Ananda Marga Universal Forum: 12/09/17

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Borrow & expend? + 2 more

Baba

Borrow & expend?

Namaskar,

Baba has given many pointed guidelines about money, expenditure, debt, and loan. Because if one can develop proper understanding and exercise proper control on these points, one will have a greater chance of escaping the deadly noose of materialism.

https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Specifically, in the chapter "Aparigraha" of A Guide To Human Conduct, Baba condemns the practice of taking loans and living in debt. Baba critiques those seekers of luxury who fall into debt. Such a condition should be avoided at all cost.

Specifically, those who have a strong desire and cannot control their thirst to have fancy things, should exercise caution and refrain from taking any loan. Because taking loans for excess leads to the long spiral downward of a mind sucked into the whirlpool of materialistic mentality—i.e. spend beyond your means by taking loan. But this is very negative because then the mind is not capable of or even interested in higher pursuits.

And Baba has told that those who are extravagant in their expenditure incur debt. Baba guides us that it is the collective responsibility of society to control such people. And those making unnecessary expenditures should be restrained in some way. That's why before purchasing any costly things etc, it is suggested that sadhakas should get permission from their acaryas.

Extravagant expenditures

Baba has condemned the atheistic philosopher Carvak because he was preaching the gospel of materialism. Carvak was telling 'Enjoy the crude material life by taking loans & indulging in crude worldly desires. Spend what you like because you need not pay back anything'.

Baba condemns this preaching of Carvak because remaining in debt is very bad. Often those who are taking loan don't think about the consequences. And the consequences are that this very mentality of acquiring material objects more and more, invites all types of sin, crime, lawlessness, and various negativities. And when people have a desire, or they don't know how else to manage, they fall into debt.

https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

The central idea is that one should not fall into the dark depths of materialism. Because human life is not for satisfying crude worldly desires. Living a life of materialism is sheer waste of human potential. Rather, as human beings, we have come here to move along the spiritual path and enjoy permanent peace. The worldly approach of materialism has not any redeeming quality or lasting value.

If one is in trouble, then others should come forward

In the book, A Guide to Human Conduct, there is a chapter entitled "How To Live In The Society." There Baba has written that the whole society is one integral entity. All members are one joint family. So if one is in trouble, then others should come forward to help. But Baba is very strict. Those margiis and WTs who are making extravagant expenditures beyond their means don't ask their acarya, bhukti pradhan, or top level authorities. That is, at the time of spending they don't take permission but later when they are in debt and problem, they cry for help. This type of mentality, Baba condemns.

Baba says, "Not to consult anybody at the time of spending money but to ask for help from all when in debt, is not a good practice. Such a mentality cannot be encouraged. To purchase, by incurring debt...is surely against the principle of aparigraha." (1)

So we should be very careful that if any of our margii brothers and sisters in our unit are doing unnecessary expenditure we should warn them. And not allow them to fall in unnecessary crisis.

Namaskar,

In Him,

Yogeshvara

https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Note: In some select circumstances, Baba has condoned business loans with the approval of a board etc.

Reference

1. A Guide to Human Conduct

== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==

We invite one and all

“Áj egiye calo sakal mánuś bhái, ámantrań sabáre jánái...” (Prabhat Samgiita #0968)

Purport:

O’ human beings, today let us march forward. Let us embark on our collective march towards our cherished neo-humanism. We invite one and all. O’ brothers and sisters, everyone come; no one is neglected; none should think they are left out. All are my kith and kin—nobody is alien. Everyone is invited on this grand occasion. We have to remain united and move together to form one human society.

O’ my sisters and brothers, due to infighting between different theories, dogmas, clans, countries, and the battle over what is “mine” and “yours” etc, all kinds of fissiparous tendencies have divided our human society into pieces. Our universal family is rolling in the dust. The demons have pulverized us by injecting narrow-minded, pseudo-ideologies and dogmatic religious teachings. Various myths and gospels have segregated one person from the next. They all preached the false message of superiority of their clan, religion, or group. And they have destroyed the unity of the entire cosmic society. We are to make one universal human family which is all-inclusive and based on neo-humanism. Our goal is Parama Purusa. We are all one—our Father is one—the Supreme Father. Ours is a paternal family relation. Now we should come together and march forward hand-in-hand, shoulder-to-shoulder and wipe away the tears of the suffering and bring them unto the balm of peace. We are to establish ek manav samaj—one human society.

