Mahaprayan of Ac. Sushantananda Avt, 88-years-old

Baba

Mahaprayan of Ac. Sushantananda Avt, 88-years-old

Namaskar,

It is with much sadness that we share the news of the mahaprayan of Ac Sushantananda Avt. Dada ji was 88-years-old.  

May we all take solace in the fact that Baba will lovingly bestow His infinite grace.

in Him,
Harideva

Note: Here is an alert for those cremating a dead body in India or Indian managed cremation homes around the world. Their custom is to put the fire in the mouth of the deceased to initiate the burning of the body. This is prohibited in AM as it is uncivilised. So watch out; do not allow this. If you are not careful, they will end up cremating the body in this manner. Make them aware ahead of time. 

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "The practice of putting fire into the mouth of the dead body is repulsive, it should not be encouraged." (Caryacarya - 1, Disposal of the Dead Body)


~ In-depth study ~

We have seen that when somebody dies then in offering their condolences people say now Mr So-and-so is sitting on Baba's lap. On other occasions when telling a Baba story people also say, "Such and such person sat on Baba's lap." But these days the trend is that "sitting on Baba's lap" is used more in connection with death. And that causes some confusion in the minds of readers. To unknot the situation please read below. 

Dogma: if "on Baba's lap" only used for death

Here are quoted lines from recently posted emails on various forums, wherein the writer uses the phrase - "in Baba's lap" - with the occasion of death:

- "May Parama Purusa Baba accept her in HIS divine lap"

- "We pray to Baba - please give him shelter in his lap... "

- "May his soul rest in the lap of our beloved BABA"

- "Now she is taking rest in Baba's Lap."

- "May Baba accept him in HIS divine lap....."

- "May he rest in HIS loving lap of eternity."

- "We are sure that Baba has taken him in His loving lap."

- "May his soul rest in Baba's lap forever."

- "Let her rest peacefully in Baba's Lap - which she always desired."

- "now he is in beloved Baba's lap"

- "May his soul get peaceful place in His lap"

- "He is now in Bábá's loving lap"

- "May Baba bless him with a seat in His lap."

- "May BABA accept him in HIS divine lap!"

- "May Baba take him in his eternal loving lap."

- "May his soul rest in peace taking shelter in Baba's lap."

- "Please keep him on Your lap forever."

- "We all collectively pray to Baba to take him on Baba's divine lap forever.”

All of the above lines are commonly written in eulogizing the deceased. These days mostly it is used in a eulogy and rarely used to recount one's intimate spiritual experiences - unfortunately. By this way, the phrase "in Baba's lap" is being misused, and step by step the real meaning is being forgotten as now people more commonly use the phrase to eulogize those who have died, and much less so to express their inner feelings of bhakti. Unfortunately, the meaning and inner spirit of the phrase is getting lost.


Baba story: "sitting on Baba's lap"

Some time ago after dharmacakra, a senior margii was recounting his experiences of having dharma samiiksa with Baba. He said, "After being lovingly scolded by Baba for my wrongdoings, then He called me close and placed me on His lap - I remained there for some time soaking up His love - and He blessed me."

We all enjoyed hearing about his personal account with Baba during dharma samiiksa. When he finished telling his factual and historical event, there was a call for questions. Various people posed their queries. Towards the end, one new margii raised his hand and asked, "How did Baba bring you back to life?"

Everyone stared at the new margii in amazement. There was a look of astonishment all around - people were really shocked to hear him say this. The new sadhaka sensed that something was wrong, and he said very matter-of-factly, "I thought that sitting on Baba's Lap means that he (the margii) died - that is why I asked that question."

This was quite eye-opening for those of us in the room: Through our language and expression we had unknowingly taught someone to think that being on Baba's lap is the equivalent of death. Because it seems that nowadays people only use the phrase "Baba's lap" when a person has died, such as "Let him rest peacefully in Baba's lap", as if in order to sit on Baba’s lap one has to die. But that is false. Sincere sadhakas regularly sit on Baba’s lap in their meditation. It is His grace. It is just like how a child need not die in order to sit on his father’s lap.

The idea is that this phrase - Baba's lap - has been linked with death due to extreme overuse. So for some time if sadhakas use this phrase exclusively for spiritual purposes, that will be best. The phrase, "sitting on Baba's lap", should not meet a similar fate. It should not lose its pure spiritual quality and just refer to one's death. That will be very negative.

Baba would bless bhaktas and place them on His lap

There are tens of thousands of recorded stories by sadhakas where they use the phrase, "on Baba's lap", when describing their experiences of being with Baba: He used to bless them and bring them on His lap. People should understand the deeply mystical value of this expression, and not just think that Baba's lap means death, i.e. that you can only sit on His lap at the time of death. Still today there are thousands of margiis walking this earth who sat in Baba's lap. And not only that, there are countless more sadhakas who were blessed by Baba in dreams and sadhana wherein they sat in His lap. And still today this deeply intimate experience is attainable by sadhakas, by His grace.

There are so many ways an aspirant can reach unto Baba's lap including in sadhana. That is the main idea that should be preserved. Sadhana is a spiritual practice and one can sit on Baba's lap in sadhana. We should make it cent-per-cent clear to one and all that the phrase, "sitting on Baba's lap", does not mean death.

