Light at the End of the Tunnel

From: "Gagan"
To: AM-GLOBAL
Subject: Light at the End of the Tunnel
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:33:08 -0000

Baba

== LIGHT AT END OF THE TUNNEL ==

Namaskar,
We all know that we need to "jumpstart" our AMPS in order to make it dynamic and vibrant once again.

However, one should not think that this has never happened before. In the past also our organisation experienced a distinct lull, verily a full-blown crisis, and by His grace we did bounce back with tremendous momentum. So the situation we find ourselves in today is not new - there is a precedent.

This below Baba story offers the perfect strategy for transforming our AMPS into a sterling, bustling society once again.

Your thoughts and reflections are most welcomed.

BABA STORY:

"NEWSLETTERS ARE MY FOOD"

During Emergency, when Baba was in jail, then the mood of our Marga was a bit sullen. There were court cases, controversies, tales of scandal, and quite a bit of intrigue. Devotionally margiis were managing alright, by His grace, but in the social sphere things were a bit gloomy. People were hesitant to do pracara or go out in public and talk about Ananda Marga. Our Ananda Marga train was moving slowly.

Baba, the all-knowing Parama Purusa, knew the perfect remedy.

While fasting in jail, Baba forcefully declared, "I need newsletters, that will be my food."

Baba's dynamic proclamation set the wheels of our Marga in motion. Immediately, word spread how Baba wanted to hear news about what was happening in the Marga around the globe and that this would be His food.

Certainly, in His mind's eye, Baba was intuitively aware about each and every thought, word and deed so His declaration for newsletters was more of strategy for rejuvenating the Marga. And indeed how well it worked.

VERY POSITIVE EFFECT

The effect of Baba's call was very dramatic. Ananda Margiis from around the world jumped into action.

Each district and locale realised that they needed to create a newsletter. And to write a newsletter they needed something to write about. In order to have something to write about they needed to do something. This was the way it worked.

So margiis began vigorously involving themselves in all kinds of social service projects and good deeds. Once done, then they could and would write and print that news and mail it to Baba and that would be His food. Everyone became quite active; all were feeling blissful.

Plus, everyone was vigilant to write news that was accurate and true. Nobody wanted to give Baba bad food and we all knew that He knew what was true or not. So the social service endeavors were done with full feeling and accurately reported.

Then the various units thought that since we are printing news for Baba, why not print more copies and send it to other units and regions as well. This created a whole network of newsletters. No longer were various margiis or units sitting alone in isolation worried about the fate of Ananda Marga. Now the scene was abuzz with news coming in all kinds of directions. Margiis were more active than ever: Schools, pracara, talks, mass feeding, clothing distribution, university seminars etc. And when one unit would read about what another was doing, then they would implement that program in their area as well. Such newsletters had a wonderful domino effect.

By all this activity, our Marga was growing by leaps and bounds and the sullen skies in Ananda Marga cleared and everyone had a bright, positive vision for moving ahead, despite the difficulties.

Then, when Baba was finally cleared of all charges and released from prison, our Ananda Marga society was in full-swing. It was a driving force. This was all His grace and His divine planning.

Baba understood perfectly that in order to turn things in the right direction there needed to be dynamism in the social sphere. And newsletters were the perfect way to get things going. Then people would feel that they are part of some larger movement. This made everyone feel connected, engaged, and hopeful.

What worked so beautifully those days will have an equally beneficial effect today.

GREAT WAY TO OVERCOME GROUPISM

Now when the mood is a bit down in AMPS due to rampant groupism, there are various calls for how to bring things back to life. Some are making organisational handbooks, some are attempting peace meetings, some are trying to merge the groups, and some are just working independently.

Whatever may be, we should certainly aim for Baba's approach: newsletters.

"BUT WE ALREADY HAVE NEWSLETTERS"

Some may naively declare, "But we already have newsletters - I get lots of emails."

In truth however, we do not have lots of newsletters. There is not a single organisationally sanctioned newsletter. Only the various groupist forces are sending out their own biased views and news - most of which is either tainted by group interest or completely false.

A newsletter - whether it be electronic or otherwise - should be true, rational, and unbiased. Yet today, everything coming out of this or that organisational channel is just one concocted groupist portrayal. If their group is involved then the event is reported like gold and if their group is not involved then it is reported like mud. Everything is drawn along party lines.

