I am ghost + 4 more

Baba

I am a ghost

Namaskar,

Some people due to their defective thought process think that they themselves are ghosts. With their weak mind this happens. Baba explains below.

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "When a dream-object, an object of imagination, seems to be absolutely real, in such cases there is also a marked change in the personality also. Being obsessed with ghosts is a case in point. People who are obsessed with ghosts think that they have become the ghost. Being possessed by spirits is yet another case of this type: the affected persons think of themselves as a deity. Now, in order to free their minds from the thought of ghosts, one will have to induce a traumatic jolt in their bodies; one will have to create some sort of frightful circumstance that will startle them. Various methods may be used for this purpose, after which they will realize their error: that they wrongly identified themselves with their mental objects." (1)


Led astray by publishers

The question then comes, how should our Tiljala publishers have printed Baba's discourses where the ghost term appears. Essentially there are a few easy ways our Tiljala publishers could have clarified and averted this issue:

(a) Either our publishers should have inserted an editor's note at the beginning of the chapter indicating that Baba does not mean that ghosts really exist; or,

(b) Our Tiljala publishers should have put the term ghost in quotes, i.e. "ghost".

Then every reader would clearly understand that Baba does not support the existence of those, rather they are so-called ghosts. Unfortunately, those publishers did not print the discourses in that way, thus many readers are led astray, or left to wonder about the veracity / consistency of Sadguru's Baba teachings. That is the tragedy about this wrongdoing by those publishers.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


The full Q & A: Do ghosts really exist

Here is Baba's full Q & A about the (non) existence of ghosts. Those who do not have the book can reference that passage below.

"Q. 56 Do ghosts really exist?"

"Ans.: – Those strange figures which we call ghosts are mainly figments of the imagination. When the mind is in a weak or vulnerable state, what was previously created in the imagination now appears to be real."

"In a dream, due to the dormant state of ka'mamaya kos'a, the thought-vibrations of manomaya kos'a appear real (this we call a dream when we wake up). When, due to extreme fear, stupefaction, crudity, or an excessive expression of any ripu or pa'sha, the ka'mamaya becomes temporarily suspended in the next higher kos'a and the imagined objects appear real. This is also the case when a person sees various gods and goddesses. Psychologically, seeing a ghost, god or goddess is the same thing; none of them actually exist."

"When hypnotized by someone, a person starts perceiving things as per the commands of the hypnotist. In this state, when the ka'mamaya is dormant a person feels that his imagined objects are real. Often, weak-minded people see ghosts, gods or goddesses of relatives. Such visions are auto- or outer-positive-hallucinations. Conversely, when people declare the absence of things which are actually present, it is called auto- or outer-negative-hallucination."

"This clarifies that those who emphatically claim that they have seen ghosts are not wrong. It is due to the illusions of the negative or positive hallucinations that they see these things."

"It is also possible for the mental ectoplasm of a strong willed person to force a body-less soul to inhabit a body according to its sam'ska'ra and thus create a ghost. The existence of that so-called ghost depends upon the person’s whims and desires. This type of ghost is not the same as the commonly known ghost. To force a soul to inhabit a body by utilizing one’s mental ectoplasm (citta) is a very bad thing and good people will not do such things simply to show someone a ghost."

"Those who think that ghosts appear periodically with the help of their own ectoplasms to fulfill their desires or to express themselves are wrong. In fact, the ghost is created out of their mental ectoplasm and does not have an independent soul. The soul of the person whose ectoplasm created the ghost is also the witnessing entity of the ghost." (2)

A complex-free mind

When one does proper sadhana, one will have a balanced mind - free from all kinds of fear and complexes.

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Maintaining a balanced mind is one of the greatest virtues. There are no complexes in a balanced mind. One neither feels inferior nor superior to others; one never fears anybody nor ever gets perturbed. One maintains a mental balance." (3)


Two solutions

Sadguru Baba has given all the teachings to guide humanity onto the path of truth, including dispelling people of their unfounded fears of "ghosts". All His printed discourses by our Tiljala Publications should complement this idea - not contradict it.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Thus there are a few solutions that can easily be done to correct this matter:

(a) Insert an editor's note at the beginning of such chapters indicating that Baba has declared ghosts really do not exist and that in this particular chapter Baba is using the term in a literary way to describe local dogmas, psychic diseases, or hallucinations etc etc.