"Mahaprayan" means death of mortals - confirm for yourself
from the Samsad Bengali-English Dictionary

Mahaprayan (Death): Many are aware that mahaprayan (death) is the common term used in India and especially in our Bengal to describe the death of any human being, even ordinary people. In that way, the obituary columns of the newspapers of Bengal regularly cite the mahaprayan (death) of various persons of society who died or passed away.

Some may get confused and wrongly think that the word 'mahaprayan' (death) is one extraordinarily grand term of bhakti to be used in association with Parama Purusa. But that is not at all the case. Rather to do so is only to undermine the eternal presence of Parama Purusa. That is why no bhaktas ever use the word 'mahaprayan' in reference to Lord Shiva or Lord Krsna. Because Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna exist eternally. Then there is no question of Their mahaprayan (death).

Baba is Parama Purusa so He is eternal and there is no question of His mahaprayan.

Here it should be known that the convention of an annual death day ceremony (i.e. shraddhainjali or mahaprayan) is a foundation of the Islamic tradition. Muslims are well known for this, and their approach of an annual death day ceremony was adopted by the leader of a particular group in AMPS. So no one should think that mahaprayan is some type of sacred event. It is done on the death day anniversary of Muslims.

And for those who need still more technical proof then all this can be clarified quite readily by referencing the dictionary. Specifically in the Samsad Bengali-English dictionary 3rd edition on page 848. By checking there, it will be confirmed that the word 'mahaprayan' means death. Which is why it is used to refer to the passing away of even common citizens. And that is the case in this letter also. The term mahaprayan means death, and this is the ideal term for this purpose.

Mahaprayan is only for humans not for Sadguru

Here it should be qualified that there is both a real mahaprayan and fake mahaprayan. Real mahaprayan marks the death of any ordinary human being, just like the aforesaid news. This is the proper use of the term: To note a person's departure from this earth. That is the meaning of the mahaprayan term and that is the standard way the term is used in Indian languages.

Then there is the fake, or so-called, or dogmatic mahaprayan. That is when certain vested interests try to apply the mahaprayan term to Parama Purusa. This is grossly inappropriate because when Parama Purusa Sadguru Baba is that Divine Entity who is beginningless and endless and resides always in our heart, then it is entirely wrong to proclaim that He is gone.

That is why rational margiis are protesting; because the Oct 21st program is so-called mahaprayan. So-called means that something is fake. Parama Purusa is eternal, thus for some vested interests to declare "mahaprayan of Parama Purusa" is nothing but so-called mahaprayan.

Mahaprayan only really happens in the case of human beings, not Parama Purusa. Those doing mahaprayan for Sadguru are hypocrites. On the one side in meditation they ask His grace thinking that He is ever-present, and on the other side they think that Baba has passed away. That is their hypocrisy.

== Section 2: Links ==

Upcoming Festival: Shravanii Purnima - 09 Aug 2025

#5: Celebrating Shravanii Purnima

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/08/our-auspicious-day.html

#4: Festival: the path of advancement

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/08/how-seed-of-ananda-marga-sown-3-more.html

#3: Margiis also tantrikas

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/08/why-cemetery-sadhana-for-all-4-more.html

#2: Upcoming festival Shravanii Purnima

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/08/getting-sadguru-is-beginning-of-end-of.html

#1: Meaning behind Shravanii Purnima

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/08/shravanii-purnima-repentance.html

Postings to Read

The worst bondage: blind attachment

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2017/04/worst-and-best-thing.html

For all sadhakas: the gunas

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/10/where-are-you.html

Realizing your spiritual power

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/12/how-sincere-sadhaka-is-asset-to-society.html

Story: new bhakta hiding from Baba

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/06/story-shyness-due-to-low-devotion-3-more.html

The worst bondage: blind attachment + 3 more

Baba

The worst bondage: blind attachment

Namaskar,

Baba tells us that a person's sense of right and wrong gets tainted, clouded, or becomes lost due to their blind attachment for a particular (a) land, (b) era, (c) person, (d) idea, or (e) base. So many aches and pains, so many tears and sorrows, so many tragedies and fights result from these types of blind attachment. This tendency of mind, mental vrtti, or blind attachment is termed as 'moha' in Samskrta. And Baba says, of all the bondages and fetters, 'moha' vrtii is the worst type of attachment.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Of all bonds, the bond of duty is the strongest, and the bond of moha [blind attachment or infatuation] is the worst. Humanity will have to break the bonds of moha and increase the bonds of duty willingly and consciously. This is the law." (1)

Moha vrtti spoils human intellect

As human beings, one of our greatest gifts and most precious treasures is our rational mind, our sense of vivek, our logic and reasoning. It is this aspect of our intellect that enables one to decipher what to do and what not to do in this world. If nothing else, the aim should be to always keep the mind in a balanced state - not swayed in any direction; by this way, our sense of rationality remains pristine and pure. Then and only then will we be truly able to serve humanity and follow Baba.

As already noted above, according to Baba, the 'moha' vrtti, or blind attachment, takes hold of us in one of five ways.

