w, What Should One Give

Date: 02 Jan 2013 21:01:37 -0000
From: "Satyendra Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: What Should One Give

Baba

== WHAT SHOULD ONE GIVE ==

Namaskar,
It was the usual course that our Acaryaji would go to attend DMC those days. On one such occasion, a margii sister requested Acaryaji that he should take some mangoes grown in her garden and offer them in presentation to Baba. This is the story about that interaction and what we should offer to Baba.

For many years prior to '90, whenever this margii sister would go for Baba's darshan she would always offer fruit for Baba at His Baba's Quarters (BQ). Thus, from her garden in the summer season she was offering mangoes and in the winter season she used to offer guava for the Baba Quarter's caretaker to pass to Baba. In her simplicity, she was thinking that this was the only way to offer something at the lotus feet of Baba: To give it to Him physically.

Of course, according to Ananda Marga outlook, we know that this is not true.

Baba says, "Parama Puruśa is infinite and omnipresent; therefore His hands and feet are spread in all directions. As this entire creation is His mental projection, it has no absolute existence to Him. He does not require any physical hands or feet; even without them He can get any work done or go anywhere He likes, through mental imagination." (Ananda Vacanamrtam - 33, Purusatattva)

Thus, Parama Purusa is ready to reach out in any direction to receive the offerings of His devotees.

At that time, that margii sister was not aware of that fact - she thought that offering something physically to Baba was the only way.

So when Acaryaji was going to Ananda Nagar then she raised the matter of offering something to Baba. Due to her own ill health she was unable to go for DMC, so she was requesting Acaryaji to make the offering of fruit for her.

After some deliberation back and forth, Acaryaji said, "Alright I will take your offering to Baba but you should know that making an offering to Parama Purusa every day is very important for your devotional link with Him. Today I am going there so I will bring it for you. But what about tomorrow, then what will you do."

SPECIAL APPROACH FROM ACARYA DIARY

Acaryaji continued, "Surely what you want to offer you can offer and on this particular occasion, I will take it. But what if Baba is traveling and He is far away, in which case you cannot make your offering directly to Him. Will that not be a problem for you? Best then is to be aware about these following guidelines from Acarya Diary.

While teaching about the Ananda Marga system of Guru Puja in Acarya diary appendix, Baba has described that if devotees have a strong feeling to offer some worldly things to Guru, they can do so. Sadhakas can give those things to Guru during His physical presence. But Baba directs us that when He is moving here and there or after His physical departure, then those material gifts, which we desire to offer to Him, should be distributed to needy people - to suffering humanity. By that way, Baba will receive your offering.

Baba explains all this very clearly in the Acarya Diary.

ANOTHER WAY OF DOING

At the same time, Acaryaji said that we should not just perform external offerings to satisfy or please Baba. Because Baba is the Creator of the entire universe so He does not need those things, per se. Already He is the owner of all mundane objects. Acaryaji said that devotees should offer something more special - not just worldly fruits, vegetables and sweets. Because, after all, He is living in your heart, not in Ananda Nagar only etc.

Baba says, "Remember, you have to offer your own mind - not money, rice plantains or other mundane objects. The give-and-take of material things is a business transaction. If you want to attain the bliss of Brahma, you must offer your own self. If you want to have the Great 'I', you must surrender your own little 'I'. You have to give the full sixteen a'nna's, (the full rupee). Giving fifteen a'nna's and holding back one a'nna' will not do. You must completely surrender. To attain that Infinite One with the help of your mental concentration and strength, you have to surrender yourself. But, remember self-surrender does not mean suicide. On the contrary, your soul will have its full expression. Your existence will not become contracted, for contraction is inert in principle. Hence in the sádhaná of self-surrender the ego is expanded, not contracted. In the Mahábhárata, when Duhshásana was pulling the sari of Draopadii, she was tightly holding the cloth to her body with one hand beseeching lord Krśńa with the other. “Oh! My lord, save me!” But the Lord did not then come forward to save her from shame. When Draopadii found no means of escape, she then released her hold on the cloth and appealed to the Lord most piteously with both hands out-stretched, crying, “O Lord, I surrender my all to you. Do what you think is best”. And the Lord immediately rescued her. That is why I say that you will have to dedicate yourselves to His feet wholly and unreservedly. You will earn godliness in proportion to the extent that you surrender yourselves, and finally, after merging that acquired godliness of yours in His Entity, you will attain eternal bliss." (Subháśita Saḿgraha Part-3)

After listening to Baba's teaching, the margii became inspired and she asked if there was anything more on this topic.

