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Monday, April 1, 2024

Baba’s special blessing + 3 more

Baba
Baba’s special blessing
Namaskar,

Nowadays, there is a myth in AMPS that Baba's scolding was really something terrible and that it should not be talked about. Those who don’t know Ananda Marga philosophy think that those who faced Baba's form of va'madeva (i.e. punishment) really did a horrible mistake - or a crime against the society. Now let’s examine the situation and find out the fact of the matter.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Guru’s love must be more than punishment


To experience Baba's form of va'madeva shows that one has reached a certain qualification as a bhakta. Because to get His punishment, one must be deserving; one must love Him dearly. Because Baba loves those whom He punishes. To whatever degree He punishes them, He has even more love.

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “The quantum of punishment must not exceed the quantum of love.” (1)

Fake gurus only praise and love and never scold their followers. Whereas, the Sadguru loves and scolds His disciples so they can rapidly progress. And He maintains a proper balance. For instance, if a bhakta has 100 degrees of love for Guru, then Guru can scold that bhakta up to 90 or even 95 degrees. And if a bhakta has 5 degrees of love then Sadguru will scold up to 3 or maximum 4 degrees, not more than that. Always Sadguru will shower more love than punishment. By this formula, it is clear that if Sadguru scolds a particular disciple to a greater degree, then it is evident that bhakta has a higher degree of love for Sadguru.

Ananda Marga ideology states, “Nigrahánugrahe shakto gururityabhidhiiyate – “the guru must possess the capacity both to punish, and to love, or bless, his disciples.” Punishment alone, without love, is not good. Love and punishment should go together, and the degree of punishment should never exceed the degree of love. Then only can one be called a real spiritual guru." (2)

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “The quantum of punishment must not exceed the quantum of love.” (3)


People were coming with superficial curiosity


A few may wonder what was the need for Baba to pretend to "harshly" scold others. Why could He not have said everything in a kind and gentle manner. The reply is that in those days word was spreading fast how Baba was the all-knowing, omnipotent God and could save any situation. Hearing thus, many new people / onlookers were intrigued and wanted to attend Baba's darshan for their own material gain etc. They had a type of superficial curiosity and were coming for worldly boons, i.e. to get their mundane problems solved. For instance, some were coming to get their diseases cured, others to get their daughter's marriage arranged, and some for financial solvency and career advancement etc.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

They were not coming out of genuine spiritual longing for Parama Purusa and emancipation (moksa). Just they were motivated by their own mundane, self-interest. This crowd of onlookers made it difficult for Sadguru Baba to attend to His many works, plans, and projects. Yet the number of people wishing to see Him was only growing. In response, Baba exhibited His feigned anger, or va'madeva form upon whom He loved most.

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “The quantum of punishment must not exceed the quantum of love.” (4)


Baba pointed out sadhakas for their welfare


All-knowing Baba started checking everyone’s individual conduct, i.e. adherence to yama and niyama and other Ananda Marga conduct rules. Those not strictly following were publicly pointed out in front of all - for their welfare and progress. In this way, Baba displayed His feigned anger and all those fake and quasi sadhakas ran from the field; and, they never returned again.

Only true bhaktas were willing to face His loving scolding in order to get His blessing for spiritual upliftment and bliss. True bhaktas will do anything and everything to be in His close proximity, whereas pseudo-sadhakas had no such commitment. Those quasi-persons were only coming for their own selfish interest and convenience. And when they heard the tales of Baba’s scolding then the fear of being scolded outweighed their desire to have their problems solved. So they stayed away.

Those pseudo-sadhakas who did not have true love for Baba ran away from the scene on their own accord. It is just like how students who are not ready to work hard do not choose to pursue an advanced degree. The college does not push those students away. Rather those students with their own free will decide to do something else. Same is the case with those pseudo sadhakas who left.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “The quantum of punishment must not exceed the quantum of love.” (5)


