Baba
Silent kiirtana
Namaskar,
You have probably come across religious followers who cry out loud during certain hours, especially nearby some places of worship like mosques etc. Generally, in the various religions, in their dogmatic way they think that God resides far away in the 7th sky. That is why they think that if they want to communicate something to the Lord then they must speak loudly. This is a primitive outlook. Common sense tells us that if God is up above the sky then how will your meagre cry reach there.
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But those religious believers do not use their brain. In the dogmatic religions, the use of logic and reasoning is forbidden. That is why when praying to the Lord they cry out loud. And sometimes when they pray to God they point up to the sky as well. But according to Ananda Marga philosophy, God is everywhere, including inside you. That is why our entire meditation process and sadhana lessons are all internal.
Why bhajans & why kiirtan
The question arises then why do we sing bhajans out loud. Bhajans are done for communicating with Parama Purusa. And in general, humans like to talk to others. That is why if they are living alone people get depressed. Because there is no one to talk to. Those living in isolation are happy to receive phone calls from others. Generally people want to share their happiness and sorrows with others, especially with their close relations. This is the common human tendency. To satisfy and utilise this faculty, bhajans were created. Although God is there with you, but you like to communicate with Him out loud. Just like two friends also talk and share their feelings. So when you are communicating with God via a personal poetic verse put to music etc, then that is a bhajan.
But kiirtan is different. We are not communicating our personal feelings in kiritan but singing the glory of God. The question then is when God is so close why do we chant kiiirtan loudly and even dance and sing in the street. This letter has been written to answer this query. On the one side, Ananda Marga ideology guides us that yelling and hollering the name of the Lord will not bring one any closer to Him. So we should not emulate the faulty approach of certain religious followers who yell for the Lord. Yet in so many other discourses He guides us that we Ananda Margiis are to sing kiirtan loudly.
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Ananda Marga ideology states, "If anyone is to be praised in this world, if anyone's virtues are to be extolled loudly through kiirtana, it should be Parama Puruśa. Kiirtana means to utter good words loudly; not mentally, nor in a whisper, but loud enough for everyone to hear." (1)
In that case what is the difference between the loud singing done by those dogmatic religious followers and our loudly sung kiirtan programs?
Is God deaf?
The reason why dogmatic religious followers loudly yell and cry out for their Lord, is because they think their God is far away - up in the seventh sky. So they call for Him very loudly. That is why they use such a booming voice. Because they think that a soft voice will not reach God in that far distant abode.
Think of it this way. Suppose you and a friend are sitting side by side talking. Then you will not speak in a loud voice. Rather you will just talk quietly and you may even whisper. Because you understand that your friend is right next to you and he is listening intently. Whereas, if you saw your friend all the way down the road, 1/2 a kilometer away - then you would yell loudly, so that he could hear you.
That same modality is functioning with dogmatic worshipers who feel that their Lord is far away. To communicate their requests to Him - to make sure they are heard - they call for Him loudly. But according to Ananda Marga philosophy, loudly yelling because they think their God is far away will only increase the distance between them and their Lord. That is what happens when they call for Him loudly.
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We sing kiirtana loudly so others will hear
In contrast, when Ananda Margiis sing kiirtan loudly, that is not done because we feel that Parama Purusa is far away - i.e. across the planet or up in the sky etc. We do not feel that He is far and that is now why we sing kiirtan loudly. We sing kiirtan loudly so other people can hear the glorious name of the Lord. That is why we sing kiirtan loudly: To propagate the Lord's glory to those around us.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "It is said, “Kiirttaniiyah sadáharih”. What do we mean by “kiirttaniiyah”? When someone's qualities are sung aloud and highly praised, it is called “kiirttaniiyah”. In Saḿskrta, the root verb “kiirt” means “to utter something loudly in praise of someone”. It is something that is uttered loudly enough to be audible to others. If uttered very softly, it will be audible to oneself, and if uttered mentally, it will be audible to one's own mind, but will not be audible to others. Kiirtana should be sung loudly enough to be heard by others." (2)
By Baba's above explanation it is very clear that we are to sing kiirtan loudly so that others may hear. That is the key reason for singing loudly: That way others can listen to the glories of the Lord.
He hears even mental talk
We do not sing loudly because we think that by singing loudly then Parama Purusa can hear us. Nor do we think that if we sing softly then He will not be able to hear. We do not take part in such dogma. Because we know that volume is not the operating factor in communicating with Parama Purusa. He is with us always and knows all our thoughts. In that case one need not use one's voice box at all. In sadhana and in dhyana we communicate silently with Him.
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There is no question of singing kiirtan loudly so He can hear it. Even if we silently repeat the kiirtan mantra in the mind, then also He will know about it. Then also He will hear it. When we use a loudspeaker in our kiirtan programs that is not so God will hear. Some of the dogmatic religions feel that if the voice does not reach a certain decibel then the Lord cannot hear them. But that is not our approach. We use the PA system or loudspeaker system to share the kiirtan with those around us. By that way they can also hear the Lord's glories.
