DMS News #7: Birth of One New Dogma

Date: 13 Sun Feb 2011 05:38:29 -0000
From: "Manoj"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: DMS News #7: Birth of One New Dogma

Baba

                      == DMS NEWS #7: BIRTH OF ONE NEW DOGMA ==

Namaskar,
This following first-hand account details one new dogma that took birth at last month's January 2011 DMS in Ananda Nagar.

                             *                          *                         *                          *

When I went to the meditation hall in Baba's Quarter on 1st January 2011, I thought I saw some coins thrown by some sadhakas just below the cot on which Baba's photo was placed.

From a distance, I doubted what I saw so I stepped closer and went to the front side. Then I confirmed that it was indeed a coin. Upon further investigation I found that some margiis were throwing coins and rupees just in front of Baba's photo. Those coins were landing at the same spot where the flowers, pots with coconuts and candles (pradiipa) were placed as decoration. All these coins were tossed just below the cot upon which Baba's photo was placed.

Upon further investigation, it become clear that people were doing this in hopes of getting their selfish desires and requests fulfilled. They were essentially bribing Parama Purusa. In exchange of their monetary offering, they were seeking a daughter's marriage, victory in their court case, getting their enemies destroyed, or a job promotion etc. These were some of the selfish requests they wanted fulfilled by dropping money in front of Baba's photo.

Of course all those in-charges knew this was dogmatic, but because this offering was generating income, such Dadas were not telling them to stop.

I even asked one Dada about this and he said, "Yes, some might have done this." But he did not say anything further.

However, many of us felt that an announcement should have been made this act of dropping coins by Baba's photo was not good. Then margiis - new or old etc - would have gotten the message not to toss coins by Baba's photo.

Instead those in-charges put this coin tossing dogma on open display by letting it continue. By that way more and more began to partake in this dogmatic manner. That was the lesson put forth: Others are doing and you can too.

And again, why was it allowed to be continued? Because ultimately there was an economic benefit involved. The more who participated increased the amount of money those Dadas will get. What else can be the reason why such Dadas did not openly denounce this dogmatic offering from the very beginning.

Of course every rational margiis knows that this type of (crude) offering - i.e. arcana - is an exact copy of the Hindu dogma - about which Baba has instructed us not to follow. Yet that is what I personally saw going on at last month's DMS program at Ananda Nagar.

                             *                          *                         *                          *

                                           BABA'S TEACHINGS ON ARCANA

Here are a few of Baba's teachings on this topic.

(1) In this first below guideline, Baba clearly tells us that offering money at His photo has nothing to do with devotion.

Baba says, 'Bhakti cannot be identified with árcaná either, which means to worship the deity with flowers, leaves, [holy] water or other articles [like money]." (Ananda Vacanamrtam, Part 33)

(2) Then in Ananda Sutram Baba warns us that those who ask for their selfish interests to be fulfilled by giving money to Parama Purusa are merely indulging in useless prayers.

                                    3-11: Prárthanárcaná mátraeva bhramamúlam.

                     [Prayer and ritualistic worship become a source of confusion.]

Purport: It is useless to pray to God for something, for He is sure to give what is necessary. Solicitation or importunity in the name of worship is nothing but toadyism and flattery." (Ananda Sutram, 3-11)

Baba's teaching is that Parama Purusa will do what is required for the proper development of each and every person, so to ask for something - when He already knows what is best for you - is just one defective manner and undermines one's relation with Parama Purusa.

(3) Next Baba differentiates between selfish and selfless puja. Clearly that type of puja where money is offered is nothing but arcana, i.e. that puja done with "selfish motive and external paraphernalia".

Baba says, "Now, what is pu´ja´ or pu´jana? When a person, with or without any selfish motive, offers his or her deep reverence to an entity with undivided concentration, with or without external paraphernalia such as flowers, bel leaves, sandalwood paste, Ganges water, basil, bananas, rice, etc., that is called pu´ja´ or pu´jana. And the type of worship which is performed with selfish motive and external paraphernalia is called arca´ or arcana´. The type of worship which is performed with or without selfish motive, but certainly without any specific external paraphernalia, is called pra´rthana´. And the special type of pu´ja´ which is performed without any selfish motive or external paraphernalia is called Brahmasadbha´va [ideation of Brahma]." Shiva's Teachings – 2 (continued) (Discourse 14)

(4) Here below Baba points out that those who pray to God to give them a job promotion or a husband for their daughter actually send the message to Parama Purusa that He is not fulfilling His duties properly and has forgotten what a person needs. That is what is implied by asking something of Parama Purusa - one is blaming God for failing to do the needful.

Baba says, "Prayer is the act of asking for a favour with earnestness. It also means a solemn petition addressed to the Supreme Being for certain benefits. One prays to God for something which one does not possess or thinks one does not possess. One asks God for these favours with the faith that He alone can bestow everything and by His mere wish all wants can be satisfied. By prayer or by begging one wants to awaken His wish so that one may be granted the things one lacks. Does not one’s attempt to rouse the wish of God to fulfil these needs, upon careful and rational thinking, appear to be a reminder to God to give one something of which God has kept one deprived? It would otherwise not be necessary to remind Him in prayer of that thing or to try to arouse His wish to give. For instance, if one is in need of money, one would, with the faith that God alone can give, pray to Him for the favour of giving one money. Does not this request show God’s fault in keeping one in want of money, when He alone can give it? God alone is blamed for it, and by praying to Him for money one is precisely pointing out to Him His partiality in not giving one the money one needed. Therefore, prayer or asking for favours from God is only pointing out to the Sole Giver His mistakes in the distribution of His favours. It only presumes lack of impartiality in Him, and that is why He is blamed for making some very rich and others very poor. Praying to God for favours is only to bring to His notice the charge of partiality levelled against Him. When prayer leads to such a conclusion, it is only ignorance to ask for favours. One who performs actions will also bear the consequences, and blaming God for it as His partiality is not going to save one from bearing the consequences." (Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy)


                                                       REFLECTION

Tragically the scene of giving money at DMS was nothing but a dogmatic case of arcana, i.e. praying and bribing Parama Purusa with external objects (i.e. money) in order to get His favour and one's selfish desires met. This type of offering is just dogma and has nothing to do with devotion. It is shameful that out of greed certain Dadas allowed this act to go on at our very own DMS gatherings. That is the new dogma that took birth.


                                             WHAT SHOULD BE DONE

Here Baba clearly tells us what we should offer to Parama Purusa. We are to offer our own selves - i.e. our minds, not external objects like money.

Baba says, "“Tava dravyaḿ Jagatguro Tubhyameva samarpaye.” “Everything of mine, along with my mind, is offered at Your altar. Please oblige and accept it.” (Ananda Vacanamrtam, part 3)

Namaskar,
Manoj

DMS News #6: Slow Death of One Dogma

Date: Mon 07 Feb 2011 08:28:11 -0000
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From:
Subject: DMS News #6: Slow Death of One Dogma

Baba

           == DMS NEWS #6: SLOW DEATH OF ONE DOGMA ==

Namaskar,
This is the second time it has officially happened. It is still not yet perfect
but it is a big improvement from the dogma that was in vogue for two
decades.

