Baba
Value of occult powers
Namaskar,
In the world, people deem occult powers to have so much value, but this is not the case in Ananda Marga. Why is this so?
Material desires in sadhana
As one thinks so one becomes. For example, one is doing sadhana, and aspires for money, then s/he gets money. Before practicing sadhana, one did not have money, but had the desire to have more money. Then, after practicing sadhana for some time, the sadhaka acquires a lot of money.
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In our lives we might have seen many such sadhakas. Money is just one example, but it can be any other materialistic pursuit such as prestige, power, recognition, etc. When one does sadhana, and whatever one thinks, one will get that. In sadhana, the sadhaka concentrates on Parama’tma’, wants to please Parama’tma’. If the sadhaka concentrates on Parama’tma’ but at the same time, one is thinking how to get more money, then one will get money because Parama’tma’ will provide what the sadhaka wants. If the want is materialistic, then the sadhaka will get that but not realize Parama’tma’ because the want was for something materialistic and not Parama’tma’.
Example of baby & mother
Let us consider another example. If a baby is crying and the mother provides a toy / candy, and the child stops crying after receiving the toy/candy, then the mother does not need to do anything else to fulfill the wants of the baby. The mother will give the baby toy / candy, then keep doing her work. But if the baby is not pleased even after receiving the toy / candy then the mother does not have any other option but to take the baby into the lap.
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Parama’tma’s creation is full of maya. If no one is trapped in maya and everyone strongly desires to realize Parama’tma, then all will be liberated. That is why in this creation there is vidya maya and avidya maya, phases of lightness and dark, wisdom and ignorance. Parama’tma likes to do His liila. With liila, the creation is colourful, as in a play there is a hero, villain, comedian, etc. Similarly, in this creation we see people being wise, dumb, wealthy, poor, hypocrites, sadhus, etc. People’s wants are different: they debate on things, there are friendships, struggles, and that is how the creation is colorful. This play of creation is called liila.
Obstructions in sadhana
In the path of sadhana, maya is an obstruction. When one does sadhana, then various types of obstructions arise. First when one does sadhana, then there will be obstructions from the outside such as from family members, neighbors, friends, etc. Slowly external obstructions will go away, and internal obstructions will mount. But if one persists with sadhana, then slowly the mind will calm down and not be bothered by either internal or external obstructions, and will continue to do sadhana further.
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The next obstruction will be from occult power. If the sadhaka aspires for occult powers in mind then s/he will get it. But this will result in the downfall of the sadhaka. How? With occult powers one starts to put more emphasis on self. For example, what one says that happens, because of the power of sadhana. The person with occult power may get offended or feel hurt by self-esteem if someone else says something that is not pleasing. In return, the person with occult power may curse and think how to penalize the other person. With such type of actions, the person with occult power degenerates oneself, as one will get reactions of such actions later, sadhana also is lost because of such actions.
How people use occult power
In ancient times, when no weapons were available for punishment, people used to bite others, or beat by hand. Slowly, people used stones, sticks, etc., and now people use guns and other weapons. If one does not use physical objects in hurting others, but uses psychic powers, then that also results in hurting others as well bringing the downfall of oneself. If one does any type of bad actions, then one has to bear its consequences.
In the path of sadhana, avidya maya poses a number of obstructions such that the sadhaka does not proceed further. Occult power is also a type of obstruction. With occult power one feels that whatever one says will be done. So in front of people one will try to show occult power by demonstrating various things to get recognition from others and for prestige. Use of occult power brings one’s downfall as the goal is to praise the self. So sadhakas should not pay attention to occult powers.
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Result in occult power
In the path of bhakti, Parama’tma’ is above everything. Because of Parama’tma’ this creation exists, and we exist. With occult power the sadhaka gets disillusioned and puts too much emphasis on the self and forgets Parama’tma’. This results in one’s own downfall. When the sadhaka thinks Parama’tma’ is above everything then that results in the spiritual growth of a sadhaka, but when one thinks s/he is above everything then one degenerates oneself.
With occult power the sadhaka is not a beginner. So when downfall occurs it hampers the sadhaka in a significant way as if s/he has fallen from 100 ft off the ground. When a sadhaka falls when the feet are grounded then the bodily damages are minor, but when one falls from above 10 feet the damages are little more, and when one falls from above 100 ft then the damages are significant. So if a sadhaka who has advanced to higher levels degenerates, then the damages are significant.
In Hiim,
Nirakara
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “While practising spiritual cult, it should be remembered that spiritual aspirants must not practise in order to acquire these occult powers. The goal of spiritual practice is to realize the Supreme Entity. To search for any other thing is wrong. Occult powers are just like the dust on the roadside. The attraction for Parama Puruśa is the most valuable object – all else is only the dust of the earth.” (1)
~ In-depth study ~
Why you got this body
Baba has warned us not to pay attention to occult powers. The goal of life is to realize Parama’tma’ and not the achievement of material pleasures such as money, prestige, power etc. A sadhaka in advanced stages should never develop this feeling of s/he is more knowledgeable than others, or has more power than others. Such type of thinking is dangerous because they are temporary. Someone possesses money, power etc. today but may not have that tomorrow.
