Deliberate Neglect by AM Publications

Baba

== DELIBERATE NEGLECT BY AM PUBLICATIONS ==

Namaskar,
With so many things going on in the organisation, nowadays, more than ever, around the globe margiis and workers realise the need for the proper transcription, printing, and publishing of Baba’s discourses.

Everyone understands this is the urgent need of the day.

However, this task of redoing all the books is not so easy to execute. There are many angles & complexities to the issue; hence the matter can indeed seem quite arduous. The question then becomes: How to manage this mighty endeavour and where to begin.

#1: FORMULA FOR AUTHENTICITY NEEDED

First off, it needs to be decided which books are proper – i.e. authentic, and which ones need attention. Is it that each and every Ananda Marga book needs to be redone entirely; are all the printed discourses in terrible shape. Or is it that some published discourses are properly done. If so, then which ones. That is the first consideration.

#2: HOW TO REPUBLISH DISCOURSES

Second, once it is decided which books need to be reprinted, then what will be our means for republishing the discourses. Shall we merely accept the current printed Bangla edition as the original and print all the discourses from the so-called original Bengali. Is that enough to settle the matter.

Unfortunately if we adopt this pathway, then we may face the crisis which has occurred in Ananda Vacanamrtam part 1, where all the printed discourses in AV-1 are missing 95% of Baba’s original words. Because those publishers only printed the few paragraphs which Baba spoke in English and they outrightly deleted scores and scores of paragraphs which Baba spoke in other languages, especially Hindi.

Here it should be noted that if Baba has spoken in Bangla on that occasion, they would have discarded the English and used only the Bangla, just like was done with Ananda Nagar discourses. In Ananda Nagar Baba spoke in 3 languages and only the Bangla portion was put in print.

But since those discourses from Ananda Vacanamrtam - 1 were mostly delivered in Patna, Baba spoke primarily in Hindi, and that they deleted. Certain "powers-that-be" do not like to recognise Hindi, and other languages. That is why all the discourses in AV-1 are so short and appear incomplete. Because the Hindi section was cut. Thus they verily are incomplete – miserably so.

And that is not just the case with AV-1, but with numerous titles and editions. The problem is rampant.

This then is the second consideration: Once we decide a book or set of discourses needs to be reprinted or republished, then what are we to use as the original material for republication.

OTHER THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

There are other considerations as well such as who can and will do this work, and so many logistical matters as well. Nonetheless, these two aforementioned issues stand as the main areas which must be worked out: Parameters need to be established on these two points. Otherwise how is one to move ahead and get the desired result: A properly published discourse.

SOLUTION #1:

DETERMINING AUTHENTICITY

Although, there are many angles to the issue, there is one standard measuring rod for determining which Ananda Marga book is authentic. As we all know, some of Baba’s discourses were recorded live via audio cassette and some were given by dictation where margiis or Dadas noted down and wrote what Baba said.

For example, these books or series contain discourses that were recorded:

(1) Ananda Vacanamrtam: There are audio files for parts 1 thru 29; for parts 30 and 31 some discourses are on audio file and some not; part 33 has no audio files; part 34 does have audio file. In addition, there are so many discourses from this series That means there are many discourses that are not printed. that have yet to be printed.

(2) Subhasita Samgraha: There are not audio files for parts 1 thru 8; there are audio files for parts 9 thru 25.

(3) Prout Nutshell: There are no audio files for parts 1 thru 5; for parts 6 and above, there are audio files for only some of the discourses.

(4) Discourses on the Mahabharata: There are audio files for this entire book.

(5) Microvita Nutshell: Some of these discourses have audio files & some not.

(6) Liberation of Intellect - Neo-Humanism: Some of these discourses have audio files & some not.

(7) This is only a partial listing as there are many more books etc.

Then there were other books that were not recorded at all; these were given by dictation:

(1) Tattvika Praveshika,
(2) Ananda Sutram,
(3) Caryacarya (all parts),
(4) Namah Shivaya Shantaya (some chapters dictated),
(5) Shabda Cayanika,
(6) Varna Vijiana,
(7) Human Society (Parts 1 & 2),
(8) Strange Experiences, etc.

Thus some discourses were recorded and some were dictated and the books were formed accordingly.

So what to to do.

[A] Those discourses which were recorded need to be checked word for word with the original cassette or audio file to ensure that each and every word was properly transcribed, regardless of the language in which Baba spoke. Then if the discourse measures up – if it contains all that Baba spoke – then we can consider that discourse or book as being authentic.

[B] And those discourses which were dictated & noted down by pen, we must review them to ensure that every portion of the book is consistent with Ananda Marga ideology. If so, then we must accept that book as being authentic. We have no other recourse.

These then are are two basic parameters for determining authenticity of our Ananda Marga books.

WHY THIS WORK IS SO CRITICAL

Every dedicated Ananda Margii clearly understands why this work is so critically important - even then a few may wonder.

Essentially, if the teachings are unclear and imprecise, then it is sure that religion or community will become divided - into numerous factions or sects. Specifically, whenever any person interprets aspects of the scripture in their own way, then that group or religion is at high risk to undergo division. This is the long-standing historical precedent. Selfish-minded people will either interpret edicts for their own benefit, or they will unabashedly insert wrong ideas and points of contention. In either case, the body of scripture is now compromised, and further conflict is inevitable.

In contrast, if the teachings are pristine and exact, then there is no scope for reinterpretation or misinterpretation. In that case, there will be no grounds for division. One might break away for purely selfish reasons, but that can never be done based on ideological measures. So keeping Ananda Marga scripture in perfect condition will keep our Ananda Marga society unified and strong. That is why, our scripture should be perfect. What Guru says should be clearly documented.

SOLUTION #2:

CASSETTES ARE ONLY DEPENDABLE MEDIUM

The next matter of what medium to use as the original for those discourses that were recorded.

For those discourses that were recorded and wherein there are gaps and discrepancies between the original audio tape and the printed discourse, then obviously we must use the recorded audio as the original. To use anything else would be injustice and we would only be asking for trouble.

CANNOT JUST RELY ON BANGLA TEXT

Right now, there are some who are relying on the Bangla text as the original for redoing various discourses, but when the Bengali books have omitted huge portions of what Baba originally spoke, then how can those books be depended upon for republishing His discourses.

MUST BE PRINTED AS IS

Let us remember that our job is to print the discourses “as is” – what Baba spoke needs to be published, regardless of what language He used. In that case, the only viable option is to resort to the audio cassette as the medium for republishing those discourses.

ABOUT THOSE DISCOURSES THAT WERE NOT RECORDED

And of course for those discourses that were not recorded and have no audio cassette, then we have to ensure those books are consistent with the teachings of AM ideology. Where any inconsistency appears, then a responsible committee should be in charge of informing all of the problem and marking a pathway for correcting the matter.

Keep in mind Baba Himself was checking and editing those older published books, so really most of them are just fine.

Books like Ananda Sutram, Ananda Marga: Elementary Philosophy etc, have been meticulously used by our Marga over the decades and they are basically approved by Guru Himself.

Only we have to ensure that no nonsense was placed into the Appendix by various Dadas such as when they added the gross dogma of mahaprayan to the appendix of Caryacarya - 1 etc. Other than that, in most cases, the original text in our older AM books is alright. Even then there should be a comprehensive review.

HOW DO WE KNOW THE CASSETTES EXIST

The final piece of the puzzle is how do we know there is an original cassette for those recorded discourses.

For example, let’s say we ask the folks in Tiljala and they say there is no cassette etc– when in fact we know the discourse was recorded. Then what are we to do.

Actually, already we know which cassettes exist. Because Baba’s demand was that all cassettes must be kept. He was adamant and forceful on this point. After each and every discourse, the cassette - recorded by PA - would go to the proper authority such as PRS Dada. And by that way the original casette was maintained. This was the working style.

Furthermore, since 1990, in their archive meetings, and when asking for money, and when reports come about which discourses have been put in digital format, and when announcements were made about this or that preservation project, then we have a concrete idea about which cassettes have been kept and preserved. Because, always the in-charges would give reports about what was done.

And not only that, so many margiis, Dadas, Didis, and LFTs who have worked in the Tiljala archive etc have talked about which discourses they were working on. So it is known those cassettes exist. Plus, in the Editor’s Note, of so many books, Publications personnel neatly describe which discourse has come from which cassette etc. By all these avenues and by all these accounts, we can easily determine how and where to get the original cassette to do this greatly needed work of checking and publishing Baba’s discourses “as is”.

Thus, although it is a complex issue, there is a definite and clear-cut pathway by which to move ahead.

