Exploited Trainees of Varanasi TC (Part 2)

To: AM-GLOBAL
Date: Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:21:36 -0000
From: NJK Majumdar
Subject: Exploited Trainees of Varanasi TC (Part 2)

Baba

                == EXPLOITED TRAINEES OF VARANASI TC ==

                                       ~ Part 2 ~

Namaskar,
This is the second part of our investigative report on the conditions of our trainees at the Varanasi WT training centre.

As you may recall the first letter detailed how trainees were given old, dirty clothes to wear and deprived of even the most basic foods. Plus other issues were raised including the very dramatic story of dharma samiiska. A link to the first letter is noted below.

Here in this second letter further matters are explored.


                         AGE OF IDEALISM

We must remember that our trainees are youths - mostly teenagers - and they arrive at our doorstep with tremendous idealism. They want to do something to change the world and serve Baba. They have a mind, a heart and they have feelings. They know a little about Ananda Marga yet have a strong desire to know more. That is why they have come - that is why they have chosen to dedicate their life. They have come in search of living for a high ideal.


                    NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO TALK

Of course it is our duty to create a Training Centre that nurtures their inherent desire to lead a spiritual life and serve humanity. But our TC is operating in a different manner.

At our Varanasi WT Training Centre, our trainees are malnourished. They get 1/2 the calories needed to maintain a healthy human body. They growing bodies and minds are deprived of the food needed to grow. Just they are left to suffer and waste away. Yet, side by side, these same trainees see how the Trainer Dada is eating like a king.

By Baba's grace our trainees have great dedication for our AM ideals and love for Parama Purusa. For this reason they do not run away.

Indeed they are cognizant that Baba's teachings of neo-humanism and Prout hold immense beauty and hope for the society. Our trainees are attracted by the ideals of a single human family. That is why they debate these points among themselves. One trainee was telling that Baba's teachings are for others, but not for those in AM. Then other trainees retorted that if we ourselves are not practicing these ideals then how can we teach them to others. This type of back and forth discussion is common at TC. When the trainer Dada hears this he feels irritated and does not wish for the trainees to discuss such matters and / or the irregularities at TC.

Verily, the Trainer Dada does not like that his trainees should reflect openly on such topics. Many say that the Trainer Dada is himself defensive about the the double standard set between the trainees and himself. So the Trainer Dada does not want them talking about our AM way of life lest they question about all the injustices and inadequacies going on in TC. He wants that they should keep mum on all these topics.

For their part, the trainees are not complaining, merely they are immensely interested in and curious about Baba's divine teachings. But the trainer Dada is not apt to let them grow or discuss in this way.

That is why for the last several months, the trainer Dada has imposed a curfew: No talking on any point at all. If any trainee wishes to express any idea then it must be conveyed in writing only. One may not talk on any topic. When taking a collective meal, if a trainee wishes to have some salt on their food then they have to write that down on a piece of paper and hand that to the trainee who is near the salt. That is the extreme imposition going on at TC these days. The trainees are not allowed to talk amongst themselves - period. They must bear their mistreatment in silence.

Such harsh rules do not exist in any civilised country or modern society. There is no way to justify the imposed silence order by the trainer Dada at Varanasi TC.

Here it should be clarified that the ruthless and repressive policy of TC cannot be classified as maonbrata (vow of silence). We must know that maonbrata is an internal discipline not to talk - it comes from within and is not imposed by others. Plus maonbrata is for limited time - it is not meant as a permanent way of living. Hence what is going on at TC is a complete injustice. It is just the case of a repressive regime wherein the trainees are forced into silence in order to keep their mouths shut about their miserable living conditions.

Only in Nazi concentration camps or in Communist work prisons would such harsh rules be imposed. So it is quite ironic that this is happening in our own WT training centre - a place that is supposed to be the embodiment of neo-humanism, yet instead emulates the ways of dark, totalitarian regimes.


    WHERE MONEY GOES - WHAT HAPPENS TO MARGII CONTRIBUTIONS

When it was asked why trainees are not given proper food, the Trainer Dada replied that he was not getting sufficient financial contributions from margiis. He added that if donations were good, then certainly the trainees would be properly feed.

However, later on I found that this is not true as most of the money that comes in goes to the upper / WT kitchen. That means Dadaji and some visiting avadhutas are eating up all the donations on rich, tasty food for themselves. Hence just the bare minimum is left for feeding the full team of trainees.

Even when a margii visits and wishes to arrange a nice meal or donate food for everyone in TC, that plan is rejected by CTS (i.e. Trainer Dada) and in turn he controls that money and spends very little on food for the trainees. This also I came to know.

Plus, in order to save his post, the Trainer Dada diverts money towards Rudrananda.


                 STYLE OF AM EDUCATION AT TC

Let's again stand back and ask ourselves why such trainees felt inspired to attend TC. It is very easy to understand that all these youths reached from around India to get training and learn about AM philosophy: Both its theoretical and practical aspects.

But what is the reality that is going on?

One particular aspect they have learned first-hand is: How exploitation occurs when those at the top do not view others as their family members. This they have learned first-hand while in TC.

With regards to their theoretical learning, there is virtually no teaching going on at all.

