Importance of vya'paka shaoca + 6 more

Baba

Importance of vya'paka shaoca

Namaskar,

The body is essentially a sealed unit that has distinct orifices (mouth, nose, eyes etc) that come in contact with the atmosphere. When a sick person comes in your close proximity, then you may come in contact with their germs etc. Many diseases and illnesses are transmitted this way. For instance, if a physically ill person coughs, or sneezes, drools, or even breathes, then those germs and bacteria can enter into your system.

Doing half-bath regularly during the day—or even immediately after coming in contact with a sick person—cleanses all those orifices. The mouth, nose, and eyes are rinsed and cleaned. That strengthens the body’s defense mechanisms and helps fend off viruses and diseases. Hygiene is the first step in disease prevention.
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That is why nowadays doctors and healthcare professionals do not recommend shaking hands with others; and, they recommend regularly washing the hands. Rinsing the eyes, mouth, and face are also helpful in disease prevention, but this is not publicly encouraged on a mass scale because some females wear makeup. So this is looked upon as inconvenient for the general society. But those healthcare professionals know that rinsing the eyes, mouth, and nose and splashing water on the face is very good for health and hygiene.

Baba’s teachings of vyápaka shaoca are ideal for disease prevention and several steps ahead of the general hygienic recommendations given to the public.


Increases concentration, alertness

While all are aware about the step by step process for doing half bath, the exact system is detailed under the next subheading. Here first are some of the established and proven benefits of vyapak shaoca.

1. Half-bath increases concentration, alertness, and overall freshness.

2. The human body generates heat and when it becomes overheated then various anatomical and biological systems cannot function properly. For instance, when the head is heated one feels tired and groggy. Applying cold water during half-bath stimulates circulation and aids in the overall functioning of the body.

3. Half-bath greatly enhances the exchange of blood. The cold water of half-bath causes contractions of the blood vessels thereby accelerating circulation and sending the blood faster back to the core vital organs (heart & lungs etc) for oxygenation. By this more rapid cycle, the body is effectively nourished with fresh blood.
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4. Half-bath increases circulation by cooling the body in applied areas.

5. By doing half-bath, fresh blood supply goes to the core region from where the major organs are nourished; moreover, that fresh blood helps facilitate the digestive process etc.

6. Half-bath helps prevent negative dreams. By doing half-bath before sleep that also aids in digestion as the body rests and proper digestion helps prevent negative dreams as it does not allow the lower cakras to get overheated.

7. Half-bath helps in multiple types of bodily disorders and diseases like indigestion / dyspepsia, skin diseases, hemorrhoids, hernia, asthma, females disease, tuberculosis etc as outlined in Yaogika Cikitsá (Yogic Treatments).

8. Half-bath extends one's longevity as it is an aspect of the 'Secrets for a Long Life.'


How to do this properly

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "Method of doing Vya’paka Shaoca: At first wash your genital organs; then hands up to elbows and legs up to knees; then, taking a mouthful of water, splash water on the eyes and face at least twelve times. Finally wash the ears and the neck." (1)

According to Ananda Marga teachings, vya’paka shaoca is a comprehensive process:
(a) Wash the pubic region—and the best way to do this is not to have any covering there.
(b) Then the limbs are washed from elbow to hand and knee to foot.
(c) Best is washing the entire area from the pubic region to the toes is highly beneficial. That means the entire leg is doused in water. This is easy to do in a house or jagrti, though may not always be possible when traveling.
(d) Wash the nasal ducts, having water go in one nostril and out the other. A neti pot can be helpful.
(e) Fill the mouth with water and then with the eyes open, splash water on the eyes and face at least 12 times. Better is to do 14 or 15 times just in case you lose count.
(f) Apply water to the ears, neck and crown cakra (top of the head).
(g) Dry oneself with a clean towel.
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Generous amount of water

In the summertime or hot season it is best to do vyápaka shaoca with cold water, and in the winter or cold season the water should be to some degree cold or for elderly people if they wish then they may use lukewarm water.

Special attention is to be given to apply a generous amount of water. That does not mean that water should be wasted, but at the same time rubbing just a few drops of water on the limbs etc will never suffice. Rather, to properly do vyapak shaoca, one may need several liters of water. More can be said about this, but at the very least we should all understand that without proper amounts of water the necessary cooling process can never occur. So half-bath is not just about superficially rinsing the skin but cooling also.
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Helps in longevity

Here below are two of Baba’s beautiful teachings about vyápaka shaoca and Sixteen Points.

Baba says, "If you follow Sixteen Points, your longevity will be greater." (2)

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "...The complete seeds of welfare in all the spheres—physical, mental, moral, social and spiritual—are embedded in the Sixteen Points. Hence be firm on the Sixteen Points." (3)

As sadhakas of Ananda Marga, we have Baba’s special blessing as He has imparted to us all the great secrets for living a dharmic life: full of peace, joy, and supreme ideation.

