Baba
This email contains two sections:
1. Posting: We should express reverence by not putting everywhere
2. Links
Namaskar,
I believe that all pratikriti and videos of Baba should be treasured in libraries belonging to respected margii libraries and AM center offices libraries. No one should have free access to Guru's Varabaya mudra. This is an important aspect of the lessons. There can be no good that comes of plastering Baba's picture everywhere and His videos. I do watch these gems. But I do so on my knees, doing Namaskar mudra, and with great respect. I daresay this is not what is happening by the majority.
It is my wish that my Guru's pictures and video get off the web. Some think this is an impossible task. I do not. This is copyrighted material. It's not impossible.
Baba's approach is to be incredibly modest. He did not want Ananda Marga to be a cult of personality as you know. Even legitimate Ananda Marga sites display Baba's pictures.
We are living in a different time where it is possible to pirate any image one comes across. I believe Baba's pictures should belong to margiis and that's it.
It is possible to use the web to share Baba's pictures without having them be public. Anyone putting Baba's pictures in a public place should be stopped. I don't think Ananda Marga realizes the problem here. Of course one would not expect His picture on Wikipedia.
When I can afford, I would happily be willing to donate and get others to donate for lawyers in this regard. We know the split happened and that some factions cannot use the name Ananda Marga. This action, which was all about money, not Guru, is perhaps sad. But it makes a point. The Guru's image is copyrighted material.
For example. I am a chemist and I use secret methods in my work. What if I were to write a book for just for my students with the stipulation they should not show this book to ANYONE. And then they published it. I would have to sue them, if I could.
I know the books in Ananda Marga have Baba's picture. But that is far different than Baba on the web.
Think about how different it would be if someone said, well, show me this Guru you talk about and we say, "No. You are not a margii. Baba's pictures are protected and are only for margiis." Is that not how it should be?
Thank goodness I have not found any of the lessons on the web! But I suspect if one looked hard enough, it is possible one could find them. Of course, since the lessons are personal and many require personal mantras, you would not get that.
We need to respect ourselves. Then the world is far more apt to respect us. The image of our Guru is sacred and not for all to see. It may cost money. It may cost a lot of money. But I believe it can be done. What must happen first is that margiis take action and band together on this issue. Even respected AM sites should take His picture off! And if someone wonders, why do I not see a picture of the Propounder of Ananda Marga when there is information about Him (they think with a big "H")? Because of Baba's desire and because of margiis desire, we do not share the pictures with non-margiis. If you really want to see a picture of Baba, either become a margii, or read one of His books. There are pictures of Him in His books.
Who owns rights to all these pictures? Those who took them? Or Ananda Marga?
If the people who took the videos do not step up and take responsibility for them and help with this matter, they are no better than paparazzis, except that they are paparazzis who benefit from taking pictures of The Lord. These pictures and video are sacred and have not been treated this way.
Guru's picture should not help us with pracar! Only after one has become a margii should one have access, and with the understanding that Guru's pictures are not to be published anywhere without permission. Many may have seen how the book The Jamalpur Years used the wrong picture! This picture is an intimate picture of Baba and should not have been on the one tell all book. The best would have been if there had been no picture of Baba at all.
I hereby declare that all true margiis should treat Baba's videos and pictures with great respect. If a margii watches Baba's video, I suggest second lesson, doing pranam, then sitting on one's knees to watch. If at least we can all begin with this sentiment, it will make our effort to remove the pictures to where all can see that much easier. When Guru sees us taking effort, maybe He will help. And maybe this effort in the first place is by His Grace.
It might even be a good idea to put the screen where one sees a Baba video on a puja table.
In a retreat, I suggest that if Baba's videos are watched, we should build a mandap or whatever place Baba would have resided and place a large screen on that place.
No one should watch a Baba video simply sitting in a chair, possibly eating...as if this were the evening's entertainment.
Much Thanks for your attention. Namaskar again.
