Samskara theory: virtue, fate, & free will
Namaskar,
There
are some sadhakas who think that, “I should do many good deeds so that
after my death I may return to this earth and reap the fruit of all
those virtuous deeds.” And Ananda Marga philosophy supports this premise
that those who accumulate good deeds will experience the rewards in
their next life. Indeed, this type of psychology is quite common in
those regions that subscribe to the concept of reincarnation also. They
think they should accumulate a lot of virtue so that they can enjoy the
rewards in their next life.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
According
to Ananda Marga philosophy, this is a foolhardy approach. One should
not desire to accumulate virtue / good samskaras. The accumulation of
such virtue is wholly bad. The problem is that those good deeds are also
binding.
How sadhaka can become exploiters & then pigs
After
death, those sadhakas come back again in human form and soak up all
kinds of material benefits from their good deeds: money, prestige,
influence etc. And while enjoying all that post and power, they may
exploit humanity and do untold harm to others.
The
basic equation is that anybody who gets prestige, power, wealth,
command over others, then they develop vanity. They think they are
super-great and beyond reproach. In that condition, they grossly misuse
their power. As everyone knows, animals just behave in the way that they
were programmed to behave by the Cosmic Operative Principle. Animals
have no such scope to go outside that track. In contrast, humans have
free will and due to their sense of vanity they misuse their power and
harm others. Thereafter, because of their disastrous misdeeds, they are
reborn as an earthworm etc. That is the irony: Two lives back they
performed all kinds of good deeds. Then in their next life they reaped
the rewards and vanity as they tortured innocent people. Then in their
next life they became an earthworm. In that case they ultimately ruined
and destroyed themselves.
The
outcome is that after their death they take birth as an animal or even
an inanimate object. For instance, suppose someone acculated a lot of
virtue and in their next life was reborn as a dictator, king, or
emperor, then in that top post they may misuse their powers. In that
case, they will be reborn as a pig, or donkey, or lizard, or earthworm,
or even an inanimate object like a fence post etc.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Use Guru mantra
So
then what is the way out? According to Ananda Marga teachings, every
sadhaka should use Guru mantra before each and every action and
surrender all the results unto the lotus feet of Taraka Brahma Baba.
This will save them from creating any new samakaras. So the basic rule
is that sadhakas should only do good works - never bad actions - and
surrender the fruits of those blessed deeds unto Him. By this way one
can avert the trappings of accumulating virtue, and instead become one
with Parama Purusa.
Part II: Importance of fate
In
the general society, many people think that their "fate" is created by
some unknown force and that they have no recourse to affect or change
their destiny. That is what is meant by a fatalistic outlook. Here we
have to think how far this is helpful, and, whether, as Ananda Margiis,
we should adopt a similar manner or not.
The origin of “fate”
According
to Ananda Marga philosophy, humans have free will, perform actions per
their choice, and undergo the reactions of their original actions. When
you do something and face the consequences that is your "fate". It is
entirely self-created. You do something, and you face the consequences
--- that is fate, whether the reaction comes in this life or the next
life. But commonly, only when people are not aware of their original
action then they call it fate.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
In
that way, people are inclined to call it fate when they undergo the
reaction in their next life. Because then they cannot recall their
original action that caused that reaction. However, this is all samskara
theory. Ananda Marga philosophy does not give an ounce of credence to
the dogmatic notion of fate: i.e. that fate is something doled out by
another outside entity, as if fate is something that humans have no
control over. There is always scope for people to redirect the course of
their life by making sentient and conscious life choices.
Ananda
Marga ideology says, "Those who are fatalists are also misguided. It is
wrong to leave everything to fate without taking any initiative at the
time of grave danger. Once a person has created his or her fate through
his or her own actions, it is certainly not proper to completely
surrender to that self-created fate." (1)
You are the father of your fate
By
all of Baba's above teachings, we can understand that fate is just the
reaction of one's past actions. Fate is not something that is
distributed by some other entity. You yourself are the father of your
fate. That is the overarching idea of Baba's samskara theory. Yet
commonly, the term 'fate' is misused and abused. In the name of fate,
people suffer from all kinds of dogma and opportunists and exploiters
use fate as their tool to suppress the people. Those aware about the
real meaning of fate do not get exploited. So it is our duty to educate
ourselves and others about fate so they do not get exploited, become
confused, or suffer from so many psychic ailments. By this way we can
eradicate all kinds of individual and social problems.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Part III: Mistaken equation of free will
There are some who think that our free will is limited because our life circumstances are comprised of three factors:
(a) 33.33% societal and familial influence
(b)
33.33% samskaras (stain in the mind) Note: Whenever, with our free
will, we perform any action, that act creates a stain in the mind. That
mental stain is our samskara. And that stain disappears when we undergo
the reaction to that action.
