The 16 Points Society

01/17/2019

Kirtan, kirtan, kirtan. Sing kirtan and listen to kirtan whenever you get the chance. Are you listening to kirtan while you read this? Turn on the kirtan! Baba Nam Kevalam. ;)

01/03/2019

Sometimes spiritual practices can be work. Or sometimes certain spiritual practices are a chore. For example, I love to meditate, but I do not enjoy doing asanas. It's a chore. I cannot do them with passion.

Here we can recognize that if spiritual practices are work, and they are, we are working for Parama Parusha. This is the best work we can do. As with many jobs, we might not like parts of the job. Yet, we must do all the parts the job entails. We can have great satisfaction and gratitude that we are working for the real Boss, God.

So even if spiritual practices are work, and not much fun sometimes, we can be happy and fulfilled that we have made the right choice and are pleasing Baba.

12/31/2018

Baba's pictures are sacred. We do not want them indiscriminately posted on social media on anywhere, for that matter. Much discretion must be used in where Guru's picture goes. Do you agree?

03/16/2018

Strictly following the 16 points is a challenge. But it is not an impossible challenge. If it were, no one would be able to follow them all, and yet, plenty of Margiis and Wholetimers do. How does one accomplish this sometimes seemingly impossible feat? How can one follow every point every single day? Many of us, most of us, I daresay, do not. But this is not because the task is impossible. It is because we are not willing to devote ourselves to the task.

I know very well how possible it is to accomplish something if one applies oneself. Many of us do this every day to make money, or handle children, or both. One of many excuses when it comes to the 16 points is that, “I have so many other obligations and duties in my life. How can I follow all these points and do this every day?” But this is an excuse. If you are working hard to make money for your family and to contribute to society, and if you are possibly raising children, this is part of the 16 points. Baba is all for hard work.

The 16 points are a way of organizing life according to priority. That is all that it is. Sadhana and selfless service are at the top of the list, as is Baba, and His desire for us to live the perfect life.

What is needed is the proper motivation. Once one has the proper motivation, everything else falls into place. How does one get the proper motivation? Well, you could look to the 16 points for that because many of the points directly affect our motivation. So here also is a deadly cycle where one does not do what is necessary to get the motivation because one is not following the 16 points. On the other side, the more one follows the 16 points, the more one is motivated to follow them. Understandably, though, we are human, and following the 16 points strictly can be difficult. That is why we have His grace. With His grace, we can do this work.

Baba has said there is one thing we can pray for to God: more devotion. This happens to be exactly what we need to follow the 16 points! Here we can understand that we are not alone in our endeavor to do this work. Baba has told us we can ask for more devotion. The more devotion you have, the easier it will be to follow the 16 points. This, and maximum kirtan are easy things to do that will make following the 16 points much easier.

In life, we always look for “what’s in it for me.” But what if the best thing in life is what’s in it for God? By following the 16 points, we stop thinking about “what’s in it for me” and start thinking about Him. By doing this, we attain Him.

04/16/2017

An article I just wrote :

http://ampsnews.org/the-value-of-sadhana-by-bhaskar/?mc_cid=d8b0073861&mc_eid=4d1295ab9a

Dada Diiptimanananda recently stayed at my home for a couple of days. In that short time, I learned a lot. One thing I learned about was the value of sadhana. Dada would mention more than once how …

04/06/2017

ampsnys.org/sites/default/files/My16PointsChart_0.xls

now if someone would show me how to use it.

04/01/2017

Many of us have either read or heard about the curse of Queen Gandhari which led to the death of Lord Krishna..

Isn't that wild? Gandhari sounds a lot like Indira Ghandi.

03/30/2017

Everyone (especially margis - what am I saying? Only margis), I am putting together a 16 points journal: a system where it will be easier to follow the 16 points, as well as other Ananda Marga practices, AND plan one's day, week, year... This will mainly consist of a journal with a website for help with the journal. In the coming days and months I will be posting my work so all can see, critique, comment, offer suggestions and so forth. Param Pita Baba Ki Jai!!!

