Baba
Baba’s joke about communism
Namaskar,
Baba advised some LFTs that it is very important to interweave philosophical teachings with jokes. Baba explained that if you just preach one philosophical point after another, the people will get bored. So the way to be successful in gathering a crowd for a street corner meeting is to make people laugh. Here we learn from Sadguru Baba why laughter is an important element when giving a talk or making a presentation to the public.
Baba began, "Everybody knows the communist leaders have some favourite slogans, ‘Those who work in the factory are the owners of the factory, and those who plow the field are the owners of the land’."
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Reply of ridiculous slogan of communist
After all, if the worker in the factory is the owner of the factory and the farmer who wields the plow is the owner of the land, then the masseuse who gives the massage is the owner of the body, and the chef who prepares the food is the owner of the meal, the street-sweeper who cleans the street is the owner of the road, the doctor who operates on the patient is the owner of the patient, the plumbers and electricians who do work on the house are the owners of the house, and the dentist who checks and treats a patient's teeth is the owner of the mouth, and a mechanic who repairs a car or bike is that owner of that car or bike.
Baba is pointing out the ridiculous and hypocritical ways of communism: Working in a factory does not make one the factory owner, and plowing the field does not transfer ownership to the farmer. No right-thinking person can think like this. The overall idea is that Baba is teaching us that when giving a lecture then we should employ humour that will be easily understood by the local people.
Here it should be understood that the above slogans, which are used by communists to rouse the sentiment of the people, are actually diametrically opposite of the philosophy expressed in the Communist Manifesto which states that all the land belongs to the state. The communists use the slogan - "Those who wield the plough are the owners of the land" - in countries where the government is not communist and they want to gain the sympathy of the people; and when in a fully controlled communist country then they resort to the latter slogan of the Communist Manifesto which states that all land belongs to the state. This is their deceptive, devious, and hypocritical manner.
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Real owner
According to Prout, Parama Purusa is the ultimate Owner of everything because He created this entire universe and all are His progeny. So everyone has the God-given right to enjoy this created world and utilise it in the proper manner. All should have access to the minimum requirement for their personal care and survival. That degree of ownership all should have. Plus those with special talents and merits may get more - but only after all have minimum needs met. The gross over-accumulation and seemingly unlimited collection of wealth and property is not condoned by Prout. Thus Prout is radically different from capitalism. The unbarred over-accumulation of physical pabula while other starve is unacceptable in the Proutistic model.
Conclusion: Why humour is essential in classes & meetings
The central idea of this entire letter is that it is very important to interweave philosophical teachings with jokes. Sadguru Baba explained that if you just preach one philosophical point after another, the people will get bored. So the way to be successful in leading any class or talk is to make people laugh through stories, jokes, humour, and engaging tales. By that way the slumber and inertia of the audience will dissipate and they will feel refreshed to listen attentively to your thoughts.
Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Prabha’
About that unforgettable LFT reporting session with Baba
In 1988, in one of Baba's regularly held LFT reporting sessions He focused on how to conduct street corner meetings. Then, in His magnificent and charming manner, Baba presented one joke that those LFTs of samaj & Prout could use for their street corner meetings. With a grand smile, Baba told: "If the worker in the factory is the owner of the factory, and if the farmer who wields the plough is the owner of the land, then the barber who wields the scissors is the owner of the head."
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So in that unforgettable LFT reporting session Baba, in His divine and unique manner, made the above humorous remark. Hearing Baba's dramatic delivery and colourful analogy, everyone present immediately erupted into laughter. The room was full of people giggling. Here again is Baba's marvelous joke: "If the worker in the factory is the owner of the factory, and if the farmer who wields the plow is the owner of the land, then the barber who wields the scissors is the owner of the head."
It is ludicrous to think that the barber owns the person's head whose hair he (the barber) is cutting. So that is the humorous joke Baba told to those LFTs doing pracara in a few of the areas riddled by communism.
