Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:48:29 -0000
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Atma' Kii Diivali
From: Girish Deva
Baba
"A'lokojval ei sandhya'y..." (PS 1894)
Purport:
Baba, by Your grace, this effulgent Diipa'vali evening has been lit by the lamp of Your divine love. With the sweetness of Your mind, You are that Divine Personality who has graciously removed all the blemishes and defects from my mental temple. By Your grace, You have made me clean and pure. O' Eternal One, who is this Vast Entity who has graced me and appeared in my mental sky.
O' Baba, the planets and stars have lit the lamp for You; by Your grace their hearts are filled with overflowing love for You. Baba You are so magnificent. By seeing Your infinite, divine grandeur, even this great, silver-coloured galaxy has become spellbound & awestruck. Baba, by Your grace You go on dancing and You go on floating in my oversurging heart, which You Yourself have illumined.
Baba, by Your grace I have longed for You for hundreds of lives. I have yearned for You through countless cycles of life & death; and by Your grace I have gotten new life again and again-- always longing for You. Baba, I long for Your love in each and every fraction of my heart. By Your grace my mind is filled with the deep attraction of Your love. Baba, You have filled my entire being with the light of devotion. By Your causeless grace, the river of my mental longing is overflowing with Your divine love.
O' Divine Entity, O' Parama Purusa, O' Baba, today You have graced me by coming in my heart on this resplendent night of Diipavali ...
Note: The great festival of Diipavali is arriving soon: Wednesday, October 26, 2011.
Namaskar & Happy Diipa'vali!!
On the eve this wonderful occasion of Diivali or Diipavali, may we all rejoice and celebrate both the social & devotional aspects of this highly significant and spiritual occasion. After all this is one of our recognised AM festivals which is designed to bring a renewal and rejuvenation throughout one's entire existence.
Of course Diipa'vali is not just a day celebrated in Ananda Marga. Throughout the vastness of tantric society, Diipa'vali is recognised as a highly meaningful occasion. Estimates are that upwards of 900 million to 1.4 billion people celebrate Diivali.
Whether one is a vidya tantric or an avidya tantric, whether one is an idol worshipper or one engages in prayer, whatever type of sadhana one does, Diipa'vali is the day when
all sincerely engage in their selected practice. On this occasion, one does more sadhana-- whatever type that may be.
At the same time, many materialistic and dogmatic people display fireworks in the external arena; that is also one aspect of this event. Of course in AM, we do not support the use of fireworks - the reasons of which are outlined in note 3 at the end of this letter. Instead we might use eco-friendly, electric lamps - if one has the desire to celebrate in this manner.
After all 'diip' means 'light' or 'lamp' and Diipa'vali is that occasion which is a festival of lights. And many come forward in various ways to celebrate. It is a widely recognised occasion. Y
Of course in our Ananda Marga we have our own special, dharmic understanding of this great festival. And here below Baba sweetly describes the inner significance of Diipa'vali.
BABA'S SPECIAL DESCRIPTION OF DIIPA'VALI
As we all know in Caryacarya part 1 Baba neatly outlines all our AM festivals. Plus in various other discourses Baba also talks extensively about so many of these various festivals. And that is the case with Diipa'vali also.
Before we move ahead any further it should be noted that there are various different spellings of this occasion, depending on the language and area etc. Suffice to say here that 'Diipavali', 'Diivali', 'Diipa'vali' and 'Deewali' etc all refer to the same wonderful festival.
And in His June 1990 DMC discourse, 'The Cult of Spirituality-- The Cult of Pinnacled Order', Baba makes special mention of this event.
In this discourse Baba explains how this festival known as Diipa'vali is linked with the enlightenment of the soul. That is the great significance of this day.
Hence Diipa'vali is related with spiritual effulgence, sentient thought, and all psycho-spiritual ideas that are linked with light: Igniting the lamp of love for Parama Purusa.
