Economic Myths Around the Globe

To: AM-GLOBAL
From: Prakash-42@eos....com
Date: Mon, 04 Jun 2012 - 0000
Subject: Economic Myths Around the Globe

Baba

== ECONOMIC MYTHS AROUND THE GLOBE ==

Namaskar,
Even with the ongoing global economic crisis, there are certain myths or misunderstandings about the workings of capitalism. Until the masses come to awareness on these points, people will still be looking for a capitalistic solution to the present economic misery.

In this series of letters we will look at some of these myths. Please write in with your thoughts and observations.

MYTH #1:

EVERYONE CAN BE A BILLIONAIRE

The prevailing notion around the globe is that anyone and everyone can be a billionaire. And by billionaire, we mean someone who has far more resources and money than they need to live on this earth, i.e. someone who clearly has more than most everyone else. Many believe this in their mind: All can be billionaires by hoarding wealth. That is a central myth of capitalism.

However, this is a most short-sighted and narrow idea because this earth is limited and the material resources are also limited. Already we have worn our resources thin. Not everyone can have a sprawling mansion with miles and miles of property. Nor is it practical to think that it is possible for this planet to survive the continued ecological destruction & devouring of natural resources associated with a capitalistic exploitative economy, where anything and everything is done for the bottom-line: profit.

Yet that is what capitalists do; and, they never want to curtail or compromise their avaricious tendency.

Baba says, “Rich people do not want to consider the needs of the poor, because if they do they will have to make some sacrifices.” (Human Society-1)

So they go on exploiting both the people and the resources.

Certainly, our Prout philosophy ensures that everyone will have access to and use of the all the fundamental  material faculties of the day; everyone will be guaranteed the minimum requirements of life. And those meritorious people will be granted greater amenities.

But no one will be allowed to harbor and enact the mental disease of greedily exploiting and grabbing huge amounts of wealth. Selfish gain for selfish purposes will not be tolerated.

Rather Baba preaches the rational gospel of aparigraha: That we should focus our minds in higher realms and minimise our physical belongings. At the same time all will be guaranteed the minimum requirements.

So capitalism preaches the wrongful idea that everyone can go on senselessly accumulating more and more, as if there is no end in sight. That is the myth. And many people live and dream, whether they wish to admit it or not, as if this is how their life will proceed. When in fact, gross, unending material gain is a completely unsustainable way to live on this earth, and is in fact a fallacy.

MATERIALISM CANNOT SATISFY ONE’S HUNGER

Here we should reflect on Baba’s guiding teachings.

Baba says, “As long as the human mind is attracted towards the glamorous external objects, as long as mental progress is checked by the pursuit of gross physicality, the human heart remains restless, and utters mournfully “I am hungry. I am hungry” This insatiable hunger cannot be satisfied by anything from the mundane world, and that is not possible either.” (Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell-6)

Baba says, “People’s physical longings are not satisfied until they come in contact with a truly great ideology. Till then, people’s wolf-like hunger is insatiable, as if they are incessantly repeating, “I am hungry, I am hungry.” Their jaws are always open, and the foolish people of this world resign themselves to their own fatalistic beliefs and fall into them. The ferocious wolf-pack devours their flesh and blood and casts away the unpalatable bones. Should we support this wolfish philosophy? The day-labourers, porters and gate-keepers around us who wear dirty rags and have fatigue etched on their faces are not considered human by those who are rolling in luxury.” (Human Society – 1)

Here the whole idea is that material gain cannot quench the human hunger. Permanent satiation only occurs when one comes in contact with the Great Ideology. i.e. spirituality. Due to a distinct lack of spiritual longing, rich exploiters express their wolf-like hunger and exploit the general mass. Poor people get crushed mercilessly and they do not oppose it because they think that is their fate.

So both groups are misguided by the prevailing dogma:
1) Wealthy people are trying to satisfy their infinite longing by the over-accumulation of money and riches;
2) the starving, half-half naked humanity thinks that suffering is their fate and feels they are impotent to do anything to stop it.

OUR ROLE AS PROUTISTS

As Proutists, we have learned from the outset that materialism or and capitalism run contrary to human welfare. Baba has spoken so strongly against these isms. So we are much less affected by or prone to falling for these myths, by His grace.

In the general society, however, these myths are misguiding billions of people. They suffer from an extreme misunderstanding about capitalistic economic policy and its related effects.

So we have much more to do in order to bring about the right understanding of these below points. Others should also write in on this topic by identifying more of these economic myths that are eating away at the fabric of our human society.

