Thursday, June 29, 2017

’Give’ Namaskar: dogma

Reply to: anandamargauniversal1@yogasamsthanam.net

Baba

’Give’ Namaskar: dogma

Namaskar,

You know that Baba's pristine and perfect teachings of Ananda Marga are 100% dogma-free. So everything Baba has given is itself dharma. That entails all our various practices and forms of salutations, including doing namaskar. However, there are some who have their own view and are involved in mixing 'namaskar' with other things. By this way, people confuse our dharmic Ananda Marga teachings with local dogmas. Here we begin with some of Baba's divine guidelines.

http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

AM salutations, doing vs giving

In one key chapter of Caryacarya, Sadguru Baba outlines the beauty and uniqueness of the various salutations used in Ananda Marga - including doing namaskar.

Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "There are three methods of salutation: (1) sa's't'aunga pran'a'ma [prostration], (2) caran’a sparsha pran'a'ma [touching the feet], (3) namaska'ra." (Caryacarya - 1, '95 Edn, p.16)

In our Ananda Marga there are three different grades or levels of salutation. And each has its own speciality and use. Yet one common feature among them all is that they all involve doing something - they all incorporate mudras (postures).

Doing namaskar

For example, as we all know our namaskar salutation is one special type of performance or action where 'doing' is involved.

Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "Namaska'ra is done by bringing the palms together and touching the a'jina' cakra [the midpoint of the eyebrows] with the thumbs, without bowing. It can be done to all regardless of age, because this mode of salutation is used with the ideation that everyone is the manifestation of the Supreme Being. (Caryacarya - 1, '95 Edn, p.16-17)

As we have all experienced in our daily life, with full heart and mind we follow various actions and mudras (postures) in order to do the namaskar salutation. First we fold our hands and raise them to the ajina cakra, close our eyes, touch the trikuti (spot between the eyebrows), take ideation, and then bring the hands down to the level of the heart (anahata cakra), and finally we say, 'namaskar'. Per Baba's system, namaskar is something that is done using certain specific mudras and movements. Both mind and heart are fully involved.

Why are people writing “give/gave namaskar” etc

The central question of this letter is: Why do certain sadhakas write in their newsletters, stories, day to day emails, and books "give namaskar" instead of "do namaskar." Instead of writing "do namaskar", they write or say things like "one margii brother gave namaskar", or they recount, "Baba gave namaskar." This is a mounting misunderstanding.

It seems some became accustomed to the expressions 'give my salutations' and 'give salute' and ‘give thanks” etc. So they unknowingly applied this 'give' term to our namaskar practice also. After all, for most, namaskar was a new practice for them and they did not know how to describe it. By this way they created the dogma of 'give namaskar'. It is so unfortunate that our Dadas could not properly teach them about this from the very outset. Then this whole problem could have been averted.

So this entire matter was preventable. And actually, if they would have had a little more opportunity they would have instituted other dogmas such as referring to our Ananda Marga sadhana practice as 'prayer' or 'namaz'. And they would have labeled our Guru Puja practice as 'kneeling down posture for prayer worship'. In this way when given a little scope people end up creating all sorts of dogmas and that is what has happened in the case of 'give namaskar'.

So we should all be conscious and alert about this and we should be strict in following Baba's system. Namaskar is a distinctly active greeting wherein the sadhaka is fully linked with their mind and heart when doing this greeting. One has to do something because the active science of mudra (posture) is involved.

Conclusion: ‘Give Namaskar’ is wrong

Our dharmic Ananda Marga salutation system is three tiered: Namaskar, Pran'a'm, and Sa's't'aunga Pran'a'm. And they are all linked together in that all the salutations involve doing various mudras etc. So we should write or say--- "do sa's't'aunga pran'a'ma" and we "do caran'a sparsha pran'am" we "do namaskar". And not say we "give sa's't'aunga pran'a'ma" and we "give caran'a sparsha pran'am" or "give namaskar".

All the three salutations are done in a complementary spirit of using specific ideations and their own particular mudras etc. And each is based in dharma. So we should be vigilant about not to write or say 'giving namaskar’ rather say "doing namaskar".

