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Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Only the sadhaka is benefited + 3 more

Baba
Only the sadhaka is benefited

Namaskar,

Now and again we come across this guideline.

Ananda Marga ideology states, “You have only one goal: to please Parama Puruśa in all possible ways whenever an opportunity presents itself.” (1)

Seeing the above teaching, some new people might conclude that Parama Purusa is narcissistic and wants to be pleased, praised, and glorified in every moment, but a closer look gives a different perspective of the situation. To shine a light on this, let’s examine a worldly situation.


Boy benefits from pleasing mom

There were two high school graduates who were about to leave home to attend university. Both of their mothers warn their sons about the dangers of engaging in party behaviour (drinking, drugs, smoking, sexual crimes etc) while at college and tell them to attend to their studies. Both moms impart this guideline for the welfare of their respective sons, John and Pete. Yet, both boys, John and Pete, are interested in party life at college, but since John has a very close relation with his mother and wants to please her, he refrains from party life and attends to his studies. In contrast, Pete feels less connected to his mother so he disregards her wishes and indulges in party life, ends up in jail, and fails out of school. Ultimately, John graduates with high honours - and the key point was that due to his great love for his mother he felt he should act in a way that would be pleasing to her. And in the end, John got all the benefits: awards at graduation and a very good job.


Having a personal link is needed

And this same theory applies in spiritual life as well. When one has not yet embarked on the spiritual journey and has no link with the Supreme Entity, that person will have no inclination to please Parama Purusa. It is only when one becomes more committed to their spiritual practices and develops a link with Him by His grace that they will have the natural inclination or urge to please Parama Purusa. And that tendency is what is called bhakti.  

Yet, by this relation, Parama Purusa has nothing to gain - already He stands in His own glory. A unit jiiva can do nothing to add to the greatness of Parama Purusa. So it is only the bhakta who has something to gain by pleasing Parama Purusa strictly adhering to Sixteen Points.


Conclusion

Ananda Marga ideology states, “True devotees can think only of Parama Puruśa – their every action is to please Parama Puruśa.” (2)

In Him,
Pranos’t’ha’

For more on this topic kindly read:
Reply to skeptics: Singing His glory

~ In-depth study ~

Cultivating that link

When one has not yet embarked on the spiritual journey and has no link with the Supreme Entity, that person will have no inclination to please Parama Purusa. And even for new sadhakas who just started learning sadhana, they too may not have the feeling to do something to please Parama Purusa.

It is only when one becomes more committed to their spiritual practices and develops a link with Him, by His grace, that they will have the natural inclination or urge to please Parama Purusa. And that tendency is what is called bhakti. As their bhakti grows, then their each and every breath will be imbibed with the feeling that, “I should please Parama Purusa.” Such a person is truly blessed, as most on this earth never get such a feeling. It is rare.

Yet, by this relation, Parama Purusa has nothing to gain - already He stands in His own glory. A unit jiiva can do nothing to add to the greatness of Parama Purusa. So it is only the bhakta who has something to gain by strictly adhering to the path of bhakti. Verily, when they develop that inner link with that Cosmic Entity, then their life becomes fully transformed, and they yearn to remain close and please Him--always.

Here we have to remember that we should be patient with non-sadhakas and newcomers on the path. We cannot expect that they will immediately want to do something to please Parama Purusa - nor can we impose this idea on their psyche. Rather, this is a very natural phenomenon that mounts organically as one advances on the path and is graced to have an inner relation with Him. And that is His supreme blessing on that sadhaka.

Verily, when one develops that inner link with that Cosmic Entity, then their life becomes fully transformed, and they yearn to remain close and please Him always.

References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 8, Please Parama Puruśa through Your Service
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 30, The True Devotee


*        *        *

The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.

*        *        *

== Section 2: Warning ==

Eating at festivals

Warning: Nowadays, there is a very serious health hazard associated with most Ananda Marga festivals around the globe: feasting. Primarily, the food itself is problematic. People generally enjoy celebrating with foods that have a lot of oil, saturated fat, and sugar. This has an immediate and dangerous effect on the body. For diabetics, heart patients, those with cardiovascular disease, and patients of obesity etc, they may even succumb to a tragic health event directly after feasting. Others may suffer from weight gain or high blood pressure, or it may trigger and exacerbate a weakness for sugary foods or other bad eating habits etc. So, no matter the Ananda Marga festival or one's own personal health status, we should all be alert about the risks and hazards of feasting during collective celebrations. However, we should also bear in mind that this is more of a sign of the times than a permanent problem. There will certainly come an awakening where “cleaner”, healthier options are provided at festivals. And, verily, every sadhaka is empowered to usher in this new era by changing the Ananda Marga festival menus in their unit. People can sit and talk and make a collective decision in this regard. Again, the two main health hazards to avoid are bad fats and sugars. Eliminating these ingredients alone will have a very positive effect and spare many from the ill effects of eating at today’s Ananda Marga festivals. 