Here below is the original Hindi from this discourse. For those with the English editions of this book-- "Yoga Psychology"-- this section comes on page 136 of the 1991 edition and on page 174 of the 1998 edition. It directly follows the two line Sanskrit shloka, "Phalis'yatiiti vishva'sah...". Unfortunately in both of these English editions, the proper translation of the original Hindi could not be given.
Here then is the original Hindi followed by the correct English translation:
According to Baba's above DMC discourse, Diipa'vali is the idea of cultivating that inner spiritual yearning for Parama Purusa, thereby illuminating one's entire existence with the sweet flow of spirituality. That is, infusing one's soul with the great, devotional love of Parama Purusa.
Of course abiding by the Supreme Command, each and every Ananda Margii does sadhana twice a day, at minimum. So it is our regular habit and regular practice to illumine our minds and hearts with that deeply spiritual of flow. This is Baba's grace and His great gift to all Ananda Margiis.
So when the day of Diipa'vali arrives then what are we to do. We are to dedicate even more time to our devotional practices of sadhana and kiirtan-- enabling our existence to better reflect and capture the infinite love of Parama Purusa. By Baba's divine grace may we all pass this occasion in this way.
And of course we may partake in any festival program as organised in our local units, as outlined in Caryacarya.
On this wonderful festival of Diipa'vali, let us once again recall Baba's great boon upon all Ananda Margiis.
Baba says, "You should remember why You have been born. Following the path of devotion, you will have to ultimately reach Parama Purusa." (YP, '91 Edn, p.140)
Namaskar,
Giriish
Both the 1991 and the 1998 printed editions of Baba's famous 1990 DMC discourse, 'The Cult of Spirituality-- The Cult of Pinnacled Order', carry the wrong translation of the original Hindi lines. In English that paragraph begins and ends in the following way:
If compared with the original Hindi lines as translated in the main part of this posting, it is apparent that there are various mistakes and omissions in the English translation of this important paragraph. That is not to say that the idea has been totally misconstrued. But, we cannot say it is a proper translation of Baba's words either. That is why both the grammar and the word selection in the English editions needs to be redone according to Baba's original spoken discourse. As this is a DMC discourse, it was given using a mixture of the three languages (Bengali, English, and Hindi) but the special section about Diipa'vali was uniquely given in Hindi only. And the English translations should be made to reflect Baba's original words.
Here is one of several of Baba's divine songs about Diipa'vali.
'Baba, my Beloved, by Your divine grace I have arranged a row of lamps in Your reception. Please grace me and come inside my heart always with newer and new form and dress. Please come inside my heart with Your gentle footsteps. Please come inside my mind with more song and dance. Baba by Your grace please radiate Your sweet and tender smile-- illumine my entire existence. Baba, by Your causeless grace please come in my world of ideation with rhythm and new effulgence--exuding Your charming vibration...'
Note 3: WHY WE DON'T LIGHT FIRECRACKERS
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Atma' Kii Diivali
From: Girish Deva
Baba
"A'lokojval ei sandhya'y..." (PS 1894)
Purport:
Baba, by Your grace, this effulgent Diipa'vali evening has been lit by the lamp of Your divine love. With the sweetness of Your mind, You are that Divine Personality who has graciously removed all the blemishes and defects from my mental temple. By Your grace, You have made me clean and pure. O' Eternal One, who is this Vast Entity who has graced me and appeared in my mental sky.
O' Baba, the planets and stars have lit the lamp for You; by Your grace their hearts are filled with overflowing love for You. Baba You are so magnificent. By seeing Your infinite, divine grandeur, even this great, silver-coloured galaxy has become spellbound & awestruck. Baba, by Your grace You go on dancing and You go on floating in my oversurging heart, which You Yourself have illumined.
Baba, by Your grace I have longed for You for hundreds of lives. I have yearned for You through countless cycles of life & death; and by Your grace I have gotten new life again and again-- always longing for You. Baba, I long for Your love in each and every fraction of my heart. By Your grace my mind is filled with the deep attraction of Your love. Baba, You have filled my entire being with the light of devotion. By Your causeless grace, the river of my mental longing is overflowing with Your divine love.
