Donkey Food, Donkey Sadhana, Donkey Kiirtan

From: "Indrajit Deva" ig4457@sunpost....
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Donkey Food, Donkey Sadhana, Donkey Kiirtan
Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2012 20:41:39 +0000

Baba

== DONKEY FOOD, DONKEY SADHANA, & DONKEY KIIRTAN ==

Namaskar,
We should all pay heed to Baba's following guideline.

"Priityanna: If a person wants to feed you out of genuine intimacy, you should take that food happily, even if it is just grains and vegetables. But if someone invites you only to make a show to people, never accept his/her food.

Ápadanna: When life is jeopardized because of the lack of food and water, you need not consider whether the food is prohibited on any grounds or comes from an unworthy person.

Shráddhánna: Shráddhánna (food offered at a memorial service) is neither priityanna nor ápadanna, hence it is not to be taken." (Caryacarya -2, Society, pt #37)

SUPPOSE YOU ARE INVITED...

Suppose you are invited to a grand feast at someone's house. To celebrate, that host has the finest chefs prepare the tastiest delicacies and dainties for everyone to eat. Not because because that host wishes to serve the community with love and affection, but rather because he wants to make an ornate show of the affair and bring prestige unto himself. Proof being that if you cannot attend his feast, then he is not the least bit sorry or remorseful, because he will just get another person to replace you - someone else who will pay him honor and respect.

Under such conditions, when there is not the least bit of service mentality and the host is just giving a feast with huge pomp and show in order to heighten his own prestige and self-satisfaction, then attending the program and eating that food is completely inappropriate. Because, in that case, that food is nothing but donkey's food, or gardabha'nna.

Baba says, "If food is not given with that heart-felt feeling and if one's own life is not in danger due to starvation, in that condition then any food offered is donkey food, gardabha'nna. So one must not eat that food." (Summary of Shabda Cayanika - 20, p.163-64 [Bangla])

Thus, under no circumstances - unless one is going to starve to death - should we eat food that is presented as a show of one's wealth and greatness, because that food is nothing but donkey food, or gardabha'nna.

As we all know, in His practical life, on many occasions Baba refused such food whenever wealthy people or dignitaries invited Him to dine at their house just to impress Him. So we should follow Baba's example and never eat food that is not offered with genuine warmth and kindness. If ever food is given to you with some ulterior motive - such as for prestige and grandeur, not because the host has heart-felt feeling for you - then that food is veritably donkey food.

DONKEY FOOD: IT VARIES FROM PERSON TO PERSON

One aspect to keep in mind is that gardabha'nna varies from person to person. For instance, if that same host as described above will feel hurt and upset if you do not attend and eat his food, then for you that food is not gardabha'nna; it is not donkey food.

Let's examine this further. If that host invites 500 people and he has very intimate relations with 10 of those invited guests, then for those ten people it is ok to eat the food. Because the host has a genuine and earnest desire to serve and feed those 10 people with love and affection.

Yet for those other 490 people, the host's feast is donkey food as for them the host's only desire is to put on a big show. The host does not care if those 490 people come or not. If any of them are sick or unable to attend, that host will not be disappointed or upset or wounded; he will simply replace their spot with someone else.

That is how the same feast can be sentient for one person yet gardabha'nna for ohers. It has to be evaluated on a case by case basis.

This type of scenario applies to all kinds of social functions like marriages, house entrance ceremonies, baby-naming gatherings and other social functions. In all such circumstances, the operative point is the host's individual feeling towards you. If with genuine heart-felt feeling he wants to serve and feed you, then it is fine to eat that food. But if he just wants to make a social display by feeding you then it is gardabha'nna.

Here is another situation related with individual life: It is also donkey food if a person has cooked food with the intention of eating it all. To eat even a small portion of that food is also gardabha'nna as the person who prepared the food has no desire to share any of it.

GARDABHA KIIRTAN AND GARDABHA BHAJAN

This type of 'donkey' syndrome - doing for show only and not out of one's heart-felt feeling - is not limited to the realm of food only.

We have all seen various kiirtan players or bhajan singers who perform solely to display their own musical or lyrical talents, and not to serve and please Parama Purusa. This happens across all religions and faiths and occurs in our Ananda Marga as well.

Kiirtan is all about singing to please Parama Purusa - for His glory, not one's own glory. And the essence of bhajans is to share one's inner, heart feeling with the Lord, and not to procure attention for oneself.

Yet at retreats or dharmacakra, sometimes it can happen that a person might lead a kiirtan or bhajan in order to win over the admiration of others. If this is done consistently, again and again, such performers run the risk of being converted into microvita at the time of death.

That said, it is not just the musicians who are prone to such downfalls. Sometimes a kiirtan or bhajan participant may dance with such extroverted tendencies or sing with such ego that it is quite evident to all around that that person is doing just in hopes of drawing attention to themselves - so that others will think they are a great devotee.

All such displays devalue one's approach fail to bring one close to Parama Purusa. That is why Baba calls these misguided attempts as: Gardabha kiirtan and gardabha bhajan, i.e. donkey kiirtan and donkey bhajan.

GARDABHA SA'DHANA'

This can occur in the stratum of sadhana as well. Before giving an example, it has to be said that the sincerity and earnestness in spiritual practice is quite high in our Ananda Marga, so this letter by no means aims to cast doubt that abc or xyz persons are doing donkey practices. Most are fine and okay-- this is just a general letter for everyone's awareness and knowledge. After all, each and every person knows there own situation best.

Now let's say someone rarely does sa'dhana' in their own home etc, but then when they go to the jagrti or to a retreat, then suddenly they start sitting for long, long sadhana, as if that is their regular way each and every morning and evening. And not only that, but when they close their sadhana then the first thing they do is open their eyes and slyly scan the room to see if others are taking notice of how long they sat. And if still they do not feel that they got the attention they deserved, then during meal time they will casually say that, 'It was very good to be able to sit for 3hr sadhana today etc', and then quickly scan the eyes and faces of others to see if they were impressed or not.

From, all these instances, we can easily understand that that person is doing sadhana not to please Parama Purusa - not to serve Him - but rather to bring name, fame, and prestige unto themselves. They want people to think that they are a great sadhaka. That is why their sadhana is nothing but donkey sadhana.

DONKEY PRACTICES CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS

Okay, let's say someone you know does do donkey kiirtan, or donkey bhajan, or donkey sadhana on occasion. Then they must be extremely careful, lest they harm and degrade themselves.

Because what they are doing is just a superficial show. They are highlighting themselves: So they are focusing on their own unit existence, not Parama Purusa. In that case, the mind becomes smaller and more selfish. By that way, they hurl themselves onto the path of negative pratisaincara towards animal life. That is the very real and scary danger.

Even then that is not all. For such persons, their kiirtan and sadhana is just hypocrisy, nothing more. They feign devotion and instead harbour the desire to glorify their own petty existence. Such is the audacity of the human ego. Their hypocrisy is one sure sign of downfall and degradation. Such persons should beware. Theirs is a risky and dangerous path.

There remains a glimmer of hope, by Baba's grace. No doubt donkey kiirtan, donkey bhajan, and donkey sadhana cause false vanity and an overblown ego etc, but with Baba being the Taraka Brahma, our Ananda Marga mantras are so strong that in a moment of quietness while repeating the mantra, even if one was initially motivated by selfish desires, one may develop sincere love for Parama Purusa. And that is the greatest achievement and blessing. But for this to occur, there must be sincerity and an earnest desire to change. Failing that, by their donkey sadhana they are doomed to degeneration.

So only if they change their ways they can be saved, by Baba's grace. Otherwise such hypocritical displays of donkey sadhana is a definite recipe for disaster. Best is to ideate on Parama Purusa and not fall prey to such donkey kiirtan and sadhana, i.e. superficial show of sadhana.

BABA'S BLESSING

Baba says, "Remember, everyone is entitled to sa'dhana'. For this, nothing neither pedigree, education, knowledge nor any asset, is necessary except only two things – implicit faith and sincerity. Arouse these two things through your will-power and victory is yours, it must come." (Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 5)

Namaskar,
in Him,
Indrajit

Note 1: MUST NOT GO INTO DEBT

Baba warns us that one must not go into debt in order to arrange any kind of feast or feeding - not for any occasion.

Baba says, "Arranging the feast by taking a loan or incurring a debt is prohibited." (Caryacarya - 1)

Note 2: DONKEY FOOD

Here is more about what Baba has to say about donkey food.

(a) Donkey food (Gardabha'nna) is that food purchased with ill-begotten money or sinfully earned money.

