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Sunday, March 28, 2021

Story of creation + 4 more

Baba

Story of creation

Namaskar,

This is a vital topic: How to teach our margii children and other young ones about our Ananda Marga theory of creation - i.e. how this grand universe has come into existence. At some point, invariably questions arise in the minds of our youths - in the minds of our children: They wonder, 'who am I', 'where have I come from', 'what is this universe' etc. And our Ananda Marga creation theory answers all these doubts and queries in a very comprehensive and compelling way.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


They have come from the hospital?


The question arises: When and how should we guide our children about our Ananda Marga creation theory. Should we wait until our children reach a certain age when they can understand philosophy, grasp abstruse concepts of "Idea & Ideology", and comprehend challenging topics like jadasphota, shambhuliunga, sadrsha parin'a'ma etc? Otherwise, when and how should we approach this topic with our kids.

After all, this is an everyday reality for most of us: What is the best way to guide our children. Inevitably, either on the home-front, in school, or on the internet, this important topic of creation will be raised. And if we do not give a reply - or if our reply is not satisfactory to their ears - then our children will get the 'lesson' elsewhere. If we don't teach our children from where they have come, then they are bound to learn from the general society that human beings are just bones, flesh, and blood - nothing more. They have come from the hospital.

Existence starts from ova & spermatozoa?


Commonly in materialism, people view life in a very mundane way where they think that existence starts from the ova and spermatozoa. But this is just a very superficial approach. We know that according to Ananda Marga philosophy each life is a part-life of a greater series of lives wherein the very source is Parama Purusa. We have all come from Him - that same Divine source - and we are all returning unto Him. So our connection is far deeper than how materialists view the world.

The existence of the human body starts from the ova and spermatozoa but not the human mind. And the human mind is the main thing of the human personality. Before they reach puberty, kids do not like logic and reasoning; they enjoy grand stories and imaginative tales. Every parent and educator must keep this in mind when sharing the theory of creation with young kids.

The content of this letter is based on Baba's original Hindi discourse delivered in one general darshan in Patna (1965) where He explained Ananda Marga creation theory in a very easy-to-understand language.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Story starts here


In the very beginning, Parama Purusa was all alone. There was no one with whom He could play. He was not surrounded by anything or anyone. There was darkness all around; indeed the absence of anything means there was just a vast dark void emanating in all directions from the nucleus of His mind. According to Ananda Marga philosophy, black means no colour, i.e. the complete absence of any colour. 

When we are completely isolated and have no company, no playmates, and no one to talk to, and are all alone in the house, then we will become very, very lonely. Such was the condition of Parama Purusa. To remove that loneliness, He decided to create something - someone - with whom He could love and play.

It is just like if there are children in the house, then that household becomes colourful and vibrant. Those children will laugh and they will cry; they will sing and they will dance. And sometimes a child also comes with a problem or needs help in some way; and, on other occasions a young one cries out loudly and says, “Dad, I want this, or Mom I need that.”

Having children brings warmth, joy, and, most importantly, it transforms life itself into an intimate family experience where there is lots of sharing, caring, and companionship. In which case, one will no longer be alone or feel lonely.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

In the very beginning, Parama Purusa was all alone. There was no one with whom He could play. To break the monotony, Parama Purusa had to create something - someone with whom to play. But to create anything, materials are needed. It is just like if anyone wants to make some toys, then some material is needed such as clay, plastic, rubber, wood - something is needed from which to make those toys.

Similarly, Parama Purusa needed something with which to make His creation; some ingredients were needed to make something - to make one universe. Yet there was nothing around - only there was Parama Purusa and nothing else. Besides Him, there was no one; He was all alone. Then how could He create anything? Besides Him, there was nothing. So then what to do?

In that case, He had to use part of His own mind. To create something, Parama Purusa kept away some portion of His own mind from His nucleus: He put that portion of His mind away at a distance. Without putting away part of His mind, material could not be created.


