Baba
Guided by sentiment
Namaskar,
Humans are basically dominated by emotion and they do imbalanced things - without using their capacity of logic and reasoning. Yet this tendency toward sentimentality does not bring greatness. There are distinct defects in the path of sentiment. According to Ananda Marga philosophy, humans should be rational; the intellect should be guided by rationality. Please read the following life examples bearing in mind the stark difference between sentiment and rationality.
Protecting unborns in womb, but ignoring them after birth
(A) In the US, "right-to-life" activists are against abortion - they do not want the living baby killed in the womb. That is to be appreciated. Yet those same activists do not want to care for the baby once it is born. If that child is born into a financially poor or needy family, those activists overlook the welfare of the baby. They 100% oppose programs which aim to care for and develop the child. They show no concern if the child receives the minimum requirements of life: Food, clothing, shelter, medical care and education. Rather they blame that innocent babe for being born unto a financially poor family; they are willing to let that child suffer. Such is their emotional slant on the issue. Caring for the baby while in the womb is admirable, but it is irrational to wholly disregard the needs of that child once it is born. The rational approach is to care for the babe from the time of conception up through its formative years.
Unfortunately, the general populace is prone to the path of sentiment, not rationality; that is why this type of dichotomy is going on. That is why do imbalanced and mindless things. If they had been rational the situation would have been different.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Harming unborns in womb, but not young babes
(B) Then there is another contingency that is "pro-choice" (USA) that favours abortions; they feel it is ok to destroy that living baby while it is in the womb. Yet once that baby is born, those same activists are keenly aware to watch for the welfare and well-being of that child by passing legislation to make schools better and help needy families etc. They aim to ensure that every child has the basic necessities and minimum requirements of life: Food, clothing, shelter, medical care and education. Plus, if the child is abused by its parents, steps will be taken to put the parents in jail etc. Yet if that same child is still in the womb, they fully support a person's choice to destroy that innocent babe. Such is their emotional manner and sentimentality. The rational approach is to properly care for and respect the life of all living babies, whether they be in the womb or delivered.
Unfortunately, the general populace is not rational and that is why so many dichotomies manifest in society. That is why they do imbalanced and mindless things. If they had been rational the situation would have been different.
Sacrificing animals to “please” mother goddess
(C) In India, worshipers of various deviis (deities) sacrifice goats and other animals in order to please their divine mother goddess - jagatjananii (mother of the world). Due to their emotional manner, such worshipers fail to realise that their chosen deity is also the divine mother of those sacrificed animals. Which mother will be happy seeing her sons and daughters slaughtered and killed in this way? Answer: No mother. No mother will take delight in watching her progeny be destroyed. But those devii worshipers think they are pleasing their mother goddess by such animal sacrifices. Because of their emotional approach, these worshipers cannot put these two points together. Due to their sentimentality, they cannot understand that the divine mother will not be pleased by sacrificial offerings. The rational approach then is not to indulge in animal sacrifice.
Unfortunately, the general populace is not rational and that is why this dichotomy is occurring. That is why they do imbalanced and mindless things. If they had been rational the situation would have been different.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Putting pets to “sleep”, but not grandfather
(D) In many so-called advanced countries around the world euthanasia is illegal. If an elderly person is suffering from a lot of pain or if someone is diagnosed from a terminal illness and they want to die, it is against the law to put that person to death by injection or other means. That is rational. However, when that same family's cat or dog is old and sick, then they will put that pet "to sleep." They will intentionally end the life of that pet. That is treated as humane, but if they would do the same thing with their grandfather, then it would be thought of as ghastly or criminal and they would go to jail. All beings should be given the honour and right to live the natural course of their life. That is rational.
Unfortunately, the general populace is not rational and that is why all these dichotomies are going on. That is why they do imbalanced and mindless things. If they had been rational the situation would have been different.
