From: "dayamaya"
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2012 22:34:21
Subject: Baba Story: I was Drinking Hard Country Liquor with Villagers
To: AM-GLOBAL
Baba
Namaskar,
This story was recounted in one seminar & was told by one very respected margii of Purnea, Pradumanji.
"When I [Praduman] was a student at Ranchi University, my subject in research was archeology and anthropology. One American professor was my mentor and research supervisor. I was going to Muri - an area near Ananda Nagar - and visiting local people. My professor inspired me to do field research in the native villages of Muri, an area inhabited by dark, brown native people."
"My research professor gave me some advice: 'If you eat with them what they eat, and drink what they drink, then they will feel close with you and you can get all the information and answers you need. Your research work will be successful'."
"So for the sake of my research, I adjusted with all types of tamasika things."
"Sitting along with local people I started drinking country wine Handiya'. It is twenty times stronger than factory wine. Plus I was eating meat."
(Note: Due to that wine, sometimes mass poisoning occurred in the village, and many people died. But Baba saved me.)
"Not only was I drinking wine and eating meat, but I was going hunting also. When I was eating with them, sometimes they served three days old sour rice. It had been lying around and became fermented - just tamasik. This also became my habit. All these things I did for the sake of my research."
"After some time, Baba came to Ranchi. My friends pulled me and I reached there. Actually I did not wish to go; I was content where I was."
"Those days I was sometimes thinking that what I was doing was alright, i.e. living alongside the native people and adopting their ways in order to study them. But other times I was thinking it is not good."
"When I reached to Ranchi to see Baba, sure enough Baba condemned me in the presence of all, for living tamasik life and leaving the sentient life of the Ananda Marga on the excuse of research."
"Baba punished me. Furthermore He told me that it was utterly foolish to think that, 'If one thinks that in order to treat the blind then one must first become blind themselves'."
"That means, if you are dealing with non-margiis and you behave like a non-margii, then that is not proper. The point being to win over the dark, one must not bring more darkness. Rather light is needed. And that light is Ananda Marga Ideology."
Pradumanji concluded, "And after getting punishment directly from Baba on my sin of eating tamasika things, I repented and left all those degenerating and ungainly habits."
This story teaches us that every margii should be strict in 16 points, regardless of the situation.
The above story is also related with doing proper pracar. Specifically, when we are preaching dharmic ideas, then we must not have an iota of dogma. Otherwise in one sphere we are putting light, and the other sphere we are bringing darkness.
We know that Ananda Marga Ideology is for all around development. And that means the practice of Bhagavata dharma. So on dharmic points a little slackness is not good. Baba says:
Some persons who are not very strict margiis think: 'Anyway, what to do this is the present society - I should adjust'. And in that way they compromise with various practices of dharma in the name of adjustment. and compromise. In the name of adjustment they indulge in self-cheating tactics by skipping their dharmic practices.
This is not only the case with a few simple margiis - some Wts are also like that. Indeed a few even openly preach about their "adjustments." And they justify that: 'This is the material world and if we will not adjust then how will we survive'.
For instance, take the case of food. In their own place they are strict in following Ananda Marga practices, but when they go to a friend's house or new people's homes, then they feel shy and they do not say anything. To keep the relation they end up eating certain tamasika items. Indeed this is a common occurrence that I have personally witnessed, from time to time.
Then there are those who compromise their principles and thereby support various dogmas in this manner.
Some just become very 'relaxed' in following various do's and don'ts. For instance: They may not carry a shaoca manjusa with them when leaving the house. And when out they do not ask for water. They do not give proper care, just like in many 'developed' countries where water is not used to clean after bowel movements. So some persons, Wts included, just follow the law of the land and forgo using water. Unfortunately this all gets done in the name of "adjustment", being lax in following dharma.
But our manner should be to maintain vigilance and strictness in following to dharmic principles always.
There are numerous other ways in which this type of justification, compromise, and adjustment happens.