== Section: Important Teaching ==

How humans will change

Ananda Marga Ideology guides us, "I have also said that in the future the number of vrttis may further increase. The more complicated social life, family life, the realm of thought and the realm of intellect become, the more vrttis will develop. For example, the vrtti, cunningness, may be expressed in many more ways. To fulfil their desires, people will develop different types of cunningness which may become different vrttis in future. For example, the cunningness required to procure an object by devious means, the cunningness needed to give a promise knowing full well that one will never keep it, and the cunningness required to trick someone into believing that one did not tell a lie when in fact one did tell a lie, may all become separate vrttis in future.” 

"Thus, in the future, as people’s thought processes become more complicated, many new vrttis will develop. The number of vrttis may not stay at fifty. Just imagine the situation that will arise in the future as a result of humanity’s ever increasing thirst for knowledge. To meet these developments the nerve cells and nerve fibres will have to become more complex. Consequently, the human cranium will become larger and the size of the head will increase. The hands and feet will become weaker and weaker and human beings may even lose the ability to walk. Today, the human toes have almost stopped functioning – in spiritual actions we have almost no use for them – whereas at one time, when we used to walk on four legs, we used our toes as much as our fingers. The front legs were used less and less, and were transformed into arms, and thus these days it has become almost impossible for us to crawl on all fours.” 

“There was a time when humans would run on four legs, but today they cannot do that. After a time, children feel uncomfortable crawling around on all fours and try to walk on their hind legs. In the initial stages, when they try to stand up, they soon fall down. Again they stand up, again they fall down. When they finally develop the habit of standing on two legs, there are corresponding changes in the physical structure so that the use of their arms becomes less. In the future, the legs will be used less and less and the capacity to move on them will decrease. The arms will become thin, and the head will become abnormally large.” (1)

Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam-8, Sádhaná, Abhidhyána and Kiirtana

== Section 3: Links ==

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Tuesday, November 10, 2026

The story behind overeating + 2 more

Baba
The story behind overeating

Namaskar,

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "For proper digestion, fill the stomach halfway with food, one quarter with water, and leave one quarter full of air." (1)

Who does not know, Ananda Marga Yogic Treatments book states, “Dyspepsia originates from unbalanced food habits. Eating when one is not hungry or only half hungry is harmful in this disease. So is eating rich food for days together, using intoxicants, eating tasty food out of greed alone, not taking rest after the meal before running off to the office, or taking a bellyful of food (according to the scriptures, it is desirable to fill the stomach halfway with food, one quarter with water, and to keep one quarter empty for free movement of air); refraining from doing physical labour and, over and above this, doing strenuous mental work or indulging in sex, is also harmful in this disease.” (2)

Overeating is a common phenomenon amongst greedy people during feasts and festivals around the globe. People even consciously say to themselves, "Today I am not going to overeat at such-and-such feast", but still they do it, due to greed. When people eat something that they feel is tasty and delicious, then they are prone to overeating. The problem is pervasive within the community of greedy-eaters.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Modern medical science and our Ananda Marga philosophy both state that overeating invites various diseases and decreases the lifespan. That is why in family life and the general society, people try to control their eating. This issue of over-eating is a big problem at present. Now is the time steps must be made for educating the people, curtailing the problem, and preventing it from occurring in the future.


How primitive humans used to chew cud

Those primitive humans had little security in life. They lived moment to moment - captive to the weather and harsh ways of nature - never knowing when they would be able to find food again. Life was unsettled. So when the opportunity came to eat, they would purposely eat extra food and store excess food in the appendix and then regurgitate that food later when they would feel hungry. Indeed nature supplied them with "a second stomach" and with their mental force they could regurgitate that food.

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Human beings used to have an appendix to their intestines for accumulated or excess food. As it was needed this food would stimulate salivation in the mouth and be fully eaten and digested. The proper eating and digesting of the surplus food in the appendix is called romanthana in Sanskrit and ja'bar ka't'a' in Bengali. In good English we call it "rumination" and in spoken English "chewing the cud"...As the certainty of food supplies gradually increased, the need for a corporal appendix to the intestines lessened. Eventually there was even not the slightest need for it. Today a small vestige of it remains in the human body although it is no longer used in times of distress. Human beings have lost the capacity to ruminate." (3)

For thousands of years then those primitive humans followed this path:

Uncertainty about future food -> when getting excess food then eat extra (more than what can fit in the stomach) -> store excess food in the appendix -> hunger comes -> regurgitate food from the appendix -> chew and swallow that regurgitated food -> fully digest that food in the stomach.

