Length of beard & other hair + 2 more

Baba

Length of beard & other hair 

Namaskar,

All of the WT conduct rules which Baba has given hold tremendous value and help raise the standard of our cadre. So following them is invaluable for both the individual and the collective. Here we examine the length of Dadas' hair as well as the length of the beard. 

Hair length for Dadas

First let's address the length of the hair on the head.

WT conduct rule states, "The minimum length of hair on the head should be half of the length of the hand, from elbow to the palm." (1)

According to the system, the length of the hair of the head should be half the distance from the elbow to the end of the palm. The average distance for an adult male is 14 inches and when divided in half the minimum length of hair should be around 7 inches, on average. The means at minimum the hair should fall well below the bottom of the ear and nearly to the shoulders. That is the minimum length as ordered by Baba.

Unfortunately, a few of our Dadas are keeping aloof from Baba's rule by cutting their hair like the common public. But Baba’s rule is that  all hair on the head must be at least 7 inches in length, irrespective of which portion of the head it is.

Length of the beard

Regarding the length of the beard for our avadhutas, Baba has given the following:

WT conduct rule states, "Beard should be kept up to a handful in length [at minimum]." (2)

By Baba's above regulation, every avadhuta must be able to grab hold of their beard with their hand / fist, and that beard must be as long as the hand. As Baba says, it must be a "handful" at least. That portion of the beard which has grown down past the hand may be kept longer or trimmed. Every Dada can choose; but the beard must not be less than an entire handful. In general, the beard should be at least 3 inches in length.

Nowadays, a few Dadas are keeping their beard very short, far less than Baba's requires. 

Why they do it

No doubt, you may be wondering: Why do such Dadas do this? Why do they not abide by Baba's rules and keep their hair and beard of sufficient length. After all, they are dedicated workers and it would seem to be a fairly simple rule to follow. Just let the hair grow - that is all. Then why is it that a few Dadas are failing in this regard.

Well, here's your answer. Some of avadhutas - it seems - do not wish to be viewed as a monk 24/7. By keeping their hair short, they can easily change their dress and mingle in with the general public. That's to say they can easily masquerade their true identity by having short hair.

In that case, they can indulge in lowly activities without the public really noticing who they really are. Just by taking off their saffron robes they can blend in with the rest of society and look like a businessman etc. Then if they gossip with someone from the opposite sex, or involve in big-money dealings, no one will be shocked and question why a sannyasi is doing such things. 

Whereas if those same Dadas kept their long hair and a full-length beard, they would be easily recognisable and they would still look like a monk even without the orange dress. Hence, such Dadas prefer to keep their hair and beard short. It allows them to disguise themselves. They are viewed as being just a general person since their beard and hair remains short.

As we all know, the sannyasi sentiment in India is very strong. People expect great things from sannyasis. Even people who are not in AM give generous donations to our Dadas because those people revere anyone who dresses and looks like a sannyasi. They think that monks must be doing great things in the society. General citizens give respect to all sannyasis because they are "higher".

Hence, if they see someone who looks like a monk with long hair and a long beard indulging in lowly activities, then they will be furious with that so-called monk.

That is why a few of our Dadas do not like to keep longer hair and a longer beard. For this reason, margiis are always suspicious when they see avadhutas with very short hair.

How can we call them avadhutas

How can we call those who do not follow avadhuta rules as avadhutas? We cannot.

Ananda Marga ideology says, "If you cannot learn anything from the conduct and behaviour of a certain person, why should you accept that person as an ácárya/á?" (3)

It is the duty of each and every margii to follow Baba's guideline and not regard such Dadas as avadhutas. Do not treat or entertain such people as avadhutas, otherwise in the eyes of Baba you are encouraging their bad behavior. In that case, they, as well as you, will be responsible for their negative dealings. That is what bhagavad dharma mandates. So do not encourage adharmic activities.  Do not accept or allow such Dadas who keep their beard and hair short. Those avadhutas must follow Baba's guideline.

 

The science behind

We all know that no rule in AM is dogmatic; every rule is based on science. And here is the science behind the length of hair for males and females.

Generally females are more emotional than males and it serves society well. Females need that emotion to care for their offspring otherwise they will not be able to manage. For instance, if a child is urinating all around and making a mess, then a mother may not be frustrated whereas the father will quickly become irritated. Why? Because females have greater emotional feeling towards others and can therefore tolerate the various behaviours of their progeny. So this is very good.

But females / Didis not bearing children need not keep long hair. Rather they should have short hair. This will help curb their emotional feeling and make them more rational and less sentimental. That is why Didis have short hair.