IDEATION IS THE MAIN THING

Acaryaji also told that in one Acarya meeting Baba has given one special explanation. Baba was telling how one Dada had brought Him a gift or offering and then Baba Himself brought that very item out from His pocket.

Then Baba explained that material things have two values. The first was economic value, but Baba quickly added that no matter how much economic worth it has, that does not have any value in the realm of spirituality - in the devotional sphere. So only one value counts - and that is with how much love and affection that material offering was made. I.e. What was the ideation behind that offering. So if someone offers something physical then the quantum of love associated with that offering is the main thing. Here is another explanation.

If the item offered however is 100 US dollars but the feeling is negligible or nil - since the offering was made for show only - or for name and fame only, then lacking any proper ideation, that offering is zero.

And the other side is that if one devotee did not bring anything and did not give anything physically to give to Baba, but with deep feeling in the heart that sadhaka is offering something mentally, then that has full value.

SUMMARY

Here is the review:

#1: If a material offering is made to Parama Purusa devoid of spiritual ideation and sweet feeling then that offering has zero value, no matter how costly it is.

#2: If a physical offering is made accompanied by proper ideation and heartfelt feeling, the quantum of feeling is the aspect that has value. The money or that cost of the material offering has no value.

#3: If a person is offering an inexpensive object that is accompanied by deep devotional feeling, then that is everything.

So the degree of heart-felt love for Parama Purusa is the key ingredient.

FOUR CASE SCENARIOS OF OFFERING

AND HOW MUCH BENEFIT THEY GOT

Thus suppose someone has offered an item that costs $100,000 to the Lord, but that offering was made without an iota of devotional feeling for Parama Purusa - zero percent. Just that person made that offering for public show - i.e. to brag around town so others would think he was a great devotee. He did it as a ploy to garner respect. That person does not have any reverence for Parama Purusa. So that offering had no value; thus, he did not receive any benefit.

The next person was not quite as wealthy in the material sphere. That person could only offer $2,000, and he made that offering with 5% of devotional feeling for the Parama Purusa. In that case that worshiper got 5% percent benefit.

Then there was a university student of little means. That student could only offer 1 penny's worth of physical wealth to Parama Purusa, but he made that offering with 90% devotion & reverence for the Lord. Then that offering is highly significant and Parama Purusa showered 90% benefit upon that student.

Finally there was a bhatka did not offer any physical objects or material wealth to Parama Pursa. But with deep devotional feeling he thought, "O' my Lord, I am offering all the loving expression of my heart and mind unto You - whatever I have please accept it." That offering was made with 100% devotional feeling and surrender to Parama Purusa. In that case, then and there, Parama Purusa accepted that offering and poured 100% benefit on that sadhaka.

THE COMMON THEME

The common theme throughout is that physical wealth and material offerings have zero value in and of themselves. Parama Purusa does not count those things. He only sees how much devotion a person has for Him. On that basis He showers His grace. Or, one can say, people realise His grace because ultimately He showers His grace on all. Some get drenched, otherwise not.

The key point is that only one's devotional feeling counts. That is all that Parama Purusa values - not anything else.

But humans are emotional beings and they want to give something material. And that is fine to do. But one should know the inner science. Sometimes by giving material things one gets satisfaction. For that reason devotees like to offer something. But that material offering should be utilised in the service of the needy.

The final point is this: Competing in the material sphere to offer grand gifts to the Lord, as happens in the dogmatic religions, is not the way in Ananda Marga. Parama Purusa weighs only 1 criteria: How much devotion one has for Him. All other factors are meaningless. Social position, knowledge, physical wealth up to the peak of the the Himalayas, Olympic gold medals, external beauty, post, PHd in hundreds of subjects - all these things do not count for anything in the eyes of the Lord. Parama Purusa only cares about how much heart-felt devotion a sadhaka has for Him.