(b) If someone feeds you with deep love, respect, and affection and that feeling is conveyed through their expression, talk and conduct, and by feeding you they feel blissful ("Toma'ke kha'iae a'nandit hobe") and very content, and if you do not eat then they will feel pain, in this situation whatever food you eat in their house-- even if it is just boiled grass-- will be treated as priityanna (proper & sentient food). Any meal or food not prepared under such ideal conditions is donkey food.

(c) So if food is not given with that heart-felt feeling and if one's own life is not in danger due to starvation, in that condition then any food offered is donkey food, Gardabha'nna. So one must not eat that food.

Note: In western society that food which is not fit for human consumption is typically labeled as 'dog food'. And a similar idea Baba has conveyed above by the term donkey food - "Gardabha'nna".

(Summary of Shabda Cayanika - 20, p.163-64 [Bangla])

Note 3: HONESTY, SIMPLICITY, AND SPIRITEDNESS

Simplicity, sincerity, and honesty are some of the main pillars in the life of any sa'dhaka.

Baba says, "The most valuable treasures on the path of human progress are honesty, simplicity and spiritedness. In no stratum of life should you allow the standard of honesty to deteriorate..." (Ananda Vanii #54)

If one approaches their life duties like preparing food and doing sadhana with an earnest desire to serve Parama Purusa and His creation, then there is no question of any donkey food or donkey kiirtan. Then all one's actions will be pure and sentient.
  
Here Baba wanrns about superficial displays in spiritual life.

Jap tap vedajiṋána vidhi bhakti japadhyán ihá haite mádhurya durlabh
Keval ye rágamárge bhaje Krśńa anuráge táhe Krśńa mádhurya sulabh.

"Those who repeat their ista mantra mechanically, or undergo severe penance, or endlessly study the scriptures, or express a show of devotion, or practise meditation in a ritualistic way, can never feel the charm, the joy, of spiritual realization. That sweet discovery is only possible for those who worship Lord Krśńa out of deep devotion to Him." (Ananda Vacanamrtam - 5, Devotion – the Only Path)

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"Diinera kut'iire tumi ese gele, tithi bhule path bhule keno ja'ni na'..." (2617)

Purport:

Baba, I do not know the reason why You have graced me - but by losing the path and forgetting the date, You have come to the hut of this lowly person. How this happened I do not know, but in my heart I feel that it is completely Your unfathomable grace on me. Baba Your arrival is nothing but Your ahetuki karuna'-- because I do not have the strength of sadhana, nor do I have the virtue of any good deeds. Even then You graced me by coming.

Baba, what I could never imagine, today You have made that into a practical reality in my life. O' Bhaktavatsal Prabhu, You go on showering me with Your divine grace. You could not tolerate the tears of my longing.  

So much time has passed doing Your dhyana; I was crying for You day and night. By calling You again and again my throat has become sore-- my voice
has become hoarse. Baba, today You have done karuna'; You followed the wrong pathway and by that way You have made it to my home. Baba, You have come with Your overflowing fountain of divine effulgence.

Baba, it is Your causeless grace. After a long, long time You have come to me in a close and intimate way. So many ages have passed and I was calling You again and again, and now by Your causeless karuna' You have come. Baba, You are bhaktavatsal [1]...


END NOTE FOR PRABHATA SAMGIITA #2617:

[1] Bhaktavatsal: The One who is the loving caretaker of the devotees. He who gives special favours to His bhaktas and lovingly watches over their every need. Always He is bestowing His divine grace on them.

Many Times Milk Is Tamasika

Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2012 21:47:03 +0530
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Many Times Milk Is Tamasika
From: Satyshrayii

Baba

== MANY TIMES MILK IS TAMASIKA ==

(Note: This is the third letter in this series. The first two letters were titled, "Do You Eat Sentient Food". Links to those letters have been appended below.)

Namaskar,
I have been following this thread about sentient food and wish to raise the issue of milk. As we all know, in Ananda Marga, milk is sentient. It is a sattvika food item.

Yet we must bear in mind that there are some distinct considerations.

TODAY'S MODERN DAIRY INDUSTRY

When the capitalist-minded agro-dairy industry and related corporations use steroids, injections, and other unnatural techniques to get the cows to produce more milk, then that milk cannot be considered sentient. It is full of pollutants, poisonous chemicals, and other harmful agents.

STATUS OF INDIAN COWS

The situation of some Indian cows is also quite compromised. Some of the cows in the Indian cities eat all kinds of things: paper, plastic, garbage, cardboard etc. They eat so much of it that when a cow gets sick and surgery is needed, then invariably doctors find 30 - 65kg of junk / garbage inside the cow. (http://www.karunasociety.org/projects/the-plastic-cow-project)

Such problems are not limited to cows in the city. Some of those cows that roam the countryside often eat night soil.

For those not aware, cow's milk from the villages is widely-distributed. Those villagers often form a cooperative and keep their milk in a central location. Then an area "milk-man" comes around for pick-ups once or twice a day. That milk is brought to processing plants in larger cities. At those plants, milk from various areas gets mixed, packaged, and shipped for wider delivery. So it is not that the village milk stays in a village. The milk of those cows that eat night soil reaches a wide spectrum of buyers. Many are then exposed to milk produced by (some) cows that eat night soil.

In both conditions, city and country, the sentient quality of the cow in India - and cow's milk - is greatly disturbed.

Then there is this problem. As you may know, cows that do not have calves do not allow all their milk to taken. So dairy farmers in India farmers  inject such cows with chemicals and drugs so those cows will release all their milk. In turn, those chemicals get mixed in with the milk. Anyone can taste and smell the toxins in the milk. This is a large-scale problem.

It all comes to this: Unless you know the history of the cow and how it has lived, purchasing or drinking cow's milk is risky. The answer lies in enclosed in natural areas or sanctuaries so cows can live in a natural setting and have some freedom without endangering or exposing them to harmful agents, like pollution, garbage, and night soil.

Till that time, drinking cow's milk in India is tamasika on many occasions.

MILK FROM A NEWLY CALVED COW IS TAMASIKA

Here is another key parameter that we must take into consideration.

Baba also guides us that it is not sentient to drink the milk of a cow that recently gave birth. Essentially, that milk contains colostrum which is harmful to the mind of a sadhaka. Such milk is tamasika.

Baba says, "The milk of a newly-calved cow [is] ta'masika." (Caryacarya - 3)

Here are further guidelines about this:

(1) In the original Bengali and Hindi editions of Caryacarya, Baba says do not drink the milk of a sandhinii cow. The term sandhinii is consistently used and defined as a cow which has recently given birth. .

(2) Then in the English edition of Caryacarya, the phrase - newly-calved cow - has been used. Here again we are not to drink that milk.

(3) Then in Shabda Cayanika Baba also defines sandhinii as a newly-calved cow.

Baba says, "Given birth to a calf. A cow in that stage is called sandhinii. (Shabda Cayanika - 4, Kálii to Kikhi (Discourse 25))

Furthermore, in Samskrta language literature, the term sandhinii is qualified as being a ten-day period.

"The milk of a female animal [sandhinii] whose offspring is not ten days old." (Reference)

So this link clarifies that sandhinii refers to a ten-day period for the cow after giving birth.

APPLYING THIS TO TODAY'S MILK MARKET

Now that we have confirmed that our Ananda Marga guideline is that milk from a cow that has given birth less than 10 days ago is tamasika, we should compare this with today's markets around the world.

In the US, government regulations stipulate that dairy farms / manufacturers cannot sell milk from a newly-calved cow for 4 days. After that 4 day period, it is approved by the FDA for human consumption. That is the standard in the USA.

"By regulation, everything the dairy farmer collects from a cow for the first four days (8 "milkings") cannot be sold as milk, and is classified as colostrum." http://www.willardswater.com/information.php?information_num=15

In Ananda Marga our standard is different. Baba guides us that we should not drink milk from a sandhinii cow (a newly-calved cow) i.e. within a 10-day period of delivering her calf. Thus, any milk made in the US during that 6-day window, i.e. day 4 to day 10 after a cow has given birth, is tamasika. Whether it is organic or not, that milk is classified as tamasika according to our Ananda Marga standard.

So the problem is that there is no way of knowing which milk on the shelf in the US was produced during that period. By this standard, it is literally impossible to know if the milk you are buying in the US is tamasika or not.

In the area where you live, you should find out what the laws and regulations are. Because if the standard is less than the specified 10-day period as given in Ananda Marga, then there will be tamasika milk on the shelves in stores.

