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Saturday, August 17, 2024

Baba addressing all + 3 more

Baba
Baba addressing all
 
Namaskar,

As many may know, Baba's talks on dharma are addressed towards those who understand and embrace His teachings inside their heart. Sadguru’s discourses were not exclusively for those physically present those days.
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Vanguards: those who follow Baba's teachings

It is absolutely certain that in His dharmika discourses Baba is addressing the entire humanity: present and future. Baba is guiding and inspiring one and all that those who adhere to the codes of dharma will invariably lead humanity into a bright new era. That is Baba's message for universal humanity.

A few, however, have misunderstood that matter. By listening to Baba's one darshan, some of those attendees were thinking that they are the sole torchbearers who will lead the society forward from darkness to light. And that happened in various other discourses where Baba was speaking in this manner. A few got the wrong idea and mistakenly thought they alone are the real pioneers of humanity, regardless of their conduct. But unfortunately, after some time, a few of them became frustrated, threw away their dress, and started leading a negative life.

Still today a few of those who attended discourses those days are thinking that they alone are the torchbearers, irrespective of their personal conduct. But rational analysis tells otherwise. The real vanguards of society are those who have good conduct, follow dharmic guidelines, and adhere to 16 points and the various conduct rules. Being a vanguard it is not dependent on whether they were present and seated before Baba or not when He delivered a particular discourse. We should not forget that Baba's teachings are eternal, i.e. a'pta va'kya. Baba speaks for all, beyond the limit of time, space, and person. And the real torchbearers are those who follow these guidelines. Whether they have personally attended the discourse, or not.
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Why Baba charge-sheeted them for not recording discourses

Unfortunately, some have gotten confused about this. They began thinking that Baba was only speaking to a limited audience seated before Him during His discourse, and that the value of the discourse is limited to those in the audience. Some came to think such discourses were meant for them alone, i.e. those present in that particular darshan.

This defective understanding led to a dogmatic outlook. Due to this faulty approach, i.e. that Baba is only speaking for those present, many discourses in 1978, just after the jail period, did not get recorded. Those persons thought there was no reason to record since what Baba was going to say was for them alone. This was their faulty perspective.

Then on 15 October 1978, seeing the situation, Baba feigned anger, scolded them, and pretended to express His fury. All present were overwhelmed by the display of Baba's liila. During the scolding, Baba charge-sheeted the concerning in-charges by strongly questioning them, "Why were those discourses not recorded?" Then Baba told that, "I'm not speaking for those few who are sitting next to Me. I speak for all."
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The sense was that His talks on dharma are not limited by time, space, and person. These discourses are beyond the three relative factors. They are for all, up to eternity. They are absolute guidelines for all of humanity. So it is not that Baba was speaking only to those who were present that time. Thereafter, everyone became more serious to record each and every discourse. This above incident happened just after the jail period, in October of 1978.


Conclusion

Here the whole point is that Baba's teachings are apta vakya, i.e. eternal truth. His tantric discourses on dharma are for all, long into the future. His teachings are timeless guidelines. So no one should fall prey to the dogma that Baba was only addressing those in the audience on that particular day that He delivered the discourse. That is why we should be vigilant to ensure Baba's discourses are perfectly printed, published, and safeguarded for all of humanity, present and future.

Namaskar,
In Him,
Bhaerava

A few rare cases: He specifically addresses those in the audience

In the large majority of His discourses, Baba is addressing the greater humanity and infusing inspiration to one and all. That said, there are a few rare and very specific  instances where Baba is only addressing those who are seated directly before Him. For instance, when Baba is speaking directly with a particular bhakta about a specific problem or incident, then those words are exclusively for the concerned individual.
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And in some particular darshans, Baba has said, "Those who are present before Me now..." Then in that case Baba is clearly addressing the audience. For instance there was one occasion in Ranchi where Baba lovingly blessed those present in order to protect them from a specific disease or illness. That blessing was only for those in the room with Baba on that occasion. So there are a few very particular instances when Baba clearly delineates that He is addressing the people in the room at that moment. And it is obvious when this occurs. Aside from that, in the vast multitude of His discourses Baba uses the pronoun “you” to refer to those who follow His teachings, irrespective of time and place. One need not be sitting in the room at that moment. Baba's dharmic discourses are universal and apply to all. He is blessing and assuring victory to those who adhere to the codes of dharma.

