Baba
Hold your pocket
Namaskar,
This letter contains something for everybody: How to save money and be healthy by paying heed to Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar’s Proutistic teachings of psycho-economy. This letter also addresses the year-end, “holiday shopping" bonanza in certain materialistic countries.
How blind customers get exploited
The ills of capitalism are fast rising to the surface: Inflation, energy costs and wildly fluctuating oil prices, mortgage lending, collapsed banks, 'bear market', corporate buyouts etc, etc. These terms make the headlines every day.
However, there is one aspect of this materialistic, free market economy that is causing great harm yet going largely unnoticed. Corporations or businesses make piles of money by convincing naive and susceptible consumers to buy products they do not need: psycho-economic exploitation.
Basically, in this type of psycho-economic exploitation, they infuse within people the psychic desire and urge to purchase superfluous items - i.e. things they not required for day to day living. Yet, those exploited consumers feel they cannot live with that.
The chief outcome of this type of psycho-economic exploitation is that capitalists boost their bottom-line, i.e. profits. On the other side, the mass of consumers waste their hard-earned money purchasing unneeded, harmful, and degrading products, such as cigarettes, alcohol, junk food, coffee, tamasika videos etc.
Or in some countries, people buy more of what they already have in response to corporate advertising. That is why people have 50 or even 100 expensive, name-brand shirts in their closet, when really only a few less-expensive, yet high-quality varieties are needed.
Or sometimes products are exactly the same - manufactured in the same place, just companies put their own labels on those items. But consumers - do not see this. Only they see the company label, and pay two or three times the price for the very same item.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Sad: teenage girls - the most victimised
In one way or another people are lured into buying, harmful items or things which they do not need. Or they pay more for what they could really buy for less. Unfortunately, many are ensnared in this debacle. All because companies take extreme measures to convince the innocent public that to get ahead in life or to enjoy living then xyz product is a "must-have" item.
This is the awful environment in today's capitalist system. And most are unaware about it or too helpless to do anything.
Tragically, this is the on-going issue in today's economy: Consumers get lured into buying products either which they do not need or that will not be beneficial for them, mentally or physically or both. But because of massive advertising, good citizens have been brainwashed into purchasing those things. Sadly, it is most often our impressionable youths - our teenagers - who fall prey to this and are harmed the most.
Teens buy pseudo-culture movies and videos, designer clothing, fancy gadgets, and so many things which they think they need to achieve a certain "look." And while for years and years this practice was going on primarily in the US, now because of the internet and the growing Asian economy, this negative trend has spread all around.
The second most affected population is women, with teenage girls being the most victimised, overall. But in one way or another so many are affected. Below please read more about this systemic problem as well as Prout’s perfect solution: Psycho-economy.
Simple brainwashed by advertisers
In today's social arena, general citizens are bombarded with thousands and thousands of advertisements each and every day. The more television one watches, the more newspapers one reads, the more internet surfing one does, the more one is prone to getting exploited. Because those advertisements and media messages goad a person to look or act in a certain way; and, the general people get lulled in that direction, knowingly or unknowingly.
This tactic is further buoyed by movies, books, billboards, and messages from fellow consumers etc. Verily it is everywhere and nearly, and so many are caught up in this situation, unfortunately. Some people may not have the money to purchase what they desire, and they are also caught up - because they will suffer from an inferiority complex, thinking that they are a lowly for not having certain desirable items etc. So countless people get entangled - one way or another.
But again, our teenagers are often hit the hardest. In fact, one degrading novel for teens recently sold 20+ million hard copies - and this is in an era where people buy less books. Just imagine how many more are reading those same passages online. Because teenagers are such an impressionable and innocent group, they are regularly targeted by corporate advertising departments. In turn, parents feel pressure to satisfy their child's desire so they purchase those items.
The problem with all of this is that families end up spending maximum dollars on items that they really do not need for their survival, or on things that are harmful for them. Because people purchase merchandise which they have the psychic urge to buy based on crafty advertising etc. And most of the time, such purchases lead to the degeneration of mind, as well as degrading habits and pseudo-culture fashion etc. Such purchases force a family to go into debt or forgo the purchasing of basic essentials of life like food, rent etc.
This is the very grave and real problem which burdens hundreds of millions - even billions of people on a daily basis.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Artificial demands poison mind of the weak
Prout philosophy has the exact answer: Proper consumer education. Not just issuing a Q & A pamphlet about how to shop like many consumer advocacy groups publish, but rather a pointed analysis with graphic demonstrations and protests that awaken the masses as to what is going on and how they are getting exploited, befooled, and duped. This highly important aspect of the Proutistic enterprise is known as psycho-economy.
Prout philosophy states, "Psycho-economy...endeavours to eradicate exploitative and unjust economic practices, behaviours and structures. It will counter all economic and psycho-economic exploitation and make people aware of how capitalists, in their singular or collective roles, exploit society and create unhealthy, artificial demands which not only poison the mind but encourage dangerous habits detrimental to psychic sanctity and expansion. The first and foremost duty of psycho-economics is to wage a tireless fight against all degenerating and dehumanizing economic trends in society." (1)
Only Prout's platform of psycho-economy can start to open the eyes of the people as to how they are getting exploited by cunning, ruthless capitalist exploiters.
