Baba
Baba story: your future
Namaskar,
Here is one short story that neatly highlights the great importance of sadhana. At one point in his career, Shrii Sitaram Rajgarhia of Bettiah had not been regular in sadhana, and it was at that time that he went for Baba's darshan. Seeing the state of Sitaram ji, Baba graciously performed one demonstration.
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Reborn as a dog
Baba called upon Ac. Dasharath ji - whom Baba would regularly use for His demonstrations. Baba would grant Dasharath ji the special ability to see and know the past, present, and future. So on that day Baba ordered Dasharath to tell what would happen if Sitaram ji died at this very moment. Blessed by Baba to know the unknowable, Dasharath ji replied that Sitaram ji would be reborn as a dog.
Hearing this, Sitaram ji became horrified. He was extremely shaken and affected. Not knowing what else to do, he mentally requested His grace. Baba told him that His causeless grace is already showering on everyone. In order to be drenched in it, you have to be regular in sadhana. Sitaram ji returned home and ardently practiced sadhana and did all his lessons regularly.
Granted human life
The next week Sitaram ji came back for general darshan. Again Baba did a demonstration using Dasharath ji. Baba asked the same question as the prior week: "Dasharath, what would happen if Sitaram died at this very moment?" Then Dasharath ji replied that Sitaram ji would be granted human life, but not moksa as he has a huge bundle of samskaras.
Baba told Sitaram to do regular sadhana and continue to serve Parama Purusa and the creation. If he does sadhana regularly then He is going to achieve mukti or moksa, according to the wish of Parama Purusa. At that point, all one's samskaras will be requited, by the fire of sadhana and the grace of Parama Purusa.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
This is a story which Sitaram ji used to recount on many occasions. This story shows how important it is to do proper sadhana. Without sadhana, and without His grace, the mind invariably degenerates, wherein one's future is bleak. Whereas with proper sadhana and the grace of Parama Purusa, one can reach life divine and attain moksa.
Conclusion
1. Great potency: Sadhana is very powerful and can eliminate all kinds of samskaras in a very short period.
2. Regularity in sadhana needed: If one does sadhana regularly and dies, then no matter how many samskaras they have left, it is the duty of Parama Purusa to eliminate that obstacle and grant salvation. That is what Sadguru Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji has promised in His Supreme Command blessing.
3. In a short span, do big work: Verily, a person can transform their animal mind to human mind and then to divine mind. Sadhana has immense potency and potential, but only if it is practiced ardently. With sadhana, a sadhaka receives His unfathomable grace. Sadhana opens that cosmic gateway, whereas due to a lack of sadhana the door to that divine kingdom is firmly shut closed.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Namaskar,
in Him,
Satyanarayan
~ In-depth study ~
Regarding the above story, Baba gives the following philosophical explanation about how it works.
People who die thinking of a dog are reborn as a dog
Ananda Marga ideology states, "According to human longings and desires or according to human propensive pursuit, their minds take form i.e., they will gradually acquire the like saḿskáras or reactive momenta. They first see within themselves what they aspire for and then let their minds flow towards it. Thereafter the external organs i.e., hands and feet, etc., set about achieving it. And so it is generally seen that the desires that they had been giving indulgence to throughout their lives, come hurtling over to them in a condensed form at the last hour, i.e., their mind-stuff takes the like mental form for the last time in order to shape itself into a fitting medium of the like saḿskáras. Even during the life-time as well it is seen that the mind-stuff of a drunkard, which imbibes within it an indomitable desire or saḿskára for wine, turns into a vantage ground for undergoing the next saḿskáras or momenta of pleasure and pain. That is to say, such a person gets scent of the wine shop by the sheer propulsion of his acquired mental propensity, if he happens to go to a new and unfamiliar place. A man who has cultivated dog-like or swine-like desires all his life, dies with the same dog-like or swine-like frame of mind. Thereafter with the help of prakrti’s mutative force he acquires the form of a dog or swine in order to undergo the dog-like or swine-like saḿskáras. The great ascetic, King Bharata, died thinking of a fawn, and that was why it is written in the Puráńas (Indian mythologies) that he had to take the body of a deer at his next birth." (1)
Reference
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 2, The Intuitional Science of the Vedas – 3
Plagiary?
It is the accepted international standard and Baba's system not to copy another's work and publish it in your own way. Baba has given a very strict rule on plagiarism. Why is Baba against plagiarism or stealing someone's work? There are many reasons:
1) It is against the code of asteya (non-stealing).
