Baba
When to initiate
Namaskar,
Up until 1969, Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha enjoyed a very positive reputation in the general society. There were plus points in all directions. Baba was giving blessings, teaching sadhana, and solving people's personal issues and illnesses so they could serve society. Plus so many demonstrations were given on samadhi etc. In that wave, numerous high officials were taking initiation onto the path of AM, and all their subordinates and family members were also coming. Everyone wanted to join and AMPS was growing fast.
From a superficial perspective, Ananda Marga more closely resembles the vedic and Hindu traditions than other belief systems, so naturally more and more Hindus, and in particular so-called brahmins, were entering Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha. All along, however, Baba wanted to ensure that no single community flooded and dominated our AMPS. Otherwise, they would form an overwhelming majority and drag in all their dogma. To prevent this, Baba firmly stipulated that one's sacred hair and sacred thread must be cut before taking initiation. In contrast, the religious symbols of Sikhs were not taken away because they were not a dominant force in Ananda Marga.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Baba’s new rule for Wts about giving initiations
In 1982, Baba first delivered His discourses on neo-humanism. Those days Baba wanted us to have contact with more and more people. So He set down strict stipulations for our Wts. Baba mandated that every acarya must initiate one person each and every day. Not a single day should go by without giving at least one initiation.
The rule was that if one day passed without doing an initiation then that acarya would lose their acaryaship. If two days passed without giving an initiation then they would lose their avadhutaship. If three days passed without initiating anyone, then they were warned of losing their wt ship. And if 4 days passed, then one was expelled from the ranks. This was the strict formula that Baba set in place.
Under that extreme pressure, acaryas were giving diiksa in airports, on buses, at festivals, and in all kinds of places. They were just grabbing whomever they could and initiating them, especially if it was late in the day and they had not initiated anyone yet. The pressure was intense. Not a single Wt would let a day pass without at least initiating someone, somewhere. Even PA dada had to partake - no one was excluded; and, in that way our Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha grew quickly those days.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Margiis also have to get involved
Some commonly think that it is solely the duty of acaryas to initiate and create new margiis. But in this regard, every Ananda Margii, family person, or otherwise has the responsibility of making new margiis. That is Baba’s given guideline in The Supreme Command.
The Supreme Command states, “...It is the bounden duty of every Ananda Margii to endeavour to bring all to the path of bliss. Verily is this a part and parcel of sadhana, to lead others along the path of righteousness.” (Supreme Command)
So those who are not acaryas or tattvikas cannot initiate new people, but they can prepare the ground and convince and prepare friends, family, neighbours, and “people on the street” for taking initiation. All have this responsibility. On this matter, Baba has given the eternal guideline that every Ananda Margii must actively engage in doing Ananda Marga pracara.
Gradually they will progress
And we have to remember we cannot wait for people to give up all their bad habits (smoking, drinking, eating meat, gambling, gaming etc) before giving them initiation. In this materialistic age, the pull towards degrading activities is very strong. Most get wrapped up in these vices. To insist that they give them up before learning sadhana is not very realistic. Rather, we should initiate everyone.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Early on, Baba was personally initiating so many who smoked cigarettes. And by practicing sadhana they gave up that degrading habit. Baba did not insist that they first give up smoking. First sadhana was given, and as the mind and body became more sentient, they were in a prime position to give up those bad habits and lead a more pure life. So we should not wait to give people initiation. If they are interested in learning sadhana, they should be taught, regardless of their habits, vices, and addictions. They should be brought onto the path of meditation and slowly, slowly they will become adapted to 16 Points - or they will leave the path of tantra. In either case, our duty is to teach those who are interested. Some will stay, some will leave, but by getting initiation all will progress, either in this life or the next.
Just like a tree
Everyone knows that a tree drops countless seeds to the earth, but only a few ever sprout and of those few that sprout a small percentage develop into trees. Yet that big tree dropped innumerable seeds. That is nature's way. Imagine if the tree dropped only 1 or 2 seeds, and those seeds did not sprout; then that species of trees would become extinct in a very short time. For this reason, the tree drops a massive amount of seeds.
As pracarakas, we should emulate that tree. Initiate a maximum number of people and then by the natural process of reduction / weeding out, people will drift away and some will remain as sympathizers, and ultimately just a few will become full-fledged practicing margiis or wts. But to get that few, a huge number of people must be initiated. If that is not done, we will not get any new margiis at all. So we should be like the tree and plant the seed of sadhana in a huge number of persons by giving them initiation.
