Baba
General Request: Here at AM-GLOBAL we are sending postings every day. If for any reason you do not receive a posting on any particular day, then please visit our blog as all the letters are posted there. - Eds
Namaskar,
Here following is an example of a Baba story that is not proper. It is important to examine and recognise such stories so we can best understand how they are harmful and impede on the propagation of Ananda Marga ideals. By this way, we will be better prepared and more vigilant to ensure such stories are not circulated. Unfortunately, in this particular case, Dada Maheshvaranandji included this improper and dogmatic story in his Baba story collection which he has shared with others.
Here is that story which in reality is a false and bogus account:
"A headmaster teacher from Kotah, Rajastan, in 1968 this teacher took his only son, a graduate, to visit Baba, offering that he [i.e. his son] could become a WT (whole-time worker). Baba declined the offer gracefully saying that WT’s are persons already selected at birth. They are born from time to time to join His mission."
Note: The above is directly from the Baba story collection of Dada Maheshvaranandji. The name of the headmaster in the above story is Shrii Tej Karan Sharma, a very active Ananda Margii. Unfortunately his son was never interested in Ananda Marga. His parents tried in many ways to bring him onto the path but always their son resisted and harboured antipathy and disgust towards Ananda Marga. Anyone who was around Kota those days can attest to this.
In summary, there are two major flaws:
- First, this is a wrong account. Baba never gave such a reply. More about this is written below
- Second, the teaching of the story is wholly against Ananda Marga ideology as we do not believe in fate or predestination etc.
To begin we can say that this story is fake and off the mark in two basic ways:
#1: Baba never gave such a statement that Wts are determined at the time of birth. Just the margii was thinking out loud and affected by Hindu dogma. So this story is only half-correct. It is true that Shrii Tej Karan Sharma brought his son to Baba and posed such a question. It is 100% false that Baba gave such a reply. That did not happen
#2: The story is ideologically off the mark. Ananda Marga philosophy does not subscribe to fatalistic arguments etc.
So the question is how did this story come to life. It is obviously wrong - such an exchange never transpired. Baba Himself would never make such a statement that Wts are decided at the time of birth. So how did this story come to be.
In brief, Shrii Tej Karan Sharma had his own preconceptions and he wanted his son to become a Wt and certainly brought his son to Baba. And he raised this matter with Baba, however, Baba remained quiet. Due to his own Hindu upbringing, Shrii Tej Karan Sharma interpreted Baba's non-reply to mean that from the time of birth his son was not destined to be a Wt. That is the prevailing Hindu dogma - i.e. that everything is decided ahead of time and one need not exert effort. So when Tej Karan Sharma returned back with his son he expressed his frustration to his friends by saying that everything is decided ahead of time. Then those people twisted the story by stating that Baba directly told that Wts are decided at the time of birth.
Finally, when certain Wts heard this story they thought that such a story speaks to their own greatness. So they safeguarded this story and kept it as a treasure in their collection. That is exactly what Dada Maheshvarananda has done and that is how and why this tiny, dogmatic story entered his collection.
All in all we can say that this story is a half-truth. Shrii Tej Karan Sharma exists and he brought his son to Baba and inquired about making him a Wt, but Baba did not give that reply.
So the above story goes against the fundamentals of Ananda Marga philosophy and here is more about that.
(a) Example of Kalicharan: The first person Baba initiated into Ananda Marga was the notorious robber and murderer, Kalicharan Bandopadyaya - who became a great sadhaka and devotee of the Lord. Here Baba is clearly showing us and putting forth the example that anybody can become great. All have the potential to lead a dharmic life. All that is needed is right ideation and right action. So there is no question that Wts are determined at the time of birth, which leads us into this next point.
In Ananda Marga, Baba has given the guideline for everyone to positively engage and lead an active, revolutionary life from darkness to light.
(b) Creation of WT's: Baba Himself encouraged everyone to create Wts. In reportings, Baba placed huge emphasis and targets on the creation Wts. Baba would verily ask, "How many Wts have you created?" He wanted us to make anyone into Wt by inspiring them on the path of sadhana and service. This clearly shows that Wts are not decided at the time of birth, as the above bogus story asserts. So this above story goes against the working style and ethic of Ananda Marga. It puts forth a negative and dogmatic teaching.
(c) Education: In Ananda Marga we believe in making a comprehensive primary school education system to train and guide those young minds to grow and develop in a dharmic way. This is further proof that we do not give any credence to the false idea that everything is decided at the time of birth. Rather, Baba's standard guideline is to do great things and transform your life and those around you - implement dharmic ideals throughout the society and inspire people to enter onto the path of sadhana.
