Baba
Highest bhakti
Namaskar,
Every sadhaka wants to progress along the path of sadhana. All want to progress to attain that highest, pinnacled state. This is an intrinsic part of the human personality. In each and every sphere of life - politics, law, sports, music, finances, science, or spirituality etc - people want to reach the highest realm. This is the way the human mind works. When the spiritual teachings of Ananda Marga guide us what is the highest grade of bhakti, then surely we all want to reach that place.
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "[A-grade] bhaktas say, 'No, no I can share all my belongings with others, but not my Parama Purus'a. He is mine and mine alone-- He belongs to no one else. I cannot even think of sharing Him with anyone'." (1)
So when one has that type of intense love for Parama Purusa that they do not want to share Him with anyone else, then by His grace they have reached that highest state of bhakti. Surely as sadhakas we want to reach that sacred stance. We all want to feel in the core of our hearts that, “Parama Purusa, You are mine and mine alone, and I do not want to share You with anyone.” This becomes the goal. And, by Baba's grace, we will reach that place. Because He tells us that this is not difficult to do. Just it needs a little practice.
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A child who has many siblings will not say, “This is our mother.” The child will use the phrase “my mother”. A child will always say, “This is my mother.” Because the child has an extremely personal relation with its mother. That child feels that, “My mother belongs to me and me only.” That is why the term "my" is used. Similarly, A-grade bhaktas cannot share Parama Purusa.
Ananda Marga ideology states, “Bhakta’s of the highest category think, “Parama Purus'a is mine only and He belongs to no one else.” This is the sign of an excellent sa'dhaka….“He is mine and mine alone and He does not belong to anyone else”.” (2)
Not normal bhakti but intense love for Him
Even then some innocent persons may wonder, “Does it really happen that one does not want to share Parama Purusa with others.” Because commonly, people think that Baba is the Guru for all Ananda Margiis so He is for everyone. This is a standard way of viewing things. But actually it does happen. Top sadhakas want Parama Purusa completely to themselves and do not want to share Him with anyone.
Ananda Marga philosophy guides us that this happens when one has a higher degree of love for Parama Purusa. If one has a normal level of love for Parama Purusa then it does not happen. But if one has more intense love for Parama Purusa, then internally the thought naturally arises that, “Parama Purusa, You are mine and mine alone, and I do not want to share You with anyone.” To best understand this state of mind, let us look at some examples in everyday life to see how this operates.
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Suppose a mother has five children. When those children have a normal standard of love for their mother then want to share her with all the other siblings. That is what happens if they have a normal degree of love. But the youngest - the baby - does not have a normal degree of love for the mother. That baby has deep, deep affection for its mama.
For that reason that youngest child will cry out if the mother spends even an ounce of time with the other children. That baby will scream and wail until it has the mother all to itself. This type of intense longing to have the mother all to itself, such that the baby does not want to share the mother with others, is all due to that baby's higher degree of love for its mama.
When attachment is more they do not want to share
And this result manifests in various types of relations. When children have a very close friendship with someone then also they do not want anyone to intrude on them when they are together with their best friend. That is because they have deep affection for their friend.
Or when a whole family is living together in joint fashion then they all become quite close and they do not want to lose one another. Whereas when the children are sent away to live in hostels they have less affection and attachment for their family members. In that case they do not mind being away from their family or sharing their mother or father with others.
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Generally speaking, when we have close relations with anyone such that we share our joys and sorrows with that person, then we do not want others to infringe upon that relation. Here the whole idea is that in our day to day life, when we derive any pleasure from anyone, then we do not want to lose that pleasure by sharing it with others. This is the human tendency.
And this happens in the animal kingdom as well. Because where there is a dominance of affection, then animals also do not like to share. For example, a mother lioness does not like to share its baby cubs with others. Likewise each puppy wants to be the first one to snuggle and cuddle with its mother. No puppy wants to share its mother with the other puppies. And when a man and lady are recently married or in a period of courtship, they just want to be with one another - and no one else. So in all realms of life this same principle is operating: Where there is an increased feeling of love and affection, then no being likes to share their cherished one with others.
Quality of an A-grade bhakta
This same very theme functions in spiritual life as well. As one develops more love for Parama Purusa they do not want to share Him with others. Then they will think that, “Parama Purusa, You are mine and mine alone, and I do not want to share you with anyone.” This is the quality of an A-Grade bhakta, according to Ananda Marga ideology.