Let us not forget that Baba has even given special instructions for performing mass initiations. This also shows that it is very important to initiate as many people as possible. So our acaryas should initiate everyone who is interested. And family margiis should meet new people and prepare them to take initiation. There must not be a huge, long criteria; rather by their free choice all are entitled.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Conclusion
All in all it is our bounden duty to help everybody. We have to bring all unto the path of Supreme Benevolence. We have to go on doing our duty without worrying about the results.
Suppose a dada teaches someone sadhana and that person practices for one day and then that new initiate dies. Even then per Guru's guideline - i.e. The Supreme Command - that person is going to get mukti. Because Baba has graciously guaranteed mukti (liberation) to those who practice sadhana regularly. That means even those who practice regularly for two days or two weeks, whatever the time period, that person will attain mukti. Simply because they repeated a siddha mantra and did the sadhana of Taraka Brahma. Then there are those who came onto the path of sadhana and then left their sadhana. Such persons will again get human life because they at least did some sadhana. In contrast, if one is not initiated - never does sadhana - and leads a debased life, then after their death they will just be reborn as a lower being / animal. That is why everyone should learn sadhana and acaryas should be vigilant to initiate new people.
And verily it is the duty of every Ananda Margii to help bring all onto the path. That means bringing new people to acaryas for initiation, ensuring all family members are initiated, and introducing one and all to spiritual ideals and inspiring them to lead a sadhana-oriented life. So we have to see the big picture.
Our dharmic duty is to teach and initiate anyone who is interested to learn. That is what Baba wants. And if someone is not interested then we should try to get them interested in order to teach them sadhana. If still they are not interested then do not teach them. After all, we cannot force anyone. The general rule stands that we should initiate one and all - i.e. anyone who displays even a remote degree of curiosity or interest in sadhana and spirituality.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Namaskar,
In Him,
Anand Sagar
~ In-depth study ~
I close this letter with a few key teachings from our Sadguru Baba.
(A) First Baba guides us that liberation is a sure guarantee, but one cannot get mukti if they are not initiated and practicing sadhana. Thus, in service to others, we should be vigilant to initiate one and all.
The Supreme Command states, "Those who perform sadhana twice a day regularly, the thought of Parama Purusa will certainly arise in their mind at the time of death; their liberation is a sure guarantee..." (1)
(B) Baba furthermore stresses the importance of getting all the lessons of sadhana in a timely way. But here again that is impossible if one does not at least get initiated.
Ananda Marga Caryacarya states,"Human life is short. It is wise to get all the instructions regarding sádhaná as soon as possible." (2)
(C) Here below Baba graciously declares that "dharma is the property of the masses."
Sadguru Baba says, "Today, you should remember that Ananda Marga is not limited to a handful of honest and intellectual people. Rather, it is trying to rally thousands of people under the banner of one sublime ideology. I dedicate Ananda Marga in this DMC [Dharma Mahácakra: a spiritual gathering during which the Guru delivers several discourses] to all sections of society. Prior to this DMC, I would only discuss intellectual topics, but from this DMC onwards I have become a man of the people because I believe that dharma is the property of the masses, not the exclusive monopoly of a handful of so-called educated middle class elite. Dharma belongs to one and all. From this DMC, I recognize it as the property of the common people." (3)
References
1. The Supreme Command
2. Caryacarya - 2, Sadhana, point #8
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 7, Spiritual Truth Surpasses Everything, 3 January 1979, Patna
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
Smiling face appears in my mind
"A'mi mane pra'n'e ca'i toma're..." (Prabhat Samgiita #4103)
Purport:
Baba, I want You in my heart-- in my prana, in my mind. I love You so much. Whether You love me or not, whether You want me or not, who can tell. No one knows that secret.. But, I always want You and only You. Without You, everything is dry.
Whenever I think of You, Your beautiful, captivating, sweet, smiling face appears in my mind. That very time, with the arrival of the most charming one in my core, all the impurities and stains instantly fade from my heart, with the resonance of Your divine vibration.
You are surrounding me with Your infinite love and affection from morning, midday, afternoon, to evening and night, all the time always, throughout the vast sky, air, and entire landscape, everywhere.
