Review of Baba story book + 3 more

Baba

Review of Baba story book

Namaskar,

We must ensure any book about Sadguru Baba properly reflects His divine personality, as well as His universal teachings. The reason great care is needed is that books are commonly seen as authoritative sources of truth. That is the basic belief about books. When a person reads something that has been printed, published, and bound as a book, they take that information to be substantiated and true. That is the common approach adopted by both the public and experts. Books have a huge effect on a person’s psyche.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com

How past misconceptions created chaos?

Yet tragically, books often contain serious misconceptions and stray far from the truth. For instance, there are numerous books which describe how Lord Shiva smoked hashish, or how Lord Krsna chased after females. And the general public accepts those falsehoods as true because they were published in a book.

Not only that, people generally believe in the existence of mythological characters like Ram and Hanuman. Why do people believe they are real? Because Ram and Hanuman have been written about and printed in a book, the Ramayana. Yet both Ram and Hanuman are imaginary, mythological figures. But because their story has been printed in book form, people think they are real.

The problem does not end there. On Indian soil, thousands have been killed over this issue, even within the last 20 years. Specifically, there have been court cases, rallies, protests, threats, and attacks over Ram's supposed birthplace. Ram's existence is 100% mythological but hundreds of millions of people are ready to die in order to secure Ram's birthplace.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com

Books have huge influence on human psyche

So see the situation: Ram is an imaginary figure, yet hoards of people are arguing over where Ram was born - and fighting about it. Yet, Ram never took birth on this earth. How did this confusion happen? By reading about Ram in a book, people came to believe he is real. Such is the power that books have over people.

Wikipedia, the popular, free, online encyclopedia, also places huge confidence and credence into books. For instance, if any information is printed in a book then it can be added to a Wikipedia topic and nobody can change or delete it. If it is stated in a book that a particular Guru supported racism or communalism or so many other mistakes, those false claims can be added to the Wikipedia site. All because those falsehoods have been printed in a book. The point is that when someone has written a book about Baba which contains innumerable falsehoods, how can we just sit back and think that it is ok?
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com

Conclusion

If any publication about Baba and Ananda Marga has any mistakes we should point out those errors and go on the public record. Because if any published mistake remains unopposed, that becomes an open, oozing sore. Whereas if we oppose such falsehoods now, then wrongs will be brought to light and corrected. 

Namaskar,
in Him,
Dharmaviira

~ In-depth study ~

Simple people may say that, "Come on, what this person has written in his JY book is fine. We all know that Baba is the most loving and the Divine One, so if there are some errors or misconceptions in the book it is not a big deal. Just let it be."

And some naive individuals mistakenly justify the matter this way: "All margiis know that Baba was and is most loving and this book is for margiis; so if there are mistakes in the book, that is not a problem. We can mentally correct the book as we read it and enjoy. After all, we know about Baba so we will not get confused and misguided by this book."
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com

These types of thinking are inherently flawed. The problem is that in the coming years more and more people will base their knowledge about Baba exclusively on what is written about Him, i.e. what is printed in the books. So when a book makes outrageous claims like the following, readers and the general public will be bound to get a wrong idea about Baba and Ananda Marga. Because see what this person has written in his book. Following are just a few of the many, many errors in his book:


False claims by D about Baba - Part 1

(1) False claim in book: Baba is Bengali (p.34);

Comment: Sadguru Baba is a universal Personality who has graced us by coming as the Taraka Brahma in human form to dispel all narrow-minded sentiments like communalism and nationalism etc and uplight the entire humanity. So to present Sadguru Baba as being “Bengali” is completely misleading, and it undermines His Personality. Naturally, any bhakta who reads this book will think the writer could never realise anything about Baba, while non-margii readers will form a rather pedestrian opinion of Baba. When really the aim of any book about Baba should be to present Him as divine. So to claim in any book that Baba is “Bengali” is highly irresponsible and off the mark. 
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com


(2) False claim in book: Baba's favourite language was Bhojpuri in His childhood (p.114);

Comment: In so many discourses, Sadguru Baba says all languages are the language of Parama Purusa and that He appreciates every language.

Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Languages are the common property of the Cosmic Father. We should love all these languages.” (Prout in a Nutshell - 15, Talks on Prout)

Clearly, Baba does not favour one language over any other or express preference of one language over another. It is so appalling then to attach this narrow linguistic sentiment to Sadguru Baba, as if Baba prefers one language over another. In various discourses, Baba mocks the idea that Hindus have a special feeling for cows but not buffaloes. That is partiality. Yet here Devashish is openly attaching this negative label of partiality to Baba.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com


(3) False claim in book: Baba has a loose tongue like a drunken policeman who is rude and
harshly abuses innocent people and criminals just to irritate and torture them (p. 211);

Comment: Sadguru Baba is love-personified. He blesses margiis and non-margiis alike. There are countless stories how He lovingly showers His grace on all. So the expression detailed on page 211 of the JY book is completely outrageous. Baba would never behave in such a manner. New people not familiar with Baba will form a very poor opinion of Him by reading this book. In the above referenced story, Baba is shown as being very rough and brusque with those innocent youths; in turn, they ran away and the entire train car is horrified by Baba's dealing. Anyone reading this book will be completely outraged. So the book does a terrible injustice to Sadguru Baba.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com

False claims by D about Baba - Part 2

(4) False claim in book: Baba is merely a saint (p.166);

Comment: Every bhakta knows that the Catholic church canonizes so many bogus people as being a saint. And not only that, saint is a comparatively lowly term, because Baba is the Taraka Brahma, Sadguru, and Mahasmabhuti. So using the saint term with Sadguru is akin to saying that Devashish is just like a bug or an earthworm. In that case, we will not like that because it is belittling to his human personality. Yet by this same approach Devashish is belittling Taraka Brahma Baba by referring to Him as a saint.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com

(5) False claim in book: Kapalik sadhana is a ritual (p.151);

Comment: Baba is the dharma Guru who has bestowed all kinds of dharma practices to the people for their all-round progress and enlightenment. Baba has given the sublime spiritual practices of Ananda Marga sadhana whereby any human being can reach the highest attainment. Never before in the history of humanity has this been done. Yet, the so-called writer of the JY book equates kapalik sadhana as being a mere ritual. This gives the feeling that our various Ananda Marga sadhana practices are just another form of ritualistic worship akin to what the various dogmatic religions do.


(6) False claim in book: Baba ordered His own book, A Discussion, to be burned (p.185);

Comment: The teachings of Taraka Brahma are the guiding shastra for humanity. His teachings are timeless, blemishless, and free from defect etc. So it is beyond what any sane person can imagine to think or proclaim that Baba ordered His own book to be burned. This infuses the very negative idea that it is ok to burn Sadguru Baba’s books. During the Emergency period, dedicated Ananda Margiis safeguarded and protected the sanctity of Guru’s books and teachings with their very life. That is the reverence any true bhakta should have. Yet here the writer is giving the false and misleading example that Baba burned His own books. This is a very negative teaching.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com


False claims by D about Baba - Part 3

(7) False claim in book: Buddha is also Taraka Brahma (p.179);

Comment: It is completely inappropriate to equate Buddha with Lord Krsna, Lord Shiva, and Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. Devashish (D) is unable to differentiate between a normal person who became elevated and the Supreme Entity who came on this earth as Mahasambhuti. In this regard, D is ignorant - he is like a blind person who cannot differentiate between a diamond and a pebble. Sadly, D is blind but he is restless to show others the path. It is due to this fatal flaw that his book is so misleading, and why it should and will be pulled from the shelves.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com


(8) False claim in book: As a Guru, Baba celebrated Durga Puja (p.263);

Comment: Baba has graciously given the discourses in Ananda Vacanamrtam-11 to expose the dogma of Durga puja and all kinds of god and goddess puja. Indeed, AV-11 is dedicated for that very purpose. Verily, Sadguru Baba has guided the entire humanity on this point. Yet look what D has written. It is most repulsive; words alone cannot express how terrible this is. Baba opposed Durga puja and all religious dogma and here D is saying that Baba conducted and participated in Durga puja.


