Baba’s secrecy
Namaskar,
Those
days, we can say that there were essentially two broad categories of
bhaktas: Those who were like Sudama, and those who were like Arjuna.
Sudama had full feeling and unwavering belief that Lord Krsna is Parama
Purusa.
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Openly announced about Himself
From
hour to hour and year to year, always Sudama held the realisation in
his heart and mind that Lord Krsna is God. In contrast, Arjuna did not
have full faith that Lord Krsna is Parama Purusa. Arjuna's mind was
always riddled with doubt. To remove Arjuna's doubts, Lord Krsna had to
show His vishvarupa (universal form). Then Arjuna's mind became
convinced.
To
satisfy all those bhaktas who suffered from similar doubts, on various
occasions, Lord Krsna openly proclaimed Himself as the Divine Entity
using very direct language.
Mama vartmánu varttante manuśyáh Pártha sarvashah
"'If people resort to the path that I show they are sure to attain salvation in the end...I will liberate You'." (1)
And in another shloka Lord Krsna has proclaimed:
Paritráńáya sádhúnáḿ vinásháya ca duśkrtám;
Dharmasaḿsthápanártháya sambhavámi yuge yuge.
"'I incarnate Myself in this world from age to age for the annihilation of the wicked and the protection of the virtuous'." (2)
Why Lord Ksna was very direct about His status
Lord
Krsna was very forthright and direct in telling those bhaktas about His
divine status. In that era of old, the people were very simple. They
did not resort to lying or bragging. What they were, they spoke; and
what others said, they believed. Because nobody was falsely telling
about their own greatness. People were very straightforward; they would
matter-of-factly speak of their status. That was the social norm.
Accordingly, Lord Krsna told those around Him that He was the Parama
Purusa. And the people had full faith and trust on what He told. By this
way those Arjuna type of people got the support they needed to be
strict on the point of Ista, i.e. accepting Lord Krsna as Parama Purusa.
That was 3500 years ago.
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Around
2000 years ago, a different era took hold on this earth. In that time
there were numerous people claiming to be the incarnation of God, the
son of God, or the divine messenger of God etc. There was no shortage of
such persons who were indulged in this type of self-glorification. This
type of mentality did not exist earlier. But it was this mindset that
gave rise to the birth of the Semitic religions - where such claims are
the sole basis for the existence of that religion.
All brag about their own inflated greatness
In
this present era, the collective psychology has slid further down this
continuum of decline and degradation. Everyone is prone towards
inflating their own personality. This is the common trend where people
eagerly and anxiously speak about their own "greatness" and
"extraordinary talents." A person who has read 4 books will proclaim
himself to be a scholar; an athlete will proclaim himself to be a
demi-god, and verily nearly everyone props themselves up to be something
they are not. In turn, others do not believe what a person proclaims.
They do not take it at face value, or any value. Because
self-glorification and hypocrisy are rampant.
This
was perhaps the main reason why Baba did not openly proclaim to one and
all that, "I am Parama Purusa." Because society was not ready to take
it in the right way.
However,
He did graciously present Himself to His bhaktas as being the Parama
Purusa - in various ways: dreams, sadhana, personal contact (PC), in
dharma samiiksa, reporting, demonstrations, dhyana, discourses, and
numerous ways. About this, each and every sadhaka has their own personal
story to tell. This was all done exclusively for the welfare of the
bhakta. Parama Purusa has nothing to gain in this regard. So this was
the unique and special opportunity for each sadhaka to advance on the
spiritual path by developing a personal link with Him. In sum, we can
say that it was nothing but His ahaetuki krpa (causeless grace).
So
the fact that He is Parama Purusa was made known to bhaktas only - not
to members of the general society. Higher sadhaka, through their
spiritual approach coupled with His grace, can intuitively feel in their
heart and mind that Baba is Parama Purusa. And for those new margiis
who need external support, Baba has graciously shown them in their heart
that He is Parama Purusa. This has occurred through DMC, general
darshan and in front of other margiis etc.
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The best way: through sadhana
There
are various grades of sadhakas on the path of Ananda Marga. Some have
been blessed to intuitively feel in their heart that Baba is Parama
Purusa; and, others need external support and evidence, from time to
time, to remind them of this eternal truth.
All
along, it must be borne in mind that the only way to truly feel that
Baba is Parama Purusa is through sadhana. Only with that inner
realisation can the mind wholeheartedly embrace this supreme truth. If
anyone relies exclusively on external reminders or outer suggestions,
that will not work. When tough times arise they will run from the field,
and if someone offers a contrary view of Baba and / or Ananda Marga
they will easily be swayed. So the only way to be firmly rooted in
Ananda Marga tantra yoga is through sadhana. Then only will one truly
realise that Baba is Parama Purusa. Keeping this view in mind, please
read the following.
