Baba is Not One, But Three

From: "Shantatma Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Baba is Not One, But Three
Date: Mon 18 Apr 2011 08:27:55

Baba

                         == BABA IS NOT ONE, BUT THREE ==

Namaskar,
These days one negative trend has started. Some are going to the jagrti thinking that there are three Babas. They do sastuanga pranam separately to each one and ask for boons.


                                 WHERE ARE THOSE THREE BABAS

First they go to the dharmacakra hall and see Baba #1 and do sastuanga pranam to the Baba who resides only on the puja table.

Then they go to the pot of holy ashes and see Baba #2 who resides only in those ashes and do sastuanga pranam and ask for some worldly blessing from that #2 Baba.

Later on they go to Baba #3 who resides only in Baba's room and do sastuanga pranam to that Baba.

This is the way that some people think:
(a) They feel there is one Baba who resides permanently in the DC hall, so one must go to the puja table in the DC hall and do sastaunga pranam to Baba #1. 
(b) And then there is the Baba who resides inside the pot of holy ashes. This Baba never comes out from that pot so one must go very close to that pot and offer their sastaunga pranam to Baba #2.
(c) Finally they think there is another Baba in the bedroom who never comes out. He remains there always. So one must go to the bedroom / Baba's room and pay salutations to Baba #3.

This is way one can pay respect to all three Babas. Otherwise they feel it is not complete.

So if someone does not get the opportunity to see one of the Baba's because the room is locked etc, then they are saddened. They feel that one Baba remains unaddressed and they will be unhappy.


                           DOGMA OF HINDUISM IS GROWING IN AM:

                        EACH BABA GRANTS DIFFERENT BOONS

So the polytheistic, multi-god phenomena which is a widespread dogma of Hinduism is now creeping into AM.

Such worshipers do not have any discomfort with what is happening, rather they appreciate that Baba is three now. They think one must please and salute each Baba to get His grace.

In the next phase they will delineate which Baba offers which boon. For instance:
(a) The Baba #1 who resides in DC hall grants the power of intellect.
(b) The Baba #2 who resides in the ashes grants the boon of worldly wealth and money. (c) The Baba #3 who resides in Baba's room / bedroom grants good health + the solutions to all other problems.

In that way, pilgrims choose and select which Baba they will worship depending upon which problem is most acute in their life. Accordingly, they will go and visit the corresponding Baba: Baba #1, Baba #2, or Baba #3.

This type of bizarre outcome is unfolding and now our duty is to save the situation.

Tragically, this is the way the dogma of a polytheistic, multi-god approach has come into AM. This type of dogma is getting propagated.


                                   GIVES MORE POWER TO TOP WTS                                                
Those dogmatic in-charges and avadhutas appreciate this 3-Baba dogma because by this way their own importance is enhanced. Since those Dadas control the jagrtis and have the lock and key to the various rooms etc, their status has been raised. In order to see all three Babas, margiis have to please such Dadas by offering gifts, respect etc.

In so many places in India and in overseas countries this dogma is becoming more popular in our Ananda Marga. Indeed this is most unfortunate; it is a shame.


                                        GOOD SADHAKAS ATTACKED

There is a growing backlash that sadhakas face as well. Wherever this dogma has taken root, then good sadhakas who do not appreciate this 3-Baba dogma get blamed and labeled as crude and devotion-less. That is another unfortunate outcome.

In that case, in order to keep their prestige and because of mounting fear & social pressure, everyone wants to salute Baba #1, #2, & #3 - whether they like it or not. This is the way things are going.


                                               BABA'S GUIDELINE

To understand how harmful all this is for one's spiritual progress, we have to consider Baba's below teaching. In the following quote, Baba is guiding us that God is one. Wherever you are He resides in your heart He never leaves you.

