Baba
How to clean the mind
Namaskar,
In this modern world, people come in contact with countless images and sounds every day. The mind gets exposed to so much external stimuli. This has a tremendous impact. Another characteristic of this modern era is that people want to “keep busy”. That deflects their mind from feelings of depression etc. So they engage in anything. This is especially the case in materialistic communities. As Ananda Margiis, as meditators, as yogis / yoginis, we should be educated and vigilant about these trends and help guide the common people so they may progress.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
What determines one's mental make-up
What we think about is perhaps the single most important thing that determines our future and what we will become.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "As you think so you become." (1)
Human beings have numerous psychic engagements, and the mind typically moves towards so many different thoughts and objects. People commonly think about their normal worldly affairs, as well as other good and bad thoughts. A person's object of ideation is their mental pabulum or a'bhoga (food of the mind).
Ananda Marga ideology says, "A'bhoga means occupation or pabulum. Not only the physical body but the mind also requires a pabulum; whatever object the mind confines itself to, that is its pabulum...mental pabulum is called a'bhoga. The object with which the mind is preoccupied or obsessed is its psychic pabulum or a'bhoga." (2)
Most often, people think about those things which they see, hear, feel, taste, and touch. Those sensory organs feed the mind. Such sense perceptions generally determine one's a'bhoga or mental occupation.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
How mind gets depressed
So depending upon one's a'bhoga, i.e. object of ideation, one's mind will go up or down. If one thinks bad thoughts, the mind will be degraded. Whereas if one is involved in spiritual thought - kiirtan and dhya'na - the mind will be elevated. And certainly many just think about normal mundane affairs related with their survival etc.
At the same time, it must be taken into consideration that the human mind is a flickering entity. That means, it cannot hold a particular thought for a long time. Always new thoughts and images are entering one's mental plate. So if on Tuesday one had a bad thought, even three days later when trying to do sadhana that thought might disturb the mind.
So what we expose our sensory organs to - how one interacts with the world - has a huge effect on our mental well-being. Because those interactions directly affect our thinking. One other aspect to the equation is that the mind flows much more easily towards bad things, whereas it takes great effort to goad the mind towards sentient practices like sadhana. When sitting for sadhana, so many disturbing thoughts may barrage the mind, and that will multiply if one's daily a'bhoga (food of the mind) is negative.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Way out
All have all come into this world to achieve the Great. But that achievement does not come automatically, it must be cultivated.
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "The seed of infinite expression lies within dharma, but you must nourish it." (3)
In their short time on this earth, one should immerse the mind in His thought. Trying to satisfy their infinite human longing with worldly things cannot work. Yet still people lust for mundane gains because that is comparatively easy and tempting. So those tendencies dominate their a'bhoga (food of the mind).
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Human beings have unquenchable, infinite physical longings...but physical objectivity is finite, hence the infinite desire to accumulate finite physical objects is a psychic ailment...We have to divert physical longings to psychic and spiritual longings." (4)
In that pathway, people flood their life with worldly desires so their a'bhoga will be filled with finite, temporal thoughts. In that way, people lead humdrum lives, and some even degrade themselves to the depths if their thoughts are very bad.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Dos & don'ts to purify
When the mind flows more easily towards degenerating thoughts and activities, and when today's materialistic world is filled with degrading scenes, as sadhakas one has to be extremely careful - and at the same time guide others. As far as possible, one should never allow the mind to get exposed to lowly things. What one sees, hears, and speaks should be sentient.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "'One must have restraint over one’s sensory and motor organs.' 'I must not see that object, that may pollute my mind. I must not hear that sound, that may pollute my mind.' These are all restraints over sensory and motor organs."
Cakkhuna' sam'varo sa'dhu
"O sa'dhu, O spiritual aspirant, you should have proper restraint over your eyes [and all your motor and sensory organs]." (5)
Each and every waking moment a sadhaka should apply their sense of vivek and not let the motor and sensory organs bring the mind into a state of degradation. Next Baba talks about how each and every person has their own unique a'bhoga (food of the mind).
