From: "Keshava Bhai Patel"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Purodha Pramukha Just Mortal Human - Not Guru
Date: Wed, 07 Nov 2012 22:00:57
Baba
Namaskar,
After the DMS held on 6th & 7th October in Ahmedabad, on 8th October Purodha Pramukha reached Himmatnagar to visit an Ananda Marga school. Upon his arrival, various lady ma’rgiis were doing a'rati (ceremonial reception) per the Hindu system with diipam and flowers in front of PP dada Vishvadevananda. And PP dada was standing there with folded hands accepting the a'rati in his honour, as if he is the guru. So PP dada was honoured as dogmatic religious institutions do for welcoming a sadhu maharaj or guru. So Purodha Pramukha was essentially being treated as the guru, and PP Dada accepted it.
As you will read down below, this is all part of Rudranandji's grand plan to lay claim to more and more power. If the margiis revere PP Dada as a guru by receiving him with a'rati, then certainly margiis will abide by each and every order given. That is the motivating factor.
And verily this is coming into form. As just last month (October 2012), Purodha Pramukha was received with a'rati by margii didis in Himmatnagar. Some of the many present who witnessed this were: Dr. Chunibhai Patel (BP of Himmatnagar), Dwarakajii (BP of Ahmedabad), Manojkumar (Himmatnagar), Suresh Lagate (originally Marathi, but settled in Ahmedabad), and many Wt Dadas and Didis.
This is the new dogma taking shape: In various places where Purodha Pramukha Vishvadevananda visits, new and naive margiis are encouraged to do a'rati to PP dada. And Purodha Pramukha dada acts as if he is worthy, or as if this is the Ananda Marga system. But we know, a'rati is only done for guru or God. No one else. Yet now we see that PP dada is accepting a'rati.
(For those not familiar with the Hindu tradition of a'rati - or ceremonial reception for the Lord or guru - see the link for the youtube video in note 1 at the bottom of this email.)
This dogma got started because new people saw PP dada sitting on the dais, not singing bhajans but rather accepting them as his own glories. So in this next phase they started doing a'rati. That is how this dogma of PP being the guru has expanded.
Until we oppose this, it will continue - and grow. Such is the danger.
Some of the dogmas of Hinduism have been dragged and dumped into Ananda Marga. As we know, the general Hindu tradition is that when a guru dies then a new guru takes the place of the old guru and he becomes the leader of the sect. That means, as a guru he will initiate new people and all followers will be his disciples. They will treat him as the guru. And the new guru will get the same importance as the previous guru who died. The new guru will have full control and undisputed authority.
But our Ananda Marga is not based on Hindu dogma - our system is different.
Thus, whether Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji remains in physical form or not - He is the Guru. He is guiding all the time, every moment. Baba is Sadguru: He remains with every disciple, all the time, and guides them. No disciple is left alone. That is the quality of characteristic of Sadguru.
That is why still today, when an acarya initiates anyone, that acarya is not the guru of that new initiate. The Guru is Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. That is the unique, tantric system. It is unlike Hindu dogma.
Now, unfortunately, a strange metamorphosis is taking place. PP Vishvadevananda is being revered as a guru. How did this happen?
First of all, this has been Rudrananda's long-standing strategy: Make PP dada revered as a god and gain more authoritative power for himself. To this end, Rudranandji has worked hard to implement the ceremonial reception with a'rati for PP dada at regional DMS functions. He wants margiis to become habituated to this. In each and every unit and bhukti, margiis should have it set-up ahead of time to receive Purodha Pramukha with a'rati. So it is Dada Rudrananda who has initiated this dogma. Some say PP dada willingly accepted it because it gave him ego satisfaction; others say PP Dada felt pressured to acquiesce to Dada Rudrananda's demand. Whatever may be, the dogma of receiving PP dada with a'rati is currently in vogue.
A secondary cause is this: As PP Vishvadevananda does not raise the "Jai" slogan for Baba at DMS, some newly initiated margiis think that he is the new guru, as in the Hindu system. They think that just as the current head of any Hindu ashram is the guru, then in the same way PP Dada is also the guru of Ananda Marga. By seeing the way Purodha Pramukha behaves on the dais, new people think that PP dada is the guru. That also contributes to the confusion.
Why does PP dada not oppose this?
