To Enhance Devotion: Personal Communication with Him

Date: 22 Sep 2012 21:44:58 -0000
From: "Mantreshwar"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: To Enhance Devotion: Personal Communication with Him

Baba

== TO ENHANCE DEVOTION: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION WITH HIM ==

~ Part 3 ~

(Note: This is the third letter of this series, but all three letters have different titles. The names of and links to all the postings are appended below. - Eds)

Namaskar,
"As we know, in devotional life a wide range of personal feelings come in the heart and mind of the bhakta and those need to be expressed and goaded towards Parama Purusa. Often it is difficult to express those sentimental feelings in a collective setting. Every sadhaka has their own way in which they wish to communicate their personal longing for Him. It depends upon a person's devotional standard and relation with Him. Some devotees have a special intimate relation with Parama Purusa and some practice another type of bhava with Parama Purusa. It varies from one sadhaka to the next. And the various Prabhat Samgiita compositions enable one to express these different types of feelings towards the Lord - towards Baba. That is why Prabhat Samgiita stands as an ideal personal practice for each sadhaka - where kiirtan is more applicable to a collective flow." (Difference Between Kiirtan and Prabhat Samgiita, posted 9/16/12)

That is very nicely stated...

Each and every song of Prabhat Samgiita has its own unique beauty. Another specialty is that the entire Ananda Marga philosophy is contained within these divine compositions. From devotional longing to neo-humanism to Prout, all aspects of Ananda Marga ideology exist - in seed form - in Prabhat Samgiita. The large majority of compositions, though, express the devotional link between bhakta and Parama Purusa.

In this way, each song carries a particular bhava, or personal manner in which the bhakta relates with Parama Purusa. The sadhaka may feel that Parama Purusa is their Father, Bandhu (intimate friend & close companion), Beloved, or Child. In this way every song is personalized.

INTIMATE SONGS ARE NOT SUNG COLLECTIVELY

In this devotional approach, Prabhat Samgiita is not meant to be sung collectively like kiirtan etc. The Prabhat Samgiita collection is comprised of personal songs that are completely intimate. They depict the inner sweet relation between the bhakta and Parama Purusa. These deeply devotional songs are not meant to be sung collectively.

There are, however, songs about social festivals, Prout, and general spiritual songs that are fine for collective programs. So it is not that Prabhat Samgiita should never be sung collectively. Here the central idea is that those very intimate songs are meant to be sung personally, not in a gathering with others around.

That is why Baba Himself has written songs such as #463 and #3189 which essentially say: O' Parama Purusa, those songs which I sing with others in public, those songs are not my favourite; they do not carry the inner feeling of my heart. Only when I sing to You in a private and secluded place, only then in an intimate way can I express the true feeling of my heart to You, O' my Dearmost. Only then can I sing my favourite and most intimate songs.

Those familiar with most of the Prabhat Samgiita compositions know that the large majority of songs are deeply intimate, devotional songs. So they are meant to be sung when one is all alone to express the very emotional, sentimental, and devotional longing of the sadhaka.

This type of inner talking and sharing of the heart with Parama Purusa is not present in kiirtan. So kiirtan is more suitable for collective programs.

SPECIAL IMPORTANCE OF PRABHAT SAMGIITA IN DEVOTIONAL LIFE

Yet the human mind is filled with various devotional feelings and sentiments. Naturally then, the sadhaka likes to express themselves - their inner feeling. And it is only in Prabhat Samgiita that such feelings have been put into words.

That is why in each and every devotee's life Prabhat Samgiita has a special place. Of course each and every teaching of Baba has a special place. Some in the realm of philosophy, some in social science etc.

In the realm of devotion, Prabhat Samgiita helps cultivate that very close link between the sadhaka and Parama Purusa. When one selects a such song that beautifully portrays their inner-heart feeling with Him, then best is to sing that song in a lonely, quiet place.

WHO CAN UNDERSTAND

All these ideas about the value and specialty of Prabhat Samgiita come in mind only if one understands the full meaning of the song. If one does not know the full meaning of these deeply devotional compositions, or if one only knows one or two songs like the song of Shiva, Jaya shubhavajradhara shubhra kalevara, then one will not be able to understand the ideas expressed in this letter.

 MORE DEVOTIONAL POINTS

Here are some concluding points about the sweetness of Prabhat Samgiita:

(1) Baba has graciously given Prabhat Samgiita so sadhakas may express their personal feelings towards Parama Purusa. But every song is not for everyone per se; people have different emotional and devotional relations with Parama Purusa. Everyone will have their own favourite song. Not all songs will appeal to every sadhaka.

(2) By learning and ideating on His divine Prabhat Samgiita compositions, as well as doing more and more sadhana, one can develop a more intimate relation with Parama Purusa. So Prabhat Samgiita is Baba's special blessing upon every devotee. Those songs teach sadhakas how to get closer to Him.

(3) As we know devotion means serving Parama Purusa, yet one cannot serve by Him keeping distant. One must go close in order to serve Him. Through Prabhat Samgiita, one can cultivate more and more closeness - more and more emotional & devotional feelings for Him. As those feelings grow and become more intimate, sadhakas do not wish to express those thoughts in front of others. Rather they prefer to express those intimate feelings while alone.

(4) Those with a devotional heart surely understand all this; and those who do not have such feelings should try and cultivate a deeper devotional link with Parama Purusa. He will certainly be gracious.

(5) Without a strong devotional longing for Him, without the sharing of the heart and without Prabhat Samgiita, life is dry like the hot sand. Baba has specially graced us by giving this oasis of Prabhat Samgiita to soak our hearts with devotion.

Namaskar,
Mantreshvar

Note 1: LINKS TO EARLIER LETTERS ON THIS TOPIC

#1: Why Prabhat Samgiita Started in 1982, posted 9/13/12

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/09/why-prabhat-samgiita-started-in-1982.html

#2: Difference Between Kiirtan and Prabhat Samgiita, posted 9/16/12

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/09/difference-between-kiirtan-and-prabhat.html

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

This song offers a special type of devotional expression wherein the bhakta is communicating with Parama Purusa in a dramatic fashion - i.e. addressing Him in the third person yet lodging a loving complaint about Parama Purusa. So the beauty here is that the devotee is talking with Parama Purusa Baba, not with anyone else, yet addressing Him using indirect language.

"Tora' balo go tora' more balo, ja'r'ete keno na'hi phot'e kamal..." (PS 487)

Purport:

Please, tell me about this strange liila of Parama Purusa. He is doing many things in a peculiar and bizarre way. The lotus flower is very charming and full of fragrance, but with the arrival of winter season it withers; it does not bloom anymore. I am crying and crying in His love and longing; He is such a heartless One. He does not care and He does not like to come close to me. I do not know why He makes this type of strange liila. Why is it that for Whom I have love and cry in longing, and He does not care even a little about this.    

Please explain this strange liila of Parama Purusa. In the summer months when there is a great need of water in the pond, at that time the pond is empty - all the water is dried up. So when there is a serious need, then there is no water; and, in the rainy season when there is not so much of a need, then it is full of water. I am singing the songs and kiirtan and I call and go on calling Him with the hope that He will come. But remaining distant He just smiles and does not like to come close. Even then I know that He loves me. Why like this.
   
Please tell me why this happens. The palash tree is covered by orange flowers and becomes so beautiful. There are countless flowers on this tree yet it is so strange that it never bears any fruit. For whom my life is, for Whom I have come on this earth - and also I am doing all sorts of things for Him and He is so close to me - even then He prefers to make me cry in His love and longing by keeping Himself distant.

O my Dearmost, please grace me by coming close...