Take the case of asanas. Some may be strict when in the house. But when out of their own environment, then in the name of adjustment they skip their asana practice. This happens when visiting others' houses, and even this is quite commonplace at some of our Ananda Marga retreats. Whereby for one reason or another, some persons avoid doing their asanas. And if they see others doing asanas they ridicule and tease them. This is even worse. But they do this to cover up their own defiency. They put down and tease those who are sincere in doing asana and following Sixteen Points.
Unfortunately these are common occurrences by some people. But on points of dharma we should be very strict in all circumstances. And that is what Baba is teaching in the above story about margii Pradumanji. Pradhumanji compromised when living with those villagers by adopting non-sentient life practices. For that, Baba lovingly rebuked him to bring Praduman back to the path of dharma. From that day forward, Pradumanji understood well not to compromise on points of dharma.
Here following is Baba's mandate. One should not wait for that glorious day to follow dharma - rather it should be followed always.
"If one thinks that they will only follow dharma in some big events, and not in small ones, then those big events may not ever come in their entire life. It may be that in their whole life, besides their birth and death, not a single big event happens. Yet at the time of birth how can one protect dharma. At that time one is just a small infant and cannot do anything. That infant is totally unaware about the events going on around them. Then how can they protect dharma. And at the time of death, a person is senseless. In that case also how can they protect dharma. For this reason, dharma should be protected always. In small and big ways-- even in jokes and humor dharma should be protected. Those who protect dharma, dharma protects them: Dharma raksati raksitah." (Ananda Vacanamrtam - 32 (H), p.86-7)
Brotherly yours,
In Him,
Dayamaya
(A) Here following are some of Baba's mandates in following dharma at all times and never compromising on our Ananda Marga ideals.
"We will not deviate an inch from our ideology." (Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Disc: 14)
(B) Baba's next teaching is from Ananda Sutram.
Tasmáddharmah sadákáryah.
"Therefore dharma should always be practised." (Ananda Sutram, 2-7)
(C) Here is another teaching from Baba on this critical topic.
"Dharma is the highest goal of all living beings.” So under no circumstances should one’s own dharma be discarded. Wherever the question of dharma is concerned, no compromise should be made with anything that goes against dharma. To move ahead with undaunted spirit to the final destination, the Supreme Goal, is human dharma." (Discourses on the Giita, Svadharma and Paradharma – 2)
(D) The following teaching is from Baba's Ananda Vanii collection.
"...In order to march ahead on the road of human welfare, we will have to strengthen ourselves in all the arena of life. The complete seeds of welfare in all the spheres – physical, mental, moral, social and spiritual – are embedded in the sixteen points. Hence be firm on the sixteen points. (Ananda Vanii #45)
(E) Baba says, "The person will welcome that death rather than compromise with sin and vice. Therefore keep in mind that those who are genuine devotees, sádhakas of high order, loved by Parama Puruśa and closely bound to Parama Puruśa in love and affection, will never compromise with sin and vice. They will cling to their ideal totally, throughout their lives." (Discourses on Krsna and the Giita, Svadharma and Paradharma – 3)
(F) Baba says, "When the attraction is to something limited, it is called ásakti, and when the attraction is to the Supreme, it is devotion, bhakti. There is no compromise, no meeting point, between ásakti and bhakti, between attraction to the Supreme and attraction to the objects of the world. In ásakti, the feeling is that I get the object. In bhakti, the feeling is that I merge myself in Him. Where there is no desire, there the Lord lives. The Lord and the desire for the world, like the sun and the night, cannot coexist." (Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, The Bliss of the Devotee)
(G) Baba says, "Even if the practice of Bhágavata dharma brings pain and sorrow and the practice of paradharma (that is to say, the dharma of animals and plants) brings pleasure, humans will have to stick firmly to their svadharma, their mánava dharma. Humans should never allow themselves to descend to paradharma, the dharma of birds and beasts, of trees and plants. On no account should animal dharma be encouraged. The flag of mánava dharma must always be held high under all circumstances. This is exactly what Shrii Krśńa means when He says: Svadharme nidhanaḿ shreyah paradharmo bhayávahah – “It would be better to die upholding human dharma, upholding the ideal of humanity; one should never allow oneself to fall back into a state of animality." (Discourses on Krsna & The Giita, “Better to Die . . .” – 2)
