Baba
This email contains two sections:
1. Posting: Why Only One, Why Not Many
2. Links
Namaskar,
India - and in particular the Hindu religion - has a long history of worshipping multiple gods and goddesses. Within Hinduism, there is a dizzying myriad of gods and goddesses whose number keeps on growing. This approach is wholly antithetical to our standard in Ananda Marga. Sadguru Baba guides on the necessity of pointed devotion for a singular Divine Entity. Unfortunately, some who grew up in this environment of a plethora of deities and entered into Ananda Marga could never adjust with the notion of one supreme Entity, one single name, one object of ideation, one ista mantra, one-pointed devotion, and calling Parama Purusa with one name.
According to Ananda Marga ideology, Ista is one - not many. This ethic leads to the cultivation of pointed devotion and spiritual attainment. That is why in Ananda Marga we only sing those Prabhat Samgiita compositions that are for Baba. Those songs that are for Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna contravene our cult of devotion. That is why those songs are for devotees of Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna. Those are not songs that sincere Ananda Margis should sing for their devotional practice such as in paincajanya etc. We are to learn those songs only for the sake of teaching others - to serve those devotees and show them that Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji has blessed them with devotional treasures as well.
In various discourses Baba has taught us that the mind is one and if an aspirant uses multiple names to call that Divine Entity then the mind will become bifurcated and sadhana will be ruined. That is why Baba's strict warning for the all-round development in sadhana is that there should only be one ista - not many. Those calling that Supreme Entity using various names like Krsna, Shiva, Radha, Rama, Sita, and countless other ways are confused and wasting their time. By using various names, the mind will become bifurcated and unable to concentrate.
In Ananda Marga, Baba has given 16 points - one of which is the point of Ista. Ananda Margiis must be strict in Ista. In the practical realm that means: Although there are countless names of Parama Purusa, but for devotees and disciples of Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, the Ista is Baba, not Lord Krsna, not Lord Shiva, not goddess Durga, not Gaunga nor various other deities. There is none other important entity besides Baba.
So when singing bhajans / devotional songs one should not call, O' Lord Krsna be gracious, or O' Lord Shiva be gracious. Why not? Because that will bifurcate or balkanise the mind. If one's Guru is Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji and one is requesting His grace, then they should not call out to Lord Krsna, or Lord Shiva, or Goddess Gurga asking for grace.
In the below quote, one dogmatic devotee is doing puja and in his puja he is calling out the names of countless gods and goddesses, and Baba is mocking that scene because that type of chant is not only useless - but harmful and a waste of time.
Here following Baba is recalling one incident when one dogmatic devotee is doing puja, singing the glory of Parama Purusa, and saluting Parama Purusa by calling out so many names. That completely undermines his approach.
Baba says, "A person whom I was very close to, a relative of mine, used to recite the following after taking bath: “Victory to mother Káli, victory, victory to Káli, victory to mother Káli of T́han T́haniá, victory to mother Káli of Dakśińeshvar, victory to Bábá Táraknáth, victory to Bábá Vaidyanath of Deoghar. O, Fathers! None of you should think that I am leaving out someone's name.” After this he would say, “O, gods and goddesses, please forgive me if I have omitted any name inadvertently. Please assume that I have mentioned your name also.”
Does this yield anything at all? One says “victory to mother Káli of Kálighát” and in the same breath one says “victory to mother Káli of T́han T́haniá.” It signifies that the mind is moving both towards Kálighát and T́han T́haniá. Can the mind become concentrated in this way? Certainly not." (1)
By the above teaching it is very clear that Ananda Margiis should not say, “O' Goddess Parvati please be gracious, O' Lord Rama please be gracious, O' Lord Vishnu please be gracious, O' Lord Ganesh please be gracious, O' Lord Krsna please be gracious, O' Lord Shiva please be gracious.
If one repeats so many names then the mind will balkanised and sadhana will be ruined. That person cannot progress in the spiritual field. That is what Baba's above teachings guides us.
Then what should we do? Ananda Margiis must only say. O' Baba Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji please be gracious.
In the below scene, two dogmatic devotees are doing their puja worship. They are seated in typical type of puja room (place of worship) common to Indian Hindu households. In Ananda Marga, we would equate this as being their sadhana room. On display, they have more than 50 gods and goddesses on the wall. In the front there are some small idols as well. And everyday these Hindu devotees recite various devotional songs or shlokas, to please all those deities - one by one. The fear complex has been injected in the mind that if they only worship one diety and not all the others, then they will be in trouble. Those other deities will be frustrated and bring about their ruination and curse them. So out of fear those Hindus worship countless gods and goddesses. They are dominated by the dogma that there are countless gods and each one controls various aspects of life. Ananda Marga ideology condemns this dogmatic approach type of dogma.
Here then below are those two Hindu devotees doing their ritual worship of countless gods and goddesses. They do this on a daily basis.
Shown above are those two Hindu devotees doing their daily, ritualistic worship of countless gods and goddesses.
In case you missed it, here again is the description of the above scene: These two dogmatic devotees are doing their puja worship. They are seated in typical type of puja room (place of worship) common to Indian Hindu households. In Ananda Marga, we would equate this as being their sadhana room. On display, they have more than 50 gods and goddesses on the wall. In the front there are some small idols as well. And everyday these Hindu devotees recite various devotional songs or shlokas, to please all those deities - one by one. The fear complex has been injected in the mind that if they only worship one deity and not all the others, then they will be in trouble. Those other deities will be frustrated and bring about their ruination and curse them. So out of fear those Hindus worship countless gods and goddesses. They are dominated by the dogma that there are countless gods and each one controls various aspects of life. Ananda Marga ideology condemns this dogmatic approach type of dogma.
Those raised in Hindu families who came into Ananda Marga often still carry this old dogma with them. That is why in their puja room they keep photos of numerous deities like, Lord Krsna, Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, the elephant god Ganesh, the monkey god Hanuman, and so many gods and goddesses including Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Swami Vivekananda etc. And when they do their Ananda Marga sadhana they chant those names along with their ista mantra. And when the opportunity comes they prefer to sing those Prabhat Samgiita related with Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna. All because of their dogmatic old mindset: It is very hard to give up the Hindu dogma of multiple deity worship.