BABA'S TEACHINGS

"Everyone's work is to establish it with collective support. You people know that when clothes are woven white ants and mice try to eat them. So the cloth has to be saved from the destructive activities of white ants and mice. So whenever you make something, establish a protective fence to protect it from the evil forces. In days of old, when womenfolk used to prepare dried mango cakes, the young boys used to sit by the side to keep the crows away with a stick in the hand. Similarly you should be careful and alert always." (Discourses on Neo-Humansist Education - Gurukul: History and Planning)

   "The spiritual world is the source of all the actions of passion and dispassion in human life and is the life-giving current of all the codes of conduct of existence. Thus in the spiritual world, there should not be anything which will divert human beings from the path of synthesis to that of analysis, which will provoke divisive tendencies and restrict collective existence within narrow confines."
   "Nothing should ensnare people in the illusory net of pettiness in any sphere of life, from the general code of spiritual conduct to the universal and eternal principles of life – lest the voracious fangs of the all-consuming Máyá devour them. Thus the scriptures containing spiritual injunctions must be totally flawless, and the pioneering personality must be a strict and benevolent guardian with unyielding conviction."
   "Thus I repeat: Shásanát tárayet yastu sah shástrah parikiirttitah. There is the necessity of scripture in all the four vargas of human life."
   "The scripture which is required in the spiritual field is called dharma shástra, the treatise of spiritual injunctions, as discussed above; and Brahma in the form of guru is the controller of the scriptures. The third factor is the philosophical treatise relating to the mental world, called darshana shástra; and with this third factor there must also be a fourth factor, darshana pravaktá, that is, a propounder who will train the people in philosophy, for the philosophical treatises may be wrongly interpreted."
   "For instance, it was written, Vidhavá agre gamiśyati [“The widow will go first.”]. But later, due to a defective interpretation, this was misread as Vidhavá agne gamiśyati [“A widow should go into the fire”]. As a result, hundreds of thousands of innocent widows were burnt alive on the funeral pyres of their husbands. Hence the necessity of a proper trainer, well-versed in philosophy."
   "In the scripture of the psychic world, generally called darshana shástra, there should not be the least sprinkling of dogmas, because this sort of philosophically-oriented dogma cumulatively increases the distortions in the psychic world. These dogmas enter the human mind like fine needles and come out like iron ploughs. If one tries to cast them out, then the whole psychic structure is demolished. If a tender banyan plant grows at one corner of a fine mansion, and if its growth is unchecked for long, then that small plant develops into a gigantic tree, and when one tries to tear it down, the entire mansion crumbles to the earth."
   "In the mundane sphere, as well, there is the necessity of a scripture which will systematically control the undulating waves of the psychological, political, social and economic aspects of human life. There must not be the least dissonance in the social harmony. Along with a scripture for the mundane world, there must be the powerful control of an enlightened and fiery personality; otherwise the swarms of self-seeking ants, greedy for enjoyment, will devour all the sugar prepared with such arduous human labour; otherwise the gluttonous cattle, thrusting their heads through the holes in the hedgerows beside the road, will ravage the tender green plants of the psychic world of human beings."
   "This controlling scripture is the samája shástra, or social code [the fifth factor of shástra vyákhyána], and the special spirit which this social code generates in human minds is the social spirit." (Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Disc: 14)

SPECIAL FAVOUR TO BANGLA DISCOURSES

In the post 1990 era, the Publications Dept has been run by Tilajala and they have given overwhelming emphasis to discourses given in Bengali - less importance to discourses given in English, and far less attention to those given in Hindi. What Baba spoke in Bengali they transcribe and record and they toss aside and give much less value to those discourses given by Baba in other languages. That is the sorrowful state of affairs. Their intention was not to publish books on Ananda Marga ideology, but rather to create books for highlighting the so-called superiority of Bengali. Operating from this mindset - so many wrongs and injustices were done to our AM books.

DO NOT BE MISLED - STILL THEY ARE DOING WRONG

SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITH ANANDA VACANAMRTAM - 12

Some naive margiis are under the wrong impression that nowadays the books are being properly corrected like Ananda Vacanamrtam parts 9 thru 12. But that is wrong. Still the wrong approach is going on.

For instance, in the latest edition Ananda Vacanamrtam part 12, both chapter 33 ("Permanent Shelter") & chapter 34 ("Towards the Noumenal Entity") were delivered in Mumbai and Baba spoke in Hindi. Yet when "correcting" those discourses, they did not use the original Hindi audio file. They did not listen to Baba's voice and ensure His discourse was transcribed correctly and then translate that into English. They did not follow this authentic and direct method. Instead they treated the Bengali version as the master, when in fact the Bengali version was already an incomplete and compromised rendition of the discourse. So that was an entirely faulty approach. And the outcome was skewed and not representative of what Baba exactly spoke that day - rather it was just a summary. Anyone who has the original audio file of Baba's discourse in Hindi, and plays it and compares it with the printed text can easily understand that what was printed in the English edition of Ananda Vacanamrtam part 12 was not a translation of the full Hindi discourse, but rather a summary based on the Bengali printed version of Ananda Vacanamrtam part 12. The proper method would have been to update the original Hindi printed version by matching it up exactly with the original Hindi audio file. And then translate that corrected Hindi printed version directly into English. That is the right way to proceed. Then those two chapters - chapter 33 ("Permanent Shelter") & chapter 34 ("Towards the Noumenal Entity") and the rest of AV-12 - would have been printed properly. And some margii volunteers working with Tiljala publications had this idea in mind and they inquired about getting the original Hindi audio file, but Sarvatmananda Da never gave it. He gave lip service that it was all rechecked by some ghost Dada.

BABA’S BLESSING

By Baba’s grace we will fulfill our dharma of properly preserving and publishing all His original discourses.

Baba says, “The scriptures containing spiritual injunctions must be totally flawless.” (NSS)

Namaskar,
In Him,
Nagendra

 

 

Prabhat Samgiita

"Tumi kato liila' kare ja'o, ke bujhibe kii bha'vana'y..."  (P.S. 3164)

Purport:

Baba, there are varieties of liilas which You go on playing. Who can understand the mystery behind all these. As You like, You do. You are dancing in the flow of Your liila and that same flow makes everyone else dance too. Everything is happening according to Your desire.

Baba, You have been ever-present since eternity; and You will remain up to infinity - emanating with Your unbroken flow. Through Your ota and prota yoga, You remain with everyone - always. You are ever-effulgent in every nook and corner, in all the directions.

Will this unit mind ever be able to understand Your glory with its own strength? Baba, You Yourself are the ultimate shelter. You have blessed me and made me understand all this. As You told, accordingly I will go on fully utilising all the strength and capacity which You have graciously give me. This is the path upon which You have guided me - and I will go on following this, by Your grace.

Baba, my final desire can only be quenched when I receive a wee-bit of Your grace & assurance that no matter what I will never forget Your lotus feet...
 

*************************
Sometimes Forgetting Is A Boon

Forgetfulness is a providential decree. Usually human beings forget their past lives. Is this forgetfulness a blessing or a curse? It is a blessing because human beings feel burdened by the weight of one life. It would be impossible for them to carry the burden of many lives together.

The human mind is sentimental – full of love, affection, camaraderie, etc. People have a deep attraction to this world; they remain preoccupied throughout their lives with fears and anxieties for the safety of their families. So many problems have to be confronted. The problems of one life alone are enough to make people restless. If they had to face the problems of several lives, they would be unable to lead a natural life. The problems of the past lives, compounded by the strife of the present life, would drive them to the brink of insanity. Secondly, it is difficult for people to be detached from love and attachment for one life. So much effort is required to overcome the bondages of attachment and march towards Parama Puruśa. If the memory of the past lives is revived, the bondage of attachment will tighten its grip, putting a halt to spiritual advancement. One will be caught in the grip of worldly attachment. Thus the decree of merciful providence is, “Let human beings be oblivious of their past lives.”

*************************

Baba Story: One Minute Nirvikalpa Samadhi

From: "Liila / Leslie"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Baba Story: One Minute Nirvikalpa Samadhi
Date: Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:37:36 (00:00)

Baba

This entire email is composed of 2 parts:
(1) Posting: Baba Story: One Minute Nirvikalpa Samadhi
(2) Trailer Quote: When A Person Behaves Badly With You

 Each section is demarcated by asterisks (***).

== BABA STORY: ONE MINUTE NIRVIKALPA SAMADHI ==

Namaskar,
Now and again, I review some of the stories from the publication, "I Am Yours" (2004) - a story book by NY sector margiis.

One day I selected a story on page 12 because I thought the story-teller was an ideal margii. When I read his account some serious questions arose in my mind. For simplicity and ease of reading, throughout this letter, I refer to the author of this particular story as Mr G.

If this story was casually told by some very junior or new margii, or written in a non-margii publication, then I would be less concerned. However, since this book is published by the "Ananda Marga Archives Department New York Sector" a division of Ananda Marga Inc, and Mr G himself is a key person in the Archives Dept, then there is cause for real concern. This is compounded by the fact that many editors are also involved. In such a circumstance, the publication must clearly reflect the teachings of Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. But that has not happened.

The key item at hand is how to make our official publications better. The writing and publishing of a Baba story book should have a grand result, and not be prone to error and miscalculation. With this positive spirit, I share with you the following.

Finally, although this particular story by Mr G is short, there are numerous errors - some more serious than others. This email addresses two of the more critical faults, their repercussions, and how such problems can be averted in the future.

Mr G'S STORY:

"I GOT NIRVIKALPA SAMADHI"

In the book, "I Am Yours", Mr G makes the following statement on page 14 when describing his experience in meditation:

"I did not see Baba, I only experienced the samadhi. I believe this to have been nirvikalpa samadhi."