#1: Blind attachment to place / deshagata moha

A person becomes attached to a particular place or land and this leads them to declare that place as holy, or bar others from entering their land, or so many things can happen. Each and every day, blood spills around the world due to this type of blind attachment. And in our Marga, due to this deshagat moha vrtti, some have declared the dogmatic program of mahaprayan to be something sacred. All because they want to glorify their area. Due to their blind attachment for a particular land, i.e. deshagata moha, people lose their sense of rationality and do all kinds of senseless things. If they were to see others doing these same things they would condemn that person. But when they themselves do such actions, it is justified in their own minds. With deshagata moha, due to their attachment with place their mind is clouded and their judgement is adversely affected. And verily, that is what happens when one suffers from any type of blind attachment.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

#2: Blind attachment to time / kálagata moha

Many people become attached to a particular span of time or a specific era. When thinking about that period they lose their sense of logic and reasoning, and they just glorify each and every aspect of that era.

For example, one might say that, 'During the days of the British empire, everyone always had a full plate to eat every evening', or one might say, 'Back when I was in high school, everyone scored 100% on all the tests'. These are examples of illogical and false statements that people make because they are infatuated with a particular span of time. For that reason they lose their sense of rationality and vivek. When evaluating another span of time, they may have all their cognitive faculties intact, but if they are attached to the era of the British raj or their own high school career, then when speaking about those eras, their sense of discrimination is gone.

Likewise, someone in a particular group might declare that in the days when Dada xyz was in power, then everything in our AMPS was perfect and no one was expelled and no Ananda Marga book was distorted etc. Certain people may speak in this ridiculous and false manner. All because they are blindly attached to that particular time when their favoured group was at the helm. So in ka’lagata moha, due to their attachment with a particular time period, their mind is clouded and their judgment is adversely affected.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

#3: Blind attachment to person / pátragata moha

The blind attachment for a particular person is quite common all around the globe. It often presents itself as lustful desires. For example, when anyone is infatuated with a member of the opposite sex, then they may think that even that person's bad mannerisms are sweet and joyful. Due to lust, people lose their rationality. For the opposite sex, some sannyasis have blatantly gone against their oath to Baba.

Some mothers are excessively attached with their progeny and due to that they cannot discipline them. And some mothers do not even send their kids to school as they want to keep them by their side -- always. This is due to their blind attachment. And by that way those parents ruin the lives of their kids. Those children become indisciplined and do not follow their orders. So they suffer their whole life. The ideal is that a true mother should love and discipline their child. Those who cannot discipline their kids are too attached, and they end up harming their kids. Same with the case with some fathers. They do not like to discipline their only son and even if that son is overspending and making the family bankrupt, still that father does not like to say anything and they end up selling their hearth and home etc. And Karna was attached with Duryodhana so he did not like to point out his wrongdoing. So in this type of moha, due to their attachment with a particular person, their mind is clouded and their judgement is adversely affected.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

#4: Blind attachment to an idea / bhávagata moha

The blind attachment for a particular idea or set of ideas is a pervasive phenomenon these days. Some are blindly attached with the beliefs of a dogmatic religion, such as heaven and hell. In that case, their rational mind will not work and they will be wholly misguided by that scripture. For instance, those in the Semitic religions think that after their death they will see their deceased relatives in heaven etc. Even Ph.D. scholars and astrophysicists who are members of those religions think in this way. Because of their blind attachment to a religious doctrine their judgment is clouded and their rational mind is overpowered. Similarly, there is a particular festival in the Jewish religion where they slaughter chickens thinking this will give them the virtue they need to get to heaven. Those followers may be extremely well-educated but in the face of their religious beliefs their rational mind shuts down due to their blind attachment. Likewise some terrorists think that by being a suicide bomber they will get 72 virgins in the afterlife so they are restless to die. Because of their blind attachment to the idea of jihad / martyr, they think they will be rewarded after death. Also when some Hindus see the saffron garb they automatically think that person is saintly due to their dress; and, they fail to evaluate that sannyasi in a rational manner. In all these cases, their blind religious attachment to a dogmatic idea completely clouds their judgment.

And this happens in other spheres of life as well. Thieves can become completely tunnel-visioned about planning for a particular crime where they become blinded by that idea. It will overpower their entire mental plate. Similarly, a businessman can also get so overwhelmed by their business interests they lose clarity about their life, destroying their marriage or alienating themselves from their kids, and ruining themselves. Here the point is that with bhav’gata moha, one becomes blindly attached with an irrational idea that clouds their judgement, and voids their logic and reasoning. That is the very harmful effect of blind attachment to a particular idea.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

#5: Blind attachment to an object / ádháragata moha

The blind attachment to base means fascination for a particular object. Some are collectors of antiques or comic books, and they may fill their entire domicile with those antiques or comic books whereby there is not even any space to live in that house. Or they may have deep emotional attachment with a particular relic or family heirloom such as a plate their grandmother had or a vase that was handed down from generation to generation. Those relics or heirlooms may be useless or ugly etc, yet some people are completely attached with them and regard them as their prized possessions. They may even spend huge money to refurbish those items. It could also be an object they found on the beach or while traveling to a far away land. Whenever anyone has a blind attachment for some object which defies all logic and reasoning then it means they suffer from a'dha'ragata. Because that sense of attachment has clouded their rational mind. And verily, that is what happens when one suffers from any type of blind attachment.


