Baba
Devious selling tactics nowadays
Namaskar,
Hoarding is a big issue nowadays in the materialistic, capitalist societies, especially in the west. Essentially, hoarding is a disease of the materialist, i.e. those trying to derive unlimited happiness from finite objects. We should help cure our brothers and sisters who suffer from this with proper spiritual practice & Baba's teachings.
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Here is one trick employed by the business community in cahoots with doctors in order to ensure that people keep on purchasing new products. They try to stigmatize "hoarders" so consumers throw away old items and purchase new ones. See how the entire cycle works.
1. At the outset, companies pay huge money to create advertisements that encourage common people to purchase more and more of their products - promising that this will bring satiation and contentment. In turn, those common people buy that merchandise.
2. At the same time those big business executives know that if people buy and buy and accumulate more and more, the people will not have space to purchase new products.
Now see the trick that those corporations do
3. Those companies give a moderate-sized group of psychologists and doctors large sums of money (i.e. payoffs) to conduct research and conclude that those who keep all their old things are diseased - they are "hoarders". The companies do this to stigmatize such persons - then people will be less inclined to keep older products, in which case they will have more space in their house for purchasing new items. This is the trick that is played.
4. Drug companies also get involved in this scam. Their aim is to name or create new diseases for those who "suffer from the over-accumulation of products", i.e. hoarding. The drug companies want doctors to formally label this as a disease so then they (the pharmaceutical companies) can sell drugs for this disease and make a profit. Is it any wonder then that so many "new mental illnesses and diseases" are discovered and identified each year. One report mentioned that 250 new psychiatric illnesses were identified - some or more of which are related with hoarding. When in fact we know that the real disease behind hoarding is materialism itself. With a proper mental outlook people will not purchase so many things which they can never even use in this lifetime like 400 pairs of pants, 75 pairs of sandals, etc.
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5. So see the irony or cheating tactic: Those wealthy people who purchase new products and throw away their old ones are deemed as being fine and ok by the medical world. They do not suffer from any psychic disease - so say the doctors and the psychologists - because those wealthy patrons have space to buy more products. In comparison, those less wealthy people, who accumulate and hold onto their old products, are termed as "hoarders" and are labeled as mentally ill. Because they do not have space to purchase more products. For this reason companies do not like them. So such poorer people are branded as being "diseased" by the medical field. When in fact their mental condition is no different from those who are purchasing new items and throwing old ones. The only superficial difference is that the business corporations want to glorify those who have space to buy new items and stigmatize those who hold onto old items and do not have space for new ones.
Disease of hoarding & santos’a
6. The whole thing is one big scam to stigmatize hoarders and convince others to purchase new items and throw away old products. Those who purchase new and throw away old are "OK". Psychologists do not have any problem with the ultra wealthy buying more than they can use, whether it be 500 shoes, 2000 saris, 100 cars, etc. So long as they are buying and supporting those capitalist companies, they do not suffer from any disease.
7. Certainly we all know that anyone looking for peace in the external plane by constantly buying new things is a hoarder. The root cause of their problem is materialism, not how messy or organised their house is, nor how often they throw things away. Buying more products than one can use in order to satisfy their mental longing is the definition of a hoarder, and their disease is materialism. Until we show such persons the path of santosa, aparigraha, and sadhana, they will continue to try to fulfill their infinite desires by mundane avenues like accumulating material possessions. But their approach will be futile and they will suffer.
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Here Baba describes how collecting material items can never bring lasting happiness or contentment, i.e. santosa.
