Ananda Marga Aotearoa

Pran’a’m Newsletter, Issue 3 February, 2017

Pran’a’m Newsletter, Issue 3 February, 2017

On March 4, 2017, Posted by , In Blog,News, With Comments Off on Pran’a’m Newsletter, Issue 3 February, 2017

Serve the Supreme by Kiirtana

News from Sydney

News from Aotearoa (New Zealand)

New Jagrti in Adelaide

News from Melbourne

News from Gympie and Hobart

Upcoming events

Fasting list

 

 


Serve the Supreme by Kiirtana

Human existence is trifarious: human beings are neither physical entities, nor psychic, nor spiritual entities – they are three in one. All human expressions and activities take place in those three spheres or strata. We should be strong in all the three arenas of life, and then only is human existence trilateral, in its true and proper spirit.

Now, we must serve the society and also the cosmic father in all the three strata of our existence. We must serve the Parama Puruśa in the physical sphere – how? Living creatures are the progeny of Parama Puruśa, so we can serve Him physically by rendering service to living beings in the physical sphere, by removing their various physical miseries and afflictions and by showing them the path to liberation. We must take upon ourselves the responsibility to lead them forward not by telling them, “Alright, you go ahead, I am behind you!” but rather by saying, “I am going forward – you also come with me!”

This universe is a loving creation of Parama Puruśa. We can give joy to Parama Puruśa by serving His creations – human beings, animals and plants – and this service will be the best application of Neohumanism. This service can be done in four ways – viprocita sevá (intellectual service), kśatriyocita sevá (service of courage), vaeshyocita sevá (economic service) and shudrocita sevá (manual service). None of these is inferior: we cannot ignore any one of them. People should render service according to their capacity. Those who like intellectual service, can do that; those who like manual service, can do so. But it will be best if all the four types are performed.

We cannot call people “good” if they cannot lead people of all walks of life towards welfare. We can call them “goody-goodies” but not good people. Those who are truly good people will move bravely forward and provide inspiration and strength to those mute masses to fight against all kinds of obstacles, and give a clarion call to them to march ahead.

In the psychic sphere also, we must serve Parama Puruśa, since mind is a very important aspect of human existence. And the best way to serve Parama Puruśa in the mental sphere is to do His kiirtana with love and devotion. When Parama Puruśa sees that “a number of minds are flowing towards Me,” He will certainly feel a soothing touch, and thus this collective movement will benefit both the individuals and the collectivity. This synthetic movement towards the Supreme One will surely reduce the degree of complexity that has arisen from the constant conflicts and clashes in the society today.

These days many psychic diseases have appeared as a result of this mental complexity. Many people are committing suicide; many people are becoming lunatics. The reason is that people are unable to adjust with the various types of complexities in life.

The human brain is limited, and its nerve cells also have a limited capacity: they cannot tolerate these growing complexities. Kiirtana gives bliss to Parama Puruśa in the mental sphere, and it also brings joy to human beings both individually and collectively; it leads them on the path of welfare and frees them from all these complexities. It removes all the diseases of the intellect and allows people to think easily and in the proper way.

So intelligent people should do kiirtana as much as possible. When people, due to psychic complexities, cannot find the solution to their difficulties and they are at a loss what to do, if they sit together at any place and do kiirtana wholeheartedly for a while, their psychic complexities will be removed and they will easily seize upon the solution to their problems.

Thus if you have even only one minute time, do kiirtana for one minute. If even two or three people gather together, they can do kiirtana collectively; if one thousand people assemble together, then also they can do kiirtana. When you do kiirtana and move towards Parama Puruśa, the Supreme Father, then in Parama Puruśas mind also there will be a flow of bliss, because so many minds are coming towards Him with love. He will feel very happy. Seeing the bliss of His devotees, Parama Puruśa will also become overwhelmed with joy, because of His enormous love for His devotees. “How good these devotees are!” – He says. Parama Puruśa loves each and everyone, but He loves those who do kiirtana still more. He will say to them, “Come, come, come – come near to Me.” This is the proper way to serve Parama Puruśa in the mental sphere.

Devotees may or may not be educated; they may or may not be highly qualified; they may or may not be intelligent; but if they do kiirtana they are efficient enough to render service to Parama Puruśa in the psychic realm. So my boys and girls, dont miss this golden opportunity. You have been blessed with a human body; there must be maximum utilization of this human body by serving Parama Puruśa both physically and mentally, and the best method of rendering psychic service to Parama Puruśa is by doing kiirtana.

One of the names of Parama Puruśa is “Áshutośa”. “Áshu” means “quickly, easily”, so “áshutośa” means one who can be satisfied quickly and easily. Whether good or bad, if people do kiirtana sincerely and wholeheartedly even for five or ten minutes, Parama Puruśa becomes pleased. So it is not difficult to please Him – any person can satisfy Him easily. Parama Puruśa does not make any distinctions between educated and uneducated, between black and white – all are His loving sons and daughters. Even the ugliest child is a precious jewel to its parents. If people do kiirtana for a few minutes only, Parama Puruśa becomes happy.

