Namaskar,
When doing the dharma pracara of Ananda Marga, we must expect to receive criticism and abuse from non-margiis. It is going to happen. Here's the story of what happened when I forgot this sacred truth.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Backlash doing pracara
Not long back, a margii brother in my unit came over, and then we went to our program to present the views of AM. There was a lot of backlash from various attendees. People from different backgrounds vociferously opposed us. It was not what we expected. The program concluded and we were not sure what to think - did we do something wrong? We did sadhana for about 40 minutes and then referred to Baba's divine discourses in order to gain some clarity and understanding.
Then we came upon the shloka, "Nindantu...". It was then that all our frustration and confusion melted and we understood why we faced so much heated opposition.
Please take this as a reminder. All of us in AM should keep Baba's below teachings in mind. Then we will be able to move ahead without hesitation and do His work - without this understanding we are bound to get frustrated. Baba's words act as a panacea that clearly alerts to what lies ahead and keeps us inspired to move forward courageously on the path of dharma.
Baba's teaching on "Nindantu..."
Nindantu niitinpun'a'h yadi va' stuvantu....
The following are a selection of Baba's divine explanations of the above shloka.
Ananda Marga philosophy teaches us, "Let those well-versed in ethics criticize me or praise me, as they so desire; let Laks'mii, the goddess of wealth, either be gracious enough (because of my activities) to reside in my house, or, if she prefers, go elsewhere; let death visit me today or decades later. It makes little difference to me. Wise people will never withdraw from the path of ideology, the path which they accept as their ideal." (1)
Ananda Marga ideology says, "The sha'stras say that a person must stick to his ideals irrespective of whether he receives praise or abuse, whether wealth comes or wealth goes, whether he lives a thousand years or suffers death the next moment. Such a person is called “dhiira”. My direction to you is to be dhiira. You must stick to your ideals in spite of everything. In this lies your spiritual growth." (2)
Ananda Marga ideology says, "If I am too concerned with those who praise or censure me, I will not find time to do my real work. As I have come to this world only for a short period, my only concern should be to keep on doing the duty the Lord has assigned to me. And while doing this allotted duty, I should remember that I belong to Parama Purus'a. I have come form Him, and I will have to return to Him – and to do that, I must complete my allotted duty." (3)
Ananda Marga ideology states, "What am I going to do regarding the mission of life? If logicians and philosophers condemn me, saying, “That is a very bad man,” let them say this. Or if, due to my movement towards my goal, a certain portion of society appreciates my action, let them appreciate it – it won’t affect me. I won’t be assailed by such appreciations. And if, due to my action, Laks'mii (Laks'mii is the mythological goddess of riches) comes and resides in my house, it is good. If Laks'mii says, “No, I will quit you forever, I won’t remain with you.” that is, you will have to suffer from poverty, let Laks'mii quit my house: And if, due to my course of action, du to my ideology, Pluto, that is, the god of death, comes and says, “I’ll take you,” let Pluto do it! I don’t care! Or if, due to my course of action, due to my ideology, I am forced to live here for an indefinite period, I am ready to live here. You know life becomes boring if one lives for a long period, but I am ready to undergo that boredom, that monotony, for the sake of my ideology." (4)
Thus we should all strive to inculcate His above teachings into our own lives. Then we will always hold firm to ideology and not be deterred when confronted by problems and troubles. We will have the strength and awareness to proceed on - regardless of the consequences.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Baba's blessing
By His grace, those adhering to the path of dharma are always victorious. And, in the end, the world realises their great contributions, regardless of how much they were vilified earlier. That is the natural law and Baba's divine proclamation. Hence, we should never be deterred or feel frustrated when facing abuse from non-margiis; just we should move ahead sticking to our ideal, knowing that victory is assured.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "You should build a new human society at the earliest possible moment. Regarding those who are likely to create obstacles in your path – let them do so. You should remember that those who are the actual pioneers, the real vanguard of the society, are always a microscopic minority, but it is they who are destined to be victorious. Those who once opposed, or are now opposing or will oppose in the future, will in the future admit: “Yes, we are now driving our vehicle safely and comfortably along the very path which that vanguard once opened by clearing the jungle.” This means that those who cleared the obstacles in the beginning will later be recognized as pioneers. The funny thing is this, that people do not give recognition at the time it is due. This is the natural law. And at the same time you should also remember this simple truth: that in a jungle the number of tigers and lions is always few; the jackals far outnumber them. Yet in the jungle the tigers and lions reign supreme, not the jackals. The jackals are sure to howl, that is their nature; but the tigers and lions will not be frightened." (5)
Namaskar,
Nandinii
References
1. Namami Krsnasundaram, Disc: 2
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 1, What Do You Want?
