How To Remove Misery From Your Life

To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: J_deva@markwebmail....
Subject: How To Remove Misery From Your Life
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:23:01 -0000

Baba

This entire email is composed of 3 parts:
(1) Posting: How To Remove Misery From Your Life ;
(2)  Trailer Quote: True Colour Comes Out;

(3) Prabhat Samgiita #2239; 

Each section is demarcated by asterisks (***).

== HOW TO REMOVE MISERY FROM LIFE ==

Namaskar,
In the life of every person and in the history of every community and land, there are deeply dark aspects and painful memories, filled with despair, bloodshed, and untold suffering. One can spend a lifetime plunging themselves into those woes of misfortune and angst.

VERY COMMON ON THE PERSONAL LEVEL

YET BABA HAS GIVEN THE REMEDY

Actually, this act of looking to the past is such a common human phenomenon. On a daily basis, people tend to review past events - especially painful ones. They think how they lost their prestige at their job, or how their spouse left them, or about their parent who passed away. There are countless memories people bring into the mind which disturb their psyche. They actively do this - it becomes their habit. Yet it drastically undermines their well-being.

That is why Baba's guideline is: Do not engage in looking into the past and recollecting those scenes which adversely affect the mind. To indulge in such type of dark thinking is not at all beneficial. It does not bear any fruit - neither for an individual nor the collective humanity.

On the personal level, Baba reminds us that we should suffuse the mind in spiritual thought and refrain from recounting past woes.

So, on the individual plane, one should strive to channelize the mind towards a pure and positive ideation, and not let the mind get caught up in the losses and pains of the past. By focusing the mind on Him, it will set the mind on the right course.

DARK MOMENTS:

BABA'S REMEDY ON COLLECTIVE LIFE

And on the collective level, in His revolutionary way, Baba has ensured that our Ananda Marga will always rise above the dark side of life.

In His discourse, 'Our Social Treatise', Baba says the following about our Ananda Marga social system and way of life.

"[That which is true] has been accepted, and the dark aspects of life have not been given any scope to flourish." (1)

Let's take a moment to investigate what Baba means by the above statement and see how this practically benefits both individuals and whole communities.

COLLECTIVE HISTORY:

DARK ASPECTS ARE FAR LEARNING NOT FOR RELIVING

When Baba discusses the division of India, Baba pointedly analyses the defects of Gandhi's approach and warns how we should never fall prey to communal sentiments. That is the main emphasis and teaching point.

So on the point of history, Baba's guideline is to briefly look back, learn from those past mistakes so that they are not repeated, and move ahead in the proper direction.

In contrast, so many groups and communities indulge in harping about the past such that they become crippled and unable to move ahead. Instead they just invite frustration, anger, and hate.

African American history is taught in such a way that nearly every hateful and gory incident involving slavery has been regurgitated and given new life wherein some submerge their mind with anger and even blame whites of today for crimes committed generations ago.

Such an approach undermines our African-American (i.e. Black American) community and hinders the growth of our brothers and sisters. By this way, those frustrations live on and on, racism increases, and the flames of hatred burn high into the sky.

Baba's approach is this: Yes, slavery happened; yes, it was a slur on the humanity; and now a new era has come so we should learn from the past and move on, and not get caught up in drowning the mind in those dark moments.

Jewish history also often involves overturning each and every stone and analysing the exact degree to which Jews have suffered. They uncover every minute detail and relive it in such a way that all those torments get dug up and take on a life of their own - infesting the heart and minds of today's people.

And indeed, this is the way nearly all peoples recount their history. In such cases, whole communities get submerged in the hurtful memories and dark aspects of life. That becomes their living reality for the present as they bear the grudges of generations ago.

But this fateful approach does not bode well for the humanity. Rather than learning from the past, people get caught up in it, thereby shackling themselves with those dark moments.

A DELICATE BALANCE

That is why Baba distinctly opposes this type of degrading outlook on life, and has instead given a whole new way for our Marga to march ahead where we learn from the past yet move forward with an optimistic outlook. This is the delicate and dharmic balance which we must maintain.

HISTORY WAS DISCARDED OUTRIGHT

In India - under the teachings of Shankaracarya - history was discarded outright. There was no record kept by the people. Because of this the same mistakes and errors were repeated over and over again. And ultimately, the history of India was recorded by outsiders. This is one extreme.

And the other extreme is what we see happening with the Jews and blacks in the US where there is a perpetual manner of recounting dark episodes of history over and over again, without rest. In that case, those communities get caught up in the horrors and sufferings of the past.