2) Countless stories of bhaktas need to be published. But some do not want to do the hard work of compiling and writing these stories, so they just steal them from others. But new stories need to be told, otherwise so many unpublished stories of sadhakas will be lost and forgotten forever. So watch out for story thieves, and kindly help them not to steal by posting on social media in their own way. If you want to forward this story then attach the following yellow section with the story:
“Courtesy of unknown bhakta via Ananda Marga Universal (https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/)”
This will be treated as the standard protocol.
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
== Section: Important Teaching ==
On destroying cultural artifacts
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Sometimes it so happens that people instead of convincing superstitious people, injure their sentiments by their behaviour. A perusal of history shows that the antagonists of idolatry have, on many occasions, destroyed beautiful temples which were unique examples of architecture. They destroyed the beautiful images which represented the expressions of sculptural art. All these acts are extremely violent, because they cause severe pain to the idolaters, and consequently the idol-worshippers adopt an obstinate attitude towards idols even though they are fully convinced that idol-worship is futile. As a result, not only is the spiritual progress of the idol-worshippers hampered, but the progress of the whole human society is retarded...Destroying a work of art also results in the destruction of the sense of subtle appreciation, and this is in no way proper.” (1)
Note: From time to time we hear that religious fanatics destroy religious symbols or idols. In recent years we have heard about Syria Palmyra artifacts, and there are numerous other examples as well. There are three detrimental effects of this ghastly deed:
(a) If vandals and terrorists destroy religious symbols then those believers will be emotionally hurt and they will cling more tightly to their dogma.
(b) The mind of those vandals and terrorists will be crudified. They will lose their finer sense used by humans to appreciate the subtler aspects of art and literature. Due to this culprits become a burden to society. They will live in a human body with an animal mind.
(c) By this way the entire society loses: religious dogmatic sentiment grows in the victims mind, and animality grows in the mind of those vandals and criminals. And dogma goes on unabated which would have been resolved by a rational approach.
Terrorists and criminals who blow up temples, artifacts, and religious symbols are extremely cruel and debased. They are animals in human form and brutes; their subtle sense is missing, unfortunately.
In Him,
Ramesh
(Robert Sulley)
Reference
1. A Guide to Human Conduct, Ahimsa
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Special spa treatment
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "The practices given below are prescribed only for specific diseases. Therefore, they are to be performed only after consultation with an a'ca'rya."
"Vistrta sna'na or vya'paka sna'na: A bathtub is most convenient, but if this is not available, an earthen trough will suffice. If this is not available either, a wet towel can be used, soaking it repeatedly in water. Fill the bathtub with cold water, and sit in it undressed so that the area from the navel down remains submerged. Keep your feet dry and out of the tub. The area from the neck to the navel should be kept covered with a shirt or dry cloth. The crown of the head and the back of the head should be kept covered with a wet towel."
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "Now take another towel and rub the area from the right side of the abdomen to the groin seven or eight times. Do likewise on the left-hand side and horizontally from right to left and left to right. You should make sure that the towel on the head remains wet."
"After this, wipe the abdomen, hands and thighs and take a full bath. If this is not possible, then leave the tub wearing a shirt."
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "This should be practised behind closed doors. In the absence of a bathtub or an earthen trough, a wet towel may be wrapped around the areas to be bathed, but in order to compensate, cold water must be poured constantly over the towel, and the towel which is to be used for the massage must be kept wet. After vya'paka sna'na, the thighs, pubic area and abdomen should be warmed with a dry towel."
"Before and after this bath one should not eat, in order to allow the stomach to rest." (1)
Reference
1. Caryacarya - 3, Different Yoga Practices
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "The practices given below are prescribed only for specific diseases. Therefore, they are to be performed only after consultation with an a'ca'rya."
"Vistrta sna'na or vya'paka sna'na: A bathtub is most convenient, but if this is not available, an earthen trough will suffice. If this is not available either, a wet towel can be used, soaking it repeatedly in water. Fill the bathtub with cold water, and sit in it undressed so that the area from the navel down remains submerged. Keep your feet dry and out of the tub. The area from the neck to the navel should be kept covered with a shirt or dry cloth. The crown of the head and the back of the head should be kept covered with a wet towel."
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "Now take another towel and rub the area from the right side of the abdomen to the groin seven or eight times. Do likewise on the left-hand side and horizontally from right to left and left to right. You should make sure that the towel on the head remains wet."
"After this, wipe the abdomen, hands and thighs and take a full bath. If this is not possible, then leave the tub wearing a shirt."
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "This should be practised behind closed doors. In the absence of a bathtub or an earthen trough, a wet towel may be wrapped around the areas to be bathed, but in order to compensate, cold water must be poured constantly over the towel, and the towel which is to be used for the massage must be kept wet. After vya'paka sna'na, the thighs, pubic area and abdomen should be warmed with a dry towel."
