Baba
AM’s view on “thanks”
Namaskar,
In our Ananda Marga, we surrender our everything unto Guru, we offer our minds to Him, we sacrifice ourselves for Him, so we do not give "thanks" to Baba.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "He knows everything that you know, and everything you do not know. Obviously there is no other way than total surrender to Him." (1)
Even during DMC, when so many margiis and acaryas would go on stage to receive a prize from Baba, then no one would ever say, "Thank you, Baba". Instead everyone would lay prostrate to Baba in sastaunga pranam. In Ananda Marga, our standard is high, especially with regards to our relation with Guru. We are to give our everything to Him. In contrast, merely saying or giving "thanks" is something comparatively cheap or paltry.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
This topic of "thanks" has come up because in various parts around the globe "giving thanks" is looked upon as something very noble. People give their thanks in so many ways: to the Supreme Entity, to their parents, to their friends and families, and to their communities. These are some of the ways that this gets expressed.
Thanks is only for distant people
However, in the tantric lifestyle of Ananda Marga, our approach is entirely different. With persons close to us, we have a relationship based on love and service. Due to feelings of closeness we do not say "thanks". Because we understand that the help and support are given with heartfelt feeling, not for any recognition or in hopes that we would say "thanks".
As bhaktas, we are ready to do each and every thing for our close relations in service to the Supreme. This is internally understood; in that case, there is no need to say "thanks", rather that would only demean the interaction and relation, as if the person helped you only in order to be "thanked". When, in truth, the feeling and intent runs so much deeper than that. By your demeanor, your close relation understands that you have respect and appreciation for their help and support, which goes far beyond the term "thanks".
In our Marga, we only verbally offer thanks to those who are far or distant from us. Saying "thanks" is part of our social norms, but it is not something we use with those whom we feel a sense of intimacy and closeness. If someone whom we revere or if someone close to us does something for us, we will not say "thanks." Saying so will only brand that person as being distant. We only say "thanks" or "thank you" in more formal, business, or distant relations. It is not used with close people and certainly not with Parama Purusa.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
“Thank you” trend may seep all around
Yet, in the west, saying "thank you" is looked upon as quite honourable. This is used even between very close persons. Perhaps because the concept of service is less understood or because the relationship between family members is more distant, as people are more accustomed to living by themselves, not as part of a collective. Whatever may be, saying "thank you" is looked upon as something very gracious in the west whereas in our Ananda Marga society it is not.
We should all understand the ethic in Ananda Marga, and, at the same time, keep in mind that many of the pseudo-culture ways are being adopted by the rest of the world. This is likely to happen with saying “thanks” as well. We should be sure that we do not get affected; rather, with a clear mind and heart we should be rationally grounded in our sentient manner. For all these reasons and more, this is a topic of importance for Ananda Margiis.
Surrender to Guru - not give thanks
We should take Baba's lesson to heart and strictly follow the ethic in Ananda Marga. With regard to Guru we are to offer ourselves, not our thanks.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Remember, you have to offer your own identity – not money, rice plantains or other crude objects. The give-and-take of crude things is a business transaction. If you want to attain the bliss of Brahma, you must offer your own self. If you want to have the Great “I”, you must give away your own little “I”. You have to give the full sixteen annas, (the full rupee). Giving fifteen annas and holding back one anna will not do. You must completely surrender. To attain that Infinite One with the help of your mental concentration and strength, you have to surrender yourselves." (2)
In Ananda Marga, every sadhaka feels a very close and personal connection with Parama Purusa. In sadhana or anytime throughout the day, the inner feeling comes, "Oh Baba, I love you so much, I am ready to do anything and everything for You." When every bhakta of the Marga is ready to give everything with Him, then merely saying "thanks" is just a tinsel-like expression. Our link with Parama Purusa is very intimate and personal and full of the desire to serve Him. It is His grace.
In stark contrast, in many of the dogmatic religions, there is a much more distant feeling with the Supreme Entity and worshipers commonly give thanks to the Supreme Entity when receiving food, pay raises, and other mundane things. So theirs is an entirely different, more external approach, both in the spiritual and social sphere.
Conclusion
Our link with Parama Purusa is based on bhakti, service, and the desire to please Him. We do not give thanks to Him, nor to our close persons. When addressing or communicating with our close persons then by our unspoken behaviour and love we express so much more to them than by saying "thanks", but certainly with people whom we do not know very well, then according to our social norms, saying "thanks" is quite appropriate.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Namaskar,
In Him,
Satyajiit
(Sam Taylor)
~ Courtesy of History(dot)com ~
“Thanksgiving was celebrated as a religious holiday, giving thanks to God for the previous year's blessings. It took a long time before it was fully adopted as a holiday and celebrated by all states. Finally, Roosevelt issued a proclamation in 1942 designating the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.” (Courtesy of History (dot) com)
Tasmae Shrii Gurave Namah
Ananda Marga ideology states, "I surrender myself at your altar. Namah means to “surrender”. Namah refers to the process called “Namo mudra'”. It means that all my expressions, all my dexterities, which are expressed through my ten fingers, have been brought to a point. That is, I surrender along with all my capabilities, all my dexterities." (3)
Baba story
One time when Baba was going out for His field walk, many margii families had gathered round to see Baba as He came out from His house. At one point, Baba lovingly gestured toward one of the margii children, and the young child said, "Thanks." The child had obviously learned this from his parents. Baba smiled and gently said, "See, this young child is telling Me 'thanks'."