Baba says, "The second type of viveka paiṋcaka is dvaetádvaeta viveka. Through dvaetádvaeta viveka one gains the capacity to analyse whether the eternal entity is one or more than one and come to a conclusion accordingly (dvaeta means dualistic and advaeta means non-dualistic). There cannot remain any svagata, svajátiiya and vijátiiya differentiation in the entity which is beyond time, space and person. So it is not possible for the Eternal Entity to be more than one. Various beliefs about the so-called gods – that one god defeated another in battle, but was later harmed enormously by his adversary’s wrathful vengeance; that a certain god spreads or cures a certain disease; and that another god distributes wealth or learning – are contrary to Dvaetádvaeta Viveka. In spiritual practice nityánitya viveka is not enough, Dvaetádvaeta viveka is also necessary. For success in spiritual practice both nityánitya viveka and dvaetádvaeta viveka are indispensable. They enable people to realize that all the objects bound by time, space and individuality are transient while the Entity beyond the periphery of time, space and individuality is permanent; It is one without a second." (Ananda Marga Ideology Way of Life - 7)

Clearly then, in our AM spiritual approach, God is one. That is Baba's distinct teaching. So this 3-Baba ritual is a clear-cut contravention of our AM ideals. Baba is one.


                                               BABA'S BLESSING

As bhaktas we must never forget Baba's divine teaching that He resides in guha, core of the mind.

Baba says, "One has to search for Him in one’s guhá. Guhá has a couple of meanings – “cave”, and the “I”. Here the second meaning applies. One has to search for Him in one’s “I”. The one who is inside your “I” is you yourself. Search for your self – you will find Him. As long as the [real] you is there, the Lord is also there." (Ananda Vacanamrtam-23)

Thus, that singular divine Entity resides in the inner recesses of one's own mind. That is Baba's divine teaching. Parama Purusa resides within. Baba is within the mind.

So the three-Baba dogma that is unfolding today is nothing but a black spot on the pure spirituality of Ananda Marga. We must oppose this dogma and uphold Baba's divine stance: That He resides in your mind.

Namaskar,
Shantatma


Note 1:                          SHORTCUT WAY IS EASIER

Generally human beings like such types of shortcuts that is why this 3-Baba dogma is growing. Sixteen Points is hard to follow and yama and niyama is also difficult. This 3-Baba dogma makes it "easier" to get Baba since He is divided into three. It is encouraged by our priests.


Note 2:                 HISTORICAL VALUE VS RELIGIOUS DOGMA

Valuing a place for its historical significance is totally different from going there and paying salutations and thinking that God is limited to that spot. When we visit the Taj Mahal we go for historical reasons not for any other reason. We do not think that Baba is stuck inside the Taj Mahal etc. The proof being that we do not bring garlands and do sastaunga pranam to Him there and ask for boons. Likewise when visiting the jagrti we should not think that Baba is limited or confined to the DC hall, a pot of ashes, or Baba's room etc. Baba resides in the mind. One can pay their salutations to Baba anywhere and everywhere because Baba resides within. There should not be any confusion about this.


                                       PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"Ogo prabhu tava la'gi ga'ntha' ma'la' shuka'ye ja'y..." (P.S. 1935)

Purport:

Baba, Oh my Prabhu, the garland which I prepared for You is gradually getting dry and wilted. Day by day my longing for You is increasing. My waiting for You has been in vain. Neither did You come, nor did You accept my garland. These days even the red sun is unpleasant for me - and it was very blissful for me in earlier times. But now it's brilliance is no longer shining for me. Passing the days in longing for You, my heart is restless. Everything is unpleasant for me these days. Even the gentle sweet breeze is no longer alluring  for me. Due to my mind's restless state, my mental darkness has become more deep and more dense. Indeed in my mind, the blackness which was present increased. Day and night is passing this way, in Your longing. Baba, I do not mind if I cannot hold You. Also I do not mind if You do not look towards me with Your sweet, loving smile. One thing You can do though - since I am very low, please grace me. By Your ahetuki krpa, come close to me. Baba, in Your absence, everything in my life has lost its charm. My existence has become totally dry. Time is passing like this. Baba, please grace me and give me Your darshan...
                               
