Baba
If you arrived here to see the photo of the Bengali deity, kindly scroll down. - Eds
This email contains three sections:
1. Posting: Bangalization
2. Important Teaching: Narrow Mindedness of the the rich
3. Links
Namaskar,
The point of discussion here is whether photos of outdated, dogmatic rituals which Baba has condemned should be printed along with Baba’s discourse.
Preview:
1. Baba has equal love for all of creation - i.e. no favourites.
2. In order to present Ananda Marga ideology Baba had to weed out certain pre-existing dogmas, like the worship of deities.
3. Ananda Marga publishers highlight those dogmatic rituals by putting full glossy photos of those deities in Ananda Vacanamrtam 11 - 12.
4. By this way, many readers will only remember those photos and not recall Baba's guidelines when reading His book.
5. Although this book is full of Baba's dharmic injunctions, photos of ritualistic deity worship smear the pages of Ananda Vacanamrtam 11 - 12.
We all know that our Supreme Father Baba is the Personification of dharma and that He loves all equally. He favors no community, language, or culture more than another. All are His divine children. And it is our duty to project this idea to one and all.
Nowhere else are His teachings put on display for all to see than in His scripture: Ananda Marga books.
So when a slew of full–page colour photos of dogmatic deities of Bengal are inserted into the 2008 edition of Ananda Vacanamrtam part 11-12, and no other Ananda Marga book carries such an array of photos, then that should peak our interest and we should investigate the matter seriously.
Misportrayal by placing dogmatic deities in Ananda Marga books
It is well-known that pictures, not words, capture the mind of people: Everybody looks at pictures, often skipping over the words entirely, and ‘readers’ often formulate their ideas based on those pictures. This is the common way.
So if anyone were to open Ananda Vacanamrtam Part 11-12, then they would see huge pictures of deities of Bengal – 16 pages worth. Naturally, general readers will then think that this book is about Bengali deities or that Baba is concerned most about Bengali heritage, not that of any other land or place.
But in Anadna Vacanamrtam parts 11-12, Baba is pointing out the defects and history of so many dogmatic deities, from so many lands and places. That is the main emphasis of Ananda Vacanamrtam part 11: To wipe out all the dogmas about such deities.
But certain publishers have only inserted those deities of Bengal, as if that was Baba’s entire focus.
So the point is a serious one: It is a misportrayal of Baba’s teaching. Plus any idea once placed in a scripture becomes progressively more difficult to root out as time goes by. Changing Baba’s books in generations from now forward will not be easy. That is we must act today to withdraw the dogmatic insertion gods and goddesses from our Ananda Marga books.
Only dogmatic deities from Bengal glorified in AM book
To put forth Ananda Marga ideals, Baba has to unearth and logically refute so many dogmas and specifically in Ananda Vacanamrtam - 11 / 12, He addresses so many dogmatic forms of worship from so many places.
Baba addresses Chat’ Puja (AV-11, p.50), Yajinaoaviit (AV-11, p.53), Karmaka’n’d’ (AV-11, p.50, 58), Puri temple (AV-11, p.16), and Jaganna'th (AV-11, p.17) - all from Ananda Vacanamrtam 11 / 12. These are all widely celebrated and dogmatic deities, and Baba has taken great care to detail their dogmatic history and point out their defects to root them out. Although millions and millions of people around the world worship such deities, there is not a single picture of any of these aforementions deities in this same book, Ananda Vacanamrtam - 11 / 12.
Certain publishers only highlighted the deities of Bengal. Only those deities were graced to have a picture placed in our Ananda Marga book.
Bengali deities like: Shiitala, Bhadraka’lii, Carak Festival, Satya Piir, Banbibi, Mansasa’, Daksinaray and Tusu. Many of which are just local or backyard type of deities from Bengal. Many of these like Tusu and Banbibi are not even known outside of certain villages within Bengal.
Yet all these dogmatic Bengali deities have been honored with full-color, high-gloss, picture in Ananda Vacanamrtam - 11 / 12. These glossy pages are so thick in comparison to the other pages of the book that one cannot open the book without noticing these pictures.
All of which points towards the Bangalisation of Ananda Marga teachings.
Best is not to put any negative photos in Baba's books
Here the point is not that all the dogmatic deities should be displayed in our book – probably best would be if there were no pictures of any dogmatic deities. More about this will be discussed in future letters.
The striking point is that somehow certain publishers only inserted the dogmatic deities of Bengal into Baba's book. It seems they will do anything and everything in order to put Bengal at the top; they want to make it look like Baba cared more about Bengal than any other place.
