#5 - English - Dharma for all Journal

2018

What do the acaryas who dedicate themselves full-time to Anandamurti’s mission do and how do they live?

Amurtel takes care of children and teaches yoga in Romania What are the different meanings of Baba Nam Kevalam kiirtan? issue #5

editorial

Come and help stoke the fire of Dharma for all Journal!

The fourth edition of Dharma for all Journal brought the second part of the series “Are we Universalists in practice?” investigating the place of women within the Ananda Marga. The subject heated up in the social networks, generating shares, comments and feedbacks, of support and criticism.

The repercussion is for us an indicator of results: we exist to generate good conversations that make us reflect how we improve ourselves as pracarakas and how we grow as a community whose pracar happens by the example and inspiration recognized naturally by others. And for this, we need not only to look at what we already do well, but also to illuminate our blind spots.

If this approach made sense to you, it is worth following the fifth edition, which begins now. The series on universalism continues, now discussing what role black people have in Ananda Marga. At least 18.5 percent of the world’s population is black, according to Alexandra E. Sutton of Duke University. It may seem small, but it is more, for example, than the percentage of white people (about 14.3% according to historian Aidan Colyer).

However, in many countries – and notably in the Americas and Europe –

the black population does not (for the most part) enjoy the same social and economic privileges as other ethnic groups, especially when compared to the white population. How does this express itself in Ananda Marga? This is what we will explore in this issue.

It has not been simple to address such issues in the Journal. We are (for now) a small vehicle in different ways: team size, dedicated hours, structure or budget. Our initial focus was Brazil, but we are slowly expanding to international coverage. Achieving this goal, within this lean context, implies, from time to time, having to accept to interview fewer people than we would like, to see and correct mistakes after publishing some material and to tighten deadlines, to run behind promises at the time, among others.

So we really want to count on your support. First, by understanding our context and supporting us with your words of encouragement and feedback. Every sentence of appreciation and positive evaluation of our page nourishes not only our soul, but our reports and with them, the tools we have to get support for the existence and expansion of the Journal.

And the feedbacks help us to correct and improve what we cannot always do alone with a small team.

Dharma for all Journal | 02

The other way of supporting us is by sending us suggestions: from ideas to materials; of people who could contribute as reporters, columnists, translators; and ways to reach more people and have more impact. Not all suggestions will be put into practice, but all will feed our creativity and reflection.

And, of course, you support us by reading on Facebook, on our website, in the digital magazine and, (novelty!), from this edition, on Instagram. If you share with more people what you read, on any of these channels, even better.

In addition to universalism, this edition has one more part of the series “Workers of dharma pracar”, in which we will talk about the role of the wholetimers (WTs), the celibate acaryas who dedicate themselves integrally to the mission of Ananda Marga. And we will have new material for the already traditional #dharmapracar sections (reporting inspiring pracar projects), #profile (profile of inspiring pracarakas), #kiirtanforall (on different aspects of kiirtan Baba nam kevalam), plus the continuity of our new section #pracartools, which will always bring us useful tools to strengthen ourselves as pracarakas or for us to do a better pracar.

So, let’s go together?

Gurucaran (Gustavo Prudente) – Editor in chief

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Gurucaran SUPERVISOR Taruna, Laksmii & collaborators Prashanti COVER GRAPHIC EDITION Iasodara Rodrigo Camargo (Harideva) Julia Koch

DISTRIBUITION Free FREQUENCY monthly ISSUE #5 Brazil / 2018

CONTACT journal@d4all.org journal.d4all.org f b.com/dharmaforalljournal instagram.com/d4alljournal

JOURNAL

03 | Dharma for all Journal

CONTENTS

5

The Lily and the Moon

7

Kamala, Surfing the uncertainties of life

13

Amurtel Romania: inspiration and hard work

18

Margiis organize a big event in Rio

23

Special Series: Dharma Pracar Workers - WTs

29

Book Close your eyes and open your mind

31

Baba is named Anandamurti

33

Journal launches Global Dharma Activities Calendar

35

The various meanings of Baba Nam Kevalam

“You should remember that human life is not like a single flower; it is like a bouquet or a garden of flowers blooming with many varieties of flowers. And this variety of blossoms adds to the collective beauty of the garden. Had there been only magnolia graniflora or one variety of rose only blooming in the garden, although that single flower might be very attractive, still the garden as a whole would not be very lovely.

A garden is all the more beautiful because of the flowers of various types and hues.�

Shrii Shrii Anandamurti

The Lily and the Moon Train yourself in the ideal of the lily, which blossoms in the mud and has to keep itself engaged in struggle for existence day in and day out, parrying, bracing, and fighting the shocks of muddy water and storms and squalls and sundry other vicissitudes of fortune, and yet it does not forget the moon above. It keeps its love for the moon constantly alive. It seems, however, but a most ordinary flower. There is nothing extraordinary about it. Still this most ordinary little flower has a romantic tie with the great moon. Similarly, you may be an ordinary creature – you may have to pass your days in the ups and downs of your worldly existence – still do not forget that Supreme One. Keep all your desires inclined towards Him. Always keep yourselves merged in His thought.