For instance, let's say in Italy the rule is not to produce milk from a newly-calved cow for 5 days after giving birth, then there is a remaining 5-day window wherein tamasika milk is being produced, and hence sold in stores. Let's take another hypothetical example. Let's say in Argentina the rule is not to produce milk for 12 days after a cow has given birth. In that case, the milk produced in Argentina is sentient (at least on this factor) according to our Ananda Marga guideline. Because our guideline is a 10-day period, at minimum, and Argentina is going beyond that mark. These are all hypothetical examples, but the point is understood.

Any milk produced by a newly-calved cow / sandhinii cow that is less than the mandatory 10-day waiting period is tamasika.

CONCLUSION

Unless we have perfect proof about how the milk is produced, then we have to assume that the milk sold in stores is tamasika. It might contain steroids or other harmful agents; it might be from a newly-calved cow and thus contain colostrum; or it might be a product of commercial factory farming etc. In all such cases that milk is tamasika and must be avoided.

We must reflect again: Unless we have perfect proof about how the milk is produced, then we have to assume that the milk sold in stores is tamasika. That is the only way to approach it; drinking any milk from any store is to walk along a slippery slope - anything is possible. One may fall at any moment. That milk may be tamasika, possibly or even probably so.

Verily there are may do's and don'ts regarding the sanctity of milk. Best is to just assume that all milk from a regular supermarket etc is tamasika. Remember, when store-bought milk itself is tamasika, then it is also means that those products produced from and using that milk are also tamasika: butter, cream, cheese, sour cream, yogurt etc.

Finally, the key point of waiting 10 days after the birth before milking a cow for human consumption applies to buffaloes and goats as well.

Namaskar,
Satyashrayii

Note 1: NEO-HUMANISTIC REASON

There is also a neo-humanistic reason why as Ananda Margiis we refrain from taking milk from a newly-calved cow:

We are to watch for the well-being of all creatures, including baby calves. We are to ensure those calves get all the food and nutrition they need. One way of ensuring this is to not deprive them of any of their mother's milk.

Baba Himself has expressed this point in His teachings.

Note 2:  IT SPLITS

Milk from newly calved cow - produced within that 10-day period - will split when it is boiled. It will separate into water and solids. That is why those who have cows do not use that milk. Nor will small farmers give that milk to customers. It will give them a bad reputation.

But when that sandhinii milk is added to thousands of gallons of other milk then it may not split. So big companies may be hiding that sadhinii milk in their big vats of milk.

A sadhinii cow produces very thick milk; after that ten-day window the milk produced by the cow becomes thinner and of a more normal consistency.

Note 3: BABA'S TEACHINGS

Baba says, "Those who consume a lot of static food also emit this sort of foul smell...Similarly, an intensely foul smell is emitted from the bodies of tigers because they are carnivorous...A hilsa fish (an Indian herring) is extremely fond of flesh – rotten flesh is its favourite food – hence it produces a kind of repulsive secretion. If a fish bowl or container which held hilsa fish is cleaned with a cloth, and the cloth is used to clean another container, a repulsive smell will be emitted from the second container unless it is properly ventilated. A vegetarian will feel uncomfortable if this container is used for eating, drinking or anything else. Strict vegetarians avoid using any container which has been used to hold non-vegetarian food." (Microvita in a Nutshell, 'Some Examples of Microvita in Daily Life – Section C')

Baba says, "Strict vegetarians avoid using any container which has been used to hold non-vegetarian food." (Microvita in a Nutshell)

Baba says, "Static food: Food which is harmful for the mind and may or may not be good for the body is static. Onion, garlic, wine, stale and rotten food, meat of large animals such as cows and buffaloes, fish, eggs, etc., are static. Very often people eat food without knowing its intrinsic qualities. For example, the milk of a cow which has just given birth. Or white eggplant, khesárii pulse [horse gram], red puni [Basella rubra Linn.], or mustard leaves, all of which often grew out of rotten matter. In order to have a balanced mind and to progress spiritually, human beings will have to pay attention to the qualities of the food they eat. The idea that “I will just do my sádhaná and eat any food, proper or improper” will not do." (Ananda Marga Philosophy In A Nutshells, Food, Cells, Physical and Mental Development)

Baba says, "Támasika áhára: All kinds of foods which are harmful to either the body or mind and may or may not be harmful to the other are called támasika. Stale and rotten food, the flesh of large animals such as cows and buffaloes, and all types of intoxicants, are categorized as támasika. Small amounts of tea, cocoa and similar drinks which do not excite a person to the point of losing his/her senses are in the rájasika category. The milk of a newly-calved cow, white brinjals, khesárii dál, green vegetables of the type of red puni or mustard are támasika. Masúr dál cooked for one meal will become támasika by the next meal." (Caryacarya - 3, Procedure for Eating)

Note 4: LINKS TO EARLIER LETTERS IN THIS SERIES

#1: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/11/do-you-eat-sentient-food.html

#2: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/12/re-do-you-eat-sentient-food.html

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"Ta'i bhavi mane toma'ri smaran'e, path cale ja'i toma'ri sharan'e,
A'ma'ra boliya ya' bha'vito hiya', ta' nahe a'ma'r bujhi ja'garan'e..." (PS 715)

Purport:

Baba, due to my extreme vanity and ignorance, in my heart I was thinking that everything - all my material possessions like money, wealth, post, position, might, and strength - is really mine and that they will remain with me up to eternity. In this way I was deluded. By Your grace You have blessed me with samvit [1] and an awakening has come. Today I have realised that all those worldly things are transitory: They are not mine. They do not belong to me permanently. Rather I have come alone onto this dusty earth, and one day I will depart this earth and will have to leave everything behind. Baba in this universe nothing is mine except You. O' Lord, You have given me the gift of bhakti and with the devotional mind I can understand that You - and only You - are mine. Because of this I am always singing Your divine glory and I am always engaged in the depths of Your ideation. in my heart I feel that You are everything. Every moment I follow Your path and ultimately by Your grace I surrender at Your alter - O' my Lord.   

Baba, Your liila of Yours is unfathomable: It is full of diversity. On the one side, all the organs of my existence are engaged in negative interactions and crude dealings. The voice is drowned in its own arrogance and makes utterances filled with its own ego and audacity; and the eye is glued to its own feeling of superiority and vanity. With this vain outlook, there is disdain and disgust for others. All these negative features are rampant. And then on the other side these organs do all kinds of positive works and dharmic pursuits. They engage in shravan, manan, niddhidhyasana [2], dhyana, japa, dharana, kiirtan, and puja etc. Baba, in this liila of Yours, all these negative and positive activities are happening right in front of Your very eyes. You can see it all happening before You.  

Baba, my mind is wild. I do not have the necessary strength to control it and therefore ask for Your mercy and surrender at Your lotus feet. By the shadow of Your infinite grace, by Your divine compassion, by Your sweet ideation, by doing kiirtan and sadhana etc, I can control that wild mind which is running under the intoxication of maya. Baba, by Your grace I can keep that wild mind cool, calm, and quiet - pointed towards Your divine Self.

Baba, You are my ultimate shelter; I surrender at Your lotus feet...


END NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #715:

[1] Samvit: Baba says, "The popular meaning of sam'vit shakti is "awareness"-- awakening from slumber. With the help of sam'vit shakti, unit beings become aware of their existence. They realise that they are the crown of creation, the most evolved beings whose goal is to attain the supreme rank and dispel the darkness of the avaran'ii shakti of avidyamaya." (Ananda Marga Philosophy in A Nutshell - 4)

[2] Shravan, Manan, & Niddhidhyasana: Here below Baba explains the special import of these three devotional practices.

Baba says, "To attain Him human beings have to take recourse to shravana (constantly hearing His name), manana (constantly ideating on Him) and
nididya'sana (constantly meditating on Him)." (TK-3)

Re Do You Eat Sentient Food

Date: * 09 April 22:42:01 -0000
From:  pradiip pradiip@gal.net...
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Re Do You Eat Sentient Food

Baba 

== RE: DO YOU EAT SENTIENT FOOD ==

~ Part 2 ~

Note 1: This is the second letter in this series; a link to the first letter has been appended below.

Note 2: This letter has essentially been written for those very strict in adhering to a sentient diet. This letter is also very appropriate for those who want to become more diligent in following a sentient diet. Those who are lazy, lethargic, and constantly compromising by eating rajasik or tasmasik foods - and have no interest in improving their eating habits - may or may not read. However, if such persons want to improve their diet they are most welcomed and encouraged to read.

Namaskar,
First let's address comments and queries raised by readers about the first letter on this topic:

READERS WRITE IN

(A) Brother Pra'n'va inquired: "On the matter of “Do not eat (or “take food”?) in a hotel or restaurant. Even sattvic food, taken at (of “in”?) a hotel or restaurant, is to be considered tamasic.” Yet a WT stated that “You can take the food outside and eat it or just away from the hotel or restaurant.” Could someone clarify this, please."

