From: Girish Girish
To: AM-GLOBAL
Subject: Why Are You Here
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2012 21:48:44 -0400
Baba
Namaskar,
Paying off debt...Purchasing a house...Saving for retirement...Gaining name, fame, money, prestige, beauty etc, etc.
All these plans and programs in today's materialistic society - where people think and plan many decades into the future - point to the idea that people basically think that they will be on this earth forever. Oh sure, they may say, "One day I am going to die", but they do not really believe it. Not in their heart of hearts.
Proof being that their entire life outlook, structure, and planning demonstrate that they feel they will remain on this earth forever - or at least for so long that they need not think about death.
Most aim for material wealth and comfort, name and fame, and all sorts of temporary gains - thinking they will bask in those things up to eternity. And they say that, "When I retire (at the age of 65 or so) then life will be glorious: I will have x amount of money and lots of free time." People begin planning for this so-called golden era of their lives when they are merely 25 years old, or even younger.
Their life revolves around the false notion that they have come here to remain on this earth - as if this place is their eternal abode. They do not think that one day they will leave. Nor do they contemplate that their death could come as early as today or tomorrow. This outlook is quickly spreading from western materialistic nations to all countries of the globe, wherever materialism is in vogue.
However, as we know, this type of mentality is not helpful as it runs contrary to our spiritual ideal and Baba's guidelines.
Plus it invites, at minimum, two serious deficiencies in the practical sphere.
There are two main character flaws which manifest when one thinks of this world as their final abode.
1. People fail to utilise their life to do truly good works that will enhance their progress, i.e. increase their proximity to Parama Purusa. They do not engage in a life of sadhana and service. Instead they spend their time frolicking hither and thither on this earth, from one sensual longing to the next, from one party to the next.
2. When the time inevitably comes to confront death, either their own or their companion's, they are shocked, depressed, and gloomy. They utterly lack the psychic stability to deal with this basic fact of life.
So many people on this earth get trapped in this way and they suffer for it.
So what is it that we should do?
Baba's guideline is that we must always remember the fact that this world is jagat, i.e. mobile. Nothing on this earth is fixed. This earth is samsara: everything is moving - moving towards expiration or death.
That is why Guru's teaching is to remember that death can come at any time - in childhood, in adolescence, as a young adult, whenever. Nothing is sure. Our place on this earth is not fixed - at any moment we may leave this world.
"That is, during dharma'caran, i.e. dharmic pursuits [following yama and niyama, service, svadhyaya etc] one should think that the god of death has already started pulling one’s hair – that one’s death is imminent. And accordingly one should work sincerely and vigorously; one will have to do a great many noble deeds within a short period." (Subhasita Samgraha, part 11)
When one understands that death is near, inevitable, and can show up on their doorstep at any time, they will naturally attend to the most important endeavors first, like trying to please Parama Purusa, and not just waste one's time in worldly pleasures. We should move ahead with this idea in mind.
Here again is Baba's teaching about how we should view everything in this world, including our own life.
Baba says, "Then, Smara nityamanityata'm. Nityam means “always” – “Remember always the transitory nature of things.” [Anityata'm means “the ephemeral”, “the transitory”.]... A thing which was born will die one day...That which comes within the scope of the spatial, temporal and personal factors will alone be born and die." (Subhasita Samgraha - 21)
All this demands a basic shift in outlook. Instead of thinking that we have come here for a long, long time. We should think that we are here on loan only.
This body has been given to us for a limited time - an extremely short time, a maximum of 100 to 150 years, not thousands of years. In addition, one may die anytime and not even see tomorrow's sunrise. In that case, one will rush to do great things immediately and understand one's true nature.
Tragically, most forget that this body has been given to us on loan. They think this body will last forever on this earth. When sunk in such unawareness, one becomes lethargic and lax about life. A person will eat, drink, and be merry or not merry, whittling away one's time.
