Date: 13 Oct 2012 22:24:58 -0000
From: Hitendra Deva
To: AM-GLOBAL
Subject: Way to Improve Sadhana
Baba
Namaskar,
Every sadhaka understands that the most important and cherished ideal is their personal relationship with Parama Purusa. This is the top phase of devotional life.
While there are many important aspects to creating a more intimate relation with Parama Puursa, this letter focuses on only one: the idea of asking Parama Purusa for devotion.
Of course, we all know that in Ananda Sutram (3-11) Baba guides us not to ask for anything mundane from Parama Purusa, yet in devotional life there is an emotional need to ask Him for something - and that something is devotion.
From the outside, this then can look like a bit of a paradox: We have seemingly been told not to ask anything of Parama Purusa, yet every true sadhaka has an internal longing to express their heart feeling with Him, and in that communication lies one's requests for the Lord.
In truth, however, there is nothing paradoxical about it. Rather it is quite straightforward - like all of Guru's teachings.
Let's first discuss this need to ask for bhakti from Parama Purusa - as that is the focal point of the letter.
As every sadhaka knows, devotion itself is based on the idea of creating a link with Parama Purusa. To create this personal connection, communication is needed.
Because in the process of growing more close, one naturally desires to express their feeling by asking for His grace. That is the genuine expression that arises.
A similar thing happens in worldly life. One will certainly ask their friend to come over and talk when going through a difficult time in life. Or upon hearing great news, one will call their best friend and request them to stop what they are doing and come over so they can tell them all about it.
Or in the case of a spouse, one will certainly talk about any problems and ask for their support and advice. This is quite natural.
Likewise, a baby will always reach out to mama and place their requests - whether it be for food, love, or attention.
So in all social relationships where there is a strong bond of love, one will always make a request and ask for help and support. That is the inherent quality of love. By that way, the relationship deepens and grows.
In contrast, if there is a neighbor down the street with whom you feel distant, you will never ask for a deeper loving connection from that neighbor.
Thus, this desire to ask to be more close is a special characteristic of feeling intimate with someone.
Devotional life is no different. There is love - there is yearning - and there is an inherent desire to be more close. And the way to satisfy that desire of closeness is to request the Lord to grant me more and more devotion.
Indeed, the entire platform of Prabhat Samgiita is based on this loving relationship between bhakta and Parama Purusa, wherein the devotee asks Parama Purusa to come more close. The bhakta wants to express to Parama Purusa his inner heart feeling. This is the natural internal urge that arises in love - and to suppress this request or desire is not the way.
Rather, we are to open our heart to Parama Purusa and request His grace and love.
This can occur either in dhyana or at any time during the day or night. The only pre-requisite is that the request be sincere.
Actually, insincere requests are almost impossible. Because true feelings of love always grow out of sincerity. If one is not feeling love for Parama Purusa - if one is not feeling close - then that person will have no desire to request devotion from Baba. In their ignorance, they will feel content with their petty material gains etc.
But devotees are intelligent. Every bhakta understands that they are to ask Parama Purusa to bless them with devotion. They say, "O' Lord please grace me, please fill me heart with devotion so my sadhana will be better."
In Ananda Marga, we only ask for devotion. The question arises then, what is the situation of those who ask for something other than devotion.
Asking something mundane from Parama Purusa is not very good, but it is far better than remaining a non-believer / atheist and not asking anything at all. So those who are asking for money, name and fame, material wealth, or prestige, at least they believe in God and they feel that He is omnipresent and all-powerful and can bestow all kinds of boons etc. That is better than non-believers who think that they themselves are everything and there is no God.
Asking for prestige and material gain is tamasik devotion and in due course this type of feeling may change to rajasik devotion. Those without a more refined sense of devotion can start at that point. In this way, they may develop some sort of relation with Parama Purusa. And in due course, as their worldly longings dissipate, birth after birth, they may shift to a higher level of devotion. That is the slow gradual path.
In the case of our Ananda Marga, we do not follow this slow path. As Ananda Margiis, we move directly ahead with a higher standard of devotion and attain Him in this life itself. That is Baba's guarantee for every sincere Ananda Margii.
