Our role as pracarakas
Namaskar,
Some
in our unit were involved in teaching others about Ananda Marga
guidelines like yama and niyama etc. Then a Wt intervened and stated
that we should not do this as we were "not qualified." So that raises
the question: Should we start teaching others about Ananda Marga yama
and niyama etc only when we get moksa, i.e. perfection?
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
In
dharmacakra, some think that after meditation then only a Wt should
read and explain a few paragraphs of svadhyaya from Ananda Vacanamrtam
like yama and niyama etc. Yet, it could happen that a Wt may be less
familiar with a topic but will speak about it anyway, while there may be
a margii present who knows far more on that subject. But the margii is
overlooked because some think that only those in Wt dress should speak
to others about Sadguru Baba's teachings. A few dadas feel that this is
their due honour: Since they have the dress then only they can speak
before others. This dogma has been brought into Ananda Marga Pracaraka
Samgha from the various religions.
Religious dogma & AMPS
Who
does not know that in the black pages of history before the invention
of the printing press, the Bible was not allowed to be copied and given
to anyone. The common people did not have access to it at all. Finally,
when the printing press came along the pope did not permit the Bible to
be printed and distributed. This went on for some time. And still today
there are strict regulations about the Koran (Quran) and the superiority
of Arabic whereby those who want to know about it must consult a
mullah. This is the way they keep their dogma intact. Similarly, in
AMPS, some think that our scriptures should only be read and explained
by acaryas. This is the dogma they want to impose.
Yet,
on this point, Ananda Marga ideology is extremely different from the
dogmatic religions. Baba has blessed us with a revolutionary approach
where all have the moral duty to teach yama and niyama, dharma etc.
Unfortunately, a few Dadas feel that only they should talk about dharma,
i.e. yama and niyama etc. They want everyone to listen to them. That is
what their ego tells them. So they feel threatened if a margii
sincerely engages in talks about Ananda Marga philosophy with others.
But again, Baba's guideline is clear and pointed: Every initiated person
in AMPS must teach others about our Ananda Marga way of life. Of
course, it is the sole duty of tattvikas and acaryas to teach
meditation. But that is not the subject here.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
No bar: all can guide
It
is the duty of each and every Ananda Margii to start teaching others
about Ananda Marga philosophy. Even the day a person is initiated they
can start doing pracara with others. Here is the support from Baba's
teachings:
(A)
SIXTEEN POINTS: It is the duty of every Ananda Margii to follow 16
Points and embedded within 16 Points is service or seva. As we all know
there are 4 types of seva in Ananda Marga philosophy: shudrocita seva,
ksatriyocita seva, vaeshyocita seva, and viprocita seva. And Baba guides
us that we, i.e. all margiis, are to perform all four types of seva,
including viprocita seva, which includes guiding others about the ideals
of Ananda Marga.
Duty: all must do viprocita sevá (intellectual service)
Ananda
Marga ideology says, "We can give joy to Parama Puruśa by serving His
creations – human beings, animals and plants – and this service will be
the best application of neo-humanism. This service can be done in four
ways – viprocita sevá (intellectual service), kśatriyocita sevá (service
of courage), vaeshyocita sevá (economic service) and shudrocita sevá
(manual service). None of these is inferior: we cannot ignore any one of
them. People should render service according to their capacity. Those
who like intellectual service, can do that; those who like manual
service, can do so. But it will be best if all the four types are
performed." (1)
In
His above teaching, Baba clearly tells that everyone, new and senior
margiis alike, is to engage in all kinds of seva including teaching
others about Ananda Marga philosophy and lifestyle. Everyone should do
this according to their capacity. That means even a newly initiated
margii can and should teach the general public about kiirtan, or yama
and niyama etc. To the degree one is properly aware about Baba's
guidelines and tenets is the degree to which a sadhaka should teach
others. Then they will be performing seva and following 16 Points. So
this should be our approach.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
What Baba tells to do
(B) THE ANANDA MARGA MISSION: Self-realisation & selfless service - concerns each and every Ananda Margii.
Ananda
Marga ideology says, "Átmamokśárthaḿ jagaddhitáya ca – “Whatever one is
to do one is to do for átmamokśa – for his own liberation – and for the
elevation of the entire world, elevation of the entire human society.”
One is to do both these things." (2)
Here
again Baba is directing each and every person in the AMPS to perform
service - i.e. helping to care for and elevate all beings. Upon entering
into Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha, everyone must do this from day 1.
Baba does not say that one should do sadhana for ten years, or after
getting perfection, i.e. moksa, then one should start doing service.
