Easy To Understand When Story is Ripe

Date: Tue, 01 Mar 2011 06:22:43 -0700
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: Reynolds_HT
Subject: Easy To Understand When Story is Ripe

Baba

                == EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHEN STORY IS RIPE ==

Namaskar,
Baba's following teaching is highly indicative of what today's tyrants are going through. As we watch one leader after another topple in the Middle East, it is very easy to apply Baba's mandate - as these events are unfolding before our very eyes.


               NOWHERE TO HIDE - MUST UNDERGO THE CONSEQUENCES

                         Na antalikkhe na samuddamajjhe
                         Na pabbatanam vivaram pavissa
                         Na vijjati so jagatippadeso
                         Yatthatthitam nappasaheyya maccu.

Baba says, "Suppose a person commits a wrong by accepting a bribe. While receiving the bribe he thinks that no one is watching, but that is impossible. A third entity is watching everything. No one can do anything secretly in this universe. But the bribe-taker thinks the opposite because avidyá shakti has placed a veil between him and the Supreme Being. This is a very dangerous situation. It is just like a hare being chased by a hunter: the hare sits down and covers its eyes with its ears and, thinks, “I cannot see anything, so the hunter cannot see anything either. Hence he won’t be able to kill me.” This is a deadly mistake! Wherever one commits a wrong, be it in the depths of the ocean or in a high mountain cave, one cannot escape the consequences: one will certainly be detected one day or another." (Subhasita Samgraha - 18)

In His above teaching Baba guides us that no deed goes unseen in this universe. Some people mistakenly think that they can commit wrongful crimes and atrocities and keep those ills hidden. But, as Baba says, that is impossible. Parama Purusa sees everything. One will have to face the consequences - there is no way out, nowhere to hide. For every misdeed, there is a corresponding consequence. It is inevitable; there is no escape. That is Baba's explicit warning.


                                CHAIN OF EVENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Now today in the Middle East we see a rapid fire chain of events taking place. Rulers who have been in the seat of power for decades and decades are being yanked from their throne. The very public, which those ruthless despots exploited to the bone, is rising up and forcing these leaders out. For years and years such rulers thought their position was impregnable. They felt they could commit any crime they wanted to bolster their own prestige and power and that no harm could befall them. Now we see how wrong their calculation was. As Baba describes in His above teaching, such leaders were like that hare (i.e. rabbit) - just wallowing in their ignorance - totally unaware of the impending danger.

Here are but a few case examples which we have all witnessed within the last month.

Ben Ali ruled Tunisia for 24 years in a regime riddled with corruption, rampant exploitation, and countless injustices. He ruled as if nothing and no one could touch him - that he was beyond. He stole billions of dollars from the state and acted as if his stature was unchallengeable. Then, as we have all witnessed, in a short instant of time, the common people revolted. A swift uprising buoyed by the youths sealed Ben Ali's fate. Those youths rebelled against the horrible economic conditions and untold ills. After 24 years of despotic rule, Ben Ali's regime was torn down to the ground. A man who once was at the height of power was forced to flee for his life, and now he is in exile and lies in a coma - totally debilitated.

Likewise, in Egypt, Mubarak thought of himself as beyond all rebuke. He stole everything from the people, and poured billions into his personal bank account while the average Egyptian scratched for survival on a $2 a day budget. Mubarak had his hand in everything and he and his exploitative machine ruled Egypt with an iron fist for 30 years. Then, as we all saw, on the heels of Tunisia's uprising, the Egyptian people poured into Tahrir square and called for his resignation. Their protests swelled, tensions mounted, and ultimately, within a few weeks, their demands were met. Mubarak's rule, once seen as invincible, was torn down. He met his fate and now sits in seclusion awaiting judgment- his assets frozen and banned from all travel. The tables have turned and he too must face the consequences of his torturous rule.

Then of course there is the imminent fall of Momar Gaddafi in Libya. As we speak, a violent clash is taking place. Gaddafi tried to strong arm the people to accept his rule, but alas times have changed. His misdeeds have caught up with him. And now he is isolated - submerged in his own delusions. In the next day or so we will witness the end of his heinous 42 year rule. The day he never dreamed of is before him. He too will find no escape from his misdeeds. His end is very near.