Psycho-economy is the solution
Right now, in the growing number of materialistic-oriented countries, the whole concept of what it means to be human is getting lost. People measure themselves based on what they own, how they look, what brand of clothing they wear, and so many other materialistic and superficial measuring rods. The whole society is falling in this direction. This increases the desire to buy unneeded merchandise and overspend and go into debt. It also injects an inferiority complex: People feel they are not as good as others simply because of what they own and how much money they have.
Here below this Prout teaching warns us of what happens when the social outlook is degraded and based on materialistic standards.
Prout philosophy states, "If there is a lack of prama' in the psychic sphere, then many omissional and commissional mistakes and defects are bound to enter into their art, architecture, literature, philosophy, science and other branches of human knowledge. Dance may lose its rhythm, painting may lack proportion, music may lose the harmony of its melody and rhythm, and in the various branches of literature there may be an overgrowth of the parasitic weeds of immature expression." (2)
And that is exactly what we are seeing now. Each and every aspect of human life is infested with degenerative ways of living and being, and capitalist exploiters are making billions by selling these degrading things to the public.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Prout philosophy states, "Psycho-economy...endeavours to eradicate exploitative and unjust economic practices, behaviours and structures. It will counter all economic and psycho-economic exploitation and make people aware of how capitalists, in their singular or collective roles, exploit society and create unhealthy, artificial demands which not only poison the mind but encourage dangerous habits detrimental to psychic sanctity and expansion. The first and foremost duty of psycho-economics is to wage a tireless fight against all degenerating and dehumanizing economic trends in society." (3)
Namaskar,
in Him,
Dharma
~ For in-depth study ~
Your humanness not based on what you wear
So the first policy of our psycho-economic statutes that needs to come forth is teaching others about what it means to be human. Humanness is not based on what you wear or what type of products you use, but is based on sadhana, service, and sacrifice. It is these qualities that create a true human being.
But capitalist exploiters have imposed their will on the public in a vastly different way. A person's importance and social standing is based on merchandise, not dharmic conduct. This recipe leads to the degeneration of mind and the gross and vicious cycle of selling one's soul by investing more and more in superficial, material ornaments.
How capitalist exploiters operate
Only through Prout's teachings on psycho-economy can humanity escape from this harmful loop.
Prout philosophy guides us, "Human society today has reached the stage of degeneration and, as a result, is lost in the wilderness of economic bankruptcy, social unrest, cultural degeneration and religious superstition." (4)
Thus only by becoming aware and awakened to the capitalistic strategies can we lift out of this degrading, materialistic era. Only by breaking this bondage of slavery and regaining our purchasing capacity can we fight this capitalist onslaught.
So we must help others understand and teach them about it means to be a victim of capitalism and the consumer society - i.e. purchasing things we do not need and basing the value of life on material gains. As Ananda Margiis, we have been blessed with the opportunity to lead others out of this trap.
So the whole process of education is two-fold. People need to be taught the real value of human life and spiritual practices, as well as guided as to how to avoid the psychic trappings of those capitalist exploiters. Both aspects are needed.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
How to regain control from capitalists
As soon as their eyes are opened, they will realise they have a lot more money and power than they did before. Second, they will feel mentally free from the oppressive wave of capitalist advertising.
Using the teachings and guidelines of Prout, we must burst this bubble of capitalism and provide real socio-economic values that promote health and happiness - and the realisation of a spiritual ideal.
Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar says, "By propagating spirituality, implementing PROUT and rendering selfless service to suffering humanity, you will be able to elevate the standard of human beings in a very short time." (5)
References
1. A Few Problems Solved Part 7, Quadri-Dimensional Economy
2. Pramá – 1, Dynamic Equilibrium and Equipoise
3. A Few Problems Solved Part 7, Quadri-Dimensional Economy
4. Pramá – 1, Dynamic Equilibrium and Equipoise
5. Prout in a Nutshell - 18, The Excellence of God-Centred Philosophy
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Why sadhana is unparalleled
Ananda Marga ideology says, “Bábá demonstrated these basic points by touching and sending into samádhi four persons. He also showed that through the grace of the Almighty as represented by guru krpá (the guru's grace), the evolutionary rise through sádhaná can be accelerated, and the slow walk can be maximized into a gallop. In this way samádhi can be induced from any cakra. But a success easily gained may not be fully appreciated and valued. Therefore, normally the sádhaka should be allowed to work out his success through the hard way of diligent sádhaná.” (1)
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 33, Sálokya, Sámiipya, Sáyujya, Sárúpya, Sárśt́hi
== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==
भक्त भगवान के बीच मधुर वार्ता
प्रभात संगीत 1822 भालोवासी आमि प्रियो, जानि तुमि भालोवासो ना....
