Baba
Importance of kevalam
Namaskar,
Our kiirtan mantra is highly unique: Each word has its own particular and pointed meaning. Even then, some may wonder about the greater significance of the term “kevalam”. Sadguru Baba has selected only three words to comprise our entire kiirtan mantra.
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Only one - no second entity
The eternal truth is that the Supreme Entity is One. Only one Supreme Entity: Parama Purusa. To emphasize this crucial point the term, 'kevalam', meaning ‘only,’ has been used in our Baba Nam Kevalam kiirtan. In Ananda Marga, we are blessed with a unique approach that is singular and pointed. In our kiirtan, the term 'kevalam' has been given. Because the Supreme Entity Parama Purusa can’t be two. Only He is our Goal. The term 'kevalam' in our kiirtan emphasizes the idea again and again that ours is a singular approach. We only sing His name and no other. Only, Only, Only that is the essence of kevalam, only the name of Baba.
In our kiirtan we are to take the name of only One Divine Entity, Baba. And that is emphasized by the unique use of the term kevalam, meaning only.
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Ananda Marga ideology says, "Within the scope of infinite space, and without the scope of infinite space, He is the Singular entity. So nobody is outside Him. So He is the only goal. He is only Desideratum, and for Him you say, “Ba'ba' Na'ma Kevalam”. That is, “I am taking the name of that Singular Entity.” (1)
Ananda Marga ideology says, "“Kevalam”; only the name of that Noumenal Entity because he is the only Noumenal entity and there is no second Entity. So there is no alternative but to move and dance and sing around Him." (2)
Ananda Marga ideology says, "The question arises – is the Supreme Entity, the Supreme Faculty, a singular one or a plural one? The question of plurality in the controlling faculty is a knotty one. The rs'i says the important law, the Supreme Controlling Faculty, is a singular one – a singular one. There cannot be any plurality in it. That is, it is singular and shall remain singular forever." (3)
No one should do puja in this defective manner
Baba wholly rejects this notion that one should worship multiple gods or multiple personalities. In Ananda Vacanamrtam, Baba recounts a humorous story of when He was watching one of His uncles perform puja. His uncle recited a shloka that contained the names of so many gods and goddesses The names were seemingly endless and Baba's uncle faithfully recited them all. And then at the end of his puja, the uncle said, "If there is any deity whom I have failed to mention, please do not be angry, please accept my humble salutation..."
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Here Baba is showing us that no one should do puja in this defective manner. Our approach should be singular in nature, not two, or three, or ten, or twenty. That is why in so many discourses Baba has told the story of the great fictitious devotee Hanuman who would only repeat Ram's name. Others would question Hanuman and ask him why he is not repeating any other name. Then Hanuman replied, "I know Rama and no one else. All other names are meaningless to me."
Baba uses this story to show us that this is the proper approach. An aspirant should have a pointed, singular approach on the path of spirituality. The goal should be singular in nature, otherwise a sadhaka cannot get success.
Conclusion
So the use of the term “kevalam” in our kiirtan mantra is most meaningful. It is this term which helps ensure our spiritual approach remains pointed on the singular Entity and steers clear of the dogma of multi-deity worship, which is so prevalent in the dogmatic religions.
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Namaskar,
Sastaunga Pranam to Baba,
Vidya’
At an Indian tourist site, one local business person was trying to sell rasogolla to the tourists and telling that this is an Indian egg. That seller did not like to tell the fact because he was unsure what those tourists would think. He thought those tourists would like an egg because that is what they had in their home countries. But those tourists were not actually interested in eating eggs since they get that in their homeland and instead wanted to eat some Indian sweets. So the seller failed. In the same way people do not want to follow the old, dogmatic traditions; they want something new, revolutionary and unique, i.e. the dharmic approach of Ananda Marga kiirtana and meditation.
