Great Universe.Pdf

THE GREAT UNIVERSE Discourses on Society by Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti Copyright © 2006 Ánanda Márga Publications Ánanda Márga Pracáraka Saḿgha (Central) All rights reserved www.anandamarga.org Contents Introduction 4 Short Sanskrit Pronunciation Guide 6 1 Planning for the Mahávishva 7 2 Bhágavata Dharma 8 3 Dharma 13 4 A Guide to Human Conduct 14 5 The Form of Sádhaná 35 6 Tantra and its Effect on Society 41 7 The Base of Life 49 8 The Family Man and the Renunciant 52 9 Problems of the Day 53 10 The Evolution of Society 75 11 The Cosmic Brotherhood 78 12 The Place of Sadvipras in the Samája Cakra 83 13 Shúdra Revolution and Sadvipra Society 88 14 The Future of Civilization 94 15 Social Justice 98 16 The Practice of Art and Literature 119 17 Various Occupations 158 18 The Vaeshya Age 178 19 Education 191 20 Synthesis and Analysis 205 21 Civilization, Science and Spiritual Progress 210 22 The Three Causes of Sin 212 23 Justice 217 24 Niiti and Dharma 240 25 Dialectical Materialism and Democracy 248 26 Do Not Delay 254 27 The Human Search for Real Progress 255 28 Ideology, Goal and Devotion 260 Introduction For centuries spiritual and religious leaders have been teaching mankind how to realize the Truth within themselves. Some have instructed their followers to shun the world and its temptations; others have preached simply that individuals must lead moral lives in society to attain eternal spiritual happiness. But very few have ever discussed in detail the mundane spheres of government, politics, and economics. Development in these realms, so it seemed, was not important for the spiritual journey of the individual soul. Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti, however, is a most unusual spiritual guide. His view is that this physical, material world is neither an illusion nor a great temptation, but the starting-point of our spiritual journey; thus we must develop it even as we develop ourselves to make it a perfect base for spiritual effort. This effort is not the struggle of a few isolated individuals but the task of humanity as a whole. Human society and its institutions should not impede our progress; rather they should be carefully planned and designed to accelerate our march toward perfection. In these discourses, Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti discusses all the problems that beset modern mankind – governmental corruption, economic injustice, overpopulation, crime – and of- fers practical solutions for them. Our first step is to realize that the true goal of humanity, the ultimate goal of evolution, is not the amassing of more and more material wealth but the expansion of consciousness. Through proper education and practical techniques of mental expansion, humanity will come to realize that the hoarding of wealth and all the ills of corruption and scarcity it creates, are nothing but the misdirected longing of the human soul for infinite happiness – a longing which cannot be satisfied by money but only by internal bliss. Thus as human attention and activity is directed more and more toward subtler pursuits such as artistic endeavour and spiritual practice, the selfishness and greed which dominate people’s minds today will be replaced by a new feeling of love and brotherhood. As we expand our minds toward the Infinite and learn to share our mundane treasures, we will realize more and more that we are all indeed one humanity, that we are all the sons and daughters of one Infinite Intelligence Who is guiding us all to perfection. Instead of being based on competition and mutual hostility, society will be operated through mutual cooperation and love. We are living in a most unusual time. Governmental corruption is becoming more and more painfully evident all over the world; the over-indulgence of a small segment of humanity and the resultant poverty of the majority is creating an imbalance that is upsetting the world’s economy. Today even the wealthy nations are beginning to learn what it means to do without. At this crucial moment in world history, proper leadership is essential. Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti speaks of a new kind of leader, a sadvipra or “true spiritual leader.” In- stead of the most spiritually evolved members of society renouncing the world and seeking their own enlightenment in caves and monasteries and thus leaving the guidance of society to the corrupt politicians, spiritually developed individuals should take on the leadership of the society. Since their goal, developed by regular meditation and uncompromising 4 morality, is only the realization of the Supreme and not any mundane wealth, power or fame, there will be no chance of their corruption. Inspired and guided by them, mankind will accelerate its march toward Absolute Truth and reach new heights of spiritual and material perfection. Note: The author’s use of the word “man” is usually intended in the general sense, i.e. “human”, and the use of him or his or he, etc. (lower case) similarly refers to both genders. 