Baba
Pracara: hurdles & successes
Namaskar,
There are many sincere Margiis who do pracara of Ananda Marga on a regular basis. But oftentimes they face a number of difficulties and challenges when doing pracara. Let us explore why this is so.
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Difficulties introducing AM to new people
When one goes out to do AM pracara, they talk about Ananda Marga ideology, various practices, and the overall goal of life. Hearing this, new people think that AM is very tough and difficult to follow. For instance, there are restrictions on food and numerous other conduct rules to follow. Most think that this is not possible. Typically, a reluctant listener thinks that the rules of AM are very strict and difficult to abide by. However, all the rules and codes in AM are based on logicas and rationality, and beneficial to all.
What to do
In contrast, some religions around the world have thousands of codes and rules that are so dogmatic and illogical that they cannot be followed in this present era. One religion says those who are promiscuous should be stoned to death, but one cannot uphold that rule in today’s world. The era has changed. Another religion says to kill non-believers or forcibly convert them. Whilst other religions say that one should not wear clothing, or if your inborn enemies are attacking you then do not defend yourself or fight back. All religions have countless archaic rules. In that case, how can one follow them?
The goal of religions is matter; they are matter-centered as well as self-centered, especially the Semitic religions. Their entire code is based on that limited outlook. There is no scope for mercy towards non-believers or animals.
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Religious followers enjoy life by attaching themselves to crude physical objects such as food, money, etc. Many people know that it is good to be a vegetarian, but think that it is very difficult, and they will not be able to live with vegetarian food. By thinking so, they keep indulging themselves in non-vegetarian food. For example, a person who was doing AM pracara found out that 99 out of 100 people thought that being a vegetarian would be very difficult, and that it would not be possible for them to lead such a life even knowing that vegetarian food is healthy and a vegetarian lifestyle has many benefits. Even after listening to various aspects of AM ideology, those 99 people will not join Ananda Marga due to their dogmatic beliefs . We see that these types of people represent the majority in our society. So what should be done to bring such people to AM?
Gayatrii Mantra: a first step
In Baba’s pravacan, He discusses the Gayatrii Mantra which comes from the Rgveda. In the Gayatrii Mantra, the disciple requests and yearns to receive true knowledge. To come on the path of AM, one has to follow rules, regulations, and a strict code of conduct. And those who cannot follow AM conduct rules sincerely can also come to AM as there are certain guidelines especially for them. So those people can also be on the path towards Paramatma. If they are not ready to follow AM guidelines, whatever their current habits are like eating meat for instance, they can continue to do so, but they must sit for some time and recite the Gayatrii Mantra to request Paramatma to show them the path.
Those people should be taught the meaning of the Gayatrii Mantra, and those people should be ready to listen as they may or may not make any drastic changes to their lifestyle. They may or may not do asanas and sadhana as per AM rules, but they should sit quietly with their closed eyes and sincerely recite the Gayatrii Mantra understanding its meaning as per our AM scriptures. And even if one cannot recite the full mantra one should just keep the meaning in mind that, “O’ Supreme Entity, please show me the right path for enlightenment.” Since they know the meaning of the Gayatrii Mantra, in their prayers they will ask Paramatma for guidance. With constant practice, depending upon the intensity of one’s yearning, Paramatma will listen and respond to their prayers.
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Baba says that “Muktyákáuṋkśayá sadgurupráptih”. (1)
Without longing for mukti, one will not find Sadguru. So to increase longing for mukti one has to practice the Gayatrii Mantra, i.e. recite the mantra with its meaning, or just simply cultivate the meaning of the mantra.
Gayatrii Mantra used in vaedika diiksa
The way rsis (monks) used to initiate disciples in the past was by using this very method of vaedika diiksa. Likewise, those doing AM pracara should also give vaedika diiksa using the Gayatrii Mantra, especially to those people who do not want to follow AM practices yet have a number of existing habits and dogmas which they do not want to give up. In such types of people, there are a lot of obstacles. tThe Gayatrii Mantra is most suitable for those people, and they should be taught how to pronounce or chant the Gayatrii Mantra, and the inner feeling they should have when reciting the mantra. Most importantly, they should sincerely recite the mantra every day.
Benefits of pracara
There are multiple of benefits with doing pracara in this manner. First, these are some people who would not have known about AM due to various struggles in their lives, but with such pracara efforts they come to know about AM and potentially follow AM practices sincerely. Secondly, there are a number of people who are not willing to give up their bad habits or caste system, but they still like AM. These are the people who are well-wishers of AM, but they do not want to give up their bad habits. For such types of people, they can keep doing whatever they are doing, but at the very least they can participate in kiirtan. They should be given the kiirtan mantra, and they can do kiirtan and also sing while they are busy doing other things. Kiirtan is both for margiis and non-margiis. After doing kiirtan they can sit in meditation by feeling Brahma is everywhere.
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Using these three approaches - 1) the Gayattrii Mantra, 2) the feeling that Brahma is omnipresent, and 3) singing kiirtan - many people can be brought onto the spiritual path. Permanent change comes in humans only through spirituality. Other changes that come through self-determination or using other practices are only temporary. For example, one is taught only intellectually what is good and what is bad. One will understand for some time, but the change will not remain with one for long. Under certain circumstances, such intellectual people will compromise on principles and will not stick to the changes which they once resolved to make. The base of spirituality is much stronger, and other bases are fluid and will not be able to support stronger determination under circumstantial pressure.
Only spirituality can bring permanent change
Those people whose base is spirituality have firm determination. Those believing only in logical principles become loose.
For example, a person i traveling on a train thinks that they have the strong determination to eat only sattvika food. But when they realize that there is no sattvika food on the train, they think they may die due to not taking food. Under such circumstances, they will start to take the food that is available on the train, even though it is not sáttvika. Then after coming home, that person will resume taking sáttvika food. But under certain situations such as when one is out with friends, during travel etc, one may take non-sáttvika food because one’s determination is not based on spirituality.
