Baba
Readied for struggle
Namaskar,
In the Jamalpur days, Baba graciously gave yama and niyama for our conduct and dealing - for our betterment. In that phase, He, of course, also delivered so many philosophical gems like “Elementary Philosophy”, “Idea and Ideology”, “Ananda Sutram”, “Human Society”, “A Guide to Human Conduct”, “Subhasita Samgraha”, “Caryacarya” etc. Earlier our dos and don'ts in personal life though were essentially limited to yama and niyama.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
How 16 Points started
Around 1971, Baba began systematically giving so many teachings related with conduct, personal dealings, and way of living - most notably 16 Points. Prior to that some wholetimers were still drinking tea etc, but in 1971 all that stopped.
Prior to 1971, some had learned about and implemented certain health and hygiene guidelines and lifestyle practices from Caryacarya, Yogic Treatments etc. So a few were occasionally fasting and some had begun wearing a laungota etc. But in 1971, those practices of 16 Points and various codes of conduct were made mandatory, and thus became widely practiced.
Many may remember that before 1971, in order to have Baba's darshan, then VSS and in-charges would ensure all had perfectly memorized the Supreme Command. One had to repeat it perfectly. Then and only then would they be allowed to enter the darshan hall or room. But in 1971, that changed. Everyone had to perfectly recite 16 Points in their exact order. That time Baba also began delivering so many discourses on various aspects of Sixteen Points.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Baba’s checking on 16 Points - 1
It was in Patna that Baba graciously first checked our Sixteen Points in so many different ways to ensure that we were all moving and progressing properly on the path. Reciting the mere list of 16 Points was not all that was expected - we also had to follow and practise those guidelines.
In the 2nd half of 1971 after shifting the office from Ranchi to Patna due to extreme social tension and unrest, we would regularly arrive - almost daily - at Baba's Quarters or the jagrti for darshan. The government and newspapers were releasing and printing so much false propaganda about Baba and the AMPS. Yet all along, 20 or 30 of us would file in every morning and evening to see Baba. Then He would graciously take His seat, and we would all be inside the walled Patna compound seated in an open area to have His darshan. It was all quite beautiful. And those were the days when Baba was strictly checking 16 Points as all-knowing Baba was well aware that the bad days were looming eerily on the horizon.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
In His divine manner, Baba would look around at the margiis present and openly ask us about our practices. And it would be done in a very special way.
The omniscient Sadguru Baba would say, "Gopal, show us your shaoca manjusa. You have such a beautiful shaoca manjusa. It is very nice. Show it to us so everyone may see - after all, this is one of our 16 Points." Baba had intentionally called on Gopal because He knew that Gopal did not have a shaoca manjusa.
In response, in the course of this loving liila where Baba was watching out for the welfare of all, Gopal would feel a bit humiliated or embarrassed. Gopal would stand up with his head hung in shame. And internally he understood that he would have to be more strict on the point of shaoca manjusa. And in that way, all the other margiis present also understood that they would have to be strict, lest they get called on in front of all.
Baba's checking on 16 Points - 2
Baba would do the same thing with the point of laungota / langota. If anyone present was not wearing a laungota, then that was the person all-knowing Baba would call upon. Baba would say, "Oh, Chandra Mohan, I understand you are very sincere in wearing a laungota everyday. Is that not so. Don't you always wear your laungota. Show us the tail of your laungota."
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Then everyone knew, by seeing the pale and ashen face of Chandra Mohan that he was not wearing a laungota / langota. Plus all knew that if next time they did not wear one then they would get called on. Once all the physical aspects were addressed in this way, from food to fasting to taking bath properly etc, Baba raised the standard to the psychic and psycho-spiritual planes. He would check to ensure all repeated Guru mantra before entering the room and that everyone was doing sadhana - all lessons - as directed.
So by lovingly applying pressure, Baba was teaching and ensuring we were actively involved in 16 Points. Nobody wanted to be pointed out publicly so step by step, point by point, all began following. This was the way things were rolling those days. Baba was getting everyone prepared and ready.
And not only that, in His loving liila, Baba would feign rebuking in-charges and lovingly scold those in-charge Dadas and VSS for allowing margiis to enter without following 16 Points. So they in turn began vigilantly checking to ensure all margiis were wearing laungota, carrying shaocamanjusa, doing pracara and properly following all the various elements of 16 Points. By this way everyone became strong Ananda Margiis and could weather the storm that was about to come.