What these three tryants all have in common is that in the not-too-distant past they thought their rule would last forever. They never thought that they would have to face the consequences. With their sky-kissing arrogance, they thought they could cheat, kill, suppress, and exploit the people without facing any backlash. But now their time has come. There is not escape. That is Baba's stated teaching.

And not just these three, but all those despots steeped in sin will meet a similar fate. This chain of events will continue onward. That is the natural law. There is nowhere to hide in this universe. One must undergo the consequences of their misdeeds, sooner or later. That is the universal truth - that is Baba's teaching.


                                      PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCE

While the events in the Middle East are quite dramatic, and depict how even the most powerful tyrant is bound to face the reactions of their criminal activities. Baba's teaching is not limited to such despots alone.

In each and every place, big or small, wherever people reside there are some who misuse their power. Blinded by ego they think, "nothing can harm me, I may do as I please." In that way they cheat and harm others. It may be between husband and wife, boss and employee, neighbor to neighbor, group to group, or whomever. Wherever one person or group grabs the upper hand then they generally fall under the false notion that they are unbeatable.

But in all such circumstances, they will one day meet their fate and undergo the consequences of their misdeeds. There is nowhere to run or hide. Everyone must be accountable to their each and every action. That is divine law.

So none should think that only crooked and crude leaders like Mubarak and Gaddafi are subject to this principle. No one should think, "This does not apply to me."

As Baba guides us, this rule applies universally for everyone. Where there is sin - where there is injustice - where there is corruption etc, there will be consequences to follow. The funny thing is that one's ego does not allow them to think that they too will meet their fate.

All should be alert and know that there is no place to hide - all one's actions are seen by Parama Purusa.


                                              BABA'S TEACHING

By Baba's grace, we should all live by the tenets of yama and niyama and inspire others to do that same. In that way we can march forward onto the path of spirituality and leave behind the trappings of egoistic exploitation. Then our reactions will just be sweet and blissful.

We should be cent-per-cent vigilant that our actions are just. Then we will never be forced to suffer the consequences. When, cent per cent of the time we can remember that Parama Purusa is watching us - and that there is no place to hide - then we will save ourselves from all kinds of troubles and hardship. Then we will be strict in 16 Points, inspired by His loving countenance, and lead a dharmic life.

Baba says, "In an attempt to escape from one’s sins and misdeeds you may retire to the Himalayas from Kanpur, but you cannot go beyond that. So the question arises, where will you escape to? Suppose you commit some wrong, and to escape the evil outcome of those misdeeds and avoid punishment you try to hide yourself in the sky or in an unknown place or at the bottom of the sea or in a mountain cave. But can you really hide yourself anywhere? In fact in this universe there is not an inch of space where one can conceal oneself." (Subháśita Saḿgraha Part 11)

Namaskar,
Harideva


Note 1:                       HERE AGAIN IS BABA'S TEACHING

Baba says, "Nothing is hidden from Him. Humans cannot conceal anything they do from Him. If you say to somebody, “Don’t tell anyone about this,” Parama Puruśa hears you saying privately not to tell anyone. Therefore it is said that He has a separate face for each unit being, with which He sees everyone. Na antariikśe na samudramajjhe – “Neither in the sky, nor in the ocean,” nor in a cave, can you hide yourself. Nowhere in the Cosmos can you hide from Him." (Subhasita Samgraha - 21)

Another Type of Addiction

From: Gagan
To: AM-GLOBAL
Subject: Another Type of Addiction
Date: Thu 16 Dec 2010 14:39:02 -0000

Baba

                    == ANOTHER TYPE OF ADDICTION ==

Namaskar,
In the USA, state and local governments are resorting to lotteries and gambling to generate income. The article appended below talks about this matter and if you listen to the podcast (see link below) there is a more in-depth interview detailing the effect of lotteries and gambling on the general populace.

Here - in very brief - is an overview of the affect of gambling on the human condition according to the stand of Ananda Marga. We should all be aware of how gambling affects one spiritually, emotionally, psychologically and socially.

