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Thursday, December 15, 2022

Forgetting is boon + 3 more

Baba
Forgetting is boon

Namaskar,

A mother who lost her baby 50 years ago becomes sad when she remembers that baby today. So when any negative or painful memory comes into the mind then one should divert the mind away from that memory. Here the chief concern is over-indulging in those old memories. People do not remember ordinary happenings from the past. Just they remember the extremes: both good and bad. And they think again, and again, and again, on those points. Without any plan, those memories recur in the mind - but especially the bad memories. And those bad memories harass the individual and bring sadness. Those are very detrimental. I recall one person I knew who lost his wife to cancer and could not forget the memory of his wife, and within two years he also died.
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Bad memories forcefully drag you back


In contrast, generally, regardless of how many good things happen in life, those good memories will not come again and again in the mind and chase you down. Nor do they keep you awake at night. Mostly they come when in the company of others and you are recounting those good times. And that itself is a waste of time. Then one is living in reverse gear. That is the worst; they are just wasting time and inflating the ego thinking about one’s greatness. Ultimately, it is not good.

The more you dwell in the past the more you are not moving forward. Human life is short. I can remember not far back when I was a small child and now the number of years I have lived I will not live that far into the future. Then I can gauge how short life is. Although, we are not not sure about the future, even then wasting the time caught up in old memories is not good. That is Guru Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji’s teachings: Get rid of old memories, and you will be very happy.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Worldly memory is bad

There are some advanced Alzheimer's patients who have no memory. Then they are very happy. But that is a disease. Here I am talking about sadhakas using their mental efforts to both wipe away old memories and not unnecessarily worry about the future. There are three bondages: (a) old memories of good events, (b) old memories of bad times, and (c) and anguish over the future. All three are bad. If one can overcome these three bondages, they can utilise their life beautifully and experience an abundance of happiness. There will not be any question of misery. And that is what everyone wants.

Unfortunately, most pass their days remembering their old pains and past glories: such as how they were mistreated, or how they failed in a particular manner, or how they scored three goals in a football match 40 years ago, or how they became class president in high school, or so many other bad and good things from days bygone. These do not contribute to one's progress as human beings or sadhakas. They make the mind preoccupied and heavy. In that case, one cannot remember the Divine Entity, Parama Purusa. Yet people churn these events in their mind again and again.

That is why one should be aware about the types of things they are remembering. Contrary to materialistic living where people move from one whim to the next, the life of every sadhaka is marked by a definite goal: Parama Purusa. And to reach unto Him, so many steps are required, as well as His divine grace.
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What to forget and what to remember


Here below Baba guides us how one of the key factors for spiritual attainment is right memory - samyak smrti, as this keeps the mind light and burden-free.

Ananda Marga ideology states, "Now samyak smrti is remembering whatever is congenial to the spirit of never-ending human progress, and other items you may forget. Suppose a man unnecessarily wounded your sentiment. If you remember it you will be suffering from internal pain, mental agony. Try to forget it. It is better to forget it. If you want peace, you should forget it. But suppose you have learned something good. You should retain it. Those items coming within the second scope, that is, the scope of retention, are samyak smrti. And the best thing that you must always try to retain within the scope of your smrti, within the periphery of your smrti, is the name of Parama Puruśa, is the idea of Parama Puruśa. You must not forget it even for a single moment." (1)

Baba guides us that we should forget about those events that cause torment and pain, and worldly joy. Remembering those events over and over again is not conducive for spiritual unfolding. Then Baba guides us that spiritual teachings should be remembered. And Baba culminates the matter by guiding us that the very best thing to remember is Parama Purusa. Parama Purusa should be the focal point - that is proper memory.