O’ my dear brothers and sisters, the peace and tranquility of our human society was poisoned by myths, gospels, and dogmatic teachings. The flower pollen of peace and tranquility has become one with the dust. These anti-social elements do not want to see people living together in harmony. So they have inserted the seeds of division and poisoned the moonlight too. O’ fellow travelers of the path of life divine, come we can resolve all kinds of problems, whatever comes on the way. By the grace of Parama Purusa, victory is ours. So come, with a strong hand, row the boat, fighting against all obstacles. Let us move forward by His grace…

== Section: Ananda Vanii ==

March on and on

“Marching ahead is life, crushing the pebbles of hindrances and obstacles with a stroke of your feet, disdaining the frowns of tornadoes, meteors and roaring thunder, and rendering all superstitions to ashes without any second thought. March on and on, Parama Puruśa is with you. Victory is yours.” (Ananda Vanii #29)

Note 1: True Ananda Vaniis have a number whereas Fake Ananda Vaniis do not - just as a fake car license plate has no number. By this way, you can easily recognise a Fake Ananda Vanii.

== Section 3: Links ==

Recent postings

Gay sludge in fringes of AMPS

Between you and God: acaryas?

Vishvadevananda & Caryacarya

Story: Fake expulsion

Gluttony of Kinshuk: See

Suppression of local language is disastrous

Baba

Suppression of local language is disastrous

Namaskar,

In the issue of Prout News and Analysis, a story on Mithila Samaj movement has been reported. In this news story, a demonstration rally by Mithila Samaj in Supol Bihar for incorporation of the local language Maithili in both government and non-government works has been reported. We know that today English is a de-facto standard then a question arises that whether such a movement for the promotion of a regional language is relevant.

https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Below image shows the details of the Mithila Samaj demonstration reported in the newsletter “Prout News and Analysis”. They are calling for the use of Maithili in government and non-governmental offices.

Above image shows the details of the Mithila Samaj demonstration reported in the newsletter Prout News and Analysis. They are calling for the use of Maithili in government and non-governmental offices.

https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Language used in offices should facilitate communication

Many people, especially the ones living in rural areas, do not have proper knowledge of English or Hindi. In the northern part of Bihar, a vast majority of people are comfortable in speaking Maithili but are not so in English or even in Hindi. Local people can communicate about their exploitation better in local regional language. If English or Hindi is enforced in those regions where some other regional language is used predominantly then people will experience difficulty in expressing their problems. In a foreign language, one will not be able to communicate even simple things like someone has thrown garbage at their doorsteps what to speak of complex issues related to exploitation in various spheres. If the language used in courts is English or Hindi then people will have to hire someone to write simple applications and spend a fortune for such a simple thing. Moreover, capturing and translating someone else’s plight may not be possible. Thus the ideal approach is to use regional language in courts and other offices to make them more approachable.

When people do not get the opportunity to express themselves then they develop an inferiority complex in their minds, and due to that they get exploited economically. Thus regional language should be used for all important works.

First language should be one’s mother tongue

One should be trained in one’s mother tongue and primary education should be provided in that language. One may learn other languages but the first language that one should learn should be his/her mother tongue. Also, the language should be used in all important offices.

States that promote local languages prosper

In India, the states of Punjab, Gujarat, and Maharashtra use local language in all official works. All the aforementioned states are doing very well on the economic front compared to Bihar where local languages are not used. People often feel a sense of shame in speaking their own mother tongue in the formal settings. Neglect of one’s mother tongue causes inferiority complex, and due to that they get exploited economically. Having one’s mother tongue in mainstream helps one in engaging with the society directly and with confidence which is a primary factor required for economic progress.

Inferiority complex can be treated with promotion of regional language

The inferiority complex caused by the neglect of regional language hinders the progress of the entire community. This can be dealt with only by widespread use of regional language. This will make people courageous, expressive, and involved. Prout movement can facilitate such promotion and this will help each and every community to develop; due to lack of this regional language usage they get exploited economically.