In contrast, non-margiis follow a very gradual path. They ask for mundane boons and then, after many lives, move ahead to a higher standard of devotion.
One thing to keep in mind: On this path of crude devotion, there is always the danger of falling because in asking for crude material allurements from Parama Purusa, people can forget Him completely and become fully engrossed in material desires. In that case they will not progress gradually, but rather degrade themselves quite quickly. Even with this danger at hand, this path of crude devotion is better than atheism.
Finally, if you ask Parama Purusa for bhakti, that is always safe and one is sure to get His grace.
Baba says, "If the Lord comes to you and says, “What do you want?”, what will you reply? You will certainly ask for what you think you need. But as you do not know what you really need, you should say, “Oh Lord, you know best what my need is. So you should give me what You feel is necessary for me.” You must leave everything unto Him. Why should you risk asking for anything? But even then if He insists, saying, “No, you tell me what you want”, then you should reply, “Give me parábhakti, give me shuddhábhhakti (absolutely pure devotion).” Those who ask for parábhakti or shuddhá bhakti will certainly acquire the things they need also. Thus due to their devotion, the devotees are always intelligent. You should be an intelligent devotee like this." (Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life, 29 November 1970 DMC, Kolkata)
Namaskar,
Hitendra
From: Hitendra Deva
To: AM-GLOBAL
Subject: Way to Improve Sadhana
Baba
== WAY TO IMPROVE SADHANA ==
Namaskar,
Every sadhaka understands that the most important and cherished ideal is their personal relationship with Parama Purusa. This is the top phase of devotional life.
While there are many important aspects to creating a more intimate relation with Parama Puursa, this letter focuses on only one: the idea of asking Parama Purusa for devotion.
ASK FOR DEVOTION
Of course, we all know that in Ananda Sutram (3-11) Baba guides us not to ask for anything mundane from Parama Purusa, yet in devotional life there is an emotional need to ask Him for something - and that something is devotion.
From the outside, this then can look like a bit of a paradox: We have seemingly been told not to ask anything of Parama Purusa, yet every true sadhaka has an internal longing to express their heart feeling with Him, and in that communication lies one's requests for the Lord.
In truth, however, there is nothing paradoxical about it. Rather it is quite straightforward - like all of Guru's teachings.
Let's first discuss this need to ask for bhakti from Parama Purusa - as that is the focal point of the letter.
WHY IT IS NEEDED TO ASK
As every sadhaka knows, devotion itself is based on the idea of creating a link with Parama Purusa. To create this personal connection, communication is needed.
Because in the process of growing more close, one naturally desires to express their feeling by asking for His grace. That is the genuine expression that arises.
A similar thing happens in worldly life. One will certainly ask their friend to come over and talk when going through a difficult time in life. Or upon hearing great news, one will call their best friend and request them to stop what they are doing and come over so they can tell them all about it.
Or in the case of a spouse, one will certainly talk about any problems and ask for their support and advice. This is quite natural.
Likewise, a baby will always reach out to mama and place their requests - whether it be for food, love, or attention.
So in all social relationships where there is a strong bond of love, one will always make a request and ask for help and support. That is the inherent quality of love. By that way, the relationship deepens and grows.
In contrast, if there is a neighbor down the street with whom you feel distant, you will never ask for a deeper loving connection from that neighbor.
Thus, this desire to ask to be more close is a special characteristic of feeling intimate with someone.
IN DEVOTIONAL LIFE WE REQUEST HIS GRACE
Devotional life is no different. There is love - there is yearning - and there is an inherent desire to be more close. And the way to satisfy that desire of closeness is to request the Lord to grant me more and more devotion.
Indeed, the entire platform of Prabhat Samgiita is based on this loving relationship between bhakta and Parama Purusa, wherein the devotee asks Parama Purusa to come more close. The bhakta wants to express to Parama Purusa his inner heart feeling. This is the natural internal urge that arises in love - and to suppress this request or desire is not the way.
Rather, we are to open our heart to Parama Purusa and request His grace and love.
This can occur either in dhyana or at any time during the day or night. The only pre-requisite is that the request be sincere.
