Baba
Rampant harm: fireworks
Note: Many countries use fireworks for celebrations, but this is misguided. The US is having a huge fireworks display today, and this will have a very deleterious effect.
Namaskar,
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....
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
My visit with Baba
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.
No fireworks: save environment; serve 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.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
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.
In conclusion, according to the sadhaka, Baba continued: Not only are these firecrackers a drastic misuse and abuse of funds; they also create lots of noise and air pollution. 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.
See how in the below photo a person utterly destroyed their hand in a firecracker accident.
See how in the above photo a person utterly destroyed their hand in a firecracker accident.
Severe burns, loss of property, loss of limbs, loss of life - death
This above Baba story gives a very good and meaningful guideline to us all. Unfortunately, nowadays in our Ananda Marga there is also a competition of shooting off fireworks. Tragically, that negative trend has been adopted by some during diipavali / deepawali, as well as Ananda Purnima, and on other select festival days.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
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 property, 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.
Poison for their own personal consumption
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 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.
“I am a pashvcarii (animal sadhaka); I am a half-margii"
Some persons may raise the question that when Baba has given the use of fireworks for the celebration of Diipavali in Caryacarya, then what is wrong if Ananda Margiis celebrate using fireworks? The answer is quite clear. In Caryacarya, Baba also explains what type of meat a person should eat if they cannot resist eating meat. But that does not mean sincere sadhakas and avadhutas should also eat meat or that we should appreciate meat-eating.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Remember, Caryacarya, is our smrti shastra – our social code – and thus contains guidelines for a wide range of people. All kinds of folks with all different types of habits and backgrounds are coming into Ananda Marga. Baba has given rules so that everyone may easily transition onto the path of dharma.
Everyone knows that in Ananda Marga there are three types of sadhakas: pashvacariis, viiracariis, and divyacariis. Pashvacariis are half-margiis; viiracariis are mediocre sadhakas; and those who are very strict and do not compromise on points of dharma are divyacariis. There will always be a mixture of all three grades of sadhakas. Always, new people are coming into human life and they will enter onto the path of pashvacara. After many lives and with God’s grace they will one day become viiracariis.
This point of eating meat in Caryacarya is for pashvacariis. They compromise on various aspects of 16 points, but they are also margiis. They live amongst us – we all know this and recognize who is who. A person may not openly declare, “I am a pashvacarii; animal sadhaka, I am a half-margii”, but everyone knows.
When such pashvacariis, animal sadhakas become strong, established margiis, their manner will be different. Then they will no longer do things like eating meat and celebrate using fireworks.
Just as meat-eating is a hindrance to those on the path of sadhana. Similarly, shooting off fireworks is not befitting of a true sadhaka. Rather it is antithetical as they should observe diipavali as an occasion to do more sadhana and illumine the lamp within - not shoot off fireworks with the masses etc. Our spiritual philosophy always emphasizes that every sadhaka should goad the mind more and more towards an introversial approach.
Better those funds used for the well-being
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.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
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 furthermore states that fireworks create noise and air pollution.
Every true Ananda Margii will always be convinced and abide by Sadguru Baba's words. So they will surely follow the above.
Namaskar,
in Him,
Pratibha’
This story is from the 1960's as recounted by a senior margii. That is why this story is told in the first-person using "I".
Fireworks: harmful air & noise pollution
~ Based on AP news sites ~
- Significant environmental downsides for people, pets and wildlife.
- Thick plumes of pollution - exacerbate poor air quality.
- Air pollution would affect areas as far as 15 miles. The effects would linger for as long as six hours after the last fireworks…Metals and particulate matter: Fireworks release tiny particles that can irritate lungs and trigger asthma attacks, along with gases like carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide and metals including aluminum, manganese and cadmium, according to the American Lung Association.
- “air quality will decline” and visibility “may become compromised.” It advised children and older people to avoid extended time outdoors and advised residents to keep windows closed and to use air filters. People with respiratory conditions like asthma to stay indoors.
- Hazardous metals peaked at more than 6.5 times the levels recorded when smoke from wildfires had blanketed the area. It took as long as 12 hours for the air quality to return to normal levels; rivers contained more than double the levels of lead, nickel and antimony than measurements taken before the fireworks.
- Birds are especially at risk. The sudden blasts of the fireworks scare them into flight, but they do not navigate well in the dark. In a few cases, mass deaths have resulted. 1,000 mountain finches were found dead…The birds showed fractured bones, ruptured organs and internal hemorrhages…“acute severe stress” from the fireworks had led to collisions with trees, the ground or other birds.
