Baba
Namaskar,
I was initiated in 1978 in Samastipur (Bihar) and on various occasions Baba blessed me. By His grace, I had deep faith in Him.
In those days, I would only see Baba when He gave general darshan. I used to hear stories from various margiis that Baba knows everything and that when sadhakas go for personal contact (PC), dharma samiiksa, and reporting, then He punishes them for their mistakes in order to rectify them etc. I had so much fear about this that I dared not go and have PC with Baba.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Nervous and frightened
Some of my close margii friends tried to get me to go for PC, and I always refused their invitations and requests. Ultimately on one occasion, they dragged me into the line to get PC. I was standing in the queue to see Baba. I was extremely nervous and frightened about what might happen. Without telling anyone I left.
When my margii friends heard this they tried to encourage and inspire me to go back for PC to get Baba's blessing. They valiantly attempted to infuse me with the requisite strength and courage, but I refused.
My realisation
One day they again took me to see Baba. By that time I had the realisation that Baba is Parama Purusa because He appeared before me once in the form of Lord Shiva with His tiger skin, matted locks and trishul (trident). That story I will narrate another time.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
So I had deep faith in Baba; it was only out of fear of facing my own sins that I did not want to go close to Him in PC etc. I was thinking how I had done so many wrongs and that Baba will expose everything and I will be humiliated. With this fear, I was afraid to go for PC.
On this second occasion I was again in queue for PC. In total, there were 13 people in line; and I was 7th. As those ahead of me came out from their PC with Baba, I carefully watched their facial expressions. They all were shedding tears of bliss, and I acutely listened to their tales. I asked each of them about their experience.
There were a few themes that they all told:
1. Baba knows everything and one cannot hide anything from Him; He knows even the things that were done in a hidden way with no one around. Everything He knows.
2. They got scolded by Baba for their past misdeeds and sins;
3. Baba loves so much more than any worldly love.
This much everybody told as they emerged from PC that day. Although I understood that Baba is most loving, still I was scared to go for PC for fear of being scolded.
Hearing their tales and experiences, I started repeating Baba's name. I was standing in line for PC, yet mentally asking Him, "O' Lord, You are God incarnate and my only desire is that my number should not be called this time for PC. That is my only request. Being the all powerful Divine Entity, please grace me."
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
"Baba please have mercy - do not call me"
Actually I would have run away like I did last time, but my friends were keenly watching to ensure I did not leave. I could not run away this time. For this reason, I was mentally requesting Baba to relieve me and not call my number.
As I was getting closer to the front of the line, my fear multiplied exponentially. At the same time my request intensified: "Baba, please have mercy - do not call my number."
The line was getting shorter. Then the person directly before me entered for PC. I was next in line. My fear had reached extreme heights. I was absolutely terrified thinking about my past sins, and I was mentally requesting Baba again and again not to call me.
The person in front of me emerged from Baba's room - his PC was over. The margii walked by me. I was next. PA Dada stood in front of me. I became extremely nervous thinking of my past sins. I was certain PA Dada was going to grab me for PC. I continued my pleadings to Baba not to call me for PC.
Suddenly, PA Dada came directly to where I was waiting and announced, "Baba will not conduct any more PC's today."
Lo and behold, by His grace, my number never came! I was next in line and now suddenly I did not have to go in for PC. I was overjoyed and indebted to Baba.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
I thought, "O' Baba, You heard my request. You are so gracious."
I was completely overwhelmed with emotion. I was so happy that Baba fulfilled my desire. That was the last day of the program so it was certain I would not get PC.
That moment my belief that Baba is Parama Purusa became even more strengthened. I became more dedicated. I thought everything was perfect. But that feeling did not remain with me forever.
Still today I am repentant
Now several decades later, when I think about the past, I feel repentant. Why was I so ignorant that I did not go for PC and dharma samiiksa? I had the opportunity but I did not go. Still today I am hounded by these thoughts.
Although Baba graced me by coming in dream and giving me PC, still I have repentance for the aforementioned incident.
I know my repentance will remain with me so long as I am on this earth - my whole life. Baba graced me in so many ways but this episode of PC is a big, empty vacuum in my mind. How was I too frightened to go for PC. This feeling comes again and again in my mind: Why did I not go? I missed the opportunity. Every morning and every evening I think about this - it plagues me.At this very moment I still repent.
