Baba
Namaskar,
In
countless discourses, Baba guides us that bhakti lies within. That
sweet, close devotional proximity with Him is achieved internally. This
is Baba's eternal teaching on bhakti. We also know that everything Baba
has given is 100% clear, consistent, and conclusive. In that way, His
every thought, word, and deed are perfectly accordant with His AM
ideology.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Sixteen Points & Emergency
In
those weeks and months before going to jail, Baba beautifully
introduced His divine system of Sixteen Points. Now, in retrospect, we
can clearly see that this was His special timing. Being the omniscient
Parama Purusa and knowing that the unjust jail period was upcoming, Baba
introduced Sixteen Points with the intention that even during His
physical absence – i.e. jail period – all margiis would be able to
endure and have ample resilience to face the difficulty of the
Emergency. By strictly adhering to Sixteen Points, margiis would have
the strength, vigour, and bhakti to overcome all obstacles.
So,
in that pre-jail period around 1970, Baba was living in Patna, and, on a
regular basis, He began checking up on everyone's Sixteen Points,
ensuring that all were following properly. Baba knew that without those
special guidelines it would be impossible for sadhakas to survive the
Emergency. Whereas, by following Sixteen Points, every margii would have the
requisite bhakti to withstand any and all difficulties. This was Baba's
unique and special planning.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Ananda Vanii guidelines
And,
during the Emergency period itself, Baba graciously issued these below
dharmic mandates about Sixteen Points in His eternal and timeless
teachings of Ananda Vanii Samgraha.
Ananda
Vanii says, "Be firm on Sixteen Points. Unite all the righteous forces.
All the tall talks of the evil forces will be silenced." (1)
Ananda
Vanii says, "In order to march ahead on the road of human welfare, we
will have to strengthen ourselves in all the arenas 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." (2)
So
this is one special aspect of that jail period, and that universal
teaching holds true for today and eternity: By strictly adhering to
Sixteen Points, one's level of bhakti will blossom.
Baba’s special reply to sadhakas
During
the jail period, many margiis visited Baba, and Baba graciously gave
countless guidelines to all those who came — often directing people in
their personal lives and answering their various questions about how to
proceed. All through His incarceration this was going on. But, over the
course of this entire period, there was one query that was asked again
and again. And that question was, “How to best manage during this
difficult time?” After all, each and every Ananda Margii was facing many
challenges, and every disciple was also keen to keep the flag of AM
upright in this hostile environment. Baba’s reply was, “Tell everyone
that they should be very strict and sincere in following Sixteen
Points.”
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
After
the Emergency period ended, many of our dedicated Ananda Margiis (Wts
and general margiis) were pardoned and released from jail. However,
Sadguru Baba's case was still pending so He had not yet been released.
Naturally, everyone was eagerly asking about how they could best carry
on while He was still in jail. Here again, Baba’s guideline was to
strictly adhere to Sixteen Points. And this lesson was not just
applicable for that juncture, but stands as an eternal guideline for
those on the spiritual path.
Even CBI agents will be transformed
Each
and every Ananda Margii knows in their heart that bhakti transcends the
physical sphere as it is a psycho-spiritual quality. And Sixteen Points
is essential for developing bhakti. After all, so many communist spies
and CBI agents were planted here and there, physically watching Baba
intently during DMCs and His field walks etc. But such communists and
CBI agents did not have an iota of bhakti in them. Rather, they were
totally against AM and did not understand anything about Baba's divine
advent. So, even though they were watching physically, they could not
get the real nectar. Even Jyoti Basu-- the crooked communist leader of
West Bengal-- who lived in the same city for years, did not have any
inkling of bhakti. However, had those same nefarious people become
strict in Sixteen Points they would have been wholly transformed and
become great bhaktas.
Central dadas had to do sadhana
Here
is the other half of the equation. Various central workers were around
Baba 24hrs a day, but they still had to do sadhana and follow Sixteen
Points. Baba never said to them that since they were in His physical
proximity they did not have to do sadhana or follow Sixteen Points. This
was never Baba's instruction. Instead, even if a Dada had been working
all morning with Baba then, before lunch, that Dada still had to do
half-bath, sadhana etc. It was not that he could skip sadhana and eat
just because he had been physically close that morning. Rather, the rule
was always, 'No sadhana, no meal'. So sadhana (i.e. following Sixteen
Points) always had to be done regardless of the degree of one's physical
proximity to Baba.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
We
can say then that bhakti is such a unique force that is not limited to
the physical sphere. Rather we know-- and in numerous discourses Baba
guides us-- that the secret to the higher stages of bhakti is dhya'na;
and, that dhya'na is not possible without strict adherence to Sixteen
Points. So Baba’s guideline is to be very strict in Sixteen Points, as
by this avenue one will become an elevated sadhaka and gain those deep
spiritual realisations and samadhis etc.
Here,
Baba beautifully describes how internal bhakti and sadhana are the key
ingredients for attaining Him. Thus, strictness in Sixteen Points is
needed.
Ananda
Marga ideology says, "It is wrong to think that Parama Purus'a is
realizable by man through empirical knowledge...To attain Brahma you
shall have to do sa'dhana' or spiritual meditation. You should make Him
the only goal of your life. For this you require integrity, devotion and
singular and earnest love for Him. He is not attainable without
reverence and unflagging and unflinching devotion. When the devotional
depth will come, love, too, will be out-brimming with high sentiments -
will be full and over-flowing... In that state alone will come your
final realization of the Supreme Consciousness." (3)
Conclusion
Sixteen
Points is essential. It is vital towards our well-being in all fields
of life. And by being strict in Sixteen Points one gains that
crown-jewel of life: bhakti. So no matter what phase of life one is in,
and no matter the circumstances one is facing, every sadhaka should be
very strict in Sixteen Points. And one will feel Baba’s divine presence
always. That is His great blessing upon us.
At His lotus feet,
Gurubhakti
References
1. Ánanda Váńii #44, 1 January 1976
2. Ánanda Váńii #45, Ánanda Púrńimá 1976
3. Subháśita Saḿgraha Part 3, Desire and Detachment
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