Well, as stated above, he is basically following Dada Rudrananda's mandate. Plus we have to remember that PP dada is an ordinary human being bound by avidya maya, and the astapashas (8 bondages) and sadripus (6 enemies). PP dada likes having prestige. So he is ok with being revered as the guru even though he knows it is sinful to do this drama. Because when someone treats him as the guru, then his ego is satisfied.
Why then are Rudrananda and others injecting this? Because, as stated above, it is their plan; this is exactly what they want. They get their power from PP dada. It is a direct relationship. The more PP dada is revered the more Rudrananda & Co are revered. And if PP dada is not held in high regard, then the level of their own respect will also be lower.
It is just like how religious priests plot their course. They give all orders in the name of God. They tell: "This is not me saying this - I am not speaking - this is God's command - and if you do not follow, then you will face the consequences." Such priests use the power of God to get their followers to abide by their orders.
Similarly, Rudranandji says that, "Baba has told how PP Dada should be treated - by following Baba's edict we can please Him - Baba was PP and now He has bestowed that power unto PP Dada - so we should all pay heed and follow Baba by giving maximum regard to PP Dada." This is Rudranandji's method. And his underlying motivation is that if this a'rati dogma is implemented and PP is honoured up to the sky, then all other orders he gives will also be followed. That is Rudranandji's chief aim.
By invoking the name of God, those priests garner more power and respect from their followers. It is a direct relationship. Same is the case with PP dada and those group leaders. By citing Baba and putting PP dada up on a pedestal, the ruling group leaders gain more power over the margins.
We should also keep this fact in mind: As many may know, PP dada Vishvadevananda is basically a stooge. So in true sense all power gets routed to Rudrananda etc.
This type of dogma is antithetical to the Guru-disciple relation. Spirituality will be just a dream if one is always busy in highlighting oneself and boosting one's ego. In that case the mind will be barren like the dry desert. When PP dada is following in the footsteps of those dogmatic Hindu gurus and feels satiated by the prestige, then that is disgraceful. It is opening the door of his spiritual demise. By his own behaviour he is misleading countless people by encouraging them to believe that he is their guru, and Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji is their Guru's guru.
If we ignore all this and keep quiet then our children and grandchildren will not understand what the real Ananda Marga is. They will see all the dogma going on in AMPS and mistake that as being the real dharma of Ananda Marga. They will not know that it is all dogma. We should never let such a scene come to pass.
This dogma of doing a'rati to PP Vishvadevananda and treating him as the guru must be stopped - now.
Namaskar,
Keshava Bhai Patel
Here below is a description of a'rati from Wikipedia:
Aarti is generally performed one to five times daily, and usually at the end of a puja (in South India) or bhajan session (in North India). It is performed during almost all Hindu ceremonies and occasions. It involves the circulating of an 'Aarti plate' or 'Aarti lamp' around a deity and is generally accompanied by the singing of songs in praise of that deva. In doing so, the plate or lamp is supposed to acquire the power of the deity. The priest circulates the plate or lamp to all those present. They cup their down-turned hands over the flame and then raise their palms to their forehead - the purificatory blessing, passed from the deva's image to the flame, has now been passed to the devotee.
The aarti plate is generally made of metal, usually silver, bronze or copper. On it must repose a lamp made of kneaded flour, mud or metal, filled with oil or ghee. One or more cotton wicks (always an odd number) are put into the oil and then lighted, or camphor is burnt instead. The plate may also contain flowers, incense and akshata. In some temples, a plate is not used and the priest holds the ghee lamp in his hand when offering it to the Deities.
The purpose of performing aarti is the waving of lighted wicks before the deities in a spirit of humility and gratitude, wherein faithful followers become immersed in God's divine form. It symbolises the five elements: 1) ether (akash), 2) wind (vayu), 3) fire (agni), 4) water (jal), and 5) earth (pruthvi). Communal Aarti is performed in the mandir; however, devotees also perform it in their homes.
