Baba
Namaskar,
In that case, their degeneration is sure. As Baba warns, their destiny is the depths of hell.
WT BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Namaskar,
In that case, their degeneration is sure. As Baba warns, their destiny is the depths of hell.
THEY ARE USING BABA'S BIRTHDAY SONG FOR THEMSELVES
Now let's critically examine how some of our Wt's are manipulating and entwining Baba's divine songs of Prabhat Samgiita into for the celebration of their own unit donkey birthday.
First, our workers are not supposed to be celebrating their own birthday. This goes against the sanctity of their oaths and against the ideal of their life. They have come onto this earth for something else: To serve Parama Purusa and His creation. One must sing the glory of Parama Purusa and not one's own self.
Second, such Wt's are organising donkey birthday parties for themselves and one another and then singing Baba's special Prabhat Samgiita #135, Janmadine..., in the honour of that worker. When in fact that song is meant to be sung to Taraka Brahma Baba and Baba only during our grand Ananda Purnima celebrations.
Yet, over the years, on multiple occasions, certain Wts have directed Baba's beloved Prabhat Samgiita toward themselves, as if they are the focal point of this divine song and as if their worldly donkey birthday is so important.
As we know, that entire Prabhat Samgiit #135, Janmadine..., is all about celebrating the grand arrival of Parama Purusa, yet some of our workers have begun using this divine song for themselves. They stand there and smile as a whole crowd of people sing that divine Prabhat Samgiita in their honour.
Certainly, there are many, many disciplined workers who would never stoop to such degrading activities, so we are not talking about all Wts. The tragedy is that some disgraced workers are involved in this birthday and this reflects poorly on all. A few of their names are mentioned below.
MORE ABOUT PRABHAT SAMGIITA #135
As true Ananda Margiis will recognise, in Prabhat Samgiita #135, Janmadine ei shubha ks'an'e, the entire song is directed towards Parama Purusa. It is His holy arrival that is being celebrated, not one Dada's worldly donkey birthday.
In the song, due to the grand arrival of Taraka Brahma, devotees are losing themselves in bliss - that is what is meant by the line, "Khusiite vibhora a'panha'ra'.
Plus, the devotees are expressing the love and joy of their heart for Parama Purusa and no one else. That is what is meant by the line, "Udvela hiya' toma'rei la'giya'".
Each and every syllable, line, and stanza of the song is about the grandeur of Parama Purusa and how He makes everyone's heart dance in bliss, and how His arrival creates a new spiritual vibration that transforms the whole world, and how He has come to remain close to the bhakta.
Thus Prabhat Samgiita #135 is a very personal and devotional song that reflects a bhakta's joy in having Parama Purusa in the mind and heart and how His arrival is completely blissful.
To sing this song in honour of one Dada's worldly donkey birthday goes against all ethics of devotional life. According to our standard of Ananda Marga, such an act is not only misguided but the height of hypocrisy.
It is absolutely shocking that they could even think to use Baba's divine Prabhat Samgiita in honour of their own mundane birthday - as if they are the Saviour of this universe.
PP's and GS's BIRTHDAY NOT CELEBRATED
Who can say they have heard about PP Dada's birthday or GS Dada's birthday. The answer is no one. Because it is not done. Yet if this birthday celebration would have been accepted & approved then certainly first PP Dada's birthday would have been celebrated every year. And then step by step GS Dada's birthday followed by Purodha Board members and Central Dadas etc. Like this all high posted worker would be doing. But if you examine the history of AM never has such things been done. Because it is understood that this is not approved by Baba.
FOLLOW CONDUCT AND SPIRIT AVADHUTA
How far is it appropriate & befitting for avadhutas to celebrate their own donkey birthday?
Who can forget that at one time Vishokananda and Madhavananda also carried the title of avadhuta. Thus for those who do not follow the codes and standards of being avadhuta - their title of avadhuta is meaningless. Because Baba's guideline is that being avadhuta in name only is not enough - one must follow the conduct and spirit.
ACARYA SHOULD ALWAYS INSTRUCT BY HIS EXEMPLARY ACTIONS
Taking everything into consideration here following are some of Baba's important guidelines about acarya and avadhuta life.
"A'ca'ran'a't pa'thayati yah sah a'ca'ryah-- 'One who teaches through one's conduct is an acarya'. If you cannot learn anything from the conduct and behaviour of a certain person, why should you accept that person as an a'ca'rya." (7)
"Bear in mind that people may be harmed or misled by even a small weakness or defect in the conduct of an acarya...an acarya should always instruct by his exemplary actions and words." (8)
JUST DONKEY’S BIRTHDAY
In Ananda Marga, if anything is done for superficial show or in an insincere manner then that is not at all acceptable. For instance, if someone serves you food only to show how great they are then Baba terms that food as: Donkey Food.
“If food is not offered with that heart-felt feeling then that food is donkey food, gardabha’nna. So one must not eat that food.” (9)
Similarly sadhana done with the primary motive of showing one’s greatness instead of pleasing Parama Purusa is donkey sadhana. And if kiirtan is sung with the primary motive as a display of one’s musical talent and instead of to spread the glory of the Lord, then that is donkey kiirtan.
