== TO BECOME A-GRADE BHAKTA: PART II ==
Note: here is part one of this series
Namaskar,
In our lives, we all want to progress along the path of sadhana. This is
every sadhaka's desire. And actually we do not just want to progress but we
want to attain that highest, pinnacled state.
And truly speaking, this desire to reach the top is only natural; it is an
intrinsic part of our human approach.
Because in each and every sphere of life-- whether it be politics, law,
sports, music, or science-- people want to reach the highest realm. This is
the way the human mind works. Everyone wants to reach the top-most rung.
Thus when Baba has pointedly shown us what is the highest grade of bhakti,
then surely we all want to reach to that place.
Baba says, "[A-grade] bhaktas say, 'No, no I can share all my belongings
with others, but not my Parama Purus'a. He is mine and mine alone-- He
belongs to no one else. I cannot even think of sharing Him with anyone'."
(AFPS-3)
So when one has that type of intense love for Baba that they do not want to
share Him with anyone else, then by His grace they have reached that
highest state of bhakti. This is Baba's teaching.
And now that we all know-- at least in theory, if not in practice-- that
this is the highest level of bhakti, then surely as sadhakas we want to
reach that sacred stance. We all want to feel in the core of our hearts
that, 'Baba, You are mine and mine alone and I do not want to share You
with anyone'.
This becomes our Goal. And, by Baba's grace, we will reach that place.
Because He Himself tells us that this is not difficult to do. Just it needs
a little practice.
DOES IT REALLY HAPPEN
Even then some innocent persons may wonder, 'Does it really happen that one
does not want to share Parama Purusa with others'.
Because commonly, people think that Baba is the Guru for all Ananda Margiis
so He is for everyone. This is a standard way of viewing things.
But actually it does happen. Some do want Parama Purusa all to themselves
and do not want to share Him with anyone. That is Baba's stated teaching.
The question then is when does it happen.
And, Baba guides us that it happens when one has a higher degree of love
for Parama Purusa. If one has a normal level of love for Parama Purusa then
it does not happen. But if one has more intense love for Parama Purusa,
then internally the thought naturally arises that, 'Baba, You are mine and
mine alone and I do not want to share You with anyone'.
To best understand this state of mind, let us look at some examples in
everyday life to see how this operates.
A FEW EXAMPLES OF HIGHER LOVE
Suppose a mother has five children. Then those children with a normal
standard of love for their mother will want to share her with all the other
siblings. That is what happens if they have a normal degree of love. But
the youngest-- the baby-- does not have a normal degree of love for the
mother. That baby has deep, deep affection for its mama.
For that reason that youngest child will cry out if the mother spends even
an ounce of time with the other children. That baby will scream and wail
until it has the mother all to itself. This type of intense longing to have
the mother all to itself, such that the baby does not want to share the
mother with others, is all due to that baby's higher degree of love for its
mama.
MORE EVIDENCE OF THIS PHENOMENON
And this result manifests in various types of pure relations.
When children have very close friendship with someone then also they do not
want anyone to intrude on them when they are together with their best
friend. That is because they have deep affection for their friend.
Or when a whole family is living together in joint fashion then they all
become quite close and they do not want to lose one another. But when the
children are sent away to live in hostels then they have less affection for
their family members since they are not living together. And in that case
they do not mind being away from their family or sharing their mother or
father with others.
So in general, when we have close relations with anyone such that we share
our joys and sorrows with that person, then we do not want others to
infringe upon that relation.
Here the whole idea is that in our day to day life, when we derive any
pleasure from anyone, then we do not want to lose that pleasure by sharing
it with others. This is the human tendency.
And not just in the world of humans, this happens in the animal kingdom as
well. Because where there is a dominance of affection, then animals also do
not like to share. For example, a mother lioness does not like to share its
baby cubs with others. Likewise each puppy wants to be the first one to
snuggle and cuddle with its mother. No puppy wants to share its mother with
the other puppies.
So in all realms of life this same principle is operating: Where there is
an increased feeling of love and affection, then no being likes to share
their cherished one with others.
SAME THING IN SPIRITUAL LIFE
And this same very theme is functioning in our spiritual lives as well. As
one develops more love for Baba then they do not want to share Him with
others. Then they will think that, 'Baba, You are mine and mine alone, I do
not want to share you with anyone'.
This is the quality of an A-Grade bhakta, according to Baba.
HOW TO REACH THE REALM
The question then remains how do we reach that realm.
And Baba's guideline is to do more dhyana and think about Him throughout
one's daily activities. Then our affection and love for Him will grow such
that we will want Him all to ourselves-- not sharing Him with others.
So just as when joint family members pass their days together then their
closeness for each other increases, the same thing is true in our spiritual
life.