Namaskar,

In Him,

Vinay

http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

~ In-depth study ~

Doing caran'a sparsha pran'a'm

And similar is the case with caran'a sparsha pran'a'ma. As is commonly understood, caran'a means 'feet' and sparsha means 'touch'. So this salutation also involves doing something. It is not just the passing of words like when one gives thanks.

Rather in this special mudra or posture known as pranam one has to bend down, extend the hands and touch the respected person's feet, and bring the hands up to the ajina cakra and touch the trikuti, and then and with full feeling and admiration bring the folded hands to the heart and say, 'pranam'. So just like in the namaskar salutation, also when doing caran'a sparsha pran'a'ma various mudras are involved.

Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "Caran'a sparsha pran'a'ma means to touch the feet of a revered person with one's hands and then to touch one's forehead with those same hands. This pranam should only be done to those who command high regard from the worldly or spiritual viewpoint. As far as possible, do not do caran'a sparsha pran'a'ma except to persons such as these. Never do caran'a sparsha pran'a'ma to people whom you do not regard, whoever they may be." (Caryacarya - 1, '95 Edn, p.16)

Doing sastaunga pran'a'm

The third system of salutation in the Ananda Marga system is sa's't'aunga pran'a'ma. And in this mudra or posture one also has to do many things. With full reverence first one has to lie down, then extend the hands in full prostration, touch all the eight limbs, and arouse the feeling of surrender, and after surrendering then rise up half-way from the ground and shift the body to the kneeling position, and while kneeling then fold the hands and bring them up to the ajina cakra and touch the trikuti and then bring the hands to the level of the heart (anahata cakra)-- all the while mentally surrendering to Baba.

So the whole process of doing sastaunga pran'a'm is a big engagement; and while doing it one is deeply involved. In comparison 'giving thanks' is one passive vocal expression whereas doing sastaunga pranam incorporates all the limbs, indeed the entire body is involved, and on the top the sadhaka mentally surrenders to Marga Gurudev.

Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "Sa's't'aunga pran'a'ma is a symbol of simplicity. It is to be done only to Ma'rga Guru. It signifies surrender to ideology. Women can do salutation by touching the ground with the forehead instead of full prostration." (Caryacarya-1, '95 Edn, p.16)

Throughout all of our salutations in our Ananda Marga system, one is actively doing something - one is performing various mudras / postures. That is the common thread.

Story: it looked like namaz

Everyone is aware that when Muslims perform their namaz then it is their normal practice to ask for things from the god. They ask for money, good jobs, husbands for their daughters, and other types of worldly things.

One time a very new person from the Muslim tradition was taught our introductory sadhana lesson then he had not yet learned Guru Puja. So when he saw various margiis doing Guru Puja for the first time he immediately became very happy. Because the Muslim namaz posture looks identical to our Guru puja pose. From the outside both look the same.

So when he saw margiis doing Guru Puja then he approached them and said, 'Oh when you do that type of namaz then what boons and gifts do you ask for from the god?' Then the margiis told that, 'Actually, in our Guru Puja we offer ourselves - we do not ask for anything.'

Hence although from superficial view namaz and Guru Puja are looking similar but actually they are completely different - worlds apart. Same is the case with 'giving salutations' and 'doing namaskar'. One has nothing to do with the other. In all these cases we have to remember that Ananda Marga is the only dharma and all those religions etc are grounded in dogma.

In this regard we should never forget Baba's eternal guideline.

Baba does folded hand blessing

Some confused type of persons have even started writing in their books and articles that, 'Baba came on the dais and gave namaskar'. But this is just their terrible misunderstanding because we all know that Baba never gives namaskar - rather He blesses us with folded hands. So those who have an iota of common sense will never say or write that Baba gave namaskar.

So we should never write that “Baba gave Namaskar”.

== Section 2: Links ==

Recent Postings

Rudrananda's lie about grandiose lecture

Ac Shambhúshivánanda fell in pseudoculture

India: margii wife-husband & PP dogma

Dada working as Didi

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Story by ex. jihadi woman: real face of islam -- sharia law

Baba

Story by ex. jihadi woman: real face of islam -- sharia law

Namaskar,

Some people, those who only read propaganda, think that:

Suicide attacker Jihadis are not strict Muslims,
Islam is a very peaceful religion, etc.

