Food: GMO awareness + 4 more

Baba

Food: GMO awareness

Namaskar,

One of the most dangerous and disturbing elements in today’s food chain is the presence of GMO’s, or genetically modified organisms.

Researchers report: "Not only can genes be transferred from one plant to another, but genes from non-plant organisms also can be used. The best known example of this is the use of Bt genes in corn and other crops. Bt, or Bacillus thuringiensis, is a naturally occurring bacterium that produces crystal proteins that are lethal to insect larvae. Bt crystal protein genes have been transferred into corn, enabling the corn to produce its own pesticides against insects such as the European corn borer." (Dept of Plant and Soil Sciences, OSU)

Why are companies so interested in using genes in this way? Because by this process, they can make those crops resistant to herbicides and pesticides – and easily increase profits.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


How this affects Ananda Margiis

What does the presence of GMO’s in food mean for Ananda Margiis? It means that certain foods we consider to be “sentient” may in fact be tamasik. Here are more concerns in bulleted format:

* This GMO approach is still quite new and has not been well-researched nor tested. There remains many unknowns along with the possibility of public health issues.

* Vegetarian foods made from transferring the genes of one plant to a separate plant's gene pool should be avoided because those products may be a health hazard (carcinogenic etc) for the short and long term, and they may be tamasik.

* Foods and GMO crops made from a plant gene pool that contains threads from an animal gene pool(s) are outrightly tamasik, plus they may have other health hazards.

* For meat-eating communities all this may not be a concern; for Ananda Margiis, this is a huge issue: If vegetable or grain crops have been formed from animal genes. So every margii should know about this.

Irrespective of which part of the globe you live, you must be critically aware about this hot issue. If the food you buy does not specifically say “Non-GMO”, or if you are not 100% sure about the origin of your grain and vegetable seeds, then it is possible that your food has been genetically affected. This is especially true with name-brand, “natural”, company food products.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Conclusion

Here is a clear-cut warning from Baba.

Ananda Marga philosophy says, “Where scientific progress supersedes civilization, there civilization meets its Waterloo.” (1)

Today, with the use of GMO’s, we see the terrible misuse of science in our fruit, vegetable and grain food supply. Genetically modified crops are spreading around the globe in order to heighten corporate profits. Big food companies are eager to keep this fact hidden. They want to use science at the cost of human health and our overall well-being. We should all be aware and help force companies and the agro-business industry to openly state if they use GMO’s or not.

Namaskar,
Shiva Kumar

Ananda Marga ideology states, "Suppose a physician says, “As a human, you require animal protein for your health;” but suppose dharma says, “No, a human should not take carnal food;” then in that case you will have to follow dharma and not the physician, because the order of dharma is above all other orders. Dharma is the highest Lord, the highest authority." (2)


Rundown of nations with GMO prohibitions:

~ Courtesy of GMO FAQ - geneticliteracyproject ~

• Australia: cultivation prohibited in Tasmania and Kangaroo island. Imports allowed.
  
• Austria: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• Azerbaijan: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed.
  
• Belize: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed.
  
• Bhutan: Cultivation banned. Imports banned.
  
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed.
  
• Bulgaria: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• Croatia: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• Cyprus: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• Denmark: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• Ecuador: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed.
  
• France: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• Germany: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• Greece: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• Hungary: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• India: Bt cotton allowed, all others prohibited.
  
• Italy: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• Kenya: Cultivation of white maize approved, all others prohibited. Import of white maize allowed.
  
• Kyrgyzstan: Cultivation banned. Imports banned.
  
• Latvia: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• Lithuania: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• Luxembourg: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• Madagascar: Cultivation banned. Imports banned.
  
• Malta: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• Moldova: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed.
  
• Netherlands: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales (United Kingdom): Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• Norway: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• Peru: Cultivation banned (though increasingly ignored). Imports of soy and corn allowed.
  
• Poland: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• Russia: Cultivation banned. Imports banned.
  
• Saudi Arabia: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed.
  
• Serbia: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed.
  
• Slovenia: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  
• Switzerland: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed.
  
• Turkey: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed.
  
• Ukraine: Cultivation banned (though law is widely ignored). Imports allowed.
  
