Baba
How to lose the path
Namaskar,
Why did Sadguru Baba deliver thousands and thousands of discourses and emphasize the seminar system, svadhyaya, and study etc? That is the central question this letter addresses. As His disciples, the answer has a big impact on our lives.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Who will follow the wrong path
In Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha, we have our allotted path. Baba has given all the necessary guidelines: When we follow them, life flows properly; when we disregard them, difficulties arise. This happens both in personal and collective life. As a disciple, one should be more aware about Ananda Marga philosophy and Baba's articles / books, and then reflect and honestly ask: "Am I part of the problem - even in the smallest way? How often do I read Baba's guidelines and discourses and ensure I am following His tenets."
We should know Baba's teachings. That is our compass of life. Just as the explorers of old used celestial navigation or a compass to plot their course, Baba's teachings are our compass to stay on the right path. We should study and know His guidelines. Yet, there is a prevailing myth that jinana (knowledge) is not needed. However, if really His teachings were not needed, then He would have just sat up on the dais and not taken the time to deliver any discourse. And He would not have ensured His discourses were recorded and put in print etc.
Sadguru Baba has given guidelines to abide by so that we may (a) progress, (b) know what to do and not to do, and (c) reach the goal of life. If someone does not read the books they will not know the dos and don'ts, and they will follow the wrong path and go in the wrong direction. That is what we see happening. All because of a lack of basic knowledge of Ananda Marga teachings.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "To liberate society from this unbearable situation, consciousness will have to be aroused among the people; their eyes will have to be opened by knowledge. Let them understand the what’s, the why’s and the where’s. Thus study is essential, very essential." (1)
Why study of Baba's teachings is essential
If due to naiveté or ignorance, one is not aware of Baba's guidelines, then problems will arise. All because they lack the requisite knowledge of Baba's teachings. When in reality, one should only rely on Baba. He is our Supreme Guide.
So everyone should be keenly aware about His divine guidelines and let those teachings determine the course of life. We should all ask ourselves, "Did I review a discourse from neo-humanism this month? Have I read an entire discourse from Subhasita Samgraha this week? Do I regularly refer to Caryacarya?" This is the type of self-analysis that should be done.
When one has Baba's ideas in mind, then they will not innocently go against dharma and invariably have to undergo the reactions. It is just like if one unknowingly touches fire, then that fire will not spare you. Similarly, going against bhagavad dharma is dangerous. On this point, no one can save you. One will have to face the consequences. By not knowing Baba's guidelines and actively applying them in life, that person is inviting all sorts of problems.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Conclusion
We should all know that through study, satsaunga, sadhana, and introspection, we can bring Baba's teachings into our practical life and avoid the awful reactions that stem from a lack of basic knowledge of Ananda Marga teachings. Remember, whatever one does - right or wrong - one has to face the consequences. If anyone goes against the fundamental teachings of Ananda Marga, then prakti will not spare them.
As disciples of Baba, we should adhere to Baba's principles strictly, read His discourses on neo-humanism, and engage in introspection. After all, reading Baba's discourses and doing sadhana comes within the path of bhakti. One should read the books, do sadhana, and follow accordingly, otherwise they will go in the wrong direction.
in Him,
Vivek
Humans have three potential arenas for development: physical, psychic, and spiritual. The second one is psychic.
Very important info about knowledge
(a) Knowledge should be acquired to practice in one’s own life and serve others.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
(b) If one does not have the above point (a) and one is acquiring knowledge for selfish reasons, then they will use that knowledge in harming and befooling others, and introducing dogma. And they will become dangerous to themselves and the society. The following people fall in this group: religious leaders, politicians, CEO’s etc. That is why we see that selfish intellectuals are the most harmful creatures in society. They have brought so much destruction, war, dogma which does not have any match. They destroyed society and ruined their own future as well. So watch out.
(c) Knowledge should be for one’s own practice and serving all.