But to find out the truth, please read the below report, which is written by a very strict Muslim ex. Jihadi woman. By reading this you can understand, what Islam really is. Let's come and read, and try and understand the so-called greatness of Islam.

http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Namaskar,

In Him,

Mahadeva

(Muhammad)

Real face of Islam

(Below article, courtesy: NPR)

In the '80s in Saudi Arabia, you were radicalized. We were radicalized in the '80s and the '90s. There was one source of information, the books were censored and we had all these wars going on around in the Islamic world. ... I was brought up in this era or in this time. ... We've been through this. ... Destroying our photos, stopping everyone from listening to music, questioning the beliefs of the others, the hate against the infidels, we were brought up this way. ...

I always questioned them, even when I was practicing to be a "good Muslim" and I was trying to please God and stay away from hellfire and go to heaven, I was still questioning these things. I wasn't really happy. The more I was trying to follow the rules we had been taught, the more miserable I became.

The one, really, who circumcised us was a barber. He was my father's friend. My mom herself was circumcised and she told us the story that she ran away when they cut one labia and the other one they couldn't cut, and she was bleeding and she hid in the neighbor's house.

Manal al-Sharif's path to activism began simply enough: In 2011, the Saudi woman filmed herself driving a car, then uploaded the video to YouTube. Ordinarily such a video might not get much notice, but because it's not socially acceptable for women to drive in Saudi Arabia, where there is a de facto ban, Sharif's video went viral.

Sharif describes driving as an act of civil disobedience: "For me, driving — or the right to drive — is not only about moving from A to B; it's a way to emancipate women," she says. "It gives them so much liberty. It makes them independent."

Initially arrested for driving, Sharif was released when her story elicited outrage from around the world. She now lives in Sydney, Australia, with her second husband and son.

Though she is no longer in Saudi Arabia, Sharif remains outspoken about women's rights: "When I see something wrong, I speak up," she says of her advocacy on behalf of Saudi women. "It should be the norm, not the exception." Her new memoir is Daring to Drive.

....

One man is equal to three women?

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “There are some people who have the opinion that men are especially favoured by Parama Puruśa and that women are not; or that one man is equal to three women. This is dogma. These absurd ideas all originated in dogma. Any intelligent person can easily understand that these propositions are totally hollow and irrational. “The intellect of one man is equal to the intellect of three women” – it is a ridiculous statement. In reality, there may be some cases in which the intellect of one man may be equal only to that of two women. But then there may be other cases where the intellect of one woman may be equal to the intellect of twenty men. Such intelligent women can be found in the world. Or if we speak only of physical weight, then we may find some woman who weighs more than two men. Theoretical statements should not be accepted here.” (1)

Why Muslims hate and kill others

In the following teaching, Baba is indirectly talking about Islam. In Islam, music, dance, drama and all such forms of artistic expression are not allowed. Due to strict prohibition of music etc, Islamic followers become severely psychically diseased and due to this, become very brutal and cruel. That is what we see in our day to day life. That, those who are very strict followers, they are ruthless. So, we should take lesson from this and encourage aesthetic science wherever we get the opportunity. In result, we will see that the finer human senses of love and compassion will develop for fellow human beings, and violence in the society will be completely eradicated. This terror torn earth will be become loving, compassionate, and caring.

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, ”Humanity, in its all-out quest for this aesthetic science, attained spirituality. One must acknowledge this. Herein lies the excellence of aesthetic science. For this reason, I have given my whole-hearted and explicit support for nandana vijiṋána. You know that there are certain religions [Islam etc] which do not encourage aesthetic pursuits. You will notice that in those religions inertia, inferiority complexes and a sense of violence are predominant.” (2)

---

http://www.npr.org/2017/06/08/532068532/for dash one-saudi-woman-daring-to-drive-was-an-act-of-civil-disobedience

References

1. Fight Against All Dogmas – Excerpt D, from “Buddha o Aśt́áḿga Márga” Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 15