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~ In-depth study ~
Here below is the full quote of about Baba’s relative who was worshipping many, many deities
Ananda Marga ideology says, "A person whom I was very close to, a relative of mine, used to recite the following after taking bath: “Victory to mother Káli, victory, victory to Káli, victory to mother Káli of T́han T́haniá, victory to mother Káli of Dakśińeshvar, victory to Bábá Táraknáth, victory to Bábá Vaidyanath of Deoghar. O, Fathers! None of you should think that I am leaving out someone's name.” After this he would say, “O, gods and goddesses, please forgive me if I have omitted any name inadvertently. Please assume that I have mentioned your name also. Does this yield anything at all? One says “victory to mother Káli of Kálighát” and in the same breath one says “victory to mother Káli of T́han T́haniá.” It signifies that the mind is moving both towards Kálighát and T́han T́haniá. Can the mind become concentrated in this way? Certainly not." (4)
Why little difference between finite & infinite
Ananda Marga ideology states, “If we say, “God is one,” “Parama Puruśa is one,” that “one” denotes a particular pointedness. If we say “two”, although “two” denotes two points, still the psychology is the same. If we say “He is finite,” it is a particular psychic projection, and if we say “He is infinite,” it is also a psychic projection. For a philosophic ideology there is little difference between finite and infinite, because both are different projections of the same mind. Still we say that Parama Puruśa is one, and we also say that He is infinite. We say He is one because we can come in His contact, we can ensconce ourselves in Him, only when our mind becomes one. That is why we say, just to satisfy our sentiment, that He is one, He is a Singular Entity. We say He is infinite, because His wonts are fathomless, we cannot count them. There are so many qualifications and attributions in Him that we fail to count. That is why we say He is infinite.” (5)
Bring the mind to pinpoint
Why is Parama Purusa one? Some people say that Parama Purusa is infinite, and some say He is one. What is the answer. The response is that Parama Purusa is infinite but to realise Him one must concentrate and bring the mind to one pinpoint. All the desires must be harnessed and channelised unto Him. The mind must become pinnacled and concentrated to one point. If the mind is thinking about so many things it will get nothing. That is why we say He is one.
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References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 12, One Should Know Everything
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 12, One Should Know Everything
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 1, The Singular Entity
4. 11 April 1979, Kolkata
5. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 14, Dogma - No More
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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 ==
Want to become sadvipra - 2
Ananda Marga ideology states, "The struggle in collective life, with the sadvipras in the position of leadership, will continue endlessly. Sadvipra after sadvipra will come: the torch carried by one will be handed over to the next. But the sádhaná of individual life is not endless – it culminates in the attainment of Brahma. Those who believe that they must first attain success in individual life before participating in the collective struggle will not succeed. They will never bring expansion in their individual lives if they ignore collective welfare. To be worthy of being sadvipras, individuals will have to concentrate on both intellectual and social development. Otherwise, no matter how lofty the word dharma might sound in theory, it will remain as a big hoax in the practical field. All spiritual aspirants must strive to become sadvipras, and that, too, from this very moment.” (1)
Note: In His above teaching Sadguru Baba is giving us several gems:
(a) In the social sphere, there is an ongoing, endless battle to create a just and moral society, and sadvipras will always be at the forefront of that endeavour.
(b) In individual life, the movement on the path has a distinct end and culmination. It does not go on forever; rather sincere sadhakas reach unto Him and attain mukti / moksa, by His grace.
(c) It is dogmatic to think that one must first attain Him before engaging in social service. Such persons will not get success in spiritual life.
(d) True and successful sadhakas will progress in individual life while they selflessly serve society.
(e) Thus, everyone should aim to become a sadvipra through sadhana and service, and fight against the immoral forces.
Reference
1. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 8, The Macrocosmic Stance and Human Life
== Section: Important Teaching ==
How sleep eases psychic pain
Ananda Marga ideology states, “Although bodily pleasures are perceived by the mind in the wakeful state, the objects of such pleasures always come from without, with the result that the privations of the external world will always stand in the way of real happiness, as the external world cannot always supply objects in accordance with the desires and wishes of the mind. Due to this the mind has to run up and down in search of them. It becomes very agitated in the process and peace becomes and impossibility. The influence of the external world is absent during the dreamful state, accordingly the amount of pleasure is due to want of efferent desires in the mind or increased organs (for that matter here the desire is not afferent either). In the state of sleep, as the internal activities of the mind are substantially less, the amount of happiness (Static happiness) is proportionately increased.” (1)
Note: In life sometimes tragedy comes. This happens to everyone. And you might have experienced what Baba explains in the above teaching. If you lost your wallet and after that you feel asleep then at least during that time of sleep you got some relief. For this reason, those who life is inundated with problems want to sedate themselves by sleeping a lot.