Actually this type of thing has been going on since 1990, in one form or another. So much false news has been reported that people have lost interest in these reports. And they have lost interest in reporting what is going on in their area.

This has all had an extremely detrimental effect.

Now is the time to turn all this around. We should actively support and adhere to Baba's newsletter strategy.

WHAT TYPES OF NEWS SHOULD BE CIRCULATED

The first question might be: What type of things are newsworthy. And the answer is anything that tightens the bonds within our Ananda Marga.

That means things like births, baby-naming ceremonies, akhanda kiirtan, social service, developments in schools, pracar, deaths, retreats - each and every event can be reported. And there should be organisationally sanctioned channels, 100%-free from group interest.

By sharing all these types of news in a fair and truthful manner - on the regional, sectorial, and global level - our whole Ananda Marga family will be benefited.

This is Baba's distinct approach.

MANY ORGANISATIONS DO LIKE THIS

Actually, every organisation hoping to succeed on this earth keeps their internal structure strong by keeping their members "in the know" and inspired. Whether the organisation be environmental or social, or any other type, newsletters, grass-roots sharing, and open and truthful lines of communication are a must. They all do it.

ANANDA MARGA WILL ONCE AGAIN BECOME

A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH

Now there may be some news clippings moving around our Ananda Marga society here and there. But that is not enough, especially when the hand of groupist networks are on the rise.

By implementing Baba's system of oranisationally sanctioned newsletters - employing a multi-tier approach - covering local and global events, all will feel more connected and inspired. It will encourage others to implement the ways of Ananda Marga into their own lives and that of their community.

Living alone or in isolation is not at all good. We are social beings. Having healthy, productive, open newsletters will improve the overall climate and psychology of the Marga.

We will realise how many like-minded sadhakas are in our grand Ananda Marga family. Baba has brought us together - and with good reason: To learn and grow with one another as we embark on leading a life dedicated to Him and serving humanity.

With these newsletters, all will feel closer and part of some greater whole. No doubt on the spiritual level we all feel linked with Baba, by His grace. But that social connection is very important for building a strong, cohesive movement. That will give us force.

So at the earliest this program should go on - in all units and in all areas. One newsletter will lead to the next and inspire everyone to move ahead. It will create boundless energy and much zeal.

THE SPECIALTY OF ANANDA MARGA                

Baba has graciously given us a great example. Whatever the situation, Baba has already provided us with the pathway to move ahead. Now when groupism has taken hold, one excellent way to move forward and bring a dynamic flow in Ananda Marga is by creating newsletters.  Baba graciously declared this to be His food and today such newsletters will be the staple for creating a new AMPS family, unshackled by groupism and factional interest.

Baba says, "When people hesitate and doubt whether they can accomplish something, and if they start to work in that hesitant frame of mind, they can never accomplish that task. But if they plunge into action thinking of their goal with courage, imbued with spiritual inspiration, they are sure to be crowned with success. No action is greater than the human capacity to perform it. Of all the manifold entities in this expressed world, human beings are the most powerful." (1)

Baba says, "Ananda Marga is against all kinds of exploitation, because exploitation always breaks the pace of advancement. These feelings of anti-exploitation have to be given a shape through the medium of social organization. A healthy social outlook has to be adopted. The parasites which live on exploitation do not want that the throes of inactivity should disappear from the society as it is on this filth of stagnancy that they exist and grow. They are like sores on the social body. External application of ointments will not cure this type of sores. So long as the blood affected with the harmful germs of the sore is in the body, the sore will come out again and again. So the best way of treating such sores is to keep them clean by washing and sponging them externally or to apply mild medicines and to increase the supply of fresh blood corpuscles in the body. To increase the blood within, the speed of every limbs and joints has to be increased and do you know on which depends this speed in case of the society? The more is the adjustment between the social body and the elements; – time, place and person, the greater is the speed. The social customs of Ananda Marga have been formed with a view to intensifying the speed to supply fresh blood to the body – to stream fresh spring water into blocked water storages." (2)

Namaskar,
In Him,
Gagan


REFERENCES:

1. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life - 11
2. Táttvika Diipika - Part 4