(9) False claims in book: And so many other misleading statements and falsehoods. For instance the JY book proclaims:

(a) Sadguru Baba used avidya tantra (p.155)
(b) Baba celebrated Christmas (p.74)
(c) Ananda Margiis do namaste (p.384)

And verily the pages of the JY book are filled with gross errors, misconceptions, and bizarre and faulty references about Sadguru Baba. Making all these types of misleading and erroneous statements is very dangerous. Enemies will certainly take advantage of the situation and turn these misstatements into major, mountainous issues. That is what enemies do. They look for blatant errors, points of weakness, and areas to attack and then use those things to make a huge case against their foes.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com

So these false statements from the JY book are extremely problematic and cannot be overlooked. It is by these types of ludicrous statements that the world came to think that Lord Shiva just smoked hashish or that Lord Krsna just chased after young females. Such dogmas flooded this earth for centuries, and thousands of years, until finally Baba came as the Taraka Brahma and dispelled these myths about Lord Shiva and Lord Krsna.

Enemies will pounce on such falsehoods

The irony is that now a few inadequate writers are creating the same types of problems all over again about Sadguru Baba. If we let this JY book stand as is, without offering any clarifications or corrections, readers will most definitely get the wrong idea about Baba. Not only that, those who are enemies of the Marga, will use this book as ammunition to attack Baba. In that case, once again a Taraka Brahma will have to take advent and clear up such misconceptions about Baba.

Because enemies will take gross errors like Baba is Bengali or that Baba favours Bhojpuri, and use that to defame Him and charge Him as being a hypocrite. They will accuse Baba of preaching about neo-humanism yet at the same time harbouring communal sentiments. Because that is what is written in this JY book. That is what enemies do. They take whatever ammunition they can find in order to take someone down. Unfortunately, this JY book is an entire ocean of ammunition for such enemies. They will have a field day with D’s book.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com

Nowadays, many think that Lord Shiva smoked hashish, and that one of his sons, Ganesh, had the face and head of an elephant, and that Lord Shiva would pass out in the cemetery completely drunk. These are some of the prevailing myths surrounding Lord Shiva. With regards to Lord Krsna, it is popularly thought that Lord Krsna was a simple cowherd who chased after females and that the gopis were all females. It is also commonly thought that Lord Krsna was a butter thief. These are some of the many myths surrounding Lord Krsna. So there are a plethora of misconceptions surrounding these two great personalities, i.e. Taraka Brahmas.

As disciples of Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, we should not let history repeat itself. We should ensure the world learns the truth about Baba and His divine teachings. We should not give any scope for the creation of such myths about Baba. And the best way to achieve this is to ensure that any presentation of His divine Personality is accurate and true.

People will accept false things as true

There are countless mistakes in the JY book. To correct them all we will have to write every day for months on end. If we do not raise this matter then so many falsehoods will emerge. Just as it was propagated that Lord Shiva smoked hashish or that His son was born with an elephant face, similarly so many wrong claims will be made about Baba. And people will accept those as true. This is the problem. All margiis should also participate in cleaning-up and addressing this serious issue.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com

Why writer could not do the job

How did this sinful result occur? Primarily, because the writer was more focused on his own name and fame and wrote to show off his "knowledge and ability”. Hence the book lacks a basic spiritual vibration and makes fundamentally flawed statements about Sadguru Baba. No true sadhaka could ever make such gross errors. In his JY book, the writer has exposed his own lowly understanding, and presented the Supreme Subject in an undesirable manner.

