Baba
Sadhakas & spiritual energy
Note: The points expressed in this letter are only for dedicated and committed sadhakas who practise all the lessons both times with long sessions, as this letter reviews a very significant aspect of spiritual sadhana. For others it is beyond their grasp.
Namaskar,
Baba would touch sadhakas as a way to bless and grace them. This we have all seen or heard about on countless occasions. By His mere touch He would put aspirants into samadhi and / or cure their ailments etc. By His touch, sadhakas could feel His grace as bliss. In countless demonstrations, we bore witness to this. After all, who has not heard about how Baba would regularly direct various persons like Dasarath ji to grab onto His toe and by doing so Dasarath ji would then be able to see past, present, and future of anybody.
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Duty of VSS was to protect Baba from touching
Those days margiis and general workers wanted desperately to touch Sadguru Baba’s feet. They would rush up with great force towards Baba. And this became a big problem. So to protect Baba, VSS was created. To that aim, those VSS cadres would make a human barricade around Guru. And they would aggressively push aside all comers. They also used sticks to protect Baba from the rush of margiis and workers. This was the constant struggle for VSS - protecting Guru from His own disciples who were eager to get Him. And why were margiis so eager? Because by touching Him they felt blissful.
Spiritual energy transfers
Just as we receive His spiritual vibration through His divine touch, we can lose that exquisite vibration by hugging or touching others as well. To maintain a strong spiritual flow, Baba advises us on this point.
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "Do not shake hands with anyone." (1)
Touching others is not just a physical or psychic or social expression. By touch, spiritual energy is also transferred - i.e. it can be lost. That means the sweet vibration we derive from feeling His spiritual touch in sadhana can be lost by physically touching others.
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After performing samadhi demonstrations
After performing samadhi demonstrations on sadhakas, it was forbidden for anyone to touch that sadhaka who was basking in the bliss of samadhi. So we should all see for ourselves and try to realise this eternal truth. Since long, many advanced sadhakas on the path of Ananda Marga have advised other aspirants on this point.
Experiment: do lots of kiirtan & sadhana - touch ordinary citizens
On this point everyone should experiment for themselves:
1. First, set aside some time to do very long kiirtan and very long sadhana in one quiet and lonely place.
2. That day you will feel a surge of spiritual vibration; continue your practice until you distinctly feel His spiritual touch which brings feelings of deep tranquility and bliss.
3. Then with that deep tranquility and bliss, go and leave your sadhana place and touch and hug normal citizens etc. Then you will feel for yourself how the spiritual vibration wanes. Some of the flow gained from sadhana will fade away.
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4. But remember, if you experiment with this without first purifying the mind with lots of kiirtan, sadhana, deep tranquility and bliss, then it will not work. Because if the mind is not cleansed, if it is dirty, then there will not be any sweet spiritual vibration to lose. In that way, one will not feel differently by touching others. Whereas if one does sadhana sincerely with pointed concentration, and gets deep tranquility and bliss, then a sadhaka will feel a distinct loss of spiritual energy when coming in hugging or physical contact with others. It is akin to having your clean clothes become soiled from the dirt.
In contrast, if one's clothes are already dirty then they can sit down in the dirt without realising that their clothes have become even more soiled. So those not doing strong sadhana will venture out in the general society and touch or hug others without realising that their mind has been adversely affected.
5. After involving deeply in sadhana, if you refrain from touching others, then you will maintain your spiritual energy, by His grace. And you will build upon that base and it will multiply in your next session of sadhana.
So this is one very good spiritual experiment to see how sadhana really transforms your existence. If you practice this for a day or so, you will see how the tranquil spiritual vibration of sadhana will linger on and on, from day to day, from one sadhana session to the next. In contrast, if you engage in touching or hugging others, then the opposite will occur. There will be some loss of that sweet lingering feeling, some of that energy will have been wasted away and one will start each sadhana session from the lower level. So sadhana will be about just replacing what you lost rather than building upon and growing from the last sadhana session.