Ananda Marga ideology says, “A human being’s burden grows along with the past, the present and the future. For example, perhaps you are thinking: once you were eating rich, delicious and costly foods such as háluyápuri, murg-mashallam, namkiin poláo – this is all the burden of the past. Similarly, today you will eat this and that, you will wear such and such, afterwards you will go to your friend's house and they will ask you about what you are wearing – this is the burden of the present. In the same way, you will earn money in the future by doing business, become rich and gain esteem in the society – this is the burden of the future. Buddha warned his mendicants who were thirsty for liberation: O mendicants, lighten the burden that lies before you.” (2)

Keeping the mind pure to receive His call


Here below Baba unveils the special technique for keeping the mind light whereby it can move speedily unto Supreme Self.
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Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "When you are to move fast, your mind should be light; if the mind is heavy it will not be able to move fast. What makes the mind heavy? So many impurities of thought...

    Muinca pure muinca pacchata majjhe muinca bhabassa pa'ragu'

    [Remove all the water from the boat of your body;
    being free from water, it will become very light.]

Ananda Marga ideology says, “You should make your mind light. You should give up all worldly thoughts, all base thoughts, all depraving thoughts, and make yourself light.” To make oneself light means to free oneself from impurities. A magnet can easily attract a piece of iron, but if that piece of iron is full of impurities, that very magnet may not be able to attract that iron. So the Supreme Self, Supreme Lord, is always attracting you, but because of your heaviness due to worldly impurities, you are not being attracted by Him." (3)

If one is hindered by both good and bad memories then remembering Parama Purusa will be extremely difficult. We are to get rid of those old, worn-out memories and think only about Him. The more we remember events of old the more readily they come back into the mind - even uncalled for, unintentionally. In contrast, the more one ideates on Him, the more we are unshackled by worldly dealings - instead it is His remembrance that enters and remains in the mind, by his grace.

So that is the magic formula for keeping the mind light. Leave worldly dealings aside, and instead fill the mind with His thought. To this end both auto-suggestion (mantra japa etc) and outer suggestion (satsaunga, reading His discourses etc) are absolutely integral.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Conclusion


The aim of every sadhaka is to always remember Baba - only then can one cross the ocean of samskara and reach unit Him. Yet to cross the ocean of samskara one must make the mind light and free by remembering Him and staying under His divine shelter. One cannot cross that ocean if one is weighed down by all kinds of worries from the past, or fears about the future. Even remembering one's glories are not helpful in crossing that ocean of samskara. All such memories are an impediment and shackle us. The mind should be pure and light so it can easily focus on the Supreme.

If one sits and started thinking that, “I will not think about old memories.” That will not do. Or if one confides in their friends everyday that, “I will not think about my son who died 30 years back.” But that means they are remembering their deceased son everyday and harming themselves. Then what is the way? When that type of bad memory comes then swiftly divert the mind towards Parama Purusa. Or if you cannot do that then think about a social service project. That is why it is important for sadhakas to keep busy in serving others. Then bad memories will not drag you back. Best is to think about Parama Purusa or think about serving Parama Purusa in the form of living beings. Then your mind will be engaged in the proper direction.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Namaskar,
In Him,
Rupatiita

History is important so looking back and having a quick glance at the positive and negative events is helpful for forward movement. That prevents one from making the same mistake again. But plunging oneself in the history of the past is bad.

References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 12, Lord Buddha's Cardinal Principles
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 9, The Source of Internal Stamina
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 31, Make Your Mind Light


*        *        *

The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.

*        *        *

== Section 2: Important Teaching ==

Two mudras to prevent & cure diseases


These two mudras - uddayan mudra and utksepa mudra - are very important for all-round health as they serve as prevention and treatment for numerous diseases. In the Ananda Marga Yogic Treatments book, these two mudras are pervasively used. So all should know how to practice these mudras - i.e. when to inhale and when to exhale etc. Actually they are so basic, there is no need to ask any acarya etc. The instructions are printed in Caryacarya part 3 for all to see. Everyone has access to this knowledge. People should therefore take it upon themselves to acquire the foundational knowledge of basic Ananda Marga practices, like these two important mudras.