Go deep into the mood of that Infinite Love.

Shrii Shrii Anandamurti

profile

KAMALA

Surfing the uncertainties of life

As I write the profiles of this sec-

na

Kali

(Camila

Mozzini-Alister).

tion, I realize that in the DNA of an anandamargii there exists the trav-

In her luggage she brought curiosity,

elers, time and place molecules,

discovery, enjoyment, the same qual-

along with the notion that we are

ities that brought her to Baba’s philos-

passing through, enjoying the land-

ophy and led her to meet the guru 40

scape, for we are guided by Him.

years ago. She was initiated in 1978, and some time later, she heard that

I spoke with Kamala Alister, the sing-

Baba had come out of prison and had

er of many famous kiirtans, as many

gone to the US, but that he could not

people know her, while she was

enter the country. So he went to Jamai-

at a retreat in Ananda Kiirtana, Bra-

ca, which is where she met him for the

zil. She came to this country for the

first time. She had some doubts about

wedding of her eldest stepson Ajit

devotion to a Guru. On the final day,

Mozzini-Alister, to Brazilian Krish-

she saw Baba during a DMS discourse.

07 | Dharma for all Journal

“At the end he gave varabhaya mudra,

daily Prout Star newspaper out of the

a spiritual blessing. I felt an immense

Kansas City Women’s Prout. Later on

energy in my heart and this opened

she was a co-founder of the Califor-

a deep devotion in me. For many

nia-based Prout Journal, a monthly

weeks, I would close my eyes and

magazine.

could see him smiling blissfully”, Kamala tells us.

From journalism, Kamala migrated to the arts and in 1986 she co-founded

In the 1980s, Kamala was an LFT and

Inner Song (www.innersong.com), a

during that time she started to help the

devotional music distribution com-

Prout Daily newspaper, in Washing-

pany in California. “In those days, all

ton DC, which addressed important

the music was on cassette. There was

global issues from the perspective of

no global distribution, so if people

Prout. “It was an amazing experience

got a cassette they liked, they’d often

to be in the heart of US politics and

just copy it for their friends, but the

to learn to look at the news from the

artists received nothing. I contacted

light of Prout. Most nights, I would

musicians around the world, helped

attend rallies, talks, and meetings in

them design beautiful album covers,

the city. In the morning, the editorial

duplicated the cassettes, and created

group met and discussed local and

a mail catalog that we sent out. This

world events and then wrote and

was able to greatly increase the in-

put together the paper (manually,

come for many artists and created a

because it was before computers!).

global flowering of spiritual creativi-

In the afternoon, I would walk for a

ty. Later we helped released the first

few hours distributing the copies all

Ananda Marga CD as well”, Kamala

around the city,” Kamala explains.

recalls, animated, because she her-

Baba also received the newspaper

self is an enthusiastic player of kiirtan,

every week in India.

children’s music, and her own compositions, having recorded several

After attending University for a few

albums. http://www.innersong.com/

years, Kamala returned to LFT life and

artists/kamala.htm

she spent five years co-editing the Dharma for all Journal | 08

In 1994, Kamala met and married Australian family acharya Narada Muni. At the time, he already lived on a 20,000-square-meter (50-acre) property, master by

Baba

unit that

a

named coinci-

dentally has her name: Ananda Kamala. Together, the couple has accomplished quite a lot in keeping with their higher purpose. They have lived there since, bringing up Narada’s two sons as well as two more of their own.

Half of the land is a family cooperative which houses around ten families, some coop members, and others renting. Everyone who lives on the land follows a vegetarian diet, and many families follow Ananda Marga practices.

Dharma for all Journal

On the other half of the master unit

meditation and yoga under the guid-

is the Ananda Marga River School

ance of Avadhutika Ananda Tapoma-

(http://www.amriverschool.org/)

ya Acarya, who has an essential role

that was created 24 years ago. The

in the school. The school is accredited

pedagogy is based on Neohuman-

and receives some government fund-

ism, the practice of love for all be-

ing, but also brings many unique facets

ings, with vegetarian food, medi-

of Neohumanism into its curriculum.

tation, yoga, and stories based on the philosophy of Baba. The school

“Most of our students attend the local

receives government funding and

high school after the River School,”

serves about 150 students, with 60

Kamala says. “The teachers some-

children in early childhood educa-

times say they can spot the River

tion to year 6 and a staff of nearly 40.

