Baba
Sad tale of losing the path
Namaskar,
By Baba's magnificent grace, I had it all. He blessed me to become a disciple and get the Sadguru while on this earth. So few get such a chance, yet by His all-merciful compassion, He gave me such an opportunity and placed it all right there before me. All I had to do was move ahead on the path.
By His grace, my early years were full of sincerity and an earnest desire to move along the path. What was taught to me I did my best to follow: asana, food, sleep, sadhana, dharmacakra. I tried to follow all the codes, and by His grace I progressed. I felt better and my mind was vibrated by His rhythm. If only I had continued in this pattern. But instead I erred and now I am absolutely nowhere, just off the map. I do not know what will become of me.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
After a few years of becoming a Wt, I thought I had made it to the top, especially after I became avadhuta. I thought I was simultaneously impermeable and impregnable, i.e. indestructible and unbeatable. That was what my ego taught me.
How I became enveloped by avidya maya
Who she is and whether she is margii or not I do not even want to say. All that need be known is that I thought I was above all allurement and that I could be relaxed about the various codes of conduct. Baba has graciously given so many guidelines and rules about workers and the opposite sex. We all know them: Do not look in the eye, do not be alone, do not befriend etc. He has given all the points and all the ways to be successful.
But due to my ego, I thought these rules and codes are for others not me. I am Wt...I am avadhuta...dvitiiya maheshvara (2nd god). So then what problem can come my way. Little by little, I became loose with my conduct rules and skipped over them. Here is one of Baba's given codes of conduct for wholetime workers.
WT conduct rule says: "One should not look at the face of the opposite sex except at the time of nursing [administering medical care]." (WT Conduct Rule, See ref #1)
Note: The above conduct rule contains an exception. Here is the explanation. Suppose there is an accident and the injured party is of the opposite sex; the patient has a wound on the face, and a Wt is on the scene to help. When serving the patient of the opposite sex and tending to the wound, that Wt will have to look at their face in order to offer the requisite care needed. Only in this case: while nursing the victim’s facial wounds. That is the only exception.
Here again is that rule: "One should not look at the face of the opposite sex except at the time of nursing [administering medical care]." (1)
But I was always misinterpreting this conduct rule in order to satisfy my animal propensities. I thought that when any member of the opposite sex is serving me - offering food, giving money etc - then I am able to look at them in the face. By this way I completely lost the path.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Outside of this circumstance, there is no need for any wholetimer to look at the face of the opposite sex. But this I could not follow. At one point when I saw her we made eye contact. I thought nothing about it. Then slowly, over weeks and months, we became friendly and began to communicate via email etc. Or we would talk here and there with others around.
I thought, "What is the harm in looking her in the eye and what is the harm in going places together." Slowly, slowly I broke all the codes of conduct. Nothing happened bad per se, and my ego got further proof that I was unbreakable. How wrong I was. Shortly thereafter, I fell into a whirlpool of self-deceit and lost the path entirely.
Guru's Guidelines For Wts
Only after it was too late could I begin to understand that deep wisdom and greatness of Guru's conduct rules for Wts.
WT conduct rule says: "Avadhuta must not remain in a lonely place with any female." (2)
WT conduct rule says: "Avadhuta shall treat every woman of the world, including his ex-wife, as mother." (3)
WT conduct rule says: “You will have to protect yourself from sexual weakness and luxury.” (4)
WT conduct rule says: “One should follow discipline very strictly.” (5)
WT conduct rule says: “...Avadhu’ta shall not engage his ears in any obscene language or songs, touch any tamasik articles, see any depraving entity or pictures, go through any story, novel, or fiction having even the slightest bit of sexual importance, eat, drink, or smoke any rajasik or tamasik things or use any article which is artificially scented.” (6)
WT conduct rule says: “Under no circumstances should the purity of the body and mind be polluted.” (7)
Tragically, I could not pay heed to Guru's divine guidelines, and I fell to the depths of hell. What will happen to me I cannot say. But such things should not happen to others. Though I know I will never be able to regain my dignity, nor my sadhana. That seems quite hopeless now.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Conclusion
I am writing because I think my story needs to be told. By hearing what happened to me, or what I allowed or even caused to happen, others will be able to save themselves from a similar fate. That is my hope, and that is why I am writing. Then my story of degeneration will have had some use, i.e. if someone else can learn from it.