1. The main problem with gambling is that in increases one's greed: one thinks that they can get more money - totally free. It creates a feeling in the mind of malcontent. Because the gambling addict always feels, "I want more." In that case they can never have peace of mind. Gambling ruins any sense of santosa and goes against the code of aparigraha as well. Because when any vrtti is encouraged, like greed, then one becomes intoxicated by that vrtti and one loses their sense. Thus those involved in gambling totally destroy their mental structure and lose any semblance of mental equipoise and inner peace. This is the root problem with gambling.

From this above noted spiritual and psychic problem, so many social offshoots result:

2. A gambling addict will destroy their family because of their addiction. They will spend all the family's money and resources on their negative habit (addiction to gambling) and overlook basic needs like food, clothing for the children, and so much more.

3. When someone gambles they invariably lose all their wealth and in turn become depressed. Here again that leads to the destruction of the family as people resort to alcohol and other drugs to seemingly alter their depressed mood. That invites divorce and so many marital problems like abuse. In sum one's home-life is wrecked.

4. When one loses in gambling then they need more money to support their addiction and many times they resort to cheating, theft, robbery and deception in order go get more money.

5. A gambling addiction will totally one's ruin own health: physically, mentally and in all kinds of ways. Because gambling itself is an intoxicant. Intoxicants need not always be things like wine and drugs; gambling and other sorts of bad psychic habits also intoxicate the mind.

6. Thus the array of problems is vast. It is not just three or four points but many. Where there is gambling so many social crimes and psychic problems will mushroom. Gambling invites a negative, downward spiral.

7. If the casino business were a losing proposition then why would greedy moguls enter into this enterprise. Why? Because the "house" or the casino never loses. In the end the casino always wins and the common people suffer. This itself is proof that those who gamble are bound to lose.

8. Unfortunately in our Marga we have also undergone the ill effects of gambling. For instance, some years ago Dada Mahadevananda secretly took the entire Prout bank account from the Washington DC Prout office and went to Atlantic City, NJ in hopes of winning but he lost every penny in the casinos - thousands and thousands of dollars. Tragically this is not an isolated incident. Due to greed people try to win more money by gambling. If such an instance has occurred in your unit, do let us know as all such incidents should be dealt with and the person rectified of their problem.

9. Here below is Baba's guideline for how to heal those who suffer from an addiction or bad habit like gambling.

   Baba says, "The best psychological cure for addicts is to put them in an environment where they will be unable to think of their object of addiction for any length of time. To proclaim, “Don’t do this, it’s bad,” is futile, for it is a negative approach. If you say, “Don’t drink wine”, you are still injecting the concept of wine into the alcoholic’s mind, thus making it impossible for him to forget it and kick his bad habits. You are giving alcohol negative publicity, and it again becomes his mental object. Thus whenever he gets the opportunity he will certainly drink it again. And it may be that this negative approach encourages the alcoholic to become even more addicted. It is a defective approach."
   "These days the sign “No smoking please” is placed in many public places, but it will not reduce the amount of smoking. If society wants people to stop smoking, its approach should be to divert the smoker’s mind to other objects. A chain smoker should be encouraged to get involved in various pursuits such as music, dance, songs, culture of fine arts, etc., for if the mind remains engaged in these things it will forget its object of addiction. But the person who thinks, “I’ll stop drinking wine the day after tomorrow – no, let me see, why not tomorrow” can never kick the habit, for wine remains the mental object. The mind will try to materialize whatever it thinks about in the external world – this is its nature." (APH-6, "Vyatireka-1)

10. Here below is that news article about the effect of gambling - and again the podcast (audio) is a more detailed interview with the Professor McGowan.


                   STATES GAMBLE ON CASINOS TO GENERATE REVENUE

To listen to the podcast visit this below link. At the 9:45min mark of the interview, the Professor McGowan addresses the many social and negative offshoots of legalised gambling.

http://www.npr.org/2010/12/16/132105939/states-gamble-on-casinos-to-generate-revenue

For decades, Las Vegas was the only place in the United States where casino gambling was legal. But in the late 1970s, Atlantic City, N.J., followed suit. Since then, more and more state and local governments have gotten into the game, lured by the promise of new jobs and tax revenues. Forty states now permit some form of casino gambling.