There are countless erroneous and misleading claims in the JY book, and all of them should be unearthed so such injustices are corrected and not repeated. As this process unfolds, margiis are requested to correct and update their personal copies and all pending and future sales of this JY book should be suspended. Sales of the book should only be resumed after a diverse board of established sadhakas and writers ensure all the countless errors had been corrected. If this is not possible, then the book should be discontinued permanently. There is no other way.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com

Who wrote the JY book:  The name of the publication or "JY" book is "The Jamalpur Years", written by brother Devashish (Deva'shiis'a / Devashish / Devashiisa) a.k.a. Donald Acosta, originally of NY sector.

== Section ==

সেই মানুষের দ্বারা বিশ্ব মানবের কল্যাণ হতেই হৰে

আর এই তান্ত্রিক cult, এই যে সাধনা, তান্ত্রিক cult, আর তাণ্ডব, এই দুটোতে যা হ’ল, তা তো হ’লই | এবং তার সঙ্গে আরও যোগ করে দেওয়া হ’ল, সোনায় সুহাগা করে দেওয়া হ’ল কি ? না, পাঞ্চজন্য আর সদাব্রত | অর্থাৎ তোমাদের যে তান্ত্রিক সাধনা---... এই যে চারটে জিনিস, এ মানুষকে উপরে তোলার পক্ষে প্রয়োজনের চেয়েও ৰেশী ৰলতে পার | সুতরাং এই চারটে জিনিসের কঠোর থাকলে, আর ভাবৰার কি আছে | মানুষের মানুষ হিসাৰে প্রতিষ্ঠা হৰেই | জয়-জয়কার হৰেই | এবং সেই মানুষের দ্বারা বিশ্ব মানবের কল্যাণ হতেই হৰে |” (1)

Reference:
1. MGD, 3 January 1982 Ananda Nagar

== Section ==

परमात्मा तुम तो जानते हो, मैं तो तुम्हारा हूँ 

“सामान्या भक्ति, हर जीव में है | और, कोई जीव जो सत्यवादी हैं, जिसे हम साधु कहते हैं, वे क्या करते हैं ? न, यह जो उनकी स्वाभाविकी मुहब्बत है परमपुरुष के लिए, वे खुलेआम कहते हैं, कि---"मेरे मन में परमात्मा के प्रति परमपुरुष के प्रति, प्रेम है, गहरी मुहब्बत है | मैं यह मानता हूँ, और मैं यह मानता रहूँगा |" और कुछ लोग हैं, जिसको psychology की भाषा में hypocrite कहते हैं, वे कपटाचारी | वे लोग क्या कहते हैं, वे भी तो इनसान है जी, उनके मन में भी तो परमात्मा परमपुरुष के प्रति मुहब्बत है | किन्तु वह है कपटाचरण | वह दिल का यह जो भाव है, यह जो दिल का सही भाव है, उसे छिपाने की कोशिश करते हैं | कहते हैं---"मैं परमात्मा को नहीं मानता हूँ | परमात्मा के लिए मेरे मन में प्रेम नहीं है |" तो, मुँह में तो ऐसा ही कहते हैं | वह क्या हुई---न, मुँह की भाषा |
और, मन में कहते हैं---"परमात्मा तुम तो जानते हो, मैं तो तुम्हारा हूँ | और, अगर ऐसा बाहर में कहता हूँ, तुम तो क्षमा ज़रूर करोगे |"

[यह बाबा के कैसेट से सीधे लिखा गया, बाबा का यह असली प्रवचन, अमृतोपदेश है। आनन्द मार्ग हिन्दी पुस्तकों में छपे प्रवचन तो नक़ली प्रवचन हैं, असली नहीं] (1)

Reference
1. 1 January 1981 DMC Ananda Nagar

== Section 2: Links ==

More letters to read: 

The abortion issue & ahimsa

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2018/12/killing-babes-2-3-more.html

Important News Update

Kinshuk ji becomes football - 9

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2026/10/kinshuk-ji-becomes-football-9.html

Dogma of Mahaprayan - Oct 21 - 26

#36: Dressed in disguise 

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2015/10/masquerading-4-more.html

#35: Against sheltering in Him

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2019/08/it-became-religion-2-more.html

