Baba
Bringing new people onto the path
Namaskar,
What Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna taught has been almost completely lost. Their dharmic teachings on sadhana have been converted into idol worship. The pictures of Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna that people use nowadays are merely a figment of the artist’s imagination. Thousands of years ago there was no concept of pictures, and people did not even know how to make idols as their craftsmanship was not refined enough. In the old caves of India, if you look at traces of pictures then you cannot even recognize the face properly. Making idols and idol worship is a recent phenomena.
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Sadhana in ancient days: photography
In the dhyana mantra of Lord Shiva, it states that Lord Shiva was fair in colour; and, Lord Krsna was also of fair complexion. In ancient times, sadhakas were taught to imagine the form as there was no photography; that made sadhana very challenging. The life of sadhakas was very difficult in ancient times, struggling for their daily existence, what to speak of having time for artistic pursuits. Nowadays, dogma has crept in as the colour of Lord Shiva’s complexion is portrayed as blue, but that is wrong. Yet, with the mushrooming of religious art, there are innumerable images that reinforce this dogma. In that manner, many of the original and true features of Lord Shiva discussed in the dhyana mantra have long been forgotten, as the pervasive nature of today’s paintings of Lord Shiva create an entirely different portrayal.
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Ask for help from God
Ta’raka Brahma comes to the earth in yuga sandhi (crucial times) where there is a need, and He shows us the path. The most important thing is faith in Sadguru. Faith originates in a sadhaka when there is an urge for liberation. In this creation, Paramatma has no favoritism; all beings are His children. That is why freedom is granted to each human, whereby they have the right and opportunity to ask God for help. Those who utilize this freedom and ask for divine help get the path of sadhana.
The principal meaning of the Ga’yatrii mantra is, “O’ Lord, lead me along the path of righteousness.” There is only one path; do japa of the Ga’yatrii mantra with a clear and sincere understanding of its meaning. Or in your mother tongue recite, “O’ Lord, lead me along the path of righteousness.” Here the point is that the idea is the key point. So one can do the practice without knowing the Sanskrit version.
By reciting the mantra japa of the Ga’yatrii mantra or cultivating that idea in the mind, one develops the desire for liberation, and by His grace one will get the right path. It will be clear in the mind that Ananda Marga is the right path; the mind will realize this truth. Unfortunately, many non-margiis in India do not follow the proper approach. Rather, they do the Ga’yatrii mantra japa to get a good marriage for their children, for success in exams, to get a prestigious job, or other mundane desires and allurements.
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One will get the right path
There is always a play between vidya maya and avidya maya, and one should always try to request the Lord that, “There are many beliefs, and many sayings in this world, and as an ignorant person I do not know what is the right path. Please show me the right path so that I can come closer to you.” When one’s longings become intense, and one searches for the right path, then one will get the tantra of Ananda Marga. This process happens and will continue to happen in the future as Parama’tma is one and seated within you and listens to your longings.
Ananda Marga ideology states, “One requires divine help. And I know one is sure to get divine help. And I know further that one is getting divine help. And I know still further that in future, for infinite time and infinite space, one will be getting this divine favour. And you are all sádhakas. You will certainly attain that supreme stance and enjoy that divine blessedness. You are sure to enjoy it, my sons and my daughters.” (1)
In Him,
Nira’ka’ra
~ In-depth study ~
What to do
Question: Baba says that Parama Purusa should be called by one name only. But our Ista mantra and Baba nam kevalam are two different names. So how can Parama Purusa be called by one name?
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Why different names in sadhana & kiirtan
In one’s own puja one should use the given Ista mantra in the sadhana lessons one does. But kiirtan is different. Kiirtan is common for all. In kiirtan, one takes the Lord’s name loudly so that others can also listen. Kiirtan is not done silently, unlike japa. When one is doing kiirtan then one conveys the meaning to the others around that Parama’tma’ is everything. The common name in kiirtan is Baba. Everybody will understand while singing kiirtan that one is taking Parama’tma’s name. Ista mantra is an indirect name of Parama’tma’ and it points towards the one omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient Entity.
The Ista mantra given to the sadhaka is used in meditation, whereas a name which refers to Parama Purusa and is common to all should be used in kiirtan. For example, a mother has various names — people call her using a different name in the office, at home, and in the neighborhood; in all these places she is called by different names. But for a child, a mother has a special link or connection. If the child calls the mother as Madam, or using her full name, then the mother will not like it and it will not be a good feeling for the child.
So when one gets one’s Ista mantra, that is used in the various lessons in sadhana. Since kiirtan is done collectively, one cannot use the Ista mantra in kiirtan. That is why the Ista mantra is given uniquely to each individual sadhaka, and one collective mantra is used in kiirtan.
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For committed sadhakas
Note: The below section is quite brief; only those will be able to understand who have some background in Ananda Marga philosophy.