(जो मन लगाकर साधना का 6th पाठ नहीं करता, वह यह प्रभात संगीत नहीं समझ सकता )
परिचय:- यह गीत प्रथम श्रेणी के भक्त के हृदय का भावावेग प्रकट करता है: इस गीत में भक्त अपनी प्रेम भरी वेदना परमपुरुष से बोल रहा है । इस प्रकार के विचारों की स्थिति तब बनती है जब परमपुरुष के प्रति एकनिष्ठ होकर शुद्ध मन से अत्यधिक प्रेमपूर्ण समर्पण होता है। इस स्थिति में ही वह अपने मन की भावनायें प्रकट कर अन्तरंग प्रेम को अनुभव कर पाता है।
भावार्थ
हे परमप्रिय ! हे परमपुरुष, मैं तुम्हें प्यार करता हॅूं परंतु मैं यह जानता हॅूं कि तुम मुझे नहीं चाहते। यह जानते हुये भी कि तुम मुझे नहीं चाहते, फिर भी मैं तुम्हें चाहता हॅूं। मैं क्यों चाहता हॅूं यह नहीं कह सकता। मैं बस इतना अनुभव करता हॅूं कि तुमको प्यार किये बिना मैं रह नहीं सकता ।बाबा! तुम्हारे बिना अनुभव करता हॅूं कि मेरा सब कुछ लुट गया, और मेरे जीवन का कोई मूल्य नहीं है।
हे प्रभु! बाबा! मैं तुम्हें उसी प्रकार प्रेम करता हॅूं जैसे मधुमक्खी सुगंधित फूल को। सुंगंधित फूल नहीं जानता है कि काली मधुमक्खी उससे इतना आकर्षित क्यों रहती है? वह फूल उसके प्रेम को नहीं जानता । और, काली मधुमक्खी भी यह नहीं जानती कि फूल की सुगंध उसे क्यों बुला रही है। मधुर सुगंध काली मधुमक्खियों को आकर्षित करती है पर मधुमक्खियाॅं कोई कारण ही नहीं जानती कि वे उससे इतना प्रेम क्यों करती हैं । यह उनकी तर्क शक्ति से परे होता है, वे अपने आधीर मन के कारण को जान नहीं पाती, इसी प्रकार मैं भी नहीं समझ पाता हॅूं कि तुम मेरे हृदय को क्यों खींच रहे हो।
हे परमपुरुष! मैं तुमको पूर्ण रूप से नहीं जानता हूँ इसलिये लगातार ढूंढ़ता रहता हूँ । मैं जो कुछ थोड़ा सा जान पाता हॅूं उसी पर चिंतन करता रहता हॅूं। ===विल्कुल स्पष्ट और सीधे शब्दों में मुझे समझाइए कि मेरा हृदय बेचैन होकर तुम्हें क्यों ढूंढ़ता है। मेरा मन कोई सीमायें क्यों नहीं मानता? मैं तुम्हें लगातार ढूंढ़ता ही क्यों रहता हॅूं? बाबा! मेरे साथ अपनी इस अलौकिक लीला को और अधिक मत खेलिये, और अधिक छिपे मत रहिये, मेरे सामने आ ही जाइये, ताकि मैं तुम्हें साष्टाॅंग प्रणाम कर सकॅूं।
टिप्पणी
1- जब भक्त परमपुरुष को अधिक निकटता से पाना चाहता है, और वे पास नहीं आते हैं तो भक्त अपनी प्रेमपूर्ण भावना से उनसे शिकायत करता है कि हे प्रभु! मैं समझ गया कि तुम मुझे प्रेम नहीं करते।
2- आनन्दमार्ग दर्शन के अनुसार परमपुरुष को पूर्ण रूपसे जानने वाला उन्हीं में मिल जाता है, इसलिये जब तक वह उनसे पृथक रहता है तब तक उन्हें पूर्ण रूप से नहीं जान पाता । यही कारण है कि वह अनुभव करेगा कि उसने परमपुरुष को पूरी तरह नहीं जान पाया।
== Section: Bangla Quote ==
ওই জুজু আছে
“ছোট ছেলে দুধ খাচ্ছে না, ৰাড়ির লোকেরা, “দুধ খাও, ওই জুজু আছে, তাল গাছে জুজু আছে, ধরে নেৰে” | তুমি জুজুর ভয়ে খেয়ে নিলে দুধ | তারপরে এই তুমি যখন দু ৰছরের নয়, তুমি হয়ে গেলে ৰাইশ ৰছরে, তখনও সেই মনের জুজুটা রয়ে গেল | কখনও-কখনও স্বপ্নে সেই জুজুকে দেখৰে একলা যেতে গিয়ে জুজুর ভয়ে ৰুক কেঁপে উঠৰে | এরা হ’ল কি ? চাপিয়ে দেওয়া ৰন্ধন |” (1)
Reference
1. Subhasita Samgraha, part 17, chapter 12
== Section 2: Links ==
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