As long as that restaurant is positively following all do's and don'ts of the system outlined in this series of letters then that prepared food can be taken out of the shop and it will be sentient. For instance, if a restaurant has a juice bar and it is certain that their knives and blending machines are only used for fruit, then one may buy a juice and then leave the restaurant and drink that in a park or car etc and it will be considered sentient. However, purchasing prepared food from XYZ restaurants that do not follow the do's and don'ts of sentient food preparation, then all of their food should be considered tamasik, even if one takes the food out of that restaurant and eats it elsewhere.

(B) Brother Govinda stated: "May I add please that the nature of the minds of those who prepare food are important; Chefs minds in a restaurant are generally Tamasic or Rajasic."

Yes, this is an excellent point and a very important consideration for every sincere sadhaka. In His guidelines for Wts, Baba has given the following:

"[One] should not touch food by a mean-minded person..." (32 Rules for Avadhutas, pt #20)

By this we can understand that the mind-set of the person preparing the food definitely affects the food itself. Sentient food can become tamasik in this manner

(C) Brother Govinda also raised the idea of various new companies that produce mock meat, fake meat, imitation meat etc. These are products made out of soy, vegetable meal or other vegetarian ingredients. As Govinda comments, these products are very good for meat-eaters who are transitioning to an all-vegetarian diet. For those who are already established in sentient eating, then it is probably best to avoid these company products as it is not 100% certain how all such foods are prepared. They may contain onion, chopped with a knife that was used for cutting garlic in a different dish etc. There are just too many unknown variables. Thus, sadhakas should avoid such items. But fake or mock meat alternatives are good for the general population; i.e. those looking to transition from meat-eating to a plant-based diet.

Many thanks for all those who contributed. Here then is brief review of the first letter followed by many new points.

A QUICK REVIEW

Baba says, "Strict vegetarians avoid using any container which has been used to hold non-vegetarian food." (Microvita in a Nutshell)

In this above tenet, Baba is guiding us that even sentient food becomes ta'masik if it touches a utensil, pot, or container - or any other item - that was used in conjunction with static food."

"So we must be careful because the ramifications of Baba's above mandate are vast."

(1) No eating at another family's house if they fail to keep a strict sattvika kitchen.
(2) No eating at any hotel or restaurant.
(3) No company foods"

Interesting and dynamic topic that is so crucial for living as sadhakas in this present era. Very practical.

MORE POINTS OF AWARENESS ABOUT SENTIENT EATING

Here are more points to add to this list:

(4) Vegan labeled foods also problematic as they may contain onion, garlic etc.

For the above reasons and more, many prepared foods labeled as being "vegan" may not be sentient. A whole wheat bread may be made using the same pans and machines as a garlic bread. Tomato sauce that claims to not have onions and garlic may be mixed on equipment used for the normal ta'masik tomato paste. Similarly a rice dish may have mushrooms in it.

Here the point is that just because something is vegan does not mean that it is sentient; philosophically and practically speaking, the vegan diet and the sentient food diet are not the same. Vegan items often contain onions, scallions (onion family), leeks (onion family), garlic, mushrooms, red lentils, white eggplant, mustard greens etc. All the aforementioned items are vegan, but tamasik - not sentient. So if you are invited to a vegan feast, it does not mean you will be able to eat everything. Rather, expect that many or most items will be tamasik as onion and garlic & other tamasik plant-based foods are popularly used in the non-margii community.

(5) Openness About Labeling.

Today, many pre-prepared vegan foods state, "Made in a facility that also produces items containing eggs." Or such food labels may state, "Produced on machinery also used to produce items containing eggs."

Such companies are trying to be open about what they are doing - probably to inform those who suffer from allergies like peanut, soy, dairy, gluten allergies etc. Why has this happened? Because those suffering from food allergies have been vigilant and active in protesting. That is why companies have begun labeling their food in this way. If sentient food adherents are equally active, companies will respond by clearly indicating on the label if products contain: onion, mushroom, garlic, scallion, chives, leeks, mustard seeds / greens, red lentils, white eggplant etc. So there is hope that one day this will be clearly marked.

At the same time, we should also keep in mind that so many other companies who do not have the conscience to mark their foods with the above statements may be doing a whole lot worse. They may be making veggie sandwiches on the same counter as meat sandwiches, but they never say anything about this.

Here the point is that no pre-packaged food - even it if is labeled as being vegan - can be taken on faith as being 100% sentient. Plus, in many countries, companies are still not mandated by law to label if they are using GMO's, genetically modified organisms.

WE MUST BE CAREFUL

So although the world is becoming more "green", "healthy", and "organic", there remain numerous points that we must be aware about when selecting our food. Because the common society and business owners are not aware about sentient food. For either financial incentives or out of plain ignorance, the food they promote and label as pure vegetarian may not be sentient for Ananda Margiis.

The best solution then is to buy unprocessed ingredients like rice, soybeans, vegetables, and all kinds of grains, fruits, and legumes and prepare those things in our own home.

In addition, wherever and whenever possible, it is probably better to buy things that are both local and organic, but that may not always be possible. At the same time, do be careful about GMO, or genetically modified organisms; this is especially relevant for corn and soy products grown in the USA, though not exclusively limited to those items. For more about this issue of GMO's please reference this letter.

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/09/gmos-concern-of-ananda-margiis.html

GREATER LOGIC

Here is the section from His discourse 'Some examples of Microvita in Daily Life' that reveals how eating vegetarian food from a non-veg container is ta'masik.

Baba says, "Those who consume a lot of static food also emit this sort of foul smell...Similarly, an intensely foul smell is emitted from the bodies of tigers because they are carnivorous...A hilsa fish (an Indian herring) is extremely fond of flesh – rotten flesh is its favourite food – hence it produces a kind of repulsive secretion. If a fish bowl or container which held hilsa fish is cleaned with a cloth, and the cloth is used to clean another container, a repulsive smell will be emitted from the second container unless it is properly ventilated. A vegetarian will feel uncomfortable if this container is used for eating, drinking or anything else. Strict vegetarians avoid using any container which has been used to hold non-vegetarian food." (Microvita in a Nutshell, 'Some Examples of Microvita in Daily Life – Section C')

Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Pradiip

Note 1: LINK TO EARLIER PUBLICATION

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/11/do-you-eat-sentient-food.html

Note 2: IMPORTANT GUIDELINES

"Static food: Food which is harmful for the mind and may or may not be good for the body is static. Onion, garlic, wine, stale and rotten food, meat of large animals such as cows and buffaloes, fish, eggs, etc., are static.

 Very often people eat food without knowing its intrinsic qualities. For example, the milk of a cow which has just given birth. Or white eggplant, khesárii pulse [horse gram], red puni [Basella rubra Linn.], or mustard leaves, all of which often grew out of rotten matter.

 In order to have a balanced mind and to progress spiritually, human beings will have to pay attention to the qualities of the food they eat. The idea that “I will just do my sádhaná and eat any food, proper or improper” will not do." (Ananda Marga Philosophy In A Nutshells, Food, Cells, Physical and Mental Development)


"Támasika áhára: All kinds of foods which are harmful to either the body or mind and may or may not be harmful to the other are called támasika.

 Stale and rotten food, the flesh of large animals such as cows and buffaloes, and all types of intoxicants, are categorized as támasika.

 Small amounts of tea, cocoa and similar drinks which do not excite a person to the point of losing his/her senses are in the rájasika category. The milk of a newly-calved cow, white brinjals, khesárii dál, green vegetables of the type of red puni or mustard are támasika. Masúr dál cooked for one meal will become támasika by the next meal." (Caryacarya - 3, Procedure for Eating)

 

 

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"A'mi a'chi bhay kii toma'r, sukhe dukhe a'ma'ke d'eko..."   (PS 2123)

Purport:

Baba, You told me, 'I (Baba) am always with you. Never be afraid. There  is no question of fear. All the time - in good times and bad, & in pleasure and pain - always call Me. And when you do, you will have My presence - then and there. Because I am always with you. So you should not encourage any sort of fear complex.'

Baba, You guided me that, 'In your life, regardless of whatever good or bad things happen, or whatever sweet or sour things occur, just make everything blissful by ideating on Me (Baba). Change all that bitterness into sweetness with divine thinking and ideation.' 

You told, 'Whenever your heart is burning and the pain is unbearable, and whenever you cannot tolerate any more negative and terrible occurrences, then by ideating on Me you will be able to change all that  harshness into sweetness. Then softness and sweetness will saturate your mind-- instantly. Remember I am always with you'.  