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Contentment is not at all possible if the individual is running after carnal pleasures like a beast. As a result of extroversial analysis, the objects of enjoyment go on increasing both in number and abstraction and that is why one’s mental flow never gets any rest. Under such circumstances how can one attain perfect peace of mind? Achieving the desired objects may give one pleasure for an hour or so, but that will not last long. The mind will again run in pursuit of new objects, leaving behind the objects already tasted – the long-cherished objects will lose their importance. This is the rule; this is the law of nature." (1)
Conclusion “I need more, I am hungry”
Human beings have infinite longing - they want more and more. They are never satisfied by a limited amount. They think, “I need more, I am hungry.” This feeling permeates the mind. Regardless how much one gets, their hunger remains. If a beggar becomes a billionaire still he will not be satisfied; he will want more. To satisfy this voluminous, insatiable hunger, ignorant people choose to devour material things. They waste their whole life and never get satisfied. Those who are a little intelligent goad this longing towards the psychic world. They also never get satisfied. If they are selfish they harm others also. And those who are most intelligent goad this longing towards spirituality. In due course they feel completely satiated. The instinct of accumulation is good. The problem arises when it is diverted to the material sphere. That incites all kinds of problems and ultimately the hoarder gets killed by the load of their accumulated objects. So watch out if anyone around you falls in this category, then steps should be taken to help them and guide them onto the right path.
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Namaskar,
In Him,
Cinmay
Sinful ways of hoarders
Baba outlines how over-accumulation of physical wealth leads to a debased mental state and mean-minded dealing.
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Where there is over-accumulation of physical wealth several problems occur. Human beings do not have many needs. Primarily they need satisfying meals and clothing, according to their necessities. Most people do not even want many things. The desire to accumulate money is actually a mental disease. The accumulators do not accumulate to fulfil their basic needs as human needs are few. For instance, if a person has a mango grove which yields 500 mangoes and a family of five [with no option to sell them], what will he do with so many mangoes? In cases of over-accumulation there is very little chance of utilization. Hence, if the sadvipras are not vigilant, where there is over-accumulation, non-utilization will occur. Moreover, where there is over-accumulation people tend to misutilize wealth by indulging in their baser propensities rather than their finer ones. Therefore you will mark, as I am making it crystal-clear to you, that most of the kings and Nawabs of ancient times were, and most of the aristocrats and wealthy people of today who have nothing to do are generally wicked and mean-minded. In addition, you will see that government officers who do not have psychic and spiritual interests also become mean-minded. When we have to judge, we must be frank. It can be observed that it is natural for people to move towards sin if over-accumulated physical and psychic pabula is not utilized. If people have developed intellects which are not properly directed, and there is no administration of the Sadvipras, people become polished satans and inflict sufferings on others." (2)
Baba's story about wealthy mundane hoarders
Here below is the story from Baba’s story book. The story depicts how one lady was very addicted to material hoarding. After her death she became a so-called, and she continued to hoard, i.e. accumulation.
This is a wonderfully humorous and satirical story that is related with this entire topic of hoarding. The remarkable story - from "In the Land of Hattamala" - examines the disease and degrading ways of the hoarder / materialist. The villain of the story is one witch who just wastes her money and time accumulating things. She is a real hoarder who collects saris and other items for her so-called psychic satisfaction. You can say that Baba's below story is a hilarious satire on hoarding / materialism.
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Here then is story:
The witch said to Bodha Mukherjee: “Today, I’m going to Dhaka. I shall board the plane wearing my sky-blue, saffron and violet coloured sari. When I get off the plane I shall wear my cream, green and red coloured sari. Bodha Mukherjee, is it clear?”
[The villain] Bodha Mukherjee said, “M’Lady, as soon as I got word of your intended trip to Dhaka, I went and purchased 700 different types of sari from the boutique. Your 7,32,432 saris in the cupboard will remain untouched.”
[The heroine] Madhumita listened in utter amazement. One person needs so many saris? She asked Bodha Mukherjee: “Hey, brother, how can someone possibly need such a large quantity of saris? Where do they all come from?”
[The villain] Bodha Mukherjee said: “Every year 20 million rupees are budgeted for purchasing saris.
2000 kinds of saris // collecting clothing
“There are muslin saris from Bishnupur, grey-coloured saris from Burdwan; close knit, wide red bordered saris from Contai; finely woven saris from Antpur; finely striped saris from Phorashdanga; 500 kinds of old-fashioned saris from Dhonekhali made of cotton interwoven with silk; cotton saris from Santipur with wide silver and golden coloured borders; 100 kinds of Santipur saris for casual wear; fully embroidered saris from Murshidabad with traditional multi-patterned designs; the Baluchor varieties of heavy silk saris, all kinds of saris from Dhaka, saris from Bajitpur, 2000 kinds of saris from Tangail. Besides all these there are pure silk saris from Murshidabad; coloured, pure silk saris from the loom; saris with very bright borders from Boshoa-Bishnupur; the best kind of silk sari from Bankura-Bishnupur; raw silk saris from Tatipara. And besides all these there are the most modern saris which earthly beings have yet to see.”
