Identifying dogma + 3 more

Baba

Identifying dogma

Namaskar,

All are aware about this fundamental teaching from Sadguru Baba.

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Dogma no more, dogma no more." (1)

Yet it is not always so easy to decipher what is a dogma and what is not - nor how to move ahead in life when confronted by dogmas. Nowadays, there are so many controversial issues - new things that are sprouting up every day. And it can be difficult to know which ones are good and which are not, as well as how they should be resolved.
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Stepwise formula for identifying dogmas

In His DMC discourse, "Instinct and Devotion", Sadguru Baba clearly shows how prevailing dogmas in the society halt the march of human progress.

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "You are moving forward. You are developing your fraternity throughout the universe but if a dogma says -dogma based on a particular scripture or a particular philosophy says - "You know, you are the blessed being and they are the slaves - they are to be ruled by you, they are to be governed by you" - this idea chokes the progress. It is dogma. You have developed fraternity for all animals, and suppose the scriptures say, "O human being, those animals are your food. You should kill them. You should eat them." Now your progress in the realm of spirituality, in the phase of development, is choked there. It is dogma." (2)

In His above teaching, Baba clearly describes how in day to day life we are confronted by numerous dogmas.

Then Sadguru Baba graciously presents us with a special unique approach - comprised of three steps - to handle the situation. By this graduated system, we can determine how to move ahead.
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Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "When a dogma comes you should first apply your common sense. If common sense fails to give you a satisfactory reply, apply logic. If the logic fails to give you a satisfactory reply, apply your sense of humanity and get the reply and do accordingly. You are not to be guided by any dogma based on any scripture of any defective philosophy." (3)

Thus there are three mechanisms for addressing any particular dogma. In the first letter in this series we examined how one identifies a dogma using their common sense. But, as we all know, not everyone can identify and root out dogmas using their common sense alone. Invariably there comes a time when something more is needed. The next tool for determining any dogma is logic. That is the second step in Guru's formula for identifying a dogma.


Step #2: Use Logic & Reasoning

So in those circumstances where the first step - common sense - does not resolve the dogma, then we must move onto step two and apply logic and reasoning.

That means through pointed analysis and our sense of rationality we are to evaluate and determine if that theory or action is a dogma. In this age of science and reasoning - where we have access to all kinds of studies and information, as well as the touchstone of Ananda Marga ideology - we can generally determine whether something is a dogma or not.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

In Him,
Vishnumaya

References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 14, Dogma – No More
2. Yoga Psychology, Instinct and Devotion
3. Yoga Psychology, Instinct and Devotion

*        *        *

The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.

*        *        *

== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==

Your glories & attributions

“Khunje khunje klánta, hoye ekalá base tarur cháye…” (Prabhat Samgiita #3894)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, I have been searching You for so long, ceaselessly without interruption. All of my time has been spent scouring this earth seeking You. Finally, after tiring of looking for You, I sit here alone in this shady rest beneath a tree. Looking upwards, I ponder only one thing: O’ Formless One, why are You so displeased with me? What wrong have I done? Why do You continue to hide from me?

O’ Parama Purusa, I have no occult powers, nor do I have a wealth of knowledge, nor unfathomable intuition, nor tremendous intellect, nor any grand history or lineage. Rather, I am quite dull-witted. Even then I yearn to know Your glories and attributions. Baba, I want to know everything about You. 

O’ Parama Purusa, I do not want perfection of yoga sadhana, nor I want any wealth or riches. I also do not want a sharp and cunning intellect soaked in falsehood and deceit. O’ Parama Purusa, though You are unknown, I desperately want to know You, O’ my most revered One. That is the only thing I wish for.

Baba, O’ Parama Purusa, please be gracious and come to me in Your true form in the deep core of my heart…

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Special truth

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Whenever there is a conflict between the brain and the heart, intelligent people should respond to the call of the heart. The books in A'nanda Ma'rga philosophy are all absolute knowledge. The proper mark of identity of absolute knowledge is that it must be universal, rational and psychological. Certain instances of absolute knowledge are as follows -- the goal of human life is the attainment of Brahma; human beings are the progeny of Parama Purus'a...by dint of sa'dhana' or spiritual practices human beings gradually become divine." (1)

Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 18, Relative Knowledge and Absolute Knowledge / Prápta Vákya and Ápta Vákya, p.10