• Venezuela: Cultivation banned. Imports banned.
  

Regions with GMO prohibitions:

• Humboldt (+Arcata City), California, US: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed.
  
• Marin, California, US: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed.
  
• Mendocino (+City of Point Arena), California, US: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed.
  
• Sonoma County, California, US: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed.
  
• Trinity, California, US: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed.
  
• Santa Cruz, California, US: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed.
  
• Boulder County (+Boulder City), Colorado, US: planned ban GMO corn and sugar beets on county-owned land by 2023 & 2025 respectively
  
• Jackson County, Oregon, US: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed.
  
• Montville County, Maine, US: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed (enforcement officially expired in 2018).
  
• San Juan County, Washington, US: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed.
  
• South Australia, Australia: Cultivation banned on Kangaroo Island only. Imports allowed.
  
• Tasmania, Australia: Cultivation banned. Imports allowed.
  
• Wallonian Region, Belgium: Cultivation prohibited. Imports allowed.
  

(Courtesy of GMO FAQ - geneticliteracyproject)

References
1. A Few Problems Solved Part 6, Civilization, Science and Spiritual Progress
2. Subhasita Samgraha - 21, Jaeva Dharma and Bhágavata Dharma

*        *        *

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 ==

In the core of my heart

"Gáner málá gánthiyáchi, tomár tare priyatama..." (Prabhat Samgiita #3181)

Purport: 

O’ My Parama Purusa Baba, I have threaded a garland of music for You. And this mala is not just worldly flowers; these are the blossoms of my song. My Innermost and my Dearest, I want to offer it to You. These tunes which I am practicing day and night in Your longing, I want to sing for You. Incomparable Entity, I am hoping You will come, smile, and love me.

O’ Parama Purusa You play Your liila in shadow and light - in darkness as well as in refulgence, everywhere. Sometimes it is tough like thunder and other times sweet like the vajraviin’a’. It is very rough and very tender. In very bad times there is Your liila, and in blissful occasions You are also playing Your divine liila. 

O’ Parama Purusa You float everybody in the source of Your eternal game, You goad human beings towards the goal of their life - the Supreme Nucleus. And You take the form of liilá rasa. Parama Purusa, Formless One, what do You want. Please come in the core of my heart and make me understand your desire. Kindly bless me with Your varabhaya mudra...

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Shocking turnaround in AMPS

Namaskar, 

Since ages religious exploiters, priests, mullahs, pujaris, and so-called monks have misguided society. For example, in India, people were indoctrinated into the idea that family people cannot learn higher meditation. Those priests misguided the common mass by giving a false definition of brahmacarya. Similarly, the world over, priests became the middleman between God and the people. To root out this dogma, Ananda Marga ideology has been given. 

But in our AMPS organisation, the same type of priestocracy dogmas were injected after 1990:
(a) Puppets were made into tattvikas and family acaryas.
(b) The true role of family acaryas was snatched away by group leaders. Prior to 1990, all kinds of social ceremonies were conducted by family people / family acaryas, but no longer. And in the past family people were purodhas on top boards, and that too has essentially vanished. There is a litany of other injustices that have been put in vogue. 

This is the hint that we should be aware of religious cheats - in any religion as well as within Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha. That is what Baba is warning us about in His following teaching. 

   Ananda Marga philosophy states, “It is most important for human beings to move in the realm of spirituality, more than in other realms. Human beings should have followed the proper teachings, but unfortunately, previous teachers did not teach us in this way, and that is why there has been such great chaos in the social and psychic spheres.”
   “As a result of these improper teachings, many family people have suffered from the inferiority complex that as they were living mundane lives, they were sinners. This sort of idea was firmly implanted in the minds of family people as the result of false propaganda by the opportunistic exploiters, who wanted to protect their vested interests in the spiritual sphere. These exploiters also did not want to disseminate dharma among the masses at all, for they feared that the spread of dharma would undermine their vested interests.”
   “But Ananda Marga is for one and all: I wish to disseminate dharma among all.” (1)

In Him,
Visnuma’ya’