According to the his description, he went into and out of this nirvikalpa samadhi experience in just a few minutes. Mr G had his alarm clock set, as did another margii present in the room. Thus, it is quite certain his experience occurred over a few minutes or even less.

BABA'S TEACHINGS ON NIRVIKALPA SAMADHI

Now let's see what Baba says about nirvikalpa samadhi. In various spiritual discourses Baba describes the exalted, blissful state of nirvikalpa samadhi. And He also describes the after-effects of achieving this blessed stance.
           

"Átmani mahadahaḿ cittánáḿ prańáshe nirgunásthitih nirvikalpa samádhi vá"

"Under natural circumstances these sadhakas [who attain nirvikalpa samadhi] remain without any external body-consciousness for about five or six hours. If the mind rises still higher, they can remain unconscious for 24 hours." (Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 5)

Thus in clear-cut language Baba pointedly states that if one attains nirvikalpa samadhi, then for the next 5-6 hours - at minimum - the sadhaka will not be aware of their surroundings and in most cases they need to be massaged by other sadhakas to regain bodily awareness etc. So for at least 5-6 hours one will not have any awareness of the external world, none at all. Not only that, they may experience all kinds of symptoms. Such sadhaks might shake, cry, laugh, or undergo any number of reactions. This type of samadhi is a very intense experience that wholly transforms one's body and mind for hours and hours. The effects are very apparent.

All of this Baba has well-detailed in His discourses as well as during innumerable demonstrations.

STARK DIFFERENCE OF DESCRIPTION

To review, on page 14 of the "I Am Yours" story book, our Mr G is proclaiming that he achieved that high exalted stated of nirvikalpa samadhi. There he clearly describes how one minute he was doing sadhana and got nirvikalpa samadhi, and then in the next moment he finished his meditation and was keenly aware of his external surroundings. As if in a flash, he went into nirvikalpa samadhi and then in the next heart-beat he was out of nirvikalpa samadhi, and very alert and oriented with this mundane world.

So this is all quite interesting because Sadguru Baba Himself carefully describes all the highly subtle aspects of nirvikalpa samadhi including that afterwards it takes at minimum 5-6 hours to gain bodily awareness. Yet Mr G tells how he came out of his "nirvikalpa samadhi" in a fraction of a second.

Thus his story does not at all conform to Baba's detailed description of nirvikalpa samadhi.

IT IS THE EDITOR'S FAULT - WHOLE BOOK PUT INTO QUESTION

By this way, any reader will surely think that Mr G has not an iota of understanding about nirvikalpa samadhi - neither in practice nor in theory. Certainly, this does not reflect very well on Mr G.

More than that however, it reflects poorly on the editors. After all, Mr G sincerely wrote his account. But because he is not very aware about Ananda Marga teachings, his story goes astray. In that case, it was the editor's job to ensure the story was consonant with Ananda Marga philosophy. But this did not happen. Instead, a jarring error was made on the point of Ananda Marga spiritual philosophy.

Baba clearly tells us that it takes 5 - 6 hours or more to come out of nirvikalpa samadhi, and Mr G writes that he did it in a moment.

When readers come across this blatant error, they will certainly wonder why the editorial board did not fix this. They will furthermore consider that if such a critical error was made in this story, then the veracity of the entire book is put into question. After all, it was the editor's job to review each story for its relevance and accuracy. When they made such a glaring error with this story, then how can the other accounts be trusted and accepted as accurate and true.

Unfortunately, that is one key issue, but not the only problem of this particular story.

HE HAS A GIRLFRIEND

In this same story, which is really only a few pages in length (bottom of page 12 to the top of page 16, i.e. 3 1/2 pages), Mr G makes distinct reference to one of his "girlfriends" from decades ago. He unabashedly talks about his "girlfriend" from those days.

Yet in Ananda Marga, we do not support the girlfriend-boyfriend phenomena that is so prevalent in materialistic societies.

"It should be remembered that a woman’s friend is a woman and a man’s friend is a man. The more distant the relationship between men and women, the greater should be the courtesy maintained in mutual conversation and behaviour between them." (Caryacarya - 1, Social Relationship Between Men and Women)

In his written account, Mr G talks about his "girlfriend" without ever mentioning the fact that the western / materialistic concept of keeping "girlfriends" is not at all acceptable in Ananda Marga.

Indeed, the incident which he is describing occurred decades ago, and then writing about this as a senior margii, Mr G just plainly told about his girlfriend, without offering a clarification that now he understands that it was not proper to have a girlfriend etc. At the time of writing, Mr G was 50+ years of age and had been an Ananda Margii for decades and decades, so he should have known better; but even then he is not completely at fault. Only we can say he has a very low or passive understanding of Ananda Marga ideals. 

The real problem lies in that here again the editors did not intercede nor exercise their power of review. They just printed the story as is - as if girlfriends and boyfriends are acceptable in Ananda Marga. Remember, this is a book of Baba stories. The book was written in honour of Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. Every page and every word should reflect His ideals and it was the editor's bounden duty to do this. But they could not manage.

Thus, innocent readers who do not know about Ananda Marga teachings - especially those in the general society - will reach one of two conclusions:
(1) Keeping girlfriends is approved in Ananda Marga and that many senior margiis had or still have girlfriends;
(2) Or, you tell what such readers will think.

Some more experienced persons may think that the entire book is a myth. Because when the editors allowed for a very senior margii to write about his girlfriend and put forth a bogus account of nirvikalpa samadhi, they will even doubt the positive aspects of the book because on certain themes it is so far from Ananda Marga teachings. It will cast a dark shadow on the accuracy and veracity of each and every paragraph of this entire book - even the good devotional stories.

MAYBE HE GOT LOWLY SAMADHI

Upon further reflection, although the Mr G certainly did not get nirvikalpa samadhi, it could be that he fell into the type of samadhi described below. Because when Mr G had a girlfriend, he might have had this experience.

   "Viks'ipta Sama'dhi is that when the mind is engrossed in some higher thought for a time and then the very next moment it cuts adrift to its meaner propensities. Those that do not follow Yama-Niyama (codes of self-restraint and austerity) -- those that endeavor to attain God without the Sadhana of Samyama (Self-control), betray a plethora of distractions."
   "If a man without self-control indulges excessively in hallelujahs or divine songs (Kiirtana-bhajana), it is noticed that his mental proclivities temporarily get inclined towards the Divine Bearing during the time of kiirtana-bhajana, his body too shows evidence of pious traits, tears come into his eyes and he attains a Trance of Subjectivity (Bhava-Samadhi) as well. But the very next moment, i.e. immediately after his kiirtana-bhajana, his unrestrained and incontinent mind races towards mean propensities with a greater momentum."
   "That is why such types of Sadhakas take to very dishonest ways of life during the rest of their daily occupations. In other words they give themselves up to acts of depravity, deceitfulness--to defrauding their own relatives. The people also are a little chary of such types of carol-singers. The man without self-control does indeed enjoy a bit of transcendental happiness by forcing his mental flow towards the auspicious name of God, but soon after the stoppage of this divine panegyrics or 'hymn' (nama-kiirtana), his sand-dammed mind bursts and races towards the inauspicious names with re-doubled speed, i.e., at that time he appears to be more inclined to scandal-mongering and rudeness. You mark minutely how blatantly those that are bereft of self-control among the bhajan-singers, indulge in scurrilous languages under a little provocation." (Subhasita Samgraha - 4, p. 100)

SUMMARY

Taken on the whole, this Baba story book titled "I Am Yours" is highly problematic on a number of fronts.

(1) Mr G's account of getting nirvikalpa samadhi for one minute goes against Ananda Marga spiritual philosophy. By reading his account, some are going to think that this whole book is just a myth. In which case, they will put the entire book aside and overlook very good entries by other sadhakas.

(2) Those who are wholly against Ananda Marga ideals are always looking for a weak link to cast us in a bad light. To that end they might publicize the gross errors in this book in order to tear down the reputation of Ananda Marga.

(3) Good sadhakas will not like to publish their valued stories in the future for fear of being associated with such a bad publication.

OUR BABA STORIES SHOULD BE ITIHA'SA

When writing stories - to avoid mishaps in the future - certain standards must be put in place. Here following are some for consideration.

All Baba stories written by sadhakas should have educative value; they should be itihasa.

"Iti hasiti ityarthe itiha'sah"

Meaning: "A resplendent reflection of collective life whose study will be of immense inspiration for future generations. 'Iti hasati' literally means, 'glowing example of glorious human dignity'." (Prout in a Nutshell - 8, p. 24)

By adhering to the distinguished code of itihasa, there will be dignity, value, and utility in our writing - all the while capturing the inner beauty and treasure of human life. Those reading will be highly benefited; it will propel them along the path of dharma.

We should never compromise with our ideology. Rather we are to maintain strict ideological standards in all aspects of life at all times - never sacrificing the word or spirit of dharma (Ananda Marga Ideology). So our written stories should also not swerve from the path.

By following Baba's above teachings, all future stories - especially those published in our prestigious books like "I Am Yours" - will reflect the inner spirit of Ananda Marga and be of ideological and devotional value to all readers.