(c) 33.33% free will
By the above percentages, some wrongly conclude that only ⅓ of our life is based on free will. But that is not correct.
First
off, the family and society we are born into is a result of the actions
that we performed based on our free will in previous lives. Hence, in
the past we exercised our free will, created stains, and those stains
led to our next birth in a particular family / society.
Secondly,
the samskaras (stain in the mind) we have were formed exclusively by
past actions we made with our free will. For instance, if Shyam is
walking down the street and a wild dog bites him, then that samskara
(stain in the mind) to be bit by a dog was due to Shyam’s free will.
Specifically, in the past, Shyam used his free will to perform an action
that created a samskara (stain in the mind) that led to Shyam’s being
bit by a dog.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Thus,
it is wrong to say that free will is responsible for only ⅓ of our life
circumstances. With our free will, we are wholly responsible for every
situation we find ourselves in, as well as every reaction we face in
life. There is nothing that we do or undergo that is not a direct result
of actions we undertook with our own free will, from either this life
or previous lives. Thus, our free will from this life or previous lives
is the only cause behind our each and every life circumstance, whether
good or bad.
Namaskar,
In Him,
Laksman
~ Somewhat related points ~
Tool of bad people to manipulate & exploit
In
the past and in the present also, those in power have used the notions
of fate and predestination as a tactic to exploit the common people. If
everyday citizens feel that the bad reactions they are facing in their
day-to-day life is a matter of fate and there is nothing to be done
about, then those people will be easier to control and manipulate.
Now
in the height of this materialistic era, those capitalists employ the
clergy, chaplains, and counselors etc, and those paid clergy, chaplains,
and counselors are effectively able to convince the common people to
sit back and accept their fate. By infusing this psychology upon the
masses, the vaeshayas [capitalist exploiters] feel assured there will
not be any uprising against them.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Ananda
Marga philosophy says, "The vaeshyas [wealthy exploiters] use the
vipras to try to spread intellectual propaganda among the masses to
prevent them from finding any philosophical justification for their
suppressed grievances against the vaeshya [wealthy exploiters]
structure. This intellectual propaganda aims to convince people that
they are the victims of circumstance. It argues, “Everything is destiny.
Everything is preordained.” Such doctrines help the vaeshyas [wealthy
exploiters] to perpetuate their structure. They destroy the personal
force of people and make them the playthings of fate. People accept the
idea that everything is preordained, and support the status quo." (2)
References
1. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life - 11, The Omni-Reflective Cognitive Consciousness
2. Human Society - 2, The Vaeshya Age
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
My heart's full satiation
"Ainjan enke dáo ánkhir pare, ákásh vátás suśamáy bhará..." (Prabhat Samgiita #1432)
Note: If you are at the dinner table talking to your close companion who is seated next to you and looking directly at you, already you have their full attention. In that case, you need not address them by saying “O”. If you say “O” they may get irritated. So prefacing an appellation for God with “O’” such as in O’ Lord is not appropriate in our Ananda Marga. Saying “O’ Lord” signifies that that Divine Entity is far away - i.e. in the 7th sky or heaven - and that one must cry out to reach them. And that goes against the spirit of bhakti. The exception to this rule is melancholic songs.
Purport:
Baba, kindly place such a spiritual ointment, collyrium, in my eyes and grant me vision so I can see You all around, everywhere. Please open my optical nerve of bhakti in the realm of prema, so I can see Your universal expression and gaze upon You to my heart's full satiation and contentment. Now the sky, earth, and breeze - everything is filled with Your exquisite beauty.
My Supreme Entity, You have filled this entire cosmos with Your sublime spiritual vibration and spread Yourself in all directions: In the blueness of the firmament, in the longitude of the mountain ranges, as well as in the leaves, flowers, fruits creepers, shrubs, trees, far and wide. Parama Purusa, today please let me realize this. Baba, please apply that unique collyrium of bhakti in my pupils so I may see look upon You in every iota of this universe.
My Parama Purusa Baba, You have mingled and interwoven Yourself in various forms ubiquitously: from the nectar of flowers to the distant moon, planets, stars, body of the nebulae, and all those celestial bodies, to the light and darkness, to every nook and cranny, far and wide, near and far, high and low, 'here, there, and everywhere'.
Baba, please bless me with divine sight so I may see Your all-pervading form...