Hence a delicate balance is needed where we look back approximately 1% of the time, i.e. just enough to learn and track our course. Then the remaining 99% of the time should be aimed to forward movement. This is the ideal way to use history and foster a healthy outlook.

And that is neatly reflected in Baba's below teaching.

Baba says, "[That which is true] has been accepted, and the dark aspects of life have not been given any scope to flourish." (2)

WHY PEOPLE SUFFER IN PERSONAL LIFE

While in our social life or collective life, it is important to look back and learn from history.

One must be extremely careful not to drown in old memories. One must not indulge in this way - a human being must look forward.

For instance, if one loses $100 or $100,000, then one must not think back again and again on this loss. In that case, life will be terrible - miserable. Yet many people fall into this thought cycle - always reliving the difficulties past. That is not healthy in individual life.

This happens now just with the loss of money, but with any type of painful memory or unfortunate occurrence. People churn those thoughts again and again: "I messed up at work", "My sister died in that accident", "The storm destroyed my property", and verily there are so many horrible memories that people harbour. This only invites more pain and compounds the difficulty.

REINFORCING THOSE PAINFUL MEMORIES

Yet in the west, entire schools of counseling, psycho-therapy, and support groups are based on reliving old habits and past harms. Whether the problem be child abuse, alcohol addition, or any other malady or abuse, many western approaches indulge in talking about those pains - daily, weekly, monthly - thereby reinforcing those painful memories in the mind. Instead of moving beyond those tragic incidents by redirecting the mind towards a more positive or sentient engagement, those old horrors become the dominant aspect of one's present existence. This should be avoided at all costs. Key steps should be taken to break that thought cycle and redirect the mind toward sentient and psycho-spiritual pursuits.

IN ANANDA MARGA LIFE MOVES FORWARD IN A BRIGHT WAY

Baba's world view is wholly positive in nature.

"Ánandáddhyeva khalvimáni bhútáni jáyante. Ánandena játáni jiivanti. Ánandaḿ prayantyabhi saḿvishanti"

"This quinquelemental world has been born out of bliss, is being maintained in bliss and into sacred bliss it will melt." (3)

By infusing this spirit into the life of each and every human being, people are then able to embrace a positive outlook on life.

Ananda Marga steers clear from the Christian dogma that this world was born out of sin, such that people become tied and bound by that sinful disease.

Rather in Ananda Marga, we perpetually celebrate the finer moments of human existence and embrace the subtler aspects of human life. This is reflected by our view on history, our daily outlook, and by our festivals and holidays.

Each and every religion has days where they mourn for the hell that took place in the past, rekindling those dark and gory memories.

But Baba does not appreciate that humans should live life in such a bleak way, always plunging oneself in the misfortune of the past. That is why in Ananda Marga, each and every festival is based on merriment and joy.

"The sweetness of a festival brings new joy and vigour in life...'an occasion which gives human beings fresh inspiration to live a new life'." (4)

Even on the point of remembering those who gave their life for dharma, we remember their glory and honor them all on the same day, once a year on Dadhicii Divas. Otherwise each and every day would become a time to mourn for the fallen and so many shrines would be erected, always reminding the people of that fateful or sad moment.

REMEMBERING THOSE WHO DIED

In our personal lives, we live on this earth with so many friends and family. And human beings are mortal. Naturally then we will know so many who die such that we can pass our days on this earth mourning those losses again and again, day in & day out.

To counteract this human tendency, Baba has given that the period of mourning should be for a limited number of days and then one should then move ahead in a bright new way.

He does not want that on the individual level we should also get stuck in the mire and sorrow of the past.

Unfortunately in today's society, not only do people mourn the deceased year after year, reliving those sad moments. So many dark aspects get reported on over and over again and fill people's mental plate.

SINKING ONESELF IN THE FALSE AND DARK NATURE

As margiis, our revolutionary approach is to fill the world with positive ideas and optimism.

Unfortunately some in our Marga have gone so far as to reduce Parama Purusa Himself to being an ordinary mortal and they are intent on mourning the occasion again and again on Oct 21, calling it "mahaprayan". This is also an example of allowing the darkened aspects of life to flourish - which Baba does not approve.

When Baba Himself is the Parama Purusa and is that eternal entity who remain with us always in our hearts, then where is there meaning or value in sinking oneself in the false and dark nature of so-called mahaprayan. Our ideal is to remember how Baba is with us each and every moment and not get lost in the dogmatic notion that He is gone.

