Search This Blog
Showing posts with label Religious Exploiters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Religious Exploiters. Show all posts

Sunday, July 5, 2026

How dogma starts + 2 more

Baba

How dogma starts

Namaskar, 

Dogma is one of the most insidious things that pollutes and ruins our human society. The image appended below shows how a particular dogma takes birth and ultimately gets rooted in the minds of the masses. Here is the overall idea / English summary of the below scan. 

One day a person was walking down the street, and he accidentally tore his shoes. In frustration, he threw that ripped pair of shoes up in the air, and they got stuck on a tree branch; those shoes were just hanging from that tree. Then he attached a note there as well which stated that if anyone hangs their shoes from this tree then they will immediately gain full control over their wife. After reading that note, numerous husbands who had marital problems began hanging their shoes from that very same tree. Now that tree is completely filled with old shoes. 

The above tale perfectly embodies how so many dogmas have been imposed on this earth, most notably by the various religions. Baba's below guideline demonstrates this. 
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "You all know that the most detrimental thing for human society and human progress is dogma. What is dogma? Where there is no logic, where there is no support of intellectuality, where there is no debate and free discussion, but there is only a severe imposition forcing people to accept something, there is dogma. What type of people preach this sort of dogma? The answer is: the blind followers of religion." (1)

In conclusion, Baba guides us that we are to be very strict and vigilant to outrightly reject all dogmas and establish human thought and erudition in a higher realm that is 100% from all dogmas. 
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Baba says, "You boys, you girls, you the spiritual aspirants, must always remember that you must never surrender at the altar of dogma. In the past, dogma committed so many nuisances, dogma created so many fissiparous tendencies in this human society. Your slogan should be “Dogma – No more! Dogma – No more!” Establish yourselves above the boundaries of dogma, and be established in the excellence of human glory." (2)

in Him, 
Purusottoma


image.png




References
1. Neo-Humanism in a Nutshell - Part 1, What Is Dogma?
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 14, Dogma – No More


*        *        *

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 no well irrigation

Prout philosophy poses the query: "Question – What are the drawbacks of well irrigation?"

Prout philosophy states: "Answer – Well irrigation causes the level of the water table to go down until the subterranean flow of water eventually dries up. Shortages of water due to well irrigation are not easily perceptible."

"The negative effects of well irrigation include the following:"

"(1) All neighbouring shallow wells dry up creating the problem of the lack of drinking water."

"(2) Trees, orchards and large plants don’t get sufficient water so they may wither and die. Green countryside will become a desert after 30 to 45 years of intensive well irrigation."

"(3) In some deep tube wells elements or minerals which are harmful to the soil get mixed with the water, causing salinity, for example. As a result the land becomes unfit for cultivation and eventually becomes infertile."

"(4) When the flow of well-water stops, irrigation tanks supplied by these wells also dry up."

"Well irrigation should be used only as a temporary measure because of the devastating effects it can have on the surrounding environment. Alternative methods of irrigation are river irrigation, irrigation from reservoirs, shift irrigation and lift irrigation." (1)

Note: There is a limited supply of underground water. Around the globe, people are using underground water for drinking and irrigation by using deep pumps etc. Using underground water for drinking is ok, but it is extremely harmful to use underground water for irrigation purposes. By this way, the water table is rapidly diminishing and a severe water crisis is threatening the earth.

Due to a lack of proper knowledge, serious problems are cropping up around the globe. Our duty is to follow Baba's guidelines and educate others. To overlook the problem is to invite disaster.

Because of deep well irrigation, the water table is dropping. Plants and trees become dry and brittle. Extreme dryness invites fires. The vegetation gets destroyed. Without trees, there is no more rain. This brings drought which then leads to starvation, and ultimately death. This is the eventual outcome wherever groundwater irrigation is in vogue.

So then what is the answer? How to irrigate? According to Prout philosophy, rain water should be collected in ponds and reservoirs and used locally. That will solve the problem and offer an environmentally sound, renewable resource for our water needs, most critically, irrigation.