Spiritual energy drains out
In our own practical life we should try to follow the word and spirit of Baba's above guidelines - as far as possible. This is something for us all to experiment with and gain an inner understanding of. Along these lines here are some points.
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As sadhakas to whatever degree possible after doing sadhana, one should not touch others right away. In our family lives we have small children etc, but to whatever extent we can, we should try not to come in physical contact with others immediately after doing sadhana. In addition, sadhana should not be done with a cat or dog in the lap. Nor should we hold our small babies in our arms when doing sadhana. Best is to be alone when doing sadhana - not touching others.
Overall, the above are a few of the many ways to increase one's sadhana and spiritual flow. These lifestyle tips help to retain one's subtle spiritual vibration. We should all be vigilant in sadhana and receive His divine spiritual touch. And then do our best to retain that sweet spiritual vibration right up through the next sadhana session. This builds spiritual momentum. Whereas if we do sadhana and experience deep tranquility and bliss, and then randomly go around touching and hugging, then some portion of that subtle energy just drains out.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "At the time of maha'bha'va, the sa'dhaka feels the tactual presence of Parama Purus'a and falls down. At that time, every nerve-cell, every nerve-fibre and every pore of the human body feels the divine touch." (2)
Conclusion
When sadhakas feel a spiritual vibration, then if they touch others the vibration goes away because of their limited spiritual stock. They do not have an infinite amount of spiritual treasure to touch or hug and have it distributed around. In the case of Baba it is very different. He has an infinite amount of spiritual treasure. By His dealing and behaviour He wanted to teach His disciples the theory of “not to touch.” That is why He was not allowing others to touch Him. But before the creation of VSS it was very common for bhaktas to touch Baba and get some spiritual vibration. So they did little or hardly any sadhana but got a lot of vibration by touching Him. Later on Baba wanted to teach His disciples to do sadhana and retain the value of that sadhana by not touching other people. But at the same time in the crowd Baba was not allowing others to touch Him; but for select individuals He was giving them opportunity to touch Him in His room. It was just His liila. Here the main point is that Baba has an infinite amount of spiritual treasure so He does as He wishes. But for humans it is different. After sadhana they have a little stock of spiritual treasure, so they should not waste it by touching others.
Namaskar,
at His feet,
Brahmaprakash Deva
~ In-depth study ~
Feeling His spiritual touch in sadhana
As one progresses in sadhana one can feel His sublime spiritual touch more and more, thereby submerging our entire existence in His bliss.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "When the sa'dhaka clearly feels the thrill of divine existence around him at the time of sa'dhana', the state of bliss as experienced by the sa'dhaka is described as dasha'. When the sa'dhaka feels the existence of the divine world around him, as also the source from which the divine existence comes, the state of bliss the sa'dhaka experiences at the time of sa'dhana' is bha'va. Again, when the sa'dhaka feels the closest proximity of Parama Purus'a, even within his embrace, that bha'va is called maha'bha'va. At the time of dasha', the sa'dhaka feels bliss within and falls down, and during bha'va, the sa'dhaka feels proximity to God, feels great bliss and falls down. At the time of maha'bha'va, the sa'dhaka feels the tactual presence of Parama Purus'a and falls down. At that time, every nerve-cell, every nerve-fibre and every pore of the human body feels the divine touch." (3)
Aspirant comes in tactual contact with Supreme
Without touching Him, dhyana is impossible. Whenever the mind is pointed in sadhana, one will feel His divine touch. Sincere sadhakas continue to experience this regularly in sadhana. Sadhakas who felt His grace merely by attending His darshan and seeing Him. When doing His dhyana, we can come in contact with His divine presence and feel His closeness - His grace.
