Beauty of Old Age & Benefits of Disease

Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 08:09:27 -0500
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Beauty of Old Age & Benefits of Disease
From: CJ Phillips

Baba

        == BEAUTY OF OLD AGE AND BENEFITS OF DISEASE ==

Namaskar,
Sometimes humans may moan and groan and exclaim in frustration, 'Why did
such & such problem have to happen'.

Or in exasperation, one may cry out, 'Why must this world be riddled with
so many infections & diseases'.

These types of queries often plague the human mind.


                            THE QUESTION AT HAND

Through it all, the question stands: How to explain such events? Why is it
that old age must befall us? What is the need for disease? What should be
our outlook with regards to these inevitabilities.


                   ONE REPLY: SAMSKARA THEORY

Of course, there is our samskara theory which dictates that one must
undergo the reactions of their actions. This is part and parcel of our
yogic outlook. So that is one way-- a logician's way-- to explain the onset
of disease & difficulties in life etc.


                                     ANOTHER REPLY:

         DISEASE AWAKENS A LONGING TO SEEK THE DIVINE

Side by side there is another way to explain the hardships which make our
human existence seem so fragile.

We can say that such problems are Parama Purusa's way of reminding us that
our human life is for something great-- something divine. The onset of
old-age & disease forces us to seek a pathway out of this material world
which is otherwise riddled with trouble and torment. Failing that-- without
any longing or desire to find something better-- then one would be
satisfied to live forever and ever in this crude mundane world. But this is
not our way; this is not our human dharma.

So diseases and problems help, nay, force humans to seek something greater.
Because by seeing how this earth is wrought with innumerable difficulties
and tragedies, it awakens within human beings a thirst-- a longing-- to
find something better, something divine: Permanent peace at His lotus feet.

                                             
                      ALL WANT A BETTER LIFE

Actually all want a better life. Animals are not satisfied with their
animal existence. Some may think that animals are happy and perfectly
content, but this is not at all the case. Animal life is full of fear and
torment and they want something more.

In His 1969 DMC discourse, Baba describes how the bull attached to the
bullock cart longs to become a human being. Because all day & night that
bull is pulling human beings from place to place; so that bull internally
thinks that one fine afternoon it should escape its fate and become a human
being. Because that bull is not satisfied with its lowly existence as an
animal; it is not satisfied with its lot in life. It wants something better.
Because as was already stated, animal life is not 'a basket of roses'.
Proof being that in our very own Supreme Command, Baba warns us that animal
life is torturous and that humans must not plunge themselves into such
horrific suffering.

So animal life is not something blissful & wonderful; those animals do not
enjoy their condition. They desire something more.

In a similar manner, we humans also long for something higher. We are not
content with our human existence. All are looking for something better. But
even then, the human mind is somewhat fickle. It can be tricked into
thinking that what it has is the best.

For example, if one has a fancy car, a big house, a swimming pool, and a
lot of social prestige, then one may think that 'I need nothing more in
life-- I have all there is to get'. Some materialists may think like this,
especially here in the west. Some blind persons may think they are the king
of this mundane world and their desire is to remain here forever.

So when disease comes along-- or when old age invariably sneaks up on
them-- then such materially minded persons are forced to re-evaluate what
is important in life. Because those diseases and that old age factor
undermines their entire existential value. They think their material
existence is no longer something great. In which case, they again embark on
a search to improve their plight.

Thus disease and old age pressurises even complacent human beings into
looking beyond this material world for some type of higher existence. The
ups and downs of life invariably forces one to think that this world is not
their final destination.


              AWAKENING THE SEARCH FOR LIFE DIVINE
                       
By this entire picture we can realise that disease, difficulties, and old
age help human beings reach up to that sacred stance.

Members of the general public pray up to the heavens or to their favoured
god, 'Please relieve me of my earthly sufferings and allow me to drink from
the pot of divine nectar-- let me experience peace'. This is the way some
members of the general society may think when their life is overwrought
with the hard realities of this ephemeral world.

And with Ananda Margiis, our standard approach is to request Baba for His
divine blessing, 'Baba, do with me what You will in this life-- I do not
care for it, just please be gracious on me and bring me under Your divine
shelter at lotus feet'.

This type of plea is our way of requesting Baba to spare us from the
sufferings of this relative world. Because we understand that although we
have come here to establish His mission, this is not our final resting
grounds. This relative world is not the destination. Rather this mundane
world is just a train station for going to our final abode-- unto His
divine Lap.

And it is things like difficulties, disease, and old age which stand as a
constant reminder to us that this world is not our permanent domicile. This
is not our eternal home. This human life is limited and our dharma is to
find unlimited bliss in His divine shelter.


