Baba
Harmful competition: take a
look
Namaskar,
Ananda Marga ideology says, “You know there are different divisions
in propensities." (1)
Above, a cigar ash competition is going on. For more on this, please
see note
1.
Humans beings have have so many propensities (i.e. mental
occupations)—up to 1000 vrttis. And these can be broadly divided
into four categories.
Suffering is in the beginning and also in the end
#1 Kliśt́á vrtti (beginning suffering, end suffering): Those who
choose to move on the path of kliśt́á vrtti engage in endeavours
which are uncomfortable and painful from the very beginning up to
the very end, and the end result is also bad.
Ananda Marga ideology says, “The propensities that become the cause
of pain in the beginning and also in the end are called Kliśt́á.
Suppose, for instance, someone is travelling without a ticket. There
is a heavy rush in the train. Naturally he will have to undergo
suffering and inconvenience. If the checking staff come, another
misery befalls. So here the pain is in the beginning and also in the
end. This action of his is Kliśt́á-vrtti.” (1)
Some squish themselves and battle the crowds to visit a holy land
and then get trampled to death in a stampede. Likewise, suppose a
thief was undergoing hardship walking in a hailstorm and then got
arrested by the police. In both of these instances the beginning and
end is bad—problematic. So these are related with kliśt́á vrtti.
Happy in beginning but suffering in end
#2 Akliśt́á Kliśt́á vrtti (beginning pleasure, end suffering): Those
who choose to move on the path of akliśt́á kliśt́á vrtti, engage in
actions which start out as pleasant and joyful, but yield very bad
results. There are many activities and works that fall in this
category.
For example, if one is eating rasagolla (sweets) in their house but
then later on they suffer from constipation, gas, and bloating. That
act started out as enjoyable but concluded as something painful.
Also smoking and drinking etc come in this category. So these are
related with akliśt́á kliśt́á vrtti.
Same is the case with those who enjoy dancing and partying all
night, and then have to suffer the ill effects of fatigue and nausea
the next day. So these are related with akliśt́á kliśt́á vrtti.
Suffering in beginning but happy in end
#3 Kliśt́á Akliśt́á vrtti (beginning suffering, end pleasure):
Those who choose to move on the path of kliśt́á akliśt́á vrtti,
engage in actions which start out as uncomfortable or painful, but
yield very positive and beneficial results.
For instance, eating bitter foods like neem leaves may not be a
pleasant experience but the overall effect is very good as the
blood, gums, liver, and kidneys are greatly benefited. Similarly,
studying hard for an examination is not easy and may likely involve
discomfort and even suffering. But in the end, getting success in
the exam is a very positive outcome. So these are related with
kliśt́á akliśt́á vrtti.
Happy in beginning & bliss in end
#4 Akliśt́á vrtti (beginning pleasure, end pleasure): Those who
choose to move on the path of akliśt́á vrtti engage in actions which
are blissful right from the start, and yield blissful results. Which
endeavour is like that? Sadhana or intuitional practice. Sadhana
with bhakti is very soothing and filled with anandam. It starts
blissfully, continues blissfully, and concludes blissfully; and the
final outcome is also blissful. So these are related with akliśt́á
vrtti.
Most often, human beings involve in such types of works and hobbies
which fall in the first three groups. And due to this they suffer a
lot of pain in their life. But those who are fortunate utilize
their human potentiality to pursue dharmic engagements that fall in
this fourth category. They learn sadhana, practice it, and see
everything as Brahma. By that way, they always do good things and
make their lives happy through spiritual practice. If worldly works
are done while ensconced in brahmacarya, then that makes even
worldly works blissful. But the main thing is to keep a sadhana
oriented life—that is the best utilization.
Conclusion
For Parama Purusa everything is blissful beginning to end. Humans
have all four of these types of vrttis or mental occupations. But
Parama Purusa only has one. For Him everything is blissful from
beginning to end. If one does sadhana, that comes in the category of
aklista vrtti because the beginning, middle and end—everything is
blissful. By doing sadhana life becomes full of anandam.
In Him,
Dharmadeva
Note 1: About the above photo
The person in the above photo falls in the first category—kliśt́á.
That woman chose to involve in a cigar smoking competition. A
contestant participates in the longest ash competition during the
annual cigar festival in Havana, so she is forced to inhale a lot of
smoke. Due to the pressure of this competition, she is uncomfortable
smoking that cigar, but she is doing it in hopes of getting victory.
The goal is to generate the longest ash in the shortest time,
without letting the ash break and fall down. But the end result of
such a competition is lung cancer. So that activity is problematic
from beginning to end. This is the worst category. So many human
engagements fall in this category, unfortunately.
Those who misuse their bodies in the actions of categories 1-3, they
directly degenerate to animal life after their demise. No one should
misuse their body by work which is illustrated in these first three
categories.
Above, a cigar ash competition is going on. For more on this, please see note 1.
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Reference
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 19, Salvation and Devotion
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