Baba
Warning: Please excuse me. If you (a) blindly support a particular person or persons, (b) hold them above Ananda Marga teachings (c) deem them to be beyond question, and / or (d) do not like to hear genuine and healthy criticism, then do not read any further. This letter is written with the purpose and intention that the standard of our AMPS Wt cadre can be better. By this way, the whole Ananda Marga society will be benefited - including the dadas discussed below. Most importantly Guru will be glorified and presented in the proper light.
Namaskar,
Our existence is a divine gift bestowed upon us by Parama Purus’a. The only way unit beings are to respond to this causeless grace is doing His work and singing his glory, i.e., Kiirttana. However, some people, mistakenly, instead of singing His glory get indulged in their own self-glorification. They forget that their petty existence is but a shadow of that great truth, i.e., Parama Purus’a. By getting involved in self-praise, these people gratify their small ‘i’ which in turn distances them from the Cosmic ‘I’. This pushes people into an abyss of self aggrandizement and thereby degenerates them. This letter presents a related case in which self-aggrandizing behavior of a group of Ananda Margiis is reported.
Baba teaches self-applause is rather boring for others
Baba teaches us that, “They forget that their self-applause is rather boring for others.”
““Kiirttaniiyah sadáharih”. Kiirtana should be done on Hari and on no other entity. One should not praise oneself or any other person. There are many people who are very fond of praising themselves by telling everyone what wonderful things they have done, but, as mentioned in this s’loka, kiirtana is not for one’s own self but for Hari. Even though people are taught to do kiirtana for Hari, they still make the mistake of praising themselves too much. Sometimes their self-praise is so intense that others are obliged to say, “Please stop praising yourself so much.” They forget that their self-applause is rather boring for others. Human beings should realize that no one likes to hear the self-praise of others.” (1)
Thus, kiirtana means singing the glory of the Supreme, i.e. Parama Purusa - not any unit being or oneself.
And this Prabhat Samgiita composition guides us how ideal devotees behave: “A'mi nijere praca'r karibo na'..." (PS #337)
Meaning: I will never glorify my own existence. I will never propagate about my own personality...
Thus, in any narrative, one must not focus and highlight one’s own petty existence. Rather the aim should be to glorify the Supreme Entity - Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji.
How they indulge in self-praise
Dada C and other margiis reported the proceedings of DMS held in Purnea. In Prajiṋa Bharatii magazine, in these proceedings, Dada C and the other ma’rgiis are glorifying themselves as the ones due to whom the DMS program was successful, so to speak. The whole purpose of DMS is for propagation of dharma and Parama Purusá Baba’s ideals. There is no place for glorification of any individual. Yet, see in below passage how such people are glorifying PP dada & themselves - not the Parama Purusa Baba. However, here the spiritual program of DMS is reduced to a social function driven by a group of people.
Self-glorification will bring degradation
Due to Sadguru Baba's divine teachings, Ananda Margiis (Wts and family margiis) follow a more sentient way of living than the common mass. This applies to diet, dress, communication style, and numerous other avenues. Internally every sadhaka has a personal relation with Parama Purusa and externally looks upon all as a manifestation of the Supreme - all are brothers and sisters.
In contrast, usually in this materialistic era, money, power, privilege, prestige, & post are everything. This is the general trend these days where one central theme is rampant: The tendency to glorify oneself, i.e. self-glorification.
Most Ananda Margiis are aware that self-glorification is not good. Internally most do not feel comfortable with this so they divert the mind in a positive direction. For sadhakas, it is universally known that giving way to self-glorification will bring about one's degradation.
Baba's guidelines:
self-praise is anti-dharma
Praising and highlighting oneself is directly against our Ananda Marga mores - against our Ananda Marga way of life.
