Baba
Famous family acarya
Namaskar,
One of our central tenets as Ananda Margiis is to become true neo-humanists. Just as we are to embody so many ideals such as yama and niyama, vegetarianism / sattvika diet, and compassion etc, we should also embody the key pillars of neo-humanism. Unfortunately, in his public statement, one family acarya unwittingly exposes himself in this arena and falls short of the mark.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com
Ac Pratapaditya’s show of crying out for one human society
In his public letter titled “Grihii and Sanyasii” that has again been circulated around, family acarya Pratapaditya of Gorakhpur cites Sadguru Baba’s teachings and slogans about forming one human society:
“slogans like Manava Manava Ek Hai, Manava ka Dharma Ek hai, Ek chulha Ek Chauka Ek hai Manav Samaj”
The basic meanings of the above three slogans are: (a) “All humans are one”; (b) “Human dharma is one”; and, (c) “One stove, one kitchen, one human society.”
The fundamental gist of all of these slogans is that there are no innate differences between human beings. We are all part of the same cosmic family, and we should not allow any narrow sentiments to divide us. That is Baba’s divine teaching and guideline for humanity. And thus far, Ac Pratapaditya is doing just fine in his letter.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com
Note: The reason why Pratapaditya is raising these slogans in his letter is because he is pointing out how those days in 1990 in the Tiljala campus, and also thereafter up to this present era in all the groups, a similar situation still exists: There is a split between the top posted Dadas and the general workers. They do not eat or live together. The top Dadas live in the lap of luxury with their own private kitchens and personal chefs etc, while the junior Wts suffer in abominable conditions, having a shortage of the basic food (nutritional and caloric) requirements. Lower posted workers have to eat in a dirty mess hall that lacks sufficient food and proper amenities. So Pratayapatitya is raising all of these slogans in a dharmic manner to point out this horrific discrepancy within our Wt cadre.
How Pratapaditya unwittingly exposes himself
As a reminder, on page 2 of his letter, Pratapadiya sings the praises of forming one human society, where the shackles of divisions are smashed and all human beings have the same existential value: No one is higher; and no one is lower.
“slogans like Manava Manava Ek Hai, Manava ka Dharma Ek hai, Ek chulha Ek Chauka Ek hai Manav Samaj”
So up above Pratapaditya is supporting one human society, but now take a look at what he is writing on page 4 of his very same letter.
Acarya Pratapaditya writes: “Why was I given the charge of kitchen? Was it a proper utilization of my potentialities? In my family life, I had no experience of taking care of any household affairs. As a matter of fact, I was pampered and brought up as a mini prince by my father who was a rich respectable Zamindar and belonged to most respected Brahmin family of eastern U.P. having respectable relations all over U.P. Though this allotment of kitchen work was a humiliation.”
In his above statement, Pratapaditya uses the terms like zamindar and brahmin to show that he is not a regular, ordinary person. Rather, he comes from a superior family. For those not aware, the big zamindars of India ruled over thousands of square kilometers, deciding the fate of tens of thousands of villagers etc. Indeed, such zamindars had immense wealth and wielded tremendous power. And, of course, the brahmins are the so-called highest group of the ruthless caste system. Moreover, Pratapaditya emphasizes that he was not simply a brahmin but the “most respected brahmin family”. This entire characterization wreaks of entitlement, the notion of feeling that one is better than others merely because of their birth. Indeed, he felt that kitchen work was beneath him, and that this was something that others should do, not him. Thus, within the confines of his own letter, Pratapaditya is a walking contradiction. On the one hand he is raising the banner of one human society where all live together with equal respect and cordiality, and on the other hand he is bragging about his brahmin caste, immense wealth, and high-birth whereby he views himself as better and superior to others. That's why kitchen work was not for him; rather, he deemed it as an insult to the worst degree. That is his contradiction.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com
All in all, when Pratapaditya is using material wealth and caste dogma to show how great and high his position is then who can believe that really Pratapaditya was sincere in his claims about forming one human society. Rather, readers will think that Pratayapditya is just one hypocrite who unwittingly exposed his elitist, caste dogma.