In Chennai, one must drill down 2,000 feet for well water yet drilling to such depths has been forbidden by the government because of the inherent environmental hazards and dangers. While in Indore the wells have reached 1,000 feet, but the common citizens cannot construct wells that deep. 

Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 14, Questions and Answers [on Society] – 3


== Section 3: Links ==



Labels: , ,

Sunday, June 21, 2026

Religion vs dharma + 5 more

Baba
Religion vs dharma

Namaskar,

People mistakenly think that various religions such as Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, and Judaism are dharmas. Let us first see what dharma is. According to Ananda Marga philosophy, dharma is longing for and running towards the Great, i.e. Parama Purusa.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Sutram states, “Brhadeśańáprańidhánaḿ ca dharmah.”

“Purport: So knowingly or unknowingly, human beings are indeed running after limitlessness. When knowingly one tries to attain the Great and to that end one prays, that bearing is called dharma, and the effort involved is called dharma sádhaná [the practice of dharma].” (1)

Religions are based on materialism

Ananda Marga philosophy teaches that the infinite desire of humans can only be satisfied by running for Parama Purusa, and that alone is dharma. On the other hand, religions preach that one should pray to God to get success in the mundane sphere. So those followers pray and ask for mundane objects like a cure from a disease, a job, their daughter's marriage, a new home, healthy children, getting a raise, and so on and so forth. A purohit in a Hindu temple, a cleric in a mosque, a priest in a church all teach their followers to ask materialistic boons from god and that is the be-all of religion. There is no recognition of infinite desire in any religion.

The spiritual approach of Ananda Marga, on the other hand, teaches that from the moment one wakes up in the morning one performs Guru Saka’sh, practices a’sanas and sa’dhana’, and spends the whole day ideating on Brahma using Guru mantra and practicing Brahmacarya and eventually going to sleep practicing sa’dhana’ to derive spiritual bliss. Thus, logically speaking, Ananda Marga is the path of spirituality and the path of dharma.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

In contrast, the various religions are tools to fulfill mundane desires using the name of the divine. Religions fabricate a god just as a means to fulfill their worldly desires. Even if that fabricated god appears in front of a religious person the person will just ask that god to fulfill their selfish desires. It is 100% sure that such an approach will not lead one to fulfill the infinite desire. Such religions are not dharma.

How priests / clerics / mullahs / rabbis / lama / cheat believers

In order to befool the general public in believing blindly, the religions construct an edifice of superstitions based on a fear complex. The stakeholders of religions like priests / clerics / mullahs / rabbis / lamas out of self-interest, created bogus scriptures to befool the public into believing illogical religious dogma. To make their approach foolproof they used the psychology of the fear complex and introduced beliefs such as heaven and hell. So, according to the various religions, if a person does not treat the priest properly in a material sense then the person may have to go to hell. If a priest is treated well in a material sense then the priest can help the person to reach heaven after the death.

Religions instill a sense of fear which, being a false belief, is actually baseless. For example, if a store-owner spreads the scare that if people do not buy medicines from his shop then they may get a dreadful disease then all the people will flock to the store. The store-owner can make a lot of money using such a tactic. Priests of religions use the same strategy to befool the masses and make a monetary profit. Often, such priests are found to be claiming that they can rid people of their sins.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Overall, the religions are a business of falsehood and cause only harm and no benefit. We are aware that in the name of religion there have always been hate crimes, intolerance, and bloodbaths - all over the world.

Faith-groups / religions turn humans into animals

Religion propagates outlandish beliefs like killing people of other religions can land oneself in heaven with all luxuries. Even today there are many people in India who firmly believe that no one can step on the moon as the moon is a god. They are in denial of the fact that someone already landed on the moon. For such blind believers, these scientific reports are just a sham. In many places, such blind belief systems are propagated systematically via religious schools. It is true that such schools teach people that one should keep one’s intellect outside the place of worship.

It is a sin to corrupt children’s minds with superstitious beliefs. By using such a blind belief system religions turn an entire group of people into animals. Animals do not have discrimination or vivek. Religions make people superstitious and thereby uproot the sense of discrimination from their minds. This is how religions reduce humans into animals.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Dharma has to be propagated

Many who are indoctrinated into blind beliefs eventually realize that they have been misguided and stay away from religion. A vast majority of these people become cynics or atheists. They have no interest in the propagation of real dharma, which is longing for---and running toward---the infinite. It is thus the need of the hour to understand that only Ananda Marga is true dharma and propagate the same.

