Baba
Free will for some is boon & for others curse
Namaskar,
Free will is the capacity to decide what to do and what not to do. Humans have this quality, not animals. People constantly decide what to do after weighing the pros and cons, the positive and negative. So Parama Purusa has given humans a lot of latitude and freedom, which animals do not have. Animals are guided purely by instinct. By seeing one particular dog then you can understand how other dogs of that breed behave. With humans, one cannot generalise in this manner. Everyone has their own unique way of making a decision, even under the same circumstances. This is due to free will. The central idea is that God has given you the capacity to do wrong or right. And that is free will. And due to this freedom you are rewarded or punished also. For example you have the capacity to beat or serve others also. If you beat and abuse others you will be punished. And if you serve others you will be rewarded. Again, the freedom to do whatever you wish is free will. Some people misuse it and some utilize ir. For instance, after death there are many who get punished and have to return to animal life due to their bad decisions. They misused their free will. In contrast, those who follow the path of righteousness realise God. This is the central idea of free will.
Free will is the capacity to decide what to do and what not to do. Humans have this quality, not animals. People constantly decide what to do after weighing the pros and cons, the positive and negative. So Parama Purusa has given humans a lot of latitude and freedom, which animals do not have. Animals are guided purely by instinct. By seeing one particular dog then you can understand how other dogs of that breed behave. With humans, one cannot generalise in this manner. Everyone has their own unique way of making a decision, even under the same circumstances. This is due to free will. The central idea is that God has given you the capacity to do wrong or right. And that is free will. And due to this freedom you are rewarded or punished also. For example you have the capacity to beat or serve others also. If you beat and abuse others you will be punished. And if you serve others you will be rewarded. Again, the freedom to do whatever you wish is free will. Some people misuse it and some utilize ir. For instance, after death there are many who get punished and have to return to animal life due to their bad decisions. They misused their free will. In contrast, those who follow the path of righteousness realise God. This is the central idea of free will.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Human beings have a fully-reflected
consciousness which makes them capable of independent action and also of
distinguishing between good and bad." (1)
So this capacity of free will is that unique and unknown power. With
free will, every person can gain tremendous control over their life and
avert so many disasters, by His grace. Yet in one discourse, Baba has
famously declared that 99% of human beings misuse their free will and
invite negative samskaras. But it does not have to be like that. One can
avert all these problems. This free will can also lead one to the apex
of spiritual attainment, by His grace. But it can also be like a
double-edged sword. Free will can lead one to the heights of bliss or
the depths of hell. It all depends upon how it is used.
Humans get what they desire
In so many discourses, Baba guides us that human beings get whatever they desire.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Suppose a person is obsessed with the
thought of doing this or that, to harm another person. They will receive
the body of a pig or a dog. One who desires to do something good and
noble will receive a good physical body accordingly." (2)
Whatever good or bad things a person desires in this life affects their
next birth also. Here are more examples of this phenomenon.
Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, "Suppose someone has a desire to eat
delicious food. Parama Purus'a will grant that wish, and the person may
be reborn in the next life as a wolf or wild boar, to eat to his or her
heart’s content. A woman who wishes to adorn herself with ornaments may
be reborn as a colourfully-marked peacock. One day, however, a hunter
may shoot the beautiful peacock with an arrow. As one desires, so one
attains...So before wishing to attain something, one must be
extra-cautious. Suppose a man wants to be a king. In the next life he
may be born into the household of a poor man whose surname is “Raja”
[“King”]. He wanted to be a Raja and he became one! One must be very
cautious before wishing for anything." (3)
That is why this very special quality - i.e. free will - is a
double-edged sword. If one desires Him one, will get Him. And if they
desire something mundane they will get that. Tragically, all too often
human beings are not aware how powerful their desires are nor where
those desires will lead them. In their shortsighted manner, people long
for so many things - material wealth, name, fame, prestige, etc - which
bind them more and more.