#34: Point of Preceptor

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2015/01/longevity-of-ananda-marga-threatened.html

#33: Mahaprayan ghat: burial place for ordinary people

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2014/09/mahaprayan-of-humans-rajendra-prasad.html

The abortion issue & ahimsa + 5 more

Baba

The abortion issue & ahimsa

Namaskar,

In Ananda Marga, murder is looked upon as a most dastardly deed; it is sinful. Under no conditions are we to murder anyone, especially not an innocent, defenceless babe. We should never knowingly terminate the life of any living being. That is a violation of ahimsa, i.e. to not inflict harm upon others.

As all Ananda Margiis know, ahimsa is part of yama and niyama; and, “without yama and niyama sadhana is an impossibility.” That is the guideline from the Supreme Command. All should be vigilant to adhere to the points of yama and niyama, including that of ahimsa. We must not harass, harm, or kill other beings. We are to adopt the theorem, “Live and let live.”

The courts or prevailing governing bodies cannot override this. Regardless of what the laws may say, to knowingly and intentionally destroy the life of a living being is nothing short of murder - and therefore a sin.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com

Killing aged & diseased

If an abortion is performed, then the parents and doctors accumulate the very negative samskara of having killed that unborn babe, and they will have to undergo the harmful consequences. Not only that, if it is deemed OK to abort unhealthy children in the womb, the day will soon come when unhealthy people outside the womb will also be put to their end. People will think that diseased and maimed people should be destroyed as they are a liability. And not only the diseased and the maimed, but the elderly and the disabled will be prematurely eliminated as well. Verily, all thought of as compromised in any way will be put to death. Such is the mentality behind aborting developmentally disabled unborn babes.

Whenever a person's existential value is thought to be compromised or deficient, they too will be eliminated: The elderly, disabled war vets, those who suffered car accidents, and those with degenerative diseases etc. So putting the logic in motion to abort a disabled unborn child is a slippery slope. It puts in place the factor that anyone thought of as a liability in any way can simply be "put down", i.e. disposed of, or killed by injection etc.

Conclusion

With the further advancement and proper use of science, birth defects can be wholly eliminated. And, verily, Baba points to this outcome in His many teachings. So great efforts should be made to ensure every baby conceived and born on this earth is healthy in all respects: physically, psychically, and spiritually. This is not an impossibility in our present age and coming times. 
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com

This entire notion of abortion is the wrong way to look upon human life. We are to help the weak and suffering, and, at the same time, take strong steps to create a vibrant more perfect humanity by adhering to Baba's dharmic guidelines. 

In Him,
Rtambhara’

~ In-depth study ~

Abortion violates cardinal human values: it is sinful

No matter what the doctors may say, no matter what the social workers may say, no matter what the judges in the court may say, each and every abortion is a violation of cardinal human values. To abort a baby is to commit a sin.

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "If the violation is in the spiritual code, rather the religious code, it is termed as 'sin'. If the violation is against the legal code it is known as 'crime'." (1)


Baba's teaching: how conception occurs

Here below Baba describes in detail how life is formed in the womb.

   Ananda Marga philosophy states, "If the sperms of the male and the ova of the female get together, they constitute one physical structure. When the physical structure commences formation, there is no question of extra seminal fluid or seminal wastage, and that is why in the stage of pregnancy there is no menstruation. All the seminal fluid is utilized in forming the body of the embryo..."
   "Since the physical structure starts from spermatozoa, which has a positive motion and, therefore, a wavelength, the physical structure thus formed must have a wavelength accordingly. We have already seen that the dissociated mind also has a wavelength (in a potential form) and a momentum which has to be expressed. The dissociated mind needs physical parallelism for proper expression, and therefore the Cosmic mutative force causes the dissociated mind from eternal space to enter the adjustable physical structure, assuming a form in the mother’s womb."
   "This is how life comes into physical creation." (2)