That was a central pattern of life. It was how those early human beings survived. Most herbivore animals still do this type of thing.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

So this manner of eating is an old human trait yet completely different from the overeating that takes place nowadays which is a result of human greed. Actually in the days of old, it was out of necessity and the excess food was stored. It was not overeating per se; it did not all go into the stomach. Today however, all the food we eat does go into the stomach. In that case it most definitely is overeating based on greed. Nobody gives way to overeating when they do not like the taste of something. However, if they think something is sumptuous then driven by greed they will overeat, distend their belly, and harm the body.


Modernity & human appendix

Nowadays, in many lands, people's lives are more settled. This applies to food as well. People have kitchens, a stock of food, and cooking facilities etc. In brief, we are able to plan our meals - we usually know exactly when we are going to eat next. Because of all these modern developments, we have lost the power of regurgitation. Our bodies can no longer do that. That is what Baba has explained.

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "As the certainty of food supplies gradually increased, the need for a corporal appendix to the intestines lessened. Eventually there was even not the slightest need for it. Today a small vestige of it remains in the human body although it is no longer used in times of distress. Human beings have lost the capacity to ruminate." (4)

Due to a distinct lack of use, slowly over time, the appendix has become very small. And now if food gets in the appendix, it is a serious problem. One will be rushed to the hospital for an operation to have it removed. Thus even though our bodies have changed a lot, still there is a prevalent desire to eat to excess; but, it is based on greed not biological need.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Infinite longing should not be channelised towards food

As sadhakas we know that human longing is infinite and must be directed to the Supreme. When this is not done and one focuses their infinite longing towards physical pabulum - like food - then the result is overeating. Some may even eat themselves into their own grave.

The chief reason why people overeat is that human desire is infinite. And when that desire gets directed towards physical desires like food, then people attempt to satiate their inherent infinite longing with their appetite. But that equation is doomed to fail. One's innate infinite longing can never be satiated by food. Limited worldly allurements cannot truly satisfy one's infinite longing.

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The animality in human beings gives them a leaning towards animal life or physical enjoyment. They, under its influence, look to eating, drinking and gratification of other physical desires. They are attracted towards these and run after them under the influence of their animality but these do not provide happiness as their longing for it is infinite." (5)

So one key factor in overeating nowadays is the misdirection of mind towards physical desires like food. When one's infinite mental longing is goaded towards one's dinner plate they are bound to overeat. Through sadhana, one's desire is directed towards the Supreme and that is the only way to satisfy one's inherent mental longing.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The mind of a non-sádhaka is guided by extroversial propensities. As the sádhaka’s goal is Parama Puruśa he will have to invariably direct the mind towards Parama Puruśa." (6)

People also overeat due to mental stress, depression, and other factors related with psychic diseases. We should pay heed to Baba's below mandates.


Baba's recipe for healthy eating

As we all know, in His Yogic Treatments book, so many diseases, illnesses, and ailments are due to overeating. Here is Baba's recipe for healthy eating habits.

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "For proper digestion, fill the stomach halfway with food, one quarter with water, and leave one quarter full of air." (7)

To do this, one should stop eating when one still feels a little hungry; in the next few minutes a natural feeling of satiation will come. If however, one eats till they are full, then that constitutes overeating and within a short time after completing their meal they will feel bloated, heavy, lethargic, and uncomfortable.

It is a very fine line between proper eating and overeating. The best way to get success is to eat slowly, take limited portions, and be mindful to stop eating when one is still a little hungry. If done regularly, this will become your habit. If one is not taking 1/2 belly, then that is overeating. And if one is strict and eats only half-full, then that is proper.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Another thing to keep in mind is that when eating roti or other dry foods (chips, roasted grains and potatoes) and breads, then it is imperative to drink lots of water in regulated quantities 1/2 hr after eating. Because the body will need a lot of water to digest dry foods. Whereas a soupy meal is comparatively easy to digest.

Also be aware that for good digestion, the right nostril should be dominant. Just before taking food, while eating, and up to an hour after food. This alone will help eliminate so many stomach diseases. If anyone does not know how to change the nostrils then write me back.

Voracious eater suffers so many stomach diseases

In His discourses on the Seven Secrets of Success, Baba discusses point #6, known has pramita'ha'ra. This is an essential aspect of human health and is directly related with our food intake.

