Baba
Story: Midnight drive with Baba
Note: The following story was recounted by Ac Rupatiitananda Avt on the occasion of Shravanii Purnima (Aug 2022). Dada ji is a very senior Wt who was initiated in 1969 and has been posted all over the globe.
Namaskar,
The below incident took place when Dada Rupatiitananda ji was in Bali, Indonesia (Manila sector). The story is recounted in the first-person so the “I” refers to Dada Rupatiitananda ji.
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At the time, I was working in Bali, and by Baba’s grace the social service and educational projects were going nicely. RDS was going to be held soon in Singapore, and all of the Wts from Manila sector would be attending. I also was keen to attend RDS and enjoy the satsaunga with everyone. But SS Dada told me not to come to Singapore because all of the projects in Bali were going well and needed my supervision. He told me that if I traveled back and forth to Singapore it would take a month and by then the projects would suffer. So SS’s message to me was that I should remain in Bali.
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Stuck all alone
Receiving this order from SS Dada left me quite disappointed. I wanted to go to Singapore, but there was no question of my disobeying SS Dada’s directive. So I stayed in Bali and was busy day and night in so many projects; in addition, I would attend two dharmacakras daily as per usual. In this way, every day was the same. Early in the morning I would leave the jagrti and travel into town to oversee the various projects and meet with people, attend DC, work into the night, and then drive back. On my return trip, I had to drive over this big mountain, usually around midnight. I was stuck all alone in this exhausting routine. Nobody was with me; I was all by myself. And everyone else was at the RDS and enjoying so many wonderful collective programs. This psychology was going on in my head again and again as I traversed that mountain in that midnight hour.
Baba’s great blessing: He is with me
Suddenly, while driving that lonely mountain road, Baba appeared before me, and I was in complete awe, enamoured by His magnificence. And this went on and on - all the time Baba remained with me. When I would wake up, He was there, and throughout each and every moment I saw Him and felt His presence. I was immersed in Him, and there was nothing I could say or tell to anyone. He was there in front of me, always.
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Writer’s Note: As every bhakta knows, when Baba graces the bhakta in this way the mind enters a deeply devotional state. The mind becomes suspended, fully ensconced in His love and sweet vibration. All mundane works and daily dealings lose their appeal. Just the bhakta wishes to remain in that special bhava (ideation) with Baba.
This experience with Baba continued for ten days. Finally, I said to Baba, “I now understand that no matter where I am, You are always with me. So I am never alone, and I realize that You have been with me all along. Now I shall return to my daily duties remembering that You are with me.” And with that, the experience came to a close. And, by His grace, I took up my daily routine with new vigour and understanding, feeling His presence in all I did.
This was the time I truly came to realize, by His grace, that Baba is always with us - in all circumstances, and that we are never alone.
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The above story is based on Dada Rupatiitananda’s oral account delivered for the occasion of Shravanii Purnima (2022).
In Him,
Dharmaviira
(Daniel Shelby)
~ In-depth study ~
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “No one should feel disconcerted about anything. All should know that He is concerned about their welfare. Just as parents are concerned for their child, so is He even more concerned for each of His children. Therefore, do not be afraid or perplexed under any circumstances. I have told you that you are never alone in this world – the Entity that guides the stars guides you also.” (1)
Ananda Marga ideology states, “Parama Puruśa, the Supreme Entity within you, will always help you, He will always help you. It is His duty to help you. So you are never alone, you are never helpless. And you are always with the Supreme Entity. You are the strongest personality of the entire universe. Do not be affected, do not be [[assailed]], by any complex – inferiority, superiority, defeatist, or any complex. You hail from the noblest family of the universe. Parama Puruśa is your Father.” (2)
Ananda Marga ideology states, “Parama Puruśa, that Supreme Father, is with each and every entity. No man, no expression, is ever alone in this world. He is always with you. Science says this, philosophy says this. And under no circumstances should a man suffer from a complex of helplessness or hopelessness or fear. You are the dignified children of Parama Puruśa, and He is always with you. You are never alone.
“He is with the Universe, that is, the entire Universe is His object. And not only that, He is with each and every expressed unit entity, with each and every individual also. That is, collectively He is attached to the world, to that expressed world; and singularly He is with you. You are never alone.
“This thing has got two aspects. Parama Puruśa, the Supreme Father, is always with you and you are never alone. This has two aspects – one advantage and one disadvantage. The disadvantage is that He is always with you and therefore you cannot do anything secretly. You cannot do anything behind the curtain. And not only that, you cannot think anything secretly. Whatever you may be thinking, it will automatically be tape-recorded by Him.
“You cannot think secretly. If you say, “You know, my friend, we will do this and that very secretly, and I think Parama Puruśa is over-busy with this Universe, perhaps He’s not hearing what I said,” this thing also will be heard. So that is the disadvantage; nothing can be done secretly.
“And “I won’t take part in kaośikii today. Let me see what the first group does. After that I may also take part tomorrow” – suppose you are thinking like this, it will be also heard by Him.
