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Friday, June 28, 2024

PS: beyond comparison + 3 more

Baba
PS: beyond comparison

Namaskar,

Here following is one Baba story about the beauty, magnificence, and greatness of Prabhat Samgiita. Note: This letter also refers to Rabindra Sangeet, and as these are non-margii compositions we honoured their spelling of Sangeeta.


First program


Those days when Baba was living in Madhu Malainca - His residence at Lake Gardens (Kolkata) - He introduced the idea of holding Prabhat Samgiita cultural programs. Those days Prabhat Samgiita was quite new, so it was the need of the time to propagate Baba's divine gift of Prabhat Samgiita.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Hence the then Central PRS dada T. was given the duty to organise the first-ever Prabhat Samgiita cultural program. And after coordinating the various affairs, the public Prabhat Samgiita program was held at a park in Central Kolkata in the evening time, around sunset. Directly afterwards Dada rushed back to Baba's Quarter to give the good news.

Thus, PRS Dada T. reported to Baba by passing all the various good news about the program. Certainly many of the workers were also curious to hear because not all could attend.


That reporting session

In particular PRS Dada T. was telling how in order to attract the Bengali public, first they performed a few Rabindra Sangeeta (i.e. songs by the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore). Those Rabindra Sangeeta went on for some time. Thereafter, a few Prabhat Samgiita were performed. All in all 60% percent of the time was given for Rabindra Sangeeta and 40% was allotted for Prabhat Samgiita. Altogether the public greatly appreciated the cultural program.

In this manner, PRS was telling the news. Hearing all this Baba took on His 'Rudra Rupa' form, i.e. His menacing form where He lovingly displays His feigned anger.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Immediately in that reporting hall Baba feigned His fury and started rebuking him strongly. All workers present in the hall were shocked and unnerved by the magnitude and height of Baba's feigned anger.

Baba strongly feigned scolding and chastising PRS for highlighting Rabindra Sangeeta at our own Prabhat Samgiita cultural program:

"You are degrading Prabhat Samgiita - Coward...Animal...You do not have the courage to play Prabhat Samgiita at our own Prabhat Samgiita cultural program... What nonsense!"

In this way, Baba's feigned scolding went on. At the time, Baba was speaking in Bangla but the translation is as recounted above. We should also recall that all-loving Baba has tremendous affection for His disciples and His feigned scolding is a sign of His great blessing.

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


Dhik, dhik dhik-- shame, shame shame


Then in front of all, Baba lovingly scolded PRS Dada for his sin by ordering him to take punishment while all others stated: 'Dhik, dhik... dhik, dhik...dhik, dhik', which literally means 'shame, shame... shame, shame...shame, shame...'.

So, as a symbolic gesture of shame and humiliation, Dada T. had to pretend to rub his nose on the wall - while all workers present chanted 'Dhik, dhik... dhik, dhik...dhik, dhik'--  'shame, shame... shame, shame...shame, shame...'.

As this was a dramatization, it looked like harmful, painful things were going on, but Dada T was not really rubbing his nose etc. But he was acting like really he was rubbing it hard.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

But not only that, because of the extreme severity of his wrongdoing, Baba ordered PRS to do that punishment on the ground also. This heightened the effect of the dramatization.

In unison all workers recited 'Dhik, dhik... dhik, dhik...dhik, dhik','-- 'shame, shame... shame, shame...shame, shame...' while Dada rubbed his nose just above the ground as a show of humiliation and repentance.

Aside: When anybody did something outrageously negative then they got this type of punishment, i.e. 'Dhik, dhik' / 'shame, shame'.

By this entire scene, everyone understood in the deep core of their heart that Baba is adamantly against the use of Rabindra Sangeeta at our own Prabhat Samgiita cultural programs. Indeed that was the first and last time that it was done.

As many may be aware, Baba Himself has pointed out that there is too much of an emphasis on melancholic themes which are prevalent throughout Rabindra Sangeeta. On so many occasions He told like this.


Why not Rabindra Sangeeta

Furthermore proof is that Baba told on various occasions that, "If Rabindra Sangeeta was okay then there would not have been any need to create new songs. But because Rabindra Sangeeta is not perfect that is why Prabhat Samgiita was composed."

The overarching point is that we should not give undue importance to Rabindra Sangeeta. Before Prabhat Samgiita had been given, that was different. But now that we have Prabhat Samgiita then Rabindra Sangeeta should not be propagated.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

On countless occasions, senior margiis have seen that in His presence - at annual DMC, General Darshan, in all such programs - Baba emphasized for everybody to sing Prabhat Samgiita. Even at DMC if someone was not singing then Baba would lovingly flash His feigned anger.

So you can understand how much stress Baba placed on Prabhat Samgiita. Otherwise, it was not easy for margiis to forget about those other songs. By this approach, everybody came to understand the grand importance of Prabhat Samgiita.

