Ananda Marga Universal Forum: Lasting service + 3 more

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Lasting service + 3 more

Baba

Lasting service

Namaskar,

Here is an important topic in question and answer format related with life, death, and serving humanity.
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#1: QUESTION: Can a deceased person perform seva (service)?

ANSWER: From a purely literal or structural perspective a person cannot. But a person, while alive, can do service that helps people far into the future, long after their own death.

For instance, suppose a terrorist removed a key section of train track from a bridge and then committed suicide by eating poison. Then an hour later the train came and fell into the river and three thousand people died. In that case the terrorist cannot escape the sin of those deaths just because he died before the accident happened. He will have to undergo the reaction for having caused all those deaths. This shows how people are held accountable for the repercussions of their actions even after their death.

Similarly, a person can do some great work in their life that has a recurring positive effect on society for generations and generations. The doer gets the benefit in their own life, and even after their death they can get the result. Because by their action people are served long after the death of that person. And of course it is true that after death a person cannot do any new or fresh action to help others. Just they can acquire virtue based on the recurring positive reactions of their original good deed.
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Here is the English summary of Baba’s Hindi discourse, प्रवृत्ति और निवृत्ति, Pravrtti aor Nivrtti, SS 17-01 प्रवृत्ति और निवृत्ति, DMC 26 Feb 1984 Mehraulii Delhi:

When one no longer has a body, then one cannot do work. Since the body no longer exists, the mind cannot engage in any action or work. When there is a cranium and a brain, then only the mind will work. When there is no physical body after death, then the human mind cannot work. Only the soul remains and surely it can work. The soul surely can do something because it has power, but in a subtle form. (English summary)

So great people perform acts in their lifetimes that serve humanity far, far into the future. That is why Baba guides us to do something that has recurring nature.

Strictly speaking, one cannot do service after they've died, because they cannot do a new act; but, in a poetic way, surely one can continue serving society by doing something that has a lasting, recurring positive effect.
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Direct & indirect virtue

Baba's following teachings lead us in this way.

Ananda Marga ideology says, "Pratyakśa puńya, or direct virtue, is acquired when one performs an action such as feeding the hungry or serving the infirm. Indirect virtue is acquired when one's service has a recurring effect, such as service to the society, planting trees, etc. If banyan trees are planted beside a hot and dusty road they will continue to give shelter to weary travellers for one thousand to two thousand years. Virtue acquired in this way is indirect virtue." (1)

If misdeed had its effect of recurring nature

Ananda Marga ideology says, "The shástra says that the proper atonement for such a mahápátaka is – what? The first thing is that he has got no right to live in society. He must sacrifice his everything for society and serve society from outside. But that is not enough: that is the atonement for an atipátakii. So what should he do? He should invent something new, and that invention should have a recurring nature of effect. Its effect should be of recurring nature. Because his misdeed had its effect of recurring nature, his good deed should also have an effect of recurring nature." (2)

Way to be free from bondage

#2: QUESTION: Since both good and bad actions are binding, what action is not binding?
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ANSWER: When the goal is to please Parama Purusa then that action is not binding.

in Him,
Liila’manohar

Mr. A shot his family members in a rage and then committed suicide, while his family members actually survived. They all became paralyzed and bedridden. So the suffering undergone by those surviving family members will be deposited on an ongoing basis in the account of the culprit who committed suicide.

Recurring good effect on society

Ananda Marga ideology says, "The result of mahápátaka is of recurring nature. If a businessman, for instance, discovers a new method of adulteration, he commits mahápátaka. Mixing papaya seeds with the black pepper is bound to deceive purchasers. The discoverer of this new method shows the world a new path in the sphere of adulteration. The effect of this act is bound to be of recurring nature. The atonement for mahápátaka is like atipátaka, that is, this person also should renounce his or her worldly life and should offer himself or herself in the service of mankind. There is, however, a difference. Since this person's act is more serious, this person will have to invent something that will have a recurring good effect on society. The invention of penicillin would be a case in point. There is no other way out for the mahápátakii." (3)

References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 8, Do Virtuous Deeds Day and Night – 1
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 31, Sinners and Their Rectification
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Mysticism and Spirituality

* * *

The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.

* * *

== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==

Serve all

"Tamasár pare áshár áloka, púvákáshe raunga eneche, ár ghumáiyo ná,
bhulok dyulok mánavatá d́eke caleche...." (Prabhat Samgiita #4699)

Purport:

Now, after the long darkness, there is a ray of hope. The crimson colour is appearing in the eastern horizon, and the auspicious dawn is approaching. O’ human being of the physical and psychic worlds, humanity is calling you. Arise, awaken, do not sleep any longer; leave the rotten dogma and groupism and become a neo-humanist.