Who went for Dharma Samiiksa


During dharma samiiksa, when Baba was meting out huge punishment, those with a greater degree of bhakti understood that Baba was bestowing His great blessing. So those committed sadhakas were keen to go close no matter the challenges. They were eager and willing to undergo all sorts of hardship. For instance, if one took time to go for dharma samiiksa, there was no guarantee they would be selected. Those bhaktas just had to go there and wait in that uncertainty, not knowing if they would get called or not. Plus the campus was so packed that there was no place to stay or sleep. Bhaktas were sleeping on the footpath or even on the steps etc. Both food and sleep were scarce. Everything was so rushed and hectic. Verily those sadhakas underwent tremendous physical difficulties, yet their minds were focused on getting dharma samiiksa, i.e. Baba’s loving scolding. Those bhaktas had a deep internal link with Him and would wait in queue and undergo all kinds of physical suffering in hopes of getting dharma samiikas. Once called, those with more bhakti got His punishment to a greater degree, and hence His blessing as well.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “The quantum of punishment must not exceed the quantum of love.” (6)


Baba made ordinary people extraordinary


In this natural way, Baba was able to carry out His plans and programs and those true bhaktas were blessed with greater access to Baba. Baba advanced His plan of spreading true spirituality and forming one human society. He was creating proper people - i.e. man-making mission - in order to spread His ideals. To spread His teachings and guide others first it is necessary to inculcate those same teachings into one’s own life.

Baba was very strict that those in the fold were adhering to the codes of discipline and conduct. All-knowing Baba would publicly rebuke those who were slack on certain points - by this way, He was sending a message to all: follow dharmic practices or face the consequences. In this manner, all sincere sadhakas were greatly benefited as they became more strict and more sincere. They became more committed to their sadhana and spiritual life, and they were better able to help and serve others. The result was positive in both individual and collective life.

The advent of Parama Purusa is known only to His bhaktas; only they can realise His presence, not others. Mahasambhuti comes in physical form on this earth yet the world does not know. That is His divine liila.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “The quantum of punishment must not exceed the quantum of love.” (7)


Conclusion


Ananda Marga ideology states, “You are all my beloved sons and daughters. Sometimes I appear harsh to some. But that is for love. If I were indifferent, there would be no need for scolding or punishment...Leave all cares unto me. O be blessed.” (8)

Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Vidya

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “The quantum of punishment must not exceed the quantum of love.” (9)

What those bhaktas got was Baba's divine blessing. Because Baba can only punish those who already have a high degree of love for Him.


~ In-depth study ~

Those who experienced His feigned anger really got His special blessing. And those who could not get scolded by Baba were not up to the mark so Baba had to resort to other ways to reform them. Because He only scolds those who were really close to Him. That is the inner secret of His scolding. And still this is liila is going on. Thus it is not that stories should only be written about those sweet experiences with Baba. Also those who faced His scolding should also come forward and share their tales.

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "In the Vedic language, the word 'guru' is derived from the root 'gur' plus the suffix 'un'. The root 'gur' means 'to train others how to speak, how to behave in a dignified manner'. The Guru teaches us to follow a methodical way of life. To love is not the only work of the Guru. One who only loves you is your enemy, and one who only punishes you is also your enemy. But the one who both loves and punishes in a balanced way is the real Guru." (10)

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “The quantum of punishment must not exceed the quantum of love.” (11)


Baba never gets angry


When overcome by anger, one does not have control over their nerve cells and nerve fibres. Their face gets red and their body starts trembling and ultimately they lose control over their motor and sensory organs. In that case, they may succumb to an uncontrollable rage, talk in an irrational manner, and lose all their physical and intellectual strength. When a person is overpowered in this way, it is known as tamasik krodha. In that state, one is a slave to their anger vrtti. Those who are overwhelmed by this vrtti later repent, because they do nonsense things and harm others. That anger is very harmful. When one is overcome be true anger they will lose their faculties and often hurt themselves or someone else unnecessarily. 

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “The quantum of punishment must not exceed the quantum of love.” (12)


Where love fails, punishment helps


Here below are some of Ananda Marga philosophy's special guidelines that a true Guru must scold as well as love. Only scolding and only showering grace will not do. Both sides are needed.

