Two greatest moments of life… + 5 more

Baba

Two greatest moments of life…
(for most people)

Namaskar,

In the Hindi edition of Ananda Vacanamrtam part 32 (p.86-7), Baba guides us about this common mentality. Here is the English summary of that passage.

Many persons think, “I will do something great when the fight for dharma and adharma begins like the Mahabharata.” But in their regular, day to day life, these same persons do not place any emphasis on dharmic pursuits. They just think, “When the Mahabharata type of battles occur, I will support dharma. Till that time, when involved in simple things in day to day life, then I need not take trouble.” (English summary)

Sadguru Baba’s warning and teaching is that if one does not follow dharma all the time then one can never follow dharma.
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Just two main events for most folks

Baba guides us that in the lives of most human beings, such great battles of dharma never happen. Most never get the opportunity to participate in that type of grand event. Rather, in their life, only 2 major events happen. One is the moment of their birth, and the other is the time of their death. Beyond that, not much else happens.

And during those two important junctures of birth and death, it is hard to perform great deeds. Namely, at the time of one's birth, one is just a baby and incapable of doing anything. And, at the time of death, one is essentially unconscious so they can't do anything. The essence of Baba's teaching is that we human beings should follow the principle of dharma all the time - at every opportunity, small or big.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Effect of enemy microvita

Baba says that on the point of dharma one should not try to find some excuse why not to follow; rather, the mentality should be to follow and adhere to all of the rules very strictly. This should be our approach - otherwise the effects are disastrous.

Ananda Marga philosophy states: "If human beings do not keep company with virtuous people or study elevating books, and if their minds are not saturated with love for the Supreme Entity, then this category of enemy microvita will infest their minds. Ultimately, the structure of those minds will be crudified, and through dogma they reach the nadir point of crudification." (1)

 Baba guides us that even in our jokes and humour one should not move a single step away from the path of dharma.

Tasmaddharmah Sadakaryah
Meaning: "Dharma should always be practiced." (2)

Guidelines of dharma will naturally arise

Now, at this present moment of rank materialism, is the delicate time when some are getting confused about what to do and what not to do. They are misled by one or another wicked or degraded person etc, and in that way they stray far from the path. We should strive hard to follow Baba's above teaching: Moment to moment in our day to day life we have to follow dharma. Then only will the mind be serene and pure. Then one's inner vivek (conscience) will develop whereby one will understand with pristine clarity what is to be done in each and every circumstance.
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Otherwise, people get confused again and become permanently caught up in negative dealings. One or another wicked sub-faction will try to convince them that their way is best. To avoid that poor outcome, one must adhere to dharma in all regards, on all the points, always - including the simple things. In all spheres, dharma should be upheld. Only then will the proper guideline always get reflected in the mind, in which case one will never go astray.

Whom to support? What to do? What not to do? The answers to these queries do not come until one follows dharma strictly in daily life. That means following 16 Points and all related conduct rules and dharma shastra etc. When one does that, then the direct guidelines of dharma will naturally arise from within. And the right answer will always be found. By Baba's grace, those adherents of dharma never get misled or defeated. In one's practical life one should follow dharma always.

Conclusion

Baba guides us that even in our jokes and humour one should not move a single step away from the path of dharma.

In Him,
Brahmarupa

Ananda Marga ideology says, "Marching ahead is Jiivan Dharma (the characteristic wont of life). And to march ahead, carrying all, viewing the world humanity as an integral entity, is the principal aspect of Jiivan Dharma. Resolve courageously to observe this Jiivan Dharma. Remember: 'Yato Dharmah tato istah, yato istah tato jayah.' "Where there is Dharma, there is Ista (Baba) and where there is Ista, there is Victory”." (3)

Eternal teachings on dharma

Here following are a few more of Baba's divine guidelines about dharma:


(A) Ananda Marga ideology says, "Only dharma accompanies you even after death. None but dharma is suhrd (Eternal Friend)."

