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Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Very sweet relation + 3 more

Baba
Very sweet relation

Namaskar,

Here we consider why having a relation with Parama Purusa is the top most ideal - and has no comparison with mundane relations. Every human being longs to have relations with others. All want company; no one wants to be alone. But maintaining relations with other human beings is not permanent. That friend or spouse might drift away from you emotionally; that individual may die; and, verily, so many things might happen that demonstrate how the relation is fleeting - impermanent.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Life is dry & hollow

Another inherent limitation with human-to-human relations is that you cannot say everything you wish to share with that person. For instance, you may feel that if you tell them your weaknesses, then they may hate you. So there will always be some type of gap as you can share only certain limited things with that person. In result, your heart is not fully quenched in this relation.

In contrast, the all-knowing Parama Purusa is already aware of your pluses and minuses, i.e. everything about you. Even then Parama Purusa has unbarred love for you and Parama Purusa is always with you. He alone is your real well-wisher. Parama Purusa will never leave you, not in this life nor after your death. Even without your awareness He always helps you. So one is assured that they can share all their feelings, everything with Him.


Parama Purusa responds


That is one of the great benefits of having a relationship with Parama Purusa. So it is important to form a relationship with Him. Some fail to make a relation with Him so they feel that Parama Purusa is not aware about their miseries etc. They wrongly think Parama Purusa is not listening.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Yet when one has a relation with Him then they will feel in their heart and mind and realize that Parama Purusa indeed responds. And when one feels this from Him, then that is when real bhakti starts. That is when one's heart and mind are filled with love for Parama Purusa. And one yearns to have Him closer and still more close. No mundane relation can ever give that type of bliss and happiness. So everyone should cultivate that spiritual link with Him. This relationship is eternal - permanent.

Hence, to whatever degree one is blessed to build a relationship with Him, it will last your entire lifetime and carry over into the next life. There is never any loss. It just grows and grows, by His grace. And meditation is the way to initiate the relation.


Conclusion

Mundane relations are short-lived. So that mundane relationship is impermanent and shallow. You can't tell that person everything. That is the biggest drawback. In contrast, one's link with Parama Purusa is everlasting and eternal. Parama Purusa can never forget or leave you. So with Parama Purusa you can open your heart completely. That is the key. One other unique quality of one's relationship with Parama Purusa is that Parama Purusa will never disagree with you outwardly, but internally He will warn you about traveling down the wrong path. Parama Purusa will support you in all your efforts.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Bearing all this in mind, one should aim to develop an intimate relationship with Him. Then you will feel real meaning and fulfilment in your life. Otherwise, life is dry and hollow.

In Him,
Paravidya’

There are various types of relations - father, mother, friend, or very intimate etc - with Parama Purusa.

~ In-depth study ~

God’s relation with human beings is a family relation


Ananda Marga ideology states, “It is wrong to presume that by reading voluminous books or by delivering beautiful lectures, one can attain Parama Puruśa. No scholarship nor even literacy is required to meet God. The future of those who are uneducated is also bright. God’s relation with human beings is a family relation. When parents feed the children, they do not give four chapatis to the son who is a Master of Arts and only one to the next son who is only a matriculate. For parents, all their children are equal. Similarly, for God all persons are equal for the spiritual food He will give them. Really, the love of parents is dependent not upon the education of the children but upon the children’s attachment for the parents.” (1)

Ananda Marga ideology states, “There is a family relation between the Father and the son, and because of this family relation, the intimacy between the two will keep growing, and the internal thoughts will also remain very, very pure.” (2)


Nearest relation: God

Ananda Marga ideology states, “A devotee will practise ásana, práńáyáma, dhárańá and dhyána, and during this practice he will have one thought uppermost in his mind – that the Entity on whom he is ideating is his nearest relation, and no one is nearer to him than his Lord. Because of this, a devotee’s mind will become highly expanded in a short period.” (3)


Bhaktas are the wisest people; the pundits are foolish


Ananda Marga ideology states, “Devotees are the wisest people; the pundits are foolish. Pundits foolishly waste their time trying to know something which is beyond the periphery of the mind. Devotees, on the contrary, try to make the best use of their time. They are well aware of their relation to Parama Puruśa; they know that He is their Creator, and they are His creation. So the relation between the devotee and His Lord is one of creation and creator. This inseparable relation of Creator-creation has been mentioned in the sloka: Vishvasya Sraśtáramkanewaru pam. It is a very personal and familiar relationship. Parama Puruśa is not a judge, nor are the individuals the accused. The relationship between Parama Puruśa and the unit beings is a sweet and familiar one. The devotees remind the pundits that their attempts are exercises in futility, and declare unambiguously that they belong to Parama Puruśa, and Parama Puruśa belongs to them.” (4)