Need for a sama’j movement

Maithili has indeed gotten recognition as a language by the Government of India. Yet Maithili has not been accepted for use in government and non-government works, in the region in which it is spoken. Thus the language status it has gained is as though in name only; and for this reason, a demonstration was held. There are 22 Languages accepted by the Government of India as "languages". But according to samaj movements, there should be 48 languages. For example, in Bihar itself, the following major languages have not been given language status: Bhojpuri, Magahi, Angika, Nagpuria. Thus, to bring the neglected languages into the mainstream so that they can be used in official communication, sama’j movement is necessary. Due to the praca'r work of Prout and Proutist samaj movements, the outlook towards languages has changed in India, and progress has been made. Nonetheless, there is still a lot of work to be done both in the spheres of (1) Acquiring language status for languages not yet granted that status by the Indian government, and (2) Bringing local languages into use in government as well as non-government settings.

Conclusion

The inferiority complex caused by the neglect of the regional language can regress entire communities. To solve this problem Prout teaches that one should be given primary education in one’s mother tongue while an ample opportunity to learn other languages should also be available. Proutist sama’j movements have helped to change the outlook towards languages in India and a great deal of progress has been made. There is, however, still a lot of work remaining for acquiring language status for languages not yet granted that status by the Indian government and bringing local languages into use in government as well as non-government settings.

In Him

Samvit

https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Suppression of local language brings inferiority complex in the local people

The philosophy of Neo-Humanism, says, "The very purpose of injecting an inferiority complex is to exploit people on the psychic level, and this is exactly what happens in many spheres of social life. In some places you may notice some signboards written in a language not used by the local people. What is the purpose of putting up a signboard? It is just to give the local people certain information. If the letters are written in the language of the ruling exploiters and not in the language of the exploited – or if the local language is printed in small and humble letters underneath – what reaction will this create in the minds of the exploited? It is bound to generate an inferiority complex regarding their language and social position (the language of slaves is derogatorily called “vernacular” in English), and they will continue to suffer from this mental disease. Thus the ruling exploiters create indirect pressure on others’ minds so that their language maintains its high prestige and an inferior feeling arises in the minds of the people: “Ah! That is the language of the rulers!”..."

"If you analyse the history of the world, you will find that whenever one group exploited another in the economic sphere, they first created psychic exploitation by infusing inferiority complexes in the minds of the exploited mass. You will find that in each case of economic exploitation, psychic exploitation was the foundation: if you go deep into the background, you will discover a continuous and cunning attempt to create inferiority complexes in the minds of the exploited." (1)

How English, French, Dutch, Spanish, American exploited locals

Prout philosophy states, "The use of non-local languages as the medium of instruction only results in the suppression and subjugation of the local language and inevitably means the suppression of the local culture. This in turn leads to psychic demoralization, inferiority complexes and a defeatist mentality. Whenever the sentimental legacy of a group of people is undermined, they become easy prey to the economic, political and psycho-economic exploitation of vested interests. Such a strategy of cultural suppression was adopted by the English, French, Dutch, Spanish, American and other colonial powers. If local people develop a sublime awareness of their cultural heritage they can readily throw off all psychic inferiority complexes which prevent them from attaining socio-economic self-reliance." (2)

Related issues

Fallacy of “unity with one language”

The proponents of the idea that enforcing one language will bring unity provide the rationale that if all speak one language then the differences will reduce. For example, the Government of India has given Hindi a status of the official language with an intention that enforcing Hindi language will bring unity. There are numerous examples in the world where the aforementioned logic fails miserably. An example of the formation of United States of America can be taken in this regard. Although the people in British colonies in America spoke the same language as the people in Britain yet they had differences and that led to rebellion and consequently the formation of a new country. Thus, a common language does not bring unity. Another example is that of Pakistan and Punjab. Although the entire Punjab had one language, it got divided into to two parts with the creation of Pakistan. Likewise, entire Bengal had one language yet it got divided into two parts with the creation of Bangladesh. One language could not unify the people.

Local people can communicate about their exploitation better in local regional language. If English or Hindi is enforced in those regions where some other regional language is used predominantly then people will experience difficulty in expressing their problems. Thus, enforcing of a common language with an intention to bring unity is not only useless but also makes it difficult for the people who can speak only regional languages, and are often the majority of the population, to communicate their problems in government and other offices.

https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

In govt offices local language is must

The Mithila Samaj demonstration, reported in the newsletter Prout News and Analysis. The issue of use of Maithili in government and non-governmental offices has been underlined with red color.