'Eka eva suhrd dharma nidhane api anuyati yah'

"Dharma alone is suhrd and remains with one till the end." (4)


(B) Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Dharma raks'ati raks'itah-- one who protects dharma is protected by dharma. Dharma saves the dha'rmika, the upholder of dharma, in the material sphere, in the subtle sphere and in the casual 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 Purusa 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." (5)


(C) Here Baba reveals how dharma works secretly.

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "With the increasing development of the power of reflection, dharmik people realize that dharma is always with them in a very subtle way. They further realize that their dharma and their beloved Parama Purusa are one and inseparable."

'Dharmasya su'ks' ma' gatih'

 Meaning: "The ways of dharma are very subtle." (6)


(D) Here Baba guides us that dharma is the essence of life.

'Dhriyate dharma itya'huh sa eva paramam' prabhu'

Meaning: "Dharma is that which sustains."

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "The seed of humanity cannot sprout and flourish unless it is planted in the soil of dharma. To diverge from the path of dharma means to rush headlong towards total annihilation. In all one's actions one should keep Parama Purus'a as the goal, and be well established in dharma." (7)

References
1. Microvita in a Nutshell, Crude and Subtle Microvita
2. Ananda Sutram, 2 - 7
3. Ananda Vanii #43
4. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 5, Bandhu, Suhrd, Mitram and Sakhá
5. Namah Shiváya Shántáya, Shivokti 11
6. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shiva's Teachings – 1 (continued) (Discourse 11)
7. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 8, The Acoustic Roots of the Indo-Aryan Alphabet

== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==

My sole occupation in life

“E madhu jyotsnáy áloy bhese jáy, ákásha vasudhá ek sáthe…” (Prabhat Samgiita #3090)

Purport: 

In this delightful, full moonshine, both earth and sky float together in that magnificent effulgence. This delightful environment is so charming. O’ Parama Purusa, my most dear, in this spring breeze on this aromatic night, will You kindly come very, very close in an intimate and loving way? I long to have Your proximity and presence. 

O’ Parama Purusa, since ages, I have been looking towards the path of Your arrival, holding great hope in my aching heart that soon You will come. I remain ever-wakeful, day and night, waiting for You. That is my sole occupation in life. Yet, You did not come; nor did You fulfill my hopes and yearning. What’s the use of threading this garland of malatii flowers? Without You, these blossoms have no value. Alas, in Your absence, this entire endeavour has become absolutely meaningless - just a waste of time. 

O’ Parama Purusa, You know my inner thoughts and feelings. You know everything about me so do not pretend to be ignorant or out of touch. You are fully aware about how much I love you and that without You my life is utterly empty, wholly devoid of any purpose or value. Please do not pretend to be oblivious of this fact. Knowing well the misery of this afflicted person, please do not play Your liila anymore. I cannot take it any longer. O’ my Dearmost, please come and reside in my inner core, and look towards me with Your smiling face. There is no harm to anyone in doing this. So please come close and fulfill my heart-felt desire…

== Section: News of 2018 ==

Brave Wt

Namaskar, 

Kindly see below: Ac Krpamaya Brc dared to go to Kolkata Airport in saffron dress and fly in his full Wt uniform dress. Please read his inspiring message. 

in Him, 

Dharmaviira

== Section: Comment ==

Re: Margiis tyrannised by hooligans of AMPS

BABA

Namaskar,

The answer is very simple. Release the recordings. Why won't they do it? There is no reason not to make the recordings public. I am sure we would all be happy to pay for them. Release them so we can be blessed with Sadguru's voice and exactly what He said. Whatever recordings exist, release them. Why should they remain in a vault and nobody hear them? 

On the other hand, what is anyone doing to keep Guru's pratikrti and video out of the social media? Nothing. The recordings should be made public and the pictures and video should be made private. I grant you the recordings should be somewhat private, not scattered across the net. But they also should not be in a vault where no one can hear them.

at His lotus feet,

Bhaskar

- Here is a link to the initial letter on this topic: Margiis tyrannised by hooligans of AMPS

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Cause & solution of brain drain

Prout philosophy guides us, "If the common people and the meritorious people are treated as the same, the capable people will not be encouraged to develop their higher potentiality. This is the reason why the brain drain is happening in India. When talented people leave India, they leave it for good. Providing special amenities for those with special capabilities will stop the brain drain."

