MATCHING EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH TO AGENCY MISSIONS
E. C. Holmes Oxford University
The one and only answer
Verona. 1981. According to Tantra, there are no accidents. Life is a series of incidents, each with its own cause and meaning.
When I first attempted to analyze the causes behind my mistakes, my injuries and the injustices inflicted upon me, I accepted the usual explanation: ìWrong thoughts and wrong actions beget painful reactions.
î And for those who practice meditation, the interval between cause and effect is usually short.
As a spiritualist, Iíve learned to see every problem as an opportunity for growth. Iíve learned to stop what Iím doing when I make any mistake and focus on the source of the error within me.
Over the last few months my analysis deepened. Behind every personal difficulty, I found not only some previous mistake, but more importantly
I found the absence of Cosmic ideation. Whenever I forgot
Guru or God for more than a few moments, I hurt someone or hurt myself.
During these last months, every time I made even the slightest mistake, I noticed I had forgotten my mantra.67 Each mistake helped alert
me to my uncontrolled ego-centered thoughts.
So, what happened today? While busy in the yoga center, running from one activity to another, I was joyously singing Baba Nam Kevalam.
At one point, I dashed into the bathroom to wash a few clothes. After
67 The constant internal repetition of oneís personal mantra is one of the essential Tantric practices. It helps to calm the mind of the aspirant and eventually helps to ensconce him or her in continuous Cosmic ideation.
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wetting and soaping my clothes, while still singing, I started pounding my soaped shirt in the sink. I didnít know that the sink had not yet been fully installed. Suddenly, it tipped over and fell on the floor. As the basin broke, a big piece dove into my bare foot.
The noise alarmed two or three of the Margis, who thrust the door open. They found me lying on the floor, stunned. Blood gushed out of my foot.
The cause of my shock was not, however, what it appeared. While
they fussed over my injury, I hardly paid attention to it. Rather, I muttered, ìI canít understand...î I couldnít grasp how I could make such a
blunder even though I was singing Baba Nam Kevalam. Suffering may happen while one is in Cosmic ideation, but careless mistakes cannot.
It doesnít figure... I thought.
Then a flash. I jumped up, almost slipping in the pool of blood.
ìIíve got it!î I blurted out. The Margisí eyes bulged as they stared at me, thinking Iíd gone nuts. Crazy or not, I had the answer: Though Iíd chanted spiritual words, I hadnít been aware of their meaning. It had only been a jolly tune for me, without any feeling. My thoughts had simply raced, immersed in meóonly me.
A psychic implosion! Feeling alone is the key to harmony. Actions and words may be sublime, but if the feeling behind them moves in another direction, thereís no value. Though many times I heard or read such philosophy, this simple careless accident was the clear proof.
No need to engage in complex psychological interpersonal
mind-games. No need to fret over conflicts between a thousand doís and doníts. Only remember: Him. The one and only Answer.
...
Even at the hospital, as the doctor completed sewing the stitches, I contemplated His grace. When the moment of truth arrived, i.e. the time for paying the bill, I said, ìConsidering that Iím a monk, any discount?î The doctor paused, then said, ìI hope you learned a lesson from this accident. Will you be more careful next time?î
ìDefinitely, Baba,î I said. I felt like Baba was speaking through the doctor.
ìOkay,î he said, smiling. ìItís free, sir.î
I looked at what shall surely remain a nasty scar, and thought, ìMy
little beauty, may you serve as a constant reminder, like a string permanently tied on my finger.î
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The thing of church
Warsaw, Poland. I am the first worker to visit this country. Though
Iíve been here only a few days, I received the following surprising comment from a newly interested person: ìI like Ananda Marga very much,
Dada. And Iím sure many Poles will have the same feeling as me. I predict that within a few years, thousands of people will be practicing meditation in this country.î Indeed, their interest in parapsychology is far beyond what I imagined before coming here.
Nevertheless, the common personís knowledge of spiritual terminology appears shockingly limited. A typical communication-hitch occurred last evening when I spoke with a few young people. The concept of God arose in my talk.
ìWhat God is?î one of them asked.
ìWell, how do you define it?î I replied.
ìI have idea not. I know this word not.î
I was surprised. His English was not perfect, but at least he should have known the word.
ìDoes anyone here understand the word God?î They all shook their heads.
