Solutions to common issue
Namaskar,
Many want to move ahead in life and leave old habits behind, but it is not always easy. Often a person gets trapped or ensnared by their own past behaviours. The mind clings on to "old, harmful dirty thoughts," as it gets entangled in those past, dirty thoughts. For instance, there are some who indulge in misdeeds, overcome that problem, and then again succumb to it. We see this with commonly with criminals in the form of repeat offenders—especially so with sex offenders.
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A situation related with our Ananda Marga way of life is when a person becomes a margii and firmly decides not to eat onions and garlic, but then after some time reverts back to that poor habit of eating tamasik foods like onions and garlic. Or they might be falling back to any thoughts of past dirty behavior. They know it is harmful and sinful, but even then they do it.
Not only troubled people, but sometimes even highly talented and successful people fall prey to this trap of reverting back to old, past, degrading habits. How and why do such things happen? According to Baba and His teaching of Ananda Marga ideology, the solutions to all these events are deeply rooted in spiritual science.
Alcoholics & addicts talk about their addictions
Now that we know what the problem is we should identify the solution. The key point for overcoming abhinivesha (psychic obsession with old habits) is to divert the mind in a sentient direction—and not think about that past misdeed. That means whenever the desire comes in the mind to revert back to old behaviours, then immediately do kiirtana. At that time, the sadhaka should goad the mind in a spiritual direction. Best is to think of Parama Purusa. That will immediately draw the mind away from the negative desire.
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Unfortunately, this important tactic of diverting the mind has been missed by many professional psychologists and counselors in the west. Often support groups for alcoholics and addicts etc try to address the matter by talking about those very problems. But, unfortunately, that only reinforces that negative idea in the mind and one is more bound by it. The best approach for dealing with abhinivesha (psychic obsession) is to divert the mind to a sentient, positive endeavour.
Few steps for overcoming obsession—1
Here below is a list of ways Ananda Margiis can divert and goad the mind in a wholly positive manner
1) Reading the shastras—books of Ananda Marga—give a sadhaka the knowledge and inspiration to lead a proper life, away from past, negative samskaras. Svadhyaya then is a very important way to divert the mind towards a higher ideal.
2) Singing kiirtan is an effective way to divert the mind from old thoughts and invite a spiritual flow in our psychic arena. By singing and dancing and ideating on Parama Purusa, one can purify the mind and rid oneself of the ill-effects of abhinivesha (psychic obsession) from the mind.
3) Doing sadhana is another very important practice for overcoming abhinivesha (psychic obsession). Our sadhana system, as we all know, is very scientific. It combines two distinct features or philosophies: (1) as you think so you become, and (2) the channelisation of mind. With these principles at work in nearly every lesson—and most certainly in 1st lesson and dhyana, then one's entire mental stratum gets cleaned and pointed towards the Supreme Entity. In that case, all one's past negative samskaras related with abhinivesha (psychic obsession) get smothered and removed, as the mind gets diverted upward.
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Few steps for overcoming obsession—2
4) Surrounding ourselves with satsaunga helps ensure we stay on the proper path. Good company keeps us from reverting to old behaviours. That is why satsaunga is looked upon as a key ingredient for attaining liberation.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Satsaun'ga provides a positive psychic environment. Good company leads to liberation whereas bad company is the cause of bondages." (1)
Thus if one continually diverts the mind towards Parama Purusa using the aforementioned practices and approaches, then it is sure that they can overcome the trappings of abhinivesha (psychic obsession). One must never let the mind get diverted towards degrading thoughts and past negative samskaras. And the way to do that is to point the mind in a positive direction by thinking of Parama Purusa. Then abhinivesha cannot set its roots.
How procrastination of negative habits helps
So the first way to overcome abhinivesha (psychic obsession) is to divert the mind towards Parama Purusa. A second avenue for achieving success in overcoming abhinivesha is procrastination. Essentially, when a degrading thought enters the mind, then one should procrastinate—do not act on that negative idea. Simply wait until that thought goes away and a positive thought enters the mind. Then one should act by executing that positive thought. Here the main idea is to delay all actions when a dark thought is clouding the mind.
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Here Baba explains the key point about why abhinivesha is so dangerous. The tricky thing about abhinivesha is that in cent-per-cent of the cases the person involved knows that doing xyz is bad; but, even then, because he thinks about that old sin so he does it again. Such is the strong pull or allurement of abhinivesha.