During the January 2011 DMS, when PP Dada (i.e. Senior Purodha
Vishvadevananda) entered the pandal, then everyone raised the banner
"Ananda Marga Amar Hai", meaning "Ananda Marga is eternal" or "Long
Live Ananda Marga".

So the dogma of raising the slogan, "Parama Pita Baba Ki - Jai!" upon
PP Dada's entry was not done. After years and years of margiis objecting
to this dogma, they have gotten victory. Those at the helm no longer
adhere to this dogma. As I say - and as is described below - still the
situation is not perfect, but it is moving in the right direction, thanks to
the staunch efforts of rational Ananda Margiis.

At the January 2011 DMS, the "Parama Pita Baba Ki - Jai!" slogan was
not raised until PP Dada did sastaunga pranam in front of Baba's photo.
Of course the best would have been if PP Dada himself was the first
to raise the Jai slogan, then no naive person could possibly think that
the slogan was being raised for him. Maybe next time he will do like
that as things are improving.

Of course, the dogma since 1990 has been that when the margiis
would raise the Jai slogan , then the reigning PP upon entering the
pandal would hold his palms together in blessing mode as if he is
receiving the Jai slogan from margiis, as if PP getting the recognition.
Thankfully this dogmatic era is now over, as we all know that the
Jai slogan is for Baba and Baba alone.

While those at the helm have mended their ways, this Jai slogan dogma
has not died entirely, but it is in the process of dying.

Here is the past, present and recent history and the whole story surrounding
this issue.


                        JAI SLOGAN IS FOR BABA:

          THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY CONFUSION

As we all know, our "Parama Pita Baba Ki - Jai!" slogan is raised in
Baba's glory - and no other. He is the Sadguru; He is that Taraka Brahma
that took birth to bring us on His divine lap; He is the Polestar; and
He is the Goal of Life. For Ananda Margiis, only He is Baba. And we
raise the Jai slogan with one-pointed ideation on His name and form.
There is no second or third entity involved - only Him. Thus, there
should not be any ambiguity about our Jai slogan.


           WHAT MARGIIS OBJECTED TO THE POST 90 DOGMA

Unfortunately since 1990, our Jai slogan has been misused at our DMS
gatherings and that has left many new people confused and led many astray.

Since 1990, this has been the scene at DMS. The pandal would be full of
margiis, waiting for DMS to begin. Everyone would sing kiirtan. At the
conclusion of kiirtan, one Dada at the mic would raise the "Parama Pita
Baba Ki - Jai!" slogan and all would join in. The volume and intensity
would mount and then suddenly PP Dada or some other high-posted Dada
convening DMS would come out on stage. Everyone present would continue
to raise the slogan and PP Dada would slowly walk towards his seat with
his hands folded at his heart, not saying anything, as if everyone was
doing the Jai slogan for him & in his honour, not Baba's.

This is the crude way the slogan has been going on since 1990, and for
years and years many margiis and Dadas strongly objected. They brought
the point that PP Dada should also raise the Jai slogan and not stroll
into the pandal as if the slogan is in his honour.

But despite the many objections by margiis and Dadas, those top DMS
organisers kept everything as is, i.e. allowing PP and other big Dadas
to receive the Jai slogan. That was their standard practice; anyone who
has attended DMS knows this. History itself is the proof.


                 THIS WAS CONFUSING FOR MANY

Raising the Jai slogan in this dogmatic way was offensive to all bhaktas
and created much confusion about who the slogan is for and who Baba is,
especially for newer margiis and sympathizers. Certainly established
sadhakas were not confused but rather outraged, whereas countless others
were totally befuddled thinking that the slogan was for PP Dada etc.

Here's why, there was so much confusion:

1) In India, the term "Baba" is commonly used for many by the general
public. All Hindu monks are called Baba; grandfathers are called Baba;
priests are called Baba; all in all, there are so many Babas in India.
All are Baba. Thus when at DMS the whole pandal is raising the "Parama
Pita Baba Ki - Jai slogan" and PP Dada walks across the stage, then so
many members of the general public, new people and sympathizers will
naturally conclude that in AM Baba refers to PP Dada. This is one common
misnomer that has occurred in the post 1990 era.

2) In all the religions and on all the paths, the guru-ship, papacy (i.e.
the pope), head priest, and Dalai Lama title etc are passed down from
one leader to the next, from one human being to the next. This is the
way it works. AM is unique in that Brahma Himself is the Guru and there
is no passing down of the Guruship. There is not another path on the
planet that operates in this way. Naturally, then new people are going
to think that since 1990, the top Dada or PP Dada is the new Guru. None
can imagine that still we Ananda Margiis hold Baba to be the Guru after
1990. Hence when we raise the "Parama Pita Baba Ki - Jai!", they will
think it refers to the man walking across the stage with folded hands.

3) In AM, Baba is one. Baba refers to Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. There is
no other Baba. So when other paths do not follow the same one-pointed
approach as we follow, then they are bound to be confused about who we
mean when we say Baba.

These are but a few of the many reasons why the current DMS system has
been denounced by right-thinking Ananda Margiis. Raising the Jai slogan
and having PP Dada or some other top Dada walk across the stage is
misleading in so many ways. This is not the message we want to put
across. Even some good margiis got confused, especially in those early
years directly after '90.

Here the point is that the way the Jai slogan has been raised at DMS has
been problematic for the past 2 decades, i.e. 20 yrs, and many have
rightly brought forth their concerns - only to fall on deaf ears. Those
top Dadas always ignored the matter.


            NIGAMANANDA'S FATEFUL ANNOUNCEMENT

Then, out of the blue, at the 2010 Jamalpur DMS, Dada Nigamanandji,
the H group spokesman issued the following statement:

"When our chosen top Dada or PP walks out onto the stage, then do not
raise the Jai slogan. This slogan is only for Baba and none should get
confused. PP should enter silently, offer a garland to Baba's photo, do
sastaunga pranam, then the slogan should be Jai raised, and then PP will
take his seat."

This type of proclamation was given by Dada Nigamananda at the
Jamalpur DMS (2010). Even then, Dadaji did not get the situation
totally correct, plus there are many inconsistencies with Dadaji's own
behaviour in this regard - all of which are explored further down in
this letter.

Suffice to say here that with regards to the Jai slogan at our DMS
functions, it would best if PP himself raises the slogan first and then
everyone else joins in. Then all would know that PP is raising the
slogan for someone because no one can raise their own slogan. The prime
minister cannot raise the slogan, "Long live the prime minister!" -
someone else has to do it. So when if PP himself raises the Jai slogan
first then all would understand that PP is not Baba. So that is the way
it should be done.

The Jai slogan at the 2010 Jamalpur DMS and 2011 January DMS
was better than before but it is still not ideal. For it to be proper, PP
himself has be the first to raise the slogan and he should raise it the
entire time. Then common people will understand that Baba is Shrii
Shrii Anandamurtiji. None will think that Baba means PP Dada or
that the slogan is in PP's honour.

Beyond that there were some other noticeable peculiarities of Dada's
stated approach.