In contrast, our Dadas must develop more empathy for the common people - good or bad - otherwise they cannot serve the society. So they need to develop more emotion. That is why Baba has said our Dadas must keep their hair long. This produces a glandular effect. 

This is the general science why our Dadas should have longer hair and our Didis should keep shorter hair.

Conclusion

We have been given all the needed rules and regulations to gain success in life. All such rules must be followed by all - that means our Dadas (& Didis) must adhere to Baba's mandates on length of the hair. We must not allow any slackness in this regard. That is Baba's mandate.

Ananda Marga ideology says, "You are to follow the code of discipline...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." (4)

Namaskar,

Ram Deva

Special adjustment

This special adjustment of short hair for male Wts and long hair for female Wts is solely reserved for dealing with a hostile government, i.e. any government feels that AM is their mortal enemy. For example, this would apply to many muslim countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan etc, as well as communist nations like North Korea etc. Only in such extreme conditions could that rule of hair length be applied wherein male wts can keep short hair, and female WTs can keep long hair. But again that is the exception for that particular, special situation. 

Didis are not exempt

Just as some of our avadhutas are attracted to lowly propensities, some of our Didis are the same. So this issue is not limited to male Wts alone. Certain female workers are not less in this regard. A few bad Didis are keeping longer hair, thereby going against Baba's system.

References

1. 32 Rules for Avadhuta, Point #2

2. 32 Rules for Avadhuta, Point #1

3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Silent Action

4. Subhasita Samgraha - 21, Jaeva Dharma and Bhágavata Dharma

*        *        *

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

*        *        *

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Common problem in meditation

Ananda Marga ideology says, "Most people are well acquainted with the fourth state of mind (eka'gra). In this state the human mind sometimes becomes exalted with divine sweetness; and sometimes becomes as debased as an infernal creature. Sometimes it keeps company with good people and takes a resolve never to tell lies, accept bribes, get intoxicated, or become characterless; and sometimes it thinks that honesty and virtue are sheer folly, for happiness lies in falsehood, taking bribes, stealing, promiscuity, and the like. The mind is continuously tossed between good and bad. But when the practice of sa'dhana' inspires one to accept shreya (path of benevolence) as one’s ideology, one attains the true state of eka'gra bhu'mi. In this state waves upon waves of citta emerge." 

Sha'ntaditao tulyapratyayao cittasyaeka'girata'parin'a'ma 

Ananda Marga ideology says, "Every newcomer to the path of sa'dhana' suffers from a lack of concentration of mind. After repeating the is't'a mantra a couple of times hundreds of undesirable thoughts flood the mind. The newcomer thinks, “I am unable to attain the One on whom I meditate, and instead am pestered by those objects I do not want.” The hand counts the beads, the lips mutter the name of the is't'a, but the mind roams in the filth of hell. When all the undesirable waves are removed from the mind, one blissful wave begins to flow, and the sa'dhaka attains the state of eka'gra bhu'mi." (1) 

Note: If in sadhana a person is not one-pointed (eka'gra means "one-pointed") it means they are not repeating their mantra in a proper manner. It means they are lacking sincerity and regularity of practice.

Reference
1. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 9, Cognitive Force and Psychic Practice

== Section 3: Links ==

Dogma of Father's Day - 16 June 2024

• Father's Day vs debt to father

Recent Postings

• Change AM terminology

• Exploiters blame poor

• How to control sex

• For some long life is bad
  

Other topics of interest

• How to advance your dhyana
  

• Those early days
  

• Altered photo ruining dhyana

So-called didis + 3 more

Baba

So-called didis

Note: This letter is only for those who have reverence for Sadguru Baba Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji and try to follow His Ananda Marga ideology.

Namaskar,

I write this with the interests of our respected Didis, our WWD, and our Ananda Marga organisation at heart. By addressing such issues one can best progress spiritually, and in all the ways. For this reason, I have raised this matter. And, ultimately, I wish to see all Wt Didis advance on the path and become dharmic leaders.
https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/

When a didi has long, artificially scented, perfumed hair then those so-called margii sisters feel that the didi was raised in a good, upstanding family. They feel that didi is cultured and that she knows how to properly take care of herself. And those same margii sisters are pleased when they see that didi using all kinds of artificially scented products in her hair and on her body such as: artificially scented soap, artificially scented shampoo, and artificially-scented conditioner. This is what new and fringe margiis of Delhi sector have understood by watching the example of certain top degraded didis. Yet, Baba's teaching is that Wt didis must not use perfume or artificially-scented products; and, didis must not keep long hair.

Find out Wt Didi's hair rule

Baba's mandate for Didis is to keep short hair (1 inch or less).

