Date: Sat, 05 Jan 2013 20:47:03
To:
am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Who Can Teach
From: Smita4466
@Versanet...>
Baba
== WHO CAN TEACH ==
Namaskar,
In the various religions, only select leaders are authorised to
teach and preach their edicts and codes. One must be a mullah, or
priest, or reverend, or rabi, or minister, or cleric, or pundit, or
some other religious official. There is no scope for the common
people to openly teach others. One must be a recognised or appointed
delegate of that religion.
WHO CAN TEACH AND WHO CANNOT TEACH
Unfortunately, one Dada who was born into such a tradition tried to
be bring this same faulty notion into Ananda Marga.
Some in our unit were involved in teaching others about Ananda
Marga, when that Dada intervened and stated that we should not do
this as we were "not qualified".
We were stunned to hear this and thought about what to do. We then
consulted with one very senior acarya and this letter reflects their
response. For those more prone towards philosophical dialog, here
are the essential questions:
1. Should we start teaching others about Ananda Marga only when we
get moksa, i.e. perfection?
2. Should we wait until we have been on the path 10 years before
teaching others; or should we wait until we become a wholetimer
before guiding others?
3. When can a general margii start teaching others about Ananda
Marga? When should a margii begin preaching the gospel of Ananda
Marga ideology?
Again, here it is not that anyone wants to be a "great" Ananda
Margii and give high-sounding talks to big audiences. That is not
the spirit of this inquiry. Merely with our own inner heart feeling,
a few of us were quietly sitting and talking to others about Ananda
Marga when that Dada came over and told us not to do like that.
WHAT ONE SHOULD TEACH
Only after consulting with a senior acarya, did everything become
clear. Here are the key points raised:
The bottom line is that it is the duty of each and every Ananda
Margii to start teaching others about Ananda Marga immediately. Even
the day a person is initiated they can, nay must, start doing
pracara with others.
Here is the support from Baba's teachings:
(A) SIXTEEN POINTS: It is the duty of every Ananda Margii to follow
16 Points and embedded within 16 Points is service or seva. As we
all know there are 4 types of seva in Ananda Marga: shudrocita seva,
ksatriyocita seva, vaeshyocita seva, and viprocita seva. And Baba
guides us that we, i.e. all margiis, are to perform all four types
of seva, including viprocita seva, which includes preaching the
ideals of Ananda Marga.
Baba says, "We can give joy to Parama Puruśa by serving His
creations – human beings, animals and plants – and this service will
be the best application of neo-humanism. This service can be done in
four ways – viprocita sevá (intellectual service), kśatriyocita sevá
(service of courage), vaeshyocita sevá (economic service) and
shudrocita sevá (manual service). None of these is inferior: we
cannot ignore any one of them. People should render service
according to their capacity. Those who like intellectual service,
can do that; those who like manual service, can do so. But it will
be best if all the four types are performed." (17 May 1982,
Calcutta)
In His above directive, Baba clearly tells that everyone - new and
senior margiis alike - are to engage in all kinds of seva including
teaching others about Ananda Marga philosophy and lifestyle.
Everyone must do this according to their capacity.
That means even a newly initiated margii can and should teach the
general public about kiirtan, or yama and niyama etc. To the degree
one is properly aware about Baba's teachings is the degree to which
they should teach others. Then they will be performing seva and
following 16 Points. That is Baba's mandate.
(B) THE ANANDA MARGA MISSION: Self-realisation & selfless
service - concerns each and every Ananda Margii.
Baba says, "Átmamokśárthaḿ jagaddhitáya ca – “Whatever one is to do
one is to do for átmamokśa – for his own liberation – and for the
elevation of the entire world, elevation of the entire human
society.” One is to do both these things" (Ananda Vacanamrtam-30)
Thus, here again Baba is directing each and every person in the
Marga to perform service - i.e. helping to care for and elevate all
beings. Upon entering into Ananda Marga, everyone must do this from
day 1. Baba does not say that one should do sadhana for ten years -
or after getting perfection, i.e. moksa - then one should start
doing service. It is not like that.
Rather from the very beginning every margii is to do sadhana and
perform service by preaching the ideals of dharma to others. So here
again Baba is mandating that every Ananda Margii must do AM pracara
and explain the tenets of Ananda Marga to others.
(C) IN ORDER TO GET MUKTI: In our Supreme Command too Baba tells
each and every Ananda Margii to teach others about dharma and
inspire them onto the path of spirituality.
"...It is the bounden duty of every Ananda Margii to endeavor to
bring all to the path of bliss. Verily is this a part and parcel of
sadhana, to lead others along the path of righteousness." (Supreme
Command)
Thus, by Baba's teaching in the Supreme Command, it is clear that
all margiis - young or old, male or female etc - must embark on
teaching others about Ananda Marga ideals.