"PROUT's approach is to guarantee the minimum requirements for all, guarantee maximum amenities for all and guarantee special amenities for people with special capabilities. This approach will ensure ever increasing acceleration in the socio-economic sphere. The question of retardation does not arise; even the question of maintaining speed does not arise. There must be acceleration."

Prout philosophy states, "Acceleration is the spirit of life, the spirit of existence, the spirit of the existential faculty. One may not be a genius, one may simply be a member of the ordinary public, and not properly accepted or respected by all, but even then one will get the minimum requirements and maximum amenities in an ever increasing manner according to the environmental conditions concerned, according to the demands of the day."

"So what is the significance of this new approach?"
"1) Minimum requirements are to be guaranteed to all."
"2) Special amenities are to be guaranteed to capable people. Special amenities are for people of special calibre as per the environmental condition of the particular age." (1)

Reference
1. Prout Nutshell - 17, Minimum Requirements and Maximum Amenities

== Section 3: Links ==

Postings on Democracy

Yesterday, today, and in the next few days and weeks, many minor and major elections are being held in numerous democratic states and nations across the globe. As Ananda Margiis, we should be cent-per-cent clear about Prout's critique of democracy so we can best educate others and raise awareness about the inherent weaknesses and deficiencies, as well as the positive points, of the various types of democracies that exist today. 

Political vs economic democracy

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2019/12/myth-about-democracy-3-more.html

Economic democracy is the solution

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/12/mock-democracy-4-more.html

A few weaknesses in democracy

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2014/04/occasionally-democracy-is-dangerous-2-2.html

Postings to Read

Females today & the middle path

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2023/05/women-exploitation.html

Puja with the eyes open

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/09/guru-puja-eyes-open-or-closed.html

For all sadhakas 

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/06/why-to-control-lower-cakras-first.html

Trained woman Islamic terrorist, 10 years jail

 Baba

Trained woman Islamic terrorist, 10 years jail

~ The below is courtesy of The New York Times ~ 

A woman who was taken to Syria as a teenager was convicted on Tuesday of charges that she trained with the Islamic State terror group.

The woman, Halima Salman, an American citizen from Brooklyn who was brought to ISIS-controlled territory by her father when she was 17, was found guilty by a federal jury after a weeklong trial and three days of deliberation.

Ms. Salman, who faces up to 10 years in prison at sentencing, is believed to be the first woman accused of being an ISIS member to stand trial in federal court. She was brought back to the United States with her family in May 2024 as part of a repatriation effort by the State Department, which, under President Joseph R. Biden Jr., had been pushing U.S. allies to bring back Americans who had joined ISIS.

When her family left the plane at Kennedy Airport in New York, Ms. Salman was promptly arrested by F.B.I. agents. She was later indicted on one count of receiving military training from a foreign terrorist organization.

During the trial, prosecutors presented an image of an ISIS document written in Arabic, one that allowed her to possess a Kalashnikov rifle, along with two magazines and 150 bullets. The document, which prosecutors said showed Ms. Salman had received weapons training, was recovered from the phone of her husband, an ISIS fighter originally from Germany, according to prosecutors.

They also showed jurors images of Ms. Salman posing in front of the ISIS flag, as well as a video of her holding and pointing an assault rifle.

Soon after arriving in Syria, prosecutors said, Ms. Salman adopted the name Umm al-Khattab al-Muhajir. The name “al-Muhajir,” which translates to “immigrant” in Arabic, was often chosen by fighters from outside Iraq and Syria.

Ms. Salman’s father, who served as a guard for ISIS, died in a rocket attack in 2018, prosecutors said. As the group lost its territory in 2019, Ms. Salman, her mother and her siblings were captured by coalition forces opposing ISIS.

