Occasion: Shravanii Purnima
Namaskar,
In the life of each and every disciple of Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, Shra'van'ii Pu'rn'ima' holds great importance. On the one hand, some may simply think that Shra'van'ii Pu'rn'ima' is just one day when Baba started giving initiations. Because in 1939 on Shra'van'ii Pu'rn'ima', Baba initiated one bandit named Kalicharan Bandopadhyaya. And that was the first initiation into Ananda Marga sadhana.
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And on the other hand there is an even deeper meaning: Namely, that very day of Shra'van'ii Pu'rn'ima' Baba took the samkalpa to infuse spiritual refulgence and root out all the staticity - both from the mind and atmosphere of this globe. That day He took the vow, and that vow took expression in the initiation of Kalicharan Bandopadhyaya; it was His grace. For Sadguru to accept anyone as a disciple is a great blessing. Because accepting a disciple means taking charge of guiding that individual from the beginning up to the last point, liberation. Sadguru both shows the path of enlightenment and leads the disciple along that path, each and every step.
In true sense, human beings come on this earth to reach and achieve this goal - Parama Purus'a. And Parama Purusa Himself comes in the form of Ta'raka Brahma. And Taraka Brahma Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji performed His first initiation in 1939. That day began the path of Ananda Marga.
Analogy of primitive folk
Some naively think that Parama Purus'a can only do something by taking the help of His physical body. Such persons do not understand what Parama Purus'a means. It is no different from how today, in this modern era, very primitive people are not able to think how one can communicate or talk or send a picture from one place to another place electronically. In their illiterate state, they think that, 'When I cannot pass the message from the jungle outside of my village to my family members who are at home inside the house to prepare some food, then how can I talk to someone who is a few kilometers away, or outside the country, or across the ocean, or even in outer space'. Those simple villagers cannot fathom such a concept.
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Similarly, in India when radio broadcasting first started in 1930s then simple folk were gossiping that tiny people come and sit inside the big tape recorder and sing and speak. And when the time is over and they get tired, then they leave. One time someone's tape recorder fell on the ground and two pairs of AAA batteries came out. By seeing that, other villagers exclaimed, 'Look those tiny people left the dholak (musical instrument) and escaped'. So those who have poor understanding about science think in their own way.
Bhaktas know Parama Purusa not limited to physical realm
In the same manner, those who have poor understanding in the field of spirituality think 'Baba has left us'. But bhaktas know that Baba's expressions, power, and capacity are not limited to the physical sphere. He is beyond the time, space, and person. He is helping, and will be helping forever. This following blessing of Baba leads in that direction.
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "Resorting to the vibrating divine power generated by Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji through Vara'bhaya and Ja'nusphars'a mudra's, you may carry yourself and the entire universe ahead on the path of all-around bliss. Om Shanti (May all remain in bliss)." (1)
So for Ananda Margiis taking shelter in Baba and surrendering to His will is the only way.
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'Tava dravyam' Jagatguro, tuybameva samarpaye.'
My Parama Purusa, 'Everything of mine, along with my mind, is offered at Your altar. Please oblige and accept it.' (2)
Sastaunga Pranam at His lotus feet,
Satyadeva
~ In-depth study ~
Gift of great bhaktas
The great bhakta Surdas wrote thousands of songs about Lord Krsna. And in his life he always felt and realised that Lord Krsna was always remaining along with him and playing. And what Surdas perceived came in the form of songs, which are several thousand in number. A similar thing happened with the great bhakta Mirabai. She also felt that Lord Krsna was living along with her, side by side. Indeed, in the history there are countless bhaktas like this - some are known and many are unknown. But the central idea is that bhaktas always feel and realise that Parama Purus'a is ever-present with them.
In Prabhat Samgiita, Baba has recognized some of those past great bhaktas. It has accepted their feelings and approved of their bhakti-filled expression. That is why about Surdas in one Prabhat Samgiita says:
"Bha'voke diyecho tumi bha's'a', bha's'a'ke diyecho tumi sura
Surada's, sura sam tumi na'shiya'cho tamasa'sur..." (Prabhat Samgiita #1255)
"O’ Surdas, O’ Surdas, you are such a great bhakta - you have given the words to express the feelings of deeper, loving bhakti-filled ideation. You have supplied not only the language but you have given the tune and melody as well. By this endeavor, you have removed the demons of staticity and darkness..."
The sense is that what Surdas did in his individual life is helping one and all. And it will go on doing so up to eternity because Surdas's songs are filled with bhakti-filled expression, lead to the Supreme entity, and give boundless bliss beyond time.
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Blessing: 2nd version
Also, with regards to the Baba's blessing posted in my letter. There is something more I would like to offer. Because actually there is more than one English version of Baba's concluding blessing. Here is a second version.
