Baba
Benefit of losing memory
Namaskar,
A mother who lost her baby 50 years ago becomes sad when she remembers that baby today. So when any negative or painful memory comes into the mind then one should divert the mind away from that memory. Here the chief concern is over-indulging in those old memories. People do not remember ordinary happenings from the past. Just they remember the extremes: both good and bad. And they think again, and again, and again, on those points. Without any plan, those memories recur in the mind - but especially the bad memories. And those bad memories harass the individual and bring sadness. Those are very detrimental. I recall one person I knew who lost his wife to cancer and could not forget the memory of his wife, and within two years he also died.
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Bad memories forcefully drag you back
In contrast, generally, regardless of how many good things happen in life, those good memories will not come again and again in the mind and chase you down. Nor do they keep you awake at night. Mostly they come when in the company of others and you are recounting those good times. And that itself is a waste of time. Then one is living in reverse gear. That is the worst; they are just wasting time and inflating the ego thinking about one’s greatness. Ultimately, it is not good.
The more you dwell in the past the more you are not moving forward. Human life is short. I can remember not far back when I was a small child and now the number of years I have lived I will not live that far into the future. Then I can gauge how short life is. Although, we are not not sure about the future, even then wasting the time caught up in old memories is not good. That is Guru Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji’s teachings: Get rid of old memories, and you will be very happy.
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Worldly memory is bad
There are some advanced Alzheimer's patients who have no memory. Then they are very happy. But that is a disease. Here I am talking about sadhakas using their mental efforts to both wipe away old memories and not unnecessarily worry about the future. There are three bondages: (a) old memories of good events, (b) old memories of bad times, and (c) and anguish over the future. All three are bad. If one can overcome these three bondages, they can utilise their life beautifully and experience an abundance of happiness. There will not be any question of misery. And that is what everyone wants.
Unfortunately, most pass their days remembering their old pains and past glories: such as how they were mistreated, or how they failed in a particular manner, or how they scored three goals in a football match 40 years ago, or how they became class president in high school, or so many other bad and good things from days bygone. These do not contribute to one's progress as human beings or sadhakas. They make the mind preoccupied and heavy. In that case, one cannot remember the Divine Entity, Parama Purusa. Yet people churn these events in their mind again and again.
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That is why one should be aware about the types of things they are remembering. Contrary to materialistic living where people move from one whim to the next, the life of every sadhaka is marked by a definite goal: Parama Purusa. And to reach unto Him, so many steps are required, as well as His divine grace.
What to forget and what to remember
Here below Baba guides us how one of the key factors for spiritual attainment is right memory - samyak smrti, as this keeps the mind light and burden-free.
Ananda Marga ideology states, "Now samyak smrti is remembering whatever is congenial to the spirit of never-ending human progress, and other items you may forget. Suppose a man unnecessarily wounded your sentiment. If you remember it you will be suffering from internal pain, mental agony. Try to forget it. It is better to forget it. If you want peace, you should forget it. But suppose you have learned something good. You should retain it. Those items coming within the second scope, that is, the scope of retention, are samyak smrti. And the best thing that you must always try to retain within the scope of your smrti, within the periphery of your smrti, is the name of Parama Puruśa, is the idea of Parama Puruśa. You must not forget it even for a single moment." (1)
Baba guides us that we should forget about those events that cause torment and pain, and worldly joy. Remembering those events over and over again is not conducive for spiritual unfolding. Then Baba guides us that spiritual teachings should be remembered. And Baba culminates the matter by guiding us that the very best thing to remember is Parama Purusa. Parama Purusa should be the focal point - that is proper memory.
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Ananda Marga ideology says, “A human being’s burden grows along with the past, the present and the future. For example, perhaps you are thinking: once you were eating rich, delicious and costly foods such as háluyápuri, murg-mashallam, namkiin poláo – this is all the burden of the past. Similarly, today you will eat this and that, you will wear such and such, afterwards you will go to your friend's house and they will ask you about what you are wearing – this is the burden of the present. In the same way, you will earn money in the future by doing business, become rich and gain esteem in the society – this is the burden of the future. Buddha warned his mendicants who were thirsty for liberation: O mendicants, lighten the burden that lies before you.” (2)
Keeping the mind pure to receive His call
Here below Baba unveils the special technique for keeping the mind light whereby it can move speedily unto Supreme Self.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "When you are to move fast, your mind should be light; if the mind is heavy it will not be able to move fast. What makes the mind heavy? So many impurities of thought...
Muinca pure muinca pacchata majjhe muinca bhabassa pa'ragu'
[Remove all the water from the boat of your body;
being free from water, it will become very light.]
Ananda Marga ideology says, “You should make your mind light. You should give up all worldly thoughts, all base thoughts, all depraving thoughts, and make yourself light.” To make oneself light means to free oneself from impurities. A magnet can easily attract a piece of iron, but if that piece of iron is full of impurities, that very magnet may not be able to attract that iron. So the Supreme Self, Supreme Lord, is always attracting you, but because of your heaviness due to worldly impurities, you are not being attracted by Him." (3)
If one is hindered by both good and bad memories then remembering Parama Purusa will be extremely difficult. We are to get rid of those old, worn-out memories and think only about Him. The more we remember events of old the more readily they come back into the mind - even uncalled for, unintentionally. In contrast, the more one ideates on Him, the more we are unshackled by worldly dealings - instead it is His remembrance that enters and remains in the mind, by his grace.
