Baba
What to do
Namaskar,
Guru’s below guideline is one of the most misunderstood teachings. People often take it in a diametrically opposite direction, and apply it in the wrong way. When in fact these are some of Baba's special teachings only for carrying out pracara work. Here Baba guides us about the best way to spread the teachings of Ananda Marga ideology.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Where not to criticise
Below Sadguru Baba is describing how to propagate Ananda Marga ideology in the campus of Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists, so-called brahmins, atheists, Zoroastraians, gays, Mormons, etc. Criticising and pointing out the defects of the dogmatic religions in front of those dogmatic followers will not bring success. Rather they will become inimical towards us. So criticising the various religions or political parties when doing pracara in regions dominated by either Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists, so-called brahmins, atheists, Zoroastraians, gays, or Mormons, etc will be counter productive.
We have to put forth our ideas and by that way they will become intrigued, interested, and ultimately convinced. So doing constructive work is the approach for interacting with people in the campus of Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists, so-called brahmins, atheists, Zoroastraians, gays, Mormons, etc. One should do constructive work in their area: teach asanas, sadhana, and other moral and yogic principles to new people. Merely attacking and refuting the beliefs and ideals of others will not work.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “What is the best way to popularize an ideology? Is it by refuting the ideals of others? Is it by criticizing others directly? Or is it by doing constructive work?”
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Ans.: – The best way to propagate a sublime ideal is by doing constructive work. If one condemns or criticizes the ideals of others, one may enjoy the satisfaction of an apparent victory.” (1)
Constructive work = our pracara strategy
Guru’s above guideline is one of the most misused teachings. It only applies to our pracara strategy, but some people often take it in an opposite direction and thereby misuse it. And by that way they harm themselves and society both.
In Baba’s above teaching, constructive work means presenting the Ananda Marga ideals to people in the campus of Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists, so-called brahmins, atheists, Zoroastraians, gays, Mormons, etc in a positive manner, and not speaking poorly of their their myths, dogmas, or rituals.
In contrast, the various religions do not have wholly positive teachings to impart to new people. Same is the case with political parties. So they commonly resort to negative propaganda as they have nothing else in their arsenal. Whereas, our Ananda Marga has a tremendous array of positive teachings to impart to people of all faiths and backgrounds. And that is the constructive work. Here then, constructive work means our pracara strategy. There should not be any confusion about this.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
That said, there is most definitely a time and place where we should point out the defects of others and take a more forceful approach of bringing them to the fore.
How to handle drunkards
For instance, suppose a margii walks into a jagrti and there are two so-called margiis drinking a bottle of wine, and already both of them are completely intoxicated and wantonly vandalising and destroying the jagrti. In their misunderstanding of the above teaching about constructive work, some might think that we should not point out those drunkards, and instead we should just do constructive work such as clean up their vomit, give them more bottles to drink, and not point out their wrongdoing. But that is not the right approach. That is the wrong application of Guru’s teaching. Instead, one should intercede with a firm hand and inform those two pseudo-margiis that their conduct is against our dharmic way of life - and apply pressure of circumstance to force them to mend their ways. So this is not the time just to keep quiet. Rather, take a strong stand and if necessary call the police and have them arrested.
Conclusion
Guru’s above teaching about constructive work is primarily for our pracara strategy; it is not made for covering up a sinner’s sin or ignoring someone’s wrongdoing etc. About this, we should be cent-per-cent clear.
