Baba
Why not thank Supreme Entity
Namaskar,
In our Ananda Marga, we surrender our everything unto Guru - Parama Puruśa. We offer our minds to Him and sacrifice ourselves for Him so we do not give "thanks" to Parama Puruśa.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "He knows everything that you know, and everything you do not know. Obviously there is no other way than total surrender to Him." (1)
Even during DMC, when so many margiis and acaryas would go on stage to receive a prize from Baba, then no one would ever say, "Thank you, Baba". Instead everyone would lay prostrate to Baba in sastaunga pranam. In Ananda Marga, our standard is high, especially with regards to our relation with Parama Puruśa. We are to give our everything to Him. In contrast, merely saying or giving "thanks" is something comparatively cheap or paltry.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
This topic of "thanks" has come up because in various parts around the globe "giving thanks" is looked upon as something very noble. People give their thanks in so many ways: to the Supreme Entity, to their parents, to their friends and families, and to their communities. These are some of the ways that this gets expressed.
Thanks is only for distant people
However, in the tantric lifestyle of Ananda Marga, our approach is entirely different. With persons close to us, we have a relationship based on love and service. Due to feelings of closeness we do not say "thanks". Because we understand that the help and support are given with heartfelt feeling, not for any recognition or in hopes that we would say "thanks".
As bhaktas, we are ready to do each and every thing for our close relations in service to the Supreme. This is internally understood; in that case, there is no need to say "thanks", rather that would only demean the interaction and relation, as if the person helped you only in order to be "thanked". When, in truth, the feeling and intent runs so much deeper than that. By your demeanor, your close relation understands that you have respect and appreciation for their help and support, which goes far beyond the term "thanks".
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
In our Marga, we only verbally offer thanks to those who are far or distant from us. Saying "thanks" is part of our social norms, but it is not something we use with those whom we feel a sense of intimacy and closeness. If someone whom we revere or if someone close to us does something for us, we will not say "thanks." Saying so will only brand that person as being distant. We only say "thanks" or "thank you" in more formal, business, or distant relations. It is not used with close people and certainly not with Parama Purusa.
“Thank you” trend may seep all around
Yet, in the west, saying "thank you" is looked upon as quite honourable. This is used even between very close persons. Perhaps because the concept of service is less understood or because the relationship between family members is more distant, as people are more accustomed to living by themselves, not as part of a collective. Whatever may be, saying "thank you" is looked upon as something very gracious in the west whereas in our Ananda Marga society it is not.
We should all understand the ethic in Ananda Marga, and, at the same time, keep in mind that many of the pseudo-culture ways are being adopted by the rest of the world. This is likely to happen with saying “thanks” as well. We should be sure that we do not get affected; rather, with a clear mind and heart we should be rationally grounded in our sentient manner. For all these reasons and more, this is a topic of importance for Ananda Margiis.
Giving & taking thanks is just business relation
Giving thanks and taking thanks is the epitome of a business relation. When you think that you are giving something and you want recognition for it, then in that case you desire for the next person to recognize your deed and give you thanks. And if that does not happen you may be frustrated, upset, or disappointed. This demonstrates how and why it is a business relation.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
In stark contrast, service is done with an entirely different motive where the person does not want or expect anything in return - not even “thanks”. For instance, suppose you feed the needy, i.e. Narayana seva, without wanting anything in return because you think that, “God Himself has come before me in the form of this needy person. And since God has given me the strength and the duty to serve, I do not want any recognition or thanks in return - not from anyone.” That is the service mentality in the Ananda Marga system of meditation.
According to the purview of Ananda Marga ideology, nothing belongs to you, rather whatever you have has been given to you by the Supreme Entity for the service of all. So when you are serving others that means you are fulfilling your duty in order to please the Supreme Entity. Naturally then you do not want any recognition from any person or party, otherwise that would make it a business relation. Then it will no longer qualify as service. That's why a true sadhaka thinks, “When I do any service I do not want thanks from anybody.” This is the science behind the business and service mentality. Again, giving and taking thanks is just a business relation.
