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Wednesday, July 10, 2024

How corporations cheat consumers + 6 more

Baba

How corporations cheat consumers

Namaskar,

In overview, this letter presents the following key points:
1. Just as air, water, and food can be polluted, similarly the mind can also be polluted.
2. Just as air, water, and food pollution are harmful, mental pollution is also harmful.
3. The solution is given how to save oneself from this dangerous mental pollution that can degrade a person into negative microvita.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

When the air is affected by harmful agents we call it air pollution; and, when the surrounding environment is filled with loud, disturbing sounds, we call it noise pollution; and, when the water is exposed to dangerous chemicals we call it water pollution. All these things are harmful to the body. In the same manner, when the mind is tainted by degrading thoughts and images, we call it mental pollution. Because those thoughts and images are harmful to the mind.


Pollution of corporate advertising


There are all kinds of pollution, one of which is psychic pollution, wherein the unsuspecting public is bombarded by dirty, tamasik, corporate advertising slogans etc. This way capitalists pollute the mind to sell their products. As Ananda Margiis, we should be fully aware about the capitalist exploitative machinery and guide others.

While living in this capitalist-dominated world, it is vital to be cognizant of the ways capitalist exploiters operate. Failing that one will succumb to their selling tactics. That means people’s thinking will be coloured and swayed by corporate advertising campaigns etc. And when a person’s thinking is adversely affected in this way that leads to degeneration. And one’s entire mental structure is prone to disease and depression. In turn, they purchase those products.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

One of the causes of the mental pollution is businessmen i.e. capitalist exploiters. To sell their goods those exploiters degrade the public mind. With their endless advertising campaigns and media onslaught, the capitalist exploiters aim to colour the public mind with propaganda about their products. Through radio, tv, films, internet, newspapers, magazines and so many other avenues, they spread their messages to the general public - in an attempt to get their slogans embedded within the public psyche.

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Psycho-economic exploitation is the latest form of dangerous and all-devouring capitalist exploitation. It is a special type of exploitation which first weakens and paralyses people psychologically in various ways, and then exploits them economically. Some of the methods of psycho-economic exploitation include, first, the suppression of the indigenous language and culture of local people; secondly, the extensive propagation of pseudo-culture, exemplified by pornographic literature which debases people’s mind and particularly undermines the vitality of the youth; thirdly, the imposition of numerous restrictions on women, forcing them to be economically dependent on men; fourthly, an unpsychological education system with frequent political interference by vested interests; fifthly, the negation of dharma in the name of secularism; sixthly, the balkanization of society into numerous castes and groups; seventhly, the damaging of society by the use of unnatural and harmful methods of birth control; and eighthly, placing the control of different mass media, such as newspapers, radio and television, in the hands of capitalists. Both intellectual exploitation and psycho-economic exploitation are great dangers to the human race today.” (1)


Common people recite & sing those jingles


Those capitalist agencies know if they can capture the public mind then they can make millions and billions of dollars. That is why in their commercials they invent catchy songs and attractive slogans to impose on the public psyche. Indeed there are thousands upon thousands of slogans and advertising messages that get repeated countless times during the day. In turn, the common people recite and sing those jingles.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Even if one walks into any elementary or primary school, then it is evident that the tender minds of our children are already littered with the ideas of big-business. Because the children walk around singing the songs of those capitalist commercials etc. And that type of psychic pollution and abuse (i.e. negative thinking) adversely affects the development of a child's mind. But for the capitalist exploiters it means profit. They do this to sell their products.

So this is the trick going on in this era. And while many are protesting corporate greed, they may not at all be aware about the psychology of capitalism. Rather they themselves may be drowned in it completely. This is what happens to many: Those phrases get infused into the public psyche and the peoples' mind becomes saturated and polluted with that capitalist propaganda. Their whole mental arena becomes distorted and full of that capitalist junk. In result, they spend their money needlessly on those products. They become tools of the trap set by those capitalists

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Now, everywhere, in cent-per-cent of the cases, there is wastage of human psychic potentiality. The psychic potentialities of human beings are immense, but people do not utilise them because most of their valuable time is wasted in undesirable thoughts, in psychic extravaganza." (2)


How they indoctrinate people with their ads


The whole sequence of events is quite disturbing. The capitalist exploiters invent invasive approaches to enter into the public mind; and, the public psyche gets distorted and coloured by those messages. The result is that the public does not even realise they are getting affected by those propaganda campaigns.