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “Ud́d́ayana mudrá: Standing, place the hands above the knees and bend forward a little. Gradually breathe out, to a state of complete exhalation. Keeping the breath out, draw the abdomen and lower abdomen inward as hard as possible, to touch the spine. Maintain this position for eight seconds. Then gradually inhale fully. Practise eight times.” (1)

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “Utkśepa Mudrá: This mudrá should be practised in bed immediately upon waking. While lying on the back, one should flex both the arms and legs, bringing them over the chest, and then return them immediately to the extended position. After doing this three or four times, sit up in bed and drink a glass of cold water without allowing the water to touch the teeth. After this you should expose the navel area to the air, and walk up and down in this way for some time in the open air.” (2)

Some of our Wts do not regularly study Guru's books so they end up teaching margiis the wrong thing, or neglect to teach them the right thing. Best is for every Ananda Margii to study Guru's teachings directly. Not studying and just depending on acaryas for basic elements will not yield a proper result. Suppose you ask an acarya and they do not know and give a false answer instead, then the patient will be harmed.

References
1. Caryacarya - 3, Mudrás and Bandhas
2. Caryacarya - 3, Different Yoga Practices


== Section: Important Teaching ==

...will continue forever

Prout philosophy states, "The fight between vidyá and avidyá will go on forever; so the necessity of more or less police and military will also go on forever. But then, when the world government is established, this necessity will decrease. As there is always fight between vidyá and avidyá, more or less class struggle, too, will continue forever. Hence those who day-dream that, after establishing a classless society, they will be able to enjoy a sound slumber with their arms and legs outstretched, will be totally disappointed." (1)

Reference
1. Problems of the Day, Point #30


== Section: Important Teaching ==

Fundamentals of vivaha

This following quote is well-explained and shows how marriage is only between a male and a female and not two people of the same gender. Since the inception of marriage during Lord Shiva's time, marriage has been between a man and a woman. And that is what Baba has approved for AMPS. So when the point of same sex marriage is raised then one should give Baba's teaching that it is always between a man and a woman - not between a man and a dog etc. In the west, some so-called open-minded people are confused and are always try and bring some argument in favour of gay marriage, but according to the purview of Ananda Marga philosophy, their logic has no legs to stand upon.

   Ananda Marga philosophy states, "He [Lord Shiva] declared that women must be kalatra, which means that women must discharge their obligations to their husbands and their children in such a way that the latter will not have the least difficulty."
   "Those who accepted this new arrangement were declared married, and the other members of their society would be witnesses to the marriage ceremony, to bless the newly-married couple and pledge their cooperation to them. The Sanskrit equivalent for marriage is viváha (vi – vah + ghaiṋ): it means, after the ceremony, the man and woman can no longer live as libertines or as irresponsible so-called family people. They have to discharge their full obligations as bharttá and kalatra, responsible husband and responsible wife." (1)

Reference
1. Namah Shiváya Shántáya, Shivokti - 3


== Section 3: Links ==
Recent postings
Other topics of interest

A-grade marriage + 3 more

Baba
A-grade marriage

Namaskar,

In the below yellow highlighted quote, Baba is teaching us that when people from two different clans or castes or races have conjugal relations, their progeny will have mixed blood. In that case, the offspring will be very healthy physically and mentally, and intellectually developed as well. The same thing happens in the animal kingdom too. That is the way hybrid animals are bred. This sort of plus point comes through revolutionary marriage also. Whereas same clan and caste marriages do not yield that benefit.

This is why Baba encourages intercaste and interracial marriages. These are called revolutionary marriage. Now let’s come and try to understand Baba’s below teaching. It is only one sentence, but the meaning is very deep. This can make the future of new families very bright and bring all round happiness.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Those groups which have mixed blood are generally very intelligent.” (1)

Weak, dull-minded, and diseased


Over the course of human history, there are innumerable instances where communities became very insular. They did not invite or welcome outsiders into their fold. All marriages were between people of close relations, i.e. cousins, in-laws etc. The gene pool became very narrow; there was no mixing of the blood. This proved to be their undoing. Because having a limited gene pool leads to a frail community: weak, dull-minded, and diseased. Yet there are so many instances from one land to the next where communities existed in this way. They are homogeneous groups devoid of blending between the races. And that led to the degeneration and downfall of those peoples.

