Baba
Slow degeneration
Namaskar,
When human beings become blindly infatuated with objects of enjoyment and lose all common sense, and get wholly absorbed in the pursuit of finite objects forgetting the infinite, they make the error of believing that the impermanent is permanent. This useless pursuit exhausts all their vital energy. They forget that no single object of the world is permanent. Some educated people say, “Well, I may not live long enough to enjoy all the pleasures of life, but my grandchildren will.” This yearning for the finite is caused by avidyá maya.” Basically avidyá maya means having a degrading effect on the mind. More about this is explained below.
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Bad thoughts will multiply
When witnessing dark deeds, often one thinks, "That can't happen to me." Yet it is important to remember that those criminals in jail and those who have fallen were not born into such a condition. That degradation occurred little by little, as the tendencies of a debased frame of mind were further encouraged within their own self. When faced with troubling tendencies, if one does not recognise them and fend them off, then those degenerating tendencies will grow.
In the beginning, a lowly thought is small. Only that individual knows what lesser thoughts crop up in the mind. Others do not know. In this initial period, one must face and conquer those aspects of bad ways of thinking, and not let them grow. Thus one must know the technique of how to obliterate those debased thoughts - and that is detailed further down in this mailing. Because if one does not catch it and destroy it early on, then that degrading tendency will grow. Any bad thought or tendency can and will multiply into if not caught early on.
No community leader thinks they will be exposed for their misdeeds; no spouse thinks they will get bound up and humiliated for being in an extramarital affair; and no student thinks they will be caught cheating on an examination. Similarly, no Wt can think that they may fall prey to a particular weakness. The key point to know here is that any thought or psychic tendency can erupt into a volcano if one is not vigilant and does not use Baba's sadhana. There are so many ways that degrading thoughts can sprout and bring about one's ruination. One lapse or one moment of poor thinking is enough to bring one's downfall. So one must recognise the issue, be vigilant in addressing the matter, and know the proper technique for gaining victory.
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Remedy: take shelter in Parama Purus'a
No matter how big or how small one’s lowly tendencies are in life, there is one and only one solution. There is a singular way to escape from those ill effects.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "Now how can you kill, how can you destroy this Ra'van'a? This depraving force, this degenerating force is “Ra'van'a.” How can you destroy the Ra'van'a? You can destroy this Ra'van'a only when you take shelter in Parama Purus'a. So “Ra'van'asya maran'am Ra'mah” here “Ra'ma” means “Parama Purus'a”. Without the help of Parama Purus'a one cannot destroy this ten-faced demon." (1)
Ananda Marga ideology states, "How can one be saved from crudification? Ra'van'a can be defeated, can be destroyed, only when one takes shelter in Ra'ma. That’s why He is Ra'van'asya maran'am: when one takes shelter in Parama Purus'a, Ra'van'a automatically dies." (2)
The only real solution to overcoming the degrading and harmful ways of thinking is to wholeheartedly ideate on Parama Purusa Baba. As soon as any debased idea comes in the mind, one should think of Him. Then everything will be fine - that tendency will dissipate - vanish.
It is only when we think of Baba, that all degrading ways of thinking get eliminated as the mind is cent-per-cent involved in Him.
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Conclusion
Sadguru Baba has given the solutions to all problems - including the solution to overcoming the degrading aspects of mind. The moment one recognises a negative tendency in the mind and eliminates it by thinking of Him, one will march along the path progress.
Ananda Marga ideology states, "Now, what is the duty of a sa'dhaka for spiritual enlightenment. The sa'dhaka will have to fight against Ra'van'a, against those debasing propensities which are the causes of illusion and cloud the spiritual vision of mankind. So to be established in Parama Purus'a, one will have to crucify Ra'van'a." (3)
Namaskar,
In Him,
Liiladhar
Represents the extroverted human
To bring this point to light, Baba makes an analogy from the Ra'ma'yan'a to show how many human beings are prone to depraving propensities.
Ananda Marga ideology states, "And what is Ra'van'a? In the Ra'ma'yan'a there is something regarding Ra'van'a. (The Ra'ma'yan'a is a mythological book, it is not history.) Ra'van'a means a ten-faced demon. That is, Ra'van'a represents the extroverted human mind moving, functioning, in ten directions – moving towards crudeness, away from the Nucleus – being drifted away by the centrifugal force." (4)
Thus whenever the mind loses its internal flow and allows tendencies like lethargy, jealousy, greed, or other degenerating forces to grab hold of the mind, it means that one has been influenced by their inner Ravana, that degrading tendency of mind.
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Debasing propensities is called Ra'van'a
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "What is Ra'van'a? You know human mind has got both the subtle and debasing propensities. As subtler propensities are directed towards the Self, there is no question of their extroversial expressions. Only the debasing propensities of human mind are expressed in ten directions - east, west, north, south, north-east, north-west, south-east, south-west, above and below. The pu'rva, pashcima, uttar, daks'in'a, urdhva, and adhah are known as “Pradisha” in Sanskrit and Isha'na, Va'yu. Agni and Naert – these four corners are known as An'udisha. Six Pradisha and four An'udisha taken together are the ten directions in which microcosms express debasing propensities. As they are directed towards the mundane objects, the microcosm goaded with debasing propensities is called Ra'van'a." (5)
Thus, many human beings have both Rama - i.e. uplifting tendencies - and Ravana - i.e. debasing propensities. The aspect of Rama guides one towards the internal spiritual Goal, whereas the degrading tendencies of Ravana lead one towards so many mundane allurements and bad habits.