School kids in their class on the first day because of their confidence,

In a beautiful rainforest valley, with a

empathy and open-mindedness. We

flowing creek, gardens and comfort-

have three families who came to the

able classrooms, the school empha-

school because one of the parents

sizes creativity, global awareness, ser-

was a high school teacher. And be-

vice, and universal spirituality. All food

cause of what they saw in our students,

is vegetarian and the children learn

they sent their children to our school.

Dharma for all Journal | 10

We also have teachers now who

Kamala tells me that her name means

were originally parents of students

“the purity of the lotus,” the flower

at the school. They were so in-

that grows in the mud, but whose

spired by this new vision of edu-

waterproof petals always remain

cation, that they became teachers,

clean,. “The last time I saw Baba in In-

and came to teach at our school.”

dia he was dictating Shabdha Cayanika, a Bengali encyclopedia. On the

Kamala has also been involved for

last day of my visit, on his Sunday

the past 15 years in organising many

discourse, he gave a long explana-

Ananda Marga retreats in Australia,

tion of the word “Kamala.” It was a

as well as the Ananda Mela Festival, a

very touching experience.”

spiritual immersion experience for the public. A new idea

It is with such purity and

has been under the inspira-

freshness that Kama-

tion of Narada Muni, an avid

la faces a new phase

surfer. With their son, Manik-

in her life: to dedicate

ya, also a surfer, they started Meditation Beach Retreats around

herself less to her small family

as

their

youngest

six years ago. These retreats include

son is finishing high school in 2019.

meditation at the beach at sunrise

She says for now she has appre-

and sunset, morning yoga , shared

ciated the chance to delve more

evening programs, and healthy sen-

deeply into sadhana while she is

tient vegetarian meals. During the

open to see what the next phase

day, participants spend time togeth-

of life will bring. “I’ve really loved

er surfing, boogie boarding, swim-

this journey of motherhood. Let’s

ming and walking on the beach.

see what Baba wants for me next.”

By Taruna (Tatiana Achcar)

Dharma for all Journal | 12

dharmapracar dharmapracar

Romania, 1991. After witnessing the inhuman conditions of abandoned children in the then communist government, Gopi Cornelia Fischer, a Swiss margii, and Avadhutika Ananda Sugata Acarya, decided to build a family home in the countryside of the Panatau Mountains. So began AMURTEL in the country.

The first child, Iosif, arrived in 1993. Ten more came soon after that, in 1995. In the year 2000, new babies entered. That was during the period when Avadhutika Ananda Giitainjali Acarya was leading AMURTEL. In 2005, a new Didi took the coordination: Avadhutika Ananda Devapriya Acarya.

After that, came to work in the house.

Since its beginning, the home has welcomed 32 children. It currently houses some young people and eight newcomers. Gopi (or “Mommy”, as the children call it), who has retired after working for twenty years on the project, continues to offer support indirectly, by providing

Amurtel Romania: magic built with inspiration and hard work

work opportunities for the young adults at a hotel she opened nearby, financial support and guidance to the board.

In 2015, commemorating the project’s 20th anniversary, she said in her opening speech: “The beginning was magical. For me, the whole project, so far, is something magical. It started with an idea, we had nothing but inspiration. “ Dharma for all Journal | 14

In addition to the shelter, AMURTEL is developing other projects in the country today. The Vistara Social Integration Project aims to reach young people who have reached the age of 18 and have grown up in the house, but who still need support in the process of transition to an independent adult life.

It is a process of integration, divided into gradual stages, which includes transitional experiences of work and housing. For this, AMURTEL uses an apartment in Bucharest, as well as a house near the children’s home that

15 | Dharma for all Journal

cares for adults who grew at home, and who have some mental deficiency. “Through small successes, they gain confidence and become better prepared for the future,” reports the AMURTEL Romania website.

Other projects of AMURTEL Romania are: Sunrise Kindergarten Neohumanist Education in Bucharest, the after school activities center The Fountain of Hope in Panatau, the Morning Star yoga center in Bucharest and the organic garden in Poieni, in the Ananda Rtam Master Unit.

The kindergarten, inaugurated in 1991, serves 35 children from 2 to 6 years of age. Using a neohumanistic education curriculum, the school proposes to children, during the year, projects in three main areas: “I discover the world”, which encourages curiosity and exploration of the natural world and the man-made world; “I love everything,” which encourages love, empathy and connection, as well as ecological and pro-diversity attitudes; and “I can help,” which encourages children to find ways to contribute and participate in the community.

The Fountain of Hope After-school Center, which opened in September 2007, supports about 30 students in their homework, as well as offering artistic activities, sports, foreign language instruction, non-formal learning and vegetarian eating.

The idea is for children to discover that learning can be fun and complete their studies. Another focus is the development of citizen awareness and active community participation: students engage in volunteer activities that benefit the environment and the neighborhood.