The trainer Dada is busy all day with his local school kids. From early in the morning to evening time he is busy at his school in order to make money. He does not like to hire teachers as that would be an added expense.

But the truth is that our Trainer Dada should supervise the school on the greater level and let hired teachers run the daily operations of school. In addition, the trainees should be taught how to supervise a school. That is why Baba has given such a system.

Unfortunately the trainer Dada just drowns himself in the mundane dealings of the school and totally overlooks his duties at WT Trainer. All because he is more concerned with making money at the school. So when he returns back to the TC in the late evening, he is tired and he reads the newspaper and plays computer games. That is how the days pass. There is no time to teach anything to the trainees. Yet they yearn to learn about Ananda Marga.

We should remember that the WT Trainer Dada is a trainer first and a school principal second - not vice-versa. His title is WT trainer. Yet this role he mostly overlooks.

So after three years in TC, it is sadly apparent what our new brahmacariis have learned about AM. Just ask such new wts a question and see what they say.

For instance, ask them to explain about brahmacakra, kosa, loka, three causes of sin - all these basic points. They will not know the answers. Believe it or not, some passed and do not even know how to dance kaoshikii and tandava, yama and niyama, 16 Pts etc.

Please do not think that I am blaming our trainees; they are A-grade. All blame goes to those in-charges who do not feed or teach them. They neither teach the trainees by their conduct nor in the classroom. No education is imparted whatsoever.

Instead those in-charges impose all kinds of dogmas and complexes. Such bosses eat while their trainees starve.

This cycle of exploitation goes on and on.

Tomorrow these trainees will become brahmacariis and then avadhutas. Unfortunately, many of them will pursue these exploitative methods with their juniors. This is vicious cycle that is being perpetuated.

It is no different from the mother-in-law who beats her daughter-in-law. One day that daughter-in-law grows up to be a mother-in-law and she does the same repressive tactics to her daughter-in-law.

The situation is so extreme that one trainee became mad and was kicked out from TC and his laokika parents were searching for him. For all we know he may be begging in Varanasi or has been placed in some lunatic asylum.


            THE REALITY STARING US IN THE FACE

Here is one hard fact we all must face. These days the number of aged Wts is much more than the number of incoming Wts. Should this trend continue then we will have a severe crisis and shortage of wts in AM. At present more than 50% of our workers are 50+ yrs of age. No one likes to think like this, but these wts are not going to live forever.

We should all take it upon ourselves to consider this situation: Ineveitable shortage of workers. Any organisation suffering from this type of trend will become extinct in a short time. This was the recent trend of Christianity in Europe and now today there are thousands of churches that are essentially vacant. The church has basically given up in various European countries.

Here the point is that our WT training centre has a big role to maintain and protect those who come to train. But that is not happening. Our level of retention is very low. If 100 reach Training Centre then from the time of their arrival to the time they have graduated and worked in the field for one year, then only 5 remain as workers. That means over the course of training and within the first 12 months of field work, we are losing 95% of those who enter TC. That is a very dramatic figure. No organisation can survive with such a low rate of retention.

Whereas if our trainees and new workers are instilled with a deep sense of family feeling and supported by their seniors, then one can weather all kinds of problems etc. Then our retention rate will be much, much higher.

Unfortunately when a family feeling is not cultivated and trainees are not encouraged in sadhana or given the opportunity to garner a deep spiritual base, then so many young trainees and wts are lost - they just leave entirely. Without the requisite spiritual base and guidance, their chance of gaining success as a Wt is very low. So we cannot blame them as individuals. Only we must reassess what is going on in out Training Centre(s).

Of course I have great regard for our trainer Dada; he is a learned person. Dadaji has extraordinary qualities but he mostly uses them for Oriya trainees, not others. If that same ethic was applied to all, then things would be much different. Dadaji must sacrifice and pour his heart for all trainees, not just for those who hail from Oriya. Then so many good things will result.


              THIS IS WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING

All this is not a fairy tale. This is the unfortunate scene happening in Varanasi TC. If you have real interest to know more, talk to any trainee who just came from TC or do your homework of investigative reporting.

Pushing aside others plight by claiming their ordeals as mere hearsay is heartless and not the way of any true sadhaka. We have to have sympathy for those suffering and we must have the courage to step forward and put a stop to their misery. Things must be set right.


                       BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's grace He has given the perfect remedy for addressing the problems going on in the Varanasi Training Centre.

Baba says, "The incapability to recognize the requirements of others because of insensitiveness is a psychic disease. Those afflicted with this disease are also members of the vast human family; they are also our brothers and sisters. So, either by making humanitarian appeals or by creating circumstantial pressure, arrangements will have to be made to cure them of their ailment." (Problems of the Day, #4)

Namaskar,
Nagendra


Note 1:        HERE IS THE FIRST LETTER OF THIS SERIES

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2011/04/exploited-trainees-of-varanasi-tc-part.html

Note 2:        OTHER REPORTS ABOUT WT TRAINING CENTRE

The below letters tell more of the story and history of life at training centre. Please write in with your experiences and thoughts as this is a critical matter of utmost importance to all.