Baba, with the divine effect of Your endless mercy I am surviving. With my full heart's content, I want You and You alone...
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Prout philosophy states, “The cry, “Peace! Peace!” has become a craze in the world today. Can anything be achieved by such cries? There is no way to establish peace except to fight against the very factors which disturb peace. Even in the personal life of every human being, there is a constant fight between the benevolent and the malevolent intellect, or between vidyá and avidyá. At times vidyá triumphs, while at other times avidyá wins. In social life, too, this fight between vidyá and avidyá continues."
"Vidyá has to fight avidyá, and in this fight wherever and as long as vidyá remains triumphant, there is a special type of peace which may be called sáttvikii shánti [sentient peace]. Similarly, wherever and as long as avidyá remains victorious in this fight, there, also, a special type of peace prevails which may be called támasikii shánti [static peace]. Thus we find that peace is actually a relative factor." (1)
References
1. Problems of the Day, point #15
तथाकथित बुद्धिजीवी दोषी
छोटा-सा लोभ, ख़ूब छोटा-सा एक सामयिक लाभ के कारण मनुष्य धर्म के रास्ते से हट जाते हैं | प्राचीन काल में ऐसा नहीं था | क्रमशः मनुष्य के मन में जितनी जटिलता बढ़ रही है, मनुष्य उतना insincere बन रहा है | और इसके लिए मुख्य ज़िम्मेवारी है, so-called intellectual लोगों की | अपनी कमज़ोरी को ढाँकने के लिए, छिपाने के लिए, उन लोगों ने क्या किया ? बड़ी-बड़ी बात जनता को सुनाई है | मगर अपने ज्यों का त्यों रह गए |
मूड़ मुड़ाए जटा रखाए, मस्त फिरें जैसा भैंसा |
और खलड़ी ऊपर ख़ाक लगाए, मन जैसा तो तैसा ||
[यह बाबा के कैसेट से सीधे लिखा गया, बाबा का यह असली प्रवचन, अमृतोपदेश है। आनन्द मार्ग हिन्दी पुस्तकों में छपे प्रवचन तो नक़ली प्रवचन हैं, असली नहीं] (1)
Reference
1. साधना की मुख्य बात—सत्याश्रयी बनना, Taking Shelter in Satya is the Essence of Sadhana, NP, EGD 25 November 1978 Bombay
লুকিয়ে না নিলে, তো মানুষ দেৰে না
“ভগবান যদি তোমাকে ৰলেন, "আরে, তুমি তো অনেক পাপ করেছিস, তো তোর পাপটা আমাকে দিয়ে দে” | তখন তুমি কি ৰলৰে ? যে “না, ভগবান পাপটা তোমাকে কেন দৰ ? তোমাকে ভাল-মন্দ খৰাৰ, আদর করৰ, যত্ন করৰ--পাপ তোমাকে কেন দৰ ? আমার যা সুকৃতি তাই তোমাকে দৰ | কিন্তু পরমপুরুষ মানুষকে তো ভালৰাসেন, মানুষ তো পরমপুরুষেরই সৃষ্টি | আর, মানুষকে তিনি পাপের হাত থেকে ৰাঁচাতে চান, তাই তিনি কি করেন ? তাকে না জানিয়ে, লুকিয়ে, তার পাপ চুরি করেন, হরণ করেন | চুরি না করলে, লুকিয়ে না নিলে, তো মানুষ দেৰে না পরমপুরুষকে তার পাপ | ভাল জিনিস দেৰে, পাপ তো আর দেৰে না | তাই যিনি পাপকে হরণ করেন, তিনি হলেন হরি |” (1)
Reference
1. অপ্রকাশিত, ১৯৮৮ আনন্দ নগর, GD 1 January 1988 Ananda Nagar
"Some animals are gregarious and others are not. The tiger is not a gregarious animal – it prefers to move alone. Goats are not gregarious, but sheep, elephants and lambs are. Human beings are social beings. They do not like to remain in isolation." (1)
"You know that humans are gregarious beings. There are some living beings who live in groups or clans, and some who live in isolation. In very olden days, human beings lived in clans." (2)
“You are social beings. One cannot live in isolation. When you feel thirsty, you can’t manufacture a spade, dig a well, and draw water yourself. One person will make a spade, another will add the wooden handle, and another will dig the well — this is how we work collectively. This is the way for human beings to live. In all spheres of human existence, in the aesthetic sphere as well, humanity should live collectively. You should live in unison. You should vibrate together to the same music. You should move in a common psychic flow. You should fight collectively against your common enemies. Unitedly you should face all problems, mundane and supra-mundane. In a word, you must reflect the spirit of harmonious collective living in conformity with the spirit of the Vedic mantra Sam’gacchadhvam’ sam’vadadhvam.” (3)
Note: This is Baba’s special guideline which is lacking these days in the society. All should understand they do not exist alone, by themselves, in isolation. With collective spirit, all have to work together. By that way, many works can be done for the great cause, by His grace.