Baba not only guiding to those physically present

There are many cases where some in the audience were confused. They wrongly thought that Baba was talking to them alone. For instance, take the example of the following discourse from 1979 in Frankfurt. When Baba gave this discourse, a few of the sadhakas present were thinking that they were the veritable saviours of humanity. They thought that they alone were going to solve the problems of the society. In that case, they got the idea that they were the only torchbearers, and that they alone will bring a golden era on this earth. Here below is an excerpt of Baba’s discourse from that day. And verily, there are many such occasions when those present that day were thinking that Baba spoke only for them.
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Baba says, "I am sure that you boys and you girls must be optimists; and it is your duty to save humanity. And I hope you will be able to save humanity, because, just like me, you are also optimistic. You should know that great, or good, people are few in number, they are not many...So it is your duty to save humanity. And those who are unable to shoulder their own bags and baggages -- their responsibilities are to be shouldered by you. You should remember that the life of a spiritual aspirant is a mission. One's entire life is a mission, one's entire existence is a mission. And your mission is -- what? To save humanity from this crisis. I hope you will be successful. And I not only hope, I am sure that you will be successful." (1)

They thought, “Baba is just speaking to us”

In the 1960’s, they used to record DMC on some occasions, but not general darshan. That was done only very rarely. Margiis basically thought that Baba is just talking with us, and there is no need to record this for history. In particular months, there were 2 - 4 DMCs per month in that pre-1969 period. And over the course of six months, around ten DMC’s were held. But mostly those were not recorded. People were thinking that, “Baba has come to my village and He is just talking with us.” Initially there were no recording machines in those villages but they could have written it down using shorthand etc, but they did not do so because they thought that, “Baba is just speaking personally to us.”
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See full discourse

Here is the entire inspirational discourse from Ananda Vacanamrtam - 34 where some thought Baba was exclusively speaking to them, and that only those in the audience were the flag bearers of dharma. When in fact Baba's central message is that all those who abide by the mandates of dharma are the leaders of the new humanity.

Baba’s Deeply Moving Discourse


That occasion

There are some who dogmatically think that Baba's discourses are teachings only for that very day when it was delivered, and directed only towards those in the audience who were present that time. In other words, they think in a quite limited way. One of the outcomes of this is known as the "Fake Ananda Vanii dogma". The believers of this dogma feel that Ananda Vaniis are for that very day on which they were given. They feel that Baba is only speaking to those who are present on the occasion when Baba graciously delivered the Vanii. That is one way those believers are mistaken.
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Secondly, such people think that now those same Ananda Vaniis are useless and outdated, and that they can no longer be used. That's why some are creating fake Ananda Vaniis twice a year.This illustrates how dogmatic people don't like to believe that Baba's teachings are a'pta va'kya, eternal. And the outcome yields two horrible results. People mistakenly think that Baba is only addressing those in the audience; plus they think that those teachings like the Ananda Vaniis are now outdated and passe.

Yet that is far, far from the truth. Baba's divine Ananda Vaniis are universal in nature and are directed towards the entire humanity - across time and space. Still today those Ananda Vaniis are of tremendous dharmic values and they will hold that same quality into the future as well. They are eternal guidelines for all of humanity, not just for those seated in the pandal on that occasion.

