== Section: Important Teaching ==
Teaching kids to lie: Santa Claus & monkey god
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “When the parents are about to go on a trip or go to a show, or when they are invited to a pleasant function or a social outing, the children may start whining or nattering to accompany them. At such times many parents tell lies without a qualm; somehow they dupe their children and leave. When the children realize what has happened, they also learn to tell lies; and to hide their intentions or their actions from their parents, they gradually start lying more and more.”
“Parents deceive their children in many ways. By calling sweet things bitter and pleasant things unpleasant, they prevent their children from enjoying them. But by disregarding parental injunctions and prying inquisitively, as is the wont of human nature, children discover the truth. Then they realize that their parents have been deceiving them. As a result they start deceiving not only their parents, but their friends and classmates as well. So it is abundantly clear that children are taught the first lessons in the arts of lying and deception by their own parents at home.” (1)
Note: Baba’s above teaching shows how lying and cheating first starts in the home - i.e. kids learn from their parents. This gets exhibited in so many ways - amongst all populations. This occurs even during the holidays and times of celebration. For instance, those from a Christian background teach their children to believe in Santa Claus - an imaginary man with a big belly and a long white beard who comes down the chimney and brings gifts to children. And when Santa Claus is not delivering gifts around the planet then he resides at the North Pole. Another example of an imaginary holiday creature is the Easter Bunny. These are both fake and fabricated entities. But for the first years of their lives, kids are naively and innocently led to believe that Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are real. This is taught to them first and foremost by their parents. And the children believe it wholeheartedly. These are some of their most graphic childhood memories - and yet it is all based on falsehood. Inevitably, by the age of 7, 8, 9, or 10 etc, those kids realise that Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are real and that they have been lied to - i.e. duped. And it is at that moment they learn how to deceive and befool others in the same manner.
Similarly Hindus befool kids by telling them tales, lies, and stories that the mythological monkey God is real. And they show them the idol to show the monkey god exists. In turn children really believe the monkey god flew from point A to point B carrying a mountain. Even after growing up, many carry this dogma their whole life.
Conclusion
(a) Before telling any story, parents should be careful not to tell anything which is false.
(b) If a child is asking a question and you do not know the answer, then do not tell them a lie. Best is to say, "I do not know. I will try and find the answer for you."
(c) The worst thing is to tell them something false. And the absolute worst is to terrorise them by saying, "Do not ask anymore questions." Small kids especially ask a lot of questions to all those who are around. That time is crucial not to shut them up. Those who shut up children stymie and stun their psychic progress.
(d) Remember inquisitiveness is the greatest thing in human life as it leads to all sorts of progress. So do not crush their inquisitiveness.
Reference
1. Human Society - 1, Education
== Section: Important Teaching ==
With or Without Úṋcii
Meaning of bhukti if it is spelled wrong = “enjoying and gorging on food”
Meaning of bhúkti if it is spelled right = “area, territory, district”
Bábá’s Guideline - Correct Spelling of Bhúkti
First let us see what the correct way of writing Bhúkti is. In His description of the term Bhúkti provided during a field walk in Pune, in the year 1979, Bábá very clearly provides the etymology. See the following excerpt (and yellow highlighted portion for the etymology) from the As-Is transcription of the audio recording of the discourse.
Excerpt of Bábá’s Audio File Transcription
Fieldwalk Pune - 2
26 November 1979 Pune
[बाबा बोले--] हरित से हरा | हरित धान्य the land of green vegetable, vegetation | हरित धान्य माने "vegetation, not paddy" | Paddy का संस्कृत व्रीहि | तो, land of green vegetation | चारों तरफ़ हरा भरा देख रहे हैं | Central Asia के आदमी आए | Dry area के...वाह हरा है | तो, हरित धान्य → हरिया हन्य → हरि हाना → हरियाना |
[मार्गी---"हरियाना |"]
[हँसी]
[बाबा बोले--] भूक्ति-प्रधान---तो भूक्ति spelling भ में बड़ी ऊ, दीर्घ ऊ | हाँ | "भूञ्च्" धातु क्तिन्, प्र minus धा plus अनट् = भूक्ति प्रधान |
[Editor---बाबा पैदल घूम रहे हैं, जिसकी ध्वनि सुनाई दे रही है |]
[बाबा बोले--] रामानन्द !
[PA---"हाँ, बाबा !"]
[Excerpt of Bábá’s Audio File Transcription Ends Here]
Explanation in English:
Bábá’s teaching on the spelling of “bhúkti”
For those who cannot read Devanágari script, the translation of Bábá’s explanation of the spelling of the word bhúkti is as follows:
Bábá says: "In the spelling of bhúkti, following “bh” is a big “ú”, long “ú”."
As per Bábá’s explanation:
Wrong spelling of the term bhukti = bhukti
Right spelling of the term bhúkti = bhúkti
Meaning of bhukti if it is spelled wrong = “enjoying and gorging on food”
Meaning of bhúkti if it is spelled right = “area, territory, district”
Bábá goes on to explain the technical etymology of this word bhúkti, as further proof of why there needs to be placed an úṋcii on the “u” so as to make it long. Bábá says:
“Bhúiṋc” dhátu ktin, pr minus dhá plus anat = Bhúkti Pradhána
Bábá is explaining that the root verb itself from which the word bhúkti is made, has a long “ú” in it. And so the word bhúkti -- in order to carry the sense “area, territory, district” -- must also have a long “ú”.
The essence of Bábá’s explanation is “In the spelling of bhúkti, following “bh” is a big “ú”, long “ú”.
== Section: Ananda Vanii ==
Pioneer of the new trend
Original Ananda Vanii states: “The Supreme Spirit within humanity, neglected for ages, has awakened today. This awakening will initiate a new chapter in human history. You will all be the pioneers of the new trend.” (Ananda Vanii #1)
Note: Sadguru Baba has assigned a number to all His original and true Ananda Vaniis. In contrast, Fake Ananda Vaniis do not have any number. By this simple formula, one can easily recognise which is a true Ananda Vanii and which is fake. For the upcoming occasion of January 1st 2017, all Ananda Marga units should use one of Baba’s original and true Ananda Vaniis, not a fake one. By this way, one will surely get His blessing.