Namaskar,
In Him,
Krisna’ Tagore
Note: By placing the photo in our Ananda Marga scripture (AV-11), readers will be misled. Instead of understanding Guru’s written teachings, they will see the glossy photo and think that is the chief message of the book. They will just remember those pictures, not Guru’s teachings.
Here is an example of one of the deities of Bengal that was printed on a thick, glossy page in AV 11/12.
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© 2016 Ananda Marga Universal Forum. All rights reserved. Ananda Marga Universal Forum content is the intellectual property of Ananda Marga Universal Forum or its third party content providers. Ananda Marga Universal Forum shall not be liable for any errors or delays in content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Any copying, republication or redistribution, part or full, of Ananda Marga Universal Forum content, including by framing or similar means, is against the court of law and expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Ananda Marga Universal Forum.
This is a classic example. Here below Baba points out how the rich cannot understand the problems of the poor. Those wealthy persons have a very small mind - sunk in greed and always hungry for more.
Right now, heated talks are going on regarding increasing minimum wage. The amount low-end workers currently earn is paltry. Some politicial leaders have proposed a minimum wage increase. Even then no one can live on such wages. You cannot have a small house, get medical care, and raise children on such a wage. It is impossible.
Still other politicians - who support wealthy capitalists - remain unmoved and have no empathy. Rather they are shocked about a potential increase in wages. Meanwhile, CEO's and top executives earn thousands of times more than that each hour.
Here is the point of view of Prout philosophy followed by excerpts from news articles about the heated exchange in Washington and this critical issue.
Prout philosophy says, "What a dangerous outlook! What a rosy philosophy of capitalism! God save humanity from such perverted philosophy. Man’s desire for worldly pleasure does not cease until he finds a really great ideal. His hunger is insatiable. The wolf in him seems to say over and over again, “I am hungry, I am hungry.” His mouth is agape all the time and the fools of the earth, resigned to their belief in predestination, are swallowed by it. These wolves eat up their flesh and blood and cast away their insipid bones. Are we to support this wolfish philosophy? The dirty-clothed laborers, their faces lined with hard labor and fatigue, are not human beings in the eyes of those who have Mammon by their side. The characteristic of a vested interest is that it has no other thought but itself. The selfish man is the eater, the others are his food. His needs are never-ending. Out of his salary the poor man has to pay his house rent, support his family, educate his children, provide milk for his baby, marry his daughters. Are those necessities only for the people of the upper classes? Are these not the minimum necessities of life? Yes, but these thoughts of the poor are no concern of the rich! Such thinking involves some sacrifice, does it not? From where would objects of luxury for the rich come, if hunger were not the hard task-master of the poor? Let the daughters of the poor collect cow-dung forever and their sons be slaves in the households of the rich. What a fine arrangement! The high hopes of the poor?–pooh! pooh!! Aren’t they all moonshine?" (Human Society, Social Justice, 1987 Edn) Just now you read from the 1987 edition of Human Society.
Now please read from the same passage from the latest Electronic Edition of Baba'a books 7.5. Some say the previous version is good and some say this one is better. Let us know which version you prefer.
Prout philosophy says, "It is a characteristic of vested interests that they never bother to think of anyone except themselves. They must eat and the rest of humanity only exists to be eaten. They want increasingly more objects for their gratification. Those who earn three thousand rupees a month think that this is an extremely meagre amount, but they never stop to consider the needs of those who earn a negligible thirty rupees a month.(4) A poor man has to pay his rent, maintain his family, educate his children, buy milk for his babies, and save something to put towards the cost of his daughter’s marriage, all out of thirty rupees. Are these needs only applicable to the upper stratum of society? Are they not the minimum necessities of life? Rich people do not want to consider the needs of the poor, because if they do they will have to make some sacrifices. Where will their luxuries and comforts come from if hunger does not burn the bellies of the poor? Is it not a fine idea if the daughters of the poor go on collecting cow dung forever, and their sons work like slaves in the houses of the rich for generations together? Is this not a fine arrangement? As for the high hopes of the poor, aren't they ridiculous? Aren't they out of touch with reality?" (Human Society - Social Justice, Electronic Edition of Baba's books 7.5)
If you arrived here to see the photo of the Bengali deity, kindly scroll down. - Eds
This email contains three sections:
1. Posting: Bangalization
2. Important Teaching: Narrow Mindedness of the the rich
3. Links
Bangalization
Namaskar,
The point of discussion here is whether photos of outdated, dogmatic rituals which Baba has condemned should be printed along with Baba’s discourse.