Conclusion
The teachings of Ananda Marga are highly unique and absolutely essential for forming one human society. But lip service alone will not do. To implement those lofty ideas, it must come from a point deep within, from our very core - not just from our mouths. We must fully internalize and embody the ideals of neo-humanism, otherwise in a moment of weakness we will expose ourselves just like Pratapaditya did. In that case, no one will pay heed to our call, and the opportunity will be lost.
In Him,
Jiivatman Deva
Note: The letter being circulated around these days by Ac Pratapaditya of Gorakpur was written on 22 Sep 2010. And Pratapaditya left his mortal frame in 2012. Some may think that since he passed it is in poor taste to write about him. But that is all wrong. Sadguru Baba emphasizes in so many places that we are to study history and learn from the past, as by this way the mistakes of old are not repeated, and we can grow as a humanity. So learning from Pratapaditya’s missteps is an essential part of creating one human society.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com
Baba says, “It is the sadvipras who must take most of the responsibility to remove the disunity. Sadvipras will not give any importance to the points of difference, but will continuously inspire and encourage the common bonds of unity and thus strengthen humanity. Only then will the human society become one and indivisible. Only then will it be worthy of being called a “human society”.” (1)
How humanity gets divided
Sadly, to date, our human history is filled with hurtful and bloody battles between rival groups.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “One human society is divided into different nations, and one nation is divided into different religions; religions also have different castes, and castes also have different sub-castes – what kind of situation is this? We have only learned how to divide and subdivide humanity, and we never learned how to unite the people. This is all due to the defective teachings of dogmas.” (2)
As Baba points out, the heinous divisions in our human society are due to numerous dogmas, including casteism.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com
References
1. A Few Problems Solved - 2, Human Society Is One and Indivisible – 2
2. A Few Problems Solved- 7, Renaissance in All the Strata of Life
* * *
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 ==
Note: This is the song of Lord Krsna (Shyám) taking leave of His bhaktas as He goes to Dwaraka.
PS Intro: This Prabhat Samgiita is for non-margii bhaktas who have bhakti for Lord Krsna. So we Ananda Margiis should learn these types of songs so that we can present and teach them to non-Ananda Marga sadhakas, i.e. bhaktas of Lord Krsna.
“Ná jániyá bhálobesechi, bese dekhi jáná náhi jáy…” (Prabhat Samgiita #3138)
Purport:
I loved You unknowingly for so long, and now, after consciously loving You with all my heart, I realize that with just one’s own unit mind You remain unknowable because by going close to You the mind ceases to exist. That Shyám Ráy, the Eternal Entity, remains hidden behind that sweet smile and charming flute.
The Yamuna river of my mental longing is overflowing with bhakti; it has so much yearning for Him, but Shyám pays no heed to that love and instead goes to Dwaraka. Nanda and Yashoda’ showered Him with sweet affection and great care in his childhood, but He is not even looking towards them.
That gopiká who offered the sweetness of their lives to Him were also forsaken by that shiny moon, i.e. that glittering entity Shyám. With bhakti, the deer only wishes to have a glance of the Lord, but alas passes her time crying…
== Section 3: Important Teaching ==
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Another Sanskrit equivalent for “woman” is nárii, which is feminine gender. But Shiva used the term kalatra, in the neuter; for to her husband a woman is a wife, but to her children and other members of the society, she is as dignified as her male counterpart. So by declaring a married lady to be kalatra, Shiva gave her special status, and addressed her in neuter terms."
"The liberal meaning of the term viváha is “live one’s life in a new way with a special type of responsibility”. This is the underlying significance of the Shaeva system of marriage."
"In His life, Shiva Himself married with this commitment. We can say without the least hesitation that Shiva was the first person in this world to marry in the proper sense of the term. He was eager to see that the married women did their duties properly towards their husbands, that is, that they always took care to remove the difficulties of their husbands."
"Thus it was His strict instruction, Yad bharttureva hitamicchati tad kalatram [“If in the mind of the wife, there is the sincere desire for the welfare of her husband, the family will be blissful and a thatched house will become a golden home”]." (1)
Reference
1. Namah Shiváya Shántáya, Shivokti - 3
== Section 4: Links ==
Dogma of Mahaprayan - Oct 26
#15: Bait kiirtana: drawing attendees
#14: Annual program: adopted from Islam
#13: Adding "mahaprayan' to AM books
#12: Personal experience: Baba's omnipresence
#11 Teaching from Acarya Diary