Note: In our Ananda Marga, we know that Parama Purusa is watching us always. He is never far - always He resides in the heart witnessing all we think, do, and say. Hence there is no need to call out to Him using the phrases, “O’ God”, “O’ Lord etc.” One may simply address Him in a natural manner without the “O” preface and He will certainly listen to your call. The exception to this rule is melancholic songs.
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Free initiation in AM
Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “To ensure the subsistence of ácáryas (spiritual teachers), all kinds of sacrifice should be accepted.” (1)
Note: Sadguru Baba has given the rule that acaryas are not to charge or accept remuneration for giving sadhana lessons, initiations, or presiding over any social ceremony like baby naming, marriages, death, or house entrance etc. So the question arises how will they survive? The answer is that it is the duty of family margiis to provide Wts with their basic requirements. By this system, Wts can perform their duties per Baba’s guideline. Unfortunately we see that some fake Wts like Dada N* etc are charging money for the aforesaid duties. Teaching sadhana has become his business. It is disgraceful.
Baba made initiation without charge because in the society some are economically poor and some are economically healthy. So Baba made Ananda Marga sadhana and social ceremonies equal for all. That is why there should not be any charge. In a mundane manner, just think what would happen if firefighters started asking for money and charging before putting out the fire. In that circumstance, the whole society would collapse and crumble.
* The Dada N in the above note is Nabhanillananda.
Reference
1. Caryacarya, part 2, Society, point #11
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Cause of decline
Ananda
Marga ideology states, “Those who have the responsibility to show the
path to others should be of superlative character with the most refined
conduct. They and their followers must move constantly towards all-round
development and shreya [ultimate spiritual attainment]. Persons who
teach such well-regulated behaviour to others by their own conduct are
called ácáryas.” (1)
This below section is not for all. It is for those who want to fix the problem.
The
most negative part is that many good margiis with superior conduct -
who follow all do’s and don’ts, are strict in yama and niyama, and
dedicate maximum time for the propagation Ananda Marga ideology - are
not given a tattvikaship or family acaryaship. This is all due to the
prevalence of internal group politics and related problems etc. In a one
word we can say that these days acaryaships and tattvikaships are
mostly bestowed upon stooges. That is why they are fake family acaryas
and fake tattvikas. Such fake acaryas have lost their charm in the eyes
of general margiis. In the past, margiis used to see the ideal conduct
and dedication and had a lot of respect for family acaryas. But that era
has gone by. Now these fake family acaryas are looked down upon as
lowly puppets, and even referred to as so-called family acaryas.
Unfortunately, this is the bitter truth. With our collective efforts we
have to resolve this horrible situation.
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 31, The Conduct of an Ácárya
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Spiritual approach needed
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The establishment of a classless
society is only possible for those who accept Parama Puruśa [Supreme
Consciousness] as the goal of their lives, for those whose entire mental
power is ceaselessly directed towards one supreme goal. In a society
where there is no class struggle, the remaining classes will have to
disappear and all people will have to unite under the banner of one
common ideology. This can only be done by sadvipras." (1)
Reference
1. A Few Problems Solved - 2, Synthesis and Analysis
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Quality of marriage: man & woman
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Another Sanskrit equivalent for
“woman” is nárii, which is feminine gender. But Shiva used the term
kalatra, in the neuter; for to her husband a woman is a wife, but to her
children and other members of the society, she is as dignified as her
male counterpart. So by declaring a married lady to be kalatra, Shiva
gave her special status, and addressed her in neuter terms."
"The liberal meaning of the term viváha is “live one’s life in a new
way with a special type of responsibility”. This is the underlying
significance of the Shaeva system of marriage."
"In His life, Shiva Himself married with this commitment. We can say
without the least hesitation that Shiva was the first person in this
world to marry in the proper sense of the term. He was eager to see that
the married women did their duties properly towards their husbands,
that is, that they always took care to remove the difficulties of their
husbands."
"Thus it was His strict instruction, Yad bharttureva hitamicchati tad
kalatram [“If in the mind of the wife, there is the sincere desire for
the welfare of her husband, the family will be blissful and a thatched
house will become a golden home”]." (1)
Reference
1. Namah Shiváya Shántáya, Shivokti - 3
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Why fake yoga is dangerous
Ananda Marga ideology says, "Suppose, one is a great Yogii but if there is no love for his goal, then those suspended propensities will finally be converted into crude matter. That is, the subtle human existence becomes like iron; it becomes like wood; it becomes like sand. What a deterioration! What a downfall! This particular type of yoga where a yogii does not bear love for the Supreme Entity is called 'Hatha Yoga' in Samskrta. It is dangerous for human elevation." (1)
Note: Nowadays, all around the globe and especially in the west, in the name of teaching yoga certain pseudo-yoga people are becoming entrepreneurs and selling their unholy ways to the public by opening so-called yoga and meditation centres. But in those places, they do not do bhakti yoga; theirs is not a God-centered approach. Rather they teach bogus lessons such as misguided pranayama etc. Sadly, when the Goal is not Parama Purusa then that type of fake yoga, meditation, and pranayama ultimately bring terrible degeneration. Neither is the unassuming public aware nor do these culprits realise what dangers they are inviting. It is our duty as far as possible to warn everyone for their welfare.
