Baba
Undermining spiritual life
Namaskar,
Baba explains that if a father forces his son to become an engineer when the son’s real desire is to become a doctor, then Baba guides us that the son will not become a good engineer because that son does not have any regard for engineering.
Here the key point is that one must have a deep feeling for and give high importance to any particular endeavour in order to achieve true success in that arena. For instance, if a young girl wants to learn to play the flute, but her parents insist she learn the violin, then she will not become a great violinist because she does not hold that faculty in high regard. Likewise, if someone chooses or their mother forces them to become a lawyer in order to make a lot of money, yet they do not hold that faculty in high regard, they will never become a great lawyer. Because they do not have a high regard for that faculty. And verily, this type of scene plays out in so many spheres of life; there are numerous examples.
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Examples in AM
This point of shraddhá (i.e. high regard) is an essential factor in our AM way of life. Specifically, in order to achieve success in sadhana, one must have full faith in the process, efficacy, and system of meditation. They must think that AM sadhana is perfect and will lead one to salvation. Without that inner feeling, success in sadhana will remain a distant dream. If anyone thinks that Buddhist meditation or the sadhana of Patanjali is better then AM sadhana, their entire practice of AM sadhana will be utterly useless. It will not be fruitful at all. Unfortunately, not everyone in AMPS has cultivated the requisite confidence; rather, some harbour innumerable doubts and insecurities, and that is why they remain spiritually dry their whole life. Here are a few case studies.
(A) There is one margii I know who was initiated nearly 50 years ago, but because he just thought that sadhana was a form of mental exercise or some time of psychic puzzle, he could not delve deeper into the practice. He actually could not believe that sadhana was a veritable pathway to come in contact with the Supreme Entity. Instead, he just felt it was a form of self-hypnosis or mental imagining. Thus, when he sat for sadhana, he did not experience any subtle vibration or spiritual pull. So his depleted practices only further cemented the feeling in his mind that sadhana was just some type of mundane hobby. Decades of his life have passed in this spiritual desert because he had a serious deficit on this point of shraddhá (i.e. high regard).
(B) There is a Wt who feels that both AM sadhana and Baba are out of reach. So instead he likes to engage in all kinds of external, pseudo-culture pursuits and visits dogmatic Hindu and fake yoga ashrams. Sadly, for him, AM spiritual practices are like an anathema, and that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when he sits down for sadhana and nothing happens. That is why he fills his life with all kinds of silly activities - primarily because he is terribly lacking in this point of shraddhá (i.e. high regard).
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(C) Yet another Wt used to talk big about sadhana, but in reality his approach to sadhana was staring at an earthen lamp and watching the flame. He gave up on AM sadhana years earlier. The main cause was his own disenchantment and disbelief that sadhana really worked. Alas, he too could never progress and gain success in his dharma sadhana. And the root cause was that he was not up to the mark on the point of shraddhá (i.e. high regard).
Conclusion
According to AM teachings, shraddhá is an essential component for getting success in any sphere of life. When one has great faith and deep regard for whatever one is pursuing, then they will quickly make tremendous strides and gain success. Without that inner belief and determination for a given pursuit, any real success will always remain elusive, completely out of reach. And this is true in all spheres of life.
In Him,
Jyotishvara
The keys to success in all spheres of life are embedded in Sadguru Baba’s unique guidelines of the “Seven Secrets of Success.” Here we have focused on point #2 and how it relates to both worldly life and one’s endeavour in the spiritual realm.
Needs high regard
In one of His discourses, Baba describes this point of shraddha / high regard, in a very understandable and practical manner. Baba explains that if a father forces his son to become an engineer when the son’s real desire is to become a doctor, then Baba guides us that the son will not become a good engineer because that son does not have any regard for engineering. And by way it becomes very evident what is meant by the second secret of success, i.e. shraddha (i.e. high regard).
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
~ In-depth study ~
Ananda Marga ideology states, “Dvitiiyaḿ shraddhayá yuktam. A man must have shraddhá for his ideology. What is shraddhá? Shraddhá is a very old Vedic term. Shrat” means “recognized status of veracity”, and “dha” means “movement towards it”. That is, when the ideological goal has been accepted, all my might, all my propensities, should move unto that goal. This is shraddhá.” (1)
Ananda Marga ideology states, “Dvitiiyaḿ shraddhayá yuktam. The second requisite factor of success is shraddhayá yuktam. One must have shraddhá for one’s desideratum. What is shraddhá? Shraddhá is a Sanskrit word having no corresponding word in any other developed language of the world. That is why I will have to explain this word. Shraddhá comes from shrat, meaning satyam, and dhá from the root verb dha. When one ascribes everything to one’s goal, or one’s object, or to the Supreme Subjectivity appearing as one’s object, and moves, or rather directs one’s everything towards Him, then that movement is shraddhá. First ascribing that supreme veracity to the object (actually it is the Supreme Subjectivity taken as an object) and then directing one’s everything towards Him, is that mental movement which is called shraddhá.” (2)
References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 12, Shiva's Seven Secrets
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3, The Seven Secrets of Success
* * *
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 ==
Four types: happiness & suffering
Namaskar,
Ananda Marga ideology says, “You know there are different divisions in propensities." (1)
Humans beings have so many propensities (i.e. mental occupations)—up to 1000 vrttis. And these can be broadly divided into four categories.
