Baba
Inner meaning: upcoming festival
Note: The great festival of Diipavali will soon be upon us, Sunday, 12 Nov 2023.
Namaskar,
In the coming weeks and days as we prepare for the wonderful occasion of Diivali or Diipávalii, may we all rejoice and celebrate both the social and spiritual aspects of this highly significant and grand occasion. This is one of our recognised Ananda Marga festivals which is designed to bring a renewal and rejuvenation throughout one's entire existence.
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Baba's special description of Diipávalii
In Caryacarya part 1, Baba neatly outlines all our Ananda Marga festivals. Plus, in various other discourses, Baba also talks extensively about certain festivals like Shravanii Purnima etc. And that is the case with Diipa'vali also.
In His June 1990 DMC discourse, 'The Cult of Spirituality-- The Cult of Pinnacled Order', Baba makes special mention of this event. In this discourse, Baba explains how this festival known as Diipa'vali is linked with the enlightenment of the soul. That is the great significance of this day.
Hence Diipávalii is related with spiritual refulgence, sentient thought, and all psycho-spiritual ideas that are linked with light: igniting the lamp of love for Parama Purusa.
Here is the as-is transcription from Baba’s DMC discourse about diipavali:
- “इस मन का जो अन्धकार है, उसको हटाना है | ऐसा नहीं कहना है कि---"घर में दीवाली, मेरे घर में अन्धेरा |" घर में भी दीवाली होनी चाहिए | और यह दीवाली, आत्मा की दीवाली |” (03 June 1990, DMC discourse: Cult of Spirituality)
- “Isa mana ka' jo andhaka'r hai usko hat'a'na' hae. Esa' nahin kahana' hai ki - Ghar-ghar men diivali, Mere ghar men andhera'. Ghar men bhii diiva'lii honii ca'hiye. Aor ye diiva’lii, a'tma' kii diivali.” (03 June 1990, DMC discourse: Cult of Spirituality)
- The darkness of the mind should be removed. 'In each and every house there is a festival of light, yet my home is dark', one should not say like this. Instead, there should be diivali (festival of light) in the home, and it is the diivali of the atma' (festival of soul).
According to Baba's above DMC discourse, Diipa'vali is the idea of cultivating an inner spiritual yearning for Parama Purusa, thereby illuminating one's entire existence with the sweet flow of spirituality. That is, infusing one's soul with the great love of Parama Purusa.
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How we should celebrate
Per abiding by The Supreme Command, each and every Ananda Margii does sadhana twice a day, at minimum. So it is our regular habit and practice to illumine our minds and hearts with that deeply spiritual flow. This is Baba's grace and His great gift to all Ananda Margiis.
So when the day of Diipávalii arrives then what are we to do? We are to dedicate even more time to our spiritual practices of sadhana and kiirtan - enabling our existence to better reflect and capture the infinite love of Parama Purusa. By Baba's divine grace, may we all pass this occasion in this splendid and deeply meaningful way. And, of course, we may join any festival programs organised in our local units, as outlined in Caryacarya.
Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "Diipávalii: Once collective Iishvara Pran'idha'na and Varn'a'rghyada'na, illumination, collective merry celebrations, entertaining visitors at one's residence, and procession with ta'n'd'ava dance." (1)
Firecrackers are dangerous
Here is a story from the 1960's as recounted by a senior margii. That is why this story is told in the first-person using "I". Here begins the story....
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My visit with Baba during Diipávalii
During the 1960's I was a student and I would go and visit Baba often; He was always very gracious and would give guidelines and speak on various topics. As Guru, it was His grace that He allowed me to sit close to His feet and have His proximity.
On this particular occasion, in late October, during the time of Diipavali / Deepawali, all kinds of festivities were going on, including fireworks / firecrackers. In celebration of this festival, many in our local neighborhood were also shooting off firecrackers.