The seed component of Baba’s grand formula for ideal human existence is Sixteen Points. True Ananda Margiis benefit from following these exclusive and sacred guidelines. On no other path of life can such gems and jewels be found. These are unique to Ananda Marga. All the while it is our ongoing endeavour to develop greater and greater precision and naturalness in following these Sixteen Points.
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Conclusion

Baba’s teachings of vyápaka shaoca are ideal for disease prevention, increased concentration, alertness, overall freshness, and confer so many other health benefits.

Namaskar,
In Him,
Shivam Sundaram

~ In-depth study ~

When & why to perform

Vyápaka shaoca is to be done at a minimum before and after food, before meditation, before asanas, and before and after sleep.

All these below guidelines come from Caryacarya part II and part III.

• "Before morning and evening sadhana, either do vyápaka shaoca or take full bath."

• "Before and after meals, and before sleep, do vyápaka shaoca with cold water. If it is very cold, use lukewarm water."

• "Before practising asanas, do vyápaka shaoca or take a full bath. Vyápaka  shaoca must also be done before daily meditation; if asanas are done with daily meditation then it is not necessary to do vyápaka shaoca separately."

• "Before taking food and before going to sleep, do vya’paka shaoca with cold water, or in cold weather, with lukewarm water."

All these above guidelines come from Caryacarya part II and part III.


Vyápaka shaoca helps in rejuvenation

By the above description it is quite clear that Baba’s special process of vyápaka  shaoca has a regenerative effect on the body. For this reason Baba has given the special name: ‘Vyapak Shaoca’.

The first term ‘vyápaka’ means thorough, detailed, complete, enhanced etc. And the 2nd term shaoca is commonly defined as cleanliness—when in fact it is much more than that. Because in His famous discourses on yama and niyama, Baba uses 5 pages to describe the overall process of shaoca.
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By all this, it is clear that vyapak shaoca is a special restorative and purifying process for the entire body. Yet for lack of proper translation, the oversimplified English phrase ‘half-bath’ has been given as the translation of vyápaka shaoca. But clearly the half-bath phrase fails to capture the real spirit or essence of vyápaka shaoca. That is why many sadhakas feel that a new and better English name should be given—thereby correcting the translated term that was haphazardly applied by various in-charges etc.

Till then, simply using the Sanskrit phrase vyápaka shaoca is more apt. Just as the Sanskrit terms sadhana, mantra, upavasa etc far exceed their English counterparts: meditation, incantation, and fasting.

Ananda Marga ideology says, "There is no proper English word for the Sanskrit word ‘mantra’. We use the word ‘incantation’ for mantra, but it is not a proper word for the Sanskrit term." (4)

And regarding the word upavasa Baba again points out the deficit of the corresponding word in English.

Baba says, "‘Upavasa’—on these days of fasting, what are all spiritual aspirants to do? Mentally they should live near their Lord...these days are known as ‘upava’sa’. The word ‘fasting’ does not represent the proper sense or proper spirit." (5)

Likewise the overly-simplified, insufficient sounding term ‘half bath’ is unable to carry the spirit of vyápaka shaoca.
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References
1. Caryacarya - 2, chapter 2, Point #4
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 5, Devotion and the Realm of Intellectuality
3. Ananda Vanii #45
4. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Oṋḿkára and Iśt́a Mantra
5. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 6, Upavása

*        *        *

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 ==

Wandering here & there
 
“Tomáre besechi bhálo, bhálobáso ki jáni ná…” (Prabhat Samgiita #4617)

Purport: 

My Parama Purusa, I love You, but I do not know whether or not You love me. That is my confusion. By its smile, the full moon light tells me that You cannot be held by dry intellectual knowledge. Those following the path of jinana marga cannot get You. You can only be held by those immersed in bhakti. 

Parama Purusa, the scriptures are filled with lofty tales about Your greatness - the eternal Bandhu who is ever the Saviour. And Your glories are sung in various so-called holy places, such as in temples, mosques, synagogues, churches, and jagrtis, as well as in artificial holy lands like Tiljala, Jamalpur, Puri, Varanasi, Rome, or Jerusalem. Even then, my mind is not satisfied. Dharmic philosophies also recount Your grandeur. In so many ways, Your magnificence is honoured. Even then, my mind is not satiated by this type of intellectual extravaganza and external show. My longing for You is not quenched wandering here and there in search of You in the external world. Parama Purusa, please bless me. 

My Supreme Entity, Baba, I go on wandering endlessly in the cycle of action-reaction, birth and death. I have wasted too much time counting the stars of the new moon night in utter hopelessness. I have meandered on the paths of knowledge and action, yet I am not getting You. That’s why I think that You do not love me or care about me.

Baba, please bless me with parabhakti….

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Guru puja: spiritual practice

Ananda Marga ideology states, "Question: What is pratyáhára?"

