Bhagavan Anandamurti: Stories About The Divine Qualities of Baba

By Paul Narada Alister

Shrii Shrii Anandamurti (1921-1990) was a remarkable spiritual teacher, author, philosopher, organiser and enlightened guru who founded the global organisation Ananda Marga.

This volume, now in its fourth edition, contains an inspiring collection of stories from his life showing his divine qualities. It also includes quotations from his

• Language: English
• Publisher: Better World Books
• Release date: Sep 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9780994402714

Paul Narada Alister

Paul Narada Alister is a videographer and meditation teacher living in Queensland, Australia.

Book preview

Preface to the Third Edition

There is an interesting story surrounding the writing of this book. It occurred while I was an LFT in Canberra in 1977. I had just been told of a dream which one sister had. In this dream, Baba threatened to take His devotees and leave the planet if we did not do more work. This affected me greatly and for the next week I woke up worrying and wondering what I could do to stop Him. Then at dharmacakra, during Guru Puja, I heard Baba tell me to challenge the Indian High Commissioner to a public debate over the slanderous allegations which he was making about Baba and Ananda Marga (Baba was in prison at that time.) I felt fear about doing this, thinking that I would not be able to compete with the High Commissioner in a debate; however, I knew it was what Baba wanted and so I went ahead with my challenge.

The High Commissioner refused to debate with me, so I publicly announced that I would go on a hunger strike until he agreed to do so. The fast lasted for 108 days, during which time I camped in a tent outside the Indian High Commission building in Canberra. The fast received national and overseas media coverage and at times there were even tourist buses coming to visit me.

My continued presence outside the High Commission irritated and angered the High Commissioner and his anger came to a head when many Margiis joined me for a demonstration outside the High Commission after Baba was convicted. The High Commissioner lost his temper and tried to attack the Margiis, but police restrained him from doing so. Police then arrested three Margiis but they were acquitted after a video tape of the demonstration was used as evidence in court. The fast helped to highlight the injustices being faced by Baba and Ananda Marga in India, but it also gave me the inspiration to write this book.

During the protest fast my days were spent one-third in sadhana one-third in reading svadhyaya and thinking about Baba, and one third in sleep. I read an article by Baba on the qualities of Bhagavan which inspired me to type out a small book on the theme of Bhagavan using the Baba stories I had collected in a notebook. These were stories I had recorded during my first trip to India at the beginning of 1975. (Due to the tense political climate then I was unfortunately unable to see Baba.) Sometime later I found out that the carbon copy of the book I had given to the Sectorial Ofice, had been published. That became the first edition.

This second edition came out many years later and I added some of my personal experiences with Baba, particularly during the time I spent in jail. (With two other Margiis I was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment on trumped-up police charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to murder in the Hilton bombing frame-up. After we served seven years in prison, the Government released us with a pardon and awarded us a small amount of compensation for wrongful imprisonment. I have written about this in my book Bombs, Bliss and Baba (1998) also published by Better World Books.)

We have published this third edition simply because there are no more copies left. We have re-edited and updated the book and I have added a few more stories and Baba quotes and re-written some sections in the context of Baba’s physical departure, ten years ago.

This book is purely an expression of the author’s devotional sentiment and should only be read by others who have devotion for Shrii Shrii Anandamurti. If that devotional sentiment is lacking, the book may create a negative reaction, instead of inspiring the reader.

Please excuse the author’s limitations in expression. I also apologize if the comments and statements made fail to inspire the reader or contradict their own beliefs. The Baba stories and Baba quotes are the main component of the book, indeed writing on the concept of Bhagavan is really just an excuse to indulge in devotional stories and uplifting quotes about, and by Baba.

Some of the stories are second or third hand, so forgive me if there are mistakes in the detail. However, I believe the spirit of the stories have been maintained and that is the most important thing.

While doing our spiritual practices, while singing kiirtan and dancing we should remember the fact that all our spiritual practice is just to dance around Parama Purusa, lessening the length of radius, coming close to proximity with our ideological desideratum. We should always remember this fact

All quotes in italics and separated from the text with lines are by Baba. I regret that it was not possible to give the sources of all these quotes.

The stories in this book have been collected from many sources, but I particularly acknowledge the contributions from the following Acaryas and Margiis:

Didi Anandamitra, Dada Abhidevananda, Dada Amitananda, the late Dada Asiimananda, Dada Bhadreshvarananda, Dada Bhaskarananda, Dada Cidgadananda, Acharya Dasharath, sister Giita, Dada Hari Shankar, Dada Jyotiprakashananda, Dada Nagina, Dada Parameshvarananda, Shankar Mukherjee, Dada Ratnadevananda, Dada Santoshananda, Dada Samanvayananda and Dada Vijayananda. I also relied on stories printed in the magazines: Bodhi Kalpa, Praijina Bharati, Pranam and the books The Flame That Burns Upwards by Dada Jagadishvarananda, One hundred and One Baba Stories by Dada Shamitananda and A Heartfelt Collection by Dada Dhruvananda.

Thank you,

Narada Muni (March, 2000)

Bhagavan Anandamurti:

Stories About the Divine Qualities of Baba

A’charya Na’rada Muni

Better World Books

PO Box 177

Maleny, 4552 Qld.