- Then there are the terrified pets. Dogs tremble. They drool. They try to hide by cramming themselves into spaces that are too small. They have accidents indoors and tear up clothes or furniture. “They’re so anxious they just don’t know what to do with themselves,” “It’s such a loud noise, and they can’t pinpoint where it’s coming from, if it’s a threat or not,”
- “We do take into account that the fireworks are possibly a disturbance to the herd… all of the elephants at least have indoor access overnight so they can choose to get away from the action as much as possible
- Fireworks have enthralled people for millennia, becoming a fixture at Lunar New Year celebrations in China, at Diwali festivals in India and for Bastille Day in France. For some, the deafening booms and sulfur aroma are irreplaceable. But a few places are experimenting with more environmentally friendly alternatives.
See how in the below photo a person utterly destroyed their hand in a firecracker accident.
See how in the above photo a person utterly destroyed their hand in a firecracker accident.
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.
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Ananda Marga Shabda Cayanika says, “A dog is a hybrid of the wolf and the vixen. In ancient times wild dogs were rather scarce, precisely for the same reason. There is hardly any dog fossil amongst the available fossils of ancient animals. Nowadays, however, wild dogs are also prevalent. These wild dogs live gregariously in jungles, and even a gigantic tiger has been seen to be flabbergasted and killed by a concerted attack of these dogs.”
“Although a dog is a hybrid of the wolf and the vixen, it must be said that there are many radical, extreme differences between a wolf and a dog. A wolf is voracious, but a dog feels satisfied with a small meal. It is difficult to tame a wolf, but a dog loves to be domesticated. A dog is extremely faithful and loyal to its master. A wolf is neither faithful nor loyal to its master. A dog is not ferocious by nature. It attacks or frightens someone as part of its duty. A wolf is ferocious by nature. It has no sense of duty. A dog would not normally kill a creature if its stomach were full. But a wolf, even when its belly is full, kills a creature. If it has no capacity to eat it, it carries the carcass to its den and eats it according to its convenience. Dogs do not generally fight with other members of the dog family. They fight with members of the feline family. But a wolf does not observe any such principle. A wolf avoids the strong and unnecessarily attacks the weak. Although there is a family resemblance between the wolf and the dog, whenever a dog is sighted the wolf attacks and kills it.”
“There are many differences between a jackal and a dog. A dog generally moves about during the daytime. But jackals are night prowlers by nature. A jackal moves in the daytime only when it is in danger, it has to change locations or is excessively hungry. A jackal lives in a hole, but a dog never likes to live in a hole. It prefers to live in the open. A jackal cannot be tamed; but a dog can. By virtue of being night prowlers, the jackals periodically howl in chorus to preserve their solidarity and register their presence. However, dogs do not have this habit. They bark collectively only when they have to fight an enemy as a body. Although both jackals and dogs belong to the canine family, a dog chases a jackal whenever it sees one. A jackal runs away at the sight of a dog. By nature a dog is brave and a jackal is cowardly.” (1)
Reference
1. Shabda Cayaniká Part 4: Discourse #27
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Rare and still more rare are those...
Namaskar
Ananda Marga ideology states, "Even after getting human life, only a few get the opportunity to listen to dharmika discourses. Among those, only a few develop the desire to practise dharma sádhaná. And even among these, only a few actually grasp the spirit of Sádhaná. Those rare ones who understand, perform sádhaná, and reach the goal are truly blessed." (1)
In the above teaching, Baba is expressing how each and every Ananda Margii is extraordinary as they have already crossed so many hoops and became an Ananda Margii. And there are a few more hoops to go. So one should always be alert not to get stuck in the present stage. Please read carefully to understand which stage you have crossed and where you are going.