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So that is the magic formula for keeping the mind light. Leave worldly dealings aside, and instead fill the mind with His thought. To this end both auto-suggestion (mantra japa etc) and outer suggestion (satsaunga, reading His discourses etc) are absolutely integral.
Conclusion
The aim of every sadhaka is to always remember Baba - only then can one cross the ocean of samskara and reach unit Him. Yet to cross the ocean of samskara one must make the mind light and free by remembering Him and staying under His divine shelter. One cannot cross that ocean if one is weighed down by all kinds of worries from the past, or fears about the future. Even remembering one's glories are not helpful in crossing that ocean of samskara. All such memories are an impediment and shackle us. The mind should be pure and light so it can easily focus on the Supreme.
If one sits and started thinking that, “I will not think about old memories.” That will not do. Or if one confides in their friends everyday that, “I will not think about my son who died 30 years back.” But that means they are remembering their deceased son everyday and harming themselves. Then what is the way? When that type of bad memory comes then swiftly divert the mind towards Parama Purusa. Or if you cannot do that then think about a social service project. That is why it is important for sadhakas to keep busy in serving others. Then bad memories will not drag you back. Best is to think about Parama Purusa or think about serving Parama Purusa in the form of living beings. Then your mind will be engaged in the proper direction.
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Namaskar,
In Him,
Rupatiita
History is important so looking back and having a quick glance at the positive and negative events is helpful for forward movement. That prevents one from making the same mistake again. But plunging oneself in the history of the past is bad.
References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 12, Lord Buddha's Cardinal Principles
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 9, The Source of Internal Stamina
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 31, Make Your Mind Light
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Two mudras to prevent & cure diseases
These two mudras - uddayan mudra and utksepa mudra - are very important for all-round health as they serve as prevention and treatment for numerous diseases. In the Ananda Marga Yogic Treatments book, these two mudras are pervasively used. So all should know how to practice these mudras - i.e. when to inhale and when to exhale etc. Actually they are so basic, there is no need to ask any acarya etc. The instructions are printed in Caryacarya part 3 for all to see. Everyone has access to this knowledge. People should therefore take it upon themselves to acquire the foundational knowledge of basic Ananda Marga practices, like these two important mudras.
Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “Ud́d́ayana mudrá: Standing, place the hands above the knees and bend forward a little. Gradually breathe out, to a state of complete exhalation. Keeping the breath out, draw the abdomen and lower abdomen inward as hard as possible, to touch the spine. Maintain this position for eight seconds. Then gradually inhale fully. Practise eight times.” (1)
Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “Utkśepa Mudrá: This mudrá should be practised in bed immediately upon waking. While lying on the back, one should flex both the arms and legs, bringing them over the chest, and then return them immediately to the extended position. After doing this three or four times, sit up in bed and drink a glass of cold water without allowing the water to touch the teeth. After this you should expose the navel area to the air, and walk up and down in this way for some time in the open air.” (2)
Some of our Wts do not regularly study Guru's books so they end up teaching margiis the wrong thing, or neglect to teach them the right thing. Best is for every Ananda Margii to study Guru's teachings directly. Not studying and just depending on acaryas for basic elements will not yield a proper result. Suppose you ask an acarya and they do not know and give a false answer instead, then the patient will be harmed.
References
1. Caryacarya - 3, Mudrás and Bandhas
2. Caryacarya - 3, Different Yoga Practices
== Section: Important Teaching ==
...will continue forever
Prout philosophy states, "The fight between vidyá and avidyá will go on forever; so the necessity of more or less police and military will also go on forever. But then, when the world government is established, this necessity will decrease. As there is always fight between vidyá and avidyá, more or less class struggle, too, will continue forever. Hence those who day-dream that, after establishing a classless society, they will be able to enjoy a sound slumber with their arms and legs outstretched, will be totally disappointed." (1)
Reference
1. Problems of the Day, Point #30
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Fundamentals of vivaha
This following quote is well-explained and shows how marriage is only between a male and a female and not two people of the same gender. Since the inception of marriage during Lord Shiva's time, marriage has been between a man and a woman. And that is what Baba has approved for AMPS. So when the point of same sex marriage is raised then one should give Baba's teaching that it is always between a man and a woman - not between a man and a dog etc. In the west, some so-called open-minded people are confused and are always try and bring some argument in favour of gay marriage, but according to the purview of Ananda Marga philosophy, their logic has no legs to stand upon.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "He [Lord Shiva] declared that women must be kalatra, which means that women must discharge their obligations to their husbands and their children in such a way that the latter will not have the least difficulty."
"Those who accepted this new arrangement were declared married, and the other members of their society would be witnesses to the marriage ceremony, to bless the newly-married couple and pledge their cooperation to them. The Sanskrit equivalent for marriage is viváha (vi – vah + ghaiṋ): it means, after the ceremony, the man and woman can no longer live as libertines or as irresponsible so-called family people. They have to discharge their full obligations as bharttá and kalatra, responsible husband and responsible wife." (1)
Reference
1. Namah Shiváya Shántáya, Shivokti - 3
== Section 3: Links ==
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