Story of srsti: create various tattvas

One might then ask, 'Why did He have to put part of His mind away?' 'Why did He have to set it aside.’ 'What was the need to do that?' The answer is that if He did not put some portion of His mind away from His nucleus, then it could not have become made into material - it would just remain unexpressed as pure consciousness. Yet some type of material was needed in order to create something tangible with which He could play.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

For this reason Parama Purusa had to set aside some part of His mind away from His nucleus. Otherwise, it would be impossible to make any toys - jiivas and inanimate objects etc - i.e. any of the creation. So He put aside part of His mind away from His nucleus,and it was transformed into material: The specialty of this process is that the further away Parama Purusa put away His mind from His nucleus, the more dense it became.

Accordingly, that portion of His mind that He placed just a short distance away from His nucleus was comparatively less dense, and it became the ethereal factor. And that part of His mind that was put a little further away from His nucleus was more dense so it became the aerial factor. And that portion of His mind that was even further away became the luminous factor - as it was more dense. And when He put His mind still further away it became more dense and was the liquid factor. Until finally He put some portion of His mind very far away from His nucleus, and that became the solid factor. And this is the most dense factor - the reason being that it is furthest away from Parama Purusa. And this entire process of making material is known as: saincara.

So His process of saincara is the process of making the material. And in this process of saincara, He creates the painca bhutas, or 5 fundamental factors: ethereal, aerial, luminous, liquid, and solid. And why does He do this? Why did He embark on this process of saincara? To prepare material to create His toys, i.e. living and non-living beings.


Pratisaincara: living beings to play with

After so many inanimate objects were created by placing some part of His mind away from His nucleus is called saincara, then came the task of bringing those things back close to Him. For that to occur, unit mind was created. This is the transition point - the turning point. The process of going away from His nucleus, is known as saincara. And when things are at the farthest point away from Him then they are in a solid, inanimate state.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

This then is the juncture point, whereby finally unit mind is created and the cycle of creation is drawn back towards Him on an entirely new path. So instead, they evolve more and return back in a whole new way.

Here, in this process, in this elliptical cycle, first plants were created. Then material was used to create something more evolved than plants. In that way, bugs and insects were created - i.e. creatures that have a very basic mind. And then those beings that were a little more developed wanted to come closer and closer to Him. So using greater materials, Parama Purusa created more evolved animals like mice, rodents, etc. He then created more developed animals like goats and sheep - and then still more developed such as dogs and monkeys etc.

The formula is that the more developed beings wanted to come closer to Parama Purusa. Until He finally created some entities that were very developed that wanted to come still more close to Him, and those are known as human beings. And the human mind is more developed and more evolved so they wanted to come very close to Parama Purusa - until one day, those sadhakas were so close that they actually became one with Him. And this entire process of returning back to Him is known as pratisaincara.

In this manner, by this dual approach of saincara and pratisaincara, Parama Purusa formed an entire universe and He began to slowly fill that universe with innumerable things: forests, rivers, mountains, planets, stars, plants, animals, human beings - so many things & so many beings..

Conclusion


So by this whole picture, by this whole scene of saincara and pratisaincara, it is easily understood that all are part and parcel of Him. Everything and everyone - inanimate objects, flora, fauna, developed creatures, and human beings - is the expression of Parama Purusa. We are all part of that same universal cosmic family. All have been created by Him. He loves all; He is everyone's Creator; He is the Supreme Father. All have come from Him.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Knowingly or unknowingly, all love Parama Purusa as He is the source and all desire to return back to Him - all want to reach Him, just like a small infant has a deep desire to cling tightly to its mother. Similarly all humans love Parama Purusa and desire to be with Him, since He is the Divine Father and all are part of His mind - all are His children.

And this love which humans have for Him is not unilateral. As much as you love Him and long to be with Him, in an even deeper & greater way He loves you and longs to be close to you. Thousands and millions of times more, Parama Purusa loves you. After all you are part of His mind. That is why He is called your greater 'I' - and this greater 'I" is one for everybody.