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "That mind moving in the universe with the mutative power of the Cosmic Operative Principle is not visible, and at the same time, for want of a nucleus, a seat for the mind, and nerve cells, the mind cannot function properly. For proper functioning it requires ectoplasmic stuff, a body of ectoplasm. So even for ectoplasmic expression it requires a new body. In proper time, due to the mixture of ova and spermatozoa, what happens? The mind becomes associated with a new structure [embryo], and the original minds and lives of both the ova and the spermatozoa cease to exist. But those ova and spermatozoa are selected to suit the purpose of this detached mind with its reactive momenta." (3)

Life starts with conception

Ananda Marga ideology states, "When an old man dies and a new babe takes a place and sits in a mother’s womb, we cannot find the link. And that’s why we say, “That old man has died.” This is also an ordinary change. Do you follow?" (4)

This quote indirectly affirms that life starts with conception. In one place, an old man dies, and in another place the old man comes back in the form of a living, breathing fetus. People cannot form a link or fathom that the same old man is now alive in the form of a fetus. The conclusion is that life starts at the time of conception - and grows from there.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com

Everyone holds their life dear

Here Baba guides that to be a true sadhaka we must follow the codes of yama and niyama including ahimsa and respect the rights of all living beings - even those of the unborn child. Everyone wants to survive and live their life; no one should put an end to this inherent desire by aborting unborn babies.

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Have mercy on all living beings."

Práńáh yathátmano’bhiiśt́áh bhútánám api te tathá;
Atmaopamyena bhútánám dayáḿ kurvanti sádhavah.

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Just as your life is extremely dear to you, similarly the lives of others are equally dear to them. A person who thinks thus and shows mercy on other creatures is really a sa'dhu, or virtuous person."  (5)

Should not destroy your future

Ananda Margiis should not destroy their future by involving in the heinous and deplorable act of abortion. The point is, regardless of who you are, whether a doctor, an expecting mother, or the biological father, in all cases to choose the dark ways of abortion is to invite a serious black cloud in the future.
http://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com

Beware: Every action begets a reaction. Harming and killing an unborn babe is the equivalent of murder (unpardonable sin), and one will have to undergo that very negative samskara. By being aware of Baba's guideline on abortion, we can save ourselves from such heinous reactions in the future.

So all should be aware - make the right choices in life - and stay clear from abortion. By that way one can ensure that their future remains bright. That is the policy of Ananda Marga. To go against it by aborting babies is to invite all kinds of problems and suffering.

Setting legislation for the abortion of deformed or developmentally disabled babes in the womb is by no means ideal, rather harmful.

References
1. A Few Problems Solved - 6, The Three Causes of Sin
2. Idea & Ideology: Life, Death, & Samskara
3. Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 3, Ghosts and Evil Spirits
4. Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 33, Brahmacakra
5. Yoga Psychology, 'Instinct & Devotion'

*        *        *

The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.

*        *        *

== Section 2: Important Teaching ==

How protozoic & metazoic mind functions

   Ananda Marga ideology states, “The protozoic minds are guided by instinct only. The protozoic mind is citta only, with no development of ahaḿ[tattva] or mahattattva. Ingesting food, supporting offspring – this is all done instinctively, according to their svabháva [spontaneously], the reasons being quite unknown to those creatures. The earthworm does not know that it is an earthworm. It moves instinctively, spontaneously, according to its undeveloped mind. The protozoic minds and the protozoic microcosm can be said to be the physical mind. A protozoic creature has only physical mind. The collection of protozoic minds in the human can be said to be the physical mind of the human, known as the [kámamaya kośa]. It is guided by instinct, there is no discrimination.”
   “But the metazoic mind moves with some intellect, or discrimination, as there has been some development of intellect in it. Hence the metazoic mind has control over the protozoic mind. The more the metazoic mind is developed in a creature, the more developed the creature is; that is, a metazoic structure will be more complicated. And where this complication has increased considerably, that physical structure is the human physical structure.” (1)

Note: Living cells act according to instinct because of their protozoic mind. There are many organs in the human body such as the kidneys and the liver. These organs have a more developed mind, i.e. metazoic mind. So long as the kidneys and liver are in a greater structure like an animal or a human they will do their job. That is why doctors are able to perform kidney and liver transplants from one human body to another. So the metazoic mind controls the protozoic mind. And, in the human structure, both the protozoic mind and the metazoic mind comes under the domain of the unit human mind.

Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Knowledge and Progress

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Brahma is the Guru

Ananda Marga philosophy says: "...Trtiiyam' Gurupu'janam."

The third point of success is 'reverence to Guru'.

Our Guru is Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, and as His disciples we hold great reverence towards Him. That's why we don't shake hands with or do just simple namaskar to Guru. Nor do we do pranam to Him by touching the feet.

Disciples always give maximum reverence by doing sastaunga pranam. Sastaunga pranam is only for Guru, and Guru alone. No one else. Such is the greatness of Guru - He is unparalleled.

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "The one formless, beginningless and infinite Parama Brahma (Supreme Consciousness) is the only entity to be attained by living beings-- That alone is Jagat Guru (the Supreme preceptor), That alone has revealed Brahmavidya (intuitional science) to us through the medium of the name and form of Anandamurtijii. Unit beings must be made to appreciate Its majesty." (Caryacarya - II, Sadhana, pt# 1a)

And in Ananda Sutram, Baba has given:

"Brahmaeva gururekah na'parah" (2)

That means, Guru is Brahma. He is everything.

References
1. Caryacarya - II, Sadhana, pt# 1a
2. Ananda Sutram 3 - 9

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Money & Margii

The Supreme Command states, "...Every Ananda Margii will have to perform sadhana twice a day invariably; verily is this the command of the Lord..." (1)

Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "Dharma is the assemblage of all your conduct” – the way you eat, the way you speak, the way you perform sa'dhana'. If your conduct is good, dharma is with you; if your conduct is not good, dharma is not with you. And if dharma is not with you, what comes about is your sarvana'sha, or sarva'tmaka vina'sha – that is, your physical, mental, and spiritual ruin....Conduct is the principal factor in dharma.” Be a sadácárii, a person of good conduct, and you will surely attain Paramátman." (2)

Note: If one donates 2% of their income to Ananda Marga service projects then it does not mean that they are therefore an Ananda Margii. Donating money or paying tithes also does not make one an Ananda Margii. To be a dharmika (an Ananda Margii), one’s lifestyle should be wholly consistent with the ideals of Ananda Marga, i.e. bhagavad dharma. Those who give money and live a different sort of life can be thought of as sympathizers, but not as dharmikas, i.e. as Ananda Margiis.

Greatest donor

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The most important point to consider is who has utilized his or her ability and to what extent. Hanuman [the mighty monkey, a bhakta of Rama in the mythological epic the Rámáyańa] fetched huge boulders to build a bridge across the sea, while the squirrels collected small pebbles. Yet intrinsically both these actions have the same value. We have no right to question anybody's sincerity, nor can we scoff at it. We cannot give more appreciation to those who have not utilized their potentialities properly but have done more work than to those who have fully utilized their talents." (3)

References
1. The Supreme Command
2. Subhasita Samgraha - 21, Niiti and Dharma
3. Human Society - part 1, Social Justice

== Section: Important Teaching ==

Careful: these greens are tamasik

Here Baba guides us that the red, leafy puin shak (vegetable) is "bad for the mind" and hence tamasik.

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Some of you have possibly seen that there is a creeping leafy vegetable plant called puiṋ shák [Indian spinach] … slightly wild, and its leaves are small and blackish. This kind of puiṋ is called buno puiṋ [wild variety]. Although its nutritional value is as good as that of any other puiṋ, it is not good for patients suffering from acidity. Although all kinds of puiṋ have more or less the same qualities, it is the white puiṋ or puiṋ with light green large leaves that is relatively easy to digest. The wild puiṋ is bad for acidity, as the red puiṋ is bad for the mind." (1)

This red, leafy vegetable (puin shake) is found throughout Asia and is sold around the globe in Asian vegetable markets. However, as Ananda Margiis, we should not ingest puiṋ shak as it is tamasik.

