22/04/2012

What Is Dogma?



Our subject of discussion yesterday was action, the reaction of action, and doership.(1) In that connection, I explained what Parama Puruśa can do: what are the actions He performs directly and what are the actions He gets done through His agents. In this context a fundamental question arises – what are the steps Parama Puruśa adopts to redeem so-called sinners? People say that when sinners and evil-doers come under the shelter of Parama Puruśa, they attain salvation. Now if people can be redeemed from sin, intellectuals may naturally ask a question: “How to attain that salvation?”



You all know that the most detrimental thing for human society and human progress is dogma. What is dogma? Where there is no logic, where there is no support of intellectuality, where there is no debate and free discussion, but there is only a severe imposition forcing people to accept something, there is dogma. What type of people preach this sort of dogma? The answer is: the blind followers of religion. It is quite natural for the followers of religion to say all kinds of dogmatic things. That is why people say that there is no room for logic in religion. But genuine dharma is completely based on logic and supported by intellectuality. In the case of dharma, people are convinced by logic; and people analyse and accept it after free and frank discussion and accordingly start moving in the path of life. The question is: how can people follow something which is not properly understood by them? And another question is: can one get redemption from sins, or not? It is said:

Nábhuktaḿ kśiiyate karma kalpakot́ishataerapi;
Avashyameva bhoktavyaḿ krtaḿ karma shubháshubham.

“Unless one undergoes the requitals of one’s mental reactive momenta – good requitals to good actions, bad requitals to bad actions – one cannot attain liberation.” Avashyameva bhoktavyaḿ krtaḿ karma shubháshubham – “whether an action is good or bad, the reaction must be experienced.” Then, if one is bound to undergo a bad reaction to a bad action, how can one hope to be redeemed from sin, because we already know that the reactions of sins must be required? But Lord Krśńa declared, by way of consoling human beings: “However durácárii or sudurácárii a person may be, if he or she comes under My shelter I will certainly save him or her from all sins. I will help him or her to attain liberation or salvation.” Here durácárii means a sinner, a person whose actions are opposed to ideology, whose thoughts and activities are opposed to morality, justice and the spirit of dharma. And sudurácarii means a person whom even the durácáriis consider a sinner, and whose company they will try to avoid.

Are not these two things self-contradictory? On the one side it is said that one must reap the consequences of actions, and on the other side people are advised to take the shelter of Parama Puruśa to attain salvation. Is this also a dogma?

This is a knotty question indeed. Now the question is, who performs action? It is the human mind which performs action.

Mana eva manuśyáńáḿ kárańaḿ bandhamokśayoh;
Bandhasya viśayásaungii mukto nirviśayaḿ tathá.

Mano karoti karmáńi mano lipyate pátako;
Manashca tanmaná buddhayá na puńyaḿ na ca pátako.

“It is the human mind which is the cause of bondage or liberation. If the mind is in bondage, the person is also in bondage. Similarly, if the mind is liberated the person is also liberated. After all, it is the human mind which engages in auspicious actions. Now, if this mind is kept engrossed in the ideation of Parama Puruśa, then it gets totally merged in Consciousness. In that case, where is the scope for virtue or vice for that person?”

If an ordinary sinner or a confirmed sinner remains absorbed in the thought of Parama Puruśa to the exclusion of all other thoughts, then his or her mind becomes pointed. This is called agryábuddhi [pinnacled intellect] in Sanskrit. In that state of mind the spiritual aspirant gets well established in pinnacled intellect. Unless and until the ordinary human intellect is elevated to the level of pinnacled intellect or apexed intellect, the continuous rise and fall of innumerable vibrations within one’s existence continues. These psychic vibrations are sometimes the vibrations of virtue, sometimes the vibrations of vice, sometimes the vibrations of the reaction of sinful deeds, sometimes of virtuous deeds. Unless the human mind is pointed, this rise and fall of antagonistic psychic vibrations will go on. The moment the mind is centred on Parama Puruśa, then that mind will naturally become pointed. In that state there is no scope for the rise and fall of any wave – neither the wave of virtue nor the wave of vice. Thus it is said that when a spiritual aspirant is established in pinnacled intellect, there cannot be any question of virtue and vice. A person who has taken the Cosmic shelter goes far above the scope of virtue or vice. This is something very natural.


And thus so-called sinners and evil-doers should not be worried at all. Krśńa has rightly said, “If even a diehard criminal comes in My shelter, I will save him or her from all sins; I will see to it that the person attains liberation or salvation. Hence no one, no spiritual aspirant – however black or despicable one’s past life might be – should be worried about anything.” This statement of Parama Puruśa is unalterable, inviolable. This statement is neither a philosophical assertion nor any dogma. Then what sort of statement is it? It is clear and simple. It conveys the idea that human beings should not be anxious under any circumstances, Parama Puruśa is always with everyone. If one has love for Parama Puruśa, the door of liberation or salvation will immediately open.