Ananda Marga ideology guides us,“Pramitáhárah: to maintain the physical body, you require physical food, air, water, light. But physical food is not simply for the physical body. It has got its effect on the spiritual body. The cells of your physical body are created from the cells that you receive from your physical food, and your psychic body is also influenced by these cells. So while taking food, you should be very careful. You should always try to take sentient food, and on rare occasions you may take mutative food. You should never take static food. Not only that, but your diet should be balanced. You must not take too much or too little. The food should be substantial. When it is balanced or measured, and, at the same time, substantial, that type of food is called Pramitáhára in Sanskrit. The sixth factor is Pramitáhárah. The sixth requisite factor is balanced and substantial, sentient food. A voracious man can’t attain success. A voracious man always suffers from so many stomach diseases. So, you should neither encourage voracity, nor should you undergo fasting for a long period of time. I have prescribed that our monks should undergo fasting four days per month, two Ekádashiis, one Amávasyá, and one Púrńimá, and Grhiis, non-monks or family men are to undergo two fasts in a month, two Ekádashiis in a month. Fasting is also included in the scope of Pramitáhára because it gives rest to the digestive organs and frees the body from so many ailments. So the sixth requisite factor is Pramitáhára.” (8)

As sadhakas, we are to take Baba's teaching to heart. we should take proper effort to ensure that we do not fall prey to greedy overeating.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Conclusion

Baba has given us the ability to overcome all kinds of complexes and bad habits. That is the life of a sadhaka - to struggle and surge ahead.

We should make the body and mind sound by proper life habits and not fall prey to material indulgences and excesses - like overeating due to greed. The latter happens primarily when the mind is weak and engrossed in worldly desires. By following the ways of pramita'ha'ra, then we will have succeeded in overcoming this greed - i.e. overeating.

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "Food should be substantial, though moderate in quantity. This is pramita'ha'ra." (9)

Ultimately, the mind must be goaded towards the Divine Entity Parama Purusa as that is the only way to satiate human longing.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The Cosmic Entity alone is infinite and eternal. It alone is limitless. And the eternal longing of human beings for happiness can only be satiated by realization of the Infinite. The ephemeral nature of worldly possessions, power and position can only lead one to the conclusion that none of the things of the finite and limited world can set at rest the everlasting urge for happiness. Their acquisition merely gives rise to further longing. Only realization of the Infinite can do it. The Infinite can be only one, and that is the Cosmic Entity. Hence it is only the Cosmic Entity that can provide everlasting happiness." (10)

In the above teachings, Baba says that one should not try and satiate oneself by food. Food will never give you eternal satiation. The final conclusion is that overeating is very bad - it will not give you permanent happiness; it will only lead to poor health and mental anguish.

Namaskar,
In Him,
Sana'tana

~ In-depth study ~

Dos & don’ts: before eating

The following are Baba's guidelines from Carycarya:

"Before eating do vya'paka shaoca properly with cold water. In an extremely cold climate use lukewarm water. The system is: Wash the arms, the face, the legs, the neck and the genital organs. Then, keeping the eyes wide open, hold a mouthful of water and gently splash the eyes a minimum of twelve times."

"Before sitting down for a meal, invite whatever persons are present around you and share your food with them. If they do not want to share, enquire whether they have enough food with them or not."

"At the time of eating find a comfortable sitting position. It is better to eat in company than to eat alone. Do not sit down to eat if you are in an angry mood or in a debased frame of mind."

"If several people are eating together from the same plate, make sure that sick persons do not take part. Otherwise healthy persons may become infected. There is no harm, however, in eating together from the same plate if there is no contagious disease among the participants. Rather, this is a nice thing to see."

"It is good to take food when the main flow of breath is through the right nostril. Even after meal, it is good if the flow of breath is mainly through the right nostril and continues for some time, because that is the time when the digestive glands start secreting a sufficient quantity of fluids to help digestion."

"Eating when one is not hungry or only half-hungry is very harmful to the health. So is eating rich food for days together or over-eating tasty and sumptuous food out of greed, or not taking rest after the meal before running off to the office, or filling the stomach with food. All these habits are harmful to the health."

"(For proper digestion, fill the stomach halfway with food, one quarter with water, and leave one quarter full of air.)"

"After finishing the evening meal take a short walk. This is very beneficial to health." (11)


Old habits

Here are habits that stem from when we were monkeys.