ìGod is the endless energy, the beginning, the end, the purpose, the mind of our minds. All the religions talk about God....î
ìOh!î One of them interrupted me. ìThe thing of church, you mean?î
ìWell, thatís one way of defining it,î I said, laughing.
It was both very funny and very unfunny.
...
Budapest, Hungary. Last night I wanted to go to a graveyard to do my kapalika meditation. The young artist who was my host guided me to the nearest cemetery, and left me there unceremoniously a little after midnight.
When I entered, I was astonished to see tombstone upon tombstone.
There were so many thousands of them that they leaned against each other. They careened in every conceivable direction, bordered by waist-high grass. Even in the daytime I would have found it difficult to make my way to the center of the tangle. Many stones were
cracked or covered by moss. Even for an experienced graveyarder like me, it was spooky on this cloud-covered night.
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Since I was keen to withdraw my mind from these surroundings, my concentration peaked more quickly than usual.
In the morning, during a Spartan breakfast, I asked, ìAre all the graveyards in Hungary so small and crowded like the one I went to last night?î
ìOh, that one is special,î the artist said. ìIt was for Jews.î I raised my eyebrows. ìWas?î
ìWhen Jews couldnít move their homes.î He meant the ghetto.
ìThey couldnít go outside their area, but they still had babies. They still died. More and more and more. And no place to go.î
ìAnd now where are they?î
ìA lot went to Israel. And a lot died. A lot.î Cosmic confidence
Belgrade, Yugoslavia. After a successful three-week tour in Poland,
Hungary and Czechoslovakia, I arrived last night in a communist country where I can wear my uniform. I breathe a relative freedom here in
Yugoslavia which was absent in those other regimes which suffer under the heavy hand of their Overlord. There, I find the people believe in socialist theory, but despise the dictatorial presence of the Soviet
army, and the strangle-hold maintained by the Soviets over their education, international trade, spirituality, culture and mass media.
My decision to risk wearing my uniform in Yugoslavia was influenced by a comment Baba made some time ago, that Titoís government would not obstruct Ananda Marga.
I stepped out of the train in Belgrade without an address or phone number. As usual in this situation, I went to a crowded section of the city, arriving around 11:00 p.m.
No doubt I was an eye-catcher. Many people stopped to inquire if
I needed anything, but no one had any extra space in which I could stay.
Several people offered to pay for a hotel room, but I politely refused.
One of the couples spoke to me in fluent English. ìWe wish we
could help you. Itís so late, and soon no one will be here. But we have no room.î
ìDonít worry,î I said. ìAt the right moment someone will come along. Iím dead sure. Really donít worry. Itís just a tiny test for me.î As they walked away, they looked back anxiously.
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Five minutes later, they returned. The young lady said, ìYour extraordinary confidence inspired us. So we came back.î
ìWe decided to stand here until you find a lodging,î the man said.
ìWeíll also help you in asking people passing by.î ìThanks,î I said.
As we stood there waiting for the right person, they asked about meditation and yoga. Eventually one of their friends came. He had a spare room, and we all went there. By the end of the evening we already had the base for our new meditation unit.
And so it goes. Everywhere.
The great analysis
Calcutta. August 2. Since June, for the first time in Ananda Margaís history, Baba has been calling all workers and Margis from all sectors to Calcutta. I arrived today. In total, several thousand people have come or will come.
The program is called dharma samiksha. Samiksha means ìanalysisî, so dharma samiksha means ìanalysis of oneís adherence to the right path.î During dharma samiksha, Margis and workers stand one-by-one in front of Baba, and He comments on their good and bad behavior. The Sixteen Points for physical, mental and spiritual development is especially relevant to this analysis. I was allowed to stay in
the room continuously, so I had the opportunity to witness many cases.
Brother J from the Netherlands, who Iíve known for two years,
stepped forward. Baba sat on His couch, looking over His shoulder at the wall.68
GENERAL SECRETARY (GS): What is his name and posting?
DADA FROM EUROPE: He is J, district in-charge from Holland.
GS: Who is your acharya?
J: Dada Maetreya.
GS: What work did you do over the last six months?
J (nervously): I arranged nine initiations, opened one Peopleís Night School, and started one Spiritualistsí Sports and Adventurersí Club.
