Baba
Baba’s guideline during Emergency & beyond
Namaskar,
In countless discourses, Baba guides us that bhakti lies within. That sweet, close devotional proximity with Him is achieved internally. This is Baba's eternal teaching on bhakti. We also know that everything Baba has given is 100% clear, consistent, and conclusive. In that way, His every thought, word, and deed are perfectly accordant with His AM ideology.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Sixteen Points & Emergency
In those weeks and months before going to jail, Baba beautifully introduced His divine system of Sixteen Points. Now, in retrospect, we can clearly see that this was His special timing. Being the omniscient Parama Purusa and knowing that the unjust jail period was upcoming, Baba introduced Sixteen Points with the intention that even during His physical absence – i.e. jail period – all margiis would be able to endure and have ample resilience to face the difficulty of the Emergency. By strictly adhering to Sixteen Points, margiis would have the strength, vigour, and bhakti to overcome all obstacles.
So, in that pre-jail period around 1970, Baba was living in Patna, and, on a regular basis, He began checking up on everyone's Sixteen Points, ensuring that all were following properly. Baba knew that without those special guidelines it would be impossible for sadhakas to survive the Emergency. Whereas, by following Sixteen Points, every margii would have the requisite bhakti to withstand any and all difficulties. This was Baba's unique and special planning.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Ananda Vanii guidelines
And, during the Emergency period itself, Baba graciously issued these below dharmic mandates about Sixteen Points in His eternal and timeless teachings of Ananda Vanii Samgraha.
Ananda Vanii says, "Be firm on Sixteen Points. Unite all the righteous forces. All the tall talks of the evil forces will be silenced." (1)
Ananda Vanii says, "In order to march ahead on the road of human welfare, we will have to strengthen ourselves in all the arenas of life. The complete seeds of welfare in all the spheres -- physical, mental, moral, social and spiritual -- are embedded in the SIxteen Points. Hence be firm on the Sixteen Points." (2)
So this is one special aspect of that jail period, and that universal teaching holds true for today and eternity: By strictly adhering to Sixteen Points, one's level of bhakti will blossom.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Baba’s special reply to sadhakas
During the jail period, many margiis visited Baba, and Baba graciously gave countless guidelines to all those who came — often directing people in their personal lives and answering their various questions about how to proceed. All through His incarceration this was going on. But, over the course of this entire period, there was one query that was asked again and again. And that question was, “How to best manage during this difficult time?” After all, each and every Ananda Margii was facing many challenges, and every disciple was also keen to keep the flag of AM upright in this hostile environment. Baba’s reply was, “Tell everyone that they should be very strict and sincere in following Sixteen Points.”
After the Emergency period ended, many of our dedicated Ananda Margiis (Wts and general margiis) were pardoned and released from jail. However, Sadguru Baba's case was still pending so He had not yet been released. Naturally, everyone was eagerly asking about how they could best carry on while He was still in jail. Here again, Baba’s guideline was to strictly adhere to Sixteen Points. And this lesson was not just applicable for that juncture, but stands as an eternal guideline for those on the spiritual path.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Even CBI agents will be transformed
Each and every Ananda Margii knows in their heart that bhakti transcends the physical sphere as it is a psycho-spiritual quality. And Sixteen Points is essential for developing bhakti. After all, so many communist spies and CBI agents were planted here and there, physically watching Baba intently during DMCs and His fieldwalks etc. But such communists and CBI agents did not have an iota of bhakti in them. Rather, they were totally against AM and did not understand anything about Baba's divine advent. So, even though they were watching physically, they could not get the real nectar. Even Jyoti Basu-- the crooked communist leader of West Bengal-- who lived in the same city for years, did not have any inkling of bhakti. However, had those same nefarious people become strict in Sixteen Points they would have been wholly transformed and become great bhaktas.
Central dadas had to do sadhana
Here is the other half of the equation. Various central workers were around Baba 24hrs a day, but they still had to do sadhana and follow Sixteen Points. Baba never said to them that since they were in His physical proximity they did not have to do sadhana or follow Sixteen Points. This was never Baba's instruction. Instead, even if a Dada had been working all morning with Baba then, before lunch, that Dada still had to do half-bath, sadhana etc. It was not that he could skip sadhana and eat just because he had been physically close that morning. Rather, the rule was always, 'No sadhana, no meal'. So sadhana (i.e. following Sixteen Points) always had to be done regardless of the degree of one's physical proximity to Baba.