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanartam - 2, Love – the Essential Prerequisite
== Section ==
अगर परमपुरुष के लिए मुहब्बत नहीं है, तो सब बरबाद
“जो तगड़े भक्त हैं, उनके लिए जीवन का एकमात्र धर्म है क्या ? परमपुरुष के साथ रहना, उनसे मुहब्बत करना, और इस तरह की मुहब्बत करना, कि मुहब्बत करते-करते ख़ुद को खो बैठे हैं—मानसिक स्तर के अनुसार आध्यात्मिक स्तर में भी शिक्षा दी जाती है इसी तरह से | किन्तु, आख़िर तक यह बात माननी पड़ेगी कि साधना का जो मूल केन्द्र, साधना का जो मूल लक्ष्य, साधना की जो आधारशिला तथा लक्ष्य-बिन्दु, वे एक ही हैं—परमपुरुष | इसमें कोई किसी दो सत्ताओं का कोई अवकाश नहीं है—एक ही हैं | एक के लिए तुम्हें काम करना है, एक की ओर चलना है, और याद रखोगे कि साधना जो कुछ भी करते हो—अगर परमपुरुष के लिए मुहब्बत नहीं है, तो सब बरबाद हो जाएगा | एक मुहब्बत पर समूचा साधनामार्ग स्थित है | इसमें और भी एक बात याद रखनी है, कि मन को सूक्ष्म बनाता है सबसे अल्प समय में, कीर्त्तन | इसलिए साधना के पहले कुछ देर तक कीर्त्तन अवश्य करना है |”
[यह बाबा के कैसेट से सीधे लिखा गया, बाबा का यह असली प्रवचन, अमृतोपदेश है। आनन्द मार्ग हिन्दी पुस्तकों में छपे प्रवचन तो नक़ली प्रवचन हैं, असली नहीं] (1)
Reference
1. हिंदी, आध्यात्मिक साधना के साथ मानसिक स्तर का सम्पर्क, S14-09, DMC 27 June 1980 Saharsa
== Section ==
পরমপুরুষের চিন্তার ফলেই
“যেখানে আমরা কারণ খুঁজে পাই না, তাকেই ৰলি লীলা | কারণ খুঁজে পেলে তাকে ৰলি ক্রীড়া | এই পরমপুরুষের লীলা-বিবর্তনে জড় থেকে মানসিকে, মানসিক থেকে চেতনে, আর চেতনা থেকে চরমতম চেতন পরমপুরুষেই এক দিনে সে মিশে যাৰে | এক থেক অনেক; অনেক থেকে এক | জীবের উপর পরমপুরুষের নিশ্চয় কৃপা আছে | কারণ, পরমপুরুষের চিন্তার ফলেই জীবের উদ্ভূতি | আর তিনি তাঁর চিন্তারই শেষ-পর্যায় জীবকে নিজের মধ্যে মিলিয়ে নিচ্ছেন | তাঁর থেক ৰেরিয়ে তাঁতেই মিসছেন |” (1)
Reference
1. DMC 1 January 1989 Ananda Nagar
== Section ==
How to satisfy yourself that you never wasted your time
“After millions of animal lives, a created being attains the human form. That is why all the sacred books speak of the rarity of human life. The wise properly utilize all objects and this utilization alone makes the existence of the object worthy. You have achieved the human frame. You must make it meaningful by your sádhaná, service and sacrifice. Engage yourself in such useful pursuits that even your worst enemies have hardly any chance to despise you. Utilize yourself in such a manner so as to satisfy yourself mentally, that you never wasted your time uselessly on this earth.” (Ananda Vanii #33)
Note: The above is one of Baba’s original Ananda Vaniis. These original and true Ananda Vaniis are unique, eternal guidelines that stand as complete discourses in and of themselves. They are unlike Fake Ananda Vaniis which are fabricated by most of the groups - H, B etc.
== Section 3: Links ==
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