Baba's solution

Now that we know and can easily recognise how this moha vrtti freezes the human intellect and causes people to act in irrational ways on a daily basis, then it becomes all the more urgent to overcome this negative tendency of mind-- to free oneself from any and all blind attachments. Here let us go directly to Baba's words for the answer.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "The only way to free oneself from the clutches of infatuation is to superimpose the ideation of indifference and divert one’s mental thoughts towards Parama Purus'a. It may be possible to control this propensity of wild fascination temporarily by intimidation or by enacting laws, but only temporarily. Those who believe in the equal distribution of the world’s wealth, naively underestimate the power of moha vrtti. The human mind can be sublimated only by spiritual ideation, not by any high-sounding philosophy. This utopian idea has proved ineffective in the past and in the present and will continue to prove so in the future." (2)

Baba guides us that the only way to overcome the moha vrtti is to be very sincere in sadhana and spiritual practices. Because only when the mind is pointed on Parama Purusa will one forget about their blind attachments. So sadhana alone is the answer.

Unfortunately, in the name of sadhana, sometimes people just succumb to thinking about their blind attachments when sitting for meditation. When practicing their so-called shuddhis, they may be thinking about the person they want to marry, or the job they want to get, or the money they want to accumulate, or whatever their blind attachment may be. In that case, their blind attachment only binds them further.

That is why Baba warns us so severely about moha. Because it is the toughest vrtti to overcome as it takes over one's entire mental plate and robs a person of their vivek and rational thinking. Sometimes, as Baba points out, people try to overcome moha through mandates, laws, and regulations. One camp may declare, 'That no group should fight over the post', or 'No innocent margii should be expelled , or 'BP rights should be upheld' etc, but all such declarations just blow away in the wind. Because rules alone cannot help one to overcome their own blind attachment for power and control.

Conclusion

Baba says only ideation on Parama Purusa is the answer. That is the only cure from freeing oneself from any blind attachment. By Baba's grace, we will get success in life and not fall prey to any blind attachment. As prevalent and as strong as the moha vrtti may be, due to His cosmic pull, we will not get trapped or blinded by any bad desire, and instead we will march bravely and benevolently towards Him.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

When any irrational infatuation clouds one's judgment then that is blind attachment, moha vrtti. It robs a person of their sense of rationality. And there are various types of blind attachments. But there is only one solution: Goad the mind towards Parama Purusa. That is the only way to clear the mind of of the clouds of attachment.

Namaskar,
In Him.
Pranesaff

Ananda Marga ideology says, "The very wont of the microcosms is to attain liberation by snapping all their fetters. The only way to do that is to come within the shelter of Parama Purus'a. There is no other way – Na'nya pantha' vidyate yana'ya." (3)


~ In-depth study ~

Baba's discourse on moha vrtii

Here below is Baba's original passage about blind attachment, or moha vrtti.

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Na is the acoustic root of moha vrtti [blind attachment or infatuation]. This propensity of blind attachment is usually divided into the four categories of time, space, idea and individuality. When one loses one’s rationality out of blind attachment for one’s country, it is called deshagata moha, “geo-sentiment”. People who live in a country where not even a blade of grass grows, where people die of starvation, and which imports huge quantities of food grains from other countries, become so infatuated with their country that they say it has an abundance of water, has a bountiful fruit harvest, and is a net exporter of food to other countries." "Ka'lagata moha is blind attachment for a particular period of time. One becomes so attached to a certain period of time that one is unable to discern its positive or negative aspects. Some people complain that the behaviour of the present generation of children is disappointing. They say that when they were young they could easily digest iron pans, but the present generation has trouble digesting even water! They lament the great misfortune that has befallen the present age."

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "When a particular idea has a strong impact on mind, the mind rushes towards it again and again. Thieves, in the shock of the moment, always make a quick getaway from the scene of the crime. Later, however, they brood repeatedly about the place, and often return, straight into the hands of the police! A person who uses an object for a long time develops a fascination for that object. This is called a'dha'ragata moha [fascination for an object]. There are many rich people who have a strange weakness for some old, battered object such as a rickety chair with one arm broken off. I know a story about how a pretty pot made of bell-metal was the cause of a bitter quarrel among the daughters-in-law of a certain family, so bitter that it led to the eventual break-up of the family. Na is the acoustic root of moha vrtti." "The only way to free oneself from the clutches of infatuation is to superimpose the ideation of indifference and divert one’s mental thoughts towards Parama Purus'a. It may be possible to control this propensity of wild fascination temporarily by intimidation or by enacting laws, but only temporarily. Those who believe in the equal distribution of the world’s wealth, naively underestimate the power of moha vrtti. The human mind can be sublimated only by spiritual ideation, not by any high-sounding philosophy. This utopian idea has proved ineffective in the past and in the present and will continue to prove so in the future." (4)

References
1. Namami Krsnasundaram: Disc 13
2. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 8, The Acoustic Roots of the Indo-Aryan Alphabet
3. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 11, To Know Him Is to Be Free from All Fetters
4. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 8, The Acoustic Roots of the Indo-Aryan Alphabet

== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==

Pouring my heart

PS Intro: In this following song the bhakta is talking directly to Parama Purusa yet addressing Him in the third person: "He (Parama Purusa) is calling me but what can I give Him." So the bhakta is confiding in Parama Purusa in an intimate way, but doing so in a unique fashion by referring to Parama Purusa  as "He" and "Him". 