"Before and after this bath one should not eat, in order to allow the stomach to rest." (1)
Reference
1. Caryacarya - 3, Different Yoga Practices
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Very often, ignorant of real spirituality and goaded by religious dogma, people undertake long and hazardous journeys to places of pilgrimage, sometimes even selling their earthly possessions such as houses and cultivable land to make the trip possible. They hope to attain virtue by taking a holy dip in sacred rivers. Needless to say this not only causes a loss of energy, time and money, but also causes much trouble and brings no spiritual gain." (1)
Reference
1. Pramá – 1, Dynamic Equilibrium and Equipoise
== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==
हे प्रभु! सभी लोग तुम्हारा साथ चाहते हैं।
प्रभात संगीत 0894 प्रभु , सबाई तोमाय काछे चाय
भावार्थ
हे प्रभु! सभी लोग तुम्हारा साथ चाहते हैं। तुम सब जगह हो। तुम इस विश्व के प्रत्येक कण, प्रत्येक कण और अणु-परमाणु सब में छिपे हुए हो। सिद्धान्ततः तो मैं यह समझता हॅूं पर इस परम सत्य को अनुभव नहीं कर पाता हूँ ।
बाबा, अपनी अपूर्णता के कारण कभी मैं तुम्हें दूर आकाश में ढूँढता हूँ , तो कभी मधुर सुगंधित वायु में और कभी तारा मंडलों में। इस प्रकार मैं अपना समय तुम्हें बाहर खोजने में नष्ट करता रहता हॅूं। यह सब व्यर्थ ही चला जाता
है क्यों कि मैं तुम्हें अपने हृदय के भीतर नहीं खोजता हूँ, जहाॅं तुम हमेशा अपने दिव्य ‘‘श्री श्री आनन्दमूर्ति के रूप‘‘ में रहते हो।
बाबा, तुम्हारे इतने आकर्षक और प्यारे स्वरूप को मैंने अपने भीतर नहीं खोजा, इसलिये निराश होकर प्रभु प्रेम में रो रहा हूँ , बाबा! तुम्हारी लीला का अंत नहीं है। तुम महान हो, मैं तुम्हें अनगिनत बार =प्रणाम करता हॅूं।
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Some physicians advise their patients wrongly about
In His below account, Baba is giving a very descriptive analysis of how medicine advanced over time, from its early use by animals and how they cured themselves up through early humans and present day human beings.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Not only humans but many other creatures as well are more or less familiar with medicines. However, since ancient times many non-human creatures have considered fasting or deliberate abstinence from food as their natural medicine. You will notice that dogs and certain other animals abstain from eating if they feel a little ill. You also often do not feel like eating when you feel somewhat physically out of sorts. Some contemporary physicians advise their patients, and even pressure them, to eat even when they do not have any appetite. This, however, goes against the laws of nature. It is natural for a sick creature to feel an aversion for food, unless they suffer from the disease of overeating. By not eating, certain organs of the body enjoy a temporary rest. As a result, after the fast the organs are rejuvenated and reenergized and a feeling of wellbeing returns to the physical body. So not only in the case of prehistoric humans, in the case of the prehistoric animals as well, the ancient, pure and chief medicine was fasting or voluntary abstention from food."
"There is a basic distinction between voluntary abstention from food and upavása. Voluntary abstention from food (svecchá-anashana) means to not take food willingly in order to keeping the body healthy (an + ashana = anashana). Ashana means “eating”, so anashana means “not eating”. This abstention from food certainly helps to heal disease. However, imposed abstention from food does not have the same effect because forced abstention creates a suppressed agony in the mind which upsets the mental balance and at the same time also upsets the physical balance."
"Upavása is undoubtedly a kind of voluntary abstention. However, at the same time there is to some extent a withdrawal of physical activity and a gradual directing of ones mental propensities towards closer proximity with Parama Puruśa. Upa means “near” and vása means “to stay”. Thus the etymological meaning of the word upavása is “to remain near the Lord”."
"So as I was saying, upavása not only has the benefits of voluntary abstention from food. In addition, this practice is especially helpful for maintaining mental balance, that is, upavása is a medicine for both physical as well as mental maladies. There is no doubt whatsoever that a person's mental strength is reinforced if he or she observes fast in a systematic fashion. This is a truth that has stood the test of time." (1)
Reference
1. Shabda Cayanika, Kulya to Kuvela (Discourse 34)
== Section 2: Links ==
Mahaprayan Info
