Baba
Great bhaktas?
Namaskar.
These days more and more Baba story books are coming whereby various writers are giving their perspective. And still more publications are in queue. So from multiple directions these stories will be coming into print. Yet for we Ananda Margiis, Baba's own guidelines about bhakti remain the gold-bar standard, without which some simple persons might take fall into the runaway current of those new stories.
Here are some excerpts from these various Baba story books and see for yourself how far these stories are in concert with Baba's dharmic teachings.
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Story #1: attachment to post and prestige
Naginaji has written in "Ananda Katha":
"I (Nagina) have always been attached to the prestige of my status and so was very anxious to save my prestige. I was not able to get leave and go to Baba, therefore I wrote a letter about my problems to Him. I also wrote in the letter that I would prefer death to demotion and was least prepared to face a downfall in my rank."Naginaji posted the letter at the post office, and it reached to Baba. And then Naginaji tells,
"At first Baba scolded me on my writing about my death. "You consider death to be a plaything."One thing to keep in mind is that while writing this book Nagina did not express repentance in the beginning that his approach was wrong and unideological.
"Then He (Baba) explained how promotion and demotion are part of a service career and one should not be perturbed at these. He also told that attachment to the status of a post is wrong. He advised me that it would be in my interest to accept the demotion that was coming."
"I (Naginaji) was not at all ready to accept this situation."Baba tried to convince Naginaji.
Baba told, "This is a samskara of your past life and it would be best to suffer it."Naginaji did not follow Baba's suggestion and he (Naginaji) furthermore wrote,
"Even so, I (Naginaji) was not ready to accept it."
"Baba then began to coax me in the same manner as parents do when a child begins to insist on something."
"I thought over Baba's words for some time and then it came to my mind that everyone in this world wants to rise. No one ever wants demotion."Here again we should keep in mind is that while writing this book (Ananda Katha) Nagina did not express repentance in the beginning that his approach was wrong and unideological.
About Jamalpur era sadhakas
Naginaji, the author of the above story, is one of those early Jamalpur sadhakas. Some may think that those sadhakas of the early Jamalpur days were great bhaktas and ideal in all respects. Thinking like this, they wholly embrace the approach of those Jamalpur sadhakas as the proper way. As if everything that those Jamalpur sadhakas did was perfect or dharmic. But we have to watch and logically assess the situation and see how far their actions were proper, i.e. consistent with Ananda Marga ideology.
The sense is that a rational approach is always needed because a wrong conclusion misleads the entire situation. For example, in various communities many people blindly believe that everything their ancestors did was great. So with that feeling they follow all those dogmatic deeds done by their forefathers. All because the populace failed to use their own rationality.
Keep in mind is that while writing this book Nagiina did not express repentance in the beginning that his approach was wrong and unideological.
The key issue is that a wrong conclusion or following dogma is always problematic-- producing negative results. Keeping all of the above in view, here following is the next story for evaluation:
Story #2: paying heed to Baba's request - or not
The below topic is related with one commonly known Baba's story during the very earlier days in Jamalpur. The scene is that Baba wanted to do an important demonstration and execute one very needed task for the welfare of all. Since Baba's central aim behind performing this demonstration was to protect humanity from the evil minded strategies of Stalin.
So in gracious mood Baba lovingly expressed His desire to one sadhaka. Baba requested the sadhaka ro respond whether he [the sadhaka] would like to do this. Baba was seeking his compliance and Baba comforted and reassured that sadhaka that everything would be okay. But the sadhaka in a very blunt and direct manner turned down Baba's suggestion-- he told Baba that, 'No I cannot do this'.
Perhaps it should be made clear that this sadhaka was one important margii of those early days, who was initiated prior to 1955. In our AM society that sadhaka receives a lot of respect. Here follows that fateful part of the story from the book where this sadhaka outrightly rejects Baba's important request.
"Baba was sitting in the tiger's grave in Jamalpur.... Haraprasad Haldar (commonly known as Hara da, the father-in-law of Kinshuk) was with Him. There was also another person whose name was not known. Baba was discussing something with them. Baba then suddenly asked Hara da if he would like to experience death. Hara da was afraid and refused... Baba said to him that he had nothing to fear and that he would be brought back to life. Still he did not agree."In His gracious mood Baba is giving this sadhaka the extraordinary opportunity to comply with one great work. And Baba goes so far as to give full assurance and guarantee that all would be well. That 100% of His grace would be with him and the outcome would be auspicious. But still that respected Jamalpur era sadhaka refused Baba. This was the standard bhakti of those Jamalpur era sadhakas.
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Story #2 (cont): Baba calls upon a passersby
But because Baba had a strong determination to execute His dharmic task so He completed this work by the following way. The story continues like this.