How to get perennial strength
Today also, the same system applies. Sixteen Points will save us from all difficulties and keep us moving in the right direction.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "For progress in entitative flow, one is to lead a pure life, a moralistic life, a life based on moral principles. Do not do anything bad. What is bad? Bad is that which depraves human existence. Follow a strict code of morality. Live a pure life, a neat and clean life. Be strict in 16 Points. What will happen? Your entitative flow will get purified and will be in parallelism with your psychic wave." (1)
And here below Baba states that our strength and stamina will increase multi-fold by adhering to Sixteen Points.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Ananda Marga ideology says, "The more rigidly you follow the 16 Points, the more your mental strength will increase. It will increase so much that it will be more powerful than the collective mental strength of 100,000 people. In a psychic clash they will have to concede victory to you. A person who is physically strong can fight against eight, ten or twenty people at most, but no more than that. A psychically developed person, however, is able to fight against many more people. So you must endeavour to develop your psychic strength - this is your bounden duty. The more rigidly you follow the 16 Points, the more psychic strength you will acquire. It will not take you long." (2)
In the same way that 16 Points gave Wts and margiis the strength to manage, survive, and even thrive during the Emergency, today also 16 Points will fortify us in all the ways needed to spread His teachings and gain success. Let us not forget that Baba is watching and those who follow His teachings of Sixteen Points will be graced to proceed onwards.
Conclusion
Ours is not the path of preya (mundane pleasure), but rather the path of shreya (supreme benevolence). Sixteen Points is the way forward. Our duty is to follow and make sure other margiis are also following. Then our AMPS will be strong, on both the individual and collective level.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Ananda Marga ideology states, “On several occasions I have said that sadvipras are those who follow the principles of Yama and Niyama – the principles of spiritual morality – and are devoted to the Supreme Consciousness. People will recognize sadvipras by their exemplary conduct, selfless service, dutifulness and moral integrity. Only sadvipras can serve all human beings selflessly and lead others along the path of all-round advancement. These sadvipras – those who follow a correct philosophy of life and practice a correct system of sádhaná or spiritual practices – will be the leaders of the society in the future.” (3)
Namaskar,
in Him,
Kaevalya
Baba has told us again and again that life is not always smooth. One's progress and movement is systaltic in nature - up and down. So there will always be highs and lows. Everyone will experience such patterns in their life. The Baba story herein is not just the recounting of a very spiritual and tantric period in our AMPS history, but also a practical method for how we are to proceed in day to day life.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Margiis thought everything would be fine
During those pre-emergency days in 1971 in Patna, Baba was preparing everyone for the difficulties that lay ahead. He was teaching so many dos and don'ts and then checking those things as only a Sadguru can. The scene was full of love and bliss.
We all knew that Sadguru Baba is the Parama Purusa and we rightly felt that nothing could harm us. We heard Baba's warnings about the future but at the same time we did not really listen. It is just like if the weather is perfect outside - the sun is shining, there is a gentle breeze, and there is not a cloud in the sky - then if someone says that a cyclone is coming, few, if any, will take it seriously.
Same was the case with us back in 1971. Baba was there and that was enough. We could not think that such difficult days were on the horizon. Trouble was around no doubt, but we thought that with Baba at the helm then everything would be fine.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Some rules were present already
Although Sixteen Points was formally given during the above time period in 1970-71, many of those teachings were already present in the form of various worker and margii conduct rules, Yogic Treatments, and other teachings. By giving 16 Points, Baba codified and explicitly listed all these rules and regulations into one concerted list.
References
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 12, Man and His Ideological Desideratum
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 7, An Exemplary Life
3. Prout in a Nutshell - 18, Sadvipra Boards
Plagiary?
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
Donors & dharmikas
The Supreme Command states, "...Every Ananda Margii will have to perform sadhana twice a day invariably; verily is this the command of the Lord..." (1)
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "Dharma is the assemblage of all your conduct” – the way you eat, the way you speak, the way you perform sa'dhana'. If your conduct is good, dharma is with you; if your conduct is not good, dharma is not with you. And if dharma is not with you, what comes about is your sarvana'sha, or sarva'tmaka vina'sha – that is, your physical, mental, and spiritual ruin....Conduct is the principal factor in dharma.” Be a sadácárii, a person of good conduct, and you will surely attain Paramátman." (2)
Note: If one donates 2% of their income to Ananda Marga service projects then it does not mean that they are therefore an Ananda Margii. Donating money or paying tithes also does not make one an Ananda Margii. To be a dharmika (an Ananda Margii), one’s lifestyle should be wholly consistent with the ideals of Ananda Marga, i.e. bhagavad dharma. Those who give money and live a different sort of life can be thought of as sympathizers, but not as dharmikas, i.e. as Ananda Margiis.