(d) Karma Vada: Baba's teaching is to do great actions and not wait for life to unfold or sit back relying on fate. Yet the above story gives the idea that everything in life - including becoming a Wt - is determined by fate, i.e. at the time of one's birth. By this psychology, one need not do anything except sit around and wait for the inevitable to unfold. Certainly Baba never espouses this type of lethargic and fatalistic mentality. Rather His guideline is to be vigorously active and do, do, do. That is the spirit of His karma vada.
(e) Fate / Predestination: Those who fall prey to the dogma of fate and predestination believe that everything in life is arranged ahead of time - according to one's birth etc. In this way everything is fixed and there is nothing one can do about it. This gives way to a lethargic and fatalistic outlook in life where people feel that they need not to do anything. Such an indolent dogmatic approach has nothing to do with the word and spirit of Ananda Marga teachings.
As the Sadguru, there is no difference between Baba's words and actions. What Baba preaches He does; what He says He does. If we accept as true what He supposedly told Shrii Tej Karan Sharma - i.e. that Wts are determined and made by their birth, then why did Baba tell people to create Wts. What was the need to give such an order to create when Wts are determind by their birth. In that case, nature will make Wts; such persons will automatically join Ananda Marga and become Wts. So then why the need to create Wts. If we accept this story as true, then there is no need to do anything. Obviously, Baba never made such a statement.
Ananda Marga does not support the idea that everything is pre-ordained as that goes against our tantric philosophy. Those communities that think that everything is pre-ordained do not do anything. In contrast, in Ananda Marga, everyone is taught to do this, to do that, to do pracara, to do sadhana, to do, do, do. That is why it is ludicrous to give credence to the notion that everything, including becoming Wt, is determined at birth. Under that pretense, it would be hypocritical to tell anyone to create a Wt.
By all these examples & guidelines, it is very clear that the above story is fake as it goes against the principles, core values, and fundamentals of Ananda Marga ideology.
Namaskar,
Sastaunga Pranam to Baba,
Ashutosha
General Request: Here at AM-GLOBAL we are sending postings every day. If for any reason you do not receive a posting on any particular day, then please visit our blog as all the letters are posted there. - Eds
== HARMFUL AND BOGUS “BABA STORY” ==
Namaskar,
Here following is an example of a Baba story that is not proper. It is important to examine and recognise such stories so we can best understand how they are harmful and impede on the propagation of Ananda Marga ideals. By this way, we will be better prepared and more vigilant to ensure such stories are not circulated. Unfortunately, in this particular case, Dada Maheshvaranandji included this improper and dogmatic story in his Baba story collection which he has shared with others.
THE BOGUS STORY
Here is that story which in reality is a false and bogus account:
"A headmaster teacher from Kotah, Rajastan, in 1968 this teacher took his only son, a graduate, to visit Baba, offering that he [i.e. his son] could become a WT (whole-time worker). Baba declined the offer gracefully saying that WT’s are persons already selected at birth. They are born from time to time to join His mission."
Note: The above is directly from the Baba story collection of Dada Maheshvaranandji. The name of the headmaster in the above story is Shrii Tej Karan Sharma, a very active Ananda Margii. Unfortunately his son was never interested in Ananda Marga. His parents tried in many ways to bring him onto the path but always their son resisted and harboured antipathy and disgust towards Ananda Marga. Anyone who was around Kota those days can attest to this.
In summary, there are two major flaws:
- First, this is a wrong account. Baba never gave such a reply. More about this is written below
- Second, the teaching of the story is wholly against Ananda Marga ideology as we do not believe in fate or predestination etc.
HOW THIS STORY CAME TO LIFE
To begin we can say that this story is fake and off the mark in two basic ways:
#1: Baba never gave such a statement that Wts are determined at the time of birth. Just the margii was thinking out loud and affected by Hindu dogma. So this story is only half-correct. It is true that Shrii Tej Karan Sharma brought his son to Baba and posed such a question. It is 100% false that Baba gave such a reply. That did not happen
#2: The story is ideologically off the mark. Ananda Marga philosophy does not subscribe to fatalistic arguments etc.
So the question is how did this story come to life. It is obviously wrong - such an exchange never transpired. Baba Himself would never make such a statement that Wts are decided at the time of birth. So how did this story come to be.