Finally let us reflect on Baba’s below teaching:

Baba says, “So long as a sa’dhaka does not attain Brahma, there exists in him a feeling of incompleteness. Suppose you want a thousand rupees. If you are given a thousand rupees, will you be contented? No, you will then ask for more. Such is the characteristic of human mind. Man has a limitless thirst. He keeps on harping ceaselessly, “I am hungry.” The hunger for a thousand will change into hunger for a lakh, and hunger for a lakh will make room for hunger for a crore. Thus the amount of hunger goes on increasing until a limitless amount of money is attained. This limitlessness is inherent in Brahma, and so your hunger can be satiated in Brahma alone.” (Subhasita Samgraha – 2)

Namaskar,
Prakash Deva

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

 

"Eso tumi a'ma'r ghare, baso hiya'r a'sane..." (P.S. 906)

Purport:

O' my dearmost Baba, please come to my humble abode and sit in the inner core of my heart. For ages and ages, I have been longing for You. Baba, in one lonely place, in my mind I have prepared a thousand petal lotus for You to sit - and I have decorated it with the love of my heart.  

Baba, O' Supreme One, for such a long time I have been coming and going onto this dusty earth. In Your system of brahmacakra there is no leisure time for taking rest. Those who have come will one day go, and those who have gone will one day come. So there is no period of rest in Your continuous cycle of brahmacakra. Always one is either coming or
going.  

Baba, by Your grace, in one golden dawn, my spiritual journey started - in my mind, in my mind. Baba, while moving towards You on this spiritual path, from time to time I go astray and lose the way. I am incapable of walking properly; that is why I go off the path. Please forgive me; and please bless me by showering a wee-bit of Your cosmic grace & bring me back onto the right path.   

Baba, please come in my heart. In my Guru cakra, I have prepared a thousand petaled lotus for You. Please grace me by coming...

Re: Gurupujanam of Devashish

Subject: Re: Gurupujanam of Devashish
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2012 00:16:04 +0530
From: jitendra kumar
To: AM-GLOBAL

Baba

Namaskar,

Thanks for highlighting this blunder and mistake by Devashish (letter below). The way he has addressed Baba is completely inappropriate, not to mention all the other errors in his book.

Really Devashish should apologise and say sorry to our AM society, as well as correct the errors in his publication. Otherwise, we will have to boycott Devashish's book and remove it from our bookstores etc.

From now on we should be extremely careful in selecting / allowing people in making this type of publication.

Jitendra Kumar
Ranchi, India



On 06/02/2012 09:17 PM, AM-GLOBAL wrote:

Date: 02 Jun 2012, 20:44:06
From: “Giovanni Spulotto” 

To: am-global@earthlink.net

Subject: Gurupujanam of Devashish

Baba

== GURUPUJANAM OF DEVASHISH ==

Namaskar,
I read the earlier letter on this tantra piit'ha thread and greatly value all that was shared - indeed a tantra piit'ha is not made by planting 5 trees and burying 5 skulls. I do not know why the writer presented such a dogmatic view in the name of Ananda Marga in his book - "[Shrii Shrii] Anandamurti The Jamalpur Years". According to Baba, a tantra piit'ha is solely a place where great sadhakas achieved realisation. Clearly, the writer is confused.

 

NEW POINT FOR THE DISCUSSION

Here I would like to raise one new point regarding this debacle. In his book, the writer completely misportrays Baba's own Personae as well. Take a look at what the writer does.

“Out of respect for the sacred history of that particular tantra pitha [made of 5 trees & 5 skulls], Prabhat would always remove his shoes before entering.” ([Shrii Shrii] Anandamurti: The Jamalpur Years, p. 381)

ADDRESSING BABA PROPERLY

Firstly, when writing about or addressing Revered Baba, either directly or indirectly, we must always use a respectful address like Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji. As His disciples, we never are to address Him as Prabhat etc, regardless of the circumstance. This is especially true in the public arena where we are teaching others by our example.

By his expression, it is evident that the writer does not have due reverence for Sadguru Baba; this writer is just a fake margii. No true Ananda Margii - no true disciple of Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji - could ever even think to do like this. True Ananda Margiis always express the highest respect for Beloved Baba.

But see what this writer did:

"Prabhat would always remove his shoes before entering.” (The Jamalpur Years, p. 381)

This is absolutely appalling - the writer does not follow even one ounce of Guru Pujanam - reverence to Guru, which is a basic point that even beginner margiis understand.

"Trtiiyaḿ gurupújanam. I must have reverence for the guru...respect for the guru."
(Ananda Vacanamrtam, Part 12, 'Secrets')

Rather, in his book which he published for all to see, the writer is treating Baba like some ordinary person on the street, or even less than that. Because even on the street one must use the address as Mister or Sir. This much the writer does not do. And this happens again, and again, and again in his book - thousands of times.

SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLE OF THE CATHOLICS

Even all the religions - whatever faults they may have - show proper regard for their preceptor.

Catholics address their leader as His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. The Pope's worldly name is Joseph Alois Ratzinger, but no Catholic would ever consider calling the Pope, "Joey". That would be a terrible display of disrespect. No Catholic could ever imagine doing that. Rather, they refer to him as His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. And by this way they teach others to do the same. Lay people, heads of state, newspaper reporters, indeed everyone refers to the Pope in a most respectful way. All because that is the tone and address used by the Pope's chief followers, i.e. catholics.

As an example, here is an excerpt from The New York Times:

"Pope Benedict XVI is on Twitter, and he tweets from an iPad. His Holiness sent out an initial tweet... " (The New York Times, Tuesday, Jun 28, 2011)

In this article, the Pope is referred to in very respectful language because that is what his followers have taught the world to do. They have set a gold-bar standard, and the rest of the world is following along. That is the main message to be learned here.

Tragically that lesson was utterly lost on the writer of the book - "The Jamalpur Years." This person has referred to Beloved Baba in the most ordinary, mundane, even lowly manner.

"Prabhat would always...” (p.381)

That is the unfortunate and poor example the writer is putting forward for the world to see. The results are not going to be good.

Let's take a look at another example.

SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLE OF THE BUDDHISTS

Buddhists address their leader as His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama's worldly name is Tenzin Gyatso, but no Buddhist would ever consider calling the Dalai Lama, "Tenz". That would be a terrible display of disrespect. Rather, in their each and every syllable, gesture, statement, and publication, they refer to the Dalai Lama in only the highest, most respectful manner: His Holiness. And by their lofty example, the rest of the world follows along. The proof is that even President Obama's office used this same reverential address:

"Statement from the Press Secretary on the President's meeting Thursday with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama: "The President met this morning at the White House with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama..." (Washington Post, Feb 18 2010)

Thus the followers of the Dalai Lama, by their respectful way of addressing their chosen leader, have successfully guided everyone around the globe to do the same, including the office of the US President.

Yet in his book - "The Jamalpur Years" - the writer could not even begin to approach such a standard - rather he sank to a most lowly level when referring to our Marga Gurudeva:

"Prabhat would always....” (p.381)

Let's take a look at one more example.

SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLE OF HINDUS

Hindus address their leader as Shrii Shrii Jagat Guru Shankaracarya. Indeed now he is known the world over by this most respectful title: His Holiness Shrii Shrii Jagat Guru Shankaracarya of Dwarka. Because that is how those followers have presented him to the rest of the world.

Indeed this "Jagat Guru" title means Guru of the whole world. Those followers give him this highest stature.

Of course this same Shankaracarya was once a boy who had a simple laukik boyhood name. When that boy grew older and became a monk then he eventually became known as Swami Shree Swaroopananda Saraswati ji. And when that same Swami Shree Swaroopananda Saraswati ji became a senior leader he was proclaimed by Hindu followers to be His Holiness Shrii Shrii Jagat Guru Shankaracarya of Dwarka.

So it was a three-step progression: (1) Boyhood name (which is no longer known) to (2) monk name to (3) His Holiness Shrii Shrii Jagat Guru Shankaracarya of Dwarka. His followers naturally refer to him by his highest appellation; so today the whole world references him by this great and magnanimous name.

Unfortunately, the writer of the book "The Jamalpur Years" went in the opposite direction. He introduced Baba to the world in the lowliest way imaginable.

As we all know as a boy He was Prabhat; as a social writer He is Shrii PR Sarkar ji; as a spiritual Sadguru He is Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji - the embodiment of divine bliss. Yet instead of using this third and highest name, Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, the writer has introduced Baba as merely "Prabhat" to the entire population of planet earth. That is the terrible sin that this writer has done.

"Prabhat would always...” (p.381)

This type or mundane, ordinary expression is repeated countless times throughout the book.

So that is what the people around the globe are going to call our Beloved Baba - Prabhat. Because that is what this writer has taught them to do. It is nothing less than sinful what this so-called writer has done.

The Catholics have His holiness the Pope Benedict XVI; the Buddhists have His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama; and the Hindus have His Holiness Shrii Shrii Jagat Guru Shankaracarya of Dwarka; and now, thanks to the work of this writer, the world over thinks that Ananda Margiis have "Prabhat".

