Ananda Marga Universal Forum: Utility of body after death + 6 more

Friday, October 23, 2026

Utility of body after death + 6 more

Baba

Utility of body after death

Namaskar,

Some margiis were wondering about being an organ donor. Can or should one donate their bodily organs at the time of death so others may use them? What is the stand of Ananda Marga philosophy on this issue? Here following are Baba's teachings on this important matter.
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Organ donation has recurring benefits

In various discourses, Baba discusses how some actions have a recurring benefit for society. For instance, Baba describes how in ancient India, locals would plant fruit trees along the roadside in rural areas to provide shade and food for weary travelers on their journey. Those who planted those trees did so with the feeling to serve. They themselves never had the opportunity to eat that fruit as the trees matured after their death. But their service of planting the trees had a recurring benefit for society.

And there are many types of service that have recurring benefit. Some start schools, welfare organisations, homeless shelters, or engage in various philanthropic works which benefit humanity long after their death.

Ananda Marga ideology says, "There are also two types of puńya: pratyakśa puńya and apratyakśa puńya – direct and indirect virtue. Pratyakśa puńya, or direct virtue, is acquired when one performs an action such as feeding the hungry or serving the infirm. Indirect virtue is acquired when one’s service has a recurring effect, such as service to the society, planting trees, etc. If banyan trees are planted beside a hot and dusty road they will continue to give shelter to weary travellers for one thousand to two thousand years. Virtue acquired in this way is indirect virtue...everyone can attain indirect virtue. Of course, people can also attain direct virtue if they make the effort. The financially handicapped can render physical service; the physically handicapped can render intellectual service. Everyone can render service in some way or other. This explains puńyam or virtue." (1)

Becoming an organ donor and allowing one's bodily organs (heart, liver, lungs, eyes, kidneys, bones, etc) to be used for the welfare of others comes in this same category. It enables one to do something—even when no longer alive on this planet—for the wellbeing of others. Various body parts can be kept for the short and long-term for recurring value for humanity. With the advancement of medical science, there will be greater and more effective and refined ways to utilise bodily organs to cure and treat others.
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Service while alive & after death

In our Ananda Marga way of life, the basic principle is that one should serve in all the ways—all four sevas.

Ananda Marga ideology states:
“a. Shúdrocita sevá is serving with your physical body, rendering physical service, rendering medical service...
b. Then kśatriyocita [martial service] is security service, helping the weak.
c. Then vaeshyocita sevá [economic service] is relief work, feeding the poor, helping the needy.
d. Then viprocita sevá is preaching morality, teaching, preaching the ideology, doing dharma pracára [spiritual propagation]. They are all viprocita sevá." (2)

A sadhaka is to perform all the four sevas. More specifically, in each and every circumstance, one is to do that service which is most appropriate and beneficial for humanity. When a sadhaka has food and others are starving then their duty is to feed them (shúdrocita sevá). When one sees a weak and innocent person threatened or attacked one is to intercede and defend them (kśatriyocita seva). When one knows that others can be benefited by financial contributions to AMURT service and relief efforts, then one donates money (vaeshyocita sevá). And when one knows that humanity is suffering at the hands of various dogmas, then one educates the public and brings people onto the path of spirituality (viprocita sevá). In each circumstance, the needed service is done.

Upon one's death, their options and opportunities for serving others are limited. Donating the bodily organs stands as one key way to help and serve others. In His teachings, Baba recounts the mythological tale of Mahars’i Dadhiici who sacrificed his body so that the virtuous could defeat the wicked. Mahars’i Dadhiici withdrew the life-force from his body and a great weapon was built from his bones to defeat the evil forces and save humanity.
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Body is like old clothing

Here below Baba gives the perfect teaching about what to do with the old, discarded body.

Vásámsi jiirńani yathá viháya naváni grhńáti naroparáńi;
Tathá shariiráni viháya jiirńányáni saḿyáti naváni dehii.

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "When the clothes become old and tattered, they are replaced with newer ones. This is the law. Nobody wants to wear old, tattered, and dirty clothes. Similarly, when the body becomes old and worthless, it is changed for a newer one." (3)

Think of it this way. When clothes become torn and useless then people throw them away because they have gotten new clothes. Those people do not worry about what is going to happen to those old clothes. They know those clothes will be taken by the trash collector and put in the garbage heap.

