Indeed Margiis Can Teach

Date: Fri 8 Apr 2010 18:45:27
To: AM-GLOBAL
Subject: Indeed Margiis Can Teach
From: "Ishvara Deva"

Baba

                              == INDEED MARGIIS CAN TEACH ==

Namaskar,
Recently in our unit, some of us were involved in teaching others about AM, and one Dada intervened and stated that we should not do this as we were "not qualified".

This made us feel very sad. By Baba's grace we then consulted with one very senior acarya Didi and here following are the points she gave.

Really this was a very sentimental time for us and I remain so grateful for the guidance I received from Didiji.

For those more prone towards philosophical dialog, here are the essential questions we are raising.

1. Should we start teaching others about AM only when we get moksa, i.e. perfection?

2. Should we wait until we have been on the path 10 years before teaching others; or should we wait until we become a wholetimer before guiding others?

3. When can a general margii start teaching others about AM? When should a margii begin preaching the gospel of AM ideology?                  

Again, here it is not that I want to be a "great" Ananda Margii and give high-sounding talks to big audiences. That is not the spirit of this inquiry. Merely with our own inner heart feeling, a few of us were quietly sitting and talking to others about AM when that Dada came over and told us not to do like that.


                                    MUST START TEACHING RIGHT AWAY

Only after consulting with a senior acarya Didi, did everything become clear. Here are the key points raised by that senior acarya Didi:

The bottom line is that it is the duty of each and every Ananda Margii to start teaching others about Ananda Marga immediately. Even the day a person is initiated they can, nay must, start doing pracara with others.

Here is the support from Baba's teachings:

(A) SIXTEEN POINTS: It is the duty of every Ananda Margii to follow 16 Points and embedded within 16 Points is service or seva. As we all know there are 4 types of seva in AM: shudrocita seva, ksatriyocita seva, vaeshyocita seva, and viprocita seva. And Baba guides us that we, i.e. all margiis, are to perform all four types of seva, including viprocita seva, which includes preaching the ideals of Ananda Marga.

Baba says, "We can give joy to Parama Puruśa by serving His creations – human beings, animals and plants – and this service will be the best application of neohumanism. This service can be done in four ways – viprocita sevá (intellectual service), kśatriyocita sevá (service of courage), vaeshyocita sevá (economic service) and shudrocita sevá (manual service). None of these is inferior: we cannot ignore any one of them. People should render service according to their capacity. Those who like intellectual service, can do that; those who like manual service, can do so. But it will be best if all the four types are performed." (17 May 1982, Calcutta)

In His above directive, Baba clearly tells that everyone - new and senior margiis alike - are to engage in all kinds of seva including teaching others about AM philosophy and lifestyle. Everyone must do this according to their capacity.

That means even a newly initiated margii can and should teach the general public about kiirtan, or yama and niyama etc. To the degree one is properly aware about Baba's teachings is the degree to which they should teach others. Then they will be performing seva and following 16 Points. That is Baba's mandate.

(B) AM MISSION: The Ananda Marga mission - self-realisation & selfless service - concerns each and every Ananda Margii.

Baba says, "What should a person do? Life is a mission. I have said that human life is an ideological flow. That is, human life is a mission; life itself is a mission; one’s very existence is a mission. Átmamokśárthaḿ jagaddhitáya ca – “Whatever one is to do one is to do for átmamokśa – for his own liberation – and for the elevation of the entire world, elevation of the entire human society.” One is to do both these things: that is, these two things are one’s mission." (AV-30)

Thus here again Baba is directing each and every person in the Marga to perform service - i.e. helping to care for and elevate all beings. Upon entering into AM, everyone must do this from day 1. Baba does not say that one should do sadhana for ten years - or after getting perfection, i.e. moksa - then one should start doing service. It is not like that.

Rather from the very beginning every margii is to do sadhana and perform service by preaching the ideals of dharma to others. So here again Baba is mandating that every Ananda Margii must do AM pracara and explain the tenets of AM to others.

(C) SUPREME COMMAND: In our Supreme Command too Baba tells each and every Ananda Margii to teach others about dharma and inspire them onto the path of spirituality.