  WHY PEOPLE WERE LAUGHING AT NIGAMANANDA'S STATEMENT

Here is why many margiis and Dadas present at the 2010 Jamalpur DMS
were smiling and laughing at Nigamananda's talk.

1. Firstly, Nigamananda talked about the Jai slogan as if he was
introducing a new practice in AM and no one knew how to raise the
slogan. When in fact, most of the margiis present have been raising the
Jai slogan properly for years and years. They were the ones complaining
that it should be raised for Baba and no one else. But in his stated
manner, Nigamananda approached the matter as if he was teaching
something entirely new that was unheard of in AM. That was one point of
humour.

2. Nigamananda talked about the Jai slogan as if for the past 20yrs he
and other top Dadas were not the ones who implemented the faulty and
dogmatic Jai slogan system. After all, Sarvatmananda started this dogma
in 1990 as a way to raise the platform of PP and get more power for
himself by controlling PP. Thereafter, for the past 12 years, Rudrananda
and Nigamananda cashed in on this same dogmatic approach.

3. And now suddenly, out of the blue, as if he never did any wrong and
as if no margii ever tried to correct the faulty Jai slogan approach,
Nigamananda walks on stage and with a straight face begins talking "the
finer aspects" of raising the Jai slogan. When all along he and his
cronies were the ones infusing the dogmatic ways, not anyone else.

For all these reasons and more, many good margiis and Dadas were amused
by Nigamananda's approach at the Jamalpur DMS. Dadaji was the culprit
but he presents the situation as if he is the pure and dharmic one who
is coming forward to save the day. That was what all the humour was all
about.


                     WHY HE DID LIKE THAT

With our critical thinking skills and pointed intellect, we should
analyse the situation and understand what motivated Nigamananda to issue
such a statement.

1) The first reason is that Nigamananda knew for years and years
that the Jai slogan was not being done correctly but since he
is now getting aged he thought he should try and fix it before
he died - lest he be blamed in future for his wrong doing.

It is just like how Indira Gandhi lifted the Emergency / martial law
when she was losing her grip on the power. She was the one who imposed
martial law and when she was at the height of power she ridiculed those
who suggested that she end martial law, but when her demise was near
then she stopped martial law. She thought that at least she should at
least get the credit for reversing it. Such was her self-centered and
hypocritical approach.

And now it seems that Nigamananda is no different. He is sick and aged
and now has one leg in the funeral pyre and suddenly he has become
adamant to fix the way the Jai slogan is being done at DMS, when he
personally was in charge of doing it the wrong way for 20yrs.

Many say that this is one reason why Dadaji suddenly came forward.

2) Others are telling that Nigamananda was thinking that he himself
would become PP one day and that he would get that respect and that it
would be so amazing. But when he recently realised that he is not going
to get the top post, then he withdrew that way of doing the Jai slogan
at DMS. He thought that, "If I am not going to the top post then no one
should get such respect."

Earlier Nigamananda thought that he himself would certainly become PP.
But with all the arm wrestling going on between him and Rudrananda, he
realised that he would never get the top chair.

So he thought that if I cannot get all that respect by having the whole
world chant the Jai slogan while I walk slowly across the stage, then no
one should get that opportunity.

It is akin to someone thinking, "If I cannot eat all the rasagolla then
no one should get any, better I should throw it to the dogs."

It is with this defective mindset that all of a sudden Nigamananda ended
the dogmatic Jai slogan ritual at DMS.

3) Side by side there is this also going on. Nigamananda wants credit
for dismantling the wrong way of doing the Jai slogan but he is not
willing to apologise for having been the one to implement and carry out
this system in the first place. For 20 years he was one of the main
agents of this dogma - but he made no mention of that in his talk. He
simply delivered his announcement as if this is a totally new rule. When
in fact for years and years Nigamananda implemented the crude Jai slogan
ritual and he kicked margiis in the face for opposing this same dogmatic
Jai slogan.

For all these reasons and more it is a bit peculiar how now out of the
blue, Nigamananda is suddenly talking about how the Jai slogan gives the
wrong impression. Rather we can understand what is really going on
inside his mind. He is not concerned about undoing a dogma but rather
saving his own prestige.


                        DELIBERATE SINNER

All in all it has to be remarked that Nigamananda has not shown an iota
of repentance for his wrongdoing. He did not even hint that for years
and years he himself administered the Jai slogan for PP Dada. So he has
no repentance for his wrongdoing - otherwise he would have said something.

His only motivation for coming forward is ego - to save his own
prestige. He thinks that if he is not going to become PP then no one
should get that kind of power and respect. But even then he is not going
to admit his own wrongdoing as that would be self-incriminating. So he
simply talks as if he is implementing a new rule, not tearing down an
old dogma which he himself actively supported.

According to Baba, this type of crooked mind-set is that of a deliberate
sinner.

Baba says, "They know that they are surrendering their intellect to
dogma, and that the outcome will be undesirable; they know and
understand everything – why, even then, do they knowingly submit to it?
They are all deliberate sinners." (NH-LOI, Disc: 6)

Only now when Dadaji is sadly suffering from a terminal illness is he
trying to get credit for fixing this wrongdoing, without admitting his
part in it.

It seems he is fearful of how he will be judge in the future. Otherwise
what was the need to come forward like he did at the Jamalpur DMS function.

Of course we all feel badly that Dadaji is in poor health and close to
his end, but best would have been if he had expressed some repentance
for his misdeed and sin.


                 WHAT SHOULD BE THE APPROACH:

           PP HIMSELF SHOULD RAISE THE SLOGAN

So that was the drama about Nigamananda's announcement at the 2010
Jamalpur DMS gathering. Now we should all come to consensus on this
deeply devotional issue.

Baba is our Polestar and the "Parama Pita Baba Ki - Jai!" is for Him
alone. To ensure no one at DMS thinks that the slogan is for PP Dada,
then PP Dada himself should be the first to raise the slogan and then
all others should join in and PP should continue to yell the slogan till
the very end. Then everyone present, even non-margiis and sympathizers,
will understand that our Jai slogan is for Baba and Baba is Shrii Shrii
Anandamurtiji, not anyone else.


               SOCIETY IS IMPROVING, BUT NOT DADAJI

This is the era when society is moving ahead quickly. So many dogmas and
injustices are being corrected. Whole countries and governments - like
Canada and Australia - are issuing apologies for how they abused and
wiped out native peoples in the past. Priests are speaking out about
religious injustices, and social leaders are admitting their misdeeds of
old. In so many ways people are coming clean and fixing their wrongs.
That is the trend.

So it is a shame that Nigamananda could only go halfway. All he could do
was try and introduce a new rule, he failed to express repentance for
his wrongdoing the past 20 years.

By Baba's grace, very soon Nigamananda will get the courage to show his
repentance in front of all. Till that time, everyone will see the truth
about him for what it is.

Right now it looks as though he has been sleeping the last 20yrs when
margiis were pointing out this wrongdoing, or Dadaji is a deliberate
sinner - or both. You the reader should decide.