So many ways Baba reveals Himself to bhaktas
Sometimes
a few new Ananda Margiis have doubts about Baba's real identity. To be
caught in such a dilemma is not good for any sadhaka.
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For
this reason, in a very loving and personal manner, Baba graciously
shows those sadhakas through dharma samiikas, PC, and reporting etc, how
He is always with them, watching them, protecting them. This is the
very basis of bhakti: Feeling in one's heart that Parama Purusa is
always present, always with me. So for a bhakta to intimately understand
that Baba is that very Parama Purusa is everything. By this way one
feels that they are never alone or helpless, as Baba is always there,
lovingly showering His grace.
And
there are countless ways by which Baba brings His bhaktas close. Some
see Him in dreams, others in dhyana, and still others gain an
understanding of His Divine grandeur through PC, demonstrations,
varabhaya mudra, experiences with microvita or dharma samiiksa, kiirtan,
blessings, discourses, and so many ways. On this matter, on this
journey of finding that inner link with Him, each and every bhakta has
their own personal account and experience. Somehow, some way, they came
to understand how Baba is always with them, caring for them.
And
that He sees everything. He sees their smiles and their tears, their
joys and sorrow, their past mistakes and their future glory. Then the
entire concept of Parama Purusa as a Personal God is no longer just a
figment of philosophy but rather a practical, heart-felt experience.
Conclusion
Verily
this is the speciality of Ananda Marga. Every sadhaka feels they have
their own special link with the Divine Entity. This is dramatically
different from the various religions who feel that God is but a vision
in the distant sky who sternly looks down upon them, or the various
other paths that state that the divine is nothingness itself or beyond
one's reach in this lifetime.
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Ananda
Marga is the path of bliss: Realising the very practical notion that
Baba is the Parama Purusa who resides in the heart, watching everything,
showering His love, and keeping us under His divine shelter. Baba did
not beat the drum about His divine advent because He did not want
worthless people crowding around Him while bhaktas are pushed aside. So
He brought bhaktas close and allotted His work to them.
Baba
may not have announced His Divine Presence to the world. Yet certainly
He has shown Himself to each and every sadhaka. And by this way, His
disciples develop firm faith in Ista, bask in His divine bliss, and sit
on His lap. It is truly His grace.
Namaskar,
In Him,
Citsvarup
From
general people and the common society, Baba hid Himself through various
liilas and played the role of a most ordinary human being whereas for
bhaktas He revealed everything in so many ways. Nobody can understand
the liila of Parama Purusa.
~ In-depth study ~
Scene at DMC:
Baba shows how He is Supreme Noumenal Entity, Supreme Hub
Here
is an example of Baba directly indicating to few margiis that He is the
omniscient Parama Purusa. In the following scene from DMC in Timmern,
Germany (1979), Baba graciously shows Himself as Parama Purusa, and thus
clears the doubts of certain Ananda Margiis. How does He do this? With
His all-knowing mind He uncovers what a few margiis thought while
decorating the hall - even though He was not present at that time. This
shows that He is that Divine Omnipresent Personality - the Parama
Purusa.
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Here is a closer look at this exact scene from that DMC discourse. On that occasion, Baba told:
"whatever
you are doing is indirectly known to Him ... And not only that, He
keeps a direct relationship with you also. “Today we will decorate the
hall in a very nice way, as is done in the case of DMC.”
[laughter]
COMMENT:
At this point in the discourse those present start laughing because
Baba has just now revealed exactly what certain margiis thought hours
earlier when they were decorating the hall. They were expressing their
hope that Baba would declare DMC: “Today we will decorate the hall in a
very nice way, as is done in the case of DMC”. Yet just now in the
discourse, hours after the fact, He is perfectly replicating what they
thought. So it is only because of His all-knowing personae that He is
aware of exactly what they thought. By this action, He is directly
revealing that He is that omniscient, Divine Entity who maintains a
link…., both individually and collectively. He is proving that He is
linked with everyone - everywhere. On the occasion of that DMC
discourse, Baba told:
“And when Bábá will see these things, [laughing] He will say, ‘Let there be DMC.’”
[laughter]
COMMENT:
By this above phrase, Baba again reveals that He knows exactly what
those margiis thought about Him hours earlier when they were decorating
the hall. That is why everyone is again laughing. Because they
understand that Baba is speaking verbatim what those margiis were
thinking earlier in the day. By this demonstration Baba is revealing
that He is the all-knowing Parama Purusa. Those who were in doubt about
His real identity are now convinced that Baba is Parama Purusa. On the
occasion of that DMC discourse, Baba told:
"See,
these things have got direct reflection on the, what? Not on your
apparent noumenal entity, but directly on the Supreme hub, directly on
the Supreme noumenal entity. And He will say, “Let me satisfy those
little boys and girls—”
[laughter]
COMMENT:
Here again those margiis are laughing because they understand that Baba
is directly showing them that He is that Supreme Hub, i.e. Parama
Purusa, and that the entire mental plate of every apparent noumenal
entity, i.e. every jiivatman is reflected in His mind. On the occasion
of that DMC discourse, Baba told:
“—by declaring a subject of discourse.”