"...It is the bounden duty of every Ananda Margii to endeavor to bring all to the path of bliss. Verily is this a part and parcel of sadhana, to lead others along the path of righteousness." (Supreme Command)

Thus by Baba's teaching in the Supreme Command, it is clear that all margiis - young or old, male or female etc - must embark on teaching others about AM ideals.


                                ALL MUST PREACH THE GOSPEL OF AM

Through His mandates of Sixteen Points, by His mission statement (Átmamokśárthaḿ jagaddhitáya ca), and by the Supreme Command, it is quite clear that every Ananda Margii should teach others about AM ideals from the very beginning. To delay this is to go against Guru's teachings. No one should have any complex about this nor should this point be shrouded in confusion. All - I repeat all - are to teach others about the principles of AM.


                                            IGNORANT ACARYAS:

                            NO DADA CAN BAR YOU FROM TEACHING

Thus if you or anyone in your unit is sincerely teaching others about AM philosophy and a Dada tells you that you are "too new", or "not senior enough", or "not smart enough" etc, then just inform that Wt that Baba's guideline is that, "I must perform all 4 sevas each and every day and that includes teaching others about AM ideology, according to the level of my own knowledge base."

Thus no Dada can give any lame excuse and prohibit any margii - new or old - from guiding others on spiritual life and AM ideals.

Actually, it is the dogmatic religions that preach how lay / family people cannot teach the tenets. In Christianity only the priest can do; in Islam, only the mullah can do; and in Hinduism only the pundits can do. They are the only ones to preach the gospel of their religion - not the common people. So AM is totally unique. Baba says that all can and should do.

Unfortunately some ignorant and crafty Wts want to introduce religious dogmas into our AM society by stating that only the priest class can guide others. They just want to "copy & paste" such dogmas into our Marga.

But we must remember such dogmas are hellish.

Baba says, "These [common] people were deprived of the right to study the Vedas. The Antyaja Shúdras, if they even heard the Vedic chants, or the controlling Vedic mantra aum, or the “Savitr Rk” mantra, would be committing a great sin and molten lead would be poured into their ears so that their hearing would be destroyed forever. Nor were women, however educated, allowed to hear such sacred chants." (Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Disc: 5)

Indeed in those days of old, what to speak of not allowing the common people to preach the philosophy, they would not even allow the common people to learn it. If general citizens came in contact with those teachings they would be tortured and shunned - i.e. scarred for life. That was the way those dogmatic religions operated - and still today that is their modus operendi. They feel that mantras or prayers can only be solemnized when they are recited by priests etc. According to bhagavad dharma, there is no 3rd person between the devotee and God, but in such religions, the priest / mullah etc is the so-called intermediary. Here the point is that in the dogmatic religions, only the priest is able pass on religious knowledge, not anyone else.

Tragically now some Dadas are leaning in this direction and not allowing margiis to teach the philosophy to others. We have to oppose such Dadas.  When any Dada is forbidding a margii to propagate the gospel of Ananda Marga or neo-humanism, we should alarm everyone about that Dada and unmask their name and address.

AM is totally different from the dogmatic religions. Baba has blessed us with a revolutionary approach where all have the moral duty to preach and teach the tenets of AM. 

Unfortunately, some Dadas puffed up with vanity feel that only they should talk about dharma. They want everyone to listen to them. That is what their ego tells them. So they feel threatened if a margii sincerely engages in talks about AM philosophy with others.

But again, Baba's mandate is clear and pointed: Every initiated person in Ananda Marga must preach and teach others about our AM way of life.


                                   IMPORTANT STIPULATIONS

Now that it is clear that it is the duty of every Ananda Margii to perform service and teach others about the philosophy and ideals of AM, there are a few easy points to keep in mind.

1) One must not teach others about the lessons of sadhana unless one is an tattvika, or acarya etc.

2) One should not teach aspects of Baba's teachings that they themselves are not adequately familiar with. If one does this then two negative results will arise. Firstly, one will spread faulty explanations and confuse others; and secondly, the person you are trying to teach will lose faith in you.

So ti is important to educate oneself about AM ideals and consult Baba's discourses by reading Ananda Marga books.

Indeed, every Ananda Margii should be eager and ready to preach Baba's gospel to any and all who are interested. And even if they are not interested, we should try and inspire them.

Margiis can teach our kiirtan mantra to anyone. We can teach them to sing internally or externally.