Nigraha'nugrahe shakto gururityabhidhiyate

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "One who only punishes a person is not a Guru, and one who only loves is also not a Guru...excessive love and affection spoils a person. Only one who does both these things is a real Guru. That is why people should be trained with both love and punishment. Where love fails, punishment helps." (13)

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "Human beings are the progeny of Parama Puruśa and are thus the objects of His love and affection. Whatever might be the nature of the sins they commit, they will never be deprived of His affection. Parama Puruśa may scold them, but He can never hate them. He will simply shake the dust off their clothes and take them onto His lap." (14)

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "You must try to arouse the seed of benevolence that lies hidden in the inner recesses of the human mind. How can this seed be aroused? Human beings will have to apply all sorts of measures – persuasion, scolding etc.; and at the same time you will have to continue your efforts so that the dormant seeds of psychic potentialities express themselves. And with their expression, the whole society will be benefited. Today human beings must be inspired and motivated, and thus discipline is essential. To impose discipline is not bad. It has been said in the scriptures: Hitarthe shásanam ityarthe anushásanam. “That discipline which leads to the welfare of all human beings is called anushásanam.” Society requires enforced discipline. In the scriptures it is also said: Nigrahánugrahe shakto gururityabhidhiyate: “One who is capable of punishing or rewarding one's followers is called a Guru, a true teacher”. Only one who can discipline as well as love a person, can be called a Guru." (15)

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “The quantum of punishment must not exceed the quantum of love.” (16)


References
1. Caryacarya Part 2, Society, point #39c
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 21, The Criteria of a Guru
3. Caryacarya Part 2, Society, point #39c
4. Caryacarya Part 2, Society, point #39c
5. Caryacarya Part 2, Society, point #39c
6. Caryacarya Part 2, Society, point #39c
7. Caryacarya Part 2, Society, point #39c
8. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 30, Surrender
9. Caryacarya Part 2, Society, point #39c
10. Yoga Psychology, The Cult of Spirituality – the Cult of Pinnacled Order
11. Caryacarya Part 2, Society, point #39c
12. Caryacarya Part 2, Society, point #39c
13. A Few Problems Solved - 5, Shrávańii Púrńimá
14. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 5, A Few of Tantra's Special Characteristics
15. A Few Problems Solved - 5, Shrávańii Púrnima
16. Caryacarya Part 2, Society, point #39c


*        *        *

The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.

*        *        *

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Clapping not allowed at spiritual meetings


The following scene took place at General Darshan in Stockholm where Baba is scolding everyone for clapping.


[Ta'n'd'ava is performed.]


[Announcer: ---”Final pose! Jump!”]


Baba says, “Well done. Bravo.”


[laughter, and some clapping.]


Baba says,“No clapping! In spiritual meetings, clapping is not allowed.” (1)


According to Baba, in certain collective Prabhat Samgiita compositions based on Middle-Eastern tunes, it is permitted to clap along with the musical beat of the melody (Ref: Ananda Vacanamrtam - 46 (Pure), chapter 4). Similarly, there are times during the collective chanting of some types of kiirtana when one may clap along with the tune of the kiirtana. 


The main thing is that clapping is never done as an expression of appreciation or approval etc at spiritual gatherings. Rather, one should direct the mind inwards, not towards crude, external engagement.


Reference: 

Ananda Vacanamrtam -12, Chance To Be One With Him, EGD 27 May 1979 Stockholm



== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==

जब समाज गहरी निद्रा में सो रहा था तब तुम
आये और इसको परम आभा से भर दिया।


प्रभात संगीत 2749 घोर तमसाय एसेछिले , आलोय भुवन भरिये दिले ...

भावार्थ

हेे परमपुरुष! तुम प्रचंड अंधकार में आये और तुमने इस विश्व  को ब्रह्म ज्योति से भर दिया । जब पूरा समाज गहरी निद्रा में सो रहा था और चारों ओर प्रचंड अंधकार छाया हुआ था तब तुम आये और इस विश्व  को परम आभा से भर दिया। तुमने स्पंदन निर्मित कर धर्म की स्थापना की।हे परम सत्ता! तुमने मानवता की ओर देखा और सब में भक्ति की लौ प्रज्ज्वलित की तथा चारों ओर सभी के बीच प्रेम का बंधन फैलाया । इसके पहले ये मानव अपने अपने समूहों और वर्गो में बंटकर परस्पर संघर्ष में जुटे थे। अब समाज एक ही लक्ष्य परमपुरुष की ओर बढ़ रहा है।