They will forget that their current energy and strength will not last. After the age of 39, the body begins to decay. One will lose energy, muscle power, hearing, eyesight, and the list goes on and on. Plus any moment, one may be scooped away from this earth without a moment's notice.
Because this body has been given to us on loan. And only Parama Purusa knows for how long - we do not.
As sadhakas, we must always be aware of two things: 1) Our final abode is elsewhere, 2) Our body will not last long.
In that case, we will maximally utilise our body for attaining salvation, not worldly pleasures.
It is just like if a person goes to the market to get medicine for their ailing grandfather. With that goal in mind they will reach to the drug store, secure the medicine, and return home quickly with the medicine for grandfather. They will pointedly do their duty. In contrast, if one goes to the market and fails to remember their goal of getting medicine for grandfather, they will walk past the drug store and instead spend hours and hours in the cinema house, watching one movie after another - until midnight. Finally when they leave the cinema hall and walk to the market all the shops are closed. In the end, they return home empty-handed, with all their money gone and no medicine for grandfather. So they are scolded and punished for being so neglectful.
It is just like how degraded humans get punished by prakrti for forgetting their Divine Goal and instead indulging in other mundane allurements. For wasting their human life, they are punished and sent sliding down the pathway of negative pratisaincara.
“O human beings, the path is ready for you, you just come!” Whoever is endowed with a human mind and a human body is entitled to follow this path, and at the end of the journey, one day, one is destined to attain Parama Puruśa. When Parama Puruśa, the Cosmic Cognition, is your goal, success is a must, success will be with you." (Neohumanism in a Nutshell Part 1)
"O human beings! be established in the radiance of divinity and the splendour of valour and chivalry, because yours is the path of revolution. Your path is not the path of extra caution and scheduled movement. You are the traveller of a rugged path. You are travellers of an impregnable path. You have to march ahead proudly with the flag of Marga upright. You have no time to stagger or to look behind." (Subhasita Samgraha - 1)
"O human beings, proceed ahead in the path of oṋḿkára towards subtleness. Do not run after the superficially pleasant mirage, dominated by tamoguńa. Establish yourself in sattvaguńa and then merge into Brahma. Reach the spot whence oṋḿkára has emerged. Awaken your dormant dynamism through sádhaná and devotion. Realize the mental elevation of divinity and merge this into the endless stream of divine mercy." (Prakrti Tattva and Oṋḿkára Tattva)
"From distant ages past, you have been moving toward the Supreme State. You have suffered untold privations, and today you have the most favourable opportunity to become worthy human beings." (Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 1)
Namaskar,
in HIM,
Giriish
To: AM-GLOBAL
Subject: Why Are You Here
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2012 21:48:44 -0400
Baba
== WHY ARE YOU HERE ==
Namaskar,
Paying off debt...Purchasing a house...Saving for retirement...Gaining name, fame, money, prestige, beauty etc, etc.
All these plans and programs in today's materialistic society - where people think and plan many decades into the future - point to the idea that people basically think that they will be on this earth forever. Oh sure, they may say, "One day I am going to die", but they do not really believe it. Not in their heart of hearts.
Proof being that their entire life outlook, structure, and planning demonstrate that they feel they will remain on this earth forever - or at least for so long that they need not think about death.
Most aim for material wealth and comfort, name and fame, and all sorts of temporary gains - thinking they will bask in those things up to eternity. And they say that, "When I retire (at the age of 65 or so) then life will be glorious: I will have x amount of money and lots of free time." People begin planning for this so-called golden era of their lives when they are merely 25 years old, or even younger.
Their life revolves around the false notion that they have come here to remain on this earth - as if this place is their eternal abode. They do not think that one day they will leave. Nor do they contemplate that their death could come as early as today or tomorrow. This outlook is quickly spreading from western materialistic nations to all countries of the globe, wherever materialism is in vogue.
However, as we know, this type of mentality is not helpful as it runs contrary to our spiritual ideal and Baba's guidelines.