Reference
1. Subháśita Saḿgraha Part 2, The Intuitional Science of the Vedas – 4
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Only way to achieve unity
Prout philosophy states, "Unity and benevolent intellect lead human beings towards supreme fulfilment. Reading voluminous treatises on philosophy will be of no use in awakening this benevolent intellect. For this, one will have to sincerely follow Yama and Niyama in individual life. To establish unity, the society will have to select an ideology which remains unassailed by any spatial, temporal or personal differences. That is why only Cosmic ideology will have to be adopted as the polestar of life." (1)
Reference
1. Problems of the Day, Point #37
== Section: Comment ==
Re: “Moment of silence” dogma
Namaskar,
1a. Ananda Marga ideology states, "So what can we do? We can say “O Parama Puruśa, while that man was with us we tried our best to do whatever we could do. But now they are beyond our scope, they are beyond our jurisdiction, so please do take care of them.” This much of a request can be made by us, and nothing more than that." (1)
1b. The above quote is very useful for the occasion of the shraddha ceremony. And that idea is already contained within the shloka for the shraddha ceremony.
2. Regarding Prabhat Samgiita #60, “Tomár jinis tomáke diyechi…”, that can be used on the day of shraddha, not other days. That is exclusively a shraddha song.
3. In Ananda Marga the commemoration for the deceased must be done within 12 days.
4. In the various religions it varies. The Hindu religion allows one year, and in Christianity it is 40 days, and then annually. And in some tribal communities it is the whole life such as in Mexico where certain communities dig up the graves and collect the bones etc.
5. We should not introduce such things into our Ananda Marga.
6. After anybody's death there is cremation and shraddha, and that is all.
7. When people come into Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha (AMPS), they bring dogma from their old religion.
8. Usually in the society, people want to wallow in the past. But Ananda Marga is different. Baba says do not waste the time in singing the glory of the past or worrying about the misery of the past.
9. In Ananda Marga, death is not treated as something terrible; death is something normal like changing one’s clothes.
Conclusion
10. The main problem is that people came from other religions carrying their old dogma. But if they understand the issue they will not do all those things.
11. In conclusion when anybody dies do this:
(a) Cremation
(b) Shraddha
(c) On Shraddha day those who could not reach can offer their condolences using the above Prabhat Samgiita and Baba quote. Or if they prefer, they may convey their condolences by phone / email etc.
12. Then this dogma of a “moment of silence” will fade away.
In Him,
Jitendra
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3, Shráddha
- Here is a link to the initial letter on this topic: "Moment of silence" dogma
== Section ==
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Tomb worship is dreadful
"Those who worship idols, ascribing Brahma-hood to that idol, thinking that the very idol is God, the very image is God; worshipping stone, worshipping wood, worshipping metal. Tantra says, Mrcchiládhátudárvádimúrttáviishvaro buddhayo… [“Those who think that Parama Puruśa is confined within idols made of clay, stone, metal or wood…”] Mrt means “earthen image”; shilá means “made of stone”; dhátu means “made of metal”; and dáru means “made of wood”. And they ascribe Godhood to that wood or to that metal or to that stone. Then what happens? The person is ideating on that stone, or wood, or metal, and what happens? Yadrshii bhávaná yasya siddhir bhavati tádrshii – “A person adopts a body according to their object of ideation.” Their own self is transformed into that entity, the entity which was their object of meditation. Now such people worshipping different forms of Prakrti finally take the form of those entities, and become stone, become wood, become metal. They are called Prakrtiliina. They become one with Prakrti and remain there for an indefinite period. What a durdaeva, I will say! What a painful state of existence!" (AV-3, Ghosts and Evil Spirits)
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== Section 3: Links ==