So the whole scene is quite an intimate affair. We are all part of Him and long for Him and Parama Purusa feels us to be His very own and constantly showers His infinite love on us.

at His feet,
Karunamay

~ In-depth study ~

To remove this loneliness He created many

Ananda Marga ideology states, "Parama Puruśa was all alone in this universe at the dawn of creation. A person who is alone in a town, in a house or in a room feels so lonely. He or she is mad with loneliness. Likewise Parama Puruśa was all alone in this universe and there was nothing else in existence. How painful it was! He had the power to see but there was nothing, no world, to be seen because objects were not created. He had the power to hear, to catch, to taste but there was neither sound, nor any external object to be caught nor any food or drink to be tasted. There were none whom He could chide or punish. When there are devotees in this world and they are found at fault, then He gets an opportunity to chide and punish them. When there is nobody, He is all alone. To remove this loneliness, He created many out of One. He manifested Himself in many objects. Even then He remains One but He manifests in so many objects of the world. This is His liila - His one part is playing with His other part." (1)


No one can imagine what a terrible situation it was!

Ananda Marga ideology states, "“My Lord was alone. You know how troublesome it is to be all alone. Anyone who is forced to remain alone for …... years together will either die or become mad. In the same way my Lord was all alone when there was no universe, no expression – only a state of complete vacuity. No one can imagine what a terrible situation it was! Hence, to break the monotony, to remove the dullness of loneliness, He started to create the universe to play with His own children.” There is no other reply besides this. Thus the Supreme Cognitive entity became metamorphosed into many-the One Universal Father, the One Supreme Progenitor, continuing His divine sport with His innumerable children." (2)

Ananda Marga ideology states, "When there was no universe, our Lord was all alone. If any person had been in His place, he would have become mad. So our Lord was all alone and He did not like this solitude. He had the power to see, but He could not see because there was nothing to see. He had the power to hear, but there was nothing to hear. He had the power to reprimand, but there was no one to reprimand. That caused Him a great deal of inconvenience. To free Himself from inconvenience our Lord became many from One. This is the cause of creation." (3)

The whole import of this discussion is 'why' & 'how' Parama Purusa created this vast cosmic universal family.


References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 5, It Is Wise to Be a Devotee
2. Subhasita Samgraha - 11, Supramundane Heritage and Supramundane Desideratum
3. Supreme Expression - 1, Ideology, Goal and Devotion


*        *        *

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 ==

You have taken a lot of trouble to come to me

"Path ceye base chinu yuga dhare, ele áji ghan varaśáy..." (Prabhat Samgiita #3226)

Purport:

My Parama Purusa, since ages I have been waiting for You looking toward the path of Your arrival - hoping to have Your darshan. All the good days have passed by, yet now, in the pouring rain, You have taken a lot of trouble to come to me. You are so gracious. In this rainy season, the misty pollen fragrance of my ketakii flower is floating all around. Its aroma is permeating throughout this cloudy rainy season. 

Parama Purusa, with deep yearning in my heart, in the refulgence of the day, I have sought to find You. I have looked for You in the pitch dark night, in the stars, planets, nebulae, everywhere. Baba, I have searched You in every nook and corner of the deep blue sky. In which unknown place were You hiding. I could not get You anywhere.

Through the scorching heat of the daylight hours, I hunted for You until the day was over. Then, in calling and longing for You, the tired night finished and the new dawn arose. In this way, ages have gone - and still I don’t have a trace of You. Parama Purusa Baba, in the course of waiting for You, in that long span, the garland which I prepared for You has become dry and withered away. Now only the thread is in my hand. Finally, in this late hour, You have come. How shall I honour You and decorate You, my Dear One?

Supreme Entity, in this situation how will I receive You. Now in this pouring rain You have taken advent next to me. Baba, it is Your infinite grace. I surrender at Your lotus feet...


Notes For Prabhat Samgiita #3226:

[1] Ketakii flower: The screw-pine flower or tree is part of the Pandanaceae family or genus Pandanus. This tree has dagger-like leaves and is commonly found throughout SE Asia. This flower is known for its charming fragrance. It flowers especially in the rainy season and the strong aroma permeates the air for miles around. In addition, the plant contains many thorns.

