Baba
How to live stress-free
Namaskar,
The present day humanity has made tremendous headway in the material sphere. In just a short while human beings have marched forward into this ultra-modern, high-tech, digital age.
However such rapid progress in the mundane sphere is not without its pitfalls, especially if it is not matched by similar development in the inner world, i.e in one's psycho-spiritual development. Here below Baba uncovers what happens when material development occurs in the absence of a proper spiritual outlook.
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Ananda Marga philosophy says, "For progress in the external world there should be clear guidelines, a clear and well-integrated philosophical base. The society often lacks this; and that is why people tend to lose balance in social life. When those who have developed intellectually come in contact with an uncongenial environment, they find it difficult to adjust." (1)
As Sadguru Baba warns us, when the complexity of life in the external world far outpaces the progress in the spiritual realm, then people lose their balance. They become uncomfortable and maladjusted with the world around them. And this leads to a whole new set of problems and trials. People become “stressed out", lose their psychic equipoise, and suffer from severe mental maladies.
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Present-day humanity has, no doubt, made considerable intellectual progress. But in the external world, there is a lack of adjustment. This is the reason that among the educated people of today the number of lunatics-- people suffering from psychic disorders-- is on the increase: because there is no adjustment in the speeds of the inner and outer worlds." (2)
Lunacy & the rise of mental diseases
Baba has issued a strong warning about the dangers of living in this modern world. Psychic ailments like depression, stress disorders, and all kinds of mental anguishes will creep into the mind when there is not a like and corresponding growth in the internal realm. Moreover, Baba warns us that lunacy will increase dramatically in this imbalanced, modern era.
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Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "These days many psychic diseases have appeared as a result of this mental complexity. Many people are committing suicide; many people are becoming lunatics. The reason is that people are unable to adjust with the various types of complexities in life." (3)
When the situation becomes so severe, people start resorting to the unthinkable: Killing themselves. All because of an extreme lack of adjustment between their outer and inner worlds. The fast-paced, external environment far surpasses their psycho-spiritual progress.
The common people do not have the capacity of mind to address numerous issues simultaneously and think in multiple directions. Yet that is exactly what people are called upon to do in this modern era. Earlier, human life was far more simple, but now due to technology the speed and complexity has increased multifold, and people do not know how to cope.
Top material countries like the us most affected
And this is not just theory only-- this is what we see practically happening in the world around. The huge increase of ailments in the mental arena is becoming more prevalent in various countries. But perhaps nowhere is this more rampant than in the US.
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Currently in the material kingdom of the USA, psychic disorders are cropping up everywhere-- exponentially. From the young to the elderly, from the unemployed to high-paid executives, there is no sector of society that has escaped. And rate of onset of these problems in happening at lightning speed. All because people are surrounded by an increasingly complex material environment yet they do not have the balance or depth of mind to handle the pressure of living in such a fast-paced world.
Conclusion
With the complexity of modernity comes a growing array of mental problems: From a “simple case” of frustration to heated anger outbursts, from mental stress disorder to thoughts of suicide and madness. Millions upon millions of citizens are affected; the malaise is commonplace.
Ultimately that high-level of tension strains the nerves. Nerve diseases, unheard of long ago, are rising at an unprecedented rate: Heart attacks, strokes, high-blood pressure and more. So much sickness today is related with the psychic stress of modern life, including the growing array of mental problems such as stress, depression, and melancholia etc. Here below Ananda Marga philosophy warns about the rise in mental tension and psychic instability.
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Solution: “This is not my work, this is the work of my Lord”
Baba teaches us in a particular discourse: The human cranium is small while the world has become very complex due to the advancement of science. In result, the typical human cranium cannot manage the vast array of complexities of day to day life. With the advancement of science, insanity is increasing. People are suffering from nervous system diseases like high blood pressure, brain haemorrhages, paralysis, depression, heart disease, and various chronic physical and psychic diseases etc.
To resolve this Baba has given the solution that while doing work one should think that, “This is not my work. This is the work of my Lord, Parama Purusa; He is the real Doer.” If one thinks like this there will not be any mental tension.
Namaskar,
In Him
Dharma
Leaking roof and mental tension
People start to feel psychic tension when they lose their spiritual outlook and think that a particular work is their work. In their myopia, they forget that Parama Purusa is the Supreme Controller and that they are just His medium for getting things done. If one engages in any work thinking that it is for Him and that He will manage the results then their mind will naturally be free of tension. It is just like if you go to the office and all of a sudden the roof starts leaking then you will not feel any psychic tension because you know that the operations manager or someone from the office will solve the problem. In contrast, if one’s own house has a leak in the roof and the water is rushing in, then that is very stressful as the person knows that if they do not do it nobody will. So the only way to keep the mind clear and steady is to always feel that everything is in the hands of Parama Purusa and that “I should do the work without any expectation or concern about the results. That is up to Him.”
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~ In-depth study ~
Online report: Seventy-five percent to 90% of all doctor's office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints. Stress can play a part in problems such as headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, skin conditions, asthma, arthritis, depression, and anxiety. These problems can eventually lead to serious life-threatening illnesses such as heart attacks, kidney disease, and cancer.