Suffering in beginning and in end
#1 Kliśt́á vrtti (beginning suffering, end suffering): Those who choose to move on the path of kliśt́á vrtti engage in endeavours which are uncomfortable and painful from the very beginning up to the very end, and the end result is also bad.
Ananda Marga ideology says, “The propensities that become the cause of pain in the beginning and also in the end are called Kliśt́á. Suppose, for instance, someone is travelling without a ticket. There is a heavy rush in the train. Naturally he will have to undergo suffering and inconvenience. If the checking staff come, another misery befalls. So here the pain is in the beginning and also in the end. This action of his is Kliśt́á-vrtti.” (1)
Some squish themselves and battle the crowds to visit a holy land and then get trampled to death in a stampede. Likewise, suppose a thief was undergoing hardship walking in a hailstorm and then got arrested by the police. In both of these instances the beginning and end is bad—problematic. So these are related with kliśt́á vrtti.
Happy in beginning but suffering in end
#2 Akliśt́á Kliśt́á vrtti (beginning pleasure, end suffering): Those who choose to move on the path of akliśt́á kliśt́á vrtti, engage in actions which start out as pleasant and joyful, but yield very bad results. There are many activities and works that fall in this category.
For example, if one is eating rasagolla (sweets) in their house but then later on they suffer from constipation, gas, and bloating. That act started out as enjoyable but concluded as something painful. Also smoking and drinking etc come in this category. So these are related with akliśt́á kliśt́á vrtti.
Same is the case with those who enjoy dancing and partying all night, and then have to suffer the ill effects of fatigue and nausea the next day. So these are related with akliśt́á kliśt́á vrtti.
Suffering in beginning but happy in end
#3 Kliśt́á Akliśt́á vrtti (beginning suffering, end pleasure): Those who choose to move on the path of kliśt́á akliśt́á vrtti, engage in actions which start out as uncomfortable or painful, but yield very positive and beneficial results.
For instance, eating bitter foods like neem leaves may not be a pleasant experience but the overall effect is very good as the blood, gums, liver, and kidneys are greatly benefited. Similarly, studying hard for an examination is not easy and may likely involve discomfort and even suffering. But in the end, getting success in the exam is a very positive outcome. So these are related with kliśt́á akliśt́á vrtti.
Happy in beginning & bliss in end
#4 Akliśt́á vrtti (beginning pleasure, end pleasure): Those who choose to move on the path of akliśt́á vrtti engage in actions which are blissful right from the start, and yield blissful results. Which endeavour is like that? Sadhana or intuitional practice. Sadhana with bhakti is very soothing and filled with anandam. It starts blissfully, continues blissfully, and concludes blissfully; and the final outcome is also blissful. So these are related with akliśt́á vrtti.
Most often, human beings involve in such types of works and hobbies which fall in the first three groups. And due to this they suffer a lot of pain in their life. But those who are fortunate utilize their human potentiality to pursue dharmic engagements that fall in this fourth category. They learn sadhana, practice it, and see everything as Brahma. By that way, they always do good things and make their lives happy through spiritual practice. If worldly works are done while ensconced in brahmacarya, then that makes even worldly works blissful. But the main thing is to keep a sadhana oriented life—that is the best utilization.
Conclusion
For Parama Purusa everything is blissful beginning to end. Humans have all four of these types of vrttis or mental occupations. But Parama Purusa only has one. For Him everything is blissful from beginning to end. If one does sadhana, that comes in the category of aklista vrtti because the beginning, middle and end—everything is blissful. By doing sadhana life becomes full of anandam.
In Him,
Dharmadeva
Note 1: About the above photo
The person in the above photo falls in the first category—kliśt́á. That man chose to involve in a cigar smoking competition. A contestant participates in the longest ash competition during the annual cigar festival in Havana, so he is forced to inhale a lot of smoke. Due to the pressure of this competition, contestants push the limits. This man is uncomfortable smoking that cigar, but he is doing it in hopes of getting victory. The goal is to generate the longest ash in the shortest time, without letting the ash break and fall down. But the end result of such a competition is lung cancer. So that activity is problematic from beginning to end. This is the worst category. So many human engagements fall in this category, unfortunately.
Those who misuse their bodies in the actions of categories 1-3, they directly degenerate to animal life after their demise. No one should misuse their body by work which is illustrated in these first three categories.
Reference
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 19, Salvation and Devotion
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Sadguru Baba says, "To maintain the internal functions of the body without hindrance and to maintain the internal liquid balance, everyone should drink a sufficient quantity of water every day. A healthy person can consume three or four seers of water a day, a sick person four or five seers, and a person suffering from skin disease, five or six seers. These amounts of water help cure disease to a great extent." (1)
Note: One seer is very close to one liter.
Reference
1. Yogic Treatments, Appendix, A. Water Drinking
== Section 3: Links ==
