Baba
Story: what Baba told about building memorials
Note: This letter is only for those who have reverence for Sadguru Baba Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji and try to learn and follow His Ananda Marga ideology.
Namaskar,
This is the story of what happened one time when I saw Baba. One question came in my mind about the Vivekananda Memorial (built in 1970) which was under construction those days. The followers of Vivekananda were collecting huge amounts of money from all around India for the construction of their grand memorial in Kanyakumari in South India. When I was with Baba, during that period, this matter came in my mind. So I raised the point with Baba.
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My question & Baba's reply
I said, "Baba, the followers of Vivekananda are collecting money to make a memorial."
I waited for His reaction.
Baba asked me, "What is your opinion?"
I remained quiet.
Then Baba explained, "Building such a memorial is a waste of resources. Such monies should be used for social service. In the world, when so many are without food, medicine, medical care, clothing, housing and education and when hospitals and schools and other social structures are in dire need, then constructing such a memorial is a huge waste. It is a misuse of financial and natural resources, time, and energy. Best would have been used to expend that money to help the suffering humanity."
Listening His words, I realized how seriously Baba was taking this situation. The memorial was a blatant misuse of resources. I remained quiet and contemplated Baba's explanation. At that time, back in 1970, I thought that we are fortunate that in our Marga we do not have this type of waste.
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Same problem has befallen AMPS
Now, decades later, it is very clear that we face this same key issue in our Ananda Marga Pracarak Samgha as well - unfortunately. Yet Baba has warned us against what theses top Dadas are doing.
In the post-1990 era, the hard-earned money of so many margiis has been misspent in the construction of various memorials and temples in Ananda Nagar, Tiljala and Jamalpur. This has all been just a huge waste of money and an utter misuse of resources.
At present in Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha, we do not have ideal institutions where our kids can come and learn in a neo-humanistic manner; and, indeed there are so many other social service projects and institutions that demand our attention. There are innumerable centers, medical care units, etc that need to be made. We do not have such facilities right now yet that is the need of the day. So it is shameful that since 1990 AMPS central has diverted massive funding to the construction of memorials when Baba clearly does not support such things.
We must right our ship and use all our resources - financial and otherwise - for the betterment of society and implementation of the projects Baba has outlined for the welfare of humanity.
Construction of memorials = anti-Ananda Marga
As Ananda Margiis we should understand that Baba is not just against the building of the Vivekananda memorial, but verily He has grossly condemned any such memorial. Here below Baba uses the example of the Konark temple in Orissa to point out the injustices and waste surrounding the building of any type of memorial.
Ananda Marga ideology states, "While money has been spent lavishly for the construction of beautiful places of worship, money has never been arranged for food, clothing, housing, education and medical care for the welfare of the poor. While for four full years all the state revenues of Orissa were spent for the construction of the Konark temple, during that period not a penny was spent for human welfare. Needless to say, the history of all countries is replete with such examples." (1)
By all this we can easily understand that the construction of memorials is an anti-Ananda Marga idea. Those doing so are most unfortunate; they could not understand Baba's teaching. Indeed nowadays in Ananda Marga there are so many memorials such as the ones in Tiljala, Jamalpur Tiirtha, and Ananda Nagar. Plus they are planning on constructing more.
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Misuse of funds: large, gaudy temples / memorials
It seems some Dadas have begun competing in a temple construction contest with the Sikhs, Jains, and Hindus. At present the Hindus are wasting hundreds of crores of rupees on a gold temple for the goddess of wealth Laksmii.
More than 400 gold and coppersmiths from the Thirupathi Thirumala Devasthanam are said to have worked for six years to craft the Rs hundreds of crores gold temple located on 55,000 sq ft of land on a 100-acre salubrious stretch in Malaikodi, about 6 km from Vellore in north Tamil Nadu. [Plus countless laborers and specialists have worked numerous years on other aspects of the temple.Yet side by side, countless people in India lack pure drinking water and suffer from severe food shortages. Many are dying of starvation yet this astronomical sum is being spent on this temple / memorial for goddess Laksmii. Those religions are bereft of a sublime philosophy so they are wasting their money, time, and resources in constructing large, gaudy temples for show. But why should Ananda Margiis do like this. We have a lofty ideology and we know what should be done.
Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha should be a beacon of light and not prone to following dogma. So certain Dadas must give up their habit of constructing memorials.
It is good that margiis have stopped giving money to Dadas for building these dogmatic memorials. That is why such buildings remain unfinished. Now those same unfinished buildings should be used for philanthropic works like schools, medical clinics, food distribution centers etc. That will be the real dharmic use of such construction projects etc.
Conclusion
Baba does not want memorials to be built. Rather His desire is that all our energy and resources should be used for the upliftment of humanity. We should all keep the above story in mind and move according to His direction.
Ananda Marga teachings guide us, "We will not deviate an inch from our ideology, nor will we allow others to do so." (2)
Namaskar,
in Him,
Vinay Deva
Note: The entire cost of construction of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in 1970 was crores of rupees. That was a huge amount of money those days. Back then India was not like it is today. It was still newly independent and struggling in its early days of nationhood.