Such psuedo-margiis have many istas Lord Krsna, Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, the elephant god Ganesh, the monkey god Hanuman, and so many gods and goddesses including Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Swami Vivekananda etc
Whereas, those who are strict margiis only have one ista Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. So those strong, sincere margiis are strict in 16 Points and do not have multiple Istas. They have one-pointed devotion for Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji.This is often very easy for overseas margiis, but for some dogmatic Indian margiis this point is extremely difficult. Even after reading the teaching from Baba - which appears in numerous discourses - how the mythological, ideal devotee Hanuman only worshipped one Ista (see note 2 below), still those dogmatic Indian margiis are confused: They cannot give up their Hindu dogma as they continue to worship Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna.
in Him,
Ragatmika'
हनुमान जी से एक बार कहा गया था कि---"देखो हनुमान, तुम 'राम-राम, राम-राम' करते हो | 'राम' भी जो हैं, 'नारायण' भी तो वे ही हैं; तो, तुम नारायण का नाम क्यों नहीं लेते हो ? एक ही तो वस्तु, राम भी जो नारायण भी वही हैं |
समझ रहे हो न ?
तो, तुम राम नाम लेते हो, नारायण का नाम क्यों नहीं लेते हो ?" तो, हनुमान जी का उत्तर था, उत्तर बहुत सुन्दर | कि---
श्रीनाथे जानकीनाथे चाभेद परमात्मनि |
तथापि मम सर्वस्वः रामः कमललोचन ||
"मैं जानता हूँ कि पारमार्थिक विचार के अनुसार, दार्शनिक विचार के अनुसार श्रीनाथ, श्रीनाथ माने ? नारायण | श्री माने "लक्ष्मी" | तो, श्रीनाथ माने "लक्ष्मीपति", अर्थात् "नारायण" | "श्रीनाथे" |
और "जानकीनाथे"---जानकीनाथ माने "राम" | दार्शनिक विचार के अनुसार, "च अभेद |" दोनों अभेद हैं, दोनों में पार्थक्य नहीं है, एक वस्तु हैं |
"तथापि मम सर्वस्वः |" तो भी मेरे लिए सब कुछ कौन हैं ? न, "राम कमललोचन"---"मैं नारायण को नहीं जानता हूँ; मैं राम जानता हूँ |" अर्थात् याद रखोगे, परमात्मा का हर नाम अच्छा है | किन्तु, तुम्हारे लिए एक मात्र नाम क्या है, परमात्मा का ? न, तुम्हारा जो इष्ट मन्त्र | समझे ? Spirit समझ गए तुम लोग ? देखो, उसी को लेकर तुम्हें आगे बढ़ना है | तुम्हारे लिए वही मूल्यवान; और नाम मूल्यवान नहीं है | As a साधक, ऐसे ही चलना है | (2)
Here is a very significant story about the mythological bhakta - Hanuman.
"When Hanuman was asked why he was so insistent on taking the name of Ráma and never taking the name Náráyańa, he promptly replied:
“I know by philosophical analysis that there is no difference between Náráyańa and Rama, and yet I will channelize my mind towards One Entity and not many. For me there is no Náráyańa, there is only Ráma.”
"Likewise for the genuine spiritual aspirants there is only One Entity, and they rush only towards that Supreme One. Their minds move only in one direction, not in a thousand directions." (3)
In that discourse, Baba's pointed teaching in this story is that a sadhaka's devotional feeling must be linked with one Ista - for Ananda Margiis that Ista is Baba Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. For others it may be Lord Krsna or Lord Shiva. But for Ananda Margiis it is Baba.
Although on regular daily basis - morning and evening - such dogmatic Hindus do their regular multiple deity worship, but then a extra puja comes on a special occasion for a particular deity. Every week or every month is allocated to pay homage to a different deity. Today is the puja of the monkey god and tomorrow or next week is reserved for the worship of Sarasvati (goddess of knowledge) or Durga puja etc.
From: "Manoranjan Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Date: 03 Jan 2013 19:13:56 -0000
Subject: So Important, But Still Some Oblivious
Baba
Namaskar,
Here we are talking about Prabhat Samgiita and which songs are best for Ananda Margiis to sing - from a purely devotional perspective.
Nowadays, in their innocence, a few are singing songs which go against the devotional feeling of Ananda Marga. We should therefore take a deeper look at the matter.
As we know, Baba has explained that every human being in this cosmos has devotion; not only that, but even developed animals have devotion. Undeveloped animals have devotion too, but it is in latent form. So even developed animals have their animal devotion and desire to be great. When they see something or someone bigger and stronger than they are, then they stop and look with awe at that entity. That means they accept that entity as greater than themselves. Reverence towards someone great is their devotion. You can visibly see this in all kinds of tamed animals. That is the main reason why intelligent animals have accepted human beings as their masters and have taken shelter under human care and direction. For them, their master is everything. They have devotion toward their master - just as intelligent human beings have devotion for Parama Purusa.
Actually, those animals do not know that there is someone greater than their human master - they do not know there is Parama Purusa. The moment they know about Parama Purusa they will salute Him and develop loyalty and surrender to the Divine Entity.
Similarly, every human being also has devotion and an innate longing to become great. Plus, everyone has the very sincere desire to satisfy that longing. Unfortunately, along the way, some get caught up in undesirable activities.
For instance, take the case of Hindus sacrificing goats to the gods. They do this as a sincere expression of their devotion. Though we know that this is just a dogmatic ritual that will not get them any closer to God. Rather, their harmful ways lead them in the opposite direction. Even then, these worshipers think that their practice of sacrificing goats is good and will allow them to reach God. So they are sincere, but misguided.
Such static rituals and traditional forms of worship are present in all the dogmatic religions.
Thus, even though all have devotion, vivek, and knowledge are needed to express that devotion in a proper way.
Now let's see how these above ideas relate with our devotional life and Prabhat Samgiita.
First off, we have to remember that Baba has given His teachings not just for Ananda Margiis, but for the entire humanity. For instance: Soon the whole world will be following the ways of Prout, whether they be margii or not. Likewise, Baba's remedies in Yogic Treatments are for everyone; and, His various grammar books are to be studied in all schools around the globe. In the same way, Baba has graciously given His Prabhat Samgiita collection for the whole humanity - not just to the relatively small number of people who are Ananda Margiis.