Preview:
1. Baba has equal love for all of creation - i.e. no favourites.
2. In order to present Ananda Marga ideology Baba had to weed out certain pre-existing dogmas, like the worship of deities.
3. Ananda Marga publishers highlight those dogmatic rituals by putting full glossy photos of those deities in Ananda Vacanamrtam 11 - 12.
4. By this way, many readers will only remember those photos and not recall Baba's guidelines when reading His book.
5. Although this book is full of Baba's dharmic injunctions, photos of ritualistic deity worship smear the pages of Ananda Vacanamrtam 11 - 12.
We all know that our Supreme Father Baba is the Personification of dharma and that He loves all equally. He favors no community, language, or culture more than another. All are His divine children. And it is our duty to project this idea to one and all.
Nowhere else are His teachings put on display for all to see than in His scripture: Ananda Marga books.
So when a slew of full–page colour photos of dogmatic deities of Bengal are inserted into the 2008 edition of Ananda Vacanamrtam part 11-12, and no other Ananda Marga book carries such an array of photos, then that should peak our interest and we should investigate the matter seriously.
Misportrayal by placing dogmatic deities in Ananda Marga books
It is well-known that pictures, not words, capture the mind of people: Everybody looks at pictures, often skipping over the words entirely, and ‘readers’ often formulate their ideas based on those pictures. This is the common way.
So if anyone were to open Ananda Vacanamrtam Part 11-12, then they would see huge pictures of deities of Bengal – 16 pages worth. Naturally, general readers will then think that this book is about Bengali deities or that Baba is concerned most about Bengali heritage, not that of any other land or place.
But in Anadna Vacanamrtam parts 11-12, Baba is pointing out the defects and history of so many dogmatic deities, from so many lands and places. That is the main emphasis of Ananda Vacanamrtam part 11: To wipe out all the dogmas about such deities.
But certain publishers have only inserted those deities of Bengal, as if that was Baba’s entire focus.
So the point is a serious one: It is a misportrayal of Baba’s teaching. Plus any idea once placed in a scripture becomes progressively more difficult to root out as time goes by. Changing Baba’s books in generations from now forward will not be easy. That is we must act today to withdraw the dogmatic insertion gods and goddesses from our Ananda Marga books.
Only dogmatic deities from Bengal glorified in AM book
To put forth Ananda Marga ideals, Baba has to unearth and logically refute so many dogmas and specifically in Ananda Vacanamrtam - 11 / 12, He addresses so many dogmatic forms of worship from so many places.
Baba addresses Chat’ Puja (AV-11, p.50), Yajinaoaviit (AV-11, p.53), Karmaka’n’d’ (AV-11, p.50, 58), Puri temple (AV-11, p.16), and Jaganna'th (AV-11, p.17) - all from Ananda Vacanamrtam 11 / 12. These are all widely celebrated and dogmatic deities, and Baba has taken great care to detail their dogmatic history and point out their defects to root them out. Although millions and millions of people around the world worship such deities, there is not a single picture of any of these aforementions deities in this same book, Ananda Vacanamrtam - 11 / 12.
Certain publishers only highlighted the deities of Bengal. Only those deities were graced to have a picture placed in our Ananda Marga book.
Bengali deities like: Shiitala, Bhadraka’lii, Carak Festival, Satya Piir, Banbibi, Mansasa’, Daksinaray and Tusu. Many of which are just local or backyard type of deities from Bengal. Many of these like Tusu and Banbibi are not even known outside of certain villages within Bengal.
Yet all these dogmatic Bengali deities have been honored with full-color, high-gloss, picture in Ananda Vacanamrtam - 11 / 12. These glossy pages are so thick in comparison to the other pages of the book that one cannot open the book without noticing these pictures.
All of which points towards the Bangalisation of Ananda Marga teachings.
Best is not to put any negative photos in Baba's books
Here the point is not that all the dogmatic deities should be displayed in our book – probably best would be if there were no pictures of any dogmatic deities. More about this will be discussed in future letters.
The striking point is that somehow certain publishers only inserted the dogmatic deities of Bengal into Baba's book. It seems they will do anything and everything in order to put Bengal at the top; they want to make it look like Baba cared more about Bengal than any other place.