The Morning Star Holistic Center, inaugurated in 2014, offers a var-

ied range of courses: stress management, yoga, meditation, tai chi, qigong, African drumming, vegetarian cuisine and detox programs.

The center was created because Didi wanted AMURTEL to be a reference for yoga in Romania. Yoga is just beginning to take root and flourish in Romania as the contact with Western Europe increases, where it is already very popular. The revenue earned from the courses is used for AMURTEL’s administration expenses.

Ananda Rtam, in Poieni (11 km from Panatu), is a place surrounded by mountains, with a river of stones (Buzau) only 300 meters away. “A beautiful place to meditate, contemplate, cool down in the summer or simply make sculptures of stones,” says Avadhutika Ananda Mainjira Acarya, who worked there.

There are 6 thousand meters of organic garden area, including some greenhouses and two mandalas of herbs and spices. Thirty varieties of vegetables are distributed weekly among 35 Bucharest customers – as well as supplying the AMURTEL Family home, Fountain of Hope After-school Center and Kindergarten.

“Everything seems very romantic, but the work is very arduous and requires love and dedication for nature,” says Didi Ananda Mainjira.

Dharma for all Journal | 16

With the intention of reaching more people, Didi Ananda Devapriya sought to go beyond direct-care projects: she was one of the co-authors of the book Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share in Education), which talks about permaculture teaching for children. The book was very well received by such personalities as Richard Louv, author of “The Last Child in the Woods.” Based on the book (which has a neohumanist inspiration), Didi is currently providing training for elementary and non-formal teachers. She has also has trained 100 early childhood educators in a project about the acceptance of diversity that took place over two years. She is also excited that teachers from the rural area surrounding Panatau are actively participating in neohumanist courses and events, and so she is glad to insert new ideas into local education and thus spread even more the magic that AMURTEL awakened almost 30 years ago when it began its first projects in the country.

Amurtel Romania – http://amurtel.ro/en/ https://www.facebook.com/amurtel.romania Morning Star Yoga Center – https://www.facebook.com/centrul.morningstar/ Unidade Mestra – https://www.facebook.com/gradinabioamurtel/ Earth care, people care and fair share in education, Co-authored by Didi A. Devapriya – https://issuu.com/childreninpermaculture/docs/cip_manual Editorial Staff

17 | Dharma for all Journal

Margiis organize a big event with meditation, kiirtan and spirituality in

Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

On

November

4,

the

event

Rio

Desperta,

(free

transla-

tion Rio Awake) took place, a great event that brought together

different

meditation

traditions

in

the

Brazilian

city.

Dharma for all Journal | 18

The event was conceived and orga-

The Grand Hall of the Cidade das Ar-

nized by the Brazilians Gunatiita and

tes (City of Arts), in the Barra da Tiju-

Taruna Deva (Telmo Maia), margi-

ca district, a noble venue for events

is who also teach meditation to the

in Rio de Janeiro, accommodated

public as a tool of self-knowledge

a very eclectic audience, who took

and social transformation. They envi-

advantage of the lectures, sang

sioned a large event and went after

and danced mantras and experi-

ways to accomplish it: “We thought

enced various forms of meditating.

about giving up a few times, because we ran out of sponsorship, and times

Among

it seemed unfeasible,” says Taruna

Klebér Tani, exponent of Tran-

Deva. “But our partners encouraged

scendental

us to continue,” adds Gunatiita. Since

who spoke about veganism and

many production details were already

meditation,

in place, volunteers and partners

“The World is Hungry for Love”; the

were committed to holding the event

teacher of Vedanta Gloria Arieira;

even in the lack of sponsorship. “At a

Monk Coen, with Buddhist philos-

given point, we realized that we had

ophy; Damien Desnos, instructor of

put together a team of great profes-

Mindfulness; Gunatiita herself and

sionals, all involved in the purpose of

Taruna Deva, of the Una Medita-

disseminate meditation to a large au-

tion; Acarya Jinanananda Avadhuta,

dience,” reveald the duo, who at the

who spoke about society, neo-hu-

end of the event were visibly moved

manism and PROUT; and lastly, Ra-

by the size of the performance.

jshree Patel, instructor and interna-

the

speakers

Meditation; within

the

were Oberon, theme

tional lecturer of the Art of Living.