Everyone present clearly understood Baba's message: As His disciples and bhaktas, we are not supposed to offer "thanks" to Baba. This was the indirect teaching Baba was giving us that day. That was the first and last time any of us ever heard anyone say "thank you" to Baba.
Ultimately, all our actions are done in service to Him - as we try to fulfill our debt to Guru by giving our all.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
References
1. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life - 7, The Highest Category of Devotion
2. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life - 4, Vibration, Form and Colour
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3, Guru Pújá
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "While dharma in the true sense of the term is based on logic and the realizations of great sádhakas [spiritual aspirants], religion, or dharmamata, is based entirely on irrational blind faith. So religions are always sheltered within dogma. While the propagation of dharma goes on spontaneously, for the propagation and establishment of dogma-based religions, the financial power of the vaeshyas [capitalists] and the intellectual prowess of the vipras [intellectuals] is inevitably needed. What we observe from the history of humankind is that the religions which have come so far have, without exception, taken shelter under the wings of capitalism. While money has been spent lavishly for the construction of beautiful places of worship, money has never been arranged for food, clothing, housing, education and medical care for the welfare of the poor. While for four full years all the state revenues of Orissa were spent for the construction of the Konark temple, during that period not a penny was spent for human welfare. Needless to say, the history of all countries is replete with such examples." (1)
In His above teaching, Baba points out how in the past the dogmatic religions spent their money on material pursuits such as the construction of the Konark temple, while the common people languished in utter poverty, half-naked and hungry. A similar state of affairs has befallen our AMPS where all emphasis is on material construction rather than a man-making mission.
#1: AMPS needs human beings.
#2: So many ashrams and MUs are empty - now AM needs human beings not buildings.
#3: Those donating to those buildings and types of construction etc are all fools.
#4: Essentially, they are preparing those sites for non-margiis.
#5: Due to lack of occupancy by AMPS others will take over those buildings; that is what happened with the ashrams of other religions.
#6: In Bihar, Kabir followers had tens of thousands of MUs, and now everything is occupied by Bhumihar.
#7: So remain alert; we need humans.
Reference
1. Ráŕh: The Cradle of Civilization, Ráŕh – 6
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Kindly read the below quote from Baba's teachings. At the end of the quote a question has been posed. If your answer to the question is correct then it means you read Baba's books carefully; and, if your answer is wrong or you do not know the answer, then it signifies that you need to pay more attention when reading Guru's teachings. After all, if sadhakas are not diligent in studying Baba's books then who is going to read them - non-margiis?
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Human life is like a drop of water on a lotus leaf, therefore it is futile to try and develop the material world. Such philosophies advise “atmanam viddhi” or “know thyself”. All the religions of the East have clearly instructed their followers to try and accept the path of shreya or that which leads to supreme benevolence only, to the utter exclusion of preya or that which leads to the acquisition of mundane objects! It may be that this sort of philosophy is not logically incorrect, but in practice this type of extreme idealism preaches that the world should be ignored. The individual human being may develop conscience, morality, renunciation, etc., and may reach the height of spirituality, but the society as a whole will not thereby progress. The maximum development of the society will be reached when there is balanced development in the physical, mental and spiritual spheres.” (1)
Question: Whose philosophy is Baba referring to in the yellow highlighted section?
Answer: In the above Quiz, in the yellow highlighted section Sadguru Baba is talking about - the Shankaracharya’s teachings of mayavada. The followers of mayavada preach the dogma that this material world is just an illusion - not real.
Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 18, Talks on Education – Excerpt C
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Message of dedication: NH book
The Propounder of neo-humanism states:
“To those who think for all . . .who offer others seats of honour and respect . . .who venerate others, instead of waiting to be venerated –to them I dedicate this book with humble esteem and deepest salutations.” (1)- Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar
Note: In the above lines, it is obvious we should give first priority to honouring those whom nobody honours.
Reference
1. Liberation of Intellect - Neo-Humanism, Dedication page
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Origin of polo
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "The well-known modern game of polo originated in Manipur's Kobe Valley...Originally, only royal princes used to play the horse-riding game of polo. For that a very hard ball was needed. The kind of bamboo that was used, used to grow in the eastern portion of Rarh, in slightly salty soil. Still today the best bamboo for making polo balls grows in the Uluberia subdivision of Howrah District and in Midnapore District's Tamluk subdivision." (1)
Reference
1. Shabda Cayanika - 3, Kakubh to Kavaśńa (Discourse 17)
== Section 2: Links ==
Other topics of interest
