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Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Story: backlash to principled life + 4 more

Baba
Story: backlash to principled life

Namaskar,

The officers requested margii H to drink liquor, eat meat, and dance with them. This was their normal style of celebration and they wanted margii H to partake in their "party".


Margii H sticks to his ideal


Margii H replied, "With all due respect, thank you kindly, but I never touch wine so please excuse me - I must decline your offer. I lead a disciplined life and do not drink alcohol. However I will gladly take fruit or juice."
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Hearing this, those representatives became incredulous that there is a person on this earth who does not drink. They were shocked that margii H refused their offer of wine and dance. They were desperate to drink so they thought that margii H was ruining the occasion. That is why they threatened to tear up the contract if he did not drink with them. Margii H remained steadfast in his approach; he did not compromise one inch. He again respectfully declined their offer.

In their fury, they ripped up the contract and voided the agreement with margii H’s company. So the company for which the margii worked had suddenly and unexpectedly lost a big contract. Margii H was just mentally surrendering to Baba Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. He was thinking, "Baba, I am merely following the principles You graciously taught. You are managing everything; by Your grace, I know you are taking care."

Margii H now had to be the bearer of bad news and report back to his boss. Naturally, margii H’s boss was extremely disappointed and frustrated by losing the contract.


Trade commissioner intervenes


News of the contract dissolution rose to even higher echelons. The government trade commissioner to India came to hear about the case. He was curious to know more about what transpired. So the commissioner inquired and margii H replied how he had certain life principles and could not accept their request of drinking wine and dance.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Normally, under such circumstances, a trade commissioner will give 100% support to their subordinates in order to keep their loyalty. But in this case it was not like that. The trade commissioner did not take sides with his colleagues at the embassy. Instead, the trade commissioner was quite moved and impressed with margii H’s non-compromising attitude and strictness in his ideals. So when the commissioner saw margii H’s firm moral resolve, he held him in deep regard and concluded that this is a trusted person. He was inspired by how margii H stood by his principles.

With great concern, the commissioner then inquired, "Because the contract was voided, have you lost your job with the company?"

Margii replied that his private company boss had understood and that he still had his job.

Still worried about what had happened, the trade commissioner offered his heartfelt apology to margii H for the whole ordeal. Then the trade commissioner not only approved the contract, but doubled the size of it. The trade commissioner had great respect for margii H’s honourable way of living. So the commissioner began referring more and more lucrative jobs to margii H’s firm - jobs that were far bigger than the original deal with the embassy. Because he trusted margii H’s manner and ethic.

Ever since, the trade commissioner and margii H fostered a long and fruitful friendship. In personal life, they were close friends and visited each other's residence; and, in professional life, the commissioner continued to refer big jobs to margii H’s private company.


Conclusion

Here the point is that since margii H held firm to dharma, he ultimately became victorious, by Baba's grace. Margii H maintained his principled life - even though it created clash - and in the end gained victory.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

So although superficially it looked like that by following dharma margii H would lose his professional stature; actually, by sticking to dharma, margii H gained a far heightened position. If he had compromised with his ethics and drunk wine, margii H would have lost dharma as well as the opportunity of greater company contracts.

Ananda Marga ideology says, "Ácárańát dharmah, that is, “Dharma is the assemblage of all your conduct” – the way you eat, the way you speak, the way you perform sádhaná. If your conduct is good, dharma is with you; if your conduct is not good, dharma is not with you." (1)

By the above story we can easily understand that by the grace of Baba Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, those who follow dharma gain victory in each and every sphere of life and move ever onwards toward their cherished Goal.


Takeaway


In the general society, whether good and bad, everybody wants to work with honest people. Morality and honesty have great value in 100% of the cases. Thieves also want to deal with honest persons in their personal life. They do not want their own materials to be stolen. Even the worst type of person values honesty and morality in their personal interactions. Unfortunately, it is very rare to come across such persons who maintain a strict moral standard in all their dealings. In this story, the trade commissioner was very impressed with margii H for this very reason. Living in a foreign land the commissioner did not have a loyal, local person he could trust with his family. So he even entrusted his wife and children with margii H. The commissioner also felt secure that the work contracted with margiis H will be A-grade. And this is not an unusual case; everyone wants to deal with a principled, honest, person. If a margii follows Sixteen Points then others will have more trust and give greater responsibility. That is why Baba would ask in reporting, “How many sympathizers have you created by following Sixteen Points.” The central idea is that every Ananda Margii should be very strict in their conduct rules and moral principles. That will create an all-round good result for everybody. 
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Namaskar,
In Him,
Pradiip Deva 