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "Some of the old habits still continue. Humans today fight among themselves in the same manner as monkeys do. While fighting a person cries, “Um, um” – this is a monkeys’ habit. Sometimes people not only cry like this but bite with their teeth. This is also an old habit of monkeys. Monkeys live in trees...while fighting on the branch of a tree monkeys have to catch hold of the branch strongly with their hands, so that they do not fall down and die. Human beings fight in a similar manner. They also grin and grimace. This is an old habit of monkeys." (12)

References
1. Caryacarya - 3, Procedure for Eating
2. Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, Dyspepsia
3. Varn'a Vijia'na, Emanation (Discourse 20)
4. Varn'a Vijia'na, Emanation (Discourse 20)
5. Prout in a Nutshell - 1, The Dharma of Human Beings
6. Tattav Kaoumudii - 3, Rágánugá and Rágátmiká Samádhi
7. Caryacarya - 3, Procedure for Eating
8. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 14, Seven Secrets
9. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, The Dialogues of Shiva and Párvatii – 3
10. Prout in a Nutshell - 1, The Dharma of Human Beings
11. Caryacarya - 3, Procedure for Eating
12. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 5, The Psycho-Spiritual Evolution of Humans


== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==

Calling & weeping for You

Note: Only those bhaktas who feel a spiritual vibration in their heart can understand this song in the depths of their core.

Prabhat Samgiita Intro: This below song represents that extremely high stance of bhakti wherein the bhakta has an irresistible desire to get Him. It is similar to a small infant who has the deep desire to have its mother: then that child cries solely for its 'maa', due to its strong love and attachment for its mother. Likewise, in this song, the bhakta can think of nothing else than his Ista, and in that high state of bhakti, tears rain down out of a heart-felt love for God. So the bhakta is already close to the Dearmost yet yearns to get Him closer and still more close. That is the great longing that this song represents. And that is why the sadhaka is crying - because he wants that Prabhu should grace him and come closer. Such ardent longing for Parama Purusa is evidenced in the lives of extraordinary sadhakas like Surdas, Meerabai, and other great bhaktas.

"Priyatama prabhu ámár,tomári tare, divá nishi ánkhi jhare..." (Prabhat Samgiita #1412)

Purport:

O’ my Prabhu, my most Beloved, I love You so much, but I am not getting You. You are remaining far. My eyes are showering tears for You day and night. I am crying for You. Please come, I want You in a more intimate way. My Supreme Entity, I am searching for You. Where are You, in which far distant, unknown place have You gone - I do not know. You have left me by the sarita' tiire - by the river bank - bound up in my bundle of samskaras, while You Yourself have gone to some divine land. Prabhu, I am desperately calling and weeping for You. Please respond and come to me.

O’ Parama Purusa, by Your grace I only know You; only You are my Goal. I only love You and do everything for You - to please You. When I sing Prabhat Samgiita, and dance it is only for serving You - to fulfill Your desire and make You happy - not any other reason. You brought me under Your care. Every moment - in times of joy and adversity, You always help me. I feel proud that You are mine and mine alone.  All my thoughts and deeds are revolving around You. By Your mercy, whatever I think, whatever I do, is for You - to please You.

O’ Parama Purusa, I may be a lowly sadhaka as I do not feel that I have done a lot of sadhana in my life. Perhaps for this reason You are keeping me distant. Maybe that is why You are neglecting me and leaving me all alone. I do not have the virtue of noble deeds, nor are my thoughts pious or suffused with Brahmabhava, nor am I ensconced in Cosmic ideation all the 24 hours. Is this why You have forgotten and left me and gone to some far distant unknown place, and not returned back. My Illumined One, kindly be compassionate and come near.

O’ Baba, I long for You and I surrender at Your altar - You are my Goal, You are my everything...


Notes for Prabhat Samgiita #1412:

[1] Sarita' tiire: (Literally sarita' means 'river' & tiire means 'bank' or 'shore') The river means the river of bhava - sometimes depicted as bhava sagar (ocean) - the bundle of samskaras that one has to cross to reach Parama Purusa. That is the analogy being made here. The bhakta is sitting by the river bank wondering how he will cross the river of samskaras and reach to Parama Purusa. Without His grace, one cannot cross that river or ocean of samskaras. And without exhausting all these samskaras one cannot get mukti or moksa. So His grace is needed. All in all, the bhakta is longing to get Him and in that longing he is making the loving accusation to Parama Purusa - 'Why have You left me and gone to some divine land while I sit here by the river bank surrounded by my samskaras'.

[2] Abhima’n: In Saḿskrta the term 'abhima’n' means ‘ego' which is very bad like drinking wine. But 'abhima’n' for God is mine is best. In Bengali 'abhiman' means 'wounded pride'. Depending on the song, one has to evaluate the scene and determine which meaning is more appropriate.