Wt conduct rule states, "The hair of the head should not be allowed to grow more than one inch." (1)

Some senior didis are not following this conduct rule. Whereas the newer brahmacarini didis were strictly adhering to Baba's system and keeping short hair. The newer didis - i.e. those who completed training in the last 1 or 2 years - are keeping short hair and properly following Baba's code of conduct. After all, they recently completed and came out from TC (training centre) where they became accustomed to keeping short hair. Such junior wt didis are doing the right thing, yet they are not being appreciated. Rather they are wrongly criticised by certain new margiis and other fringe margiis. You know fringe margiis in India often means certain wealthy families who take part in AM functions, but are not committed margiis in their individual life.

So new and fringe margiis are holding a poor opinion of Didis with short hair. But we cannot say those new or fringe margiis are at fault. Rather they got indoctrinated into that perspective by being around certain senior Wt didis. Some of those top didis fell into pseudo-culture, did not follow Guru’s given conduct rules, and chose to keep long hair. In turn, those new and fringe margiis got the idea that long hair was proper and that wts didis with short hair are backwards and unstylish. That is how the myth became established.
https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/

So the whole situation is totally bizarre. Good Wt didis following Baba's system of keeping short hair are mocked and criticized; and wayward Wt didis who keep long hair are glorified and respected. The situation is backwards and upside-down.

Here is yet another piece to the puzzle: Some higher posted didis are colouring their gray hair with dyes, as well as using hair sprays and gels. They are even rubbing artificial scent on their entire body and clothes. Plus they put make-up (perfumed cosmetics) on their skin. This has become their SOP (standard operating procedure). All because they got completely caught up in pseudo-culture and blatantly stopped paying heed to Guru’s conduct rules for Wt Didis.

To allure opposite sex what some Didis

Now the main question is why do some Didis contravene Guru’s guidelines for Wt Didis / yogic nuns? What is their primary motivation for indulging in pseudo-culture beautification?

Answer: The main reason for contravening Guru's guidelines and using all such pseudo-culture beauty products, cosmetics - and taking so much time and energy - is to attract the opposite sex. Sadly, such Didis wish to increase their ability to allure the opposite sex.

Here is a list of fundamental strategies and pseudo-culture beauty techniques that some of our Wt Didis do:
(a) they grow long hair;
(b) they use artificially scented soaps and shampoos;
(c) they go to the beauty parlor to catch up on the latest fashions;
(d) they waste money on purchasing and using beauty products;
(e) they wear perfume;
(f) they spend lots of time in front of a vanity mirror etc.

So see the situation: Those didis who keep long hair and use artificially scented products are viewed as coming from highly civilised and cultured families; unfortunately, those strictly following Baba's conduct rules - keeping short hair and refraining from using fragrance and perfumes - are viewed as coming from backwards and poor families, but the truth is the opposite.
https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/

WT conduct rules for avadhutikas

To set the matter straight, here then are a few of Baba’s key teachings on this topic:

WT conduct rule says, “Perfumed oil should not be used.” (2)

WT conduct rule says, “Any medicated soap but not cosmetic or perfumed should be used.” (3)

WT conduct rule says, “The hair of the head should not be allowed to grow more than one inch.” (4)

So Baba's teachings are crystal-clear and quite straight-forward. Our Wt didis are to keep their hair short, no more than an inch in length, and our Wt didis must not use artificially scented beauty products / cosmetics. Yet, in too many cases the exact opposite is going on, and this has led to a terrible demise. The only exception to Baba’s stated mandates are particular circumstances outside India for political reasons. However, there is no excuse for any didi keeping long hair, especially in Delhi sector.

Cause of degeneration

The basic motivation behind using beauty products etc is to highlight and show oneself in a manner based on superficial beauty. But one should not forget that the mind is one. If anyone is highlighting themselves then their entire existence is focused on their own petty I-feeling and not Parama Purusa. By that way their mind becomes smaller and smaller. That will lead them along the path of negative pratisaincara - i.e. the path of degeneration.
https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/

As one thinks so one becomes. If one indulges in their own petty-I feeling, their mind will become narrower and still more narrow, and finally & become animalistic. That is the practical science and that is what happens to those engrossed in their own superficial beauty. Giving importance to one's own self on the path of spirituality is very bad. That is why such types of activities that make the mind self-engrossed are antithetical for spiritual progress. No right-minded person - let alone some of our Wt didis should destroy their future in this way.