(b) Or, just put the term ghosts in quotes - i.e. "ghosts".

That will rectify the matter; then readers will not be misled or confused.

Namaskar,
In Him,
Yamuna
(Yasmine)

References
1. A Few Problems Solved - 7, The Faculty of Knowledge – 3
2. Tattva Kaomudii - 1, Questions and Answers on Ananda Marga Philosophy #56
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 5, The Social Order and Superiority and Inferiority Complexes

== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==

Age of neo-humanism has come

“Nishár avasán holo, purvákáshe raunga elo, taruń aruń d́ák diye bole…” (Prabhat Samgiita #4614)

Purport:

Now, in the eastern horizon the crimson colour is clearly visible. The night has passed away; the darkness has vanished. Now the rising sun is calling and telling everyone, "Unlatch the doors and windows of your house. Open the entrance way, let the light in, awaken the chamber of your soul, and shake off the dogma of groupism." Indeed the blackness has been removed. The bondage of dogma has disappeared from the mind. A divine age has come.

That which was unrecognizable and unknown in the past, due to the darkness of ignorance, has become familiar and known in the presence of effulgence. All the expressions are part of my family feeling. The birds of distant places are spreading their wings and coming near. Those who were far in the past have become close, my own. Now in the advent of this reddish dawn, the staticity has faded away and each domicile is ready; every heart is welcoming. In days bygone, humans were treating others as distant beings or aliens, but now they can see that all are their own brothers and sisters; whereas yesterday people were thinking that others are foreign - part of some outside faction. By His grace, the realisation has come that, "All are mine." The depravity of the mental realm has faded away. There remains no distinction, no dullness, no bondage. A bright yuga has arrived.

Today, every home has become unlocked and accessible; in that airy dwelling - nothing can impede the refreshing flow of neo-humanism; all have become broad-minded. Humanity is no longer plagued by the rigid outlooks of socio, geo, and religious sentiments. Their vision is expanded - no longer diseased. The rise of a universal fraternity and one cosmic family are entering into their psychic domain. Living beings understand that all are kith and kin. In the past, the intellect was used to exploit others. It was motivated by self, clan, and national interest. Now reason is guided by universal love and neo-humanism. Each and every jiiva, propelled by spiritual nectar, is concerned for the welfare of all. A resplendent epoch has been born.

The grim days of hatred and exploitation have faded away; Baba, by Your krpa, the age of neo-humanism has come..

*        *        *

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

*        *        *

== Section: Important Teaching ==

So-called justice: how innocent are convicted

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Another glaring example of the neglect of human values is the present judicial system. When arrested, people have to stand in the dock for the accused and face a trial based on evidence and the lawyers eloquence, no matter if they are guilty or not. A criminal who can afford to hire a reputable lawyer may emerge from the legal processes unscathed, whereas an innocent person of meagre financial means who is unable to appoint a good counsel, may end up in prison. If a thief is set free it is a crime, no doubt; but if an innocent person is punished it is a severe dishonour to humanity.” (1)

Note: In His above teaching Baba brings to light the tragedies that occur in society when poor people cannot get a proper attorney. Sadly, in spite of their innocence such impoverished persons get convicted of heinous crimes. On the other side of the coin, wealthy, anti-social criminals hire the more famous, reputed lawyers and are declared innocent.  That is what happens in the US, and other places. Take the case of one innocent poor black man who was unjustly found guilty in a murder case and sentenced to capital punishment. Yet, some selfless, philanthropic attorneys picked up his case and he was freed. But it took a long time, as he spent 30 years behind bars.


Exonerated after wrongful imprisonment

From the “Innocence Project” an innocent person was rescued from death row. And in total there may be thousands upon thousands of such cases.

"The Innocence Project focuses on cases in which DNA evidence is available to be tested or retested. DNA testing is possible in 5-10% of criminal cases...As of July 2017, 351 people previously convicted of serious crimes in the United States had been exonerated by DNA testing since 1989, 20 of whom had been sentenced to death. Almost all (99%) of the wrongful convictions were of males, with minority groups constituting approximately 70%.The National Registry of Exonerations lists 1,579 convicted defendants who were exonerated through DNA and non-DNA evidence from January 1, 1989 through April 12, 2015. According to a study published in 2014, more than 4% of persons overall sentenced to death from 1973 to 2004 are probably innocent." (Courtesy of Wikipedia)

So it is obvious that capital punishment is a terrible blot on human society. When handing down a verdict, no rational judge or jury can say with 100% certainty that justice was done in that particular case.