[2] Bhor: After a long span of life, when much time has passed then finally the awaited moment arrives. Hence, the literal meaning is early morning or dawn, but the poetic idea is that of having passed a long time in waiting for the time to come.


== Section: Important Teaching ==

Remarkable benefits of dhyana

Ananda Marga philosophy teaches us, “Question: If the medicine or mother tincture required for homoeopathic medicine is prepared in a sentient environment which contains positive microvita, will the medicine prepared from that medium or mother tincture have more effect than ordinary medicine available in the market?”

“Answer: There is no doubt that the medicine prepared in a sentient environment by sentient people, from a medium or mother tincture which is also prepared in a sentient environment, will attract more positive microvita than ordinary medicines, so it will have a much greater effect in curing a patient.”

“If a person contracts a disease caused by negative microvita before initiation and does dhyána sincerely after initiation, the disease will not spread but be contained. However, for different types of diseases one has to follow different food restrictions and practice dhyána at specific times.”

“If a person contracts a disease caused by negative microvita after initiation, does dhyána perfectly and follows certain food restrictions, the disease will be completely cured. Dhyána attracts many positive microvita. Negative microvita can only be controlled by positive microvita. The positive microvita eat the negative microvita and this is the reason why the disease is cured. For example, if a person is suffering from jaundice, a disease caused by negative microvita, and if dhyána is practised perfectly, the disease will be cured very quickly. In the case of cancer, say stomach cancer, certain food restrictions will have to be strictly followed. When pain starts in the stomach one should sit for dhyána, but just prior to this one should take some juice from a sweet tasting, not a sour tasting fruit. After performing dhyána, one should take another drink which is different from the first drink. The patient should also avoid any food which causes gas in the stomach, such as pappad, cauliflower, cabbage, turnip, etc.” (1)

Reference:
1. Microvita in a Nutshell, Questions and Answers on Microvita – Excerpt C


== Section: Important Teaching ==

The excellence of bodhi jiṋána

   Prout philosophy states, “The approach of PROUT is subjective approach through objective adjustment. This presupposes a connecting link between intuition and intellect. This connecting link or touching point is called “Bodhi Jiṋána”. With the help of Bodhi Jiṋána, intuitional knowledge can be utilized for solving mundane problems. Thus PROUT is a Bodhi Jiṋána.”
   “Logic is a psychic survey. Such a survey may or may not be correct, therefore it is futile to follow logic blindly. The result of your psychic survey is called your rationality. This psychic survey, embedded in relativity, may or may not be correct. Intuitional vision is the best logic. Intuitional vision should be your guiding ideology. For example, it is an axiomatic truth that everything has come from the Cosmic Father and everything will merge in Him, but this truth is beyond the scope of intellectual logic.” (1)

Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 15, Talks on Prout


== Section: Ananda Vanii ==

March ahead on the road of human welfare

Original Ananda Vanii states: “The very import of the history of human welfare is the history of struggle and strife. Even the sweet gospels of peace could not be preached in an environment of peace and composure. Devils did not allow the apostle of peace to work peacefully – that is why I say that peace is the outcome of fight. This endeavour at the well-being of the human race concerns everyone – it is yours, mine and ours. We may afford to ignore our rights, but we must not forget our responsibilities. Forgetting the responsibility implies the humiliation of the human race. In order to march ahead on the road of human welfare, we will have to strengthen ourselves in all the arena of life. The complete seeds of welfare in all the spheres – physical, mental, moral, social and spiritual – are embedded in the sixteen points. Hence be firm on the sixteen points.”  (Ananda Vanii # )

Note: Sadguru Baba has assigned a number to all His original and true Ananda Vaniis. In contrast, Fake Ananda Vaniis do not have any number. By this simple formula, one can easily recognise which is a true Ananda Vanii and which is fake. For the upcoming occasion of January 1st 2017, all Ananda Marga units should use one of Baba’s original and true Ananda Vaniis, not a fake one. By this way, one will surely get His blessing.