[The heroine] Madhumita asked Bodha Mukherjee: “What sorts of saris are those, brother?”
[The villain] Bodha Mukherjee said: “For example, one sort is Ding-Dong sari. Do you know what it is?”
[The heroine] Madhumita replied: “Of course I don’t.”
[The villain] Bodha Mukherjee said: “That sari, when worn by the witch, makes a ‘ding… dong…’ sound just as if someone is striking a bell. There are also cymbal saris which when worn, sound just as if someone is playing the cymbals in accompaniment to a kiirtan 34 song. And there are also sitar saris, asraj saris, tampura 35 saris, and so many more I could tell you about! ”
[The heroine] Madhumita listened in astonishment. Bo-Bo-Bo-Bodha Mukherjee further added: “The latest discovery of them all is the cricket sari. We bought one only yesterday. While this sari is worn the musical sound of that produced by crickets is constantly heard.”
Stored in a huge cupboard that scrapes the sky
Madhumita asked: “Where are all those saris kept, brother.”
[The villain] Bodha Mukherjee said: “In a huge cupboard whose top scrapes the very sky itself.”
[The heroine] Madhumita asked: “What do you do when you want to take a sari out of the cupboard?
[The villain] Bodha Mukherjee said: “We use a ladder. We have 3 or 4 mile-long ladders for the purpose.”
[The heroine] Madhumita asked: “Doesn’t the witch ever give a sari to anyone as a gift?”
[The villain] Bodha Mukheriee said “If anyone goes to ask her for one, the old witch screams out ‘Kak… kak… kak…’ just like a jackal. She says: ‘I need every single sari. Some for wearing when I go to Dhaka, others for wearing to London, some for wearing during my evening strolls, and some for wearing when I go down to Hell to give a lecture.’ If anyone comes to get a sari from her she says: ‘Since you don’t possess any saris and come from a poor family why don’t you go and drown yourself in the River Ganges? These days there’s plenty of water in the Ganges at Calcutta.’” (3)
Note: In this story the witch has a stutter or stammer so when she says her servant’s name, she says, Bo-Bo-Bo-Bodha, when in fact the name is simply Bodha.
References
1. A Guide to Human Conduct, Santosa
2. A Few Problems Solved - 6, The Three Causes of Sin
3. From "In the Land of Hattamala", Part 1
* * *
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 ==
"Ajáná pathik alakár kathá, shonáo bárek ese..." (Prabhat Samgiita #1580)
Purport:
O’ Ajana Pathik, kindly, just once, come to me and whisper in my ear, the tale of the divine spiritual realm. Let me know how You have created this colourful universe. How is it that nebulae and galaxies are floating in the vast blue sky; and, to which unknown world and direction are they floating away.
O’ Supreme Father, prithee guide and recount to me: Are those perceptions that I receive through my inferences - eyes, nose, ears, touch, and tongue etc - the only truth? And are those things which I do not perceive with my motor and sensory organs just an illusion? Are those false? Baba, I request You to tell which is unfounded and false and which is the unchanging truth. Make me aware about those things of the past that are no longer here in the present.
O’ my Supreme Guide, gently let me know, are those so-called God’s words that have been written in the so-called scriptures? And, are those ideas that are not in the so-called scriptures meaningless? Baba, enter in my mind, sit on my mental lotus, and whisper the truth to all my queries which I have kept in my mind since long. Merciful Taraka Brahma, move closer and apprise me of the stories of the spiritual land - the sphere of bhakti...
Note:
[1] Ajana Pathik: The term Aja'na' Pathik means 'The Divine Entity Parama Purusa Who moves around this entire universe, and resides everywhere and knows everything; irrespective of where one goes, He remains along with you'. That is one of His many unique attributions and that is the speciality of the name 'Ajana Pathik'. The name 'Ajana Pathik' denotes this special quality.