“And the main advantage is – the advantage is a very great advantage, and that is – you are never alone. And because He is with you, you are the strongest person in the universe. He is with you. You are never alone. It is the greatest advantage. There is a disadvantage, but the advantage is greater than the disadvantage.” (3)
References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3, Nityaḿ Shuddhaḿ
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 12, The Chance to Be One with Him
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 12, Everything Comes from Something
It is the accepted international standard and Baba's system not to copy another's work and publish it in your own way. Baba has given a very strict rule on plagiarism. Why is Baba against plagiarism or stealing someone's work? There are many reasons:
1) It is against the code of asteya (non-stealing).
2) Countless stories of bhaktas need to be published. But some do not want to do the hard work of compiling and writing these stories, so they just steal them from others. But new stories need to be told, otherwise so many unpublished stories of sadhakas will be lost and forgotten forever. So watch out for story thieves, and kindly help them not to steal by posting on social media in their own way. If you want to forward this story then attach the following yellow section with the story:
“Courtesy of unknown bhakta via Ananda Marga Universal (https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/)”
This will be treated as the standard protocol.
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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: Prabhat Samgiita ==
We will usher in a new era
PS intro: This following composition is for revolutionaries and sadvipras when they are addressing cowardly people, i.e. those afraid to come forward and fight against the demons.
"Keu tora' yadi bhay pa's, a'ma'r ya'boi...
A'darshke sa'men rekhe pa' phelabai." (Prabhat Samgiita #3283)
Purport:
If someone amongst you is terrified even then by His grace we will march forward to establish sadvipra society. Even if we are surrounded by the loud laughter of ferocious demons, we will advance ahead without any concern. We will tromp on; we will go forward. We will have the courage to advance with His blessing.
My friend! Why are you looking with helpless eyes? Do not think like a pessimist. Even if the problems are like Himalayan mountains, we will assuredly cross them, with His mercy.
Even if the goddess of fate does not support us and turns her head away, even if the sky falls on us, regardless of the negative circumstances, we will march on holding the banner of Ananda Marga ideology high, keeping Parama Purusa Baba as the polestar. Our collective movement cannot be halted. We will usher in a new era of neo-humanism. The krpa of Baba is with us...
PS intro: This following composition is for revolutionaries and sadvipras when they are addressing cowardly people, i.e. those afraid to come forward and fight against the demons.
"Keu tora' yadi bhay pa's, a'ma'r ya'boi...
A'darshke sa'men rekhe pa' phelabai." (Prabhat Samgiita #3283)
Purport:
If someone amongst you is terrified even then by His grace we will march forward to establish sadvipra society. Even if we are surrounded by the loud laughter of ferocious demons, we will advance ahead without any concern. We will tromp on; we will go forward. We will have the courage to advance with His blessing.
My friend! Why are you looking with helpless eyes? Do not think like a pessimist. Even if the problems are like Himalayan mountains, we will assuredly cross them, with His mercy.
Even if the goddess of fate does not support us and turns her head away, even if the sky falls on us, regardless of the negative circumstances, we will march on holding the banner of Ananda Marga ideology high, keeping Parama Purusa Baba as the polestar. Our collective movement cannot be halted. We will usher in a new era of neo-humanism. The krpa of Baba is with us...
== Section 3: Important Teaching ==
Caryacarya states, "Before taking food, ascertain if anybody present there has not eaten. If anyone has not eaten, do not take food unless the person willingly gives permission." (1)
Caryacarya states, "Whatever food you have, distribute it equally among all the Margis present, and then eat. But if somebody expresses unwillingness to eat, that is a different matter. You need not then feel restrained." (2)
Note: For example, the Islamic religion has a lot of bad qualities, but their social cohesion and unity is that they never eat alone or secretly. They have to share their food and that has created strong affinity. Unfortunately in Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha, amongst the Wt cadre, this is rarely done. Commonly we see that those with money arrange special food for themselves while others starve. They do not care about others. That is why disunity and selfishness grows.
Caryacarya states, "Love all, trust in all, but do not give responsibility to those not established in Yama-Niyama." (3)
Note: This rule is very essential because when corrupt people are in power they create turmoil in the society. But unfortunately, nowadays in AMPS, that which Baba forbids is prevailing in the top level so-called postholders of our organisation.
Caryacarya states, "Science is not the enemy of humanity. Avidyá (ignorance) is the enemy of humanity. Keep strict vigilance that the knowledge of science is confined only to those persons who are established in Yama-Niyama." (4)
Note: Baba guides us that science should be in the control of moralists. Then society will be greatly benefited. Now science is in the hands of immoralists, that is why you see that all kinds of negative, degenerating things are invented in the name of science such as in the fields of entertainment, weaponry and war etc. And on the other side science is not being used to resolve the basic minimum requirements around the globe. Billions are malnourished or starving and dying a slow death due to lack of proper water, food, medicine, education etc. And on the other side people are overeating and dying of obesity etc. If science is in the hands of good people, moralists, then this world would be a better place.
All these aforesaid points are very significant. We should practice and propagate. You can experiment and see for yourself. If you share your food with your colleagues etc then they will feel more close.
References
1. Caryacarya, Part 2, Society, Point #1
2. Caryacarya, Part 2, Society, Point #2
3. Caryacarya, Part 2, Society, Point #3
4. Caryacarya, Part 2, Society, Point #4
== Section 4: Links ==
Other topics of interest
