Author: bnkinfo
Every human being has to cross the turbulent sea of samskara to reach the Supreme Consciousness, the ultimate purpose of human life. When a person's individual samskaras are expressed, it may be pleasant or painful, depending on the nature of his past actions. Good actions reap pleasant reactions, bad actions unpleasant ones. Human beings really have no control over the operational process of samskara; that is the role of prakrti, the operational aspect of the Supreme Consciousness. Only the Guru has the capacity to lift a spiritual aspirant out of the eternal wheel of samskara - action-reaction-action-reaction in a continuous vicious cycle - that keeps the soul in perpetual bondage. The spiritual aspirants, on their part, should face the pleasant or painful manifestation of their samskaras with a calm, even mind, allowing them to exhaust themselves without affecting their mental peace. When all samskaras are completely exhausted, the Guru grants the gift of liberation to such...
When any new acarya had finished his or her training as a renunciate, Baba used to explain to them their duties, jurisdiction, and how to work in the field, before posting them to their respective areas. In addition, Baba used to appoint a senior monk or nun in the Central Office, who would give the posting orders to these new acaryas. I once posted a new dada in the Calcutta region. When I returned to the Central Office, Baba asked me about the new dada and whether he was happy with his new posting. I replied, "Yes, Baba, he is all right." After about one month, Baba again asked me about the same dada, whom I had recently posted. He asked me whether I had visited him again. I replied, "No, Baba." The moment I said 'no', Baba became furious. He ordered me to go immediately to meet him. There was a school at the place where dada was posted. But the school only had a few students. I went there as Baba instructed and met with the dada. The moment he saw me...
Once, I was massaging Baba at His Lake Gardens residence. I felt some scars on His body, one on His thigh and the other on His abdomen. I had never seen them before and wondered what caused them. As my fingers paused over those scars, He explained the reasons behind them. Baba was then less than eight years old. Some astrologers had predicted Baba's birth and future role, saying that He had come solely to re-establish dharma and a universal society on this planet. This meant that the established religions, which divided humanity into separate compartments, would have to give way to this new, universal ideology. This prediction struck fear in the hearts of some orthodox religionists, who felt that Baba's continued presence would threaten their religion. Thus, they plotted to kill Him, in order that the prediction would never be realized. Baba used to wander alone even as a child. One day, as He walked alone far away from the village, the small group of people who wanted to...
To accelerate the speed of progress in spiritual practice, Baba had introduced a systematic approach to every facet of life - physical, mental, and spiritual. As an example to sadhakas, He Himself followed the system He had laid down. He expected every sadhaka to do likewise. Once, I was in Ranchi with Baba. A new cassette containing Prabhat Samgiit was sent from the central office for Baba's approval. Two Margii sisters, Krsni Di and Rita Mandal, sang the songs. Early the next morning, I put the newly-recorded cassette into the cassette player and played it just outside His room, so that He could also enjoy the music. The first to enter His room was the PA Dada. As he entered Baba asked him about the song that was playing at that moment. Dada informed Him that the newly- recorded Prabhat Samgiit cassette was received yesterday and that they wanted Him to listen to it. Baba replied that it was very nice. He then took His breakfast. As usual, after breakfast, Baba would go for His...
Baba had always stressed the need to adopt a psychological approach in conveying unpleasant news to others. If possible, direct approaches should be avoided, in order not to unnecessarily shock the receipient of the news. This story happened in 1979 during Baba's Israel tour. One day, after dinner, we received news from Calcutta that the General Secretary of Ananda Marga wanted Baba's suggestion for a suitable candidate for the position of Sectorial Secretary, Hong Kong Sector. That position had recently fallen vacant. This was, indeed, not positive news, and no one dared to give the news to Baba. After some discussion, the dadas present requested me to give the news to Baba, as I presented the organizational reports daily to Him. I agreed but was not sure whether I should tell Him the news on that day itself or on the following day. The next day's schedule was very tight, and thus there would be no opportunity to convey this news to Him. I thought that since this was...
