Baba
Sadhana & hypocrisy
Namaskar,
Our Ananda Marga sadhana system is cent-per-cent sentient—perfect. The teachings and the practices in Ananda Marga are blemishless. But what many do not realise is that if not done in the right spirit, even Ananda Marga sadhana can veer off in the wrong direction. To prevent this from happening, one should better understand that if not done properly, our Ananda Marga sadhana can become fruitless.
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Let us again remember that the goal of our sadhana is to attain Parama Purusa. So anytime when that is not front and center in meditation, then that sadhana is fruitless. For instance, if someone does Ananda Marga sadhana with the sole intention of harming others, then that sadhana is negative. They become completely entrenched in their malevolent intentions and selfish ends etc. And then, sadly, they end up ideating on those things in their sadhana practice until their mind gains oneness with those narrow pursuits or harmful desires.
Sadhaka is a fake if...
If someone is doing sadhana with the desire that others will think that he is a great sadhaka, then that sadhana also will not bear any fruit. And you may have seen this happening at various retreats. For example, some wts hardly do any sadhana when alone in the jagrti. But then when they go to a margii’s house or a retreat, they sit like a stone statue for hours in the pre-dawn morning as if they are some great sadhaka. All done to heighten their prestige. Here we should be aware that within our Wt cadre there are both sincere and fake workers. To know the difference between the two, one must not judge anyone hastily.
For instance, at a seminar you may see a Wt doing long sadhana, and it may look like that Dada is a great sadhaka. But withhold from making any snap judgement. First watch that particular Wt’s conduct and inquire about his activities in the jagrti. People may tell you that that Wt skips his asanas and fasting, and does 5 min sadhana in the jagrti. But when he goes to public gatherings like seminars then he sits long hours in meditation to impress others. After knowing all this, one can safely conclude that Wt is a fake.
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Fake vs. true sadhakas
In contrast, another Wt might also be sitting for sadhana for a long time and after inquiry you may find that this worker is very sincere in all his spiritual practices, and sits for long sadhana when he is alone as well. And if you find that indeed his personal manner matches this report, then you can understand he is a true acarya. This is an important step to take. Because one must not allow fake Wts to gain the upper hand by their false displays. Nor should sincere workers be wrongly branded as being hypocrites. So a proper estimation must be made. By this way one can get an accurate picture about each and every worker.
Unfortunately, some people do Ananda Marga sadhana for all kinds of reasons: To show themselves to others as being great, to get respect, etc. Some also think that by doing sadhana, then they will be rewarded with winning the lottery etc. Others think that they may become a great leader, attain occult powers, or mental peace etc. Anyone doing sadhana with worldly desires in mind will have fruitless meditation.
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Promotion, prestige, & other worldly gains
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “You derive your vital energy from the external world, a gift of Parama Puruśa. Similarly, the strength to move towards the Supreme Father can also be obtained from Him. But the tragedy is that you do not ask for spiritual force from Him. Your sole concentration is on earning name, fame, money, promotion, prestige, and other such worldly gains.” (1)
Pseudo-kiirtan doers
And the same thing can happen with kiirtan as well. Some sing to show off their voice or musical abilities. This ruins their kiirtan and turns it into something negative. Then they are not singing to please Him, but rather to glorify themselves. Ego is what is at play here. It is always trying to gain the upper hand. In any relaxed moment, it can take over and one's spiritual practices and kiirtan may become tainted or negative.
That is why Baba warns us that we should be cent-per-cent careful to always keep Parama Purusa as the goal in all our spiritual endeavours—and never ask for any petty gain.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “To say, “Oh God, give me this or that” is meaningless because your actual requirements are better known to Him. A child does not know what it requires but the mother of the child knows and the mother provides accordingly. You do not know what your actual requirements are, but the Supreme Father knows and He provides accordingly, and he will continue doing so forever. So your burden is His burden. You need not say, “Oh God, give me this or give me that”. That is why I say, prayers of non-cardinal nature are meaningless.” (2)
One must never forget or fall from the idea that the real aim of sadhana is to serve and please Parama Purusa. He is the only goal of sadhana. If one is doing sadhana with an ulterior motive in mind, then it really is negative. It is a serious and dreadful circumstance. One will fall and degrade themselves. They think they are doing sadhana when in fact they are not.
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So just because one is an initiated sadhaka on the path of Ananda Marga, just because Taraka Brahma is the Guru, just because this is the path of pure spirituality etc, all that does not mean that one's sadhana cannot become a complete waste of time. It most certainly can, if one is not vigilant to keep Parama Purusa as the focus and aim of sadhana.