"Answer: Pratyáhára is derived: prati – á – hr + ghaiṋ. The word áhára literally means “assimilating” or “taking something within”. As a yogic practice, pratyáhára means “withdrawal of the mind from external objectivity and goading the withdrawn mind toward Parama Puruśa”. (1)

Ananda Marga ideology states, "You must bring about a revolutionary change in the flow of your judgment and thought, and see how, after overcoming your fascination with external colour, your mind becomes tinged with the His glorious colour. In Ananda Marga Sadhana, the method of withdrawing the mind from degrading tendencies, and absorbing oneself in the colour of the Great, is called Pratyáhára Yoga (the yoga of withdrawal) or Varńárghyadána (the offering of colours). All people have a particular attraction for one or another object or activity and as soon as they become attracted to an object, then their minds become coloured with the colour of that object. You can withdraw your mind from the colour of that object and dye yourself in His colour by offering Him the captivating colour of the object that has attracted you: this is the real Pratyáhára Yoga. The word Pratyáhára means “to withdraw” – to withdraw the mind from its object." (2)

Note: In astaunga yoga, there are 8 limbs - one of which is pratyahara. We practice that as Guru puja, and that is part of our regular sadhana routine. Guru puja is very important. After sadhana, one should always do Guru puja, and Guru puja can also be done on its own. After all, it is a lesson. By this way, one's attachment for mundane things slowly fades away. It is a perfect science. If, after practicing Guru puja, one is unable to get rid of their worldly attachments and / or a particular mental weakness, then best is to consult an acarya. In the Acarya Diary, Baba has given a detailed science and method for practicing Guru puja. One should learn how to do this from any acarya, one on one.

Reference
1. Yoga Psychology, Questions and Answers on Meditation, Question #10
2. Subhasita Samgraha - 3, Vibration, Form and Colour

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Marriages based on lust are doomed

Ananda Marga ideology says, “Now when a man gets the chance to enjoy the physico-psychic pleasures, he doesn’t find any interest in physical pleasure, because physical pleasure is not only crude in quality, but also of very temporary nature. It lasts for a short span. On the psychic level, man is the dominating living being. He does something new, he wants to do something new, to get more psychic pleasures, and he invents so many things and engages himself in psychic pursuits. These things cannot be done by animals or even by other developed creatures, and here lies the speciality of human beings.” (1)

Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 12, Beyond Temporary Experience

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Defining characteristic of society

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "What is society, what makes it up? What is Samaj?" 'Samanam ejati iti samajah...'Here 'moving together' does not mean march or double march, here 'moving together' means that all portions of society, all portions of the collective body, should have the spirit to move ahead." (1)

Note: In His above teaching Baba guides us that the term society has a specific meaning. Society is not simply a collection of people like a crowd - each with their own individual aims and motives. Nor is society, any group of people moving swiftly in a particular direction. Rather, society is formed when the entire collective moves according to an ideological vision, where none lag behind and all are encouraged to progress.

Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell-3, Saḿgacchadhvaḿ

== Section: Important Teaching ==

How absolute knowledge dwarfs worldly knowledge

   Ananda Marga philosophy says, “Common people usually live their lives according to absolute knowledge and become noble and great. That is why we see people like Kabir and Ramakrishna, who even without formal schooling, were highly regarded by tens of thousands of people. In fact, it is doubtful whether learned scholars could bring about even a small fraction of the spiritual progress these great people brought to society…”
   “Social progress is achieved to some extent through relative knowledge, but here also there is a great possibility of conflict between relative knowledge and absolute knowledge. Relative knowledge often encourages divisive ideas and the propagation of narrow sentiments such as casteism, nationalism, communalism, provincialism, etc., by extolling the greatness of caste, community, creed, colour, etc. It often tends to suppress other castes, communities, creeds, etc., or wants to annihilate them completely. On the other hand, absolute knowledge teaches human beings that the Dharma of all humans is one and the same. The Supreme Entity is the Universal Father. All the human beings of the world are brothers and sisters. All are equal – no one is low, no one is high. (1)

Reference
1. Tattva Kaomudii - 2, Prápta Vákya and Ápta Vákya

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Quality of people 3500 years ago

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Lord Krsna came about 3500 years ago, when the war of the Mahabharata took place. People's individual qualities then had not taken a collective shape. People did not know the art of living collectively...they fought among themselves because they had no collective sense. Lord Krsna thought that if He combined all there would be collective spirit in the true sense of the term. Then alone all human faculties would get expanded. He tried to make people understand, but they did not understand, because there was no collective spirit in them...to synthesize them all Lord Krsna was born. Lord Krsna wanted to bring about a social synthesis, the seed of which was sown by Lord Shiva." (1)

Note: There are many things in the world which cannot be solved individually. It needs collective support. In any society where there is collective spirit then they can do a great job. That is the central idea of the above teaching.

Reference
1. Discourses on the Mahabharat, The Meaning of the Name

== Section 3: Links ==

Postings to Read

Guilt complex: thief nabbed

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2023/07/thief-caught-2-more.html

Bhakta's choice: stay with Him or...