Eighty-three American adults, including 14 women, have traveled to Syria or Iraq to join terrorist groups in the region since 2011, according to a February 2022 report from the George Washington University Program on Extremism. An additional 12 to 30 U.S. minors traveled to the region during that time, the report estimated.

~ The above is courtesy of The New York Times ~ 

The abortion issue & ahimsa + 4 more

Baba

The abortion issue & ahimsa

Namaskar,

In Ananda Marga, murder is looked upon as a most dastardly deed; it is sinful. Under no conditions are we to murder anyone, especially not an innocent, defenceless babe. We should never knowingly terminate the life of any living being. That is a violation of ahimsa, i.e. to not inflict harm upon others.

As all Ananda Margiis know, ahimsa is part of yama and niyama; and, “without yama and niyama sadhana is an impossibility.” That is the guideline from the Supreme Command. All should be vigilant to adhere to the points of yama and niyama, including that of ahimsa. We must not harass, harm, or kill other beings. We are to adopt the theorem, “Live and let live.”

The courts or prevailing governing bodies cannot override this. Regardless of what the laws may say, to knowingly and intentionally destroy the life of a living being is nothing short of murder - and therefore a sin.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com

Killing aged & diseased

If an abortion is performed, then the parents and doctors accumulate the very negative samskara of having killed that unborn babe, and they will have to undergo the harmful consequences. Not only that, if it is deemed OK to abort unhealthy children in the womb, the day will soon come when unhealthy people outside the womb will also be put to their end. People will think that diseased and maimed people should be destroyed as they are a liability. And not only the diseased and the maimed, but the elderly and the disabled will be prematurely eliminated as well. Verily, all thought of as compromised in any way will be put to death. Such is the mentality behind aborting developmentally disabled unborn babes.

Whenever a person's existential value is thought to be compromised or deficient, they too will be eliminated: The elderly, disabled war vets, those who suffered car accidents, and those with degenerative diseases etc. So putting the logic in motion to abort a disabled unborn child is a slippery slope. It puts in place the factor that anyone thought of as a liability in any way can simply be "put down", i.e. disposed of, or killed by injection etc.

Conclusion

With the further advancement and proper use of science, birth defects can be wholly eliminated. And, verily, Baba points to this outcome in His many teachings. So great efforts should be made to ensure every baby conceived and born on this earth is healthy in all respects: physically, psychically, and spiritually. This is not an impossibility in our present age and coming times. 
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This entire notion of abortion is the wrong way to look upon human life. We are to help the weak and suffering, and, at the same time, take strong steps to create a vibrant more perfect humanity by adhering to Baba's dharmic guidelines. 

In Him,
Rtambhara’

~ In-depth study ~

Abortion violates cardinal human values: it is sinful

No matter what the doctors may say, no matter what the social workers may say, no matter what the judges in the court may say, each and every abortion is a violation of cardinal human values. To abort a baby is to commit a sin.

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "If the violation is in the spiritual code, rather the religious code, it is termed as 'sin'. If the violation is against the legal code it is known as 'crime'." (1)


Baba's teaching: how conception occurs

Here below Baba describes in detail how life is formed in the womb.

   Ananda Marga philosophy states, "If the sperms of the male and the ova of the female get together, they constitute one physical structure. When the physical structure commences formation, there is no question of extra seminal fluid or seminal wastage, and that is why in the stage of pregnancy there is no menstruation. All the seminal fluid is utilized in forming the body of the embryo..."
   "Since the physical structure starts from spermatozoa, which has a positive motion and, therefore, a wavelength, the physical structure thus formed must have a wavelength accordingly. We have already seen that the dissociated mind also has a wavelength (in a potential form) and a momentum which has to be expressed. The dissociated mind needs physical parallelism for proper expression, and therefore the Cosmic mutative force causes the dissociated mind from eternal space to enter the adjustable physical structure, assuming a form in the mother’s womb."
   "This is how life comes into physical creation." (2)

