Baba Story About Prout Government + Types of Ista Mantras & More

From: "Ramlal Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Baba Story About Prout Government
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2013 23:26:08 +0530

Baba

This entire email is composed of 4 parts:
(1) Posting: Baba Story About Prout Government;
(2) Posting: Two Opposite Types of Mantras;
(3) Posting: Baba's Procedural Order: No Co-Education Upon Entering Puberty
(4) Prabhat Samgiita #3580.

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

== BABA STORY ABOUT PROUT GOVERNMENT ==

~ HOW OPPOSITION WORKS ~

Note: This short story is related with one very senior Proutist - Shrii Shashi Ranjanji, a key member of parliament with a high post and a founding member of PBI (Proutist Block of India). The following story is one key point where Sadguru Baba graciously responds to Shashi Ranjanji's query on Prout policies. Shashi Ranjanji is also known as Shashi Ranjan Sahu.

Namaskar,
On various occasions, I was blessed to be along with Baba while He was delivering guidelines on Prout.

We all knew that Baba's plan was that margiis should challenge every election and run for every seat of Parliament. This was Baba's outlined approach.

In my mind, however, I was wondering what would happen if really margiis ran for and won every seat of parliament. In that case, who would serve as the opposition group in Parliament.

For instance, in the general democratic system, there is one elected party in power. And all elected officials of that majority party will automatically and brazenly support their elected executive chief, i.e. the leader of the country. This is the norm. Yet, side by side, there are many other elected officials who are part of one or more minority groups. And it is these minority group(s) that stand as an oppositional force to the party in power. That is the way it runs. But if one party gets 75% or 80% of the seats in Parliament or Congress, then there is hardly any debate - what a leader wants do they do by voice vote. What to speak of if one group gets 100% of the seats.

Thus, if the Prout Party runs for and wins every seat of Parliament then how will there be an opposition group. Every elected official will be a Proutist and hence part of the Prout party. Then where is there scope for any opposition. This was the quandary in my mind.

So I asked Baba, "Suppose, all the members of Parliament are from the Proutist party then how will there be any opposition?"

Baba told, "Yes, there will be scope for opposition. Elected members of Parliament will pressurise those at the helm and ensure that Prout principles are followed and implemented. The loyalty of the elected leaders will not take the shape of blind support for the top post holder, but rather their loyalty will be in the form of the rational and just implementation of Proutistic ideals - in the service of the entire society. Those elected leaders will be vigilant that Proutists in the top executive offices are discharging their duties properly. On such points, there will be vigorous and open debate. That is how the opposition will be formed when Proutists have 100% of the seats in Parliament."

I thought, "Yes, this is how we will proceed when Proutists win over all elected seats of Parliament. They will not work like general politicians wherein elected members of the ruling party blindly support the executive branch."

Namaskar,
At His Lotus Feet,
Shashi Ranjan

REFLECTION

Unfortunately, nowadays in Ananda Marga, those in the executive body (i.e. purodhas in Central Office) do not appreciate any opposition from their own members, let alone from field workers and general margiis. That is why countless wrongs are going on in AMPS.

The duty of general purodhas is to keep a sharp eye on the executive body, and take them to task when they veer from Baba's teachings. However, instead of taking dharmic stand, such purodhas are stooges. They sit there and allow top purodhas to do as they wish - wholly disregarding Guru's mandates.

Once again, the main problem nowadays in AMPS is that healthy debate and criticism is not allowed. In that condition, general wts and margins have no voice. Top purodhas rule according to their convenience. Then sin and crime brews. In the end, they all drown in the mud of their own crime and sin.

If anyone does not understand this short explanation please write back.

Namaskar,
in His service,
Pradiip

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

Subject: Two Opposite Types of Mantras
From: Gaungadhar ght2314@gtu...
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2013 20:44:21

== TWO OPPOSITE TYPES OF MANTRAS ==

Namaskar,
Here is one very important and unique aspect about ista mantras in our Ananda Marga sadhana system. Baba has only discussed this point on select occasions - i.e. very rarely.

