite helpful.
A husband and wife were walking down the street. They were young and they had not yet had children. As they were continuing their walk they found a baby in the street. They thought they should look after the baby. So they took it to the doctor and the doctor told them that the baby had a severe case of tuberculosis. They thought that having a baby with TB was inviting too much of a problem, and they left the baby at the hospital and continued on with their lives.
Then just one year later, that same married couple gave birth to their first child. When the child was just a week old the doctor told them that their child suffered from a severe case of autism and that he would never be normal. Even then, the parents felt that this "baby is mine" and they took the firm resolve to care for the baby even though the baby would require huge attention and lots of money.
Thus the same married couple got involved in similar situations but with vastly different outcomes. Since they felt that the baby in the street was not theirs, they did not want to know about or deal with the problems. In contrast, with their natural birth baby they were ready to undergo all kinds of struggle and strife.
Why? Because they felt, "this baby is mine."
HOW THIS RELATES WITH AMPS (PART 1)
The above story speaks well to the situation now in AMPS.
Those who do not feel that AMPS belongs to them are not willing to deal with or hear about the problems whereas those who feel a sense of belonging to AMPS are ready to address all kinds of issues in order to clean-up and repair the organisation.
WHEN PROBLEM IS OUR OWN THEN WE SOLVE IT
It is just like if one's own hand is dirty, then that person will not chop off their hand, they will clean it. The point being that when there is a problem that affects one's own life, then they solve the problem. Whereas if you think that problem is not related with you, then you separate yourself from the problem. That is the difference.
The same thing applies to the organisation. Those who are concerned members of AMPS will try and fix the problem because they think AMPS belongs to them. So they will point out the problems, alert others, and rally to solve the difficulties.
Whereas those who look at AMPS from arms-distance will just move further away when problems arise. They will go elsewhere.
WE PAY TO FIND OUT THE FAULTS
Those who are concerned about something always want to know the problem.
For instance, if you are going to purchase a house then you will contact all kinds of specialists and inspectors in order to find out what is wrong with the house. You are not paying them to tell you what is good about the house. You want to know where the weaknesses lie. You want all the problems uncovered because this is going to be your house.
The same occurs when you bring your motorcycle, moped, or car to the repair shop. You are incurring expense because you want them to figure out the problem and solve it. You are giving them money to find the defects. And if they do not find any problem, then you are not going to pay them. That is the way it works.
Similar is the case of going to the doctor. We go to get our ailments identified and cured. Not to be told that there is no problem. We want our body to be healed.
Here the point is that when anyone considers something to be theirs, then they want to know what all the problems are and get them fixed.
Thus what steps we take in our personal life we should also take in our organisational life. Just as a car or bike or house or human body is mine, this organisation is also mine. This should be our mentality.
WORKS THIS WAY WITH ALL SYSTEMS
This same formula of identifying the problem and repairing the wrong works in the natural world as well.
The human body has a spectacular immune system. Whenever the body suffers from any problem or disease, then immediately those anti-bodies start attacking that infection or germs. The antibodies do not concern themselves with the parts of the body that are healthy.
In contrast, if the immune system does not respond properly, then the body decays and eventually dies.
In cases of nature, the positive approach is to fix the problems - that is nature's special way. We see this with the various ecosystems, in biology and chemistry, and in so many strata. In all such cases, a red alert is signaled when a problem arises and then all sorts of natural forces come forward to solve the problem.
And if there is no signal then there is no problem.
WHAT SHOULD BE OUR OUTLOOK: Part 1
When we have come into AM and when we know that AM ideology is the panacea then we should have a proper outlook. We should not think that all margiis and avadhutas are divine and free from any defect. Rather we should think that Baba's philosophy is 100% rational and that humans are prone to making mistakes. And if we ignore those mistakes then the
problems will multiply.
We should follow nature's way and Baba's directive to find out the defect and correct the wrong.
Every organisation will have at least one bad apple and if that rotten apple is allowed to fester, then everything will become rotten. So our approach is to be vigilant and keep our organisation clean & totally free from any grime. Overlooking the problems will not do.
WHAT SHOULD BE OUR OUTLOOK: Part 2
To continue, the first needed ingredient is an emotional attachment to AMPS. We should think that: AM ideology is mine and this AMPS organisation is mine. All should feel like this.
Then we will be adamant to fix the problem and find the solution.
Those who run away are cowards and those who do not know AM ideology are blind. Such persons can never solve any problem
All true Ananda Margiis will cultivate a sense of rationality. We know that all religions are dogmatic and that only AM is dharma.
Baba says, "Ananda Marga alone is dharma and all the rest are sectisms." (SS-1, p. 63)
Thus when we know only Baba's AM is a perfect philosophy then we must take the duty to fix the organisation and find others to do the same. In that way we will be able to solve one problem after another and make AMPS shine.
Furthermore, if ever we come across a new margii who became inactive after finding out some dirt in AMPS, then your duty is to try to convince them with the following logic:
They belong to the organisation and it is their duty to help fix it because AM ideology is unparalleled. It is their duty to help; indeed they are needed to help. There is no other way. Because no other organisation in the universes is built on the pillars of neo-humanism and bhagavad dharma. We should convince them in this manner.
As we all know, so many new persons get attracted to AM ideology and find it to be logical and rational, but they hear about the problems and feel suffocation with AMPS and consider leaving. We should convince them to stay with the aforesaid logic.
Finally, the best thing is to think that AM is mine; but only those who have extreme love can say and feel like this. If one mother has 4 children, they will all refer to her as my mother; they never say our mother. Because each child has a high degree of love for their mother. Each and every margii can and should think that this AMPS is mine.
If not, then at least think that it is ours. But those with more love will think AMPS is mine. We should all harbor this feeling.
ON-GOING ISSUE
We must remember that in this relative world there will always be problems. In this dance of creation, avidya maya keeps spinning her web. This is an ongoing matter.
Since AM started there were problems. So many people inside and outside of AMPS created problems for us. And always Baba was there to show us how to solve such problems. Solving problems is essential and always Baba did like this. That is the way of tantra and that is why He is a Tantric Guru.
For this reason He would both lovingly punish and praise; and for this reason He gave dharma samiiksa. His each and every action was aimed at identifying the problems and giving the solution. Because that is what Taraka Brahma does. He comes when society is at its worst and then builds it up in the best way.
So we should follow in Baba's footsteps by solving the problems.
Plus, when we hear about problems in AMPS from someone else, we should always remember the advice of the great saint Kabir. He advised:
"Keep those close to you who are going to point you out, by this way you will be corrected and cleaned."
The sense is we should always embrace those who are pointing out the problems in AMPS, because that is the only way to create a proper organisation to establish dharma.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace we must take a positive approach in life. Just seeking out good news is not the way. We should find out the problems, especially in AMPS. Because whereas we can get another automobile if it breaks down, we cannot find another organisation founded by Taraka Brahma. AMPS is the only one. We should be vigilant to keep it in proper shape by thinking that this AMPS is mine. Then we will find out the problems, alert others, and jointly solve those issues with other good
people.
Those who are weak-minded cannot fathom such an approach.
But by His grace every Ananda Margii has the temperament of a true sadhaka of tantra and is ready to face all kinds of obstacles in order to make life and AMPS brilliant. That is our way. We think: AM ideology is mine and AMPS is mine.
Baba says, "Struggle is the essence of life. Yours should be a pauseless struggle against corruption, hypocrisy and animality." (Ananda Vanii #11)
Namaskar,
Jawaharlal