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

== Section: Important Teaching ==

How to reduce the gap with Parama Purusa

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Kevalá bhakti: When one is identified with the goal there remains only one entity. This is called kevalá bhakti. This category of devotion is not attainable by one’s individual effort. One can attain it by the grace of great personalities or Parama Puruśa. This is the highest stage of devotion. In this devotion the sádhaka remains oblivious of the differences and distinctions. This is called mahimna jiṋána. As long as the sense of differentiation will exist, the sádhaka will hesitate to be one with Brahma.” (1)

Note: There are various types and grades of bhakti. In the lowest category of bhakti, the bhakta thinks that, “God is great and I am lowly.” But when one’s prema towards God increases, then the feelings of one’s own lowliness and God’s greatness slowly, slowly reduces, and in the end fades away and both come on equal footing.

Consider this mundane example. Suppose one lady is the governor and has a high status and prestige, but that high status is meaningless to her child. The child just thinks that, “This is my mother.” The child does not think that, “I am a small infant and illiterate, and she is qualified so then how can I go close.”  These types barriers are meaningless for the child. Due to affection, the child thinks its status and the mother’s status are the same. Both are on common ground. That is why the child goes and sits on mother’s lap. The child does not think that, “I am inferior.” This is due to the child’s extreme affection for mother.

Same is that case with the bhakta. Due to intense prema and bhakti, the sadhaka thinks, “There is no difference between me and Parama Purusa. Neither He is high nor am I low. He is my very intimate.”


Conclusion

In lower bhakti, people think that, “Between me and Parama Purusa there is a vast gap and greatness. I am lowly and He is the grand controller of the universe. So how can I go close to Him.” But when bhakti grows then that gap reduces and they come on equal footing. The sadhaka thinks that. “He is my Dearest.” The bhakta does not think of the infinite attributions of Parama Purusa. Rather the sadhaka’s mind is focused on intimacy. That is keval bhakti. Without this feeling, nobody can merge in Parama Purusa.

Reference
1. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 4, Bhakti and Krpá

== Section 3: Links ==

Dogma of Father's Day - 16 June 2024

• Father's Day vs debt to father

Recent Postings

• Change AM terminology

• Exploiters blame poor

• How to control sex

• For some long life is bad
  

Other topics of interest

• How to advance your dhyana
  

• Those early days
  

• Altered photo ruining dhyana

Exploiters blame poor + 3 more

Baba

Exploiters blame poor

Namaskar,

In any age or region, those at the helm propagate specific tactics to appease and placate the common people. By this way, those in power can continue to suppress and manipulate the public and enjoy their stature and wealth. And verily, the ruling elites in different parts of the world have their own strategy for quelling the masses.


Dogma: God made you poor; don’t blame wealthy

Here is how the wealthy assert their leverage and maintain the status quo of economic injustice. In India rich exploiters lay blame that poor people are the cause of their own poverty. Those rich exploiters say that, “Because of your bad actions in your previous life you are poor today, so why are you blaming me for your pathetic condition. God made you poor and that same God made me rich so do not blame me.” This aforesaid rotten justification is very prevalent in India, and it is propagated in the name of the Bhagavad Giita. That is why the exploited masses in India are passive. They believe that poverty is their fate based on their own bad actions, and nobody can do anything about it. Rather they think if they accept their poverty and behave properly then in their next life they will be rich. Baba has condemned this perverted explanation in Prout philosophy.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Dogma: Work harder

In capitalism, those in power lay claim that every person has the opportunity to “pick themselves up by their bootstraps” and become a millionaire. This is how those in power get the common people to blame themselves for their low wages and economic woes, not the exploitative system. Indeed, the claim made by top capitalists presupposes that there is a level playing field and that all have an equal shot at getting financially rich. But nothing could be further from the truth. Those coming from financially challenging backgrounds or working lower-level jobs can work one hundred times harder and still not get ahead financially but instead remain riddled in debt. So the operative factor is not how hard one works, but that the system is rigged to help the rich get richer and keep the poor at the bottom. Even then, those at the bottom of the ladder have been brainwashed to believe that if they work harder then their plight will vastly improve.