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2007/05/gtc-eye-witness-report.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2007/03/training-centre-is-also-responsible.html

                              PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"A'ma're dekhe calecho prabhu more pu'n'ya phale..." (PS 4477)

Purport:

  Baba, because of the virtue of having Your grace, I can feel that You are so close and that You are looking at me all the time. Baba, You are with me each and every moment, in the brilliant effulgence and in the cimmerian darkness-- constantly, all the 24hrs. In my good days and bad days always You are and will remain along with me. Baba, You are so gracious.
  Baba, when I am surrounded by the fog of hopelessness and despair, & when my life becomes burdened, then it is very difficult for me to move ahead-- all my inspiration is lost. And when I cry in pain and the tears are rolling down my cheeks like a river, and when I am drowned in pessimism, then I think that this life is useless and that this whole world is poisonous. In that case I feel it is better just to die. When I am in such a crisis, then with a very pleasant and sonorous voice, Someone appears in my mental abode and in a very sweet & intimate way He whispers, 'Do not worry, I love you'.
   Baba, the effulgence of Your divine love never gets extinguished; Your love is eternal and never fades or ends. In this mundane world, everything comes and goes. Baba only You are eternal and infinite. You are the sweetest Entity. You are that force that never stops. You are that magnificent bliss that never diminishes-- always that bliss is growing and growing. Baba, You are my everything: The be-all and end-all of the life. By Your grace I am under Your shelter. Baba, in the deep core of my heart the only request I have is that: Please do not forget that I am sheltering myself in You, at Your lotus feet.
   Baba, by Your infinite grace-compassion You are remaining by my side always...


              ******************************************
              Sarva'unga'sana and Vipariitakarani Mudra

"Question: What is the difference between sarva'unga'sana and vipariitakarani mudra?"

"Answer: In sarva'unga'sana we have to fix the mind at the point of the toes, whereas in vipariitakarani mudra we have to fix the citta or mind stuff at the tip of the nose or at the navel point." (YP, p.117-18)

Note: Sarva'unga'sana and vipariitakarani are very similar-- they are almost the same thing. Just a few little differences are there:

(1) In sarva'unga'sana the mind and eyes are fixed on the center point between the two big toes while in vipariitakarani mudra the mind focuses on the navel or the tip of the nose.

(2) When the body is very straight and it does not have to exert a continuous effort to maintain that position-- rather it is easy and comfortable to hold that posture-- then it is sarva'unga'sana. Whereas mudras, such as vipariitakarani mudra, demand a constant and ongoing effort to maintain the posture. Asanas, on the other hand require a little effort to enter into the position and thereafter it is comfortable and easy to maintain.

(3) In sarva'unga'sana and vipariitakarani mudra, although the postures look the same but the effort exerted and way of approach are a little different as explained earlier. And in addition they effect the body in different ways. Sarva'unga'sana affects the glands & cakras, and the secretion of the hormone; while mudras give strength to the muscles and nevers. These ideas have been given by Baba in His various discourses.

(4) In WT reporting sessions, Baba used to sometimes give atonement by demanding that some or all do vipariitakaranai for a long time. Sometimes for 1/2 hr, 1 hour, 2 hrs, at a stretch. Naturally that qas quite enjoyable for everyone to do. And the underlying reason behind this was that the majority of WT had acidity problems and this Vipariitakarani mudra was the cure. So in the name of doing atonement it was actually Baba's blessing.
         ********************************************

Respectful Discussion & Free Debate

Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2010 22:48:13 -0000
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: Mandal.Virendra@bharata.net...
Subject: Respectful Discussion & Free Debate

Baba

                   == RESPECTFUL DISCUSSION & FREE DEBATE ==

Note: This letter is in reply to the posting "Name Calling" of 7 Jan 2011. That posting addressed the matter of how one Dada started abusing one margii who raised one ideological concern. Dadaji called that margii a dog.

Namaskar,
I appreciate this letter- it is very good. I especially like this paragraph:

Baba's expressed policy is that any and all philosophical discussion is welcomed in our Marga - the only stipulation is that one's tone should be "respectful" towards others. That is Baba's explicit guideline.

Baba says, "I am not saying that one should accept whatever people say, but surely non-acceptance and intolerance are not the same. Why is there a mania for refuting the views of others anyway? If necessary, different views can be compared and presented in philosophical books. The philosophical and psychological loopholes in an argument may be pointed out without being disrespectful. But is the attempt to insult others indicative of magnanimity?" (HS-1; i.e. Human Society - 1, "Moralism")

Hence Baba's teaching is that our philosophical discussions should be dignified. We may or may not agree with the next person, but our language, manner and choice of words should be civilised - neither lowly nor disrespectful. That is Baba's above teaching.


                                          MORE ON THIS CRITICAL TOPIC

In various chapters Baba talks on this same topic, i.e. the critical importance of respectful language during open and free debate. Here are more points for us to consider.

In the dogmatic religions and in terrorist and communist organisations, there is no room for free and open discussion. But AM is totally different - our Ananda Marga is bhagavad dharma. AM propagates the gospel of neo-humanism: liberation of intellect. The free flow of intellect is highly needed in order to expand the mind and reach to the ultimate destination, i.e. Parama Purusa.