So if the trash collector approaches them and requests them to choose between donating those old clothes for a worthy cause and burning them to ashes, then any rational person will be delighted to donate those old clothes. Why bury or burn old clothes when they can be given to someone to use.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

In the same way, the discarded body is like those old clothes. If someone can use that discarded body that is very good. One should be very happy about that. Any true Ananda Margii will be very pleased to donate their "old clothes"—i.e. discarded body. If one is not willing to donate their old body which they do not need, then they are no different from the one who is unwilling to donate their old clothing. In that case, not donating would be very un-Ananda Margiian. A proper margii will want to help and donate when seeing others' suffering. So why burn or bury the old body when the opportunity is there to give it to someone in need.

Conclusion

For all of the above reasons, each and every Ananda Margii should seriously consider becoming an organ donor. That is the best utility of the body after death. In this way one can fulfill their dharmic responsibility and continue to serve others.

As many are aware, Baba guides us that one should die while working and work while dying. The fundamental essence is that one should do as much service as one can in all kinds of ways so others may be benefited. This is the fundamental ethic in Ananda Marga. Donating organs—upon death—allows one to serve others who are suffering.

There are many ways to become an organ donor. In some countries it is marked on the driver's license, and in other places one can enroll in an organ donor registry. The rules and protocol vary from land to land; so investigate how to become an organ donor in your area. Remember, this world is transitory—any time death can come—so delaying is not good. Become an organ donor today.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Namaskar,
In Him,
Rajgopal

~ In-depth study ~

Religious dogma & organ donation

The Semitic religions are consumed with the idea that they need their same body when in heaven. They think that after their death they will need their body to enjoy heaven's bounty. For this reason, most within the Semitic religions (Judaism, Islam, and Christianity) are unwilling to become organ donors. But this is just their dogmatic outlook.

According to Ananda Marga philosophy, once physical death occurs, either one will be granted a new body in order to continue serving, or one will be blessed with supreme salvation (moksa). In either case, the old body is no longer needed. So one should not have any fears or doubts about this. Best is to donate and serve others. There is no loss involved—only gain.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Permanent benefit for human beings

Here below Baba describes how even terrible sinners—if they sacrificed for others—experience the requital of their samskaras long after their death. Those who donate organs also gain virtue in this manner.

Ananda Marga ideology states, "The best course for an atipátakii is to sacrifice his individual pleasure and involve himself in the welfare of humanity. But of course the mahápátakii has to sacrifice his life for the welfare of mankind. In addition to that, he will have to do something which will be of permanent benefit for human beings." (4)

In Ananda Marga, true service means helping others with the feeling of Brahmabhava (ideation on God) and offering everything unto Him.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Semitic religions

When we speak about the Semitic religions, we are referring to Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. The word Semitic describes the people who came from the Middle East and their languages.

References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 8, Do Virtuous Deeds Day and Night – 1
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 30, The Four Kinds of Service
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Accomplish Your Work with This Body Only
4. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 1, The Consequences of Free Will and Mind

* * *

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 ==

The conditions were ripe, but…

“Hemante jhará shishir vindute…” (Prabhat Samgiita #3080)

Purport:

In this beautiful pre-winter season, in the fallen dew drops, what my mind wants and why, I do not know. It longs for Parama Purusa. As many times as it wants to go to some far away place, I cannot control it.

O’ Parama Purusa, the yellow marigold flowers have bloomed. The candramallika’ flower is full of smiles. The soft breeze touches the white kunda flowers. The natural environment is so attractive and charming. It is in a state of perfect harmony. Even then, my mind does not want to stay at home. It is desperately searching for You.

O’ my Beloved, where are You? For You, I am crying uselessly in vain. My aching heart yearns endlessly for You. Only Your direct presence is the soothing balm that can relieve me of my utter despair of not getting You. Yet, You remain at a distance. Do You not understand my pain? The beautiful autumn season has almost passed; the conditions were ripe for Your auspicious arrival. So, even at that time, why didn't you come?

== Section 3: Important Teaching ==

Finding Him

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “It is said about the way in which the Paramátmá [Supreme Soul] can be seen in the átmá: In the same way that something can be seen in a mirror, a person can see the Paramátmá by analysing the átmá...Just as a reflection is seen in water, Parama Puruśa can be found in the gandharvaloka, that is, in the study of musical science." (1)

Note: Everyone knows that in our Ananda Marga philosophy it is explained that atma is a reflection of Paramatma. It is just like seeing the reflection of the sun in a mud puddle. It is not actually the sun but a reflection. That is similar to how our atma is a reflection of Paramatma.

