To: ananda-marga-discourses-2@yogasamsthanam.net
Subject: Download Baba's Voice: Publication Blunder in Tattva Kaomudii
Date: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 16:58:33 +0000
Baba
DOWNLOAD BABA'S VOICE:
PUBLICATION BLUNDER IN TATTVA KAOMUDII
PUBLICATION BLUNDER IN TATTVA KAOMUDII
Namaskar,
It is so unfortunate the mistakes in Baba's books are rampant. Up till now Publications could not properly print Guru's discourses in book form. The errors and distortions are pervasive.
This letter examines one such critical error on a vital and foundational point of Ananda Marga ideology.
THREE CRITERIA NEEDED TO BE THEIST
ONE IS NOT ENOUGH
ONE IS NOT ENOUGH
In one historic discourse from 1979 - (see note 2 for sound file) - Baba clearly outlines the requisite factors that define who is a theist, i.e. who is a believer in God.
Baba pointedly states that there are three criteria that need to be fulfilled. If all three are fulfilled then and only then is one a theist - otherwise not.
But the publishers have printed in Tattva Kaomudii and AM Philosophy in A Nutshell - 3 that having one criteria is enough. Yet, Baba's original audio file (see note 2) outlines how all three are needed.
THREE VS ONE
Here are those three qualifications needed to be a theist as given by Sadguru Baba.
A theist is one who accepts:
1. Jiivatma (unit consciousness)
2. Paramatama (supreme consciousness)
3. Veda (spiritual knowledge of how the jiivatma moves towards Paramatma)
Essentially, one must believe in the concept of unit consciousness - i.e. that each and every unit being has a mind and and soul. That is the first criteria.
Secondly, one must believe in the concept and existence of an all-pervading Supreme Consciousness that maintains a personal link with every unit being, as well as with the creation as a whole.
Thirdly, one must accept and understand the basic tenet of spiritual philosophy that by sadhana and His divine grace a unit being may move towards and ultimately merge into the Supreme Being.
According to Baba, all three criteria must be met in order for one to be considered a theist. Merely meeting one or two of the factors will not suffice. All three are required; then one is a theist, i.e. a believer in God. That is Baba's teaching and that is what is expressed in the sound file.
BOOK IS WRONG:
THEY PRINTED THAT ONE CRITERIA IS ENOUGH TO BE A THEIST
THEY PRINTED THAT ONE CRITERIA IS ENOUGH TO BE A THEIST
Unfortunately, in Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell part 3 Question & Answer discourse, the Publications Dept made a gross and significant error on this point about who is a theist.
Because in that book it states that only one of the aforementioned factors are required:
"Q. 35 – Who should be called an atheist (nástika)?"
"Ans.: – Those who do not believe in Consciousness (Atman), Supreme Consciousness (Paramátman) or Vedas are atheists. Those who believe in any one of them may be called theists." (Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell Part 3, Some Questions and Answers on Ananda Marga Philosophy #35, 1988)
(A scan of the full section is appended
below.)
So here in this printed discourse, the Publishers indicate that only one of the three qualifications is needed to be a theist. They claim that if one believes only in unit consciousness (atman), or if one believes only in Supreme Consciousness (Paramatman), or if one only accepts the vedas (spiritual philosophy), then that is sufficient for being a theist. Yet such a premise clearly violates the divine guideline Baba has given in a discourse in 1979 where He explains in great details about why all three factors are needed to be a theist – not just one.
Due to their negligence and gross error, the Publications team makes it look like Ananda Marga philosophy is by definition self-contradictory, and that Baba says one thing in one discourse and another thing in another discourse. Such is the effect of this blunder by the Publications Dept.
As Ananda Margiis, we know that Baba'a divine teachings of Ananda Marga philosophy are wholly consistent in all regards. There is no point of contradiction. It all fits together clearly and cohesively.
Only the books are wrong. And it is incumbent upon the Publications Dept to revise its procedures so the books are printed properly.