Abhinivesha: Svarasovahi vidus'ohpi tatha' ru's'hobhinivesha
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "The last one and the most dangerous one is abhinivesha. Even the learned persons and the jina'niis, the scholars know that this is this and that is that or what is what and which is which. Even knowing everything they are entrapped by certain propensities. This particular nature of weakness is called abhinivesha...A drunkard knows that drinking is a very bad practice. Even then he can not give it up. These are all examples of abhinivesha." (2)
Even when the rational mind is aware that stealing and lying are harmful, still a person falls prey to their old behaviours because they think about the old sin so they do it again. That is why it is so dangerous: Despite one's awareness of the inherent danger or harm, even then they resort to that action, due to thinking about past deeds.
Conclusion
When old bad deeds come in the mind, one should take action and engage the mind in any positive direction—song, dance, art, or any sentient hobby. The central idea is that if the mind is positively engaged then negative thoughts will go away. Of course, the best is to engage the mind in kiirtan and the thought of Parama Purusa. If you think often about the negative deeds of the past, then you will do that again. So watch out.
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Namaskar,
In Him,
Sadhana
Divert the mind towards a high ideal
People, even some sadhakas, repeat their past misdeeds due to abhinivesha. A few suffer in this way. Yet Baba has given the very practical solution: Divert the mind towards a high ideal. By adhering to this tenet, one can surely overcome abhnivesha and be free of all their old tendencies and habits. Then one will easily advance in the realm of spirituality, by His grace.
~ In-depth study ~
Story: how people justify abhinivesha (psychic obsession)
Here Baba shares with us one story about abhinvesha where one alcoholic recovers only to again fall prey to that habit.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "Incidentally, I remember a story. Once there was an alcoholic who realized, by studying good books and generally cultivating his knowledge, that addiction to wine is a very bad habit indeed. Under the influence of Vidya' shakti he even made a vow to give up the habit of drinking on the next auspicious day. When that auspicious day came he marched resolutely past the wine bar he used to frequent. When he was ten steps past the wine bar he said in self-appreciation, “Well done, mind. You are so firm in your resolution to kick the habit of drinking that you’ve succeeded in taking ten steps past the wine bar. Congratulations! Today I will reward you for your courage. Let’s open two bottles of wine!” After that the alcoholic continued to visit the wine bar regularly and drink large quantities of wine. This story is a beautiful illustration of abhinivesha or psychic obsession." (3)
Here Baba points out how even great and talented people get caught in the clutches of abhinivesha.
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Ananda Marga ideology says, "Svarasova'hii vidus'o'pi tatha'ru'd'ho’bhiniveshah – “Even a great scholar, a highly learned person, who knows what is proper and what is improper, is still driven by his inherent reactive momenta, and knowingly moves towards improper and undesirable things.” This mental disease, which is in fact a crude movement driven by avidya' [ignorance, force of extroversion from the Cosmic Nucleus], is called abhinivesha." (4)
Must divert the mind towards sentient thoughts
In this following teaching, Baba is guiding us that the best way to cure addicts from their negative behaviors is not to remind them directly of their old actions but to engage their mind in healthier and higher pursuits.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The best psychological cure for addicts is to put them in an environment where they will be unable to think of their object of addiction for any length of time. To proclaim, "Don't do this, it's bad," is futile, for it is a negative approach. If you say, "Don't drink wine", you are still injecting the concept of wine into the alcoholic's mind, thus making it impossible for him to forget it and kick (quit) his bad habits. You are giving alcohol negative publicity, and it again becomes his mental object. Thus whenever he gets the opportunity he will certainly drink it again. And it may be that this negative approach encourages the alcoholic to become even more addicted. It is a defective approach."
"These days the sign "No smoking please" is placed in many public places, but it will not reduce the amount of smoking. If society wants people to stop smoking, its approach should be to divert the smoker's mind to other objects. A chain smoker should be encouraged to get involved in various pursuits such as music, dance, songs, culture of fine arts, etc., for if the mind remains engaged in these things it will forget its object of addiction. But the person who thinks, "I'll stop drinking wine the day after tomorrow-- no, let me see, why not tomorrow", can never kick the habit, for wine remains the mental object. The mind will try to materialise whatever it thinks about in the external world—this is its nature." (5)
The panacea: kiirtan & ideation
Kiirtan is an ideal way to overcome abhinivesha (psychic obsession) and goad the mind in a purely spiritual and sentient direction.