From all around the globe it was propagated that Prabhat Samgiita is something completely unique and we should realise its significance.


Only Prabhat Samgiita on such programs


Since that very reporting session, no Rabindra Sangeeta has been performed at our cultural programs. Rather it has become the standard that in our Prabhat Samgiita cultural programs only Prabhat Samgiita are performed.

As we all know, Baba has blessed us with this divine collection of Prabhat Samgiita. And these songs are the spiritual treasures which uniquely express the inner heart feeling between the bhakta and Lord. That is the specialty of Prabhat Samgiita.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Plus, His Prabhat Samgiita compositions contain all the teachings of Ananda Marga, in seed form. So Prabhat Samgiita beautifully guides us in all the spheres of life. Hence it is our duty to highlight this divine gift of Prabhat Samgiita and please Him by performing only His Prabhat Samgiita compositions in our cultural programs - and not any other type of song.


Conclusion

All Ananda Marga cultural programs express a dynamic combination of song, dance, and instrumental music etc. So our cultural programs are not just simplistic affairs. They consist of grand performances that incorporate music, dance, drama, and many of the visual and fine arts. In that light, this first-ever Prabhat Samgiita cultural program was supposed to be a dynamic presentation of Baba's divine Prabhat Samgiita. But because PRS Dada featured Rabindra Sangeeta, then the whole program went astray.

Namaskar,
In Him,
Rasamay Ghosh

~ In-depth study ~

First learn AM ideology


In Acarya Diary Baba guides us that human life is short and that it is our first and foremost duty to understand all the aspects of Ananda Marga ideology. As Ananda Margiis first we are to engage in this endeavour. Then afterwards, once Ananda Marga ideology has been fully grasped & understood, we can study other philosophies & literatures for comparing and logically proving to others the superiority of Ananda Marga philosophy.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

But without proper knowledge of Ananda Marga ideology, some margiis read those other writings and their minds become polluted and dogmatic. Baba does not approve this approach.

First we should understand our Ananda Marga philosophy completely including Prabhat Samgiita. After that, when all 5019 Prabhat Samgiita songs are clearly understood, then we have full capacity and knowledge to understand which Rabindra Sangeeta compositions are good and which are bad. Without first studying Prabhat Samgiita, one will not have a basis by which to properly evaluate Rabindra Sangeeta.


Prabhat Samgiita is beyond comparison

If someone has never seen a watermelon and they only know about grapes, and they wrongly preach that grapes are the biggest fruit, they may quarrel with others about which is the biggest fruit. They will stand their ground that grapes are bigger. It is only when they gain a practical understanding about what a watermelon is that they will forget their tales about the greatness of grapes.

Here the point is that those who are not aware about Prabhat Samgiita - and only know about Rabindra Sangeeta - will wrongly preach about the greatness of Rabindra Sangeeta. That is the problem.  

It is just like how a frog in the well brags about the greatness of his well because he is wholly ignorant about anything outside that well.    
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Likewise all kinds of dogmatic things exist in the society and if we allow our minds to drift in that direction then we will never be able to understand the unparalleled glory of Ananda Marga philosophy and Prabhat Samgiita.       

So we should always follow Baba and highlight His teachings and compositions. And we should understand that when Parama Purusa has come then there is no comparison between Prabhat Samgiita and any other genre of poetry or song. Rabindranath is after all a human being so what can he compose in comparison with the Parama Purusa Himself.

Once someone tastes sentient food then they will no longer like to eat tamasik food. And once a person tastes the spiritual vibration of sadhana, then they will not like to engage in idol worship anymore. Similarly once a bhakta has tasted the divine songs of Prabhat Samgiita then they will not be attracted to any man-made songs.


Guru must love & feign scolding


Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, "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." (2)


Synopsis

The above story from that eventful reporting session leads in the direction that we should not encourage any other types of songs. We should follow our Guru, our Ista. To please Him and bask in His blissful teachings, we should propagate Prabhat Samgiita.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

His wish is that everybody should sing and learn Prabhat Samgiita; so our duty is to propagate those compositions.

We should take to heart that Parama Purusa has blessed us with His grand body of spiritual teachings. There is no comparison between His divine gifts and any other type of poetry or song. Rabindranath is after all a human being so what can he compose in comparison with Prabhat Samgiita.

Here below Baba guides us how top-grade bhaktas dedicate their everything to serve and please Ista.