References
1. A Few Problems Solved - 4, Plants, Animals and Human Beings
2. Namah Shiva Shantaya: Disc 8
3. 5 April 1981
"A'mi mane pra'n'e ca'i toma're..." (Prabhat Samgiita #4103)
Purport:
Baba, I want You in my heart-- in my prana, in my mind. I love You so much. Whether You love me or not, whether You want me or not, who can tell. No one knows that secret.. But, I always want You and only You. Without You, everything is dry.
Whenever I think of You, Your beautiful, captivating, sweet, smiling face appears in my mind. That very time, with the arrival of the most charming one in my core, all the impurities and stains instantly fade from my heart, with the resonance of Your divine vibration.
You are surrounding me with Your infinite love and affection from morning, midday, afternoon, to evening and night, all the time always, throughout the vast sky, air, and entire landscape, everywhere.
Baba, with the divine effect of Your endless mercy I am surviving. With my full heart's content, I want You and You alone...
== Section: Important Teaching ==
How process of sadhana results in samadhi
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “As a result of sádhaná all three organs, i.e., motor, sensory and práńa, gradually attain composure. When all the organs attain steadiness and composure and are absorbed in the bearing of the Supreme Being, we call it the state of samádhi or trance or absorption. Without this attainment of steadiness samádhi is impossible, for without steadiness meditation (dhyána) is not possible and without meditation samádhi is not possible. The practice of meditation is nothing but the proper control over the mind-like rein with the help of a super-knowing charioteer. In the human body there are approximately fifty vrttis or propensities of minds. The degree of intensity of these fifty vrttis depends upon the different glandular secretions of the body. Thus proper functioning of the mind depends upon the different glandular secretions of the body, upon the afferent power of the nerve-fibres and upon the capacity of the nerve cells to vibrate thought. In other words, with the acceptance or rejection of any of the sentiments, both the human body and mind are influenced.” (1)
Reference
1. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 5, The Chariot and the Charioteer
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “As a result of sádhaná all three organs, i.e., motor, sensory and práńa, gradually attain composure. When all the organs attain steadiness and composure and are absorbed in the bearing of the Supreme Being, we call it the state of samádhi or trance or absorption. Without this attainment of steadiness samádhi is impossible, for without steadiness meditation (dhyána) is not possible and without meditation samádhi is not possible. The practice of meditation is nothing but the proper control over the mind-like rein with the help of a super-knowing charioteer. In the human body there are approximately fifty vrttis or propensities of minds. The degree of intensity of these fifty vrttis depends upon the different glandular secretions of the body. Thus proper functioning of the mind depends upon the different glandular secretions of the body, upon the afferent power of the nerve-fibres and upon the capacity of the nerve cells to vibrate thought. In other words, with the acceptance or rejection of any of the sentiments, both the human body and mind are influenced.” (1)
Reference
1. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 5, The Chariot and the Charioteer
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Crying out for peaceProut philosophy states, “The cry, “Peace! Peace!” has become a craze in the world today. Can anything be achieved by such cries? There is no way to establish peace except to fight against the very factors which disturb peace. Even in the personal life of every human being, there is a constant fight between the benevolent and the malevolent intellect, or between vidyá and avidyá. At times vidyá triumphs, while at other times avidyá wins. In social life, too, this fight between vidyá and avidyá continues."