                MUST NOT BE CONCERNED WITH PRAISE OR CENSURE

                            SERVE OTHERS TO PLEASE HIM

Here is another dynamic to be aware of when preaching AM ideals.

Some sincere margiis start doing pracara and mistakenly think that because they are doing dharmic work then people should appreciate them. Although this is not a totally degrading mindset, but for bhaktas this is not a very lofty outlook. This has a distinct drawback as well because if people are not appreciating you, then you feel there is no point in doing the work and you may drop it entirely. Furthermore if anyone criticises you then you will be totally dejected. Side by side, some opportunists might praise you to the sky in order to exploit you and get you to attend to their agenda. These are the pitfalls of getting caught up in praise and censure.

The best is for every sadhaka to serve other and propagate AM ideal thinking that they are doing everything for Parama Purusa - to please Him.

Then if someone opposes or praises you it does not matter. Your mind will remain balanced and you will not veer from your course. Why? Because you are doing to serve Parama Purusa, not to garner praise etc. Here the whole idea is that one should not be a slave of praise or censure. Then one cannot fulfill their duty on this earth.

Those who do pracara dharma with idea that they are serving Parama Purusa never get frustrated by others' negative comments. That is the expression of real devotion. And such persons do not anticipate that others should praise them because they are doing a great job.

Whenever a person believes in their heart that it is their duty to do a particular task then they do not expect that people should praise them. For example, when a mother is caring for her very small infant, then that mother does not care if the neighbor praises her or not.

Similarly, a good sadhaka will preach the gospel of AM without any expectation of praise and without any concern for censure. One will fulfill this blessed duty to please Parama Purusa.

Baba says, "Nindantu niitinipuńáh yadi vá stuvantu: “If I am too concerned with those who praise or censure me, I will not find time to do my real work. As I have come to this world only for a short period, my only concern should be to keep on doing the duty the Lord has assigned to me. And while doing this allotted duty, I should remember that I belong to Parama Puruśa. I have come form Him, and I will have to return to Him – and to do that, I must complete my allotted duty.” (Subhasita Samgraha, part 12)

Baba says, "Regarding those who are likely to create obstacles in your path – let them do so. You should remember that those who are the actual pioneers, the real vanguard of the society, are always a microscopic minority, but it is they who are destined to be victorious. Those who once opposed, or are now opposing or will oppose in the future, will in the future admit: “Yes, we are now driving our vehicle safely and comfortably along the very path which that vanguard once opened by clearing the jungle.” This means that those who cleared the obstacles in the beginning will later be recognized as pioneers. The funny thing is this, that people do not give recognition at the time it is due. This is the natural law. And at the same time you should also remember this simple truth: that in a jungle the number of tigers and lions is always few; the jackals far outnumber them. Yet in the jungle the tigers and lions reign supreme, not the jackals. The jackals are sure to howl, that is their nature; but the tigers and lions will not be frightened." (AV-6)

Namaskar,
Ishvara


Note 1:                            IMPORTANT PROVERB

One should never forget that human life evolves gradually from animal life in the cosmic cycle of brahmacakra. Human beings were animals in the past and those propensities are still dominant in many of our fellow human beings. For this reason some people feel the need to oppose good work. If we all keep this in mind then one will not get affected when others are opposing your righteous deeds.

Always remember this proverb: No good deed goes unpunished. The sens is that certain notorious people want to abuse you because their own prestige is at stake. But pay no mind to them, go on propagating the ideals of dharma, always singing Baba's name.

Reverence to Guru is at Stake

Date: 20 Mar 2011 19:27:44 -0000
From: "Anil Vijayan"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Reverence to Guru is at Stake

Baba

              == REVERENCE TO GURU IS AT STAKE ==

Namaskar,
As once again some are murmuring about changing the Supreme Command, let
us all take a moment to reflect on what it means to have a Guru and be
on the path of tantra.


           SPECIAL ASPECT OF TANTRA: GURU PUJANAM

As we all know, in tantra, Guru's example, teaching, and word are
everything. We have all experienced how this is an invaluable feature of
being on the path. With reverence & surrender, the disciple must follow
Guru's each and every order. That is the way tantra works: To do as per
Guru's wish.

