Ananda Marga Universal Forum: No middleman between you & Baba + 5 more

Baba

No middleman between you & Baba

Namaskar,

According to Ananda Marga ideology, every bhakta has a direct link or relation with Parama Purusa. The relation does not go via a third party or middleman. For instance, if you want to see your father but lost your way to the house, then you will ask someone, get directions, and see your father. The two of you will meet directly, without anyone else present.
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The same is the case with the sadhaka and Parama Purusa. Every sadhaka has a direct relationship with Parama Purusa. The acarya is merely a guide who shows the path. So there is no one in between you and Parama Purusa.

Here is an English summary of Baba’s Hindi teaching of Ananda Vacanamrtam - 16 (H), 24 Nov 79, Delhi.

Some people say that living beings are slaves (das) of Parama Purusa, but that is not correct. The relation between jiivas and Parama Purusa is a family relation. Some people say that, "I am a slave." No, why are they a slave. They have a family relation. With Parama Purusa, there is no Master-slave relation. It is a familial relation. The whole universe is His creation. It is within His mind. You are His. You are His dearest. The relation is that of a family member. (English summary of Hindi teaching)

According to cosmic law, Parama Purusa has created everything, and all are His progeny. So everyone has a direct relation with Him, the Supreme Entity.

Acarya is not a middleman between you & God

By the above teaching, it is clear every bhakta has a direct relation with Parama Purusa. That is not the case in the various religions where followers cannot communicate with, pray to, or worship God directly. If on their own they try, then they are warned that, "It will not be fruitful" - they will not reach God. That is the prevailing religious dogma. So in the various religions, all ceremonies and programs must be performed by a middleman (mullah, priest, rabbi, minister, purohitas, reverend, etc). Religious officials act as a middleman between the common person and their god. By this way, those priests exploit the common people monetarily and impose various complexes.
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Think of it this way. In the recent past, there was no direct phone communication. Every call had to go via an operator. And, in India especially, if you did not pay a bribe to the operator, your call would never go through. In a similar manner, all the various religions have created the dogma that no individual can communicate directly with Parama Purusa - God.

Yet, according to cosmic law, Parama Purusa has created everything, and all are His progeny. So everyone has a direct relation with Him, the Supreme Entity.

But the dogmatic religions say all messages must go via the priest class. And they have successfully established this dogma by injecting various complexes in the minds of the people. And still this is in vogue. People think that the only way to request, ask, tell or hear something from the Lord is to go via the priest etc - and make a payment / bribe.

However, according to cosmic law, Parama Purusa has created everything, and all are His progeny. So everyone has a direct relation with Him, the Supreme Entity.

Direct link with Parama Purusa

In our Ananda Marga, the approach is completely different from the dogmatic religions and in complete concert with cosmic law. Verily, each and every person has a direct link with Parama Purusa, and with just their thinking, an aspirant can easily convey their feeling to Him and receive His response, by His grace. So in Ananda Marga spiritual life, there is no middleman. Acaryas are not like middlemen (mullahs, priests, rabbis, ministers, purohitas, reverends, etc). That is one of the biggest differences between the path of Ananda Marga and the various religions. In Ananda Marga, every sadhaka has a direct link with Parama Purusa.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Unfortunately, in India I have seen that because of the reigning Hindu dogma, naive margiis think that acaryas are like purohitas. Without them, no ceremony can move ahead. A similar situation may be brewing in other countries where other dogmatic religions are dominant.

But we should bear in mind that according to cosmic law, Parama Purusa has created everything, and all are His progeny. So everyone has a direct relation with Him, the Supreme Entity.

The middleman theory was created with only one purpose in mind: to exploit their followers. Those religious leaders wanted all communication to go via them. They wanted 100% control to get maximum economic gain and enhance their prestige. By imposing this middleman dogma, they could command the people and carry out their plan of systemic exploitation. They wanted everyone to follow their order, pay them money, and bow down to them.

What those so-called religious leaders were doing runs contrary to dharma. According to cosmic law, Parama Purusa has created everything, and all are His progeny. So everyone has a direct relation with Him, the Supreme Entity.

But for those religious professionals etc, by vesting full authority within themselves, they had the power to create new dogmas for their own self-interest. This was their mechanism for perpetuating their exploitation and always keeping themselves on top. Such priests gave themselves the ultimate power to open the door to heaven or hell. In this way they cheated and deceived huge swaths of the population.

