Baba
Sadhaka life over the ages
Namaskar,
In today’s society, there are many advancements in the physical sphere, and generally those goad one to be involved in crude things, thereby degenerating oneself. On one side, due to the development of science in the present day society, there are so many avenues by which people are degenerating their mind. Things which degrade the mind are easily available. At the same time, for good people, there are many positive things which are also now easily available that are very helpful for one’s psychic and spiritual progress. So in this era, degeneration is easily achieved, and psycho-spiritual progress can also be more easily achieved than ever before.
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More advancement more degeneration
In ancient times, there was limited scope for degeneration from the spiritual path. But today, with advancement in the physical sphere, there is larger scope for degeneration. We see how various types of munitions people are killing other human beings at an alarming rate. Indeed, people harm others at every step using various means. In contrast, in ancient times, one could kill another human with stones, but by using stones how many people will they kill? Whereas nowadays with mass shootings and mass killings that number is far, far higher. In ancient times, if one was using a stone to kill another person, then both had access stones. So everything was available to all. But now that is not the case. One person goes in public places and starts to shoot when those present do not have any access to weapons or shields etc for defending themselves.
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Analogy of travel by ship, versus swimming
In today’s society which has achieved so much progress in the material sphere, why take the spiritual approach of those of ancient times---nature worship. When the revolutionary process of Ananda Marga sadhana is there one should follow it. Take the analogy of travel by ship, versus swimming. If 100 persons swim to go from one end of the ocean to another, then a few may reach but so many may die during their journey. But a wise person will travel via ship instead. So in the same way, we should follow Ananda Marga sadhana -- and not idol worship or religious rituals.
Religion is against dharma
Religions do not preach dharma. In the name of religion, they say if you do such-and-such then you will get more money, you will pass in exams, your daughter’s marriage will be done etc. This way they cheat. Religion does not teach that the goal is Parama’tma’. In Ananda Marga, in the very first step itself, it is taught that one should never be selfish, but rather should think about the welfare of all, seeing all as manifestations of Brahma. Whereas in religions due to ignorance people blindly follow certain dogmatic rituals to obtain materialistic aims.
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Nonetheless, among hundreds of millions of religious followers, there may be a precious few who become bhaktas because of their good samskara and bhakti for Parama’tma’. Slowly by doing bhajan and ideation they get involved deeply over time and start to devote more and more of their life for Parama’tma’. So even without Ananda Marga sadhana, some people may slowly progress spiritually. It is similar to the aforementioned analogy about swimming or going by rowboat instead of using a more advanced mode of transportation like an ultra-modern steel ship.
Parama’tma’ is all-merciful and gracious. When He sees that one has strong bhakti for Him, then He introduces the sadhaka to Ananda Marga. It is akin to how if a child is trying to walk, but is falling after many tries, then the parents help the child, and thereafter the child walks on its own. Parma’tma’ sees everything, so when He sees bhakti in bhaktas then He shows them the right path, Ananda Marga.
Diverted from sadhana
Even within AMPS we see that some lose the path. The reason is that their negative samskaras are so dominant that it suppresses their bhakti. The sadhaka had some bhakti and that is why Baba brought him/her to the path of Ananda Marga, but now the sadhaka’s mind is occupied by various samskaras:
- Inborn negative samskaras
- Imposed negative samskaras
- Earned negative samskaras
That is why they lost the track of sadhana for the time being. Like when one goes to an airport to go to a specific place, one had the intention to go to a particular destination and that is why one has come to the airport, but now they forget that destination and they go on a plane to go somewhere else, temporarily.
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The overall idea is that when people are diverted from their path of sadhana they drift away. And either others help them come back on the right path, or they face some tragedy in life to open their eyes. The tragedy reminds the sadhaka that Parama’tma’ is everything in life whereas the material riches and pleasures are just momentary. Sometimes it takes much longer for people to realize this fact, and till that time comes they continue to drift away. Best is to continually analyse and reflect upon one’s actions and dealings and ensure one is sticking to the path of Sixteen Points and dharma.
In Him,
Nirakar
Importance of Ananda Marga sadhana
In different ages of human history there were a number of rśis who were there to advance the society spiritually. It is not that all rśis were born at one time, nor that during some periods no rśis were present. To move the world forward we see a number of rśis throughout the ages of human evolution to guide people forward.
People carry spiritual growth from one birth to another; that is how some became great with their spiritual effort from many births. But now with the advanced sadhana process given by Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji, one can progress spiritually at a much faster rate compared to thousands of years ago. So the difference between the spiritual progress in ancient times compared with that which can be achieved today is one of speed.