2. Yatamána – the Stage of Perseverance; Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 10

== Section 2: Links ==

Recent Postings

About premature death of an ant

Why Buddhist meditation so negative

Sinful job & sadhana

Way to bring tragedy

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

How companies brainwash & exploit their employees + 5 more

Baba

How companies brainwash & exploit their employees

Namaskar,

Company employees, and the general workforce, get spoon-fed the idea that their company is their well-wisher and friend - that the company is their family. So at first the capitalist enterprise tries to purchase their employees by giving them a small amount of money. Then those capitalist executives inject brainwashing strategies in order to maximize employee output and extract tremendous profits from them.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

For example, during the holidays and weekends, companies organise various types of "fun" gatherings like picnics and seminars etc whereby the employees pass even their leisure time under the "protective care" of the company. They might also take family vacations with their company, whereby employees are led to believe that the company is actually their family. Once this idea gets set in the mind, those employees will walk to the ends of the earth to get the job done for their cherished company.

Company executives get into the mindset of their employees and motivate them to exponentially increase their work. Employees get so stressed out that they lose their perspective. Those suffering employees get convinced into thinking that their status will be enhanced by making the company more successful. This is another aspect of the brainwashing going on.

Maximum brainwashing yields increased profits

In this way, capitalist exploiters exponentially advance their income and increase profits for every employee they hire. They pay the employees 1x amount and from that employee's work those capitalist make 10x, 50x, 100x or more. When you multiply that by each and every employee, it is quite evident that huge money is going into the bank accounts of those company leaders. All done by psychically exploiting their workforce.

Actually such employees are so brainwashed that they are not shocked or dismayed by this. Rather they glorify their company and pay tribute to and worship the top capitalists of the world. How does this happen? Capitalist opportunists appease and lure their employees by brainwashing them.

To reverse this situation, the activities of labour movements must be supported and more consciousness raising programs are needed to create more vikśubdha shúdras. Actually, with every passing day, more and more a looking for a viable alternative. So the ground is becoming more fertile.

Like the master and his dog

Altogether, the current situation is just like one master who had a dog. After taking a huge voracious meal the master is fed like a king. If he eats one more morsel he will burp - or worse. In that bloated state, the master feeds a few small leftover scraps to the dog and the dog is forever grateful. Such is the situation nowadays. Top capitalists garner huge profits while the vast majority of employees in the general society are exploited to the bone. Those employees eat, sleep, & dream about their work. Even on Saturdays and Sundays they get called into work and put in lots of overtime hours that never get clocked. In this way they maintain an arduous work schedule yet earn comparatively nothing in return.

They are so brainwashed that they think the company is their benefactor. So when they get a "bonus" they become thrilled as if that is really something great. When in fact from their efforts their employers make huge profits that are piled to the sky. As an afterthought those big bosses half-heartedly toss a few copper coins in the direction of their employees. By this tactic, those capitalists get renewed vigor, commitment and faith from their employees. All because those employees have become psychically crippled by their bosses.

This is the way the situation is going on these days. All because a majority of the general public is unaware and in their ignorance they revere those capitalists and are ready to do anything for them.

However, in this present hour, the number of vikśubdha shúdras is growing as more are becoming aware of the exploitative methods of such capitalists. As soon as the common people become aware of their rights, a tipping point will be reached, and they will not sit and watch capitalists hoard all the wealth. Rather they will be primed to jump into action and pay heed to the calls of, "No more capitalist exploitation - All have the right to the wealth of the universe."

Multi-step approach

To overcome the grip of the current vaeshyan model a few things are needed. People must be made aware of their rights; they must gain a keen awareness of capitalist exploitation; they must become vikśubdha shúdras. Then, there will be the requisite momentum to cohesively advance a Proutistic economic system based on the cooperative model.

In this next teaching, Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar guides us that capitalists will stay in power for a some time - until that key moment arrives when there is a rise in mass awareness. That moment is soon to be upon us - we should ready the soil.