हे परमपुरुष! लय के प्रवाह में तुमने प्रत्येक वस्तु  को अपनी ही तान में लयबद्ध कर लिया है। इसके पहले लोगों को गीत लय तान स्वर आदि का कोई ज्ञान ही नहीं था। वे यह भी नहीं जानते थे कि सही ढंग से बोला कैसे जाता है। तुमने हमें सब कुछ दिया, नयी भाषा और उचित वाणी। तुम अपनी दिव्य करुणा के साथ आये और मेरे मानसिक आकाश  को भक्ति के रंग में रंग दिया। तुमने प्रत्येक चीज को रंगमय बना दिया  । तुम्हारे शुभागमन से छोटे बड़े, मझोले या बहुत विशाल सभी , भक्ति के प्रवाह में नाचने लगे हैं। इस मिट्टी की धरती को तुमने आनन्द से भर दिया ।

बाबा! यह समग्र ब्रह्माॅंड तुम्हारी आभा से भर गया है यह तुम्हारी कृपा ही है।


== Section: Comment ==

What to do

Baba

Namaskar

Reading the following - "(a) some children’s home kids are beaten, and (b) some of our lands are being sold, and (c) some Dadas and Didis are have boyfriends and girlfriends, and (d) some AMPS resources are being siphoned by Wts to their own laokik families..." is disturbing. As well as the references to "fake" WTs and outright damnation of Central WTs, as though every highly-posted WT is corrupt and worthless.

Are there not legal steps to take against such incidents as alluded to? Lands in NYS have been sold off to pay legal fees and Margiis in different sectors have had to take legal steps to stop the looting of their assets by the posted sectorial WTs. It is very disturbing.

The only proposal is for brothers and sisters morally outraged at such conduct by WTs and their cohorts must take whatever legal steps they can to expose and oust these degenerates.

Pranava

- Here is a link to the initial letter on this topic - Hiding trash under the carpet


== Section 3: Links ==

Sadhaka & tamasik food awareness + 4 more

Baba

Sadhaka & tamasik food awareness

Note: This letter is only for health-conscious sadhakas.

Namaskar,

In one discourse Baba says that humans are not goats and should not eat like goats. Goats eat whatever they get, but human beings have to carefully consider and think what to eat. What is good for their body and mind - humans eat, otherwise not. We all know the main reason for our coming on this earth is to do sadhana - that is the essence of human life.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga ideology states, "Human life is for higher pursuits, for something subtle, something higher, something more elevated...What is a person to do? A person is to do only spiritual practice, only sa'dhana'." (1)

That is why when I am unable to concentrate in sadhana then I become extremely concerned and I wonder why my mind was unable to manage my meditation today.


Misnomer: "I never eat any tamasik food"

To find the answer to this problem of poor sadhana, which at the time seemed to be getting more and more prevalent, I looked under every rock and in every nook and corner, but it was not at all apparent to me what was wrong until one sadhaka said, "Maybe unknowingly you are eating tamasik food - perhaps that is the reason why on some days you are unable to concentrate in sadhana."

Initially, when he said this, I thought he was crazy because, "I never eat any tamasik food." But then - upon closer examination of Baba's teachings and my own diet - the sad fact came to light that I was indeed eating tamasik food, unknowingly. I came to understand how company foods that I was regularly eating that claimed to be sentient were indeed tamasik. So I write this letter to alert everyone about how certain tamasik foods might unknowingly creep into your diet and, in result, disturb and ruin your sadhana.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

In one very special discourse, Baba warns us to be very careful about the food we eat.

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The nature of food and drink has its effect upon the cells, and consequently also influences the human mind. Obviously each and every sa'dhaka, or spiritual aspirant, should be very cautious in selecting food. Suppose a person takes ta'masika, or static, food. The result will be that after a certain period, static cells will grow and exercise a static influence on the aspirant’s mind." (2)

Certainly, we all think we are being cautious; none of us think that we are eating tamasik food; we all know the rules etc; but in this modern era we must be extra, extra cautious. Because various capitalist food corporations do things which can fool even the most careful and concerned sadhaka. I did not think I was ingesting any tamasik food, only to find out that I was. Similarly, this may be happening to you as well, though I hope not. But one should be sure. Because Baba warns us that tamasik food cripples one's sadhana practice.

