Baba
Subjugation of women - why?
Namaskar,
All over the world, women are tortured. What solution and remedy do Ananda Marga teachings offer?
Women subjected to torture is a multifarious problem. Looking into this issue from merely one direction will not help. One needs to know why women are being attacked and battered, and what is the reason behind it. We need to investigate this problem in an unbiased manner and then derive a conclusion.
An injustice that repeatedly happens is sexual violence. The question is why does sexual violence against women happen in the society. To answer this question, we need to find out how human evolution occurred?
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Old ones die, new ones are born
First there were different kinds of animals and slowly humans evolved. Today chimpanzees are the closest types of animals that resemble the human structure. Many types of animals from the past do not exist today. This is the liila of this creation. Old ones die; new ones are born. New ones after birth become young, mature, old, and die and new ones are again born. This cycle of birth, death. and rebirth continues.
Newborns: animals versus humans
For the birth of new ones, there is a need for male-female interaction. Male-female interactions in animals happen in a specific time when partners come close, and new animals are born. The animal hormones are designed in such a manner that this interaction happens in due time during mating season. Humans in contrast are evolved beings and more intelligent than animals, and also possess greater freedom. Like in animals, there is a time when both men and women develop the desire to have a new born baby. But since humans are evolved beings, the desire to have sex is misutilized, and when differences in desires between men and women arise, sexual violence occurs.
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Desire to reproduce
In women, one of the desires is to give birth. Women as well develop sex vrittis (instincts) at a specific time period in life, and once that age is crossed, those vrttis diminish, and do not arise again. In plants, similar phenomena are observed. During the time of pollination, pollen is transferred from a male to a female counterpart.
Biological differences between women & men
In humans, the mentality of males and females are completely different biologically. Males have stronger sex related vrittis (instincts) compared to females. After the birth of the newborn, it is the duty of the mother to take care of the baby. Females have stronger vrittis (instincts) to take care of the newborn. Females develop love for the newborn and need support either from their male counterparts or from the society. After a certain age in females, the sex vritti diminishes and there remains no interest or desire to give birth to new babies. But, for males such desire does not diminish. That is why because of differences in desires between males and females, where males have desire for sex and females do not, sexual violence occurs. Males do not have proper education that females do not have interest for sex, and they often involve in sexual violence against women.
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Indisciplined interaction between women & men
Abhoga Samsargat Praptiresana--With the association of the enjoyable object there is a desire to get it. When men and women are working in a disciplined way that is fine. But when they are engaged in unnecessary gossip and unethical means of interaction, then their behavior turns inhumane. The initial infatuation turns into bitter violence later. Since human beings have evolved from animals, their lower tendencies are very well similar to animals. All the vrittis (instincts) of animals are present in humans. Eating, sleeping, and reproducing are typical habits of animals, and that is what humans of lower tendencies do, because these tendencies are already present in humans. For example, a child tries to suck anything that is close to the mouth, even without knowing what it is. That vritti is dominant in the newborn. In children, the mind has not yet developed, their actions are guided by vrittis (instincts). For example, a robot functions its desired tasks when given instructions, and after performing tasks it stops. Similarly, animals are guided by paramatma like a robot as they function by vrittis (instincts) only and the intellect is not developed.
Attachment with objects leads to deterioration
If a person loves sweets, and sweets are kept in front of a person, the person will eat as many sweets as possible. Similarly, if a person drinks alcohol, and alcohol is kept in front, then the person will drink. But if the person is kept away from their favorite food / objects, then such attraction will not be there.
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Ananda Marga philosophy states, “The peculiar nature of these...propensities is this: if they are given indulgence, they increase. And they easily come under control with a slight effort; only in the initial stage, one must struggle a little to control them.” (1)
Sex vritti: different for women & men
Desire for sex is a vritti present in every human being, and the desire arises at certain age when corresponding glands become active. Once the desires are fulfilled, as women grow older, and the glands are not active, the desire diminishes. The vrittis (instincts) are also present in a child, but they are in seed form. When the child becomes an adult, the glands become active. Appropriate education should be given to teenagers on how to control sex related vrittis (instincts). Sex control education should contain teachings about how to divert the mind to greater and higher pursuits. Youths should be made to understand what is the goal of life. Separate education system for men and women should be developed as their anatomy is different.
Women & men sleeping separately
The sexual attack towards women is increasing in the society. What is the reason? If we see prior to 100 years ago, in India there was distance maintained among men and women. Here in India if we go to villages even today, we see that men and women do not sleep together. There is a separate room for men and a separate room for women in a house. Even married couples should not sleep together - except for procreation. Ananda Marga teachings are not against procreation. But there should be certain rules that are maintained. There should be discipline for men and women on what is the type of interaction they should have. Western civilization denotes women as sex objects. But rather women should be respected as mothers as in the tantric tradition.
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Conclusion
One important aspect is educating people that even having all vrittis (instincts) present in a human being, one still can lead a dharmic life in the world. Radio, television, media, internet, and other forums can be used constructively to spread spiritual teachings. Adolescence is a crucial time when such desire for sex arises. Teens can be given proper direction such as education on how to effectively utilize the mind, good company, and a way to engage them so that the mind will not divert towards sexual pleasures.
