The Waiting Room

From: "Girish Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: The Waiting Room
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 11:44:27

Baba

                 == THE WAITING ROOM ==

Namaskar,

Baba says, "This world is just like [a] waiting room. You are to remain
here for a very short span." (AV-12)

Tragically, in this modern world, the mass of people live and plan their
lives in such a way as if this world is their permanent abode. Due to
the ill effects of gross materialism, common citizens think that their
bank account, their house, their job, their physical appearance, their
spouse, and their worldly possessions are the prized aspects of their
existence. For this reason, they use cent-per-cent of their energy
running after these ephemeral things, mistaking them to be the glory of
human life.

This is the way materialism has led everyone astray, into some dark
illusion.

Baba says, "This type of crude material knowledge concerned with the
crude materialism has done much harm to human society during the last
one century." (AV-2)

There is an inner aspect to our human existence that is hungry, yet the
humanity is neglecting that which is inside because of being fully
intoxicated with life's material pleasures.


             EVEN WE ANANDA MARGIIS SUFFER FROM THIS

As Ananda Margiis, we all know what the Goal of life is, as well as what
it takes to get there. The Goal is Baba and the way to get there is by
sadhana. This fact everybody knows.

Yet, to some or more degree, we have also suffered from the ill effects
of materialism, as it has infested each and every pore of society. It is
very difficult to completely separate oneself from that environment.
Huge billboards, internet ads, crude social values, financial pressures
etc meet us at each and every turn.

One of the clear-cut downturns of all this is that some of us do not put
proper emphasis on sadhana in our lives.

I can say that this is certainly true for me. I always think, 'I will do
sadhana'; yet when it is time to start my practice I can find any number
of other things to do. And when I do sit down for sadhana, then often it
gets curtailed due to lack of time, lack of concentration, or feelings
of hunger.

Perhaps some of you have also experienced this or similar things.

And the gross materialism which surrounds us does not help; it leads to
more spiritual lethargy. Whatever inherent lethargy we may have towards
sadhana is multiplied by today's crude environment. Because the world
and all its inhabitants are running one direction, and we are trying to
move in another. We are going against the tide.

Baba says, "The present-day materialism has brought humanity to this
predicament. Its consequences are dreadful." (NSS)


               BABA'S GRAPHIC EXPLANATION

Before analysing more of the in's & out's of this issue, here is Baba
special teaching about spiritual lethargy, or procrastination in sadhana.

Baba says, "Spiritual lethargy is the worst. Spiritual lethargy means
not to sit for meditation regularly. Those with spiritual lethargy have
time for all other actions, but for spiritual practice there seems to be
no time. They say, “It’s already late today – I’ll do a short meditation
right now, and devote more time to sa'dhana' tomorrow.” They sit
attentively inside the cinema hall, but in dharma sa'dhana' they feel
sleepy." (AMIWL-10)

We should all read the above quote multiple times and honestly evaluate
how far Baba's teaching applies to our own lives.


                     OLD WAYS OF LIVING

In addition to today's gross materialism, here are other reasons why it
is often a struggle to move on the path of sadhana.

As Baba tells us, every human being has come from animal life-- at one
point in time or another. So we are highly familiar with animalistic
desires and propensities. We need not be reminded about these things.
That is a known path to us, and in general people gravitate towards the
familiar and are hesitant to take up new enterprises.

For that reason, it take little or no energy for people to succumb to
the four basic propensities: Food, fear, procreation, and sleep. No one
needs any special training in these spheres; the mind automatically runs
after these things.

In contrast, when sadhana is the most subtle practice for human beings,
then invariably it is something that is very new and unfamiliar to us.
Often it is not something that we have lifetimes of experience with.
Whereas, for incarnations and incarnations in animal and human form, we
have been deeply engrossed in material pursuits.

So being attached to this old way of living certainly contributes to
spiritual procrastination.


                OTHER REASONS WE PROCRASTINATE

          AVIDYA MAYA & SO-CALLED OBJECTIVE ADJUSTMENT

Then there are other things that lead to procrastination in sadhana:

1) Avidya Maya: The force of avidya maya casts allurements each and
every moment, and when the whole society has fallen prey to the spell of
avidya maya, then the force of that maya multiplies and it is very
difficult to escape. If you know you should do sadhana, but all your
worldly pressures tell you to work late, or buy a big house, or go to
the movies, or watch TV, or whatever, then it is difficult to move on
the path of sadhana. And every time we give in to the ignorance of
avidya, then the more sadhana slips out of our fingers, and becomes
something totally foreign.

2) Objective Adjustment: In the name of objective adjustment, we leave
our spiritual practice behind and run after worldly endeavours. We then
justify that going to dharmacakra and doing sadhana there is enough for
the entire week, or thereabouts.