For instance, if after hanging an innocent person it was discovered he did not do wrong, then what can be done. Nothing - it is too late.  A better, more just, society will ensure that top legal support is provided to all equally, irrespective of one’s financial standing. In addition, that society will understand that setting a criminal  free is not as harmful as convicting an innocent person and sentencing them to death. When that happens, the common people lose faith in the justice system and that is the worst outcome.

That is what has happened amongst the black population in the US. In comparison to white people, innocent black people are dealt very long periods of incarceration. For example, having a single dose of heroin can lead to a 20 year prison sentence, without any option for parole etc.

Reference
1. A Few Problems Solved - 2, Social Values and Human Cardinal Principles

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Cure by meditation

Ananda Marga Philosophy teaches us, “Question: If the medicine or mother tincture required for homoeopathic medicine is prepared in a sentient environment which contains positive microvita, will the medicine prepared from that medium or mother tincture have more effect than ordinary medicine available in the market?”

“Answer: There is no doubt that the medicine prepared in a sentient environment by sentient people, from a medium or mother tincture which is also prepared in a sentient environment, will attract more positive microvita than ordinary medicines, so it will have a much greater effect in curing a patient.”

“If a person contracts a disease caused by negative microvita before initiation and does dhyána sincerely after initiation, the disease will not spread but be contained. However, for different types of diseases one has to follow different food restrictions and practice dhyána at specific times.”

“If a person contracts a disease caused by negative microvita after initiation, does dhyána perfectly and follows certain food restrictions, the disease will be completely cured. Dhyána attracts many positive microvita. Negative microvita can only be controlled by positive microvita. The positive microvita eat the negative microvita and this is the reason why the disease is cured. For example, if a person is suffering from jaundice, a disease caused by negative microvita, and if dhyána is practised perfectly, the disease will be cured very quickly. In the case of cancer, say stomach cancer, certain food restrictions will have to be strictly followed. When pain starts in the stomach one should sit for dhyána, but just prior to this one should take some juice from a sweet tasting, not a sour tasting fruit. After performing dhyána, one should take another drink which is different from the first drink. The patient should also avoid any food which causes gas in the stomach, such as pappad, cauliflower, cabbage, turnip, etc.” (1)

Reference:

1. Microvita in a Nutshell, Questions and Answers on Microvita – Excerpt C

== Section: Ananda Vanii ==

Gloriously brilliant chapter will come

True Ananda Vanii-- “Just as the advent of the purple dawn is inevitable at the end of the cimmerian darkness of the inter-lunar night, exactly in the same way I know that a gloriously brilliant chapter will also come after the endless reproach and humiliation of the neglected humanity of today. Those who love humanity and those who desire the welfare of living beings should be vigorously active from this very moment, after shaking off all lethargy and sloth, so that the most auspicious hour arrives at the earliest.”  (Ananda Vanii #34)

Note 1: True Ananda Vaniis have a number but Fake Ananda Vaniis do not have any number. With this formula one can easily recognize which is a true Ananda Vanii and which is fake. Obviously on January 1st 2017, to receive Baba’s blessing, use a True Ananda Vanii, not a fake one.

== Section 3: Links ==

Recent postings

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• Giving away & Narayan seva
  

• MK Gandhi statue will be destroyed like this
  

• Ideal Wt
  

Other topics of interest

• New BP manual by B group

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More important letters

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Margii mother's mahaprayan

Baba

Margii mother's mahaprayan

Namaskar,

It is with much sadness that we share the news of the mahaprayan of Smt Kauleshwari Devi of Patna. Her mahaprayan occurred on the evening of 21st  June 2020. She was the wife of  Chandreshvar ji, who previously served as the bhukti pradhan of Patna for a long time.

Smt Kauleshwari was truly a mother to one and all. With her compassionate nature she was always ready to serve, and keep true to the teachings of Sadguru Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji. Please know that a shraddha ceremony will be held on 24th June at 4pm at their residence: A / 88, Sanjay Gandhi Nagar, Road no. 6, Near Prasad Apartments, Hanuman Nagar, Patna.