References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 34, To Save Humanity

*        *        *

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 ==

Unending bliss

"Ámi ár kono kichu bhúli ná, shudhu bhúle tháki tava nám..." (Prabhat Samgiita #0838)

Purport:

My Parama Purusa, I never forget anything mundane; but, it is so unfortunate and painful that I cannot remember Your divine name. I cannot keep You in my mind or  recall my Ista mantra and Guru mantra for 24 hours, without a break. Whereas those worldly dealings always hover in my mental plate. Please grace me. I want to call You all the time - within each and every breath and respiration, but alas it escapes me. O' Supreme Entity, although I fail to ideate on You, even then I can see that You love me. I always feel Your love, especially when I look towards You. It is Your mercy.

Parama Purusa, the star which came down from the heavenly, spiritual, radiant bosom of Taraka Brahma, a particle of that star’s supreme refulgence filled my mind with spiritual ecstasy. It has inundated my existence in unending bliss.
 
Baba, the Parama Purusa, the immense love which You have poured in my heart and affection that You saturated in my mind always vibrates my being and brings me to the sublime world. The melody that You played within my mind, today with that tune I do sastaunga pranam to You again and again. O’ Prabhu, You are the most compassionate One.

Baba, kindly bless me so that I always remember my Ist’a mantra...


== Section: Important Teaching ==

About LGBTQ

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The fact is that the creatures advance, in the flow of pratisaincara, along a systematic path. Human beings are just the most evolved creatures, but those human beings who are just evolving from animal life are still very near the borderline between animal and human life. So although they have human bodies, their thoughts, recollections and behaviour remain similar to those of animals to some extent; their existence is full of animal propensities, they have little spiritual awareness, and they are propelled mostly by lower propensities. They do not want to hear good words; even if they hear they do not want to understand; and even if they want to understand, they cannot." (1)

In His above teaching, Baba is addressing the gay / lesbian, bisexual community, and others who are besieged by sensual proclivities and indulgent pleasures etc. The members of these groups have their own justifications for why they do what they do. They never want to listen to anything dharmic. Just they are engrossed in their own desires. Such persons are very close to animals. So they are never going to understand Ananda Marga ideology.

In so many discourses, Baba guides us that Ananda Marga is the path of humanity unto divinity - not animality. This concept is utterly lost on those advocates and members of the gay and lesbian community.

Reference
1. Namah Shiváya Shántáya, Disc: 17


== Section: Important Teaching ==

They are not doing proper sadhana

Ananda Marga ideology states, “Abhimána is no better than drinking wine. Gaorava is truly like raorava hell. (The highest loka is Satyaloka and the lowest loka is raorava. One who suffers from a superiority complex is converted into stone – he or she will be crudified to this extent. This is the result of the feeling of a superiority complex.) And pratiśt́há is like shúkariiviśt́há. “I will be at the pinnacle of society and people will respect me” – this sense is like [a desire for] shúkariiviśt́há. So give up these three mental ailments – abhimána, gaorava and pratiśt́há – and then engage yourself in contemplation on Hari.” (1)

Note: Please pay attention to the yellow, it says that if you have abhimána, gaorava and pratiśt́há then you cannot do sadana. If you see anyone with abhimána, gaorava and pratiśt́há and they have been taught sadhana but still these three things are present, then it means they are not doing proper sadhana. Otherwise they would have removed these three diseases. They will first have to give up or overcome these tendencies: abhimána, gaorava and pratiśt́há. In other words, if anyone has these three characteristics they cannot do sadhana and they are not a sadhaka. That is what our Guru’s teaching says.

Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, The Dialogues of Shiva and Párvatii – 3


== Section: Important Teaching ==

Why Queen was dragging her leg

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "England’s Henry the Eighth was an unruly king. Once he came to Paris with the queen. In Paris many kinds of covetable drinks were available, thus when they were in Paris his desire for drink naturally increased. One day, while under the influence of liquor, he beat the queen so mercilessly that one of her legs became practically crippled. For several days she was obliged to drag it behind her as she walked. When the time came they returned to London (In those days they did not call it London but rather Londre in the aristocratic French language). The residents of the city fell head over heels in the nooks and crannies of the royal residence trying to see whether or not the king and queen had brought back any new fashions from Paris. They saw [Queen] Elizabeth dragging her leg and thought perhaps that this kind of walk was some kind of ultra-modern French style. Women have one great quality; they can easily imitate others. Thus it happened that within three to four days most of the women in the aristocratic households were dragging their leg behind them when they walked and taking a lot of pride in it. It is not written in the histories whether they ever discovered what the real story was behind the queen dragging her leg when she walked. Elizabeth’s style of walking while dragging her leg was called the “Elizabethan gait”." (1)