'Mananat tarayet yastu sah mantrah parikiirttitah'

"Mantra is that particular word whose repetition or auto-suggestion or outer-suggestion helps the microcosm free itself of all the fetters of physical, psychic, and spiritual life." (Ananda Vacanamrtam - 5, p. 96)

In His above teaching, Baba is guiding us about the important role auto and outer suggestion have in the repetition of a mantra. We all know that in the first lesson of our Ananda Marga sadhana we use a mantra. Each one of the Ananda Marga ista mantras are based either on auto suggestion or outer suggestion. At the time of initiation, based on their samskara, every Ananda Margii is given their own personal ista mantra. And that is the mantra they will use for their entire life.

MEANING OF ISTA MANTRA

AUTO SUGGESTION VS OUTER SUGGESTION

So some sadhakas have ista mantras which are based exclusively on auto-suggestion; and some have mantras based only on outer suggestion. It varies from mantra to mantra.

For example, for some sadhakas, their ista mantra is based on auto suggestion. The meaning is, 'I am that...', i.e. 'I am Brahma'.

So, in this case, the sadhaka is suggesting this idea to himself while repeating his mantra. And during the repetition of the first half of the ista mantra  while inhaling the sadhaka thinks 'I am'. And when repeating the second half of the ista mantra while exhaling he ideates on 'Brahma'. The full idea is: "I am Brahma." This is how the ista mantra works with auto suggestion. And that is what Baba is referring to in the above guideline.

Whereas in outer suggestion, the types of mantra used in first lesson are somewhat different.

In that case, Gurushakti gives the suggestion to the sadhaka, 'you are that...', i.e. 'you are Brahma'. So here 'you' means the sadhaka, not someone else. Thus during the first half of the mantra on the inhalation the idea comes from Gurushakti to the sadhaka that 'you are'. And on the second half of the ista mantra upon exhalation the ideation is on 'Brahma'. The full idea is: "You are Brahma." This is how an ista mantra works with outer suggestion.

In the Ananda Marga sadhana system, most of the ista mantras are based on auto-suggestion. It is rare to receive an ista mantra based on outer suggestion.

DO NOT REPEAT TWO TYPES OF MANTRA

ONLY REPEAT YOUR OWN PERSON ISTA MANTRA

Thus when repeating their ista mantra every sadhaka must follow their assigned mantra - either it is auto suggestion or outer suggestion, depending on their mantra - as it is allotted by their acarya. No individual is given two mantras. Every sadhaka is given one single mantra, and that mantra is based either on auto or outer suggestion.

So one must not do both types, auto & outer. This should never be done. One has either been assigned an auto suggestion mantra or one based on outer suggestion. The one you have received is what you will use for the duration.

In select circumstances, if a mistake was made at the time of initiation, it may be that certain individuals need to have their ista mantras changed. If so, this is always done by an acarya. Beyond that, every sadhaka should always use the ista mantra given to them at the time of initiation.

Just as one should not take two different antibiotics at the same time, similarly one should not use both types of ista mantras, i.e. auto and outer. Likewise, just as one should not stand on two different moving vehicles at the same time, similarly one should not use both types of ista mantras, i.e. auto and outer.

Here every sadhaka should keep in mind that this distinction between the auto and outer ista mantras is a very subtle aspect of sadhana. Only discuss this point with those acaryas who have a very keen interest in sadhana. If you ask those wts who are fully involved in mundane dealings, business, and xyz pursuits, they will only yawn and misguide you, unfortunately. If you search you will find that there are many sincere acaryas.

Note: This matter of auto and outer suggestion is related with one's ista mantra. So I cannot write the actual mantras here because they cannot be told openly. So it is the duty of sadhakas to communicate one-on-one with an acarya on this.

IF SADHANA NOT DONE IN A METHODICAL WAY, THE RESULT IS NEGATIVE

"The mind thinks with concentration, that is, the mind meditates. Regarding this faculty of thinking, if it is done in a methodical way, the result is certainly positive...But if it is not done in a methodical way, the general result is negative." (2 June 1990 RU, Anandanagar)

PURPOSE IN WRITING ABOUT AUTO AND OUTER SUGGESTION OF MANTRA

The purpose in writing about auto and outer suggestion of mantra is two-fold:

(a) All sadhakas should understand the meaning of their mantra; those not aware should consult their acarya.