Greatest donor
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The most important point to consider is who has utilized his or her ability and to what extent. Hanuman [the mighty monkey, a bhakta of Rama in the mythological epic the Rámáyańa] fetched huge boulders to build a bridge across the sea, while the squirrels collected small pebbles. Yet intrinsically both these actions have the same value. We have no right to question anybody's sincerity, nor can we scoff at it. We cannot give more appreciation to those who have not utilized their potentialities properly but have done more work than to those who have fully utilized their talents." (3)
References
1. The Supreme Command
2. Subhasita Samgraha - 21, Niiti and Dharma
3. Human Society - part 1, Social Justice
Rich miscreants evade justice
In this below teaching Baba is pointing out how economically wealthy people indulge in anti-social activities like adulteration, drug dealing, and many other vices and illicit affairs. All the while they employ poor people to do the dirty work. In result, the poor people get arrested by law enforcement personnel while those rich, wealthy people save themselves by paying bribes or hiring high-powered lawyers. In the end, most of the profit of those gross dealings goes to rich people and the poor suffer. Due to their poverty, the poor cannot escape this cycle from one generation to the next. That in the ghettos people are perpetually incarcerated.
In this teaching Baba is referring to crude criminal acts as well as white-collar crime. In big business and on the corporate level, the schemes are much more sophisticated. Big banks cheat millions of people out of billions of dollars. Yet, those top bankers are almost never arrested or even charged. They escape because the laws are in their favour, or they hire lawyers to find loopholes in the law. And if they do get caught and are found guilty, then 99.9% of the time those high-level executives do not got to jail. Instead they pay a fine. But if a poor person steals even a single item they will get arrested and sit in jail for robbery for twenty years.
This happens only in the vaeshyan era and we have to raise awareness to put an end to this.
Prout philosophy states, “Most of the evils that occur in society are created due to the exploitation carried out by the vaeshyas. In order to increase the size of their bank balances, the vaeshyas create an artificial scarcity of such items as food, clothing and other essential commodities, and then earn a profit by black marketeering. Those who do not have the capacity to purchase commodities at exorbitant prices steal, commit armed robberies and engage in other criminal activities in order to obtain the minimum requirements of their lives. Poor people deprived of food and clothing work as the agents of the greedy vaeshyas engaged in black marketeering and smuggling. When these poor people are caught, they are the ones who get punished, while the vaeshyas escape thanks to the power of their money. Such ill-fated poor people lose their consciences and descend deeper into sin. Society condemns these sinners, while the rich vaeshyas, the instigators of the sinners, play the role of public leaders. They wear garlands, set off verbal fireworks, and shrilly exhort the masses to make greater sacrifices.” (1)
Reference
1. Human Society - 2, The Vaeshya Age
Re: Unique mahaprayan programme in Odisha
Namaskar,
This is the vehicle they are using to carry dead bodies and cadavers from point A to point B for the new government Mahaprayan programme. The name of the vehicle itself name is Mahaprayan (written in Oriya) and there are hundreds of such vehicles that have been purchased by the Orissa / Odisha government for transporting those corpses from the place of death to the next desired location.
In Him,
Ranjan Deva
After 1990, B group propagated Mahaprayan as something very unique and godly—something special which is reserved for Mahasambhuti. And they tried to hide the reality behind this Mahaprayan term. [However]...the Mahaprayan term is very pervasive, related with cadavers, skeletons, corpses, and the funeral related vehicles which carry these cadavers from the hospital to the burial or cremation place for common folk. B group tactics to this cover up are completely exposed by the below news. Recently the Odisha state government has started one program related...in every hospital there will be Mahaprayan vehicles to carry dead bodies
- Here is a link to the initial letter on this topic - Unique mahaprayan programme in Odisha
Re: Islamic mazar worship in AMPS
Namaskar,
- Here is a link to the initial letter on this topic - Re: Islamic mazar worship in AMPS
It is the accepted international standard and Baba's system not to copy another's work and publish it in your own way. Baba has given a very strict rule on plagiarism. Why is Baba against plagiarism or stealing someone's work? There are many reasons:
1) It is against the code of asteya (non-stealing).