(H) Baba says, "Human beings have come onto this earth only to follow Bhágavata dharma, and not for any purpose. You have many tasks to perform: whatever you do, you should always feel that all your actions are part of Bhágavata dharma. Wherever you are, you must do something to remove the poverty and distress of the people in that area, to ameliorate their socio-economic condition. But even while discharging your duties thus, you should always remember that whatever you are doing is not a mundane duty it is an inseparable part of your Bhágavata dharma." (Subhasita Samgraha - 12, Ádarsha and Iśt́a)
(I) Baba says, "You have learnt a well-ordered system of meditation and other spiritual practices based on dharma. If any individuals or groups, however powerful they may be, try to suppress you or even succeed in suppressing you, they are bound to be destroyed. History has witnessed many such a downfall in the past. No one has ever been victorious or will ever be victorious by opposing dharma. March ahead with your own strength, march with firm steps and your head held high. Always remember that when dharma is with you, whoever will oppose you will be razed to the ground – their destruction is a must." (Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Opposition to Dharma Will Certainly Invite Destruction)
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2012 22:34:21
Subject: Baba Story: I was Drinking Hard Country Liquor with Villagers
To: AM-GLOBAL
Baba
== BABA STORY: I WAS DRINKING HARD COUNTRY
LIQUOR WITH VILLAGERS ==
Namaskar,
This story was recounted in one seminar & was told by one very respected margii of Purnea, Pradumanji.
"When I [Praduman] was a student at Ranchi University, my subject in research was archeology and anthropology. One American professor was my mentor and research supervisor. I was going to Muri - an area near Ananda Nagar - and visiting local people. My professor inspired me to do field research in the native villages of Muri, an area inhabited by dark, brown native people."
"My research professor gave me some advice: 'If you eat with them what they eat, and drink what they drink, then they will feel close with you and you can get all the information and answers you need. Your research work will be successful'."
"So for the sake of my research, I adjusted with all types of tamasika things."
"Sitting along with local people I started drinking country wine Handiya'. It is twenty times stronger than factory wine. Plus I was eating meat."
(Note: Due to that wine, sometimes mass poisoning occurred in the village, and many people died. But Baba saved me.)
"Not only was I drinking wine and eating meat, but I was going hunting also. When I was eating with them, sometimes they served three days old sour rice. It had been lying around and became fermented - just tamasik. This also became my habit. All these things I did for the sake of my research."
"After some time, Baba came to Ranchi. My friends pulled me and I reached there. Actually I did not wish to go; I was content where I was."
"Those days I was sometimes thinking that what I was doing was alright, i.e. living alongside the native people and adopting their ways in order to study them. But other times I was thinking it is not good."
"When I reached to Ranchi to see Baba, sure enough Baba condemned me in the presence of all, for living tamasik life and leaving the sentient life of the Ananda Marga on the excuse of research."
"Baba punished me. Furthermore He told me that it was utterly foolish to think that, 'If one thinks that in order to treat the blind then one must first become blind themselves'."
"That means, if you are dealing with non-margiis and you behave like a non-margii, then that is not proper. The point being to win over the dark, one must not bring more darkness. Rather light is needed. And that light is Ananda Marga Ideology."
Pradumanji concluded, "And after getting punishment directly from Baba on my sin of eating tamasika things, I repented and left all those degenerating and ungainly habits."
MEANING OF THE STORY
This story teaches us that every margii should be strict in 16 points, regardless of the situation.
The above story is also related with doing proper pracar. Specifically, when we are preaching dharmic ideas, then we must not have an iota of dogma. Otherwise in one sphere we are putting light, and the other sphere we are bringing darkness.
We know that Ananda Marga Ideology is for all around development. And that means the practice of Bhagavata dharma. So on dharmic points a little slackness is not good. Baba says:
'Dharma raksati raksitah'.
Meaning: Those who protect dharma, dharma saves them.
Meaning: Those who protect dharma, dharma saves them.