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/06/baba-story-from-my-diary-so-much-love.html

What brave margiis do

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2015/01/passive-onlooker-3-more.html

When a sadhaka becomes iishvara

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2014/04/how-human-becomes-iishvara-2-more.html

Key point about "see the bright side"

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2015/03/where-to-use-see-bright-side-where-not.html

Workings of this cosmos

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/09/difficult-question-easy-answer.html

Workings of this cosmos + 4 more

Baba

Workings of this cosmos

Namaskar,

Parama Purusa has created this universe; it is His mental projection. So if Parama Purusa stops thinking about Mr. X then immediately and instantly Mr. X will cease to exist.
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Ananda Marga ideology states, "Without His wish, not even a leaf of a tree, nor even a blade of grass can move." (1)

Analogy of demon

Now let’s take the example of a demon. Prakrti has provided the demon energy with the permission of Parama Purusa. And that demon has the free will to misuse or use that energy. Prakrti has made the system that if anyone misuses their energy they will get punished. So if the demon kills an innocent person, the demon will be punished. At the same time, Parama Purusa has also granted free will and created the system of reward and punishment.

So when we say that without His grace or desire a blade of grass cannot move, that is true in the macro sense. But that same Parama Purusa has granted unit beings the freedom to act. That is why when anyone does any harm to others, the doer of that harm undergoes punishment as well. So no one can blame that, “Parama Purusa is responsible, and He [Parama Purusa] is directly killing others with the demon’s hand.”
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Free will, reward, & punishment

The contrast of happy and horrifying and joy and sorrow is what makes films captivating. And that is keenly related with why Parama Purusa has designed the cosmos in this way?

Parama Purusa has granted free will and made this system of reward and punishment to open the door for human beings to one day become one with God - if they so choose. If He hadn’t created this system of free will and reward and punishment then everyone would get moksa as a matter of course, just as every created being makes it up to first human life automatically, without any effort. So if all got moksa automatically, this world would not be so colourful. To make this world interesting, Parama Purusa has granted free will and with it, the system of reward and punishment governed by prakrti. By this way, the entire universe runs.
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Think about it in this manner. Suppose you are the director of a movie. To make your film interesting, you will create a villain to provide an antithesis to the hero, otherwise your film will be monotonous and branded as a flop. It is the contrast between good and bad that makes films dynamic and captivating. And that is the aim of the movie director. That is also the reason why this universe has been created by Parama Purusa in this way: To make it interesting.

Conclusion

When anyone does any harm to others, the doer of harm undergoes punishment. So no one can blame that, “Parama Purusa is responsible for the sin committed by human beings.”

Namaskar,
In Him,
Nandita’

~ In-depth study ~

Prakrti is blind force: burns child’s hand

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “You know, the Universe, Parama Puruśa, the Supreme Cognition, functions with the help of the Supreme Operative Principle [prakrti]. The Operative Principle [prakrti] is actually a blind force, it cannot do anything without the help of Consciousness, without the help of the Cognitive Faculty. Electricity is a crude blind force, but if helped or utilized by the human brain, the human consciousness, it will render so many services. But without the help of human brain, it may have its destructive role. So, these blind forces cannot do anything concrete without the help of consciousness. Similarly in this universe, in the universal sphere, there is the Cosmic Cognition, we say Parama Puruśa, the Cosmic Cognitive Faculty, and He functions, He does all His universal duties, all His parental duties, with the help of that blind force. But in units, where the individual consciousness, or individual cognition, is not in a position to control that blind force, that individual will be ejected away from the proper path. And such a thing happens.” (2)

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “The instrumental cause of the metamorphosis of this universe is the three principles of Prakrti. Prakrti is an entity which is doing something, but it cannot be the material cause or the efficient cause because behind the actional faculty of Prakrti there is no scope for any moral principle. Shakti or energy itself is a blind force – if it is not supported by intellect or prajiṋá it is always crude and static. Suppose an electric hammer is being operated, and a child accidentally inserts its tender hand under the hammer. The hammer will automatically smash it – its blind force will not spare the innocent child’s hand. Hence the sádhaná of Prakrti divorced from the touch of Shiva (consciousness) is highly dangerous. The Cognitive Principle itself is both the material cause and the efficient cause of creation.” (3)

Why Parama Purusa is not the cause

Parama Purusa is the source of all the energy. So if one demon in human form is twisting an innocent person’s neck, the energy of the demon’s bad action is coming from Parama Purusa. Because the act of twisting demands energy. And all energy is supplied by Parama Purusa. If He does not supply energy for even one second, then that demon’s muscles will not function. And the demon will be unable to twist that person’s neck. So some may say that Parama Purusa is the cause.
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But to run this universe properly, Parama Purusa has created the system whereby prakrti maintains all the workings in this cosmos. For instance, prakrti (aka the cosmic operative principle) has created fire with the permission of Parama Purusa. Although ultimately, it is Parama Purusa who has created fire since He controls prakrti, it is  prakrti that manages everything. And prakrti has made fire in such a way that if anyone touches it they will get burned. Even if an innocent infant touches fire that baby will be burned. So Parama Purusa is not directly responsible for burning that child. Rather, on His own, Parama Purusa would not burn the child. Only because everything is governed by prakrti and prakrti is blind, that is why the child gets burned.

References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 8, Do Virtuous Deeds Day and Night – 2
2. Subhasita Samgraha - 13, Subjective Approach and Objective Adjustment
3. Ananda Marga Ideology Way of Life - 11, The Omni-Reflective Cognitive Consciousness

*        *        *

The below section is an entirely different topic, unrelated to the above material.
It stands on its own merit as a point of interest and ideological awareness.