Recapturing revenue lost to neighboring states is now the primary reason why states legalize gambling, says economist Richard McGowan. McGowan, a professor at Boston College who has studied and written about gambling for years, tells Fresh Air contributor Dave Davies that many states legalize gambling so that money spent by gamblers doesn't travel across state lines.

He points to Pennsylvania as an example of a state trying to make up for huge budget shortfalls by introducing casino gambling.

In 2009, Pennsylvania legalized slot casinos across the state. At the time, thousands of Pennsylvania residents were streaming across the state's borders to New Jersey in order to play the slots.

"In 2008, New Jersey made $4.5 billion on gambling [while] Pennsylvania made $1.6 billion," says McGowan. "In 2009, New Jersey's revenue went down to $3.9 billion. Pennsylvania went up to almost $2 billion. So you had a gain in revenue in Pennsylvania of around 20 percent. And you had a negative effect in New Jersey of around 13 percent. Clearly Pennsylvania declared war on New Jersey."

But the two mid-Atlantic states are not alone. Ohio approved gambling in the last election, McGowan says, because "it's surrounded by states now that have casino gambling, with the exception of Kentucky."

And California recently allowed tribes across the state to open a series of Native American casinos, with California receiving 25 percent of all revenue from slot machines.

"Clearly California was declaring war on Nevada," McGowan says. "And it has hurt Nevada. And you see this in state after state after state."

McGowan tells Davies that he thinks sometimes states get addicted to the new source of cash flow, in the same way that gamblers in the casinos do. And states that relied on gambling revenue to generate income — but are now losing money to neighboring states — are looking for newer ways to generate income.

"Not to pick on New Jersey, but New Jersey is now saying we have to revisit sports gambling," he says. "In other words, they're going to up the ante on gambling. They're saying, 'To make the Atlantic City casinos more attractive, we will start sports gambling there.' I'm sure the two Native American casinos in Connecticut [Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun] are thinking about sports gambling. That's another whole area that nobody wants to touch right now but clearly they're going to have to touch it."

Excuse of Kiirtan

To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: S.W. Thompson <>
Date: Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:43:28 -0400
Subject: Excuse of Kiirtan

Baba

"Toma'r na'mer tarii beye bhese calechi sudu're..." (3937)

Purport:

 Baba, by Your grace I am rowing the boat of my life, singing Your name,
and floating toward the spiritual world. Baba, because I am dancing in Your
divine tune, I know I will never meet defeat-- victory is assured. Baba,
with Your eternal song as my rudder guiding me along, I never feel lost or
frustrated.

Baba by Your grace in my life there is no hypocrisy. And by Your grace I
do not suffer from the painful crocodile thorns of self-aggrandisement,
(asmita'). By Your causeless compassion, my mind is pure and straight. O'
my dearmost, Your divine vibration encompasses everything. The zig-zag
path, and the high tide & low tide-- everything resonates in the divine
sound of Your omnkara.

Baba, I do not have any desire to look back; I am moving forward towards
You with my heart and mind. Baba, by Your grace I never lose the path or
unnecessarily waste my time, because by Your grace I do not spend my days
recalling all those old forgotten memories of my distant past. Always You
keep me marching along the path of fulfillment-- towards You.

Baba, by Your grace I am under Your shelter, and in my sadhana and
dhyana I always sing Your name. That is the main force moving me ahead
towards You...


                        == EXCUSE OF KIIRTAN ==

Namaskar,
The Ananda Kanan Summer retreat and conference just concluded in NY sector
and here are some thoughts and replies to an ongoing issue related with
out most favorite practice of kiirtan.


                    EVERYTHING IS OUR AM IS SEPARATE

Surely, all are aware about the numerous reasons why kiirtan should be done
separately according to our usual male-female standard. After all,
everything in our Marga is separated along gender lines: Our jagrtis; our
Prout, AMURT, & VSS departments; our AM offices; our sleeping areas; our
bathrooms; our LFT training & WT training centres; our education system
(above 10 yrs of age); our organisational in-charges etc. Verily everything
in our AMPS has been cleanly divided along gender lines. This is Baba's
given system.

And certainly, Baba Himself conducted reportings separately, demanded that
kaoshikii be done separately at DMC, and kiirtan itself was done separately
at DMC. This everyone knows.