Conclusion

In the past, prior to 1990, our wholetimers were ensconced in the ideals of sadhana, service, and sacrifice. Our Wt didis were glorified in this way - that was their beauty and charm. Unfortunately, now some workers have turned to cosmetics and beauty parlors to decorate themselves to attract the opposite sex. This is the height of superficiality. This is a shocking state of degeneration. Such is the dominance and allurement of materialism that some WT didis have gotten involved in this way. Their dharmic role is to bring others onto the path of spirituality, but instead the opposite has occurred.

It is sad and tragic that a few have fallen in this way. It lowers the standard dramatically. It is our duty to save them and show the right path that running after superficial beauty leads one towards hell - only Parama Purusa is the goal.
https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/

Namaskar,
In Him,
Para’shakti

~ In-depth study ~

Lowly people aggrandise themselves

Some fall prey to the psychic ailment known as self-aggrandizement or gaorava. This is when people feel a need to present themselves as being bigger or better than what they truly are.

   Ananda Marga ideology states, "Gaorava is the second type of aham'ka'ra [ego]. It means “self-aggrandizement”. Puffed up with vanity, a person will want to project his image in an exaggerated manner. Often we hear somebody say, for example, that they have a rose the size of a balloon in their garden – whereas actually the rose may be the size of a ping-pong ball. Constant indulgence in this type of activity converts the mind into matter."
   "We have seen bulls moving about in the streets with an air of arrogance. Such a bull creates a sound expressing the idea that it is big – Ham bar'a'. But when the bull dies and ta'nt [vina string] is made out of its intestines and musicians start playing on it, the sound which is then emitted expresses the idea Tun bar'a' – meaning thereby that the bull realizes that others are big, and realizes that he has arrived at this condition because of his arrogance."
   "In fact the inculcation of gaorava leads one to the worst hell. Just as there are six layers, or lokas, of the Cosmic Mind above the crude world, so are there six types of hell, six narakas, below the physical world. The names of these hells are tala, atala, tala'tala, pa'ta'la, atipa'ta'la and rasa'tala. Another term for rasa'tala is raorava naraka – and a person indulging in gaorava will certainly go to raorava [crudest state of mind]." (5)

Our Wts have to follow different rules than family margiis.
https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/

References
1. Avadhutika Rules, Point #2 of 32 Points
2. #3 of 32 Rules for Avadhutikas
3. #8 of 32 Rules for Avadhutikas
4. Avadhutika Rules, Point #2 of 32 Points
5. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Safeguards against the Defects of Jiṋána and Karma

*        *        *

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 ==

I am singing for You

Note: Only those who sincerely practice the higher lessons of sahaja yoga meditation can understand this song in the depths of their heart.

"Je gán tomáke shonái,tumi ki shono ná priya..." (Prabhat Samgiita #4471)

Purport:

O’ Parama Purusa, my Dearmost, don't You listen to the song which I am singing for You? That tune which is coming from my heart, is that to be neglected? The song which expresses my innermost, heart-felt longing and yearning for You, is that to be ignored? Please tell me, Dear.

O’ Divine Entity, the flower blooms and blossoms on this earth and emanates a sweet aroma all around. But after some time that same flower is just lying in the dust crying. Then can this be overlooked - should it just be forgotten?

Baba, O’ Parama Purusa, after showering all sorts of blessings upon me, if You make me impoverished then please remember the request of that impoverished fellow sometimes. In the past we were close, but now, because of my shortcomings, You have forgotten me. Our love should be beyond all merits and demerits, so kindly don’t neglect me. I humbly request You not to forget this plea...

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Who is worthy of honour & respect

Neo-humanism states:

“To those who think for all . . .
who offer others seats of honour and respect . . .
who venerate others, instead of waiting to be venerated –
to them I dedicate this book with humble esteem and deepest salutations.” (1)

- Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar

Note: In the above lines, it is obvious we should give first priority to honouring those whom nobody honours.

Reference
1. Liberation of Intellect - Neo-Humanism, Dedication page

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Non-human to superman

Ananda Marga ideology says, "Spiritual thirst is the speciality, or rather the special characteristic of human beings. And there lies the difference between man and the other animals. Where there is no spiritual thirst in a man, physically he may be like a man, but actually, psychologically, he is not a man. So this special determination of human beings should always be encouraged so that a man may develop from an ordinary human being to a superman." (1)

Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam -12, The Four Kinds of Approach

== Section 3: Links ==

Recent postings

• Right way Gurusakash
  

• Millions rupees stolen from PP's room
  

• Groupist kiirtana
  

Other topics of interest

• Crowd & death

• Weakness of visheśa yoga

• Ever-new style
  

• Altered photo ruining dhyana
  

More important letters

• Rudrananda with his main henchmen
  

• Pranavatmakananda spread false things in book
  

• Why abortion is sinful in AM

• Coward writer