Baba
Great avadhuta
Note: This letter is only for those who have reverence for Sadguru Baba Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji and try to follow His Ananda Marga ideology.
Namaskar,
According to Baba's teaching, monks must only maintain a link with the universal family - i.e. with every single person in society, including the whole general public - everyone. Our Wts / avadhutas are for everyone in society and they cannot express partiality towards a select few. If they do that then they will not be avadhutas.
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So our Wts are not to have any connection with their unit family whatsoever. That goes against the ethos of being a Wt / avadhuta. Thus if anybody does not wish to leave their worldly, unit family then they should not become a monk. Although both family life and monk life are important in their own ways, but one of the qualities of becoming a monk in Ananda Marga is that they must give up all relations with their worldly / laokik family. This is the common longstanding rule and way of life in AMPS.
Baba's rules for avadhutas
Indeed since long Baba has instituted such rules for Wts.
WT conduct rule says: "One should not talk of one's family affairs." (1)
Thus according to the Baba's conduct rule, avadhutas must not talk about their worldly family. In the same spirit Baba has given another rule for wholetimers. In "32 Rules for Avadhuta", Baba has put for the following rule.
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WT conduct rule says: "No relationship should exist with worldly family." (2)
For an avadhuta Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji is everything. Father, mother, brother, sister all relations.
Avadhuta is a re-birth
As we all know, according to our Ananda Marga scripture, avadhuta means new life. That is why a new name has been given. Thus becoming avadhuta is like being re-born. Verily at each and every juncture or stage of an avadhuta's development and training - from trainee to brahmacarii to acarya and finally to avadhuta - they are given a new name. Because each stage represents a departure from the old and a new birth - a new beginning. So those renunciates are leaving their old life behind. In which case, where is there scope for an avadhuta to reminisce publicly about life with his laokik / worldly family.
Everything is new: new name, new uniform, new look, new identification. Everything is entirely new. And one no longer has any link with their old life. That is the real spirit of becoming avadhuta. For example, suppose one beggar was a king in his previous life but now he is a beggar - or vice versa. In that case, now being a beggar, he cannot go back and tell the queen that, “I am your husband so please accept me.” Because the history of one's previous life has no meaning in this practical world.
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In the same way, the life of an avadhuta is treated as a re-birth. And in that case Sadguru Parama Purusa Himself is the father, mother, everything. This is a very lofty teaching of Baba which has great charm. Unfortunately, so many have forgotten all these points. And they did just opposite from what the dharma of avadhuta life is. Please read below how one avadhuta had openly and publicly detailed his former life and his relation with his worldly family.
Case study: avadhuta betrays his oath
Sometime ago during the Christian holiday season, one of our avadhutas was happily and openly indulging in a lengthy visit with his laokika family. This avadhuta was specially visiting his laokika relations such as his laokika non-margii siblings, like his worldly brother and his three worldly sisters and their spouses. And all together so many worldly and pseudo-culture things they were doing, like going out on the town, doing some shopping, watching Hollywood films, and seeing the sights etc.
Of course, if Dadaji was a family person then this would be fine and well. But since he is an avadhuta it is a betrayal of his oaths to Guru and a betrayal of his oath to humanity. This avadhuta has taken a vow to serve all and embrace the entire humanity as his own, yet he is giving preferential treatment to his unit family of birth. In that case, how can he serve the whole humanity as an avadhuta - quite simply he cannot.
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Plus Dadaji was receiving tasty baked treats and other goodies from his laokika relations just like students get when their parents visit them at the college. Again for a family person or non-monk, this is all quite wonderful and ideal. Who does not like to receive cakes and cookies from the parents etc. But in this case the stark reality is that Dadaji is an avadhuta so by indulging in this type of behaviour he is contravening his oaths, his vows to Guru and humanity on the whole.
Not only that, this Dadaji made plans to celebrate Christmas day with his worldly relations and exchange gifts under the tree, Santa Claus style. So this was our avadhuta's dealings with his laokika family. Obviously, by his actions he is expressing a blatant disregard for what it means to be an avadhuta. This avadhuta has taken a vow to serve all and embrace the whole humanity as his own, yet he is giving preferential treatment to his unit family of birth. In that case, how can he serve the whole humanity as an avadhuta - quite simply he cannot.
This avadhuta was enjoying the visit so much with his worldly relations that he made a pact that, “Since this time you all have come to see me, then next year I will go see you.” So in this way again Dadaji engaged in the annual dogmatic tradition with his worldly family and brother etc to exchange gifts and sample delicious food tasty treats and indulge in all the holiday cheer alongside his laokik family. This avadhuta has taken a vow to serve all and embrace the whole humanity as his own, yet he is giving preferential treatment to his unit family of birth. In that case, how can he serve the whole humanity as an avadhuta - quite simply he cannot.