5 Short Sanskrit Pronunciation Guide Sanskrit is the language of the terminology (and mantras) of Ánanda Márga practice and philosophy. A short guide to Sanskrit pronunciation using Roman Saḿskrta (Sanskrit) script is given below. • a is pronounced as the “u” in “us” • á is pronounced as the “a” in “father” • i is pronounced as in “bit” • ii is pronounced as the “ee” in “beet” • u is pronounced as in “put” • ú is pronounced as the “oo” in “boot” • e is pronounced as in “net” • ae is pronounced as the “a” in “made” • o is pronounced as in “top” • ao is pronounced as the “o” in “owl” • ḿ is pronounced as the “ng” in “sing” • n ̭ is pronounced as a nasal sound at the back of the throat • t,́ d́, and ń are pronounced with the tongue at the top of the mouth • c is pronounced as the “ch” in “child” • ph is pronounced as the “f” in “father” • sh is pronounced as in “she” • all other consonants followed by an “h” are aspirated (i.e. the original sound of the consonant followed by a “ha” sound) • s ́ is pronounced between “sh” and “s” • y is pronounced as “j” at the beginning of a word and “ia” in the middle or at the end of a word • v is pronounced as “v” at the beginning of a word and “w” in the middle of a word • jiná̭ is pronounced “gyá”, as in jinána̭ (pronounced “gyána”) 6 Planning for the Mahávishva Now the universe has become very small. People are able to travel from one planet to an- other. When there was no convenience of conveyances, Lord Krśńa planned the Mahábhárata to unite the scattered India. Today the universe has become small. Planning for Mahávishva (The Great Universe) and not Mahábhárata (Great India), is required. The guiding factor behind the creation of the Mahábhárata was dharma – the creation of a great human society in which there would be peace, happiness, fraternity and no poverty. In that period, it was the rule that the country was held responsible if a person died of starvation. Not merely this, if there was an early death, if a child of five or so died, people regarded it as a flaw in the ruling structure. Today you have to create Mahávishva (The Great Universe), and the guiding principle behind it will be that all human beings are the progeny of the Supreme Progenitor. Hence all are His children, hence all should live together – nay, will have to live together. Black or white, literate or illiterate, small or tall, all are the children of the same Father. Hence all will have to live together. So the important thing is that all are the progeny of the Supreme Progenitor. According to this, there will be unity in the physical stratum, and so will there be in the psychic and spiritual strata. But to strengthen this unity yet more, there is one more factor which should be there, and is there – that factor being the common goal for all the children of the Su- preme Father – the merger of all in Him. All have come from Him and are in Him; there- fore, all people will have to live together. Remaining together is natural for you, and to remain disunited is something unnatural. You know well that unnaturality is not tolerated by Prakrti. Unnaturality is ultimately destroyed. So it is natural for human beings to live together and to make a great Universe. By not do- ing so, and by mutual fight, all will be destroyed. This is the law of Prakrti. Hence, united you will have to remain, this is your duty. So that the people of the world may remain united, it is your duty to bring the Mahavishva as soon as possible. There will be peace and happiness in the Universe, and, established in one indivisible ideology, humanity will march ahead toward the Supreme Goal. Victory be with you! 3 December 1967, Ranchi 7 Bhágavata Dharma Today’s subject of discourse is “Bhágavata Dharma”. The word “bhágavata” means “per- taining to divinity” and dharma means “inherent characteristic”, so Bhágavata Dharma means “the way of life which leads to ensconcement in the supreme stance”. Dharma is a natural propensity, an inherent characteristic. It refers to a particular spiritual way of life. Each and every object in this universe has its own innate characteristic, or svabháva (Sva means “own” and bháva means “propensity”). The innate characteristic of fire is to burn whatever it meets. The innate characteristic of human beings is to practice spirituality. To make a clear distinction between spiritual practice and the other natural tendencies of mind in the mundane sense, such as eating and sleeping, the term “Bhágavata Dharma” is used to describe the higher tendencies.

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