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "That mind moving in the universe with the mutative power of the Cosmic Operative Principle is not visible, and at the same time, for want of a nucleus, a seat for the mind, and nerve cells, the mind cannot function properly. For proper functioning it requires ectoplasmic stuff, a body of ectoplasm. So even for ectoplasmic expression it requires a new body. In proper time, due to the mixture of ova and spermatozoa, what happens? The mind becomes associated with a new structure [embryo], and the original minds and lives of both the ova and the spermatozoa cease to exist. But those ova and spermatozoa are selected to suit the purpose of this detached mind with its reactive momenta." (3)

Life starts with conception

Ananda Marga ideology states, "When an old man dies and a new babe takes a place and sits in a mother’s womb, we cannot find the link. And that’s why we say, “That old man has died.” This is also an ordinary change. Do you follow?" (4)

This quote indirectly affirms that life starts with conception. In one place, an old man dies, and in another place the old man comes back in the form of a living, breathing fetus. People cannot form a link or fathom that the same old man is now alive in the form of a fetus. The conclusion is that life starts at the time of conception - and grows from there.
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Everyone holds their life dear

Here Baba guides that to be a true sadhaka we must follow the codes of yama and niyama including ahimsa and respect the rights of all living beings - even those of the unborn child. Everyone wants to survive and live their life; no one should put an end to this inherent desire by aborting unborn babies.

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Have mercy on all living beings."

Práńáh yathátmano’bhiiśt́áh bhútánám api te tathá;
Atmaopamyena bhútánám dayáḿ kurvanti sádhavah.

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Just as your life is extremely dear to you, similarly the lives of others are equally dear to them. A person who thinks thus and shows mercy on other creatures is really a sa'dhu, or virtuous person."  (5)

Should not destroy your future

Ananda Margiis should not destroy their future by involving in the heinous and deplorable act of abortion. The point is, regardless of who you are, whether a doctor, an expecting mother, or the biological father, in all cases to choose the dark ways of abortion is to invite a serious black cloud in the future.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com

Beware: Every action begets a reaction. Harming and killing an unborn babe is the equivalent of murder (unpardonable sin), and one will have to undergo that very negative samskara. By being aware of Baba's guideline on abortion, we can save ourselves from such heinous reactions in the future.

So all should be aware - make the right choices in life - and stay clear from abortion. By that way one can ensure that their future remains bright. That is the policy of Ananda Marga. To go against it by aborting babies is to invite all kinds of problems and suffering.

Setting legislation for the abortion of deformed or developmentally disabled babes in the womb is by no means ideal, rather harmful.

References
1. A Few Problems Solved - 6, The Three Causes of Sin
2. Idea & Ideology: Life, Death, & Samskara
3. Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 3, Ghosts and Evil Spirits
4. Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 33, Brahmacakra
5. Yoga Psychology, 'Instinct & Devotion'

*        *        *

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 ==

How protozoic & metazoic mind functions

   Ananda Marga ideology states, “The protozoic minds are guided by instinct only. The protozoic mind is citta only, with no development of ahaḿ[tattva] or mahattattva. Ingesting food, supporting offspring – this is all done instinctively, according to their svabháva [spontaneously], the reasons being quite unknown to those creatures. The earthworm does not know that it is an earthworm. It moves instinctively, spontaneously, according to its undeveloped mind. The protozoic minds and the protozoic microcosm can be said to be the physical mind. A protozoic creature has only physical mind. The collection of protozoic minds in the human can be said to be the physical mind of the human, known as the [kámamaya kośa]. It is guided by instinct, there is no discrimination.”
   “But the metazoic mind moves with some intellect, or discrimination, as there has been some development of intellect in it. Hence the metazoic mind has control over the protozoic mind. The more the metazoic mind is developed in a creature, the more developed the creature is; that is, a metazoic structure will be more complicated. And where this complication has increased considerably, that physical structure is the human physical structure.” (1)

Note: Living cells act according to instinct because of their protozoic mind. There are many organs in the human body such as the kidneys and the liver. These organs have a more developed mind, i.e. metazoic mind. So long as the kidneys and liver are in a greater structure like an animal or a human they will do their job. That is why doctors are able to perform kidney and liver transplants from one human body to another. So the metazoic mind controls the protozoic mind. And, in the human structure, both the protozoic mind and the metazoic mind comes under the domain of the unit human mind.

Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Knowledge and Progress

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Brahma is the Guru

Ananda Marga philosophy says: "...Trtiiyam' Gurupu'janam."

The third point of success is 'reverence to Guru'.

Our Guru is Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, and as His disciples we hold great reverence towards Him. That's why we don't shake hands with or do just simple namaskar to Guru. Nor do we do pranam to Him by touching the feet.

Disciples always give maximum reverence by doing sastaunga pranam. Sastaunga pranam is only for Guru, and Guru alone. No one else. Such is the greatness of Guru - He is unparalleled.

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "The one formless, beginningless and infinite Parama Brahma (Supreme Consciousness) is the only entity to be attained by living beings-- That alone is Jagat Guru (the Supreme preceptor), That alone has revealed Brahmavidya (intuitional science) to us through the medium of the name and form of Anandamurtijii. Unit beings must be made to appreciate Its majesty." (Caryacarya - II, Sadhana, pt# 1a)

And in Ananda Sutram, Baba has given:

"Brahmaeva gururekah na'parah" (2)

That means, Guru is Brahma. He is everything.

References
1. Caryacarya - II, Sadhana, pt# 1a
2. Ananda Sutram 3 - 9

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Money & Margii

The Supreme Command states, "...Every Ananda Margii will have to perform sadhana twice a day invariably; verily is this the command of the Lord..." (1)

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "Dharma is the assemblage of all your conduct” – the way you eat, the way you speak, the way you perform sa'dhana'. If your conduct is good, dharma is with you; if your conduct is not good, dharma is not with you. And if dharma is not with you, what comes about is your sarvana'sha, or sarva'tmaka vina'sha – that is, your physical, mental, and spiritual ruin....Conduct is the principal factor in dharma.” Be a sadácárii, a person of good conduct, and you will surely attain Paramátman." (2)

Note: If one donates 2% of their income to Ananda Marga service projects then it does not mean that they are therefore an Ananda Margii. Donating money or paying tithes also does not make one an Ananda Margii. To be a dharmika (an Ananda Margii), one’s lifestyle should be wholly consistent with the ideals of Ananda Marga, i.e. bhagavad dharma. Those who give money and live a different sort of life can be thought of as sympathizers, but not as dharmikas, i.e. as Ananda Margiis.

Greatest donor

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The most important point to consider is who has utilized his or her ability and to what extent. Hanuman [the mighty monkey, a bhakta of Rama in the mythological epic the Rámáyańa] fetched huge boulders to build a bridge across the sea, while the squirrels collected small pebbles. Yet intrinsically both these actions have the same value. We have no right to question anybody's sincerity, nor can we scoff at it. We cannot give more appreciation to those who have not utilized their potentialities properly but have done more work than to those who have fully utilized their talents." (3)

References
1. The Supreme Command
2. Subhasita Samgraha - 21, Niiti and Dharma
3. Human Society - part 1, Social Justice

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Careful: these greens are tamasik

Here Baba guides us that the red, leafy puin shak (vegetable) is "bad for the mind" and hence tamasik.

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Some of you have possibly seen that there is a creeping leafy vegetable plant called puiṋ shák [Indian spinach] … slightly wild, and its leaves are small and blackish. This kind of puiṋ is called buno puiṋ [wild variety]. Although its nutritional value is as good as that of any other puiṋ, it is not good for patients suffering from acidity. Although all kinds of puiṋ have more or less the same qualities, it is the white puiṋ or puiṋ with light green large leaves that is relatively easy to digest. The wild puiṋ is bad for acidity, as the red puiṋ is bad for the mind." (1)

This red, leafy vegetable (puin shake) is found throughout Asia and is sold around the globe in Asian vegetable markets. However, as Ananda Margiis, we should not ingest puiṋ shak as it is tamasik.