When capitalists exploiters are very successful then they can literally create a stampede at their stores where the public bursts through the doors in a frenzy to purchase sale items. And, in result, some get trampled to death. These incidents occur every year.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Here the chief idea is that capitalists exploiters engage in various kinds of strategies to control, and pollute the mind in order to sell their products. They want to colour their minds with their advertisements etc.

Hence by their psychic pollution - by infusing negative ways of thinking on the minds of the common people - those capitalists exploiters achieve their ends of selling their products. They know that the best and only way to achieve this is to recognise the dominance of mind and distort the public way of thinking. Tragically, this is exactly what they have achieved in this era of capitalism. Capitalists do this to sell their products.


We should educate & warn the public


One of the most striking points of the present capitalist society is that people actually consider themselves to be consumers. Capitalists want the people to maximize their consumption so they (capitalists) can exploit them. And verily they got success in that the people have mentally "bought into" this process and labeling. In a capitalist society, the people are commonly referred to as consumers. Indeed, they will proudly announce, "As a consumer, I want to suggest or state etc." That is the outrageous degree to which those capitalist exploiters have achieved success in their mission. 

Through pracara, education, and constant effort we should awaken the common public to the capitalists' negative and abusive strategy of polluting the mind to sell products. All should be alert about these tricky maneuvers lest the common people get degraded - and become victims of consumerism and purchasers of those products.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Ignorant enticed to purchase unneeded items


When Tom, Dick, or Harry walks into a store and they see so many items then immediately they get tempted and enticed. The typical ignorant consumer buys many useless things that they do not need and they go into debt. All because those capitalist exploiters planted the seed in their mind to purchase something. Yet ignorant consumers think that it is their inner heart's desire to purchase that item. In this way, people go rushing to buy costly clothes and extra shoes which they have no practical need for and might never wear. They do not realise that this is a capitalistic schema imposed upon their psyche.

Yet that brainwashed ignorant shopper takes complete ownership of that desire and they are convinced that the purchase of that item will satisfy their need and longing.This happens to the general public: men, women, children. Some start thinking that they must look a certain way, act a particular way, and possess certain items. And they think that this is their true internal longing - that this will bring them happiness and success. But little do they realise that they are getting cheated by such capitalist exploiters and their marketing departments. And knowingly or unknowingly they purchase those products.

In result, the common people suffer in innumerable ways such as from depression, financial loss, anxiety, until ultimately they become wholly degenerated and may even be reborn as negative microvita.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Conclusion

As Ananda Margiis, we should never fall prey to the sinister traps set by those hoarding capitalists exploiters. We should keep the mind clean and pure and be vigilant not to become painted in the colour of consumerism.

Namaskar,
In His service,
Purusottama

~ In-depth study ~

Keep mind pure - not succumb to consumerism


As Ananda Margiis, we should never fall prey to the sinister traps set by those hoarding capitalists exploiters. We should keep the mind clean and pure and be vigilant not to become painted in the colour of consumerism.

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "From the psychic sphere also, unnecessary waves are to be removed. This will remove many burdens from the mind. 'I must not bother about petty things, because that will waste my time' -- people should remember this. This removal or rather withdrawal of unnecessary and undesirable thoughts emanated from the mind, will help you in rationalising the major portion of your mental faculty, and so this must also be practised." (3)

One’s mental arena should not get polluted by baser thoughts or capitalistic advertising slogans to sell their products. The above guideline aims to keep the mind free and clear of negative ways of thinking. By ridding the mind of such propaganda, then the human mind can be properly utilised. Ultimately Baba guides us that we should direct all our thoughts towards that Supreme One.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Hypocrisy of materialist exploiters


In theory, materialism preaches that matter is everything and that one should not believe in anything beyond sense experience. Materialism does not recognize the existence of mind because it cannot be shown to others, nor displayed in the physical sphere. Nor can it be observed under the microscope. For the materialist, there is no mind - there is no God. They will say if there is a God then show that God to me. They only give credence to the physical plane and verily that is their belief.

Yet such materialistic exploiters employ mental tactics in order to brainwash the public. They infuse their own propaganda into the public mind in order to get the people to think about their products - and even memorise their slogans. This is how the materialistic exploiters adversely affect the psyche and thinking of the common people. So they understand the best way to control a person is through the mind. And that is how they sell their products.