Ananda Marga ideology says, "The a'bhoga of all of them is not the same. One person is thinking that he has to reach his shop as early as possible. Another person is thinking that she has to reach the court early. In her mind the thought is that of the court. Another person wants to reach a sweet shop to buy rasagolla'. In that person’s mind the thought is that of rasagolla'. Thus everyone has a different a'bhoga." (6)
So some may be thinking about science, some about food, others about something else etc. All have their own a'bhoga. And in turn, their life will take expression.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Conclusion
Sadguru Baba has given all the tools to lead a brilliant life, suffused in His ideation. If the mind is down and does not want to do kiirtan, even then one should force the mind to do kiirtan. That will cleanse and elevate the mind. If one chooses to fill the mind with His thought, one will surely reach that divine stance at His lotus feet, by His grace.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "A'bhoga means that object which feeds the mind – that is, mental pabulum. If this pabulum is limited, the mind also becomes limited. If the pabulum is infinite, by making an effort to obtain it, the mind becomes infinite. It depends entirely on the will of human beings which pabulum, limited or unlimited, is made their object. Whether a person becomes great or small completely depends on the person’s wish." (7)
Namaskar,
in Him,
Jaybaba
References
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 1, Spiritual Practice and the Cosmic Science
2. Subhasita Samgraha - 11, The Hub of Universal Activities
3. Prout Nutshell - 15, Talks on Prout
4. Prout Nutshell - 15, Talks on Prout
5. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, How to Concentrate
6. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, The Ultimate Aim of All
7. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 1, Leaving Bondage
* * *
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 ==
If there were no wrongdoers
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 so-called 7th sky or heaven - and that one must cry out to reach them. And that goes against the spirit of bhakti.
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. But in melancholic songs, using the address O’ God, O’ Lord etc is appropriate.
"Káhákeo pápii bheve, bhay peyo ná ogo prabhu,
pápii jadi ná thákito, mahimá kii pete kabhu..." (Prabhat Samgiita #0695)
Purport:
Prabhu, please don't be “afraid” knowing that someone is a sinner, a mahapatakii, or an evil person. I request You not to keep distance or have any aversion towards them. If there were no nefarious people, then how could You ever gain so much glory. All-pervading Entity, Your fame grows by saving them from their sin and negative samskaras. My Adored One, You steal away sin, and that is why Your name is Hari. If there were no wrongdoers and there was no sin for You to steal, then no one would call You Hari. That name - Hari - would be meaningless. That is why the presence of crooks is needed for Your magnificence.
Baba, of the universe, do You think that only those always calling You with tearful eyes and folded hands are Your bhaktas. Or that only those strict in Sixteen Points, kiirtan, fasting, asanas, pranayama, bhajan, and dhyana sadhana etc are Your bhaktas? No, they are not Your only bhaktas; felons are also Your bhaktas. Miscreants also cry for Your help and with full surrender want Your mercy, so please do not forget them.
Parama Purusa, the hearts and minds of those who are infamous transgressors are also full of bhakti. The only reason they are papiis (sinners) is because they don't want to become light by giving their burden of sin to You. Because of their exceptional prema towards You, they are unwilling to give the misery of their bad actions unto You. Rather they keep those reactions for themselves to endure. Divine Entity, Baba, such evildoers love you so much. They prefer to undergo the suffering of their negative samskaras on their own. Because of their considerable affection for You, they do not want to burden You with their sins. That is why they are known as offenders.
Baba, by seeing that someone is a scoundrel, please do not keep Your distance...