Dogma: You are unlucky

Another tool that capitalists employ to repress the masses is the lottery system. Government leaders quell the spirit of revolution by promoting the sales of lottery tickets. Then those exploited masses think, “Ok, things may not be good for me now, but if I win the lottery then life will be rosy.” By this way the struggling people maintain hope that they should accept the current conditions and system and hold out the hope that their lucky number will be picked next week and they will become super rich. This is the fanciful daydream that keeps them going. But the whole thing is a farce. Rather, those in power are merely dangling a carrot in front of their eyes, i.e. the winning lottery ticket, and befooling those masses into thinking that their golden day is just around the corner.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Certain religious professionals in the west advance the idea that by working hard then you will get rich. This makes the poor accept their plight and puts out the fire of revolution.


Dogma: You are unfortunate

The new age scene in the west also has tools to keep the exploited at bay. Those poor people often seek out astrological readings and palmistry to learn their fate. So rather than raising their voice against the ruling exploiters, they think that their victory lies in the stars. This dogma only promotes the notion that there is nothing to be done until the stars in the universe align in their favour. By this way also, those impoverished people look towards the surreal readings in the sky instead of the reality here on earth for why they are not better off. In a phrase, this also keeps their mouths shut and they calmly accept their plight.


Conclusion

Around the globe, there are various prevailing techniques and outlooks that get imposed upon the collective psyche. By this way, the masses accept their lowly condition and think that, “Tomorrow will be a brighter day”, when the reality is that the same exploitative forces that are suppressing them today will be suppressing them tomorrow even more. It is our duty to awaken the people to the presence of exploitation so that they can gather the energy to shake off the shackles of economic injustice and bring about the needed changes in society, based on the ideals of Prout.
http://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Namaskar,
In Him,
Liila
(Linda Rogers)

~ In-depth study ~

False propaganda in favour of wealthy exploiters

Purchased intellectuals propagate capitalists are fortunate and the poor are lazy and the cause of their suffering.

Prout philosophy states, “In the Vaeshya Age this religious exploitation is more psychic than physical, because the vaeshyas [wealthy exploiters] use the vipras to try to spread intellectual propaganda among the masses to prevent them from finding any philosophical justification for their suppressed grievances against the vaeshya structure. This intellectual propaganda aims to convince people that they are the victims of circumstance. It argues, “Everything is destiny. Everything is preordained.” Such doctrines help the vaeshyas [wealthy exploiters] to perpetuate their structure. They destroy the personal force of people and make them the playthings of fate. People accept the idea that everything is preordained, and support the status quo.” (1)


God save humanity from such perverted philosophies!

  Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Any society which accepts inequality, which wants to perpetuate that inequality by spreading false logic, is not a society worthy of the name. The standard-bearers of such false logic masquerade in the garb of righteousness and try to convince the downtrodden members of society that their economic deprivations – their humiliations, their scarcity of food, clothing and medicine, their exposure to the extremes of heat and cold – are decreed by fate, as inevitable reactions to their past actions.”
   “Some time ago I heard a millionaire speak at a meeting. He was arguing that in modern society the karmaváda [doctrine of action and reaction of the Giitá] should be more widely propagated, because he thought that if people could understand this doctrine of action properly, the countless shrivelled-up human beings languishing in the dustbins of society would no longer blame the capitalists for their miserable condition. They would accept their misfortune with equanimity. Just imagine what a dangerous idea this is! What a wonderful capitalistic argument! Perhaps some academic stooge on the payroll of these self-seeking capitalists may even try to concoct a philosophy to support this proposition. God save humanity from such perverted philosophies!”
   “People's physical longings are not satisfied until they come in contact with a truly great ideology. Till then, people's wolf-like hunger is insatiable, as if they are incessantly repeating, “I am hungry, I am hungry.” Their jaws are always open, and the foolish people of this world resign themselves to their own fatalistic beliefs and fall into them. The ferocious wolf-pack devours their flesh and blood and casts away the unpalatable bones. Should we support this wolfish philosophy? The day-labourers, porters and gate-keepers around us who wear dirty rags and have fatigue etched on their faces are not considered human by those who are rolling in luxury.” (2)

References
1. Human Society - 2, The Vaeshya Age
2. Human Society - 1, Social Justice

*        *        *

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 ==

Blue sky of my mind
 
"Mor, din cale já y áshá nirásháy, tomár tarei priya..." (Prabhat Samgiita #3507)

Purport:

O' Parama Purusa, my days and nights are passing in the hope and hopelessness of longing for You. When I see that You are not coming then my life falls in misery. But when I contemplate Your cosmic grace then with deep hope I feel that I will get You. In this way all my time passes. O' my most Supremely Benevolent Majestic One, when I think about You sometimes I weep in the agony of not getting You, and other times I smile in optimism, dreaming of Your blissful arrival.

