Shipping kiirtana?
Namaskar,
The norm amongst dogmatic Christians is: Whenever they hear any bad news or are told about any calamity, they say, “I will pray for them.” This is the standard for being a “good” Christian. Those devout Christians firmly believe that from afar they can help someone by praying. So if they are sitting in Argentina and their cousin is suffering from an illness in Spain, they think they can help their cousin and alleviate the symptoms by their act of prayer, from several thousand miles away. And not just dogmatic Christians, all of the various religions hold onto this sort of dogma, in one form or another.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
But in our Ananda Marga, we know that we cannot export kiirtana or sadhana to persons all over the globe. One cannot transfer virtue in this way. Everyone has to do their own spiritual practices.
Kiirtana ideation
When singing kiirtana there are three key points of note:
(a) one should think that, “Parama Purusa is mine and mine alone”;
(b) one should feel that, “There are only two entities in this universe: myself and Parama Purusa;”
(c) and, one should feel that, “I am singing for Him”.
When the above three qualities are met, that is true kiirtana. Then the nucleus of Parama Purusa will be shifted to that spot. And if there are numerous people singing kiirtana in that place, the collective force will have a veritable effect on that very geographical locale only. Here we should remember that the benefits of kiirtana cannot be exported to or imported from a far away land.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Kiirtana cannot be transported 100’s or 1000’s miles away
The same theorem holds with regards to Baba’s below teaching as well. Kiirtana cannot be hauled to a distant place that is dozens, hundreds, or thousands of miles away.
Sadguru Baba says, "The physical afflictions of this material world are caused partly by prakrti, and partly by human beings themselves. Now, whatever might be the physical miseries – be they natural or man-made – if people collectively chant kiirtana, the calamities are dispelled then and there. In case of natural calamities like flood, famine, drought or epidemic, or man-made calamities, miseries and tortures – if kiirtana is chanted with maximum sincerity, it will bring direct relief in no time." (1)
Some think that they can simply sing kiirtana in one sector and dispel calamities in another sector. But that is wrong and a misunderstanding of Baba’s above teaching. Singing kiirtana in a particular place arouses the collective force in that spot; and, that will have a veritable effect on that local geographical area - but not beyond. Because the benefits of kiirtana cannot be exported hundreds or thousands of miles away.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Some think that they can just sing kiirtana on the north pole and dispel calamities even at the far distant south pole. But that is wrong and a misunderstanding of Baba’s above teaching. Remember: The benefits of kiirtana cannot be exported or transferred to another distant location, such as to another region, or sector, or opposite end of the planet etc.
Conclusion
We must bear in mind that for there to be any effect at all the kiirtana must be genuine, as per the aforementioned qualities at the top of this letter. Secondly, even then, one cannot do spiritual practice for others or export the effects of that kiirtana. That means one cannot sing kiirtana in one sector and dispel calamities in another sector. Anyone who thinks they can sing kiirtana in Berlin sector and help the suffering plants, animals, and people in Suva sector are entirely wrong. They are wholly misunderstanding Baba’s teaching. The key point is that the effect of kiirtana is limited to that geographical locale.
In Him,
Vivek Deva
~ Unrelated points ~
Prayer dogma accuses & blames Parama Purusa
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Prayer is the act of asking for a favour with earnestness. It also means a solemn petition addressed to the Supreme Being for certain benefits. One prays to God for something which one does not possess or thinks one does not possess. One asks God for these favours with the faith that He alone can bestow everything and by His mere wish all wants can be satisfied. By prayer or by begging one wants to awaken His wish so that one may be granted the things one lacks. Does not one’s attempt to rouse the wish of God to fulfil these needs, upon careful and rational thinking, appear to be a reminder to God to give one something of which God has kept one deprived? It would otherwise not be necessary to remind Him in prayer of that thing or to try to arouse His wish to give. For instance, if one is in need of money, one would, with the faith that God alone can give, pray to Him for the favour of giving one money. Does not this request show God’s fault in keeping one in want of money, when He alone can give it? God alone is blamed for it, and by praying to Him for money one is precisely pointing out to Him His partiality in not giving one the money one needed. Therefore, prayer or asking for favours from God is only pointing out to the Sole Giver His mistakes in the distribution of His favours. It only presumes lack of impartiality in Him, and that is why He is blamed for making some very rich and others very poor. Praying to God for favours is only to bring to His notice the charge of partiality levelled against Him. When prayer leads to such a conclusion, it is only ignorance to ask for favours. One who performs actions will also bear the consequences, and blaming God for it as His partiality is not going to save one from bearing the consequences.” (2)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “A hand plunged in fire will surely get burnt. No amount of praying is going to save it. For God’s granting such a prayer would mean either removing the burning property of fire or changing the very composition of the hand so that it is not affected by fire and does not get burnt. This is not possible. In God’s creation there is no flaw, only because all things, small or big, follow their own nature (dharma). Otherwise there would have been disorder at every step. Prayers, which only serve as a reminder to God of His partiality, cannot induce Him to change the laws of His creation. Anyone who hopes to make God change His laws through prayer only displays utter ignorance.” (3)
Prayer dogma is accusation against Parama Purusa
Sadguru Baba strongly condemns this dogmatic approach of prayer. First and foremost, a unit being has no such quality to give relief or punya to those who are far away. A person can send money to help them, but their prayers will have no such effect. Furthermore, such dogmatic prayers essentially accuse Parama Purusa of partiality and levies the notion that the Supreme Entity is negligent in doing His duty.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “By prayer or by begging one wants to awaken His wish so that one may be granted the things one lacks. Does not one’s attempt to rouse the wish of God to fulfil these needs, upon careful and rational thinking, appear to be a reminder to God to give one something of which God has kept one deprived? It would otherwise not be necessary to remind Him in prayer of that thing or to try to arouse His wish to give.” (4)
By Baba’s above teaching, it is clear that such prayers have no value and stand as a point of human arrogance and ignorance, as already Parama Purusa is doing everything for the welfare of all, in all cases, at all times, and in all circumstances. This is a well-ordered universe and the all-knowing, all-benevolent Parama Purusa watches for everyone’s betterment and progress. For a human being to inject their ritual of prayer - as if to intercede in this process - is baseless and blasphemous.
So we never give in to or support any type of dogmatic prayer because it essentially accuses Parama Purusa of partiality and levies the notion that the Supreme Entity is negligent in doing His duty.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 22, Kiirtana Dispels Calamities
2. Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy, How Should Human Beings Live In This World?
3. Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy, How Should Human Beings Live In This World?
4. Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy, How Should Human Beings Live In This World?
Festival - Niilkantha Divas - 12 Feb 2024
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