Baba
Baba directly told
Namaskar,
We all know Baba places great importance on the study of history as it enables both individuals and communities to learn from past mistakes and thereby progress. Failing that, without the study of history, people commit the same old errors over and over again. In which case, they remain shackled by the pitfalls of the past and are unable to advance. So the review of history holds a unique place for the development of any society.
As Ananda Margiis, we must know the history of Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha (AMPS). Please read this below letter as an historical account of an important conversation about Guru and His teachings from Acarya Diary etc.
In Him,
Dr. Gopal
Moderators
Note: This below letter was first posted in October of 2002 and delineates key points for everyone to be aware about.
--
Namaskar,
We must follow Baba in all respects. He has given all that is needed - everything. He has given the sadhana; He has given the social teachings; and, He has given all our days of festival and celebration. There is nothing that He has not given. Those who insist that the dogmatic mahaprayan program is part of our AMPS, knowingly or unknowingly, insinuate that Baba is incomplete or imperfect - as if He forgot to tell us about so-called mahaprayan.
And here below is more explanation about why Baba does not appreciate this mahaprayan program - as well as other reasons for why it is just one dogmatic function.
“Man vrndávane rayecho…” (Prabhat Samgiita #4749)
“Mor man vrndávaneri rájá…” (Prabhat Samgiita #4491)
The general idea of the above lines is: Baba, O' Parama Purusa, You are always present in my mental Vrindaban…
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My question to Dadaji
One time I asked my DC [VSS] Dada that, "Dadaji, you told that Baba has given everything in Ananda Marga - all the solutions to the problems of the present world and beyond. But is it that He might have forgotten to tell about this so-called mahaprayan (MPD) program, and that is why our Central Dadas introduced MPD themselves in Oct 1990? Because one margii was telling that, “How can Baba tell His disciples when He is going to withdraw His Mahasambhuti form, and what His disciples should do after He withdraws His Mahasambuti form.” That margii, Satyadeva, further told that Baba might have thought that if He tells margiis or discloses about His mahaprayan then margiis will cry out. So Baba did not include mahaprayan ceremony in CC part 1. Dadaji, what is your comment on this."
Teaching From Acarya Diary
Dadaji replied, "You see, those who got acarya training know that Baba, as a Guru, tells all the dos and don’ts for His disciples. For example, in our Acarya Diary, Baba says such things which I am giving you the outline here. While teaching about the system of Guru Puja in Ac. Diary appendix, Baba describes that if disciples / sadhakas have a strong feeling to offer some worldly things in Guru Puja, they can do it. Even those sadhakas could give those things to Guru during His presence as Mahasambhuti. But Baba directs us that after He withdraws His Mahasambhuti form then those material things, which we desire to offer to Him, should be distributed to needy people. And if sadhakas are offering some flowers then those should be thrown into flowing river water. Baba explains all this very clearly in the Acarya Diary."
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Dadaji said, "So, do you understand?"
I said, "Yes, Dadaji. I think as you told that when Guru is present then we can offer worldly things to Him directly - if a sadhaka desires. Baba then directs us that if one has a strong desire to offer physical objects to Him after He withdraws His Mahasambhuti form, those objects should be given to appropriate members of the society who are lacking those very things - because He is not present as Mahasambuti to receive those things. That will be the true service to Baba."
Dada replied, "Very good, and here the main point is that Sadguru Baba has given all the instructions for all kinds of circumstances, even addressing the situation after He has withdrawn His form this earth. So this proves that Baba is willing to talk about that. So no one can claim that Baba could not tell about mahaprayan. The fact is that Baba purposely never planned any annual death ceremony like mahaprayan because it is dogmatic and against our Ananda Marga ideology."
Caryacarya scripture is complete
Then Dadaji said, "Baba has given the full list of social and spiritual functions of Ananda Marga in our Caryacarya part 1. This list does not include Mahaprayan (MPD)."
He continued, "No doubt, some dogmatic people may be thinking that Baba deliberately did not speak about what His disciples should do or should not do after He withdraws His Mahasambhuti form because it would have been intolerable for most to hear. But I think this very idea is completely incorrect. Because when Baba talks about how to do Guru Puja after He withdraws of His form as Mahasambhuti and remains in nityananda in the Acarya Diary, then if He would have felt necessary then surely He would have included this MPD function into our Caryacarya scripture as well. But Baba did not do so. So according to the logical conclusion, mahaprayan itself is a negative program, and it is not approved by Baba because it is against the fundamental teachings of Marga Guru."