Human beings want a personal God


   Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “One feels kinship to those with whom there is a relation of mutual love and affection, a relation of close intimacy. Where there is lack of intimacy, we call a person as Mr. X, Mrs. Y, etc.; but where there is a feeling of intimacy, the relationship of brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, etc. grows. Obviously where there is no close intimacy between human beings and the Impersonal Entity, no kinship can grow at all.”
   “Human beings want a personal God who will understand their joys and sorrows, who will have love for them, and to whom they can express love and feel kinship. They certainly do not want a God who will only impart words of knowledge or punish them and not listen to their tales of sorrow in a sympathetic manner. They want an Entity who will sympathize with them cent per cent in their prosperity and adversity alike.”
   “The philosophical texts refer to Táraka Brahma. Through philosophical analysis, we know that the universe is a creation of the dexterous hand of Parama Prakrti, a vast endless Entity, an immensely powerful Entity. Human beings, in contrast, are only small creatures; by their individual endeavour and strength how far can they progress? They have so many imperfections in them. When the avidyá, opposing force, is so powerful, how can small individuals make significant progress? Hence, they have to take inspiration and help from some other entity...Táraka Brahma.” (5)


You are powerful & beautiful child of Parama Puruśa


Ananda Marga ideology states, “Suppose there are two young boys – a prince and a farmer’s son. The prince becomes a king, but the farmer’s son merely plays the role of a king in a play. You are all the children of Parama Puruśa, and thus you are His princes and princesses. You should never allow any inferiority complex to dominate your minds. Always remember the Supreme Truth that you are the powerful and beautiful children of Parama Puruśa. You are destined to be victorious.” (6)


Madhura bháva


   Ananda Marga philosophy states, “In the cult of devotion, devotees view Parama Puruśa from their respective viewpoints according to their individual saḿskáras….. in three different ways: vátsalya bháva, madhura bháva and sakhya bháva.”
“People might say, “I will never look at Him again” – but then the flute sound would come to their ears and they would say, “How can I not look at him?” Or they might say, “I will never even think of Him again, but will remain content to look after my little worldly family” – but then the notes would call to them: “Why didn’t you come today? Are you not coming? I’m waiting for You.” This is madhura bháva. In the history of the world, Parama Puruśa first appeared as the personification of charm and sweetness...” (7)

References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Your Personal Relationship with God
2. Discourses on Tantra  - 2, Yoga and Tantra
3. Discourses on Tantra  - 2, Yoga and Tantra
4. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 3, To Know Him Is to Be Free from All Fetters
5. Subhasita Samgraha - 11, A Devotee's Object of Ideation
6. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 10, The Devotee and the Lord
7. Namami Krsnasundaram, Vraja Krśńa and Sáḿkhya Philosophy (Discourse 7)


== Section: Important Teaching ==

Definition of a great person

Ananda Marga ideology states, “महत्‌ कौन हैं ? महत्‌ के सम्बन्ध में | जानते हो शब्द है महत्‌, प्रथमा एकवचन है महान् | तो, महान् कौन है ? महत्‌ कौन है ? इस सम्बन्ध में कहा गया क्या ? न, ‘परोपकारात्‌ महत्‌ इति ज्ञेयम्‌’ | अर्थात्‌ जो परोपकार करते हैं, उन्हीं को महत्‌ कहते हैं | और, जो काफ़ी लिखा-पढ़ी सीखे हैं, काफ़ी धनराशि इकट्ठा किए हैं, काफ़ी मान लो पूर्व पुरुष का सम्मान है, सामाजिक प्रतिष्ठा है, सब कुछ है, तो भी वह महत्‌ नहीं है | क्यों ? न, परोपकारात्‌ महत्‌ इति ज्ञेयम्‌ | परोपकार जो करते हैं, वही महत्‌ हैं | और, परोपकार के लिए अधिक धनराशि की भी आवश्यकता नहीं है | तुम्हारे पास जो सम्पद है, उस मौजूदा सम्पद से तुम परोपकार करो | शरीर मज़बूत है तो शरीर से करो | पैसा है, पैसे से करो | बुद्धि है, बुद्धि से करो | क़ुव्वत है, क़ुव्वत से करो | कुछ नहीं है, सद्भावना से करो | [मार्गी लोग---"बाबा, बाबा, बाबा !"] | तो, परोपकार से ही मनुष्य महत्‌ बनते हैं | और जहाँ परोपकार नहीं है, वहीं वे क्षुद्र बन जाते हैं, छोटा बन जाते हैं” (1)

Here below is an English summary of Baba’s above Hindi teaching.