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                                                  Remedy

Baba says, "On imbibing cosmic ideation all kinds of ailments will be cured." (PNS-8, p.19)
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Two Names, One Divine Entity

From: "Aaron Tenning"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Two Names, One Divine Entity
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:34:04 -0700 (PDT

Baba

"A'lo jhariye madhu ks'ariye a'ndha'r sa'riye tumi esecho..."   (P.S. 1233)

Purport:

 Baba, You have come and by Your divine advent You are showering
effulgence, exuding nectar, and wiping away all darkness. Baba, You have
come-- making the flowers blossom & graciously spreading happiness and
bliss to one and all. Baba, by Your august arrival everyone's hopes and
longings have been fulfilled.
 Baba, living beings were awakened by the deep yearning and pain of
longing in their heart. And with this feeling, in the anticipation & hope
of Your coming, they were awake, watching for Your arrival-- constantly
looking towards Your path. Baba, this pain and longing of devotees
resonated in Your heart and You could no longer remain distant. Baba, You
have come and You are graciously pouring the basket of love-- satisfying
everyone's heart. The sleeping humanity has gotten new life by Your grace.
 Baba-- that river which dried up and evaporated, and that song which was
lost in the oblivion-- the current of that very river and the tune of those
songs You have graciously brought along with You. [1]  
   Baba due to Your august advent You have inundated each and every heart
with the nectar of devotion. This is Your causeless grace...


NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA:

[1] The inner idea is that when Parama Purusa comes and He saturates the
heart with deep devotion, then all those feelings of love and which had
dried up start to blossom. In the above song, the river signifies the flow
of devotion and the song and melody refers to that subtler expression of
devotional feeling.


             == TWO NAMES, ONE DIVINE ENTITY ==

Namaskar,
On and off the topic comes about why some of our AM books are signed as
Shrii PR Sarkar whereas other books are signed as Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji.
People were going back and forth wondering if these are two
personalities or one personality.

In addition there is general confusion about this as some think and
distrbute their propaganda that Shrii PR Sarkar and Shrii Shrii
Anandamurtiji are two different entities.

So here are some points related with this question:

(1) Look at it this way, Shrii PR Sarkar and Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji
certainly refer to one singular Entity.

For example, in the mundane sphere it is just like the situation of my
mother. I call her mother; my sons and daughters call grandmother or
grandma; my cousin calls here Aunty. And like this it goes on. But that
does not mean that mother is really three different personalities or more.
And further when she was working in office she has her official designation
also. Official persons were calling her yet a different name. So that
single personality, my mother, has so many names according to their relation
and work. And indeed this is the case with most people. According to
the situation they have a given name, yet all along they are the same person
and personality.


(2) Baba's following graphic example is moving in this same direction:

Baba says, "I told you that the same man, Ramajiivana, is known as Rama to
his father, as Ramu at work - and his children say `Babujii', and his
students `Master Sahib'. and when he is moving along the street wearing a
topii, the taungavala will say ,`Hey topii! Hey topii! Hey topii! He
becomes a topii. But the man is that single man Rama." (AV-3)


(3) Who does not know that Parama Purusha has infinite names. So many names
because He has infinite attributions. Each attribution carries a different
name. In Ananda Vacanamrtam discourse, Baba says

"So Paramashiva, the Sadguru and Ta'raka Brahma are beyond the scope of the
gun'atrikon'a... O Lord, Thou are the controller of everything, but there
is nobody to control You. Your gun'as are beyond the scope of counting.
Nobody can count how many gun'as are there. " (AVM, part 3, 'Sadgurum Tvam
Namami', p.46, )

   (4) Seer, Poet & devotee Padmadanta also expressed like that. When devotees
asked seer Padmadanta to write some poem. He told that b/c Lord has
infinite guna, it is not possible to write by me. Then he wrote one shloka.
In that Padmadanta writes that only Parama Purusha can tell about His
attributions. And that Parama Purusa is One.


