Sádhaná Not Needed

From: tr sukul <trsukulsagar@...>
To:  Ananda Marga Discourses <anandamargadiscourses@sunlink.net>
Subject: Sádhaná́ Not Needed
Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2013 15:59:26 +0530 (06:29 EDT)

Bábá

Sádhaná Not Needed

Namaskára,

Discourse Goes Against Bábá's Teachings

I am writing in about a discourse that contains a critical paragraph which goes completely against Bábá's teachings. (1) Bábá never said anything like what is printed here. The paragraph of concern is simply one unacceptable and outrageous distortion.

Bábá teaches that so long as one is alive one will have to do sádhaná́ twice a day. At the time of death, Paramátmá helps those to get mukti who did not exhaust all their saḿskáras, if they were doing sádhaná́ twice a day until the time of death. But not doing sádhaná́ twice a day AND getting mukti—this is against Bábá's teachings.

Indeed, this is the speciality of Ánanda Má́rga: all Ánanda Má́rgiis know that Parama Puruśa is Hari and Hari steals the devotee's sins. But we also know—indeed the teaching is found throughout Bábá's discourses—that this stealing of sins does not happen unless one is trying to do sádhaná regularly.

Yet the Kolkata Publishers quote Bábá as saying in this discourse that one “need not do sádhaná́ to get
mukti.” Such a blatant contravening of Supreme Command, and all Ánanda Má́rga fundamental principles.

Sádhaná́ Needed For Liberation

Here is Bábá's direct teaching about the necessity of sádhaná́ for getting liberation. It could not be more clear. The below is from the discourse, “Intuitional Practice and Its Necessity”—

“Intuitional practice (sádhaná́) has to be learned from a great preceptor (sadguru), and emancipation is obtained by its systematic practice. Nothing can be achieved by merely depending on the preceptor without carrying out intuitional practice (sádhaná́). Everyone should carry out intuitional practice. Emancipation is not possible without it.” (2)

So here Bábá very clearly makes the point that Emancipation is not possible without intuitional practice. One will have to do sádhaná́ twice a day to get liberation. In other words: Not doing sádhaná́ twice a day AND getting mukti—this is against Bábá's teachings.

As Ánanda Má́rgiis we know that Parama Puruśa graces His devotees and He can do anything. Bábá has given in so many Prabhá́ta Saḿgiita songs that Parama Puruśa can make the rivers flow in the reverse direction and He can make flowers bloom from stones. But one thing He does not do is steal sins and grace with mukti when someone has not done sádhaná at all in their life.

As Baba says in the above quote, “Everyone should carry out intuitional practice. Emancipation is not possible without it.” (2)

By Reading Discourse, People Will Think Sádhaná Not Needed

If such misleading distortions are allowed to remain, those reading our books may wonder why such an arduous task as sádhaná́ is even needed. After all, as it says in our own books, one can get liberation without it. All Ánanda Márgiis can easily understand the urgent need to correct distortions such as these in our scripture.

Respectfully,

Dr T R Sukul


Note 1. The discourse is “The Dialogues of Shiva and Párvatii – 4”, and has been printed in Ánanda Vacanámrtam English Part 23, Discourses on Tantra Volume Two, and Supreme Expression Volume 1. It is claimed that the discourse was given by Bábá on 8 October 1967, Aurangabad.

Note 2. “Intuitional Practice and Its Necessity.” Ánanda Márga: Elementary Philosophy. 1955.

From the Moderators:

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Note 5. Click here to see the full discourse, “The Dialogues of Shiva and Párvatii – 4” as printed by Tiljala Publications.