In Him,
Brahma Prakash
Constructive work vs. criticism
Guru’s above teaching is only related with spreading our ideological principles amongst the general society in the campus of Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists, so-called brahmins, atheists, Zoroastraians, gays, Mormons, etc such as when teaching people about Ananda Marga philosophy, Prout, and neo-humanism etc. If we pay heed to Guru’s teachings and practically show people how our Ananda Marga teachings and principles will benefit them etc, they will be very keen to join, practice sadhana, and take part in our various plans and programs. The above teaching about constructive work is related only with doing pracara with the general populace.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Call them “goody-goodies” but not good people
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "From the social or human viewpoint, everybody has the right to correct the behaviour of everyone else. This is the birthright of every human being. No scholar can dispute the right of people to correct the shortcomings of those with whom they come in contact. The recognition of this right is indispensable for the health of society. " (2)
Silent goody-goodies are a hindrance to the welfare of society. Truly good people awaken the people about injustices.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "We cannot call people “good” if they cannot lead people of all walks of life towards welfare. We can call them “goody-goodies” but not good people. Those who are truly good people will move bravely forward and provide inspiration and strength to those mute masses to fight against all kinds of obstacles, and give a clarion call to them to march ahead." (3)
So Baba guides that we should never tolerate misdeeds and injustices.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
When burglars break in
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Intelligent people should no longer remain silent...They must not act like goody-goodies, seeing evil but continuing to tolerate it. This is very bad." (4)
That means if burglars enter your house then one should take steps to combat them. One should not just go through one’s daily toils, do concrete work, and ignore those burglars.
Dogma: Earn money doing constructive work, pay a blind eye to burglars who have come to rob the house, and just go on doing one's own concrete work.
References
1. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - Part 3, Some Questions and Answers on Ananda Marga Philosophy – Excerpt B, Q & A #47
2. Human Society - 1, Justice
3. Serve the Supreme by Kiirtana, 17 May 1982, Kolkata
4. The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism, Bondages and Solutions (Discourse 2)
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The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
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== Section 2: Important Teaching ==
Here is an English summary of Baba’s Hindi teaching:
There is one defect in jinanis. Two jinanis cannot agree on any point. Among them, many jinanis believe that agreeing means accepting one’s defeat. Indeed there are some godly qualities in jinanis. Such as they can speak in flowery language. Or that with their grandiloquence they can prove day as night, and night as day. If in the daytime one jinani tells to anyone that it is night, or if during the night they tell that it is day, and if the next person does not accept what the jinani is telling, then the jinani will use their logic and reasoning to prove that person as a top-grade fool. And he (the jinani) will make it look like the next person could not understand this one simple thing. Because of this, in the scriptures is it said, ‘Mathitva…’ Meaning: if an unfathomable amount of milk is turned into butter and whey, then jinanis argue and quarrel about the whey and in so doing the butter gets rotten and destroyed. (1) (English summary)
Reference
1. English summary of Varna Victira (H), p. 49-50
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Important lesson of sadhana: Guru puja
Ananda Marga ideology states, "Question: What is pratyáhára?"
"Answer: Pratyáhára is derived: prati – á – hr + ghaiṋ. The word áhára literally means “assimilating” or “taking something within”. As a yogic practice, pratyáhára means “withdrawal of the mind from external objectivity and goading the withdrawn mind toward Parama Puruśa”. (1)
Ananda Marga ideology states, "You must bring about a revolutionary change in the flow of your judgment and thought, and see how, after overcoming your fascination with external colour, your mind becomes tinged with the His glorious colour. In Ananda Marga Sadhana, the method of withdrawing the mind from degrading tendencies, and absorbing oneself in the colour of the Great, is called Pratyáhára Yoga (the yoga of withdrawal) or Varńárghyadána (the offering of colours). All people have a particular attraction for one or another object or activity and as soon as they become attracted to an object, then their minds become coloured with the colour of that object. You can withdraw your mind from the colour of that object and dye yourself in His colour by offering Him the captivating colour of the object that has attracted you: this is the real Pratyáhára Yoga. The word Pratyáhára means “to withdraw” – to withdraw the mind from its object." (2)
Note: In astaunga yoga, there are 8 limbs - one of which is pratyahara. We practice that as Guru puja, and that is part of our regular sadhana routine. Guru puja is very important. After sadhana, one should always do Guru puja, and Guru puja can also be done on its own. After all, it is a lesson. By this way, one's attachment for mundane things slowly fades away. It is a perfect science. If, after practicing Guru puja, one is unable to get rid of their worldly attachments and / or a particular mental weakness, then best is to consult an acarya. In the Acarya Diary, Baba has given a detailed science and method for practicing Guru puja. One should learn how to do this from any acarya, one on one.
Reference
1. Yoga Psychology, Questions and Answers on Meditation, Question #10
2. Subhasita Samgraha - 3, Vibration, Form and Colour
== Section 3: Links ==
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