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Sometimes in dream also He bathes us in His effulgence and blesses sadhakas by touching them. He has innumerable ways to shower His infinite grace and bliss. Here below Ananda Marga ideology guides us that one will feel His presence and spiritual touch in sadhana and other spiritual practices.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "There cannot be any peace, any happiness or any beatitude till the aspirant comes in tactual contact with the Supreme Self." (4)
The main point is we can feel His presence through all kinds of psycho-spiritual practices. That contact brings waves of sweet, blissful spiritual vibrations. By touch, spiritual energy is transferred.
Subtle spiritual topic
So this point of touching is attainable and for the welfare of all sadhakas. It is a universal point of spiritual life from which we can all benefit. Yet to truly understand this point of not touching others, sadhana is needed. Otherwise, if one is not doing sadhana properly then how can one understand this subtle spiritual topic. It will be beyond the grasp.
More points on touch
As far as possible every sadhaka should refrain from touching others after sadhana and in between sadhana sessions. At the same time, there are some circumstances where one must sacrifice and come to the physical support of others. For instance, if an elderly or disabled person needs physical support and without help they will fall, then one must come to the aid of that person. They need physical service and support. So there are particular occasions where we will have to touch others. Yet, one should also remain vigilant and be strict on such matters and not touch others when it is not warranted or needed. By that way, one can best maintain and enhance their spiritual approach and thereby best serve others. The more the mind is linked with Parama Purusa, the more that sadhaka can selflessly serve and guide the society.
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Our Samskrta names
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, “At the time of initiation or shortly afterwards, those who do not have a Sanskrit name should be given one by the ácárya/á. The word deva should be suffixed to the name…the more the usage of deva as a title, the better it is. The Sanskrit name should be used in all worldly dealings.” (5)
Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "Unrelated men and women should not, as far as is possible, touch each other." (6)
References
1. Caryacarya - 1, Methods of Salutation
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 33, Dasha, Bháva and Mahábháva
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 33, Dasha, Bháva and Mahábháva
4. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 12, The Four Kinds of Approach
5. Caryacarya - 1, The Process of Initiation
6. Caryacarya - 1, Social Relationship between Men and Women
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The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
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== Section 2: Important Teaching ==
Protozoic & metazoic mind
Ananda Marga ideology states, “The protozoic minds are guided by instinct only. The protozoic mind is citta only, with no development of ahaḿ[tattva] or mahattattva. Ingesting food, supporting offspring – this is all done instinctively, according to their svabháva [spontaneously], the reasons being quite unknown to those creatures. The earthworm does not know that it is an earthworm. It moves instinctively, spontaneously, according to its undeveloped mind. The protozoic minds and the protozoic microcosm can be said to be the physical mind. A protozoic creature has only physical mind. The collection of protozoic minds in the human can be said to be the physical mind of the human, known as the [kámamaya kośa]. It is guided by instinct, there is no discrimination.”
“But the metazoic mind moves with some intellect, or discrimination, as there has been some development of intellect in it. Hence the metazoic mind has control over the protozoic mind. The more the metazoic mind is developed in a creature, the more developed the creature is; that is, a metazoic structure will be more complicated. And where this complication has increased considerably, that physical structure is the human physical structure.” (1)
Note: Living cells act according to instinct because of their protozoic mind. There are many organs in the human body such as the kidneys and the liver. These organs have have a more developed mind, i.e. metazoic mind. So long as the kidneys and liver are in a greater structure like an animal or a human they will do their job. That is why doctors are able to perform kidney and liver transplants from one human body to another. So metazoic mind controls protozoic mind. And, in the human structure, both protozoic and metazoic mind comes under the domain of the unit human mind.
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Knowledge and Progress
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Enterprises should not be controlled by government
Prout philosophy states, “It is desirable that the management of industrial, agricultural, trade and commercial enterprises not be in the hands of the central government or the world government (after the establishment of the world government). If it is, the common people will not get the direct or even the indirect opportunity to participate in the management of these enterprises. In such cases capitalists, opportunists or self-seeking politicians can easily take control of them and misappropriate public wealth." (1)
Reference
1. Problems of the Day, Point #11