Surrender to Guru - not give thanks
We should take Baba's lesson to heart and strictly follow the ethic in Ananda Marga. With regard to Guru we are to offer ourselves, not our thanks.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Remember, you have to offer your own identity – not money, rice plantains or other crude objects. The give-and-take of crude things is a business transaction. If you want to attain the bliss of Brahma, you must offer your own self. If you want to have the Great “I”, you must give away your own little “I”. You have to give the full sixteen annas, (the full rupee). Giving fifteen annas and holding back one anna will not do. You must completely surrender. To attain that Infinite One with the help of your mental concentration and strength, you have to surrender yourselves." (2)
In Ananda Marga, every sadhaka feels a very close and personal connection with Parama Purusa. In sadhana or anytime throughout the day, the inner feeling comes, "O’ Parama Puruśa, I love You so much, I am ready to do anything and everything for You." When every bhakta of the Marga is ready to give everything with Him, then merely saying "thanks" is just a tinsel-like expression. Our link with Parama Purusa is very intimate and personal and full of the desire to serve Him. It is His grace.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
In stark contrast, in many of the dogmatic religions, there is a much more distant feeling with the Supreme Entity and worshipers commonly give thanks to the Supreme Entity when receiving food, pay raises, and other mundane things. So theirs is an entirely different, more external approach, both in the spiritual and social sphere.
Conclusion
Our link with Parama Purusa is based on bhakti, service, and the desire to please Him. We do not give thanks to Him, nor to our close persons. When addressing or communicating with our close persons then by our unspoken behaviour and love we express so much more to them than by saying "thanks", but certainly with people whom we do not know very well, then according to our social norms, saying "thanks" is quite appropriate.
Namaskar,
In Him,
Satyajiit
(Sam Taylor)
~ Courtesy of History(dot)com ~
“Thanksgiving was celebrated as a religious holiday, giving thanks to God for the previous year's blessings. It took a long time before it was fully adopted as a holiday and celebrated by all states. Finally, Roosevelt issued a proclamation in 1942 designating the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.” (Courtesy of History (dot) com)
Tasmae Shrii Gurave Namah
Ananda Marga ideology states, "I surrender myself at your altar. Namah means to “surrender”. Namah refers to the process called “Namo mudra'”. It means that all my expressions, all my dexterities, which are expressed through my ten fingers, have been brought to a point. That is, I surrender along with all my capabilities, all my dexterities." (3)
Baba story
One time when Baba was going out for His field walk, many margii families had gathered round to see Baba as He came out from His house. At one point, Baba lovingly gestured toward one of the margii children, and the young child said, "Thanks." The child had obviously learned this from his parents. Baba smiled and gently said, "See, this young child is telling Me 'thanks'."
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Everyone present clearly understood Baba's message: As His disciples and bhaktas, we are not supposed to offer "thanks" to Baba, Parama Puruśa. This was the indirect teaching Baba was giving us that day. That was the first and last time any of us ever heard anyone say "thank you" to Baba.
Ultimately, all our actions are done in service to Him - as we try to fulfill our debt to Guru by giving our all.
References
1. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life - 7, The Highest Category of Devotion
2. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life - 4, Vibration, Form and Colour
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3, Guru Pújá
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
My misery & sorrow
"Bhúlo ná prabhú, e tava kańáre bhúlo ná..." (Prabhat Samgiita #3161)
Purport:
O’ Prabhu, I beg You not to forget this tiny particle of Yours. I am that small atom and ask You to keep me under Your wings. I have come from You and am always within You. Please do not ignore or toss me away outside, rather shower Your grace and grant me the highest bhakti.
O’ my Parama Purusa, since the early dawn of this creation, from the very beginning of saincara, You have invariably been with me in the flow of Your thought waves. Never have I been apart from You. Unfailingly, You have remained very close to me. In both good and bad times of my life, You are always there to save me. In this sweet, fragrant, spring breeze, Your heart is very near to mine. You love me. My Adored One, please do not go away or push me far. Let me remain with You forever.