~ In-depth study ~

Dharma always protects dharmika


Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Dharma rakśati rakśitah – “One who protects dharma is protected by dharma.” Dharma saves the dhármika [the upholder of dharma] in the material sphere, in the subtle sphere and in the causal sphere. When dharma saves people in the material sphere, they experience it before their very eyes, they hear it with their ears, they feel it with the tenderness of touch. When dharma helps them in the causal sphere, they experience it by loving Parama Puruśa with all the sweetness of their hearts. This feeling has no external expression. When dharma saves people in the subtle sphere, they experience it through deep reflection." (2)

Ananda Marga ideology says, "Human beings must live like human beings and human beings must die like human beings – not like undeveloped entities such as plants and animals. In no way should people surrender at the altar of animal dharma or plant dharma, but should stick to mánava dharma, to Bhágavata dharma, even if that results in death." (3)


Not deviate an inch

Here are more of Baba's related teachings on this topic.

Ananda Vanii says, "Your ideal is represented by your conduct. Your learning, your social or economic status have nothing to do with your ideal." (4)

Ananda Marga ideology says, "Ananda Marga is a man-making mission." (5)

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Where the question of benevolence and malevolence is concerned we will not deviate an inch from our ideology." (6)

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "The dynamicity of dharma functions mainly in the subtle sphere. With the increasing development of the power of reflection, dharmic people realize that dharma is always with them in a very subtle way. They further realize that their dharma and their beloved Parama Puruśa are one and inseparable." (7)

Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, "Dharmasya súkśmá gatih kálasya kut́ilá gatih – What happens and how things happen is beyond people’s comprehension. One may be at the height of one’s glory today. But how and when they will be a fallen angel, sunk in the depths of total oblivion, nobody can guess. That is why it is said that kálasya kut́ilá gatih. But regarding dharma it is said: Dharmasya súkśmá gatih – “Dharma walks a straight and simple path, but a very subtle one.”" (8)


About margii H


This above is the account of one devoted margii and what happened to him when he refused to drink wine in celebration of a contractual agreement with the embassy. As we saw, margii H’s office lost that lucrative contract, but then got much more, as he experienced first-hand how dharma itself saves him. Dharma always protects those who uphold dharma.

In the early days of Ananda Marga, margii H was a sales manager for a private company in India. Margii H’s whole family was deeply involved in Ananda Marga: His wife was a university professor in the Hindi Dept and she worked on translating Namami Krsnasundaram from Bengali into Hindi, and Baba assigned her other translation duties as well. So the whole family was very active and they would come every Sunday for Baba's darshan. Margii H hailed from Rajasthan and then relocated to Kolkata. And it was there that he worked as a sales manager.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Through his hard work and good dealings, margii H arranged a large contract for his company with the USSR embassy in India. This was a very lucrative and profitable job for his firm. After much trial and negotiation, all the paperwork was completed between the two parties - i.e. margii H’s company and the embassy.

Upon completion, various representatives from the embassy wanted to celebrate the contractual agreement. In their "festive" and somewhat debauched mood, those embassy agents requested margii H to drink liquor, eat meat, and dance with them. This was their normal style of celebration and they wanted margii H to partake in their "party".

References
1. Subhasita Samgraha, part 21, Niiti and Dharma
2. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Disc: 11
3. Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 16, 28 November 1979 morning, Pune
4. Ananda Vanii #13
5. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 31, The Conduct of an Ácárya
6. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Disc: 14
7. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shiva's Teachings – 1
8. Discourses on the Giita, Spiritual Lessons of the Giitá – 2

Plagiary?

It is the accepted international standard and Baba's system not to copy another's work and publish it in your own way. Baba has given a very strict rule on plagiarism. Why is Baba against plagiarism or stealing someone's work? There are many reasons:

1) It is against the code of asteya (non-stealing).

2) Countless stories of bhaktas need to be published. But some do not want to do the hard work of compiling and writing these stories, so they just steal them from others. But new stories need to be told, otherwise so many unpublished stories of sadhakas will be lost and forgotten forever. So watch out for story thieves, and kindly help them not to steal by posting on social media in their own way. If you want to forward this story then attach the following yellow section with the story: 

“Courtesy of unknown bhakta via Ananda Marga Universal (https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/)”

This will be treated as the standard protocol.