*        *        *

== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==

Transformed one & all

“Tumi, bhálobese chile, tái ki ele, phúler parág rág anurág mishiye dile...” (Prabhat Samgiita #3279)

Purport:

My Parama Purusa, You loved me. Is that why You came to me? You are so great. You interweave Your love and affection with flower fragrance. Today my entire being feels awakened and loved with Your sweet arrival.

Supreme Entity, before Your advent, human beings were in the dark. They were drowned in the depths of materialism, busy daylong in mundane acquisitions. They were in a closed room, riddled by a narrow, dogmatic mindset and could not think or conceive of anything beyond the periphery of matter. Such was the horrific condition of depraved humanity. In that dark hour, You blessed all. By opening the doors and showering humanity in a deluge of light of neo-humanism and spirituality, You have divinely intoxicated everyone's mind and transformed one and all.

Baba, my Parama Purusa, with the colourful flambeau of Your exquisite supreme love, human life started swinging. Everyone became charged by Your dharmic call. Holding aloft the flag of hope, You stood in front of all, mercifully led the way, and showed everyone the path of Supreme fulfillment.

Baba, You have blessed me so much...

== Section 3: Important Teaching ==

Fixing the Indian constitution

   Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, "There are several fiscal and psychological loopholes in the Indian constitution. The constitution of India proclaims that all are equal in the eye of the law. But in practice, this principle is not followed, and as a result disparity is growing in the arena of law and justice. Such disparity is adversely affecting the different groups of people in the country. For example, there are disparities between the Hindu Code and the Muslim Code. Hindu women and Muslim women, although they are all Indian citizens, do not get equal advantages of law. For instance, according to Hindu law, a man cannot have more than one wife, but a Muslim man is entitled to have more than one wife. A Hindu husband or a Hindu wife is required to approach the court to secure a divorce, while a Muslim man is entitled to divorce his wife without the permission or approval of the court. Moreover, a Muslim husband can divorce his wife but a Muslim wife cannot divorce her husband. Besides, a Muslim husband is not required to show [[any reason for the divorce]].”
   “Disparity in the eye of the law is creating all these problems. The root of all these evils lies in the psychological loopholes of the Indian constitution. Why is the constitution allowing the Hindu Code and Muslim Code to stand side by side? Let there be only one code – the Indian Code. This Indian Code should be based on cardinal human values, with a universal approach and Neo-Humanistic spirit. Then only equality before the law can be established in practice, and equal protection of the law for all can be guaranteed. So the constitution should remove the psychological loopholes by eradicating existing disparities in the eye of the law.” (1) 

Reference
1. A Few Problems Solved Part 8, “Requirements of an Ideal Constitution”

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Revolution: defeating a demon

Ananda Marga story states, “At first, the demon was quite unwilling to hold any discussion with them. At last, seeing them many in number, he said with reluctance, “Well, I have no objection to talk with some of your representatives.” In the course of discussion, the demon pretended that he did not deny that the demands of the humans were legitimate but where is the money? “In order to rebuild the state,” he said, “expenditure has to be curtailed; exports have to be increased and imports decreased, and it is necessary to accelerate the production of agricultural and industrial goods. If people today are busy with trifling demands, how then is it possible to rebuild the Very Odd Kingdom? So people should raise only one slogan today ‘Labour – more labour – and still more labour!’ Demands of housing, education, medical treatment – we have heard enough of your demands! Now I advise you, forget your demands for the right to higher wages, education, medical treatment, and better accommodation, for the time being – and go and labour hard!””

“The representatives of the human beings said “How wonderful! But then the question is, if you don’t accept our right to live how can we labour hard?””

“The discussion was interrupted. The demon and his associates now became active to create divisions among the youth. They said to the religious leaders, pundits, priests and mullas (religious leaders), “Do you see what is happening? Religion is becoming polluted, society is becoming polluted, everything is spoiled. After some time perhaps these loutish youth will say, ‘These pundits, priests and mullas, they are the parasites of the society; They suck the lifeblood of humanity by taking advantage of the weakness of their minds!’ So a big group of priests, pundits and mullas joined the demons. They declared, ‘What people are saying now is sheer injustice. People starve as a consequence of their own sins committed in their previous lives. So to fight for the establishment of their rights is to try to overmaster God!’”

“But there were some good people even among the priests and mullas and pundits, of course. They declared, “What the prince’s group, the human beings, are saying, is right. To support them is right”. Ministers and vice-ministers were giving them high posts in government service. Some were trapped in this way, too, but most of the people said, “We are going to be deceived by such temptation no longer – we have long been cheated for our foolishness, but no more!!””

“The Strange Demon noticed that each of his arrows was missing its target. Then he captured some good orators by spending much money. The work of these orators was to make the rank and file of human beings understand that the proper way to achieve their demand was to bear injustice silently and not resort to struggle. “By tolerating injustice,” they said, “When a person becomes non-violent, a kind of spiritual power awakens in him. And as a result of this spiritual power peace and equality prevail throughout the country. So you should rather engage yourself in the practice of self-purification than have recourse to struggle.” But the humans paid no heed to this either.”