By now it is clear that no avadhuta can behave like this as it is a glaring contravention of the dedication as an avadhuta. Dadaji is going against the very essence of his existence. That is the main problem. If he had not taken the vow to be an avadhuta, then there would be no issue at all; it would all be fine. So that operating factor is that Dadaji is an avadhuta - and those types of behaviours that he is show are against the conduct of an avadhuta.
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Dealing of degraded monk
And verily various avadhutas have been released books where they explicitly talk about and describe their laokika family. So this negative trend is forging ahead - unfortunately, as it brings down the standard of our avadhutas and is a blatant violation of Guru's teachings.
So when any avadhuta is writing about their laokika family relations then margiis should know about it. Because for any avadhuta to do such things is a blunder and sin - betrayal to his oaths and Guru. Because when Guru graciously takes the avadhuta oath from His workers then where is there scope for this type of behaviour by such avadhutas.
By all this we can see that two polar opposite desires are at play. Firstly, some avadhutas want to have the respect of being a Wt and secondly they want to enjoy their worldly relations. This is the fake dedication and the duplicitous way some are walking around in avadhuta dress. This is the example of a demi-avadhuta.
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Avadhuta dos & don'ts
Guru says in His discourse entitled Conduct of Acarya: "Those who have the responsibility to show the path to others should be of superlative character with the most refined conduct. They and their followers must move constantly towards all-round development and shreya [ultimate spiritual attainment]. Persons who teach such well-regulated behaviour to others by their own conduct are called ácáryas." (3)
Guru says in His discourse entitled Conduct of Acarya: "Bear in mind that people may be harmed or misled by even a small weakness or defect in the conduct of an ácárya. Just as it is the duty of a father to educate his children properly by his good conduct, an ácárya or ácáryá should always instruct by his or her exemplary actions and words." (4)
Ananda Marga philosophy warns how improper leadership brings terrible harm to society.
Ananda Marga ideology says, “Today there is catastrophe and misery in human society and there is one reason: the defective leadership of society. People blindly follow even unintelligent leaders. The leaders hypnotize and attract thousands with their tall talks, gestures and other dramatics. Understand that the poverty and misery of any people in any country are the sins of the leaders. True leaders should always be vigilant and think how to work best for human society: they must be ever cautious that under their guidance the people are not led to darkness, death and immorality.” (5)
Snake inside the house is more dangerous
Here is an English summary of Sadguru Baba’s Hindi teaching from, EGD 25 November 1978 Bombay, Taking Shelter in Satya is the Essence of Sadhana:
If our own person, family member, or anyone deviates from the truth or is lacking sincerity, oppose them. Do not tolerate them. It does not matter if they are our own family member. If our own person is dishonest and insincere then they are more dangerous. Why? If a snake is living outside the house in the wild it is dangerous, but if that snake enters inside the house then it is more dangerous. Therefore they [our close persons] should be opposed more strongly. (English summary of Hindi: EGD 25 November 1978 Bombay)
In His above guideline Baba explains that bad elements in society are dangerous, but bad elements inside your house - inside your organisation - are more dangerous. Do not tolerate them, benevolently oppose them. So they can rectify their ways and become an asset to our Ananda Marga society.
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Madhuvratananda keeps his soulmate Danu, his nephew, and his entire worldly family with him. He is the epitome of a coloured jackal in a Wt uniform.
In Him,
Ramesh
Roger Watkins
By the way, the main account detailed in the above letter about visiting his laokika family during the dogmatic Christian holiday is / was about Ac Vishvarupananda Avt.
~ In-depth study ~
Here again it should be said that Avadhuta means new life or new existence because a new birth happens whereby one receives a new name, a new uniform, and a new identity. So when a person becomes an avadhuta then the old personality is dead, nothing remains. That is the true avadhuta in real sense - otherwise if they are reverting back and engaging in their old life then they are just fakes. Because talking about old things and using their new avadhuta name is just hypocrisy. So best is that avadhutas not write about their laokik family as it is unbecoming and against the spirit of being an avadhuta.