So those who give indulgence to mahaprayan dogma invite a personal tragedy. With their physical eye they fail to see Baba so they think He is no longer, but the proper method is to look with the inner, spiritual eye and remember that He is always eternally present. Those who fail to embrace this divine truth invite personal tragedy and loss in their lives. That is the real danger surrounding so-called mahaprayan.

SUMMARY

When Baba has come and graciously blessed us with all the guidelines for how to lead a dharmic life and when He Himself remains in the heart always, then truly we are fortunate. Baba has given the teaching how to regard and utilize history, both in collective life and individual life. By that way we can learn and grow - and not get caught up in the dark moments of the past. At the same time, He has given scope for setting the mind on the Supreme Goal, and moving ahead in life, always thinking of Him.

BABA'S TEACHINGS

   "“O mendicant, look and see. Water is entering the boat that you have boarded in the hopes of crossing to the other side of the river. So get rid of that water right away.” Sinca bhikkhu imaḿ návaḿ. If you get rid of the water your boat’s load will be lightened. Sittá te lahu messyati. A human being’s burden grows along with the past...For example, perhaps you are thinking: once you were eating rich, delicious and costly foods such as háluyápuri, murg-mashallam, namkiin poláo – this is all the burden of the past... Buddha warned his mendicants who were thirsty for liberation: O mendicants, lighten the burden that lies before you."

Yassa pure ca paccha ca majjhe ca natthi kincanam';
Akincanam' ana'da'nam' tamaham' vru'mi Bra'hman'am'.

“That person who does not carry any burden...is a true bráhmańa.”  (5)

DO NOT LOOK BACK

"I will call that person a Brahman whose mind does not run after any colour, who is neither obsessed by colour-laden thoughts of the past...One must free the mind from the influence of all colours." (6)

"O sádhaka! You must forget all your past deeds, all your tales of glory or ignominy, from the memorable moment you start moving on the path of sádhaná or intuitional practice. Do not look back: you have eyes in the front of your head. As indispensable as it is to be cautious and careful, so that the self-created tornado propelling you forward does not dash you down to the ground to ensure your safe journey ahead, you may sometimes throw back a cursory glance and no more." (7)

"Whatever be the consequence of your past deeds, your upliftment is guaranteed, if you have unflagging zeal to attain Brahma. Do not look back, look forward. Never take any limited material object for your worship. Accept only the loftiest entity for your contemplation. If your love for Him is genuine, you will ever remain in an Elysian exuberance. Pain will then mean nothing to you, nor will happiness either. When one’s movement is towards the Great, when one’s ardour is only for the Great, it is called Prema or Divine Love." (8)

Namaskar,
At His lotus feet,
Jiivendra


REFERENCES:
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 16
2. Prout in a Nutshell - 16
3. Namami Krsnasundaram
4. A Few Problems Solved - 5
5. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 9, The Source of Internal Stamina
6. Namami Krsnasundaram, Disc #24
7. Subhasita Samgraha - 4, The Chariot and the Charioteer
8. Subhasita Samgraha - 3

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True Colour Comes Out

"The greatest quality of a person at a meeting or debate is the capacity to convince others. The highest quality in the battlefield is 'yudhi vikramam', or valor in the battle. While in danger, one's great quality is patience." (Ananda Vacanamrtam - 4)

When in danger, some become paranoid and some remain patient. Depending upon their reaction, they reveal their weakness or their greatness. If when danger arrives one becomes paranoid or loses their wits, they cannot do anything - they cannot solve the problem. Rather they become a liability. Then they are not a dharmika as they are missing even the first point of dharma - i.e. dhrti  (patience).

In contrast, if when in grave danger one's rational brain is still functioning then that person a is dharmika.

Note: Here it does not mean if someone else's house burns down and you keep calm, then you are a dharmika. That is not the idea. Rather, the point is to keep your rational mind functioning when your own house is burning down. If you can manage to keep your own mind balanced in a dangerous situation, you can resolve that issue in the best way, according to circumstances.

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**** Here begins the Prabhat Samgiita ****

"Ya'ra' toma'y bha'laba'se, toma'r tarei kande ha'se..." (PS 2239)

Purport:

Baba, those who are loving You, those who are smiling and crying and dancing in Your rhythm, in their ears may my message be heard.

In my mind I have deep reverence and honor for them. Their greatness and dedication I will always remember. For such great people I move around here and there to have their proximity.

Such great persons are my own. For them my life is for. My colorful dreams take shape by coming in the contact of such great personalities. Baba those who are dancing in Your cosmic rhythm and moving according to Your dictates, such great devotees are the vanguards. And they are venerable for me...