Psychology: people want to share very good news
Singing kiirtan loudly so others can hear the glories of the Lord is a very natural thing to do. It is just like if you found a solid gold brick in your basement, then immediately you would cry out and tell all your friends and family about what you found. Here the point is that when anyone finds or discovers something special then they have a strong desire to share that news with others. People have an inherent inclination to share good news with others.
This is what is commonly done. When scientists discover a new star or planet then they have a big press conference and announce it to the world. And when a sports team wins a championship then they broadcast that so all can hear about it. Similarly, when a politician wins an election then they do not just repeat the victory slogan to themselves silently - rather they spread that news far and wide so all can hear it. This is the common psychology.
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Silent kiirtana can't be called kiirtana
We loudly sing the glories of Parama Purusa so all can hear about it. We want others to realise that only His name is the divine truth - not any material possession or mundane quality. These things are transient: Here today, gone tomorrow. Anyone running after material wants is sure to be disappointed as those things just do not last. As Ananda Margiis, we hold dear only His name. That is why we sing Baba Nam Kevalam. Only His name is meaningful - everything else is temporary and transient. So we sing His name loudly to share that the glory or the name of Parama Purusa as that is what is most meaningful. We want to communicate this with everybody.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "Kiirtaniiyah sadá harih. One should always do the kiirtana of the Lord. What does kiirtana mean? To sing in a loud voice the qualities of the Lord." (3)
Conclusion
Our main reason for singing kiirtan loudly is so others may be benefited by hearing His divine name. They too should hear the glories of the Lord. We loudly sing kiirtan so all those around can hear the glories of Parama Purusa, not because we think Parama Purusa is far away and can't hear our call. And our other practices like sadhana are done silently because Parama Purusa is very near, i.e. within.
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Namaskar,
in Him,
Madhusudan
The difference between bhajans and kiirtan is that in bhajans one can express all kinds of human emotions etc whereas this cannot be done in kiirtan. Because in kiirtan the only idea is that the Supreme Being is the only eternal truth.
Lack of music mind become crude
Ananda Marga ideology states, “Humanity, in its all-out quest for this aesthetic science, attained spirituality. One must acknowledge this. Herein lies the excellence of aesthetic science. For this reason, I have given my whole-hearted and explicit support for nandana vijiṋána. You know that there are certain religions [Islam] which do not encourage aesthetic pursuits. You will notice that in those religions [Islam] inertia, inferiority complexes and a sense of violence are predominant.” (4)
References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 7, How Should a Devotee Behave?
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 8, The Lord Should Always Be Praised
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 9, “Always Do the Kiirtana of the Lord"
4. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 10, Yatamána – the Stage of Perseverance
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Why religious states fail
Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, “If a particular religion is proclaimed the state religion, those who follow other religions will not identify with the country. Consequently, the unity of the country will be undermined. If people go against this basic principle, they may be politically successful for a short time, but eventually they will inflict great harm on the country and prove to be a failure.” (1)
Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell-16, Three Cardinal Socio-Political Principles
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Two ways sadvipras take power
Prout philosophy states, “Those who have a correct philosophy and a correct spiritual sádhaná based on the principles of Yama and Niyama will be the guiding personalities in the society of tomorrow. It is the duty of conscious people to snatch away the physical power and the intellectual leadership from the hands of political hypocrites. Politicians are of no use to society because they are engaged in the business of mudslinging and nothing else. If sadvipras [spiritual revolutionaries who follow Yama and Niyama] get active mass support, revolution is bound to come. In case a government adopts the ideals of Prout, the rule of sadvipras will prevail. If the same is not adopted by the government, a physical revolution is sure to come, and ultimately power will be transferred to the sadvipras.” (1)
Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 5, Discourses on Prout, Point #4