In closing, please allow me to share that although you may not call this my story about PC, but I call it the story about my PC.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Reflection: Guru satisfies all requests
The above heart-felt Baba story contains many gems and jewels for us all.
First, Guru satisfies all requests. Best is that one should not ask for anything as only He knows what is best for us. If Parama Purusa asks us again and again, "What do you want?" Then the sadhaka should say, "I want You", "I want parabhakti", or "O Lord, please lead my intellect unto the path of Supreme Benevolence."
Baba says, "It is better not to ask Parama Puruśa for anything. Without cherishing any desire in one’s mind, one should proceed towards Him. If at all one cannot do that, then one may say to Parama Puruśa, “Oh Lord, lead my intellect along the path of benevolence. Keep my intellect united with the Supreme Benevolence.”" (1)
Never ask anything from Parama Purusa
Second, in contrast, if we ask Him for anything then He will certainly satisfy our request. In that case we will repent, as happened with Shrii Vibhuti Narayan Singh. No doubt the temptation comes to ask for something but one must resist.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Third, if we ask for something then so much time gets spent in satisfying that request. That is the way it goes. That is what happened with Singhji. In the above case he was about to get PC but his whole longing was not to get PC. And that is what happened - his desire was fulfilled - he did not get PC. And now he is repentant as he realises his mistake.
Fourth, he should have asked: "O' Lord, I want to come close to You. Please be gracious and remove all the fears and obstacles that are in the way." With that request his concerns would have vanished and he would have gotten PC. But he chose differently and now he repents.
The conclusion is that humans ask for all kinds of things and thereby invite so many problems. No matter the temptation, one should never ask anything from Him; rather use the time in singing His name.
Punishment & tests are not the same thing
Some margiis get confused and think that Baba's system of punishment is the same thing as their claim that Baba gives tests. When in fact, these two things are worlds apart.
Baba graciously punishes His bhaktas for wrongs and sins they have committed. By this way He teaches them what they did wrong, removes their samskara, sin and paves the way for their future progress. The key point here is that the sadhaka did something wrong that warrants Guru's punishment.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
In contrast, making the claim that Guru gives tests means Guru deliberately places roadblocks in front of a sadhaka for no reason at all. As if Guru is just harassing the bhakta. But this Sadguru Baba never does. He does everything in the spirit of welfare for our progress and whatever difficulties we encounter are a result of our own samskaras, i.e. our own doing.
Namaskar,
In Him,
Ramdhan Deva
The above is the first-hand account of Shrii Vibhuti Narayan Singh, a long-time margii who worked as a district officer in the Indian government. He is a very active and important margii who arranged the land for the Samastipur jagrti - still today that jagrti sits on that land. Everybody knows he is a good bhakta of Baba.
Our Sanskrit names
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "The word deva should be suffixed to the name...the more the usage of deva as a title, the better it is. The Sanskrit name should be used in all worldly dealings." (2)
Note: What to ask for
Here Baba guides us what we should ask for from Parama Purusa.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "So the devotees with kevalá bhakti in their hearts do not ask Parama Puruśa for anything. Even if Parama Puruśa proposes to give them this or that, the aspirant will say, “No, Lord, I don’t want anything but You. I want to remain with you. What You are offering to me is a trivial thing; I want You and You alone, nothing else.”" (3)
References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 4, Remain United with the Supreme Benevolence
2. Caryacarya - 1, The Process of Initiation
3. Subhasita Samgraha - 14, Yoga, Tantra, and Kevalá Bhakti
My story of fear
Namaskar,
I was initiated in 1978 in Samastipur (Bihar) and on various occasions Baba blessed me. By His grace, I had deep faith in Him.
In those days, I would only see Baba when He gave general darshan. I used to hear stories from various margiis that Baba knows everything and that when sadhakas go for personal contact (PC), dharma samiiksa, and reporting, then He punishes them for their mistakes in order to rectify them etc. I had so much fear about this that I dared not go and have PC with Baba.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Nervous and frightened
Some of my close margii friends tried to get me to go for PC, and I always refused their invitations and requests. Ultimately on one occasion, they dragged me into the line to get PC. I was standing in the queue to see Baba. I was extremely nervous and frightened about what might happen. Without telling anyone I left.
When my margii friends heard this they tried to encourage and inspire me to go back for PC to get Baba's blessing. They valiantly attempted to infuse me with the requisite strength and courage, but I refused.