Baba, You also told, 'In the cold winter's hail storm and in unbearable situations when suffering comes, and when the flowers of love have withered
away due to the heat of the atmosphere, then look towards Me. And even when  all the vital energy is about to leave your body then that time also look
towards Me and ideate on Me. Then everything will become positive and the throbbing sensation of life will again return. Never encourage any sort of
pessimism, negativity, or any kind of complex. Because I (Baba) am always  with you and I am always ready to help you in each and every circumstance'.  Baba like this You lovingly guided me.

 Baba, You are showering me with Your causeless grace - in all the  directions always.... 

GMO's & Concern of Ananda Margiis

Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2012 20:21:10
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: GMO's & Concern of Ananda Margiis
From:

Baba

== GMO'S & CONCERN OF ANANDA MARGIIS ==

Namaskar,
One of the most dangerous and disturbing elements in today’s food chain is the presence of GMO’s, or genetically modified organisms.

"Not only can genes be transferred from one plant to another, but genes from non-plant organisms also can be used. The best known example of this is the use of Bt genes in corn and other crops. Bt, or Bacillus thuringiensis, is a naturally occurring bacterium that produces crystal proteins that are lethal to insect larvae. Bt crystal protein genes have been transferred into corn, enabling the corn to produce its own pesticides against insects such as the European corn borer." (Dept of Plant and Soil Sciences, OSU)

Why are companies so interested in using genes in this way? Because by this process, they can make those crops resistant to herbicides and pesticides – and hence easily increase profits.

HOW THIS AFFECTS ANANDA MARGIIS

What does the presence of GMO’s in food mean for Ananda Margiis? It means that certain foods we consider to be “sentient” may in fact be tamasik.

Here are more concerns in bulleted format:

* This GMO approach is still quite new and has not been well-researched nor critically tested. There remains many unknowns along with the possibility of public health issues.

* Vegetarian foods made from transferring the genes of one plant to a separate plant's gene pool should be avoided because those products may be a health hazard (carcinogenic etc) for the short and long term, and they may be tamasik.

* Foods and GMO crops made from a plant gene pool that contains threads from an animal gene pool(s) are outrightly tamasik, plus they may have other health hazards.

* For meat-eating communities all this may not be concern; for Ananda Margiis, this is a huge issue: If vegetable or grain crops have been formed from animal genes. So every margii should know about this.

THIS IS AN ALL-PERVASIVE ISSUE

Irrespective of which part of the globe you live, you must be critically aware about this hot issue. If the food you buy does not specifically say “Non-GMO”, or if you are not 100% sure about the origin of your grain and vegetable seeds, then it is possible that your food has been genetically affected. This is especially true with name-brand, “natural”, company food products. One of the below articles offers critical information about this.

BABA’S GUIDELINE:

SCIENCE AND CIVILISATION

Here is a clear-cut warning from Baba.

Baba says, “Where scientific progress supersedes civilization, there civilization meets its Waterloo.” (A Few Problems Solved Part 6, Civilization, Science and Spiritual Progress)

Today, with the use of GMO’s, we see the terrible misuse of science in our fruit, vegetable and grain food supply. Genetically modified crops are spreading around the globe in order to heighten corporate profits. Big food companies are eager to keep this fact hidden. They want to use science at the cost of human health and our overall well-being. We should all be aware and help force companies and the agro-business industry to openly state if they use GMO’s or not.

Now please see the below three articles about GMO’s.

Namaskar,
Shiva Kumar

Note 1: WHAT IS GMO?

AGRICULTURAL CROPS THAT HAVE A RISK OF BEING GMO
(From the Non-GMO Project website; link below)

For consumers, it can be difficult to stay up-to-date on food ingredients that are at-risk of being genetically modified, as the list of at-risk agricultural ingredients is frequently changing. As part of the Non-GMO Project’s commitment to informed consumer choice, we work diligently to maintain an accurate list of risk ingredients.

Agricultural products are segmented into two groups: (1) those that are high-risk of being GMO because they are currently in commercial production, and (2) those that have a monitored risk because suspected or known incidents of contamination have occurred and/or the crops have genetically modified relatives in commercial production with which cross-pollination (and consequently contamination) is possible. For more information on the Non-GMO Project’s testing and verification of risk ingredients and processed foods, please see the Non-GMO Project Standard.

High-Risk Crops (in commercial production; ingredients derived from these must be tested every time prior to use in Non-GMO Project Verified products (as of December 2011):

    Alfalfa (first planting 2011)
    Canola (approx. 90% of U.S. crop)
    Corn (approx. 88% of U.S. crop in 2011)
    Cotton (approx. 90% of U.S. crop in 2011)
    Papaya (most of Hawaiian crop; approximately 988 acres)
    Soy (approx. 94% of U.S. crop in 2011)
    Sugar Beets (approx. 95% of U.S. crop in 2010)
    Zucchini and Yellow Summer Squash (approx. 25,000 acres)

ALSO high-risk: animal products (milk, meat, eggs, honey, etc.) because of contamination in feed.

Monitored Crops (those for which suspected or known incidents of contamination have occurred, and those crops which have genetically modified relatives in commercial production with which cross-pollination is possible; we test regularly to assess risk, and move to “High-Risk” category for ongoing testing if we see contamination):

    Beta vulgaris (e.g., chard, table beets)
    Brassica napa (e.g., rutabaga, Siberian kale)
    Brassica rapa (e.g., bok choy, mizuna, Chinese cabbage, turnip, rapini, tatsoi)
    Curcubita (acorn squash, delicata squash, patty pan)
    Flax
    Rice

Common Ingredients Derived from GMO Risk Crops
Amino Acids, Aspartame, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbate, Vitamin C, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ethanol, Flavorings (“natural” and “artificial”), High-Fructose Corn Syrup, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Lactic Acid, Maltodextrins, Molasses, Monosodium Glutamate, Sucrose, Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), Xanthan Gum, Vitamins, Yeast Products.

You may also be wondering about…

    Tomatoes: In 1994, genetically modified Flavr Savr tomatoes became the first commercially produced GMOs. They were brought out of production just a few years later, in 1997, due to problems with flavor and ability to hold up in shipping. There are no genetically engineered tomatoes in commercial production, and tomatoes are considered “low-risk” by the Non-GMO Project Standard.
    Potatoes: Genetically modified NewLeaf potatoes were introduced by Monsanto in 1996. Due to consumer rejection  several fast-food chains and chip makers, the product was never successful and was discontinued in the spring of 2001. There are no genetically engineered potatoes in commercial production, and potatoes are considered “low-risk” by the Non-GMO Project Standard.
    Wheat: There is not currently, nor has there ever been, any genetically engineered wheat on the market. Of all “low-risk” crops, this is the one most commonly (and incorrectly) assumed to be GMO. It is a key commodity crop, and the biotech industry is pushing hard to bring GMO varieties to market. The Non-GMO Project closely watches all development on this front.
    Salmon: A company called AquaBounty is currently petitioning the FDA to approve its genetically engineered variety of salmon, which has met with fierce consumer resistance. Find out more here.
    Pigs: A genetically engineered variety of pig, called Enviropig was developed by scientists at the University of Guelph, with research starting in 1995 and government approval sought beginning in 2009. In 2012 the University announced an end to the Enviropig program, and the pigs themselves were euthanized in June 2012.

http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/what-is-gmo/


Note 2: PUTTING ANIMAL GENES IN PLANT FOODS

The enhancement of desired traits has traditionally been undertaken through breeding, but conventional plant breeding methods can be very time consuming and are often not very accurate. Genetic engineering, on the other hand, can create plants with the exact desired trait very rapidly and with great accuracy. For example, plant geneticists can isolate a gene responsible for drought tolerance and insert that gene into a different plant. The new genetically-modified plant will gain drought tolerance as well. Not only can genes be transferred from one plant to another, but genes from non-plant organisms also can be used. The best known example of this is the use of Bt genes in corn and other crops. Bt, or Bacillus thuringiensis, is a naturally occurring bacterium that produces crystal proteins that are lethal to insect larvae. Bt crystal protein genes have been transferred into corn, enabling the corn to produce its own pesticides against insects such as the European corn borer.

http://www.canola.okstate.edu/gmofacts

Note 3: HEALTH FOOD COMPANIES AND PROP #37

Boycott These Natural and Organic Food Companies

Published on August 24, 2012 by Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND   

Right now, a debate is happening in California concerning Prop. 37, an initiative to be on the ballot in November 2012. Prop. 37 is an effort to mandate that foods containing genetically engineered ingredients are labeled as such. This is already required in Europe and, quite frankly, should be a no-brainer. The citizens of California, and, really, the entire country, should have the right to know exactly what they’re purchasing and subsequently putting into their bodies. You, personally, should have that right. Knowing what your food contains should not be a mystery.