== Section 3: Links ==


Saturday, March 20, 2021

Comiendo tamasiko sin saberlo

Baba

Comiendo tamasiko sin saberlo


Namaskar

En el camino de Ananda Marga, son necesarias la disciplina y la firmeza. Eso te dará el poder de la voluntad o icca shakti, y con esa fuerza mental, uno podrá alcanzar la Meta, con Su gracia.

En dos puntos de disciplina, Baba fue bastante estricto: Relaciones sexuales ilícitas y comida inapropiada. La razón fue que ambos afectan gravemente tanto al cuerpo como a la mente. Cuando la mente se encuentra consumida por estos vicios, la mente se torna contaminada y no puede concentrarse en Parama Purusa. Esa es la ruina de cualquier sadhaka, y eso explica por qué Baba es especialmente estricto en estos puntos. Así que debemos estar atentos tanto en asuntos de sexo como de comida. Esta es la idea principal.

Este artículo se centra en una de las enseñanzas únicas de Baba de sus discursos de microvita y comida sensible.


Los alimentos sensibles se degradan por contenedores negativos

Baba categoriza la comida en tres clasificaciones. Sensible, mutativa, y ta'masika. (Referencia (a) Caryacarya III, y (b) Comida, Células, Desarrollo físico y mental) Todos los Ananda Margiis son conscientes sobre estos puntos y en consecuencia siguen estos principios. Aquí, sin embargo, hay otro factor que es igualmente importante pero que a menudo se puede pasar por alto.

Lo siguiente es un resumen en español de una cita de Baba en la publicación en inglés, "Microvita in a Nutshell, Some Examples of Microvita in Daily Life – Excerpt C": 

Estrictos vegetarianos evitan usar cualquier contenedor que haya sido usado antes para comida no-vegetariana. (Resumen en español)

En este principio anterior, Baba nos está diciendo que incluso la comida sútil se convierte en Ta'masika si toca un utensilio, olla, contenedor, tupper o cualquier otro objeto que haya sido usado antes para comida estática/ta'masika. Eso significa que si se preparan vegetales al vapor en una olla que anteriormente se uso para pescado, los vegetales se convierten en ta'masikos/estáticos. De la misma manera si un pedazo de fruta es cortado con un cuchillo que se usó anteriormente para champignones, ese pedazo de fruta es ahora ta'masiko/estático.


Tratando ollas de cocina

Una simple limpieza de las ollas o cuchillos no servirá, de hecho tendrán que ser esterilizados profesionalmente de la misma manera que los médicos esterilizan su equipamiento, y pocos tienen lo necesario para poder hacer esto.

La segunda opción es calentar la olla entera (no solo la parte de abajo) a una alta temperatura en tu cocina u horno y luego sumergirla en algún tipo de ácido o peróxido de hidrógeno para destruir los residuos de comida estática/ta'masika. Luego  la olla deberá ser lavada minuciosamente con un agente limpiador naturalmente abrasivo. Finalmente, asegúrese de examinar la olla con una lupa y que se encuentre realmente limpia.

Uno debería de recordar que muchas medicinas ayurvédicas y homeopáticas son realizadas quemando hasta las cenizas esos mismos medicamentos. En ayurveda, este proceso es llamado bashma. El punto aquí es que incluso después de haber quemado hasta las cenizas estos medicamentos, sus características permanecen intactas, de la misma manera si comida ta'masika/estática fue cocinada y quemada en una olla en particular fueron creadas cenizas, y entonces la olla o utensilio se torna ta'masiko/estático, por qué el residuo ta'masiko/estático de la comida aún permanece en la olla. Este es el defecto de intentar quemar los elementos contaminados. Así que si un trozo de carne fue cocinado en una olla los residuos permanecen allí. Tenemos que ser muy conscientes en este punto: Mientras la carne/ta'masika y sus cenizas estén presentes, o las manchas de carne permanezcan en la olla, seguirá siendo tamasika.

