Baba
Sadhana: family member became obstacle
Namaskar,
In those early days, while taking initiation, Shrii Somnath Upadhayay gave up his sacred thread and sacred hair that was indicative of his birth into a so-called brahmin family. At the time, Somnathji was working as a bank cashier and leading a relatively normal life. Seeing this, all his relations were very upset and frustrated with him. They thought he had joined one Muslim sect etc. In particular, his wife was very unhappy with what had transpired. She was not at all pleased by seeing her husband renounce those Hindu rituals, i.e. sacred thread and sacred hair. Not only that, but so many changes were going on; for instance, he had adopted a sattvika (sentient) diet, and there were other lifestyle modifications as well.
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Wife bangs a metal plate near his ear
His wife was sad and became fearful that he would leave the house entirely. She confronted him directly about this and demanded, "Do not do sadhana; you are going to leave me and become a monk. I want you to go back to your old ways of living."
She was becoming a big obstacle and creating terrible problems for him. Somnathji tried to reassure and convince his wife that everything was alright, but to no avail. When he sat for sadhana, then she would bang a metal plate near his ear by striking the plate with a big metal spoon. Not only that, she did all sorts of harassment to interrupt and stop his sadhana. But Somnathji did not want to leave his spiritual practices.
That only made his wife more intent on ruining his meditation practice. To not rile her and invite her anger, Somnathji began doing his sadhana in his personal room so that his wife would not see him. But that did not stop her. Instead, she would just bang loudly on the door. And she would do other things to disturb and torment him at the time of sadhana.
Sometimes she would even intentionally add too much salt to his food so it was almost unpalatable. And she would make life difficult for him in other ways. Somnathji tried various methods to convince his wife and calm her down, but nothing worked. She remained upset and was crying all day long.
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Why huge opposition in sadhana
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “The avidyá force declares war on those whose desire or inclination is towards vidyá [sadhana]; this gives rise to a hostile tendency in the recesses of their minds, against which they have to struggle. At home the husband, wife or the other members of the family become dissatisfied with them, and create various obstacles. In the field of their activities the opportunities arise for depravity, meanness, bribes etc., and they have to maintain their self-control. The locusts of desires come swarming in to destroy the very bud of their sádhaná. So they must carefully avoid such temptations for their own safety. But those whose movement is truly towards vidyá, who are determined to follow the path of vidyá by sacrificing their all, will eventually become immune to all obstacles. No amount of scornful taunts or diatribes will be able to check their lightning speed. They will emerge victorious, weathering and defying all storms.” (1)
Ananda Marga ideology states, “When in the course of sadhana one attains the state of yatamána, then obstacles appear from all sides. Family members create obstructions. The environment creates obstructions...Do you understand? You have to exercise control at this stage.” (2)
Ananda Marga philosophy says, “So the beginning of true sádhaná is marked by great resistance from Avidyámáyá, which, through the obstacles it creates, tries to compel one to give up sádhaná. In its attempts to subdue Avidyámáyá, sádhaná will naturally meet resistance from the evil force of Avidyámáyá. Obstacles in sádhaná (intuitional practices) should be regarded as an indication of one’s success in one’s attempt to remove Avidyámáyá….Obstacles in sádhaná should be regarded as good signs, indicating that the influence of Avidyámáyá is beginning to wane.” (3)
Family acaryas arrive to help
Finally, Somnathji asked local family acaryas to come and speak with her one-on-one. Somnathji wanted them to come and reassure her that everything was alright. So family acaryas like Ac. Devi Chand Sharma ji, Ac. Kedar Sharma ji, and Ac Ksitij ji each came. They tried hard to assuage her fears and fix this problem. They told her that her husband was involved in dharmic practices and that he would not leave her and become a sannyasi. They patiently explained to her that sadhana is very positive and helpful for family life. They tried to reassure her and inspire her in various ways. But she yelled and screamed at them. She was very frustrated by what they were saying and abused and threatened them: "You are a liar, you took away my husband. He used to eat onion and garlic, but now no more. He left Hinduism and is doing all kinds of things in his room!" Their visits did nothing to diminish her anxieties. She was so feisty and abusive that nobody wanted to go again and try to convince her.
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"You stole my husband”
Just when it seemed like it had hit rock bottom, she would do something even more extreme. Their house was on a road that margiis would travel on and she would cry out and say, "You stole my husband and ruined my family." Everyone in Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha who came across her was shocked by her dealing and nobody wanted to go and console her and tell her that everything was alright. Upon seeing anyone from AMPS, she would just become more irate and volatile.
The situation became more negative: She stopped cooking food for herself and her husband. She refrained from eating anything and told him to leave the path of Ananda Marga. Not only that, she stopped breastfeeding their very young infant. She even cut her forehead with a metal rod to hurt herself and attract attention. The whole situation was completely unbearable and dangerous.