Two varieties of great sadhakas
Ananda Marga ideology states, “What do you want?” You should say, “I want parábhakti or shuddhá buddhi.” And what is parábhakti? “O Parama Puruśa, You know whether I am Your devotee or not. It is You who are to judge whether I am Your devotee or not – but I want You.” The child says, “O mother, I don’t want any toys from you, I want you.” So, “I want You. And why do I want You? Because I want to serve You.” And, “O my boy, why do you want to serve Me?” “Because I get pleasure in serving You; that’s why I want to serve You.” This is parábhakti. (3)
Ananda Marga ideology says, “An intelligent spiritual aspirant will say: “I want you, I do not want anybody else. And why do I want you? Not because your presence will give me pleasure, but because your presence will give me the scope to serve you, because your presence will give the chance to give you pleasure – not to give pleasure to myself.” That is why an intelligent spiritual aspirant will say: “I do not want anything from you, I want you.” (4)
Conclusion
The goal of Ananda Marga sadhana is to reach Parama Purusa. So this idea must be the propulsive force in our sadhana. And we are most fortunate. Baba has blessed us with the untainted spiritual approach of Ananda Marga. He is the Sadguru; and, He has given the siddha mantra and the path of pure spirituality. The sole goal of Ananda Marga sadhana is to please and serve Parama Purusa.
Namaskar,
In Him,
Anubhu’ti
Story of hypocrite Wt
There is one Dada R who used to position himself in sadhana in the early dawn hours right along the path where people would be walking or going somewhere. This was all his superficial show that he was doing great and intense sadhana. Because the reality is that all along he had one love affair going on with one didi. They were dying for each other and in meditation Dada R would sit and plan about her. Ultimately, it was all exposed, but he was trying hard to maintain his hypocritical approach in hopes that it would work. Also bear in mind that he is not the only one who does like this.
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This entire letter is about how some do a fake display or show of sadhana. But it does not mean that those who are crude / corrupt are great just because they do not indulge in fake sadhana. They may not be doing any sadhana at all - they may be completely debauched. So fake sadhana alone is not the only factor. To determine the greatness of anyone’s character, then one must see their conduct on a daily ongoing basis. Always be vigilant to review their conduct.
One very important thing to watch is that in India the general populace does not care about the conduct of monks. The general public thinks that wearing a saffron robe is enough, and for that reason those people give maximum money, support, and reverence to those in saffron. But in His teachings Baba condemns this approach. Baba says to see the conduct. If hypocrites and fake Wts are worshipped as being great then AMPS will become bed-ridden very soon.
~ In-depth study ~
Bad people converted into crude matter
Even good sadhakas with good intentions, but if they did sadhana with a crude objective then they degrade into microvita—devayonis. Why? Because they did not do their sadhana to please Parama Purusa. So they had to suffer, even though they were not bad people. After millions of years of punishment they may get the opportunity to be human beings. That is what happens to those good people who did sadhana with an improper goal in mind.
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Ananda Marga ideology states, “If a person continually gloats over crude material things, his entire existence will be converted into crude matter. In mythology the story goes that Ahalyá was converted into a stone due to his constant crude ideation. So people who accept matter as their goal, totally denying the existence of Parama Puruśa, treads the path of degeneration and become prakrtiliina devayonis after death.” (5)
Future of idol worshippers
Ananda Marga teachings state, "Prakrtiliina. Those who want Parama Puruśa but worship crude matter out of misguided devotion attain the state of prakrtiliina after they die. These disembodied minds are transformed into bricks, stone, wood, etc. Those who pray to the idols made of clay, metal or wood out of misguided devotion can never attain Parama Puruśa because one can never attain supreme knowledge through this type of worship. The state of prakrtiliina is very miserable indeed because human beings who are endowed with a developed consciousness get transformed into crude matter like stone, wood, etc." (6)
Example of negative sadhana, worship
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Prama’da means something which is completely bad – bad from beginning to end. prama’da totally destroys human faculties." (7)
Generally then, we think of prama’da as being associated only with pseudo-spiritual and dogmatic approaches like idol worship, hatha yoga tapasya, crude tiirthas, religious dogmas, and animal sacrifices etc. Because all such approaches are based on a faulty premise, offer negative practices, and degrade the mind. For example in the case of hatha yoga, the practitioner may be told to stand on one leg in a cold river for 6 hours. When doing this form of crude tapasya, that person is only focused on completing the practice. They are thinking, "I hope I am done soon—I am so cold—it is painful—only 4 more hours and 2 minutes left—I can't wait until this is over."
In that case their hatha yoga tapasya is wholly prama’da. There is no place or space in their mind for Parama Purusa. They are not thinking about Him nor are they going to get Him. Their entire goal is something mundane. Their mind is not filled with thoughts of Parama Purusa. Rather they have some other agenda in mind. The situation is the same with those involved in going from one dogmatic tiirtha site to the next, or those involved in sacrificing animals to the gods.