During open discussions and debates, those who lost their logic shout out loud. That is how to recognise such persons. They are dogmatic. In AM, Baba has certainly given the right of open debate and free discussion. Yet He has also mandated that the review of issues should be done in a very respetful manner. But ignorant and narrow minded people - those lacking understanding of Baba's teaching - do just opposite. They start yelling and shouting.

We should remember however that those who are shouting are also our brothers. So we should have sympathy for them as well.

Here are Baba's teachings on this critical topic.

Baba says, "Bad-tempered people often start shouting like a crow for no reason. If you ask a peaceable person, “Excuse me, sir, where does the number fifteen bus leave from?” he will give you the right answer, but a bad-tempered person will shout – “Is it my job to keep track of where the number fifteen bus leaves from! Why are you wasting my valuable time by asking me such questions? Why are you bothering me with these questions!”" (SC-3, Disc: 20)

Baba says, "Shameless people, shouting like a crow, often say such things that courteous people would not say out of modesty." (SC-3, Disc: 20)

In His below cited short story book, Baba explains how the demon became so frustrated that he lost all his wits and started shouting. Similarly this Dada lost his sense; he totally forgot that in AM Baba has given the right of free thinking and open debate. On each and every point, civilised, respectful, dignified debate is welcome. And through it all, a respectful tone must be maintained. That is Baba's teaching. There is no place for shouting like the demon Baba describes in the following quote.

Baba says, "Now the demon became restless. He began to run to and fro like an insane person, tearing his hair and shouting violently. In no time his mask of gentleness was rent asunder. Then he started crying out loudly in his demonic tongue." (Golden Lotus of the Blue Sea)

Baba says, "There must be flexibility of intellect in order to follow the path of logic. If this fundamental flexibility is lacking then shouting will dominate logic." (AFPS-9)

Namaskar,
Virendra

p.s. Kindly know that Dadaji's name is mentioned far, far below. Plus his email address is there so you can discuss this matter with him directly.


Note 1:                            HERE IS THE ORIGINAL POSTING

For your ease and convenience, if you did not see or read the original posting on this topic earlier, here it is for your review:


To: AM-GLOBAL
Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2010 05:45:17 -0000
From: NJK Majumdar
Subject: Name Calling

Baba

                                       == NAME CALLING ==

Namaskar,
Just the other day one margii raised an ideological point for review and discussion. In response, one Dada abused that margii by calling him "a dog".

Now it is for you to decide if this was proper or not.


                                         WHAT IS AT STAKE

In our Ananda Marga, free and open debates and healthy discussions are wholly embraced. That is Baba's explicit teaching. In so many discourses Baba has put forth this idea.

Baba says, “Different theories and doctrines with their numerous interpretations and connotations should be developed. No one should object to that, because intellectual clash and cohesion cause the human intellect to progress. Why should we keep all the doors of the human intellect closed?”. (Human Society Is One and Indivisible – 3)

Baba says,"When people's ideas are so fixed that they will not entertain any discussion or argument it is called “fanaticism”...In one sense they are worse than animals, because animals do not harbour any communal feeling." (Prout Nutshell, Part 21)

Baba points out that only communities plagued by dogma - like the stagnant religions and communism etc - do not allow open discussions.

Baba says, "What is dogma? Where there is no logic, where there is no support of intellectuality, where there is no debate and free discussion, but there is only a severe imposition forcing people to accept something, there is dogma." (A Few Problems Solved-5)

Thus when one avadhuta has called one margii "a dog" for raising a point of philosophical inquiry, then we all have to think what direction things are headed.

Are we going to allow our AM society to become like the dogmatic religions where logic and reasoning is prohibited and one must blindly follow the ruling priests, lest one risk being excommunicated or verbally assaulted.


                                       RESPECTFUL DISCUSSION

Baba's expressed policy is that any and all philosophical discussion is welcomed in our Marga - the only stipulation is that one's tone should be "respectful" towards others. That is Baba's explicit guideline.

Baba says, "I am not saying that one should accept whatever people say, but surely non-acceptance and intolerance are not the same. Why is there a mania for refuting the views of others anyway? If necessary, different views can be compared and presented in philosophical books. The philosophical and psychological loopholes in an argument may be pointed out without being disrespectful. But is the attempt to insult others indicative of magnanimity?" (HS-1; i.e. Human Society - 1, "Moralism")

Hence Baba's teaching is that our philosophical discussions should be dignified. We may or may not agree with the next person, but our language, manner and choice of words should be civilised - neither lowly nor disrespectful. That is Baba's above teaching.

Unfortunately, the avadhuta of Ananda Marga who called that margii "a dog" swerved from Baba's guideline - either he did this knowingly or unknowingly. In either case it is a shame as we all wish to see our avadhutas successful in their role.

Baba says, "Those who have the responsibility to show the path to others should be of superlative character with the most refined conduct...Persons who teach such well-regulated behaviour to others by their own conduct are called ácáryas." (Ananda Vacanamrtam, Part 31)

So when one of our avadhutas calls an innocent margii "a dog" when that margii has simply raised an ideological issue, then that expression undermines their role as an acarya. Baba Himself has furthermore given this below conduct rule explicitly for our workers.