Here then comes the crux of the matter.
Those Prabhat Samgiita composition that state, "O' Lord Krsna, please come in my heart." Then that song is for those bhaktas whose Ista is Lord Krsna.
And those songs which say, "O' Prabhu, please come in my heart, come in my mind", then that song is for Ananda Margiis. Why? Because here Prabhu means Lord and that can easily be goaded to Ista (i.e. nearest and dearest One), Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. Side by side, those followers of Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna can also use this song in their own way.
So Baba has graciously given His Prabhat Samgiita collection for all kinds of devotees - His divine compositions are for all. As Ananda Margiis, we should sing only those songs which goad the mind toward Baba, not any other divine entity. In our devotional life, we should only sing those songs that address Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji, i.e. Baba.
Certainly we may learn the songs about Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna; by that way we can best introduce non-margiis to those compositions. But we will not use those songs in our own devotional practices and programs.
Here the critical point is Ista. For Ananda Margiis, the Ista is not Lord Shiva or Lord Krsna. Although Lord Shiva, Lord Krsna, and Baba are all the same, in theory. The same Divine Entity came three different times, in three different forms, with three different names. But for Ananda Margiis, Ista is not three, but rather one. Only Baba Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji is the Ista. So we must not chant, "O Lord Krsna, please come in my heart." That is not beneficial - that is against point #10 of Sixteen Points: Non-compromising strictness and faith regarding the sanctity of Ista.
Even then, some may naively wonder, "What is wrong if I sing those songs about Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna. I call out to all three Taraka Brahmas because if one fails to respond then at least one of the other two will do something and solve my problem." But unfortunately that method does not work. About this dilemma, please read the story about the sick father in note 1 after the signature.
Those who worship idols do not know that they will one day become idols; they will not become one with Parama Purusa. So although they are involved in worship, but that style of worship is the wrong approach and they are going to be crudified. They will not be benefitted, rather degraded.
Baba says, "The mind is extroverted by idol worship and is attracted towards finite objects. If the mental force is directed towards finite and crude objects, then the person is ultimately converted into crudeness." (Subhasita Samgraha - 1)
So here the key point is that sincerity alone is not enough. Those idol worshipers are very sincere in their devotion to their chosen deity. But the outcome of their practice is not good; they will degenerate and become one with the stone, bronze, copper, clay, wood etc, whatever their chosen idol is made of. So no practitioner can stand on sincerity alone; the path must also be proper.
Similarly, in Ananda Marga, Baba has given 16 points; and as noted above, one point is Ista. Ananda Margiis must be strict in Ista. In the practical realm that means: Although there are countless names of Parama Purusa, but for devotees and disciples of Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, the Ista is Baba, not Lord Krsna, not Lord Shiva, not goddess Durga, not Gaunga nor various other deities. There is none other important entity besides Baba.
Here is Baba's key and colorful teaching on this matter.
Baba says, "A person whom I was very close to, a relative of mine, used to recite the following after taking bath: “Victory to mother Káli, victory, victory to Káli, victory to mother Káli of T́han T́haniá, victory to mother Káli of Dakśińeshvar, victory to Bábá Táraknáth, victory to Bábá Vaidyanath of Deoghar. O, Fathers! None of you should think that I am leaving out someone's name.” After this he would say, “O, gods and goddesses, please forgive me if I have omitted any name inadvertently. Please assume that I have mentioned your name also.” Does this yield anything at all? One says “victory to mother Káli of Kálighát” and in the same breath one says “victory to mother Káli of T́han T́haniá.” It signifies that the mind is moving both towards Kálighát and T́han T́haniá. Can the mind become concentrated in this way? Certainly not." (11 April 1979, Kolkata)
So although Baba has given 5,018 Prabhat Samgiita songs, one must have the required viveka to use the songs in the right way. We are only to sing those songs in our devotional practices that focus on Baba, Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji.
If one oblivious margii is singing this song - Jaya shubhavajradhara shubhra kalevara (Prabhat Samgiita #2526) - it means you are paying homage to Lord Shiva, requesting Him to "please come in my meditation and come in my dhyana." But then when you conclude the song and start your actual meditation practice, you are pointing the mind towards your Guru, Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. So that bifurcated approach is not at all good; it will not be helpful.
Why? Because you are addressing both Lord Shiva and Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji; the mind is not at all pointed, rather bifurcated. Yet sadhana can only be done with a pointed mind.
Sadguru says, "According to spiritual science the samádhi attained when the entire mind is pin-pointed." (Subháśita Saḿgraha Part 21, Liberation of the Devotee)
Think in this way: One small child calls its mother with the name "mom". With that appellation, with that word, the mother and child are linked. When the child calls out "mom", then that mother comes rushing and helps the child.
Now let's say the mother's legal or professional name is Radhika Devii, or Betty Thompson, or Maria Theresa Garcia. Then if that same child starts calling Radhika, Radhika, Radhika, or Betty, Betty, Betty, or Maria, Maria, Maria, then neither the child nor the mother will feel linked. Neither one will appreciate this.
This simple analogy anyone can understand. Try it in your own life with your own mother, close family member, intimate friend, or companion. Experiment with not using that special appellation or nickname that you have for them and address them by their public, legal name. You will find that the effect and vibration is vastly different as it adversely affects the intimacy and closeness of the relation.
The relationship with Ista works in the same way. Devotees and the Lord have a special relation and connection with one name not many. Devotees and God have a very intimate relation - there is only one name by which to address the Lord. Ista is one not two, and not many.
For Ananda Margiis, the Ista (i.e. nearest and dearest One) is Baba. So one must not focus on Lord Shiva or Lord Krsna during devotional practices. That will bifurcate the mind and dilute the devotional approach. In numerous discourses, Baba Himself says the name of Ista is one, not multiple. In Ananda Marga, Baba alone is the Ista. It is His glory one should sing and His name and form should be meditated upon.
"When Hanuman was asked why he was so insistent on taking the name of Ráma and never taking the name Náráyańa, he promptly replied:
“I know by philosophical analysis that there is no difference between Náráyańa and Rama, and yet I will channelize my mind towards One Entity and not many. For me there is no Náráyańa, there is only Ráma.”