Regarding people involved in self-praise Baba says, “I have done this, I have done that. I am not an ordinary man.” This is a psychic disease. Actually, vanity is a psychic disease, a psychic ailment.” [1]
Further, Baba talks about people who self-glorify. “I have donated so much. I have done this. I have done that.” You say this. But wherefrom doth that energy come? It is not your individual energy. If you are not given food or water for a few days, what will happen? You will not have any energy. You cannot create any energy. Through food, physical energy is transmuted into your individual vital energy.” [2]
“You do something with the help of your intellect. But where from doth the intellect come? From Him. He is the perennial source of all energies – physical or intellectual or spiritual. You are not the owner of any energy or any force or any other mundane or supramundane object. You are simply to serve with His energy, with His intellect, with His spirit.” [2]
“So karmádhyakśa. He is the lord of all karma, not you. You are simply a machine. You must not forget this fact, that you are simply a machine. You are not the machine-man. You should not have this sort of vanity. You should not say that you are the machine-man, that you have done this or you have done that.” [2]
Sadguru says, "Human beings are made of flesh and bones. If their heart or lungs stop functioning, in that case they will be lifted onto the shoulders of 4 other people in order to get thrown onto the funeral pyre. When this is the situation of human beings, where is the scope for self-glorification?" [3]
When human life is so delicate and one will have to take such help from others in their final hour of need, then how can anyone think they are so great and praise oneself.
And here are more teachings that warn of the dangers and lowliness of self-promotion and self-glorification.
Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, "Why on earth should he indulge in self-publicity? To whom will he publicize himself? Such acts are the antics of common, avaricious people with beggar-like mentality." [4]
Ananda Marga teachings state, "Your vanity may increase. You may think "I have done this, I have done that, I am not an ordinary man'. This is a psychic disease." [5]
Sadguru Baba says, "A person boasts of learning, intellect and fortune. But nothing is eternal. Therefore one who boasts of anything of this world is a fool." [6]
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "When any work is done, the concerning sa’dhaka is not to be given any credit; the credit should be given to Parama Purus'a." [7]
So it is evident that there is no scope in our Ananda Marga lifestyle for self-praise.
Street dwellers, corrupt politicians, cheating businessmen, and
debauched and corrupt government officials, and pseudo-margiis, you name it
Please see here below scans of Prajina Bharatii #247. They have taken several pages to enlist the names of all kinds of people - x, y, z, Tom, Dick, Harry - a long list of their names those who wanted to be praised - even the street dwellers, corrupt politicians, cheating businessmen, and debauched and corrupt government officials, and pseudo-margiis - you name it - who were hungry for name. How much you can imagine and not imagine their names have been mentioned for doing a “wonderful job.” If you read these pages of self-glorification it will be nauseating. This is the ugliest display I have seen in Prajina Bharati. In a gross way, countless names have been listed about their “great deeds.” Until you read this yourself you not get the putrid taste and smell of this Prajina Bharatii writing which goes against the basic fundamentals of Ananda Marga. In Ananda Marga self-praise is very negative. And that very negative self-glorification is going on here. They forgot the basic ethics of Ananda Marga.
Summary
The DMS program is a system graciously provided by Parama Purus’a Baba so that sádhakas can together create a spiritual momentum to collectively move towards Him. It is not a social program which is organized by some group and headed by a human being. As Ananda Márgiis we should understand that we are the tools run by Him. It is beyond our strengths to organize any event of this type. Those of us who get an opportunity to do Baba’s work, should in our own minds be grateful to Him for His generosity to choose us and go boasting around how we “managed” the work. This act of self-glorification will not only have a degenerating effect on our minds but also squeeze the sweet spiritual vibration from the work getting done by us.
See the below scans how Ác. Cidambara’nanda Avt. and Shri. Pradumna Narayan Singh ji did not take care of aforementioned issues and got involved in self-praise regarding the DMS program they arranged. In addition, they provided undue importance to PP Dada. Yet all praise and recognition should have been towards Sadguru Baba and A’nanda Ma’rga teachings, provided graciously by Him.
in Him,
Bhakti
List of deliberate sinners who committed this sin
Editor- A’ca’rya Ra’kesha’nanda Avt. (secy.-Purodha’ Board)
Sub-editor- A’ca’rya Ra’gamaya’nanda Avt (secy.-Avadhuta Board)
Subscription-A’ca’rya Nirmoha’nanda Avt. (secy.-A’ca’rya Board)
Publisher/circulation- A’ca’rya Satya’shraya’nanda Avt. (secy.-Ta’ttvika Board)
(in the Prajina Bharatii magazine - consecutive no. #247.)