Rather from the very beginning every margii is to do sadhana and perform
service by explaining the ideals of dharma to others. So here Baba is
guiding us that every Ananda Margii must do Ananda Marga pracara and
explain the tenets of Ananda Marga to others.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
(C)
IN ORDER TO GET MUKTI: In our Supreme Command too Baba tells each and
every Ananda Margii to teach others about dharma and inspire them onto
the path of spirituality.
The
Supreme Command says, "...It is the bounden duty of every Ananda Margii
to endeavor to bring all to the path of bliss. Verily is this a part
and parcel of sadhana, to lead others along the path of righteousness."
(3)
By
Baba's teaching in the Supreme Command, it is clear that all margiis,
young or old, male or female etc, must embark on teaching others about
Ananda Marga ideals.
Conclusion
So
it is important to educate oneself about Ananda Marga ideals and
consult Baba's discourses by reading Ananda Marga books. And side by
side one should practice and teach others.
Every
Ananda Margii should be eager and ready to teach Baba's gospel to any
and all who are interested. And those who are not interested, we should
try and inspire them. Here the culminating idea is that all should
teach. At the same time one should know their own personal limits and
continue to prepare oneself and expand the boundaries of what you can
teach. Baba certainly wants for everyone to teach yet it should be done
thoughtfully keeping the above parameters in mind.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Dayananda Deva
~ In-depth study ~
In
the dogmatic religions they mandate how lay / family people cannot
teach the tenets. In Christianity only the priest can do; in Islam, only
the mullah can do; and in an array of dogmatic religions only the
pundits can do. They are the only ones to speak the gospel of their
religion, not the common people. So Ananda Marga ideology is unique.
Baba says that all can and should do. Unfortunately, a few Wts want to
introduce religious dogmas into our Ananda Marga society by stating that
only the priest class can guide others. They just want to "copy &
paste" such dogmas into our Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha.
If
you or anyone in your unit is sincerely teaching others about Ananda
Marga philosophy and a Dada tells you that you are "too new", or "not
senior enough", or "not smart enough" etc, then just inform that Wt that
Baba's guideline is that, "As an Ananda Margii, it is my duty to
perform all four sevas each and every day and that includes teaching
others about Ananda Marga ideology, according to the level of my own
knowledge base."
Wts
/ avadhutas cannot give any lame excuse and prohibit any margii, new or
old, from guiding others on spiritual life and Ananda Marga ideals.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Dos & don'ts for guiding others
Now
that it is clear that it is the duty of every Ananda Margii, family
margiis and wholetimers, to perform service and teach others about the
philosophy and ideals of Ananda Marga, there are a few easy points to
keep in mind.
1) One should not teach others about the lessons of sadhana if one is not qualified. This applies both to margiis and Wts.
2)
One should not teach aspects of Ananda Marga philosophy that they
themselves are not adequately familiar with. If one does this then two
negative results will arise. Firstly, one will spread faulty
explanations and confuse others; and secondly, the person you are trying
to teach will lose faith in you. This applies to all, i.e. Wts &
margiis: If you are not qualified or informed on a particular topic then
do not teach that subject. Rather, if you do, you will get exposed as
the person you were trying to teach will tell everyone that you are
bogus. To overcome this problem one must prepare oneself and in that
process teach what you know, not more than that.
Remember
in this day and age whatever topic you are teaching can easily be
confirmed via the internet. And if they find out you were wrong on a
point then your whole position is in question. For instance, one
political leader running for prime minister of India spoke something
that was historically wrong, so he had to apologise because everyone
could easily verify this point. Earlier this was not the case, but now
with technology it is so. In result, this candidate was shamed; indeed
now every politician is very careful. Similarly for Ananda Margiis,
first be properly versed on the topic and then teach it - not otherwise.
This applies to all, i.e. Wts and margiis. If a Wt is telling something
false to margiis, they will quickly be exposed. Those old days are done
whereby there was no means for the people to investigate and get the
facts.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
3)
Naturally, each and every Ananda Margii knows something about Ananda
Marga ideals. It may be even the most basic of principles or something
complex; regardless, what you know you should teach those ideas to
others. That is how society grows.
How this dogma started
In
those days of old, what to speak of not allowing the common people to
teach the philosophy, they would not even allow the common people to
learn it. If general citizens came in contact with those teachings they
would be tortured and shunned - i.e. scarred for life. That was the way
those dogmatic religions operated - and still today that is their modus
operandi.
