Lucrative kiirtan business
Namaskar,
The main reason why we have prasad after akhanda kiirtan and dharmacakra
is to help inspire new people to participate. Those not drawn for
devotional reasons may come in order to eat sweets. And by coming to eat
sweets, they are greatly benefited because that means for at least some
time they must participate in the kiirtan.
During kiirtan, dada Savitánanda is placing an Indian sweet - known as
misiri - near Baba's photo. And he keeps it there the duration of the
akhanda kiirtan program, however long it may be.
Then Savitananda brings that misiri candy to various margiis around
India and sells it as prasad, claiming that it is pure positive
microvita. Or if he doesn't sell it directly, then he gives it to them
with the hope that it will evoke a generous donation. In either case,
Savitánanda ji is doing business with his so-called prasad.
There is another component to this issue.
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Sales pitch: ‘Prasad’ will fulfill all your wishes
When Savitánanda ji tells margiis about the prasad, then he talks about
the special powers this prasad has. He describes how this prasad removes
one's samskaras, and that whatever you ask for when you eat this prasad
then that wish will come true.
For instance, if you want (a) victory in your court case, or (b) a
wealthy, handsome husband for your daughter, or (c) success in school,
then just put forth that request mentally when you eat that "prasad",
and it will happen. You will get that court victory; you will find that
perfect husband for your daughter; or you will get top scores in school.
Such is the way that Savitananda advertises his so-called prasad. This
is how he boosts sales and increases profits.
Here it should be clarified that Savitánanda ji is not moving about with
one big sign-board. Rather he approaches margiis individually,
one-on-one about this. He tells the glory of this prasad, and then
softly says to that margii that, "I have brought some especially for
you. In the past you have given grand donations and it will be very good
if you continue to contribute."
This is Savitananda ji's get-rich-quick sales pitch for making money off of akhanda kiirtan.
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Dirty livelihood
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “People’s means of livelihood should
not depend on the quarrel of individuals, as in the case of lawyers.
Lawyers usually set one person against another and in this way they
serve their personal interests. Similarly no one should be a trader in
religion, because in the name of religion, many people are exploited.
Nor should one earn one’s livelihood by dealing with dead bodies because
such people want more and more people to die, so that they may thereby
increase their income. People should also not earn their livelihood by
lending money and taking interest. Such persons want to lend more and
more money to gain more and more interest, and they do not want the
borrowers to refund the capital. The scriptures stipulate that people
should not accept food from such people, because their occupations are
despicable.” (1)
What is ‘prasad’
There are grave issues and serious misconceptions with Savitananda's modus operandi.
- Prasad is a loving offering from Parama Purusa. Selling candies /
Indian misiri as prasad - or using that as a way to get a big donation -
is just one capitalistic business venture. Its value as prasad is zero.
- Food that is in the kiirtan hall does not automatically become prasad.
The main factor of prasad is that first one must mentally offer that
item to Parama Purusa. And then He will bestow His blessing by
graciously giving it back. Then and only then does it become prasad. And
that offering to Parama Purusa can be done anywhere or anytime. In that
sense, it is just like second lesson etc; it is not limited to the
kiirtan hall. Whenever and wherever you surrender and offer something
unto Him, then whatever food one receives back is prasad.
- Parama Purusa never accepts all the food or sweets that are offered
unto Him. His main interest is not food but in one's inner feeling of
bhakti. That is what Parama Purusa is truly hungry for, your bhakti -
not food. Thus He will always return back your food offering as prasad.
- If anyone uses so-called prasad to achieve their selfish ends or to
cheat others, then there is absolutely no blessing value associated with
that food.
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Putting water, potatoes, wheat flour, rice
- The way Savitánanda is making and using that "prasad" in order to get
big donations is no different from the way dogmatic Hindu priests cheat
the masses by selling holy Ganges water.