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"With their rational mind one can say mahaprayan is dogma because it has no logic, just MPD is one imposed, restrictive idea. Just see what Baba says on this point."
Then I looked in the book - “A Few Problems Solved.”
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Perhaps you know what dogma means. Dogma means an idea around which some line is demarcated, beyond which it is prohibited to go. 'You will have to accept this doctrine, you cannot go beyond it.' -- this sort of restricting idea is called dogma...Remember, you are not alone in this world, not only in this world but also in this entire universe. This universe is pervaded by Parama Purusa. We are always sitting on His very lap." (1)
"So see" Dadaji explained. "Baba tells that Parama Purusa is everywhere; Baba tells dogma is that which restricts the mind; so-called mahaprayan says Baba has departed or gone away; then surely mahaprayan comes under the category of dogma."
Baba still guiding everyone’s sadhana
"Look at it this way", Dadaji added, "You see when any acarya teaches or imparts initiation, any sadhana lesson increase, or lesson revision, then if that acarya is proper then they must sit for a few minutes in dhyana and take the permission from Baba. After getting Guru’s permission, one has the right to teach sadhana, especially 6th lesson. So this is the system."
"But if Baba is gone forever and no more, i.e. if so-called mahaprayan happened, then how could one get His permission? One could not. To get this divine permission, we have to see that Baba is not just one worldly / physical entity. Surely ordinary mortal human beings die or become gone or passed away, but not in Baba's case. Our Baba is not an ordinary mortal; He is Parama Brahma.”
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Ananda Marga ideology states, "Guru, that expression of Parama Brahma that dispels all your spiritual darkness, is Parama Brahma. That is, Parama Brahma exhibits Himself in the form of Guru just to dispel your clouds of ignorance and spiritual slumber." (2)
So Baba, being the Parama Brahma, or Taraka Brahma. Like this Dadaji told.
Conclusion
All-knowing Sadguru Baba’s teachings are complete - He has graciously mapped out all the do’s and don’ts. And nowhere did He mention anything about mahaprayan. Why? Because so-called mahaprayan is against the ideological foundations of Ananda Marga.
In Him,
Madhumay
Meaning of “Baba’s withdrawal of His Mahasambhuti form”
Mahasambhuti: Taraka Brahma is an ever-present Entity. When Parama Purusa functions and plays this role He cares about the well-being of creation - and helps everyone in all kinds of situations. And in His role as Taraka Brahma, He also grants liberation. But from time to time, when society goes astray then He takes advent on this earth and the name of that role is Mahasambhuti. So we say that the advent of Mahasambhuti has happened. After establishing dharma He withdraws His Mahasambhuti form and remains in nityananda - and He loves and cares for His creation. When He established dharma then gradually it manifests to all. Initially, the common people cannot perceive that dharma is established. That is why when He withdraws His Mahasambuti form then many get confused and think that dharma is not established so how can He withdraw His form. But gradually people realise and see that dharma is established and demonic forces get destroyed. The good things that were impossible earlier became a reality. Anyhow, this is just a side point.
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~ In-depth study ~
All know that Baba, as the Parama Purusa, has perfectly given everything, including what to do after He withdraws His Mahasambhuti form. Yet He never mentioned one word about so-called mahaprayan. Here the point is that we should follow Baba. Moreover, tthis program goes against our basic feeling of bhakti.
Baba is Parama Brahama
When we are preaching to others then we say that there is no comparison of the Personality of Taraka Brahma.
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Tula' va' upama' Krs'n'asya na'sti; Krs'n'a Bhagava'n svayam.” (3)
Meaning: There is no comparison of the Lord's attributions. Taraka Brahma can be compared with Himself and Himself alone. No entity is similar to Him.
Dada went on, "It is so regrettable that according to our convenience sometimes we preach that Baba is Taraka Brahma Sadguru, and other times we compare Baba with a mortal human being and think that He passed away as normal human beings do. That is not good."
Baba is Sadguru, the All-Pervading Omnipresent Being. And that very Baba Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji is unparalleled, beyond comparison. Then why should we compare that very Supreme Entity as a normal human being coming under the domain of life and death?"
"When we are preaching Baba's stories then we comprehend that idea that Baba is above all human beings, Baba is living with us and He is helping. But the next moment when we talk about Mahaprayan (MPD) then we just overlook the whole spiritual philosophy or devotional aspect and start thinking Baba as one mortal frame. How ironic!"