Neutering is barbarous
(E) Some give the reasoning that due to population control they are neutering dogs and cats but for same population control they don't neuter their own family members. Neutering destroys the personality so that should not be done. Rather they can use meds or other means of birth control. By neutering they are fully destroying the reproductive glands, and the animal can never fully bloom nor realise its true potential or dharma. It is not a real dog or cat, just a eunuch. The personality is not developed. Neutering also leads to various health hazards such as bone cancer, osteoporosis, obesity, hypothyroidism, urinary tract infections, and premature death etc. Such persons do not think to neuter themselves or their loved ones, only their pets. So it is not rational to hinder and jeopardise the health of their pets in this way. But with their own emotional manner, they neuter their pets.
Unfortunately, the general populace is not rational and that is why this dichotomy is occurring. That is why they do imbalanced and mindless things. If they had been rational the situation would have been different.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Ananda Marga ideology says, "In the past many slaves were converted into eunuchs – known as khojas in Persian. If the ovaries of a female or the testes of a male are dissociated from the body, the person will become a eunuch. In a male, if the testes are separated from the body, there will be physical and psychological changes. The man will not die but he will lose the sense of dutifulness and responsibility. All the qualities associated with the testes, such as the sense of dutifulness and responsibility, will be wanting. A eunuch will not be able to grow any pubic hair or the pubic hairs will be few. Should the testes be cut off and a man made into a eunuch? Can it be considered civilized? In some countries men were changed into eunuchs, and as they did not have any sex feeling, they were posted as security guards in the harems of the rulers. This is a barbarous system and goes against fundamental human rights. It is extremely bad." (1)
Conclusion
In day to day life, people engage in countless life choices based on sentiment and emotion alone, not rationality. This is not beneficial, rather harmful. It breeds double-standards, inequalities, and dogmas. It is only through the path of rationality that we can establish neo-humanistic values in our universal human society.
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "If someone moves along the path of sentiment instead of the path of rationality, there is a hundred percent probability of great danger. Those who move along the path of sentiment do not discriminate between the proper and the improper, but merely silently accept all superstitions surrounding the goal towards which they have been running. Even the least question regarding propriety or impropriety does not arise in their minds, because they are moving along the path of sentiment." (2)
Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Satyaki
~ In-depth study ~
Sentimentality without rationality is dogma
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "When it [the mind] does not follow a particular method, when it moves haphazardly, swept away by whim, it is called “emotion”." (3)
Ananda Marga ideology says, "Sentimentality based on rationality is the strongest force in the universe. And sentimentality without rationality takes the form of, or rather the distortion of, dogma." (4)
About supporting communal ideas: "Those who are motivated by sentiment may earn temporary applause, but ultimately people realize, “No, they committed a mistake, they did not follow the path of rationality. They themselves were caught in the current of sentiment, and they drifted the society also in that current. As a result society has been destroyed." (5)
Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, "Dogma is fast being replaced by rationality and reason. Human beings with their developed brains, developed nerve systems and developed nerve-cells started thinking that we are not to do something for a particular tribe or a particular clan or a particular nationality; we are to do whatever we are to do, whatever we must do, for the entire humanity of the Cosmos." (6)
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "As a human being, what should one do? One should follow the path of rationality. Rationality is a treasure of humanity that no animal possesses. And those who possess the inner asset of devotion within their hearts and follow the path of rationality in dealing with the external world, must be victorious. They alone can accomplish worthy deeds in this world." (7)
AM teachings on sentiment & rationality
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "In the case of developed animals, sentiment exceeds inborn instinct. And more-developed beings, such as human beings, possess sentiment and rationality and the faculty of discrimination as well." (8)
Before the division of India: "The policy was divide and rule. One party said “Jai Hind” and another party said “Takasime Hind.” One party said “Victory to India;” another party said “Divide India.” These were the slogans of the time. It was not a healthy atmosphere. This sentiment was not even geo-sentiment. It was based on emotion and mean selfishness." (9)
Ananda Marga philosophy teaches us, "To counteract the malevolent effect of dogma-centred philosophies, the two most important factors are the development of rationality and the spread of education. Merely attending school and university classes will not necessarily have the desired effect. Stress should be placed on education which produces a high degree of rationality in the human mind, and this type of education should be spread amongst the people." (10)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "What is required now is the elevation of human existence, the elevation of human mind and human spirit. We require no dogma – we require more reasoning, more rationality – rationality moving unto the terminus of Parama Puruśa; the Supreme Desideratum is that Universal Nave." (11)
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "As a human being, what should one do? One should follow the path of rationality. Rationality is a treasure of humanity which no animal possesses. And those who possess the inner asset of devotion within their hearts and follow the path of rationality in dealing with the external world, must be victorious. They alone can accomplish worthy deeds in this world." (12)
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "The speciality of human beings is rationality." (13)
References
1. Bio-Psychology
2. The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism
3. Yoga Psychology
4. Subháśita Saḿgraha Part 12
5. The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism
6. Humanity Is at the Threshold of a New Era
7. The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism
8. The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism
9. The Dangers of Communalism
10. Prout in a Nutshell Part 18
11. Humanity Is at the Threshold of a New Era
12. The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism
13. The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism
* * *
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 ==
Key distinction: fake vs real bhakta
False aspirants think about themselves, whereas true bhaktas think about God and want to serve Him. By this approach life becomes meaningful and they reach the Goal; otherwise, they are just fake bhaktas who take birth and die again and again, suffering in this transitory world.