Ananda
Marga philosophy says, "These [common] people were deprived of the
right to study the Vedas. The Antyaja Shúdras, if they even heard the
Vedic chants, or the controlling Vedic mantra aum, or the “Savitr Rk”
mantra, would be committing a great sin and molten lead would be poured
into their ears so that their hearing would be destroyed forever. Nor
were women, however educated, allowed to hear such sacred chants." (4)
They
feel that mantras or prayers can only be solemnized when they are
recited by priests etc. According to bhagavad dharma, there is no 3rd
person between the bhakta and God, but in such religions, the priest /
mullah etc is the so-called intermediary. Here, the point is that, in
the dogmatic religions, only the priest is able to pass on religious
knowledge, not anyone else.
In
the various religions, only select leaders are authorised to explain
their religious texts etc. One must be a mullah, or priest, or reverend,
or rabbi, or minister, or cleric, or pundit, or some other religious
official. There is no scope for the common people to openly guide others
about their holy books. One must be a recognised or ordained delegate
of that religion.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Summary: call to action
Should
we wait until we have been on the path 10 years before teaching Ananda
Marga philosophy to others; or should we wait until we become a
wholetimer before guiding others about the Ananda Vacanamrtam series of
books? When can a general margii start teaching others about Ananda
Marga philosophy? When should a margii begin teaching the guidelines of
Ananda Marga ideology?
Through
His guidelines of Sixteen Points, by His mission statement
(Átmamokśárthaḿ jagaddhitáya ca), and by the Supreme Command, it is
quite clear that every Ananda Margii should teach others about Ananda
Marga ideals from the very beginning. To delay this is to go against
Guru's teachings. No one should have any complex about this nor should
this point be shrouded in confusion. All are to teach others about the
principles of Ananda Marga.
Even a new margii can teach our kiirtan mantra to anyone. We can teach them to sing internally or externally.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
References
1. 17 May 1982, Calcutta
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 30, The Four Kinds of Service
3. Supreme Command
4. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Disc: 5
* * *
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 ==
Always watching me
“Tumi kato liila’ jano…” (Prabhat Samgiita #0311)
Purport:
Parama Purusa Baba, You know how to play a grand variety of cosmic liilas. You play so many types of divine dramas. To spiritually intoxicate my mind, You play a gamut of supreme plays with me. Sometimes You make me cry, and other times You make me laugh. Baba, You shower Your exquisite blessing in countless ways.
My nearest Entity, Baba, there is nothing that can remain hidden from You. You know and see everything. In each action You exist; You are always there. Without Your grace nothing can happen. You are present in every work. Whatever I do, wherever I go, You are there - watching. Nothing can be done secretly. In Your unfathomable play - liila khela - the whole universe is dancing at Your feet.
Baba, You flood the world with Your smile and laughter, as well as with torrential tears of joy. You shower rays of happiness upon all, and side by side You witness the troubles and torments people undergo. My Supreme Guide, Baba, I love You, knowingly and unknowingly. Your songs of love flow throughout this cosmos.
Parama Purusa Baba, You know how to play a variety of liilas….
Note for Prabhat Samgiita #0311:
[1] Liila': In this universe there are innumerable events taking place. When we know the cause of a particular event then that is kriida. And when the cause is not known then it is liila. If the cause was initially not known, and later on becomes known, then that event becomes kriida. Thus as one's knowledge increases - and more and more events can be rationally explained - then for that person the scope of kriida is increased.
Ananda Marga ideology states, "There is a subtle difference between liilá and kriid́a. When the cause of an effect is easily discernible it is called kriid́a, but when the cause is unknown and only the effect is easily discernible it is called liilá." (1)
Reference
1. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 11, To Know Him Is to Be Free from All Fetters
== Section 3: Important Teaching ==
So-called saint
Ananda Marga Philosophy, “There is still another sentiment – human
sentiment. Many persons were born in the past who shed copious tears for
suffering humanity. But strangely enough, after their eloquent speeches
were over, they sat down comfortably at a dinner table and treated
themselves to a delicious meal of hilsa and kaimách fish – as if those
fish had not suffered pain and death. This human sentiment has expressly
violated the interests of non-human creatures, but its proponents have
found nothing wrong with it.”
“Once I read in a certain book that a great saint used to live only on
locusts dipped in honey. That saint did not seriously consider that
those little locusts also had vital life force throbbing in them.” (1)
Baba
says, "साधु का पहला अर्थ :- अपने लिए अपना प्राण जितना प्यारा है, दूसरों
के लिए उनके प्राण भी उतने ही प्यारे हैं—जो व्यष्टि यह बात महसूस
करतेहैं, और उसी समझ के अनुसार दूसरों के प्रति दया प्रदर्शन करते हैं,
उनको ‘साधु’ कहते हैं ।" (2)
Quiz: What is the name of the "great" saint who used to live only on locusts dipped in honey??