That is the teaching Baba has given in that very acarya meeting: The value of the offering is based on one's devotional feeling for Parama Purusa, not the mundane worth of any particular object.

These following quotes lead in this same direction.

Baba says, "Parama Puruśa only values the inner thoughts and feelings of human beings. He is omniscient, forever watching throughout the creation those who are meditating upon Him with undivided attention, and those who have been patiently waiting with an unwavering mind to realize Him." (Ananda Marga Philosophy - 5, Integral and Non-Integral Outlook)

And this same idea, Baba has beautifully expressed in one Hindi discourse given in Saharsa. There Baba discusses how Parama Purusa does not regard a person for their wealth and monetary worth, rather He sees how much devotion they have in their heart.

“कोई आदमी बीस subject में M.A. बन गया, महामहोपाध्याय पण्डित बन गया, तो “ऊँचे दर्ज़े के हैं”, सो बात नहीं है | अपढ़ आदमी भी ऊपर उठ जा सकते हैं, और महापण्डित भी नीचे रह जा सकते हैं | यहाँ परमात्मा विद्या तथा बुद्धि के अनुसार विचार नहीं करते हैं | वे तराजू में तौलते हैं—किनमें कितनी मुहब्बत है |” (27 Jun 80 Saharsa; published Subhasita Samgraha- 14, chap 9)

MORE OF BABA'S TEACHINGS

Baba says, "Surrender all one's mental colour to Parama Purus'a, and thus free oneself from the bondage." (Namami Krsnasundaram)

“O Lord, Thou art the creator of this universe. This universe is full of gems and jewels. So do You require anything from a poor man like me? Nothing. All the gems and jewels, everything, all the wealth of the world, belongs to You. And Your grhińii, Your spouse, is Mahámáyá. She is Your spouse, and according to Your order and desire She will supply You with anything. In Nagpur You may say, ‘Oh, Mahámáyá, I want a mango,’ and then and there it will be furnished. Mahámáyá is Your spouse, so there cannot be any want, there cannot be any shortage in Your store. So what shall I offer to Thee? I have heard that Your big devotees, by their strong devotion and love for You, have snatched away Your Mind, have taken away Your Mind. I am not a big devotee. The big devotees have taken away Your Mind. You have lost Your Mind. So there is a shortage of one thing, a shortage of mind. But Lord, You needn’t be disappointed. I have a mind with me – take that mind. I offer it to Thee.”

“Tava dravyam Jagatguro Tubhyameva samarpaye.”

“Everything of mine, along with my mind, is offered at Your altar. Please oblige and accept it.” (Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3, Pranama Mantra)

at His lotus feet,
Satyendra

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"Ekla' a'ma'y phele kotha'y gele cale..."   P.S. 1326

Purport:

O' Parama Purusa, by Your grace I have deep longing for You, but You have just cast me aside, thrown me away, and left me all alone. O' Baba, to which far distant land have You gone.  Baba, why were You remaining side by side together along with me all those days and why now without revealing anything You just left. Why like this? What is this divine game of Yours?  O' Parama Purusa why have You secretly left - the tree which You have planted is now full of flowers and fruits. The tune which I practiced is still resonating in my mind, in my heart - always, all the time.

Baba, I was shivering from that biting, bone-chilling, cold, northern wind when You came and blessed me that Your divine warm touch. That gave such a  soothing balm in my heart. That memory is still coming in my mind. In my bad days when I was feeling completely lost and alone, that very time You gave me shelter; You graciously lifted me up from the dust and place me on Your Lap. That scene still is imprinted in my mind.

Baba, even today the warm, southern breeze of Your sweet touch is vibrating my whole existence. In the mind, it is coming in the shade of the very well-tended madhavii garden. Baba, I and You were there and You left me alone, where have You gone.

O' Parama Purusa I am still longing for You and counting the days. Baba, please come...