[laughter]
COMMENT:
By declaring a subject of discourse, Baba has formally declared that
this will be DMC, thereby satisfying the unspoken desires of those
Ananda Margiis who decorated the hall. All are laughing because Baba has
perfectly depicted the scene that took place hours earlier and now He
is fulfilling their request. On the occasion of that DMC discourse,
Baba told:
"The
link, you see, one indirect link with each and every entity, through so
many noumenal entities; another direct link with each and every
individual, from a mammoth to a blade of grass. So a mammoth cannot move
without His grace, and a blade of grass also cannot move without His
approval. And this shows that He maintains a link with each and every
entity." (3)
COMMENT:
Here above Baba is revealing to certain bhaktas that He is that Parama
Purusa who maintains a personal link with every unit being, i.e.
jiivatman or noumenal entity in this cosmos through His ota yoga. As the
Parama Purusa, Baba sees everyone, everywhere all the time. There is
not a thought, syllable, or action that He is not aware of - and He has
made His bhaktas aware in their heart that on this very occasion by
precisely detailing the thoughts and desires of those margiis decorating
the hall. This is an example of His subtle way of hinting to His
bhaktas that He is that divine, all-knowing Divine Entity.
Printed version of same passage
Ananda Marga ideology states, "You know, the Supreme noumenal entity
maintains the closest relationship with all other apparent noumenal
entities, the so-called noumenal entities, and those so-called noumenal
entities maintain a link with each and every expression of this
universe. This indirect link of the noumenal entity is called Prota Yoga
in saḿskrta. That is, whatever you are doing is indirectly known to Him
through your direct noumenal entity. And not only that, He keeps a
direct relationship with you also."
"“Today we will decorate the hall in a very nice way, as is done in the
case of DMC. And when Bábá will see those things, He will say, ‘Let
there be DMC.’” See, these things have a direct reflection, not on your
apparent noumenal entity, but directly on the Supreme hub, directly on
the Supreme noumenal entity. And He will say, “Let me satisfy those
little boys and girls by declaring a subject of discourse.”" (4)
The
above yellow italicised section is the "as is" version of the
discourse. In the book edition cited directly above, those publishers
did not indicate that bhaktas were laughing. I shall leave it to them to
explain why they did like this, as that is not the main point of this
letter.
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References
1. Namami Krsnasundaram, Párthasárathi Krśńa and Pariprashna (Discourse 24)
2. Namami Krsnasundaram, Párthasárathi Krśńa and Pariprashna (Discourse 24)
3. 20 May 1979, Timmern, Germany
4. Subhasita Samgraha - 12, The Noumenal Cause and the Personal God
* * *
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 ==
Why is marching Your path, confusions come
"Toma'r pathe jete kuya'sha' keno a'se a'nkhite..." (Prabhat Samgiita #2214)
Purport:
Parama
Purusa, You have blessed me with all that I would ever need or want.
Then why is it that while marching Your path, sometimes frustration and
confusions come, thus making everything foggy. It is not easy to see
across. Dilemmas arise in the mind as if the future is dark. Divine
Entity, please create more and more effulgence so that all the
accumulated blackness vanishes.
My
Illumined One, the Polestar of my life, those who lost their course in
life, kindly show them the way. Remove their anxiety and ignorance and
bring them in the right direction. I humbly ask that You shower Your
grace on me so that in Your ideation and in Your dhyana I merge myself
in You. Please allow my entire I-feeling to dissolve into You. Without
Your krpa all this is not possible.
Baba,
with the force of Your mantra, awaken all, the entire world, from their
slumber. I appeal to You to make me Your tool to execute Your task.
Bless me so I pass my time in shravana, manana, and nididyasana, and
always think about You. Baba, do Your work with my hand - getting Your
plans done through me and fulfill Your desire...
== Section: Important Teaching ==
How yoga postures keep the spine flexible
The following is an English summary of Baba’s original teaching given in Bangla in Shabda Cayanika part 8:
When calcium builds up and gets deposited in the back it becomes hard. That is why when people are very young then their backbone is quite flexible but due to an accumulation of calcium over just a few years then by the time they are teen-agers already their spinal column has become stiff and rigid.
Doing noakasana, utkata paschimottanasana, and shalabasana etc eliminates the possibility of developing a hunched back. So those doing hard manual labor that demands bending the back for extended periods of time should do these aforementioned asanas on a regular basis. That will prevent them from suffering from hunch-back in the future. (English Summary)
== Section 4: Links ==
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