Namaskar,
In Him,
Krisna’ Tagore
Note: By placing the photo in our Ananda Marga scripture (AV-11), readers will be misled. Instead of understanding Guru’s written teachings, they will see the glossy photo and think that is the chief message of the book. They will just remember those pictures, not Guru’s teachings.
Here is an example of one of the deities of Bengal that was printed on a thick, glossy page in AV 11/12.
~ Legal Notice ~
© 2016 Ananda Marga Universal Forum. All rights reserved. Ananda Marga Universal Forum content is the intellectual property of Ananda Marga Universal Forum or its third party content providers. Ananda Marga Universal Forum shall not be liable for any errors or delays in content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Any copying, republication or redistribution, part or full, of Ananda Marga Universal Forum content, including by framing or similar means, is against the court of law and expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Ananda Marga Universal Forum.
== Section 2: Important Teaching ==
Narrow Mindedness of the the rich
This is a classic example. Here below Baba points out how the rich cannot understand the problems of the poor. Those wealthy persons have a very small mind - sunk in greed and always hungry for more.
Right now, heated talks are going on regarding increasing minimum wage. The amount low-end workers currently earn is paltry. Some politicial leaders have proposed a minimum wage increase. Even then no one can live on such wages. You cannot have a small house, get medical care, and raise children on such a wage. It is impossible.
Still other politicians - who support wealthy capitalists - remain unmoved and have no empathy. Rather they are shocked about a potential increase in wages. Meanwhile, CEO's and top executives earn thousands of times more than that each hour.
Here is the point of view of Prout philosophy followed by excerpts from news articles about the heated exchange in Washington and this critical issue.
Prout philosophy says, "What a dangerous outlook! What a rosy philosophy of capitalism! God save humanity from such perverted philosophy. Man’s desire for worldly pleasure does not cease until he finds a really great ideal. His hunger is insatiable. The wolf in him seems to say over and over again, “I am hungry, I am hungry.” His mouth is agape all the time and the fools of the earth, resigned to their belief in predestination, are swallowed by it. These wolves eat up their flesh and blood and cast away their insipid bones. Are we to support this wolfish philosophy? The dirty-clothed laborers, their faces lined with hard labor and fatigue, are not human beings in the eyes of those who have Mammon by their side. The characteristic of a vested interest is that it has no other thought but itself. The selfish man is the eater, the others are his food. His needs are never-ending. Out of his salary the poor man has to pay his house rent, support his family, educate his children, provide milk for his baby, marry his daughters. Are those necessities only for the people of the upper classes? Are these not the minimum necessities of life? Yes, but these thoughts of the poor are no concern of the rich! Such thinking involves some sacrifice, does it not? From where would objects of luxury for the rich come, if hunger were not the hard task-master of the poor? Let the daughters of the poor collect cow-dung forever and their sons be slaves in the households of the rich. What a fine arrangement! The high hopes of the poor?–pooh! pooh!! Aren’t they all moonshine?" (Human Society, Social Justice, 1987 Edn) Just now you read from the 1987 edition of Human Society.
Now please read from the same passage from the latest Electronic Edition of Baba'a books 7.5. Some say the previous version is good and some say this one is better. Let us know which version you prefer.
Prout philosophy says, "It is a characteristic of vested interests that they never bother to think of anyone except themselves. They must eat and the rest of humanity only exists to be eaten. They want increasingly more objects for their gratification. Those who earn three thousand rupees a month think that this is an extremely meagre amount, but they never stop to consider the needs of those who earn a negligible thirty rupees a month.(4) A poor man has to pay his rent, maintain his family, educate his children, buy milk for his babies, and save something to put towards the cost of his daughter’s marriage, all out of thirty rupees. Are these needs only applicable to the upper stratum of society? Are they not the minimum necessities of life? Rich people do not want to consider the needs of the poor, because if they do they will have to make some sacrifices. Where will their luxuries and comforts come from if hunger does not burn the bellies of the poor? Is it not a fine idea if the daughters of the poor go on collecting cow dung forever, and their sons work like slaves in the houses of the rich for generations together? Is this not a fine arrangement? As for the high hopes of the poor, aren't they ridiculous? Aren't they out of touch with reality?" (Human Society - Social Justice, Electronic Edition of Baba's books 7.5)
== Section 3: Links ==
Photo of deities in Ananda Vacanamrtam 11 / 12mkmkmkmkmkm
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Baba story: those G shepherd dogs
Other topics of interest
Guru puja to the dead
How Rudrananda destroyed NY sector...