Caryacarya states, "Utilizing the vibrations created for eternal time by Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji through ja'nuspharsha and bara'bhaya mudra, take yourself and the entire universe ahead along the path of all-round welfare. Omn Shanti!" (3)
References
1. Caryacarya - 2, 1968
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3, Prańáma Mantra
3. Caryacarya Part 1, 1995
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
My most adored One
“Tumi je ámár nayanera, mańi áge cinite párini…” (Prabhat Samgiita #0556)
Purport:
Parama Purusa, You are the jewel of my eyes - my most adored One, and the most precious thing in my life. There is nothing I treasure more. Alas, how I did not recognise You in the past. Since my childhood You have been mine, my everything. Yet it is only now that I realise that You are the most important Entity to me. Earlier, I did not know about You - i.e. Your true Self, my nearmost. You were in my mind, as well as in my heart and soul - unfailingly, all-around me and with me in all my works - whatever I did. It is sad that in the past I did not look at You or know the supreme veracity that You were there with me since ages. I missed the opportunity. It would have been very blissful if I had known.
Supreme Entity, there were thunderstorms with strong gusty winds all around in my life. The tornado was ferocious with the loud crashing of squall and gale-force winds. Everything was swept away by torrential rains. There was chaos and darkness in all directions. My life was filled with tragedies; everyone left me. In those deadly dark days unbeknownst to me, You remained with me - helping and wiping away my tears. You did not leave me behind and were never even one step away from me. You were with me day and night, all the 24 hours, protecting me invariably; alas, how I could not recognise You in the past and was not aware that You are my very close. If I had known that the Entity who loves me so much is always with me, I would have served You.
Parama Purusa, Baba, You apply the soothing balm on the wounds of those neglected and humiliated ones. You do not leave anyone all alone where they feel depressed and rejected - drowned in hopelessness. You give the healing touch to those suffering in ignominy and pain. You never hate anyone and always bestow a sense of dignity upon those who lost their respect and status. Unfortunately, those days I did not recognise You and could not realise this eternal truth. It is only now that I understand, by Your grace, that the Entity who runs this universe is my very close.
Parama Purusa, You are my most dear and have been with me on every occasion, my entire life. But I could not recognise You those days. By Your mercy, now I cannot forget this divine truth that You never leave me…
== Section: Important Teaching ==
How to become human
Ananda Marga ideology says, "The third essential factor of Bhágavata Dharma is sevá. Only humans are aware of their own identity. Plants, animals and material objects are not aware. A rupee does not know that it is a rupee. A mango tree does not know that it is a mango tree. A jackal does not know that it is a jackal. But humans know that they are human. Human beings also know that Parama Puruśa is their source of impetus, is their Father, and that they are all His children. As His children, they have a brotherly relationship with all other jiivas, or unit beings. Due to this knowledge of brotherhood, the human is superior to all other beings. Parents are greatly pleased when they find that their children have been loved and helped by someone. Similarly, Parama Puruśa will be pleased when you serve His creation – not only human beings, but also plants, animals, and the rest of creation. That is, bhúta yajiṋa, pitr yajiṋa and nr yajiṋa are to be performed. Those who have this feeling are in the real sense of the term human beings. Just having the body of a human does not make a person a real human being, a rational being." (1)
Note: There are many, especially in materialistic societies, who do solely for their own self-gratification and personal entertainment etc. Sometimes it may look like they are doing social service work, but it is not social service in the true sense. Because they are doing that "service" only to enhance their own prestige, garner praise, or because it gives them some sort of selfish pleasure. The proof is when the "service" work is no longer pleasurable or suiting their needs, then they stop doing it. In that case, what they are doing is not service, but a form of selfish indulgence. If in their “service” activities, a person does not have the feeling of Brahma bhava, then what they are doing is not true service, but a form of selfishness. Those who are doing true seva are real human beings, and those who lack this quality are not real human beings.
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3, The Requirements for Sádhaná
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Samskara theory and cats
Ananda Marga ideology states, "Whether one be a philanthropist or a star athlete, one desires to see what is written about them in the newspaper. This means that in trying to do some good work, what are they really doing? They are falling under the sway of one propensity, the propensity of greed. Now if this act is encouraged by the society, that is, if the newspapers dedicate a lot of attention to such news, or if people in general say, “Sir, whatever you are doing is unparalleled in history. Sir, we are not eulogizing you. We are simply telling the truth” – if they praise such a person in this way and then try to extract some money from them (there are such intelligent people around) – then what does it amount to indirectly? The propensity of greed increases. Which animal is the greediest among the animals with which we are all very familiar? It does not like to give up greed in spite of ill treatment and humiliations. It is the cat. Yes, after moving a few steps ahead, the cat forgets that it was beaten. So, that particular person is reborn as a cat after death, because that body affords an opportunity for the satiation of their greed. When the housewife looks around inattentively, the cat sneaks into the kitchen through the small opening in order to reach the milk or fish in the kitchen. So in order to exhaust the samskáras one needs an appropriate body. Some people obtain a new body immediately after death and others obtain it later. But one has to obtain it somehow."
"One who is doing philanthropic work today, tries to find out tomorrow whether or not their name appeared in the newspaper. They have no desire to read the other news. They read the news that relates to themselves twenty times but do not go through the other news with much enthusiasm. If someone asks they might say that today there was only one important piece of news, nothing else. That is how a person comes under the sway of a propensity and remains subject to the cycle of birth and rebirth." (1)
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 10, The Supreme Entity – the Non-Doer
== Section 4: Links ==
- #3: How this started
Other topics of interest