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Our AV & SS books
Ananda Marga philosophy states, ““Shásanát tárayet yastu sah shástrah parikiirtita” – i.e., that which leads to permanent liberation is shástra or scripture. Here shásana means discipline. The role of scripture is to lead the human beings towards the Supreme goal through discipline or anushásana. Dharma is a valuable asset in human life. Dharma ensures a special position for human beings as distinct from animals. They are considered the crown of creation, due to their dharma. Human beings derive the noblest instructions for the greatest development from dharma. When the sole purpose of scripture, i.e. dharmashástra is to establish the human beings in the stable, exalted position of spiritual ideation, it must be practical, rational, infallible and universal. It must be based on deep eternal truths. It must be áptavákya. A scripture is a guided entity. The “Subháśita Saḿgraha” series of books are the scriptures of Ananda Marga ideology.” (1)
Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “Ananda Marga [[dharma]] scriptures means Subháśita Saḿgraha (all parts), Ánanda Vacanámrtam (all parts)...” (2)
Note: The Ananda Vacanamrtam series began in 1978 and is a collection of Baba’s general darshan discourses. Whereas the Subhasita Samgraha series is the collection of all of Baba’s DMC discourses from 1955 to 1990. Both of these series of discourses are part and parcel of our spiritual scripture in Ananda Marga.
References
1. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 4, Our Spiritual Treatise
2. Caryacarya - 1, Svadhyaya
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Way to overcome limitation of human brain
Here following is an English summary or gist of the below Bangla teaching:
With one brain how can you compete with Parama Purusa. Better is to tell Him that, “Parama Purusa, You have innumerable brains. Think for me too and solve my problems. With one brain how much can I do.” By this way, one should surrender unto Him. (English summary)
Ananda Marga ideology states, “তুমি একটা brain নিয়ে, তাঁর সঙ্গে পারৰে কী করে ? তার চেয়ে সময় থাকতে ৰলে ফেলা ভাল, যে “তোমার অতগুলো brain রয়েছে, আমার চিন্তাও করো, আমি আর একটা brain-এ কী করতে পারি |” (1)
Reference
1. The Thousand-Headed Puruśa, V06-15-(E) MGD 17 December 1978 Calcutta
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Religious leaders regularly tell their followers that, “You must not blame others or point towards social injustices for your current suffering. What you are undergoing now is because of your own fate. So just accept your situation.” In this way the priest class implements vicious control methods and restrictions, thereby keeping the people docile. Nowadays, to find their escape from dire poverty, people take shelter in buying lottery tickets - hoping their fate is to win and become rich. And if that person does not win, then it is just their bad luck.
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "The problem of individual or collective suffering due to lack of physical requirements can be easily solved by implementing a system of social justice and social equality. So it is useless to blame the…fate of others." (1)
Reference
1. Human Society - 1, Social Justice
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Alert: This below teaching from Baba is not for hardcore gay people and their fanatical supporters. This is for innocent margiis.
LGBT people can’t understand this teaching of Baba
Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "An animal life is given to carnal pleasure human life is for sádhaná." (1)
In Ananda Marga, human life is for sadhana; thus the mind must be guided in this way. Yet that is impossible if one is plunged in sexual dealings etc. Indeed, if one is indulged in sex solely for the sake of sex, as is the case with homosexuals / gays etc, then sadhana is not possible. Such types of persons cannot understand Ananda Marga teachings. They cannot grasp that the mind should be goaded towards Parama Purusa. An aspirant should remain in Brahmabhava throughout the day. then sadhana will be successful, otherwise not. So the mind should be trained accordingly. Gay / lustful sexual relations undermine this endeavour.
Alert: This above teaching from Baba is not for hardcore gay people and their fanatical supporters. This is for innocent margiis.
Reference
1. Caryacarya - 2, Sadhana, Point #4
== Section: Hindi Quote ==
भक्तों को, बाबा का विशेष आश्वासन - १
(जिसको इष्ट निष्ठा नहीं है, वह यह निम्न आश्वासन नहीं समझ सकता)
इन जड़ धर्मों से, पशु धर्म से, और आनुष्ठानिक धर्म तथा rituals से ख़ुद को मुक्त करो | और मन की सारी भावनाओं को मेरी ओर चला दो |
["बाबा, बाबा, बाबा !"]