The question is then how to reach that realm. The dharmic guideline is to do more dhyana and think about Him throughout one's daily activities. Then our affection and love for Him will grow such that we will want Him all to ourselves. So just as when joint family members pass their days together then their closeness for each other increases, the same thing is true in spiritual life. If one does more dhyana, serves Parama Purusa, engages in His ideation, and talks with Him, then naturally that sadhaka’s love and affection for Parama Purusa will become very pointed.
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That is the recipe and secret formula according to tantra: Develop one’s inner connection with Him, by His grace. Then one will think that He is mine and mine alone.
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "[A-grade] bhaktas say, 'No, no I can share all my belongings with others, but not my Parama Purus'a. He is mine and mine alone-- He belongs to no one else. I cannot even think of sharing Him with anyone'." (3)
So it is quite a practical formula. Through practice and training this can be realised in life, by His grace. Then one will become an A-Grade bhakta.
Conclusion
Ananda Marga ideology provides us with the pathway to Him whereby one can develop that most intimate and loving relation with Parama Purusa.
Subhasita Samgraha says, "What is really important is to meditate on the personal God and move towards Him. And this personal God is the Singular Entity, the Ta'raka Brahma. Ta'raka Brahma literally means a special manifestation of Parama Purus'a...He is the eternal companion of unit beings in their joys and sorrows - not a God in the distant sky but an understanding Lord in the house where they dwell." (4)
Ananda Marga ideology, “In the realm of devotion He is purely a personal Entity. He is mine, He is my Father, He is my closest relative. He is my bigger self. He is not a second entity; that is, the relationship is purely a personal one. There cannot be any love with an impersonal entity. One cannot be in love with an impersonal entity. Love requires a personal entity.” (5)
Namaskar,
In Him,
Vidha’ta’
~ In-depth study ~
In order to move ahead let us take a look at one of the main ways for measuring one's standard of bhakti.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "The bhaktas of the lowest category think, "As Parama Purus'a belongs to all, so certainly He belongs to me as well because I am one of the multitude." Thoughts of this type are not very congenial for one's spiritual progress. The second category of bhaktas is slightly better than this. They think, "Parama Purus'a is mine, and thus He must belong to others also." That is, the bhaktas of both categories have no hesitation in sharing Parama Purus'a with others. But the bhaktas of the highest category think, "Parama Purus'a is mine only and He belongs to no one else." This is the sign of an excellent sa'dhaka, and the spiritual progress of this category is inevitable. "He is mine and mine alone and He does not belong to anyone else" - this assertion is undoubtedly true." (6)
So in His above guideline Guru acutely describes to us the three broad categories of bhaktas. And by internalizing His teachings we can easily do self-analysis and understand where we are.
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Uniqueness of Ananda Marga
Ananda Marga is bhagavad dharma. Ananda Marga follows all the natural flows of life; it correlates with the innate tendencies of mind. So in Ananda Marga we intimately adhere to the principle that one should always try to develop a more personal and intimate relation with Parama Purusa. That feeling should grow and grow until ultimately one has the internal yearning that, 'Parama Purusa, You are mine and mine alone and I do not want to share You with anyone.’ This is one of the unique aspects of Ananda Marga philosophy.
References
1. A Few Problems Solved - 3, Verse, Mythology, History and Itihása
2. Subhasita Samgraha -11, What Is the Way?)
3. A Few Problems Solved - 3, Verse, Mythology, History and Itihása
4. Subhasita Samgraha - 11, A Devotee's Object of Ideation
5. Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 12, A Purely Personal Entity
6. Subhasita Samgraha - 11, 26 February 1971 DMC, Jammu
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Without this democracy is a mockery
Prout philosophy states, “The fact that voters without political consciousness weaken the governmental machinery cannot be denied. In the interests of the general public, it is desirable that uneducated and less-educated people do not have the right to vote.”
“Democracy is a mockery in a country of uneducated people. In such a country cunning, fraudulent persons very easily secure or purchase the votes of illiterate people. Moreover, the general public in such a country is easily misled by the propagation of casteism or communalism.”
Prout philosophy states, “The success of democracy depends upon educated, sensible voters. Hence, in a democratic country, the spread of education is of the highest priority. For the convenience of the general public, the educational system must be free of cost. No overbearing government pressure should be exerted on the educational system, otherwise the party in power will continue to propagate its ideas through the medium of education.” (1)
Reference
1. Problems of the Day, Point #33
== Section 3: Links ==
Other topics of interest