No haciendo estos dos enfoques (usar equipo de esterilización profesional o usar una temperatura alta y dejar la olla impecable), todos los utensilios, ollas, platos y tenedores que se usaron para comida no-vegetariana están fuera de los límites de los verdaderos Ananda Margiis, infringir este código significa que uno no está siguiendo los 16 puntos, y uno estará contaminándose a sí mismo dejando que su comida sutil se convierta en ta'masika/estática.


Siempre debes estar precavido

Debemos ser cuidadosos porque las ramificaciones del mandato de Baba tratado anteriormente son vastas.

No comer en la casa de otra familia si ellos no siguen estrictamente dieta sutil/sensible. A veces somos invitados a comer algo en la casa de alguien que no mantiene un hogar sutil/sensible. Esa persona puede ser un amigo, colega, vecino, familiar o quien sea. De buena fé y con las mejores intenciones, la persona puede ofrecernos "voy a preparar solo comida sensible/sutil cuando vengas." Pero esa garantía no es suficiente. Porque el mandato de Baba nos dice que si la comida sutil llegase a tocar comida no-vegetariana o utensilios que fueron tocados por comida no-vegetariana se arruinaría la comida sutil. En ese caso, uno debe negarse a la invitación o ofrecer preparar la comida y llevarla a la reunión, esa es la única manera.


Nunca comas en ningún hotel o restaurante, y evita comer comida de fábrica


De hecho también es una regla de conducta de Avadhutas, y realmente esto es algo que cada Ananda Margii debería de seguir. En estos días cada vez más restaurantes ofrecen comida vegetariana, pero en la mayoría de los casos, la comida es manipulada con ollas y utensilios usados en comida no-vegetariana/no-sutil, también muchas veces directamente tiene hongos/champignones

Como sadhakas, nuestra regla básica debería de ser: nunca comer en ningún restaurante y nunca comprar comidas preparadas/fabricadas en serie. Esta es la única manera de asegurarse de que lo que estamos comiendo es comida sutil/sensible/satvika. Quizás la única excepción es comer en un restaurante de Ananda Marga.

Sabemos que esta es la era capitalista, lo único que quiere cada compañía es hacer dinero. Con ese fin muchas cosas suceden en el nombre de la producción de comida. Una fábrica se utilizará para una amplia variedad de comida, y las mismas máquinas que empaquetan la carne también empaquetan lo que llaman "comida vegetariana". El asunto principal es que el proceso es completamente misterioso, está sucediendo a puertas cerradas. No podemos saber cómo lo están haciendo o cómo la comida es tratada a menos que trabajemos allí, es por esto que es mejor asumir que todas las compañías contaminan la comida de alguna u otra manera.


Conclusión


Mientras somos tentados a adquirir productos de varias compañías que pensamos que son seguramente satvikos como pan, pasta, yogur de soja u otros sabrosos alimentos, deberíamos buscar maneras alternativas de preparar estos mismos alimentos en nuestras propias casas. Esa es la mejor y la única manera de asegurarse de que lo que comemos es verdaderamente sensible/sutil/satvik. Por otra parte, los alimentos industriales podrían estar afectados por modificación genética de alimentos.

Es el deber de los sadhakas sinceros el ser realmente estrictos en su práctica de la comida sensible/sutil/satvik, y la única manera de lograr esto es revisar de la A a la Z que la comida que comes es preparada, cocinada, y servida de acuerdo a las pautas de Ananda Marga.

Namaskar
Sastaunga pranam a Baba

Liila

Sunday, March 14, 2021

Mahaprayan of Ac. Acintananda Avt.

Baba


Mahaprayan of Ac. Acintananda Avt.

Namaskar,

It is with much sadness that we share the news of the mahaprayan of respected Acarya Acintananda Avadhuta. Our dear Dada ji's mahaprayan occurred on 15 Mar at 4:30am IST. His mahaprayan was due to sudden cardiac arrest in Mangalam Hospital (Bhagalpur). 