Actually, it all started out quite innocently. Little by little things developed. All along I thought everything would be fine. I thought I had the entire situation well within my control. Today I see that was not the case at all. It is now very apparent that the root cause behind it all was that I thought I was above all weakness. My ego, my overconfidence and my audacious belief that I was something special skewed my perceptions and led to my downfall and disgrace.
That is how I took a free fall into a dark, deep abyss, where I remain to this very day. I really do not want to see such an event happen to anyone on the path, neither family person nor acarya, neither Dada nor Didi, neither young nor old.
Namaskar,
your brother
Aloka
~ In-depth study ~
When one falls from the path their degeneration is very gradual. It occurs slowly over time until one is but a shadow of their former self. Generally, they feel the pull of negative allurement, but they mistakenly think they can “handle it.” This was a graphic account of one fallen Wt. What they have to share is relevant to every sadhaka, i.e. family margiis and Wts alike.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Can happen to anyone
As we look around, we see such such a fall can happen to anyone blinded by ego and overconfidence. And it happens in a slow methodical manner. First one misses a seemingly small point like skipping dharmacakra etc. Then they may become a little negligent in their diet. Then they might see a pseudo-culture movie. Step by step it happens, until finally they are far from the path.
We see that it happens with some margiis and some wts with regards to groupism. They pledge they will follow Ananda Marga ideology. Then one day they are approached by and given an opportunity with a particular group and they think, "What is wrong I can do it this one time." But then step-by-step they are drawn in more and more, until finally they become groupist.
At first, one never thinks that such missteps are a big deal. One always believes they will be able to handle the situation until one day their own life has gone up in flames as if everything became saturated with gasoline and then lit with a match. One becomes relaxed about sadhana or food or about watching negative elements. Always one thinks that it is ok, only to be swallowed up by it as the problem grows.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
That is what happened with the above Wt in South America and that is what has happened to others in so many places. In our Ananda Marga, this can happen in so many ways. First one may begin to skip kiirtan, then sadhana, then after months one may find themselves on a dramatically different path. That is how degeneration occurs: Little by little one crosses the boundary until one day they find they can never return again to the life they once cherished.
Always be strict in conduct rules
The key guideline and lesson to be learned is: Do not lose even a small point of dharma. As soon as one becomes lax on one point, then slowly, slowly that indiscipline mushrooms. It is a gradual process that eats away at one's practices little by little.
First, there is negligence in doing sadhana lessons or attending retreats, then one starts spending less time with margiis and more time with general citizens, or one might spend time doing things they did before they became an Ananda Margii. By this stepwise degeneration, one's entire sadhaka life slowly becomes lost.
For a sadhaka, Baba's divine conduct rules are everything. Strict adherence keeps the mind sharp and pure and the body well-controlled. The moment one deviates from the path, that is when one's downfall begins. All should beware. That is why one should aim to be vigilant. By His grace a sadhaka has come under His divine shelter and one should ensure that by their own doing they do not leave His shelter and drift away.
The best method is that we should always think that Baba is watching all one does and that one is to follow all kinds of guidelines to please Him. Then one will be safe and secure, always. If a sadhaka thinks He is watching then their conscience will be pure.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
One should always be aware that ego is antithetical to spiritual life. With an inflated ego, one thinks that they are above the rule or codes of conduct. Once a sadhaka thinks that they are so intelligent or so great or so elevated and can cross the line of proper conduct, then they are most certainly inviting their own demise and degeneration.
How we should follow dharma always
Here is an English summary of the original Hindi teaching from Ananda Vacanamrtam - 32 (H), p.86-7:
Those who protect dharma, dharma protects them. One should always protect dharma, in both big and small ways. If one thinks that they will only follow dharma in some big events, and not in small ones, then those big events may not ever come in their entire life. It may be that in their whole life, besides their birth and death, not a single big event happens. Yet at the time of birth how can one protect dharma. At that time one is just a small infant and cannot do anything. That infant is totally unaware about the events going on around them. Then how can they protect dharma. And at the time of death, a person is senseless. In that case also how can they protect dharma. For this reason, dharma should be protected always. In small and big ways-- even in jokes and humor dharma should be protected. Those who protect dharma, dharma protects them: Dharma raksati raksitah. (English summary) (8)
Ananda Sutram: Tasmáddharmah sadákáryah.
