Baba, Ananda Marga, and the Sixth Seal

1. Baba, Ananda Marga, and the Sixth Seal Feast of Tabernacles 2001

2. Introduction • Baba • Ananda Marga Organization • The Sixth Seal in the Mission of Maitreya

3. BABA • He was born Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar in Bihar, India 1921.

4. BABA • The name Baba means “Father.” He was also known as Shrii Shrii Anandamurti. • In 1955 he founded the Ananda Marga Association (“Path of Bliss”). • Arrested in 1971; imprisoned for 7 years. • Very strict, disciplined (“Sometimes I appear harsh to some. But that is for love..”) • The Message is more important than the Messenger.

5. Some quotes: • “Withdraw your mind from all narrowness. Superficiality and narrowness, whether in you or in society, must be totally and mercilessly eradicated in order to progress. Where there is triviality, there is sin and animality. Where there is expansion, there is virtue, humanity and divinity.”

6. “Whether you are sinner or virtuous, those who come to God are all one for Him. He makes no distinctions. All will be liberated.”

7. “Do all the good you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.”

8. “Every mind is dominated by one particular desire. Some pray to God, ‘Please remove my stomach-ache.’ Others say, ‘If my daughters get married, I shall leave the world and come to You.’ God smiles at these prayers in silence, as laughing openly would embarrass His children.”

9. “Spirituality knows no occupational barriers. It is universal. It is transcendental. It is not reserved for black people or white people or rich or poor. It is the divine gift of God to all of His children.”

10. “Morality is the base, intuition is the way, and Life Divine is the goal.” • Baba passed on in 1990.

11. Ananda Marga - Tantra • Vedas • Shiva • Tantra Shastra (tantra Scriptures) • Teaching of Daharma • Relationship between Guru and disciple • 5 M’s • Madya, Mamsa, Matsya, Mudra, Maethuna

12. Ananda Marga - Archyaras • Teachers • Householders and Sannyasins (“Whole-Timers”) • Training • Taught meditation and yoga techniques

13. A quote: Wholetimers • “…that for him in whom the spirit of dedication to the Universal Family has arisen, the path of renunciation alone is suitable. A family man cannot serve the Universal Family 100%; he must attend as well to his small family. To dedicate oneself completely to the service of the Universal Family, one must follow the life of a renunciate.”

14. Ananda Marga - Sadvipras • Sadvipra • A dynamic spiritual person having all the qualities of the five active classes. • Incorruptible. • Internal purification and also social service. • Not intellectuals (“true intellectuals”).

15. Some quotes: Sadvipras • “Education, intellect, prestige, all are meaningless and useless if they are not directed in His Flow.” • “No matter what the education, intelligence, features, virtues, rank or age of an individual, everyone should bear in mind that the one he considers inferior, may excel him in some sphere.”

16. Some quotes: Intellectuals • “The characteristic of intellectuals is that they like what they cannot understand. If they do not understand it, they will say, ‘Very good, very good.’ If it is something they can easily understand, they say, ‘nothing new, nothing special.’”

17. “Phoney intellectuals understand a lot, know a lot, smile sagely with closed eyes and speak sparingly to give an impression of reserve and gravity, lest the cat get out of the bag and expose them.”

18. “True intellect” Leaders of a Sadvipra society Pure and balanced mind Courageous Characteristics of all active classes in society Service-minded Entrepreneurial Intellectually brilliant Intuitionally brilliant Classless Incorruptible Ananda Marga - Sadvipras

19. Note: • Maitreya has brought the ideal one step higher, to “Paravipra” which means “beyond intellect.”

20. A quote: Sadvipras • “Sadvipras will have no rest, ever. A time will never come in the life of a Sadvipra when he will relax in an armchair and say, ‘Ah, I have nothing to do today. Let me rest awhile.’”

21. Ananda Marga – AMURT • International Relief Organization • Became well known throughout world for selfless service

22. Ananda Marga – Neo-Humanism • Baba’s name for a “new humanism,” with concern for all. • Baba rejected dogmas, superstitions, and conventions such as the caste system. • Developed a Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Plants program in 1978.

