Baba Story: "Baba is as Pure as the Ganges"

Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2013 22:05:36 -0000
To: AM-GLOBAL
From: "Mukunda Deva"
Subject: Baba Story: "Baba is as Pure as the Ganges"

This entire email is composed of 3 parts:
(1) Prabhat Samgiita #3857;
(2) Posting: Baba Story: "Baba is as Pure as the Ganges"
(3) Trailer Quote: Children Thus Learn Obstinacy From Their Elders

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

== BABA STORY: "BABA IS AS PURE AS THE GANGES" ==

Namaskar,
Baba has come to Muzafarrapur to give darshan. The year is 1956 and I am a very new margii. I am seeing Him for the very first time. I am so enchanted by His presence - my mind is fully ensconced in His look and charm. I am not even comprehending what He is saying as my analytical mind is not functioning at all. All I know is that the sound of His voice sounds very beautiful.

As He delivers His discourse, I am gazing at Him and He is looking at me. Our eyes are fixed on each other. I am completely magnetized by His divine presence.

Now the discourse has ended, I have come to know that Baba is going to Jamalpur the very next day. I have decided that I too must go to Jamalpur. I cannot bear the thought of not being with Baba.

Even during the night I am thinking and dreaming of Him. When morning arrives I quickly make all the needed arrangements for going to Jamalpur.

By Baba's grace the journey passes smoothly.

ON FIELD WALK WITH BABA:

REQUESTS ME TO START A NEWSPAPER

I am so pleased to be here in Jamalpur so I can see Baba again. Just now I got word that I have been given permission to go on field walk with Baba.

While on field walk, Baba asks me to start a newspaper.

I reply, "Yes, Baba."

We continue walking. By His grace, I feel compelled to take on the assigned task. The rest of the day passes in a flash, drenched in His love and care. My short stay in Jamalpur is coming to a close and I am preparing to return to my home in Muzafarrapur.

I feel like the return journey cannot happen quickly enough. By Baba's grace I arrive safely.

MY FIRST ARTICLE

So here I am, I have returned to Muzafarrapur and I am already thinking about what I will write for the newspaper. Having just been with Baba, I can only think of His magnificent beauty and charm. So I have decided to write about Baba Himself. In my article I compare Baba's purity to that of the Ganges River.

I am so enthralled by Baba's loving manner and divine personality that I could not resist writing about Him in this way. I have decided to publish the article on the front page of our paper which will be distributed to both margiis and the general public.

By Baba's grace, the project has come to fruition and the paper has been published and circulated all around the local area.

THE MARGIIS ARE FURIOUS WITH ME

Within one or two days, the local margiis are up in arms and furious with me. They keep telling me, "You are just a new margii - you do not understand - we do not believe in this dogma that the Ganges is pure and holy. In AM, we do not subscribe to the belief that bathing in the Ganges purifies one of their sins. What you have written is completely wrong and misleading. You must correct this immediately."

In turn, I am trying to convince them of my feeling and intention, but no one is listening to me. They are not understanding my perspective.

BABA SUPPORTS MY APPROACH

Some have decided to bring this matter to Baba Himself. They send word to Baba about all that transpired. We are waiting for His review. In the meantime I continue to be pressured and criticised by the local margiis. A few days pass in this way.

Finally, a margii has just come with the news. The margii reports to us that Baba has said that, "What Sashi Ranjan has written is a comparison. When the writer has a pure mind then such a comparison is OK."

Alas, Baba knows my inner feeling and He has approved of my words and told this to everyone. Hearing this, all the margiis apologise to me and accept the article.

Namaskar,
Shashi Ranjan Sahu

Note: Many know that Shrii Shashi Ranjan Sahu was a key member of parliament with a high post; thereafter he was influential with the founding of the PBI (Proutist Block of India).

DEVOTIONALLY-INSPIRED WRITING

The above account shared with us by Shrii Shashi Ranjan is quite meaningful on multiple levels. Firstly, it is a very devotionally-charged tale of one bhakta's real-life experience with Baba. And secondly, we all get the teaching that using comparisons when writing about Parama Purusa is ok - so long as one's heart and mind are pure.