There Should Be No Debate

Preliminary polls suggest that California voters agree, an overwhelming 70%+ are in favor of GE labeling. Who isn’t in favor? You guessed it, certain, unsavory, food industry corporations.

It probably goes without saying that if a company is producing “food” that essentially was derived from a lab experiment and is void of nutrition, they probably would prefer the sedated masses just continue to unknowingly and quietly consume their toxic wares. It’s not morally right, but is justified by the effect a warning label may have to the bottom line. Unfortunately, many large corporations will never be accused of doing what’s best for their customers.

Mainstream food industry corporations are fighting this initiative tooth and nail, well over $20 million has already been contributed by the food industry to defeat Prop. 37. That proverbial barrel of slime known as Monsanto is the largest contributor, over $4 million. It’s disappointing but it’s honestly not very surprising. What you might be surprised to learn though is that several brands whose images are “trusted,” “natural,” and “organic” are also trying to squash Prop. 37.


Disappointing Impostors

Who hasn’t seen the feel-good commercials from Kashi or seen their literally, and metaphorically, crunchy cereal product in the supermarket? They claim it’s great quality and their marketing and advertising looks very responsible, surely it must be, right? Wrong. Kashi cereals contain GMOs and the company is owned by Kellogg, who contributed $612,000 to defeat Prop. 37. Kellogg also owns the brands Gardenburger, Bear Naked and Morning Star.

Have you ever eaten a Larabar or bought from Cascadian Farms Organic? Unfortunately, what leaves a putrid taste in my mouth is the fact that their parent company, General Mills, contributed $520,000 to defeat Prop 37.

They aren’t the only ones to blame. Smuckers, which owns Santa Cruz Organic and R.W. Knudsen, kicked in $387,000.

Dean Foods, owners of Silk Soymilk and Horizon Organics, coughed up $253,000 to squash Prop. 37.

Pepsico which owns IZZE and Naked brands donated $1,716,300 to stop Prop. 37.

Coca Cola, who owns Odwalla and Honest Tea brands donated $1,164,400 to kill Prop. 37.

It is difficult for smaller, honest collectives, and certainly for the honest individual, to compete with a war chest like that. Just as the politician who spends the most during an election will often get elected, corporations that pump a pile of money into defeating measures like Prop. 37 are also able to purchase the outcome they prefer. Right now, GE labeling proponents have only raised about $3 million. Admittedly, this is quite small in comparison. Well, guess what, the fight isn’t over.


YOU Can Take Action

It’s time to fight back and tell these corporate clowns that we’ve had enough, that YOU have had enough, and we’re not going to sit back while nutritional labels are manipulated and corporate conglomerates view American citizens as walking cash registers. You need to speak up and join the fight, nobody is going to do it for you. Let these companies know you don’t appreciate what they’re doing. Let them know you’re officially boycotting their wares until they stop the dishonest behavior. We teach five year olds it’s wrong to lie; that foundation should not evaporate simply because someone grows up to become a corporate fat cat who explains away their bad behavior with flow charts and investment reports.

“Hiding the truth about our food is pervasive, unethical, and only done for money,” says Michael Potter, CEO of Eden Foods, an organic food manufacturer that financially contributed to support Proposition 37. I could not agree more. If you’re with us, get on board. Please make your voice heard and tell the corporate players opposing your right to know what’s in your food that if they want your business, they can’t sell-out organic values.

You can sign the petition here:
http://www.cornucopia.org/prop37-petition/

You can donate money to the cause here:
http://organicconsumersfund.org/donate/

Thank independent organic business that have put their money where their mouth is. Ask large organic brands and companies that are missing in action to pony up. Talk is cheap.

-Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DABFM

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/help-us-boycott-natural-and-organic-food-companies/

 

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"Tumi a'ndha're esecho, alora enecho va'n..."    P.S. 2669

Purport:

Baba, You have taken advent in the darkness. Because of Your arrival, the darkness has vanished and now a flood of effulgence has illumined this entire world. Nobody knew, understood, or imagined that this was going to happen - that You are going to take advent and make everything positive.  

In their dark state of body, mind, and heart, human beings were sleeping in that cimmerian darkness. You have graciously showered the divine effulgence on everyone's face, and awakened them from their deep sleep - their slumber of attachment. By Your grace, from the state of negativity, they became positive.  

Baba, You have come with Your sweet, attractive, and charming appearance. You have vibrated everyone's mind and heart with Your divine grace. Baba, You Yourself have come, shown the path, and given the permanent solution of all the problems - physical, psychic, and spiritual.

Baba, You have graced all with Your divine advent...

Donkey Food

Date: 23 Aug 2012 21:46:33 -0000
From: "Subhash Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Donkey Food

Baba

"Tava bha'loba'sa' keno ashru ma'kha', he devata'..." (PS 1781

Purport:

O' my Lord, those who love You desperately want to get You more and more close; they long for You and cry for You but You do not come. Baba, You are the Divine One then why is Your love drenched in tears.  Baba, sometimes You come close and smile sweetly in my mind and other times You remain far and my mind is just involved in worldly thoughts and crude desires. Baba, why is Your coming and going shrouded in mystery; please tell Your tales - Your ways. O' my dearmost, please tell me why You do like this. 

Baba, various jinana sadhakas try to know You through their intellectual pursuits. But by this way their heart cannot get drenched in Your divine love. Baba, You do not allow Yourself to be held by the philosophy or material science. Rather You remain far, far away; You do not come close to such jinanis. One cannot get You with the vanity of darshan (mundane theory) or with the pride of vijinana (worldly knowledge). Baba, I want to have You close, but in spite of my repeated asking and requests You do not tell me what You want. You do not reveal to me how I can hold You in my heart. You do not tell me the answer; You just keep quiet - smiling. Baba, even then how sweet You are: You love me so much and You come close to shower me in Your love. Such sweetness! Baba, You are Love Personified. You have bound me in the bond of Your love; this is nothing but Your causeless grace, O' my Dearmost. 

Baba, You do not give shelter to vain persons. Those who are arrogant and egotistical do not surrender themselves at Your alter; they are unable to realise You. Baba, You graciously remove all the ailments from the mind, including vanity and ego. Jinanis drown themselves in the psychic disease of ahamkara [1] (ego), but You dispel the fog of arrogance from their mind after pulverizing their ego. Baba, You are so gracious. You understand the upsurge of devotional love, and You are radiant with that soft and tender love. O my dearmost, with Your ever-flowing grace You saturate everything with Your love and sweetness. 

Baba, You Yourself are divine and Your beauty is unfathomable. Baba, please come in my heart...


END NOTES FOR PRABHAT SAMGIITA #1781:

[1] "A'hamka're prashreya na'hi da'o, rucivika're sudu're sara'o...": This is the first line of the third stanza of the above Prabhat Samgiita (PS #1781) where Baba is warning us about the hazards of ego and vanity etc. By this way we can understand so many of Baba's teachings, nay the whole of AM philosophy, is represented in a concentrated manner in Prabhat Samgiita. So Baba's divine discourses elaborate on those seed form ideas which He has given in Prabhat Samgiita.

Here below, in one of His discourses, Baba warns sadhakas in detail about the dangers of aham'ka'ra and explains how it comes in three various forms. And side by side He also gives the solution.

Baba says, "The aham'ka'ra [pride] that creeps into a person due to the acquisition of jina'na has very serious repercussions in human life. It can lead to the complete downfall of the individual. Aham'ka'ra falls into three basic types, and each of the types brings disastrous results:

"The first type of aham'ka'ra is called abhima'nam, which means that a person thinks that he deserves more than what he is getting; and consequently develops an overbearing attitude towards everyone."

"Gaorava is the second type of aham'ka'ra. It means 'self-aggrandizement'. Puffed up with vanity, a person will want to project his image in an exaggerated manner.Often we hear somebody say, for example, that they have a rose the size of a balloon in their garden - whereas actually the rose may be the size of a ping-pong ball. Constant indulgence in this type of activity converts the mind into matter."

"The third type of aham'ka'ra is [the desire for] pratis't'ha' - the desire to make oneself known. A person influenced by [the desire for] pratis't'ha' expects respect from everyone, and hankers after name and fame." "After having analysed the various types of aham'ka'ra and their evil effects, we need to examine the ways and means of getting rid of these defects."

"In order to get rid of abhima'na, one will have to cultivate the habit of being polite and humble. Just as a [blade of grass] may lie on the ground [underfoot], but does not, through its remaining humble, lose its importance, so a person will never become insignificant by being humble. Humility such as that of the [blade of grass] can alone save a person from abhima'na."