Reference
1. Varna Vijiana, Language and Dialect – 2



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Friday, August 16, 2024

Timeline of societal decline + 2 more

Baba
Timeline of societal decline

Namaskar,

It is commonly recognized that human thinking and values change over time. A brief look at the history of any country, community, or group shows that the values of a given population changed dramatically over the course of 500 years, and even in as little as 50 years, as well as from era to era. In the social cycle chapter of Prout, Baba describes this and guides us that the values are molded toward the dominant socio-philosophical outlook.
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How Buddhism halted India’s progress

Take the example of the pre-Buddhist era of India and the post-Buddhist era. Prior to Buddha, medical science was quite developed, and surgery was a common phenomenon. But when Buddhism spread, then surgery died out because it was not considered acceptable in the Buddhist society. Due to this, the development of medical science was severely retarded. Secondly, in the pre-Buddhist era, people were fighters, but with the onset of Buddhism and its dogmatic view of ahimsa, the general population became cowardly. And verily, there are innumerable ways the society changed during the Buddhist era in India.


Gandhi’s negative effect on society

Let’s also take the case of Gandhi. Prior to his emergence, the Indian people did not destroy or burn public property as a form of protest. However, Mahatma Gandhi taught the principle of civil disobedience and this destructive policy became quite common. That is, when the public feels wronged by the government etc, they wantonly destroy and burn public property. Until recently, this was unheard of in European countries, but, in India, this has been an ongoing problem for nearly a hundred years. Angry protesters block trains, roads, railway stations, and even burn hospitals and schools. This negative trend in Indian society developed because of the psychic disease of Gandhism and his faulty preachings of  “satyagraha”, or ‘non-cooperation movement’. Essentially, in India, the public thinks that expressing their dissatisfaction about public policy in this destructive manner is appropriate because this dogmatic approach was infused into the public psyche during Gandhi's time. 
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


How women lost their rights

In the prehistoric era, males and females had equal rights. As society became more organized, men seized women’s rights by infusing an inferiority complex in various arenas of life. For instance, on various religious pretexts, it was imposed that women were not entitled to liberation. This occurred in Hinduism where women had to be reborn as men in order to gain liberation, or in Islam which stated that three women were equal to one man in voting rights, or in Catholicism where women could not be priests. All these dogmas were introduced to prevent women from having equal rights - a grave injustice. Unfortunately, in those respective societies, people thought that there was nothing wrong with these dogmatic practices. Yet, today in most countries of the world, equal rights for women have been enshrined in legislation, though the battle for actual equal rights still rages on.


Selfishness in materialism - part I

Here is another critical case of how the values of society have changed. The self-centered philosophy has spread world-wide and, gradually, people are becoming more and more selfish. This is the general flow, and it is evident in the common manner of speech and expression in capitalist society. For instance, in their general parting, many people write or say, "Take care", which means, 'Take care of yourself.' However, when one thinks about it, this is a completely self-centered and selfish form of expression.
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Another instance of the extreme selfishness of capitalist society is that, in many families, the relations between parents and children have completely degenerated. One example of this is that the sense of parental duty towards the children has greatly diminished. For this reason, families easily break up, and the parents may kick the children out of the house, or the children leave because they are abused. As a result, in many nations around the world today, there are so many abused and neglected children that the state has had to create different "social welfare" centers to care for such abused children. A second cause for the degeneration of the family in capitalist society is that people view having children as a way to invest in their own personal care for the future so that in their old age, these children will help them. In that sense, children are just a "capitalist investment" in exchange for care later on.