In brief, Shrii Tej Karan Sharma had his own preconceptions and he wanted his son to become a Wt and certainly brought his son to Baba. And he raised this matter with Baba, however, Baba remained quiet. Due to his own Hindu upbringing, Shrii Tej Karan Sharma interpreted Baba's non-reply to mean that from the time of birth his son was not destined to be a Wt. That is the prevailing Hindu dogma - i.e. that everything is decided ahead of time and one need not exert effort. So when Tej Karan Sharma returned back with his son he expressed his frustration to his friends by saying that everything is decided ahead of time. Then those people twisted the story by stating that Baba directly told that Wts are decided at the time of birth.
Finally, when certain Wts heard this story they thought that such a story speaks to their own greatness. So they safeguarded this story and kept it as a treasure in their collection. That is exactly what Dada Maheshvarananda has done and that is how and why this tiny, dogmatic story entered his collection.
All in all we can say that this story is a half-truth. Shrii Tej Karan Sharma exists and he brought his son to Baba and inquired about making him a Wt, but Baba did not give that reply.
WHY THE STORY IS BOGUS
So the above story goes against the fundamentals of Ananda Marga philosophy and here is more about that.
(a) Example of Kalicharan: The first person Baba initiated into Ananda Marga was the notorious robber and murderer, Kalicharan Bandopadyaya - who became a great sadhaka and devotee of the Lord. Here Baba is clearly showing us and putting forth the example that anybody can become great. All have the potential to lead a dharmic life. All that is needed is right ideation and right action. So there is no question that Wts are determined at the time of birth, which leads us into this next point.
In Ananda Marga, Baba has given the guideline for everyone to positively engage and lead an active, revolutionary life from darkness to light.
(b) Creation of WT's: Baba Himself encouraged everyone to create Wts. In reportings, Baba placed huge emphasis and targets on the creation Wts. Baba would verily ask, "How many Wts have you created?" He wanted us to make anyone into Wt by inspiring them on the path of sadhana and service. This clearly shows that Wts are not decided at the time of birth, as the above bogus story asserts. So this above story goes against the working style and ethic of Ananda Marga. It puts forth a negative and dogmatic teaching.
(c) Education: In Ananda Marga we believe in making a comprehensive primary school education system to train and guide those young minds to grow and develop in a dharmic way. This is further proof that we do not give any credence to the false idea that everything is decided at the time of birth. Rather, Baba's standard guideline is to do great things and transform your life and those around you - implement dharmic ideals throughout the society and inspire people to enter onto the path of sadhana.
(d) Karma Vada: Baba's teaching is to do great actions and not wait for life to unfold or sit back relying on fate. Yet the above story gives the idea that everything in life - including becoming a Wt - is determined by fate, i.e. at the time of one's birth. By this psychology, one need not do anything except sit around and wait for the inevitable to unfold. Certainly Baba never espouses this type of lethargic and fatalistic mentality. Rather His guideline is to be vigorously active and do, do, do. That is the spirit of His karma vada.
(e) Fate / Predestination: Those who fall prey to the dogma of fate and predestination believe that everything in life is arranged ahead of time - according to one's birth etc. In this way everything is fixed and there is nothing one can do about it. This gives way to a lethargic and fatalistic outlook in life where people feel that they need not to do anything. Such an indolent dogmatic approach has nothing to do with the word and spirit of Ananda Marga teachings.
SUMMARY STATEMENT
As the Sadguru, there is no difference between Baba's words and actions. What Baba preaches He does; what He says He does. If we accept as true what He supposedly told Shrii Tej Karan Sharma - i.e. that Wts are determined and made by their birth, then why did Baba tell people to create Wts. What was the need to give such an order to create when Wts are determind by their birth. In that case, nature will make Wts; such persons will automatically join Ananda Marga and become Wts. So then why the need to create Wts. If we accept this story as true, then there is no need to do anything. Obviously, Baba never made such a statement.
Ananda Marga does not support the idea that everything is pre-ordained as that goes against our tantric philosophy. Those communities that think that everything is pre-ordained do not do anything. In contrast, in Ananda Marga, everyone is taught to do this, to do that, to do pracara, to do sadhana, to do, do, do. That is why it is ludicrous to give credence to the notion that everything, including becoming Wt, is determined at birth. Under that pretense, it would be hypocritical to tell anyone to create a Wt.
By all these examples & guidelines, it is very clear that the above story is fake as it goes against the principles, core values, and fundamentals of Ananda Marga ideology.
Namaskar,
Sastaunga Pranam to Baba,
Ashutosha
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