ALL MUST PREACH THE GOSPEL OF ANANDA MARGA
Through His mandates of Sixteen Points, by His mission statement
(Átmamokśárthaḿ jagaddhitáya ca), and by the Supreme Command, it is
quite clear that every Ananda Margii should teach others about
Ananda Marga ideals from the very beginning. To delay this is to go
against Guru's teachings. No one should have any complex about this
nor should this point be shrouded in confusion. All - I repeat all -
are to teach others about the principles of Ananda Marga.
IGNORANT ACARYAS:
NO DADA CAN BAR YOU FROM TEACHING
Thus, if you or anyone in your unit is sincerely teaching others
about Ananda Marga philosophy and a Dada tells you that you are "too
new", or "not senior enough", or "not smart enough" etc, then just
inform that Wt that Baba's guideline is that, "I must perform all 4
sevas each and every day and that includes teaching others about
Ananda Marga ideology, according to the level of my own knowledge
base."
So no Dada can give any lame excuse and prohibit any margii - new or
old - from guiding others on spiritual life and Ananda Marga ideals.
Actually, it is the dogmatic religions that preach how lay / family
people cannot teach the tenets. In Christianity only the priest can
do; in Islam, only the mullah can do; and in Hinduism only the
pundits can do. They are the only ones to preach the gospel of their
religion - not the common people. So Ananda Marga is unique. Baba
says that all can and should do.
Unfortunately some ignorant Wts want to introduce religious dogmas
into our Ananda Marga society by stating that only the priest class
can guide others. They just want to "copy & paste" such dogmas
into our Ananda Marga.
But we must remember such dogmas are hellish.
Baba says, "These [common] people were deprived of the right to
study the Vedas. The Antyaja Shúdras, if they even heard the Vedic
chants, or the controlling Vedic mantra aum, or the “Savitr Rk”
mantra, would be committing a great sin and molten lead would be
poured into their ears so that their hearing would be destroyed
forever. Nor were women, however educated, allowed to hear such
sacred chants." (Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Disc: 5)
HOW "DON'T TEACH" DOGMA STARTED
Indeed in those days of old, what to speak of not allowing the
common people to preach the philosophy, they would not even allow
the common people to learn it. If general citizens came in contact
with those teachings they would be tortured and shunned - i.e.
scarred for life. That was the way those dogmatic religions operated
- and still today that is their modus operendi. They feel that
mantras or prayers can only be solemnized when they are recited by
priests etc. According to bhagavad dharma, there is no 3rd person
between the devotee and God, but in such religions, the priest /
mullah etc is the so-called intermediary. Here the point is that in
the dogmatic religions, only the priest is able pass on religious
knowledge, not anyone else.
Tragically, now some Dadas are leaning in this direction and not
allowing margiis to teach the philosophy to others. We have to
oppose such Dadas. When any Dada is forbidding a margii to
propagate the gospel of Ananda Marga or neo-humanism, we should
alarm everyone about that Dada and unmask their name and address.
THE SCENE AT DHARMACAKRA
In dharmacakra, many think that after meditation then only a wt
should stand up and explain Baba's teachings and Ananda Marga books.
It happens that even a wt not familiar with a topic will speak about
it anyway; yet, there may be a margii present in the room who knows
far more on that subject. But the margii is overlooked because some
think that only those in WT dress should speak to Baba's teachings.
A few dadas feel that this is their due honour: Since they have the
dress then only they can speak in public. This dogma has been
brought into Ananda Marga from the various religions.
Who does not know that in the black pages of history before the
invention of the printing press, the bible was not allowed to be
copied and given to anyone. The common people did not have access to
it at all. Finally, when the printing press came along the pope did
not permit the bible to be printed and distributed. This went on for
some time. And still today the Koran (Quran) cannot be translated.
It can only appear in Arabic. Those who want to know about it must
consult a mullah. This is the way they keep their dogma in tact.
Similarly, in Ananda Marga, some think that our scriptures should
only be read by acaryas. This is the dogma they want to impose.
Ananda Marga is extremely different from the dogmatic religions.
Baba has blessed us with a revolutionary approach where all have the
moral duty to preach and teach the tenets of Ananda Marga.
Unfortunately, some Dadas puffed up with vanity feel that only they
should talk about dharma. They want everyone to listen to them. That
is what their ego tells them. So they feel threatened if a margii
sincerely engages in talks about Ananda Marga philosophy with
others.
But again, Baba's mandate is clear and pointed: Every initiated
person in Ananda Marga must preach and teach others about our AM way
of life.
WHAT ONE SHOULD NOT TEACH
Now that it is clear that it is the duty of every Ananda Margii to
perform service and teach others about the philosophy and ideals of
Ananda Marga, there are a few easy points to keep in mind.