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Ananda Marga ideology says, "The human brain is limited, and its nerve cells also have a limited capacity: they cannot tolerate these growing complexities. Kiirtan gives bliss to Parama Purus'a in the mental sphere, and it also brings joy to human beings both individually and collectively; it leads them on the path of welfare and frees them from all these complexities. It removes all the diseases of the intellect and allows people to think easily and in the proper way." (6)
The way to eradicate abhinivesha from one’s life is to ideate on the Supreme, then one’s old, bad samskaras cannot grab hold of them. Then they are free from the grip of abhinivesha.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "From where does abhinivesha derive its impetus? From the acquired sam'ska'ras of human beings. As long as human beings are guided by their own individual flow, they are microcosms, and when they are guided by the Cosmic flow (Brahmarasa or Para'rasa) they become liberated souls – they become one with Shiva." (7)
As we reflect on this topic it is very clear why Wts are not allowed to visit their laokik places: Memories of the past will pull them back towards old habits and prior ways of living, and they will lose their dharmic stance.
Even good people mess up & ruin their lives
How does it happen? The mind is fully aware about the past - but not aware about the future. Naturally then, it is quite easy for the mind to think about the past. It is a known entity. And then, once it thinks about those past misdeeds, it is just a matter of time until one starts following those old, degrading patterns of behaviour. This is the common cycle or downward spiral. That is how abhinivesha drags one back towards their dark past.
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In each and every land and country there are certain examples of well-known, highly-educated people who knew better but still got caught in the depths of abhinivesha (self-obsession). And in the end, they suffered terribly for it, often ruining their lives. The main idea is that even when someone has full and complete knowledge of the horrors and defects of repeating certain wrongful or debased acts, still one indulges when those ideas start swirling in the mind. That is why even good people mess up and ruin their lives - all due to harmful process of thinking about negative dealings from the past. Without sadhana, one is sure to fall prey to abhinivesha (self-obsession), in one manner or another. And even if people are conscious about this, some get caught up in this manner if they are not cent-per-cent careful.
Here is another way that abhinivesha takes effect. Sometimes when people watch movies or play video games, they completely identify with a particular degrading character. They feel that character's pain and joy as their own. When that character acts, the viewer feels like they themselves are jumping into action. Thus when they watch the film they are not merely a passive observer but rather an active participant whereby they mentally feel they are doing everything. Their I-feeling becomes linked with the personae of that bad character. Then later on, in their own life, they commit those very same debased actions. This also is abhinivesha (self-obsession) - and indeed a growing phenomenon in today's video-oriented society.
References
1. Yoga Psychology, Bio-Psychology
2. Ánanda Vacanámrtam - 2 Cardinal Attributions of God
3. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life in a Nutshell Part 8, The Macrocosmic Stance and Human Life
4. Subháśita Saḿgraha - 24, Incantation and Human Progress
5. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell Part 6, Vyatireka – 1
6. Ananda Vacanamrtram - 22, Serve the Supreme by Kiirtana
7. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life - 8, The Macrocosmic Stance and Human Life Impetus
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Better such people should not marry
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Marriage is slightly different from other natural functions in life, such as eating, sleeping, etc. Marriage is not so essential for life as are food and sleep. The need for marriage differs with individuals. That is why in the opinion of Ananda Marga every individual has complete freedom in matters of marriage. For example, marriage of those persons who suffer from some physical or mental disease, or who are not financially well off, or whose present circumstances are not favourable for marriage (i.e., where marriage can cause unhappiness), is not desirable. Those who are constantly engaged in the fulfilment of an ideal, or those who have to spend the greater part of their day in earning their livelihood or some mental occupations, should not marry, because they will not find it possible to fulfil their family commitments properly. The marriages of such people are harmful to the society in many cases. Although marriage is not desirable for those who are suffering from some disease or whose circumstances are not favourable to getting married, there remains a possibility of their indulging in vices stealthily if they are not married. To avoid this, they should work for the attainment of some high ideals or do rigorous spiritual practices. The psychological degeneration which is inherent in the suppression of psychic tendencies can be avoided only by an effort to fulfil a lofty ideal.” (1)
Note: Remember one should know and propagate that under these certain circumstances marriage is harmful. According to Ananda Marga philosophy, marriage is undesirable for the following types of people:
(a) Those who suffer from a physical or mental disease: In the society there are so many children born disabled with genetic diseases and birth defects. This can be significantly reduced if the parents are healthy.
(b) Those not financially well off: If a person lacks the financial means to raise a child and provide for them then they should not reproduce. In many financially impoverished countries, children are forced to work as servants or kids have to beg by the roadside. That is disgraceful. Those who cannot feed their children should not marry.
(c) Circumstances are not favourable for marriage: If marriage will lead to unhappiness then those persons should not marry. For instance, those working at their job for 18 - 22 hours a day cannot attend to the children. So they should not marry otherwise their children will suffer. Those kids will not be mentally or emotionally developed. In result, they will be destructive forces in the society. Those types of children commit heinous acts like mass shootings, or they feel alienated and resort to drugs etc.