Who is mahat (great)? who is maha'na (great)? About this it has been said, 'paropaka'rat mahat', i.e. those who serve others are mahat. Even if one has studied volumes of books, or accumulated huge wealth, or has a prestigious family heritage, or a good reputation in the society, they are not great if they do not serve others. Only those who serve others are mahat (great). To do social service, huge money is not needed. Whatever strength you have, utilise that to serve others. If your body is strong physically then serve people with your physical might. If you have money, then serve people financially. If you have intellect then serve others with that capacity. If you have courage then serve others by your bravery. And if you do not have anything, then serve others with your good thoughts and well-wishing. Human beings become great by serving others. If a person does not serve they become low and mean. They become meager.

Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 28 (H), chapter 19


== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==

हे परमपुरुष! बाबा, तुम मेरी अंधेरी झोपड़ी में आये

प्रभात संगीत 3042 अंधकार घरे मोर के गो एले...

भावार्थ:-

हे परमपुरुष! तुम कौन हो जो मेरी अंधेरी झोपड़ी में आये हो? मैं तो
यहाॅं अकेला उदास बैठा था। मैं तो सोचता था कि मेरी चिंता करने वाला कोई नहीं
है और न ही मेरा कोई भविष्य है। इसी बीच मैं देख ही नहीं पाया कि किस रास्ते
से तुम आ गये। तुम्हारे आगमन से मैं अनभिज्ञ था, हे मेरे प्रभु ! कृपा कर मुझे
बताइये कि तुम कैसे और कब यहाॅं आये?

हे परमपुरुष! बाबा, तुमने दरवाजा भी नहीं खटखटाया, तुम बिना इशारा किये दबे पाॅंव
मेरे घर में आ गये। हे अद्वितीय! तुम अपनी भव्य प्रकाशित सुंदरता लिये मेरे
हृदय में आये। तुमने अपनी  दिव्य उपस्थिति से सभी को प्रकाशित कर दिया है।
बाबा! तुमने मुझ जैसे तुच्छ साधक को, जो कि तुम्हारे धार्मिक नियमों
का पालन भी नहीं करता ,तो भी उसे अपनी अहैतुकी कृपा वृष्टि में स्नान करा दिया
है।

हे परमपुरुष बाबा! तुम्हारे अलौकिक सौंदर्य से आकर्षित मैं आश्चर्य भरे
नेत्रों से तुम्हारी ओर ही देख रहा हॅूं। मैं तुम्हारे लीला रस में अभिभूत हो
गया हॅूं। हे बाबा! मैंने तुम्हें पा लिया यह तुम्हारी ही कृपा है। तुम
लीलासागर हो,  यही तुम्हारी साक्षात् करुणा है। मैं अपनी भावनाओं को
प्रदर्शित  करने के लिये शब्द ही नहीं पा रहा हॅूं। अब तो मेरी एक ही इच्छा
है, बाबा ! मुझे अपनी दिव्य शरण में हमेशा  बनाये रखो।

बाबा, तुम्हें मेरा सतत प्रणाम 

== Section 3: Links ==


Monday, March 18, 2024

Spiritual outlook on death + 3 more

Baba
Spiritual outlook on death

Namaskar,

Paying off debt...Purchasing a house...Saving for retirement...Gaining name, fame, money, prestige, beauty etc, etc. All these plans and programs are rampant in today's materialistic society. People consider and plan for their personal enjoyment many decades into the future. They basically think they will be on this earth forever. Certainly, some may say, "One day I am going to die", but there is nothing going on in their life that points to the idea that they really believe this.

