Baba
Rule for donating money
Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “You must endeavour to spend a minimum of one-fiftieth of your income on public service. Spending one’s entire earnings on oneself and one’s direct family will gradually lead to crudeness.” (1)
Note: In Baba’s above guideline, He is giving a few key directives:
(A) All family people / householders, including unmarried wage earners, should give at least 2% of their income for Ananda Marga social service projects.(B) The proper way for this to be done is - as far as possible - not give cash to individual Wts, but rather make the donation directly to that project or in-charge, and a receipt should be given in return. That receipt should then be used by the donor as a tax deduction on their annual federal / governmental tax return.(C) Those who use all of their earnings on their own self / unit family will subject themselves to degradation / selfishness; their mind will be influenced by the static principle. So everyone should be ready and eager to make a minimum 2% donation on a monthly basis for the service of the general society.(D) Those who are big earners are encouraged to donate more than 2% - in this regard, the more the better. That way the public will be better served, and those donors get the opportunity for greater vaeshyacita seva.(E) Lastly, in His Tapah chapter in “A Guide to Human Conduct”, Baba warns us that if donated money is not used properly then that donor is also at fault and will incur a negative samskara. So blindly giving money and hoping it gets to the right place is a dangerous proposition. Rather, one should be extremely vigilant that their donated monies are used properly.
Reference
1. Caryacarya - 1, Livelihood
== Section 2: Main Topic ==
Show of pracara
Namaskar,
Today, there are many who do not practice even the basic practical tenets of Ananda Marga like fasting, asanas, sadhana, half-bath, wearing laungota, and sattvik eating food, what to speak of having any understanding of Baba’s sublime spiritual philosophy. Yet, often we find these people standing on a podium giving so-called intellectual talks about Ananda Marga and Shrii Shrii Anandamurti jii. Such a tradition is very common in West Bengal where Shrii Shrii Anandamurti jii is presented as a “great philosopher” and an intellectual.
This kind of introduction of Sadguru Baba is an understatement similar to introducing a distinguished university professor as a mere literate person. In other words, Sadguru Baba is much more than a philosopher or an intellectual. However, those who do not practice His teachings do not develop a link with Him and then go around presenting Him as a philosopher in their self-aggrandizing talks which do draw applause and praise etc, but no real praca’r of Ananda Marga happens. No Ananda Ma’rgii is made.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Prout teaches us, “Political leaders cannot create sadvipras by haranguing people from public platforms – this demands righteousness and the practice of self-purification in personal life. Furthermore, what type of people come to deliver lectures from these platforms? Are they not the ones resorting to mud-slinging for the sake of party politics? Most of them are blinded by their obsession for power, so what can they teach others?” (1)
Those who practice can alone preach
Those who have first-hand knowledge and experience in a given field speak with a force and conviction that is much more effective than those who simply lecture without actually practicing what they preach. For example, if a criminal writes a book on crime after getting released from a prison sentence then it can be a valuable and authoritative source to understand crime as compared to reading the books by an armchair philosopher writing a book on crime. There are many so-called leaders and intellectuals who deliver lectures and get accolades without having any direct experience. Such lectures may befool intellectually less developed people and may even make them applaud, but no real welfare is done. Thus, one needs to practice earnestly before preaching to others.
Intellectuals in Ananda Marga praca’ra
If intellectuals and professors go around delivering lectures on Shrii Shrii Anandamurti jii without following His teaching in their own lives then essentially they are wasting their own as well as others’ valuable time. This is because their eloquent talks will not have a soul-stirring influence over the masses as their talks will be bereft of the strength of sa’dhana’ and spiritual experience. For example, one who does not practice upava’sa cannot influence people by talking about upava’sa. Baba says that the lectures of such intellectual speakers are like the howlings of jackals and are actually a ploy for their own praca’r rather than that of dharma.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Proper way of praca’ra
Merely delivering intellectual lectures without internalizing Ananda Marga ideology in one’s own life is a waste of time as no real praca’r can happen that way. It is better to practice all the tenets of Ananda Marga like asanas, upava’sa, sattvik food, sa’dhana’, and so on. One should also participate in service projects and connect with people in a deeper manner as compared to a shallow lecture style meeting. People who benefit from the service projects may in future also become sa’dhakas.