Question: There are some people who use one name both in pu’ja’ and in kiirtan. For example, the name of “Hare Ram Hare Krsna” both in pu’ja’ and in kiirtan.
One who likes “Hare Ram Hare Krsna” can certainly say that. But where spirituality is concerned there is a need for Sadguru and complete surrender to Sadguru is needed. When one has been caught in the grasp of maya, then one cannot get liberated from maya because the hands are tied by the noose of maya no matter how strong one individual is. That is why it is said in sadhana, tantra, and spiritual science that one has to take help from Sadguru. So whatever name Sadguru tells to chant, the sadhaka takes that very name---and does not choose whatever they like. If Sadguru says to use the name “Ram” then the sadhaka will use the name “Ram”. In this way, one has to have full faith in Sadguru. If one does not have faith in Sadguru then the path is dark. If one chooses whatever one likes, as every individual has the freedom to choose what one likes, then sadhana is doomed. There are about seven billion people in this world, and each one has unique knowledge as well as freedom. Many people choose whatever they like and very few choose the path of sadhana. Many people may say why not take the name of Christ or “Hare Ram Hare Krsna”. But that is not the tantric way.
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Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Stages of Samádhi
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
Problem with clerics / priests
Note: Human beings have an infinite longing which can't be quenched by worldly possessions, mundane collections, or material gains. So people get attracted to religion, but religion is not the answer. A true seeker has to search within one’s through yoga and meditation because the Lord is sitting in your heart. If one does meditation then all of their infinite longings will be fully quenched and the aspirant will feel and practically realise that blissful state of eternal peace and tranquility. Religion is not the answer. Sadly, in the name of God, religious agents exploit the common mass and innocent people in endless ways. They camouflage their dealings in various shapes and forms. Those with keen eyes can understand the falsehood that religions propagate. History bears testimony that religion has been the cause of so much human suffering. And still it is going on.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “If someone argues that an arum dish rather than a potato dish should be offered in the temple of Jagannath because potato is non-indigenous it is the height of absurdity. Does Jagannath make any discrimination between different countries? Is there any difference for Him between the river Ganges and the Jordan?” (1)
Note: Lord Jagannath means the Lord of the universe. There is a rule in the Jagannath temple that foreign foods should not be offered to Lord Jagannath. However, this is completely dogmatic because for the Lord of universe nothing is foreign. All falls within His domain.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “All lands are His own land; everything is within His mind, created with His own atoms and molecules, and resonated with His sacred ideation. Those whose preachings encourage such discriminatory feelings are the worst enemies of humanity.” (2)
Note: The central idea of the above teaching is that on this earth or in the universe there is no such thing as a holy place. No place is holier than anywhere else because all places are the home of the Lord. There is no place where He is not; so each and every place in this cosmos is equally holy.
“These are the people who in every age in the name of religion have caused blood to flow, and have injected the fear of heaven and hell, of ghosts and demons into the human mind. These are the people who made human beings lifeless puppets.” (3)
Note: In His above teaching, Baba is talking about fundamentalist priests (mullahs, rabbis, clerics, and other religious leaders) who impose a fear complexes and irrational beliefs on their unsuspecting followers in order to control and manipulate them.
Greed & cruelty
Note: In the below teaching, Baba guides us that no religion can hand out or guarantee one’s salvation. It is not based on one’s birth or social standing. Those are just the dogmatic proclamations of the various religions. Rather, the way to progress on the spiritual path is to adopt a cosmic outlook, do sadhana sincerely, and look upon one and all as an expression of the Supreme Entity.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us “It is said, “One who knows Brahma becomes a brahman.” But this definition of a brahman is inconvenient for them so they have declared that the son of a brahman is a brahman and the son of a vipra is a vipra, whether they merit the title or not. In this way they have cheated the simple, mute and gullible masses for centuries together.”
“They do not have the key to salvation; no, they hold only one thing in their hands: the binding rope. They don’t possess the spirit or the valour to sing the songs of human emancipation. Their eyes do not shine with the radiance of universalism, but squint with the greed and cruelty of vultures. Buddha was the first person to revolt against their cruelty and devouring greed.” (4)
Note: In religion, there is nothing positive. In the name of God, religious agents exploit the common mass and innocent people in endless ways. They camouflage their dealings in various shapes and forms. Those with keen eyes can understand the falsehood that religions propagate. History bears testimony that religion has been the cause of so much human suffering. And still it is going on.