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Rare & ideal avadhutas
With respect to the WT conduct rules, our avadhutas should not write about and talk about - nor engage in - activities that go against Baba's teaching. Otherwise (a) innocent people in confused state will think that our avadhutas must have relation with their worldly family; (b) If anybody hears such stories they will form a negative opinion about our avadhutas on the whole; (c) when speaking publicly or writing, then our avadhutas should not express anything that goes against Baba's teaching. Otherwise the entire purpose of their existence is in question. When obviously the purpose of their example is to project Baba's teaching but unfortunately they are doing something else.
In this present era when our organisational leadership is fractured and many workers are using this freedom for dharmic purposes: Doing pracara and sadhana. And fakes are using this freedom in another direction: Indulging in social violations etc.
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References
1. Rule #28 of 37 Workers Rules
2. 32 Rules for Avadhuta, Rule #9
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 31, Conduct of an Acarya
4. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 31, Conduct of an Acarya
5. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 31, Conduct of an Acarya
* * *
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 ==
Crying & laughter
PS Intro: This following song expresses the deepest love towards Parama Purusa. This is kevala bhakti.
"Ke go tumi ele ámári mane, lukiye chile kon gahane..." (Prabhat Samgiita #0840)
Purport:
My most charming Entity, who are You who has come in the abode of my mind. With Your august arrival, the sky, wind, and the whole atmosphere has become spiritually charged and filled with Your exquisite vibration. High in the sky, the moon's smile has brought a surreal dreamy ambiance of sweet love. Tell me up till now, in which unknown and secret place were You hiding.
Parama Purusa Baba, by Your grace, today in the soft and fragrant breeze of this spring season, my restless heart only yearns for You. There is no end to the longing of my aching soul. In the melodious chirping of the birds, in the isolated corner of my mind, please merge my heart in Your heart - make them one.
Baba, today captivated by You, I have forgotten the old tale of my crying and laughter of worldly losses and gains. Now my mind is immersed in Brahma bhava. It is Your blessing. All the obstacles have been removed. My one-pointed ideation is rushing only towards You. Now, by Your mercy, I will aim to please and serve You up to Your heart's content by singing Your song. You have made Your auspicious advent in my heart, taken away everything, and made me Yours. It is Your infinite affection...
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Gas is the cause
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “I said a little while ago that dreaming means thinking or recollecting during sleep. Now the first question that arises is this: Why do people not always think or recollect during sleep? During the wakeful state, people are always thinking or recollecting. Even when people meditate in the wakeful state, they are thinking of, or recollecting, Supreme Consciousness. In the waking state, the mind never remains inactive. Then why does it not always dream during sleep? The answer is, the sleeping state means a state of rest for the mind. But if, before or at the time of sleep, one is tormented with deep sorrow, or becomes overjoyed with extreme happiness, or is afflicted with a serious disease, or is brooding over imaginary pains and pleasures – then during sleep if the gases in the body rise and create vibrations in the nerve cells, one starts thinking and recollecting. That is why people do not always dream during every sleep. (1)
Reference
1. Namah Shiváya Shántáya, Disc: 16
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Maternity issues
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Pregnant women and female animals may work half of what they usually do at other times; but under no circumstances should they be allowed to do strenuous work, as it may lead to premature delivery or stillbirth." (1)
Note: Unfortunately both in the east and in the west expectant women are often put in physically challenging and compromising situations. For instance, many expectant women who have career jobs in the US might work full-time right up until their delivery day. They are compelled to work. In the many countries expectant women are often forced to involved in strenuous work throughout their pregnancy. These types of situations are neither healthy, nor sustainable, nor humane; yet they are pervasive around the globe.
In comparison, women in economically wealthier families in the east, are more likely to not work and be less physically active during pregnancy.
Coerced to return to work
Systematic steps need to be taken to ease the workload of all expectant women. Failing that, the well-being of both mother and baby will remain precarious, at best. When the aim should be to provide a very comfortable and safe environment for all expectant women, especially those in the latter stages of pregnancy. Not only that, a maximum amount of job leave should be given to those moms who recently delivered. But unfortunately, often working mothers return to work as quickly as possible.
One can easily imagine that when mothers do not get resting time before giving birth, then how will that same mother provide love and affection to new-born infants if they are in a rush to return to work.
This is a very sad state of affairs and is related with the future of the people all over the globe, not just in those local areas. Because without proper love, their children's development is severely hampered - their full psychic growth will be impeded.
So this is a universal issue that needs everyone's attention.
Baba says, "Pregnant women and female animals may work half of what they usually do at other times; but under no circumstances should they be allowed to do strenuous work, as it may lead to premature delivery or stillbirth." (2)
In Him
Lata’
References
1. Shabda Cayanika - 20
2. Shabda Cayanika - 20
== Section 3: Links ==
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