                 COMMONLY KNOWN IN SOME AREAS

And this entire point is well known in those spiritual societies of the
east. They know that old age brings wisdom and those elderly people have
their eyes fixed on the other world. That is why in places like Japan,
India, and various other lands, the elderly people of those societies
command huge respect.

In contrast in the US-- where materialism runs rampant-- then elderly and
diseased persons are pushed aside to the outskirts & fringe of society.
Tragically, wherever materialism spreads it has this same effect. Thus
today, even in parts of India and Japan where materalism is taking root,
in those pockets - little by little - the elderly are marginalised.

Because in the materialistic model, old age and disease have no value.

Whereas those societies that honor spiritual values, such communities place
tremendous import on age and greatly value the advice and teachings of
their seniors. Because those societies recognise the beauty of old age and
benefits of disease and what wisdom spiritual thirst they bring.

                                                     
                    BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's grace, He has given us the teachings and pathway to reach unto
Him. We have gotten Him as the Sadguru and the sadhana of AM to lift us up
to that final abode-- by His grace. This is His great blessing upon all
Ananda Margiis. So none should think that this material world is their
final resting place.

Baba says, "The worship of Brahma should be done scrupulously, or else you
will later regret and bemoan the futility of your life with the last drop
of your tears at your last hour. You should make your life worthwhile
through your Sa´dhana´. How much can your worldly friends and relations do
for you? After your death your relatives may perhaps ask, "How much money
has he left behind?" Your friends may go to the crematorium and indulge in
flattering reminiscences about you. Your husband or wife may cry for you
for about ten or twelve days and then regain their normal composure. Your
lot will be only a profound sigh - a record of the futility and frustration
of your life. So do not waste your time lest you later have to repent."
(Subhasita Samgraha, part 3)

Namaskar,
Cinmay


Note 1:             PART LIFE

In numerous discourses Baba guides us how our human life is just a part
life. All the various births we take as we progress through the cycle of
Brahmacakra-- through saincara and pratisaincara-- are mere part lives.
Each and every birth is but a piece. And the culmination of our journey
arises when we reach unto Him. So none can think that this world is our
permanent residence. No Ananda Margii can think like that. And for those
who do think that this world is our permanent abode, then disease,
struggle, and strife will awaken their yearning to fine something more--
something divine. In that way-- one way or another-- all will come onto the
path of sadhana to seek that eternal connection with Him.


   ********************************************
             Special Formula of Tandava

Baba says, "Tandava: As long as a dancer remains above the ground, he
derives much benefit; when he touches the ground, then those benefits are
assimilated by the body. That is why in the tandava dance there is much
jumping, because jumping requires the practitioner to remain off the ground
for a fairly long period of time." (NSS, p. 23)
   ********************************************


"A'mi pather hadish pa'i ni, ta'i toma'r pa'ne cali ni..." (PS 1338)

Purport:

   Baba, in the past I could not get the direction of the proper path.
Because ofthat I could not come close to You. Your and my relation was hidden in
dark. I was not aware about You. In that past I could not get Your
introduction. And I could not link up in our close intimate relation which,
in reality, has been going on since a very long time. 
  In my misunderstanding, I was thinking that nobody is mine, and that
to feel love and affection is not my fate. I was thinking that my life does
not have any value. That I will not get respect in my life, just it will be
filled with disrespect and neglect.

   Baba, today You have blessed me and changed everything. Now I feel
that my life has become meaningful, because You are mine. My heart is
filled with Your love.

  Baba, by Your grace I surrender at Your lotus feet, O' Baba...

Baba's Equation for Work & Death

Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2010 21:10:08 -0400
To: AM-GLOBAL
From: Patrick Russell
Subject: Baba's Equation for Work & Death

Baba

Intro to PS: In this song the devotee is directly communicating with Parama
Purusa and recounting his own devotional tales.

Note: In tropical countries, in the summer season most of the flowers dry up due to the extreme hot wind. Some few selected flowers are available in that season. So this song tells about those summer flowers.

"Griis'ma'vaka'she se yadi a'se.." (Prabhata Samgiita #110)

Purport:

  If Baba comes in my summer parched heart, then I will offer Him various kinds of flowers in abundance, I will offer Him my summer season flowers-- whatever the sweetest ones I have in my heart. If Baba comes with His rhythmic rosy feet into my mental garden that is decorated with the crimson sky and full of jasmine and magnolia trees, then in full prostration with my outstretched hands I shall offer flowers at His lotus feet.   In the blissful morning and evening hours when the sea breeze blows then the cuckoo of my mind calls Him with longing. In the flower grove of my heart, on the branches of the kimshuka trees my internal papiya bird calls out to Him-- while nearly the entire flow of devotional river in my heart has run dry.

