Baba
Racism in AMPS?
Namaskar,
Sometime back there was a seminar where margiis and wts were discussing an important question together.
Racist, casteist: subtle sign
Question: In some seminars or retreats, if the majority of participants have white skin, then some wts suggest that we should work towards bringing people from other races such as those with black skin, dark skin, etc, so that the group will be diverse. Is this type of thinking correct?
Reply: No, this type of thinking is not correct at all. When someone thinks of any other human being as a person of a specific type, then that type of thinking is wrong. For example, if the thinking is that someone is white, black, or of any other race, then the thought is associated with race and not with all human beings as one race. Say, for instance, that a mother has four sons, and each one has a distinct colour; and, when the mother is asked which colour son she loves the most, or which colour son she talked with the most today, then the mother will certainly say in response that she does not identify any son by the colour of their skin. Rather, all sons are equal for the mother, and she does not distinguish her sons by their skin colour. In fact, each one is equally viewed by the mother. A mother is essentially blind to the skin colour of her own son / daughter because there exists a feeling of mineness in the mother-child relation.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
If a black woman is sitting at the dining table with her white husband and a mixed-coloured child, she will not think that three races are sitting at the dining table. Rather, she will think that she, her husband, and her child are there. If someone asks her if in this house three races are sitting together happily, she will be surprised because she never thinks about her family in that tainted way of colour.
In a similar fashion, when Ananda Margiis sit in global meetings with the representatives of various countries, they never think that, “All kinds of races are sitting here.” Rather they think that, “Our brothers and sisters of the entire planet are here.”
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The greater the heat of the sun, the greater the amount of ultraviolet rays in the sunlight. A study of geography tells us why there are differences in the degree of heat of the sun’s rays. Where the sun’s rays fall on earth obliquely, there is less heat of the sun, and where the sun’s rays fall straight on the earth, the heat is greater. In very hot countries white-skinned people find it very hard to live, because their skin, having less of the chemical substance called melanin, is unable to stand much heat. Body skin with a great quantity of melanin in it turns jet black, and obviously a lesser quantity of melanin makes one’s skin white."
"If ever white people are forced for some reason to live long in a hot climate, their colour turns brown." (2)
Correct approach for diversity - 1
So what is the correct approach? Where a feeling of mineness exists, one becomes blind to colour. With the feeling of mineness towards others, a person will never distinguish others by their skin colour. When the feeling of mineness is lacking, one is more likely to distinguish others by their colour. Like when sugar is mixed with water, sugar is completely dissolved in water and loses its identity because it has become one with the water—but if we mix a metal with water then in the mixture one can easily separate metal and water. Similarly, if the sadhaka feels mineness with others, then s/he will not distinguish others by skin colour but will feel everybody else is their own brother and sister.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
In sectorial seminars, if wts need to increase the diversity, then one approach could be to invite people of various economic groups, because some are wealthy, while others are poor. Or they can think of doing pracara in a specific portion of the society if the representation is less. But identifying people by their skin colour is the wrong approach because in their mind the distinction exists for human beings of specific colour. The feeling of mineness is not present. Rather, in the absence of this feeling, there is a stark tendency towards differentiation. Without the feeling of mineness, one attaches a specific skin colour as an attribute in distinguishing people. On the one hand there exists the identification of self by a colour, and on the other hand the identification of others as another skin colour. For example, without the feeling of mineness, in a seminar, one may feel there are x whites, y blacks, z Asians attending. Even while talking with another person one will attach a colour attribute as a matter of identification in the mind. So the distinction of individuals by colour is a mental disease.
Correct approach for diversity - 2
From the viewpoint of Ananda Marga ideology, one should feel everyone else is part of Brahma. If one distinguishes others by their colour, then such thinking is against AM ideology. Once one Wt said she believes in diversity, that is why she invites a number of black people to the retreats or other activities. This is the wrong approach. When someone says they believe in diversity and the definition of diversity is based on skin colour, then that is the wrong approach because one has associated oneself first with a specific colour and then identified others with a different skin colour. There is no feeling of mineness in such an approach. Diversity cannot be defined by the colour of the skin, but rather identifying Brahma in all as all have come from the same source.
How small mind breeds racism, casteism
When the mind is in a low state then it distinguishes people by their skin colour. Rather, in a retreat or in a seminar, one should feel all are brothers and sisters. In any Ananda Marga magazine, if people are saying that pracara should be done to increase the presence of a specific skin colour then that is the wrong approach and should be corrected. Like in the earlier example, a mother does not distinguish her children by skin colour—similarly, a true sadhaka will not distinguish people by the colour of their skin. When the mind is expanded then it does not distinguish people by skin colour, rather it perceives all to be the progeny of Parama Purusa. For example, when one sees land from the ground one can distinguish the land by demarcating it as pieces belonging to individuals. But when one flies in an aircraft and views the same land at a higher level, then there is no demarcation of land, and all the land appears as one and those demarcations are not visible any more. When the mind expands, then one’s vision also gets broadened.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
By talking with one individual, it is possible to know whether one’s mind is at a low or high level by seeing if they talk about skin colour as one of the aspects in differentiating people. If they do then the mind is at a low level and needs to be expanded. In any form of pracara, distinction by so-called race should not be tolerated. It creates a negative vibration in pracara, and by this, the race distinction will be further exacerbated and not reduced.