Money spent on firecrackers should be used to serve suffering humanity
At the time, I was sitting with Baba, attending to Him, in His quarters. Baba was speaking on various subjects, but He was interrupted again and again by the loud and disturbing noise of those firecrackers. Finally, He stopped talking entirely.
After a few moments, I said: Baba, people spend crores of rupees on firecrackers."
Baba replied: Yes. People misuse crores of rupees (tens of millions) on fireworks and erecting huge, multi-story paper temples on the road for this festival, and these temples only last 3 - 5 days. All the while, the common masses and poor people are suffering; they do not have proper food, shelter, clothing, medical care, nor education. They lack the basic requirements. It would be far better if the funds spent on fireworks were used to serve those impoverished people with that money - instead of wasting it on firecrackers and other dogma. That would be great social service.
Baba continued: Not only are these firecrackers a drastic misuse and abuse of funds; they also create lots of noise and air pollution.
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Reflection: why no fireworks
This above story gives a very good and meaningful guideline to us all. Unfortunately, nowadays in our AMPS there is also a competition of shooting off fireworks. Tragically, that negative trend has been adopted by some during Diipávalii / deepawali, as well as Ananda Purnima, and on select other festival days.
There are a variety of reasons why we do not support the lighting of fireworks during our Ananda Marga festivals or anytime:
1. Fireworks / Firecrackers are dangerous and can bring bodily harm such as moderate to severe burns, loss of limbs, loss of life, hundreds of deaths;
2. Fireworks / Firecrackers are costly and a waste of money;
3. Fireworks / Firecrackers create a huge amount of pollution
As Ananda Margiis, we should all be more conscious about this. We should not fall into trends of the general society. Those who purchase fireworks for these types of festivals should refrain from using them and safely recycle / dispose of them. That is the best thing to do; that will be in keeping with Baba's stated guideline.
It is just like if someone purchased a lethal dose of poison for their own personal consumption and later realised that life itself is very important, then they will not ingest it. Rather they will throw it away. Similarly, those who made the mistake of purchasing fireworks should not use those firecrackers, but rather safely dispose of them.
Conclusion
I also used to shoot off fireworks but after hearing this story I stopped immediately. This is a very practical and meaningful guideline. After all, money should not be used and abused but rather spent in a proper way, i.e. for the service of those in need.
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The brief summary of the above story is: Baba points out how fireworks are a waste of money - better those funds should be used for the well-being of the people. Baba also guides us that fireworks create noise and air pollution.
On this wonderful festival of Diipa'vali, let us once again recall Baba's great boon upon all Ananda Margiis and illumine the light within.
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "You should remember why You have been born. Following the path of devotion, you will have to ultimately reach Parama Purusa." (2)
Namaskar,
In Him,
Pratibha’
~ In-depth study ~
Diipa'vali is not just a day celebrated in Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha. Throughout the gamut of communities based on tantric traditions, Diipa'vali is recognised as a highly meaningful occasion. Estimates are that upwards of 900 million to 1.4 billion people celebrate Diivali. Whether one is a vidya tantric or an avidya tantric, whether one is an idol worshiper or one engages in prayer, whatever type of sadhana one does, Diipa'vali is the day when all are involved.
At the same time, many materialistic and dogmatic people display fireworks in the external arena; that is also one aspect of this event. In Ananda Marga, as noted above, we do not support the use of fireworks. Instead we might use safe, eco-friendly, electric lamps - if one has the desire to celebrate in this manner. After all, the term 'diip' means 'light' or 'lamp' and Diipa'vali is that occasion which is a festival of lights. And many come forward in various ways to celebrate this widely recognised occasion. In our Ananda Marga we have our own special, dharmic understanding of this great festival, as outlined above.