"Likewise for the genuine spiritual aspirants there is only One Entity, and they rush only towards that Supreme One. Their minds move only in one direction, not in a thousand directions." (Ananda Marga Way of Life - 11)
In that discourse, Baba's pointed teaching in this story is that a sadhaka's devotional feeling must be linked with one Ista - for Ananda Margiis that Ista is Baba Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. For others it may be Lord Krsna or Lord Shiva. But for Ananda Margiis it is Baba.
Without this idea firmly set in the mind, one cannot reach the Goal. Ananda Margiis should not say, "O Lord Krsna come and grace me" - that will not help, rather hinder. The mind will be bifurcated or trifurcated. Some part of the mind will go to Lord Krsna, and another part to Lord Shiva, and some portion to Baba. That mind is broken, retarded - it will go nowhere. There is one ista - that is our Guru's teaching.
An Ananda Margiis should only sing those devotional compositions that point the mind towards Baba; whereas those Prabhat Samgiita compositions about Lord Krsna and Lord Shiva are for the general public. In devotional life, a sadhaka of Ananda Marga is to choose from the many hundreds of songs about Baba and sing only those songs, and not sing or use compositions about Lord Krsna and Lord Shiva. That does not mean we should discard those songs about Lord Krsna and Lord Shiva, rather we are to learn them so we can teach others. But, in one's own personal practice and devotional life, a bhakta of Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji (Baba) is to only sing songs about Him. That is the key point - and the pointed mandate to follow.
Remember, this is a very important spiritual guideline. If you follow this you get everything and if you do not follow it you will not get anything in the realm of spirituality.
Namaskar,
In Him alone,
Manoranjan
Once there was a father who was suffering from a sickness. He called out to his sons, "O' Tom, Dick, Harry, I need medicine. Please go to the store and bring my medicine." All three sons listened very sincerely to their father's request. The eldest son, Tom, immediately thought that the youngest (Harry) will get it. And Harry thought Tom would get it. And Dick thought one of his brothers would get the medicine. Later, in the middle of the night, the father called out to his sons, "O Tom, Dick, Harry, now is the time I need my medicine." All three sons looked at each other and realised that no one had gotten the medicine. Now all the shops were closed and father's condition was not good. In short, disaster had struck. And there was nothing to be done in that late hour.
If the father had specifically asked one of his sons to get the medicine, then that son would have done it. Then the problem would have been averted. Asking all three sons at the same time was a mistake. The father learned his lesson.
This same theory holds true in the realm of devotion as well. Worshiping multiple deities is not going to bring the proper outcome. How is one going to be graced with it is divided in multiple directions. The mind must be pointed in one direction. In the field of devotion, the sadhaka must be singular in approach.
In their day-to-day practical manner, the Semitic religions worship not one god but many. Those followers ask boons and grace from numerous godheads. In theory, they may try to deny this and give their own justification; but in their practical life that is what they do. It is quite evident.
Nowadays, most Christians and Muslims are in so-called 3rd world countries. And those believers follow multiple religions plus local gods and goddesses. They are involved in numerous belief systems. One single person might worship Allah, a Christian God, and their own local or native gods / goddesses and ritualistic deities. This is prevalent all around Africa and the Asian nations.
Next the is Buddhism which has adopted multiples deities. And the worst is Hinduism where there are countless gods and goddesses.
Those who come into Ananda Marga from such backgrounds often have a hard time understanding that Ista must be one, i.e. singular. Those who come into Ananda Marga at a young age easily understand. Age aside, those with adequate devotion absolutely understand.
Every bhakta in Ananda Marga must be singularly pointed on Ista, and only ideate on Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji. There is no other way.
This email contains two sections:
1. Posting: Why Only One, Why Not Many
2. Links
PUJA': WHY ONLY ONE, WHY NOT MANY
Namaskar,
India - and in particular the Hindu religion - has a long history of worshipping multiple gods and goddesses. Within Hinduism, there is a dizzying myriad of gods and goddesses whose number keeps on growing. This approach is wholly antithetical to our standard in Ananda Marga. Sadguru Baba guides on the necessity of pointed devotion for a singular Divine Entity. Unfortunately, some who grew up in this environment of a plethora of deities and entered into Ananda Marga could never adjust with the notion of one supreme Entity, one single name, one object of ideation, one ista mantra, one-pointed devotion, and calling Parama Purusa with one name.
WHY NOT WORSHIP MULTIPLE GODS AND GODDESSES
According to Ananda Marga ideology, Ista is one - not many. This ethic leads to the cultivation of pointed devotion and spiritual attainment. That is why in Ananda Marga we only sing those Prabhat Samgiita compositions that are for Baba. Those songs that are for Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna contravene our cult of devotion. That is why those songs are for devotees of Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna. Those are not songs that sincere Ananda Margis should sing for their devotional practice such as in paincajanya etc. We are to learn those songs only for the sake of teaching others - to serve those devotees and show them that Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji has blessed them with devotional treasures as well.
MIND IS BIFURCATED AND SADHANA IS RUINED
In various discourses Baba has taught us that the mind is one and if an aspirant uses multiple names to call that Divine Entity then the mind will become bifurcated and sadhana will be ruined. That is why Baba's strict warning for the all-round development in sadhana is that there should only be one ista - not many. Those calling that Supreme Entity using various names like Krsna, Shiva, Radha, Rama, Sita, and countless other ways are confused and wasting their time. By using various names, the mind will become bifurcated and unable to concentrate.
In Ananda Marga, Baba has given 16 points - one of which is the point of Ista. Ananda Margiis must be strict in Ista. In the practical realm that means: Although there are countless names of Parama Purusa, but for devotees and disciples of Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, the Ista is Baba, not Lord Krsna, not Lord Shiva, not goddess Durga, not Gaunga nor various other deities. There is none other important entity besides Baba.
So when singing bhajans / devotional songs one should not call, O' Lord Krsna be gracious, or O' Lord Shiva be gracious. Why not? Because that will bifurcate or balkanise the mind. If one's Guru is Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji and one is requesting His grace, then they should not call out to Lord Krsna, or Lord Shiva, or Goddess Gurga asking for grace.
In the below quote, one dogmatic devotee is doing puja and in his puja he is calling out the names of countless gods and goddesses, and Baba is mocking that scene because that type of chant is not only useless - but harmful and a waste of time.
