Baba
How to save oneself
Namaskar,
Sometimes, there is a good thing that one knows they should do but for one reason or another they fail to do it; other times, there is a bad thing that one knows they should not do or think - but they succumb to it anyway. Guru’s teachings in this letter help overcome those tendencies.
Strong determination
In the life of a sadhaka, one has to move so far and overcome so many bad habits, maladies, and afflictions. By His grace, one gets the feeling that, "I really need to stop this habit or negative activity or negative thought." This urge or feeling comes in the life of every person taking steps forward on the spiritual path. Prior to this moment, one was deriving pleasure from that indulgence and degrading themselves.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
The key point is to rid oneself of that bad habit or undesirable tendency. Then a person can properly advance on the path, and become a medium of Parama Purusa. With Sadguru Baba's blessing and guidance, success is sure, cent-per-cent of the time.
Here, Baba gives the perfect step-by-step process for ridding oneself of any bad habit, mental weakness, or unwanted random thoughts. Baba's teaching is to cultivate the strong internal desire to overcome that particular tendency.
For instance, suppose one is remiss in doing asanas, or not following the fasting schedule etc, one must first take firm determination to overcome it. That is the initial step. Once one has identified the problem and taken the firm resolve to overcome it, then they naturally move on to the second step.
Redirect mind towards Parama Purusa
Ananda Marga ideology states, “You shouldn’t check the flow. You may check the flow to check the flood, but you are to divert that water through different canals. Here also you are to check the flow of your baser propensities and divert it unto that singular propensity, towards the Supreme Self. Sa no buddhya shubhayá saḿyunaktu [“Let Him connect our minds with righteousness”]. The mind is moving towards so many ashubha [unrighteous] activities. Withdraw those activities and guide it towards the singular shubha [righteous] Entity.” (1)
As Baba describes above, the second step is that one should goad the mind towards Him and change the flow of mind. So if one is thinking about a sorrowful or tragic event in their life, then immediately divert the mind to the thought of Parama Purusa Baba. With firm determination one should do japa, see His image, and fix the mind on Him. Then that disturbing, unwanted thought will go away - permanently. Whereas if one allows that thought to linger in the mind it will have an adverse effect and return more and more frequently.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Conclusion
By the two-step process of taking firm determination and diverting the mind one will be successful in overcoming any bad habit and advancing on the path of beatitude.
Ananda Marga guides us, “The only way to free oneself from the clutches of infatuation is to superimpose the ideation of indifference and divert one’s mental thoughts towards Parama Puruśa. It may be possible to control this propensity of wild fascination temporarily by intimidation or by enacting laws, but only temporarily.” (2)
Namaskar,
in Him,
Anandadev
Guru’s guidelines presented in this letter will help in multiple ways including:
(a) Implementing positive habits and performing good actions; and,
(b) refraining from degrading habits and doing bad things.
Related teaching
Before 1990 if anybody did anything wrong or thought anything bad, then they knew that when going in front of all-knowing Baba He would point out that defect. This type of pressure saved people from doing so many misdeeds and giving way to degrading thoughts. Because who wants to commit a negative act or think of something undesirable when they know Baba is present.
The spontaneous feeling arises: “No, I should not do this"
Today that same pressure is present - only in a different way. If one thinks and feels inside that Parama Purusa is always present and watching their every action, then that creates the requisite pressure to not fall prey to negative habits and degrading thoughts. Then one cannot do, or think, something that they feel is not good. Because who wants to do something undesirable when they feel inside that Parama Purusa is watching everything that they are doing and thinking. Parama Purusa is not watching or they are not adequately aware about His teachings. In that case, that aspirant will generally fall prey to negative tendencies of mind.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
The way to resolve any missteps in the above process is to impose the idea that Parama Purusa is watching, even if they think it is an imaginary notion. By this way, soon the inner feeling that really He is watching will enter their psychic domain, by His grace. When one feels He is watching then that creates the pressure not to do bad things.
Summary overview
So the way to root out negative thoughts and save ourselves from such torment is:
(a) Take firm determination to solve the matter.
(b) Create psychic pressure and feel that Parama Purusa Baba is watching.
(c) Goad the mind unto Him and let the mind feel His sweet grace.
These things, taking strong determination, feeling His watchful presence, and changing the flow of mind, will free one from all kinds of negative thoughts, mental tendencies, and bad habits. That is the way to permanently solve the problem.