  Because of the scorching summer heat the sharica indica flowers of my mental grove have fallen and withered away. So my heart requests Baba to shower  His divine grace and come. My mind, which is filled with longing, deeply desires for His arrival to change everything into the luscious blossoms of spring. Because of the extreme summer heat the silk cotton trees are just laden with seeds. On the grapevine, bunches of grapes hang low for You. And in the arbor of the Madhavii flowers of my heart, swarms of black bees are humming around the blossoms.   In this summer atmosphere of my heart, if by showering His grace He comes then whatever are the best things of my heart I will offer at His lotus feet...

== WORK OF DYING PERSON ==

Namaskar,
In various discourses Baba guides us, "Die while working, and work even while dying." While some certainly understand Baba's intent, a few remain somewhat confused.

Commonly people think that in order to follow - "Die while working, and work even while dying" - they should do relief work or their designated social service project incessantly, i.e. without stopping. They do not do anything else nor think about anything else - to the degree that they even skip their food & sadhana etc. They just work 24 / 7 for their project. Naturally one will die in this fashion. According to their misunderstanding, then that will be, "Die while working, and work even while dying."

This has happened with many Wts and even some margiis. But if one studies our AM philosophy more thoroughly, it will be very evident what Baba really means by His teaching: "Die while working, and work even while dying." He does not want that we destroy our human frame by drowning ourselves in work, disregarding our daily routine of 16 Pts.

This matter should be crystal clear in everyone's mind. Failing that some degenerate due to their misunderstanding while others meet their demise far too soon.

WHAT BABA SAID AND WHEN

In His June 3, 1990 DMC discourse - "The Cult of Spirituality - The Cult of Pinnacled Order" -  in Ananda Nagar, Baba gave the following teaching:

Ka'm karte raho, ka'm karte raho,
Ka'm karte karte maro
Marte, marte bhii ka'm karo

 

Meaning:
Go on doing work, go on doing work
Die while working, and work even while dying

At first glance, it may seem that this is a very easy thing to understand. But actually, as noted above, more than a few misunderstand. This leads them to unwittingly contravene Baba's teaching. Invariably they become frustrated, degenerated or leave the path entirely. So we should all be very clear about this lest we fall in the same boat and meet the same misfortune.

"DIE WHILE WORKING": WHAT DOES IT MEAN

In His above teaching - "Die while working, and work even while dying" -  Baba is outlining the essence of true karma yoga which will eventually bring one onto the path of bhakti. First we have to understand Baba's message and then examine common pitfalls or areas of misunderstanding.

So what does it mean to "die while working"? Essentially there are two aspects:

1) Baba has blessed me with the strength to serve others; I am serving with His strength.
2) I am serving Him in His endless array of forms; I am serving Narayana.

Then - of course - to maintain this outlook regular sadhana is needed.

Hence when Baba says "Die while working", it does not mean that we should run ourselves ragged until we have totally ruined our physical body such that we die. Rather He is teaching us the path of true karma where we realise that we are serving with His strength and that we are serving Him in His many forms.

HOW PEOPLE DEGENERATE

BY MISUNDERSTANDING THIS TEACHING

Unfortunately, some misunderstand Baba's above mandate and this leads to their downfall. For instance:

a) Some think that "work while dying" means to skip all one's dharmic practices - asanas, dances, fasting, food, and sadhana - and just plunge oneself in social service until the body is destroyed. For example, a Dada running a children's home may just think about doing relief, relief, relief and die in that way. It is nothing but a myth that this is Baba's teaching.

Indeed, this misguided vision leads to so many problems including frustration, ill health, anxiety, and desperation. Some even leave Ananda Marga because they have forgotten their real purpose in life. So this manner is not good.

b) Others think that "work while dying" means that with my own strength I am serving poor people etc. This leads to ego & arrogance as one has forgotten bhumadrsti, or cosmic outlook. They have forgotten that one is serving with His strength and that one is serving Him in the form of this manifested world. Thus this way also is not the path of true karma. Unfortunately you may have seen some doing like this in our Marga. They brag about their work: "I have done this or that, I have built this jagrti and I have published this book etc." This type of expression is the work of a degenerated mind.

c) Some hold the misnomer that all work & all actions are karma yoga. Following this tenet they remain busy all the 24hrs in all kinds of crude & mundane engagements, and overlook their sadhana in the name of doing karma. In that case their work engagement only leads to bondage. True karma yoga actually begins when one feels that "He is the Doer, I am just fulfilling my role in His liila." For this idea to enter the mind, all kinds of devotional practices are a must. Then one's service will lead to liberation.

So we must always remember that Baba's formulas for perfectly adhering to the path of karma - i.e. "die while working" - entails two conditions. First one must think that,  "Parama Purusa has blessed me by giving me strength to serve": It His strength not mine.