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We can say then that bhakti is such a unique force that is not limited to the physical sphere. Rather we know-- and in numerous discourses Baba guides us-- that the secret to the higher stages of bhakti is dhya'na; and, that dhya'na is not possible without strict adherence to Sixteen Points. So Baba’s guideline is to be very strict in Sixteen Points, as by this avenue one will become an elevated sadhaka and gain those deep spiritual realisations and samadhis etc.
Here, Baba beautifully describes how internal bhakti and sadhana are the key ingredients for attaining Him. Thus, strictness in Sixteen Points is needed.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "It is wrong to think that Parama Purus'a is realizable by man through empirical knowledge...To attain Brahma you shall have to do sa'dhana' or spiritual meditation. You should make Him the only goal of your life. For this you require integrity, devotion and singular and earnest love for Him. He is not attainable without reverence and unflagging and unflinching devotion. When the devotional depth will come, love, too, will be out-brimming with high sentiments - will be full and over-flowing... In that state alone will come your final realization of the Supreme Consciousness." (3)
Conclusion
Sixteen Points is essential. It is vital towards our well-being in all fields of life. And by being strict in Sixteen Points one gains that crown-jewel of life: bhakti. So no matter what phase of life one is in, and no matter the circumstances one is facing, every sadhaka should be very strict in Sixteen Points. And one will feel Baba’s divine presence always. That is His great blessing upon us.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
At His lotus feet,
Gurubhakti
To understand AM books requires the mind of a sadhaka and that’s why non-margiis do not understand our AM books. AM books are the theoretical side, and the practical side is spiritual practice. Those who do not do sadhana will not understand Baba's teachings. For example, the Indian CBI had all our books, including the acarya diary, but they did not understand anything. Rather, they became paranoid by reading the word sadvipra leadership.
References
1. Ánanda Váńii #44, 1 January 1976
2. Ánanda Váńii #45, Ánanda Púrńimá 1976
3. Subháśita Saḿgraha Part 3, Desire and Detachment
* * *
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 ==
"Bhálobese chile tumi ámáy, vinimaye kichu cáo ni..." (Prabhat Samgiita #3811)
Purport:
Parama Purusa, You are so kind. Since ages You have loved me, but in return You have never wanted anything. You do not wish to receive anything from me; only You want to go on pouring Your divine compassion on me. Whatever I have offered unto You, You have politely refused to take - You only shower Your affection.
Baba, my Supreme Entity, Your kindness knows no limit. It is just like the moon which suffuses its sweetness by pouring its soft moonlight on everything. The moon does not consider the good or bad quality of those entities, just the moon goes on shining its refulgence. In the same way, You pour Your karun’a’ upon all incessantly, everywhere. You never consider or look into who is high, or who is mean and low. You lovingly see everyone as Yours - worthy of Your infinite kindness.
My divine One Baba, in the pouring rain of the pitch dark night, the smiling fragrance of the ketaki flower permeates the entire atmosphere all the 24 hrs, regardless whether there is darkness or light. Similarly, You also do not care about the proper or improper time, or who is qualified for Your mercy or not. Your affection never ceases. Even in the wake of meteor strikes in Your beautiful sky, still Your prema shines forth on all. You are most gracious to everyone - all the time. Your blessing is like the sublime brilliance which removes all the darkness in the blink of an eye.
Baba, You are the most compassionate One. I surrender everything at Your altar; please accept me and keep me under Your shelter...
== Section 3: Important Teaching ==
Ananda Marga ideology guides, "Those who have fallen today may become evolved people, great personalities in the future – mahápuruśas. This is why no one should ever be disappointed in life. Parama Puruśa is calling everyone and He will continue to call everyone: all shall find a safe shelter on His loving lap. He does not hate or neglect anyone. Hence the only answer to the question, “kasya tvam” – “Whom do you belong to?” – is: “I belong to Parama Puruśa, to Him and Him alone, because I have come from Him and I am in Him, and finally I will return to Him.” And the only answer to the question, “Kuta áyátah” – “From where have you come?” – is: “I have come from Parama Puruśa and I will go back to Him. He is my permanent abode.”" (1)
Reference
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 12, To Whom Do You Belong? Where Do You Come From?
== Section 4: Links ==
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