19 | Dharma for all Journal

In the interval of the lectures, four

and actions,” he said. He also para-

bands of bajhans (devotional songs),

phrased other philosophers, such

kiirtans and mantras appeared –

as Nietzsche, to assert that “human

among them a collective of twelve

life is a bridge between the animal

margiis, that brought the kiirtan

and the divine – use that bridge.” In

Baba nam kevalam to the public.

another speech, he made the audience reflect: “No one is going to

Dada Jinanananda, who shared some

save us, there is no savior, we must

of Ananda Marga’s philosophy in the

stand up to save ourselves collec-

event, he skillfully led the audience

tively, thinking for the good of all.”

to the understanding of PROUT. Time with humor, time with seriousness,

The event Rio Desperta was, in fact an

always with simple and direct lan-

event made by all, for the good of all.

guage, he spoke about the political

For many who have watched, renewed

polarization we are living – not only

hope and the feeling that it is our re-

in Brazil, but in the world. He also ex-

sponsibility for our own happiness.

plained the need to subtilize the energy so that we can move from the

The event was broadcast live in full.

vibration of the most basic cakras

You can watch all the lectures in the Rio

to vibrate in the energy of love.

Desperta page on facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/riodesperta/

Jinanananda quoted Baba a few

By Laksmii (Luciana Lima Lopes)

times, in his Tantra speech: “we must

Photos by Carolina Demper e Pedro Kuia

be consistent with thoughts, words Dharma for all Journal | 20

Dharma for all Journal

Dharma for all Journal

article

Special Series: Dharma Pracar Workers – Part 5 Wholetimers

The fourth part of the “dharma pracar workers” series deals with full-time acaryas (teachers): monks and nuns who

dedicate

themselves

exclusively to Baba’s mission, renouncing their personal, social and family lives.

A quarta parte da série

23 | Dharma for all Journal

A quarta parte da série “trabalhadores de dharma pracar” aborda os acaryas (instrutores) em tempo integral: os monges e monjas

In order to become a WT (wholetimer), one must first spend time working as a LFT and then enter into training with an average duration of three years (with variations for more or for less), at the end of which the participants are already qualified to teach the philosophy of Ananda Marga. Then they go through one month’s training to learn how to teach the six lessons of sahaja yoga (the meditation system that margiis learn). At the conclusion of this stage, they are considered acaryas – people who teach by example.

Each acarya then receives a “posting” – a place to work, which should be a far country from its place of origin. Exceptions to this practice exist. The new acaryas are initially called brahmacarii/ brahmacarinii (men/ women) and are dressed in white skirts and orange on top. After a few years of dedication, they receive a special lesson (kapalika) and begin to wear the entirely orange uniform. From then on, they are called avadhuta/ avadhutika (men/ women) and make a commitment: to work for the mission and for the ideology of Ananda Marga, for as many lives as necessary, until the last being becomes enlightened.

Dharma for all Journal | 24

“I had many doubts. Can I do it? Then, in a meditation I asked Baba: ‘You decide whether I’m going to be a didi or not, I can not decide.’ Baba did not answer me. So I told Baba: ‘If you make a specific gesture in your speech [to cross your two fingers] it means that I should become a didi. After three days I had a darshan with Baba in Bengali and I did not know what He was

Avadutika Ananda Shushilla Acarya talking about. When it was over, Baba suddenly made a first gesture that I The story of Avadutika Ananda Sushiila Acarya, who currently works in Porto Alegre, RS (Brazil), represents well the path needed to become a WT. She began her journey serving for eight months as LFT in Taiwan (her native country). Then she spent a year and four months in the didi’s training center in the Philippines.

Then she set out for acarya training in India. Gratuated in Economics, she had never thought of being a didi before, but the experience with Baba changed her mind to the point of feeling that nothing else attracted her.

25 | Dharma for all Journal

had thought of, but I thought with my mind, “Baba, this is not it.” Then Baba made the second gesture twice. Then he left and I felt the shiver. So this was the last sign so I had no more questions. That’s why I became a didi.”

Didi Sushilla said to be very inspired by her current moment, with several achievements. Among them, a Yoga Festival (http://festivaldeyoga. com.br/) and a series of workshops about the feminine. Didi, however, has already had difficult times, such as not having a home to stay.

But resilience to difficulties is a characteristic that many didis and dadas claim to have, feeling there is something that keeps them in the mission. This is also what happened to Acarya Nirvedananda Avadhuta, who was born in Cameroon and now works in Brazil. He recently went through many health challenges – his biggest clash as a monk, he says. A pneumonia left him hospitalized in the ICU, followed by very strong spine pains that prevented him from sleeping and meditating. Instead of giving up, he feels that the challenges have further entrenched him in Baba’s mission.

Dada tells us that when he returned from the hospital, he had to be carried up, since he could not climb up the stairs from where he lives.

Two days later, it would be the day to do kapalika meditation. He kept his promise, even needing help getting out of the house. The practice was so strong that at his return home he was able to climb the stairs alone. “Our ideal life is a challenge and the daily energy of kapalika develops devotion,” he says.

