Story: our offering to Baba + 2 more

Baba

Story: our offering to Baba

Namaskar,

One year I planted a fruit tree, and it grew in a healthy way and produced fruit, by His grace. Naturally we decided that the first piece should be offered to Baba.

 
Offering to Sadguru
 
It was our long-standing family tradition that the first fruit or yield from our farm was offered directly to Beloved Baba. This was our regular manner. Each season I would carefully pack the first yield, and when someone was going to see Baba I would give that fruit to them so they could take it to Revered Baba. With this plan in mind, we took His ideation and carefully picked the fruit from the tree, washed it, packed it, and prepared to bring it with us as we readied on our journey to see Baba. At the agreed time, my family and I went to the local railway station. We purchased our train tickets, and when the train pulled into the station we boarded and got our seats. The train left the station, and it did not take long to reach full speed.
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Dramatic event unfolded
 
Then one very dramatic event unfolded. My wife informed me that the fruit which we had carefully prepared for Baba was left behind. The entire reason for the journey was to bring the fruit to Baba. But that fruit was still at the house – not on the train.

This was an utter shock for me. I became nearly senseless and almost fainted. We were going to see Baba solely for this purpose, and now I came to know that we left the fruit behind. The whole situation was beyond comprehension. How could such a thing have happened? I was completely bewildered. And now the train is moving at peak speed.

We had no idea what to do. We just surrendered to Baba and started reciting His name. We thought, “Baba, we have no way to bring that fruit to You now. Only You can do it if You wish.”
 

Train stopped at the front of my home

Suddenly the train came to a grinding halt. I could not believe my eyes. Even more amazingly, when I looked out the train window, I saw that the train had stopped very near to the front of my house.
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My wife told me, “Don’t delay – quick, do something.”

In utter amazement, I started calling out to our caretaker who was out in the field. He heard my call. I told him to quickly bring the fruit which we had left behind. Within 5 – 7 minutes, the caretaker brought the fruit to the train and gave it to us.


Baba arranged this

We were deeply satisfied that Baba arranged this for us as it was our desire to offer this to Him. But while the train was stopped, security personnel were checking to see if someone had pulled the emergency chain to manually stop the train. But no one had done so. Rather, it was determined that the train suddenly stopped due to an engine problem. Well, that was the apparent cause anyway.In my heart, I know that the real cause behind the stoppage of the train was the fruit and Baba’s grace. 

Then, slowly slowly, the train started moving again and the journey continued at the usual speed. That day I realised that Baba personally takes care of the responsibility – regardless of the situation – and fulfills the longing. In contrast, if a person thinks they can manage the situation by themselves then Parama Purusa sits and watches.

When I think back now, I feel His presence and how He is so gracious. That time I had a deep desire to offer Him something, and it was quite satisfying that the fruit was offered to Baba and that He graciously accepted. We became so happy.
 

Parama Purusa fulfills every desire

Baba has countless bhaktas who offer all kinds of things – yet He is not in want of anything – not fruit nor anything else. Just it was the sincere desire in the heart of this ordinary disciple that He should accept this meagre offering. Such is the greatness of Baba: He accepted a humble offering. Here we can understand that Parama Purusa fulfills every desire.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
 

Mundane things are short-lived

Whether one is harbouring a good or bad thought, Parama Purusa Baba will graciously satisfy that yearning. As a sadhaka, one must not think of anything mundane or worldly. Those things are only temporary – here today and gone tomorrow. The only ideal we should cultivate is the desire to please Him. That is the most valuable blessing in life – all mundane things are short-lived. They do not last.

Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Laksman Singh
 
How to offer to Guru when He is only in Taraka Brahma form
 
To offer something to Guru, especially when He eternally resides as Taraka Brahma, is not so difficult. You know, still today this tradition of offering the first food to Guru is going on in my house. Only now, because He is present everywhere as Taraka Brahma, then the first yield of food that we used to offer to the Mahasambhuti form, these days we distribute among the needy.
 
According to Baba’s system, when Guru is eternally present only in the form of Taraka Brahma, then any food offered to Guru should be distributed to needy people, keeping the ideation that it is offered to Guru. That is Baba’s mandate when He is only available in the form of Taraka Brahma.
 