So the spirit of Guru pujanam is an essential aspect of tantra-- it
creates a special link of love and reverence between the sadhaka and the
Guru. Without that there is no tantra.

Baba says, "Gurupu'janam – one must have reverence for the guru." (AV-34)

Baba says, "Gurupu'janam: one should do as per the gospels of the
preceptor." (SS-18)

Hence, Baba's clear-cut mandate is that each and every disciple must
adhere to Guru's expressed guideline. And indeed the devotee feels in
their heart that there is no other way, 'I must follow what Baba has
given; that is what is most dear to me'. This is the innate feeling of
every Ananda Margii, of every bhakta. And this inherent yearning-- along
with His divine grace-- are what propel us towards the Goal.


            MISGUIDED ATTEMPT OF A FEW JINANIS

However, yet again, some misguided jinanis are trying to misdirect
simple margiis by wrongly claiming that the Supreme Command must be
changed. And they have given all sorts of logic and reasoning which need
not be addressed here-- nor anywhere.

Because all such attempts to change Guru's Supreme Command are useless--
since they undermine the whole essence of tantra, and with it the
Guru-disciple relation.


           BABA HIMSELF SPOKE THE 'SUPREME COMMAND' TERM

In the recorded version of the discourse-- 'Mantra O Mantrajapa-- given
in Morning General Darshan on 18 June '79 in Kolkata, Baba Himself
states the term 'Supreme Command', in English. That itself is enough to
know that He approves of that very translation of the Bengali 'Caram
Nrdesh'.

So when the term 'Supreme Command' is His own selection of words, then
that should be honoured.

It is not that we are debating the translation of Carma Nrdesh into
Swahili, Portuguese, Thai-- or any other language which Baba chose not
to speak. Rather the Supreme Command term is the very English term which
Baba Himself spoke. Hence there is no question of having it changed.
This is Guru's given term: Supreme Command.


                    DISEASE OF SOME JINANIS

But some dry jinanis have the penchant to change everything-- even the
Supreme Command-- which is why Baba Himself makes explicit jokes about
such jinanis.

In Varna Vicitra part 2, in the last chapter Baba muses how when
proofing another's writing, a jinani will even cross out the term
'please' and put 'kindly'; and if the person had originally written
'kindly' then the jinani will mark it out and insert 'please'. This is
the diseased approach of various jinanis. Their ego goads them to change
each word-- to put their fingerprints on everything.

And it is this very same pettiness of mind which leads certain jinanis
to even change the words of Guru's Supreme Command.

When, in reality, the term is not up for debate. Baba has Himself spoken
the phrase 'Supreme Command' in English then that is enough for us. What
He has given is gold and none should get duped into chasing after some
glittery tinsel instead-- i.e. the false words of some jinanis.


                   GURU'S WORD IS EVERYTHING

The overall idea is that Guru's guideline is everything in tantra. In
vaedic diiksa, the guru is not so important. But in tantra the relation
with Guru is everything. That is the greatness of tantra.

And verily true tantric disciples have been blessed with the inner
feeling that Guru's every mandate is divine.

So when Baba is the Tantric Guru and when He Himself has given the words
'Supreme Command', then that is the term to be used-- period.

It is just like how Baba has given the term avadhuta-- then there is no
question of changing that to mullah, or priest, or pundit etc. Because
what He has given is what is best. That is His preference and it is that
preference which we must uphold.


                       BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's grace, He has given us everything to progress in life and the
very essence of those teachings have been embedded in His Supreme
Command. As His disciples, we are not only to strictly follow the orders
given in the Supreme Command, but with reverence-- with Guru pujanam--
we are to honour the name itself as that is the one Guru has explicitly
chosen.

Baba says, "In Tantra, the greatest emphasis is placed on the
preceptor-disciple relationship... [and] also on the need for disciples
to make a total surrender to the preceptor in the early stages of the
Tantric path." (AMIWL-9)

Namaskar
Anil

Note 1:      BABA'S WARNING: BEWARE OF JINANIS

Baba strongly warns us about such tricky jinanis who wish to change
Guru's teachings like the Supreme Command. Wherever they go, such
jinanis create hell and confusion in the society-- for no reason other
than to show off their own intellectual extravaganza.