Ac Acintananda ji was a senior purodha who was truly dedicated to serve Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji according to his capacity. And he inspired many onto the path of tantra yoga. So it is really a tragic loss that Dada ji is no longer on this earth. He was well regarded and loved by all who knew him; Dada ji will be greatly missed. 

May we all take solace in the fact that respected Acarya Acintananda ji was a bhakta of Sadguru Baba. Certainly he will attain mukti or moksa, accordingly. Baba will lovingly bestow His infinite grace.

in Him,
Caetanya Deva 

Note: Here is an alert for those cremating a dead body in India or Indian managed cremation homes around the world. Their custom is to put the fire in the mouth of the deceased to initiate the burning of the body. This is prohibited in AM as it is uncivilised. So watch out; do not allow this. If you are not careful, they will end up cremating the body in this manner. Make them aware ahead of time. 

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "The practice of putting fire into the mouth of the dead body is repulsive, it should not be encouraged." (Caryacarya - 1, Disposal of the Dead Body)


~ In-depth study ~

We have seen that when somebody dies then in offering their condolences people say now Mr So-and-so is sitting on Baba's lap. On other occasions when telling a Baba story people also say, "Such and such person sat on Baba's lap." But these days the trend is that "sitting on Baba's lap" is used more in connection with death. And that causes some confusion in reader's mind. To unknot the situation please read below. 

Dogma: if "on Baba's lap" only used for death

Here are quoted lines from recently posted emails on various forums, wherein the writer uses the phrase - "in Baba's lap" - with the occasion of death:

- "May Parama Purusa Baba accept her in HIS divine lap"

- "We pray to Baba - please give him shelter in his lap... "

- "May his soul rest in the lap of our beloved BABA"

- "Now she is taking rest in Baba's Lap."

- "May Baba accept him in HIS divine lap....."

- "May he rest in HIS loving lap of eternity."

- "We are sure that Baba has taken him in His loving lap."

- "May his soul rest in Baba's lap forever."

- "Let her rest peacefully in Baba's Lap - which she always desired."

- "now he is in beloved Baba's lap"

- "May his soul get peaceful place in His lap"

- "He is now in Bábá's loving lap"

- "May Baba bless him with a seat in His lap."

- "May BABA accept him in HIS divine lap!"

- "May Baba take him in his eternal loving lap."

- "May his soul rest in peace taking shelter in Baba's lap."

- "Please keep him on Your lap forever."

- "We all collectively pray to Baba to take him on Baba's divine lap forever.”

All of the above lines are commonly written in eulogizing the deceased. These days mostly it is used in a eulogy and rarely used to recount one's intimate spiritual experiences - unfortunately. By this way, the phrase "in Baba's lap" is being misused and step by step the real meaning is being forgotten as now people more commonly use the phrase to eulogize those who have died, and much less so to express their inner feelings of bhakti. Unfortunately, the meaning and inner spirit of the phrase is getting lost.


Baba story: "sitting on Baba's lap"

Some time ago after dharmacakra, a senior margii was recounting his experiences of having dharma samiiksa with Baba. He said, "After being lovingly scolded by Baba for my wrongdoings, then He called me close and placed me on His lap - I remained there for some time soaking up His love - and He blessed me."

We all enjoyed hearing about his personal account with Baba during dharma samiiksa. When he finished telling his factual and historical event, there was a call for questions. Various people posed their queries. Towards the end, one new margii raised his hand and asked, "How did Baba bring you back to life?"

Everyone stared at the new margii in amazement. There was a look of astonishment all around - people were really shocked to hear him say this. The new sadhaka sensed that something was wrong He said very matter-of-factly, "I thought that sitting on Baba's Lap means that he (the margii) died - that is why I asked that question."

This was quite eye-opening for those of us in the room: Through our language and expression we had unknowingly taught someone to think that being on Baba's lap is the equivalent of death. Because it seems that nowadays people only use the phrase "Baba's lap" when a person has died, such as "Let him rest peacefully in Baba's lap", as if in order to sit on Baba’s lap one has to die. But that is false. Sincere sadhakas regularly sit on Baba’s lap in their meditation. It is His grace. It is just like a child need not die in order to sit on his father’s lap.