In Baba,
Bhaskar
This email contains two sections:
1. Posting: We should express reverence by not putting everywhere
2. Links
We should express reverence by not putting everywhere
Namaskar,
I believe that all pratikriti and videos of Baba should be treasured in libraries belonging to respected margii libraries and AM center offices libraries. No one should have free access to Guru's Varabaya mudra. This is an important aspect of the lessons. There can be no good that comes of plastering Baba's picture everywhere and His videos. I do watch these gems. But I do so on my knees, doing Namaskar mudra, and with great respect. I daresay this is not what is happening by the majority.
It is my wish that my Guru's pictures and video get off the web. Some think this is an impossible task. I do not. This is copyrighted material. It's not impossible.
Baba's approach is to be incredibly modest. He did not want Ananda Marga to be a cult of personality as you know. Even legitimate Ananda Marga sites display Baba's pictures.
We are living in a different time where it is possible to pirate any image one comes across. I believe Baba's pictures should belong to margiis and that's it.
It is possible to use the web to share Baba's pictures without having them be public. Anyone putting Baba's pictures in a public place should be stopped. I don't think Ananda Marga realizes the problem here. Of course one would not expect His picture on Wikipedia.
When I can afford, I would happily be willing to donate and get others to donate for lawyers in this regard. We know the split happened and that some factions cannot use the name Ananda Marga. This action, which was all about money, not Guru, is perhaps sad. But it makes a point. The Guru's image is copyrighted material.
For example. I am a chemist and I use secret methods in my work. What if I were to write a book for just for my students with the stipulation they should not show this book to ANYONE. And then they published it. I would have to sue them, if I could.
I know the books in Ananda Marga have Baba's picture. But that is far different than Baba on the web.
Think about how different it would be if someone said, well, show me this Guru you talk about and we say, "No. You are not a margii. Baba's pictures are protected and are only for margiis." Is that not how it should be?
Thank goodness I have not found any of the lessons on the web! But I suspect if one looked hard enough, it is possible one could find them. Of course, since the lessons are personal and many require personal mantras, you would not get that.
We need to respect ourselves. Then the world is far more apt to respect us. The image of our Guru is sacred and not for all to see. It may cost money. It may cost a lot of money. But I believe it can be done. What must happen first is that margiis take action and band together on this issue. Even respected AM sites should take His picture off! And if someone wonders, why do I not see a picture of the Propounder of Ananda Marga when there is information about Him (they think with a big "H")? Because of Baba's desire and because of margiis desire, we do not share the pictures with non-margiis. If you really want to see a picture of Baba, either become a margii, or read one of His books. There are pictures of Him in His books.
Who owns rights to all these pictures? Those who took them? Or Ananda Marga?
If the people who took the videos do not step up and take responsibility for them and help with this matter, they are no better than paparazzis, except that they are paparazzis who benefit from taking pictures of The Lord. These pictures and video are sacred and have not been treated this way.
Guru's picture should not help us with pracar! Only after one has become a margii should one have access, and with the understanding that Guru's pictures are not to be published anywhere without permission. Many may have seen how the book The Jamalpur Years used the wrong picture! This picture is an intimate picture of Baba and should not have been on the one tell all book. The best would have been if there had been no picture of Baba at all.
I hereby declare that all true margiis should treat Baba's videos and pictures with great respect. If a margii watches Baba's video, I suggest second lesson, doing pranam, then sitting on one's knees to watch. If at least we can all begin with this sentiment, it will make our effort to remove the pictures to where all can see that much easier. When Guru sees us taking effort, maybe He will help. And maybe this effort in the first place is by His Grace.
It might even be a good idea to put the screen where one sees a Baba video on a puja table.
In a retreat, I suggest that if Baba's videos are watched, we should build a mandap or whatever place Baba would have resided and place a large screen on that place.
No one should watch a Baba video simply sitting in a chair, possibly eating...as if this were the evening's entertainment.
Much Thanks for your attention. Namaskar again.
In Baba,
Bhaskar
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Section 2: Links ==
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