Why tamasik

The key point to keep in mind is that it grew out of rotten matter. So, although many communities treat this as a good leafy vegetable, but, for Ananda Margiis, red puiṋ shak is tamasik and should therefore be strictly avoided. This is commonly missed because sadhakas think that every leafy vegetable is sentient, but that is not true. Red puin shak is one such example of a tamasik leafy green.

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Static food: Food which is harmful for the mind and may or may not be good for the body is static. Onion, garlic, wine, stale and rotten food, meat of large animals such as cows and buffaloes, fish, eggs, etc., are static. Very often people eat food without knowing its intrinsic qualities. For example, the milk of a cow which has just given birth. Or white eggplant, khesárii pulse [horse gram], red puni [Basella rubra Linn.], or mustard leaves, all of which often grew out of rotten matter. In order to have a balanced mind and to progress spiritually, human beings will have to pay attention to the qualities of the food they eat. The idea that “I will just do my sádhaná and eat any food, proper or improper” will not do." (2)

Ananda Marga ideology states, "Suppose a physician says, “As a human, you require animal protein for your health;” but suppose dharma says, “No, a human should not take carnal food;” then in that case you will have to follow dharma and not the physician, because the order of dharma is above all other orders. Dharma is the highest Lord, the highest authority." (3)

Spelling

It should also be noted that in our Ananda Marga books, it is spelled two different ways:
(1) Puiṋ
(2) Puni

The first spelling is correct, i.e. puiṋ, and that is the way it is spelled in the above quote. The second listing - i.e. puni - is not correct. That is not the proper spelling, yet it is written that way in some of our publications. See the below quote as an example.

Here in the below photo both varieties are shown. The red is tamasika and the green is sentient. 

References
1. Shabda Cayanika - 4, Disc: 24, pt #33
2. Ananda Marga Philosophy In A Nutshell: Food, Cells, Physical and Mental Development
3. Subhasita Samgraha - 21, Jaeva Dharma and Bhágavata Dharma

== Section: Comment ==

Re: How occult powers are harmful

BABA

Namaskar, Surjit,

This applies not just to what we think of occult powers, but all gifts of sadhana. Sadhana can give great energy, ideas, a lot of power in all sorts of ways. Westerners, particularly, with a materialistic mind, think,"Oh, I will do this. I will learn to meditate. Then it will give me xyz." The bhakta looks at this another way. All the gifts of sadhana are colors of the mind to return back to Paramaparusha. One does not meditate to get anything. Rather, the bhakta does sadhana only to give. It is service to Him. 

Freedom from the noose of all powers comes when we recognize that all our actions are for Him and done by Him, this, through our love as devotees. Ego wants powers. Crush the ego and give back to God all the powers. 

in Him,

Bhaskar

- Here is a link to the initial letter on this topic: How occult powers are harmful

== Section 3: Links ==

Important News Update

Kinshuk ji becomes football - 9

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2026/10/kinshuk-ji-becomes-football-9.html

Dogma of Mahaprayan - Oct 21 - 26

#36: Dressed in disguise 

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2015/10/masquerading-4-more.html

#35: Against sheltering in Him

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2019/08/it-became-religion-2-more.html

#34: Point of Preceptor

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2015/01/longevity-of-ananda-marga-threatened.html

#33: Mahaprayan ghat: burial place for ordinary people

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2014/09/mahaprayan-of-humans-rajendra-prasad.html

#32: Emulating death of Muslim man + Sneaky hypocrisy

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2014/10/marhum-habibur-rahmans-mahaprayan.html

#31: Songs of longing, not God of death

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2017/01/are-there-mpd-songs-in-prabhat-samgiita.html

#30: One lady's mahaprayan

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2014/09/womans-mahaprayan-anti-baba-anti-marga.html