God is No More - Gone Far Away

Fri 02 Aug 2013 21:45:38 -0000

Baba

== GOD IS NO MORE - GONE FAR AWAY ==

Namaskar,
This is highly related with every sadhaka of Ananda Marga.

BABA IS PARAMA PURUSA GOD - SUPREME ENTITY

Everyone in our Ananda Marga is aware about Baba's - God's - highly meaningful teaching from the shloka, 'Dúrát sudúre tadihántike ca pashyatsvihaeva nihitam' guháyám'.

The basic idea is that those who think God is far push Him so far away that the distance is too great to be measured; whereas those who feel that God is close and inside their heart then for them He becomes so close that there is no gap. He is verily within the deepest core of your I-feeling. So this is one important devotional teaching about how one should cultivate their relation with God.

The tragedy is that some of our Wts involved in hosting a ceremony that says God is far cannot understand the essence of God's above teaching. The proof is that their own designated program undermines the very foundation of devotional life.

Their chosen program states that God is gone and that has a very dangerous repercussion. If one thinks that God is gone then it is impossible to bring Him close inside the heart. That is the guideline and warning that Baba has given in His aforementioned shloka, 'Dúrát sudúre tadihántike ca pashyatsvihaeva nihitam' guháyám'.

Clearly then this essential teaching was not adhered to when our brothers and sisters devised their program. Indeed, such a program fails to practically and theoretically reflect the spirit of God's teaching of durat sudure; instead their program dictates that God is far away and gone.

At the same time, we all know there are many Ananda Margiis who understand Baba's devotional guidelines and cultivate that closeness with Him and hold Him in their heart.

THEY ARE BELOW THE REALM OF ANANDA MARGA

INSTEAD CLING TO RELIGIOUS DOGMA

Unfortunately, some of our respected brothers and sisters hosting such a dogmatic program could not reach up to the realm of Ananda Marga spiritual teachings. They could not grasp God's devotional guidelines. Please excuse me, but what could be the reason why they fell into the ways of certain dogmatic religions that depict the death of their God as a symbol to reflect their faith.

Instead, due to a certain quality of mind, those organisers who host the program that pushes God far away fell distinctly into the ways of the dogmatic religions. A few select religions depict their God in a state of death. Naturally, then they feel separated from and far from their Lord. And a few in Ananda Marga have unfortunately succumbed to this same net of religious dogma.

On their chosen annual occasion, they adopt a very similar ideation that pushes God far, far away. Tragically, even after being in Ananda Marga for so many years, some could not link up with a deeper relation with Baba in sadhana and dhyana.

Yet God has devoted countless pages in His teachings to the importance of various bhavas for realising Him in dhyana. Plus He has given the practical approach in His Supreme Command by stating all must do sadhana twice daily regularly. All this leads to the ideal that we are to realise Him within and that He is ever-present in the heart. That is the essence of our spiritual approach.

Sadly, the adherents of this program completely missed this entirely.

OTHER TYPES OF PEOPLE WHO CANNOT GIVE THIS UP

Here is more about those dear brothers and sisters who cannot give up this dogmatic program. Namely those leaders who invented this dogma. Because if they do it will be looked upon as a sign of weakness. Plus for them, this is their chosen method to raise maximum financial donations. Bound by this mind-set, they rely very heavily on making big money off of this event.

Unfortunately, some of their followers have become deeply involved in this as well. Those loyal adherents follow and tell others about this program. That enhances their prestige and standing with the organizers.

Yet, we recall however that everyone in Ananda Marga has devotion - without that they could not have come in contact with Taraka Brahma. Bhakti then is the unique and inherent quality of every Ananda Margii. Bhakti is the feeling that Parama Purusa is with me and I have a link with Him. This is the special feeling of every Ananda Margii. And God warns that this devotional feeling must be protected at all cost.

"The devotional sentiment is the highest and most valuable treasure of humanity...This element of devotion, the most precious treasure of humanity, must be preserved most carefully. Because it is such a tender inner asset, to preserve it from the onslaughts of materialism, one must build a protective fence around it, just as people put up a guard-rail around a small tender plant." (1)

So God clearly tells us that the greatest asset a person has is their devotional feeling and this must be guarded very strictly.

