Baba
Know yourself: mind & soul
Namaskar,
Those doing sadhana should know about the mind and its relation with the soul, atma, and Parama Purusa. These are commonly used terms so it is of value to have a precise understanding of them.
Sometimes, however, some misuse and confuse those terms, while others think that since they cannot see the mind or the soul then it is useless to try and learn about them.
Yet to do proper sadhana and have a greater understanding of Ananda Marga ideology, one should have basic knowledge about the mind and soul and their workings with this world / universe. And that is what this letter addresses.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
“I know that I exist” is soul
Suppose you ask someone if they exist, then they will say, “Yes, I exist.” This feeling of “I exist” or “I am” is the mind. Then in the next phase, you ask them, “Do you know you exist?”, and then they will reply, “Yes, I know that I exist.” The “I know that I exist” of that response is the a’tma’. That knowing faculty is the a’tma’ or soul. The feeling that “I know that I exist” – that knowing “I” (the “I” of “I know”) is the átman.
A'tma' vs mind
All margis know that the a'tma' is the witnessing entity of the mind. As a witnessing entity, its activity involves just that - witnessing what is done by the mind. That means the a'tma' watches all those actions, good or bad, done by the mind. The a'tma' sees those engagements but does not get affected in any way. However, the opposite is the case with the mind. The mind gets completely affected by all its various activities and actions.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "Mana eva manus'ya'n'a'm' ka'ran'am' bandhamoks'ayoh...mind alone is the cause of the bondage and liberation of human beings." (1)
The mind is the cause of its own bondage, and mind is the cause of its liberation. When the mind is affected, the mind acquires samskaras. So the mind changes - it goes up and down, expands and contracts - on the basis of the actions which it performs.
At the same time, the a'tma' and mind are linked with one another. The a'tma' always watches what you do. But the a'tma' never gets affected by its environment; it remains pure. It does not get changed in any way. Because the a’tma' is just a witnessing entity. And that unit a'tma' is also witnessed by Parama Purus'a.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
So the 'witnessing entity' - the phrase itself - means that a'tma’ does not do anything. It just witnesses. But because it is linked with the mind, it looks like it is getting affected. But it is not. Baba gives some examples of this.
You cannot hide anything from your a’tma’
Baba tells that the a'tma' is like a light shining on a stage. If there is a drama being performed on the stage, the stagelight witnesses it. And if there is nothing happening on the stage, the stagelight witnesses that. Similarly, when mind is doing something, then the a'tma' sees that. And if mind is inert, doing nothing, then a'tma' sees that too.
Another example is the Sanskrit term "upahat". Here it is explained by Baba that the a'tma' is like a mirror. If you put a red flower next to the mirror, then it looks like the mirror has been affected. Because the mirror turns completely red. But it is not actually red. If you remove the flower, then the color is gone from the mirror.
Same is the case with the a'tma'. There are many sinners and virtuous persons - all sorts of positive and negative people exist in the world. But in all the cases, no matter who they are, their a'tma' is the same - blemishless. Because it is only the unit mind, not the soul (a'tma’), that gets affected by human action. The mind gets tied up in negative things and positive things, according to the nature of the action.
Only when the mind is merged into Parama Purusa, then there is no sin and no virtue.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Mind is what gets degenerated or elevated
So the mind is the entity which gets affected. The mind is what goes up and down - elevated or degenerated, according to the nature of one's thoughts and actions. In that spirit, the mind is the entity that does sadhana. It is mind which ideates, 'I am Brahma, I am Brahma'. And when the mind becomes pure, then it becomes one with a'tma'. So the mind gets transformed. Whereas, a'tma' is always the same. It never changes.
The entire process of spiritual progress on the path towards Him is experienced and undergone by the mind. If today the mind is dirty, tomorrow it will be cleaned. And ultimately when various minds merge in Brahma then they become the same.