- Savitananda ji is setting a very bad example and implementing one
dogma because innocent and naive margiis see what he is doing and now
many are putting water, potatoes, wheat flour, rice and so many edible
items in the kiirtan hall. They have been misled to believe that by this
way their food will be blessed and contain a high degree of positive
microvita. But that is just not the case. The way to get Guru's blessing
is to mentally surrender oneself unto Him. Then one is sure to get
success.
- Actually this dogma of placing food items in the kiirtan hall started
years ago also, but under Baba's direct order that was put to a halt.
Then everyone understood it was just a ritualistic dogma. That is why it
is strange to see this cropping up again. Such is the degrading effect
of Savitananda ji's example.
- Anything offered to Parama Purusa with a sincere heart automatically
becomes prasad when Parama Purusa Baba graciously bestows any portion of
that food back to you. All prasad is His grace and has the same value.
It is silly and dogmatic to think that food placed in the kiirtan hall
for 30 days has more grace or more positive microvita than food placed
in the kiirtan hall for 5 minutes. For Parama Purusa, it is all His
grace.
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No startup money but huge profits
Usually when someone starts a new business then they have to invest a
lot of capital. But Savitánanda never had to invest any funds to get his
kiirtan business off the ground. Since day 1 he has just reaped the
profits - an unending amount of profit that grows daily. Such is
Savitananda ji's business model - all executed in the name of kiirtan.
No sadhaka can resort to hypocrisy
Here below Baba clearly warns us that no sadhaka should fall prey to hypocrisy.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "An honest person should never resort to hypocrisy in any sphere of life." (2)
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "The first requirement is that a
spiritual aspirant must take shelter in satyam, the supreme veracity.
Success never comes through hypocrisy or exhibitionism." (3)
Conclusion
Dada Savitánanda is cheating money by his tactic of kiirtan sweet
prasad. It is a very low-minded and indeed dangerous approach. Because
anyone who tries to use akhanda kiirtan as a way to profit is a
religious shark.
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Ananda Marga ideology teaches, ”No one should be a trader in religion,
because in the name of religion, many people are exploited...The
scriptures stipulate that people should not accept food from such
people, because their occupations are despicable.”
Namaskar,
In Him,
Radhika’
Selfishness
Here below Baba guides us about the importance of adhering to the code
of satya. Only by that way can one promote human welfare.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "It is only through the propagation of
satya that collective welfare is possible...Where there is no
propagation of satya people indulge in individual selfishness or group
selfishness. The aim or object there is not enlivened with the idea of
collective welfare. The only object of the party concerned is how to
establish oneself in this material world by means of the use of
well-knit language and cunningness." (4)
It is very sad to see one avadhuta selling prasad.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “One who teaches through one’s conduct
is an ácárya.” If one’s conduct is not exemplary, he or she is not an
ácárya/á.” (5)
Not good people
Silent goody-goodies are a hindrance to the welfare of society. Truly good people awaken the people about injustices.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "We cannot call people “good” if they
cannot lead people of all walks of life towards welfare. We can call
them “goody-goodies” but not good people. Those who are truly good
people will move bravely forward and provide inspiration and strength to
those mute masses to fight against all kinds of obstacles, and give a
clarion call to them to march ahead." (6)
Next Baba guides that we should never tolerate misdeeds and injustices.
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Intelligent people should no longer
remain silent...They must not act like goody-goodies, seeing evil but
continuing to tolerate it. This is very bad." (7)
Wt conduct rules on black money
Savitananda ji has contravened Guru's teachings and conduct rules on
black money. Following are Baba's mandates for wholetime workers:
Wt conduct rules state: "No worker can keep unaccounted money (black money) with him." (8)
Wt conduct rules state: "Each worker will separately maintain the clear
account of receipt and expenditure of his personal allowance and
organizational money." (9)
Wt conduct rules state: "Whenever supervisory worker so desires, the
worker is to give the proper account of expenditure tallying with the
cash at their disposal." (10)
Wt conduct rules state: "Each amount of collection should be deposited properly and drawn after submitting requisition." (11)
Wt conduct rules state: "Proper vouchers are to be maintained for each item of expenditure." (12)
Ways of such intellectual satans
Here below Baba describes the debased cheating mentality of those
conniving intellectuals who resort to shams and tall tales to swindle
the public. You can decide for yourself how far Dada S falls in this
category.
Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, “In any society or governmental
system where vipra rule lasted for a long time, different kinds of
religion or moral philosophy came into being under their aegis.
Initially the vipras had introduced religion for the purpose of
exploitation and had tried to mislead people through their
grandiloquence. However, the new philosophies that emerged in the course
of time as a result of clash among vipras propagating different
doctrines, came to be somewhat spiritual in appearance, though the
tendency to exploit remained beneath the surface. This form of religion,
like the form socialism adopted, was in fact a great hoax. With this
approach, intellectual satans, instead of exploiting the faithful
directly, expanded their sphere of exploitation behind a
psychologically-designed mask of detachment from or indifference to
worldly things.”
“Vipras with a simple type of philosophy used to say, "Your father
deserves to go to heaven, so make sure that we perform his funeral
service," or "The soul of your father needs subtle food. Give us
ordinary food and we will send it to him in a subtle form."”
“But later on the cunning vipras, whom I call intellectual satans,
tried to turn the minds of the people from practical reality towards an
imaginary void by preaching contrived philosophies. The essence of their
voluminous treatises and verbose annotations to lengthy aphorisms was:
the world is an illusion; therefore renounce the world and do not be
attracted to its illusions. Become desireless, detached and
self-abnegating by offering all your wealth at the feet of the vipras.
Of course such philosophies did not preach that the world was also
illusory for the vipras who received the offerings – clearly because it
was through such ploys that they were able to achieve their objectives.”
“In places where, for whatever reason, intellectual clashes among the
vipras were not very intense, their philosophy was very simple. They
would say to the people directly, "I am the angel or incarnation of God.
The things I have said are not the words of a human being but the words
of God," or "I have received the divine revelation that you will eat
this and not that, worship in this way and not that, and offer this to
God. If you obey my commandments God will bless you and you will go to
heaven; otherwise you will be burnt to death in the fire of hell." The
people were fooled this easily.” (13)
References
1. Subháśita Saḿgraha Part 11, The Supreme Desideratum of the Microcosms
2. Liberation of Intellect - Neo-Humanism, Disc: 7
3. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life - 10, Ideation on Brahma
4. Táttvika Diipiká (Dvitiiya Parva)
5. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Silent Action
6. Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 22, Serve the Supreme by Kiirtana
7. The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism, Bondages and Solutions (Discourse 2)
8. Wt Conduct: Six Additional Rules, pt# 1a
9. Wt Conduct: Six Additional Rules, pt# 1b
10. Wt Conduct: Six Additional Rules, pt# 1c
11. Wt Conduct: Six Additional Rules, pt# 1d
12. Wt Conduct: Six Additional Rules, pt# 1e
13. Human Society - 2, The Vipra Age
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
In that dark hour
“Tumi, bhálobese chile, tái ki ele, phúler parág rág anurág mishiye dile...” (Prabhat Samgiita #3279)
Purport:
My Parama Purusa, You loved me. Is that why You came to me? You are so
great. You interweave Your love and affection with flower fragrance.
Today my entire being feels awakened and loved with Your sweet arrival.
Supreme Entity, before Your advent, human beings were in the dark. They
were drowned in the depths of materialism, busy daylong in mundane
acquisitions. They were in a closed room, riddled by a narrow, dogmatic
mindset and could not think or conceive of anything beyond the periphery
of matter. Such was the horrific condition of depraved humanity. In
that dark hour, You blessed all. By opening the doors and showering
humanity in a deluge of light of neo-humanism and spirituality, You have
divinely intoxicated everyone's mind and transformed one and all.
Baba, my Parama Purusa, with the colourful flambeau of Your exquisite
supreme love, human life started swinging. Everyone became charged by
Your dharmic call. Holding aloft the flag of hope, You stood in front of
all, mercifully led the way, and showed everyone the path of Supreme
fulfillment.
Baba, You have blessed me so much...
== Section 3: Links ==
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