Tragically, the annual death day program squashes the tender bud of devotion that lies in the heart. It suppresses one's natural devotional inclinations - severely hampering spiritual life. So this type of program is quite harmful. But due to pressure and other reasons, certain people still follow it.

MOST MARGIIS HOLD GOD CLOSE INSIDE

Then there are the vast majority of margiis around the globe who feel God in their depths of their heart and they have the intuitive feeling that such a program that pushes God far away is against the devotional ethic of Ananda Marga. That is why most have completely rejected it. For this reason, units arounds the globe have basically dropped it entirely.

MOST MARGIIS CELEBRATE GOD'S ETERNAL PRESENCE

The wide scope of Ananda Margiis celebrate God's divine presence each and every day through kiirtan, dhyana, 2nd lesson, Guru Puja, Guru Sakash, Prabhat Samgiita etc. In that case what is the logic or reason for following the rituals of any program that says that God is gone. Obviously it makes no sense; it is irrational; that is why it is a dogma. Those who can recognise this as a dogma are those who feel Baba in their heart. That is why the mass of Ananda Margiis have outrightly rejected that it as one dogmatic function - nothing more.

So again, the mass of margiis feel God's sweet presence in their heart, and that is why it is completely natural for them dismiss any program which wrongly states that God is gone.

MUST OPPOSE DOGMAS THAT UNDERMINE OUR SPIRITUAL APPROACH

Here below Baba clearly guides us that as Ananda Margiis, as dharmikas, we are to oppose all such dogmatic programs.

"I have already said that Ananda Marga is the first movement aimed at liberating spirituality from the unwholesome influences of dogma. Hence you must not in any way encourage dogma. Rather, you should carry on an endless fight against dogma. And while fighting against dogma, you will realise the actual truth, and when you will come in contact with truth, you will be established in real spirituality." (2)

Thus when any program states that God is gone, and when our Ananda Marga spirituality states that Baba is always with us, then it is quite clear that our duty is to oppose and eradicate this dogma. And that is exactly what is happening nowadays.

IT MAKES ONE FEEL FAR FROM PARAMA PURUSA BABA

Any program states that God is far away and gone will ruin one's spiritual life. That is what Baba is warning us about in His below guideline.

"If someone continually thinks, "Parama Purus'a is far from me", then He will seem to be truly far from him. If in their ignorance people think that Parama Purus'a is far from them, then He may indeed remain far from them - so far that in future, even if one cries oneself hoarse, one's cries will never reach Him." (3)

Thus those who observe any ceremony that pushes Baba away can never come close to Parama Purusa. That is the veritable fact.

One of the most central tenets of tantra and the path of Ananda Marga is the eternal presence of God. Above all else this must be upheld, yet for the last 23 years, the inventors of one program have been undermining this essential point of Ananda Marga devotional life.

INHERENT CONTRADICTION BY SAYING BABA IS GONE

Every true bhakta in our Ananda Marga feels that Baba resides in the heart. And that is His explicit guideline as well:

"Vrnda'vanam parityajya pa'damekam na gaccha'mi..." (PS 4425)

"I am always eternally present in Vrindavan, in the hearts of devotees. That is the Guru cakra. I do not go even a little away from that. I am eternally present along with the devotees."

Yet the main message of a certain program hosted by some of our brothers and sisters each year is the exact opposite: That God is far away - gone.

REAL FESTIVAL OF ANANDA MARGA:

VIJAYA OTSAVA

Those who have devotion towards Guru will follow Him; they will do what He says. And when our Ananda Marga festival of Victory Day, Vijaya Otsava, often occurs on the exact same day as this program that pushes Baba far away, then one has to choose to either follow Guru or the inventors of this dogmatic program. Either one has to follow the dharma of Ananda Marga or the dogma of one group.

True bhaktas will surely follow Baba and His eternal dharma.