Their entire life outlook, structure, and planning demonstrate that they feel they will remain on this earth forever - or at least for so long that they need not think about death. Most aim for material wealth and comfort, name and fame, and various temporary gains - thinking that those things will keep them happy forever. And they say that, "When I retire (at the age of 65 or so) then life will be glorious: I will have xxx amount of money and lots of free time." People begin planning for this “golden era” of their life when they are merely 25 years old, or even younger.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Future of those who indulge in worldly pleasures


For such persons, their life revolves around the false notion that they have come here to remain permanently on this earth - as if this place is their eternal abode. They do not think that one day they will leave. Nor do they contemplate that their death could come as early as today or tomorrow. This outlook is quickly spreading from western materialistic nations to all countries of the globe, wherever materialism is in vogue. However, as we know, this type of mentality is not helpful as it runs contrary to our spiritual ideal and Guru’s guidelines. Plus it invites, at minimum, two serious deficiencies in the practical sphere.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

There are two main character flaws which manifest when one thinks of this world as their final abode:

#1: People fail to utilise their life to do truly good works that will enhance their progress, i.e. increase their proximity to Parama Purusa. They do not engage in a life of sadhana and service. Instead they spend their time in mundane pleasures on this earth, going from one sensual longing to the next, from one indulgence to the next. But in this mundane world their desires remain unsatisfied as they don't get endless pleasure.

#2: When the time inevitably comes to confront death, either their own or their companion's, they are scared, depressed, grief-stricken, and gloomy. They utterly lack the psychic stability to deal with this basic fact of life.


Anyone’s death can come at any time

So what is it that one should do - how should we live on this earth bearing in mind our own mortality? Baba's guideline is that we should always remember the fact that this world is jagat, i.e. mobile, temporary. Nothing on this earth is fixed. This earth is samsara: everything is moving - moving towards expiration or death. That is why Guru's teaching is to remember that death can come at any time - in childhood, in adolescence, as a young adult, whenever. Nothing is certain. Our place on this earth is not permanent - at any moment we may leave this world.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "That is, during dharma'caran, i.e. dharmic pursuits [following yama and niyama, service, svadhyaya etc] one should think that the god of death has already started pulling one’s hair – that one’s death is imminent. And accordingly one should work sincerely and vigorously; one will have to do a great many noble deeds within a short period." (1)

When a person understands that death is potentially very near and can come at any time, they will attend to the most important endeavors first. It is just like if someone is planning to leave their house in 5 minutes then they will attend to the most important works: grab their keys, lock the house, and prepare to go out. They will not waste those 5 minutes in petty pursuits. Similarly, those knowing they will leave this earth soon will address the most significant points first and aim to make a link between unit and Cosmic. They will try to please Parama Purusa, and not just waste their time in fleeting pleasures. Here again is Baba's teaching about how we should view everything in this world, including our own life.

Ananda Marga ideology says, "Then, Smara nityamanityata'm. Nityam means “always” – “Remember always the transitory nature of things.” [Anityata'm means “the ephemeral”, “the transitory”.]... A thing which was born will die one day...That which comes within the scope of the spatial, temporal and personal factors will alone be born and die." (2)

One day you will have to leave this human body


All this demands a fundamental shift in outlook. Instead of thinking that, “I have come here for a long, long time.” One should think that, “I am here on borrowed time. This body has been given to me for a limited time - an extremely short time, a maximum of 100 to 150 years, not thousands of years.” In addition, one should bear in mind that they may die any time and not even see tomorrow's sunrise. In that case, a person will rush to do great things immediately and try to understand their true nature.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Tragically, most forget that this body has been given to us on loan. They think this body will last forever on this earth. This leads to lethargy and a false sense of contentment. A person will eat, drink, and be merry, and whittle away one's time. They will forget that their current energy and strength will not last. After the age of 39, the body begins to decay. One will lose energy, muscle power, hearing, eyesight etc. Plus any moment, one may be scooped away from this earth without a moment's notice. Because this body has been given on loan. And only Parama Purusa knows for how long - we do not.

As sadhakas, we should always be aware of two things: (1) Our final abode is elsewhere, (2) our body will not last long. In that case, we will maximally utilise our body for attaining salvation, not worldly pleasures 
because worldly pleasures cannot give endless peace. It is just like if a person goes to the market to get medicine for their ailing grandfather. With that goal in mind they will reach to the drug store, secure the medicine, and return home quickly with the medicine for grandfather. They will pointedly do their duty. In contrast, if one goes to the market and fails to remember their goal of getting medicine for grandfather, they will pass by the drug store and instead spend hours and hours in the cinema house, watching one movie after another - until midnight. Finally, when they leave the cinema hall they will walk to the market and find that all the shops are closed. In the end, they return home without any medicine for grandfather. So they are scolded and punished for being so neglectful.  