~ In-depth study ~
Here Baba guides that knowledge is important
Ananda Marga ideology states, "Everything should be done with proper direction, proper guidance. For instance, people utter loudly the word revolution, revolution, but revolution does not mean putting buses and trains on fire or removing the railway lines. This causes damage to government and government is the people's. Therefore it is a damage to the people themselves. All these are destructive approaches. The persons who do such destructive approaches lack in knowledge. Just like that, in Sadhana if some hodge-podge is made, it means the lack of knowledge. Because of this, both the individual and the society are harmed." (2)
Ananda Marga ideology states, "When there is fear or feeling of crude propensities in the mind, there cannot be pure Anurakti or Bhakti. Devotion generated through fear is no Bhakti at all, rather it is but a lamentable state of mental crudeness. Some pray to the Lord for fear of hell and some for fear of torture and retribution in the next life. They hunger for emancipation from these fears. This betrays a lack of knowledge of the truth...." (3)
Ananda Marga ideology states, "Those who move round Him knowingly – dancing round Him knowingly – are fortunate, are very fortunate. Others are moving round Him unknowingly, and, with all their movement, sometimes they, unknowingly, unconsciously by their crude objectivity increase their radius. Sometimes they decrease their radius. When, because of lack of knowledge, the radius is increased, they feel sorrow." (4)
Ananda Marga ideology states, "All people should have proper knowledge and understanding of what is shreya and what is preya, what is vidyá and what is avidyá, for lack of this knowledge causes their downfall, and with its help, they progress onwards through proper sádhaná. Behind human desires the sweetly benevolent inspiration that the soul imparts, leads human beings to consciousness, not crudeness. That is why the wise try to develop their wisdom and intelligence more and more. No one wants to remain a fool: not even a simpleton wants to be called an idiot." (5)
We all have to consider the matter: If really reading Baba's books is not needed, then what was the reason for Guru to deliver thousands and thousands of discourses?
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Ananda Marga Caryacarya “It is a bigger thing to put one lesson into action than to hear many. You should put into action every lesson in your life.” (6)
References
1. Neo-Humanism - Liberation of Intellect, Disc: 7
2. Subhasita Samgraha - 20, Astitva and Shivatva
3. Subhasita Samgraha - 1, Bhaktitattva
4. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 1, Finding the Supreme Veracity
5. Subhasita Samgraha - 3, Supreme Benevolence and Mundane Pleasure
6. Caryacarya - 2, Miscellaneous, Point #10
* * *
The below section is an entirely different topic, unrelated to the above material.
It stands on its own merit as a point of interest and ideological awareness.
* * *
== Section 2: Important Teaching ==
Levels of spiritual ideation
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "In the fourth phase the relationship is just like a piece of paper; the unit consciousness of the spiritual aspirant is one side of the paper and the Cosmic Consciousness of Parama Purus'a is the other side of the paper; they are inseparable, one cannot be removed from the other. By His effulgence the unit existence, the existential faculty of the aspirant gets lighted, gets illumined. With His illumination the aspirant is to move forward and enjoy the Supreme Beatitude and the Supreme Composure." (1)
Note: Here above Baba is indirectly guiding about the last part of the practice of dhyana - which every sincere sadhaka practices regularly.
In meditation, the lowermost bhaktas think that God is in some other world. This is the sign of lowest grade bhaktas because in their mind Parama Purusa is very far away - somewhere in a very far away different world.
The next grade of bhaktas think that God is here in this world (loka) - “He is within my reach but He is a little far.” This is better than the worst grade but still not very elevated. The next stage of bhakta feels that, “Parama Purusa is my very near and He is my relation - father, or even my close intimate friend.”
And the highest grade bhakta is what is described above in Baba’s teachings. So this is a brief description of the various grades of bhaktas.
One should remember that sadhana is the effort to go close to Parama Purusa, and slowly the degree of closeness reflects the types of relation one has with Parama Purusa. So if a person is thinking that Parama Purusa is very far away in another world then they are the lowest of the low because the distance is far and they have to travel a lot.
If you think that He is your close, intimate friend then you are very close to Parama Purusa. But the most close to Parama Purusa is what is described in the above teaching. In the last stage, the unit mind merges into Cosmic Consciousness, and jiiva becomes Shiva.
Reference
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 18, The Path unto the Abode of Beatitude
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Yoga and backcare
The following is an English summary of Baba’s original teaching given in Bangla in Shabda Cayanika part 8:
When calcium builds up and gets deposited in the back it becomes hard. That is why when people are very young then their backbone is quite flexible but due to an accumulation of calcium over just a few years then by the time they are teen-agers already their spinal column has become stiff and rigid.
Doing noakasana, utkata paschimottanasana, and shalabasana etc eliminates the possibility of developing a hunched back. So those doing hard manual labor that demands bending the back for extended periods of time should do these aforementioned asanas on a regular basis. That will prevent them from suffering from hunch-back in the future.
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Are we social beings?
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Some animals are gregarious and others are not. The tiger is not a gregarious animal – it prefers to move alone. Goats are not gregarious, but sheep, elephants and lambs are. Human beings are social beings. They do not like to remain in isolation." (1)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "You know that humans are gregarious beings. There are some living beings who live in groups or clans, and some who live in isolation. In very olden days, human beings lived in clans" (2)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “You are social beings. One cannot live in isolation. When you feel thirsty, you can’t manufacture a spade, dig a well, and draw water yourself. One person will make a spade, another will add the wooden handle, and another will dig the well — this is how we work collectively. This is the way for human beings to live. In all spheres of human existence, in the aesthetic sphere as well, humanity should live collectively. You should live in unison. You should vibrate together to the same music. You should move in a common psychic flow. You should fight collectively against your common enemies. Unitedly you should face all problems, mundane and supra-mundane. In a word, you must reflect the spirit of harmonious collective living in conformity with the spirit of the Vedic mantra Sam’gacchadhvam’ sam’vadadhvam.” (3)
Note: This is Baba’s special guideline which is lacking these days in the society. All should understand they do not exist alone, by themselves, in isolation. With collective spirit, all have to work together. By that way, many works can be done for the great cause, by His grace.