My realisation
One day they again took me to see Baba. By that time I had the realisation that Baba is Parama Purusa because He appeared before me once in the form of Lord Shiva with His tiger skin, matted locks and trishul (trident). That story I will narrate another time.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
So I had deep faith in Baba; it was only out of fear of facing my own sins that I did not want to go close to Him in PC etc. I was thinking how I had done so many wrongs and that Baba will expose everything and I will be humiliated. With this fear, I was afraid to go for PC.
On this second occasion I was again in queue for PC. In total, there were 13 people in line; and I was 7th. As those ahead of me came out from their PC with Baba, I carefully watched their facial expressions. They all were shedding tears of bliss, and I acutely listened to their tales. I asked each of them about their experience.
There were a few themes that they all told:
1. Baba knows everything and one cannot hide anything from Him; He knows even the things that were done in a hidden way with no one around. Everything He knows.
2. They got scolded by Baba for their past misdeeds and sins;
3. Baba loves so much more than any worldly love.
This much everybody told as they emerged from PC that day. Although I understood that Baba is most loving, still I was scared to go for PC for fear of being scolded.
Hearing their tales and experiences, I started repeating Baba's name. I was standing in line for PC, yet mentally asking Him, "O' Lord, You are God incarnate and my only desire is that my number should not be called this time for PC. That is my only request. Being the all powerful Divine Entity, please grace me."
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
"Baba please have mercy - do not call me"
Actually I would have run away like I did last time, but my friends were keenly watching to ensure I did not leave. I could not run away this time. For this reason, I was mentally requesting Baba to relieve me and not call my number.
As I was getting closer to the front of the line, my fear multiplied exponentially. At the same time my request intensified: "Baba, please have mercy - do not call my number."
The line was getting shorter. Then the person directly before me entered for PC. I was next in line. My fear had reached extreme heights. I was absolutely terrified thinking about my past sins, and I was mentally requesting Baba again and again not to call me.
The person in front of me emerged from Baba's room - his PC was over. The margii walked by me. I was next. PA Dada stood in front of me. I became extremely nervous thinking of my past sins. I was certain PA Dada was going to grab me for PC. I continued my pleadings to Baba not to call me for PC.
Suddenly, PA Dada came directly to where I was waiting and announced, "Baba will not conduct any more PC's today."
Lo and behold, by His grace, my number never came! I was next in line and now suddenly I did not have to go in for PC. I was overjoyed and indebted to Baba.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
I thought, "O' Baba, You heard my request. You are so gracious."
I was completely overwhelmed with emotion. I was so happy that Baba fulfilled my desire. That was the last day of the program so it was certain I would not get PC.
That moment my belief that Baba is Parama Purusa became even more strengthened. I became more dedicated. I thought everything was perfect. But that feeling did not remain with me forever.
Still today I am repentant
Now several decades later, when I think about the past, I feel repentant. Why was I so ignorant that I did not go for PC and dharma samiiksa? I had the opportunity but I did not go. Still today I am hounded by these thoughts.
Although Baba graced me by coming in dream and giving me PC, still I have repentance for the aforementioned incident.
I know my repentance will remain with me so long as I am on this earth - my whole life. Baba graced me in so many ways but this episode of PC is a big, empty vacuum in my mind. How was I too frightened to go for PC. This feeling comes again and again in my mind: Why did I not go? I missed the opportunity. Every morning and every evening I think about this - it plagues me.At this very moment I still repent.
In closing, please allow me to share that although you may not call this my story about PC, but I call it the story about my PC.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Reflection: Guru satisfies all requests
The above heart-felt Baba story contains many gems and jewels for us all.
First, Guru satisfies all requests. Best is that one should not ask for anything as only He knows what is best for us. If Parama Purusa asks us again and again, "What do you want?" Then the sadhaka should say, "I want You", "I want parabhakti", or "O Lord, please lead my intellect unto the path of Supreme Benevolence."
Baba says, "It is better not to ask Parama Puruśa for anything. Without cherishing any desire in one’s mind, one should proceed towards Him. If at all one cannot do that, then one may say to Parama Puruśa, “Oh Lord, lead my intellect along the path of benevolence. Keep my intellect united with the Supreme Benevolence.”" (1)
Never ask anything from Parama Purusa
Second, in contrast, if we ask Him for anything then He will certainly satisfy our request. In that case we will repent, as happened with Shrii Vibhuti Narayan Singh. No doubt the temptation comes to ask for something but one must resist.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Third, if we ask for something then so much time gets spent in satisfying that request. That is the way it goes. That is what happened with Singhji. In the above case he was about to get PC but his whole longing was not to get PC. And that is what happened - his desire was fulfilled - he did not get PC. And now he is repentant as he realises his mistake.