== Section 3: Links ==

Recent Posting

• Give & take vs service

Prout solution: caste, race, DEI issues + 3 more

Baba

Prout solution: caste, race, DEI issues 

Namaskár,

The government of India, in order to support those who suffer discrimination based on caste, started reservation and caste-based quota programs. In the USA, affirmative action is often used to support the black people who suffer racial discrimination. Such reservations and affirmative action programs are a form of positive discrimination movements to enhance the representation of the group of people who are disadvantaged due to their so-called caste or so-called race. It is often thought that by increasing the representation of a certain group (caste or race) of people in the mainstream, the group can improve their situation. However, the exploitation continues.
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Wikipedia states, “Affirmative action (known as reservation in India and Nepal and positive discrimination in the UK; also known in a narrower context as employment equity in Canada and South Africa) is the policy of favoring members of a disadvantaged group who suffer or have suffered from discrimination within a culture.” (Courtesy of Wikipedia)

Shri Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar says, “In the present socio-economic environment, however, if the following preferential system is adopted as a temporary measure, then the suffering of the people may be alleviated. First, poor people coming from backward families should get first preference in the fields of services and education, irrespective of their birth affiliation. Second preference should go to the poor people coming from non-backward families. Third preference should go to the non-poor people coming from backward families. Last preference should go to the non-poor people coming from non-backward families. Here, “backward” means families who did not get any services or education in the past. Such families should continue to get these facilities until there is no poverty in the country – that is, until the minimum requirements are guaranteed.” (1)


Way to uplift economically backward

According to Prout, the only class divide that should be acknowledged and acted upon to mitigate social inequality is the economic one. Financially poor people, regardless of caste or race, must be given adequate social support in terms of basic necessities - food, shelter, clothing, education, and medical care - to facilitate their upliftment. A social movement to ensure that nobody struggles meeting basic necessities is legitimate, according to Prout. These days we hear about the social movements to allow the so-called lower caste people into Hindu temples. Such approaches are just an eyewash by the politicians to exploit the socio-sentiments of the people for satisfying their petty vested interests. Such movements based on caste system or race differentiation are useless at best and malevolent at worst.
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Humans have no caste or race

Humans have evolved from Apes. Apes certainly do not have castes. Thus, it is illogical to think that the humans originating from Apes can have castes. All beings are the progeny of Parama Purusha and are thereby brothers and sisters. Siblings cannot have different castes or races.


Prout prefixes “so-called” before any mention of caste

Shri P. R. Sarkar guides us that we should not give any credence to caste differences. He uses the prefix phrase “so-called” before mentioning the word caste in His teachings to emphasize the meaninglessness of the term caste. Note the use of the yellow highlighted prefix so-called in the below teaching.

Prout propounder Shri Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar says, “Just as that little bird kept confined to a cage develops rheumatism in its wings, the human mind, due to constant negative thoughts, gets paralysed. It is not the so-called upper castes only who are to blame – the so-called lower castes have passively accepted this sad plight like the caged bird, and have even sometimes encouraged it. This is a shame, a matter of immense regret.” (2)


Futility of caste & race-based reservation

Caste-based and race-based reservations are meaningless as they consider the flimsy and false notion of caste/race rather than the financial condition which is the real cause of plight.
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Prout philosophy says, “Thus, the criteria for receiving preferential services and education should not be birth affiliation but a person’s economic condition. A so-called low caste shoe repair man may be economically well-off, thus the advantage of job reservation is superfluous for him and misleading for society. There is no need of job reservation in these circumstances. On the other hand, there may be a Maethil Brahmin who comes from a so-called high caste family but is economically very poor. Job reservation is essential for him, and would increase the economic standard of the entire society.” (3)


Proutist definition of “backward” 

According to Prout, only those people who did not get the opportunity to get educated can be considered as backward. Often, in the present parlance, people belonging to a particular caste are labeled backward. This is against Prout. Prout says that the reservation, as a temporary measure, should be given purely on the basis of economic and educational level of a person rather than on the basis of caste or race.