3. Subhasita Samgraha - 12, How an Ideal Person Should Live
4. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 12, Shiva's Seven Secrets
5. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 6, The Physical, Psychic and Spiritual Strata
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
Misuse of pranayama
Note: These days hatha yoga / fake yoga pranayama is becoming quite popular. Yet, in this way, the common people are being harmed because the philosophy of mind is: As one thinks so they become. So if their practice of pranayama is devoid of spiritual ideation, the mind will be submerged in mundane thoughts. Verily, the mind has to think of something; it cannot remain completely idle. Also bear in mind that pranayama multiplies the effect of one’s thinking. So if one is involved in mundane or degrading thoughts during their pranayama practice, that will be very harmful. Then those lower propensities will become more dominant. And that will bring about one’s demise. Unfortunately, both Buddhist pranayama and fake yoga pranayama are mostly like that - i.e. devoid of spiritual ideation. So beware. As sadhakas of Ananda Marga, we should always keenly apply the proper ideation when doing this lesson and bring more onto the path so they can save themselves from the ill effects of bogus pranayama.
Ananda Marga philosophy states: “Question: What is práńáyáma?”
“Answer: Práńáyáma is defined as: Tasmin sati shvása prashvásayoh gativicchedah práńáyáma. That is, “Práńáyáma is the process of breath control along with the imposition of the ideation of Supreme Consciousness.” It helps the mind in concentration and meditation.
“Question: What is the spirit of práńáyáma?”
“Answer: Pránán yamayati eśah práńáyámah. That is, the word práńáyáma literally means “controlling the práńáh [vital energy]”. The psycho-philosophy behind the practice of práńáyáma is that the spiritual aspirant tries to let the práńendriya [ten vital-energy currents] remain in a state of pause so that the paused unit mind will merge into the ocean of consciousness.”
“Question: How many types of práńáyáma are there?”
“Answer: There are two main types of práńáyáma: hat́ha yaogika práńáyáma and Yudhiśt́hira práńáyáma. When práńáyáma is done without fixing the mind on a particular point of concentration, and without imbibing Cosmic ideation, it is called hat́ha yaogika práńáyáma. But when práńáyáma is performed with the mind fixed at a particular point along with Cosmic ideation, it is called Yudhiśt́hira práńáyáma. [The eldest Pandava, Yudhisthira, was the first person to popularize práńáyáma according to this method.]” (1)
Reference
1. Yoga Psychology, Questions and Answers on Meditation, #11-13
Baba says, "Human progress has been steadily increasing in speed. Progress during the last two hundred years has been very fast in comparison to that in the preceding three hundred years...People were carefree on elephants' backs, but they are sufficiently careful when they are driving a motor car or scooter. When going to the moon or Mars, people should be sufficiently cautious. The body and mind should be properly adjusted. This is called environmental adjustment. A'sana, pra'n'a'ya'ma [yogic postures and breathing], etc., help us in this adjustment." (AV-33)
Note: Nowadays in this present era, the speed of scientific advancement is increasing more and more, but the mass of people are completely lacking in internal adjustment, i.e spiritual growth. For this reason mental tension, frustration, and depression is fast on the rise. That is the disastrous result which happens when people neglect their internal adjustment in the face of speedy scientific development. For this reason, in this ultra-modern era, sadhana is needed-- it is a must. In the past, in those olden days, there were many physical problems and now those physical difficulties have been solved. On that note we can say that life has become comparatively easy. But even then mental tension and psychic stress has become rampant. So sadhana is needed to ease the situation and bring balance between one's mental sphere and external environment. Without that this problem will grow more and more. As Ananda Margii our duty is to a maximum amount of sadhana and teach sadhana to the maximum number of people. Otherwise this entire globe will be filled with psychically ill people and the situation will be totally bleak.
आध्यात्मिक कथा के चोरों को चेतावनी
हमारे नेटवर्क से बाबा की कथाओं की चोरी की जा रही है| चोर चुराई गयी बाबा कथा को अपना कहकर फेसबुक, वाट्सऐप, ब्लॉग, गूगल+, टम्बलर, इत्यादि माध्यमों द्वारा प्रसारित करते है| इस घोर चोरी के कारणवश कई भक्तगण नयी कथाओं को लिखने से कतराते हैं| वे सोचते है कि चोर उनकी कथाओं को चुरा लेगा| ऐसे कुछ ही लोग है जो इस प्रकार चोरी करते हैं| अधिकतर मार्गी ऐसा सोचेंगे भी नहीं|
निरंतर चेतावनियों के उपरांत भी ये साहित्यिक चोर अपने कृत्यों से बाज़ नहीं आते| मौका मिलने पर कथाएं चोरी कर लेते है परन्तु नयी कथाएं नहीं लिखते|
इसका दुखद परिणाम यह है कि हजारों भक्तों के पास बाबा कथाएं तो है परन्तु लेखकों का भीषण अभाव है| यदि कथाओं को समय रहते नहीं लिखा गया, तो कालांतर में ये भक्त इस संसार को छोड़ कर चले जायेंगे, और उनकी कथाएं सदा के लिये अनकही रह जाएँगी|
Baba's stories are being stolen from our network. The thieves broadcast the stolen Baba Katha as their own, through Facebook, WhatsApp, Blog, Google+, Tumblr, etc. Due to this gross theft, many devotees hesitate to write new stories. They think that the thief will steal their stories. There are few people who steal like this. Most Margie would not even think so.
Despite constant warnings, these literary thieves do not desist from their acts. When given a chance, they steal stories, but do not write new stories.