Namaskar,
in Him,
Ranjiit
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3, The Requirements for Sádhaná
== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==
हे बाबा! हे परम पुरुष ! तुम आज मेरे पास आये हो | तुमने मेरे ऊपर अहैतुकी कृपा की है ।
प्रभात संगीत 1499 तुमि एशेछो द्वार भेंगेछो, कारार अंधकार आलो करेछो…
(जिसका मन भक्ति रस से भावित नहीं है, वह यह प्रभात संगीत नहीं समझ सकता।)
भावार्थ
हे बाबा! हे परम पुरुष ! तुम आज मेरे पास आये हो | तुमने मेरे ऊपर अहैतुकी कृपा की है । तुमने अविद्यामाया, भावजड़ता और अज्ञान के कारागृह के अंधेरे को, ज्ञान के प्रकाश से चमका दिया है । भावजड़ता के कारागृह के दरवाजों को तोड़ दिया है। घबराहट और घुटन से मुझे जीवन में कोई आशा नहीं थी, मैं सोचता था कि संसार में मेरा कोई नहीं है। तब तुमने कृपा कर मेरी ओर दिव्य करुणा और मृदुल मुस्कान के साथ देखा, और अपने पास बुला लिया है। हे बाबा ! तुमने कृपा कर, मेरे मन से सब दाग और कालिमा को दूर कर दिया है। तुमने मेरे मन को आशा और दैवी-प्रेम से भर दिया है।
हे परमसत्ता बाबा! हे चिर अपरिचित! मैं तुमको नहीं जानता, मैं तुमको नहीं पहचानता। तुम हर प्रकार के चिंतन, और कल्पनाओं से परे हो। मैं नहीं जानता कि तुमने मेरा हृदय किस प्रकार चुरा लिया है | हे अमर सत्ता , अब मेरा मन स्थायी रूपसे तुम्हारी ओर दौड़ता है। तुमने मुझे अपना बना लिया है। तुमने मेरे मन के ताल को विभिन्न लयों में भर दिया है। तुमने मेरे जीवन के प्रत्येक कोने को अपने दिव्य स्पंदन और करुणा से भर दिया है ।
हे बाबा, हे दिव्य सत्ता! मैं हमेशा तुमको चाहता हॅूं , मैं तुमको भूल नहीं सकता । यह क्या, तुमने तो मुझे बंधन में बाॅंध लिया है, यह बंधन लोहे की शृङ्खल का नहीं, तुम्हारे प्यार का बंधन है। बाबा! तुमने मेरी जड़ता अपने मधुर प्रेम से दूर कर दी है।
बाबा, तुमने मेरे ऊपर विपुल कृपा की है, मुझे अपने पास बुला लिया है।
टिपपणी
चिर अचिन - चिर अर्थात् अनादि और अचिन अर्थात् अपरिचित। इस मनुष्य जीवन में कोई भी व्यक्ति उन परमपुरुष को पूर्ण रूपसे नहीं पहचान सकता क्योंकि ज्योंही वह उन्हें पहचान लेता है तो उन्हीं के साथ एक होने की चाह में अपना अस्तित्व खो देता है। यही परम नियम है। उन्हें पहचानने का काम पूर्णतः मन के द्वारा ही होता है, और ज्योंही यह मन उन्हें पूर्णतः पहचान लेता है, तो वह और अधिक दूरी सहन नहीं कर सकता, इसलिये उन्हीं के मन में मिल जाता है। इसी लिये साधक कहते हैं कि मैं नहीं कह सकता कि मैं उन्हें जानता हॅूं , या नहीं जानता। क्योंकि वे जानने या न जानने से ऊपर हैं। इसलिये उनका एक नाम ‘चिर अचिन‘ है।
== Section: Bangla Quote ==
অনেক ঘুসি মেরেছে
“যদু মধুকে ধরে, মারছে | এমন শুনে, মোহন এসে ৰলল, "আহা ! কেন মারামারি করছ ? কেন মারামারি করছ ? মিলেমিশে থাকৰে | মোহনের কথাটা ভারী মিষ্টি-মিষ্টি | কিন্তু এই মিষ্টি কথাতে কাজ চলৰে না | মোহনের উচিত হচ্ছে খোঁজা, যে যদুতে, মধুতে যে সংগ্রাম হচ্ছে, কে অপরাধী ? যদি দেখে, যদু অপরাধী, তাহলে তার সঙ্গে-সঙ্গে উচিত, মধুকে সমর্থন করে, যদুকে শায়েস্তা করে দেওয়া | এইটাই হ'ল তন্ত্রের পথ | তা নইলে, শুধু যে ৰলে "কেন মারামারি করছ” ৰলে, থামিয়ে দিলে, তার আগের দিন তো, ready হয়ে মধুকে যদু অনেক মেরে দিয়েছে | অনেক ঘুসি মেরেছে | আর মাঝখানে থেকে পড়ে---যদিও মধু মার খেল---আর মোহন এসে কেবল শান্তি বারি সিঞ্চন করে দিয়ে গেল | তাতে কোনও লাভ হয় না | আর যদুরে তাতে স্পর্ধা ৰেড়ে যাৰে |”
Reference
1. Bha’rata, Tantra A’r Ta’ntrika, GD 1966, Calcutta
== Section 2: Links ==