But until the unit mind is cleaned, it remains distorted. This is due to one's samskaras. And one has to undergo those samskaras, or by the grace of the great Entity, these can be exhausted. Or, when one does sadhana and Guru's grace comes, then one is constantly involved in thinking of Him. And then ultimately the mind becomes one with Him. In this way, the whole process of purification and moving towards the Cosmic Hub happens with the mind. A'tma' just watches. It cannot be affected.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
A'tma' inspires the mind
Sadguru Baba guides us that the a'tma' gives the mind inspiration to attain peace.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "A'tman can only provide inspiration or prerana; that is the only action it can perform..." (2)
So the a'tma' always inspires the mind to do good works. With the help of spiritual practices (sadhana, puja etc) then one can hear the call of the soul. And the mind takes action on the basis of that inspiration. Otherwise, when one is plunged in material pursuits then one cannot hear the inspiration of the a'tman. Then the mind fails to take action for its spiritual development.
Baba has given the example of the magnet attracting the iron; the iron will be drawn to the magnet. But if that iron is dirty and covered with mud, then that iron will not be attracted by the magnet. Similarly, so much inspiration is coming from Parama Purusa via the a'tma', but if the mind is dirty and engrossed in mundane pursuits, then such persons (i.e. that unit mind) do not get any inspiration to move ahead.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Conclusion
A'tma' gives inspiration to mind for engaging in higher pursuits and attaining infinite peace. By that way their mind gets opportunity to engage in the subtle sphere and progress. All the while the a'tma' watches and bears witness. A'tma' is blemishless and unchanging in nature; whereas, the mind which takes action is constantly affected by its own actions. These are some of the many differences between a'tma' and mind.
Namaskar,
in Him,
Amritanayana
~ In-depth study ~
No one's a'tma' is ever dirty or degraded. Here is another example of the unchanging eternal a'tma' or soul and the changing, restless mind. According to the teaching of Ananda Marga, there is no such thing as a "bad soul." Only we may say that so-and-so has a degraded mind. The soul cannot become stained and degraded like the mind. The soul is always the same: Pure and blemishless.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
There is no such thing as mahatma / great soul
Ananda Marga ideology states, “Brahma, who has imagined and created this vast universe, is the only entity worthy of the epithet Mahat́ma. What we call jiivátmá or átmá is only the reflection of Cosmic Consciousness on the mental plate, and thus finite human beings should not be called mahátmá (noblest soul).” (3)
Ananda Marga ideology states, “However the átmá [soul] can never be great or wicked, nor can it be sinful or virtuous. “A virtuous soul” or “a sinful soul” – the words pápátmá or puńyátmá cannot be so derived by using these as explanations of their compounding. The proper compound expressions for pápátmá or puńyátmá are pápopahata átmá or puńyopahata átmá.” (4)
Ananda Marga ideology states, “The self is addressed in different manners as the evil-self, virtuous-self, noble-self and sinful-self (durátmá, puńyátmá, mahátmá, pápátmá), but the self is neither sinful, noble, evil, nor anything else. Some time ago in India, a particular person who was a mixture of virtues and vices – of course, every one has both virtues and vices – used to be adored as “Mahátmá” [“Noble Soul”]. All átmás are the same. No átmá is noble and no átmá is abominable. These are only flattery and mere sycophancy. Some people use this means to further their own interests. You should be aware of such people. You know, excessive admiration is a sign of deception. (5)
There are many terms which have been dogmatically created, due to lack of understanding as to the impervious nature of a'tma'. Terms such as maha'tma', dura'tma', papa'tma', etc. But this is not the way. Because a'tma' cannot be affected by virtue, vice, or sin.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Baba says, "We sometimes use the words maha'tma' [great-soul], dura'tma' [wicked soul], pa'pa'tma' [sinful soul], pun'ya'tma' [virtuous soul] and so forth. However the a'tma' [soul] can never be great or wicked, nor can it be sinful or virtuous." (6)
Baba used to make jokes, that maha'tma' is not a good term. 'Mahan' means 'great', plus a'tma, equals maha'tma'. But the point is that a'tma cannot become great. The a'tma of an ant, and the a'tma of a human being, the a'tma of great souls and the a'tma of sinners are all the same. Distortion comes in their mind only. Some entities are elevated, some are not. Some are sinners, some are virtuous. All these are qualities of mind.
Do you know you exist?
Suppose you ask someone if they exist, then they will say, “Yes, I exist.” This feeling of “I exist” or “I am” is the mind. Then in the next phase, you ask them, “Do you know you exist?”, and then they will reply, “Yes, I know that I exist.” The “I know that I exist” of that response is the a’tma’. That knowing faculty is the a’tma’ or soul. The feeling that “I know that I exist” – that knowing “I” (the “I” of “I know”) is the átman.