All in all, I do appreciate that Mr G took the time to write. It is another matter that unfortunately he is not so familiar with the teachings and ideals of Ananda Marga. The main problem is that the editors of the book - "I Am Yours" - should have been more assertive in their duty. Ultimately, a publication of his nature - i.e. a Baba story book - should be reviewed by our Ananda Marga boards as well. That will help prevent further mishap in the future.

FURTHER SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING THIS PUBLICATION

This book needs to be heavily edited and then republished. Not everyone is a writer, so when making a book from people's personal contributions, the editorial staff must be very proactive in ensuring each story reads properly and is consistent with Ananda Marga teachings. All edits should be then reviewed by the respective storyteller before final publication.

That is the healthy criticism that many have for this book. The book should be written in such a grand and lucid manner that it beautifully highlights the glory of Guru and the the organisation.

It is the long-standing tradition that devotees and sadhakas write their experiences about their journey along the path of spirituality. This has been going on for centuries and it will continue long into the future. So we should put forth a proper example for how to publish such a book about Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji.

WHO IS WHO

On the point of identity there is not much more to say other than the Mr G who wrote this story is Shrii Giridhara of Vermont (USA). He is the one recounting his experiences in the aforementioned manner. But again, with sincerity he wrote what he wrote. Unfortunately, the editors did not give him any guidance or review. That is the real problem. So the one most responsible for all these errors is the Senior Editor, Ac Phalashuddhananda Avt.

BABA'S BLESSING

Here following is Baba's supreme blessing upon all those who take to the pen and aspire to be ideal writers, or litterateurs.

Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji, "When litterateurs dedicate themselves to the service or sa'dhana' of literature...they have to cleanse all that is turbid, all that is inauspicious in individual life in the holy waters of their universal mentality, and then convey it sweetly and gracefully into the heart of humanity. Herein lies the fulfillment of their service, the consummation of their sa'dhana'." (Prout in a Nutshell - 10, p.2)

Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Liila

The section below demarcated by asterisks is an entirely different topic,
completely unrelated to the above material. It stands on its own as a point of interest.

*************************************
When A Person Behaves Badly With You

"Preach only satya. Whatever you have done with reasons thereof. Also, make it clear to them what you want to do and why you want to do.  The result of this highly useful (helpful) preaching is that the inferiority complex disappears from the mind of the common men. They are encouraged when they see that a common man like themselves is inspired with such a high ideal. The second result of this is as follows. The common result of this is as follows. The common people are not generally aware of your usefully high ideas. In every work, big or small, they cling to selfishness. So, learning everything pure and high through your easy and simple language they will co-operate with you, with a mind free from wrong notions. The third outcome of this is that they will be shorn off the wrong notions that may have crept into them by the propaganda made by the selfish persons with vested interests."

"Win over their heart by propagating satya but without abusing anyone. When, they will feel the ideal of satya and come to know of your untiring karma sa'dhana', naturally, they will abandon their wrong notions about you; they will even start respecting you."

"Even in private life when a person behaves with you badly or uses harsh words, don't behave with him in the same manner. You shall explain to him his duties gently. In case, anyone has a wrong impression, you shall show him the right path without scolding (abusing) him. Make it clear to him if possible with practical demonstration how harmful may be the effect of such habits. But always keep this in mind that in such cases your behavior must be like that of a friend, and never like that of an instructor. Your only object will be to get your advice accepted by him. the idea that he is fool and you are wise is not desirable in any party." (Ta'ttvika Diipika': Dvitiiya Parva)

Note: Here Baba is giving us invaluable guidelines for going pracara and bringing all onto the path of bliss.

1) At all times we should follow the code of satya - i. speaking the truth for universal welfare, never giving way to falsehood out of self-interest.

2) Those suffering from a superiority complex are unable to properly guide or teach others. For them, doing Ananda Marga pracar is basically impossible.

3) However, in the Supreme Command, Baba has allotted us the special duty "to bring all to the path of bliss" - to bring all to the divine path of Ananda marga. So this is a very sacred task which our Guru has given. Indeed it is the greatest social duty of human life.

4) Plus, we know that when Parama Purusa advents on this dusty earth then He Himself does not waste His time in any type of material pursuit; rather, He dedicates His each and every for the all-round development & emancipation of human beings.

5) The conclusion is that the most virtuous aspect of human life is serving others. And the best service - the most lasting service - is doing dharma pracar. For this reason we should sincerely follow Baba's above guideline.

*************************************

Not Mania, But Phobia + Other Errors

Date: Thu, 01 Mar 2012 23:37:21 -0000
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: V. Deva
Subject: Not Mania, But Phobia + Other Errors

Baba

== NOT MANIA, BUT PHOBIA + OTHERS ERRORS ==

Namaskar,
Our duty is to safeguard Baba's teachings of Ananda Marga and present them in a complete and pristine manner to the world. This sacred duty Baba has bestowed upon us.

The first and foremost step is to keep all His teachings in a proper order - in their original condition. If we fail to do this then for generations and generations the wrong guidelines will be in vogue. Naturally, we should ensure His discourses are properly printed.

When we read Baba's discourses, we expect that those printed words are the actual words which Baba Himself spoke.

Unfortunately, in our printed publications, at present, there are innumerable mistakes: Some due to blatant distortion and some due to poor working style. Whatever the reason these types of errors are rampant in all of our AM books. Such alterations are everywhere and the problem is only spreading as more wrong faulty editions are printed.

We need to reverse this course, otherwise the phrase - Baba's books - will be a namesake only, as His books do not contain His true words but rather carry thousands of errors made by our Publications Department.

Here are but a few examples for your review and assessment.

"YOGA PSYCHOLOGY": WRONG PSYCHIC DISEASE PRINTED

Please read this following paragraph from the discourse 'Faculty of Knowledge-3'.

THE PUBLISHERS WROTE:

"Various psychic diseases may arise if there is any defect in the process of the objectivization of mind. Remember that psychic disease and brain disease are not the same thing; they are quite different. Brain disease occurs due to some disorder in a part of the brain, or due to a congenital defect, or perhaps due to hereditary causes which hamper the proper formation of the brain. Mental disease is different. It arises due to a disorder in the objectivated mind, in the first stage in the process of subjectivization. Many people who, while creating thoughts in their objectivated minds, repeatedly form the same image out of weakness or fear, suffer from a mental disease called mania." (YP, '98 Edn, p.56)

In this historic discourse Baba is introducing His revolutionary concept about mental diseases, a.k.a. psychic diseases. Yet in the last line  the wrong name of the mental disease has been printed.

That mental disease which Baba is describing above is known as a "phobia" - not a "mania".

Yet in so many printings and reprintings of this very discourse the Publishers have written "mania"; when in fact, per Baba's definition, that type of irrational fear complex is known as a "phobia". But the Publishers wrongly wrote "mania".

By this way readers may think Baba is classifying all such fear syndromes as manias. But that is not true. According to Baba such conditions are known as "phobias".

NOT JUST A TYPO BUT A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM

Some may think that this was a mere typo - but please take a further look. In the book "Yoga Psychology" alone, this so-called typo has occurred in not less than five printings. The 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2005 edition of the "Yoga Psychology" books all carry this wrong terminology.

Here we are talking about the discourse 'Faculty of Knowledge-3' which was originally given in Bengali. And in all the English printings of the discourse the publishers and translators wrote the wrong word.

Not only that, on the 2005 edition of the "Yoga Psychology" book, that very faulty paragraph has been specially highlighted on the glossy back cover of the book-- but even then the publishers could not realise their blunder.

Plus this discourse, 'Faculty of Knowledge-3', was also wrongly printed in the book "Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell" part 5 and also "A Few Problems Solved" part 7. In all these discourses the wrong printing of the discourse has occurred. That means, at minimum, this discourse has been wrongly printed seven times. There is no publishing house in the world that would create such a mess like this, yet that is happening with our AM Publications Department.

So the problem is systemic in that it occurs again and again.

We can all surmise why this has happened repeatedly, but our overall aim is to make the books proper. Let this be a reminder then that our Publications Dept should make the noted correction.

Of course there are many errors that need correcting including the following two points from Ananda Sutram.

ANANDA SUTRAM IS IMPLICATED

Everyone knows that Ananda Sutram is known as our philosophical treatise - yet tragically this text also has been spoiled in so many places.

For example see how they defined this below sutra.

4-4. Dvitiiya' sakale prathamodgame Bhaeravii Bhaerava'shrita'.

dvitiiya' = second; sakale = having a soft sound; prathama = first; udgame (7th case) = sprouting forth; Bhaeravii = name of Prakrti in the second phase (fem. of Bhaerava); Bhaerava = name of Purus´a in the second phase; a'shrita' = sheltered

By their own accord, the publishers inserted the above word by word translation. But they could not do it properly. The second term, 'sakale', does not mean 'having a soft sound'.

Rather the 'sa' prefix means 'with' and the root 'kal' means 'germ' and the ending 'e' is a regular case ending.

Thus the proper definition of sakale is 'sprouting or germinating'. And this make perfect sense too. Because see here Baba's original purport of this sutra 4-4.