03/27/2017

Brahma Cakra and the Way to Return

CONDITION: I HAVE DONE / BO***GE
Vikshepa Shakti/ Wrong-doing. Ávarani Shakti/The dark veil of ignorance.
Increase of asmita (ego expansion)
_________________________________________________
RESULT: DEATH (CHANGE, REINCARNATION)
CENTRIPETAL (moving away from the center)

The cycle: I AM (FREEDOM)  I DO / NEGATIVE CHOICE  I HAVE DONE (BO***GE)

AVIDYA MAYA SHAKTI
Vikshepa Shakti/ Wrong-doing. Ávarani Shakti/The dark veil of ignorance.
Increase of asmita (ego expansion)
________________________________________________
NEW ACTION : I DO / POSITIVE CHOICE
Samvit Shakti/ Right-action. Rágini Shakti/ Grace.
Removal of asmita (egotism)
________________________________________________
NEW RESULT : IMMORTALITY/ ETERNITY
CENTRIFUGAL (moving toward the center)
The cycle: I HAVE DONE (BO***GE)  I DO / POSITIVE CHOICE  I AM / FREEDOM
VIDYA MAYA SHAKTI
Samvit Shakti/ Right-action. Rágini Shakti/ Grace.
Removal of asmita (egotism)
_______________________________________________ FINAL RESULT : LIBERATION / I AM / FREEDOM / ONENESS WITH GOD
Samvit Shakti/ Right-action. Rágini Shakti/ Grace.
Removal of asmita (egotism)

03/13/2017

From Baba's Birds and Animals, Our Neighbors

Humans Are So Cruel!

Human beings are very cruel creatures. They eat wild animals, birds and deers after slaughtering them. But is this the end? Is this all? No, they show their extreme cruelty by butchering and eating their domesticated animals and birds. For the sake of wealth and property, they kill innocent people. They have no genuine compassion of mercy. They speak of kindness and humanity, but in reality human beings are extremely cruel. Due to their tyranny and acts of oppression, many innocent creatures have been obliterated from the surface of the earth, many green pastures and fields have been transformed into deserts, and treasures of lush green grass have been converted into thorny cacti. There are no creatures as cruel as human beings on this earth. In the name of politics they murder their fellow human beings and compel them to leave their country. They abduct women for the sake of religion. Not only innocent adults, but also innocent women, old men and children are murdered without compunction. They speak of humanism and service to humanity; but at every step they trample in wild ecstasy upon that humanity as if they are negligible, insignificant beings.

02/23/2017

We understand that the greatest devotee asks for no bliss but only to serve God. In practice, however, this is not always easy. In fact it can be very difficult. How can one live without bliss? I have found one method that practically ensures bliss. This is especially useful when one is going through a painful time. Here, then, is the way.

Become very attune to all the proper actions to take in doing sadhana. What will please Baba? For example, I will sometimes sit on a sofa with a pillow behind me to do sadhana. I would not get bliss. Then I would sit on a hard or semi-hard surface with a pillow supporting just the back part of my seat. I got bliss. Likewise, if I eat too much, no bliss. If I eat less, bliss. Another example, if I think of all my problems, no bliss. If I focus on santosa (mental ease), bliss. In general, the more correct our sadhana, the happier is the Lord, and bliss will result.

I know it is best do please the Lord without wanting bliss. But, practically speaking, a life devoid of bliss is impossible to maintain. A desperate person will degenerate into gratifying oneself with lower forms of happiness and pleasure. Even just a little bliss can keep us going.

Just to survive and do Baba's work, we need bliss. This attitude is different than the attitude of doing sadhana only for bliss. The attitude here is, I will do everything I can, but to keep on going, I must have some bliss. This is an entirely different attitude. We are, after all, human. One cannot live in the desert forever without any water.

02/14/2017

If Paul Alister/Naruda can do what he did, you, too, can fight for the mission. Countless long term fasts, over 6 years in prison for crimes he did not commit. All the while, Alister/Naruda was confident that Baba would take care of him, and He did. A must read for the devoted margi.

https://www.amazon.com/Bombs-Bliss-Baba-Spiritual-Autobiography/dp/0994402740/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487030518&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=boms.+bliss%2C+and+Baba

In 1978 Paul Alister was a 22-year old volunteer with the global organisation Ananda Marga, dedicating his life to meditation and social service. In one terrifying night, through the work of a spy and the secretyy police, he was named one of Australia's top terrorists and framed for conspiracy to...