Baba
How sadhaka degenerated
Namaskar,
Ananda Marga ideology states, “Prakrtiliina - those who worship idols, ascribing Brahma-hood to that idol, “thinking that the very idol is God, the very image is God”; worshipping stone, worshipping wood, worshipping metals.” (1)
Those who think that the photo of Baba is actually Baba act in the following manner:
(a) They will only do sastaunga pranam in front of the photo thinking that the photo itself is Baba. If there is no photo they will not do sastaunga pranam.
(b) If they want to request Baba to grace them then they must go and sit in front of the photo thinking that the photo itself is Baba. If there is no photo then they will not request His grace because they do not think that Baba is present.
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More about those who think Baba is the photo
(c) If they want to offer food to Baba they will bring that food in front of the photo - thinking that the photo itself is Baba - and then stick food on the photo where Baba's mouth is in the photo. Or they will place a plate of food in front of the photo and request Baba to eat. Whereas if the photo is not there they will not offer any food to Baba. Because if the photo is not there then according to their perspective Baba is not there - i.e. not present.
(d) If they wish to touch Baba's feet they will walk to the Baba photo in the puja room - thinking that the photo itself is Baba - and place their hands on that part of the photo that shows Baba's feet. And if there is no photo then they will not try and touch His feet as that can only be done with a photo. Because without the photo Baba cannot be present.
(e) If they want to pay homage to Baba in any way then they must walk over to where the photo is - thinking that the photo itself is Baba. And if there is no photo they think that Baba is not there so they will not pay homage to Him.
(f) And there are many more things they will do going close to that photo thinking that the photo itself is Baba.
(g) Finally, if one margii is going to Ananda Nagar, Tiljala, or Jamalpur, they will request that margii to convey their pranam to Baba at the tomb, Baba Quarters, or Tiger’s grace etc. Because they think that Baba is there, i.e. not with them.
But this approach is dangerous. To understand why this is dangerous, please continue reading.
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They become one with prakrti - wood, metal, stone
Be sure to pay attention to the highlighted yellow section from Baba’s teaching as that is central to understanding the point at hand.
Ananda Marga ideology states, “Prakrtiliina - those who worship idols, ascribing Brahma-hood to that idol, “thinking that the very idol is God, the very image is God”; worshipping stone, worshipping wood, worshipping metals. Tantra says,"
Mrcchiládhátu dárvádi murtáviishvarabaddhaya.
Mrt means “earthen image”; shilá means “made of stone”; dhátu “made of metal”; dáru “made of wood”. And they ascribe Godhood to that wood or to that metal or to that stone. Then what does happen? He is ideating on that stone, or wood, or metal. Then what does happen?
Yádrshii bhávaná yasya siddhir bhavati tádrshii
A man adopts the body according to his object of ideation.” His own self is transformed into that entity, the entity which was his object of meditation. Now these men worshipping different forms of Prakrti finally take the form of those entities - become stone, become wood, become metal. They are called prakrtiliina. They become one with Prakrti and remain there for an indefinite period. What a durdaeva, I will say! What a painful state of existence! (1)
In His above teaching Baba is sounding the warning that those “thinking that the very idol is God, the very image is God” will be converted into prakrtiliina - and suffer the horrifying effects of being converted into matter.
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If you think the photo is actually Baba...
Those who think that the photo of Baba is actually Baba should understand that this approach is dangerous. Essentially, such persons think that the photo or holy tomb is actually Baba and that the physical photo / tomb is the way to communicate with Him. Such sadhakas are like idol worshipers who think "that the very idol is God, the very image is God." Sadly, they will suffer and become prakrtiliina.
Because they are ideating on the physical materials (paper, glass, wood, plastic etc) that comprise the photo. They think the photo is Baba just like those prakrtiliina who think "that the very idol is God, the very image is God." So their mind will be converted into those limited physical objects. They are not ideating on that all-pervading Divine Entity Parama Purusa Baba. So for them the future is bleak. That is the unfortunate story.
And here are more details about how they behave:
- If they want to pay homage to Baba in any way then they must walk over to where the photo is - thinking that the photo itself is Baba. And if there is no photo they think that Baba is not there so they will not pay homage to Him.
- And there are many more things they will do going close to that photo thinking that the photo itself is Baba.
- Finally, if one margii is going to Ananda Nagar, Tiljala, or Jamalpur, they will request that margii to convey their pranam to Baba at the tomb, Baba Quarters, or Tiger’s grace etc. Because they think that Baba is there, i.e. not with them.
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Conclusion:
Baba’s photo is just photo of Baba, not Baba Himself
Rational Ananda Margiis understand well that the photo is just a photo of Baba, not Baba Himself. Just as you know that a photo of yourself is not actually you - rather it is a photo. They know that the gateway of communicating with Baba is through the mind, by His grace. That means they communicate with Baba mentally - sharing their feelings and asking His blessing in dhyana, sadhana, etc. And throughout the day - wherever they are - they feel Baba is there along with them. When far from their puja room they do not think that they are separated from Baba. They internally feel His presence, regardless of their physical location and where the photo is. For them, their entire mode of linking with and seeing Baba is internal. At the same time they pay due reverence to the photo. Yet they know that the photo is just a photo of Baba and not Baba Himself. Just as you know that a photo of yourself is not actually you - rather it is a photo.
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The highlighted yellow section of Baba’s teaching makes it clear that those who think "that the very idol is God, the very image is God.”, or that the photo is actually Baba Himself, are in grave danger.
Namaskar,
in Him,
Sukhadeva
References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3, Ghosts and Evil Spirits
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3, Ghosts and Evil Spirits
== Section ==
“ছোট ছেলে দুধ খাচ্ছে না, ৰাড়ির লোকেরা, “দুধ খাও, ওই জুজু আছে, তাল গাছে জুজু আছে, ধরে নেৰে” | তুমি জুজুর ভয়ে খেয়ে নিলে দুধ | তারপরে এই তুমি যখন দু ৰছরের নয়, তুমি হয়ে গেলে ৰাইশ ৰছরে, তখনও সেই মনের জুজুটা রয়ে গেল | কখনও-কখনও স্বপ্নে সেই জুজুকে দেখৰে একলা যেতে গিয়ে জুজুর ভয়ে ৰুক কেঁপে উঠৰে | এরা হ’ল কি ? চাপিয়ে দেওয়া ৰন্ধন |” (1)
Reference
1. Subhasita Samgraha, part 17, chapter 12
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