1) One must not teach others about the lessons of sadhana unless one
is a tattvika, or acarya etc.
2) One should not teach aspects of Baba's teachings that they
themselves are not adequately familiar with. If one does this then
two negative results will arise. Firstly, one will spread faulty
explanations and confuse others; and secondly, the person you are
trying to teach will lose faith in you.
3) Certainly though, each and every Ananda Margii knows something
about Ananda Mara ideals. It may be even the most basic of
principles or something complex; regardless, what you know you
should teach those ideas to others. That is how society grows.
So it is important to educate oneself about Ananda Marga ideals and
consult Baba's discourses by reading Ananda Marga books. And side by
side one should practice.
Indeed, every Ananda Margii should be eager and ready to preach
Baba's gospel to any and all who are interested. And even if they
are not interested, we should try and inspire them.
Margiis can teach our kiirtan mantra to anyone. We can teach them to
sing internally or externally.
DESIRING PRAISE ETC IS ANTI-LIBERATION
Here is another dynamic to be aware of when preaching Ananda Marga
ideals.
Some sincere margiis start doing pracara and mistakenly think that
because they are doing dharmic work then people should appreciate
them. This goes against our main spiritual ethic and the outcome is
disastrous. If a person just thinks about their own self and their
own quality, then their mind becomes smaller and smaller. In that
case, the goal is not Parama Purusa, but their own unit self. This
is the absolute wrong way to proceed - it is the path of
degeneration.
Another distinct drawback is that if people are not appreciating
you, then you feel there is no point in doing the work and you may
drop it entirely. Furthermore, if anyone criticises you then you
will feel crushed and dejected, whether or not that criticism is
valid or not.
Plus, some opportunists might praise you to the sky in order to
exploit you and get you to attend to their agenda. These are the
pitfalls of getting caught up in praise and censure.
The best is for every sadhaka to serve other and propagate AM
ideals, thinking that they are doing everything for Parama Purusa -
to please Him.
Then if someone opposes or praises you it does not matter. Your mind
will remain balanced and you will not veer from your course. Why?
Because you are doing to serve Parama Purusa, not to garner praise
etc. Here the whole idea is that one should not be a slave of praise
or censure. Then one cannot fulfill their duty on this earth.
Those who do pracara dharma with idea that they are serving Parama
Purusa never get frustrated by others' negative comments. That is
the expression of real devotion. And such persons do not anticipate
that others should praise them because they are doing a great job.
Whenever a person believes in their heart that it is their duty to
do a particular task then they do not expect that people should
praise them. For example, when a mother is caring for her very small
infant, then that mother does not care if the neighbor praises her
or not.
Similarly, a good sadhaka will preach the gospel of Ananda Marga
without any expectation of praise and without any concern for
censure. One will fulfill this blessed duty to please Parama Purusa.
Baba says, "Nindantu niitinipuńáh yadi vá stuvantu: “If I am too
concerned with those who praise or censure me, I will not find time
to do my real work. As I have come to this world only for a short
period, my only concern should be to keep on doing the duty the Lord
has assigned to me. And while doing this allotted duty, I should
remember that I belong to Parama Puruśa. I have come form Him, and I
will have to return to Him – and to do that, I must complete my
allotted duty.” (Subhasita Samgraha, part 12)
Baba says, "Regarding those who are likely to create obstacles in
your path – let them do so. You should remember that those who are
the actual pioneers, the real vanguard of the society, are always a
microscopic minority, but it is they who are destined to be
victorious. Those who once opposed, or are now opposing or will
oppose in the future, will in the future admit: “Yes, we are now
driving our vehicle safely and comfortably along the very path which
that vanguard once opened by clearing the jungle.” This means that
those who cleared the obstacles in the beginning will later be
recognized as pioneers. The funny thing is this, that people do not
give recognition at the time it is due. This is the natural law. And
at the same time you should also remember this simple truth: that in
a jungle the number of tigers and lions is always few; the jackals
far outnumber them. Yet in the jungle the tigers and lions reign
supreme, not the jackals. The jackals are sure to howl, that is
their nature; but the tigers and lions will not be frightened."
(Ananda Vacanamrtam-6)
Namaskar,
at lotus feet of the Divine Entity,
Smita
Note 1: IMPORTANT PROVERB
One should never forget that human life evolves gradually from
animal life in the cosmic cycle of brahmacakra. Human beings were
animals in the past and those propensities are still dominant in
many of our fellow human beings. For this reason some people feel
the need to oppose good work. If we all keep this in mind then one
will not get affected when others are opposing your righteous deeds.
Always remember this proverb: No good deed goes unpunished. The
sense is that certain notorious people want to abuse you because
their own prestige is at stake. But pay no mind to them, go on
propagating the ideals of dharma, always singing Baba's name.