Similarly, degraded humans get punished by prakrti for forgetting their divine goal and instead indulging in other mundane allurements. For wasting their human life, they are punished and sent sliding down the pathway of negative pratisaincara.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Conclusion

Those on the spiritual path always remember that life is short. They understand they have no time to look left or right, i.e. indulge in worldly fancies. They always keep their mind focused front and center - i.e. “I have come here to serve and please Parama Purusa and I have no idea how long I will have this precious opportunity. So my each and every moment on this earth is for sadhana and service. I have no time for anything else.” Those who walk this earth with this ideal in mind are truly blessed.

Namaskar,
in Him,
Gunadhar

Should not run after mirages - focus on spiritual goal


Ananda Marga ideology says, "O human beings! be established in the radiance of divinity and the splendour of valour and chivalry, because yours is the path of revolution. Your path is not the path of extra caution and scheduled movement. You are the traveller of a rugged path. You are travellers of an impregnable path. You have to march ahead proudly with the flag of Marga upright. You have no time to stagger or to look behind." (3)

Ananda Marga ideology says, "O human beings, proceed ahead in the path of oṋḿkára towards subtleness. Do not run after the superficially pleasant mirage, dominated by tamoguńa. Establish yourself in sattvaguńa and then merge into Brahma. Reach the spot whence oṋḿkára has emerged. Awaken your dormant dynamism through sádhaná and devotion. Realize the mental elevation of divinity and merge this into the endless stream of divine mercy." (4)

References
1. Subhasita Samgraha, part 11, A Devotee's Object of Ideation
2. Subhasita Samgraha - 21, Niiti and Dharma
3. Subhasita Samgraha - 1, Yajiṋa and Karmaphala
4. Subháśita Saḿgraha Part 1, Prakrti Tattva and Oṋḿkára Tattva



*        *        *

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

*        *        *

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Embodiment of ideation
 
  Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "That is, if one's object of thought is a thief, what will happen? What is the psychic process? When you think something, your mind is then and there divided into two parts. One subjective part, another is objective counterpart. And when you are thinking of a bad man, or a thief, what will happen? The objective counterpart of your mind will take the form of that thief, will take the form of that bad man, and slowly what will happen? Your subjective counterpart of the mind, that is, seer portion of the mind---one portion is seer and another portion is seeing. So, seer portion of the mind will be slowly converted into that bad man, and slowly you will become a bad man. So a bad man must not be your object of ideation, should not be your object of meditation. If you think of a bad man, you will become a bad man."
   "You know, there is a particular insect in India, it is called pecasha-kiit'a. It kills cockroaches. You know the cockroach, that red insect? Yes, it kills cockroach. And cockroaches are very much afraid of that insect. So when a cockroach sees that insect, that insect becomes its object of ideation; that is, its objective counterpart of the mind  takes the form of---what? Cockroach. So what does happen? Slowly the body of the cockroach is converted into the body of that pecasha-kiit'a. That is, cockroach itself is converted into the form of its killer." (1)
 
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 30, Ideological Flow and the Eight-fold Path


== Section: Important Teaching ==

Baba eliminates veils


   Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Perhaps you know that in ancient India, there was no custom of using veils among the women. During the last part of the Pathan rule and in the early days of the Mughal period [16th-19th c.], the veil was forcibly imposed on the women of some aristocratic families in Burdwan, so that others could not see the ladies’ faces. Burdwan was the capital of Bengal.”
   “Over a period of time, the use of the veil spread to other areas. Muslim rule was not firmly established in south India, so the veil was not introduced there. You will notice that even today the women of south India use garbhakas in the evenings.”
   “I remember some years ago at Anandanagar I said that my daughters coming to Anandanagar need not cover their heads because it is the home of their father. Girls do not use veils at their parents’ house. I remember that it was the first time for the married women of north India to give up their veils. Many years have passed since then. The custom of using veils has disappeared from many urban areas of north India and is fast disappearing from the rural areas as well. That particular incident at Anandanagar set a healthy trend in this regard. This was a step forward in the direction of women’s emancipation [in north India]. An auspicious beginning indeed!” (1)

Note: Many countries in Europe have just passed and implemented laws banning veils.

Reference
1. Shabda Cayaniká Part 20, “Garbhaka”


== Section 3: Links ==

SUBJECTS TOPICS