"Purport: With the loss of equipoise of the triangle, the germ of evolution sprouts forth from any of the vertices and moves forward as a straight line as per degrees of the gun'as. This state is really the manifested state of Purus'a and Prakrti. Here Purus´a is sagun'a [qualified], for Prakrti has got the opportunity of expressing Herself. Prakrti the creatress of this state is called Bhaeravii shakti, and the name of the witnessing Purus'a is Bhaerava."

In the first line of the above paragraph Baba Himself says "germ" as in the "germ of evolution sprouts forth". And this is all reflected by the term sakale.

But in their aforementioned definition, the Publishers wrote that sakale means 'having a soft sound'. Throughout the Ananda Sutram book there are other such errors.

ANOTHER MISTAKE IN ANANDA SUTRAM

Now here see this next sutra.

4-7. Sthu'liibhavane nidrita' sa' kun'd'alinii.

And here below is the word by word meaning which the Publishers made:

sthu'liibhavane (7th case) = in the process of crudification;
nidrita' = sleeping;
sa´ = she;
kun'd'alinii = coiled serpentine

The first term is improperly defined; the term 'sthu'li' means 'static', 'bhavan' means 'house or mansion' and the case ending 'e' means 'in'.

Thus the full term 'sthu'liibhavane' is to that mansion or house which is totally crude. The term 'sthu'liibhavane' refers to the muladhara cakra.

Because the muladhara cakra is the home of all static energy and it houses the sleeping kulakundalini. Hence the literal word meaning of 'sthu'liibhavane' should be 'crude mansion' and the symbolic meaning is the muladhara cakra.

But instead the publishers wrote their own definition which has little to do with the literal or inner meaning of this sutra.

Here the point is that Baba is just giving another name for the muladhara cakra. That was part of the purpose of this sutra. But it seems this point the Publishers could not grasp.

Now see here Baba's original purport for this sutra and the whole matter becomes perfectly clear that He is talking about the muladhara cakra.

"Purport: The last expressional point, which is the fringe of the Bhava´nii shakti, is the ultimate state of expression of force - the ultimate state of crudity. In this state of crudity the para´shakti [introversial pervasive force] that is lying in a quiescent state as the jiivabha´va [finite subjectivity], is called the kulakun'd'alinii ["coiled serpentine", or force of fundamental negativity].

Thus by analysing this sutra from top to bottom it is clear that the word by word definition which the publishers gave is totally wrong.

WHY THIS IS GOING ON

There are a variety of reasons why this problem is going on. And these will be explored further in this next part of this series. Yet as members of AMPS and as disciples of Baba and as students of His philosophy it is our birthright to have His books printed in the proper manner.

And it is imperative that proper books be passed on to future generations.

BABA'S BLESSING

By Baba's grace we will get His scripture updated and shining and make it a reflection of what He actually spoke. Then our AM books really will be divine.

Baba says, "Absolute knowledge is the direct message from God...The books in A'nanda Ma'rga philosophy are all absolute knowledge." (PNS-18, p.10)

Namaskar,
Vidyasagar Deva

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"Phuler ha'site chile, manoma'jhe a'ji ele..." (P.S. 1898)

Purport:

Baba, You came in my mind today and You were smiling like a magnificent flower blossom. You know that I love You, so then why do You remain distant. Baba, I do not call anyone other than You. In my mind, nothing else has any place; You are my Goal. You are my everything. And I do not think about anything else besides You. In spite of all these things, why do You remain forgetful about my existence - about me. Baba, I understand this heart-breaking and difficult liila of Yours. You take my mind and play Your painful game of hide and seek. Sometimes You make me laugh; and sometimes You make me dance; and sometimes You make me float in my own tears. Baba, after such a long time You have graced me and come in my mind...

****************************************
How Sadguru is Still Present

Baba says, "The entity by whose grace one comes into contact with Sat...that entity, or rather, that framework through which Parama Purusa is working or Ta'raka Brahma is functioning, is the Sadguru." (AV-3, p. 48)

Note 1: And here below Baba defines the meaning of 'Sat'.

Baba says, "Sat, the non-changeable Entity, the non-changeable stance, the non-changeable Nuclear Entity around which so many electrons move". (AV-3, p. 48)

Note 2: That Sadguru still exists and one can see Him through our various spiritual practices. In that way one can have His loving communication and grace-- everything. So the form upon which each and every sadhaka ideates upon Him in sadhana, that form is the Sadguru. And through the medium of that form every disciple gets His blessing. And that is why still today when an acarya initiates anyone they say that your Guru is Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji.

****************************************

Why Not Baba's Book

From: "Mohini Ghosh"
To: am-global@earthlink.net
Subject: Why Not Baba's Book
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:29:36 +0530

Baba

== WHY NOT ACCEPTED AS BABA'S BOOK ==

Namaskar,
One of the groups has always glorified the words Baba spoke in Bengali and printed them properly whereas what Baba spoke in Hindi they left lying in the dust.

When Baba spoke in Bengali about points of samaj then they always made sure that got published in Baba's books such as Varna Vicitra and Shabda Cayanika and Prout in A Nutshell etc. But when Baba speaks in Hindi about other samajas and
their histories etc, then those discourses they manipulate stating that Ac. Raghunath is the author of those talks.

By having the book appear in Raghunath's name then people do not even know that this is Baba's book. And that is what is discussed herein.

I am reminding us all of what was witnessed by thousands of margiis who personally attended those DMC's during Baba's northern India tour in the first few months of 1984. And several thousand more margiis are there who did not attend but heard about all of this.

Here then in story format I am sharing the details how Baba toured in 1984 but unfortunately the many discourses given on that lengthy tour never got printed in His name. Please read below.

BABA'S HISTORIC 1984 TOUR

Baba made an historic education tour in 1984 when He held more than one dozen DMC's across northern India & the following is the story of that time.

When Baba did His grand tour and conducted so many DMC's in Hindi speaking areas in 1984, Baba directly gave important guidelines to all the samaj secretaries from various samajas which He visited. Means it was an education tour and wherever He went all along the way Baba did field walks at so many temples, churches, forts, and old buildings. This was part of His pre-planned tour that during field walks He would visit so many historical and archeological sites. And always local margiis accompanied Baba on these walks and got the blessed opportunity to hear Baba talk about these places and much more.

Sure enough the DMC discourses and general darshans of this same 1984 tour which Baba delivered got printed in Subhasita Samgraha parts 16-17 and Ananda Vacanamrtam part 22, respectively. This was given. One other important point in all of this is that Acarya Raghunathji was assigned the specific duty of taking notes of all Baba's talks during that 1984 tour.

So this type of program was going on during that historic tour because, after all, this was Baba's usual way. Not just on this tour but throughout His life wherever Baba lived and wherever He visited always He told all the histories, stories, tales, factual analysis and so many things about the surrounding area wherever He was. And these things Baba told to the local Margiis and attending Acaryas - whoever was present. When living in Jamalpur, when touring Berlin Sector, when touring the Philippines, indeed all the time this was happening. So naturally also then on His grand 1984 tour of Hindi speaking areas Baba gave countless talks about the history and archeology of that area.

And as I say on His tour Baba visited many archeological buildings that were hundreds and even thousands of years old. Baba spent time at places that had a rich history of deep archeological importance such as temples, tombs, mosques, forts, monuments, historical buildings, etc. And Baba revealed a huge, never-before-known history during His tour which was noted down.

THE TRAGEDY

But the tragedy is that all those charming tales and hidden facts which Baba graciously revealed, all those things never got printed in Baba's name. Never.

In contrast though, in the Prout books so many talks given on field walks related with Bengalistan have been added after 1990. So why did Bangalistan get the upper hand while all the talks from Baba's tour of Hindi speaking areas get completely neglected. Why didn't the Hindi area historical research and Baba's other direct guidelines, why didn't those get placed in book form in the name of Baba.

Because after all, on this long 1984 tour of 4 months penance, thousands and thousands of pages worth of Baba's valuable teaching was given. Yet somehow it was deliberately left off the shelf of Baba's library.

SPECIAL TWIST

Here then is the missing link: the answer why all those talks of Baba never got printed in His name.

For that historic 1984 tour, Baba gave the duty to Ac Raghunathji to collect and manage the note-taking and publication of those talks. So Ac Raghunathji organised all the talks given by Baba during the tour. This he did from 1984 up to 1993 and in his own way Ac Raghunathji was trying to get the Publications Department to print these things.

But Sarvatmananda pushed back and delayed the work. Sarvatmanandaji did not cancel the project completely. He did not throw it into the river; he is more crafty and cunning than that. Instead, he added one of his patented devious twists to the situation. Sarvatmanandaji demanded that the book be published, BUT in the name of Ac Raghunathji-- not Baba.

WHY THE TWIST

So that was the nasty point. Reason being Dada Sarvatmanandaji wanted to undermine those things. Means he did not want to highlight anything other than Bengali culture so all Baba's talks about Hindi speaking areas, he wanted to push them down into the mud. And what better way to effectively do this than to take away Baba's name from those discourses and instead assign them to someone else-- like Raghunathji.