68 Baba rarely looks directly at anyone. When He does, we feel a special energy or shakti. Indeed a single glance from Him is often enough to satisfy any Margi who may have traveled thousands of miles to meet Him.
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69 Sentient food is food which is good for both body and mind.
70 Static food is food which is harmful for either body or mind.
71 Hah means ìyesî.
GS: Acha. Are you following 16 Points strictly?
J: Yes.
GS: How about your meditation?
J: Yes, Dada.
GS: How about fasting?
J: Yes, Dada.
BABA: GS, ask him about food.
GS: Are you taking only sentient food?69
J: Yes, Dada.
BABA: Eh? What did he say?
GS: He said ìyesî, Baba. You are not taking any static food?70
J: No, Dada.
BABA (turning to look just over Jís head): Eh? What nonsense are you speaking?
J: No, no, Baba. Only sentient food.
BABA (slightly angry): Tell the truth!
J: No, Baba, I ... ah ... oh, Baba...
BABA: Do you deserve punishment?
J: Yes...
BABA: Stretch out your palm. (J holds his right hand palm-up in front of Baba.) How many shall I give you?
J: Ah ... ah ...
BABA: 10, 20, 30...?
J: 20, Baba. (Using His stick, Baba strikes Jís open palm ten times.) BABA: Stretch out your left palm. (J does so, and Baba strikes it ten times also.) You must never again intentionally harm your body.
Do you understand?
J: Yes, Baba.
[Baba then explained a number of points to J about improving his meditation and service activities.]
BABA: Now stand straight. (He sweeps His eyes from Jís feet to head, and down again.) Vijayananda, make a note.
DADA VIJAYANANDA: Hah, Baba.71 LORD SHIVA NEVER DID IT
260 TRAVELS WITH THE MYSTIC MASTER
BABA: Karmasana, Gomukhasana....[and some other yoga postures I forget.] (Speaking to J:) Afterward learn them from Vijayananda. Now come close, my boy. (J approaches Baba, who opens His arms, and then embraces J, taking him on His lap.)
J: Oh, Baba! (He starts weeping.)
ANOTHER DADA (after a lapse of a few moments, speaking softly): Come, come...
(J leaves Babaís lap. He lies on the floor in front of Baba, hands stretched out toward Him in the traditional position of respect to the
guru. After a few seconds, he gets up, and moves toward the door.) GS: Next.
...
After a few more dharma samikshas, we all left Babaís room.
Brother J approached me. ìDadaji, may I speak to you?î ìOf course.î
ìI have to tell someone, or Iíll burst.î ìMy ears are open.î
ìWhen Baba pressed me, I denied eating any bad food. I was just too embarrassed to tell the truth in front of all the Dadas and Margis there. As for Baba, I knew that He knew, and also that He understood why I was lying, and even Iím sure He did not mind, because He knows our inner motivation. But, well, Iíve got to tell someone.î
ìGo ahead,î I said, ìIím your brother.î
ìWell, three weeks ago, I was feeling so much clash. I was fed up with everything that was happening to me. Out of an impulse, I went to a take-out restaurant and purchased a box of fried shellfish. I ate them alone in the yoga house. Afterward I felt so bad I vomited.î I laughed loudly.
His eyes opened wide, and he said, ìDada, how can you laugh? What I did is very bad.î
ìPerhaps, but itís not the end of the world. Weíve seen mistakes a hundred times worse.î
ìReally?î
ìOf course. And anybody whoís spent much time around Baba gets used to it. This is Tantra. Up a lot and down a little, up a lot and down a little...î
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Compelled to help
Yesterday Dada Parameshvarananda arrived from the Philippines
for dharma samiksha. He had been suffering from leukemia for a number of months. The doctors had declared it incurable, though they did
not say how much longer he would live.
Three days ago, on the day of his planned departure for India, he fainted and did not recover for several hours. By that time, his office
secretary had canceled the flight reservation. When he regained consciousness, Dada became angry at his secretary. ìWhy did you cancel
my flight? You should have forced me to wake up, and put me on the plane. Iíd rather die in India than here.î
He flew the next day to Calcutta, suffering all the way. Though he had never asked Baba for anything before, this time he could not help but think, ìPlease, Baba, help this body.î
From the Calcutta airport, he took a taxi alone. When he arrived at the Central Office, he found Babaís Personal Assistant, Dada Ramananda, standing at the gate.
