Baba
Service vs selfish relations & POB
Namaskar,
Baba places a huge emphasis on service, doing and offering without wanting anything in return. In contrast, in the selfish ways of business and capitalism, their sole motive is to garner huge profits. Everything they do is aimed for getting a maximum return.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Business is always mutual. If you want one kilo of sugar you will have to pay for it: you give something and they will give you sugar. So business is mutual, not unilateral. But sevá [service] is always unilateral; you give something in sevá but take nothing in return. This is sevá. Service always is selfless, because it is unilateral; it is not mutual, but one-sided.” (1)
Profits in the name of service
Businesses are selfish in nature and do everything for their bottom line, i.e. maximum profits. But according to our psychology in AM, this is not the way we are to interact with society. Baba created AMPS to be a social service organisation. Everything is done in the spirit of universal welfare - i.e. to serve others for their betterment and progress - not for selfish profit. That is the ideal that Baba has guided us to follow.
But the breakaway POB group has an entirely different agenda. See their new business venture which they have ironically named: “Path of Bliss Premium Subscription Service!”
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com
Ananda Marga ideology states, “In the advertisements of certain business concerns, you can find written: “We have been serving the nation for fifty years.” No, no, that is not sevá, it is vyavasáya [business], because they are being paid for it. The railways are not rendering service to you, because you are paying for your journey by train. If it were unilateral, then only could you have accepted it as service. You should understand clearly the difference between sevá and vyavasáya, between service and business.” (2)
POB = Path of Business
According to Baba’s above guideline, it is a farce for the POB group to call their new business model a subscription service. Rather, it looks like the “POB” group has officially become the “Path Of Business”, as they are wholly guided by their selfish business model, just like so many quasi-spiritual groups in this era of extreme capitalism. There is not an iota of service in what they are doing. See their full advertisement below:
The service model is our AM way of life. But POB’s above so-called subscription service resembles those money-making scams that pop up in your social media feed. Those involved in this POB venture should take a deep breath and seriously reflect on Baba’s below teachings.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com
Ananda Marga ideology states, “Everyone should render service to the world in accordance with their capacity and work for the welfare of the living beings to the best of their ability.” (3)
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “Remember, you have come to this world to render service to it – to render service to the world.” (4)
In Him,
Ramendu
(Rick Nelson)
POB: all about money
In their above advertisement, they have different tiers or rates of subscription. Those who give more - for the exact same product - are lauded with a grander title. For instance, if you pay $25 you are “foundational”, whereas if you pay $150 you are “inspirational”. This is a bastardization of the terms, and grossly materialistic as one’s value is purely based on the dollar. It is sad and shocking how this whole ordeal is just based on money, money, money.
The POB group is worse than most capitalist businesses. There are many businesses nowadays that announce how they give a percentage of their profits for a particular cause or charity etc, but in the above POB announcement they shamelessly proclaim that, “All funds will be utilized to further develop this subscription system.” That is like saying, “We are keeping all of the profits for ourselves.”
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com
References
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 21, Jaeva Dharma and Bhágavata Dharma
2. Subhasita Samgraha - 21, Jaeva Dharma and Bhágavata Dharma
3. Subhasita Samgraha - 1, Yajiṋa and Karmaphala
4. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 30, Self-Realization and Service to Humanity
* * *
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 ==
Prabhat Samgiita Intro: This following song depicts how the arrival of Parama Purusa transforms the whole scene. In the flower garden the birds are singing more sweetly, and the bumble bees are whispering to the flowers about the arrival of Parama Purusa. In the clouds, rain, thunderstorms, there is an expression of joy and enthusiasm. Everything is charged with positivity. When the mind is in a blissful state with bhakti then everything looks beautiful. Here the bhakta feels that in the heart the most charming Parama Purusa has appeared and in result everything is dancing in ecstasy.
"Áj pákhirá kii gán gáiá jáy, phúlero vanete bhramará nibhrite,
kii kathá ájike shonáte cáy..." (Prabhat Samgiita #0364)
Purport:
Which songs do the birds keep singing today? In the flower garden, what does the bumble bee secretly wish to convey today? It looks like they are talking about the Supreme Charmer, Parama Purusa.
Why does the thunderbolt clamour with overwhelming joy in the heavy clouds amidst torrential rain showers. For whom is the thrilled lightning flashing with its bolts streaking across the sky. It looks like they are happy because the Supreme Entity has come.
Who is sitting in my heart making my whole existence dance with ever new tunes. Today, I see the Lord appear before me in a beautiful and most attractive mohan form. He is full of mamata - extreme affection towards me. Seeing Him my heart is dancing...
Note For Prabhat Samgiita #0364:
Mamata': Mineness; In Sanskrit “mama” = mine, and the suffix ta’ = -ness; hence “mineness.” To have equal or more love for something / someone than one has for oneself.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "What is the meaning of “mamatá”? Mama + tá = mamatá. Mama means “mine” and thus mamatá is the inner idea of being mine, the feeling that something is my own." (1)
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "“Mamatá” means “mine-ness” – “Mama” means “one's own”, and the abstract noun derived from it is “mamatá” – meaning, thereby “mine-ness.”" (2)
For example, suppose you are suffering from a fever then naturally you will be concerned about your own health. You will try to cure yourself by going to the doctor and taking medicine etc. If you have mamata for someone else, then if they are sick with a fever you will have the same degree of care for their condition as your own. When one does sadhana then this sense of mamata grows and one ultimately has the feeling of mamata towards the entire created universe. Without sadhana, one’s sense of mamata will be extremely limited whereby one might only care about their own individual existence. So when the mind is extremely narrow one only has mamata for oneself. Those with a slightly broader mind have mamata towards their parents and family members. And as the circumference of mind expands one has mamata for other relatives and community members etc. However, it is only with sadhana that the periphery of mind can grow further and further wherein one’s sense of mamata includes all beings and expressions of this cosmos. Parama Purusa has mamata’ for each and every entity - this entire creation, all living and non-living expressions.
References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 7, The True Nature of Bhakti
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 1, Pleasing the Lord
== Section 3: Links ==
Other topics of interest
