Baba
God of death
Namaskar,
Once one king asked a great yogi sage, “How can I gain success on the path of divinity?”
In reply, the saint told the king to do sadhana.
The king said, “Yes, I of course do sadhana, but invariably I fall asleep while meditating. So then what should I do?”
How the sage responded to the king
The sage answered, “In your kingdom you have a prison, and inside that prison there are so many inmates, and some of them are going to be hanged for their crimes. On the night before they are to be executed, do you think that they are going to sleep that night?”
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“Of course not, they will not sleep at all - not even one wink,” said the king.
The saint responded, “Exactly. They think their time on this earth is short and soon they will die - therefore they cannot rest. Likewise, to succeed on the spiritual path, you should adopt this very same notion. Remember that life is short and you are not going to remain on this earth permanently. Anytime you might die, even very soon - today or tomorrow. If you think in this way and remember this, you will certainly do what is most important right away, and focus fully on God. Then you will be extremely alert and sincere in sadhana and it is sure that you will proceed along the path of divinity and get success.”
That was the very fruitful answer which the saint told to that king.
Death can knock on your door anytime
The above account is one famous story that is wholly consistent with Baba's teaching: One should think that any time the mythological god of death can knock on your door and snatch away your life. That is the mindset you have to adopt when readying yourself for sadhana.
Grhiitvaeva kesheśu mrtyurńá Dharmácaret
Ananda Marga ideology states, "That is, during dharma'caran, i.e. dharmic pursuits [following yama and niyama, service, svadhyaya etc] one should think that the god of death has already started pulling one’s hair – that one’s death is imminent. And accordingly one should work sincerely and vigorously; one will have to do a great many noble deeds within a short period." (1)
Only when one realises the extreme temporal nature of this world, can they truly progress on the path of sadhana.
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People think they will live forever
The reason why it is so important to develop this strict mindset in one’s spiritual life is because this world is full of allurements and attractions. And so long as one is enamoured with these allurements - like post, power, prestige, material wealth, name and fame, etc - then it is not possible to march quickly on the path of spirituality. Because one's mind will be full of those worldly temptations.
Every human being has come from animal life and those baser propensities are still active. So people are easily attracted to the mundane & sensual desires of this quinquelemental world. That is 'Part A'. And the 'Part B' is that people think that they have come to live in this world forever. Even when faced with death, they think that death will never befall them.
Along these lines, in Ananda Vacanamrtam - 29 Hindi edition, Baba recounts the following:
One time a devayoni yaksa asked Yudhisthira, "What is the most surprising thing about human beings?"
And the wise Yudhisthira correctly replied, “People think that they have come to live in this world forever. Even when carrying the corpse of their dead friend to the cremation ground, they cannot believe that death will one day come to them as well.” (English Summary)
So people get attracted to the glitz and glamour of this world, and side by side think they are going to live on this earth for ages and ages and ages. No one can believe that one day they too will perish. So they pass their days in pursuit of worldly temptations like social stature, fancy garments, and material gains. They think they will enjoy those things up to eternity. And on this presumption they live their life.
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And this is how the noose of maya keeps people stuck in the endless cycle of birth and death. According to Baba, it is only possible to extricate oneself from this never-ending affair, by taking a strong resolve. If one thinks that, "Death can come anytime to my door and I must reach God before this happens", then and only then will one not be swayed by the short-lived attractions of this world. Rather, one will be vigilant in sadhana and get success.
A seed without water will not sprout
Just as a seed without water will not sprout, similarly a sadhaka who thinks that this world is their permanent abode cannot progress on the path of spirituality. One should think that this life is fleeting and that at any moment one can die. One should adopt the basic feeling that, “I have a short time to reach my Goal.” This is the food or fuel that will enable one to gain success.