WHAT SOME DO
Some persons who are not very strict margiis think: 'Anyway, what to do this is the present society - I should adjust'. And in that way they compromise with various practices of dharma in the name of adjustment. and compromise. In the name of adjustment they indulge in self-cheating tactics by skipping their dharmic practices.
This is not only the case with a few simple margiis - some Wts are also like that. Indeed a few even openly preach about their "adjustments." And they justify that: 'This is the material world and if we will not adjust then how will we survive'.
For instance, take the case of food. In their own place they are strict in following Ananda Marga practices, but when they go to a friend's house or new people's homes, then they feel shy and they do not say anything. To keep the relation they end up eating certain tamasika items. Indeed this is a common occurrence that I have personally witnessed, from time to time.
SHAOCA
Then there are those who compromise their principles and thereby support various dogmas in this manner.
Some just become very 'relaxed' in following various do's and don'ts. For instance: They may not carry a shaoca manjusa with them when leaving the house. And when out they do not ask for water. They do not give proper care, just like in many 'developed' countries where water is not used to clean after bowel movements. So some persons, Wts included, just follow the law of the land and forgo using water. Unfortunately this all gets done in the name of "adjustment", being lax in following dharma.
But our manner should be to maintain vigilance and strictness in following to dharmic principles always.
There are numerous other ways in which this type of justification, compromise, and adjustment happens.
Take the case of asanas. Some may be strict when in the house. But when out of their own environment, then in the name of adjustment they skip their asana practice. This happens when visiting others' houses, and even this is quite commonplace at some of our Ananda Marga retreats. Whereby for one reason or another, some persons avoid doing their asanas. And if they see others doing asanas they ridicule and tease them. This is even worse. But they do this to cover up their own defiency. They put down and tease those who are sincere in doing asana and following Sixteen Points.
Unfortunately these are common occurrences by some people. But on points of dharma we should be very strict in all circumstances. And that is what Baba is teaching in the above story about margii Pradumanji. Pradhumanji compromised when living with those villagers by adopting non-sentient life practices. For that, Baba lovingly rebuked him to bring Praduman back to the path of dharma. From that day forward, Pradumanji understood well not to compromise on points of dharma.
BABA'S MANDATE
Here following is Baba's mandate. One should not wait for that glorious day to follow dharma - rather it should be followed always.
"If one thinks that they will only follow dharma in some big events, and not in small ones, then those big events may not ever come in their entire life. It may be that in their whole life, besides their birth and death, not a single big event happens. Yet at the time of birth how can one protect dharma. At that time one is just a small infant and cannot do anything. That infant is totally unaware about the events going on around them. Then how can they protect dharma. And at the time of death, a person is senseless. In that case also how can they protect dharma. For this reason, dharma should be protected always. In small and big ways-- even in jokes and humor dharma should be protected. Those who protect dharma, dharma protects them: Dharma raksati raksitah." (Ananda Vacanamrtam - 32 (H), p.86-7)
Brotherly yours,
In Him,
Dayamaya
Note 1: MUST BE STRICT IN FOLLOWING DHARMA
(A) Here following are some of Baba's mandates in following dharma at all times and never compromising on our Ananda Marga ideals.
"We will not deviate an inch from our ideology." (Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Disc: 14)
(B) Baba's next teaching is from Ananda Sutram.
Tasmáddharmah sadákáryah.
"Therefore dharma should always be practised." (Ananda Sutram, 2-7)
(C) Here is another teaching from Baba on this critical topic.
"Dharma is the highest goal of all living beings.” So under no circumstances should one’s own dharma be discarded. Wherever the question of dharma is concerned, no compromise should be made with anything that goes against dharma. To move ahead with undaunted spirit to the final destination, the Supreme Goal, is human dharma." (Discourses on the Giita, Svadharma and Paradharma – 2)
(D) The following teaching is from Baba's Ananda Vanii collection.
