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Monday, July 15, 2024

Robber’s experience at DMC + 2 more

Baba
Robber’s experience at DMC

Namaskar,

In 1957, during the Jamalpur days, Baba used to visit many small towns, even villages, to give general darshan and Dharma Mahacakra (DMC). On one of those tours  a DMC was held in the village of Arraha (Bihar). As Ananda Marga was new in those days, guidelines like 16 Points, basic dos and don'ts, general conduct rules, and organistional regulations had either not yet been given by Baba or were not commonly known. In particular, in that DMC, many different kinds of people were present, and some had just taken initiation.
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On the whole, in His discourses, Baba regularly tells many spiritual topics and stories, and in the culmination of His talk Baba often gives some words of inspiration. He graciously says things like: “You are moralists”, “You are sadvipras”, “It is your duty to save the earth”, “You are following dharma”, “You will be victorious” etc. This is the usual way Baba concludes His discourses, and, at that time, DMC was also ending in that way.

“Victory is yours”

So, in that particular DMC in Arraha (Bihar), one robber was also in attendance, and, at the end of Baba's discourse, that robber did not hear anything other than “Victory is yours”. Then, at the very end of DMC, Baba blessed everyone with His varabhaya mudra.

After DMC finished, the robber asked one margii, 'Baba's blessing is truthful, I think.’ The margii replied, 'Yes, why not? What Baba says is the truth.'

Hearing this, the robber became very happy because he was planning something, and he thought that, ‘Baba blessed me, and now I will be victorious if I execute the plan.’ The robber’s plan was to rob a bank, along with his gang. But, when he attempted that robbery, he was arrested by the police and put in jail. His relatives used to visit him there, and, through his relatives, the robber passed this message to that margii, 'What Baba says does not have any meaning.' After hearing the robber’s message, the margii felt bad and decided to visit that robber in jail.
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Visiting robber in jail

After arriving at the jail, the margii asked the robber, 'Why are you doubting Baba’s words?'.

The robber replied, 'You remember that day when Baba blessed those who were sitting in that room - around 30 people were there. And Baba blessed us with His varabhaya mudra. We were both sitting there, but now I am in jail, and so Baba's blessing does not have any meaning.’ 

Furthermore, the robber said, 'I clearly remember on that day that Baba said, “Victory is yours”. So I took that as a green light for my next robbery. I thought that when I had Baba's assurance and blessing that “Victory is yours”, then I never thought that I would be arrested for any robberies. But, as I am now in jail, I am thinking that Baba's blessing - “Victory is yours “ - and all those types of blessings which He gave in that DMC are meaningless.’

From the above account, it is evident that some simple people can become very confused by Baba's discourses, and, clearly, the robber misunderstood the whole teaching.
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Wrong vs right understanding

If negative or selfish people aim to use this quote - “Victory is yours” - for their own self-interest, that is their foolishness. And that is what happened in the case of the robber. In the story told above, the robber heard Baba say “Victory is yours” and the robber mistakenly thought that Baba was blessing him for the robbery. With that misunderstanding, the robber carried out a heinous act and ultimately ended up in jail. This was the result of his gross misunderstanding. 

In general, when Baba gives these inspiring words, “You are moralists”, “You are sadvipras”, “You are the vanguards”, “It is your duty to save the earth”, “You are following dharma”, “You will be victorious”, then Baba's words do not mean that all those people present that day would be victorious in whatever type of work they do. Those words do not mean that regardless of one’s good or bad character or moral conduct, everyone in that DMC would be victorious regardless of their plan. It does not mean that irrespective of one's moral conduct, all sitting there in DMC that day will be victorious. 

When Baba showers His blessing, “You will be victorious”, He is referring to those who have wholeheartedly embraced the grand ideals of bhagavata dharma (i.e. AM ideology) and overcome all dogmas, superficiality, and selfishness. Such persons will be victorious. 
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Conclusion

Baba's teachings are for eternity and not for particular individuals per se. The key point is that only those with good conduct and discipline can be called dharmic, moralist, or sadvipra. And it is only those people with a high standard of conduct - i.e. those who actually follow universal dharma - who will be victorious. So that is the essence of Baba’s words in that DMC.

Ananda Marga ideology states, “You should always bear in mind that victory does not mean the victory of weak human beings – it means the victory of dharma, the victory of Iśt́a. Intelligent people who move firmly along the path of dharma and sit on the lap of Iśt́a are destined to be victorious. In this case also victory does not belong to such people – victory belongs to Iśt́a.” (1)

At His feet, 
Ramanuj

References
1. Subháśita Saḿgraha Part 12, Where There Is Dharma There Is Iśt́a, and Where There Is Iśt́a There Is Victory


== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==

The balm of peace

“Áj egiye calo sakal mánuś bhái, ámantrań sabáre jánái...” (Prabhat Samgiita #0968)

Purport:

My dear human beings, today let us advance forward and embark on our collective march towards our cherished neo-humanism. We invite one and all. Brothers and sisters, everyone come; no one is neglected; nobody should think they are left out, not a single individual is alien. All are my kith and kin and invited on this grand occasion. We have to remain united and move together to form one human society.