Fourth, he should have asked: "O' Lord, I want to come close to You. Please be gracious and remove all the fears and obstacles that are in the way." With that request his concerns would have vanished and he would have gotten PC. But he chose differently and now he repents.
The conclusion is that humans ask for all kinds of things and thereby invite so many problems. No matter the temptation, one should never ask anything from Him; rather use the time in singing His name.
Punishment & tests are not the same thing
Some margiis get confused and think that Baba's system of punishment is the same thing as their claim that Baba gives tests. When in fact, these two things are worlds apart.
Baba graciously punishes His bhaktas for wrongs and sins they have committed. By this way He teaches them what they did wrong, removes their samskara, sin and paves the way for their future progress. The key point here is that the sadhaka did something wrong that warrants Guru's punishment.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
In contrast, making the claim that Guru gives tests means Guru deliberately places roadblocks in front of a sadhaka for no reason at all. As if Guru is just harassing the bhakta. But this Sadguru Baba never does. He does everything in the spirit of welfare for our progress and whatever difficulties we encounter are a result of our own samskaras, i.e. our own doing.
Namaskar,
In Him,
Ramdhan Deva
The above is the first-hand account of Shrii Vibhuti Narayan Singh, a long-time margii who worked as a district officer in the Indian government. He is a very active and important margii who arranged the land for the Samastipur jagrti - still today that jagrti sits on that land. Everybody knows he is a good bhakta of Baba.
Our Sanskrit names
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "The word deva should be suffixed to the name...the more the usage of deva as a title, the better it is. The Sanskrit name should be used in all worldly dealings." (2)
Note: What to ask for
Here Baba guides us what we should ask for from Parama Purusa.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "So the devotees with kevalá bhakti in their hearts do not ask Parama Puruśa for anything. Even if Parama Puruśa proposes to give them this or that, the aspirant will say, “No, Lord, I don’t want anything but You. I want to remain with you. What You are offering to me is a trivial thing; I want You and You alone, nothing else.”" (3)
References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 4, Remain United with the Supreme Benevolence
2. Caryacarya - 1, The Process of Initiation
3. Subhasita Samgraha - 14, Yoga, Tantra, and Kevalá Bhakti
Plagiary?
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.
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
Great bhakta
"Jale bhara' a'nkhi jadio toma'r..." (Prabhat Samgiita #1445)
Purport:
O' bhakta, I can see that your eyes are filled with tears. Please tell me why you are so sad - such that you could not even manage to attend to your basic duties. Tell me why you have not tied your braids. In this moonlight, you have half-blossomed, and half not. You look like a land-lily flower. Your sadhana of longing for Him is not fully matured; it has only partially bloomed.
O' bhakta, which Entity came and stole Your heart. He left, took away your inner core, and did not come back. Who is that who did that to you. Was that the Ajana Pathik.
O' bhakta, I have heard that that Ajáná Pathik has returned again. But He is feeling shy, so He is avoiding you. For this reason, He keeps himself afar. He didn’t come to you for He lacks the requisite courage. But I appreciate your commitment that you never forget His love.
He cannot keep Himself away forever and has not forgotten your love, nor can He ever forget it. He will surely come again. Please don't cry; that very divine Entity will reach you one day. That Ajana Pathik, that divine Entity loves you very much; you should know this...
About this Prabhat Samgiita: Prabhat Samgiita is the loving communication between the bhakta and Parama Purusa. In most compositions, the song is sung by the bhakta; less frequently Parama Purusa is addressing the bhakta, either using direct or indirect language. But always the song is the loving sharing between Parama Purusa and the bhakta. Never is there a third entity in the song.
In contrast, traditional Hindu bhajans and writings might employ 2 characters, i.e. bhakta and Parama Purusa, or 3 characters. In those instances where there are 3 characters, then 2 of them are bhaktas who are friends talking about the third character - i.e. Parama Purusa. For example, one bhakta might ask, "Why are you crying? Is it because your Lord has not come?" This is a common scenario in melancholic, traditional Indian bhajans.