                           BABA'S BLESSING

It is exclusively Baba's grace that He has blessed us by coming and
taking us on His lap. All glory and honour go to Him - no one else. By
using the Jai slogan at DMS in the proper way, everyone will understand
that Baba is Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji and that He alone is the Guru of
Ananda Marga.

Namaskar,
Mahesh


                       OUR SANSKRIT NAMES

Baba says, "At the time of initiation or shortly afterwards, those who do not
have a Sanskrit name should be given one by the ácárya/á. The word deva should
be suffixed to the name...the more the usage of deva as a title, the better it
is. The Sanskrit name should be used in all worldly dealings." (Caryacarya-1)


Note:      MORE NEWS POSTINGS ABOUT JANUARY 2011 DMS

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2011/02/dms-news-5-exploitation-artificial.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2011/01/dms-news-4.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2011/01/dms-news-3-holding-hands-women-men.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2011/01/re-dms-news-3-holding-hands-women-men.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2011/01/dms-news-2-two-different-protests.html

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2011/01/news-hindu-dogmatic-movie-shown-sold-at.html


                                       PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"Sukhe ele na'ko, shoke sa'ntvana' dite ele..." (PS 3091)

Purport:

Baba, when I was feeling happy and content that time You did not come.
Those days I was so enamoured with myself and I was so involved in my
own glory that I did not even think to call You. So You did not come.
But when I lost all that happiness and when I become drowned in my
sorrows of self pity and when I was suffering and overwhelmed by various
problems, then by Your grace You immediately came and consoled me. Baba
in that desperate moment You graciously relieved me of my grief. Baba, I
did not ever feel that You are mine. In this life I was always suffering
from the vanity and ego of my own I-feeling. Those days I was thinking
that 'I am everything'. Due to my ego I did not accept You as the
Supreme One-- as my Goal. I did not take You as that most loving One who
can solve all my problems; I did not surrender at Your feet. Baba, even
then by Your grace You took advent deep inside my heart and became mine.
And now I understand that You are ever helpful and that You remain with
me always.

Baba, those days when I was overwhelmed by that severe suffering, I did
not outrightly tell You about my problems. I did not openly say
anything. I did not express my pain to You. But because You are
ever-present in my heart and because You are my eternal shelter, with
Your infinite compassion You fully understood the desperate state of my
mind-- You understood my sorrow. And by Your grace You instantly poured
Your eternal sweetness and love. By Your grace You filled my whole
existence with Your divine bliss.

Baba, due to my ego and vanity I could not recognise you. You were
showering huge grace on me but I could not recognise that. I thought
that due to my own qualities everything was happening. In those happy
times I could not recognise You. Only did I begin to recognise You in my
sorrow. Baba, in my state of terrible suffering, when the mountain of
misery started falling on my head, then all my friends left me. I was
all alone. When I was happy then they were along with me but when I
became sunk in misery all those friends disappeared. Baba, You are the
exact opposite. When I was sunk in woe then by Your grace You
immediately came and removed all my pains and troubles. Baba You bathed
me in Your infinite love. Filling my I-feeling with Your bliss, You
surrounded me each and every second. Baba, You showered Your grace and
saturated my heart.

Baba, You are so gracious. You are love Personified. You have done
everything for me. Baba, I surrender at Your alter...


           ***************************************
              Health Guideline: Diet Related

Baba says, "For proper digestion, fill the stomach half-way with food,
one quarter with water, and leave one quarter full of air." (CC-3,
'Procedure for Eating')

Note: Every conscious margii follows this above point but sometimes for
certain people it becomes difficult to follow. Especially at retreats or
during feasts this rule is not so strictly followed by some. Whereas in
everyday life when they are in their own home this is not a problem.
Anyhow, the above guideline given by Revered Baba is highly significant
and we should follow it.
            ***************************************

DMS News #5: Exploitation & Artificial Scarcity

From: "Girish Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: DMS News #5: Exploitation + Artificial Scarcity
Date: Sun, 06 Feb 2011 14:33:10 +0530

Baba


            == DMS NEWS #5: EXPLOITATION + ARTIFICIAL SCARCITY ==

Note: This letter is related with the prior posting, Ananda Marga Gatherings: Two Models.


http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2011/02/ananda-marga-gatherings-two-models.html

Namaskar,
First and foremost, our Marga is a family; all are the sons and daughters of our Divine Father, Baba. Perhaps more than any other point, Baba has emphasized this again and again: We are all brothers and sisters of the same universal family. That is one of the specialties and most beautiful aspects of Ananda Marga.

Unfortunately, one of the ongoing dealings at our DMS functions at Ananda Nagar undermines this family feeling. Specifically, at our DMS functions, rooms in the Prout  Bhavan, Gurukul and Farm House rent for 1200 rupees.

Now you may ask, what does this have to do with our family feeling. Well, frankly speaking, this is an amount that most of our brothers and sisters simply cannot afford to pay.

Many go to AN for various reasons as it is an essential element of our AM way of life. Tragically the greater percentage of margiis cannot afford rooms at Ananda Nagar. The rooms are priced too high, far more than hotels in India of a similar standard. That is the first problem.

Secondly, the margiis who do pay that amount feel that the organisation is "doing business with me." Because the RS 1200 fee is far more than what the room is actually worth, i.e. what it costs to operate the room (electricity, water etc) during the DMS. So the whole ordeal is like getting a room in a hotel; those who pay that amount understand it is a business transaction.

Finally, there are some who wish to get a room but they cannot find an empty space due to the high demand for rooms in the Prout Bhavan. To learn more about this situation, be sure to read note 3 at the bottom of this email.


                              THEY HAVE THEIR OWN JUSTIFICATION

Of course, those charging that exorbitant fee for the Prout Bhavan rooms have their own logic. Their justification is that:  "People are not coming here on a regular basis - they only come for DMS - and I have to maintain this room the whole year. That is why I am charging more."

But the reply is that in order to maintain Ananda Nagar, they are already collecting donations year-round from margiis all around the world. Teams of acaryas collect money from around the globe in order to support Ananda Nagar.

The overall effect of charging RS 1200 during DMS is that our family feeling becomes affected.

The funny thing about this is that certain organisational leaders feel they are making a good profit by renting the rooms at that high price - i.e. above market value. But what they do not understand is that if the rooms were rented at a very nominal fee - just enough to cover costs - or even better if is was done on a donation basis, then margiis would feel sentimentally and personally linked. They would feel that "this is the property of my organisation and this property belongs to all margiis." They would feel emotionally attached.


                                      WHAT OTHER MOVEMENTS DO

Numerous organisations and movements in India take this very same approach. They offer room, lodging, or seminars at no cost to their members. That way a large population of people can attend their gatherings. And instead of charging a fixed rate fee, it is all based on donation. In that case those who donate do so generously with their heart; and those who cannot afford to pay have no complex or ill will. So it is a win-win situation. And that is the feeling which builds a strong society - not petty profits or a business relation. Our DMS programs should started modeling this approach as well.


                                  CULTIVATING A SENSE OF CLOSENESS

For instance, if rooms were offered at a nominal fee affordable to all or on a donation basis, margiis would certainly give their all if any problem arises or if the rooms need maintenance. They would feel that, "Those rooms belong to my Marga and they are my responsibility." That is the mind-set that develops when people feel sentimentally linked.