My sisters and brothers, due to infighting between different theories, dogmas, clans, countries, and the battle over what is “mine” and “yours” etc, all kinds of fissiparous tendencies have divided our human society into pieces. Our universal family is rolling in the dust. The demons have pulverized us by injecting narrow-minded, pseudo-ideologies, and dogmatic religious teachings. Various myths and gospels have segregated one person from the next. They all preached the false message of the superiority of their clan, religion, or group. And they have destroyed the unity of the entire cosmic society. We are to make one universal human family which is all-inclusive and based on neo-humanism. Our goal is Parama Purusa. We are all one—our Father is the same Supreme Father. Ours is a paternal family relation. Now we should come together and march forward hand-in-hand, shoulder-to-shoulder and wipe away the tears of the suffering and bring them unto the balm of peace. We are to establish ek manav samaj—one human society.

My dear brothers and sisters, the peace and tranquility of our universal family was poisoned by myths, gospels, and dogmatic teachings. The flower pollen of peace and tranquility has become one with the dust. These anti-social elements do not want to see people living together in harmony. So they have inserted the seeds of division and tainted the moonlight too. O’ fellow travelers of the path of life divine, come - we can resolve whatever problems that arise  By the grace of Parama Purusa, victory is ours. With a strong hand, row the boat, fighting against all obstacles. Let us move forward by His grace…


Mahaprayan of Shrii Gangodakam jii

Baba

Mahaprayan of Shrii Gangodakam jii

Namaskar,

It is with much sadness that we share the news of the mahaprayan of Shrii Gangodakam jii, which occurred today itself. Shrii Gangodakam jii was staying with his youngest son in Bangalore. At the time of his mahaprayan, Gangodakam jii was 89 years of age. 

Shrii Gangodakam jii was a well-known, senior Ananda Margii who was blessed to have spent much time with Sadguru Baba. Gangodakam jii had many devotional experiences and stories to share. And all who knew him understood he was a true sadhaka who had great love for Baba. Indeed, he will be missed by our entire AM family. 

May we all take solace in the fact that Shrii Gangodakam jii was a bhakta of Sadguru Baba. Certainly he will attain mukti or moksa, accordingly. Baba will lovingly bestow His infinite grace.

in Him,
Harideva

Note: Here is an alert for those cremating a dead body in India or Indian managed cremation homes around the world. Their custom is to put the fire in the mouth of the deceased to initiate the burning of the body. This is prohibited in AM as it is uncivilised. So watch out; do not allow this. If you are not careful, they will end up cremating the body in this manner. Make them aware ahead of time. 

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "The practice of putting fire into the mouth of the dead body is repulsive, it should not be encouraged." (Caryacarya - 1, Disposal of the Dead Body)


~ In-depth study ~

We have seen that when somebody dies then in offering their condolences people say now Mr So-and-so is sitting on Baba's lap. On other occasions when telling a Baba story people also say, "Such and such person sat on Baba's lap." But these days the trend is that "sitting on Baba's lap" is used more in connection with death. And that causes some confusion in the minds of readers. To unknot the situation please read below. 

Dogma: if "on Baba's lap" only used for death

Here are quoted lines from recently posted emails on various forums, wherein the writer uses the phrase - "in Baba's lap" - with the occasion of death:

- "May Parama Purusa Baba accept her in HIS divine lap"

- "We pray to Baba - please give him shelter in his lap... "

- "May his soul rest in the lap of our beloved BABA"

- "Now she is taking rest in Baba's Lap."

- "May Baba accept him in HIS divine lap....."

- "May he rest in HIS loving lap of eternity."

- "We are sure that Baba has taken him in His loving lap."

- "May his soul rest in Baba's lap forever."

- "Let her rest peacefully in Baba's Lap - which she always desired."

- "now he is in beloved Baba's lap"

- "May his soul get peaceful place in His lap"

- "He is now in Bábá's loving lap"

- "May Baba bless him with a seat in His lap."

- "May BABA accept him in HIS divine lap!"

- "May Baba take him in his eternal loving lap."

- "May his soul rest in peace taking shelter in Baba's lap."

- "Please keep him on Your lap forever."

- "We all collectively pray to Baba to take him on Baba's divine lap forever.”

All of the above lines are commonly written in eulogizing the deceased. These days mostly it is used in a eulogy and rarely used to recount one's intimate spiritual experiences - unfortunately. By this way, the phrase "in Baba's lap" is being misused, and step by step the real meaning is being forgotten as now people more commonly use the phrase to eulogize those who have died, and much less so to express their inner feelings of bhakti. Unfortunately, the meaning and inner spirit of the phrase is getting lost.


Baba story: "sitting on Baba's lap"

Some time ago after dharmacakra, a senior margii was recounting his experiences of having dharma samiiksa with Baba. He said, "After being lovingly scolded by Baba for my wrongdoings, then He called me close and placed me on His lap - I remained there for some time soaking up His love - and He blessed me."