[Therefore dharma should always be practised.] (9)
Ananda Marga ideology states, "Follow this Bhágavata Dharma only. And to follow Bhágavata Dharma, you are also to follow the shástra of Bhágavata Dharma. You are to follow Yama and Niyama, you are to follow the code of discipline, you are to attend Dharmacakra weekly. These are all codes of discipline as prescribed by Bhágavata Dharma. You must follow these codes. There cannot be any concession in this respect, rather concession is dangerous. Atha yogánushásanam. “One must follow anushásanam. One must follow the code of discipline.” One may be a king or may be a very poor man, but the code of dharma is equally applicable to all. In this matter, nobody can claim any special concession or favour." (10)
Ananda Marga ideology states, "Human beings have come onto this earth only to follow Bhágavata dharma, and not for any purpose. You have many tasks to perform: whatever you do, you should always feel that all your actions are part of Bhágavata dharma. Wherever you are, you must do something to remove the poverty and distress of the people in that area, to ameliorate their socio-economic condition. But even while discharging your duties thus, you should always remember that whatever you are doing is not a mundane duty it is an inseparable part of your Bhágavata dharma." (11)
Never descend to the dharma of beasts
Ananda Marga philosophy teaches, "Even if the practice of Bhágavata dharma brings pain and sorrow and the practice of paradharma (that is to say, the dharma of animals and plants) brings pleasure, humans will have to stick firmly to their svadharma, their mánava dharma. Humans should never allow themselves to descend to paradharma, the dharma of birds and beasts, of trees and plants. On no account should animal dharma be encouraged. The flag of mánava dharma must always be held high under all circumstances. This is exactly what Shrii Krśńa means when He says: Svadharme nidhanaḿ shreyah paradharmo bhayávahah – “It would be better to die upholding human dharma, upholding the ideal of humanity; one should never allow oneself to fall back into a state of animality." (12)
Ananda Marga ideology states, "When the attraction is to something limited, it is called ásakti, and when the attraction is to the Supreme, it is devotion, bhakti. There is no compromise, no meeting point, between ásakti and bhakti, between attraction to the Supreme and attraction to the objects of the world. In ásakti, the feeling is that I get the object. In bhakti, the feeling is that I merge myself in Him. Where there is no desire, there the Lord lives. The Lord and the desire for the world, like the sun and the night, cannot coexist." (13)
Ananda Marga philosophy teaches, "The person will welcome that death rather than compromise with sin and vice. Therefore keep in mind that those who are genuine devotees, sádhakas of high order, loved by Parama Puruśa and closely bound to Parama Puruśa in love and affection, will never compromise with sin and vice. They will cling to their ideal totally, throughout their lives." (14)
Their future is doomed by not following human dharma
Ananda Marga ideology states, "Animals do not have a developed intellect or consciousness; human beings do. If human beings fail to utilize their developed intellect and consciousness, choosing to avoid the pursuit of bhágavata dharma, they are the enemies of humanity and a slur on the human race. Their actions, having no relation to bhágavata dharma, should be considered contrary to humanity and their innate characteristic. Their future is bound to be doomed, like that of a huge tree struck by lightning. The downtrodden masses who long to better themselves should embrace the path of bhágavata dharma. The easiest and most natural way for human civilization and humanity to grow is through bhágavata dharma. There is no other way. Hence, those who sincerely seek the welfare of humanity must uphold bhágavata dharma." (15)
Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, "When one is fighting for an ideal, however, to accept defeat means to plunge in severe gloom. Where there is not the least possibility to remove the gloom, one will have to sacrifice everything to uphold one’s ideal. You should always be ready like an armed soldier to meet such exigencies." (16)