Likewise, when any Wt or avadhuta celebrated their own birthday in their honour instead of spreading the glory of Parama Puruas, then their celebration is a donkey birthday.
SOME FAKE AVADHUTAS INVOLVED IN BIRTHDAY ANTICS
About any such cases where Wts go against their own code of conduct - by celebrating their worldly donkey birthday etc - Baba has given the following teaching:
"Mana na' ra'inga'ile ra'inga'ile yogii kapar'a.
Saffron and red do not a yogiis make
With mind undyed he remains a fake."
"Dye your mind with His colour. Those who have not done so cannot attain Him, for this very coloration is Prema or Divine Love... No external sign of Sa'dhuta' or virtue is necessary. Become sa'dhu within. Behind the external show of virtuousness of many so-called sa'dhus exists a pharisaic state of mind. Preserve the true dignity of the word, Sa'dhu."
“Mu’r'ha mura’ye jata’ bar’a'ye...
With shaven head or matted locks
And ashen body a Sadhu walks
With the swaggering gait of a well-fed buffalo.
And crude mind filled with thoughts mean and low."
"That is why I say that you must bring about a revolutionary change in the flow of your judgment and thought, and see how, after overcoming your fascination with external colour, your mind becomes tinged with the His glorious colour." (10)
(A) Some time back in Jharsguda (Orissa, India), there was a big donkey birthday party event held in honour of Dada Priyakrsnananda.
For those not aware, Dada Priyakrsnananda has years and years of experience in Ananda Marga and even in his early years in the Marga he was a Central Worker who lived close to Baba. But unfortunately, those years he was like a rock in a river. Just as the water never touches the inside of the rock despite the rock being immersed in the river, similarly Priyakrsnananda Dada was very close to Baba physically for many years, but internally he was not drenched. Or what we can say.
Perhaps most surprising is that there were many, many so-called senior workers on hand for this donkey birthday gala event and in one big round, they all sang Prabhat Samgiita #135, "Janma dine...", in order to celebrate Dada Priyakrsnananda's birthday.
This type of dogmatic occasion is 100% against the ethics of our Ananda Marga and it sets a very negative example.
(B) Not surprisingly then, more recently in SUVA sector, the very senior Dada Paramatmananda and Didi Ananda Shamiita organised two birthday parties. And once again, they both insisted that PS #135, "Janma dine...", be sung. Thus with printed song sheets etc that Dada and Didi made sure that the donkey birthday event was celebrated with Prabhat Samgiita.
Our so-called senior most workers do not understand the basic principles about Ananda Marga and Prabhat Samgiita. They have forgotten Guru's teachings and guidelines.
(C) Some years ago at New York sector's Boston Regional retreat, Ac. Rainjitananda Avt celebrated his own birthday with full gusto and glory. In grand fashion, everyone present at the retreat sang a hearty round of the traditional American "Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You" song in Dadaji's honor. And during the singing one sumptuous cake was brought out and served to Dadaji. And like that the whole affair took on the flavor of one mundane Americana birthday party whereby non-margiis make a wish for mundane objects as they blow out the candles on the birthday cake and receive presents from one and all etc. So like that Rainjitanandji's celebratory occasion and donkey birthday party was carried out whereby Dada accepted the card and cake and all arrangements in his own honour. Because at that moment Dadaji's birthday was the showcase event going on at the retreat.
(D) Didi Ananda Kalyanshrii has also been involved in grand birthday celebrations. This Didi who used to be DSL Delhi and then became SWWS Delhi had big donkey birthday celebrations where all her children's home kids would sing for her. Actually this Didi has a long history of self-glorification. All recall how Didi celebrated her donkey birthday with much pomp and show.
(E) Here is a list of more Wt Dadas and Wt Didis who use Prabhat Samgiita to celebrate themselves on their worldly birthday - plus they accept and receive presents as well. Please forward this letter to them so they are aware about this matter
Didi Ananda Vibha
Didi Ananda Anuprabha
Didi Ananda Advaya
Didi Ananda Usa
Didi Ananda Hitesana
Didi Ananda Danavrata
Didi Ananda Avisha
Didi Ananda Arundhati
Didi Ananda Sudha
Dada Priyakrsnananda
Dada Rathindrananda
And there are more...
First please forward this letter to the aforementioned Wts. Second, write us if you have seen other Wt Dadas or Didis doing like this type of donkey birthday.
CONCLUSION
The sole reason for writing this letter and addressing this issue is to help those Wts rectify their conduct and improve the overall standard of our Wt cadre. If this problem is not solved, then some of the newer Wts many also adopt this donkey birthday ritual and prolong the dogma. Yet we should not let this problem mount. We must also bear in mind that many Wts - new and old - do not support these Wt donkey birthday celebrations yet they are not in position to rectify the matter. Whatever the circumstance, as Ananda Margiis it is our duty to bring this issue to the fore so it can be properly addressed and resolved.
Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Nityanirainjan Deva
REFERENCES
7. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23 p.150
8. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 31 p.18
9. Summary of Shabda Cayanika - 20, p.163-64 [Bangla]
10. Subhasita Samgraha part 3
(All this above is 206B(2)