Baba says, "You should always think that you are to see the Cosmic brotherhood, so your voice should be as sweet as honey..." (Avadhuta Conduct Rules, Pt #8 of Fourteen Points)

Indeed it is unfortunate, because that avadhuta has dedicated his life for a high ideal yet has veered off course by calling that margii "a dog". That is the tragedy. Nobody likes to see anyone fall in this way.


                             WHY PEOPLE GET REACTED: FROGS IN A WELL

Here below Baba Himself points out why some get so reacted and resort to name calling.

Baba says, "You all know, where reasoning fails, vilification becomes the sole stock-in-trade. When you hear abuses from these frogs-in-the-well, you can take for granted that the grey matter in their frenzied brains have no functional residues left and that they have come to you only to convince you of their helpless and fey condition." (Subhasita Samgraha, part 3)

Baba's above teaching is that when anyone resorts to name calling it means they suffer from a lack of logic, reasoning and rationality. With no other recourse - i.e. devoid of any substantive reply - someone calls another "a dog" etc. That is Baba's prescribed teaching.

                                                 
                        MUST FOLLOW DHARMA & NOT GET PERTURBED

In this below shloka, Baba guides us that those who are propogating AM ideology should not get swayed by public opinion or name calling, just we should follow the path of dharma and continue to serve Him.

                          Nindantu niitinipuńáh yadi vá stuvantu

Baba says, "“Let those well-versed in ethics criticize me or praise me, as they so desire..It makes little difference to me. Wise people will never withdraw from the path of ideology, the path which they accept as their ideal.”" (Namami Krsna Sundaram, Disc: 2)

Here again Baba guides us that those propagating His teachings should not be concerned about praise and censure.

Baba says, "“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 from Him, and I will have to return to Him – and to do that, I must complete my allotted duty.”" (Subhasita Samgraha-12)

Next, Baba guides us that not to be frightened when propagating AM ideology.

Baba says, "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." (Ananda Vacanamrtam-6)

Finally in this last Hindi poem, Baba again reminds us not to be reacted by the belittling remarks of others while doing AM pracara. Only we are to follow dharma and serve society.

                                      Hathi chale bazar, kutta bhonke hazar

When an elephant walks through the market, dogs start barking upon seeing the elephant, but the elephant remains unperturbed.

                                     Sadhun ke durbhav nahin yadi ninde sansar

Even If the world abuses them, sadhus do not feel animosity or malice towards anyone, they go on serving all.

This is Baba's teaching which is published in so many Hindi discourses. And this same theme is expressed in international literature as well.

"The dog barks but the elephant moves on." (J.L Kipling)

Baba's overall teaching is that we should remain fearless and unaffected by dogmatic naysayers and name callers and continue to abide by the dictates of dharma.

In contrast, in the face of dogmatic opposition, shy and cowardly people run away or give up the pracara work. But we are to stand firm. Then and only then can we wipe out existing dogmas.

And till now this is the way things have gone in AM. When margiis were attacked for opposing the caste system etc, then those margiis and Dadas stood firm, and today we see how the caste system is on its last legs, crumbling before our very eyes. Time proves that those following dharma always get victory.

So our duty is to go on serving others by propagating Baba's teachings. Our goal is to serve the society, not to receive praise per se. Just we are to please Baba and not focus on who is praising or abusing us.


                                                 SUMMARY

Here are some final thoughts on this entire topic of name calling, and then you - the reader - will have to finally decide if Dada's approach of calling a margii "a dog" was proper or not.

1. In our Ananda Marga, logic and reasoning are appreciated as are open, dignified and respectful discussions.

2. Those who dream of turning AM into a dogmatic religion try to hush others and close their mouth by name calling. It is most unfortunate if one finds themselves part of this crowd of repressing the voice of others.

3. We must be vigilant not to allow anyone to shut another innocent person's mouth.

4. We should take pity on any Dada who calls a margii "a dog". It is a shame that any avadhuta has gotten so far removed and distanced from Baba's teaching. Such avadhuta is showing his real colour by such a comment.

5. Those doing pracara should be aware of this following formula.

a) Suppose you are doing Ananda Marga dharma pracara in the neighborhood of a Christian church. If the public is not paying attention to you and attending the church as usual, then those priests and church officials will not do anything against you. However, if you are encouraging people to follow AM and give up church dogma - and the common people are getting interested and leaving the church, then those priests and church officials will certainly attack you. That is the rule.

b) In those pre 1990 days when AM was preaching the gospel of Prout and warning people about the ills of the Indian government and capitalism, then the public was intensely interested in what was being said. Many of their supporters joined the Marga and understood the hypocrisy of the government. On a daily basis thousands and thousands were joining our various movements. That is why those days, the governmental leaders like Mrs Indira Gandhi launched numerous offensives against AM and attacked us viciously. However since 1990, our Marga has been involved in infighting. Thousands and thousands of people are not joining AM. For this reason, the government is not attacking us or our policies.

c) In the past, margiis had a lot of trust and respect in senior Dadas - thinking them to be perfect and beyond reproach - so margiis were not questioning the veracity of the Ananda Vanii issue. Hence those at the helm did not feel threatened and continued to implement their fake Ananda Vaniis. However, these days, due to the group fight, the mass of margiis have seen the conduct and true color of some senior Dadas. So they have begun questioning things in the Marga - including the Fake Ananda Vanii issue. In response, those at the helm have raised an offensive against anyone questioning the validity of fake Ananda Vaniis.