3) Microvita: Various microvita also pull us down and hinders our
sadhana routine.

Plus when the entire society is moving towards money, matter, prestige,
then that multiplies the problem.

Each of us individually should take an honest look at who we are and
what is happening with our sadhana routine, and make special efforts to
overcome whatever is hindering our practice.


              WE HAVE NOT COME HERE FOREVER

Here is Baba's special teaching about the waiting room phenomenon.

Nowadays, everyone thinks that this world is their permanent abode. They
may say otherwise but practically they live as if this is the case.

So we should pay heed to Baba's strict warning.

               Smarana nitya anityatam

 Baba says, "You should remember always that you have come here for a
short span. You won’t remain in this world for a long period. You may
remain here say for ninety or hundred years or say for one hundred and
fifty years. Some saints like Traelaunga Sva'mii lived here for three
hundred and fifty years. He lived in Varanasi in India and died in this
twentieth century. But you are to live under certain limitations –
limitations of time, space and person."
 "So you should always remember that you have come here for a very short
span. It is just like a waiting room of a railway station. You remain
there for a short period and when the train comes, you leave the waiting
room. This world is just like that waiting room. You are to remain here
for a very short span."
 "You should always remember this fact – “I have come here for a short
span and I won’t remain here for a very long period. My home is
elsewhere. I am just like a tourist.” You should always remember this
fact. And as a universal tourist, you, while leaving for your permanent
home, won’t require a passport." (AV-12)

So we must not treat this world as our permanent abode. We should always
keep our mind fixed on Him. And internally, we must remind ourselves
again and again that we have only come here for a short time. Then and
only then can we truly understand that sadhana-- and not money or
possessions-- is the cream of life.

Here again is Baba' reminder about the nature of this human life.

Baba says, "This short period of time from birth to death is human life.
Human beings have come from the world of invisibility and at the end of
this short span of time will return to the world of invisibility. Those
people can be called intelligent who utilize every moment of their short
life engaged in spiritual practice." (APH-4)

Failing to adopt the path of sadhana, will lead us on an endless spiral
of suffering and pain in the myriad of deaths and rebirths in this
material world.


                         BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's grace we must realise that this world is not our permanent
abode, overcome all tendencies of spiritual lethargy, do sadhana, and
reach up to Him.

Baba says, "The only way to advance is to follow the path of vigorous
spiritual practice." (AMIWL-8)

Namaskar,
Giriish


                         PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"Bha'lo yadi na' ba'sile keno ks'ati na'i, shudhu ka'che eso..." - P.S.
2134

Purport:

Baba, You know that I am not an A-grade devotee. So due to this if You
do not love me then it is no problem, no harm. But please come close and
sit. If You do not like to sit in my little hut, then at least please
come and stand inside with Your sweet smile. Oh my Lord, everyone longs
for You in their heart. That longing I also have and for that I have
requested You to remain with me. And if You do not like to listen to my
request then just You please come close and this much You tell me, 'I do
not love you even a pinch'. Baba, I will go on singing Your song; and my
heart will be mingled with that tune & melody-- longing for You in
dhyana. But because I am not an A-grade devotee that is why I will not
force You to come and sit in my dhyana. So it is exclusively up to You.
What You like that You do. Baba, please come close with Your sweet smile...

Re: How Culture is One

Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2010 05:34:12 -0000
To: AM-GLOBAL
From: Hariish Deva
Subject: Re: How Culture is One

Baba

"Maneri gahane tumi a'cho, a'cho prabhu sada' jege a'cho..."  (4380)

Purport:

  Baba, You are always remaining in the depths of my mind-- You never
leave me. You always remain awake. You go on working day and night, beyond
the time. You never stop. Baba, whatever You want to do, You go on doing.   This whole expressed universe is Your eternal game. You are ever-present: beginningless and endless. You are ever intoxicated in Your divine flow. You are the Goal of everyone-- everyone wants You. You are remaining with one and all.   Those who are trying to come close to You by their virtuous deeds and shravan, manan, nididhyasana, & dhyana, only they are able to come to You. Only they are able to realise You and have Your grace and proximity. Baba,
You are grace-Personified...


                            == HOW HUMAN CULTURE IS ONE ==

                                          ~ Part 2 ~

Note: This letter is in reply to one margii brother who was inquiring about Baba's use of the term, demi-culture.

Namaskar,
Yes indeed, Baba's use of the term, "demi-culture", is well known to senior margiis and those familiar with Baba discourses.

In fact, by Baba's grace, I was in His divine company for field walk (May 8, 1979) in Fiesch during His Berlin sector tour in 1979. And on that tour itself Baba used the term, demi-culture. For your reference I have appended portions of that field walk in point #3  below.