ìBaba told me to wait for you here and bring you to His room.î ìBut how did He know I was coming just now?î
ìIn the same way He knows everything,î replied Ramanandaji, helping him upstairs.
Dada entered Babaís room and prostrated.
ìHow are you?î Baba asked.
ìIím fine.î ìAre you sure?î
ìYes, Baba. Iím fine.î Thinking that Baba knows all, he saw no reason to express his problems.
ìYes. Yes. Very good,î said Baba. ìNow Iím busy, so I will see you again later.î
Today it was Manila Sectorís turn for general reporting. Parameshvaranandaji came forward.
ìYesterday,î Baba said, ìI asked this boy how he felt. He told me fine, even though this fool will die within 24 hours. He has a disease
which is so advanced that it cannot be cured, and will kill him by tomorrow.
(Turning His face toward Parameshvaranandaji, He continued) Stupid, idiot, why didnít you tell me long ago about your prob-LORD SHIVA NEVER DID IT
262 TRAVELS WITH THE MYSTIC MASTER
lem? If you had told me even six months ago, I could have simply prescribed certain yogic postures and diet to cure the problem. Now, scoundrel, you are going to die.î
ìBaba, please save him,î ìGive him another chance,î said a few workers.
For a moment, Baba sat in silence. ìIt is true that he has given his everything for my mission. He never cared for himself, only thinking for me. So ... I am compelled to help him. In this case, medical science is incapable, impotent. The only means of assistance is spiritual
power. Alright. I will save him from the jaws of death.î
Baba began lightly touching Dada with His stick. He gradually
tapped it on every part of his body. At the same time, He narrated Dadaís long medical history, how he had suffered from typhoid fever, another time from mild tuberculosis, and so on. Afterward, Parameshvaranandaji told me that some of the diseases Baba mentioned he had
forgotten, but all were 100% correct.
ìI always took care of him, though he didnít know it,î Baba said.
ìIn natural ways, I saved his life repeatedly. But this time, his irresponsibility is excessive and extreme.î
Baba held His stick against Dadaís chest. For forty minutes, Baba pressed the stick, not moving it from that spot. Dada later said that at that time such power entered him that he felt he could easily cross mountains.
ìNow I have purified his body. I withdrew all the cancer cells. He
was scheduled to die within 24 hours. But his time has been extended.
Within ten days he will recover all of his previous strength.î72 Even Lord Shiva Never Did It
Today Baba mentioned that dharma samiksha is a one-time affair.
Dharma samiksha on such a grand scale was never done before by any spiritual master, and Baba will not do it again. He is showing a little bit of His meticulous guardianship and a little bit of His intimate knowledge of each and every Margi, personally and specifically, one by one. He said, ì7000 years ago, Lord Shiva thought to conduct such a program, but never did it.î
72 From that moment, Parameshvaranandaji started feeling much better. Ten days later, doctors declared him fully cured.
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I wonder: why never before? And, even more curiously, why never again? Is it because Baba did not come to prove Himself to the world, but rather only to get His work done?
Yes, even Lord Shiva never did it. This sentence expressing Babaís uniqueness could be applied to much more than dharma samiksha. I think of 5000 songs...an organization of both renunciates and family people in almost every country of the world...the Prout movement...the systematization of Tantrathe mixture of intense spiritual practice with
social action...His detailed guidance in many diverse fields.... Unfathomable.
Treat him very well
One of the Margis receiving dharma samiksha today was Rajpal,
an Indian. At one stage of the analysis, Baba said, ìYou have a question for me, isnít it?î
ìYes, Baba,î he said. ìAbout my son...î
Though in that moment, Baba did not give him time to continue, he afterward explained to us that he intended to ask about the cause and cure of his sonís attitude toward him. Almost since the boyís birth, the son had scorned and mistreated his father. It was Rajpalís greatest worry, because he dearly loved his son. Even though the boy began practicing meditation at the age of fourteen, he still expressed disgust toward his father.
The problem was not a public one, and therefore Baba could not have heard of it. Nevertheless He said, ìI know. I know everything.
The problem was not a public one, and therefore Baba could not have heard of it. Nevertheless He said, ìI know. I know everything.