Rotten packaged vegetables & fruit


Another problem was that I was buying various frozen and canned fruits and vegetables. On these packages, the ingredients are only listed 'broccoli', or 'peas', or 'blueberries', or 'pears' etc. And I was opening and quickly devouring these items thinking that they were sentient.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

But one day when I began examining these foods more carefully, I found that some few or more pieces of the food in the package was rotten. When I let the frozen food defrost or when I separated canned items, it was clearly visible that some of the food was rotten. It was spoiled food that I would never knowingly have eaten if I was preparing a fresh meal. But due to lack of time, I was buying and quickly preparing these packaged fruits and vegetables - assuming they were fine. Then on closer examination I saw first-hand certain packages were littered with stale or rotten food. Some of the fruits and vegetables I was eating were actually tamasik.

One friend of mine works in a factory food packaging plant and he told me that due to the sheer mass scale of production, it is impossible to safeguard against some rotten or undesirable food getting mixed in. The machines simply grab and sort; invariably due to the large quantities of food, there remains unwanted items. Then I inquired why are people not getting sick from eating that rotten food. My friend replied that the food is sterilised at a high temp to kill bacteria, but thereafter it still contains those rotten pieces. People do not generally get sick from it but it is tamasik.

All the canned and frozen items are meant to be used "as they are". So we pour them into our cook pots and eat that food. But upon inspecting the bags, on occasion I found dirt, even bugs, etc in those products. Yet another unsavory tamasik food item that was slipping into my diet. Likewise, I used to purchase an organic eggplant (brinjal) sauce only to find out that it was made out of a mixture of both purple and white eggplants. And as we know, white brinjal is tamasik.


My potatoes tasted like onions


Even then, the problem was not limited to frozen and canned items only. On multiple occasions I bought bags of fresh potatoes only to cook them and find out that they tasted just like onions. Obviously those agribusinesses were intermixing their onion and potato crops. The problem was often times, before I realised that this was an issue, I was putting those potatoes directly into my curry dishes, in which case I was not aware of the onion after-taste or smell of the potatoes. So this tamasik item proved to be another drawback in my sadhana program.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

One other issue was bottled products. I was buying 'all natural' things like tomato sauce, hummus, and various organic salad dressings, only to discover months later that one of the ingredients was 'spices'. Upon calling the company I found out that 'spices' often means tamasik items like onions and garlic etc. Certainly there are sentient spices as well, like ginger, turmeric, cumin, and coriander. Those are healthy to ingest. But tamasik spices like onion and garlic must not be used.

Unfortunately, companies often use preservatives, artificial colour, taste enhancements, and shining agents that are carcinogenic. That means they are cancer producing. Yet often those things need not be mentioned on the list of ingredients. This is commonly the case in the US etc. Thus consumers do not even know that those things are in the food. So any sadhaka eating company food that contains such preservatives will not even be aware about it. Yet in that way they are eating tamasik food. Because certainly anything that is carcinogenic is also tamasik.

In many situations we find that we the consumer do not learn what companies and corporations are doing to the food until it gets revealed in a lawsuit. Then that sends shock waves all around and people are horrified by what they have been unknowingly ingesting the last so many years.


Non-veg and veg prepared in same pot

It also dawned on me that all of the restaurants (i.e. hotels in India) that I was frequenting were using the very same pots, fry-pans, and utensils for cooking meat as they were for preparing vegetarian dishes. So when I ate Chinese food, the Chow Mein Beef was often cooked in the very same pan as my vegetable fried rice. Not to mention that often the vegetable fried rice and the wonton soup often contain a broth based in chicken stock. Of course, at least I was aware about this one ahead of time as I had asked the waiter. But the point about mixing and using fry-pans for meat and vegetable dishes was my undoing every time. Any Italian restaurants lace garlic and onions in every dish, whether they admit it openly or not. Here the point is not Chinese or Italian, but rather all restaurants have cooking and food preparing practices that contravene our rules of sentient food.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

And here is another very real scenario that goes on.

The label on prepared foods might say “vegetarian” or “vegan”, but do not put your trust in that. Because, around the globe, the vegetarian population is comparatively very small and those companies run for profit. So they cannot designate expensive machinery and equipment solely for vegetarian use. Maybe they use it for vegetarian food 10 minutes per day or 1 hour per day. And then they use that same machinery and equipment for 23 hours using non-veg items. Suppose eggs are used in making bread and a machine is doing that job for several hours. And then suddenly that same machine is used to prepare bread without eggs. Then they simply stop the machine and insert the vegetarian dough and start it up again. So the machine still has remnants of the egg dough in it as they start pumping out “vegetarian” bread etc. And remember, these machines are not easy to clean and they do not clean it several times a day, just once in a while. Those working there are not vegetarian and they do not take it very seriously. For meat-eaters this is not a problem but for vegetarians and those on a sentient diet, this is not pure veg food.


