– By Ácárya Gatimayánanda Avadhúta(CTS, Sweden)
“That which renews human existence and makes it full to the brim and overflowing with the joy of living is termed a festival. Let Sháradotsava (autumn festival) inspire all people to live with a new spirit like true human beings. Let it inspire them with the fact that all humanity is an indivisible entity. On this auspicious day this is my inner wish.”– Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti (1st, October, 1977)
Festivals are an integral part of human culture, serving as a means to renew our existence in all realms and fill it with joy and enrich our whole mankind.
Especially the Sháradotsava, or autumn festival, is highlighted as a time to embrace a new spirit for every age group once in a year and recognize the indivisible nature of humanity.
It brings people together to exhibit talents accumulated from last Sháradotsava how much each one of us have accelerated our progress and development in physical, mental and spiritual realms.
With the social event amongst children, public, in relation to fine arts, music and overcoming the lower instincts, as in Shloka of Giita, Gurudeva sayeth, every man should follow the path of Parama Puruśa, to love Parama Puruśa, to move on the path of truth is what is known as Manava Dharma. It is better to die by experiencing pain than to live in selfish pleasure of mundane enjoyments rather than following the dogma, religious or matter precedented philosophy at this supra mundane era.
It reminds us that, despite our differences, we are all part of a Ananda Marga family. This sense of unity is crucial in today’s world, where divisions and conflicts of war in individual life and collective life often dominate the headlines.
Baba’s has incorporated celebrating Autumn festival in ultramodern era, that we shall find a new meaning of every-thing which we see happening outside. There will be a great difference in the thinking of a materialist and a spiritualist. We always see only one world before our eyes. We never think of any other world. We remain engaged only in the objective world. The gate of subjective world is closed.
Every incidence has two causes – immediate cause and the other distant cause.
Suppose a house has been burnt with fire. The immediate cause of the burning of the house is fire but the remote cause is who set the house on fire.
Unless we solve the remote cause, the solution of mere immediate cause will not serve the purpose. We shall extinguish the fire, but the trouble maker will again burn the house. So the permanent solution lies in setting the trouble maker right.
Unless this remote cause is solved there will be no Peace.
A spiritualist always tries to set right the remote cause.
Suppose a man is suffering from indigestion. He will remove indigestion by some medicine. But a spiritual minded man will try remove the overeating tendency of his mind and have a permanent cure, doctor has no medicine to remove the over eating tendency of the mind. But the spiritual practice has got remedy to remove this defect from the mind.
This is the difference of approach between a materialist who always thinks of the objective world and a spiritualist who gives much stress on the subjective world without neglecting the objective world.
…Against this background, people long for Vijayostava (the Permanent victory of righteousness over the evil forces), the permanent victory of knowledge and wisdom over the darkness of ignorance. This is how the Sháradotsava (autumn festival) originated….
This victory celebration was clearly symbolic of the victory of humanity over the evil forces, over the forces of destruction.
Thus human beings should take a vow that their lives will be utilized in waging a ceaseless struggle against the demonic forces. The very prospect of this struggle brings joy, and the joy becomes still greater when the evil forces are totally vanquished and righteousness is established. And in this great task of establishing righteousness, we also should make a maximum contribution. [Vijaya Dashamii, 10th October 1989, CALCUTTA]
Get more and more revolutionary marriages done. And, what should brave youths and their parents do?
Put an ending to caste-ism, pulverize it to dust with the force of their blows. Build one human society, and deliver the message of Ananda Marga to all the corners of the world.
And for this, maximum Whole timer workers(WT workers) are also needed.
So create more and more whole timer workers(WT workers). And by creating more and more revolutionary marriages, make the society strong.” [14th JANUARY, 1984]
You will have to struggle against dogma. And not just by saying dogma is bad, no. By your own actions, you will have to show that you reject dogma. I will tell all that we need to create a human society as soon as possible. Everywhere in the world A’nanda Ma’rga Praca’ra will have to be done even more strongly.
And for this, two things are needed.
For creating a society, more and more revolutionary marriages are needed.
… And to those who are guardians and parents, have your sons and daughters do revolutionary marriages and thereby show that you are against dogma.
You should fear no one. If your duty is not accomplished by individual effort, then march forward collectively. There is no cause for fear. I am with you.
Kra’ntika’rii Viva’ha, Deoghar, [8th JANUARY, 1984 General Darshan]