तुम्हारा प्रेम जड़ की ओर नहीं, तुम्हारा प्रेम पशुता की ओर नहीं, तुम्हारा प्रेम अनुष्ठान की ओर नहीं, तुम्हारी मुहब्बत एक की ओर चलें, मेरी ओर चलें |
["बाबा, बाबा, बाबा !"]
तुम मेरे बन जाओ, मैं तुम्हारा हूँ |
["बाबा, बाबा, बाबा !"]
और कहना यही है कि मैं हूँ तो, इसलिए तुम्हारे लिए कोई फ़िक्र की बात नहीं है |”
["बाबा, बाबा, बाबा !"]
[यह प्रवचन-अंश, बाबा के कैसेट से सीधे लिखा गया है । बाबा का यह असली प्रवचन, अमृतोपदेश है। आनन्दमार्ग हिन्दी पुस्तकों में छपे प्रवचन तो नक़ली प्रवचन हैं, असली नहीं हैं -- बंगालीकरण (बँगलाइजेसन) के तहत उनकी बर्बादी की गई] (1)
Reference
1. अप्रकाशित, NP, GD 25 May 1981
== Section: Bangla Quote ==
ৰুঝলেন না ? Force নয়, persuasion
“সৎ ব্যষ্টি কি করৰে ? তার কাছে যে সু, তার সঙ্গে ৰেশি মেলামেশা করৰে | সেই ৰেশি মেলামেশা করাটাকে ৰলা হয় "সত্সঙ্গ" | তাতে নিজের লাভ হৰে | আর নিজের লাভের ফলে নিজে যখন ৰেশ এগিয়ে যাৰে, তখন তো সমাজসেবা পিছনে তোমার duty হৰে---অন্যকে ভাল করা | এবং সেই সময় তুমি চেষ্টা করৰে কি ? না, যে মানুষের মধ্যে যতটুকু প্রসুপ্ত শুভ-ভাব আছে, সেটাকে আরও জাগিয়ে দাও | আর তার ব্যক্ত বা প্রসুপ্ত অশুভ ভাবকে শেষ করে দেওয়ার চেষ্টা করো | এ ব্যাপারে psychological pressure দেৰে না | Persuasion করতে হয় | ৰুঝলেন না ? Force নয়, persuasion | ইংরেজিতে দুটো শব্দ আছে, কাছা-কাছি | যেমন একজন doctor, একজন রোগীকে প্রথমে কি করৰেন ? Persuasion করৰেন | তাতে কাজ না হলে, তখন force | Persuasion-টা হল, সমাজে, একটা ৰড় দুষ্ট, সমাজের ক্ষতি করছে | প্রথমে কি করৰে ? Persuasion | তাতে কাজ না হলে, force | Persuasion-এর ৰাংলা হল ৰুঝিয়ে-সুঝিয়ে সত্পথে আনা | তাতে কাজ না হল, তখন force apply করৰে | কেন apply করৰে ? না, তুম যদি force apply না কর, তার দ্বারা সমাজের অনেক ক্ষতি হয়ে যাৰে, যে | সমাজকে ৰাঁচাৰার জন্যে এইটা তুমি করছ | কিন্তু তাকে force apply করে, সাময়িক ভাবে ভাল রাখা যায়; স্থায়ী ভাবে রাখা যায় না | তাই সাময়িক ভাবে force apply করে তাকে ভাল রাখৰে ৰটে, কিন্তু ৰোঝানোর কাজ চলতেই থাকৰে, চলতে থাকৰে | কারণ, তার ফলটা স্থায়ী হয় |” (1)
Reference
1. অপ্রকাশিত, ৯ মার্চ ১৯৮০, কোলকাতা
== Section 3: Links ==