Decomposed beef transformed into onion


Part of our sattvika diet is not taking onion or onion products. Here Baba guides us about the origin of the onion plant.

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “By gradual transformation their mind-stuff reaches a stage where they cannot be called human beings. Who can say that the fire-burnt cane has been transformed into the plantain tree, and the decomposed beef has been transformed into onion through natural changes, and that the rice-water has produced tańd́uleraka leaves? Likewise, no one will be able to recognize you as a human being in your degenerated condition.” (4)

So strict sadhakas are vigilant to never consume any onion - onion is not just an innocuous vegetable. It is cent-per-cent tamasik.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Social gatherings & travel food


One other issue that used to catch me off guard was attending 'pot luck' dinners or lunches. This would happen at work or even at community vegetarian events. With the best of intentions, people would prepare "sentient" food for me, only to later mention things like, 'how did you like the scallions in the soup', or 'the cake I made contained only organic eggs', or 'I know you don't eat red-meat so I used a fish-based sauce on the steamed vegetables'.

Generally all our jagrtis and master units are very strict to maintain a sentient kitchen. But sometimes problems do occur. A case in point is that of our college in Mallur (nr Bangalore) where some food items have occasionally been prepared with tamasik spices like onion and garlic. This has happened on and off. Thus it is shocking because there we absolutely expect sattvika food, yet other things slip through the cracks.

Then when traveling by bus or airplane, I was eating salty snacks & sweets that sometimes contained milk solids, whey, 'spices' (like onion or garlic), and gelatin, or other things that we now know are tamasik.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Or, even trickier, the snack item or company food may be all-vegetarian on the ingredient list, but then in fine print it may say, 'Made on machines or in factories used for processing eggs, dairy, or fish ingredients etc'.

By all the above ways that I was unknowingly ingesting tamasik foods on a regular basis. I thought I was taking a 100% sattvik diet, but little did I know what was really going on. I hope the same is not happening with you. Because I found out how detrimental it has been for my sadhana, as well as for my physical health.


It was ruining my sadhana


Here Baba issues His grave warning how eating foods "indiscriminately" will lead to the degeneration of mind.

Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, "If cells are affected by food and water, and if the nature of the cells affects the nature of the human mind, obviously human beings should eat the correct diet, because food and mind are closely related to each other. Any food item, whether good or bad, must not be taken indiscriminately because it may lead to mental degeneration." (5)

Surely, we all try and be careful, and we believe we are careful, and when preparing our own foods from scratch with no pre-made ingredients, then everything is usually fine. But often when traveling, or when attending staff meetings, or when we are in a rush and depending on company-made foods, then that is when all the problems start to occur. Tamasik items which we could never imagine eating get mixed into our food, unknowingly so. So we have to be extremely alert in this fast-paced modern era.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

We must think twice before purchasing or ingesting any company food - and best is not to purchase it at all. After all, the food we eat affects all our cells - hence the body-mind link. We should not let tamasik items cloud and poison our mental sphere. Yet that is what happens most of the time when we eat company-made foods or agro-industry foods.


Conclusion


This is a vast topic and there are many other points to be aware of such as (a) how certain regions use animal by products to grow fruits and vegetables as occurs with the use of (GMOs) genetically modified organisms, (b) not eating out of pots, pans, containers that were used to prepare or store non-veg items, (c) not eating food prepared by mean-minded people, (d) knowing that vegan and vegetarian often contains onion, garlic, scallion, or mushroom etc, (e) not drinking milk of a newly-calved cow etc.  Some of these points and more are addressed in the links to postings appended below.

Baba has given us the recipe for a sentient way of living so that we can grow in sadhana and reach our cherished goal. We should all be vigilant to prep and cook our own foods and only take food and meals with other Ananda Margiis. Though we are free to share food that we prepare with one and all.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Human beings must select sa'ttvika, or sentient, or ra'jasika, or mutative, food according to time, place and person. This will lead to the birth of sentient cells, which in turn will produce a love for spiritual practice and help in attaining psychic equilibrium and equipoise, leading to immense spiritual elevation." (6)

Namaskar,
In Him,
Iishvara

Follow dharma - not the physician

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." (7)


How I was eating tamasik food - without knowing it

And actually here Baba points out how people have the tendency to eat foods without being entirely sure of the nature of that food, i.e. whether it is sattvika, rajasik, or tamasik.

Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, "Very often people eat food without knowing its intrinsic qualities. For example, the milk of a cow which has just given birth. Or white eggplant, khesa'rii pulse [horse gram], red puni [Basella rubra Linn.], or mustard leaves, [rapini greens (broccoli raab)], all of which often grew out of rotten matter." (3)

So all these things come into play when taking food and that is how I got caught up eating tamasik food, which was adversely affecting my sadhana. Consider this: I was using all kinds of milk and dairy products only to find out that capitalist corporations, and even many small to mid-size farms use milk from cows which have recently given birth. And according to Baba that makes the milk tamasik. Because it contains colostrum. Even some organic farms fall into this negative category. Baba's warning is that milk should not be taken from a cow within 10 days after she has given birth. But the US government regulation is only 4 days. Thus tremendous amounts of milk that is sold is actually tamasik.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Indeed much or all of the organic yogurt, milk, and cheese I was purchasing turned out to be tamasik, i.e. static. In this modern era of agribusiness, one can never be sure that any particular glass of milk is not tamasik. Because they mix the milk of hundreds of animals into huge vats. So chances are tamasik milk is laced throughout their entire stock. To maximise their profit, they use the milk of all their cows, even those which recently gave birth. So that is one way that I was unknowingly eating tamasik food.

References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 30, Ascribe Brahma-hood to All
2. Yoga Psychology, Food, Cells, Physical and Mental Development
3. Yoga Psychology, Food, Cells, Physical and Mental Development
4. Subhasita Samgraha - 1, Spiritual Practice and the Cosmic Science
5. Yoga Psychology, Food, Cells, Physical and Mental Development
6. Yoga Psychology, Food, Cells, Physical and Mental Development
7. Subhasita Samgraha - 21, Jaeva Dharma and Bhágavata Dharma


== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==

Holding You within

Note: Only those bhaktas who feel a deep spiritual vibration in their heart can understand this song in the depths of their core.

"Kenoi vá ele, dolá diye gele, ná bole gele cale, phele ámáya..." (Prabhat Samgiita #1995)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, You have been gone so long. Why did You come and stir my heart only to then go away without saying a word - leaving me all alone. Neither do You have any love for me, nor do You understand the aching pain of my inner core. After coming and creating one fairy tale, where did You go. Baba, I want You to remain here with me, forever.

O’ Parama Purusa Dearest, amongst all the dear ones, You are my Dearmost. Why then do You not reside eternally in my core. Baba, You are my Innermost, then how can You justify drifting so far away from me. Is it proper to leave me isolated and all alone. Please tell me.

O’ Parama Purusa Baba, my Closest, You are so dear to me; no matter what I will never forget You; I will never leave You. Not at any cost will I ever wipe You away from my mental plate - from the memories of my mind. Baba, even if You do not look at me, even if You hide, I shall always keep and hold You in the golden casket of my inner self.

O’ Parama Purusa Baba, You are eternally mine; my everything is surrendered at Your lotus feet…

Note for Prabhat Samgiita #1995:

Ananda Marga ideology states, “Paramátmá only considers the inner thoughts and devotional sentiments of people. The intense desire to know Him, the deep urge to attain Him, the intense longing for Him – these are the qualities which Parama Puruśa values.” (1)

Prabhat Samgiita Addendum: Just like a small child who lovingly and sweetly complains to its mother, in the same manner in this song the bhakta is lovingly placing his complaint before Parama Purusa - the nearest and dearest One. This type of very close and intimate relation is characterized by tremendous sweetness and love. This develops when one’s sadhana is of a very high standard - by His grace. Those with lower sadhana will not understand this song- rather they will think the feelings expressed in this song are odd or peculiar. 

When a child is young it has a tremendous degree of love for its mother and will cry when she is not present. As the child ages though that degree of love steadily declines. And they will one day think it is strange how a young child is crying for its mother. Because that older child does not have that high degree of love for mother. Similarly, to understand this song, above average devotion for the Parama Purusa is needed. 

In Ananda Marga there are many sadhakas who have this feeling in their practical life. They are fortunate; their life has become successful. Because this type of ardent love towards Parama Purusa is devotion. And when one has bhakti one has everything. With bhakti surely one is going to attain Parama Purusa, by His grace.