When aarti is performed, the performer faces the deity of God (or divine element, e.g. Ganges river) and concentrates on the form of God by looking into the eyes of the deity (it is said that eyes are the windows to the soul) to get immersed. The flame of the aarti illuminates the various parts of the deity so that the performer and onlookers may better see and concentrate on the form. Aarti is waved in circular fashion, in clockwise manner around the deity. After every circle (or second or third circle), when Aarti has reached the bottom (6-8 o' clock position), the performer waves it backwards while remaining in the bottom (4-6 o' clock position) and then continues waving it in clockwise fashion. The idea here is that aarti represents our daily activities, which revolves around God, a center of our life. Looking at God while performing aarti reminds the performer (and the attendees of the aarti) to keep God at the center of all activities and reinforces the understanding that routine worldly activities are secondary in importance. This understanding would give the believers strength to withstand the unexpected grief and keeps them humble and remindful of God during happy moments.
When watching this below video, please bear in mind that just as those dogmatic followers are honouring and worshiping the Hindu deity, at the recent reception in Himmatnagar, the lady margiis were honouring and worshiping Purodha Pramukha in the same manner. PP Dada who was the focal point. PP Dada was the one in the centre, and all the ladies were dancing and swaying around him. Those ladies were serenading PP dada with their heart-felt longing and lit candles. They were doing a'rati to him - considering PP as the Revered One. So if you exchange the Hindu deity in the video for PP Dada, then you will get a sense of what transpired recently in Himmatnagar.
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Purodha Pramukha Just Mortal Human - Not Guru
Date: Wed, 07 Nov 2012 22:00:57
Baba
== PURODHA PRAMUKHA JUST MORTAL HUMAN - NOT GURU ==
~ PP DADA IS BOUND MY AVIDYA MAYA ~
~ PP DADA IS BOUND MY AVIDYA MAYA ~
Namaskar,
After the DMS held on 6th & 7th October in Ahmedabad, on 8th October Purodha Pramukha reached Himmatnagar to visit an Ananda Marga school. Upon his arrival, various lady ma’rgiis were doing a'rati (ceremonial reception) per the Hindu system with diipam and flowers in front of PP dada Vishvadevananda. And PP dada was standing there with folded hands accepting the a'rati in his honour, as if he is the guru. So PP dada was honoured as dogmatic religious institutions do for welcoming a sadhu maharaj or guru. So Purodha Pramukha was essentially being treated as the guru, and PP Dada accepted it.
As you will read down below, this is all part of Rudranandji's grand plan to lay claim to more and more power. If the margiis revere PP Dada as a guru by receiving him with a'rati, then certainly margiis will abide by each and every order given. That is the motivating factor.
And verily this is coming into form. As just last month (October 2012), Purodha Pramukha was received with a'rati by margii didis in Himmatnagar. Some of the many present who witnessed this were: Dr. Chunibhai Patel (BP of Himmatnagar), Dwarakajii (BP of Ahmedabad), Manojkumar (Himmatnagar), Suresh Lagate (originally Marathi, but settled in Ahmedabad), and many Wt Dadas and Didis.
This is the new dogma taking shape: In various places where Purodha Pramukha Vishvadevananda visits, new and naive margiis are encouraged to do a'rati to PP dada. And Purodha Pramukha dada acts as if he is worthy, or as if this is the Ananda Marga system. But we know, a'rati is only done for guru or God. No one else. Yet now we see that PP dada is accepting a'rati.
(For those not familiar with the Hindu tradition of a'rati - or ceremonial reception for the Lord or guru - see the link for the youtube video in note 1 at the bottom of this email.)
This dogma got started because new people saw PP dada sitting on the dais, not singing bhajans but rather accepting them as his own glories. So in this next phase they started doing a'rati. That is how this dogma of PP being the guru has expanded.
Until we oppose this, it will continue - and grow. Such is the danger.
HINDU SYSTEM OF TRANSFERRING GURU-SHIP
Some of the dogmas of Hinduism have been dragged and dumped into Ananda Marga. As we know, the general Hindu tradition is that when a guru dies then a new guru takes the place of the old guru and he becomes the leader of the sect. That means, as a guru he will initiate new people and all followers will be his disciples. They will treat him as the guru. And the new guru will get the same importance as the previous guru who died. The new guru will have full control and undisputed authority.
IN ANANDA MARGA, NO ONE ELSE BECOMES THE GURU
But our Ananda Marga is not based on Hindu dogma - our system is different.
3-9 Brahmaeva gururekah náparah
Cosmic Consciousness is the Guru - none else.
Cosmic Consciousness is the Guru - none else.
