Great dada
Namaskar,
When anyone writes a Baba story book, the stated aim is to highlight
Sadguru - not one's own self. Even if the writer has some desire to
glorify himself, he will be very discreet, and will not do so openly
- in a gross manner.
It is only when one has an irresistible urge to propagate their own
glory that they cannot check that propensity. Intoxicated by their
own vanity, they lose their ability to think rationally and they
openly praise themselves for all to see. And that is exactly what
happened in one Baba story book.
The ideal way to write a Baba story book is to clearly present Guru
in a reverential way. The reader should get the feeling that the
writer is sitting at Baba's feet and directing all their attention
unto Him - His glory. That is the ideal method and all the prose,
poetry and photos contained therein should reflect this spirit and
selfless, spiritual feeling.
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Displaying as if in AM Guru is just ordinary
Unfortunately, on the Dedication page of his book, one dada has
placed a photo of Baba, and directly next to Baba, in the same
exact type of chair, sits one dada – the very wt who wrote the book.
So Sadguru Baba is sitting in one chair, and this dada is sitting
next to Him on the exact same level.
This makes it look like in Ananda Marga the Guru is just someone
ordinary and it is common for one to sit next to Him – in the same
type of seat, on the same level. This gives a very poor impression
to the reader.
Yet the place of Guru in tantra is unparalleled – Guru’s stance has
no equal. In Ananda Marga, the disciple remains at the feet of Guru
or in full prostration. But here in this photo, dadaji is sitting
directly on par with Baba – and he has published this in a most
prominent location of his Baba story book for all to see.
Sadly, goaded by his own petty ego, this Dada could not refrain from
showing the world how he himself is as great as his Guru. Otherwise,
no proper bhakta could ever select such a photo to put in their Baba
story book.
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Absolutely shocking scene
To make matters worse, the dada who is sitting next to Baba is not
even looking at Him. Instead of casting his eyes upon the Sadguru
Baba, this dada is looking directly back toward the camera - his
eyes glued to the lens, as if he himself – not Baba – is the focal
point of the photograph. As if the photo is of him, dadaji.
This is the absolutely shocking scene that is taking place – all
captured on film for all to see on the Dedication page of his Baba
story book.
"Look at me, I am as great as Guru"
On that very Dedication page it says:
To My Baba
Offering His Flowers back unto Him.
Tava dravyam jagatguro, tubyameva samarpaye.
The message here is conflicted and hypocritical. Dadaji is trying to
show how the book is an offering of surrender to Guru, yet at the
same time he has included this photo that tells a whole other story.
Any true bhakta would have used a different photo, or the photo
could have easily been cropped etc.
Instead – driven by his own vanity, dadaji has taken this as an
occasion to highlight himself: As if to say, “Look at me, I am as
great as Guru.”
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Dada did the exact opposite
Instead of showing himself to be on par with Sadguru Baba, dadaji
would have been far, far wiser to have seated himself directly on
the ground at Guru’s feet, with his gazed fixed on Guru’s lotus
feet. This would have properly depicted the reverence and great
regard we have for Guru. But instead, dada did the exact opposite.
Some say that dadaji wanted to preserve his place in history and
show his greatness. But the reality dadaji did just opposite.
Because by his behaviour, people will easily understand that dadaji
has no reverence for Sadguru Baba. Just dadaji is concerned about
his own personal image - i.e. name and fame.
Dadaji has delivered a sinful message: In Ananda Marga Guru is not
given a special place. That is the most unfortunate and tragic
depiction he has given in his book. New people and readers from all
walks of life will think that the the Guru of Ananda Marga is
ordinary. It is quite sad and disturbing that a sin of this
magnitude has occurred.
”I will never propagate my greatness”
“A’loker path cha’r’ibo na’…A’mi nijere praca’r koribo na’…”
(Prabhat Samgiita #337)
Purport: Baba, by Your grace I will not leave the path of Ananda
Marga ideology, the path of effulgence. I will never leave the path
which You showed me. By Your grace, I will mold myself according to
Your desire. With Your guidance, I will make my mind straight,
focusing on You & propagating Your glory. I will never glorify
my own existence. I will never propagate about me I will never
praise myself in front of anyone. I will never propagate myself. My
Lord, You have taught me to propagate Your glory. I will propagate
the glory of Parama Purusa – not anyone else. So I will never
propagate my own self...