What to speak of a sadhaka, if an ordinary, or even a degraded person, does sadhana sincerely, and from the deep core of their heart they request, “O’ Parama Purusa, I want nothing else, please grace me with the highest bhakti”, then the afore-described deep spiritual yearning will quickly develop, by His grace. The above Prabhat Samgiita composition carries this idea. 

Reference
1. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell, Part - 4, Bhakti and Krpá


== Section: Important Teaching ==

Speciality of our Marga

Caryacarya states, "Ananda Marga is the path of human beings. The greatest excellence of this Marga is that, after knowing the needs of human beings and understanding their feeling, this "marg" (path) has been propounded. About this, this is the most significant thing. That's all." (1)

Note 1: The above was directly translated from Baba's own handwritten Bengali guideline.

Note 2: Baba’s above teaching is present in many old editions of the Bengali, Hindi, and English versions of Caryacarya-II.

Note 3: In contrast the various religions are made with the selfish view whereby they infuse dogma and exploit followers and the common people.

Note 4: If someone is not aware of some of the rules of our Ananda Marga such as why a particular rule has been formulated then the answer is embedded in seed form in Sadguru Baba’s above guideline. For example, suppose someone does not know why we always wear our pratik on the body 24 hrs per day, or why we repeat Guru puja and samgacchadhvam 3 times and not 2 or 4, the answers of these types of questions are also hidden in the above guideline.

Note 5: In our Ananda Marga nothing is dogmatic but nowadays a few people are trying hard to establish or implement various dogmas such as: so-called mahaprayan, Fake Ananda Vaniis, fake holy lands, tiirthas etc, and other types of things which do not have any logic to stand upon.

Reference
1. Caryacarya - 2, just after copyright page


== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==

वे प्रभु, रात में अपने हाथ में आशा का प्रकाश दीप लिए  मेरे पास आए

प्रभात सङ्गीत 1285 कुआसार कालो मुछे दिए  हताशा र रेश  दूरे सरिये…

भावार्थ

वे प्रभु, दया करके रात में अपने हाथ में आशा  का प्रकाश दीप लिए  मेरे पास आए। उन्होंने  मेरे मन पर छायी कुहरे की कालिमा को पोंछ दिया ।  मेरे मन में जो भी थोड़ी सी  निराशा  की तलछट रह गयी थी, वह भी उन्होंने हटा दी। यह  उनकी कृपा है।

उस रात में उनका चेहरा सुन्दर  प्रभा से चमक रहा था और उनकी आॅखें मेरे लिए   प्रेम और स्नेह से भरी हुई थीं। वे बहुत सुन्दर लग रहे थे । लम्बे  टेड़े मेड़े, थकावटी रास्ते से आकर  वे प्रभु मेरे द्वार पर खड़े  हो गए गए ।

जब वे प्रभु उस रात को आए  तब विशाल आकाश  बादलों से ढका था। उस समय  मेरा मानसिक आकाश  भी उनके प्यार से भरा था। उस रात में केवल उनके बारे में सोच-सोच कर मेरी आॅंखें भक्ति और प्रेम के आॅंसू बहाने लगीं थीं। यह उनकी ही कृपा है।

उस वर्षाऋतु की रात में रातरानी के फूल चारों ओर अपनी मधुर सुगन्ध वायु में  महका रहे थे।  चाॅंद और बादलों की लुका छिपी का खेल देखकर मोर नाच रहा था। वे प्रभु उस सुन्दर  वर्षा ऋतु की रात में मेरे पास आए और मुझे आशीष दिया।

उनके पैरों की धूल अमृत से भरी हुयी थी।  उस धूल के मधुर स्पर्श  से मेरा छोटा सा  मन उनके  दिव्य प्रेम से रोमाञ्चित  हो गया ।

वे प्रभु स्वयं उस वर्षा की विशेष रात को मेरे द्वार पर आए । वे कितने दयालु हैं। (1) (2)

References
1. Sadguru Baba says (in GD, Delhi, 26 Feb 1984) that when writing a Prabhat Samgiita purport then very simple words should be used so that the common mass may understand. The above Hindu purport has been written according to that guideline.


== Section 3: Links ==




SUBJECTS TOPICS