Ananda Marga ideology states, “Now you know, in the mind of each and every living being there is this feeling of “I exist”. There is one “I exist” in you. “I exist.” “I am.” “I exist.” Mm? This “I” is the subtlest mind. But don’t you know that there is the feeling of “I exist” in you? You know it, you know this fact, that there is the feeling of “I exist” in you. Don’t you know it? You know that there is a feeling of “I exist” in you. Then, “I know the fact that I exist. I know the fact that there is a feeling of ‘I exist’ in me.” Now here the “I” of “I exist”, the subject of the sentence “I exist”, is the subtlest mind. And the “I” of “I know” – “I know the fact that I exist” – the subject of the sentence “I know”, that “I” is the átman, is the spirit, is the soul. It is not mind. There is a feeling of “I exist” in me – “I exist”. That “I” is the subtlest mind. The feeling that “I exist” is in me, is known to me. That knowing “I” – “I know that I exist” – that knowing “I” (the “I” of “I know”) is the átman, the spirit, the soul.” (7)
Ananda Marga ideology states, “And finally the feeling that “I exist,” “I am,” becomes “I”. But that “I” is not the Supreme “I” either. “I exist” is not the Supreme. Behind that “I exist” feeling there is another “I”, “I know that I exist.” This “I” of “I know” is the actual “I”. Everybody knows that he or she exists. That knowing entity is the “I”, and the existing entity is the second phase of “I” [A’tma’], not the final “I”. (8)
Further Reading: Throughout Baba's grand ideology He provides poignant explanations about the mind, a'tma', and soul etc. One excellent section is the chapter 'Life, Death, and Samskara' from the book "Idea and Ideology." And some chapters from the book "Elementary Philosophy" are also helpful.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
References
1. Ananda Vacanamratm - 1, Leaving Bondage
2. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 3, Some Questions and Answers on Ananda Marga Philosophy – Excerpt A
3. 28 January 1957 DMC
4. Ui to Uluka (Discourse 9) 10 November 1985, Calcutta
5. The Witness-ship of Parama Puruśa Is of Supreme Importance, 23 April 1979, Kolkata
6. Shabda Cayanika - 2, Ui to Uluka (Discourse 9)
7. DMC, 24 April 1969, Manila
8. Human Life and Its Goal, 18 September 1979 DMC, Reykjavik
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
You removed all my troubles
"Tumi esecho bhálobesecho, bholáye sakal vyathá sab háhákár..." (Prabhat Samgiita #0980)
Purport:
Parama Purusa, Baba, You have come showering Your blessing and affection. I was in sorrow and woe, just forlorn, having lost all hope - immersed in tears thinking, “I am all alone and in this world no one is mine.” With Your blessed arrival, You kindly assured me that You are mine. You smiled sweetly and made my heart and mind overflowing in Your exquisite bliss. By Your mercy, all my pains, lamentations, and miseries have been wiped away. You have responded to my call, filled my life with boundless joy, captivated all hearts, and come to me with Your sweet smile. Buoyed by Your infinite charm, You have won over everyone's inner feeling. You are so gracious.
Parama Purusa, my love knows only You. This prema is reflected in Your tune, melody, and unique attraction - in pleasure, torment, honour, and dishonour. It is Your krpa: I am always ensconced in your love and only adore You. You are everything for me. There is no one else who can attract me. Although You belong to everyone, even then internally I know that You are only mine. You belong to me and me alone.
My Parama Purusa, Your presence is everywhere. The mark of Your prema is found on the flower and the leaves - on every spot in this panoramic world. The bee of my mind wants You alone. Baba, on my worst days, when all hope was gone and I had lost everything, in that desperate circumstance when no one else was there to help me, You always came and removed all my troubles, agonies, and sufferings. You are the sweetest of the sweet. You are only mine, mine, and mine alone.
Baba, Your coming is Your karuna….
== Section: Important Teaching ==
How selfishness is destroying the west
Prout philosophy states, “The curse of capitalism engulfs the whole of society. Thus capitalism is anti-human.” (1)
Here below are quotes from various on-line sources that delineate the ways of selfishness.
