Ananda Marga: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m (Removed collapsible aspect of table) |
m (Continuing work on the article) |
||
Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
On 1939 August 2, (at 8:30 pm, on the [[:wikipedia:full moon|full moon]] day of ''Shravani''<ref group=note>''[[wikipedia:Shraavana|Shravan]]'' is the fifth month of the Indian lunar calendar, beginning in late July and ending in the third week of August. It is the month of festivals, commemorating the precedence of the sacred over all aspects of life.</ref> ''Purnima''<ref group=note>''[[wikipedia:Shraavana|Shravani]]'' ''[[wikipedia:Purnima (day)|Purnima]]'' is the [[wikipedia:Full moon|full moon]] in the month of ''Shravan''.</ref>), Sarkar imparted tantric initiation to Kalicharan Bandyopadhyay (after aka Kalikananda Avadhuta) at the ''Kashi Mitra Ghát́'' on the bank of the [[:wikipedia:Bhagirathi|Bhagirathi]] river in [[:wikipedia:Kolkata|Kalikata]] (aka Kolkata or Calcutta), [[:wikipedia:West Bengal|West Bengal]], India. This was the start of Sarkar's formal teaching. Sarkar was 18 years old at the time. From 1941 until 1954, Sarkar continued teaching the [[Yoga|yogic]] techniques of tantra<ref group=note>P.R. Sarkar clearly explained in his books the meaning of ''Tantra'': "What is ''Tantra''? The process of transforming (latent divinity) into the Supreme Divinity is known as ''Tantra sadhana''... The significance of the term ''tantra'' is 'liberation from bondage (the bondage of dullness or staticity)'. The letter ''ta'' is the seed (sound) of dulness. And the root verb ''trae'' suffixed by ''da'' becomes ''tra'', which means 'that which liberates' - so the spiritual practice which liberates the aspirant from the dullness or animality of the static force and expands the aspirant's (spiritual) self is ''Tantra sadhana''. So there cannot be any spiritual practice without ''Tantra''. {{cite book |title=Discourses on Tantra |volume=2 |author=Shrii Shrii Anandamurti (Ac. Vijayananda Avt. Editor) |publisher= AMPS-Ananda Printers |year=1994}} "''Tantra'' in itself is neither a religion nor an 'ism'. Tantra is a fundamental spiritual science. So wherever there is any spiritual practice it should be taken for granted that it stands on the ''Tantric'' cult. Where there is no spiritual practice, where people pray to God for the fulfillment of narrow worldly desires, where people's only slogan is "Give us this and give us that" – only there do we find that Tantra is discouraged. So only those who do not understand ''Tantra'', or even after understanding ''Tantra'' do not want to do any spiritual practice, oppose the cult of ''Tantra''." (Anandamurti, Shrii Shrii, 1959).</ref> to a select few in [[:wikipedia:Jamalpur, Munger|Jamalpur]] (in Bihar, India), while employed as an accountant of the [[wikipedia:Indian Railways|Indian Railways]]. In 1955, Sarkar founded the [[Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha]], taking on the role of its first president. Sarkar then resigned from his job with the Indian Railways to dedicate his full time to that mission. From 1955 until his death in 1990, Sarkar not only went on expanding the scope and global penetration of the Samgha, but he also continuously amplified the teachings and practices of his Ananda Marga. Among other things, in the course of those 35 years, he produced over 200 books on a wide range of topics, he extensively expounded his social theory ([[PROUT]]), he set forth his ultra-positive social outlook ([[Neohumanism]]), and he composed 5,018 songs ([[Prabhat Samgiita]]). To promote his Ananda Marga, Sarkar created a cadre of spiritual teachers, known as [[tattvika]]s and [[acarya]]s. Those teachers who became renunciates were initiated by Sarkar into the [[wikipedia:Shaivism|Shaivite]] order of [[avadhuta]]. | |||