2) Countless stories of bhaktas need to be published. But some do not want to do the hard work of compiling and writing these stories, so they just steal them from others. But new stories need to be told, otherwise so many unpublished stories of sadhakas will be lost and forgotten forever. So watch out for story thieves, and kindly help them not to steal by posting on social media in their own way. If you want to forward this story then attach the following yellow section with the story:
“Courtesy of unknown bhakta via Ananda Marga Universal (https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/)”
This will be treated as the standard protocol.
* * *
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 ==
Without You, my mind is restless
“A'ji mor vasant jhariya' ja'y avahela'y…” (Prabhata Samgiita #1153)
Note for Prabhat Samgiita #1153:
Spring season (vasanta): In this song, the end of the spring season means that the bhakta has been anxiously waiting for Parama Purusa and now at the end of this spring season, still He has not come. It is utterly heartbreaking for the bhakta that still Parama Purusa remains away.
In the hope of His arrival, so many decorations and preparations have been made: flower blossoms, new leaves, a sweet breeze. Indeed the whole atmosphere has been made beautiful by nature for His divine reception. But alas, He has not come and now everything is withering away. This entire episode portrays the deep melancholic longing of the bhakta. That is the basis of this entire song.
The song can also be interpreted that because of not getting Him close, the spring of the bhakta's life is gone - the bhakta’s good days are getting wasted. The bhakta is thinking: My best days are passing by and You are not coming.
It is just like how the beautiful spring season, with its colourful flower blossoms and tender green leaves, gets overwrought by the hot summer when the burning wind dries everything up and the whole earth becomes brown.
So this song can be understood or interpreted on two levels. It can be taken on a more literal level wherein really the spring season has passed in waiting for Him. Or the song can serve as a metaphor for how one's good days (the spring of one's life) are gone and still He has not come close.
Note: When Parama Purusa is sitting next to the bhakta there is no use to use O’ when addressing Him, but in this Prabhat Samgiita the bhakta is thinking that Parama Purusa is far away.
Purport:
O’ Parama Purusa, due to Your “indifference” towards me, my spring season is passing away in vain. It is getting ruined due to Your neglect. The good days are passing me by. There was a time when my spiritual flow was going well, and You were appearing in my ideation. I had Your company and would receive Your grace. But today in my mental grove a hot wind is blowing; everything is getting dry.
O’ Parama Purusa, Baba, now the sweet, fragrant breeze has completely disappeared from the flower garden. The lush green beauty, rolling grass, and canopy of trees are all scorched and covered with dust. My spring season is passing me by. The climate has become completely suffocating and unbearable. O’ Parama Purusa where are You? Your presence will be a soothing balm.
O’ my loving One, I am not finding You anywhere, my most charming Entity. Please come and smile in Your heart-pouring manner and ever-new attractive form in this difficult hour. Kindly illumine the way and guide those bewildered people who have become lost, and bring this person on the right path. You are my everything. Except You, no one is mine. Without You, my mind is restless; please come close. Devoid of Your presence, my spring season is passing in vain...
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Donors & dharmikas
The Supreme Command states, "...Every Ananda Margii will have to perform sadhana twice a day invariably; verily is this the command of the Lord..." (1)
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "Dharma is the assemblage of all your conduct” – the way you eat, the way you speak, the way you perform sa'dhana'. If your conduct is good, dharma is with you; if your conduct is not good, dharma is not with you. And if dharma is not with you, what comes about is your sarvana'sha, or sarva'tmaka vina'sha – that is, your physical, mental, and spiritual ruin....Conduct is the principal factor in dharma.” Be a sadácárii, a person of good conduct, and you will surely attain Paramátman." (2)
Note: If one donates 2% of their income to Ananda Marga service projects then it does not mean that they are therefore an Ananda Margii. Donating money or paying tithes also does not make one an Ananda Margii. To be a dharmika (an Ananda Margii), one’s lifestyle should be wholly consistent with the ideals of Ananda Marga, i.e. bhagavad dharma. Those who give money and live a different sort of life can be thought of as sympathizers, but not as dharmikas, i.e. as Ananda Margiis.