(b) By raising this matter, acaryas will be forced to educate themselves on the deeper aspects of sadhana.

Namaskar,
At His Lotus Feet,
Gaungadhar

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

Subject: Baba's Procedural Order: No Co-Education Upon Entering Puberty
From: Kavita@opera...
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2013 22:33:46
To: am-global@earthlink.net

BABA'S PROCEDURAL ORDER:

NO CO-EDUCATION UPON ENTERING PUBERTY

Namaskar,
"Some of you are aware that one central didi - herein referred to as Didi D - is extremely attached with a young man of 18 years of age, whom we shall call Mr. S. The situation is not at all ordinary - rather quite abnormal. They live together: Sleeping, eating, and going together etc. Didi D and Mr S are very linked with each other.

The reason why this is such an important matter is because this has the makings of becoming a systemic issue within our Marga. The likes of which have been the downfall of many religions and spiritual communities. We should not let our Ananda Marga suffer the same fate."

According to the following procedural order, Didi Ananda Dyotona is disobeying Baba and contravening His stated guideline. That is very unfortunate. Didiji is doing adharmic work, incurring sin and bad samsakras, as well as ruining the life of a young man, Shubham. The whole scene is quite tragic.

Here following is Baba's own Procedural Order which states that our Ananda Marga schools must not be co-ed once children have reached the age of puberty.

A'NANDA MA'RGA PRACA'RAKA SA'MGHA (Central)

A'NANDA NAGAR

PLO no. 1A/4.2.1969

As per rules, co-education is allowed in our Schools up to Standard V. but boys who are learning in Std. V or below but have crossed twelve years of age will not be permitted to study in any of our lady managed Schools. Similarly girls who are learning in Std. V or below but have crossed 12 years of age, shall not be allowed to study in our Schools (for boys).

Feb 4, 1969

Note: Standard V is the equivalent of 5th grade or 5th class in the western system.

According to Baba's above procedural order on co-education, there are two determining factors. If one has reached the age of 12 then that is one point to separate males and females in their schooling. Secondly, if any student has completed Standard V grade, they must be in gender-separated learning environment. So if one has completed standard V and still is not 12yrs of age, then they cannot continue into grade VI in a co-ed school. Thus, boys and girls cannot attend the same school if they are of 12 years of age or have completed Standard V grade, whichever comes first.

The real essence of the stipulation is based upon adolescence or puberty. Once the mammary glands have developed in girls and the related glands for boys, then they cannot attend the same school. That is Baba's guideline.

So nowadays when in some parts of the world, girls and boys enter into adolescence at the age of 8, then that marks the time they must attend a single-gender school.

"Yes, I am interested in receiving the scanned PO"

The above is Baba's procedural order. Baba has given the order and in due course GS Dada would sign and circulate it. The above is the email version. If you want a scanned copy of the actual order then click reply and paste this into the subject box: "Yes, I am interested in receiving the scanned PO".

Namaskar,
in Him,
Kavita

Note: LINK TO EARLIER LETTER ABOUT DIDIJI

For more about the situation with Didiji and Shubham click on the below link.

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2013/03/disastrous-trend-threat-to-existence.html

**** Here begins the Prabhat Samgiita ****


"Madhur mohan tumi cita-rainjan a'cho sada' sa'the sa'the..." (3580)

Purport:

O' Parama Purusa, You are very sweet, most attractive. You have coloured my mind in Your colour. That is why You are Cita-Rainjan [1]. Always You are remaining with me side by side. You have removed the despair and filled my heart with Your love. All the darkness & hopelessness was removed by that light.

O' Divine Entity, You are beyond the scriptures, intellect, logic, and reasoning, You are above all these; You are Alakha-Nirainjain [2], beyond description. Infinite and unblemished. Only You can shatter the bondage of avidya maya - the mirage of negative attraction - and grant salvation. Baba, You are the most charming, the most sweet, my own...