Rama & Ravana are evident in everyday life
This dramatic rift between Ra'ma and Ra'van'a is an everyday reality for many people. When one gets inspiration to quickly rise from the bed and do spiritual practice, that is due to the helping force of Rama. And when one decides to go back to sleep, that is the degrading tendency of Ravana. And if we think further we can see how this applies to so many daily events in life. For instance, do we express patience with others or do we quickly become frustrated and angry? Do we take time everyday to do svadhyaya or just spend time in mundane dealings?
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Nearly each and every moment one is either being goaded in some or another direction - introversial flow of Rama, or extroversial flow of Ravana. Some of the time for people, Ravana is the dominant force. In this era of extreme materialism, many of the human population is moving fast towards external physicality. As an Ananda Margii, one must take steps not to get affected by that flow. To this end, vigilance and awareness is needed.
Prone to bad habits
Many are prone to falling into bad habits or bad ways. This is a fact of life - not just some theory but the practical reality for so many people. That bad characteristic might be lethargy, jealousy, or greed etc. Most have some inner weakness or degrading proclivity. Numerous people experience it - in one way or another. So one should learn Baba's direct remedy for curing oneself of such tendencies or ills, lest those tendencies grow and take over the whole personality. Then one will get success in overcoming that habit / tendency.
References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam, part 12, Names of the Lord
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam, part 1, “Krśńa” and “Ráma”
3. Subhasita Samgraha, part 18, The Lord and His Name
4. Ananda Vacanamrtam, part 1, “Krśńa” and “Ráma”
5. Subhasita Samgraha, part 18, The Lord and His Name
* * *
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 ==
"Malay va'ta'se madhu nishva'se ke go ele mor phulavane..." (Prabhat Samgiita #1801)
Purport:
O’ the Supreme Entity, who are You who has come with silent footsteps in my flower garden in the gentle breeze of this spring season with a sweet and charming smile. When I saw You for the first time I was surprised, as it was difficult to think that such an attractive Entity would be here. I wanted to look towards You more intimately, but I could not. In that moment, I was sitting in the flower garden unmindfully - unaware.
O' Supreme One, I couldn't even hear the footsteps of Your arrival, and You did not give me any hint or clue before coming to this garden so I could not receive You properly nor could I offer You a garland. You have come here, yet You arrived with a smiling face without invitation. Please tell me, O' Divine Entity, who are You?
O' my Lord, understanding Your liila is impossible. Within a flash You can become extremely tough, and then the next moment You are as tender as a flower - like a garland of love, so sweet and charming. O' divine Entity You cannot be understood. You are infinite - without beginning or end. Through the practice of sadhana and dhyana I am surrendering myself at Your altar.
Baba, You came to my flower garden; it is your grace...
== Section 3: Important Teaching ==
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "At one time, the ancient Mayan civilization of America was more advanced than many other civilizations, but because they lagged behind in the invention of the wheel, they were forced in subsequent times to acknowledge their defeat at the hands of other civilizations. The oldest existing artifacts of the Mayan civilization give evidence to advanced ways of life but no wheel. One should keep in mind that the Sanskrit name for America, Mayadviipa, came from the name of the Mayan civilization. During the Chola, Pa'n'd'ya, and Pahlava dynasties of the Indian Middle Ages there was contact between America and India--this was before Columbus' discovery of America." (Shabda Cayanika - 1, p.87)
== Section 3: Important Teaching ==
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Today parents may rightly say, “We have almost no vital energy left after exchanging blows and counter-blows with life. We have no chance to mould the minds of our children with the care and tenderness of our hearts. All the sweetness and finer sensibilities of our minds have been sucked dry by the harsh realities of life. How can we take care of our children? We cannot even provide them with proper food and clothing. How can we know what they are thinking? Do we have the time to understand anything properly at all? We know children should be taught through the medium of play and entertainment, both at home and outside, but is it possible for us to do that? We even have to disturb our talented son at his studies to send him to the grocer’s to buy salt, cooking oil, spices, etc. We know it is wrong, but there is no alternative, for keeping a servant is beyond our means.”"
"There may be some truth in this, but it is not the point at issue here. In order to develop a healthy outlook, the most important thing children need is robust idealism. To impart this, parents require only two virtues: self-restraint and good judgement. Let us discuss good judgement first."
"When the parents are about to go on a trip or go to a show, or when they are invited to a pleasant function or a social outing, the children may start whining or nattering to accompany them. At such times many parents tell lies without a qualm; somehow they dupe their children and leave. When the children realize what has happened, they also learn to tell lies; and to hide their intentions or their actions from their parents, they gradually start lying more and more." (1)
Note: Without realising it, parents teach their children both good things and bad things. Being an ideal parent is not easy. Unknowingly parents often teach their children the ways of lies and deception.
Reference
1. Human Society - 1, Education
== Section 4: Links ==
Other topics of interest