"Then Baba called a person walking past the tiger's grave wearing Territorial Army uniform. He was a Bojpuri speaking person and Baba spoke to him in that language. Baba asked him to sit near the grave on the ground. He assumed special mudra (posture) with His hands. Suddenly that soldier collapsed on the ground. Baba asked Hara da to check his pulse. Hara da found that he was dead. Baba said that He was bringing a Vidhehi Atma or a body-less mind into that body..."Then after the great work of dharma was complete then Baba restored perfect health and life back into the soldier's body. The story continues:
"He [Baba] then ordered the soldier to return to his own body. In a while there was again some movement in that dead body. A while later he woke up and sat... [And] after a short while he got up and walked away neither knowing that he was dead for a while or nor anything about all that had happened through the medium of his body."So this is one story which directly or indirectly guides us to always comply with the Lord's wishes. No doubt, on the one hand, when Parama Purusa desires then He gets work done by any way or any method. And that time Baba was forced into such a situation because that Jamalpur era sadhaka was not willing to cooperate. This was the standard of bhakti of those Jamalpur era sadhakas. But we should pay heed to the inner sense and spirit behind all of this-- namely that all bhaktas should be ever-ready to respond to the Cosmic call of the Lord.
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Some of Baba's relevant teachings
And these following teachings of Baba lead in that very direction-- that the best devotees are always ready to toss aside their unit desires and do anything and everything to please Parama Purusa, to satisfy His every request and comply with His every wish.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "What should be the nature of one's love for Parama Purus'a?.... those who are A-grade devotees will say, "We will establish a loving relationship with Parama Purus'a not so that we can derive pleasure from it, but rather so that He will be pleased thereby. Whether I get pleasure or not is immaterial." (1)
Then comes the famous story how the bhaktas of Vrindaban were ready to sacrifice their everything for the Lord.
Baba continues, "There is a story that once Lord Krs'n'a fell seriously ill. Various medicines were administered, but the disease could not be cured. Many physicians were consulted but no one could diagnose the disease. Finally Lord Krs'n'a Himself was asked, "What is the medicine for this disease?" He replied, "See here, if any of my true devotees agrees to give the dust particles of his feet, only that will cure my disease." Then the sage Narada made a frantic search throughout the world to find such a true devotee, but as was expected, nowhere could such a devotee be found. Whomever Narada approached was shocked to hear such a proposal and protested, "How can we give the dust particles of our feet to the Lord? That would be the highest blasphemy, and for that we would be doomed into the lowest hell!" No such devotee as Lord Krs'n'a had suggested was to be found anywhere." (2)
Flabbergasted, Narada asked them
Ananda Marga ideology says, "At long last Narada went to Brajabhu'mi, and there he explained the situation to the people. No sooner had they heard the news of Lord Krs'n'a's illness than they cried out in chorus, "Alright, we are ready to give our foot-dust for our Lord!" Flabbergasted, Narada asked them, "How can you say this? If your foot-dust is smeared on the forehead of the Lord, will you not incur great sin thereby?" The Brajabhu'mi replied unhesitatingly, "Perhaps we may incur sin thereby, and we are ready to enter hell for that. But if the dust-particles of our feet can cure our beloved Lord, that would be wonderful." This is the epitome of devotion, and to please Parama Purus'a we must develop this type of exclusive devotion." (3)
And here below Baba furthermore guides us that the greatest bhaktas live their lives with one goal in mind-- to serve and please Parama Purusa.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "The devotees with [the highest type of] kevala' bhakti in their hearts do not ask Parama Purus'a for anything...the devotee says, "I serve Him, I worship Him, because I want Him to get bliss from my devotion or service or worship. I don't want anything for myself. I want Him to enjoy the bliss." This type of devotion is called ra'ga'tmika' bhakti, and the type of devotee having this sort of non-attributional devotion is called a gopa.... 'A gopa is one who gives pleasure to Parama Purus'a, one whose very nature is to give pleasure to Parama Purus'a'." (4)
And there are so many guidelines leading in that direction that one should be ever- ready to always do anything and everything for Parama Purusa.
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Conclusion
But unfortunately various sadhakas from that early Jamalpur era acted in such a way that runs contrary to the spirit of what a true bhakta should do. Here again is that story where the sadhaka rejected Baba's request.
"Baba was sitting in the tiger's grave in Jamalpur.... Haraprasad Haldar (commonly known as Hara da -father-in-law of Kinshuk) was with Him. There was also another person whose name was not known. Baba was discussing something with them. He then suddenly asked Hara da if he would like to experience death. Hara da was afraid and refused... Baba said to him that he had nothing to fear and that he would be brought back to life. Still he did not agree."Now we can understand the degree of bhakti those Jamalpur era sadhakas had for Sadguru Baba. These are just some incidents from the Jamalpur era which speak about how some of those sadhakas behaved. At the same time, we should always remember that those who are fortunate and blessed, those bhaktas, are always ready to follow the command of Parama Purusa. They have no personal desire; they think the sweet will of Parama Purusa is everything. Parama Pita' Baba Ki-- Jai!!!
In Him,
Ravindra
~ In-depth study ~
Social respect & bhakti
If people receive respect in the social sphere then that is one matter. But unfortunately often enough common people, due to their own innocence and naïveté, mix up social status with spiritual realisation or standard of bhakti. They confuse these two things. They think, “Since he or she has such and such relation to Baba”, or “During that time he was GS or PA or xyz, and that is why he is great.” So in their simplicity people wrongly believe that a particular social post or position automatically means that that person is a great bhakta also. But this is not the case.