*        *        *

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 ==

Prout: horrific atom bombs

Prout philosophy states, “Another example of how human beings destroy the inanimate world is the repeated detonation of atomic bombs. Atomic explosions create huge craters and large underground caverns in the crust of the earth. They produce dark clouds in the atmosphere and devastate the ecological balance of the environment. The inanimate world is the creation of Parama Puruśa. By exploding atomic weapons human beings are wounding the psychic projection of Parama Puruśa, and this will seriously affect the ecological balance of the earth.” (1)

Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 17, Prout and Neo-Humanism


== Section: Important Teaching ==

Dry intellectuals are C-grade fools


Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "For those who enter the realm of intellectuality, the path is comprised of three aspects: váda, jalpa and vitańd́á. For nyáyikas or pańd́itas there are always váda, jalpa and vitańd́a. The Indian logician’s philosophy is divided into these three aspects. So for those who travel the path of intellectuality, the first portion is váda, the middle portion vitańd́á, and the last portion jalpa. They will proceed through these three aspects to attain the logician’s victory as their goal. Parama Puruśa is not their goal. Their main goal is to attain victory in the realm of logic. What type of victory is this?
“There are two inner feelings behind this victory. The first is becoming mentally inflated with vanity. The mind gets inflated with vanity like puffed rice. The person swells with pride like puffed rice, but inside there is nothing. And secondly, this intellectual develops a lust for some external words of praise - words to the effect that he or she has attained victory. So the first is that the mind gets puffed up with vanity, and thus grows weaker and weaker, and the second is that the person develops a lustful attachment for some external words of praise, and thus becomes a slave to those words and can never be a truly great person.
“Those people are great who harbour no biases and who behave rationally both with those who abuse them give them pain and with those who give them happiness. Such people don’t harbour any feelings of enmity towards anybody and take no-one as their enemy. They remain the same in pleasure or pain whether they have a positive reputation or negative reputation. They are unaffected and unassailed in all circumstances of praise or criticism, pain or pleasure. They attach no importance whatsoever to any of these things. They are meaningless for such people.”
“Those who work with the motivation that they will attain intellectual victory are slaves to words of praise. They can never become great people. It is bad to be a slave to worldly words of praise. The sounds raised by jackals and those raised in praise of some intellectuals are similar. Hence remaining engrossed in váda, vitańd́á and jalpa will lead to nothing.”
“Besides, valuable time will be wasted. You have not come on this earth for thousands of years. Few are the people who even live for a hundred years. Of course, if you follow Sixteen Points, your longevity will be greater, but you will not live for a thousand or two thousand years. The most a person can live is a hundred or a hundred and twenty-five years.”
So those who waste their time in váda, jalpa and vitańd́á are fools. They are C-grade fools. To which grade of person have you decided to belong?" (1)

Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 5, Devotion and the Realm of Intellectuality


== Section: Important Teaching ==

Duty of Renaissance movement: propagate rights of all beings


Ananda Marga philosophy says, "In the social sphere there are several sub-strata, and the real spirit of social progress is to dispel all social disparities. Each and every member of the human society should enjoy equal rights as members of the same family, but there is disparity and it is the duty of the Renaissance movement to dispel the disparity and bring about equality, equilibrium and equipoise amongst human beings."

"There are disparities, disparities of different types and different kinds. For instance, there are biological disparities existing in the society, which are being encouraged by certain selfish persons. The biological disparity between human and animal, between human and plant, between animal and plant – that disparity must not be there. Just as a human being wants to survive, a pigeon also wants to survive – similarly a cow also wants to survive, or a tree. Just as my life is dear to me, so the lives of created beings are also equally dear to them. It is the birthright of human beings to live in this world, and it is the birthright of the animal world and plant world also to remain on this earth. To recognize this right, and to get it recognized by the entire human society, the Renaissance movement will have to do something concrete." (1)