Footnotes

(1) “Karma, Karmaphala o Kartrttva” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 19. –Eds.
     P. R. Sarkar/16 May 1980, Varanasi 

21/04/2012

MORTE DO SENHOR KR'SNA:


Esta história aconteceu muito antes dos primeiros dias de AM quando dada Para'sattya'nandaji estava muito próximo de Ba'ba'. Ele costumava visitar Ba'ba' para fazer massagem. Em uma dessas ocasiões, quando ele estava massageando um local escuro   no pé direito de Ba'ba', Ba'ba' chamou a atenção de Dada. Dada Não encontrando nenhuma razão para este fato, já que ele sabia que Ba'ba' nunca andava descalço em lugares com espinhos. Por curiosidade Dada perguntou a Ba'ba' a razão para este problema local. Ba'ba' evitou este assunto, dizendo que não era muito importante falar deste assunto. A curiosidade de  dada tornou-se maior e este insistiu novamente para Ba'ba' para dizer a razão, Ba'ba' novamente quiz evitar o assunto, dizendo que esta é uma longa história e que assim não há necessidade de ser mencionada. Dada novamente mais fortemente insistiu em saber a história. Então finalmente Baba narrou a história.


Cerca de 3.500 anos atrás, quando a guerra do Maha'bha'rata havia acabado e a idade de Shrii Krs'na era de 80 anos, em um determinado momento, ele tinha um compromisso para encontrar Arjuna em um determinado lugar na floresta. Ele estava descansando debaixo de uma árvore ao lado de uma lagoa em seu Laliita Mudra "(colocando um pé sobre outro pé) enquanto esperava por  Arjuna. Naquele tempo ao Seu ambos lados estavam dois Avadhutas. Ba'ba 'comentou que Shrii Krs'n'a tinha doze Avadhutas. Um caçador estava passando por alí e confundiu os bonitos´pés de Shrii Krs'n'a com um animal e atirou uma flexa envenenada visando Seus pés, a qual ficou presa no pé de Shrii Krs'n'a. Devido a reação do veneno Seu corpo ficou adoentado  e tornou-se de cor azulada. Ambos os Avadhutas que estavam com ele ficaram chocados. Shrii Krs'n'a os acalmou e disse-lhes que a qualquer momento Arjuna chegaria mas Ele não seria capaz de manter-se vivo até Arjuna chegar. Então... que Ele queria deixar com eles três mensagens para Arjuna. Nesse meio tempo, o caçador ficou  profundamente pesaroso após conhecer seu erro e pediu desculpas ao Senhor Krs'n'a. O Senhor Krs'n'a perdoou o caçador, dizendo que ele fez isso sem querer e que ele não iria adquirir qualquer pecado para esta ação. Então, as três mensagens para serem levadas a Arjuna pelos avadhutas eram, 1) Arjuna certamente será perturbado ao ouvir esta notícia, mas ele não deve prejudicar o caçador. 2) Seu corpo deve ser cremado para não ser enterrado. 3) A terceira instrução era  política em algum aspecto e seria para mudar uma determinada população de Dwaraka para Mathura. 
Os dois Avadhutas que estavam com Shrii Krs'n'a pediram-lhes para Ele não deixar Seu corpo até Arjuna chegar, mas Ele recusou e deixou Seu corpo. Quando Arjuna chegou, ele tornou-se extremamente pesaroso e com o coração partido. Arjuna tinha orgulho de seu comando em sua Ga'nd'iiva e sua excelência na ciência do tiro com arco. Ao realizar a terceira instrução de mudar as pessoas acima mencionadas a partir de Dwa'raka 'para Mathura ", ele foi preso por quarda-florestais. Então, seu Ga'nd'iiva e conhecimento de tiro com arco não poderiam fazer qualquer miráculo.  Então ele percebeu que tudo estava sendo feito por Shrii Krs'n'a mesmo. Ele era como um fantoche nas mãos de Shrii Krs'n'a. A entrega suprema ocorreu na sua mente. Ele percebeu que Shrii Krs'n'a não era apenas seu amigo, mas sim Paramapurusa. 
Ba'ba', então, perguntou ao dada Para'sattya'nandaji - " Você vai chorar também quando eu for?" Dada respondeu: "Ba'ba', não fale assim. Você estará conosco para sempre." "Não, não é possível, um dia vou ter que ir também." Dada  expressa  a Ba'ba' que ele não gostaria de ver esta cena. Ba'ba' confirmando com ele, diz - "Você não vai ver isso." 
Anos depois.
Em 26 de outubro de 1990 Dada Parasattyanandaji estava em uma parte remota de sua diocese (Sagar no estado de MP). Após o café da manhã, viu o jornal, que dizia: "O fundador da AM Shrii Shrii A'nandamurti faleceu e seus últimos ritos serão realizados hoje". Foi chocante para ele. Ele por telefone confirmou que as  notícias eram de partir o coração. Ele correu para Kalika'ta 'e confirmou que tudo havia terminado e que mesmo Suas cinzas já haviam sido recolhidas. Ele ficou furioso com os trabalhadores do escritório central por não informá-lo e estava irritado com eles. Mas, de repente, ele se retirou da luta e ficou em silêncio. Porque ele se lembrou de Suas palavras - "Você não vai ver isso."