Thus, whether Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji remains in physical form or not - He is the Guru. He is guiding all the time, every moment. Baba is Sadguru: He remains with every disciple, all the time, and guides them. No disciple is left alone. That is the quality of characteristic of Sadguru.
That is why still today, when an acarya initiates anyone, that acarya is not the guru of that new initiate. The Guru is Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. That is the unique, tantric system. It is unlike Hindu dogma.
RUDRANANDJI'S STRATEGY +
PP DADA'S MISGUIDED WAYS CONFUSED SOME MARGIIS
PP DADA'S MISGUIDED WAYS CONFUSED SOME MARGIIS
Now, unfortunately, a strange metamorphosis is taking place. PP Vishvadevananda is being revered as a guru. How did this happen?
First of all, this has been Rudrananda's long-standing strategy: Make PP dada revered as a god and gain more authoritative power for himself. To this end, Rudranandji has worked hard to implement the ceremonial reception with a'rati for PP dada at regional DMS functions. He wants margiis to become habituated to this. In each and every unit and bhukti, margiis should have it set-up ahead of time to receive Purodha Pramukha with a'rati. So it is Dada Rudrananda who has initiated this dogma. Some say PP dada willingly accepted it because it gave him ego satisfaction; others say PP Dada felt pressured to acquiesce to Dada Rudrananda's demand. Whatever may be, the dogma of receiving PP dada with a'rati is currently in vogue.
A secondary cause is this: As PP Vishvadevananda does not raise the "Jai" slogan for Baba at DMS, some newly initiated margiis think that he is the new guru, as in the Hindu system. They think that just as the current head of any Hindu ashram is the guru, then in the same way PP Dada is also the guru of Ananda Marga. By seeing the way Purodha Pramukha behaves on the dais, new people think that PP dada is the guru. That also contributes to the confusion.
PURODHA PRAMUKHA HIMSELF BOUND BY AVIDYA MAYA
Why does PP dada not oppose this?
Well, as stated above, he is basically following Dada Rudrananda's mandate. Plus we have to remember that PP dada is an ordinary human being bound by avidya maya, and the astapashas (8 bondages) and sadripus (6 enemies). PP dada likes having prestige. So he is ok with being revered as the guru even though he knows it is sinful to do this drama. Because when someone treats him as the guru, then his ego is satisfied.
Why then are Rudrananda and others injecting this? Because, as stated above, it is their plan; this is exactly what they want. They get their power from PP dada. It is a direct relationship. The more PP dada is revered the more Rudrananda & Co are revered. And if PP dada is not held in high regard, then the level of their own respect will also be lower.
It is just like how religious priests plot their course. They give all orders in the name of God. They tell: "This is not me saying this - I am not speaking - this is God's command - and if you do not follow, then you will face the consequences." Such priests use the power of God to get their followers to abide by their orders.
Similarly, Rudranandji says that, "Baba has told how PP Dada should be treated - by following Baba's edict we can please Him - Baba was PP and now He has bestowed that power unto PP Dada - so we should all pay heed and follow Baba by giving maximum regard to PP Dada." This is Rudranandji's method. And his underlying motivation is that if this a'rati dogma is implemented and PP is honoured up to the sky, then all other orders he gives will also be followed. That is Rudranandji's chief aim.
By invoking the name of God, those priests garner more power and respect from their followers. It is a direct relationship. Same is the case with PP dada and those group leaders. By citing Baba and putting PP dada up on a pedestal, the ruling group leaders gain more power over the margins.
We should also keep this fact in mind: As many may know, PP dada Vishvadevananda is basically a stooge. So in true sense all power gets routed to Rudrananda etc.
AGAINST THE SANCTITY OF GURU-DISCIPLE RELATION:
THIS MUST NOT BE TOLERATED
THIS MUST NOT BE TOLERATED
This type of dogma is antithetical to the Guru-disciple relation. Spirituality will be just a dream if one is always busy in highlighting oneself and boosting one's ego. In that case the mind will be barren like the dry desert. When PP dada is following in the footsteps of those dogmatic Hindu gurus and feels satiated by the prestige, then that is disgraceful. It is opening the door of his spiritual demise. By his own behaviour he is misleading countless people by encouraging them to believe that he is their guru, and Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji is their Guru's guru.