Caste & race in pre-1990 AMPS
In AMPS, prior to the 1990s, such types of distinction by race / skin colour was not present. Specific actions were not created to invite people of different skin colour or castes — everyone was welcome. In India there is casteism, but in any Ananda Marga DMC the attendees were never categorized into so-called untouchable / so-called lower caste margiis, and so-called upper caste margiis. Ananda Marga is colour-blind; there is no place for distinction by colour. If any Ananda Marga pracara is based on skin colour then that should be corrected. If someone thinks another person is of a specific skin colour then there is prejudice in their mind. A sadhaka who distinguishes people by colour, with prejudice, will associate a black person with crime, robbery or something similar, which is against the feeling of universalism - that human society is one. Such type of thinking is not the sign of a true spiritualist.
Conclusion
In AMPS, if some are distinguishing people by their skin colour, then in a polite manner, their thinking should be corrected. To avoid distinguishing people by their skin colour, one has to feel that all are human beings, and that skin colour does not have any role. If one’s mind is low and encourages distinction then, s/he will think that there are x Americans, y Europeans, z Latinos, and w Asians etc. But those whose mind is high will feel that all are their brothers and sisters. Each one of us can ask ourselves to see if we have such types of feelings, i.e. distinguishing people by their colour; if it is so, that can be corrected with the broader vision that all are human beings, and all are children of Parama Purusa.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Parama’tma’ is present in each and every one of us so there is no question of distinction by colour. Skin colour is only darker in some people because their ancestors were living near the equator due to which more melanin was produced, resulting in darker skin. A sadhaka should see the internal aspect of a human being and not the external. Inside each human being Param’tma’ is present, so looking at one’s external skin colour and distinguishing them from others is not appropriate from a spiritual standpoint.
Ananda Vanii states, “The purport of dharma sádhaná is to look upon every person, every object of this universe as one integral entity.” (1)
Namaskar,
Nirakar
Why some have jet black skin
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The greater the heat of the sun, the greater the amount of ultraviolet rays in the sunlight. A study of geography tells us why there are differences in the degree of heat of the sun’s rays. Where the sun’s rays fall on earth obliquely, there is less heat of the sun, and where the sun’s rays fall straight on the earth, the heat is greater. In very hot countries white-skinned people find it very hard to live, because their skin, having less of the chemical substance called melanin, is unable to stand much heat. Body skin with a great quantity of melanin in it turns jet black, and obviously a lesser quantity of melanin makes one’s skin white."
"If ever white people are forced for some reason to live long in a hot climate, their colour turns brown. In 1939-40, when British soldiers came to India for war purposes, their colour became brown due to the great heat. Naturally, as the skin of these soldiers had to adjust with the hot climate of India, there were some necessary changes in their skin to effect acclimatisation." (2)
Don't identify with race, caste, or sect
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Let us consider the case of race. Many people identify themselves with a particular race. If we look deeply into the subject we come to the conclusion that the human race is one. Some people have black skin, some people have yellow skin, and some people have white skin. Does it make any difference to the inner human being? No, none whatsoever." (3)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "In our Ananda Marga the first step that a person takes is to forget their race or sect and to no longer identify with their race, caste, or sect...Racial prejudices are very predominant...In our Ma'rga there are no such considerations: these petty differences among human beings are not given any importance.” (4)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Tantra does not recognize any racial, [or] genealogical...differences among human beings." (5)
References
1. Ananda Vanii #4
2. A Few Problems Solved - 2, Human Society Is One and Indivisible – 1
3. A Few Problems Solved Part 3, Human Society Is One and Indivisible – 3
4. A Few Problems Solved Part 7, Social Psychology
5. Discourses on Tantra Volume Two, Tantra and Its Effect on Society
* * *
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 ==
Why humans can do anything
Ananda Marga ideology states, “However little one's capacity might be, if one constantly remembers that Parama Puruśa is always with him or her, that they are in the closest contact with Parama Puruśa, they will be able to do everything. They are not as small as they think themselves to be. And as long as they remember this closest association with Him, they can do much more than ordinary human beings. When this idea becomes permanently established in their minds, they become great. This is why no one should be disappointed or depressed in any circumstances; let everyone constantly perform great deeds, remembering that the flow of their capacity is coming from Parama Puruśa, and thus they can do everything.” (1)
Note: Commonly people think of themselves as weak and isolated. That is because in that moment they do not consciously feel a connection with Parama Purusa in their mind. So they cannot draw upon the cosmic energy from Parama Purusa. The moment one starts thinking about Him and makes a link with Parama Purusa then they become very strong. This can be felt and tested when facing tough situations or when confronting someone stronger than yourself, such as when surrounded by a bunch of thugs. Then certainly those negative, anti-social elements will be defeated and victory will be attained. The connection is very simple: Just repeat your Ista mantra and you will be connected to Parama Purusa.
References
1. A Few Problems Solved - 3, Genius and Technician
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Communicating with Parama Purusa
Ananda Marga ideology says, “Why would He have provided them with a vocal cord?...As He has equipped humans with the means to speak, He will have to listen to them. Human beings will definitely have something to say; they are expected to tell their troubles to their nearest and dearest ones. Otherwise, to whom should they go? To whom should they complain?” (1)
Note: In His above teaching, Baba is guiding us that we should communicate all our joys and sorrows to Him. This should be our regular practice in our sadhana, in dhyana. So all the intimate thoughts and feelings which lie hidden in our mind and heart should be shared with Him. This is our way. And it is this type of sharing which builds closeness in our spiritual life. It heightens one’s feeling of bhakti. So it is a straight and easy equation. He wants us to communicate our inner thoughts to Him. And by this way we will feel closer to Him. And that feeling of closeness is bhakti - i.e. coming in greater proximity to Parama Purusa. So in His above teaching Baba is clearly showing us how we can come closer to Him.
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 8, Do Virtuous Deeds Day and Night – 2
== Section 3: Links ==
Postings to Read
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Inner workings of mantra
AMPS: special & unique history
Mother's day undermines motherhood