"Aja'na' Pathik a'j keno d'a'ke a'ma'ke..." (Prabhat Samgiita #3554)

Purport:

Why is the Ajáná Pathik calling me today. He is the vast Entity - Parama Purusa. And I am meagre - just a small unit being, a tiny molecule. What can I offer to Him in His service. Why is He calling me.

In my life there is a very tiny flame in the lamp of bhakti that is flickering, ever on the verge of extinguishing. But even then, by pouring my heart, I have kept that lamp lit. It is His grace. Is He unaware about this. Is my feeling unknown to Him? Yet in His cosmic liila, I am dancing directly in front of Him.

I am just like a firefly prancing and circling around the shining moon. My existence is plunged in worldly gains and mundane allurements, but when I think about His greatness then I lose myself, again and again, in His divine refulgence. I float in the irresistible attraction of His love with spiritual horripilation. It is His krpa...

Note for Prabhat Samgiita #3554:

[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 ==

How dhyana cures diseases

Ananda Marga philosophy teaches us, “Question: If the medicine or mother tincture required for homoeopathic medicine is prepared in a sentient environment which contains positive microvita, will the medicine prepared from that medium or mother tincture have more effect than ordinary medicine available in the market?”

“Answer: There is no doubt that the medicine prepared in a sentient environment by sentient people, from a medium or mother tincture which is also prepared in a sentient environment, will attract more positive microvita than ordinary medicines, so it will have a much greater effect in curing a patient.”

“If a person contracts a disease caused by negative microvita before initiation and does dhyána sincerely after initiation, the disease will not spread but be contained. However, for different types of diseases one has to follow different food restrictions and practice dhyána at specific times.”

“If a person contracts a disease caused by negative microvita after initiation, does dhyána perfectly and follows certain food restrictions, the disease will be completely cured. Dhyána attracts many positive microvita. Negative microvita can only be controlled by positive microvita. The positive microvita eat the negative microvita and this is the reason why the disease is cured. For example, if a person is suffering from jaundice, a disease caused by negative microvita, and if dhyána is practised perfectly, the disease will be cured very quickly. In the case of cancer, say stomach cancer, certain food restrictions will have to be strictly followed. When pain starts in the stomach one should sit for dhyána, but just prior to this one should take some juice from a sweet tasting, not a sour tasting fruit. After performing dhyána, one should take another drink which is different from the first drink. The patient should also avoid any food which causes gas in the stomach, such as pappad, cauliflower, cabbage, turnip, etc.” (1)

Reference:
1. Microvita in a Nutshell, Questions and Answers on Microvita – Excerpt C

== Section 3: Links ==

Upcoming Festival: Shravanii Purnima - 09 Aug 2025

#3: Margiis also tantrikas

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/08/why-cemetery-sadhana-for-all-4-more.html

#2: Upcoming festival Shravanii Purnima

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/08/getting-sadguru-is-beginning-of-end-of.html

#1: Meaning behind Shravanii Purnima

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/08/shravanii-purnima-repentance.html

Postings to Read

For all sadhakas: the gunas

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/10/where-are-you.html

Realizing your spiritual power

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/12/how-sincere-sadhaka-is-asset-to-society.html

Story: new bhakta hiding from Baba

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/06/story-shyness-due-to-low-devotion-3-more.html

Maximizing sadhana time

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/10/sadhana-sadhanaunga.html

PS & prayer

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2019/08/begging-in-am-3-more.html

Early days before Wts

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/07/how-baba-started-ananda-marga.html

For all sadhakas: the gunas + 4 more

Baba

For all sadhakas: the gunas

Namaskar,

When you feel inspired to do more sadhana and be more vigilant in 16 Points then in that phase you are more dominated by sattvaguńa; and, if you feel lethargic to do asanas but eventually do them in a halfway sort of manner, then you are more dominated by rajoguńa; and, if you feel a complete lack of interest in spiritual life and are instead attracted to mundane and sensual pleasures, then you are more dominated by tamoguńa. If most of the time you are dominated by sattvaguńa then you are a sattvaguńii.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

How guńas affect a person's life choices

Ananda Marga ideology says, "A sattvaguńii person always finds sattvaguńa in everything. Similarly, a rajoguńii finds rajoguńah, and a tamoguńii finds tamoguńa. On visiting Káshi a righteous person [sattvaguńii] shall associate with the sages and saints on the bank of the Ganges and will find Káshi to be the most sacred place. A tourist [rajoguńii] will go round the city and find it a city like all others, while a cheat [tamoguńii] will find this city a proper place for his operations. The same city is visualised in three different ways by three persons according to their respective temperaments." (1)

Thus, sattvaguńa will lead one along the path to the Divine; tamoguńa pushes one along the path of severe degradation; and rajoguńa is more of a neutral enterprise, neither high nor low.