END NOTES FOR PRABHATA SAMGITIA #3580:

[1] Cita-Rainjan: Baba guides us & we all know that devotion is that unique ingredient which allows one to advance in the spiritual field. Without innate love for Parama Purusa one can never succeed. By Baba's divine grace, in His role as Cit-Rainjan, He is that Divine Entity who colours and saturates the mind of sadhakas in the fountain of devotion. Baba says, "'rainjana', which means 'the One who colours' - that which colours the mind." (Ananda Vacanamrtam-1) So He is that Cosmic Being who graciously showers devotional love into the heart and mind of the bhakta. And by such overwhelming Cosmic grace, the devotee becomes immersed in Supreme bliss and comes in the closest proximity with that Love Personified Entity: Parama Purusa.

[2] Alakhanirainjan: ('Alakh' means 'invisible'; 'nir' means 'no'; 'ainjan' means 'black spot'.) Of the infinite attributions of Parama Purusa, one of which is that He is invisible and blemishless-- totally pure and perfect. That is why He is known as Alakhanirainjan. Because in this world unit beings are bound by their past actions, by their samskaras; and this creates a black mark in their mind. But being Alakhanirainjan, being both invisible and blemishless, Parama Purusa is totally beyond the realm of sense perception and beyond the realm of samskara. His mind never gets stained. He remains eternally pure and spotless.

Re: Wrong Way To Teach Children #3

From: @centercom...>

To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Re: Wrong Way To Teach Children #3
Date: Fri Aug 03 2012, 22:54:36

Baba

== RE: WRONG WAY TO TEACH CHILDREN ==

~ Part 3 ~

(Note: This is the third letter in this series. Links to the two prior letters are appended below. - Eds)

Namaskar,

"If you give kids money as a means of motivating them to study, that type of psychology will spill over to other arenas of life. The day their mother is sick, they will only go to the store to get medicine if they get paid handsomely by their sick mother. So this idea of paying students to study will just make them spoiled and indulgent. It will wipe out their ability to grow into idealistic, sacrificing, and socially responsible human beings. Why? Because when they are young is the time to teach them these core values, but those are not inculcated. Instead, parents train them with monetary incentives. So children adopt materialistic, business relations as their ideal. In that case, everything is done for monetary return, and they are never given the chance to cultivate an inner drive to help and serve others."

Here is another off-shoot to this problem that abounds based on this same formula:

1. Some parents in the US give money to kids to do house chores.

2. But it is not at all good to create this type of business relation - rather it is most harmful.

3. It sets the tone that children merely have a business relation with their family members and the greater society.

4. If this continues then they never develop a sense of duty or responsibility. They think that everything is a commercial transaction. They totally miss out on the ideals of familial and loving relations.

PERSONAL STORY

I can never forget the poignant account that I heard from a friend. He had fallen in his own home and could not get up - his ankle was twisted and broken. So he asked his 9-year-old son to bring the walking stick that was 20 feet away in the corner. The boy just looked at his father and said, "If you give me ten dollars then I will bring you the stick." The father ended up lying there on the floor in his helpless condition for two hours because he did not have cash to give to his son. It was only when his wife returned home that he could get up. When I heard this from my friend (i.e. the father), I was aghast. I thought what kind of children are we raising nowadays.

JUST QUICK-FIX, NOT LONG-TERM SOLUTION

5. No doubt giving money to do chores or homework is a quick-fix for the immediate future or short-term. But over the long haul, by this way, children lose the opportunity to develop an inner sweetness and feelings of sacrifice. They become creatures of materialism - not human beings. They do everything for the dollar and never cultivate refined human sentiments and characteristics. All because that is how their parents trained them when they were young.