Prout philosophy states, "Vaeshyas [wealthy businessman] believe that only a few people can accumulate material wealth, depriving the rest. Thus there will always be only a few vaeshyas, while those who are the objects and tools of their exploitation form the majority. Like exploited beasts of burden which carry bags of sugar, in their crippled state of mind the majority feel that they do not have the right to taste the sweetness. This feeling is the greatest ally of the vaeshyas, so directly or indirectly they always try to nurture this type of feeling in the minds of the majority. Consequently they propagate various types of isms and ethereal theories with the help of the vipras in their pay whom they have reduced to the level of shúdras. When the majority, unable to tolerate this exploitation any longer or find any other way out, desperately leap into action, the Vaeshya Age comes to an end. But it takes a long time for downtrodden people to understand that the vaeshyas [wealthy businessman] are the parasites of society. Hence thorough preparation is required to end the Vaeshya Age." (1)

Namaskar,
At His lotus feet,
Pradiip
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

~ In-depth study ~

Who is owner

Prout guideline: everything is the common patrimony of all. Here is Prout's comprehensive teaching regarding who is owner of the property of this universe.

Prout philosophy states, "None of the movable or immovable property of this universe belongs to any particular individual; everything is the common patrimony of all, and the Father of all is Brahma. All living beings can enjoy their rightful share of this property, like members of a joint family in the Dáyabhága system. As members of a joint family, human beings should safeguard this common property in a befitting manner and utilize it properly. They should also make proper arrangements so that everyone can enjoy it with equal rights, ensuring that all have the minimum requirements of life to enable them to live in a healthy body with a sound mind." (2)

The following Prout principle from Ananda Sutram highlights how surplus wealth should be distributed.

Atiriktaḿ pradátavyaḿ guńánupátena

[The surplus wealth should be distributed among meritorious people according to the degree of their merit.]

   Ananda Sutram states, "Purport: After meeting the minimum requirements of all in any age, the surplus wealth will have to be distributed among meritorious people according to the degree of their merit. In an age when a bicycle is the minimum requirement for common people, a motor vehicle is necessary for a physician. In recognition of people’s merit, and to provide the meritorious with greater opportunities to serve the society, they have to be provided with motor vehicles. The dictum “Serve according to your capacity and earn according to your necessity” sounds pleasing, but will yield no results in the hard soil of the earth." (3)

Why capitalists are anti-dharma

As members of this universal human family, everyone must abide by the tenet that the wealth of this manifested universe belongs to Parama Purusa, and all are His children, so the wealth should be shared rationally amongst all. There must not be scope for people to get caught up in capitalistic tendencies.

   Prout philosophy guides us, "We must not forget, even for a single moment, that the entire animate world is a vast joint family. Nature has not assigned any portion of this property to any particular individual...When the entire wealth of the universe is the common patrimony of all living beings, can the system in which some roll in luxury, while others, deprived of a morsel of food, shrivel up and starve to death bit by bit, be said to have the support of dharma?"
   "In a joint family every member is provided with adequate food, clothing, education and medical treatment, and amenities, as per their individual needs, according to the financial capacity of the entire family. If, however, any member of the family appropriates more grains, clothes, books or medicines than he or she requires, will that person not be the cause of distress to other members of the family? In such circumstances his or her actions will be certainly against dharma – certainly antisocial."
   "Similarly, the capitalists of this modern world are anti-dharma, or antisocial, creatures. To accumulate massive wealth, they reduce others to skin and bones gnawed by hunger and force them to die of starvation; to dazzle people with the glamour of their garments, they compel others to wear rags; and to increase their own vital strength, they suck dry the vital juice of others."
   "A member of a joint family cannot be called a social being if he or she does not possess the sentiment of oneness with the other members, or if he or she does not want to accept the lofty ideal of joint rights and the principle of rationality..." (4)

Curing capitalists of their disease

   Prout philosophy states, "A little while ago I said that all crude objects of enjoyment are limited in nature, and thus their accumulation by any one individual is not desirable. Let everybody enjoy as much of the subtle psychic world as they can – let them accumulate as many psychic and spiritual resources as they want – but there must be provision for the application of force if needed to prevent any one individual from accumulating excessive physical resources. The application of physical force will, no doubt, deprive people of some of the wealth they have accumulated or decrease their opportunities to accumulate physical wealth in the future. But it is certainly not impossible, through proper education, to transform people’s desire for material pleasure into a desire for psychic pabula." (5)