Conclusion

The true meaning of dharma is longing for and running towards Parama Purusa. Religions use the concept of god to fulfill mundane desires. In following those religions, it is sure that those mundane longings will not be met nor will that person get spiritual bliss, as that is not their aim in the first place. The priests of religions teach dogma and blind beliefs and impose the psychology of a fear-complex to keep their religious business booming. Religion turns humans into animals by killing one’s sense of discrimination. The only dharma is Ananda Marga and there is a dire need to propagate the same.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga ideology says, “Ánanda Márga alone is Dharma and all the rest are sectisms.” (2)

In Him
Bhakti

References
1. Ánanda Sútram, chapter 2, sutra 2 - 6
2. Subhasita Samgraha - 1, The Call of the Supreme


*        *        *

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 ==

I cannot bear this

"Nayane esechile svapane..." (Prabhat Samgiita #0062)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, You came in my dream. Your presence was so charming, vibrating, and attractive. How You blessed me in my sleep; I cannot ever forget Your closeness. Yet, what is this unkind liila of Yours, i.e. Your divine game of shade and light. When I woke up I found You were no longer here with me. You secretly left. Your absence gives me pain.

O’ Supreme Entity, on the one hand, across the sky, there are bright stars. And in my heart, by Your grace there is a flow of prema of divine effulgence. But on the other hand, Your absence means sadness and misery. Without You I am so alone - so lonely. It is unbearable. I cannot bear this suffering. O’ love personified One, please look towards me.

Baba, O’ Prabhu, what are all these lights and shadows - and rainbow-coloured attachments in this universe. Your creation is ephemeral. You make all completely engaged in this everchanging creation, whereby everyone gets extremely busy in useless pursuits. This is Your special play so they do not do sadhana. What a grand liila of hide and seek You are playing with me... 


== Section 3: Important Teaching ==

Offering garland

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Not only the gods are fond of the fragrance of flowers; devotees also want to string garlands for their beloved Iśt́a with the fragrant flowers of the devotion of their hearts. If a flower has no fragrance, it has no value for a devotee. One should remember that the fragrance of a flower and the tender sweetness of a devotional heart together make a perfect combination. What does the perfume of the flower represent? The worldly activity which a devotee does with a heart filled with love is the perfume of the flower, and the overflowing devotion for one's Iśt́a is the tender sweetness in the devotee's heart. With these two together, the devotee makes a garland. Now, if there are fragrant flowers, but there is no sweetness in the devotee's heart, then the devotee cannot make a garland for his or her Iśt́a – then there is no question of garlanding Him at all, and though the flower basket may be full of flowers, they wither with the pain of emptiness and the agony of unfulfilled yearning. Then if the Beloved does not accept the garland, what is the use of holding the basket full of flowers." (1)

Reference
1. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shiva in the Light of Philosophy


== Section: Important Teaching ==

Mystical link with Him

Ananda Marga ideology says, "Mysticism is a never-ending endeavour to find a link between finite and infinite." (1)

Note: Here Baba is indirectly giving the guideline that in the realm of bhakti one should have a particular personal relation with Parama Purusa. And these relations are known as "bhava"-- whether they be sakhya bhava, dasya bhava, madhura bhava etc. So these various bhavas are that very "link between finite and infinite". Because with the help of these relations bhaktas gradually come in closer and closer proximity with Parama Purusa. Until finally by linking up in this way the sadhaka becomes one with Him. For more information about this kindly refer to the appendix of the book, Namami Krsnasundaram 

Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 14, Mysticism and Yoga


== Section: Important Teaching ==

AM on multiple planets

This is a brief English summary of Baba’s Hindi teaching from MGD 3 January 1979 Patna:

You should depend on the force of spirituality. That is what an intelligent person should do. And since the beginning that is what we have done. The “nucleus” [of Ananda Marga] is a small town and that nucleus remains the same, but the circumference is no longer limited to Jamalpur; it has spread not only across the entire globe but throughout various planets. And it is spreading more and more. Now remember that this Ananda Marga was made not by one or two but by thousands of righteous persons. From this DMC I [Baba] am bestowing Ananda Marga to the common people. 