Still today this is the tradition in my house. It is His grace.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Psychic feeling is operative factor in giving

Some feel sad that the day is gone when one could offer something to Baba. But that is not true. Sadguru is ever-present, and mentally one can offer anything, anytime to Him. Plus already Ananda Margiis make offerings at the time of Guru Puja.

Regarding physical offerings, as soon as one has the idea and mentally offers that physical object to Baba then He receives it. There is no delay. He receives that offering immediately. Here we must bear in mind that offering something physically without proper mental feeling is meaningless. Whereas if one has the right mental feeling, that offering will be successful, by His grace.

Once an object is mentally offered to Baba, then that object  / offering should be donated for the welfare of others. With perishable food items like fruit, one can give that food / fruit to needy people. That is the best utilisation. Yet all should remember that the moment you mentally offer anything it reaches Him.

So the value of the offering is based on one's mental feeling. The mental feeling is everything. Nobody has missed the opportunity to give to Parama Purusa Baba. Parama Purusa is your personal property, and one can offer anything to Him this very moment by taking proper ideation.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
 
About the story teller: This first-hand account of Laksman Singh of Medininagar (Daltonganj), a very senior margii who also served as bhukti pradhan. - Eds

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.

== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==

No sign of humanity anywhere

“Nava bháve prabhu tumi eso, kánde dharitrii támasii rátri…” (Prabhat Samgiita #4392)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, Taraka Brahma, please come onto this earth in a very fresh and new way once again. The whole world is crying in pain. The cimmerian darkness of the deep, pitch-black night has permeated every pore of this world. There is not a trace of refulgence anywhere. Kindly take form and save us.

Waiting for You ages and ages have passed; so many stars have fallen. There is a lot of suffering: people are facing an unimaginable amount of agony. Day and night, people are passing the time thinking about You - Your impending arrival. And in the meantime animality is growing. There is no trace of humanity left anymore. All around the dance of sin is going on. The situation is very bad. Once again please come as Mahasambhuti.

Days go by and with the passage of time animality is mounting. There is no sign of humanity anywhere. The rule of sin is dominant in all regions. The earth has become absolutely intolerable. Please take advent as Mahasambhuti once again. Now immense crookedness, deceitfulness, hypocrisy, and dastardly dealings are everywhere. There is not an iota of sadhuness that remains anymore. The demons are dancing in every corner and trampling the path of dharma. O’ Parama Purusa, come over here to rescue humanity, establish dharma, and spread bhakti....

== Section 3: Links ==

Postings to Read

This is real work

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2018/12/why-mocked-ridiculed-3-more.html

Benefits & need of local support

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2017/03/wrong-approach-feeding-from-very-very.html

Common problem & solution

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/10/reading-is-easy-practicing-is-difficult.html

True history: Gandhi & Columbus

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2017/10/false-history-removal-2-more.html

How to feel His grace

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2017/11/why-some-feel-dry-mind-3-more.htm

This is real work + 3 more

Baba

This is real work

Note: This letter is only for those who have reverence for Sadguru Baba Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji and try to follow His Ananda Marga ideology.

Namaskar,

Sadhana is difficult because it is not easy to harness the mind in a singular direction. So when some sit to do sadhana they feel completely overwhelmed. But instead of getting frustrated and giving up, one should take it as a challenge. After all, sadhana does not mean realisation; it means effort. So, as sadhakas, we have to put forth the proper effort and not concern ourselves with the results. Naturally, however, the more sincere effort we put forth, the more we shall progress on the path. And this is the chief endeavour of life.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Misunderstanding of A & B

Here are two common misunderstandings about what is the main work in life.

(a) In rural areas, those doing manual work like digging soil or manually breaking stones feel that is the top-most job. In that same vein, some Wts think, “We are doing the real work. Those sitting in the office or in the shade at the table don’t do anything. Just moving their pen, or dancing their hands on the typewriter is meaningless. That is not the work. The work we do here in the sun, in the scorching heat, in the rain, in the hail, outside cutting wood with our hands, or directly digging soil or breaking stones in the rain and wind is the real work. It is a tough environment. In reality, others don’t do anything.” Those manual laborers, and some Wts, talk among themselves in this way.