Acarya Nirvedananda Avadhuta Until he met Ananda Marga, Dada thought that meditation was a religion – he was even becoming an atheist. However, he began attending dharmacakras regularly, having been initiated by a monk he had met in a lecture. Along with this, he received some asanas to practice.

“When I started practicing yoga I felt God and I thought I could dedicate my life to teach it to people.”

Dada planned his way very well, finished his studies of Economics and worked for a while in a stable public job. “The inspiration came slowly, it was built. In 1982, I decided that I would be a monk, but only left the country in 1987, with conscience.”

Dharma for all Journal | 26

inspiring girls to learn meditation, along with Avadhutika Ananda Jaya Acarya, who guided her at the time.

These projects eventually made more sense than their former activities. At the end of 2015, she went to acarya training, which lasted 1 year and 10 months. She describes the whole process as “very beautiful and gentle,” and rejoices to have worn

Brahmacarinii Shivanii Acarya The Brazilian Brahmacarinii Shivanii Acarya awakened to spirituality very early, which led her to a great search. She experienced Hare Krshnas and Taoists, until she met Ananda Marga philosophy in a lecture

by Acarya Jinanananda Avadhuta in Mato Grosso (Brazil). In 2013, she left her position as an art teacher at the state school and went to Paraguay to perform LFT training with Avadhutika Ananda Girishuta Acarya. When she finished, she returned to Brazil to work full time with pracar, organizing retreats, dharmacakras and

27 | Dharma for all Journal

her acarya uniform for the first time at the important International Dharma Maha Sammelan event in Kathmandu, Nepal, in November 2017.

Nowadays, Didi Shivanii is in the south of Brazil, doing exactly what she thought was necessary in the country at first. Considering the demand of women in having the presence of a didi in their lives, she is happy to be able to initiate so many people. Working in the home country is exceptional, waiting for her visa to Australia. “Pracar changed my life, brought me a new horizon, opened the door for my spirituality to be alive, brought me hope for a better world.

It was an invitation to become a didi.”

The story of Acarya Mahesvarananda Avadhuta begins in the United States at his age of 21, at a time when only hippies and weird people were doing yoga (he says he was a bit of both). With yoga, he began to feel energetic and, three years later, he was flying to India for monk training.

He has worked for 14 years in Asia, 3 years in Europe and 22 years in South America. He explains that living in a different country with a different language, customs, food and behaviorism from his home coun-

Acarya Mahesvarananda Avadhuta

and meditation in almost a hundred

try is a way of experiencing culture

prisons and jails, in addition to having

shock. And this shock, in his opin-

written some books. The two most

ion, is a way to build world peace.

recent are After Capitalism, Prout’s Vision for a New World, with the

“People from these countries taught

contribuition from Noam Chomsky,

me a lot about hospitality, generos-

and Cooperative Games for a Co-

ity, kindness, humility, community

operative World: Facilitating Trust,

and helping each other. I believe

Communication, and Spiritual Con-

that we can end hunger, poverty

nection: Facilitating Trust, Communi-

and war, and I have dedicated all

cation and Spiritual Connection. “I’m

my physical, mental and spiritual

65 now and I feel completely ful-

strength in this life, as I will in my fu-

filled. I would not trade this orange

ture lives, to achieve this goal as soon

uniform for anything in the world. “

as possible. I believe that together with His Grace nothing is impos-

Editorial Staff

sible – we can change the world.”

Dada Mahesvarananda taught yoga Dharma for all Journal | 28

review

Close your

Eyes Mind

and open your

by Indrajit (Igor Amin) Do you know when you find out about Beatle George Harisson’s favorite books and you are excited to hear him say in an interview that the book touches the hearts of all religions?

He talked about “Autobiography of a Yogi,” written by Indian guru Paramahansa Yogananda. He liked to distribute this book to friends who came to his house, and kept several copies scattered in the house where he lived.

I realized that this generous act of Harisson had touched my subconscious when I noticed that I had already purchased more than 8 copies of the book “Close Your Eyes and Open Your Mind – Introduction to Spiritual Meditation” by the monk Acarya Nabhaniilananda Avadhuta, www.TheMonkDude.com and that they always disappeared from home.

You can already imagine what I was doing to make them disappear, right?

Like Dada Nabhaniilananda, I am a deep admirer of the the contempo29 | Dharma for all Journal

rary philosopher PR Sarkar, to whom his book is dedicated: born in the state of Bihar, India, around 1920.

A great sage, who brought such a simple and current philosophy, that requires an uncommon effort for our agitated mind to understand.

Imagine people from the four corners of the world, with different cultures to dialogue with, trying to spread a knowledge that starts from a systematization of something born in India thousands of years ago? In this simple approach lies the wisdom of Sarkar, a master who challenges us to develop creative content so that fundamental knowledge can touch and transform the lives of those who come in contact with them. This is what made me consider Dada’s book an important spiritual reading, capable of bringing a synthesis of why meditation has become a practice and a science so valued throughout the world.