Without that, one will drift from one worldly desire to another. That is the common problem that binds most every human being on this earth. They may or may not have some theoretical understanding that one day they are going to die, but, practically speaking, they live their life on this earth as if they are going to remain here forever. All their plans and programs are geared along this idea. They think, “I will buy shiny things; I will get lots of money; everyone will honour me; my name will be known throughout the land etc.” People's plans are like that. In this way maya binds them and they cannot get success on the path of spirituality.
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Conclusion
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "O Parama Purus'a, grant me devotion – that devotion which will enable me to love you every moment in newer and still newer ways. For you are endless and your expressions are also endless. If I learn how to love You, I will be able to love You in endless ways. My life will become effervescent with the sweet rhythms of the infinite. My life will attain its highest fulfilment." (2)
One must think that anytime the god of death can knock on your door and snatch away your life. That is the mindset to adopt when readying yourself for sadhana.
Namaskar,
In Him,
Priyanath
~ In-depth study ~
#1: In the Senior Acarya Diary chapter on Iishvara pranidhana, section - “shuddhis”, Baba is describing that when sitting in meditation (padmasana, siddhasana, viirasana) one must keep the back straight so that the kundalini can the passage to rise upward from muladhara to sahasrara.
#2: Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "They should be taught to sit in padmásana [lotus posture], but instead of interlocking the fingers, they may rest one palm upon the other; and keep the spine erect.." (Caryacarya-1, The Process of Initiation)
#3: Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Tailless apes can be taught sádhaná after some effort. The tailed bipeds will not be able to do sádhaná like the tailless bipeds because the backbone of the tailed bipeds, containing the controlling points of the five fundamental factors, does not come in one line. The controlling points fall on a curved line, hence they cannot perform sádhaná properly.” (Yoga Psychology, The Human Body Is a Biological Machine)
#4: Ananda Marga philosophy states,” Mono-sided, straight or erect beings can perform sádhaná very well because all the five controlling points of the fundamental factors fall on a straight line….You see how fortunate you are to have a human biological structure. You have got a human frame. Humans should be obliged to Supreme Consciousness for this favour.” (Yoga Psychology, The Human Body Is a Biological Machine)
#5: Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The one who has followed the straight path of the sus'umna' canal upwards becomes one with Parama Purus'a." (Namami Krsnasundaram, Párthasárathi Krśńa and Vishiśt́ádvaetaváda (Discourse 16))
#6: Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Ujure uju cháŕi ná leo re báḿka. The word “uju” in Saḿskrta is derived from the Saḿskrta word “rju”. “Rju” means straight. The meaning of this line is “don’t accept the crooked path rejecting the straight one”. That is, just proceed along the path of “suśumná” not along the path of “id́á” and “piuṋgalá”.” (Ananda Marga Karma Yoga in a Nutshell, “Kurvanneveha Karmmáńi”)
Sadhana means practice, not samadhi
Some do sadhana and just wonder why they are not feeling bliss or why they are not getting samadhi. However, this is not the right way to think about their meditation. Sadhana itself is the act of taking the proper effort and engaging in the practice of meditating. The aspirant is trying to ensconce the mind in a certain ideal. The mind may or may not cooperate, but one should go on trying. And with that sincere effort, by His grace, one day one is sure to get success. So no one should give up or be frustrated that they are not getting samadhi. Sadhana is the practice and that is what we are to do twice daily, at minimum.
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Bemoan the futility of your life
Ananda Marga ideology says, “The worship of Brahma should be done scrupulously, or else you will later regret and bemoan the futility of your life with the last drop of your tears at your last hour. You should make your life worthwhile through your Sádhaná. How much can your worldly friends and relations do for you? After your death your relatives may perhaps ask, “How much money has he left behind?” Your friends may go to the crematorium and indulge in flattering reminiscences about you. Your husband or wife may cry for you for about ten or twelve days and then regain their normal composure. Your lot will be only a profound sigh – a record of the futility and frustration of your life. So do not waste your time lest you later have to repent.” (3)
So one should remember the ephemeral nature of life on this earth and always remember God. And then one more thing is needed to succeed in order to escape the noose of maya. One should ask Sadguru Baba in dhyana-- to please grace them in sadhana. One should think, “O Parama Purusa, You are my only respite from this mundane world, only You can pull me from the grip of Maha Maya. So please shower me in Your infinite compassion so I can feel You in my sadhana, please allow me to tread the path of spirituality and reach unto You.”