(b) Those employed in offices, as well as some Wts, talk among themselves that, “Oh, we are extremely busy doing hard work. So many plans and programs we have to arrange. We do the real work. Those practicing long sadhana, just sitting quietly under the tree or in their room, are doing nothing. Their sadhana is not the real work.” They laugh at those doing sadhana and pass remarks, ”Lazy people just sit quietly for hours doing sadhana, and waste the time. They don’t do any work.” Those intellectual office workers and some Wts talk among themselves in this way.
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Ananda Marga ideology states, “Human life is for spiritual sádhaná only.” (1)


Sadhana is the toughest work

So group X type of people (manual laborers and some Wts) have a limited understanding and cannot understand the utmost importance of spirituality. They think doing work with their muscles and expending physical energy is the only work.

And group Y thinks that sitting in the office doing office management, planning, engineering etc are the main works. They believe that intellectual work is the main work. Some Wts think in this way.

Those manual laborers who could not grow intellectually think physical work is everything. And those white collar workers and some Wts who could not grow spiritually think psychic work is everything. Those office workers & some Wts feel they are running this whole world. With their intellectual contribution the sun and moon are rising and setting.

So in a misguided way both group X (manual laborers & some Wts) and group Y (office workers & some Wts) think that just sitting and doing long sadhana is not the work. They comment in this negative way due to their lowly understanding of and inability of practicing spiritual sadhana. After getting samvit by the grace of Taraka Brahma, one fine morning when they advance in the higher realm and start doing real sadhana, they realize that to tame the mind and goad it towards the Supreme Entity, i.e. doing sadhana, is the toughest job.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Ridicule others’ long sadhana

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “Human life is for spiritual sádhaná only.” (2)

Some fickle-minded and unfortunate people could not reach even the boundary of the spiritual realm. In their degenerated state, they ridicule others’ long sadhana and hurl foul epithets about those who sit in long sadhana and mock them. But in the future they will repent and feel sorry for their lowly dealings.

In their lifetime, every Ananda Margii will realise that sadhana is the real work. And if they could not grasp this, it means they have to go back and join in the primary school of spirituality.


Why degenerated people deride others’ sadhana

Similar things happen in other realms also. Bad people criticize the philanthropy of good people, due to fear that those who are doing good work will be appreciated by the public. Such criticizers fear they will lose whatever respect they have in the society, and that others will have more respect than they.

In the general society, among the company of runners, some can run fast and some cannot. And there is a tendency for those who cannot to try to pull the leg of those who can. Similarly, due to the influence of avidyá máyá, those who can’t do sadhana try in some or other way to disturb those doing long sadhana. By this harmful action, they incur very negative samskaras.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Sometimes WTs or LFTs jeer at others, that “Oh, Mr. So-and- So does not do any work. He/she just does long sadhana.”

You might have noted that some people who can’t do sadhana have no control on their mind. And whenever they try to do sadhana they feel completely overwhelmed. Such types of people, in order to hide their incapability, try to demean committed sadhakas, i.e. those capable of doing long sadhana. By putting down the real sadhakas, such degenerated people feel psychic satisfaction. And so they go on discouraging others from doing long sadhana. In this way the fickle-minded try to save their prestige.


Lack of sadhana: even murder

The irony is that according to Ananda Marga philosophy the main thing is spirituality. And due to a lack of sadhana and spiritual mind, all sorts of problems have erupted in our AMPS: groupism, infighting, scriptural distortion, selfishness, even murder. And according to Baba, the solution is a cosmic vision. Such an outlook gets cultivated by long hours of spiritual practice, by which mind can be trained.

Ananda Marga ideology states, “All the psychological diseases of humanity are the result of not having bhúmadrśt́i (Cosmic outlook) in life. The diseased persons do not consider others, but think only about themselves. They are busy thinking about their own families, employers, etc., and they forget everyone else. This is a terrible malady. But it is a mere expression and symptom of narrow-mindedness, the real root and reason for psychological disease. The cure is to reverse the trend of behaviour to rid the fallen human beings of narrow-mindedness. The medicine is one and only one: Brahmabháva [ideation on Supreme Consciousness].” (3)

So on one side, Ananda Marga philosophy teaches us that sadhana is the main thing; that is the reason one has come in human form. And on the other side, certain in-charges cannot manage sadhana. And because of this, they mock those who can. The whole situation is sad, preposterous, and pathetic.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

With the grace of the almighty Baba, we will overcome this nightmare in the very near future.