Ananda Marga ideology states, "Dharma is the assemblage of all your conduct” – the way you eat, the way you speak, the way you perform sa'dhana'. If your conduct is good, dharma is with you; if your conduct is not good, dharma is not with you. And if dharma is not with you, what comes about is your sarvana'sha, or sarva'tmaka vina'sha – that is, your physical, mental, and spiritual ruin....Conduct is the principal factor in dharma.” Be a sadácárii, a person of good conduct, and you will surely attain Paramátman." (17)
Strictness in sixteen points & ideology
Ananda Marga ideology states, "Human beings devoid of bhágavata dharma are just like animals. I have already said that if human beings lack bhágavata dharma they are actually worse than animals. Animals do not have a developed intellect or consciousness; human beings do. If human beings fail to utilize their developed intellect and consciousness, choosing to avoid the pursuit of bhágavata dharma, they are the enemies of humanity and a slur on the human race. Their actions, having no relation to bhágavata dharma, should be considered contrary to humanity and their innate characteristic. Their future is bound to be doomed, like that of a huge tree struck by lightning. The downtrodden masses who long to better themselves should embrace the path of bhágavata dharma. The easiest and most natural way for human civilization and humanity to grow is through bhágavata dharma. There is no other way. Hence, those who sincerely seek the welfare of humanity must uphold bhágavata dharma." (18)
Ananda Vanii says, "Be firm on sixteen points. Unite all the righteous forces. All the tall talks of the evil forces will be silenced." (19)
Ananda Marga ideology states, "No one will exempt anyone else regarding the Sixteen Points." (20)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Where the question of benevolence and malevolence is concerned we will not deviate an inch from our ideology.” (21)
Ananda Marga ideology states, "When I think I am His object and He is my subject, I cannot commit any wrong under any circumstances. His ever wakeful conscience will constantly warn me, “What are you doing? He is watching you." (22)
Ananda Marga ideology states, "I will move towards Him drawn by the irresistible Cosmic attraction. This is my dharma – simple and straight-forward. This is my natural wont. Nothing can detract me from pursuing my innate characteristic." (23)
Rationality & dharma
Ananda Marga philosophy says" The social code of conduct of Ananda Marga gives more importance to rationality than blind obedience. Thus, there is little scope for jeopardizing the system." (24)
Ananda Marga ideology states, "Suppose a physician says, “As a human, you require animal protein for your health;” but suppose dharma says, “No, a human should not take carnal food;” then in that case you will have to follow dharma and not the physician, because the order of dharma is above all other orders. Dharma is the highest Lord, the highest authority." (25)
References
1. 37 Workers Rules, pt #15
2. 32 Rules for Avadhuta, pt #13
3. 32 Rules for Avadhuta, pt #11
4. Fourteen Points, point #12
5. Fourteen Points, point #12
6. 32 Rules for Avadhuta, pt #32
7. 37 Workers Rules, pt #15
8. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 32 (H), p.86-7
9. Ananda Sutram, 2-7
10. Subhasita Samgraha-21, Jaeva Dharma and Bhágavata Dharma, 24 October 1971 DMC, Vishakhapatnam
11. Subhasita Samgraha - 12, Ádarsha and Iśt́a
12. Discourses on Krsna & The Giita, “Better to Die . . .” – 2
13. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, The Bliss of the Devotee
14. Discourses on Krsna and the Giita, Svadharma and Paradharma – 3
15. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life - 10, Bhágavata Dharma
16. A Guide to Human Conduct
17. Subhasita Samgraha - 21, Niiti and Dharma
18. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life - 10, Bhágavata Dharma19. Ananda Vanii #44
20. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Silent Action
21. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Disc 14
22. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 10, Cognitive Faculty and the Supreme Desideratum
23. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 10, Cognitive Faculty and the Supreme Desideratum
24. Our Social Treatise, 24 February 1970, Ranchi Jágrti
25. Subhasita Samgraha - 21, Jaeva Dharma and Bhágavata Dharma
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
"Kon aja'na' theke esecho arun'a'loke he aja'na' pathik balo..." (Prabhat Samgiita #2386)
Purport:
My Aja'na' Pathik, kindly tell me, from which unknown land have You come in the crimson light of the new dawn. Please don't keep me away, thinking of me as a stranger. I warmly request You to come to my hut and enter my abode.