Ananda Marga Ideology says, “Sometimes their self-praise is so
intense that others are obliged to say, ‘Please stop praising
yourself so much’. They forget that their self-applause is rather
boring for others. Human beings should realise that no one likes to
hear the self-praise of others.” (1)
Ananda Marga Ideology says, “Why on earth should he indulge in
self-publicity? To whom will he publicize himself? Such acts are the
antics of common, avaricious people with beggar-like mentality.” (2)
Ananda Marga Ideology says, “...Be great by your sa’dhana’, by your
service, by your sacrifice.” (3)
Ananda Marga Ideology says, “Human beings are made of flesh and
bones. If their heart or lungs stop functioning, in that case they
will be lifted onto the shoulders of 4 other people in order to get
thrown onto the funeral pyre. When this is the situation of human
beings, where is the scope for self-glorification?” (4)
Who is a fool
Ananda Marga philosophy says, “This arrogance, which makes them want
to display themselves, forgetting all other things, is termed
aham’ka’ra [vanity]. The predominant vrtti behind it is aham [ego]:
‘I am everything, there is nothing beyond and outside me’.” (5)
Ananda Marga philosophy says, “Where people are guided more by
ahamtattva [ego], they say, ‘I am doing, I am giving, this was done
by me, that was done by me, etc.’… Their minds do not inspire the
lives of others, their minds do not touch the minds of others. They
do not reach the sweetness of others ‘I’ feelings, for they are too
preoccupied with themselves. Their approach is defective; their path
is not the path of Neo-Humanism.” (6)
Here is an English summary of the original Hindi:
It is the duty of all human beings and especially those who are
bhaktas, it is their mandatory duty to always think that, ‘I am a
machine and the controller is Parama Purusa. He is the machine man
and I have to work according to His desire. I have to fulfill His
desire. This body of mine is a machine and it belongs to Him. This
is His machine and this machine has to do His work.’ If one
constantly thinks in this way then the vanity of action will never
sprout. This is the only path to save oneself from vanity. One has
to think ‘I am just one machine; I am a tool and according to His
desire I have to work’. (7) (English summary of Subhasita Samgraha -
16 (H), p. 81, DMC Agra 19 Feb 84)
Ananda Marga Ideology, “Vanity harms the mind in three ways...The
second [way] is gaorava, self-aggrandizement or boasting –
projecting oneself as a great personality...Is this really something
great of which human beings can feel proud? And what is the result
of this self-glorification? Raorava means the seventh hell.” (8)
Ananda Marga Ideology says, “A person boasts of learning, intellect
and fortune. But nothing is eternal. Therefore one who boasts of
anything of this world is a fool.” (9)
Conclusion
those who are treading On the path of tantra, on the spiritual path,
they should never praise themselves. That goads the mind in the
wrong direction and one’s degradation is certain. Instead, true
bhaktas always sing the glories of the Supreme Entity - whose very
thought automatically elevates the mind.
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Ananda Marga Ideology says, “Even people of wisdom, of high social
status — even so-called intellectual and accomplished scientists and
philosophers who are always concerned with earning high respect for
themselves or saving their own prestige — even they pursue sensuous
or fragmentary objects for the gratification of their egos. Perhaps
they deliberately refuse to realise that these petty objectives of
their egos will infuse their minds with meanness, as a result of
which all their egoistic respect, prestige and status will
ultimately be pulverized into dust.” (10)
Ananda Marga philosophy says, “Your vanity may increase. You may
think “I have done this, I have done that, I am not an ordinary
man’. This is a psychic disease.” (11)
In Him,
Gopal Basu
About this Wt
The Dada who lost himself in his own vanity and displayed this photo
in his own Baba story book is Dada Tapeshvarananda.
Some may give the silly justification that this scene took place in
an airport so what is the big deal - Dada Tapeshvarananda did
nothing wrong. But that stands no ground. In the life of the
disciple, in all circumstances, and in all places, bhaktas give
maximum regard and reverence for Guru. So the fact that this
occurred in an airport is irrelevant. Indeed so many margiis and Wts
sat at His lotus feet in airports, on train platforms, and in
countless other places. For the bhakta Guru is everything and they
will always surrender unto Him - no matter the location.
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References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 8, The Lord Should Always Be Praised
2. Sibhasita Samgraha - 2, The Intuitional Science of the Vedas – 3
3. Ananda Vanii #20
4. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 11, Taking the Opposite
Stance in Battle
5. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Disc: 10, ‘Shivokti 6′
6. Neo-humanism in a Nutshell - 1, Perfect Spirituality and
Neohumanism
7. Subhasita Samgraha - 16 (H), p. 81, DMC Agra 19 Feb 84
8. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 11, Taking the Opposite
Stance in Battle
9. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 1, The Three Factors for Spiritual Elevation
10. Subhastia Samgraha - 3, Supreme Benevolence and Mundane Pleasure
(Shreya and Preya)
11. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 14, “Prańipátena Pariprashnena Sevayá” –
1 / Yoga – Its Fundamental Factors
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