Baba
Sin & pápa: different
Namaskar,
Often the terms (a) crime, (b) sin, and (c) pápa are used interchangeably. However, each of these words has a very specific meaning and must be understood and used properly. Among the general population, and to a great extent in Ananda Marga as well, people are confused on this matter. Often, Ananda Margiis can be heard saying or even writing that not following 16 points is a sin. This usage of the word ‘sin’ is not proper. Baba says that due to the lack of a suitable word in English for the term pápa, the word sin is used-- even in pravacans. And this needs to be reconsidered.
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Sin versus pápa
The meaning of the word ‘sin’ is “an act which is not in accordance with the Bible”. For instance, in the Bible, meat-eating is common and sanctions the same, but we know that the slaughtering and killing of animals is not right. Yet, according to the Bible, all the animals are made for the pleasure and enjoyment of humans and they do not have átmá (soul), práńá, or even feelings. Many scientists and psychologists of occidental origin, who have slightly elevated minds, are trying hard to prove to the people deluded by such religious dogmatic thinking that animals do have feelings. People belonging to oriental traditions know this basic fact already that animals do have feelings. Under the influence of the dogmatic biblical teachings, the status of animals is considered to be no more than vegetation.
However, the primary meaning of sin is that which goes against Biblical teachings. An analogous concept exists in Islam called Junah wherein the Quran teachings are violated. Pápa, on the other hand, is going against bhágavata dharma. Crime is going against the law of a country where one is living. For instance, in some countries selling meat is a crime, but in some other places it is not the case.
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Ananda Marga ideology says, “Another thing to bear in mind is that “sin” in the English language is not the pápa of Sanskrit. As already said, “sin” means to go against that prescribed in the Bible. But pápa is explained in the phrase Paropakárah puńyáya pápaya parapiid́anam – that is, “Any action by one individual which leads to the development of others is puńya [virtuous deeds], and any action which does the opposite is pápa.”” (1)
Crime and pápa
According to Baba’s teachings, when it comes to choosing between avoiding crime and pápa, one should give priority to avoiding pápa. If by avoiding crime one is acting against humanity then one should choose to commit that crime, wholly disregarding the consequences. For instance, if there is a law that prevents helping the poor then one should commit that crime by helping the poor. During the communist regime in West Bengal, a bill was passed to prevent Ananda Márgiis from offering service projects to the flood-hit people. The underlying reason behind passing such a law was the anxiety of the communists of the increasing popularity of Ananda Marga. A stay was, however, put on the law later by the higher courts of India. The main point here is that even if such laws exist which are against humanity then, according to Ananda Marga, they can be violated.
Ananda Marga philosophy says, “Criminal codes are generally framed by politicians according to their own standards. Sometimes they include a tinge of humanity and sometimes they do not. Thus the present-day legal codes are not necessarily humanitarian. Rational people may defy a legal code but they should never violate cardinal human values. I would never tell the people of a country to follow their legal codes blindly, but would tell them to always follow cardinal human values. The cardinal human values are the silver lining between the psycho-spiritual world and the spiritual world. They are at the meeting-point of these two strata – the spiritual stratum on one side and the psycho-spiritual stratum on the other.” (2)
Bhágavata dharma: touchstone between pápa & punya
According to bhágavata dharma, helping others is puńya and harming others is pápa. Ananda Margiis should only be concerned with following bhágavata dharma. In light of this, the word sin, being of biblical origin, should not be used in the place of pápa. The word sin should only be used where the intent is to explain the concept of going against the Bible. Laws should be based on cardinal human values.
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As society progresses, laws will become more aligned with bhágavata dharma. Ananda Margiis should actively struggle for directing the society in the direction of bhágavata dharma in their own spheres as far as possible. The change has to begin at the individual level and only then the collective change can be expected to take place. For instance, if a majority of people are inclined towards meat-eating then putting a legal ban on the meat industry will not work. First, people have to be awakened. Today’s society is much better in terms of animal rights, racism, etc. compared to the society of a hundred years ago. However, there is a long way to go for society to be structured in accordance with bhágavata dharma. In such a society that is based on bhágavata dharma, pápa and crime will be the same. It is not so, however, today.
Ananda Marga philosophy says, “Wise people will never entertain a conception of sin based on religious dogma. Rather, they will judge with discrimination the correctness of the code according to cardinal human values.” (3)
Conclusion
We should use words very carefully. Ananda Márgiis should use proper terminology in their conversations and writing. It is the responsibility of Márgiis to educate those who are unaware or ignorant in this context.