Ananda Marga ideology states, "I act only to please You...I want all my actions to give You some joy. It's immaterial whether that brings joy or pain to me, it doesn't bother me at all. My only task is to give You some joy." (3)


About that blessing


Many are well aware that when Baba gave the punishment to rub the nose on the ground then the intention was that those disciples would keep their nose just a tiny bit off the ground and make the motion of rubbing the nose. This was the common way - the standard procedure. Because actually rubbing the nose on the ground would be quite painful. Here Baba's aim was not to create physical pain per se, but rather to lovingly cultivate a sense of shame for going against Dharma.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga ideology states, "A spiritual guru must be well-acquainted with all the processes of sádhaná, must have the capacity to convince others, must possess complete knowledge of the scriptures, must know many languages, and must have comprehensive knowledge and intellect, plus some extra qualifications. What are those qualifications? 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." (4)

Ananda Marga philosophy teaches us, "One who only punishes a person is not a Guru, and one who only loves is also not a Guru. Rather he or she is an enemy, for 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. Medicine is not necessarily always sweet; sometimes bitter medicines are necessary as well. Patients often refuse to swallow bitter medicines; they cry in protest. But the ideal physician will force the patient to swallow the medicine. This is the proper way." (5)


Baba is embodiment of dharma


The Propounder of Ananda Marga, Baba - Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji is the embodiment of dharma. One of the characteristics of a dharmika is akrodha or non-anger. Baba perfectly embodies this quality. Those close to Baba understood that He never becomes angry. Only fools say that Baba was ever furious or mad etc.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Note: The name of the PRS dada in this story Dada Tryambakeshvarananda. 

References
1. Caryacarya - 2, Society, Point #38c
2. Yoga Psychology, The Cult of Spirituality – the Cult of Pinnacled Order
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 4, “Ye Yathá Máḿ Prapadyante”
4. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 21, The Criteria of a Guru
5. A Few Problems Solved - 5, Shrávańii Púrńimá

Plagiary?

It is the accepted international standard and Baba's system not to copy another's work and publish it in your own way. Baba has given a very strict rule on plagiarism. Why is Baba against plagiarism or stealing someone's work? There are many reasons:

1) It is against the code of asteya (non-stealing).

2) Countless stories of bhaktas need to be published. But some do not want to do the hard work of compiling and writing these stories, so they just steal them from others. But new stories need to be told, otherwise so many unpublished stories of sadhakas will be lost and forgotten forever. So watch out for story thieves, and kindly help them not to steal by posting on social media in their own way. If you want to forward this story then attach the following yellow section with the story: 

“Courtesy of unknown bhakta via Ananda Marga Universal (https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/)”

This will be treated as the standard protocol.


*        *        *

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

*        *        *


== Section: Important Teaching ==

How to deal with blind people

Ananda Marga ideology states, “Never attack the religious beliefs of anyone. Make the person understand gradually with logic. If you attack a person’s religious beliefs, it means you have attacked Ananda Marga.” (1)

This yellow-highlighted quote is only used in the following types of scenarios:
  • During our Ananda Marga seminars, it is fine and well to discuss the loopholes of various religious philosophies. 
  • In our seminars, our internal networks, and when talking with margiis, we can discuss the philosophical and shortcomings and inherent defects of such religions.  
This above quote should never be used in the following circumstances:
  • When dealing directly, face to face, with a dogmatic person who adheres to illogical religious rituals then we should be very psychological and speak in a measured, calculated manner. 
  • So if someone is doing idol worship then do not exclaim, “You are wasting your time because you are just worshipping a monkey - you stupid. Don’t you know that due to idol worship you will be converted into stone or reborn as a monkey.”
Conclusion: If this yellow highlighted teaching is used in the wrong way the result will be very bad. Those who are uninformed have no idea about this above guideline. They apply it in the wrong manner. 

In Him,
Suniiti

Reference
1. Caryacarya - 2, Society, point #9


== Section: Ananda Vanii ==

Example - True Ananda Vanii
Here is the example of a true Ananda Vanii, #38:

(38) The entire humankind of the universe constitutes one singular people. All humanity is bound together; those who are apt to remain oblivious of this very simple truth, those who are prone to distort it, are the deadliest enemies of humanity. Today people should identify these foes very well and build up a healthy human society, totally ignoring all obstacles and difficulties.

It must be borne in mind that so long as a magnificent, healthy and universalistic human society is not well established, humanity’s entire culture, and civilization, its sacrifice, service and spiritual endeavour, shall not carry any worth whatsoever.* (Ananda Vanii #38)

- - - - - - - - - - -

Example - Fake Ananda Vanii New Year 2017

Here is the example of the fake Ananda Vanii for 1st January 2017, of Ranchi faction. You see, it is obvious this below yellow sentence does not have any Ananda Vanii number.

“You are never helpless, never alone. You are always with Him and so you should never entertain pessimism or any inferiority complex.”**
Reference:
*Ananda Vanii #38
**AV-2 ---"The Role of The Cognitive Faculty


== Section 2: Links ==

SUBJECTS TOPICS