Conclusion

According to Ananda Marga philosophy, spiritual practice, i.e. sadhana, is the real and toughest work. Teasing others for practicing long sadhana is a veritable sin.

Ananda Marga ideology guides, “Human life is for spiritual sádhaná only.” (4)

In Him,
Ananda

~ In-depth study ~

Ananda Marga ideology guides, “Human life is for spiritual sádhaná only.” (5)

Ananda Marga Caryacarya teaches us, “An animal life is given to carnal pleasure, human life is for sádhaná.” (6)

A similar situation occurs in college and university student dormitories. Those incapable of studying properly and no patience or ability to concentrate cannot get good marks in their courses. They don’t like that others should get good grades and to prevent others’ success they mock and belittle them for studying, with the goal of blocking their progress. The very same thing occurs in the spiritual realm regarding sadhana. If they had been good persons, they would have been happy by seeing others’ progress.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/


Wise people must do long sadhana

Ananda Marga ideology states, "Those who are incapable of stopping the extroversive tendency of their organs are dull-witted, being constantly preoccupied with external activities. As their objective is physical, their whole mind cannot absorb itself in the supreme bliss of consciousness (Caetanya Sama'dhi). As a result they constantly bemoan the threefold causes of pleasure and pain, material, psychic and spiritual. So wise people must direct their minds towards the Cosmic Entity. They must  withdraw their minds from objects that ensconce themselves in their own characteristic self after introverting all their vrttis or desires. To be ensconced in one’s characteristic self is the supreme attainment of a unit being." (7)

References
1. Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 23, Oṋḿkára and Iśt́a Mantra
2. Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 23, Oṋḿkára and Iśt́a Mantra
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam 31, The Conduct of an Ácárya
4. Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 23, Oṋḿkára and Iśt́a Mantra
5. Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 23, Oṋḿkára and Iśt́a Mantra
6. Ananda Marga Caryácarya Part 2, Sádhaná (Intuitional Practice)
7. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life in a Nutshell Part 5, Matter and Spirit

== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==

Cannot be realised by one’s wits

“Tomáke buddhi bale bolo ke vá páve, buddhi tomár kripáy sabe labhe...” (Prabhat Samgiita #1028)

Purport:

Baba, no one can get You by the strength of their intellect. Parama Purusa, who can get You with the ability of their brain power. Nobody can get You with the quality of their logic or worldly learning. In the past, I wasted so much time depending on my little brain. I was foolishly thinking that with my sagacity I will get everything. Though I tried hard, I failed desperately. At every step, I came to understand my foolishness and stupidity. You cannot be found within the periphery of wisdom. All receive their knowledge from You.

In the past, I wasted so much time - coming and going from this earth - life after life, birth and death. All the while, I was depending on my little cleverness. I was foolishly thinking that with the aptitude of my wisdom alone I will get everything, i.e. Parama Purusa. I tried hard, yet failed. In the past, I adopted the path of mendacity and tried to hide my weakness through my tall talks. In that way, I plowed the way for my degeneration. At every step, I perceived my idiocy: Baba, You cannot be realised by one’s wits. At each transition step, I came to recognize my ignorance and dullness. Now, by Your grace, I have come to embrace the eternal truth that You are the only essence of this universe.

My Divine Entity, in the past I adopted the path of hypocrisy and tried to hide my unawareness through my tall talks. With the stain of that cover-up, I degenerated and paved the way for my own degradation. Baba, by Your karun’a, today samvit (spiritual awakening) has come. This much You have made me aware: Without Your causeless grace, nothing can happen. And with Your ahaetuki krpa, even the impossible becomes possible. My Lord, I have discerned how Your unconditional compassion is always showering on me. I humbly surrender at Your lotus feet...

Notes for Prabhat Samgiita #1028:

[1] Samvit: Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "Samvit means spiritual consciousness, spiritual awakening. A man engaged in bad things all of a sudden feels that “No, I shouldn’t do all these things. No, I should be a good man henceforward.” Such an idea all of a sudden comes in his mind. And this thing, this change of mental tendency, is brought about by samvit shakti of Vidyámáyá. Do you follow? This is what is called samvit shakti. “No, henceforward I must be a good man. No, henceforward I must be a spiritualist. I must not encourage any depraving idea.” Samvit shakti." (1)