6. Finally, we should decide: In this present circumstance of name calling, who is the real dog?


                                         BABA'S BLESSING

Baba says, "Ananda Marga is fighting for satya (absolute truth) and unless and until we get total victory in both individual and collective life we must not stop the struggle. Compromising with injustice during battle is asatya [untruth]. Achieving only seventy-five percent satya and twenty-five percent asatya is no victory. Quinine suppresses the symptoms of malaria, while the disease still remains in the blood. But the disease must be destroyed. Therefore, until you banish asatya you shall not stop your battle." (Ananda Vacanamrtam-31)

Namaskar,
Nagendra


Note 1:                           WHAT SOME FORUMS ARE LIKE

It is unfortunate that in some of our Marga forums, run by sincere Margiis, open and free debate is not invited. Instead a repressive, closed-door atmosphere is created - like a dark closet. That mentality only invites dogma into our Ananda Marga. If you want more information about this please write me. Such networks are harming their own cause as their own actions undermine their purpose.


Note 2:                                   DADA THE GREAT

In his below cited email, you will see that Dada Yogakshemananda calls himself: Yogakshemananda Mahata, or 'Yogakshemananda The Great', as mahata means the great one etc.

So indeed it was Dada Yogakshemananda who called the margii "a dog" - and now we should all think: Really this Dada is great like he claims or is he like a dog.


On Wed, Dec 29, 2010 at 8:35 PM, Yogakshemananda Mahata wrote:
Namaskar, Is there any different between any Dog and you?...You are a Dog in human form always you bark and bark... Dada Yogakshemananda

Name Calling

To: AM-GLOBAL
Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2010 05:45:17 -0000
From: NJK Majumdar
Subject: Name Calling

Baba

"Ke go tumi ele man ma'ta'te manorathe..." (PS 412)

Purport:

    O' Divine Entity, by Your grace on this auspicious morning You have come and stirred my consciousness. You have come on a mental chariot and divinely intoxicated my mind. You are so gracious, please tell me Who You are.  O' Gracious One, please grace me by revealing Yourself fully.   
   O' Divine One, You have come moving along the path of effulgence. You have taken away everyone's unit feelings and removed their personal desire. You satiated their heart and mind by pouring Your infinite cosmic bliss.  
   O' Baba, You have reached me by moving long the path of melody and tune. Baba, by Your grace You have taken away everyone's unit rhythm and infused everyone by pouring Your divine cadence. You have come to sing the divine song to everyone and satiate their heart.
  Baba, with Your divine song You have inundated the entire universe; You are ever-gracious...


                                       == NAME CALLING ==

Namaskar,
Just the other day one margii raised an ideological point for review and discussion. In response, one Dada abused that margii by calling him "a dog".

Now it is for you to decide if this was proper or not.


                                         WHAT IS AT STAKE

In our Ananda Marga, free and open debates and healthy discussions are wholly embraced. That is Baba's explicit teaching. In so many discourses Baba has put forth this idea.

Baba says, “Different theories and doctrines with their numerous interpretations and connotations should be developed. No one should object to that, because intellectual clash and cohesion cause the human intellect to progress. Why should we keep all the doors of the human intellect closed?”. (Human Society Is One and Indivisible – 3)

Baba says,"When people's ideas are so fixed that they will not entertain any discussion or argument it is called “fanaticism”...In one sense they are worse than animals, because animals do not harbour any communal feeling." (Prout Nutshell, Part 21)

Baba points out that only communities plagued by dogma - like the stagnant religions and communism etc - do not allow open discussions.

Baba says, "What is dogma? Where there is no logic, where there is no support of intellectuality, where there is no debate and free discussion, but there is only a severe imposition forcing people to accept something, there is dogma." (A Few Problems Solved-5)

Thus when one avadhuta has called one margii "a dog" for raising a point of philosophical inquiry, then we all have to think what direction things are headed.

Are we going to allow our AM society to become like the dogmatic religions where logic and reasoning is prohibited and one must blindly follow the ruling priests, lest one risk being excommunicated or verbally assaulted.


                                       RESPECTFUL DISCUSSION

Baba's expressed policy is that any and all philosophical discussion is welcomed in our Marga - the only stipulation is that one's tone should be "respectful" towards others. That is Baba's explicit guideline.

Baba says, "I am not saying that one should accept whatever people say, but surely non-acceptance and intolerance are not the same. Why is there a mania for refuting the views of others anyway? If necessary, different views can be compared and presented in philosophical books. The philosophical and psychological loopholes in an argument may be pointed out without being disrespectful. But is the attempt to insult others indicative of magnanimity?" (HS-1; i.e. Human Society - 1, "Moralism")

Hence Baba's teaching is that our philosophical discussions should be dignified. We may or may not agree with the next person, but our language, manner and choice of words should be civilised - neither lowly nor disrespectful. That is Baba's above teaching.