May we all take solace in the fact that Smt Kauleshwari Devi was a bhakta of Sadguru Baba. Certainly she will attain mukti or moksa, accordingly. Baba will lovingly bestow His infinite grace.

in Him,
Caetanya Deva

Note: Here is an alert for those cremating a dead body in India or Indian managed cremation homes around the world. Their custom is to put the fire in the mouth of the deceased to initiate the burning of the body. This is prohibited in AM as it is uncivilised. So watch out; do not allow this. If you are not careful, they will end up cremating the body in this manner. Make them aware ahead of time. 

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "The practice of putting fire into the mouth of the dead body is repulsive, it should not be encouraged." (Caryacarya - 1, Disposal of the Dead Body)

~ In-depth study ~

We have seen that when somebody dies then in offering their condolences people say now Mr So-and-so is sitting on Baba's lap. On other occasions when telling a Baba story people also say, "Such and such person sat on Baba's lap." But these days the trend is that "sitting on Baba's lap" is used more in connection with death. And that causes some confusion in reader's mind. To unknot the situation please read below.

Dogma: if "on Baba's lap" only used for death

Here are quoted lines from recently posted emails on various forums, wherein the writer uses the phrase - "in Baba's lap" - with the occasion of death:

- "May Parama Purusa Baba accept her in HIS divine lap"

- "We pray to Baba - please give him shelter in his lap... "

- "May his soul rest in the lap of our beloved BABA"

- "Now she is taking rest in Baba's Lap."

- "May Baba accept him in HIS divine lap....."

- "May he rest in HIS loving lap of eternity."

- "We are sure that Baba has taken him in His loving lap."

- "May his soul rest in Baba's lap forever."

- "Let her rest peacefully in Baba's Lap - which she always desired."

- "now he is in beloved Baba's lap"

- "May his soul get peaceful place in His lap"

- "He is now in Bábá's loving lap"

- "May Baba bless him with a seat in His lap."

- "May BABA accept him in HIS divine lap!"

- "May Baba take him in his eternal loving lap."

- "May his soul rest in peace taking shelter in Baba's lap."

- "Please keep him on Your lap forever."

- "We all collectively pray to Baba to take him on Baba's divine lap forever.”

All of the above lines are commonly written in eulogizing the deceased. These days mostly it is used in a eulogy and rarely used to recount one's intimate spiritual experiences - unfortunately. By this way, the phrase "in Baba's lap" is being misused and step by step the real meaning is being forgotten as now people more commonly use the phrase to eulogize those who have died, and much less so to express their inner feelings of bhakti. Unfortunately, the meaning and inner spirit of the phrase is getting lost.

Baba story: "sitting on Baba's lap"

Some time ago after dharmacakra, a senior margii was recounting his experiences of having dharma samiiksa with Baba. He said, "After being lovingly scolded by Baba for my wrongdoings, then He called me close and placed me on His lap - I remained there for some time soaking up His love - and He blessed me."

We all enjoyed hearing about his personal account with Baba during dharma samiiksa. When he finished telling his factual and historical event, there was a call for questions. Various people posed their queries. Towards the end, one new margii raised his hand and asked, "How did Baba bring you back to life?"

Everyone stared at the new margii in amazement. There was a look of astonishment all around - people were really shocked to hear him say this. The new sadhaka sensed that something was wrong He said very matter-of-factly, "I thought that sitting on Baba's Lap means that he (the margii) died - that is why I asked that question."

This was quite eye-opening for those of us in the room: Through our language and expression we had unknowingly taught someone to think that being on Baba's lap is the equivalent of death. Because it seems that nowadays people only use the phrase "Baba's lap" when a person has died, such as "Let him rest peacefully in Baba's lap", as if in order to sit on Baba’s lap one has to die. But that is false. Sincere sadhakas regularly sit on Baba’s lap in their meditation. It is His grace. It is just like a child need not die in order to sit on his father’s lap.

The idea is that this phrase - Baba's lap - has been linked with death due to extreme overuse. So for some time if sadhakas use this phrase exclusively for spiritual purposes, that will be best. The phrase, "sitting on Baba's lap", should not meet a similar fate. It should not lose its pure spiritual quality and just refer to one's death. That will be very negative.