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Another example — when a person goes to their mother’s place, that person may start to eat food that the mother has prepared, even though it is not sáttvika.
Conclusion
Verily, a spiritual base is needed to bring permanent change in humans. Those not ready to follow AM practices can be taught the Gayatrii Mantra, or that Brahma is present everywhere, and also kiirtan, in order to bring them to AM. Even if they do not participate in our AM way of life they will develop a spiritual base and permanent positive changes. When sattvika vrttis develop, a lot of bad qualities will disappear as darkness vanishes with light. The darkness is avidya maya, and because of that some people do not follow AM. But with light, such as developing a spiritual base, more sentient qualities will unfold, and t those people will learn AM sadhana. Even if they do not adopt our AM yogic lifestyle, those sentient qualities will bring a lot of positive changes in their lives.
In Him,
Nira'ka'ra
~ In-depth study ~
People should be taught meditation and be advised that, without any goal, meditation is not meaningful, and whatever one thinks during meditation, one becomes that. If one is thinking about materialistic things in meditation, then one becomes that, and as a result, there will not be any progress in the spiritual sphere.
How to develop spirituality in self-proclaimed agnostics?
There are other types of people who would like to learn AM meditation, but they are self-proclaimed agnostics. Baba says that no one is a confirmed atheist so even one who does not actively believe in the Supreme Entity can be taught meditation using the notion of an impersonal Entity. That is, they can sit and ideate how they are surrounded by the infinite Supreme Entity in all directions.
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How should pracara be done?
The teaching should be done on a one-on-one basis. These people should close their eyes, sit in meditation, and imagine that Brahma is everywhere. While doing meditation they should sit in padma’san, and when their legs become stiff then in normal cross-legged posture, so that they can continue their meditation. There is no limit on the length of meditation. They can do it for one minute to twenty minutes, or longer. But they should definitely do it at least for one minute. By practicing meditation regularly they will slowly find ways to make progress in life. Those who say that they do not have time, they must do it at least for one minute, at least twice a day--- once in the morning, once in the evening, before food. If someone can do it four times a day including upon waking up and before going to sleep that would be ideal. If one does more meditation, that is even better. Slowly they can increase the duration of the meditation. The more one does meditation for a longer period of time, the more quickly one advances on the path of spirituality.
Sadhana: visualize surrounded by Brahma
The following sadhana technique given by Baba can be taught to those not fully ready to commit to following AM codes of conduct etc.
Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “They should be taught to sit in padmásana [lotus posture]...and keep the spine erect. They will then be instructed to feel or imagine that everything around them, and whatever they visualize, is Brahma.” (2)
References
1. Ananda Sutram, 3 - 8
2. Caryacarya -1, The Process of Initiation
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
== Section 2: Important Teaching ==
Prout’s view: best language
Prout philosophy guides us, “In the past undeveloped persons used to express their thoughts through gestures and postures. A time will come when there will be no language. With the advancement of science human beings may again adopt new types of postures and gestures, and they may think of using the energy saved by minimizing the use of spoken language for higher pursuits.”
“Intelligent people will evolve a common world language and will not be guided by false, narrow sentiments. Like all other mundane property, languages are the common property of the Cosmic Father. We should love all these languages, hate none, and adopt one of these languages as the world language. As all languages are our common property, we should not oppose the existence of other languages. We should not brand any language as foreign or national.”
Prout philosophy says, “In the present system the English language deserves to be the world language because it is scientific and widely spoken. It would be a great folly for any government to deny this fact. With the change of time future generations may select any other language as the world language. Thus we should adopt a common lingua franca for the mutual exchange of ideas. For this purpose English may be accepted as the world lingua franca for some time more. We should however feel that all the languages of the world are our own languages. No language should be treated as indigenous, foreign or national, and nobody should treat the world language as a foreign language and discourage its propagation.” (1)
Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 15, What is the best language according to Prout
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Ananda Marga Yogic Treatments states, "Causes: Cancer is a disease of the whole body as well as a tridośaja disease [involving disturbances of váyu, pitta and kapha]. This disease is a combined effect of many different factors. It is ordinarily observed that persons who suffer from constipation as a result of violating the health rules, and who likewise are lazy, lack self-restraint, sleep during the day and keep late nights, are most likely to be attacked by cancer."
"When due to constipation, the blood and the muscle-fibre become worn out by the contaminated digestive fluids of the body and the contaminated air produced by them, cancer sets in. Parts of the internal organs of people who are extremely self-indulgent become weak. As a result of the attrition of shukra, their body loses its vitality. When such people eat too large a quantity of non-vegetarian food, their blood turns acidic and the disease gradually breaks out in the weaker parts of their bodies."
"With those people who shun physical labour but take acidic food, chillies, or intoxicants and especially tobacco and similar things – there is every possibility that the disease will attack." (1)
Ananda Marga Yogic Treatments states, "Dos and Don'ts: Sleeping during the day, staying awake at night, chillies, non-vegetarian food, and sexual relations are to be strictly avoided. Walking in open places as the strength allows, and, for those who are lazy by nature, doing some physical labour, are also necessary. Eating a piece of myrobalan after a meal is always helpful to clear the bowels. Patients should go to bed every night by 8:30 or 9 p.m so that they may get up very early the next morning." (2)
References
1. Yogic Treatments, Cancer
2. Yogic Treatments, Cancer
== Section 3: Links ==
Niilkantha Divas - 12 Feb
Feb 12 observance: how Baba saved usPostings to Read
Unique way to bless
Special quality of "Baba says"
About anahata & namaskar
Story: relying completely on Baba