BABA'S MANDATE

6. We should adhere to Baba's mandate and awaken within children a thirst for knowledge and a sense of duty.

Baba says, "The thirst for knowledge will have to be awakened among students, and reverence, devotion, orderliness and discipline will have to be taught as well." (Problems of the Day, pt #33)

Namaskar,
Manomohan Deva

Note 1: BABA'S TEACHING:

MUST AWAKEN A GENUINE THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE

Here below in so many ways Baba guides us that we are to awaken and support a child's development by nurturing their inherent thirst for knowledge

Baba says, "How many teachers try to awaken a genuine thirst for knowledge in their students?" (Human Society-1, Education)

Baba says, "Children are by nature most inclined towards play, so a thirst for knowledge will have to be awakened in children through the medium of play – children should be educated through play methods. Children are also by nature inclined to listen to fantasies and stories. Through stories children can easily be taught the history and geography of various countries, and they may also be taught the initial lessons of how to practise universalism in their lives. Children love play and stories almost equally, so in their case the two should be equally utilized." (Human Society-1, Education)

Baba says, "Students go to school and sit for examinations in order to pass. Examiners should bear this fact in mind. They should not adopt the rigid position that “Only such-and-such percentage of students will be allowed to pass.” Examiners should take into account only the range of knowledge and the extent of the thirst for knowledge the students possess." (Human Society-1, Education)

Note 2: LINKS TO EARLIER LETTERS ON THIS TOPIC

#1: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/07/wrong-way-to-teach-children.html

#2: http://www.am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/07/re-wrong-way-to-teach-children-2.html

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"Jiivaner uts hate je srote bha'siya'chila'm..."  (P.S. 3016)

Purport:

Baba, O' Parama Purusa, since the very origin of my life - since eternity - in which current I was floating, in that very flow, You were also present. But I did not see You.  

Baba, You were with me day and night, ever-awake, holding the lamp of effulgence in Your hand. But that time I could not recognise You.

O' my dearmost Baba, still today You remain along with me. Indeed each and every single moment You decorate this grand universe in hundreds of
forms, shapes, and colors. Baba, You are always dancing in that divine vibration, but I did not see You because I was keeping my eyes closed.

Baba, since eternity You have been along with me. Today You have made me realise this very cosmic truth: I am surviving only due to Your boundless grace, affection, and love...

Re: Wrong Way to Teach Children #2

Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2012 21:44:36 -0000
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From:  Ganesh_Deva
Subject: Re: Wrong Way to Teach Children #2

Baba

== RE: WRONG WAY TO TEACH CHILDREN #2 ==

(Note: This is the second letter in this series. A link to the first letter is appended below. - Eds)

Namaskar,

On 7/11/12, Ranjiit Deva wrote:

"In the general society, there are three main ways that parents and educators force learning onto child learners:
(a) Offer students money and gifts for studying and achieving academic attainment;
(b) Punish students in various ways if they do not study by employing fear tactics or taking away their favourite food and dessert etc;
(c) Give the allurement of prestige, professional status, or guarantee a bright future.

These are the common ways that parents and educators pressure or force students to study.

But, according to Baba, this is not the way to motivate students."


My Comment:

The inability of the present system of education in materialistic countries to harness a child's desire to learn is then capitalised on by the mass media and corporate institutions.

HOW BIG BUSINESS CAPITALISES

WHERE EDUCATION FAILS

Big business, advertisers, the television and film industry - along with so many pillars of the pseudo-culture world - understand well that children have an inherent desire to learn. When the schools fail to harness this desire, these businesses, marketers, & the media jump in and fill the gap. Big business employs crafty and psychological methods to arouse a thirst of learning within students to learn about their own products, while education fails to develop a thirst for true knowledge.

In turn, kids and students memorise commercials, advertisements and become living and breathing advocates of those brands etc. And not only that, those kids become faithful customers and their families spend huge sums of money buying those products and paying for that type of entertainment. Along the way, the school system fails to instill within students a desire to learn classical knowledge and practical skills. This misstep by education gets converted into a "boon" for big business. Youths become active followers of corporate brands and pop media, and simultaneously they disregard their formal education.

So it is a complete switchover. The present system of education fails to inspire children to learn and instead forces them and offers monetary incentives. In the end, the students have no real interest and ultimately forget what they were taught. They cannot retain their classroom knowledge. Whereas, marketers and corporations successfully goad children to learn everything about their films, pop songs, slogans, video games, logos, and more. Businesses awaken a thirst within children to learn about their company products, and they need not directly pay any money to children. They learn about it on their own and retain all that information.