O' Unparalleled Entity, I always keep my eyes fixed toward the blue sky of my mind - Guru cakra. There I look for You in Your eternal abode. I am calling You with tears in my eyes; please give a response to my call.

O' the Supreme Entity, the black fog permeates each and every pore of my mind. Come in a most sweet, charming, and attractive way and wipe away all the cimmerian darkness from my mental temple. Kindly make me pure and blemishless.

Baba, my life is passing in Your exquisite attraction. Please shower Your infinite krpa on me and make me Yours...

== Section 3: Important Teaching ==

Universal way to defeat negative tendencies

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The recommended psychological stance is that a ripu [internal enemy] must be kept under control, and under no circumstances should it be allowed to run counter to the society or to societal norms. Suppose someone has a strong weakness for eating. Overeating or eating prohibited food can naturally lead to sickness or premature death. So that person restrains their greed in such a manner that their greed is satisfied and at the same time potential disease is prevented. Suppose someone addicted to drink has become a slave of liquor under its strong influence. If they can sublimate their alcohol addiction into a passion for music or painting or any other finer art, then their passion will be satisfied without any injury to themselves." (1)

Reference
1. Shabda Cayanika - 4, Ku to Kuiṋjara (Discourse 27)

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Key points about pratiika

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “A triangle with one vertex up superimposed on another triangle with one vertex down, with the rising sun having a swastika inside. These are symbols of energy, knowledge, advancement and permanent victory, respectively.” (1)

#1: This rule of wearing pratiika began during the dharma samiiksa period.
#2: Everyone witnessed that Baba was very strict and told that if anyone is not wearing a pratiika that person would get kicked out from reporting etc.
#3: Baba has informed kapalikas that the pratiika is considered as a part of the body and should not be removed.
#4: Those days to see Baba for PC or meetings etc, then it was mandatory to wear a pratiika. If anyone was not wearing a pratiika then Baba would strongly rebuke those in-charges.
#5: During dharma cakra, it is mandatory to have the pratiika in full display on the puja table. 
#6: Whenever Baba sat on the dais at DMC, a large pratiika banner was always hanging directly behind Him. And when Baba sat down in the car then a large pratiika cloth was always placed on that portion of the seat where Baba was going to sit. 

Reference
1. Caryacarya -1, Treasures of Ananda Marga

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Help prevent this happening to our Wts

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Those who were decent human beings and deeply spiritual, and used to collect money for a noble cause, but in the process of fund raising forgot Parama Puruśa and attached greater importance to their fund raising at the cost of Parama Puruśa – that is, they remembered Parama Puruśa as part of dharma sádhaná and collected money for a great cause, and although Parama Puruśa was the goal collecting money became the dominant desire – attain the state of yakśa devayoni after their demise. In feminine gender, yakśa becomes yakśinii...as the dominant spiritual sentiment became secondary, they are negative microvita.” (1)

Note: Some margiis and Wts collect money for various projects. By involving in the project they think about money, money, and money. And they forget Parama Purusa. In consequence, they become negative microvita. That is what is explained above.

To save oneself from this tragedy, money collectors should think, “This project is not my project. I am working for Parama Purusa Baba. It is His project and my duty is to serve Him. That is why I am doing A to Z.” With this type of thinking, the mind will not get degenerated by focusing on money, and they will get salvation. 

So one way of thinking makes the Wt turn into negative microvita and another way of thinking helps that sadhaka attain ultimate salvation.

Reference
1. Microvitum in a Nutshell - Disembodied Souls and Microvita – Excerpt B

== Section 4: Links ==

Dogma of Father's Day - 16 June 2024

• Father's Day vs debt to father

Recent Postings

• Long life as liability

• Guru's special blessing

• How to cultivate more bhakti

Other topics of interest

• How to advance your dhyana
  

• Those early days
  

• Altered photo ruining dhyana