Why tamasik

The key point to keep in mind is that it grew out of rotten matter. So, although many communities treat this as a good leafy vegetable, but, for Ananda Margiis, red puiṋ shak is tamasik and should therefore be strictly avoided. This is commonly missed because sadhakas think that every leafy vegetable is sentient, but that is not true. Red puin shak is one such example of a tamasik leafy green.

Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Static food: Food which is harmful for the mind and may or may not be good for the body is static. Onion, garlic, wine, stale and rotten food, meat of large animals such as cows and buffaloes, fish, eggs, etc., are static. Very often people eat food without knowing its intrinsic qualities. For example, the milk of a cow which has just given birth. Or white eggplant, khesárii pulse [horse gram], red puni [Basella rubra Linn.], or mustard leaves, all of which often grew out of rotten matter. In order to have a balanced mind and to progress spiritually, human beings will have to pay attention to the qualities of the food they eat. The idea that “I will just do my sádhaná and eat any food, proper or improper” will not do." (2)

Ananda Marga ideology states, "Suppose a physician says, “As a human, you require animal protein for your health;” but suppose dharma says, “No, a human should not take carnal food;” then in that case you will have to follow dharma and not the physician, because the order of dharma is above all other orders. Dharma is the highest Lord, the highest authority." (3)

Spelling

It should also be noted that in our Ananda Marga books, it is spelled two different ways:
(1) Puiṋ
(2) Puni

The first spelling is correct, i.e. puiṋ, and that is the way it is spelled in the above quote. The second listing - i.e. puni - is not correct. That is not the proper spelling, yet it is written that way in some of our publications. See the below quote as an example.

Here in the below photo both varieties are shown. The red is tamasika and the green is sentient. 

References
1. Shabda Cayanika - 4, Disc: 24, pt #33
2. Ananda Marga Philosophy In A Nutshell: Food, Cells, Physical and Mental Development
3. Subhasita Samgraha - 21, Jaeva Dharma and Bhágavata Dharma

== Section: Comment ==

Re: How occult powers are harmful

BABA

Namaskar, Surjit,

This applies not just to what we think of occult powers, but all gifts of sadhana. Sadhana can give great energy, ideas, a lot of power in all sorts of ways. Westerners, particularly, with a materialistic mind, think,"Oh, I will do this. I will learn to meditate. Then it will give me xyz." The bhakta looks at this another way. All the gifts of sadhana are colors of the mind to return back to Paramaparusha. One does not meditate to get anything. Rather, the bhakta does sadhana only to give. It is service to Him. 

Freedom from the noose of all powers comes when we recognize that all our actions are for Him and done by Him, this, through our love as devotees. Ego wants powers. Crush the ego and give back to God all the powers. 

in Him,

Bhaskar

- Here is a link to the initial letter on this topic: How occult powers are harmful

== Section 3: Links ==

Important News Update

Kinshuk ji becomes football - 9

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2026/10/kinshuk-ji-becomes-football-9.html

Dogma of Mahaprayan - Oct 21 - 26

#36: Dressed in disguise 

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2015/10/masquerading-4-more.html

#35: Against sheltering in Him

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2019/08/it-became-religion-2-more.html

#34: Point of Preceptor

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2015/01/longevity-of-ananda-marga-threatened.html

#33: Mahaprayan ghat: burial place for ordinary people

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2014/09/mahaprayan-of-humans-rajendra-prasad.html

#32: Emulating death of Muslim man + Sneaky hypocrisy

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2014/10/marhum-habibur-rahmans-mahaprayan.html

#31: Songs of longing, not God of death

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2017/01/are-there-mpd-songs-in-prabhat-samgiita.html

#30: One lady's mahaprayan

• https://anandamarganewsbulletin.blogspot.com/2014/09/womans-mahaprayan-anti-baba-anti-marga.html