Unfortunately, the avadhuta of Ananda Marga who called that margii "a dog" swerved from Baba's guideline - either he did this knowingly or unknowingly. In either case it is a shame as we all wish to see our avadhutas successful in their role.

Baba says, "Those who have the responsibility to show the path to others should be of superlative character with the most refined conduct...Persons who teach such well-regulated behaviour to others by their own conduct are called ácáryas." (Ananda Vacanamrtam, Part 31)

So when one of our avadhutas calls an innocent margii "a dog" when that margii has simply raised an ideological issue, then that expression undermines their role as an acarya. Baba Himself has furthermore given this below conduct rule explicitly for our workers.

Baba says, "You should always think that you are to see the Cosmic brotherhood, so your voice should be as sweet as honey..." (Avadhuta Conduct Rules, Pt #8 of Fourteen Points)

Indeed it is unfortunate, because that avadhuta has dedicated his life for a high ideal yet has veered off course by calling that margii "a dog". That is the tragedy. Nobody likes to see anyone fall in this way.


                             WHY PEOPLE GET REACTED: FROGS IN A WELL

Here below Baba Himself points out why some get so reacted and resort to name calling.

Baba says, "You all know, where reasoning fails, vilification becomes the sole stock-in-trade. When you hear abuses from these frogs-in-the-well, you can take for granted that the grey matter in their frenzied brains have no functional residues left and that they have come to you only to convince you of their helpless and fey condition." (Subhasita Samgraha, part 3)

Baba's above teaching is that when anyone resorts to name calling it means they suffer from a lack of logic, reasoning and rationality. With no other recourse - i.e. devoid of any substantive reply - someone calls another "a dog" etc. That is Baba's prescribed teaching.

                                                 
                        MUST FOLLOW DHARMA & NOT GET PERTURBED

In this below shloka, Baba guides us that those who are propogating AM ideology should not get swayed by public opinion or name calling, just we should follow the path of dharma and continue to serve Him.

                          Nindantu niitinipuńáh yadi vá stuvantu

Baba says, "“Let those well-versed in ethics criticize me or praise me, as they so desire..It makes little difference to me. Wise people will never withdraw from the path of ideology, the path which they accept as their ideal.”" (Namami Krsna Sundaram, Disc: 2)

Here again Baba guides us that those propagating His teachings should not be concerned about praise and censure.

Baba says, "“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 from Him, and I will have to return to Him – and to do that, I must complete my allotted duty.”" (Subhasita Samgraha-12)

Next, Baba guides us that not to be frightened when propagating AM ideology.

Baba says, "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." (Ananda Vacanamrtam-6)

Finally in this last Hindi poem, Baba again reminds us not to be reacted by the belittling remarks of others while doing AM pracara. Only we are to follow dharma and serve society.

                                      Hathi chale bazar, kutta bhonke hazar

When an elephant walks through the market, dogs start barking upon seeing the elephant, but the elephant remains unperturbed.

                                     Sadhun ke durbhav nahin yadi ninde sansar

Even If the world abuses them, sadhus do not feel animosity or malice towards anyone, they go on serving all.

This is Baba's teaching which is published in so many Hindi discourses. And this same theme is expressed in international literature as well.

"The dog barks but the elephant moves on." (J.L Kipling)

Baba's overall teaching is that we should remain fearless and unaffected by dogmatic naysayers and name callers and continue to abide by the dictates of dharma.

In contrast, in the face of dogmatic opposition, shy and cowardly people run away or give up the pracara work. But we are to stand firm. Then and only then can we wipe out existing dogmas.

And till now this is the way things have gone in AM. When margiis were attacked for opposing the caste system etc, then those margiis and Dadas stood firm, and today we see how the caste system is on its last legs, crumbling before our very eyes. Time proves that those following dharma always get victory.

So our duty is to go on serving others by propagating Baba's teachings. Our goal is to serve the society, not to receive praise per se. Just we are to please Baba and not focus on who is praising or abusing us.


                                                 SUMMARY

Here are some final thoughts on this entire topic of name calling, and then you - the reader - will have to finally decide if Dada's approach of calling a margii "a dog" was proper or not.

1. In our Ananda Marga, logic and reasoning are appreciated as are open, dignified and respectful discussions.

2. Those who dream of turning AM into a dogmatic religion try to hush others and close their mouth by name calling. It is most unfortunate if one finds themselves part of this crowd of repressing the voice of others.

3. We must be vigilant not to allow anyone to shut another innocent person's mouth.

4. We should take pity on any Dada who calls a margii "a dog". It is a shame that any avadhuta has gotten so far removed and distanced from Baba's teaching. Such avadhuta is showing his real colour by such a comment.