"A person who is always engaged in the thought of his pratis't'ha' must learn how to care about the respect and prestige of others. Such a person must never forget that respect begets respect, and that he should always honour those who are not honoured by anyone. A constant practice of this type will remove the evil effects of the desire for pratis't'ha'."

"And finally, a person who moves about puffed up with vanity and arrogance, and is always engaged in gaorava, self-aggrandizement, will be able to improve only by utilizing his time in kiirtana. If a person keeps himself engaged in kiirtana, that person will not have time to criticize and slander anyone in order to project his own image by comparison and contrast."

"Therefore spiritual aspirants who have set their eyes on Parama Purus'a as their goal must always strive to get rid of aham'ka'ra, and gain the full benefits of jina'na and karma, so as to arouse and enliven bhakti, which is the only road to the journey's end." (Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, p.104-110)

So we should always remember how Baba has given His entire philosophy in Prabhat Samgiita and that it is His usual way to give long discourse about a single Prabhat Samgiita. You may remember that in one DMC the purport of one Prabhat Samgiita became an entire RU discourse: 'Humanity on the Threshold of a New Era'.

By all this it is quite evident that Baba's Prabhat Samgiita compositions hold great meaning and contain innumerable eternal truths. So we should cultivate the practice of learning Prabhat Samgiita more and more. Baba has given the tradition that during our DMS gatherings, dharmacakra, social functions, and spiritual retreats etc, the organisers should not give their own silly lectures but rather utilise the time in giving the purports of Baba's divine Prabhat Samgiita. By this way each and every A'nanda Ma'rgii will learn the entire social and spiritual philosophy of the vast AM ideology.

== DONKEY FOOD ==

Namaskar,
The following is a summary of Baba's teaching from the Shabda Cayanika series.      

(a) Donkey food (Gardabha'nna) is that food purchased with ill-begotten money or sinfully earned money.

(b) If someone feeds you with deep love, respect, and affection and that feeling is conveyed through their expression, talk and conduct, and by feeding you they feel blissful ("Toma'ke kha'iae a'nandit hobe") and very content, and if you do not eat then they will feel pain, in this situation whatever food you eat in their house - even if it is just boiled grass - will be treated as priityanna (proper & sentient food). Any meal or food not prepared under such ideal conditions is donkey food.

(c) So if food is not given with that heart-felt feeling and if one's own life is not in danger due to starvation, in that condition then any food offered is donkey food, Gardabha'nna. So one must not eat that food.

Note: In western society that food which is not fit for human consumption is typically labeled as 'dog food'. And a similar idea Baba has conveyed above by the term donkey food-- "Gardabha'nna". (Summary of Shabda Cayanika - 20, p.163-64 [Bangla])

Namaskar,
Subhash

Health Guideline: Food In-take

Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2012 21:22:19 -0000
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: Rudreshvar Deva cosmicentity@verizon...
Subject: Health Guideline: Food In-take

Baba

"Bujhi va' a'ma'r diirgha ja'minii eto dine halo bhor..." (P.S. 1216)

Purport:

It is very clear and visible that the grace of the Divine Entity, the long span of my dark days have gone. The long dark night has passed. After waiting for so long, the golden dawn has finally come. This new dawn is intoxicating my entire existence with its new color, and crimson rays.

The long, terrifying and dark night, which was covering everyone since ages, has veritably vanished. That very dark night has gone, with its loud laughter and roaring noise. That time, everyone's heart was shaking in fear. But now those creatures of darkness have disappeared. Hearing the chirping of the birds, and the songs of awakened human beings at the time of dawn, then in fear and paranoia the creatures of darkness fled and vanished. Now, after a long span, golden days have come. The era of neohumanism has ultimately arrived.
 
No longer is the poisonous hood of the monster cobra polluting the air with its poison, and creating havoc in the atmosphere. No longer is that very cobra swallowing the lives of living creatures with its ferocious bite. By the grace of Parama Purusa, all the living beings of this entire world are dancing with happiness and adorning the new dawn. Everyone's face is glowing, in new hope and vigour. Now, after waiting so long, good days have come. Those dark days have passed, when all kinds of dogma, fissiparous tendencies, groupism, and negative theories were dominating the society.

By the grace of the Supreme, the era of neohumanism with its rainbow color, has come...

== HEALTH GUIDELINE: FOOD IN-TAKE ==

Namaskar,

Here Baba has given us one very practical health guideline for us all to consider and indeed follow.

Baba says, "Dyspepsia originates from unbalanced food habits. Eating when one is not hungry or only half-hungry is harmful in this disease. So is eating rich food for days together, using intoxicants, eating tasty food out of greed alone, not taking rest after the meal before running off to the office, or taking a bellyful of food..." (Yogic Treatments, p.3)

BUSY SCHEDULE

1. In the life it often happens that when one feels hungry food is not ready; and when one is not hungry then one gets food to eat. This is the common problem.

This is especially the case with most of our respected Wts. Because of their busy schedule and travel routine they depend on others' or they face various inconveniences. That makes it extremely difficult to maintain a consistent routine. Because either they eat according to others' schedule whereby it becomes very challenging to take food in a timely way - at the proper time food - or due to their own itinerary and programs they cannot take time to eat. That is the tragedy why the major percentage of our dedicated Wts are suffering from one or more diseases.

Unfortunately they end up leaving this world prematurely. Or they end up passing their last days in a diseased and crippled condition, totally feeble and bed-ridden. These are the common outcomes. So we should take lesson from all this and follow Baba's teachings and guide others to do the same.

REALLY, NO INTOXICANTS

2. Some innocent persons are thinking that since they are not drinking liquor or doing drugs then it means that they are not using intoxicants. But we should remember that tea and coffee are also intoxicants. One can also become intoxicated by taking an excessive amount of sugar. Indeed, every sadhaka should exercise maximum restraint with regards to sweets.

NOT EATING ALL DAY LONG

3. To properly follow this above rule Baba has given the code that one should not take more than 4 times per day, but the general society is moving in a completely negative way. Many persons have the bad habit of snack or chewing gum all day long etc.

Earlier I thought only a few kids were involved in this dirty habit, but now it can be seen that this problem has become more pervasive - even a few of our workers are involved.

Sometimes at retreats and seminars even a few Dadas and some Didis - certainly not all - are also chewing gum or eating lots of snack foods in between meals etc. By this unhealthy habit, whereby one is producing and swallowing saliva all day long, the salivary glands become dry. And when the real need arises to digest a meal, those glands cannot secrete saliva.

That is why people suffer from various diseases. Because without saliva food cannot be properly digested and undigested food causes so many toxic effects in the body. So we should follow Baba point of maximum 4 times and four items.

RICH FOOD

4. 'Rich food' means the food which one cannot digest such as high fat, oily food-- rich in fatty oily contents. Here 'rich' does not mean costly or not. It may be that rich foods are very cheap. The point is that eating rich, oily food invites the disease of obesity & mnore. This problem is quite common in the general public and also in our vast margii family. Everyone knows that obesity is the root cause of many kinds of diseases and that nowadays it is an epidemic.

NO TIME TO REST

5. In this modern era when everyone is feeling a shortage of time and people are just rushing from one work to another, then they do not care to take rest after food. And that becomes the root cause of various diseases related with indigestion. The first of which is hyper-acidity. This can develop into a chronic health disorder that adversely affects one's entire existence.

Sometimes this type of problem causes serious damage when one growth or side stomach or side pocket gets created. Then food sits there and rots and people die from this.

ENSURE USE OF RIGHT NOSTRIL

6. When one takes rest after food then they can moderate their right nostril and ensure that it is open. But if after food they are just running to work they cannot manage to keep the right nostril open and their digestion is impaired. This is terribly detrimental to one's health.


Namaskar,
Rudreshvar



 

We Should Open Their Eyes

Date: 02 Aug 2012 21:43:04 -0000
From: "Acintya  Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: We Should Open Their Eyes

Baba

== WE SHOULD OPEN THEIR EYES ==

Namaskar,

Baba says, "According to the laws of nature, human beings are not carnivorous. So, if they eat meat they will catch numerous diseases. Vegetarians generally suffer from fewer diseases than non-vegetarians because they are more habituated to following natural laws." (Prout Nutshell - 16, p.10)

As we can all see, in His above teaching Baba is telling that animal flesh is not at all good for human consumption. Rather, eating meat invites numerous diseases. And nowadays after long research, western scientists and various researchers also have come to this same conclusion. Even then, this commonly agreed upon fact is not openly shared with the general public. So in their blind way the common public continues to eat all those meats & flesh foods. And in turn they fall prey to numerous diseases. This is the common phenomenon happening in our so-called more advanced countries - much more than in our so-called poorer nations.