The idea is that this phrase - Baba's lap - has been linked with death due to extreme overuse. So for some time if sadhakas use this phrase exclusively for spiritual purposes, that will be best. The phrase, "sitting on Baba's lap", should not meet a similar fate. It should not lose its pure spiritual quality and just refer to one's death. That will be very negative.

Baba would bless bhaktas and place them on His lap


There are tens of thousands of recorded stories by sadhakas where they use the phrase, "on Baba's lap", when describing their experiences of being with Baba: He used to bless them and bring them on His lap. People should understand the deeply mystical value of this expression, and not just think that Baba's lap means death, i.e. that you can only sit on His lap at the time of death. Still today there are thousands of margiis walking this earth who sat in Baba's lap. And not only that, there are countless more sadhakas who were blessed by Baba in dreams and sadhana wherein they sat in His lap. And still today this deeply intimate experience is attainable by sadhakas, by His grace.

There are so many ways an aspirant can reach unto Baba's lap including in sadhana. That is the main idea that should be preserved. Sadhana is a spiritual practice and one can sit on Baba's lap in sadhana. We should make it cent-per-cent clear to one and all that the phrase, "sitting on Baba's lap", does not mean death.

"Mahaprayan" means death of mortals - confirm for yourself
from the Samsad Bengali-English Dictionary


Mahaprayan (Death): Many are aware that mahaprayan (death) is the common term used in India and especially in our Bengal to describe the death of any human being, even ordinary people. In that way, the obituary columns of the newspapers of Bengal regularly cite the mahaprayan (death) of various persons of society who died or passed away.

Some may get confused and wrongly think that the word 'mahaprayan' (death) is one extraordinarily term of bhakti to be used in association with Parama Purusa. But that is not at all the case. Rather to do so is only to undermine the eternal presence of Parama Purusa. That is why no bhaktas ever use the word 'mahaprayan' in reference to Lord Shiva or Lord Krsna. Because Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna exist eternally. Then there is no question of Their mahaprayan (death).

Baba is Parama Purusa so He is eternal and there is no question of His mahaprayan.

Here it should be known that the convention of an annual death day ceremony (i.e. shraddhainjali or mahaprayan) is a foundation of the Islamic tradition. Muslims are well known for this, and their approach of an annual death day ceremony was adopted by the leader of a particular group in AMPS. So no one should think that mahaprayan is some type of sacred event. It is done on the death day anniversary of Muslims.

And for those who need still more technical proof then all this can be clarified quite readily by referencing the dictionary. Specifically in the Samsad Bengali-English dictionary 3rd edition on page 848. Checking there it will be confirmed that the word 'mahaprayan' means death. Which is why it is used to refer to the passing away of even common citizens. And that is the case in this letter also. The term mahaprayan means death and this is the ideal term for this purpose.

Mahaprayan is only for humans not for Sadguru


Here it should be qualified that there is both real mahaprayan and fake mahaprayan. Real mahaprayan marks the death of any ordinary human being, just like the aforesaid news. This is the proper use of the term: To note a person's departure from this earth. That is the meaning of the mahaprayan term and that is the standard way the term is used in Indian languages.

Then there is the fake, or so-called, or dogmatic mahaprayan. That is when certain vested interests try to apply the mahaprayan term to Parama Purusa. This is grossly inappropriate because when Parama Purusa Sadguru Baba is that Divine Entity who is beginningless and endless and resides always in our heart, then it is entirely wrong to proclaim that He is gone.

That is why rational margiis are protesting; because the Oct 21st program is so-called mahaprayan. So-called means that something is fake. Parama Purusa is eternal, thus for some vested interests to declare "mahaprayan of Parama Purusa" is nothing but so-called mahaprayan.

Mahaprayan only really happens in the case of human beings, not Parama Purusa. Those doing mahaprayan for Sadguru are hypocrites. On the one side in meditation they ask His grace thinking that He is ever-present, and on the other side they think that Baba has passed away. That is their hypocrisy.


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