The whole scene is backward. Education fails to awaken a thirst for knowledge and fails to teach children what should be taught; while, businesses inspire children to learn about their company brand and their pseudo-culture gimmicks and gadgets.

BABA'S GUIDELINES ON THE ROLE OF EDUCATION

Here again is Baba's teaching.

Baba says, "Education must awaken the thirst for knowledge in the students’ minds. The students themselves will create environmental pressure by persistent demands for answers to queries like: What is the answer? Is it correct? The longing, “I wish to know...I wish to understand and assimilate the entire universe” should be created. Such a thirst for knowledge should be created in the minds of students...So a tremendous thirst for knowledge must be awakened in the students’ minds. They will constantly pry their teachers, their parents and their neighbours with questions like: Why is this so? What is that? Why does that happen? Why does this not happen? etc. They are ready to assimilate the entire universe." (Prout in a Nutshell - 18, Talks on Education)

Baba furthermore gives this guideline:

Baba says, "Society will gain no lasting benefit if teachers force students to swallow knowledge like quinine pills instead of awakening the thirst for knowledge in the minds of young children, or for that matter in the mind of any student." (Human Society-1, Education)

Namaskar,
Ganesh Deva

Note 1: LINK TO INITIAL LETTER ON THIS TOPIC

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/07/wrong-way-to-teach-children.html

 

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"Tumi a'ma'y hrdaya ma'jhe eso go priyo madhurata' ma'khi..."    (P.S. 747)

Purport:

Baba, please come in my heart and saturate my entire being with the showering of Your sweetness, O' my dear most. Baba please remove my all impurities and negative samskaras - and whatever other stains that accumulated over the ages. Please inundate my entire existence with the showering of Your love and divine grace.  

Baba, thoughout this entire universe, these seven lokas, nothing is beyond Your reach. Everything is within You. Because everything resides in You, that is why You know all my merits and demerits - whatever I have. By Your grace, today I am surrendering whatever is mine unto You. With the only desire that You please look towards me with Your compassionate eye, eyes full of karuna'. This wee-bit of grace I long from You.  

Baba, since ages, since many lives, I have been crossing through the negative path, path of dogma. You graciously awakened my samvit (spiritual awareness), now for the first time in my life, I have understood my mistakes. And I rectified them, by Your grace. Baba, all my actions, my entire being, my whole heart, everything I offer at Your lotus feet. I do not want to keep anything as my own, from this moment forward. With this pointed mind, I am doing sastaunga pranam to You. Please accept it...

Wrong Way to Teach Children

From: "Ranjiit Deva"....@varun...
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Wrong Way to Teach Children
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2012 22:23:46

Baba

== WRONG WAY TO TEACH CHILDREN ==

Namaskar,
In the US, nowadays some primary and high school students are paid money by the government - and even by educators and parents - as an incentive for attending class, studying, and doing their homework. We should think: Is this appropriate or not?

Some parents, guardians, teachers, policy-makers, and researchers believe this is a very good way to motivate students. They think a monetary incentive will inspire them to study.

Yet, on this very matter, Baba teaches us that children should not be given a monetary incentive or forced to learn. They will not retain any of that knowledge if it is forced upon them.

WAYS CHILDREN ARE FORCED TO LEARN

In the general society, there are three main ways that parents and educators force learning upon today's children:
(a) Offer students money and gifts for studying and achieving academic attainment;
(b) Punish students in various ways if they do not study by employing fear tactics or taking away their favourite food and dessert etc;
(c) Give the allurement of prestige, professional status, or guarantee a bright future.

These are the common ways that parents and educators pressure or force students to study.

But, according to Baba, this is not the way to motivate students. This notion of pressuring them to study creates bad habits that will carry on throughout their life, in all realms of existence.