In any country, even if an act is considered legal but is against bhágavata dharma then it is pápa. Negative samskáras are definitely formed due to pápa and may or may not be formed due to what is considered as a crime according to the laws of a country. Crime is related to the local administration and pápa with dharma. Thus, the negative effects of pápa are far reaching compared to that of crime.
If a bad man murders an innocent person but gets acquitted after bribing the court, even then they will have to undegor the negative reaction. The requital of negative samskáras will not be achieved. By the influence of mundane wealth, one may get acquitted by the court of a country, but not by the cosmic law.
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We are thus to obey the cosmic law which is governing the whole srśťi. Those who practice sádhaná regularly with bhakti get this experience that the cosmic law is one. Certainly, one should obey the laws of the country in which one lives to be a good citizen, but over and above that one must follow bhágavata dharma. Whenever there is a conflict between the law of the land and bhágavata dharma, one should give priority to bhágavata dharma.
In Him,
Bhakti
Cardinal human values
Ananda Marga philosophy says, “Long ago Vyása said the following about sin:
Aśtádashapuráneśu Vyásasya vacanádvayam
Paropakárah puńyáya pápaya parapiid́anam.
That is, that action which checks the progress of the society is sin, and that action which accelerates social progress is Punya or virtue. This is a fact. But what is crime? Any action which goes against the different legal codes made by the different nations, according to their spatial, personal and collective differences, is crime. In Saḿskrta crime is known as Aparádha. Sin or pápa should be formulated on the basis of cardinal human values. This was also supported by Vyasa.” (4)
References
(1) Subháśita Saḿgraha Part 21, Niiti and Dharma
(2) Prout in a Nutshell Part 8, The Three Causes of Sin
(3) Prout in a Nutshell Part 8, The Three Causes of Sin
(4) Prout in a Nutshell Part 8, The Three Causes of Sin
* * *
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 are ever-ready to help
"(Mor), d́ákáte ásoniko krpáte ele, d́eke gechi nija man bhúláte..." (Prabhat Samgiita #3681)
Purport:
O’ Parama Purusa, when I invoke Your name You never come. You appear only out of Your eternal compassion on me. Even then, I go on calling You, again and again, just to quench my longing. Baba, You never pay heed or give any response to high-sounding, ostentatious recitations or religious sermons in Samskrta, Hebrew, Classical Hebrew, Arabic, Pali, Greek, Old Chinese etc. You do not care about verbosity or any superficial rituals. You are only moved by the feeling of the heart. Repeating dry hymns devoid of bhakti can't melt Your core. You are drawn near by one’s sincere love.
O’ Parama Purusa, Baba, You are my nearest and sweetest. You are aware about my entire being, listening to my all thoughts, and seeing my every action. You understand all there is to know about me. When my mind is drowned in vanity, You are ever-ready to be held in my grasp, after removing the smog of my ego.
Hari, Parama Purusa, whatever chants, recitations, sadhana, asanas, bhajans, kiirtana, pranayama, puja’, dhyana, spiritual practices, or meditation I perform, it is only for getting You, and satisfying and satiating You. As You are fully aware about my foolishness and shallow bhakti, kindly saturate the deep core of my soul with the sweetness of prema. Please shower me with Your causeless grace and make my life successful.
Baba, when I was calling You did not come; but You have come now. It is Your karuna’. Your liila is unfathomable...
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Must supply jobs before taking away livelihood
Prout philosophy states, "For the all-round welfare of human beings, society needs to follow some fundamental socio-political principles. Without the firm foundation of such principles, disunity, injustice and exploitation will flourish."
"First people should not be retrenched from their livelihood unless alternative employment has been arranged for them."
“In India during the time of the British, many small kingdoms were ruled by rajas and maharajas. When India became independent, these kingdoms merged into India, and the Indian government decided to pay the former monarchs a stipend. However, this scheme was not a good idea, because many former monarchs wasted money and lived luxurious, sycophantic lifestyles. After a particular leader became prime minister, the scheme was abandoned at short notice. This caused economic hardship for some of the less well-off recipients who were unable to make alternative financial arrangements. Some old people in particular found it difficult to adjust. While the government should not have adopted the scheme in the first place, having adopted it, the government should have withdrawn it gradually and taken the responsibility for looking after the elderly people on humanitarian grounds.”
“Now you understand the consequences of retrenching people without arranging a suitable alternative livelihood for them.” (1)
Note: Here it should be understood that the term retrenchment means losing one's job. The worker has been dismissed, fired, or let go whereby they no longer have a job. The term retrenchment is commonly used in Australia and South Africa. People from other regions may not be familiar with this usage of the term.
Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell-16, Three Cardinal Socio-Political Principles
== Section 4: Links ==
Shravanii Purnima - Sun, 22 Aug 2021
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