Baba
Samádhi demonstration
Namaskar,All senior margiis know about those special demonstrations given by Baba in 1969-70, and also that He performed other demonstrations before and after 1969-70 as well.
Unfortunately, these demonstrations have been misinterpreted and wrongly described in certain discourses on samadhi published in the series, “Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell” (part 5). Specifically, those discourses are related with the samadhi demonstrations of 1969 in Ranchi. And the publishers included a false description of those demonstrations in the printed discourse. Unfortunately, those false insertions create a lot of confusion.
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For instance, in the chapter titled, "Abhedajiṋána and Nirvikalpa Samádhi" of Ananda Marga philosophy (1), the false description of the demonstration gives the message that such-and-such person got samadhi due to his own efforts. But, the truth is that Sadguru Baba infused His spiritual blessing upon that person and granted them samadhi for a short time. The sadhaka was a mere tool or toy in that demonstration. It was all due to Guru’s direct touch. So the bogus insertion that the publishers made leads the reader astray from the truth.
Baba touched them with His stick
The sole cause of getting samadhi is His causeless grace. That is how aspirants receive samadhi - regardless of the level of attainment. Without the grace of Parama Purusa, one cannot advance in the spiritual realm. Yet, this very basic truth has been undermined by the way they inserted the descriptions of those demonstrations. Because those descriptions have been written as if the sadhaka attained that samadhi exclusively by their own efforts. When, in reality, it was all due to Baba’s divine grace.
Still there are thousands of senior margiis around the globe who can bear witness to the fact that these samadhis were only done by Baba - He graced them to happen.
Senior Margiis watched on countless occasions when Baba took His stick and touched those sadhakas. And the end result was that all those x, y, z persons got samadhi in the way He desired. All these facts are known today. But we should not forget that tomorrow, that means after 100 years, then most of the persons who were witness to those demonstrations will no longer be present with us as a witness. Then these false narrations of demonstrations from “Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell” will be treated as truth, ie. wrong will be accepted as right.
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And people will not know the fact that Baba was directly behind all these samadhis. The future society will be deprived of this cosmic truth that Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji Himself gave such demonstrations, and that this was the way in which He played His divine liila.
Wrong narration: as if sadhaka got samadhi by own efforts
“(On 14th May, 1970, at Ranchi jagrti, a certain sádhaka experienced this type of nirvikalpa samádhi in the presence of about twenty-five other sádhakas. That concerning sádhaka first sat in siddhásana with the spinal cord erect, and then began to practice dhyána on all the cakras – múládhar, svadhistána, mańipur, anáhata, vishudha. During that period he had a unique experience. He felt within that his dear object of meditation was dancing with two skulls. Thereafter, he raised his mind to ájiṋa cakra and began to practice dhyána in the prescribed dhyána mudra. Next, when he concentrated his mind on lalaná cakra, the function of the ten sense organs of his body was suspended. The sádhaka lost his mind in the Cosmic Mind and became one with the Cosmic Mind. He looked peaceful and serene.) (2)
The above wrongly described demonstration has been inserted into the book, “Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell” part 5. And this inserted description of a samadhi demonstration makes it look like the sadhaka achieved samadhi due to his own efforts:
(a) "sádhaka first sat in siddhásana with the spinal cord erect"(b) "began to practice dhyána on all the cakras"(c) "he raised his mind to ájiṋa cakra"(d) "began to practice dhyána in the prescribed dhyána mudra"(e) "he concentrated his mind on lalaná cakra"(f) "The sádhaka lost his mind in the Cosmic Mind"(g) "became one with the Cosmic Mind"
So the misleading narration makes it look like we are bearing witness to a top-grade sadhaka who achieved samadhi by his own doing. But, the truth is that Sadguru Baba graciously granted that person samadhi. The sadhaka did nothing; the sadhaka was meditating on Parama Purusa Baba. And even then, it was only due to His grace that the sadhaka could even generate a single ounce of concentration.
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So this inserted paragraph gives readers a false impression that the sadhaka was really great, and that is why he got samadhi. Yet, the truth is opposite. It is unfortunate that such descriptions have been inserted into our spiritual shastra. Those insertions should be corrected and rewritten in such a way that Sadguru Baba is blessing the sadhaka with this spiritual experience.
Baba gave samadhi - not x, y, z got by own efforts
The distortion of truth - to any degree - is detrimental and harmful. But on this higher-most spiritual teaching, how can we accept this distortion in our own Ananda Marga scriptures.
So these improper narrations about samadhi which have been inserted into Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell should be fixed without any delay. They should be rewritten to express the beautiful way in which Baba graced His ordinary x, y, z disciples with samadhi. Otherwise it is harmful and misleading and, the more time that goes by it will become increasingly difficult to correct.
In Him,
Namaskar,
Gurucharan
~ In-depth study ~
The key point is that the participant did not acquire samadhi by dint of their own efforts in sadhana. But the description inserted into the “Ananda Marga Philosophy Nutshell” series gives the notion that those sadhakas got samadhi by their own efforts and gains in sadhana. So again, here lies the serious distortion of fact: Because the undisputed truth is that Parama Purusa Baba graciously bestowed samadhi to that sadhaka. It is most unfortunate the writer lacked the requisite strength to write the truth.
Often those individuals selected for the demonstration were not qualified. They were not very elevated souls. Rather many of them ended up leaving Ananda Marga.
From this one can easily deduce that those demonstrations were given by Baba for the purpose of giving a teaching to society. Those demonstrations were not dependent upon one's individual elevation, merit, or their devotional standard.
