Baba
Misunderstanding about poor
Namaskár,
Some think: – “मेहनत करने से गरीबी नहीं रहती” (English translation – by one's hard work, one will not remain poor).
Such people taken the side of capitalists and lobby against the interest of the poor, downtrodden, and exploited masses. "Work hard and pull yourself up!": this is the call of capitalist exploiters, of the right wing conservatives, who are against paying proper daily wages to the poor so they can rise out of their desperate condition. Due to such economic exploitation, hard work will not achieve the needful.
Hard work alone does not mitigate poverty
Hard work alone in a capitalist society does not solve the problem of poverty. Let us consider a few examples.
A rickshaw puller works very hard all his life to pull heavy loads. The work is so laborious and the compensation is so poor that it leads to poor nutrition as well. Due to this, many rickshaw pullers get affected by tuberculosis and die a premature death at the age of 35 to 40 years.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
The above picture shows a rickshaw puller working hard and pulling heavy loads. Rickshaw pullers in India work nearly 24 hours per day, and with that they can purchase a mere 2-3 kg of staple grain. They cannot afford any vegetables or pulses, no spices or anything else. That’s why they sleep on the footpath; indeed, most of them are homeless. In due course, due to malnutrition they die prematurely at a young age.
Likewise, the work of a washerman is also very laborious. He has to stand in ice-cold water for many hours during winter to wash clothes.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
The below picture shows the plight of road workers at work; they have to work very hard in the scorching sun the whole day to earn a pittance to drag their existence. The whole day they dig soil with their hands, and due to malnutrition they die prematurely. What to speak of getting rich, they never escape poverty.
If we were to believe, मेहनत करने से गरीबी नहीं रहती then all the people involved in pulling rickshaws would have been millionaires. All the washermen would own large mansions. All the road workers would live luxurious lives. But the reality is that all the people involved in labor intensive tasks actually remain poor throughout their lives. Not only that, their children never get an opportunity to go to school and if they survive the hardships of their childhood then they get involved in similar labor-intensive professions as their parents and live in a state of perpetual poverty.
Prout not capitalism will solve the problem of poverty
The system needs to be changed entirely, from capitalism to Prout. Those born into poverty have no means to escape. And the capitalists do not want to empower them to rise, because empowering the masses means giving up what they themselves have. And some support these very capitalists, who merely stand on the mountain top and point their finger into the abyss of exploited masses, accusing and blaming them that it is only due to their laziness that they are poor. Is the fat salary of the CEO commensurate with that of the laborer in the sweat shop making a few pennies? The CEO worked millions and millions of times harder--and continues to do so daily-- and that is why he makes that proportion more per day? Complete garbage. It is due to the exploitative machinery of capitalism.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Opportunists rationalize their greedy acts via tall talk
Some speak the language of those same shrewd exploiters who distort the meaning of the shloka from Giitá and rationalize their exploitation.
Ananda Marga philosophy says, “You should remember one thing. There are some opportunistic people in this world who distort the meaning of this shloka from the Giitá and thus manage to perpetuate the machinery of exploitation. This is very amusing. I bring it into the domain of philosophy because it is highly illustrative. Those exploiters glibly make their views known: ‘These poor people, these toiling people, these intellectuals, they have no doubt the right to work, but they have no right to the results of their actions. The results, the fruits, should accrue to us, the owners, the proprietors. ‘Increase our wages, give us more remuneration, pay us a bonus…’ – they have no right to say all these things.’” (1)
Capitalist propaganda
Greedy and exploitative capitalists use crafty language to befool the masses languishing in poverty that their desperate condition can be rectified by hard work. Unfortunately, those who support this via his posting behind propagating this befoolery the objective of the capitalists is to further exploit the last drop of blood from the bodies of poor people.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, “People's physical longings are not satisfied until they come in contact with a truly great ideology. Till then, people's wolf-like hunger is insatiable, as if they are incessantly repeating, ‘I am hungry, I am hungry.’ Their jaws are always open, and the foolish people of this world resign themselves to their own fatalistic beliefs and fall into them. The ferocious wolf-pack devours their flesh and blood and casts away the unpalatable bones. Should we support this wolfish philosophy? The day-labourers, porters and gate-keepers around us who wear dirty rags and have fatigue etched on their faces are not considered human by those who are rolling in luxury.”