[2] Ahaetukii krpa': Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “In this universe of ours everything is causal. Everything is haetuka; everything is causal. Only three entities are of non-causal character. One is the transmutation of the Non-Attributional Entity into the attributional faculty [Saguòa Brahma]. The second one is the creation of this universe, and, the third one—the krpá of Parama Purusa. Parama Purusa is not to explain for His conduct when He does any krpá or when He attracts anybody towards Him. So these three entities, three items, are of non-causal character. So ahaetukii krpá is the non- causal blessing or, say, non-causal gratitude.” (2)

References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 33, Brahma Cakra
2.  Ananda Vacanamrtam - 49 (Pure), Non-Causal Blessing

== Section: Important Teaching ==

How Indian constitution fails

   Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, "There are several fiscal and psychological loopholes in the Indian constitution. The constitution of India proclaims that all are equal in the eye of the law. But in practice, this principle is not followed, and as a result disparity is growing in the arena of law and justice. Such disparity is adversely affecting the different groups of people in the country. For example, there are disparities between the Hindu Code and the Muslim Code. Hindu women and Muslim women, although they are all Indian citizens, do not get equal advantages of law. For instance, according to Hindu law, a man cannot have more than one wife, but a Muslim man is entitled to have more than one wife. A Hindu husband or a Hindu wife is required to approach the court to secure a divorce, while a Muslim man is entitled to divorce his wife without the permission or approval of the court. Moreover, a Muslim husband can divorce his wife but a Muslim wife cannot divorce her husband. Besides, a Muslim husband is not required to show [[any reason for the divorce]].”
   “Disparity in the eye of the law is creating all these problems. The root of all these evils lies in the psychological loopholes of the Indian constitution. Why is the constitution allowing the Hindu Code and Muslim Code to stand side by side? Let there be only one code – the Indian Code. This Indian Code should be based on cardinal human values, with a universal approach and Neo-Humanistic spirit. Then only equality before the law can be established in practice, and equal protection of the law for all can be guaranteed. So the constitution should remove the psychological loopholes by eradicating existing disparities in the eye of the law.” (1) 

Reference
1. A Few Problems Solved Part 8, “Requirements of an Ideal Constitution”

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Quiz about AM

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “In places where, for whatever reason, intellectual clashes among the vipras were not very intense, their philosophy was very simple. They would say to the people directly, "I am the angel or incarnation of God. The things I have said are not the words of a human being but the words of God," or "I have received the divine revelation that you will eat this and not that, worship in this way and not that, and offer this to God. If you obey my commandments God will bless you and you will go to heaven; otherwise you will be burnt to death in the fire of hell." The people were fooled this easily.”

“The vipras used to tempt people with an imaginary heaven and inject in them the fear of an imaginary hell. In this way they would accomplish their objectives; their exploitation would proceed smoothly; and moreover the fear they aroused in people's minds would turn those people into fanatics.”

“It is noticeable that in the fanatical religious communities that we see in the world today, there is very little intellectual clash among the vipras. However, whenever fanatical religious communities made systems of social rules and regulations – in other words, whenever they made some effort to build a social structure – their social systems would be stronger than those of societies which followed a subtle philosophical theory or those of kśatriya societies.”  (1)

Answer:

In His above teaching, Sadguru Baba is talking about the semitic religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

Reference
1. Human Society - 2, The Vipra Age

== Section 3: Links ==

Postings to Read

Benefits & need of local support

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2017/03/wrong-approach-feeding-from-very-very.html

Common problem & solution

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/10/reading-is-easy-practicing-is-difficult.html

True history: Gandhi & Columbus

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2017/10/false-history-removal-2-more.html

How to feel His grace

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2017/11/why-some-feel-dry-mind-3-more.htm

Why AM discards idol worship + 2 more

Baba

Why AM discards idol worship

Namaskar,

Today, idol worship is prominently practised by a large number of the followers of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. So we should all know why Ananda Marga vehemently opposes idol worship.

History of idol worship

 

In old human civilizations, like the Mayan civilization, the importance of population growth was immense. To symbolize and venerate the same, the practice of phallus worship began. The evidence of liuṋga (phallus) worship, later Shiva liuṋga, can be found in many temples in India. Later, the practice was imported and redesigned in Buddhism, followed by Hindu adaptation. It should be noted that, although Lord Buddha taught sa’dhana’, his disciples began worshipping idols. This is a classic example of how distortions starts.