References
1. A Few Problems Solved - 4, Plants, Animals and Human Beings
2. Namah Shivaya Shantaya: Disc 8
3. Namámi Krśńasundaram, Disc: 26
== Section: Hindi Quote ==
काले-गोरे का भी कोई
“तो, मनुष्य में ये जो तीन तरह की तकलीफ़ हैं, इन तीनों तकलीफ़ों से बचानेवाला है कीर्त्तन | क्यों ? कीर्त्तन तुम्हें परमपुरुष की ओर चलने में मदद करेगा | इसलिए, गपशप में time बरबाद नहीं करके, वृथा काम में time बरबाद नहीं करके, जब मौका मिल गया---दो मिनट, पाँच मिनट, कीर्त्तन करो | क्योंकि कीर्त्तन केवल साधना में मदद करेगा, सो नहीं | तुम्हारे मन को भी निर्मल करेगा | और, तुम हमेशा महसूस करते रहोगे, कि तुम छोटे आदमी नहीं हो, तुम हीन-नीच नहीं हो, तुम तुच्छ नहीं हो | कीर्त्तन हमेशा तुम्हें याद दिलाता रहेगा कि तुम परमपुरुष की सन्तान हो, परमपुरुष के बेटे हो, परमपुरुष की बेटियाँ हो | इसलिए, स्थान-काल-पात्र का कोई विचार नहीं; विद्या-अविद्या का कोई विचार नहीं; विद्वान-मूर्ख का कोई विचार नहीं; काले-गोरे का भी कोई विचार नहीं | जब जहाँ मौका मिल गया, जब जिस समय में मौका मिल गया, कीर्त्तन करो |”
[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. हिंदी, अप्रकाशित,15 May 1982 Calcutta
== Section: Bangla Quote ==
“তোমাদের কাজ হৰে কি ? যারা সমাজের কল্যাণ চায়, তাদের কাজ হৰে কি ? প্রত্যেকটি মানুষের সঙ্গে মিশিয়ে দেখা---তার মধ্যে কি কি সদ্গুণ রয়েছে | ফুটে উঠেছে, বা অস্ফুট অবস্থায় রয়েছে | তোমাদের দৃষ্টি হিসাৰে তার এই সদ্গুণগুলোকে উত্সাহিত করা | তাতে সেই সদ্গুণগুলো ব্যক্ত, প্রকাশ করৰার যা সে সুযোগ পায়, সেই সুয়োগ করে দেওয়া | সদ্গুণের অভিব্যক্তি যত ৰেশি হৰে, তার মনে তার অসদ্গুণগুলো ধীরে-ধীরে চাঁপা পড়ে যাৰে | ধীরে-ধীরে মরে যাৰে, শেষ হয়ে যাৰে | তাই কোনও মানুষকেই সহজে কারুর মুখে শুনেই, ৰল না যে "লোকটা খারাপ" | সৰ রকমই নিয়েই মানুষ |” (1)
Reference
1. [অপ্রকাশিত, ৯ মার্চ ১৯৮০, কোলকাতা]
লোকটা খারাপ
“তোমাদের কাজ হৰে কি ? যারা সমাজের কল্যাণ চায়, তাদের কাজ হৰে কি ? প্রত্যেকটি মানুষের সঙ্গে মিশিয়ে দেখা---তার মধ্যে কি কি সদ্গুণ রয়েছে | ফুটে উঠেছে, বা অস্ফুট অবস্থায় রয়েছে | তোমাদের দৃষ্টি হিসাৰে তার এই সদ্গুণগুলোকে উত্সাহিত করা | তাতে সেই সদ্গুণগুলো ব্যক্ত, প্রকাশ করৰার যা সে সুযোগ পায়, সেই সুয়োগ করে দেওয়া | সদ্গুণের অভিব্যক্তি যত ৰেশি হৰে, তার মনে তার অসদ্গুণগুলো ধীরে-ধীরে চাঁপা পড়ে যাৰে | ধীরে-ধীরে মরে যাৰে, শেষ হয়ে যাৰে | তাই কোনও মানুষকেই সহজে কারুর মুখে শুনেই, ৰল না যে "লোকটা খারাপ" | সৰ রকমই নিয়েই মানুষ |” (1)
Reference
1. [অপ্রকাশিত, ৯ মার্চ ১৯৮০, কোলকাতা]
== Section 4: Links ==