So if any problem comes, margiis would give plenty of money, time, and support in order to protect what they feel is rightfully theirs. That is the way it works. And that is best for everyone.

And indeed those organisations that understand this fact operate in this way. For instance the Jains have guest houses all over India for their followers. And the rate they charge is very, very minimal - just enough to cover expenses. And by this way they generate a family feeling that is far stronger than any profit margin. But not only that, those Jains who are wealthy generously donate large sums to support those guesthouses.

So in this dharmsala system, there is a very, very low nightly fee; the rooms are affordable to all. The result is that it generates a very sentimental and familial link. And because of this, followers donate generously to the dharmsala system.

There is no reason why this same method cannot be applied to our DMS gatherings.


                                                       SOLUTION

Here is the way to solve the problem: We should follow donation based system and offer accommodation to all at no charge, or there should be a very nominal fee. In addition, all should help out and work for the upkeep of the rooms and retreat sites if they are physically fit. That brings a sense of closeness. it develops collective spirit.

Please see all further news below on notes 2 & 3.

Namaskar,
Girish


Note 1:                           ONE OTHER POINT: EQUAL SEATING

As we all know, in Caryacarya part 1, Baba says that at dharmacakra in our jagrtis, all should sit on equal seats, irrespective of their social or economic status. This gives the idea that money is not a measure of one's respect. Islam follows a similar notion; the Indian seminar system also adheres to this standard. But, sorrowfully, in our own DMS gatherings, we are not following this guideline.

Note 2:          MORE NEWS ABOUT HOUSING AT THE JAN 2011 DMS

(This below report was submitted to me by one senior margii who also attended the DMS.)

- A margii brother paid Rs1200 for 3 days for a 20' x 18' room (with an attached bathroom and toilet) in the Prout Bhavan during the January 2011 DMS. The Prout bhavan offers private rooms on three separate floors. At this DMS all rooms were taken far ahead of time.

- Those who stayed in the common hall and veranda of the Prout Bhavan paid a variable rate based on their personal circumstances. These residents had to use the common bathroom and toilet.

- Another margii paid Rs1200 for 3 days for a comparatively smaller room in the Farm House.

- The Farm House is more run down (decrepit) than the Prout Bhavan as the electrical wiring & water tap in the Farm House look quite old.

- The Farm has two stories and most of the rooms in the Farm remained vacant.

- In the years since two separate DMS's (i.e. H and B) began at Ananda Nagar, the margiis who have been staying in the Prout Bhavan keep their same rooms year after year. As soon as they leave DMS on 2nd January they reserve the rooms for next time; and if for some reason they cannot attend then they authorise their close family friends to stay in those rooms. There is no scope for other general margiis to gain access to those rooms during DMS. A new margii has no chance of renting a room in the Prout Bhavan. In contrast, those margiis who stay in the common hallway of the Prout Bhavan and in the veranda, that population varies from year to year.

- The rooms in the Gurukul are also rented in the aforementioned manner.

- Sometimes margiis who do not regularly attend the January DMS wish to go. Because they know there is a scarcity of rooms, they contact influential margiis close to the avadhutas who run the Prout Bhavan and Gurukul. This is one technique employed to get a room. If on the off chance they get a room, they keep quiet about how much they had to pay.

- Two building managed by the Kolkata faction - The Farm and Upper Hostel - usually have plenty of space, i.e. empty rooms, during the Ranchi DMS. There is not much demand for those rooms. Also, those margiis who stay in the Children's Home pay a variable rate.

- In the AMURT building and the Farm House, there are some margiis stay in the rooms which they themselves constructed prior to 1990. If those margiis do not attend they will arrange for family members or friends to stay in those rooms. If still those rooms remain empty, then avadhutas will rent out those rooms. It is not known who keeps the rent money.


Note 3:       MISUTILISATION OF HOUSING & ARTIFICIAL SCARCITY

Here is one other critical component to this housing issue at DMS.

On the one side the Prout Bhavan - controlled by Ranchi side - is crowded people cannot get any rooms there as it is totally full and the on the other side the Farm House and Upper Hostel - controlled by B group - have so many empty rooms during DMS.

Why is this happening? Because one group (Ranchi) does not want or allow margiis to stay in buildings controlled by the other group (Kolkata). They (Ranchi) want their DMS attendees to remain under their supervision and not visit the other faction. Because if innocent margiis take shelter in a building controlled by a competing group (Kolkata), then those margiis may become sympathetic to that faction. And no one from Ranchi wants to lose supporters to B group. So this is another drama going on.

Because of all this, in cold weather people stay in open air verandas without proper covering while other good rooms are vacant at the Farm and Upper Hostel. And the Ranchi team is able to raise the rates of the Prout Bhavan as there is an artificial scarcity of rooms. Because it is frowned upon to stay in B group buildings, then that obviously creates a room shortage. Ranchi can then charge a high rate for their rooms.

This is all nothing but a terrible misutilisation of property; this runs contrary to both Prout and neo-humanism. This entire ploy smacks of artificial scarcity.

Here are a few things that Baba has to say about artificial scarcity:

Baba says, "In order to increase the size of their bank balances, the vaeshyas create an artificial scarcity of such items as food, clothing and other essential commodities, and then earn a profit by black marketeering." (Human Society Part 2)

Baba says, "Capitalists hoard essential commodities and create artificial scarcity to extract the maximum profit. As a result consumers pay inflated prices for essential commodities, and sometimes they even find that such goods are not available at all." (Prout in a Nutshell Part 14)


                           PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"Esecho, tumi esecho, bhuvan bhariya' esecho..." (PS 3289)

Purport:

Baba, by Your divine grace, You have come. You have come, with Your
effulgent presence this world has been filled with bliss. By Your arrival
everyone's pains, agonies and tortures have vanished. You have brought
effulgence along with You. Now, by Your causeless grace, no one will remain
in the dark any longer. You are expressing Yourself through the action,
knowledge, dhyana, and sadhana. You are the ocean of love & compassion.
Baba You are ever-gracious, blessing one and all. Everyone is dancing in
ecstasy. It is Your divine grace. Baba, You have come. The whole world is
getting transformed-- all are floating in Your bliss...