Ananda Marga ideology states, "True devotees can think only of Parama Puruśa – their every action is to please Parama Puruśa. For them, there is only sádhaná and selfless service to the universe – and because selfless service is to please the Lord, that also helps sádhaná. Tapah [selfless service] is part of sádhaná. True devotees are unable to think of right and wrong, but because they wish only to please Parama Puruśa, they can only do good, all their actions will be benevolent. So you are not just to worry about right and wrong, about dos and don'ts – you are to develop that true devotion for Parama Puruśa...But of course, until you develop such devotion, you must distinguish what to do from what not." (1)
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 30, The True Devotee
== Section: Important Teaching ==
How to benefit from enemy
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "It is said that there is a particular species of the cuckoo bird that is incapable of nesting and raising its own offspring. So to protect and save her babies, the mother cuckoo gently places her own eggs in the crow's nest, even though the crow is her dreaded enemy. But since the eggs of both the birds looks the same, the crow carefully cares for those cuckoo eggs which were placed in her nest-- thinking them to be her own. At the time of birth, the newborn birds of both species are black; so seeing the baby cuckoos, the mother crow does not initially realise that the baby cuckoos are not her own offspring. It is only when the baby birds become a little bigger and start to call out and cry, that the crow realises those are not her babies. Then and there the mother crow becomes very angry, suddenly understanding that it has gotten duped. But because of having given long-term care and developed sincere love for the baby cuckoo, the mother crow gives up the idea of attacking and killing the cuckoo. And instead the mother crow raises the baby cuckoo as one of her own." (1)
1. Just like the cuckoo utilises even its worst enemy, then we too should use our enemies in an intelligent way. Baba utilised communist enemies to propagate Ananda Marga ideals. If such communists had not created such a negative agenda and if such communists had not spread so much bad news about Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha, then the general populace would not have become so attracted to read about AMPS. People are not enticed by good news, but certainly they want to know about the dark aspects and controversial topics. By this way AMPS grew a lot. If the communists had not created so much opposition, Ananda Marga ideals would not have spread widely in such a short period.
2. The crow adopted the cuckoo as its own because it had spent so much time nurturing that baby cuckoo. Here the point is that through interaction all kinds of beings can become close to one another. Baba has given collective social functions for this very purpose. By spending time with one another, people of diverse backgrounds forget their differences and embrace each other as their own.