                 BABA'S TEACHINGS ON CULTURE AND DEMI-CULTURE

Here are further points for consideration:

1. All sadhakas are aware of His guideline that human culture is one and that so-called cultural wars, distrust, and clashes between one geographical areas will cease to exist when people accept our human culture as one.

2. These days what people commonly think of as culture or separate cultures are really nothing more than different modes of expression - not different cultures. Human culture is one and Baba chose the term demi-culture or mode of expression to represent the different ways people express our singular human culture.


                                     BABA'S FIELD WALK IN FIESCH

                                  CULTURE & DEMI-CULTURE

3. As mentioned above, on one field-walk in Fiesch, in reply to the margii Baba spoke the following lines about culture and demi-culture:

Baba says, "You see, I have said that the human culture is one. Only, there are different modes of expressions. Now, we may say demi-culture, regarding those modes of expression. There were during the Middle Ages, three distinct demi-cultures in Europe. One Prussian, another Latanic, and the third one Iberian. “Iberian” means Spain, Portugal, and Basque...."

Then the Margii states: In ancient times, one human culture. Although in ancient times there was only one human culture. Baba then corrects the margii.

Baba says, "Even now, human culture is one. There are local differences in eating and dancing. [But] that doesn't make culture." (Baba's Field Walk in Fiesch, May 8, 1979)

In His above teaching, Baba is clearly stating that human culture has been and remains one. Only we may say that the modes of expression, or demi-culture, vary. Those variations reflect the various ways how people eat and dance etc. That is Baba's use of the term demi-culture.

4. It is our duty to use these terms, demi-culture and modes of expression, in our day to day life. We should utilise Baba's given terminology of demi-culture in our: writing, art, literature, talks, lectures, presentations, stories, dramas and more. Gradually, by this way, Baba's teachings on culture and demi-culture will be propagated. The concept that human culture is one is a completely new idea. We have to help teach others by our practical daily use of the term, demi-culture.


                                                     DOGMA:

                 DIVIDING HUMANITY INTO DIFFERENT CULTURES

5. At present, due to a lack of understanding, people think in an analytical (divisive ) way. They divide our singular human culture into many. And still this is going on.

Baba says, "Dogmas have taken root in the human mind. People cannot get rid of these false ideas because they have been injected into their minds since childhood. As a result, one human society is divided into different nations, and one nation is divided into different religions; religions also have different castes, and caste also have different sub-castes – what kind of situation is this? We have only learned how to divide and subdivide humanity, and we never learned how to unite the people. This is all due to the defective teachings of dogmas." (A Few Problems Solved, part 7)

Indeed on this point of culture, people continue to divide humanity to such a degree until finally each and every person carries their own separate culture. This is nothing but the path of analysis (division & factionalism) while ours is that path of synthesis (unity).

6. For instance, some think that there is both western culture and eastern culture. And by their path of analysis they divide western culture into parts like European culture and American culture. And they further divide American culture into so many parts: Italian-American culture, Native American culture, Chinese-American culture, African-American culture, Mexican-American culture, Guatemalan American culture, Filipino American culture, Japanese American culture, Greek American culture, etc.

If we continue to list all there divisions then there might be several hundred classifications. Because people from all over the globe are in the US and they carry their own demi-cultural label. In the same way, this type of analysis (division) can be done in each and every land. Tragically, through that lens there is a gigantic wave of differentiation and distrust.


                                             HUMAN CULTURE IS ONE

7. The solution is that irrespective of one's mode of expression or demi-culture, human culture is one. We are all human. We are bound by one paternal love of Parama Purusa. Wherever humans are born and raised they adopt local variations which vary from place to place. So there are local variations but in essence humans are not different from one another. Human culture is one.

8. Here again the central idea is that all human beings are one: (a) everyone greets, (b) everyone expresses happiness, (c) everyone has something they value or holds as an ideal, (d) people share and serve food together, and (e) many similar practices can be included in this list.

Irrespective of their so-called caste, language, so-called race or geographical areas, and level of education etc, all have these common qualities. That is why inherently human culture is one. By superficial look, it seems that people live in different ways and have a different culture, but these are local variations that we term as demi-culture.

The conclusion is that fundamentally human beings are one and there are various local differences and those differences are not cultural but rather demi-culture.

Baba says, "According to PROUT all of society has the same culture. There are local variations in the mode or state of cultural expression, but the expression is universal. While everybody eats, some eat by hand, others by stick and still others by spoon. Indian dance is based on mudrá or dance postures, and European dance is based on rhythm, but they do not represent two different cultures." (Prout Nutshell-15)

Namaskar,
Hariish


Note 1:            MORE OF BABA'S RELATED TEACHINGS ON CULTURE

Here are some of Baba's further teachings on the point of culture:

(A) Here Baba puts forth the point that culture represents a wide array of human expressions.