“It is a characteristic of vested interests that they never bother to think of anyone except themselves. They must eat and the rest of humanity only exists to be eaten. They want increasingly more objects for their gratification. Those who earn three thousand rupees a month think that this is an extremely meagre amount, but they never stop to consider the needs of those who earn a negligible thirty rupees a month. A poor man has to pay his rent, maintain his family, educate his children, buy milk for his babies, and save something to put towards the cost of his daughter's marriage, all out of thirty rupees. Are these needs only applicable to the upper stratum of society? Are they not the minimum necessities of life? Rich people do not want to consider the needs of the poor, because if they do they will have to make some sacrifices. Where will their luxuries and comforts come from if hunger does not burn the bellies of the poor? Is it not a fine idea if the daughters of the poor go on collecting cow dung forever, and their sons work like slaves in the houses of the rich for generations together? Is this not a fine arrangement? As for the high hopes of the poor, aren't they ridiculous? Aren't they out of touch with reality?" (2)
Conclusion
The earth has sufficient resources to feed all its inhabitants. Poverty in the physical sphere is caused by people’s greed. This greed is caused by a misdirected desire for infinite happiness that leads to a few humans capturing huge proportions of the limited natural resources while leaving others to fend for themselves on the meager remains. These greedy people are the capitalists who proclaim, in their crafty narrative, that hard work is required for overcoming poverty which is nothing but an alibi for exploiting others. Being free from poverty in the physical sphere is needed but hard work is not the key. The exploitation that causes the poverty in the first place has to be fought against. And Baba is of course not against hard work. All should work hard in their lives to move ahead. But the statement given by some. "by one's hard work, one will not remain poor", is preposterous.
In Him,
Bhakti
Note: The shloka from the Giitá is: “Karmańyevádhikáraste má phaleśu kadácana; Má karmaphalaheturbhúmá te sauṋgo’stvakarmańi.” [English Translation of shloka: You have the right to action but not to the fruits of the action. You must not do actions that will bind you, but you must not be averse to action, either.]
References
1. Namámi Krśńasundaram, Krśńa and Prapattiváda – 2 (Discourse 5)
2. Human Society Part 1, Social Justice 1959
From 2017: Related with above letter.
Dádá N. has recently posted on his facebook page (see below image) – “मेहनत करने से गरीबी नहीं रहती” (English translation – by one's hard work, one will not remain poor). By giving this statement Dádá N. has taken the side of the capitalists, and is against the interest of the poor, downtrodden, and exploited masses. "Work hard and pull yourself up!"--this is the call of capitalist exploiters, of the Right wing conservatives, who are against paying proper daily wages to the poor so they can rise out of their desperate condition. But due to their exploitation, hard work will not achieve the needful. Dádá N. is an agent of the capitalist exploiters.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/
A screen capture of Dádá N. facebook page is shown below. On this page Dádáji is propagating the capitalistic teaching that by doing hard work one does not remain poor. But that is preposterous.
In the above picture, Dádá Nityasundaránanda ji is suggesting various “good habits” to get rid of problems. One such magic cure solution for the problem of poverty that Dádá Nityasundaránanda ji is suggesting is to work hard. Working hard without rectifying the capitalistic exploitation will not solve the problem of poverty. Rather, it is just going to further bolster the exploitative machinery of capitalism. So the propaganda of Dádá is laughable.
In the above picture, Dádá Nityasundaránanda ji is suggesting various “good habits” to get rid of problems. One such magic cure solution for the problem of poverty that Dádá Nityasundaránanda ji is suggesting is to work hard. Working hard without rectifying the capitalistic exploitation will not solve the problem of poverty. Rather, it is just going to further bolster the exploitative machinery of capitalism. So the propaganda of Dádá is laughable.
- Please write to Dada Nityasundaránanda ji: at nityasundarananda@yahoo.com and express your concern about the above misguided and exploitative message.
- Please contact Dádá Nityasundaránanda ji on his Facebook handle2 and make him aware of his misdeeds.
* * *
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: Important Teaching ==
Clapping not allowed at spiritual meetings
The following scene took place at General Darshan in Stockholm where Baba is scolding everyone for clapping.
[Ta'n'd'ava is performed.]
[Announcer: ---”Final pose! Jump!”]
Baba says, “Well done. Bravo.”
[laughter, and some clapping.]
Baba says,“No clapping! In spiritual meetings, clapping is not allowed.” (1)
According to Baba, in certain collective Prabhat Samgiita compositions based on Middle-Eastern tunes, it is permitted to clap along with the musical beat of the melody (Ref: Ananda Vacanamrtam - 46 (Pure), chapter 4). Similarly, there are times during the collective chanting of some types of kiirtana when one may clap along with the tune of the kiirtana.