Namaskar,
At His lotus feet,
Pradiip
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

References
1. Human Society - 2, The Vaeshya Age
2. Problems of the Day, Point #1
3. Ananda Sutram, 5-10
4. Problems of the Day, Point #1
5. Human Society - 1, Social Justice

== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita

O’ Parama Purusa, for whose happiness did you make this creation

Intro for PS: The following song describes the situation before creation when Parama Purusa was all alone. In the absence of a second entity, He had nothing to do. He was feeling lonely; there was no one. Then He started thinking that He should be many and then at one points of His vast infinite Self, saincara started. That was the origin and start of creation. One should not forget that creation is His thought projection - it is all unfolding within His mind. For Him, nothing is external; the entire universe is in His mind.

"Kiseri pulake sabári alakhe, jege chile tumi kon atiite..." (Prabhat Samgiita #3043)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, for whose bliss have You made this creation. Prior, there was no time factor, no date, nor any kind of temporal measurement. That was beyond the scope of time. Then, in that temporal void, You were sleeping. You were all alone; there was no second entity. There was no one to love or bless. In which hoary past, were You remaining invisible to all. No one was there to see You. You awakened for whose horripilation and delight? For whom did You start this blissful creation?

O’ Parama Purusa, when You broke Your sleep and started thinking that “I should be many”, then that was the beginning of creation. A colourful world came into being. Your mental sun coloured the eastern sky. Everything became blissful. In the final stage of pratisaincara, honey came into the hundred petal lotus flower of the human mind. And people started practicing sadhana.

O’ Divine Entity, Baba, the earth is flooded in Your effulgence and ensconced in Your thought. Creation, infused with new determination, became filled only with Your ideation. The sound came in the root of ra’ga ra’ginii. Saincara and pratisaincara came into being / existence. So many plants, animals, and finally humans came by your grace. You blessed humans with so many qualities including song, dance music, chanting Your name and becoming one with You. O’ Parama Purusa, You are love personified...

== Section 3: Important Teaching ==

How to rank atheists & God-fearing people

Ananda Marga ideology states, “The word “godly” and “god-fearing” do not have the same meaning. Behind godliness is a soul-stirring sentiment – an ardent zeal to realize one’s true Self; and the reason behind the fear of God is the important attempt to escape from the consequential suffering of one’s misdeeds. Yet the latter is still superior to the atheists, because at least for fear of divine punishment they refrain from sinful acts. The greatest advantage of the theists is that they do not endure the pangs of internal clash. But no matter how brazenly sceptics indulge in tall talks or sharpen the edge of their verbal weapons to win in an argument, there is always a fight going on in their minds. Reading a few pages of a book or listening to the eloquences of a few speakers, they seek to violate their own nature. With their fragmental external knowledge they try to struggle against the indivisible Supreme Entity, and in the end, being defeated, the say, “If He does exist, then why can’t we find Him?” Yet all the while their inner selves lament within them.” (1)

Note: There are three key and important points from the above teaching.

(1) The religions preach that one must be God-fearing otherwise God will punish and destroy you. They think that is the best possible relationship one can have with the Divine, i.e to be God-fearing. According to Ananda Marga philosophy, fear is worst type of relation with God. If one fears Him they will not like to go close to Him. In which case, one can never become one with that Divine Entity. So it is very obvious that by this religious formula, no one can reach the Supreme One.

(2) The teachings of Ananda Marga are the topmost: Ananda Marga preaches that one should cultivate love for the Divine Entity. By that way, the bhakta wishes to go close to Him and ultimately becomes one with Him, by His grace.

(3) The status of atheists is worse than followers of the dogmatic religions. Religious adherents refrain from doing bad due to fear of the Lord. But atheists have two problems. First, they do not have any genuine, dharmic rules in their life. Secondly, such atheists perpetually suffer from existential issues. With their logic they say they do not believe in God and try to disprove His existence, yet their heart tells them otherwise. Then their logical mind retorts, “If God exists then why can I not see Him?” So they live in a perpetual dilemma - always in limbo. That is why Baba says that no one is an atheist. All in all, their condition is pathetic as they live in perpetual crisis and misery.