Literally, Aja'na' means 'unknown' and Pathik means 'traveler' or ‘tourist.’ But this is just the word by word, literal translation; and, proper nouns are not meant to be translated. So we cannot call Him the ‘Unknown Traveler’ or ‘Unknown Tourist', or Unknown Vacationer', or 'Unknown Backpacker', or 'Unknown Visitor', or 'Unknown Globetrotter', or 'Unknown Daytripper', or 'Unknown Hitchhiker.’ The spirit and meaning is then lost.
The inner sense of the name Ajana Pathik is that Parama Purusa is always moving throughout this vast cosmos and He is constantly present with everyone, all the time. He is in the Cosmic Nucleus, yet at the same time through His ota and prota yoga He is everywhere - carefully watching & lovingly guiding everyone. This unique aspect of His grand Personality is treated as Aja'na' Pathik. Because He is constantly traveling yet present everywhere. He is in the nucleus as well as throughout this entire universe.
As the Ajana Pathik, Parama Purusa Baba moves and moves and moves. In their spiritual approach bhaktas feel that wherever they go the Aja'na' Pathik will always be there to shower His blessing. By His grace, bhaktas can always get His intimate company and companionship. With this mystical link, sadhakas understand that Parama Purusa is present everywhere, yet side by side He travels on and on throughout this entire cosmos. Thus He is Aja'na' Pathik.
Overall, the name Aja'na' Pathik has one special and unique meaning that goes far beyond its literal translation. And in our hearts we A'nanda Ma'rgiis know and feel that Baba is that Aja'na' Pathik. Indeed in His discourses, in Dharma Samiiksa, and in reporting, in DMC, and in numerous ways Baba has shown this very fact that He is ever-present and always along with us. He is always moving, and wherever we go then He will also be there. Parama Purusa has infinite attributions and one of them is this special quality where He always remains along with us wherever we are in this vast universe. In this way, He is known as - Aja'na' Pathik. In the true sense, as the omnipresent Entity, He does not go anywhere because He is everywhere; but, in a more literal manner, He goes from place to place.
Those who use ‘Unknown Traveler’ or ‘Unknown Tourist’ in place of Aja'na' Pathik are naive and ignorant.
== Section 3: Important Teaching ==
True use of knowledgeAnanda Marga philosophy says, "So why do people bother to cultivate knowledge or action? They do so to make their devotion more intense, not for any other reason. People do not eat pickles to fill the stomach, but only to whet their appetite so that they can enjoy their food more. Similarly, devotees cultivate knowledge and action not for their physical growth, but to acquire more strength to move along the path of devotion with greater acceleration." (1)
Note: Some people have gone astray from this above teaching. They acquire knowledge and do action for reasons of self-satisfaction and self-aggrandizement - so that they can brag to others. They want to misguide people, put simple folks in trouble, and create more dogmas. Yet all this inflates the ego and causes one's degeneration. It is rare that people cultivate knowledge and perform actions solely to serve humanity and increase their level of bhakti.
Reference
1. Namami Krsnasundaram, Vraja Krśńa and Dvaetaváda (Discourse 17)
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Kettle drum not in kiirtana
Ananda Marga ideology says, "It is advisable to play some instrument during kiirtana. A mrdanga [a kind of drum] or some similar instrument should be used, but one should not play any heavy sounding instrument like a dhak [a large drum played with sticks], a dhol [a loud drum] or a gong. The mind prefers to hear a sweet sound, like that of the mrdanga, than a harsh sound. Some time ago I mentioned that Bhola Mayra said that when the cawing of crows and the beating of drums stop, human ears get some relief. People do not like to hear such harsh, unpleasant sounds. The sound of the mrdanga may not be perfect, but it has one quality: it is very sweet. Thus, whenever a distracted mind hears the sweet music of a mrdanga, it returns to the proper place. A remarkable science lies in kiirtana." (1)
Here are two points regarding Baba's above teaching:
(a) During kiirtan, the mind becomes sentient and does not appreciate rajasik sounds.
(b) During kiirtan, sometimes many indriyas are involved: The mouth, ears, hands, feet, nose, eyes, and tongue. When the indriyas are involved in this way, they help keep the mind focused and bring the mind back when it runs away. Here is the philosophical and practical explanation.