For instance, regarding point (a), if you give kids money as a means of motivating them to study, that type of psychology will spill over to other arenas of life. The day their mother is sick, they will only go to the store to get medicine if they get paid handsomely by their sick mother. So this idea of paying students to study will just make them spoiled and indulgent. It will wipe out their ability to grow into idealistic, sacrificing, and socially responsible human beings. Why? Because when they are young is the time to teach them these core values, but those are not inculcated. Instead, parents train them with monetary incentives. So children adopt materialistic, business relations as their ideal. In that case, everything is done for monetary return, and they are never given the chance to cultivate an inner drive to help and serve others.

Second, if punishment or fear tactics are used to force kids to study, then the day that fear is gone, they will neither remember what they learned, nor retain any of that information. For example, if a father threatens a child to study then the moment that father is not there, that child will not study. So this approach of forcing a child to learn is not effective. (See Note #1)

Third, the matter of prestige does not work with kids aged 5 - 11; and for teenagers this is not the right incentive because they will become prestige oriented and not care what is proper. They will indulge in whatever will make them popular, regardless of what effect it has on them. They will do everything for the sake of getting more prestige. So if their parents do not have prestige in society then those kids will not go out in public with their parents.

 

MUST AWAKEN A THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE

So these three aforementioned techniques do not work. What then is Baba's guideline for motivating students?

Baba clearly states that the "thirst for knowledge" should be aroused. That is the main approach that teachers and parents should adopt.

It is nature's law: Every child has the capacity to develop a great thirst for knowledge. It is the duty of parents, family members, teachers, and school officials to cultivate this longing - and not to extinguish it. The child's inquisitiveness and intellectual growth should be wholeheartedly encouraged. (See Note #2)

HOW TEACHERS AND PARENTS GO WRONG

Unfortunately, due to defective educational strategies and human misunderstanding, often such educators and parents stifle that inner drive in students.

How does this happen?

Well, when children are very small and start speaking, they ask all kinds of questions: What is this? How does it work?  Children at that age are extremely inquisitive and pose innumerable queries. Often times parents and caretakers become overwhelmed. To quiet children, they terrorise them, or give false answers, or scare them. In that way, children become timid and lose their curiosity and zest for knowledge.

WAYS TO ENCOURAGE LEARNING

Baba guides us that the best way to help the child and foster their growth is to answer their questions truthfully. So, either give an honest answer based on the facts; or, if you do not know the answer, then directly say, "I do not know, but I will find out and tell you." That will be extremely helpful and will advance the child's learning. Whereas, scaring them or telling them lies is very dangerous, and indeed quiet harmful, with long-term negative repercussions.

Every child enters this world with the potential for so much inquisitiveness and a strong desire to learn. That quality should be encouraged in a very natural way. Then the child will develop the inner inspiration to learn and grow as a human being. Then there will be no need to offer some type of external incentive to learn - such as giving them money.

If that innate longing is already crushed, then it must be rekindled. Then it is the job of parents and educators to awaken that thirst for knowledge through story, queries, or other ways that interest and challenge the child. That will create hunger to learn in which case the then real learning process will start. This should be done by parents, family members, caretakers, teachers, and general citizens - all are involved in raising the child.

Baba says, "The thirst for knowledge will have to be awakened among students, and reverence, devotion, orderliness and discipline will have to be taught as well." (Problems of the Day, pt #33)

Namaskar,
Ranjiit Deva

Note 1: FORCING STUDENTS TO STUDY DOES NOT WORK

Here is Baba's teaching that employing fear tactics to force children to study is a defective approach. Rather it is important to cultivate a genuine desire to learn.

Baba says, "So as I was saying, it will not do to impart education through intimidation. A thirst for knowledge must be awakened, and, to quench that thirst, proper education must be given. Only then will education be worthwhile and develop the body, mind and ideals of the student." (Human Society-1, Education)

Note 2: MUST INSPIRE THEM TO LEARN

Here Baba guides us that educators must inspire children to develop a desire to learn; in result, the child's innate curiosity will awaken and they will want to know more.