Because whatever words come from Sadguru Baba, those words are treated as divine. Nobody can compare with BABA. So by manipulating the situation and instead crediting Ac Raghunathji and not Baba for giving all those talks, that was one way of undermining Baba's words about those Hindi speaking samaj areas. And that is exactly what Dada Sarvatmanandji wanted to do. To crush the existence and push down the validity of Hindi speaking areas. And in fact he did like that.

Because the book of history did in fact get printed in Acarya Raghunathji's name and still today it remains like that. About this book more I will tell below.

RAGHUNATHJI'S POSITION

First though, with regards to Acarya Raghunathji, all we can say is that his position was like one bootlicker that time. That was why he did not adequately oppose Sarvatmanandaji's fraudulent scheme. And in the end Ac Raghunathji actually thought that this was alright. Because after all the book was put in his name and that way he got the credit and respect for that. So that was Ac Raghunathji's way in all of this, and even when he was the organisational president still he did not come forward to correct this thing. That is the proof that he approved of the whole situation.

THEY ARE 100% BABA DISCOURSES

PROMOTED IN SOMEONE ELSE'S NAME

But truly speaking those are all Baba's direct talks. And anyone who is at all familiar with Baba's style of discourse will easily understand that all those words belong to our Revered Baba, and not to Ac Raghunathji.  So it is a terrible wrongdoing that the book was done in a different way. It got titled as 'P.R. Sarkar on History' and the author's name is there in bold print: Acarya Raghunath. That is the tragedy.

Because in this way, who can understand that this is actually Baba's book? Nobody. Because the title of the book itself makes it look like Ac Raghunathji is writing about Shrii Sarkar's ideas on history. When in actuality those are all Baba's discourses.

Altogether Sarvatmanandaji has created a big mess in Baba's scripture in order to prove Bengali superiority. And all along the present B group spokesman Kalyaneshvarananda was aware about the adulterations and distortions being done to Baba's sacred discourses yet all the while he kept mum-- and just allowed that injustice to pass before his eyes.

OUR DUTY

Now it is the duty of one and all to put forth the demand that all Baba's discourses should be published in His own name and be included as part of Ananda Marga scripture.

Namaskar,
Mohini

Note 1:  DADA KNEW IT WAS A DISTORTION

The discourses Baba gave during His 1984 never got printed in Baba's own books. Instead Baba's discourses got published under Ac. Raghunathji name in his book titled 'Shri P.R. Sarkar on History' by Ac. Raghunathji. This above email tells this wrongdoing, but here following B group spokesman exposes his own position. Since long he was aware about the distortion done to Baba's discourses but never did he do anything to correct the matter.

B group spokesman Dada Kalyaneshvarananda once wrote:

"'In His 1984 tour, he (Baba) spoke about different places and Raghunathjii noted it down and was later published [in Ac Raghunathjii's own history book] as "Shri P.R. Sarkar on History."

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"A'lo eseche ghum bheungeche, phuler vane raun legeche..."   (P.S. 2253)

Purport:

 With the arrival of effulgence, all drowsiness & sleepiness have been vanquished. In the flower garden, new growth has come. The buds of those flowers which were in hibernation have now all bloomed. And they have filled the flowers with nectar; it is overflowing.

 Each and everyone's heart is vibrated with the new color. Each and every movement in life is vibrated in His flow. The air, the water, the earth, and the sky-- everything is filled with His vibration and charm. The advent of the new dawn has come; now there will not be any more cries or laments due to the darkness. In everyone's language and expression there will no longer be any bitterness - rather it will be saturated with sweetness and love. Love will be the source of all inspiration.

 This entire transformation has all happened due to the causeless grace of Parama Purusa; He created this momentum and changed the whole vibration of this entire universe. He filled it with His own color. The new dawn has come and the drowsiness of staticity and dogma has disappeared. The sweetness and charm of spirituality has come...

***************************************
Best and Worst

Baba says, "Human beings come into this world and attend to so many duties...It is the sense of duty that makes a person great. Of all the bonds, the bond of duty is the strongest and the bond of moha [blind attachment or infatuation] is the worst. Humans will have to break the bonds of moha and increase the bonds of duty." (NKS,'97 Edn, p.111)

***************************************

A Few Corrections For Ananda Sutram

To: AM-GLOBAL
Subject: A Few Corrections For Ananda Sutram
Date: Wed 28 Dec 2011 18:45:02 +0500 (IST)
From: Ram Sahay Deva

Baba

== A FEW CORRECTIONS FOR ANANDA SUTRAM ==

Namaskar,
Our Ananda Sutram book is very good. However recently when I was reviewing the English edition of this text in a more careful manner, I found certain mistakes. One of the translators and publishers could not properly convey Baba's teaching. It is not anyone's fault per se - such mistakes happen - as sadhakas it is our collective duty to correct such errors.

IMPORTANCE OF ANANDA SUTRAM

As we all know, Ananda Sutram stands as Baba's seminal work in the realm of Ananda Marga philosophy.

Baba says, "The recognized book on Ananda Marga Philosophy is A'nanda Su'tram." (APH-4, "Our Philosophical Treatise")

Baba says, "A'nanda Su'tram is our philosophical treatise." (CC-1, "Svadhyaya")

Plus AM philosophy is completely new and unique - such a philosophy has never existed before on this earth.

Baba says, "The trend of thinking and the spiritual practices prescribed in our Ananda Marga are not only new but something quite different from the established ideas and practices...Never before in the entire history of this world or the universe, if it could be known to mortals, has a system of life...ever been correlated in such closely knit society as in Ananda Marga." (PNS-11)

Thus when Ananda Sutram is such an important book and when AM philosophy is totally revolutionary and unique, then it only stands to reason we should ensure this book is properly published & printed.

KEY FACT ABOUT ANANDA SUTRAM

Here is one thing we should all be very clear about regarding Ananda Sutram. In the very early days of AMPS, Baba put forth the sutras of Ananda Sutram in Sanskrit and dictated the purport of each sutra in Bengali. That is the source material of all other language editions of Ananda Sutram.

Those who are not aware think that Ananda Sutram is originally from Bangla but it is not. Ananda Sutram is Sanskrit because Ananda Sutram refers to the sutras, not the purports. All the sutras have been given in Sanskrit and because Sanskrit does not have its own script, they were written in Shriihars'a script. Plus the title itself is Sanskrit.

To review then, Baba gave the sutras of Ananda Sutram in Sanskrit and dictated the purport of each sutra in Bengali.

HOW IT WAS WRONGLY TRANSLATED AND PUBLISHED

In the first chapter of Ananda Sutram, Baba is explaining how the entire expressed universe was created as well as how the unit beings eventually merge back into Parama Purusa. Baba's philosophy is of course flawless, and He explains everything in such a clear and concise manner.

So it is a bit of a tragedy that there is one key point from the purport of sutra 1-21 that has been wrongly published in the English edition - in two ways.

First the Bengali word pralaya (pra = special; laya = merging; hence, merging back into the Supreme) was translated as "utter destruction" in the final sentence of the English purport. That was a translation error. Second, certain editors or publishers put that same "utter destruction" phrase in brackets [ ] to indicate that as the proper definition of pralaya or pran'a'sha in the second sentence. That was an editing mistake.

But both of these instances are wrong because in that very purport itself Baba Himself defines pralaya or pran'a'sha as "when the object merges in its cause" - i.e. when the unit being merges into the Supreme.

Here it should be noted that "-laya" is common suffix that means merging such as vilaya meaning properly dissolved. And pralaya, of course means, merging into Parama Purusa.

Hence it is totally wrong to translate or define pralaya or pran'a'sha as "utter destruction". Dogmatic Hindus use the word in this way (explained further down in this letter), but not Ananda Margiis.

Initially, a translation error was made of the word pralaya, and then certain editors repeated that mistake. That is why now there are two mistakes in the purport of sutra 1-21.

Here is the sutra and purport of 1-21, for your review, as it appears in the current English edition of Ananda Sutram. See the mistakes for yourself.

1-21. Bhu'ma'vya'pte Mahati aham' cittayorpran'a'she
sagun'a'sthitih savikalpasama'dhih va'.

[When the aham and the citta merge into the Macrocosmic Mahat, the merger is called sagun'a'sthiti or savikalpa sama'dhi.]

"Purport: When after continued spiritual practice the mahattattva, that is, the “I” feeling, gets metamorphosed into the Macrocosmic “I” feeling, the citta of the microcosmic mind merges in the aham and the aham merges in the mahat. When the object merges in its cause, that merger is called pralaya or pran'a'sha [utter destruction]. Since the citta of the Macrocosm grows out of the Macrocosmic Aham, and the Macrocosmic Aham out of the Macrocosmic Mahat, when in pratisaincara’s
introversial movement the [unit] citta merges in the aham and the aham in the mahat, to call it pran'a'sha is quite logical and reasonable. The state of utter destruction of the citta and the aham and the state of all-pervasiveness of the mahat constitute sagun'a'sthiti [the state of transcendentality], or savikalpa sama'dhi [the trance of determinate absorption]." (Ananda Sutram)

In His unique explanation, Baba states that "when the object merges in its cause, that merger is called pralaya or pran'a'sha". Here the point is that when any unit being becomes one with Cosmic Consciousness then that is pralaya or pran'a'sha.