The above is a brief English summary of Baba’s Hindi teaching from  Spiritual Truth Surpasses Everything, V7-14 (E), MGD 3 January 1979 Patna.


== Section: News Kinshukji==

News update (2018) about Kinshuk ji

~ Courtesy of WhatsApp ~
(7th August, 2018) Kinshukji was detained by Lal Bazar Police Station, Kolkata on the grounds of discrepancy in documents. His laukik name, biological mother father and educational documents are in name of Rajat Dutta and after adoption  he was given name of Kinshuk Ranjan Sarkar. He applied for passport in the name of KR Sarkar while supporting documents like educational are in name of Rajat Datta. Now, he has his Adhar No., PAN No. Voter Id Cards are in the name of Kinshuk Ranjan Sarkar. He has since made bail and been released.
~ Courtesy of WhatsApp ~


== Section: Important Teaching ==

Specially for mothers

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "When the foetus in the mother’s womb becomes somewhat developed, its hair starts to grow. The mother may develop nausea. Sometimes she develops a special fascination with certain edibles and inedibles, and some peculiar distastes as well. In ancient Bengal there was a social custom to provide an opportunity to a pregnant woman to eat foods of her choice. This was known as sádhbhakśań."

"Normally, in the advanced stage of pregnancy, women are not permitted to do physical labour. This is wrong. Women in that condition should be allowed to do a little work. (The same principle applies to pregnant animals.) Otherwise, there remains a risk during labour. Pregnant women and female animals may work half of what they usually do at other times; but under no circumstances should they be allowed to do strenuous work, as it may lead to premature delivery or stillbirth."

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Foods which are highly acidic, such as acidic citrus fruits, overripe pineapples, overripe jám, cottonseed flour and spicy pickles, should be carefully avoided as they may harm the fetus. Bending over in a stooping posture to lift anything heavy is strictly forbidden for pregnant women. Although there is no objection to carrying loads for those who are accustomed to it, they must not stoop over to lift a heavy load onto their heads. It is better if others will help them to lift it up. In this stage of pregnancy a daily bath is a rule, but one must not bathe after sunset. It is better to lie down on a hard bed."

"It is desirable that the best room in the house should be used for the confinement. In certain parts of rural Bengal, the worst room or the cowshed is used for confinement out of superstition. This practice is certainly wrong – more than that, it is a crime."

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "There are many people who affect respect, loudly praising women as a race of mothers, but who in practical life suppress them underfoot, sending them into the jaws of premature death by depriving them of happiness and the comforts of life. The conscientious should be vocal against these heinous acts. We must pay due honour to women as mothers and help them to live long lives."

"The family should see to it that the woman is not forced to walk to the outhouse on foot for at least twenty-four hours after delivery. The delivery room should be fitted with a bathtub and commode. If a girl is born no one in the family is to point an accusing finger, either directly or indirectly, at the mother. It may create undue pressure on her heart. There was one lady of my acquaintance who was unable to bear the humiliation brought down by her family just after the birth of her seventh daughter. She cried out, “Again a daughter, again a daughter, again a daughter!” and immediately expired."

"A pregnant woman must certainly be provided with nutritious food. No constipation-creating foods should be supplied to her. (This is as applicable to animal mothers as to human mothers.) Sweet-pea leaves, or if not available, then spinach, nat́e shák or gourd leaves should be taken daily in small amounts. Puṋi shák [Basella rubra Linn.] should be strictly avoided."

