From: "Manoj"
Subject: Current Affairs: AMPS - Group Fighting - Causes & Solutions #1
To: AM-GLOBAL
Baba
~ Part 1 ~
Namaskar,
When Parama Purusa comes in the form of Mahasambhuti, all His engagements in that form come within the scope of "Naraliila of Parama Purusa". Many things He does people don't understand - they do not know the reason. That's why those types of events are called "liila". The reasons of which are known to Him only. So Parama Purusa is infinite and His liila is also infinite.
This is also one of His liilas: On one side in the scriptures He has written that He lives with devotees. That is true. But there is another side to the story as well.
Lord Shiva came and then Lord Krsna came. In each of these circumstances, Mahasambhuti engaged with various types of people. Some were very good; some were normal. One common theme was that those working with Him thought that they had higher realization of and greater proximity with the Lord.
The same thing happened in Baba's time as well.
Such persons working around Mahasambhuti thought that they are most close to Him. Why did they think like this? Because they were in close physical proximity to Parama Purusa. For this reason, they thought they were psycho-spiritually close as well.
WAYS HE GIVES HINT OF HIS LIILA
In His divine liila, Baba reveals His teachings in various ways: Through stories, humor, Prabhat Samgiita, and discourses etc. Through these media, He reveals His inner thoughts in various ways.
Baba has also given this following Prabhat Samgiita which demonstrates that those physically close may not have been very close in other realms.
"Keu ka'che peyeo cinate na're, dure thekeo cene..." (Prabhata Samgiita 3286)
By getting physically close they do not recognize Him, whereas some from even distance recognize His magnanimity. And some by getting His sweet touch even, they drown in staticity. And some without knowing, they unknowingly believe fully in His greatness. O' my Lord, You are doing so many things for me. You are filling my heart with the nectar. I am so unfortunate that after all this grace I do not recognize You and remain oblivious. - PS #3286
Clearly this song - "Keu ka'che peyeo" - gives this message that living physically close to Parama Purusa is not the defining quality of one's devotional stature or closeness with Parama Purusa. Living in His physical proximity does not mean one is psycho-spiritually close. Many lived physically close to Mahasambhuti, yet they remain far from Him. In contrast, many live physically far, but keep Him in their hearts.
Innumerable examples of this can be given. We can determine one's true relation with Mahasambuti by examining a person's conduct. This formula applies to those who were living physically close to Lord Shiva, Lord Krsna or Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. By examining their conduct, we can undertand their real proximity to Parama Purusa.
We know the history of those in the lineage of Lord Krsna, His family the Jadu (Yadava) dynasty. They killed themselves with their blindness. They were all proud, to belong to the same lineage and part of Lord Krsna's family, but by their actions we can understand that they were not truly close with Lord Krsna. They were not close psycho-spiritually.
The history is that after the Maha'bharat was over, the Yadavas - family members and disciples of Krsna - had nothing to do other than to drink wine and enjoy materially. And one day under the spell of wine they started attacking and killing each other. A group conflict erupted and everyone was killed.
Here below Baba describes how the Yadavas killed each other.
"In the Jadu dynasty during the time of the Mahabharata ... Balaram was the elder brother of Krs'n'a and the king of the Jadu dynasty... Balaram was also an alcoholic. [And when Balaram and the Jadu family drank at one gathering]. The resulting drunkenness caused people to quarrel amongst themselves. Eventually they killed each other at Prabhash Tiirtha and the Jadu dynasty was destroyed." (Prout in a Nutshell - 15, p. 62)
"When at last the Yaduvamshii [Jadu Dynasty] were destroyed in Prabhasa Tiirtha, Krśńa did not help them; rather He said that they were immoral and He could not support them." (Discourses on the Mahabharata, Lord Krśńa's Unique Approach)
Please look into this following example about those who were working along with Baba as a WT, or in any type of working relation. They were thinking they are most close. To remove their illusion, one day Baba told about the "Ringing Bell" story. (If you do not know this story then speak with senior margiis or acaryas.)
We have seen downfall of those who were in close physical proximity to Baba. And we will go on seeing. Because, ego is the worst enemy.
One can cite the name of Pranay Kumar Chatterjee, the first GS of Ananda Marga. And then Vishokananda, the first PA. Then Madhavananda, and so many such persons. These type of events are not new. Earlier in the Jamalpur days, many persons had this type of vanity - that they were close. Later on their glory became one with the dust.
Baba says, "Aham'ka'rah patanasya mu'lam" ["Pride goeth before a fall"]. (Namah Shivaya Shantaya)
So at the time of Lord Krsna, the Yadavas drank, became intoxicated, and destroyed themselves.
Now in Ananda Marga we are seeing a similar scene: Those at the top are drunk with power. Groups have been formed and lines have been drawn. Both the sides are full of vanity. With whatever power and position they have, they are trying to root out others. They are on the attack for more power. They can do anything and everything for their own agenda, and wholly overlook ideological guidelines which Baba has given. Looking back at the history of what happened to the Jadu dynasty, then we have to consider the outcome. In the same are these group leaders going to meet a similar fate?