DMS News #4

To: AM-GLOBAL
From:
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 06:45:12
Subject: DMS News #4

Baba

"E kii toma'ri liila', toma'ri khela'..." (PS 544)

Purport:

  O' Parama Purusa, what a supremely divine play You have created; what a grand liila this is of Yours. Baba, on the one hand You are virat*, and on the other end of the spectrum You are hiding in each and every tiny molecule. Baba, You are formless; yet, You are floating Your raft in this expressed universe. You are manifesting Yourself in the multifarious expressions of this world. Baba, You remain both in the expressionless cosmos as well as within each and every unit entity. Baba, Your divine liila is beyond conception.
  Baba, You are omnipresent. Where are You not; You are everywhere. Baba, by Your grace, You are in the depths of my mind; You are in the soft, gentle breeze; You are in the fragrant flower pollen; and, You are in the beautiful blue sky. Baba, You are everywhere. When I contemplate Your greatness, then I cannot find any direction where You are not. Baba, by Your grace You make those who think You full of immense longing. You fill their heart with an irresistible attraction for You.
  Baba, Your exquisite love knows no bounds; it is vast and limitless. Baba, by Your grace, You make meagre beings into something vast, great and immortal. Baba, You look upon everyone with equal love and affection. You never discriminate between one human being and another between the virtuous and the sinners, between the dharmic and the adharmic, between the good or the bad. Baba, You graciously lift everyone onto Your lap. You accept all. Baba, with Your soft, lotus hand, You lovingly shower Your causeless grace-compassion.
  Baba, Your divine liila is unfathomable. Nobody can conceive of the greatness of Your liila. It is very beautiful and has no comparison...


ASTERISK NOTES (*):

*Vira't'a= Literally meaning immeasurable, unfathomable etc. Only Parama Purusa is virat, not any worldly entity.

Baba says, "Parama Purus'a is very great, very very great. When the greatness becomes immeasurable, unfathomable, it is called vira't in Sam'skrta. Parama Purus'a is very great and very vast." (PNS-17)

Baba says, "Anything big having no boundary lines is known as vira't'a in Sanskrit. Parama Purus'a is vira't'a." (SS-21)


                                    == DMS NEWS #4 ==

Note: This letter addresses a dynamic array of significant & critical points.

Namaskar,
It is quite common at Ananda Nagar DMC / DMS to present the cho dance. This happened repeatedly in Baba's presence and He would regularly explain the significance and symbolism of this local dance. That way everyone could understand what was happening.

Unfortunately, at this recent January 2011 DMS, the cho dance was not properly introduced. There was no explanation about the theme or subject of the dance. Hence, many margiis were complaining that it was boring- and rightfully so.

Because, when one does not know the theme, spirit, or significance of any dance program, then naturally one would find it to be boring. Only kids below the age of 7 will enjoy it because children like anything that features costumes.

Just think about it. When you were a small kid then you liked playing with toys but when you became an adult you no longer liked playing with those toys. Even if such toys are lying around the house you avoid them. But when you were a small kid you became enthralled playing with those dolls and toys; however as an adult you do not like to even think in that way. Due to the lack of a proper explanation, the cho dance became like one children's play.

Adults want to know the import and significance - not just see some glossy costumes. Without that the dance seems like a meaningless ritual. That was the complaint of many who attended the January 2011 DMS at Ananda Nagar.

But as it noted below, the cho dance is not just a silly ritual or dogmatic drama.


                              WHY PERFORMED AT THE PEAK OF DMS

Before going any further, let's investigate why the cho dance is always done at the peak of DMS just prior to PP Dada's speech. The purpose is to awaken the audience and make everyone feel fresh again. After all during the occasion of DMS, people walk around the campus all day and feel tired after their evening food. So a well-done drama will help revive them and the audience feel alert and awake.

Think of it this way. The cho dance is similar to a speaker telling jokes to make the audience feel fresh and alive. Otherwise a long drawn out monosyllabic speech is boring and hard to listen to.

All in all, the fine arts can be done anytime, but the cho dance is done at the height of DMS when most of the attendees are in the pandal. The program is meant to revive the audience.

But this time at the DMS, this effect was not achieved as the cho dance program was so boring that people remained sleepy. All should understand the importance of cultural program.


             HOW TO MAKE DRAMAS MORE INTERESTING FOR THE AUDIENCE

Here below, in His discourse "The Practice of Art and Literature", Baba pointedly tells us how to make short dramas and mystery dramas like the cho dance more interesting and exciting for the audience.

Baba says, "If there are complications in the plot, it is desirable to let the reader or the audience first form a rough guess about the plot and then introduce suspense, instead of introducing it at the very beginning, for this will help them to appreciate the suspense more." (Prout Nutshell, part 10)

So up above Baba first tells us that the audience should get an opportunity to figure out by themselves what is going on. And in the next guideline down below, Baba warns that if the audience cannot understand that crux of the story, they will become confused and even bored.

Baba says, "Otherwise, if the audience has not even understood the suspenseful plot, the desire for release from the suspense cannot be intensified; rather people spend their psychic energy more on pondering over what they do not understand in the complicate plot, instead of being curious about what is coming next." (Prout Nutshell, part 10)

Finally Baba describes how the above applies to stage performances like the cho dance and screen plays.

Baba says, "In my opinion this applies equally to both screen and stage plays and dramas. The difference between the two is that the assistance that the author of a screen drama derives from the art director or the studio-technicians, the author of a stage drama does not. The latter has to arrange the environment through the media of the dialogues of the different characters." (Prout Nutshell, part 10)

So that is Baba's key guideline as well. The director of stage dramas must create a dialogue or narration to keep the audience aware of what is going on. Since the cho dance typically has no dialogue, only dance, then those directors must incorporate a narration or some type of explanation for the audience.

Baba says, "Cho dance, which is performed after battle during times of rest in the military camp, has more mudra in it. The dancer only dances, and does not sing. Another person sings and narrates in song what is taking place." (Prout Nutshell, Part 18)

One point to keep in mind is that cho dance is based on a long mythological story like the Ramayana. But the cho dance itself is relatively short. Only those familiar with the greater story can enjoy the cho dance drama because they know each and every section of the main story. Those not familiar with the bigger story find the cho dance to be dreary and boring, like a silly children's play. This problem can only be solved when the main theme of the story is narrated beforehand.


                                    NOT JUST A MEANINGLESS RITUAL

Actually the cho dance is not a ritual.

Dogmatic rituals are senseless, illogical traditions. For example, when the Hindu priests perform certain customs in their worship like spreading holy leaves or ganges water when chanting Sanskrit verses. Participants do not understand what is going on - can the priests give any rational explanation. So the audience thinks, "Let the priest do what he likes." Such type of event is nothing but a dogmatic ritual.

But the presentation of the cho dance is not a ritual. Ours is not a mindless tradition to be carried out for ever and ever. There is a reason to it; there is a logical explanation behind the presentation of the cho dance. The only problem was that at this past DMS no responsible organiser took the time to explain the meaning of the dance to the audience. That was the main problem.


                              MORE IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT DMS &

                          THE PRESENTATION OF THE CHO DANCE

Here following are points to consider regarding the use of the cho dance at DMS.


                                         VALUE OF THE FINE ARTS

1. Ananda Marga recognises the fine arts which include both dance and drama etc. At all our collective functions the fine arts are presented in one way or another: The singing of Prabhat Samgiita, dramas, plays, reenactments and so much more.

2. If people follow the same routine day after day then life becomes boring. In order to bring some interesting change and break up the monotony of daily living, festivals, like DMS, are needed. They garner enthusiasm. Song, dance, dramas, and music are all key elements of any festival.


                                         DISPLAY OF LOCAL DANCE

3. Because our annual DMS functions are held in Ráŕh the best local dance should be displayed. This cho dance is the best of Ráŕh that is why it is displayed. This is not one mindless ritual. There is a theme of every cho dance.