Types of idols

Throughout the world, a wide variety of idols exist. There are idols of political leaders like Marx, Lenin, and Gandhi who actually lived on this planet and died. The idols of real people may be regarded as works of art, but they do not have any greater significance. For example, the idol of Lenin will not be able to answer any question. Then there are idols of imaginary characters like Romeo and Juliet. Another class of idols is small toys and dolls that children play with, which are also imaginary. The idols of gods and goddesses, meant for worshipping, fall under the category of idols of imaginary characters.

Idols of Hindu gods & goddesses - a figment of imagination

The idols of Hindu gods and goddesses are of imaginary characters mentioned and explained in the Puranas. The Puranas are fictional tales composed by Krśńadvaepáyana Vyása, also known as Veda Vyása. The intention of Krśńadvaepáyana Vyása in creating the Puranas was to present education through interesting and lucid fictional stories. However, after composing the Puranas,  Krśńadvaepáyana Vyása realized one of his mistakes was that he took the liberty of describing Parama Purus’a in a very limited manner; and, for this he asked Parama Purus’a for His forgiveness.

Ananda Marga philosophy guides, “This Vedavyása was also the author of the Puráńas which he wrote in order to educate the common people. There are many stories in the Puránas, but they are not factually correct; the only purpose behind the stories was mass education. After writing the Puránas, Vyásadeva realized that while writing them to educate the common people, he had taken the liberty of narrating many of Parama Puruśa’s extraordinary qualities and forms out of his own imagination and he also extolled the virtues of many places of pilgrimage. Then he realized that this was not proper on his part, because Parama Puruśa is indescribable and omnipresent: to exalt a particular place of pilgrimage or to praise the qualities of Parama Puruśa was not proper. Thus in a repentant mood, he asked Parama Puruśa for forgiveness:

Rúpaḿ rupavivarjjitasya bhavato yaddhyanena kalpitam.” [See longer version below signature] (1)

Idol worship is for spiritually undeveloped

Toddlers like to play with dolls, and often their whole life revolves around dolls and imaginary characters. However, when they grow up they cannot play with the same dolls that they liked so much when they were children. Idol worship is like a beggar's dream in which the beggar is the king. Yet, even if the beggar imagines that he is the king of an elaborate kingdom, he is still a beggar. Similarly, the real value of idols of imaginary characters is zero.

Idol worship: ploy by priests to cheat & make money

Idol worship is a ploy often used by priests to cheat people. If one has a business, one needs to invest some money and work hard. Then only can one make some profit. However, in the case of priests, all they need to do is to display an idol of a fictitious character and tell false stories. Their business requires no investment and yet huge profits can be made. People are easily befooled and leave various food items, clothes and money in front of the idol to appease the “god”; and, those items are actually used by the priest and his family. Priests use the psychology of fear and superstition to bolster their methods of cheating via idol worship. In addition, the common people are taught to worship idols from their childhood and thus they become habituated to the practice of idol worship.

What is bigger: God or temples?

Parama’tma’ is singular and all pervasive. A direct proof that there is only one God is that everything is working. A gigantic and complex system, the creation can only work if there is one God -- only one final authority. If there were multiple Gods, i.e. multiple final authorities, then immediately the creation would be destroyed. 

Idols are kept in temples. Thus, idols are always smaller than temples, yet Parama Purus’a is infinite. Hence, idols can never represent Parama Purus’a. The Infinite cannot be confined in a finite temple.

If one ideates on idols made of crude matter like wood, plastic, metal, etc. then invariably one’s mind will crudify. As one thinks so one becomes. So the approach of idol worship is negative from beginning to end and is pramáda.

No middlemen between God & bhakta

The practice of idol worship gives the scope to middlemen like priests for mediating between the bhakta and his (the priest’s) god. This approach is philosophically wrong as there should not be any middleman between God and His bhaktas.

Many idol worshippers give the logic that idols are the representatives of the eternal infinite God and thereby justify their worship. They say that as we cannot see God, we can worship His representative idol. However, this logic is flawed. How can an idol that is made of crude matter like clay or metal be a representative of the eternal, omniscient, and infinite God? Consider the example of a professor. Suppose the professor is going on leave. Can a mosquito be a representative of the professor? For the sake of argument, even if we assume the mosquito to be the representative of the professor, can the mosquito deliver a lecture to the students? Of course not. Similarly, just by assuming that the idol is a representative of God, the idol does not become one. It is illogical to believe that an idol is the representative of God.