“Now the demon became restless. He began to run to and fro like an insane person, tearing his hair and shouting violently. In no time his mask of gentleness was rent asunder. Then he started crying out loudly in his demonic tongue.”

“O devils, O demons,
Man-eaters, ghost-children,
Where are you my friends and comrades
Come and save me from the humans.
O black-marketeers and bribers,
O pot-bellied
Come, O come! Where are you??
I am going to be killed by Humanity.” (1)

Reference
1. The Golden Lotus of the Blue Sea

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Materialism & morality are mutually exclusive

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “The characteristic (dharma) of the mind is to seek the infinite. The mind attains this goal by concentrating on a particular ideation. As material objects are finite, those who accept them as the aim of life eventually feel frustrated. They fail to attain bliss because neither wealth nor material objects can be enjoyed infinitely. Moreover, those who make material objects their aim in life find their self-interests in conflict with those of other people. They try to deprive others, to protect their own endless greed for wealth and material objects. There will have to be a continuous pressure on the minds of these people to keep them away from material objects. People cannot tolerate such imposition and, on becoming disgruntled, take the path of revolution or counter-revolution against those who pressurize them.”

“Materialism functions by imposing social pressure on people to enjoy material objects; and accepts that as the only mode of operation. Thus, in materialistic countries or societies, people look at one another with suspicion and act according to the information given by the intelligence agencies. In the absence of spiritual ideas, firmness of morality cannot be established. The apparent morality in a materialistic society is nothing but an immoral alliance to protect self-interests.”

Reference
1. Tattva Kaomudii, Questions and Answers on Ananda Marga Philosophy #45

== Section 4: Links ==

Postings to Read

Misuse of omnkara

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2015/04/wild-dogma-of-onmkara.html

AM teachings: for the present moment

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2023/07/am-present-future-generations.html

Vital point: controlling baser propensities

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2023/05/lower-vrtti-control-2-more.html

Query: use lottery to fund AM projects

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/01/baba-story-lottery-5-more.html

Right cure of jealousy

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2014/02/treatment-of-one-psychic-disease.html

Contrast: kiirtana & PS

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/08/communicating-with-personal-god-4-more.html

Sadhana first

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/02/social-service-why-some-doers-become.html

Suffering + 5 more

Baba

Suffering

   
Namaskar,

BABA says, “People often hold Parama Purusa responsible for calamities that befall them, but in fact they alone are responsible, as the suffering of fate is only reaction of their own previous actions. How can Parama Purusa be responsible? Human beings themselves are answerable for their fate as it is their actions alone which create it. They alone will have to bear the consequences of all their actions. No one else can substitute for them. Their good deeds beget good result, while bad ones beget bad results, and they will have to experience both without exception. This is the law of Prakrti and no one can change this law.” (1)

Regarding the above quote I can only say that it is cent per cent correct, "Avashymev bhoktavyam krata karma shubhashubham" (अवश्यमेव भोक्तव्यं कृत कर्म शुभाशुभम ).

Unit beings are the cause

Every individual is responsible for his own action and consequent reaction. There is no role of Parama Purusa in this regard. Those who blame Parama Purusa as partial, unkind and inflicting suffering are not correct. They should read Baba's discourse on "Theory of Action" from which most of the above quotes are referred.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com

The reason for their misunderstanding on this matter is that they do not know their original action for which they undergo the reaction in present life. In general, people undergo reactions of past lives in a gradual manner therefore they do not find enough time in a particular life to exhaust all the reactions of past lives and they leave their body creating new reactions of this life. When they again get new life they are again required to undergo past reactive momenta  first, and in such a situation they generally say "I am doing good work but getting bad results, God is unkind etc" . In this way the samskaras continue to function. Parama Purusa wants to finish it soon, but they are the reactive momenta of all the living beings which prevent Him do that.

Therefore Parama Purusa is not responsible for the pleasure or pain of living beings as they are the reactions of their own actions of past lives. Parama Purusa in His role of Hari definitely showers compassion on those working sincerely and still facing troubles due to past samskaras, and reduces his reactions. This shows He is not merciless.

Conclusion

The ultimate desire of Parama Purusa is to finish this drama (i.e. creation of universe) as soon as possible but they are the samskaras / reactive momenta of all the living beings that are keeping alive all these things. Once Baba referred following shloka from Shiva Puran:

स्वागमैः कल्पितैः त्वंगच जनान मद्विमुखान कुरु
माम च गोपय येन स्यात श्रष्टिरेशोत्तरोत्तरा।

"Swagmaih kalpitaih twangcha janan madvimukhan kuru
Mamchagopay yen syat shrastireshottrottra."

In this way, unless each individual exhausts his full reactive momenta, the Sagun Brahma has to maintain this universe as His physical body; He cannot be freed even if He may be trying to be liberated as soon as possible.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com

Respectfully,
Dr T.R. Sukul

Reference
1. Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy, What Is My Relation with the Universe and the Cosmic Entity?

*        *        *

The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stands on their own as points of interest.