In general, the mind runs towards external physicality via the indriyas, i.e. 10 motor and sensory organs. So when those indriyas are fully involved in a spiritual endeavour like kiirtan, then the mind is forced to engage in kiirtan via one or another organ. The mind always wants to run - either by thinking a disparate thought or by stimulus received via the organs. As Baba explains above, when the organs are positively involved in a spiritual practice like kiirtan, then if the mind wanders away from the kiirtan those organs will help bring the mind back to a spiritual flow.
For instance, let's say someone doing kiirtan starts thinking about the market and what they will purchase there. Yet when the sweet sound of the mrdangam is received via the sensory organs, i.e. the ears, then that sound will bring the mind back the sweet spiritual ideation of the kiirtan.
The mind can think any stray thought at any time but if the indriyas are engaged in a spiritual manner, then that will help bring the mind back. That is the special import of singing and dancing kiirtan, along with the sounds of the mrdangam and other low-pitch sentient musical instruments.
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 8, Sádhaná, Abhidhyána and Kiirtana
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Some equal some unequal: Prout
Prout philosophy says, "No two things in the world are alike. So I do not suggest recasting everything into one mold. Still, for humanism and justice, equitable distribution of the resources of the universe is indispensable; co-ownership of the world’s resources is the birthright of every individual. Even a small attempt at depriving someone of this right is gross selfishness. Except when a special favor becomes necessary to give certain individuals impetus and inspiration, all persons must be given equal rights and opportunities in all spheres. Every individual must have equal rights regarding food, clothing, housing, medical aid and education — those things that are absolutely necessary for existence." (1)
Here above you read from the 1987 edition of the boo "Human Society".
Now please read from the same passage from the latest Electronic Edition of Baba'a books 7.5. Some say the previous version is good and some say this one is better. Let us know which version you prefer.
Prout philosophy says, "No two things in this world are identical, so I am not suggesting that everything should be recast in the same mould. However, for the sake of humanism, for the sake of social justice, equitable distribution of all the wealth of the universe is indispensable, and co-ownership of the world's resources is the birthright of every individual. Even the slightest attempt to deprive anyone of this right amounts to gross selfishness. As long as certain difficulties, both great and small, exist in the practical world, however, it will not be possible to grant perfectly equal opportunities to everybody in all instances. Apart from this, all people should be granted equal rights and opportunities, except where it is necessary to inspire some people to undertake activities which will directly benefit society, or as a temporary reward for their distinguished contribution to society. In addition, every individual must have equal rights concerning things such as food, clothing, housing, education and medical care, which are absolutely essential for existence." (2)
References
1. Human Society, Social Justice, Social Justice, 1987 Edn
2. Human Society - Social Justice, Electronic Edition of Baba's books 7.5
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Three types of suffering & solutions
According to Baba, human beings generally suffer from the three types of afflictions: (1) a'dhibhaotika, (2) a'dhidaevika, and (3) a'dhya'tmika.
If a person is undergoing hardship in the mundane sphere and not getting their minimum requirements met, that is a'dhibhaotika suffering. If one is suffering from mental tension and psychic stress, that is a'dhidaevika suffering. And, if one is in despair, feeling separate or distant from Parama Purusa, that is a'dhya'tmika suffering. These are the total afflictions of all humans.
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "The jiiva experiences three types of suffering-- a'dhibhaotika, a'dhidaevika, and a'dhya'tmika. A'dhibhaotika suffering is mundane, that is, it derives from shortages of food, clothing, medicine, education, shelter, etc. If we change the structure of society this misery will be ended. So we must do this, we should do this. Regarding a'dhidaevika suffering -- if we prepare our minds through sa'dhana', all the mental cares and worries that result from a defective mental structure will come to an end. The feeling of separation [from Parama Purusa] is a'dhya'tmika suffering. This can be eliminated by spiritual sa'dhana', that is, by dhya'na, dha'ran'a', pra'n'a'ya'ma, pratya'ha'ra, etc." (1)
Reference
1. Discourses on Krsna & the Giita, Krśńa Unparalleled
== Section 4: Links ==