Entire wealth of the universe is the common patrimony
Prout philosophy states, “None of the movable or immovable property of this universe belongs to any particular individual; everything is the common patrimony of all, and the Father of all is Brahma. All living beings can enjoy their rightful share of this property, like members of a joint family in the Dáyabhága system. As members of a joint family, human beings should safeguard this common property in a befitting manner and utilize it properly. They should also make proper arrangements so that everyone can enjoy it with equal rights, ensuring that all have the minimum requirements of life to enable them to live in a healthy body with a sound mind.” (1)
Prout philosophy states, “We must not forget, even for a single moment, that the entire animate world is a vast joint family. Nature has not assigned any portion of this property to any particular individual. Private ownership has been created by selfish opportunists, as the loopholes in this system provide them with ample scope for self-aggrandizement through exploitation. When the entire wealth of the universe is the common patrimony of all living beings, can the system in which some roll in luxury, while others, deprived of a morsel of food, shrivel up and starve to death bit by bit, be said to have the support of dharma?” (2)
They suck dry the vital juice of others
Prout philosophy states, “In a joint family every member is provided with adequate food, clothing, education and medical treatment, and amenities, as per their individual needs, according to the financial capacity of the entire family. If, however, any member of the family appropriates more grains, clothes, books or medicines than he or she requires, will that person not be the cause of distress to other members of the family? In such circumstances his or her actions will be certainly against dharma – certainly antisocial. Similarly, the capitalists of this modern world are anti-dharma, or antisocial, creatures. To accumulate massive wealth, they reduce others to skin and bones gnawed by hunger and force them to die of starvation; to dazzle people with the glamour of their garments, they compel others to wear rags; and to increase their own vital strength, they suck dry the vital juice of others.” (3)
Prout philosophy states, “A member of a joint family cannot be called a social being if he or she does not possess the sentiment of oneness with the other members, or if he or she does not want to accept the lofty ideal of joint rights and the principle of rationality. According to true spiritual ideology the system of private ownership cannot be accepted as absolute and final, and hence capitalism cannot be supported either.” (4)
Are you the owner or who is the owner?
According to Prout, Parama Purusa is the ultimate Owner of everything because He created this entire universe and all are His progeny. So everyone has the God-given right to enjoy this created world and utilise it in the proper manner. All should have access to the minimum requirement for their personal care and survival. That degree of ownership all should have. Plus those with special talents and merits may get more - but only after all have minimum needs met. The gross over-accumulation and seemingly unlimited collection of wealth and property is not condoned by Prout. Thus Prout is radically different from capitalism. The unbarred over-accumulation of physical pabula while other starve is unacceptable in the Proutistic model.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Prout philosophy states, “Parama Puruśa [Supreme Consciousness] is my Father, Paramá Prakrti [Supreme Operative Principle] is my Mother, and the universe is my homeland. We are all citizens of this universe. The universe is the thought projection of the Macrocosmic Mind, and it is in the extroversial and introversial phases of the Cosmic imaginative flow that the creation, preservation and destruction of all entities continues. When an individual imagines an object, then that person alone, and no one else, is the owner of the object. For example, when an imaginary human being roams about in an imaginary green field, the imaginer, and not the imaginary person, is the owner of the field. The universe is the thought projection of Brahma [the Supreme Entity], so the ownership of the universe lies with the Supreme Entity, and not with His imagined beings.” (5)
References
1. Problems of the Day, Point #1
2. Problems of the Day, Point #1
3. Problems of the Day, Point #1
4. Problems of the Day, Point #1
5. Problems of the Day, Point #1
Plagiary?
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
Example of weak mind
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Let me give another example of what happens when one loses control over the nerve fibres. Some people are so crazy about football that they dream of the game while sleeping. What is a dream? When we think during the wakeful state our conscious mind operates and we understand that we are thinking inwardly. But when we think during the state of sleep, the conscious mind does not work and we wrongly think the objects thought of are real. So a football fan who dreams about the game while sleeping may shout, “Gooaal! Gooaal!” and start kicking left and right with his legs. Clearly, his nerve cells have lost control of the nerve fibres.” (1)
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamratm - 8, Bad Habits Which Should Be Given Up
It is the accepted international standard and Baba's system not to copy another's work and publish it in your own way. Baba has given a very strict rule on plagiarism. Why is Baba against plagiarism or stealing someone's work? There are many reasons:
1) It is against the code of asteya (non-stealing).
2) Countless stories of bhaktas need to be published. But some do not want to do the hard work of compiling and writing these stories, so they just steal them from others. But new stories need to be told, otherwise so many unpublished stories of sadhakas will be lost and forgotten forever. So watch out for story thieves, and kindly help them not to steal by posting on social media in their own way. If you want to forward this story then attach the following yellow section with the story:
“Courtesy of unknown bhakta via Ananda Marga Universal (https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/)”
This will be treated as the standard protocol.
* * *
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 ==
Example of weak mind
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Let me give another example of what happens when one loses control over the nerve fibres. Some people are so crazy about football that they dream of the game while sleeping. What is a dream? When we think during the wakeful state our conscious mind operates and we understand that we are thinking inwardly. But when we think during the state of sleep, the conscious mind does not work and we wrongly think the objects thought of are real. So a football fan who dreams about the game while sleeping may shout, “Gooaal! Gooaal!” and start kicking left and right with his legs. Clearly, his nerve cells have lost control of the nerve fibres.” (1)
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamratm - 8, Bad Habits Which Should Be Given Up
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Before sadhana
Here is the English summary of Baba’s Hindi teaching of Átmatiirtha, V24 25(H), 22 Nov 71 Purnea, Bihar.
