== PP DADA SHRADDHANANDJI'S IGNORANCE ==
Namaskar,
After reading the recent letter on the first PP Dada Shraddhanandji (link below), it is very clear that he was simple. But he was also something more than that. This PP Dada was lacking a basic, comprehensive understanding of Baba's teachings.
How do we know this? How can we say this definitively.
Well, PP Shraddhanandji had an irresistible desire to preach and write books, whether he knew the subject or not. And what he thought he did. He wrote and published many books including his own autobiography, "My Spiritual Life with Baba" (June, 1991). Shraddhanandji wrote many other books as well - all of which are filled with countless critical errors and major, fundamental mistakes. Those books are full of misinterpretations and wrong understandings that only misguide the reader.
My initial thought is to call all his books "garbage", but that is not a word I wish to use in this email, so I will just say that PP Dada's books are completely off the mark.
WHEN BABA STARTED GIVING PRABHAT SAMGIITA
Now let's take a look at one crucial point that demonstrates well PP Shraddhanandaji's level of understanding.
Those days, when Prabhat Samgiita was first given, then everyone was singing those early songs, including "Sakal maner viina' (PS #4). Those compositions became part of everyone's heart, and the meaning was imprinted in everyone's mind. Baba Himself was explaining the meaning of all those early songs. On many such occasions, Dada Shraddhananda was even sitting in the front row. So Shraddhanandji had easy access to Baba's purports and explanations of those songs.
Most importantly, there was great interest in Prabhat Samgiita: All margiis and workers were keen to learn and listen to this new devotional gift bestowed by Baba.
For all these reasons, everyone in Ananda Marga gained a very clear understanding of the meaning of those initial songs. Then we also have to bear in mind that Prabhat Samgiita is just the natural expression of devotion. So bhaktas can easily feel what the song means. Because those songs are the expression of their own heart.
So it is not only unfortunate, but astonishing, that PP Dada could misinterpret things the way he did.
HERE IS THAT PRABHAT SAMGIITA #4
As a brief refresher, here is one early Prabhat Samgiita that PP Dada completely misunderstood. First, let's just review the actual meaning.
Prabhat Samgiita No. 4
"Sakal maner viina' ek sure ba'je a'j...
Eso tumi a'ro ka'che, A'ro kache, a'ro kache
Niye ja'o ja'ha' kichu sab"
In this song, the devotee is addressing Baba, and requesting Him to please come close, more close and take my mind. "O' my Dearmost, I am offering my mind to You, please grace me by accepting this."
Here is further explanation. As sadhakas, we know that mind is the cause of bondage and liberation. If the mind is coloured with mundane longing, then that is bondage. When it is purified in the thought of Parama Purusa and becomes colourless, then it is liberated. That's why we do dhyana. And in the last stage of dhyana and guru puja, the devotee is offering their mind with deep love at the feet of Baba. So devotee is requesting that "O' Dearmost Baba, please come and take all the colours of my mind, all the bondages of my mind, and make me colourless."
"“By surrendering all the colours of my mind to You, I want to become colourless.” This surrender to the Supreme Consciousness propels human beings towards Him." (The Liberation of Intellect - Neo-Humanism, Inner Asset)
This is the central idea of Prabhat Samgiita #4.
These following guidelines also reflect the inherent theme and spirit of this song wherein the devotee offers their mind unto Parama Purusa
“Tava dravyaḿ Jagatguro Tubhyameva samarpaye.”
“Everything of mine, along with my mind, is offered at Your altar. Please oblige and accept it.” (Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3, Prańáma Mantra)
Nivedayámi cátmánaḿ tvaḿ gatih Parameshvara
“Oh Lord, what can I offer unto You? I can only offer my existential ‘I’ feeling. Please take it.” (Subhasita Samgraha-12, The Secret of Dharma Lies Hidden in the Mind)
So the entire meaning of this song is that the devotee is offering everything to Parama Purusa, to Baba. That is why this song has been named: "Song of Sweetness". Without deep love towards Baba, the feeling of full surrender will not arise in the mind. That stage of deep love is full of sweetness. For this reason, this song has its own title "Song of Sweetness".
The key point is this. In this song the devotee is yearning for Parama Purusa: Please come and take the offerings of my mind, and make me Your own. The bhakta is feeling a strong urge to reach his desired Goal: Becoming one with Parama Purusa by surrendering unto Him. It is quite evident that the devotee is addressing Parama Purusa in this song; the bhakta is singing to the Lord. Params Purusa is not singing the song to the devotee.
So the inner essence of this Prabhat Samgiita is how the devotee is offering their everything at Baba's lotus feet.
Sadly, PP Dada Shraddhanandji took this song in a different manner - far away from Baba's intended meaning.
PP DADA'S WRONG INTERPRETATION OF THAT SONG
On page 16 of his autobiography, "My Spiritual Life with Baba", Shraddhanandji gives a completely backwards and opposite explanation of this song.
Shraddhanandaji wrongly tells that in this song Baba is expressing His desire to give everything to the devotee: Money, wealth, property, siddhis, prestige, post etc. So PP Dada explained the song as if Parama Purusa is singing to the bhakta - which is 100% wrong.
The correct meaning of Prabhat Samgiita #4 is that devotee is making the request, "O' Dearmost Baba, please come and take all the colors of my mind, all the bondages of my mind, and make me colourless."
