Baba
Fame today
Note: To understand this letter a subtle mind is needed. Those not sincere in sadhana may not understand this topic, unfortunately.
Namaskar,
In our human society, there is no dearth of "celebrities". In politics, Hollywood / Bollywood, big business, sports, and social media influencers etc, there are all kinds of so-called heroes who are famous throughout the globe. They are thought of as being great and magnificent. They are revered all over and receive huge attention.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Yet hardly anyone knows the truly great personalities who come onto this earth and teach and guide humanity and pioneer new fields of knowledge. They are mostly overlooked in their lifetime. Some of our esteemed acaryas and margii brothers and sisters are working tirelessly to uplift humanity, and they too are basically unknown to the general public.
What is the reason behind this? Why are self-engrossed stars embraced by the general public, whereas selfless, well-wishers of humanity are overlooked by society.
Wild animals not awed by humans
The operative factor is the level of public consciousness and the common psyche. People can only appreciate what they are able to understand. To appreciate subtler ideals, one must be somewhat elevated—yet the common public is low-minded. This is not a criticism of society, just the fact.
That is why people commonly express unbridled adulation towards stars dominated by animalistic propensities. Because when the general public themselves are enthralled with money, alcohol, and sensual desires then their heroes are going to be those who personify those tendencies. Those more elevated will never be appreciated by the common people.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Ananda Marga ideology states, "The common people misunderstand great people who act on their behalf and for their welfare, or even if they understand them, they do not give them their support." (1)
What the common people think to be great is not great, and when true greatness is right in front of them, they are mostly oblivious to it. It is just like if a human being walks out into the forest then those animals will not feel a sense of awe when in the presence of that human being. They will not think he is great. Because those animals cannot conceive of anything beyond animal life.
Public cannot recognise great people, only lowly characters
100,000 might attend a rock concert or a sporting event, and only 3 people may show up to attend one of our talks on meditation. Even then we should not be concerned and think that we have failed in some way. The fact that only a few people attended our AMPS event is not indicative of our ability or quality, but rather it reflects the interests and mindset of the people.
We must always remember that the ideal and message of our Ananda Marga is far above the public standard. They are unable to recognise it for what it is. That is why so few attend programs of bhagavad dharma. Indeed it would be of concern if suddenly we were embraced by the public and written up in magazines and honoured etc. That would mean we had fallen from our ideal and had somehow gotten wrapped up in lesser activities.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
In this day and age, people eagerly run after Tik-Tok fame, Hollywood movies, liquor, tall-talkers, McDonald's and sensual pleasures—not the dharmic teachings of sadvipras or Mahasambhuti. So it would be of great concern if suddenly we were very popular.
Conclusion
To gain their adulation, one will have to plunge themselves in all kinds of degrading behaviour. By this entire posting and all of Sadguru Baba's divine teachings, we can understand that as sadhakas we should not seek out the praise of the common people. The general populace is of a lesser psychic standard. And the philosophy of Ananda Marga is of such heights that the common cannot understand.
Namaskar,
in Him,
Manoranjan
Story: villagers supported conniving headmaster
Sadguru Baba's below story sheds light on how the common public becomes enthralled with lowly people and cannot recognise those who are really great.
Once there was a fierce contest between two headmasters from neighbouring villages in Burdwan district. It was also a contest between the villages themselves, for each claimed that its headmaster was the most learned. The contest took place in a field between the two villages.
One of the headmasters was a just and learned man, the other was a cunning fellow and a master of deceit. It was the latter who first addressed the gathering.
“Ladies and gentlemen, being the underdog in this contest I humbly request you to permit me to ask my opponent the first question.”
“Certainly,” said the crowd. “A man of your humility should undoubtedly ask the first question.”
“Could you tell me the meaning of ámi jáni ná?” [Note: Ámi jáni ná means “I don’t know” in Bengali.] the cunning headmaster asked his opponent.
“I don’t know,” replied the learned headmaster.
The cunning headmaster cast a triumphant glance around the audience. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he declared, “I asked him a simple question to which he replied, ‘I don’t know’. Just see how ignorant he is.”
“True! True!” shouted his followers, throwing their umbrellas in the air and dancing stick-dances in joyful abandon. The junior village police officer was so elated that he offered to buy everyone sweets.
The cunning headmaster then said, “Let me give him another chance.”
“Certainly! Certainly!” shouted the crowd.
“Sir, what is required to make viváha?” [note: Viváha is the Sanskrit word for marriage.] asked the cunning headmaster.
“It’s quite simple really,” replied the learned headmaster, “ghaiṋ is required. That is, prefix vi plus vaha plus ghaiṋ is equal to viváha.”
The cunning headmaster glowed with delight. He peered at the crowd and said, “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, you are experts in the ways of the world – I am a mere child compared to you. Have you ever heard of anything called ghaiṋ being required in a marriage ceremony?”
