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Under the heading of sadhana i tried to elaborate a bit more what is meant by the word sadhana. I tried to explain briefly what is the composition of the Ananda marga sadhana based on the 6 lessons of sahaj yoga. I added a little bit about Baba's teach...
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(Under the heading of sadhana i tried to elaborate a bit more what is meant by the word sadhana. I tried to explain briefly what is the composition of the Ananda marga sadhana based on the 6 lessons of sahaj yoga. I added a little bit about Baba's teach...) |
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'''Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar''' (1921 May 21 – 1990 October 21), also known by his spiritual name, '''Shrii Shrii Anandamurti''' and known as '''Baba''' to his disciples, was an Indian Guru, philosopher, author, social revolutionary, poet, composer, and linguist. Sarkar was the founder of ''[[Ananda Marga]]'' (''the Path of Bliss'') in 1955, a spiritual and social organisation that offers instruction in meditation and [[yoga]]. Giani Zail Singh, seventh President of India, has said about Sarkar: "Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar was one of the greatest modern philosophers of India."<ref>[[Sohail Inayatullah|Inayatullah, Sohail]]. (2002) [http://books.google.co.nz/books/about/Understanding_Sarkar.html?id=B3rXAAAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y ''Understanding Sarkar: The Indian Episteme, Macrohistory and Transformative Knowledge'']. Leiden: [[Brill Publishers|Brill]], ISBN 9004121935, [http://www.metafuture.org/Books/Understanding_Sarkar_Brill.htm authors book page].</ref> | '''Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar''' (1921 May 21 – 1990 October 21), also known by his spiritual name, '''Shrii Shrii Anandamurti''' and known as '''Baba''' to his disciples, was an Indian Guru, philosopher, author, social revolutionary, poet, composer, and linguist. His teachings spanned the entire spectrum of thought and pointed humanity in a direction toward developing their intrinsic spiritual nature and shaping a society that would provide the congenial environment for the development of higher consciousness. He once stated to one of his disciples that he wanted to give new ideas in every sphere of human endeavour and action. | ||
Sarkar was the founder of ''[[Ananda Marga]]'' (''the Path of Bliss'') in 1955, a spiritual and social organisation that offers instruction in meditation and [[yoga]]. Ananda Marga is now spread in over 120 countries around the world on all six continents. He systematized the entire spiritual practices of Ananda Marga into what he called "The 16 Points" which lay the foundation of a balanced and progressive development of the individual on physical, mental, social, mental and spiritual levels. Giani Zail Singh, seventh President of India, has said about Sarkar: "Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar was one of the greatest modern philosophers of India."<ref>[[Sohail Inayatullah|Inayatullah, Sohail]]. (2002) [http://books.google.co.nz/books/about/Understanding_Sarkar.html?id=B3rXAAAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y ''Understanding Sarkar: The Indian Episteme, Macrohistory and Transformative Knowledge'']. Leiden: [[Brill Publishers|Brill]], ISBN 9004121935, [http://www.metafuture.org/Books/Understanding_Sarkar_Brill.htm authors book page].</ref> | |||
Sarkar's system of spiritual practice has been described as a practical synthesis of Vedic and Tantric philosophies.{{sfn|Ishwaran|1999|p=9}} He denounced materialism and capitalism, and described the [[universe]] as a result of macropsychic [[conation]] – the entire universe exists within the cosmic mind, which itself is the first expression of consciousness coming under the bondage of its own nature. | Sarkar's system of spiritual practice has been described as a practical synthesis of Vedic and Tantric philosophies.{{sfn|Ishwaran|1999|p=9}} Vedic spiritual practices are more ritualistic and devoted to the chanting of popular shlokas such as the Gayatri Mantra or the singing of traditional Indian bhajans. The meditation systems found in Vedic paths are not detailed nor are mantras individually prescribed according to the psychic temperament of the aspirant. Sarkar's sadhana system is based on the ancient Tantric practices which over time have eroded and fallen into misinterpretation for lack of a competent Preceptor. In Sarkar's revised Tantra he makes use of "siddha mantras"or proven mantras which are potentized by a Mahakaul (perfectly realized Master) that have the capability to raise the latent spiritual force within the subtle spinal column often referred to as "kulakundalini". Such mantras are individually imparted to a willing aspirant according to their intrinsic psychic temperaments referred to as "samskaras". | ||