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World is transitory
For example, one who is a great scholar today may not know a simple thing tomorrow if s/he will have alzheimer’s disease. With such a disease, yesterday’s scholar may not even remember his own name. Even this body will not remain on this earth or even whoever is present today in this earth, no one will remain after about 100 years. There will be new human beings who replace the older ones. It is like a play. In the play there is a stage and many performers. One came, sang a song and left; another one came, narrated a story, and left; another one danced and left. Similar to the play, we are players in the stage of earth. Players come and go, and their nature is transitory. However, the lamp on the stage witnesses everything that happens in the play. Parama’tma’ is the witnessing Entity who observes everything that happens in this creation. The play in the creation is never ending.
We have a duty to perform in this creation. In the form of human beings we have the potential to utilize our efforts in the right way towards Parama’tma’. If there are obstructions, self desires on the way then they have to be removed. There has to be one and only one desire to realize Parama’tma’, proceed towards Parama’tma’, and merge in Parama’tma’. There should not be any secondary desire. If there are secondary desires, then the secondary desires will be fulfilled and the main desire (i.e. to merge in Parama’tma’) will be forgotten. There are many sadhakas who are responsible for their own downfall because of secondary desires. Secondary desires are like toys that the mother gives to the child so it won’t cry. Occult powers are like a toy. Parama’tma’ has a lot of toys to give to sadhakas if they want, but if the sadhaka wants the toy then they will be diverted from the path and will never be able to reach Parama’tma’ as they are satisfied with the toys.
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How sadhakas fall
But a true sadhaka wants only Parama’tma’. Such a sadhaka’s life is filled with bliss. Many get human birth, but they live the life of animals before their death. Even there are many people who not only live like animals but even do much harm to others that they even do not deserve another human birth. Whatever samskaras they had before getting birth, they accumulate even more samskaras in this life, and hence will not even be born as humans in their next birth. The majority of people fall in this category who do not deserve human birth. There is a minority percentage of people who are humans in this birth, and they are reborn as humans because they did not do so good or so bad in this life. But ones who are doing sadhana if they have secondary desires then they accumulate negative samskaras. If they have desires to accumulate money, then in their next birth they may be reborn in a wealthy family, thereby making their chances very low to do sadhana in their next life, hence they have degenerated themselves. There are sadhakas who do sadhana for some time, but they do have secondary desires. They will get secondary desires, but because of that they may do harm to others hence they even downgrade themselves to a position which is lower than where they were prior to doing sadhana.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
So a sadhaka needs knowledge of what one should do and what not. Occult power should never be desired and the thought of them should not even be entertained. It is a trap in the play of this creation. So there is no need to be attached to such things such as money, power or prestige or taking pleasure in self praise. Rather everything belongs to Parama’tma’ and the goal of life should be based on Parama’tma’ and not on the self.
References
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 18, Cult, Inference and Propensity
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
Receive Your blessing
"Esechi sakale ámrá dale dale, prańati jánáte nite áshirvád..." (Prabhat Samgiita #4942)
Purport:
Baba, we all have come to You to do sastaunga pranam and receive Your blessing. We do not want any wealth, prestige, or any boon. Only we want Your heavenly prasad. That is nectar for us; that will be everything.
Parama Purusa, even before our request, You have granted us all that was needed ahead of time. With my hand extended, I went on accepting all that You gave. Whatever I could receive from You with my small hand, I see that it is pure gold and something eternal.
Parama Purusa, You know me better than I know myself. You know more about my requirements than I. I do not know anything - just I love You. At Your lips, Your heart satiating blissful smile is ever-present. By seeing that smile, let all my pramad (mistakes) be removed.
Supreme Entity, Baba, this entire cosmos is saturated with Your divine grace. With Your infinite kindness, You have made my whole existence move in the direction of shreya and paramartha. Baba, today we all have come here collectively in front of You to surrender, to do sastaunga pranam, and receive Your blessing...
Note: The above song is a chorus song where bhaktas reach to Parama Purusa to do pranam.
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"Esechi sakale ámrá dale dale, prańati jánáte nite áshirvád..." (Prabhat Samgiita #4942)
Purport:
Baba, we all have come to You to do sastaunga pranam and receive Your blessing. We do not want any wealth, prestige, or any boon. Only we want Your heavenly prasad. That is nectar for us; that will be everything.
Parama Purusa, even before our request, You have granted us all that was needed ahead of time. With my hand extended, I went on accepting all that You gave. Whatever I could receive from You with my small hand, I see that it is pure gold and something eternal.
Parama Purusa, You know me better than I know myself. You know more about my requirements than I. I do not know anything - just I love You. At Your lips, Your heart satiating blissful smile is ever-present. By seeing that smile, let all my pramad (mistakes) be removed.
Supreme Entity, Baba, this entire cosmos is saturated with Your divine grace. With Your infinite kindness, You have made my whole existence move in the direction of shreya and paramartha. Baba, today we all have come here collectively in front of You to surrender, to do sastaunga pranam, and receive Your blessing...
Note: The above song is a chorus song where bhaktas reach to Parama Purusa to do pranam.
== Section 3: Links ==
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