By taking strong determination, feeling that Parama Purusa Baba is there watching us, and goading the mind unto Him, then we can march ahead in a new way: Adhering to all Ananda Marga principles, radiating with His love.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Ideate Parama Purusa
A sadhaka has to goad the mind towards Parama Purusa. This does two things: It (a) creates psychic pressure, and (b) changes the flow of the mind.
Another way that pressure is present is to do svadhyaya - i.e. review Guru’s teachings - then the feeling will arise that, “I must not go against Ananda Marga ideology.” That is also a very good technique for ridding oneself of a bad habit.
Divert the mind from crude objects towards God
To divert the mind from crude objects towards the subtle is to devote it to Brahma. This can be done by decreasing the influence of Prakrti on the mind, as Prakrti alone keeps it absorbed in the crude objects around it. Brahmacarya thus means to release the mind from the influence of Prakrti, and a Brahmacárii is a person whose mind is devoted to Brahma and is always absorbed in it. Such a mind is not attracted by the crude expressions of creation; it is absorbed in the subtle and spends all its time thinking only of Brahma. This state is attainable as a result of intuitional practice. One can become a Brahmacárii only by practising sádhaná. It is only by means of sádhaná that the mind can be freed from the influence of Prakrti and diverted towards the subtle to become completely absorbed in Brahma.” (3)
Divert the smoker's mind to other objects
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “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 materialize whatever it thinks about in the external world – this is its nature.” (4)
Alcoholic story
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “There is a good story. An alcoholic saw the sign “Drinking is bad” everywhere he went so he decided to stop drinking. After a moment's contemplation he decided to go and see an astrologer. “Can you please tell me when the next auspicious day is?” he asked. “Certainly” replied the astrologer, “it's dúrgásaptamii, in about four months time.” The alcoholic thought that would be a wonderful day to give up drinking, so why trouble himself with abstinence before it arrived. Four months later, that auspicious day arrived. At six in the morning, after drinking a bottle of wine, he resolved, “That's it! No more wine for me from this moment.” Soon after he was marching past the wine shop. “No problem,” he thought, “I've decided to stop drinking from today.” That evening when the clock struck six he congratulated his mind for being so strong. “Well done mind, even when I marched past the wine shop you didn't ask for wine, and even though it's already six in the evening you still aren't asking for a glass. Such self-discipline deserves a reward – let's open two bottles of wine.” This is human psychology!” (5)
What people think manifests if desire is intense
Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, “Not only does the mind remain attached to physical objects, psychic ones are equally dear to it. Great scholars probe deeply into highly intellectual subjects, and as a result of their continued study, gain success. Since ancient times human beings have aspired to fly in the sky. The lymphatic glands of the human group are developed, and thus the monkey, proto-ape, and ape groups can jump a lot, but they cannot fly. But today this human desire has been fulfilled with the help of aeroplanes. Whenever people probe deeply into fields of thought in the psychic sphere it influences the subtler sphere, and comes to eventual fruition. Similar is the physical sphere, for whatever people think is materialized if their desire is intense.” (6)
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Mind moves on. And the culminating point, the desideratum is the Parama Purus'a – the eternal love, the universal love, personified. Your march, your movement, is towards Him. That is, your mind moves from crude to subtle, from matter to Parama Purus'a, and it is the birthright of everybody to march in this universal march, to move along this path of righteousness. Just show the path to all – just tell them, “Oh human beings, the path is ready for you, just come!” Whoever is endowed with a human mind and a human body is entitled to follow this path, and at the end of the journey one is destined to attain Parama Purus'a one day. When Parama Purus'a, the Cosmic Cognition, is your goal, success is a must. Success is with you." (7)
Always follow dharma
Ananda Marga ideology states, "Suppose a physician says, “As a human, you require animal protein for your health;” but suppose dharma says, “No, a human should not take carnal food;” then in that case you will have to follow dharma and not the physician, because the order of dharma is above all other orders. Dharma is the highest Lord, the highest authority." (8)
References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 30, The Subtlest Propensity
2. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 8, The Acoustic Roots of the Indo-Aryan Alphabet
3. Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy, Why Are People Afraid of Intuitional Practice?
4. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 6, Vyatireka – 1
5. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 6, Vyatireka – 1
6. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 6, Vyatireka – 1
7. Neohumanism in a Nutshell, part 1, Existential Flow and Its Culminating Point
8. Subhasita Samgraha - 21, Jaeva Dharma and Bhágavata Dharma
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Why degraded artists must not perform publicly
Ananda Marga philosophy teaches us, "Strict vigilance should be kept over the purity of their individual conduct. They should not become the cause of a disease which invades the whole social body like a cancer. If actors and actresses fail to acquire a basic level of personal purity or are reluctant to acquire it, it will be the duty of society and the state to compel them to lead good lives by creating circumstantial pressure. No matter how talented they may be, immoral actors and actresses will have to be deprived of their right to exhibit their artistic talents, and sent to reform schools." (1)
Here Baba is guiding us that those leading debauched lives must not be allowed to work in the art and entertainment industry - whether they be actors, actresses, singers or performers etc. This applies to all those artists leading promiscuous lives. Naturally, this also includes the gay and lesbian community that is well-known for engaging in the arts and leading sensually depraved lives. Such persons must be forced to lead a sentient life or be removed from the stage.
The real danger is that if they fail to reform themselves, then with their degrading habits and high-profile life they will adversely affect and harm others, especially impressionable youths. Sadly, we have seen a few cases like this in AMPS where artistically-inclined, gay / lesbian musicians and songwriters etc wreaked havoc on innocent margiis by using their star power and manipulating them into relationships etc. Many in numerous sectors have been badly abused by such depraved singers.
That is why Guru's definitive statement is that only those artists who are strict in Sixteen Points may perform. All others must be forced to rectify their conduct. Until then, they are not allowed to appear on the public stage etc.
In Him,
Rasamay
Reference
1. Human Society - 1, Various Occupations
== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==
तुम्हारी अनुकम्पा के कारण ही मेरा मन शान्त हो गया है।
प्रभात संगीत 1659 सुन्दर तुमि मनोहर, मधुप निकरे स्मित हास ... …
भावार्थ
हे सुन्दरतम! तुम, सभी में निहित मिठास हो। हे बाबा! तुम मनोहर हो, अपनी विशेष सुन्दरता के कारण तुमने मेरे मन को पूरी तरह सम्मोहित कर लिया है। तुम्हारे अनन्त आकर्षण से मेरे विचार बिना रुके तुम्हारी ओर ही दौड़ रहे हैं। तुम्हारी मुस्कान, सभी मिठासों का संचय है। वह मेरे पूरे अस्तित्व को स्थायित्व देती है और हर प्रकार के बोझ हटाकर मेरा जीवन आनन्ददायी बनाती है। तुम्हारे लिये मेरा हृदय स्थिर है, तुम्हारे दिव्य प्रेम में डूबकर मैं आनन्द से उछल पड़ा हॅूं।
हे बाबा ! तुम विश्व के मूल केन्द्र हो, सबसे प्यारे हो। तुम सुन्दरता और प्रेम के श्रोत हो। बाबा! जब मैं तुम्हारे बारे में सोचता हॅूं तो मेरा पूरा अस्तित्व तुम्हारे अपार प्रेम में डूब जाता है। तुम दक्षिणी महासागर की मोहक समीर के स्पर्श जैसे लगते हो । तुम्हारी अनुकम्पा के कारण ही मेरा मन शान्त , मधुुर, कोमल और सुखद हो गया है। आकाश , चाॅंद, तारे तुम्हारी भव्यता और प्रेरणा तथा चमक से संतृप्त हैं। इस व्यक्त संसार की प्रत्येक वस्तु तुम्हारे अमृत में डूबी हुई है।
हे दिव्य सत्ता! हे बाबा! फूलों की स्वर्गिक महक, दूरस्थ नील गगन की ओर प्यार भरी आखों से आकर्षित होकर देख रही है। बाबा! तुम्हारे प्यार से भरा मेरे मन का गुलदस्ता, इस संसार के प्रत्येक कोने में तैरता जाता हैं उसे ठहरने का मौका ही नहीं मिल पाता, वह तो तुम्हारी ओर ही दौड़ता रहता है। बाबा! तुम्हारे कारण ही इस जगत की हर चीज प्रकाशित हो रही है।
हे परम आनन्ददायी परम पुरुष! कृपा कर मुझे अपने चरण कमलों में स्थान दे दीजिये।
== Section 3: Links ==
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