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Baba chose those people to show that even xyz persons can experience samadhi. If only great sadhakas were used in demonstrations then the common people would think that those grand spiritual realisations were beyond their reach. Yet when they saw local people and commoners experiencing the divine force, they gained the requisite conviction and felt that they too could reach to those heights, by His grace. Only firmness in Guru is needed. So there was tremendous benefit in Baba’s selection of such persons.
Those samadhi subjects were ordinary people
In many instances, after getting nirvikalpa samadhi during a demonstration, that person left Ananda Marga. And many of them were not believing in Baba also. Because in 1971 when Baba went to jail some of those very samadhi-holders were propagating to general margiis that, "Look, now Baba has lost His power."
So this was the standard of those obtainers of samadhi. Samadhi demonstrations were given by Baba with the explicit purpose to teach the society that samadhi is real. It exists; it is not a utopian phenomenon. Samadhi can be achieved by anyone when a person gets His grace.
So long as the mind is elevated, one will realize such divine truths; and when the mind is low they will not have such experiences. And to prove this point, often these participants were not very elevated souls, and Baba graciously granted them samadhi for a very short period. After that they gradually returned to their normal state of mind.
Great sadhakas were inclined towards intuitional practice and by His grace were sure to experience samadhi. So Baba chose ordinary people as a sampling for samadhi demonstrations so everyone can understand that even ordinary x, y, z can get samadhi if they are sincere in sadhana and get the divine grace of Parama Purusa.
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It is just like one drama on stage. If one character is using the dress of a king then that character is the king for a few hours or a few minutes. And when the drama is over, then he is his usual self. A similar thing happened with those sadhana demonstrations. Baba graciously selected x, y, z persons for certain roles and with His direct grace He elevated them for a few minutes or hours and granted them samadhi. That was the demonstration.
The central idea is that the whole credit goes to Baba - not to certain x, y, z, individuals. But unfortunately that part has been discarded from our Ananda Marga Philosophy book. Instead those inserted descriptions of those demonstrations glorify the greatness of the individual, i.e. x, y, z.
Brooks no delay
We know those good bhaktas who are with us today may not be with us in 10, 20, 40, or 100 years into the future. So with full heart and energy, we should move ahead at the earliest and ensure that those descriptions of Baba's demonstrations are recorded properly. For such a great and important work that is so intimately related with Baba's grace, there brooks no delay.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "I have learnt that whenever you wish to perform a noble deed, do it immediately. Do today whatever you propose to do tomorrow. "Shubhasya shiighram ashubhasya ka'laharan'am"'. (3)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "In the realm of dharma, the only true guide and controller, motivating force and protector of the people, is an excellent and comprehensive ideology which provides definite clear-cut and bold directions for all aspects of human life-- from one's personal daily routine to one's social activities and collective motivation, to the spiritual inspiration which brings one closer to God. A scripture which does not fulfill these conditions is not worthy of being called a scripture at all...Thus the Scriptures containing spiritual injunctions must be totally flawless." (4)
Why samadhi demonstrations on x, y, z sadhakas
First off, the question that arises is why did Baba opt to give demonstrations on samadhi.
When Mahasambhuti Sadguru propounds any philosophy then He gives both a well-knit, logical, philosophical side and the practical side as well - i.e. a demonstration. Without that people will not be able to believe that samadhi really exists. So if Baba would not have given demonstrations of all those different samadhis, then many would not have believed that samadhi is something real or attainable.
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So demonstrations were needed to teach one and all that spiritual realisation is not just something theoretical. That is why in 1969 - 1970, during the course of that whole year Baba was conducting a few demonstrations daily, thereby presenting this practical side of His spiritual philosophy.
References
1. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 5, "Abhedajiṋána and Nirvikalpa Samádhi"
2. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 5, "Abhedajiṋána and Nirvikalpa Samádhi"
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 8, Bad Habits Which Should Be Given Up
4. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, '85, p.166
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The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
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== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
India: Why apathetic towards history
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "India has a rich literature especially in Sanskrit, but there is very little historical literature. Due to philosophical confusion, there was a certain apathy towards history among the people of India. Because of this apathy the inhabitants of India were averse to composing history. It has to be considered by the scholars to what extent, apart from the Rájataraunginii, can the Rájamálá of Tripura and the Assamese Burainji be classified as history. The greater portion of what we consider to be the history of the Indian middle ages had to be collected from the diaries of foreign travellers. In order to write even a single page of history we had to look up Fá-Hiyen, Meghásthinis, Iuḿ, Chuyáḿ, or Ivanavatutá. During the Pathan and Mughal eras there was some history written in the collections of the sovereigns but it is difficult to say just how far they are authoritative. However, we can say that even if not all was lost, something certainly was.” (1)
Reference
1. Varn’a Vijia’na, Psycho-Acoustic and Inferential Acoustic Notes (Discourse 9)
== Section: Important Teaching ==
All cannot be billionaires
Prout philosophy states, “Society will have to encourage the individual search for absolute freedom because the psychic and spiritual realms are unlimited, and possession in these spheres does not hinder the progress of others. But unrestricted freedom to acquire wealth in the physical sphere has every possibility of permitting a few people to roll in luxury while hampering the all-round growth of the majority, because physical resources are limited. Individual liberty in the physical sphere must not be allowed to hamper the development of the complete human personality, and at the same time it must not be so drastically curtailed that the all-round growth of society is impeded.”
“Freedom is a right of every human being. To encourage comprehensive, unbarred human expression in the different spheres of social life a congenial socio-economic environment has to be created, because as such an environment does not exist today.” (1)
Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 13, Socio-Economic Groupifications
== Section 3: Links ==
Other topics of interest