If we do more dhyana and serve Baba, and engage in His ideation, and talk
with Him, then naturally our love and affection for Baba will flourish,
bloom, & blossom.
That is the magic recipe and that is the secret formula which Baba has
given: To commit in a deeper way with our inner connection with Him.
And then the result will come-- then one will think that He is mine and
mine alone.
Baba says, "[A-grade] bhaktas say, 'No, no I can share all my belongings
with others, but not my Parama Purus'a. He is mine and mine alone-- He
belongs to no one else. I cannot even think of sharing Him with anyone'."
(AFPS-3)
So all in all it is quite a practical formula. Because through practice &
training this can be realised in life, by His grace. Then one will become
an A-Grade bhakta.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace He has blessed us with the pathway to Him and we can
develop that most intimate and loving relation with Him. Then each and
every sadhaka will hold Him as their very own.
Baba says, "What is really important is to meditate on the personal God and
move towards Him. And this personal God is the Singular Entity, the Ta'raka
Brahma. Ta'raka Brahma literally means a special manifestation of Parama
Purus'a... He is the eternal companion of unit beings in their joys and
sorrows - not a God in the distant sky but an understanding Lord in the
house where they dwell." (SS-11)
Namaskar,
Virendra
Note: DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AM AND THE RELIGIONS
One of the chief differences between AM and the dogmatic religions is that
none of the dogmatic religions embraces the idea of developing a personal
relation with their chosen god. Rather they tell that god lives in some
distant realm-- in the seventh sky etc. This is their outlook. In that case
how can one think that, 'my god is mine and mine alone'. It is impossible
since the closeness of the relation is distinctly lacking.
In contrast, our Ananda Marga is one with dharma. So our approach in AM
follows all the natural flows of life; it correlates with the innate
tendencies of mind. So in AM we intimately adhere to the principle that one
should always try to develop a more personal and intimate relation with
Parama Purusa. That feeling should grow and grow until ultimately one has
the internal yearning that, 'Baba, You are mine and mine alone and I do not
want to share You with anyone'.
This is one of the unique aspects of Ananda Marga.
> THREE GRADES OF BHAKTAS
>
> In order to move ahead let us take a look at one of the main ways that Baba
> has given us for measuring one's standard of bhakti.
> Baba says, "The bhaktas of the lowest category think, "As Parama Purus'a
> belongs to all, so certainly He belongs to me as well because I am one of
> the multitude." Thoughts of this type are not very congenial for one's
> spiritual progress. The second category of bhaktas is slightly better than
> this. They think, "Parama Purus'a is mine, and thus He must belong to
> others also." That is, the bhaktas of both categories have no hesitation in
> sharing Parama Purus'a with others. But the bhaktas of the highest category
> think, "Parama Purus'a is mine only and He belongs to no one else." This is
> the sign of an excellent sa'dhaka, and the spiritual progress of this
> category is inevitable. "He is mine and mine alone and He does not belong
> to anyone else" - this assertion is undoubtedly true." (SS-11, 26 February
> 1971 DMC, Jammu)
> So in His above guideline Baba acutely describes to us the three broad
> categories of bhaktas. And by internalizing Baba's teachings we can easily
> do self-analysis and understand where we are.
DHYANA IS NEEDED
> Why is it that dhyana is necessary? Why is it that dhyana is the secret to
> becoming an A-Grade bhakta? Because in dhyana one comes in very close
> proximity with Parama Purusa and one loves Him and serves Him and shares
> the feeling of their heart with Him. So much internal communication happens
> that is completely personal.
> And as this feeling grows more and more intense through dhyana then one
> internally starts feeling that 'I do not want to share Baba with anyone,
> Baba is mine and mine alone'.
> So dhyana is the only lesson which gives us the training and requisite
> bhakti to develop a more personal and intimate link with Baba. There is no
> other lesson like this. But to do dhyana or to reach up to that heightened
> stage of dhyana, other lessons are needed. All the lessons will serve as
> support pieces for strengthening dhyana. And then with dhyana an intimate
> feeling for Baba will grow more and more.
> So the regular practice of all the lessons and doing dhyana will bring Baba
> in a very close and intimate way. In which case that will make this highest
> stance of bhakti attainable.
>
> Of course nothing can come about without His grace. So His blessing is
> needed. And that He is surely giving. What we have to remember is that from
> our own side, effort is needed. And proper effort in dhyana will raise one
> to the highest standard. Because it is only in dhyana that one can nurture
> and cultivate that intimate relation that 'Baba is mine and mine alone'.
> This feeling can only arise in the mind through intense and sincere
> practice of dhyana. That is Baba's teaching.
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