True meaning of acarya
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “The meaning of the word acárya is: one who imparts lessons to others by their exemplary conduct – Ácarańát páthayati yah sah ácaryah. That means, the Ácáryas will have to teach others by their exemplary conduct. Only then the education imparted by them will be firmly established and properly assimilated by the pupils…In Bengal, people mistakenly call chancellors as Acáryas or vice chancellors as upacáryas. It is also a case of defective use of terminology because the acáryas or upacáryas do not teach or do not set an example of ideal conduct.” (2)
Conclusion
Mere lecturing on spiritual topics without actually practicing is a waste of time and does not lead to praca’r. One should practice Baba’s teachings and by that way serve people and guide them towards sa’dhana’.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Prout teaches us, “The contemporary leaders do not try to give a practical shape to any of the aforementioned human qualities. They merely deliver high-sounding lectures. Those great personalities of the past provide good opportunities for them to organize bicentennial and anniversary celebrations. They consider that by merely uttering a few well-rehearsed sentences, they are paying a wonderful tribute to those great personalities. ... Thus the great ideals are disappearing from social life and disunity is increasing among the people.” (3)
Because of the aforesaid reason, on the 16 points chart one subpoint was added about how many sympathisers were created.
In Him,
Samvit
Ananda Marga ideology says, “You will have to do regular experiments yourself. One cannot attain Brahma through arguments and reasoning, based on the opinions of different authors, or by opening study circles, or through speeches and lectures. For this you will have to develop your agryábuddhi (pointed intellect) with complete devotion and zeal.” (4)
Andhenaeva niiyamánáh yathándháh
Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, “The meaning of the word ácárya is ácarańát pát́hayati yah sah ácáryah, “one who teaches through ones conduct”. In other words, the ácárya must teach and have conduct worthy of respect. Only then will the education they imparted have a strong base and be assimilated.” (5)
~ In-depth study ~
Goal should be Parama Puruśa, not victory in debates
Ananda Marga ideology says, “For those who enter the realm of intellectuality, the path is comprised of three aspects: váda, jalpa and vitańd́á. For nyáyikas or pańd́itas there are always váda, jalpa and vitańd́a. The Indian logician’s philosophy is divided into these three aspects. So for those who travel the path of intellectuality, the first portion is váda, the middle portion vitańd́á, and the last portion jalpa. They will proceed through these three aspects to attain the logician’s victory as their goal. Parama Puruśa is not their goal. Their main goal is to attain victory in the realm of logic. What type of victory is this? There are two inner feelings behind this victory. The first is becoming mentally inflated with vanity. The mind gets inflated with vanity like puffed rice. The person swells with pride like puffed rice, but inside there is nothing. And secondly, this intellectual develops a lust for some external words of praise - words to the effect that he or she has attained victory. So the first is that the mind gets puffed up with vanity, and thus grows weaker and weaker, and the second is that the person develops a lustful attachment for some external words of praise, and thus becomes a slave to those words and can never be a truly great person.” (6)
References
(1) Prout in a Nutshell Volume 1 Part 4, Problems of the Day
(2) Discourses on Neohumanist Education, Kulapati
(3) A Few Problems Solved Part 2, Human Society Is One and Indivisible – 2
(4) Subháśita Saḿgraha Part 4, Matter and Spirit
(5) Kulaka to Kulottha (Discourse 33), Shabda Cayaniká Part 5
(6) Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 5, Devotion and the Realm of Intellectuality
== Section 3: Links ==
Postings to ReadStory: our offering to Baba
Fast puja ruins DC
This is real work
Why AM discards idol worship
Benefits & need of local support