Here are some features of this book that may convince you that Dada Nabhaniilananda has managed to overcome the limits of that flat monotonous reading:

1. He is a musician, artist, mentor and

consultant to innovation companies in several countries and values ​​the diversity of the readings of several masters around the world, bringing a common approach to all. He brings a light reading by quoting phrases from great sages that reinforce the thoughts addressed throughout the chapters.

toward something more precious than escaping from present stress, future anxiety and depression of the past.

5. The book exemplifies the impacts

of meditation practice as something scientific and positive on internationally known practitioners.

6. He finishes the book with various appendices and ten steps that help improve your meditation practice, and list steps for anyone who follows the path in the yogic life philosophy.

7.

swers, but with 23 questions that will open your mind for you to seek for internal questions.

Suggests music cds and recommends a bibliography, affirming his monk’s intelligence stimulates the search for diversity in spiritual reading.

3.

8. It is a book that can bring a com-

2. He begins the book not with an-

He brings the secrets of mental health in a relaxed way so we can take care of our inner “donkey,” which shakes our thoughts non-stop.

4.

Nos convida também para uma brinThe book also invites us to a game of opening and closing – close your eyes, open your mind, open your eyes and expand your mind – a filter between silence and contact with “I am,” which shows the importance of self-control facing our senses. Only in this way, we can begin to relax our corporeal mind and move

prehensive unit of elemental issues to simply being who we are and accepting others as they are.

I end up with an invitation to open your eyes wisely and read this book – and maybe you can pass it on to other people as a service to friends.

Have a good time!

Indrajit (Igor Amin) is a multimedia artist, audiovisual educator and spiritual walker. He searches for a way of life based on the teachings of Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar. He founded the Instituto Mundos and he is currently studying an interdisciplinary master’s degree in Human Sciences.

Dharma for all Journal | 30

.

Baba is named 31 | Dharma for all Journal

Anandamurti

Baba once told me in his office why he

was popularly known as Anandamur-

was known as Anandamurtijii. While

ti. The name of Anandamurti came

Baba was studying in Vidyasagar Col-

from the mouth of Kamalakanta Ma-

lege in Calcutta, he went to Banku-

hapatra but actually it came from the

ra District in West Bengal to attend

spiritual attainment and the spon-

the marriage ceremony of a friend.

taneous flow of ananda that Kamal-

After reaching Bankura, he went to

akanta experienced in his inner heart.

a cremation ground at the dead of night. While Baba was there, a young

After that, Baba placed his head on the

man singing a devotional song ap-

lap of Kamalakanta and slept there.

proached him. Baba asked him his

Kamalakanta took advantage of his

name. He replied that his name was

sleep to go to this feet. Longing for

Kamalakanta Mahapatra. Then he

salvation and by the grace of Baba,

said with tearful eyes that his guru

Kamalakanta attained mahanirvana.

had directed him in a dream to come

Baba went to Bankura to give salvation

here to this cremation ground to take

to the most fortunate Kamalakanta.

tantric initiation. Baba very affectionately said to him, “I am that guru who

By Acarya Satyananda Avadhuta, from

directed you in your dream to come

the book The Wandering Ascetic Life

to this place for initiation and tonight

of Acharya Satyananda Avadhuta:

I shall initiate you as per the rules of Tantra.” That night Kamalakanta got initiation from Taraka Brahma Baba.

After taking initiation, Kamalakanta got the feeling of Parama Purusha.

He started to dance and cried loud-

My Thirty-five

ly, “ananda, ananda.” Due to the in-

Years with Baba

fluence of these spiritual vibrations,

Anandamurtijii

Kamalakanta said, “You are Anandamurti (the embodiment of bliss),” and from that auspicious moment Baba Dharma for all Journal | 32

pracar tools

Journal launches Global Dharma Activities Calendar and you can also submit your event

https://journal.d4all.org/events/ Interesting events are happening in

your activity data through the form.

different parts of the world, with-

The events will be reviewed by the

out the pracarakas being aware

Journal team and, if approved, they

of many of them. To change this

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scenario, Dharma for all Journal is

one of the three languages avail​​

launching a Global Activity Calendar.

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Only activities that are aligned with

In order to have your event pub-

the philosophy of Shrii Shrii Anan-

lished, just send an email (jour-

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tacks or prejudice will be accepted.

If you enter the calendar now, you

Did you already know that these

will find inspiring events such as: the

events were going to happen? If

winter retreat of the Path of Bliss in

not, did you like to know? If you

California, United States, from De-

liked, how about spreading this

cember 27th,2018 to January 1st,

news to more people, and send-

2019, and the Dharma Maha Same-

ing us the activities that will hap-

lian, a large global gathering of

pen in your city, in your country

acaryas and margiis, to be held from

or in any other part of the world?