[A] Please see here below scan of Prajina Bharatii #247 which starts like this: PP Dada arrived Bhagalpur station via train and was give a grand welcome by Shri. Achintlal ji vice president of our organizing committee along with ASD volunteers. After taking rest for sometime and performing daily activities in the Baba quarter of Bhagalpur the caravan of PP Dada left for Purnea. A squad of thirty five motorbikes driven by ASD volunteers escorted PP Dada from Purnea to Gaya. Dada’s caravan was stopped by márgiis at various places to welcome it by flowers and garlands.
[B] Please see here below scan of Prajina Bharatii #247 which starts like this: PP Dada was to be welcomed with musical orchestra at the gate of Purnea town. ASD volunteers were ready to perform piloting in their uniforms.
Please see here above scans of Prajina Bharatii #247 which starts like this: What we can see in the aforementioned passages is that glories of PP Dada has been ceaselessly sung by providing details about how many motorbikes did the convoy of Dada ji had, how Dada ji took rest in Baba quarter and his caravan moved around in a grand manner, etc. The only entity who is glorious and whose glories we should sing is Parama Purus’a. We can see that undue importance to PP Dada has been given instead of the true subject of DMS, i.e., Dharma. However, here the spiritual program of DMS is reduced to a social function driven by a group of people.
[C] Please see here below scan of Prajina Bharatii #247 which starts like this: After praising PP Dada, the organizers one after other praised themselves. Let us look at some examples.
Please see here above scan of Prajina Bharatii #247 what talks about
the following:
Without discussing the contributions of margiis and workers the description will remain incomplete. They alone were the backbone of the organizations.
The backbone of any such program is Ananda Marga ideology and not some people. However, here the spiritual program of DMS is reduced to a social function driven by a group of people. All in all, the proceedings of the DMS program is replete with self-praise and glories of PP Dada. The whole episode is very sad.
References
1. AV-14, “Prańipátena Pariprashnena Sevayá” – 1 / Yoga – Its Fundamental Factors
2. SS-24, The Supreme Cognition
3. Subhasita Samgraha-2, p.49
4. PNS-14, p.84
5. AV-1, p.7
6. AV-14, The Fundamental Principles of Life
7. SS-18, p.7
Evil deeds of Satyashrayananda
~ In PB #247 Case: Self-glorification - recipe for degeneration ~
~ In PB #247 Case: Self-glorification - recipe for degeneration ~
Warning: Please excuse me. If you (a) blindly support a particular person or persons, (b) hold them above Ananda Marga teachings (c) deem them to be beyond question, and / or (d) do not like to hear genuine and healthy criticism, then do not read any further. This letter is written with the purpose and intention that the standard of our AMPS Wt cadre can be better. By this way, the whole Ananda Marga society will be benefited - including the dadas discussed below. Most importantly Guru will be glorified and presented in the proper light.
Namaskar,
Our existence is a divine gift bestowed upon us by Parama Purus’a. The only way unit beings are to respond to this causeless grace is doing His work and singing his glory, i.e., Kiirttana. However, some people, mistakenly, instead of singing His glory get indulged in their own self-glorification. They forget that their petty existence is but a shadow of that great truth, i.e., Parama Purus’a. By getting involved in self-praise, these people gratify their small ‘i’ which in turn distances them from the Cosmic ‘I’. This pushes people into an abyss of self aggrandizement and thereby degenerates them. This letter presents a related case in which self-aggrandizing behavior of a group of Ananda Margiis is reported.
Baba teaches self-applause is rather boring for others
Baba teaches us that, “They forget that their self-applause is rather boring for others.”
““Kiirttaniiyah sadáharih”. Kiirtana should be done on Hari and on no other entity. One should not praise oneself or any other person. There are many people who are very fond of praising themselves by telling everyone what wonderful things they have done, but, as mentioned in this s’loka, kiirtana is not for one’s own self but for Hari. Even though people are taught to do kiirtana for Hari, they still make the mistake of praising themselves too much. Sometimes their self-praise is so intense that others are obliged to say, “Please stop praising yourself so much.” They forget that their self-applause is rather boring for others. Human beings should realize that no one likes to hear the self-praise of others.” (1)
Thus, kiirtana means singing the glory of the Supreme, i.e. Parama Purusa - not any unit being or oneself.