The main thing is that clapping is never done as an expression of appreciation or approval etc at spiritual gatherings. Rather, one should direct the mind inwards, not towards crude, external engagement.
Reference:
Ananda Vacanamrtam -12, Chance To Be One With Him, EGD 27 May 1979 Stockholm
== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==
With great hope
“Tomár ása' path ceye, ámi áchi je base ámi…” (Prabhat Samgiita #0582)
Purport:
O’ Parama Purusa, looking towards the path of Your arrival, I go on waiting for You. I have anxiously awaited Your coming through the years and ages. There is no limit to how much time has passed; nor is there any limit to how long I shall wait. With great hope and unwavering commitment, my mind is fully focused on You.
O’ Parama Purusa, so many dawns, so many dusks, so much roar from the storms and cyclones, so much suffering in the shivering cold, and so many fearful, cloudy nights, through it all I remain undeterred. No matter the circumstances, I never become forlorn or dejected. I have happily ignored and overcome everything - all the challenges and difficulties - in the hope of getting You. It is Your grace.
Baba, after getting Your loving touch, the lotus bud looks towards You. From the sprout of grass to the melody of the dawn, all have merged into Your divine colour. Baba, You are so gracious - You have fulfilled my desire…
“Tomár ása' path ceye, ámi áchi je base ámi…” (Prabhat Samgiita #0582)
Purport:
O’ Parama Purusa, looking towards the path of Your arrival, I go on waiting for You. I have anxiously awaited Your coming through the years and ages. There is no limit to how much time has passed; nor is there any limit to how long I shall wait. With great hope and unwavering commitment, my mind is fully focused on You.
O’ Parama Purusa, so many dawns, so many dusks, so much roar from the storms and cyclones, so much suffering in the shivering cold, and so many fearful, cloudy nights, through it all I remain undeterred. No matter the circumstances, I never become forlorn or dejected. I have happily ignored and overcome everything - all the challenges and difficulties - in the hope of getting You. It is Your grace.
Baba, after getting Your loving touch, the lotus bud looks towards You. From the sprout of grass to the melody of the dawn, all have merged into Your divine colour. Baba, You are so gracious - You have fulfilled my desire…
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Sadvipra quality & mission
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The spirit to fight against all odds alone can solve the problems confronting human beings. March ahead and wage war against all difficulties, every impediment. Victory is sure to embrace you. Difficulties and encumbrances cannot be more powerful than your capacity to solve them. You are the children of the great Cosmic Entity. Be a sadvipra and make others sadvipras also." (1)
Reference
1. A Few Problems Solved - 6, The Future of Civilization
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Religious dogma: heaven & hell
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Svarloka – this is the pure mental sphere on which sukha and dhuka are experienced; it is also called Manomaya Jagat, Manomaya Kośa in individuals. It is in this sphere that the saḿskáras exist. According to mythology, after the death of the physical body or Annamaya Kośa, people go to svarga or naraká, heaven or hell. The fact is that the saḿskáras which determine the individuality of unit being situated in this svarloka. The Christian and Muslim ideas of heaven and hell and also svarga in Hindu Karmakandi Jaemini Partná, were derived from the fact that the saḿskáras which determine the requitals of actions exists exits in this loka. In reality no kośa will remain after death. The saḿskáras remains as the object of the átman. Thus the ideas of heaven and hell of the Hindu, Christian and Muslim mythologies are completely false, because after death there remains no mind at all to experience heaven or hell.” (1)
Note: After death the mind is dormant so one can’t experience anything. It is well known that so-called heaven or hell is here on earth.
Reference
1. Ananda Marga Philosophy - 3, Some Questions and Answers on Ananda Marga Philosophy – Excerpt A
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "The well-known modern game of polo originated in Manipur's Kobe Valley...Originally, only royal princes used to play the horse-riding game of polo. For that a very hard ball was needed. The kind of bamboo that was used, used to grow in the eastern portion of Rarh, in slightly salty soil. Still today the best bamboo for making polo balls grows in the Uluberia subdivision of Howrah District and in Midnapore District's Tamluk subdivision." (1)
Reference
1. Shabda Cayanika - 3, Kakubh to Kavaśńa (Discourse 17)
== Section 3: Links ==
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