Reference
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 3, Supreme Benevolence and Mundane Pleasure

== Section 4 ==

Baba’s teachings on health issue

Namaskar,
This letter presents various angles on Baba’s teachings of fasting, upavasa, etc. These Baba’s teachings deal with the term fasting, the benefits thereof, upavasa, and the omniscience of Parama Purusa and the story of eating chocolate on upavasa day.

Fasting and upavása - are they same?

Nowadays, we hear a lot about fasting for weight loss. A question naturally arises that whether upavása is the same as fasting. The answer is a certainly not. This is because upavása has a much deeper meaning than simply abstaining from food for the purpose of losing weight.

Ánanda Márga ideology states, "Upavasa in the sense of fasting is also useless...if one does real upavasa that can do a lot. The scriptural meaning of uspavasa is-- by derivation-- upa which means "near", and va'sa, which means "to stay". Upa'vasa therefore means "to make the mind stay near Parama'tma'". In other words, it means to withdraw the mind from thoughts of physicalities and keep it near Parama'tama'. The sanskrit word for fasting as such is anashana [remaining hungry / starving]." (1)

We thus see that Upavása is done with a higher purpose of staying close to Parama Purus’a. Thus, it is part of our dharma to do upavása.

And Baba's next guideline further details how upavasa days are perfect for an enhanced spiritual routine.

"These fixed [fasting] days are called upavasa since during these days people keeping their minds engaged in spiritual matters 'live closer' to God, and any possibility of mental degradation is averted: their humanity is not endangered by the lengthening shadows of annihilation." (2)

By all this we can understand that on Upavása days one can enjoy heightened spiritual awareness and thus deepen their devotional link with Parama Purus’a - Bábá.
In Ánanda Márga, sometimes we may use the term fasting, but in reality one means upavása. It is just due to the lack of a proper English term that we say fasting.

Bábá further says -
   "There is a basic distinction between voluntary abstention from food and upavása. Voluntary abstention from food (svecchá-anashana) means to not take food willingly in order to keeping the body healthy (an + ashana = anashana). Ashana means “eating”, so anashana means “not eating”. This abstention from food certainly helps to heal disease. However, imposed abstention from food does not have the same effect because forced abstention creates a suppressed agony in the mind which upsets the mental balance and at the same time also upsets the physical balance."
   "Upavása is undoubtedly a kind of voluntary abstention. However, at the same time there is to some extent a withdrawal of physical activity and a gradual directing of ones mental propensities towards closer proximity with Parama Puruśa. Upa means “near” and vása means “to stay”. Thus the etymological meaning of the word upavása is “to remain near the Lord”."
   "So as I was saying, upavása not only has the benefits of voluntary abstention from food. In addition, this practice is especially helpful for maintaining mental balance, that is, upavása is a medicine for both physical as well as mental maladies. There is no doubt whatsoever that a person’s mental strength is reinforced if he or she observes fast in a systematic fashion. This is a truth that has stood the test of time." (3)

Negative effects of not doing upavása

The practice of Upavása is not optional for a sádhaka. Not performing Upavása as per the prescribed system may bring ill physical health as well as spiritual downfall.

Bába says - "Suppose, a gentleman is undergoing fasting, and secretly in a closed room, he takes chocolate. 'No one will know, nobody will know.' But it is not so. His unit cognition will know that he has taken chocolate. And similarly, the Cosmic Father will know that in a particular room one unit body took chocolate very secretly, and that unit body is still thinking, that the fact that he took chocolate on a fast-day is not known to anybody. It is known to everybody. Nothing is a secret." (4)

Benefits of upavása

Upavása brings about many physical, mental, and spiritual benefits. It is a system graciously provided by Bábá. Regarding physical benefits,

Bábá says - "As a result of fasting, the poisonous and unproductive waste of the body gets destroyed and expelled. Moreover, the energy that is not expended in digesting food can be utilised for other purposes. Therefore, a fast day is an excellent time for sadhana." (5)

For success in spiritual sphere Lord Shiva has provided a formula of seven secrets. The sixth secret is Pramitáhára.