- “Adam
Smith: Capitalism’s Founding Father: Adam Smith held that individuals
acting in their own self-interest would naturally seek out economic
activities that provided the greatest financial rewards. Smith was
convinced that this self-interest would in turn maximize the economic
well-being of society as a whole.” (Courtesy of Vision(dot)org)
- “Self-interest
is related to the Golden Rule: simply acting toward all others the way
one wants them to act toward oneself. The reasoning, for example, is "I
will not steal because if I steal then others may steal from me and the
creation of a thieving society will likely hurt me”.” (Courtesy of
Wikipedia)
- “Self-interest
is a philosophy in ethics which states that persons who act to further
the interests of others (or the interests of the group or groups to
which they belong), ultimately serve their own self-interest.” (Courtesy
of Wikipedia)
Note: Capitalism is an outdated defective philosophy based on selfishness that is causing problems in the entire society. The qualities that are highly needed to properly run the society like generosity, helping others, and selflessness etc are not only absent but discarded in capitalism. The base of capitalism is selfishness. That is causing western society, and any materialistic nation, to downward spiral into complete degeneration and disintegration.
References
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 12, The Transformation of Psychic Pabula into Psycho-spiritual Pabulum
== Section: Important Teaching ==
How to calculate value of a donation
According to Ananda Marga teachings, the value of any donation is based on the degree of sacrifice involved. If one has great heartfelt feeling for a particular cause and is willing to do anything and everything to help those suffering people, then his offering will be very meaningful and of great value. Even if he can only afford to give a few rupees, his donation will be very significant. In contrast, if a wealthy millionaire cares little for suffering humanity and undergoes no trouble by donating RS100,000 then his donation will pale in comparison to the generosity of the poor person who gave a few rupees.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "The charity of a few paise of the poor has the same value as a thousand rupees from a millionaire. Indeed the charity of those few paise is greater." (1)
Reference
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 1, Yajiṋa and Karmaphala
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Path to eternal bliss is the only path for you
Ananda Marga ideology states, "You exist in a vast, limitless ocean of rasa or essences. A never-ending, radiant wave of manifestations is surging within and without you and radiating through all the ten directions – the indescribable vibrational expressions of small and great, accented and unaccented, eternally flowing thought-waves. Behave properly and reasonably with every expression, with every manifestation of the Cosmic mind. But always remember the One, Who is the essence of all these diverse vibrational manifestations. Train yourselves in the ideal of the lily, which blossoms in the mud and has to keep itself engaged in the struggle for existence day in and day out, parrying, bracing and fighting the shocks of muddy water and the force of storms and squalls and various other vicissitudes of fortune; and yet it does not forget the moon above. It keeps its love for the moon constantly alive. It seems but a most ordinary flower: there is nothing extraordinary about it. Yet, this most ordinary little flower has a romantic tie with the great moon. It has focused all its desires on the moon. Similarly, perhaps you are an ordinary creature – perhaps you have to pass your days in the ups and downs of worldly existence – yet do not forget that Supreme One. Keep all your desires inclined towards Him. Always keep yourself merged in His thought. Go deep into the mood of that Infinite Love. By this your worldly activities will not be hampered in any way."
Kumud candramá dúrete rahiyá yemati rákhaye priiti,Ananda Marga ideology states, "No matter what circumstances you are in, never lose sight of the Infinite One. Degradation is impossible for those who have accepted the Supreme Being as the Ideal of their lives. Indulging in mean thoughts only engenders crude vibrations in the Citta, as the result of which you will have to take rebirth in lower species in order to suffer the lowly Saḿskáras created by those crude vibrations. Thus you must arouse higher vibrations in your Citta. Even a man of King Bharata's calibre had to take rebirth as a deer because at the time of his death he was deeply anxious about a fawn. Thus regardless of what you are at present or what you may possibly become in the future, do not digress from the ideal of the Great in any circumstances: do not stray even a step away from the path of realization of Absolute Bliss. Ananda Marga or the path to eternal bliss is the only path for you." (1)
Temati Shrii Rádhá kánu páne cáhi grha káj kare niti.