Baba says, "It [culture] is the collective name for different expressions of life. People eat, enjoy hospitality, laugh on some occasions and shed tears on others, and thereby express life through various actions. The collective name of all these actions is culture." (Prout Nutshell-15)

(B) Next Baba further emphasizes how human culture is internally one with many external variations. As well-wishers of humanity we are to always rally around the common points. That will make society healthy. Those who highlight differences from one human being to the next harm society.

Baba says, "There are certain prima facie local variations, but there is no difference in the subterranean cultural flow of the human society. The difference is external and not internal. Culture is one for the entire world. Common factors for the entire humanity (that is, culture in the true sense of the term) should always be encouraged, but prima facie differences should never be encouraged. Those who encourage these differences help the fissiparous tendencies which endanger human progress. To establish a cosmopolitan cultural outlook, we have to wipe out prima facie differences through matrimony and other socio-economic blendings." (Prout Nutshell-4)

(C) Here below Baba differentiates between customs and culture. Customs are many whereas human culture is one.

Baba says, "Local variations will diminish if there is a close blending between different groups of people, because this will create common customs. In Nepal there is a blending of Hindu and Buddhist customs. In Bengal there is a blending of Aryan and Dravidian customs. These local variations are called customs. Thus local modes of expression bearing local or group specialities are customs, but the expression itself is culture. Therefore it is a mistake to readjust boundaries on the basis of language and culture. Indian culture and the culture of the world are one and the same. Readjusting boundaries on the basis of customs is not possible for customs may differ within the same locality." (Prout Nutshell-15)

(D) Finally, Baba demonstrates how there is both good culture (saḿskrti) and bad culture (krśt́i)

Baba says, "The particular expressions of life which are not considered beneficial to others are called krśt́i. To take a very common example, an English family, out of hospitality, may offer beef to an Indian guest who may not like it. The term saḿskrti also means culture. It is used in a good sense and is beneficial for all." (Prout Nutshell-15)


Note 2:                                  ONE MARGII'S QUERY

On 12/14/2010 01:12 AM, one margii wrote:

Namaskar, can you please reference where you got the definition of demi-culture.

I cannot recall Baba speaking of demi-culture.

Namaskar


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                             Animals Are More Aware About...

Baba says, "A crow has a natural premonitive instinct regarding storms. An owl and to some extent a dog can sense beforehand the possible occurrence of an earthquake or some other unforeseen natural calamity of great magnitude. Such power of apprehending phenomenal vibrations exists not in ten or twenty but in innumerable species of birds.  Such a power is indeed of paramount necessity in their rigorous struggle for survival.  Such a power did exist, too, to some extent, among the prehistoric people.  But today, in this age of so-called civilization, human beings, having become extremely ease-loving, have lost that power through misuse and lack of necessity; just as their tails, their ability to move their ears and their capacity to hold things with their feet have disappeared.  Now the hairiness of their bodies and the strength of their teeth and nails are also becoming extinct.  The greater the pre-occupation of creatures with the struggle for existence, the necessarily gr
eater must be their power of premonition or prescience of impending danger, or else their existence will be effaced from the surface of the earth -- this is the law of nature." (SS-3)

Note: People often think that animals are lowly & neglected beings but that is not true. As Baba points out above, animals are far more aware about naturally occurring phenomena than human beings. On this point animals are highly instinctual and are always surveying the scene. They can forecast and predict a wide array of storms and natural calamities. In the above quote Baba indicates how humans also used to have such abilities, but now with the onset of modernity and a comfort-oriented lifestyle, humans have lost this skill. So now modern people are entirely dependent upon science to forecast the weather etc. But as developed as science is, scientists (meteorologists and seismologists) are still totally in the dark about earthquakes. They are unable to predict when and where an earthquake might occur; whereas various animals like dogs and owls have this unique gift. That's why the recent earthquake unleashed in Pakistan, many dogs reportedly started behaving abnormally. They were restless, walking around whimpering, and going in and out of the house constantly. The dogs knew about the impending disaster that was about to strike Pakistan, and parts of India. In contrast, modern scientists did not have a clue than an earthquake was about to occur. But the dogs know. And those smart people who understood why the dogs were upset were able to help themselves and others also. So in future, we should rely upon animals to guide us about when and where natural disasters will strike. While dogs know about earthquakes, crows know about cyclones. Similarly there are numerous animals that are acutely aware about impending storms and natural disasters.                                   
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