(d) Those constantly engaged in the fulfilment of an ideal: Wts, lfts, even dedicated margiis who want to devote 24hrs time for the welfare of society should not marry. They will always be engaged in serving the society, and, if married, their unit family would get neglected.
(e) Greater part of their day in earning their livelihood or some mental occupations: Researchers, writers, artists, scientists, and those who are intellectually and spiritually committed to a high degree in a given endeavour should not marry because they do not have space in their mind for anything else.
Reference
1. A Guide to Human Conduct, Ahimsa
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Harmful message of religions
Ananda Marga ideology states, "Dharma means the attainment of bliss or the endeavour to attain bliss through regular sadhana in the subtler spheres of one’s nature. This blissful state is considered by wise people to be Brahma [the Supreme Entity], and by devotees to be one’s very soul."
"The word dharma is often loosely used for so-called religion. The reason for this is that the founders of almost all the world’s religions propagated their respective doctrines among the common people, claiming them to be the messages of God [i.e., to be dharma]. These founders never followed the path of logic. Whatever their intention might have been, the result was that humanity lost its supreme treasure, its rationality."
"In the Middle Ages some selfish people proclaimed to the backward masses, “I am the messenger of God. Whatever I say is a revelation from God,” just to inject fear and terror into people’s minds. Was it beneficial for humanity to have such doctrines imposed on them in this way?" (1)
Reference
1. Transcription, MGD 7 November 1979 Coimbature
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Non-violence as futile as materialism
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Those who don’t accept this spiritual ideology will have to be kept under some social or external pressure to check the greed of usurping others’ property. Proper education will also have to be imparted. However, it should be borne in mind that merely exerting circumstantial pressure is not enough. This pressure tactic will no longer be necessary once the ideology is accepted. Those who believe in spiritual ideals, but don’t believe in the policy of exerting external pressure, in other words, the application of physical force, will find it utterly impossible to achieve their goals. In this world there are many people who pay a deaf ear to pious appeals. On such people social or other types of pressure will have to be imposed. No problem will ever be solved if one waits indefinitely for their consciousness to be awakened. Like materialism, spirituality based on non-violence will be of no benefit to humanity. The words of non-violence may sound noble, and quite appealing but, on the solid ground of reality, have no value whatsoever.” (1)
Reference
1. Tattva Kaomudii - 1, Questions and Answers on Ananda Marga Philosophy, #45
== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==
मैंने तुम्हें इस विश्व की विभिन्न वस्तुओं और अनेक स्थानों में खोजा।
भावार्थ
“Toma’y a’mi khunje gechi, kato na’ yug dhare kato yug dhare...” (PS 4018)
हे परम पुरुष! मेरे परमप्रिय! मैंने तुम्हें युगों युगों से तलाश किया है, तिथि दिन तो मालुम नहीं, पर अपने जीवन के ऊषाकाल से ही मैं तुमको खोजता रहा हॅूं। बाबा, मैंने अनेक जन्मों से अपनी इस जीर्ण नाव से, इस काल केमहासागर में यात्रा की । संचर और प्रतिसंचर के साथ आते जाते एक के बाद दूसरा जन्म लेकर तुम्हारी ओर बड़ी धीमी गति से बढ़ता रहा हॅूं। और आज भी मैं अपनी अलस्य भरी साधना में उलझा तुम्हारे चरण कमलों को पाने का प्रयास कर रहा हॅूं।
प्रभु, बाबा! मैं तुम्हें हर दिशा में, आमने सामने , आगे पीछे, ऊपर नीचे, सृष्टि के कोने कोने में तलाशता रहा। बाबा, मैंने तुम्हें इस विश्व की विभिन्न वस्तुओं और अनेक स्थानों में खोजा।
हे प्रभु ! कोई बात नहीं, कि मैंने तुम्हें जहाॅं खोजा वहाॅं तुम नहीं मिले, पर, तुमने मुझे कोई छोटा सा भी संकेत नहीं दिया कि तुम कहाॅं हो… और न ही तुमने अपनी आनन्ददायी वे कहानियाॅं मुझे सुनाई जिनसे
तुम्हारे निवास का पता चलता । हे पुरुषोत्तम! बाबा! तुमसे मिलने की लालसा से तुमको मैं तुम्हें पुकारता गया,।
हे परम पुरुष! बाबा, तुमने अपनी कृपा से मुझे यह समझपाने का आशीर्वाद दिया कि तुम और कहीं नहीं, मेरे हृदय में ही रहते हो।
== Section 3: Links ==
Other topics of interest