So all these aforementioned avenues clearly point to the ideal that nearly
all activities and engagements in our Marga from the spiritual realm to the
psychic strata to the physical plane are divided along gender lines. It
follows then that our kiirtan programs at our various retreats should also
be done separately. And in Delhi sector this dharmic code is followed. Then
why not also at our sectorial level retreats in NY.


                        AKHANDA KIIRTAN AT NY RETREAT

For those who may not be aware, and as a reminder to others, in our akhanda
kiirtan programs at Ananda Kanan-- in our usual "overseas" or "western"
style-- males and females are dancing simultaneously such that they are
bumping into each other, looking at each other, rubbing against each other
etc. This is what happens every time. For their own reasons some may say
'no', but it is like that:

> At overseas akhanda kiirtan programs, what happens is that in the same room
> the females will form one circle and then directly surrounding the female
> circle is a circle of males. So dozens and dozens of females and males are
> dancing extremely close by, right next to each other in an enclosed
> environment around the same puja table. So at this gender-mixed event then
> invariably bumping, rubbing, and brushing occurs between members of the
> opposite sex. Because there is an inner circle of females and an outer
> circle of males and as everyone is moving round and round, then both the
> circles tend to lose their shape and some females are rubbing up against
> the brothers circle, and likewise some males are brushing up into the
> female circle. In that way various types of physical contact happens.
> Because initially people try to close their eyes, dance, sing, and walk
> around the kiirtan circle-- all at the same time. So then of course members
> of the opposite sex end up knocking into and rubbing against one another.
> Especially during the night time kiirtan when the room is darker. Then in
> that case varieties of touching is going on between male and females, all
> the more so when it is crowded.


So I asked one elder Dada about why the akhanda kiirtan programs are being
conducted in this way with males and females-- when all logic and reasoning
dictates that it should be separate. And here is what Dadaji had to say.


                                  DADAJI'S EXPLANATION

Dadaji explained that actually the point has come up many times but some
continually resist the issue as it strikes a deep nerve in their being. So
let us understand why.

As we know, all human beings come from animal life. And all are trying to
move towards divinity, knowingly or unknowingly, yet still we carry all the
bag and baggage of our past animal lives-- some of us more so than others.
So here the point is that everyone is burdened by certain crude propensities.
And at the same time, our AM is a segregated society in that the
free-mixing of males and females is not welcome (Ref: CC-1, ch 24). Hence,
people search for gateways to express those crude desires, in some way,
shape, or form.

Before I got the chance to interrupt, Dadaji told me to wait just a minute
and then he explained as follows.


               THE STORY OF DADA C: "MAD FOR CRUDE KIIRTAN"

Once there was one Acarya C who insisted on driving 375km each Sunday in
order to participate in the weekly akhanda kiirtan in one unit where males
and females would dance together. No matter what rational objections were
put forth to Acarya C, such as the high cost or large amount of petrol used
or the huge time involved, always he had an undeniable, burning desire to
go to that akhanda kiirtan. He just HAD to go. Yet the strange thing was
that in his own locale, that same Acarya C rarely ever did kiirtan with the
young single brothers etc. But that akhanda kiirtan that exhibited the
females, that kiirtan Acarya C had to attend. Because it quenched his crude
desire-- to see and look etc. And his is not an isolated example.

Then Dadaji explained that this whole subject is not a joke or something to
take lightly-- it is a matter of our human existence, of our innate
tendency. That is to say, as sadhakas, we must take exceptional care not to
let our human qualities be overwrought by animalistic desires.


                       ALL THE RELIGIONS SUFFER FROM THIS

On a grander scale, Dadaji told that in all the religions such as Islam,
Hinduism, orthodox Judaism, and to some degree Christianity, where there is
a restriction on the mixing of the sexes, then males and females always
search for an "excuse" whereby they can see members of the opposite sex.
Because that vrtti is jumping in the mind.

It may happen at the temple, or the community center, or who knows where.
But it happens-- in one way or another males and females find their way.
In fact, in the old days of Christianity, many would attend church with the
sole motive and hope of finding a love letter or secret note in their hymn
book from their darling. This was the common practice. Because that was the
only place where there was mixing of the sexes. So people used that as a
'release' to express their crude desire, sexual curiosity, and animal vrttis.