Negative pratisaincara only happens to humans
Animals are animals and follow their nature; they never get degraded and
slowly move along the path of pratisaincara. In contrast, with free
will, human beings may rocket ahead toward Him by His grace, or fall
back into the depths of animal life or even be reborn as inanimate
objects.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "A human being in this life may well be
reborn as an animal, plant or even a rock in the next life." (4)
It is due to free will that one may get caught up in negative
pratisaincara. No other being falls in this way, only humans. Here below
Baba graphically explains how one gets a body according to their
desire.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Which animal is the greediest among the
animals with which we are all very familiar? It does not like to give
up greed in spite of ill treatment and humiliations. It is the cat. Yes,
after moving a few steps ahead, the cat forgets that it was beaten. So
that particular person is reborn as a cat after death, because that body
affords an opportunity for the satiation of their greed. When the
housewife looks around inattentively, the cat sneaks into the kitchen
through the small opening in order to reach the milk." (5)
One may be reborn as a cat in order to fulfill their greed. All because
when in human form they misused their free will and just indulged in
greed. So the progress of living beings is very steady until one attains
the human framework. Then, depending upon one's use of their free will
and the nature of their desires, a person may degenerate (negative
pratisaincara) and revert back to animal life or worse. Or one may
ideate on the Supreme and attain Him.
Conclusion
Human beings have so many desires so if one is not aware about how to
exercise their free will, they will suffer all the pains and agonies of
degradation into a lower birth. Suppose one rushes after wealth,
revenge, or greed etc, one will get a body accordingly. By Baba's grace,
there is an easy answer. Those in human form have been blessed with an
aspiration for the divine. With one's free will they should goad the
mind in that direction and ask for parama'rtha.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Parama'rtha is that factor which brings
about the permanent cessation of the triple afflictions. Here permanent
cessation means cessation of those afflictions which, once removed,
will never return again in the future. That artha which brings permanent
relief from the pangs of hunger, which is the instrument of permanent
cessation, is called “parama'rtha”." (6)
By desiring salvation, even a notorious sinner like the robber Valmiki
can become a great saint. So when ordinary human beings seek paramartha
then naturally they will be blessed and escape this cycle of birth,
death, and rebirth as a lower being, which leads to so much suffering
and unrest. By His grace, one will walk this earth filled with His bliss
and ultimately attain salvation, moksa. That is the proper use of free
will and that is the proper use of our unique and often misused power.
Namaskar,
In Him,
Brahma Prakash
~ In-depth study ~
Suppose one does not have any concept of parama'rtha. And suppose one
does not know how to use their free will correctly. Even then an
ordinary person can achieve the highest stance. The way is to simply
surrender to the will of Parama Purusa. One should merely request, "Let
Your desire be fulfilled." That is the essence of Guru's below blessing.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Created beings, will have to move
according to the Cosmic will; there is no other way. Learning, intellect
and personal status become meaningless [and will goad one into bondage]
unless they are directed towards Parama Purus'a. After realizing the
Supreme truth intelligent people start moving according to Parama
Purus'a’s desire, saying, “Oh Parama Purus'a. I have nothing to ask of
You. Let Thy will be fulfilled. I want nothing else.”" (7)
Our unknown power
Every human being is born with a very special, innate capacity, but most
of the time that special capacity goes unnoticed and misused. Yet, this
quality allows one tremendous control over their future. However,
because one is not aware about their unique and unknown power and unable
to use it properly, things go awry. Consider the greatness human beings
could achieve, and how many pains and troubles could be averted, if one
becomes aware of and properly utilizes this innate gift.
In this modern era, researchers and scientists classify humans within
the animal category. Yet, according to Ananda Marga philosophy, there is
a significant difference between humans and animals. And this letter
explores that unique difference. From the purview of Ananda Marga, human
beings are wholly separate from animals and what distinguishes humans
from animals is: Free will. Parama Purusa has given humans free will -
the power to think, choose, and decide.
References
1. Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy
2. Ananda Vacnamrtam - 10, p.182
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 4
4. A Few Problems Solves - 8
5. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 10, p.184
6. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 4
7. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life - 10
== Section 2: Important Teaching ==
Lack of refined intellect people become atheists
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "Self-awareness develops through clash.
The awareness that develops through physical clash is termed jadábuddhi
[crude physical intellect] because it is associated with jadá [matter].
The consciousness of animals and undeveloped human beings is
matter-oriented. But even in developed human society, if someone is an
atheist or a materialist, we can only term their intellect as
jadábuddhi. Such people deny the existence of spirituality in order to
hide their intellectual deficiencies. Their denial betrays their moral
and intellectual bankruptcy. It does not speak of their glory, nor does
it diminish the value of spirituality."