OLD PUBLISHING MISTAKES ARE CARRIED OVER INTO NEW BOOKS
Actually, we should all understand the greater history as that shows what a serious and systemic problem this is.
The above error printed in Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 3 (1988) is actually a reprinting of the same discourse printed in Tattva Kaomudii part 1 (1958).
So this is the very grave concern: That old publishing mistakes are carried over into new books. This is not an isolated circumstance. There are innumerable examples where the same publishing errors are printed over and over again.
VERY GRAVE ISSUE:
CORE OF OUR ANANDA MARGA PHILOSOPHY
CORE OF OUR ANANDA MARGA PHILOSOPHY
Bear in mind that here we are not talking about superficial aspects of presentation, but rather gross errors that distort the very core of our Ananda Marga philosophy.
Ananda Marga ideology is itself a God-centered philosophy. So clearly defining who is a theist holds great bearing on the preaching and propagation of Ananda Marga ideals.
FACADE WILL NOT HELP
So this is a vital point and when Baba has firmly declared and logically proven why three factors - 1. Jiivatma (unit consciousness) 2. Paramatama (supreme consciousness) 3. Veda (spiritual knowledge) - are needed to be a theist, then that should be clearly noted in our scripture.
So when those in Publications are printing books with gross errors and oversights that undermine Baba's teaching on such vital points, then that is a grave and serious matter that must be addressed.
Indeed, no one can say this is a small or outlying point. This is a very central aspect of Ananda Marga philosophy as those Publications Dept made a blatant and glaring error that misrepresents Baba's divine teachings. Merely creating a facade or sheen that all our books are proper will not work.
Namaskar,
In Him,
Renu Chakraborty
Note 1: HERE IS THE PROOF
OF WRONGLY PRINTED DISCOURSE
"Q. 35 – Who should be called an atheist (nástika)?"
"Ans.: – Those who do not believe in Consciousness (Atman), Supreme Consciousness (Paramátman) or Vedas are atheists. Those who believe in any one of them may be called theists. Thus Christians, Muslims, Jews, Árya Samájists and Bráhma Samájists may all be called theists. Those who worship idols, those who symbolically offer various things such as sesame and holy water to satisfy the departed souls and those who call different peoples' fabricated stories “scriptures” should not be considered as genuine theists. Those people who follow certain religions and deny the existence of Paramátman, Átman and Vedas may also be called atheists." (Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell Part 3, Some Questions and Answers on Ananda Marga Philosophy #35, 1988)
Note 2: LISTEN TO THE SOUND FILE
If you listen to the sound file (click here) then this matter will be very clear. Because in that sound file from His original discourse, Baba pointedly outlines that three factor are need in order to be considered a theist.
A theist is one who accepts:
1. Jiivatma (unit consciousness)
2. Paramatama (supreme consciousness)
3. Veda (spiritual knowledge of how the jiivatma moves towards Paramatma)
Sound file link: http://anandamargadiscourses.blogspot.com/2014/07/addendum-sound-file-babas-voice.html
Note 3: MORE BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Actually, we should all understand the greater history as that shows what a serious and systemic problem this is.
The above error printed in Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell (1988) is actually a reprinting of the same discourse printed in Tattva Kaomudii part 1 (1958).
In between that time, Baba graciously delivered a completely different discourse in 1979 – link to sound file in note 2 above. And this discourse makes the matter extremely clear. But those in Publications did not pay heed to the topic. It seems they do not study Guru’s teachings.
Because when the afore cited Q & A discourse from Tattva Kaomudii part 1 was reprinted and published in Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell – 3, then the same mistake was carried over, i.e. that only one factor was needed to be a theist. Even though Baba clearly delivered a separate discourse in 1979 that describes in detail why all three factors are needed in order to be declared a theist.
So this is the very grave concern: That old publishing mistakes are carried over into new books. This is not an isolated circumstance. There are innumerable examples where the same publishing errors are printed over and over again.