But in Prabhat Samgiita, the communication is exclusively between the bhakta and Parama Purusa - there is no 3rd party. Sometimes the bhakta is talking with Parama Purusa, sometimes Parama Purusa is addressing the bhakta. In either case, the style of communication may be direct or indirect. In some rare melancholic compositions, Parama Purusa addresses the bhakta in a very indirect and disguised manner wherein the bhakta does not even recognise that it is Parama Purusa.
For example, in a melancholic song, if a bhakta is crying in longing for Parama Purusa, then Parama Purusa might come in a disguised way so the bhakta does not even realise it is Parama Purusa. Keeping His identity hidden, Parama Purusa then asks, "Why are you crying? In whose longing are you crying?"
This song proceeds in this subtle manner. Parama Purusa has come to the bhakta in a disguised way and the bhakta has no idea that Parama Purusa is the One next to him addressing him and asking these questions. In this way Parama Purusa plays His divine liila.
This song is the expression of a unique interplay between the Supreme Entity and the bhakta, where Parama Purusa asks various questions to the bhakta without disclosing His own identity.
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Measuring your wealth
Prout philosophy says, "In the subtle economic sense, the value of wealth is the real wealth. Wealth, if not properly defined, may mean only riches. But the value of wealth is to be measured in terms of its capacity to purchase commodities. That is, the purchasing capacity of wealth is its real value. This real value of wealth has not yet been properly understood in numerical terms by economists." (1)
Commonly in society - especially when dealing with laborers - people demand a certain wage. They think that that wage or salary defines their wealth. When in actuality, the value of that wage is only relative to the cost of living / purchasing capacity. For instance, if a person was making $5 per hour and they got a pay raise to $7 per hour, but the cost of living (food, housing, medicine etc) doubled, then that pay raise is meaningless. Because their purchasing capacity actually decreased. That is why Prout philosophy states that real wealth is determined by one’s ability to afford the requirements of life. That is one’s purchasing capacity. And if one’s purchasing capacity increases then that has value. Because it means they can buy more with the money they have. Whereas if one’s wage or salary increases but their purchasing capacity remains the same or decreases, then that pay raise is meaningless.
Reference
1. Proutist Economics, Questions and Answers on Economics – Excerpt B
== Section: Hindi Quote ==
बाहर चले जाओ
"ऊतामृतत्वस्येशानो"---”अगर परमात्मा decide करें ऐसा कि---"मैं पापियों का नहीं हूँ | पापी निकल जाए |” तो, पापी पूछेगा---"कृपया यह तो बताओ, मैं कहाँ जाऊँ ?" देखो उनके बाहर में तो कुछ नहीं है | वे बाहर जाने के लिए अगर बोलें, तो बोलेंगे कि---"मेरा जो area है, सरहद है, उसके बाहर चले जाओ |” “तो, तुम्हारे सरहद के बाहर कौन जगह है, बता दो ज़रा ? बताओ ?” वे तो नहीं बता सकेंगे | तब उनको क्या करना पड़ेगा ? अपना ही थोड़ा-सा portion को अलग करके बोलना पड़ेगा---"तू वहाँ जा |" तब थोड़ा-सा area जब बाहर उनसे चला गया, तब वे तो सर्वव्यापी नहीं रहे | उनके बाहर में वे पापी लोग चले गए |”
[यह प्रवचन-अंश, बाबा के कैसेट से सीधे लिखा गया है । बाबा का यह असली प्रवचन, अमृतोपदेश है। आनन्दमार्ग हिन्दी पुस्तकों में छपे प्रवचन तो नक़ली प्रवचन हैं, असली नहीं हैं -- बंगालीकरण (बँगलाइजेसन) के तहत उनकी बर्बादी की गई] (1)
Reference
1. S24-06
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Medicines insanity & retention
Baba says, "Aloe juice is a medicine. Dried aloe sap is called musabbar in Arabic. A type of rasa'injana also used to be prepared out of aloe sap, or musabbar, which was used as medicine -- it was used to treat blood pressure and insanity due to gall bladder disorder." (1)
Baba says, "The retention-of-urine ailment that results when the movement of the urine is obstructed is also called kabandha. The water from soaked fenugreek, fresh date juice, palm juice, and sha'nkha'lu [a conch-shaped esculent] are medicines for this disease." (2)
References
1. Shabda Cayanika - 3, p.109
2. Shabda Cayanika - 3, p.109
== Section 4: Links ==
Other topics of interest