There is no ambiguity about this because in His 19 Oct 1971 discourse in Purnea, Baba designates an entire paragraph to describe the meaning of pran'a'sha. (Reference AV-27 (H), p.45 or AV-26 (H), p 90)

In that paragraph, Baba tells that if sugar could be converted back into sugar cane then that is pran'a'sha. Because pran'a'sha or pralaya means merging back into the source.

But, in Ananda Sutram 1-21, in square brackets [ ] the publishers inserted the phrase "utter destruction" as if that is the real meaning of pralaya or pran'a'sha. That is totally wrong. Plus in the final sentence, the original Bengali purport uses the phrase the pralaya yet that got wrongly translated as "the state of utter destruction".

Those are the two mistakes from sutra 1-21 of the English edition of Ananda Sutram wherein pralaya got wrongly translated and printed as "utter destruction".

WHY IT IS WRONG

According to Baba, when a jiiva'tma' reaches the apex stance of pratisaincara and, due to sadhana and His divine grace, merges back into the Supreme then that is pralaya or pran'a'sha because at the point the unit has merged back into its Source. In that case there is no question of there being "utter destruction" - the unit being has not been harmed, ruined or destroyed. Rather a blissful merger has taken place as the jiivatma has fulfilled its dharma and become one with Parama Purusa.

The dogmatic Hindu understanding of pralaya or pran'a'sha is destruction and unfortunately that wrong notion got inserted in Ananda Sutram by certain publishers.

Such Hindus believe that the whole world will be destroyed just as other religions harbor their own doomsday and Armageddon philosophies. We however do not subscribe to such beliefs and more about this is written below. Such fundamentalists do this to scare and trap others in their dogma.

FIX YOUR BOOK: WHAT SHOULD BE

Everyone who has a copy of the English edition of Ananda Sutram should cross out the two places where "utter destruction" appears in the purport of sutra 1-21. In that very purport Baba Himself has perfectly defined pralaya and pran'a'sha as "when the object merges in its cause, that merger is called pralaya or pran'a'sha".

Hence where "utter destruction" was inserted in brackets it should be deleted entirely, and where "utter destruction" was used as the translated text, that phrase should be crossed out and the word pralaya inserted. Then your personal English copy of Ananda Sutram will be correct, otherwise not.

And again there is no doubt about this. Because in His Hindi discourse printed in AV-26 (H) and AV-27 (H), Baba has specifically defined pran'a'sha as meaning merger into the Supreme Source. That is why there is no question of pran'a'sha or pralaya meaning anything else - there is no possible confusion. Baba is always meticulous on such issues wherein He gives His own dharmic explanation so people do not get misguided by traditional dogmatic uses. He has done the same with brahamacarya. In AM we have our dharmic understanding and traditional Hindu society has their limited dogma. Baba addresses both so there is no confusion.

If still the publishers would like to explain further about the meaning of pralaya, then they could use either a bracketed section signifying merger into the Divine or perhaps add a footnote and write a short paragraph. In that footnote, the editors can explain how when any thing returns to its origin or source then that is pralaya. Just like Baba did by giving the example of sugar being converted back into sugar cane. Ultimately the editors have the freedom to choose on such matters.

But to print the phrase "utter destruction" as the perfection synonym or translation of pralaya is totally misleading and wrong. Pralaya does not mean "utter destruction". That is just the dogmatic Hindu understanding of that term. In reality, according to Ananda Marga, pralaya means that sweet and blissful merger back into the Supreme - to return to the original source.

All in all the publishers are working hard on our AM books and they have made vast strides in making our books better. In this case then they could have done better.

BEWARE OF THIS KEY DISTINCTION

In AM philosophy, pralaya means the merger back into the Supreme, by His grace.

The Hindus refer to pralaya as the demolition of this earth, or doomsday etc.

Here it should be noted that there are many shared words between AM philosophy and Hindu dogma that carry vastly different meanings: dharma, brahamcarya, samskara, brahmin, shudra, dvija, vipra, svarga, naraka, samadhi, yoga, yajina, murti, puja, Guru, and many more. There is the AM dharmic meaning and the Hindu dogmatic sense.

In the same way pralaya in Hindi means utter destruction and in AM it means merging back into the Supreme.

Only when Baba is referring to that Hindu dogma in order to dispel it - since we do not prescribe to any doomsday theory - then Baba uses the word pralaya in that sense.

Baba says, "Some philosophers, quoting the scriptures, say that a day of final doom will darken the Earth when the dead will rise from the grave. Others predict that a doomsday (pralaya)... will obliterate all forms of life. One should laugh at such illogical doctrines. According to A'nanda Ma'rga philosophy, this doomsday or pralaya will never occur...Thus, predictions of an imminent doomsday should be of no concern to you. It is nonsense; pralaya will never occur." (AV-7)

So in Ananda Marga, pralaya means the final merger back into Parama Purusa whereas in the faulty Hindu doctrine pralaya means the utter destruction of earth.

We must not confuse these meanings nor think that Baba gives an iota of credence to the dogmatic Hindu concept of pralaya. He only uses the term in that way in order to dispel that Hindu dogma.

BABA'S BLESSING

Baba has graciously given has given a perfect philosophy and it is our duty to make all the books proper. We should start by correcting our own personal English edition of Ananda Sutram.

Those in Publications are trying hard and getting much better. Our intention in this letter is simply to make the printed English edition of Ananda Sutram mistake-free, not diminish the effort of those in Publications. Even then, if they were more careful, they could have done a better job.

We all need to make these important corrections in our copies of Ananda Sutram (English edition); please inform others in your unit as well.

Baba says, "The scriptures containing spiritual injunctions must be totally flawless." (NSS, Disc: 14)

Namaskar,
Ram Sahay

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

"Jhar'er ra'te a'ndha'rete kendechilum van-ma'jhe..."   (P.S. 3199)

Purport:

Baba on that very dark night when a big hurricane & thunderstorm was raging, that time I was crying alone in the deep forest. Nobody was there to understand the tale of my suffering. Nobody was close to me. Certainly You were there along with me, but due to my narrow outlook I could not feel Your presence.  And in the height of that wild storm big branches were breaking off from the trees and crashing down on the ground. And all those tender buds and beautiful flowers were also completely blown off from the limbs of the trees; those buds and flowers were crying bitterly. That very dark, horrendous night was so disastrous.

Baba, in the madhuvan* of my mind when that hurricane finished, then a sweet, soft, breeze started blowing by Your grace; and I began to feel Your divine, blissful vibration. And ultimately by Your great compassion that deadly night of the cimmerian darkness has passed away entirely; it is completely gone. Baba, You are the Saviour of all, the Benevolent Entity, the dearest one of my heart.

Baba, my most close One, by Your grace please come closer and closer with Your sweet, charming, & attractive smile...


*Madhuvan= Literally meaning "sweet forest"; But it refers to that remote, isolated, garden in the mind that is filled with spring blossoms, sweet fragrance, aromatic flowers, and a gentle & fragrant breeze. It is that tranquil mental abode  where nobody is present except the devotee and the Lord. And there the bhakta and Parama Purusa sit together ensconced in that very divinely intoxicated atmosphere and they share the loving feeling of their heart in a very close, intimate, and loving way.

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Sadhana Symptoms

Sometimes a few margiis get confused by seeing others crying or rolling on the ground during dharmacakra etc. They think that the person doing like this is very exalted. But Baba says that when maturity of sadhana comes, then such feelings and expressions do not manifest externally. Baba says these things get expressed externally only in the case of very basicbeginners-- not with more developed margiis.

Baba says, "When sadhakas attain the capability to establish themselves in cosmic feeling for long periods, these ideations are confined to the mental body only and the physical body becomes calm to a great extent." (GHC, 'Iishvara Pranidhan' chapter)
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Our AM Books Before '90

Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:08:24 -0400
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: "Giriish Deva" "
Subject: Our AM Books Before '90

Baba

== OUR AM BOOKS BEFORE '90 ==

~ PART 1 ~

Namaskar,
Understanding the way Baba's discourses came into print grants us deep insight into the current state of our AM books.

For instance, some of His discourses were recorded live; some were not. Some publications were meticulously proofed by Him; some were not. Some chapters were given by dictation in private and reviewed over and over again; while other discourses were spoken openly in public for all to hear.

So there are many ways in which the source material for our AM books was given. And our main goal is to ensure that those discourses which were recorded get printed properly, consistent with the original cassette. Unfortunately, up until now that has not been happening.

Here we are going to investigate why some of our AM books-- that contained recorded discourses-- were not printed properly prior to 1990.

GREAT SPEED OF THE WORK

We all know that up until 1990, our organisation grew and progressed at speeds never seen before on this earth. Baba's working style was so fast and its breadth was so great, that still today it is difficult to comprehend.

PUBLISHING BOOKS OF RECORDED DISCOURSES

In that era of tremendous speed, Baba delivered a huge number of discourses, most of which were recorded. In turn, due to the fast pace of the work, those discourses were printed and published - even though He knew that those printed versions were laced with errors. Baba knew, yet He had to move ahead in that fashion because there were countless other works to do and He was abiding by the natural limitations of being in human form. He had only limited hours in the day to get things done. Hence, to give the teaching that work should be done and accepting human limitation, He allowed projects to be completed that were not entirely correct at the time.