Reference
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 3, p.65
== Section Hindi Quote ==
क्यों भक्त इस जगत् में प्रतिष्ठा चाहते नहीं हैं, पाने से भी लेते नहीं है
“आध्यात्मिक जगत् के जो साधक हैं, वे इस जगत् में प्रतिष्ठा चाहते नहीं है, पाने से भी लेते नहीं है | आध्यात्मिक प्रतिष्ठा माने परमपुरुष में प्रतिष्ठा | आध्यात्मिक प्रतिष्ठा माने "अनन्तकाल के लिए परमपुरुष में स्थित हो जाना" | तो, आध्यात्मिक जगत् की प्रतिष्ठा तब किस तरह की है ? शिला-रेखावत्, शिला-लेखावत् (शिला माने "पत्थर"), पत्थर पर जब लिखा जाता है | अशोक के time की शिला-लिपि आज तक है | तो, शिलारेखावत्; शिला पर लिखने से वह जैसा दीर्घ-स्थाई है, आध्यात्मिक जगत् में जो मनुष्य की प्रतिष्ठा, वह उतनी ही दीर्घ-स्थाई होती है |
तो, बुद्धिमान मनुष्य क्या करेंगे ? वे जागतिक तथा बौद्धिक प्रतिष्ठा के लिए चेष्टाशील नहीं होंगे, अपने परिश्रम को व्यर्थ नहीं करेंगे | वे आध्यात्मिक प्रतिष्ठा के लिए चेष्टाशील होंगे | परमपुरुष की सम्प्राप्ति के लिए साधना करेंगे | और, उस साधना में सिद्धि प्राप्त करेंगे | क्यों ? "यह केवल उचित कर्म है", बोलना ही यथेष्ट नहीं है | यही बुद्धिमान का काम है, यही मानवोचित काम है | तथा यही मनुष्य का एक मात्र धर्म है |”
कल्याणमस्तु |”
[यह प्रवचन-अंश, बाबा के कैसेट से सीधे लिखा गया है । बाबा का यह असली प्रवचन, अमृतोपदेश है। आनन्दमार्ग हिन्दी पुस्तकों में छपे प्रवचन तो नक़ली प्रवचन हैं, असली नहीं हैं -- बंगालीकरण (बँगलाइजेसन) के तहत उनकी बर्बादी की गई] (1)
Reference
1. तीन प्रकार के गुरु और शिष्य,Tiin Praka'r Ke Guru aor Shis'ya (Manus'ya kii Saccii Pratis't'ha'),V29-15(H),EGD, 16 October, 1971 Delhi
== Section Bangla Quote ==
সে শত-সহস্র লাঞ্চনা অপমান সহ্য
“হ্যাঁ, মানুষ মানে “মন-প্রধান জীব” | মন-প্রধান জীব মানুষকে ৰলা হয় কেন ? না, মানুষের কাছে খাওয়া-পরা বা শারীরিক স্বাচ্ছন্দ্যটাই চরম পরম নয় | কেউ তোমাকে খুৰ ভাল-মন্দ খেতে দিলে, খুৰ খাওয়ার দাওয়ার ব্যাপারে খুৰ যত্ন করল, কিন্তু তোমাকে খোঁটা দিয়ে-দিয়ে কথা ৰলছে | তোমারে অন্তরে ঘা দিয়েছে, কথা ৰলছে | তুমি তার কাছে ভাল-মন্দ খেতে যাৰে না | এই হচ্ছে মানুষের স্বভাব | তা কেন মানুষের এইটা স্বভাব ? কেন মানুষ এ রকম করে ? না, সে মন-প্রধান |”
“দেখো কোনও একটা দেশ মনে করো | সে দেশে থেকে কোনও একজন মানুষ, হয়তো খুৰ ভাল ভাবেই ৰাঁচতে পারত, যদি সে তার ধর্মটুকু পরিবর্ত্তন করে দিত | কিন্তু মানুষ ধর্মটা পরিবর্ত্তন না করে, সে শত-সহস্র লাঞ্চনা অপমান সহ্য করেও, অন্য দেশে উদ্বাস্তু হিসেৰে চলে আসে | কেন আসে ? সে যে খাওয়ার পরৰার অভাবে এসেছে, তা নয় | তার মন, সেই পরিস্থিতিতে মানিয়ে নিতে পারেনি ৰলে, সে চলে এসেছে | এটা করেছে সে, যে হেতু, সে মন-প্রধান জীব |”
Reference
1. অপ্রকাশিত, 1981 Calcutta]Human Imperfection,NP,MGD 20 December 1981 Calcutta
== Section 3: Links ==
Mahaprayan Info
Other topics of interest