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "With the help of prakrti’s sattvaguńa, the aspirant can gain access into the universal, imperishable consciousness. When his mind merges in universal mind, this state is called “savikalpa samádhi”. According to natural principles, if the aspirant takes something limited and perishable as the object of his attainment and adopts it as the goal of their life, they unconsciously proceed toward tamoguńa – toward crudeness, and eventually towards animality. Tamoguńa alone is crudeness, and rajoguńa can be called dynamism, and sattvaguńa the harmonious enlightenment." (2)

So, there are three guńas, i.e. binding principles governed by prakrti; and all three guńas are present within each and every human being - and every entity of this cosmos - but to varying degrees. Accordingly, they influence the mind of each and every sadhaka in various ways. And the aforementioned teachings provide a background about the nature of the three guńas and how they affect human thought and action.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Which guńa is dominating you?

As noted, everything in this universe is bound by all three guńas, yet one is usually more dominant than the other two. For instance, if a normal person one day wakes up with the ardent desire to learn meditation, then it can be said they are now dominated by sattvaguńa. And if after some months or years on the path, they get tempted by alcohol and plunge themselves into a drunken stupor, then it means they regressed and became dominated by tamoguńa.

Not all examples are quite so stark; this whole process exists along a continuum and you may recognise in your own life when you feel more dominated by the sentient principle (sattvaguńa), and when more dominated by the mutative principle (rajoguńa), and when more dominated by the static principle (tamoguńa).

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "All the three attributes operate together in everything, although in varying proportions. Those things where sattvaguńa predominates are called “sattvika”, those where rajoguńa dominates are called “rájasika”, and those where tamoguńa is dominant are called “támasika”." (3)

But whatever may be, ultimately these three guńas are all binding principles operated by prakrti - the cosmic operative principle. They have their own limitations. These guńas themselves cannot liberate you from bondage. They cannot grant you mukti or moksa, not even sattvaguńa. And they can't bring you to the abode of Parama Purusa.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

To best illustrate this in a clear manner, Baba has recounted the story of the three thieves in various discourses. Here below is a summary of Baba's story.


Story of the thieves

Once a general citizen, i.e. an ordinary man, lost his way and found himself crossing a deep, dark, forested jungle. While meandering through the jungle - lost and confused, the man was accosted by three thieves - Mr. Tamoguńa, Mr. Rajoguńa, and Mr. Sattvaguńa.

The thief named Mr. Tamoguńa wanted to kill the man and steal everything he had. And verily Tamoguńa was about to murder him when the thief named Mr. Rajoguńa intervened. Mr. Rajoguńa was not in favour of killing the person; instead, Mr. Rajoguńa merely wanted to tie him up and rob him. Mr. Sattvaguńa remained quiet and watched.

Mr. Tamoguńa and Mr. Rajoguńa then harassed and tied up the traveler, and then all three thieves went hunting in the jungle. While the other two thieves were still out hunting, the thief named Mr. Sattvaguńa returned to the scene of the crime. With much remorse he looked at that helpless man and said, "Oh dear, you are in terrible trouble. I am so sorry. I wanted to help you earlier, but with those other two guys around I could not intervene. So I had to keep quiet."

Then Mr. Sattvaguńa quickly untied the man and gave him back his belongings. He then led the innocent victim through the dark jungle and stopped at the very edge. From that vantage point, Mr. Sattvaguńa showed the person the path to the city of lights - he helped him become a sadhaka. But Mr. Sattavguńa himself could not leave the darkness at the edge of the jungle, as he was, after all, a thief. So the helpless traveler was saved from the dangers of the jungle by Mr. Sattvaguńa, and was brought onto the path of sadhana, but then still had to advance further to the city of lights.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Significance of each of the three thieves

(A) We can liken the thief named Mr. Tamoguńa to that aspect of maya that leads one to utter degeneration: drinking liquor, harming others, eating meat, torturing animals, etc. When one is dominated by tamoguńa, their degradation is sure.

Many, many non-margiis fall in this category as they are quite satisfied with mundane allurements and lesser tendencies, and altogether oblivious about spiritual life. Within this camp, there are definite degrees. Some are just animals in human form deluged in primal instincts whereas others might be demons in human form as they wish to undermine the welfare of others.

That is why Baba paints such a gruesome picture of the thief tamoguńa in his above story. Because those dominated by tamoguńa get ruined, even destroyed. They are just like the living dead, killed by tamoguńa.

(B) Mr. Rajoguńa is not quite as nasty or mean-minded as Mr. Tamoguńa, but we cannot think that Mr. Rajoguńa is very helpful either. Mr. Rajoguńa did not want to kill the traveler, rather he robbed him and left him tied up to suffer in the dark.

In the practical sphere, we can think of human beings dominated by rajoguńa as those who run after name and fame, are bound largely by their ego, and are mostly living for their own self-indulgence. They are neither service-oriented nor interested in higher ideals. Nor though are they plotting another's complete destruction. On occasion, those dominated by rajoguńa may even do decent works in life, but those works will still keep one in bondage.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

(C) Then we come to the thief Mr. Sattvaguńa. In the above story, Mr. Sattvaguńa is basically portrayed as the hero. He helps the traveler get out of the dark jungle and march towards the city. He helps people out of the shadows of avidya maya and with the help of samvit shakti brings one onto the path of self-knowledge. He turned that lost traveler into a veritable sadhaka.