Greatest donor
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The most important point to consider is who has utilized his or her ability and to what extent. Hanuman [the mighty monkey, a bhakta of Rama in the mythological epic the Rámáyańa] fetched huge boulders to build a bridge across the sea, while the squirrels collected small pebbles. Yet intrinsically both these actions have the same value. We have no right to question anybody's sincerity, nor can we scoff at it. We cannot give more appreciation to those who have not utilized their potentialities properly but have done more work than to those who have fully utilized their talents." (3)
References
1. The Supreme Command
2. Subhasita Samgraha - 21, Niiti and Dharma
3. Human Society - part 1, Social Justice
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Rich miscreants evade justice
In this below teaching Baba is pointing out how economically wealthy people indulge in anti-social activities like adulteration, drug dealing, and many other vices and illicit affairs. All the while they employ poor people to do the dirty work. In result, the poor people get arrested by law enforcement personnel while those rich, wealthy people save themselves by paying bribes or hiring high-powered lawyers. In the end, most of the profit of those gross dealings goes to rich people and the poor suffer. Due to their poverty, the poor cannot escape this cycle from one generation to the next. That in the ghettos people are perpetually incarcerated.
In this teaching Baba is referring to crude criminal acts as well as white-collar crime. In big business and on the corporate level, the schemes are much more sophisticated. Big banks cheat millions of people out of billions of dollars. Yet, those top bankers are almost never arrested or even charged. They escape because the laws are in their favour, or they hire lawyers to find loopholes in the law. And if they do get caught and are found guilty, then 99.9% of the time those high-level executives do not got to jail. Instead they pay a fine. But if a poor person steals even a single item they will get arrested and sit in jail for robbery for twenty years.
This happens only in the vaeshyan era and we have to raise awareness to put an end to this.
Prout philosophy states, “Most of the evils that occur in society are created due to the exploitation carried out by the vaeshyas. In order to increase the size of their bank balances, the vaeshyas create an artificial scarcity of such items as food, clothing and other essential commodities, and then earn a profit by black marketeering. Those who do not have the capacity to purchase commodities at exorbitant prices steal, commit armed robberies and engage in other criminal activities in order to obtain the minimum requirements of their lives. Poor people deprived of food and clothing work as the agents of the greedy vaeshyas engaged in black marketeering and smuggling. When these poor people are caught, they are the ones who get punished, while the vaeshyas escape thanks to the power of their money. Such ill-fated poor people lose their consciences and descend deeper into sin. Society condemns these sinners, while the rich vaeshyas, the instigators of the sinners, play the role of public leaders. They wear garlands, set off verbal fireworks, and shrilly exhort the masses to make greater sacrifices.” (1)
Reference
1. Human Society - 2, The Vaeshya Age
== Section: Comment 10/29/17 ==
Re: Unique mahaprayan programme in Odisha
Namaskar,
This is the vehicle they are using to carry dead bodies and cadavers from point A to point B for the new government Mahaprayan programme. The name of the vehicle itself name is Mahaprayan (written in Oriya) and there are hundreds of such vehicles that have been purchased by the Orissa / Odisha government for transporting those corpses from the place of death to the next desired location.
Ranjan Deva
After 1990, B group propagated Mahaprayan as something very unique and godly—something special which is reserved for Mahasambhuti. And they tried to hide the reality behind this Mahaprayan term. [However]...the Mahaprayan term is very pervasive, related with cadavers, skeletons, corpses, and the funeral related vehicles which carry these cadavers from the hospital to the burial or cremation place for common folk. B group tactics to this cover up are completely exposed by the below news. Recently the Odisha state government has started one program related...in every hospital there will be Mahaprayan vehicles to carry dead bodies
- Here is a link to the initial letter on this topic - Unique mahaprayan programme in Odisha
== Section: Comment 10/29/17 ==
Re: Islamic mazar worship in AMPS
Namaskar,
🙏 In Tiljala there is a memorial building. Inside the memorial building there is a puja table in the form of bhaeravi cakra. On top of this raised platform is a glass cabinet. Inside the glass cabinet is an urn. Inside the urn is Babas ashes. Mahaprayanees sing and dance around this and at the end offer guru puja in the direction of this. Makes you think, doesn't it ?
in Him,
A. Lalloo
in Him,
A. Lalloo
- Here is a link to the initial letter on this topic - Re: Islamic mazar worship in AMPS
== Section 4: Links ==
Videos: Shorts & Reels
Israel-Hamas War
Other topics of interest