Ananda Marga ideology says, "Devotion plays a positive role in the
process of clash. Had there been no factor to maintain the balance among
all the objects created within the Macrocosmic Mind, the entire
structure of the universe would have fallen apart. For the sake of
harmony and balance within the universe, there is a mutual attraction
among all the objects; each microcosm attracts the other microcosms. All
finite microcosms – the innumerable manifestations of the Supreme
Entity – are entitled to that universal love with which It has bound
each microcosm to Itself, entitled to the wave of that universal love,
in which Its divine ocean of bliss is perennially flowing. Attraction is
the innate characteristic of microcosms. When this attraction is for
finite objects, it is called káma [“physical longing”], and when it
surges towards the Cosmic Entity, it is called prema [“divine love”]. Of
course, káma is nothing but a limited form of prema. When microcosms
rush towards Parama Puruśa [Supreme Consciousness] attracted by the
irresistible force of divine love, it is termed “devotion”. Since clash
drives the microcosms towards subtlety, it follows that clash must be
the sustainer of devotion." (1)
Reference
1. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 8, Cosmic Attraction and Spiritual Cult
== FURTHER READING ==
You must not sit idle like a frog
in a well under the spell of inertia - Ananda
Vanii #5
"The accumulated distortions of many lifetimes cannot be removed in the twinkling of an eye. The removal of these distortions requires prolonged cultivation of knowledge, selfless devotion and untiring action. The world expects tremendous work from you; so you must not sit idle like a frog in a well under the spell of inertia. Therefore awake, arise."
Note: The above is one of Baba’s original Ananda Vaniis. These original and true Ananda Vaniis are unique, eternal guidelines that stand as complete discourses in and of themselves. They are unlike Fake Ananda Vaniis which are fabricated by most of the groups - H, B etc.
== Section ==
আমাদের এগিয়ে চলতে হৰে
“উৎ + নতি = উন্নতি | উৎ মানে—উপরের দিকে | ऊपर की ओर | Upward | যেখানে উৎ, নম্, ক্তিন্ | যেখানে মানুষ নমস্কার করছে, উপরে দিকের কোনও সত্তাকে---সেইটা হল তার উৎ নতি, উন্নতি | আর যেখানে মানুষ নমস্কার করছে, শ্রদ্ধা জানাচ্ছে, “অব” মানে “নিচের দিকের, কোনও কিছুকেই, জড়কে, ভেদ-ৰুদ্ধিকে, মানুষের-মানুষের বৈসম্য তথা বৈমনস্যকে”, সখানে সে নিচের দিককে নমঃ করছে | সে নিচে নেমে যাচ্ছে |...
তো, সেই ব্যাপার, উন্নতি-টুন্নতি হয়নি, ৰাপু; মুখে যাই ৰলা হক | তা, এখন যে যুগ চলে গেছে, যে দিন অতীতের অন্ধকারে হারিয়ে গেছে, সে গেছে ভালই হয়েছে | এখন নূতন উষার দিকে তাকিয়ে, আমাদের এগিয়ে চলতে হৰে” (1)
Reference
1. অপ্রকাশিত,আনন্দ নগর ১৯৮৪
== Section ==
When to skip following dharma
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Those who protect dharma, dharma protects them. One should always protect dharma, in both big and small ways. If one thinks that they will only follow dharma in some big events, and not in small ones, then those big events may not ever come in their entire life. It may be that in their whole life, besides their birth and death, not a single big event happens. Yet at the time of birth how can one protect dharma. At that time one is just a small infant and cannot do anything. That infant is totally unaware about the events going on around them. Then how can they protect dharma. And at the time of death, a person is senseless. In that case also how can they protect dharma. For this reason, dharma should be protected always. In small and big ways-- even in jokes and humor dharma should be protected. Those who protect dharma, dharma protects them: Dharma raksati raksitah." (1)
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 32 (H), p.86-7
== Section ==
Find out how many cultures in the
world?
"Culture is a vague term. It is the collective name for different expressions of life. People eat, enjoy hospitality, laugh on some occasions and shed tears on others, and thereby express life through various actions. The collective name of all these actions is culture."
"According to PROUT all of society has the same culture. There are local variations in the mode or state of cultural expression, but the expression is universal. While everybody eats, some eat by hand, others by stick and still others by spoon. Indian dance is based on Mudrá or dance postures, and European dance is based on rhythm, but they do not represent two different cultures."
"Local variations will diminish if there is a close blending between different groups of people, because this will create common customs. In Nepal there is a blending of Hindu and Buddhist customs. In Bengal there is a blending of Aryan and Dravidian customs. These local variations are called customs. Thus local modes of expression bearing local or group specialities are customs, but the expression itself is culture. Therefore it is a mistake to readjust boundaries on the basis of language and culture. Indian culture and the culture of the world are one and the same." (1)
Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 15, Talks on Prout
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1. Posting: Free will for some is boon & for others curse
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