Still in many parts of the world we see this going on whether it be same caste marriages in India or similar other insular marriages around the globe like the gypsies of Romania, clan relations in the deep south of the USA, Arabic / Islamic peoples, the Amish community, tribes in Africa, Hasidic Jews etc. All these human groups marry amongst themselves, even with their own blood relations, thereby narrowing their gene pool and making their community prone to disease etc.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

This is a liability for creating healthy generations of offspring. Gone were the brutal ways of sheer physical force, and now guided by the narrow sentiments of their geographical and factional group, they kept away from others and tried to generate from within the limited boundaries of their own select community. And as noted, this approach is still in vogue today in many regions of the world.

Modern day concern


Wherever communities became extremely insular, anthropologists attempted to create a new, more open boundaries so that a particular human group would not become extinct. In some cases they are successful, and some not. Where the population was less than 1000, it was very difficult to save them as their gene pool was so limited.

In other parts of the world, communities have set certain rules to avoid becoming too insular. Some have declared that people can marry only if there is no mixing of the blood between their families for a certain number of generations. Then, certainly many communities have made incest illegal. So steps have been taken; plus with the overall geographical movement of people around the globe, we find certain places where the blending of races is occurring.

Even then that is not enough. There remain both ethnic and religious communities that do not mix, and in many regions where mixing is going on, it is occurring under the aegis of materialism where attraction alone brings about offspring. And this invites a whole host of other social problems.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Why revolutionary marriage is so unique

So Baba's special system of revolutionary marriage (RM) is such an important element for creating a thriving humanity. Baba's RM system is uniquely designed for the advancement of the human race. As we know, the Ananda Marga revolutionary marriage is essentially an inter-racial, inter-caste marriage where people from diverse backgrounds join in the bond of marriage and start families. Baba has mandated that two people may only marry if for three generations up and three generations down there is no mixing of blood. These are some of the scientific reasons behind our RM system.

Baba's special RM system: great genetic diversity


Parama Purusa Baba's advent arrives with all the answers and solutions for a grand humanity—including the right system of marriage. As the Divine Father, He wants to see His progeny thrive and society prosper. A dynamic, diverse gene pool is needed between married persons. He had to address the current ills related with modern-day marriages and style of procreation etc.

To combat this and set humanity on the proper course, Baba has given His system of revolutionary marriage. As we know, the Ananda Marga revolutionary marriage is essentially an inter-racial, inter-caste marriage where people from diverse backgrounds join in the bond of marriage and start families. Baba has given the rule that two people may only marry if for three generations up and three generations down to ensure there is no mixing of blood.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

This special style of marriage ensures that offspring are produced from a diverse gene pool. This leads to the birth of healthy, strong, intelligent, and dynamic people. That is one special characteristic of the revolutionary marriage system which Baba has given.

Other key aspects of our RM system include caring for the physical, emotional, psychic, and spiritual well-being of all family members, viewing marriage as a service to Parama Purusa, and taking the vow to watch over both one's unit family as well as the global, universal family. These are all significant elements of the Ananda Marga marriage system. The biological science of the revolutionary marriage system lies in the dynamic and diverse mixing of the gene pool. The greater the mixing on this level, the healthier the children are.


Conclusion

All species thrive when the best genes are used in procreation. Nature ensures this by the survival of the fittest in the plant and animal kingdoms; in this way, those beings continue their existence from generation to generation. Nowadays, scientists are mixing strands of seeds and plants to make them stronger, healthier, and more sustainable, as well as trying to support waning animal populations to ensure their survival by mixing animals from around the globe.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

As humans we are to follow and propagate Baba's system of creating offspring from a diverse gene pool where those who are most fit and most intelligent are given greater scope. This will lead to a healthy, universal humanity.