Goad mind to Parama Purusa


Ananda Marga ideology says, "Withdraw the mind from physical objects and goad it unto Parama Purus'a". (4)

Baba's teaching then is not to let the mind get buried by the effects of capitalism; rather one is to push the mind in a distinctly spiritual way of thinking. That is the real approach of the sadhaka. So we should chant our kiirtan and repeat our ista mantra all day long and not for one second think about the propaganda of those cheating capitalist exploiters. We should not allow their tactics to invade our mental arena. If it does one will become a pawn or slave of capitalism. Capitalists do this to sell their products. That is why Baba's teaching is to infuse the mind with sentient thoughts and sweet ideations.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga ideology teaches us, "You must have a spiritual goal. You must know what to do, what not to do, how to do, why to do. And for this purpose, the movement is to make the mind pinnacled, apexed, and bring all the propensities to that point, and goad it towards your spiritual goal." (5)

Here below Baba outlines the highest and best way to fill one's mental arena.

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "Manana, that is, thinking only about Parama Purus´a and about no one else. If any other person or thing comes in the mind, ascribe Brahma-hood to that person or thing. This process is manana." (6)


Nature of mind: as you think so you become


For ages and ages, yogis have realised the dominance of mind; and yogis have long proved that positive & systematic thinking helps build a healthy mental arena. For that reason yogis pointedly spend their days practicing the pure approaches to manan, shravan, nididhyásana.

Ananda Marga ideology states, “This offer of one’s mind to the Lord is nididhyásana. The inner sense of nididhyásana is that all the propensities of the mind are to be concentrated at a point to be offered to Parama Puruśa.” (7)

Yogis understand well the theory, 'As you think, so you become'. By this way there is a distinctly positive momentum in the mind and it advances inwards towards the cosmic Parama Purusa. That is, the mind gets transformed and restructured by the continued practice of mantra japa and dhyana. By thinking in that uniquely spiritual way the mind becomes one with Parama Purusa.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 30, Ideological Flow and the Eight-fold Path
2. Yoga Psychology, The Cult of Spirituality – the Cult of Pinnacled Order
3. Yoga Psychology, The Cult of Spirituality – the Cult of Pinnacled Order
4. Ananda Vacanamrtam-14, “Prańipátena Pariprashnena Sevayá” – 1 / Yoga – Its Fundamental Factors
5. Subhasita Samgraha - 13, Subjective Approach and Objective Adjustment
6. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life in a Nutshell Part 11, Mantra Caetanya
7. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life in a Nutshell Part 11, Mantra Caetanya


*        *        *

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

*        *        *

== Section 2: Important Teaching ==

Often misunderstood point: samskaras

Ananda Marga ideology states, “When a dishonest government employee accepts a bribe it is an original action, and when his son gets sick and has to be rushed to the doctor it is the reactive action (the reaction to the original action). When his son dies he laments, “I haven’t knowingly done anything wrong…[when in fact]... the deep sorrow he felt at the death of his child was the result of his past original actions.” (1)

As Baba explains in the above teaching, when a person dies then it is the surviving, grieving family members who suffer the most. The person who died suffers for a short while, whereas their loved ones suffer that loss every day for the rest of their lives. For instance, a young executive who died in the Twin Towers tragedy suffered for a few minutes or more before his death, whereas his spouse and his parents have suffered from that tragedy daily for years and will do so for decades. It is those surviving family members who are undergoing the burning of a huge, negative samskara, not the person who died. The person who died suffered comparatively little; theirs was a small samskara. Generally, people think that the one who died is the one who suffered the most. But, as explained above, that is not the case. 

Similarly, when an adult patient is unaware or unconscious, then the one suffering is the caregiver. It is the caregiver who is undergoing their negative samskaras. The adult patient is not undergoing any samskaras because they are completely oblivious of their surroundings and thus not suffering at all. The irony then is that when mean-minded persons try to serve someone who is unconscious or unaware, then that so-called caregiver thinks in the back of their mind that the unconscious person did something terrible and now they are undergoing the reaction. But that is not the case. Rather, it is the caregiver who is undergoing their own negative samskara as they are pained by serving the patient. But before the patient became unconscious they were suffering.


Reference
1. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life in a Nutshell Part 8, Sadhana


== Section: Important Teaching ==

Heaven & hell: inherently bogus concepts

Following is Baba’s comment on Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.