Reference
1. Shabda Cayanika - 10
== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==
हे परमपुरुष बाबा! तुम आनन्द नगर, तिलजला,और जमालपुर में भी कहीं नहीं दिखे
प्रभात सङ्गीत 2242 रूपे आमार मनेर अणु.अणुते
भावार्थ
हे परम पुरुष ! कृपा कर मेरे मन की गहराई में आओ। तुम अपने विशेष रूप और रङ्ग के साथ मेरे हृदय में आओ। कृपा कर मेरे मन के प्रत्येक बिन्दु में आओ। हे सबसे उत्तम सत्ता ! कृपा कर मेरे पास ही आ जाओ। तुम्हें ढूंढने के लिए मैं एक देश से दूसरे देश में भटकता रहा। सभी पवित्र कहे जाने वाले स्थानों पर खोजते हुए मेरा पूरा जीवन निकल गया है। तुम्हें खोजते हुए मैंने सारा संसार छान डाला है।
हे प्रभु ! जब मैं तुम्हें बहुत दूर के स्थानों पर खोज रहा था तो मैंने तुम्हें वहाँ कहीं भी नहीं पाया। जब मैंने अपने आसपास के स्थानीय मन्दिरों, मस्जिदों, गिरिजाघरों ,जागृतियों और धर्मसभाओं में ढूंढा तो भी तुम्हें नहीं पाया। तुम किसी “तीर्थ” जैसे, वाराणसी, पुरी , मक्का, रोम , में भी नहीं मिले। तुम आनन्द नगर, तिलजला,और जमालपुर में भी कहीं नहीं दिखे । मैं हिमालय की चोटियों पर और पर्वतों की गुफाओं में भी खोजता फिरा। तुम्हें बिलकुल एकान्त स्थानों पर भी ढूंढता रहा परन्तु जब तुम फिर भी नहीं मिले तो अकेलेपन से घबराकर मैं रो पड़ा।
हे परमपुरुष बाबा ! तुम्हारी कृपा से जब मैं अपने मन की गहरी परतों में देखता हूँ तो वहाँ तुम दिखाई देते हो। मेरे मन के गुरुचक्र में तुमने एक हजार पुङ्खुड़ियों वाला कमल खिला दिया है। वहाँ मैंने पाया कि तुम तो उस सफ़ेद कमल के फूल पर बैठे मुस्करा रहे हो। यह इन सामान्य आँखों से दिखाई नहीं देता। तुम तो प्रेम के स्वरूप तारक ब्रह्म हो।
बाबा ! मैंने तुम्हें बाहर कहीं भी नहीं पाया। अब ,जबकि तुम्हारी कृपा से मैं अपने मन के भीतर देख पाता हॅूं तो अनुभव करता हॅू कि तुम तो मेरे साथ ही हो। बाबा ! कृपा कर मुझे अपनी शरण में हमेशा लिए रहें।
References
1. Hindi purport translated by Dr. T.R. Sukul from original English purport by Ananda Marga Universal.
2. Sadguru Baba says (in GD, Delhi, 26 Feb 1984) that when writing a Prabhat Samgiita purport then very simple words should be used so that the common mass may understand. The above Hindu purport has been written according to that guideline.
== Section: Important Teaching ==
How avidya maya affects us
Ananda Marga ideology states, "The avidyá force declares war on those whose desire or inclination is towards vidyá; this gives rise to a hostile tendency in the recesses of their minds, against which they have to struggle. At home the husband, wife or the other members of the family become dissatisfied with them, and create various obstacles. In the field of their activities the opportunities arise for depravity, meanness, bribes etc., and they have to maintain their self-control. The locusts of desires come swarming in to destroy the very bud of their sádhaná. So they must carefully avoid such temptations for their own safety. But those whose movement is truly towards vidyá, who are determined to follow the path of vidyá by sacrificing their all, will eventually become immune to all obstacles. No amount of scornful taunts or diatribes will be able to check their lightning speed. They will emerge victorious, weathering and defying all storms, and eventually stand firm and erect like the Himalayas; and the storms and squalls will rebound back in disappointment."
"When the Sádhaka or the spiritual aspirant will stand untrammelled and resolute, with the courage of his conviction, and self-confidence, all snags and dangers will gradually wither away – will timidly disappear from his path...Obstacles are the concomitants of sádhaná, struggling is a good sign. By these obstacles sádhakas can understand that their spiritual practice is on the right track. Spiritual philosophy comes into being only when sádhakas struggling with avidyá’s hindrances, vindicates their move towards Brahma after defeating the base propensities of avidyá by their own intellect and judgment." (1)
References
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 3, Supreme Benevolence and Mundane Pleasure
== Section 3: Links ==
Shravanii Purnima - August 3rd, 2020
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