LORD KR'SNA'S DEATH:
This story happened long before in those early days of A.M. when dada Para'sattya'nandaji was very close to Ba'ba'. He used to visit Ba'ba' for massaging. In one such occasion when he was massaging Ba'ba' one dark spot on Baba's right foot drew Dada's attention. Dada could not find any reason for this spot as he knew that Baba never walk bare footed on thorny places. Out of curiosity Dada asked Ba'ba' the reason for this spot. Ba'ba' avoided this topic by telling that it was not very important to know. Dada's curiosity became stronger and insisted again to Baba to tell the reason, Baba again wanted to avoid by telling it's a long story so no need to mention. Dada again more strongly insisted to know the story. Then finally Baba narrated the story.

About 3500 years ago after the Maha'bha'rata war was over when Shrii Krs'na's age was 80 years at a particular moment He had an appointment to meet Arjuna at a particular place in the forest. He was resting under a tree beside a pond in His Laliita Mudra' (placing a foot on another foot) while waiting for Arjuna to come. At that time by His both sides were two Avadhutas. Ba'ba' commented that Shrii Krs'n'a had twelve Avadhutas.

A hunter was passing by who mistook the beautiful feet of Shrii Krs'n'a to be an animal and shot poisonous arrow which struck Shrii Krs'n'a's feet. Out of the reaction of the poison, His Body became affected and trurned bluish. Both the Avadhutas who were with Him were shocked. Shrii Krs'n'a calmed them down and told them that at any moment Arjuna will come and He will not be able to maintain His Body before his arrival. So he wanted to leave three messages for Arjuna with them. In the mean time the hunter was in deep grief after knowing his blunder and apologized to Lord Krs'n'a. Lord Krs'n'a forgave the hunter by telling that he did it unknowingly and he will not acquire any sin for this action.

So, the three message for Arjuna to be conveyed by the Avadhutas were: 1)Arjuna will certainly be disturbed to hear this news but he should not harm the hunter. 2)His Body should be cremated and not to be buried. 3)Third instruction was on some political aspect to shift a particular population from Dwaraka to Mathura.

The two Avadhutas who were with Shrii Krs'n'a requested Him not to leave His Body until Arjuna comes but He refused and left His Body.

When Arjuna arrived he became extremely distressed and broken hearted.

Arjuna had ego of his command on his Ga'nd'iiva and his excellency in the science of archery. While carrying out the third instruction of shifting the the above mentioned people from Dwa'raka' to Mathura', he was arrested by the forest revels. Then his Ga'nd'iiva and knowledge of archery could not do any miracle.Then only he realized that everything was being done by Shrii Krs'n'a Himself. He was just like a puppet in the hands of Shrii Krs'n'a. The supreme surrender came in to his mind. He realised his friend Shrii Krs'n'a was none but Paramapurusa.

Ba'ba' then asked Dada Para'sattya'nandaji, "will you also cry when I leave?"
Dada replied, "Ba'ba', don't talk like this. You will be with us forever."
"No, it is not possible, one day I shall have to leave also."
Dada expressed to Ba'ba' that he would not like to see that scene.
Ba'ba' complemented to him, "You won't see that."

Years latter
26th October, 1990 Dada Parasattyanandaji was in a remote part of his diocese (Sagar in MP State). After his breakfast he saw the newspaper which says, "The founder of AM Shrii Shrii A'nandamurti has passed away and His last rites are due today"
It was shocking for him. He telephonically confirmed that heart breaking news. He rushed to Kalika'ta' to find that everything finished, even His ashes were carried away. He became furious on the Central workers for not informing him and he was fighting with them. But all of a sudden he withdrew himself from fighting and became silent. Because he remembered His words, "You won't see that."

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