"Vidyá has to fight avidyá, and in this fight wherever and as long as vidyá remains triumphant, there is a special type of peace which may be called sáttvikii shánti [sentient peace]. Similarly, wherever and as long as avidyá remains victorious in this fight, there, also, a special type of peace prevails which may be called támasikii shánti [static peace]. Thus we find that peace is actually a relative factor." (1)
References
1. Problems of the Day, point #15
==
छोटा-सा लोभ, ख़ूब छोटा-सा एक सामयिक लाभ के कारण मनुष्य धर्म के रास्ते से हट जाते हैं | प्राचीन काल में ऐसा नहीं था | क्रमशः मनुष्य के मन में जितनी जटिलता बढ़ रही है, मनुष्य उतना insincere बन रहा है | और इसके लिए मुख्य ज़िम्मेवारी है, so-called intellectual लोगों की | अपनी कमज़ोरी को ढाँकने के लिए, छिपाने के लिए, उन लोगों ने क्या किया ? बड़ी-बड़ी बात जनता को सुनाई है | मगर अपने ज्यों का त्यों रह गए |
मूड़ मुड़ाए जटा रखाए, मस्त फिरें जैसा भैंसा |
और खलड़ी ऊपर ख़ाक लगाए, मन जैसा तो तैसा ||
[यह बाबा के कैसेट से सीधे लिखा गया, बाबा का यह असली प्रवचन, अमृतोपदेश है। आनन्द मार्ग हिन्दी पुस्तकों में छपे प्रवचन तो नक़ली प्रवचन हैं, असली नहीं] (1)
Reference
1. साधना की मुख्य बात—सत्याश्रयी बनना, Taking Shelter in Satya is the Essence of Sadhana, NP, EGD 25 November 1978 Bombay
==
লুকিয়ে না নিলে, তো মানুষ দেৰে না
“ভগবান যদি তোমাকে ৰলেন, "আরে, তুমি তো অনেক পাপ করেছিস, তো তোর পাপটা আমাকে দিয়ে দে” | তখন তুমি কি ৰলৰে ? যে “না, ভগবান পাপটা তোমাকে কেন দৰ ? তোমাকে ভাল-মন্দ খৰাৰ, আদর করৰ, যত্ন করৰ--পাপ তোমাকে কেন দৰ ? আমার যা সুকৃতি তাই তোমাকে দৰ | কিন্তু পরমপুরুষ মানুষকে তো ভালৰাসেন, মানুষ তো পরমপুরুষেরই সৃষ্টি | আর, মানুষকে তিনি পাপের হাত থেকে ৰাঁচাতে চান, তাই তিনি কি করেন ? তাকে না জানিয়ে, লুকিয়ে, তার পাপ চুরি করেন, হরণ করেন | চুরি না করলে, লুকিয়ে না নিলে, তো মানুষ দেৰে না পরমপুরুষকে তার পাপ | ভাল জিনিস দেৰে, পাপ তো আর দেৰে না | তাই যিনি পাপকে হরণ করেন, তিনি হলেন হরি |” (1)
Reference
1. অপ্রকাশিত, ১৯৮৮ আনন্দ নগর, GD 1 January 1988 Ananda Nagar
**************************************************
Are humans gregarious beings?
"Some animals are gregarious and others are not. The tiger is not a gregarious animal – it prefers to move alone. Goats are not gregarious, but sheep, elephants and lambs are. Human beings are social beings. They do not like to remain in isolation." (1)
"You know that humans are gregarious beings. There are some living beings who live in groups or clans, and some who live in isolation. In very olden days, human beings lived in clans." (2)
“You are social beings. One cannot live in isolation. When you feel thirsty, you can’t manufacture a spade, dig a well, and draw water yourself. One person will make a spade, another will add the wooden handle, and another will dig the well — this is how we work collectively. This is the way for human beings to live. In all spheres of human existence, in the aesthetic sphere as well, humanity should live collectively. You should live in unison. You should vibrate together to the same music. You should move in a common psychic flow. You should fight collectively against your common enemies. Unitedly you should face all problems, mundane and supra-mundane. In a word, you must reflect the spirit of harmonious collective living in conformity with the spirit of the Vedic mantra Sam’gacchadhvam’ sam’vadadhvam.” (3)
Note: This is Baba’s special guideline which is lacking these days in the society. All should understand they do not exist alone, by themselves, in isolation. With collective spirit, all have to work together. By that way, many works can be done for the great cause, by His grace.
References
1. A Few Problems Solved - 4, Plants, Animals and Human Beings
2. Namah Shiva Shantaya: Disc 8
3. 5 April 1981
**************************************************
== Section 3: Links ==
Recent postings
Other topics of interest
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