Plus it invites, at minimum, two serious deficiencies in the practical sphere.
TWO DISTINCT DRAWBACKS
There are two main character flaws which manifest when one thinks of this world as their final abode.
1. People fail to utilise their life to do truly good works that will enhance their progress, i.e. increase their proximity to Parama Purusa. They do not engage in a life of sadhana and service. Instead they spend their time frolicking hither and thither on this earth, from one sensual longing to the next, from one party to the next.
2. When the time inevitably comes to confront death, either their own or their companion's, they are shocked, depressed, and gloomy. They utterly lack the psychic stability to deal with this basic fact of life.
So many people on this earth get trapped in this way and they suffer for it.
DEATH CAN COME AT ANY TIME
So what is it that we should do?
Baba's guideline is that we must always remember the fact that this world is jagat, i.e. mobile. Nothing on this earth is fixed. This earth is samsara: everything is moving - moving towards expiration or death.
That is why Guru's teaching is to remember that death can come at any time - in childhood, in adolescence, as a young adult, whenever. Nothing is sure. Our place on this earth is not fixed - at any moment we may leave this world.
"That is, during dharma'caran, i.e. dharmic pursuits [following yama and niyama, service, svadhyaya etc] one should think that the god of death has already started pulling one’s hair – that one’s death is imminent. And accordingly one should work sincerely and vigorously; one will have to do a great many noble deeds within a short period." (Subhasita Samgraha, part 11)
When one understands that death is near, inevitable, and can show up on their doorstep at any time, they will naturally attend to the most important endeavors first, like trying to please Parama Purusa, and not just waste one's time in worldly pleasures. We should move ahead with this idea in mind.
Here again is Baba's teaching about how we should view everything in this world, including our own life.
Baba says, "Then, Smara nityamanityata'm. Nityam means “always” – “Remember always the transitory nature of things.” [Anityata'm means “the ephemeral”, “the transitory”.]... A thing which was born will die one day...That which comes within the scope of the spatial, temporal and personal factors will alone be born and die." (Subhasita Samgraha - 21)
THIS BODY IS ON LOAN
All this demands a basic shift in outlook. Instead of thinking that we have come here for a long, long time. We should think that we are here on loan only.
This body has been given to us for a limited time - an extremely short time, a maximum of 100 to 150 years, not thousands of years. In addition, one may die anytime and not even see tomorrow's sunrise. In that case, one will rush to do great things immediately and understand one's true nature.
Tragically, most forget that this body has been given to us on loan. They think this body will last forever on this earth. When sunk in such unawareness, one becomes lethargic and lax about life. A person will eat, drink, and be merry or not merry, whittling away one's time.
They will forget that their current energy and strength will not last. After the age of 39, the body begins to decay. One will lose energy, muscle power, hearing, eyesight, and the list goes on and on. Plus any moment, one may be scooped away from this earth without a moment's notice.
Because this body has been given to us on loan. And only Parama Purusa knows for how long - we do not.
As sadhakas, we must always be aware of two things: 1) Our final abode is elsewhere, 2) Our body will not last long.
In that case, we will maximally utilise our body for attaining salvation, not worldly pleasures.
It is just like if a person goes to the market to get medicine for their ailing grandfather. With that goal in mind they will reach to the drug store, secure the medicine, and return home quickly with the medicine for grandfather. They will pointedly do their duty. In contrast, if one goes to the market and fails to remember their goal of getting medicine for grandfather, they will walk past the drug store and instead spend hours and hours in the cinema house, watching one movie after another - until midnight. Finally when they leave the cinema hall and walk to the market all the shops are closed. In the end, they return home empty-handed, with all their money gone and no medicine for grandfather. So they are scolded and punished for being so neglectful.
It is just like how degraded humans get punished by prakrti for forgetting their Divine Goal and instead indulging in other mundane allurements. For wasting their human life, they are punished and sent sliding down the pathway of negative pratisaincara.