Regrettably, this time the theme was not explained to the audience that is why it was boring. Best is to explain the meaning and style of the cho dance beforehand. That way people know what is going to transpire in the program. Then they will take interest.

4. Our annual DMS program aims to guide the margii audience what to do in their local unit. For instance:  At DMS margiis go twice daily for dharmacakra; margiis should try and do this in their unit as well. And there are so many other examples. People go to DMS to learn our AM way of life and return back home with the inspiration to practice those things in their unit as well.

5. But it does not mean that they should practice the cho dance in their native land, irrespective of where one is living. That is not the idea. The idea is that the fine arts should be cultivated and guided by AM ideology, i.e. where the goal is the Supreme, not crude matter or material longings. In that spirit, at cultural program in their units, margiis should present any local sentient dance or drama etc.

Baba says, "Fine arts lead human beings to the trans-sensory realm; hence sádhakas (spiritual aspirants) should not discourage fine arts; rather they should support them, directly or indirectly. (Caryácarya, part 2)

Furthermore, if an annual DMS is held in Brazil or Iceland, then the cho dance will not be displayed. Rather some other local sentient dance will be performed.


                                          ART VS SO-CALLED ART

6. Within the domain of the fine arts, there are two distinct avenues: Art inspired by the Divine entity Parama Purusa and "art" motivated by animalistic propensities.

In this present era, most of the "so-called-fine arts" are born out of the lower propensities / vrttis. Hollywood and Bollywood are full of this. Actually it is not art. And we do not want such types of crude displays in AM.

So whatever local dances are shown in our various units should goad the mind upward towards the Supreme. Bad art is not art rather something else, just like how all chemicals are not necessarily medicine, they are just poison.

Baba says, "I said that art is for service and blessedness and not for art's sake." (Prout Nutshell, part 17)

Baba says, "That which moves along with the society, that which takes us to the real path of benevolence, to the path of growth and fulfillment, is called literature. “Art for art's sake” is not acceptable; rather the expression should be, “Art for service and blessedness.”
(Abhimata, The Opinion, 2)"


                                          CLOSING THOUGHTS

7. The conclusion is that the cho dance at DMS is done as an expression of the fine arts and to teach margiis that when they go back home they should also do something similar in their local unit: A dance or drama that get its inspiration from the Cosmic Entity. That display must be sentient. For this very purpose, at every AN DMS the cho dance is presented. It is not a ritual mindless or dogmatic.

8. It is the duty of up and coming artists to develop new stories and dance / dramas. It is not that the cho dance has to be performed. New plays can be written and presented such as how our Marga defeated the communists. One must not just rely on the old cho dance as the only display of our cultural dance dramas.

9. That said, te only thing truly wrong about the cho dance at the Jan 2011 DMS was that the theme and story were not explained. That is why it was hence boring for the margiis. I think the organisers will be more careful in the future.

Baba says, "Mańipurii dance, folk dance, Cho dance and Ramvasa dance all have a predominance of mudra. Ramvasa dance has less mudra because it is a war dance. Cho dance, which is performed after battle during times of rest in the military camp, has more mudra in it. The dancer only dances, and does not sing. Another person sings and narrates in song what is taking place." (Prout Nutshell, Part 18)

Unfortunately, at this past DMS, no one properly narrated or explained what is going on - that is why all thought the cho dance is boring.

Namaskar.
Parashram

Note 1:                            DMS NEWS POSTINGS #1 - #3

If you did not receive the first three DMS news postings, kindly write us and we will share those with you.


                   ***************************************                          
                            WT Conduct Rule: Dealings

Baba says, "Supervisory workers will have to take proper care of each of their supervised staff in all respects." (Pt #2 of 'Six Additional Rules')

Note: This is a very significant rule but these days supervisory bosses are more focused on emptying the pockets of their subordinates. This is the only "care" they do. In future when standard of devotion in supervisory workers is higher, these rules are likely to be followed in which case the situation will be better.
                   ***************************************

DMS News #2: Two Different Protests Across the Planet

Date: 10 Jan 2010 21:07:57 -0000
From: "Bhavanath  Rajpal"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: DMS News #2: Two Different Protests Across the Planet

Baba

"Eso tumi raune rupe a'ma'r maner an'u-a'nute..."  - P.S. 2242

Purport:

  Baba, please come in my mind with form and color. Please come in each
and every iota of my mind. My whole life has passed in searching You from
country to another country. When I was looking to find You in far distant
places, then I did not get You anywhere. And when I searched You in the
external world nearby me, then also I did not get You. In fact, I did not
get You in any holy land or in the cave of the mountains. In search of You
in lonely places I cried in longing.  
  Baba, by Your grace when I look into my mind then I see that You are
there smiling on my mental lotus. You are in my mental pollen, in its
fragrance, and in its nectar. Sitting there You are smiling. Baba I did not
get You anywhere externally because You are always in my mind. When I try
to look within then by Your grace I feel that You are with me...


                                                DMS NEWS #2:

                TWO DIFFERENT PROTESTS ACROSS THE PLANET

Namaskar,
We all want unity within our Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha. The main question is which avenue will take us there. The events at the recent DMS and the NY winter retreat shed further light on this matter.

You may have heard that at the recent Ananda Marga New Year's DMS in Ananda Nagar one group sat in protest. To some it may look like this group is quite noble: Engaging in a peaceful, silent protest outside the main gate of the DMS pandal with placards, banners, and pamphlets preaching unity.

But to really understand the situation, we have to see the big picture. We cannot just stare at one small piece of the puzzle.

Specifically, when EC was staging a peaceful protest for unity and declaring along with B group that Kinshuk Dada should be the next PP, then we have to see what other activities EC was involved in to evaluate how far they are sincere in their approach.

And indeed if we evaluate EC's situation in NY sector, we get a grander view of the scene.

That same EC faction which was staging a protest at DMS in Ananda Nagar is the same EC group that controlled the winter retreat at Ananda Kanan (USA). At that gathering they deliberately barred other groups and their members - i.e. the Ranchi group NY SS et Co - from entering into NY sector sectorial retreat. EC veritably blocked that Dada from entering the retreat grounds. When that Dada arrived on site they forcefully told him that he was not welcome. This happened the same exact week that EC was staging their own protest for being disallowed to enter into the DMS pandal in Ananda Nagar.

Plus one other interesting thing to be aware of.

In NY this same EC group is fighting tooth and nail in a huge, unprecedented court case for control of the sector. And they are trying desperately to gather as much funds from margiis as they can in order to pay their attorneys and related legal fees. All done to snatch the power from the other group. These are the plain facts. All the groups are unceremoniously indulged in the fight for power - not true unity.


                                           NOT A FIGHT FOR IDEOLOGY

Groupism means harboring a narrow agenda for one's own personal material gain, i.e. for their particular region, caste, community etc. This type of special self-interest is the defining point of being a group. Groupism has nothing to do with how big or small it is in number, i.e. size of their membership; it is only related with harboring a narrow mentality or group feeling. There may be 1 million people in a group, 100 people or 1 person. That is all meaningless. What makes a group a group is their narrow-minded interests.