BABA HIMSELF USES COMPARISONS

And indeed we see that in His many devotional treasures, Baba Himself uses comparisons to describe the greatness, charm, love and beauty of Parama Purusa as well as to talk about spiritual life.

In countless Prabhat Samgiita compositions, Parama Purusa is compared with the sun, moon, and stars and in so many other ways.

For example in the song, "Nayane ma'mata' bhara'" (PS #12), in the first stanza His smile is compared with radiant pearls, "Hasite mukuta jhara'".

And in song #913, it says: "Candana sama tava a'shisa  a'ma'ke" meaning, Your grace is a soothing balm like sandalwood paste.

And verily there are so many songs where His love or His arrival is compared with the sweetness of a flower or the cool summer breeze. Comparisons are part and parcel of Baba's whole entire expression in Prabhat Samgiita. They allow bhaktas to know and describe the Divine Entity Who would otherwise remain beyond description. So this is an important element of His songs.

"HOLY DIP IN THE GANGES"

Plus Baba uses similar comparisons in many of His discourses as well.

Baba says, "By kiirtana you become as pure as if you have taken a “holy dip in the Ganges.” What does a holy dip in the Ganges mean for a sádhaka? It means doing kiirtana constantly." (1)

Thus in the above discourse, Baba Himself uses the comparison of the river Ganges to relay the effect of doing kiirtan.

In so many ways Baba is guiding us that this is how we are to describe Him, i.e. through poetic comparisons or similes. It is a way for sadhakas to share their feelings about that otherwise indescribable Personality.

Before coming to AM, Shashi Ranjan thought of the Ganges as being very pure. This is the common understanding in India. So with his heart-felt feeling he compared Baba in this manner and Baba Himself gave His divine approval. Without such comparisons, there is no way for bhaktas to express themselves when talking about the greatness, beauty and charm of Parama Purusa, i.e. Baba.

Namaskar,
Mukunda


Reference:
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 22, Kiirtana: The Panacea for all Afflictions

The section below demarcated by asterisks is an entirely different topic,
completely unrelated to the above material. It stands on its own as a point of interest.

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Children Thus Learn Obstinacy From Their Elders

"In a family it is natural that differences of opinion will arise among the adults; when they do, the adults should reconcile their differences considering each other’s opinions. Unfortunately they often lack the requisite mental make-up to reach an amicable agreement – each tries to convince everybody else of his or her viewpoint without caring about the opinions of others. The result is an outburst of unreasonable obstinacy – the adults lose all self-control and behave in a gross and vulgar manner. The effect on the minds of the children is disastrous. Children thus learn obstinacy from their elders. If the mother or those with whom the children spend most of their time is obstinate, the neglected children will, in most cases, become noticeably obstinate, and they will have to carry this psychic ailment around with them for a long time. If, on the other hand, as is sometimes the case, the wishes and desires (if they are not unreasonable) of children are fulfilled, the children will not have the opportunity to learn obstinacy." (Human Society - 1, Education)

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Prabhat Samgiita

“Ba’hir vishve dhara’ da’o na’ko, marme lukiye tha’ko…” – P.S. 3857

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa You are hiding in everyone’s heart – that is Your hinterland. Baba, You cannot be held in this external world; searching You outside is nothing but a waste of time. O’ my dear One, You always reside in the deep core of my heart. You remain eternally in that golden vessel deep inside my being.

O’ Divine Entity, You give shelter at Your lotus feet to one and all. Regardless of who is crying for You, and who is longing for You, or who is oblivious about You, You lovingly shower Your compassion on all. You never make any distinctions. Everyone is part of Your creation; You lovingly bring one and all under Your divine shelter. With Your infinite attraction and the resonance of Your flute, You call everyone close. You lovingly draw everyone close by the
pull of the heart. This is Your special call.

Baba, You are eternally present and always smiling in my heart. O’ my Dearmost, You are so gracious...