Baba says, "Such hypocrites want to misguide the people by their tall
talks alone...'Loka Vya'moha Ka'raka.” That is, 'They create disease in
the minds of the people.' Their aim is not to solve society’s problems.
Rather, they are the chief cause for the downfall, retardation and sad
plight of human society. The present crisis in today’s civilization is
due to them. Their theories are based on the psychology and intellectual
extravaganza of the hypocrite. You will certainly encounter many such
theories in the social sphere, the economic sphere, and other spheres of
life. This is not the problem of a single country, but of the entire
intellectual world. Again I repeat that the crisis in civilization today
is due to the intellectual extravaganza of these hypocrites, these
polished satans." (PNS-6)

Thus jinanis are never happy nor ever satisfied unless they are puffing
up their own egos by putting forth their own false theories and
attaching their own name to such theories. That is what Baba is warning
us about in the above passage. And that is exactly what we see happening
with such jinanis who have made up their own fake term-- Supreme Direction.

As Ananda Margiis, we are to uphold Baba's original and chosen term,
'Supreme Command'.


Note 2:     MORE LETTERS ON THE SANCTITY OF THE SUPREME COMMAND

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2011/03/digging-dead-issues.html

 

                             PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"Maner vyatha' mani ja'ne, ca'pa' a'che gopane..." - P.S. 463

Purport:

   Baba, I love You so much. The yearning and longing which I have for You,
everything is hidden deep within my mind. The feeling which is in my mind
nobody can understand-- except my mind. If I want to express these ideas
and sing them to You in the form of song, then it is very
difficult to do. Because these are the inner feelings of my heart-- and
are not to be shared in public. But I can sing those songs to You if
only You and I are there-- nobody else. When we will be together in a
lonely place then I will surely make You listen to those songs which
resonate the inner feelings of my heart. Baba, the pain of my mind only
my mind can understand.
   Baba, the Prabhat Samgiita songs which I sing in dharmacakra & other
programs, whatever I sing in those songs the feeling of my heart is not
expressed. Those songs which express my internal feeling I do not sing
in dharmacakra. What I will sing in lonely place that I will sing for You.
   The language of the heart only the heart can understand. It cannot be
heard by external ears. In my practices, I feel in my heart that You are
and I am-- and that except us there is nothing else in this entire
universe...

 

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              The Way Parama Purusa Evaluates

Baba says, "Do not think that those who are highly learned intellectuals
are elevated. In the realm of spirituality even illiterate persons can
reach the Goal, leaving those intellectuals behind. Parama Purusa does
not consider the intellectual qualification or intellect. He evaluates
everyone with the measuring scale of how much love one has for Parama
Purusa." (SS-14, p. 91, Saharsa DMC, 27 June 1980)
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Short Stories About Naive People

From: "Seshagiri Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Short Stories About Naive People
Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2011 21:37:19 +0530

Baba

                   == SHORT STORIES ABOUT NAIVE PEOPLE ==

Namaskar,
Some friends went to the zoo and were very intrigued by the lion. There were big, thick iron bars all around the area and red warning signs stating "Alert - Dangerous Animal: Keep your hands and feet away".

Seeing the magnificence of the lion, some of the people were very mesmerized and were tempted to extend their hands within the boundary line. The zoo keeper noticed what was going on and warned everyone not to place their hands. He told them all to go back.

Immediately, the naive visitors became quite angry with the zoo keeper. They said, "Why are you terrorizing us, why are you trying to scare us; everything is alright, nothing bad is going to happen." This was their reaction to the zoo keeper's guideline.

Of course, we all know that the zoo keeper was not trying to scare or curse anyone. The zoo keeper's sole intention was to warn them of the dangers and keep everyone safe and happy. If those visitors to the zoo understood this then they would not have argued with the zoo-keeper. Instead they would have calmly accepted his guideline, knowing that the zoo keeper was watching for their well-being.

Here is another story.

Once a team of travelers were driving from the flat lands up into a hilly and mountainous region. Soon they began to see lots of road signs: "Winding Road, Drive Slow"; "Dangerous Roadway, Exercise Caution"; and, "Deadly Turn - 200 Foot Chasm" etc.

Seeing all the signs, the drivers became furious and started a court case against the department of transportation for trying to terrify and scare them.

But we all know that the highway authorities were not trying to frighten anyone. Their sole intention was to warn drivers of the very real dangers and keep everyone safe and happy.