Australia

Fourth Edition 2015

Third Edition 2001

Second Edition 1990

First Edition 1977

© Paul Narada Alister

[e-mail]

Cover Design: A’c. Narada Alister

Book Layout: Kamala Alister

ISBN 13: 9780994402714 (ebook)

To all those devotees whose constant loving ideation gives my beloved Baba unspeakable pleasure and happiness.

Contents

Preface to the Third Edition

Introduction

Aeshvarya • The Eight Occult Powers

Pratap • The Balance of Love

Yasha • A Mixed Reputation

Shrii • Beauty, Charm & Energy

Jinana • Knowledge

Vaeragya • Detachment

Conclusion • Surrender is the Final Word

Postscript • Baba’s Departure

Appendix 1 • Secrets of Sadhana

Appendix 2 • Perfecting Sadhana

Introduction

"You cannot live without Parama Purusa and Parama Purusa cannot live without you. Bhagavan cannot live without Bhakta and Bhakta cannot live without Bhagavan. Bhakta has given attribution 2 to Bhagavan."

Whenever Dharma is in decay and adharma flourishes in the world then I create Myself. These are the words that Lord Krsna spoke to Arjuna on the battlefield as recounted in The Bhagavad Giita. Krsna was the embodiment of Taraka Brahma and so when He said I create Myself, He meant that Taraka Brahma will manifest in a human body. This physical body of His is the highest evolved body in the Universe and is His Mahasambhuti (Maha means great and Sambhuti means created beingso Mahasambhuti means the highest evolved being.)

Mahasambhuti has been given many different names such Mahapurusa (Great Consciousness); Mahakaula (the one who has raised His kulakundalinii to the Sahasrara Cakra and can also do the same to others at will); Mahasadvipra (the one who creates Sadvipras—the Lord of Sadvipras); Mahadeva (Lord of Lords); Sadguru (the True Guru-the highest level of Guru); Tantrikeshvar (God of the Tantriks) and Bhagavan. These are only a few examples as there have been many more names given to Mahasambhuti but it is the meaning of Bhagavan that I want to discuss and show through a few stories, how Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji is Bhagavan.

In English, the word Bhagavan is translated simply as God. The title Bhagavad Giita means the song (giita) sung by the Lord or Bhagavan, who was then known as Shrii Krsna.

Bhagavan means He who possesses Bhag and Bhag consists of six qualities: Aeshvarya, Pratapa, Yash, Shrii, Jinana and Aeshvarya, It is sometimes said that the second quality of Bhagavan is Viirya which means potentiality and power. However, since I have an article written by Baba which state that Pratap is the second quality, I am not going to discuss Viirya as one of the six qualities of Bhagavan.

Taraka Brahma calls everyone towards Himself: ‘Come on, come to Me. I have come here for you only. I am verily yours. Come and surrender to Me without hesitation. I will take care of your future.’

Following is the article I am referring to. This is taken from old typed notes which say, Synopsis of a discourse given by Shrii Shrii Anandamurtijii at Nagpur.

Whose Directions are to be Obeyed?

Whose directions are to be obeyed? One should always follow and observe Dharma. Dharma and injunctions of God are one and the same. Dharma will not teach temporal difference. It is full of kindness, for everyone belongs to it; no one is away from it. Therefore, Dharma will not teach diferences. It will not teach distinctions of high and low, it will not teach untouchability, it will, instead, teach fraternity. Why is it so? Because you hear the voice of Dharma from God Himself.

What is Bhagvan? What is the meaning of Srimad Bhagavat Gita? Ja Bhagavat Sa Gita--that is Bhagavat Gita which has been sung by Bhagavan. Bhagvata means by Bhagvan. Now, let us try to know what Bhagvan is. Everyone knows Bhagvan who is called God in English and Khuda in Urdu. He is called Allah. There are many names for Him. But what does Bhagvan mean? Bhagvan is He who posses Bhag. In the spiritual world, Bhag consists of six qualities. The combination of these qualities is known as Bhag. These qualities are Aeshvarya, Pratap, Yasha, Shrii, Jinana and Vaeragya.

Aeshvarya: Anima, Mahima, Laghima, Iishitva, Vashitva, Prapti and Prakamaya [and Antarayamitva]--they are all called Aeshvarya. It also means an occult power. This one gets through the regular practice of sadhana. One who possesses these quality is called Iishvara. But Iishvara is not Bhagvan. Bhagvan needs five other qualities also.

Pratap: Bhagvan has this quality. This is why He loves us and at the same time punishes us for our evil doings. Love alone will spoil a child. So also punishment or beating. Only He is the true Guru who rules over and loves his disciples.

One who only scolds is not a Guru but your enemy. He also who only loves.

Yasha means reputation. When Parama Purusa comes into the world in a physical form He will have staunch supporters on the one side and bitter enemies on the other. He can be identified by this phenomenon alone. On His arrival, the world is polarized; there is no one in between. There is no neutral. There will be both positive reputation (Yasha) and negative (Apayash) for Him.

Today, there are still many persons who are either the supporters of Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna or their opponents. It is so because of the polarization of the world by these great personalities.

Shrii: It means charm, attraction. This word is made of sh, the acoustic route of Raja Guna (mutative principle.). This principle enables a man to work for it