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* * *
The below section is an entirely different topic, unrelated to the above material.
It stands on its own merit as a point of interest and ideological awareness.
* * *
== Section 2: Important Teaching ==
Parents beware
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "In some families the parents have lost their peace of mind due to poverty or some other cause and oppress their children with or without reason. Naturally the children lose respect for their parents, which further aggravates family indiscipline. The parents have to put up with more unrest, adding to their lack of peace."
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Parents who are middle- or high-level officials in the public works or police departments have to get work done through others or supervise manual labourers or subordinates, so they often forget to talk sweetly. Some become accustomed to using abusive language, and some to issuing commands. Due to this their children do not have an opportunity to learn to speak with restraint. Such children suffer from a superiority complex, even within their circle of friends. In their future lives it will be extremely difficult for them to love people and create a congenial social environment."
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Some parents may claim that it is impossible to maintain a balanced life in an age full of problems, where they are extremely busy with numerous activities. I maintain, however, that it is possible for an intelligent parent to avoid the mistakes I have discussed. If parents fail to carry out their basic duties, I am compelled to say that, although they live in society, they are guilty of encouraging an antisocial mentality. By encouraging their children to develop a criminal psychology, they give unnecessary trouble to the police. The main point is this: for want of a little care, children are deprived of the opportunity to become complete human beings, even though they have a human structure." (1)
Reference
1. Human Society Part 1, Education
== Section: Important Teaching ==
How to fix: gurumanta
Namaskar,
In spiritual life, ideation on the Great is very important; Cosmic ideation is the main thing, but all too often human beings forget the Supreme Entity in the course of their daily duties. In His discourse, Baba has given a very simple method for sadhakas to remember their Guru mantra. Baba’s guideline is that to remember anything then one should associate it with a particular physical action.
For example, when entering or leaving the home then it is important to repeat Guru mantra. But often we forget, while only sometimes we remember. The solution then is to employ a physical action that will trigger your memory to recite Guru mantra. So when leaving or entering the house, then do namaskar mudra before touching the door. And this namaskar mudra will automatically alert the mind to recite Guru mantra. So the first step is to cultivate the habit of doing namaskar mudra before touching the door. Once this habit is established, then you will be regular in repeating Guru mantra when entering and leaving the house. And the operative point is the use of the namaskar mudra as a reminder for doing Guru mantra.
Naturally, this same technique can be instilled at various junctures throughout the day such as when getting on a bicycle, taking food, going to sleep, answering the phone etc. When a physical action like namaskar mudra is done before those engagements, then one will automatically recite Guru mantra. Try this in your own life and see how it goes.
Without the use of a physical reminder, then most of the time sadhakas forget their Guru mantra. And that is a problem because imbibing the mind with Cosmic ideation is the main essence in the life of a sadhaka.
Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “Namaskára is done by bringing the palms together and touching the ájiṋá cakra [the mid-point of the eyebrows] with the thumbs.” (1)
In Him,
Viniit Deva
Reference
1. Caryácarya Part 1, Methods of Salutation
== Section: Important Teaching ==
How British struck down India
Baba says, "The British rulers were very clever. Instead of attacking the Indian Práńa Dharma directly, they resorted to the path of diplomacy. They believed that to maintain British rule in India they would have to create a group of native supporters who would remain Indian by birth and complexion but European in manners, customs, education, taste and culture. So they introduced a system of education based on their own British system. This was an obvious attempt to strike a blow at Indian Práńa Dharma. As a result, the people of India forgot their distinctive national characteristics and developed a completely Western outlook. The moral, spiritual and social qualities that were developed through the Indian system of education were ignored. Rather, Indian youth, under the influence of materialistic Western civilization, grew cynical, materialistic and atheistic. A class of educated persons was created who were neither English nor Indians. Many of them were employed in the Indian Civil Service. A certain scholar once remarked that the Indian Civil Service “is neither Indian, nor civil, nor service.” These people became alienated from the mainstream of Indian social life because their conduct, behaviour, customs, manners, thoughts and ideals were different from those of other Indians. This neo-class of people with modern education could not regard the simple, innocent masses of rural India as their own. The clever English rulers trained them in such a subtle way that they looked upon the British as being nearer to them than the Indians. The imperialistic British purpose was served: colonial rule was firmly established." (1)
Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 6, Práńa Dharma
== Section 3: Links ==
Postings to Read
Who received this blessing
Remedy for debased thinking
Fame today
Prout's view of legalized cannabis