For example, if we look into the history of the Mahabharata days, we see that the Pandavas had huge social status whereas many bhaktas of Vrindaban did not have such social prestige. But those gopis had more bhakti than the royal Pandavas. Baba reveals this very concept in not one or two but in several Prabhat Samgiita. In contrast, Baba hardly composed any songs related with the greatness of the Pandavas in the sphere of spirituality. By all this it is clear that social post has no bearing on the height or level of one's bhakti.
Baba's eternal teachings on bhakti
These following quotes all lead in the same direction. That the highest grade bhaktas base their entire existence on giving pleasure to Parama Purusa.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "The final stage of bhakti develops in a spiritual aspirant. And what is that bhakti? What is that devotion? It is ra'ga'tmika' bhakti. "O God, O Na'ra'yan'a, O Krs'n'a, I love You. Why do I love You? Not for my own pleasure. I love You because I want to give You pleasure. I want my love to give You pleasure. That's why I love You." (5)
Ananda Marga ideology says, "The highest-grade devotees say, "I want all my actions to give You joy. It's immaterial whether that brings joy or pain to me, it doesn't bother me at all. My only task is to give You joy". This is called ra'ga'tmika bhakti and is the devotion of the highest category. One should possess this type of devotion. "I will do those actions which will make Parama Purus'a happy, but which may or may not bring joy to me." Human beings should act in this way. (6)
Ananda Marga ideology says, "Only those sa'dhakas are great devotees who do not aim simply on attaining bliss but work for giving bliss to Para'matma'." (7)
Ananda Marga ideology says, "Bhaktirbhagavato seva'." "I don't want anything from You, I don't want even to know You, I only want to serve You." Herein lies the excellence, as well as the superiority of Bhakti." (8)
Ananda Marga ideology says, "In the final phase of devotion, the devotee says, "No, no, no. I love You not because I get pleasure by loving You. I love You because I want that You should get pleasure by my love. That is, my love is just to give You pleasure, not to give me pleasure. In order to give You pleasure, I love You. I want nothing. And I don't want You -- I want that I should be Yours. I don't want You -- I want that I should be Yours." (9)
References
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 11, The Path of Salvation
2. Subhasita Samgraha - 11, The Path of Salvation
3. Subhasita Samgraha - 11, The Path of Salvation
4. Discourses on Tantra - 2, Yoga, Tantra, and Kevalá Bhakti
5. Subhasita Samgraha - 24, The Grandeur of the Supreme Entity
6. Ananda Vacanamrtam 4, “Ye Yathá Máḿ Prapadyante”
7. Subhasita Samgraha - 19, Salvation and Devotion
8. Ananda Marga Karma Sannyasa, Service to God Is Devotion
9. Subhasita Samgraha - 21, Human Life and Its Goal
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
Today you have come
“Tumi je esecho a’j, vyathit janer katha’ bhavite…” (Prabhata Samgiita #0647)
Purport
O’ Parama Purusa, feeling the cry of the tormented heart, You have taken advent today. To remove the stains of dogma and staticity in all minds, and to love all living beings, You have come here on this earth. The whole society was facing various types of tortures, humiliations, and exploitation. No one was there to think about the exploited masses, i.e. those who were crying and suffering. The common folk were engulfed by various dogmas and their minds were completely stained. You have come to remove cimmerian darkness from their existence. In the wake of Your holy arrival, You filled their lives with the refulgence of divinity. O' my Lord, feeling the cry of their heart, You have taken form today. You are so gracious.
The entire universe was looking toward the eastern horizon anxiously awaiting Your auspicious arrival. The general citizens were under excruciating torments; their entire existence was completely wounded. Their bodies and limbs were racked by the blows of severe suffering. Due to carrying the heavy load of those burdens and bondages for such a long time, not even a tinge of happiness remained in their lives. Long back all their joy completely vanished. Baba, today You have come to shower Your bliss and rescue everyone.
O’ Parama Purusa, Baba, since ages people have been eagerly waiting for Your holy arrival, with obvious signs of injuries on their body. After facing abuse and ignominy, and carrying the load of suffering, there was not even an ounce of happiness in their lives at all. Today You have come and rescued them from tyranny, and removed their pains and suffering. You have come to love all. It is Your supreme compassion on everyone.
O’ Parama Purusa, O’ Baba You are so gracious. I am requesting You to shower maximum illumination in the bosom of this universe. With Your infinite prema, please inundate the hearts of everyone with more and more exquisite nectar. With Your sonorous yet thundering voice, You are calling out to all that there is no reason that they should keep their heads hung in despair. Rather they should keep their chin held high.
Baba, O’ Supreme Entity, You have taken advent today…
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This email contains three sections:
1. PS #0647: Today you have come
1. PS #0647: Today you have come
2. Posting: Great bhaktas?
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