In contrast, if a fight is going on for the cause of universal welfare, i.e. for everyone's physical, psychic and spiritual development and one is battling against all sorts of exploitation, then irrespective of the number of people involved, it is not a group.

As long as Baba was controlling AMPS it was not a group. Certain non-margiis were labeling AMPS as a group but it was not a group. Those days AM was for universal emancipation, not any narrow agenda.

Today however the various factions are busy trying to grab the power and injecting dogmas like the supremacy of their language, land, community, or tiirtha. Or they just squabble over who can get more purodhaships in their camp etc. None of these "causes" are ideological. That is why the current group struggle is nothing but a factional feud.

All the groups in today's Marga rally around their chosen dogmas and all the groups want to exploit margiis. That is why they never raise the slogan of margii rights or common issues (see note 1). When not in power they cry out about their own pathetic situation in front of margiis and exploit their sentiment; but when in power the situation is different. Then those groups rule with an iron fist.

Sane people understand this quite well.

If anyone is emotionally attached to certain friendships or a particular language or any other narrow cause, then they should not befool themselves into thinking that they are fighting for Ananda Marga ideology.

All in all, the entire present day group fight has nothing to do with AM ideology - rather it runs counter to our ideological standards.

If on this point you have any doubt please write me.


                                        SUMMARY AND SOLUTION

Here the point is that unity can never be based in groupist hypocrisy - nor the hypocrisy of H, B, or EC groups. All such factions have their self-interest in mind and when we see the big picture their true colours can easily be understood. Those who are victims in one sector are the power mongers in another. Such persons can never bring unity.

The only solution is unity based on ideology - not any group agenda. For more about this see note 1.

Thus when one group is preaching unity on one side of the planet and and carrying out factional feuds on the other side of the globe, even the simplest of observers can understand what is going on.

To solve this matter we have to uncover all shades of hypocrisy and rally around Ananda Marga ideology, not any group camp. So-called unity based on groupist sentiment is fragile and can explode at any moment whereas as real unity based on ideology is the true foundation of our AM and human society.

Baba says, "Human unity is purely an ideological unity, which means unity in the psychic sphere. Where there is psychic unity, physical unity will also occur. In the realm of unity, unity is always psychic – ideological unity means unity in the subtlest level of the mind. However, psychic or ideological unity may be affected if we encourage the exploitation of one group by another. So to avoid this there should not be any scope for exploitation in society. And to ensure this we have to start a new order to safeguard the interests of the exploited masses. So for a proper social synthesis what we require is a common philosophy of life; that is, ideological unity." (Prout Nutshell, Part 15)

Baba says, "Lack of unity among the members of society, because of too much self-interest in the individual members, formation of sects for economic or social advantages, or lack of understanding of others, not only brings the downfall of society, but also will wipe it completely from the face of the earth. Instances of so many sects and empires disappearing altogether are not rare in the history of this world." (“Tattvika Praveshika”)

Namaskar,
Bhavanath


Note 1:                  THEIRS IS NOT AN IDEOLOGICAL FIGHT

The present group fight in our Marga is not an ideological fight. Here ideological means Baba's divine teachings, not any group agenda. This fight is all about their own selfish group interest. Here following the is the logic and reasoning in support of this fact.

Since 1990, so many injustices have been done related with ideology, yet none of these following points are ever raised by these group leaders - i.e. H, B, or EC. Rather they are the perpetrators.

1. Destruction of BP rights and imposition of the Fake BP Manual;
2. Expulsion used as a weapon since 1995  when all groups qqq were together were living and unitedly ruling qqq
3. Countless intentional scriptural distortions such as placing "Translated from the original Bengali" on the cover page of all AM books, even if those discourses were given in English or Hindi;
4. Elimination of the margii based ACB system: Advisory Committees & Boards;
5. Curtailment of margii rights;
6. Creation of dogmatic pilgrimages in Ananda Nagar, Kolkata, & Jamalpur, and many other places;
7. Issuing of Fake Ananda Vaniis;
8. Victimisation of countless innocent Ananda Margiis;
9. Bangalisation of AM teachings;
10. Ruination of Prabhat Samgiita by using filmy singers etc;
11. Not recognising Silent Action as a fundamental right;
12. Rejecting English and Hindi passages spoken by Baba and only translating the Bengali portions of Baba's holy DMC discourses which were given by Baba in three languages;
13. Treating Baba as a mortal being by using the shraddha mantra for Sadguru Baba and the imposition of dogmatic Mahaprayan;
14. Construction of dogmatic memorials to limit Baba to a particular land or place;
15. And so many more ideological wrongs.

Note: Please do write us if you wish more information on any of the above points.

Yet, no group ever raises any of these universal points related with AM teachings / ideology. They only raise their own selfish claims based on their group agenda for post and power.

So all this infighting is nothing but a factional power fight. In that case why should margiis quarrel, give their resources and time, and do & die in such a fight when it is all about selfishness and grabbing the post - and nothing else.

Regarding the above listed ideological points related with margii rights and scripture etc, neither the factions of Tiirthananda & EC, nor B faction, nor H (i.e. Ranchi faction) support these purely ideological issues. Never do they ever raise these items - they only raise points of personal lust for post and power.

Then why should any sincere devotee sacrifice themselves for this cause of infighting and group agenda. There is no ideology on either side. That is Baba's teaching.

Baba says, "Many of the ills of society develop because people do not care to know other members of society. This may not only mean ignorance of the condition and difficulties of others, but also leads to intolerance and a lack of interest in the affairs of the other members of society. Common social functions bring different members of society together and are therefore a great unifying force. By performing certain functions collectively, all the members are engaged in doing the same thing for some time, and this brings about a feeling of unity and interest in others." (Social Psychology, 1957, Jamalpur)


Note 2:             HERE IS  A LINK TO THE FIRST DMS NEWS POSTING

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2011/01/news-hindu-dogmatic-movie-shown-sold-at.html


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                                       Bhacakra

Baba says, "The Cosmic Operative Principle, whereby the Citishakti [Supreme
Cognitive Faculty] goes on transforming itself into Cosmic Ectoplasms and
those Cosmic Ectoplasms into the bhacakra [spatio-eternal system] without
undermining its own status, must necessarily imbibe the witness-ship of the
Sambharaka." (HS, Edn '99, p.148)

Note 1: To do proper translations of Baba's original discourses the
translator must be aware of Baba's own Grammar book series as well as His
small encyclopedia: Laghu Nirukta. Without these two necessary works, the
translation will be incomplete. And it may lack unclarity and create
confusion. The above example has happend like that.


Note 2: The term 'bhacakra' is not available in any published dictionary in
the general society. That is why the translator / editor could not properly
clarify this term. Instead he speculated about its meaning from his own
mind. The real meaning of the term bhacarka is given in Laghu Nirukta. That
is as follows:

"1. The sky and space which can be seen from one side of the earth
represents only half or a partial amount. To see the other half one has to
go to the other side of the earth. And when the entire thing is treated as
one, then that is bhacakra. Bhacakra is complete."
"2. The next definition means the known and unknown created worlds-- that
combined is bhacakra."
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