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About the Storyteller: Shri Tarachand Jain, PU BP, of Jaipur, Rajasthan is a very senior Ananda Margii. Shri Tarachand Dada worked in the Transportation Dept, Rajasthan State Roadways, as an Asst. General Manager. - Eds
References
1. Ráŕh: The Cradle of Civilization, Ra'r'h - 6
2. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shiva's Teachings – 2 (continued) (Discourse 14)
Plagiary?
It is the accepted international standard and Baba's system not to copy another's work and publish it in your own way. Baba has given a very strict rule on plagiarism. Why is Baba against plagiarism or stealing someone's work? There are many reasons:
1) It is against the code of asteya (non-stealing).
2) Countless stories of bhaktas need to be published. But some do not want to do the hard work of compiling and writing these stories, so they just steal them from others. But new stories need to be told, otherwise so many unpublished stories of sadhakas will be lost and forgotten forever. So watch out for story thieves, and kindly help them not to steal by posting on social media in their own way. If you want to forward this story then attach the following yellow section with the story:
“Courtesy Ananda Marga Universal (https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/)”
This will be treated as the standard protocol.
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Request only to story thieves
Namaskar,
It is the accepted international standard and our way not to copy another's work and publish it in your own way. Baba has given a very strict rule on plagiarism. Why is Baba against this type of plagiarism or stealing someone's work? There are many reasons:
1) It is against the code of asteya (non-stealing).
2) The individual who steals gets degenerated and it sets a bad example in the social sphere.
3) It impedes social progress as others will not be inclined to pursue new and original work as they think that others will just steal it.
4) It breeds a society of lethargic people who will always wait for others to create something new. It is just like those who are lazy in the kitchen do not cook - just they wait for others to prepare food and then they eat.
5) Countless stories of devotees need to be published. But some do not want to do the hard work of compiling and writing these stories, so they just steal them from others. But new stories need to be told, otherwise so many unpublished stories of sadhakas will be lost and forgotten forever.
6) The sole motivation is to publish the maximum amount of Baba stories. Everyone should work hard and try to contribute original material in this respect. All unpublished stories should be written.
7) In addition, by following this code then fake stories will not be circulated as everyone will be responsible for demonstrating the authenticity of each story.
8) Thank you for abiding by this ethic and code that is both today's international standard as well as Baba's given system. Again, it is our formal request not to plagiarise this story or any published writing on this network.
9) If you want to forward this story then attach the following yellow section with the story:
Namaskar,
It is the accepted international standard and our way not to copy another's work and publish it in your own way. Baba has given a very strict rule on plagiarism. Why is Baba against this type of plagiarism or stealing someone's work? There are many reasons:
1) It is against the code of asteya (non-stealing).
2) The individual who steals gets degenerated and it sets a bad example in the social sphere.
3) It impedes social progress as others will not be inclined to pursue new and original work as they think that others will just steal it.
4) It breeds a society of lethargic people who will always wait for others to create something new. It is just like those who are lazy in the kitchen do not cook - just they wait for others to prepare food and then they eat.
5) Countless stories of devotees need to be published. But some do not want to do the hard work of compiling and writing these stories, so they just steal them from others. But new stories need to be told, otherwise so many unpublished stories of sadhakas will be lost and forgotten forever.
6) The sole motivation is to publish the maximum amount of Baba stories. Everyone should work hard and try to contribute original material in this respect. All unpublished stories should be written.
7) In addition, by following this code then fake stories will not be circulated as everyone will be responsible for demonstrating the authenticity of each story.
8) Thank you for abiding by this ethic and code that is both today's international standard as well as Baba's given system. Again, it is our formal request not to plagiarise this story or any published writing on this network.
9) If you want to forward this story then attach the following yellow section with the story:
“Courtesy Ananda Marga Universal (https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/)”
Then everyone will clearly understand from where you got the letter. This is the accepted standard.
Baba says, "It is not possible to guide others with mere cheap, superficial knowledge, like a half-baked pandit who reads a half-a-dozen books and then spouts a few mouthfuls of grandiloquence, and who has obtained a doctorate by plagiarizing others’ works. " (1)
Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 1, The Practice of Art and Literature
Baba says, "It is not possible to guide others with mere cheap, superficial knowledge, like a half-baked pandit who reads a half-a-dozen books and then spouts a few mouthfuls of grandiloquence, and who has obtained a doctorate by plagiarizing others’ works. " (1)
Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 1, The Practice of Art and Literature
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
I don’t ask for name, fame nor prestige from You
"Toma'r ka'che ca'i na' kono ma'n..." (Prabhat Samgiita #0825)
Purport:
Baba, I am not asking for any name, fame, or prestige from You. Those types of transitory labels I do not want from You. I do not want to indulge myself in the vanity of all those worldly affairs. Mundane gains are ephemeral. I only wish to keep my mind only focused upon immortality. It is exclusively Your grace.