Yet He set-up a safeguard that since the original discourses were recorded, those books could be corrected in the future.

Such was the case with many books, including Ananda Vacanamrtam part 12. It was first printed in 1980. All the discourses were recorded yet due to the speed of the work, it was printed in a hasty manner with many errors. Yet Baba did not say anything. Why? Because He wanted to show that all the books should be printed. That was the overarching concept behind its publication at that moment: To show that AM books must be made.

It is just like when one baby is learning how to walk then the parents praise the baby for every step it takes, and they never criticise the baby for falling. Likewise, as the benevolent Father, Baba was encouraging His children when taking on new works, like the printing of books, even if the publication contained errors.

Plus, due to extreme time constraints, He could not stop all the other works to ensure that each and every syllable of the recorded discourses that make up AV-12 and other books were printed properly. Rather He set the tone that books should be made from those recorded discourses.

And with our own common sense, it is up to us to understand now that those books which contain recorded discourses should be done accurately.

HOW BABA WAS PRESSURISING

With regards to the recording of His discourses, Baba was very strict, especially after 1978. He knew that the speed of His organisational activities had increased tremendously-- thousands of works were going on all at once-- and the only way to ensure His discourses were properly maintained was to have them all recorded.

And one day, 15 October 1978, in Patna Baba showed His intensity on this very matter. He demanded from the Dadas responsible to show Him how His discourses had been recorded. He demanded to see the cassettes from the last so many days. Yet those Dadas had nothing to show. Baba became furious and He refused to give any more discourses until those Dadas promised to record them. Baba even charge-sheeted Ramanandaji in order to show His extreme displeasure.

(Note: As sadhakas we know that Baba expressed His sentient anger in order to lovingly guide us. Without showing such anger it was not always possible to teach us. But in reality any expression of "anger" was nothing but the outer expression of His divine love.)

Finally, those Dadas begged and pleaded with Baba that they had been negligent in the past and from this day forward they would record His discourses. Only then did Baba's anger wane and He graciously gave more discourses.

THE STRATEGY OF QUICK PRINTING AND RECORDING

Here the whole point is that when things were going quickly in organisational life, Baba knew that His discourses had to be recorded, lest they become lost. There are a few exceptions in that post 1978 period where Baba specifically did not want a discourses recorded, for one reason or another. And that is discussed below. But on the whole, in that period of work, work, work, Baba knew that books would get printed with thousands of mistakes, as happened with the 1980 printing of Ananda Vacanamrtam part 12; yet He ensured that those mistakes would get corrected in due course since those discourses were recorded.

HIS TEACHINGS MUST NOT GET LOST

We all know that Lord Shiva's teachings of seven thousand years ago got lost. Same is the case with Lord Krsna's original teachings. Those Hindu priests created countless fake versions of the Bhagavda Giita. Even Buddha's teachings, which were given only 2,500 years were altered and destroyed.

Baba was adamant that the same fate should not happen with His teachings. So with His coming on this earth, He cleared up the misnomers surrounding Lord Shiva's and Lord Krsna's teachings, as well as those of Buddha, and He also gave wonderful new material for the humanity. And the way He ensured it would make it through the ages was to have it recorded. That was His special plan.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY

As His disciples, our duty is to carry out His plan and preserve His teachings by utilising those cassettes of His recorded discourses.

Back in 2008, Ananda Vacanamrtam was re-published yet it contains countless errors, many of which occurred in that 1980 printing. This cannot and must not be our standard. We should not just sit back and think, well it got printed that way before 1990 so we should print it that way again. This should not be our outlook.

Rather we are to understand and realise that those days work was going on at an incredible speed and Baba's emphasis was on getting the books printed in order to teach us about the importance of recording and printing His discoursee. There was not tim to review every word. He knew those discourses had been recorded and that with our common sense we would review those recordings before printing future editions of the book. He has entrusted us with this task.

Plus we should also correct all the books that were translated into other languages from an incorrect printed version.

Of course He wants His discourses to be printed in a pristine manner; of course our AM books must be accurate. That is why He ensured that in cases like AV-12 the discourses were recorded.

Now today, it is our bounden duty to carefully use those recordings to ensure that all His books come in proper shape and proper form. No one should fall into the false understanding that since a book was printed in a certain way back in 1980, then those same problems should be repeated again and again with each and every printing.

Rather, with our rational minds, we should understand that any discourse that Baba chose to record should now be made perfect by referring to that recording. That recording is the very key to making the printed version proper. That is how we are to make our AM books perfect.

BABA'S BLESSING

Baba has graciously given us all the tools to ensure the integrity of His teachings is maintained up to eternity.

Baba says, "The scriptures containing spiritual injunctions must be totally flawless." (NSS)

Namaskar,
Giriish

Note 1: GENERAL TREND OF AM BOOKS

From 1955 to 1962, Baba was basically dictating His books word by word and the disciples were noting them down. And then Baba was reviewing those notes to ensure they were proper. And finally the book was printed. That was one phase of work.

From 1962 to 1970, many discourses were recored and many not, and many were lost in the Emergency period. Some of those discourses were published while others were not.

Finally in the post 1978 period, work was going on at such a pace that nearly all His discourse were recorded. And that recording is to be considered the original and true discourse.

There are only a few books in this latter period that come from discourses that were not recorded such as Neo-Humanism: Liberation of Intellect, Namah Shivaya Shantaya (only 2 discourses or so were recorded), and books dealing with grammar like Shabda Cayanika were not recorded. Hence those books came from via an entirely different method often times reviewed again and again by Baba through a careful and meticulous editing process.

But in those cases where the discourses were recorded, they went straight to publication without a lot of checking and re-checking, so now it is our responsibility that those printed discourses match the original cassette, lest we perpetuate errors of old as happened in the case of AV-12 (2008).

Note 2: NOT HAVE ARCHIVE MATERIALS WITH GROUPISTS

One key point in all of this is that our Archive materials that contain all the recorded discourses should not remain in the hands of various groupist leaders. Those archive materials must not be at the mercy of those factional chieftains.
Because for their own selfish ends, they may change, alter, distort, or hide Baba's original discourses. This is the very real fear; so we must demand that all Archive materials be available for distribution to one and all. We must not
let the current pitiful situation last a day longer where all our archive materials are in the closet of one groupist party.

Note 3: GREAT SPEED OF THE WORK (cont)

We all know that before 1990, our organisation grew and progressed at speeds never seen before on this earth. Baba's working style was so fast and its breadth was so great, that still today it is difficult to comprehend.

And in that great pace, naturally some of the things got done in extreme haste, such as having a school with only 5 students or printing a book without even reviewing it. Yet those projects were accepted because Baba was giving us practical demonstrations of all the things we needed to do.

If He simple had told us to do things which He did not show us in the practical sphere, then we might never do it; whereas if He practically demonstrated each and every work, then we would understand that that work needed to be done-- and naturally over time we would learn how to do it correctly.

The creation of schools, the development of MU's, pracara in new countries, posting transfers, daily newsletters in every samaj, the granting of PC, microvita demonstrations, organisational meetings with every trade imaginable, political protests, and yes the recording of His discourses and publication of His books, indeed so many things were happening all at once and there were so many phases of His work that still today it was difficult to comprehend.

Why was His speed like that? As we know, He had a very short span of time to show us all the things that had to be done on this earth in the future.

He wanted to show us that there should be a schools in every unit, and service projects in every block, and Prout rallies in every locale, and ponds made on every MU, and so many things He wanted to show us in seed form. So He had the organisation running in multiple directions all at once.

That was Baba's perfect way of teaching us what to do.

PRABHAT SAMGIITA

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

Purport:

Baba, by Your grace I am rowing the boat of my life, singing Your name, and  floating toward the spiritual world. Baba, because I am dancing in Your divine tune, I know I will never meet defeat-- victory is assured.

Baba, with Your eternal song as my rudder guiding me along, I never feel lost or frustrated.   Baba by Your grace in my life there is no hypocrisy. And by Your grace I do not suffer from the painful crocodile thorns of self-aggrandisement, (asmita'). By Your causeless compassion, my mind is pure and straight. O' my dearmost, Your divine vibration encompasses everything. The zig-zag path, and the high tide & low tide-- everything resonates in the divine sound of Your omnkara.

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

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

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One Should Assess Oneself on the Following

Baba says, "When human beings feel that, 'Parama Purusa is my everything', then that is called as sharan (shelter). No entity can come under the sharan (shelter) of two different things. Then what is the meaning of Sharanagati (surrender)? When living beings give up their 'I-feeling' by withdrawing the mind from any other object and feel that Parama Purusa alone is my everything." 

"Up to the time when living beings are thinking that they are working with their own strength, then you should understand that the feeling of sharanagati has not yet come in them. And when human beings think that, 'I am doing the work only with His strength', it means the feeling of sharanagati has come in their mind. So when living beings start thinking that, 'Whatever work I am doing, I am doing with His strength', then they have the feeling of sharanagati." (General Darshan, Patna DMC, 1970, [from audio tape])
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