He denounced materialism and capitalism, and described the [[universe]] as a result of macropsychic [[conation]] – the entire universe exists within the cosmic mind, which itself is the first expression of consciousness coming under the bondage of its own nature. | |||
Sarkar was a prolific author and produced an extensive body of works that includes theories aimed at increasing human welfare such as the [[Law of Social Cycle]], the [[Progressive Utilization Theory]], the Theory of Microvitum, as well as the philosophy of [[Neohumanism]]. | Sarkar was a prolific author and produced an extensive body of works that includes theories aimed at increasing human welfare such as the [[Law of Social Cycle]], the [[Progressive Utilization Theory]], the Theory of Microvitum, as well as the philosophy of [[Neohumanism]]. | ||
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=== Sadhana === | === Sadhana === | ||
A central point in Sarkar's philosophy is the concept of ''[[Sadhana]]''. He | A central point in Sarkar's philosophy is the concept of ''[[Sadhana]]''. He defines "Sadhana" in different ways in his discourses. For example he states that "Sadhana" is a practice for "the transformation of fearful love into fearless love". In other places he mentions that "sadhana" is "the effort to complete". From Sarkar's standpoint as a human being has a developed consciousness which other beings don't have they must perform daily sadhana otherwise they do not merit the human form. It is through "sadhana" that a human being will be able to realize his intrinsic spiritual nature and thereby completely develop his all-round personality which is a blend of physical, psychic and spiritual aspects. Sarkar systematized his sadhana system for Ananda Marga through a series of meditation lessons which he named "Sahaj Yoga" (meaning "easy yoga"). Six lessons comprise the sahaj yoga system which are imparted personally and privately to a willing aspirant by an "acarya". An acarya is an Ananda Marga spiritual teacher, who has undergone extensive training in the spiritual practices of Ananda Marga as well as the extensive spiritual and social philosophy of Ananda Marga at any of its three global acarya training centres in Sweden, Philippines and India. The male acaryas are referred to as "Dada" while the female acaryas use the friendly nickname "Didi" prior to their given acarya name. | ||
The six lessons of sahaja yoga are the practical methods to adhere to the classical austanga yoga system first given by Rsi Patanjali about 2,500 years ago in India. The first two steps of the Austanga Yoga system namely the ten moral principles of Yama and Niyama are the basis upon which the Ananda Marga lessons are given. In other words a willing spiritual aspirant must sincerely try to adhere to the ten universal principles of Yama and Niyama which serve as a moral guideline for the aspirant as he/she unfolds their spiritual potentiality. Hence the Ananda Marga meditation system is not merely a relaxation technique or a concentration exercise but a genuine moral-spiritual discipline whose regular practice leads to the gradual purification of the aspirant in their physical and psychic levels. | |||
''Sadhana'' is concretised in particular with the practice of meditation for complete merger and unification. Sarkar recommends to his disciples the daily practice of individual meditation and the weekly practice of collective meditation. These meetings called ''Dharma Chakras'' are preceded by the collective singing of a few ''[[Prabhat Samgiita]]'' (or "Songs of the New Dawn", composed by P. R. Sarkar himself) followed by ''Baba Nam Kevalam'' [[kiirtan]], then the well-known [[:wikipedia:Rigveda|Rigvedic]] [[mantra]] called ''Samgacchadvam''. The mantra ''Nityam Shuddham'' marks the end of the collective meditation, then the spiritual gathering will end with the ''Guru Puja'' ''mantra''. | |||
== Social and political philosophy == | == Social and political philosophy == | ||