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All these are obvious instances of misguided or non-spiritual dealings. They are prama’da. Their goal is not Parama Purusa, but something transitory, selfish. They will not move ahead—rather theirs is that path of negative pratisaincara.
References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Mysticism and Spirituality
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 12, He Knows His Duty
3. Subhasita Samgraha - 24, Bhakti, Mukti and Parama Puruśa
4. Discourses on Krsna and the Giita, Krśńa, the Nucleus of the Universe
5. Ananda Marga Philosophy - 6, Ekendriya-1
6. Microvita in a Nutshell, Disembodied Souls and Microvita - Excerpt B
7. Prout in a Nutshell - 16, Religious Dogma – Excerpt B
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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 ==
Stuck in cycle of birth & death
Here below Baba warns us that every action that is tied to the unit ego brings one deeper into bondage. To engage in so-called service for one's own glory or joy is binding. And one will have to undergo that reaction. In that case, liberation cannot be attained; instead, one will have to undergo the reaction of those original actions.
Ananda Marga ideology states, "An original action begets a certain reaction, and simultaneously brings one within the bondage of actions. Unless those bondages are broken, the microcosms will have to keep moving in a cycle of action and reaction – they will have to be reborn again and again on this earth." (1)
References
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 12, How an Ideal Person Should Live
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Proper outlook on eating
Ananda Marga ideology states, “All-round restraint is indeed necessary. It will not do to simply eat what you get or do what you desire. When you eat you must consider if it is sentient, mutative or static. While eating you must think carefully as to what influence it will have over your body and your mind. You are not a goat or a camel that you will eat whatever you get. You have to think when you act.”
“Śaśt́haiṋca pramitáháro. There is a Bengali saying: uno bháte duno val, bhará pet́e rasátal. If one eats less, then one’s strength increases and one does not fall sick, but if someone overeats, then they fall sick. Here it has been said: pramitáhára. Pramitáhára and parimitáhára are not the same. Parimitáhára means that I have not eaten a lot, nor have I eaten a little. That is called parimitáhár. And pramitáhár means that I have eaten little but I have eaten nourishing food. That is pramitáhára. You have the custom of eating sentient food. If you follow that then you meet the objective of pramitáhára.” (1)
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 9, The Primary Causes of Success
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Who is worse: atheists or God-fearing folks
Ananda Marga ideology states, “The word “godly” and “god-fearing” do not have the same meaning. Behind godliness is a soul-stirring sentiment – an ardent zeal to realize one’s true Self; and the reason behind the fear of God is the important attempt to escape from the consequential suffering of one’s misdeeds. Yet the latter is still superior to the atheists, because at least for fear of divine punishment they refrain from sinful acts. The greatest advantage of the theists is that they do not endure the pangs of internal clash. But no matter how brazenly sceptics indulge in tall talks or sharpen the edge of their verbal weapons to win in an argument, there is always a fight going on in their minds. Reading a few pages of a book or listening to the eloquences of a few speakers, they seek to violate their own nature. With their fragmental external knowledge they try to struggle against the indivisible Supreme Entity, and in the end, being defeated, they say, “If He does exist, then why can’t we find Him?” Yet all the while their inner selves lament within them.” (1)
Note: There are three key and important points from the above teaching.
(1) The religions preach that one must be God-fearing otherwise God will punish and destroy you. They think that is the best possible relationship one can have with the Divine, i.e to be God-fearing. According to Ananda Marga philosophy, fear is the worst type of relation with God. If one fears Him they will not like to go close to Him. In which case, one can never become one with that Supreme Entity. So it is very obvious that by this religious formula, no one can realize God.
(2) The teachings of Ananda Marga are the topmost: Ananda Marga preaches that one should cultivate love for the Divine Entity. By that way, the bhakta wishes to go close to Him and ultimately becomes one with Him, by His grace.
(3) The status of atheists is worse than followers of the dogmatic religions. Religious adherents refrain from doing bad due to fear of the Lord. But atheists have two problems. First, they do not have any genuine, dharmic rules in their life. Secondly, such atheists perpetually suffer from existential issues. With their logic they say they do not believe in God and try to disprove His existence, yet their heart tells them otherwise. Then their logical mind retorts, “If God exists then why can I not see Him?” So they live in a perpetual dilemma—always in limbo. That is why Baba says that no one is an atheist. All in all, their condition is pathetic as they live in perpetual crisis and misery.
Reference
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 3, Supreme Benevolence and Mundane Pleasure
== Section 3: Links ==
Postings to ReadStory: all-knowing Baba
This is real work
Benefits & need of local support
Common problem & solution