And this Prabhat Samgiita composition guides us how ideal devotees behave: “A'mi nijere praca'r karibo na'..." (PS #337)
Meaning: I will never glorify my own existence. I will never propagate about my own personality...
Thus, in any narrative, one must not focus and highlight one’s own petty existence. Rather the aim should be to glorify the Supreme Entity - Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji.
How they indulge in self-praise
Dada C and other margiis reported the proceedings of DMS held in Purnea. In Prajiṋa Bharatii magazine, in these proceedings, Dada C and the other ma’rgiis are glorifying themselves as the ones due to whom the DMS program was successful, so to speak. The whole purpose of DMS is for propagation of dharma and Parama Purusá Baba’s ideals. There is no place for glorification of any individual. Yet, see in below passage how such people are glorifying PP dada & themselves - not the Parama Purusa Baba. However, here the spiritual program of DMS is reduced to a social function driven by a group of people.
Self-glorification will bring degradation
Due to Sadguru Baba's divine teachings, Ananda Margiis (Wts and family margiis) follow a more sentient way of living than the common mass. This applies to diet, dress, communication style, and numerous other avenues. Internally every sadhaka has a personal relation with Parama Purusa and externally looks upon all as a manifestation of the Supreme - all are brothers and sisters.
In contrast, usually in this materialistic era, money, power, privilege, prestige, & post are everything. This is the general trend these days where one central theme is rampant: The tendency to glorify oneself, i.e. self-glorification.
Most Ananda Margiis are aware that self-glorification is not good. Internally most do not feel comfortable with this so they divert the mind in a positive direction. For sadhakas, it is universally known that giving way to self-glorification will bring about one's degradation.
Baba's guidelines:
self-praise is anti-dharma
Praising and highlighting oneself is directly against our Ananda Marga mores - against our Ananda Marga way of life.
Regarding people involved in self-praise Baba says, “I have done this, I have done that. I am not an ordinary man.” This is a psychic disease. Actually, vanity is a psychic disease, a psychic ailment.” [1]
Further, Baba talks about people who self-glorify. “I have donated so much. I have done this. I have done that.” You say this. But wherefrom doth that energy come? It is not your individual energy. If you are not given food or water for a few days, what will happen? You will not have any energy. You cannot create any energy. Through food, physical energy is transmuted into your individual vital energy.” [2]
“You do something with the help of your intellect. But where from doth the intellect come? From Him. He is the perennial source of all energies – physical or intellectual or spiritual. You are not the owner of any energy or any force or any other mundane or supramundane object. You are simply to serve with His energy, with His intellect, with His spirit.” [2]
“So karmádhyakśa. He is the lord of all karma, not you. You are simply a machine. You must not forget this fact, that you are simply a machine. You are not the machine-man. You should not have this sort of vanity. You should not say that you are the machine-man, that you have done this or you have done that.” [2]
Sadguru says, "Human beings are made of flesh and bones. If their heart or lungs stop functioning, in that case they will be lifted onto the shoulders of 4 other people in order to get thrown onto the funeral pyre. When this is the situation of human beings, where is the scope for self-glorification?" [3]
When human life is so delicate and one will have to take such help from others in their final hour of need, then how can anyone think they are so great and praise oneself.
And here are more teachings that warn of the dangers and lowliness of self-promotion and self-glorification.
Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, "Why on earth should he indulge in self-publicity? To whom will he publicize himself? Such acts are the antics of common, avaricious people with beggar-like mentality." [4]
Ananda Marga teachings state, "Your vanity may increase. You may think "I have done this, I have done that, I am not an ordinary man'. This is a psychic disease." [5]
Sadguru Baba says, "A person boasts of learning, intellect and fortune. But nothing is eternal. Therefore one who boasts of anything of this world is a fool." [6]
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "When any work is done, the concerning sa’dhaka is not to be given any credit; the credit should be given to Parama Purus'a." [7]
So it is evident that there is no scope in our Ananda Marga lifestyle for self-praise.