Baba would bless bhaktas and place them on His lap

There are tens of thousands of recorded stories by sadhakas where they use the phrase, "on Baba's lap", when describing their experiences of being with Baba: He used to bless them and bring them on His lap. People should understand the deeply mystical value of this expression, and not just think that Baba's lap means death, i.e. that you can only sit on His lap at the time of death. Still today there are thousands of margiis walking this earth who sat in Baba's lap. And not only that, there are countless more sadhakas who were blessed by Baba in dreams and sadhana wherein they sat in His lap. And still today this deeply intimate experience is attainable by sadhakas, by His grace.

There are so many ways an aspirant can reach unto Baba's lap including in sadhana. That is the main idea that should be preserved. Sadhana is a spiritual practice and one can sit on Baba's lap in sadhana. We should make it cent-per-cent clear to one and all that the phrase, "sitting on Baba's lap", does not mean death.

"Mahaprayan" means death of mortals - confirm for yourself
from the Samsad Bengali-English Dictionary

Mahaprayan (Death): Many are aware that mahaprayan (death) is the common term used in India and especially in our Bengal to describe the death of any human being, even ordinary people. In that way, the obituary columns of the newspapers of Bengal regularly cite the mahaprayan (death) of various persons of society who died or passed away.

Some may get confused and wrongly think that the word 'mahaprayan' (death) is one extraordinarily term of bhakti to be used in association with Parama Purusa. But that is not at all the case. Rather to do so is only to undermine the eternal presence of Parama Purusa. That is why no bhaktas ever use the word 'mahaprayan' in reference to Lord Shiva or Lord Krsna. Because Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna exist eternally. Then there is no question of Their mahaprayan (death).

Baba is Parama Purusa so He is eternal and there is no question of His mahaprayan.

Here it should be known that the convention of an annual death day ceremony (i.e. shraddhainjali or mahaprayan) is a foundation of the Islamic tradition. Muslims are well known for this, and their approach of an annual death day ceremony was adopted by the leader of a particular group in AMPS. So no one should think that mahaprayan is some type of sacred event. It is done on the death day anniversary of Muslims.

And for those who need still more technical proof then all this can be clarified quite readily by referencing the dictionary. Specifically in the Samsad Bengali-English dictionary 3rd edition on page 848. Checking there it will be confirmed that the word 'mahaprayan' means death. Which is why it is used to refer to the passing away of even common citizens. And that is the case in this letter also. The term mahaprayan means death and this is the ideal term for this purpose.

Mahaprayan is only for humans not for Sadguru

Here it should be qualified that there is both real mahaprayan and fake mahaprayan. Real mahaprayan marks the death of any ordinary human being, just like the aforesaid news. This is the proper use of the term: To note a person's departure from this earth. That is the meaning of the mahaprayan term and that is the standard way the term is used in Indian languages.

Then there is the fake, or so-called, or dogmatic mahaprayan. That is when certain vested interests try to apply the mahaprayan term to Parama Purusa. This is grossly inappropriate because when Parama Purusa Sadguru Baba is that Divine Entity who is beginningless and endless and resides always in our heart, then it is entirely wrong to proclaim that He is gone.

That is why rational margiis are protesting; because the Oct 21st program is so-called mahaprayan. So-called means that something is fake. Parama Purusa is eternal, thus for some vested interests to declare "mahaprayan of Parama Purusa" is nothing but so-called mahaprayan.

Mahaprayan only really happens in the case of human beings, not Parama Purusa. Those doing mahaprayan for Sadguru are hypocrites. On the one side in meditation they ask His grace thinking that He is ever-present, and on the other side they think that Baba has passed away. That is their hypocrisy.

== Section 2: Links ==

Recent postings

• Worry of margiis
  

• Giving away & Narayan seva
  

• MK Gandhi statue will be destroyed like this
  

• Ideal Wt
  

Other topics of interest

• New BP manual by B group
  

• Bad way to pay respect
  

More important letters

• Rudrananda with his main henchmen
  

• Pranavatmakananda spread false things in book
  

• Why abortion is sinful in AM

• Coward avadhuta don't prefix or capitalize

• Trick to get top post