Reference
1. A Few Problems Solved - 7, Renaissance in All the Strata of Life


== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==

हे परमपुरुष! मैंने विभिन्न तथाकथित तीर्थों में तुम्हें खोजा, परन्तु नहीं पाया ।


प्रभात संगीत 4874 तीर्थे  तोमारे खुंजिया पाइनी, गाने धरिबार प्रयास कोरि ...
भावार्थ
हे परमपुरुष! मैंने विभिन्न तथाकथित तीर्थों में तुम्हें खोजा, परन्तु नहीं पाया । मेरे सभी प्रयास निरर्थक और समय नष्ट करने वाले ही सिद्ध हुए. क्योंकि मेरी खोज भावजड़ता और अज्ञानता पर आधारित थी, इसलिए मैं बार बार असफल हुआ, और तुमको नहीं पा सका। बाबा! अब मैं तुम्हें प्रभात संगीत के माध्यम से पाने का प्रयास कर रहा हॅूं। पहले मैं असत्य और आडम्बर के द्वारा तुम्हें खोजा करता था पर अब मैं परम सत्य का पथ अपना चुका हॅूं।

बाबा! मैंने सुना था कि तुम तो स्वर्ग में रहते हो और मैं अंधेरी गहराई में हर प्रकार के पापों के बीच डूबा हुआ हॅूं । ओह! मैं सोचता था कि मैं अपनी पूजा अर्चना और दक्षिणा के आधार पर तुम्हें पा लूंगा पर सब कुछ समय को ब्यर्थ नष्ट करना ही सिद्ध हुआ।

हे प्रभु ! मुझे बड़ा आश्चर्य  हुआ कि इतना सब करने के बाद भी क्यों मैंने तुम्हें नहीं पाया ?  मैं दूर ही बना हुआ हॅूं। मैं सोचने लगा कि तुम तो मुझ से बहुत दूर हो, इसलिये तुम्हारी निकटता मैं पा ही नहीं सकता । अब मैं अपने मन को तुम्हारे रंग में कैसे रंग सकता हॅूं? बाबा! अब मेरी भक्ति भाव से भरी पुकार को, अपनी इच्छा और कृपा के आकर्षण से अपने निकट खींच लो।

टिप्पणी -
1- कर्मकाॅंडी पूजा- इसमें मूर्ति के सामने विभिन्न पदार्थों की भेंट देकर, भजन गाकर और तीर्थों में जाकर पूजा की जाती है।
2-अर्चना- कोई भी वही पूजा जिसमें फूल चंदन रंग आदि के साथ की जाती है, कुछ लोग दीप जलाकर, फूल आदि चढ़ाते हैं, इसे अर्चना कहते हैं। आनन्दमार्ग में इनमें से किसी प्रकार भौतिक, वाह्य या कर्मकांडीय विधियों को मान्यता प्राप्त नहीं है। बाबा के अनुसार ‘ कोई भी पूजा जो स्वार्थ के वशीभूत होकर वाह्य पदार्थो की भेंट के साथ की जाती है अर्चा या अर्चना कहलाती है।‘
3- दक्षिणा- पुजारी को धन या मिष्ठान्न भेंट करना ।


== Section 3: Links ==



Should we do “moment of silence”? + 5 more

Baba

Should we do “moment of silence”?

Namaskar,

Some wrongly calculate that the unit soul will be benefited by observers taking a moment of silence. But this is obviously not true. That is against AM teachings. So margiis should understand the dharmic position and oppose this idea of bringing peace to the deceased by observing a moment of silence.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


“moment of silence” started by Christian religion


Actually this dogma of a moment of silence is based on the common, irrational approach of the Christian religion that one can help the deceased who is just wandering around. That is why ignorant, dogmatic people think that, “Since Mr X has died then I should help him for a moment so he will feel at peace.”

Actually, some margiis who are not aware of Ananda Marga philosophy think, “What is the loss in doing a moment of silence for the dead - it will just take a minute. Let everyone just close their eyes and help the person who died.” Sadly, those dogmatic and confused margiis cannot understand that by doing this they are validating the dogma of crafty priests that the deceased can be rescued and saved from suffering. They think that by thinking of the deceased they are consoling that soul and taking him out of trouble. And as Ananda Margiis we must not indulge in this dogma - not on any level. It is very clear: No living person can help or hurt the deceased. In order to exploit the deceased’s family, crafty priests invented this exploitative tool, i.e. dogma of securing the future of the deceased. In various religions it has different names but the overall theme and import is the same.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Dogmatic people observe a “moment of silence” to bring peace to the deceased, whereas in AM philosophy once the person dies there is nothing anyone can do for them.


Q & A: What is the best solution


The question then arises - “What is the best solution?”

Answer: The ideal solution is to follow dharma. Do not follow dogma, just follow the dharmic code. In result, there will be victory. That is the beautiful outcome when one adheres to and implements dharmic practices.