BABA'S GUIDELINES
“O human beings, the path is ready for you, you just come!” Whoever is endowed with a human mind and a human body is entitled to follow this path, and at the end of the journey, one day, one is destined to attain Parama Puruśa. When Parama Puruśa, the Cosmic Cognition, is your goal, success is a must, success will be with you." (Neohumanism in a Nutshell Part 1)
"O human beings! be established in the radiance of divinity and the splendour of valour and chivalry, because yours is the path of revolution. Your path is not the path of extra caution and scheduled movement. You are the traveller of a rugged path. You are travellers of an impregnable path. You have to march ahead proudly with the flag of Marga upright. You have no time to stagger or to look behind." (Subhasita Samgraha - 1)
"O human beings, proceed ahead in the path of oṋḿkára towards subtleness. Do not run after the superficially pleasant mirage, dominated by tamoguńa. Establish yourself in sattvaguńa and then merge into Brahma. Reach the spot whence oṋḿkára has emerged. Awaken your dormant dynamism through sádhaná and devotion. Realize the mental elevation of divinity and merge this into the endless stream of divine mercy." (Prakrti Tattva and Oṋḿkára Tattva)
"From distant ages past, you have been moving toward the Supreme State. You have suffered untold privations, and today you have the most favourable opportunity to become worthy human beings." (Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 1)
Namaskar,
in HIM,
Giriish
PRABHAT SAMGIITA
"Je ga'n chilo mane ga'oya', ga'ini ta'ha' sabha'r ma'jhe..." (P.S.
3189)
Purport:
Baba, my and Your relation is very close-- very intimate. The feelings and the relation that I have with You, I do not feel comfortable sharing
with others because it is most intimate.
Baba, the song which I prefer to sing for You, that very song I do not like to sing in the meeting-- in dharmacakra, in the presence of others. In
shyness, I do not open my heart then. Those Prabhat Samgiita which I prefer most, I do not sing in front of others. Rather in that situation I sing
more common type of Prabhat Samgiita songs. In that way I suppress my inner feelings & desires.
Baba, You are always sitting in my heart and You know all these things. You always listen to the throbbing sensation of my heart. You know how much
I love You.
Baba, You are my dearmost; You are my Beloved. When I talk with You, then in my mind I do not feel any dilemma or any kind of complex or shyness. Without any hesitation I open my heart. Because You are my most close. When I came out after the meeting-- dharmacakra, I did not hear the resonance of all songs that had been chanted there. Rather my own preferred song which I did not sing there, that special tune was resonating in my mind. And I went on listening to that very unsung song and it was charging my mind with Your divine love.
Baba, after forgetting all the shyness and just swaying in the hope of getting You, I go on asking for Your grace and Your proximity - that You please remain with me always as my own...
Purport:
Baba, my and Your relation is very close-- very intimate. The feelings and the relation that I have with You, I do not feel comfortable sharing
with others because it is most intimate.
Baba, the song which I prefer to sing for You, that very song I do not like to sing in the meeting-- in dharmacakra, in the presence of others. In
shyness, I do not open my heart then. Those Prabhat Samgiita which I prefer most, I do not sing in front of others. Rather in that situation I sing
more common type of Prabhat Samgiita songs. In that way I suppress my inner feelings & desires.
Baba, You are always sitting in my heart and You know all these things. You always listen to the throbbing sensation of my heart. You know how much
I love You.
Baba, You are my dearmost; You are my Beloved. When I talk with You, then in my mind I do not feel any dilemma or any kind of complex or shyness. Without any hesitation I open my heart. Because You are my most close. When I came out after the meeting-- dharmacakra, I did not hear the resonance of all songs that had been chanted there. Rather my own preferred song which I did not sing there, that special tune was resonating in my mind. And I went on listening to that very unsung song and it was charging my mind with Your divine love.
Baba, after forgetting all the shyness and just swaying in the hope of getting You, I go on asking for Your grace and Your proximity - that You please remain with me always as my own...
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