O’ Parama Purusa Baba, normally every living being, each jiiva, has both positive and negative qualities, with a mix of various merits and demerits - virtue and vice. But my case is different. I have very little virtue and a huge amount of vice. My bad qualities are so numerous that they completely outnumber and overshadow a few good qualities. Parama Purusa, I fell into the dungeon of deep, cimmerian darkness and am crying in my pain and suffering. Now, please do not act unkindly by leaving me in misery and sorrow. Be gracious and keep me under Your shelter and care.
O’ Baba, please do not ever forget me. I have come from You. I am Yours and You are mine. Kindly keep me under your wings....
Notes for Prabhat Samgiita #3161:
Ananda Marga ideology states, “The poet Vidyapati also said, “Adi anándika nátha kaháyasi ab tárańa bhárańa tumhárá.” “You are the Lord of the beginning and the Lord of the end also. I am somewhere between the beginning and the end, and so You are also my Lord. Thus it is Your duty to save me, to redeem me, to protect me from danger. You are bound to do that.”” (1)
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “Paramátmá is the Soul of all souls in the Universe. They receive energy from Paramátmá. The ownership of anything is not yours; it is His. Everything comes from Him and ultimately goes to Him. You cannot create any original object; objects come from Him.” (2)
Ananda Marga ideology says, “Oh Parama Brahma, I am not outside your universe. I surrender to you, ‘Lead me along the path of righteousness, lead me according to your will.’” (3)
References
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 11, Supramundane Heritage and Supramundane Desideratum
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 1, The Supreme Sun
3. Ananda Marga Ideology Way of Life - 6, Microcosm and Macrocosm
"Bhúlo ná prabhú, e tava kańáre bhúlo ná..." (Prabhat Samgiita #3161)
Purport:
O’ Prabhu, I beg You not to forget this tiny particle of Yours. I am that small atom and ask You to keep me under Your wings. I have come from You and am always within You. Please do not ignore or toss me away outside, rather shower Your grace and grant me the highest bhakti.
O’ my Parama Purusa, since the early dawn of this creation, from the very beginning of saincara, You have invariably been with me in the flow of Your thought waves. Never have I been apart from You. Unfailingly, You have remained very close to me. In both good and bad times of my life, You are always there to save me. In this sweet, fragrant, spring breeze, Your heart is very near to mine. You love me. My Adored One, please do not go away or push me far. Let me remain with You forever.
O’ Parama Purusa Baba, normally every living being, each jiiva, has both positive and negative qualities, with a mix of various merits and demerits - virtue and vice. But my case is different. I have very little virtue and a huge amount of vice. My bad qualities are so numerous that they completely outnumber and overshadow a few good qualities. Parama Purusa, I fell into the dungeon of deep, cimmerian darkness and am crying in my pain and suffering. Now, please do not act unkindly by leaving me in misery and sorrow. Be gracious and keep me under Your shelter and care.
O’ Baba, please do not ever forget me. I have come from You. I am Yours and You are mine. Kindly keep me under your wings....
Notes for Prabhat Samgiita #3161:
Ananda Marga ideology states, “The poet Vidyapati also said, “Adi anándika nátha kaháyasi ab tárańa bhárańa tumhárá.” “You are the Lord of the beginning and the Lord of the end also. I am somewhere between the beginning and the end, and so You are also my Lord. Thus it is Your duty to save me, to redeem me, to protect me from danger. You are bound to do that.”” (1)
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “Paramátmá is the Soul of all souls in the Universe. They receive energy from Paramátmá. The ownership of anything is not yours; it is His. Everything comes from Him and ultimately goes to Him. You cannot create any original object; objects come from Him.” (2)
Ananda Marga ideology says, “Oh Parama Brahma, I am not outside your universe. I surrender to you, ‘Lead me along the path of righteousness, lead me according to your will.’” (3)
References
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 11, Supramundane Heritage and Supramundane Desideratum
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 1, The Supreme Sun
3. Ananda Marga Ideology Way of Life - 6, Microcosm and Macrocosm
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "While dharma in the true sense of the term is based on logic and the realizations of great sádhakas [spiritual aspirants], religion, or dharmamata, is based entirely on irrational blind faith. So religions are always sheltered within dogma. While the propagation of dharma goes on spontaneously, for the propagation and establishment of dogma-based religions, the financial power of the vaeshyas [capitalists] and the intellectual prowess of the vipras [intellectuals] is inevitably needed. What we observe from the history of humankind is that the religions which have come so far have, without exception, taken shelter under the wings of capitalism. While money has been spent lavishly for the construction of beautiful places of worship, money has never been arranged for food, clothing, housing, education and medical care for the welfare of the poor. While for four full years all the state revenues of Orissa were spent for the construction of the Konark temple, during that period not a penny was spent for human welfare. Needless to say, the history of all countries is replete with such examples." (1)
In His above teaching, Baba points out how in the past the dogmatic religions spent their money on material pursuits such as the construction of the Konark temple, while the common people languished in utter poverty, half-naked and hungry. A similar state of affairs has befallen our AMPS where all emphasis is on material construction rather than a man-making mission.