                         HOW IT WORKS IN ANANDA MARGA

And although AM is certainly a step up from the dogmatic religions, still
this game happens. Because within the human mind there is that lustful
desire leftover from one's past animal lives. And if it is not controlled,
if it is not checked, then males and females will try to express that
desire through some venue-- even kiirtan.

For this reason-- despite all the logic and reasoning that everything in AM
is based on the separation of the sexes-- still a few in our Marga are
anxious and adamant to keep akhanda kiirtan 'mixed', in order to satiate
their fancy to some degree.

Then Dadaji told that, 'People in AM may find this theory far-fetched, but
if they are honest with themselves they will find it is true. Otherwise why
are some so reluctant & resistant to changing the akhanda kiirtan format
into a more sentient program that is consistent with the rest of our AM way
of life'.

Dadaji continued, 'There is not an ounce of logic or reasoning supporting
their mixed approach-- just desire, and an unseemly one at that'.
All this had me thinking and indeed I had no answer to give.


                            WRONG USE OF KIIRTAN

The next point that came up was that this was a wrong use of kiirtan-- i.e.
western akhanda kiirtan should not be used as a way for males and females
to mix with each other. That crude desire should be addressed in another
manner-- not during kiirtan. Because kiirtan is our unique time to focus
exclusively on Baba. It is an invaluable part of our spiritual life.

Baba says, "In the life of a spiritual practitioner (sa'dhaka), in the life
of a devotee (Bhakta ), kiirtana is most essential." (SS-19)

So kiirtan is part of our spiritual lifeline. However, when kiirtan just
becomes an excuse for 'checking out' the opposite sex-- if that idea is
even one iota in the mind-- then the spiritual value of that kiirtan is
tarnished & gone. Rather negative samskaras are created.


                        THE IMPORTANCE OF ABHOGA

Thereafter, Dadaji told me something about the term abhoga as he wanted to
give the science behind it all. First he told me Baba's clear cut
definition of abhoga.

Baba says, "A'bhoga means occupation or pabulum...mind also requires a
pabulum; whatever object the mind confines itself to, that is its
pabulum...mental pabulum is called a'bhoga. The object with which the mind
is preoccupied or obsessed is its psychic pabulum or a'bhoga." (SS-11)

So abhoga is basically one's mode of thinking.

Then the point came that one's abhoga, or mental pablum, will directly
dictate one's movement in life-- either towards the crude or subtle. It all
depends upon the individual.

Baba says, "The mind must always have an object...'A'bhoga' means that
object which feeds the mind--that is, mental pabulum. If this pabulum is
limited, the mind also becomes limited. If the pabulum is infinite, by
making an effort to obtain it, the mind becomes infinite. It depends
entirely on the will of human beings which pabulum, limited or unlimited,
is made their object. Whether a person becomes great or small completely
depends on the person's wish." (AV-1)

So abhoga is something highly significant in one's life. If one's abhoga is
crude then one will be degraded. There is no escape.


                       PROPER KIIRTAN

Hence during proper or true kiirtan, one's abhoga will only be, 'Baba,
Baba, Baba...'. In kiirtan, the mind should be exclusively fixed on Him--
on Baba. Then only is it kiirtan. And surely, most in AM are on this sweet
path and truly involved in doing devotional kiirtan.

So we are close or getting close-- but not entirely ready to get over the
hump.

Because so long as this dogma is existing about combined male-female
akhanda kiirtan circles, then it means there is an urge in this or that
organiser's pocket to get their vrttis satisfied in this way-- through
crude kiirtan parties.

Or the other way to look at it is this.

Only when one adopts a purely spiritual ideation in their kiirtan will they
readily agree to having akhanda kiirtan done according to gender. Because
in that pristine way of thinking, one will like to create the most sentient
and pointed environment for singing kiirtan.

And truth be known when the goal is Parama Purusa, then what is the need to
be surrounded by members of the opposite sex in the kiirtan hall.
So during kiirtan, one's abhoga should be purely spiritual-- that alone
will solve the problem of mixed-sex kiirtan parties. They will not occur
anymore when one is sincerely involved in kiirtan as a spiritual endeavour.