"“By surrendering all the colours of my mind to You, I want to become colourless.” (The Liberation of Intellect - Neo-Humanism, Inner Asset)
Here again is the real spirit of this Prabhat Samgiita.
Nivedayámi cátmánaḿ tvaḿ gatih Parameshvara
“Oh Lord, what can I offer unto You? I can only offer my existential ‘I’ feeling. Please take it.” (Subhasita Samgraha-12, The Secret of Dharma Lies Hidden in the Mind)
So PP Dada actually invented his own flip-flop purport for the song, "Sakal maner viina'...". Shraddhanandji writes as if Baba is singing and requesting the devotee to come more close and more close and take everything (money, name, fame etc) that He (Baba) has. This is the flip-flop way in which PP Dada is explaining the song.
That indeed is a most unfortunate circumstance. Why unfortunate? Because PP Shraddhananda was a longtime and senior Dada and it is tragic he could not gain a clearer understanding of Baba's teachings and Ananda Marga devotional life.
When PP Dada was not aware about the inner meaning and purport of Prabhat Samgiita #4, then he should not have written about it publicly in his book. The point being that when the writer himself is not aware about a topic then he should not attempt to write about it in his book.
in Him,
Satyashrya
Note 1: LINK TO AN EARLIER LETTER ABOUT PP
DADA
http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/11/history-story-how-shraddhananda-dada.html
http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/11/history-story-how-shraddhananda-dada.html
PRABHAT SAMGIITA
"Mandrita manomohan mama, mu'rtta mamata' tumi..." (PS 662)
Purport:
O' Manomohan, O' most attractive One of my mind, You are mine and Your voice is sweet and sonorous; O' most Compassionate One, You are the embodiment of love and affection. Please be gracious and shower Your divine karuna on the afflicted person - on me. Please wash away all my accumulated sufferings as well as my bundle of samskaras. Baba, I have come to You and am taking shelter at Your lotus feet. Please be gracious.
O' Baba, You are beyond maya - You are mayatiita; yet, You are also the Controller of maya - You are mayadhiish [1]. Baba, with Your infinite compassion, You are the destroyer of all dangers, threats, and terror. Fear itself is fearful of You. Baba, You are Kalus Ha'ri [2]; Baba, You are Manobiharii - You move joyously around the mind and make it blissful. Baba, You are Marmarainjan and Manasrainjan [3]; You dye my heart and mind in Your divine colour.
Baba, You are the object of my dhyana; You are the dearest One of my heart. Baba, You are the essence of all songs and melodies which are sung
and chanted. Baba, with Your divine sword You pulverise the vanity of the demons (deva'ri) [4]. Please remove my stagnancy and make me disciplined
for my all-round enlightenment: physical, psychic and spiritual. O' merciful One, please pardon me by removing by samskaras. Please shower Your
divine grace and make my whole existence vibrated and blissful.
Baba, I am at Your shelter; I do sastaunga pranam to You infinite times...
NOTES TO PRABHAT SAMGIITA #622:
[1] Ma'ya'dhiish: In the above song Baba simultaneously both far beyond ma'ya' (ma'ya'tiita) as well as totally involved in controlling ma'ya'-- in
which case He is Ma'ya'dhiish. Here below Baba is making a contrast between jiivas who are ruled by ma'ya' and Parama Purusa who lords over wa'ya'.
Baba says, "Jiiva'tman is under the influence of Prakrti, it is Ma'ya'dhiina or controlled by Ma'ya', whereas Parama'tman, in whatever form He may manifest Himself is Ma'ya'dhiisha or Controller of Ma'ya'." (Subhasita Samgraha - 1)
[2] Kalus'ha'rii: This is one of the names of Parama Purusa that reflects one of His infinite qualities. In this role as Kalusha'rii, He removes the darkness from the mind of the jiivas. That is why in 2nd stanza of our Guru Purja mantra it is said that He removes the stains of mind and bundle of samskaras. By His grace He removes all the cimmerian darkness.
Ajina'natimira'ndhasya jina'na'injana shala'kaya'.
Baba says, "You know that an eye ointment is applied with a stick ("Shala´ka´" means stick). Now, all the microcosms are parts of that Noumenal Entity, all are actually parts and particles of that Supreme Entity, but due to ignorance, due to the darkness of ignorance, they cannot see what is what and which is which. That is why they require the ointment of spiritual knowledge. Guru (with a stick) applies the ointment of spiritual knowledge to their eyes." (Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3)
[3] Ma'nasrainjan: Baba has told us countless times and we all know that devotion is that unique ingredient which allows one to advance in the spiritual field. Without innate love for Parama Purusa one can never succeed. By Baba's divine grace, in His role as Ma'nasrainjan, He is that Divine Entity who colours and saturates the mind of sadhakas in the fountain of devotion.
Baba says, "'rainjana', which means 'the One who colours' - that which colours the mind." (Ananda Vacanamrtam - 1)
So He is that Cosmic Being who graciously showers devotional love into the heart and mind of the bhakta. And by such overwhelming Cosmic grace, the devotee becomes immersed in Supreme bliss and comes in the closest proximity with that Love Personified Entity: Parama Purusa.
[4] Deva'ri: (Deva literally means 'god'; ari literally means 'enemy'). So those anti-social beings who are enemies of the gods are known as demons.
That is the why the colloquial meaning of the term deva'ri is 'demons'.