After involving in mundane works one is generally plunged in worldly thoughts. So then if one sits in sadhana, in the mind you will think that 'Tomorrow I will go to Arariya town. Indeed I have to go in the morning. I will have to catch the first bus'. You will sit in sadhana and go on thinking like this. In this situation what should you do? Before sitting for sadhana you should do kiirtan-- either 2 min, or 5 min, or 10 min. So first one should do kiirtan. Because by doing kiirtan the mind will get elevated. After that immediately one should sit in sadhana. Then you will see that there will not be any worldly thoughts. Then sadhana will be proper...Do not worry; you have learned sadhana and I am always ready to help and serve you. (English Summary, V24 25(H), 22 Nov 71)
Note: Every sincere Ananda Margii wants to do sadhana. Yet most of the time this aforesaid problem occurs. And our Guru understands this. That is why He has graciously given such a beautiful solution-- as mentioned above. I think many may be following His divine guideline; and for those who are not, they should do so from now onwards, i.e. sing kiirtan before doing sadhana.
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Alert: TP’s gross flaws in YT book
Here is the way Tiljala Publication has published the below paragraph in the Yogic Treatments book. Pay special attention to the yellow highlighted terms.
Tiljala Publications wrote: "Taking excessive fatty and oily food and not undertaking a proportional amount of physical labour loads the human nervous system down with fat, and as a result it becomes impossible for the nerves to properly assist the heart. As a result the heart becomes weak. Fat accumulated in the nerves and blood vessels terribly hampers the blood circulation, and in order to maintain the circulation, the heart is forced to overwork. As a consequence the heart soon becomes weak." (1)
By reading the above, it is clear that the yellow highlighted terms in the above passage are incorrect.
Corrected version
Here below are the suggested changes in bracketed bold red font to correct the blunders by Tiljala Publications.
"Taking excessive fatty and oily food and not undertaking a proportional amount of physical labour loads the humannervous system[circulatory system] down with fat, and as a result it becomes impossible for thenerves[arteries] to properly assist the heart. As a result the heart becomes weak. Fat accumulated in thenerves[arteries] and blood vessels terribly hampers the blood circulation, and in order to maintain the circulation, the heart is forced to overwork. As a consequence the heart soon becomes weak." (2)
Note: Any person, young or old, who has taken even the most basic level class in biology or human anatomy will easily realize that the way the Tiljala Publications presented this section is completely wrong. Sadguru Baba is the all-knowing Taraka Brahma, and it is our duty to ensure that His books are published with the highest accuracy and utmost integrity. Sadly, time and time again, Tiljala Publications proves that their work is flawed and clearly not up to the mark.
References
1. Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, Heart Disease
2. Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, Heart Disease
== Section: Important Teaching ==
About protozoic & metazoic mind
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 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 metazoic mind controls protozoic mind. And, in the human structure, both protozoic and metazoic mind comes under the domain of the unit human mind.
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Knowledge and Progress
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Which gold are sadhakas interested in
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “Take the case of the precious metal gold. Whenever you say “gold” you refer to gold in general, the gold of the universe. To be of some practical use, the gold will have to be brought within the limitation of a certain form, such as a gold necklace, a gold bangle, or gold tiara. Women may get a certain pleasure by wearing these gold ornaments, but for the goldsmith has no practical use for them as ornaments. He is only concerned about one thing – gold. Likewise, due to the influence of the static principle, an infinite number of names and forms have emerged out of Parama Puruśa, the Singular Entity. Most people enjoy using these finite names and forms, but to practical spiritual aspirants they have no special importance. Sádhakas are only interested in the original substance and not its finite forms. Thus, their only object of ideation is Parama Puruśa. They only accept Parama Puruśa, the Singular Entity, as the goal of their lives, just as the goldsmith is only interested in the gold and not its different forms.”
“How can one shake off the influence of static inertness? How can one get freedom from the bondages of names and forms? Just as the goldsmith uses a hammer and process of melting (in fire) to extract the real gold from the various ornaments, similarly a practical spiritual aspirant will have to break the bondages of names and forms in this expressed world through the cultivation of knowledge (which is mutative), devotion (which is sentient). By virtue of the heat of the fire of sádhaná and the strength derived from sustained intuitional practice, a sádhaka can overcome the static inertness, the apparent cause behind the quinquelemental universe. Life and the world will become effulgent with the resultant unfoldment of latent consciousness.” (1)
Reference
1. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life, part 7, Form and Formless
== Section 3: Links ==