Here below Baba provides us with a clear-cut, rational portrayal of the problem that is bemoaning today's high-tech yet spiritually deficient societies.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Not only is there maladjustment in speed but also in rhythm; that is, the pattern of internal psychic rhythm is altogether different from the external rhythm of the objective world. Obviously clash is inevitable, and the impact of this clash is felt much more in the psychic realm than in the physical sphere. As a result, human beings lose their mental adjustment." (4)
So in all the above ways Baba has clearly pointed out the problem of life in this ultra-modern era.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
To resolve this Baba has given the solution that while doing work one should think that, “This is not my work. This is the work of my Lord, Parama Purusa; He is the real Doer.” If one thinks like this there will not be any mental tension
References
1. Neo-humanism: Liberation of Intellect, Disc: 1
2. Neo-humanism: Liberation of Intellect, Disc: 1
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 22, Serve the Supreme by Kiirtana
4. Neo-humanism: Liberation of Intellect, Disc: 1
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
== Section 2: Important Teaching ==
Remembering past life
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "After death the disembodied mind floats in the vast space with its unexpressed saḿskáras. Later on, with the cooperation of the mutative principle, the disembodied mind finds a suitable physical base. The memory of its past life remains awake for approximately the first five years of its new life. Although the child remains in a new physical environment, mentally it continues to live the joys and sorrows of its previous life. That is why children sometimes laugh and cry in their sleep, and their mothers often think they are talking with God. In colloquial Bengali this is called deola kát́á. In actual fact this laughter and crying is nothing but the reappearance of past memories. To re-experience past events one does not need the cooperation of the old brain. The newly-born mind has not yet had time to build a close relationship with the new brain. The revival of experiences of past lives is what we call “extra-cerebral memory”, and is principally the task of the causal mind." (1)
Reference
1. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 4, Cerebral and Extra-Cerebral Memory
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Sadhakas saved from negative microvitum
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “A person doing spiritual sádhaná or meditation cannot be attacked by negative microvitum. A person in the stage of meditation cannot be attacked by negative microvitum, but positive microvitum can work directly in the lunar plexus and it can move, rather it does move, up to the occult plexus (the Guru Cakra). But it cannot go beyond the occult plexus – it cannot touch the macro-propensive plexus.” (1)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Now these microvita – positive or negative – maintain the balance of the universe. In the universe, when the collective strength of negative microvita becomes more than that of positive microvita, the world moves towards degeneration, and where the collective effect of the positive microvita is greater than that of negative microvita, spiritual revolution takes place. If the lunar plexus is attacked by negative microvita, the world moves fast towards degeneration, and that degeneration is now active in this universe.” (2)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “You are to do something concrete to save the universe from its depraving effect, otherwise the future of not only humanity but of all living beings is dark. So you will have to become more active and work jointly with maximum speed and maximum zeal to do something concrete with the help of positive microvita. Negative microvita will not help you in this connection.” (3)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “In cosmic space, both positive and negative microvita move through the inferences of the cosmic mind – the internal inferences of the cosmic mind – and also with the help of the cruder portion of ectoplasms. As you know, in the ectoplasmic structure there is the effect of both spirit and physicality. The cruder portion is closely associated with the physical structure and the subtler portion with spirituality.” (4)
References
1. Microvitum in Nutshell, Microvitum and Its Effect on Human Body and Human Mind, 31 December 1987 RU, Anandanagar
2. Microvitum in Nutshell, Microvitum and Its Effect on Human Body and Human Mind, 31 December 1987 RU, Anandanagar
3. Microvitum in Nutshell, Microvitum and Its Effect on Human Body and Human Mind, 31 December 1987 RU, Anandanagar
4. Microvitum in Nutshell, Microvitum and Its Effect on Human Body and Human Mind, 31 December 1987 RU, Anandanagar
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Why bhakta & not devotee
In various discourses Baba differentiates between bhaktas and devotees. In brief, bhaktas are only those who have love for God, who love Parama Purus'a. There is no other use or meaning of the term 'bhakta'. Whereas people can be devoted to all sorts of things etc. A wife may be devoted to her husband. A person may be devoted to playing the piano. Various pets may be very devoted to their master. So being devoted has various insinuations and meanings, whereas the use of the term bhakta is very specific and pointed.
Ananda Marga ideology states, "'Well, we've grown quite old. Having reached such a ripe old age, if we eat without doing some kind of ritualistic worship, people will speak ill of us and criticize us. So we'd better follow the ritualistic formalities by chanting a few mantras'. This category of bhakta is called `sattvika bhakta.' They don't ask for any material thing no doubt, but they ask for liberation as they have reached the last stage of life. Parama Purusa may or may not grant liberation to these bhaktas. One thing which is sure is that they won't attain Him because they want liberation, but not Parama Purusa [moksa] Himself." (1)
Note: A great bhakta wants only Parama Purusa, not anything else.
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 4, “Ye Yathá Máḿ Prapadyante”
== Section: Important Teaching ==
No connection between language & religion
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “The consent of those embraced must be sought for before renaming them in Saḿskrta. Language has got nothing to do with religion and as such, there is no reason for anybody depreciating the use of Saḿskrta. In this connection it may be added that the great emperor Aurangzeb used the term sudhárasa (juice of nectar) for mango (original Saḿskrta term for mango is ámra).” (1)
Reference
1. Táttvika Diipiká (Paiṋcama Parva)
== Section 3: Links ==