“No, no, of course not,” shouted his delighted followers. “We’ve never heard of such a strange thing.”
“Let me tell you what is required in a marriage ceremony. Let’s see… a priest, a holy stone, sacred fire, new clothes, towels, baskets, and so on, but nothing like a ghaiṋ. My fourteen [[times]] two – that’s, er, that’s fifty-two – generations [[of ancestors]] have never heard of this peculiar ghaiṋ thing.”
The crowd burst into applause. “Well said! Well said!” they shouted. “You are the most learned headmaster. Congratulations. You’ve won the contest.” (2)
References
1. Human Society - 2, The Vaeshya Age
2. Shrii Sarkar's Short Stories - part 1, The Headmasters' Contest
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
Calling You
"Tumi nandan-manthan candan sa'r a'j eso prabhu ghare a'ma'r..." (Prabhat Samgiita #4394)
Purport:
Baba, O’ Parama Purusa, You are the most endearing and charming Entity and as sweet as the essence of nectar. Please come to my home today. I have decorated my entire house for Your reception - for the occasion of Your august arrival. I have opened all the doors and windows of the abode of my heart, along with the thousand petals of the white lotus. I have decorated the pitcher with mango branchlets and leaves. All done with the hope that You will come in a gracious mood.
O’ Parama Purusa Baba, I do not know the protocol for welcoming You, nor how to receive You in a grand way. You are anadi, beginningless, so Your lineage is not known to me. I never heard of Your gotra. And there are no particular scriptures, rituals, or dos and don'ts for chanting Your name, and calling You. So with my ista mantra I am calling You with tears in my eyes.
O’ Parama Purusa Baba, I came to know that You are vast. Your idol cannot be made and You do not have an abode in any tiirtha. I never heard of any pilgrim that You like. So It is useless to search for You in the various holy lands. For all these reasons, I have created the atma'-tiirtha: Your seat in my soul. In that very divine temple, my mind is dancing, overwhelmed in the bliss of having You. Baba, please come in an attractive and exquisite way. Kindly come in my heart, I have been waiting for You since ages...
"Tumi nandan-manthan candan sa'r a'j eso prabhu ghare a'ma'r..." (Prabhat Samgiita #4394)
Purport:
Baba, O’ Parama Purusa, You are the most endearing and charming Entity and as sweet as the essence of nectar. Please come to my home today. I have decorated my entire house for Your reception - for the occasion of Your august arrival. I have opened all the doors and windows of the abode of my heart, along with the thousand petals of the white lotus. I have decorated the pitcher with mango branchlets and leaves. All done with the hope that You will come in a gracious mood.
O’ Parama Purusa Baba, I do not know the protocol for welcoming You, nor how to receive You in a grand way. You are anadi, beginningless, so Your lineage is not known to me. I never heard of Your gotra. And there are no particular scriptures, rituals, or dos and don'ts for chanting Your name, and calling You. So with my ista mantra I am calling You with tears in my eyes.
O’ Parama Purusa Baba, I came to know that You are vast. Your idol cannot be made and You do not have an abode in any tiirtha. I never heard of any pilgrim that You like. So It is useless to search for You in the various holy lands. For all these reasons, I have created the atma'-tiirtha: Your seat in my soul. In that very divine temple, my mind is dancing, overwhelmed in the bliss of having You. Baba, please come in an attractive and exquisite way. Kindly come in my heart, I have been waiting for You since ages...
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Dark history led to backlash against religion
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "In the absence of knowledge of common psychology, people of different religions try to destroy other religions. This has resulted in the spilling of rivers of blood. In ancient India the Aryans tried to impose their own Vedic religion on the Austric community. In the Buddhist era, particularly during the reign of King Bimbisára, Buddhism was imposed on other religions. Later, the followers of the Sanátana Hindus forcibly converted the Buddhist and Jains into Hinduism. During Moslem rule Islam was imposed on India, Persia and Egypt. Similarly, countless Jews were converted into Christianity. During the British period attempts were made by Christian missionaries to subvert Hinduism and impose Christianity on the indigenous population. All this led to mutual animosity in the world of religion." (1)
Reference
1. A Few Problems Solved - 2, Human Society Is One and Indivisible – 2
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Who has this hurdle in meditation
Ananda Marga ideology says, "Most people are well acquainted with the fourth state of mind (eka'gra). In this state the human mind sometimes becomes exalted with divine sweetness; and sometimes becomes as debased as an infernal creature. Sometimes it keeps company with good people and takes a resolve never to tell lies, accept bribes, get intoxicated, or become characterless; and sometimes it thinks that honesty and virtue are sheer folly, for happiness lies in falsehood, taking bribes, stealing, promiscuity, and the like. The mind is continuously tossed between good and bad. But when the practice of sa'dhana' inspires one to accept shreya (path of benevolence) as one’s ideology, one attains the true state of eka'gra bhu'mi. In this state waves upon waves of citta emerge."