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Most everyone wants to know the secret for gaining success on the spiritual path: How to escape the serpentine noose of maya and reach to that Supreme Desideratum. There are so many allurements and obstacles in this world. How can one free oneself from these attractions and hurdles, and reach unto Parama Purusa. Sadguru Baba has given the answer. The above letter leads in that direction.
References
1. Subhasita Samgraha, part 1, A Devotee's Object of Ideation
2. Namami Krsnasundaram, Disc: 26
3. Subhasita Samgraha - 3, Vibration, Form and Colour
* * *
The below section is an entirely different topic, unrelated to the above material.
It stands on its own merit as a point of interest and ideological awareness.
* * *
== Section 3: Important Teaching ==
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “To continue the flow of His divine play, it is not desirable that all entities of the vast universe should attain the Supreme stance at one time; neither is it the natural process. Thus human beings must strive to attain individual salvation. If Parama Puruśa is pleased, they will surely succeed in their efforts.” (1)
Note: Many things can be done collectively like bhajans, sadhana, meal, bath, and kiirtan etc. These can all be collective endeavours. But not everything in this universe can be done collectively. For instance, collective salvation is not possible. Because then creation will cease to exist and Parama Purusa does not want creation to end. Those who are fortunate will use their free will to do sadhana. Unit beings will get salvation on an individual, case by case basis, not collectively.
Reference
1. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 5, Equalization of Saḿskáras
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Ananda Marga ideology states, "All people should have proper knowledge and understanding of what is shreya and what is preya, what is vidyá and what is avidyá, for lack of this knowledge causes their downfall, and with its help, they progress onwards through proper sádhaná. Behind human desires the sweetly benevolent inspiration that the soul imparts, leads human beings to consciousness, not crudeness. That is why the wise try to develop their wisdom and intelligence more and more. No one wants to remain a fool: not even a simpleton wants to be called an idiot. To acquire true wisdom, judgement is necessary and judgment involves discrimination. The proper applications of this discriminating judgement is wisdom. This is why the discriminating people take Brahma, the ultimate stage of their consciousness, as their objective."
"But the ignorant or foolish ones who do not utilize their discriminating judgement but are tempted on to the path of materialistic sádhaná for their temporary enjoyment, eventually become crude themselves. The Yama said, “Allured by the paraphernalia of enjoyment these fools do not understand nor do they want to understand, the Supreme Entity. They cannot even imagine a subtler world beyond this material quinquelemental world and so they totally deny it. Those who take the crude as their objective, have to come again and again into this material world in crude forms to enjoy and endure the crude. Trudging along a dark path they are gradually transformed into matter. Thus, they come under my sway again and again, for it is impossible for them to redeem themselves from the cycle of birth and death." (1)
Note: In the present world, countless innocent people in the so-called advanced societies - and wherever materialism reigns - suffer terribly from this above described ailment. It is our duty to save them from their complete destruction and demise.
References
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 3, Supreme Benevolence and Mundane Pleasure
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Remedy for food poisoning
The following is an English summary of Baba’s Bangla discourse from Shabda Cayanika:
Antidotes of poison - green turmeric, spinach leaves, basil...mainly black basil and secondly white basil or any kinds of basil.If some negative effect is going on due to food poisoning or because of eating poisonous fish, then without any delay a sufficient quantity of spinach leaves should be eaten and by that way the poison will be antidoted. (1)
Reference
1. Shabda Cayanika - 20 Bangla, disc 156
== Section 4: Links ==
Other topics of interest