O' Divine Entity, O' Parama Purusa, O' Baba, today You have graced me by coming in my heart on this resplendent night of Diipavali ...
== "A'TMA' KII DIIVALI ==
Note: The great festival of Diipavali is arriving soon: Wednesday, October 26, 2011.
Namaskar & Happy Diipa'vali!!
On the eve this wonderful occasion of Diivali or Diipavali, may we all rejoice and celebrate both the social & devotional aspects of this highly significant and spiritual occasion. After all this is one of our recognised AM festivals which is designed to bring a renewal and rejuvenation throughout one's entire existence.
MANY WORSHIPERS OUTSIDE AM ALSO CELEBRATE
Of course Diipa'vali is not just a day celebrated in Ananda Marga. Throughout the vastness of tantric society, Diipa'vali is recognised as a highly meaningful occasion. Estimates are that upwards of 900 million to 1.4 billion people celebrate Diivali.
Whether one is a vidya tantric or an avidya tantric, whether one is an idol worshipper or one engages in prayer, whatever type of sadhana one does, Diipa'vali is the day when
all sincerely engage in their selected practice. On this occasion, one does more sadhana-- whatever type that may be.
At the same time, many materialistic and dogmatic people display fireworks in the external arena; that is also one aspect of this event. Of course in AM, we do not support the use of fireworks - the reasons of which are outlined in note 3 at the end of this letter. Instead we might use eco-friendly, electric lamps - if one has the desire to celebrate in this manner.
After all 'diip' means 'light' or 'lamp' and Diipa'vali is that occasion which is a festival of lights. And many come forward in various ways to celebrate. It is a widely recognised occasion. Y
Of course in our Ananda Marga we have our own special, dharmic understanding of this great festival. And here below Baba sweetly describes the inner significance of Diipa'vali.
BABA'S SPECIAL DESCRIPTION OF DIIPA'VALI
As we all know in Caryacarya part 1 Baba neatly outlines all our AM festivals. Plus in various other discourses Baba also talks extensively about so many of these various festivals. And that is the case with Diipa'vali also.
Before we move ahead any further it should be noted that there are various different spellings of this occasion, depending on the language and area etc. Suffice to say here that 'Diipavali', 'Diivali', 'Diipa'vali' and 'Deewali' etc all refer to the same wonderful festival.
And in His June 1990 DMC discourse, 'The Cult of Spirituality-- The Cult of Pinnacled Order', Baba makes special mention of this event.
In this discourse Baba explains how this festival known as Diipa'vali is linked with the enlightenment of the soul. That is the great significance of this day.
Hence Diipa'vali is related with spiritual effulgence, sentient thought, and all psycho-spiritual ideas that are linked with light: Igniting the lamp of love for Parama Purusa.
Here below is the original Hindi from this discourse. For those with the English editions of this book-- "Yoga Psychology"-- this section comes on page 136 of the 1991 edition and on page 174 of the 1998 edition. It directly follows the two line Sanskrit shloka, "Phalis'yatiiti vishva'sah...". Unfortunately in both of these English editions, the proper translation of the original Hindi could not be given.
Here then is the original Hindi followed by the correct English translation:
Man ka' jo andhaka'r hai usko hat'a'na' hae.
(The darkness of the mind should be removed.)
Esa' nahin kahana' hai ki ghar-ghar men diivali,
mere ghar men andhera'.
('In each and every house there is a festival of light,
yet my home is dark', one should not say like this.)
Ghar men bhii diiva'lii honi ca'hiye.
(There should be diivali in the home)
Aor ye hae a'tma' kii diivali.
(And it is the diivali of the atma')
(The darkness of the mind should be removed.)
Esa' nahin kahana' hai ki ghar-ghar men diivali,
mere ghar men andhera'.