However, the dharmic path of Ananda Marga is not like this; every sadhaka has a direct relationship with Parama Purusa.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Conclusion

According to cosmic law, Parama Purusa has created everything, and all are His progeny. So everyone has a direct relation with Him, the Supreme Entity. Ananda Marga philosophy propagates this eternal truth. But the various religions do not accept this. Due to their selfish desire to exploit innocent followers, those various religions proclaim that only their pope, priest, mullah etc can communicate with God.

In Ananda Marga, every disciple has a direct link with Parama Purusa Baba. Between the sadhaka and Parama Purusa there is no middle man. The acarya, tattvika, avadhuta, puroda, or purodha pramukha are not middlemen between you and the Divine Entity. So when Ananda Margiis do sadhana they directly communicate with Parama Purusa; they convey their feelings directly to Him. There is no middle man. Every sadhaka can directly communicate with the Supreme Entity - God.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Namaskar,
in Him,
Caetanya

According to cosmic law, Parama Purusa has created everything, and all are His progeny. So everyone has a direct relation with Him, the Supreme Entity.

References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 16 (H), 24 Nov 79, Delhi

* * *

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 ==

Harmony everywhere

"Jádu nagariyá se, áyá hae ek jádúgar..." (Prabhat Samgiita #4062)

Purport:

The Parama Purusa, the Supreme Magician of the magical realm, has taken advent. He has come from the world of bliss. By His arrival, He has transformed everything. The whole universe is dancing: The waves of the ocean are twirling, and the black bees are rhythmically hovering on the flowers. Everyone is supremely intoxicated with His warmth. It is His grace. Knowingly or unknowingly they are swaying in His flow.

Look at how the flow of the river has become inundated with His intimacy. With abundant affection and the loving feeling of the heart, the sea is dancing. Notice how the bees on the blossoms are whispering and hovering around the fragrant flowers. See how He has filled this entire creation with His magical charm. Parama Purusa, the Divine Charmer, what have You done. The hearts, which were sleeping in frustration, have bloomed again. They have gotten new life. It is Your causeless grace. You have brought back the spirituality which was lost. The resonance of the Cosmic vibration is audible everywhere. The harmony has filled all directions.

Supreme Enchanter, Parama Purusa, what have You done. You have made all sleeping hearts bloom and blossom. You have blessed me with a heavenly composure and a blissful state of mind. Supreme One, You have made both my inner and outer worlds resonate and shine. It is Your krpa...

== Section 3: Important Teaching ==

Sanctity of AM shastra: how to cite Baba quotes

Namaskar,

Here is a guideline for citing quotes from Baba’s books and the benefits are two-fold: (a) It will be easier to cross-check and confirm those quotes, and (b) it will prevent the manufacturing and circulation of fake quotes.

Page # also needed for non-English publications

#1: When citing any quote from Sadguru Baba, then the (a) book title, (b) name of the chapter, and (c) page number must be given. So readers can quickly search and confirm the veracity of the quote.

#2: For quotes that are in the English Electronic edition of Baba’s books it is completely different - the chapter name is enough.

Who is the responsible party

#3: The onus lies on the person who circulates the quote. Initially they should provide all the information, and it is their duty to provide further clarification to those readers who request it.

Paving the way for dogma in the name of Baba

#4: Remember, the first step of the ruination of Baba’s teachings occurs when people spread quotes in the name of Baba without fully citing the source of that quote. If this type of loose approach continues then every Tom, Dick, and Harry will start writing their own mental feeling and stick Baba's name as the signature.

#5: By this way, in the name of Baba, little by little, all those dogmas which are condemned by Ananda Marga philosophy like idol worship, caste marriage, and gay marriage will slowly gain traction. Step by step, those bogus quotes will state that these dogmas are very good and approved by Baba. Until ultimately we will wake up one fine morning and read: “Meat-eating is very good for Ananda Margiis - Shrii Shrii Anandamurti.”

#6: Today this may look or sound outlandish but history proves that this is the way distortion happens. For instance, if you pick up Lord Krsna’s teachings you will find that the caste system is appreciated. It was only when Baba clarified this matter that it became clear that Lord Krsna did not appreciate the caste system. Rather Lord Krsna opposed the caste system but devious followers put their dogmatic views in Lord Krsna’s name.

#7: The aforementioned parameters will help greatly in protecting and safeguarding the authenticity of Sadguru Baba’s teachings.

Conclusion

Distributing quotes without a complete and proper citation or reference is a very negative trend. It opens the door for false lines to get printed in Baba's name. And It paves the way for the adulteration of Sadguru Baba's teachings. History bears testimony how the doctrines of various social thinkers, spiritual leaders, and Mahasambhutis have been polluted and destroyed in this way. We should not let this happen with Sadguru Baba’s teachings as well.