Shri Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar says, “In the present socio-economic environment, however, if the following preferential system is adopted as a temporary measure, then the suffering of the people may be alleviated. First, poor people coming from backward families should get first preference in the fields of services and education, irrespective of their birth affiliation. Second preference should go to the poor people coming from non-backward families. Third preference should go to the non-poor people coming from backward families. Last preference should go to the non-poor people coming from non-backward families. Here, “backward” means families who did not get any services or education in the past. Such families should continue to get these facilities until there is no poverty in the country – that is, until the minimum requirements are guaranteed.” (4)


Conclusion

Government programs like caste-based reservations, affirmative action, and equal opportunity have been introduced to enhance the representation of the people belonging to the so-called lower-caste or discriminated race. It is often thought that the increased representation of the so-called low-caste people can improve their situation. However, it is very clear that such programs do not solve the problem and at their best are patch-work type of solutions. The Proutist solution is two-pronged; first, the economically deprived should be supported with food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, as well as a proper job to bring them to the mainstream, and second is to abolish the caste-system as well as all forms of racial differentiation. The entire creation is the progeny of the Almighty Parama Purusa; all belong to one family. All the beings of this universe are the children of that Almighty Parama Purusa. We are all one. 
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In Him,
Sagar

One should forget one's race or caste

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Members of a particular race who consider themselves superior to others also very frequently inflict injustices on other sections of society…injustices on Harijans by the so-called superior races have caused a tremendous amount of disruption in society. To obviate this type of social injustice, the first attempt should be to do away with racial distinctions in society. In Ananda Marga the first step that one takes is to forget one’s race or sect – to no longer identify oneself with one’s race, caste or sect – regardless of whether it was superior or inferior.” (5)

References
(1) Prout in a Nutshell - 15, Elevating Backward Classes
(2) Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell Part 5, Yatamána – 2
(3) Prout in a Nutshell - 15, Elevating Backward Classes
(4) Prout in a Nutshell - 15, Elevating Backward Classes
(5) A Few Problems Solved Part 7, Social Psychology

*        *        *

The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.

*        *        *

== Section 2: Important Teaching ==

Wrong approach to eating

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "One must have a balanced diet. “Whatever I get, that I will eat” – this must not be the policy of a sane being. This human body is a composite of protoplasmic cells, and these protoplasmic cells are made of the food we take in. If the food and drink is defective, then the protoplasmic cells will also become defective, and the human mind, which is the collective mind of so many protoplasmic minds, will also become defective. That is why támasik or static food has a negative influence on the human mind." (1) 

Reference
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 18, Physical Propulsion, Psychic Propensities and Spiritual Attainment

*        *        *

The below section is an entirely different topic, unrelated to the above material.
It stands on its own merit as a point of interest and ideological awareness.

*        *        *

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Recipe for progress

   Ananda Marga ideology states, "Those who want to avoid the cultivation of knowledge hardly get any opportunity for psychic clash, and hence the higher kośas of his mind do not get any scope for development. It is through psychic clash that the psychic field gets properly tilled, thereby increasing its fertility. All living beings evolving in the phase of Pratisaiṋcara benefit from this psychic clash."
   "Both physical clash and psychic clash accelerate psychic progress. The rat which escapes from the trap never makes the mistake of getting caught again; the fish which frees itself from the fishermans hook never bites the bait again. Physical clash develops the kámamaya kośa and, as a consequence, the instinct to survive. A city ox walks confidently along a busy street in Calcutta, but if a village ox were made to walk along the same road, it would become crazy." (1)

Note: The general rule is: Physical clash is the impetus for physical development; psychic clash brings about psychic development; and, the attraction for the Great leads to spiritual development.

Reference
1. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 8, Struggle and Progress

== Section: Important Teaching ==

About industrial sector

Prout philosophy states, "We cannot neglect even a single living being in this creation, nor can we ignore the smallest part of the universe. So, as far as possible, the industrial system should be organized according to the principle of decentralization. Industrial development in one part of the world cannot satisfactorily eradicate poverty or unemployment in another part. Therefore, in the industrial system, it is necessary to build up numerous self-sufficient units, at least for those industrial and agricultural commodities which are considered to be essential for maintaining life. Otherwise people will have to suffer tremendous hardships during war and other abnormal circumstances. With the development of transportation and communication, the size of these units can be expanded." (1)

Reference
1. Problems of the Day #7

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Place of religion after all become margiis

Ananda Marga philosophy states says, "You should be careful not to hurt the religious sentiments of others, even if in the future most people become A'nanda Ma'rgiis. Deities should be preserved in museums, and temples should be restored to maintain the cultural and historical heritage of the country." (1)

Note: With the coming rise of our Ananda Marga way of life we should not suppress or eliminate the various legacies and traditions of any people or community etc. All should be honoured and respected and taught the ways of neo-humanism.

Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 16, Three Cardinal Socio-Political Principles

== Section 3: Links ==

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