You Are Bound?

Date: 23 Oct 2012 21:48:59 -0000
From: "Divyacaksu"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: You Are Bound?

Baba

== YOU ARE BOUND? ==

Namaskar,
In this created universe, everyone wants mukti: Liberation. Nobody wants to remain in bondage, even animals want liberation.

The proof is that if you put an animal in a cage, they will try to open the cage and escape. They do not want to remain in bondage. When that is the case with animals, it is even more so the case with humans. With a more developed intellect and reflective consciousness, certainly no human being wants to remain in bondage.

HUMANS ARE BOUND IN THREE SPHERES

Yet human beings are bound in three spheres of life: Physical, psychic, and spiritual. To eliminate the bondages in the physical realm, humans have invented so many structures and machines to shield them from the trials, tribulations, and hardships, and make life easy and facile on the physical plane. And everyday more and more new discoveries are made, bringing more comfort and ease.

Even then, no matter how much humans advance in the physical stratum, the physical bondages will never be eliminated completely. So long as one has a physical body, they will be held in physical bondage.

Similarly, in the psychic realm also, humans try to overcome all kinds of bondages. But just when one problem is solved, then ten more problems emerge. From fears to anxieties, from despair to temptation, it is not possible to eliminate all problems and bondages in the psychic realm. New problems are constantly manifesting.

For example, nobody wants to grow old, yet it happens to everyone. There is no escape. Verily there are so many things in life that are beyond one's control. That is what is meant by bondage. People are also bound by their own reactive momenta (samskaras) and they must face the consequences. Without the complete exhaustion of one's samskaras, liberation is not possible.

MOST DO NOT THINK THEY ARE BOUND

Interestingly, most do not realise that they are in bondage; they think they are free. Yet, they are completely bound by so many limitations and inabilities. But they think they are free, just as a frog in a well does not think it is bound by any bondage. Only when humans develop a little bit in the psycho-spiritual realm, do they come to understand how they are inextricably bound. And at that point one can start to extricate oneself from bondage, by His grace. Without the understanding that one is in bondage, there is absolutely no hope or possibility of becoming free. Just one wallows in the ignorance of that bondage, falsely dreaming that they are free. Such is the liila of Parama Purusa.

MUST PURSUE SPIRITUAL LIFE

Only in the spiritual realm can all obstacles be eliminated, by His grace. Through sadhana the aspirant can achieve oneness with Parama Purusa; then all bondages will be eliminated.

The culminating idea is that the concept of liberation is not some utopian dreamland. It is a practical and attainable end.

Again, both animals and humans want liberation. But animals remain in bondage; and, humans are unsure of how to proceed - thereby leading to more and more bondage. In that way, their whole life passes in vain.

Those who want a real solution to this problem should learn and practice sadhana and get liberation. To remove all bondages, one must get initiated, do sadhana sincerely, and attain mukti (liberation) / moksa (salvation), by His grace. This is the birthright of all humans. Without that, one will never find mental peace - always there will be tension.

MAYA: THE BINDING FORCE

Remember, those who are bound cannot do what they want. And maya itself is that binding force. Humans have to live according to those limitations and bondages imposed by maya. Everyone has to follow those rules, whether they like it or not. Everyone wishes to be healthy, but invariably sickness comes. This is a bondage. Nobody wants to die but invariably they have to leave this earth. Why? Because they are bound by maya. Regardless of their liking they have to go because they are bound.

So no matter how much you like or are attached to your worldly possessions and relations like property and family, one day you too will have to leave here and go. You have to give up your post, power, status, relations, even your physical body etc, and undergo death - and leave this earth. Death itself is one critical bondage. You may want to stay here forever, but one day you must leave. That is the bondage imposed by maya.

YOU MUST REALISE YOU ARE IN BONDAGE

THEN ONE CAN ADVANCE ON THE PATH TO LIBERATION

Until one realises that they are in bondage, how can they break this shackle and attain liberation. A bondage cannot be removed until one understands that they are bound. Only then can one truly embark on the spiritual path. By Guru's grace alone can one become truly free. Sadhana and surrendering to the sweet will of the Supreme is the only way to become free.

Baba says, "O human beings, you are fortunate. The clarion call of the Universal Entity has reached you. Not only has the call come, but you are hearing it and it is vibrating in every cell of your body. Will you now lie in the corner of your house as an inert being and waste your time by clinging to old skeletons and bemoaning them? The Supreme Being is calling you in the roar of the ocean, in the thunder of the clouds, in the speed of lightning, in the meteor’s flaming fires. Nothing good will come from idleness. Get up and awake the clouded chivalry of your dormant youth. It may be that the path is not strewn with flowers and that inferiority complex will be attempting to hold fast your each advancing step, but even then you have to proceed onwards tearing the shroud of darkness. You will tear the thick darkness of despair as you advance in the racing chariot radiant with the Sun’s brilliance towards the attainment of the Supreme state." (Subhasita Samgraha - 1, The Call of the Supreme)