However, one should not then think that sattvaguńa can then liberate any person from all bondages. It cannot. Sattvaguńa itself is a binding principle - it keeps jiivas in bondage. As the story shows though, sattvaguńa will bring human beings onto the right path. Those dominated by this binding principle will find the Guru, get initiation, have an appreciation for spiritual life, and live a sentient, God-centered existence.

Sattvaguńa can help you just little bit only

Even then a person who is 65% sentient, 20% mutative, and 15% tamasik may fall prey, on occasion, to the ways of tamoguńa. So being dominated by sattvaguna is not liberation. Still one is bound and prone to downfall.

Only if one is fully immersed in the thought of Parama Purusa - day and night, i.e. 99% sattvaguńa - are they not prone to degrading activities. Then they are still in bondage to some degree (i.e. food, death etc), but they have almost zero chance of falling into the mire of tamoguńa.

Crossing the bhavasa'gar

So the three binding principles - sattvaguńa, rajoguńa, and tamo'guńa - have their own agendas and function and keep the jiiva bound to the cycle of life and death. We must not forget that even good and noble actions are binding. Good actions reap good samskaras that then have to be exhausted.

Here Baba describes how maya can deliver one to the doorstep of the kingdom of Parama Purusa, but it cannot grant liberation. For that, one must cross one last hurdle, and to cross that bhakti is needed.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/

Ananda Marga ideology guides us "Ma'ya' has three guńas – operative principles through which it works – viz., sattvaguńa (sentient principle), rajoguńa (mutative principle) and tamoguńa (static principle). They work and lie in an ascending order on the road to the Absolute. The sentient principle (sattvaguńa) has the capacity to take the sa'dhaka very near Him (Nira'ka'ra Brahma) by making the mind more and more subtle. But there still lies a gap between this point and Nira'ka'ra Brahma. This gap is known as bhava or bhavasa'gar. This gap can only be bridged with the help of devotion. Thus we see that ma'ya', channelized properly (in its sentient operating principle) can take the sa'dhaka to a point very near Ishvara, from which point the domain of devotion begins." (4)

So there is only one way to free oneself from the three thieves or three binding principles. And that is to develop a link with the Supreme Entity, for only He is beyond the binding faculties. Only by ideating on Parama Purusa can one cross the ocean - bhavasa'gar - and reach unto Him.


"One will have to depend on God"

Ananda Marga ideology says, "So one must remember that one may or may not attain salvation by dint of one’s own spiritual practices: one will have to depend on His Grace. And because He is one with each and every expressed entity through His ota and prota yoga, He is your nearest and dearest one. You may depend on Him completely, and your dependence on Him is called sharan'a'gati. This sharan'a'gati is the only reply to all spiritual questions. Thus He clearly says,

Api cet sudura'ca'ro bhajate ma'mananyabha'k
So'pi pa'pavinirmukto mucyate bhavabandhana't.
Daevii hyes'a' guńamayii mama Ma'ya' duratyaya'
Ma'meva ye prapadyante Ma'ya'meta'm' taranti te.

Ananda Marga ideology says, “This ma'ya' is a dangerous force. The dexterous hands of ma'ya' create so many problems, and these problems are dangerous: Aghat'ana ghatana pat'iiyasii ma'ya'. It is very difficult for human beings to surmount the effect of ma'ya'. But I am there. Those who have resorted to sharan'a'gati, who have taken shelter in me, will easily surmount these waves of difficulties, of worries and anxieties in life. Even sinners should depend upon me – I am here to help them.” U'ta'mrtasyesha'no: He is not only the Lord of heaven, He is the Lord of hell also. U'ta' means hell. So even a sinner of hell should not become mentally disturbed because the Lord of hell is with him. Api cet sudura'ca'ro bhajate ma'mananyabha'k. “Even if the sinner of sinners resorts to sharan'a'gati, to complete surrender, then so'pi pa'pavinirmukta – they will be freed from all kinds of sins”: mucyate bhavabandhana't. “They must attain salvation, for I am the granter of salvation.” (5)

Namaskar,
at His altar,
Tiirthapati Deva

References
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 1, Prakrti Tattva and Onmkára Tattva
2. Subhasita Samgraha - 1, Prakrti Tattva and Onmkára Tattva
3. Subhasita Samgraha - 1, Prakrti Tattva and Onmkára Tattva
4. Subhasita Samgraha - 19, Máyá and Mokśa
5. Subhasita Samgraha - 11, Who Is the Liberating Entity of Human Society

*        *        *

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 2: Important Teaching ==

Still from monkey era

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "“Monkey”. On the slightest occasion, either due to fear or excitement, a monkey grimaces with clenched fist. So it is called kikhi. This habit of the monkey is prehistoric. Although the ancestors of human beings and monkeys are the same, they were separated at least one million years ago. So a human being also, when frightened or excited, clenches the fist and grimaces. A small child keeps its fist clenched most of the time, and the habit of grimacing also remains predominant in childhood." (1)

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "When people become agitated they clench their fists and gnash their teeth. These are examples of the traditional legacy or structural legacy of human beings. They have been passed down from preceding stages of evolution. Grimacing and grinning are other examples, but these can be gradually controlled." (2)

Even today, one million years later, still humans carry those same monkey characteristics and instincts. For instance, monkeys bite and scratch when they are angry or fighting one another. That's why infants keep their fists clenched. And some humans also bite and scratch as their chief method of attack / self-defense. Hence the proverb: Fight tooth and nail. Because those days humans were using their teeth and fingernails as their primary weapons, just like monkeys do. And still today some humans resort to these monkey tactics.