And in the spiritual sphere, the only way to serve Parama Puruśa is to do what? sadhana. Your sadhana will attain the height of spiritual fulfillment when you will realize that “day and night, in adversity or prosperity, all the time Parama Puruśa is with me – I have nothing to worry about.”

By intensive sadhana, you will move closer and closer to Parama Puruśa. And in this process of forward movement, when you reach near Him you will feel that – although Parama Puruśa has millions of sons and daughters like you who are coming closer to Him – He is in front of you, and you will feel that on the lap of Parama Puruśa there is a vacant seat waiting just for you.

17 May 1982, Kolkata

 

News from Sydney

At Katoomba, Dada Divyarupananda continues with the jagrti renovations, raising $3000 in this period for the renovation fund. DC and a yoga class are ongoing weekly at the jagrti and Dada has started a new weekly yoga class at the Uniting Church.

Summer conference

At Ananda Palli, Dada Jitendrananda set up a poly tunnel with irrigation and trellises for winter cultivation. The Summer Conference saw out the old year and in the new with high kiirtan and high spirits.

Kalii’s naming ceremony

Kalii, Amalendu and Niiti’s newest family member, enjoyed her naming ceremony with her big family all around. Niiti explained the choice of name as a way of bringing more appreciation of Kali as the wife of Shiva and a pioneer of Tantra.

 

News from New Zealand

In Auckland, Diipavalli festivities drew 20 people to the jagrti, eight of them new.

Diipavalii celebration

Margiis organised a retreat over Labour Weekend. 22 margiis attended in Aio wira retreat center.

Labour weekend retreat

The jagrti is feeling soft underfoot with a new carpet and classes at the jagrti for the public include yoga, meditation and cooking. Dada Shuddhatmananda runs regular yoga / meditation classes at Auckland University , city hospital and senior center, Henderson and Dada Vimaleshananda organises weekly food distribution to elderly people and low income families.

New Hall in Adelaide

Adelaide jagrti has a new hall at the back that Dada Niitiishananda has arranged for DC and classes.

News from Melbourne

In Melbourne Baba’s Mahaprayan was commemorated with six days of daily kiirtan, Baba videos and Tattva Sava. Rtananda’s baby’s naming ceremony was enjoyed by many of his friends who came to the jagrti for the first time and were moved by the collective form and meaning of the ceremony.

Feeding the volunteers of the food bank

Dada Saomyakrsananda has been giving personal consultation to Margiis regarding Asanas and following up to ensure compliance. Several Margiis have found renewed health and have managed to rectify chronic conditions. Weekly food distribution is benefiting 80 people and Dada Paramatmananda runs a weekly new people’s DC as well as two meditation classes. Sister Miff has established a regular fundraising event for AMURT.

Programme in Melbourne

Sunrise Pre-school, under Didi Ananda Madhupurna’s care, celebrated its 23rd anniversary with 200 in attendance. The same numbers were in attendance for the year end party that combined the Thornbury and Nth Fitzroy schools. Fundraising during the year came to $11,000.

New school in Melbourne

 

In Derby, Didi Ananda Nirmala runs a drop in crisis center for the local Aboriginal community. In Perth, Didi Ananda Ashesa arranged renovations for the Didi’s jagrti.

 

News from Gympie and Hobart

In Gympie, Didis Ananda Vijaya and Ananda Abhaya are developing the cultivation of the MU land, with an abundance of fruits and vegetables for all seasons.

There was a total of 20 initiations during this period

Renovations in the Hobart jagrti continue with gusto. A new wood-burning fireplace, new carpets, painting of the rooms and other improvements have recently been completed.

Hobart Martiis held a retreat over New Year’s weekend, with 10 people attending.  The retreat included a variety of workshops, a three-hour Akanda kiirtan, the reading of the vanii and a celebration of intentions for 2017.  Some of the new people have been attending Dharma Cakra.

We celebrate the arrival of Margiis Sutara and Vinay who have moved from NSW to Hobart, where they will based themselves during 2017 and beyond.

Visits by WTs are planned for later in the year.

Upcoming events:

Event

Date

Place

Niilakantha divas(feed the needy) 12th Feb. In all units and Jagrtis
Dadhici Divas(fast half day) 5th March In all units and Jagrtis
Regional retreat, New Zealand 14th to 17th April Vistar, Motueka, Nelson
Ananda Purnima 11th May In all units and Jagrtis
Winter conference 13th to 15 July Adelaide
Shravanii Purnima 8th August In all units and Jagrtis

Fasting list 2017

Month

Ekadashi

Full moon

New moon

Jan. 8, 23 13 28
Feb. 7, 22 11 27
March 8, 24 13 28
April 7, 22 11 27
May 6, 22 11 26
June 5, 20 10 24
July 4, 19 9 23

 

 

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