Divine Entity, Your smiling love pours endless moonlight. Your brilliant radiance knows no bounds. With the sweetness of Your mind, fruit grows from the flower and in sad and hopeless heart it brings the hope of a ray of spiritual refulgence. With that refulgence You eradicate the darkness of mind. My existence is illumined by Your august arrival.
Parama Purusa Baba, by Your thought projection, everything flows - the entire creation - from meteors to far distant nebulae. The vast cosmos dances according to Your wish. Your refulgence sparkles in atoms and molecules, and in every iota of universe. Baba, You are the essence of dharma, firm in ideology - never compromising.
Baba, the Ajana Pathik, from which unknown land have You come in crimson light, please tell me...
Notes for Prabhat Samgiita #2386:
[1] Ajana Pathik: The term Aja'na' Pathik means 'The Divine Entity Parama Purusa Who moves around this entire universe, and resides everywhere and knows everything; irrespective of where one goes, He remains along with you'. That is one of His many unique attributions and that is the speciality of the name 'Ajana Pathik'. The name 'Ajana Pathik' denotes this special quality.
Literally, Aja'na' means 'unknown' and Pathik means 'traveler' or ‘tourist.’ But this is just the word by word, literal translation; and proper nouns are not meant to be translated. So we cannot call Him the ‘Unknown Traveler’ or ‘Unknown Tourist', or Unknown Vacationer', or 'Unknown Backpacker', or 'Unknown Visitor', or 'Unknown Globetrotter', or 'Unknown Daytripper', or 'Unknown Hitchhiker.’ The spirit and meaning is then lost.
The inner sense of the name Ajana Pathik is that Parama Purusa is always moving throughout this vast cosmos and He is constantly present with everyone, all the time. He is in the Cosmic Nucleus yet at the same time through His ota and prota yoga He is everywhere - carefully watching & lovingly guiding everyone. This unique aspect of His grand Personality is treated as Aja'na' Pathik. Because He is constantly traveling yet present everywhere. He is in the nucleus as well as throughout this entire universe.
As the Ajana Pathik, Parama Purusa Baba moves and moves and moves. In their spiritual approach bhaktas feel that wherever they go the Aja'na' Pathik will always be there to shower His blessing. By His grace, bhaktas can always get His intimate company and companionship. With this mystical link, sadhakas understand that Parama Purusa is present everywhere, yet side by side He travels on and on throughout this entire cosmos. Thus He is Aja'na' Pathik.
Overall the name Aja'na' Pathik has one special and unique meaning that goes far beyond its literal translation. And in our hearts we A'nanda Ma'rgiis know and feel that Baba is that Aja'na' Pathik. Indeed in His discourses, in Dharma Samiiksa, and in reporting, in DMC, and in numerous ways Baba has shown this very fact that He is ever-present and always along with us. He is always moving and wherever we go then He will also be there. Parama Purusa has infinite attributions and one of them is this special quality where He always remains along with us wherever we are in this vast universe. In this way He is known as - Aja'na' Pathik. In true sense, as the omnipresent Entity, He does not go anywhere because He is everywhere; but in a more literal manner He goes from place to place.
Those who use ‘Unknown Traveler’ or ‘Unknown Tourist’ in place of Aja'na' Pathik are naive and ignorant.
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Gradual formation of a world government
Prout philosophy states, "Divergent national interests and popular scepticism may stand in the way of the formation of a world government. To allay baseless fears from the minds of the people, this task should be carried out step by step. Obstacles will have to be negotiated with an open mind, and the world government will have to be strengthened gradually, not suddenly. For example, to run the world government, two houses may be maintained for an indefinite period. The lower house will be composed of representatives from various parts [countries] of the world, elected on the basis of population. The members of the upper house will be elected country-wise. This will provide opportunities to those countries which cannot send even a single representative to the lower house due to their small population, because they will be able to express their opinions before the people of the world by sending their representatives to the upper house. The upper house will not adopt any bill unless it has been passed by the lower house, but the upper house will reserve the right to reject the decisions of the lower house." (1)
Reference
1. Problems of the Day, Point #19
== Section 3: Links ==
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