Ananda Marga ideology says, “The truth of the matter is that everyone moves according to one’s karma. To expand psychically is natural – no one is born dhármika or adhármika, righteous or unrighteous. Even after death one will not go the flaming fire of hell. “According to our philosophy there is no hell or heaven. If the Lord taught righteousness to some and not to others, that would not be fair. And if, for that reason, one got to heaven while others didn’t, would that be fair? That would also be favouritism. But this very thought, of eternal heaven or hell, is faulty. It is a defective approach. People speak like this due to ignorance and lack of proper philosophical understanding. Today’s progressive human society cannot have any respect for these ideas.” (1)

Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3, Superstitions about Death


== Section: Important Teaching ==

How sentiments are used in revolution: dharmic & disastrous

Prout philosophy states, “Revolution always takes place around a sentiment. If there is no strong common sentiment, a revolution cannot take place. Sentiment is always stronger than logic.”

“Communism propagates sentiments like workers of the world unite. Initially, people were attracted to such sentiments, but after some time they discovered that they were hollow, consequently intellectuals became dissatisfied with them. Communism is now unable to fight against the local sentiments that are coming up in different parts of the world because these sentiments are stronger than communist sentiments.”

Prout philosophy states “PROUT is based on a universal sentiment which is applicable for the whole cosmological order, and it is systematically moving towards the implementation of this sentiment. Who will make the local people conscious of their local sentiments keeping universalism in mind? Only PROUT can do this. Communists have no such idea. Only PROUT can tackle all local sentiments and lead everyone in the world to universalism by gradual stages.”

“Revolutionaries must be well-versed in arousing the sentiments of the people and channelizing the sentimental legacy of the society towards universalism. During the preparation for revolution, unstinting effort must go into arousing the sentimental legacy of the people, because sentiments inspire popular support for the cause of revolution, and infuse the revolutionary workers with tremendous power and conviction.”

“According to PROUT, there are two types of sentiments – positive sentiments and negative sentiments. Positive sentiments are synthetic in nature. They unite society and elevate humanity, enhance collective interests and encourage progressive development. Negative sentiments are narrow in scope and divide society.”

Prout philosophy states “Some important positive sentiments include anti-exploitation sentiment, revolutionary sentiment, moral sentiment, cultural sentiment, universal sentiment and spiritual sentiment. Some negative sentiments include communalism, patriotism, nationalism, provincialism, lingualism and racism.”

“Negative sentiments should never be used to divide people into castes and communities – to create artificial fissiparous tendencies in society. Rather, they should always be used to bring unity amongst people. Hitler used racism in an effort to unite the German people and he succeeded in the short-term, but because he used negative sentiments only and had no positive sentiments, his approach resulted in a world war and the near destruction of Germany. The path of negativity is extremely dangerous and harmful for society. Positive sentiments are the real weapons to build society. This must never be forgotten under any circumstances.” (1)

Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 21, Nuclear Revolution


== Section: Important Teaching ==

Pratyava'ya harms society

Ananda Marga ideology says, "Those who shirk duties and responsibilities do commit a great harm to society. It is this lack of dutifulness in our country [India] today that has caused great retardation in different spheres of life. It has also caused spiritual degeneration. One should perform good actions regularly, should do sa'dhana' properly - these are the dos which everyone is expected to perform. Those who do not pay heed to these responsibilities do indulge in pratyava'ya." (1)

References
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 19, Mysticism and Spirituality

== Section: Hindi Quote ==

एक आदमी के पास अगर एक करोड़ रुपया

“हर मनुष्य को एक-एक aeroplane दे दो बहुत अच्छा | ‘हर मनुष्य को ताकि एक-एक aeroplane मिले, मैं उसके लिए मैं चेष्टित रहूँगा |’ ख़ूब ठीक है, सामूहिक-जीवन में भोग | किन्तु वैयष्टिक-जीवन में त्याग | वैयष्टिक-जीवन जीवन में त्याग नहीं रहने से सामूहिक-जीवन में भोग नहीं होता है | एक आदमी के पास अगर एक करोड़ रुपया रह गया, और दूसरी जगह सत्तू-मिर्च नहीं मिलता है; तो उससे समाज का, देश का, राष्ट्र कल्याण नहीं है | वह वैयष्टिक-जीवन में वह छोड़ दे सब, त्याग कर दे | सब कोई मिलकर खाए, पिए, परम पिता के सन्तान हैं, सब मज़े में रहें |”