*        *        *

== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==

You are my Father

"Pitá mátá bandhu sakhá, ándháre áloka vartiká'..." (Prabhat Samgiita #0218)

Purport:

Parama Purusa, You are my most intimate and loving One and so close. You are my Father,  my Mother, my Friend, as well as my eternal Companion. My Dearmost, You are my everything - my One and only - and that divine lamp of refulgence, always guiding me along the proper path in life. You are everywhere. No one is ever alone or helpless. You are ever-present carefully watching over everyone and always residing in my heart.

Refrain / Repetition: In the cimmerian darkness of my life You are the bright luminescence who guides me always. When I am immersed in darkness, confused, and lose the path, You are there to save me. You are that bright light always leading me along the proper path.

Baba, my Supreme Entity, with Your infinite compassion, no matter how difficult the circumstances are, You are always present to provide a gentle touch. In the thorns of sorrow, You are the lotus. In the burning suffering, You are that refreshing, calm, cool balm of sandalwood. Divine One, You are the ultimate Savior and touchstone for those who lost everything. When one has incurred terrible loss, then in that bleak hour You are the only shelter and that Great Entity which transforms everything into a shining jewel. By Your touch, unit beings become divine. That is Your causeless grace. Ever-Present Entity, You are the best of everything. In the beautiful rose garden where all the flowers are aromatic and fragrant, You are the most gorgeous, beautiful garland -  the most illumined Entity in this vast universe.

Refrain / Repetition: In the cimmerian darkness of my life You are the bright luminescence who guides me always. When I am immersed in darkness, confused, and lose the path, You are there to save me. You are that bright light always leading me along the proper path.

Baba, the Supreme Entity, You are the final Cause of everything. You are the Source as well as the Origin. Because You are, I am. You are the breath of my very life. Without You, my whole existence is meaningless. You are my Dearmost and my everything. You alone are the eternal lamp of my heart. Please keep me in Your loving shelter...

Refrain / Repetition: In the cimmerian darkness of my life You are the bright luminescence who guides me always. When I am immersed in darkness, confused, and lose the path, You are there to save me. You are that bright light always leading me along the proper path.

Note For Prabhat Samgiita #0218:

[1] In the thorns of sorrow, You are the lotus: Here it is described how even when people are surrounded by struggle and strife then Parama Purusa is there to comfort them, just like how on a thorny stem, the lotus flower blooms. (Note: The stem of the lotus plant is very thorny, yet always the flower blooms on top.)

== Section 3: Important Teaching ==

Rulers impose curriculum & Proutistic response

Prout philosophy says, "The British wanted to bring the entire Indian race under their colonial grip to make the people slaves. They reformed the old educational system of India and bluntly introduced the English system of education. The English education system was contrary to that of India, because it was based on an objective approach and the complete denial of the subjective approach. The British colonial masters educated the subjugated race on the lines of their own education system, and produced a peculiar group of people who were neither Indian nor civilian nor serviceable. These so-called educated people of India were a complete departure from the mass of Indians in their habits, behaviour, thoughts, modesty and personal integrity. That is why a gulf of difference developed between the so-called educated people and the village people of India. By applying these subtle tactics, a group of people in India became European in attitude although they were Indian in colour, and this group were instrumental in perpetuating the British Raj in India."

"The British colonialists applied the same tactics in China. The Chinese people, before the Kuomintan regime, were laborious and dexterous as well as religious. But by introducing opium, the British made the entire Chinese race inactive and indolent. Afterwards the communists, under the leadership of Mao Zedong, killed the religion of the Chinese people and deprived them of their práńa dharma. In this way, the British and the communists brought the entire Chinese race under their grip."

"PROUT does not want to turn the hands of the clock back. PROUT does not reject the western educational system. But at the same time, the western education system utterly failed to inculcate a sense of morality, reverence and a high standard of behaviour among the students of India during the time of the British Raj. That is why in PROUT’s system of education, we stress the need to start “Ashramic Schools” in every village of India. If this is done, the corrosive tendency introduced by the British can be checked at an early stage. In the post-independence period of India, the leaders and educationists could not deeply understand the prevalent crisis of the Indian education system. This crisis was largely due to the defective British education system which was fundamentally against the práńa dharma of the Indian people. All the attempts to reform the education system proved futile and led the nation towards further degradation. This was because India’s educationists could not reform the education system according to the práńa dharma of the Indian people. Our Ananda Marga school curriculum is based on the práńa dharma of the people of India."