Even married couples should not sleep together except for purposes of procreation. If teenagers can be properly educated about sex and sexual violence, then this problem will slowly wane. Following 16 points is the ideal way to channelize the mind towards spirituality.
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In Him,
Nirakara
Propensities towards animality
Ananda Marga ideology states, “Those who do the sádhaná of desire, who knowinlgy direct their propensities (vrttis) towards external objects become crude. Because they fail to utilize the rein of their mind to keep the organs under control, their minds gradually become crudified. Their condition is then degraded to the level not merely of animals, but of matter – of wood, stone, etc.” (2)
Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “Men and women are human beings having equal dignity. As the physical strength of women is less than that of men, the latter should always endeavour to save the prestige of women. As the mothers of men, women can claim this much as a right.” (3)
References
1. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shiva's Teachings – 2 (continued) (Discourse 16)
2. Ananda Marga ideology & Way of Life - 5, Matter and Spirit
3. Caryacarya - 1, Social Relationship between Men and Women
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
Forgotten the rest of the world
"Kan’t́aka patha dhare klesha varan’ kare, a’siyachi prabhu tava tare je a’ji..." (Prabhat Samgiita #1408)
Note: Only those who sincerely practice the higher lessons of sahaja yoga meditation can understand this song in the depths of their heart.
Purport:
Parama Purusa, I have come to You today, by Your grace, after crossing the thorny path and undergoing so much suffering. Since I started moving on the path of divinity, I have faced so much opposition in the society - both from the status quo and the followers of dogma. There were so many internal struggles as well as much opposition from avidya maya - internal enemies and external bondages. Even then, by Your blessing, I stayed the course, rose to the challenge, held onto Your dharmic ideals, fought against the opposition, came to You by Your grace. Baba, with Your help I have reached Your lotus feet. Please look upon me with eyes full of karun'a - overlooking my demerits and weaknesses. Please accept me, coming in my mind in Your most attractive mohan form.
Supreme Entity, by Your krpa all kinds of complexes - shame, shyness, inferiority, superiority, fear, and defeatist etc - from which I was suffering have vanished. These mental diseases have been completely washed away from my mind due to Your sweet will. All my feelings and thoughts are surrendered unto You. Today I humbly offer those emotions at Your lotus feet, in Your supreme ideation. Now in my deep meditation, only You and I exist. I have completely forgotten the rest of the world. Just I am dancing in Your holy name and special rhythm.
My Supreme Guide, only this I request of You. Please come in my heart, by lighting the lamp of eternal love and yearning, again and again in my mind. Baba, I ask for Your divine compassion - karun'a. Please bless me with the highest bhakti.
Baba, by Your grace, I have come after facing a lot of torment. Please keep me in Your shelter...
Notes for Prabhat Samgiita #1408:
[1] Mohan Sa'j: This term is used in the original Bengali lyrics of the song and refers to the most attractive form of Parama Purusa. In spiritual life, as the mind becomes more and more pointed, by His grace, the sadhaka feels that Parama Purusa is the most charming Entity. Also in this song the bhakta is indirectly asking Parama Purusa, "Please grace me and heighten my bhakti so I feel that You are the most attractive One."
[2] Lok Laj Sare Geche: This line of the song depicts the state of mind where one is ensconced in a very deeply intimate bhava and they are not aware about their surroundings nor what others are thinking and saying about them. For instance, if one is singing and dancing kiirtan in the streets and the mind is purely focused on Him, then one will not be concerned about public opinion etc. They will continue to dance and sing, regardless of what others may be saying. So when the mind is very high, then one is oblivious of the world around them. They are in a very pure and blissful state that leads to Supreme realisation - fully ensconced in His divine bliss.
[3] Tumi a'r a'mi a'chi jagat ke bhule gechi: When the sadhaka, by the grace of Parama Purusa, is fully immersed in meditation and wholly focused on Him, then they feel that only Parama Purusa exists. That state is known as savikalpa samadhi. When the mind is a little lower but still in a deeply spiritual flow, then one feels that only Parama Purusa and myself exist. When the mind is still lower, then one feels that there is me, my family and Parama Purusa. And when one's mind is completely distracted, then they cannot even concentrate in sadhana and instead plan all kinds of mundane things in life. This particular line of the song depicts the exalted stage where the bhakta thinks that, "only I and Parama Purusa exist."
How writers become purchased players
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Ananda Marga philosohy states, “Today the different countries of the world have allocated numerous awards for sáhityikas [writers]. But that is where the danger lies. Every government, whether monarchical, republican or autocratic, is run according to a particular ideology, and so there is little chance for the government to suddenly become impartial in bestowing awards on sáhityikas [writers]. Naturally it will judge the merits and demerits of the sáhityikas [writers] in accordance with the bias of its own party, and consequently sáhityikas [writers] will be compelled to sacrifice their ideals to feed their stomachs. These observations are generally applicable to different types of governments, but especially to democratic states, for in democratic states ideological clashes are more in evidence, and hence the need to propagate ideologies is also more acute. That is why democratic states want to use sáhityikas [writers] as propaganda tools. Needless to say, such made-to-order writings cannot be called literature at all – political propaganda can never be called literature.” (1)
Reference
1. A Few Problems Solved - 1, The Practice of Art and Literature
== Section 3: Links ==