Conclusion

Idol worship is a flawed approach, pramáda, wherein imaginary characters are worshipped in the form of idols. Often, idol worship is used as a ploy by the priests to exploit innocent people using superstition and fear psychology such that the priests become middlemen. Yet, God and His bhakta are linked directly and there is no need of any middleman. Furthermore, idol worship is dangerous because ideating on idols made of crude matter crudifies the mind of the idol worshipper.

At His Lotus Feet,

Bhakti

Longer version of Baba’s teaching

Ananda Marga philosophy says,

“Rúpaḿ rupavivarjjitasya bhavato yaddhyanena kalpitam

Stutyánirvacaniiyatákhilaguro duriikrta yanmaya

Vyapitvyam ca nirakrtam bhagavato yattirtha yatradina

Kśantavyaḿ jagadisho tadvikalatadostarayam matkrtam.”

“The meaning of this shloka is, ‘Oh Parama Puruśa, you cannot be bound within the limitation of forms, yet I have described your various divine forms – this I should not have done. Secondly, I have eulogized you, I have described your virtues; but in fact your virtues are indescribable – I shall never be able to describe them all. That I have tried to do so – this was my audacity. And I know you are omnipresent, that your glory is everywhere, and yet I have glorified specific places of pilgrimage: this is also my great offence. I have knowingly committed these three serious errors due to my mental weakness; oh Parama Puruśa, I beseech your forgiveness.’”

“So we see that the Puráńas are fictional, but they are of immense educational value. Yet what Vyasadeva said while asking for forgiveness is also true: how can the Supreme Entity, who has created so many forms, be confined to a particular finite structure?” (2)

~ In-depth study ~

  Ananda Marga philosophy teaches, “In the prehistoric age, before even the Vedic Age started, people used to follow the system of phallic worship. I have mentioned in my book on Ráŕh that in those days there were severe conflicts among the different clans. They were never secure, neither at night nor during the day; so they always wanted to increase their numbers. Thus they worshipped the phallus as the symbol of their earnest desire to multiply. This phallic worship was more or less in vogue in almost all the countries of the world, not just in one particular country. Phallic worship was common in India, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia, and also widely prevalent in Central America – that is, in the southern part of North America and northern part of South America. Some think that this phallic worship was brought to America from India during the Shriishaelendra Empire of Andhra under the Pahlava, Pandya, and Chol Dynasties of South India. The phallus worshippers of Central America belonged to the Mayan civilization; thus America is called Máyádviipa [Mayan Island] in Sanskrit. However, the fact is that those people followed this phallic worship from prehistoric times more as a social custom than as a spiritual or philosophic cult.” (3)

References

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

2. A Few Problems Solved Part 3, Verse, Mythology, History and Itihása

3. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shiva Throughout the Ages (Discourse 5)

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Life stages & progression

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "Regarding age, it might be appropriate to say that there are basically four stages in human life. In the first stage, the primary duty of the human being is to receive knowledge and do dharma sadhana. In the second stage, one must fulfill worldly duties and perform dharma sadhana. In the third stage, one must see to any remaining family responsibilities and perform dharma sadhana. Finally, in the fourth stage, when the human body has become incapable of performing worldly duties, one must do dharma sadhana alone. So there are no barriers of age as far as the requirements for a sadhaka are concerned." (1)

Note: Some of the religions preach that one should only spend their later years for contemplative activities and the rest of the life should be spent on worldly affairs. In Ananda Marga, we do not subscribe to such a belief. Sadhana is to be performed from the earliest possible moment and extended through the course of one's entire life. So many other worldly duties and responsibilities will come and go, but throughout life one should be vigilant in the practice of dharma sadhana. Waiting till old age will not do.

Reference
1. Ananda Vacnamrtam-3, The Requirements for Sádhaná

== Section 2: Links ==

Postings to Read

Benefits & need of local support

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2017/03/wrong-approach-feeding-from-very-very.html

Common problem & solution

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/10/reading-is-easy-practicing-is-difficult.html

True history: Gandhi & Columbus

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2017/10/false-history-removal-2-more.html

How to feel His grace

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2017/11/why-some-feel-dry-mind-3-more.htm