Selfishness in materialism - part II

The negative behaviours rampant in families throughout capitalist society are the outcome of a self-centered philosophy, and that is why children and parents often develop severely dysfunctional relations. Indeed, there are hardly any children in materialistic nations where grown children live with their aged parents in order to care for their well-being. Most often, those elderly parents are placed in old-age homes, i.e. institutions. Moreover, there is also the element that the elderly parents feel so distant from their children that they do not want to live with them even if they do need the help. 
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And on this point of selfishness, there should not be any confusion that materialists keep pets because they are proponents of animal rights etc. Rather, people keep pets not for feelings of animal welfare, but so they can selfishly control another entity, or because they are unable to get along with other humans. Many times even their own children do not want to follow their selfish orders, so, to satisfy themselves, they keep some animals. And such people usually talk and gossip with their cats and dogs to relieve their loneliness. They also know that regardless of what they do the dog or cat is not going to oppose them.

Baba's teaching is that capitalism is a self-centered philosophy. And now, the whole world is being influenced by this psychic disease of selfishness such that people are always thinking about themselves, planning for themselves, talking about themselves, and praising themselves. It is not only accepted in society, it is also encouraged.

Self-praise brings degeneration - part I

One of the hallmarks of self-centered philosophy is self-praise. This is everywhere; people perpetually glorify themselves, but this degenerates the mind and brings their ruination. Verily, Baba warns us that if someone does everything for their own prestige it will lead to their destruction.
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Ananda Marga ideology says, "Even people of wisdom, of high social status-- even so called intellectual and accomplished scientists and philosophers who are always concerned with earning high respect for themselves or saving their own prestige...they deliberately refuse to realise that these petty objectives of their egos will infuse their minds with meanness, as a result of which all their egoistic respect, prestige, and status will ultimately be pulverized into dust." (1)

Unfortunately, as the general society has become degenerated and affected by self-propaganda and self-praise, even good people have also fallen into this trap. In their degenerated state, they become grossly energized by praising themselves because their minds have become stained by the dogma of a self-centered philosophy. 


Self-praise brings ruination - part II

Baba guides us that those involved in self-glorification suffer from a psychic defect, and, in turn they become even more degenerated. Baba warns us about what happens to those driven by vanity and ego. 

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "It often happens that whatever one assimilates, one considers to be one's own achievement, and the ego becomes inflated like a croaking frog. Just as a frog considers itself to be bigger than others--just as the frog, in its vanity, to demonstrate its size, tries to inflate itself more and more until it bursts--so those who have assimilated only a little of the psychic world become puffed up with vanity and thereby invite their own ruin. (2)

In the above teaching, Baba makes two key points.
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(1) Those who have a little knowledge start thinking about their own glory. In result, they get puffed up with vanity and go around praising their own existence.

(2) When people are very self-centered they sing their own kiirtan, i.e. their own self-praise. They are so self-absorbed they do not even care what other people around them think.

Ananda Marga ideology states, "'Kiirtaniiya' sada'harih'. Kiirtana should be done on Hari (Parama Purusa) and on no other entity. One should not praise oneself or any other person. There are many people who are very fond of praising themselves by telling everyone what wonderful things they have done, but as mentioned in this shloka, kiirtana is not for one's own self but for Hari. Even though people are taught to do kiirtan for Hari, they still make the mistake of praising themselves too much. Sometimes their self-praise is so intense that others are obliged to say, 'Please stop praising yourself so much'. They forget that their self-applause is rather boring for others. Human beings should realise that no one likes to hear the self-praise of others." (3)

In His teaching, Baba is guiding us that human beings are to do the kiirtan of Parama Purusa. It is His glory we are to sing. But, unfortunately, those guided by materialistic, selfish tendencies become completely egocentric such that all they can do is sing their own praise. This is a pitiful, pathetic, and lowly state of mind.
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Specialty of tantra: serve others

Our tantric culture is completely different. Tantra is founded on the ethic of helping and serving others and thinking about their well-being - all done taking cosmic ideation. The basic spirit is: "It is my duty to serve all". This is the spirit of Tantra. 