In Him,
Karuna’murti

No benefit for the deceased


Here below Baba guides us that our own dharmic shraddha ceremony is for the comfort of those in mourning and has no bearing on the deceased. Therefore, it is quite evident that a dogmatic ritual like “a moment of silence” has not an iota of effect on the welfare of the deceased.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “The departed soul does not get any advantage from the shráddha ceremony [memorial ceremony].” (1)


We cannot help dead people


Next Baba guides us that we can only serve other living beings, not those who have died.

Ananda Marga ideology states, ‘As long as a man is here in our society we have a social responsibility for him. Human beings are social beings, we have a social responsibility for them. And when they leave this world and go to the other world, they go beyond the scope of our responsibility. We cannot render any service to them. Our social responsibility is over as soon as the cremation is done.” (2)

References
1. Caryacarya - 1, Shraddha Ceremony
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3, Shraddha


*        *        *

The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.

*        *        *

 == Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==

My efforts were for naught

"Tomáy khunje khunje priya, din je ket́e jáy..." (Prabhat Samgiita #3982)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, with deep longing in search of You, my days are passing in vain. In the absence of getting You, my whole life is being wasted. Where have I not looked. I have wandered around seeking You in the seven oceans, on the mountain peaks, as well as across this earth, and also in the caves - in every nook and corner of this world, but alas I could not get You.  

O’ Parama Purusa Baba, day and night, secretly I sought You in the flower garden, forests, and in various, so-called holy lands and “tiirthas” like - Tiljala, Jamalpur, Varanasi, Puri, Mecca, Rome, Jerusalem; and I also went to Ananda Nagar, and the top of the Himalayan mountain ranges etc. All done with the ardent desire of getting a glance at You. I checked all over with the hope that one day I will find You. But, in the end, all my efforts were for naught.  

O’ Parama Purusa Baba, with deep bhakti in my heart, I have scoured the galaxies, meteors, nebulae, and in the stars - everywhere. I also explored the dark, black-coloured clouds on rainy days, the scorching heat of the summer season, and the shade of the trees in springtime. Baba, I have called for You with a deep yearning and prema in my core - and looked for You everywhere.
 
Parama Purusa, in the end, on one colourful golden dawn, saturated in the refulgence and aroma of a newly blossoming floret, You arrived after a long, deep, dark, and painful night. Alas, in the end, You are here in my heart. Baba, my most adorable One, You are so gracious...


== Section 3: Important Teaching ==

Forced unemployment outcomes

Prout philosophy guides us, "For the all-round welfare of human beings, society needs to follow some fundamental socio-political principles. Without the firm foundation of such principles, disunity, injustice and exploitation will flourish."

"First people should not be retrenched from their livelihood unless alternative employment has been arranged for them."

“In the Pathan period and at the height of the Mughal empire, Zamindars or landlords were permitted to maintain military forces. This practice was banned at the end of the Mughal period and the start of the British period. As a result, many soldiers from military communities like the Bagadis of Ráŕh and the Cuyárs and Lodhas of Midnapur were retrenched from the armed services. Consequently, they became criminals. Even thirty to forty years ago, members of these communities were still engaged in antisocial activities, but now they have virtually ceased this practice. If these people had been inducted into the military or the police, they would have earned a proper livelihood without being compelled to harm the society. Their destiny would have been quite different.”

“Now you understand the consequences of retrenching people without arranging a suitable alternative livelihood for them.” (1)

Note: Here it should be understood that the term retrenchment means losing one's job. The worker has been dismissed, fired, or let go whereby they no longer have a job. The term retrenchment is commonly used in Australia and South Africa. People from other regions may not be familiar with this usage of the term. 

Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell-16, Three Cardinal Socio-Political Principles


== Section: Important Teaching ==

Pracara strategy

Namaskar,

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Preach only satya. Whatever you have done with reasons thereof. Also, make it clear to them what you want to do and why you want to do. The result of this highly useful (helpful) preaching is that the inferiority complex disappears from the mind of the common men. They are encouraged when they see that a common man like themselves is inspired with such a high ideal. The second result of this is as follows. The common result of this is as follows. The common people are not generally aware of your usefully high ideas. In every work, big or small, they cling to selfishness. So, learning everything pure and high through your easy and simple language they will co-operate with you, with a mind free from wrong notions. The third outcome of this is that they will be shorn off the wrong notions that may have crept into them by the propaganda made by the selfish persons with vested interests."