"...In order to march ahead on the road of human welfare, we will have to strengthen ourselves in all the arena of life. The complete seeds of welfare in all the spheres – physical, mental, moral, social and spiritual – are embedded in the sixteen points. Hence be firm on the sixteen points. (Ananda Vanii #45)
(E) Baba says, "The person will welcome that death rather than compromise with sin and vice. Therefore keep in mind that those who are genuine devotees, sádhakas of high order, loved by Parama Puruśa and closely bound to Parama Puruśa in love and affection, will never compromise with sin and vice. They will cling to their ideal totally, throughout their lives." (Discourses on Krsna and the Giita, Svadharma and Paradharma – 3)
(F) Baba says, "When the attraction is to something limited, it is called ásakti, and when the attraction is to the Supreme, it is devotion, bhakti. There is no compromise, no meeting point, between ásakti and bhakti, between attraction to the Supreme and attraction to the objects of the world. In ásakti, the feeling is that I get the object. In bhakti, the feeling is that I merge myself in Him. Where there is no desire, there the Lord lives. The Lord and the desire for the world, like the sun and the night, cannot coexist." (Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, The Bliss of the Devotee)
(G) Baba says, "Even if the practice of Bhágavata dharma brings pain and sorrow and the practice of paradharma (that is to say, the dharma of animals and plants) brings pleasure, humans will have to stick firmly to their svadharma, their mánava dharma. Humans should never allow themselves to descend to paradharma, the dharma of birds and beasts, of trees and plants. On no account should animal dharma be encouraged. The flag of mánava dharma must always be held high under all circumstances. This is exactly what Shrii Krśńa means when He says: Svadharme nidhanaḿ shreyah paradharmo bhayávahah – “It would be better to die upholding human dharma, upholding the ideal of humanity; one should never allow oneself to fall back into a state of animality." (Discourses on Krsna & The Giita, “Better to Die . . .” – 2)
(H) Baba says, "Human beings have come onto this earth only to follow Bhágavata dharma, and not for any purpose. You have many tasks to perform: whatever you do, you should always feel that all your actions are part of Bhágavata dharma. Wherever you are, you must do something to remove the poverty and distress of the people in that area, to ameliorate their socio-economic condition. But even while discharging your duties thus, you should always remember that whatever you are doing is not a mundane duty it is an inseparable part of your Bhágavata dharma." (Subhasita Samgraha - 12, Ádarsha and Iśt́a)
(I) Baba says, "You have learnt a well-ordered system of meditation and other spiritual practices based on dharma. If any individuals or groups, however powerful they may be, try to suppress you or even succeed in suppressing you, they are bound to be destroyed. History has witnessed many such a downfall in the past. No one has ever been victorious or will ever be victorious by opposing dharma. March ahead with your own strength, march with firm steps and your head held high. Always remember that when dharma is with you, whoever will oppose you will be razed to the ground – their destruction is a must." (Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Opposition to Dharma Will Certainly Invite Destruction)
PRABHAT SAMGIITA
"Uttal sindhu utkrami tumi, esechilo mor ghare..." PS (1077)
Purport:
Baba, after crossing the wild tidal wave, You have come into my heart - You have come to my home. Baba, You are traveler of the solitary path. Even
after encountering so many negative situations, You did not get overcome with fear. You did not get scared; nothing could terrify You.
According to the basic necessity or protocol, I did not have any of the necessary arrangements, so I could not receive You properly. My grief-stricken mind was full of longing for You, and my heavy heart was saturated with the tears.
Baba, I have not done anything for You. In vain I was just revolving around mirages. With the new sun and strong call, holding my hand You showed me the direction - You graced me by taking me onto the right path.
Baba, You have come into my heart; it is nothing but Your divine mercy & grace...
Purport:
Baba, after crossing the wild tidal wave, You have come into my heart - You have come to my home. Baba, You are traveler of the solitary path. Even
after encountering so many negative situations, You did not get overcome with fear. You did not get scared; nothing could terrify You.
According to the basic necessity or protocol, I did not have any of the necessary arrangements, so I could not receive You properly. My grief-stricken mind was full of longing for You, and my heavy heart was saturated with the tears.
Baba, I have not done anything for You. In vain I was just revolving around mirages. With the new sun and strong call, holding my hand You showed me the direction - You graced me by taking me onto the right path.
Baba, You have come into my heart; it is nothing but Your divine mercy & grace...
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