Baba says, "What is the spiritual practice of human beings? It is forsaking
unithood (jiivatva), leaving bondage, and attaining cosmichood (shivatava).
This alone is the goal of human beings." (AV-1)


                      WHY BE THE LAST ONE?

Through our ups and downs, our Marga is churning and churning and
ultimately moving in a more sentient direction. One can see it in all
directions. Now, no one will openly say, 'I am groupist', or 'I like to
watch crude Hollywood movies' or 'I like to eat junk food tasties'. No one
will say like this because it will not be appreciated; it will not enhance
one's stature. Why? Because, now more than ever, everyone is looking for an
ideological stand in all the realms.

On this point I had to agree and then Dadaji continued.

So those who like to use kiirtan as an excuse for satisfying their
animalistic desires by having co-ed get-togethers-- their days will come to
an end soon. It may happen today, or certainly tomorrow. Because our AM
society is moving towards a more sentient ideal.

In that case, why wait. Why be the very last sector, region, unit, or
individual to make the switchover to 100% purely sentient kiirtan that
adheres to Baba's ideal of doing kiirtan separately according to gender.
Why should anyone have the dishonourable asterisk by their name as being
the last one to make the positive change.

Better is that one should readily state, 'Yes, I am ready to adopt Baba's
kiirtan system and move in an unhindered way toward Him. That is my sole
aim in kiirtan'.

                                                           
                             THE MAIN POINT

Here everyone should be aware that the main point of this entire letter is
not to outlaw mixed events. There should be-- indeed there must be-- co-ed
events and gatherings where members of the opposite gender can meet and
talk or do service projects together. Such things must be arranged and
properly supervised as well.

Instead, here the main point is that our kiirtan is verily our spiritual
lifeline. It allows us to make that challenging transition from worldly
ways to life divine. It brings the mind from external to internal, from
crude to subtle. Kiirtan awakens that spiritual thirst that allows us to
realise why we have come on this earth; it reminds us of our true Goal in
life. And it goads us onwards in the spiritual realm, towards Baba's divine
lap.

So it is nothing but a tragedy-- if due to our carelessness-- that we let
the sweetness of kiirtan slip through our finger tips by allowing it to
become a medium for something else, such as an excuse for seeing or
associating with the opposite sex.

Some may resist and be unwilling to say that this is their desire; indeed
who will like to admit it. No one. But verily it is there, to some or more
degree.

Otherwise, why allow this male-female akhanda kiirtan to be the main event
at our retreats. Should it be like that just because some sadly or
nervously think, then 'when will I get to see or be seen by members of the
opposite sex'. This idea is lingering in the mind-- to some or more degree.
Even with our Dadas etc. In that way kiirtan just becomes some excuse,
nothing more.

So the main point is, we should be adamant not to allow our kiirtan to
become tainted. Kiirtan is our main avenue for spiritual progress. It
brings the mind into a higher realm-- when done properly with pure
ideation. So we should keep our kiirtan environment sanctified. In which
case the separation of the sexes is only obvious.

And at the same time we should arrange other avenues for socializing in our
Marga. None should worry that they will not get any scope. They will-- but
not during kiirtan.


                         EVERYONE SHOULD SAY

So this is a big topic, if not a sensitive one. And this is a long letter
so here I shall conclude and simply request for everyone to reflect a bit
and then share their thoughts.


                           BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's grace when kiirtan is done with the proper ideation then it
cleanses our whole existence from inside to out and reminds us of our
inherent link with Him.

Baba says, "If people do kiirtan with distinct expression of the mantra,
their mouths become pure, their tongues become pure, their ears become
pure, their whole bodies become pure-- and when so many parts of the body
become pure, the atma (self) also becomes pure...Kiirtan will always remind
you that you are the affectionate children of Parama Purusa." (15 May 1982)

Namaskar,
S


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                       Sadhana Point

 Baba says, "Whatever a man is to do in his spiritual life he is to do--
why?  Because he is in love with the Supreme Entity. Love is the first
word, love is the starting point, and love is the last point." (AV-12, p.13)
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