Indeed. there is only one His holiness the Pope Benedict XVI - there is no room for confusion - this title does not refer to any second entity; there is only one His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama - there is no room for confusion - this title does not refer to any second entity; and there is only one His Holiness Shrii Shrii Jagat Guru Shankaracarya of Dwarka - there is no room for confusion - this title does not refer to any second entity. These appellations are totally unique; when these titles are mentioned everyone knows exactly who you are referring to.

Yet, with the simple boyhood name Prabhat, there are tens of millions of ordinary people named "Prabhat" - there is nothing unique at all about this name. So when the name Prabhat is mentioned, there will be so much confusion. Each and every person will have their own separate idea of who Prabhat is. There is nothing great or unique about this name that will alert people to know that we are referring to Sadguru Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji.

Yet it is this common name that the writer has used thousands of times in his book. What the writer has done is scandalous and sinful.

BOGUS LOGIC

Some give the bogus logic that since this book - "The Jamalpur Years" - was written in English for a more western audience, then it was appropriate to refer to Baba in that way; because that is how it is done in the west.

However, that is nothing but bogus logic.

The Pope is also a western figure but no one calls him as "Joey". Rather they use the term His holiness. So then why should the writer stoop to such lowly levels when addressing Beloved Baba as merely "Prabhat". It seems then the writer did like this because he has absolutely no reverence in his heart for Baba. That is why the writer portrayed Baba in such a dishonorable fashion. One other reason is that he could be a paid stooge - in the hands of enemies - to downgrade Baba. The CIA, CBI, ISI, or KGB - or who knows who - could have paid him to put down Baba. The writer may be involved in covert operations. Otherwise what could be the reason - why is he denigrating Beloved Baba in this way.

Indeed, this writer does not even have social regard for Baba. Writers in the west will honourably refer to the current US President by his family name, Obama. They may precede that with the respectful title, President or Mr, in which it is President Obama or Mr Obama. But no one ever refers to him by his simple name, Barack. Nor were prior US presidents ever referred to as George or Bill. Rather their family name - Bush or Clinton - was used in order to pay respect. The world knows these people as President Clinton, President Bush and President Obama, not by Bill, or George, or Barack. No one says that "Bill did this", or "George did that", or "Barack did this." Referring them by the first name / simple name is not done.

Yet the writer of "The Jamalpur Years" just used the simple name "Prabhat" when writing about Baba. Not an iota of social regard was afforded to Baba in this publication. There is no reasonable or decent explanation for this other than the writer has no inner love and no outer regard for our Sadguru Baba.

The writer cannot make the claim that what he has done is in sync with the western tradition. Because that is not at all the case. Spiritual and social leaders in the west are given proper appellations. Just look at how the Pope is addressed; the Pope is a western institution, but look at the reverence with which the Pope is addressed. Indeed, even on the street one must address the common person with Mister or Sir. But the writer did not do even an ounce of this with Baba.

So no one can say that the writer is following the tradition of the west. Rather the only logical explanation at this point is that the writer did this due to his own pitiful devotional standard and the blackness of his own heart. Or he may be a stooge in the hand of spy agencies like the CIA, CBI, ISI, or KGB - or who knows who - in order to ruin the image of Ananda Marga. The writer may be involved in covert operations. Otherwise what could be the reason - why he is denigrating Beloved Baba.

Namaskar
Ganesh Deva
(Giovanni Spulotto)

Note 1: WHY I WROTE THIS PIECE

I was walking my dog and met up with my neighbor recently - he is not someone I know very well - then suddenly out of the thin air he says, "I know you are an Ananda Margii, so then Prabhat must be your guru." I was totally shocked and speechless. I wondered how this guy is referring to our Sadguru Baba in this base manner. I certainly never refer to Baba in this way - neither in my own home nor in public. Then it flashed in my mind that this fellow got this lowly idea by reading Devashish's book. It was then that I first truly understood that this book must - absolutely must - be removed from the shelves. This book should not be available to the public or even to anyone at all. This book should be tossed aside and a more qualified sadhaka with proper devotion should take up the task.

Note 2: WHAT BOOK IS THIS

By now everyone certainly knows that the book being referred to in the above letter is "Anandamurti: The Jamalpur Years" by Devashish (Donald Acosta). Even the title he got wrong; it should be Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji.

May we always remember, the entire aim in writing such a book is to glorify Guru and His teachings; but Devashish's book moves in a totally different direction - a negative one. I too wholly believe this publication should be removed from the shelf. From the front cover to the back page, this entire book utterly fails to properly represent Revered Baba and His teachings.

Best will be if Devashish offers a formal statement of apology and correction, and withdraws the book.

Note 3: EARLIER LETTER IN ITS ENTIRETY

Here following is a link the previous letter about Devashish's book.

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/05/sloppy-book-misinformation-of-tantra.html