"They killed each other at Prabhash Tiirtha and the Jadu dynasty was destroyed. People who follow a path which is devoid of ideology are bound to meet the same fate. Eventually they will destroy themselves by their infighting... Consequently different groups are formed. We see this situation today." (Prout in a Nutshell - 15, p.62)
I recognize that some difficult challenges may be on the horizon. But by the following Baba's blessing, I never feel pessimistic. I know that the future is bright.
Baba says,"There are some people who are pessimistic. They say that the society around us is very bleak, that it has no expression of vitality and that it seems that everyone is in a deep slumber. Pessimists say this because they have never made any detailed study of human history, nor do they care to. Had they done so, they would certainly be optimistic, because if they had looked carefully at the symptoms of pause, they would have realized that significant preparations were being made for the subsequent phase of speed. So under no circumstances should human beings be pessimistic. That is why I am always an incorrigible optimist, because I know that optimism is life." (Prout in a Nutshell - 7, p.67)
Baba says, "We shall no longer remain divided into various gotras, and erect artificial walls of separation among ourselves. Smashing all these barriers, we shall all sit and eat and drink together in the same compound, bound by the ties of one human family." (Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Disc: 2)
BABA SAYS IN ORDER TO HAVE UNITY THE FORMULA IS...
"Unity among the members of any society or social structure is absolutely necessary, otherwise the structure will start disintegrating. Lack of unity among the members of society because of too much self-interest in the individual members, the formation of groups for economic or social advantage, and the lack of understanding of others, act not only to bring about the downfall of society, but also can wipe it out completely from the face of the earth. Instances of many groups and empires disappearing altogether are not rare in the little-known history of this world."
"The problem, therefore, is the preservation of unity in society. Unity in society will be ensured if it is possible to enthuse the members of society with the following: a common ideal, a casteless society, collective social functions, and no capital punishment." (A Few Problems Solved Part 7, Social Psychology)
A COMMON IDEAL
"A common ideal: It is often heard that a particular country was never so united as during war. This is partly due to love of one's motherland, but more importantly, it is due to all the individuals having a common ideal: facing the perils of war. This common ideal is, however, a very temporary phenomenon and disappears when the dangers of war diminish."
"In Ananda Marga the seed of a common ideal is sown from the very beginning of a child's life. At the age of five, when the child has acquired only a preliminary understanding of his or her surroundings, he or she is given the idea of Brahma [the Supreme Entity]. The entire society of Ananda Marga is thus founded on a common ideal or goal – Brahma. This foundation will never be lost like the dangers of war. Such an ideal will not disappear like the common ideal of facing the dangers of war; so the unity in a society founded on the ideal of Brahma will be everlasting." (A Few Problems Solved Part 7, Social Psychology)
In above His discourse "Social Psychology", Baba explains that four essential factors are needed to create unity.
Baba says, "Unity in society will be ensured if it is possible to enthuse the members of society with the following: a common ideal, a casteless society, collective social functions, and no capital punishment." (A Few Problems Solved - 7, Social Psychology)
Here we shall address the first aspect: A common ideal.
Prior to 1990, there was a common ideal. Everyone rallied around Parama Purusa - that was the unifying factor. There was a tangible do-or-die spirit for Guru. Armed with this common ideal, our Ananda Marga organisation stood as one monolithic structure.
After 1990, also, for the first few years there was a common ideal. All in Ananda Marga looked upon the communists as an enemy. In rallying against the communists, there was the presence of a common ideal. To the degree that this was present,the there was unity.
But that common ideal soon faded.
Thus, due to lack of a shared enemy and a lack of accepting Parama Purusa as a common ideal, (i.e. common patrimony or one family where Parama Purusa is the Father), the seeds of division crept in and two distinct groups were formed - each with their own agenda. The fracturing has continued ever since.
Essentially, the group in power is prone to splitting whereas the non-dominant group holds together because they are have shared ideal - i.e. rallying against the dominant side. And that is what we have seen in AMPS. The Ranchi camp is the dominant group but they have divided into various sub-factions: Rudrananda camp, Nigamananda sub-faction, and Ananda Giita group and others. B group has stayed as one body when they accepted H group as an enemy. When that ideal faded, their cohesiveness was lost.
This has led to the rise of infighting.
When Brahma is not the common ideal of all members of society, then there is no chance for unity. Without that common ideal, unity cannot last. A group may maintain unity temporarily based on having a common enemy. But when there is no common enemy then disunity occurs. For lasting unity there must be a common ideal.
Those who cannot understand this notion of a common ideal should think in this way. So long as Iran says that the US is an enemy, they keep unity. Similarly, Pakistan says India is the enemy and by that way they keep unity. And now, every country has this type of temporary unity and the world gets disunited. In the US, the various political parties united after 911 and then they disunited when they no longer had an enemy as a common ideal.
Margiis could be united easily by embracing Parama Purusa as Father. Nowadays unity is maintained in a particular group by embracing an enemy as a common ideal - but that is temporary as best. Further requisite points for achieving unity will be addressed in forthcoming letters.
"The entire society of Ananda Marga is thus founded on a common ideal or goal – Brahma. This foundation will never be lost like the dangers of war. Such an ideal will not disappear like the common ideal of facing the dangers of war; so the unity in a society founded on the ideal of Brahma will be everlasting." (A Few Problems Solved Part 7, Social Psychology)
Namaskar,
Sastaunga Pranam to Baba,
Manoj