Baba says, "Education must awaken the thirst for knowledge in the students’ minds. The students themselves will create environmental pressure by persistent demands for answers to queries like: What is the answer? Is it correct? The longing, “I wish to know...I wish to understand and assimilate the entire universe” should be created. Such a thirst for knowledge should be created in the minds of students...So a tremendous thirst for knowledge must be awakened in the students’ minds. They will constantly pry their teachers, their parents and their neighbours with questions like: Why is this so? What is that? Why does that happen? Why does this not happen? etc. They are ready to assimilate the entire universe." (Prout in a Nutshell - 18, Talks on Education)

 

 

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"Jeo na' ogo prabhu, anek katha' a'che ba'kii..."  -P.S. #683

Purport:

Baba, O' Prabhu please do not go away. Please remain with me - I have many a tale to tell You. Please come to my home. Please understand this unique opportunity: I am all alone in the house. Nobody is here, so please come.

Baba, in pleasure and pain, during both negative and positive situations, all the time I am calling You. And always I am remembering Your name. During all the 24 hours, whatever I do, my hands are always busy in work; but, my mind is at Your lotus feet. I remember You; it is Your grace. Even if I risk losing everything I want You to my heart's content. Baba, You understand my entire situation but You never console me. I am surrounded by the darkness these days. I do not have any happiness.  

Baba I do not want anything from You, only this much I want: That You please come close and sit beside me. The doors & windows of my mind are always open in longing for You, waiting for Your arrival.  

Baba, my Lord, please do not go away leaving me deserted. Always remain in my heart...

Serious Matter

From: "Laksman"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Serious Matter
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 21:39:04

Baba

"Sundar tumi manohar madhup nikare smita ha's..." (PS 1659)

Purport:

O' Sundar, O' Most Beautiful One, You are the sweetness behind everything. O' Baba, You are Manohar: With Your exquisite beauty You have completely captivated my mind. Baba, because of Your infinite charm, all my thoughts are running ceaselessly after You. Baba, Your smile is like the accumulation of infinite sweetness. It satiates my whole existence and relieves me of all sorts of burdens and makes my life blissful. For You my heart is satiated; because of Your divine love, I am overjoyed -  overflowing in bliss.

Baba, You are the most loving One. You are the focal point of this universe. You are the source of all love and beauty. Baba, when I think about You, my existence becomes inundated in Your bliss. You are like the warm, loving, touch of the sweet, southern ocean breeze. Baba, because of Your divine karuna', my mind is calm, sweet, tender, and peaceful. It is Your grace. Baba, the sky, moon, stars, and nebula are saturated in Your effulgence, in Your inspiration, and in the grandeur of Your glory. Baba, each and every entity in this expressed universe has become drenched in Your nectar.  

Baba, the heavenly sweetness from the flower's fragrance is looking towards the distant blue sky with its eye colured in the attraction of love. Baba, due to Your love, that very flower pollen of my mind goes on floating & floating - permeating each and every nook and cranny of this universe. Baba, there is no scope for its cessation. It is always rushing towards You. Baba, because of You everything shines and sparkles in this universe.

Baba, O' the most charming One, please be gracious and accept my surrender at Your alter...

== SERIOUS MATTER ==

Namaskar,
Here Baba reveals a most dramatic point regarding the past and current state of today's educational system.

Baba says, "The system of education prevailing today was formulated or evolved long ag, mainly with a view to suit the needs of the capitalist class. For the last three to four thousand years, the same type of education is being imparted. The main purpose behind this sort of educational system is to create persons with a slavish mentality to fulfill the need of those capitalist exploiters. This sort of education is fundamentally defective. It is certain that this type of education which serves the capitalists' interests is not at all suitable. This sort of education creates obstacles in the evolution of humanity. We have to thoroughly revamp the entire educational system. A new educational system must evolve to produce sadvipras." (11/29/70, transcribed from cassette)

Those who gloat about the standard of their education should know what type of learning & what category of knowledge they have. In this regard, we should ponder Guru's above guideline.

As Ananda Margiis, we are to help facilitate and guide the presentation of a new educational order where artistic and intellectual attainment are based on morality, service, and spiritual values.

Namaskar,
Laksman Deva



Namaskar

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.