In this new era of neo-humanism, no one will remain downtrodden, suffer from a lack of hope, or hang their head in despair. No person will lie in the dust, neglected. All will feel that their life has become meaningful. There will not be any stains of dogma or injustice in society. The hue of the new dawn, the era of peace and freedom, has appeared. The days of cimmerian darkness are fading away.

With fear and panic, let the owls and demons of darkness go away. There is no scope for remaining depressed and hopeless. The most close, the nearest and dearest Entity, Parama Purusa Baba has come. With His divine blessing we have to serve all, marching forward, by His grace….

== Section 3: Important Teaching ==

Beggar of praise

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “Those who work with the motivation that they will attain intellectual victory are slaves to words of praise. They can never become great people. It is bad to be a slave to worldly words of praise. The sounds raised by jackals and those raised in praise of some intellectuals are similar. Hence remaining engrossed in váda, vitańd́á and jalpa will lead to nothing.” (1)

Note: In the life of a sadhaka, neither praise nor censure have any value. Sadhakas should focus on their conduct and adhere to Ananda Marga ideology. Praise and censure are just a distraction. Those hungry for praise cannot do anything great. There are many important works to be done for the society and the welfare of the people, but the public often does not understand the import of those projects. That is why initially they abuse those dharmikas, but one should not be perturbed and continue on disregarding those naysayers.

Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 5, Devotion and the Realm of Intellectuality

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Grace & samskara

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The reaping of consequences of original actions performed by a human being occurs mainly in the psychic sphere. And if a person attains the blessings of evolved beings and the Cosmic grace in that same psychic sphere, the problem is solved. Pain and misery is bound to come. Depending upon one's inborn sam'ska'ras and the actions performed, tortures and afflictions are bound to be undergone - the expression of one's own samskara [reactive momenta]. Tortures and afflictions will not be as severely painful as before; with the blessing and grace, the psychic afflictions will be removed. Well, when there is pain and the pain is not felt as such, should it then be called pain? In this case, in the psychic sphere, one will remain in a state of bliss. Let the afflictions come. When the affliction and pain are not felt as such, one should not worry about it." (1)

The only way to permanently relieve oneself of any suffering is not to run after worldly allurements but rather get His divine grace. Just a tiny portion of His grace is enough to free the mind of any suffering. Then one will just be in a state of peace - bliss.

Sadhaka not feel the suffering

According to Ananda Marga philosophy, nobody can escape the reactions of their past deeds. When the all-benevolent Guru wishes then He showers His grace and the mind becomes elevated. In that state Mr X is not undergoing any suffering; but, others will see Mr X’s plight and think that Mr X is suffering. But because Mr X does not feel any pain then for him there is no suffering of that bad samskara. For bhaktas, they are in bliss by His grace whenever they have to face any bad samskara.

For example, suppose a bhakta and a non-devotee are both facing their own individual samskara and became sick with tuberculosis. Physically both are suffering. But the bhakta is not undergoing any psychic suffering. If one is not in mental agony they may remain in a blissful state. The end result is that although both are suffering from the same disease physically, but only the non-bhakta is suffering psychically. In that case the bhakta’s mind may remain ensconced in bliss.

Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 6, The Physical, Psychic and Spiritual Strata

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Warning: trendy fake yoga

Ananda Marga ideology says, "Suppose, one is a great Yogii but if there is no love for his goal, then those suspended propensities will finally be converted into crude matter. That is, the subtle human existence becomes like iron; it becomes like wood; it becomes like sand. What a deterioration! What a downfall! This particular type of yoga where a yogii does not bear love for the Supreme Entity is called 'Hatha Yoga' in Samskrta. It is dangerous for human elevation." (1)

Note: Nowadays, all around the globe and especially in the west, in the name of teaching yoga certain pseudo-yoga people are becoming entrepreneurs and selling their unholy ways to the public by opening so-called yoga and meditation centres. But in those places, they do not do bhakti yoga; theirs is not a God-centered approach. Rather they teach bogus lessons such as misguided pranayama etc. Sadly, when the goal is not Parama Purusa then that type of fake yoga, meditation, and pranayama ultimately bring terrible degeneration. Neither is the unassuming public aware nor do these culprits realise what dangers they are inviting. It is our duty as far as possible to warn everyone for their welfare.

Reference
1. Ananda Vacanartam - 2, Love – the Essential Prerequisite

== Section 4: Links ==

Postings to Read