And indeed, this issue will come up year after year as Vijaya Otsava and the anti-devotion program are going to coincide again and again. Those who follow the real teachings of Ananda Marga will celebrate Vijaya Otsava whereas those who blindly cling to the skeletons of dogma will solemnly observe the anti-devotion program. Obviously, best is to follow Guru and His shining ideals and that is what most in Ananda Marga are doing.

THE LORD IS ALWAYS WITH ME

"The best way is the path of devotion, complete surrender. Say “O Lord, I am your creation, I’m a small being, I am a unit being, completely depending on your mercy. I want psycho-spiritual progress, I want to move along the path of psycho-spirituality. Please help me.” And when one wants this aim sincerely, from the core of the heart, certainly it will happen. And that’s why I say nobody is insignificant, nobody is weak, nobody is helpless. The Supreme Lord, Parama Puruśa, is with you, He will always be with you. So, this progress, this psycho-spiritual progress, which is called “Mokśa” in Saḿskrta, is not a very difficult path, is not at all a thorny road. What is it? It is a very easy and very pleasant journey. Depend solely on Him, as a little child depends solely on the mother." (4)

NEVER FORGET THIS FACT

"Dhruvásmrti, that is, when one never forgets the fact that Parama Puruśa is with me, He is my Supreme Desideratum, such a mental condition, rather such a stance, is called dharmamegha samádhi. One must try one’s best to attain this supreme stance of dharmamegha samádhi." (5)

IF YOU REMAIN FAR:

BECOME NEGATIVE MICROVITA

"Some people have such an insatiable thirst for material gain that their minds run continuously from object to object, leading them far far away from Parama Puruśa. Their minds are in perpetual motion, but they don’t get anywhere, rather like bullocks trudging endlessly around the oilman’s mill. After death such people become videhaliina." (6)

HE IS WITHIN YOU - EVERY MOMENT

"He lies hidden in you and in you every minute particle of this universe in both His individual and pervasive associations. Cherishing a strong desire to know and understand Him, think of Him, ideate on Him, meditate on Him – you will certainly attain Him." (7)

MUST IDEATE ON HIM

"Those who want the Supreme Entity will have to ideate on Parama Puruśa alone. People may attain limited achievement in terms of occult power through the grace of the gods and goddesses – whether belonging to Tantra or Purana – but they will remain far away from the attainment of the Supreme Entity." (8)

BABA RESIDES IN THE HEART

Baba is with us every step of the way - always in our heart and mind. In that case where is the scope to observe the fake mahaprayan which states that Baba is gone. Rather, He is always with us.

"Vrnda'vanam parityajya pa'damekam na gaccha'mi..." (PS 4425)

"I am always eternally present in Vrindavan, in the hearts of devotees. That is the Guru cakra. I do not go even a little away from that. I am eternally present along with the devotees."

Namaskar,
In Him,
Ashish

REFERENCES
1. Liberation of Intellect: Neo-Humanism, Disc: 1
2. PNS Part 18, p.14
3. Subhasita Samgraha part 12, 'The Secret of Dharma Lies Hidden in the Mind'
4. Subjective Approach and Objective Adjustment
5. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 12, Lord Buddha's Cardinal Principles
6. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell, Ekendriya – 1
7. AMIWL - 6
8. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 11, The Psychology behind the Origin of Tantric Gods and Goddesses

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 Prabhat Samgiita

"A'loker a'nanda tumi dhara'te nebe esecho..." - P.S. 3104

Purport:

O' Parama Pursua, the blissful Entity, the embodiment divine effulgence, You have taken advent on this dusty Earth. It is Your grace. You have saturated everything with Your flow of love and sweetness. You have changed the dry and stony heart into something very soft.

O' my Lord, Your sweet smile is unforgettable, Your voice is charming and attractive. Everyone says that they love You - and I also tell like that with my heart. So why are You keeping me away.

O' Divine Entity. O' Baba, whether You like me or not, but please do not continue to ignore and forget me. You are very close. Please make me aware how You are playing Your liila with my mind. Baba, You are bliss Personified. You have taken advent on this Earth to inundate all with love and devotion...