"...During the British rule, both in the social and spiritual spheres, the people were deprived of their práńa dharma. Some so-called western educated people even now look down upon villagers for their simplicity and na ivete. These so-called educated people were misguided away from práńa dharma because they were denied any subjective approach in the western education system. This is why such people have failed to become one with the mass." (1)

Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 18, Talks on Education – Excerpt B

== Section ==

Materialism: Last एक century में मनुष्य-समाज का सर्वनाश

“भक्ति-विहीन मनुष्य ज्ञान की चर्चा कर रहे हैं, लोग कहते हैं---"बड़े ज्ञानी हैं, ख़ूब जानते है |" तो ज्ञानी से कुछ होगा ? नहीं होगा | क्यों नहीं होगा ? यह जो ज्ञान, परमार्थ-विहीन ज्ञान, यह तो एकदम जड़ ज्ञान | और जड़ ज्ञान भी आख़िर तक मनुष्य को जड़ बना देगा, और कुछ नहीं | जड़-दर्शन मनुष्य को जड़ बना देता है | Last एक century में इस तरह के [जड़]दर्शन के कारण मनुष्य-समाज का सर्वनाश हो गया | मनुष्य जड़ता की ओर गए, materialism की ओर अधिक झुके, सही बात उन्हें मालूम नहीं हो सकी | अब, मानवता को इस ख़तरनाक जड़-दर्शन से बचाना है | लोग ज्ञान समझ लिए इसी को | यह ज्ञान नहीं है, यह ज्ञान का जञ्जाल है |

प्रेयस्करा ह्येषा बुद्धिः सा बुद्धिः प्राणघातिनी |
श्रेयस्करा ह्येषा बुद्धिः सा बुद्धिः मोक्षदायिनी ||

यह जो बुद्धि, यह जो ज्ञान, यह प्रेय की ओर मनुष्य को ले जाएगा | केवल खाना-कपड़ा | अरे खाना-कपड़े के ऊपर में भी एक मनुष्य है---जिनके दिल की भूख मिटानी है | इस [जड़]दर्शन से सो होनेवाला नहीं है |”
[यह बाबा के कैसेट से सीधे लिखा गया, बाबा का यह असली प्रवचन, अमृतोपदेश है। सर्व विदित है कि आनन्द मार्ग हिन्दी पुस्तकों में छपे प्रवचन तो नक़ली प्रवचन हैं, असली नहीं] (1)

Reference
1. GD 13 September 1978 Patna

== Section ==

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Why should I keep or break with the old traditions?

"Pseudo-spirituality cannot help us in our free thinking either, for our thinking is badly affected by dogma. When a human being sits alone and thinks, if the person thinks for the collective interest, then such thoughts are proper; but usually people do not think in this way. Usually they lament over the worn-out skeletons of the past. “This was done by, this was imposed by, our forefathers – when our forefathers have said this, why should I break with the old traditions? It was written in this way in the scriptures; and moreover if I follow these old conventions and traditions, what is the harm?” These types of dogmatic and dogma-ic thoughts will naturally stifle the free flow of human thought. And that is why whenever there is dogma, human thinking cannot be free; and for want of, for paucity of, free thinking, there cannot be any proper psycho-spiritual progress either. So here what we want is perfect spirituality and not pseudo-spirituality. Pseudo-spirituality cannot promote the cause of human welfare; the seed of welfare does not lie there. The seed of welfare cannot exist where the seed of dogma exists." (1)

Note: In His above teaching, Baba guides us that pseudo-spirituality severely hampers one's progress on the path of true spirituality. Unfortunately, we see some instances of this taking shape in our Ananda Marga.

For instance, a few Ananda Margiis born into Hindu families copy their ancestors on the point of annual shraddha ceremonies. Confused sadhakas feel that as their forefathers did like this so they should carry on the tradition. Thus each year confused sadhakas organise programs and mass feedings in the name and honour of their deceased relatives. But this goes wholly against Guru's mandate and guideline. Tragically, their mind has been stifled; these confused sadhakas cannot see this matter in a dharmic way. Just some confused sadhakas are stuck on their old, dogmatic family tradition of observing annual shraddha ceremonies.

Same is the case for those who follow so-called mahaprayan. Some confused sadhakas think that, "In the past my ancestors honoured their gurus and teachers by making a yearly shraddha ceremony so I should do this too.” In their confused state the thought arises, “Now my Guru is gone so I should organise an annual death day / tomb worship / shraddhainjali commemoration." In that way some emulated the dogmatic religious worship carried out by their forefathers and re-created that in our Ananda Marga. That is the tragedy which has occurred. As this runs wholly contrary to our Ananda Marga teachings.

Here again, the ill effects of pseudo-spirituality from old traditions have caused the mind to freeze and overlook all logic and reasoning. In Ananda Marga, Parama Purusa is the Guru, and He is eternal. Then where is there scope for so-called mahaprayan. There isn't; it is utterly baseless.

But when the mind is blocked by pseudo-spirituality one cannot think freely on such matters. Hence some become prone to dogma. Sadly, some confused sadhakas think they are getting benefited by such annual shraddha ceremonies and so-called mahaprayan programs, when in fact such confused sadhakas are ruining their own spiritual progress.

Reference
1. A Few Problems Solved - 5, Pseudo-Spirituality and Neohumanism

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== Section ==

A new chapter in human history - Ananda Vanii #1

“The Supreme Spirit within humanity, neglected for ages, has awakened today. This awakening will initiate a new chapter in human history. You will all be the pioneers of the new trend.”

Note: The above is one of Baba’s original Ananda Vaniis. These original and true Ananda Vaniis are unique, eternal guidelines that stand as complete discourses in and of themselves. They are unlike Fake Ananda Vaniis which are fabricated by most of the groups - H, B etc.

== Section 4: Links ==

Recent postings

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• So-called Prout leaders attached with caste

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