The sad result of this is that thousands of devotees have Baba stories but there is a severe lack of writers. If the stories were not written in time, then in time these devotees would leave this world and go away, and their stories would remain forever untold.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
मेरी धर्मसमीक्षा
बाबा,
नमस्कार,
हमें भी धर्मसमीक्षा के लाइन लगा दिया गया। यह बाबा के कमरे में हो रही थी। तथा वही पर एक लम्बी कतार लगी हुई थी। बाबा के कमरे में एक साथ आठ - दस आदमी बैठते थे। जब मैं अपनी बारी में बाबा भगवान के कमरे में गया तो वहाँ का दृश्य देखकर मन में कहा - “हे परमात्मा, आज मालुम पड़ता है कि हमारा भी उद्धार हो जायेगा|” देखा, बारी – बारी से बाबा भगवान एक – एक को अपने सामने करते है। उनसे प्रभुजी पूछते हैं कि उसने मार्ग का क्या कार्य किया है? वह कहाँ से आया है, क्या नाम है है? इत्यादि। फिर उसने समाज में यदि कोई अनैतिक काम किया है तो सबों के सामने कह देते है या फिर उससे पूछते है कि क्या वे (बाबा) सबके सामने उसके कुकृत्य को कह दें? फिर उसको बहुत डाँट पिलाते हैं। साधक द्वारा गलती मानने पर और फिर न करने की शपथ पर बाबा प्रभु तुरंत ही नवनीत की भाँति हो जाते है। उसे प्यार करते है, फिर उसके रोग के बारे में पूछते है। जिस रोग को साधक नहीं भी जानता है – प्रभु जी उसे भी बताते है और बताते है उसकी दवा इत्यादि। फिर, प्यार से उसे विदा देते हैं। साधक के अवगुण बताने के बाद, बाबा देखते यदि वह साधक अच्छी साधना करता है, नैतिकवान आदमी है, तो उसे बहुत प्यार करते है और उसकी प्रशंसा करते हुए कहते हैं कि वह एक नेक इन्सान है। मैंने देखा कि सभी लोगों से बाबा लगभग इसी तरह पूछते है और डाँटते है, प्यार करते है, दवा और आसन बताते है। वहाँ उपस्थित दो - तीन अवधूत दादा जी लोग उपचार को तुरंत अंकित कर लेते हैं|
Baba Katha: My Dharma Samiiksa’
We were also put on the line for Dhrma Samiiksa’. It was happening in Baba's room. And there was a long queue on it. Eight - ten people would enter together in Baba's room. When it was my turn I went to Parama Purusa Baba’s room and seeing the scene there I said in my mind, "O’ God, today I know that I too will be saved." I saw, in turn, Baba one by one blessed. Prabhu Baba asks him what work he has done for Marg. Where does he come from, what's the name? And so on. Then if he has done any immoral work in the society, then He says in front of everyone or asks him if He (Baba) should tell his misdeed in front of everyone? Then Baba would give him a lot of scolding. Baba Prabhu immediately becomes soft and tender like butter after the sadhaka accepts the mistake and pledges not to do it again. Then Baba showers His love and compassion and asks about his illness. The disease which the sadhaka does not even know - Prabhu ji also tells him and tells his medicine etc. Then, lovingly Babs allows him to leave. After pointing out the sadhaka’s demerit, Baba would see that if that sadhaka does proper practice of sadhana and if he is a moral man. The Baba graces him very much and praises him saying that he is a noble man. I saw that Baba asks all the people in almost the same way and scolds, loves, talks about medicine and asanas. Two - three avadhutass present immediately noted down the treatment.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Special point of social equality
Prout philosophy states, “Diversity is the law of nature. So there cannot be any hard and fast rule about guaranteed minimum requirements. They will vary according to time, space and person. A few persons with extraordinary physical, metaphysical or intellectual ability may demand something more than ordinary people. Special amenities have to be provided for them. Certain items like food, housing, education, clothing and medical facilities are minimum requirements.”
“Nothing is stationary; everything is moving. So the minimum requirements and special amenities will also undergo changes with the changes in time, space and person. What should be the approach of Proutists? There should be a never-ending endeavour to minimize the gap between minimum requirements and special amenities. Minimum requirements will take the place of special amenities and extraordinary persons will get more items as special amenities.”
“The third Five Year Plan prepared by the planning commission of India presents an unwholesome picture – it presents unsystematic and unplanned government activities and the planned exploitation by vested interests. Though there has been inordinately high investment, the purchasing power of labourers has not been sufficient for them to meet the minimum requirements. Hence, while on the one hand labourers received less consumable goods due to less purchasing power, on the other hand entrepreneurs have captured excessive purchasing power and consumable goods causing excessive disparities in wealth. Economic balance has been upset. The major part of the capital investment went to the entrepreneurs and a microscopic fraction went to the labourers. There is therefore no middle class people in India of the type that existed in pre-independence days. Today well-dressed labourers have become the so-called middle class.” (1)
Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 15, Talks on Prout
Postings to Read
Shraddhá & success
When science skews society
Mindless repetition not sadhana
Our special pracara approach
PTSD & AM remedy