Here following Baba is recalling one incident when one dogmatic devotee is doing puja, singing the glory of Parama Purusa, and saluting Parama Purusa by calling out so many names. That completely undermines his approach.
Baba says, "A person whom I was very close to, a relative of mine, used to recite the following after taking bath: “Victory to mother Káli, victory, victory to Káli, victory to mother Káli of T́han T́haniá, victory to mother Káli of Dakśińeshvar, victory to Bábá Táraknáth, victory to Bábá Vaidyanath of Deoghar. O, Fathers! None of you should think that I am leaving out someone's name.” After this he would say, “O, gods and goddesses, please forgive me if I have omitted any name inadvertently. Please assume that I have mentioned your name also.”
Does this yield anything at all? One says “victory to mother Káli of Kálighát” and in the same breath one says “victory to mother Káli of T́han T́haniá.” It signifies that the mind is moving both towards Kálighát and T́han T́haniá. Can the mind become concentrated in this way? Certainly not." (1)
O' LORD RAMA PLEASE BE GRACIOUS
By the above teaching it is very clear that Ananda Margiis should not say, “O' Goddess Parvati please be gracious, O' Lord Rama please be gracious, O' Lord Vishnu please be gracious, O' Lord Ganesh please be gracious, O' Lord Krsna please be gracious, O' Lord Shiva please be gracious.
If one repeats so many names then the mind will balkanised and sadhana will be ruined. That person cannot progress in the spiritual field. That is what Baba's above teachings guides us.
Then what should we do? Ananda Margiis must only say. O' Baba Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji please be gracious.
OUT OF FEAR WORSHIP COUNTLESS DEITIES
In the below scene, two dogmatic devotees are doing their puja worship. They are seated in typical type of puja room (place of worship) common to Indian Hindu households. In Ananda Marga, we would equate this as being their sadhana room. On display, they have more than 50 gods and goddesses on the wall. In the front there are some small idols as well. And everyday these Hindu devotees recite various devotional songs or shlokas, to please all those deities - one by one. The fear complex has been injected in the mind that if they only worship one diety and not all the others, then they will be in trouble. Those other deities will be frustrated and bring about their ruination and curse them. So out of fear those Hindus worship countless gods and goddesses. They are dominated by the dogma that there are countless gods and each one controls various aspects of life. Ananda Marga ideology condemns this dogmatic approach type of dogma.
TYPICAL HINDU PUJA ROOM
Here then below are those two Hindu devotees doing their ritual worship of countless gods and goddesses. They do this on a daily basis.
Shown above are those two Hindu devotees doing their daily, ritualistic worship of countless gods and goddesses.
In case you missed it, here again is the description of the above scene: These two dogmatic devotees are doing their puja worship. They are seated in typical type of puja room (place of worship) common to Indian Hindu households. In Ananda Marga, we would equate this as being their sadhana room. On display, they have more than 50 gods and goddesses on the wall. In the front there are some small idols as well. And everyday these Hindu devotees recite various devotional songs or shlokas, to please all those deities - one by one. The fear complex has been injected in the mind that if they only worship one deity and not all the others, then they will be in trouble. Those other deities will be frustrated and bring about their ruination and curse them. So out of fear those Hindus worship countless gods and goddesses. They are dominated by the dogma that there are countless gods and each one controls various aspects of life. Ananda Marga ideology condemns this dogmatic approach type of dogma.
VERY DIFFICULT FOR SOME MARGIIS
COMING FROM HINDU BACKGROUNDS
COMING FROM HINDU BACKGROUNDS
Those raised in Hindu families who came into Ananda Marga often still carry this old dogma with them. That is why in their puja room they keep photos of numerous deities like, Lord Krsna, Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, the elephant god Ganesh, the monkey god Hanuman, and so many gods and goddesses including Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Swami Vivekananda etc. And when they do their Ananda Marga sadhana they chant those names along with their ista mantra. And when the opportunity comes they prefer to sing those Prabhat Samgiita related with Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna. All because of their dogmatic old mindset: It is very hard to give up the Hindu dogma of multiple deity worship.
Such psuedo-margiis have many istas Lord Krsna, Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, the elephant god Ganesh, the monkey god Hanuman, and so many gods and goddesses including Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Swami Vivekananda etc
Whereas, those who are strict margiis only have one ista Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. So those strong, sincere margiis are strict in 16 Points and do not have multiple Istas. They have one-pointed devotion for Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji.This is often very easy for overseas margiis, but for some dogmatic Indian margiis this point is extremely difficult. Even after reading the teaching from Baba - which appears in numerous discourses - how the mythological, ideal devotee Hanuman only worshipped one Ista (see note 2 below), still those dogmatic Indian margiis are confused: They cannot give up their Hindu dogma as they continue to worship Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna.
in Him,
Ragatmika'
Note 1: मेरे लिए सब कुछ कौन हैं ? सब कुछ हैं बाबा |
हनुमान जी से एक बार कहा गया था कि---"देखो हनुमान, तुम 'राम-राम, राम-राम' करते हो | 'राम' भी जो हैं, 'नारायण' भी तो वे ही हैं; तो, तुम नारायण का नाम क्यों नहीं लेते हो ? एक ही तो वस्तु, राम भी जो नारायण भी वही हैं |
समझ रहे हो न ?
तो, तुम राम नाम लेते हो, नारायण का नाम क्यों नहीं लेते हो ?" तो, हनुमान जी का उत्तर था, उत्तर बहुत सुन्दर | कि---
श्रीनाथे जानकीनाथे चाभेद परमात्मनि |
तथापि मम सर्वस्वः रामः कमललोचन ||
"मैं जानता हूँ कि पारमार्थिक विचार के अनुसार, दार्शनिक विचार के अनुसार श्रीनाथ, श्रीनाथ माने ? नारायण | श्री माने "लक्ष्मी" | तो, श्रीनाथ माने "लक्ष्मीपति", अर्थात् "नारायण" | "श्रीनाथे" |
और "जानकीनाथे"---जानकीनाथ माने "राम" | दार्शनिक विचार के अनुसार, "च अभेद |" दोनों अभेद हैं, दोनों में पार्थक्य नहीं है, एक वस्तु हैं |
"तथापि मम सर्वस्वः |" तो भी मेरे लिए सब कुछ कौन हैं ? न, "राम कमललोचन"---"मैं नारायण को नहीं जानता हूँ; मैं राम जानता हूँ |" अर्थात् याद रखोगे, परमात्मा का हर नाम अच्छा है | किन्तु, तुम्हारे लिए एक मात्र नाम क्या है, परमात्मा का ? न, तुम्हारा जो इष्ट मन्त्र | समझे ? Spirit समझ गए तुम लोग ? देखो, उसी को लेकर तुम्हें आगे बढ़ना है | तुम्हारे लिए वही मूल्यवान; और नाम मूल्यवान नहीं है | As a साधक, ऐसे ही चलना है | (2)
Note 2: HANUMAN STORY OF ONE ISTA
Here is a very significant story about the mythological bhakta - Hanuman.