Namaskar,
In Him,
Asiim

~ In-depth study ~

Animal kingdom: only alpha males procreate

Parama Purusa has designed the system whereby Prakrti aims to have creation unfold ceaselessly into the future. By this way, all beings—plants, animals, flora, fauna—continue onwards. For this reason nature is governed by the motto: Survival of the fittest.

Essentially, the strongest, most dominant male stands last and wins the battle to procreate with the females. This is the way it works throughout much of the animal kingdom. The strong elephants, the most courageous lions, the fastest cheetahs win the right to procreate. This dictates that the best genes get transferred to the offspring and ensures the survival of that species.

If weaker animals procreate and weaker genes are transferred to the offspring, then that species will become diseased, injury-prone, susceptible, and ultimately extinct. This would not bode well. Nature has set a different course. The maxim—survival of the fittest—is nature's way of ensuring that the biggest, fastest, strongest animals procreate, ensuring that their species lives on. In animal life, those physical qualities are the most integral for survival. This is nature's special way to make sure the various species adapt to life on this earth.

Those very early humans followed this same natural law. It was survival of the fittest. ‘Might is right’ was the rule of the day. That was how those early humans survived and thrived. Only alpha males had the right to procreate. And the offspring were strong, capable and able to survive. In that way, humans maintained their existence from one generation to the next, despite the hardships, obstacles, and difficulties of tough living conditions.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "After the patriarchal system was established, the members of one gotra would forcibly kidnap women from other gotras to their own gotra, their own hill. Thus immediately after the marriage, the woman’s gotra would change, because she was then a member of a different gotra, a separate hill." (2)

With civilisation came insular communities


Over time, humans became less physically oriented and gained in the psychic realm. Instead of 'survival of the fittest' where genes were passed on from generation to generation by sheer brute force, humans organised themselves in other ways. Rather than physical dominance, they looked upon other avenues based on shared commonalities such as religion, language, region, and other factors. People intentionally kept themselves separate and distinct from others.


Sowing the seeds of cultural & racial injustice

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Although according to perfect logic the culture of all humanity is one and indivisible, the exponents of isms do not understand this. They prefer to assert that the different sets of script and language, behaviour and habits, and local variations in expression, are actually the constituents of human culture.” (3)

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Members of a particular race who consider themselves superior to others also very frequently inflict injustices on other sections of society. The expulsion (see note *) of the Jews from Germany by Hitler’s so-called superior Aryan race is a glaring example of racial injustice in society. In this country, also, injustices on Harijans by the so-called superior races have caused a tremendous amount of disruption in society. To obviate this type of social injustice, the first attempt should be to do away with racial distinctions in society. In Ananda Marga the first step that one takes is to forget one’s race or sect – to no longer identify oneself with one’s race, caste or sect – regardless of whether it was superior or inferior.” (A Few Problems Solved - 7, Social Psychology) (4)

(*) “Between 1941 and 1945, Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered some six million Jews across German-occupied Europe, around two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population.” (Wikipedia) 

In Ananda Marga the first step that one takes is to forget one’s race or sect – to no longer identify oneself with one’s race, caste or sect – regardless of whether it was superior or inferior.


Marriage blessing + requisites for healthy marriage

Baba placed great emphasis on revolutionary marriages—i.e. those marriages where the bride and groom were of different ethnicity / race, of different linguistic background, of different castes etc. Such marriages would receive Baba's great blessing during DMC etc. Baba would take both of their hands in His hands and graciously bestow His divine blessing.
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Ananda Marga philosophy states, "If people of sublime intelligence and brilliance reproduce more offspring, it will be very beneficial for society. The responsibility for nurturing and bringing up these children will have to be taken by the society or the government. Similarly, it will be harmful for society if mentally deficient, naturally delinquent or insane persons produce many children." (5)

Ananda Marga ideology says, "At the time of marriage the bride and bridegroom should not have any direct relationship three generations above and three generations below. If this condition is not met, the marriage should not be solemnized." (6)

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "The guardians should not allow matrimony between persons connected with each other either on the paternal or the maternal side for three generations, ascending or descending." (7)

References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 7, Bhaerava and Bhaeravii
2. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shiva – Both Severe and Tender (Discourse 2)
3. Prout in a Nutshell - 4, Ism and Human Progress
4. A Few Problems Solved - 7, Social Psychology
5. A Few Problems Solved - 9, Population Growth and Control
6. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 7, Bhaerava and Bhaeravii
7. Caryacarya - 1, The Marriage Ceremony


*        *        *

The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.