Finally, Somnathji thought, "Only You Baba can save this situation, if You wish. My wife stopped taking food this morning; she is going to become ill and die; and my newly-born child is also not being fed and will surely die. No one around here can help; all attempts have failed. Being the Omniscient Entity, You know all this so I am not going to tell You in person. You know my thoughts. Only You can save the situation, if You so desire. Without that my whole life will be hellish. No acarya can solve this matter. Baba, the situation is so severe; this is beyond what anyone can do. If You like, You may resolve this matter."
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Baba's darshan at jagrti
Those were the thoughts of Somnathji one morning, and that very afternoon, Baba made a surprise visit to Ranchi. Upon His arrival at Ac. Devi Chand's house, Baba, the all-knowing Parama Purusa, told that Somnath was facing a big problem that needed to be resolved. Baba told Ram Lakhan's brother Ramakant to bring Somnath's wife to the ashram. Ramakant conveyed Baba's guideline to all concerned family acaryas and margiis etc. They all felt that something should be done. All felt an inner duty to follow Guru's order, but no one wanted to go and face the wrath of Somnath's wife. That was the predicament. They were all afraid of her abusive manner.
So they collectively discussed what to do and they decided that they should all go together en masse to visit Somnath's wife. After the 1 or 2 kilometer journey, they reached her house and found that she was no longer so furious. They invited her to come to the ashram and see Baba. Amazingly, she did not abuse them, rather she contemplated the matter and decided that she would go.
She went to the Ranchi jagrti and by Baba's grace her entire mind-set was transformed. She saw so many people: females, children etc. She was very happy with their demeanor and dealing, and she asked how she could become a margii. All were astonished to see the change and encouraged her to learn sadhana. Baba was there conducting Personal Contact (PC), and she was very curious. So she attended general darshan and just by being there in His Presence, all her doubts and concerns melted. She thought how all have come for Baba. She was interested to learn sadhana and she ultimately became a very good and active margii. Over time, she told her story to others and asked new people to keep an open-mind when first coming in contact with the ways and teachings of Ananda Marga.
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How sadhana is a fight to defeat obstacles
1. When any bhakta is in problem then Guru is also affected. He cannot remain indifferent or apathetic. That is why Baba rushed to Ranchi and requested them to bring Somnath's wife to the ashram. Baba changed her mind and she became cooperative and turned into a bonafide margii. Baba wholly transformed her entire being and resolved Somnath's problem.
2. When new people see many margiis they feel they are part of something special and their concerns and frustrations are eased. They get a psychic boost. That is why it is important to bring new people and even half-margiis to big programs where they will get inspired and become active.
3. It is the duty and dharma of every Ananda Margii to fight against obstacles. On the path of dharma, there will always be difficulties and hurdles. By overcoming such hindrances, the sadhaka proceeds onwards towards the Goal. As Baba says in Ananda Sutram, obstacles are helping forces on the spiritual journey. To shy away from those difficulties is to lose the path and invite degeneration. Overcoming those obstacles establishes the aspirant on the path of sadhana.
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4. The condition of non-sadhakas is like slaves. They are under the bondage of avidya maya, goaded by animal propensities. They live like brutes. Maya is very happy seeing their situation and ignorant people do not recognise their plight. They are in misery but they are also happy. They are slaves and avidya maya is the master. But when that non-margii becomes a sadhaka then avidya maya does not like that. No master wants its slave to walk away. So avidya maya creates all sorts of problems to stop their progress on the path of sadhana. In result, newly initiated sadhakas face all kinds of problems but if they are sincere then avidya maya gives up. That is what happened with Somnath ji. So every sadhaka should be careful: When obstacles come then do not run away. After some time the obstacles will disappear.
Those on the path of tantra sadhana, i.e. on the path of Ananda Marga, should be vigilant to fight against every problem that confronts them. By this way their success is assured. Sadguru Baba will always be gracious and watch for their continued progress so they can attain moksa.
Conclusion
Sadguru saves all His bhaktas and solves all their problems by His darshan. Guru darshan helps.
Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Ananda Mayii
~ In-depth study ~
Obstacles in sádhaná should be regarded as good signs
Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, “Only success in sádhaná can make Avidyámáyá loosen its hold. So the beginning of true sádhaná is marked by great resistance from Avidyámáyá, which, through the obstacles it creates, tries to compel one to give up sádhaná. In its attempts to subdue Avidyámáyá, sádhaná will naturally meet resistance from the evil force of Avidyámáyá. Obstacles in sádhaná (intuitional practices) should be regarded as an indication of one’s success in one’s attempt to remove Avidyámáyá...If one is to win, Prakrti has to be defeated with the weapon of sádhaná, against which Avidyámáyá defends itself by placing obstacles in one’s way. Obstacles in sádhaná should be regarded as good signs, indicating that the influence of Avidyámáyá is beginning to wane.” (4)
Ananda Sutram guides us, "Obstacles in fact are no foes on the path of sádhaná [spiritual practice], but indeed friends. They only do service to a person. It is on account of these obstacles that the battle rages against them, and this counter-effort alone carries the sádhaka [spiritual aspirant] to his or her cherished goal." (5)
Way to overcome avidyámáyá
Ananda Marga ideology teaches us, “In the sphere of Brahma sádhaná only Brahma is the goal, only Brahma is to be meditated upon. Spiritual aspirants must not entertain any thought about the impediments which may arise at the time of meditation, but focus their minds upon the supreme culminating point. To establish a heavenly kingdom in this mundane world human beings will have to fight tirelessly against the internal and external demons. But this does not mean that the demons should become the object of ideation.” (6)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, " Avidyámáyá will disturb a person in the beginning, but once defeated, it will not be able to create any hindrance to the pursuit of intuitional practice." (7)
Ananda Marga ideology says, “Even after getting human life, only a few get the opportunity to listen to dharmika discourses. Among those, only a few develop the desire to practise dharma sádhaná. And even among these, only a few actually grasp the spirit of Sádhaná. Those rare ones who understand, perform sádhaná, and reach the goal are truly blessed. In the effort to perfect oneself, even if one faces obstacles and hindrances from one’s elders and near ones, one must ignore them.” (8)
References
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 3, Supreme Benevolence and Mundane Pleasure (Shreya and Preya)
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 10, Vyatireka – the Stage of Control
3. Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy, Intuitional Practice and Its Necessity
4. Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy, Intuitional Practice and Its Necessity
5. Ananda Sutram, Chapter 3, Purport of Sutra 3-10
6. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 8, The Macrocosmic Stance and Human Life
7. Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy, Why Are People Afraid of Intuitional Practice?
8. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3, The Requirements for Sádhaná
Plagiary?
It is the accepted international standard and Baba's system not to copy another's work and publish it in your own way. Baba has given a very strict rule on plagiarism. Why is Baba against plagiarism or stealing someone's work? There are many reasons:
1) It is against the code of asteya (non-stealing).
2) Countless stories of bhaktas need to be published. But some do not want to do the hard work of compiling and writing these stories, so they just steal them from others. But new stories need to be told, otherwise so many unpublished stories of sadhakas will be lost and forgotten forever. So watch out for story thieves, and kindly help them not to steal by posting on social media in their own way. If you want to forward this story then attach the following yellow section with the story:
“Courtesy of unknown bhakta via Ananda Marga Universal (https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/)”
This will be treated as the standard protocol.
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
== Section 2: Important Teaching ==
Vaeshyan exploitation exposed
Prout philosophy states, “Whatever dignity a person possesses as a human being in either the Kśatriya Age or the Vipra Age is dealt its heaviest blow in the Vaeshya Age. In the Vaeshya Age a person's dignity is measured in terms of money. The repercussions of this defective evaluation of human beings are not confined only to the realm of dignity; they have far-reaching effects in all spheres of society.” (1)
Prout philosophy states, “In the Vaeshya Age this religious exploitation is more psychic than physical, because the vaeshyas 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 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.” (2)
References
1. Human Society - 2, The Vaeshya Age
2. Human Society - 2, The Vaeshya Age
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Fruitless penance
Ananda Marga ideology states, “People’s life becomes mechanical, if they are overwhelmed with the sentiment that they must do such acts, must perform such yajiṋa, must rise in this manner and sit in this manner and get up in this manner and so on. Such a person is not happy and this type of ritualism cannot be called real Karma. To serve others at one’s sacrifice is called penance. In the absence of love any service or penance is for show and is therefore fruitless.” (1)
Reference
1. Subhasita Samgraha -1, Yajiṋa and Karmaphala
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Such human-shaped animals are prowling about
Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, "There are people, however, who have opposite feelings. They burn in envy to see someone happy, and make an all out effort to put them in danger. On seeing someone in distress, they think: “Rightly served. As you sow, so you reap. Let their troubles augment.” Such human-shaped animals are prowling about in many fields of life, including the field of politics."
"There are some people who, on seeing someone engaged in noble work, try to stop that person; for example, when someone belonging to the opposite camp is trying to help the neglected, downtrodden, people badly hit by famine or flood, they think that [through their philanthropic acts] their adversaries may become popular, and so they must be opposed. There are people who, on seeing someone engaged in harmful activity or malevolent endeavours, encourage them in crude, bestial activities so that they can directly exploit the opportunity for their own benefit." (1)
Reference:
1. Shabda Cayaniká Part 4, Disc: 27
== Section 3: Links ==
Story: use almanac when traveling
Dos & don'ts about clapping
Story: Baba came in dark night out of the blue
Tied up humans