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Win over their heart by propagating satya but without abusing anyone. When, they will feel the ideal of satya and come to know of your untiring karma sa'dhana', naturally, they will abandon their wrong notions about you; they will even start respecting you."

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Even in private life when a person behaves with you badly or uses harsh words, don't behave with him in the same manner. You shall explain to him his duties gently. In case, anyone has a wrong impression, you shall show him the right path without scolding (abusing) him. Make it clear to him if possible with practical demonstration how harmful may be the effect of such habits. But always keep this in mind that in such cases your behavior must be like that of a friend, and never like that of an instructor. Your only object will be to get your advice accepted by him. The idea that he is a fool and you are wise is not desirable in any party." (1)


== Section: Important Teaching ==

Key points about pracara

Note: Here Baba is giving us invaluable guidelines for going pracara and bringing all onto the path of bliss.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

1) At all times we should follow the code of satya - i. speaking the truth for universal welfare, never giving way to falsehood out of self-interest.

2) Those suffering from a superiority complex are unable to properly guide or teach others. For them, doing Ananda Marga pracar is basically impossible.

3) However, in the Supreme Command, Baba has allotted us the special duty "to bring all to the path of bliss" - to bring all to the divine path of Ananda Marga. So this is a very sacred task which our Guru has given. Indeed it is the greatest social duty of human life.

4) When Parama Purusa takes advent on this dusty earth then He does not waste His time in any type of material pursuit; rather, He is fully dedicated to the all-round progress and emancipation of human beings.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

5) The conclusion is that the most virtuous aspect of human life is serving others. And the best service - the most lasting service - is doing dharma pracar. For this reason we should sincerely follow Baba's above guideline.

in Him,
Mayadhiisha

Reference
1. Ta'ttvika Diipika': Dvitiiya Parva


== Section: Important Teaching ==

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Namaskar, 

Every Ananda Margii should be keenly aware it is strictly forbidden to upload varabhaya mudra videos and photos onto public platforms like Youtube etc. Those who contravene this rule will surely face the condemnation by Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji.

in Him, 
Sanjaya


== Section: Important Teaching ==


Misnomers & truths about peace

Prout philosophy states, “The cry, “Peace! Peace!” has become a craze in the world today. Can anything be achieved by such cries? There is no way to establish peace except to fight against the very factors which disturb peace. Even in the personal life of every human being, there is a constant fight between the benevolent and the malevolent intellect, or between vidyá and avidyá. At times vidyá triumphs, while at other times avidyá wins. In social life, too, this fight between vidyá and avidyá continues."

"Vidyá has to fight avidyá, and in this fight wherever and as long as vidyá remains triumphant, there is a special type of peace which may be called sáttvikii shánti [sentient peace]. Similarly, wherever and as long as avidyá remains victorious in this fight, there, also, a special type of peace prevails which may be called támasikii shánti [static peace]. Thus we find that peace is actually a relative factor." (1)

References
1. Problems of the Day, Point #15


== Section: Important Teaching ==

Degenerating artists are liabilitie

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The youth of a country are attracted to artists; it is therefore the duty of society and the state to monitor these artists ideals and character. Otherwise they may exert a harmful influence on young men and women who are the future hope of society. For this reason it is essential for artists to have impeccable conduct, a healthy lifestyle and strength of character. If those whom youths respect as ideal men and women possess an ideal character, the characters of those whom they influence will no doubt also be positively affected. In addition, ideal artists and actors who have a strong character will be able to express their artistic brilliance more sweetly and completely. Characterless, drunken or greedy artists will be considered liabilities by their fans and society." (1)

In materialistic societies, the visual and performing arts (movies, pop songs, theater, dance, drama, paintings etc) become a primary vehicle of degradation. That is because degenerated people become the stars and the youths emulate what those degrading artists do. In this way, from one generation to the next, baser values are inculcated. It is a self-perpetuating cycle of steeper and steeper decline until all art forms essentially become lewd displays. A key way to positively affect society is to harness this art and entertainment industry and goad it towards sentient pursuits. Artists should not be allowed to go against the strict moral code of yama and niyama. That is the only way to save society from a torturous fall. If degraded artists become venerated stars in society, that will surely ruin those impressionable youths and bring about the downfall of society. That is why Baba has given this strict warning: Artists must be of impeccable character. 

Reference
1. Human Society - 1, Various Occupations


== Section 4: Links ==


    SUBJECTS TOPICS