[3] Here in this last portion of the song, the bhakta is trying to do sadhana and bring Parama Purusa in his close proximity. Since it is difficult, the sadhaka makes this loving accusation towards Parama Purusa that 'You have gone away'. But it does not mean that really Parama Purusa has gone. Just it means that He is not coming as close as the sadhaka desires. In his heart of hearts, the bhakta thinks that Parama Purusa is close by and listening to his complaint. So it is just a loving accusation by the bhakta in order to bring Parama Purusa close. It is similar to how in our day to day life we use such expressions with our very close people, with our nearest and dearest relations. One might say, 'Why did you leave me', 'why did you abandon me', 'why did you forget about me' etc. All these expressions people use when they are extremely close with someone. Children say such things to their moms etc.

== Section 3: Links ==


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Parenting: raising courageous children + 5 more

Baba
Parenting: raising courageous children

Namaskar,

Here is an English summary of Baba’s teaching in Hindi:

The small babe did not want to drink the milk. So in order to get the baby to drink the milk, the family members said, "Look a "ghost" is on the palm tree - it will come and get you if you do not drink your milk." So you drank the milk out of fear of being caught by the "ghost.”

Sadly some parents impose fear complexes

That fear gets expressed in various ways as the child grows. They will be terrified of talking to new people, taking an examination, going to new places, undertaking an adventure, going for a job interview, fighting against injustices etc. A child burdened by a fear complex will not do any of these things. Parents will have raised their children into cowards. The overall effect will be disastrous.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

In some cases, such children will not be able to live alone anywhere, and they will be afraid of walking in the dark. Verily such a fear complex will give birth to other psychic diseases like nightmares, an inferiority complex, a defeatist complex etc. Imaginary fears pollute the child’s subconscious mind. Their reality will not be based on the conscious mind but rather subconscious thinking - and those thoughts will terrify them.

This condition is worse than a deadly contagious disease. That disease will bring about one's death. Whereas suffering from a fear complex will kill you each and every day - over and over again. Such persons will be frightened of their own shadow, and startled by their own footsteps. By their birth, children are not cowards; rather, they are quite brave. But, sadly, parents impose fear complexes and turn them into cowards.

You will see an imaginary "ghost"

Here Baba scientifically shows how the fear complex takes root in the human mind and becomes part of a person's living reality.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga ideology says, "Suppose in daytime you are in a lonely place. It may or may not be a lonely place. Suppose in daytime you are alone in a big house, and some people told you that there is a "ghost" – “Ghost… ghost… ghost.” You heard it. The acoustic wave touched your mind, touched the subconscious portion of your mind, and after that you are told, “You know, Mr. X, there is a ghost in this house.” And you are Mr. X. “There is a ghost in this house.” All the nerve fibres fail to function. What will happen then? Just touch the conscious level of your mind, and as an extro-objective creation, as an external reflection of your very ectoplasmic stuff, you will see a ghost. And what sort of "ghost" will you see? The description of a ghost that you read in your books or you heard from your granny, “A ghost is like this.” In broad daylight you will see the ghost." (1)

Thus what to speak of even small children, an adult's mind can also be polluted by fear such that those false and imagined fears come to life for them.

Dirty thoughts stained your mind

The following is an English summary from Baba’s original sound file (Bangla / Bengali) from DMC, 01 January 1986 (Kolkata), “Existential Flow & Its Culminating Point”:

Family members said, "Look a ghost is on the palm tree - it will come and get you if you do not drink your milk.”

Hatred, doubt, and fear are sin. When you were small, you did not hate anybody. After that your neighbors, friends and family members taught you, "This is what hate is, don't do such a thing." They taught you fear, they taught you shyness, and in the end those interactions stained your mind in that colour.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

The small babe did not want to drink the milk. So in order to get the baby to drink the milk, the family members said, "Look a ghost is on the palm tree - it will come and get you if you do not drink your milk." So you drank the milk out of fear of being caught by the "ghost".” 

After many years, when you were no longer two, but became twenty-two years of age, that mental "ghost" still existed in your mind. From time to time in your dreams you will still see that "ghost". In consequence, while remaining in a lonely place your heart will become startled and frozen due to fear of that "ghost". What is this? Imposed bondage. This type of bondage or these bondages are known as pa'shas.” (English summary of original Bangla, DMC, 01 January 1986 (Kolkata), “Existential Flow & Its Culminating Point”)

Child’s entire existence will shake

A child’s world is limited - they do not have diverse experiences. So if you inject a terrifying, imaginary figure in their small world, then the child’s entire existence will shake. It is just like if a huge monster were to come into your small bedroom then you will not feel comfortable and will leave the room. But for the child, in the case of imposed fears, that innocent kid has no such recourse. They cannot escape those fears. Again, the child’s world is very limited - and if you terrify that child by telling them about goblins etc, the life of that child will be very disturbed.
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Conclusion

Remember, one should not inject any type of fear complex into the child's mind, otherwise that youth will suffer from that fear complex their entire life - to varying degrees. That will be very bad. Instead of being brave and strong, that child will be meek, frightened, and cowardly.