#1: AMPS needs human beings.
#2: So many ashrams and MUs are empty - now AM needs human beings not buildings.
#3: Those donating to those buildings and types of construction etc are all fools.
#4: Essentially, they are preparing those sites for non-margiis.
#5: Due to lack of occupancy by AMPS others will take over those buildings; that is what happened with the ashrams of other religions.
#6: In Bihar, Kabir followers had tens of thousands of MUs, and now everything is occupied by Bhumihar.
#7: So remain alert; we need humans.
Reference
1. Ráŕh: The Cradle of Civilization, Ráŕh – 6
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Kindly read the below quote from Baba's teachings. At the end of the quote a question has been posed. If your answer to the question is correct then it means you read Baba's books carefully; and, if your answer is wrong or you do not know the answer, then it signifies that you need to pay more attention when reading Guru's teachings. After all, if sadhakas are not diligent in studying Baba's books then who is going to read them - non-margiis?
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Human life is like a drop of water on a lotus leaf, therefore it is futile to try and develop the material world. Such philosophies advise “atmanam viddhi” or “know thyself”. All the religions of the East have clearly instructed their followers to try and accept the path of shreya or that which leads to supreme benevolence only, to the utter exclusion of preya or that which leads to the acquisition of mundane objects! It may be that this sort of philosophy is not logically incorrect, but in practice this type of extreme idealism preaches that the world should be ignored. The individual human being may develop conscience, morality, renunciation, etc., and may reach the height of spirituality, but the society as a whole will not thereby progress. The maximum development of the society will be reached when there is balanced development in the physical, mental and spiritual spheres.” (1)
Question: Whose philosophy is Baba referring to in the yellow highlighted section?
Answer: In the above Quiz, in the yellow highlighted section Sadguru Baba is talking about - the Shankaracharya’s teachings of mayavada. The followers of mayavada preach the dogma that this material world is just an illusion - not real.
Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 18, Talks on Education – Excerpt C
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Message of dedication: NH book
The Propounder of neo-humanism states:
“To those who think for all . . .who offer others seats of honour and respect . . .who venerate others, instead of waiting to be venerated –to them I dedicate this book with humble esteem and deepest salutations.” (1)- Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar
Note: In the above lines, it is obvious we should give first priority to honouring those whom nobody honours.
Reference
1. Liberation of Intellect - Neo-Humanism, Dedication page
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Origin of polo
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "The well-known modern game of polo originated in Manipur's Kobe Valley...Originally, only royal princes used to play the horse-riding game of polo. For that a very hard ball was needed. The kind of bamboo that was used, used to grow in the eastern portion of Rarh, in slightly salty soil. Still today the best bamboo for making polo balls grows in the Uluberia subdivision of Howrah District and in Midnapore District's Tamluk subdivision." (1)
Reference
1. Shabda Cayanika - 3, Kakubh to Kavaśńa (Discourse 17)
== Section 3: Links ==
Postings to Read
How to handle emotional people
Right surrender: take action
Sadhana all lessons needed
Wrong moon calculation could ruin fasting
Story: describing His beauty & charm
