Notes From Kashi Avadhuta Meeting + Baba Story: My Cowardliness

Baba

This entire email is composed of 4 parts:
(1) Posting: Baba Story: Notes From Kashi Avadhuta Meeting
(2) Posting: Baba Story: Baba Story: My Cowardliness
(3) Trailer Quote: Encumbrances Cannot Be More Powerful Than Your Capacity To Solve Them
(4) Prabhat Samgiita #1723;

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

== NOTES FROM KASHI AVADHUTA MEETING ==

Namaskar,
We should search and seek out avadhutas / avadhutikas according to this definition which Baba has given in His renowned discourse, "Kashi Avadhuta Sabha".

"Sincerity means they [avadhutas / avadhutikas] should be one in thinking, saying, and in action. There will be no difference in their thinking, saying, and action. There will be no hypocrisy. Their saying and action will be clear, concrete, and conclusive. In our day to day life, we meet some persons - those who are thinking one thing, saying another, and doing some other thing. The avadhutas should not do this thing. Their heart should be clean and simple. The simple heart is the only qualification of the sadhakas." (1)

In reading Baba's above teachings we can easily understand that merely having the title of avadhuta and the suffix -ananda attached to the end of the name does not make one an avadhuta. Dress and name alone are simply not enough. Everybody and anybody can get those two things: Dress and name.

In order to become a true avadhuta, sincerity is needed. Without that one will never be a true avadhuta.

Those who have the dress and name of an avadhuta but lack the requisite sincerity should still try and pursue this endeavor of becoming a true avadhuta.

In fact, everyone should aspire to this ideal. The type of sincerity Baba describes above is the sign of an ideal sadhaka.

We should all seek out and find such persons who are true avadhutas. And we should aim for that ideal ourselves by achieving perfect symmetry between thought, word, and deed.

"There must not be any gap between your thinking and your actions. If there is any gap, that gap should be minimized step by step, and finally thought and action should coincide." (2)

"In the final stage, that is, when one attains the stage of devatá, then what one thinks, one says; and what one says, one does. There is no difference amongst thinking, saying, and doing. And that is the best stage of human structure or human existence. You should all try to be like this, and I want the number of such persons, who have attained the stratum of devatá, to increase. And you have become workers, or wholetimers, just to increase the number of these devatás in human society." (3)

"One who is totally absorbed in ideation on the Supreme becomes one with the Supreme at the time of death. This is certainly true in the case of devotees. The duality between the one who serves and the entity served ceases to exist. Ultimately the one who serves, the entity who is served, and the action of serving become fused into one. If one’s goal is right, one is sure to attain the supreme stance. And one who attains the supreme stance will never make the mistake of differentiating between high and low, literate and illiterate, touchable and untouchable."

Shmasháne vá grhe, hirańye vá trńe,
Tanuje vá ripao, hutáshe vá jale.
Svakiiye vá pare samatvena buddhyá,
Viráje avadhúto dvitiiyo Maheshah.

[The sádhaka who views everything with equanimity, be it his home or the burial ground, gold or grass, his own children or his enemies, fire or water, his own property or another’s property, lives in the world as an avadhúta, as if the second manifestation of Shiva.] (4)

Namaskar,
Tapan

REFERENCES
1. Kashi Avadhuta Sabha, May 1980
2. Yoga Psychology
3. Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 1, From Animality to Divinity
4. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 9, The Devotee and the Lord

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Date: 02 Apr 2013 22:48:58:07 -0000
From: "Divyacaksu  Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Baba Story: My Cowardliness

== BABA STORY: MY COWARDLINESS ==

Note: The below is a first-hand account from Shrii Ramchandra, an extremely senior margii from Rampur Colony in Jamalpur .

Namaskar,
As I have told in an earlier account (link below), in my public life, I did not want to be seen or known as an Ananda Margii. I was plagued by this split personality. In my personal and inner life, I wanted to be with Baba and work for the mission; in my public and professional life, I did not want to be associated with the Marga.

MY PUBLIC LIFE

When I was out in public - moving around my hometown of Jamalpur - and saw another Ananda Margii, I would quickly turn the other direction, hide my face, or move away. I did not want to do namaskar to any margii in public.

I thought people would say things like, "Oh look, Ramchandra has also been brainwashed by those Ananda Margiis."

Because of the controversy always swirling around Ananda Marga and its poor reputation in society, I thought I should keep myself arms distance. Hence, from an external and social perspective, I remained aloof from AM.

VERY ATTRACTED TO BABA

Internally, things were quite different. I longed to see Baba and always wanted to have a glimpse of Him. Behind closed doors I would attend all kinds of Ananda Marga functions and in my heart there was always a fervent desire to go close to Baba.

In essence, this was my mind-set those days and that will give you insight into what I am going to share with you now.

HIDING FROM BABA

One day I was walking down the street and out of the corner of my eye I saw a saffron robe - the type that our avadhutas wear. I immediately became alert and began to duck (squat) so no one would see me. I was sure that Baba must be nearby. And indeed there He was - walking with His entourage in my direction. To avoid being seen I hurried into a local store and hid behind the counter. My plan was to stay there until Baba passed by. That way no one would suspect me of being affiliated with Ananda Marga. So I hid. But while in my hiding spot a deep yearning arose in my heart to have just a quick glance at Beloved Baba. I could not resist this devotional urge. So I slowly lifted my head and looked around the counter in order to see Baba; by that point Baba and His entourage had clearly passed my hiding spot. Yet at the exact moment when I had lifted my head to see Him, all-knowing Baba turned around and looked directly towards me with His palms together in a folded-hand blessing.

HIDING FROM BABA (AGAIN)

Then there was a second such occurrence.