Sha'ntaditao tulyapratyayao cittasyaeka'girata'parin'a'ma
Ananda Marga ideology says, "Every newcomer to the path of sa'dhana' suffers from a lack of concentration of mind. After repeating the is't'a mantra a couple of times hundreds of undesirable thoughts flood the mind. The newcomer thinks, “I am unable to attain the One on whom I meditate, and instead am pestered by those objects I do not want.” The hand counts the beads, the lips mutter the name of the is't'a, but the mind roams in the filth of hell. When all the undesirable waves are removed from the mind, one blissful wave begins to flow, and the sa'dhaka attains the state of eka'gra bhu'mi." (1)
Note: If in sadhana a person is not one-pointed (eka'gra means "one-pointed") it means they are not repeating their mantra in a proper manner. It means they are lacking sincerity and regularity of practice.
Reference
1. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 9, Cognitive Force and Psychic Practice
== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==
हे प्रभु, बाबा ! यह पूरा संसार तुम्हारे अलौकिक खेल का एक गेंद है।
प्रभात सङ्गीत 4380 मनेरि गहने तुमि आछो, आछो प्रभु सदा जेगे आछो…
भावार्थ हे प्रभु, बाबा ! तुम मेरे मन की गहराई में हमेशा रहते हो। तुम मुझे कभी अकेला नहीं छोड़ते। मैं कभी भी अकेला नहीं हॅूं। तुम हमेशा सजग रहते हो। दिनरात काम करते हो, समय असमय सदा काम ही करते हो। तुम कभी रुकते या थकते नहीं हो। हे मेरे प्रभु ! तुम जो करना चाहते हो वही करते जाते हो।
हे परम पुरुष ! यह पूरा संसार तुम्हारे अलौकिक खेल का एक गेंद है। तुम्हारा न अन्त है और न प्रारम्भ। तुम अपने ही आनन्द के बहाव में हमेशा मस्त रहते हो । तुम सबके लक्ष्य हो । तुम चाहते हो, जो मोह निद्रा में हैं वे जागें । तुम सभी के साथ रहते हो। तुम्हारी लीला अनोखी है ।
बाबा, हे प्रभु ! वे जो तुम्हारे ध्यान, मनन, निदिध्यासन, चिन्तन आदि सात्विक कार्य करते हुए तुम्हारे पास आना चाहते हैं केवल वे ही तुम्हारी करुणा और कृपा को पा सकते हैं।
बाबा ! तुम तो कृपा के सागर हो। तुम हमेशा मेरे साथ रहते हो। मैं तुम्हारे पवित्र चरणों में अपना सब कुछ समर्पित करता हॅूं।
== Section: Important Teaching ==
The razor's edge is for whom
Uttiśt́hata jágrata prápya barán nibodhata;
Kśurasya dhárá nishitá duratyayá durgaḿ pathastat kavayo vadanti.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "This path of supreme attainment is said to be a path like a razor’s edge. To tread the path of Dharma is to move on the razor’s edge. Ordinary people might say that they are bereft of intellect, that they are ignorant; how can they move on the razor’s edge? Again they would like to know the way out, and the way out is devotion. Work with devotion, go ahead with it. Wherever there is devotion, there is Paramátmá. For jiṋániis (those who want to realize God only with intellect) and logicians, the path of Dharma is a razor’s path, but, for sádhakas (spiritual practitioners), it is like a flower. Since God is attainable only by devotion, therefore He is with you. Victory will certainly be yours." (1)
Namaskar,
In Baba's above teaching, He is guiding us that a razor’s edge is impossible to travel across. For intellectuals the path to God is a razor’s edge because with their ego and limited intellect they try to figure out how to reach God, and that is impossible. Thus, for them, the path to oneness with God is a razor’s edge. It is painful and you cannot make one mistake. It is a sharp, thin line, impossible to follow.
However, if an aspirant follows their spiritual practices and remain steadfastly focused on God with bhakti, the path to Him is attainable. For bhaktas, the path is like a flower - sweet and joyous. So sadhakas should not try to try to figure everything with their own petty ego. By sincrely attending to spiritual practices and one may cultivate bhakti, by His grace. Then the path to Him will unfold before you like a flower. So every sadhakas should belong to Him - surrender the unit "I" to Parmaa Purusa - and He will belong to you.
This is what I believe Baba is telling us in this passage.
In Him,
Bhaskar
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 1, Uttiśt́hata Jágrata...
== Section 3: Links ==
Postings to Read
Prout's view of legalized cannabis
Big difference: AM & Hinduism
One Divine Entity & various names
Humanity & planet Earth's future
How to save oneself from the burden of memories