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "All that I have said in the above is as applicable to pregnant animals as it is to human mothers. In the case of the first delivery one should consult a physician or experienced midwife after one month. If one follows the above instructions, death during delivery will become a rare phenomenon." (1)

Reference
1. Awakening of Women, Chapter 40, Footnote #4


== Section: Important Teaching ==

Strengths & weaknesses in Buddhism

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Buddha clearly and firmly supported the doctrine of rebirth. In fact, no doctrine before him had placed as much stress on the theory of rebirth as his did. One who accepts the theory of rebirth is bound to accept the existence of átman also. If the átman is non-existent, then who will take rebirth? Although there is a controversy about Buddha’s theistic or atheistic beliefs, there is no doubt about his concept of morality. In fact, in every sentence of Buddha’s teachings, in every rhythm of his vibrations, his moralism radiates unblemished light, pure effulgence. Before him, no one had tried to illumine the minds of people with the brilliant rays of this kind of moralism. He advocated the Eight-Fold Path [Aśt́a Shiila] as a path of human progress, to lead people from animality to humanity. This Eight-Fold Path consists of (1) Proper Philosophy, (2) Proper Determination, (3) Proper Speech, (4) Proper Occupation, (5) Proper Exercise, (6) Proper Work, (7) Proper Memory [i.e., meditation] and (8) Proper Attainment of Samádhi. He exhorted people to follow these progressive steps, and his teachings without doubt laid a solid base for human morality.” (1)

References
1. Namah Shiváya Shántáya, Shiva in the Light of Philosophy


== Section: Important Teaching ==

Imaginary story by B group to justify their point

Namaskar,

Whenever B group does anything wrong they create a fictitious story to support their misdeeds and sin.


Mythological elephant story

It is akin to the mythological elephant that walks in the vicinity of the village and steps in human feces. The elephant's friends warned him then and there about stepping on that spot due to the foul smell, but the arrogant elephant refused to accept its mistake and to prove its innocence that elephant licked its own foot that had feces and told a lie, "It is not feces, but a very delicious and tasty dish." All parties involved understood that it was a lie. Even then up to the very end that arrogant elephant did not accept the truth that it had stepped in human feces. Rather to prove its innocence it went one step further negative and licked that putrid feces.


Example: B group spreading falsehood

Similarly the stooges of B group are spreading this false account in the name of Baba to justify their ugly deed. It is unconscionable. First they printed Baba's photo in the newspaper which is used as a diaper by poor people and now they are telling that Baba became happy when He heard that His photo was printed in the newspaper, even though He knew it would be used as a diaper. See the fictitious imagination of a devotionless mind.

Please read below the false story they created to continue printing Baba's photos in the newspaper, which is used around the globe in the slums and poor neighborhoods as a diaper.

See below lie highlighted in yellow:
"I have seen myself in 1989 Baba's photo was published in Alokpath. The magazine was shown to Baba by Acarya Mantreshvarananda Avadhuta."
The above bogus type of justification is given again and again to justify their wrongdoing.

Yet we know it is of utmost importance to maintain the sanctity of Guru's photo.

in Him,
Krsna' Mukhopadhyaya

Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "You shall protect, in all respects and at all costs, the dignity...and the sanctity...of the pratikrti [photo] of Márga Guru." (1)

Reference
1. Caryacarya -1, Treasures of Ananda Marga


== Section 4: Links ==

Upcoming Dogma: Father's Day - June 21
Father's Day?

Mother's Day undermines motherhood

Postings to Read
Cow's milk not sentient--when?
How pranayama helps
Those beings in Shabda Cayanika stories
Samskara & rebirth of famous leader
Types of peace: bad to beneficial
Fear epidemic & antidote


Labels: , , ,

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Why AM discards idol worship + 2 more

Baba

Why AM discards idol worship


Namaskar,


Today, idol worship is prominently practised by a large number of the followers of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. So we should all know why Ananda Marga vehemently opposes idol worship.


History of idol worship

 

In old human civilizations, like the Mayan civilization, the importance of population growth was immense. To symbolize and venerate the same, the practice of phallus worship began. The evidence of liuṋga (phallus) worship, later Shiva liuṋga, can be found in many temples in India. Later, the practice was imported and redesigned in Buddhism, followed by Hindu adaptation. It should be noted that, although Lord Buddha taught sa’dhana’, his disciples began worshipping idols. This is a classic example of how distortions starts.