Street dwellers, corrupt politicians, cheating businessmen, and
debauched and corrupt government officials, and pseudo-margiis, you name it
Please see here below scans of Prajina Bharatii #247. They have taken several pages to enlist the names of all kinds of people - x, y, z, Tom, Dick, Harry - a long list of their names those who wanted to be praised - even the street dwellers, corrupt politicians, cheating businessmen, and debauched and corrupt government officials, and pseudo-margiis - you name it - who were hungry for name. How much you can imagine and not imagine their names have been mentioned for doing a “wonderful job.” If you read these pages of self-glorification it will be nauseating. This is the ugliest display I have seen in Prajina Bharati. In a gross way, countless names have been listed about their “great deeds.” Until you read this yourself you not get the putrid taste and smell of this Prajina Bharatii writing which goes against the basic fundamentals of Ananda Marga. In Ananda Marga self-praise is very negative. And that very negative self-glorification is going on here. They forgot the basic ethics of Ananda Marga.
Summary
The DMS program is a system graciously provided by Parama Purus’a Baba so that sádhakas can together create a spiritual momentum to collectively move towards Him. It is not a social program which is organized by some group and headed by a human being. As Ananda Márgiis we should understand that we are the tools run by Him. It is beyond our strengths to organize any event of this type. Those of us who get an opportunity to do Baba’s work, should in our own minds be grateful to Him for His generosity to choose us and go boasting around how we “managed” the work. This act of self-glorification will not only have a degenerating effect on our minds but also squeeze the sweet spiritual vibration from the work getting done by us.
See the below scans how Ác. Cidambara’nanda Avt. and Shri. Pradumna Narayan Singh ji did not take care of aforementioned issues and got involved in self-praise regarding the DMS program they arranged. In addition, they provided undue importance to PP Dada. Yet all praise and recognition should have been towards Sadguru Baba and A’nanda Ma’rga teachings, provided graciously by Him.
in Him,
Bhakti
List of deliberate sinners who committed this sin
Editor- A’ca’rya Ra’kesha’nanda Avt. (secy.-Purodha’ Board)
Sub-editor- A’ca’rya Ra’gamaya’nanda Avt (secy.-Avadhuta Board)
Subscription-A’ca’rya Nirmoha’nanda Avt. (secy.-A’ca’rya Board)
Publisher/circulation- A’ca’rya Satya’shraya’nanda Avt. (secy.-Ta’ttvika Board)
(in the Prajina Bharatii magazine - consecutive no. #247.)
[A] Please see here below scan of Prajina Bharatii #247 which starts like this: PP Dada arrived Bhagalpur station via train and was give a grand welcome by Shri. Achintlal ji vice president of our organizing committee along with ASD volunteers. After taking rest for sometime and performing daily activities in the Baba quarter of Bhagalpur the caravan of PP Dada left for Purnea. A squad of thirty five motorbikes driven by ASD volunteers escorted PP Dada from Purnea to Gaya. Dada’s caravan was stopped by márgiis at various places to welcome it by flowers and garlands.
[B] Please see here below scan of Prajina Bharatii #247 which starts like this: PP Dada was to be welcomed with musical orchestra at the gate of Purnea town. ASD volunteers were ready to perform piloting in their uniforms.
Please see here above scans of Prajina Bharatii #247 which starts like this: What we can see in the aforementioned passages is that glories of PP Dada has been ceaselessly sung by providing details about how many motorbikes did the convoy of Dada ji had, how Dada ji took rest in Baba quarter and his caravan moved around in a grand manner, etc. The only entity who is glorious and whose glories we should sing is Parama Purus’a. We can see that undue importance to PP Dada has been given instead of the true subject of DMS, i.e., Dharma. However, here the spiritual program of DMS is reduced to a social function driven by a group of people.
[C] Please see here below scan of Prajina Bharatii #247 which starts like this: After praising PP Dada, the organizers one after other praised themselves. Let us look at some examples.
Without discussing the contributions of margiis and workers the description will remain incomplete. They alone were the backbone of the organizations.
The backbone of any such program is Ananda Marga ideology and not some people. However, here the spiritual program of DMS is reduced to a social function driven by a group of people. All in all, the proceedings of the DMS program is replete with self-praise and glories of PP Dada. The whole episode is very sad.
References
1. AV-14, “Prańipátena Pariprashnena Sevayá” – 1 / Yoga – Its Fundamental Factors
2. SS-24, The Supreme Cognition
3. Subhasita Samgraha-2, p.49
4. PNS-14, p.84
5. AV-1, p.7
6. AV-14, The Fundamental Principles of Life
7. SS-18, p.7