ANSWER:
St John the Baptist
Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.--Bible
Reference
1. The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism, Disc 1
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam 1 - 2 (Pure), chapter 19, “The Purpose Behind the Advent”
== Section: Hindi Quote ==
क्यों जी ? न, तुम तो परमपुरुष से उत्पन्न हुए हो
Ananda Marga ideology says, "जो साधक हैं, जो पक्के साधक हैं, उनके लिए जीवन में ऐसी परिस्थिति नहीं आ सकती है जिसमें उन्हें घबड़ाना पड़े | [मार्गी लोग---"बाबा, बाबा, बाबा !"] और, सिर्फ़ इतना ही नहीं, एक साधक के लिए समूचा विश्वब्रह्माण्ड में ऐसी जगह नहीं है जहाँ उन्हें डरना पड़े | क्यों जी ? न, तुम तो परमपुरुष से उत्पन्न हुए हो | परमपुरुष में स्थित हो, और आख़िर तक परमपुरुष तुम्हारी परागति हैं | परमपुरुष जब साथ हैं, तो तुम इस छोटी-सी दुनिया से डरोगे क्यों ? डरने की कोई बात नहीं है | तुम उनके प्यारे बेटे हो, तुम उनकी प्यारी बेटी हो | तुम किससे डरोगी, तुम किससे डरोगे ? डर नाम की कोई वस्तु तुम्हारे अभिधान में, तुम्हारे dictionary में नहीं रहना चाहिए |" (1) (कः पन्थाः,Kah Pantháh-2, S14-5(H),DMC 20 November 1979 Hisar)
Reference
1. कः पन्थाः,Kah Pantháh-2, S14-5(H),DMC 20 November 1979 Hisar
== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==
हे परमपुरुष ! तुमने सभी को ज़रूरत से ज़्यादा दिया
प्रभात सङ्गीत 2389 विश्व के जतो छन्दायित सुषमार राशि दियेछो...
भावार्थ
हे परमपुरुष ! तुमने इस पूरे विश्व में सुर- ताल की सुन्दरता लबालब भर दी है। अब मैंने अपने मन में उस सुन्दरता को वीणा के सुरों के साथ मिला लिया है। तुम्हारा स्वागत करने के लिए प्यार से मैंने मानसिक घुंघरुओं की ध्वनि और वीणा के झन्कार के साथ रत्नों से जड़ा दीपक जलाया है
हे परमपुरुष बाबा ! मुझे और कुछ नहीं चाहिए । जो कुछ तुमने मुझे दिया है उसी में सभी प्रकार के सन्तोष का अनुभव करने लगा हूँ। उतने में ही मैं अपनी सभी प्रकार की उन्नति करना चाहता हूँ। अपनी सामान्य बुद्धि की भीतरी कमजोरियों के कारण मेरे मन में अहङ्कार और भवजडता आ जाती है। हे प्रभो ! मुझे ऐसा आशीष दें कि तुम्हारे द्वारा कृपा पूर्वक जो मुझे प्रेम और भक्ति का आध्यात्मिक धन दिया गया है उसे मैं अपनी मानसिक कमजोरियों से खो न बैठूँ ।
मनुष्यों ने परमपुरुष से बहुत पाया है, फिर भी वे उनसे इस भौतिक जगत की वस्तुओं की माँग करते थकते ही नहीं हैं। उनकी यह भूख कभी मिटती ही नहीं है। परमपुरुष ने जो कुछ भी दिया है वे उन दिव्य उपहारों का सदुपयोग नहीं करते वरन् दुरुपयोग करके उसे धूल में मिलाते जाते हैं। मनुष्य केवल अपनी भूख मिटाने के लिए बार बार भौतिक वस्तुओं की माॅंग करते रहते हैं। यह उनकी नादानी है।
References
1. Sadguru Baba says (in GD, Delhi, 26 Feb 1984) that when writing a Prabhat Samgiita purport then very simple words should be used so that the common mass may understand. The above Hindu purport has been written according to that guideline.
== Section 4: Links ==
Postings to Read
How to manage vrttis
Best use of time
Spirituality: essential aspect of nitya karma
Golden rule: inherent flaws
Link between sadhana lessons
Story: how Baba made me victorious
Ananda Marga vs dogmas of epic