Types of idols


Throughout the world, a wide variety of idols exist. There are idols of political leaders like Marx, Lenin, and Gandhi who actually lived on this planet and died. The idols of real people may be regarded as works of art, but they do not have any greater significance. For example, the idol of Lenin will not be able to answer any question. Then there are idols of imaginary characters like Romeo and Juliet. Another class of idols is small toys and dolls that children play with, which are also imaginary. The idols of gods and goddesses, meant for worshipping, fall under the category of idols of imaginary characters.



Idols of Hindu gods & goddesses - a figment of imagination


The idols of Hindu gods and goddesses are of imaginary characters mentioned and explained in the Puranas. The Puranas are fictional tales composed by Krśńadvaepáyana Vyása, also known as Veda Vyása. The intention of Krśńadvaepáyana Vyása in creating the Puranas was to present education through interesting and lucid fictional stories. However, after composing the Puranas,  Krśńadvaepáyana Vyása realized one of his mistakes was that he took the liberty of describing Parama Purus’a in a very limited manner; and, for this he asked Parama Purus’a for His forgiveness.


Ananda Marga philosophy guides, “This Vedavyása was also the author of the Puráńas which he wrote in order to educate the common people. There are many stories in the Puránas, but they are not factually correct; the only purpose behind the stories was mass education. After writing the Puránas, Vyásadeva realized that while writing them to educate the common people, he had taken the liberty of narrating many of Parama Puruśa’s extraordinary qualities and forms out of his own imagination and he also extolled the virtues of many places of pilgrimage. Then he realized that this was not proper on his part, because Parama Puruśa is indescribable and omnipresent: to exalt a particular place of pilgrimage or to praise the qualities of Parama Puruśa was not proper. Thus in a repentant mood, he asked Parama Puruśa for forgiveness:


Rúpaḿ rupavivarjjitasya bhavato yaddhyanena kalpitam.” [See longer version below signature] (1)


Idol worship is for spiritually undeveloped


Toddlers like to play with dolls, and often their whole life revolves around dolls and imaginary characters. However, when they grow up they cannot play with the same dolls that they liked so much when they were children. Idol worship is like a beggar's dream in which the beggar is the king. Yet, even if the beggar imagines that he is the king of an elaborate kingdom, he is still a beggar. Similarly, the real value of idols of imaginary characters is zero.



Idol worship: ploy by priests to cheat & make money


Idol worship is a ploy often used by priests to cheat people. If one has a business, one needs to invest some money and work hard. Then only can one make some profit. However, in the case of priests, all they need to do is to display an idol of a fictitious character and tell false stories. Their business requires no investment and yet huge profits can be made. People are easily befooled and leave various food items, clothes and money in front of the idol to appease the “god”; and, those items are actually used by the priest and his family. Priests use the psychology of fear and superstition to bolster their methods of cheating via idol worship. In addition, the common people are taught to worship idols from their childhood and thus they become habituated to the practice of idol worship.



What is bigger: God or temples?


Parama’tma’ is singular and all pervasive. A direct proof that there is only one God is that everything is working. A gigantic and complex system, the creation can only work if there is one God -- only one final authority. If there were multiple Gods, i.e. multiple final authorities, then immediately the creation would be destroyed. 


Idols are kept in temples. Thus, idols are always smaller than temples, yet Parama Purus’a is infinite. Hence, idols can never represent Parama Purus’a. The Infinite cannot be confined in a finite temple.


If one ideates on idols made of crude matter like wood, plastic, metal, etc. then invariably one’s mind will crudify. As one thinks so one becomes. So the approach of idol worship is negative from beginning to end and is pramáda.



No middlemen between God & bhakta


The practice of idol worship gives the scope to middlemen like priests for mediating between the bhakta and his (the priest’s) god. This approach is philosophically wrong as there should not be any middleman between God and His bhaktas.


Many idol worshippers give the logic that idols are the representatives of the eternal infinite God and thereby justify their worship. They say that as we cannot see God, we can worship His representative idol. However, this logic is flawed. How can an idol that is made of crude matter like clay or metal be a representative of the eternal, omniscient, and infinite God? Consider the example of a professor. Suppose the professor is going on leave. Can a mosquito be a representative of the professor? For the sake of argument, even if we assume the mosquito to be the representative of the professor, can the mosquito deliver a lecture to the students? Of course not. Similarly, just by assuming that the idol is a representative of God, the idol does not become one. It is illogical to believe that an idol is the representative of God.