So those are the two stories. Now let's see how they relate with our AM way of life.


                              RELATING THIS TO OUR ANANDA MARGA

At present in our Marga, a few people are upset and want to change or delete certain words from our Supreme Command. In particular they do not like these lines:

"Those who perform sadhana twice a day regularly, the thought of Parama Purusa will certainly arise in their minds at the time of death...Disobedience to this command is nothing but to throw oneself into the tortures of animal life for crores of years...".

They especially do not like the second half of the aforementioned quote, which is intrinsically inseparable from the first line.

These naive people contend that Baba is trying to scare and terrify them - hence they do not want to speak or repeat this line, nor the entire Supreme Command.

But we all know that Baba wants our welfare and as the Supreme Father He is merely alerting us of the dangers of not doing sadhana twice daily. It is similar to the zoo keeper warning those visitors not to extend their hand beyond the boundary line and the department of transportation warning about the deadly turn. 

Baba wants our progress to hasten along the path of bliss. He does not want to see anyone fall into problem.

Due to their simplicity, some people do not realise this. For this reason they are no different from those naive visitors to the zoo or those ignorant travelers on that mountain road.


                                   THE PROBLEM AND THE SOLUTION

Here the critical problem is that some people are not aware about Baba's teachings on brahmcakra, saincara, pratisaincara and negative pratisaincara. If they knew those points, they would understand that not doing sadhana and indulging only in materialistic thinking causes one to get turned into matter: stone, iron, wood and rock etc.

Unfortunately, such people do not realize that this line of the Supreme Command has been given to warn every aspirant about the dangers of materialistic and sensual pursuits. Baba wants everyone to make their life successful.

If those people were properly taught by their acaryas and understood Baba's teachings about pratisaincara and the cycle of creation, they would have felt gratitude for Baba's reminder in The Supreme Command.

Just like high-blood pressure patients feel gratitude towards their doctors for saving them by educating them about the dangers of a eating meat; in result, they can extend their life. Such patients feel grateful.

If those people understood how Baba's guideline will help save them, they too would feel gratitude. But naive people cannot think in this way and instead become furious upon hearing Baba's good advice.

Namaskar,
Seshagiri


Note:                               THE WORK OF OUR DADAS

My deepest respects to those wts doing pracara work in difficult fields. I appreciate their sacrifice and hard work. They have dedicated their life to propagate the gospel of neo-humanism and truth. My request is that they should do just that by educating these  sympathizers who have newly come to the Marga. Such sympathizers do not understand Ananda Marga philosophy. Dadas should educate them. Then this type of problem will be eliminated permanently. And they will be grateful to those Dadas for saving them.


                                              PRABHAT SAMGIITA                                         

"Dhya'nete a'ji dekhechi a'sabe tumi a'ma'r ghare..."  (P.S. 4594)

Purport:

  O' my dearmost Baba, by Your divine grace, today I have seen You in my dhya'na and You told me that You will be coming to my house. O' my Lord, You are so gracious. And now everything is ready for Your grand arrival. The seat has been properly prepared and the colorful a'lpana' decorations have been beautifully placed on the path of Your arrival.   Baba, since then how many days and how many nights have passed-- I have no calculation. Why is it that You did not come. You must have taken a strong vow not to come. But by Your grace today You have broken that vow-- and that is why You are coming. It is Your grace.  
   Baba, we are so very close; we have been together since the dawn of creation. Your and my introduction did not only happen hundreds and thousands of years ago. O' all-pervading Entity, all along-- each and every moment-- You have secretly been with me, since the beginning of time. Baba, always You have remained by my side.
  Baba, today You blessed me in my dhyana and You told me that You are coming to my house. This is Your causeless grace...


                      ****************************************
                           Slowly Moving Towards Cemetery

Baba says, "Human beings often attach less importance to the spiritual aspect of nitya karma and more importance to the physical aspect. This is detrimental because one should not forget that human life is short. From the moment of birth one slowly and steadily advances towards death with every passing second. This short period of time from birth to death is human life. Human beings have come from the world of invisibility and at the end of this short span of time will return to the world of invisibility. Those people can be called intelligent who utilize every moment of their short life engaged in spiritual practice." (APH-4, p. 251) 
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