As Ananda Margiis, we should follow Guru's teaching and never inject any type of fear complex on our young ones. We should raise our children to be brave and courageous - not be stricken with fear.

Namaskar,
at His feet,
Jayanti
J. Davis

In North America and parts of Europe, the holiday of Halloween is celebrated, generally around Oct 30, 31, & Nov 1. Kids dress up in scary costumes, and participate in haunted houses, hear ‘ghost’ stories, and engage in other fear-based activities. The underlying theme is fear whereby children become permanently shackled and the child never grows properly in the mental realm. So we should be extremely careful never to impose such fears on a child.
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Baba sound file

Baba audio transcription

Here is Baba's teaching - the transcription of Baba's actual voice - where He warns how even family members impose a fear complex on young ones. This is from His 01 January 1986 discourse in Kolkata, "Existential Flow & Its Culminating Point".

Ghrna', shaunka', bhay, aet'a' holo pa's’, jab tumi jakhan chotto chile, tumi ka'uke ghrna' korte na'. Oi pare toma'r prativeshiira' bandhura' ba'r'iir lokera', toma'ke shikhiye chilo ki, "Aeta’ korte na'in, aeta ghrny jinish." To, toma’ke bhay shikhiyeche, lajja' shikhiyeche, a'r seit'a’ shes' paryant toma'r rang [lege] geche. Choto chele du'dh kha'cche na'. Ba'r'iir lokera' bolle, "Oi juju a'che, ta'l ga'che juju a'che, dhare nebe." Tumi jujur bhaye khiye nile du'dh. Ta'r pare, sei tumi jakhane du vatsa'rer na'y, tumi hoye gele ba'is vatsa'rer, takhano sei maner jujuta' roye gelo. Kakhano-kakhano svapnetei juju ke dekhbe. Ekla' hote giye jujur bhaya buka kenpe ut'abe. Era holo ki? Na, ca'npiye deoya ba'ndhan. Ai, this type of bondage or these bondages are known as pa'shas.


References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam-12, Select Your Object Very Carefully


*        *        *

The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.

*        *        *


== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==

Wallowing in self-pity

“Tumi je diyecho náŕá jiivaner múle prabhu…” (Prabhat Samgiita #0558)

Purport:

My Supreme Entity, Baba, You have jolted / nudged the very core of my life and stirred the fundamental essence of my existence with Your tender touch. By Your grace, my heart has been completely transformed. Prabhu, how can I ever forget You - I cannot. Baba, for You alone, I have adorned and decorated everything with the essence of nectar and offered it at Your lotus feet.

Parama Purusa, before You secretly came into my heart I was lying listlessly in one remote corner, feeling completely neglected, sad, and depressed - nobody was talking or listening to me. Just I was mute and dumb - absorbed in my own sorrows. I had no voice and was wallowing in self-pity. That time, You stealthily came in the depths of my being and made me Yours. Your auspicious arrival in my life has some cause. Baba, You are giving me a jolt of spiritual energy each and every moment and drenching me in bhakti. It is Your krpa.

Baba, I was in sooty garments, in the midst of the world of heavenly refulgence. In that land, Your rhythm continuously resonates all thoughts and actions. In spite of that, in that place I never heard about or saw You. After waking up, I understood Your divine liila. My Supreme Guide, it is You who blessed me and brought me under Your care.

You have filled my heart with bliss….


== Section 3: Important Teaching ==

Banana information

Ananda Marga Ideal Farming states, "Banana trees are known more for their fruits than for their fibre. Both the fruit and the flower can be eaten, and when the tree is young the inner trunk can be taken as a vegetable as well. The leaves are used for plates or for wrapping food. Sodium carbonate may be obtained from the banana tree by burning the trunk into ash, and sodium bicarbonate may be obtained by boiling the ash until the water evaporates. There are numerous products which can be made from the banana tree. The fibre is obtained from the trunk of the tree. The greater the size of a tree, the greater the quantity of fibre, but the same rule does not necessarily apply for the quantity of fruit produced by the banana tree. Not more than two offshoot saplings should be allowed to grow from one banana tree. The extra shoots should be cut. There are many varieties of banana." (1)


Reference
1. Ideal Farming - 2, Some Important Crops


== Section: Important Teaching ==

How to stock your kitchen

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Every object of the world is dominated by one of the three principles – sentient, mutative, and static. Food is no exception, and according to its intrinsic nature, is divided into the same three categories."

"Sentient food: Food which produces sentient cells and is thus conducive to physical and mental well-being is sentient. Examples of sentient food are rice, wheat, barley, all kinds of pulses, fruit, milk and milk products."