Conclusion


Idol worship is a flawed approach, pramáda, wherein imaginary characters are worshipped in the form of idols. Often, idol worship is used as a ploy by the priests to exploit innocent people using superstition and fear psychology such that the priests become middlemen. Yet, God and His bhakta are linked directly and there is no need of any middleman. Furthermore, idol worship is dangerous because ideating on idols made of crude matter crudifies the mind of the idol worshipper.


At His Lotus Feet,

Bhakti


Longer version of Baba’s teaching


Ananda Marga philosophy says,


“Rúpaḿ rupavivarjjitasya bhavato yaddhyanena kalpitam

Stutyánirvacaniiyatákhilaguro duriikrta yanmaya

Vyapitvyam ca nirakrtam bhagavato yattirtha yatradina

Kśantavyaḿ jagadisho tadvikalatadostarayam matkrtam.”


“The meaning of this shloka is, ‘Oh Parama Puruśa, you cannot be bound within the limitation of forms, yet I have described your various divine forms – this I should not have done. Secondly, I have eulogized you, I have described your virtues; but in fact your virtues are indescribable – I shall never be able to describe them all. That I have tried to do so – this was my audacity. And I know you are omnipresent, that your glory is everywhere, and yet I have glorified specific places of pilgrimage: this is also my great offence. I have knowingly committed these three serious errors due to my mental weakness; oh Parama Puruśa, I beseech your forgiveness.’”


“So we see that the Puráńas are fictional, but they are of immense educational value. Yet what Vyasadeva said while asking for forgiveness is also true: how can the Supreme Entity, who has created so many forms, be confined to a particular finite structure?” (2)



~ In-depth study ~


  Ananda Marga philosophy teaches, “In the prehistoric age, before even the Vedic Age started, people used to follow the system of phallic worship. I have mentioned in my book on Ráŕh that in those days there were severe conflicts among the different clans. They were never secure, neither at night nor during the day; so they always wanted to increase their numbers. Thus they worshipped the phallus as the symbol of their earnest desire to multiply. This phallic worship was more or less in vogue in almost all the countries of the world, not just in one particular country. Phallic worship was common in India, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia, and also widely prevalent in Central America – that is, in the southern part of North America and northern part of South America. Some think that this phallic worship was brought to America from India during the Shriishaelendra Empire of Andhra under the Pahlava, Pandya, and Chol Dynasties of South India. The phallus worshippers of Central America belonged to the Mayan civilization; thus America is called Máyádviipa [Mayan Island] in Sanskrit. However, the fact is that those people followed this phallic worship from prehistoric times more as a social custom than as a spiritual or philosophic cult.” (3)


References

1. A Few Problems Solved Part 3, Verse, Mythology, History and Itihása

2. A Few Problems Solved Part 3, Verse, Mythology, History and Itihása

3. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shiva Throughout the Ages (Discourse 5)



== Section: Important Teaching ==

Life stages & progression

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "Regarding age, it might be appropriate to say that there are basically four stages in human life. In the first stage, the primary duty of the human being is to receive knowledge and do dharma sadhana. In the second stage, one must fulfill worldly duties and perform dharma sadhana. In the third stage, one must see to any remaining family responsibilities and perform dharma sadhana. Finally, in the fourth stage, when the human body has become incapable of performing worldly duties, one must do dharma sadhana alone. So there are no barriers of age as far as the requirements for a sadhaka are concerned." (1)

Note: Some of the religions preach that one should only spend their later years for contemplative activities and the rest of the life should be spent on worldly affairs. In Ananda Marga, we do not subscribe to such a belief. Sadhana is to be performed from the earliest possible moment and extended through the course of one's entire life. So many other worldly duties and responsibilities will come and go, but throughout life one should be vigilant in the practice of dharma sadhana. Waiting till old age will not do.

Reference
1. Ananda Vacnamrtam-3, The Requirements for Sádhaná


Labels: ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

SUBJECTS TOPICS