*        *        *

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Secret to defeating avidya

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “Sometimes it may happen that a man was a degenerated man. When he was a bad man, he was eating, drinking, and making merry, but as soon as he starts sádhaná, he is to face so many obstacles, so many hardships. He has become good, but be has to undergo so many troubles, so many problems. What is this? Why? Do you follow what I said? Why? The reason is that the pendulum moves. When it starts coming in the opposite side when its upward movement ends and the downward movement starts. The moment he becomes a good boy, becomes a sádhaka, the reaction of his bad actions starts.” (1)

Note: Avidya maya does not harass you for no reason at all. Avidya maya applies the arsenal from the collection of your previously accumulated negative samskaras, which have yet to be requited. Suppose you did some sin or wrongdoing in the past and never faced the reaction of that bad action. In that case, that samskara is still part of the arsenal of avidya maya. And you will have to face that reaction. But, in spite of such retaliation, if you continue doing your sadhana then avidya maya will walk away and will not bother you anymore due to your sincerity in sadhana.  

Reference
1. Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 14, Action and Reaction



== Section: Important Teaching ==

Uses of herbal & animals medicines


   Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Moonlight is not a medicine like sunlight is. Rather moonlight often overwhelms the mind with a different kind of emotion. However, the qualities of medicinal herbs and plants are affected according to the difference in moonlight, that is, in accordance with the lunar day and lunar fortnight. So there are rules for removing medicinal plants from the soil, preparation of medicines and their uses in accordance with the lunar day. The medicinal qualities undergo changes during the different periods of the day, so one should use medicines with that factor in mind; at least it is better if it is done so. Those medicinal herbs and plants or those medicines whose qualities are affected according to the difference in lunar day or planetary position are called kulyá. So you see, this also is a meaning of the word kulyá."
   "Not only have human beings used plant substances for medicines since ancient times, they have also prepared medicines extensively from animals. In the Ayurvedic, Vaidyaka and Unani systems of medicine, animal substances, such as the livers of different animals and partridge fat, were used extensively. Who is not familiar with the medicine prepared from the body of a goat and oil from the hornbill? Medicines used to be prepared from the livers, pancreases, etc., of different animals in the allopathic system of treatment. In recent times they have been used for insulin. Cod liver oil and shark oil are frequently used. They are used not only as oral medicines but also in injections. Medicines such as naja, cina, and apis in homeopathy are completely of animal origin. Killing an animal in order to save the life of a human being may not be a very good practice, but it can be done when there is no alternative. This is a universally accepted principle. But when medicines are prepared by killing animals, it should be done as far as possible from those animals which are the born enemies of human beings. Those who are not the born enemies of human beings but are their natural friends should not be killed." (1)

Reference
1. Shabda Cayanika, Disc: 34


== Section: Ananda Vanii  ==

Make rigorous efforts to become worthy mediums

“From place to place, from age to age, the elixir of immortality has been flowing forever. Through the medium of human structures this message of immortality is transmitted onwards. So no human beings should ever belittle or slight themselves, rather they should make rigorous efforts to become worthy mediums (media). The wise and intelligent ideate less on their defects and demerits and more on the Supreme desideratum.” (Ananda Vanii #66)

Note 1: True Ananda Vaniis have a number whereas Fake Ananda Vaniis do not - just as a fake car license plate has no number. By this way, you can easily recognise a Fake Ananda Vanii.


== Section 3: Links ==

Recent postings
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