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Social functions & festivals: "a great unifying force"
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "You should make arrangements for different types of festivity on the occasions of the ceremonial functions of the Marga. Ensure that those who enjoy the celebrations also get thereby healthy opportunities for their physical growth, mental development and spiritual progress." (3)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Many of the ills of society develop because people do not care to know other members of society. This ignorance of the condition and difficulties of others leads to intolerance and a lack of interest in the affairs of the other members of society. Common social functions bring different members of society together and are, therefore, a great unifying force. By performing certain functions collectively all the participants are engaged for some time in doing the same thing and brings about a feeling of unity and interest in others. In A'nanda Ma'rga such common social functions are specially encouraged. Milita Sna'na or collective bathing and dharmacakra or collective meditation are the basis for common social functions in the physical, psychic and spiritual fields. Common participation in such functions is a very unifying force and the participants of such functions will have no intolerance for each other; instead they will become more united. Such functions are therefore a great unifying force." (4)
Our Ananda Marga festivals bring charm in the life
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "When people become tired and uninspired, when they can no longer look towards the future with hope, when their colourful dreams are shattered, at that time the sweetness of a festival brings new joy and vigour in life. Thus in individual and collective life, the importance of festivals is tremendous. One should always remember that festivals should be such that all can take part in them without any ostentatious display of wealth, and with an upsurge of their life force. And these festivals should be conducted in such a way that people take part in them from a spontaneous inner urge. I hope that you will make such arrangements so that all are attracted towards your festivals which will be more and more charming-- and this will bring about your collective welfare." (5)
Various spellings of this festival day
Here it is also important to note that there are various different spellings of this occasion, depending on the language and area: 'Diipavali', 'Diivali', 'Diipa'vali', 'Diwali', and 'Deewali' etc; all refer to the same wonderful festival.
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According to the sadhaka, Baba added: The money misused on dogma should be used for social service. Those who love humanity will not misuse their hard earned wealth in this way. (Story recounted by Dr. Singh, a margii from Ranchi)
References
1. Caryacarya - 1, Social Functions and Festivals
2. Yoga Psychology, '91 Edn, p.140, The Cult of Spirituality – the Cult of Pinnacled Order
3. Caryacarya - 1, Social Functions and Festivals
4. A Few Problems Solved - 7, Social Psychology
5. A Few Problems Solved - 5, On Festivals
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
Your endless liila
"Tamasára par páre jyoyi vartiká niye, ácho ke go ananta kála dhare...” (Prabhat Samgiita #1818)
Purport:
O' Refulgent One! Who are You - since eternity You have been holding the spiritual lamp, standing across the cimmerian darkness of ma’ya’.
O' Shining Entity, that spark of light goes on floating in all the directions. By Your grace, piercing that Cimmerian darkness, the whole universe is inundated by Your flashing particles of refulgence which are floating on and on, endlessly. O' Great Entity, You are fully aware what everyone is thinking, saying, and doing. You know everything about every person. You are watching this entire liila secretly, unbeknownst to anyone.
O' Illumined Purusa, You are the absolute goal of all; nobody is equal to Your status, glory, and greatness. You alone have the ability and power to create or withdraw all the emanations of this expressed universe - i.e. entire creation. Within an instant, You can do anything. You are the master of creating, maintaining, and withdrawing. In Your special, secret way, You make, sustain, and finally merge jiivas back into You. You bless people with life itself, and when they become very old You provide them with a new human body, or grant them moksa. Everything You do gets done behind the scenes so no one can see. This is Your endless liila.
O' Evernew Entity, I pay my salutations at Your altar...
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Who stained the rivers with blood
Ananda Marga ideology states, “Religion and intolerance have created enormous harm in the world, have caused torrents of blood to stain the rivers red. In the present twentieth century, religions have assumed the form of “isms”. The people of medieval times fought among the clans and communities, and the people of today are fighting over their “isms”...To emancipate the masses from the unhealthy influence of “isms” there is no other way than universalism. Only universalism is free from the defects of any narrow isms because every thing of this entire universe comes within its vast periphery.” (1)
Reference
1. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life - part 7, The Five Kinds of Conscience (Viveka)