And secondly one must ideate that "I am serving Parama Purusa in the form this manifested universe - I am serving Narayana." And all along one must be strict in sadhana and all their dharmic practices.

These are the pre-requisite factors for adhering to Baba's teaching, "Die while working", and following the path of true karma. And by this way one will garner more and more devotion, by His grace.

"WORK WHILE DYING": WHAT DOES IT MEAN

When Baba says, "Work while dying", then many get confused. They wonder how is it possible to work when the body is sick, old, and decrepit. How can one do work when they are on their deathbed.

And the answer is that at this point one's chief work is sadhana. We must remember that sadhana is also work. In various discourses, Baba Himself says that sadhana itself is karma.

When infirmed, one may not be able to render disaster relief work to the society, however a sadhaka will be able to ideate on Him and do sadhana. That is how to pay heed to the teaching, "Work while dying."

So the main work of one who is taking their last breaths on this earth is to do sadhana and ideate on Parama Purusa. That will be, "Work while dying."

FURTHER THOUGHTS

So the above represents the greater meaning of Baba's teaching: "Die while working and work while dying." Here are further thoughts & considerations on this issue.

1) As Ananda Margiis, our preference is not to go and live in a retirement home and lie there listlessly etc. So long as we have energy then we will serve. And when we have lived our life to the fullest and have no energy left then we will remain in bed and do sadhana. That is the formula and how it works.

2) One day each and every person will complete their life and leave their body. And if you remember Parama Purusa then you will become one with Him. So one must go on doing sadhana. That is the main work. Hence, the formula of true karma yoga encompasses all kinds of devotional practices.

3) Once again Baba's teaching is: "Die while working, and work even while dying."

The first part of this teaching guides us to do social service and sadhana for as long as we can. And the latter half guides us that when that when we are on our deathbed we should complete our karma by doing sadhana.

BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's grace He has given the teaching for doing true karma on this earth and attaining liberation by His grace. Those who misunderstand His teachings only invite their own demise. By clearly understanding - "Die while working, and work even while dying" - then one's life on this earth is sure to be successful.

Namaskar,
Parama'tma

Note 1: RELATED TEACHINGS

Here Baba guides us that bragging about doing any work is pure foolishness since all energy to act comes from Him. One rendering service on the path of true karma will always remember this divine truth.

Baba says, "I have done this. I have done that.” You say this. But where from doth that energy come? It is not your individual energy. If you are not given food or water for a few days, what will happen? You will not have any energy. You cannot create any energy. Through food, physical energy is transmuted into your individual vital energy." ("The Supreme Cognition")

In this next teaching, Baba warns us that if one misunderstands dharmic teachings - like "Die while working, and work even while dying" - then one will degenerate. And indeed that is what we see happening to some in the Marga.

Baba says, "All people should have proper knowledge and understanding of what is shreya and what is preya, what is vidya' and what is avidya', for lack of this knowledge causes their downfall. (SS-3, "Supreme Benevolence and Mundane Pleasure")

Here in this below guideline, Baba warns how we should not waste our life in useless mundane pursuits losing sight of Him. By Baba's grace we should follow His guideline of true karma, where one is ever involved in His thought and serving Him.

Baba says, "I have spent my life in vain;
Such a great Lord I did not worship –
I lost the greatest jewel.
I am indeed an unfortunate creature;
I never enjoyed
Even a drop of nectar
Of the love of God." (SS-3)

Note 2: WRONGLY PRINTED IN OUR BOOKS

The discourse "The Cult of Spirituality - The Cult of Pinnacled Order" is printed in the book, Yoga Psychology. There the publishers printed Baba's teaching as follows:

Marte marte ka'm karo, ka'm karte karte maro

But this is not correct. Because when delivering that discourse Baba actually said:

Ka'm karte raho, ka'm karte raho,
Ka'm karte karte maro
Marte, marte bhii ka'm karo

Hence this stands as yet another case where the publishers could not properly transcribe Baba's original teachings.

Note 3: BABA ALSO TALKED ABOUT THIS

In these following discourses Baba also reviews this critical point, "Die while working, and work even while dying."

"Incantation and Human Progress." Tatanagar, 30 Nov 79, Bangla

"Action Leads to Progress", Patna, 11 Jul '79 Hindi

"How an Ideal Person Should Live", Subhasita Samgraha-12

****************************************************
Neo-Humanist

Baba says, "The psycho-spiritual approach makes a person deeply introversial, one-directional, strong and dynamic...Such a magnanimous and devotional mind rises above petty quarrels and interpersonal and inter-group conflicts." (Prout-12, p. 15)

****************************************************