If we ignore all this and keep quiet then our children and grandchildren will not understand what the real Ananda Marga is. They will see all the dogma going on in AMPS and mistake that as being the real dharma of Ananda Marga. They will not know that it is all dogma. We should never let such a scene come to pass.
This dogma of doing a'rati to PP Vishvadevananda and treating him as the guru must be stopped - now.
Namaskar,
Keshava Bhai Patel
Note 1: DOGMATIC HINDU STYLE OF A'RATI
Here below is a description of a'rati from Wikipedia:
Aarti is generally performed one to five times daily, and usually at the end of a puja (in South India) or bhajan session (in North India). It is performed during almost all Hindu ceremonies and occasions. It involves the circulating of an 'Aarti plate' or 'Aarti lamp' around a deity and is generally accompanied by the singing of songs in praise of that deva. In doing so, the plate or lamp is supposed to acquire the power of the deity. The priest circulates the plate or lamp to all those present. They cup their down-turned hands over the flame and then raise their palms to their forehead - the purificatory blessing, passed from the deva's image to the flame, has now been passed to the devotee.
The aarti plate is generally made of metal, usually silver, bronze or copper. On it must repose a lamp made of kneaded flour, mud or metal, filled with oil or ghee. One or more cotton wicks (always an odd number) are put into the oil and then lighted, or camphor is burnt instead. The plate may also contain flowers, incense and akshata. In some temples, a plate is not used and the priest holds the ghee lamp in his hand when offering it to the Deities.
The purpose of performing aarti is the waving of lighted wicks before the deities in a spirit of humility and gratitude, wherein faithful followers become immersed in God's divine form. It symbolises the five elements: 1) ether (akash), 2) wind (vayu), 3) fire (agni), 4) water (jal), and 5) earth (pruthvi). Communal Aarti is performed in the mandir; however, devotees also perform it in their homes.
When aarti is performed, the performer faces the deity of God (or divine element, e.g. Ganges river) and concentrates on the form of God by looking into the eyes of the deity (it is said that eyes are the windows to the soul) to get immersed. The flame of the aarti illuminates the various parts of the deity so that the performer and onlookers may better see and concentrate on the form. Aarti is waved in circular fashion, in clockwise manner around the deity. After every circle (or second or third circle), when Aarti has reached the bottom (6-8 o' clock position), the performer waves it backwards while remaining in the bottom (4-6 o' clock position) and then continues waving it in clockwise fashion. The idea here is that aarti represents our daily activities, which revolves around God, a center of our life. Looking at God while performing aarti reminds the performer (and the attendees of the aarti) to keep God at the center of all activities and reinforces the understanding that routine worldly activities are secondary in importance. This understanding would give the believers strength to withstand the unexpected grief and keeps them humble and remindful of God during happy moments.
Note 2: VIDEO FOR YOU TO SEE
When watching this below video, please bear in mind that just as those dogmatic followers are honouring and worshiping the Hindu deity, at the recent reception in Himmatnagar, the lady margiis were honouring and worshiping Purodha Pramukha in the same manner. PP Dada who was the focal point. PP Dada was the one in the centre, and all the ladies were dancing and swaying around him. Those ladies were serenading PP dada with their heart-felt longing and lit candles. They were doing a'rati to him - considering PP as the Revered One. So if you exchange the Hindu deity in the video for PP Dada, then you will get a sense of what transpired recently in Himmatnagar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7eWforlkWk
PRABHAT SAMGIITA
"Saba'r tare a'sa' a'ma'r saba'ri bhare a'mi nob..." (PS 5000)
Purport:
Parama Purusa has sent me here to serve everyone. By His grace I will carry the burdens of one and all. I will solve the problems of one and all. will go on remaining very close with everyone to help them. Nobody is other, everyone is mine. Everyone's home is my home. I will spread my and affection to one and all. Everyone is mine; no one is alien. Parama Purusa has sent me here to serve one and all...
Purport:
Parama Purusa has sent me here to serve everyone. By His grace I will carry the burdens of one and all. I will solve the problems of one and all. will go on remaining very close with everyone to help them. Nobody is other, everyone is mine. Everyone's home is my home. I will spread my and affection to one and all. Everyone is mine; no one is alien. Parama Purusa has sent me here to serve one and all...
