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A Synoptic Bio of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, a small boy of only five or six years old, was walking alone in the jungle of rural India in the 1920's when he encountered a pillar of radiant light. "Who are you?" he asked. The light answered, "I am Anandamurti." The pillar of light then moved towards the boy until it merged with him. Some years later as an adult, that young boy came to be known as Shrii Shrii Anandamurti and would be affectionately called Baba by his followers. A true renaissance man and a master of Tantra Yoga, he lived from 1921 to 1990. During his brief life, he laid down a framework for a complete spiritual and social process, an ideology, designed to refresh the most ancient spiritual philosophies and make their actions current for out times. He stressed personal meditation and spiritual practice while balancing this effort with service to humanity. He taught the all-around development of human beings --- physically, mentally and spiritually. His vision of society saw the creation and its human efforts as a whole. Baba Anandamurti founded a worldwide movement called, Ananda Marga, to promote individual spiritual development and social reforms as well as establishing hundreds of service programs, disaster relief teams, schools and cooperatives. "Neo-humanism" was Baba's banner for a new age in which all expressions of creation are seen as part of the Singular Divine Essence, not only human beings, and must be treated with the same love and respect. He taught the importance of art, literature and science. Baba debunked superstition and dogma as he fiercely challenged the existing religious, social and political institutions. Baba also offered an approach for social and economic reform called, the Progressive Utilization Theory (PROUT), that emphasizes economic decentralization, rational distribution and maximum utilization of world resources and advocates a globally cooperative government. Prabat Ranjan Sarkar / Shrii Shrii Anandamurti's endless flow of love and guidance continues to be a blessing of love and guidance to thousands of admirers long after his departure. Baba's lessons of true spirituality and social action remain to be discovered, studied and implemented for time to come. Brief facts about Baba Anandamurti and Ananda Marga: * In 1955, while still leading a normal family life as a railway official, P.R. Sarkar founded the organization, Ananda Marga ("The Path of Bliss"), and began training missionary workers to spread his teachings of "self-realization and service to humanity" all over India and later throughout the world. Reflecting the broadness of his universal vision, Ananda Marga has become a multi-faceted organization with different branches dedicated to the upliftment of humanity through education, relief, welfare, the arts, ecology, intellectual renaissance, women's emancipation and humanistic economy. * In the field of ecology and environmental awareness, Baba Anandamurti propounded the philosophy of "Neo-Humanism," extending the spirit of humanism to include love for animals, plants and the inanimate. He started a global plant exchange program to save and propagate thousands of plants species around the world. In conjunction with this he also started sanctuaries for animals in the various locations around the world. * In the realm of philology and linguistics, Baba Anandamurti wrote volumes on the Bengali and Sanskrit languages that will require years of deep scholarly study to be understood. These volumes trace the evolution of words, phrases and cultural traditions that comprise today's tapestry of Indian languages as well as new and important insights to Indo-European and other languages of the world. * In the field of science, he introduced the theory of "microvita" in 1986 which subsequently has interested scientists around the world. In a series of discourses Baba Anandamurti struck at the heart of conventional physics and biology, as he pointed out that the basic buildings blocks of life are microvita --- emanations of pure consciousness. The microvita theory provides a link between the worlds of perception and conception, and implies that the distinct disciplines of physics, biology, and mathematics will merge into one science of understanding of the real nature of the universe. * In the field of music, literature and art, Baba urged artists to create art for "service and blessedness" and not merely art for art's sake. He also wrote guidelines for accomplishing these goals. A prolific writer, he enriched us with children's stories, fiction, comedy and drama. His most dramatic contribution is 5018 songs known as "Prabhat Sam'giit" (Songs of the New Dawn) which he started in1982 until his departure in October 1990. These beautiful songs express the universality of the human spiritual heart. Most of the songs were written in Bengali, Baba's mother tongue. Current Bengali scholars have given the highest praise to these songs in terms of their poetic and symbolic expression. * For the collective welfare of the entire society he propounded the theory of PROUT (Progressive Utilization Theory), which stands for the maximum utilization and rational distribution of all the resources and potentialities of the world --- physical, mental, and spiritual. Baba espoused the creation of a new, humanistic social order of harmony and justice for all. His uncompromising moral stand against corruption and exploitation as well as his demand for social justice brought about the opposition of the Communist Party of India and resulted in the persecution of Ananda Marga and his own arrest in 1971. Baba was indicted under false charges. During his seven year incarceration, he survived a poisoning attempt by jail officials and fasted on a liquid diet for 5 ½ years in protest. Ultimately acquitted of all charges by the High Court, he was released in 1978 and from then until his departure in 1990 he guided the rapid expansion of his mission all over the world. * Most importantly, he taught his disciples the time-tested science of Tantra Yoga and adapted these practices to the needs of modern day humans. These spiritual practices along with his vast and deep spiritual philosophy provides the inspiration and driving energy behind his work. |