On 1939 August 2, (at 8:30 pm, on the [[:wikipedia:full moon|full moon]] day of ''Shravani''<ref group=note>''[[Shraavana|Shravan]]'' is the fifth month of the Indian lunar calendar, beginning in late July and ending in the third week of August. It is the month of festivals, commemorating the precedence of the sacred over all aspects of life.</ref> ''Purnima''<ref group=note>''[[wikipedia:Shraavana|Shravani]]'' ''[[wikipedia:Purnima (day)|Purnima]]'' is the [[wikipedia:Full moon|full moon]] in the month of ''Shravan''.</ref>), Sarkar imparted tantric initiation to Kalicharan Bandyopadhyay (after aka Kalikananda Avadhuta) at the ''Kashi Mitra Ghát́'' on the bank of the [[:wikipedia:Bhagirathi|Bhagirathi]] river in [[:wikipedia:Kolkata|Kalikata]] (aka Kolkata or Calcutta), [[:wikipedia:West Bengal|West Bengal]], India. This was the start of Sarkar's formal teaching. Sarkar was 18 years old at the time. From 1941 until 1954, Sarkar continued teaching the techniques of tantra<ref group=note>P.R. Sarkar clearly explained in his books the meaning of | |||
Unlike most other tantric or yogic missions, Ananda Marga has only one Guru, Shrii Shrii Anandamurti. After his demise, the role of Marga Gurudeva was not passed on to a successor. Hence, the fundamental philosophy and practices of Ananda Marga are largely fixed. | |||
== Conceptual framework == | |||
Just as the [[wikipedia:Noble Eightfold Path|eight-fold path of Buddhism]] is inspired by what Buddhists refer to as the [[wikipedia:Four Noble Truths|Four Noble Truths]], Ananda Marga is also guided by a well-developed conceptual framework. This is set out in the five chapters of Sarkar's [[Ananda Sutram]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Ánanda Sútram |author=Shrii Shrii Anandamurti |location=Jamalpur |publisher= Ananda Marga Pubs |year=1961 |ISBN=978-8172520274}}</ref> | |||
In philosophical terms, the stance of Ananda Marga is best described as ''advaetadvaetádvaetaváda'' (non-dualistic dualistic non-dualism).<ref>{{citation|title=Namami Krsnasundaram |last={{aut|[[Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar|Anandamurti]]}}|first={{aut|[[Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar|Shrii Shrii]]}} (Ac. Pranavananda Avt. Editor, Ac. Vijayananda Avt. transl. from Bengali) |location=Kolkata |year=1981-1th ed. and followings |publisher= Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha |ISBN=978-8172521110}}</ref> Originally and ultimately, everything is the singular consciousness. | |||
In psychological terms, the stance of Ananda Marga is positive and optimistic. In a nutshell: | |||
# The desire for ''sukha'' (happiness) is the primary drive of living beings. | |||
# Only establishment in unlimited happiness can satisfy all thirsts. | |||
# The unlimited is a singular, supreme entity (Brahma), beyond physical and psychic constraints. | |||
# Consciously striving for attainment of the Supreme is ''dharma sádhaná'' ([[wikipedia:Self-actualization|self-actualization]]). | |||
According to Sarkar, when a conscious desire for liberation or perfection arises in the mind, one attains the ''sadguru'' (unfailing spiritual guide).<ref>{{cite book |title=Ánanda Sútram |author=Shrii Shrii Anandamurti |location=Jamalpur |publisher= Ananda Marga Pubs |year=1961 |ISBN=978-8172520274}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
In practical terms, the stance of Ananda Marga is rational and pragmatic. Ananda Marga rejects dogma and ritualistic worship, including religious prayer, in favor of subjective approach through objective adjustment.<ref>{{cite book |title=Ánanda Sútram |author=Shrii Shrii Anandamurti |location=Jamalpur |publisher= Ananda Marga Pubs |year=1961 |ISBN=978-8172520274}}</ref> To enhance devotion (love for the Supreme), Ananda Marga prescribes various yogic and tantric practices for physical, mental, and spiritual development, which Sarkar encapsulated in his [[#Sixteen Points|Sixteen Points]].<ref group=note>Sarkar formulated his Sixteen Points in 1971 about a month before his arrest on December 29.</ref> | |||
In social terms, the stance of Ananda Marga is unifying. Ananda Marga sees a happy blending of individual and collective welfare. In the final analysis, the welfare of the individual depends on the welfare of the collectivity and vice versa.<ref>{{cite book |title=Ánanda Sútram |author=Shrii Shrii Anandamurti |location=Jamalpur |publisher= Ananda Marga Pubs |year=1961 |ISBN=978-8172520274}}</ref> To materialize a progressive society in which this condition is recognized and materialized, Sarkar introduced his [[Progressive Utilization Theory]] and [[Neohumanism]]. | |||
To | |||
==References== | ==References== |