And there seems to be no end to this downward spiral. Because capitalist pharmaceutical companies and various medical institutions do not want to reveal the truth that a meat-centered diet is the cause of numerous diseases. Reason being that they are not geared towards public education and the prevention of disease. Their main agenda item is to treat the horrifying symptoms which crop up from those diseases. That is their crude style of doing business. So their selfish agenda is to ensure that diseases multiply around the globe and become widespread. Failing that, they will find themselves jobless and without a big bankroll. Because a disease-free society means that the common mass will not be depending upon crude allopathic medicines, and no sales of crude medicines translates into a zero-dollar paycheck for those crooked pharmaceutical giants. So those drug companies are very anxious for people to become ill and stricken with disease.

And not just those capitalist exploitative drug companies, but even some low-minded, crude doctors operate in the same selfish way. Because the large majority of present-day doctors are well aware about the research and data how animal flesh foods is harmful for human health. Yet they keep these established facts from the innocent public and instead tell the people to eat more meat etc.

In result, because of this massive misinformation campaign by the capitalistic medical industy, the public health is being jeopardized. Despite living in this ultra-modern, scientific era, diet related diseases are multiplying. And people are passing most of their lives on medication and spending a huge portion of their income purchasing drugs to "treat" these diseases. All this has become commonplace, especially in so-called first world nations like the USA. This all stems from the deceitful policy of misinformation by the so-called doctors. Where they do not want to tell what is proper and what is improper regarding dietary habits, i.e. the dangers of eating meat.

And this terrible scenario is not unprecedented either. As a case in point, it took more than one century to significantly hault the tobacco industry from mauling the American society. For years the public was in the dark and getting more and more addicted to nicotine and smoking. Only now in the recent years has there been a more forceful campaign against those large tobacco firms in so-called advanced countries. Thus it has taken such a long time to release the public from the the tight clutch of the those greedy tobacco barons. Even then many people still smoke in the USA-- but certainly far less than before.

But one horrendous outcome is that now those money-grubbing tobacco companies have set their sights on the poorer countries where they continue their aggressive cigarette smoking campaign. And the general public is getting stuck in their cloudy net of chain-smoking cigarettes. So now awful diseases like lung cancer are taking root in those economically exploited areas. Tragically the simple, common people are suffering a lot in those places.

As A'nanda Ma'rgiis, it is our sacred duty to inform and educate the public about Baba's meaningful teachings concerning the natural laws of human health and hygiene. Baba's divine guideline is the panacea to serve all - they are our kith and kin.    

Namaskar,
Acinta Deva

 

 

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

PS Intro: This following song is for teaching to non-margiis because it is a song in reverence to Lord Krsna. Baba has written this particular Prabhat Samgiita for devotees of Sri Krsna. Our duty then with this song is to learn it so we can teaching it to those bhaktas who take Lord Krsna as their Ista.

In contrast, we Ananda Margiis are fully devoted to Baba, Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. So when we sing with our devotional heart, we sing to Baba - not Lord Krsna. In that case we select one of the innumerable dhyana songs related with Baba. The point being that for true devotees Ista is one and only one. For more about pointed devotion and strictness in Ista refer to Baba's colorful explanation of the shloka, 'Shriinathe...', from Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, p.118.


"Ka'nu binu tha'ka' na'hi ja'y..."   (P.S. 3355)

Purport:

Without Lord Krsna, life is very miserable - surviving itself is very difficult. Lord Krsna is that glittering Personality of my heart so when He is not present then I suffer terribly from the pain of restlessly longing for Him.
 
Day and night every moment I hear His flute in my heart. With the sound of that  flute, Lord Krsna is telling me that He loves me. He tells me, 'I love you, that is why I am calling you'. 

The flow of my life is ensconced in His ideation and it goes on fighting strongly against the deep fog and it is rushing with the high tide in a hundred directions, by His grace. 

My life is very painful in the absence of Lord Krsna...

Health Guideline: Diet Related

Date: Thu, 03 May 2012 21:55:32 -0400
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Health Guideline: Diet Related
From: Yogendra Deva

Baba

"A'loker utsa're-- kuya'sha'r path dhare, giyechile du're..." (1755)

Purport:

Baba, You are the most gracious One; You save everybody. Baba, with the emanation of Your divine effulgence, those following the foggy path have returned back to the house. By Your grace, those who fell into sin and staticity have come back onto the path of truth and righteousness; they have come back onto the path of dharma-- their home. Baba, by Your grace they have again come under Your eternal shelter.

Baba, because of You, there is truth and dharma. Because You are, the effulgence remains. Baba because of You there is life. You bring bliss and warmth to all. You shower Your love and affection on everyone. Baba, those who forget You become engulfed in the cimmerian darkness of avidya maya. Those who do not surrender at Your lotus feet and those who neglect to sing Your name remain oblivious of the divine truth and plunge themselves in the deep abyss of self-pity and confusion.

O' Baba, by Your grace I know only You. Only this truth I know: You are mine and I am Yours. Baba I do not know about the divine world nor about the mortal world. I do not know about heaven or hell; nor do   accept those myths. Baba, I do not know about right and wrong, or virtue and vice. Baba, by Your sweet grace  my mind is fully focused on You. Baba, I only know  You-- I only accept You and You alone. Baba, You are the ocean of my life.

Baba, please be grace by showering Your causeless grace...

== HEALTH GUIDELINE: DIET RELATED ==

Namaskar,

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')

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 - in all circumstances.

Namaskar,
Yogendra Deva

Baba Story: Eating Sweets

Date: 15 Aug 2011 16:19:57 -0000
From: "Shivadayal Deva"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Baba Story: Eating Sweets

Baba

== BABA STORY: EATING SWEETS ==

Namaskar
After holding DMC in Kullu (HP) in November 1979, Baba returned back to Delhi where He was staying at the time. Many dadas were also in Delhi as Baba was doing reporting and related works.

Upon His return, some margiis offered sweets to Baba. Baba Himself was not eating sweets those days, so He graciously blessed those sweets and ordered that they should be distributed among all His children as prasad.

SES DADA WAS VERY BUSY

SES dada Krpadhiishananda was extremely busy that morning and late in completing his routine. He was not ready yet to eat. So when the cook brought out the tray of sweets / prasad, dadaji thought that they would all be gone by the time he had completed his personal duties. So SES dada took a large handful of prasad and stashed it away for himself.

Later on when he finished his duties etc, Krpadhiishananda ate some of the prasad which he had put away and kept the remainder in a safe place for later.

MIDDAY REPORTING WITH BABA

At midday reporting, Baba inquire to SES dada, "Where are those sweets? Have you had some prasad?"

Dada replied, "Yes Baba, I have eaten some."

"Is there more?", Baba inquired.

Dada answered, "Yes."

Then Baba started talking about the health problems that arise from eating sweets and sugar products. This went on for around 10 minutes.

BABA SAYS: SWEETS ARE HARMFUL

Baba's main point was that sweets are especially bad for those above the age of 25. No matter how careful one is, Baba explained, sweets are bad for entire system as they invite diseases like diabetes, digestive disorders, brain disease, and so many other serious health problems like boils, acidity etc. Finally sweets make the blood impure and increase mental lethargy and dullness. Indeed, Baba was very adamant about the ill-effects of eating sweets.

BABA MAKES INQUIRY WITH DADAS:

ALL HAD THEIR PRIVATE STOCK OF SWEETS

Then Baba asked all the dadas, "Who is eating sweets on a regular basis?"

It was then found that they were all keeping various amounts of gur (refined molasses) in their personal bags. Some dadas were keeping 1kg, others had 1.5kg, and still others had 2kg. The common thread was that they were eating it regularly. Some even proclaimed that gur was "an instant energy booster" and would eat that first upon breaking fast. 

Baba told everyone present that that the various array of sweets like sugar, molasses (gur), and any other type of sweet is not good for the human body, especially if one is over 25 years of age.

Baba warned them, "You are dedicated wholetimer workers. You must keep your body fit and your mind sharp to serve the society. If you are eating negative things like sweets then how are you going to fulfill your duties properly."

Hearing all this, the dadas present gave their stock of gur to local needy children and vowed to keep away from all kinds of sweets.

Namaskar,
Shivadayal

Note 1: FURTHER READING ON THIS TOPIC

The below letter contains more of Baba's teachings about reducing or eliminating one's sugar / sweets intake. Plus it lists 141 health problems related with eating sweets.

http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2011/07/healthy-habits.html