('In each and every house there is a festival of light,
yet my home is dark', one should not say like this.)
Ghar men bhii diiva'lii honi ca'hiye.
(There should be diivali in the home)
Aor ye hae a'tma' kii diivali.
(And it is the diivali of the atma')
According to Baba's above DMC discourse, Diipa'vali is the idea of cultivating that inner spiritual yearning for Parama Purusa, thereby illuminating one's entire existence with the sweet flow of spirituality. That is, infusing one's soul with the great, devotional love of Parama Purusa.
HOW WE SHOULD CELEBRATE
Of course abiding by the Supreme Command, each and every Ananda Margii does sadhana twice a day, at minimum. So it is our regular habit and regular practice to illumine our minds and hearts with that deeply spiritual of flow. This is Baba's grace and His great gift to all Ananda Margiis.
So when the day of Diipa'vali arrives then what are we to do. We are to dedicate even more time to our devotional practices of sadhana and kiirtan-- enabling our existence to better reflect and capture the infinite love of Parama Purusa. By Baba's divine grace may we all pass this occasion in this way.
And of course we may partake in any festival program as organised in our local units, as outlined in Caryacarya.
BABA'S BLESSING
On this wonderful festival of Diipa'vali, let us once again recall Baba's great boon upon all Ananda Margiis.
Baba says, "You should remember why You have been born. Following the path of devotion, you will have to ultimately reach Parama Purusa." (YP, '91 Edn, p.140)
Namaskar,
Giriish
Note 1: DISCOURSE NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED
Both the 1991 and the 1998 printed editions of Baba's famous 1990 DMC discourse, 'The Cult of Spirituality-- The Cult of Pinnacled Order', carry the wrong translation of the original Hindi lines. In English that paragraph begins and ends in the following way:
"In Sam'skrta, gu means 'darkness'...
there should not be a festival of lights...of the soul."
there should not be a festival of lights...of the soul."
If compared with the original Hindi lines as translated in the main part of this posting, it is apparent that there are various mistakes and omissions in the English translation of this important paragraph. That is not to say that the idea has been totally misconstrued. But, we cannot say it is a proper translation of Baba's words either. That is why both the grammar and the word selection in the English editions needs to be redone according to Baba's original spoken discourse. As this is a DMC discourse, it was given using a mixture of the three languages (Bengali, English, and Hindi) but the special section about Diipa'vali was uniquely given in Hindi only. And the English translations should be made to reflect Baba's original words.
Note 2: BABA'S PRABHAT SAMGIITA ABOUT
DIIPA'VALI
Here is one of several of Baba's divine songs about Diipa'vali.
"Diipa'valii sa'ja'yechi prabhu..." (PS #63)
'Baba, my Beloved, by Your divine grace I have arranged a row of lamps in Your reception. Please grace me and come inside my heart always with newer and new form and dress. Please come inside my heart with Your gentle footsteps. Please come inside my mind with more song and dance. Baba by Your grace please radiate Your sweet and tender smile-- illumine my entire existence. Baba, by Your causeless grace please come in my world of ideation with rhythm and new effulgence--exuding Your charming vibration...'
Note 3: WHY WE DON'T LIGHT FIRECRACKERS
There are a variety of reasons why we do not
support the lighting of fireworks during our AM festivals or
anytime.
1. Fireworks / Firecrackers are costly and a waste of money;
2. Fireworks / Firecrackers are dangerous can bring bodily harm;
3. Fireworks / Firecrackers create a huge amount of pollution
This below letter details some of the dangers and pollution issues related with fireworks:
This Baba story sheds light on why firecrackers are a waste.
1. Fireworks / Firecrackers are costly and a waste of money;
2. Fireworks / Firecrackers are dangerous can bring bodily harm;
3. Fireworks / Firecrackers create a huge amount of pollution
This below letter details some of the dangers and pollution issues related with fireworks:
This Baba story sheds light on why firecrackers are a waste.