5. Those doing pracara should be aware of this following formula.

a) Suppose you are doing Ananda Marga dharma pracara in the neighborhood of a Christian church. If the public is not paying attention to you and attending the church as usual, then those priests and church officials will not do anything against you. However, if you are encouraging people to follow AM and give up church dogma - and the common people are getting interested and leaving the church, then those priests and church officials will certainly attack you. That is the rule.

b) In those pre 1990 days when AM was preaching the gospel of Prout and warning people about the ills of the Indian government and capitalism, then the public was intensely interested in what was being said. Many of their supporters joined the Marga and understood the hypocrisy of the government. On a daily basis thousands and thousands were joining our various movements. That is why those days, the governmental leaders like Mrs Indira Gandhi launched numerous offensives against AM and attacked us viciously. However since 1990, our Marga has been involved in infighting. Thousands and thousands of people are not joining AM. For this reason, the government is not attacking us or our policies.

c) In the past, margiis had a lot of trust and respect in senior Dadas - thinking them to be perfect and beyond reproach - so margiis were not questioning the veracity of the Ananda Vanii issue. Hence those at the helm did not feel threatened and continued to implement their fake Ananda Vaniis. However, these days, due to the group fight, the mass of margiis have seen the conduct and true color of some senior Dadas. So they have begun questioning things in the Marga - including the Fake Ananda Vanii issue. In response, those at the helm have raised an offensive against anyone questioning the validity of fake Ananda Vaniis.

6. Finally, we should decide: In this present circumstance of name calling, who is the real dog?


                                         BABA'S BLESSING

Baba says, "Ananda Marga is fighting for satya (absolute truth) and unless and until we get total victory in both individual and collective life we must not stop the struggle. Compromising with injustice during battle is asatya [untruth]. Achieving only seventy-five percent satya and twenty-five percent asatya is no victory. Quinine suppresses the symptoms of malaria, while the disease still remains in the blood. But the disease must be destroyed. Therefore, until you banish asatya you shall not stop your battle." (Ananda Vacanamrtam-31)

Namaskar,
Nagendra


Note 1:                           WHAT SOME FORUMS ARE LIKE

It is unfortunate that in some of our Marga forums, run by sincere Margiis, open and free debate is not invited. Instead a repressive, closed-door atmosphere is created - like a dark closet. That mentality only invites dogma into our Ananda Marga. If you want more information about this please write me. Such networks are harming their own cause as their own actions undermine their purpose.


Note 2:                                   DADA THE GREAT

In his below cited email, you will see that Dada Yogakshemananda calls himself: Yogakshemananda Mahata, or 'Yogakshemananda The Great', as mahata means the great one etc.

So indeed it was Dada Yogakshemananda who called the margii "a dog" - and now we should all think: Really this Dada is great like he claims or is he like a dog.


On Wed, Dec 29, 2010 at 8:35 PM, Yogakshemananda Mahata wrote:
Namaskar, Is there any different between any Dog and you?...You are a Dog in human form always you bark and bark... Dada Yogakshemananda



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                                          Why Red Dress

Baba says, "Ta'n'd'ava is a heroic dance, showing the fight between life and death. The knife represents life, represents your vital stamina, and the skull represents the death that wants to destroy you. You are fighting against death with your weapon, be it a knife or a trishula (trident). And as per the rule, during the day, if one so desires, one may use a live snake in place of the skull; and at night one may use a fire masha'la [torch] or a d'amaru [small drum]. This is the rule. So ta'n'd'ava represents the eternal fight, the fight for survival, the fight to maintain existence, the fight to establish oneself as a man in this world."


Note 1: By Baba's above guideline we can outline the system for doing Tandava like this. During daytime in the left hand the tandava dancer may hold either (1) a skull, or (2) a live snake. And when doing tandava during the nighttime then in the left hand the dancer can hold either (3) a fire torch or (4) a d'amaru, which is a small, one liter size, hand-held, double-sided drum that has a string and two knots attached which twist around and create a beautiful sound when they strike against either face of the drum. Lord Shiva was using one of these.

So the point is that during tandava, depending on the time of day etc, any one of these four items (skull, live snake, fire torch, or d'amaru) are held in the dancer's left hand. And all four items symbolize the force of death and destruction.    

Then in the dancer's right hand he will hold a dagger or a trishula (trident). In AM, a dagger is a knife where both edges of the knife are perfectly straight and angle towards each other to create a distinct point at the end. So a dagger is a pin-pointed, dual-edged knife; thus not just any ordinary type of knife is a dagger. And the second option for the right hand is the trishul (trident). This is similar to the western "pitch-fork". It is a three pronged, pointed iron tool attached onto a bamboo handle of variable length from 3 to 6 feet long.    

Note 2: By Baba's grace I was also present at that special darshan on 20 April 1979 in Kolkata where Baba revealed the secret why tandava dancers wear a red-coloured outfit. Because in AM it is a commonly known fact that tandava dancers always wear that unique read uniform when dancing. Everyone who attended DMC, DMS, or any of Baba's darshans saw this thing. And on that special day in April '79 Baba explained that red is the color of rajoguna (the mutative factor) and that by wearing red the tandava dancers are expressing the idea that they are above the mutative factor. It is a representation that they are not controlled by rajoguna. Rather they are established in the sattvaguna (sentient sphere), by Baba's grace. So the red uniform has this unique meaning which Baba Himself beautifully described in His darshan of 20 April 1979.

Note 3: Those doing kapalik sadhana also use a red mark on their forehead when practicing this meditation. And the meaning behind that red mark is the same as tandava. Namely read mark signifies that the kapalika is above the mutative sphere of life-- above rajoguna.        
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