May 1st – 5th, 2019 in Fiesch, Switzerland, in commemoration of the 40th

Isolated, we are pracarakas fight-

anniversary of Anandamurti’s pass-

ing alone. Together, we are a glob-

ing through the city, during which

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Editorial Staff

kiirtanforall

The various profound meanings of Baba Nam Kevalam

33 | Dharma for all Journal

In the various practices of Ananda Marga, the importance of maintaining ideation is always emphasized. In other words, it is essential to be aware of the meaning and intention of what we are practicing. This also applies to kiirtan, Baba nam kevalam. We repeat these three words so often that we do not always keep in mind the powerful meaning behind them, or we do not understand it so deeply.

The best known and most widespread meaning of Baba nam kevalam is “everything is an expression of love.” Although this translation is inspiring and essentially correct, it is an approximation of the literal meaning of the kiirtan. Although there are variations according to each acarya or margii, the following is generally understood:

BABA – Adored, Beloved, Dear. The entity most dear to someone, to whom we direct all our devotion.

NAM – Name, Expression, Manifestation. The origin of all mani-

festation, as well as the nature of names, is sound, which in turn is a vibration.

KEVALAM – Only, One. A continuum without any interval.

So, if we imagine the meaning of kiirtan as an iceberg, ranging from the most immediate, general understanding, to ever deeper layers, then just below “Everything is an expression of love” we have another meaning: “only the name of the most beloved “. If we investigate what these words imply, we can go deeper: “continuously, without break, in everything that exists, I feel the vibration of the Entity dearest to me.”

If we dive even deeper, new meanings open up. The kiirtan, in fact, is like a sutra or a shloka – a short phrase that can lead to infinite reflections. Every devotee, aware of the basic meaning, common to all, may create an intimate relationship with these words, so that his or her ideation becomes personal and strong.

Dharma for all Journal | 36

(Donald Acosta, Puerto

Rico/Brazil) describes Baba nam kevalam as follows: “The universe is an ocean of consciousness. We think we are separated, like a drop, but in fact we are the ocean. Different waves arise in the ocean – one wave is a person, one a tree, one a star, but even though the ocean is made up of an infinity of waves, it is the same ocean. Singing the mantra, we try to feel that everything is an expression of a single consciousness. They are simply waves of the Universal Soul.”

BABA NAM KEVALAM

Devashish

Alok Joddha argues in his article “The Secrets of Mantra” that although the notion of the divine as a formless consciousness is an impersonal concept, we as human beings are not impersonal. “The beauty of meditation is that when we begin to feel the existence of that one Cosmic Consciousness within ourselves, we don’t feel it as some dry philosophical, impersonal “absolute” — we feel it to be something closer to us than our own thoughts, more precious to us than our own feelings — something which has been with us from the beginning of our existence and will never, under any circumstances ever leave our sides — we feel it to be our most intimate beloved. None of this is a matter of “faith,” as religions so dearly preach to us — it is a matter of direct, unmediated experience.”

37 | Dharma for all Journal

For him, the beauty of the word

minute and moment to moment.”

“Baba” is that the names of entities such as Jesus, Buddha (or even Anan-

Therefore, he says, Baba is the abso-

damurti) have specific attributions,

lute that our mind cannot understand,

that is, they refer to persons who in-

translated into a very personal and in-

carnated in a certain time and place.

timate relationship. “The mantra Baba

That is, however elevated they may

nam kevalam, therefore, accepts the

be, they are entities imprisoned by a

emotional reality of being a human

certain history. He explains that “The beauty and simplicity of Baba nam kev-

being. Accepting the Tantric notion that the whole world can, with its proper use,

alam is that “Baba”

become an engine

isn’t the name of

for liberation rath-

an entity — it’s the

er than a cause of

name of a relation-

bondage, the chant-

ship. This is where

ing of Baba nam kev-

the true power of the “ideative” meaning lies. Baba is a Sanskrit word

alam is a practice that is at once both universal in its theory and personal in its

whose etymological origins points

praxis. Baba always changes and yet

to an entity that is “nearest” and

never does; Baba, ultimately, is us.”

“dearest” to us. It is a term of endearment, akin to “darling” or “sweet-

And you? How do you translate Baba

heart.” To quote a good friend of

nam kevalam kiirtan? What ideation

mine, “nobody signs a check as ‘hon-

do you keep in your mind as you

ey’ or ‘sweetheart.” The same goes

sing? Share with us in the comments.

for “Baba.” Baba, being the name of the relationship we have with the di-

By Gurucaran (Gustavo Prudente)

vine, is a relationship that constantly changes with time — minute to

Read here the full article

Dharma for all Journal | 38

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