About Islamic cruelty
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “Humanity, in its all-out quest for this aesthetic science, attained spirituality. One must acknowledge this. Herein lies the excellence of aesthetic science. For this reason, I have given my whole-hearted and explicit support for nandana vijiṋána. You know that there are certain religions which do not encourage aesthetic pursuits. You will notice that in those religions inertia, inferiority complexes and a sense of violence are predominant.” (5)
Accumulated wealth of religious temples
Kindly see the below image to understand what is going on in these religious temples. On the one side, our human society is suffering terribly from all kinds of economic problems and disparities where many lack the basic, minimum requirements of life whereby millions of impoverished people are starving and dying due to lack of proper food, shelter, medicine, and education, and on the other side these religious places have massive stashes of unutilized wealth. The best response would be if those religious sites utilized their wealth for general economic development of their locale or for the greater population.
Note: Human beings have an infinite longing which can't be quenched by worldly possessions, mundane collections, or material gains. So people get attracted to religion, but religion is not the answer. A true seeker has to search within one’s through yoga and meditation because the Lord is sitting in your heart. If one does meditation then all of their infinite longings will be fully quenched and the aspirant will feel and practically realise that blissful state of eternal peace and tranquility. Religion is not the answer. Sadly, in the name of God, religious agents exploit the common mass and innocent people in endless ways. They camouflage their dealings in various shapes and forms. Those with keen eyes can understand the falsehood that religions propagate. History bears testimony that religion has been the cause of so much human suffering. And still it is going on.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “If someone argues that an arum dish rather than a potato dish should be offered in the temple of Jagannath because potato is non-indigenous it is the height of absurdity. Does Jagannath make any discrimination between different countries? Is there any difference for Him between the river Ganges and the Jordan?” (1)
Note: Lord Jagannath means the Lord of the universe. There is a rule in the Jagannath temple that foreign foods should not be offered to Lord Jagannath. However, this is completely dogmatic because for the Lord of universe nothing is foreign. All falls within His domain.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “All lands are His own land; everything is within His mind, created with His own atoms and molecules, and resonated with His sacred ideation. Those whose preachings encourage such discriminatory feelings are the worst enemies of humanity.” (2)
Note: The central idea of the above teaching is that on this earth or in the universe there is no such thing as a holy place. No place is holier than anywhere else because all places are the home of the Lord. There is no place where He is not; so each and every place in this cosmos is equally holy.
“These are the people who in every age in the name of religion have caused blood to flow, and have injected the fear of heaven and hell, of ghosts and demons into the human mind. These are the people who made human beings lifeless puppets.” (3)
Note: In His above teaching, Baba is talking about fundamentalist priests (mullahs, rabbis, clerics, and other religious leaders) who impose a fear complexes and irrational beliefs on their unsuspecting followers in order to control and manipulate them.
Greed & cruelty
Note: In the below teaching, Baba guides us that no religion can hand out or guarantee one’s salvation. It is not based on one’s birth or social standing. Those are just the dogmatic proclamations of the various religions. Rather, the way to progress on the spiritual path is to adopt a cosmic outlook, do sadhana sincerely, and look upon one and all as an expression of the Supreme Entity.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us “It is said, “One who knows Brahma becomes a brahman.” But this definition of a brahman is inconvenient for them so they have declared that the son of a brahman is a brahman and the son of a vipra is a vipra, whether they merit the title or not. In this way they have cheated the simple, mute and gullible masses for centuries together.”
“They do not have the key to salvation; no, they hold only one thing in their hands: the binding rope. They don’t possess the spirit or the valour to sing the songs of human emancipation. Their eyes do not shine with the radiance of universalism, but squint with the greed and cruelty of vultures. Buddha was the first person to revolt against their cruelty and devouring greed.” (4)
Note: In religion, there is nothing positive. In the name of God, religious agents exploit the common mass and innocent people in endless ways. They camouflage their dealings in various shapes and forms. Those with keen eyes can understand the falsehood that religions propagate. History bears testimony that religion has been the cause of so much human suffering. And still it is going on.
About Islamic cruelty
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “Humanity, in its all-out quest for this aesthetic science, attained spirituality. One must acknowledge this. Herein lies the excellence of aesthetic science. For this reason, I have given my whole-hearted and explicit support for nandana vijiṋána. You know that there are certain religions which do not encourage aesthetic pursuits. You will notice that in those religions inertia, inferiority complexes and a sense of violence are predominant.” (5)
Accumulated wealth of religious temples
Kindly see the below image to understand what is going on in these religious temples. On the one side, our human society is suffering terribly from all kinds of economic problems and disparities where many lack the basic, minimum requirements of life whereby millions of impoverished people are starving and dying due to lack of proper food, shelter, medicine, and education, and on the other side these religious places have massive stashes of unutilized wealth. The best response would be if those religious sites utilized their wealth for general economic development of their locale or for the greater population.
References
1. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 6, The Only Way to Salvation
2. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 6, The Only Way to Salvation
3. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 6, The only way to Salvation
4. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 6, The only way to Salvation
5. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 10, Yatamána – the Stage of Perseverance
== Section 3: Links ==