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Grace explainedAnanda Marga ideology states, "What is Krpá? In Saḿskrta, the root verb is “kr”. “Kr” means to help one in one’s progress even when one does not deserve it. So if one deserves it, that is, if one has the qualification to get oneself fully developed and fully exalted, then in that case there is no necessity of krpá, there is no necessity of help from Táraka Brahma. But when one does not deserve it, when one has not got the qualification for development, and still one is helped, that sort of help is called “krpa”." (1)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "A spiritual aspirant should not do spiritual practices to become omniscient. Rather, a spiritual aspirant is to perform spiritual practices to satisfy Parama Puruśa in the form of Parama Guru. That is why it has been rightly said: Guru krpá hi kevalam [“The grace of the Guru is everything”]." (2)
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 2, Guru Krpáhi Kevalam
2. Yoga Psychology, Bio-Psychology
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Do not be attracted by these bright coloursNote: Here below Baba is referring to those materialistic philosophies, i.e. capitalism and communism etc. Uninformed people believe the false propaganda and flowery speeches of capitalism etc, and think that by material gain they will get infinite pleasure. By this way they waste their entire life. Acquiring the wealth of sensual pleasure cannot satisfy human longing. They come to know this at the end of their life but by then it is too late to do anything. In that helpless state, they lay on their deathbed knowing they wasted their time on this earth.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Generally people use the empty words of philosophy like tinsel to cover their internal blackness of character. Some of this tinsel is golden, some silver, some of a variety of colours. At first, people who have lost their way, or strayed from the path, are attracted by these bright colours, like those deceived by a mirage. Later on they lose everything, and their knees broken, they fall and meet their deaths in the scorching heat of frustration. Sometimes, before their deaths, they are able to recognize the illusion of the mirage, but in most cases they are unable to discover it before they breathe their last. The lethal nature of these defective philosophies remains unknown to them forever. In the psychic world, the implementation of these fatuous philosophies can wreak havoc." (1)
Reference
1. Namah Shiváya Shántáya, Disc 14
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Not a neo-humanistic solution to thievery
Ananda Marga ideology says, “We deduce conclusions just from whatever we observe in this external phenomenal world. We should try to see the subtle cause behind the crude phenomenal world, but we do not see it. For instance, a particular person stole something, and when we say, “Thief! Thief!” people will start beating him. If we try to inquire about the reasons for the theft, we may come to know that he had been hungry for the last three days. And how are we treating him? We are beating him rather than giving him food. So we should think and try to find the noumenal cause behind the phenomenal world. If he was hungry and so stole, then we are more responsible for that theft than he, because we failed to build up society, so that he had to remain hungry. So we must see, and try to find the noumenal cause behind the prima facie observable world. If we are intelligent beings, possessing intellect, we must discover the noumenal cause. It is not proper to arrive at conclusions from mere observation of outward expressions.”
“In some places today, a person’s hand is cut off if he engages in stealing. With a little thought it can be seen that this is not at all a humanistic recourse to eliminate stealing. We must seek the noumenal cause behind all actions.” (1)
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtamt - 12, Towards the Noumenal Entity
== Section ==
बाबा! कृपा करके मेरे हृदय में आवास बनाइये।
प्रभात सँगीत 472 Tumi amare cao na iha’ jani
तुमि आमारे चाओ ना इहा जानी
भावार्थ
हेे परम पुरुष मैं तुम्हे बहुत प्यार करता हूं और चाहता हूं कि तुम मेरे निकट आ जाओ इसलिये मैने हृदय में तुम्हारे लिये एक मंच तैयार कर लिया है। मैं लगातार रो रहा हूं फिर भी तुम नहीं आ रहे हो अतः अब यह सोचने को विवश हूं कि तुम मुझे सचमुच प्यार नहीं करते। फिर भी निराश होकर एक दूर की आशा बनी है कि शायद भूल से ही मेरी ओर आ जाओ। ए बाबा, मैं बड़ी ही आशाऔर पूर्वानुमान से ही तुम्हारे आने की प्रतीक्षा में दिन और घंटे गिन रहा हूं।
ए दिव्य सत्ता, तुम्हारे आगमन की तैयारी में मैंने स्वागत की सभी चीजें जुटा ली हैं। भव्य स्वागत के लिये अर्पण सामग्री को थाल में सजा लिया है। मैंने अपने हृदय के प्यार से भरकर अनेक फूलों को एक माला में पिरो लिया है और कमरे को अपने हृदय की मधुर भावनाओं और प्यार के साथ सुगंधित चंदन की महक से भलीभाॅंति सजा लिया है। यह सब व्यवस्थायें केवल तुम्हारे लिये हैं। ए बाबा! मैं चैबीसों घंटे जाग रहा हूँ और तुम्हारी ही प्रतीक्षा में दिन रात गुजार रहा हूं।
बाबा मेरे बाबा! मैं स्थायी रूपसे तुम्हारे दिव्य गुणों और अनन्त विषेशताओं को याद करता हूं, तुम साक्षात् कृपा ही हो, तुम मुक्तिदाता हो, तुम नारायण हो। यह सोचकर कि तुम मेरे हो और मेरे हृदय में रहते हो, मुझे गर्व होता है। मेरा यही दर्प है कि तुम मेरे हो, और मैं तुम्हारा हूं। बाबा! मैं तुम्हारे आगमन के रास्ते के किनारे उत्सुकता पूर्वक केवल इस भावना से प्रतीक्षा कर रहा हूं कि कब तुम्हें पाऊं और अपना सबकुछ तुम्हारे चरण कमलों में समर्पित कर दूं।
बाबा! कृपा करके मेरे हृदय में आवास बनाइये।
== Section 2: Links ==