We all enjoyed hearing about his personal account with Baba during dharma samiiksa. When he finished telling his factual and historical event, there was a call for questions. Various people posed their queries. Towards the end, one new margii raised his hand and asked, "How did Baba bring you back to life?"

Everyone stared at the new margii in amazement. There was a look of astonishment all around - people were really shocked to hear him say this. The new sadhaka sensed that something was wrong, and he said very matter-of-factly, "I thought that sitting on Baba's Lap means that he (the margii) died - that is why I asked that question."

This was quite eye-opening for those of us in the room: Through our language and expression we had unknowingly taught someone to think that being on Baba's lap is the equivalent of death. Because it seems that nowadays people only use the phrase "Baba's lap" when a person has died, such as "Let him rest peacefully in Baba's lap", as if in order to sit on Baba’s lap one has to die. But that is false. Sincere sadhakas regularly sit on Baba’s lap in their meditation. It is His grace. It is just like how a child need not die in order to sit on his father’s lap.

The idea is that this phrase - Baba's lap - has been linked with death due to extreme overuse. So for some time if sadhakas use this phrase exclusively for spiritual purposes, that will be best. The phrase, "sitting on Baba's lap", should not meet a similar fate. It should not lose its pure spiritual quality and just refer to one's death. That will be very negative.

Baba would bless bhaktas and place them on His lap

There are tens of thousands of recorded stories by sadhakas where they use the phrase, "on Baba's lap", when describing their experiences of being with Baba: He used to bless them and bring them on His lap. People should understand the deeply mystical value of this expression, and not just think that Baba's lap means death, i.e. that you can only sit on His lap at the time of death. Still today there are thousands of margiis walking this earth who sat in Baba's lap. And not only that, there are countless more sadhakas who were blessed by Baba in dreams and sadhana wherein they sat in His lap. And still today this deeply intimate experience is attainable by sadhakas, by His grace.

There are so many ways an aspirant can reach unto Baba's lap including in sadhana. That is the main idea that should be preserved. Sadhana is a spiritual practice and one can sit on Baba's lap in sadhana. We should make it cent-per-cent clear to one and all that the phrase, "sitting on Baba's lap", does not mean death.

"Mahaprayan" means death of mortals - confirm for yourself
from the Samsad Bengali-English Dictionary

Mahaprayan (Death): Many are aware that mahaprayan (death) is the common term used in India and especially in our Bengal to describe the death of any human being, even ordinary people. In that way, the obituary columns of the newspapers of Bengal regularly cite the mahaprayan (death) of various persons of society who died or passed away.

Some may get confused and wrongly think that the word 'mahaprayan' (death) is one extraordinarily grand term of bhakti to be used in association with Parama Purusa. But that is not at all the case. Rather to do so is only to undermine the eternal presence of Parama Purusa. That is why no bhaktas ever use the word 'mahaprayan' in reference to Lord Shiva or Lord Krsna. Because Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna exist eternally. Then there is no question of Their mahaprayan (death).

Baba is Parama Purusa so He is eternal and there is no question of His mahaprayan.

Here it should be known that the convention of an annual death day ceremony (i.e. shraddhainjali or mahaprayan) is a foundation of the Islamic tradition. Muslims are well known for this, and their approach of an annual death day ceremony was adopted by the leader of a particular group in AMPS. So no one should think that mahaprayan is some type of sacred event. It is done on the death day anniversary of Muslims.

And for those who need still more technical proof then all this can be clarified quite readily by referencing the dictionary. Specifically in the Samsad Bengali-English dictionary 3rd edition on page 848. By checking there, it will be confirmed that the word 'mahaprayan' means death. Which is why it is used to refer to the passing away of even common citizens. And that is the case in this letter also. The term mahaprayan means death, and this is the ideal term for this purpose.

Mahaprayan is only for humans not for Sadguru

Here it should be qualified that there is both a real mahaprayan and fake mahaprayan. Real mahaprayan marks the death of any ordinary human being, just like the aforesaid news. This is the proper use of the term: To note a person's departure from this earth. That is the meaning of the mahaprayan term and that is the standard way the term is used in Indian languages.

Then there is the fake, or so-called, or dogmatic mahaprayan. That is when certain vested interests try to apply the mahaprayan term to Parama Purusa. This is grossly inappropriate because when Parama Purusa Sadguru Baba is that Divine Entity who is beginningless and endless and resides always in our heart, then it is entirely wrong to proclaim that He is gone.

That is why rational margiis are protesting; because the Oct 21st program is so-called mahaprayan. So-called means that something is fake. Parama Purusa is eternal, thus for some vested interests to declare "mahaprayan of Parama Purusa" is nothing but so-called mahaprayan.

Mahaprayan only really happens in the case of human beings, not Parama Purusa. Those doing mahaprayan for Sadguru are hypocrites. On the one side in meditation they ask His grace thinking that He is ever-present, and on the other side they think that Baba has passed away. That is their hypocrisy.


== Section 2: Links ==