References
1. Shabda Cayanika - 4, Kálii to Kikhi (Discourse 25)
2. Yoga Psychology, Questions and Answers on Psychology

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Effects of deforestation

Prout philosophy says, "Ecologists claim that some deserts are essential for keeping the global ecology in a balanced state. The high day temperatures and the cold night temperatures that occur in desert regions create a useful effect. The hot, dry desert air rises and creates a vacuum which sucks in cool air, generating a chain reaction. Moist air is sucked in from the sea and formed into clouds which then rain on the land. If deserts vanish entirely, the overall rainfall will be reduced." (1)

Note: Nowadays with the rapid increase of deforestation, there has been the rise of desertification across many land masses. This has had a horrific effect on the ecological balance and the fortune of human survival. However, one should not think that all deserts are inherently bad. Those regions that are natural deserts have a highly beneficial effect on the ecological balance. 

Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 16, Integrated Farming

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Adopted communist strategy

Ananda Marga philosophy: "Question – Why is everything in the communist countries done under the dark veil of the iron curtain?"

"Answer – Because they are conscious of the inherent defects and loopholes in their system and they do not want the world to know what they are doing." (1)

Note: A similar thing is going on in Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha these days. To hide their hypocrisy, group leaders adhere to this same approach.

Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 18, Questions and Answers [on Society] – 4, Question #12

== Section: Important Teaching ==

8 jumps: kundalinii & kiirtana

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "The kulakundalinii rises upward in eight jumps or phases, so with two syllables in a siddha mantra, the kundalinii will jump four times. But a general, or publicly-given, siddha mantra will make the kulakundalinii jump eight times or in eight phases. That is why such a siddha mantra has eight syllables. So you should understand that a proper kiirtana must have eight syllables, never seven or nine syllables." (1)

Note 1: Everyone knows there are eight syllables in our Baba Nam Kevalam mantra.

Note 2: The reason why the kundalinii jumps eight times is because it moves from the muladhara cakra all the way to sahasrara cakra - passing through one cakra after another until it reaches that final point. After it reaches the Guru cakra then one final jump is made to the sahasrara cakra. In total, 8 jumps are made - one for each syllable.
         
Reference
1. Discourses of Krsna and the Giita, Krśńa Unparalleled

== Section: Important teaching ==

Story: revolution

“O prince! Now there is no way to recede or retreat. Now we will have to fight with him face to face. Don’t worry at all. We four will create a stir among the young people 14 and they will help you in large numbers. Though the demons are powerful, they are very few in number. If human beings have a proper understanding of their rights, and unitedly stand to establish these rights, all the strength of the demons will disappear just like a piece of straw before a current!”

The four friends of the prince then set out on their respective duties. They sent the message of a famous poet of the Kingdom of Light to all the young people of that country. “Awake, brothers and sisters! Today you will have to awake and stand up against the tyranny of the demons! You will have to stand unitedly to fight against them. The hollow message of peace is meaningless today. As long as the demons are alive, the message of peace is sweet to hear, but is of no use to the society.

“The forces of destruction are spreading venom in all directions. The sweet gospels of peace have been reduced to mockery. Before I depart I send my clarion call to those who have been preparing themselves, in every home, for the battle against the demons.

“The huge wastes of the villains will never add any glorious chapter to human history.”

Young people joined the struggle in large numbers. They said, “We have promised our everything to bring an end to the reign of the demons. We have borne tyranny for a long time – but no more! Wearing ragged clothes we have supplied the commodities of enjoyment for the demons – but no more. We want to lead a life worth living. All the wealth of this universe is the common property of all living beings. We won’t tolerate deception any longer! We want food, clothes, shelter, medicine and education. We want to lead an honourable life.”

The prince said, “These are the very words I wanted to hear from you. We want the end of the Demonic Rule. But before discharging the final blow, the opponent party should be given a chance to amend itself; that’s why we want to give the Strange Demon a chance.”

Reference
1. The Golden Lotus of the Blue Sea

== Section 3: Links ==

Upcoming Festival: Shravanii Purnima - 09 Aug 2025

#3: Margiis also tantrikas

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/08/why-cemetery-sadhana-for-all-4-more.html

#2: Upcoming festival Shravanii Purnima

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/08/getting-sadguru-is-beginning-of-end-of.html

#1: Meaning behind Shravanii Purnima

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/08/shravanii-purnima-repentance.html

Postings to Read

Realizing your spiritual power

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/12/how-sincere-sadhaka-is-asset-to-society.html

Story: new bhakta hiding from Baba

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/06/story-shyness-due-to-low-devotion-3-more.html

Maximizing sadhana time

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2013/10/sadhana-sadhanaunga.html

PS & prayer

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2019/08/begging-in-am-3-more.html

Early days before Wts

• https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/2016/07/how-baba-started-ananda-marga.html