Baba says, "The worship of Brahma should be done scrupulously, or else you will later regret and bemoan the futility of your life with the last drop of your tears at your last hour. You should make your life worthwhile through your sádhaná. How much can your worldly friends and relations do for you? After your death your relatives may perhaps ask, “How much money has he left behind?” Your friends may go to the crematorium and indulge in flattering reminiscences about you. Your husband or wife may cry for you for about ten or twelve days and then regain their normal composure. Your lot will be only a profound sigh – a record of the futility and frustration of your life. So do not waste your time lest you later have to repent." (Subhasita Samgraha - 3, Vibration, Form and Colour)

Namaskar,
Divyacaksu


PRAVBHAT SAMGIITA


"Ke boleche kat'hor tumi, phuler matai komal go, a'mi bhulo bujechi..." (1810)

Purport:

Baba, You are so sweet and beautiful - who is telling that You are harsh and tough. Only those who are ignorant blame You when they face their samskara. They foolishly claim that You are tough and that You make them cry. But they do not understand that everyone has to face their samskaras for their own growth and development. By facing their samskaras and obstacles, their path of progress will be open and free.  

Baba, in the true sense, You are soft like the lotus - very loving and sweet inside. You have graciously blessed me to realise this truth. In the past, I too was thinking in a different way; I was also thinking You were harsh. That was my blindness.

Baba, if I see Your external facade from the outside, then it looks like You are hard; but that is not Your true Self. By Your grace, I understand that behind that external harshness there is so much softness inside - hidden within. This situation is like the coconut fruit. Baba, however You may be presenting Yourself externally, but internally You are the most loving, gracious, & charming Entity.

Baba You are my everything...

Mahaprayan of Shrii Himanshu Ranjan Sarkar

Date: Tue 23 Oct 2012 12:37:52
From: Rajendra Singh
Subject: Mahaprayan of Shrii Himanshu Ranjan Sarkar
To: AM-GLOBAL

Baba

== MAHAPRAYAN (DEATH) OF SHRII HIMANSHU RANJAN SARKAR  ==

Namaskar,
It is with much sorrow to share with you news of the mahaprayan* (death) of Shrii Himanshu Ranjan Sarkar which occurred on 22 October 2012. As many know, Shrii Himanshu Ranjan was Baba's laokik younger brother; he suffered a heart attack and then died in transit from Dhanbad to Ranchi. He was 82 years of age at the time of his mahaprayan.

Shrii Himanshu Ranjan was very dedicated to Baba and wrote a book about his experiences and remembrances of Baba. The name of the book is "My Elder Brother." One of the passages I recall from the book was that when their laokik father died, Shrii Lakshmi Narayana Sarkar, then Himanshuji was still a small boy. But he recounts that he never felt any loss, because always Baba took great care of him. Baba watched over him in all regards and would regularly carry the small Himanshu on His shoulders. Baba was a a great support and guide in his life from very early on.

I am sure many others have stories to tell about Shrii Himanshuji and his recollections with Beloved Baba as his laokik elder Brother. Throughout his professional life Shrii Himanshuji worked in the Railway office.

May we all take solace in the fact that Shrii Himanshu Ranjan was a devoted bhakta of the Lord. Certainly he will attain mukti or moksa, accordingly. Baba will lovingly bestow His grace.

With deepest regards,
Namaskar,
Rajendra Singh

Note 1: DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REAL MAHAPRAYAN AND FAKE MPD

Here it should be qualified that there is both real mahaprayan and fake mahaprayan. Real mahaprayan marks the death of any ordinary human being. This is the proper use of the term: To note a person's departure from this earth. That is the way mahaprayan is to be used.

Then there is the fake, or so-called, or dogmatic mahaprayan.That is when certain vested interests try to apply the mahaprayan term to Parama Purusa Himself. This is totally inappropriate because when Baba is that Divine Entity who is beginningless and endless and resides always in our heart, then it is totally wrong to proclaim that He is gone.

That is why rational margiis are protesting; because the Oct 21st program is so-called mahaprayan. So-called means that something is fake. Parama Purusa is eternal, thus for some vested interests to declare "mahaprayan of Parama Purusa" is nothing but so-called mahaprayan.

Mahaprayan only really happens in the case of human beings, not Parama Purusa.

Note 2: ASTERISK NOTE ABOUT MAHAPRAYAN

* Mahaprayan (Death):  Many are aware that mahaprayan (death) is the common term used in India and especially in Bengal to describe the death of an honoured or even ordinary person. In that way, the obituary columns of the newspapers of Bengal regularly cite the mahaprayan (death) of various persons of society who died or passed away.

Some may get confused and wrongly think that the word 'mahaprayan' (death) is one extraordinarily devotional term to be used in association with Parama Purusa. But that is not at all the case. Rather to do so is only to undermine the eternal presence of Parama Purusa. That is why no devotees ever use the word 'mahaprayan' in reference to Lord Shiva or Lord Krsna. Because Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna exist eternally. Then there is no question of Their mahaprayan (death).