Bábá says - "Fasting is also included in the scope of Pramitaha'r, because it gives rest to the digestive organs and frees the body from so many ailments." (6)

Even animals do fasting

The benefits of fasting is known even to animals.

Bábá tells us - "Since ancient times many non-human creatures have considered fasting or deliberate abstinence from food as their natural medicine. You will notice that dogs and certain other animals abstain from eating if they feel a little ill. You also often do not feel like eating when you feel somewhat physically out of sorts. Some contemporary physicians advise their patients, and even pressure them, to eat even when they do not have any appetite. This, however, goes against the laws of nature. It is natural for a sick creature to feel an aversion for food, unless they suffer from the disease of overeating. By not eating, certain organs of the body enjoy a temporary rest. As a result, after the fast the organs are rejuvenated and reenergized and a feeling of wellbeing returns to the physical body. So not only in the case of prehistoric humans, in the case of the prehistoric animals as well, the ancient, pure and chief medicine was fasting or voluntary abstention from food." (7)

Summary

To sum up, fasting is very beneficial for the overall well-being in the physical, mental, as well as spiritual sphere. By Baba's grace, by following the guidelines of 16 Points, such as fasting etc, we can move smoothly and swiftly ahead towards our cherished Goal and follow our human dharma.

Baba says, "In order to march ahead on the road of human welfare, we will have to strengthen ourselves in all the arena of life. The complete seeds of welfare in all the spheres – physical, mental, moral, social and spiritual – are embedded in the sixteen points. Hence be firm on the sixteen points." (8)

Namaskar,
in Him,
Bhakti

References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, p. 36-7
2. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, p.188
3. Shabda Cayanika - 5, Kulya to Kuvela (Discourse 34)
4. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 12
5. Caryacarya – 3
6. Ananda Vacanamrtam – 12
7. Shabda Cayanika - 5, Kulya to Kuvela (Discourse 34)
8. Ananda Vanii #45

== Section 5 ==

How every problem is a collective problem

“All the beings of this universe are the kith and kin of one another. No one is despicable. All are equally respectable and entitled to equal love and affection. No problem is to be ignored as an individual or group affair. Every problem is to be considered as the collective problem of universal humanity and is to be resolved collectively and resolved it must be. Let it be the vocal panorama of the newer world of today – the continuous musical notes behind the movement of Neohumanism.” (Ananda Vanii #58)

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 which are fabricated by most of the groups - H, B etc.

== Section 6 ==

परमपुरुष तराजू में तौलते हैं—किनमें कितनी मुहब्बत है

“कोई आदमी बीस subject में M.A. बन गया, महामहोपाध्याय पण्डित बन गया, तो ऊँचे दर्ज़े के हैं, सो बात नहीं है | अपढ़ आदमी भी ऊपर उठ जा सकते हैं, और महापण्डित भी नीचे रह जा सकते हैं | यहाँ परमात्मा विद्या तथा बुद्धि के अनुसार विचार नहीं करते हैं | वे तराजू में तौलते हैं—किनमें कितनी मुहब्बत है | ….

तो, मनुष्य जब धीरे-धीरे साधना करते-करते और परमपुरुष के लिए मुहब्बत बढ़ाते-बढ़ाते आगे बढ़ जाते हैं, तब उनमें हिम्मत जाग जाती है | बाधाओं के ख़िलाफ़ लड़ाई करने की शक्ति आ जाती है | शक्ति तो रहती है, मगर मनुष्य महसूस करते हैं कि—हाँ उनमें शक्ति है |”

[यह बाबा के कैसेट से सीधे लिखा गया, बाबा का यह असली प्रवचन, अमृतोपदेश है। आनन्द मार्ग हिन्दी पुस्तकों में छपे प्रवचन तो नक़ली प्रवचन हैं, असली नहीं] (1)

Reference
1. हिंदी, आध्यात्मिक साधना के साथ मानसिक स्तर का सम्पर्क, S14-09, DMC 27 June 1980 Saharsa

== Section 7: Links ==

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