(5) So you see that infinite attribution infinite name. BABA is Sadguru so
He is like that. About Lord Shiva we know so many names and so many we do
not know also. But at least more than 2 dozen well known names are there
like: Pashupati, Nata'raj, Trilocan, Vya'gra'mbar, Paincca'nan, Vireshvar,
Mahadev, Vaidyana'th, Shiva', Maheshvara, Ma'ya'diish, Niil Kanth,
Ganga'dhar, Gaoripati, Deveshvar, A'dipita', Mantresh, Mahakoala, Ta'rak
Na'th, Liila'dhara, Shankar, Kalbhairav, Adinath, A'shutosh, Vajradhar,
Hara, Shambhu, Vibhu'tinath etc...
   Interesting thing is nobody amongst those dogmatic Hindu worshippers of
Lord Shiva raises the point that Shiva has different/multiple personalities
according to the attribution and name.


(6) So the whole idea of my letter is that Baba is Parama Purusha. HE has
infinite names-- one for each of His infinite attributions. But no one
should think that these names refer to different personalities. Parama
Purusa is one Entity with different names.


(7) Ultimate then, the conclusion was easiliy reached that Shrii PR Sarkar
and Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji are the same. One personality with two names.


(8) And top of all we know that the name Shrii PR Sarkar is for non-Margiis
and the name Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji is for Ananda Margiis.

Here following is Baba's blessing:

Baba says, "O human beings, O' painstaking human beings, don't be afraid,
dont' be disheartened, I am for you. O' human beings please come, you
please come, I am for you." (SS-12, p. 78)

Namaskar
Arjuna


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                           Dirty Habits Die Hard

Baba says, "[After] taking a bath...soap, oil, and comb should be used
every day." (Caryacarya-III)

Note: All around the globe every margii is aware about 16 Points and all of
Baba's teachings on health and hygene. Even then a few do not incorporate
all these guidelines into their practical lives. Means some do not apply
oil to their joints etc. So on paper they are aware about everything yet at
retreats one or two may even tell others to follow those things when they
themselves do not do this.

So in total there are 4 categories. Those who are aware; those who are not
aware; those who point out others; and those who do not recommend this to
others. And there may be some other categories also.

However, Baba has made it mandadory that after bathing one should comb the
hair of the joints of the body and also apply an ample amount of oil to
those regions well. This is Baba's distinct guideline and most margiis and
wts strictly adhere to this teaching.

But a very small population of Ananda Margiis shy away from this practice--
for one reason or another. It is sometimes seen that those stuck in a
dogmatic western approach to life do not like to use any oil because they
got addicted to using scented perfume etc. And there may be other reasons
why in so-called advanced countries people do not follow this point of
using oil-- neither they apply it to their joints nor on their head. And in
other parts of the globe a few have their own private reasons why they
avoid using oil.

In contrast in those countries where oil is used more regularly used, then
new margiis readily adapt to the practice of putting oil on the joints.
Means they quickly adopt this new practice. Because their mind is naturally
open to this idea; whereas in some western nations a couple people are
reticent to ever use oil-- that is why it is commonly proclaimed that this
is one of the dogmas of the west.

But most Ananda Margiis practice the use of oil and certainly there are
some sectors where it is even more widely practiced. And in that case those
practitioners naturally get all the special benefits. And indeed there is a
very significant reason behind all this which Baba has given. Namely that
the lymph glands are located there in the joints and by applying oil to
those areas then the lymphatic glands get the nourishment they need.
Note 2: One need not spend a lot of money purchasing oil and it need not be
an imported variety. Rather in each area of the globe margiis should use
that type of oil which is commonly available to them at at reasonable
price. At the same time the oil should not be low-grade either. It should
be a standard variety from that area. In India many use coconut oil while
in the Mediterranean olive oil is more widely available. And like that from
place to place it will vary so everyone should experiment and use one of
the locally produced oils and find one they like best. this is the
Proutistic way.
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