"When Hanuman was asked why he was so insistent on taking the name of Ráma and never taking the name Náráyańa, he promptly replied:
Shriináthe jánakiináthe cábheda Paramátmani
Tathápi mama sarvasvah Rámah kamalalocana.
“I know by philosophical analysis that there is no difference between Náráyańa and Rama, and yet I will channelize my mind towards One Entity and not many. For me there is no Náráyańa, there is only Ráma.”
"Likewise for the genuine spiritual aspirants there is only One Entity, and they rush only towards that Supreme One. Their minds move only in one direction, not in a thousand directions." (3)
In that discourse, Baba's pointed teaching in this story is that a sadhaka's devotional feeling must be linked with one Ista - for Ananda Margiis that Ista is Baba Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. For others it may be Lord Krsna or Lord Shiva. But for Ananda Margiis it is Baba.
Note 3: SPECIAL EXTRA WORSHIP
Although on regular daily basis - morning and evening - such dogmatic Hindus do their regular multiple deity worship, but then a extra puja comes on a special occasion for a particular deity. Every week or every month is allocated to pay homage to a different deity. Today is the puja of the monkey god and tomorrow or next week is reserved for the worship of Sarasvati (goddess of knowledge) or Durga puja etc.
REFERENCES
1. 11 April 1979, Kolkata
2. GD 6 January 1967 Srinagar
3. Ananda Marga Way of Life - 11
=========
From: "Manoranjan Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Date: 03 Jan 2013 19:13:56 -0000
Subject: So Important, But Still Some Oblivious
Baba
== SO IMPORTANT, BUT STILL SOME
OBLIVIOUS ==
Namaskar,
Here we are talking about Prabhat Samgiita and which songs are best for Ananda Margiis to sing - from a purely devotional perspective.
Nowadays, in their innocence, a few are singing songs which go against the devotional feeling of Ananda Marga. We should therefore take a deeper look at the matter.
ALL HAVE DEVOTION
As we know, Baba has explained that every human being in this cosmos has devotion; not only that, but even developed animals have devotion. Undeveloped animals have devotion too, but it is in latent form. So even developed animals have their animal devotion and desire to be great. When they see something or someone bigger and stronger than they are, then they stop and look with awe at that entity. That means they accept that entity as greater than themselves. Reverence towards someone great is their devotion. You can visibly see this in all kinds of tamed animals. That is the main reason why intelligent animals have accepted human beings as their masters and have taken shelter under human care and direction. For them, their master is everything. They have devotion toward their master - just as intelligent human beings have devotion for Parama Purusa.
Actually, those animals do not know that there is someone greater than their human master - they do not know there is Parama Purusa. The moment they know about Parama Purusa they will salute Him and develop loyalty and surrender to the Divine Entity.
Similarly, every human being also has devotion and an innate longing to become great. Plus, everyone has the very sincere desire to satisfy that longing. Unfortunately, along the way, some get caught up in undesirable activities.
For instance, take the case of Hindus sacrificing goats to the gods. They do this as a sincere expression of their devotion. Though we know that this is just a dogmatic ritual that will not get them any closer to God. Rather, their harmful ways lead them in the opposite direction. Even then, these worshipers think that their practice of sacrificing goats is good and will allow them to reach God. So they are sincere, but misguided.
Such static rituals and traditional forms of worship are present in all the dogmatic religions.
Thus, even though all have devotion, vivek, and knowledge are needed to express that devotion in a proper way.
RELATING THIS WITH ANANDA MARGA AND PRABHAT
SAMGIITA
Now let's see how these above ideas relate with our devotional life and Prabhat Samgiita.
PRABHAT SAMGIITA IS FOR ALL
First off, we have to remember that Baba has given His teachings not just for Ananda Margiis, but for the entire humanity. For instance: Soon the whole world will be following the ways of Prout, whether they be margii or not. Likewise, Baba's remedies in Yogic Treatments are for everyone; and, His various grammar books are to be studied in all schools around the globe. In the same way, Baba has graciously given His Prabhat Samgiita collection for the whole humanity - not just to the relatively small number of people who are Ananda Margiis.
Here then comes the crux of the matter.
Those Prabhat Samgiita composition that state, "O' Lord Krsna, please come in my heart." Then that song is for those bhaktas whose Ista is Lord Krsna.
And those songs which say, "O' Prabhu, please come in my heart, come in my mind", then that song is for Ananda Margiis. Why? Because here Prabhu means Lord and that can easily be goaded to Ista (i.e. nearest and dearest One), Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. Side by side, those followers of Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna can also use this song in their own way.
So Baba has graciously given His Prabhat Samgiita collection for all kinds of devotees - His divine compositions are for all. As Ananda Margiis, we should sing only those songs which goad the mind toward Baba, not any other divine entity. In our devotional life, we should only sing those songs that address Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji, i.e. Baba.
Certainly we may learn the songs about Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna; by that way we can best introduce non-margiis to those compositions. But we will not use those songs in our own devotional practices and programs.
THE POINT OF ISTA
Here the critical point is Ista. For Ananda Margiis, the Ista is not Lord Shiva or Lord Krsna. Although Lord Shiva, Lord Krsna, and Baba are all the same, in theory. The same Divine Entity came three different times, in three different forms, with three different names. But for Ananda Margiis, Ista is not three, but rather one. Only Baba Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji is the Ista. So we must not chant, "O Lord Krsna, please come in my heart." That is not beneficial - that is against point #10 of Sixteen Points: Non-compromising strictness and faith regarding the sanctity of Ista.
