From: Bhakti <bhakti@ren....>
To: Ananda Marga Discourses <anandamargadiscourses@sunlink.net>
Subject: Another Blunder: Contradictory Discourses Due to Publications Mistake
Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2015 13:21:49 +0530
BABA
Another Blunder: Contradictory Discourses Due to Publications Mistake
This issue is complex so study carefully in order to understand. It is especially difficult for those who feel sympathy for the beliefs of the semitic religions. But for all those fully aware about Neohumanism, this subject will not be difficult.
Namaskar,
Please pay attention to the following two quotes - one highlighted in yellow and one in green. These quotes are both from our AM books, but, unfortunately, the yellow quote contradicts the green quote, and vice-versa.
In the semitic religions, it is the rule that what you wish your neighbor should do for you, that very thing you should do for your neighbor. So it is a kind of business. You are anticipating that the neighbor may steal from your house if you steal from his; in order to prevent this you refrain from stealing from him.
Or in another example, you want that your neighbor should help you in your difficult time. And now he is in difficulty, so you are helping him with that motive. But the Neohumanistic or sadhu mentality is that the neighbor is in trouble; my duty is to help him. I don’t think on i.e. am not concerned for, what he may or may not do for me in the future. But rather, I feel he is mine, I feel he is my own brother and so I must help him--his suffering is my suffering. See that there is a vast difference between both A and B feelings. [The A feeling is that of the Semitic religions and is found unfortunately in the below yellow quote from one AM book. The B feeling is that of Neohumanism, and is expressed in the below green quote from another AM book.]
The proper definition of sádhu according to Baba is, one who--- looks at others as one's own, and has feelings of sympathy and kindness for them, is a sádhu. But the below yellow quote says just the opposite. The gist of the below quote is, if you want that the neighbor should not steal from your house, then you yourself should not steal from his. Everybody knows that this is the religious dogma of a particular religion. It has nothing to do with Ananda Marga. Please see below the yellow quote, which expresses the defective idea: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”
Yellow is False, Green is Correct
QUOTE #1: The following is printed in AV23, “Dharma Is Your Real Friend”: “Sádhu really means “one who abides by dharma”. Lord Krśńa says [in effect]: ‘Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.’ That is, whatever is required by me may also be required by others. This consideration for others is dharma, and one who acts like this is a sádhu.” (1)
That concludes the yellow quote; now see the green quote.
The proper definition of sadhu according to Baba is, one who--- looks at others as one's own, and has feelings of sympathy and kindness for them, is a sádhu.
QUOTE #2: The following is printed in Discourses on Krsna and the Giita, “Why Does Supreme Consciousness Descend“, “Every living being's own life is the dearest life to that being. Just as my own life is dear to me, so is the life of others dear to them. One who knows the truth and looks at others as one's own, and has feelings of sympathy and kindness for them, is a sádhu.” (2)
That concludes the green quote. Now see the conclusion.
Conclusion
[A] The quote - highlighted above in yellow - paints an “I” centered worldview. The beholder of such a worldview performs good deeds only because he wants the same to be returned back. People with such a worldview are unable to think about the true welfare of others.
[B] The quote - highlighted above in green - projects the idea of Neohumanism. A Neohumanist considers all other beings as his cosmic sibling. The sentiment for cosmic brotherhood causes a Neohumanist to have sympathy for all, be it other humans, animals, plants, or even inanimate objects. Such a sentiment is centered towards the “Cosmic I.”
[C] Hence, the above yellow and green quotes from two different AM books, are contradicting each other. The yellow quote states that one only need to perform good deeds with the motivation that it will be returned to him; and that such an approach qualifies one to be a sádhu. On the other hand, the green quote states that one performs good deeds because he feels a oneness and thereby a sense of sympathy with others. Such a person will not think about what the next person is going to do for him; just he will simply serve those around with Neohumanistic sentiment. So unfortunately, the yellow quote contradicts the green quote, and vice-versa.
In the semitic religions, it is the rule that what you wish your neighbor should do for you, that very thing you should do for your neighbor. So it is a kind of business. You are anticipating that the neighbor may steal from your house if you steal from his; in order to prevent this you refrain from stealing from him.
Or in another example, you want that your neighbor should help you in your difficult time. And now he is in difficulty, so you are helping him with that motive. But the Neohumanistic or sadhu mentality is that the neighbor is in trouble; my duty is to help him. I don’t think on i.e. am not concerned for, what he may or may not do for me in the future. But rather, I feel he is mine, I feel he is my own brother and so I must help him--his suffering is my suffering. See that there is a vast difference between both A and B feelings. [The A feeling is that of the Semitic religions and is found unfortunately in the above yellow quote from one AM book. The B feeling is that of Neohumanism, and is expressed in the above green quote from another AM book.]
So, the yellow quote is wrong. It is not our Ananda Marga philosophy. It is of the semitic religions, and has nothing to do with ananda Marga. But unfortunately it has been placed in our Ananda Marga published discourse, and that is wrong.
Every margii knows that Lord Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji never speaks anything that is contradictory.
Bear in mind, our Ananda Marga books are sold openly in the public market; when non-margiis read this blunder they will not have great respect for Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. That is unfortunate and pathetic.
Namaskar,
at His lotus feet,
Bhakti
Note 1: The two worst things to ruin a book
Here are the two worst things anyone can do to any chapter or book:
#1: Spoil that chapter or book by making it self-contradictory;
#2: When due to sloppiness such a contradiction has been injected into the text, readers will think the writer does not know the subject matter.
These fatal flaws in our Ananda Marga literature are the direct result of the sloppiness and carelessness of Tiljla publications Dept. They are inexcusable. By these blunders, they have ruined the status of Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji.
To Know in Depth--
If you want to know the detail about the above discussion, then please read below.
The overall idea of the green quote is that of neo-humanism as propounded by Bábá. According to Neohumanism, a sádhu is the one who has an intimate relationship with everyone because he considers all as his brother and sister. This feeling comes naturally to a sádhu because for a sádhu, Parama Purus’a is the progenitor of the whole universe and therefore all the members of the universe are His progeny. A sádhu performs good deeds because of his feeling of sympathy and kindness and not because he would like others to return the favor.
Note 2: If you do not have the book or discourse...
If you do not have the concerned book or discourses related with this topic then kindly write us and we will provide the concerning chapter(s) to you. Also, if any aspect of this topic is unclear, then please write us.
Bring 4-5 lines of each quote and color the relevant part, to give one bigger perspective.
References:
1. AV23, “Dharma Is Your Real Friend”
2. Discourses on Krsna and the Giita, “Why Does Supreme Consciousness Descend? “