23. Some quotes: Neo-humanism • “When the underlying spirit of humanism is extended to everything, animate and inanimate, in all this universe, I have designated this as Neo-Humanism. This Neo-Humanism will elevate humanism to universalism, love for all created beings of this universe.” • “Neo-humanism is the spirit of benevolence. To teach love one must embody it. To embody love one must see all as divine…”

24. Ananda Marga – PROUT • Progressive Utilization Theory • Five aspects: 1- No individual should be allowed to accumulate any physical wealth without the clear permission of approval of the collective body. 2- There should be maximum utilization and rational distribution of all mundane, supramundane and spiritual potentialities of the universe. 3- There should be maximum utilization and rational distribution of all physical, metaphysical and spiritual potentialities of the unit and collective body of human society. 4- There should be a proper adjustment amongst these physical, metaphysical, mundane, supramundane, and spiritual utilizations. 5- The method of utilization should vary in accordance with changes in time, space and person, and the utilization should be of a progressive nature.

25. Other points about Ananda Marga • Complex organization • Claims to have close to 1 million followers • International • Educational section: created schools • Developmental project in West Bengal • Agricultural projects; animal projects • Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies • Brought concept of Microvita • Magazine called “New Renaissance”

26. Some problems • Baba was put in prison for 7 years • FBI has file on them for “terrorist activities.” • Baba was kept very far away, not easily accessible; whole organization was very secretive.

27. Some problems (cont.) • Difficult to initiate change • Many tales given about Baba’s siddhis and powers, etc. • Guru becomes more important than God • Teaching very detailed, a little dogmatic. Came from top-down. • After his death, who is in charge? Not clear.

28. Some problems (cont.) • Are his disciples keeping in teaching pure? • Dichotomy: AM taught that the goal was to go back to the Godhead, as Hinduism teaches. Then why all the social service? • Although claim to be a universal teaching, really taught Hinduism.

29. Some problems (cont.) • Do not teach history as giving an understanding of God’s Hand throughout time. • Did not explain how to create a “Sadvipra society”. How do you equally distribute resources, etc?

30. Time for a Break!

31. Six Points about the Sixth Seal

32. Point #1 • There are really two Messengers related to the Sixth Seal. • Baba gave the concept of dynamic spiritual leaders. • Maitreya-ji then expanded the concept to Paravipras (“beyond intellect”) and showed a definite path to become a Paravipra. • Also Maitreya-ji revealed the complete governmental system which includes Paravipras as the leaders. • And Maitreya-ji explained that Paravipras are actually The Elects, talked about in many Scriptures of the world, who will create the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

33. Point #2 • The symbol of the Sixth Seal was revealed to Baba and he used it for the Ananda Marga Organization. • Why did he chose this one? • Old Tantric symbol • Happens also to be the Star of David! • How did he know it would fit perfectly in The Greatest Sign? • Shows hierachy in the self.

34. Point #3 • Was Baba the Messiah? • Many of the Seals relate to the incarnation of the Messiah, however some do not. • Was Baba John the Baptist? • Conclusion: Really doesn’t matter. What is the Message?

35. Point #4 • The Sixth Seal was predicted to come in The Revelation: • “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; • “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” (Rev. 3.7-3.8

36. Point #5 • The Sixth Seal also relates to individual spiritual progress. • It is the sixth stage in a person’s progress through the Eternal Divine Path. • It relates to the sixth chakra (pineal gland – nectar). However, “Nectar cannot be experienced unless you meditate and become detached to the world and submit to the Will of God in your life.” • It is when one becomes a Peacemaker. • Have to watch that “no man take their crown” which is entering the crown of the head or seventh center.

37. Final Point: #6 • The Sixth Seal fits into the time of God’s Plan. • Was revealed at the start of the tribulation on earth, 1945. • The Greatest Sign is a timeline of history.

38. Sal-Om! May no man take your crown!