Even then, some may naively wonder, "What is wrong if I sing those songs about Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna. I call out to all three Taraka Brahmas because if one fails to respond then at least one of the other two will do something and solve my problem." But unfortunately that method does not work. About this dilemma, please read the story about the sick father in note 1 after the signature.
SINCERITY ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH
Those who worship idols do not know that they will one day become idols; they will not become one with Parama Purusa. So although they are involved in worship, but that style of worship is the wrong approach and they are going to be crudified. They will not be benefitted, rather degraded.
Baba says, "The mind is extroverted by idol worship and is attracted towards finite objects. If the mental force is directed towards finite and crude objects, then the person is ultimately converted into crudeness." (Subhasita Samgraha - 1)
So here the key point is that sincerity alone is not enough. Those idol worshipers are very sincere in their devotion to their chosen deity. But the outcome of their practice is not good; they will degenerate and become one with the stone, bronze, copper, clay, wood etc, whatever their chosen idol is made of. So no practitioner can stand on sincerity alone; the path must also be proper.
Similarly, in Ananda Marga, Baba has given 16 points; and as noted above, one point is Ista. Ananda Margiis must be strict in Ista. In the practical realm that means: Although there are countless names of Parama Purusa, but for devotees and disciples of Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, the Ista is Baba, not Lord Krsna, not Lord Shiva, not goddess Durga, not Gaunga nor various other deities. There is none other important entity besides Baba.
Here is Baba's key and colorful teaching on this matter.
Baba says, "A person whom I was very close to, a relative of mine, used to recite the following after taking bath: “Victory to mother Káli, victory, victory to Káli, victory to mother Káli of T́han T́haniá, victory to mother Káli of Dakśińeshvar, victory to Bábá Táraknáth, victory to Bábá Vaidyanath of Deoghar. O, Fathers! None of you should think that I am leaving out someone's name.” After this he would say, “O, gods and goddesses, please forgive me if I have omitted any name inadvertently. Please assume that I have mentioned your name also.” Does this yield anything at all? One says “victory to mother Káli of Kálighát” and in the same breath one says “victory to mother Káli of T́han T́haniá.” It signifies that the mind is moving both towards Kálighát and T́han T́haniá. Can the mind become concentrated in this way? Certainly not." (11 April 1979, Kolkata)
So although Baba has given 5,018 Prabhat Samgiita songs, one must have the required viveka to use the songs in the right way. We are only to sing those songs in our devotional practices that focus on Baba, Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji.
ONE-POINTED DEVOTION
If one oblivious margii is singing this song - Jaya shubhavajradhara shubhra kalevara (Prabhat Samgiita #2526) - it means you are paying homage to Lord Shiva, requesting Him to "please come in my meditation and come in my dhyana." But then when you conclude the song and start your actual meditation practice, you are pointing the mind towards your Guru, Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. So that bifurcated approach is not at all good; it will not be helpful.
Why? Because you are addressing both Lord Shiva and Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji; the mind is not at all pointed, rather bifurcated. Yet sadhana can only be done with a pointed mind.
Sadguru says, "According to spiritual science the samádhi attained when the entire mind is pin-pointed." (Subháśita Saḿgraha Part 21, Liberation of the Devotee)
MUST LINK WITH ONE DIVINE ENTITY - NOT MANY
Think in this way: One small child calls its mother with the name "mom". With that appellation, with that word, the mother and child are linked. When the child calls out "mom", then that mother comes rushing and helps the child.
Now let's say the mother's legal or professional name is Radhika Devii, or Betty Thompson, or Maria Theresa Garcia. Then if that same child starts calling Radhika, Radhika, Radhika, or Betty, Betty, Betty, or Maria, Maria, Maria, then neither the child nor the mother will feel linked. Neither one will appreciate this.
This simple analogy anyone can understand. Try it in your own life with your own mother, close family member, intimate friend, or companion. Experiment with not using that special appellation or nickname that you have for them and address them by their public, legal name. You will find that the effect and vibration is vastly different as it adversely affects the intimacy and closeness of the relation.
The relationship with Ista works in the same way. Devotees and the Lord have a special relation and connection with one name not many. Devotees and God have a very intimate relation - there is only one name by which to address the Lord. Ista is one not two, and not many.
For Ananda Margiis, the Ista (i.e. nearest and dearest One) is Baba. So one must not focus on Lord Shiva or Lord Krsna during devotional practices. That will bifurcate the mind and dilute the devotional approach. In numerous discourses, Baba Himself says the name of Ista is one, not multiple. In Ananda Marga, Baba alone is the Ista. It is His glory one should sing and His name and form should be meditated upon.
STORY OF GREAT DEVOTEE HANUMAN
Here is a very significant story about the
mythological bhakta - Hanuman.
"When Hanuman was asked why he was so insistent on taking the name of Ráma and never taking the name Náráyańa, he promptly replied:
Shriináthe jánakiináthe cábheda
Paramátmani
Tathápi mama sarvasvah Rámah kamalalocana.
Tathápi mama sarvasvah Rámah kamalalocana.
“I know by philosophical analysis that there is no difference between Náráyańa and Rama, and yet I will channelize my mind towards One Entity and not many. For me there is no Náráyańa, there is only Ráma.”
"Likewise for the genuine spiritual aspirants there is only One Entity, and they rush only towards that Supreme One. Their minds move only in one direction, not in a thousand directions." (Ananda Marga Way of Life - 11)
In that discourse, Baba's pointed teaching in this story is that a sadhaka's devotional feeling must be linked with one Ista - for Ananda Margiis that Ista is Baba Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. For others it may be Lord Krsna or Lord Shiva. But for Ananda Margiis it is Baba.
Without this idea firmly set in the mind, one cannot reach the Goal. Ananda Margiis should not say, "O Lord Krsna come and grace me" - that will not help, rather hinder. The mind will be bifurcated or trifurcated. Some part of the mind will go to Lord Krsna, and another part to Lord Shiva, and some portion to Baba. That mind is broken, retarded - it will go nowhere. There is one ista - that is our Guru's teaching.