I was in the street when I suddenly noticed that Baba's car was coming towards me from the opposite direction. I did not want to greet Ananda Margiis in public or do pranam or sastaunga pranam to Baba in public. So I quickly shifted my position to the very edge of the area and stood behind other people. I was completely blocked from view. No one in Baba's entourage could see me. The car passed by - no one said a word or called my name. Success. At that moment, I felt an upsurge of devotion and wanted to at least have a quick look at Baba. I changed my position so I could ready myself to see Baba's car as it drove off in the distance. The moment my eyes and head were in position to see Him, all-knowing Baba turned completely around in His vehicle and looked back with His folded hands blessing, looking directly towards me.

Now, years and years later, I feel repentance for having been so shy and meek in those early days.

By the way, I entered Ananda Marga in the 1960's. Internally I wanted to be an Ananda Margii and was attracted to Baba's magnetic personality. I was initiated, began practicing sadhana regularly, and ultimately was blessed to receive PC with Baba.

REFLECTION

The above story recounted by Ramchandra ji holds key insights into how the level of devotion affects one's personae and behavior.

When one's devotion is lower then they feel shy, even ashamed, to express their spiritual way of living in public. That is Baba's stated teaching.

"Those who are reared in the cradle of materialistic ideologies, feel shy or ashamed at first to sit in meditation in the presence of others." (1)

And indeed this is what we saw in Ramchandra's story. In those early days, because of his lower stage of devotion, he felt shy to behave as an Ananda Margii in public. Similarly in the west - and in many areas where materialism reigns - people are very hesitant to express their spiritual life in the public domain.

For instance, a person might refrain from using their Sanskrit name at their job even though this is Baba's directive (reference Caryacarya), or one may feel embarrassed to sing kiirtan in public, or so many things they may be afraid or worried to do. In all such cases it is due to a lower feeling of devotion. They love Baba no doubt, but that love is not enough to overcome their feelings of insecurity.

However, as one advances on the path, they will develop the requisite courage and nothing will obstruct their forward movement in the spiritual realm. They will always stick to their ideal - regardless of what others think. That too is Baba's teaching.

"Let those well-versed in ethics criticize me or praise me, as they so desire; let Lakśmii, the goddess of wealth, either be gracious enough (because of my activities) to reside in my house, or, if she prefers, go elsewhere; let death visit me today or decades later. It makes little difference to me. Wise people will never withdraw from the path of ideology, the path which they accept as their ideal." (2)

And indeed later on, Ramchandraji was an exemplar in this regard - all will attest to this. And this is what we should aim for: Deep ideological zeal in life, without compromise.

When anyone has deeper devotion for Baba they will do anything and everything for Him - never swayed by public opinion or other mundane channels. Such persons keep their ideological stance always.

In conclusion when a person has lower feelings of devotion then they may not like to call themselves an Ananda Margii and when their devotional standard is higher they overcome all such feelings of shyness.

Here is another way of thinking about it.

When devotion is less then the sadripus (six enemies) & astapahas (eight fetters) control the mind. In that case one is terribly affected by fear, shyness, anger, envy and so much more. And when, by His grace, devotion is more, then people rise above such feelings. When their attraction to Parama Purusa is deeper then all feelings of shyness go away and that sadhaka becomes an embodiment of Ananda Marga ideals.

Namaskar,
Divyacaksu


REFERENCES
1. Subhasita Samgraha, part 3, p.86
2. Namami Krsnasundaram, Disc: 2

Note 1: MUNDANE EXAMPLES

Not just in the field of devotion, but in all realms of life, when a person is deeply affected by a particular tendency then they will express that urge in public, not caring about what others think or say.

For instance, suppose one receives some upsetting news at the office then they will not like to cry in public. They will control their tears. But when that news is so devastating that they are fully overcome with grief and sorrow, then that will overpower all feelings of shyness and they will cry in front of everyone.

Likewise a person with a little bit of greed will control that tendency when they are around others, but when they are overwhelmed by greed then they will grab all the money or eat all the food in front of others - they will not be concerned about what people think about them.

Note 2: EARLIER STORY TOLD BY RAMCHANDRA

Here is the link to the previous devotional story told by Ramchandra:

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2013/01/so-important-but-still-some-oblivious_5.html

The section below this mark is an entirely different topic and not related with the subject matter up above.

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Encumbrances Cannot Be More Powerful Than Your Capacity To Solve Them

"The spirit to fight against all odds alone can solve the problems confronting human beings. March ahead and wage war against all difficulties, every impediment. Victory is sure to embrace you. Difficulties and encumbrances cannot be more powerful than your capacity to solve them. You are the children of the great Cosmic Entity. Be a Sadvipra and make others Sadvipras also." (A Few Probems Solved - 6, The Future of Civilization)

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"Ghor timire ruddha ghare ghumucchilum eka' eka'..."   (P.S. 1723)

Purport:

O' Parama Purusa, You are so gracious. I was sleeping alone in the pitch dark room with the doors and windows closed; I was lost in a sea of frustration and hopelessness. O' the Divine Entity, who are You who has blessed me by coming in this isolated place and broken my slumber. O' Divine One You are most charming and very sweet.

O' Effulgence Personified, Divine One, Parama Purusa Baba, my whole existence has been overcome by drowsiness and sleep since ages & ages. My life was dominated by staticity. Now, with Your infinite compassion, in a flash, You have removed that by showering Your cosmic grace. And in place of that Cimmerian darkness, all around there is Your divine effulgence. Baba, You have opened the windows of my mind. I can see that You are mine; now there is no question of frustration in my life.

Baba, now my whole existence is filled with the grace of Your divine effulgence. There is not even an iota of darkness which remains. My life has gotten new pra'n' a - new energy. Baba, You are so loving; You have saturated  me with Your unfathomable love and own-ness.

Baba, You are my everything. Please accept my surrender...