In Him,
Advatiiya

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Bad samskaras & blissful life

In the below quote Baba teaches the following points:
(a) Sadhakas do not get terrified when facing their bad samskaras / reactive momenta. Those who are confused think about their suffering always.
(b) While undergoing suffering of their past deeds, they are focused on Brahma. And they continue on in their sadhana. Due to this, the seeds of their future samskaras are also burned.
(c) Because one does sadhana, they always think they are pure - not a sinner. By this way they cleanse themselves.
(d) Due to their normal sadhana, their suffering due to pain and pleasure wanes because they are always in bliss. So they do not feel any misery or loss.

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Learned people know that the requitals or consequences of deeds (karmaphala) are inevitably bound to follow one's actions, and so they do not waste time uselessly thinking about them. Fortified with courage and instilled with Brahmabháva they face all calamities of retribution bravely. They always consider themselves pure, for they have purged their minds of the past. Those who have tasted even a little of the flowing nectar of Brahma, know that they can never be impure. This constant thought of self-purity greatly helps to exhaust their saḿskáras or reactive momenta, as a result of which the saḿskáras held in the sthirabhúmi of their práńa are gradually destroyed. With the help of sádhaná or spiritual practice the spell of pleasurable and painful requitals ceases both internally and externally. Sádhakas call it the combustion of the seed of action in the fire of sádhaná." (1)

Reference
1. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 5, The Chariot and the Charioteer

== Section: Important Teaching ==

How to overcome feeling small & weak

Ananda Marga ideology states, “However little one's capacity might be, if one constantly remembers that Parama Puruśa is always with him or her, that they are in the closest contact with Parama Puruśa, they will be able to do everything. They are not as small as they think themselves to be. And as long as they remember this closest association with Him, they can do much more than ordinary human beings. When this idea becomes permanently established in their minds, they become great. This is why no one should be disappointed or depressed in any circumstances; let everyone constantly perform great deeds, remembering that the flow of their capacity is coming from Parama Puruśa, and thus they can do everything.” (1)

Note: Commonly people think of themselves as weak and isolated. That is because in that moment they do not consciously feel a connection with Parama Purusa in their mind. So they cannot draw upon the cosmic energy from Parama Purusa. The moment one starts thinking about Him and makes a link with Parama Purusa then they become very strong. This can be felt and tested when facing tough situations or when confronting someone stronger than yourself, such as when surrounded by a bunch of thugs. Then certainly those negative, anti-social elements will be defeated and victory will be attained. The connection is very simple: Just repeat your Ista mantra and you will be connected to Parama Purusa.

References
1. A Few Problems Solved - 3, Genius and Technician

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Dangers of overeating & obesity

Ananda Marga Yogic Treatments states, “In the world today a handful of people who do no physical work, but live by their wits, have appropriated to themselves most of the wealth of humanity, so they are able to buy comparatively expensive foods, and use them to satisfy their taste buds. As a result, they, on the one hand, swell with unnecessary fat, while, on the other hand, those people doing hard manual labour are forced to live in poverty and deprived of the ghee, butter and sweets they need to maintain their bodies; they have nothing to compensate properly the energy they expend, and they become weak, emaciated and broken in health. On account of malnutrition and excessive hard labour, they fall victim to tuberculosis. Remember that in tropical countries non-vegetarian food is generally like poison….”

“So my point is that obesity is primarily a disease of well-off, non-labouring society. High-salaried office workers, rich businessmen and parasitic politicians are those who suffer most from obesity.”

Fat becomes their enemy and pushes them to their death

Ananda Marga Yogic Treatments states, “It should be borne in mind that the fat stored in the human body is nothing but its work energy in latent form. When fasting or doing physical labour, it becomes liquefied, then transformed into vital energy or work energy. So when people perform little manual labour, their fat becomes their enemy and pushes them to their death.”

Excess fat: sterility in women and impotence in men

Ananda Marga Yogic Treatments states, “When this fat accumulates in the abdominal region, it causes sterility in women and impotency in men. That is why we find that in most cases obese people have no children. Too much accumulation of fat on the chest and abdomen disturbs the váyu; and then, as long as the liver is not affected, the person suffers from “demon hunger”; so much so that in homes where the person is entertained, he or she becomes famous for his or her voracity. Another distinguishing mark of such people is that they are most greedy for those foods which are most fattening; that is, when invited outside, they will never even by mistake eat much in the way of vegetable preparations – instead they will eat a lot of luci, fish, meat and sweets.”

Reference
1. Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, Obesity

== Section 4: Links ==

Postings on Democracy

In these few days and weeks, many minor and major elections are being 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.