An Ananda Margiis should only sing those devotional compositions that point the mind towards Baba; whereas those Prabhat Samgiita compositions about Lord Krsna and Lord Shiva are for the general public. In devotional life, a sadhaka of Ananda Marga is to choose from the many hundreds of songs about Baba and sing only those songs, and not sing or use compositions about Lord Krsna and Lord Shiva. That does not mean we should discard those songs about Lord Krsna and Lord Shiva, rather we are to learn them so we can teach others. But, in one's own personal practice and devotional life, a bhakta of Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji (Baba) is to only sing songs about Him. That is the key point - and the pointed mandate to follow.
IMPORTANT GUIDELINE
Remember, this is a very important spiritual guideline. If you follow this you get everything and if you do not follow it you will not get anything in the realm of spirituality.
Namaskar,
In Him alone,
Manoranjan
Note 1: SICK FATHER AND MEDICINE STORY
Once there was a father who was suffering from a sickness. He called out to his sons, "O' Tom, Dick, Harry, I need medicine. Please go to the store and bring my medicine." All three sons listened very sincerely to their father's request. The eldest son, Tom, immediately thought that the youngest (Harry) will get it. And Harry thought Tom would get it. And Dick thought one of his brothers would get the medicine. Later, in the middle of the night, the father called out to his sons, "O Tom, Dick, Harry, now is the time I need my medicine." All three sons looked at each other and realised that no one had gotten the medicine. Now all the shops were closed and father's condition was not good. In short, disaster had struck. And there was nothing to be done in that late hour.
If the father had specifically asked one of his sons to get the medicine, then that son would have done it. Then the problem would have been averted. Asking all three sons at the same time was a mistake. The father learned his lesson.
This same theory holds true in the realm of devotion as well. Worshiping multiple deities is not going to bring the proper outcome. How is one going to be graced with it is divided in multiple directions. The mind must be pointed in one direction. In the field of devotion, the sadhaka must be singular in approach.
In their day-to-day practical manner, the Semitic religions worship not one god but many. Those followers ask boons and grace from numerous godheads. In theory, they may try to deny this and give their own justification; but in their practical life that is what they do. It is quite evident.
Nowadays, most Christians and Muslims are in so-called 3rd world countries. And those believers follow multiple religions plus local gods and goddesses. They are involved in numerous belief systems. One single person might worship Allah, a Christian God, and their own local or native gods / goddesses and ritualistic deities. This is prevalent all around Africa and the Asian nations.
Next the is Buddhism which has adopted multiples deities. And the worst is Hinduism where there are countless gods and goddesses.
Those who come into Ananda Marga from such backgrounds often have a hard time understanding that Ista must be one, i.e. singular. Those who come into Ananda Marga at a young age easily understand. Age aside, those with adequate devotion absolutely understand.
Every bhakta in Ananda Marga must be singularly pointed on Ista, and only ideate on Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji. There is no other way.
PRABHATA SAMGIITA
"Tumi utta'l sindhute na'co, utta'l sindhute na'co..." (1182)
Purport:
Baba, You are expressing Yourself as the dance of the high tide of the roaring ocean. You have taken the form of the ocean waves. O' my dearmost
Baba, in this condition it is impossible to hold You. It is very difficult to get close to You. Baba, now everybody wants You; but You are not easy to get. People run quickly towards You with the desire to get You. But, shaken with the fear, they return back because Your vibration is ferocious and rough like the high tide of the turbulent ocean. Baba, only when You really want to be held can it be done - otherwise not.
O' my Lord, when I was searching You externally in this material world then I was studying the shastras, and I was listening to discourses given by various scholars, and I was running from one holy land to another. Any place where people claimed You were, there I went - externally searching for You. But by all these methods I could not get You in my heart; I could not realise You as my own, as my very close.
Baba, in the end, You have graciously made me understand that You are hiding in the inner recesses of my heart - in a very sweet and intimate way. O' Divine Entity, You have taught me that only by searching You within could I make You my own. In this way, You have blessed me. O' my dearmost Parama Purusa Baba, You are ever-gracious...
END NOTE FOR PRABHATA SAMGIITA 1182:
In the above song, through the symbolism of the 'high tide', Baba is expressing that at the time of Dharma Samiiksa, or Personal Contact, or in reporting, then many people - margiis and Wts - wanted to go close to Him. But at the same time they thought that it is too dangerous because Baba is scolding and abusing everyone too much. Baba is Love Personified and He does everything for your welfare, even then some were scared. With that fear and anxiety many persons did not want to be in His close physical proximity. So that is one sense of the meaning of 'high tide'. And of course now every Ananda Margii understands that the only way to have Baba in a close and intimate way is through meditation, in one's dhya'na.
Purport:
Baba, You are expressing Yourself as the dance of the high tide of the roaring ocean. You have taken the form of the ocean waves. O' my dearmost
Baba, in this condition it is impossible to hold You. It is very difficult to get close to You. Baba, now everybody wants You; but You are not easy to get. People run quickly towards You with the desire to get You. But, shaken with the fear, they return back because Your vibration is ferocious and rough like the high tide of the turbulent ocean. Baba, only when You really want to be held can it be done - otherwise not.
O' my Lord, when I was searching You externally in this material world then I was studying the shastras, and I was listening to discourses given by various scholars, and I was running from one holy land to another. Any place where people claimed You were, there I went - externally searching for You. But by all these methods I could not get You in my heart; I could not realise You as my own, as my very close.
Baba, in the end, You have graciously made me understand that You are hiding in the inner recesses of my heart - in a very sweet and intimate way. O' Divine Entity, You have taught me that only by searching You within could I make You my own. In this way, You have blessed me. O' my dearmost Parama Purusa Baba, You are ever-gracious...
END NOTE FOR PRABHATA SAMGIITA 1182:
In the above song, through the symbolism of the 'high tide', Baba is expressing that at the time of Dharma Samiiksa, or Personal Contact, or in reporting, then many people - margiis and Wts - wanted to go close to Him. But at the same time they thought that it is too dangerous because Baba is scolding and abusing everyone too much. Baba is Love Personified and He does everything for your welfare, even then some were scared. With that fear and anxiety many persons did not want to be in His close physical proximity. So that is one sense of the meaning of 'high tide'. And of course now every Ananda Margii understands that the only way to have Baba in a close and intimate way is through meditation, in one's dhya'na.