Baba, since the crimson rays of the early dawn, You have dyed my days in rainbow colours. You have decorated everything; You are so gracious. When evening falls, then I feel Your proximity and Your divine dance. I see Your liila in the form of countless stars shining in the sky. Baba, all the time You are with me - in all the spheres of my life You have blessed me immensely. You make everything charming and inviting. All that You have done for me is more than I could ever imagine. You have granted me everything.
Baba, O' my Adored, You are present with me in chirping of the birds, as I listen to their songs. In this way, I feel Your blissful companionship. O’ Prabhu, You express Yourself in the frolic dance of peacocks under the clouds. When the sky is gray and overcast, then with the dance of the peacock You create beauty in my life. Everywhere I feel Your sweet touch, Your eternal presence; then life becomes meaningful and joyous. You are behind each and every expression of this universe. You are in every form. Wherever I am, I feel that You are there - by my side. I am never alone. In my good days and bad times, always You are with me. Baba, it is Your grace…
"Toma'r ka'che ca'i na' kono ma'n..." (Prabhat Samgiita #0825)
Purport:
Baba, I am not asking for any name, fame, or prestige from You. Those types of transitory labels I do not want from You. I do not want to indulge myself in the vanity of all those worldly affairs. Mundane gains are ephemeral. I only wish to keep my mind only focused upon immortality. It is exclusively Your grace.
Baba, since the crimson rays of the early dawn, You have dyed my days in rainbow colours. You have decorated everything; You are so gracious. When evening falls, then I feel Your proximity and Your divine dance. I see Your liila in the form of countless stars shining in the sky. Baba, all the time You are with me - in all the spheres of my life You have blessed me immensely. You make everything charming and inviting. All that You have done for me is more than I could ever imagine. You have granted me everything.
Baba, O' my Adored, You are present with me in chirping of the birds, as I listen to their songs. In this way, I feel Your blissful companionship. O’ Prabhu, You express Yourself in the frolic dance of peacocks under the clouds. When the sky is gray and overcast, then with the dance of the peacock You create beauty in my life. Everywhere I feel Your sweet touch, Your eternal presence; then life becomes meaningful and joyous. You are behind each and every expression of this universe. You are in every form. Wherever I am, I feel that You are there - by my side. I am never alone. In my good days and bad times, always You are with me. Baba, it is Your grace…
== Section 3: Prabhat Samgiita ==
अब तुम मेरे कष्टों को दूर करने आए हो
प्रभात संगीत 4484 पल गुने कतो दिन चले गेछे, मधुमासे...
भावार्थ
हे परमपुरुष! बसंत ऋतु में तुम्हारी याद में महुआ के अमृत भरे फूलों से लदे पेड़ की छाया में बैठे बैठे तुम्हें निहारते मेरे सभी दिन चले गये, परंतु तुम नहीं आए। अब, तुम इस घनघोर बरसात में तुम आए हो। जब मेरा मन बसन्त के उन्माद से भरा था तब तुम मेरे साथ आनन्द मनाने नहीं आए, पर तुम अब मेरे कष्टों को दूर करने आए हो।
इस बरसात में मैंने तुम्हारे लिये मधुर सुगंधित फूलों, बेला, बकुल, यूथिका आदि से माला बनाई है और एक टोकरी उनसे भर कर तुम्हारे लिये रखी है। बाबा! आज तुम बरसते पानी में मेरे घर आए।
हे मेरे प्रभु बाबा! अनेक दिन निकल गये और अनेक दिव्य मदहोश करने वाली रात्रियाॅं भी अपनी मधुर वयारि के साथ चली गई और मैं तुम्हें पुकारते रह गया , तुम नहीं आए। नये कोमल पत्तों को मुस्काये कितने दिन निकल गये, तुम्हारे आगमन की राह निहारते मेरे फूलों के बगीचे की सजावट भी मिट गई । पर तुम बसंत के समय नहीं आए, अब तुम बरसते पानी में पधारे हो।
बाबा! अरुणिम प्रभात की सुंदरता मध्यान्ह के सूर्य ने समाप्त कर दी थी । परंतु अब संध्या के आकाश में विद्युत की चमक के साथ तुम आए और मेरा दुख भुला दिया। तुम चुपके से आश्चर्यजनक ढंग से मेरे सामने आए हो। मेरे सभी कष्ट और चिंतायें तुम्हारे भावपूर्ण आगमन से क्षण भर में दूर हो गये हैं ।
हे बाबा! बसंत ऋतु में जब फूल खिले थे और मेरे अच्छे दिन थे, मैं सुखी था तब तुम नहीं आए और अब इस जलवृष्टि करती वर्षा ऋतु में मेरे दुख दूर करने आए हो , तुम कितने कृपालु हो। (1)
Reference
1. Trans: Dr. T.R.S.
== Section 4: Links ==
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This email contains three sections:
1. PS #0825: I don’t ask for name, fame nor prestige from You
2. Posting: Story: what Baba told about building memorials
3. Links