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The sun is not harmed
"If we think carefully then we can understand and we should also correct that according to our convenience we should not try to belittle Baba's status. If any person tries to spit on the midday sun that is high in the sky, you can guess who will be affected. Surely not the sun. So one should be careful. Undermining Baba will not harm Him but oneself. So my feeling is that Baba is with us always, and we should not compare Him to an ordinary human being like those who underdo their mahaprayan (death) etc. Rather, our approach should be like how Baba describes here in Neo-Humanism book."
Then Dadaji showed me this beautiful passage from 'Devotional Sentiment and Neo-Humanism':
Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, "As we have already said, the greatest human treasure is devotional sentiment, devotional wealth. This devotional wealth must be preserved....Whenever we see that the pressure of external circumstances threatens this life essence we should appeal to the Supreme, "O Lord, please be kind enough to protect our inner vitality from total destruction-save us from the agony of total loss." (4)
By this, I understood that we must protect our devotional feeling from the onslaughts of worldly pressures and events such as so-called mahaprayan, and we should ask help from Baba in this regard.
Words from a senior sadhaka
When I was talking with Dada about all this, then one senior margii Ram Dayalji also came and joined. And he explained some of the motivations behind the creation of so-called mahaprayan.
Ram Dayalji told, “This invention of mahaprayan was done with the motive to infuse an inferiority complex in the mind of those sadhakas who could not see Baba in Mahasambhuti frame. Those central Dadas selfishly thought that this will be one plus point in their favour. Because they can easily manipulate those suffering from an inferiority complex, i.e. those who did not see Baba before 1990. In result, such margiis can be treated as 2nd class citizens and easily be pushed around.”
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Here is more of what Ram Dayalji was talking: “The founders of mahaprayan preach that since Baba “passed away”, now there is no scope to go close to Baba, or have His close proximity. That opportunity is gone forever. By that way, those who could not avail the opportunity, or those who were born after 1990, or because of any reason those who could not see Baba, they should realise mentally that they are all unfortunate beings.”
Ram Dayalji concluded, "This is the background thinking of those who cultivated the ideas of so-called mahaprayan. By that way, they think that in Ananda Marga society they will be treated as most fortunate and blessed because they lived along with Baba, and those who could not live in Baba's physical proximity are all in a subordinated category. By this way, an inferiority complex has been injected."
Those physically close might be psychically very far
So after sharing with you all I heard and learned from my respected Dada and Ram Dayalji, I am ending with one song of Baba.
Those who are bhaktas know that this PS # 3286 "Keu ka'che peyeo" gives this message that living physically close has no value. Many physically live close but they are living far from Him. But many live physically far but keep Him in their hearts.
"Keu ka'che peyeo cinate na're, dure thekeo cene..." (Prabhat Samgiita #3286)
Purport: By getting physically close they do not recognize Him, whereas some even from a distance recognize His magnanimity. Whereas others by getting His sweet touch even, then they drown in staticity. And some without knowing, they unknowingly believe fully in His greatness. O' my Lord You are doing so many things for me. You are filling my heart with nectar. I am so unfortunate that after all this grace I do not recognize You and remain oblivious...
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So let us all be like those A-grade bhaktas who with deep inner bhakti recognise Baba's divine beauty and treasure Him always in their heart.
References
1. A Few Problems Solved - 4, Rise Above All Complexes
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 3, Guru Pújá
3. Namami Krsnasundaram, Párthasárathi Krśńa and Pariprashna (Discourse 24)
4. Liberation of Intellect - Neo-Humanism, Devotional Sentiment and Neohumanism
== Section: Important Teaching ==
To enhance digestion
Baba says, "Black pepper stimulates the secretion of saliva, increases hunger, and helps to enhance digestion. Plus it makes the nerve fibers alert. Furthermore it is a medicine and remedy for lethargy and melancholia."
"If you make a paste by mixing the top layer of milk with black pepper and apply it to the face it prevent acne." (1)
Note: People should also be aware that black pepper, especially coarse grain black pepper, should not be applied directly on the food when one is eating. Rather it should be prepared with the food. That way in the cooking process the black pepper will mix with the water and get distributed evenly throughout the dish. Whereas if one eats raw black pepper directly on their food then it enters the body in a very concentrated form which the body cannot be easily digested, in which case you may not get the full benefits. If the black pepper is extremely fine like dust, then one can eat it directly; but best is to soak it in water first and then let it sit for a while in a container and then sparingly put that sauce (i.e. pepper water) on your food. Or you can cook your food in that black pepper mixture.
Reference
1. Shabda Cayanika - 8
== Section 2: Links ==
Mahaprayan Dogma
Other topics of interest