[यह प्रवचन-अंश, बाबा के कैसेट से सीधे लिखा गया है । बाबा का यह असली प्रवचन, अमृतोपदेश है। आनन्दमार्ग हिन्दी पुस्तकों में छपे प्रवचन तो नक़ली प्रवचन हैं, असली नहीं हैं -- बंगालीकरण (बँगलाइजेसन) के तहत उनकी बर्बादी की गई]

Reference
1. svastika jhanda v26-11


== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==

बाबा, तुम सर्वशक्तिमान और अन्तर्यामी हो, तुम से कुछ भी छिपा नहीं है। 


(Note: Only those who sincerely practice the higher lessons of sahaja yoga meditation can understand this song in the depths of their heart.) 

प्रभात संगीत 3002: चिरकालेर बंधु निकटे एसे घूम भाॅंगियो।

हे परमपुरुष! तुम मेरे बंधु हो। तुम्हारा और मेरा संबंध केवल इसी जीवन का नहीं हैं, बल्कि जब से सृष्टि का सृजन हुआ है तब से है। जब मैं विभिन्न योनियों में था, पशु पक्षी के रूप में था, तुम तब भी मेरे साथ थे। वह सब मुझे याद हो या न हो, पर तुम मेरे साथ थे। इस जीवन के प्रारंभ से भी तुम मेरे साथ हो, भले मैं उसे हमेशा अनुभव करूं या नहीं। तुम मेरे दिव्य साथी हो हमारा संबंध समय के परे है। हे मेरे अलौकिक बंधु ! मेरे पास आकर मेरी निद्रा तोड़ दो। कृपा कर मेरी मानसिक अथवा आध्यात्मिक कमियों को दूर कर दो। यदि मैं निम्न स्तरीय भौतिक विचारों में मस्त हो जाता हॅंू, तो मुझे रास्ता दिखा दो । और यदि मैं साधना करना भूल जाऊँ, तो मुझे जगाकर अपने ओर खींच लो।

ए मेरे चिरकाल के अलौकिक बंधु! मेरे पास आकर मेरी निद्रा तोड़ दो।

बाबा, तुम सर्वशक्तिमान और अन्तर्यामी हो, तुम से कुछ भी छिपा नहीं है। भूत , वर्तमान और भविष्य सब कुछ तुम्हारे भीतर है। तुम प्रत्येक कण में उपस्थित हो, और ब्रह्माॅंड के व्यक्त और अव्यक्त सभी संसारों में हर जगह पाये जाते हो। मैं क्या करता हूँ  और क्या नहीं करता हॅूं, तुम सबकुछ देखते हो। तुम सब के साक्षी हो, ओ मेरे प्यारे! तुम मेरे ध्रुव तारे हो। यदि कभी मैं तुम्हें भूलकर इस असार संसार में डूब हो जाता हॅूं, तो मुझे वापस धर्म के रास्ते में खींच लेना। यदि मैं कभी सोड़ष विधियों को भूलकर इंद्रियों के सुख में भूल जाऊं, तो मुझे आनन्दमार्ग के पथ पर वापस खींच लेना। हे मेरे चिरकाल के अलौकिक बंधु! मेरे पास आकर मेरी निद्रा तोड़ दो।

बाबा ! तुम्हारी आदिहीन और अंतहीन दिव्य लीला में, तुम्हें खोजपाना बड़ा कठिन और कष्टदायी है। साधना करना और सभी पाठ पूरे करना भी कठिन हैं, धर्म के रास्ते पर चलना बहुत ही कठिन है, हर प्रकार की अविद्या माया मुझे घेर लेती है। माया द्वारा उत्पन्न भ्रम, मेरी द्रष्टि को ढक लेता है । ये साॅंसारिक आकर्षण मुझे अपने लक्ष्य से भटका देते हैं, तुमसे दूर कर देते हैं। तुम तो मेरे परम प्रिय हो, कृपा कर दिव्य ज्ञान का दीपक जला दो, जो मेरा हृदय भक्ति से भर दे।

हे  मेरे चिरकाल के, सदा के , अलौकिक बंधु! मेरे पास आकर मेरी निद्रा तोड़ दो, और अपने चरण कमलों में बुला लो।


== Section 3: Links ==

SUBJECTS TOPICS