Those who think that Baba is a mortal human being celebrate Mahaprayan on a particular day of the year related with Baba; but, in the true sense, Baba is Parama Purusa so He is eternal and there is no question of His mahaprayan.

And for those who need still more technical proof then all this can be clarified quite readily by referencing the dictionary. Specifically in the Samsad Bengali-English dictionary on page 742. Checking there it will be confirmed that the word 'mahaprayan' means death. Which is why it used to refer to the passing away of even common citizens.

Note 3: STORY- SITTING ON BABA'S LAP MEANS DIED?

(contributed by one margii)

Recently after dharmacakra, a senior margii was recounting his experiences of having dharma samiiksa with Baba.

He said, "After being punished by Baba, then He called me close and placed me on His lap - I remained there for some time soaking up His love - and He blessed me."

We all enjoyed hearing about his personal account with Baba during dharma samiiksa. When he finished telling his story, there was a call for questions. Various people posed their queries.

QUESTION BY A NEW MARGII

Towards the end, one new margii raised his hand and asked, "How did Baba bring you back to life?"

Everyone stared at the new margii in amazement. There was a look of astonishment all around - people were really shocked to hear him say this.

The new sadhaka sensed that something was awry.

He said very matter-of-factly, "I thought that sitting on Baba's Lap means that he (the margii) died - that is why I asked that question."

This was totally eye-opening for those of us in the room: Through our language and expression we had unknowingly taught someone to think that being on Baba's lap is the equivalent of death. Because it seems that nowadays people only use the phrase "Baba's lap" when a person has died, such as "Let him rest peacefully in Baba's lap", as if all who have died have accumulated there. Many emails have been written this way.

MUST NOT ONLY REFER TO DEATH

At that moment I thought that everyone, new and old, should be clear about the real and devotional meaning of this phrase, "being on Baba's lap." It should not become stigmatized such that it only means death. Because in its true sense, the phrase "being on Baba's lap" really does carry a highly devotional and sweet feeling.

It is just like how a small child sits on its parent's lap. In a similar way, a spiritual child (human being) sits on the lap of Parama Purusa. By Baba's grace this can happen anytime in one's sadhana, especially in dhyana. Such a phrase then should not become  stigmatized because too many people only use it at the time of death.

We should be careful that we do not relegate "Baba's lap" only to the point of death. All these following terms and phrases also only refer to death:

ve bhagavan ko pya're ho gaye
(he has been loved by God)

ve svarga sidhar gaye
(he has gone to heaven )

ve guzar gaye
(he passed away)

mahaprayan hoyeche
 (he died)

We should ensure that the same death connotation does not get attached to, "being on Baba's lap." Because the phrase - "being on Baba's lap" - is a devotional experience that can happen today itself in sadhana, and especially in dhyana. The phrase "being on Baba's lap" should not lose this quality and only mean death. It should not meet the same dark fate as happened with the term harijan.

MUST NOT MEET SAME FATE AS HARIJAN

As we all know, these days in India nobody uses the term harijan to mean "a devotee". Whereas 70 years ago it was used in that way. The term harijan did mean bhakta. But ever since the time of Gandhi when he glued the harijan term to the lowest so-called caste, i.e so-called untouchables, nobody uses the the harijan to mean devotee. Never. Because the term harijan has been stigmatized to mean "untouchable". Nobody uses it to mean "devotee", but that is the original and true meaning of the word.

The phrase, "sitting on Baba's lap", should not meet a similar fate. It should not lose its devotional quality and just refer to one's death. That will be very negative.

A VERY DEVOTIONAL EXPRESSION

There are thousands of recorded stories by sadhakas where they use the phrase, "on Baba's lap", when describing their experiences of being with Baba: He used to bless them and bring them on His lap. People should understand the deeply devotional value of this expression, and not just think that Baba's lap means death, i.e. that you can only sit on His lap at the time of death. Still today there are thousands of margiis walking this earth who sat in Baba's lap. And not only that, there are countless more sadhakas who were blessed by Baba in dreams and dhyana wherein they sat in His lap. And still today this deeply devotional experience is attainable by sadhakas, by His grace.

There are so many ways an aspirant can reach unto Baba's lap including in sadhana and especially during dhyana. That is the main idea that should be preserved. Sadhana is a devotional practice and one can sit on Baba's lap in dhyana. We should make it cent-per-cent clear to one and all that the phrase, "sitting on Baba's lap", does not mean death.

RECENT EXAMPLES

Here are quoted lines from recently posted emails on various forums, wherein the writer uses the phrase - "in Baba's lap" - with the occasion of death:

- "We are sure that Baba has taken him in His loving lap."

- "May his soul rest in Baba's lap for ever."

- "Let her rest peacefully in Baba's Lap - which she always desired."

- "now he is in beloved Baba's lap"

- "She is now in BÁBÁ'S loving lap"

- "May Baba bless him with a seat in His lap."

All of the above lines are commonly written at the time of death. Of course it is fine to write like that. Here the point is that this same phrase "in Baba's lap" should be used when describing one's devotional practices and experiences as well.