Actually, insincere requests are almost impossible. Because true feelings of love always grow out of sincerity. If one is not feeling love for Parama Purusa - if one is not feeling close - then that person will have no desire to request devotion from Baba. In their ignorance, they will feel content with their petty material gains etc.
But devotees are intelligent. Every bhakta understands that they are to ask Parama Purusa to bless them with devotion. They say, "O' Lord please grace me, please fill me heart with devotion so my sadhana will be better."
ASKING SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING
In Ananda Marga, we only ask for devotion. The question arises then, what is the situation of those who ask for something other than devotion.
Asking something mundane from Parama Purusa is not very good, but it is far better than remaining a non-believer / atheist and not asking anything at all. So those who are asking for money, name and fame, material wealth, or prestige, at least they believe in God and they feel that He is omnipresent and all-powerful and can bestow all kinds of boons etc. That is better than non-believers who think that they themselves are everything and there is no God.
Asking for prestige and material gain is tamasik devotion and in due course this type of feeling may change to rajasik devotion. Those without a more refined sense of devotion can start at that point. In this way, they may develop some sort of relation with Parama Purusa. And in due course, as their worldly longings dissipate, birth after birth, they may shift to a higher level of devotion. That is the slow gradual path.
In the case of our Ananda Marga, we do not follow this slow path. As Ananda Margiis, we move directly ahead with a higher standard of devotion and attain Him in this life itself. That is Baba's guarantee for every sincere Ananda Margii.
In contrast, non-margiis follow a very gradual path. They ask for mundane boons and then, after many lives, move ahead to a higher standard of devotion.
One thing to keep in mind: On this path of crude devotion, there is always the danger of falling because in asking for crude material allurements from Parama Purusa, people can forget Him completely and become fully engrossed in material desires. In that case they will not progress gradually, but rather degrade themselves quite quickly. Even with this danger at hand, this path of crude devotion is better than atheism.
BABA'S BLESSING
Finally, if you ask Parama Purusa for bhakti, that is always safe and one is sure to get His grace.
Baba says, "If the Lord comes to you and says, “What do you want?”, what will you reply? You will certainly ask for what you think you need. But as you do not know what you really need, you should say, “Oh Lord, you know best what my need is. So you should give me what You feel is necessary for me.” You must leave everything unto Him. Why should you risk asking for anything? But even then if He insists, saying, “No, you tell me what you want”, then you should reply, “Give me parábhakti, give me shuddhábhhakti (absolutely pure devotion).” Those who ask for parábhakti or shuddhá bhakti will certainly acquire the things they need also. Thus due to their devotion, the devotees are always intelligent. You should be an intelligent devotee like this." (Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life, 29 November 1970 DMC, Kolkata)
Namaskar,
Hitendra
PRABHAT SAMGIITA
PS Intro: In the following song the bhakta is making a loving accusation to Parama Purusa. By Baba's grace such high feelings come when there is
extreme intimacy and pure, one-pointed love-- devotion for Ista. Then in that case the bhakta feels internally that he has the right to demand and
place his accusation at Lord's feet. So the following song is the expression of deep love for Baba.
"Ekahno ki prabhu toma'y du're tha'ka' bha'lo dekha'y..." Prabhata Samgiita #2332
Purport:
Baba, O' Parmaa Purusa, with deep longing in my heart I go on calling You. How can You feel good when You do not pay heed to my call. Do You think that this is appropriate. In calling You again and again my voice became hoarse, until finally I completely lost my voice. But Your heart never melted.
Baba, on which dusty earth have You sent me - thus pushing me far from You. Why have You forgotten me. Is this the definition of Your love. Should I believe that what You are doing is proper.
O' Divine Entity, O' Baba, Your liila is unfathomable; it is beyond my understanding. Why do You do like this. I do not have the proper words or language to express myself, but all these feelings which I am sharing with You come from deep within my heart. Baba, sometimes You make me cry & float in my tears; and sometimes You make me laugh when my heart is filled with Your longing.
Baba, I do not know what to do. How long do I have to wait for Your heart to melt. Baba please come...
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