Baba
This email contains four sections:
1. End Quote: Why prayer is dogma and wrong
2. Why we need not worry - Ananda Vanii #34
3. Prabhata Samgiita #1516: Your Yourself came with rhythm and beats
4. Links
Why prayer is dogma and wrong
Note: This letter is for those who understand Ananda Marga philosophy or those who have a keen interest to know Ananda Marga philosophy. If someone is not in either of these categories, then for them this letter is useless.
Namaskar,
Here is Guru's teaching from Ananda Sutram.
3 -11 Prárthanárcaná mátraeva bhramamúlam.
“Purport: It is useless to pray to God for something, for He is sure to give what is necessary. Solicitation or importunity in the name of worship is nothing but toadyism and flattery.” (1)
In His above teaching of Ananda Sutram, Guru guides us that any type of prayer to Parama Purusa is “useless”. That is why in our Ananda Marga we do not pray to Parama Purusa. Because when He is all-knowing and all-benevolent, then surely He is more about our needs than we are.
Anyone who has studied even the basics of Ananda Marga philosophy understands this fact: A true sadhaka will never pray to the Lord.
Yet see here what one avadhuta recently wrote: “We pray to Baba for peace of her soul.”
Sadly, by his expression - by Dadaji’s use of the word “pray” - it is evident that he is unaware about this fundamental aspect of Ananda Marga philosophy. Even worse is that as an avadhuta, he is leading others astray. People are surely looking to emulate his example because he is an avadhuta. This makes his mistake exponentially worse because now he is misleading others as well.
Praying to God means precisely pointing out God's partiality
“Prayer is the act of asking for a favour with earnestness. It also means a solemn petition addressed to the Supreme Being for certain benefits. One prays to God for something which one does not possess or thinks one does not possess. One asks God for these favours with the faith that He alone can bestow everything and by His mere wish all wants can be satisfied. By prayer or by begging one wants to awaken His wish so that one may be granted the things one lacks. Does not one’s attempt to rouse the wish of God to fulfil these needs, upon careful and rational thinking, appear to be a reminder to God to give one something of which God has kept one deprived? It would otherwise not be necessary to remind Him in prayer of that thing or to try to arouse His wish to give. For instance, if one is in need of money, one would, with the faith that God alone can give, pray to Him for the favour of giving one money. Does not this request show God’s fault in keeping one in want of money, when He alone can give it? God alone is blamed for it, and by praying to Him for money one is precisely pointing out to Him His partiality in not giving one the money one needed. Therefore, prayer or asking for favours from God is only pointing out to the Sole Giver His mistakes in the distribution of His favours. It only presumes lack of impartiality in Him, and that is why He is blamed for making some very rich and others very poor. Praying to God for favours is only to bring to His notice the charge of partiality levelled against Him. When prayer leads to such a conclusion, it is only ignorance to ask for favours.” (1)
The avadhuta who wrote "we pray..." is Dada Divyachetanananda. It is surprising this Dada is not aware of the above teaching otherwise He would not have done so.
As disciples of Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji it is our duty in this scenario to do two things.
1. Forward this letter to Dada - divyachetanananda@yahoo.co.in - so he can get opportunity to learn Ananda Sutram on the point of prayer.
2. If you see Dadaji around then softly convey this idea that in future he should not inspire others to pray.
Namaskar,
Sanjay
Sam Woods
Reference
1. Ananda Sutram 3-11
2. Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy, How Should Human Beings Live In This World?
== Section 2
==
Why we
need not worry - Ananda
Vanii #34
Ananda Vanii states, “Just as
the advent of the purple dawn is inevitable at the end of the
cimmerian darkness of the inter-lunar night, exactly in the same
way I know that a gloriously brilliant chapter will also come
after the endless reproach and humiliation of the neglected
humanity of today. Those who love humanity and those who desire
the welfare of living beings should be vigorously active from
this very moment, after shaking off all lethargy and sloth, so
that the most auspicious hour arrives at the earliest.” (1)
Note: The above is one of Baba’s original Ananda Vaniis. These original and true Ananda Vaniis are unique, eternal guidelines that stand as complete discourses in and of themselves. They are unlike Fake Ananda Vaniis.
Note: The above is one of Baba’s original Ananda Vaniis. These original and true Ananda Vaniis are unique, eternal guidelines that stand as complete discourses in and of themselves. They are unlike Fake Ananda Vaniis.
Reference
1. Ananda Vanii #34
== Section 3
==
Links
You Yourself came with rhythm and beats -
What a divine liila You are playing
What a divine liila You are playing
"Tumi esecho, bha'lo besecho, man jine niyecho..." (Prabhat Samgiita #1516)
Purport:
O' Parama Purusa, Baba You are so gracious; You have come, You have loved me and stolen my mind. My mind wants to think about You and only You Yourself came with rhythm and beats. What a divine liila You are playing. You are mine.
O Lord, before Your august arrival, I was not aware about You - I did not know anything about You. I did not understand who You were. O’ Divine Entity, You came and revealed Yourself. It is Your grace. You made me understand that You are mine.
Baba, You have come and showered Your love.
O’ Parama Purusa, I was only thinking of my own hopeless state and despair. I was just drowned in self-pity. I was thinking nobody is mine. There was no light, no hope. You graciously kindled the light of the lamp that was on the lamppost standing in my dark room. You came close in a very intimate way and filled my heart with the radiance of devotion. Now I know that only You are mine. You have come and stolen my mind.
O’ Parama Purusa, Baba, You have come to me and enlightened my entire being...
Note: If you would like the audio file of the above Prabhat Samgiita kindly write us.
Purport:
O' Parama Purusa, Baba You are so gracious; You have come, You have loved me and stolen my mind. My mind wants to think about You and only You Yourself came with rhythm and beats. What a divine liila You are playing. You are mine.
O Lord, before Your august arrival, I was not aware about You - I did not know anything about You. I did not understand who You were. O’ Divine Entity, You came and revealed Yourself. It is Your grace. You made me understand that You are mine.
Baba, You have come and showered Your love.
O’ Parama Purusa, I was only thinking of my own hopeless state and despair. I was just drowned in self-pity. I was thinking nobody is mine. There was no light, no hope. You graciously kindled the light of the lamp that was on the lamppost standing in my dark room. You came close in a very intimate way and filled my heart with the radiance of devotion. Now I know that only You are mine. You have come and stolen my mind.
O’ Parama Purusa, Baba, You have come to me and enlightened my entire being...
Note: If you would like the audio file of the above Prabhat Samgiita kindly write us.
== Section 4 ==
Links