When bhaktas do kiirtana and bhajan in a very intense way then a deep vibration is felt in the mind and a blissful feeling comes. That blissful feeling of intense kiirtan is coming from the gandhavarloka - i.e. higher state of mind. In other words, from a lower state your mind gradually reaches a higher state where you feel that special bliss which is gandhavarloka. Those who are good sadhakas have realised this in their life many times.

Reference
1. Shabda Cayaniká Part 1, Disc: 5

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Workings of His cosmic liila

Ananda Marga ideology states, "In His drama there will always be new characters every moment. Some will be rich, some poor, some intelligent, some foolish, some stout, some thin, some black, some white – but all are the dramatis personae of His drama. The one who is playing the role of a king today and the one who is playing the role of a subject are all acting according to His direction. Those who are playing the roles of unhappy characters are standing on the theatrical stage and shedding tears, and those who are playing the roles of happy people are laughing. But all these tears and laughter are within the drama. A devotee well understands this secret of His drama. He who is playing the role of a king in the drama may be a poor man in real life, and at the end of the play he goes home and chews on dry crusts of bread. But in the drama he was a king."

"In fact, all the people in this universe are playing the roles allotted to them, but that does not mean that they will truly become that role – they will be as He wishes them to become. Each and every living being is the progeny of Parama Puruśa. All exist with Him, and ultimately they will all merge in Him. So no one should even belittle oneself. A drop of water and the entire quantity of water in the ocean are all the same water. The difference is only that one is very small in quantity and the other is vast. When the drop of water identifies itself with the ocean, then no one will call it a drop any longer – for it has become one with the ocean." (1)

Reference
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 11, What Are the Noble Truths?

== Section: History ==

2nd Aug 1978: After jail story

~ Courtesy of "The Crimson Dawn" NY sector Newsletter (Sep 1978) pp 3 - 4 ~

Note: If you have any difficulty reading the below scans, kindly let us know and we can send them to you as attachments.

~ Courtesy of "The Crimson Dawn" NY sector Newsletter (Sep 1978) pp 3 - 4 ~

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Why diabetes are thirsty

Ananda Marga ideology states, "The debility of the mańipura cakra(1) is the main cause of diabetes. Amongst the pancreatic juices, one secretion helps in the digestion of food, and another separates the sugar content from non-vegetarian and starchy types of food. The sugar is then stored in a particular section of the liver and according to body requirements it is dissolved to generate heat and vital power to run the body mechanism. Chronic indigestion, constipation (here also the stool usually turns into pellets), mental exertion without any physical labour, use of intoxicants, and excessive seminal waste – all weaken the vitality of the liver. When such weakening takes place, the sugar contents of the food, failing to find a storage place in the liver, are assimilated into the blood and gradually accumulate. As a result, the blood gets polluted and loses its immune properties to a great extent. The natural reaction of the body in such a situation is to try to purify the blood by separating out its sugar content and expelling it with the urine. To dissolve the sugar, the human body needs plenty of water, and that is why diabetes patients suffer from a continuous thirst. Sugar emitted with the urine in a large quantity gradually reduces the vital energy of diabetes patients." (1)

Referencs
1. Yogi Treatments, Diabetes

== Section: Bangla Quote ==

তা পেটের সে ঔষধ

“যে জিনিসটা খুৰ ৰেশী খেলে, পেটেতে অন্ত্রে ছোট-ছোট ছিদ্র হয়ে যায় | অর্থাৎ সে রকমের জিনিসকে ৰলৰ ৰিল্ব | আৰার ওই ৰিল্বই যদি কাঁচা অবস্থায় পুড়িয়ে, তাকে শর্ৰত করে, মোরব্বা করে খাওয়া যায়, তা পেটের সে ঔষধ | তা ৰিল্ব শব্দের এই মানে | যখন ৰেলের প্রভাব ৰেড়ে গেল, তন্ত্রের প্রভাব ৰেড়ে গেল, তখন ৰলা হ’ল যে এই ৰেল শিবের অত্যন্ত প্রিয় | অয়ত্নে বনে ৰাগাড়ে জন্মায়, তাই ৰেলের তখন ভাল করে নাম রাখা হ’ল, শ্রীফল |” (1)

Reference
1. AV 18-7

== Section 4: Links ==

Postings on Democracy

In the next few weeks and months, many minor and major elections will be held in numerous democratic states and nations across the globe. As Ananda Margiis, we should be cent-per-cent clear about Prout's critique of democracy so we can best educate others and raise awareness about the inherent weaknesses and deficiencies, as well as the positive points, of the various types of democracies that exist today.