"Mutative food: Food which is good for the body and may or may not be good for the mind, but certainly not harmful for the mind, is mutative."

"Static food: Food which is harmful for the mind and may or may not be good for the body is static. Onion, garlic, wine, stale and rotten food, meat of large animals such as cows and buffaloes, fish, eggs, etc., are static." (1)

Reference
1. Yoga Psychology, Food, Cells, Physical and Mental Development


== Section: Important Teaching ==

Benefits of hard surface for sleeping

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "Do not sleep on a soft bed." (1)

Note: Baba's above guideline is key for wellness. Some people, however, who are unaware about health and hygiene, get swayed by pseudo-culture and use a spring-loaded bed with a thick mattresses. But that is very detrimental for the various joints, muscles, and organs of the body; one will also suffer from incurable back pain and problems with the spine. Moreover, sleeping on a soft mattress adversely affects the body's systems leading to digestive disorders and disease.

Conscious people know that soft beds lead to the onset of many diseases while hard beds massage the body. So one should be aware and not fall into the pseudo-culture approach of using a soft bed and thereby invite more dangerous diseases. Sincere sadhakas keep away from using a pillow also.

On the spiritual side, Baba guides us that those using a hard bed in day to day life develop a body that is capable for intense psycho-spiritual practice. Keeping this view, including many more benefits, Baba has graciously introduced this above rule. Those who follow this guideline realise its value.

Extra points

Regarding this point there is no difference between males and females. It is just a matter of habit. Both Dadas and Didis are to use hard bedding - it is the same rule for all Wts.

While the body gets habituated to sleeping on a hard sleeping surface, one can initially use a 1/2 inch or 1 inch cushion or folded blanket on the hard surface - and slowly adjust with completely hard bedding by removing the blanket / cushion over time. The ideal is to lean towards the hard side. Sleeping on a carpet is OK but not ideal. Best is to sleep on a thin blanket or cloth on hardwood.

The above applies to people in good health.

Reference
1. Caryacarya - 3, Chapter 6, Pt #4


== Section: Important Teaching ==

How using Deva title defeats casteism dogma

   Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Casteism is a burden on the Hindu society. All the year round they preach casteism but on the polling days they decry it. This is wholly undesirable. It is better to avoid all titles. Titles signify the caste. If casteism is to be wiped out, it is incumbent to discard the titles. It is commendable if everyone adopts uniformity on title – Deva. Persons using a particular word more often will influence their minds with the meaning of that word. People are reluctant to use the word dása because this word signifies slavery. Whenever the so-called low caste people catch an opportunity, they declare themselves as belonging to the so-called elevated caste, etc. It is an ideal to become deva and for this reason Deva title should be adopted.”
   “Titles of the present society have undergone considerable changes during the past fifty years, the cause being that everyone aspires to pertain to an elevated caste. The so-called Shúdras also use the sacred thread. This is only an effort towards the concealment of one’s identity. By this means, they conceal only their disregarded status. This is to be regretted. It is consequent on social debility that they harbour the desire for changes in their situations. It is out and out purposeless to convene All-India Conferences or particular castes. All of them desire to assert and establish their rights. This is simply misuses of energy and money.” (1)

Reference
1. Táttvika Diipiká (Paiṋcama Parva)


== Section: Ananda Vanii ==

One will have to think of promoting human welfare

“Human society is one and indivisible. Keeping this supreme truth ever fixed in one’s vision, one will have to think of promoting human welfare, love for humanity, human solidarity and universal fraternity, and move accordingly. Not for a single moment should one forget it nor even ignore it. Due to lack of intellect or mutual conflicts in the past, a vast number of creatures have become totally extinct from the surface of the earth. Let human beings not meet the same dreadful consequence.” (Ananda Vanii #60)

Note 1: True Ananda Vaniis have a number whereas Fake Ananda Vaniis do not - just as a fake car license plate has no number. By this way, you can easily recognise a Fake Ananda Vanii.


== Section: Important Teaching ==

No shortage of energy in the cosmic system

Ananda Marga ideology says, “Because each and everybody in this universe gets energy from Parama Purusa, He is the Supreme Source of energy.”

“This earth and all the other planets and satellites of this solar system get their energy from the sun. The sun is the source of their energy. But He is the source of the sun’s energy. And that’s why He is jvalantam.”

“And that’s why I have said that there won’t be any thermal death of this universe. Because He is jvalantam, He is present, and He will be present forever. So there won’t be any shortage of energy in this cosmic system, though there may be a shortage of energy in some particular portion of the earth or the cosmos.” (1)

Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3, p. 26-27

== Section 4: Links ==



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