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “Bear in mind that you have a duty towards – indeed, you owe a debt to – every creature of this universe, but towards you, no one has any duty; from others, nothing is due.” (4)

The basic outlook is:, "Don't think about your own problems. Think about others' problems and help them resolve their difficulties." In essence, be selfless, not selfish. This is the drastic difference between materialism and spirituality, or self-centered philosophy and God-centered philosophy.


Conclusion

The overall message is that from era to era the dominant philosophy has a dramatic effect on the mentality and values of the people. Philosophies like Buddhism, Gandhism, and self-centered philosophy have hastened the demise and degeneration of society, as has the imposition of various religious dogmas. The tantric and neo-humanistic teachings of Ananda Marga ideology can lift society up from the mud and into a whole new golden era where cardinal human values are cherished and spirituality is embraced. 
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Vanii states, “All the beings of this universe are the kith and kin of one another. No one is despicable. All are equally respectable and entitled to equal love and affection. No problem is to be ignored as an individual or group affair. Every problem is to be considered as the collective problem of universal humanity and is to be resolved collectively and resolved it must be. Let it be the vocal panorama of the newer world of today – the continuous musical notes behind the movement of Neohumanism.” (5)

Sadguru Baba explains, “Ananda Marga alone is dharma and all the rest are sectisms.” (6)

In Him,
Gaurishankar


Self-praise brings degeneration - part III

In so many teachings, Baba warns us about what happens to those who foolishly run after their own prestige and self-glory.

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “Gaorava is the second type of ahaḿkára. It means “self-aggrandizement”. Puffed up with vanity, a person will want to project his or her image in an exaggerated manner. Often we hear somebody say, for example, that they have a rose the size of a balloon in their garden – whereas actually the rose may be the size of a ping-pong ball. Constant indulgence in this type of activity converts the mind into matter.” (7)

So, according to Baba, we should not praise ourselves and, in consequence, invite our ruination. Rather, we are to sing His praise and His praise only. 
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Ananda Marga ideology states, “Vanity harms the mind in three ways: abhimána or inflated ego, gaorava or self-aggrandizement, and pratiśt́ha or prestige.” (8)


References
1. Subháśita Saḿgraha Part 3, Supreme Benevolence and Mundane Pleasure (Shreya and Preya)
2. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shiva’s Teachings – 1 (Discourse 10)
3. Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 8, “The Lord Should Always Be Praised”
4. Caryacarya - 2, Sadhana, Point #3
5. Ánanda Váńii #58
6. Subhasita Samgraha – 1, The Call of the Supreme
7. Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 23, Safeguards against the Defects of Jiṋána and Karma
8. Subháśita Saḿgraha Part 10, Taking the Opposite Stance in Battle


== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==

You are all-pervading

"Prabhu toma'r liila' apa'r, buddhite ke bujhite pa're..." (Prabhat Samgiita #0507)

Purport:

Prabhu, Your divine liila is beyond all human comprehension. Merely relying upon one's own intellect, who can understand Your vast cosmic play - no one. So many things are continually unfolding in the universe. This is all a display of Your grand liila. When I try to understand the reason why this is happening, I do not have any answer. Baba, You are present in form as well as in the unexpressed universe. You reside within everything and are also surrounding each and every manifestation. You are infinite - hiding in the form of flora and fauna, plants and animals. You are concealing Yourself within them and enveloping them also. 

Baba, You are present in the depths of the deep blue ocean as well as on the whitish, foggy tall mountain peaks. Wherever I look and even in the places that I cannot see, everything resides within Your mind, and You are surrounding that as well. 

Parama Purusa, You are in the poreless solid rocks and also in all the revolving seasons; You are all-pervading, and remain in the animate as well as inanimate entities; You are everywhere. Baba, whatever I think and even what I do not think, everything resides within Your mind. You are so vast.

Baba, Your liila is fathomless; I long for Your causeless grace...


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